#my citizens will find their way home at their own pace

[official-olm-posts]

I SCOUR THE GLOBE IN SEARCH OF ONLY THE BESTEST OLM POSTINGS. WELCOME TO MY KINGDOM, FOR IT IS TOO YOUR DOMAIN.

Anyone else like olms? I think they are more cute then axolotls tbh.

LOOK AT THEM ☹️☹️

[jiminrings]

if-then

pairing: jungkook x reader

wordcount: 7k

glimpse: you're an alien in prince jungkook's planet — both literally and figuratively.

alternatively, jungkook gives his nickname for you to someone else in a fit of anger, and you've never been more upset.

[ fluff, angst, painfully oblivious n dense alien koo, mutual pining (yes MUTUAL!!!!), the glaring concept of not being good n whole enough to deserve love (yikes but i Swear it gets better), mentions of injuries ]

notes: after being asked for literal years to write an alien au, it's finally here!!!! mwah thank u for patiently waiting :D

as always, lmk what you think <3 send in feedback n love to my askbox anytime!!

Jungkook’s fond of appraising things.

He’s fond of assigning values to things that may or may not hold some bit of importance to his life, whether its value proves itself in the present or the future. Jungkook likes setting his literal ducks in a row, and the little inanimate yellow tokens that his brother brought back from Earth serve as a discreet (not really, though) reminder that he may have some hoarder tendencies.

Jungkook’s not really a hoarder-hoarder; it just happens that he likes keeping things, sometimes for no apparent reason at all.

He likes swiping the flashlights that the night guards use to stash in his own personal “emergency” (not that there’s ever been one, nor will there ever be) cabinet, just because he wants to be prepared for a natural catastrophe that won’t probably ever happen in his area. He’s already seen a couple of films that humans have made, and if ever comes a time that Planet Twell has a dinosaurian monster battle it out with a gigantic prehistoric ape, Jungkook’s proud to say that he has a couple flashlights for him and his brothers to use.

In addition, Jungkook likes picking flowers just before they go out of season. His eldest brother’s already cussed him out for it, but he��ll still do what he does best (?), if best means “preserving” the flowers by drowning them in water every ten minutes so they wouldn’t wilt and he’d still get to see them during off-peak days.

Prince Jungkook likes appraising things in his own definition and pace. They’re never categorized in his head for what they actually do, but for what kind of unexplainable fulfillment fills his chest whenever he thinks about the item.

The youngest prince of Twell didn’t like it when there was a commotion at the lily field and the citizens ran out to see what it was about, instead of eating their slices of cake with the fondant that he made out of scratch. Jungkook didn’t like the fondant either because there must be something insanely wrong with itself (or it’s just that he made it just as bad), but he didn’t like being alone either when finding out about the taste.

He didn’t like seeing the tiger lilies he planted himself squished underneath an unknown figure, who may or may not have fallen from the sky, judging by the way you’re wincing alone with no aircraft, no parachute, nor any other person with you.

Jungkook didn’t like seeing you, an alien, who’s just as confused with the entire ordeal. You can’t remember anything about how or why you’ve gotten here — all you know is your name and who you are, and unexpectedly so, the first prince who’s gotten to where you are isn’t so thrilled about the fact.

He’s fond of appraising things, and although he’s not extremely excited about you just as he had been when Yoongi brought home trinkets from him during his trip to Earth (including the very seeds for the tiger lilies you’ve destroyed), he’ll make do.

Jungkook will try and make you mean something, if not everything, to him.

.

.

.

Prince Jungkook has come to learn that you’re part human.

You’re neither fully his kind nor his type (or atleast that’s what he thinks so) and he doesn’t know what to feel about that. He doesn’t know what to feel about only the slight panic that filled you knowing that it’s still unexplained of how or why you’re in Twell; even more, he doesn’t know what to feel that you’re neither scared nor intimidated by him.

You don’t know what to feel either when Jungkook, who’s only mildly shocked about your existence in general, delivers his first question to you and it’s not of the sort that you expected. He looks soft and round, unlike the hearsay about his kind that only amounts to half of you. He doesn’t look aloof and unaccepting at all — if anything, he looks at you like you’re the one who’s cruel instead of him.

Jungkook almost completely does not care about who you are or where you’re from, but what he cares about is if you have any trinkets with you that he could possibly have. Out of anything he could possibly solicit from you, he only asks for so little, no matter how odd.

“T-trinkets?” you squeak, brows raising in surprise. “I’m sorry, Prince Jungkook — y-you’re asking if I have trinkets so you could have them?”

“Yeah,” he nods, lips pursed and cheeks puffed out as he confirms your confusion. “It’s my birthday, and I want to have a trinket.”

“Oh,” you blink once, twice,  a small smile playing on your lips to replace the fact that you’ve been confused for the entire half hour since you came back to consciousness. “Happy birthday, prince.”

“I see.” 

“It’s thank you,” you mutter automatically, coughing lightly when he only knits his brows at you. He’s cute this way — innocent, even. “I-I mean you’re supposed to say thank you when someone greets you, or when someone does something nice for you in general.”

“Okay. My brother forgot to teach me that,” Jungkook hums in recognition, eyes briefly glowing with a bluish hue before he regains his composure. “Thank you.”

You wonder if staring is also frowned upon in this planet.

You wonder if it would get you a mean glare or a sarcastic snicker if you were to stare at Prince Jungkook a little longer without any thoughts floating in your brain, except for the fact that you are completely unaware that you’re already zoning out on him. 

You wonder if it would be wrong for your eyes to take in every single detail of him from his short hair that softly falls onto his forehead, to his supposed birthday attire that only consists of a white button-up, to his gleaming royal jewelry that rightfully so, only looks like it would belong to him and him only.

“Trinket?” he reminds you, head tilting and eyes widening as he cranes his neck to look at you beyond the table that separates the both of you.

“Oh! U-uhm,” you scour your pockets immediately just to present something, and bluntly put, you haven’t even checked your well-being, much less the possessions you have on yourself. You feel more than relieved to know that it isn’t empty, because oddly enough, you’d feel a little upset— a little down if you were to disappoint a prince you just met not more than an hour ago. “I have this handkerchief, I guess.”

“Perfect!” Jungkook exclaims, leaning to grab the baby blue square from you that’s embroidered with your initials that are unfamiliar to him. He clutches it into his hand tightly with a smile on his face, the happiness later dwindling when he realizes he has no clue of what he’s holding. “What is it supposed to do?”

You blank at that, meekly scratching your temple. “Nothing, I think. It’s just there for most people, but I’ve never had to use it.”

“You’ve never had to use it, but you still take it with you?” he attempts to clarify, a slight frown embedded into his lips as he looks down on your averagely prized possession.

“I don’t mean never as in never ever, and I’ve used it a couple of times like everyone else does, but it’s just-…” you trail off, shrugging helplessly because you can’t describe the concept of nothing to him easily. “It’s just there.”

You’re more than fatigued and a lot more confused (albeit less worried) about the semantics of your presence here in Twell, specifically in Prince Jungkook’s office, but the latter doesn’t seem to take mind as he takes you with an open mind.

“Okay. Thank you. I’ll have it,” he announces, shifting his eyes between you and your (his now) handkerchief that he’s slowly and hesitantly unraveling, only to put back into its original square form after every move.

“You will?” you almost snort, a tiny bit amused that a prince is clenching your handkerchief like its the most interesting thing in the galaxy.

“Yes,” he hums distractedly, looking up at you as he lightly scratches the embroidered teddy bear at the corner of the fold. “I will have you too.”

“You will?! You’re not going to dispose me or anything?” you straighten immediately, eyes more frantic and disbelieving to hear that you’re being taken care of (or something of the sort) than just awhile ago when you were unsure of your fate. “Why?”

“Don’t know,” Jungkook shrugs just as easily as you do. “I just want to.”

( ♡ ) 

Prince Jungkook isn’t so bad, and neither is Twell.

The planet isn’t so bad in the sense that although you don’t feel the most welcome you have ever been in your entire life, there’s a recognition that seeps into your bones that some of them, if not most, would set out a plate for you if ever Jungkook came into their homes. He’s the social butterfly of his family; the baby lamb that’s set out into the field to check up on everyone else and act as a mannequin of sorts that’s a little less superficial, and a little more warm.

Jungkook isn’t so bad either in the sense that although it’s the bare minimum to do so, he doesn’t throw his kindness back to your face even in the most critical situations, with now being the sole exception.

With the exception of now, Prince Jungkook has not ever acted rashly towards you. He wasn’t annoyed with you when you kept asking him questions of what it would mean to act as his security detail, and he wasn’t irked either when your questions about your heritage (and his by extension) toed personal lines that no one else would dare cross.

With the exception of now, Jungkook’s never acted rude towards you. He wasn’t as guarded with your existence like his older brothers were; as a matter of fact, he even came to your defense when some of them theorized that you were only here in their planet to act as a precursor for their downfall.

With the exception of now, Jungkook’s never been this cruel; with the ultimatum of his pride over your heart, he’s never made you feel this different and alienated from him — with, of course, the exception of now.

Heartbreak is a human emotion.

The weakness of the concept is disturbingly human and vulnerable. There’s no escape from it, even if the said percentage of human in your blood is barely half and could light a candle to your more evolved, far more powerful Twellian genes. It’s a sickening emotion to feel, much more have it get you carried away from what you have to do at hand.

The grip that said heartbreakhas on you is unimaginable, far more different than what your people, not humans, tell you how it’d feel like. There had already been an uproar when it was announced that you were appointed as Prince Jungkook’s guard, the news of an impure Twellian bearing the coveted position receiving every reaction possible — from fear, to distaste, and even to genuine amazement.

All of the kingdom’s advisers had theorized that despite you of being impure heritage, youwere superior in terms of physical capabilities. With everything else you’ve been theorized to lack at, you bite at the possibility that the ache in your chest is attributed to your stunted emotions.

You feel painfully human. You feel what heartbreak is, and compared to what others have made it out to be, it’s an emotion that you can’t put into words.

“You can’t, Jungkook,” you firmly say once more with your ears ringing, not because the volume of the club makes you want to get down on your knees, but because you’ve perhaps heard something far worse; far more grating, and far more overwhelming than what your heart could even bear. "All of your brothers specifically insisted for me to bring you back before midnight."

They say that your hearing’s supposed to be better. They say that you could see far more colors than what your alien counterpart could ever do. They say that for everything else you lacked, you made up for with the way you’re more physically advanced and therefore adept to protecting the planet’s youngest prince.

No one’s ever said that you’ll be safe from Jungkook himself.

"Jungkook, let's go home. Please," you plead through your teeth, the word you’ve last spoken being the latest term you’ve taught him. Jungkook, along with everyone else, is not familiar with begging; they’re not familiar with desperation so wrung out, there’s actually a word made just for it.

Jungkook only scowls at you, eyes turning a bright red as opposed to his usual pink allotted for you. "Butt out," he murmurs, tightly crossing his arms as his nostrils flare involuntarily. ”You promised me I could be out tonight."

You’re starting to get over the heartbreak little by little, the tantrum thrown by the young prince making you indifferent. 

Maybe you just misheard a few minutes ago — maybe, it was only a fluke and you didn’t hear it correctly the first time. Maybe it’s only your faulty impureness that made you susceptible to just hearing your nickname out of nowhere. Maybe, it’s not heartbreak that you were feeling, but rather only a subdued version of it by seeing Jungkook disappointed at you doing your job.

It’s your fault, you guess. Perhaps it’s the fault of the bustle of the club and the hundreds of dialects you could hear all at once finally got to you, overwhelming you to the point that you heard Jungkook calling for your name, despite not looking at you all.

You’re about to plead even more for the both of you to go back already; to save him from a lecture from all of his brothers and for you to be spared an even harsher scolding because they think you’ve gone too soft for him — but then you hear it. Again. 

Jungkook clenches his jaw tightly, eyes glowing a bright magenta before he opens his mouth.

"Come on, princess," he calls you by his term of endearment for you, yet his hand is outstretched for the female Twellian on his side.

He’s not calling you — he’s not even paying attention to you. Jungkook isn’t giving you a shred of his focus but he wants you to hear him call someone else the endearment he had playfully made up for you, to which you grew accustomed to without fail. He wants you to see how he gives it to someone else easily, the syllables falling from his tongue easily getting into the girl’s head.

Jungkook wants you to know how angry he is over you doing your job, he hits you where it hurts. He has no idea what heartbreak is supposed to feel like, but he doubts that you’d even feel that emotion over what he’s done — and if you actually do over something seemingly simple (for him atleast), he could only think that everyone else is exaggerating what it felt like.

Your heart, whatever is human of it, skips. It tightens and it loosens alarmingly so, almost as if you have no control for the liquid hurt that compromises you.

“I’ll show you a good time tonight, princess,” Jungkook whispers to her ear loudly for good measure, eyes darting up at you, only for him to see that you’ve been watching the whole time. 

You almost can’t tear your eyes away until Jungkook crashes his lips into hers, your nickname easily falling out of his lips as if the endearment is free for everyone; as if it’s never been yours in the first place and you only borrowed it out of desperation.

Your whole flight home is quiet.

Jungkook makes it back home before midnight, but you don’t.

( ♡ ) 

Jungkook’s been looking for you the whole day.

He’s been looking for you since he woke up, and that was fifteen ungodly hours ago when he had risen in a cold sweat. Jungkook felt sick to his stomach, and despite his insistence that something must be severely wrong with him for him to feel that way, the palace doctor (along with every other physician, healer, and reader he knew of) confirmed that nothing was out of place.

Jungkook’s supposedly okay, yet it feels like every part of him is being wrung dry. There’s an ache to his chest that renders him stupid because he feels like he’s forgotten every word, every lesson, and every vaguest bit of semblance that would detail about what he felt.

All of a sudden, Jungkook feels like he’s forgotten what the palace looks like. It’s as if he’s forgotten how tiles are supposed to feel cold on bare feet and how bleak his days are when he doesn’t have you by his side, even if the palace is also occupied by his brothers and the grounds are teeming with staff.

The young prince suddenly feels that he’s forgotten the very layout of his home because his mouth is agape at each room he walks in, simply because you’re not there. He’s practically turned the palace upside down just to grab a whiff of you somehow, and yet you’re nowhere to be found. 

Nothing from his or his brothers’ belongings are missing. There’s not a single piece of furniture that’s tilted askew. Nothing has been taken from Jungkook except his peace of mind and the capacity to just stay still because your sudden disappearance unsettles him like no other.

.

.

.

You’re back home, except you’re no longer dressed in the same outfit you left him in. 

Your uniform’s been ditched for something more casual — something more worn and lived in to the point that it looks like a shirt that’s never been yours in the first place. The sight of you, dressed in clothes that’s not yours, puts a bitter taste to Jungkook’s mouth.

He’s never been that selfish before. He’s generous and lenient as far as a prince could go, and yet he’s never felt this territorial over something seemingly as trivial as a shared garment.

The concern feels too vulnerable to the point that only a silly human, something Jungkook’s not, would consider it as a burden.

“Where were you?” he asks with the gentleness he didn’t think he’d possess after being worried shitless about you, the panic he had harbored for the longest time immediately dissipating at you.

Jungkook wants to be mad at you so, so, so badly. He wants to be angry at the way it was irresponsible for you to be alone because after all, your strength wouldn’t compensate for the gleaming fact that you’re not from here in the first place.

“I was on my leave,” you answer simply, keeping your hands behind your back as if this was any other outing with Prince Jungkook and not just Jungkook, the same man who’d call you princess for fun and hold your hand just for the sake of it.

“I didn’t say you could be on leave,” he lowers his voice, jaw tightening at the sight of you being indifferent towards him.

“I asked your brothers.”

Jungkook feels that sickness again. He feels that tinge of metal that lingers in the roof of his mouth and he wants to spit it out in front of you just to see if he’d find something else that’s not the sensations he’s been experiencing since you came around; if he’d find something else that’s not your doing yet affects him just as much.

“What if I needed protecting, hm? What if something happened to me while you were gone?” Jungkook half-taunts, shrinking on himself despite doing his hardest to appear big by crossing his arms.

“I knew you were in good hands, prince,” you tense, the tide that comes with your tone washing over Jungkook until he drowns in the realization that you were there while she was in his quarters. “I made to sure to hear that you were in very good company before I left.”

( ♡ ) 

Jungkook’s on a self-imposed break from his duties.

The prince’s duties almost exclusively involved chatting and being charismatic in general, along with the occasional goodwill event wherein he had to be all over the place just to take care of things, and not once did he ever take this long of a radio silent break — or atleast that’s what one of his brothers said.

He’s been cooped up in his room since you came back two weeks ago. Despite your absence (if you could even call it that) that barely lasted for an entire day, along with your confrontation just spanning within minutes, it’s been theorized by one of Jungkook’s brothers, again, that it’s because of your doing.

The youngest prince is theorized to be sulking over you and you simply cannot believe it.

You refuse to believe that Jungkook is bedridden with sadness because to begin with, his kind isn’t even supposed to feel such type of intense emotion. He shouldn’t be swayed by you — he shouldn’t be preoccupied with such pathetic, human emotion that you thought only you could feel because of him.

You rebuff the idea that he’s paralyzed with guilt, not only because you feel that it’s physically impossible for him to be, but because it’s him. Someone of Jungkook’s power and influence wouldn’t be so ridden with guilt that he refuses to show his face to you because he’s ashamed of hurting you.

You reject with your whole heart each and every idea that his brothers pitch you. You stay stationary with Jungkook and yet you will yourself to amount to something, even if it isn’t for him, just so the sickening feeling of being replaced won’t ever creep up to you.

You’re in love with him and it’s terrifying.

What’s even more terrifying is that you’re not the only one who knows so.

