#my silly prickly cactus of a man

[kotekenobii]

How Chuck’s actions contradict his own words and promises make me insane actually

[bradsmindbrain]

So I'm guessing Ted has various plants and flowers around his house. Maybe a prompt with Jack commenting that Ted is his favorite houseplant?

Roots

Summary: Ted tends to his husband’s neglected houseplants, Jack makes it up to him.

TW: None

Jack grinned as he watched his husband tend to one of his home’s many houseplants, giving a low hum as he watered them. This behavior wasn’t a surprise to him, Ted had a kinship with plants, no doubt because he himself was made of them. He knew Ted’s love for plants was to the point that he had a little garden to the side of his hut, one section with flowers, the other section with food plants. Ted had brought him food from his garden on occasion, one time he even brought a whole strawberry and rhubarb pie, that in particular was absolutely delicious.

He found it funny, how a plant was tending to other plants. That reminded him, he did find it a bit strange how a serum could transform a perfectly human man into a lumbering mass of plants. He couldn’t imagine how painful it probably felt, transforming during the full moon was bad enough, the prospect of transforming into something like that, well, the thought of plants growing out of skin made him shudder. He figured the pain wasn’t the worst part about the accident though, it was clear to him that Ted’s lack of connection outside of him, Elsa, Marc, Steven, and Jake obviously took a toll on him.

He shook his head and watched as Ted tended to a small cactus, careful not to prick himself one one of its spines. He guessed Ted understood that the prick wouldn’t hurt, and the carefulness was more out of habit than anything. It was funny, because despite Ted’s viney exterior, he considered his husband to be better compared to a cactus. Prickly and intimidating for the most part yes, but also beautiful and important, just as cacti grew flowers and animals made their homes in them.

Ted ripped him from his thoughts with a grumble.

He blushed a bit, yeah, he really should have to rely on his husband to take care of his houseplants. Plants weren’t like cats or dogs, where you could tell when they were hungry, and they were so relatively low maintenance that it could be easy to forget to properly tend to them.

“Yeah, sorry, I know,” he replied back.

Ted grumbled snarkily in response.

Once Ted was done with the living room’s houseplants, he took it upon himself to take care of the rest of the plants that were littered throughout his husband’s house, none too pleased at the states they were in. Jack listened to his husband’s annoyed growls, and as they went on, he felt guilty for getting his partner all worked up. He knew Ted cared deeply for plant life, he really should have taken better care of the plants, now Ted was obviously annoyed and unhappy, and he didn’t like seeing his partner like that. He needed to come up with a way to make his husband feel a bit better, he honestly deserved it for dealing with all of his plants. Wait, plants, that gave him an idea.

After a while, Ted finished tending to all the plants in the house, and he turned to face him with a mildly annoyed grumble. 

He nodded, “Yeah, I know, I’ll take better care of them from now on, starting with my favorite houseplant.”

Ted grumbled, intrigued, listing off the plants that he thought were his favorite.

He gave a small laugh, “No, silly.” He came closer to Ted, embracing the larger man, “It’s you.”

Ted seemed taken aback and flustered by the gesture and comment, but gave in to the embrace, giving a content grumble.

After a minute, he spoke again, “Sorry for giving you all of this work Teddy Bear, I’ve… never been too good with plants, honestly.”

Ted grumbled an amused, teasing grumble from above him.

He blushed a bit, laughing, “Wow, and I thought my houseplant line was corny.” He shook his head, “But in all honesty, I’ll try to take better care of them in the future.”

Ted gave an appreciative grumble.

They stood like that for a few more minutes, until he finally pulled away from Ted, “I’ll start dinner, I think I have some steak, I know you like that.”

Ted groaned happily, rapidly tapping the side of his leg. It was cute when he did that when he was excited. 

He gave his husband one last smile before heading into the kitchen to make Ted a well-deserved dinner.

[aminiatureworld]

Old Faces

Characters: Albedo, Xiao, Zhongli, gn!reader

Word Count: 2,151

Warnings: None

Premise: In which the reader runs into their ex

Author’s Note: Did something a little different by changing which character perspective it was for different prompts. I found it a good way to explore this particular prompt.

Albedo

The moment Albedo walked out of his office door he felt his stomach sink a bit.

Though the alchemist liked to think that he was a man of perfect rationality, whether by nature or by will, he couldn’t help but feel a knot in his stomach as he watched you talking to your ex.

Albedo knew that things hadn’t ended well in your last relationship, knew that there had been a lot of shouting and crying done by both parties, all culminating in you getting kicked out of your shared apartment. You didn’t like to talk about it even now, focusing on your relationship with Albedo instead of dwelling on the past. If any reminder of your ex ever surfaced you usually glared it before moving on.

That knowledge made your evidently awkward conversation all the worse. As you leaned against one of the beams which held up the alchemy front, seemingly distancing yourself as much as possible from the person in front of you, Albedo felt a sudden urge to run and wedge himself between the two of you. OF course he would never act upon something so unhelpful, but the alchemist was finding more and more that he’d be seized by illogical wishes the more he opened himself up to you.

Now he curbed his thoughts and made his way over, planting himself firmly next to you and not bothering to introduce himself beyond a curt nod. Not as if he needed an introduction anyways, as Albedo had run into your former partner a few times before, and the icy coldness between him and them was completely natural, at least on Albedo’s part.

“Ah Albedo!” You turned, smiling brightening for a moment. Placing a quick kiss on the alchemist’s cheek, something which caused warmth to immediately flood his face, you turned back towards your ex. “I’m sure you know about my partner, this is Albedo.”

“So you’ve been screwing around with this runt,” you ex shook his head as if disgusted. Narrowing his eyes, Albedo felt irritation wash over him, and for a moment he wondered if there was a potion that might indispose your ex for at least a week that could be easily hidden.

“Yes I’m currently in a relationship with him,” you replied, ignoring your ex’s jeer. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

“None of my business? Don’t I have the right to be worried for you?”

“Oh please,” you snorted. “If you really worried about me you wouldn’t have kicked me out. Now if you please I have something to do. I’m very glad to hear that you’re well and getting your life on track and everything, but in truth I think this is really awkward, so could you please give me at least a head’s up next time.”

“You’re still think you’re better than everyone,” your ex spat.

“No, they don’t.” Albedo heard himself say, finding himself more and more irritated by this conversation. “But though they would never admit it, they are certainly better than you. I suggest you listen to their warnings, otherwise there are a few elixirs that could certainly use a human test subject.”

Your ex’s face paled, and they let out a curse before turning away. Suddenly feeling very depleted of energy Albedo sighed.

“Hey, thanks for that.”

“Of course,” Albedo looked up at you. “You seemed uncomfortable.”

“I was,” you admitted. “They weren’t really listening to me, so thank you.”

Leaning over to kiss Albedo once more you stopped in surprise as your partner tilted his head so that your lips met his, instead of the cheek you were aiming for. Pulling back Albedo looked at the ground.

“Sorry, I realize that wasn’t what you were planning.”

“I don’t mind!” Your reply came fast. “I’m just surprised. You okay?”

“Of course I’m alright,” Albedo looked at you. “You should be more worried about yourself.”

“Why shouldn’t I be also worried about you?” You tilted your head. “I know that you don’t really like conflict. And I’m sure that was awkward for you as well.”

Albedo said nothing in reply, merely leaning over to kiss you gently on the forehead. You were so quick to notice things sometimes he couldn’t fathom it.

As the afternoon drifted on Albedo found himself once more thinking about how wonderful you were. There was no one in the world like you, no one nearly so precious to him, so worthy of love. If this was beyond the intelligence of a shadow of the past, well, what did it matter.

  Xiao

“Why don’t you just go back to them?”

You stared at your partner, surprised by the words that had just come out of his mouth. All day Xiao had been as prickly as a cactus, even more standoffish than usual, and all day you’d been trying to coax some words out of the silent yaksha who had taken to standing next to you all day. Now you wondered if that hadn’t been a mistake.

“What do you mean?” You felt your voice waver slightly. “Xiao why are you telling me to go back to my ex?”

You had run into a former significant other of yours at the Inn a day ago, as they had taken up a carpentry contract for the rotting bits of stairwell that made the Inn so difficult to manage sometimes. Though you two had long since been finished, the split had been amicable, and at the time it had felt nostalgic to simply chat with an old friend, a memory of an earlier part of your life when everything had been so different.

Though you were certainly aware that Xiao might have been watching, a suspicion confirmed by the adeptus’ questions that evening, you had never thought much of it. Sure it was your former partner, but it was too long ago to even think about now. You had been a dumb kid then, and though you might not be infallible now, you were certainly different. Standing across from your partner now you realized that not everyone appeared to hold the same opinon.

“Xiao, I know that I was talking to my ex yesterday, but just because I was doing so doesn’t mean I don’t love you or care about you. That was a very long time ago for me, if not for you, and I don’t see in them a partner anyone, I haven’t for years. I understand if you might not feel the same way regarding the timeframe, but there’s no reason to, well, I don’t know what you’re doing right now.”

You stared at your partner, who appeared to be glaring at the railing right next to your hand. You loved Xiao, despite all the rumors that often circulated him and the rest of the adepti. You also knew that Xiao had an incredibly fine-tuned sense of justice and logic. He normally wouldn’t hurl something at you like a challenge. Though he wasn’t perhaps the most well-versed in the ordinary lives of humans, you would hardly call him oblivious to human customs. Partner’s weren’t always partner’s for life. Why then was Xiao acting so cagey?

Now you partner let out a small “hmph!” Shifting himself so he was facing the outside, he stared out at the inky night of Liyue. His cheeks were warmed by the flickering candles of the Inn, and in that moment he seemed oddly vulnerable.

“Xiao,” you ventured. “Is something wrong, are you, are you still uneasy about yesterday.”

For a moment Xiao said nothing, and your heart began to sink. As you turned to walk away however you heard the soft tones of your partner’s voice.

“Would you be happier with them?”

“No,” the answer came automatic and true, “though I may have been their partner once, now they’re merely a friend. There is no one like you to me Xiao, there never will be; I realized that a while ago. Even if you worry about your karma or you lack of knowledge or whatever you shouldn’t worry that I’ll ever leave you.”

You quickly found yourself enveloped in your partner’s embrace. Letting a small sigh of relief pass your lips you returned the embrace fiercely. Feeling the arms around you tighten ever so slightly you found the strangest urge to laugh. Maybe because it was so silly, the idea that you would ever leave your partner. Though it was sad that he would never know how deeply those feelings ran.

“I’ll never go back to anyone but you,” you murmured.

 Zhongli

The first thing Zhongli thought was that you two looked so right together.

Though the ex-archon did not like to admit it, the doubts that he had had at the beginning of the relationship still plagued him. Not the doubts about his love for you, oh no he could never doubt such a thing not if all the stars went out. No, his doubts lay in himself, in who he was. Perhaps it was wrong of him to still linger on his impending immortality, something that you assured him you had come to terms with. It felt disrespectful towards your decision to continuously feel this way. Yet standing at the door of the Funeral Parlor, watching as you chatted with your former partner, Zhongli could not help but feel the familiar pain.

The walk home was spent in a bit of a fog, as Zhongli half-listened to you discuss your day. Normally he found everything about you fascinating, and the things your job put you through were no different. This time though the words trickled off his back like water off a duck’s wings, the image of your and your “ex”, as you called it, pressing down upon him.

“My love?” He found himself saying, not realizing he had made up the decision to ask you something. You paused your conversation, titling your head slightly.

“Is something wrong?”

“No.” It was a lie perhaps, but an understandable one. “I just wished to comment upon the fact that I saw you with your former significant other. I hope that all was well with them.”

