#much time on it... since i got a stuff to do

[obaewankenope]

We have similar combs to that in equine care in modern times so I'm not overly surprised that the replica works, nor that it works so well.

I've mainly seen these sorts of combs used for mane and tail care because, like our own hair, they work pretty well for teasing out knots, countering too much frizz, and can help work stuff like shampoos and oils into the hair. I HAVE also used them on the main coat before, especially when neigh neigh is shedding because omfg do horses have a LOT of hair.

And its hair not fur for horses in case there are those who don't know.

Edit: I'm not talking about clickerpunk in my following aside, I'm speaking informally and using "you" as a generic term. I'm also info dumping because that's what I do. I'm not criticising or judging clickerpunk in any way here, my concern in my aside is with people who have no prior knowledge or experience with horses mistakenly using videos without caring for the context of those videos to do things they think is okay in all situations or regularly.

Minor aside:

It's generally not advised to groom horses when they are wet, damp, or muddy because of the risks and complications of doing so.

Wet mud will get worked into the coat right down to the skin instead of coming out if you don't allow the coat to dry first. Dried mud flakes off and is much, much easier to handle.

Of course, if you have issues with dried mud in awkward places (or matted too close to the skin that it pulls uncomfortably when you try to brush it out) you can lightly soften it with a damp cloth and tease it out with a comb before letting it dry again and removing the remainder normally.

Ultimately, grooming a wet horse is not advised because you work the moisture into the coat and down to the skin which can chill them. For horses that have double layer coats (like Icelandic horses/ponies and a number of native breeds tbf), they have a second layer below the top coat to help keep warmth in so you can understand how working the moisture down into that second layer isn't a great idea in colder conditions.

The coat can also be damaged by grooming when wet because hair can tangle, break, or become matted as well. The risk increases when there's mud involved since, as mentioned, that works down to the skin and can cause skin irritation as well.

Mud fever is a condition that usually occurs on a horses legs where mud works in deep into the feathers on their legs, bacteria breeds, and causes skin irritation. It's not fun for horses to deal with, is very itchy, and painful as scabs and sores can form. It can cause lameness and even affect the muscle tissue if not treated.

A brief test of a brush/comb isn't too bad but I'm worried about anyone watching this who are new to, or had no experience with, horses and incorrectly assume that wet grooming is fine.

I remember how I once got a proper telling off as an 11yo when I tried to groom a horse that was slightly damp from a brief rainshower, complete with a detailed lecture on why its a Bad Idea and "to never do that again" which has stuck with me even 20+ years later lol.

Rudi got to be part of some experimental archeology today! Testing if this large comb found in the Oseberg viking grave could have been a horse brush/comb! It was super interesting to see how well it actually worked on her shedding winter coat.

(This one was a beautiful replica made by Knut Roger Brekke, not the real one obviously)

[telephoniii]

Do you accept requests? I really loved the Really him thing and was wondering if you could do that but him reacting to reader being in a polyamorous relationship with Malleus and Leona? Srry id u not comfortable with it. I thought id ask cuz there are like no poly fics

I’ve actually been debating whether or not to do requests. That and I was thinking about making a masterlist! If people really want to request stuff/have a masterlist then lmk and I’d be down to do it. My verdict rn is; if you have an idea, feel free to send it. 🤷

Also! It's not exactly polyamorous, but I've got a longer fic in the works abt Leona and Malleus being love rivals for the reader. So if that interests you than stay tuned!!

Anyways, lets get to the fun and whimsical stuff!

I’m not poly myself so I’m really sorry if anything is misrepresented. I did decide to add more than just Malleus and Leona since I thought it’d be fun! I hope you enjoy :>

REALLY…HIM? (Poly Addition)

malleus and leona

Oh, you’re going to give this man a heart attack. Because what do you mean you’re dating the two most powerful yet reckless students of them all. Malleus and Leona? The two have a heated rivalry, do they not?!Do you have no concern for your safety?!?!The amount of sheer power these two hold together frighten this poor soul. He tells you to keep your distance if they start to fight. As a magicless student, you do NOT want to get involved if a duel were to break out. No, Trein wants you to RUN if that ever happens. Give him some time to get used to it. The sight of you next to Malleus and Leona in the hallways sends panic throughout his nervous system. After a month or so, Trein mellows out. He’ll start asking technical questions that you don’t have answers to. “If you were to marry them both, would all three of you be the rulers of Briars Valley?” ??? No clue, Professor. Can I get back to my test in peace now?

ace and deuce

He’s not surprised in the slightest. Trein always had an inkling that something was going on between you three. He just didn't want to believe it. Why? Because he doesn't like them. Well, scratch that. He doesn't like Ace. Is he supposed to jump for joy at the fact you’re dating the biggest slacker among all the first years? Trein has a habit of nit-picking them both and what they do. However, despite all the smack he talks, deep down he heavily approves of the relationship. He knows the two boys and doesn't doubt their loyalty to you. It's always been the three of you from the start and he views it as an unbreakable bond. So, even though he makes a face when you walk in with Deuce’s sports jacket and says you should take it off because it smells like sweat, he finds himself smiling when he spots you three sitting together at lunch just enjoying each others company. The way you all joke around and laugh together like you’re the only people in the world. He trusts them with your heart more than anyone else.

vil and rook

He actually thinks it's a pretty sweet relationship at first. You all balance each other out. Vil and Rook earned Trein’s seal of approval to date you from day one… and then Rook sends him a creepy letter thanking him for being supportive and— yep. Trein takes back that seal because what the hell. For the senders name on the letter, it was by both Rook and Vil, so Trein pulls both of them aside to talk about HIS boundaries. (He thought he didn't have to explicitly say, “Don’t stalk me before, during, or after school hours” but here we are) Vil is so confused the whole time. What could've possibly prompted this?? Then he remembers his boyfriend next to him who’s blissfully smiling and it all starts to make sense. With a sigh, Vil ends up apologizing to Trein for the whole ordeal and tells you about it as well. Rook gives you a kiss and promises to just watch Trein from afar. You don’t know how much better that is and it seems like Vil is thinking the same thing as he lets out a small groan. Trein is forever unnerved by your relationship— specifically because of Rook.

jamil and azul

Honey, are you being manipulated into this relationship? Which one of them is gaslighting you? Trein knows that they both have deceptive tendencies and is concerned. He’s not actively against it or anything, but he just keeps a close eye on the three of you. Jamil and Azul pick up on this and silently agree to each other that they want to prove themselves to Trein. Expect to get the ultimate royalty treatment everytime the Professor is around. One moment they’re playfully poking fun at you, the next they are cherishing the ground you walk on. (As they should) Unfortunately, it ends up having the opposite effect where Trein is even more suspicious and starts telling you to keep your distance from them. Jamil lets out a tired sigh an decides to do the mature thing by actually talking to Trein about their relationship with you. He drags Azul along with him and makes sure to keep him in check during the discussion. Jamil’s honesty takes Trein by surprise. Usually he wasn't one to make himself notable like that. Azul, reluctantly, ends up being honest about his feelings and relationship regarding you after Jamil. Afterward, Trein doesn’t say anything the next time he sees the three of you together. Instead, he just gives you a small nod and smile. Wow. Ultimate approval. Jamil and Azul high-five each other under the table.

[adieutristana]

happy birthday!; arcane women x fem!reader

so my birthday was back in december. but i thought this would be cute regardless

sorry for kinda slow uploads! midterm season + burnout + working full shifts every weekend… i’ve got stuff cooking dw

summary; headcanons of arcane women celebrating their girlfriend’s birthday.

characters included; jinx, vi, mel, sevika, caitlyn

tags/warnings; fluff, a lot of fluff, possible hurt/comfort, just cute stuff all around

men dni.

jinx;

✧.* jinx is a bit intimidated by the idea of celebrating your birthday, at first. she hasn’t done much for her birthday in years, not since before what happened on the bridge years ago. silco would give her a pre-packaged cake with the appropriate number of candles every year, but that was it. however, jinx is never one to back down from a challenge.

✧.* as jinx's girlfriend, you don't just get a party, a celebration, anything like that for your birthday. you get a whole damn festival.

✧.* jinx never does anything halfway. she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she'd given you a lackluster birthday.

✧.* jinx wakes you up at the first hint of daylight with poppers and streamers, giggling all the way and jumping on her heels. she doesn't seem to care that you're grumbling and trying to cover your ears, clearly not happy being woken up this early. "it's your birthday! your birthday! can you believe it, toots?!" she giggles, letting off another popper.

✧.* the girl is basically dragging you by the arm out of bed. she's rambling, promising you that she's got loads of fun things planned for you today. lots of presents, adventures to go on, snacks, the like.

✧.* "go get dressed! wear somethin' nice, okay? but not too nice!" she giggles. it's likely some sort of implication of explosions to come during the day. as soon as you've gotten dressed and ready for the day ahead of you, jinx's fingers are intertwining with yours, and she's leading you out of her hideout.

✧.* your first stop is the lanes, which jinx has taken care to decorate thoroughly before your arrival. you've seen the lanes several times before, but the walls are now tagged with your name, your initial and jinx's in hearts, crude stick-figure drawings of the two of you, and jinx's signature monkeys. all throughout the lanes, a constant reminder of you. at the end of one of the alleys, jinx has made a clear attempt at painting confetti and a cake, though the paint had run in several spots. she must've been particularly excited when doing that.

✧.* "baby, this is-" "awesome? wonderful? amazing? perfect?" she interrupts, giggling as she throws her arms around your shoulders from behind. "i worked reaaaaal hard on it, y'know!" punctuating her words with a swift kiss to your lips. but of course, that isn't all. it never is with jinx.

✧.* she makes it a point to let anyone who passes by in the alleys know that it’s your birthday, and that artwork is for you. “all for my girlfriend! birthday girl! pretty, ain’t it?”

✧.* your next stop is an old warehouse, where jinx used to scramble for scraps and spare parts for weapons. but she's decorated it to be a sort of... shooting range. there's targets, cases of ammo, and a spare revolver on a table, as well as spray-painted arrows pointing to the targets. though you were a bit reluctant at first, jinx swore it'd be fun- just a little something to let loose.

✧.* she holds your hands from behind, guiding your finger to the trigger and helping adjust your aim. "a little to the left- yes, like that!" she giggles. her chin is resting on your shoulder, watching your every move. "and... fire!"

✧.* you end up liking it a lot more than you'd thought. it's wild, it's reckless, but it's so jinx. despite everything, some simple target practice does help you let off some steam from long days spent working or studying.

✧.* "let's try moving targets next time! or living ones." "absolutely not."

✧.* your final stop is jinx's hideout. she sits you down at a wobbly table and tells you to close your eyes, a wide smile on her face. you're sat for a few minutes and your mind begins to wander to what the hell is taking her so long, but it's then she places something in front of you. "okay, open!"

✧.* a... cake? something that's leaning to one side with messy frosting, scratchy words reading 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY'. sprinkles are unevenly spread on it, but she pushes it towards you.

✧.* "i made this, just for you! come on, try it!"

✧.* you're a bit apprehensive at first, but you cut a slice regardless. as odd as it looks, it actually tastes really, really good. jinx is watching the whole time with a smug grin. you don't even need to say anything for your girlfriend's ego to balloon.

✧.* wouldn’t eat any right away, but would insist on kissing you for a taste test. those big magenta eyes looking at you so sweetly, yet it’s almost amusing. “come on, just a little taste test,” she whines, before you roll your eyes and connect your lips with hers.

✧.* she’d made you a bouquet of flowers from welded metal, as well as a heart-shaped trinket box with both of your initials carved into it. it’s got pink and blue doodles painted all over it, and something already inside of it- a silver locket! one side holds a stick figure drawing of you, and the other of her.

✧.* jinx’s gifts are always handmade, and always so personal. she knows exactly what you like, and you’re able to see that especially on occasions like your birthday.

✧.* jinx also made a card for you, which reads, “i don’t know how to write these, honestly. words aren’t my strong suit. but i’m happy to have you, and i’m happy that i get to celebrate with you. thanks for being an awesome girlfriend, i love you!

-J!”

vi;

✧.* vi would be soooo so attentive during your entire birthday. you’re the most important thing in vi’s life, without a doubt. she wants to show that to you the best she can.

✧.* she won’t wake you up, but vi knows your sleeping schedule well enough to be able to get a good guess of when you will wake up. therefore, she prepares breakfast in bed for you!

✧.* “rise and shine, cupcake,” she hums, soft lips brushing against your temple. “made something to start your day right.”

✧.* and it’s good. you insist that vi didn’t have to do this for you, but she counters by saying that she wanted to. it’s your birthday, after all. can’t she treat you?

✧.* vi takes you to a cafe on the outskirts of piltover, one she’d found while just walking around the city and exploring. it’s a quaint place, a hidden gem of sorts. she lets you get anything you’d like on the menu (no matter how expensive), and talks about anything and everything with you over your meal.

✧.* “so. how are you feeling now? any older?” “the same way i felt yesterday,” you quip, before taking another bite. “aw, come on. give me something to work with here.”

✧.* does end up telling the staff that it’s your birthday so you can get some free sweets :)

✧.* vi spoils you anyways, but on your birthday? oh, you’re not doing anything by yourself. she insists on helping you into your coat, opening every door for you, paying for everything (a given), doing any housework that needs done. it’s your birthday, so you’re gonna relax and enjoy yourself. vi will handle the rest.

✧.* and she’s so clingy the entire day! she had an arm slung around your waist while walking you to the cafe. she’s kissing your temples and forehead while you’re having breakfast, she’s lifting you up and spinning you around the second you get dressed for the day and telling you just how beautiful you look.

✧.* “you’re stunning, you know that?” vi hums, before pressing a sweet kiss to the corner of your lips. “you tell me every day,” before turning your head for a proper kiss. “but i love hearing it.”

✧.* once you’re back home, vi presents you with some gifts she’d bought you. she tried to wrap them, but they ended up looking… interesting. so she just put them in a gift bag.

✧.* but you can’t open them before the cake! speaking of the cake, it’s a three-layered cake, your favorite flavor with ‘happy birthday’ in print across the center, as well as your age below it. it’s got a few candles around the edges as well, just to set the scene.

✧.* vi turns out the lights and insists on singing to you. she'll likely also want to take some photos too, just to save the memory.

✧.* "say cheese," she chuckles. her finger is ghosting over the shutter, and vi's smiling ear-to-ear. "just a few pictures, okay?"

✧.* usually the gifts your girlfriend gets you are more on the practical side, but for occasions like this, they're the typical, sappy things. she's gotten you a few hair pins she saw you eyeing while out window shopping, candles for your shared home, and the kicker is the matching bracelets. they're made out of bound leather, but the thing that sticks out to you is the fact that yours has a V engraved into it, and hers has your initial.

✧.* they likely came from a crafter in the undercity, someone who clearly knew what they were doing from how carefully made they are.

✧.* "well.. do you like it?" vi asks. she's already slipping her own onto her wrist, before taking yours and offering it up. "i love it," you affirm. you lift your arm to allow vi to put it on you, smiling all the way.

✧.* vi's card is simple, handmade, and heartfelt. it's on simple white cardstock with hearts and a cake drawn on the front- the inside reading, "it's your birthday! wow. that's kind of hard to believe, isn't it? another year spent by your side, getting to see you kick ass and do great things every day. i feel like the luckiest girl alive to be able to call you mine. i hope we get lots more birthdays together. i love you lots cupcake, happy birthday!

-vi ♡"

mel;

✧.* mel has had your birthday celebration planned for months.

✧.* if there is anything mel can do, it's celebrate. it's plan a party, one that'll keep people talking for weeks, maybe even months to come.

✧.* however, she doesn't want anything too extravagant or over-the-top for your birthday. as much as she'd like to shout from the rooftops piltover that it's her darling's birthday, she also wants to be able to have a more intimate celebration with you.

✧.* that morning starts with you being woken up to the feeling of mel’s lips, peppering kisses across your face. you erupt into a fit of sleepy giggles, wrapping your arms around your girlfriend’s waist.

✧.* “happy birthday, love,” she whispers, continuing her assault of kisses. “do you feel any different?” “mm, no… the same as yesterday.”

✧.* of course she’s already made breakfast for you. who do you think she is? and she knows your favorites by heart, so it’s a tried-and-true breakfast.

✧.* before the party she’s organized starts, mel takes you to some of the local street vendors and shops to see if there’s anything you’d like. even if you don’t necessarily ask for it. if she sees your gaze linger on a certain bracelet for more than a few seconds, she’s already talking to the shopkeeper to buy it. if you point out a hair pin you like, she’s already got it.

✧.* “oh, that’s cute,” you point out, lingering on a pin adorned with crystals. just a passing comment, and you likely won’t buy it. “it’s yours, then.” “huh? mel-”

✧.* she whisks you away to your party. she’d been rather secretive about the whole operation- you know that you’re having a party, and it’s at a small yet expensive venue in the heart of piltover. that’s all mel will let you know. so once you’re inside and greeted by glass chandeliers, gold trim in every corner, one of the biggest pastry arrangements you’ve ever seen and nearly every friend or family member in the area, it comes as a shock.

✧.* mel’s outdone herself, yet again. “all of this… for me?” mel lets out a low chuckle, and snakes her arms around you from behind. resting her chin on your shoulder. “anything for you, and more.”

✧.* mel watches as you ease into conversation with guests. catching up with family, friends, old colleagues with a gentle smile on your face. it does wonders for her, to be able to see you with other loved ones- all while celebrating your special day.

✧.* when it comes time to bring out the cake and gifts, a cake is wheeled out from a kitchen. multiple layers with intricate writing and edible flowers on the top, clearly made by one of the best bakers in piltover. someone mel no doubt has connections to.

✧.* the cake reads, ‘happy birthday, y/n!’ in neat script, wrapping across the middle layer.

✧.* mel watches closely while you open cards and gifts from other guests, but she insists that you open hers last, reason unknown.

✧.* once you do get to her gift, you notice that it’s… small. really, really small. in a white velvet box, but bigger than a ring box. you look up at her, an eyebrow quirked in hopes of some kind of hint. “just open it, love,” she hums, pointing her chin back to the box.

✧.* you open the gift, increasingly curious as to what she could’ve possibly gotten for you- but it’s greater than anything you could’ve expected. a custom-made bracelet, made to resemble mel’s own ring. a symbol of the medardas, a symbol of commitment. not a ring, not a promise quite yet, but something just for you. just for mel’s lover.