“I suggest not falling in love with Jungkook.”

You look up so sharply, your neck aches at the speed. Yoongi stands above you with a perfunctory smile, and with just the tiny bit of effort for him to come near you almost makes you forget that he’s Jungkook’s brother who had been particularly vocal about being wary of you.

“I’m sorry?” you murmur in disbelief, eyes wide and unblinking as you take into account his perfect tone.

“It’s obvious, you know?” he smiles tightly, pulling a chair to sit himself down across from you. Yoongi looks relaxed as he takes you in, almost as if he hasn’t spent half a year avoiding you. “I’ve seen the way you look at my brother. I’ve seen it over and over again when I was sent for a mission on your planet.”

You want to ask him why he’s telling you this. You want to ask badly why he’s saying this now when you’ve been certain for the longest time that your adoration for Jungkook wasn’t apparent in a land of creatures that don’t know what love, in your own terms, is supposed to look like.

You want to ask Yoongi why it shouldn’t be Jungkook, but you can’t bring yourself to — not because you know the answer deep down in your subconscious, but because you’re afraid that he would only make sense—

That he’d only solidify why Jungkook should never be in your orbit.

“Oh,” you swallow the lump in your throat. “How do you like my planet then?”

“You’re changing the subject.”

“I’m sorry, my prince,” you immediately apologize, looking down on your lap as you wait for the impeding lecture; maybe even the impending punishment (you’re not sure what it is, but you know it would hurt someway and somehow) that comes with loving the prince, even by the sidelines.

“Jungkook is a wildcard at best,” he trails off, exhaling heavily as he listens for the heartbeat in the room behind you that houses his brother. “He’s brash and stubborn. He’s driven by emotions we are not even supposed to have.”

If Yoongi stands up now and jiggles the knob to Jungkook’s room with just the slightest bit of force, he can guarantee that the latter would be falling face-down to the floor, just because of the way he has his ears pressed to the door.

Jungkook is moping and sulking and to this day, he does remain miserable — the aforementioned factors don’t stop him from being desperate and nosy.

“What I’m saying is that he’s weak, Y/N,” Yoongi sighs. “The strong isn’t for the weak. That’s always been the case.”

“I know I’m weak, prince, but I-…”

“What?” the prince laughs out loud, the smile on his face wide and cheery. He’s so amused with you that his eyes glow into pink, throwing his head back as he regains his composure. “Jungkook’s the weak one. Not you, obviously,” he snorts. “He’s basically a loser with a crown on his head. He’s the one who doesn’t deserve you and not the other way around.”

You’re not the one who’s being insulted, and yet it feels like it. Your throat tingles and your ribs burn at the sudden urge for you to protect Jungkook, even if he’s in no real threat; even if it feels like all the baser parts of you are coming together just to make sense of the way you grow simultaneously weak and strong for him.

Jungkook, the actual subject who’s being insulted and is proving his brother right by being weak because he’s wallowing in his room out of self-deprecation, sadly hums to himself in agreement.

“I’m not-…”

“Don’t refute it — that’s an order.”

“Prince Yoongi,” you relent, trying to find the right words. “May I ask why you’re telling me this?”

“Because Jungkook’s weak,” Yoongi answers simply. “I’m just saying that you don’t have to be weak with him and for him.”

( ♡ ) 

You’re eating dinner by yourself in the staff room when Jungkook walks in.

It’s the first you’ve seen of him in three weeks. He’s evidently moving on from what seems to have been a rough period for him, right when you’re at your lowest that you’ve ever been.

Prince Jungkook decides that after three weeks, he should take you by surprise and meet you in the staff room wherein you’re alone, pushing your dinner around your plate instead of doing any other menial task you’ve assigned yourself just so it would feel like you’re in use.

You’re just there. You just happen to be there and no one, even you, could do anything about it. You just happen to be there with no exact purpose and it’s gnawing at you from the inside out.

It feels all over again that your family is the runt of the entire extended bloodline. It feels that you’re not remarkable enough for your relatives to surround you and that you don’t amount to anything enough, in whatever aspect it is, to get a shred of attention that isn’t pity,

It feels like the sinking sensation in your chest wherein you have to see that all your mom could contribute to the table is her trusted homemade recipe during holidays, lost amongst a sea full of pre-ordered meals that only your relatives could afford. Like it’s how your dad’s side of the family is borderline batshit crazy and he’s the only one that turned out to be good, and you can’t do anything but watch strangers your have for blood relatives belittle you. Familiarly so, it’s like you’re a kid again with your siblings sitting on the carpet and cleaning up wrapping paper from gifts, not because the gifts are for you, but because you just happen to be there.

You feel like the alien that you are wherein you don’t belong; wherein your family has to sit on the spare chairs dug up from the basement, situated on a portable table outside of the actual, solid dining table where everyone’s sat. 

Jungkook sits with you at that dusty, old portable table. He sits himself on the flimsy chair that���s only used for stepping and for laundry.

Jungkook sits with you, not because he just happens to be there, but because he’s there for you.

“I’m… sorry for calling someone else princess.”

“It’s no problem,” you murmur, putting your fork down as you keep your hands glued to your knees underneath the table.

“But there is a problem,” Jungkook counters, lowering his head to get you to look at him yet you don’t budge. “I’m not okay with calling anyone else princess other than you.”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s not.”

“Then suit yourself,” you quip, even with your voice shaky and your vision blurry.

“I’m-…” Jungkook starts again, racking his brain for the limited vocabulary he has that surely isn’t enough to make up for his grave msitake. “I’m very sorry for making you feel bad. It must have hurt.”

“It’s no problem.”

“There’s a problem,” he insists. “I’m saying sorry because I hurt you.”

“You didn’t hurt me.”

“But I did,” he frowns, beyond confused to why you keep denying the fact that he’s hurt you in ways he can’t even imagine.

“You really didn’t.”

“Why do you not want me to say sorry?” Jungkook questions, voice raising yet he still looks confused— innocent, even. “Did I… hurt you that much?”

It’s the last straw for you. The pure innocence in Jungkook’s words is and should be the last straw for you because it only makes you realize that he’d never understand you. It resonates in your head, more than ever, that you’ll never be able to understand him fully either because you’ll never be the same.

The only option the universe provides you is for you to love Jungkook halfway.

“You’ll have to excuse me, Prince Jungkook. I shall go back to-…”

“Can I not say sorry to you?” Jungkook bursts, darting his hand out blindly to get a hold on you before you leave.

“You can’t say sorry to me because all of this would feel real,” you ramble, shaking your head vehemently. “You should not say sorry to me because that would mean that I’m hurt because I love you.”

Jungkook looks at you innocently with his eyes wide and lips parted, blissfully unaware of the name to the sensation that keeps tugging at his chest to the point that it feels like it would burst open, yet above all else, he still dives in head-first.

“Can you not love me, princess?” he tilts his head. “Is it not allowed?”

( ♡ ) 

Yoongi’s words lie heavily on both you and Jungkook.

The prince’s sentiment stays on your chest like a paperweight that only grows heavier the more that you try to push it off. You know Yoongi means well, no matter how his words come across otherwise, but the longer that you think about his own suggestion regarding his brother, the more you feel unsure.

Jungkook’s made complete sense of his brother’s words on the other hand, and instead of being filled with a type of rage that only bubbles up when being looked down on, oddly enough, he comes to the truth quite easily.

He knows the truth that he’s weak despite painting himself the opposite, and he feels it the most now that you’re the one who’s distancing yourself from him. Jungkook feels like swallowing the sun and chasing it down with water when you respond to princess, even if it’s jokingly uttered by his brothers and not said sincerely by him alone.

He knows the truth that he’s the weak one in the family, if not the weakest, whenever he stands next to them. Jungkook may be the poster prince for the citizens but he knows the most out of everyone that he’s not as vital to the kingdom as the others are. He may get an assigned seat at the actual, solid dining table, but he knows that he’s not at the head of it.

He knows he’s weak, with and for you, and that’s never bothered him until it actually did.

Jungkook’s eyesight isn’t as good as yours.

Unlike you, he’s restrained by the entirety of his Twellian blood from immediately focusing his gaze on anything. There’s a lag that registers whenever he fixes his sight on anything, just like everyone else but you, and that hadn’t been a bother to Jungkook the whole time.

He had falsely assumed that since you’re the only one who’s different here, the only exception in the planet by being impure and partially human, you’d be the one who’ll have a hard time adjusting your daily life to his — not the other way around.

Jungkook, who had not once ever felt insecurity before, suddenly feels inferior. He feels like dirt and yet he’s angry, not because of the fact that he comes second to your abilities, but because he can’t do shit when it comes to you.

The prince’s eyesight isn’t good enough to notice the tiny little expressions that litter your face whenever something remotely intriguing happens to you. His hearing isn’t on par with yours because he can’t register the laugh in your voice as quickly as you could recognize his. He’s not on the same level as you and it’s only now that it bothers him—

The realization creeps into Jungkook, slowly yet unsettlingly, when he sees the cut on your cheek; the liquor of inferiority, chased down by Jungkook’s own rage, only hits him the moment he sees that a nasty bruise is blossoming by the corner of your eye.

Jungkook grips your jaw lightly out of nowhere, making you look up at him unexpectedly when you had been only preoccupied with fixing him his drink. The prince, no matter the unmistakeable rage that’s brewing in red, is the softest he’s ever been when it comes to addressing you.

“Who hurt you?” 

He has all his attention on you and it’s almost sickening with the way he doesn’t want to break off. Jungkook’s hand is still on your jaw and his eyes are still fixed on yours and yet his mind, whatever remains rational of it and not just vengeful, is going a million miles per hour.

“Get your hands off me,” you spit, suddenly overwhelmed by his presence and the vitriol that spills out of him so clearly, the air around both of you shifts.

“I asked you a question,”Jungkook repeats, putting is hand on your wrist firmly instead. He makes the grave mistake of looking down, though, because as soon as he realizes that there’s blood caked underneath your nails and that your knuckles are stained with your own blood, Jungkook can no longer hold himself back. “Who. Hurt. You.”

Jungkook’s reflexes are slow, but the moment your bottom lip trembles in vulnerability and pure bitterness, he feels as if time has caught on to the point that it’s only your anguish that sharpens his senses.

His feelings, even.

“If I tell you, would it make a difference? If I’m considered weak, Jungkook, then that means you’re even weaker,” you scoff, eyes trained on the ground with your head low so you could muffle the tremble in your voice; not that it would make your prince any less attuned to you.

Jungkook’s eyes remain narrowed at you, breathing heavily as you only state the facts not to insult him, but to remind the both of you of your place — or whatever is left clear of it because Jungkook can’t even think straight the longer that he looks at you hurting.

“What, prince? What are you gonna do about it?” you spit as the last resort, standing up abruptly to storm off and make an escape for it just once so you’ll be free of the burden of being yourself in Jungkook’s existence, yet he doesn’t let you.

The grip that the prince has on your arm is unstable yet unyielding at the same time, as if it’s taking everything in Jungkook to remain standing despite wanting to hunch over by the unexplainable tremor that roots from his chest.

(It is taking everything in him.)

“Burn,” he utters. “I’ll burn everything.”

“You’re-…”

“Weaker than you? I know that,” Jungkook interrupts, his lips set in a straight line as he lets himself be swept by the current that is you. “All the more reason to do everything for you then.”

The young prince doesn’t even break his gaze from you once, even if his pupils are trembling and his teeth are chattering out of the sheer trepidation that comes with being scared for someone else who carries your heart with them.

He doesn’t break his gaze from you, even for the briefest second, as he fishes out his (your) handkerchief from his pocket that’s there, not because it just happens to be, but because it’s allotted for you.

To love and to be loved is to feel the sun from both sides, and Jungkook no longer wants the star to swallow him whole because he doesn’t want you to be burned.

Jungkook wants to love you all the way.

[jasmines-library]

Hi. Um... i have been craving angst

👀 and my angsty mind has been making up... scenarios, but like would love them typed out so i can read 💀 i live your work, p.s. <3

anyways, would like to ask for something along these lines:

reader is a batsibling

is kidnapped

fam cant find her for a few days and is panicked

they find her somewhere, blindfolded and tied up, on the ground and caked in blood

they get her some med stuff and whatever

and they're like how did this happen so they somehow get cctv or duke uses his powers or something and finds out that they've been beaten for info

and they get like really angry and all that jazz

:D rest up to you!

would be great if you did it 🥺

but i understand if it's too much

love youuuu 💖/platonic ehe

okay, i will excuse myself from your asks now. byeee

Loaded Silence

hello hello! Thanks for requesting. This was super angsty, but as you put I crave it too... ❤️

Warnings: Kidnapping, Torture (not very graphic), fear, medical scenes.

Word Count: 1.5k

⛤ BATFAM MASTERLIST ⛤

It had happened unexpectedly. You were there one second and gone the next. In a blink of an eye. Nothing more nothing less. That was all it took for you to slip away. Damian could have sworn he was only gone for a minute. To stretch his legs and grab something to eat. But that was all it took for them to sneak in. Quiet as a mouse they crept in, splitting through the open window at the back of the room. Leaving it open had been a careless mistake, but who was to think that you would have been taken in the safety of your own home? 

They grabbed you roughly from behind. A set of rough hands pinning you to the sofa, clamped tightly over your mouth as another worked to tie a heavy bandage around your eyes. You had squirmed feebly trying to gain some leverage. Your training desperately tried to kick in but at that moment, you were not a vigilante. You were Y/N Wayne: A citizen, child to the wealthiest man in Gotham and utterly fucked. 

You had no choice after that than to allow them to drag you downtown, you had kicked and cried blindly, desperate for one of your brothers to chase after you. But whoever was gripping you tight enough to bruise was clearly experienced and you knew that they stood no chance so unexpectedly. 

When they tossed you down on the ground, you thought it would offer some relief. The room was dank, dusty and smelt of water rot and mould. This was the part where they would send a ransom note to Bruce and he and your brothers would come charging in sooner or later. But you had never been more wrong. 

“We know who you are, Wayne.” A voice spoke. Feminine but not soft spoken. Threatening. “Or would you prefer Raven?”

Your stomach dropped as bile burned the back of your throat. You knew you could fight now, but you were defenceless weaponless with your hands and feet bound together. 

“The fuck do you want?” You spat, though the effect of the venom in your words was lost for you looked so helpless. 

“Bold of you to speak to me that way, given your predicament.” The woman chuckled, prodding you with her foot. “You’re here as a sort of…payment.”  She mused. “I suppose you could call it that.”

“What?” 

“My husband.” She started, moving away from you. You could hear her pacing around the room but you  could only conjure up images in your mind. “Leader of the greatest crime suricate in Gotham. And now, he’s dead. Rotting in some coffin in the ground, thanks to your father.” 

She moved closer again. Her heels clattered against the floor. 

“He took away the only thing that ever mattered to me!” She gripped your wrist, lifting you up off the floor and leaning into your face. “So now, I’m going to take away one of his toys until someone tells me how to get him out! His precious little girl. Oh how I can’t wait to see the look on all of their faces when they see you. That is of course…after we have a little fun.”

~

There was still no sign of you. And it felt as if they had searched every inch of the city. The high and the low but still nothing. No one had slept much in the three days you had been missing. Their nights were either spent searching for you on patrol or laying awake staring blankly at the ceiling as their minds conjured up the worst. None of them said it outloud but the possibility that you were dead loomed over them. But no one ever said anything. They just continued to search in silence. It seemed like Babs and Tim hadn’t torn their eyes away from the screens since Damian came barging into the room three days ago, doubled over and panting as he revealed the news. The only time they ever moved was to head to the bathroom or to make another mug of lukewarm coffee. 

The rest of the family were out on patrol. That was what they were calling it anyway. Really they were looking for you. And still there had been no sign until Dick stumbled upon a window. It was low down to his feet covered by concrete as though the building had just sunk into the concrete. And when he tried to peer inside, it seemed to be covered by something on the inside. 

It could have been nothing.

But Dick was desperate. 

He called over the other vigilantes with a signal on his com. They all came tricking over towards him silently through the city. Some bubbling with hope and anticipation, but all dreading the worst. 

Moving around the back of the house, Dick pushed open the door. 

~

You had never been more scared in your entire life. Everything ached, burned or stung. From what you could feel there didn’t seem to be a single inch of your skin that wasn’t covered in blood. It clung sticky to your skin, cracking every time you managed to bring yourself to shift against the floor.

She had continued her onslaught for hours, trying to force answers that she knew you would never be able to give her from your chapped lips. She would leave every once in a while, returning silently to catch you off guard with another round of pain. You couldn’t see her: the blindfold still remained firmly around your eyes, so you had to anticipate when she would return as you cowered against the back wall in a pool of your own blood. You were unsure how long it had been since she tossed you into the room. Without the relief of sunlight, your woozy mind had lost track of time. 

And then a pair of hands gripped your shoulders. And you screamed, trying to recoil away from them. You didn’t make it far. Your body was too weak.

“No! No please! No more!” You begged, tears dribbling down your cheeks to mingle among the dirt and blood. “I already told you I-I don’t know anything! Please!”

“Woah, woah.” It was Dick’s voice that broke through to you, though they had all called out to you. It was him who had reached out to you in the first place, hesitant that the smallest touch would break you. As soon as they were met with resistance they knew you were here. And they fought as fast as they could to get to you. Praying that they wouldn’t find you as you had. Sprawled out across the floor in a pool of your own blood as you struggled to breathe. “It’s us.”

“We’re here, Kid.” Jason leaned forwards to remove the blindfold from your eyes as Dick tried to support you in his arms. You squiremed weakly, still untrusting. But the minute the blindfold was off and you had finished adjusting to the onslaught of light. You broke.