“They’re fine,” you replied. “Doing great actually, if what they say is true. Then again then were always prone to lying.” You let out a small laugh.

“Do you miss them?” Zhongli found he could not contain his questions today.

“No, not really. To be honest, talking to them kinda sucked. They sort of half-ghosted me back in the day, and even though you have to keep up appearances and all, I mean I can’t take them to task now, it still hurt.”

“I am sorry to hear that.”

“Oh don’t be!” You shook your head. “I’m perfectly happy where I am now. Even if that whole debacle sucked, it’s worth it if it let this happen.”

The both of you glanced down at you intertwined hands. The image was so perfect in Zhongli’s mind that for a moment all his worries went away, and the golden sun seemed to brighten just a little bit.

Later that evening however Zhongli once more found himself thinking about it. He really had been shaken by you talking with your former partner. Even if they were not the right one, they were still human. Did that not make things easier for you? Happier for you? Zhongli thought back at your hands. How fast would they age in his mind, how fast would you notice how frozen Zhongli was. As if he was carved from rock, the ex-archon could only be eroded slowly. He could not grow old with you.

“My darling?” Zhongli murmured. It was dark and the two of you were in bed. Limbs tangled together, heads nestled close, Zhongli felt as if he could ask what he so feared.

“Yes?” Your voice was heavy with sleep.

“Do you ever regret falling in love with me?”

“No,” your murmured. “I know that you might not believe me, or you might not stop worrying, but you should. I love only you, my dear. I always will. Death will not change how much I love you.”

Zhongli pondered these words as your breathing evened and you slipped off into dreams. How could you say such a thing so nonchalantly, how could you be so sure? Then again, humans always seemed to be more confident in their decisions than those who had been given immortality.

Though the ex-archon wasn’t always fond of sleep, Zhongli felt himself begin to slip away. In the in between of awake and asleep everything seemed painted over, made simple by the logic of one half-dreaming. He would never be rid of these feelings. Perhaps then he should rely on yours. He relied on your for so much already.

Kissing your cheek before finally being dragged into sleep the last coherent thought Zhongli was aware of was that he loved you so very much.

[andyet-here-we-are]

I Would Get Into Millions of Accidents Just to See You, Chapter 3 (aka Nurse Geralt AU)

(Check the pinned post for the first two chapters please~)

The next day flows by in a blur for Geralt. He wakes up, takes a shower, prepares a quick but nutritious breakfast for Ciri, and makes oatmeal for himself.

On his way to the hospital, he thinks about Jaskier and wonders if he should call him now. He almost does that, but then he decides against it because he knows that Jaskier is busy having his fourth dream right now probably. It's too early to call him as much as he wants to do so. 

His mind wanders on how cute Jaskier sounds when he is sleepy—when he has just woken up.

Cute, but also usually a bit grumpy even though he denies it with every inch of his being.

***

"That shouldn't be legal," is what Geralt thinks when he steps into the hospital room, unable to take his eyes off Jaskier's sleeping figure. "I can't believe I'm supposed to do that. God, have some mercy on me. I love my job, I really do, but it sucks big time sometimes. Why should I suffer this way?"

A moment later, he is well aware of how dramatic he is being, and how hard he frowns, making a source face. It's not like him to act like this at all.

Damn.

"That dramatic son of a flower must be rubbing off on me," annoyed at himself, he mumbles before he coughs as if that alone is enough to wake the musician up. 

"Good morning," he tries when Jaskier doesn't wake up and slightly turns to the other side of his bed instead.

"Mr. Pankratz, it's your medicine time."

Jaskier slightly opens his eyes just to look at him this time, and the first thing he mumbles is: "What happened to your ears?" before closing his eyes again. 

"What are you talking about?" The nurse questions, checking his ears with his free hand that isn't holding the medicine tray, wondering what he meant by that.

"Are you still asleep?"

"Yes... No. Maybe?" Jaskier mumbles again, half asleep as he rubs his eyes, trying to make sleepiness go away.

"You will have to pick one of them."

The musician opens his eyes after a while and smiles at Geralt.

"Morning. God, what a sight to wake up to."

Geralt must be used at this by now. Because whenever Geralt has to wake him up, no matter how much Jaskier complains at first most of the time, he always utters the same words eventually.

"What a sight to wake up to."

Yet, every time he does that, Geralt's heart flutters in his chest.

"You didn't sound too happy with my ears, though. What was that about?"

"Ah, about that. I had a dream that— promise you won't laugh?"

"Can't do."

"Anyway," Jaskier yawns and explains: "I had a dream that you were an... elf."

"I was a— what?" Geralt laughs.

"Hey! You said you wouldn't laugh!" The musician stares at him like he is ready to kill him. 

"I never said that," Geralt forces himself to stop laughing. "Well, that explains everything."

"Shh, stop interrupting me. It's mean."

"Sorry, I'm all ears. Not elf ears, though, sorry to disappoint you."

"Don't sweat it. Bad guys were trying to steal Mrs. Ansley's—who was a fairy, speaking of which—cookie recipe, which was also the key of a parallel universe, somehow. You were trying to protect the recipe, then puff. Some gingerbread men came out of nowhere to help you, but you tried to... eat them? Well, not just tried actually. You managed to eat their leader. Therefore they decided to join the dark side. Can't blame you, though. They looked pretty yummy. I was about to hop on my unicorn for help when you woke me up. A unicorn wearing a pasta costume. Pink pasta costume. Yeah, yeah, I know, that makes no sense, is there even a pink pasta costume?" He asks sleepily, raising an eyebrow. "Also, I had a magical lute, I think."

"You think that your whole dream makes sense, but just the pink pasta costume doesn't?"

"I've never seen a pink pasta costume, so..."

"Oh, sorry, right. I forgot you have seen everything else but that. The elf version of me, alive gingerbreads and all. My bad."

He chuckles at that lightly.

"Still more possible than a pink pasta costume."

"The most ridiculous dream you had this week might be this one so far."

Jaskier seemed to have taken it upon himself to tell Geralt about his dreams. This was the eighth dream he talked about this week, and it wasn't even Friday yet.

"It was like," he opens his arms wide as if he is presenting the name of his new song to the whole world, " 'Geralt and Jaskier in Wonderland' I blame the medicines. And you," he points at the nurse. "I also blame you. For looking like... " he then gestures at everything, "this."

"You blame me?" The other man snorts, amused. "If anything, you should blame yourself for having the wrong dream. Have you ever looked at yourself? You would make a good elf, not me. You are as bea— I mean, anyway, medicine time."

"I am what now? Wait, wait, wait, were you about to call me beautiful?"

"I was about to call you bearable, but then I thought that would be mean."

"I think you were about to call me beautiful, but then you thought 'That wouldn't be professional, you are his nurse,' or something along these lines. Also, that's not even how you start when you're about to say 'bearable' they are not even pronounced the— "

"That's not what happened."

"Nahh, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what happened, but eh, whatever helps you sleep at night, love."

"You're probably thinking you're still in 'Geralt and Jaskier in Wonderland', go back to sleep, you're delusional."

"I am so not! And that would be your problem even if I was. Wanna check my fever?" He says, giving the nurse a once-over, "I feel hot, suddenly."

"Well, that explains why you're delusional, doesn't it?" Geralt teases. "Take your medicine and you will be just fine."

Jaskier sighs and does as he is told.

"Geralt," Jaskier says before Geralt is about to leave, a grin on his face "I think you are 'bearable', too. "

***

Geralt means to call Jaskier.

He really does.

Yet, whenever he is about to call him, something comes up, and eventually, he just accepts that he is going to have to wait for his shift to be over. 

For some reason, he doesn't want to call him and get interrupted after a minute.

And he doesn't want to send him a text, because he prefers hearing his angelic voice instead.

So, yeah. He is kind of stuck there for now.

***

Geralt finds Ciri laughing at her own joke as she watches The Office when he gets home, and this reminds him of Jaskier since that's something they both have in common. Once again, he finds himself thinking about the musician.

***

“Shit, it hurts,” Jaskier says, holding his chest.

“Maybe it’s the universe’s way to tell you to stop laughing at your own jokes.”

“Oh shut up, the universe can kiss my ass.”

“Seems like it prefers to kick your ass instead.”

That draws an annoyed laugh out of him, which makes him hiss in pain.

“It wouldn’t send me here if it was trying to kick my ass, Mr. Should Have Been A Model But Became A Nurse For Some Reason.”

“I can't believe you still keep using that silly nickname unironically. Don’t you think that it is a bit long?”

“You may be right. Hmm, I’ll just call you ‘Mr. Handsome Nurse,’ from now on.”

“Please don’t. No.”

“How about just ‘Handsome’ ?”

“Still no.”

“Why not? It’s just a fact. You wouldn’t get mad at someone if they would point at a yellow wall and call it a ‘yellow wall’ would you?”

“That’s not the same thing.”

“I see no differences.”

“Then you better get your eyes checked.” 

“Speaking of which—” Jaskier reaches for his scratch book standing on the bedside table “can I borrow your eyes for a second?”

Geralt frowns, wondering what the musician is up to this time.

Jaskier opens his scratch book and stares in his eyes intently for a while and as he scribbles something. "Thanks," he says, "I just needed an accurate model of the stars."

"You know," the nurse shakes his head and answers smoothly: "you could just ask for a mirror."

Geralt can't help but smirk at his open-mouthed speechlessness. 

***

He hears a familiar voice singing, and for a moment he is sure that he has finally gone insane. 

Drying his hands on a washcloth, Geralt makes his way to the source of the voice, thinking "That must how Jerry feels when he follows the smell of a piece of cheese Tom tries to fool him with."

Jaskier's voice is irresistible to him, just like how cheese is irresistible to Jerry.

Absolutely irresistible, and hard to miss.

He could distinguish Jaskier's voice among all the rest if he heard it in a room filled with millions of men singing a song together.

This voice is coming from their living room. To be more specific, from Ciri's laptop—which she was supposed to use for searching her homework topic, but that can wait for now—

"Or I shall die," he hears Jaskier singing oh so sincerely and dramatically "or I shall die!"

"Dad! Please don't be mad, I swear to God I was going to start doing my homework, but—"

The first thing he does when he sits on the couch next to his daughter is grabbing the laptop and rewinding the video to the start. He then checks if the volume is at maximum.

"Shhh," he gestures, all of his attention is on the video he is watching.

He doesn't even realize that he takes a deep breath as soon as he sees the musician's face appear in front of him on the screen before Jaskier even starts singing.

He is as beautiful as ever in his ridiculous mint green shirt that he left the first four buttons undone.

It has cactus patterns on it.

Geralt can't help but wonder if Jaskier wearing this shirt is actually some kind of a secret message to him and him only.

Didn't he say that Geralt was just like a cactus?

"...prickly on the outside sometimes, but soft on the inside? A cactus in the desert.”

His words. Not Geralt's.

What does that even mean then? Something like "I wanna wear you on me like a shirt?"

Okay, he should probably stop because he is reading too much into this and—

"Anyway, so, this song goes to the cruel man who made me want to buy this shirt because it reminded me of him. You know who you are,"

Geralt's breath hitches.

He is not reading too much into this.

If anything, it's vice versa, because Jaskier dedicated a song to him.

Jaskier is thinking about him, too.

Thinking about him too much that he has decided he should dedicate a song to him.

The scene splits into five and one of the boxes on the screen shows Jaskier playing the piano, while in the other he plays the lute occasionally, violin in another one, and accordion in the other one. And in the other, he sings.

