#my heart actually sanked when i found out about this short story

[kiki-smith21]

The Unspoken Bond

Wednesday Addams x Autistic Fem Reader

A/N: This is my first fanfic, and any feedback would be appreciated. Let me know if you want a part 3. (I am actually autistic, so this is mostly based off the symptoms I show, but if you have any typical symptoms of autism you wish for me to add to the story later let me know and I'll try my best. Please be respectful to all, and remember to drink water and look after yourself, cuties❤️)

Part 1 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Summary: After the kiss is shared in the library, you decide to confront Wednesday about the meaning behind it.

The next day, as you walked through the hallowed halls of Nevermore Academy, an unexpected announcement echoed over the intercom: "Due to recent changes in class schedules, students are advised to check their new rosters for updated class assignments."

You glanced at the new schedule posted on the bulletin board. Your heart sank when you saw that your art class had been replaced with a new class—one that happened to be Wednesday Addams' specialty: advanced cryptozoology. The realization hit you like a cold wave; you would be sitting next to Wednesday once again.

With a mix of anxiety and anticipation, you walked into the cryptozoology classroom. The room was filled with unusual artifacts and curious specimens, the perfect setting for Wednesday’s macabre interests. Your eyes quickly found Wednesday seated at her usual spot, her dark eyes fixed on a dusty tome.

As you took your seat beside her, the silence was palpable. Your heartbeat seemed louder than ever in the quiet room. Wednesday looked up, her expression unreadable, and her gaze settled on you.

"Unexpected change of schedule?" she asked, her tone calm yet hinting at a trace of amusement.

"Yes," you replied, trying to sound nonchalant despite the flutter of nerves in your chest. "I guess we're classmates now."

Wednesday raised an eyebrow but said nothing more, returning her focus to the book in front of her. The minutes ticked by in silence, with the occasional glance between you both.

Eventually, the teacher began the lesson, but your mind was elsewhere. You couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss you shared, and the weight of that moment seemed to hang between you and Wednesday.

When the class finally broke for a short recess, you found yourself unable to hold back any longer. You turned to Wednesday, your voice steady but soft. "Can we talk for a moment? About… what happened yesterday?"

Wednesday looked at you, her expression as unreadable as ever, but there was a flicker of something—curiosity, perhaps. "I suppose."

The two of you stepped out into the quieter corridor, the hum of the old building creating a soothing backdrop. You fidgeted with the strap of your bag, trying to find the right words.

"I’ve been thinking a lot about our kiss," you began, your voice barely above a whisper. "It felt significant, but I’m not sure what it meant. For me, it was... comforting. It felt like a connection that I hadn’t expected."

Wednesday’s gaze softened, her usual impassive demeanor giving way to something more genuine. "I didn’t expect it either," she admitted. "It was… unexpected, but not unwelcome. It was a rare moment of vulnerability that I don’t often share with others."

You nodded, appreciating her honesty. "What do you think it means for us now? I mean, going forward?"

Wednesday paused, her dark eyes searching yours as if weighing the gravity of the moment. "I believe it signifies a deeper understanding between us. An acknowledgment of our unique connection. It may not fit into conventional norms, but it’s real. And I value that."

A small smile touched your lips, and you felt a wave of relief. "I’m glad to hear that. I’ve always felt like an outsider, but with you, it’s different. I feel like we can be ourselves without pretense."

Wednesday's eyes flickered with a rare warmth. "We are both outsiders in our own ways. Perhaps that is what makes this connection meaningful. We understand each other in a way that others may not."

The bell rang, signaling the end of the break and the return to class. As you both walked back into the cryptozoology room, there was a newfound sense of ease between you. The shared moment had cleared the air, and the unspoken bond between you felt stronger than ever.

As you took your seats, Wednesday gave you a subtle nod—a gesture that spoke volumes. You smiled back, feeling more confident and connected than you had before.

The class resumed, but the conversation you shared lingered, a silent promise of something deeper and more enduring between the two of you. It was a new beginning, one where the past and present intertwined, creating a bond that defied the ordinary.

[tripleglitchwriting]

Ignition (Short 1)

CW: mostly fluff, mentions of war (both human and cybertronian)

Because I accidentally set the poll to a week rather than a day, I’m going to bridge the gap with a short story.

This is set shortly after part 4 because I like writing dialogue.

After the initial heart attack that was the last 48 hours or so, you began to feel more comfortable with this giant alien. He was kind, which was something you figured out after he saved your life, and he assured you he wasn’t going to kill you.

Now you were cupped in his hands while he walked back to this pod of his.

“So, what’s this pod thing we’re going to? Is it like a space ship?”

“Escape pod.” Ratchet remembered the crash. Well, he remembered what he could of it. Suddenly an old worry popped into his head.

“Right, right, escape pod.”

“Your injury, it wasn’t from… the crash, was it?”

“Oh, no, I fell down a cliff. It sounds stupid when I say it out loud.” Ratchet stifled an ex-vent of relief. “I was on a hike but I got lost, and then I started to panic because I don’t know how to survive in the wild, and then I panicked too hard and tripped in the worst spot imaginable.”

“You went out into an unknown area with no experience on how to survive there or any contingency plan if things went wrong?” He said with a mix of worry and vague frustration.

“Well there was a path… but there was also cool flowers off the path, and then I saw a rare bird, and then the path was gone. I really don’t know why I thought it would be a good idea to come out here, I should have known better. I was doing fine at home I just… I don’t know.”

“Does your kind usually do things like this?”

“No, not really. Just me.”

“I see. Are you… no offense, but are you the dominant species on this planet?”

“What? I mean, I guess, we’re the only ones that can talk and all. That we know of. Actually, it would probably be a shock to the world if they found out about you. Knowing us we’d probably start attacking or something.”

“Attack? Why would you do that?”

“Well, I mean, I wouldn’t, but I’ve taken enough history classes to know as a whole we can be… violent. I hope no one else saw you crash, things could get nasty if they see you as a threat.”

“Thats… quite primitive.”

“Oh, gee thanks.”

“No offense.”

“Probably should have led with that.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.” Ratchet hummed to himself for a second, and then he began to think out loud. “If they do find me at least I’ll be able to get away…”

“What makes you think that?”

“Well- I- I wouldn’t think your technology is exactly…”

“Not up to par with your superior standards? Well don’t worry about that. We have weapons that can wipe out the world in a span of hours. Every country has their hand over the big red launch button, and if they see you as too much to handle, somebody is going to get blown up.”

“What? That’s- that’s crazy! You mean to say your leaders would sacrifice… how ever many there are of you in a given area just to take me out?”

“They probably wouldn’t do straight to the nuclear option for one of you, but if there were more and they were killing people, then probably yeah. If things work like they do in the movies that is.” Ratchet paused, about to make some snide remark about the primitive violence of the human race, but he stopped when he remembered the history of his own people.

“…I’ll keep myself hidden then.”

“Oh, um, good. I wasn’t really expecting you to accept that so fast.”

“If my own history were any different I might not have.” He sank deeper into thought. “Doe, is there a medical station anywhere near here I can drop you off at?”

“Wait, I thought we were going to your pod?”

“We are, I just… I got caught up in healing you and… look, I’ll be honest, I don’t want you to get hurt. How many of you are there on this planet?”

“I- I don’t know, 7, maybe 8 billion?”

“Billio- scrap.”

“What? What’s wrong?”

“It’s fine, it’s nothing. Let’s just… talk about something else.”

“Well, alright I guess.” After you said that, both you and Ratchet stayed silent for an agonizingly awkward minute. You felt the sway of him walking waft through your entire body, a feeling you haven’t even began to get used to. He seemed largely unaware of this, at least to your knowledge, and instead looked forward with a serious expression.

“How about we talk about… the weather. It certainly is sunny today! And there are… uh, a couple clouds… wait, no that’s just a weird tree.”

“You aren’t great at small talk.”

“How about you try then?”

“…no.”

“Oh I see how it is. Fine, you’ll just have to deal with my terrible communication skills.” You took a deep breath, preparing to go on a rant about whatever was on your mind.

“Oh please don’t.”

“Unless you’re going to say something I will.”

“Alright, alright. What do you want me to talk about?”

“That’s up to you, conversation expert.” You smiled smugly up at him. He huffed in return.

For the next five minutes he talked about his life up to this point. His friends, his enemies, glossing over assumedly painful details. In your mind a picture started to form about all of this. He wasn’t just an alien, he was a person. A person with real relationships, real love and loss, real war, real family. You felt silly having not seen it before.

A friend. You’d like to think that’s what you were now, though it was tough to tell based on the way he acted. You wondered who all of his other friends could be, where they were, and you even went as far as to silently wish them well.

Arriving back at the pod, hopping off the hand of a giant alien that saved you from dying the woods, you realized this may have been more than you bargained for.

[zapreportsblog]

↱ i just go empty headed around you ↰

➘ summary : Mirio can’t help it, when he’s around her it’s like nothing else matter, his surroundings become only filled with her, she gives him a reason to smile, he feels stronger around her, she’s his peace if not anything more

➘ listening to the song honest by the neighborhood; on repeat as I write this

➘ a/n : I keep seeing this same anon message, so do you guys hate that I write long fics? Like no offense that’s sorta my thing at the moment I don’t like or rather I don’t really enjoy writing short ones though I can. But after seeing it again and again and I’m not sure if it’s from the same anon or different ones but I’m petty so here’s ya damn warning anon ; this is a really really really long fic. If you don’t have patience I would advise skipping this story

The campus of U.A. High School was a bustling hub of activity, students of all ages hustling to their respective classes, engrossed in animated conversations or immersed in their own thoughts. Among the flurry of activity was a tall, bright-eyed third-year student named Mirio Togata. With his characteristic perpetual smile, Mirio exuded an aura of boundless energy that was contagious to anyone in his vicinity.

On a crisp morning, as Mirio made his way to his next class, he unknowingly embarked on a chance encounter that would throw his usually composed demeanor into disarray.

Around a corner, Mirio collided gently with someone, almost dropping his stack of books. "Oh, sorry about that!" he exclaimed, his infectious grin lighting up his face.

As he looked down, his eyes met the gaze of a first-year student, (Y/N), whose eyes widened in surprise. The moment their eyes locked, Mirio felt an odd sensation wash over him. He could hear his own heartbeat, louder than ever, in his ears. It was like the world around him faded, and there was only him and (Y/N) standing in the hallway.

"N-No problem," (Y/N) stammered, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she recovered from the initial collision.

Mirio chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "I should've been more careful. Are you okay?"

(Y/N) nodded, her lips curling into a shy smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking."

His usual poise faltered, his words tumbling out in an uncharacteristic stutter. "I-I'm Mirio T-Togata, by the way. Th-third year."

He watched as (Y/N)'s eyes sparkled with amusement at his stutter. "Nice to meet you, Mirio. I'm (Y/N), a first-year student."

Mirio's mind raced, his usually quick-witted tongue seemingly tied in knots. He found himself averting his gaze, much like his friend Tamaki often did. His heart raced, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts as he tried to maintain his usually cheerful demeanor.

"That's a really pretty name," he blurted out, instantly cringing at his own lack of finesse.

(Y/N) giggled, the sound like music to his ears. "Thank you, Mirio."

He cleared his throat, willing himself to regain his usual confidence. "So, (Y/N), what class are you heading to?"

(Y/N) glanced down at her schedule before looking back at him. "I'm actually on my way to Hero Basics 101."

Mirio's smile brightened. "Oh, really? I'll be teaching there as a student instructor this afternoon. It's a fun class!"

(Y/N)'s eyes lit up with interest. "You're a student instructor? That's impressive!"

He scratched the back of his head, his blush deepening. "Well, I try my best."

As the conversation flowed, Mirio found himself enchanted by (Y/N)'s easygoing nature and radiant smile. Every word she spoke seemed to captivate him, and his once unbreakable self-assurance wavered in the face of her presence.

The bell signaling the start of classes rang in the distance, and Mirio's heart sank. He didn't want the conversation to end, but he knew he had to let (Y/N) go.

"Well, (Y/N), it was really nice meeting you," he said with a genuine smile, his nerves finally starting to settle.

(Y/N) returned the smile, her eyes sparkling. "Likewise, Mirio. Maybe I'll see you around."

As (Y/N) walked away, Mirio watched her with a fond gaze, a mixture of bewilderment and awe filling his heart. He couldn't help but feel that he had just experienced something truly special, something that would linger in his thoughts long after the encounter was over.

Days turned into weeks, and Mirio couldn't shake off the memory of his encounter with (Y/N). He found himself stealing glances at the crowded hallways, hoping to catch sight of her. Each time their paths crossed, his heart raced, his palms grew sweaty, and his usually impeccable charm seemed to desert him.

His friends, Nejire and Tamaki, couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in Mirio's behavior. Nejire raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. "Mirio, you seem distracted. Anything on your mind?"

Tamaki, who was usually the shy and reserved one of the trio, piped up. "Yeah, you're acting a bit... off."

Mirio laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Oh, come on, it's nothing. Just dealing with some hero stuff."

Nejire and Tamaki exchanged knowing glances, but didn't press the matter further. After all, they knew that Mirio would confide in them if he wanted to.

However, Mirio's growing infatuation wasn't something he could easily brush off. Each interaction with (Y/N) left him feeling both exhilarated and tongue-tied. He would often catch himself rehearsing conversations in his head, attempting to avoid the stutter that had become all too familiar around her.

One day, as he walked past the training grounds, he spotted (Y/N) practicing her Quirk. He couldn't help but marvel at her determination and grace. Gathering his courage, he approached her with his trademark grin.

"(Y/N)! You're really getting the hang of your Quirk," he exclaimed, his enthusiasm genuine.

(Y/N) turned to him, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, hey Mirio! Thanks! It's been a lot of hard work, but I'm getting there."

Mirio chuckled, a hint of his confidence returning. "Well, hard work pays off. And you've got a great mentor here." He pointed to himself with a wink.

(Y/N) giggled, a sound that echoed in Mirio's ears like a melody. "You're too kind, Mirio."

As they talked, Mirio found himself drawn into (Y/N)'s world. He learned about her ambitions, her favorite classes, and her dreams of becoming a hero. Her passion was contagious, and he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of admiration for her.

Over time, their interactions became more frequent, and Mirio's stutter slowly faded away. He still felt his heart race whenever he was around (Y/N), but he was learning to embrace the feeling rather than shy away from it. The moments they shared became the highlights of his days, and his smile, though always present, seemed to shine a little brighter when she was around.

Mirio was on a journey of self-discovery, discovering that even the most confident people could be struck by love's arrow. And with (Y/N) by his side, he was learning that it was okay to be a little vulnerable, a little lost for words, as long as he was genuine and true to himself.

One sunny afternoon, Mirio mustered the courage to invite (Y/N) to the U.A. campus rooftop. It was a secluded spot with a breathtaking view of the city, and he thought it would be the perfect setting for a heart-to-heart conversation.

"(Y/N), there's something I've been wanting to tell you," Mirio began, his voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in his chest.

(Y/N) looked at him with a curious smile. "What is it, Mirio?"

He took a deep breath, his usual charisma momentarily faltering. "Ever since we first bumped into each other, I've felt something different. You make me feel... well, a bit empty-headed sometimes. And I'm usually the one making people feel that way."

A soft blush crept up (Y/N)'s cheeks, but she maintained eye contact, her gaze unwavering. "You mean you've been nervous around me?"

