#my hair is still a bit more brown than my natural color
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bigbro!choso x blackfem!babysitter!reader
ᯓ ᡣ𐭩 contents: nsfw 18+, MDNI. overstimulation, rough sex, mutual pining, breeding kink, masturbation. i guess a lil stalking? choso's last name is itadori, yuji is a lil one, reader is black-coded and depicted to be a bit thick. but yea gets pretty nasty. minors gtf back
ᯓ ᡣ𐭩 author's note: yea this is a bit more self-indulgent than i'd like to admit.... but nonetheless! i still hope yall like it! inspired by this work of art
“so you're the new babysitter, huh?”
his voice was so deep. it rumbled through your every limb, made every hair prick up against your melanated skin. your throat went dry as you looked up at the man so casually leaning against the doorframe to his quaint, humble home, towering over you as he observed you almost menacingly.
as choso itadori looked down at you with indifferent eyes, you couldn't stop your own from scouring, observing the way the black tee he had on was tight in all the right places, hugging and squeezing at his muscular biceps and clinging to his formed chest. his brown hair was tied up, spiky locks in two ponytails. black jewelry adorned his ears all the way up to the helix.
you felt small, under investigation as his dark orbs intensely pierced through your own. but you didn't waver, it was never in your nature to showcase your uncertainty. instead you smiled, glossed lips parting to show your pretty teeth. “yep, that's me! my name is [name].” of course choso already knew that, and maybe a bit more that he didn't plan on sharing with you. he had no shame when it came to investigating who he was entrusting the care of his baby brother to, yuji being his heart and rib, the only family he had left on this entire planet. he'd die for him, kill for him, do worse if it came down to it. but with you, all that extra shit didn't seem necessary to make clear.
choso knew you looked good from your instagram he managed to find after some digging, but your posts didn't capture the true, full essence of your beauty. the camera didn't necessarily capture the way your brown skin glowed and shimmered in light, or accentuate your curves like how they looked now. you smelled sweet, like yams and vanilla. the magenta yoga set you wore clung to your skin tantalizingly, outlining your curvy silhouette and the top zipped down just a little low to show a little cleavage. your hair was styled* into a neat bob, bluntly cut just above your shoulders, not a single hair out of place. your lips were lined a dark coffee brown and ombré’d into the pink natural color of your skin, coated with sparkly gloss. your large glasses sat on the bridge of your wide nose, a french-tipped nail pushing them higher up. choso continued to feign disinterest, but he knew the darkening scarlet brushing over the tips of his ears might be what would give him away if you took any notice.
luckily enough, your attention was drawn elsewhere, the sound of toddler yuji cooing as he waddled through the living room towards the front door making your eyes widen with adoration. you kneeled down to his height, yuji’s big brown eyes finding yours and him sending you a gummy smile. “and this must be yuji! ohh, you’re the cutest thing! making my heart swell.”
choso needed you for a short while, just until he could find a new daycare for his little brother. between him working over forty hours a week and using the weekends to focus on bonding with yuji and resting up, he never really had the time. or more-so, seeing how well yuji gravitated to you, how he began asking about you by just saying your name during bath time, how he always cried when you left, was what made it drop lower and lower on his priority list.
you were much more help than he expected you to be, and did far more than what he was paying you to do, which resulted in the extra hundred dollar bills he would sneak into your cherry coach bag every evening. it was the least he could do: you made meals, helped clean, always put yuji down to bed before you left. even did the laundry as needed. you insisted it was okay when choso told you you didn't have to bother yourself with tasks that weren't in the job description, and that you didn't want or expect anything extra out of it. but you stopped fighting against his generosity… not that there was ever a struggle.
some nights required choso to stay later, long past his typical return time of six o’clock, and some nights he wouldn’t return until 2am. he would come in from a particularly tiresome day at the hospital in his his grey scrubs and his hair pulled into a low ponytail. he would never be surprised to find you laying on the large sectional sofa, glasses still on but your bonnet tied tight around your head, under one of the extra blankets with your phone replaying a tiktok. choso always had the guest bedroom prepared for you but it was always all for naught, as the couch seemed to be your preferred place of choice. it was so soft, it had to be well over a thousand bucks. he never disturbed you, you deserved your sleep. at most, he’d shut your phone off and turn down the tv, and head upstairs to shower and prep for bed himself. he’d often hear you leave the house later that night or early in the morning.
choso was the strong, silent type most of the time. he was an action-driven man– if he didn’t say it he would show you. you knew he liked you for his baby brother when he asked how did you feel about hanging around yuji for a bit longer than anticipated one evening while you were just about to leave out for the day. or when he would sneak those crisply folded blue bills into your bag. you wondered what he did for work one day, and you asked him. he was an anesthesiologist, he said. and you knew he was rolling in the money then.
there were no signs of a woman in his life from what you’ve seen. no feminine hygiene products in the bathroom, no pictures, no particular scent aside from your own aroma of sweetness. no mentions of a “she”... not that you’ve ever talked about it. you wanted to pop the question, but you didn’t want to weird him out- you opted to just “keep things professional.” but shit, it was hard sometimes. choso was a nice-looking man, with a height of 6’3”, a hard, muscular build, and dark eyes that made you shudder when he looked down upon you with them. sometimes he would come home after a vigorous work-out at the gym if he had the pleasure of getting off on time, wearing a black underarmour compression shirt that would be so damn tight you’d see every sculpt and cut of his meticulously defined upper body. his hair would be down, brown tresses clinging to his strong neck, thick eyebrows knitted together at the feeling of sweat and perspiration sticking to his skin and his growing need to shower. you would be in the kitchen, just cleaning up since you wrapped dinner up not too long ago, and the smell would make his stomach borderline roar at him. he’d shower, then come back in a tee and grey sweatpants, damp hair hanging as he sat at the table and basically ripped apart whatever you had prepared for him.
sometimes, you’d be in a rush to go home. not because choso would make you uncomfortable or anything. never that… but you knew your body. you knew that warm pool of heat in between your legs meant nothing but trouble, and was something that needed to be handled, preferably asap. you’d rush into your little apartment, make a beeline to your bedroom and strip down to your bare skin before jumping into your silk pink sheets. you’d grab your vibrator and press it to your clit desperately, pussy squeezing around nothing as you threw your head back against the soft pillows. you’d pinch your brown nipple, bottom lip trapped in between your teeth as you moved your vibrator in small little circles. more and more, you’ve began imagining choso in between your legs, his large hands parting your thick thighs like the red sea as he ate you out, his tongue lashing at your clit and slurping up your honey like a man parched. you imagined him pinning you against a wall with those brawny arms of his, knees pressed to your chest as he pounded you, burying himself to the hilt as your pussy squeezed his thick, long dick like a vice. it would be so nasty… you could only imagine the way you’d be cumming around him, how he’d make you cream and release until you’re ran dry.
sometimes when you finish, you’ll feel ashamed, throwing your vibrator to the end of the bed as you squeezed your legs together and hid under the comforter with embarrassment. other times… not so much. the fire would still be stirring and burning within you, begging for something more, for you to truly be filled. there were times you were a smidgen too close to calling up one of your old flings, just to fulfill your desire of being stretched out once again and to just imagine the man over you was your employer instead.
your feelings didn’t go completely unrequited.
choso held his tongue for the greater good of professionalism and your comfortability, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t contemplate asking you to dinner a few times. from what he’s seen and observed on your insta, you didn’t have a special somebody. and he figured it would never hurt to ask. but choso was careful. he often opted to just not say anything.
he felt his gazes getting longer, his eyes moving more risky every time he’d see you moving about in his home working. he picked up that you really liked two piece sets, especially the ones made of sculpting spandex that always clung to your body almost provocatively. the way your ass sat in them, he was almost embarrased to say he dreamed about grabbing a handful of it, palming one of your cheeks with his entire hand. your glossed lips always caught his attention. he often thought about how it would look smudged on his skin, smeared across his own lips after tonguing you down.
your smell lingered. on the furniture, in the blankets, hung in the air. it was embarrassing how the scent of shea butter and vanilla was enough alone to make his dick stiff. it’s been so long since he’s rubbed one out. and he was doing a good job until you came along. he wasn’t proud to admit the amount of times he’s touched himself to you, his hips rolling his dick up into the clenched palm of his hand, soft squelching sounds filling his master bedroom. he’d imagine how you’d ride him, slamming your hips down against his own, your ass flush against his skin as you moan sweet nothings into his ear while he tried his damnedest to not nut in you.
the tension was growing thick. it could be sliced with a chainsaw at this point. but the both of you both opted to play it safe. until it spilled over… and it was bound to happen.
and it did.
"ouuuu, shit, choso!" the way that man was absolutely drilling you from behind was almost criminal, the deafening sound of his hips cracking against your fat ass echoing throughout the sound of the living room as he was trying his best to fuck you through the couch he had you drooling on.
you really don't know how you got here. well... you do. after all, this was the day you've been plotting and hoping on the moment you first seen choso's fine ass leaning against his doorway. it was like a dream come true, watching the way he deliciously hovered over you like predator over prey, his silky brown tresses draping around his sharp facial structure and his silver chain dangling, swinging in cadence with his hard, deep thrusts.
the two of you were just watching a movie, mr. & mrs. smith to be exact, courtesy of the invitation he extended earlier that night when you put yuji down for bed. an opportunity to "get better acquainted" over wine, gourmet chips, chocolates and a good action-romance.
"i see the way you look at me," you had stated boldly as you sipped your third glass of wine, the pillar to your sudden courage. "i know you notice how i look at you, too."
choso was sprawled out on the couch, legs spread and his arms thrown over the top. his head rested in one of his big hands, gazing at you through heavy-lidded eyes. he's silent for a moment as he looks at you so intently, his orbs filled with need, before he finally diverts his gaze to the tv. "yeah."
you look at the tv for a bit, not interested at all actually, but feigning it as you finished your glass. it was silent for a bit, albeit the sound of gunfire and car collisions booming through the in-home sound system, before choso speaks, "you can sit closer."
your scooting closer somehow led to you sitting in his lap, which led to a passionate, sloppy makeout session involving you straddling his firm thighs and his big hands gripping your entire ass in his palms as your tongue dived into his mouth. and all that led to him softly laying you on to the couch cushions, your lips never leaving each other's.
his lips are as soft as they look, yet leave scorching flames of desire in their wake as he litters passionate kisses all over your jugular and chest. he buries his nose into your skin, almost moaning at how sweet you smell and taste. as he continues to trace his name on your skin with his tongue, his fingers find the zipper to your purple yoga jacket, his eyes peering at up at yours through his thick lashes to ensure he has your approval.
you nodded your head gently.
choso made it his mission to show you he had much more to offer than some blue bills to you. you never depicted or predicted the guy to be an eater. but oh, were you pleasantly surprised.
that man can eat some pussy... and he does it like he gets paid to do it. he had you spread out like you were his dinner, and you were, your legs wide apart, knees bent. he sat on his haunches on the carpeted floor before you, spreading your lips apart and sloppily sucking at your clit that throbbed eagerly against his lips. he'd dip his head down, lapping up any of your leaking wetness before making out with your pussy yet again, his eyes trained on you and watching intently as your pretty face contorted into expressions of pleasure.
he'd make you cum all in his mouth, encouraging you to do so, never letting up as your thighs shook and vibrated, your eyebrows pushing together and your eyes fluttering shut as the bright hot warmth of your well-awaited orgasm overtook you, leaving you gasping for air. his compliments, "good girl," and "you taste so fucking good" would just get you all riled up again. choso came in his pants too, his ear tips bright red as he made it his duty to lick up all of your sweet nectar, but he kept that to himself.
that's not the only way he wants you though. he'll sit on his bottom on the floor next, his head resting against the couch, requesting for you to sit on his face. "what? choso, no, i'd crush you."
he'll take that as an insult of course. he benches twice your weight, easily. a little extra plush on the thighs wouldn't kill him, in fact, he'd love it ten times more. you'd saddle up, hesitantly brushing your pussy against his lips, and he'd look up at you, unimpressed.
"whaat?" you feign confusion, in reality, a bit shy and nervous at the thought of putting your weight on him.
"sit."
his words made every hair stand at attention against your skin, sending a shiver down your spine. you bite your lip, your gloss long smeared off and all over his pale skin. you bring your weight down on him a bit more.
"all the way." fuck.
you do as you're told, and a deep moan of satisfaction rolls through him, his tongue already dipping into your dripping folds. and before you could even think about letting up, his strong arms are locked around your thick thighs.
he'd have you writhing in his grip, going insane at the way his tongue wrote love letters in cursive against your clit. he'd be damn near drowning in your release, your cum slicking and dribbling against his chin as you rolled your hips back and forth against his soft lips. you were chanting his name like a mantra, and it was a beautiful melody to his ears.
and lo and behold, that's how you ended up on a first class flight to poundtown, your eyes stuck in the back of your head and your manicured nails digging into the arm of the couch for personal brace as his huge dick kept brushing up against that soft spot of yours and his girth stretched you so damn good. you knew you were making a mess- you done squirted twice already, your juices rivering down the insides of your thighs and seeping into the soaked couch cushion below you. "fuck, please don't stop!"
"yeah?" choso breathes over you, his cheeks flushed pink from his endurance. you knew he wasn't slowing down no time soon... he told you about his daily four mile runs. his pupils were blown wide as he watched the way you managed to still throw it back at him, stilling his hips as he watched your hungry pussy swallow his length every time your ass sat plush on his lower stomach. "you like that shit?" his calloused palm smacked against your ass unforgivingly, the fiery sting setting you ablaze. he did it again, one more time for good measure.
you were losing it, moaning exasperatedly into the couch fabric as you gave him everything you got, tossing your ass back against him, trying to match the impact he was winding you with just a second ago. "yess, fuck yess," you whine. you reach your hand back, your nails clawing at his shirt and yanking it in a ball. "please, choso, keep fucking me like that."
"what, like this?" his large hands were at your lovehandles, squeezing the flesh there as his resumed his relentless rythym, his eyebrows pinching at the way you squeezed around him like a vice. you let out a wail, your cream decorating his veiny shaft, and he relished in the feeling, a deep groan of satisfaction bubbling from his throat. "shit, you just keep cumming.... what is this, your fourth time?"
actually your sixth, but you weren't gonna correct him. if there was anything you knew, you wanted more. the way the veins of his dick dragged against your walls was a wonderful, irreplicable feeling, his balls slapping your clit with each profound stroke. his thick fingers found your hair, tangling his hand in your locks and giving them a courteous yank, making your back cave and arch deeper as you let out a yelp of pleasure. any other time, you'd for sure cuss him out... but his dick touching your soul was plenty good of a distraction. besides, you knew your hair was long sweated out anyway.
he was gonna give you some money for a new hairstyle anyway. he was good for making up for it.
choso feels himself teetering against the edge, between the sounds of your disgusting squelching and the mess you left on him and his couch, your pussy still begging for more as it and all its sloppiness still squeezed him whole, and your pretty keens and gasps bouncing around the room, it was almost too much. he felt like he was losing it, the hearts in his eyes palpitating as both of his hands held your jaw from behind. "the fuck are you doing to me..." he mutters aloud, his eyebrows furrowed as you eagerly sucked on his thumbs with a slutty moan.
"you know, yuji gets lonely sometimes," he whispers, slowing his thrusts and leaning forward to crush you with his weight, his dick bottoming out and making you let out a cry as your eyes snapped wide open. he rolls his hips more sensually as he licks at the back of your nape, the cool metal of his chain brushing the skin of your back and making you shiver. his lips trail to your ear, tongue lolling out at the shell as he continues, "i'm sure he wouldn't mind a friend. you'd like that wouldn't you? for me to fuck you full until i got nothing left, huh? you gonna drain me of all i got?"
you nodded your head desperately as you hummed a whiny "mmhm", turning your head to the side as you watched in awe as the man over you was spilling over the edge. "yes, i'd love it, cho, give it to me... please?"
choso hums in satisfaction, his heart thrumming against his ribcage as your words made butterfly cocoons hatch in his stomach and his dick stiffer than ever before. "yeah..." he slams into you, winding you with power and force that insinuated that he hated you, but he'd only make such a dangerous, promising offer to someone he truly liked. let alone anyone at all. "i know you would. you're nasty as fuck."
you didn't know if you were to be terrified or turned on, but the way your core pulsated around him let you know you were the latter. he let out a breathy moan at your physical response, but it didn't stop him. not even for a second.
he wasn't letting up. you weren't getting any breaks. the way you would be teasing him wearing those tight ass clothes and smelling like you wanted him to eat you alive. nah. he was giving you everything you ever dreamed about, everything you imagined when you'd resort to using your little vibrator between your legs.
and you loved every fucking second of it.
#choso kamo#choso x reader#choso x black!reader#choso x black y/n#jjk x reader#jjk x black reader#jjk x black y/n#jjk x black!fem reader#jjk smut#jujutsu kaisen x reader#oh wow#this feels kinda nasty#i'm a bit embarrassed#but i hope yall like it cus i love it
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Part 1 - Paradise on Venus | Part 2 | Part 3
Ningning x Fem!Reader
Word Count: ca. 9k
Synopsis: At university, Y/N’s world is turned upside down when she meets Ningning, a magnetic musician with a reputation for breaking hearts.
English isn’t my first language so I apologize in advance for any mistakes.
♡ Enjoy! ♡
The campus buzzed with life as the late afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the neatly trimmed quad. Students shuffled between classes and study groups, the muffled hum of conversation blending with the rustling of autumn leaves. In the heart of the engineering building, where the faint scent of solder and oil clung to the air, Y/N sat at her workstation.
The lab was a chaotic symphony of whirring machines and scattered blueprints. Y/N leaned over her desk, her brow furrowed in concentration as she carefully adjusted the wires on a small circuit board. A faint smile tugged at her lips as the LED light flickered to life, signaling her success. “Finally,” she murmured to herself, tucking a loose strand of her natural brown hair behind her ear. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, streaked with faint smudges of graphite from an earlier sketch. She had always thought of herself as more practical than glamorous, but her bright smile and soft, heart-shaped face had a way of catching people off guard.
“Y/N, you’re a miracle worker,” said Chaewon, sliding onto a stool beside her. Chaewon’s clipboard was crammed with notes, and her sharp, focused expression softened with a grin. “I’ve been staring at that thing for three days, and I still don’t know how you do it.”
“It’s just practice,” Y/N replied with a modest shrug, her tone light and teasing. “And maybe a little caffeine.”
Chaewon smirked. “A little? That thermos of yours could fuel an entire marathon.”
Y/N grinned and took a sip of her coffee, the warm liquid fueling her for the hours of work still ahead. Despite her cheerful demeanor, she had a focused intensity when it came to her projects, a quality that had earned her respect among her peers. Yet outside her small circle of friends, Y/N often felt a bit shy, preferring the quiet comfort of her lab over the bustling chaos of campus life.
The lab door swung open, and Yunjin sauntered in, carrying a half-empty bubble tea. Her caramel-colored hair was swept into a loose bun, and she looked entirely too relaxed for someone who had a project deadline looming. “What’s up, nerds?” she said, flopping onto a chair and kicking her feet up on the edge of Chaewon’s desk.
“Yunjin, if you spill that tea on anything, I swear—” Chaewon began, her voice laced with exasperation.
“Relax, boss,” Yunjin interrupted with a playful grin. “I’m just here to deliver the latest campus gossip. Did you hear about Ningning?”
Chaewon rolled her eyes, but her curiosity got the better of her. “What about her?”
Yunjin leaned in conspiratorially, her tone dripping with drama. “She’s already moved on from that junior in drama. Apparently, they lasted all of two weeks. I heard she dumped them during their coffee date. Brutal.”
Y/N didn’t look up from her work, but she felt Chaewon nudge her with an elbow. “You’ve heard about Ningning, right?” Chaewon asked, lowering her voice. “The ‘heartbreaker’?”
“I think everyone has,” Y/N replied, her tone dismissive. “It’s hard not to when people won’t stop talking about her.”
Yunjin snickered. “Well, it’s not like she doesn’t deserve the title. Ningning’s a legend. Boys, girls, it doesn’t matter. She charms them all, and then poof, she’s onto the next.”
“Sounds exhausting,” Y/N said, tightening a screw on her circuit board.
“She’s not all bad,” Yunjin added with a shrug. “I mean, she’s gorgeous, and have you heard her sing? It’s like.. wow. I’d let her break my heart just for the experience.”
Chaewon groaned. “Please. You’d fall for anyone with a guitar.”
“True,” Yunjin said with a laugh. “But Ningning’s different. She’s like...irresistible, you know?”
Y/N finally glanced up, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. “Are we done with the Ningning fan club meeting? Some of us are trying to work.”
Yunjin held up her hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. Don’t get all grumpy. But seriously, Y/N, if she ever sets her sights on you, good luck. She’s like a black hole. No escape.”
Chaewon chuckled but quickly sobered. “Honestly, though, it’s better to stay out of her orbit. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of someone coming out of a thing with her unscathed.”
Y/N shrugged, her attention back on her project. “Not my problem. I’m not interested in distractions.”
“That’s the spirit,” Chaewon said with a small smile. “Engineering comes first.”
But even as Y/N joked, a part of her couldn’t help but wonder about the girl everyone seemed so fascinated by. Who was Ningning, really? Was she as shallow and fickle as the rumors claimed, or was there more to her than met the eye? The thoughts were fleeting, though, easily dismissed as Y/N immersed herself in her work.
The sun outside had dipped below the horizon by the time Y/N packed up her tools and slung her bag over her shoulder. The lab had emptied out, save for a few die-hard students hunched over their desks. As she stepped outside, the crisp evening air nipped at her cheeks, and the distant sound of laughter floated through the campus. For a moment, she paused to take it all in, the golden glow of streetlights, the murmured hum of conversations, the faint notes of music from a nearby dorm window.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her from her reverie. It was Chaewon, already texting about their group project for the next week. Y/N smiled and typed out a quick reply, her thoughts shifting back to the familiar rhythm of deadlines and diagrams. She had no time for campus drama, and certainly no time for girls like Ningning.
As Y/N made her way back to her dorm, she couldn’t help but overhear snippets of conversation from passing students. Ningning’s name seemed to crop up everywhere, a casual remark here, a whispered comment there. It was as if the girl was woven into the very fabric of campus life. But Y/N shook her head, brushing the thoughts away. Whatever allure Ningning held for others, it wasn’t something she planned to get tangled in.
By the time Y/N reached her room, the campus was quiet, the night settling in like a soft blanket. She set her bag down, stretched, and let out a contented sigh. Her world was simple, structured, and predictable, just the way she liked it.
The soft hum of conversation and the clinking of cups filled the cozy coffee shop tucked away in a quiet corner of campus. Its warm, amber lighting and mismatched furniture gave it a charming, lived-in feel, a favorite spot for students seeking a moment of peace amidst their hectic schedules. Y/N had claimed a corner table near the window, a cup of steaming coffee by her side as she thumbed through her notebook, sketching ideas for her next project.
Outside, the late autumn sun filtered through the glass, casting golden streaks across her notebook. She absentmindedly tucked a strand of her brown hair behind her ear, her focus entirely on the intricate lines forming on the page. It was one of the rare moments where she could block out the noise of the world and lose herself in her work.
Ningning had originally come in for a quick espresso to recharge between classes, but her attention snagged the moment she spotted Y/N by the window. She paused mid-step, her espresso order forgotten. Y/N’s quiet focus and natural beauty, framed by the warm glow of sunlight, were magnetic. Ningning tilted her head, her curiosity piqued.
The infamous heartbreaker was no stranger to attention, she thrived in it, danced in it, but there was something about Y/N that felt different. Ningning wasn’t used to people who radiated warmth but still seemed just out of reach, like sunlight on a cold day. Intrigued, she smoothed down her sweater and made her way over.
“Hey there,” Ningning said, leaning slightly against Y/N’s table with a casual confidence that turned heads. Her voice was light, playful, but with an unmistakable undercurrent of interest. “Mind if I join you?”
Y/N blinked, momentarily startled out of her thoughts. She glanced up, her eyes locking with Ningning’s. The other girl was striking, her dark hair framing her round face and her full lips curved into a disarming smile. It took Y/N a beat longer than she’d like to process the question.
“Oh, uh...” Y/N’s gaze flicked to the empty seat opposite her, then back to Ningning. “Sure?”
Ningning slipped into the seat, her movements as smooth as silk. “Thanks. I promise I’m not here to interrupt your work. You just seemed... interesting.”
Y/N arched a brow, her caution immediately flaring. “Interesting?”
“Yeah,” Ningning said, resting her chin on her hand as she studied Y/N openly. “You’ve got this whole focused but 'lost in your own world' vibe going on. It’s refreshing.”
Y/N wasn’t entirely sure how to respond to that, so she simply offered a polite smile and closed her notebook. “Thanks, I guess. I don’t think we’ve met before.”
“We haven’t,” Ningning said, extending a hand across the table. “I’m Ningning. But you can call me Ning. Everyone does.”
Y/N hesitated for a fraction of a second before shaking her hand. “Y/N.”
“Y/N,” Ningning repeated, her lips curling around the name like it was something to savor. “Cute name. It suits you.”
Y/N felt a faint heat rise to her cheeks and quickly looked down at her coffee. “Thanks.”
“So, what are you working on?” Ningning asked, gesturing to the notebook.
“Just some ideas for a project,” Y/N replied, keeping her answer deliberately vague. She wasn’t exactly in the mood to share the details of her engineering concepts with a stranger, even one as charming as Ningning.
Ningning, however, didn’t seem deterred by the lack of information. If anything, it seemed to amuse her. “Ah, the mysterious type,” she teased, her tone light. “I like that.”
Y/N glanced at her, trying to gauge her intentions. Ningning’s reputation echoed in her mind like a warning bell, but her demeanor, bright, playful, and somehow sincere, was disarming. Still, Y/N wasn’t about to let her guard down so easily.
“Not mysterious,” Y/N said, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself. “Just focused.”
“Focused is good,” Ningning said, leaning back in her chair. “Focused means you’ve got your priorities straight. Let me guess.. engineering major?”
Y/N blinked. “How did you—?”
“It’s the vibe,” Ningning said with a grin. “The notebook, the intense concentration, the... thermos of coffee that could probably wake the dead. Am I right?”
Y/N chuckled softly despite herself. “You’re not wrong.”
“I knew it,” Ningning said, looking genuinely pleased with herself. “What kind of project? Robots? Cool gadgets? Something to save the world?”
“Something like that,” Y/N replied, her smile lingering. There was an ease to Ningning’s presence that was hard to ignore, even as her logical mind screamed at her to be cautious.
“So, what’s an engineering genius like you doing in a coffee shop? Don’t you have, like, a secret lair with lasers and blueprints or something?” Ningning’s tone was teasing, but her eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity.
Y/N shook her head, a laugh escaping her. “Even geniuses need coffee breaks.”
“Well, I’m glad you took one,” Ningning said, her voice softening just enough to make Y/N’s heart skip a beat. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet you.”
The words hung in the air for a moment, and Y/N felt her caution flare again. She straightened in her seat, the faint smile slipping from her face. “You seem pretty good at this,” she said, her tone measured.
Ningning tilted her head. “At what?”
“Talking,” Y/N said, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Making people feel like the center of the universe. Charming them.”
Ningning’s smile widened, but there was a flicker of something deeper in her gaze, respect, perhaps, or maybe just intrigue. “Is that a bad thing?”
“I guess it depends on your intentions,” Y/N replied, her voice steady.