You collapsed into Dicks arms, sobbing and shaking. He cupped the back of your head with his hands and held you, giving Jason and Duke a nervous glance. Your blood had already begun to stain the front of his suit as you whimpered in his arms, clinging to him tightly. 

When he tried to shift you, you let out a sob and clung to him tighter. He wasn’t sure if it was because he had hurt you or because you were scared he was going to leave you. Probably both.

“Y/N?” Jason whispered, moving to crouch by your side. “ We’re here now. We’re going to get you home okay? Can you tell us what happened?”

You shook your head and buried your face into Dicks chest trying to block out the pain.

Eyes turned to Duke who watched you with sad eyes. They observed as he surveyed the room, taking in the horrors that the light revealed. And he couldn’t help the gasp that slipped out of his lips. 

He paled at what he saw. Winced at the way your face contorted with pain as the woman towered over you, tossing you about the room like a ragdoll and slashing you with various tools as she screamed at you. He saw how she would catch you off guard by sneaking up on you in the dark as some cruel game to satisfy her sick amusement. He felt sick. 

In the time it took for him to see the echo of your agonies, Dick had managed to coax enough for him to stand so they could bring you out of the room and get you urgently to medical attention. 

The two looked at him expectantly. And once he had managed to stutter out what he had seen, Jason was tensely clenching his jaw and fists. 

Someone was going to bleed tonight. He was going to make sure of that.

Taglist:

@aestheticdaisies

@hell-o-kittys

@xxrougefangxx

@mamapucket

@hearts4robs

@harleycao

[asunflowerana]

sunday couple — satoru gojo

summary: Satoru does anything for good and cheap food, especially making you his girlfriend.

warnings: satoru is on his early twenties, friends to lovers, lots of banter, gojo smooth like butter. wc: 1400+

a/n: satoru could take me to eat crickets, and I'd still follow this stupid gorgeous man.

The red, and yellow lamps hanging on poles illuminate Shibuya’s central square, crowded with citizens scouring the fair full of assorted supplies. The smell of cardamom powder from a spice stall enters your nostrils, making your nose numb as you try to follow your friend Satoru, the one who left you behind for a taiyaki seller. 

You never thought you’d be traded for a fish cake, but here you are. 

Satoru checks the pockets of his pants in front of him, taking the coins and handing them to the friendly old lady owner of the sweets. She gives him one small cake, and you can almost see him salivating with the piece of sugar in his hands. 

“Your grandma taught you to share, Toru.” You counter with arms crossed, at the same time as he fills his mouth with a good bite of cake, the chocolate ganache sticking out to the sides and smearing his fingers. He breathes in pure relief, and you wonder how hungry he really was since you both went outdoors. 

“It’s too small for two.” He has the courage — stupidity is better — to eat the last piece of the taiyaki in front of you, rubbing his hands together to get rid of the remains of bran and stuffing after that. You could cut his white hair right there. 

“Then buy me another one,Toru! I’m hungry too!" 

”Sweets aren’t good for your teeth, little ______.“ He sends you his special sunny grin, moving his hand to call you closer, his black jacket hanging loose on his shoulders. "C'mon, I’ll find you a diner. My treat.”

His smooth manner almost makes you forget for a moment that he had just refused to share that sweet with you. Not even a little apology, what a goon.

“You better,” Mumbling, you join his pace, walking right beside him as you both stroll through the park.

You were supposed to be at home watching the six-hour marathon of your favorite comedy show, but Satoru showed up at your door in the afternoon, puppy eyes asking you to help him pick out a present for Shoko’s birthday next week, and you couldn’t say no. Not only because you wanted her to have something nice, but because unfortunately, Satoru has a special power over your heart, that makes you want to say yes even if he shows up at 4 AM in the morning for a bike ride through town — which actually happened once, but that’s a story for another time. 

He had this infuriating power since third grade, when both became neighbors and he decided to kick a soccer ball right to your window, giving you quite the fright. You can remember the way you threw the ball on his chest, mad at the crazy boy who didn’t stop laughing and left without a single scratch. 

The crazy boy that owns a part of your heart, a part that you wish could be noticed by him. But Satoru has always been too unpredictable to read, especially when it comes to his emotions. 

A new smell, fried fish and miso soup catch your attention, and a man in his forty approaches you both, coming out of a small but attractive restaurant, izakaya type. He wears casual clothes, portraying a very large smile and belly. 

“Come close young couple, here at Goro’s house you’ll find Shibuya’s best of the best food to fill your hungry tummies, ho ho ho-” You both look at each other with the same frown on your faces. Does this man think you’re in kindergarten? 

Well, Satoru actually has the face, but anyway. 

“...and lucky for you, today is a couple's Sunday!” This caught your attention. 

“What do you mean by "lucky for us”, sir?“ The man’s eyes pop even more open, excited for more clients. 

"Every Sunday couples only pay half for the dinner combo! Here is on our board.” He points at the medium black slate place beside an array of plants at the izakaya’s entrance. 

“COUPLE’S SUNDAY: 50% OFF FOR COUPLES BUYING THE SPECIAL GORO’S FISH COMBO." 

"Wait,” Satoru gulps down, his hands almost trembling from such good news. “So couples really pay half for dinner?” 

He abruptly catches your hand in his, his warmth heating your skin and making your heart flutter in response. “Because we totally are!” He practically shouts that, with a huge grin on face like a kid spotting a candy store. He looks at you, shining marine eyes gazing at yours with excitement. 

“Right, baby?" 

You don’t even know how to react, completely shocked by the nickname that you’ve always daydreamed of him calling you. The way it comes out of his mouth, with his voice, it’s such a precious moment, you can’t believe it’s all for a ridiculous excuse to get a food discount. Before you realize your situation, you’re already seated by a diner table, your friend on the opposite chair in front of you, his goofy smile still on his face as he checks the menu.

His hand remains holding yours on the table, and you can already feel the sweat forming on your palm from the heat and your nerves.

"What… in the world just happened?” You blurt it out, confused as ever.

“Told you I’d buy you dinner, dear  _____. And guess what?” He leans his torso towards you, his chest pressing on the wooden table keeping you both apart. “They have free dorayakis for dessert." 

Rainbows could come out of him by now. 

”But we’re not a couple, you dumb!“ You hiss, leaning just the same as he did, worried that the customers around might notice your facade. 

”I know, we’ll just keep pretending and it’ll all be good.“ Satoru is really good at acting, talking to you like he was babbling sweet praises like those dorky clingy couples. 

He’s such a tease, and he doesn’t even know. Actually, you think he does know it.”Toru, this is not a—" 

A waiter comes to your table, making you both split from your previous position and sit right in your seats. From his trail, he places on the table bowls of udon, plates of unagi, portions of tempura, and green tea. The smell from the steam coming out of the dishes is so amazing, that the only thing your brain processes now is food.

“You were saying?” Satoru playfully questions, thanking the waiter before picking up his chopsticks and digging the thick noodles before him. 

“…..Fine.” You surrender, not really having the strength to refuse this. “But if there’s only one dorayaki later, it’s mine." 

"We can share." 

”But sweets aren’t good for your teeth, little Satoru.“ You mock him right after sucking a noodle into your mouth, the food tasting much better now that you can see his speechless face scrunching up. 

"That’s totally unfair!” He protests, crossing his arms with a pout, a piece of nori on the corner of his mouth. “I’m your boyfriend, you should treat me nice." 

You wish your heart wouldn’t beat so fast. 

But since you’re both pretending, you may as well enjoy it. "First lesson for you: don’t ever let your girlfriend be hungry. Ever." 

"If I give you all of my tempura, will you share the dorayaki?” You hum, pretending to think. “C'mon now, baby! I’m sorry, okay?”

“I’ll think about it.”

In the end, you let him have a good bite of dessert, which is kinda fair since he was the one paying for the whole meal. That dinner really made you heavy, tummy full of food, completely satisfied and pleased. You even wrote down the name of the place, to come back with your friends in another opportunity.

And it seems that your friend also had a similar idea. 

“Are you free next Sunday?” He asks, walking ahead of you, his gaze facing the starry sky as he ponders something alone. 

You know sometimes he likes to venture ahead to ease his mind when there’s something on it, so you don’t mind him going a few feets ahead, knowing he’s still aware of your surroundings even if you’re behind him.

Satoru never failed to protect you. 

“You’re not planning on doing the dating story again, right?” You chuckle, sensing that this will become a Sunday routine for both of you. “They’ll start suspecting if we keep coming every week, you know we’re not really dating.”

“Then let’s date for real.” And again, he turns his wholesome blue gaze towards you, offering another one of the famous, breathtaking Satoru’s grins. But in this case, this one is reserved only for you. 

“How about that?”

© asunflowerana 2024 — all rights reserved.

[thatsdemko]

the other matthews - m.knies

masterlist

pairing: matthew knies x fem!matthews!reader

warnings: not intended for minors + oral (f receiving) + build up

a/n: slightly inspired by the book icebreaker by Hannah grace… happy frozen frenzy! leafs won and I’m here to spread the good vibes!

he’s not lost—well maybe. it’s his fault for listening to Mitch’s advice on trying new places that aren’t around his apartment, and now he’s twenty minutes away with a bag of cold food and an empty stomach. so much for listening to his teammates that’s his rookie mistake.

you’d seen him pace around the same block at least five times. his golden brown hair flops in the Toronto breeze under his beanie, and if it wasn’t for feeling the Canadian kindness you wouldn’t have extended the empty seat across from you for him.

“do you know where we are?” he’s shivering. the maple leafs sweatshirt wasn’t keeping him warm, and the phone in his hand has gone cold. his finger tips are red mixture with white, not even his pockets or a warm cup of hot chocolate could keep him warm.

“well for you, you’re about a ten minute walk, for me, it’s it’s around the corner.”

his eyebrows shift upwards, head cocks to the right like a puppy confused, “do I know you?” he would’ve just assumed you were a leafs fan happy to have him across from you, or just an overall good citizen, but you knowing his exact coordinates? maybe you’re a stalker— he’s hoping it’s not that.

“depends, but you really should get home. my brother wouldn’t like to see you in his spot.”

said brother was emerging from the bathroom, and in the corner of his eyes was a storm of a big nightmare. broad shoulders and bulging biceps were enough to alert him out of the seat and out the door.

“who was that?”

“just another lost American.”

—

“what are you doing here?”

he’s a little shocked, a thick golden brown hair pulled back from his shower, he looks good but that’s not what you’re supposed to be focused on. you’re waiting for your brother to exit out that locker room so you can head to his apartment and his fluffy guest bed.

his mind races a million places, his first stalker? a teammates sibling he may, or hopefully not of, hooked up with? a leafs team member? he’s thankful for the locker room door opening to put a halt on his racing mind.

“hey, you ready to go?”

the broad figure reappears, it’s startling almost and instead of running like the last time, he sticks around to find out that the terrifying brother, was his own teammate. Auston Matthews.

“yeah! I’m just getting acquainted with your rookie.” you point in his direction, making your brothers head snap in the direction of Matthew. he looked shaken, a bit shocked and confused.

“ah,” Auston sighs throwing an arm around his rookies shoulders, “don’t get too comfortable, she’s only here for another week.”

his brown eyes dart between you and Auston, the connections finally sinking. your facial features awfully similar to Auston’s and your smiles deepen within the same creases, how could he be such a fool to never realize that? all along you knew him as your brothers teammate, and he knew you as just a girl with infinite amount of knowledge.

“another week?” his voice comes out squeaky, like the air in his lungs are trapped by the new found information. it’s the first time he actually looked at you as more than just someone, he took the chance to finally recognize your beauty and your similarities to the man that stands beside you.

“yeah I had back to school next week.”

all he can do is nod. he can’t breathe. not a single word exits his mouth as he waves you two off and a hand claps over his shoulder allowing the air to escape his lungs, “she’s way out of your league.” Mitch’s voice rings his ears.

“she’s Auston’s sister.”

“youngest, may I add.” Mitch spins into Matthew’s view, “and didn’t you listen to Auston last week? no dating his sisters especially y/n. swear your mind is always in outer space.”

and Mitch wasn’t entirely wrong. while Matthew was present for his teammates “my sister is coming” speech matthew was not expecting Auston’s sister to be a five foot something beauty with thick dark brown locks that have his mind in a twisted game.

“I was present,” he swallows turning his head back to the exit where you’re long gone, “but I wasn’t entirely present.”

—

the charity event is packed with old rich men accompanied by young girls, and it exhausted you. handshake after handshake nothing seemed to change, their donations were generous but you grew up boredom quickly after the second round of handshaking.

the drink slides across the bar, and it doesn’t take a second to register in your mind who it could be, because by the time your eyes flicker up from the cocktail matthew is beside you, “so you failed to mention Auston.”

“our conversations kept running short.” you offer a weary smile taking the rim to your lips, sipping down the alcohol.

“they were long enough for you to throw in your older brothers name.”

you can’t help but roll your eyes, still taking long sips of the drink in your hands here and there, “I thought you were smart enough to figure it out. I guess I gave you too much credit.”

“don’t sell me too short, y/n.” he gives you a cocky grin. it’s one you want to swallow whole and knock him silly, but it ignited a fire in your stomach you were sure was not there prior to this. you blame his ability to dress clean. it’s definitely messing with you.

“prove me wrong then, prove to me you’re smart.” it’s definitely the alcohol talking, but you know he’s a determined individual. if he’s anything like your brother, he loves a good competition, and you can see the spark in his eyes.

“I can do that, doll.” he steps closer, his brown eyes are darker than they were before. you hadn’t noticed his hand was resting on your hip until he pulled you closer to his chest, “I bet I can find your clit faster than any other man could.” his voice is low, it vibrates against your eardrum making your body curl closer to his with a chill down your spine.

your mouth is dry, the only thing you can do is cock your head upwards and hope your eyes are testing him, and with your luck, he’s whisking you off to the nearest bathroom.

your heart is hammering against your chest. taking one last glance behind you, your brother is nowhere in sight and thank fuck he’s not when Matthew locks the door and slams your body against the steel door.

his tongue is fierce, fighting and playing with yours, you’re both exchanging saliva at this point. he’s lift you up by the back of your thighs. setting you on the edge of the sink, he kneels down tossing your legs over his shoulders. it shouldn’t be such a hot scene, but damn it was, especially when his lips just ghost your inner thighs, and his fingers dance your wet panties.

you have to bite down on your bottom lip, you’re so wet just by his touch you can’t help wanting to let the moan out.

he’s patient, takes his time it’s almost like he’s forgotten the mission until his tongue nudged your entrance and you’re washed with a different emotion. one you’d never felt before, it made your legs shake, whatever his tongue was doing he must’ve found the clit and it was definitely not by accident when he nudged it again.

you role yourself closer to his face, he pulls away quickly before cum is all he can see, “didn’t even need a map, it’s just too easy.”

“you’re a prick, knies.”

“Aw we were just getting to know each other, Matthews.”

[alterchaos]

HUMAN

(cw: severe bullying/verbal abuse - read foreword)

After deciding to stay on Mobius, Eve gets settled into her new home with the help of her friends. Ready to start her new life, she ventures into town with confidence and enthusiasm. Though everywhere she goes, it seems she's only met with stares...

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: THE SHINING ROAD

NEXT CHAPTER: CALL OF A HERO

Hello everyone!

This is the second of two chapters that will dive into a deeper discussion on bullying including depictions of verbal abuse, harassment, and trauma. Viewer discretion advised. 

Everything said and done in this chapter is reflective of my own life experiences exactly as they happened, apart from the Sonic-specific items of course. I decided to do this in order to keep things grounded in some level of reality. My hope is that this story can offer a fresh perspective for everyone - whether you are a bully, a bystander, or a victim - and offer a sense of validation and hope for moving forward. 

The final scene in this chapter is based on a what-if scenario: what if I could go back and offer my younger self advice and encouragement? What would I say? How would I be there for myself in ways nobody really was at the time? I sincerely hope that scene can offer anyone else who needs it a sense of comfort and support. Even if no one else says it, you matter and you deserve to feel safe and loved. 

Thank you for reading Alter Chaos.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Life on Mobius was an adjustment to be sure. There was so much Eve loved though about the small planet like the endless expanse of nature and the slow, relaxed pace at which life moved. 

And, of course, her friends.

The ragtag family of Mobians did everything in their power to make the teenage girl feel welcome and at home, especially Sonic. Once her brother had left her sight and her tears finally dried, the Blue Blur wasted no time nor effort in finding his new neighbor proper living arrangements. Amy obliged, expressing nothing but joy in having a new sister to share her home with. The girl moved in immediately, which wasn’t difficult given that she carried no furniture, trinkets, or luggage of the sort. She simply had a bare room and the clothes on her back to settle in with, though not for long. Once word spread of Mobius’s newest citizen, everyone pitched in to attend to their friend’s needs. Vanilla took measurements and tailored an entire wardrobe from scratch to meet the girl’s tastes while Cream helped get started on decorations. Vector and his crew taught her all about how the economy on their world worked, even donating a generous helping of rings for her to get started with.  Amy began to compile a Mobius-special cookbook for her new roommate, complete with ingredients the human girl had never heard of. Knuckles taught her the general history of their world, catching Eve up to speed on local customs and etiquette so she would be ready to socialize. Tails, despite still being riddled with grief over Cosmo, spared a few moments to craft his friend a bed to sleep in and even gave her one of his old desks.  

Then there was Sonic.