Mirio laughed, his embarrassment easing away. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. But it's not a bad thing. You see, when I'm around you, I feel like I can just be myself, even if I'm a bit awkward sometimes."

(Y/N)'s smile brightened, her eyes shining with warmth. "Mirio, you've always been yourself around me. And I appreciate that."

Encouraged by her response, Mirio continued, "There's something else I want to say. I've really enjoyed getting to know you, spending time with you, and... well, I can't deny that I've developed feelings for you."

The rooftop seemed to hold its breath as Mirio's confession hung in the air. He watched (Y/N) intently, his heart pounding in anticipation of her response.

A genuine smile tugged at the corners of (Y/N)'s lips, and she took a step closer to him. "Mirio, I've felt the same way. Your energy, your kindness, and the way you're unapologetically yourself... It's made me feel drawn to you."

Mirio's smile widened, his confidence returning in full force. "You know, even heroes get nervous sometimes. But if we're both feeling this way, then maybe it's a good kind of nervous."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the rooftop, (Y/N) and Mirio found themselves in a shared moment of understanding. Their laughter mingled with the breeze as they opened up to each other, forging a connection that felt deeper than mere infatuation.

And as he held (Y/N)'s hand, watching the city lights flicker to life, he knew that he had found something truly special—a connection that made even the most confident of heroes embrace the butterflies that love brought.

As the weeks went by, Mirio and (Y/N) continued to spend more time together, their bond growing stronger with each passing day. They faced challenges together, supported each other's dreams, and celebrated each other's successes. Mirio's friends, Nejire and Tamaki, couldn't be happier for him as they watched him bloom in this newfound romance.

Mirio's confidence seemed to have reached new heights, but he still retained his endearing quirks. He'd often surprise (Y/N) with small gestures, like leaving a bouquet of flowers outside her dorm room or sharing a homemade bento during lunch breaks. And while he still occasionally stumbled over his words, (Y/N)'s presence had a calming effect on him that made those moments endearing rather than embarrassing.

One sunny afternoon, Mirio and (Y/N) found themselves strolling through a nearby park. They walked hand in hand, their fingers entwined as they enjoyed each other's company in comfortable silence. The rustling leaves and distant laughter created a soothing backdrop to their thoughts.

"(Y/N)," Mirio began, his voice a gentle murmur, "there's something I've been thinking about."

(Y/N) turned her gaze towards him, her eyes curious and attentive. "What is it, Mirio?"

He stopped walking and faced her, his expression earnest. "I know we've been through a lot, and we've both got big dreams ahead of us. But I can't help picturing a future where we face those challenges together."

(Y/N)'s heart swelled, her smile growing as she looked into Mirio's eyes. "Mirio, I've thought about that too. You bring so much positivity into my life, and I can't imagine taking on the world without you by my side."

Mirio's grin was as bright as the sun, his excitement contagious. "That's great to hear! Because, well, (Y/N), I know this might be a bit sudden, but I've been wondering... Would you consider being my partner?"

(Y/N)'s eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt a rush of warmth and affection for Mirio, and the answer was clear in her mind. "Mirio, I'd love to be your partner."

As their hands tightened around each other, Mirio's joy was palpable. They stood there, two individuals in a park, sharing a moment that felt like the beginning of a beautiful journey.

From that day forward, Mirio and (Y/N) embraced their partnership with unwavering determination. They continued to grow together, overcoming obstacles and creating cherished memories along the way. Mirio's charisma and (Y/N)'s radiant smile formed a formidable team, a testament to the strength of their connection.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the grounds of U.A. High School. As (Y/N) chatted with her classmates in Class 1-B, a sense of excitement filled the air. There was an upcoming joint training exercise with Class 1-A, and everyone was buzzing with anticipation.

In a quieter corner of the classroom, (Y/N)'s friends Kendo, Tetsutetsu, and Monoma were engaged in a hushed conversation. They shared curious glances, their voices lowered as they exchanged thoughts.

"(Y/N) seems really happy lately, doesn't she?" Kendo remarked, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Tetsutetsu nodded, a knowing grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, I've noticed that too. She's been all smiles."

Monoma leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I have a feeling there's something she's not telling us."

The others exchanged intrigued looks, their curiosity piqued. Just as they were about to delve deeper into their theories, the classroom door swung open, and (Y/N) entered with a bright smile.

"Hey, guys!" she greeted cheerfully, taking her seat.

Kendo raised an eyebrow playfully. "You seem to be in an especially good mood today, (Y/N). Anything you'd like to share?"

(Y/N) chuckled, a hint of secrecy in her eyes. "Oh, you know, just enjoying life."

Tetsutetsu leaned forward, his grin widening. "Come on, spill the beans! What's making you so happy?"

(Y/N) hesitated for a moment, her cheeks slightly pink. "Well, there is something I wanted to tell you all..."

Monoma leaned in, his interest evident. "Ooh, juicy secrets! We're all ears."

(Y/N) took a deep breath, her gaze steady as she met her friends' curious looks. "I've been seeing someone."

The room fell silent for a brief moment, the surprise evident on their faces. Then, Tetsutetsu burst out laughing, nearly falling out of his chair. "No way! (Y/N), you sly dog!"

Kendo grinned, her eyes wide with amusement. "And you've been keeping it a secret from us?"

Monoma smirked, a playful glint in his eyes. "Oh, I'm sure whoever this person is must be quite special."

(Y/N) chuckled, her cheeks growing warmer. "Actually, he is."

As her friends bombarded her with questions and playful teasing, (Y/N) found herself explaining her relationship with Mirio Togata, a third-year student. Their surprise was palpable, but it quickly turned into genuine happiness for her.

"Wait, you're dating a third-year?" Tetsutetsu exclaimed, his grin never faltering. "That's impressive, (Y/N)!"

Kendo nodded in agreement. "He must be someone pretty amazing if he caught your attention."

Monoma leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "Well, I have to say, I did not see that coming. But I'm genuinely happy for you, (Y/N)."

As the conversation continued, (Y/N) felt a sense of warmth and camaraderie among her friends. Their initial shock had quickly given way to support, and she appreciated the genuine happiness they felt for her.

As the joint training exercise approached, (Y/N) knew that Mirio's presence would undoubtedly pique the curiosity of Class 1-B even further. But with the unwavering support of her friends by her side, she was ready to face whatever surprises the future held, both in and out of the classroom.

The day of the joint training exercise arrived, and the atmosphere at U.A. was electric with excitement. Class 1-A and Class 1-B gathered on the training grounds, ready to face off in a friendly competition that would put their skills to the test. As (Y/N) joined her Class 1-B teammates, she couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

Mirio had been a topic of curiosity and conversation among her friends in Class 1-B ever since they found out about their relationship. (Y/N) knew that today, they would finally get to see the charismatic third-year hero in action, and she couldn't wait to see their reactions.

As the training exercise began, the participants showcased their Quirks and strategies, each team determined to outwit and outperform the other. (Y/N) and her friends fought with passion, their teamwork and coordination evident as they worked together to achieve their goals.

In the midst of the action, (Y/N)'s eyes briefly met Mirio's from across the field. He flashed her a confident smile, a silent reassurance that boosted her spirits. She knew that he was cheering her on, even from a distance.

During a break between rounds, (Y/N) found herself catching up with her friends. Kendo, Tetsutetsu, and Monoma were huddled together, discussing their observations from the ongoing matches.

"Have you seen that third-year student from Class 1-A?" Monoma exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement. "He's like a whirlwind out there!"

Kendo nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he's incredibly fast and skilled. I heard he's one of the top students in their class."

Tetsutetsu grinned, nudging (Y/N) playfully. "Hey, (Y/N), you must know him pretty well, right?"

(Y/N) chuckled, her cheeks slightly pink. "Yeah, you could say that."

Monoma's eyes lit up with mischief. "Is he as amazing as they say?"

(Y/N) couldn't help but smile. "Even more so. He's not just an incredible hero, but an amazing person too."

As the training exercise continued, (Y/N) watched as Mirio's team showcased their teamwork and strategy. His charisma and leadership were evident as he coordinated his team's actions and utilized his Quirk with precision.

During the final round of the exercise, (Y/N) found herself face-to-face with Mirio's team. Their friendly competition brought a spark of excitement to the air, and as they clashed in a display of Quirk abilities, (Y/N) couldn't help but admire Mirio's skills from a different perspective.

After the exercise concluded, (Y/N) and her friends reconvened, their adrenaline still pumping from the intense matches. Kendo turned to (Y/N) with a grin. "So, how does it feel to be dating such an impressive hero?"

(Y/N) laughed, her heart warmed by their curiosity and camaraderie. "It feels pretty great, honestly."

Tetsutetsu clapped (Y/N) on the back with a grin. "Well, we're lucky to have a connection to someone like him."

Monoma smirked playfully. "Just make sure to give us some juicy hero insights now and then."

As they shared laughter and stories, (Y/N) felt a sense of belonging and friendship among her Class 1-B companions. Their support and genuine curiosity about her relationship with Mirio reminded her that even in the midst of hero training and competition, the bonds of friendship were strong.

And as the sun set over the training grounds, casting a warm glow over the scene, (Y/N) knew that her journey at U.A. was enriched not only by her own experiences but by the friendships and love that had blossomed along the way.

In the weeks following the joint training exercise, (Y/N)'s relationship with Mirio continued to thrive. Their shared moments of laughter, support, and adventure brought them closer together, and they reveled in each other's company whenever they could steal a few moments away from their busy hero training schedules.

One sunny afternoon, as (Y/N) walked through the U.A. campus, lost in her thoughts, she was interrupted by a voice she recognized all too well.

"Hey, (Y/N)! Wait up!"

Turning around, she saw Mirio jogging toward her, his bright smile lighting up his face.

"Hey, Mirio!" she greeted, a smile of her own forming.

He slowed to a stop in front of her, his gaze full of excitement. "I've got a surprise for you. How would you like to go on a mini-adventure today?"

(Y/N)'s curiosity was piqued. "A surprise adventure? I'm intrigued. What do you have in mind?"

Mirio grinned, his eyes sparkling. "It's a secret, but I promise it'll be a lot of fun. Are you up for it?"

(Y/N) couldn't resist Mirio's infectious enthusiasm. "Of course! Lead the way."

They set off on their adventure, their laughter and easy banter filling the air as they walked through the city streets. Mirio's playful nature and (Y/N)'s genuine curiosity created a perfect balance, and they found joy in the simplest of moments.

After a short while, they arrived at a local amusement park, its colorful attractions and lively atmosphere creating a sense of excitement. (Y/N)'s eyes widened in delight as she took in the sights.

"You brought me to an amusement park?" she exclaimed, her excitement palpable.

Mirio grinned, nodding. "I thought it would be a fun way to spend the day together. Plus, who can resist roller coasters and cotton candy?"

As they explored the park, (Y/N) and Mirio enjoyed the thrill of rides, the indulgence of sweet treats, and the shared laughter that echoed around them. The day was filled with moments of exhilaration and connection, and they found themselves letting go of their worries and responsibilities, if only for a little while.

Later in the day, as the sun began to set, (Y/N) and Mirio found themselves on a Ferris wheel. The view from the top was breathtaking, the city lights painting a picture of beauty and serenity.

(Y/N) leaned against the side of the carriage, her gaze fixed on the panorama before her. "This is amazing, Mirio."

Mirio glanced at her, a soft smile on his lips. "I'm glad you're enjoying it. (Y/N), there's something I wanted to say."

(Y/N) turned to him, her eyes curious. "What is it?"

He took a deep breath, his expression earnest. "Ever since we started spending time together, my life has been brighter and more meaningful. You've brought so much joy into my world, and I can't imagine a future without you in it."

(Y/N)'s heart swelled, her gaze locked onto his as she held her breath.

Mirio continued, his voice unwavering. "I know we're still young, and there's so much ahead of us. But I wanted you to know that I'm falling in love with you, (Y/N)."

Tears of happiness welled in (Y/N)'s eyes as she took in Mirio's heartfelt words. "Mirio, I'm falling in love with you too."

As the Ferris wheel slowly descended, they shared a tender kiss, their connection deepening in the midst of the magical moment. The amusement park around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them and the love that had blossomed between them.

Their adventure had brought them closer, reinforcing the strength of their feelings and the depth of their bond. And as they continued to enjoy the rides, the laughter, and the shared moments of wonder, (Y/N) and Mirio knew that their journey together was only beginning, with endless adventures and a love that would continue to grow and flourish.

[migosis]

One story, six prompts (erik killmonger x reader short)

i came out of retirement and challenged myself using prompts from @eye-raq's post here.

Synopsis: Erik is getting serious with a girl who is scared to love him b/c of past trauma. What happens when he breaks her trust?

masterlist

------

You were in the kitchen preparing a snack before you sat down to watch television. The distraction of being entertained by drama that wasn’t yours was exactly what you needed this evening. Even though this was your second time watching Insecure, you still couldn’t decide if you were Team Issa or Team Molly. Your phone chimed, notifying you there was motion detected on your front door step and moments later you heard a few knocks. You scoffed once you saw the footage of Erik waiting impatiently, checking to see if there was a key under a planter nearby. You barely cracked the door open before walking back in the house towards the kitchen. You heard him smack his lips, but you were genuinely unconcerned in the moment about his frustration. He was hot on your tail following you into the kitchen where you faced away from him and continued cutting your pineapple.

“I don’t like being hung up on, that’s some grimy shit.” He declared.

“Unfortunately for you Erik, I dont really give a fuck about what you like right now. I told you I wanted space so I’m not sure why you’re here.”

“Y/n, that was 4 days ago. I'm tired of this, all you do is shut down. It would be one thing if you actually moved on, but you're still mad about the same shit four days later. Like where does that leave me?"

"I don't know." You said nonchalantly. 

"See this what the fuck I be talking about. Is this a relationship or not?"

"Erik, I don't know what you want from me.”

"I want you to stop fucking running and talk to me so we can get past this. I want more than this, I’m tired of playing games."

"I don't want to get past it. I just want to be heard. And clearly you couldn't do that so I hung up."

"Babe, I heard you. I told you I was sorry and I even understood where you was coming from. I told you how I could’ve handled it better, but why am I the only one that has to be accountable? You went thru my phone and found something you shouldn't have been looking for in the first place. Why you can't admit that? Why you can't admit that you didn't trust me in the first place?"

"Erik, stop. I really don't wanna do this." Here you were trying to stave off the immense emotion you felt in that moment. You could place it, but your chest was tight, palms hot, and you used the back of your hand to stave off tears that threatened to fall. 

Erik's chest ached when he heard your voice crack. He hated to see you cry, and even more for him to be at the source of it. He was truly apprehensive in trying to soothe you. He knew you were asking for space, but who else was going to do the work of soothing you and earning your trust back. In a group chat, his friends commented on y/n’s “standoff-ish” demeanor and implying that she was insecure in her looks and suggested that he could do better. Y/n’s heart sank when Erik did not defend her, but only replied insisting they mind their business and making several jokes about their failed relationships. 

He stepped closer from behind. He placed his hand over yours gently, prying the knife out of her and sitting it down.

"Listen y/n, this love shit is scary as hell but I'm willing to accept it. Are you?"

Love? You questioned internally, had he meant to say that. It felt unreal, but not unreal enough for you to deny it. When you thought about how Erik treated you, you could tell he loved you. And even though you had labeled the relationship you and him had kindled everything else under the sun it was only in this moment you realized what you two had cultivated was love. 