✧.* tears prick at the corner of your eyes, and all you can notice is your girlfriend’s smile growing wider. “do you like it?” she asks, taking your hand in hers and going to clasp the bracelet on your wrist. “mel, this is… too much, really.” you gasp. the bracelet is nothing short of beautiful, even more so on your wrist. “nonsense. it’s perfect.”

✧.* her card is on black paper, trimmed with gold leaf and the message inside is written in white ink. “your birthday, one of the days i look forward to the most. it’s hard to believe another year has passed, isn’t it? you grow more every year, as does my love for you. i hope that this birthday is a good one. i love you always.

-mel medarda.”

sevika;

✧.* sevika is almost always up early. her job is one that requires her presence at all hours of the day, even when the rest of zaun is asleep (for the most part, at least). but on your birthday, sevika sleeps in. she stays in bed with you, one arm draped around your waist while nestling her face into the crook of your neck.

✧.* sevika wakes you up shortly after you do, beginning to stir when she notices your drowsy movements. “mm… mornin’, sev,” you whisper, a hand coming to thread through her hair. “mornin’, birthday girl,” she mutters.

✧.* of course sevika insists on making you breakfast, so she’s up within minutes in the kitchen. nothing fancy necessarily, but watching her from the kitchen table, swiftly moving and humming to herself in a state nobody else could ever hope to see sevika in… it’s priceless.

✧.* she doesn't have anything necessarily fancy planned in the way of celebrations, but sevika still makes sure you have the best birthday possible. she tells you to go put on something nice, she's taking you out.

✧.* she takes you to a relatively new restaurant in zaun, one that's already gotten raving reviews from critics. it's a bit out of the way, and neither of you have been before, but the woman is trusting the public opinion on this one.

✧.* and sevika was right to trust the public. it's a damn good place, one that's up to your tastes. she can see the way your demeanor changes the moment you step in the door, curious eyes taking in the dim lighting and fresh aromas. it's nothing luxurious, but you wouldn't want that. it's cozy. it's perfect for the occasion,

✧.* "so," sevika hums, placing her menu down. "what d'ya think of the place?" "it's nice. really nice," you reach out for one of her hands, a light smile playing on your face. "how'd you find it?" "i have my ways, dove."

✧.* the food arrives, and it's some of the best you've had in zaun. sevika sees your face, hears your pleased noises, and knows she's done something right. and of course she gets pastries for you at the end, even though she's already got a cake at home for you.

✧.* your next stop is a river, one in the outskirts of zaun. untainted nature is a rare thing to come by in the undercity, but it still has its spots of quiet beauty. she sits in the slightly gray grass with you, watching the water ripple with the wind. holding you against her shoulder and rubbing her prosthetic hand over your arm.

✧.* "makes you think, doesn't it?" you whisper. your gaze is fixed on the scene before you: the sun's rays catching on the water, the little critters surrounding it, the few flowers that bloom close to land. "about what?" "just... everything. it's my birthday, and things suck, but this is nice. a little pocket away from everything else."

✧.* sevika makes a mental note to bring you to spots like this more often.

✧.* once you're back home, sevika sits you down at the kitchen table and presents you with a cake and gift. sevika is far from a baker, she can cook well enough. but baking is mostly uncharted territory for the woman, so the cake has an... interesting appearance. regardless, she did her best, even if the frosting is uneven and the writing on top got a little smudged.

✧.* it's a simple two-layer cake, with 'happy birthday, y/n' written across the top in sevika's neat handwriting.

✧.* but it's actually pretty good! you're a bit skeptical, though you feel bad judging only by appearance. you take the first bite, then glance up at sevika and give her a swift nod. she's surprised you today in several ways.

✧.* "don't even say anything." sevika chuckles. "not much to look at, but it's good, yeah?"

✧.* the gift she's gotten you is wrapped in brown parchment paper, with your name written across the front in black pen. inside, though, is a small photo album. mostly compiled of candid photos, a few of the two of you posed together (despite sevika's camera shyness), and a few of destinations you've been together. likely taken on the disposable camera you've seen her carry around, the same one she tells you not to worry about. now it makes sense.

✧.* it's simple, but it's so intimate and heartfelt. "sevika.. you took all of these? made this, for me?" the woman's gaze softens further, and you can see her lips start to tug into a smile. "of course i did. i've spent janna knows how long taking all these pictures..." before she's cut off by you throwing your arms around her neck, nearly lunging at her.

✧.* her card is written on simple white paper, with just your name written across the front and a message inside. "i'm not good with words, i never have been. but i hope that i'm able to spend a lot more years with you. you make things a lot more worthwhile, and i'm lucky to have you by my side. happy birthday, dove. i love you.

-sevika."

caitlyn;

✧.* caitlyn has everything very carefully planned. not necessarily a party or any kind of grand celebrations, but a day for just the two of you. where she can show you her love and appreciation in the most unabashed ways.

✧.* you're woken up to the smell of breakfast on the bedside table, but caitlyn isn't there. the mattress still has an imprint from where she laid not long before, but she's not anywhere to be seen.

✧.* you wander out of the bedroom. a fist coming to rub at your eyes in your drowsy state, only focused on finding your girlfriend. it's then that your eyes land on a tall figure, moving about the kitchen like it's the most natural thing in the world.

✧.* "cait...?" you approach her slowly, your movements still sluggish. "what are you doing out of bed?" "preparations for later, darling." she says. the woman doesn't turn around, not yet, but her voice is calm and reassuring all the same. judging from the sweet scent in the air, she's making some last-minute pastries for your birthday. you decide to leave it alone.

✧.* the first half of breakfast, you're by yourself. but it isn't a bad kind of solidarity, rather peaceful while your girlfriend makes the finishing touches for your special day. you hear the oven click off, and within seconds, caitlyn is beside you. brushing a stray strand of hair from your face, her lips brushing your temple ever so gently.

✧.* "my apologies," she whispers, moving to press another kiss over your cheekbone. "i might've overestimated my workload. it's settled now."

✧.* your first stop is a bakery settled in the heart of piltover, one commonly titled one of piltover's 'hidden gems.' luxury pastries of all sorts, the atmosphere inside is warm and inviting. something akin to what would be in a storybook or travel magazine, but it's real.

✧.* "whatever you want, love." cait told you. she stands back, watching you marvel at the glass cases at the front and over the printed menus. macarons, ice cream, gelato, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, mini pies, the whole lot of it. all at your disposal.

✧.* you only end up picking a few things, not nearly all that you've had your eye on. you know on your birthday, your girlfriend would buy out the entire bakery if you asked her to, but you won't. this'll suffice.

✧.* your next stop is a restaurant, nestled by a river with a window seat right next to it. candles sit atop the tables, the low rumble of chatter from other patrons filling the restaurant. it's not necessarily uptight or fancy, but it's nice. clearly a place that's sought after.

✧.* "you've outdone yourself, cait," you mutter between bites. the food is hearty and damn savory, something you probably wouldn't been able to find yourself. "i did what i had to," she chuckles. her hands are tented in front of her on the table, having already finished her meal. "can't let my special girl have anything less than perfect on her special day, can i?"

✧.* once you arrive back at the woman's estate, you see an array of gifts, a bouquet, and a cake on the kitchen island for you. a multi-layered cake with edible decorations that reads 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY,' several carefully-wrapped gifts of varying sizes.

✧.* "oh, baby, you didn't have to..." you can barely even say the words. it's all so much. caitlyn cuts you off with a swift, yet still tender kiss to your lips. "shh. i wanted to. you're worth it all."

✧.* your cake has several cupcakes and cake pops accompanying it, seemingly what the woman was working so diligently at that morning.

✧.* the first gift is a carefully wrapped candle, one of the ones caitlyn keeps in her room. you'd told her once during the beginning of your relationship that you liked the smell of it, and it seems that she's remembered.

✧.* the second and third are both pieces of jewelry, one a simple silver charm bracelet that cait tells you will have more charms the more memories you make together. the other, a short silver chain with a sapphire pendant, one that perfectly matches caitlyn's hair color.

✧.* the final, a bigger box with a satin bow on top. your heart pounds in your chest while opening it. you have no idea what to expect, but knowing caitlyn, it's gotta be good. you weren't sure what you were expecting, but definitely wasn't a heavy scrapbook.

✧.* you didn't even know caitlyn was into this kind of thing. when would she even have the time to scrapbook? regardless, you open the cover, decorated with a photo of both of you and your name written underneath- and tucked neatly beneath it is your card.

✧.* "i hope that you like this. i spent a lot of time making this book, but it has everything- our first few dates, my thoughts, candids, mementos. all that's important to you, to me, and to us. something to celebrate another year of having and loving you. happy birthday, darling.

-caitlyn."

[nitadllyss]

The wrong pill.

Plot: Han takes a pill for his training, not realizing it’s viagra—let alone on the day he was going to see you.

Genre:smut, nsfw, Erotic Romance, PWP.

Warnings: Smut, NSFW, use of Viagra, sex under its influence, oral sex (m!receiving), no condom use, semen, penetration (m/f), praise, etc.

----------------------------

Han had been fighting hard with the staff to be able to show off his body and tattoos. For this reason, he was preparing physically with great dedication. He never skipped a day at the gym, and it was obvious how much more muscular he had gotten.

He was now getting ready to train with Changbin. They were at his house, since Han had stayed over the night before; it had been too late for him to return home. To prepare his pre-workout shake, he used Changbin's stuff.

"Where do you have the creatine?" Han asked while rummaging through the drawer where Changbin kept his supplements.

"They are the transparent capsules" Changbin answered, focused on making his own pre-workout shake.

Han took his shake followed by the corresponding pills.

Everything was going well during the training. He was really satisfied with the results he was getting. For him, gaining muscle was easier, so in a short time he could already notice a noticeable difference.

As he was training, his alarm went off to remind him to take his intra-workout pill. He was committed to getting good and fast results, so he never missed a dose of vitamins or supplements.

“Hey, Bin, do you have any intra-workout pills?” Han asked, a little worried when he realized he hadn’t brought any.

“I think there’s L-Carnitine in my bag. Check it out and take one,” Changbin said, pointing to his gym bag.

Han walked over, opened the bag, and saw a mess of pills. Changbin definitely needed to be more organized. He assumed it was one of the white capsules, so he wasn’t too careful when taking one.

About 40 minutes later, after finishing his workout, he headed home. He was excited because he would see you today. They were having a sleepover. They weren’t a couple or anything, just best friends… although Han had been in love with you forever.

As he arrived, he started to feel strange. He was sweatier than usual, and as he looked in the mirror, he noticed his neck and ears were red. He brushed it off and went to take a shower, making sure he looked good for when you arrived.

After getting ready, however, he noticed that his face was still red, his heart was racing, and most worryingly… he had an erection. And it wasn't a regular one.

He didn't understand why, but his erection was strong and persistent.

Just as he was trying to do something to disguise it, he heard a knock on the door. He felt a chill in his chest and his nervousness increased.

When he opened it, there you were, looking cute and radiant as always. But something was different. He no longer noticed how pretty your makeup or hair looked. He could only focus his attention on how your breasts stood out under the neckline of your blouse and how juicy your thighs looked under your skirt.

"Hey!" you greeted, smiling, and went over to hug him, like you always did.

"Hey, babe" he replied playfully, using the nickname he used to call you.

You smiled at him and walked into his house.

"I'm sorry if I look all dressed up, I just got back from an outing with friends. Could you lend me some comfortable clothes to sleep in?"

He felt his erection throb as he heard that. Just imagining you in his clothes was driving him crazy.

"Ah… yeah, yeah, I'll be right back," he stammered, hurrying to his room. He looked for one of his shirts and, upon returning, handed it to you.

You changed without a problem, leaving you only with the shorts that you were wearing under your skirt.

"Thanks, Ji," you said, turning around to show him how his clothes looked on you.

Was he drooling? He wasn't sure, but he was literally mesmerized by the way your breasts were poking out from under his shirt. He was going to lose control.

"Come on, let's find the movie," you said, sitting next to him on the couch and resting your head on his shoulder as he browsed through the options.

You picked a horror movie, his favorites. Han hoped it would distract him from you, but every time you freaked out and came closer, his erection throbbed harder. It had even started to hurt.

After a while, you went to the bathroom. When you came back, you froze.

Han was on the couch, rubbing the bulge in his pants, panting softly.

"Ha-Han?" you asked, approaching him cautiously. It was then that you noticed the wet spot on his clothes.

"Mmh… I'm s-sorry…" he mumbled, throwing his head back, unable to keep his hands away from his crotch.

"Han, wtf?", you said, a bit embarrassed, not fully understanding the situation.

"Please don't be mad… I don't know what's wrong with me, but it hurts so much…" he whispered with his eyes closed, wishing the earth would swallow him up.

Just then his cell phone rang. It was Changbin.

"Bro, I think you took one of my viagra pills. That, or one went missing… I hope it doesn't cause you too much trouble."

"Are you kidding me?" Han almost screamed. "Why the hell would you have that in your bag? Ahg, it would kill you!" He hung up the call, frustrated.

Now everything made sense. At least for him.

You, on the other hand, were still standing in front of him, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Han looked up and let out a gasp as he watched you fix your eyes on his erection. His face flushed with embarrassment and he quickly placed a cushion on his lap.

"I'm so sorry..." he whispered, feeling like crying from both the shame and the pain in his pants.

"Don't worry... I'll leave so you can, uh... fix that..." you said, looking away, your cheeks flushing.

"Please... stay..." he asked almost in a plea.

You hesitated for a second, but seeing him like this, you couldn't help but feel a little sorry. And what was worse... you felt the wetness in your underwear since you noticed his bulge.

Han grunted as he felt you approach and pressed the cushion harder against himself.

“Does it hurt?” you asked, curious. You didn’t know if his gasps were from pain or pleasure.

“A lot…” he closed his eyes, rubbing himself more desperately.

You bit your lip. You hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Would you...want me to help you?"

Han felt his breath hitch.

“You don’t have to… I don’t want you to be uncomfortable…” but his hips contradicted his words. Not to mention the way his cock thrashed around in his pants.

But instead of answering, you placed a hand on top of his and pulled the cushion off his lap.

“I want to do it,” you whispered before leaning in and devouring his lips.

You could feel him holding back in the kiss, making hesitant movements, so you went deeper, mixing your tongues and sitting on top of his lap.

He couldn't help but growl into your mouth, the firmness with which he held your hips applying pressure having that slight relief that at the same time made him thirsty for more.

They got lost in the messy kiss, Han was already more confident and in control of the situation. As he pulled away he bit your lower lip in an attempt to chase you.

"Han~" you began to move your hips in circles, enjoying how his body reacted, feeling him so firm under you.

Han was so lost, he felt very high.

He was drowning in your neck, licking and biting every trace of visible skin.

"Han wait" you pulled away from the addictive sensation of his hot and wet tongue on your skin.

"Do you want to stop?" He said a little worried and disappointed, leaving a little space.

"No, I just want to make you feel good" you smiled and gave him a chaste kiss leaving him stunned.

You climbed off his lap and knelt in front of him.

You gave his thigh a caress before pulling down his fly. Seeing the wet spot on his underwear made your mouth water. You gave his clothed cock a kiss and then a lick.

Han's hands clenching the couch, his white knuckles trying not to fuck your mouth madly.

You pulled his underwear down along with his pants to his ankles and felt the saliva pooling in your mouth.

His tanned cock with its red head very sensitive. It was shiny from the precum that bathed it excessively.

With your thumb you touched the slit of his head probing a little. You smiled at the gasps from him.

"Ahh~ Y/N don't play" he clenched his jaw a bit desperately.

You gave him a kitten lick along his length and then swirled around his tip, you felt that with so little he was close to his release.

You started jerking him off with your hands, mixing your licks and squeezes.

Han was literally struggling not to cum and that started to bother you. You took him in your mouth, sucking lightly and making a mess of saliva and his fluids.

“You look so cute like this,” he said, totally pleased by the way your chin was disgustingly dripping with saliva. His duality made you clench your legs, minutes ago he was all whiny begging like a bitch and the tone he let out was so different.

You let out a moan and took him deeper, making yourself gag.

"Mmh you like being good for me? I'm sure you were drooling seeing me hard" he put a hand on your head, gathering your hair in a handful.

You rolled your eyes and moaned again, not quite understanding if it was his tone that caused it or the simple fact of being him.

"You feel so fucking good, you have a very skilled little mouth" he threw his head back growling at your gasps.

Determined to make him cum you forced your poor throat accompanying with your hands squeezing and massaging his balls.

You felt his cock move in your mouth.

"Mmh Y/N w-wait" he tried to stop your movements, but you only stood firmer, watching him stagger was everything.

Out of instinct he pressed your head towards him, betrayed by his pleasure seeking body.

Then after a few more seconds he cum in your mouth with many thick loads straight to your throat.

The growl followed by a pornographic moan was beautiful. He threw his head back and let go of your head.

"Was it good?" You said smiling licking your cum stained corners.

"It was literally amazing" he smirked and covering his eyes with his arm.

"Thanks Y/N" he said looking at you and caressing your cheek with his thumb.

You snuggled into his hand lovingly until you saw him frown.

"What? You're still hard? How is that possible" you said stunned, he was still rock hard AFTER CUMMING.

"It's not really something I can help" he grimaced.

"It's a good thing" you said standing up.

"Hmm?" Han said confused looking at you.

"It would really be a shame if you left me wanting to fuck, I really appreciate that pill" you said biting your lip and pulling down your shorts along with your underwear.

Han followed your movements attentively, as if he was bewitched by your charm. Seeing your underwear on the floor he let out a gasp at the visible stain of arousal you had left.

"You're needy aren't you?" He smiled shamelessly as if it wasn't his cock that had been erect for over an hour.

He took off his shirt showing his tattoos, you had already seen them, but seeing them together with his needy cock is something different.

You followed his steps and undressed completely, he stretched out his hand, in a quick movement he left you on your knees on the couch, your face against the couch and your ass completely exposed to his mercy.

"I promise that after this I will take the time to adore you as you deserve" he said in your ear followed by a kiss on your cheek.

You felt your heart flutter.

