#mountain girl and doctor’s son au

[dead-dolphins]

THE MOUNTAIN GIRL AU 😭😭💚💚

[written-in-flowers]

Her Tamer: Demon!Yunho x Fem!Reader

Pairing: Demon!Yunho x Fem!Reader | side pairings: Yunho x OFC, Yunho x Mingi, demonline x Reader

Genre: Smut, angst, slight fluff | AU: demon au

Word Count: 12k

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT!

Summary: Following the death of his father, Yunho ponders over Hell's obvious unfair class system. When you make numerous attempts to get him in bed, he decides to try correcting your bratty behavior.

Tags: poly relationship, established relationship, bisexual sex, mentions of death/loss, mentions of illness, general angst, class separation, rough sex, brat taming, choking, spanking, pussy slapping, degradation, cuckquean, light bondage, oral sex (f. receiving), nipple play, breast play, exhibitionism, pet names (slut, bitch, whore, good girl, baby), facial, cum swallowing, panty sex, "just the tip", edging. Yunho simping over his actual woc!gf, Yunho generally being pissed at rich people because we should eat them.

Previously on Pretty Lady

Pretty Lady Masterlist

****

He never hated a sunrise before. The orange-yellow rays gradually pushed the night back up into the sky, breaking through and over the trees in the distance. The front courtyard remained dimly lit, though in a few hours its splendor would be in full light. Yunho used to hike up the mountains back home to bask in its warmth. The hot air would blow in from the molten lake where natural gold endlessly churned. His kin would come out from the main grounds, carrying metal poles and large vats to collect gold nuggets that washed up onto the lake overnight. They’d be turned into coins to be put in circulation. Yunho didn’t work at the mint, but he’d sit and watch them work until it was time to go. 

Like today. He stared away from the window to the uniform hanging on his closet door. Black and white, he wore the uniform every single day since he arrived at The Black Keep. Every morning, before sunrise, he’d bathe and fix up his appearance before pulling on the uniform. He’d go down to the kitchen where he’d snag a quick breakfast, then set about scheduling everyone's duties for the day. By the time anyone else arrived, he’d already have the chore chart finished, and be ready to get to work. Yet, today he could not bring himself to do it. 

“Yunho?” Mingi’s deep voice came from somewhere behind him. “Is everything okay? You weren’t in the kitchen.”

“Sorry. Overslept.”

“Overslept? You? Impossible.”

Yunho hardly slept at all, to be honest. He couldn’t stop thinking about it. 

“Hey,” a hand touched his shoulder, the warmth radiating through his thin nightshirt, “I know it’s been a rough few days for you, but at least it’s over now. Your dad’s at rest. He's not suffering anymore.” 

Yunho didn’t want to talk about it. He stared down at the letter on his desk. The creases in the paper became more pronounced from him constantly folding and unfolding it, but the ink was bolder than ever. 

‘My dear Yunho, 

I’m afraid this is my last letter to you. As you know, the holy pestilence I caught in the mortal realm has finally taken its course. The doctors tried all kinds of treatments and methods, but no amount of magic will undo what that priest had done. Don’t worry about me, my boy. Your Pop has lived a good life here in the old mountains. I may not have been a rich demon, but I lived as well as we could. 

I love you, Yunho. You are my greatest achievement, my greatest treasure, and my greatest love. Everything I have done was to try giving you a better life. I wanted you to have the things I never did, and I like to think in small ways I accomplished that. You left our home and went on to be more than I ever imagined for you. You got out, son, and that alone makes me proud. 

Please, do not mourn me, Yunho. Celebrate me. Go buy the good stuff and enjoy a few drinks. Buy a rare hunk of meat, cook it in some fancy elegant sauce, and eat it. Hell, go to one of the nicer brothels and splurge on the high price girls. Buy that girl of yours something pretty. Buy everything and anything you want. Bet money on winning horses or hounds. Don’t mope or cry about me. I didn’t get to live, so I want you to do it for me. 

Love forever, 

Pop.’ 

He received the news of his father’s death shortly after the letter's arrival. A messenger came to give him his father’s belongings, which wasn't much, but now sat in a box in the closet. He planned on selling the house to someone or perhaps renting it for some extra cash. His father wouldn’t have wanted him to hang on to the past. Sadly, the past kept wanting to hang onto him. 

Yunho has been working for most of his life to keep himself and his father fed. Despite his father's title of ‘Lord’, the family fortune had been squandered centuries before Yunho had been born. The only treasures left to them were their old decrepit mansion and a few family heirlooms. After years of scrubbing floors and cleaning clothes, he had the opportunity to work in a lord's household as a footman. From then he became a serving man, a butler, assistant, and finally a household manager. He moved from house to house serving the elite who looked down on his family. When he came into Seonghwa’s employ, his father couldn't have been happier. 

“Hey, my boy is going to work for the son of Asmodeus! Ain't that something?”  

He’d made good money. Very good money, and most of it went back home to his father. Unfortunately, his father's gambling problem took hold of him, causing him to own more money than he's worth. From what his cousins told him, a lord offered him a job possessing souls in the mortal world. Yunho wished he'd been told beforehand; he could have talked him out of it. Possessions aren’t easy, and only the well trained can perform them successfully. He told Yunho it was good money: fifty gold for every soul brought down. Yunho said his father was too old; he'd be going to his “nap” soon. His father argued that he still had it in him and to not worry. Things had been going okay, from what he’d told Yunho, until a priest got in the way. 

He doesn’t know what kind of magic the priest used, but it’d landed his father in the hospital. The doctors told Yunho that holy magic is deadly to their kind, just like holy weapons, and it would kill his father. He liked to think that he’d at least get paid for the gig. He didn’t. The lord who sent him never planned on paying him, but instead passing off his father’s hard work as his own. Yunho would have killed him were he not high born. 

“You should get ready,” Mingi said. “The Masters haven’t woken up yet, so you still have time. That big ball thing starts tonight, so they said they want to get to the hamlet early to get settled in for the weekend.”

Yunho groaned at the realization. Today was the first day of Prince Asmodeus's private ball. The Passionate Heart Ball was simply another excuse for the nobility of Hell to get together and indulge in all sorts of debauchery. Servants are not allowed to attend on a guest level, but do accompany their masters to serve. Seonghwa normally let Yunho stay behind to manage the keep, and he'd take someone else, but this time he insisted Yunho join them. He claimed the house didn’t feel right without Yunho there. His father would say that having a lord's trust comes in handy in the long run, but Yunho did not see how. Leaving the window, Yunho went to a wash basin by the mirror. He splashed cool water onto his face to soothe the heat rising inside him. 

“It wasn’t as if he was a young demon, Yunho,” Mingi said, watching him change out of his nightshirt. “Your father was four-hundred centuries old and close to taking his Big Nap; he wasn’t exactly a spring chicken. He shouldn’t have gotten mixed up with possessions at his age.” 

“Don’t blame my father for falling victim to the greed of high borns.” 

“I’m not,” he said, “But I am saying that your dad’s in a better place, somewhere, maybe. I don’t know where we will go when we die.”

“Neither do I,” and that scared him. 

Picking up his uniform shirt first, Yunho thought about when he first heard what happened. He had been wrapped up in Mingi’s arms, enjoying his warmth and closeness after a long day, when Linette came into his room. Anxious, the young demon told him he had a phone call. It was his father. Yunho remembered how frail he sounded; his deep voice croaking and weak from his drained powers. He’d assured Yunho he’d be alright; that with some medicine, rest, and proper care, he’d be back on his feet in no time. The doctor Yunho spoke to disagreed. 

‘The magic stayed in him too long. He should have come straight to us after the exorcism, but he went home instead. We don’t know how long he has, but we’ll do our best to save him.” 

Yunho never felt so helpless before. Seonghwa gave him leave to be with his father without question, but that had been the worst part. Seeing his father, a strong demon of greed, so sickly and frail tore his heart in two. He’d thought to ask the lord who gave him the job for assistance of some kind, but he didn’t even answer Yunho’s calls. When he visited him personally, he was rejected with laughter. It was the least he could have done. It was another example of how the rich exploited and abused the poor without a care in the world. 

He checked himself out in a nearby mirror. His uniform fit him like a glove, since he’d paid to personally have sets tailored. Tailored clothes were an unheard of luxury back home. The clothes normal people wore either came from secondhand shops or were made from cheap fabric. Looking over the small corner dresser, a ring caught his eye. His father's opal and silver ring sat on the top, and his heart dropped. His most expensive possession, it had been passed down from Jeong to Jeong for hundreds of years. It was the last symbol of their status. Yunho slipped it onto his ring finger, fondly recalling the first time he ever saw it. 

“This has been in our family since before Lucifer. I would never give this up. Not for all the gold in the world.”

“Don't you look good,” said Mingi, likely trying to lighten his mood. 

Were he not plagued by his own thoughts, Yunho might have playfully flirted back. Not today. Not when the world felt so lifeless and grey. He may have not been the best parent, but Yunho did not hate his father. They had ups and downs as all families do, yet hate never crossed his mind once. Not even when his father gambled away his money on hounds and horses. He couldn't envision himself hating his father. Mingi’s arms went around his waist, and he rested his head on his shoulder. Yunho felt a lump swell in his throat, threatening to burn his eyes with tears. 

“He was a good man,” he whispered. “A good man who they took advantage of.” 

“I know,” he said softly, kissing the crook of his neck. “We should eat,” Mingi said, idly playing with his dangling earring, “Maybe a bit of-”

“-Did you know he was a jester before he was forced into Possessions?” Yunho said bitterly, tears glazing his eyes. “He was a jester for Lord Authos, this demon in the mountains. The man used to make a complete fool of my father, forcing him to perform tricks and jokes for the entertainment of others. I remember once seeing them throw rotten food at him in a game.” Yunho recalled the memory so vividly, it might have happened yesterday. “They thought it’d be funny,” he said, hate in his voice, “To see who could get the most hits. My father…” the resentment burned deep inside him, “He had to stay attached to a wheel and take the humiliation because those high born scum-”

“-Easy, love, easy,” Mingi soothed him softly, rubbing his arms and nuzzling his neck. “Not all high borns are like that. Our masters wouldn’t do anything like that-”

“-Yes, they’ve done worse,” he said. “Before YN came, they used to feed servants to the beast in the greenhouse. Hongjoong carries around a fucking whip to remind us who is in charge, and that he could whack us whenever he damn well pleases-”

“-He doesn’t do that anymore-”

“-I don’t care,” he spat, hands curling into fists. “Let’s not forget the demons who get thrown into the arena to die for the entertainment of the rich. They have to fight for their lives just to get back to freedom.”

“They were criminals, Yunho-”

“-Then why not punish them as criminals should be punished? Why is a man who stole a loaf of bread forced to fight his way to freedom? Did these bastards ever stop to wonder why he stole that bread?” 

“Yunho, please, calm down,” Mingi said again, still comfortingly. 

“And her,” the word came in a hiss through his teeth, “That woman treats us like playthings.”

“That isn’t true, Yunho,” he said a bit more firmly. Yunho forgot; he is your bodyguard and very fond of you. 

“Oh no? The woman is constantly flaunting and flashing her body at me, hoping I’ll give into my weakness again and fuck her brains out,” he said, remembering the last time he indulged you. He’d wanted it, of course, but after his father’s death, a high born woman is the last person he wishes to pleasure. “I’m surprised she isn’t pregnant with all the times she’s ridden cock.”

“Yunho, that’s enough,” Mingi said, moving away from him. “I know you’re angry and grieving, but don’t you dare start on her. She’s been nothing but kind to you. Okay, so she gets a bit horny, but who here doesn’t get like that? We’re all incubi and succubi, if you’ve forgotten. It’s in our nature to be that way. I recall you not saying ‘no’ whenever she managed to get you in bed, or were you pretending to make her happy?” 

“Of course not. I won’t deny I enjoyed every second, but…we are nothing to them,” he said, keeping the thickness from his voice. “We’re toys for their amusement. We can be disposed of, dismissed on a whim, and punished for the smallest infraction, and nothing would be done about it. Nobody would raise a hand or speak a word. We might not wear collars, but we’ll always be slaves to them.” 

It was true. His father proved that over and over throughout his childhood. When Authos saw his father’s potential in the coin factory, he brought him into his household as the jester. Yunho remembered every punishment he witnessed whenever his father did not perform well. Seonghwa and his brothers might not engage in the same amusements, but they never spoke against it either. They went to the arena, enjoying the benefits of their station. They did not protest when they witnessed poor treatment in front of them. If they did, it was said with annoyance or boredom. 

“Let’s get something to eat, huh? Otherwise, we’ll be starving when we get there.” 

“I don't think I can.”

“Just try.”

Yunho supposed he could. The pair left the servant's quarters for the kitchen, which was starting to come to life. Other servants walked around in their uniforms, preparing for The Masters and Mistress to wake up for their usual routine. He saw Cook and Linette already arguing across the island counter, and the footmen fighting about who gets to drive the Masters to the hamlet. The laundress stood near the scullery, scolding a maid so harshly the girl might burst into tears. Yunho did not have it in him to intervene in any of these spats. He walked by Cook and Linette to a cupboard pantry, where he normally fixed his own breakfast, but couldn't find the desire to eat. 

“-Master Seonghwa asked for a special breakfast,” Cook's rough voice reached from behind him, “And that's what I'm making. She's going to just have to swallow it.”

“Lady YN doesn't want the prefixed breakfast. She wants her own.”

“Master Seonghwa is the Duke, so his orders trump over hers,” he retorted. “Yunho,” he called him, “Come here and tell this Imp-”

“-Imp?!”

“-That I ain't taking special orders today. Master Seonghwa has requested a pre-fixed menu, and that's what I'm following.”

Yunho sighed deeply, pinched the space between his eyes before finally turning around. “What does Lady YN want?” he asked Linette. 

“French toast with strawberries, hashbrowns and eggs,” she answered. “She doesn't want to eat what Master Seonghwa has picked.”

“Too fucking bad,” hissed Cook. “She can't get her way all the time. There's rules in this keep, last time I checked!”

“Cookie, enough,” Yunho said, patting his shoulder. “Linette, Cook is right. Master Seonghwa asked for a specific type of breakfast, and Cook has already gone about preparing it.”

“She's not going to-”

“-I'm sorry, but Cook is starting to fix everything,” Yunho said, trying to keep himself calm. Why did you have to complicate everything? Why couldn't high born people make everyone's lives easier and take what they’re given? The rest of them have to. “She will have to eat whatever-”

“-She's the Mistress of this-”

“-Tough shit,” he nearly snapped. “Master Seonghwa is the Master, A Duke of Lust, and an Heir to Asmodeus’s throne. His word is law around here. Even with the title she holds now, she's going to have to come to heel once in a while. If she has an issue with that, she can take it up with one of the Masters.” 

Takenaback by his response, Linette did not speak at first. “She said-”

“-I don't care,” he cut her off again. “That's my final word on the subject. Franny!” He called the laundress, “Keep shouting at that girl, and I will give you something to cry about! They are just sheets! They can be washed again!” He turned to the four footmen near the back door, “Edgar, you are driving Master Seonghwa, Hongjoong and San. Mingi will be driving Mistress YN. Daniel will valet for the Masters, and Joseph will valet for The Mistress. If I hear any more bickering, everyone is getting a whipping from me personally!” He looked to the room at large, “It is six o'clock in the morning, how can you all have the energy for this nonsense? Am I running a house staff or a nursery?!” 

He left the kitchen without another word. Yunho began wishing he had not left his room. He squeezed his eyes tight, his instincts carrying him to Seonghwa’s bed chamber, as he pictured his father’s last moments. He’d told Yunho to go home. He said he didn’t want him to see him this way. His aunt and cousins stayed behind to watch over him for Yunho, and called him regularly now that they had a phone. He pictured his father, broad and strong, laying brittle and pale in his bed. His usual warmth, Yunho remembered, slowly turned cold and stiff as time passed. It sapped life from him slowly. That lump came back to his throat and he forced it down. 

He couldn’t help thinking of the lord, Lord Authos, who was part of Prince Mammon’s court. Clearly wanting to gain favor with the Prince, he offered the possession job to low income workers who wanted to earn some extra money. Authos could easily have done it himself, but he felt himself too above such work. All nobles did. It’s why they didn’t do their own housekeeping or cooking. 

He walked into Seonghwa’s apartment, and already sensed a shift in the air. Yunho moved to the bedroom doors where he heard your soft moans. Of course. When are you not throwing yourself at the nearest person? It was likely with some kisses and teasing, you'll get your own breakfast and disrupt everyone else's routines. You didn't care. Why should you? An inconvenience to one is not an inconvenience to a lord or lady.  

He stopped himself. You weren't to blame for his father's death. You didn't even know. He hadn't told anyone aside from Mingi, Seonghwa and Linette. Mingi was right. You might be a bit overzealous with your desires, but you never forced yourself on him even with your new abilities. You’ve always treated him with respect and compassion. You’re certainly different from other ladies he’d served, and he shouldn’t take his anger out on you or any of his masters. 

But, a part of him simply could not help it. 

Yunho decided to tidy the room instead. He had no desire to interrupt and possibly be drawn into the act. He only wanted to push away the thought of his father lying helpless in a hospital bed. When he heard your final climax, he stopped fluffing pillows and knocked on the door. 

“Enter,” Seonghwa panted from behind the door. 

As expected, both you and Seonghwa laid tangled in one another. Fully nude, neither of you bothered covering yourselves when he entered. Not that he expected that. His eyes scanned over your body, taking in your shape and size from afar. The usual urge to fondle and kiss you came to him, but he’d learned long ago how to control those impulses. If he stopped to indulge every time he felt a trickle of arousal, he’d get no work done. He didn’t have all the time in the world like some people did. 

“Good Morning, my lord, my lady,” Yunho bowed. 

“Morning, Yunho,” you smiled at him. “Ooh, I like the ring. It’s new.” 

“I thought I’d try accessorizing today,” he half-lied. 

“It looks good. Is that a real opal?”

“It is.” 

“Greed demons only wear real gems,” said Seonghwa. “You’ll never catch one dead in imitation stuff.”

“What did Cook say about my breakfast, by the way?” you asked, sitting up and stretching. “I sent Linette to ask him about it.”

“What breakfast?” Seonghwa asked before Yunho could respond. “I already sent him a menu for today.”

“I saw it,” you said, “But I’ve been craving french toast with strawberries and powdered sugar lately and thought it was a good day to have them.”

“I’m sorry, my lady, but Cook only prepared the ingredients and supplies for Master Seonghwa’s fixed menu,” Yunho said. “He doesn’t have all the ingredients to make anything off that menu.”

“Well, can’t he just get it? The market isn’t that far. He can send someone to get the stuff, and he can make it.” 

‘Or you can stop being a brat and eat what you’re given.’ He thought sourly. 

“He doesn’t have anyone to spare,” Yunho answered honestly. 

You left Seonghwa’s side to kneel in front of him. In the morning light, your divinity glowed. He swept over your naked breasts, following a trail to your center where you kept yourself trimmed. Having just had Seonghwa, he spotted a distinct wetness on your inner thighs. When he met your eyes again, you gave him that typical flirtatious smirk of yours. A high born woman was the last person he saw himself pleasing today. No doubt you’d now use your seductive powers to get what you want from him. 

“But, surely with all your influence around here,” you said, reaching for his hand, “You could just talk to him for me? You’re one of the only people he actually listens to.”

“Because we respect the chain of command,” he replied, “Which is what we’re doing here. Master Seonghwa made an order, and we’re only following it.”

“I’m the Mistress around here. I think I have a bit more power than I used to, right?” You massaged his hand delicately, giving him a small pout. “I shouldn’t have to beg a servant to get what I want.”

“I’m sorry, Mistress,” he slipped his hand from your grasp, “But unless Master Seonghwa changes his mind, then there’s nothing we could really do for the situation.”

“But Yunho,” you brought him close, your naked body against his clothed one, “Aren’t I your goddess?”

He knew you’d use that line. The image of you taking advantage of him crossed his mind. You’d undress him, kissing down to his crotch where you’d eagerly suck him. If he couldn’t enjoy Linette’s lovely body or Mingi’s soft lips, he’d at least get yours. It’s not as if you’d say ‘no’. Everyone in the keep knew you could go for much longer and didn’t mind multiple lovers. But, he thought of the work he had to do downstairs. 

“You are,” he said, though it wasn’t your face that came to mind these days, “But goddess or not-”  

“-Kitten,” Seonghwa cut you off, “How about you start a bath for us? I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Or Yunho can do it with me,” you suggested, “Like he’s supposed to.” 

“YN,” his voice came more firmly, “Go, please.” 

You gave a short huff of contempt, but then slipped from the bed. 

Yunho busied himself tying back the curtains behind him when Seonghwa spoke. “It’s not her fault.”

“You spoil that girl,” he said, roughly tugging on the golden chords. “She might be a lady, but there’s a hierarchy around here, and you’re in charge. Not her.”

Seonghwa chuckled, “Try telling her that.”

“I’ve never understood the point of having a set routine if it is constantly broken,” he said. “She never eats when or what everyone else does. She never dresses accordingly. She never-”

“-Yunho, she isn’t to blame,” Seonghwa said harshly. “As you said, she’s a Lady of Eden-”

‘A whore of Eden, more like.’ 

“-And you’ll respect her.” 

‘Why? She doesn’t respect herself.’

He stopped himself again. 

“I’m sorry about your father, Yunho, but he entered into that agreement. He knew the risks before he went up there.”

“The man didn’t even pay him,” Yunho seethed. “He risks his life going up there to collect souls, and the bastard doesn’t pay him. He laughed. He fucking laughed.” His voice cracked, thinking of the highborn lord's wheezy laughter. “I asked him to pay up, and he laughed.” 

“Authos is a demon of greed.” 

“He knew my father could not disobey his orders, and took advantage of that for his own gain.” 

“Again: are you really that surprised?”

“It doesn’t make me any less angry.” 

“I know it doesn't, but lashing out at others is not going to heal anything. It’ll only fuel your anger more.”

“Good. Somebody should be angry.” 

“Carry on with your duties, Yunho,” he said with a sigh. “I want everyone on the road by nine o’clock. The hamlet is far, and it’ll take forever to get there. See that Cook makes YN’s breakfast, please.” 

“Yes, my lord.”

He bowed and left the room. Seonghwa didn’t understand. He has never had to answer to anyone, not even his lecherous, indifferent father. If Yunho’s father had refused the task, he would’ve been whipped or worse, and then forced to go. Authos knew his father needed the money. He knew about his father’s gambling debts; he knew about the loan sharks that constantly dogged him, and how deep in the hole he’d gotten. Yunho’s salary combined with his did not make the cut. None of them understood that. Right as he walked out of Seonghwa’s apartment, a high voice called out to him from nearby. 

“Yunho,” Master Hongjoong stood by his open door, tying his black robe around his waist. Cherry red hair slightly tousled from sleep, he still had the bleary eyed look of having woken up. “Yunho, make sure Cook brings out the riesling for breakfast. Seonghwa prepared a light breakfast, from what he told me.”

Wine for breakfast? “Of course, my lord. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Thanks,” he beamed, then escaped back into his room. 

It wasn’t long before the third master of the house appeared. A towel draped over his shoulders, sweat matting his black hair, Master San grinned at him happily. “Yunho, glad I ran into you,” he said, dabbing his forehead. A morning run. How nice to have such leisure time. His father would be getting ready to amuse the lords right now. “Can you make sure that Cook makes my eggs over medium? Over-easy is too runny for me.”

“I’ll let him know right away, my lord,” he bowed. 

“Thank you, Yunho.” 

At least he gets a ‘thank you’. He never received that from other lords or ladies. Yunho knew, as he walked back to the kitchen, that he was incredibly lucky. If he worked for any other lord, he’d be whipped on the spot for his attitude. Seonghwa might sympathize after his childhood in the slums, but he was still part of the upper class. The nobility. The people who made other peoples’ lives miserable simply because they could. One would think that kind of treatment would be given to sinners and mortals, not their fellow demons. 

“Cook,” he approached the demon by the stoves, flipping bacon on a flat-top grill, “Master Seonghwa has approved of Mistress YN’s breakfast order.”

“What?!” he growled at once, cutting up the bacon with his spatula, “You’re toying with me, boy.”