Good God. Is there anything this man cannot do?—Besides picking names for babies maybe, since picking names is definitely isn't his strong suit.—

"I tell myself what's done is done

I tell myself don't be a fool

Play the field have a lot of fun

It's easy when you play it cool"

"Does this mean he gave up on me because he got fed up with waiting for my call?" he thinks. But then again, why would he sing a song for him if he gave up?

While watching the video, Geralt is well aware of the fact that he will watch this video again and again and will take special care of each Jaskier— making sure not to miss even the tiniest of the mimic and gesture he does.

"I tell myself don't be a chump

Who cares, let him stay away

That's when the phone rings and I jump

And as I grab the phone I pray

Let it please be him, oh dear God

It must be him or I shall die

Or I shall die"

He was right, this isn't a song that screams: "I'm giving up." Thank God it isn't. Jaskier puts his hand on his chest as he sings, and Ciri sighs next to Geralt, resting her head on his shoulder as she watches the video with him. 

"Oh hello, hello my dear God

It must be him but it's not him

And then I die

That's when I die"

That dramatic son of a flower actually flings himself into an armchair.

"After a while, I'm myself again

I take the pieces off the floor

Put my heart on the shelf again

You'll never hurt me anymore"

While he sings the "put my heart on the shelf again" he puts a heart sculpture on his bookshelf with a serious look and frown on his face. He might have got this heart sculpture just for this video for all Geralt knows.

"I'm not a puppet on a string,"

At this point, Geralt wouldn't be surprised to see actual strings attached to the musician's body just so he could cut the strings. He really wouldn’t be surprised, at all.

Because Jaskier is that extra most of the time.

And Geralt loves that about him.

"I'll find somebody else someday

That's when the phone rings, and once again

I start to pray

Let it please be him, oh dear God

It must be him, it must be him

or I shall die, or I shall die"

The musician's voice goes up effortlessly into an unreachable octave as he sings the last part, and it's impossible not to be impressed. 

But then again, the man puts his heart into everything he does, therefore even doing something like folding a simple frog origami seems impressive when he is the one who's doing it, let alone singing as perfectly as this.

He then slowly walks towards the camera as the other boxes disappear and that one takes over the screen.

"Seriously though," he makes an aggressive 'call me' gesture, and the scene fades to black after that.

"Whoever keeps Jaskier waiting must be crazy," Ciri comments and gave a snort of disapproval and frustration. "He must care about this idiot of a guy a lot if he sings for him like this. What a jabroni. It would take him only a minute to call him."

"Ciri!"

"What? I'm right."

"That's not a nice thing to say," Geralt warns as he hands the laptop back to his daughter.

"I'm surprised that you watched the full thing, by the way. Actually, you don't seem too annoyed with me watching his videos nowadays, and you seemed quite interested in this one."

"I just love Vikki Carr," Geralt says. He has seen the title of the video, after all, so he knew this was a cover of her song. "I've wondered how he sang this song."

"Name five Vikki Carr songs then."

Geralt doesn't know five Vikki Carr songs— he can't even name two, let alone five.

"Okay, I think that's enough fun for you today," the nurse pretends not to have heard his daughter. "Do your homework while I go out to get some milk."

"We have milk at home."

"No, we don't."

"I put it in the fridge myself just this morning, so yeah, we do."

"We're out of these cookies you love, though."

"I thought you said they consumed way too much sugar so we were going to come up with a healthy and as I've read from your invisible subtitles, also probably boring recipe we can make together this weekend?"

"I— God, you ask a lot of questions today." Geralt whispers tiredly, pinching the bridge of his nose and letting Ciri's "boring recipe" comment slide.

Fuck him for not saying "I'm gonna go get some groceries," instead.

"I just asked one question, but okay. So? You changed your mind?"

"Yeah, I changed my mind, just for one more week, you can have it."

"Really?! Thanks!"

"Anything you want, pumpkin. Alright, I'm off!"

Geralt ruffles her hair before he grabs his wallet, keys, and most importantly, his phone.

Just before he closes the door, he can hear Jaskier's voice coming from the living room once again.

He cannot blame Ciri at all.

***

"If this is another spam call and not the important call I've been waiting for I swear on all my lute strings that I'll crush that damn phone on the ground and dance upon its bloody ruins! Actually, no, wait, that would mean the possibility of missing the call I've been waiting for, but you got my point."

As soon as Jaskier answers his call and starts talking, he feels like all the tiredness of the day disappears. Jaskier's voice manages to do that even when he is simply busy telling him off, having no idea who he is talking to. 

He can see that Ciri was right. He is an idiot for waiting for the right time.

"I'm seriously so sick of—"

Geralt finally cuts him off by saying: "Wow, I wouldn't wanna be a scammer or something right now, you aggressive Dandelion."

"Wait a second, this voice— Geralt?! Is that really you? Oh my God, you finally ca— I mean—"

Jaskier coughs as if he tries not to sound too excited, "Heey, the best nurse in the existence," Geralt can almost see his flirty frowning, yes, he manages to make even frowning look flirty for crying out loud, "How's it hanging?" he asks, his voice sounds deep, lazy, and dare he say, sensual.

"I should be asking you the same question. Are you still praying by the phone?"

"Someone does stalk me on social media, I see."

"And someone sings a song and makes a pretty impressive video clip for me, I see. My daughter was watching it, and that's how I found out about it. Just for your information."

"So you're not the one who stalks me online. It's Ciri," Jaskier says, and the fact that he remembers Ciri's name warms up Geralt's heart if he's being honest. "Sweet. Cool. Cool. I'm not hurt by that at all."

"Well..."

"Would you die if you let me be happy for just a moment? Not that I'm not happy to know that your daughter still watches my videos, but it would be nice to hear that you were the one who checked my account willingly."

"I'm sure I would see your video today anyway. Maybe it wouldn't be that soon, I admit, but I would see it."

"Is that so?"

"It is so."

Silence.

But it isn't an uncomfortable one.

"Did you really find it impressive?" Jaskier asks, his voice is full of hope and happiness.

"Well—" 

"Nah, I know it's impressive, forget that I asked," he lets out a long sigh, "If I knew making a video clip for you would make you call me right away, I would do that earlier. Were you playing 'hard to get' or something? You know... I find it kinda cruel to make someone who just got out of the hospital keep waiting on the phone for so long. For your information, that 'kinda' is kinda unnecessary here maybe. I call it 'the polite kinda'. Or 'the unnecessary kinda'. " 

The next moment, Jaskier's playful tone leaves its place to a caring, worried one as he keeps talking: "If something is going wrong with your life, I take it back though. Ignore everything I said in that case. Is everything okay? Are you okay?"

"Ah, about that— Don't worry, everything is alright," Geralt replies, "I was thinking about calling you today, but I couldn't quite find the time. I know that's not an excuse, and I know I could call you earlier, but I didn't want to call you only to say 'I have to hang up,' a minute later."

"I’m happy to hear that nothing is wrong. And well, even that would be better than leaving me hanging. Or a simple 'Hey, the best patient ever' text would do. You took so long that I would be lying if I said I didn't think about getting involved in another accident."

"I'd rather you didn't."

"I would get into millions of accidents just to see you, Geralt. Provided that I could have you as my nurse every time, of course. What's the point otherwise? I'm not a masochist."

"Such a flatterer you are, Mr. Pan—"

"I'm not trying to flatter you. Cross my heart and hope do die, I'm just scattering the facts around like they are glitters. Or cake sprinkles."

"God forbid! Accidents, death... Aren't we gonna talk about nice things at all?"

"I've been waiting for you to call me forever. I have every right to be bitter about it."

"I'll make it up to you, I promise. How about I start making up to you, starting now?" 

"Sounds like you have something in your mind, Mr. Handsome Nurse." 

"I do, indeed. Have you had dinner yet?" 

"Does strawberry yogurt count as dinner?"

"I highly doubt it. You were complaining about hospital food, and yet that's what you choose to have for dinner?"

"I've never said I count yogurt as quality dinner, but it's still better than the things you dare to serve people as 'food', I should admit, I thought you already came to terms with—"

"Maybe you should come over so I can show you how a proper, nice dinner looks like. I'm not half bad at cooking."

Jaskier is silent on the other end of the line.

"Are you still there?" Geralt asks finally, "I'm sorry if this was too forward of me or too soon, I just thought it could be nice. You could meet Ciri too, that way." 

"No! Yeah! I mean—" if Geralt didn't imagine it, Jaskier sighs and murmurs an angry 'get it together you dumbass,' to himself before he continues talking. "Yes, I'm still here. No, this wasn't too forward of you. I was just taken aback a little bit, sorry. I mean, not every day a handsome nurse who I've been waiting for his call for a decade calls and invites me over for dinner. I'd love that, Geralt."

"I'll send you the address, then." Geralt checks his watch, it's nearly 6 p.m. "Is eight okay for you?"

"Sure, that should be fine. Hey, Ciri still doesn't know, right?"

"I don't think I need to answer that."

"Huh? Why is that?"

"Don't you think she would just grab my phone and call you herself if she knew? Or reaching out to you on every social media possible? Shouting from the rooftops, even?"

"She really likes me that much?"

"She just called me, I quote, an 'idiot', 'crazy', and 'jabroni' after watching your video, so..."

"She did what?!"

"I mean, not directly at me since she doesn't know I'm the 'him' in the 'it must be him', but still." 

"Seems to me like you're in big trouble here."

"Don't even remind me about it."

"I'd be lying if I said that doesn't put some pressure on me though. I mean... What if she doesn't like me?"

"Wha— Ciri already adores you. She adores you so much that it's annoying sometimes."

"It's impossible not to like you," is on the tip of his langue.

"They say never meet your heroes. What if when she actually meets me, she goes 'Meh, that's it?' What if I disappoint her somehow?"

"Worrying about earth getting invaded by the aliens in pink pasta costumes and tutus would much more sense compared to this. Believe me."

Jaskier laughs at that, but Geralt can still sense that he is not completely convinced.

"If you say so."

"I know so, Jaskier. I know so."

[writing-the-end]

Feral Friendship- Part 4

Previous Chapter

Masterpost

The last oneshot during the span of wandering stars! Every ten chapters, after chapter X1, I’d post this silly little story. There’s still two more parts, so they might be drizzled in with LoL. But after this, it’s a straight shot to the finale!

Red belongs to @theguardiansofredland

Ecto belongs to @cooler-cactus-block

“Things couldn’t have gone smoother on the way out. We found the dig team, though they’re definitely going to need some help escaping the hellpit they’re stuck in.” Cleo unfurls the red banner before Joe and Cub, watching both men sit up and reach for what the girls retrieved. Cleo winces as False plucks a cactus needle from her shoulder. “It was the way back that was...rough.” 

“What happened to y’all?” Joe slides over the map to help pull thorns from his friends. They’re covered in cactus spines, some even whole pieces of the plant. Like burrs, stuck to skin rather than clothes. 

“We captured the flag, though it was perched on a cactus. But then the sand around us started to fall. We managed to run through without falling in, but only by tossing ourselves into a whole stand of the prickly plants.” Cleo folds the banner to be hung. “It really, really hurt for sure.” 

“Is that it?” Cub questions. “Why are you soaking wet?”

“We figured out where the last flag is!” Stress squeals, before hissing a curse under her breath when False takes the moment of excitement to pull out another needle. 

“Really? Where is it? What kind of traps are there? Have all three been keeping it hidden?” Cub is hungry for the information. Finally, things are going right for the hermits. Avon has been chased off at least five times, searching for their last flag. But they may know exactly where her team’s is.