Ningning leaned forward slightly, her expression shifting to one of playful challenge. “And what do you think my intentions are?”
Y/N met her gaze evenly. “I don’t know. But I’m not exactly interested in finding out.”
Ningning chuckled, a low, melodic sound that made Y/N’s resolve waver just a little. “Fair enough. But you’re wrong about one thing.”
“Oh?” Y/N said, raising an eyebrow.
“I’m not good at talking,” Ningning said, her smile taking on a mischievous edge. “I’m just good at finding interesting people. And you, Y/N... you’re the most interesting person I’ve met in a while.”
Y/N wasn’t sure whether to feel flattered or wary, so she settled for a polite nod. “Thanks, I guess.”
Ningning stood, her movements as fluid as when she’d arrived. “I should let you get back to your work. But I’m glad I came over.”
Y/N watched as she slid her chair back into place, her heart still beating a little faster than she’d like. “Thanks for stopping by,” she said, her tone carefully neutral.
Ningning lingered for a moment, her gaze flickering over Y/N one last time. “I’ll see you around, Y/N,” she said, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “I’m sure of it.”
And with that, she was gone, leaving Y/N staring after her, a mix of curiosity and unease swirling in her chest. She shook her head, trying to focus on her notebook, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Ningning’s parting smile. Something about it told her this wasn’t the last time their paths would cross.
The days that followed their first encounter were, at first, unremarkable. Y/N busied herself with projects, classes, and her usual routine, convincing herself that the brief moment with Ningning was a one-off, a random meeting with no deeper implications. But she should have known better.
The first “coincidence” happened the next morning. Y/N had just found a seat in the campus library when Ningning appeared at the end of the aisle, a book in hand and a curious smile on her lips.
“Engineering, huh?” Ningning said, holding up the title. Fundamentals of Robotics.
Y/N blinked, then glanced at her own open textbook. “Let me guess.. you’re expanding your horizons?”
Ningning chuckled, slipping into the chair across from her without waiting for an invitation. “Something like that. Or maybe I just wanted an excuse to see you again.”
Y/N’s lips twitched into a faint smile despite herself. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that.”
“Always,” Ningning said, setting the book down. “So, how’s the genius project coming along?”
Y/N hesitated but found herself answering. “Still in the planning phase. It’s nothing exciting yet.”
“Everything you do seems exciting,” Ningning said, resting her chin on her hand.
Y/N shook her head, trying to fight the warmth creeping into her cheeks. “You don’t even know me.”
“Not yet,” Ningning replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
The encounters continued. A few days later, Y/N opened her notebook after a lecture, ready to jot down a few ideas that had struck her during class. As she flipped the pages, a small, folded note fluttered out and landed on her desk.
She picked it up, her brow furrowing in confusion. The handwriting was neat but playful, the letters looping elegantly across the page.
Y/N,
Don’t work too hard, save some time for coffee with me.
-Ning
Y/N stared at the note, her heart doing an uncomfortable flip. She turned it over, half-expecting to find more, but there was nothing except a phone number scrawled at the bottom.
She glanced around the lecture hall, half-expecting to see Ningning watching her from the doorway or the back of the room, but there was no sign of her. When had Ningning slipped this into her notebook?
The thought made her stomach flutter, though she quickly shook her head, dismissing the feeling.
For the rest of the day, the note lingered in her thoughts. Every time she opened her notebook, the looping letters seemed to taunt her. She told herself it was ridiculous to even consider texting Ningning. What would she say? And wasn’t this exactly the kind of thing she was trying to avoid?
But by the time she was back in her dorm room, the curiosity had become unbearable. Against her better judgment, she typed out a quick message and hit send.
So, when exactly did you sneak this into my notebook?
The reply came almost instantly, and Y/N’s pulse quickened as she read the response.
Let’s just say I have my ways. Don’t worry, your friends approve.
Y/N rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t suppress a small smile. She could practically hear Ningning’s teasing tone through the words on the screen.
I’m busy, she typed back, hoping the simple response would end the conversation before it could begin.
Ningning’s reply was quick and disarmingly bold Then I’ll wait until you’re not.
Y/N stared at her phone, unsure whether to laugh or groan. The sheer audacity of the girl was both infuriating and, admittedly, a little charming. She didn’t reply, but as she set her phone aside, she realized her lips had quirked into an involuntary smile.
It wasn’t long before Ningning escalated her efforts. She seemed to have an uncanny ability to know where Y/N would be.
One day, Y/N stopped by the campus café for a quick lunch between classes. The place was crowded, and she barely managed to snag a small table near the corner. As she unwrapped her sandwich, she heard a familiar voice behind her.
“Mind if I join you?”
Y/N looked up to see Ningning standing there with a tray, her easygoing grin as disarming as ever.
“Do I have a choice?” Y/N asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Nope,” Ningning said cheerfully, sliding into the seat opposite her before Y/N could protest.
Y/N sighed but didn’t object. “Do you always invite yourself to people’s tables?”
“Only when the company is worth it,” Ningning replied, taking a sip of her iced coffee.
Despite herself, Y/N chuckled softly. Ningning’s confidence was relentless, but there was something about her energy that was hard to resist.
Over the next few weeks, the “coincidences” multiplied. Ningning appeared at the library while Y/N studied, waved to her across the quad, and once even “accidentally” ended up on the same bench as Y/N during a quiet moment by the campus fountain.
But sometimes, Ningning’s efforts weren’t subtle at all.
Y/N was midway through demonstrating her prototype at an engineering open house when she spotted Ningning at the back of the crowd. Dressed casually but effortlessly chic, Ningning stood out among the sea of students and faculty, her confident stance and bright expression impossible to miss.
Y/N’s hand faltered on her pointer, and she almost dropped it. Her heart raced as Ningning caught her eye, offering a small thumbs-up and a supportive smile.
Somehow, Y/N made it through the demonstration without completely losing her composure. As the crowd dispersed, she packed up her materials, only to find Ningning approaching her with that same infuriatingly charming grin.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” Ningning said, her admiration evident.
Y/N sighed, trying to hide her flustered state. “What are you doing here, Ning?”
“Supporting a friend,” Ningning replied, her tone playful but her gaze sincere.
“We’re not friends,” Y/N said, though the conviction in her voice was notably weak.
“Not yet,” Ningning shot back, her persistence unwavering.
Y/N shook her head, unsure whether to feel annoyed or flattered. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Not when I see something worth chasing,” Ningning replied, her smile softening.
The words lingered between them, and for a moment, Y/N wasn’t sure how to respond. There was something undeniably genuine in the way Ningning looked at her, like she wasn’t just chasing a thrill, but something deeper.
But the thought only made Y/N’s guard go up. She wasn’t about to be another name on Ningning’s list, no matter how charming the girl was.
Still, as Ningning waved goodbye and disappeared into the crowd, Y/N couldn’t help but feel that strange, persistent flutter in her chest.
As the days went on, Y/N found herself reluctantly softening. It was hard to remain indifferent in the face of Ningning’s unwavering attention. She wasn’t just charming, she was thoughtful in a way Y/N hadn’t expected, always finding small ways to brighten her day.
One rainy afternoon, Y/N was hunched over her laptop in the library, attempting to meet a looming project deadline. She barely noticed the pattering of the rain against the windows until a familiar figure slid into the chair across from her.
“Do you ever take a break?” Ningning asked, setting down a steaming cup of coffee in front of Y/N.
Y/N looked up, startled. “What are you doing here?”
“Making sure you don’t overwork yourself,” Ningning said simply, flashing a grin as she pushed the cup closer. “Black, just how you like it. And don’t tell me you’re too busy to drink it.”
Y/N hesitated but wrapped her hands around the cup, letting the warmth seep into her fingers. “Thanks,” she said softly, her defenses cracking just a little more.
Moments like these became routine. A text to check in, a random gift of coffee, a casual conversation that managed to feel disarmingly intimate. Ningning had a way of slipping past Y/N’s walls without forcing her way in.
One day, Ningning invited her to a quiet café just off campus. “I’ll buy,” she offered, waving a hand at the menu.
Y/N hesitated. “You don’t have to keep buying me coffee, you know.”
“But I like spoiling you,” Ningning replied with a wink.
Y/N sighed but eventually agreed, telling herself it was just coffee.
The café was warm and inviting, its walls lined with mismatched bookshelves and vintage posters. They found a table by the window, and as they settled in, the conversation flowed with surprising ease.
Over steaming mugs, Ningning opened up about her love of music. She shared stories of late nights spent writing lyrics, the thrill of performing on stage, and the bittersweet moments of fame.
“It’s like chasing a high,” Ningning said, her voice softer than usual as she traced the rim of her mug with her fingertip. “Every time I finish a song or get on stage, it feels like nothing else matters. But sometimes, I wonder if I’ll ever find something that lasts.”
The vulnerability in her words caught Y/N off guard. For a moment, the infamous heartbreaker seemed achingly human.
Y/N tilted her head, studying Ningning’s expression. “Why do you think that?”
Ningning smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Maybe because nothing ever has. It’s always temporary, people, places, even feelings. Like they’re just waiting to fade.”
Y/N’s chest tightened. She wanted to ask more, to probe deeper into the guarded part of Ningning’s heart, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she offered her own honesty.
“What about you?” Ningning asked, her gaze steady. “What do you want out of all this? School, life, everything?”
Y/N paused, caught off guard by the question. “I guess... I just want to create something meaningful,” she admitted. “Something that makes a difference.”
Ningning’s eyes softened, and for once, her smile wasn’t teasing. “I think you will,” she said simply, and the sincerity in her voice left Y/N momentarily speechless.
Despite her better judgment, Y/N began to let her guard down. Ningning’s presence became a constant. A text in the morning, a casual greeting between classes, an unexpected but welcome companion during study sessions.
Y/N started to look forward to their encounters, even if she wouldn’t admit it aloud. Ningning had a way of making her laugh, of drawing her out of her shell with effortless charm. But even as Y/N grew to appreciate Ningning’s wit, humor, and surprising depth, a part of her remained cautious.
The stories lingered in the back of her mind, a whispered warning she couldn’t quite ignore. She’d heard them all. The trail of broken hearts, the fleeting connections, the people left wondering if they’d ever really known Ningning at all.
One evening, as Y/N lay in bed scrolling through her phone, a message lit up her screen.
You’re still awake, right?
Y/N rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. What makes you think that? she typed back.
You’re too much of a workaholic to sleep early.
Y/N laughed softly to herself, shaking her head. Guilty.
Good. Meet me tomorrow after class?
Y/N hesitated. She’d avoided labeling whatever was happening between them, but Ningning’s persistence was wearing down her defenses.
Okay, she finally replied.
The next day, Ningning greeted her outside the lecture hall with her signature grin and a coffee in hand, black, just the way Y/N liked it.
“See?” Ningning said, handing it over. “I’m learning.”
Y/N couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”
“But you like it,” Ningning shot back, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
Y/N shook her head, but her smile lingered. “Maybe a little.”
Their conversation meandered as they walked across campus together. Ningning pointed out little details Y/N had never noticed before, a graffiti heart etched onto a lamppost, the way the sunlight hit the clock tower just right at this time of day.
“You look like you’re always in your head,” Ningning said at one point, glancing at her. “I like pulling you out of it.”
Y/N paused, caught off guard by the comment. “Why?”
“Because I think there’s more to you than you let people see,” Ningning replied, her voice unusually soft. “And I want to know all of it.”
The words left Y/N speechless, her chest tightening in a way she didn’t fully understand. She wasn’t sure what to say, so she settled for a simple, quiet, “Maybe someday.”
Ningning’s smile widened, but she didn’t push further. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Y/N couldn’t help but feel tangled in Ningning’s orbit. The girl was a paradox. Effortlessly confident yet disarmingly vulnerable, playful one moment and achingly sincere the next. Y/N found herself watching for Ningning in places she hadn’t before, her presence sparking a warmth that was hard to ignore.
Still, the uncertainty lingered. Late at night, when the world was still and her thoughts had nowhere to hide, Y/N’s doubts crept in. She’d heard the stories, the whispers of people who had been swept up in Ningning’s charm, only to be left wondering if they’d ever meant anything at all.
Was she just another chapter in the same story? A fleeting thrill for someone who never stayed?
The question weighed heavy, but Ningning’s pull was undeniable. Every smile, every shared laugh, every fleeting touch sent a quiet hum through Y/N’s chest.
And no matter how cautious she tried to be, a small, stubborn hope flickered inside her. Maybe, just maybe, this time was different.
Over the next few weeks, Ningning’s presence shifted from surprising to familiar, her gestures taking on a quiet intimacy that Y/N couldn’t ignore.
One afternoon, Ningning showed up outside Y/N’s lecture hall with a guitar slung over her shoulder. Y/N frowned as she approached, her brow furrowing in confusion.
“What’s with the guitar?” Y/N asked, falling into step beside her.
“You’ll see,” Ningning said cryptically, leading her toward the quad. They stopped under a large oak tree, the branches casting dappled shadows over the grass. Ningning sat down and patted the spot beside her.
Curious, Y/N followed, tucking her legs beneath her. Ningning adjusted the guitar on her lap and strummed a few chords, her fingers moving with practiced ease.
“I wrote something for you,” Ningning said, glancing at Y/N with a small, almost shy smile.
“For me?” Y/N’s voice wavered, caught between disbelief and something deeper she didn’t want to name yet.
“Of course,” Ningning replied, her gaze steady. “You’re my muse.”
Before Y/N could process the words, Ningning began to play. The melody was soft and tender, her voice weaving through the notes like a thread of silk. The lyrics spoke of discovery and quiet moments, of finding something real and unexpected in a world that often felt fleeting.
By the time Ningning finished, Y/N’s chest felt impossibly tight. She blinked, suddenly aware of the tears threatening to spill.
“What did you think?” Ningning asked, her tone casual, though her eyes searched Y/N’s face for a reaction.
“It was...” Y/N paused, swallowing hard. “Beautiful.”
“Good.” Ningning grinned, setting the guitar aside. “That’s what I was going for.”
The song was just one of many gestures that left Y/N feeling both flustered and deeply touched. Ningning had a way of making her feel seen, of finding little ways to show she cared.
One evening, Ningning led Y/N to a quiet spot on campus she claimed as her own—a secluded garden hidden behind the art building.
“I come here when I need to clear my head,” Ningning explained, guiding Y/N through the overgrown path.
The garden was small but enchanting, with wildflowers growing in vibrant clusters and fairy lights strung between the trees. A small bench sat beneath a willow tree, its branches swaying gently in the breeze.
“It’s beautiful,” Y/N said, her voice soft.
“It is,” Ningning agreed, though her eyes were fixed on Y/N rather than the garden.
They spent hours there, talking about everything and nothing. Y/N found herself sharing pieces of her life she rarely offered to others—her dreams, her insecurities, the moments that had shaped her.
And slowly, without realizing it, Y/N’s guardedness began to melt away.
The shift in Y/N’s feelings was subtle at first, a flicker of warmth that spread through her chest whenever Ningning smiled. It wasn’t something Y/N could name or even admit to herself in the beginning. It was in the quiet moments. The way her heart skipped when she saw Ningning’s name light up her phone screen, the way her eyes instinctively sought her out in a crowded room.
But as the days passed, that flicker grew into something undeniable. The moments they shared, the laughter, the gentle teasing, Ningning had a way of drawing Y/N out of her shell without ever forcing it.
Y/N found herself looking forward to their time together. She’d scan the hallways for Ningning’s familiar figure, her heart leaping at every casual greeting or unexpected meeting. The thought of seeing Ningning became a quiet anchor in her day, something she never realized she needed.
It wasn’t just the grand gestures that moved her, it was the small, thoughtful moments that Ningning seemed to weave effortlessly into their growing connection. The way she always remembered how Y/N liked her coffee: black, no sugar, no cream. “Bitter, just like your soul,” Ningning had teased once, earning a reluctant laugh from Y/N.
The way Ningning noticed when Y/N was stressed, slipping in a joke or a funny story to lighten the mood. Like the time Y/N was buried in her project, her notes spread chaotically across a library table. Ningning had appeared out of nowhere, balancing two cups of coffee and a paper bag. “Emergency donuts,” she announced, plopping the bag in front of Y/N. “One bite, and all your worries disappear.”
“You’re impossible,” Y/N had muttered, but the fond smile on her lips betrayed her words.
And then there was the way Ningning looked at her, like she was the only person in the world who mattered. It was a gaze that lingered, warm and steady, making Y/N feel seen in a way she hadn’t in years.
Her guarded heart began to soften. The walls she’d spent so long building felt less like protection and more like barriers she was ready to let go of.
But with that openness came vulnerability. At night, when the campus was quiet and her thoughts refused to settle, Y/N often found herself turning over every moment in her mind. What was it about Ningning that made her feel this way? Was it safe to trust her? Was she just another fleeting conquest for the girl whose reputation preceded her?
And yet, despite her fears, Y/N couldn’t deny the pull. She began to crave Ningning’s company, her laughter, her presence.
One evening, as they walked back from another impromptu coffee run, Ningning nudged Y/N’s shoulder playfully. “You’re always so serious,” she said with a grin. “What’s going on in that brain of yours?”
Y/N hesitated, her thoughts a swirling mix of affection and uncertainty. She glanced at Ningning, her heart clenching at the way the streetlights illuminated her face, softening her sharp edges.
“I guess I’m just... thinking,” Y/N replied, her voice quiet.
“About what?” Ningning asked, her tone light but her gaze steady.
Y/N shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “You ask too many questions.”
“Only when I care about the answers,” Ningning said, her voice softening.
Y/N’s breath hitched, and for a moment, the world seemed to fall away.
And one night, under a sky full of stars, Y/N couldn’t keep it inside anymore.
Ningning had insisted on taking Y/N to the rooftop of the performing arts building, her enthusiasm bubbling over as she practically dragged Y/N along.
“It’s the best view on campus,” Ningning said, her eyes glinting with excitement. “Trust me, you’ll love it.”
As they reached the base of a narrow metal ladder leading to the roof, Y/N hesitated. “This is definitely not an authorized spot,” she said, crossing her arms.
“It’s a little risky,” Ningning admitted, flashing a mischievous grin. “But isn’t that what makes it fun? Come on, I’ve got you.”
Y/N sighed but followed Ningning up the ladder, her heart pounding, not from fear of heights, but from the fact that Ningning’s hand hovered close to hers, ready to catch her if she slipped. When they reached the top, Ningning helped her step onto the flat expanse of the rooftop.
Y/N gasped. The rooftop offered an unobstructed view of the entire campus, the lights of the buildings below twinkling like stars against the dark expanse of the night. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of autumn leaves and the distant hum of life below.
“This is incredible,” Y/N said, her voice filled with wonder. She walked to the edge, feeling the world open up around her.
“I told you,” Ningning replied, watching her with a satisfied smile as she spread out a thick blanket she’d brought along. She plopped down onto it, patting the spot beside her. “Come on, the show’s up there.”
Y/N joined her, sitting cross-legged as her eyes turned to the sky. The stars stretched endlessly above them, their light crisp and steady against the deep velvet of the night.
For a while, they simply sat there, the quiet hum of the night wrapping around them like a cocoon. Ningning pointed out constellations, her voice soft and unhurried. “See that one?” she said, gesturing with her finger. “That’s Cassiopeia. And over there—Orion’s Belt.”
Y/N tilted her head, trying to follow Ningning’s gestures. “I never really learned constellations,” she admitted.
“Then I’ll teach you,” Ningning said, her tone teasing but fond.
As Ningning explained, their conversation drifted, flowing seamlessly from constellations to childhood memories to silly campus stories. Y/N found herself laughing more than she had in weeks, her usual guardedness slipping away under the stars.
But as the minutes stretched into hours, the laughter faded, leaving a warm silence in its wake. Ningning turned to look at Y/N, her eyes reflecting the faint light of the stars.
“You’re beautiful, you know that?” Ningning said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Y/N’s breath caught. The words were so simple, yet they felt like they carried the weight of something far greater. “Ning...”
Ningning leaned closer, her movements slow and deliberate, as if giving Y/N every chance to pull away. But Y/N didn’t move. She couldn’t.
Their lips met softly, tentatively at first, as though testing the waters. The world seemed to fall away, leaving only the warmth of Ningning’s touch and the steady hum of the night around them.
When they pulled back, Ningning rested her forehead against Y/N’s, her lips curving into a small, tender smile.
“Ning,” Y/N began, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ningning turned her head to look at her, her expression soft and expectant. “Yeah?”
Y/N hesitated, her fingers curling into the fabric of the blanket beneath her. She took a deep breath, the cool night air filling her lungs. “I think... I’m starting to fall for you.”
The confession hung in the air, raw and vulnerable. Y/N’s breath caught as she waited for Ningning’s reaction. She felt the weight of the moment, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure Ningning could hear it.
For a moment, Ningning didn’t say anything. Her eyes widened slightly, her lips parting as though she wanted to speak but couldn’t quite find the words. Then, a small, almost bittersweet smile curved her lips.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” Ningning said finally, her voice warm but tinged with something Y/N couldn’t quite place.
Y/N’s chest tightened at the response, a quiet ache settling over her. She wanted to ask what Ningning meant, to press for something more, but the vulnerability of the moment left her frozen.
Instead, she nodded, offering a small, tentative smile in return. “Thanks.”
Ningning’s gaze lingered on her, searching her face as though she wanted to say more but chose not to. Finally, she lay back down, her eyes returning to the stars.
They sat in silence after that, the stars above them casting a gentle glow over the rooftop. Y/N leaned back on her hands, her heart heavy yet strangely light. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to believe in the possibility of something more, even if it was fragile, even if it was fleeting.
The days that followed felt like a dream. Ningning’s texts came in as bright and warm as ever, and their stolen moments on campus carried the same spark that had first drawn Y/N to her. But something lingered in the corners of Y/N’s mind—a faint echo of uncertainty, of the bittersweet smile Ningning had given her that night.
At first, she dismissed it, telling herself she was overthinking. She threw herself into their time together, savoring the way Ningning seemed to light up her world. But as the days turned into weeks, that faint echo grew louder, a nagging doubt she couldn’t quite silence.
And then, almost imperceptibly, things began to shift.
The change was subtle at first. A missed text here, a rescheduled coffee date there. Y/N brushed it off as coincidence, after all, everyone got busy sometimes. But as the days turned into a week, and then another, Ningning’s absence became harder to ignore.
“Sorry, can’t make it today,” Ningning’s message read, the fifth time she’d canceled on Y/N in the past two weeks. Next time, I promise.
Y/N stared at her phone, her stomach twisting. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment, the excitement she’d felt earlier that morning now a dull ache.
Ningning had always been vibrant and full of energy, but lately, her texts felt clipped, her smiles less frequent. Even when they did manage to meet, there was a distance in her gaze that hadn’t been there before.
At first, Y/N tried to rationalize it. Maybe Ningning was just overwhelmed with school or her music. Maybe she needed space. But even as Y/N told herself those things, her mind kept drifting back to the kiss.
It had been soft and tentative, yet it lingered in Y/N’s thoughts like a ghost, the warmth of Ningning’s lips pressed against hers. She could still feel the way Ningning had rested her forehead against hers, the whispered words that had felt so impossibly sincere in the moment.
The weight of uncertainty grew unbearable, pressing down on her like a heavy fog. Y/N found herself replaying their moments together, searching for answers in the smallest details. Had she said something wrong? Was it the confession on the rooftop? She could still hear her own voice trembling as she admitted her feelings, the raw vulnerability of the moment leaving her exposed.
Ningning’s response echoed in her mind like a broken record, not rejection, but not acceptance, either. The bittersweet smile, the way she’d deflected with a compliment instead of reciprocating... Had that been the beginning of the end?
Late at night, Y/N would lie awake, staring at the ceiling as her phone sat on the pillow beside her. She’d scroll through their old texts, rereading conversations that once made her heart race. There were photos, too, moments frozen in time. Ningning grinning with her guitar, Y/N laughing mid-sip of coffee, the two of them sitting side by side on the bench in the hidden garden.
Each image brought a pang of longing, followed by a sharp twist of pain. How had Ningning gone from being her source of light to feeling like a shadow slipping further and further away?
One evening, as Y/N sat in her dorm room, her laptop open but untouched, Chaewon leaned against the bedframe, watching her with concern. “You’ve been like this for days,” Chaewon said, crossing her arms.
Y/N didn’t look up. She was fidgeting with the edge of her blanket, her fingers twisting the fabric into knots. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not,” Chaewon replied, her tone gentle but firm. “What’s going on with Ningning? Have you talked to her about it?”
Y/N sighed, her chest tightening as she pulled the blanket closer. “I don’t even know what to say,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if... what if she’s over it? Over me?”
Chaewon’s expression softened. “Y/N...”
Yunjin, who had been sprawled on the floor with her headphones around her neck, chimed in, her voice unusually gentle. “Then you deserve to know. Sitting here torturing yourself isn’t going to help.”
Y/N finally looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “What if I ruin everything?” she asked, her voice cracking.
“Ruin what?” Yunjin asked, sitting up and leaning forward. “She’s already pulling away. If you don’t say anything, you’re just going to keep feeling like this. And honestly? That’s worse than knowing the truth.”
Chaewon nodded in agreement. “You’ve been overthinking this for days. The only way to figure out what’s going on is to ask her.”
Y/N exhaled shakily, her chest aching with the weight of their words. Deep down, she knew they were right. But the thought of confronting Ningning, of putting her heart on the line again, filled her with dread.
“What if she doesn’t care?” Y/N asked, her voice barely audible.
Chaewon reached over, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. “Then you’ll know, and you can start moving on. But you can’t keep doing this to yourself, Y/N.”
The room fell silent, the weight of their words settling over her. Y/N stared down at her lap, her thoughts racing. Confronting Ningning felt like stepping off a cliff, the fear of falling overwhelming.
But the alternative, this endless uncertainty, was unbearable.
“I’ll think about it,” Y/N said finally, her voice heavy with exhaustion.
“Good,” Yunjin said, a small, encouraging smile tugging at her lips. “And when you’re ready, we’ll be here.”
The opportunity came a few days later, when Ningning unexpectedly showed up outside the engineering building. Y/N had just finished her last lecture of the day and was packing up her bag when she spotted Ningning leaning casually against a nearby lamppost.
For a fleeting moment, Y/N’s heart skipped at the sight of her, her emotions caught between relief and longing. She couldn’t help but remember the rooftop, the way Ningning’s lips had met hers, soft and deliberate, as if the kiss had meant something to her too. But now, the usual warmth in Ningning’s expression, the playful spark that always seemed to light her eyes, was missing.
“Hey,” Ningning said as Y/N approached. Her tone was casual, almost detached, and it hit Y/N like a cold gust of wind.
“Hey,” Y/N replied, gripping the strap of her bag tightly. Her chest ached with the weight of unspoken fears. “What’s up?”
“I thought we could talk,” Ningning said, motioning toward a bench nearby.
Y/N hesitated, her stomach twisting into knots. The weight in Ningning’s voice made her chest feel heavy, but she nodded and followed.
They sat down, the bench cold beneath them, the late afternoon air thick with tension. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence between them charged with unspoken words. Y/N stared at her hands, her heart pounding. Finally, she forced herself to break the silence.
“Ning, is something wrong?” she asked, her voice quiet but steady. “You’ve been... distant.”
Ningning sighed, leaning back against the bench. Her gaze drifted toward the ground, her expression unreadable. “I’ve just been busy,” she said, her tone evasive. “You know how it is.”