Even despite this realization, some wounded part in you needed to push back. "Erik, I don't think you know what you're saying." You shook your head. You could feel his hands around your waist now, making you tense up. But when he rested his head on your shoulder, you began to breathe again. If you could so casually let him in, it also meant that letting him go wouldn’t be so easy. You needed to make a fight, construct walls, not allow yourself to get used to his love because the love you were used to was unstable, unreliable, and unsafe. In reality Erik had been the opposite of all of those things to you, so this was the moment you understood the problem all along was not that you needed to let him in like he’d been pleading for. You needed to let you out. This solitary confinement was making your love for Erik complicated. It was making his love for you hard, while it could be so easy. His love truly swept you up and held you tight. It was hard to breathe his air, but with all of these realizations flooding your mind, you know you could not keep suffocating yourself with burdens of the past or concerns of the future.

His lips found your neck and he promptly turned you around to face him. Gently, he brushed away the tears that spilled down your cheeks.

"You know how I feel about you, it's already apparent. Please don’t cry baby."

He kissed you again and your hand grabbed onto the front of his shirt holding him there. You pulled him deeper into your mouth. Tasting him again felt amazing and the way his hands grazed your hips made you want him in other ways. You hummed into his mouth out of pure impulse. When you pulled away, you turned leaning over the counter and pressed your backside into him. You grinded against him, tempting him to palm your ass. His hand continued up your back, grabbing you up against his chest by your ponytail. She quickly went to untie the elastic on her pajama shorts and pull them down but Erik's hand stopped her. 

"Wait."

"What?" She questioned as he stepped back from her painstakingly slow.

"Erik c’mooon." She whined at him. Once she actually looked back at him, she could see the pensive look he had on his face which made her fill with concern.

"Sex isn't going to make this go away.”

"I know that, Erik." She nearly rolled her eyes, but she was trying her best to be earnest.

"I want you to talk to someone baby.”

Off rip, you were immediately embarrassed at the thought of him telling you that you needed some type of help. 

“I’m not ready for that yet.”

“Well you’re not talking to me and I’m trying to stay together, so am I worthy enough to change your mind?”

“Can you be flexible? How about we talk to someone?”

“Couples therapy? I never thought I’d need that corny ass shit.” He muttered the last part quietly. “But I love you and I know you do too, so you’re really gonna have to convince me otherwise.”

It was hard to bring yourself to say those words so you simply stated. "I do." He smirked and lifted you on the counter. He looked you over and told you how much he missed you. He kissed you, his tongue delving into your mouth. You held his scruffy jaw, beckoning him closer to you. You barely flinched when his hand crept around your neck, and finally found home grasping your chest.

"I thought you said no sex." You said breathlessly.

"That was before, now I'm about to make love to you."

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

taglist: @hearteyes-for-killmonger @loveeeeandaffection @iamrheaspeaks @adasosweet @goddessofthundathighs @thiccdaddy-mbaku @nahimjustfeelingit-writes @eye-raq @madamslayyy @sweeter-thejuice @wawakanda-btch @theunsweetenedtruth @wokeblock @smutty-smut-smuty @wakandamaybe @stainontheground  @killmongerkink @soufcakmistress

[xxx-inhibitionless-xxx]

Chapter 61 : Day Three ( Matt’s Afternoon part 1 )

 After Alex dropped him off at the mall’s employee entrance for Matt to get to work, he couldn’t help but keep thinking about Alex’s story and picturing him having to deliver pizza naked. Matt was abruptly brought back to reality as he walked through the employee hallway behind all the stores. The events of the previous night came flooding back to him as the familiar surroundings brought on a wave of déjà vu.

 Matt actually stopped dead in his tracks to check himself out and made sure he had clothes on this time. Reassuring himself that he wasn’t running around the back hallways naked this time, he proceeded on his way. The sudden flashback, though, did force him to recall those events.

 Matt recalled that in the short span of just one day, he had gotten on the bus, been forced to strip and change clothes by Lisa, then stripped and tied up twice during school again by Lisa, then Lisa brought him to work wearing nothing but a shirt, forced him to strip in the changing room and change clothes again. Then, to top things off, he was stripped again by a gang of mallrats who tied him to the stairs.

 If it weren’t for Alex being caught up in the whole situation and getting stripped himself, Matt realized, he might very well have been trapped there and found by some random mall worker. Just the thought of being found like that, tied to the stairs in Alex’s underwear, was embarrassing enough. Matt didn’t know how he would have survived had that actually happened.

 Luckily, Matt heaved a sigh of relief as he walked, Alex did find him. Alex had gotten him untied but had to lift him out of the underwear, and since Alex had already been stripped himself, had no clothes to offer the now naked Matt. The two of them had no choice then but to get through the mall completely butt-ass naked and try and get to Alex’s car.

 In Matt’s opinion, the two of them had managed to pull off one of the most daring naked streaks of all time, even though the humiliation of the whole affair was almost unbearable. Matt was just glad it was over and he actually had clothes on this time. He certainly did not want to ever be at the mall without clothes on again.

 Oh Matthew, Diana, Matt’s boss, addressed him with sincere concern as Matt entered into the store through the rear employee entrance. I’m so sorry, she continued, I didn’t know what else to do.

 Hey Diana, Matt answered her, what are you talking about ? I don’t understand, what’s going on ?

 Look, she said to him, showing Matt her phone and the picture displayed on the screen.

 Oh shit, Matt exclaimed, that’s from last night. When those thugs jumped me and stole Alex’s clothes and, he hesitated a moment, deciding if he should mention being tied to the stairs, but sighed in defeat as Diana proceeded to scroll through more pictures. Including some of him tied up. And did that, he said, realizing there wasn’t any point in not bringing it up since Diana obviously now knew.

 Oh Matthew, Diana said to him again, I’m so sorry. I had no idea what had happened to you guys. You didn’t say anything about this last night when we found you. You said they took your clothes but you didn’t say anything about this, she emphasized the event on the stairs by displaying the picture again of Matt tied up in Alex’s underwear.

 Well yeah, Matt replied, can you blame me ? Didn’t really want to go into detail.

 I understand, Diana affirmed, but we have a new problem. Matt nearly collapsed as a feeling of dread overcame him as Diana went on to explain. These pictures are from those gang people. They must have figured out you work here and got my number from the flyers I had you hand out. Now, she continued, they are threatening to use these against the store if we don’t cooperate.

 Great, Matt’s heart sank as he asked, what is they want ? Money ? Free clothes from the store ?

 They want you Matthew, Diana said to him solemnly, and I don’t know why.

[riddikulus-writings]

Born To Run

FRISAL; 3ABY DAY 2; Early Morning Hours

Anaya Kesikki-Kenobi was an anomaly in and out of herself.

Born of two Jedi Masters almost at the peak of the Clone Wars, the woman whose apartment Cal was seated in should. not. exist. She does – obviously – but she seems to pretend that she doesn't. Anaya appears to keep to herself. Speak only when spoken to.

That much he’d been able to figure out in the few hours they’d been talking. Or, well, not talking, really. She’s quieted down in the twenty-some-odd years since he’d seen her last, and instead of actually speaking to him she simply regarded his existence in her dimly-lit kitchen with something akin to disinterest.

She’d led him and BD-1 to her apartment – constantly checking over her shoulder – let them inside and disappeared to a back bedroom for a while.

He knows what it’s like to live your life with your focus on who might be behind you

She’d come back out in loose pajamas with her light brown hair let down from the tight style she’d had it in. Then, she’d walked right past him, to the kitchen where they were now, and still hasn’t uttered more than a few single words to him this entire time, answering most of his questions with one or two short words if she spoke at all to answer them.

It made Cal feel like he’d done something wrong.

“How long have you lived here?” he tried.

Anaya hummed. Shrugged. Kept her back to him as she put together something to drink, “Few months.”

“The uniform?”

“Disguise.”

“Do you talk?”

“When there’s something to talk about,” she turned back to face him, holding two tall glasses of hot cocoa, “Otherwise VD isn’t much of a talker.” she slid onto the stool next to him, shoulder to shoulder, and pushed one of the glasses towards him, “You have to remember, Cal, the last time I saw you was when I was nine years old. You were a scary adult, I wasn’t about to try to be your best friend.”

“I was eighteen.”

“And I was a child whose entire childhood up to that point was forged on the fact I needed to keep to myself. I had – and still have – what is essentially crippling people anxiety. Seeing you now, after I’d thought you dead, feels weird. I barely talked to you then, and I’m not about to launch into my entire life’s story for you now because of it.”

“You could, though.” he would probably welcome it, hearing how she and her mother survived all these years. He couldn’t imagine what it could’ve been like, trying to raise a child that young while on the run, “Could you?”

“Not tonight, anymore. Bracca was fun, though. Chasing you through the scrapyards made my short time there less sucky. I never got to thank you for putting up with Koa and I.”

“Don’t mention it, Anaya. Do we know where Koa went?”

Anaya shrugged, “As far as I know, she’s got to still be there, poor thing.”

“It’s probably for the best,” Cal told her, “You knew she was…”

“Force Sensitive? Yes. I knew that the second I met her, and I was only a child. Mom told me, too, later on Jabiim when we found dad again. Mom was worrying about her, dad said it was probably for the best that she stayed hidden on Bracca. If she didn’t know she was Sensitive, no one else could’ve too.”

“Jabiim?” he'd heard of an incident there with Vader, two Jedi and an Inquisitor – he didn't even think that he knew those Jedi.

“That’s a long story,” Anaya smiled into her half empty cup, “Story for another time, Cal, don’t get me monologuing or we’ll never get some sleep.”

Cal was more of a nightscowl, anyway.

“When you went batshit crazy, tried to kill an Inquisitor, outed yourself as a Jedi, though? You put Bracca on such a harsh lockdown that mom and I had to sneak out almost the same day you did. That was hard to do. Took a lot of bribes.”

Cal’s heart sank. He quietly sipped his steaming drink to avoid the topic; he hadn’t been thinking about the others he’d have affected. Cal also tried to avoid looking at her, but Anaya had the same calm, cold look that her mother held and eventually he broke like he used to at the Temple when Master Kesikki would fix him with the same stare, “I am so sorry.”

Anaya’s cold exterior cracked and she began giggling, “It’s fine. Mom doesn’t blame you, and if you hadn't done it we would’ve never left and found dad again, and we’d probably all still be stuck on fucking Bracca. I should be thanking you, but fuck, man, there are other ways.”

Hearing the words mom and dad being used to describe not one, but two Jedi Masters is something that Cal is never going to get used to hearing, even after so many years since the Order had been essentially obliterated. Jedi Masters Valena Kesikki and the by-the-book Obi-Wan Kenobi? He shook his head and finished his drink, “Please, for the sake of my sanity, stop calling them that.”

“Oh, if Skywalker could have a secret love affair, so could anyone else. Stop being weirded out. I’m not going to call my parents by their first names” Anaya finished her drink, too, and made to stand up, “More?”

She gave him a look when he began sputtering about a Skywalker having a secret love affair– a look that clearly said not tonight and interrupted him, “Cal, more?”

He took a deep breath, “Yes, please.”

“Anyways,” she began, back to him once more, “Valena is alive and well, Kenobi got, uh… well, he’s gone. Passed. Saber’d to death, I suppose?” her voice went soft, “That’s why I’ve got half mom’s saber. She tried giving it up completely after he went and did that.”

“Sorry to hear.”

She turned to face him, again, “”s fine. He was old, anyway. Self-sacrificial bullshit and all. Mom’s trying to get all mopey about it. Gave me her weapon, sent me on my merry way. “I don’t need this anymore, Luck. Take it and put it to more use than I ever will.” her voice was overly-mocking, “Came back a couple months later with my own upgraded one and gave half her’s back. And then promptly fucked off again to live here for… reasons. Hungry?”

He ignored why a Jedi would want to live on Frisal, “Starving, actually,” Cal told her without even thinking, and mentally slapped himself for imposing, “If you’re offering, I don’t want to be rude.”

“You spent twenty minutes chasing me across town not even three hours ago. I don’t think you can get any more rude, Kestis.”

He snorted and fell into silence as he watched her rifle through her fridge. If it hadn’t been for her strikingly blue eyes and the telltale cheekbones she’d obviously gotten from her mother, Cal wasn’t sure he’d have even recognized her. Not even VD-237C – the Imperial spider-droid that he himself had helped Valena Kesikki bring to life during her short, two-year stint on Bracca – had helped him to realize he’d been chasing an old friend through the dark streets of Frisal. He pushed his hair back from his face, “So, why are you living here?”

“Kolphi Javal.”

“You know him?”

“I know of him, Cal,” Anaya paused, turning her head to half look at him over her shoulder, “Director of Engineering and Design for the Galactic Empire. I’m here to kill him.”

Cal leaned forward, folding his arms over her black-topped kitchen island, “Wouldn’t you know,” his tone was dry, “I am, too.”

She snorted. Even the spider next to his elbow that Cal had thought to be in rest mode made a noise close to a scoff [he was a tad offended that even a droid thought him a liar], “It’s against your Code to kill people. What are you really doing here?”

“It’d be against your Code, too, then, Kenobi,” Cal mentioned.

“Don’t throw me in with your lot,” she finally turned back to face him, toting a plate with two halves of a very thick sandwich, and two more cups of hot cocoa with her – one tucked half-assed between her elbow and ribs, about to spill over, “Mom tells me I was four years old when Order 66 happened. Too young to be trained. Too young to be considered a Padawan. Too young to be a legitimate Jedi. Half of this is mine, by the way, if you try to eat it I will not hesitate to hurt you.”

“Duly noted,” Cal picked half up and bit off a chunk, proceeding to speak through his mouthful, “You’ve made it further than a lot of Jedi I know. As far as I’m concerned, you are one. You’ve obviously had training,” through her own mouthful of food, Anaya gave him another look that conveyed a lot of emotion – she was really good at that – and Cal mentally slapped himself once more. She was raised by two of the best Jedi Masters he’d ever had the short pleasure of knowing. Of course she got training.

“Why are you trying to kill Kolphi?” Anaya licked some whipped cream off her lip, and then motioned towards her mouth with her finger, “Cal, you’ve got some…”

He swiped his sleeve over his mouth and laughed, “Thanks. If Kolphi gets taken out, the possibility of another Death Star happening gets pushed back a few years while the Empire scrambles for another engineer.”

“Ah,” she stood and moved towards the couch behind them, beckoning him with, “Same reason I’m here, then. Nice. Who’re you working for?”

“No one, right now,” he followed and fell onto the seat beside her, “You?”

“The Rebellion, duh. Mom’s like, top gun around there. Kinda. So I get all the fun missions.”

“Really?”

“No. Not really, anyway,” she swatted his elbow with a paper notepad, “She is well respected, though. Now, here, check this out,” she leaned forward and spread the notepad out over her coffee table – Cal briefly wondered why she didn’t have a holopad. Or why she didn’t have VD helping with projections – “I’ve obviously been trailing Javal for a hot minute and, honestly, I was beginning to wonder if I had the right guy. The most I ever see him do is drink cocktails and hang out with his homely, half-breed son.”

“Half breed?”

“Iavys Javal is a full-fledged Zabrak. Red skin, pink markings. Black hair down to her fuckin’ ass – wish my hair was that long. Yellow eyes and, like, I don’t know, eight little horns, I think? Full-bore, can’t-miss-her Zabrak. Kind of cute if you look past the fact that she’s married to an Imp. Their son is Orron. Looks like a human from afar, black hair, purple eyes. Four horns but he’s still got the red skin markings of a Zabrak, just really light on his skin. Easily spotted if you know that he’s half ‘n half. Surprised you didn’t know that.”