“I’m afraid not. You’ll have to send someone to get the ingredients for it.”

“I don’t have enough hands,” he gestured to the four cooks around him. “The market is an hour away from here. Tell him I can’t.”

“I’ll send one of the servants, then. Master Seonghwa is the Master of the House. He gets what he wants.”

“Hmpfh, they all get what they want,” he grumbled. “Back in my day, the women did what the men told them or else got a black eye. He lets that little nympho-”

“-Cookie,” Yunho said sternly, “Don’t get riled up again or you’ll irritate your hip.” From what he knew, Cook sustained his lifelong injury from holy magic centuries ago. It never healed right. 

He took the chopped bacon off the grill, “Alright, alright. What did she want again?”

It won’t heal his wounds, but it could be fun to see their faces. “She said french toast with blueberries and cream.” He then added, “And don’t shoot the messenger, but Master Hongjoong asked for chardonnay with his breakfast wine and Master San wants his eggs over easy.” 

He growled, fangs flashed for the briefest moment. “Any other special requests while you’re here, Jeong?”

“No. Everything else stays as is.”

He gruffed, then went back to the grill. Yunho walked to the coffee station where the servants prepared their own drinks. He mused over how his father loved coffee, and what a luxury it was to the lower classes. One might think greed demons draped themselves in precious metals and gems, wore fine designer clothes and drove flashy cars. The ignorant thought they drank fine wines and ate rare and exotic dishes. It might be true of the wealthy, but not the poor. Not like him and his father, who had nothing. Yunho worked hard to get the things he had now, while people like Seonghwa and his brothers simply received it. Stirring fine sugar into the rich, dark drink, he recalled what his father once told him. 

‘Enjoy the finer things slowly, Son. We don’t get them very often.’ 

He’d said this when he caught Yunho greedily shoving chocolate in his mouth. Another rarity. Yunho normally lets his resentment float away in the air, but not today. 

****

The feast disgusted him. Standing by the kitchen door, he watched maids take plates of food upstairs. Chilled fruits, fresh baked goods, steaming breakfast potatoes, sausages and bacon, and various types of jams and spreads went by him on silver platters. Fresh squeezed orange juice, cold milk, and hot coffee were carried up in carafes. Seonghwa, San and Hongjoong would be eating a special kind of frittata with zucchini and fresh herbs, accompanied with rations of bacon and crusty bread. His father usually ate a hunk of bread or a bowl of cornmeal mush with mint tea. Hardly the food of kings. 

Or dukes. 

“The wine Master Hongjoong requested, sir,” a servant said to Yunho, showing the bottle for his inspection. 

“Perfect,” he grinned. “Thank you, Diana.” 

Yunho typically then worked with the housekeeping staff to tidy up the apartments, but instead, he went upstairs behind the maids. He wanted to see it with his own eyes. He saw the masters and mistress sitting at their dining table, a table decorated in a fine cloth and real silver candlesticks with fresh flowers. This dining room was larger than the poor mountain shacks back home. He watched the servants put down the trays around the table, then the magic began. 

“Um, Yunho,” you said first, staring down at your plate, “I’d asked for strawberries and sugar. This is, like, the opposite.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.” 

In front of you was a stack of fluffy slices of french toast with cream and jam in between, topped with blueberries. He knew people who’d be more than grateful to have such a sweet, filling breakfast. Yet, you pouted over the slight change. 

“I’m sorry, my lady,” he said. “Cook must’ve misheard me. He’s been distracted lately. His hip must be bothering him again.”

“Then Cook must be really off, because I asked for my eggs over medium,” said San, who examined his eggs. “Didn’t you tell him about it, Yunho?”

“I did, of course, sir.”

“He also got the riesling and chardonnay confused,” said Hongjoong, who sipped the drink from a wine glass with a silver stem. Real silver, not painted wood. “But, no big deal. It’s still just as good.” 

Your disappointment healed something inside him. “I guess this is okay,” you said, cutting into it and taking a bite. “It’s amazing either way. Like, Cook is a genius.”

“The man’s been around since before Lucifer’s fall. He worked for Beelzebub before our dad hired him. It's why he gets away with everything.” 

“Tell Cook thanks,” you told Yunho, “And that I hope his hip gets better. He’s a mean ol’ grouch, but he’s our mean ol’ grouch.” 

You took a big bite of the french toast, cream ending up on the sides of your mouth. Seeing the mess brought images of the last time you put him in your mouth. It’d been sloppy and rough, involving him choking you with it. He had indulged you because you’d kissed him beforehand. You’d learned how to control the dosage of your kisses, knowing light pecks only lasted an hour while deep kisses kept one going all day. Yunho did see the downsides even if other people did not: it was physically taxing and draining. He didn’t have the time for that. 

Not with you, anyway. 

“Will you be requiring anything else, my lords?” he asked the family at large. 

“No, thank you, Yunho,” Seonghwa answered, picking up the newspaper he’d been handed. “You may finish packing up.”

He left the staff to clean up after breakfast service, and started preparing for departure to the meadows. While the family went off to enjoy their day, everyone else kept working. His father never had a day off. Jesters are meant to be “on” every day from sunup to sun down. He only stopped when his masters went to sleep; the same fate his son shared now. The only difference was Yunho got Sundays off. 

Such was the life of the lowborn. 

“On a scale of one to ten,” Mingi said when he approached the carriage outside, “How disappointed are you that your little plan backfired?”

Yunho sighed, “About a three. In the end, it was childish and petty. Deep down, I shouldn’t be blaming them for what another demon lord did.” 

“You're lucky Master Seonghwa can’t read your mind. You'd be in trouble for sure.” He then said, “How about you, me and Linette get a drink tonight when they've gone to sleep? Asmodeus has the best bartenders who can sneak us the good stuff.”

“Alright.”

Everyone got into their places when the front doors opened and the four masters came out. Seeing them in their tailored clothes and expensive jewelry, smelling of fine perfumes, his resentment for the higher classes grew. He watched Hongjoong and San slide into your carriage while Seonghwa rode alone. What sort of change had you demanded now? He didn’t care. He’d be riding with Linette and some of the staff. At least, that was what he thought. 

“Yunho,” you called to him sweetly, “Come ride with me.”

He noticed the short sundress you'd thrown on, and couldn't look away. The deep V neck line plunged between your breasts, making them more noticeable to him. The last time he touched them came to mind, your hard nipples being teased by his tongue. Linette had been there, stroking him while you both shoved your tits in his face. 

“Oh, I'm already riding with-”

“-And now you can ride with me,” he saw the glimmer of flirtation in your eyes. “I know you got my order wrong on purpose,” you said with a sly smile. “You can make it up to me in the car.”

“He's already riding with me,” Seonghwa poked out his head from his carriage window. 

“But Seonghwa-”

“-He is my butler. He rides with me.”

You huffed, and walked off. Yunho couldn't ignore the pang of disappointment. He watched your dress swish along the backs of your thighs. If he couldn't have Linette and her sweet lips, he could at least have enjoyed yours instead. 

“Yunho, come along now.”

Unable to refuse, Yunho climbed inside the carriage. He'd been looking forward to riding with the others. There are so few chances for down time in their line of work, and he wanted to take advantage of it. He hadn't spent much time with Linette, and he would've liked to be with her. Seonghwa pulled out a deck of cards as the carriage began rolling. Yunho’s lip curled slightly knowing how this ride would end. 

“She can be incorrigible,” he said, expertly shuffling the deck. “I suppose the railing I gave her wasn't enough.”

“She is part succubus, sir.”

“We're both incubi, Yunho, and we can control it just fine.”

“She might still be trying to control that part of herself. It's hard to learn that when everyone enables her.”

“We enable her, hm?”

“Yes, my lord. If she is accustomed to getting what she wants, then she'll  see no reason to control her urges.”

“Is that why you're always rejecting her?”

“I reject her because not all of us have the time in the world. We have work to do.” 

“But when you have no work and are stuck in a carriage with her for a long trip?” he suggested, a knowing glint in his eyes. “She loves big ones, and you're…considerable.”

“Well, if that were the case, I wouldn't mind indulging her.” He'll admit, the idea of you half naked, moaning and bouncing in his lap sounded nice. Though, Linette sounded so much better. “She's…”

“A horny nymph that knows exactly what to do to lure you into her bed,” Seonghwa finished amusedly. 

“Yes.”

“You should have seen her when you left,” he said. “She whined that she wanted you to join. I explained to her what has been going on with you, and she stopped after that.” Seonghwa eyed the ring on Yunho's finger. “That is a nice ring though. Where did you get it?”

“Family heirloom,” he answered. Glad to have a topic aside from you, he grabbed at it. “It came with my father’s things. It belonged to one of my ancestors; I don't know which one. It was the most expensive thing he owned.”

“It must’ve been hard for him,” he began dealing out cards. “Greed demons love money and gold.”

“But not all of us have it,” he said, picking up his hand as it came. “I sent him money every payday to keep him at least comfortable, and he gambled a good chunk of it away. He was drowning in his debts, and always needed money.” 

“What about your mother? You never talk about her.”

Yunho’s heart ripped another hole. “She was killed by an angel,” he said. “She was a demon of wrath.”

“I thought you were pureblooded.”

Yunho shook his head, “They told me they met in the inner city at a gambling den. She was a guard; my father was a jester.” 

“Well, that explains your strength ability,” he huffed, putting a card back and picking up another, “Can that be the reason you leave my Kitten so sore when you’re done with her?” he smirked. “She tells me you become a different person when you’re hard.”

“I suppose. Her kisses only make it worse.”

“Ha, that they do,” he snorted. “She knows the power she holds and isn't afraid to use it now. It’s how she gets her way.”

“That and that she has you wrapped around her fingers, sir. I never knew a Son of Asmodeus to cave to his submissive’s charms so easily.” 

Seonghwa smirked, “She’s very persuasive, as you well know. You oblige her.”

“She’s my mistress. I have to cater to her every whim.” 

“Then, you can cater to her at the party. I'd like you to come with us,” he said next. He hissed when Yunho showed his winning hand, and took back all the cards. He started shuffling again as he said, “My father's butlers are fine, but they don't know us the way you do.”

“I'm not going to be a toy,” Yunho said sternly. 

“You won’t be,” he assured him. “You’ll be there to serve, not to entertain.”

“Both are the same thing to that crowd.” 

“Not with me. Now,” he started dealing the cards again, “Let’s put in bets this time. It makes things more interesting.” 

By the time they reached Asmodeus’s territory, Seonghwa lost a ring, a watch and most of his money. 

“Maybe I shouldn’t play against someone who can block me from their mind,” Seonghwa said, chuckling at his misfortune. It must be nice when one doesn’t have to worry about going broke. 

The sun shone high above the flowery meadows that stretched for miles, smelling of wildflowers and fresh air. It made for a romantic, tranquil sight as they drove through the dirt road. He imagined the flowers might carry some sort of alluring enchantment to draw people closer to his massive mansion in the countryside. They would be travelling to the countryside home reserved for the three masters. A hamlet set on the side of a large lake, there were two distinct areas: the main house, and the servant’s house. Yunho couldn’t help noticing the much larger main house could easily fit more people, while the servant house was smaller. 

Clearly, the royal ego needed the extra room. 

“I forgot how gorgeous this place is,” Seonghwa softly grinned. “When was the last time we were here, Yunho?”

“Four years ago, my lord.” 

The ride from the keep gave him a chance to cool down, so now his exhaustion finally hit him. But, there was work to be done. His own belongings would have to wait until the family was settled in. Immediately, Yunho began directing the footmen on where the masters’ luggage belonged. Seonghwa took the bedroom that overlooked the gardens; Hongjoong preferred the lakeside view, and San favored the room facing the meadow. Since it’s meant to house guests, you took up the room beside Seonghwa. No doubt he will discreetly tell you about the hidden door connecting the two bedrooms. Yunho unfortunately knew about the servant pathways behind the walls. To avoid disturbing the family and their guests, servants used these paths to get from one part of the house to the other without being seen. Cook told him the ones back in the keep were used for that before Seonghwa took over. 

He spent the afternoon preparing the different bedrooms, and then went to the kitchen for lunch service. He’d been inspecting the produce for bruises or rot when Linette appeared in the kitchen.

“Don’t you dare come to me with any special requests, girl,” Cook warned from the large walk-in cooler. “The menus are already set.” 

“She just wants a snack tray for lunch,” Linette said. “Green grapes, sliced ham and turkey, those little cheese cubes, and some crackers. Don’t say you don’t have them, because you do. She put it on her list.” 

“What’s wrong with what I am serving?” he asked, affronted. “It’s going to be a masterpiece. How could she want a silly snack tray instead?” 

“She isn’t that hungry after the breakfast she had,” she shrugged. “Can’t you just do it? She’s our mistress, and we have to go along with her wishes.” 

“Damned woman,” he grumbled, grabbing his apron and going back into the walk-in. “All the work we have to do and now I have…never in my years have I…should’ve stayed with Beezelbub…” 

Yunho felt her eyes fall on him, and he ignored her gaze. He pictured those big brown eyes surveying him from afar, likely trying to read his mood. If anyone other than Mingi stirred something inside him, it was Linette. 

“Yunho?” she walked over to him, “How are you?” 

“I’m well.”

She came around the counter to stand next to him. Yunho sometimes forgot how beautiful Linette really was. Enchanting and charming, the natural light highlighted her golden dark brown skin, and gave her curls a shine. She’d worn it back in a high slicked up ponytail, letting the curls fall freely at the end.  He gazed over her full lips, recalling their sweetness from the lip balm she wore, and thought of kissing them. He thought of holding her smaller frame in his large one, drowning his senses in her. Everything in his heart weighed him down, and he longed for a quiet moment with her. 

“No, really,” she said. “How are you feeling? I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to you since your father passed.” 

“I said I’m well.”

“Yunho,” she drew closer to him, “Please, don't shut me out.”

Yunho paused, feeling her warm hands on his arm. “It’s a lot,” he admitted, putting the apples in a bowl. He swallowed back the lump again. “I’d rather not get into it right now.” 

“Okay,” she nodded. “We can talk later tonight then? Mingi wants to get drinks from the bar. The three of us could drink together and catch up.” 

A smile broke his stone face, cheeks getting warm. “Catch up, hm?”

“You can call it that, if you want,” she smirked. “I personally call it a bit of stress-relief,” she said in his ear, lips brushing the outer edge. “Your girl has been extra good lately. Shouldn't I get a little reward for that-”

“-Don’t,” he cut her off, “Or you might get it sooner than you intended.” 

She smiled, “Is that a promise?” 

He finally turned to see her. She no longer wore the black and white uniform of the rest of the staff. Hers was a light lavender that ended around her thighs. The first three buttons remained unopened, and from the right angle he saw her ample cleavage. When he really looked, he noticed a golden chain just beneath her collar. His heart warmed knowing that she wore the ring even under her clothes. Golden with the words “my beloved” engraved inside, it had been his mother’s wedding ring. She wore it in a necklace since it might get lost with the type of work she did. Yunho didn’t mind. Her simply wearing it made him happy. 

“Will you be entertaining tonight?” he asked, unable to control the slight possessiveness he felt over her sometimes. 

“Mistress YN said I could if I wanted,” she said. “There will be a lot of good looking lords and ladies there, but I don't want any of them.” She paused, “Will you be going or staying here?”

“Master Seonghwa wishes for me to go,” he replied. “On a serving basis only, not entertainment.”

“Shame,” she pouted, “I thought we could sneak away once they all start drinking and have our own party somewhere.” She glanced at Cook, who had his back turned, and leaned in closer, “I miss you in my bed. Mingi comes to me still, but I miss having you. It’s not the same.” 

“I haven’t been in the mood.”

“Even for me and Mingi?”

“Yes. I haven’t…felt up to it, that’s all. It isn’t you,” he added when he saw her frown. “You are the most beautiful woman I know, it’s that…”

“You’re still upset,” she finished for him. “I understand. It’s why I haven’t bothered you, but after I saw you explode in the kitchen,” she smiled bashfully and looked away, “I’ve been kind of turned on.” 

“What?”

“I’ve never seen you break like that before,” she said. She looked back up at him, “It was sexy. You’re usually so cool and calm even when you’re angry. Seeing you be so open turned me on a bit.” 

“If your mistress keeps pushing my buttons, you might see more of it.” 

“Maybe I can push them too?” 

She moved to press against him, but then a ringing bell caught their attention. Yunho saw the bell in Seonghwa's bedroom ringing, and wondered what he could possibly need now. 

“Later?” He turned to Linette. 

“Later,” she said, “If our mistress doesn't swipe you from me first.”

She tiptoed to kiss his cheek, then walked back over to Cook. Yunho put off his work to go to Seonghwa’s bedroom. Standing outside the door, he heard voices rising. 

“-I told you not to bring that thing with you! I specifically said it! I said ‘Kitten, bring whatever you like except that beast’!’”

“Oh, leave her alone! She's not hurting anyone.”

Yunho knew right away what Seonghwa referred to: Minnie, the miniature version of Octavius you'd created. The untrained plant slunk around your bedroom, being treated more like a dog than a plant. It hissed and growled at everyone except you. She bit and nearly strangled one of the footmen. She liked tearing up furniture, leaving her slimy trails everywhere, and eating everything in sight. Seonghwa warned you to keep her under control and properly train her. From what Linette said, it was not going well. Yunho didn't think you'd bring her with you. 

“She tore up my couch cushions, YN, and nearly killed one of the footmen,” he replied firmly. “I can't believe you brought her when I said not to.”

“I can bring her wherever I want,” you argued. “She's my baby.”

“She's a menace,” he retorted. “Look, she's eating my boots!”

“Minnie, no! Bad girl!”

Yunho heard a low growl be soothed into a soft purr. “She doesn't know any better,” you said. “She's only a baby.”

“A baby who needs proper training.”

“I have been training her. She's a work in progress.”

“I don't want her here. I told you to leave her at home.”

“I'm not a slave anymore. I don't have to listen to you if I don't want to,” you'd remarked. You sounded like a child. Yunho told him it was a mistake to let you keep it. “It's too late to send her back. I'll keep her in my room, I promise.”

“Fine,” he said defeatedly. “Just get her out of here before she eats the rest of my stuff.”

Opening the door, you stood slightly startled to find him there. In your arms was the bulbous green and purple plant with its thin vines acting like arms. No eyes, Minnie used the long tendrils to feel her way around. Yunho once told Linette he didn't see the beast lasting long. Either it wilts away and dies, gets lost or finally hits the masters’ last nerves.

“Yunho,” you said, taking in his presence, “Can you see if Cook has any spare meat for Minnie? She's hungry.”

“Yes, my lady.” The damn thing was always hungry. 

“Awesome, thanks! You can just bring it to my room.”

You beamed appreciatively and walked away. Yunho entered the apartment to find Seonghwa flopping down into a chair. He immediately went to work fixing a drink for his master, who took it gratefully. 

“I can't believe she brought that thing with her,” he groaned. “Now it's going to destroy the house.”

“I'll ask Jongho to keep a close eye on it, my lord.”

“I specifically asked her not to,” he continued, taking a drink. “She never listens.”

“Perhaps you should start reigning her in more,” he suggested. “You are the Master of this household. Not her. She should at the very least listen to what you have to say.”

“Are you saying I should spank her more often, Yunho?” he leered. “Or would you like to do it yourself?”

“If you wish to pass the job onto me, then I will do it, my lord.” The thought of you across his lap, weeping and whimpering as he spanked you hard crossed his mind. “She could use one.” 

He imagined you, so high and mighty, kicking your feet and wriggling as his spanking grew harsher. You'd get wet, no doubt, seeping from both holes as your arousal grew. Unlike his masters, he wouldn't give you the pleasure you needed until you earned it. A proper lesson isn't learned if there's a reward at the end. 

“It'd be a delicious sight, huh?” he asked. 

“She's…” 

“Been teasing you all morning. I've noticed. You're the hardest one for her to get into bed. I imagine it bugs her.”

“I have work to do. Was there something you needed from me, my lord?”

“Yes,” he said, drinking from his glass, “Can you make sure lunch is served in the garden? It's gorgeous outside and I'd like to enjoy the view.”

That was all? He called him away from Linette for that? “Yes, sir.” 

He bowed and went back towards the kitchen to relay the order. With everyone busy working on lunch service, Yunho went into the walk-in for strips of beef for the plant. He thought of giving the order to Linette or Jongho, but they were busy attending to your room. He put a few slices on a silver platter.

“I know you aren’t taking my Grade A, prime beef up to the beast, boy,” Cook said as he chopped onions. “That's dinner.”

“I only took a small portion,” Yunho said. 

“Why can’t you just find a hellcat or a bird and use that?”

“I’m sure it’ll find one eventually. Cook,” he sighed defeatedly, “I don’t like this any more than you. We must make do with what we have on hand.”

“Hmpf.” Despite his reaction, Cook knew he was right. “Back in my day,” Cook gruffed, pushing the onion aside, “Ladies had hellcats and hounds, not plants that eat everything in sight.”

“Oh, that’s not true and you know it,” Yunho chuckled, walking past him. “Mistress Minyoung once had a two-headed snake that kept strangling everyone, remember?”

This lightened the old demon’s mood somewhat, and Yunho went back upstairs. 

Entering your room, he should have known what he'd really be walking into: you half naked on the chaise couch by the window. You'd stripped off your dress to reveal the hot pink lingerie underneath, showing off the body he drooled over. 

“Ah, you brought Minnie's food,” you smiled, strategically laying on your front, hugging a pillow so he saw your whole figure. “Minnie, baby! Lunch!”

Minnie slunk from a leafy bed in the corner towards Yunho. She hissed, baring sharp fangs and waving her tentacles, and went for his ankles. Yunho nearly kicked her before tossing the food away. When she went towards it, he scowled before turning back to you. His eyes lingered on your chest again. He already knew of their softness and sensitivity. He loved flicking his tongue on them to hear you whine his name. Yunho could not help worshipping you every time he indulged. The only woman whose body beat yours was Linette, whom he adored. 

“Thank you, Yunho,” you said, making a point to grind as if getting into a comfortable angle. “You're always so helpful.”

“It's my job, my lady. If that is all, I have work.”

“You work too much,” you said, “That's not good. All work and no play?” 

“Not all of us have the luxury of getting to play all day,” he said as calmly as possible. Why did you all insist on wasting his time? “If you need nothing else-”

“-Not even a few minutes for your Mistress?” You pouted as you rolled onto your back, spreading your legs. He could see your shaved cunt through the flimsy underwear. “For your goddess?” you teased, giggling at his rosy cheeks.

He stepped forwards, walking to where you sat, “That depends…” Yunho suddenly wrapped his hand around your throat, keeping you in place on the couch, “Do you deserve it?” 

“Yunho…”

“Because sluts like you should work for what they want,” he said, his other hand going down your body to your center. Long fingers danced up and down your slit, prodding through the fine fabric keeping you apart. “If the masters won’t do it, I’ll gladly take up the task for them.”

“Yunho,” you said, surprised but not displeased, “What's gotten into you?”

He bent down to you, then said in a low voice, “You. You have been teasing me all day,” he traced lazy circles over your center which caused you to wriggle under him. “You've been flashing those tits of yours at me. You've been suggestive and forward. I bet if I'd ridden with you, I would've been the one getting a ride.” He gave your sex a light tap, sneering at your reaction. “Pathetic little slut,” he said, tapping it again, “Sex is all you think about, isn't it? Hm?”

“Yes,” you murmured, breath getting heavier as your arousal built up. 

“Well, so do I,” another smack, “And you don't see me dropping my pants every two minutes to get off. Some of us don't have the privilege of such free time.” He slapped your pussy once more, harsher than the last. “We have to work. We have things to do,” he gave another slap, “You should be more aware of that.”

“Yunho,” you whined, “Stop. It hurts.” 

If it truly did hurt, you would've forced him off you with your vines or sic your pet on him. Yunho knew you did want it. You'd been wanting it all morning. 

“It's supposed to hurt,” he said, rubbing your stinging center soothingly. “It's a punishment. I mean a real one, not what Master Hongjoong does. You're not going to get any dick from me. Only good sluts get my dick in them.”