Through all of the chaos of getting settled into her new home, the Hero of Mobius insisted on remaining at her side, attending to every need she could possibly have, spoken or not. Whether through his clearly lingering guilt or some unknown promise to her brother she was unaware of, Eve didn’t know. All the girl with the golden hair knew was that, while incredibly sweet and appreciated, she was starting to feel a bit stifled by his efforts. With each passing day, her best friend who once inspired her to have confidence in her own abilities was starting to feel a bit more like an overprotective father who couldn’t bear to see her act on her own two feet. It was an overcorrection far beyond what she’d hoped would come from the incident with the fake emeralds, Amy even having to step in at one point and kick out the unrelenting, anxious hedgehog while insisting her new sister would be fine taking a few moments to herself to process everything. Eve felt bad for him, but Amy was right. She did need a few moments to herself.

Thankfully, the town where everyone had grown up wasn’t too far from her new home.

Eve stepped out to take a walk by herself for the first time…well…possibly ever. Back on Earth, she’d been the daughter of both a famous actress as well as a multi-billion dollar business tycoon. Taking a walk like this, alone, simply wasn’t feasible. She was too famous by association, too valuable and, therefore, vulnerable.

An easy target…

Here though, she was able to find a fresh start, to become who SHE wanted to be on her own merit. On Mobius, she could be a hero like her friends, strong and independent enough to enjoy activities like this on her own while providing for herself and helping those in need. It felt refreshing.

She felt capable.

She felt free.

Eve coveted the feeling and, while she missed her family back home, she didn’t miss the life she left behind. 

The trauma she left behind…

The judgment…

The stares…

The ridicule…

All for where she came from, but never who she was…

Eve took a deep breath.

That all changed now. 

Now, she could finally have the chance she always wished for.

…

Tap. Tap. Tap.

So then…

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Why…

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Why was everyone staring at her like this?

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Like she was…some kind of…

“Freaky…”

“-!!?”

Eve turned her head sharply, catching sight of a couple cat-like Mobians whispering off to the side.

“What a weird-looking Mobian…”

“Where’s her tail?”

More whispers picked up in her ears from all around her.

“Oh my goodness…She’s human isn’t she?”

“A human?”

“Another human?”

“We’d better stay away…”

“She could be trouble…”

Trouble?

But why…

She hadn’t even done anythi-

“I bet she’s related to the doctor.”

“The evil Dr. Eggman…”

“He’s brought us nothing but destruction.”

“Should we call someone?”

“Shhh…quiet! She’ll look this way!”

“Just leave it to Sonic. I’m sure he’ll put her in her place if need be.”

“Yeah! Sonic’ll protect us…”

“Just like the evil Dr. Eggman!”

“Evil…”

“Evil…”

“Evil…”

“Evil…”

“Evil…”

Evil…

Was that really how they all saw her?

Eve turned as she felt a slight tap on her arm, catching sight of a young Mobian looking up at her with curiosity.

“Excuse me, Miss…Where’s your tai-”

Before she could respond, the child’s guardian raced onto the scene, grabbing the small child and holding them close before looking at the girl in panic.

“I’M SO SORRY!!! PLEASE!!! JUST DON’T HURT US!!!”

The whispers continued as the girl stood there stunned, silent and unsure what to say in response. Her face flushed red in embarrassment and shame.

Without another word, she turned and left town, heading back to her home where it was safe.

Maybe tomorrow would be a better day.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another week passed, every day the same as the last. Though the panic ceased, the cautious stares did not. Amy, having heard about her trip, asked Eve how it went. The girl was unable to bring herself to tell the truth. She didn’t want to cause any unnecessary turmoil, which meant she had to continue venturing into town on errands in order to keep up appearances. Though she fooled her friends, she couldn’t fool herself. Every trip felt like a battle against the jaws of death itself, the Mobians’ distrustful stares piercing her very soul, every whisper cutting at her heart like the sharpest blade. 

Worse yet, there were a small handful of Mobians in particular who had caught on to her harmlessness and decided to take advantage of that, spreading hate and worsening the rumors that already weighed her down, knowing full well she would never retaliate.

“I saw her walking towards one of Eggman’s bases the other day…”

Lies.

“I heard her plotting to attack the town when everyone goes to sleep…”

Lies.

“See, she only wants to cause violence because she wishes she were us…”

“You mean that ugly little thing?”

Ha

Ha

Ha

Ha

Ha

All lies.

Suddenly, a gentle hand met her shoulder.

“Hey, Eve!” The blue hedgehog offered up a fanged grin, “I was on my way to check on Tails and wanted to see if you wanted to-!” He paused, catching sight of the girl’s face before him.

Eve was crying.

The other Mobians froze at the sight, silence filling the still air as they watched their hero in awe.

“Hey…What’s wrong?”

She wanted to tell him…

So badly…

But…

Eve wiped her tears, “S-Sorry…” She smiled, “I guess I’m just a little homesick is all…”

A frown crossed her friend’s lips as the Mobians who’d previously antagonized her released a collective sigh of relief. He closed his eyes, considering how to help before offering her another smile and a signature wink. He hesitated a moment before pushing his fears aside and finally taking her hand in his, “Hey, come with me. I want you to meet someone special.”

The girl with the golden hair watched curiously as her oldest and truest friend led her by the hand to a market stall in the deepest part of town. There, an elderly pair of dog and cat Mobians meticulously lifted and placed their goods for sale, smiling and taking each others’ hands lovingly when they could. They turned suddenly as they noticed the blue hedgehog approaching, smiling and waving enthusiastically. 

“Sonic!”

The dark, male cat approached, placing a hand on his shoulder, “Hey, Sonic! How’ve ya been, son!”

Sonic smiled, offering the couple a warm hug before stepping back to introduce his friend, “Jen, Indi, I want you to meet one of my best friends, Eve.” He looked back at his friend, who was now twirling a strand of her hair nervously, “These two took care of me and Tails when we had no place else to go. They’re like family to us! I’m sure they’ll take good care of you as well.”

The girl offered a small but nervous smile and wave, “H-Hi…”

“Reminds me of our sweet, little Tails...”

“How is he by the way?”

Sonic rubbed his head, “Well…still hurting but getting better day by day…”

“You poor kids must have gone through so much to save the universe like that…”

Sonic’s gaze fell, “Yeah…”

“Here. I have something for him that ought to put a smile on his face.” Indi crouched behind the counter, rummaging through more boxes. 

Jen placed a hand on the hedgehog’s shoulder for comfort, eliciting a small smile from him, “Well anyways, a friend of yours is a friend of ours.” She looked to the anxious teen, “Anything you need, sweetie, just say the word!”

A small smile escaped the girl’s lips, “Th-Thank yo-”

“Hey Sonic!” A young, rambunctious kitten tumbled from behind the boxes, racing up to the human before she could finish, “Wooow who’s this strange lady? She kind of looks like the evil Dr. Eggman!”

Eve froze.

“Bonnie!!!” The elderly dog picked up the kitten by the scruff of her neck furiously, “Apologize to her right now!!!”

Eve looked down, rubbing her arm and speaking softly so as not to cause a scene, “I-It’s okay…I’m used to it…”

“Used to it?” Sonic watched his friend with intense concern as her face grew red, both from embarrassment and tears threatening to spring up at the comment. His ear flicked, picking up on the soft sounds of whispering behind him as other Mobians nearby began to stare, though not daring to get close. 

Sonic clenched his fists, gritting his fangs in like as he turned to face the crowd.

“Rrrrrgh…Alright, listen up! If anyone has a problem with my friend here, they’re going to have to answer to me, The Hero of Mobius! Got that!!?”

Many in the crowd looked away in disdain, while the few antagonizers scoffed and rolled their eyes. None, though, dared to argue back against him. While the blue hedgehog puffed his chest and brushed his hands together in triumph, Eve shielded her face in embarrassment with one of her hands, not daring to look at the damage her friend had unknowingly caused.

That was exactly what she’d been afraid of…

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Wow, having to hide behind the great hero, Sonic?”

“She’s obviously up to something…”

“She’s clearly just using him…”

She tried to ignore it day after day after day…

“I bet she just wants to steal his spotlight all for herself…”

“My, what a selfish pig…”

But it only kept getting worse…

“Bitch.”

“Whose boots are you licking?”

“Kiss-ass.”

Eventually, their words began to blend with those of the distant past…

“She should leave.”

“A waste of our space…”

“She was a mistake.”

“She should just leave Mobius for good.”

Eve didn’t even know whose voices she was hearing anymore…

“A complete waste of space…”

“Nobody loves you…”

“Who would ever want to be friends with her?”

Were they even theirs to begin with?

“You’re unlovable…”

“Just die already…”

“Die…”

“Die…”

“Go kill yourself.”

THUD!

Eve dropped her basket, the ingredients spilling out like the voices in her mind. She covered her face, sprinting from the town as fast as she could in a panic.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eventually, Sonic found her curled up near the cliffside overlooking the sea.

“Hey…still thinking about home?”

She wanted to tell him…

But…

“Yeah…”

Sonic rubbed his head in guilt.

“How did things go out in town today? Was it better?”

She couldn’t bring herself to…

Eve turned, a bright smile beaming from her lips.

“Yep! Everyone was super nice to me! Lots of new friends hehehe!”

Sonic watched her for a moment for any sign telling him otherwise. After a moment, he breathed a sigh of relief, wiping his forehead in tandem.

“Phew! For a second there, I thought maybe I made things worse!” He knelt down beside her, placing his hand on her shoulder after another moment of hesitation, “I’m really happy for you, you know?”

Eve nodded, maintaining her cheerful facade. She didn’t want to place that kind of burden on him, not when he’d already gone through so much on the Blue Typhoon. It was her business and, besides, she didn’t want to make the other Mobians hate her more. She needed to handle this herself. She could do this…she just needed a little more time…

She could handle this…

…

…

Then why did the thought make her feel sick to her stomach?

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few more weeks passed since that day, her anxiety growing worse with every minute. It was all the same: the stares, the ridicule, the comparisons, the assumptions…Eventually, she didn’t even want to leave home, let alone her bedroom. If she stopped though, Sonic would figure it out. They all would. She had to keep up appearances. 

They couldn’t know.

That grew more and more difficult though as Eve began to fall ill from the stress. She found herself hardly able to eat or sleep anymore, leading her roommate to inevitably catch on that something was seriously wrong. She approached her sister directly, seeking answers where she was only met with silence. Still, Amy encouraged the human girl to reach out to someone she trusted, to tell someone what it was that was weighing on her mind. She was right of course, though one question still remained…

Who would she tell?

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The young fox maintained an intense focus on his work, for it was there that he found relief from the ever-present guilt and grief over his failures as a captain. Face shield pulled down, he watched the flames of his blowtorch as they melded the two scraps of metal together. Eventually, he clicked the blowtorch off, raised the shield, and took a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow.

It was then that he caught sight of the girl peering sheepishly at him from the corner of his open garage. 

Tails smiled, though a bit of fatigue and sadness lined his eyes, “Hey, Eve. What’s up? Do you need something?”

“U-U-Um…” She hid the bottom part of her face behind the wall, her eyes shifting to the side nervously, “C-Can we talk…?”

Tails’s eyes widened, noticing her fidgety demeanor. He recognized it all too well, remembering his own anxious mannerisms from his days at the orphanage with Sonic. He smiled warmly, rising from his workbench and inviting his friend inside without hesitation.

Eve felt a bit awkward at first, sitting across from her friend and captain on a sofa inside his adjacent house. She couldn’t find the words, though Tails didn’t rush her, simply offering her some snacks and a drink while she figured out what she wanted to say. Finally, she forced out a few words. Little by little, the awkwardness went away, replaced by a natural flow and passion that had been hidden away deep inside, locked safely from the outside world. She told him everything: all the names and harassment she’d endured. She told him about Sonic’s attempt to put a stop to it and how his efforts only made things worse. She poured out her heart until it was all empty. Tails simply sat and listened without judgment and, for the first time since she’d decided to stay on Mobius, Eve felt safe to just be herself.

Tails placed his mug he was drinking from down on the table before him, “Hmm…that is a tricky problem…I’m really proud of you for reaching out to me.” He offered her a wink, “I know first-hand how hard that can be, so I’m happy to help.”

Eve continued holding her mug in her trembling hands, sniffling a bit as her tears dried, “It’s just…It’s not that I don’t appreciate Sonic’s help…but…”

“Yeah…Sonic has many great qualities, but mediation was never his strongest. He just likes to jump in first and ask questions later, which explains why he and Knuckles fight so much. I know though, without a doubt, that if you told him how you feel, he’d listen. He really cares about you, you know.”

“I know that…I just…I don’t want to make him feel bad for trying to help…”

Tails smiled, “I’m sure he wouldn’t feel bad. If anything, he’d want to know how to make it right.” He closed his eyes in remembrance, “In fact, back when he first met you, he asked me for advice on how he could best help you feel more confident without making you feel overwhelmed or anxious. You know what I said to him?” 

Eve’s eyes widened. She’d never heard of this, “What?”

“I told him to just keep being himself.” Tails opened his eyes, “Sonic has his own special way of connecting with others, just as I do mine, and just as you do yours. If he tried to be someone else, that wouldn’t be building a true connection. It would only be a form of acting, a performance with an end. But friendship doesn’t end, at least not if it’s true.”

Eve paused for a moment, taking in what she’d just heard. Sonic had really gone out of his way for her, even as far back as the day they first met. It touched her heart.

Then she remembered the reason he even found her in that construction site in the first place.

Her gaze fell, “...but what if…what if people don’t like the real me? Does…does that make me a bad person?”

Tails’s eyes widened, “What? No. Why would you think that?”

“Well…if enough people think so then it must have some merit to it, right? I mean…I know I don’t have any special powers…and I can’t really fight alongside all of you, so…”

“Woah, slow down. Powers aren’t everything, Eve.” The girl looked back up at her friend, “We didn’t choose to become your friend because we expected that from you. Not even close.” Tails watched her gaze fall once more, releasing a small sigh as he remembered his own struggle with self-confidence, “Not everyone is going to like you, Eve. You can’t focus on that. Believe me…I know…” Tails smiled, “What really matters is the people who love you for who you are, like me! And definitely like Sonic!” He winked at her knowingly.

The girl sat there quietly for a moment, unsure how to respond. While she knew she was loved, she still felt as though it was unearned. Her friends had contributed so much to her life and yet, she’d hardly even begun to pay them back for their kindness. 

She needed to do better, starting now.

She looked up at her friend with concern, “You know, I’ve been so focused on myself these past few weeks that I don’t think I ever stopped by to ask how you were doing.”

Tails’s eyes widened before smiling nervously, “H-Hey, don’t worry about it! I’m…” His gaze fell somewhat, “...okay…It’s getting a bit easier with each day…I’m…trying and…that’s what counts…” He looked down sadly, “I know that’s what she’d want from me at least…”

Guilt flooded the girl’s expression, “I’m sorry, Tails…I-I didn’t mean to-”

The fox smiled, “Like I said, don’t worry about it. It’s good to talk about these things. It helps with processing everything. Besides, you really needed a friend who could listen and help. You never have to apologize to me for that, okay?”

Eve smiled warmly, “Thanks, Tails. I’ll…” Her smile faltered slightly, “...try to take your advice…”

At the very least, his words gave her the courage to continue.

If only…

“You’re welcome, Eve.”

If only there was a way she could prove herself as a hero…

As a true friend…

Then maybe they could see her as more than what she was on the outside…

Than that which held her back, hindering her in all aspects of her life…

Something more than some flawed, messy, weak, and out of place…

…human.

CHAPTER END

Fun Side Note: Jen, Indi, and Bonnnie are all based on real pets in my life.

Jen/Jenna (a ball of unimaginable fluff): 2003-2020 Rest in peace...

Indi/Indiana Jones (Indy for short): 2008-2023 Rest in peace...

Bonnie/Boo Boo (named after yogi bear): 2019- now

[mydarllinglover]

Playing Favourites || Three

Previous

Lake hopped off the Chariot, lifting Cove down, by the waist, as they were greeted by their mentors and stylists, at the Training centre.

"You both did great, no one can shut up about you guys." Oscar told them.

"Thanks." Cove grinned, hugging herself tightly, it was freezing down here.

"Here." Finnick had noticed her shivering, he was quick to drape his jacket over her, he knew how humiliating it was to be practically naked for the world to see.

"Thank you." She nodded at him, slipping her arms into the sleeve's.

"Let's get you guys upstairs, Remus is probably already up there, pacing a hole into the floor." Oscar said, moving towards the elevators.

The stylists followed, as they made their way to the Elevators, all clambering in, before the other districts could.

As the door's closed, Cove spotted the same two pairs of eyes that had been watching her earlier, but this time, their tribute partners were following.

"They either hate me, or plan on killing me first." Cove muttered, maintaining eye contact with them, until the doors were fully shut, and they were travelling to the fourth floor.

"Who?" Oscar asked.

"Careers." Lake answered for her.

"Hm, we will talk about your strengths and skills during dinner." He decided. "Your first day of training is tomorrow."

Cove adjusted one of the lashes, as it was irritating her, but her hand was quickly slapped away by Linus.

"Do not touch the art." He told her.

"The art is my face." She replied, but there was no fight in her tone.

"You may take it off, when you get to your own quarters, for now, I want us all to revel in my work."

"Can I make a suggestion for your next design?" Cove raised her hand, sheepishly.

"What might that be?" He folded his arms across his chest, raising a brow.

"Underwear." She replied.

Lake, as well as their mentors, scoffed at her comment, stifling chuckles behind coughs, as Oscar attempted to tell her off.

"Cove, do not be so rude!" He mimicked Remus.

"What?! I am about to be sent to my death, I'd like to take a bit of dignity to my grave."

"Tippet." Finnick shook his head disapprovingly, as everyone else had gone quiet.

"Just being realistic." She muttered, casting her eyes back done to the ground floor, where all the citizens had gotten smaller.

The elevators doors opened, and they walked into an beautiful apartment, their home for the next week.