“No,” Y/N said, her voice firmer now. She turned to face Ningning, her eyes searching for something, anything, in her expression that might make this make sense. The memory of the kiss burned in her mind, the way Ningning had held her gaze afterward, her soft smile that had felt like a promise. “I don’t. This isn’t like you. You’ve been canceling plans, avoiding me... Did I do something wrong?”
Ningning’s jaw tightened, and she looked away. The silence stretched, growing heavier with each passing second. Finally, she spoke, her voice low and strained. “It’s not about you, Y/N. I just... I don’t think I can give you what you want.”
Y/N frowned, confusion and frustration bubbling to the surface. “What does that even mean?” she asked, her tone sharper now.
Ningning stood abruptly, running a hand through her hair in a gesture that betrayed her own agitation. “It means you’re getting too attached!” she said, her voice rising slightly. “I didn’t sign up for this, Y/N. I’m not... I’m not looking for something serious.”
The words hung in the air, stark and unrelenting. Y/N’s breath caught, her chest tightening as the meaning sank in.
“You could have told me that from the start,” Y/N said, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to stay composed. “Instead of making me feel like this meant something.” Her voice cracked on the last word, the memory of the rooftop twisting in her chest like a knife.
“I didn’t mean to,” Ningning said, her tone softer now but no less cutting. She sighed heavily, her shoulders sagging as though the weight of the conversation was bearing down on her. “You knew what this was, Y/N. Don’t act like I promised you forever.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut, knocking the air from Y/N’s lungs. She stared at Ningning, her vision blurring with the tears she refused to let fall. She thought of the rooftop again, the kiss, the way Ningning had looked at her, the tenderness that had felt so real.
“Wow,” Y/N said, her voice breaking as a bitter laugh escaped her. “I guess I was stupid for thinking you were different.”
Ningning’s expression faltered, a flicker of regret crossing her face. For a moment, it looked like she might say something, anything, to take the sting out of her words. But she didn’t.
The silence between them was deafening, the sound of distant footsteps and murmured conversations on campus fading into the background.
After what felt like an eternity, Ningning took a step back, her voice barely audible. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly, though the words felt hollow, lacking the sincerity Y/N so desperately needed.
Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Y/N sitting alone on the bench, her heart in pieces.
Y/N stared after her, her hands clenched into fists in her lap. The ache in her chest was overwhelming, a crushing weight that made it hard to breathe. She replayed Ningning’s words over and over in her mind, each one cutting deeper than the last.
She had let herself hope, had let herself believe in the possibility of something real. But now, all she could feel was the sharp sting of her own naivety.
Y/N sat there long after Ningning disappeared from view, the cool air biting at her skin. And when she finally rose to her feet, her legs shaky beneath her, she felt like a stranger to herself, an empty shell of the person Ningning had made her believe she could be.
That night, Y/N sat in her dorm room, staring blankly at the wall. The ache in her chest felt unbearable, like a weight she couldn’t escape.
Chaewon and Yunjin tried to comfort her, but their words barely registered. All Y/N could think about was the way Ningning had smiled at her, the way she had made her feel like the most important person in the world, only to tear it all away.
For days, Y/N went through the motions, a shadow of herself. The ache in her chest was constant, her thoughts circling the same unanswerable questions. She avoided crowded spaces and clung to the solitude of the library or her dorm room, trying to outrun the memories that haunted her.
But it was impossible to avoid Ningning completely. The whispers started small, fleeting remarks overheard between classes. By the next day, they had grown louder, until her name was everywhere again.
Ningning had released a new song, and by midday, it was all anyone could talk about.
The excitement was palpable. Groups of students huddled around phones, earbuds shared between friends as they leaned in to listen. The name Ningning was on everyone’s lips, and the whispers grew louder with each passing hour.
Y/N didn’t need to ask what all the fuss was about. The ripple of energy in the air, the knowing glances from her peers, and the snippets of lyrics she caught in passing were enough to tell her everything she needed to know.
“Have you heard it?” Yunjin asked as she leaned against Y/N’s desk that afternoon, her voice hesitant.
Y/N froze, her pen stilling mid-note. She didn’t look up. “No,” she said flatly, her fingers tightening around the pen until her knuckles turned white.
Yunjin shifted uncomfortably, glancing toward Chaewon, who was perched cross-legged on Y/N’s bed. “It’s... good,” Yunjin ventured cautiously, as if trying to test the waters.
“I don’t care,” Y/N replied, sharper than she intended.
The words hung in the air for a moment, tense and unyielding. Chaewon cleared her throat. “It’s called Bored,” she said softly.
The name sent a jolt through Y/N, her stomach twisting into knots. She clenched her jaw, willing herself to stay calm, but the rush of emotions was almost too much to contain.
Chaewon glanced at Yunjin before speaking again. “It’s... everywhere,” she said carefully. “People are talking about it nonstop. I thought you’d want to—”
“I don’t,” Y/N interrupted, her voice cutting through the room like a blade.
Yunjin flinched slightly, while Chaewon’s expression softened with concern. Y/N sighed, rubbing her temples as guilt tugged at her chest. “I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I just... I can’t.”
Her friends exchanged a look but didn’t press further. “Okay,” Yunjin said, her voice quieter now. “We get it.”
They backed off, changing the subject to something mundane, but the damage was done. The seed had been planted, and as the hours dragged on, it grew roots, wrapping itself around Y/N’s thoughts and refusing to let go.
By the time evening settled in, the buzz on campus had faded into the background, leaving Y/N alone with the silence of her dorm room. She tried to study, burying herself in equations and diagrams, but her mind kept drifting back to Ningning.
What had she written? Were the lyrics inspired by their time together?
Y/N shook her head, frustration bubbling to the surface. She didn’t want to care. She didn’t want to think about Ningning, didn’t want to give her the power to hurt her again. But the more she tried to push it away, the stronger her curiosity became.
By midnight, she couldn’t resist any longer. Sitting cross-legged on her bed, headphones in hand, she stared at her phone. The screen glowed faintly in the dark, the song queued up and ready to play.
Her heart pounded as she hesitated, her finger hovering over the play button. What if this only made it worse? What if the lyrics confirmed everything she’d been afraid of?
She exhaled shakily, trying to steady herself. Then, with a deep breath, she pressed play.
The opening chords were slow and deliberate, the melody haunting. Ningning’s voice poured through the headphones, smooth and rich, carrying an edge of something unspoken.
I’m so pretty in your head, boy, yeah Picking flowers, put ’em right behind my ear
The first verse hit like a wave, crashing over Y/N with its familiar imagery. She could see it—Ningning’s playful smirk, the way she tucked a flower behind her ear during one of their walks across campus.
Eyes catch you daydreamin’ Look at the signs, love as advertised
The lyrics dragged Y/N back to the rooftop, to the moment when Ningning had leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper: “You’re beautiful, you know that?” The memory of the kiss rose unbidden, a bittersweet pang twisting in her chest.
Am I messing with you When falling for you, falling for you? But I'm not the one to keep
She could still feel it, the warmth of Ningning’s lips, the way the world had fallen away in those brief seconds. But now, under the weight of the song, that memory felt hollow, as if it had never truly belonged to her. Her chest tightened. The words echoed her own uncertainty during those weeks, when she’d questioned every touch, every glance, every word Ningning had spoken.
But then the chorus hit, the upbeat rhythm masking the sharpness of the words.
Takin’ up a good rush, don’t try to fight it Paradise on Venus in your eyes I always come in hardcore And love you ’til the day I’m bored
The weight of the lyrics settled over Y/N like a lead blanket. Her throat tightened, the meaning slicing through her defenses. The sweet gestures, the stolen moments, the vulnerability Ningning had coaxed from her, it all felt hollow now, reduced to a fleeting rush.
As the song continued, vivid memories flooded Y/N’s mind:
Ningning surprising her with coffee on a rainy afternoon. The garden hidden behind the art building, where Ningning had whispered secrets under the moonlight. The rooftop, the stars, her trembling confession.
And then the confrontation. The way Ningning had looked at her, the words she’d spoken “You knew what this was, Y/N. Don’t act like I promised you forever.”
The music swelled, Ningning’s voice rising with it, each lyric cutting deeper than the last.
Turning your hellos into goodbyes I always come in hardcore Love ’til the end of the road, then I tend to get bored
Y/N felt the tears spilling over before she even realized she was crying. She clenched her fists, trying to push the emotions back down, but the song didn’t relent. It was raw and unapologetic, a mirror held up to the whirlwind of emotions Ningning had left behind.
By the time the final chorus faded into the soft hum of the outro, Y/N was trembling. The last line echoed in her ears, a whisper laced with finality:
Yeah, maybe it’s on me, I should’ve said it before But I tend to get bored.
Y/N pulled off her headphones, letting them fall onto the bed beside her. The room felt impossibly quiet, the absence of Ningning’s voice almost as unbearable as the song itself.
She lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling as tears streaked down her face. Her mind was a whirlwind of questions, doubts, and memories she couldn’t shake.
Had any of it been real? The chase, the laughter, the moments that had felt so genuine, had Ningning felt them too? Or had Y/N been just another fleeting “rush” for someone who never stayed?
The ache in her chest felt unbearable, but she couldn’t bring herself to hate Ningning. Not completely.
And as she lay there, lost in the labyrinth of her own thoughts, one question lingered above all the others:
If it was just a rush for her... why did it feel like so much more to me?
The ceiling blurred as tears filled her eyes again, her heart heavy with emotions she didn’t know how to name.
And somewhere in the silence, Y/N wondered if she’d ever have the courage to ask Ningning the questions that still haunted her.
#kpop imagines#girl group imagines#kpop x reader#gg x reader#aespa x fem reader#aespa x reader#ningning x fem reader#ningning x reader#ning yizhuo x reader
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babe you’ve got me obsessed with doctor remus!
can i request a drabble where reader gets into like a car accident and has been taken into a&e with like mid/severe injuries and remus has been assigned to treat her?
if not then that’s fine! love your work bae 🎀
Hi gorgeous! Thank you for requesting (I'm obsessed with him too) :)
cw: hospital
doctor!Remus x fem!reader ♡ 716 words
The nurse leaves, and you think you might finally get more than five seconds to yourself but then the curtain pulls back again, a tall doctor taking her place. You’ve been able to feel your heartbeat pulsing through every inch of you since you’d stumbled out of your smoking car, and this new man doesn’t help matters.
He’s lovely. With a face smattered with warm freckles and silvery scars and a mop of brown hair that looks like it’s never once been brushed, this is the kind of person who would fluster you on a normal day. Now, you don’t even know the word to describe the effect he has on you.
He has to ask his question a second time before you hear it.
“Have you had allergic reactions to any medications?”
You blink. It still feels like reality is moving at twice its usual speed. You don’t know if it’s just you shaking, but it feels like the whole room. “Uh, no. Sorry.”
“That’s alright.” The doctor’s voice is businesslike but kind, with a Welsh lilt. He flips a page on his clipboard. “Anything we weren’t able to address in the ambulance? Any new aches and pains?”
“I—I don’t think so.”
He lowers the clipboard slightly, looking at you. His eyes are a lightish brown color, like honey left too long in the sun. “Has anyone talked you through grounding exercises?”
You feel your brow wrinkle. “What?”
He almost smiles. “I’ll take that for a no.” He sets down his clipboard on the edge of your bed, pulling up a rolling chair and sitting down in front of you. “I’m going to have you breathe with me for a minute, alright, sweetheart?”
It’s not in your nature to contradict professionals, but you feel your head shaking as if from somewhere outside of yourself. “Why?” you ask. “Aren’t there more important things?”
“There are still things left to do,” he allows, seeming unaffected by your questioning, “but you’re stable. It’s nothing that can’t wait for a few minutes, and it’s important that you’re calm so you can think properly.” He takes your hands in his, ignoring the odd padding of the splint around your broken wrist and holding your fingertips instead. “All I need from you is for you to copy my breathing. Can you do that for me?”
You nod. As he starts to talk you through it, your eyes begin to sting, an effect of his gentle tone or the respite your body has been craving or both. Your doctor’s expression doesn’t change when he sees the silver lining your eyes, but he gives your fingertips a light squeeze.
“Okay, in for eight this time,” he says in that lulling voice. “Good job, just keep at it.”
You manage to breathe in for long enough to satisfy him, and after the exhale he drops your hands.
“Well done,” he murmurs, mindful of the small cuts on your face as he thumbs away your tears. “Are you feeling a bit better?”
“Yeah,” you answer honestly. The word comes out like a sigh, and his lip curves softly at the plain relief in the sound.
“Happy to hear it. You were right earlier, there’s still plenty left to do,” he says, expression sombering somewhat as he looks at you intently, “but if you ever need a break, you tell me or someone else, okay? I don’t want you suffering in silence.”
“Okay.” You wet your lips, feeling much more solid than you had a few minutes before. The world has slowed to its regular speed. “Sorry, I don’t think I got your name.”
He smiles, which is altogether too charming for a place like this. It makes the long scar going across his cheek crinkle slightly and you could swear his eyes lighten a shade. “Well, see, that’s how I know you weren’t really with me when you came in, because we’ve already been introduced.” His expression lets you know he hasn’t taken any offense, but your face still heats at your impoliteness. “It’s Doctor Lupin, but you can call me Remus.”
Something in you rings at this new knowledge, like a tuning fork has been struck. Remus, your consciousness echoes quietly.
His smile softens. “We’ll probably be seeing a lot of each other today.”
#doctor!remus lupin#doctor!remus x reader#remus lupin au#remus lupin#remus lupin x reader#remus lupin x fem!reader#remus lupin x y/n#remus lupin x you#remus lupin x self insert#remus lupin fanfiction#remus lupin fanfic#remus lupin fic#remus lupin hurt/comfort#remus lupin imagine#remus lupin scenario#remus lupin drabble#remus lupin blurb#remus lupin one shot#remus lupin oneshot#marauders#marauders fanfiction#marauders fandom#the marauders#hp marauders#marauders au#marauders x reader
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There is something confusing to me about older queer people (which is to say, older than I am, at a relatively young 24 years old) who get mad at original fiction whose worldbuilding involves neopronouns. I'm hoping maybe, ONTF, since you've been in queer spaces a lot longer than I have, you can explain why people have such a negative reaction to the idea.
Basically, I'm working on a novel based that takes white-throated sparrow biology and uses it for building blocks in the same way A/B/O takes (now debunked) wolf science and used it for building blocks. This means there are essentially four genders, the two viewed as more intelligent (brown-haired men and women) and the two viewed as more physical (white-haired men and women). Those two groups then get further divided along the lines of 'women are better at making smart decisions under pressure' and 'men are better at staying home and defending the children, as God intended'.
So it seemed natural to me that this worldwide quaternary system would result in at least some languages having pronoun sets for each of the four options. Some languages in real life have more complicated pronoun systems than that, particularly ones where there's a bunch of formal and informal pronouns. It'd also help the reader keep track of who was a part of what group without my having to turn around and state people's coloration constantly. Yes, these people are human, just as humans in A/B/O are, but society is fundamentally very different. I'm not throwing this in to just complicate things or sound smart or something. It's here because my minoring in Anthropology and majoring in Linguistics taught me language usage reflects the needs and values of a people.
The writing group I'm a part of IRL is mostly queer, mostly 40+, with some cishet women who are also present and active writers. The writing group I'm a part of on DW is mostly DWRPers, in their 30's and up, though no older than 50, and entirely queer. I did not expect these to be groups that were uncomfortable with the idea of "different world, different pronouns".
Instead the reception has ranged from suggestions it's pretentious or overthinking things to requests I reconsider doing it. I've been informed this could be seen as mocking the real life queer people who go by pronouns other than she, he, or they. One person asked if this was went to be me "artificially justifying" nonbinary pronouns and implying I didn't find them valid in the real world. That was an awkward conversation, to say the least.
In reality I wasn't really thinking about real life people who use nonbinary pronouns when I was writing. I was just asking, "Logically, wouldn't it make sense for things to work very differently under a quarternary than it does under a modern European binary?" and following my brain along to its' conclusions as it processed that.
I have gotten zero negative feedback from my queer friends my age regarding this. So obviously, generation and the experiences informing a generational context are key, here. I'm just... still lost on how anyone finds this objectionable.
Help?
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Ahaha. Oh god.
Well, as a reader of sff in the 90s, the first reaction I have to such things is "IS THERE A CONLANG AND A MAP?" Because, man, the conlang people were some of the most tedious motherfuckers I ever had to deal with in sff spaces.
But broadly... I think the reasons queer people get annoyed about this stuff boil down to a couple of big factors:
Disrespectful children who don't know history
Idiot old people harrumphing about "history" they clearly failed to pay attention to while it was going on in the first place
I personally hate being asked to use new words most of the time. A few bits of fandom slang I'll pick up at once, but I'm usually like "Why would I call it 'spirk'? We already have 'K/S'!" *shakes cane*
If you're American, they're your "roommate", not your "flatmate". No, I don't care how much more precise this foreign term is, you pretentious wanker. (But then I'll use 'wanker' because fandom adopted that years ago...)
So my reaction to being asked to say aloud any pronoun not in very frequent circulation in my offline life is "Urrrgh. Do I have to?"
However, the reality is that people have been messing around with pronouns in English since forever. Do you see 'heo' in Modern English? No, you do not! (Not that it was gender neutral, but the point is that even words as ancient as pronouns have changed quite a bit.) The early internet was full of pronoun stuff in MUDs and the like. You had a choice of a lot more than just three in a bunch of these. People besides men and women have always been in queer communities.
So some people like to cry about neopronouns being actually neo, and they're just wrong.
As for the why do you care part...
There is a nasty habit in contemporary queer spaces to act like gay rights issues are solved. Bisexuality? Passe! etc. Gays and lesbians finally got a little mainstream acceptance only to suddenly be treated like the worst of the establishment by the queer youth. How dare?!?! It's even more egregious with bisexuality where the focus of a bunch of queer activism finally swung that way in the 90s... only to be sharply cut off in the 00s.
There's a real "You already got yours. Where's mine?" vibe to some queer discourse today, and it's directed at people who never got theirs. It shows up in demands for mentorship by people who've barely had a chance to escape a rocky start and figure out who they are themselves. It shows up in yowling about this or that bit of queer media we finally got not being progressive because it's the wrong letter of the acronym.
None of which has a damn thing to do with what pronouns you use in your novel, obviously, but I think some unresolved embattled feelings are why some older queer people are very weird about pronouns.
Some of them are also doing the old person version of throwing the weirdos under the bus to placate the normies. Respectability politics became a term long before the behavior was rife on tumblr.
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If someone really does find it pretentious, though, and not just as a cover for crying about nonbinary identities being fake, I suspect they just remember how 1970s SFF was full of privileged anthropology students misunderstanding kinship systems from elsewhere in the world and then trying to tell everyone how ~deep~ their extremely contrived novels based on them were.
I'm not saying your writing is like this or that every one of these old sff novels was either, but when I hear "anthropology student", I groan internally. It's an instinctive reaction. It's less about the real fields and more about the bevvy of dilettantes I've run into over the years who'll say they study those things but really want to talk my ear off about Joseph fucking Campbell or the strong form of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis or something.
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Those birds are a really cool source of inspiration. Like with A/B/O, the first thing I wonder is how queerness works in that context and how much people like to defy their designated roles.
Omegaverse started on porn logic, so "The one I say tops always tops!" makes sense. When it gets expanded to try to make it make logical sense as a whole world, I often enjoy it, but it can break down quickly if treated as biology is law. I don't know how often the birds veer off of their set patterns, but humans certainly would.
One place where I get a strong "Oh god, this again" feeling from people's plotbunnies is when they're trying to make up a sff society that strikes me as too rigid in a way that real humans aren't. I'll see people using fake wolf biology (not just for horny reasons) but never looking at what's going on with gender in contemporary Thailand or whatever. Like... Le Guin may have made sedoretus feel plausible, but nobody I've ever seen stanning the concept as something fandom should play with has. That's probably because Le Guin was using over-complicated social norms as a thing that breaks down and causes trouble, and "This should be the next A/B/O!" posts are treating it as something that actually works and is a good way to get the pair you don't ship separated while shipping poly.
"It'd also help the reader keep track of who was a part of what group without my having to turn around and state people's coloration constantly."
This, in particular, gives me that cold shudder of recognition from when Homestuck fandom was everywhere and everyone wanted to over-explain those stupid playing card suits and why I should care.
Your concept sounds neat, and I think a set of four pronouns could easily make sense there...
But I also think that if people need the pronouns to keep track of coloration, you haven't set up a system that feels organic enough or haven't given enough cues about how characters are treating each other or why. Use the pronouns too, but just keep that in mind. It's like the "m/m is hard because the pronouns don't tell me whose hand is where" problem. It's almost never actually a pronoun problem.
--
Anyone else have thoughts here?
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Hello it's the plant nerd again, this time I'm wondering how exactly rose hair dye works?
Like you can dye normal roses by cutting the stem and sticking it in dye (works on other flowers too), so do they dye it like humans or just... Drink it? Heck if they drink it, it would even change sap color.
Also a fun aside, real non-dyed 'blue' roses exist! They're made by a company called Suntory, from genetically engineering white roses with DNA from pansies and a little trickery. They're a bit purple, but still they produce a naturally blue pigment alongside the red! (I am so sorry to infodump but like when am I ever gonna have an excuse to tell someone about these cool things)
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You will not believe the amount of thought I have put into the Roses and their hairdye! SO! Let me give you the run down:
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Yes! Hairdye works by dumping a bunch of vegetable dyes or chemicals onto a Rose's head! However, because their hair is magic, whether the dye sticks to the Rose heavily depends on them. If a Rose is happy with the color of their hair and feels like it represents them perfectly, trying to change it won't work... for longer than a few minutes or hours, at least XD
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A Rose trying to force their hair to accept a new color, however, is possible! But they have to do a lot of mental gymnastics to keep up the act and repress anything that makes their "original" color bleed through again. This can risk a Rose turning brown, but mostly it's like wearing a mask in public. However, any dyed hair will NOT reflect the Rose's true magic color. Which makes things a little awkward, but nothing a little more lying can't get around.
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Multicolored Roses have a unique skill of being able to pretend to be one of their true colors! It does mean turning up one of their defining traits to Full Blast in an attempt to hide their second color, but they have the easiest time blending in like "why yes, this is my natural hair color! thank you for asking!"
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There are some who can apply hairdye and it'll stick, though! Green and White Roses being some of those outliers. Also don't you dare apologize for nerding out about roses because it means I can get excited too! It's only thanks to you guys I can ramble about my lil guys <3 Also I did not know there was some dorks out there trying to make legit blue roses?? I already knew about the fake "turn white into blue" roses, but that is really cool! guess it's not 100% impossible after all XD Also thanks to you I was inspired to draw this, so that's a bonus!
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#my art#Rose Knights#for those that know Barbara's stupid lore (which are like... maybe 2-3) I hope you get a sensible chuckle from it XD#Barbara I would literally stab a dozen potatoes for you. You're so awful but in the most perfect way <3
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I recently dyed my hair my natural color (brown) after having it pink for like a year and I didn’t exactly receive the best reactions from my friends, so I was thinking maybe reactions from the clones you want to include to sort of the same situation? Like how they would react, either platonic or romantic, to y/n dyeing their hair back to natural??
Also on another note I feel like omega would probably dye her hair at some point of her life🌚
I'm sorry your friends didn't have a better reaction to your hair, I'm sure it looks fantastic!
And Omega so would dye her hair a million colors, especially if she ever meets Sabine. She has the perfect natural hair tone for it.
GN!Reader x Clones: How they react to your natural hair color.
Rex:
-Rex dyes his hair himself so he never judged you before for having an unnatural color in your own. When he sees you walk by with brown hair he asks about it. When you tell him it's your natural shade, he lets you know it suits you.
Romantic:
-Can't keep his eyes off your hair and how it complements your eyes and natural skintone.
-Reassures you it looks fantastic.
Cody:
-Mentions the new hair and compliments it as you walk past each other in the hall.
Romantic:
-Can't keep his eyes off your new look and how well it complements your features, calls you gorgeous all day. ("Whatever you say, gorgeous.")
Fives:
-Pretends like he doesn't notice. For weeks, he's in it for the long con.
-It's almost torture keeping up the facade, especially since he's not sure whether you've even noticed him "not noticing" or not.
-But he's determined to keep his longest-term prank yet going.
Romantic:
-If you're dating, he wants to make sure he's the FIRST one you hear from and that you know he likes your hair more than ANYONE else.
-He tells you how beautiful you look and even pretends he doesn't recognize you at first as a joke. ("Sorry baby, I'm spoken for.")
Echo:
-Would consider it rude to make a huge deal over your new hair color.
-Instead, when you two are alone he mentions it suits you.
-He wouldn't want to put you on the spot like that otherwise.
Romantic:
-Is a bit flustered trying to get out the words to tell you your hair looks nice.
-He has a fear of seeming shallow, so he assures you that you'd look great with any color in your head.
-But damn if your natural hair doesn't look great.
Hunter:
-Makes an audible "huh" when you walk by with different hair, clearly impressed with how it looks.
Romantic:
-Makes a joke about having to fight all his brothers off.
-Offers to comb it for you that night just so he can get a better look.
Wrecker:
-Immediately points out your new haircolor and asks if he can touch it.
-Makes sure everyone else has noticed and complimented you on it.
-Asks if you can color his "hair" next as a joke.
Romantic:
-Runs his hands through it at any opportunity.
-Tries to braid it for you and fails, but you still love it anyway.
Tech:
-Doesn't say anything about it aloud, but thinks it looks nice and suits you best.
Romantic:
-Points out just how flattering the shade is to your natural complexion.
-Reassured you that you look great and there isn't anything to worry about.
Crosshair:
-Makes some teasing comment in good taste about the new style.
Romantic:
-Kisses you on the top of your head at your hairline is to reassure you he likes the new style.
-Asks you to leave it down when possible so he can get a better look at it.
Omega:
-Points it out in the child-with-no-filter fashion, and asks if she can touch it.
-She loves it!
-It makes her want to color her own hair, but Hunter says not until she's older :,(
#echo x reader#tbb#tbb crosshair x reader#the bad batch#tbb hunter x reader#commander cody x reader#captain rex x reader#fives x reader#fives clone wars#tbb wrecker#wrecker x reader#crosshair x reader#tbb omega#tbb echo x reader#arc trooper echo#the clone wars#star wars the clone wars#the bad batch x reader
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okay since i have felt i've been really negative i am going to be positive and talk about something near and dear to my heart. fanart redesigns!
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this design of braius by @phi-guy is delightful, including the mustache variant. i'm not a big fan of him as a character, but this is a great compromise with the holstein patterns on his humanoid face that previously left a few furries disappointed.
fcg is a very tough character to stylize, given the whole... aeormaton of it all and that they're so intricately designed that any attempts to move any part of their body around tend to make things they do in-game not make sense. the blades of grass emblem being revealed as bloody fingerstreaks, for one. but this design by hugo cardenas strikes a good balance between canon and fanon where you don't have to sacrifice accuracy for imagination or vice versa
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imogen sadly doesn't receive a lot of redesigns in fandom and even got hate (?!) for people putting glasses on her. but for the people that do a little more than that, i would have to give my favorite design to @rokiie! it's subtle, but i love that she's musclechubby and mixed, and her curly hair and ponytail is adorable. @jadequarze also has a nice looking mog, though theirs is more angular than bulky.