“I don’t… do family research before getting out and about.” 

“Well, you should,” Anaya’s tone was matter-of-fact. She reached behind Cal, leaning over to click the table lamp on before continuing, “He’s got a basic routine of the same four bars, two that double as restaurants. And then on the weekends he likes the beach, boating if Iavys wants to come out, too. The guy doesn’t really seem like a threat, but he holds himself like an Imperial jackass, just the way he walks.”

“So he walks like everyone here?”

“It is an Imperial vacationing planet,” she shrugged, mostly to herself, and stood up, “‘s gettin’ late. Or, well… it’s like, what? One? Two, in the morning? Try to get some rest, yeah? We’ll reconvene when the sun is actually up. I know the best bar a few blocks from here, their cocktails are amazing.” Cal stood, too, stretching his back, preparing to head back to the Mantis. He took two steps, bent to collect BD, and stopped when Anaya spoke, “Oh, duh, you’d rather have the spare bedroom, right? Sorry I didn’t ask sooner.”

“What?”

“That’s where you were going, right?”

“No…? I was headed back to my ship.”

One of her eyebrows went up, “I have at least four places you could sleep here and you’d rather go back out, across town, and sleep in your ship?”

“I didn’t want to be a bother…” Cal felt a little guilty, now, for insinuating she didn’t want him staying in her apartment.

“You’re always going to be a bother, Kestis, now lay back down before I make you.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Kenobi.”

“Keep it up and I just might,” she muttered, backtracking down the hall to what he assumed was her bedroom, “Other bed’s in this room –” she pointed to her left, “-- if you want it. I’m in here –” she nodded to her right, “-- bathroom is the door right behind me, it’s connected to both bedrooms, so do me a favor and close my door, too, when you’re in there. We’re not close enough friends for full frontal just yet. Turn the lamp off before you doze off. Let me know if you leave. I don’t want to be waking up in the morning thinking you got yourself kidnapped.”

Cal couldn’t help but laugh at how straightforward her sense of humor could be – obviously from her mother. He gave her a light, two-finger salute, “Will do. Thanks, Anaya.”

“Call me Naya or somethin’, would you? My full name is a mouthful.”

[mercerislandbooks]

A Conversation with Erica Bauermeister

I’ve been a fan of local author Erica Bauermeister for years, from The School of Essential Ingredients, to The Scent Keeper, to House Lessons. But when I first sank into the pages of an early copy of No Two Persons, I knew I was in for a singular reading experience. Releasing on May 2nd, No Two Persons is the story of a novel and the people it impacts. Topping my personal “Best Books of 2023″ (and a perfect Mother’s Day gift!), I’m so happy to give you all a sneak preview of this amazing book in a conversation with Erica Bauermeister herself:

Lori: Welcome Erica! It’s such a pleasure to speak with you about your fabulous new book. But before we start chatting about No Two Persons, I wondered if you have fun memories of Island Books to share, in this, our 50th anniversary year?

Erica:  I remember the first time I went to Island Books. I was on a tight schedule, there to sign books, but I found myself instinctively slowing down, looking around. You know that feeling when you enter a bookstore and you just know this is the kind of place where you’ll find a book you’ll love but hadn’t known existed? It’s such a rare feeling. Is it how carefully the inventory is curated? How well the staff knows the books? The way the customers seem to have taken the place into their hearts? All I know is that Island Books is one of those rare stores.

L: I love those places and I feel very lucky that I get to work at Island Books every day. Now, onto No Two Persons! I was so taken by the structure — it's markedly different from your other books. What was your inspiration?

E:  I have long been fascinated by the power and potential of interconnected short stories. Each story is its own separate world, and yet together they create something greater. In a way, most of my novels have been some variation of interconnected short stories, but you’re completely right; No Two Persons is different. The connections in No Two Persons are both gossamer and profound at the same time. Most of the characters will never meet each other, and yet they are connected in ways they will never know, as well as by the act of reading itself.

The inspiration for No Two Persons came from meeting with book clubs, actually. It fascinated me, how the various members could interpret the same story in such different ways. I loved the way the book created a safe place for people to talk about those differences of opinion, and I thought how good it would be if we as a society could remember how wonderful differences can be, and how important it is to learn from each other.

The idea sat in my mind for years, and then, not too long before the pandemic started, that idea evolved into a structure—one fictional book, nine readers. Ten changed lives. Then my job was to find the characters and figure out how the book, Theo, would affect each of them.

L: You managed it beautifully! I found myself looking for those “gossamer” connections, as you said, and discovering them was so satisfying. What was your favorite part to write? And on the flip side, what was the hardest part to write?

E:  My characters usually start with a single image and then grow into fully-developed human beings. Sometimes that process is easy and organic, and sometimes it takes more time. Ironically, or perhaps not, my favorite part to write was also the hardest — William’s story. I could feel that he would add an important element to the book, but I didn’t know what it was. What would Theo mean to him, a grieving man who didn’t like fiction? Why would he read it? What would it teach him? I worked for months on his story, trying it from one angle and then another. And when I finally understood the answer, it felt both unexpected and preordained, which is just how I wanted it to feel.

L: I had to take a break after reading William’s section because I was so emotionally invested in him and his journey. Which, for a reader that usually can’t turn the pages fast enough, means it really impacted me. Is there a particular character you identify with more?

E:  I agree with the authors who say all of our characters are us, and none of them are. I’ve never been an artist or a free diver. I’ve never fenced or lived in New York or been an audiobook narrator or a homeless teenager. And yet, there are emotional aspects of each of these characters — an insecurity, a love, a moment of insight — that are the parts of me. I never set out to write about those things, and I'm generally surprised when they show up in the stories—often because of what I learn myself in the process. But perhaps that is the point of writing, as well as reading? To learn what we didn’t know we needed to learn?

L: Yes. So many moments in No Two Persons articulated something deeply personal and unspoken in me until you put words to it. I love that the writing of it brought you to a similar self-recognition or self-knowledge. The ending was absolutely masterful. How hard was that? Did you have it in mind from the beginning or did it come organically as you wrote?

E:  Ah, the ending. I didn’t know what it would be for the longest time — and that was terrifying. But then one morning I was lying in bed, half asleep, and the idea floated into my imagination, and I thought Yes. That’s it. And as a writer, that's when you thank whatever busy little part of your subconscious sent the image your way, forgo your coffee, and start writing.

L: I thought it was perfection — an ending that has you turning back to the beginning again. Thank you so much, Erica, it was a delight to chat with you!

To celebrate the publication of No Two Persons, Island Books will be hosting Erica Bauermeister in person, at 6:30pm on Wednesday May 17th. Please join us to hear Erica speak and get your own copy of No Two Persons. Mark your calendars now -- it’s going to be a wonderful evening and we’d love to see you!

— Lori

[luluvonv]

The boy shrugged. He had learned long ago that every time he opened his mouth, he gave a piece of himself away. 

The Boy; short story from Tearling by Erika Johnsen

[beann-e]

Bnha Characters reacting to when you quit your job

bakugou

your steps were quiet as you tried to work up the energy to unlock your front door. Your hands sweating and cold when you finally got the energy to put the key in the lock a deep exhale leaving your lips when you finally walked in.

Your Body only carrying you to your kitchen counter before you dropped your keys and bag on the same counter your body now rested against.

The room heating up and shifting from the ice quiet atmosphere youd created when you felt strong arms wrap around your waist and pull you back to meet a hard chest

Small kisses being planted on the side of your neck as you let out another sigh of relief as you spoke trying not to drown in the comfort being given to you “ baby “

Your body shook as you heard a deep grunt of acknowledgment “ we — we need to talk “

you felt as another set of kisses were placed to your neck before his head snuggled into the spot between your neck and shoulder “ I— I think I made a mistake“

You bit at your lip as you kept going “ I— I was trying my best to stick up for myself y’know like you told me”

“ mm—and did you“

“ I did —I mean I did stick up for myself and I had to I needed to bu—”

“ slowly losing interest y/n “

you let out a shallow cough “ but I think I did it at the wrong time “

his body stood up a bit straighter head still remaining in the same place somehow “ baby I —i lost my job “

You felt as your boyfriends body went hard almost as if he was trying not to slam your own body into the floor in anger his grip around your waist only getting tighter “ like I said I — I wrong time“

“ wrong time? — y/n wrong place “ he screamed as he jolted your soul out of your already shaken figure. His head flying back to look at you conveying all the anger and annoyance he held, “ what the fuck do we do now “

you let out a small laugh to try to ease the tension “ we — we rely on your hero check ? “

You watched as he sucked his teeth and moved out of the kitchen “ I can barely feed a fucking roach with my salary y/n “ his voice getting louder as he walked into the living room you following closely behind “ i — i can barely feed you — us — y/n this is why we don’t have little crumb snatchers running around now “

his voice deep and heavy “ cause we’re broke do you get that babe ? huh no — fuck — you— fuck fuck fuck you gotta go back — you can’t just be chilling around the fucking house while i’m working my ass off that’s not how starting a family works y/n “

“ baby it’s just until I can get a new job “

“ tch— and how long will that take y/n “

“ well I— “

“ huh months ? “

“ well n— “

“ couple weeks “

“ I mean hopefull— “

“ babe you don’t even fucking know “ he sighed as he griped the skin on the bridge of his nose “ so fucking stupid — so so so fucking stupid “

the room went quiet as your eyes dropped to the ground. “ wel— no — I — I don’t know kats” you shook your head “ I— I really don’t“

“ and that’s the problem y/n “ he screamed eyes finally opening to look at you.

God, he loved you but seriously you just didn’t think sometimes

It’s not that he was calling you stupid it’s just that he really really loved you

He loved that you listened to him. That whenever he gave advice you heard it and went with it.

The night he told you to speak up he was honestly just fucking with you. He always forgets that he has someone who loves him now meaning he’s taken seriously. He always forgets he’s not in high school anymore.

He can’t say something crazy and asshole—ish and expect to just be ignored. He has someone that loves him and will truly listen.

Your not the stupid one

nor the one in the wrong he is

and he knows he is because he heard everything you said about your situation. Yet, he knew you were different from him whereas he had been speaking his mind for years regardless of ranks.

You couldn’t.

You had a job where everything relied on ranks and status. You couldn’t just say whatever the fuck you wanted to like he could and yet he convinced you that night to speak up whenever your boss gave you extra work you didn’t wanna do.

His eyes felt heavy and so did his body his brain automatically beating himself up as he stared at you imagining the rough day youd had. If he was pissed off with the current situation he could only imagine how you felt.

Someone who hated to rely on others yet, now having to rely on their boyfriend.

“ come here “ your eyes lit up at the statement as your tired body wobbled over and into bakugous arms. Head hitting his chest as he crushed you “ I love you and i’m proud of you “

your heart sank.

“ fuck those idiots you only have room for one anyways and hes— fuck trust me I know i’m enough “

Shoto

“ so “

“ so “

You sat on the couch legs splayed out in front of you and hands playing with the tassels of the pillows placed next to you.

God you loved these pillows. You actually remember the day you bought them.

Y’know back when you had money

“ y/n “ you watched as shoto shifted uncomfortably on the couch next to you “ my love what are you doing home “

He shook his head confused at the body placed comfortably next to his own “ your not supposed to be home for “ he looked down at his watch moving his suit jacket up his arm to create space and to make sure he was seeing the time correctly “ for 7 more hours “

you let out a short laugh “ you sound like you just got caught cheating sho “

his eyebrows crinkled together as he stared at you in disgust “ y/n I would never “

His hand moved to be placed on your thigh “my love is that what you think ? — if that’s why your here then I can assure you tha—I mean honestly if so I would never be stupid enough to disrespect you in our home— you could’ve went to my office at least I mea— “

“ I lost my job shoto “

The air shifted as the hand on your thigh suddenly felt colder than before “ I— I lost my job “

you took a deep breath shaking your head “ it’s a long story on why but i’ve been leaving the house — pretending really— to go to work “

You chuckled “ god i’m sucha bad person “ your small chuckle turned into a hearty laugh as you felt your body go slack “ A fucking horrible timekeeper too if I managed to forget my husband gets off before me on weekends “

“ do not say these things about yourself “

“ it’s not like it’s a lie “ your tear filled eyes coming up to look at his. ” right “

“ I will not stand for this y/n “

“ for what — having an unemployed s/o—i mean you already have one so not much to do about that “

you scoffed “ why don’t you want a housewife ? huh“ you smiled “ I can wear the skirts for you y’know with the aprons cook you dinner and maybe we can have kids y’know we can even get —“

“ enough “

your body shook your eyes widened facing the 6 ft male now towering over you “ your always joking about serious things and I — I don’t understand “ his eyebrows creasing in desperate need to understand you. Eyes darting around your face “ how “

his voice going deeper as he got angrier “ y/n you lost your job“ his eyes grew wide “ do you realize how serious this is “

“ wh— “ you shook your head letting out a short scoff “ of course I do —I mean sho i’m the one who qui—lost it “

“ no you clearly don’t “ he scoffed “ not if your sitting here making jokes in my face “

His mouth quirked up in disgust “ it’s almost insulting — disgusting really “

“ wh— sho—“ you felt as a tear fell from your eye “ baby what could be so disgusting huh ? so ‘ insulting ‘ about me choosing to leave huh “

his eyes softened “ because of your reason to leave “

“ my reason ? “

“ my love I know you — I know you didn’t get fired and I know you wouldn’t just leave you loved it there “

your head dropped as your fiddled with your fingers “ so that means something led you to make that life changing decision and it hurts me that you were forced to make it “

Your heart broke, he was right he was always right, for days at work youd been dealing with an overbearing co worker who would tell you to do everything they didn’t feel like doing and when you finally decided to say no to them

They went and told your boss. Who even though you’d been working there longer than your so called coworker still believed everything they were told.

That was the day that you sadly found out your job favored years over hard work.

Due to the other person being there longer you were trumped in telling your story. It was seen as not necessary because , someone who was there for so long would have no reason to lie on someone like you.

A newbie

“ someone made you quit this job “

“ sho no they— I decided “

You felt as the couch shifted from him kicking it. You thinking he was moving to grab his shoes except walking past them and unlocking the door instead.

“ baby where are you going — we need to talk about how we’re going to split the bills now that i— “

“ i’ll handle it “

“ shoto you can’t put everything on your dads card we’re not “ you let out a soft exhale “ we’re not children anymore “

“ i’ll pay for it all myself — and you can be my little housewife “ he scoffed as your expression grew sour “ it was so funny a moment ago right “

“ shoto i’m not gonna ask again where are you going “

“ where else “

your eyebrows came together in a furrow “ wh— “

“ my love you work for my company ? obviously who ever I put in charge “ he shrugged walking barefoot to his car unlocking the door “ isn’t doing a very good job if they fire their bosses s/o ? “

He got into the drivers seat as he turned the car on and reversed the car “ needs to learn respect no ? so i’ll just have them switch places with you“ he smiled softly “ i’ll see you when I get home “

His once furious eyes turning soft at your body hidden in pajamas “ go inside baby —it’s cold —go order us some takeout i’ll be back in a little ok “

“ sho “

“ just let me handle this —i love you and i’ll be right back my love—go “

You shook your head softly “ go y/n “

[versadies]

hello! congrats on 1k, i saw that you opened an event so i would like to try and join in!