“It’s in the ocean. We don’t know where, but we tried goin’ in. A huge wave just spat us out every time.” It definitely was too often, too precisely timed to be anything but Red. It was torturous, the moment they finally got deep enough to consider swimming, the ocean would thrash them back to the beach. 

The trio left the jungle at midnight, and dawn is just starting to peek out. “We couldn’t get a good look at what’s underwater, but it has to be down there. They’re playing to their strengths.” 

Cub looks down at his map. He moves the final scrap into the blue at the edge of the playfield. It makes sense that the wanderers would be using the land to maximize such small numbers. But it still makes no sense how Red is the last one to face. He was sure Avon would be the final boss, and Red would have just given it up. Everything Cub thought he knew has been turned around. “This is it. We’re so close to winning. Cleo, you take half the gang, our best fighters, and take on the ocean. Joe and I will keep Avon at bay here.” 

If they can keep Avon from finding their flag, all while going for Red’s, then this game is as good as won. How hard can Red’s flag be? Cleo grins, saluting Cub and marching off with the other girls. They’re definitely a part of the fighting team, and she’d want no one else at her side. Also they still need to get the rest of the cactus needles off them. 

Once they’re out of Cub’s earshot, False groans. “We have to go all the way back and retrieve another flag? Do you think we’ll have to face Ecto going in?” 

“Oh, I’m sure of it. They have to be on high alert because of our job.” Cleo looks up, seeing a shadowy figure flying high in the sky, only to be chased off by two other people. Avon. “At least she hasn’t found the last one yet. But I don’t think she’s going to ever stop looking.” 

The other two nod in agreement, before False leans over and strips Stress of a couple thorns- much to the behest of the magenta master. Down a dirt path, the trees open up to the clearing where every other hermit has been resting. They retreated from the border to protect the last flag, taking shifts and keeping one eye on the sky at all times. 

“It seems like Avon’s the only one going after our flags.” Jevin mumbles as he watches a steak cook on the campfire. He’s so hungry, he could eat a whole cow. 

“That’s why we need to keep an eye on every last thing, man.” Zedaph adds. “They could be tricking us! Distracting us with Avon while Red or Ecto are creeping in on the flag.” 

“Do you really think they’re that well strategized?” Etho questions, looking up and watching the winged wanderer circling in the morning sun. She’s like a phantom, but worse. At least phantoms burn in the day. 

“They may not, but we are.” Cleo flourishes her rapier, digging the tip into the ground and leaning on it proudly. She calls out the names of hermits she knows are good with a weapon. Be it a sword, bow, or trident, the camp is soon divided into two groups. One to go with the girls, take on whatever Ecto and Red have waiting for them. And one to remain behind, fend off Avon and keep their own flag from the clutches of the wanderers. 

“Cleo, do you think you should do a rallying talk or somethin’? To boost team morale? Yer the best of us when it comes to elegant prose.” Stress asks.

“Yeah, you’re the best wordsmith, you and Joe. An artist of literature. Give us an awesome speech.” False pushes Cleo forward. Into the sunlight shafting through the trees. 

Cleo clears her throat, taking a deep breath and looking out across the other hermits. She needs a rousing speech, to stir the hearts of all hermitkind. Cleo brushes back her hair, and finally speaks. “Try not to get deded, guys.” 

And that’s all she got. 

_________________________________________

If rushing the cactus barrier was equivalent to bastille, then making it across the desert was comparable to Normandy. A large swatch of the desert was still trapped or guarded by cacti, sand waiting to be disturbed by ignorant feet. Waiting to swallow the hermits whole at any moment. The cacti had to be squeezed past like they were lava floes, even the hermits with armor avoided the prickly plant to the best of their ability. 

But worst of all in the desert wasn’t the pitfalls, or the cacti. It wasn’t even the numerous husks that refused to die in the sunlight. It was a creature more terrifying, more dangerous than any creeper. Ecto with a bow. 

She appeared from nowhere, leaping across cacti without a care for getting hurt. She knew how to stand just right so that she avoided getting the worst damage. Arrows would whiz past the hermits, opening up caverns in the sand all around them. None of Ecto’s arrows ever actually hit the invasion, but perhaps because they were running too fast for her to get a good shot. They aren’t retreating, but rather pushing through the desert to reach the shoreline. 

The water is calm, not even a ripple against the sands. False pulls out her sword. “Do you think we’ll make it in this time?” 

“We won’t stop until we do. Stress, does everyone have potions?” Cleo hears the clinking noise of glass bottles, cork stops being freed, and the rapid drinking of the disgusting liquid. Most potions don’t taste good, unless it’s swiftness or healing. Swiftness just tastes like soda, but a potion of healing might as well be the nectar of the gods. Ambrosia, sweet and savory. But every other potion leaves the consumer with a twisted face. A potion of leaping usually still has fur in the mix, strength leaves a burning sensation down the throat, and even slow falling feels like a residue of the phantom is still around well after brewing. 

But water breathing has to be the worst. It’s viscous, slowly rolling down in a thick mix between liquid and solid. Like applesauce and sand mixed into a disgusting puree. The aftertaste is vaguely reminiscent of being poisoned, but with more fish. And within the potion, scales of the pufferfish float. Waiting to get stuck in between teeth or halfway down the gullet. 

But with no clue where the flag is underwater, the hermits have to take their medicine. Even Cleo gags, gulping the potion down. Keralis coughs behind her, nearly retching. “Ugh, it tastes like seaweed.” 

“It tastes worse than seaweed.” Xisuma corrects, face twisted. “Let’s just get this done quick so we don’t have to drink more.” 

Xisuma wades into the water, holding his sword and peering into the world below the waves. The girls wait for a wave to toss him back to shore, but it never arrives. Cleo isn’t sure if she likes that change. Something feels off. A horrible feeling is setting in on her. She feels like she’s playing demise all over again, suddenly every little thing can be a way for her to lose. “Xisuma, please watch-”

In a blink, the space XIsuma occupied is empty. The entire team leaps back, and only Keralis dares to speak up. “Sheshwammy. He’s...he’s gone.” 

“What even happened?” Tango questions, daring to shuffle forward to where Xisuma once stood. Everyone braces for Tango to get swept away as well, but nothing happens. Confidently, Tango jumps into the deeper water like nothing can kill him. He’s better at this than Xisuma. 

The others move forward, in a united front, like penguins waiting to see which poor soul would be the first to brave the dangers below. Just as they’re about to dive in, Tango resurfaces. Bubbles surface around him, like the water is boiling. Dragging him back even as his fingers grip the sandy shallows. Kelp is wrapped around his feet, hobbling him from kicking. “Tell my dungeon game I love it!” 

Tango loses his grip, and disappears into the depths. Doc attempts to grab his hermit son from being towed out to sea, but only dives headfirst into the saltwater. He blinks the water, taking a deep breath of the ocean. 

And seeing the horror before him. Nothing that Ecto or Avon ever did could prepare him for what he’s laid his eyes upon. It’s worse than demise, or the civil war. Tall kelp plants wrap around red blocks of TNT, explosive seeds waving in the current. Waiting to be brushed by and set off. Sharp coral fans spike the field before him, razors hoping to slice the hermits like swords. The ocean is filled with more pufferfish than Doc can count, bumping into one another and inflating. Spikes of poison to lace into the skin of an unsuspecting hermit. A drowned floats up from the coral reef, slack jaw gurgling water as a slimy arm tosses a trident. It narrowly misses Doc, but does hit another trap just behind him. Ink spills from the clutch of sacs, darkening the water and obscuring his sight. He can’t even see his own sword as he swings it in front of him. 

Doc wipes the ink free of his eyes, burning at the mucusy ink all over him. Guardians are flooding the ocean, bubble beams grabbing hold of any unfortunate soul and dragging them into the depths. Far from the surface, through a crag field of coral, and deep into a cave below. He can hear his friends screaming, either fleeing or being attacked by what seems like the entire ocean. 

He can also hear...singing? It whispers on the current, every so often punctuated by a laugh. While the laughs are bubbly, floating up to the surface as the giggle rises in pitch, the song is being sung slowly, in a key that makes every hair on Doc’s body stand on end. “I’ll sing you a song of the fish in the sea…”

Doc knows this song. He spent enough time around Wels to pick up a few sea shanties. And what he remembers, nothing good happens at the end of the story. “Whe-where are you? S-show yourself, coward!” 

But Red never appears, despite the laughter continuing before the humming picks back up. A guardian turns it’s eye on Doc, brow furrowing. Bubbles begin to churn the water between the fish and Doc. He can feel himself being pulled in, like a rip current dragging him out to sea. “Then up jumps the shark with his nine rows of teeth.”

He needs to get out. Now. There’s no hope to save the hermits already gone, but maybe at least a few escaped before the traps got them. Doc swims as hard as he can, clawing at the sand and gripping the stalks of kelp to escape the pull of the bubbles. He needs to get back. He needs to report to Cub. Doc breaks free of the bubble beam, launching himself from barely moving more than an inch to being thrown onto the dry shore. 

“Oh thank goodness. Where are the others?” Cleo grabs Doc, hauling him to his feet and brushing the sand from the soaking wet labcoat. 

“They’re gone. It’s too late. We have to get out of here.”

[fanfoolishness]

Rambling thoughts for Little Graduation/Prickly Pair

My heart can’t even handle it, you guys.  I just... I can’t.  *cries forever* Thoughts behind the jump for spoilers/length, and please feel free to yell at me or reblog with your own thoughts!

Steven is singing along to an old Sadie Killer song because it’s old and familiar

Really the only time we’ve seen him sing this season

Because his feelings are too muddled up and painful to dare put to song

So he sticks to others’ music instead, safer that way

OMG he adds a little “Hey” to “Teens by day” so cute

OMG he does a falsetto part to the first Sadie Killer and Suspects and then a goofy as FUCK deep voice for the second Sadie Killer and the Suspects

I just… Zach Callison’s voice work this season has been so good and it sounds like he’s having such a good time at the silly parts and he’s been so emotional on the rough parts, if he doesn’t get recognized for his work on the show by the end it’ll be criminal

This is gonna be the last time we really see Steven happy for a long time, isn’t it? And it’s so sad because it such a joy to see him that way again for a second, no eye bags, no stress. My heart.

Aww Sadie got a neck too!

YEAH STEVEN REALLY DID DIAMOND EYES FROM EXCITEMENT, not stars!!!

I’m sad for Lars and Sadie that their growth took them different places but I’m so proud of them too!!!

“Don’t you wanna try something new?”

“Well, hm.”

“Except for me! I’ll still be… right here.”

Steven is losing control of his floating powers. Tried to be cool guy floating around with his friends and failed. This is really concerning. The last time he couldn’t float well was way back in season 4. Stevennnnnnn….

Shep DOES seem so cool!

Look at Rebecca Sugar, they truly just be out there like “last season, what are they gonna do to me if I put non-binary humans in the show, that’s right, they won’t do jack SHIT” bwahaha

And it’s lovely that it’s just no biggie

Steven your ship didn’t sail, I’m sorry but you can’t write AUs for real people

Lars is more worried about the cake than about his ex

“Are YOU okay?”

Finally someone is asking and of course Steven is like”what? My problems are visible externally? WHAT problems???”

“Everyone but me…”

Buck got into medical school??? Holy shit, so he was in college before? Dang. Also his bedside manner will be soooooo weird and cool

Actually I can see him as one of the weird internal medicine doctors who’s super smart so you want them on your case but he only says the occasional weird thing like “your gallbladder is an illusion” or “your hormones are like, totally out of sync. Lemme fix that” or wow, I don’t even know, I may have to write a drabble of an intern just being wowed by how weird he is

Classic Steven would definitely buy a jacket for his phone

Awww Sadie you should have told him 😭😭😭

Lars watching Steven slow motion self-destruct like “oh god is this how I was”

“Ah, well… you should have asked me, I’m-I’m really good at naming bands…”

Jesus Christ Steven that sound was my heart breaking for you

What the fuck is Shep’s instrument? Anyone know?