"But now I'm going to use you however I want" he ran his tongue disgustingly across your cheek, dirtyly erasing the tender kiss he had left.

He took your moan as consent and positioned himself behind you.

"So cute, willing to help me even if she has to give me her body" he smacked your ass with his hard cock making you gasp. He bit his lip to stop himself from moaning.

He spit on your entrance and without preparation pushed the tip in stretching you deliciously.

You both let out a gasp, the desire that was there making the pleasure double.

"You're so tight" he pushed himself in a little further and you could only moan begging for him to bottom out.

When he reached his base you arched your back and threw your head back.

"You're being so good for me" he began to give slow but deep thrusts.

"You don't know how many times I masturbated imagining having you like this for me" he growled.

In response you moaned and clenched around him.

He put his hand on your head pushing hard against the couch and began to penetrate you faster and harder.

You just moaned with each thrust totally lost in the way you felt every inch of his cock in your insides, the pain of his grip on your head making it even more pleasurable. You were completely at his mercy.

He put his other hand on your hip, helping him thrust more violently, moaning and grunting at how close his climax felt.

And before he had a chance to pull out of you, he cum deeply.

Feeling his hot cum fill you and his grunt you joined him in the climax moaning and clenching yourself choking his member against your rubbery walls now painted white.

You were so exhausted you could only gasp waiting for him to pull out.

He was still buried deep appreciating the warmth of your shared orgasms.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't want to..." he said, still without leaving you.

It's like his brain works, but his body has control.

"Calm down, actually, I liked it" you said trying to get over the climb.

He withdrew from you slowly, making you feel every inch you were losing. When he pulled out completely he admired your stretched entrance dripping with your mixed fluids.

"Are you okay?" He came back to reality and approached your face to check.

" It was so good" you said smiling and a bit sleepy "so you masturbated thinking about me? That's interesting" you laughed mockingly.

"Shut up, there's no need to repeat that" he was blushing as if you hadn't fucked two minutes ago.

You lay down and looked at him a little worried about what would happen to you after that.

"Can we leave that talk for later?" Literally as if he had read your thoughts.

"What needs to be done now?" You said, not understanding why he was putting off the talk.

You then saw him turn bright red and look down at his cock. He was hard again.

This was going to be a long sleepover.

----------------------------

English is not my first language, so if you see a mistake, please let me know 🙏🏻.

I need more practice writing smuts :((

I have several Chan fics waiting to be reviewed before posting 🤭.

If you have any requests, send them💞.

[aspenmissing]

hi hi !! any chance of a comfort fic (or headcanons) including viktor and someone that's very stressed from life in general ? like, im talking someone who feels like they haven't got any time to themselves anymore and they feel like every day is just them trying to keep their head above water :(( ofc you dont have to do it ! i just love the way you write viktor and your stuff is honestly vv comforting to me 🫶

ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴀ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜ

ᴊᴀʏᴄᴇ | ᴠɪᴋᴛᴏʀ | ᴊᴀʏᴠɪᴋ | ᴠᴀɴᴅᴇʀ | ꜱɪʟᴄᴏ | ᴊɪɴx || ꜰʟᴜꜰꜰ/ᴀɴɢꜱᴛ || 8499 ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ || ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ: ᴏᴠᴇʀᴡᴏʀᴋᴇᴅ, ꜱᴛʀᴇꜱꜱᴇᴅ, ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ/ɪɴᴊᴜʀʏ(ꜱɪʟᴄᴏ'ꜱ ᴘᴀʀᴛ)

ʀᴇQᴜᴇꜱᴛ ᴀɴꜱᴡᴇʀ: ʜᴇʟʟᴏ ʜᴇʟʟᴏ ᴍʏ ᴅᴇᴀʀ! ɪ'ᴍ ꜱᴏ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴍʏ ꜱᴛᴜꜰꜰ ᴄᴏᴍꜰᴏʀᴛꜱ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴅᴏ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴋᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴡᴇʟʟ! ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ʜᴜɴ! <3

ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ | ᴊᴀʏᴄᴇ | ᴠɪᴋᴛᴏʀ | ᴠᴀɴᴅᴇʀ | ꜱɪʟᴄᴏ | ᴊɪɴx/ᴘᴏᴡᴅᴇʀ

JAYCE

Y/N sat at the edge of the workbench, the dim light of the lab flickering in the background. A jumble of half-finished projects, scattered papers, and tools cluttered the surface. She tried to focus on just one task—just one thing that could make her feel like she was getting somewhere—but the weight of everything seemed to hang over her. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up a small wrench, trying to tighten a bolt, but it wasn’t working. She couldn’t stop her mind from racing.

The noise of the world outside echoed in her mind: the demands, the expectations, the constant pressure to do more, be more, and keep pushing. Her body ached, and her chest felt heavy, as if the air itself had thickened, suffocating her. It was like she was caught in an endless cycle, spinning faster and faster, but never getting anywhere.

Every day felt like an uphill climb. Y/N tried to stay afloat—tried to stay positive, tried to make time for things that made her happy—but it felt impossible. The world had a way of pulling her in so many directions, and in all the chaos, she’d lost sight of who she was. It had been so long since she'd had time to herself, long enough to just breathe and do nothing without the constant shadow of obligation hanging over her. Every moment felt like an urgent race to keep up, to manage everything and not fall behind. The feeling of drowning, of barely keeping her head above water, gnawed at her every waking hour.

=

Jayce’s footsteps broke through the blur of her thoughts, the familiar sound of him coming closer. She barely registered it until his hand gently landed on her shoulder, sending a shock of warmth through her body. "Y/N..." His voice was soft, full of concern. "You okay?"

Y/N flinched slightly at the touch, not out of irritation but because she was so deep in her own head she hadn’t noticed him approach. She looked up at him, her eyes tired and heavy, the exhaustion in them reflected in the small, almost imperceptible slump of her posture. She tried to give him a smile, but it felt hollow. "I’m just... tired, Jayce," she whispered, her voice hoarse. The effort it took to even speak those words made her throat tighten. "I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately. It’s like... I can’t keep up. Every day, it’s just one thing after another, and I’m trying to stay above water, but I feel like I’m sinking."

Jayce’s expression softened instantly. His eyes, usually so intense with focus, were now filled with empathy, his brow furrowed in concern. He crouched down beside her, making sure to meet her gaze as he gently lifted his hand from her shoulder to cup her cheek. The warmth of his palm felt like a lifeline, grounding her in the moment, in the stillness of the lab that felt so foreign amidst the whirlwind in her head.

"I get it," Jayce said, his voice calm but laced with a quiet sadness, as though he could feel the weight she was carrying. "I see how hard you’ve been working, day in and day out. I know you’ve been juggling so much, and I can tell it’s taking a toll. But Y/N... you don’t have to carry all of this on your own. You don’t have to do it all by yourself."

Y/N blinked rapidly, trying to fight back the tears that suddenly threatened to spill. She hadn’t meant to break down—not here, not in front of Jayce—but the strain of holding everything in had finally cracked her open. The vulnerability she’d been hiding felt almost unbearable.

“I’m scared, Jayce,” Y/N admitted, the words slipping out before she could stop them. “I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore. I’m trying so hard, but every day feels like I’m losing more of myself. And I don’t even know how to fix it.”

Jayce's eyes softened further, and for a moment, he said nothing. He just looked at her, his gaze gentle and understanding. His hand moved to the back of her neck, rubbing slow, soothing circles, his touch so steady and warm that it felt like an anchor in a storm.

"You don’t have to fix it all," he said quietly, his voice full of warmth and tenderness. "Not right now. Sometimes, all you need is a break. You’ve been pushing yourself so hard, and it’s okay to step back. You’ve done more than enough. But you can’t keep giving if you’re running on empty."

Y/N exhaled shakily, trying to steady her breathing, but she couldn’t fight the lump in her throat. Her heart felt heavy as Jayce’s words echoed in her mind. She knew he was right—had known it all along—but it was so hard to let herself admit it.

"I just... I don’t want to let anyone down," she murmured, her voice breaking as she finally let the tears fall. "I don’t want to disappoint you, or anyone else. I feel like if I stop, everything will fall apart."

Jayce immediately pulled her into his arms, holding her close in a gentle, protective embrace. His touch was grounding, warm, and unwavering, like he was giving her permission to let go of the weight she’d been carrying for far too long.

"Y/N," he whispered, his voice firm but gentle, "You don’t have to carry all of this on your own. You never have to carry it alone. And as for disappointing me... I could never be disappointed in you. You’re doing the best you can, and that’s all anyone can ask of you. Including me."

The weight in Y/N’s chest felt lighter in his arms. The world outside—the endless noise, the rush, the pressure—faded to the background, replaced by the warmth of Jayce’s presence. For the first time in what felt like ages, Y/N allowed herself to just be, to let go of the frantic pace she’d set for herself, if only for a moment.

Jayce pulled back slightly, enough to look her in the eyes. "You’ve been carrying so much, love. But you don’t have to keep doing it all. Let me help you, just for a little while. Take a moment to breathe, okay?"

Y/N nodded, her eyes still watery but a small, fragile smile beginning to form on her lips. Jayce’s smile mirrored hers, warm and patient, like he was willing to wait for as long as it took for her to find her footing again.

He reached over and gently helped her sit down in one of the nearby chairs, guiding her like she was something precious, and for a moment, Y/N felt like she could just stop. Just breathe.

The air was still heavy, the world still chaotic, but for the first time in a long time, Y/N didn’t feel alone in it. And for now, that was enough.

"I’m here, Y/N," Jayce said softly, sitting next to her and resting a hand on her shoulder, not to fix anything, but to simply be there. "You don’t have to do this by yourself. I’m here."

And with that, Y/N let her head lean on his shoulder, finally allowing herself the space to relax. The weight in her chest wasn’t gone completely, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like she could take a step back and breathe.

VIKTOR

Y/N sat at her desk, her eyes barely staying open as the pile of work seemed to double in front of her. Her hands, once steady, trembled slightly as she tried to finish yet another task that seemed impossible to complete. It felt like a never-ending loop—wake up, work, sleep, repeat. No moments of rest. No time for herself. Every day she was getting further away from the things she used to love, her passions pushed aside by the weight of everything demanding her attention.

The ticking of the clock felt louder in the quiet room, its sound almost mocking her inability to keep up. The pile of papers in front of her blurred together, her mind constantly racing but never quite finding the right track to focus on. She longed for a moment to herself. Just a minute to breathe, to feel like she wasn’t drowning.

It wasn’t until she felt a gentle tap against her desk that she even realized Viktor had entered the room. She blinked, looking up through heavy eyelids to find him standing there, his cane resting against the floor as he leaned slightly on it. He watched her for a moment, his face soft with concern, before his eyes flicked to the scattered papers and the exhaustion clearly written on her face.

“Y/N…” Viktor’s voice was quiet but firm, the way it always was when he was concerned. His gaze never left her, studying her closely.

She forced a smile, the kind that barely reached her eyes. “I’m fine, Viktor. Just... a bit of a long day.”

His brows furrowed, his lips pressing into a thin line. Viktor didn’t believe it. Not for a second. He knew her too well.

“You’ve been working for hours,” he said softly, taking a step closer. “I can see it on your face… You’re barely holding yourself together.”

Y/N sighed, feeling the weight of his words sink in. She glanced at her watch—it was already late. Her body screamed for rest, but the work… the work had to be done. There was always something.

“I just need to finish this,” she muttered, but her voice faltered, her exhaustion clear.

Viktor gently placed his hand on the edge of the desk, his cane tapping softly on the floor as he leaned in a bit closer. “You can’t keep going like this, Y/N. You’re burning yourself out.”

She wanted to argue, wanted to tell him that she didn’t have a choice, that she didn’t have the luxury of slowing down. But the look on Viktor’s face, the genuine concern, made the words catch in her throat.

He sat down next to her, his movements careful, as though he was afraid she might break if he moved too suddenly. “You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. You can’t do everything at once.”

Y/N lowered her head into her hands, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. “I feel like I’m barely keeping my head above water… and everything’s just piling on top of me.”

Viktor’s hand gently rested on her shoulder, his touch grounding her in the moment. “I know it feels like that. But you don’t have to do it alone.”

His words hung in the air, warm and comforting, and for the first time that day, Y/N allowed herself to breathe. Viktor was right. She didn’t have to carry the weight of the world on her own, even though it often felt that way.

“I’ll help,” Viktor continued softly. “Let me take some of this burden from you, miláčku. You’ve done more than enough. Now… let me take care of you.” (Darling)

Her heart fluttered at his words, a mixture of relief and gratitude washing over her. Viktor was always there, steady and reliable, even when everything else seemed uncertain.

Y/N gave him a tired smile, a real one this time. “Thank you, Viktor.”

He smiled back, his eyes warm with affection. “You don’t need to thank me. Just… take care of yourself.”

He helped her gather her things, his movements gentle and purposeful as he quietly nudged her out of the chair. “Come on,” he urged softly. “Let’s go home. You need rest.”

Y/N nodded, her body aching for the comfort of her bed, but Viktor had other plans. He’d never been one to simply let her collapse into the world of sleep without giving her the space to breathe, to let go for a moment.

=

The walk back to their shared apartment felt like the longest part of her day, but Viktor was by her side, always there to steady her, offering quiet words of encouragement and support. Once inside, she shed her work clothes for something more comfortable and sank into the couch, letting her body fall against the cushions in a way that felt foreign—almost like she was rediscovering what comfort truly meant.

Viktor followed, careful not to disturb the peace she craved, and sat beside her. He didn’t rush her or demand anything from her. He simply wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. It wasn’t much, but the simple act of being close to him—of not being alone—was more soothing than any words could express.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed Viktor reach for something on the table—her book. It was the one she had started weeks ago, the one she hadn’t had the chance to finish because work and life always seemed to take priority. She smiled weakly, watching as he gently opened it, his fingers grazing the pages with care.

“Would you like me to read to you?” Viktor asked quietly, his voice soft and comforting as always.

Y/N felt the weight on her chest lift just a little at the offer. It felt good to have him take the lead, to let him guide her toward something restful, something she didn’t have to carry alone.

She nodded, sinking further into his warmth, her head resting on his shoulder as he began to read. The words, though simple, felt like a balm to her worn-out soul. Viktor’s voice was steady and soothing, drawing her into the world of the story and away from the worries that had plagued her mind for so long.

As he read, she closed her eyes, letting herself be enveloped by the sound of his voice. She wasn’t thinking about the work waiting for her or the never-ending list of responsibilities. For the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to simply exist.

Viktor continued reading, his arm around her shoulders pulling her closer. The world outside their apartment faded into the background, and for that moment, Y/N allowed herself to rest. She could let go. Viktor had her, and that was enough.

JAYVIK

It had been a long, grueling week at the lab. Y/N barely remembered the last time she had a moment to herself, let alone a decent meal or a full night’s sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, the work piled higher in her mind, like a stack of unfinished reports. It was as if there was no escaping the relentless demands. Each day, she was drowning a little more, struggling to keep her head above the water.

By the time she got home, she couldn’t even keep her eyes open. The exhaustion hit her like a wall. Her body was begging for rest, but her mind wouldn’t let her stop. The moment she stepped inside, Y/N didn’t even bother to take her shoes off. She shuffled into the living room and collapsed onto the couch, already halfway asleep. Papers were scattered across the coffee table, some unfinished reports, others filled with calculations, and a pen still loosely gripped in her hand. It was a scene that was all too familiar—her mind and body just too tired to continue.

When Viktor and Jayce arrived home, they found her exactly where they had expected: completely worn out. Viktor’s gaze softened as he surveyed the scene—Y/N’s sleeping form slumped on the couch, her legs curled up beneath her, her face pinched with exhaustion even in sleep. The faint click of Viktor’s cane against the floor echoed in the room as he stepped closer, his usually steady hand holding the cane as if it grounded him, yet his concern was evident in every line of his face.

“Lásko…” Viktor whispered, kneeling beside her, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. His heart ached seeing her like this. He could relate to the overwhelming weight of endless work, but he knew she was pushing herself too far. (Love)

Jayce stood beside him, his brow furrowed. He glanced at Viktor, his eyes full of concern. “She’s been burning herself out. She never gives herself a chance to breathe.”

Viktor sighed quietly, his voice low but filled with understanding. “She believes she has to handle everything on her own. She needs us… and a break.”

Without waiting for further words, Jayce knelt down and gently scooped her into his arms, his hands secure and strong around her. Y/N stirred slightly but remained asleep, her body instinctively curling against him as if she knew she was safe. She let out a small sigh, her muscles relaxing the moment she felt his warmth.

“Come on, let’s get her to bed,” Jayce murmured, his voice soft, almost protective.

Viktor, still kneeling beside them, gently took her hand, his fingers lightly curling around hers. As Jayce stood, lifting her carefully, Viktor followed behind, his cane clicking softly as it tapped against the floor. He stayed close, his presence a steady comfort, and he looked down at Y/N’s sleeping face, his thumb softly brushing over her hand, feeling the warmth of her skin and the steadiness of her breath.

When they reached the bedroom, Jayce laid her gently on the bed, adjusting the blankets around her so she was comfortable. He tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, his expression tender. Viktor moved to the other side of the bed, sitting down beside her, and continued holding her hand as he whispered words of reassurance.

"Rest, Y/N," he murmured, his voice calm and soothing. "Let go of all the pressure. We’re here now."

=

Once they were sure she was settled and asleep, Viktor and Jayce quietly left the room. They worked together to clean up the living room, stacking the papers neatly, organizing the reports, and making the place feel more inviting. The clutter of the day was swept away, and in its place, a calming atmosphere settled in.

Jayce busied himself in the kitchen, pulling out all of Y/N’s favourite ingredients. He moved with practiced ease, preparing a warm meal that he knew would comfort her—her favourite dish, made just the way she liked it. Viktor stood by the counter, helping where he could, but his mind kept drifting back to Y/N, his thoughts focused on her well-being.

“I think she’ll feel better after a good meal and some rest,” Jayce said quietly, glancing at Viktor as he set the table.

Viktor nodded, his gaze distant, yet soft. “She deserves more than just a moment of rest. We need to show her that it’s okay to lean on us. We can’t let her carry the weight of everything alone.”

=

After a short time, the meal was ready, and the kitchen was filled with the mouthwatering scent of Y/N’s favorite dish. Jayce and Viktor shared a look of quiet determination as they made their way back to the bedroom, where Y/N still slept soundly, the weight of exhaustion holding her in a peaceful slumber.

The moonlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a serene glow over the room. Viktor stood at the foot of the bed, watching Y/N with a soft gaze, his heart swelling with the quiet understanding of just how much she had been pushing herself. He didn’t want to wake her, but he knew she needed to eat and take care of herself.

Gently, he reached out and brushed his fingers against Y/N’s cheek, a whisper of a touch meant to rouse her without startling her. His voice was soft but firm. “Miláčku… It’s time to wake up. We’ve got something for you.” (Darling)

She stirred slightly, a small sigh escaping her lips as the fatigue of the day clung to her. Her eyelids fluttered open slowly, taking in the soft light of the room and the warmth of her surroundings. She blinked a few times, trying to shake off the haze of sleep, but the sight of Viktor and Jayce standing there—looking at her with such care and concern—was enough to ease some of the tension in her chest.

She didn’t say anything at first, just took a few moments to process the quiet comfort of the room and their presence. But when her gaze met Jayce’s, a soft smile tugged at her lips. His features were gentle, and there was something so reassuring in his expression.

Jayce smiled back, his voice warm and steady. “We’ve got dinner ready for you. You’ve been working too hard, and now it’s time for you to rest and enjoy something just for you.”

Y/N's throat felt tight for a moment, emotions swirling inside her. She was overwhelmed by their care, by their willingness to take everything off her shoulders. She hadn’t realized how much she needed this until now. Her eyes drifted closed for a brief moment, letting out a soft, quiet sigh as she let herself fully take in the comfort they were offering her.

Viktor, seeing her struggle to find her words, bent down to her level, brushing a kiss against her forehead. His touch was light, tender, and reassuring, as if grounding her in the moment. “Take your time,” he murmured, his voice low and calming. “You don’t have to rush. We’re here for you.”

Her heart fluttered at his words, and she allowed herself to sink deeper into the bed. The fatigue from the past few days seemed to linger in the air around her, but with Viktor and Jayce’s unwavering presence, she felt it begin to slowly dissipate.

Jayce set the bowl of food on the nightstand next to her, then climbed into the bed beside her. He gently lifted her into a sitting position, making sure she was comfortable. His hand rested lightly on her back, guiding her to take the first bite of the warm meal. It was exactly what she needed—a simple, comforting dish she hadn’t realized she craved until now.

Viktor joined them on the bed, sitting beside her, his hand brushing over her hair, combing through the strands in soothing motions. They both watched her with quiet attention, their eyes soft and filled with affection. She ate slowly, savoring each bite, grateful for the care they were showing her in this quiet moment.

After a while, she finished her meal, and Viktor took the bowl from her, setting it aside. “How do you feel?” he asked softly, his gaze searching hers.

“Better,” she whispered, her voice hushed, but there was a genuine warmth to it now. “I didn’t realize how much I needed this.”

Jayce leaned in closer, placing a gentle hand on her knee. “You don’t always have to do everything alone, you know. We’re here for you. Just let us help.”

Y/N nodded slowly, her chest tightening with a mixture of relief and gratitude. She had always carried everything on her own—always thought she had to push through the exhaustion, the stress, the overwhelming demands. But with them here, she realized how much of a burden she had been placing on herself.

VANDER

The day had been a whirlwind, the noise from the kids echoing through the house like a never-ending storm. Vi was arguing with Powder again, Mylo had gotten into something he shouldn’t, and Claggor—well, Claggor just didn’t know when to stay out of trouble. It felt like there was always something to fix, someone to listen to, and the weight of it all was crushing.

Y/N had barely had a moment to herself in days. Every time she thought she might have a second to breathe, something else pulled her back into the chaos. They used to be able to balance everything, but lately it felt like she was barely treading water. The frustration, the exhaustion, it all boiled over when Powder had accidentally knocked over a jar, spilling its contents across the floor.

“Why can’t you be more careful?!” Y/N snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. Her heart sank the moment the words left her lips. Powder’s wide eyes filled with surprise and hurt, and Vi stood frozen, unsure of what to do.

“Y/N, calm down,” Vi said, her tone tense but trying to be gentle. “It’s just a mess.”

“I don’t have time for messes! I don’t have time for anything anymore!” Y/N cried, running a hand through her hair. “I’m the one always picking up after everyone. I can’t keep doing this... I can’t keep going like this!”

Without another word, Y/N turned and walked out of the room, their heart aching as the sounds of the kids murmuring followed behind. She felt the weight of their stares, but she couldn’t stay. Not like this.

Y/N shut the door to her and Vander’s room with a quiet thud, locking it behind her. The silence in the room was deafening. She collapsed onto the bed, her face buried in her hands, and let the tears come. It felt like everything had piled up—her responsibilities, the lack of time, the constant pressure. She felt like she was failing everyone, and worse, she’d snapped at the kids. They didn’t deserve that.

Her chest heaved with each sob, the tears flowing freely as the flood of emotions she had been bottling up finally overflowed. The weight of it all was too much.

A soft knock on the door made her flinch. “Y/N?” Vander’s voice was quiet, concerned. “Can I come in?”

She wiped her face hastily, sniffling. “I... I don’t want to talk about it, Vander,” she whispered.

The door creaked open slowly, and Vander stepped inside, his expression full of worry. He didn’t need to ask what was wrong—he could see it in the way she was curled up on the bed, how defeated she looked. The kids weren’t stupid either; they knew something was off, but he could see the toll it was taking on Y/N.

He walked over and sat beside her, gently taking her hand. “You’re carrying too much on your own, love,” he murmured. “You don’t have to do it all.”

Y/N let out a shaky breath, the guilt sinking in as she leaned against him. “I don’t even know who I am anymore, Vander. I’m so tired of always trying to keep up, trying to keep everything from falling apart. I snapped at the kids, and now I feel like I’m failing them... failing you.”

Vander’s arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her closer. “You’re not failing anyone, Y/N. We’re in this together, always. You don’t have to carry it all by yourself. We’re a team, and if it’s too much for you right now, then I’m here. Let me help you.”

Y/N let out a breath she didn’t even realize she’d been holding, the weight on her chest easing just a little. Vander’s presence was like a lifeline, steady and grounding.

“I don’t know how to do this anymore,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I feel like I’m drowning.”

Vander squeezed her hand gently. “You’re not alone, love. You don’t have to do it all at once. One step at a time. And when you need a break, we’ll take it together. No shame in asking for help. Not from me, not from anyone.”

Y/N closed her eyes, a few more tears slipping down her cheeks as she nodded, letting herself finally lean into him fully. The world outside could wait for just a moment, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to just breathe.

Vander continued to hold her, offering comfort with every soft touch and reassuring word. “We’ll figure it out. One day at a time, Y/N. You’ve got this. And when you don’t, I’m right here with you.”

=

The room was heavy with the silence that followed Vander’s gentle reassurances. Y/N’s sobs had slowed to soft sniffles, and she felt herself drawing a little strength from the steady rhythm of Vander’s presence beside her. He held her close, and for a few precious moments, the outside world ceased to exist. It was just the two of them, holding onto each other, and for the first time all day, Y/N could breathe, even if just a little easier.

But the calm didn’t last for long.

A small creak at the door and then a soft knock interrupted the quiet. Y/N looked up, her red eyes meeting Vander’s, her chest tightening with guilt.

“Mom?” It was Vi, her voice quiet but unmistakably full of concern.

The door opened just enough for the kids to slip inside. Powder, Vi, Mylo, and Claggor, all standing there with wide eyes, their faces uncertain. They had followed her here. Y/N’s heart dropped, the guilt overwhelming her all over again. She’d been so angry with them, so caught up in her own frustration that she had lashed out. They didn’t deserve that. None of them did.

Y/N wiped her eyes, but the tears kept coming. She didn’t know what to say—how could she apologize for snapping at them, for letting everything get the best of her?

Vi stepped forward first, her brow furrowed but her tone soft. “We’re sorry, Mom... We didn’t mean to upset you.”

Y/N swallowed, her throat tight. “No, it’s not your fault, sweetheart. I—I shouldn’t have yelled,” she choked out, her voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t deserve that. You’re just being kids. I should have been better.”

Powder’s little face was a mixture of confusion and hurt. “But you were mad at us. We didn’t mean to mess things up, I swear!”

Y/N shook her head, her voice trembling with emotion as she looked at them all. “I know, Powder. I know you didn’t. I’ve just been so... so overwhelmed. And I didn’t know how to handle it. But that’s no excuse for taking it out on you.”

She took a deep breath, her voice breaking as she continued, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt any of you. I love you all so much. Please know that.”

A heavy silence fell between them. Then, without warning, Powder took a few steps forward, her arms opening wide. Without a word, she wrapped herself tightly around Y/N, burying her face into her mother’s chest.

Y/N’s heart twisted at the sight, and she immediately pulled her daughter closer, holding her tightly. "I’m so sorry, blue," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I didn’t mean to upset you."

Powder’s small voice came out muffled against her. “I know, Mom... I just... I just wanted you to know I love you.”

Y/N squeezed her tighter, a wave of relief washing over her as the love she felt for her children flooded her heart.

One by one, the others joined in. Vi, always protective, was next, her strong arms wrapping around both of them. Claggor, more reserved, stood behind her, his hand gently placed on Y/N’s shoulder before he slowly joined in the group hug. Mylo, who often kept his emotions locked away, hesitated for a moment but then stepped forward, his voice softer than usual. "We get it, Mom," he said, his arms finally circling around the family. "You’re doing a lot... We don’t blame you.”

Y/N couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. She held them all, feeling the warmth of their embrace, the weight of her guilt melting away in that moment. “I love all of you so much,” she whispered through her tears. “And I’m sorry for not handling things better. I promise I’ll try harder, and I’ll always be here for you."

They stayed there in the middle of the room, huddled together, and for a moment, everything else seemed to fade. The chaos, the pressures of the world outside, the overwhelming responsibilities—all of it didn’t matter in this instant. They were together, and that was enough.

Vander’s hand rested on Y/N’s back, grounding her in the quiet moment of love and connection, reminding her that no matter how hard things got, they were a family—and together, they would always be enough.

SILCO

Y/N sat in her cramped office, the dim light from the single desk lamp casting long shadows across the scattered papers and empty coffee mugs that had accumulated over the past few days. Her hands trembled as they clutched the edge of the desk, her breathing shallow and uneven. Another day of running, of deadlines, of feeling like she was constantly drowning in demands—yet none of it ever seemed to stop.

The clock on the wall ticked louder in the silence, each second a painful reminder of how much time had slipped away from her. She had always been the kind of person who could handle things, keep her composure, but today… today felt like the weight of the world was finally too much.

Without thinking, Y/N’s hands shot out and swiped across the desk, sending papers fluttering into the air like a violent storm. She shoved things off the edge, watching them crash to the floor in a mess of splintering wood and glass. The sound of it echoed in her ears as a sharp, hot pain bloomed in her palm. Looking down, she realized she had cut herself—broken glass had embedded itself into her skin, but the pain barely registered. It was nothing compared to the crushing weight of her exhaustion, her stress, her inability to just breathe.

She stood there, trembling, as a few beads of blood dripped onto the floor.

There was a brief, unsettling silence before she heard the door open.

Silco, with his usual calculated grace, stepped into the room, his sharp eyes scanning the chaos around him. He took in the broken glass, the overturned furniture, the disarray—and then, finally, his gaze settled on Y/N, whose face was pale and flushed with the aftermath of her outburst.

"Y/N," he said, his voice low and steady, almost too calm. "What have you done?"

Her eyes flickered to the shards of glass scattered at her feet, then back to him. The words stuck in her throat. How could she explain? How could she tell him that she was drowning in a sea of expectations, responsibilities, and the constant pressure to keep it all together?

Instead, she wiped the blood from her palm, trying to force a smile, but it only came out as a twisted grimace. "Nothing… Just… Just tired."

Silco took a slow step forward, his expression softening for the briefest of moments. He reached out, his fingers brushing against her injured hand, his touch surprisingly gentle despite the cold edge of his demeanor.

"You’re not fine," he said quietly. "You’re breaking yourself for things that don’t matter."

Y/N met his gaze, the weight of his words settling heavily on her shoulders. She didn't want to break down, not now, not here. But with Silco standing in front of her, offering something she hadn't expected—understanding—she couldn't help but let the dam crack.

"I don’t know how to fix it," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I feel like I’m running out of time… like I’m always falling behind, always just trying to stay afloat. I don’t even know who I am anymore."

He didn’t say anything right away, but instead, he stepped closer, his presence towering over her in a way that should have been intimidating but somehow felt reassuring. His eyes softened as he took her uninjured hand in his, pulling her gently toward him. The tension in her chest loosened slightly as he held her, his grip firm, but not harsh.

"You don’t have to do this alone," Silco said, his voice now barely above a whisper. "I’ve seen what you’re capable of, Y/N. But even the strongest need a moment to breathe. Take it. You don’t have to carry it all."

Y/N closed her eyes, feeling the weight of his words settle deep in her chest. Maybe… just maybe… she could let go for a while. She could trust that someone might be there to help her back up when she fell.

Her breath steadied, and for the first time in days, she allowed herself to simply rest, letting the chaos fade into the background for just a moment.

=

Silco’s grip on her hand didn’t falter as he gently guided her from the wreckage of the office. Her legs felt shaky beneath her, the exhaustion now fully sinking in, and she leaned into him for support. The pain in her hand was a dull throb, but it was the last thing on her mind compared to the overwhelming sense of relief at simply not being alone with her thoughts.

They reached the door to their shared room, and Silco opened it with ease, ushering her inside. The warm, dim lighting of the room contrasted with the harsh, sterile feel of her office. Silco didn’t hesitate for a moment—he helped her over to the bed, carefully laying her down, the sheets cool against her skin.

Y/N let out a soft sigh, her body sinking into the comfort of the bed, but the weight of everything still hung over her. Silco stood at the edge of the bed for a moment, his gaze fixed on her, his sharp features softer than usual. It wasn’t often that he showed vulnerability, but in this moment, his concern for her was evident.

“You’ve done enough for today,” he said quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Let me take care of you.”

Y/N watched as he moved to a nearby drawer, pulling out a small first aid kit. She was vaguely aware of his careful movements, the way he treated each item with precision. His presence was oddly calming, grounding her in the midst of her storm. As he returned to her side, he didn’t speak for a moment, simply taking her injured hand in his. His touch was surprisingly tender, as if he were handling something fragile.

“Hold still,” he instructed softly, his voice a low murmur.

Y/N did as he said, watching him with quiet eyes as he cleaned the cut on her palm with a soft cloth. The sting of the antiseptic made her flinch slightly, but she didn’t pull away. There was something about his care, the way he moved with such confidence and authority, that made her feel safer than she had all day.

Silco worked methodically, each motion deliberate. His gaze occasionally flickered up to meet hers, but he didn’t say much—he didn’t need to. It was clear he was focused on her, on making sure she was alright, and that was enough.

When the wound was cleaned and bandaged, he paused, his thumb lightly grazing over the wrapped hand. “This won’t be the last time you hurt yourself like this if you don’t take a step back,” he said, his voice still quiet, but firm.

Y/N glanced up at him, unsure how to respond. She felt exposed, vulnerable, as if he could see everything she had been hiding from herself—her fears, her doubts, the mess of emotions she had tried so hard to keep contained.

“You don’t have to keep everything inside,” he said, as if reading her thoughts. “You don’t have to be the one to carry all the weight.”

She swallowed, fighting the lump in her throat. "I don’t know how to stop. I don't know how to let go."

Silco sat beside her on the bed, his hand still resting gently on hers. For a moment, he just looked at her, his sharp eyes piercing, but there was something else there now. Something softer.

“You don’t have to let go all at once,” he said quietly. “But you need to let someone in. Let me in.”

His gaze softened as he brushed a lock of hair away from her face, his touch lingering for a moment longer than necessary. "I won’t let you drown, my darling. Not while I’m here."

Y/N's chest tightened as the words sank in. There was comfort in them, but also a rawness. A weight that she didn’t know how to carry, but didn’t feel quite so heavy with him at her side.

She closed her eyes, letting herself rest in the quiet, in the calm that Silco had offered her—a rare peace amidst the chaos of her mind.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with the weight of unspoken things.

Silco didn't answer right away, but his presence beside her was enough. His hand, still holding hers, was warm and steady—a silent promise that, for once, she didn’t have to fight alone.

JINX/POWDER

Y/N sat in the corner of the small, dimly lit room, her fingers tangled in her hair as she stared blankly at the table in front of her. The faint sound of ticking from an old clock on the wall was the only thing breaking the silence. She had barely slept in days, overwhelmed by everything piling up around her. Life had become a relentless wave, crashing over her with no respite, no time to breathe.

She hadn’t had a single moment to herself in what felt like forever. Every day was the same: wake up, face the chaos, try to stay afloat. And yet, no matter how hard she swam, she never quite made it to shore. It felt like the world around her was constantly spinning faster, while she was stuck in the eye of the storm, unable to move forward.

Jinx, ever perceptive despite her chaotic personality, leaned against the doorframe. Her mischievous grin softened as she saw Y/N’s exhaustion. "Hey, hey," she said, her voice a little gentler than usual. "You look like you’ve seen better days, pal."

Y/N didn’t immediately respond. She simply nodded, her gaze never leaving the table. Jinx padded over, plopping down beside her. The room was quiet for a moment, save for the occasional clink of Jinx’s bracelets or the hum of her wild energy trying to find its outlet.

"You know," Jinx began, swinging her legs back and forth as she nudged Y/N’s arm lightly, "it’s okay to stop sometimes, y’know? You don’t gotta keep running all the time. Life’s nuts, yeah, but you can’t let it steal all your joy."

Y/N glanced at her, trying to manage a smile, but it felt too heavy. “I just… I don’t know how to keep going, Jinx. It’s like... like I’m just treading water and I can’t get out of this cycle.”

Jinx tilted her head, her usual wild energy settling for just a moment. “Sounds like you need a break. Like, a serious one. Not one of those ‘I’ll just close my eyes for five minutes’ things. I mean a real one.”

Y/N sighed, rubbing her temples as the weight of the world seemed to press down harder. “I don’t even know what that would look like. It’s like... everything’s so out of my control. I can’t even find a minute where I’m not thinking about what’s next.”