Capricorn + Jean and Beidou + any hcs! + either fluff or angst (you can decide whichever <3)

unexpected (hc scenario, mermaid au and royal au)

penpal: ty for requesting !! hope you don't mind me making this request into an au hc <3

prompt: capricorn the sea-goat, first word soulmate au

pairing/s: jean x gn!reader, beidou x gn!merman/mermaid!reader

sypnosis: hc on how you unexpectedly meet your soulmate.

includes: mermaid!au in beidou's part, royal!au in jean's part, no angst just fluff, grammar error

while the soulmate system exists in teyvat, so do merfolks.

merfolks have been known as a myth among the nations, with no signs of their existence that's known to humans.

however, it's the complete opposite in the sea.

as a merfolk, you've heard numerous tales of those who are above the ocean.

whether it'd be haunting myths, stories of merfolk meeting man, and so on– you grew up to despise them, always hearing the same thing in all the tales everyone had spilled on you: when a human meets a merfolk, unfortune will arrive upon the merfolk.

so when your peers started gushing and dreamily talk about encountering a human after a romance tale between a mermaid and a human arises around the seas, you were astounded. how come people change their minds so quickly after reading some fantasy?

being destined with a human is a terrifying thought for you.

the elders would reassure you that such possibility is rare for everyone in the sea, telling you that the infamous tale is nothing but just fiction.

that eased your mind a bit,

until you came across to her.

while hanging out with your friends, one of them dared to swim towards the nearest land with everyone following much to your dismay. of course, being worried of the consequences they'll face, you decided to follow as well to keep an eye on them minutes after they left you alone.

due to losing sight of them, you had no idea where they went and continue to swim straight ahead, hoping that they're not far ahead.

which led you to where you are now, hiding behind the stones and take a peek of the shore, trying to spot your merfriends by the area.

unnoticed by you, a person is slowly sneaking behind you.

"well isn't this interesting," your eyes widens from the sudden voice of the stranger, causing you to turn around and see a human.

without hesitation, you immediately turn away from the human's eyes and swam back to the ocean, ignoring the calls of the brown-haired woman who was trying to get you to come back to the shore.

as soon as you finally see the familiar silhouette of the city, you slow yourself down and try to calm yourself, your heart pacing faster than the fastest merfolk in the ocean.

not long after, you heard the familiar sounds of your friends' fins and saw them heading towards you with excited looks on their faces.

"you should've went with us, y/n. it was a blast!" one of them exclaims.

"we literally saw a human, a literal human by the shores. they looked more different than how the elders described!"

you couldn't help but let out a small sigh of relief. at least they didn't know what you did.

however, your relief was short-lived when one of your friends pointed out something.

"...wait, you've met your soulmate already?"

your breath hitched from your friend's statement, looking down at your wrist with disbelief. you felt your heart sank at the words imprinted on your skin that is now glowing before your own eyes.

"oh dear." you mumbled to yourself.

your deepest fear came true.

among the seven kingdoms, your favorite is mondstadt.

the kingdom of freedom is truly worthy of its name, with their people being welcoming and their palace being welcomed by all, it was something that makes them different from the rest.

not only that, the kingdom has also worship a god whose name is imprinted on your wrist.

the moment you found out about the fact that barbatos is actually a god that mondstadt worships for, you didn’t hesitate to stay in the kingdom longer than you usually do in other nations, hoping to encounter a person in the town who will say the exact words that’s imprinted on your wrist.

although you love to stay in the kingdom of freedom, you still travel from place to place, wanting to continue on your passion while waiting for your soulmate to meet you.

of course, whenever you’re finished in traveling to a few nations, you always find yourself going back to mondstadt with the feeling of a welcoming home.

during your recent visit to the kingdom, mondstadt is currently celebrating the windblume festival.

you aren't exactly unfamiliar with the celebration, especially with how the townsfolk you've encountered have always mentioned the festival with gleam and excitement.

unfortunately for you, you were a bit late to experience the games that were being held around the land but everyone reassured you that you're luckily enough to be just in time for the grand ball.

from what you've heard, the grand ball is the closing ceremony of the festival, whereas the ruler of the kingdom chooses a lucky mondstadtian as the windblume star and formally offer a flower from the nation to barbatos. once the star has offered a flower to barbatos, everyone around the ballroom can give their chosen person a flower that they see fit as a windblume.

so you thought to yourself: why not try out the grand ball?

you’re honestly glad that you’ve decided to come to the celebration.

the ballroom was just as enchanting as what everyone described it to be, with different kinds of flowers being plastered all around the room, the delicious mondstadt cuisines that are displayed by the tables, the exciting music playing in the background– you wanted to applaud mondstadt for such an amazing work.

being a traveler who isn't exactly a mondstadtian, you would be lying if you said you don't feel out of place in the room. although everyone is nice to you and the party is as fun as you imagine it would be, you still feel like you don't belong, the awkwardness seeping through your body as you watch everyone having fun in the ball.

it didn't help that one of the servers accidentally spilled dandelion wine on your outfit, causing you to feel embarrassed around your peers.

as a getaway, you excused yourself and ran outside from the ballroom, your cheeks starting to warm from the embarrassing experience.

to cool yourself down and get some fresh air, you decided to try and find your way to the entrance of the palace, wanting to get outside as soon as possible and get back to the party at ease.

however, as soon as you went out, you realized you weren't by the entrance of the palace at all. instead you're in a garden with a person standing nearby, who's rather busy practicing sword fighting–

while wearing a huge gown?!

before you could watch her in awe, the woman stopped when she notices your presence, eyes widening in surprise from the sudden intrusion.

"o-oh uhm," you immediately look away from the woman's gaze, glancing in other directions in fear of encountering yet another embarrassing moment. "sorry about that. i was supposed to go back to the entrance but i think i got lost so uh..."

as you try to give the lady an excuse, you didn't notice how her eyes widens slowly from your words, looking down at her wrist to see the words imprinted on her skin glowing back at her.

"dear barbatos." she spoke up, looking back at you in disbelief.

you were suddenly taken back by surprise, looking back at the woman. "..wait i'm sorry, what did you say?"

the blonde haired woman’s hand slowly covers her own mouth, hesitantly walk towards you with a relieved look on her face. "it's you.. you're.. you're my soulmate."

from her words alone, you immediately look at your wrist, your heart paced faster when you noticed the glowing words in your skin as well.

"i uh," you let out a light laugh, stumbling a bit from the shocking discovery. "i didn't expect this."

the woman laughs as well. "i have to say the same as well,"

you watched as she kneels slightly in courtesy, her blue gown slowly dropping down to the cold hard ground.

"my name is jean gunnhildr, the acting ruler of the kingdom of freedom. and you are?"

[wherethewordsare]

a. I have accidentally unfollowed you because Tumblr puts buttons too close together.

b. I have A PROMPT. Specifically from your list of 50. 8 and/or 21. I just want something soft from you.

a: I love you <3

b: thank you @softnerdypeter for beta reading this for me <3

21. Blind date set up by friends

Oh, It’s You

Eskel had cornered Geralt in the firehouse kitchen. Again. This time with that look that used to trick Geralt into the worst trouble when they were kids. 

“Don’t automatically say no,” Eskel said with a laugh. 

“No.” Geralt turned to hide his smile. 

“Geralt, she’s really pretty though. And she has this friend that apparently has been moping and she said she’d feel better if he also had a date.” Eskel walked around the table and took Geralt’s plate, holding it away. “Besides, you’ve been moping too and you refuse to ask that musician out even though you know damn well-”

“Fine, I’ll go, but you don’t get to berate me after this. One date. That’s it. Then you leave me be,” he growled, snatching his plate back, sending his cherry tomatoes rolling onto the floor. He only glared at his brother when he laughed. 

“Alright, Wolf. Just bring your most sunny personality to the fair Friday.” Eskel chuckled as he bent down, scooping up the tomatoes and tossing them into the sink. He strolled away, looking all too much like the cat that caught the canary.

“You’re taking my shift on the dunk tank!” Geralt shouted after him with a shake of his head. “Bastard.” 

He hated how fast his phone was in his hand to text Jaskier. 

Es finally trapped me into a blind date. Fucker. 

Within a second, a message that didn’t feel like a response popped up on his screen. 

I have a date on Friday? my friend set it up. I kinda don’t wanna go. 

Geralt tried to ignore the way his gut twisted at the idea of Jaskier going out with someone else. He wasn’t sure what to say back. It wasn’t like he didn’t also have a date that night. His phone buzzed again in his hand, showing an incoming call. 

“She said his name is Gary!” Jaskier whined. There was a clattering in the background and Geralt leaned against the counter. He could close his eyes and see Jaskier making his lunch. “Who names their kid Gary? I bet he’s hideous!” There was a huff. 

“I guess this means we’ll have to cancel movie night?” Geralt hummed as he bit into a fork full of salad, sans tomatoes. “But who knows,” Geralt winced only because he knew Jaskier couldn’t see, “the guy might surprise you?” 

There was a gasp on the other end of the line. “You wanna stand up our dates and just meet up for a movie anyways?” Jaskier laughed but the sound died quickly. “Unless you’re looking forward to the date.” There was something like disappointment in his voice that could have only been chalked up to missing out on the movie and shitty take-out. 

“I would, but Eskel would kill me,” Geralt reasoned with a hum. 

“You’re gonna get a play-by-play of how terrible this guy is,” Jaskier promised with a laugh. There was a bang and a curse. “Ah shit, my frittata! I gotta go.” The line was dead before Geralt could say anything else. 

He tried to ignore the way his chest tightened as he shoved another bite into his mouth. He was almost glad when the firehouse alarm went off. 

Friday came quickly. He rode to the fair with Eskel, who was chatting more than usual, clearly nervous about his date with the nurse he couldn’t seem to get over since the last time he ended up in the ER with a burn. 

Geralt couldn’t blame him, really. Anything that made his brothers happy was fine by him, but he wished that he didn’t have to hear the same story about Eskel finally asking her out again. It was just a constant reminder that he still hadn’t swallowed his pride enough when it came to Jaskier. 

“Where am I supposed to be?” Geralt managed to ask, his arms crossed over his chest as they pulled into the dirt lot. 

“There’s a ticket booth towards the center. I think she told him to meet you there,” Eskel was checking his hair in the mirror again and only stopped when he caught Geralt rolling his eyes. “Listen, we can’t all be as pretty as you,” he shot across the bench.

“Finally, something you’ve said that makes sense,” he snorted. He climbed out of the truck and shut the door on Eskel before he could make a comeback. 

It was still early, so the fairgrounds weren’t crowded just yet. He was thankful for that at least. The place would be packed before too long. He was already coming up with reasons to cut the night short as he leaned against the back of the booth, his phone in hand. He was making an attempt not to text Jaskier. He didn’t want to interrupt his date, even if he wasn’t looking forward to it.

Geralt pulled up their conversation anyways, scrolling through as he realized that he wasn’t even sure where Jaskier was going tonight. 

“Geralt?” There was a pair of dusty converse in front of him. 

He looked up and his heart sank for a moment. Jaskier was standing there, his bright eyes catching the lights from the ferris wheel. Geralt wasn’t looking forward to having to actually watch him on his date. There had been too many nights at too many bars where he watched Jaskier flirt with everyone. Almost everyone.  

“What are you doing here, Jask?” He half flinched as he realized how gruff he had sounded. Geralt looked around, expecting to see someone coming to collect Jaskier but there was no one else there. 

“Oh,” Jaskier whispered softly. A series of emotions flew across his face all at once before he simply beamed at Geralt. “Oh!” He was laughing then, leaning into Geralt’s personal space. “Gary,” he cackled. 

He scowled at Jaskier, but then it also dawned on him and he huffed. “Oh. It’s you,” he hummed, looking around. He wondered remotely if Eskel had done this on purpose. His date was Jaskier. Or it was supposed to be. 

Maybe, he shuffled from foot to foot for a moment, maybe it still could be. 

“Well, I know I’m not nearly as good looking as this Gary was supposed to be,” Geralt mused, “but maybe we could still…” He gestured around them vaguely. 

Jaskier looked up at him again, those same emotions Geralt couldn’t read from before flitting across his face before his eyes softened. He stepped forward, sliding his arm into Geralt’s with a smile. “Far more handsome than anyone I could have imagined, dear heart.” He gave Geralt’s arm a little squeeze. “Buy me a caramel apple and tell me you like my shirt?” Jaskier teased. 

Geralt snorted as he moved them forward. “You mean my shirt you stole?” He didn’t miss the way Jaskier fell in step beside him, their arms still linked. 

“Next time don’t leave your laundry in my dryer,” Jaskier chuckled. Then he was looking down as he pulled them both to a stop for a moment in the middle of the fairway. “Geralt, just so I’m clear-”

“This is a date,” Geralt blurted before he could stop himself. “I… if you want it to be.” Part of him wanted to pull away. He’d done it now and there was no going back. He had known Jaskier for three years and for a moment he thought it crash down around him. Jaskier only smiled back at him, looking relieved. 

“Yeah, yeah I do. But only if-” he started.

“Caramel apple.” Geralt raised an eyebrow, smirking. 

“Date it is then.” Jaskier let himself be led around the fair, always touching Geralt as they went. 

It felt nice, having the weight and warmth beside him as the early autumn air started to set in. 

They found themselves in front of the dunk tank where Eskel was sitting up on the platform, that smirk of his still firmly in place. 

He had known! Geralt huffed and glared at his brother. He was leaning out of the tank slightly to high-five a slender woman with dark hair. She looked over and waved to Jaskier with a smile. 

“Hey, do you want the horse or the alien stuffie?” He asked as he marched up to the booth. He watched with a grin as Eskel’s own smile dropped. “You know what, I’ll win you both.” 

Jaskier only looked at him with confusion then glanced across. “Oh. Were we played?” He sounded smug as he handed Geralt his own tickets. 

Geralt landed not only the first shot, but the next three after, sending Eskel plunging down into the water below. When he handed Jaskier both of the rewards he was passed a caramel apple already missing a bite. 

Three years suddenly seemed to hinge on the moment as he took the apple and leaned forward, past the oversized head of the alien in Jaskier’s arm. He pressed a kiss to the corner of Jaskier’s mouth, slow enough that he could have pulled away. 

Jaskier didn’t pull away. Instead, he turned his face and let their mouths slot together more firmly, smiling all the while. 

“Took you long enough,” he pulled away just enough to murmur before pressing in again. 

“Movie night tomorrow?” Geralt asked when they finally broke apart. He felt like he was vibrating in his boots. 

“It’s a date.” 

It certainly was going to be, Geralt decided. He’d make sure it would be a good one too.