“But I'm your-”

“-Right now, you're a bratty bitch who needs to learn her lesson,” he smacked your pussy again. 

He then roughly rolled you over onto your front, and lifted your ass into the air. Your soft giggle and surprised yelp told him you wanted this. If he truly sensed you didn’t, he would stop. Even if he resented your social class, he’d never hurt you on purpose. 

His large hand holding your wrists behind your back, he began landing hard spanks to your buttocks. Your cries sent blood pumping to his cock. They were the pathetic, childish whines that spankings produced; you wriggled around in every spank, but did not do much to escape him. Yunho grew harder seeing your cheeks move to the quick, hard hits. The feeling of his fingers hitting it felt good. The movement gave him that power he desperately wanted over you. He knew you'd be positively wet when he finished, begging to be touched at the very least. He wouldn't give into you.

“I'm not your boyfriends,” he said. “I won't fuck you just because you want it. You have to earn that with me.” 

The room became louder with the sounds of your painful cries and his hand meeting your ass. Touching it with the back of his hand, he felt the tender heat coming off them. Hongjoong always kept his spankings short nowadays, honestly holding back more than he did with regular maids. Yunho wasn't like that. Everyone received the same punishment the same way. He smacked your ass and the backs of your thighs a bit longer before stopping. 

He slackened his grip and gazed over you. He saw you laying there breathless, and eyeing his bulge. You must think you’ll be getting him now, but he’d love to deny you that. Not even Linette received a single inch when she misbehaved with him. 

“Have you learned your lesson?” he asked, hand smoothing over your tender ass. 

“I’m telling Seonghwa,” you cried, sniffling softly. 

“I asked you a question: have you learned your lesson?”

“I’m your mistress. You’re supposed to do what I say.”

Yunho shrugged, “Clearly not.” 

His hand fell down faster, swatting each cheek until you were wriggling away from him. Whenever you drew too far up the couch, he dragged you back down. Seeing your wet panties, he pushed your legs apart and started slapping it again. This caused you to jump, quaking from the lighter smacks he put to it. 

“Now?” he asked, rubbing your swollen sex and feeling it throb on his finger tips. 

“It’s not fair,” you sobbed into the cushions. 

“It sounds more than fair to me,” he replied, “Maybe I should do it in a way that you’d understand.”

Tugging off his tie, he bound your wrists together with an intricate knot. “Stay still,” he said, giving your thigh a smack when you shimmied away from him. He withdrew his cock from his pants, feeling it pulsate in his hand, and pressed it to your flimsy underwear. “If you even try to cum, I’m stopping,” he warned, softly groaning at your swollen lips against his tip. “This is for me to enjoy, not you.”

“You’re supposed to do what I say. I want you to fuck me.”

“And you’re supposed to stay still,” he spanked you once more, “Or I leave and give my cock to somebody else.” 

“It’s mine!”

“No, it’s not.” 

He rolled his tip around your clit, tapping it lightly and tracing it. You quaked under him, and he heard your frustration. It didn’t bother him at all. 

“Your masters are going to punish you,” you cried, sobbing when he smacked your ass once more. “Really, really, bad, for what you’re doing to me.”

“Psh, are you kidding me?” he chuckled, enjoying the light feeling of your panties on his cock. “They’d probably stay and watch. You asked for this.”

You kicked your feet, nearly escaping him before he maneuvered you to have your legs together. This folded you in half, him straddling your legs to keep you in place. He continued teasing you through your underwear, wetting his cock in the process. He’ll admit, he was tempted to stick himself inside you, but he knew better. That’d be giving you what you want, and you wouldn’t get that here. Once they were wet enough, Yunho pushed his tip into your hole. They only let him go an inch or so inside, but that was enough to please him. 

“Yunho!” you cried, “Please put it in.”

“Not until you’ve learned your lesson.”

“You have to do it.”

“I don’t have to do anything.” 

When you tried pushing back into him, he stopped. “What did I tell you?��� he slapped the side of your thigh. “Huh? What did I say about staying still?”

“Keep going!”

“What did I say, bitch?” he asked more harshly, “Answer me when I speak to you.”

“Seonghwa!” you called out, and that only made him harder. “Yunho’s being-”

“-Your boyfriend isn’t going to help you,” he said. As much as he didn’t want to, he pulled away from you. “If you’re going to keep being bad, you’re not getting anything now.”

“No!”

“I told you what would happen, and you continued to be disobedient. There’s consequences to bad behavior.”

“San! San, help!”

“Keep calling him, nothing’s going to happen.” He got off the couch, “Maybe I should leave you here to think about your behavior. I’ll come back when you’ve understood it better.”

“Hongjoong will punish you for me. You’ll see,” you spat back, still playing with him, “He’ll whip you for doing this to me.”

“You talk too much,” he sighed irritably, grabbing his handkerchief. He roughly stuffed it into your mouth, “You should learn to keep your mouth shut. Good girls speak when they’re spoken to. Now,” he began putting himself back in his pants, “I’ll be back after lunch. We can continue this then.” 

Right as he planned to leave, someone else walked in. Linette, holding your snack tray, stood in slight shock as she spotted you on the couch. She took in your puffy eyes and guessed what might have happened. 

“Yunho,” she said, her eyes wide, “What are you doing?”

“Mistress YN has been a brat. I’m simply correcting that behavior.”

“You could get into real trouble for this. Mistress, are you okay?” She put her tray down and walked over to you, removing the handkerchief. “I promise Yunho isn’t like this really. He normally asks first or knows if you want it. Please, don’t feed him to Minnie or send him to the greenhouse. He’s been going through a lot lately, and-”

“-Linette, it’s okay,” you sniffled, giggling. “Really.”

“It is?” she asked. “I…Um, okay…Well, let me untie you. Your lunch is-Yunho! What are you doing?”

He sometimes loved his strength. Lifting her from the floor, Yunho placed Linette on the coffee table next to the chaise. On her back, he had full access to her body. The arousal she’d likely been feeling all day flared up at the touch of his hands. His dick hardened even more once her tits were in his hands. 

“What are you doing?” she asked again, laughing softly at his eagerness. 

“I’m going to show our mistress what good girls get,” he said, kissing her neck. 

“Yunho!” Linette giggled, but doing nothing to stop him as he tore at the buttons of her dress.

Soon, he saw the white bra covering her soft breasts. He roughly tugged it down to start sucking and licking her dark nipples. The smooth skin slowly tightened at his tongue, which he moved along with slow swirls. Yunho glanced over to see you watching with a frown, biting your lower lip as the sight kept you going. It felt good. For once, a high born wanted something from him and not the other way around. He kissed further down Linette’s body, feeling her soft stomach and thighs to discover her bare sex inches from his face. 

“No panties,” he growled, kissing her inner thighs as he knelt at the other end. “Such a good girl.” 

“I wanted to make it easier for you,” she said, her back arching when he licked at her clit. “I’ve been wanting your dick in me all morning.” 

“So has your mistress,” he kissed the spot of essence coming out of her. “She’s been teasing me since I woke her up today.” He looked over at you, “Good girls don’t tease. Only bratty girls do, isn’t that right, Linnie?” he went back to licking her folds as she answered. 

“Yes, sir,” she moaned, propping up on her elbows to watch him eat her out. 

“I’m telling my boyfriends what you’re doing,” you said, pouting. “Then they’ll tell you that you have to fuck me.”

“That’ll only be after they’ve each had their turn,” he replied, enjoying Linette’s sweet taste. He chuckled when she squirmed at his rapid flicking. He held her in place as he continued, licking her in swift circles. “Linette never gives me sloppy seconds,” he said, “Not even with Mingi. She lets me have the first round, don’t you?” 

“Yes,” she whimpered, biting her lower lip. “I always fuck you first, sir. I love your cock so much. Please, can I have it now? I’ve been a good girl.” 

“You always are.”

He stood up, pushing her legs far apart and plunged into her. Yunho gazed over at you, and saw you become breathless. In your position, you couldn’t do anything to stimulate your pussy. You could only watch and imagine it being you. Yunho lifted Linette’s legs so you saw his thickness stretching her out. It reminded him of the first time he saw you with someone. It had been with San in his apartment, where he took you on the dining table. Yunho knew then he’d do anything to have you wrapped around him, but you’d belonged to his masters, so you were therefore unattainable. 

Then he looked down at Linette. Panting and whining, she played with her breasts while he thrusted. While sex with you was fueled by your kisses and touches, Linette’s was natural and meaningful. He bent down to capture her lips, opening them to brush on her tongue. His arousal burned deep inside him the longer her walls dragged along his length. She felt so good. You felt equally good. Were it not your punishment, the three of you would be on the couch together. 

“I need you,” he whispered to her, kissing her neck and kneading her tits. “So badly.”

She started pushing down to meet his hips. He stayed still as she tightened her pussy and easily milked him. Euphoria pumped through him like a drug. He started pumping Linette faster, relishing in the sounds she made as he angled himself to hit her g-spot repeatedly. 

“Turn me around,” Linette pleaded, legs resting on his shoulders. “I love it when you fuck me from behind. You go so much deeper that way.”

When Linette guided him back inside, he grabbed her full, round cheeks. She cried out at the sharp smack he gave, and she knew what to do. Hands flat on the table, legs spread apart, she stayed still as he continued his steady pace. He turned to see you watching, slightly squirming as your arousal continued. 

“You see, YN,” he said, “This is what good girls get to have.” He made long, slow strokes that made Linette claw at the table, “They get to have every inch of my dick inside them. No teasing. No edging. Just each inch and every drop of cum I can give them. Doesn’t that sound nice?” He chuckled when you nodded, “So, you'll behave from now on?”

You nodded again. He noticed something crawling in the corner of his eye, and he instantly stopped. “That thing is not fucking you,” he said firmly, despite the Linette’s whining. 

Minnie had slunk to your couch, likely smelling your juices, and wanting to feed from you. It had already made its way up one leg to your center, wriggling a tendril at it. You shivered as the creature’s vines tore off your panties with ease. 

“Minnie, no,” you kicked at it, “Bad girl. No feeding.”

Minnie growled, angry at being denied, but persisted. She strapped herself to your thighs, then slithered a tentacle over your cunt. In your compromised state, you couldn’t reach to rip her from you, so Yunho did it. The beast hissed and tried biting his arm, but he tossed it away before it could do anything else. 

“That’s the first good thing you’ve done since I walked in here,” he said, still pumping into Linette. “Maybe you are learning.” 

“See? I can be good too,” you whimpered. “Can I have it now?”

“Not yet,” he said. He looked down at Linette, “Linnie hasn’t finished yet.” He grabbed both her arms to hold behind her, effectively bouncing her on his cock, “Such a sweet girl,” he grunted, mesmerized by the sight of her ass meeting his hips, “A sweet girl with an even sweeter pussy.” 

“And it’s all yours!”

“All mine?”

“Yes!”

“Good. As it should be.” 

“Please, Yunho,” you pleaded, “I promise I’ll be a good girl from now on. I won’t tease you anymore. I’ll give you my pussy only when you ask. I’ll do whatever you want. Just come fuck my tight, wet pussy, please.” 

“But, I have Linette right here,” he said, slamming into her to prove his point. “And her pussy is the best I’ve ever had.” 

“But mine is good too,” you shook your hips for him to see your glistening sex, “Even if it’s just the tip again. I want it so bad.” 

“Stop whining. You’ll get your turn.” He continued pumping into Linette, watching her ass ripple whenever his hips hit hers. “Linnie was good first. So, she gets it first.” 

“Sir, can I cum, please?” she asked through her whimpering.  

“I don’t know, can you?”

She grunted, almost laughing, “May I cum, sir?” she corrected herself. 

“You may.” 

He loved hearing her orgasms. He drowned you out for a moment to savor the loud moans she released. Her warm cum thickly coated his cock, the tightness clenched as it sucked him into her. Yunho held her to him closely, his fingers working her clit until she finished. After a few more pumps, Yunho went back over to you. With your panties in shreds, he had no trouble plunging inside you. He showed no tenderness with you. If you didn’t moan loud enough, he smacked your ass until he heard you cry again. If you whined or pleaded, he stopped. 

“Do you promise to be a good girl from now on?” he asked you, lifting your head from the couch by your hair. 

“Yes,” you sobbed. 

“Yes?” He started being rougher, tightening his grip and pounding faster. 

“Yes, sir! Yes, yes, yes, sir!”

“That’s a good whore,” he smiled, changing his angle when he heard you getting closer. “That’s it. Make me cum,” he forced your head back onto the bed, “Tighten that hole and milk my cock…There you go. See? That’s not hard, right? You can be good when you really try.” 

He kept going, the sensitivity working through his entire length, and he looked over at Linette. She’d remained on the coffee table, on her back with her legs spread. Yunho’s jaw dropped seeing her so exposed, biting her lower lip and teasing her nipples. This offering couldn’t be ignored. Once he felt your orgasm approaching, he pushed deeper. 

“I know you’re not cumming before me,” he growled, slowing his pace. “Good girls don’t cum without permission. I thought Master Hongjoong might’ve taught you that.” 

“I ca-an’t help it,” you cried, “It feels so good.”

“Then you better learn how to help it,” he said, going back to his previous pace. “Because you’re not getting a drop of cum if you do. You want my cum, don’t you? I know you love cum.”

“I do, but…oh my god, fuck, that feels…”

“Don’t do it,” he warned, but not slowing down. “Don’t you dare…”

“Fuck, I’m so close! I can’t stop it! I can’t, I can’t, I can’t-”

Thighs shaking, fingers gripping the tie around your wrists, you couldn’t stop the waves coming over you. Yunho felt your sex tightening, milking him as he pumped in and out of you. His cock became coated in you, the movement making your juices thicker and whiter, and he thought he might cum from seeing it. Yet, he kept himself in check as you finished shuddering. In a few final twitches, you slumped against the back of the chaise and took deep breaths. 

“Yunho,” you breathed when he pulled out, “Cum in me.”

“Good girls don’t get my cum���” 

Linette came over to him when he sat on the edge of the couch. She didn’t need to be told what to do. Mouth on his tip, she sucked and licked while stroking his length with both hands. The twisting motions combined with her lips brought him to climax in seconds. She moaned at the thick streams filling her mouth, slurping and swallowing them greedily. Linette never left a single drop behind. Yunho’s hands curled around the edge of the couch, his knuckles turning white as his body tensed. Her mouth and hands elongated the sensitivity coursing through his shaft and tip; he groaned through his teeth, jaw clenching and hips thrusting up into her. When he finished, he took in how beautiful she looked. 

“Show me,” he said, and grinned when she opened to show her empty mouth. “Good girl.” 

Gently, he untied you and let you uncurl from your position. He took you to the bed where he rubbed your stiff muscles and bottom with a healing salve he kept on hand. As he smoothed the aloe-concentrated paste on you, he muttered sweet praises and soft kisses to soothe you. You gradually fell asleep in his arms after being stuffed by your snack tray. Finally leaving you to rest, Linette cornered him outside the bedroom. 

“I really enjoyed that,” she whispered, arms going around his torso, “I think I like hard Yunho. He makes me a bit scared and extremely horny.” 

“Does he now?” he smirked, holding and kissing her softly. “I’ll keep that in mind.” A thought came to him, “Let’s go to my room. I’m exhausted.”

“What about lunch service?”

“Cook will manage it for me,” he took her hand in his. Going to a large portrait in the corner, he revealed the secret passage behind it. “I just want to be with you right now.” 

Her smile made his heart flutter and he kissed her again. An afternoon wrapped in his favorite person sounded so much nicer than tending to a bunch of high borns. 

They could make do without him. 

****

A/N: Aaaaand it's back! Sort of haha I really like Yunho and Linette, so I hope you guys do too. Feel free to reblog and like <3

[asifyoudidntknow]

All Time Favs

I began reading fanfic in my teens during the original run of the show. There were lonnng breaks from it, but coming back to the fandom in 2017 reignited my interest. I now keep a spreadsheet as well as a "to read" list. I already have almost 600 logged (not including 5 years), so I wanted to share my top favorites. Divided into my 4 favorite genres (AU, casefic, angst + romance, and smut + romance) and in no particular order...

*Alternate Universe*

I used to wonder why someone would choose to read AU. Then I read one of these and was completely blown away.

Katherine of Ireland by Jenna Tooms (gossamer)

Katherine, princess of Ireland is married to Walter, king of Angora. When Walter is killed during battle, Katherine is taken by the enemy, FitzJames. William is FitzJames right hand. When FitzJames orders her to be beaten (even after discovering her pregnancy) William devises a plan to save her, heal her and get her back to Ireland. Will William always be seen as the enemy or will Katherine come to see him for who he truly is?

By the dim and flaring lamps by @sunflowerseedsandscience (ao3)

Civil war AU’s are my jam and this was one of the first ones I read.  When Mulder discovers (disguised boy) Scully bathing in a waterfall by darkness and realizes what he is dealing with will remain etched in my brain forever.

In darkness by DKSculder (ao3)

What if Scully was married to Daniel?  What if Daniel was a serial killer?  What if Mulder was a VCU agent still?   This is an unfinished work, but the idea is unlike any other I’ve come across.

Blinded by the white light by DashaK (ao3)

Need I say more?  When Mulder and Scully find each other after colonization, will they remember each other and will they act on it?

The second side of light by @scapegrace74-blog (ao3)

Oregon Trail.  Mulder is leading scully and Melissa across the trail when Melissa dies.  They end up getting very close to one another on the journey.

Paracelsus by profuckslove (ao3)

Another amazing civil war AU.  When Mulder goes looking for his lost son and comes across a pregnant scully what will happen to them?

Hiareth by profuckslove (gossamer)

Wales 1215.  Scully escapes the king by marrying Mulder, the prince of wales.  Marriage leads to love and fighting off dangerous men.

Paracosm by @softnow (ao3)

This is an unfinished work.  College AU.  Mulder has a crush on the library girl, will she return his advances?

A companion unobtrusive by @slippinmickeys (ao3)

A college AU where scully is looking for a roommate and Mulder is looking for a room.  Melissa introduces them and the rest is history.

Qui Si by Trixie (gossamer)

After accepting an offer from a gypsy to go back to a life with Samantha in it, Mulder, a child psychologist, helps Scully, a PhD, get over her past.

You he did not fail by extraordinarily_ordinary (ao3)

Scully abruptly leaves TXF after surviving cancer and moves to LA to start anew.  She is dating when Mulder is assigned as a profiler to a case she is working and they have to deal with things left undealt with.

Five years and a lifetime by @monikafilefan (ao3)

Mulder is a Peds psychiatrist. Scully is a Peds neurologist. They meet at a conference and have a one night stand.  What happens when they come to work together 5 years later and Scully is a single mom?

Amish country by lolabeegood (gossamer)

Mulder and Scully go undercover in Amish country trying to catch a serial rapist while navigating very traditional values and roles.

You and me by lolabeegood (gossamer)

Mulder leaves his wealthy parents to serve under Scully’s father in the military.  In order for her to stay safe, fed, and clothed she needs to marry.

The mountain man by aka Jake (gossamer)

Scully is sent from nyc (where she was becoming a doctor) to Montana at her father’s wishes.  He wants her to marry a lieutenant under his command and not practice medicine, but she becomes intrigued with a local mountain man.

The countess/the earl by @slippinmickeys (ao3)

When scully is to be married to an old duke in order to save her family from financial ruin, a strange, alluring earl steps in to save her.

*Case*

There is nothing quite like a casefic. It's classic x-files and I am here for it. Writers in this fandom are so talented with their abilities to create a fic that rivals/trumps actual episodes.

Perchitor by @aloysiavirgata (ao3)

A little girl goes missing in the mountains with the superstition of Jenny Greenteeth to blame.  Mulder and Scully investigate while navigating a new physical relationship.

Omens by @lepus-arcticus (ao3)

I read this one as a WIP and was anxiously checking for an update every night.  There were several lines in this fic that made me gasp.  Cancer arc angst. Give me it alllll.

XII by fragilevixen (ao3)

A killer that romanticizes every victim.  His next target?  Guess who.  *coughSCULLYcough*

Hearts desire by malibusunset (ao3)

While in a small town scully runs into an old BF and starts wondering why she doesn’t prioritize her dating.  She decides to go for it.  The author makes me like Scully’s old flame.  That says something.  When the MSR convo finally does come, I thought I’d die from the slow burn.

Resurgam by opheila_interrupted (ao3)

One of the most xfiles like cases I have ever read.  Remains unsolved at the end and has our agents investigating ghosts near Mulder’s hometown while dealing with their own (Emily & Teena).

Universal invariants/laws of motion by @syntax6

Scully is engaged to Ethan throughout the first season while her and Mulder’s relationship is deepening and then consummated right before she is abducted.  How do two guys in love handle Scully’s abduction and what happens when she is returned?  

All the way home/head over heels by @syntax6

Mulder is pulled into a past unsolved VCU case of a killer with a shoe fetish while navigating a new physical relationship with scully.  When scully is targeted, Mulder has to gamble with his personal feelings while working to find the killer.

Queens gambit by Suzanne Schramm (gossamer)

Under Kersh, Mulder and Scully are assigned to a VCU case Mulder worked in Utah in 89’.  The killer was put to death and then revenge began.  Local mines and children involved.

*angst + romance*

This is my crux. Angst in any way, shape, or form. Add in some slow burn/ust and finally the rst *chefs kiss* particularly fond of Ethan fics and cancer arc.

Contact high by penumbra (gossamer)

Still feeling the residual effects of the spores post field trip, our agents try out Mulder’s new waterbed.

Early on by @sunflowerseedsandscience (ao3)

10 vignettes set during season 1.  Our baby agents are becoming close, but Ethan is still around.  How does scully navigate her relationship with Ethan while working with Mulder?

Center Mass by @kateyes224 (ao3)

Another Ethan fic set in season 1.  Mulder and Scully make an effort to get to know one another… in more ways than one.  And when Mulder gets aroused at Scully’s marksmanship it’s all over for me. 

One blue line by sarie_fairy (ao3)

IVF arc.  Scully is defeated by a negative pregnancy test.  When Mulder tries to comfort her, she suggests having sex.  I just remember wondering if I was reading or actually doing the act myself considering how detailed it was.

Salt by anjou (gossamer)

I remember reading this and being like WTF is happening to only have it all make sense at the end leaving me speechless.

Triptych by @iconicscullyoutfits (ao3)

My favorite FTF, post bee, how the f*ck did they get out of anarctica fic.

Snowbound by malibusunset (gossamer)

After missing their flight and being snowed in their rental on the side of the road, discussions lead to their relationship.  Once they’re recused they are put up in an inn with 1 room.  Dun, dun, dunnnn.

The ache by @storybycorey (ao3)

1999 Mulder has a visit with 2015 Mulder to urge him to get help with his depression and not lose scully.

Love bites by living_underground (ao3)

A review of vampirism cases throughout the years.  Hickeys from Ed.  Love bites from Mulder.

Goshen by bonetree (ao3)

Mulder and Scully are in a car accident where their car can’t be seen.  Major injuries lead to near death experiences and visions of Emily.

All that our senses can perceive by wonderland (ao3)

Mulder’s POV looking over Scully’s transformation from girl to woman and how all of his senses perceive her.

Caught in the Act I by parrotfish (gossamer)

Although the whole series is amazing, the first part is my favorite.  I love when scully lays into the review panel about being sexist.

The things she carries by @edierone (ao3)

One of my favorite cancer arc fics.  When Mulder confronts Scully 3 years later on the porch I literally stopped breathing.

Red valerian series by dashakay (ao3)

Scully looks to skinner for comfort during a grueling case, starting a 6 month affair.  Will scully ever love him or will the buried truth prevail?

Sex and Loathing by malibusunset (ao3)

Scully takes a drunk Mulder home after Roche.  He makes a move and they have terrible sex.  After 2 years of poking at each other they face things head on after Mulder almost dies in PBV.

Snakebitten by @onpaperfirst (ao3)

Set throughout season 5.  My favorite season. Say no more.

Five years and one night by Shalimar (gossamer)

When Scully transfers to LA and Mulder finds more babies like Emily, can they work together again to get to the bottom of this conspiracy?

The letter by Shalimar (gossamer)

Post TFWID, scully goes searching for more clues to her and Mulder’s past lives when she comes across a letter in a local Apison museum she sent to Mulder.