Jinx reached over, grabbing Y/N’s hand and giving it a squeeze. “You know what I think? I think you deserve a little chaos that’s just for fun. Not the kind that makes your head spin—nah. The kind that makes you laugh, even if it’s just for a second.”

Y/N glanced at Jinx, her expression softening just a bit. “I don’t know if I have the energy for chaos right now…”

Jinx tilted her head, her bright blue eyes studying Y/N closely. For a moment, she was quiet, sensing the exhaustion in her friend’s voice. She could see that Y/N wasn’t up for anything big—not the loud, explosive kind of chaos Jinx usually thrived on. Instead, her grin softened, and she gave Y/N’s hand another reassuring squeeze. “Alright, alright. Maybe we don’t need to go all out. You don’t gotta run at full speed. How about... something small? Just a little bit of fun. Something that doesn’t need all that energy.”

Y/N blinked, surprised by Jinx’s sudden shift. She was usually all about wild, unpredictable adventures. “Small?” Y/N asked, her voice hesitant. “Like what?”

Jinx thought for a moment, her eyes lighting up with a playful spark. “How about we take a walk? Nothing crazy. Just... get out of this place for a bit. I bet we can find something interesting, even if it’s just in the alley or down by the docks. I promise, you won’t have to run around like a lunatic.”

Y/N smiled softly, appreciating the gentleness in Jinx’s suggestion. “That sounds... doable,” she said, her voice a little steadier. “Maybe I just need to... breathe for a moment.”

Jinx grinned widely, her usual exuberance returning in full force. “Exactly! And hey, I’ll make sure nothing too ridiculous happens—no promises about what we find, though,” she added with a wink.

Y/N couldn’t help but chuckle at Jinx’s playful tone. “Alright, let’s go.”

=

With that, they stood up and stepped outside. The cool night air hit Y/N’s face, and she felt a little weight lift off her shoulders as she followed Jinx down the street. The city stretched out in front of them, a familiar mix of shadowy alleys and the neon glow of distant lights. But tonight, it didn’t seem so overwhelming. There was no rush, no pressure. Just a quiet moment between two friends—one who had learned to slow down, and the other who, for once, didn’t need to drag her into an explosion of color and sound.

They walked, side by side, for a while. The pace was slow, almost meandering, and Y/N let herself enjoy the simple act of being out in the world, without the constant pressure of things that needed to be done. She didn’t have to think about the work waiting for her back home, or the things she had been neglecting for weeks. She didn’t have to focus on anything except the sound of her boots tapping softly against the cracked pavement, the hum of the distant city, and Jinx’s voice breaking the quiet every now and then with some random, offbeat observation.

Y/N smiled slightly at Jinx’s ramblings. Despite the madness of the world they lived in, the chaotic moments Jinx often dragged her into, there was something incredibly grounding about her presence right now. She wasn’t pulling Y/N toward a wild adventure or an explosive stunt. Instead, they were just two people walking. And in that simple act, Y/N realized, for the first time in a long while, she could actually take a moment to just be.

The wind carried the smell of old brick and faint smoke from nearby fires. The city always felt like it was half-dreaming, always moving yet always at rest. It was a rhythm that Y/N had grown used to, even if it sometimes felt like it was working against her. But tonight, she let herself flow with it.

After walking for a while, Jinx’s energetic voice broke the calm. She glanced over at Y/N, a sly grin on her face. “Hey, you’re looking a lot less like you’re about to collapse. Progress! But, I think it’s time for a little... treat.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, curious. “Treat? What, like ice cream?”

Jinx shook her head in exaggerated disbelief. “Nah, no ice cream for you! Too cold for that. But I know a place.” She gave Y/N a mischievous look. “It’s weird. You’ll probably never find another one like it.”

Y/N chuckled softly. “Well, if it’s weird, then I’m definitely in.”

The two of them veered off the main street, walking toward a tiny café tucked between two larger, much grittier buildings. The sign above the door was old and worn, and the words were barely visible from age and grime, but there was something charming about it—the kind of place where the inside felt cozy despite its external appearance.

As they stepped inside, the warmth of the café enveloped them, a stark contrast to the chill of the street. The smell of brewing coffee and baked goods filled the air, making Y/N’s stomach rumble softly. The interior was a mishmash of mismatched chairs and old wooden tables, the kind of place that looked like it had been around for ages, catering to everyone from tired travelers to locals who sought out its quiet corners.

Jinx, of course, wasted no time. She walked straight up to the counter, where an older woman with a kind face looked up from behind the counter, recognizing her instantly. “Back again, Jinx?” the woman asked with a small laugh.

Jinx grinned wide. “You know it! And I brought my friend Y/N this time. She’s in desperate need of some weird food.”

The woman raised an eyebrow but nodded, giving Y/N a friendly smile. “Well, you’re in the right place. We’ve got pastries that’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about food.”

Y/N couldn’t help but laugh at the idea of a pastry that could be so world-altering. “I’m intrigued. What do you recommend?”

The woman leaned in, speaking in a conspiratorial tone. “Our special today is something called ‘jelly beans and cheese scones.’ Strange, I know, but it’s a local favorite.”

Y/N blinked, not sure whether to laugh or grimace. “Jelly beans... and cheese scones?”

Jinx nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling. “I told you it was weird! You gotta try it! It sounds insane, but it’s kinda... surprisingly good.”

Y/N hesitated, but then glanced at Jinx. Her energy was infectious, and for some reason, it felt right to just go with it tonight. "Alright, I’ll try it."

The woman smiled knowingly and handed them both a small plate with the strange combo. Y/N took a tentative bite of the scone, and to her surprise, the sweetness of the jelly beans paired with the rich, buttery flavour of the scone worked. It was... unusual, but in a comforting way. She couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous it all was.

Jinx grinned like she’d just won a victory. “See? Told you it’s a game-changer. Life’s too short to take seriously all the time. Sometimes, you just gotta eat jelly beans and cheese scones.”

Y/N laughed, her heart light. She took another bite, savoring the oddness of it all. It felt good. It felt like a step in the right direction.

They sat there for a while longer, talking about nothing in particular—just letting the quiet moments stretch on, the world outside forgotten. And in that small, cozy café, Y/N felt the tension slowly ease from her shoulders. Maybe it was just a simple walk, a weird pastry, and a bit of conversation, but it was enough to remind her that it was okay to take a pause. It was okay to breathe.

And for the first time in a long while, Y/N let herself feel... at peace.

[anomaliex]

I think Gorgug grows up trying to take up as little space as possible.

I think that as a child, before he was all that conscious of his own decisions, he broke a lot of stuff. That's fine, small children do that and his parents have had him since he was a baby. A huge baby, especially for gnomes. A huge baby that grew into a toddler the size of his parents who's (again, normal and okay) tantrums did actual property damage because he's an orc. They were never mad at him for it, they'd never be mad at a child experiencing big emotions and not yet able to process them or understand consequences, but we know how their families reacted to that. We know that they always saw him as something that would grow up to be a threat.

I think that pretty much as soon as he develops a sense of it Gorgug starts feeling ashamed. He's ashamed of how nothing ever fits right, and of how loud he gets when he's upset, and of how the other kids in the neighbourhood (because it's a small folk neighbourhood!!) get scared of him sometimes, and of how when he has bad dreams he breaks his bed and is unable to control himself, like a baby. There was probably a time where he thought he was really clumsy and he was ashamed of that too, but by the time he turns like twelve Gorgug kind of understands that he's not more clumsy than the average kid, it's just that every time he drops something or bumps into a shelf it'll do so much more damage than if anyone else he lives around were to do the same.

(And his parents are talented tinkerers but sometimes their work is so delicate and all he ever does is wreck things. He doesn't dare touch it no matter how much they try to share this passion with him — eventually they assume he just doesn't like it and they would never force him to do something he doesn't want. Gorgug doesn't let himself discover how much he enjoys it until sophomore year. I wonder if he regrets all those years he spent fearing the possibility of ruining things and depriving himself of something he ended up loving.)

(And he was never "stupid", it's just that all he ever thought himself of was a brute so he never entertained the possibility of his own intelligence until faced with it. He didn't know he could thrive academically so it wasn't something he ever considered committing to. He literally just played bloodrush because he was good at it, not because he liked it. He just thought he had to, and he thought math is something he couldn't possibly do. Why try?)

Entering Highschool Gorgug is very shy, and he doesn't really have friends. Adults always like to blame the latter on the first, but sometimes it's the other way around and sometimes it's a vicious cycle. Sometimes you're six years old and none of the kids in your elementary school class are anything like you but you desperately try to fit in until you slip up and show them how much of a freak you are one time (I think he got mad. I think he broke a table. I think someone cried. I think maybe there was a teacher who was so much smaller than him and looked at him as if he were something to be feared. I think that in that moment he decided that he is. Or at least his rage, maybe.) and then you never get to have friends again and you shrink in on yourself and you don't understand how anyone else does it — it's not even that you're scared you just don't understand, and maybe you just want to be alone. And then a happy outspoken child grows into a shy teenager because they don't have any friends.

I think Gorgug is careful. He is so gentle and empathetic and kind and he is so careful because every time he isn't something breaks. And every time he raises his voice someone is scared of him and all he ever wants is people to not be afraid. So he hunches over, and he stands in the corner, and he scoots to the very edge of the bench so you don't have to sit too close to him, and he takes every insult to his face without fighting back lest he'll get upset and despite all his fucking efforts all it takes is one asshole to take it too far and he feels himself snap and all he wants to do is break something and hurt and twist and kill. And that scares him. He doesn't allow himself to be angry (and as wonderful as Digby and Wilma are they don't understand. They don't understand that he has to be, that he has to let it out some time.) so he bottles it up and every time it explodes out of him he doesn't know how to handle it other than to swing his axe and kill maul bite snarl kill.

But then, his adventuring party seems to not mind his rage, or his size, or his freakish strength. If anything they seem to like it, or at least respect him for it. He's never considered doing something like music before because that's for talented people and it's art and he doesn't do art because his hands are only good for destruction, not creation. Right? He does the music anyway. It's nice because there he's allowed to be angry on the drums and no one thinks it's weird.

He meets a girl that finds his rage attractive and he was scared that he'd scared her but he didn't. Ragh becomes one of his dearest friends and maybe for the first time Gorgug looks at a raging (half-)orc — all snarling and panting and bearing his teeth and twitching at any sound or scent — and doesn't find himself appalled because all he sees is someone that's fighting to keep him and his friends safe. And oh, maybe it's okay to be enraged.

I think he grows into a young man that doesn't love being angry but stops hating it too. He likes, in a way, that he gets angry over the right things, and he likes that being angry enables him to protect those he cares for. In the end his rage is a survival instinct and it's good to be alive. That leads to him, for a while, only accepting his rage as something that's fine to express in combat, and if it's outside of combat then only to his friends. There's still this need to make himself palatable, to tone himself down so everyone stays comfortable around him, but that also fades eventually.

During junior year he does finally come out of his shell enough to just express his anger the second he feels it. I think it is liberating and it's also the scariest thing he's ever done, and he went through a forest that made him confront his deepest fears already. (And that's exactly what it was. The inconvenience to his parents, the fear it strikes in others, the rejection it brings, the way it seems to reduce him to a weapon or maybe a wild animal and to some people including parts of him means he absolutely cannot be an intelligent or loveworthy person. He's always been afraid of his own rage.)

I think that if a younger Gorgug could see his older self snarl at one of his friends for making a joke about his parents' lawnmower, with his tusks fully grown out and muscle finally starting to fill out his clothes a little, so strong and so dangerous and so unashamed of it, he'd feel no relief and only horror. I think acceptance is something that feels alien to him right up until he suddenly achieves it.

[pinkteethmarks]

omg.. wait for your valentines event could you please to like frat/playboy! katsuki x soft/nerd! reader (who could also look so fucking hot and gorgeous omggg😫)

so basically they’re just at a party and katsuki finds the reader hot but doesn’t know it’s actually the reader so he goes up to them asking them their name and stuff and then he realizes he knows the reader from their classes together and also realizes he’s in love /w her 😫😫

playboy…frat boy,,,katsuki…. i’m… ugh melting. i love this man so much IM MELTINGGGG. also… aha… sorry for taking this long.. SCHOOL OS ACTUALLY KICK MY BUM BUM SIXTH FORM IS GETTING SERIOUS GUYSS!!! but i’ll put my whole attention into tasks again guys.. sorry if this is really bad lowkey think i’ve lost my sparkle for writing but dw it will come back soon!! suggestive, references to corruption kink, gender neutral reader, use of pretty, sexy, succubus (lmao). 1.1k words!

stephanie; katsuki bakugou

katsuki should be at the library with you right now, you both had agreed to go to continue doing research for the project you were assigned to do together, but katsuki had other plans.

one that involved a hell of a lot of alcohol, cheap valentines decorations and someone to… relax him for the night.

in all honesty, he was avoiding you. something weird was happening, where everytime you grazed him with your soft skin, every look you gave him with those sparkling eyes, all of it, all of you, were starting to make him feel off. as though he wanted to protect you, but also ruin you.

you’re just so delicate, everything about you is the complete opposite of him, kind, loving, gentle, sweet, something about it made him so… possessive of you.

he didn’t know when this actually started to appear, he just knew that the last time you spoke to him in class got him sweating buckets to the point where even fucking shoto (the most socially inept) realised something was off with him.

so, here he was, blowing you off and ignoring your texts to come here. alone. how fucking fun.

katsuki’s carmine eyes whisked through the crowd, trying to find someone who will help him forget all of his woe’s about you and whatever this weird feeling that was bubbling inside of him, until they landed on…you.

well, yes you, but it wasn’t like he knew it was you since you looked completely different.

you were perfect, outfit way too tight and body way too perfect. you looked down right sexy, practically like a succubus waiting to suck his soul but one that had some form of gentleness to you.

regardless, he wasn’t exactly waiting to figure you out, he just needed a quick fuck for the night to get his stress out.

and so, he began to do his signature party trick, the bump and surprise.

he began walking straight towards you, making sure that his gaze was not fixated on you but directly past you until he bumped into you from behind, causing a cute little gasp to leave your lips.

‘reminds me of yn.’ he thought to himself for a split second, quickly trying to rid himself of that thought, of you.

“huh, you bumped into me.” katsuki scoffed, pretending not to be completely flustered as you faced him because damn you looked sexier up close.

those eyes though, felt familiar, they seem to sparkle innocently as he looked at you.

“no, you bumped into me?” you responded softly despite the loud bass of the music almost drowning you out, yet his ear was trained to listen to you.

“guess i need your number so that we can sort this out later.” katsuki smirked, fishing his phone out of his pocket and handing it to you.

“you already have my number, remember? especially since you’re kinda blowing me off right now.” you pouted slightly as you sighed.

“wait, have we fucked before?” katsuki’s answered back confusingly, glancing between all the people he was blowing off right now on his phone and your face.

“what, no?! bakugou, do you not recognise me?” you scoffed.

“um, no?” katsuki gruffed out, tired of all these games. he just wanted to take you to his bed, set you down on the bed and ravage you.

“it’s me, y/n l/n?” you responded sassily, your hands on your hip as you rolled your eyes.

katsuki’s eyes widened, how, in any single universe did he approach you out of every single girl at this fucking function?

you didn’t look anything like you did in school, you were all dolled up, wore something that showed your figure and something that made you look so… fuckable.

not to say that you in school isn’t already a pretty little thing in katsuki’s eyes, but this party-look painted you in a whole different light that was intoxicating to him, dangerous even.

“there’s no way in hell, out of every girl i could’ve approached, it was.. you.” he spoke slowly.

“don’t make it sound like it’s such a terrible thing.” you cutely looked to the side, your face slightly falling.

fuck, even when you were upset you were cute as hell.

‘what the fuck is wrong with me?’ katsuki thought frustratingly.

you kept invading his mind, etched into his soul and locked into his heart. nothing ever overshadowed his constant thoughts of you and no matter how much he tried to look at other people, flirt with others and get into bed with them, he truly couldn’t because every single time, his heart would come back to you.

he fucking hated it.

but, more so, he was scared of it and thus, scared of you.

not like he would ever admit that, he’s katsuki fucking bakugou for crying out loud.

“are you ok?” you asked him.

“i.. don’t fucking know. why are you everywhere, yn? i keep.. seeing you and thinking of you.” katsuki responded, his blush intensifying.

“what.. are you trying to say bakugou?” you looked confused.

“call me katsuki.” katsuki looked to the side, his face almost completely red now.

“ok, katsuki, what are you trying to say?” you asked once more.

ok, that was a mistake, if katsuki was flustered before, now he was completely ruined hearing his first name leave your pretty lips.

“i.. don’t know. it’s valentine’s day or whatever and for some reason the universe brought us together right now so, take a fucking guess.” katsuki scoffed.

“you want me?” you said excitedly, smiling widely as your once unattainable crush seemed to finally feel within your reach.

“depends on what your answer, damn it, katsuki bakugou does not get rejected.” his confidence was now increasing as he saw how elated you were at the prospect of being with him.

“only if you ask me properly.” you teased.

“fucks sake, ok, yn l/n, these past few project meetings had me feeling a type of way i never knew i could feel. you’re gorgeous, and i think now i realise that you aren’t only cute but sexy as fuck. not just that though, you’re kind, you’re smart, you have a hell of a lot of resilience and will power, all in all, you are the dream person for me. so, will you like, be my fucking valetines or something?” katsuki smirked

“yes!” you squealed, running to wrap your arms around his extremely toned torso.

katsuki was slightly surprised, of course he had been touched before - a hell of a lot of times actually - but, this hug you gave him just felt different. a lot more personal and intimate, oddly enough, he loved it all the same.

“you smell so good.” you sighed, immediately pausing as embarrassment flushes your entire being.

“is that so? wanna see how good i smell without these clothes on?” katsuki smirked.

“we just got together! also, i need you to promise me something.” you rolled your eyes yet your tone changed to something more sincere.

“yeah?”

“that you’ll stop with kissing all these other girls.” you sighed.

“kissing- honey, i do a lot more than kiss-“

“don’t wanna hear it! just want you to promise me you’ll stop.” you put your palm up to signify that you wanted him to stop.