"Welcome to District 4's floor." Remus introduced, before walking the two tributes around the place, showing them their own quarters.

Cove didn't bother looking around her room, instead, headed straight for her ensuite bathroom, that was larger than her own bedroom, at home.

She took another look in the mirror, letting her true thoughts invade her mind.

She hated the outfit, and she felt humiliated at the fact that the whole of Panem saw her in it, saw her barely dressed, it was enough to churn her stomach.

If being preyed upon, and lusted over was her way to victory, she truly would rather die in the arena, fuck what Finnick thought.

Cove had a go at pressing the many buttons, figuring out what they all were, before splashing her face with cold water, breaking up the make up on her face, before pulling the lashes off her face, freeing her eyes of its weight.

She grabbed a wash cloth, wetting it, then scrubbed her face roughly, until her eyelids were no longer blue, her skin was it's natural hue, and she could recognise it.

She then untangled herself from the dress, un-braiding the two fishtails from her hair, and slipping under the hot steamy water.

Running her fingers through her hair, the pearls dropped to the floor, she could feel it going back to its normal way, her curls coming back, the gel leaving.

She sighed, trying to find peace in the solitude, but she still felt trapped, she wanted to go home, she missed her father, her life, her jobs and the people, she wanted her bed and her shark.

Tears began trailing down her cheek, before the sobs started, too, until she collapsed to the ground, knees to her chest as she rocked back and forth, she hated it here, she hated the citizens of the capital, her stylists, her mentor, and the president, she hated President Snow more than anything in the world, he took her brother away from her, then her mother, and now, he was about to take her life, too.

She always wanted to spend her last days by the sea, around the people she loved, that's what she'd spend late nights thinking about, but now, he was taking that away from her, too.

It was a while later, when she joined everyone for dinner, dressed in long trousers, and a turtleneck, she'd hope her stylist would take a hint.

"Oh, if you asked, I could've showed you the button for your hair." Remus told Cove, using his knife to point at her wet curls, dripping down her back.

"That's okay." I prefer my hair like this." She replied, taking a seat beside Lake, once again, sat opposite Finnick, who was looking at her, as she placed some salmon and rice on her plate

Linus dropped his fork on his plate.

"Your hair looks lovely, Cove, let's talk tactics." Oscar swayed the conversation.

"Finally." Lake commented, taking a bite of his own food.

"Alright, per your enthusiasm, we'll start with you. What are you good at?"

All eyes turned to the boy.

"Uh... I..." He shrugged his shoulders, trying to think. "I was good at the academy, pretty good with combat, I can wrestle." Lake decided on.

"Yeah, that can be useful, if you plan on body slamming all the other tributes." Oscar shared. "What about weapons?"

"Look, I know what I can do, my issue is her." He nodded his head at his female partner. "Help her."

"Excuse you." She scoffed at him.

"Cove?"

"Sorry, eating." She looked back down at her meal, uninterested, now.

"S'good with knives." Finnick spoke up, to everyone's surprise. "Quick, too. Good climber."

"Yeah, until she stopped applying herself, when she dropped out." Lake rolled his eyes.

"I don't wish to fight anyone." She nibbled a piece of Salmon.

"Alright, fine, before I give myself an aneurism, lets focus on the crowdwork, we already know that they love you, you're good at what you're doing, so far, but being kind and polite, people are going to get bored of that, quickly. Lake, you said they were eyeing our girl up?" He looked at the boy, again.

"Yeah." He smirked. "You could feel their thoughts all the way from our chariot."

Cove felt a sharp kick to her shin, her eyes shot to the blond sat in front of her, spotting how his jaw was clenched, he had become stiff, as he sipped his wine, his eyes on his drink.

She moved her legs back, further from him, as she listened to her partner and mentor talk.

"Look, this can either be really good for you, or really fucking bad." Oscar rubbed his temples as he thought. "So, during this week, in training, I want you to get to know them, know them good. Do tasks with them, converse during lunch, if they approach you, act inviting, basically, you're gonna flirt with them so much, that they forget they wanna kill you."

Cove choked on her rice, as she heard what he said.

"What?" She gasped.

"Flirt, I want you to flirt, come on, it's not that hard of a concept to understand."

"I'm not doing that." She awkwardly chuckled.

"Or don't know how." Lake supplied.

"Huh? No, you know how to flirt, be serious." Oscar batted the idea away.

"No... he's right." She mumbled, her cheeks turning a rosy colour "I wouldn't have a clue."

"How old are you?"

"Eighteen..."

"And you're telling me you've never flirted with anyone?"

Cove really hated this conversation.

She shook her head.

"Seriously?" He looked her up and down, not believing her.

She nodded.

"Pfft, okay, uhm, who do you fancy?" He tried.

"Excuse me?" She glared.

"Just answer the question." Lake told her.

"Fine, no one. What is this, a slumber party, are we all gonna braid each others hair and share our deep dark secrets?"

"Close your eyes." Oscar told her.

"Why?"

"I'm your mentor, I ask the questions and make the demands, close your eyes." He pointed at her.

She did as she was told, with a long sigh.

"Okay, now I want you to picture who you fancy, think hard, who you crush on, at school, who you wish would take you out on dates, who you wanna end up with, for the rest of your life."

Cove did as he said, trying to picture a person in her mind, thinking hard about the people in her class, who did she think about romantically?

"Now, tell me who."

"Uhm..."

"Cove, what did I say?"

"Fine." She opened her eyes, meeting those sea-green iris's, who were staring intently, at her, then she looked at her other mentor. "Marsh Scute."

"Marsh?!" Both Lake and Finnick demanded, though the latter had even slammed his cutlery on the table, slightly standing up, shocked by the reveal.

"Yeah..."

"Marsh is?" Remus asked.

"A boy in our class." Cove replied, twirling a strand of her hair. "He works at the docks."

"Okay... and what do you like about him?" Oscar asked.

"Is he cute?" Linus queried.

"Well... his Mom cooked a casserole for me and my dad, once, and he brought it over, and another time, I was singing at the tavern, and he gave me flowers."

"That's it?" Finnick asked.

"Yes." She nodded. "I thought it was very sweet."

"Oh brother." Lake shook his head.

"And, you never thought to make a move?" Linus asked.

"No..." She shook her head. "I wouldn't know what to say."

"See, I thought you were just holding out until you and Odair finally got back together, and popped out a shoal." Lake played with his food, as he thought out loud.

"Huh?" Cove's jaw dropped, as her head spun, to look at him.

Finnick's eyes had shot wide, his eyes moving from Cove almost instantly.

The adults around the table looked at the two, as though they were observing a tennis game.

"What's this?" Remus asked.

"Nothing!" Cove objected. "Lake, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Y'know, how in love you two were, before he went off to his games, come on, you don't think anyone noticed?"

"We were not in love." Cove argued.

"Yeah, just friends, that was it." Finnick agreed.

"Is what you told yourselves."

"Wrong!"

"Awe, Finnick, you didn't tell us you're friends with a tribute." Remus smiled.

"He's not." Cove replied. "Not for a long time."

"Oh..." He let out a disappointed sigh.

"Right, shall we get back on topic?" Oscar asked, still watching the two, the boy staring at the girl, with sad eyes, he remembered how the kid had opened up about the girl from their district, throughout the years he had known him, Oscar just never realised it was her.

"Yes." She nodded.

"Okay, look, I know you can do this, kid, look how you are on the stage, at home, you're passionate and charismatic, there."

"Yeah, I'm really passionate about being able to put food on the table, and a roof over my father and I's head." She blinked, her fingers interlocked with each other.

"Well, be passionate about staying alive." He waved his hand. "Then, you won't ever have to work a day in your life, and you will have a new and better roof over you and your fathers head."

"Look, I can try, but I don't know what I'm doing."

"I can teach you." Remus, Linus, and Lake's stylist, spoke up, all at the same time.

"What?" She asked, as the other three turned to them.

"It's easy, and with a face like yours, and a chest like that, it should be second nature." Linus told her, bluntly.

"Oh, uhm." She folded her hands over her chest, as she looked back down at the table.

"Okay, we'll talk more, at breakfast, it's bed time, need my tributes to get a lot of rest." Oscar stood from the table, taking the wine canteen with him, heading in the direction of where Cove guessed his room was.

Cove also got up from the table, heading for her own chambers, quickly, in the event that no one would stop her.

She looked around her room, sitting down on the large bed, taking it all in.

She had to give props to the Capital, letting the districts live a limited time of luxury, before their death, she guessed it was to show what the Hunger Games were for, why the districts were divided, so that they could live this everyday.

Cove picked up the remote, that was sat on the table beside the bed, pressing a button, and then her room sounded as though it were raining, the wind flowing through leaves, as drops of water fell.

Then she pressed another button, and suddenly the walls had turned into tree's it was dark, and she was surrounded by nature, out in the woods during a storm.

She laid down on the bed, before pressing the same button, now, she was in a desert.

She pressed the first button, again, hoping to find what matches with this, and she wasn't disappointed, as the sound of shifting sand travelled to her ears.

Another button was pressed, and she almost felt like she was home, as she looked at the beach around her, the beautiful water crashing around rocks.

She could've cried when the sounds followed, and then she did, she felt like she'd cried more this week, then the past 4 years, which was enough to make herself feel pathetic.

Her best friend being shipped off to the games, and coming back as a different person, her brother being reaped and killed, and then her mother too, and her father losing himself. But the fact that she can no longer be in the sea, brought up the old feelings of the past, was what got the waterworks going, huh.

She layed on the bed, spread out like a starfish, as she stared at the ceiling, listening to her favourite sound, she didn't even know for how long, before once again, she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

She stared at it for a moment, before there was another, this time, it sounded a lot more impatient.

Cove rolled her eyes, getting up and heading for the door.

"What?" She asked.

"I wanted to talk." Finnick replied.

"Okay, so talk." She waved for him to continue.

"May I come in?" He brushed past her, walking into her room, for the second night in a row.

"You're not allowed in here." She told him, closing the door.

"You think rules apply to a victor?" He smirked, looked over his shoulder, at her.

"Apparently not. What do you want?"

"I just..." He sat down on her bed. "It's just that... Marsh, seriously?" He looked up at her.

"Are you- Finn, get out of my room." She glared at him.

"No, no, I'm confused, you owe me an explanation."

"Uh, no, I don't think I do, it's none of your business, actually." She shook her head. "But are you here for a real reason?"

"Well, yeah, but also I wanna know why you would be interested in a guy like Marsh, out of all people."

"I happen to think he's really nice."

"Nice?!" His brows shot up. "You're settling for a guy who's "Nice", that's it?"

"We're not getting married, just, I don't know." She shrugged, falling backwards, onto her bed, beside him. "I was under pressure, he was the first guy I thought of."

"You can do better." He laid down, looking at her.

"Oh yeah? Mr Capital darling, everyone loves me." She poked him, doing a poor impression of the boy.

He cracked, chuckling at her poor imitation, as he grabbed her finger, pushing it away from his face.

"Y'know, someone's Mom actually passed out, when you walked on stage, at the reaping." She shared.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yeah, didn't you see?" She furrowed her brows, at him.

"No, guess I was just focused on something else." He looked away from her, up at the ceiling instead.

"Hm, well, you're very popular in our classes, as well, especially with Tampa Riverbank."

"Tampa Riverbank?!" He almost snapped his neck, as he looked back at her.

"Yup, pretty sure she had some secret fan club, for you."

"Oh, god." He sighed, a grimace on his face. "Its a curse, to be this devilishly handsome, y'know."

"Oh really?" Cove teased. "So you wouldn't know anything about that, then?"

He let out a gasp, as he rolled onto his forearms.

"Cove Tippet, you don't think I'm handsome?" He asked.

"Hmmm." She tapped her chin. "No." She shook her head.

"Liar." He grinned.

"I don't think so."

"Yeah, you do, you think I'm really handsome, more handsome than Marsh."

"No way." She snorted.

Finnick sat up, leaning over her, his hands beside her head as he looked down.

"Admit it, Cove, you were part of the Fanclub, weren't you?" He asked, his face full of seriousness.

"I definitely was not."

"You were the president, huh?"

"Get off of me, Finn." She laughed.

"No, you gotta fight me off."

"What? Come on, move." She tapped his side.

"I'm another tribute, I'm about to kill you, what do you do, Cove?"

"Saying my last goodbyes." She replied, boredly.

"Seriously, come on."

With every second, he began to put more weight on her, urging for her to hurry up.

She pushed at his shoulders, but he refused to move.

But then, like a second instinct, she wrapped her leg around his hip, using all her strength, to rock him, before knocking him over, onto the bed, letting her straddle him.

"Is this where I slit your throat, and accept my crown?" She asked, not bothering to move.

"That was good, but, if I actually wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead, by now." He tapped her thighs, to get off, which she did, letting him sit up. "Come on, I wanna show you something."

"What?" She asked, following him, as he got up from her bed, heading for the door.

"The training room."

Next

[serotoninnorepinephrinedopamine]

Showers and Confessions - Pro Hero Kirishima x Reader

This is set in the future, Kirishima is a pro hero and you're part of search and rescue. You're quirk is just basically an earth bender and you thought search and rescue would be a better use for your quirk than being a hero. Your "hero" outfit is similar to that of a coal miner.

*Credit to the artist, the signature is a little hard to read

.

The battle between the pros and villains had been supper destructive and lasted a while as the sun was starting to set. Many buildings had toppled much to my annoyance but unfortunately the heros can't help it, shit happens, it just means my crew and I have our work cut out for us this evening. With emergency personnel and vehicles on the scene we get to work.

Most of my crew was in charge of finding people in the rubble with their quirks whether it be with scent, echo location, or what have you but it was my personal job to move the debris away with my quirk and get the citizens out as fast as possible. The farther the fight got from us we moved in for search and rescue. I just hope Kirishima is doing okay out there, he's too "manly" for his own good and when it comes to protecting people he gives it his all but it's gonna get him really hurt one of these days....I dunno maybe I worry too much.

Pulled back to reality out of my thoughts, my teammates call me over having found some civilians. "Let's just hope it's a good shift." I say hopefully to myself before going to help.

.

Kirishima and I met in class 1-A, his red hair and can do attitude was what originally caught my attention, he was sweet and we hit it off right away. Originally I wanted to be a hero like every kid does until the LOV attacked the school, it was shooking and I was scared. I realized I wasn't cut out for pro hero work so I transferred to search and rescue.

We kept in touch and he'd go out of his way to hang out with me even if that meant he was just in the room while I studied or did homework. I enjoyed every hang out with him especially if I had a bad day. He always seemed to make it better with his adorable smile and not to mention his hugs are the best.

Few years down the road we graduated together, many photos were taken together that day and I secretly love them all. I love the big goofball but I don't think he'll ever see me that way so I'll take whatever I can get! Even if that means I'm cleaning up the wake of destruction from his job.

.

The sun is but a sliver along the horizon now as I pace beside an ambulance. My job was done, all the civilians had been found, no casualties so far which was good but there was no sign of Kirishima yet and I'm not leaving without him.

After about 40 minutes of nervous pacing I hear his wonderful voice "Y/N!" he shouts as he jogs towards me. I dash to him meeting halfway enveloping him in a tight hug as I crash into him. "What took you so long I was getting really worried?!" I ask sternly. He chuckles and wraps his arms around me "News reporters had me caught up, besides you know I can handle myself you don't need to worry so much." he says with a reassuring smile. I release him from the hug returning the smile and say "Let's get you home and cleaned up." as I lead him to a waiting vehicle. "What are you my (insert spouse pronoun)?" he says cheerfully. I couldn't help but blush but thankfully he couldn't see it with my back to him.

.

Once we made it inside his place I usher him to the bathroom for a shower "Clean up I'll prepare you some leftovers." I say as I turn to leave he grabs my wrist and I turn to look at him. His cheeks were bright pink as he avoided eye contact and rubbed the back of his neck "You need a shower too right? We've known each for years uhhh...you could take a shower with me if you want Y/N?" he sheepishly asks. My eyes wide and face on fire I yank my wrist from his grasp and slam the door shut. "I- I'm sorry! I'll wai-wait my turn!" I shout as I run to the kitchen.

I brace myself against to counter as I barely hear the water turn on over my pounding heart "Holy shit! How-WHY would he ask something like that! Sure we've known each other for a while but it-it's no!" I think to myself. I take in a deep breath and exhale, calming myself some what, and go about preparing him something to eat.

I sat on the couch for what seemed like a while collecting my racing thoughts waiting for my turn. The second he stepped out and went to his room I rushed in the bathroom for my shower.

.

Feeling clean and relaxed I crack open the bathroom door to peek out. Kirishima sat on the couch slightly hunched over. I sneak into his room and "steal" a rather large shirt and some loose fitting bottoms, I didn't have spares and I don't stay over enough to have some here.

I make my way to the couch and sit beside him. He glances over the somber look quickly replaced by one of amusement and a short laugh "Making yourself at home I see?" he states and continues "About early I'm sorry for being brash, I've been doing some thinking and figured it would've been alright to ask." I put a hand on his thigh "Hey it's okay to ask, albeit a very shocking question." I respond. He chuckles nervously "Yeah...um earlier today some things happened and it made me realize that I should tell you sooner rather than later" he grabs my hands in his "because eventually something will happen and I won't get the chance to but...ugh! What I'm trying to say is I like you and not as just a friend as a potential lover if yo-"

I put a finger to his lips and move my hands to his cheeks holding his face. Half lided eyes staring into his wide ones "You have no idea how long I've waited to hear a confession fall from your lips." I say with a smile as I pull him into a kiss.