*smut + romance*

It's hard to have just smut when it comes to MSR, am I right? these two idiots are so in love that my smut category must also be romantic.

Undercover swing by 2momsmakearight (ao3)

What if Mulder and Scully go undercover as a married couple interested in swinging?  Can they both keep their jealously in check?  

Be kind, rewind by OnlyTheInevitable (ao3)

To help catch a suspect, skinner requests our agents watch porn together.  While watching, conversation leads to critiques about the performance and comments about personal preferences.

Girl 77 by mojo

A stripper is found dead with Mulder’s card on her.  She looks exactly like Scully.  Scully notices and confronts Mulder about it.

Dropped call series by @phillippadgettwrites (ao3)

Phone sex, but make it “not them”

December 31, 1984 by @phillippadgettwrites (ao3)

When Mulder saves an unimpressed scully from some jerk on NYE, they end up at her apartment having a one night stand.

Damsels by @sisterspooky1013 (ao3)

Scully is sent undercover as a stripper to find a missing woman.  Mulder is kept in the dark regarding her case, but pieces together where she is and what she’s doing and sets out to find her.

The Shirt by Audrey Roget (gossamer)

Skinner reconciles with Sharon leading to a vow renewal celebration. Skinner asks mulder and Scully to stand with him as his best agents. After slow dancing together, mulder bolts out of the celebration before scully catches the bridal bouquet and he crosses a line. When they end up in an accident while driving in a storm, things come to a head in an Elvis inspired motel suite out in the middle of nowhere PA.

[saharaadesertt]

˖˚˳⊹Blue Lock University: an Uni AU˖˚˳⊹

included: aiku, chigiri, gagamaru, kaiser, isagi, nagi, reo, rin, sae, shindou

note: already thinking about uni even though i still have two months LMFAOOO i am catching up on bllk and i finally made it to the different team battles. idk y'all manshine city kinda slaps all of these HC's are not official! check out part 2!

aiku

oh god, this guy gives off business major energy

most definitely in a frat, you can't prove me wrong

the kind of student that slacks off and parties all night but manages to do decent on exams and in class

not stellar but decent

insanely popular, gets all the girls but doesn't know how to keep them

the class clown

professors hate him so much but he does well enough where they can't lecture him

chigiri

Sports medicine major: wants to help people the way doctors helped him when he tore his acl

also oversees track and xc meets because of his speed

can be spotted at the cafe studying most of the time

likes to spend time to himself but doesn't mind seeing friends once in a while

but when he has a deadline he will focus on that 1000%

Everyone likes him, he gets good grades and is always very good with finishing things on time

His sister and mom visit him often, a family boy!

loves when people compliment his hair

gagamaru

Agricultural science or archeology major: mans is in the mountains constantly

probably does research there

a little bit of an oddball, mostly on the quiet end in class

that being said, he's an underdog in his class rank and always performs suspiciously well

people are scared of him because of his stoic aura but is a genuinely good person to get advice from and study with

if you get past his quirks, he's a great friend and an ever better person to depend on when you need it

kaiser

please hear me out

at first i thought "another business major but THEN"

i realized he could also be a really self-centered, full of himself STEM major

so i am going to say he is in computer science and thinks he is the true pioneer

honestly, the person that people complain about after class

tryhard and complains about getting a B on something

that being said, if you get on his good side, he is slightly more kind to you

isagi

kind of the same as kaiser but a psychology major, more popular, and much nicer lol

likes to study athletes and wonder if their personalities line up with how they play

a hard worker and studier, his weekends are rarely for rest

likes to go out though, he takes comfort in small things like visiting friends and grocery shopping

believe a healthy body is consistent with a healthy mind so is constantly health-conscious and drinks a ton of water

his parents send him care packages occasionally :))

nagi

this guy is undecided for now major-wise but will probably do something in video game development or digital communication

possibly cybersecurity if he actually wants to put in the work

lazy as hell but we knew this

constantly skips or sleeps in class but manages to do well

reo has to wake him up or call him if he has an early class he cannot miss or an exam or else nagi would legit miss it

isn't seen out much but when he is, he's with reo

fond of arcades, hoodies, and sweatpants

president of the gaming club and is surprisingly popular because of his gaming abilities

i believe him and reo share an apartment that the mikages help with financially because at this point nagi is like a second son to them <3

reo

another business major, this time marketing

president of the uni's business frat for sure

the definition of star student

everyone loves him but he only hold a few close to him because he knows a lot of people gravitate to him for his money

despite his family line, he is the most humble person you'll ever meet

super polite and respectful

he and nagi live in a shared apartment and only a select few friends get to come over

but when they do, reo shows them the best hospitality and above all, they actually study since he is a man of his word

rin

Definitely doing something in sports administration

the tryhard that is usually quiet, but piss him off and he WILL let you know

part of the school's podcast and newspaper club, where he works on reporting sports and talking to athletes

hates to be compared to his brother who is in the same major as him

gets jealous easily and finds it hard to keep a relationship because of this

communication is key for him in all aspects

sae

also sports adminstration

quieter than his brother but also has more attitude

enjoys being alone no matter where on campus he is in

but also popular

an ace student

is a part of a soccer travel team so is away a lot

drinks venti cold brews

shindou

biology... i don't need to explain LMFAOOOO

is VERY interested in all that stuff

actually a good student but is a class clown

doesn't take work seriously but does well enough

befriends everyone although he is a little unhinged

no filter at all

loves sugary coffee and staying up until the sun rises

would be part of the improv team bc he has a quick mouth and is quick thinking

thanks for reading!

[konohamaru-sensei]

Fantasy AU ramblings

I've been more in my head about my Fairy Tail Fantasy Au lately and I thought I upload some of my initial thoughts here. Maybe I'll make a collection on AO3? Idk maybe that would make it too serious LOL

This AU would eventually have all the typical pairings (Jerza, Gruvia, NaLu etc), but I also have my OC Rhia included, plus @foolishk's OC Kaiya. But it was created for the juicy jerza dynamic specifically. So yeah, meow!

Anyway, two short stories I've written in this AU: Jellal and Erza before the winter war || Gray and Juvias first encounter.

Either way:

---

Long ago, a hundred years before our story, three nymphs were born shortly after each other. Nymphs are almost ageless beings, sprouting from the ice in the caves of the highest peaks of the icy-mountain range. Kept away from humans they fear them and keep to each other until they return to the a thousand years later. Rumour has it that a nymph can decide to give up her years, become like a human, rumour says some have done it, but that is just stories of 900 year old elders, the young decide.

Kaiya was born first, in the year 644, from a puddle of melted ice. She was quiet, observant and too curious about old tales for her own good. Rhia followed just a footstep later, the year is 697, formed in a little waterfall in one of the deeper caves. Blessed and plagued by temperament not unlike raging water. Not even a breath later Juvia was the last, in the year 698, finding her form in deep iced water where she is most comfortable. 

All three instinctively know their name, all three are sisters in some way and not sisters in another. A hundred years will pass before they first grasp the world outside of their caves.

#

In the year 770, when dragons and humans lived side by side still, a boy was born to the royal court of Magnolia. With a stern look in his eyes like the king and blue hair like the queen he was the image of his parents. He was lucky to be born a boy too, he would be the next in line for the kingdom. Proudly, his father named him after his own father, Jellal, and declared that he would raise his son to be a fine and just leader of the country. 

The happiness soon waned as little thin, red lines appeared on the baby's face on the right side. The pattern was unusual and the finest doctors in the land could not tell what had transpired. The king took his newborn to a witch, who was living amongst the shapeshifters in the forest. She followed the red lines with a slender, old finger. Cursed, she judged. The boy bore a curse of red that would be his destiny.

The king never again looked at his child as something to be proud of. He ordered the guards present to keep quiet about what had transpired in the forest. Soon the entire court knew that the prince was cursed. 

In that same year, 770, another boy was born not far from the city of Magnolia in the kingdom of Fiore. The old, aristocratic family of the Dreyars had long expected the next in line to lead the family estate. The marriage of his parents, arranged and loveless, had so far been unable to produce a child. Soon the boy, who had been named Laxus, learned of the violent tendencies of his father just as his mother had. Fearing for the child’s well being his grandfather stepped up instead and loved him more than both parents ever could.

Later the same year, 770, high up in the ice-mountains, where snow reigned and cold wind blew at all months of the year, a girl was born to the empress. The rules were different in the kingdom of ice than in the kingdoms walking in the sun, the child did not need to be a boy to be an empress. 

Her mother was happy to meet her, happy to be with her, after the months she had spent crying over the loss of her husband. Now, with her beautiful child in her arms, the empress cried too, because she could not contain the happiness she felt in other words. To reflect all the love of these first tears she named her child close to what was her own name, Ultear.

#

771, the year following, another child was born to the court of Magnolia, tucked away in a barn where usually dragon children were housed. A girl, her hair as red as the one of her mothers and her eyes as hazel as her fathers. Desperate for her mother’s attention, the girl found only cold when she was being held. Her mother had suffered greatly while she had been carrying the baby and had no love left for her child now. 

Her mother was busy, she was important at court, she had no time for the girl. She hastily named her Erza and discarded her to the royal caretaker to be looked after. She soon learned that she was not the only child at court that had been abandoned there by their busy parents.

On the edges of the kingdom, just across the border, where the wind could already rip cold and unrelenting on your clothes, a child was born in the same year, 771. His parents had been expecting the little boy like it was the last missing piece and the big puzzle that was their love. 

Still, his arrival sprouted a little disappointment in his father. Blessed with red hair and long locks, his father had picked out the name for the boy long before he was even born, thinking his son would surely look like him. The boy, however, had inherited the looks from his mother’s side and was only blessed with thin, white hair that looked nothing like the name his father had chosen. They awarded him with it anyway and named him Lyon.

#

A year later, in 772, in an especially ice winter in the north, not far from the castle of the empress, a boy was born. In comparison to the one that would one day in the future be his brother, the boy looked exactly like his father. Though his parents had been surprised by the announcement of his arrival, their happiness at his being with them was never ending. And though his mother made fun of his father’s naming choice, the boy was named Gray to match him. 

The same year, 772, but in quite the opposite conditions, a boy was born in the forests north of Magnolia, not far from where the shapeshifters lived. It was a hot, relentlessly oppressive summer then and his mother was on the verge of losing consciousness in the heat when he arrived safe and sound. With hair pink like his father, eyes curious like his mother and an immediate smile on his face nobody could deny that this child had something magnetic about him. The parents decided to let his older brother name him and, fatigued from the heat of that summer, he was given the name Natsu.

#

Spring of the year 773 carried the smell of that previous summer in Fiore, as if winter never had gotten a foothold on the continent at all. Into the sound of winds and the falling of cherry blossoms a rich trader and his wife welcomed a daughter into the world. They had come into money generation or so before by building connections between the iron-mountains and the kingdom and now the dynasty needed to be preserved. 

The little girl would have enough wealth to never need to ask for anything, and yet she still grew up wanting. Her father loved her mother and her mother loved her. She was named Lucy, like a song their parents had once loved.

#

In the year 783, when the fate of the other children was already in motion, the widowed queen of Magnolia bore another blue haired child. Since her husband had passed away she’d had several lovers and though she had not planned to have another child, the queen was pleased to welcome the little girl into the world. Behind her older brother, now next in line to the throne, the girl would have everything she ever wanted and face none of his pressure. Her brother named her Wendy, after an adventure book he had once read.

#

In the year 795 the trader's daughter leaves her family house to marry the young king on Magnolia’s throne. This is where this story begins.

[ask-the-good-creeps]

Vigilante Pasta AU Timeline

PART TWO

1988

MARCH: On the 22nd of the month, Liu Woods is born to his thrilled parents.

MAY: On the 14th of the month, Sally Williams is born and gifted a hand-sewn brown bear from her grandmother.

JULY: On the 4th of the month, Timothy Wright is born to the sound of fireworks outside while his mother laments that she was unable to hold him in for one more day to avoid him sharing his birthday with a national holiday.

1989

AUGUST: On the 26th of the month, Brian Thompson is born.

1990

JUNE: On the 14th of the month, Jeffery Hanson is born to a woman who prostitutes herself to feed her insatiable habit for illegal narcotics. She doesn't know who his father is and makes her disdain for her newborn infant fairly obvious.

1991

JANUARY: On the 7th of the month, Helen Sanderson is born to two parents who desired and expected a daughter; the doctor's announcement of his gender did not dissuade their decision to raise him as one.

MAY: On the 16th of the month, Jane Richards is born to her mother and soon-to-be stepfather, both loving parents.

JULY: On the 28th of the month, Katelynn Hillard is born and her mother dies in labor with her; her maternal aunt and uncle decide to adopt and raise her.

SEPTEMBER: Jonathan Frank's older brother, a gay man, dies from HIV/AIDS after enduring a plethora of cruel acts and abuses from their homophobic father. Jonathan is crushed by the loss, and resentful of their father for how his older brother was treated in his final days.

OCTOBER: Hobo Heart awakens in a graveyard that has been long-since reclaimed by the surrounding forest and has remained untouched by humans for decades. He knows nothing of his purpose or origin.

1992

FEBRUARY: On the 2nd of the month, Kagekao is born of two elderly but powerful spirits. His birth is cause for celebration on the sacred mountain in Japan where he has come into the world.

AUGUST: On the 12th of the month, Natalia Ostrovsky is born in Russia; her father is absent from her birth as he busies himself running weapons shipments for the Russian mafia.

OCTOBER: On the 19th of the month, Tobias Rogers is born but does not cry. He is breathing. His body appears healthy. But he does not cry.

1993

SEPTEMBER: On the 28th of the month, Nathan Simms and his twin sister Crystal are born.

NOVEMBER: On the 12th of the month, Benjamin Thomas is born.

1994

APRIL: On the 21st of the month, Dina Shephard is born with stars shining in her pitch-black eyes.

AUGUST: On the 9th of the month, Vincent “Vinny” Amaretti is born, the only son to the last true craftsman of porcelain dolls.

1995

MARCH: Toby Rogers is officially diagnosed with CIPA after extensive testing requested by the family's physician.

AUGUST: Helen begins kindergarten, and only then realizes that his clothing choices are not typical of little boys. He questions the teacher, and she is unnerved to learn that the dresses and hair ribbons Helen wears are not his attire by his choice, but the only options his parents allow him. She discusses her concerns with the Sandersons, who pull Helen out of the public school system to be homeschooled by them before the month is over.

SEPTEMBER: Ben's mother gives birth to his younger sister, Rosie.

DECEMBER: On the 23rd of the month, Lacy Morgan is born to a narcissistic woman.

1996

APRIL: Sally Williams is abused by her uncle, and when she threatens to expose him he murders her in the woods outside town and fakes her kidnapping by a stranger. Sally's spirit is bound to this area in the woods where her body's shallow grave is, and she is traumatized and terrified.

JUNE: Jane's mother and stepfather have their wedding ceremony; they waited this long so that Jane could enjoy the honor of being the flower girl.

JULY: Ben's mother dies of illness; his father gradually becomes an alcoholic in his grief, and Ben is forced to care for his baby sister the best he can.

AUGUST: Jeffery's birth mother trades him to human traffickers get her narcotics fix. He is drugged, auctioned off, and purchased by a sadist who keeps him locked in a soundproof dungeon underneath his cabin in the woods.

1997

MARCH: Katelynn is abducted and imprisoned in a basement three towns over, where she is horribly abused by her kidnapper.

NOVEMBER: Toby Rogers is diagnosed with schizophrenia due to consistent auditory hallucinations and occasional lapses from reality.

DECEMBER: Dina wants to go outside and play in the snow, but her father – a respected judge in their small town – demands that she be kept hidden inside the house so as not to shame her family with her 'demon eyes'.

1998

JANUARY: Helen tries to rebel against his parents by cutting his hair short, destroying the makeup palettes in his room, and bleaching all of the dresses and skirts in his closet beyond repair. He yells at his upset parents that he is a boy and he wants to live as one. His father beats him mercilessly for this and tells him he is forbidden to speak again until he no longer has those thoughts. His mother approaches after his father leaves the room, and he thinks perhaps she'll comfort him; instead, she cries and guilt-trips him for 'breaking her heart like this'.

MAY: Natalia's greedy father crosses the Russian mafia for his own gain, thinking he'll get away with it. He doesn't, and a hit is put out on him and his family. He hastily decides to flee the country and relocates himself, his wife, and Natalia to the USA. By working as an informant to the CIA, he secures a place in witness protection for his family. Natalia Ostrovsky becomes Natalie Oulette.

JUNE: Toby Rogers starts to experience tics, mostly gestural but some verbal. He is officially diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome by the end of the month.

SEPTEMBER: Jeffery's torturer has grown tired of him and has brought him out into the woods to kill and bury him. Jeffery doesn't have the strength to move at all, not even when the man points the rifle at his head. He's just happy it's almost over, happy to feel the cool wind on his damaged skin one last time. A shot fires, but Jeffery is still alive. His torturer is not the one who pulled a trigger, and the man runs off as voices approach. A couple of hunters find Jeffery and at first believe his emaciated, scarred body to be an odd Hallowe'en decoration. Upon realizing he's a kid and is still alive, they call for help and get him air-lifted to the nearest hospital that's equipped to handle injuries like his.

1999

APRIL: Jeffery has physically recovered as far as he can but is reclusive and afraid of everyone except one of the hospital nurses, Margaret Woods. Nurse Woods convinces her husband to adopt Jeffery and brings him home, where their son Liu Woods begins to bond with his new little brother.

NOVEMBER: Toby Rogers is officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He has been bullied in school for months, and after a particularly concerning incident of this his mother decides to pull him from school over the Thanksgiving break and start homeschooling him.

2000

JULY: Jane's family moves to a new house, and she befriends one of the kids in the house across the street: Liu Woods. Liu starts to introduce Jane to Jeff, who hardly leaves the house. Jane becomes friends with Jeff as well.

SEPTEMBER: The CIA orders Natalie's father to temporarily look after a teenage boy who is a witness in an upcoming trial. The boy is to stay with them and be considered a nephew to Mr. Oulette to whoever asks. The boy makes Natalie feel uncomfortable from the outset, and her feelings are justified when he starts to sneak into her room at night and abuse her. He threatens her to keep quiet, but after a few weeks she works up the courage to tell her parents. Her father responds by threatening her not to tell anyone else about it, as he doesn't want to stir up trouble and says the boy will be gone soon anyway. However, her mother installs a lock on her bedroom door and tells her to lock it every night.

2001

MARCH: Kagekao's parents fall ill due to tourists' disrespect of their home and subsequent trashing of it, and his father passes. He begins caring for his mother in hopes that she will recover.

APRIL: A wealthy client of Vinny's father is dissatisfied with his work, stating that the life-size child-age doll he crafted isn't realistic or lifelike enough for him. Vinny's father is unnerved by the man and offers a refund with intentions to refuse business from this client in the future. The client is offended by this, demanding that he get what he paid for. The client has his bodyguards burn the workshop with the dollmaker inside and abducts Vinny to serve as his lifelike doll.

JUNE: Jeffery has his first psychotic break in the middle of the night and stabs his adoptive parents to death. He starts to become lucid again after stabbing Liu and calls the police to help as Liu is still breathing. Jeff panics and doesn't know what to do; he runs toward Jane's home as she is the only other friend he has. He goes in through the basement window because it's the only one that's unlocked and at ground level, but being in the basement flares his PTSD and sends him back into his psychotic mind state. He kills Mr. and Mrs. Richards in their bed as well, before running downstairs and spotting a bottle of lighter fluid on the counter. He decides to 'burn this evil place', forgetting why he came, and that Jane was there. After lighting the fire, the smoke alarm wakes Jane, who sees her parents dead and attempts to get out the front door to safety. The entire downstairs of her home is in flames, and she sees Jeff leave out the front with the bloody knife as she catches on fire herself. Sirens are heard, and firefighters end up removing a badly burned but miraculously surviving Jane and sending her to the hospital while they address what remains of her once happy home.

SEPTEMBER: Jonathan, still mourning the loss of his older brother, secretly volunteers at a charity that supports LGBTQIA+ people and takes on as many tasks as he can in honor of his brother. He goes to great lengths to hide his volunteer work from his parents, especially his father, whose views have not changed.

OCTOBER: Hobo Heart has been wandering the world trying to find out why he exists and finds it easiest to do this in October while all the humans have Hallowe'en on the brain, and he doesn't catch quite as much attention. He meets a girl that he gets along well with and begins to develop an unhealthy obsession with her that culminates in him feeling she is his purpose for existing.

[fluffansmut]

Love is strange

Summary: The summer of 83’

When the Harringtons made their way to the Kellermans for an end of summer vacation.

Where their innocent son ran into Eddie Munson, and learnt a thing or two about how life should be lived.

Content warnings: Dirty Dancing AU, Eventual smut, period-typical homophobia, Abortion, mention of rape

A/N: Summer is crashing into autumn any minute now and I’m excited but I worked on this all through summer and I really wanted it out before summer ends so here’s chapter one

Series Masterlist

AO3 | main Masterlist

It was the summer of 1983.

When mother still called me baby and it didn’t occur to me, to mind…

That was before George Michael came out, before Whitney Huston made her debut album..

When I couldn’t wait to join the family business and I thought I could never be any more than what my father already was.

That was the summer we went to kellermans.

There were people everywhere when the old, shiny station wagon that belonged to Dr. Harrington rolled up outside the Kellerman hotel.

A jolly man with an aura that was so annoying it made Steve want to pull his hair out, was talking in a megaphone.

“Ping-Pong in the west arcade,softball in the east diamond. All you Sandy Koufaxes,get out there! Complimentary dance lessons in the gazebo.”

Steve shook his head slightly at the man's shenanigans, none of it sounded appealing to Steve.

The man, who went by Bob Newby, however wasn’t done with his propositions, and continued talking into the megaphone.

“Okay, we got horseshoes on the south lawn in minutes! We've got splish-splash the water class down by the lake. We have the still life art class.We got volleyball and croquet. And for you older folks, we got sex!”

Steve could see through the rear view mirror how his mother turned her nose up at the joke.

His father got out of the car and Sam Owens was outside in seconds, greeting the doctor and his wife with those awkward sort of forced semihugs, that no one really enjoyed. He shot a strained smile towards Steve, who returned the favour. Next to him stood a young woman, she had high waisted pants and a t-shirt with the hotel logo across the chest, her curly perm was clipped up on either side of her face. She smiled at Steve and made him feel way more welcome than Sam previously had.

“Sam!” The older Harrington exclaimed as the man got close to them.

“Doc, after all these years, I finally got you up on my mountain.” Owens said, dunking the doctor hard on the back.

Steve found the interaction strange, it all seemed so extremely forced.

“How’s the blood pressure?” His father asked.

“I want you to know…” the hotel owner began turning to Steve and his mother.” if it were not for this man,I'd be standing here dead.”

Steve found the statement sorta stupid, logically he wouldn’t be standing anywhere if he was dead, but Steve decided not to comment on it.

“Nancy, the bags” Owens said with a snap of the fingers to the woman at his side, with a pointed finger towards the car, before he continued his conversation.

“Right away doc.” the woman, who Steve now knew as Nancy said as she took the keys from his fathers outstretched hand and got to work.

Steve, who had grown incredibly bored of his fathers conversation, followed her around the car to help.

No matter how many times he had been through it, he never really got used to someone else’s taking care of their bags.

Nancy was in full swing lugging his father’s huge suitcase out of the trunk when he stepped in to help.

“I could have done it, you know,” she informed.

“No doubt in my mind” Steve said, making it clear that he didn’t step in just because she was female. “I just… it’s a little weird ain’t it? I mean it’s my clothes in there”

Steve motioned towards his bag that was left in the trunk. He saw how Nancy visibly relaxed and flashed him a smile.

“You are more than welcome to carry it yourself if you so wish.” She said and waited for him to take it before she slammed the trunk shut.

“I’m Nancy Wheeler.”

Steve took the hand that she held out towards him.

“I’m Steve,” he said.

“Harrington I presume?” Nancy filled in, remembering the name Owens had used for the older man on the other side of the car.

“Just, Steve, please” he said, almost whispering it.

“A pleasure to meet you Steve” Nancy said, deciding to not ask questions.