Okay this is actually a really good graduation song and while Sadie Killer is still awesome I love that Sadie can also tap into more personal emotions for her work now, she’s just so good!

I know how Lars feels, sometimes those big events are just overwhelming

I love his leather jacket!

So uhhhh maybe Steven doesn’t control Diamond Mode as well as we had thought given the last few episodes

It’s really fascinating because it’s clear in the animation and voice work Steven’s struggling with so many feelings right now

He’s scared Lars and the others are slipping away

He’s ashamed he feels so aimless beside them

He’s angry that Lars isn’t listening and is going to leave him

He’s sad that everyone’s changing

The way Steven yells at Lars to stop is just so fucking desperate, his shaking fist, holy shit kid you do not do goodbyes well do you

Aaaaaaand that’s new. What the hell is it??? We’ve never seen this from any other gem or Diamond before. DAMMIT STEVEN THIS IS NOT HEALTHY

It shredded the stage and the banner 😭

Digging that scary as fuck musical motif

It has the Diamond mode machine noise in the background — that flickering humming power sound

Seriously Steven!!! How the hell would Lars’ feelings— so much denial

“When did this happen, I didn’t see any of this!”

I love that he touched on this, like of course people don’t have to live their private lives in front of you, dingbat! But so much of his life has been lived with the Gems who did display all their trauma and problems that he can’t help but feel he’s entitled to see how things work out

It’s also concerning because it suggests he is having some trouble viewing people as independent to him, as having their own agency

WHITE DIAMOND ANYONE

I love that Lars is so excited to be back in space with his friends!!

Oh man the way everyone stares at Steven like “bro, clearly you are the only magical pink person in the room”

Some really gorgeous frames of Steven’s face here, wish Apple TV let you cap them 😢

“I can’t help it if my dumb heart misses you guys” I’m CRYING FOREVER

AMAZING use of “squash and stretch” Disney animation theory here hahahaha

Lars and Steven hug gives me so much life waaaaaah

I still can’t get over how grownup that boy looks behind the wheel. I love his hand tapping on the wheel.

So pensive. Poor Steven.

And now Prickly Pair, if you thought your heart hurt before well lemme tell you what!

How much time has passed since Snow Day?

Dammit, I predicted in one of my fics that Steven would feel weird about gardening magically and want to do it all the old-fashioned way…

But I haven’t finished it, alas. And Steven is doing much better emotionally by that point in MY story thank you hahahaha

Also it’s Connverse and adorable

Okay really should work on it

Well, okay, Connie is a cute smart blue flower so at least Steven’s still thinking of her? I really wish she had been here but I guess she’s gonna have to save Steven from himself soon enough.

I’m now kind of uneasy about the idea of them dating… I really wanted them to get together but Steven isn’t healthy right now. He’s really messed up and kind of worse than I was even thinking with all my angsting. If they try to get together now Steven might be weird and controlling and secretive and that is not the Connverse I want! Maybe we’ll get something cute and sweet after Steven starts recovering and getting mentally healthier?

Because not to say you can’t be in a relationship and be mentally ill… but the low point of your illness is NOT a time to START a relationship, and if they’d really been dating this whole time I have to imagine we’d have heard about it. So my guess would be not dating, Steven was too busy to hang out a lot of the time, but still friends.

Dammit I really wanted cute date episodes and the big dance from Chille Tid 😭

DON’T NAME YOUR PLANTS AFTER PEOPLE

Garnet tried to warn him… I wonder how the cactus acted in other timelines.

Does Zach voice the cactus too?

Yep: confirmed, Zach is a cactus.

FINALLY we’re in Steven’s head and it’s an uncomfortable place to be

“I used to be helpful, but the Gems don’t need me anymore! Why do I need to be needed? Stevennnn, pull it together!!!”

And again with the head clutching and yeah it really seems like White’s pulling a Steven in the intro doesn’t it???

Oh god I assumed the cactus was going to be a monster because of repressed feelings manifesting in Steven’s spit but it’s so much more painful that it repeats after him and THAT’s what makes it upset waaaaaaah

Cactus Steven screaming why do I need to be needed!!!

The Gems are finally asking the right questions but Steven is so paranoid he can’t help but view them in the worst way

Steven venting about the gems hurts but he DID have to deal with them at their worst

Oh no, he went diamond mode on Cactus Steven!

The powering up noise diamond mode makes is so ominous, I love it

I can’t believe Steven didn’t almost lose an eye from his own shield right then and there

“Those are my real private thoughts! I can’t let them hear!”

Noooo his house!

Nooooo Steven the Gems can take listening to you a lot better than a magical cactus could, you’ve GOT to talk to someone or this will get SO. MUCH. WOrse.

Yeah. It’s gonna get so much worse. ;_;

[mando-cyare]

Impressions: Part 3, Nick Jakoby/Female Reader

It was ridiculous. You’d met the man twice. Yet there you were, dogs barking around you and thinking about how nice the only orc police officer in the country looked while hauling around heavy bags of mulch. And how sweet he’d been with Tank.

If there had ever been a way to your heart, it would have been through your dog. Not one to ignore your work, you did what was needed of you, but still caught yourself smiling like a loon from time to time.

He gardened. Gardened! The most you could keep alive was a cactus. And from how beautifully maintained his garden was, he obviously cared a great deal. You went through the rest of the day like that, the sky darkening by the time your friend came to pick you up.

She dropped you off at the hospital bus stop, pulling into the parking lot to clock in early. It was busy, which wasn’t all that uncommon in LA. People were shouting, tension palpable in the air. You were coming around the side of the building when you saw him.

Shoulders hunched, the cop was slumped against the hood of an LAPD suv, elbows propped up and his bald head in his hands. With the bright lights, there was no mistaking him. “Nick?” you called questioningly.

Nick could count the number of people that called him by his first name on one hand. He knew the voice, but still had to look up to make sure. You stood there on the sidewalk, hands hooked around the straps of your backpack, jacket collar tuned up against the evening breeze.

“Y/N… oh…” His throat closed up again, already raw and painful. Orc faces didn’t give away emotions the way humans’ faces did, but something must have given him away, because you left the sidewalk.

You had to wade through some decorative, prickly bushes to get to him, but you didn’t feel like you could just keep walking. Closer, you could see something raw and wild in his yellow eyes, wetness lingering in the corners. Your eyes moved between him and the busy hospital.

“Is…?” Fear twisted in her stomach on his behalf. Who would he be waiting for in uniform alone? Didn’t patrol cops usually ride with…? “Your partner?” you whispered. The little flinching twitch of his ears was all the answer you needed. “Shit.”

Nick didn’t meet your eyes. All the careful order he kept himself wrapped in was torn to shreds. “It was an orc. They think I let him go.” The sensible thing would be to be quiet. He shouldn’t be telling you anything; it was police business. Then he smelled anger, looking up to your face twisted in incredulous horror.

“What the fuck?!” Your smaller frame was stiff and bristling, hands tightly fisted at your sides. How could they think that? Weren’t cops supposed to protect each other? How could they think that someone so obviously broken about his partner being hurt could do such a thing? “Those–!” Words failed you.

Looking up, you realized that Nick was staring. You took a deep breath, and then another. “Sorry. Sorry…” The urge reach out and touch him, to offer some sort of comfort, was nearly overwhelming. “I’m so sorry they’re saying that. They are incredibly shitty human beings. It was humans, right? Humans treat each other like crap. It’s no wonder we can’t be trusted around other races.”

Try as you might to hide it, Nick had seen your hands twitch towards him twice now. Your human face telegraphed your mingling anger and concern. And it was real. The thought of being held by you was achingly appealing. Something soft and kind when his mind was fighting to stay afloat. Someone who wasn’t angry, who didn’t blame him…

“Nick, can I touch you?” His head snapped up, and you felt color in your cheeks. “You just…you look like you could use a hug. If it’s too forward or anything, that’s fine!”

The strength of the sudden urge to pull you close blindsided Nick. Humans didn’t treat him with such kindness without a motive but… He could smell the stress and sympathy rolling off of you. When he just kept looking at you, you reached out slowly, letting your small hand curl gently around his forearm. You didn’t know what else to do. This kind, lovely man was hurting and you just felt helpless.

But he didn’t shrug off your hand. Slowly, your hand slid down his arm and wrist, fingers hesitating for a moment before curling over the warmth of his much larger hand. As if on reflex, his hand turned and squeezed back, hold almost desperate.

Your hand was so soft in his, holding onto him. He felt your thumb stroke hesitantly across the back of his hand. It was such a simple gesture, just… kind. Such simple and honest kindness was too much, and something inside him broke. He was too raw to hold onto his reservations about you any longer.

The grip on your hand was almost painful, but you didn’t say a word. If holding your hand helped… You took a step forward, watching his face. Your other hand settled on his shoulder, and he didn’t pull away. He let go of your hand as you rose up on your toes, arms going around his broad shoulders.

Even with your heart racing at the closeness, you hugged him as tightly as you could. If he noticed your slight jump when he finally hugged back, he gave no indication. You could only imagine how he was feeling, a sympathetic ache tightening your chest.

You didn’t know what else to give him. False promises that everything would be fine had never sat well with you. With words failing you again, you just held on.

Nick probably wouldn’t have noticed, even if you had said anything. It didn’t make sense. You hugging him just didn’t… But his brain was fried, torn up with worry and guilt and fear. Ward was hurt. Ward might be dying.

My fault my fault my fucking fault.

There wasn’t room in his head to doubt the softness he was being given. He didn’t care if you didn’t really mean it. He’d take the false comfort over the blame he knew was coming. He felt your head shift against his chest, and the vibration of your voice. Slowly, he disentangled himself, hands lingering on your arms as he stepped back.

He looked so fucking lost. “Can I give you my number?” you blurted. “My phone. I don’t… I don’t know if I can do anything, but… I’m a really good listener.” It felt silly and useless, like trying to put out a wildfire with a single bottle of water. But it was all you had.

“That…” Nick scrutinized your face, saw you bite your lip and look down at your hands. “Okay.” Your head snapped back up, expression full of hope.

It took you a moment to fish out a notebook and pen, but you printed your name and number clearly before handing it over. “Text is better. Dogs make it hard to hear calls but I always have my phone in my pocket.”

Nick held the paper carefully, smiling to himself at the looping letters. “Thank you, Y/N.”

///

@ever-hungry-aria

@notaliteraltoad

@mudbloodedslytherin

@sullybot

Would anyone be interested in a nsfw Dorghu/female reader? I wrote up a rough draft of one the other day, and I was wondering if anyone would be interested in reading it.

[rfsak2]

Cactus, Part IV

I hope you like it!

Cactus, Part IV Summary: Damn if he didn’t know what he was doing. Harry/Jamie Warnings: Talking about past tramas. Hopefully nothing too triggering though.

Mitch sipped his cocktail and hit her thigh with the back of his hand. She jumped a bit, pleasantly buzzed on a mixture of whiskey and Harry, and said man grumbled from where he leaned against her, prickly cheek against her forehead.

“What about you, Jamie-Wamie? Any great stories from your extensive tenure in the music industry?”

“You get verbose when you’re drunk, Mitchy-moo.” She grinned, one hand idly carding through the hair at the nape of Harry’s neck.