“i promise.” katsuki replied, looking straight into your eyes, all that the present was warmth, kindness and love.

katsuki was new to this but he would definitely try, anything for you.

[ao3-deviance]

(After MUCH waiting, I present Part 2 of this Hair Care ficlet)

(Also on Ao3 now)

Kirishima was sitting on the floor of his bedroom, reading over one of the conditioners Bakugou had gotten him, when the blond knocked twice before coming in without waiting for a response. It was seven in the morning. 

"You're up. Good." Bakugou nodded. Kirishima smiled sheepishly. He didn't necessarily make a habit of sleeping in, but compared to Bakugou--who woke up at five every day to go running--he guessed he slept in kind of late usually. He'd tried to wake up earlier today, knowing the blond would want to start early. 

"Did you wash your hair yesterday?" Bakugou asked, coming over and sitting across from him, pulling the bleaching kit over for him to read over. 

Kirishima blinked. "Yes?" He said unsurely. 

Bakugou glanced up, frowning. "Shit. I forgot to say yesterday. It's better to not wash it a couple days before you bleach it, helps build up oils so the bleach doesn't irritate your scalp as much." 

"Really?"

Bakugou nodded, looking down at the kit again with a frown. 

"I don't really want to wait until next weekend though," Kirishima frowned. "Can we still do it anyways? I won't wash it before next time. It doesn't usually bother me too much anyways unless I leave it on too long."

"Don't ever leave it on longer than the box says, idiot," Bakugou grumbled, rolling his eyes. "But fine, it's your head. Come on, let's get this started. How many times do you bleach it normally?" He grabbed the bowl Kirishima had put beside the stuff to start mixing, nodding at some of the other supplies as he pulled on some gloves. 

"At least two," Kirishima admitted sheepishly. He hated taking up Bakugou's whole free day with this, although the blond didn't react beyond a nod.

"Alright. Put the towel around your shoulders. I'll part your hair in a second." 

Kirishima did, sitting and watching the blond work at getting the bleach ready. It was a little strange but mostly the silence was comfortable. Bakugou gestured for him to turn around, sitting behind him. Kirishima felt hyper-aware of him as Bakugou grabbed his brush. 

Kirishima's mom used to brush his hair all the time, though it had been sometime now. He liked having other people play with his hair. And this was Bakugou. He leaned back into the touch after the first pass of the brush through his hair, slumping his shoulders.

Bakugou was efficient but Kirishima noticed he was also careful, easily getting the few tangles out of his hair without pulling. Then he parted his hair into four sections, tapping Kirishima's shoulder for the other to offer up his hair clips one at a time. He smiled softly to himself. It was nice, working together like this without having to speak. Just like when they fought together as a team. Coupled with the early morning, the quiet of the dorm, the steadiness of Bakugou's movements...Kirishima hummed lowly, closing his eyes and just following the other's silent direction. 

Kirishima had opened his balcony door earlier since he knew the bleach smell was strong, and the breeze it brought in was nice as he felt the first touch of the wet brush to his hair. He tried to sit still, feeling the familiar tingling in his scalp. He would have to remember next time what Bakugou had said about not washing his hair a day or two before. The blond really knew everything, it seemed.   

It felt like it took no time for Bakugou to finish applying the bleach. Much quicker than Kirishima when he tried to do it himself, but then, he was always having to check in the mirror and twist all kinds of ways to make sure he got all the spots. It probably would go quicker with Bakugou's help, actually. He grinned. Maybe they could spar this afternoon after all. 

"Thirty minutes," Bakugou said, his voice almost startling Kirishima since they'd been so quiet. He turned around to see Bakugou discarding the gloves and setting a timer on his phone. "Then we can do the next coat after you wash that off." He smirked. "Heh, going to be weird to see you as a blond." 

Kirishima blushed. "Man, blond really isn't my color. Suits you better." He grinned. "Hey, ever think about dying your hair? Coloring your hair would be super easy. You could do, like, orange tips or something, like an explosion!"

Bakugou opened his mouth, face growing redder, before he closed it again. "I'm not dying my hair," he finally spoke, sounding strained. 

"Awe, but it'd be super cool, man," Kirishima tried, not really thinking he'd get the other to agree. "Or what about red tips?" He was surprised though by the lack of an immediate 'no.' He looked up to see Bakugou biting his lip, refusing to meet his gaze. 

"Let's just finish your hair, hair for brains," Bakugou shifted, eyes landing on Kirishima's laptop. "Let's watch something, kill the time."

"Sure, sure," Kirishima agreed. 

They existed comfortably within their rhythm. Kirishima went to wash out the first coat once the timer went off and by the time he returned Bakugou was already ready with some gloves and the bleach again. Honestly they were going much faster than Kirishima had ever managed, but even more so, Kirishima appreciated just having some time with his best friend. 

With the second bleaching, his hair got lighter, and then it was time to apply the red dye. 

“No, not yet,” Bakugou said as Kirishima reached for the box of dye to hand to him. “Purple shampoo first.” He handed Kirishima a bottle. 

Kirishima blinked down at it. “Purple shampoo? What does that do?” 

“Neutralizes the yellow tone. Helps the color. Just trust me.”

“Aye, aye!” Kirishima agreed easily, teasing. Bakugou rolled his eyes, but he had a fond look on his face and Kirishima's heart squeezed. 

After the purple shampoo was used, then it was time for the dye. 

“Okay,” Bakugou said, reading the box. “Maybe with the purple shampoo, you'll only need one application, but we'll see.”

“Can't believe how fast we're managing this,” Kirishima said as Bakugou started to separate his hair. His eyes closed and he titled his head back a little into the blond's touch. “Usually takes me forever just to get through the bleaching.” 

“I'll bet,” Bakugou muttered around a hair clip between his teeth. “Surprised you never miss a spot.”

“I do sometimes,” Kirishima admitted. “That's part of what takes so long. I'll think I'm done and then have missing pieces I have to fix.”

“Ugh.” Bakugou's nose scrunched in distaste. “That sounds irritating. Just let me help you. Fucking stupid to waste the whole day on this shit.” 

Kirishima smiled, tilting his head up even more so he could catch Bakugou's eyes. “Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.”

Bakugou grunted, not directly responding, but Kirishima didn't need him to. He closed his eyes, feeling Bakugou applying the dye methodically. He hummed to himself, an age-old theme song to some hero cartoon he used to watch as a kid, and he smiled when he heard Bakugou humming the back up vocals but still didn't open his eyes. 

You're welcome. I appreciate you. You are cared for, Bakugou's actions said without words. Kirishima soaked up Bakugou’s care as much as his hair soaked up the dye. 

Once the dye was done, Kirishima turned around to see a couple foil pieces in Bakugou’s hair in the front. 

“Oh? Are you really dying your hair?” Kirishima asked, surprised. He didn’t even know when Bakugou had had a chance to do that. 

“Just the front couple pieces,” Bakugou said, face a little red, and he refused to meet Kirishima’s gaze. 

“Nice! I’m excited to see it; I’m sure you’ll look awesome!” 

Bakugou grumbled to himself but didn’t argue, instead turning back on the show they were watching and sitting with his arms crossed. Kirishima grinned to himself, brushing against the other as they balanced the laptop between them. 

Spar or not, it was a good day.

Hair Care, Pt. 1

Kirishima combed his fingers through his hair, turning his head side to side and sighing at the black roots. He needed to redo it again. He dropped his hands to the counter, grabbing his headband to push his hair back and cover his roots. He'd run to the store after classes and get some more dye. It wasn't the quickest process, especially since he had to bleach the black first, so he would basically have to spend his whole off day from school doing it.

He took the teasing about being late and not having his hair styled with a shrug and a smile. Everyone was good natured about it and he just claimed to have woke up too late to style it, wearing the headband to keep it out of his face. He was sure most of the class could probably guess that he dyed his hair, but he still enjoyed the illusion, like maybe he was actually brave and not just pretending by slapping on color from a box.

"Oi, Shitty Hair," Bakugou called out as usual as they were dismissed from class.

Kirishima couldn't hold back a grimace. Bakugou always called him that, but on days like this, it tended to hit a little too close to heart. He managed a slightly strained smile.

"Hey, man. What's up?"

"Let's spar tomorrow. We've got an off day so we can use the gym all afternoon."

Kirishima frowned. "Ah, sorry. I can't tomorrow."

Bakugou's brow scrunched. "You got plans already?"

"I mean, kind of?" Kirishima winced. "Not exactly fun plans, just a chore I got to do. It'll take a couple hours at least."

Bakugou sighed longsufferingly. "Fine, what is it? I can help and it'll go faster. Then we can spar."

"Um." Kirishima hesitated. "It's not...really something the amount of people can change how fast it goes."

Bakugou scowled, turning away. "Fucking whatever, okay, if you didn't want to just say so." He started to stomp off with his shoulders high, tense. Shit, he'd hurt his feelings.

"No, wait, I do want to!" Kirishima called out, snatching his bag and rushing after him. "It's just," he exhaled. "It's my hair, alright? I've got to dye it again, my roots are growing out," he admitted, kicking his feet against the ground. "Not exactly something fun though. Or something worth bragging about."

Bakugou cut his eyes at him from the side. He seemed contemplative now instead of mad. Kirishima startled when he suddenly reached out, fingers grabbing a lock of Kirishima's hair and rubbed it between his fingers.

"That's why your hair's shitty," he said.

Kirishima flinched this time, looking away and feeling a bit of a burn in his eyes he tried to ignore. He grabbed his arm with his opposite hand, slumping. Yeah, he knew Bakugou had rude nicknames for everyone, but he hadn't thought Bakugou meant it when he called him Shitty Hair.

"Fuck, no, that's not--" Bakugou blurted out quickly. Kirishima peeked at him to see the blond actually looking a little flustered. "My mom knows all this shit about hair and I kind of picked some of it up on accident. Your hair's dry from the bleaching and the dye. You don't use the right conditioner. That's what I meant."

Kirishima blinked. That was the most he'd ever heard Bakugou say at one time without yelling.

"Let me help," Bakugou asked. Then he scowled. "No. No choice. I'm helping you," he stated, turning and grabbing Kirishima's wrist to tug him forward. Kirishima helplessly followed.

His mom and dad hadn't had any experience with hair dye so Kirishima had just had Google and the box instructions to follow. He wasn't against getting some advice from someone who knew what they were doing though. He had noticed his hair was dryer and more brittle, he just hadn't known there was an option to fix that without stopping dyeing his hair.

At the store, Bakugou stalked to the hair section, scanning the boxes. "What do you usually get?"

Kirishima pointed to one of the boxes on the bottom shelf, fire engine red.

"You can't just use any shit" Bakugou tsked, as he looked at the back of the box. "This one's fucking awful. Never use permanent dye, that's why you get roots so bad. Use semi permanent. You have to redye it either way, but this way it'll fade more evenly and be less noticeable, just might be darker overall if black's your natural," Bakugou explained, grabbing a different dye and shoving it in Kirishima's arms. He didn't say anything about the hair bleach Kirishima grabbed, so he guessed that wasn't bad. He turned to the register.

"The fuck you going?" Bakugou called out, further down the aisle.

Kirishima held up the two boxes. "To buy these? We're done, right?"

Bakugou's eyes bugged and he sputtered. "That's it?" He stressed. "What about oil? Leave in conditioner? Treated shampoo?"

Kirishima blinked, tilting his head just a little. "What?"

Bakugou groaned. "This is why your hair is so dry, damn." He dragged Kirishima down the aisle to some hair oils. "You at least need coconut oil. Argon is good too."

"Okay," Kirishima said slowly. Bakugou looked over them quickly before grabbing a green bottle of coconut oil.

"Leave in conditioner helps too," Bakugou explained. "Some of them can even help your dye last longer." He grabbed another. "Please tell me you at least use shampoo for dyed hair."

"Of course!" Kirishima defended, pointing the brand he usually got.

Bakugou looked apocalyptic. "2-in-1 shampoo?!" He practically screeched.

Kirishima winced. "I thought that was good? Extra hydration?"

"I'm exploding that when we get back," Bakugou informed him, grabbing a different bottle. He grabbed another conditioner as well.

"I need two conditioners?" Kirishima asked as he followed him to the register.

"One for in the shower to wash out, one's leave in," Bakugou said gruffly, grabbing the boxes from Kirishima and throwing them all on the belt. Kirishima was getting out his wallet when he realized Bakugou was paying.

"Hey, wait! It's for me, dude, I can pay!"

"It's a lot of extra shit you don't usually get, I'll get them this time," Bakugou said, accepting his change. He smirked. "Once you see the difference, you'll see why it's worth it."

"I'm kind of starting to think you like doing this kind of stuff," Kirishima said as they headed back.

"You need to take of your hair. It's part of your image as a hero." Bakugou said, and Kirishima could see a bit of a blush cross his face. "You're also apparently a dumbass."

Kirishima laughed. "I appreciate it, Bakugou."

"Whatever. We'll get started tomorrow morning. Should be done by lunch."

"Thanks!"

.....

(To Be Continued)

[diazsdimples]

Fuck It Friday

Hi! In the light of the new stuff for 8x09, I've decided now is the time to share a bit of my Buck Adopts A Puppy fic I've been writing since early last week. It was meant to be a secret and I was just gonna post it but now I simply must share some. Pls enjoy!

2 weeks after Eddie leaves, Buck gets a puppy. This hadn’t been the plan. Nowhere had he written down: “2024 resolutions: get dumped by boyfriend, abandoned by best friend, become depressed and adopt a puppy.” It wasn’t on his to-do list at all. It was just… everyone left him, right? Tommy left. Eddie left. God, even before that, people were leaving – Abby, Ali, Taylor, his parents, the list goes on. And there’s only so much abandonment a man in his early 30’s can take before he snaps and makes a rash decision. A decision such as ambling down to the nearest shelter and gazing wistfully at the puppies whilst wishing gosh, if only I could have one of these little creatures. They wouldn’t abandon me. And then he’d realised that he’s an adult with autonomy, and there’s not really anyone left to tell him no. No more Jiminy Crickets left on his shoulder. Which is how Buck finds himself standing in the middle of a dog shelter, surrounded by the cutest puppies he’s ever seen, and the overwhelming feeling that he’s about to make one hell of a Choice. “You getting a puppy for your family?” the nice volunteer asks as Buck stands, wide-eyed and slightly overwhelmed, in a throng of puppies. “Uh, you could say that.” He crouches and holds his hand out to a small ratty looking thing that tentatively sniffs him before scarpering, hiding behind a crate. The volunteer gives him a quizzical look but doesn’t push him any further, instead giving him the time to get to know the puppies. There’s about 10 of them, all different breeds and sizes. If Buck’s honest, he’s got no idea what he’s looking for, and he says as much to the volunteer. “Well, I guess it depends on what kind of personality you like. There’s dogs here that’ll be more laid back, some that’ll be super high maintenance, others that are really smart. What kind of house are you in?” Buck lifts a small rottweiler looking puppy into his arms and lets it lick his fingers. “I’m in an apartment but I’m looking to move soon – get some more space. Definitely somewhere with a backyard.” Not that he’ll tell anyone, but he’s secretly eyeing up Eddie’s house. It’s completely empty now that Eddie’s gone and is deciding what to do with it, and Buck is pretty confident he can convince Eddie to rent it to him for a reasonable price. He just needs to – ya know – initiate that conversation first.

np tagging @hippolotamus @daffi-990 @thekristen999 @spotsandsocks @bigfootsmom

@bidisasterevankinard @wikiangela @theotherbuckley @whatwouldeddiedo @cal-daisies-and-briars

@bekkachaos @monsterrae1 @steadfastsaturnsrings @iluvyoubuddy @midsummersmorn

@tommysdaddykink @comfortingevanbuckley @eddiebabygirldiaz @exhuastedpigeon @aroeddiediaz

@inell @wildlife4life @tommykinard @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @bucksbignaturals

@jesuisici33 @rainbow-nerdss @watchyourbuck @bi-buckrights

[w2soneshots]

Hiya could you do a w2s one shot where reader tends to get anxious in big crowds so like a sidemen party situation, and as a way to indicate that to harry, they either link their pinky with his or brush his hand so he can take them outside for some fresh air for a little while and prevent them getting overwhelmed??

I’ve got you -W2S

words: 1.3k+

warnings: angst, protective harry, talk of anxiety, alcohol consumption, the boys are cuties.

summary: you and Harry go on a night out with the sidemen and the side girls to celebrate you buying a house, though it doesn’t go exactly how you thought it would.

notes: hi! I combined this with another request that’s a little more of him being protective (🤭), hope you don’t mind🫶🏼. Who doesn’t love a bit of angsty comfort, hehe. Enjoy!!🥂✨ (this is also written in second person because I’ve decided -155 fics deep- that I like it more😅)

"Almost ready to go love?" Your long term boyfriend, Harry, asked after popping his head into one of your spare rooms, that you newly converted into your dressing room, the other being his office.

"Yup," You responded with a soft smile, "I'm just gonna pick out some shoes. I'll be two seconds." He nodded before replying, "Oki dokie!" Then he swiftly heading downstairs.

The sound of you coming down the steps filled the house just a few minutes later. "Gosh, we really need to get some more furniture, everything echoes," Harry noted as you joined him in the kitchen.

You'd made the step of moving into your own home together just two weeks ago. Though it felt like no time at all. After spending years living with the two Cals you collectively decided that you were ready and it made sense since you'd been together for so many years.

"Agreed, though we don't really need to rush. Let's make it really... us." You had the basic stuff but no real decoration, meaning it felt a little bit empty.

Tonight you're going out with the usual sidemen group. The girls organised a little 'congrats on buying a house' party -which was kinda just an excuse to meet up and have some fun- and since the sidemen's schedule was so busy you were all only just getting around to it.

You decided to be the designated driver for tonight since you couldn't really be arsed with the whole 'getting leathered' thing, even though the night out was technically for you and Harry. Which meant Harry could drink as much as he'd like, though he wouldn't, because he never did when he was with you... just in case.

"Everything okay?" Harry asked softly as you drove, a concerned expression covering his features as his hand made its way to your thigh. "Hm? Yeah. Just... just a little anxious- and don't ask me why because I don't know," you replied, eyes flickering from him and then back to the road.

"Okay," he replied calmly then turned on the playlist that he made you for your birthday last year. You giggled and any worries floated away, as the music distracted you completely. He always knew what you needed.