Steve was about to reply likewise but his mother interrupted them by shouting out for him.

“Steve, stop chit chatting, we have a merengue class in 15 minutes” she informed.

“Mother I..” Steve began.

Dancing really wasn’t his forte.

“Do not be such a baby,” his mother said quite sternly. “You are going.”

“One, two, three, four!” The preppy sounding girl who was teaching the class counted. “Stomp those grapes and stomp some more!”

Steve gave it an honest try. How could he not, but it was like it was utterly impossible to keep track of his own two feet.

“One, two, three, four! Listen to the music!” she called out. Steve glanced up at the ankles of the instructor, how could she move so gracefully? Steve found himself staring at her, almost out of jealousy.

Steve got lost in thought and before he knew what happened he had stepped on the foot on the person next to him.

“Sorry.” he croaked out as he tried to catch up.

“Move your caboose and shake it loose!” she shouted, a huge grin on her face. Steve was sorta puzzled in his mind, how could someone be so happy and carefree on the job? Maybe this place was just as wonderful as both Sam Owens and his father had promised.

“One, two, three, four!” She counted once again. “Start the train! Come on, men!”

In the middle of the forming train there was Steve, feeling so incredibly misplaced.

“Follow me into a round robin!” Was the woman’s next command, she laughed after she said it, but Steve couldn’t understand why.

“Ladies, the inner circle!”

Somehow, Steve ended up in that inner circle as well, it didn’t help with the misplacement he felt.

“Come on, ladies!” The instructor called out to the group surrounding Steve. “God wouldn't have given you maracas if he didn't want you to shake them!”

The woman shook her chest in a way that made most of the women in the class choke on their own saliva. Steve found it hilarious though, cause he really could read the malicious content of the woman’s face. She had said it with the intention of making them embarrassed.

“Okay now, ladies, when I say “"stop"”...you're gonna find the man of your dreams.” Steve stopped to wonder if he too could find the man of his dreams, he was in the inner circle after all.

He eyed the outer circle, none of them really lived up to what Steve would call a dream-man. They were either too old, or too young, or very much not Steves type….

So he stepped out before the stop came.

When the class was done for the day, Steve hung around waiting for his mother to finish up talking to a friend, who Steve only knew as Mrs. Perkins, aka, annoying Carols mother.

He wasn’t thrilled by the knowledge that they also would be spending the week here, so to distract himself he listened in on other peoples conversations without making it obvious.

“Lovely danceclass as always Robin dear.” An older woman said, reaching out with a wrinkly hand to run in across the apple of the dance instructors cheek.

Oh so Robin was her name.

“Mom, Dad, I'm going up to the main house to look around.” Steve said after he had been roped into games on the lawn for the last 45 minutes. He needed a bit of a break, if not from the games then definitely from his parents.

It was surprisingly quiet for an early evening, steve realised.

Old couples went for quiet strolls along the lake, some kids were playing with hula hoops outside their cabin, but there wasn't much else going on at that time.

Steve relished in the silence while at the same time finding the lack of people a pity, because what was he supposed to do, if he couldn't watch people, going about their day?

He started to hear a bit more commotion as he drew closer to the main house, which gave Steve a bit of hope. Maybe this walk hadn't been for nothing.

A strong male voice could been heard from inside as steve approved the veranda. He could place it instantly.

Sam Owens.

Steve tiptoed even close, and when he could glance in though the window, he realised that Owens was talking to his staff members.

“There are two kinds of help here.” he began, looking at the young men around him, all wearing the same uniform.“You waiters are all college guys...and I went to Harvard and Yale to hire you. And why did I do that? Why?”

None of the waiters seemed to know exactly why Sam had hired them, because what followed was looks to one another, between the waiters, none of them daring to say anything.

“I shouldn't have to remind you,this is a family place.” Sam said, hoping that this was enough for the younger ones to go by, but to no such luck.

The older sighed, defeatedly.

“That means you keep your fingers out of the water, hair out of the soup…” he began explain, looking round the room, as if to make sure that everyone heard him. “and show the goddamn daughters a good time.All the daughters.Even the dogs…”

Steve shuddered at his wording, it was so clearly just for sales purposes and for profit. Steve felt almost dirty, just listening in on the conversation.

“Schlepp 'em out to the terrace, show 'em the stars” Sam continued “Romance 'em any way you want.”

“Got that, guys?” Someone said from the back of the room. Steve leaned closer to the window to try and catch whomever had said it.

That was when he came into view.

The man that Steve had hoped for in the outer circle. The man of his dreams, at least aesthetically.

He had long, curly dark hair, that hung in frizzy ringlets round his face. He pushed his sunglasses up into the unruly mess and revealed the most gorgeous, soft, brown eyes, lined with a smudged black eyeliner.

The man had a leather jacket swung over his shoulder, on him was a tee and some fitted trousers.

Steve tried, he truly tried, but couldn’t look away.

He was so infatuated by the man that it took him quite some time before he realised that both Nancy and Robin had arrived with him.

“Hey, hold it!” Sam said as he noticed the man and his entourage.

The man stopped in front of Sam, and crossed his arms in front of his chest, waiting for him to continue.

“Well, if it isn't the entertainment staff.” Sam said, not sounding the least impressed by the staff that had arrived.”Listen, wise ass, you got your own rules.”

He put a pointed finger in the chest of the dark haired man as he said the last thing.

“Dance with the daughters. Teach 'em the mambo, the cha-cha,anything they pay for.”

He raised an eyebrow at Sam, who seemed to grow frustrated with the man.

“That's it.” Owens declared,making it abundantly clear to everyone. “That's where it ends.No funny business, no conversations,and keep your hands off!”

With those words Sam left.

Steve noticed that one of the waiters was shooting the dark haired man dirty looks, grinning a superior smile.

“It's the same at all these places. Some ass in the woods, but no conversation.” He said, Steve wasn’t sure if he meant for the other to hear it or not.

“Watch it, Hagan”, was heard not long after, so apparently he had.

“Can you keep that straight , Munson? What you can't lay your hands on?” The waiter said, almost challenging him.

“Just put your pickle on everybody's plate, and leave the hard stuff to me.”

The next time Steve saw that very same waiter was the same evening, when he was at dinner with his parents, and their family friends, the Perkins.

“This is Dr. and Mrs. Harrington, Mr and Mrs Perkins,Steve and Carol, this is your waiter,Tommy Hagan,Yale medical school.” Owens said as he introduced the young man, the one Steve already knew as a douche.”These people are my special guests. Give them anything they want.”

Tommy nodded understandingly towards the owner. Steve noticed how Carol already had begun to twirl her hair around her finger, as soon as she had heard the word “Yale”.

“ Enjoy.” Sam said before leaving to attend to other guests.

“Thanks, Sam.” The older Harrington responded before turning to the menu.

The next time Sam Owens showed up at their table, he had brought someone else with him.

“Doc, I want you to meet someone,” He said, placing a hand on the upper back of the younger girl beside him. “My granddaughter, Tammy”

Steve felt the intense stares from Tammy at his temple, and did everything in his power to avoid making eye contact with her. He hoped with all his might that he wasn’t obligated in any way to spend time with her.

“Tammy goes to the Cornell School of Hotel Management.” Sam said triumphantly.

“Oh, ain’t collages fun” Mrs Harrington said, “Our baby’s starting Mount Holyoke in the fall.”

The mother tried to run her finger through her sons hair, but Steve was quick it swat her hands away.

He rolled his eyes at her statement, cause both of them knew that he was waitlisted. But to hold up appearances, both his parents told everyone they met that Steve was going to Mount Holyoke, to study pre-med.

Tammy found the idea of a second generation doctor Harrington fascinating and insisted on them dancing together, to get an opportunity to talk.

Steves mother had accepted the girl's proposition on his behalf, and Steve had done what he always did. He kept his thoughts and opinions to himself.

Steve was about as terrible at dancing with someone else as he was at the merengue, in some cases, he was even worse at this, after all he was expected to lead here.

He was about to thank Tammy for the dance and find an excuse to get away from his family and the Perkins.

But then, a new song came on, and onto the dance floor came Robin and the longhaired man whom Steve had glanced at earlier.

He wanted to know more about him, about them, what was their deal, and how could Steve make sure that he could see him again.

“Who's that?” He asked, trying to not sound as impressed as he was about the way the two swung each other around on the floor.

“Oh, them.” Tammy said, almost rolling her eyes. ”They're the dance people. They're here to keep the guests happy.”

Steve watched the way the mans muscles flexed as he swung Robin up in the air, and he thought to himself, well they are doing a hell of a good job.

Steve watched the two dance, it was mesmerising, but it wasn’t long until Tammy brought him out of his trance.

“They shouldn't show off with each other.” She said, watching them with a lot less awe than Steve.”That's not gonna sell lessons.”

Steve didnt understand her statement, why wouldn’t it sell lessons? But he kept his mouth shut, like usual.

Steve got away from Tammy with a lie about needing the bathroom, but instead he opted for some fresh air.

The grounds were wonderful at that time of night. The moon reflected itself on the lake, hung garden lights lined patios and there were lights on in almost every cabin window, that hinted towards just how many guests the hotel housed.

Steve was looking for a way to pass time, and for a way to avoid Tammy Thompson.

He saw a sign that said “Staff quarters, no guests please”

It made him intrigued, more than anything. And considering the comments Tammy dropped whilst dancing, she didn’t seem like the type to hang out a lot with the staff.

So Steve did what he wasn’t supposed to, he entered.

He felt like a child, exploring a teachers lounge or something, excitement sat in his stomach, making him feel a bit giddy.

As he entered he saw little cabins, lined up one after the other. They seemed to be much smaller than the smallest cabins they had available for the guests. Was this where the staff lived?

Steve couldn’t investigate further, because he had just found a familiar face.

Nancy was walking towards a fight for stairs, her arms filled with 3 huge watermelons.

Steve jogged to catch up with her.

“Hi” he said.

She stopped in her tracks when she saw him.

“How'd you get here?” She hissed, immediately looking around to see if anyone had noticed.

“ I was taking a walk.” Steve explained, not realising why Nancy was making such a big deal out of it.

“Go back.” She said, motioning toward the main building with her head.

“Let me help you.” Steve insisted, reaching for one of the watermelons, but Nancy was quick to turn, making it hard for Steve to get ahold of one.

“What's up there?” Steve asked, motioning towards the big almost warehouse looking building that Nancy was heading towards.

“No guests allowed.” She said, almost too quickly.”House rules.”

“Why don't you go back to the playhouse?” She asked, one again motioning towards where Steve came from. “I saw you dancing with the Thompson girl”

Steve made a face that told Nancy just about everything she needed to know about his feelings for Tammy Thompson.

“Can you keep a secret?” Nancy asked with a defeated sigh, as she tried to balance the watermelons.

Steve nodded, taking one of them.

Nancy let out a sigh of relief.

“Good, cause your parents would kill you.” She said. “Sam would kill me.”

She led the way up the stairs, and Steve could hear music playing, it got progressively louder the more they walked.

Nancy stopped outside a pair of doors, she gave Steve a meaningful look, almost asking if he was ready, and then with a flip of the hip, she knocked the door open.

Inside was something that Steve had a hard time describing even to himself.

It was sort of like a dance, but at the same time it was much more intimate than that, people were up on each other, grinding, humping, leaving breathy, open mouth kisses up and down each other's skin.

Steve's mother would definitely had called it vulgar, and she would have found it totally inappropriate for that matter, but Steve, her own baby was mesmerised by the sight;

The people inside the room was doing it so unapologetically, and it blew Steve’s mind. Steve felt things for men, of course he did, but those thoughts had never been voicalized, never spoken. He never thought there would be a place where he could, but then suddenly right in front of him, there it was.

Men making out with other men, Women grinding on other women, as well as straight couples, with no one batting an eye.

“Where'd they learn to do that?” Was Steve’s first question to Nancy as he tried to take in what he was seeing.

“Where?” Nancy asked back and stifled a laugh.”I don't know. Kids are doing it in their basements back home.”

Steve seemed to grow a blush at the mere thought of him and his friends, doing this, under his parents' noses.

Nancy noticed the sudden bashfulness of her new found friend and decided to have fun with it.

“Wanna try it?” She said, wiggling her eyebrows at the man in the doorway who’s cheeks felt like they were on fire. “Come on in”

Steve followed the curly haired girl, making their way into the room, feeling the heat of the ever moving bodies around him as they walked through the crowd.

Nancy stopped at a table that was filled with refreshments, where she began to cut up one of the melons.

“Can you imagine dancing like this on the main floor...home of the family fox-trot?” Nancy asked, nodding towards the filled dance floor in front of them.

“Sam would close the place down first.”

Steve imagined it, for a second, his parents watching same sex couples dance, to not mention, dancing like this. The idea scared him a bit, cause the reaction wasn’t something he could gauge.

As he stood there next to Nance, unable to take his eyes of the dancing, the door flew open and in came Robin, once again accompanied by her long haired dance partner.

“That's my cousin,Eddie Munson.” Nancy said, as Steve watched the man take a swing out of a champagne bottle.“He got me the job here”

Steve watched how the man whom he now knew went by Eddie, grabbed Robin by the waist and pulled her towards him, before he dipped her, her hair gracing the floor.

“They look great together.” Steve mustered up, choking down the jealousy he already felt.

“Yeah.” Nancy hummed as she took a bite of a watermelon. “You'd think they were

a couple, wouldn't you?”

Steve was confused by her statement.

“Aren't they?” He asked.

“Nah, they’re both as queer as they come.” Nancy said, and Steve felt a smile creep up on his face.

He wanted to respond to Nancy but he couldn’t find the words, so instead Steve settled for just watching Eddie, as he made his way across the dancefloor, grinding up against pretty much anyone who was in his line of way, all the people responding eagerly to his actions.

It wasn’t until it was too late that Steve realised that he was making his way over to them.

“Yo, Wheeler, what's he doing here?” Eddie asked, eyes flicking between Steve and Nancy.

“He came with me.” Nancy said, and Eddie raised a pointed eyebrow at her, she repeated her statement, a little tougher this time. “He’s with me, Eddie”

“I carried a watermelon.” Steve said, before his brain even registered that he was about to say something.

When he looked up to face the man he had just made a fool on himself in front of, Eddie was already out on the dancefloor again.

“I carried a watermelon?” Steve muttered to himself, wallowing in his stupidity.

Suddenly however as the songs switched, there he was again, this time right infront of Steve, curling his finger towards himself, motioning for Steve to come join him.

Steves initial reaction was to deny him, Steve thought about how terrible his other encounters with dancing had gone since his arrival at the kellermans, but there was something about the smugness in Eddies face, and the surge of energy that went through Steve’s body that made him agree to it.

He made his way out on the floor following closely behind Eddie. He felt weak at the knees, looking around the room, hoping that he could figure out how to dance.

When Eddie stopped and turned towards Steve, it was as if he picked up on Steve's insecurities instantly and began giving him instructions.

“Bend your knees.” He said, in a gentle but demanding tone. “Down.”

Steve did his best, but felt painfully stiff.

“Watch.” Eddie instructed, and placed a hand on Steve’s shoulder. “Watch my eyes.”

Steve looked up, and he could’ve sworn those big, soft, chocolate button eyes could’ve knocked the wind out of him.

“Good.” Eddie said, when he felt Steve relax a little. He moved his hands to Steve’s hips, guiding them around, in an circle, helping the brunette to find a rhythm.

“That's better.” He praised, and moved his hands for Steve to try it for himself.

Steve almost whimpered at the loss of contact, but kept up the movement.

“Good.” Eddie said, “Now roll this way.”

Steve watch the way Eddies hips moved and copied the motion, essentially just rolling the opposite way.

Eddie watched him proudly, then he grabbed him by the waist, pulling him close, so close in fact the Steve felt Eddies belt buckle against his own lower stomach.

“Now watch.” Eddie said, as he began to move, in total sync with Steve’s ongoing moves.

Steve felt his face heat at the interaction, his cheeks probably beet red already.

“Look.” Eddie said, smirk apparent on his face “Got some moves in ya after all.”

With a wink, he moved on, and left Steve in the middle of the floor, wondering if that just happened or if it was somewhat of a fever dream.

Steve spent the following day trying his damn best to track down the “dance people” as Tammy Thompson had called them.

Most of all he wanted to find Eddie again, something in his core told him that he needed to seem him again.

But no such luck, the closest he got was this wig-workshop with Robin that Luckily Carol was interested in as well, so Steve used her a a cover story.

He tried on a couple of wigs, feeling oddly pretty in the long, flawless ones, so he quickly decided to take it off before he started to read too much into it.

Instead he took the opportunity and went to talk to Robin.

“I think you're a wonderful dancer.” He blurted out, not really knowing how to start the conversation.

“Yeah?” Robin said, not sounding that impressed. “Well, my mother kicked me out when I was 16.”

The confession shocked Steve, he hadn’t expected that.

“I've been dancing ever since.” Robin said with a sigh.

Steve’s mind began to spiral, he imagined for a moment what it would be like to be Robin, to be a queer person, out there, doing something for a living that isn’t pre decided by one’s parents.the opportunity to be whoever you want, to love whoever you want.

“I envy you.” Steve said, and Robin looked at him, like a clumsy, stupid rich kid who had no idea what he was talking about.

And it wasn’t until she left without saying a word, that Steve realised that was exactly what he was.

After dinner on Steve’s second night, he once again ended up in the claws of Tammy Thompson.

He was painstakingly leading her across the floor of the ballroom, his mind constantly flashing memories from the dance he had with Eddie the night before.

He squeezed his eyes closed and tried to focus on the current dance, with Tammy.

But unfortunately, no matter what he did, his eye’s kept sliding over towards the tattooed young man who now sported a neat low bun in the back of his neck, that spun cougar after cougar across the floor, a plastered smile on his face, a smile that was so different from the way he had smiled at Steve the night before.

When the song ended Tammy excused herself and Steve found himself letting out a sigh of relief.

He took a glass of punch and watched as Tammy made her way over to Eddie, catching him in between dances.

“ Where's Robin?” She asked, voice snappy. ”Everybody's been asking for her.”

Steve heard how Eddie went into defence mode instantly.

“What do you mean, where's Robin?” He asked, eyebrows raised. “She's taking a break. She needs a break”

Tammy rolled her eyes, obviously finding the man’s statement ridiculous, cause “ she is here to work is she not?”

“As long as it's not an all-night break.” was what she gave Eddie as a response. Steve watched as Eddie shook is head in disbelief at the girl as she turned heel and walked away from him.

Steve tried to seem incredibly busy when she beelined right back towards him. It didn’t help, she grabbed ahold of his underarm and pulled him towards her.

“Come on. Let's take a walk.” She said, promptly walking towards the door with him in tow.

Steve looked back at his and Carols parents, silently wishing, asking them to need him for something.

The only thing he got was an encouraging wave from his mother.

So outside he went.

Tammy led him to the docks, much like the night before, the moon reflected itself in the lake, and the little cabin lights all shone again, but this time the company stopped Steve from enjoying the view.

“I love to watch your hair blowing in the breeze.” Tammy said, after having stared at Steve for quite some time without saying something.

The woman reached out to touch his hair, but Steve, cleared his throat, and began to lean a bit towards the main house, pretending to see his parents.

“I think I saw my mother, maybe they need me for something.” He said, and was about to step away when Tammy planted a heavy, messily manicured hand on his chest.

“Oh Steve, don't worry.” Tammy said, “they know you're with me, so I’m sure they’re

the happiest parents at Kellerman's right now”

Steve couldn’t hold back the eye roll as she spoke, my goodness, was this girl for real?

She sensed that Steve wasn’t convinced, so she continued.

“You know, I’m actually known as the catch of the county.” She proudly stated.

“I'm sure you are.” Steve said, and tried not to sound as ironic as he was.

“Last week I took this guy from Heather, the lifeguard.” She began, telling a story that Steve didn’t want to hear. And she said to him, ““What does she have that I don't have?”” And he said, ““Two hotels.””

Steve wrung his mind to try and figure out how to get away from there, when he heard a familiar voice.

“Tommy”

It was Carol, who had been dragged away from the dance floor by Tommy Hagan a good while ago.

“I don't hear an apology.” She said, Steve saw her button her blouse.

”Go back to Mommy and Daddy,” he shot back. “Maybe you'll hear one in your dreams.”

She stormed off and Steve watched how Tommy walked in the opposite direction, trying and failing to hide the half-hard on he had in his trousers.

He noticed how Tammy tensed as they watched the scene play out in front of them, this wasn’t the part of Kellermans that she wanted to show off. So she did what any hotel ascendance would, cleared her throat awkwardly and changed the subject.

“You hungry?” She asked,and then waited no time for Steve to respond. “Come on.”

She pulled Steve into the closed down restaurant kitchen, opening the fridge doors wide, presenting the late night snack options.

“So, what do you want? You can have anything you want.”

Steve didn’t reply, cause a small movement in the corner of his eye had caught his attention.

There, on the floor in the kitchen, behind the steel workbench, was Robin.

It took Steve a moment to realise who it was, cause this side of Robin was so widely different to the one that had smiled from ear to ear, teaching the mergue class yesterday.

Robin was clad in baggy jeans and an oversized flannel, the makeup that she had on earlier that day was smeared all down her face, the tear tracks apparent. She had her hand pressed to her mouth, muffling the deep sobs that ripped through the woman. She looked distraught, and Steve wanted nothing more that to rush over and ask how he could help, but with Tammy by his side that wasn’t an option.

“A brownie, some milk...Ieftover rice pudding,beets...cabbage roll...fruit salad, sweet gherkins?” Tammy rambled, luckily she was face deep in the fridge, with her glaze far away from Robin.

“Hey Tammy, look, I'm sorry.” Steve said, as he hatched a plan. “I better go check on Carol. You know… make sure she doesn’t say something.”

It all was a bold lie, to get Tammy out of there.

“Yeah.” She said, taking the bait. “Of course”

Steve parted ways with Tammy and made his way back into the ballroom, more or less scanning the room, trying to find someone who could help.

The first person he found was Nancy.

He rushed over, tugging her to the side.

“What’s going on?” She asked, visibly confused.

He began explaining, about Robin, the state of her and where she was.

He didn’t even finish until he saw Nancy dart across the room, grabbing ahold of Eddie, pulling him away from the older woman whom had her time with him at the dance floor.

In point two seconds after Nancy explantion Eddie headed towards the door.

Nancy, followed suit, grabbing Steve in the process.

“Why's he here?” Eddie asked as he noticed Steve behind Nancy.

“I brought him in case Tammy comes back.” Nancy said and that seemed to somewhat satisfy Eddie.

Steve watched how the low bun at the back of his head slowly unravelled strand by strand as Eddie hastily made his way across the yard.

“Robin just doesn't think.” He muttered under his breath, it sounded annoying but Steve could tell that it was rooted in worry.

A worry that Nancy had aswell.

“She wouldn't do anything stupid, would she?” Nancy asked, voicing a concern they all had.

The articulated question had Steve worried, he needed to know more.Steve wondered if he could ask… or if that would be overstepping..

“So, what's wrong?” He finally landed on.

“She's knocked up” Nancy whispered to him. He noticed how Eddie twitched as she did.

The answer however sparked another question.

“But, I thought? You said..” he began, not finding the words to ask if Robin wasn’t queer? Hadn’t Nancy said so?

“I did and she is..” Nancy said, answering Steve’s question. “It’s just.. it was rape Steve”

The words made all the blood drain from his face.

But it made Eddie’s boil.

“Wheeler!”

His voice boomed across the lake as they past.

After that the three of them were dead quiet until they laid their eyes on Robin again.

They got to work almost instantly, Nancy standing guard, on the lookout for everyone and anyone. With Steve within an arms reach, if she needed him.

Eddie went to Robin, straight to her, dropping to his knees beside her.

“It's okay. Eddie’s here.” He said, gathering the woman into his embrace as she scrambled into it.

Steve’s heart ached as he heard the gut wrenching sobs she now let out, when she was with friends, now that she wasn’t the one in charge of holding it all together…

“I'm never gonna let anything happen to you.” Eddie murmured.

Steve was truly in awe of how multifaceted the man was; how he was elegant and smooth in the ballroom, then a filthy amount of sexy at the after work dances, then an almost frightening amount of authoritative to the softest of them all right here.