Jeff grinned. “Oooh… verbose. Big word.”

“Thanks. Took a lotta doin’ to educate the white trash outta me.”

Harry chuckled against her hair. “I think yeh sound very educated, love.”

“Thanks, Haz.”

Mitch smiled against his glass. “No, but I’m serious. You’ve been doin’ this for a while now..”

“Now you’re callin’ me old?”

Harry snorted. “Yer like twenty-two. Tell a story, girl!”

“Okay.. Okay.” She sighed. “Lessee… One time, I walked in on the drummer from a band I was working with doing lines of coke off a prostitute’s breasts.”

Harry stiffened beside her and Mitch breathed out a shocked ‘fuck’.

Jeff nodded with a small smile, sitting across the table. “I remember you telling me about that. You were what…. Eighteen?”

“Sixteen.” She let out a breathless little chuckle.

Harry straightened suddenly. “Wha? Sixteen? Wha’ happened?”

She shrugged. “He’s just casually doin’ lines, the prostitute was moaning like.. Well, she was moaning and I just say ‘hi’.” She paused and rub soothingly at Harry’s shoulder. “He grins, but then if the number of little, plastic bags on the floor are to be taken at face value, he’d probably done 200 bucks in blow so I’m not sure he really knew what was goin’ on anyhow. I’m just frozen. I had no idea what to do. He grins and waves me over. ‘Ya want some?’ I stutter out, ‘No, sir’ and grab my guitar and run.”

Jeff huffed. “This business, man.”

“It gets better… or worse. I had a supervisor, I guess he’d be called… He was the one I ‘reported’ to with the label as far as the government was concerned. I went to him to tell him that this happened. I mean it’s illegal, right? And dangerous, he could’ve OD’d or… Like fifteen different scenarios had run through my mind by that point. Anyway, he just laughs, calls me a prude and then quirks my chin like I’m just some silly, little girl. Tells me to toughen up.”

She smiled. “Then he sends me back to the studio, because if I’m so worried then I should go check up on him. Make sure he don’t OD.” Harry made a noise deep in his chest and gathered her against his side.

“I hesitate as one would expect and he asks me if ‘it was going to be a problem?’” She smiled at Mitch. “I say ‘no’ and go and check up on him, because I really was worried. He’s passed out and the lady is gone. I call my boss and he says to just turn him on his side so he doesn’t choke.” She sneered. “‘We’ll cancel work today. See you tomorrow. Go get a pedicure or whatever it is broads like you do.’ I just stood there and stared down at him for a solid hour, trying to figure out if I should call the cops.”

“But you didn’t.” Jeff wet his lips. “Call the cops I mean.”

She shook her head. “No, of course not. How could I? And flush every dream I had ever had down the toilet? Get myself in some deep shit with a label that literally owns me and my music?  I could only imagine what they’d do to keep that shit quiet.” She sipped her whiskey. “Anyways, I’m apparently maudlin when I’ve had too much to drink. Sorry for being a buzzkill. Jeff probably has better...funnier stories than I do.”

The conversation took a turn and she quieted, relaxing back against the couch. Harry sighed. “Tha’s mad, monster.”

She smiled and settled against his chest. “I definitely was. But then you’ve probably seen as much as me. This industry doesn’t let people stay young for very long.”

He nodded. “Yeah, that’s fair.” He sighed and favored her with a crooked smile. “The album is done…”

She smiled. “And now, the end is near…”

He grinned. “And so I face the final curtain.” He chuckled. “Yeh have a lovely singing voice, love.”

She shrugged.

“Yeh should tour wi’ us.” She breathed deep and Harry booped her nose. “Yeh thought I’d forget, didn’t yeh, love?”

She smiled. “I was hopin’ so, yeah? Don’t like disappointin’ people.”

“Then don’t.” He pulled back and caught her eye. “Look… I don’t want this to be the end of this-” He motioned between them “-I know it doesn’t have to be and ‘course, I have no intention of ending it because yeh say no, please know tha’. But it will get harder when I tour. I just want t’spend time wi’ yeh and I wanna keep makin’ music wi’ yeh.”

“I don’t want this to end, either.” She smiled and shifted so she was sort of half in his lap, one hand coming up to run a thumb over his chin. “But, Harry, I really… I shouldn’t.”

“Why?” He shrugged. “I know yer probably too talented for it-”

She shot him a look. “That’d be a real bitchy thing for me to think.”

He winced. “I don’t mean it like that...Obviously.”

“Why do you think it is that I don’t tour?”

“I assume it’s because yeh only tour when it’s something ye’re proud of.”

She smiled and grabbed his face, staring him down. “I don’t tour for a reason.. A reason I may one day tell you, but I’ve been a bit too much of a downer today as it is, so not tonight. I can tell you that it has nothing to do with being proud or not being proud. I love what we’ve done here. I really do. Aside from having more fun then I have had in years, I am immensely pleased with how your album turned out and I’m proud to have worked on it.”

He nodded, eyes on hers. “Okay… I have an idea.” He grinned. “Do th’promo performances wi’ us. Be there for tha’ and we’ll shelve the tour shite for a later conversation.”

She sighed around a smile.

He smiled broadly, dimple appearing. “Please, love. Yer such a fantastic guitarist and I want te share it wi’ yeh.”

“Alright. Fine.” She pressed a pert kiss to his cheek. “That dimple can get you whatever you want, honestly.”

**

“No I dig it, babe.” She traced one of the big black buttons on his romper with the tip of her finger. “It...it works for me. It really does.”

Almost absentmindedly, she licked her lips and Harry sucked in a breath. “Tha’s no’ fair, love.”

“Hmm?” She didn’t look up and he really didn’t think she was aware that she was doing it. “What was that, Haz?”

He leaned into her space, fingering the gold lace of her skirt. “Yeh shouldn’t lick yer lips like that when yeh look so pretty. ‘S no’ fair, love.”

She blushed, hand flattening against his ribcage. “Oh!... Sorry.”

“Yeh haven’t put lippy on yeah?”

She frowned. “What the fuck is lippy?”

He grinned and decided to test for himself.

She hadn’t.

She gasped into his mouth and he wrapped an arm around her waist, lifting her into the kiss. “Pretty little thing, aren’yeh?”

“Shit.” She laughed against his mouth. “Who’s not being fair now?”

He chuckled and leaned in for another kiss. Someone knocked on the door and he just managed to stifle the groan.

They stepped away from each other and she coughed. “Yeah? What’s up?”

Jeffrey popped his head in. He glanced between the two of them. “Really?”

Harry flicked him off. “Can we assist yeh?”

Jeffrey stuck his tongue out. “No, I don’t need yeh. I need your girl. Jamie-Wamie, you or Mitch for solo?”

“It’s Mitch.”

“Okay we’ll set Mitch closer to center and then you next to him, yeah?”

“Base in the back?” She nodded. “That should work. What do their sound guys say the acoustics are like?”

“That’s how they said they preferred to do it.”

“Sounds good to me.” He left, closing the door behind him, and she chuckled. “I pretty sure he just wanted to interrupt. He didn’t me to answer any of those questions.”

Harry nodded and leaned in to kiss her again. “It’s probably for the best. Can’t get to worked up just yet.”

She smiled. “I need to put lippy on.”

“Not yet.” He kissed her once more and then set his hands on her shoulder. “There now.”

He was phenomenal.

It was silly to feel so damn proud of someone who’d been doing this and doing it well for seven years, but she was so bloody proud.

There was so much joy in every bounce and pace. He was energetic and charismatic and the crowd was feeling him and he was feeling the crowd.

She was feeling him and his damn romper. He just looked so good.

Every time he turned her way, his smile was wide and contagious and she just couldn’t help returning it.

She had to admit, he knew what he was doing when he asked for her to do this with him. She honestly couldn’t see herself doing anything else right now.

She couldn’t miss this and have to live with the regret for the rest of her life.

**

He held the door for her and motioned her into the restaurant. “M’lady.”

She stuck her tongue out.

“Not very lady-like.” He winked at her and she rolled her eyes as she indicated to the hostess that they needed a table for two.

The girl gaped, but nodded. “Yeah, course.”

She led them to a table, glancing back at Harry every once and awhile on their way through the crowded restaurant. Harry, for his part, pretended to not notice that everyone’s eyes were on him, his hand firm in the small of her back.

When the girl had left, Jamie smiled. “Everyone is so aware of you. Are you sure that you don’t want to go somewhere quieter?”

He shook his head, looking down at the menu. “Yeh said this place reminded you of home. ‘My favorite restaurant in LA, Haz,’ yeh said.”

She nodded and did the same. “Right then.”

“It’ll be the same no matter where we go. This is just how it is.” He glanced up. “Does it bother yeh?”

She shrugged. “I don’t think so. If it doesn’t bother you-”

He snorted. “It does bother me, of course it does, but I’m not going to hide away and I’m not going to act like I’m ashamed of myself or of yeh.” He looked up and she was smiling at him. “Wha’?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

He grinned, blushing. “Wha’ do yeh ge’ here, monster?”

“Fajitas usually. That’s true Tex-Mex there.”

“Wanna share, then?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

“Wanna share a coronarita?” He grimaced. “That sounds...interestin’.”

She made a face. “I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear you say that.”

He laughed. “Why?”

“Corona? Really, baby? If we gonna go Mexican beer, it can’t be that. It tastes like piss.”

“Can I get you two some drinks?”

The waiter smiled a bit too broadly. He’d obviously been sent out to avoid the inevitable catfight over who would wait on Harry fucking Styles.

She smiled. “D’ya have Victoria on draft?” The waiter nodded. “Two of those, please and some water.”

“Sure. I’ll be back with those and some chips and salsa for you.”

“Thanks, mate.” Harry grinned at her. “You look beautiful tonight.”

She scoffed. “I didn’t even bother to put my contacts in today and my hair is stiff with hairspray from last night.”

He shrugged. “Big hair, don’t care and I like you in your specs. You’re cute, plus you have a hickey just there.” He poked at her collarbone.

She started and attempted to pull at her shirt. “Harry! You didn’t tell me!”

“How did yeh miss it, love? It’s dark.” He grinned. “It’s alright. I like my marks on yeh.”

She blushed, but didn’t say anything, waiting for their approaching waiter to set down their drinks and take their order. “You’re oddly okay with this. Shouldn’t you be more worried about the media gettin’ wind of all this?”

“What? Of us?” He shook his head. “If they do, they do. As long as they don’t run yeh off, I’m not sure I care anymore. They’re gonna do it anyway, right? Normally with women I’ve never even bloody met. If they’re gonna do it, I’d prefer for it to be real. I’d prefer it to be with someone I am fond of, someone I want to be in a relationship with.”

She beamed. “I don’t think they could beat me off with a stick.”

He threw his head back against the booth. “They shouldn’t do tha’ either, love.”

She sipped her beer. “So is this…” She winced. “I don’t know how to say it.”

He grinned, munching on a chip. “I want yeh. I’ve wanted yeh since I met you last year, love. Committed Relationship or Secret Lovers. As long as I have yeh, I don’t care. Whatever yeh want.”

“You can have whatever you like.”

He laughed. “What d’yeh say, monster? What is this?”

“I say Committed Relationship. You?”

“You can have whatever you like.” He smiled. “Yeh’ve always been m’girl, y’know tha’, yeah? Up here,” he tapped his temple, “whenever I thought about yeh, yeh were my girl.”

She blushed. “Same here, pretty boy. I was all in from day one.”

“Good.” He leaned over the table and kissed her, aware that someone was likely taking a photo.

Their food came and she grinned at Harry as he gaped, watching her throw a couple jalapenos onto her fajita. “That’s intense.”