[xlonelysoulxx]

Being a Mermaid and Jacob’s Imprint Would Include... {2}

{gif isn’t mine}

xxxxx

You had disappeared for a whole month. You had only sent Leah a few messages after the incident, to give a sign of life and reassure the pack... which hadn’t helped matters when Jacob found out. "WHY didn't you tell me?!” “You acted like a f*cking jerk, why should I have?" The tension was so overwhelming, to the point where the other wolves must have come between them that day. Leah wanted to protect her friend, and Jacob wanted to get his imprint back. But he couldn't.

xxxxx

You hadn’t planned to come back, not so soon... this is what you had entrusted to the pretty wolf. You wanted to get some distance... away from Forks, from La Push... and from Jacob. You couldn't take it anymore. It was already hard that he treated you so coldly ‘cause he loved one another, but seeing him tear himself apart with his brothers... because of you? It was too much. It had gone way too far.

xxxxx

Grudge and worry kept growing among the wolves even when Jacob were gone, wandering god knows where near the Canadian border. Guilt and pain had kept twisting him from the inside ever since, and hearing the thoughts of his pack... especially when it came to you, had become torture. Even Jared, who had felt at fault at first, only felt annoyance now. Jacob was a ball of nerves ready to explode at any moment, while he was the one who had behaved badly in the first place. Fuck... he could have hurt you?! All because he had let himself be overcome by his emotions, emotions that he wasn’t yet ready to assume out loud.

xxxxx

The feeling of lack linked to the imprint was so strong that it sometimes prevented you from breathing, but that wasn't the worst. It was at that moment... that you realized how much you were in love with Jacob Black.

xxxxx

Even the pull of the bond wasn't as strong as the crack forged in your heart. A gash already wide open over the past few weeks (consciously or not) by the constant presence of Isabella Swan - hunted by Victoria - and now gaping as you left the Quileute... and Jacob, behind you. It was clear, the difference between these feelings - as if your heart and your guts were going in two distinct directions. How stupid you were... as if fate wasn't cruel enough like that.

xxxxx

You were quite surprised to see Alice and Jasper appear at your workplace one morning, a small neighborhood library near Port Angeles. It was brand new, no one knew about it. No one except Alice. Obviously... What were they doing there? You weren't particularly close to the Cullens, but you liked the lil’ brunette quite a bit. Did something happen? Did he... no, Leah would have warned you. Right..?

xxxxx

“He's stupidly stubborn, and guilty. But he's fine... for now.” You no longer understood anything, since when did Alice appreciate Jacob? She didn’t. But she couldn't control her visions. Time was running out. An army was approaching, Bella was once again the center of attention... and the future had darkened. The two clans who called themselves enemies had decided to unite reluctantly, to protect her - but what was your role in this story?

xxxxx

“Don't get me wrong, Alice... I don't wish Bella any harm.” You were boiling from the inside, but Bella wasn't the reason of your pain... Jacob was. You had no animosity towards the young girl, the shapeshifter was mature enough to make his own choices. It was between you and him, and yet. “But you came here for nothing.” You didn't look her in the eye anymore, busy sorting through the same books over and over in your hands. You couldn't believe she had come here just for this. She wanted you to come back to him, so he could come back to her... come back to Bella. To protect her.

xxxxx

Jasper hadn't moved from his place since their arrival, standing proudly straight behind his beloved. He could easily sense your anger, mixed with pain and incomprehension... and just like that, your eyes met his for a long second. “You should listen to her, Y/N.” You could feel a wave of appeasement sweep over you, immediately glaring at the vampire. "And you shouldn’t try to manipulate my emotions, Jasper."

xxxxx

“He won't survive it, Y/N... I saw it.” You could feel your blood running cold through your veins. What was she talking about?? Jacob was actually back in Forks, for more than a week now. But he was a freaking mess. He made sure to stay away from the pack, irritable... unpredictable, and more closed than ever. Quite the opposite of who he really was. You could feel your heart skipping a beat... Alice had glimpsed the impending confrontation, and the outcome had been fatal for the brown wolf.

xxxxx

No, no, no... it couldn't happen. It. Couldn't. The information was too much to handle as you began to hyperventilate like an idiot in the store, Jasper immediately moving to your side. You couldn't let him get killed all this because he was distracted by the whole "imprint thing”, no... you could never forgive yourself for it. You would leave your pride aside without any hesitation for him, everything for him... no matter the welcome you would receive in return.

xxxxx

The car ride was terribly quiet. The battle would take place in three days, so there was no time to waste. Your boss had been accommodating enough to give you your afternoon (he seemed to be pleased by your work, good for you) and this is where you were now... on the road back to Forks, sitting in the back of Alice's car. She had insisted on taking you there given your emotional state, and you were silently grateful for that. You could feel the anguish mounting as you approached the Quileute reserve, unconsciously wriggling in your seat.

xxxxx

“Stop the car.” The air was too thick to breathe, and you felt like you were drowning... there was only one way to fix it. You were close enough now, you could join the reserve on your own... but not right away. You quickly thanked the couple before slamming the door, taking the path to the forest under the worried gaze of the petite brunette. You ran, unable to stop before reaching the impressive cliff... not thinking twice before jumping.

xxxxx

You felt like you could finally breathe again as the icy water came in contact with your hot skin. You haven't been back to the ocean since the incident, and you had missed it - terribly. You could feel a pinch in your stomach as you rose to the surface, quickly looking up as your eyes instantly fell on the huge brown wolf that stood high on the rocks. Jacob. He was there... how?

xxxxx

You dived again after an endless exchange of glances, taking longer than necessary to reach the shore. A part of you feared your reunion, while the other was just relieved and excited to see him again. Jacob had reached the beach at an impressive speed, the shapeshifter dressed warmer than usual while a large jacket and boots complemented the usual shorts specific to all Quileutes. His heart was pounding as he observed the surface, impatiently waiting to see you reappear. Were you even going to do it..? He couldn't believe you were really there.

xxxxx

And you did. Your feet sank into the wet sand as you left the sweet comfort offered by the waves, your long hair sticking to your skin like a second skin. You were completely exposed as the cold wind whipped through your entire body, Jacob's eyes never leaving yours as he took off his jacket… wasting no time wrapping it around you. The distance between you was ridiculously thin now, the silence heavy and comfortable at the same time. There was no room for shyness here, it was Jacob. And despite everything that had happened you had full confidence in him.

xxxxx

None of you dared to speak first... almost like it's going to shatter the present moment, and bring bad memories to the surface. “I was afraid I had hurt you.” He finally confessed, almost shamefully. Start at the beginning, yeah... it was good. “I'm sorry I disappeared... I just panicked.” You answered briefly, but he cut you off almost immediately.“You don't have to feel sorry for anything, Y/N. I should. For everything.”  He really was. He wanted to tell you how sorry he was, how much he had missed you... and how much he loved you. But he didn't have the right. Not now, and maybe never. But repeating it to you, showing you how sorry he was and how much he regretted the way he had treated you... seemed like a good start. He wanted to be the best imprint for you... a friend, a protector. If you wanted him to be. He didn't want to be separated from you like that anymore. Never again.

xxxxx

You could hear the sincerity in his voice, the erratic changes in his breathing… and the heat radiating from his body which was enveloping you like a soft blanket. He meant every word. You were sure of it. And it was, indeed, a good start... yes. It was like a silent acceptance, like a secret language between the two of you... your throat tightening a bit before you wrapped your arms around him.

xxxxx

Jacob automatically tightens his embrace around you, selfishly accepting the gesture of affection you both needed so badly. He trapped your body against his, resting his chin against the top of your head as you stood on your tiptoes... inhaling his scent. There he was, alive and safe in your arms... and that was all that mattered right now. And you were going to make sure that it stays that way, no matter what.

xxxxx

But fate wasn't so lenient, you should have known that... it didn't rest only in your hands. Cruel reality exploded in your face that day, Jacob's scream echoing through the entire clearing at the same time as the sound of his ribs being broken by the newborn vampire. It all happened so fast. Leah had found herself trapped in the deadly embrace of one of them, Jacob had intervened... and now he was writhing in pain on the ground.

xxxxx

You had joined him in a few strides, stumbling alongside him as your heartbeat echoed through your ears. Carlisle stood by your side, examining the extent of the damage before the other members of the pack arrived in turn. His voice was twisted in pain as he tried to pronounce your name, squeezing your hand in his before the other wolves surrounded him to pick him up - Paul reluctantly pulling you away from your imprint. Tears filled your eyes, so much so that you hadn't even seen Bella arrive… the obvious horror on her face. How could this have happened? You thought you could change Alice's vision, you really believed you could... but you obviously failed. Literally.

[homosexuality-at-its-finest]

Hey honey! You think you can make a part two to the recent fic with Steve? where the reader and Steve are both turned to super soldiers and both go into ice? Steve’s found first and thinks the reader is dead until the reader pops up in an avengers interview years later with Bucky by his side because he saved Bucky?

Sorry baby I already commented this but I just thought I’d send it here too❤️

A/n: I am LIVING for the pet names, thank you for sending the request here! It makes it easier for me. I hope you like it!!

Plot: Requested

Pairing: Steve rogers x Male reader

Y/n: Your name

L/n: Last name

H/c: Hair color

E/c: Eye color

Warnings: Angst, cussing, temporary death, reader is also a super soldier, fluff

Word count: 1302

As the plane nose-dived towards the cold ocean, all Steve could think about was Y/n, the man he loved more than anything. His head turned to the side, locking eyes with the other man, any words Peggy was saying was blocked out as the lovers wordlessly gave their goodbyes. The H/c haired mans fingers intertwined with his own, bringing Steve’s hand up to press a kiss to his knuckles.

The plane hit the water with a thundering crash, and Jesus it was colder than anything Steve could’ve imagined. He squeezed Y/n’s hand as hard as he could as they sank into the abyss, selfishly happy that if they died, they at least died together.

Death was colder than Steve thought it would be, but that belief slapped him in the face as his baby blue eyes fluttered open, met with harsh sunlight shining into his eyes. For a second, he thought it was all a dream, looking to the side to find the spot next to him empty.

“Y/n?” His voice was hoarse, throat burning with apparent disuse. His gut twisted, a sick feeling festering in him. The super soldier had escaped the room and had come to an alarming conclusion. He was no longer in the 1940’s, he was in the 2010’s now and he was all alone.

The thought hit him harder than a train, making his knees weak and it felt as though there was a hole where his heart used to be. In such a short span of time (For him) he’d lost the two most important people in his life. Apparently when they’d found Steve in the ice, Y/n was nowhere to be seen. His body had never been recovered and Steve had to live with that guilt and pain every day for the rest of his life.

He was given a distraction in the form of the Avengers, a group of extraordinary people fighting the battles no one else could. It didn’t fill the hole in his chest, but he no longer felt so alone in this world. He had a purpose again, saving as many people as he could with his newfound family.

The only thing he had from his past was a photo of Y/n that he kept in his compass, the H/c haired man’s head was thrown back in laughter, his beautiful E/c eyes screwed shut as he laughed at some cheesy joke Steve had told.

Every day he missed the other man, but over time the pain became easier to handle. He pushed himself into his workload, designating himself as the captain of his team. He fought many battles and over time he selected new enhanced individuals to join the team.

Today was another day of interviewing people Nick Fury had specifically chosen out, himself and the other Avengers picking them apart to decide if they were good enough to join his team. The super soldier was honestly ready to call of the rest of the interviews for the day, so far no one had even slightly peaked interest, and he was beginning to believe that the team was fine the way it was.

Imagine his surprise when two familiar faces he hadn’t seen in 70 years walked in. Bucky, God how he had missed his best friend, looked very different. His brunette locks had grown long and shaggy. His once shining blue eyes were now dulled, a haunted look permanently reflecting in his orbs.

Then there was Y/n, he looked a bit different, but he still made Steve’s heart pound and made his knees feel like jelly. Steve was out of his chair before he could even process it, the sound of his chair scraping against the floor falling on deaf ears.

He had no control of his body as he moved forward, ignoring all the questions and looks his team was throwing at him. His arms were around Bucky before he could even think about it, a shaky sigh leaving his lips. He didn’t miss the way the other man tensed up, before hesitantly hugging back.

After a moment he pulled away and his attention was turned towards the man he had been endlessly longing for since the moment he woke from the ice. “Y/n…” It hurt Steve to realize how odd it was to say his name once again, part of him was terrified this was just a dream and he’d wake up alone in bed once again.

His baby blue eyes found the E/c eyes he dreamed about nightly, his heart twisting. Y/n’s hands cupped his cheeks, a delicate smile playing on his lips. “Hey Stevie.” Oh, how he’d missed hearing his voice, and hearing that nickname. He leaned into the other man’s touch; eyes fluttering shut.

An embarrassing sound left his lips as Y/n kissed him, but he couldn’t bring himself to give a shit. He brought up his shaky hands, cupping the sides of the other man’s neck, ignoring the indignant sound Tony made as the two men kissed.

Steve refused to pull away until his lungs begged for air and his head felt fuzzy from the lack of oxygen. His forehead rested against the H/c haired man’s own, heart pounding wildly against his rib cage.

“How are you alive?” Steve whispered, thumb brushing against Y/n’s pulse to reassure himself that he was actually there. The sound of Y/n humming met his ears, causing his body to relax a bit.

“Hydra.” The reply felt like a punch to the gut, he knew Hydra had still existed, not long ago they’d found out shield had been infiltrated by the organization. The idea of those monsters having Y/n or Bucky made him sick to his stomach, and he wanted nothing more than to rip them apart with his bare hands.

When Steve didn’t reply, Y/n continued.

“Guess they found the ship and grabbed me; I don’t remember when. I remember bits and pieces and then I found Bucky there too. Took a lot of time and a lot of planning but I finally got us out about a year ago, when you had brought down shield. After that we hunted Fury down and set all of this up.”

Steve could tell it was heavily simplified, probably not wanting to spill his and Bucky’s story to a room of strangers.

There moment was broken by Sam speaking up, an eyebrow raised. “Cap, you gonna tell us what the hell is going on?”

The super soldiers reluctantly pulled away from each other, Y/n giving the team an awkward wave. The action was so painfully familiar that Steve couldn’t help but bark out a short laugh. That caused a smirk to spread across his boyfriends’ lips, and Steve would tear the world apart to see him smile like that again.

“Uh hi, I’m Y/n and this is my stabby best friend Bucky. We fought with Steve in World War II.” Tony let out a groan, mumbling about there being more old men on the team. Steve simply ignored his friend, speaking up.

“This is my partner, Y/n and my best friend Bucky. Bucky is who Natasha and I have been looking for, for the last year.” Steve felt a bit awkward as the team fired questions at the trio, but Steve couldn’t find himself caring, not when he had Y/n back.

The world had torn them apart from each other, but now he had the man he loved back. He didn’t care if he had to fight a thousand more wars, as long as he had Y/n by his side he felt like he could do anything.

[stolen-pen-name23]

how about #12 “it reminded me of you” with obi wan and satine ✨

Hey girlie!!! Thanks so much for the prompt, you know I have fun with these two! From these prompts/prompts now closed

Read on Ao3

Here ya go!

---

In every way, the forest felt enchanted, like the ones from the stories Obi-Wan was told as a youngling.

The sun’s stubborn beams broke their way through the dense forest canopy, allowing their light to shine on Satine every once in a while. For a brief, glimmering moment, the sunbeams turned blonde hair golden and Obi-Wan could not help but let his eyes be drawn to it.

For a moment he could forget that he was not here for some retreat or vacation, but rather, a mission.

Yes, a mission. He glanced over at Satine who walked in front of him like it was her mission and not his. Obi-Wan swallowed his pride and allowed himself this brief moment of peace.

For now, they were unaccompanied — left alone together to fend for themselves in the woods while Qui-Gon went the long way around to meet them at the rendezvous.

Obi-Wan was grateful to his Master for taking the bounty hunters on a wild goose chase far away from them. It meant that for now, the young Jedi and Duchess were safe — or as safe as anyone could be while they were on the run.

Obi-Wan took a deep breath and sank back into the Force. It was so alive here. Obi-Wan was never and would never be as in-tune with the Living Force as his Master, but right now, in the middle of this lush and thriving forest, Obi-Wan could feel it pulse around and through him, harmonizing with his beating heart.