“We got to go.” Nancy warned.

“Just hold on. Just hold on.” Eddie said, putting his arm under her legs.

She did as he said and clung tightly to him as he rose from the floor, keeping her in his arms.

“Good girl. Good girl.” He murmured.

The staff-break room looked so different now,when it was empty.

There were a sofa and an armchair that Steve only noticed now, cause that was where Eddie put Robin down. Nancy was there seconds later, draping a blanket over her shoulders, placing a loving peck to her cheekbone.

Steve stood in the doorway, contemplating whether he was imposing or not. Still nothing in him pushed him to leave.

“What do you think you're doing?” Eddie said to Robin. “You're in trouble, you talk to me, I'll take care of it.”

Robin put a hand on his knee, making him sit down next to her.

“You should've come to me in the first place.” He said again, softly this time.

“Forget it, Eddie.” She said firmly. “I'm not taking what's left of your salary.”

“Robin, that's my business.” Eddie counteracted.

“Besides, it wouldn't be enough.” Robin said with a sigh, dropping her head into her hands, a new round of sobs emerging. “Oh, God, it's hopeless!”

Steve couldn’t take it anymore.

“Don't say that.” He said. “There's gotta be a way to work it out.”

“Baby? Is that what your mother called you?” Robin said, out of sheer frustration. “You know what, Baby? You don't know shit about my problems.”

Nancy sighed, sitting down on the armrest of the couch.

“I told him.” She said.

“Jesus! He’s gonna tell his lil management girlfriend and then we'll all get fired” she continued. “ Why not skywrite it? ““Robin got knocked up by Tommy, the creep.””

It made Steve think of the sight of Tommy and Carol from earlier that night. He knew he was an outright ass for the get go.

“Tommy”

Nancy flew up.

“Steve” she said in a tone that made him realise that she was silently asking him to keep their secret. Steve gave her a silent nod.

“One of the counselors knows a doctor, a real M.D....just traveling through New Paltz one day next week.” She explained. “We can get an appointment,but it costs 250 $.”

“But if it's Tommy, then I know he has the money. Maybe if you tell him…”. He began, but Robin cut him off.

“He knows…”

Steve had promised himself not to meddle. But the sight of Robin on the kitchen floor was ingrained into his mind, so he decided to help them. To the best off his ability.

First he decided to talk to Tommy Hagan.

“Why should you tell me what's right?” Was his response.

- You can't do this, after what you’ve done, it’s the least you can do…” Steve said.

“I didn't blow a summer hauling bagels just to bail out some chick… who probably banged every guy in the place”

Steve wanted to throw up in his own mouth. Was this really his response after assaulting someone?

He thought about causing a ruckus, to have him thrown out of the place for good, but the consequences for Steve himself didn’t make it worth it.

“You make me sick.” He settled for. “Stay away from me, stay away from Robin or I'll have you fire”

When that didn’t work out, Steve proceeded to the somewhat trickier plan B.

“Dad.” He stated. “Someone's in trouble.”

“Besides your mother?” He said and chuckled at the way his mother shot the golf ball. “You're overcorrecting,hun.”

“You always told me if someone was in trouble, I should help.” Steve said, treading lightly before just ripping the bandaid off. “Could you lend me 250$?”

The question shook his father to the core, and he started to ask 20 questions.

“Are you all right? Are you in trouble?”

“No, it's not me.” Steve promised. “So, could you loan it to me?”

His father hesitated for a moment.

“That's a lot of money.” He said, Steve felt how he studied him in search of an answer.”What's it for?”

“Baby, stand up straight.” His mother said, as Steve tried to figure out if he should deny him an answer or feed him a lie. So he straightened his posture and looked at his father.

“I can't tell you.” He said. “It's hard for me to say that to you,but I can't.”

Haven’t I always said you could tell me anything?” His father said.

Steve’s mind flooded with everything he hadn’t said…

“Sorry…I can't tell you this.” Steve said, holding his line.

“It's not illegal, is it?” Steve felt himself go pale at the question..

Cause in all honesty, Steve didn’t know… but he stood firm in his belief that it shouldn’t be.

“No, Dad.” He said.

“That was a stupid thing to ask.Forgive me.” He said and in that moment steve thanked himself for never doing anything that made his parents doubt him. “I'll have it for you before dinner.”

[dearer-than-i]

Ray Through The Pre Time-Skip Sagas

“What’s this, a new member of the East Blue crew?”

A post summarizing my ideas for Ray's placement through all the Pre-Time Skip One Piece Arcs :} Some are more in depth than others but this was entirely just in fun and playing with my to ys :} This doesn't include anything for my Zoan DF AU or my Isakai AU! Just base how I would insert them into the canon compliant story :}

East Blue Saga:

Romance Dawn, Buggy Pirates, Syrup Village - DOESNT EXIST! But is obviously working at the Baratie

Baratie Arc - THEIR THEY ARE!!! Ray is introduced to Luffy super quickly after he uh. Blasts a hole in the roof of the Baratie. Zeff half jokingly says Luffy should “get acquainted” cause Ray is the bussboy of the Baratie and is currently working overtime by filling in a waiter position alongside Sanji since the restaurant is so short staffed. Thankfully them and Luffy get along super well and since no one is answering this rubber bouncy ball personified’s questions that leaves Ray to. We get some of their backstory along with a hint of Sanjis with Ray explaining they were born on a marine base and tried to be marine before admitting they weren’t cut out for it. The found an ad for the Baratie in the paper and ended up making their way there and asking Zeff for a job and has been working their for the past few years. They make some remarks on Sanji and Zeff having an.. odd relationship but how they can tell in their own way they care about each other and they comment that Baratie is actually advertised as a “Father and Son” restaurant. Don Craig shows up and Ray is on Sanji’s side in feeding him and then the fight breaks out. They’re not much of a fighter but ARE the person applying basic first aid to injured parties and is at Zoro’s side keeping him from bleeding out after the fight with Mihawk. Everything is mostly the same up until Luffy being told by Zeff to take Sanji with him. Now their’s a scene of Ray and Sanji post fight and Sanji getting “kicked out” where they talk and Sanji talks about how he owes Zeff too much to just leave the restaurant besides “The old man would be lost without me.” he half jokes. Queue Luffy getting Sanji on the crew and as they’re getting ready to go Ray shows up, bag packed, Luffy BEAMS. Ray and Sanji have a moment of Ray talking about how Sanji should go after the All Blue and Ray wants to be there to see it.

Arlong Park - Ray is mostly on the sidelines here, emotionally supporting Nami along with being the one to patch up her arm! Cause poor girl has been through TOO MUCH

Alabasta Saga:

Logtown - WHOOOO BOY Okay so everything is the same but when the crew separates Ray goes off to find some supplies for ship upkeep (basic medicines, cleaning supplies, rations, etc) everything is roughly the same until the do the Grand Line castoff!!! Of course they need a dream to cast off for! So! 🥾 “I want to see the whole world!”

Whiskey Peak - Ray is PROBABLY still on the Merry the whole time honestly. Probably a situation where they went to the party on the island but went back to the ship early. It isn’t until Vivi shows up do they know something went wrong. They’re super confused lmfao

Drum Island - NOW HERE IS WHERE I HAVE SO MANY IDEAS. Okay so this is the arc where we meet Chopper, the doctor of the Strawhats! The crew is super concerned about Nami being sick so they go to Drum Island cause they hear their are good doctors there. Their are some comments, likely from Luffy, about Ray being the one whos been patching them up so far but they say the can only do so much and don’t have the proper medicines that Nami would need to really get better. Timeskip to Luffy and Sanji splitting off to take Nami to the top of the mountain, where the supposed last doctor is. Ray stays behind with Usopp and Vivi and is with them when they make their way up there and ends up being one of the first people to have an actual one-on-one conversation with Chooper! Its after they’re all on the ship leaving Drum Island and I should give context that Chopper is SUPER tiny he’s only like. 2’5”. But he’s chilling on the deck while everyone else is relaxing and getting back to their groove and we have a moment where Ray sits beside him and makes a joke about them all being monstrously tall and actually “we’re the only normal ones” with a wink cause I WILL have some dwarfism solidarity!!

Alabasta - Honestly nothing much different here other than Ray being there! When the group splits off and Chopper and Sanji are cut from the others Ray is with them! And when Bon Clay (a guy who can transform into other people after touching them) is going through the Strawhats theirs a joke that he is confused on why they have a cabin boy for such a small crew. Other then that it’s basically the same just insert Ray being the one to keep watch after everyone passes out at the end lmfao. And they’re included in the arm up signal when they leave and is the. One person outside of Luffy to trust Robin pretty quickly wahaha

Skypia Saga:

Jaya - Cannot think of how to insert them here outside of them just existing in all honesty. They’re part of the “scared of bugs” crew though along with Nami and Sanji when going through the jungle.

Skypia - Uhhhh. Honestly just gonna have them be staying behind with Chopper taking care of Usopp and Sanji after they’re passed out and being part of the “what the fuck is Luffy doing” crew. Though their is gonna be a scene where after Sanji gets struck by Enel and is passed out AGAIN that Ray is super fucking concerned and calls him and asshole for putting himself in danger and insert a gag where they punch him or something and Chopper is like “YOU COULD HURT HIM WORSE!”

Water 7 Saga:

Long Ring Long Land - Ray is around for the events of the DavyBack Fight! Ray doesn't participate in any of the events and is mostly on the side lines with Nami, Robin, and Chopper.

Water 7 - I HAVE. IDEAS FOR HERE. Ray is added to the list of people who have a run in with Robin before she's arrested. They run into each other just after the monster trio go to fight the Franky Family in Usopps honor. The two have an exchange that only cements in Ray's mind that Robin isn't doing this of her own free will and Ray assures her the Strawhats will always be her nakama even if she thinks otherwise. Ray is also there when it gets known that Merry isn't fixable. They're very shaken up about it but they have other important things to worry about. Their's a scene with Usopp and Ray comfort each other over the ordeal. Enies Lobby - Not much changes with Ray being in the picture. When the group splits up to find Zoro and Luffy Ray takes off with Chopper. Otherwise a lot of the arc Ray is helping out in the battle! They do say something during the 'I wanna live!' scene though. I also in my head include a scene in Post Enies Lobby where Ray and Franky talk one-on-one about Ray feeling very privilaged to be a Strawhat despite their lack of skills in battle. It's kind of ironic how much Franky's sentiment and attitude speak to me in this arc when it comes to my issues of self world and having to 'prove myself' but anyways we just project and move on. I've also mentioned that in my canon Franky also intentionally included a Cabin-Boys quarters on the Sunny for Ray to stay in. Their are also a lot of intentional built in accommodations on the Sunny for Ray (And Chopper as well) such as built in retractible steps at counters and many seating areas are intentionally built to accessible for Ray.

Trilller Bark Saga -

Okay so this is gonna be a bit self indulgent :} Okay so the crew meets Brook and I wanna include a bit where Ray makes a comment about how they recognize the song that Brook is singing and is weirded out by that. They get to Thriller Bark and Ray is with the the Coward Crew <3 in the split-up they wanted to take a ride on Mini Merry, alright? But not much else changes until we get to peoples Shadows getting stolen. Here I unapologetically add some RaySanji crumbs :} The zombie with Sanji's shadow immediately starts getting protective of and flirting with Ray cause I deserve that I think <3

Summit War Saga :

Sabaody Archipelago - Not much to say other than Ray is with everyone! They go off with Nami while running errands but other then that everything is roughly the same :} Cherry Town (A Fan Chapter Art Story) - In the end Ray, when hit with Kuma's paw, lunging after Sanji after he disappears, gets sent to a different island like everyone else. Ray gets sent to a marine base island named Cherry Town. They're very lucky when, while trying to figure out what's happening, that Garp and his fleet are on the island, docking after the events of Marineford (For Garps own sake and on his command they stop there for the time being) and he recognizes Ray, both from Arlong Park and Water 7, and is like 'wtf is this kid doing here' but thanks to Koby, and Helmeppo (though he'll never admit it), pestering he agrees to take in Ray to train. And that's what they do for the 2 years of time-skip.

[demonslayedher]

Doing research on Taisho period marriage recently, as well as wondering “hmm, the text isn’t totally clear, is it that a distant Tomioka relative practiced medicine, or a distant relative of the well-intentioned neighbor had a doctor relative and that young Giyuu was being brought to a total stranger?” spurred me on another AU.

So young Giyuu was peppery enough to decide that rather than being brought far away to a stranger (who perhaps would had found him crazy for saying a demon killed his sister), he’d rather take his chances in the wilderness. So let’s say this little Giyuu also realizes, “you know, I’m the oldest son. My father’s not around anymore, so that makes me the head of the family. That means Tsutako-neesan can’t get married tomorrow unless she has my permission. I’m going to go tell her fiancé he can’t have her yet!!”

And then…

Demon!Giyuu, having just transformed, is not very stable and it’s hard to keep him under control, Tsutako has left everything and finds herself running away in the mountains with him. She put a daikon muzzle in his mouth and a sheet over his head without realizing that would save his life, but she does notice he strongly prefers to keep to the shadows and is irritable during the day. The house is in shambles due to the other demon that attacked her, so she hopes that her fiancé Yamada Tarou will have faith in her that it wasn’t her choice to leave the night before the wedding.

She runs into a hunter who is a friend of Urokodaki (the one who otherwise would had rescued starving little Giyuu) and is like, “hmm, a demon. I can take you to someone who will help,” and she gratefully goes along, only to have him introduce her to Urokodaki like, “see, you need someone with a specialized weapon to take off that thing’s head and kill it good and dead, this guy make not look like it now but he’s an amazing swordsman who can do that” and as she freaks out about how that was NOT AT ALL the help she was looking for, she insists that it’s been days since he changes and he hasn’t harmed anyone by the demon who nearly killed her. Urokodaki finds this highly unusual, and decides that Giyuu seems safe enough to take this risk (and if he proves otherwise, Urokodaki is confident that he and his other student can take him on). Still, as he agrees to teach her, he warns Tsutako as sternly as he warned Tanjiro about her responsibility for her brother.

That being said, Tsutako does not have superhuman strength and not all demons can be as special as Nezuko, so as Giyuu gets hungrier and hungrier he’s harder and harder to handle. It’s as she’s taken him deeper into the forest to try to reason sense back into him before Urokodaki notices that she meets the student Urokodaki already had around. Giyuu, who has at least figured out he doesn’t want to harm the person whose blood nevertheless smells really, really, really, really nutritious to him, starts to attack that boy.

That boy’s not taking that.

Tsutako, a girl of marriageable age at least a few years older than this pompous and unfairly strong child, finds Sabito both insufferably annoying and a freakishly strong threat. Sabito accepts her as a fellow student, and accepts Giyuu so long as he keeps his promise to Urokodaki not to hurt anyone, but he’s pretty blunt toward Tsutako. It’s only for her well-being that he tells her that her fiancé must have forgotten all about her already.

And, in case my poor handwriting isn’t clear, Makomo appears to Tsutako to give her the secrets to Water Breath Technique and Girl Power. Sabito is astounded and frustrated by how fast Tsutako, who is nowhere near as strong as him, overtakes him.

Thus, Giyuu attains more coverage for his easily sunburned arms. While Giyuu does retain the heart of a 12/13-year-old boy who doesn’t yet want to let go of his only remaining family and who looks up to a hero now, he is also a demon, and has a tendency to just quietly lurk to the side of things and watch things coldly. And he’s a demon with a mind of his own, so when Tsutako and Sabito go off to the Final Selection, Giyuu snatches one of Urokodaki’s haori to drape over his head and follows them. (Urokodaki is freaked out when he realizes Giyuu’s run off and tries to cover up how nervous he is as he goes checking the village to make sure no one’s been eaten.)

Giyuu makes his way to the wisteria border, but gets frustrated at the border, but pushes his way through. This was such a horrific blow to his health that it severs his connection to Muzan. Whoops. Muzan doesn’t care anyway. For now.

Giyuu is in half-crazy shape by the time he gets to his treasured ones, who are arguing. They are freaked out that Giyuu is there at all, and wind up having to work together to keep an eye on him. That means saving him from kids like Murata, too. When Giyuu, starting to lose his mind but still wanting to protect Tsutako, winds up saving them from a demon that would had taken advantage of Sabito and Tsutako trying to explain the situation to Murata, Murata is quickly convinced. “That’s pretty unorthodox, but okay I guess,” he yells back. Sabito tells Tsutako that they should probably make it a point to find all the other kids on the mountain and explain the situation to them too, and this is how everyone winds up knowing of Sabito, who also saves a lot of those other kids in the knick of time.

When Sabito and Tsutako find themselves targeted by the Hand Demon, Tsutako gets injured and Sabito tries to save her, and breaks his sword and gets injured too. Giyuu, on the last dregs of his sanity, rushes in to help and gets injured too, and Tsutako sees that their only chance of survival is if Giyuu is strong enough to protect them until sunrise. She feeds him a bit of her blood (*gasp!!*), and Giyuu tears that demon apart enough that Tsutako and Sabito can manage to defeat it together, also breaking Tsutako’s sword in the process.

Buuuut the Final Selection isn’t over. Giyuu is much, much calmer now that he’s had some nourishment (but Sabito and Tsutako agree to keep it a secret, even from Urokodaki), and the other kids who have been rescued rally to their aid. Thus, the first ever Final Selection in which all the kids survive (and all work together by volunteering their garments to cover Giyuu from both the sun and the wisteria so as to smuggle him back out. The Ubuyashiki Clan present members can kind of tell something’s fishy, but Oyakata-sama has already gotten an emergency letter from Urokodaki explaining the Tomioka siblings’ situation and the “uhh, I let him get out, I’m sorry” bit. The unusual story of the Final Selection In Which Everyone Lived spreads around, and it already sounds like such an urban legend that anything said about a demon on their side is dismissed by regular Corp members as embellishment.

So for Tsutako’s first mission, Oyakata-sama is like, “I’m gonna send those kids to Asakusa to try to make contact with Tamayo for me.” In the meantime, while she and Sabito are recovering and waiting for their swords, Urokodaki sews together a bigger cloak of the tattered clothes Giyuu came back in, looking like a sludge demon or something with all those scraps dangling off him.

The plan is that Giyuu will stay in Urokodaki’s care now that big sis is off to go do Corp missions, but once again, Giyuu slips out to tag along with her, much to Urokodaki and Tsutako’s consternation. Tsutako, while scolding him to stay put, winds up lecturing him about how he never would had turned into a demon if he had just learned to let go of her when she was supposed to leave him before (somehow she’s figured out why Giyuu went missing that night in the first place). She also uses her Kasugai-garasu right away to send a long awaited letter to her fiancé Yamada Tarou to explain her absence and declare her intentions to return to him as soon as she can find a cure for Giyuu.

So anyway. They go to Asakusa, and Giyuu is not only very pensive around all these humans, but he’s still very, very hungry. Tsutako, not being superhuman, very quickly goes into panic-mode trying to keep him under control, and Tamayo notices and comes to their aid. And Giyuu is teetering on the edge of losing his mind with hunger, Tamayo gives Tsutako tools to safely keep him sustained with very small amounts of her blood. They also wind up in the same arrangement to collect samples to try to make a cure for Giyuu, and Tamayo likewise asks if she’ll leave Giyuu in their care (to Yushiro’s disgust, of course). Tsutako gratefully takes them up on the offer to keep Giyuu safe, but of course, Giyuu follows her anyway. Dang it, Giyuu!!!

So Tsutako accepts that Giyuu is going to be her shadow, staying to the shadows and following her in his ominous patchwork cloak during the day (but as much as possible, Tsutako tries to make it easy for Giyuu to avoid the sun). At night, when he can openly approach her, he nudges a ripped piece of flower-patterned kimono silk to her hands with the ends of his cloak. The following day, Tsutako receives a very strongly worded threat letter from Yushiro.

But no letter from Yamada Tarou… sigh.

As they go on with their missions, they of course occasionally run into Sabito, who is blowing through the ranks. He’s blunt with Tsutako as usual, and Giyuu is always very pleased to see him. Otherwise, Giyuu mildly keeps to himself except when Tsutako is alone and it’s after dark so he can openly be in her company.

But yeah, Giyuu totally steps in and helps her fight. His Blood Technique is like cutting ribbons of water, so it basically is Water Breath in an actual physical form. Most demons never see it, though, for it hits them Dead Calm style.

So anyway, one night Tsutako and Giyuu run into Rengoku-san. Rengoku-san tries to kill him, of course, but Tsutako (already injured, because the heat of battle is dramatic) steps between them in the knick of time to save Giyuu, and would had totally sacrificed herself for him had Rengoku-san not had a built-in “don’t hurt humans” mechanism that stops him just short of her neck. He orders her to move, she refuses, Giyuu the demon is right there and now threatening him back because this guy has a sword pointed at his sister, but does not take advantage of the fact that Tsutako is injured to eat her. Rengoku has a bewildering moment of “attack! But that would hurt a human, don’t attack! But that leaves the demon alive. Attack? Don’t attack? Attack? Don’t attack? Demon is growling at me, attack! Demon isn’t eating human, um??? Demon is protecting human, don’t attack???” and takes an uncharacteristically long amount of time to decide his course of action. Standing down and asking her to explain herself (but of course staying ready to react if Giyuu is up to any funny business). He listens, says frankly that he’s an extremely unusual situation and he’s never heard anything like it. He decides to give Giyuu a pass since he was protecting a human (though Rengoku was no threat to her), but warns her about her responsibility to kill her brother and herself if Giyuu ever loses control. She accepts, and they go their separate ways.

On another occasion, Tsutako encounters Kanae and Shinobu during the daytime hours, and Kanae is like, “excuse me, there appears to be a demon stalking you.” Tsutako winds up explaining the situation, and Kanae is very, very excited to meet this demon and befriend him. She beckons him over to sit in his cloak in the shade with them while they have a picnic. Tsutako and Kanae become fast friends, and Shinobu doesn’t like it but goes along with it all.

You can tell where this is going. Demon!Giyuu eventually has encounters with ALL the Pillars. One day, Himejima catches Kanae hanging out with Tsutako and helping her with a Giyuu matter, and Kanae pulls Jedi charm on him and says “You didn’t see a thing.” Which he didn’t. Because he’s blind. Himejima is so exasperated with such a bad joke that he just decides to leave her to her own devices, she’s a big girl now and can make her own poor Pillar choices.

Uzui notices the demon in the trees one day follow that one lowly Corp member, and he jumps up to go threaten that thing before lopping its head off, to tell it how nasty it is for following a girl around like that, and how he’s so drab that even Uzui almost didn’t notice his presence. The daikon takes Uzui off guard, though, so he forgets what he was going to say, and in that moment, he realizes that there is no aggression in this demon at all. He decides this is kind of interesting, because the sound of it, this demon has never even eaten a whole human. That’s interesting, so he lets him off with a threat not to get himself in trouble, and warns him that he’ll have his mice keeping an eye on him. Tsutako is completely unaware of this whole interaction.

Iguro winds up in the heat of a battle with multiple demons and multiple Corp members when he sees Giyuu, but doesn’t realize that he’s fighting on their side, so he starts going after him. Tsutako catches him right in time and winds up redirecting him with false information, which Iguro only realizes later was a lie to protect that demon. He considers going on a witch hunt for her to punish her, but he’s quickly overwhelmed by the potential interactions he’d have to open himself up to with a girl as his adversary, so he decides just to keep an eye out for her and not make the same mistake twice.

Kanroji witnesses a dramatic battle in which Giyuu fights to protect Tsutako, but is on the edge of losing himself, so Tsutako calls him back and winds up having to force himself to drink her blood, after which he clearly feels ashamed and she assures him that she’ll do anything it takes to cure him. Kanroji is so moved by their sibling love that she roots them on and vows in her heart to keep their secret, they never notice her whatsoever.