She snorted. “No what’s intense is that that girl over there is definitely snapchatting this. If we’re lucky her friends aren’t saving it.”

He sighed. “Are yeh okay?”

She shrugged. “I’m okay with you. I don’t particularly like feeling like I’m being watched, but I’ll deal with it for you, because I’m okay with you.”

“Is that why you don’t tour?” He winced. “I mean because you don’t like being watched?”

She froze, fajita half-way in her mouth, before forcing herself to relax. “No. I mean I like performing as much as anyone else.”

“Wha’ happened?” He stilled, almost as if he was forgetting to breathe. “Yeh don’t have to say if yeh don’t wan’ te. Sorry. Dun mean t’make yeh feel uncomfortable, love.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I wanted to tell you anyways really.” She smiled. “But first I want you to know that I had so much fun doing the promo stuff. I’m glad you convinced me to do it and if the offer is still available, I’d love to tour with you.”

He sighed in relief, hand over his heart. “Thank God. Of course it is.” He reached for her hand. “Now what happened, love? I have a feeling that it wasn’t pleasant.”

She sighed. “My parents weren’t comfortable with me going on tour until I had turned eighteen for obvious reasons and even then they still weren’t really comfortable, but when the band that I had been working with that summer asked me to tour with them, I jumped at the chance. I was going to be a background guitarist, nothing flashy, for the opening act, but I was so excited. I was going to be going on my first tour, I’d be getting some great experience and I really thought that I was going to have fun.”

She sipped her beer and Harry felt a pit in his stomach.

“The first ten shows, we’ll say, they were fine. I was having fun, I clicked with the band, and I got to have all these little jam sessions with the guitarists from both bands. I was learning so much. I learned to play Voodoo Child on that tour, in fact. Then one day, the tour was in Austin and my family came up to see me. I had gone out to dinner with my family and I returned to the hotel we were in late. I…” She smiled and took a deep breath, Harry squeezed her hand.

“I had to walk past the pool.. spa thing to get to the stairs. The lead singer of the main band must have seen me. He...uh… he grabbed and he tried to drag me into the changing rooms, but he didn’t know that my brother, Ryan and my father were following me in. I was running up to grab something from my room for them to take back home with them. Ryan saw me get pulled into the door and he has...had anger issues back then, he’s a lot better now. You can imagine. I had just managed to jump away from him when Ryan bursted through the door. If he had still had his hands on me when Ryan got there, Ryan’d probably be in prison.”

“Fuck.” He pressed a lingering kiss to her hand. “I… Shit I wish I hadn’t asked, baby. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I wanted to tell you.” She covered his hand with her free hand. “I stayed on the tour. My parents didn’t want me to obviously and Ryan was livid that I would even consider it but I wanted it so bad and I was so stubborn. I just I couldn’t let it go, but then the rest of the tour was miserable. I chose to keep it quiet. I think the singer thought I didn’t say anything because I was ashamed.. or afraid. I managed to convince myself that I just didn’t want him to be able to take it away from me. Anyways, he kept trying to corner me. The drummer from the opener started to notice. He’s a nice guy. I’d say four shows after the pool incident, he pinned the lead singer to a wall and threatened him.”

“Good.”

“‘She’s barely eighteen, ya disgustin’ old fuck. Ya-’ He’s from Boston, I think- ‘Ya touch her again, I kick ya dentures down ya throat and make you beg for her forgiveness. If she don’t want ta forgive ya, Imma bury you in so much litigation you’ll owe ever’thin’ to ya lawyers.’” She smiled. “At the end of that tour, I was pretty happy to never have to tour ever again. I tour with my band, because they’re my brothers, literally and figuratively and I trust them.”

He nodded. “Yeh don’t have to tour with us, I promise. Yeh can say no.”

“I know.” She kissed his knuckle. “I know. That’s why I want to do it. I trust y’all. I trust you and I want to share this with you. Besides I can’t afford to miss the possibility of you wearing that romper again.”

“You liked it then?” He grinned slow around his glass.

“You don’t even know.”

Part III Up Next: Part V

[squisherific]

Gray and Juvia’s Texas/Louisiana Wedding Extravaganza FINAL

Juvia: Juvia can’t believe it’s the last day of our honeymoon, Gray-sama. Juvia doesn’t want it to end! She truly feels like we’ve become a part of Texas!

Gray: It’s because we have. We’re hanging out on a giant cutout of it.

Juvia: Oh! Well that explains it! Well, let’s not waste our last day hanging around!

Juvia: It’s The Alamo, Gray-sama! Do you remember it?

Gray: No, I’ve never been here before, and you know that, so why would you ask me that?

Juvia: Juvia has heard that everyone remembers The Alamo! But Juvia is relieved that Gray-sama doesn’t, because she didn’t either! She’s glad it’s not just her!

Juvia: Juvia thinks it is very awe-inspiring, though, Gray-sama!

Gray: Yeah... also, your hand is on my butt.

Juvia: Yes, it is!

Juvia: Cactus, Gray-sama! These plants remind me of you! Prickly on the outside, but soft on the inside! And so nice to look at! ^-^

Gray: Thanks, I think.

Juvia: Ooooh! It’s like Juvia can hear wedding bells all over again!

Gray: That’s because there’s a bell back there. 

Juvia: Oh! They must have known Gray-sama and Juvia would be here as newlyweds! So considerate! 

Juvia: Gray-sama, don’t you truly feel immersed in Texas now?

Gray: I feel immersed in souvenirs. There’s no way we can take all of these back with us.

Juvia: But Gray-sama, we have so many friends we need to give gifts to. We can not return empty handed!

Gray: I’ll bring Natsu some Texas dirt.

Juvia: DIRT?! That’s... very considerate, Gray-sama! You are bringing Natsu-san a piece of Texas itself! What a good friend!

Juvia: Juvia is so happy to have a chance to see the River Walk! It’s so gorgeous, and so many lovely water elements! Juvia feels right at home!

Gray: Yeah, this place is pretty amazing.

Juvia: What a lovely little bridge! And we have it all to ourselves!

Juvia: It’s so nice to lay down here, Gray-sama! The atmosphere is so relaxing!

Gray: I like this a lot, too.

Juvia: Really, Gray-sama?! Then let’s go sit in here!

Juvia: It’s so peaceful and romantic! A private little hide-away! Just the two of us! If Gray-sama wanted to do something naughty with Juvia, Juvia would not protest!

Gray:... Well, since there’s nobody passing by, and it is our honeymoon...

Lyon: Ah ha! Trying to take advantage of Juvia, and despoil her purity in a public space! 

Juvia: Lyon-sama?!!

Gray: YOU AGAIN?! You ARE following us! 

Lyon: Don’t be silly! I just happened to hear voices - STOP KICKING ME! I will not stand for it!

Gray: Mind your own business, and get out of here! We don’t need any third wheels on our honeymoon!

Juvia: Oh dear!! 

Gray: *grumbling* That Lyon....

Juvia: Gray-sama, look! It’s not just Lyon-sama, but our other wedding guests, The Ducks, are here, too! What a coincidence! Let’s go say hello!

Gray: No! I’ve had enough contact with a loudmouth birdbrain today! I’m not talking to any more! Let’s go!

Juvia: Gray-sama is still upset over Lyon-sama interrupting us, isn’t he? :(

Gray: A little...

Juvia: Well, this spot is private, too! Gray-sama and Juvia can pick up where we left off!

Gray: Juvi- Mmmpppff!

Juvia: Better, Gray-sama? =^-^=

Gray:... Almost. *kisses her again*

Juvia: Oh Gray-sama!!! 

Juvia: Oh my! Juvia didn’t realize how big of a part of America Texas is! So impressive!

Gray: I think this map is exaggerating just a bit...

Juvia: There are so many modes of transportation here, Gray-sama! But, as we are in Texas, a bull would be more customary wouldn’t it?

Gray: I don’t think people ride bulls to get around, Juvia. It’s more of a sport.

Juvia: Oh! Well, Juvia heard bulls are quite aggressive! But this one is so calm! Good bull! You won’t toss us off, will you?

Gray: Definitely not. Since it’s not alive..

Juvia: Oh Gray-sama, Juvia feels like she’s in a romance novel!! Gray-sama is the handsome, shirtless man, and he lifts Juvia up on his mighty steed, as they ride off into the sunset!

Gray: Again, we wont be riding off anywhere, it’s just a statue.

Juvia: *too busy fantasizing to listen*

Juvia: Oh my goodness!! Release Juvia’s husband, you beast! Gray-sama, are you alright?!

Gray: How does this always happen??

Juvia: Wow! Juvia found a spaceship! Do you think extraterrestrials crash-landed here, Gray-sama?! Is that why all the animals here have become motionless?!

Gray: I’m pretty sure it’s just another sculpture... I think.... I hope.

Juvia: It’s alright, Gray-sama, Juvia isn’t afraid! Juvia has Gray-sama with her! Aliens wont stand a chance against us! 

Juvia: A tractor! Juvia truly feels like a country girl now! Let’s ride it together, Gray-sama! We must access the steering wheel!

Gray: Wait! Stop pulling me! This thing is way too big! There’s no way we can drive it!

Juvia: Where there’s a will, there’s a way, Gray-sama!

Gray: *out of breath* I’m glad you gave up on the tractor.

Juvia: There was no key to start it! *pouts*

Gray: Don’t you think this place is pretty romantic, though?

Juvia: *eyes shining brightly* Yes it is, Gray-sama! It’s called the Oasis! But every place is paradise if Gray-sama is there!

Gray: Look at that view! This is Lake Travis.

Juvia: It’s absolutely wonderful! Juvia and Gray-sama have left a part of their hearts behind here, but only Gray-sama will ever have the key to Juvia’s heart!

Gray: Thanks, now... let’s find something to eat!

Gray: Alright, this is the place!

Juvia: Gray-sama is such an impressive driver!

Gray: We just hitched a ride on this truck, Juvia. 

Juvia: Even when hitching a ride, Gray-sama is still impressive!

Gray: The Salt Lick, huh? This place is supposed to be pretty good.

Juvia, Yes, Gray-sama! It says it’s 120 steps away... but how many steps is that for us? 

Gray: Too many, so let’s get walking.

Juvia: Gray-sama, look! These flowers are just our color!

Gray: i didn’t know we had a color.

Juvia: Of course we do! It’s our wedding colors! Such happy memories! Juvia is getting teary-eyed all over again!

Gray: The wedding was only a few days ago...

Juvia: And it was so beautiful!!! *cries*

Juvia: A cowboy boot! My goodness these Texans are tough! Wearing shoes with a cactus in them?!

Gray: I’m pretty sure this is just a fancy pot, Juvia.

Juvia: Cowboy’s wear pots on their feet?! Even more amazing!!

Gray: Never mind.... 

Juvia: We are getting close, Gray-sama!

Gray: About time! Man, that smells good!

Gray: WOAH! I’m in heaven!

Juvia: It all looks delicious, Gray-sama!

Gray: Time for some Texas BBQ!

Juvia: YES!!!

Gray: You went overboard... AGAIN. 

Juvia: Well, it’s our last day here, Gray-sama! We must make the most of it! So Juvia ordered a little bit of everything! Gray-sama and Juvia were able to finish their large breakfast yesterday, after all! 

Gray: Just barely!

Juvia: It’ll be alright! There is nothing Gray-sama can’t do!

Gray:... Oh God, no. I can’t do this... I’m dying. And why... did you... order...DESSERT?!

Juvia: It’s peach cobbler, Gray-sama! It felt like a good idea at the time!