Satine seemed to sense his lighthearted mood.

“What has you so lively this morning?” she asked turning around to face him. The sunlight danced on her curls when she turned her head like that and Obi-Wan tried to ignore the fluttering in his stomach.

“Must I have cause to be cheerful?”

“Seeing as you so rarely are, yes, you do. Now, what is it?”

Obi-Wan smiled. “This place… it’s nice.”

Satine frowned. “This forest? This hot, muggy forest? That’s what it takes to make you smile? A miserable environment?”

“It is not miserable,” he said defensively. “You wouldn’t understand it.”

“Try me.”

“I can… I can feel the life flowing through everything around us and it… I don’t know,” Obi-Wan was starting to feel rather stupid in his explanation. His cheeks flushed at the rare outpouring of emotion.

Satine, however, seemed unphased.

“Believe me, Jedi, I do not wish to be one of your kind,” she started, “but sometimes I wish I could see the world the way you saw it. Feel it the way you feel it. Just for a day.”

“I think that would be rather cruel,” Obi-Wan said.

“To be a Jedi for a day?”

“To have the Force for a day, only to have it ripped from you. It would be like someone gouging out your eyes and cutting off your ears all at once. I would not wish it upon my enemies.”

“Very well then, I take it back. I’ll continue on in my ignorance,” Satine smirked at him.

Obi-Wan shook off her remarks and they continued on their path, Satine still in the lead.

The forest was hot and muggy, Obi-Wan realized and he silently cursed Satine for pointing it out. Sweat coated his skin and his clothing stuck to him uncomfortably, but even that could hardly dampen his spirits.

Lost in his thoughts and in the swells of the Force, Obi-Wan startled when Satine stopped and let out a soft gasp.

Obi-Wan snapped to attention and looked to her. “What is it, Duchess?” His fingers grazed his lightsaber.

“Look!” she said, excitement of her own now lilting her voice upwards.

Obi-Wan stepped beside her and laid eyes on what caused her to gasp. The forest before them was blanketed it bright blue butterflies. Every trunk, every branch, every fallen log. The ground, the leaves, the mushrooms that plumed like clouds from the earth, all of it was covered by the winged insects.

Perhaps this is what was causing his lighthearted mood. Hundreds, thousands, of pure Force signatures pulsing and existing so close to him. “They must be migrating,” Obi-Wan whispered.

Wings opened and closed, some slow, some fast, some not at all. Some of the butterflies took flight, only to settle in with a different horde of its brethren. Obi-Wan turned to Satine and realized her eyes matched the color of the butterfly wings.

As though she could feel him staring at her, she turned to him. “What is it?”

“Do you wish to know how I see them?” he asked shyly.

“What do you mean?”

“Earlier you asked me why I was so happy. It was because of this. Because of all the life in the Force. Every living thing has its own Force signature that is uniquely theirs. I see them differently from you.”

“How do you see them then?”

“Well, as all living things are, they are unique from one another, and yet, there is a uniformity between them. They migrate together and I can see the connections between them,” Obi-Wan began. Satine was staring at the butterflies, but she was nodding her head along with him. He took it as permission to continue.

“It’s almost as if the air between them ripples with their shared connection, but not in a way that distorts my vision. And it is only if I’m actually looking for it, if I were not allowing myself to sink deeper into the Force, then I would not see it exactly this way.

“Their signatures pulse at their own unique pace, some faster, some slower. Some of them have their own color. It varies from butterfly to butterfly, but it’s… well it’s beautiful.”

“And every living thing has one? A Force signature you called it?” Satine asked.

“Yes, everything.”

“And you see everything like that?”

“If I choose to. I can filter it out if it’s overwhelming.”

“How do you see me?”

Obi-Wan paused and he faltered. How could he describe how he saw her? No poet nor scribe could assign words to it, and Obi-Wan could hardly call himself either one of those.

“I don’t know… you’re, well,” Obi-Wan stuttered.

Satine put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes, taking his hesitance for some sort of insult.

“How do you see me, Padawan Kenobi?” she said again.

“You’re golden,” he finally spluttered out. “You… you glow. Not like a Force-sensitive does, it’s different from that, but you glow brighter than most sentient life forms and it’s… enchanting.”

He flushed and looked away from her.

Enchanting? Did I really just use the word enchanting to describe her? Come on, Kenobi, what are you thinking?

Hardly a poet indeed.

“Enchanting?”

“Yes,” he cringed. “I… couldn’t think of a better word.”

Satine laughed, but there was no cruelty in it. “It is a fine enough word, though it is quite cliché,” she said. “I wish I could see you in the way you see me.”

“But you do see me,” he said. “Not like a Jedi, no. Maybe because you aren’t a Jedi. I don’t know, but you make me feel seen.”

Oh, he really was dipping into clichés now, wasn’t he?

This time Satine blushed. She turned her face further away from him and stared at the butterflies.

All at once, the butterflies took off — a curtain of blue interrupting the greens and browns of the forest. To Obi-Wan, the air shimmered with their individual signatures. It was as mesmerizing as it was dizzying, and Obi-Wan had to take a brief moment to look away.

“Are you all right?” Satine asked.

“Yes, Duchess,” Obi-Wan said, though he found looking at her to be even more dizzying. “I’m quite all right.”

Together, they stood and watched the butterflies flutter away until not even one remained.

The butterflies were gone and Obi-Wan and Satine kept moving forward.

***

10 Years Later

Obi-Wan strode down the ramp of his ship with a confidence he did not truly feel. Obi-Wan had always been good at faking it until he made it and now was no exception.

The corners of the rectangular box he held in his robe poked at him, but he ignored it.

“Master Kenobi,” Satine’s musical voice rang out. “A pleasure it is to see you on Mandalore once again.”

“A pleasure it is to visit, Duchess.”

“Come, I have much to show you before we head to the senatorial dinner.”

As promised, Satine showed him the new school she had built for the children of refugees. She showed him the new fine arts center and the library in all of its glory.

At the dinner, they sat beside one another, trading glances only they would understand the meaning of. Satine and Obi-Wan managed to get through it without offending any of the off-world politicians — a new record for them.

They allowed themselves a night together. Just one night. A moment of indulgence for two people who sacrificed everything for duty.

But morning came as it always did and the new day signaled the end of their short-lived escape.

Once again, they found themselves standing in front of the ramp of his ship, exchanging barbs and banter that would have been insulting to anyone else. But this was him and this was her and they had their own way of communicating.

Obi-Wan was about to offer his goodbyes before he remembered the rectangular box inside his robes.

“Oh! I almost forgot. I saw this on Pantora and… well… it reminded me of you.”

Obi-Wan handed her the box and she opened it gently. Inside, a delicate chain held the silver figure of a butterfly.

“Like all those years ago,” Satine said softly.

“Exactly.”

“It’s beautiful, Obi-Wan,” Satine said, looking at the necklace reverently.

“You like it?”

“Yes,” she said. She locked eyes with him and gave him a grin. “It’s… enchanting.”

Obi-Wan groaned. “You’re never going to let that one go, are you, Duchess?”

“Not in this lifetime, my dear Jedi,” she smiled mischievously. Gently she pulled the silver chain out of the box and began opening the clasp.

“Let me,” Obi-Wan said, and to his surprise, she did. He stood behind her and worked the clasp. He tried not to get caught up in the curve of her neck or the smell of her hair and focused on the task at hand.

“Can you not stay for just one more day?” Satine asked softly, just as the clasp snapped shut.

Obi-Wan sighed. If she had asked him before he would have said yes. But now…

“I must return to my Padawan, he is not pleased that I left him alone to his studies while I am off traipsing from planet to planet, surely having a better time than he,” Obi-Wan said rueful smile. He wanted to stay, but they both had their responsibilities. She knew that as well as he did.

“Right. I do not wish to keep you from him,” Satine said. Obi-Wan knew she understood, but he felt the melancholy of his departure as much as she did. “Until next time, Master Kenobi.”

“Until next time, Duchess Kryze.”

Obi-Wan allowed himself one last look at her before he turned around to leave.

The necklace glinted in the sunlight, but Obi-Wan paid it no mind. Its metallic glow was a shadow in comparison to hers, and her glow was all he cared to see.

[missymurphy1985]

The Rebel (Cillian X OC OneShot)

Warning - smut - and this IS only a one shot, I can't cope writing another series at the minute 😂

Request? Yep!

Taglist @queenshelby @margoo0 @being-worthy @peakyscillian @janelongxox @elenavampire21 @noctvrnalmoth @ysmmsy @cloudofdisney @lauren-raines-x @namelesslosers @misscarolineshelby @screemqueen @cilleveryone @darlingjaye

"The fuck does she get off?" Cillian cried, throwing his bag across the trailer he shared with Paul Anderson.

"Someone's a fan of my new love interest!" Paul laughed watching Cillian fume as he paced the small trailer over and over again.

"I knew casting her was a mistake, she's fucking delusional!!!"

"What's she done now..."

"Literally THREW her coffee cup at her PA because she put milk in it... THREW IT!!! At her PA!!! Poor girl was fucking terrified man!"

"She's hot though, ain't she?'

"What? Fuck sake Paul you ever NOT think with your dick?" Paul smirked, raising his eyebrows at Cillian knowingly. "Yes okay, she's a good looking girl, but that doesn't mean she can get away with trampling over people to get her own way does it?"

"Maybe she just needs a good, solid man to ground her a little, bring her back to earth a bit?" Paul smirked.

"Go for it man, good luck to you. Last fella she had probably still needs therapy."

"Oh I wasn't talking about me mate." Cillian looked at him suspiciously.

"What?"

"Oh for fucks sake Cillian, when was your last eye test? Can you not see what's clear as daylight, right in front of you??" Cillian's eyes widened, not understanding a word coming out of Paul's mouth.

"You've lost me."

"Wonder if she's part Irish. Or wants to be...." Cillian's face contorted.

"Don't use that line it's fucking cheesy... Never works either. What's your point?"

"Mate if you don't get in there quick, she's gonna lose interest and Finn will be at it like a shot!"

"You're having a laugh aren't you? I'm not even remotely interested!"

"Uh huh. Okay. Just don't say I didn't warn you eh?" Paul put his baseball cap on and headed out the door, still with a smirk on his face. Cillian took a seat on the sofa and ran his fingers through what was left of his hair, rolling his eyes. Yes, Natalie was fucking hot... But my god was she challenging.

Throwing that cup today was one thing. Telling the director she didn't like her character was another. Her original character was supposed to be Tommy's new 'plaything' behind Lizzie's back, but Natalie had apparently requested a change of direction - she wanted to be Arthur's new love interest, nothing to do with Tommy at all. That confused Cillian, and he'd had to think back to see if he'd ever worked with her in the past, obviously he'd pissed her off at some stage, why else would being his onscreen love interest be so repulsive to her that she demanded an entire script change?

Heading into the bathroom, he glanced at himself in the mirror. He wasn't exactly repulsive, surely? Yes he had a few more wrinkles now that he did in series one, but he was nearly 45 now...

He shook his head quickly - why did it even bother him whether she found him attractive or not?? She was 32, not that much younger than him but still way out of his league, and to top it off she was a fucking nightmare!

But those legs... Her eyes... Her lips... He couldn't help himself imagining those lips wrapped around his cock when he lay in bed in his Manchester apartment alone at night... Without thinking he found himself palming the growing erection under his jeans, feeling that familiar stirring in his groin. Shaking his head quickly, he splashed his face with cold water and rearranged himself in his jeans, calming himself down before he embarrassed himself. Once his erection had gone down, he headed back out of the trailer and over to his hire car, the driver ready and waiting to take him back to the apartment block.

Natalie opened her apartment door and crashed onto the sofa, exhausted. A full week of intense filming, she was more than ready for a soak in the bath and a glass of Shiraz. Opening the cupboard in the kitchen area she groaned - no wine. She also remembered the bubble bath she'd bought, and subsequently left in her trailer back on set...

She fished around in her bag for her room key again, and bit her lip. She knew exactly who would have a bottle of bubble bath... She groaned to herself, having successfully avoided him up until now but her aching limbs were crying out for some Radox. She left her apartment and knocked on the door across the hall.

Cillian answered a few minutes later with just a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair wet.

"Erm... Hey?" He asked, not opening the door fully, more hiding himself behind it.

"Okay um, this is random I know, but I was just wondering if maybe you had any bubble bath going spare? Please?"

"Really?" He laughed.

"Is it so surprising to you that a girl likes a bath now and again?"

"No actually, what's surprising is that you actually have manners."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You said 'please'. Didn't think you had it in you."

"Listen, you either have bubble bath spare, or you don't, it's a simple fucking question Cillian."

"Those tactics won't work with me love." Cillian

"Forget it, for fucks sake..." She turned to leave, rolling her eyes.

"Wait.. yes I have spare. Come in, I'll grab it for you." He pushed the door open so Natalie could walk inside, before heading into the bathroom. Coming back out with his jeans on, she couldn't help but be drawn to his toned chest and biceps, his upper body still damp from his own bath moments before she'd disturbed him.

Cillian caught her checking him out and smirked a little, handing over the bottle of Radox. She took it, smiling a touch herself.

"You smile too." She lowered her eyes and tried to hide the grin on her face. "You're not as hard faced as you try and make out, are you?" His arms were folded across his chest now, leaning against the kitchen counter.

Her eyes suddenly watered, and she bit her lip. Cillian frowned watching her well up and instinctively moved closer, taking her shoulders into his hands.

"Hey now... I didn't mean to upset you..."

"No... No I deserved it. God I'm so sick of this!"

"Sick of what?"

"I have this reputation of being a diva... With my career... I just like things to be perfect and when they're not I can lose my temper so quickly and it's fucking horrible and I make people hate me!" She choked back a sob, and Cillian pulled her into his arms, holding her as her shoulders shook.

"We all like things to be perfect Nat, but life doesn't work out like a fairytale, things just go wrong and that's okay?"

"I know, and I always feel so fucking guilty afterwards.. I can't stop now - my reputation is the only thing keeping me in the press, keeping me relevant..."

"You're kidding, right? So all this bitchiness, the demanding ways - it's an act?"

"Some of my best work has been off camera Cill." He couldn't help but laugh. He opened the cupboard and pulled out two small glasses, followed by a bottle of Irish Whiskey. Offering Nat one, she nodded, and they both moved into the lounge area.

They talked for a while - comparing stories of Hollywood, other actors they'd worked with, before Cillian cleared his throat. He needed to know the truth about her changing the script to be Arthur's love interest rather than Tommy's, and now she'd sank a few whiskeys, she was probably loose enough to tell him straight.

She hung her head, embarrassed. She knew he'd probably find out eventually, being one of the producers, but she hoped if she avoided him long enough she'd never need to reveal the truth to him.

"I also turned down Inception. And they offered me Thandie Newton's role in The Retreat."

"Okay..."

"I turned them all down when I found out you were in them."

"Ouch!" He chuckled nervously, "I don't think I want to ask why!"

"Because.. and this is awkward so don't laugh yeah?" He nodded as a promise not to, but his eyes widened when she revealed the truth. "Because I've had a crush on you since I was a teenager... And I didn't wanna make it awkward but I guess I just kinda did.."

Cillian was stunned into silence for a minute, or five. His silence made her nervous, and she pulled herself off the sofa to head out, realising how much of a fool she'd made herself. Making a mental note to blame the whiskey in the morning, she stood up, only to feel his hands suddenly on her waist as he stood up next to her.