And Sanemi has had a few run-ins with him over the years. To him, Giyuu is the demon who always gets away. If Sanemi has a special vendetta against one demon in particular, it’s this one. It’s gotten under his skin so much that he aggressively guards this secret of his greatest recurring shame. (One time Tsutako created a “he went that way” diversion which Sanemi fell for so hook-line-and-sinker that he never once suspected her of anything and totally forgot about her). For whatever reason, Sanemi’s blood doesn’t have an effect on this demon, who just stands there and stares at him with those dead looking blue eyes until Sanemi makes a move on him, and this this demon practically disappears before his eyes. And AT SOME POINT this demon started stealing scraps of things that belong to Sanemi and wearing them on his cloak to taunt him. It ticks him off so much, what if someone sees those and recognizes them someday and knows how many times Sanemi has let this demon get so close and yet has always let him get away!??

So after years of Giyuu becoming like a cryptid of the Corp, Tsutako is of course the one who has the fortune of running into Tanjiro the night Nezuko turns, so that she and Giyuu can both step in and help him. She of course sends Tanjiro off to Urokodaki, and Urokodaki is relieved to find that Nezuko is a demon who sleeps and stays in one place. Once Tanjiro joins the Corp (without the added boulder delays), he uses his first chance to go seek out Tamayo according to Tsutako’s introduction, and Tamayo begins her investigation of Nezuko’s transformation. At some point, Giyuu’s cloak acquired pink hair ribbons.

And Tanjiro, having his typical luck, winds up being arrested and brought before the Pillars anyway. Oyakata-sama learned about Nezuko too, and decided he should probably bring up this one to his Pillars a little sooner this time.

And, as all the Pillars are learning of Nezuko, they’re all thinking everything from ‘oh ship, I am in so much trouble if anyone finds out I already knew about that other demon’ to ‘does anybody else know this isn’t the first time this has happened?’ to ‘why the hell is this punk letting a demon live’ and then Rengoku-san just opens his mouth and is like, “ACTUALLY, OYAKATA-SAMA, THERE IS ANOTHER DEMON LIVING AMONG THE CORP LIKE THIS TOO!!!!” and all the Pillars’ calmness collapses. As they all start freaking out like, “wait, you saw it too?? You KNOW him????” and Sanemi is just having a mental breakdown as he puts all this together, you’ve got the Water Pillar.

And just to round out this is AU with a tiny bit of a plot, Tsutako one day gets a letter from Yamada Tarou! He understands and wants her back, after all these years!

She’s ecstatic to go be reunited with her love, and heads back to her hometown. Sabito, who happens to have run into her around this time warns her that it’s too good to be true, it’s got to be someone pulling a scam on her, because that guy must have long since settled down with some other girl and had a bunch of kids already. She tells Sabito to shut up and to watch over Giyuu for her while she goes to have this reunion.

Naturally, it doesn’t go so happy. Yamada Tarou is a demon, and he’s trying to curry favor with Muzan by catching that demon who slipped out of Muzan’s control! Oh no! And while Tsutako is heartbroken she is nearly killed, but of course Sabito comes to the rescue. In some scene I don’t feel like writing, while Giyuu stands his own against this demon by unleashing the true extent of his watery Blood Technique, Sabito tends to Tsutako, gives a manly pep talk, and she comes around and admits that not only was Sabito right, but that he wasn’t always looking out for her and never meant to be so annoying. She comes in and finishes off the fight in the way that’ll make that demon feel her broken heart.

But now she can finally move on! She’d have given up her life for Giyuu that night, after all, so it’s all the same to her to live for him still.

And then Tamayo’s like, “I made meds” and Giyuu and Nezuko become human and Muzan dies and everyone lives happily ever after.

[anothanobody]

Hi im new to your blog and i was just wondering what different tags and aus you have

I actually have to update the tags cause i havent done that in a while lol but the AUs are a lot and the tags are basically the au names-

'Family Rekindled AU'- from my fic, so Mikasa and Eren trying to reconcile and be with their child after the time lost, now she's currently preggo with the second.

Thank You,Zeke- from my fic too, Eren is a med student and part time mechanic, Mikasa is a law student and a part time assitant teacher in a kindergarten- they fell in love immediately and have flashbacks of their past life, but they're not aware of it.

Public Secret AU- fic as well, Mikasa is a model, Eren is a gamer, they're in the world of social media and dating lowkey.

Bull Rider AU- Eren is a bull rider, Mikasa is a rich girl, they met and hook up with no feelings attached but end up meeting again in an event- bunch of shenanigans that involves her being sent to his ranch outside the city from her parents to change.

Yandere Eren- Mikasa escaped from an arrange marriage and met Eren who takes her in but becomes too attached and obsessed, hurting who will come and try take her away from him, she's not aware but she doesn't want to leave him either, feeling loved for the first time in forever.

Nannykasa- Eren had a son from a one night stand when he was 25/6, Mikasa becomes his son's staying in nanny a few years later.

Yakuza AU- They're arrange to marry, Mikasa is in love with him but he doesn't see this positevily, he wants his freedom and does everything to stay away from her and hurt her, she leaves when he admitted his own feelings for her having had enough of him and all the pain he put her through.

Tourist Eren- Mikasa is a painter who went to her family's cabin in the mountains after she got her art block, Eren went there for a month and ends up meeting her as she is his neighbor.

Redemption AU- from my fics, Eren and Mikasa were CEO and secretary, he had a wife when he got with Mikasa after Mikasa discovers his lies about his own marriage she leaves him. When he divorced officially, he looks for Mikasa to find her and their newborn son. They're working it out at the moment.

Canon transported to Modern AU- I think it's pretty self explanatory

Modern Reunited AU- They had a fight when they were 15, the day after she moved to Japan, he regrets saying things to her. They meet years later, when her brother gets injured in a college basketball game and the doctor there is Eren.

Catholic Student Mikasa x Nerd Eren- self explanatory but Mikasa is the one more driven and experienced between the two, it just starts as her teaching him things about sex and then translates into a relationship.

Age Gap AU- Mikasa is a co worker under Carla for a clothing brand, she hooks up with Eren before knowing he was her boss' son, she tries to keep distance but he does not, trying to find any moment to meet her alone.

There are also random Headcanons if you want about either of them jealous [mostly Eren], them in quarantine and just nsfw hcs.

There are a couple of AUs that are just drafts in my docs, surprises let's say, two of them are angst.

[dead-dolphins]

guys, I was just thinking about the mountain girl and doctor’s son au (typical ro) and I was wondering if we should make them both virgins even though eren is a bit older than mikasa 👀

[angellesword]

YOUR EYES TELL | JJK (SPECIAL CHAPTER)

⇒ a glimpse of life with Jeon Jeongguk now that you can see colors.

Pairing: Dad!Jungkook x Mom!Reader

Word Count: 1.4k

Genre/Warnings: established relationship au, fluff, soulmate au.

Note: This is a special chapter for YOUR EYES TELL so it contains spoiler from said fic.

drabble: your eyes tell - special chapter part 2

The total solar eclipse, a black pearl necklace being auctioned for nine hundred two thousand dollars, and you glaring at Jeon Jeongguk.

These things were rare occurrences, but it looked like the last event you had mentioned would happen more frequently.

"I said no, Jeongguk."

Jeongguk. After being together for half a decade now, your husband still shuddered with fear every time you called him using his given name.

Why couldn't you just call him Gukkie? Did he fuck up so bad that you refused to coo his favorite nickname anymore?

"But—"

Your husband tried to reason out; however, when he saw how your glare became angrier, he stopped for a few moments.

Your cheeks were flushing. This didn't look good. You were making Jeongguk nervous.

"I really wanna move back to Seoul," he tried pouting his lips since he knew you could never resist his cute face.

He knew his plan was working when you suddenly clamped your eyes shut, refusing to look at him.

"I-It's not easy to just go back to the capital, Gukkie. Our life is literally here."

Here as in Busan. You and Jeongguk decided to settle down in his hometown the second you found out that you were pregnant.

You two figured that it would be best to raise your kid in a place where she could interact with nature. Busan was known for its beaches and mountains, unlike in Seoul where you would only be surrounded by tall buildings and hustlers.

Your kid shouldn't be in a stressful city at a very young age. Jeongguk knew this too, this was why you couldn't understand why he wanted to buy a house in Seoul.

"No, it's not." Jeongguk was still pouting while shaking his head. "You're a corporate lawyer and most businesses operate in Seoul. You barely have clients here."

He was right.

"Besides, Red wants to form a partnership with you. You know it's a good offer..."

You stayed quiet for a while, only biting your lower lip because you were aware that he made a point—a good point. But then again, you also knew that he wasn't saying these things for the advancement of your career.

He only wanted to go back to Seoul because "you want Chae-won to be close to Beomgyu, right?"

Chae-won. This was the name of your four year-old daughter. Chae meant color while won meant beginning.

You and Jeongguk thought that the name suited your daughter since Chae-won was made out of love, and love in your world signified the time you began to see the pretty hues.

"W-Well yeah..." Jeongguk was stuttering, trying so hard to find an excuse. "B-But it's also because I miss city life! I miss our friends! Don't you miss Jimin-hyung? Seokjin-hyung? Red?"

Jeongguk mentioned the Kim couple as if he was implying something. Admittedly, he had been trying to include them in literally every conversation you two were having, and the reason behind this was because of Beomgyu, the first born of Seokjin and Red.

Beomgyu and Chae-won were born in the same year. The former being three months older than your daughter. The two of them only met once since the Kims lived in Seoul—which was also the sole reason why Jeongguk wanted to move back to the capital in the first place.

Chae-won and Beomgyu met two weeks ago, meaning it had also been fourteen days since your daughter started seeing colors.

You could never forget that day.

Chae-won came crying to her father, hugging his left leg as if her life depended on it.

"B-Baby...what's wrong?" Jeongguk's face was pale. He could feel the tears pricking at his eyes.

He had always been like this. Jeongguk would cry when he saw his loved ones crying too.

"Appa! My eyes!" Chae-won used her free hand to rub her eye. She was doing it vigorously, as if she wanted to get rid of it.

"What happened to your eyes, my love?" You kneeled beside your daughter, stroking her hair in an attempt to calm her down.

It was obvious that your husband was losing his shit. At least one of you should try to stay calm, right?

"I-It's too bright, Mam..." Beomgyu was the one who answered on behalf of Chae-won.

You switched your gaze at Beomgyu, amazed because of how respectful he was. He was the only kid who called you Mam.

"Oh, my God..." Red suddenly gasped, covering her mouth when she realized something.

"D-Do you think they're..." Seokjin's wife stared at you, eyes widening as she trailed off.

"They're what?" Mr. Kim raised a brow, looking at his son and Chae-won.

"Soulmates?" Jeongguk supplied, unsure.

The four of you remained quiet. The only sounds that could be heard were Chae-won's sobs and Beomgyu's ragged breathing.

The four year-old boy didn't understand why his heart hurt so much just because Chae-won was crying. He wanted to wipe her tears away.

"Jeongguk..." You were the one who broke the silence. You glared at your husband because you felt like he just uttered the most absurd thing ever.

Sure, Jeongguk became a romantic when he finally accepted the idea of soulmates, but...wasn't he being a little too much?

Chae-won and Beomgyu were still young.

"I mean...it's a possibility, right? Chae-won started to cry when I told her to go play with Beomgyu." Jeongguk said, squatting to carry his baby girl.

You stood up, feeling a little uncomfortable with your position.

The six of you were inside the Kims' mansion. Red and Seokjin invited your family for dinner when they learned that you were in Seoul to attend Ji-eun's birthday party.

Actually, you would be staying here in Seoul for three days because Namjoon said he couldn't plan his daughter's birthday on his own. Even after four years, Namjoon was still chaotic as ever.

He refused to date, already happy with his life with Ji-eun.

"So are you saying that the world is so small that the daughter of my ex and my husband's former lawyer is the soulmate of my son?" Red chuckled, amused.

She wasn't sure whether to side with Jeongguk or not. But then again, they just couldn't ignore the mentioned possibility.

Fate always had its way of confusing the shit out of people.

"We can bring them to a doctor, if you want..." Seokjin blurted out, pulling Red closer to him as he patted his son's head.

Beomgyu was still staring at Chae-won, contemplating whether he should embrace her or wipe her tears away.

In the end, the little boy chose the former option, causing Jeonguk's heart to swell with so much happiness.

His happiness turned into joy when later that day, they found out that the kids were really soulmates.

"Of course I miss our friends," you finally answered Jeongguk's question after remembering what happened at the Kims' mansion two weeks ago.

"But I'm happy here, babe. Chae-won's friends are here. Her life is here. You know how much she likes visiting her grandparents whenever she pleases. She's born here, Gukkie."

Jeongguk bit his lower lip. He was the one who couldn't answer now. You made a point too.

"I say we let her decide where she wants to live. Chae-won is smart. She will know what her heart truly desires. Besides..." You went near Jeongguk, wrapping your hands around his neck.

He instantly encircled his arms around your waist, pulling you closer.

"Our daughter is still young. Let her be a kid, babe. We can't force her to seek romantic love just because she found her soulmate,"

Jeongguk looked sad, his lips trembling.

"I-I know that..." He heaved a deep sigh. "I guess I'm just scared. I don't want Chae-won to go through the pain you had experienced because of me. I met you a little late, love. I don't think I can handle seeing our daughter cry because her soulmate is in love with someone else..."

"Oh, Gukkie..." You nuzzled his nose, kissing his cheek.

Jeongguk was left craving for more, and so he placed a kiss on your sweet lips.

"Chae-won and Beomgyu are meant to be together. I'm sure fate will find a way to bring them together..."

"Just like what happened between you and me?" Your husband's eyes were wide and sparkling, like he was seeking your approval.

"Yeah, maybe even better. Maybe Beomgyu will love our precious baby more than we love her..."

"But I am the one who loves Chae-won the most!"

You chuckled because Jeongguk looked so adorable, like he was competing with a four year-old kid.

Typical Jeongguk.

"I know. I love you..."

"I love you too." Jeongguk smiled, kissing you once more. "And I'm so glad you're my soulmate..."

MORE JJK FICS WRITTEN BY ME: EUPHORIA or check MASTERLIST

[eenasbabysmom]

Okay but now I want the AU where Madame Yu decides to get her son a strong betrothal before the plot kicks off, or maybe she botices The Comb after the Cloud Recesses and sets up chengqing. The drama! Both of them wanting the other to switch sides so they can be safe! JC trying to claim his betrothed's family to honor his mother's choice!

Ugh-I CANNOT

. . . Well, I actually can. None of this is organized or likely to make sense. Blame nonny.

There is a multiverse of AUs within this little concept:

1-YZY sees the tides of change before her husband, starts buttering up WRH for an alliance for her son. WRH sees an opportunity to co-opt the Jiang sect in the near future when an 'accident' befalls JFM. (Not to imply that YZY would know or condone such a thing-just that they both have their own motivations and WRH wants to kill people and take over territory). His sect is like all the others, nary a female born into the main families to marry off, but he does have his brilliant doctor of a niece that fits the required criteria of 1-being a Wen, 2-being a girl, and 3-being scared enough of him to do what he tells her. This leading to a betrothal or a marriage is possible.

A Betrothal-JC meets his betrothed for the first time at Cloud Recesses, where she appears to be very unimpressed with him but allows him to follow her around like the lovesick puppy he becomes within seconds of their meeting. But JC is capable of uttering a coherent sentence around WQ, WWX tries to wingman him into not looking like an idiot, which JC fighting crippling doubt, jealousy, and hope all at the same time. JYL appears often to whisk her future SIL away from where her brothers are actively being idiots, leaving WN to referee (which he is completely ineffectual at, but gives both WWX and JC more time to imprint upon this stuttering baby and agree to shared older brotherhood-also gives NHS ample opportunity to meet and flirt his way to a partial obsession with WN which scares EVERYONE because NMJ and Wens DO NOT MIX).

How awkward then is the Indoctrination arc? JC is technically a future son-in-law and WRH maybe orders his idiot son not to harm the Jiang sect heir, but says nothing about WWX and WC increases his punishment of WWX, but now under the guise of infractions made by JC because 'Father says we shouldn't harm family, future or otherwise' and promptly designates WWX as a whipping boy.

("Really, Jiang gonzi? Can't you follow simple instructions, not even for the sake of your own shixiong? How much more of your insubordination can WWX take?")

JC not being left behind in the Tortoise of Slaughter cave ("Wouldn't want to jeopardize your future happiness, would we WQ?"). JC marched back to Nightless City under guard (WN slips away, promising to help WWX and the others, and JC not being able to wrangle him to NOT DO THAT YOU IDIOT-DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'LL DO IF THEY CATCH YOU?). WQ getting a message to JYL about both WWX and WN and JFM leads a small band of disciples to Muxi Mountain, recovering both the group that had left the cave with JZX and WWX and LWJ from the cave itself.

WRH marries JC off to WQ under duress in the meanwhile and YZY is FURIOUS and DEMANDS the return of her son. WRH sends troops to eliminate the Jiang Sect while keeping JC in his dungeons (torture happens, because WRH). Returns JC to a ravaged LP with his parents and sect dead, sends WQ along as his 'wife' and orders both to set up a Supervisory office in Yiling. JC and WQ fighting and arguing constantly, JC half mad with grief and WQ in terror for her still missing brother and the not so subtle threats against her remaining family on Dafan Mountain. WN stealing into the Supervisory Office one night months after JC had given up his entire family for dead and the relationship between him and his wife on the edge of a knife. WN reveals that WWX and JYL survived the slaughter, that JYL is hiding in Meishan and WWX and he had gone into hiding in the Burial Mounds. A Golden Core!Demonic Cultivator WWX who shows up to kill everyone at the Supervisory Office except WN, JC, and WQ. JC recognized by WWX as his sect leader and they take WN and WQ with them to go take back LP. WWX's army of dead and JC's burning desire for revenge results in a bloodbath that sends WC and WZL running for the relative safety of Qishan.

WQ and WN left behind in LP to 'rebuild or whatever' while JC and WWX go off to get revenge. JC having enough wherewithal to leave a couple of disciples of those that had shown up when LP had been retaken behind with the siblings, clearly stating that "THIS IS YOUR FUREN" and leaves WQ in charge after telling her that it's either that she stays and does the work here, or they divorce and they're on opposite sides of the war. WQ hissing at him about her family on Dafan Mountain and JC screaming back "well, go get them then! Stash them in some of the rooms-most of them are empty now anyway. Or take them all back to Qishan with you-just PICK" and stomping away to torture and kill with WWX until they catch up to WC and WZL, an altercation that leads to meeting LWJ once more. Getting back Suibian and Sandu, but WWX resolute on demonic cultivation and JC firmly in his corner. Do they join the SSC or go on their rampaging way?

And I have to cut it off there because I need to get back to work-but I have lots more thoughts about this that I'll maybe articulate later!!!!!

[selfproducingfanfictionauthor]

the worlds collide - i: an old face

Summary: Who are you? Now that the new world has collided with the remnants of the old? 

Pairing: BTS x reader (slight Got7/Jackson x reader)

Warnings: Referenced violence, covert sexism, zombies  Notes:  I knoooow I should be working on lessons to build and looking back at you but this idea just won’t let go. I originally wrote it for my 30 minute challenge but it got out of hand. So here it is, a zombie au! Not sure how long it’ll be yet but we’ll see! UNEDITED. Word Count: 3.2k

At the center of the end of the world, humanity was stripped to what it only needs to exist - strength, camaraderie, and grit.

With the undead nipping at your heels day and night, the only thought that remained were thoughts of where the nearest exist is, how to store food, how much farther for the next stronghold, and how long will that stronghold last. To survive, you stripped away everything unnecessary from your former life. All the bashfulness, the shame, and coated yourself with an armor as thick as the new callouses on your fingers - you still remember the first time you’ve went topless around Namjoon, and neither of you flinched.

Frankly, you’ve forgotten how to be anything else but this brought you to your new role in the new world. You’re no longer a girl, or a woman - you’re a survivor.

And with your old life etched in the sinew of your muscles, of your arms and your legs, you became a valuable member of the group. Along with Jungkook and Hoseok, you carry the front, bashing heads of zombies left and right, clearing the way to a new possible food source and haven.

It was a tiring existence, the type of tired that can’t be washed away by sleep. If that’s what you can call those pockets of peace you have when you’ve finally trusted them to watch your back.

It took long for you to finally drop your guard around these boys that you now call your family. Understandable, given that men didn’t really have a great track record for women to trust them even prior to the apocalypse. But you’ve met them in a tight circumstance, that had them trusting you before you even bothered to try.

(It was Jimin who first reached out, somehow unchanged by the cruelty of the new world. Always soft, always yearning.)

The seven of them had been friends before shit went down, and you were just a lucky one to be part of their orbit.

You remind yourself of this now that the new world has began.

This is the longest you’ve stayed in one place since two years ago, and it’s starting to feel like a place everyone could plant their roots in. The town’s largely untouched by the apocalypse, its strategic location in the mountains and quick response had them building trenches and walls, to keep the hoard from closing in.

It’s an extra precaution thoughtfully made by a self-sustaining community. For once, isolation brought forth more benefits than mishaps. They’ve barely lost people, largely untouched by the terrors of the world outside theirs. Innocent. Their lives went on. No nightmares, nothing.

The first time one of the pleasantly-dressed girls approached you with what could’ve been friendship, you flinched.

The boys were taken to it so easily, perhaps being as weary as you are didn’t make them jaded as it has made you.

Namjoon was swept away by the village committee, his brains and leadership evident with how he led you to safety. Jin and Jimin’s apprenticed under the village doctor, Yoongi’s turned to farming along with Taehyung, while Hoseok and Jungkook’s muscles are put to test building houses at the craft shop.

Everybody’s found a place except you, because while this town’s been untouched in all the good ways, it’s also been untouched in a sense that it kept to all the antiquated ways of the old world.

And, you hate how much you resent it in your deepest of hearts.

It’s as if they thought that putting you in a dress will wash away all the blood in your hands, as if you didn’t shed as much as all the boys did if not more. You’ve been turned away from all the things you could do, and are now being forced into things they want you to.

It’s suffocating, being torn with the desire to put your foot down and the fear of being perceived as ungrateful.

“They don’t understand, do they?”

You blink out of your thoughts and turn to a familiar face making himself comfortable beside you.

Jaebeom’s pushed away the unfinished basket to the side and pulled up one of his long legs to rest his elbow on.

By his side is his gun, locked and loaded, always ready even after months of quiet. You didn’t even hear him come in, but instead of being unsettled, you’re a slightest bit relieved to know that at least someone hasn’t gotten rusty.

The scar on his eyebrow stands out underneath the moonlight, and on  the porch of your little house way’s away from the center of the town, you two make a fine pair of outsiders.

“No, they don’t.”

Even in times of peace, loss is inevitable.

Namjoon mulls over this as he looks at the list of names up for the next supply run. Two names have been crossed, and two funerals were attended last week. One had a body, another didn’t.

Old man Jungho died of a heart attack after his son died outside, and along with the grief, Namjoon could feel the pressure placed on his shoulders by a community unused to “unnatural” losses.

He’s developed a cycling procedure that makes it slightly fair to everyone who volunteered. Marked with blue ink are the ones who were in the previous run, those in black are the ones who are up for the next one.

With the latter list down by two, Namjoon turns to a different corner of his notebook to see your name. Until now, he’s had every excuse not to put you out there but now…

“Fuck,” Namjoon sighs and rubs his face with his hands. He doesn’t know why you’ll want to do this again. He’s tried asking you but somehow, you’ve grown farther and farther away.

When he tried to find you in the village garden with Yoongi, suddenly you’re out getting water. When Seokjin did your monthly checkup, you’re as impenetrable as the walls, when Hoseok tried to approach you with improvements for your home, you brush him away saying you’ve dealt with it with Jaebeom.

Jaebeom.

Whom you’ve only met a month in after you’ve settled into town. Who somehow’s been rumored to visit your house after dark, when the boys you’ve spent two years with haven’t even gotten the chance to step into your home.

Namjoon lets out a shaky breath. You’ve been so unreachable it’s made him cry out of frustration when the nights are dark and the seven of them feel your absence the most in their own quaint home.

They miss you, so much. Even Yoongi who’s as taciturn as they come has tried reaching out to you, working endlessly hard in his own little garden at the back of their house to produce strawberries that you love so much.

“Who’s on the list?”

Hoseok steps in the kitchen and jolts Namjoon out of his longing. He’s wearing his “fight” pants and boots, his gun taken out of the secret cellar and empty go bag slung on his shoulders.