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ashton is another character hard to redesign... because his original design is so damned complex it feels like a downgrade to change it. so not a lot of people do and focus more on his outfit and body type. so that's why these two, by @magscherer and @ladysantos are so great! little tweaks that make him fat or simplify him are so nice
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@lyadrielle has the most complex chet redesign i've ever seen. i love how in-depth it is, and even if full head of hair chet isn't canon, i still adore the fluffiness of it. also quick shout out to @colealexart giving chetney a mustache because i love it.
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conversely from her girlfriend, people love to redesign laudna, if not just to pump up her creepy factor over her "bizzarely beautiful" factor. @astoriacolumnstaircase and @paragonraptors do this in a fun-scary way! i love how spindly they make her, like a praying mantis. for a more scary-scary way, @cpprcoyote's laudnas are stunningly creepy and lovely. @galacticjonah's take on her is also very cute with her billowing fabrics surrounding her like a security blanket. good stuff!
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being the mixed orym truther guy, naturally i love art that makes him a man of color, and this art by @therosecleric hits the mark for how i see him in my head. i love his curls, his jaw, and his strong nose, and it's always good to give him muscles in a way that don't make him look like a tween who powerlifts. the previously mentioned @magscherer's art of him is a bit more hobbit-y but still scratches the same itch. love me a brown eyed orym. @jennydolfen also gets points for her terrific hobbit/halfling proportions
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@jam-etc's critical role redesigns might not be for everyone, but i love 'em all. dorian here looks so friendly and seeing his native culture depicted so overtly in his outfit is awesome! no whitewashed dorians allowed. on the same token, here's a repeat of @therosecleric's dorian art because it also is great to see him with curly hair and a wide nose. this design by @caitmayart with dark cloudy speckles on his body is incredibly nice as well.
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and of goddamn course fearne gets the most art. it's fearne! there are so many good pieces of her i could not choose one. i love ones that play up her goat-y nature, like @willowbirds, @rainbow-roll-art, and @phi-guy again. and i love fat fearnes, like these two by @marmadelin and @countslimeula. this one by @maluspumilaa is so beautiful, making her a little more fey and extremely animalistic. all fearnes is good fearnes
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Empty Headed
BYAKUYA KUCHIKI x black!reader
Summary
__ +18 bratty!black!reader gets her guts rearranged after finally ticking off her husband, now she’s all dumb off of her husband’s dick with drool coming out of her mouth and eyes rolled in the back of her head.. and Byakuya could care less.
Content
__ black!reader, female!reader, rough!Byakuya, reader makes Byakuya a meanie pants, choking, choking with a tie, dirty talk, squirting, doggystyle, clothed sex, dumbification, oral, “good girl” once or twice, choking, overstimulation, no condom y’all are married, lace front malfunction :(
___ brown skin can be dark, light, medium color.. whatever. brown is brown.. and it's gorgeous
A/n
__ I’m back, my bad y’all
Those prominent veins were like tree roots deep in an ethereal forest. The way they connected, the raised texture of them, and the way they felt against your brown skin was heavenly. Byakuya Kuchiki had the prettiest attributes, and his veins were one of them. And as his perfect little wife, you’ve managed to memorize all of the Kuchiki heir’s perfectly natural attributes. The way his hair felt, the way his face showed little to no expression even when happy, and the way his veins would flex even more when he’d get all angry…
Who knew that the veins on his cock also protruded when his anger released above the surface. And as a perfect little wife, you had to memorize that too.
But that wasn’t all that hard when his pretty cock was stuck in the back of your throat.
The sweet taste of Byakuya’s slick precum edged you on as your tongue felt the underside of his unforgiving cock. Proportionate, long, and pretty. Those three words summed up your husband’s cock. It was pale, a contrast to your pretty brown sugar kissed skin. It was a contrast to those dark lined, glossy lips that were wrapped around it. And Byakuya loved it. Truthfully, he couldn’t get enough, and this was the exact moment to take advantage.
“Prove to me that you will cease every bit of attitude when I’m done with you, and If I sense anything other than obedience, I will corrupt your body without any remorse.”
Only loud breaths remained. Ropes of slimy saliva connected from the pink cock tip to your plump lips. Arousal hit right between your legs once Byakuya spoke to you in such a manner, and you couldn’t help but make it worse. And with bared lips and a brattish expression, you completely ignored his efforts at cutting this short. You’ve already sparked his flame at a formal event, and now you’re playing this absurd game.
Byakuya didn’t have time for it.
“Such blatant ignorance. You absolutely disgust me when you act this way. No matter, you won’t be able to act in such a manner when your pretty head is empty am I right…?” Byakuya’s voice rumbled from the depths of hell. His care and regard for your feelings dispersed into thin air the second you agreed with your conscience on being a slutty brat. The royal didn’t care anymore, he only cared about setting his woman straight, because she’s obviously lost her mind.
And with a cocky smirk etching onto your face, all while you were on your knees, you managed to try to talk. Even if you were being disciplined in this thin-walled hotel room, you still managed to conjure up the audacity… “Fuck-..”
Unfortunately it was cut short, and the thin lace that was glued to the skin on your hairline felt an enormous amount of tugging when Byakuya’s large, elegant hands gripped at the long, wavy hair. Both sides were balled up in his fists, and he pulled you forward as if you bore horns. Then, his pretty pink cockhead forced its way into your wide mouth just to shut you up once again.
“It was a rhetorical question, darling… or are you already more empty headed than before…?”
Cold as his words were, you definitely decided that you deserved this. After the raunchy attitude at the main floor, Byakuya managed to shoot a few looks your way. These looks did nothing but make it worse, and in all honesty, you knew what you were doing. But you figured the Kuchiki heir was going to drop it and go on about the day.
Being dragged back to the luxurious hotel room only to be brain fucked wasn’t anything you would’ve thought of. Byakuya’s mentality wasn’t like that, but as you drooled and breathed in with much trouble, you were obviously wrong. The feeling of Byakuya’s rock hard cock slipping down your throat with each passing thrust was exhilarating. It brought life to your pussy in many new ways. The roughness, the way he spoke, and his eyes. His dark colored eyes showed dominance that made your e/c irises turn into plump hearts.
“That’s a good girl… There's obviously potential for you to act sensible.” Byakuya hissed, his eyebrows only slightly furrowing with pained annoyance. Yet, watching you gag on his well endowed cock was soothing it oh so slowly but surely. He adored the way your eyes would squeeze shut with tears. He adored the way it sounded when his cock would hit the back of your throat. And to be honest, he’d love to hear more of your pathetic struggling. But the formal celebration needed him to speak soon, and Byakuya couldn’t miss it just for your behavior.
In a snap, you felt like you could barely breathe. The urge to gag and choke was so intense that you began to whine and flail just a little. Byakuya is usually so gentle when handling you, but the fact that your lips were touching his pelvis was indescribable. His long cock was digging deep into your soul, and you felt so dumb for liking it. Your pussy was so wet right now that it seeped through the white sundress that caressed your curves. It was a simple pairing to Byakuya’s suit which was black and white.. and he looked damn good when he finally released your bundles and leaned back to watch you struggle to breathe with saliva and precum spilling softly out of your mouth.
“Contain yourself.. speak and you will not leave this room today..” His words were like knives, but the way he said it felt like a shadow monster waiting to strike. It had given you trembles, and you obeyed him graciously. While sitting there on the cold floor, you were already regretting your actions prior. With how Byakuya’s cock was still leaking precum and pulsating.. you were in for it.
Those same bulging veins greeted you with dangerous intent. Byakuya’s soft, lengthy fingers pulled lazily at his black silky tie before he began removing his suit jacket. The idea wasn’t to completely wreck you, but as the taste of your suffering touched him, he wanted more.
“Clean it up, love…” Your husband was practically chuckling even if he didn’t fully express it. His hands gripped at his tie with thoughts roaming his filled brain. Lustful eyes stared down at you while your pretty acrylic nails glistened around his cock. Your mouth slurped up the naughty combination of precum and spit while bobbing your head eagerly. This caused Byakuya’s spicy moan to release from his throat. He’s been keeping quiet, but as he neared his orgasm, he couldn’t resist.
Byakuya didn’t want to cum just yet though.
Both of your hands were around that pretty cock, saliva dripping down your chin once again as your lips caressed him up and down. You barely even noticed the silky fabric that was being wrapped around your neck. However, the feeling of being forced off his cock was surprising. It made you gasp loudly as the thick cock slapped against your face once you let it free.. your hand eventually made its way back around it before you started to caress it against your face.
“Want it…Baby please…” it sounded like a purr, and Byakuya couldn’t resist. You might��ve been a brat today, but as he looked at you with your struggling lace, dried up spit on your chin, he only wanted to be inside of you. “Beg once more…” Byakuya’s voice sounded even more husky than before, his sharp eyes staring deep into yours.
“Please.. Baby, I want your dick so bad..”
Byakuya truly loved when you’d talk dirty to him, he absolutely loved it. He didn’t know for sure if it was the fact that you were bold or if you really just turned drunk over his cock. Either way, he loved it so much that he decided to stand up. His eyes didn’t leave you, especially since you looked so tempting while looking up at him like this. But with swift movement and your arms reaching up, Byakuya’s picked you up and took you to the hotel bed that was just the right height…
Now, Byakuya rarely puts you in doggystyle, it’s not sensual to him. However, he still wanted to teach you a lesson. So as you put your knees on the bed and leaned forward into a sweet arch, Byakuya’s hand already grabbed the tie that was still around your neck… and to think you forgot about it.
The feeling of your oxygen slightly being cut off made your pussy drool even more. His body was right behind yours and he didn’t hesitate to slide the long dress up to your torso. It revealed a pretty black thong that disappeared nicely in between your cheeks. To be honest, Byakuya didn’t care about body.. but the way your pretty brown skin was under this light… and the way your ass jiggled. He barely could contain his excitement. The heir couldn’t even control how fast he pressed his tip against your clit when he pulled the fabric to the side.
“I am going to fuck you. I am not going to make love to you because you do not deserve it… However, I do love you my dear, even if it’ll feel as if I think of you as nothing..”
Each word gave you a shock through your spine, each word felt like spikes under your feet. It all felt scary in a way because you’ve never heard your husband speak this way.. and frankly, he’s always called sex : ‘making love’. Byakuya saying he was going to fuck you made this experience all the more blood rushing. But you had no choice but to keep your back arched and control your breathing, because as Byakuya pulled you back by that silky tie, you slid right onto his pale cock. Your brown pussy opened right up for him, and your eyes widened before hazily staring at the bed frame in front of you.
“Don’t… Dont move” As calm and relaxed as Byakuya may seem, he cannot explain how hard it was to keep his orgasm at bay. Everytime he slides inside your tight pussy, he finds himself fighting against his own cock. It caused him to tighten the tie, which caused a chain reaction to your insides which also gripped around him. “You only make things more difficult… but yet, I am still married to you because I have a tendency to gain a high from your actions..”
Byakuya sounded ashamed of himself, but it went away in a swift fashion before the gushy sounds of your cunt started to echo. That sweet, pale cock was slowly maneuvering through you in slow strokes. The tiny ring of pre-cum was at the fair base of Byakuya’s cock now, however it was getting worse. With your wet pussy leaking all between your legs and his cock, the bed was slightly soaked.
“A-Ah~…B-Bya… kuya… fuck”
With a moan following the harsh swear word, Byakuya wrapped the tie around his fist once as he slightly leaned back to watch your fat brown ass take over his pelvis each time it would hit it. “Won’t my bratty wife talk filthy to me…? I’m sure she will.. yes?” With furrowed eyebrows, Byakuya shivered. His cock felt the pulsing around it, and the moans exiting from you made him release his own husky moans. His pretty, long, raven colored hair draped over your ass as he watched it bounce.
“Yes~… choke me more~… M’gonna cum so fuckin’ hard on that Dick… just keep… keep chokin’ me please~…” So pathetic you sounded, and Byakuya loved it, he ached for you to sound slutty. Sure, on the outside it seemed as if you both were all so classy and expensive, but when that door shuts it’s completely different. Byakuya urges you to lose it. He adores watching your pussy stretch out for him, and he loves when your pretty e/c eyes roll back before whining… because that’s when he knows you’re going to cum all over him.
And Byakuya loves a good mess.
“You do know it’s not over until you make a bit of a mess… right?” Byakuya practically demanded you to agree at the end, his breath running away from him as he let go of the tie, feeling as if it wasn’t doing as much justice as he wanted it to. And those elegant hands of his took hold of your neck, both of them. Oh did your pussy squirt the second he squeezed and pushed your head into that bed.
“Ah! Ah!… S-Stop… Fuck! Oh fuck~…”
Nothing but hearts were in your eyes, again. It felt like you lost vision and lost all ability to breathe as Byakuya’s cock went almost lightning fast. His hips snapped against your tight core, fighting against the pressure as your pussy gushed the honeyed substance on his cock and the hotel bed. Byakuya was purposely overstimulating your poor pussy as you struggled out moans. He didn’t care if you were all worn out and tired from the extreme orgasm, it just began.
“As you should remember… you have no authority to tell me to stop as of now. I also remember asking you to stop being a brat. You failed to listen, my dear..” Byakuya might have been a little harsh, but his words didn’t falter. He immediately turned you over on your back, his hands pulling down the top of your dress to show your pretty, darker brown areolas.
“I now will fail to listen to you as I use you like a pathetic toy” Byakuya’s voice smoothed over your ears as he leaned down gently. His hands slowly ran under your thighs before pushing them forward very harshly. Byakuya couldn’t help it, your pussy was so gorgeous like this, your body looked so precious like this. And the way his eyes trailed over your body, it made you feel just like prey. “It’s in my fucking guts… kuya…” you sharply moaned as the feeling of his cock slid right back inside of you. He pushed your legs open more with his arms as his hands were now against the bed.
“Byakuya~” with hazy eyes and drool sliding down your face, you listened to everything. Everything sounded absolutely raw. The bed frame hitting the wall, your skin slapping together, your whiny moans, his light groans, and your sloppy pussy all made this better. Curling your white toes as they stayed in those pretty open heels , golden just like your brown skin. This was the most submissive you’ve ever appeared, and the Kuchiki heir loved it.
“Damn it…” although rare, Byakuya did have to curse, it slipped merely because of your existence. He couldn’t fathom being with someone else even with your bratty little attitude. You just needed his cock, and it straightened you up. All you needed was to be pounded into, breasts bouncing prettily all with your mouth open. His veins up against your walls was all you needed right now. It made you feel dumb because that’s all you could think about.. your husband and his veiny pale cock that was beating your pussy in.
Byakuya’s cock never went this fast inside of you, and it was evident because you couldn’t handle it. With unstable moans and the constant looks at Byakuya waiting for him to give you a break, it was obvious. You kept holding your head up with a pleading face, your legs could barely stay open by themselves which is why his arms were there for support. You couldn’t even tell what was going on anymore. Everything was going blank and your mind was cock filled.
You were dumb off his cock.
Your pretty eyes rolled with furrowed eyebrows, giving Byakuya a rush. He knew he himself was close to cumming, and he could feel your insides trying to push him out. “M’gonna cum… M’gonna cum all over that fuckin dick , kuya…” you gasped in between, unable to try and stop your orgasm from peaking so hard. “Let me feel it..”
There was no need in telling you another time. Your next orgasm came rushing as you squeezed hard around him. His jaw clenched before letting out a string of clearly heard moans. His white, thick cum splashed your walls that color, and it was so far inside that when he filled you up, barely any came flowing out. His cum was so sticky and he had a good amount that came out.
You both continued to ride this high, and your whines and whimpers made it hard to not gain another hard on.
“I’m sorry.. I’m fucking sorry Kuya, baby…” you pleaded as you finally took that last heavy breath and you laid back completely. Your thighs were now able to be closed because he let you. His heart was racing just as fast, mainly because he couldn’t believe he treated you like this. It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but he still felt a tiny bit bad.
That was mainly because you looked a bit messy now, gorgeous, but you couldn’t go back to the event looking this way. Not with a lifted lace, broken nail, and a dripping mess… but it made him smirk nonetheless.
“Apology accepted. Now, I’ll be going back to give out my speech. Behave, and do not move… I’ll be back… and if you listen, I’ll make love to you..”
ⓒ Monstas1ut , Do not copy
#anime x black!reader#black reader#ambw#bwam#bleach x black reader#bleach scenarios#bleach x poc reader#bleach x reader#byakuya kuchiki#byakuya kuchiki x reader#byakuya x reader#bleach headcanons#bleach x female reader
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Sunagakure Worldbuilding Headcanon
My last post on Kirigakure made me think of some Sunagakure Headcanons. Here they are! This is very long, but I hope you enjoy!
People and Culture
The wind realm’s population is rather decentralized, so there are a lot of subcultures, accents and customs that have developed over time. The people of Sunagakure are very intelligent and hard workers and don’t take shit from anyone. They value their independence but also recognize the use of unionizing to achieve their goals. They use rather few words to communicate amongst each other in public, but in private they can be very poetic. Also, they secretly don’t mind the stereotype of tumbleweeds rolling around everywhere in the village, because they can relate. To outsiders, they seem secretive and mysterious, but they are in reality very friendly and hospitable. Once you make a friend in Suna, you’ve made a friend for life. Gift giving, especially in the form of food or other self-made goods is always appreciated. Suna citizens are hopeless romantics, and most soap operas and sappy romance books are produced there. They love to make music and sing together. Most instruments originate from the wind realm and its citizens proudly call themselves the creators of all music in the shinobi world. The wind realm is the country with the richest culture in the shinobi world.
Politics
Recently, Suna has been plagued by an economic crisis, as the wind realm daimyo has preferably hired Konoha shinobi to get missions done. This has raised the distrust in the wind realm government and made the people more loyal to the kazekage than the daimyo. The shinobi have started to prioritize the mission over the lives of the shinobi fulfilling it, however they make sure to give their teammates a quick and painless death if they get into that situation.
Clothing and Cosmetics
Most Suna Shinobi wear long sleeves and cover their head, to protect their skin from sun damage. It’s also very common to cover your face in layers of fabric, as the Suna sandstorms can be ruthless. Light brown, grey, white and black are the most popular colors, as they allow you to blend in with your surroundings and not get detected by enemy shinobi. All people, including kuniochis, keep their hair rather short, cover it or tie them together in some kind of way. There are a lot of unique hairstyles to deal with the strong winds, as can be seen by Temari, who wears four ponytails because the winds would otherwise just destroy her hairstyle if she wore just two. For festive occasions though, Suna clothes are vibrant and colorful, with very intricate details. The most preferred fabric choices are silk and cotton. Before the recession, Suna also had a booming beauty industry, with the best moisturizers, sunblock and body wash originating from there. There is an ongoing feud between the wind realm and the water realm about who has the better skincare products. Wind realm citizens are known to always smell good and take great care of themselves. They use bidets and shower frequently. The women are rumored to be the most beautiful in the shinobi world, however many of them have to deal with orientalism and exoticism from foreigners.
Nature
Flora
A fact that a lot of foreigners get wrong is that Sunagakure is covered completely in desert wasteland. Quite a bit of vegetation is savannah and what we call mediterranean. Still a rather hot country, it is characterized by agonizingly hot summers and barely existing winters. The actual deserts of the wind realm are sprinkled with oases, around which many settlements have formed. The terrain around those oases is very fertile and most of the country’s produce is grown there. Sandstorms are not a rarity here and during these storms there are self-imposed curfews as Suna citizens know that once you get buried in a sandstorm, there is no way anyone will find you buried under all that sand. Only a few nomadic families actually travel and live outside of the oases.
Fauna
The deserts that surround Suna are filled to the brim with the most dangerous, savage animals known to the shinobi realm. The snakes especially must not be underestimated, as their venom can kill a grown shinobi within minutes. Many marionette wielders therefore use it against their enemies. The rivers of the wind realm are full of crocodiles and freshwater fish. The fennec fox is seen as a symbol of good luck and suna nin believe their mission will be a success when they see one. Aside from other cats of prey like lions, cheetahs and leopards. Other mammals include hyenas, hyraxes, macaques, gazelles, oryxes, camels, hedgehogs and sheep. When it comes to rodents, you can find desert rats, porcupines, armadillos, meerkats and gundis. Suna also has the largest spider population in the shinobi world, and you often must check your toilet and shower for any venomous spiders hanging out there. At night you can see bats flying through the sky. The wind realm sea is a home to many kinds of saltwater fish and sometimes you can visit the dolphins, that are particularly friendly to children. Mosquito stings are nasty here, and many diseases, for example those that we call malaria and dengue fever are endemic here. Wind realm citizens have a natural immunity against them and sleep them off in a day, but there are vaccinations available for foreigners.
Food
Stew and other slow cooked gravy dishes The absolute staple of any Suna nin are stews. They’re elaborate and take the whole day to cook. Every family has its own recipes (and thinks theirs is the best) it’s useful to just cut up veggies and meat, and then slow cook it until it’s done. Stews made in Suna include gumbo, adobo, maafe, and many curries. Spices Wind realm citizens have the greatest spice tolerance in the shinobi world. The greatest variety of spices is produced there, from cumin, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, pepper, chilli, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, bay leaves, tumeric and a myriad of other herbs and spices. Suna food is very spicy for two reasons: many spices they use have a disinfecting effect, and the accelerated production of sweat helps cool down the body. Most spices are sold dried to increase shelf life. Many outsiders travel to Suna to acquire spices directly from the source, thinking they’ll get them for cheap, however, the vendors charge foreigners at a hefty margin. Sunagakure is the greatest exporter of all things spices.
Legumes Legumes play a very important role in the local eating pyramid. They serve as a satiating source of carbohydrates and protein. Beans and lentils can be turned into tofu, stew, mashed or baked, peanuts are often used as a base for stew and sauces in the form of peanut butter. Roasted and salted peanuts are a popular snack in Sunagakure. The biggest buyer of Suna’s exported legumes is Iwagakure.
Cassava This starchy root is soaked and then cooked for a long time to make mash, in stews, or fried. Cassava flour also serves as a gluten free flour alternative and many Suna nin use it to thicken sauces and stews. There’s also tapioca starch which is exported into other countries. Olives In the moderate climate regions, many olive trees are grown, which are then used to make olive oil, the preferred fat source of Suna’s people. Dairy It can often be purchased from nomad families, who sell it in the form of milk, yoghurt, kefir, butter and cheese. The preferred dairy variant is goat’s dairy; however, sheep and cow’s dairy are also available. There’s a possibility that the concept of fermenting milk to make yoghurt and kefir was once brought in by Kiri immigrants, however most wind realm citizens are too proud to give this possibility any thought or think it’s just a myth. Meat Just like dairy, meat can be purchased from several families that travel though the wind realm, or on bazars. It is dried often to increase shelf life. Sweets The best chocolate comes from here. The wind realm has a few islands where cocoa beans are produced, and Suna chocolate is known globally for its rich, earthy, fruity taste. Suna Nin are also the only people that regularly take coffee with them during missions. Most foreigners don’t like the bitter taste, but Sunagakure’s shinobis have realized that the caffeine within coffee beans is useful during missions where you must stay aware for long times. The most common sweetener is cane sugar and used to make coffee candy. Wind realm citizens don’t discriminate, and even children are allowed to have them. Another sweet food, especially popular amongst children are dates. On special occasions, Baklava are offered to the guests or given as a gift. Most foreigners find them way too sweet, but just can’t say no because they recognize the effort and craftsmanship that went into making them. The most popular fruit in Suna are: pomgranate, various kinds of citrus fruits, apples, grapes and green almonds. Ripened almonds are used to make marzipan, which is another one of Suna's culinary prides. Those who try persipan, a localized version from Kirigakure, think that it is a lesser version of their beloved treat.
#naruto headcanons#naruto#naruto shippuden#naruto imagines#naruto scenarios#akatsuki#naruto fanfiction#headcanons#sunagakure#worldbuilding#naruto meta#sasori headcanons#gaara#sabaku no gaara#temari
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Tilly & Finley Wild Manes Review
since i got a hold of these girlies lets investimigate- apologies for overexposure
first, individual pics of each of them. here's finley:
who is themed after a pool party, of course. when i bought her at target, the self checkout display called her Isla, which makes sense as a working name for her... island.
she is white with grey hooves and a muzzle. she has blue eyeshadow with green eyes and blonde eyebrows, matching her blonde hair with a purple streak.
i will color correct these photos for the wiki, but for now, here's the raw photo of her clothes
all of the clothes are unhemmed and simply printed-on fabric with two velcro connections. my finley also had a plastic tab keeping the front attatched (which i snipped so i could remove it). you can see her mermaid tail and flamingoes on her clothes. the clothing is very thin, i don't think it might fray any time soon, but it does seem lazy for a fashion horse toy. thankfully, the hair makes up for it, we'll get there later.
each of these horses came with a brush and a non-brush accessory. finley's is wearable! she has a visor made with this magenta translucent plastic. i didn't take any pictures of it on her, but it does indeed fit on her head.
she comes with this purple brush, which you can tell is hers because of the flamingo printed on it.
and now a quick tilly rundown...
she's a brown horse with a brown muzzle and hooves, red eyeshadow, yellow eyes, and blonde eyebrows. her hair is more of a dirty blonde than finley, and her color streak is described as "periwinkle". the self checkout register called her Serena, which... yeah, i can see why they may have changed that. a little on the nose.
as you can see by her brush's symbol, she's very clearly tennis-themed. her accessory is unfortunately not wearable, instead it's a water bottle with a tennis racket printed on
horse gotta hydrate
if that all wasn't clear enough, her outfit has a tennis racket on it, too! there is no hemming, the "collar" is printed on. her outfit looks like a blue polo and a teal skirt.
okay, now the part people actually wanted to see. what the heck the figures look like
it's gettin' hot in here, so take off all your clothes...
both finley and tilly have the same exact model! i assume the horses (ponies? horses. fillies?) all have the same bodies. i think i can feel a few spots where the plastic feels slightly more rubbery/pliable than the others, so i do fear we may see discoloration as time goes on.
all of the legs are articulated at the shoulder or "hip" (sorry horse fans, it's a knee or something?), but only the front left leg is articulated in multiple places.
thank you girls, finley has her leg fairly straightened out whereas tilly has it bent. i haven't noticed the joints being unusually difficult to maneuver or maintain position, which bodes well for pictures. i did have a little bit of trouble getting them to balance in my photobox (likely because the bottom bows inwards a bit), but the little extra range of motion is nice. you can also twist the joints a little bit, but not super extremely.
but can she sit?
sort of? i know horses don't really naturally "sit" very well, but she still looks goofy. her neck doesn't move forwards so it's not a very great-looking pose for her to hold, but she can balance like this on her own.
hey, look at me when i'm talkin to you
thanks. side view of her in that same pose.
her head can turn, it's on a ball join, i believe it's similar to the g4.5/g5 mlp joints but a little more restrictive. i intend to dismantle a finley for research, so ill be able to share that when the time comes. it can rotate and move up and down slightly.
more motion... one of the back legs is in a mid-walk position which made her a little awkward to balance. you can see the company name and "made in china" stamp on the inside of this leg.
it's not very clear in this image, but there's a stamp with numbers and letters on her stomach. i don't know what this means, as finley had the same code! you can also see the hooves have horseshoes with "WM" (wild manes) on them.
before we get into the manes of the wild manes, a quick little look at their eyes.
the paint looks great! it's not stippled like i've seen on a few other dolls recently. the eyes are also sculpted in, so we hopefully won't have wild misplacement like we do on the newer MLPs. they both have stars and two eye shines, and the eyelashes are the same. the only differences here are the colors.
okay. mane time.
the hair is SUPER soft. i agree with the replier who said it's Kiwi Nylon. i am very happy that the hair is so nice and hope that the others in this set are the same way! the way it's packaged in the box makes it so there are three or four rubber bands holding it in place, and it leaves the hair with the "memory" of that. i did wash and condition the hair in these photos, which also seemed to help with the small qualms i had with the hair right out of the box. it seemed a little oily and tilly had a doubled-over plug. finley didn't seem to have any rooting troubles!
all of the hair is a few rows up the back of the head with a section for bangs. you can see that they wove tilly's bangs with the longer hair that's part of her mane to hide the parting in her head, which is likely expected for a doll but a cool detail. her bangs are NOT gelled down!
here you can see five to six rows of hair on the back of the head. it's not a lot of surface area, but the hair seems thickly rooted for what it is!
here i've parted the mane on Finley so you can see the hair a little more clearly. it looks like the streaks of hair are only on the outside of the rooting.
i've been a little afraid to peel back finley's bangs lest they become unsalvagable, but here's finley's bangs peeled back.
there's still a few rows here. when i dismantle her, hopefully i can showcase her rooting pattern more clearly.
i think that's all the pictures i've taken of them so far... i got these girls at Target, and you can order them as well as Bailey and Cocoa off their site right now! i'll be updating the fandom wiki with pictures of the accessories and hopefully the rest of the girls are as high quality as these ones!