Just a few minutes later you arrived outside of the club. You parked the car around back and then walked hand in hand towards the entrance.

"Gosh, it's loud as fuck in here!" You had to push yourself onto your tiptoes and yell into Harry's ear for him to hear you over the booming music. He agreed with a look of annoyance and a firm nod.

"Hi!" Talia shrieked when she spotted you, instantly pulling you into a hug. "You smell incredible," you complemented as you parted. "Simon got me... god, what's it called! I don't know, anyway, a new perfume for my birthday. I love it," she replied before ushering you over to the table, leaving Harry with the boys.

As Faith was showing you the pictures she'd taken of Olive -her face covered in orange pasta sauce- just before she left, Harry came over. "You alright sweetheart?" He asked, already a few beers deep and clearly not bothered about the girls surprised looks over the nickname (that he only uses behind closed doors).

"Yeah, thanks babe," you replied reassuringly. "Okay, I'm just over there if you need me." He pointed to the bar where Simon and Ethan were sat, laughing so hard they were close to spilling the drinks in their hands. You nodded slowly and sat watching as he waited a moment before reluctantly leaving.

"That boy loves you y/n," Faith said into your ear. You couldn't help but smile. He really did, and you loved him just as much.

An hour or two later the groups had merged and were now all sat around the long table, one side a cushioned booth, the other chairs, though the boys sat laughing at one end while the girls listened to Freya's captivating gossip at the other.

"I'm just gonna go to the bathroom," you whispered to Talia, who sat next to you, you took a sip of your -nonalcoholic- drink before sliding out of the booth. Unbeknownst to you, your boyfriend was carefully watching as you weaved through the crowd of sweaty, dancing individuals.

Just before you got to the toilets you felt a hand grab your arm from behind. You turned quickly and your stomach dropped. At first you assumed it was a fan. They'd sometimes get a little too close for comfort when they were drunk. Though you weren't sure this was the case.

A tall-ish man stood in front of you, he had a scraggly beard and smelt like cigarettes. "Hello dear, would you like to come home with me?" He babbled drunkenly, reaching his hand out to touch your waist. "Uh-" before you could form a response or move a loud "excuse me mate!" Was heard behind him before the guy was firmly pushed aside, making him groan as he stumbled into a table.

Your eyes widened in shock, then your heart began to race. The room started to spin and your vision- "hey," Harry's soft, soothing voice filled your ears. You scrambled to grab his pinky finger, something you'd started to subconsciously do whenever you were feeling overwhelmed and needed out of a situation.

He glanced down and then snapped into action "It's okay, I've got you. Let's go get some air." He put his arm around you and lead you outside. All the while the boys were stood around the creep, JJ shouting something inaudible -but definitely not kind- at him.

You let out a breath you didn't realise you were holding in when the cool London air hit your skin. Harry waited patiently for you to say something, his hand still on your shoulder.

"Considering you hate confrontation, that was impressive," you finally said. He chuckled, feeling instantly relieved that you seemed alright. "I don't know where it came from. He was a weirdo and when he tried to touch you-" "I know," you interrupted him, voice hushed, "thank you."

Ethan had gotten security and the guy was escorted out. You didn't want some idiot to ruin your fun night out with your friends so you decided to rejoin the group.

"You good?" Tobi asked kindly as you and Harry re-approached the table. You nodded with a smile. Though you were still a little bit shaken up you knew you were fine and Harry's hand -that was gently rubbing circles on your hip- was reassuring you.

The rest of the night was spent laughing and drinking, meaning the prior events were soon forgotten. You and Harry were one of the first to call it a night. You thanked the girls for organising everything and said your goodbyes to the boys.

Harry had always been a heavyweight so he didn't really seem very drunk at all. You both hopped into the car and enjoyed the comfortable silence during the drive home. After being in a loud club, talking to your friends all night, your social batteries were drained.

Within half an hour of getting home you'd both gotten unready, taken quick showers and climbed into bed. You let out a tired sigh as Harry wrapped his arms around you, your head snuggled into his chest.

"I feel we can never just enjoy events. It's like I always ruin everything," you said quietly, opening your mind and telling him your thoughts. He shifted so that he could look at your face.

"You don't ruin anything," he replied surely, "I hate going places without you, I need you with me. It's so normal to be anxious love." His fingers rand up and down your side slowly.

You smiled up at him, tears lining your lash line. "I love you," you whispered -so quietly you weren't sure if he'd even heard- after digging your head into his neck. He placed a kiss to the top of your head. "I love you too."

[artstennisracket]

HEEEAARRR ME OUTTT

size queen! art donaldson

oh anon I hear you LOUD and CLEAR. this was easy because Patrick does have a big dick (Tashi confirmed). i had so much fun writing this so I hope you have fun reading :)

cw: big dick energy LMAO, throat training of sorts, dirty talk

Art could describe his sex life in a lot of ways. Fun is the first word that comes to mind, but lately it’s been more like…boring.

Ever since him and Patrick starting hooking up last semester, Art has realized that when Patrick’s on tour, Art tries to fill the Patrick shaped hole in his life with meaningless hookups. And at first that was fun.

Sleeping with different guys and girls, hooking up at parties, drinking, smoking, all that fun stuff. But lately Art’s been feeling less and less fulfilled, specifically with his guy hookups. He couldn’t quite put his finger on why.

Until last night when he was hooking up with this guy (Taylor or Tanner? he can’t remember) in his dorm. Once the guy had pushed in and bottomed out, Art felt underwhelmed. It wasn’t that Taylor/Tanner had a small dick, maybe it just wasn’t big enough.

Long after Art had kicked Taylor/Tanner out of his room for the night, he gets a text from Patrick at 1am, gonna be there tomorrow, can i crash at yours?

Art has a smile on his face as he texts back, and what if I said no

p: then id say i will fuck that attitude right out of you

a: in your dreams old man

p: that’s not what you said last time, it was more along the lines of “fuck me please don’t stop”while you moaned like a girl

a: whatever 😒

Art shuts his phone off going to lay down for the night and that’s when it hit him. Sex has been boring lately with men specifically because no one’s dick is as big as Patrick’s. Art tried not be a size queen and give everyone a fair shot but he definitely preferred dicks on the bigger end of the spectrum. Patrick was the biggest dick he has ever been with and he’s not mad at that fact. Nothing really compares to the feeling of being split in half on Patrick’s cock.

He quite enjoys the burn and stretch he feels when Patrick pushes into him for the first time. Or the inescapable gagging and choking when Patrick fucks his mouth, forcing Art to deep throat. But he can never fit it all in his mouth anyway. Patrick’s dick was long but also very girthy. Fuck.

Art can feel his own dick peaking interest from his line of thinking. He tries to focus on something else so he can go to sleep so tomorrow can come faster and then Patrick can fuck him properly.

…

When Art gets back to his dorm later the next day he finds Patrick already inside seated on his bed, wearing only boxers and a t-shirt.

“how did you—?” Art questions dropping his backpack in the floor by his desk.

Patrick smirks as he shrugs, “i have my ways”

Honestly Art doesn’t even care how he got in but he’s happy he’s here. Art wastes no time going to straddle Patrick’s lap, pulling Patrick into a heated make out session.

Art can feel Patrick’s growing interest underneath him (literally) and grinds down on Patrick. Patrick sneaks his hand into the back of Art’s shorts, slowly pushing his finger into Art’s hole.

“ah—missed you, missed this,” Art mumbles into Patrick’s mouth.

Patrick adds another finger, pulling away from the kiss so he can watch Art grind desperately on his fingers. Fuck, he’s so fucking hot. “stanford boys not doing it for you?” He smirks.

Art shakes his head no, “no, fuck, not even close.”

“why don’t you show me just how much you missed my cock baby,” Patrick responds pulling his fingers out.

Art smiles climbing off of Patrick’s. He goes to lay down on his back, with his head hanging off the side of the bed.

Patrick raises an eyebrow. He smirks as he stands up, “is that what you want?”

Art bites his lip looking at Patrick as best he could from his position before he says, “you already know the answer to that question.”

Patrick glides his tip against Art’s lips smearing his pre-cum, “dirty, dirty boy.”

Art sticks his tongue out to lap up the rest of the pre-cum on Patrick’s tip before he opens his mouth up to let Patrick in.

Patrick takes his time pressing deep into Art’s throat, watching Art’s throat bulge, “fuck” Patrick whispers under his breath before he starts fucking Art’s throat.

Art tries to keep his throat relaxed because he wants to see if he can take more of Patrick than he did last time, but once Patrick starts thrusting down his throat all bets are off.

Patrick moans, “there you go, taking me so well baby fuck.”

Between all the noises Art’s making choking on his cock, his balls slapping against Art’s face, and watching his cock go in and out of Art’s mouth Patrick can feel himself getting close so he pulls out.

Art sits up, swallowing all the spit that’s accumulated in his mouth. He wipes his mouth on the back of his hand before he starts shedding the rest of his clothes, “need you to fuck me, please”

Patrick takes off the rest of clothes before he lays Art on his back, positioning himself between Art’s legs, “how bad do you need it? tell me,” Patrick smirks before leaning down to kiss up Art’s neck.

Art knows that Patrick just wanted him to feed into his ego but Art was too horny to care at this point. “need you to fuck me so bad, want you to split me open on your cock,” Art whines.

Patrick lines himself up with Art’s hole, teasingly tapping his cock against it, “yeah? missed my big cock stretching out your tight hole?”

Art nods. He’s growing impatient, “yes so can you please just do what you said you would do and fuck—”

Art is cut off by Patrick shoving himself in and bottoming out. Art lets out an egregious moan, just short of a scream, “ah ah- yes fuck please, need your fat cock yes”

Patrick picks up the pace of his thrusts, drilling into Art, “these stanford boys weren’t fucking you properly hm?” Art shakes his head no because Patrick is right, none of them seemed to satisfy him the way that Patrick does.

Patrick smirks, “they dont know how much a greedy cockslut you are, just want the biggest dick possible huh?”

Art nods again moving his hand down to start stroking his own cock.

“tell me how much you love my cock baby,” Patrick grunts out, making sure to punctuate every other word with a particularly hard thrust.

Art is rambling at this point. He’s so close and Patrick knows it too, “i fucking love your cock so much fuck, think about it all the time, everyday, just want you to fuck me all the time, fills me up good, nobody fucks me as good as you- oh fuck i’m gonna cum.” Art spills over his fist and his tummy.

Patrick grabs Art’s hips and starts thrusting faster before he spills inside of him. Hearing Art say all those things really got him going but he wondered if it was true.

He pulls out and grabs a rag to clean them both up. “did you mean what you said?” Patrick questions lying down next to Art on his bed.

Art half smiles letting out a breath, “maybe I did, maybe I didn’t.” He shrugs, he wasn’t going to feed into Patrick’s ego anymore, he already got what he wanted (to be fucked).

Patrick scoffs shoving Art playfully, “so you’re saying I’m not the biggest dick you’ve been with?”

Art rolls his eyes. He knows Patrick won’t let this go without an answer. “are you the biggest dick Tashi’s ever been with?” He smirks.

Patrick smiles letting out a chuckle, “i think so yeah.” Tashi’s actually only ever slept with one other person besides Patrick and that was the guy who took her virginity. He’s almost 100% sure that his dick is bigger than that other guy, I mean his dick is bigger than 95% of the population.

Art starts to close his eyes, getting ready to take a nap, “well then there’s your answer.”

[rickenhalesbookclub4innies]

The way Irving and Dylan parallel Petey and Mark though. Mark and Petey were best friends. Irving and Dylan were best friends. Both Petey and Irving were both covertly working with people on the outside against Lumon’s interests and trying to get knowledge to their innies (Petey by reintegration, Irving by subliminal messages). They were both fired abruptly, which they’d both anticipated. They both prepared for this by hiding maps/directions for Mark/Dylan in places on the severed floor they knew they’d find them. Dylan didn’t help Irving early enough and wished he’d have listened to him about the exports hall and about Helly. Mark waited before going to the address Petey gave his outie then ignored dozens and dozens of calls to Petey’s phone he’d stashed in Mark’s basement for a long time after he died before taking any action. Dylan watched from a distance as Irving died symbolically. Mark watched from a distance as Petey died literally.

Even in the two MDR group photos:

Irving and Dylan stand where Petey and Mark had been in the old one:

Which gives me so so so much hope for things going more successfully than they did for Petey and Mark (especially innie Mark) this time around. There’s a ton of opposite parallels here; some by luck, some from Irving’s meticulous planning ahead, some from Dylan refusing to handle things like Mark did. But poor Innie Mark got no heads up. Petey, one of the three people he spent every day of his entire life with and his best friend, was just gone one day with zero warning—he’s no longer with this company; congrats on the promotion, you may request a handshake, no further questions. The one time Mark actually tried to acknowledge his own feelings about Petey being gone and possibly dead he was silenced and told to be grateful he’d never get to go outside.

Dylan got what closure he could. He screamed an apology down to Irving. He saw why he was fired. He knew. He demanded a funeral, he gave the eulogy, and refused to let Milchick pretend Irv’s firing was anything but the execution that it was. Dylan isn’t gonna tear up the directions like Mark did the map—he’s better prepared to keep moving forward without Irving.

My hope for the next parallel is that since Petey found Mark outside of Lumon that Irving and Dylan will find each other again. I need their outies to be besties too. I need Gretchen and Dylan to go over for awkward af ham dinners with Irving and the Goodmans. I need Dylan and Irving doing anti Lumon stuff together.

[dduane]

I read a lot to my mum (mostly fanfic, but also novels), since we birth enjoy it. And our current pick is Spock‘s World (which I already read SO OFTEN, because I love it), and we are having a ton of fun. Still at the very beginning, but the details about how Starfleet works here, the tech, the politics… Damn, it’s great. And just - the Vulcan chapters??? They live in my head rent free.

Usually I only get to leave comments like this with fanfic, but I remembered your tumblr, so - thank you very much from me AND my mother, we are having a great time with your work

You're very kind! Thank you. I'm glad the both of you are enjoying my stuff!

...Not least because I've frankly got a soft spot for that book, despite it causing me a lot of trouble. ...Though possibly also because it caused me a lot of trouble. I'm assuming you may have heard the story (full version here: tl:dr version follows) about how, while I was (I thought!) finishing it up a couple of weeks before its turn-in date, lightning struck a transformer in our little housing estate. The resultant voltage surge fried my computer and all the document backups then in its drive(s). I wound up having to rewrite about half of that book from memory—because there were no printouts of most of that material—and then write from scratch, and polish, the remaining 20K or so needed to complete the book. All in two weeks. (Because the pre-pub publicity for the book was in place, and the pub date was set in stone, with no wiggle room.)

So I got the book in under the wire... but my back's never been quite right since then. Sure, when the book came out it spent eight weeks on the NYT list... but the moral of our story remains: Never speed-rewrite a novel in a straight-backed chair. 😏 [ow, ow, ow, ow...]

Meanwhile, those Vulcan chapters: Those are probably my favorite parts too. It made my heart bleed when, due to length/timing issues, I had no choice but to exclude all of them for the audiobook.* However, at least I got to hear Leonard Nimoy reading the dialogue I wrote for him—and George Takei reading everything else. If somebody had traveled back in time and told sixteen-year-old me, then descending into full-on Trek fannishness, that some day Spock himself (and Mr. Sulu) would say things I told him to... I'd have passed out cold in amazement. Or dismissed it as delusion. (smh) What a world we live in.

Anyway: thanks for the nice words! And do enjoy the book. :)

*It does a bit more bleeding when I consider that had that production been happening now, the extra length wouldn't be considered an issue. But audiobooks were just getting started then, and no one wanted to spend more on them than necessary. (shrug) Just one of those things...

[doppel-doodles]

That illustration is making me want to slam my head against solid concrete, Art block said no, and I know when to pick my battles so fuck it we ball-

A normal post about Matthew Hallard from Poppy Playtime

I briefly mentioned this in the Jack post, the fact that I didn't think I had anything new or particularly interesting to say on Matthew as I always thought the Fandom had a lot of the bases covered.

But the more I actually thought about him, the more I wanted to talk about one thing in particular:

Let's talk about Doeys tape.

In game we find a vhs tape recorded by Doey, talking about how he almost ditched everyone in favor of running away, ultimately deciding to go back for them instead. It reveals a lot about how he truly feels about the responsibility that has been given to him.

I think it was so important to include this and the reason why is quite simple:

It humanises Matthew for me.

Why I point him out specifically is due to reasons I mentioned in my other analysis, Jack's control is mostly passive, Kevin only really comes to the forefront when he feels like there is a threat to assess or deal with and it has been confirmed that Matthew is the oldest of the children as well as having been a leader of sorts since he was still a human child, so in the tape it's basically him venting.

Which is great as it makes something crystal clear: He is not a perfect saint.

Matthew is a teenager who has been parentified from an incredibly young age, places immense pressure on himself, is suffering from more burnout than a college kid and not to mention the horror that is his current existence and life-

He doesn't WANT this responsibility, he only takes it on because nobody else will or can.

And nobody even thinks to ask him ONCE how HE is doing, no,no it's him who has to do that, he is not allowed to have breaks.

For godness sake he literally tells us in the tape that he is recording it because he feels like he can't talk to anyone about his problems!

The toys- The children having someone like Doey or more accurately Matthew is not a guarantee, it is a privilege but it's a privilege Matthew needs to!

And you rarely ever see kind characters COMPLAIN about having to be kind all the time, truly looking after everyone else drains you, it's exhausting to fulfill the needs of others, more often than not you'll have to put aside your own and when you really pull the shit end of the stick you get more complains then appreciation for your troubles.

It is such a CHORE and I think a character struggling with being so selfless actually can have such a massive impact instead of just being able to handle everything, it's that tiny bit of realism I love.

Despite how exhausted and miserable Matthew was over being stuck in this position in the end he turned back. Because he loves his friends that much, and he should get massive props for that.

And to think he still did so much but didn't think anything he did was good enough is just painful, like no honey you are enough, more than enough-

Also Poppy having once been the leader makes you think that maybe Matthew might have been hurt the most by her disappearing.

Like her leading was the closest thing to a break he ever got- and then she just up and disappears?? And it's all up to him now? Not to mention the concern? The worry??