Namjoon pushes his notebook towards him and watches as his friend’s face grow dark at the sight of your name.

“No.”

Namjoon sighs at the conviction in his friend’s voice. It draws in Jungkook from the living room, wearing the same pants and same tension in his shoulders every run.

It’s different when it was just the seven of them, now, they have to lead a bunch of unseasoned people outside the walls just so they don’t go in blind when - not if - shit hits the fan. The loss of the Youngho weighs heavily on Jungkook. They were of the same age, but not the same life experience and ultimately, that was what killed him.

“No, what?”

Jungkook takes in the tension of the room and glances down at the open notebook. “Oh.”

He mouths your name silently, treasuring each syllable. How long since he’s called you? How long since you two talked? Back outside, he liked to believe you and him had a special bond born in the midst of danger and trivial common hobbies from the old world.

He still has that photo card of an old gaming character you two loved.

“I can’t play favorites.” Namjoon states, teetering between duty and keeping you safe inside the walls. If you knew, you’d probably hate him for this, but you don’t.

“You can - you have!” Hoseok slams his hands on the table, the sound echoing inside their house. Everything falls silent followed by footsteps from the second floor.  “What makes it different now?”

“The difference is the fact that we lost someone!” Namjoon bellows, his anger and stress rolling off him like waves but Hoseok doesn’t stand down. He knows its selfish, but the only thing that has him going now that you’ve pulled away is the knowledge that you’re safe.

“We always lose someone—“

“It’s not just us anymore, you know that, Hobi.”

Hoseok bites his cheek at Namjoon’s use of his nickname and he could feel the rest watching him like a hawk. All at once the fight goes out of him. It’s true. In exchange for safety, the get a community - for better or worse.

A hand lands on his shoulder and he turns to Taehyung, who in turn offers a strained smile. “At least, she has two of you to keep an eye on her out there. Like old times.”

Hoseok never thought he’d feel nostalgic about the times they’re elbow-deep in zombie gut but — “Yeah, like old times.”

Except, it isn’t like the old times.

Jungkook’s always been an awkward guy around girls, especially pre-apocalypse. He was all long limbs and Bambi eyes, not quite steadfast on what he was as a man and easily shaken by every attractive girl’s attention.

And although he’s grown a bit, confident in his looks and skills in this new world, he still hasn’t mastered the art of rejecting someone.

(He’s never had to, not when it was you.)

And so, he’s stuck at the last meeting with his back against the wall and one of the town’s remaining daughters - Hyerin-  crowding his space as opposed to being beside you across the room.

He doesn’t even know that Hyerin signed up for the run, especially with how he’s told her that it’s dangerous and that she hasn’t had the proper training to go out there. It rankles him all sorts of wrong when she said that her father said that “it isn’t as dangerous as they made it out to be” as if they’re lying about the dangers they’ve faced.

And sure, they’ve cleared out a large space around the town of zombies but things can always go wrong, and if there’s anything Jungkook has learned is that things have a habit of luring you to a false sense of security before fucking everything up.

Hoseok’s giving the briefing to their small group of ten, and he could see his friend’s eyes linger a second too long whenever it passes you. You with your hair pulled back and back straight, it almost brings him back.

But then you smile at something Jaebeom says and Jungkook feels his chest tightening on cue. You haven’t smiled nor even looked at him since the start of this briefing. What had he done wrong? What have they done wrong that drove you away?

“We might encounter people on this run, and I want you to remember - people are more dangerous than zombies.” Hoseok reminds the group, “They can think, they can plot - and are much harder to predict. We’ll need someone to bring up the front before we flank the space—“

Before Jungkook could raise his hand, yours shoot up along with Jaebeom’s.

“I’ll do it.”

From the back, Jungkook could clearly hear the murmurs of the men in the group. Someone, someone stupidly brave enough speaks up, “I think you should let the men handle this, darling.”

Jungkook sees you put your hand on Jaebeom’s arm before turning to where the voice is. It’s one of the older folks, large and burly with eyes alight with mockery.

You smile sickly sweet, “Oh? I’m not the one who puked on the side of the road during the last run, am I?”

The man sputters and laughter erupts around him, his friends who were equal parts terrified at the sight of a half-torso crawling towards them last month. It’s easy to laugh when it’s not your ass on the line.

Before he gets another word in, you remind him, Hoseok, Jungkook and everyone in the room how dangerous you were on the outside. And how dangerous you still are here.

“And for the record, could you stomach killing a man when you can’t even finish off a zombie? I can,” you pause the silence being answer enough, “So, no, I’m not leaving this to the men.”

“Antagonizing them isn’t earning you any points.”

Keeping your eyes on the road helps you steady your nerves. Outside, you could see the remains of pushed over cars as your caravan makes its way away from the forest and down the mountain.

According to the last team’s run’s intel, there were traces of people loitering down the town proper and so Namjoon’s sent a team before you get caught unawares.

Hoseok coughs, “Y/N. Are you listening?”

“I didn’t know there were points to earn.”

One line, and its scathing but, Hoseok thinks, at least you’re talking to him. He was afraid he’s forgotten your voice.

He may have abused his power a bit to split you up from Jaebeom but it still makes sense, given that you two have worked together longer outside. You with your speed and him with his agility, you make a pretty good team.

And with your pretty face, people tend to underestimate you until its too late.

Hoseok pauses and mulls over your statement. Adjustment is hard, he knows, pandering to people who don’t know how hard it is on the outside but it’s needed. He doesn’t understand where your dislike of it comes from, so much so you’ve decided to ostracize yourself not only from the people in town but also from them.

(He’s a man. Of course he doesn’t understand. Old or new world, men can only touch the surface of what damage the world has done to women.)

“Y/N, it’s just so we could live with them peacefully. No trouble.”

You finally turn to him and he shivers from the coolness in your eyes. “When have I caused them any trouble? I help out, don’t I? I’m a functioning member of the community - is it required to be all chummy with them?”

Framed like that, Hoseok doesn’t have any answer but a semblance of the truth lying in a question, “Why don’t you talk to us anymore?”

Outside, the caravan reaches its destination and people pour out of the old trucks.

“Is there anything to talk about?”

Of course, of course there is, Hoseok wanted to say. But job calls, and  when the sight of tracks greet your group, everything goes back to the back burner.

By the looks of it, there were at least four people about. All with large feet which most likely mean they were males.

Hoseok made a executive decision and sent back all of the group except you, Jaebeom and Jungkook. Given the situation, your group had too many people for this run turned reconnaisance and moving that many people will slow down any retreat you might need to do.

So he sent them back up with a message to Namjoon about the situation. He’ll get a lashing later but he’s sure the guys will understand. A small group is more manageable, but a group with established trust and dynamics (at least with the three of you) is more than ideal.

Your tracking leads the team to one of the larger convenient grocery stores in town. It’s long been looted and cleaned out, but somehow, one of the older craftsmen in the village figured out how to run the generator. Now, it’s store room is being used to hold and freeze any meat and fish you can’t afford to salt. How long you’ll have it running with the generator, who knows?

At what previously was an aisle for chips and snacks, you and Hoseok tread lightly, guns cocked and hands steady, your ears straining to hear any off-beat step as you get deeper into the store. Somewhere across the room, you know that Jungkook and Jaebeom are doing the same, closing off the larger exit.

It’s four on four, the odds may not be on your favor if it comes down to it but it’s not on theirs entirely either -whoever they are.

The morning light filters through the broken glass windows and reflects on your gun as you step forward to the large space at the end of the aisle. At the corner of your eye, you see Jungkook, -free of that girl hanging off his arm- tilt his head towards the large freezer ahead of you.

Behind him, Jaebeom moves to the right, taking position for a surprise attack while you three continue to advance. The freezer’s door is slightly ajar and you could almost make out the conversation and the shadows moving about inside. There’s unfettered laughter and guffaws, pulling you into a false sense of familiarity.

That laugh…

You were so in your head that your next step crushes a stray glass and echoes in the store. For a moment, it rings in the air, suspended like Hoseok freezing to look at you, before suddenly everything just- drops.

Out the door, someone tackles you to the ground, grabbing your gun and tossing it under the shelves. Your head bounces against the tiles and it steals your breath in pain but without missing a beat, you drive the heel of your palm to the man’s chin, hard enough to unbalance him off your waist.

The man rolls to the side and tries to grab your foot before you break free and kicks it to his face. With satisfaction, you hear him grunt in pain before grabbing at you again.

To the side, you see Hoseok trying to reach you, his gun similarly tossed away by the paler and taller man clutching his shoulder, slumped against a turned over cart. You’re ears are ringing, and you might’ve hit your head but vaguely you could hear someone punching someone at the other side of the aisle.

Everything happens so fast - and ends so quickly.

Your vision clears up as a cock of a gun rings clear, pausing everyone’s movements.

In front of you is a face you’d never thought you’d see again. He’s darker, with what seems to be a permanent five o’clock shadow on his jaw, but his eyes light up at the sight of you and a smile stretches on his lips, his hands up but uncaring of Jaebeom’s gun against his head.

“Y/N, long time no see.”

You gasp, frozen on the floor. “Jackson.”

End Notes: Hearts are appreciated but comments are gold. Let me know what you think and if you want to be included in a tag list!

[vampiremansionpoolboy-moved]

sk8 au week - day 2: royalty and soulmate

reki kyan was nearing his eighteenth birthday and he had yet to meet his soulmate. reki has heard the whispers of the people in the town about people who don’t find their soulmates. it’s not that he didn’t have one -he did, for your information, thank you very much- but because reki was from a royal family, and therefore a prince, he was to be married off and did not have the luxury of being with his soulmate. unless his soulmate was from another royal family, but reki had seen where his red string lead: straight into the center of the town below. so no such luck for another noble as his soulmate.

reki’s mother had tried to let him build friendships and hopefully relationships with the other royal children around his age, but reki had dreams about meeting his soulmate and never developed anything more than friendship with the other royals.

reki stared at his red string, eyes tracing its path down into the village, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone. sometimes when he sleep he caught glimpses of a tall, pale, slender figure and bright blue eyes. reki wondered what those eyes would look like mere inches from his own.

suddenly a book smacked into the back of reki’s head, startling him from his daydream.

“what the fuck-“ reki’s head whipped around.

“hey there slime.” said a voice.

reki groaned at the sight of the boy sitting atop his desk.

“hello miya.” he grumbled.

“what’re you looking at?” the young prince asked, a catlike smirk breaking out on his face.

“nothing,” reki said pushing himself up and walking over to miya.

“so is your mom still making you meet that prince for dinner tonight?” miya hummed as he twirled a pen in his hands.

reki’s mother was much more kind with her son and his romantic predicament, compared to reki’s father who was ready to marry his son off without a meeting between the spouses. but after his father ran away with the sevrant girl he impregnated no one stuck to his old rules.

“yes, but i have a plan to escape and i need your help.” reki said placing his hands on miya’s shoulders.

“i’m all ears,” miya said leaning forward as if reki’s mother was outside the door and eavesdropping this very moment.

“ok so i need you to mix up joe and shadow’s schedules so they’re both in the great hall at the same time. we cant have a fancy dinner set up if the cook and florist are in there at the same time now can we?”

“i like what i’m hearing.”

“and then i need you and koyomi to either distract the stable hand while i sneak through the barn.”

“done. is that all you need?”

“yep. the rest is up to me. joe accidentally let it slip that his soulmate is the craftsman in town and that he sneaks out at the exit behind the greenhouses to meet him. so thanks to joe i’ve got my escape route all planned.”

“well look at this, prince reki ditching the feast planned just for him. who would have thought?” miya asked with a laugh.

“well after how the last dinner ended it’s not that surprising.” reki said with a shudder as he remembered the glazed goat falling onto the poor princess who was just looking for a potential marriage partner.

miya let out snicker at the memory. “well now that you say that...”

“anyways i have to hurry if i wanna make it before my mom sends a servant to make sure i’m ready.”

“oh right right let’s go. i’ll go get koyomi and head to the stables. see you soon.” and with a wink miya slipped out the door and was gone. grabbing a cloak from his bed, reki fastened the clasp and dashed out the room after miya.

he was sick of all this arranged marriage bullshit, he was sick of it all. reki just wanted to meet his soulmate and fall in love. he knew his thoughts were selfish though. he was the eldest of the four kyan children and his mom was doing her best to rule a kingdom by herself, so by default his marriage was bound to be political. it was very unlikely he would end up with his soulmate.

and so that’s why reki was going to meet his soulmate tonight. he would meet them and apologize for being a lousy soulmate before heading back to the castle to meet the prince who he was supposed to be dinning with.

for most of reki’s life he soulmate had lead to a place up in the snowy mountains. but within the past few years the string moved into the town below the castle reki lived in. just like fate his soulmate moved to his home town. but it was someone else’s fate, not his. so reki made up his mind weeks ago: meet his soulmate, apologize, then finally agree to a political marriage. his plan would take away his curiously about his soulmate, it would hopefully lessen his guilt about not being able to be with said soulmate, and it would make his mom happy. so why didn’t he like what he was about to do?

ignoring the heavy feeling in his stomach reki pushed on. running quietly through the halls reki hid behind stone pillars and over large plant pots when he needed too. finally reaching the barn reki slipped into there to see miya and koyomi talking away with the stable hand over a loaf of bread and some pieces of cheese.

slipping past the trio and out into the courtyard beyond reki doesn’t make a noise. he holds his breath all the way to the green house, and doesn’t let it out until he’s well into the tunnel behind it. some time ago a tunnel was dug in the large wall protecting the castle, the entrance was hidden by vines on both sides. the cave was known only to a select few.

as reki hurried through the cave he began to think back to some of his earlier suitors. he remembers his best friend who he could have seen himself marrying despite not being soulmates. but his friend got sick and went back to his kingdom and reki never heard from him again.

but tonight was about his soulmate. so reki trudged on, squinting for the cave opening.

before long the prince was stumbling out of the vines and onto the street. luckily it was mostly empty. empty except for a tall man with long pink hair and glasses.

at the sound of someone falling through the leaves he looked up but seemed shocked to see a teenager.

“your not kojiro.” the stranger blurted.

“and your not- actually i wasn’t waiting for anyone and i have no idea who you are...or who kojiro is.”

the man stared at reki for a minute before recognition flashed in his eyes.

“prince reki! what are you doing outside of the castle?”

“i um...well you see-“ but reki was cut off by a rustling behind the vines and a large figure falling out of said vines.

“kaoru you will never believe the day i had...” joe trailed off, eyes catching sight of a panicked reki and surprised kaoru.

“joe?” reki blurted at the same time joe said “reki?”

the two stared at each other before reki made a run for it.

but joe caught him by his hood so reki didn’t get far.

“kid what the hell are you doing here?” joe said apparently forgetting all formalities one should talk to their prince with.

“not of your business! and i could ask you the same!” reki yelled as he struggled to get free from joe’s grip.

“i’m meeting my soulmate. and i’m going to ask you again, what are you doing here?”

reki sagged, giving up the struggle. “same here,”

“you’re meeting your soulmate?” kaoru asked.

“yes, what about it?” reki said crossing his arms. it had all gone so good until now.

“aren’t you supposed to be in a arranged marriage?”

“yes so i’m going to meet my soulmate and apologize before agreeing to an arranged marriage.”

“what?” joe said, surprise causing him to loosen his grip. taking the chance reki dashed away. ignoring the yells behind him reki kept on running. nothing can stop me now, reki thought, i’ve come this far.

eyeing his string, reki ran through the streets watching it get tighter and tighter. reki was too focused on the string that he didn’t see the boy in front of himself until it was too late.

the boys slammed into each other hard, the medicinal products in the other boy’s hands clattering to the ground.

“oh shit sorry-“

“sorry-“

they both spoke at the same time causing the boys to look up at each other abruptly. the boy had bright blue hair that went down past his ears. he was tall and lanky, his skin almost as pale as snow. bright blue eyes that reki had sworn he had seen before. but when reki’s gaze meet the boy‘s hands, his heart stopped. a thin red string connecting reki’s own finger to this mystery boy’s, hung in the air. a red string of fate; a soulmate string. this boy was his soulmate.

eyes snapping back to the bright blue ones reki knew his soulmate saw it too.

“well shit.” reki blurted and the boy began to laugh. it was a sweet noise, like the chime of heavenly bells. and so reki began to laugh too.

“well i guess you’re my soulmate. that makes this search a lot easier then.” standing up and reaching out a hand to his soulmate, reki began to speak. “so you probably know who i am and therefore i can’t marry you -or be with you quite frankly- and i’m very sorry for that and it’s selfish of me but i have the responsibility of the kingdom on my shoulders and i can’t fail my people.”

“what? ‘kingdom’? what are you talking about?” the boy‘s blank stare bored into reki.

“...i’m the prince. and i’m going to be king someday. and as much i want to be with my soulmate -you-, i have to be responsible for my people -which includes you-.”

realization dawned on his face. “ooh, i see.”

“and honestly i don’t care about the difference of ‘rank’ between noble and townsfolk but other royalty do.”

“well my moms a doctor if that means anything.”

“a prominent roll indeed but unfortunately not enough for the in-law of a prince. well not in my eyes, but in the eyes of others.”

the boy hummed in though. “well she was the queen of the kingdom in the mountains before my father fell to illness and some corrupt politician overthrew her and had us banished. do that mean anything?”

“you- you mean you were a prince?”

the boy nods.

“oh my god. oh my god! this may just work then! i may be able to be with my soulmate and still have a marriage that pleases the royal court!” reki’s eyes light up in happiness. “that’s only if you do want to be with me i mean.” he added.

“well you’re my soulmate, are you not? so we’re meant to be together, no?”

“well yes of course. but i wanted to make sure you were comfortable with it and all...”

“of course reki.” the boy said sweetly while reaching out and clasping reki’s hands in his own.

reki almost melted at the use of his given name spoken by his soulmate.

“oh wait can i call you that? is that ok?”

all reki could do was dumbly nod.

“my names langa by the way.”

“langa,” reki said testing out the way the name felt on his tongue. “i like it!” he smiled and watched as langa’s face turned red.

“well should we head to the castle or something to relay the news?” langa asked, turning to reki.

“hmmm i think we can wait a minute. wanna show me around the town?”

“it would be my honor.”

and so the two boys disappeared into the lively bustle of the town as the laughed away and held each other’s hand like a lifeline.

~ ~ ~

@sk8-au-week

[jhoudiey]

girl-in-the-tower: 😱🔁 for Yoru?

🔁 A what if... Yoru existed in an 18th century gothic horror story. (tw: mentions of blood, corpses, necromancy)

She lives in a decrepit decaying castle near the base of the mountain with her Father. He’s a strange man that flutters in and out of the village on a schedule that makes no sense to anyone but him. He claims that since he is kind he will bless the villagers with miracles, only to disappear back through the trees to his home immediately after. No one in the village minds so much as his miracles have helped many of them, but they do find it weird that he mentions having a daughter but no one has ever seen her. So eventually the villagers all descend on this castle, torches and pitchforks to demand the weird man release the daughter he must have been holding hostage. After they deal with him they find that his daughter hadn’t been kept hostage all along, but that she was simply more strange than he was and that they had seen her around the village, but no one had recognized her since she always obscured her face.

What they find is worse than they’d ever imagined- far from the maiden locked in a tower, they discover a mad woman cackling, blood up to her elbows with bodies piled around her. She’s accompanied by the village coroners son, a lanky strange man with a penchant for playing with people. They’re not sure if the bodies they’ve been experimenting on and disfiguring were corpses when they  brought over from the morgue, or if they’d been kidnapped while alive. There had been tales from the surrounding villages that the men were disappearing without a trace- perhaps they had just been found... or at least... parts of them.

The villagers accuse her and her father of being devils, demons, witches and ghouls! Why did they have a basement full of bodies and parts!? Crowley joins them, he wasn’t killed merely injured and assures the mob that he’s simply a Doctor! That is the basis of his miracles, no witchcraft only medicine. The mob isn’t swayed by his words, gesturing to Yoru in her sea of corpses. She laughs because of course she’s just furthering her studies as well and needed practice, the patchwork remains proof of her unsteady hand. No one believes them, they have been too strange for too long, and set fire to the basement as they make to retreat. Maniacal laughter escapes up the stairs after them as the mob makes their escape, shapes moving in the flames.

“Ehe~! They're not the witches you claim they are... but I am...”

Floyd had always been interested in reanimation, but humans were so frail. He didn’t have the stomach to take them apart and sew them back together with the strongest parts, and that’s when he met Yoru. A strange human for sure, but one very willing to push the limits of her own humanity to see just what could be accomplished. They laughed together as the mob was dragged back down the stairs by Floyds puppets, Crowley reminding them to make sure they didn’t miss anyone, if the villagers that stayed home found out they’d have to move, again, and that just wouldn’t do.

Whoops made a whole ass AU hope this is good enough.

😱  For her bad ending, I’m going to put it below the cut, TW for self harm, gore and infanticide. and ya’ll thought I couldn’t put any more angst into this bird.

Yoru’s bad end starts following the regular timeline I’ve set up. Things proceed as normal until the huge fight and subsequent breakup with Floyd over the Christmas holidays in their 4th year. In the bad end he leaves, she lays the egg a few days later. She starts to seclude herself more often, and overworks herself to the point of her overblot. Following her overblot she withdraws from everyone completely. She does her work for the royal family from her room or the roof and rarely is seen by anyone, not joining meals or celebrations. Lilia checks in on her often, but she never responds, and he makes sure to check on the egg whenever he can.

After a few months it’s clear Floyd has no intention of returning, and everyones attempts to cheer her up are ignored. In a last desperate measure they send Lilia to find Floyd in the Sea to ask him to return, he refuses, even when told about the egg. He doesn’t want anything to do with her, that includes any children they may have made. Lilia returns to the valley defeated.

When he returns he’s told that no one has seen or heard Yoru in days. Even though she hasn’t spoken to anyone in months, they’d still see her flying around the castle or in the forest. Lilia goes to check her room and finds it completely empty. No Yoru, no egg. Her clothes and nick-knacks are still there, but her bed hasn’t been slept in for days. He arranges a search party to bring her back to the castle, it doesn’t take long to find her. The fae are quite industrious.

He asks her what she’s done with the egg, and she stares at him unflinching when she tells him it’s gone.

“What do you mean, gone?”

“Gone. I dropped it from the top of the waterfall. I watched it shatter and saw the broken baby get washed away”

“Yoru what the hell have you done?”

There was no emotion in her words, Lilia had seen many battles, but hadn’t ever spoken to a woman so emotionless while talking about the child she’d killed. There were usually tears. He tells her they all need to return to the Valley, though he knows she shouldn’t remain in the employ of the Draconia family. They have their discussions in private, though she uses her magic to spy on them. She knows their words and that they plan to cast her out. They have called Crowley and asked him to help, but he is simply too busy with his school to come in any hurry, please keep an eye on her in the meantime. Yoru knows that she has no one left, and that there’s no redemption for her.

She leaves the castle for good, searching through the forests for somewhere to live out her final days. She comes across a rotted cabin in the woods, overtaken with weeds, there are hundreds of crows in the trees and a rusty axe at the door. She spends a day clearing a portion of woods behind the cabin, making herself a sort of nest. Once it is ready she settles herself on the bed of branches and leaves and raises the axe. She hacks at her knees, slowly separating her bird legs from her body. She throws them as far as she’s able, the blood loss has made her weak, but she refuses to die a bird. The crows gather in the grass around her, a chorus of cackling and cries, pecking at her severed feet. She smiles as she lays back into her bed, knowing she will at least make a good meal for her friends. With a final sigh she rips her own throat out and falls limp into her deathbed, her neck joining her knees in their attempt to rid her of all blood.

Weeks later, Crowley stumbles upon the remains of her body. He’d finally made it to the Valley, only to be told that she had disappeared. Of course, he wasn’t going to leave without his Nugget, he would bring her home no matter what, so he’d go look for her. Her flesh had nearly been picked clean, the tips of her fingers the only soft tissue that remained. The crows probably found her nails too hard to eat. Crowley assumed wolves must have carried her legs off, they were nowhere to be seen. He breaks down over her body, crying that he should have come sooner and that he should have been able to help his Nugget when she needed him.  He gathers her bones and returns to NRC with them she would rest where she was born. With him.