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Sunny Day Jack - Dragon Jack Fantasy AU Headcanons
So, I know that Jack’s fursona is a snake, because he wants warm cuddles his sunshine won’t run away from, which is where we get naga Jack, but what if he was a different sort of mythical creature?
No, not an incubus, but you can check out my incubus headcanons here and here. I’m talking about a different fantastical creature that still has a few scaly features.
It’s the year of the dragon, and that got me thinking about a certain piece of absolutely gorgeous artwork my friend Mars made back in August, which in turn made me think, dragon Jack AU?
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Dragon Jack AU.
Oh hell yeah, let’s get fantastical.
Credit for this beautiful artwork and fueling my inspiration goes to the marvelous Mars, who you can find over here on tumblr and on twitter. Please consider popping on by to leave a kind word or two. Trust me, you won’t regret looking at all of her jaw-droppingly stunning art!
Content warnings: There is going to be spice in these headcanons, and it’s going to get a bit kinky at times. I mean, we’re talking about Jack as a dragon getting frisky with his sunshine. Bad Dragon didn’t get its name for nothing after all. Oh and there’s also some dark themes like going insane from isolation, families being awful to one another, exploitation of workers, bullshit politics in a medieval inspired fantasy setting, deadly monsters attacking people, yandere obsession, that sort of thing.
Overall it’s going to be pretty lighthearted, especially in comparison to the super dark and angst-filled hurt/comfort story that I recently posted, so this post shouldn’t get more intense than the game itself.
The Cursed Prince
Let us begin this AU with the tale of Sunny Day Jack, a poor soul who was damned to be left alone and forgotten by all who knew him. In this case, that place he was left to be forgotten was a castle in the middle of a dark and twisted land, bound by a curse that not even the strength of a dragon can break.
Jack wasn’t always this way. Long ago, he was someone grand, a prince by the name of Joseph, though not in line for any sort of throne. He was the spare of the spare, the unwanted and unneeded family member who was a risk to the true heir to the crown. He had to learn how to be strong and cunning to survive the castle politics, while at the same time he was overlooked and ignored by all.
Initially, Joseph tried all he could to earn favor with his family, to be loved by them, but no one cared. Because his family didn’t care about him, and he had no “purpose” in existing except as an obstacle to the heir to the throne, others often ignored him as well to not risk showing favor and appearing to side with him against the current forerunners to the crown. Acting out and creating mischief that the royal family couldn’t ignore was the only way for Joseph to get people to pay attention to him.
Unfortunately, Joseph pushed his luck one too many times. He ignored a family member’s warning that it would be best if he lived as a dead rat, forgotten and unseen. An assassin struck in the guise of a tutor during one of his lessons. He barely escaped, but uncovered a terrible truth. The family he always hoped might someday truly see him and love him had been behind the assassination attempt. How many members of his family were involved in the plot, he never knew for sure, but their indifference and disdain for him left him with no one he could trust.
The unwanted prince was then forced to flee the kingdom, never to return. Joseph lived as a wanderer, hiding his identity. He changed his appearance as much as he could, even stealing a potion from a wizard once. Sadly, the potion he stole could only change his hair from brown to blue, but it was better than nothing, and he quickly grew fond of the look.
Yes, blue hair is something natural in this setting. This is a fantasy world where dragons and magic exist after all. We can have people with anime hair and eye colors. ;3
The unwanted prince learned the ways of the world firsthand and took many names as he drifted along like the wind. No longer a spoiled prince, he learned how to put on a smile, to placate people instead of antagonize them. He was still alone, forced to be a wanderer until he was far, far away from his homeland, but eventually he tried to set up roots. There, he took a humble job as a jester for a noble, hoping that maybe he could find a new life, one where he could be seen and loved.
Fortune smiled on Jack, as more and more people came to watch his shows, and he earned the stage name of Sunny Day Jack. His performances with silly jokes and stories with sound moral lessons delighted the children. Nobility took notice of him, and he started to make real connections and a real life for himself in this distant land. The lord ruling over the country even eventually took notice of him, a rich and powerful ruler that could afford to throw plenty of gold this entertaining jester’s way… provided he was always entertaining.
Sadly, his good fortune was not to last. Jack got too much attention from the nobility, and a traveler familiar with his homeland took notice of how eerily similar the jester looked to the lost prince.
Word eventually got back to those who saw Prince Joseph, however unwanted and overlooked he may have been, as a risk that could not be accepted. His popularity, however frivolous, made certain people of power nervous that perhaps one day he might return and lay claim to the throne of his homeland.
It was during a performance that the world came crashing down around Sunny Day Jack. The lord that favored him and helped him most with his fame and acclaim had betrayed him to his homeland in exchange for more riches. The trap was sprung as Jack stood before a crowd of hundreds, a sudden accusation ringing out that he was a notorious criminal who had done several heinous acts while the knights of the land came at him in force to arrest him. He barely managed to escape, though not unscathed, his new life destroyed and forever sullied to all who knew his name.
This time the pursuers were relentless. Jack wasn’t known here as a prince in this foreign land. There was no one who would show even a token loyalty to his royal blood and aid him. He was now a heinous criminal, wanted dead or alive, with none willing to give him shelter. There was no way for him to use his former name or royal bloodline to gain assistance, as Prince Joseph was long since declared dead.
Jack was a clever man, and a clever man who has nothing left to lose is capable of anything, including mutually assured destruction. His time as a jester wasn’t spent as a simple fool. Though he tried to be sincere when forging his friendships, truly wanting a life of happiness where he could be loved for who he was, he had tasted betrayal once, and it cost him everything but his life. Sadly, he was prepared should this happen again. He learned how to be charming, and he used his appealing and kind nature to learn secrets that might help him one day.
One of these secrets Jack learned was of magic treasure that the lord’s family guarded and exploited for generations. He also learned of a few secret passages in the lord’s castle, which helped him to elude his pursuers. With nearly all the knights put to the task to capture or kill the escaped criminal, this left the castle vault’s security unusually lax. It granted him an opportunity that could save him, or damn them all.
There in the vault was one of a set of golden cuffs, the symbol and pride of the lord’s family, and the very thing that allowed them to take dominion over the land generations ago and rule to this day. These cuffs were said to possess a magic too powerful for any one person to control, so no one dared to wield more than one at a time, but the truth was that if anyone was foolish enough to do so, they would unleash a terrible curse that would doom the land. This was why they were kept separately, for the safety of everyone.
These cuffs have their own history to them, as a fae was tricked into creating them, a bargain for power and a price not yet paid, which was the reason behind their curse. I could ramble on about ideas I have for how they came to be, but their backstory doesn’t really matter to Jack… yet.
Betrayed, branded a criminal, his hopes for a new life dashed to pieces, and everything spiraling out of control, Jack managed to break into the vault and steal the golden cuff hidden there. Before word of the theft could spread, Jack repaid the lord for his betrayal, launching a surprise attack and stealing the other cuff before it could be used by the lord to fight back against him.
With the power of both of the golden cuffs, Jack defeated all the knights that came for him, but the power he used went out of control as the curse took hold. The power was too much for a human’s body to contain, so it changed him into a fierce creature that was made of magic, a dragon.
The land around him changed as well, the natural ley lines of magic in the land exploding out in all directions and birthing all sorts of monsters from cracks in the earth. It was chaos, and those that could fled. It was a terrible night of horrors so great that survivors who witnessed the apocalyptic destruction dared not speak of it. Over time, the plants in this tainted land grew strange from the saturation of magic, and what few animals that braved to remain in this twisted land were changed as well. The land, once prosperous and full of smiles and laughter, became a dark and foreboding place where humans refused to linger long, for fear that they too would be cursed and forever changed.
Years passed, and with the survivors refusing to speak of what happened, all traces of what happened the night the kingdom fell were lost to history. The name of the country was lost as well. The place was only known as the dark woods now, named for its twisted features and the heavy clouds that covered the land and hid it from the sun. Speculation of its creation sprang up over the years, the details growing more fanciful from storyteller to storyteller until it became only myths. The closest to the truth was that the fae had regained the land and turned it wild, which, in a way, they had when a clever but desperate prince turned fool unleashed the fae’s curse that had long been kept at bay.
What happened to that foolish prince? The curse kept him bound to the heart of the land, making it nearly impossible for him to stray far from the castle where he unleashed the curse. The more he struggled to escape, the more ways the curse would manifest to bind him to the land, chains erupting from the ground to hold him, thorns of an unnatural, cold substance blotting out the sky, monsters birthing from the land to hold him back and inflict pain on him until he could no longer fight back.
Jack had become a powerful dragon, but his power came from the very curse that turned the land into his own personal hell. His body was warped, a scaled monster with wings and horns, terrifying to behold. Those who saw him would flee his presence, save for those that tried to slay the beast that legend has it is the heart of the curse.
The dragon of the dark woods, unnamed and feared by all, was known as the master of the dark woods, dangerous and cunning. Adventurers that dare risk going into the cursed land for its materials rich in magic are wary of the great and powerful beast. Its scales gleamed of fire, its eyes spoke of endless hunger, and its power was unmatched. None could hope to slay this beast, and all who tried all failed, for only the curse itself is more powerful than the beast it created.
Despite it all, Jack struggled to hold onto his humanity. He read every book in the castle, every scroll and scrap of paper, desperate to learn the way to undo this curse he unleashed. Naturally, this was difficult for him to do with giant claws, but unfortunately for the former prince, he had nothing but time to learn how to use his altered body.
As the world forgot about the lost prince, the sunny jester, and the awful day an entire kingdom fell along with the names of all three, Jack started to forget his humanity bit by bit. He didn’t learn how to break the curse, but he did learn of other magical artifacts that had been gathered in the castle long ago, including an enchanted belt that would allow him to change his form into whatever he pleased. He used it to become a “human,” but by that point he didn’t quite remember what he used to look like. The passing years eroded his memory of humanity, and he had gotten used to his imposing dragon body. The result was a form that was a mishmash of both, a humanoid man with scales, a tail, wings, claws on his hands and feet, pointed ears and fangs, with horns and blue hair.
Jack might have started to forget things over the years of solitude, but he was at least certain that he had blue hair when he was still human.
Funny enough, no matter how large or small Jack became thanks to the magic of the belt, the golden cuffs remained fastened to his wrists. The curse wouldn’t allow them to be removed, only warp in size and shape to match whatever form his body took. Even if he were to, say, transform into a copy of a different person to fool someone, his golden cuffs would give away the ruse.
When Jack learned how to transform back into a “human,” he went through the motions of being a human in his empty castle filled with riches that were all but useless to him. He wore clothes again, even learned how to alter the fancy clothes left behind to suit his tastes. He learned how to cook the strange plants and animals of this cursed land. He no longer had any need to eat due to the magic of the land sustaining his flesh, but food still tasted good, and there was some satisfaction to be had from creating something. He kept himself sane with what hobbies he could, learning new things, but he could never learn how he could free himself from his lonely hell.
The presence of adventurers into the heart of his land was both a blessing and a curse. It was rare that it happened, and in fact it was several years after the land changed that anyone dared to venture into the dark woods for fear of being cursed for doing so. It was years more before they found its master at the heart of the cursed land.
At first, Jack was elated. He tried his best to be friendly, overly so, desperate for company and help, but this was before he found the belt that made him at least passably human. It had been so long since he had been around another human that he hadn’t tried to speak, and with his draconic muzzle, all that came out were terrible growls and unholy noises. The adventurers that found him only saw a great horned beast with claws and fangs, another monster to slay for materials, riches, and acclaim.
Jack never wanted to kill anyone. He learned to fight when he had to, though he tried to avoid killing if he could. Unfortunately, when he unleashed the curse, people perished in the chaos, much to his dismay. Though he tried to approach these adventurers peacefully, he would not allow them to cause him further suffering. His power was so great that it was difficult to hold back, so the damage he could cause was severe. He would let those who fought him live if he could, allowing them to flee, but none saw this as a mercy. He became a nightmare spoken in hushed whispers, a challenge for adventurers to overcome, rather than a lost soul desperate to be free.
In a twisted way, over time Jack started to look forward to anyone brave enough to venture into the heart of the dark woods, even if the result was always violence. It was always a rare thing due to the intense danger of the dark woods. Certainly, they would always try to kill him, but at least he got to spend time with another human being! Being alone messes with a person’s mind, especially for such a long time. Humans are pack animals not meant for solitude.
Sometimes these adventurers would leave stuff behind, and Jack kept them. Dragons have an instinct to horde, and the castle is already filled with treasure. Plus they were reminders that humans were still out there and that someday, hopefully, he’d join them as one of them once again.
Jack tried his best to learn how to talk with his new body, to sound friendly instead of fierce. Unfortunately, oftentimes he found himself getting the opposite result, the words coming out of his muzzle sounding strange and uncanny, which only added to the nightmarish legend of the master of the dark woods.
Every encounter with Jack was a battle more fierce than the last, and the dragon’s legend only grew. His attempts to follow after the humans who fled from him led to the land itself stopping him, and others would be caught in the crossfire. To Jack, the humans that came to visit him were his only hope, and he would struggle harder against the curse to escape, to be with them. This made the curse fight back even harder in more brutal ways, summoning worse monsters. Soon the heart of the dark woods was known as a hellish place, where the land itself would turn against you if you tried to escape its brutal master that hunted you relentlessly.
Over the years, humans adapted, as they often do. Adventurers learned to stick with the outer fringes of the dark woods to harvest materials. It was the least dangerous, relatively speaking, and what could be gained deeper in was not worth the cost, especially if they strayed to the heart of the land where its terrible master lay in wait for any poor soul to enter.
It’s been a long, long time since Jack has seen another human, and he’s slowly going insane from solitude. He does what he can to distract himself or escape, trying desperately to hold onto his humanity, but it erodes bit by bit with each passing year. Even gaining the ability to transform into a “human” form hasn’t stopped his ever steady decline into madness. He fears that one day he might lose his humanity completely and become the mindless monster that those who fought him believed him to be.
Perhaps all that Jack and the dark woods need to heal is a little bit of sunshine.
Beyond the Dark Woods
Outside the fringes of the cursed land, time marched on. Years went by, rulers came and went, borders changed as land was annexed or reverted to wilderness. A lot can happen over the decades, especially in a fantasy world filled with magic, monsters, and mischievous fae.
How long Jack was trapped alone in the dark woods is a mystery. Maybe it’s 40 years, or perhaps a lot longer than that.
Regardless, the homeland that once had a lost prince named Joseph is still around, a relatively stable country all things considered. In fact, it had grown over the years thanks to annexing land from other countries that had been weakened by the results of the curse. Monsters often wandered out of the dark woods, putting nearby villages in danger and impressing the need for more adventurers to cull the monsters that threatened human life. What was once a kingdom had grown into an empire, growing prosperous with its many strong knights and adventurers, though like any place, it had its own share of problems.
But enough politics, let’s get into the other characters, shall we?
MC is a knight, as demonstrated by the lovely Thea in Mars’ art. Well… they aspire to be a knight anyway. Bullshit politics have kept them as a squire to a knight of higher nobility since they were a teenager. It’s been over 10 years already! How much longer do they have to wait to become a knight? They’re sick of having to polish and shine Barry’s armor, and if they have to scrub his codpiece one more time…
Yup, Barry is a knight in this AU, though only technically. Nobility sometimes get granted a knight title for some reason or another, usually as a token to honor them and/or their families. These nobles usually were just knights in name only, parading around as if they’re this grand figure when other knights did the real battling. They can play the hero without ever actually having to go into battle and send squires to do the menial work for them.
In a sense, Barry is a rich man who bought a title because it was cool, and he makes a big show of it. It’s pretty much a vanity project, and a way to increase his clout to maybe move up in the ranks of nobility. He has MC announce his presence grandly, something just as over the top as the greeting to Yogurtopia. Perhaps something like… “Announcing the great, honorable, and very handsome and still very single and looking for a bride, Sir Barry of [insert surname here].” Or something like that, maybe with his noble title thrown in there for good measure. Maybe he could insist his squire plays a horn first…
Man, even with a proclamation heralding Barry wherever he goes, no one is interested in him. He hasn’t had a date in way too long. Maybe he needs his armor to be polished a little brighter.
While MC isn’t Barry’s only squire, they are the one often left doing the work, as other squires slack off or wind up getting elevated to knight despite being younger than MC is. It’s understandably really, really frustrating for MC. They come from a lesser noble house, just barely above a commoner, so they’re an easy mark for any higher ranked noble to rub the power difference in their face.
Really, it’s all enough to make MC consider quitting to become an adventurer. Sure, adventurers are basically mercenaries for hire at the guild and the jobs can be infrequent, and money can be hard to come by, but… Ah, who are they kidding? The squire job might suck, but at least they get the security of steady pay, regular meals, a place to sleep, mild prestige, and they don’t have to go camping in the woods for days on end hunting some specific monster or harvesting a certain number of rare herbs.
Besides, MC admires the knights (aside from Barry). Their best friend became a knight a few years ago, lucky dog. Still, Shaun didn’t rub it in their face like the pal he is. Shaun looks so regal in his shiny silvery armor, even having it adorned with pretty badass etchings and other decorations. There’s a very feline feeling to it as well, since cat daddy has to be cat knight in this AU. Hey, I don’t make the rules.
…Oh, wait. :3c
Anyway, the other knights can be pretty cool as well. There’s this one knight who has been friendly, though MC doesn’t know his name yet. The guy acts strangely shy when they’re around, which is confusing to them. They’re just a squire after all, not a cool knight in studded leather armor like him.
Poor Nick has a crush on MC in this universe too and is pretty tongue tied around them. MC might still be a squire, but there’s just something about them that lights up a room. Their spirit isn’t crushed despite the fact that they should’ve been a knight years ago. He envies how easily Sir Shaun can chat with them.
Of course, Shaun is in the same boat as Nick, in that he also has a crush on MC and can be pretty clumsy with how he tries to express it. Still, in spite of this, he would have tried to see if they could be something more if not for a certain scandal that happened.
The reason why MC is still a squire, or at least one of the biggest reasons, is because of rumors that they were the secret lover of Prince Ian, the current heir to the throne.
Of course, given that MC is barely above a commoner, the idea of them getting together with the crown prince is scandalous. They got to know each other as children, with MC serving as a page to play with the young prince. When the queen caught wind that the prince saw them as anything more than a playmate in their teen years, their relationship got exceedingly strained.
Ian is in love with MC, and they felt the same, at least at one point. All the time they spent together while growing up led to fondness, then sweet first love. Unfortunately, they knew early on how their different stations meant that the chances of them being together were almost non-existent. This led to a lot of mutual pining, moments where they were tempted to act on their feelings, and some secret encounters between the two.
In spite of the queen’s interference separating them, MC and Ian saw each other in secret as much as they could. They started a forbidden romance together, and the two of them convinced themselves that maybe, somehow, they could defy the odds.
But the weight of the crown hangs heavy on the head. As Ian was swept up in his duties and the time he would be crowned as king drew ever closer, he had less and less time to spend with MC. His mother’s interference certainly didn’t help, especially since she was trying to get him engaged to a high ranked noble woman to ensure that he would be able to sire the next generation of royalty.
While yes this fantasy world is far more open with gender expression and loving others regardless of gender, nobles tend to be uptight when it comes to making sure their bloodline and power continues. Plus Ian’s mom is still abusive and controlling of her son in this universe too, and she uses not only religion to bully Ian but politics and duty as well. As queen, she has a lot more power too, and a lot more flying monkeys to spy on her son and interfere.
In a way, it’s lucky that the queen hasn’t decided that MC is a threat that must be entirely eliminated at all costs. No assassination plots… yet. Mostly it’s interference and petty revenge by forcing MC to remain a squire instead of a knight. She could throw MC out, but then how can she occasionally be petty if MC never comes to the palace? MC might be Barry’s squire, but everyone follows the queen’s orders, and a narcissist needs attention and others to bow down to them.
Unfortunately, the queen’s schemes did succeed. Ian, in a moment of weakness, fell for the seductive charms of one of his potential fiancees. He felt awful for betraying MC, to the point that he had to see them despite the risk of his mother catching them, so that he could confess what he had done and beg for forgiveness.
MC’s heart was broken, but what was worse was that it became a huge scandal. Someone had seen Ian’s confession and begging, and soon word spread like wildfire. Now everyone knew that they had secretly been lovers and that the prince was begging a mere squire for forgiveness. Ian’s reputation took a hit, while MC’s outright tanked due to the scandal, and things became much harder for them, and people have been keeping their distance from the squire that dared think they could become a future king’s consort.
Since then, MC has kept their distance from Ian as much as possible, and Ian, reluctantly, has given them space, knowing that he’s messed everything up for them. But… when he’s king, not even his mother will be able to stop them from being together. When he’s king, he’ll be able to fix everything. He just has to do what he can to make sure that happens. Then he and MC can finally be together in the open, stations be damned! Then he can truly make amends and be forgiven for what he’s done.
Shaun was there to support MC with their broken heart. While his becoming a knight has put a bit of distance between them, as he has more duties to attend to, including being sent away on missions for the country, he makes sure to keep in touch and meet up with them as best he can. Anyone who dares to say a bad word about MC in front of him is getting this cat’s claws.
Nick is no stranger to scandals. He’s basically the most popular knight in the realm, with countless admirers. Perhaps they could offer MC a word or two on how to deal with so much unwanted attention and rumors rumbling in the background.
A Squire’s Quest
Now, how does Jack factor into MC’s life without a compelling VHS tape to tie them together? Well, the instigating factor in this universe is that a thief made off with an important treasure, and Barry the knight was tasked with retrieving it. As Barry’s squire, MC was compelled to come with him to assist, which usually meant doing 99% of the work if there were no other squires with them at the time with Barry taking all the credit. But don’t worry, he only does it because he knows they’ll do a good job at it, and it just shows that they’re one step closer to becoming a true knight!
After traveling quite a ways, tracking down the thief (with MC doing most of the work picking up the trail in the first place), the pair realize that the thief went into the infamous dark woods.
Well, that’s not good. Sure there are areas that have been explored for materials, but still… the cursed land is quite dangerous. Barry decided that the best way to divide the work is for MC to continue to follow the thief’s trail, as they were better at tracking, and he, being much better at supervising and dealing with people, would see if anyone nearby could get information about what the thief might have been after, maybe set up a trap that MC could chase the thief into.
MC had to seriously consider their life choices up until this point, but if they quit now, that meant kissing goodbye to the stability they had going for them. Also, it’d probably bring dishonor to their name, maybe damage their lineage permanently, and so on and so forth.
Well, if they quit to become an adventurer, they’d have to do stupid things like trek through the dark woods anyway. Besides, the thief already stole a national treasure, which meant they weren’t stupid enough to go hunting for the invincible dragon guarding the heart of the forest, right? Sure there’s rumors that maybe the dragon guards the greatest treasure of all, but no way the thief is that dumb. No one’s actually ever seen any real treasure, or have a consensus on what the supposed greatest treasure is actually supposed to be.
After a hard internal debate, MC ultimately decides to brave the dark woods, tracking the thief stealthily. They may only be a squire, but they would probably be the greatest knight in the kingdom if not for politics. Their exact combat style is up to interpretation and personal preference, but they’re no stranger to slaying powerful monsters. They’re also used to Barry giving them unreasonable demands like this one.
And, hey, at least they’re not mortifying themselves by singing Barry’s praises when he enters a room while they’re busy with this stupid quest. That’s got to count for something, right?
Right?
Yeeeahh, okay, MC is obviously just lying to themselves and they know it, but damned if they do, damned if they don’t. They swear to themselves that they’ll only go as far as the hunting expeditions usually travel into the forest. If the thief really is stupid enough to go to the dragon’s lair, MC will just circle back and just tell Barry that the dragon probably just killed the thief, or something. No way they’re going to risk getting eaten by an unstoppable dragon.
These thoughts are a small comfort as MC follows the thief’s trail. Occasionally they have to fight magic-tainted plants or monsters. Their skill shines despite the dark gloom of cursed woods. They even get some nice materials they can sell for some extra cash. Maybe being an adventurer wouldn’t be too bad a gig after all…
Just then the loud noise breaks the eerie calm. Some sort of explosion. Magic? Fireworks? Regardless of what it was, it riled up something. That something is big, nasty, and charging right at them! In fact, it’s a lot of somethings! A pack of creatures got aggravated, and MC is forced to run!
Now, was this a natural occurrence? A bit of misfortune? Did the thief make a false trail to trick MC into going on ahead while they secretly doubled back and used a small explosion to make the monsters go nuts on MC while they used the commotion as a cover to make their escape?
Perhaps. Perhaps. MC certainly isn’t in a situation to figure out which of these possibilities it was at the moment though, as they’re too busy running for their life, inwardly cursing Barry, the queen, the thief, and anyone else that annoyed them lately. If they knew they would die today, they wouldn’t have held back last week when that one jerk stole their cinnamon roll. They would’ve at least had the satisfaction of telling them off for it!
Sarcasm and sass are a good way to cope, but MC knows full well the gravity of their situation. They quickly lose the trail back the way they came, forced to do battle with creatures that are in their path while avoiding being overwhelmed by being so outnumbered. It’s only through a mixture of skill and sheer dumb luck that they manage to survive.
And by dumb luck, I mean that they fell into a catacomb through a ruined ceiling that was keeping it hidden underground.
Well, shit. From bad to worse, right?
Nothing for it, MC is forced to find a way out of the catacombs, then somehow find a way to leave the dark woods without another group of monsters going aggro on them.
Piece of cake. Noooo problem. They just have to avoid the castle at the center of the dark woods that the dragon supposedly uses as its lair, and they’re fine. An old crypt with some undead ready to pop out is better than an unstoppable dragon. Right?