Boy it speaks volumes that he doesn't seem to display more hostility towards her considering Poppy doesn't even EXPLAIN herself on why she left or why she couldn't come back.

He is even civil in discussing the fact that she demands for them to be okay with being blown up(also correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Poppy also include in her plan that SHE will get to live? If I heard that I would be flabbergasted.) But that's something I should discuss in another post.

For now that is everything I have about my boy, if you want to see what I have to say about other characters here is Kevin annnnnnd Jack, plus some extra stuff on Doey

[cyanbugremix]

Cyanbug's Redacted Audio Headcanons

(Some of these I might use/did use in fics, but others are just there)

1. Huxley had a bunny growing up. It was potty-trained and very curious about all the flowers his moms' and him would bring into the house. They had to keep the lilies locked away in a different room, to make sure the bunny didn't eat any of them.

2. Babe got a stick and poke tattoo of an outline of a wolf on the lower part of their thigh, as a teen. It wasn't the best, and it's pretty much faded now, but they remember how upset their mom was about it when she found out. They forgot that they couldn't wear shorts or else she'd see.

3. Babe also used to go explore abandoned buildings when they were younger. They mostly went to this one building that used to be an old gristmill, but stopped going there when the roof collapsed after a bad storm. They did it to escape to a place where it was quiet, but sometimes they'd bring a friend along to go exploring. They have a bunch of printed photos from those times.

4. Asher likes to joke with Darlin' that they should serenade Sam by playing "Your Man" by Josh Turner. (baby lock them doors and turn the lights down low-)

5. Smartass was in love with horses as a kid, and would ask for a horse/pony every birthday growing up (they never got one). But they used to collect horse figurines, and still have them in a box somewhere.

6. Asset's favorite board game as a kid was "Chutes and Ladders".

7. For a year or two, David was a social toddler, but at the end of preschool he started to get really shy (nobody really knew why). The only time he seemed to open up was when Asher was around, but was never as social as he once was.

8. Christian likes to go zip-lining and he and Amanda once went on a date to one of those zip-lining and ropes courses.

9. Amanda had braces as a kid, and in her early teens, but she got them off before she headed into high school. She preferred getting neon pink rubber bands.

10. Sam got the chicken pox as a kid (his Grandma mostly took care of him for that week or so when he was sick), and one of the first good things he realized after he got turned into a vampire was that at least he wouldn't have to worry about shingles (or vaccines in general) anymore.

11. Hush doesn't really care for cheese, but whenever Doc gets something that has gooey cheese, they'll let him do the first cheese pull since he likes seeing how far he can get it to stretch. So far he's managed 16 inches with cheesy bread sticks.

12. Aaron likes Neo-Expressionism art.

13. DAVID AND ANGEL GET A CAT. They originally were going to get one after their honeymoon, but then that didn't happen because life got busy again. David thought getting them a cat might be a good [insert holiday] gift, and the two of them could go pick out one at the humane society. But then one day David found a kitten on the street as he was walking by with Milo. The kitten just waddled right up to the two of them and actually seemed to like David. So he takes it home, especially because if Milo were to take it, Aggro would have a problem sharing his people (someone made a headcanon of that awhile ago and I AGREE. Aggro doesn't like to share. He wants to be the one and only best boy. I'll have to find it later. Shout out to whoever thought of it.) And voila. They have a cute little kitten now and are cat parents :D (I have a draft of this storyline, i just haven't finished it)

14. Treasure is really into bats and has been since they were a kid. Their family would always buy them bat stuff as a kid and into adulthood, so they have a lot bat themed things. They also have an old 3rd-grade informative essay, explaining different types of bats, hidden away in a folder. They wanted to be a zookeeper as a kid, specifically so they could take care of the fruit bat exhibit. Porter thought it was ironically funny when he first was invited to their home and the amount of things related to bats (and in correlation, vampires) that they owned.

15. Lovely plays the Sims A LOT (they like to build houses or other buildings the most).

[jiniretracha]

𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠? - 𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐱 (𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬)

pairing: lee felix x fem!reader

warnings: fluff, smut, angst!!!

summary: You worked at Kim Publishing, a place you could call home since the very start. But when it faced bankruptcy, your beloved company was forced to merge with Bang Editorials an evil empire with no vision on anything that Kim Publishing represented. And that's how you met your nemesis: Felix Lee. The bane of your existence. But everything fell into place like the pieces of a puzzle when your bosses had a marvellous idea: a new position as manager director, who had to submit their report in order to be chosen for the job. And your archenemy had the same purpose as you did: get that job one way or another.

word count: 3k

ps: I came with a new series totally and utterly inspired/based on The Hating Game. Pls feel free to let me know if you wanna be on this series taglist !

masterlist // series masterlist // ko-fi

𝐓𝐖𝐎 - 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞

The next day, you woke up with only one thing in your mind:

Revenge. 

And you had plotted the best way to do that during the hours you spent tossing and turning in bed after that weird dream you had of him. 

You grabbed your fanciest but sluttiest and at the same time your most professional dress you had in your wardrobe. It was black with a deep v-neck that accentuated your breasts but at the same time, it left something to the imagination. You didn’t want to be fired for showing way too much skin, that would be a little unprofessional. But you knew it did make people’s knees weak. 

If he was going to get inside your head, you were going to do the same thing to him. 

You put on the cuntiest pair of shoes you had, pointy and strappy heels, and slipped over your shoulder a designer bag you always kept just in case it needed to be used.

This was the perfect occasion for it. 

You spent thirty minutes doing the perfect makeup for your revenge plan. A slight dark eye shadow, you made a sharp cat eye with your eyeliner and you grabbed a sharp red lipstick to apply on your lips.

When you were done, you smirked at yourself in the mirror and sighed. 

You were so ready for it. 

You got inside the subway and smirked knowing that everyone there was looking at you. 

Once you found a seat, you had only one thing on your mind: 

You’re gonna wish you were dead, Felix Lee. 

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You walked into the office that day, feeling your most confident you’ve been in a while. You knew the plan had done its wonders, everyone was just staring at you and it made you feel so powerful. 

The moment you stepped into the elevator, the people in there for sure did a double take. They weren’t expecting you, out of all people, to be dressed like that. 

The elevator doors pinged and opened, letting you walk over to your desk with your chin up and your hips swaying a little. 

Felix lifted up his head once and when he went to look back down, he froze and looked up.

Bingo.

You smirked to yourself and bent over to put your stuff on the hanger. 

“Good morning” you said in a low, sexy voice.

Felix frowned, looking at you up and down. “Good morning” he said in a strained voice. “Got a hot date tonight?” he asked with a tight lipped smile.

You turned around and smiled, full on red lipstick grin. That wasn’t in your plans, but well, now that he said that…

“I might…” you said over your shoulder and sat down on your desk with a sigh. 

He dropped his pen on the desk and leant over with an intrigued look. “You’re weirder than usual, is everything okay? Is the job application pressure affecting you, Cupcake?” 

“Nope, I’m perfect, Felix Lee” you smiled at him. “In fact, I’m pretty much excited for tonight”

“Because of the hot date in question” he deadpanned.

“Yep” you said, making emphasis on popping out the P. 

He pressed his lips together and looked down to his work, continuing writing whatever he was writing with his sharp red marker. You eyed him and cursed internally.

Why wasn’t he looking at you or making questions or-

You cut yourself off and opened your macbook to start work, trying to erase those thoughts from your head by distracting yourself with what really mattered. 

“So…” he finally spoke and you smirked, your eyes darting out to him. “When and where is this supposed… encounter going to take place, hm?” he asked, placing his fist under his chin. 

You pouted out a little and let out a chuckle. “You seem oddly interested in that matter” you pointed out. “Why is that?”

“Well, studies show that when a manager feigns interest in the personal lives of his employees, it increases morale. That, and well, I basically think you’re straight up bluffing” he smirked at you. 

You snorted. “I’m not, Felix Lee” you smiled at him, trying to act confident.

Felix arched an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”

You hummed as you nodded.

“Then tell me…” he said, placing his chin on the palm of his hand. “When and where?” 

You frowned. “When and where, what?” you played dumb.

Felix let out a little laugh and tsked his tongue. “When and where is this supposed date gonna take place?” he asked, with laughter behind his deep voice. 

You clenched your fists and said the first thing that came to mind with the most nonchalant tone you could find in yourself. “I’m going to meet him for drinks at Joe’s Bar at seven” you smiled. “And you… will never be my boss”

“Oh” he said, pulling his face back. “That’s such a coincidence! I’m going to Joe’s Bar tonight as well… at seven!”

“Great” you said with a fake unbothered tone. “I will see you there, then”

He winked at you and immersed himself into his work again, making your smile falter as you started to panic inwardly. 

You bit the end of you pen as you started thinking. 

Where the hell were you going to get a date for tonight at seven at Joe’s Bar?

You chewed on your lip and then a light bulb lit up inside your mind.

You knew the perfect person who you knew would be up for it.

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“Hi, Wooyoung!” you greeted him, knocking on the frame of his door. 

He looked up from his computer and he shifted nervously on his seat. “Hey… Y/N!” he said, his hands fidgeting together. “How’s it going?”

“Oh, I’m perfect! What were you doing?” you asked him, walking inside the office.

He let out a tired sigh as he leant back in his chair. “To be fair… I finished work so I was busy ordering myself some new Playstation game that came out yesterday” he said with an embarrassed smile.

“You’re such a nerd” you snorted. 

“Yeah, caught me” he said. 

“It’s cute” you said, trying to butter him up a bit. And as you knew Wooyoung like the palm of your hand, just like you predicted, the guy blushed like a freaking tomato. 

“What’s up, what brings you here?”

“Oh…” you smiled and walked towards Wooyoung. “I actually wanted to know what you’re doing tonight” 

Wooyoung pressed his lips into a thin line in thought. “I’m- well, some guys are coming to my house to play this game I told you about and we’re all pretty excited about it” he nodded. 

Could you catch a fucking sign, man?, you thought to yourself. 

“But tomorrow, I’m free to do whatever the hell I want” he chuckled. 

You sighed and pressed two fingers to pinch the bridge of your nose. “Yeah… no, I’m going to be stuck this weekend cause I’m kind of loaded with work, and well, the next as well. Bang Seojun just threw all the work he doesn’t want to do and he loves Felix way too much for him to do that so… I’m basically his slave. And today’s my last free day before the start of my nightmare” you lied straight through your teeth. 

You smiled prettily at him and he just stared at you and nodded. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll- I’ll call the guys and tell them we’re doing that tomorrow or some other night” he told you. “They’ll… I’m sure they’ll understand, don’t worry”

You fake gasped and arched your eyebrows. “Really? You’d do that?” you coed.

Wooyoung smiled. “yeah, really”

“Ugh, you’re the best. Thank you! I’ll text you the deets, alright?” you told him.

“Y-yeah, sure” he nodded.

You pressed a kiss to his cheek, staining it with your sharp red lipstick. “Thanks again” you said and bolted out of his office, leaving Wooyoung flustered in his place. 

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That night, you finished work at six and let out a tired sigh, shutting your computer with your hand. You looked up only to find Felix already staring at you and he quickly looked away, grabbing some papers and standing up from his seat. 

You frowned, finding his actions strange. 

He then walked out of the office, heading to Bang Seojun’s and you got up from your seat. 

You sat down on Felix’s seat and opened up his laptop, trying to find something interesting by snooping around.

You sighed as soon as you saw the enter password on the screen. Because, of course.

“I hate Y/N?” you tried, but it came out incorrect. “Um… Y/N is a bitch?” incorrect again. “Shit”

You let out a huff and shut the laptop angrily. You saw next to the macbook that there was a notebook and you opened it. Inside, there were some random work scribblings with a blue pen and next to them, there were crosses and lines with his characteristic sharp red marker. 

“What the hell?” you whispered. 

You continued passing through the pages and found that every single day was marked with those weird red crosses and lines. What could they possibly mean?

Then, you heard Bang Seojun’s office opening and you quickly shut the notebook and ran towards your desk. 

“Have a nice weekend, Dr. Lee” you heard Bang Seojun telling Felix.

“You too, Mr. Bang” Felix told him and went back to the office. He saw that his chair was moving and you were moving way too much. 

You had been snooping around on his desk, he was sure of it.

He smirked at you and put his hands inside his pockets. “Were you at my table, Y/N?” he asked you, raising one of his eyebrows. 

You looked up and shrugged, shaking your head, trying to seem as innocent as you could. “Nope. I just thought I saw a bug over there” you said, barely glancing at him. 

“A bug” he deadpanned and you looked up at him with your eyes widened.

“yeah, a bug” you lied again, mocking his tone.

He hummed and sat down on his chair, straightening up his shoulders. “What were you doing at my table?” he asked you, lacing his fingers together as he leant over his desk. 

You chuckled. “Like I said. I thought I saw a bug. There wasn’t anything. Came back to my desk. End of the story” you gaslighted him. 

He just narrowed his eyes, trying to get the truth out of you.

It made you scoff and roll your eyes, standing up from your desk. “You know what, Felix? You’re just so-”

“What? Beautiful? Amazing? Hot?” he said with arrogance, his voice dropping an octave.

“I was gonna say predictable, actually” you said with your lips pressed into a thin smile. “You’re pretty predictable if you ask me, there’s that” you fired back at him. 

You grabbed some papers from your purse and went back to your desk. His eyes were always on you and then he chewed on his lip. 

“Are you still going on that date of yours?” he asked, and you noticed his voice was rather small. 

You looked up and sent him a confident smile. “Yep. And I should probably get going, actually. Don’t want to make him wait” you said, shrugging one of your shoulders.

“Yeah, you should probably tell him how you like to snoop around your co-worker’s stuff” he smirked, rolling his eyes a little.

You shut your laptop and grabbed it. “Nah, I’ll probably tell him I’m not wearing any panties” you said and his smile fell. “You guys like that, don’t you?” you said with a little smirk. 

You turned on your heel and went to pack your stuff, unaware of how Felix’s eyes were raking all over your figure with curiosity. 

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At the elevator, Felix stood with his back slumped against the wall while you checked if your lipstick was correctly applied in the mirror.

Felix let his eyes fly all over your figure and his hands fidgeted with the strap of his bag nervously.

“Do you need a ride?” he asked in a low tone that made your stupid stomach flutter. Felix knew you didn’t own a car, that you took the subway to get to work. 

You didn’t even look at him, which made Felix even more nervous. “Nope. I am going to walk” you told him sharply, swiping your thumb one last time over the corner of your lips. 

Felix sighed. “It’s raining, Cupcake” he reminded you. “I wouldn’t want your makeup to smear after you literally spent 22 minutes in the bathroom”

You looked at him and let out an irritated sigh. “Did you count the minutes I spent inside the bathroom? Does that sound normal to you?” you asked him and slowly approached him. “Has anyone ever told you that you tend to be a stalker?” 

He snorted. “Says the girl that is literally giving me the serial killer eyes” he fired back. 

“Yeah, it happens when I imagine myself strangling you, Felix Lee” you said to him, your eyebrows furrowing. 

He looked at you with his eyes narrowed and then, out of the blue, he pressed the stop button of the elevator, making you stumble in your place at how abrupt the elevator came to a halt.

You gasped and looked at him with wide eyes. “God… calm down. I’m not really going to strangle you, I enjoy my freedom very much. What is your problem?” you asked in an exhaled voice, feeling your heartbeat quickening up its pace. 

“What are we doing?” he asked loudly. “Seriously, what are we doing, Y/N?” he asked you, rather demandingly. 

You shook your head, not really understanding. “I don’t know what you mean” you said quietly.

“This. This thing we have going on every single day. Being at each other’s throats like some kind of teenagers” Felix spat. 

You shrugged. “The thing… being how we hate each other?” you asked slowly with an eyebrow arched. 

He stayed silent for a couple of seconds. “Do you hate me?” Felix asked with a tone you couldn’t quite decipher. 

You looked at him and your eyes involuntarily fell to his lips. He noticed. Of course he did. 

Out of a sudden, his hand came to grab at the back of your neck, kissing the breath right out of you, making your breath hitch at the back of your throat and goosebumps erupted all over the skin of your back. 

He pulled away and your eyes met, both of your lips tingling. Your brain was turned to mush, for sure, but you had only one thing on your mind.  

Fuck it.

You grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him back to your lips. He smirked into it and kissed you back hungrily, his hands falling to your waist, pulling you against the hard planes of his body. His hands gripped your hips tightly and your hands flew up to grasp the sides of his face as your lips continued dancing over each other’s. 

Felix felt the urge to bite your bottom lip and tug on it, making you groan out. But the sound was soon muffled by his lips smacking back against yours as he delved his tongue inside your mouth once again. 

You let out a yelp when you felt him turning you around and pressing you up against the elevator wall, his hands falling to your thighs so he could hoist you up without breaking the kiss. Your legs wrapped around his middle, bringing yourself closer to him. One of your heels fell from your feet onto the elevator floor, making you giggle into his mouth as you pulled away. He was quick to chase your lips. 

You felt his tongue brushing over your bottom lip, slowly, like there wasn’t time or rush surrounding you and you opened them, letting it in as it twisted around with yours sensually. 

Felix couldn’t help but groan into it, pressing his pelvis against your center and that’s when you gasped, feeling the tightness in his pants against you. 

His lips moved hungrily against yours while his hands caressed your thighs as his hands had stayed there once he had found the softness of your skin. Meanwhile yours played with his hair, tugging at the black strands of hair while he groaned into your mouth encouraging you to keep doing that.

“Everything okay in there?” the voice of the front desk guy echoed through the speakers of the elevator, making you both gasp and pull away from the kiss and stare at each other in terror of being caught. 

“Sorry” Felix said after a couple of seconds of staring at you, his lips red from the kiss. “I bumped into the button” he lied.

“All right” the front desk guy replied and the static noise went off. 

He put you down and you felt shocked, to say the least, about what just happened between you two.

With widened eyes, you turned around to face the door and started giving yourself some self talk. 

What… the actual fuck… was that?!

You touched your lips as you blinked yourself into reality. 

He adjusted himself in his pants behind you, also trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. 

And the worst part of it all?

You loved what had just happened.

-

𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: @lattyjiji  @jeonginsleftcheek   @alrm02   @skzjiiiii @lixies-favorite-cookie    @victoriaaf   @st4rv3lly

i apologise in advance if i cant tag you :(