[sl-newsie]

Spelled (Carlos de Vil x Sanderson Daughter) Descendants 3- Ch. 9: Redemption

The blade that causes the most agony is the blade that takes its time.

The metal running through flesh and blood,

Its sharp emotion cutting into fear itself.

Your mind stops entirely, it’s too late to realize…

Hope is the blade that has pushed me to this. I can’t blame my mother, my coven, or Carlos. All of this is because I dared to hope. I chose to partake in this rotten fairytale, the one with the evil witch and no happy ending.

As I fly over Auradon I feel no reason for remorse. The citizens are still cowering in their homes but it doesn’t matter. I mean no physical harm to them. If they cooperate nicely then all I ask is for my father’s release and my own solitude from the law. Ben’s turned to stone and Mal’s obviously not a reasonable figurehead so I will consult my demands with the new queen: Audrey.

It’s no trouble to find her. The giant beacon of pink light in the sky leads me straight to the palace and I spot the pink villain on the tower. When she sees me Audrey’s face twists into a taunting smirk.

“Hm. Come crawling back, have we freak?”

“You were right, Audrey,” I mutter as I land and dismount my broom. “Mal is nothing but a vicious, back-stabbing liar. She never wanted to keep the barrier open, and she never wanted to let me be free. She just wants to use my magic for herself.”

Audrey’s cruel gaze softens and she lowers the scepter. “I’m sorry to hear that. What about the others?”

My breath stutters and I look up with glowing eyes. “You… You know what you did. Thou cast them into stone!” I seethe. “And now that everyone I care for is either locked away or dead, there’s nothing holding me back. Uma predicted I would become a villain. Why test fate?” 

“Magica?” A familiar black feline jumps onto the stone wall. I look away to avoid his judgeful eyes. “You’ve been busy.”

“Not now, Binx. I don’t need a lecture right now.” I let out a heavy sigh and turn to Audrey. “I have come to ask for thou’s permission to release my father and allow us to return home. Alone. Away from everyone. I promise I will not bother your reign as long as we are left alone.”

The pink-haired AK takes in my words with an amused look. She paces a few times and then says: “Funny. After all this I thought you’d want more.”

“I don’t want more. I just want my life back.”

She hums. “Very well. But first I need you to help me secure a certain asset.”

Something about the way she says it triggers my pulse to strike. “What asset?”

Audrey points the scepter and sends a blast of energy across the grounds, striking a nearby tree. When the smoke clears I see what- or who, she was aiming for. 

“Let me go!” Celia shouts as Audrey’s magic pulls her towards us. “I’m not on Mal’s side anymore!”

“That’s too bad,” Audrey says. “Because Mal still poses a threat to me and you’re going to be my insurance that she doesn’t try anything against me. As long as I have you she can’t do anything drastic.”

A hostage? No, I don’t like that. And neither does Binx.

“Magica, stop her! This isn’t right!”

“If it means I can be left in peace…”

No. It’s still not right. Celia shouldn’t be caught up in this. This is between me and Mal.

“Audrey, there are other ways-” I start off slowly.

“Here she comes!” she cackles and looks up at the darkening sky.

Mal, in dragon form, comes flying towards us with Audrey blasting magic everywhere. Unlike previous times I don’t see any anger behind Mal’s eyes. Did she just show up for a peace offering?

“Help me, Mal!” Celia shrieks and Audrey pulls her closer.

“Come save your little friend, Mal!”

Mal it seems is trying to put together how to attack without hurting Celia. All she does is circle around and growl with no intention of blasting any fire.

“Help me out!” Audrey barks and tries to curse Mal. “Come on! Blast her!”

Down below I see Uma and Harry run up, and I can tell they’re planning on stopping us. At least they’re unscathed. But Uma’s fearful and disappointed stare makes me wonder just how evil this side is.

Despair will cloak my being.

My mortal self will subside. 

The face of Death I’m seeing… 

To a frightful fate I’m tied. 

“Hold still, you little brat!” Audrey hisses at Celia. “Once these two prissy VKs are taken out I’ll finally get what I deserve!”

“Mal! Do it together!” Uma shouts from the ground.

Using both her shell and Hades’ Ember in Mal’s clawed hand, Mal blocks Audrey’s next lightning attack and sends it back to her, knocking her down. Mal descends and turns to human form, approaching us very slowly.

“Magica, I know you’re mad. You have every right to be. I’m a terrible friend and a selfish queen who thought if I locked away potential threats then I’d be doing the right thing. But it’s not. I can’t just assume that evil can be locked away. I need to settle things diplomatically.”

From the ground in hear Audrey scoff. “Ha! She’s trying to sweet talk us again. How ‘bout that, freak?”

The guilt and dread, pooling in my stomach. 

The sorrow of humanity is stressing. 

My time winds down to the final hour. 

The hope and joy wanes from my conscience. 

“My. Name. Is-” My eyes glow bright and I hold up my arms, both flickering with purple sparks. “Magica. SANDERSON!”

A powerful spray of flames bursts from my chest and spreads out in waves. Audrey cries out and is slammed against the wall even harder. She hisses in pain and sends out her own blast from the scepter. Time to end this once and for all!

“Praesidium! Praesidio nobis! Protegat nos cara Domine!”

A circle of purple runes sparks to life and spreads across the land. 

“Magica! You can’t-!” Binx screams over the roar of my energy.

I know I can’t. No witch can cast a spell this powerful without a full coven. But if it means providing protection for Auradon then it’s the least I can do to repay my sinful vengeance.

“Praesidium! Praesidio nobis! Protegat nos cara Domine!” I rasp in a shaking voice.

My energy is almost gone. As if someone cut out my heart. Audrey’s unconscious and is no longer trying to attack. My work is done.

My mind goes fuzzy and I feel myself collapse against the stone floor. All I can hear through the ringing in my ears is Mal and Binx trying to reach me.

Death is inevitable. 

A knife through the heart will stop any flow. You will die, you will slow.

A hint of red will stain the floor,

After you have entered the door,

You will shriek.

Moan.

Die.

Not a quick death,

But just enough for you to feel your senses weaken.

A slow, miserable death.

A long and sad death.

But I am not alone. Through my glazed vision I see both Mal and Uma are kneeling next to me, while Binx is pawing at my chin.

“My prophecy did come true, Sparky,” Uma whispers. “But instead of destroying the world, you saved it.”

The black veil of grief clouds the bliss of Life. Will I make it through the night? 

“I’m so sorry,” Mal’s breath hitches as she tries to block tears. “This is all my fault.”

Yes, it is her fault. But it is also partially my fault for letting things go this far. As I lay in despair, my dress torn and my skin covered with multiple cuts, all I can think of is that the deed is done. I am at peace.

Despair will cloak my being.

My mortal self will subside. 

The face of Death I’m seeing… 

To a frightful fate I’m tied. 

“I- I don’t know if I will wake up,” I choke down a breath. “I only ask for your forgiveness.”

“Of course, Magica. But you need to stay awake. We’ll find Fairy Godmother, she can-”

Mal’s words are muffled out and my mind urges me into darkness. So now it ends. Without seeing mother, without keeping my promises. My last regret is that I never got to say goodbye to Carlos. I didn’t even get to tell him I still love him. 

“For God shall bring every work to judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14

My own sins are tested. It’s in His hands now. 

[corner-stories]

jk 14

July Prompts 🌴

14. Childhood posted on my ao3 as well!

Victoria is a long way from Montreal. Gone are the towering buildings, the St. Lawrence River, and the Kirschtein's apartment in Pointe-aux-Trembles. Nowadays he’s living at his Uncle Stephane’s house in Esquimalt, a building that’s bigger than the one he used to live in, yet the actual space he’s been allotted is small. The cot placed in his Cousin Geoffrey’s bed leaves him barely any wiggle room, and he may only be nine but he feels like he's getting bigger every day. His mother promises that this will only be temporary, that the cramped feeling of his Uncle’s home is a necessity they both must bear until they truly get settled. 

In the meantime there are more important things to tackle regarding their cross-country move, so on a day in late summer his mother takes him to a library. She says it’s to both escape the heat and have him pick up more books to practice his English, something she's been gently encouraging him to do before school starts. Deep down Jean wonders if it's to spare him from being teased and tormented by Cousin Geoff for an afternoon — and if that ends up being the case, then he is quite thankful. 

The branch they are visiting is in a part of Victoria that Jean hasn’t seen before, near James Bay where all the tourist pictures are taken. His mother promises that once the temperature goes down they’ll take a walk near the water and visit one of the parks, maybe even get some ice cream to cap off the day. But for now Arielle Kirschtein sits at a computer, where she browses postings for apartments and other resources that newcomers to the city can take advantage of. 

Jean is left to his own devices. Unsurprisingly he soon finds himself in the kids section, the part of the building that’s decorated with large posters of local insects, coniferous trees, and rocky mountains, little details that paint a picture of the Pacific Northwest. As tempting as it is to browse the French-language section, since this particular branch has every single Adventures of Tintin volume, the little Quebecer follows his mother’s request and finds something in English. 

Jean settles into a beanbag chair near a window, his bottom sinking into the material as he balances an open Geronimo Stilton book on his knee. Surrounding him are other library patrons — parents reading illustrated tales to their toddlers, other kids sprawled on the floor with collections of comic books, and older tweens chatting a little too loudly before getting politely scolded by the elderly librarian. 

The ambiance helps Jean relax as he slowly takes in the adventures of an anthropomorphic mouse reporter. His English is getting better, though reading it proves to be slightly harder than speaking it. As he flips through the pages he wonders how he’ll fare once school starts, even if his mother did find a French-immersion program for him to attend. 

He goes between taking in the text and glancing aside, where he is always greeted to the sight of the new city and the various citizens moving about — most are walking, but many are cycling both on the streets and sidewalks. Despite that, he can't help but note that the city feels slower than the one he was onced raised in. Montreal always felt like a place where people had somewhere to be and only a few moments to get there — in contrast, everyone in Victoria goes at a more leisurely pace, like the goal is not the destination but the journey. Jean's unsure if prefers this way of living or not.

Once Jean has read through a third of the tale, he finds himself slipping a bookmark between the pages and standing up to stretch his legs. With the novel tucked under his arm, he wanders through the kid area of the library again, moving away from the storybooks and to the array of tomes with fewer pictures. He eventually finds himself walking through the French-language section again, wondering just how many Adventures of Tintin volumes his mother will let him haul on the bus ride back home. The space between the shelves is empty, even more so than the rest of the library. He wonders if it’s because there really aren’t many Francophones on this side of the country or because most people in the building are more keen on escaping the heat or using the workspaces. 

As Jean takes The Secret of the Unicorn and Destination Moon into his arms, he hears footsteps against the carpeted floor. He glances up and sees no one in his aisle, but through the gaps in the bookshelves he spots a person on the other side. 

It’s a girl just about his age with a pair of dark eyes and a head of dark hair, something that is tied back with a red ribbon. She dons a floral patterned dress and a wide-brimmed sun hat, a very summery get up for the mere act of browsing the French section. 

For a reason Jean doesn’t entirely know, his heart begins to beat just a little bit faster. Suddenly the books in his arms slip out of his grasp. When they hit the floor the sound snaps him out of his trance. Heat rushes to his face as he hastily kneels down to clean up his mess, praying that the Girl in the Shelves hadn’t noticed his fumble. When he stands up straight again he’s slightly relieved to see that by the grace of god, she didn’t notice his fumble, as her eyes are still affixed to the spines of the books. 

Jean’s breathing is uneasy, but as he gets a better grip on his things he sees the Girl grabbing one of the bigger books in the section. The tome looks heavy in her arms, weighing her down as she rests it against her frame. The once neutral expression on her face morphs into one of the sweetest smiles that Jean has ever seen, then before he knows it she’s leaving the aisle. 

Once she’s gone Jean takes a second to recollect himself before exiting the French section as well. After stepping into the main space of the library with extra books under his arm, he can’t stop his eyes from looking around to find the Girl again. He soon spots her walking up to an older woman who shares both her dark hair and taste in fancy sun hats, one who is currently taking in a mystery novel while sitting on an armchair.

Jean sucks in a breath and begins to walk. He passes the two by and finds a new spot for himself on a couch near a shelf of DVDs. As he settles in with his new books he can’t stop himself from overhearing the conversation that transpires between the Girl and the Lady. 

“Auntie! I found it!” says the Girl, the smile on her face remaining bright as she holds up a leatherbound collection of fairy tales.

When Jean looks up he sees both the Lady — or rather, the Auntie — and the Girl smiling at each other, but once Auntie gets a look at the text on the book’s cover, her expression falters. 

“Mikasa, Dear… this is in French. You don’t speak French. And neither do I, for the matter.”

The beaming grin on the now-named Mikasa’s face turns into something less joyful. “Oh… right.” 

Jean places his new book on his lap and opens it, yet can’t take his attention off the conversation.

“Can you find it in English?” asks Auntie. 

Mikasa shakes her head. “No, I asked the librarian and that one’s checked out. This is the only one.” 

The look on Auntie’s face is very kind as she places a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “How about you put this one back and find something else? Then we can read it together, I promise.” 

Mikasa looks defeated, as clearly her heart had been set on this book in particular. As she hugs the tome against her chest like it’s something precious, she simply nods her head. 

“Okay.”

Jean watches as Mikasa walks away from her Auntie, looking absolutely dejected with every step. 

Suddenly the feeling that Jean had experienced in the shelves returns, the tightness in his chest and rushing of his beating heart. But instead of making him drop his books like a fool, the feeling motivates him to scoot off the couch and across the library’s carpet. 

With a sense of confidence he hadn’t felt ever since the move, Jean approaches Mikasa and says —

“Hi!”

Mikasa stops where she is and turns around. She is still holding the book of fairytales close to her, like it’s a shield between her and this sudden stranger.  

“Uh… I’m Jean… I speak French,” he manages to say despite the heat returning to his cheeks. He huffs awkwardly and looks down to the carpet. “I can read that with you. Or to you.” 

When he glances up again he sees a little glimmer of hope reappear in her pretty eyes. “Oh… you can!?”

Jean nods along. “Yes.” He points to the couch where he had stashed his own collection of books. “I’m sitting there, let’s go!” 

Mikasa breaks into that sweet smile Jean had seen a second ago as the two make their way to his spot. Before he knows it he’s carefully moving his books aside to make room for her and she's taking off her sun hat so it doesn't get in the way of her reading.

“I’m Mikasa,” she tells him as she sits on the cushions. He nods his head as her name graces her ears again, noting that it’s one he doesn’t hear often in the city he grew up in — but then again, perhaps the name “Jean” isn’t one she hears a lot in this city either. 

The two sit on the cushions, balancing the complete works of Charles Perrault on both their knees, though mostly on Jean's. When he opens it he is greeted by the sight of a gorgeous illustration depicting a woman with golden hair asleep on a bed in the woods. Mikasa flips the page and is quick to bring him to the first story and presumably the tale she was very keen on reading despite her lack of language proficiency. 

“La Belle au bois dormant,” Jean reads aloud. He looks aside to gauge her reaction. “Or Sleeping Beauty.” 

Mikasa smiles again and Jean can’t help but notice how sweeter it seems up close. He looks back to the page and begins to read the book as promised.

[mathslear]

Online Childhood Education: Combining Tradition with Innovation

As a parent, you often find yourself searching, “What is the best school in my area?” in your web browser. In today’s digital age, the answer may not solely lie in traditional offline schools i.e. primary or private schools. Online Childhood Education is your way to go.

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Book Your Free Trial Today!

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Read on:

The Digital Learning Revolution in Online Childhood Education is Here

Online childhood education is not just a passing trend; it represents a transformative approach to learning. BYITC’s digital platform highlights that productive education transcends physical classrooms, offering personalised learning experiences that cater to each child’s unique learning style. As the world’s first digital game-based Abacus Maths learning platform for beginners and advanced students, BYITC integrates a holistic educational approach, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and brain development. This has truly revolutionised how we perceive early learning.

Interactive Engagement is Key

At BYITC, we understand that online learning must be engaging and interactive. We incorporate gamification and fun virtual activities into kids’ structured curriculum. These tools maintain motivation and enthusiasm among students and create an exciting learning atmosphere that draws them in and generates a love for learning. This innovation is at the heart of modern online childhood education.

Emphasising STEM and Digital Literacy

There is no doubt we live in a tech-savvy world. Coding, cybersecurity, and digital literacy are vital skills. We prioritise safety and confidentiality while teaching kids to become responsible digital citizens. Our comprehensive curriculum includes:

Mental Arithmetic Techniques – Abacus Maths: Developing mathematical prowess and cognitive abilities.

English Grammar and Creative Writing: Enhancing language skills for effective communication.

Coding for Kids: Introducing essential programming skills.

Cybersecurity Awareness: Teaching children how to navigate the digital space safely.

Interactive STEM Courses: Encouraging curiosity and innovation through hands-on learning.

Our courses are nothing short of what primary and private schools offer. BYITC is on its way to becoming a virtual school for all kids, all skills, and all futures. With online childhood education, we are paving the path for an inclusive and advanced learning environment.

Personalised Learning: A Tailored Approach

One of the key benefits of online childhood education is the ability to customise learning experiences. At BYITC, we focus on:

1:1 Attention: Delivering individualised support to meet each student’s needs.

Adaptive Curriculum: Modifying materials based on student performance.

Progress Tracking: Keeping parents informed of their child’s achievements.

Rich E-learning Resources: Providing tools and materials that enhance learning.

While academic success is crucial, physical activity and emotional well-being are equally important. One of the greatest advantages of our curriculum is its flexibility, enabling your child to enjoy outdoor activities while seamlessly returning to their academics wherever they are (as long as you provide access to a laptop and Wi-Fi, of course!). Furthermore, our practices allow children to progress at their own pace.