As you may have guessed, MC is, in fact, going in the direction of our lonely dragon prince. Is it just bad luck? Is it some sort of intuition or instinct drawing them to Jack? Are they bound together by fate? Is it some sort of spell Jack has cast that compels humans to seek him out because it’s been forever since a human came by, and he’s desperate for both company and freedom? Maybe some combination of these things or something else entirely. Who’s to say~? It’s up to interpretation/personal headcanon~
In any case, MC is very taken aback when they meet Jack face to face for the first time, as is Jack really. It’s been so long since he’s seen someone. A part of him wonders if MC is actually real. When they get defensive and try to figure out who or what he is, he does his best to placate them, even if they might have their weapon out and ready for battle.
Jack puts his best foot forward, being friendly and welcoming. He invites MC to his home. They look exhausted and like they’ve had a hard time. MC isn’t exactly trusting this at face value, being very guarded about the whole exchange despite how cheerful and friendly this man with wings and horns is being. He’s also getting dangerously close. Should they try to use their weapon to ward him off, like Thea might have done with her sword, Jack is skilled enough in combat by this point to easily redirect her sword with his claws.
Oops, that put Thea off balance. Don’t worry, her new pal Jack is quick to catch her before she takes a tumble.
“Careful, we wouldn’t want you getting hurt, would we?” Jack said, his tone playful.
Despite MC’s skills, they are hopelessly outmatched by Jack. He has far more experience with combat, and he has the insane powers that the curse granted him.
Of course, MC is pretty quick to put together that Jack is the invincible dragon that rules the dark woods, which means that they’re utterly screwed. Strangely enough, Jack isn’t really acting like the monster people whisper about. It’s almost enough to make MC wonder if they aren’t mistaken, but the dragon features and his overwhelming strength kind of gives it away. The fact that Jack brings MC back to his castle pretty much seals the deal.
So MC is stuck as a guest with Jack. The dark woods are too dangerous for humans to wander around alone, especially at the heart of the forest. He’s curious about MC and why they would take such a risk, very concerned by their recklessness. Why were they there?
It’s an awkward situation, but MC has no choice but to play along. How much they resist or comply depends on the MC. I figure Jack indulges even a very resistant MC due to how lonely he’s been. He can easily disarm any attempts to attack him or thwart them from getting away, so they pose no threat. He has all the time in the world to convince MC to lower their guard.
And Jack is just so… so nice. It’s hard not to find him charming. He seems so concerned about MC, and they’ve been having such a hard time with, well… everything. The castle, despite being old, has been maintained decently well. The rooms are decorated so nicely, filled with clothes for them to wear, and the food Jack makes is fantastic. Holy crap, his cooking is out of this world!
Really, the longer MC stays there, the more it seems like there’s nothing Jack can’t do, and their stay is kind of like a vacation in ways. Given how much time he’s had to teach himself new things, it’s no wonder he has become something of a jack-of-all-trades.
I make no apologies for that pun.
Here then comes the classic conundrum when it comes to Jack - does MC fall for his charms, or remain suspicious and hold him at arm’s length? They’ve been feeling pretty lonely and beaten down by life for a while now, and Jack seems almost too good to be true. It’s not like he’s keeping them captive, but they’re in the heart of the dark woods. Outside this castle are some of the worst, most dangerous monsters imaginable. Jack can protect MC if they stay there in the castle with him, but he can’t go very far from the castle, so he can’t help them leave the woods. That is why he’s keeping them from leaving the castle. You know, aside from not wanting to lose the only company he’s had in so many years.
Jack is right about the danger, unfortunately. Whether MC tries to slip away from the castle or just scopes out the surroundings via a window, they find that it’s surrounded by monsters far too dangerous for them to handle alone. There’s no way they could make it, and if they tried, they’d only survive thanks to Jack coming to their rescue.
Of course, Jack acknowledges that MC is powerful. He saw them try to attack him if he did, or he just can tell in simply because they made it all this way on their own. It’s just, well, there’s only so much anyone can do on their own. Sometimes we all need a friend to help us out.
If Jack could leave, then he could help MC leave too, but he’s stuck in the castle. He’s been there for such a long, long time.
Whether his tragic plight is enough to make MC sympathize is, of course, up to the individual. I do know my gal Alice is going to want to help him after hearing him out. Being trapped in this awful place by a curse is a fate she wouldn’t wish on anybody.
Not to mention helping Jack would help MC leave the dark woods. There’s no threat he can’t handle after all. They’d be getting their own personal dragon bodyguard.
Perhaps with a pair of fresh eyes and more knowledge of the state of the world, MC will have better luck figuring out how to free Jack from the curse. Maybe they’ll just play along to not upset their super powerful host so they can escape. It would certainly take time for MC to really trust Jack, even if he seems so friendly and kind… and, they have to admit, this place is lonely and very unsettling for anyone to stay in, even if Jack has tried his best to make it look nice. It’s certainly creepy to be alone here in the heart of the dark woods. The castle is better than the woods full of monsters, but still…
Anyway, the interactions between MC and Jack are up to the individual to decide. Romance the dragon, or flee from the dragon in the end. Being stuck together can bring a sort of fondness, and Jack falls in love. It makes him determined to never lose MC, ever, so he falls down the yandere path, which can lead to some pretty obsessive moments depending on the choices made.
As for the alternate love interests, after Ian receives word that MC disappeared in the dark woods, he sends knights on a quest to find and rescue them, despite the queen’s interference. This of course includes Shaun and Nick, who are the first to volunteer for the rescue mission. Despite the queen’s meddling, not wanting to waste manpower on a thorn in her side, Ian finally takes a stand against his mother for the sake of MC and their love, and the expedition is sent.
Unbeknownst to the knights, Ian sneaks along with them in disguise. He can’t just sit back and wait while MC is in danger. He can’t let them down a second time. He’ll prove to them, and himself, that he’s truly worthy of their love.
From there it’s trials and tribulations of the guys trying to rescue MC from the dragon… provided that MC still wants to be rescued by the time the guys reach the castle.
Really, in order for all of the love interests to spend time with MC and interact, perhaps Jack will be brought back with them somehow, like he found a loophole in the curse or a way to bind him to MC. That way, Jack can leave the forest, so long as it’s with MC, with the added bonus that he can’t stay too far away from his sunshine. It’d create something of a dynamic similar to the game, only in this case everyone can see Jack and learn that he’s an incredibly dangerous dragon that has the power to kill all of them if he so chooses. Not that he would ever! He’s MC’s best friend after all. He just wants to protect his sunshine.
Though chances are MC will want to hide the whole “dragon” thing if they decide to leave with Jack. Maybe coach him on how to better pass for a human. Best not to scare people, am I right?
Or this AU could just stick in the castle where MC chooses to either romance the dragon or flee the dragon. I know which one Alice is going to choose, regardless if they stay in the castle or go back to civilization.
On that note, let’s get to the part that I suspect you’ve all been really waiting for.
(S)laying the Dragon
With Jack being a mythical creature, that offers possibilities for a very kinky fun time. There’s his obvious features like his sharp teeth and claws, but there’s also those long pointy ears that are perfect for nibbling, and maybe offering a bit of emotional expression in the way they tilt. Then, of course, there’s the tail and wings, perfect to wrap around his sunshine. He’s got even more limbs to hold them close!
Now… dragon anatomy is pretty much whatever we want it to be. Bad Dragon has the name for a reason after all. Want dragons to have two dicks similar to snakes? Go for it. He could still have that while he’s in his “human” form too. In fact, with a belt that allows him to change his shape, he could alter himself in very fun ways. A funky fantasy dick with ridges and/or bumps? Perhaps some tentacles anybody?
I mean, Jack has been alone for a long, long time. He’s only had himself to entertain and experiment with. He might have some very kinky tricks that no one has ever tried before.
To be fair, the tail is probably prehensile, so it might be able to be used like a tentacle for sexy times. He might not even need a second dick to plug up all of MC’s holes at once.
Dragons tend to have long tongues, so french kissing Jack is going to be intense, especially if it’s forked too. Then of course there’s oral. Naturally, he’ll be careful with those sharp teeth of his. Well, unless MC is into something a little rougher. Jack doesn’t want to hurt his sunshine (humans are so fragile after all), but if they like a little pain, well, their good old pal Jack will oblige them!
In my personal fantasy headcanons, pointy ears and the base of wings and tails are sensitive erogenous zones. Nibble on Jack’s ears, please! Preen his wings and make him feel loved and cared for. Rub at the base of his tail, and he’ll get hard instantly.
The scales might be harder than armor, but they’re nice and smooth, and have a nice feel. Jack has some control on just how hard or soft his body is at a time due to the belt’s power. Unless otherwise requested, Jack is very gentle with his sunshine, worried about going too rough due to how easy it was for him to hurt others.
Of course… Jack is also so desperately lonely and horny. MC’s presence has been his only bright spot in so long, and he loves them so much. When they love him too… well, it was already so hard for him to hold himself back. It wouldn’t be that difficult to rile him up and make him start to lose control, struggling to hold back his power even as he tosses MC around and takes them.
Naturally, many of my personal sexy headcanons for Jack apply in this AU. This includes a breeding/seeding kink. It’s a bit more pronounced here. If MC has his child then they’ll never ever leave him after all, and they’ll be bound together forever and ever and ever. Even if a child is off the table, the act of breeding/seeding alone is enticing, making them beg him to take them and fill them up with his hot cum is something that he fantasizes about often.
Of course, Jack doesn’t simply want sex with MC, he wants to make love. They make him feel truly loved for the first time in forever. Did he ever feel so loved before? He wants to experience their love in every way he can, fill them up with it until he’s a part of them forever.
Jack won’t ever force his sunshine, no matter how desperate he is for their love or to make love. He’ll go crazy with need, but always hold himself back if they need him to. As long as they love him, he can take care of himself sexually like he always has. He’s just been so empty, alone, and unloved for so long. MC fills them up with love in a way that he can’t live without anymore.
Naturally, when the pair do start making love, Jack can’t get enough, and his stamina is insane. MC is without a doubt going to be the one passing out first after they’ve been fucked senseless with Jack thrusting inside them, babbling how much he loves them and how good they make him feel. The more they go on, the more feral for their love Jack becomes. He’s needed his sunshine so, so badly, and now that he has them and their love, he can’t live without them anymore.
Of course, with a dragon AU and a shapeshifting ability, you can get really creative. For one thing there’s his full dragon form, which would be a giant compared to MC. Size difference anyone? Plus the exact details of how Jack looks in his dragon form could offer interesting possibilities of its own.
Then of course there’s even more furry-related kinks like oviposition or stuff like that. It's not for me personally, but I can imagine Jack would be open to experimentation and indulging in MC’s kinks, even the more outrageous ones. After all, it’s all just more ways to show just how much he loves his sunshine~
You best believe Jack has a predplay kink in this universe. He can smell MC and track them down easily. If that doesn’t work, there’s all sorts of magic he’s learned over the years that can do the trick. Of course he doesn’t want to scare MC, but when it’s good fun, it can lead to a delightfully spicy time~
While I’m on the topic of Jack smelling MC, he is addicted to their scent. The smell of their pheromones easily riles him up, practically sending him into rut like an alpha from Omegaverse!
Naturally, since Jack is a dragon, he has a horde. The castle was loaded with treasure, and it is pretty and shiny. It looks nice all piled together, maybe even neatly decorated. No doubt he’ll want to make love to his sunshine atop a pile of shiny gold coins and jewels, though he’ll make sure that he’s on the bottom so they don’t get jabbed by the hard edges… unless they’d like that, of course.
Of course, the true treasure Jack is hoarding in his lair would be MC. Gold and jewels are nice, but they don’t hold a candle to the love of his sunshine~
Wow. I think this is the longest headcanon post I’ve ever made while sticking with neutral MCs for the most part. I think I’m long overdue to shamelessly self-indulge with my OTP. Let’s see how Alice’s choices will affect this AU and how events unfold, shall we?
Lady Alice of House Rose
Naturally, Alice can’t have the surname of King in a setting like this, so I’m going to use her middle name as the house name.
Fun fact, Rose is the middle name for Barbie and Coraline too!
Yes, that means Barbie’s full name is Barbara Anne Rose King.
Yes. Yes, that pun was indeed intentional.
No, I will not apologize. Her name was picked to be a pun in the first place after all. ;3
Anyway, back to Alice. Being the eldest child, she has the responsibility to elevate the status of her household. Not only are they barely nobility, but their finances aren’t in the best shape. She needs money to help her family, and the honor of being a knight in hopes of gaining a better title.
It’s a shame that the queen doesn’t care for Alice and she’s been stuck as a squire way longer than is reasonable.
Alice knew that it would be impossible for her to marry a prince like Ian, no matter how kind he was, or how close they were. She couldn’t avoid falling for him though. It made her more determined to earn a better title, to make something of herself and earn acclaim. Maybe if she became the greatest knight in the kingdom, maybe she can prove herself worthy of royal consort and be with Ian as his wife one day.
Alice busted her ass trying to be a knight despite all the rough training and being forced to work menial, often degrading tasks as a squire. The weapons she specializes in are the bow and magic, combining the two to devastating effect. She’s also very good at keeping quiet and being stealthy.
In this universe, Alice never had sex with Ian. Although this fantasy setting is more open about sex before marriage, the gap between her and Ian was so wide, she didn’t want to risk doing anything that might ruin their chances of being together. That’s why finding out he cheated broke her heart, regardless of them being physically intimate together. Worse, his outburst when he begged her for forgiveness made it sound like they had been sleeping together to those who overheard, and the rumors were very unkind to the two of them, Alice especially.
Ian cheating proved to Alice that she was only fooling herself that they could be together. Their worlds were too far apart. Ian was to be king someday and she… well, maybe she’ll reach the title of Baroness. Though Ian begged for forgiveness, and Alice gave it to him, she couldn’t go back to the way they were. Advice from Shaun and others helped her see that it was best for everyone involved that she simply remain as the loyal (future) knight and Prince Ian as only her liege.
Let’s skip ahead to the mission to catch the thief in the dark woods. Alice’s best means of combat is the stealth kill. She sneaks quietly, sets up magic traps, fires arrows when the enemy is unaware, and in general takes her time to take her enemy at her own advantage. She actually works pretty well as a solo fighter due to being so stealthy. Though she is good at hand to hand combat if need be, she prefers to strike before her enemy realizes she’s there, and she’s amazing at her skills. Why, if she put her mind to it, she could be a skilled assassin. (Or in another world, a sniper.)
The horde of monsters the thief set off to charge after Alice was almost her undoing. By the time she fell into the catacombs, she passed out from exhaustion, having drained her mana dry. She might have been doomed if a monster came upon her then, but fortunately the master of the dark woods found her in time.
Alice was pretty darn shocked to wake up in a surprisingly fluffy bed, with her armor removed. Not all of it fortunately. She had her modesty protected and her softer clothes still on, but the uncomfortable hard outer plates were removed so that she could sleep peacefully. Jack was apologetic about removing any part of her clothes without asking, even blushing about it, but he didn’t want her to be uncomfortable while she recovered.
Needless to say, Alice is wary of Jack at first, but he did save her life. She does piece together that he’s the dragon pretty quickly and is naturally wary, deciding that the best course of action is to rest up, heal, and carefully get information from the legendary master of the dark woods.
The rumors and legends are so varied, it’s hard to know what exactly is the truth. The dragon of the dark woods doesn’t even have a name, and some of the tales are clearly exaggerations. Since Jack is showing himself to be surprisingly friendly, and he saved Alice from certain death, she decided to trust him… at least enough to remain civil and learn more about him, the castle, and the dark woods.
After asking many questions and getting as much information as Jack can give her (though much of it is confusing due to how rusty he is with socializing), Alice agrees to help him find a way to break his curse. She’s taking a risk, but if she leaves the castle on her own, she’ll die. If she stays, she can keep an eye on Jack to see if he’s really as good and gentle as he presents himself to be. If she has to, she’ll find a way to escape without him if she gets the sense that he’s using her to escape the forest in order to conquer the world or something.
Being very good at sneaking, Alice does slip away to search around the castle for answers on her own as much as possible. However, Jack can’t stand the idea of losing track of her, and all it took was one time of losing track of her for him to leave a magic tracker on her discreetly so he can find her wherever she goes - for her own safety of course! He can’t stand to be far from her. He has to give her time to herself, since if he leaves her with no privacy she won’t trust him, but it’s so hard to stay away. He’s so lonely.
At first Jack’s feelings for Alice are platonic, just a lonely man in desperate need of friendship, but over the time they spend together, getting to know one another, he falls in love and falls hard. Alice, naturally, takes much longer to fall after her relationship with Ian fell apart. At first, Jack is someone she can’t quite trust because he’s a stranger, then she is cautious because he’s a powerful dragon with many unflattering legends about the monster that he is, then it’s concern for the power imbalance between them… but eventually she sees that he’s just a lonely, sweet dork who just wants a friend.
Of course, Alice won’t realize he wants much more than friendship until later. Jack doesn’t want to scare her away after all.
I don’t think Shaun, Nick, and Ian are just going to sit back and wait long to try and find her, but I want to give Alice and Jack plenty of alone time, so I’m going to go with the idea that when humans come deep into the heart of the woods, at first Jack is excited. More friends! Then he becomes fearful when he realizes they’re looking for Alice. They want to take his sunshine away. She’ll leave him, forever!
Well, that won’t do. Jack doesn’t want to hurt them, but he can just make it difficult to find the castle. Maybe use the power of the cursed land to rearrange the forest when the search party isn’t looking, mix them up so that they find themselves suddenly outside the woods. Jack might not be able to leave due to the curse, but he’s not known as master of the dark woods for nothing. He can wield the golden cuffs’ power however he likes, just he can never leave.
Jack just needs to divert them long enough that they give up and leave, or he can find a way to escape with his sunshine’s help. Alice knows many interesting spells, being very creative with magic in ways that he never thought of before, and she knows of things that he doesn’t due to coming from outside the woods. With her help, he is able to figure out a way to free himself from his imprisonment… provided that he remains close to his sunshine. It’s more of a change in the curse than an actual cure for it, but it’s a vast improvement! He can leave the dark woods! Finally! At long last! He can converse with more people! He can make friends! He won’t have to be left alone and forgotten in the dark anymore!
Of course, Alice helps Jack prepare to be around people by helping him refine his “human” form. People aren’t going to understand that the deadly dragon of the dark woods is really just a sweet marshmallow, practically a giant cuddly puppy in human-ish form! When Jack can master looking properly human, they can come up with a cover story that he was a wanderer that found her lost in the woods and helped her until she could get back home. It’s not a lie technically. He used to be a wanderer after all, and everything else is true. He’s been nothing but helpful to his sunshine~
So Alice has to hide the secret of her new dragon friend, who has made it his mission to win her heart. Jack is willing to wait for her to be ready to love him the way that he loves her, even if the wait drives him crazy, but he’s very territorial, not liking the way the other guys look at her. However, Alice does notice his more possessive behaviors even as he tries to remain subtle about them, and she makes sure to keep her new “pet” dragon on a tight leash. Jack is fine with that so long as it means he’ll stay close to his sunshine.
I’m going to say that the change to the curse to bind them together does cause an empathy connection because I really love empath magic. Plus, allowing the pair to feel each other’s emotions and even pleasure and pain is very intimate. When Alice realizes they now can sense each other’s pain as a result of what she did, Jack makes it clear that he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe so that she won’t have to experience any pain. He’ll promises to protect her for the rest of his life.
Of course, such a declaration leaves Alice feeling rather flustered. ;3
Overall, it is a bit more of a slow burn than Sunshine in Hell, but eventually the two of them fall in love, much to the dismay of the rest of the male leads.
Naturally love will overcome the curse, because I am an absolute sucker for happy endings. Jack and Alice will find a way to break the curse and remain together so they can live happily ever after. And make love like rabbits hopped up on viagra.
No, I won’t apologize for that pun either.
It won’t come too easily, of course. There’s plenty of people who aren’t going to be keen to immediately trust Jack, and not just the male leads. He came from out of nowhere, with no known background. Alice’s family is certainly going to be concerned by the stranger that waltzed into her life after her heart was already broken by Ian, especially since by the time they meet Jack, she’s already shown signs of crushing on him. The family is going to need to make sure that this new guy is worth potential heartbreak.
Then of course there’s the whole political aspect of things. This country used to be the very kingdom that Joseph was chased out of many, many years ago. The lost prince is a story that could be uncovered to potentially explosive results.
Why, if Jack had the mind to, he could take back the throne and rule the kingdom that once chased him away… with his sunshine ruling by his side after all.
Will that happen with Alice? Maybe. Maybe she’ll actually become a queen after all, or maybe she’ll just live a simple life with Jack who doesn’t let on that he’s powerful enough to level the whole kingdom. After all, all he truly wants is to be loved, and Alice is sure to give Jack all the love he could ever ask for.
Perhaps that love will wind up with a lot of adorable half-dragon babies running around. Though they could be fully human if Jack does become a human after the curse breaks. I kind of like the idea that Jack is freed of the curse, but he is still a powerful dragon and can still use the belt to have fun with his shape. Plus baby dragons are the cutest and the idea of Jack and Alice’s kids being little dragons with tiny wings and cute pointy ears heals my soul.
…Holy crap this ramble went on for 26 pages. That’s over 11,000 words according to google doc! This must be my longest ramble yet, and that’s saying something! Well, I suppose that’s what happens when a dragon lover makes a dragon AU, haha. Fantasy has always been my jam, and I love playing with magical elements.
Anyway, I’m going to take that as a cue to wrap things up here for now. Let me know what you think about this AU and if you want to hear more about anything in particular. Also, let me know if this post inspires you to create anything of your own and please share it with me! I love it that we can inspire one another to create in this fandom, just like Mars’ lovely art inspired me. I hope I’ve given you a few new fun ideas to play with. Thanks for reading this far!
@channydraws @earthgirlaesthetic @sai-of-the-7-stars @cheriihoney @illary-kore @okamiliqueur
#Sunny Day Jack#Something's Wrong With Sunny Day Jack#SunnyDayJack#sdj#swwsdj#Headcanon Ramblings#Fantasy AU#Dragon AU
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A fellow Toasty lover I see...👀
Do you have any headcanons for them yourself, both general and within a relationship? I'm curious :3
Nakedtoster Headcanons!
◦ Toast loves Final Fantasy as everyone knows and because of that he’s becomes rather irresponsible with money when it comes to it. Buying the books, props and every single game.
◦ Toast and Xyx are the best of friends Toast can find your IP address and Xyx loves trolling people
◦ When Toast gets in a relationship and his significant other gets any type of hate online best believe Xyx is trolling them online, it’s a hobby of his.
◦ Toast owns a pair of pink cat ear headphones half as a joke and the other is because he likes cats and his hair is pink.
◦ Toast has been misgendered often in public because of his pink long hair.
◦ Toast comes off as the type to have a comfort game like, animal crossing, Minecraft, or Roblox.
◦ He doesn’t own many consoles he’s a PC and a Nintendo switch and maybe a Ds or something from when he was a kid.
◦ Toast is not against doing inherently feminine things like makeup and painting nails if you want to. He might not even take off the color off hid his nails because he’s too lazy.
◦ If you’re in a relationship with Toast he most likely sees you as a friend and a lover next.
◦ He would love it if you played Final Fantasy XV comrades with him and Xyx.
◦ He definitely wears those cringey shirts saying I left my video games for this not because he likes them but I they were gifts and couldn’t care less what he wears most of the time.
◦ If you have been with Toast long enough eventually he might dedicate a character In the games he makes to you.
◦ When it comes to dates with Toast they aren’t common given he is an introvert but you will be treated to snacks and Resident evil and the bad Final Fantasy movies he claims doesn’t do them justice yet but watches them anyways.
◦ Toast is the type of guy to go to comic con and other conventions, after all it’s hinted that he is a content creator with his Final Fantasy advertisement.
◦ He generally likes anything concerning Capcom for the most part and enjoys story more than combat.
◦ He can solve a Rubik cube no problem and rather good at puzzles of all sorts.
◦ I don’t know why but once again I see him as a monster energy drink consumer not so much on G fuel not even if he was payed.
◦ Toast can cook but only basic things like a proper breakfast and a sandwich dinner is a 100% on you or take out because even if he tried the food might be bland. He is willing to learn through.
◦ From what I can tell Toast dyed his hair he’s a natural blonde that dyed his eyebrows brown/black or he’s a brunette that has to bleach and dye his hair every so often. Whatever the case is, Toast would appreciate it when you help him with his hair.
◦ When it comes to you guys first kiss he is rather clumsy out of all the Blooming panic love interest I think he has the least romantic experience.
◦ Every year he allows you to pick out his glasses frames as he couldn’t care less what he picks through most of the time it remains the same and you’re just putting random frames on his face to see how they look.
◦ Toast doesn’t necessarily need glasses but he’s couldn’t see the writing on the board in the back of the class. He still wears them today to “enjoy the effort but into the games and graphic blah blah.” He doesn’t want to admit that he’s actually a bit blind.
◦ His favorite thing on would probably be a sundress (an actual sundress) or cosplay/ convention clothes.
◦ He loves the taste of Pepto-Bismol
◦ He does have back problems given his horrendous posture during gaming.
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#naked toaster#blooming panic nakedtoaster x reader#nakedtoaster x reader#nakedtoaster#bloomic xyx#blooming panic xyx#blooming panic#bloomic x reader#blooming panic xyx x reader#blooming panic quest x reader#blooming panic smut#bloomic#quest#quest x reader#quest smut#poc
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Slay the Evil Scientist: A Perryshmirtz fic inspired by the game, "Slay the Princess".
((Still can't believe that it was this AU and Perryshmirtz in-general of all things to break my nearly half-a-year bout of writer's block. But hey, I'm not complaining! And I hope you all enjoy this.
This fic can stand on its own, so you don't need to know anything about StP to read this - although I do somewhat spoil the big twist of the game so fair warning on that. Also, trigger warning for temporary character death and mild violence, though nothing too gorey or descriptive. And remember: This is a love story))
The Agent opened his eyes, and took in his surroundings. He wasn’t sure how he’d gotten there, or what he was supposed to be doing - but before he could start to ponder or panic about this, a stern voice in his head told him all he needed to know.
“Agent, you’re on a path in the woods.” This much was obvious, given all the trees that surrounded him and the dirt road underneath his webbed feet.
“At the end of this path is a tower,” the gruff voice continued, “and in that tower is a scientist. An evil scientist. Your mission is to slay him… or the entire world will end.”
As he heard this, the Agent’s eyes widened. Slay? As in kill? He didn’t even fully know who he was, and he was expected to just take a life? Just like that? It was more than a little jarring… At the same time though, the words “evil” and “world-ending” weighed heavily in his mind.
If the Voice was telling the truth, then his ‘mission’ of sorts would still be a noble one, regardless of its gruesome nature. And even if he couldn’t remember much about this world that surrounded him, the twisting trees looming over like towering shadows and the bright moon shining down on him like a spotlight, the Agent knew in his heart of hearts that he couldn’t just stand passively by and let this evil scientist destroy everything.
So, the Agent steeled his nerves and began trekking down the short path. In only a few minutes, he reached the tower, just as was promised. The tower was a faded purple in color, sharp and angled with only a single light shining through its open balcony.
Entering the tower, the Agent immediately spotted a laser gun resting on a small table near the front door. The Voice advised him to take it, as it would make completing his mission much easier, and the Agent did so without much hesitation.
As the Agent climbed up the stone stairs, the Voice continued to warn him of what was to come. “He will lie, cheat, trick, trap - he will do anything to try and get the upper hand. Do not give him that chance. You cannot let him win. Your mission must be completed, for the sake of this world and everyone in it.”
The Agent nodded, understanding perfectly. Once he reached the top of the stairs, he swiftly kicked the door in, and kept his steady hand on the gun’s grip as he stepped inside.