"So that's why you didn't want to play Tommy's love interest, huh?" He held her in front of him, his hands squeezing her hips as he pulled her closer.

"Would've been too awkward.. for me at least.." closer still, their faces now inches apart.

"Does this feel awkward?" Their bodies met, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel how aroused he was, pressed up against her, making her breathing heavier.

"No..." He leaned down, pressing his lips gently against hers, just ghosting over them.

"And this?" He whispered, his hands moving up, not quite over her breasts, just underneath them and round her lower ribs. She couldn't speak, just shook her head. Her breath hitching in her throat as a hand snaked back down, under her leggings and underwear, softly caressing her inner thigh and mound. Cillian glanced at her, her eyes closed and breathing deepening as his fingers traced her core, pushing a finger inside her to feel how much she was throbbing for him.

"Want me to help you with that?" She nodded again, and felt his fingers probe her, moving up slightly to brush against her clit making her hips grind against him and her fingers press into his biceps. His fingers moved slowly, circling the small bud.

"That feels good...." She panted, rocking her hips to ride his fingers, needing more.

He responded by moving his fingers quicker, pushing the small button harder. Her head fell against his chest and she groaned, her orgasm coming quickly.

"Gonna make a mess on my fingers, Nat?" He whispered in her ear, her breath coming in short bursts now. His other hand moved to her hair, pulling the bobble from it and letting it fall down her back, running his fingers through and tugging it to pull her head back. His lips on her neck, biting and sucking at the skin. Her hand resting on his arm, keeping him in place as he fingered her.

"Don't stop... Don't stop... Faster..." She gasped, and he happily complied. Rubbing her clit hard now under her clothing.

"Make a mess on me, cum for me..." She came with a force she'd never felt before, gripping onto his arms and holding his arm steady, riding her hips against his hand as her orgasm began to subside. He gave her a few minutes to catch her breath before pulling his hand away, bringing his fingers to his lips to taste her, groaning at the sweetness and pressing his lips against hers.

Bringing her close again, he backed her up until her calves hit the sofa, before laying her against the cushions and pulling her leggings down, her underwear with them. She spread her legs, biting her lip as his mouth kissed up her thighs.

"You want me to fuck you, Nat?" He lifted her t shirt over her head, her body completely bare now as she nodded.

Her fingers pulled at his jeans, and he unfastened them, easing his erection out before allowing them to fall to the floor, kicking them across the room. Natalie pushed him onto the sofa, sitting up against the cushions before straddling him, his hard cock now pressed against her soaked core.

"I'm gonna fuck you, that okay?" She smiled, her forehead pressed against his as she sunk down on his length, gasping at the sensation of being completely filled by the man she had fantasised about for years. His hands moved to her hips, before she moved them, putting them behind his head, taking full control. He smirked, before his mouth fell open - her hips riding him felt incredible. Pulling her body up, keeping the tip inside, she bounced gently, teasing him. Sinking down on him again, only to repeat the process. His legs were shaking from the sensations.

"Don't tease me, ride me." His blue eyes were like ice, and Nat sunk down so he was fully sheathed before moving her hips back and forth. She released his hands and gripped onto his shoulders for leverage, arching her body backwards slightly so his cock hit against her g spot deep inside her. One of his hands moved to her ass cheek, the other to one of her breasts, both of them squeezing and kneading at the flesh as her body grinded against him.

The hand on her ass moved round to circle her still sensitive clit, making her hips jerk faster.

"Cillian.... Cillian...." Her breathy moans of his name, the way her pussy clamped him, claiming him completely, the feel of her firm breast in his hand, the way her eyes fluttered closed as her orgasm approached... She was intoxicating.

"Baby.. I'm close..." He groaned, feeling that burning coil in his abdomen.

"Me too... I'm on the pill..." He grinned and held her hips still, pounding his hips up hard from underneath her. He had to cover her mouth to silence her loud screams, careful not to alert Paul in the next apartment. That only seemed to turn her on more, and she took two of his fingers into her mouth, sucking them, still tasting herself on them from earlier. The hand on her ass slapped it and squeezed it hard in response, making her cry out.

"That's it... Good girl... Fuck, I'm gonna cum..." Her orgasm flowed from her at his words, and she felt him shoot several streams of hot cum deep inside her as her walls clenched around him, milking him for all he had to give her.

Their foreheads pressed together again, both panting as they rode out the waves of pleasure.

"Does that live up to your fantasy?" He chuckled, groaning a little as she gave him a final clench of her walls.

"More than... Fuck that was incredible..." She gasped, gently rocking against him, not wanting him to leave her body just yet. She could feel him hardening again, in fact she wasn't sure he even softened.

"Don't stop, keep moving... Nice and slow.. Just like that..." He helped her hips move slowly, riding him gently.

"You're insatiable, aren't you..." She groaned.

"You feel too good wrapped around me, full of my cum deep inside you... You gonna let me fill you up again yeah?" She didn't answer, instead just allowed him to move her against him. He brought her hand down to rub her clit, needing to feel her cum again. She circled the bud gently at first, then feeling his cock start to twitch inside her she picked up the pace. He suddenly moved them so she was underneath him, his hips pistoning into her as he bent his head down to watch her fingers pleasuring herself.

"I'm gonna cum, Cillian...."

"I'm right there with you, come on..." A deep groan from both of them as they came together, him filling her up for the second time.

His body fell against hers as she held his shoulders, his face buried in her neck lightly caressing the skin with the tip of his nose.

"Fuck... Natalie... I haven't been able to do that for years," he laughed, hissing slightly pulling his sensitive cock out of her. Their mixed juices flowing from her onto the sofa cushion.

"I only came over for bubble bath.." she chuckled, her head laid back against the arm of the sofa as she caught her breath.

"My bath's probably still warm, might as well jump in with me?" He offered.

"No funny business in there, I think I need a breather..."

"Better make it a quick bath then. You're not leaving this apartment tonight. Or this weekend, in fact."

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hello! Just wondering what would you, Miss Raven, do if you were invited to judge Jade's mushroom dishes? Are you going to eat it? You're going to be fine after that, right? 😱😱😱

<_< >_> *AGGRESSIVELY CRAMS J LEECH’S COOKING/POISON INTO MY GAPING MOUTH*

***Spoilers for Lilia and Jade’s Master Chef personal stories!***

Mornings in the Crowley household were usually peaceful. Quite uneventful, in fact.

The headmaster would rise before his niece, dress himself, and set to preparing a hearty breakfast. She would rise after, meandering around the attic to prepare her supplies for another school day. Then they’d gather at the dining table for a brief meal and chitchat before heading out, whether to the office or to a classroom.

Today, Raven awoke to frantic screeching.

Groggily wiping the sleep out of her eyes, she poked her head into the kitchen. Her uncle loomed over the stove, dressed in his “kiss the cook” apron, wielding a spatula in one clawed hand and a phone in the other. While Crowley spoke sharply to the person on the other end, he sent discs of batter flying into the air.

"What do you MEAN we’re short a judge for the Master Chef course today?!” he crowed, slapping a freshly made pancake onto a tower of them.

“I-I’m sorry, headmaster! There’s... There’s really nothing we can do about it!!” a ghost chef cried--so loudly that Raven could clearly hear him, even though the phone was not on speaker.

Raven quietly slipped into her seat at the dining table.

“Please, sir!” the ghost chef continued. “My colleague still has food poisoning from when he tasted Lilia Vanrouge’s ‘cooking’ yesterday! He hasn’t had enough time to recover--we can’t send him back in today! He might actually die and turn into a ghost... AGAIN!”

“Then find a temporary replacement!!” Crowley fired back, slamming the stack of pancakes before his niece. “Since I am so very kind, I have already offered up my own tongue for judging! You should find some other kind soul like myself to suff... er, I mean, enjoy bean cuisine with the other judges.”

“That’s the problem, sir! We can’t recruit anyone on such short notice! Once the students and staff hear Lilia Vanrouge and Jade Leech are in the same Master Chef class... They turn tail and run the other way!!”

Raven’s ears perked up at the mention of her two upperclassmen--Lilia, a notoriously terrible cook, and Jade, a rather talented cook by normal standards, were he not also a fungi-obsessed sadist and an enabler. Those two? Together in the kitchen? It surely spelled disaster.

She angled her head, peering around the pancakes to stare pitifully at the headmaster. “... Is everything alright, Uncle?”

Crowley received her with a worried expression. His mouth flew open, prepared to shoo her away to eat her breakfast in the attic--but then his beady eyes lit up, and his lips twisted into a smile.

“You needn’t worry! I’ve found exactly what we need,” he chirped into the phone.

Click!

Crowley hung up, then spun around on his heels and spread out his arms in a grand, welcoming motion. “Raven-kun!! How would you like to follow your dear old uncle to work today?”

Her stomach sank.

They both knew perfectly well: she was both too curious and too kind of heart to say anything but “yes”.

“My, isn’t this a treat! The young Crowley has descended from her tower to indulge in our dishes,” Lilia crooned excitedly as he approached the judge’s table, platters of food in hand. “I’m honored.”

“What a rare sight indeed,” Jade agreed. He followed not too far behind the fae, juggling his own dishes with ease--as expected of a Mostro Lounge server. His smile was (deceitfully) sweet. “I do hope you enjoy. I believe you will find my cooking will leave you... speechless.”

“... That emphasis on ‘speechless’ doesn’t reassure me,” Raven huffed, her eyes surveying the two dishes placed in front of her. To the bird’s left, Crowley visibly cringed. To her right, Rook clapped his hands in delight.

“What have you made for us today, then?” the headmaster asked, making no move to pick up his fork and knife.

“I’ve prepared for you Garlic Sautéed Pea Sprouts!” Lilia declared, puffing his chest out.

“... If that is the case, then why are there these massive chunks of pineapple in it?” Raven dubiously poked at the large slices of fruit littered throughout her pasta, sprouts, bacon bits, and cream sauce.

“For flavor and nutrition!”

“... May I be excused now?”

Rook laughed, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’ve only just arrived at the venue, mon petit oiseau! It would be remiss of us to dismiss a dish based solely on its appearance. We must carry out our duties, until the bittersweet end...!”

“Why are you talking like we’re going to die if we consume this?”

“I wouldn’t knock it until you’ve tried it for yourself,” Lilia suggested. “Nothing good comes from being picky with foods.”

“If I may interject...” Jade cleared his throat. “Perhaps it would be better for the judges to begin with my dish.”

“Yours?”

“Yes. I would not wish for my Tofu Hamburger Steak to be overshadowed by your inventive cooking, Lilia-san. Best for me to strike first and make a strong impression with my meal.”

“Oh? I’m flattered that you think so highly of my culinary skills.” Lilia brightened, pleased with the indirect praise. “Very well. I will do the graceful thing as your upperclassman and allow you to go before me.”

“You have my sincerest thanks.”

Raven warily eyed the student chefs as they exchanged words. Something’s clearly wrong here, she thought. Jade must have something up his sleeve... otherwise he wouldn’t be buttering Lilia up for nothing.

She carefully cut into her patty. It was nicely browned, served on a bed of lettuce and with a slice of tomato, and doused in a rich gravy. The hamburger looked normal, smelled normal... but Raven still sensed something fishy afoot.

In that moment, Jade lifted his eyes from the fae and met hers. There was a mischievous glimmer to his mismatched eyes. Like Polaris, shining brighter than any star in the night sky. His lips peeled back, his next words drenched in honey.

“Bon appetit.”

Raven glowered, lifting her fork to her mouth and shoveling the imitation meat in. Rook had also daringly taken a bite--while the headmaster nervously looked on.

The soy patty tasted and felt so close to real meat. Tender, but with the texture of ground beef, spiced to perfection and covered in that thick, mushroomy sauce. If she closed her eyes, she could see a mountain unfolding before her, and the tendrils of smoke rising from her campfire--the homeliness of the patty permeating her senses.

“How is it?” Crowley inquired.

“It’s...”

Raven froze midsentence, her jaw having locked up. Her fingers similarly stiffened, silverware clattering to the table. Her tongue swelled up, suddenly feeling as heavy as a stone sinking into a lake.

The bird’s face fixed in an expression of horrified realization--but it was not in view for long.

She fell forward, faceplanting in what remained of her Tofu Hamburger Steak. Gravy splattered everywhere from the impact, catching in her clothes and on her fellow judges.

“Oh dear.” Lilia passed a concerned look to Jade, who seemed totally unfazed. “Perhaps this was...”

Crowley leapt onto his feet. “Just what is the meaning of this, Jade Leech-kun?!”

"Ah fink Mohnsieurw Massermime hath poithined hish dith!” Rook suggested. His cheeks had taken on a rather swollen quality to them, each word that escaped him coming out with a strong lisp and a deep breath.

Yet he still beamed like an eager school boy.

Jade chuckled. “Oya, oya... It seems that the poison was a bit too strong for Miss Raven’s delicate system to handle. Rook-san appears to be taking to it just fine.”

“You... You confess to your crime?!”

“Crime?” Jade scoffed. “I was simply experimenting with a new ingredient. There is no crime committed, headmaster.”

The eel thoughtfully tapped at his chin. “Hmm. I should have taken into consideration that the poison would circulate much faster in someone with a small stature such as Miss Raven. Of course it would paralyze her to a greater extent than a person with a larger, more athletic build like Rook-san. I must adjust the amount accordingly next time.”

“Next time?! There won’t be a next time for you in Master Chef if you continue to waste your time in the kitchen on stunts like this!!!”

“... Is it wise for you to continue your tirade? Should your attention not be focused on tending to Miss Raven? It would be rather tragic if she were to, say, suffocate in mushroom gravy.”

Crowley shot Jade a glare—but ultimately, he turned away, grasping his niece by the shoulders and, together with Rook, hoisting her up. She seemed to be in a daze, her face smeared in sauce and crumbled tofu. The headmaster sighed, grabbing a napkin to wipe her up.

“The rest of the judging for today is cancelled! You two are dismissed.”

“What a naughty trick you’ve pulled. I wasn’t expecting it from you, Jade,” Lilia noted. “And in front of the headmaster as well.”

“As you know, culinary creativity demands experimentation.” Jade laughed, cruelty and kindness weaving together in his silken voice. “Let us say that the judges are our willing volunteers to that end.”

“Well, you are correct in that regard.” Lilia shrugged. “But it’s such a shame that the rest of the judging was called off before they could sample my Garlic Sautéed Pea Sprouts. I was hoping to get feedback on it.”

“There is always tomorrow, with the fresh faces of new judges. In the meantime, please allow me to assist you in disposing of your leftovers.”

“Oh? Such a waste of food.”

“Not to worry. I’m certain Octavinelle A-kun would love to have free food. The poor boy is living off of cup ramen as of late.” Jade whisked the platters of untouched pasta and pineapple from his senior. “You can remake these dishes, no?”

“In that case, please be my guest. I would not be opposed to recreating the sprouts—it’s more practice for me.” Lilia drew a hand over his mouth and chuckled. “You think of everything, Jade.”

“I’m touched to receive your praise.”

Tilting a plate, Jade gently scraped Lilia’s noodles into a plastic container. They tumbled in with a heavy plop, followed by the generous chunks of pineapple. Acidic fruit, fatty meat, a cream sauce—the aromas conflicted with one another.

Sentencing the judges away with poison, compared to downing this... It was surely the lesser of two evils.

Fufufu. I certainly hope Miss Raven appreciates my mercy, just this once.