Building Community in the Digital Space

Contrary to the belief that online learning isolates students, BYITC brings together a vibrant community and presents franchise opportunities. Our platform connects:

Learners Worldwide: Promoting cross-cultural interaction and collaboration.

Like-minded Parents: Facilitating a supportive network of shared educational goals.

Innovative Educators: Hiring only the best and most passionate teachers who embrace modern methodologies.

Note: BYITC equips thorough teacher-training programmes in virtual classroom skills, including engaging mannerisms and confident body language, ensuring a dynamic learning relationship with kids, something that is amiss in primary/private education institutions.

Holistic Development: Beyond Academics

Critical Thinking Skills: Fostering problem-solving abilities that benefit students throughout life.

Global Awareness: Preparing learners to understand and appreciate diverse cultures.

Human Values: Instilling respect and empathy towards others while allowing them to express themselves freely.

Responsible Digital Citizens: Teaching students the skills to navigate the online world responsibly.

BYITC – Your Partner in Education

Founded by Dr. Rashmi Mantri, BYITC provides academic excellence with transformative life-skills-building experiences designed to empower children, teachers, and parents. Our ultimate goal is to help children become well-rounded individuals ready for challenges.

Online childhood education is an effective approach to learning in today’s digital world. It is gaining traction as parents and educators fully embrace its possibilities. With us leading the way, you can trust and embark on this journey that nurtures your children’s 360-degree growth.

Originally Published at:

https://www.byitc.org/online-childhood-education-combining-tradition-with-innovation/

[jcmarchi]

Persona 5 Tactica Review - One More Uprising - Game Informer

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/persona-5-tactica-review-one-more-uprising-game-informer/

Persona 5 Tactica Review - One More Uprising - Game Informer

Persona 5 has become its own sort of mini-franchise within the Persona series. With many spin-off titles released over the years, such as Persona 5 Strikers, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, and Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, Atlus seems to love using Persona 5’s popularity to explore new stories and gameplay ideas. However, I applaud Atlus for making all of these spin-offs in completely different genres from each other. The latest, Persona 5 Tactica, delivers an entertaining story, a colorful cast of characters, and fun combat mechanics within the context of a strategy RPG. Longtime Phantom Thieves can look forward to an enjoyable side adventure, but its uneven pacing and low enemy variety hold it back from being a true revolution.

Persona 5 Tactica’s story follows the core roster of characters from the original RPG. After finding themselves sucked into an alternate dimension, the group teams up with Erina, the local leader of the Rebel Corps, who wants to liberate citizens from the oppressive rule of the Legionnaires. Toshiro Kusakabe, an amnesiac politician from the real world, also somehow gets swept into the conflict. Their unknown connections to this alternate dimension have enough mystery to keep them interesting throughout the game. As the Phantom Thieves search for a way back home, the antagonists’ motivations intertwine with the origins of these newly introduced characters.

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The camaraderie between the cast members can be seen through optional conversations that naturally unlock as you progress through the story. Scenes like these are fun side conversations that allow characters’ personalities to shine, such as Erina’s natural leadership skills after a scene where she feels like a liability, or Ryuji’s role as the comic relief character when a treasure chest he’s seeking turns out to be useless villain-branded merchandise. Viewing these talks also gives the party members GP, which are skill points to be allocated to learn new abilities, so there’s a useful gameplay incentive too.

These conversations are bright and fun to listen to, thanks to the game’s excellent voice acting and art direction. The presentation style is more in line with an exaggerated cartoon style like Persona Q2’s rather than the more realistic proportions like in the original game and Strikers. This helps give Tactica a more lighthearted feel to balance out its darker themes, including illness, death, and trauma. The Persona series is also well known for its music, and Tactica’s soundtrack doesn’t disappoint. The soaring vocals and electrifying guitars will have your head bumping as the Phantom Thieves and Rebel Corp overthrow dictators in battle.

Tactica’s combat is more similar to XCOM than Fire Emblem in terms of strategic battles. Your team of three characters can hide behind cover and gain either partial cover, which drastically decreases incoming enemy damage, or full cover, which provides complete immunity. Tactica cleverly utilizes Persona 5’s main battle mechanics to fit the strategy genre. The most impressive implementation is the franchise’s signature “1 More” mechanic. In Tactica, instead of hitting enemy weaknesses or scoring a critical hit to trigger an additional turn, any unit on the field that isn’t behind cover becomes vulnerable. Being able to chain multiple 1 More turns and extending my movement range each time replicates the same sense of accomplishment that I felt when triggering multiple 1 More turns in the main game.

The 1 More mechanic is even more important when it comes to the game’s side quests. These side quests have restrictions, such as only being allowed to use certain characters or having to complete the battle under a fixed number of turns. I found these to be challenging but also incredibly fun, as they commanded me to think much more strategically than standard story missions. The side missions where I was required to beat them in only one turn were exhilarating.

I had to activate as many 1 More turns as I possibly could while also trying to keep my teammates in a triangle formation. Triangulating on a downed enemy activates Triple Threat, which is Tactica’s version of the RPG’s All-Out-Attacks, where enemies caught in the blast receive massive damage. Mastering these techniques to come out on top of these challenging side missions is rewarding, and they come with an equally amazing prize: Completing them nets you 20 GP as opposed to 2 or 3 when viewing conversations.

However, the gameplay suffers from uneven pacing when it comes to introducing new mechanics. This is especially true during the first 10 hours; you don’t receive the powerful follow-up mechanic until the second chapter. I’m confused as to why these highly effective attacks, which let teammates attack an extra time if you knock an enemy off a higher place, weren’t introduced earlier, as that would’ve kept the early hours fresh.

Enemy variety is also sorely lacking. Much of the time, you end up facing regular enemies with guns that don’t have any special traits to them. There’s also a bigger enemy that can only be downed if you hit it twice. Aside from some unique boss mechanics towards the end of a chapter, new enemy types are introduced sparingly. Enemy variety does improve later on, but not quick enough; it’s usually only a single new one per chapter. As a result, it’s boring to simply go through the motions when you’re repeatedly fighting the same kind of enemies.

Persona 5 Tactica is a fun time for someone who’s looking for a more casual strategy game. The Phantom Thieves are just as charming as ever, and the newly introduced characters mesh well with them. It’s not an essential experience in the same way that Persona 5 Strikers was, but fans who aren’t tired of Persona 5 yet will find plenty to like with Tactica.

[reddbridgeblogs]

How to help students become independent learners from dependent students?

“ I can do this on my own, I just need some guidance to find out what to refer to.” This is the common conversation we hear at home when kids converse with each other. 

Traditional methodologies involved teaching in a general manner. Students adapted, followed and followed a fixed routine of hearing, reading and writing. The scope of learning was constricted to one single technique. 

It is our duty as educators to make sure that the content we teach supports both our students’ present and future learning. Students learning processes as well as what they learn. For students to simultaneously grow their knowledge and abilities through semi autonomous learning settings, we need to create the conditions that allow them to exhibit their self-directed learning.

Separating from the conventional, students today feel liberated to study on their own, thus independently. The best International school in Bangalore  like Redbridge International Academy have meticulously planned the daily schedules of students from the primary years.

There are several reasons why this change has only been embraced by schools where technology, innovation and advancement are at the core. 

Emphasising holistic education is a prerogative of schools to guide the students to develop self-learning skills. Working as a team, students collaborate using creative ideas, critical thinking and analysis to accomplish studies through projects, and practical and outdoor education methods. 

The ideal way for students to become achievers and explore their capabilities is to make their research and give them direction. The students can learn through enquiry, and look for various dimensions and approaches to conclusions. 

What are the benefits of this scientific approach?

Only students love to study because this changes the ground rules where students just listen and the teachers teach after much background work. Tables have now turned, and now students are intrigued to dig deeper and find various perspectives to conclude. 

Gone are the days when students blindly accepted theories. These days, knowledge is questioned to positively and constructively build on logic and increase understanding.

What else can be done?

Students can take notes while watching a video tutorial.

Performing either solitary or group work

Engaging in private or small-group discussions 

When looking back at their progress and monitoring the same, the results are truly explicit. 

It takes time for students to transition from being conditioned, dependent learners to independent, self-directed learners. As educators, it is our responsibility to set up educational routines and scaffolds to ensure that each routine is as effective as possible. After that, we may outline our deliberate progression for how pupils learn across a school year.

Redbridge International Academy is the best IB international school in  Bangalore which teaches students in the best way in an infrastructure that motivates students to achieve their goals and become global-minded citizens. Thus, the school is recognised as the best ICSE  school in Bangalore and also best Igcse Bannerghatta Road. 

Learning here is self paced and the inverse of the traditional teaching methodologies.

[chitose-gen-continuity]

Eva turned her back on the enemy before her. As a half-demon Shinigami-Hanyou, she could home in on sources of evil aura that her husband was blind to. "...Shura..." She knew it was her, unfortunately what she could sense was just as known to whatever she now engaged in combat with. "It seems you know whom that is....the source of our beckoning." "What?!?" She turns back towards this unknown demonic entity, his knowing of what was going on vexed her. Wrath consuming her, she rushed at him with speed and force, gripping him by the neck and crushing him into the building in front of her. "Ok...spill it! What's my daughter have to do with this!! And what do you mean she's the source?!?" Once the dust debris cleared from the impact, the demon casually flicked Eva's forehead, causing her to fly backwards. "Daughter? What a refreshing coincidence. Once I claim you, I'll be sure to add your scion to my collection as well. It's rare to find demons that can erode the boundary of realms, you see." Eva promptly returned to her feet, she took a breath and calmed herself, taking in his words, piecing together his capabilities through sheer deductive skill. She took stance, trying to calculate a method of attack that didn't rely on her demon energy... Shura observes as the new woman unleashes the thread of electricity to subdue incoming Yokai. However, that was only effective of the demons approaching from that angle. Shu did her best to help with her one free hand by controlling the air behind the raven-haired woman to create sharp, razor wind air palm blasts to repel the yokai, refraining from utilizing that accursed book unless once again backed into a corner. Given a moment's reprieve by the combination of razor wind and electric threads, the younger girl asks, "Who are you? Did you also come here because..." She stops suddenly. She was afraid, and ashamed, to say it was her fault the dimension portal was spawning unknown species of Yokai. Chireru was no longer in a position to hold back his powers. He disengaged his protective spirit barrier and went on the offensive. As a master swordsman, combined with his Kusanagi, a holy blade that can harm spirits, demons and deities, and his own spirit energy imbued attacks, cut through the swarms of yokai attacking him with speed and precision. He kept this pace for quite a while, but the Yokai kept coming. Thankfully, he had reinforcements in the form of an old friend. Lucia Sorel, a woman in her 20's, heir to the local business empire Sorel Industries...whom dons the alter ego of the vigilant Vagabond, came onto the scene without her suit, but armed with senbon with plasma arcs built into the tip. She took out scores of Yokai in seconds with her anti-demon knives, until she came in to watch Chireru's back. Chireru sighed. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be helping the evac with the other Super Soldiers?" Their banter wasn't new, when they first met, Lucia was often a damsel, needing rescue from the local gangs of Yokai that actually lived in the dark elements of the city. "You're welcome, Chu! Besides, Evac's going well...better than well! Most of the other Super's got more than have the citizens, and even a few demons who haven't turned on us are helping too! That being said...we got help, weird help." After another slain Yokai Chireru turned with a raised brow. "Yeah...whomever it was moves like a blur. Even with heightened senses on my part, her movements were hard to track. But, with she stood still, she had a sword like you and long blue hair." Chireru paused for a moment...if someone was slaying demons, maybe he could find her and ask her to rally the remaining fighters to work together and subdue the rouge demon elements. "Can you take me to her last known location?" "Are you crazy?!? You can't be sure that the enemy of our enemy is a friend, or just another enemy!!" Chireru couldn't help but chuckle. "Only one way to find out, right?"

Shura Breaks the Multiverse - Rp Starter

Shura Amakuni, age fourteen…daughter of Chireru Amakuni and Eva Shinto, utilizes her aerokinetic powers to hop the roof tops of the city of New Kyushu, spying her parents activities. On one rooftop, she saw her mother Eva, playing the mindful sheriff to keep the peace between humans and demons. With a set of roof tops hopped over and passed by, she watches her father buying spare parts to tinker with gadgets. Yawning and stretching…she makes her way home. Shura made it home long before her parents, and snuck into the basement of the their home. She rushes over to the bookshelf to ogle over a set of books brought here by her father from his birth home, until she came upon the one book that enthralled her…Necronomicon Ex Mortis. This ancient tome has passed through the hands of many scholars (many of them which met grime fates), until the last descendants of the Amakuni kept it for safe keeping over a hundred years. She opens the blood-inked opens of the worn grimoire, her study into Sumerian language payed off, able to read the grim passages and incantations the book had to offer. She flipped through each page until she came upon the one page that always captivated her imagination…a passage that allows for the communion of worlds.

She rips the page out, bits her thumb to allow blood to red upon the lone page and read the inscription as it read. Shura chanted the incantation for a straight fifteen minutes…and, much to her frustration, the only thing that happened was that the page burns up. Groaning as she sat for minutes on end with no real results, she impatiently calls it a night and goes to sleep…

                                                           …

Shura awoken to screams outside, getting herself out of bed to attempt to see what the source was, but the moment she stepped outside, both of her parents stood and watched…above everyone there was a crack in the sky. Citizens were accustomed to the supernatural plaguing their streets at this point, but even an event like this was enough to cause panic and outroar. Chireru grits his teeth. “What…what the hell could have caused this? This is abnormal, even by this city’s standards. We have to do something!” Eva simply runs ahead, the arrogance built upon her feats of regeneration prompted her to action…Shura felt nothing but guilt, Somehow, someway, she knew this was her fault, for attempting a ritual within a cursed artifact.

[gaysimpsstuff]

Accidental Turn-Ons; Hawks x Dom! Reader

Genre: angst to fluff to smut

Type: Oneshot

Summary: Hawks returns home from a mission, clearly exhausted, and you take the time to give him a little massage! However, it doesn’t quite have the effects you expected.

Word Count: 3.5K

Warnings: minor dub-con (Y/n doesn't know that what they're doing is sexual for Hawks), stress, minor injuries, Keigo's adorable bird tendencies, sexual innuendo, dom y/n, wing play, feather play, nicknames, edging, dacryphilia, handjobs, aftercare

Other: Yo this might actually be my best smut yet

Inspiration: This was actually inspired by my own piece of work, MHA Characters + Their Biggest Kinks where I spoke about Hawks’ wing and back kink and how it relates to his avian traits.

Taglist: @smolchildfangirl @mandalorian-baby-bird @waffleareniceandfluffy @catcherisvibin @thesubtlewhore @popcatx0

You paced the living room, glancing between the TV and the door. The news station had cut away from the fight five minutes ago, which meant your boyfriend was either in the hospital getting treated for any injuries he might have sustained, dealing with fans, dealing with paperwork, or on his way home.

Your phone buzzed and you raced to grab it off the couch, fearing an incoming call from the hospital, or a news alert about the well-being of the man you loved.

You bit the inside of your cheek as you realized it was just an email from work, not even marked important. You tossed your phone back onto the couch with a groan.

Wasted build-up. Your mind grumbled

Your eyes flicked back to the TV, watching as the reporter rambled on about yet another stupid thing America had going on as you waited for something, anything to happen. Right when you were getting ready to pick your phone back up from the couch cushions when you heard a light tap tap tappity tap against the thick glass of the sliding glass door that led to your balcony.

You dashed across the living room, accidentally knocking a chair over as you raced to reach the sliding glass door that led to the balcony. You'd recognize his special knock any day, even if he changed it all the time whenever he forgot it. You always had patience with him, you knew he had too many things on his mind with Hero Work to always remember a random knock.

You grabbed the handle, yanking the door open with a wide grin, finally laying eyes on your bird boy. He had a hand stuffed in his pocket, the other rubbing at the back of his neck.

"Hey, Y/n. So sorry I'm late, been flying all day so naturally I'm a little sore. No excuse for missing movie night but-"

"I'm just so glad you're here!" You exclaimed, taking his cheeks in your hands and rubbing at his cheekbones. "I'm so sorry you're hurting, come inside I'll get a heating pack, or a cooling pack, maybe some lotion and I could give you a massage." You babbled, tugging him inside.

"A massage and some cuddles sound great," he sighed, eyes tired. You never liked the fact that Keigo was a hero. He worked too hard, too much, and for so long. He was still young, he should be appreciating life and spending time on himself and with his lover and not with the commission. "Oh I uh, I found this for you."

He took one of your hands off his face, taking his other hand out of his pocket and pressing something cold and smooth into your palm. You opened your fingers, a soft smile growing on your face at the sight of a smooth pretty white rock with grey and black speckles.

"Oh, Kei, this is beautiful. I love it~" you pressed a kiss to Keigo's cheek, loving the way he trilled. He was always so excited to pick up random items he found pretty or interesting, and he'd always give them right to you. It was truly adorable, you loved his gifts. His wings fluttered in happiness for a moment before he winced slightly in pain, happiness vanished in a reminder of his stress from the day.

"Ouch, okay, sitting down time," he muttered, stumbling past you to flop down on the couch. You grabbed the lotion from the kitchen counter (you kept it there for whenever he came home with sore muscles). You set the stone down on the coffee table, tapping it twice in a small show of affection before sitting next to Keigo.

"Shirt off Birdie," you said, squirting some lotion into your palm before rubbing them together.

"Hey, at least buy me a drink first," he chuckled, tugging his jacket off and peeling off his tight hero shirt. You sighed, deciding not to comment on his tacky flirting, knowing you'd been dating for almost a year now.