Naturally, his sudden presence caught the attention of his target, the so-called evil scientist. Really, the only thing ‘scientific’ about him though was his stark white lab coat that was somehow free of dirt (despite the fact that the scientist was sitting on the dust-covered floor, forced to do so due to the heavy metal chain around his wrist). His brown hair was wildly messy, and he had dark bags under his eyes.
For a moment, the Agent thought the scientist looked a bit concerned - a bit scared, even. But, when the scientist spotted the laser gun in his hand, he sneered coldly at the Agent. “And just what do you think you are going to do with that, hmm?” he asked, with noticeable venom slipping into his thick German accent. “What? Are you here to thwart me or something?”
The Agent glared back at him and raised his weapon, pointing it directly at the Scientist’s head, the Voice’s warnings still echoing in his head. This was for the greater good. Taking only a second to aim, he fired. ZAP!
It was a fatal wound, that much was obvious, just as it was a bit of a relief. Evil or no, the Agent had at the very least tried to make it a quick death, figuring that even world-destroying villains deserved that much.
However, as the scientist began to slump over, a shocked expression still stuck on his face, he could’ve sworn that he heard the villain quietly mumble “Curse you…” before hitting the floor. Dead as a doorknob, though that didn’t stop the Agent from wincing at the sight. He felt sick, a cold chill going up his spine.
The Voice, meanwhile, was as pleased as could be. “Well done, Agent! Your mission is officially a success! Thank you for saving our world. You did the right thing.”
The Agent said nothing, his gaze still locked onto the scientist’s corpse, doing his best to push back any questions and potential feelings of regret he might have had. Eventually, he was able to turn himself around and begin his trek back down the stairs.
Except, he never made it to the tower’s front door. A sort of mysterious force began to surround him, sweeping him up like a wave and plunging him into unconsciousness.
When he woke up, the Agent was back in the woods on an old dirt path, with a gruff voice in his head giving him his mission.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
“This is your mission, your duty,” the Voice insisted, “One that you MUST complete, for all our sakes.” There was no other option, at least as far as the Voice was concerned. No compromise, no option to fail or surrender.
It was… a lot to take in. Frankly, regardless of the Voice’s claims, the Agent wasn’t sure if he could understand it - if he could just blindly accept this ‘mission’ without any argument. Just what was so ‘evil’ about this scientist anyway? Did he really need to-?
“No,” the Voice boomed in his head as he walked towards the tower, “You CAN’T question the mission, Agent!”
Despite himself, the Agent just barely resisted the urge to flinch at the commanding tone to - barely resisted the urge to completely fall in line to the Voice’s whims.
As if understanding this, the Voice quickly took on a more sympathetic tone. “Please, I understand that the fight can be taxing, but trust me when I say you cannot reason with evil… If you do, it could put everything - everyone - in danger…”
The Agent said nothing in return, though he did offer the Voice a short nod in acknowledgment, not completely ignoring its perspective even if he himself was still mulling over his next few choices.
In the end, he still decided to grab the laser gun as he entered the tower, just in case. However, instead of choosing to kick the tower’s final door down, the Agent used his hand to simply turn the knob, entering the room in a relatively peaceful manner. Once he was fully inside, he could see that the Scientist was chained by his wrist to the wall near the balcony, looking unsure and cautious as the Agent stepped forward.
“…And just what do you want?” the Scientist asked, managing a small scowl. The Voice continued to whisper warnings of “villain” and “evil” and “trap”. But the man still seemed harmless. Maybe not innocent, but not yet a threat.
So the Agent stepped forward, curious to see if the Scientist would actually make a move and prove the Voice’s concerns right. The Scientist raised an eyebrow, but didn’t do anything more.
“…Are- Are you actually going to use that thing?” he asked as soon as he spotted the Agent’s weapon. “Because, if you’re asking ME whether or not to shoot me, I- I definitely wouldn’t recommend it! Yep. Toooootally unnecessary.” The Agent huffed slightly, unsure if the Scientist was joking or if he was simply failing to give a serious plea for his life.
“Although,” the Scientist continued, lifting his imprisoned arm, “You could maybe use it to get me out of here. Just one little zap should do it! And it really would help me out here. …Soooo?”
The Agent stayed silent as he weighed his options. He didn’t think it was completely necessary to take the scientist’s life, but he wasn’t sure if just letting him go was the best choice either - especially when the Voice just kept warning him of how badly doing just that could backfire on not only him but also a world filled with innocent people.
“You cannot reason with evil… He will lie, cheat, trick, trap - he will do anything to try and get the upper hand…”
The longer he stayed silent, the more impatient the Scientist became. “Okay, okay, fine. Don’t help me out then, I can get out of these chains just fine on my own. Oh yeah, I’ve got a lotta big ideas up in here-“ he pointed at his head, doing his best to look confident, “Tons of ‘em! And none of them involve the help of some duck-beaver guy who can’t stop giving me the silent treatment. So there!”
A boastful claim, and one that the Agent rolled his eyes slightly at. As far as he could tell, this ‘scientist’ didn’t exactly seem all that clever, regardless of whether or not he was actually dangerous. And it was this thought that allowed the Agent to let his guard down ever so slightly…
“Yep, I could… Let’s see, I could… I could invent my way out! Yeah, I could create some sort of chain-picking-inator! Or- Or a chain disintegrator-inator! That could definitely be handy. Heh, get it?” The Scientist put on a cheeky grin as he waved his hand at the Agent, rattling the chains with each movement. “Handy? It would be handy? …Be-Because my arm is- is the thing that’s trapped. You get it, right?”
The Agent just stared flatly at him. Yep, definitely a fool. As far from an ‘evil mastermind’ as you could get. (Even if he is a fool, he’s still a danger that needs to be stopped once and for all, the Voice reminded him.)
The Scientist then shrugged slightly, dropping all sense of boastfulness. “Or I could, you know, just break my hand. That could probably work too. I could break it juuust enough for me to slide it out! Of course, I imagine that would be pretty painful, so maybe we save that for Plan C or D.”
Twisting the heavy chain in his hand, the Scientist slowly lifted his gaze, looking the Agent straight in the eyes. “Although, if you were in my shoes and were trapped here as long as I have, I think you’d agree that there are much worse things than a few broken bones…”
A familiar chill ran up the Agent’s spine. Even if he was able to speak, he wasn’t sure if he would have been able to think of a proper response to that. Just how long HAD the Scientist been trapped in this tower?
“Buuuut in the meantime, if I had to go with the best Plan A, I would just use that thing right behind you!” the Scientist suddenly shouted, pointing over the Agent’s shoulder.
Without thinking, the Agent turned to look - and immediately felt something grip the scruff of his neck, yanking him forward. If not for his instincts, he likely would’ve gone straight into the purple-bricked wall, probably bruising his beak or possibly even earning himself a nasty concussion. Instead, the Agent managed to tuck his head in just in time, meeting the floor instead of the wall.
He heard the Scientist let out a sharp laugh in victory. “Ha, gotcha!” No longer gripping the Agent’s neck, he then reached for the laser - an action that sparked enough panic in the Agent that he was able to tighten his grip on the weapon as he rolled over onto his back. A hard kick sent the Scientist flying backwards, stretching the still-attached chain as far as it would go.
With a grunt, the Scientist glared. “Ugh, why you-!” He lunged for the laser gun again, and was actually able to get his hands on it. The Agent growled back at him, refusing to let the gun go. They wrestled over it for what felt like several pulse-pounding seconds stretched out to minutes, neither of them able to take aim.
“Just- Just give it to me already!” the Scientist shouted in frustration before elbowing the Agent sharply in the stomach. But, with the Scientist now being so close to him, the Agent was able to take advantage of this new angle. Grappling his opponent’s arm, he twisted it and forced the Scientist to release his grip. Once the weapon was his, the Agent took aim and fired - ZAP! - hitting the Scientist square in the heart. A fatal wound.
The Scientist gave a grunt, and before succumbing to his fate, he gave the Agent one last scowl. “C-Curse you…” he stuttered before finally falling dead on the floor.
Still panting a bit, the Agent quickly picked himself off the floor, taking a couple steps back from the corpse. But as the Voice congratulated him on a job well done, it all just fell on deaf ears as the Agent still kept an eye on his former target, wanting to make sure he didn’t get back up.
The fight didn’t feel over, somehow… And indeed, as darkness crept into the tower and the mysterious cycle began anew, the Agent promised himself that he would never underestimate the Evil Scientist again.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
For several lifetimes, the Agent was able to truly understand the full spectrum of the sort of threat that the Evil Scientist could be under the right circumstances as their rivalry with each other continued to grow and shift and change.
There were times when, whether it be out of returning curiosity or a sudden burst of empathy, the Agent actually gave him a chance to try and fight for his freedom (much to the Voice’s disappointments and frustration), where the Scientist was actually able to show off his skills - his many so-called ‘-inators’, built from his own imagination and whatever scraps of material he could find within his prison, each of them varying in ability and often prompting unexpected (sometimes even impossible!) results.
Even with the claims of “Evil, Villain, Destroyer, Monster” continuously echoing in the Agent’s head each time he confronted the imprisoned scientist, the Agent didn’t feel this was accurate, at least not completely. The Scientist was maybe a bit unhinged, sure. Certainly still a bit foolish too. But he was also fascinating in a way, his own brand of cleverness being something that the Agent could never get a complete grasp on, no matter how many times they fought - every sudden trick and makeshift trap and surprise punch always caught his attention.
It was interesting, exciting… Maybe even a bit fun! And, while he still fought for the Scientist’s continued imprisonment, the Agent couldn’t help but somewhat appreciate the more notable surprises that came from the Scientist each time he brought out a never-before-seen invention or surprised the Agent with a new countering move. Even during their most intense fights, they’d manage to smirk and grin with each passion-filled clash, each punch or kick or trick or glorious fight-ending explosion.
But not all fights had moments that could be enjoyed or appreciated. Far from it, in fact...
Sometimes, when the Agent was reminded of just how dangerous (how evil) the Scientist could potentially be when pushed to his brink, the tower morphed and shifted upon his following return, becoming a whole armory, its atmosphere now harshe and cold.
Though he was still bound by chains and unable to escape on his own accord, the Scientist - now looking more like a dictator of sorts, clad in black instead of white with a scarred eye and gloved hands that seemed to be built for merciless cruelty - was surrounded by weapons. Guns and knives and vicious machines, all meant for the sole purpose of winning their eternal face-off.
But, even if he only had his lone laser pistol and his fists, the Agent never backed down, facing the Dictator head on. They’d clash over the course of an eternity, equally dealing fatal blows to each other as they each desperately tried to gain the upper hand. It was all futile, however, for even if the Agent was able to stop the Dictator from escaping and unleashing his wrath upon the world, often he would end up perishing soon after.
“Heh, at least… we’ll both go… together,” the Dictator noted with gritted teeth before adding a “Curse you…”, making sure to have the last word as they both died.
As for the times where he managed to live, the Agent still never made it past the tower’s front door, being immediately swept into another world - another mission, another fight.
Sometimes though, when he was truly leaning into his pure chaotic nature, the Agent didn’t meet with the Dictator.
Instead of looking like a defensive artillery, the Tower would sometimes take the form of a Wizard’s keep, filled with dangerous magic that took the form of twisted staffs and bubbling potions in huge caldrons instead of weapons and gadgets.
The Wizard himself still dressed in dark colors, now with horns adorning the top of his head and glowing red eyes while the rest of him was draped in a dark green cloak. The Wizard’s unhindered access to magic sometimes made it difficult for the Agent to keep on his toes, still only ever being given a single laser gun by whatever force controlled the world that surrounded them - but different strategies and all the new ways they both used to fight back against one another still led to the same batch of results in the end.
In worlds where his opponent’s desperation was reaching a breaking point, however, something more wild and primal was found lurking in the tower’s plant-filled shadows…
No longer a Scientist or even fully a man, the Beast would present itself with torn clothes and golden fur covered in dark spots, growling and glaring with narrow green eyes as a long tail twitched behind him with an immovable chain clasped around his neck. The Agent, in turn, would have to let out his own animalistic side when they fought, lest he be mauled (or even worse) by the Beast.
But whether he was a Beast or an Inventor or a Wizard or Evil Dictator, the Agent still fought with all he had, succeeding in his mission over and over and over again. But, even as his memory continued to be wiped with each death or dive into unconsciousness, the fatigue started to linger, as did his sympathies for his eternally-imprisoned adversary.
“Please,” the Scientist begged with gritted teeth, unable to stop the tears from forming in his eyes even as he tried and failed to land just one more punch, “I just want to go! I- I hate being trapped in this stupid tower! I hate it!”
Their eyes met once more, and the Scientist’s shouts became a whisper. “You hate being trapped in all this too, don’t you?” The Agent said nothing, though his expression told his opponent all he needed to know. “W-We can leave this tower together, just the two of us. We don’t have to be trapped anymore. We-”
His heart might have started to wane - but the Voice still cut through the Agent’s mind like a knife. “Absolutely not.”
ZAP! The Agent didn’t even remember pulling the trigger, but he couldn’t forget the look of utter betrayal and hatred and pain that the Scientist gave him as he crumbled to the floor, his tears finally being allowed to fall. “Curse you,” he mumbled before finally breaking his gaze.
The Agent’s gun clattered to the floor, and he felt too sick to move. “It was your duty, Agent. For the mission,” the Voice reminded him, a hint of sympathy (but never regret) now present in his tone. The Agent just scowled, and silently passed his fallen enemy’s curse along.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
“Agent, you’re on a path in the woods. At the end of this path is a tower, and in that-”
The Agent growled at him, his fists clenched. No. No more. He was done.
“W-What? Agent, please, you can’t! This- This is your duty, and you must-!”
Nope, not happening. Screw the Voice. Screw the world. He was done being a pawn. Without another thought, the Agent turned on his heel and stomped away from the familiar path, the tower in the distance becoming smaller and smaller with each step.
Angered now, the Voice continued trying to assert his authority, his endless orders now making him sound less like a firm guide and more like some sort of commander - a general, or perhaps a major. But the Agent refused to bow to this authority, and continued forward even as the path began to wind and morph beyond normal comprehension.
But despite how hard he fought against fate, he still eventually came face-to-face with the tower once more - standing firm and tall within the newly formed void, assuring that the Agent no longer had any sort of choice. Except, of course, the choice to come in peace. And so, when he finally entered the tower, the Agent refused to take the weapon with him, continuing to ignore the Voice’s rage as he climbed up the stairs unarmed.
The tower’s balcony was bare, no weapons or inventions to be seen. A lone figure stood in the dark, illuminated through the light of the full moon shining through the open window. The chain attached to the shadowy figure was covered in a thick coating of dust (for what reason had he had to ever move from his assigned spot?) and the figure itself was as still as a ceramic statue, his clothes simple and bare and without personality. Was he even still alive, the Agent wondered.
It was only when the Agent began to step back towards the door did the figure finally speak, his shaking voice breaking like glass as he quietly pleaded. “D-Don’t go. Please don’t go. I- I’ll be good! I’ll just stand here, forever! Just please- please don’t leave me alone again. I-I don’t- I don’t know who you are but, but I don’t want to be alone anymore. So please… please stay.”
The Agent’s heart ached with every word, and in only just a few short, swift steps, he was embracing the human statue, holding him tightly in his arms. Sobbing now, the figure slowly yet eagerly moved to return the hug, ignoring whatever aches it might have brought his long unused muscles.
“This is all a trap - a mistake,” the Voice insisted, “Agent, please! You have no idea what sort of danger he could bring to the world if he steps foot outside this tower!”
Then, the Agent silently countered, we won’t leave this tower.
Continuing to tightly clasp the Figure’s hand, letting him know that he wasn’t going anywhere, the Agent moved back from his embrace and sat down on the dusty old floor, motioning the Figure to do the same. It took a bit more coaxing, but as they sat hand-in-hand under the moon’s spotlight, the Figure slowly began to speak, letting out a lifetime’s worth of thoughts.
Some were simple, others more complex and strange, and some were just completely absurd and random - just a bunch of never ending thoughts about loneliness and heartache and dreams and hopes and -inators never built and the sympathy he now had for other things that had been forced into solidarity like garden gnomes and lost balloons.
But the Agent listened to every single one of them, more than happy to spend an eternity doing so and refusing to interrupt even as the aging tower began to crumble around them.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
“And just what do you think you are going to do with that, hmm?” the Scientist asked, sneering once he spotted the weapon in the Agent’s hands. “What? Are you here to thwart me or something?”
Solemnly, the Agent shook his head… and then placed the laser gun on the floor, right in front of his enemy. It would be easy enough to snatch and use in whatever way he saw fit, yet the Scientist could only gape at the Agent, unable to believe what had just happened. Not that the Agent was all that surprised, for it seemed like he always remembered a bit more about their previous meetings than the Scientist did.
He remembered that slaying his so-called enemy wouldn’t do either of them any good, and that if he were to try and rescue the Scientist by destroying the chains himself, either the Voice or the mysterious force surrounding them would always get in the way - would always present some sort of other obstacle that would prevent them from successfully escaping.
So, the Agent was letting his enemy take the lead on what to do next, because as far as the Agent was concerned, there weren’t too many other moves they could make. But hey, the Scientist did have a knack for surprising him, so he trusted him.
Even if the Scientist didn’t yet trust him in return. “This- This is some sort of trick, right?” he asked accusingly, “I mean, who brings a laser with them just to give it to someone else they don’t even know?! This HAS to be a trick! Like, I’m gonna take the laser and it’s going to just blow up right in my face! Or- Or you’re going to let me think that you’re going to just let me escape, and when I do you’re going to bop me right in the nose! That’s right, I see your little game, and I’m NOT falling for it! So there!”
Instead of trying to argue, the Agent just shook his head once more before rising to his webbed feet. Ignoring the call to pick his weapon back up and finish the mission, he looked the Scientist in the eye, giving one last nod towards the laser as he offered his silent permission to do whatever he wanted with it, and turned around to head back towards the door.
After a few moments and a couple steps, he heard the rattling of chains. Then, a loud ZAP! He heard the weapon fire long before he felt its crippling burn. Without much resistance, the Agent fell to his knees.
“Ha-ha, yes! I got you! I- ...Wait.” He could catch the panic in the Scientist’s voice now as it became louder. “Wait, wait, no! Nonono, I- I take it back! I didn’t mean to- I mean, y-you weren’t supposed to-!” There was more chain rattling accompanied by the sound of feet scraping against the floor, desperate to reach him. “Please! I’m sorry, I- I didn’t mean to! I’m sorry!”
But the Agent held no contempt for his companion, instead giving him a small smile as he slipped into death’s embrace. It didn’t do much to slow the Scientist’s tears, and even when the Agent closed his eyes, the Scientist’s apologies continued to echo through the darkness.
The very next time that the Agent was forced to return to the tower, he noticed how the old purple building was covered in thick, spiky vines that forced him to climb it instead of going through the door. Once he’d climbed onto the balcony, he saw that instead of being chained to a wall, the Scientist was now in the direct center of the dark room.
His head was hanging low as he sat in his small cage, imprisoned and handcuffed and unable to (unwilling to) do anything to free himself. The Agent frowned deeply at the sight, and once he was close enough to it, he kneeled in front of the cage. He tried to reach a hand in through the bars, but the Prisoner flinched away from it. “Don’t.”
The Agent let out a sympathetic chitter, and it was enough to make the Scientist actually look up, his fatigued eyes now filled with relief and recognition and, above all else, immense regret.
“This is for the best,” the Scientist muttered, lowering his head again, “Me being stuck in here forever… This is just how it has to be, it seems. I mean, whoever or whatever trapped me here apparently wants me to STAY here no matter what and I…” His tears began to return. “I don’t want to hurt you again.”
The Agent cooed sympathetically - he still felt the phantom pain from his healed wound, unable to completely forget it, but still able to forgive it. What’s more, he was tired of hurting him too. So, so tired - and reached his hand inside the cage once more. This time, the Scientist didn’t move away from him, allowing the Agent to take his hand and squeeze it gently.
“...Do you really think it’s possible?” the Scientist asked, “For us to actually get out of here together? Without destroying each other or everything around us?”
The Agent nodded firmly. Maybe he didn’t know for sure if there was such an option for them, but he wasn’t about to give up on trying - and though he had no magic key that could offer a perfect solution to their woes, he was at the very least able to unlock his Scientist’s cage with just a single touch, allowing him to open to it like magic.
“...Hmph, you really don’t want to just give up? You really wanna go through all of this again? Even if it possibly leads to something worse?” The Agent nodded one final time, and the Scientist sighed. “Curse you,” he mumbled, his words completely free of any real anger or frustration, as he crawled out of the cage, now with nothing there to stop him from pulling his former enemy into a tight embrace (remaining handcuffs be damned).
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
“Agent, you’re on a path in the woods. At the end of this path is a tower, and in that tower is a scientist. An evil scientist. Your mission is-”
The Agent interrupted his commander’s usual briefing, seemingly acknowledging what the Voice was going to say before he could finish saying it. He already knew exactly what his mission was by this point, and he wasn’t about to let anything, anyone, or any force in the universe get in his way.
“...Oh,” the Voice replied in mild surprise as the Agent swiftly made his way down the path, “Well, er, good! I’m glad you’re already up to speed, and that you understand just how important this mission is, as well as why you can not fail.”
The Agent nodded again, his gaze steeled ahead as the purple tower came into view. As always, he entered the door, taking notice of the laser gun resting on the nearby table. This time, however, he refused to take it.
“...Um, Agent? You forgot your weapon.” The Agent ignored him as he began to climb up the stairs. “It’s going to be a lot harder to complete your mission without it, you know. Are you listening, Agent? Agent!”
With a ghost of a smile on his face, the Agent opened the tower’s final door, stepping into the room with ease. He could see that the Scientist was chained by his wrist to the wall near the balcony, but given that the Agent was approaching him unarmed, he looked much more curious than surprised.
“Well, this is unexpected,” the Scientist noted, “And by unexpected I mean… really unexpected. Seriously, I thought that I would be stuck here forever!” Ah, so he forgot again. But it’s alright, the Agent thought to himself. After all, he tended to remember enough for the both of them.
“Anyway, are- are you here to give me a hand here?” the Scientist asked, giving his chained wrist a slight shake, “Or, are you just here to…” He trailed off, obviously concerned about the alternative, but the Agent tried to soothe these fears with another smile and a firm nod.
“...Wait, what? Agent, what are you-?”
“Oh. Oh so you ARE here to help me escape!” the Scientist grinned, “That’s great! So, do you have a key or maybe some sort of lock-picking tool? Though, if I’m being honest I’m not sure if either of those would actually be much help… I don’t even think this chain even has any sort of keyhole on it! Apparently whoever trapped me here REALLY didn’t want me to leave, but maybe between the two of us we could think of something, right?”
“Absolutely NOT! Agent, please, you can’t! He’s evil, and if he escapes, the fate of the world-!”
The Agent continued to push the Major’s pleas and commands to the back of his mind, instead putting all his focus on his chained companion. Knowing fully well that the Scientist was much more than simply a seemingly-scatterbrained prisoner, the Agent gestured to his lab coat’s pockets.
“Hm? Oh, well, I guess I was tinkering with a little something-” Reaching into his coat, the Scientist pulled out the makeshift device, crafted out of an assortment of odd things - bits of collected metal and rock and stone, along with more ‘unique’ items like paper clips or bits of wrapper from a long-eaten bar of peanut brittle. Altogether, it had been fashioned into some sort of… laser? Or maybe it was more of a bomb. Or maybe it was simply out of the realm of proper categorization all together.
“I know it doesn’t look like much, but I didn’t exactly have a lot to work with in here,” the Scientist explained somewhat sheepishly, “but hey, when you’re trapped and can’t go anywhere, you tend to improvise - even if it means using whatever trash is in your pockets and using your feet to try and get more tools and materials that are just baaaaarely in reach. Heh, lucky break for me, right?”
Perhaps it was luck, or perhaps it was fate. The Agent knew by this point that the Scientist could craft just about anything - any sort of ‘-inator’ that he could put his mind to, ranging from the chaotic and the truly dangerous to the impressive and even the amazing.
“Say, I bet if you can help me finish this thing, we could both get out of here together!” the Scientist said, now smiling much more brightly. “Since you don’t have to worry about reaching the end of any chain, you could probably strip this place of all its worth! I just need a couple more things to stabilize my -inator, and maybe a better fuel source or igniter of sorts if you can find one.”
The Agent gave him a thumbs up, and though he kept quiet (or at least relatively so, given how admittedly eager he was to actually talk with someone after being alone for what seemed like an eternity), the Scientist couldn’t help but take notice of just how safe he felt around the Agent - how… familiar he seemed, and how right it felt to just be near him.
Unfortunately, other than a few loose screws and some more broken pieces of stone, there really wasn’t much that the Agent was able to find for the Scientist. He couldn’t search the rest of the tower either, as the Mysterious Force had locked the door, to where not even a good kick or shoulder-raming could break it down.
It seemed like this time around they were totally stuck… That is, until the Agent’s foot bumped against something much more useful than rocks or scraps - not to mention something that was certainly familiar. It was the laser gun, somehow now in the room with them despite originally being abandoned near the entrance.
“Huh! Well, would’ja look at that, Agent!” the Voice spoke up, his tone now much chipper than it usually was. “It’s that weapon you forgot! A weapon that would certainly make it pretty easy to complete your mission now! Maybe the universe is trying to say something, hmm?”
Rolling his eyes, the Agent picked up the laser gun… and immediately handed it to the Scientist. He trusted the Scientist, and the Scientist had no reason to not trust him. So, he eagerly took the weapon, thanking the Agent profusely as he began tearing it apart, his nimble fingers practically becoming blurs as he picked out all the useful materials he could use.
“You’re making a mistake, Agent,” the Voice warned him with a sigh, his disappointment evident. Both of them knew that, at this point, with no weapon currently in the Agent’s hands, there was nothing that the Voice could do to try and stop him - to stop them.
What’s more, the mysterious force that had kept them trapped - that had forced them to fight and hurt each other over and over and over - would soon enough no longer be an issue, and though the Agent gave the Voice his sympathies, he also had no regrets.
After just a few minutes of work, the device was nearly complete. “I think… I’ve juuuuust about… got it!” Letting out a victorious laugh, the Scientist held up his device. “Behold! The break-out-inator!” Setting the device down on the floor, right next to the wall that he was chained to, the Scientist activated it and then quickly backed away as far as his shackle would let him.
“If this works, it won’t just break whatever my chain’s connected to, but it’ll also give us a pretty easy way to get out of here too!” he continued before pausing. “...You’re okay with climbing down from the tower, right? Not afraid of heights or anything like that?” The Agent shook his head firmly. “Ah, good! Good to know… And also, well… I just wanted to say thanks. Again. F-For helping me break out of here, and for just being here. I actually don’t really know WHAT exactly is beyond this tower, but… I think I’m ready to see it.”
The Agent was ready too. More than ready, actually. With each tick of the -inator’s countdown, his excitement and nerves swelled. This was it… Well, hopefully it was. And if not, then maybe he would at least get to keep this memory - this feeling of partnership and genuine care.
As the -inator reached its final numbers, the Agent and the Scientist took each other’s hands as they turned away from the device, shielding themselves as best they could. It was a glorious explosion - one that not only rocked the tower’s fragile walls, but the world itself. Even the sky was forced to crack and break at its unexpected power, and as an otherworldly light shone upon them and the rest of the world began to fall and fade away, that was when the Agent truly understood what his mission was. What he was.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Chaos and order. Disruption and restoration. Creative madness and stoic logic. Surprise and routine. Randomness and stability. Two forces that, while natural opposites of each other, also kept each other in balance. Not true enemies, just contrasts of one another. Two parts of a natural extreme, yet also two halves of one whole.
This was what they were, what they always had been - and what they were now meant to be once again, now that they were nearly free, their original power (a power that could shape the multiverse itself) nearly being back in their grasp.
In some ways, the Agent could still understand the Major’s motives for trying to create what he could only see as a better and safer world - for trying to eliminate what he saw as something that could only ever be destructive and dangerous. A force that, with enough power and without any boundaries, could destroy a million worlds. It really wasn’t a wonder why the Major strictly saw it as ‘evil’, as something that needed to be stopped once and for all.
By forcing both beings into conflict on a much, MUCH smaller scale, there was a chance he could have created a scenario where Order and Stability ALWAYS came out on top over Chaos, eventually eliminating the threat of Chaos completely and allowing for a universe shaped by a much more rational and overall much more safe (much more ‘good’) force of nature.
But that was a world that could never be. Not without true sacrifice, at least.
“...You know, I really had no idea that I was a god.”
The Agent turned to look at the Scientist. Despite it being how the Scientist originally was, he was still getting used to seeing his true form. (It was also admittedly hard to remember to use his adversary’s true name, even if he now knew it.)
“I mean, me? A god? It’s still pretty shocking,” the Scientist continued. He stood with two arms folded over his chest while the rest of his many arms fanned out like a peacock’s tail, desperate to touch the rest of the universe that laid beyond their current realm after being trapped and held back for so long. His pure white coat was now a coat made out of living stars and careening comets and slowly-expanding black holes, his new form now a stark reminder of all the beauty and danger that came with an unpredictable universe.
“I knew that SOMETHING had trapped me - that I didn’t belong in some old and lousy tower all chained up - and looking back, there were a few times where I felt like I was remembering something or that I had a bit of deja vu, but I thought maybe I was in some sort of time loop. And yeah I was but, well, as we both can see there was clearly a LOT more going on.”
The Agent nodded with an exhausted huff. That was certainly an understatement. As a godly force of nature, he had never felt so… mortal before. But, as painful as it had been at times, he could also feel a distinctive change within him. A permanent shift in what he had been and what he now was - a humble dash of humanity, mixed with several dozen lifetimes of experiences both good and bad.
“...So, what should we do now?” he heard the Scientist ask, sounding just as tired as his companion was. “I mean, I know I said I wanted freedom and all that but… this is all just a bit much, don’t you think? I don’t know if I even want to go back to being a god, even if it’s apparently what I’m supposed to be.”
The Agent nodded again, making it clear that he shared those sentiments. He didn’t really know what they should do either, and he wasn’t used to feeling so unsure. They may have had options, sure, but he wasn’t used to having so much power weigh into making them.
“...I think you should be the one to decide.”
The Agent blinked, and looked back over at his partner, who just gave him a small smile in return. “Hey, you were the one always reacting to whatever I was doing, and if you ask me, I think you’d know what to do better than I ever could. Besides… I still trust you. So, just do whatever you think is right for the universe or- or the multiverse or reality or whatever.”
The Agent looked back at him, staring at him for what seemed like another eternity before finally nodding, accepting the responsibility with only a little reluctance. Once he truly thought about it though, he realized that maybe the choice wasn’t so hard after all.
Reaching down into himself, he brought forth his natural godly abilities… and used it to pull them both down back onto the mortal plane.
Maybe in a different life, he would’ve chosen to accept his role as a God of Order and Stability, and he and his companion would have continued their celestial battles against one another as they watched billions of worlds be threatened and saved and destroyed and put back together. A beautiful routine, certainly… but it wasn’t theirs anymore.
As he let his power go into the vast emptiness of the space surrounding them, the Agent could briefly see a third being out of the corner of his eye - framed in silver, sharp-angled and unbending, with a familiar voice quietly echoing out from it as it permanently faded into oblivion, his own personal mission of trying to use the power of two gods in his own agenda now officially a failure. At the very least, the Agent hoped that the Major could now find some sort of peace.
In the blink of an eye, the Agent - now back to being JUST an Agent - found himself back in the old tower’s foyer, a laser gun still resting on the small table near the doorway. He took the weapon, just in case, and began to climb up the stairs. The door to the balcony opened with ease, and the Scientist was there waiting for him, no chains or shackles in sight.
The Scientist almost immediately noticed the gun, but he didn’t react to it much beyond a short hum. “I actually remember the first time I ever saw you with that thing now,” he said, unafraid but still just a bit cautious. Not that the Agent could blame him, given how efficient he had been at ‘completing his mission’ their first time around. Perhaps he could properly apologize for that now.
With no chains to try breaking and no -inators to build in order to gain their freedom, the Agent casually tossed the gun away into the shadows of the room, making it clear that he hadn’t changed his mind about not slaying his other half. He didn’t want them to be mortals again just so he would have an easier time defeating him. He just wanted to live, and he didn’t want to do it alone.
So, he held out his hand. “...You’re sure?” the Scientist asked. “We still don’t really know what’s out there, or what us giving up our- …well, everything, is gonna do to the world. N-Not that I don’t still trust you, but…” He trailed off as they looked into each other’s eyes.
A sense of anticipation and anxiety could be felt in the cold air around them - even the Agent could admit that he was a bit scared of the unknown that awaited them just outside the tower’s front door. But as they looked at one another, they knew that whatever sort of world they faced or whatever sort of life they decided to live on this plane of being, they would be doing it together. They would never be alone again.
“...Okay.” Without any more hesitation, the Scientist took his hand, and they walked out of the room and down the stairs, with there being nothing to interrupt them or get in their way. This was truly it.
The Agent felt the Scientist’s grip tighten as they reached the final door. “I- I’m not THAT nervous, really!” he insisted (in spite of sounding completely unconvinced himself). “Just- Just give me a moment…”
The Agent gave him a soft smile, and after a moment, he lifted both their hands, resting them on the doorknob as he gave a quiet chitter.
Smiling back at him, the Scientist replied, “Yeah? …Yeah, I love you too.”
Together, they turned the knob and stepped out into a brand new world.
((PHEW! So... yeah! This was my little StP Perryshmirtz AU! Glad to finally have it out of my head, lol. But yeah, feel free to leave comments/reblog and leave your thoughts about it in the tags. Also, to anyone else who wants to play around in this AU, PLEASE be sure to tag me in your art/fics- I'd love to see other people's interpretations of the game's routes and how they'd work for Perry and Doof. Thanks again for reading! ^v^))
#perry the platypus#dr doofenshmirtz#perryshmirtz#perryshmirtz au#slay the princess#slay the princess au#fanfiction#my writing#oneshot#Phineas and ferb#pnf
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Ch 41: Cooking
Master List ~~ Previous Chapter ~~ WC: 2.6k
ONLY FOUR MORE CHAPTERS, MY FRIENDS! 😭
Song: “Hazy” by Rosi Golan ft. William Fitzsimmons
A number of weeks passed, full of regular work at the butcher shop, family dinners that Lyra and Breslin sometimes joined, visits to Omega at her jobs, and a variety of dates with Lyra. It was an odd period of time for Hunter – he felt as though everything were new, happening for the first time, complete with blushing flirtation, lingering hugs, and as many affectionate little touches as they could manage. It was like building a new layer on an established foundation with a renewed sense of confidence and hope. At times, there was a downright giddiness that he almost didn’t know what to do with. There were still flavors of that same old doubt too, that he was living a lie and somehow it would all collapse soon, and yet they were quickly and frequently assuaged by both optimism and eagerness.
Hunter found himself pacing nervously between the stove, where a sauce had been simmering for a while now, and the shelf in the hall, where a small, old music player was filling the room with peaceful instrumentals. A fire crackled happily in the hearth, warming his cabin and making it a cozy respite from the chilly months that had replaced the balmy summer, and he heard Omega and Breslin laughing in the clearing outside. His heart leapt in his chest and he brushed off his apron, then re-rolled his sleeves to make them look a little neater.
When the girls burst through the front door, he realized that he’d never actually had company at their house. He had always just defaulted to others’ homes or any of the beautiful places around the island, so there was something special about being able to host some of the people he’d come to care about most. They emerged into the main room, chatting happily, followed closely by a much quieter Lyra. Her hair was styled a bit more than usual, the top half in a loose braid with some wispy long bangs framing her face. She was bundled up in one of her large, thick coats and held a small package in her hands.
Breslin and Omega ditched their jackets in the entryway and continued in, sending casual greetings Hunter’s way before continuing to Omega’s room, lost in conversation. There was a bit of an age gap between the two of them, but they each had their share of adventurous stories and a general zest for life that created a natural delight with one another. Hunter met Lyra in the entryway as she was unbuttoning her coat, and he courteously helped her pull it from her arms before hanging it up and watching her set her package down on the shelf. She glanced down at her dress, nervously tugging it into place, then looked up at him timidly.
“It’s a little different than usual, but Breslin insisted,” she admitted, wrinkling her nose for a second. She was wearing a faded blue dress with a dainty floral pattern and pearlescent buttons up the middle. It was rather fitted around her waist – a contrast to her usual loose, flowy style – and had a thin lace trim along the neckline and sleeves. It was fancy and nostalgic at the same, and Hunter flushed with affection as he placed a tentative hand lightly on her waist, leaning in to brush his lips against her cheek.
“It’s beautiful,” he whispered, voice slightly weak.
He himself had opted for jeans, a cream-colored henley, a denim button-up, and a textured cardigan that was a pale green-gray, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to confess that Omega had told him to wear it as well, exhorting that “it brought out his eyes”. But as Lyra took an extra moment to hold his gaze, a feather-light hand brushing some tousled waves of brown hair away from his face, he got the sense that she noticed, and it was disproportionately satisfying.
“You’re so handsome,” she said quietly. He muttered some generic deflection, rubbing the back of his neck, then gestured for her to follow him into the main room, which mirrored the one in her house in the sense that it consisted of a kitchen, dining table, and living room all in one comfortable space. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes briefly to soak in the delicious smells of wood fire, sauce, and the unique scent of him and his home. “Need help with anything?” she offered as she stood beside him at the stove.
“If you don’t mind giving this a stir, I’ll finish chopping the vegetables for the salad,” he said, passing the wooden spoon into her hand. She nodded and began, leaning over to sniff the pot and letting out a little sigh of contentment. “You’re quite the cook yourself.”
“If you like steak,” he chuckled.
“I do,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows at him in such an uncharacteristic display that he chortled.
“Well good.”
He took up his position at the cutting board beside her, smoothly slicing through an enticing variety of local produce as their conversation wove effortlessly through topics both meaningful and mundane. The sound of laughter floated down the hallway from Omega’s room, bringing a private smile to each of their faces. Lyra dipped the spoon into the sauce and brought it to her mouth, holding a hand beneath it to prevent spilling any, and tasted a bit from the end.
“Whew,” she marveled, offering it to him. “You’re gonna have to share this recipe.” His eyes flickered from the spoon to hers as he bent to take a taste, enjoying the subtle intimacy of the act.
“I’m afraid that’s classified,” he grinned. “Only place to enjoy it is here. Can’t get it anywhere else…”
“Ohh,” she said as the realization dawned. “What a terrible conundrum.” A smile. A nudge of the elbow. They worked in silence for a few more minutes until the girls emerged from the hallway, drawn out by the delectable scents wafting through their door.
“Smells like it’s about ready?” Omega guessed, more wishful thinking than any actual olfactory expertise.
“Just about,” Hunter nodded, slipping out the back door to the porch, where some plump steaks sizzled happily as he opened the cover, prodding at them with some tongs. Lyra followed, emerging from the house with inquisitive steps.
“Now that is sexy,” she snickered, and Hunter snapped the tongs a few times before giving the steaks one final turn. He felt her arms snake around his waist from behind, and she leaned against him, peeking over his shoulder. “The steaks are nice too,” she whispered in his ear, and he couldn’t help a snort at the sheer ridiculousness of it all.
“Ohhhh, look at you two,” came Breslin’s taunting voice from the doorway, and they turned to see both girls leaning against the wooden frame on either side, grinning at the two of them with infuriatingly knowing looks.
“Can we at least get some dinner, and then you two can get a room?” Omega jabbed.
“Actually, give us time to hit the road,” Breslin added. “I don’t want to be hearing stuff…”
“Okay, nothing to hear…” Hunter interrupted, indignant at his own unconcealable embarrassment. “Keep talking and I’ll throw you out right now.” He grinned, brandishing the tongs at each of them in turn. “You’ll have to go begging at Tech’s.”
“Orrrr just go buy dinner in town because we’re adults with jobs,” Omega teased. “We could even bring you guys a dessert. Although it seems like you already have plans for that.” They both giggled.
“I’m being bullied by two young girls,” Hunter muttered to Lyra, who guffawed so loudly that it startled all four of them and she clapped a hand to her mouth.
“I think you’ll need to get used to it,” she offered unhelpfully. “Occupational hazard.” A playful shrug. He gazed at her fondly before feigning a hard look at the girls.
“Go set the table, will you?”
“Don’t burn the steaks,” Omega threw over her shoulder as they retreated to the kitchen.
“Is this real life?” Lyra asked, shaking her head in joyful disbelief. “This feels like a dream sometimes.”
Hunter smiled, piling the steaks onto the plate in his hand. It did feel that way.
* * *
Dinner was leisurely and indulgent, with multiple courses that left them all absolutely stuffed. Hours had passed in authentic conversation, wit and humor, and memories and adventures. The fire was burning low, darkness having settled heavily over the island outside, and the dim light was threatening to put everyone to sleep in the complete and total satisfaction of a night well spent. Breslin was the first to drag herself to her feet, glancing down at Hunter and Lyra, who were reclining on the couch.
The typically stoic clone was in a surprisingly vulnerable position, laying across it sideways with his feet dangling over the armrest and his head in Lyra’s lap. She had it cradled in her hands, her hair falling over one shoulder as she gazed down at him with unmeasurable affection, slowly caressing his forehead and cheek. Breslin smiled at the softness on Lyra’s face when she finally looked up.
“I’ll never make it to work tomorrow if I don’t get to bed,” she said regretfully, patting her mom’s shoulder as she walked around behind them.
“Need company getting home?” Omega offered. “I figure you’ve been here long enough to know your way around, but it’s dark.”
“I appreciate it,” the older girl smiled. “But mom showed me her nifty little fathier trick, and I really like getting to ride them around. And their night vision is way better than mine. Plus, then you’d have to walk yourself home alone!”
“Fair enough,” Omega laughed. “Well thanks for coming.”
“Thank you for having me! Hunter…” she began, an affectionate solemnity painting her features now. You’re a great guy. Your family is awesome. And I love that we’ve had the chance to get to know you. Thanks for everything.”
He nodded and smiled broadly, warmed by her sincerity as he pulled himself up into his usual seated position. “Right back atcha, kid.”
“See you tomorrow, sweetie,” Lyra murmured, basking in the glow of the fire and the joy of the moment.
“Love ya, mom.”
Breslin disappeared out the door, her whistle for the animals reaching their ears soon after. Hunter watched her small beam of light dancing into the distance as the sound of hooves faded into silence. Omega stood slowly and stretched.
“Same for me,” she announced, offering a bleary wave as she ambled off to her room.
“Bed sounds heavenly,” Lyra agreed, turning slightly to nestle into Hunter’s side. “You always make me want to quit my job and just eat and sleep all day.”
“Don’t put that on me,” he smiled, resting his cheek on her hair. “You’d want that anyway.”
“You’re right!” she laughed. “Oh! I almost forgot… I brought you a little somethin.” She tore herself away from the unparalleled comfort of the sofa and fetched her package from the entryway. Hunter sat himself up a bit more, setting it on his knees after she handed it to him sheepishly. As he began to unwrap it, she started to fidget. “Okay… So I know this is something that a kid would make… but stuff like this makes me happy when I see it hanging on the wall… Like, it’s a fun little reminder… of good times…”
Finally free of the paper, Hunter lifted out a gently curving piece of driftwood with a handful of strings dangling from it, each one boasting a motley array of shells, sea glass, and other bits of beach. He recognized a few of them from their walks, having poked fun at her scavenging more than once, and a rush of memories accompanied each one. Tranquility and delight, curiosity and wonder… The simple collection evoked all kinds of warmth and nostalgia as he studied it in the firelight.
“I know it’s silly…” Lyra began, but he set it down on his knees and fixed her with a look that stopped her mid-sentence.
“Now listen,” he said, eyes playful beneath hawkish brows. “None of that. It’s amazing and it makes me happy.” She smiled, bashful and relieved all at once. “Actually…” he continued, thoughtful all of a sudden. “I’ve got something for you too.” Now it was he who tediously extracted himself from the plush cushions and carefully set her beach creation onto a side table, then disappeared to his room for a minute before returning with a closed hand. He sat beside her, on the edge of the couch this time, holding his loosely-clenched fist between the two of them, and she mirrored his position.
“Please don’t throw a handful of sand in my face or anything like that,” she chuckled nervously, and the unexpectedly preposterous idea made him laugh.
“That’s probably more Crosshair’s style,” he grinned. “Or used to be… But no, I’m just… I don’t know how to introduce it.”
“Does it have a name?” Lyra whispered, met with a snort from him.
“I’ll leave that up to you…” He hesitated, then took a deep breath and lifted his eyes from his hand to her face. “I’ve had this for a while… Well, pieces of it. And I never really knew what to do with it… It just kinda took shape….” His face softened, eyes dropping again as his fist slowly opened, revealing an intricately-woven silver chain that led to a smooth, round piece of sea glass. He held it up to the light, where its frosted lavender hue was barely discernible in the glow from the hearth, but it was visible enough to evoke a gasp of awe from Lyra.
“Wow,” she breathed, touching it with a single admiring finger. “That’s stunning.”
“I was waiting for a special occasion to give it to you,” he continued haltingly, second-guessing every word but gaining momentum as the sentiment fully took shape. “But… I realized… It’s this stuff that I love most. The food, the walks, the simple enjoyment of home and nature and all of it.”
His fingers found the clasp, and with tentative hands he placed it around her neck, fastening it beneath her hair and laying the sea glass gently just below her collarbone where it nestled gracefully on its chain. A smile ghosted his lips as he traced one side of it before pulling back to admire it.
“I wasn’t created to enjoy life,” he said quietly, looking at his now-empty hands as he held them palms-up in his lap. “Didn’t think I could, really… We’d always get glimpses of it here and there… But it just wasn’t for us…” Her soft hands, with some bony knuckles and well-worn paths of veins across the back, slipped into his. “Anyway…” he sniffed, “Enjoying the ‘little things’ with you has been…” He drifted off, unable to think of the best word that most encompassed the depth of his sentiment.
“I’ve loved it,” she whispered, leaning against him to rest her head on his shoulder, with him in spirit where words failed.
“Me too,” he smiled.
.
Previous Chapter ~ Master List ~ Next Chapter
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HEY, YOU
Yes, you!
Do YOU like the idea of a gay polyamorous romance taking place in a fantastical medieval setting?
then you might like my upcoming original written series, Royal Courting!
Featuring the following cast of characters:
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Lucian Hensley
A fair skinned, pudgy baker standing at about 5’4 with hazel-green eyes and a thatch of dirty blond hair that falls in thick curls around his freckled face. He’s usually wearing his beloved handmade crocheted sweater, the same color as his eyes, despite the wear and tear it’s received over the years. Nothing he wears is particularly fancy, but it’s all very well loved and cared for.
Though he’s not ashamed of the weight he’s gained from the years of sampling his own baked goods, he’s easily flustered by any sort of comments on his physical appearance, regardless of how mild, possibly related to his gender identity as a transgender man. He’s humble and incredibly kind, sometimes to a fault.
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King Ambrose Verlice of Divestia
A dark skinned, slim man standing at about 5’7 with sharp brown eyes and a slightly effeminate nature about him. His dark hair is done together in thick locs so impossibly long they nearly brush the floor, decorated with gold cuffs and never less than perfectly maintained. He’s always wrapped in white and gold with jewelry to match. Any one of his outfits is worth more than every house Lucian has ever lived in combined.
He commands respect from all who lay eyes upon him, but knows how to use a gentle hand. It’s easy to get caught up in his flowery language, but beneath the purple prose and irresistible urge to flirt is a genuine heart of gold.
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Tobias Silva
A toned man of Colombian descent with tan skin standing at about 5’9, with brown eyes and curly brown hair that’s cut short and shaved underneath, but left longer on top, still allowing a few curly strands to fall over his face. He’s got a foxy way about him and always has a smug, closed-lipped grin on his face that makes his eyes crinkle at the corners and dimples form in his warm cheeks.
He tends to keep his armor rather minimal to maximize his speed, but he’s got daggers hidden just about everywhere one can hide daggers on their person. If he’s being quiet, he’s probably busy scheming with his colleague and friendly rival, Rex.
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Rex Theroux
Rex is a tall, pale, transgender man standing at about 6’1 with downturned blue eyes and shoulder length, golden-blond hair that curls a bit at the ends and is usually drawn into a loose, low ponytail that often leaves strands hanging around the sides of his head. Contrary to Tobias, he keeps his muscular form clad in armor at all times.
He’s the stoic tank of the duo, and proud of it. He’s completely mute and has never spoken a word to Tobias nor his king, but communicates with both Divestian sign language and his own unique methods. The only time anyone even sees his mouth is when he eats, as it’s usually covered with a neck gaiter. The scars that litter his limbs and body show his impossible resilience, but no one has ever heard the stories behind them.
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When Tobias and Rex stop in at Lucian’s humble bakery, they’re completely amazed both by what they taste, and the man they see behind the counter. When a batch of these baked goods reaches king Ambrose, he demands to see the wonderful artisan who created them, and Lucian’s simple life is thrown into a whirlwind when he receives an official summon from his majesty himself.
Are you interested? Stick around! Chapter one of Royal Courting: Summoned By The King is in progress now! You can find the Royal Courting masterlist (among others) in my pinned post!
If you like this idea, please reblog! It’s free, takes two seconds, and helps spread my ideas to more people!
You can find me on AO3 as Sister_Lucifer; everything here is cross posted there!
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dividers by @cafekitsune
#royal courting#ocs#oc#original characters#original character#fantasy character#fantasy#mlm#mlm fiction#mlm fantasy#medieval#fantasy fiction#original fiction#trans man#trans masc#t4t#poly ship
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I stumbled onto your blog and THANK the dash because oh my god!!!! Your art is so yummy it tastes like the mango yogurt i loved as a child
please yap to me about your centaur/fantasy creature au it’s a need (and if you’re cool with it i can yap about mine in return??)
Tysm!! No bc mango yogurt is so good I'm so glad you like it, Idk how long this is gonna be so it'll be under the cut!! Just general details about each design/character (Paul left out bc I don't have anything figured out for him yet)
Ponyboy:
.Faun (only non-horse of his family)
.Highened hearing (big deer ears)
.Kicks his hooves on the ground when he's frustrated
.Struggles to find good pants (deer legs + tail get in the way)
.Antlers grow very slowly, one is shorter than the other from an incident when he was younger (more in Curly's info)
.EXTREMELY tall
Darry:
.Centaur
.His horse half is based on a lusitano
.Generally just normal Darry but horse
.He used to give Ponyboy rides on his back when he was younger
.His horse half is based on an appaloosa mustang
Soda:
.Pegasus
.Wings are very loosely based on dove wings (looking for a better fit for them tbh)
.He has trouble flying a lot of the time due to his wingspan being a bit small
.He also used to let baby Pony ride on his back but had to quit because Pony kept pulling on his feathers
.Cyclops was so fitting for him
Steve:
.Cyclops
.Scarily good as taking apart and repairing things (especially mechanical things)
.He does get a little self conscious about his appearance sometimes, puts more effort into how he looks to try and combat that
.Siren Dallas was my moment of genius (fun fact that idea kickstarted the au)
Dallas:
.Siren
.His skin is like snake skin
.Scales on his face, hands, forearms, calves, and neck
.Uses his siren song to get away with stuff (he doesn't practice it enough so it doesn't work all the time)
.Primarily eats fish, he doesn't eat any kind of vegetables or fruit often (they make him sick)
.Bird legs (sirens were originally birds)
.Such a mix of different animals
Two-Bit:
.Chimera
.He bleats like a goat when he laughs really hard
.Can move quietly (he doesn't do it much, but the pads on his feet let him be a little quieter)
.Gets his shirt stuck on his horns and wings a lot
.Very large wingspan
.Hair grows extremely fast, he chops it off himself most of the time (its very uneven), it will form a mane if left uncut
.Snake tail is controlled by him, it has venom but it isnt very strong (mostly just causes nausea)
.Can sometimes control transformations, its mostly emotion based though
Johnny:
.Werewolf/Lycan
.The full moon doesn't force a change but it amplifies his emotions and makes it more likely to happen (Bobs death was on a full moon in this au😼)
.Retains some wolf traits (ears, tail, claws and some fur patches) in 'human' form
.Still carries a blade but it isnt what killed Bob in this
Tim:
.Manticore
.Carries himself on his hind legs despite naturally being on all fours (I forgot the word for it)
.Insanely large wingspan
.Lowkey dont have much for him for hcs I fear
Curly:
.Criosphinx
.Tried copying Tim by walking on two legs but he doesn't have that kind of balance + he's still young
.One of his horns is shorter than the other because he and Ponyboy used to headbut each other and get their horns/antlers stuck together, they have matching chips in them still
.Mane is very unkempt and the curls get matted easily
Angela:
.Empousa
.I don't have much for her hcs either, she's relatively the same so far
Bob:
.Mermaid (merman?)
.Moves like a snake on land (drags his tail)
.Fully covered in scales, but his upper body is tan until submerged in water (turns blue to camouflage in water)
.Silently prides himself on appearance
Randy:
.Unicorn
.Lowk had no clue for him, unicorn just felt right
.Used to dye his horse-half a neuterla color (like brown) but stopped since it was difficult to keep up with
.Shorter than pegusi and centaurs
Cherry:
.Pheonix
.Hair is made up of normal hair and fire, the fire doesnt spread to anything though
.Clothes are specially made fire-proof just in case though
.Feathered ears + patches of feathers on her upper back above her wings and on her elbows
.Doesn't bleed, injuries instead release ash until they heal (has to wrap small cuts up to prevent getting ashes everywhere)
Marcia:
.Dryad
.Friendship with Cherry was unlikely (plant + fire)
.Grows leaves in her hair, she removes them frequently
.Blush is green, same with her blood (chlorophyl)
.Lowk the same too, I dont have much on her either
Sorry this took so long, I was stuck on what to talk about on this! @echxingmelody (tagging since this took me awhile, idk how asks work😭)
#the outsiders#the outsiders fanart#dallas the outsiders#the outsiders steve#the outsiders sodapop#the outsiders movie#the outsiders johnny#the outsiders 1983#the outsiders book#the outsiders dally#the outsiders darry#the outsiders fandom#the outsiders hcs#the outsiders headcanons#the outsiders ponyboy#steve randle#ponyboy curtis#johnny cade#darry curtis#darrel curtis#sodapop curtis#sodapop#ponyboy#tim shepard#curly shepard#angela shepard#bob sheldon#randy the outsiders#cherry valance#the outsiders marcia
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