He turned his back to you, crossing his legs. He folded his wings, lowering them to give you access to his shoulders and shoulder blades. You pressed your fingers against one of his shoulders, finding a large knot almost immediately. You heard him hiss, and your frown increased.

"I know it hurts but it will hurt a lot less when I'm finished," you told him, pressing a gentle kiss to the nape of his neck. The hair there rose against your skin, a shiver shooting down his spine. You blinked, confused at his reaction. Maybe it was uncomfortable for him. You resolved not to kiss there again.

You continued to rub against his tightened muscles, listening to his soft hisses and groans. You pulled away after about six minutes, picking up the lotion bottle and squirted some more into your palms.

"Hey, when you finish with mm~ when you finish with that shoulder could you do around my wing joints? Down my spine, y'know?"

"Are there muscles there?" you asked, most people didn't have muscles down their spines, usually it was just the ridges of said bones.

"Yeah, I do," he explained quickly. You nodded pressing into his knot, slowly working down when it eased up. You moved your fingers downwards, feeling his shoulder blades and spine before reaching his wings joints. He shuddered, similar to when you kissed his neck, but a little larger. You hummed, pressing your fingers down and finding another knot, right where his skin turned to bright red feathers.

"Oh, yeah, yeah right there that's perfect." You glanced back up at him, confused, he didn't usually speak when you massaged him, he'd also never asked for a massage so close to his wings, he was usually very cautious about having his wings touched. Maybe he'd just gotten tired of dealing with wing pains by himself, it was probably a lot different from other knots.

"I'm so sorry you have to deal with this," you cooed. "You really deserve a break, it's not healthy to work this hard all the time."

"I know, Little Feather, but it's nng- n-not my fault. The citizens need me." he panted. You sighed, moving your other hand to work out both wings' knots at the same time.

Keigo's head flopped forward, and his hand flew up to slap over his mouth, holding back a soft whine. You lifted an eyebrow in suspicion, there were only a few times when you heard him make noises like that.

Slowly, you pressed your fingers down closer to the underside, right over a few of his downy feathers.

"Oh fuck~" he hissed.

"Okay, that's it." you lifted your hands away from them, holding them in the air. "What the hell's going on with you?" His head whipped around so fast you were surprised it was still attached to his neck. His golden eyes widened, pupils blowing out, nearly completely covering the honey iris.

"W-what?" he exclaimed, feathers puffing up.

"I'm sorry if I seem mad, I'm not, I'm just- very confused. You're literally moaning. I am giving you a massage and you're moaning. Explain."

His cheeks dusted over in pink, and his eyes fell down to his lap.

"Okay uh- fuck I- this was not how I planned on telling you, erm- I promise I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable-"

"Keigo, it's alright, I'm not uncomfortable, just confused. Take a breath darling,"

"Okay, okay, okay." he took a deep breath. "My wings and back are... sensitive, like- in a sexual way. It's why I never let you touch them, I didn't want you to get uncomfortable with that."

"Oh Keigo, you should have just told me, it's perfectly alright, you know I love you, and I love your bird traits. I'm not uncomfortable with this." you smiled sweetly, pressing a hand to his cheek.

"You're- you're not?" he glanced back up at you, golden eyes filled with hope.

"Not in the slightest. To be honest, I don't see why anyone would be uncomfortable with it. It's just another erogenous zone, like someone's neck, ears, or nipples would be. And lots of people keep those bits on display."

"Thanks," he murmured, rubbing his nose against yours. "That does make me feel better, but uh- there's something else.." he trailed off, nervous.

"Your obvious boner? I was gonna leave you to take care of that yourself, but I'll gladly do it for you if you'd like."

"Oh uh-" his cheeks brightened as if attempting to match the tone of his wings. "I would very much like that," he admitted, offering you a slightly nervous smile.

"Anytime, Birdie~" you stood up, hands landing on either side of his waist as you pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. "But I would very much like to experiment with those wings of yours, see what we can do with them. Just how far can we go?" You smirked at him, tongue darting out to moisturize your lips. Keigo let out a soft breath, shifting against the couch to make room for the tent in his pants.

"I- I have thought about using them before- my feathers can move fast, so they can act as a vibrator if I focus, but I could never use it on myself. I know I'd get distracted, then the feather would stop moving, then I'd have to start all over again. I'd basically just be edging myself all night. I know I'd just give up and jerk off."

"I can work with that~" you pressed your lips against his, surprising him. He whined into the kiss, hands flying up to fist your shirt.

Unfair. He thought, he already had his shirt off, and he knew he'd be naked in just a few minutes, but you hadn't taken anything off yet. Knowing you, you would stay clothed just to tease him. The most you would do was lift your shirt a little to show him your stomach before quickly covering it again. That was what you usually did when you dommed. At least for the foreplay.

You pressed the tip of your tongue against his lips, pushing past his defensive barrier of shiny white teeth, perfect for the press, and you licked along the top of his mouth. His whole body shuddered against yours, his hips jerking upwards.

You grabbed his thigh with one hand, squeezing. A warning, he knew, against bucking up again, against disobeying. He tasted your saliva, feeling it pool onto his tongue. His eyes finally drooped closed, enjoying the taste of leftover's from last night's dinner on your tongue.

He whined against the back of your mouth, feeling you move your other hand up towards his back. He already knew what you were going to do. Without pulling away from the kiss, you plucked a feather about the size of his hand from his wings, running a finger down the stem, brushing it against the little red bristles. Soft against your finger, yet forcing Keigo's restrained cock to grow even harder than he ever thought possible.

You slowly pulled back from the kiss, taking his lower lip hostage between your teeth, tugging it as far as it could go before finally releasing it. You felt Keigo's hot breaths fanning out across your face, and your grin only grew. You loved breaking him apart, the strong, well-put-together Hawks was an act only for the cameras, only you could ever know the real him, the horny, whiny, needy baby he truly was.

"Look at you, falling apart already? I've barely done shit to you."

"Fuck- that's just 'cause it's you~" he purred

"Flattery won't get you anywhere, doll." Your shit-eating smirk only grew, and Keigo could feel himself melting into the couch cushions. "C'mon, take 'em off, you're a big boy, I'm sure you can do it yourself."

He nodded, hands flying away from your shirt and grappling with his belt buckle faster than you could say 'Hawks.' He tossed his belt behind the couch, not caring if it hit anything, and quickly shimmied out of his pants and underwear, letting them pool around his ankles. His cock slapped against his stomach, six inches and throbbing.

Looks like his prediction was correct. He was naked. You were not. You didn't look like you were planning on undressing anytime soon, which left Keigo feeling slightly disappointed. However, any negative emotions vanished the second you ran his bright red feather down his nose, over his lips, then under his chin. He knew immediately you were trying to lift his face with the feather, despite the single feather not being strong enough by itself, not unless it was under his control. But he was not in control, you were, and fuck it if that wasn't the best part.

"Good boy~" you praised him, sliding a hand up his bare thigh, brushing it carelessly close to his dick. He bit his lip, eyes flicking between your hand and your eyes.

"Please, please touch me," he whispered, slightly embarrassed by the situation. It had been a long while since you'd last had sex, and an even longer while since you had been the dom. He'd all but forgotten how to properly beg. You could tell.

"Come on, doll, I know you can ask me nicely, or at least better than that." He groaned, hands gripping your hips and attempting to tug you into his lap, a plan formulating in his head that ended in an amazing thighjob. But his plans never worked, not at least with you involved. No, you were too stubborn, one of the many things he loved about you. But not really in this precise situation.

"Nah ah ah~ hands off the merchandise." Your hand squeezed his thigh again, twice this time. That was all he needed to let go. He found purchase in a nearby pillow, moving it behind him and tugging on the little dangly bits on the corners. He forgot what they were called but he was ninety-five percent sure it started with a 'D' or something.

"Fuck, please, I need it, you know I need it, I-I've been nothing but good all day, please touch me, please~" He whined, eyebrows furrowing. That plus his reddened cheeks made just the cutest face. You couldn't wait to make his eyes go crooked and for him to drool.

"That's it, good boy~" You ran the tip of the feather up his cock, circling the tip. He shivered in response, biting back a loud moan. "Come on, don't make me mad, vibrate yourself with your feather~" you cooed, teasing tone making his stomach churn in the best way possible.

He bit his lip, looking down at the feather slowly circling the tip of his dick. It had already nudged his foreskin downwards, leaving the red skin fully exposed. He took a deep breath, trying to block out your presence, and how hard he was, just focusing on the single red feather, twirling around in loops.

He felt it twitch against his skin, before finally starting to shake, then at last it was vibrating. He twitched it away from his dick, slightly nervous about how it might feel. You sighed, pressing it directly onto the little hole at the tip.

"Ghhh- oh fuckkkkk~" he moaned, pressing his head against the couch cushions. It felt better than he ever possibly could have imagined. Feeling the feather on his dick, his dick against his feather, it was double the pleasure. He whined loudly when the vibrations suddenly stopped. "Nooooo I want it, bring it back, please," he begged, looking up at you with wide eyes.

"Doll I didn't even do anything. You lost focus. You gotta try a little harder." you said, tapping the feather against him again. Pre-cum stuck to it, making red glisten with a little bit of white. He cursed at the sight (and feeling) of his own pre on his feather.

Soon enough, it started to buzz again. And you put it back on him. This time, you traced it up and down his base, running it over the tip again. One of his hands flew up to his mouth, knuckles pressing against his lips. His hips bucked up against the vibrating feather.

"Ooooohhhhhh fuckfuckfuckfuck so goooood~" he moaned loudly. Again, the buzzing stopped without warning. "Nooo fuck no! I need it please fuck!" He looked like he was on the verge of tears- no way it was really that good. You'd have to ask him to use his feathers on you sometime.

"I know baby, I know," you ran your fingers through his hair, tugging lightly. His breath hitched, golden eyes filling with tears of pleasure. "But you gotta focus to get it done, okay?" he nodded, wiping his tears, but he only managed to spread the warm, salty liquid over his face, making him appear even more debauched.

How cute

You wrapped your hand around his dick when it started to vibrate again, the feather curled up between your palm and his dick. Slowly, you began to jerk him off, feeling the feather vibrate faster than you'd felt any toy vibrate, and his dick throbbing and pulsing against you left you feeling like you just might cum in your pants.

"FUCK!" he shouted, back arching off the couch. One of his legs flew upwards, toes curling around the air. He was shaking at this point, looking like he was just on the verge of cumming. "Oh, Godddd fuckkkmeeeee~" he wailed, tears overflowing and falling down his flushed cheeks.

"No god's gonna fuck you, darling, only I will because you belong to me. Isn't that right?" You pulled on his hair and his moans grew louder, the vibrations intensifying, which you thought was impossible at the rate it had been buzzing against your skin and his.

"Youuuuu fuck- I- I belong to youuuu~" he moaned, hiccuping a little.

"Fuck, you're so fucking cute like this, so adorable when you fall apart beneath me, gonna break soon?" He sniffed loudly, nodding. His moan broke out into a disappointed wail when the vibrations stopped again. He tried to get it to move but it just wasn't going to. You opened your palm, revealing the feather, the stem bent awkwardly. Hawks sighed, sadness filling his eyes.

"I was just 'bout to cum too..." he whimpered.

"Oh, you'll still cum. We don't need anything else between us anymore~" you tossed the feather aside before spitting into your palm, beginning to jerk him off again. It certainly didn't feel nearly as good as it did with the feather, but at this point, he was so close he just couldn't give two fucks about how good it felt, just that it would get him where he needs.

"Oh yes yes yes fuck yes more more- gonna cum gonna cum ooooh fuck baby you're gonna make me cum!" He cried out, bucking up into your hand, sobbing as pre ran down the sides of his dick and onto your fingers.

You pulled him to you by his hair, loving the loud moan he let out from the pain. You pressed your lips right up against his ear.

"Then fucking cum, my baby boy~" you purred seductively. Moments later, his whole body spasmed, legs shaking violently and wings flaring outwards. He wailed, screaming as he finally came into your hand, white ribbons landing on his legs, stomach, and even a little on the couch. Subconsciously, he knew he'd have to clean that up later, but he was not about to worry about that right now.

"Godamn! If that wasn't the hottest thing I've ever seen!" you exclaimed, truly in awe at just how good his orgasm looked. He had gone limp, flopped back against the couch, and panting. You pulled your hand away from his dick, licking away the bits of cum from your skin before sitting down next to him, tugging his body closer to you.

"Unf, that was the best damn orgasm of my life," he murmured, voice a little hoarse.

"Looked like it, you alright darling? Can I get you anything? Water, blankets, bath?" You worried a little, hoping you didn't completely brain-fuck him.

"Jus' some cuddles." his head flopped down on your shoulder, eyes fluttering shut as he yawned.

"Hey birdie, don't fall asleep on me," you chuckled. "We still gotta get you all cleaned up and put in bed."

"Not... a problem..." he whispered, breath tickling your skin as he nodded off.

"Heh, that's a problem," you smiled affectionately. He deserved his rest. You resolved to stay still for a little while, then clean him up as gently as you could before carrying him to bed. He wasn't that heavy, after all. "I love you, my darling Keigo~" you whispered, resting your head on top of his and closing your eyes.

Maybe the mess could be cleaned tomorrow, you were also very tired.

[acesolaris]

Education in a Solarpunk World

Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel. ~ Socrates

I'm very passionate about knowledge. I'm extremely curious and love to share everything and anything. As you might notice when scrolling though this blog, I love to deepdive into topics and pile and sort the informaton I find, both for me but also for others.

I'm also living in a western european country and my school system is terrible. So bad in fact, I gave up my wish to become an schoolteacher and followed another passion. There are other well articulated and better researched sources that go into the why our school sytem is this way. I'll only talk about my vison to make it better.

The whole plan is creating an individualized curriculum for each student with a focus on creating citizens who are mentally-balanced, socially well-adjusted and know how to think, so the teaching would differ for each student.

My Solapunk version of education, has three pillars.

The first is free education. Free acess to the Institutions, but also the knowledge through libraries, free acess to the Internet, free acess to academic studies. Free acess reagardless of age. there is a minimum time you have to spend in education, but lifelong couriosity, learning and exchange is encouraged, even after you started doing your chosen daily labour in the community.

The second pillar is the fact that the concept of general knowledge is a construct by the society and state you live in. So let's completely revamp this. I strongly believe that general knowlede should be considered everything that helps you taking care of yourself when you don't have acces to the help of others. Examples out of my head are cooking, basic maintenance of your home/prosessions/garden, first aid, but also how to get and revaluate knowlede you need and don't have. That, and a basic understanding of numbers, reading and reading comprehension to evaluate what you are reading and be able to apply it to your life. To properly form arguments and comunicate in a non-vilolent way. Thats the basic curriculum, the shell so to speak. It doesnt matter how you learn it, via games, from your parents or classes you take. You can't leave education untill you have proven to function in those in your way.

Ok, so the kids earn those skills in peer groups of around five or six people for as long as they need in their own pace, but what about, you know, everything else? They get let loose. There might be some age restriction on topics, but what I envison is pure interest and passion driven learning. There's no classes or grades, just develloping skills and knowledge. Every day there are three or four discussion pannels or lectures to a weirdly specific topic, like the manuscrips of Timbuktu, the life and times of Ghandi or how to best craft a basket out of different plant fibres. And anyone who wants can submitt a topic, and if it interests you, you go, otherwise you stay and work on your linewight in your drawing or solve math problems. Depending on your learning style, there 're videos, audiobooks, texts and writings in differnt lengths in differnt formating from bullet points to tomes. There are workshops, and studygroups, games and media that cover every topic you possibly want to learn about. It doen't matter when you do it, it matters that you do it. If you are a night owl, you come at 9pm, if you only can focus for 30 min before having to switch the topic, you can, if you leave with 15 because you are sick of learning you can come back with 21 when you regrett dropping out. Time doesn't matter.

There is a third pillar which is the treatment of children as actual people. Up until I was 18 years and suddently an adult my no was never respected, unless I gave an essay on why I didn't want to. Simply because I was a child and my parents knew better- every adult knew better. Which I see everywhere, and people are wondering why consens is such a dificult concept to establish as we have to learn that No is adequate. No justifications, just a No. So the learning Institute has scientists and social workers present, who are accessible as someone the students might go to for advice when needed with whatever neeed might come up: assist in finding resoures or give input and correction on fake news, or they may act as mediators in case-you know- kids being kids. Overall however, there is the understanding that children have a certain autonomity they can adjust themselves to give up or keep. Children are people and are treated as such.

The students keep a portfolio of their skills, both as a resource of knowlege and memento. Plus, after spending a specific minimum time depeding on how easy you learn the "general skills" you would be allowed to submitt this portfolio to a council of scientist chosen by you who will certify you for your chosen field of studies. You don't need to, but from my own experience having a ceritficate of your skills is damn sattisfying. And you can do it immediatly when you are free to or wait five more years because you don't feel ready. Again, the choice is yours.

Remember, you can stay as long as you want and even after shifting your focus away to the application of your skills in the community, you are free to participate in the discussions and give lectures. Everyone is allowed to give them, after all. Scientists are conducting their reserach at specific research centres that are connected to the education centres and the students are allowed there after a certain age or reaching a level of knowlege deermined by the scentists working on the project.

There are questions up for debate of course, especially how we want to teach history, tackle the things we did to each other and the planet. My country is prized for how selfreflected we are but our political climate sugests otherwise so, it's still open.

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A small Linkspam on topic:

@safety-net-did muses about what should be considered general knowledge which inspired this post as well as @queerspacepunks contribution.

one of the many tumblr discussions on how children are a repressed class

another one on the same topic

a post of @missmentell on resources to learn basic life skills of adults

this reddit discussion on how to remember history.

~@acesolaris