Gray: I’m done. UGH....

Juvia... Juvia can still stand! She will not let you down, Gray-sama! You have not defeated us, delicious Texas food!...;_;

*Later that night*

Gray: I can’t believe we head back to Magnolia tomorrow. 

Juvia: Yes, it feels like it’s all gone by so quickly! But, Juvia had such a wonderful time, Gray-sama! Thank you for the best wedding and honeymoon Juvia could have ever hoped for! Juvia is so happy to finally be Mrs. Fullbuster!

Gray: I had a really amazing time, too. Even if there was way too much Lyon on this trip, if you ask me.

Juvia: And to think, this could be Gray-sama and Juvia’s last trip alone together. 

Gray: What do you mean?

Juvia: Well, the next time, we might be taking a family vacation instead... with our children.

Gray: Ch-Children?! 

Juvia: Well, we did spend a lot of this vacation in bed, Gray-sama. *giggle*

Gray:... True. Oh well, can’t be helped.

Juvia: Oh, Gray-sama!!! (=^0^=)

[serensama]

To Bloom

Hey Guys!  This is actually a short HC! WHO KNEW I COULD MAKE THOSE?! 

How would the RFA + CO react to receiving flowers from MC? 

  Yoosung:

-          MC held out a bunch of peonies for Yoosung as he was wrapping up a game of LOLOL

-          Taking off his headset he looked up his girlfriend, completely befuddled

-          “Who are these for honey?” he asked as he reached for them reflexively and breathed in their sweet scent.

-          “For you silly!” she giggled as his eyes snapped right back to hers, shocked and confused.

-          “For me?” he clarified pointing to himself, still unsure even as MC continued to nod. “But aren’t I supposed to give you flowers MC? Isn’t that how this is meant to work?” he questioned as he carefully drew his fingers over the petals.

-          “It’s not meant to work in any specific way Yoosung- I wanted to get you flowers so I got you flowers! You can do the same for me one day if you want, or you don’t have to- but seeing you smile like this makes me happy!” she grinned.

-          Yoosung sat there long after MC gave him a kiss and continued on her day, just looking at the flowers in his hands. He can’t believe she got him flowers- just like that- it wasn’t his birthday or any special occasion. She just did it because she wanted to see him smile.

-          He was Just. So. Happy.

-          It isn’t until many months later does MC find out by accident that he pressed his flowers and laminated them over a picture of them to make a bookmark, something he has with him everywhere he goes as he studies. He’s even written on the back of the picture the date he received them from her.  

-          He was a sentimental man.

-          He continues to use the bookmark even in his veterinary practise, in his favourite medical text books. MC can always see it peeking through the pages in his library.

Zen:

-          MC was standing there in his dressing room, her arms behind her back

-          Running up to her, sweat still at his brow, Zen threw his arms around her and gave her a resounding kiss.

-          “Jagi! How was that? Did you enjoy the show? Was I good?” he asked a mile a minute, still hyped up on adrenaline.

-          As she answered him, MC pulled out her arms to present him a lovely arrangement of carnations

-          Zen was absolutely shocked.

-          MC quickly puts the flowers down however when she realises her boyfriend has tears streaming down his face.

-          “Zen! Hyun- what’s wrong?” she asked panicked about the sudden turn of events.

-          “Nothing MC, nothing at all” he smiled through his tears, “-the first person to give me flowers for my performance was Rika… but no one has done it since… until you. Thank you Jagi, thank you!” he exclaimed, taking her back into his arms.

-          MC makes a promise to herself that he will have flowers for every opening and closing night for as long as he performs.

-          Zen has always loved flowers and is happy enough to cord the flowers through his hair and into MC’s.

-          He has actually learned how to make flower crowns and has taken to wearing them for his selfies.

-          “Look at the amazing flowers my MC got for me this time around- Love you Jagiya!”

-          His favourite thing to do however, is to tear the petals off to create a path for MC to follow throughout the house.

-          And yes, they usually lead to the bed.

Jaehee:

-          She’s coughing again and she’s overworking herself… again

-          MC tuts to herself as she looks over her, trying desperately to find a way to make her day just that little bit better.

-          Seeing the vendor across the street, MC runs over and buys a simple bunch of orchids.

-          As Jaehee calls for the next customer she is surprised to see her girlfriend in line with a mischievous look on her face.

-          Playing along Jaehee asks for her order and how she would like to pay- only to be given a bunch of flowers in return.

-          MC marvelled at how large Jaehee’s eyes became; larger than saucers and brighter than a star. Even though she was sick she was glowing.

-          Jaehee had never received flowers from any of her previous partners, so getting them from MC just to make her feel better was just… it was amazing.

-          Jaehee quickly found a vase to put them in and they stayed front and centre on the counter beside her all day.

-          Before they began to wilt she took a photo of the flowers and sent them to a local artist to paint them for her.

-          Jaehee hangs the painting in her shop so whenever she feels down or tired, she can look at it and smile and remember who helped make all this possible.

Jumin:

-          MC had surprised him at the office with a bunch of red and white roses

-          He sat there for a full minute looking between her and the flowers in her hand

-          “I’m sorry MC- you said they were… for me?” he confirmed as she held them out for him to take.

-          MC smiled as she carefully placed them on his desk and gave him a kiss on the cheek

-          “Not that I’m ungrateful but… why? They’re not necessary MC, I love you just as you are-”

-          MC placed a finger over his lips to quiet him “They’re not for anything. I was just on my way here and I saw them and I thought of you. I love you, and these roses reminded me of that love… besides they’ll help brighten up your office!”

-          “I uh… I… thank you. Assistant Kang,” he called over his intercom, “please find a vase to put these flowers in while my wife and I go out to lunch.”

-          The next day MC visits him- the flowers are no longer there or anywhere on the office floor.

-          Although hurt, she didn’t say anything. Perhaps flowers really weren’t his thing… she’d remember for next time. “Come on darling, you must be starving” she said as she offered her hand out to him, trying to cover the sadness in her voice.

-          It wasn’t until one month later when MC was looking for Jumin’s suitcase that she knocks something in the back of his closet, getting on her knees she pulls it out carefully.

-          It’s a big glass case with a bouquet of red and white roses perfectly preserved inside.

-          A gold plaque on the front with the date she gave him the flowers plus a further inscription of “eternal, passionate love” … the meaning of the roses inside.

-          Choking back the tears that dared to fall, MC bit her lip to trap her sobs as she put back his secret treasure.

-          MC ran out and jumped on top of her husband, attacking his mouth with her own. So, he did like flowers after all…

 Saeyoung:

-          MC tapped him on the shoulder, making the hacker jump in his chair

-          He was so focused on his work he hadn’t noticed her come in

-          Grinning widely when she realised who it was he spun around on his chair and put his hands on her hips bringing her closer to him; kissing her stomach in an affectionate greeting.

-          MC threaded her fingers through his hair and giggled, before tapping him on the head.

-          Looking up, his amber eyes widened when he saw her holding out a large bouquet of tulips.

-          One blink. Two blinks. Three and then four.

-          “AAACHOOOO!”

-          MC stepped back flustered, pulling back the flowers as far away as she could from him

-          She began to apologise over and over again, “I didn’t realise you were allergic to flowers Hun! I just wanted to do something nice for you… I’ll get them out right awa-”

-          Saeyoung wiped at his nose with the back of his sleeve before lunging and screaming “No! My flowers!”

-          MC uncertainly gave him back the flowers which he held to his chest lovingly- only making him sneeze four times in succession.

-          Saeyoung kept the flowers at his desk right beside his computer screens so he could look at them and smile, knowing that MC was thinking of him.

-          He began taking allergy medication to make sure they could stay beside him.

-          They were beginning to go brown and lose their petals but he refused to let MC take them away.

-          Finally, MC took away the withered stems and murky vase of water whilst her fiancé was asleep, but as she walked out she noticed that one of his screensavers were of the flowers when they were still in full bloom…

-          Saeran teases him all the time whenever the picture comes up but Saeyoung is too busy smiling to care.

Saeran:

-          “MC… why is there pot plant in my window?” he asked as they walked into his room, Saeran staring at the pot like it was an alien.

-          MC giggled and draped her arms around her boyfriend, running her fingers up and down his neck, “Because I want you to have another reason to get up in the morning, to love and care for this plant- just like I love and care for you Saeran…”

-          He groaned inwardly. He hated plants… but he loved MC so for her sake he would try. Nodding his head and offering her a tight smile, Saeran gave his girl a kiss on the temple and released a heavy sigh.

-          Truth be told, he forgets about it.

-          For a long, long time.

-          It’s brown and wilted… it’s almost dead.

-          One day after he gets out of the shower he stops suddenly, seeing MC give the plant just enough water for it to keep living.

-          Saeran hides behind the wall so that MC wouldn’t know that he saw her… his heart breaking knowing how badly she wants it live… to give him a chance to bring it back to life himself.

So he does. He goes online and looks up how to nurse the plant back to health and how to make plants grow faster and stronger.

-          In no time the first buds begin to open… Oriental lilies… pink and white

-          She chose this plant because it reminded her of him

-          Saeran felt a flutter of achievement at seeing it bloom, at feeling himself… bloom.

-          The next time MC is over Saeran excitedly rushes her over to the window in his room where she finds a flourishing pot plant… and another two beside it.

-          A sturdy, prickly little red cactus and a pot of dirt.

-          Saeran points to the cactus, “That’s Saeyoung, funny looking and hard to kill” smirking at MC’s laughter.

-          He then points to the lilies. “This is us, I can only grow because of you, I am only strong because of you.”

-          MC blinks back the mist forming in her eyes and points to the last pot, “What’s this then?”

-          “Oh that?” Saeran looks at the pot nonchalantly, “-that’s for our baby”

-          SAY WHAT?

-          “Yeah I asked the people at the nursery to plant something beautiful and precious… I don’t even know what they put in there but I’m excited to find out”

-          “I love our little pot of dirt Saeran.”

V:

-          V walks into his house and instantly he can smell… flowers?

-          Walking over to where he can hear MC pattering around as she hummed to herself, he leaned against the door frame focusing his eye on her form. Her arms moving about her as she arranged the flowers.

-          Bright and golden, the petals large and catching the light just so… they were sunflowers. His favourite. Even with his rapidly vanishing vision- he could still see them so clearly.

-          MC began talking, without looking behind her. She had grown quite astute to his presence, knowing the sound of his breathing, the smell of his subtle cologne, the warmth of his very being.

-          “They’re beautiful… just like you V. Bright and tall and wonderful. They’re strong and hardy just like you. They make you happy by just being there just like you. They find their way through the darkness and always find the light… just like you will.”

-          He’s crying

-          She’s crying

-          They both smile through the tears and they hold each other looking at the beautiful arrangement she had created for him.

-          From that day on his house is never without sunflowers.

-          In fact- they’re the first thing he sees when he opens his eyes from his corrective surgery, followed almost instantly by her concerned but hopeful face.

-          And he just knows- that this beautiful new view is the perfect start of their lives together.

-          Sunflowers always made him happy.

[mel-esor-blog]

Ok I find it a little funny how my bff and I are equally bad at remembering names, so whenever I talk about one of my mutuals I just use their tumblr url, but often it's mostly just "Oh sorry I tabbed out for a sec, Canach was sending me kitty things again" But now all I can think of is the actual broody, prickly cactus man sending the Commander cute pictures of cats and the occasional silly corgi hehe

[docssoulshine]

It’s May Tag Game

@yourewelcomeforbeingmyfriend tagged me.

What’s your favorite song (s) to sing/hum?

There are three that come to mind:

Que Sera, Sera

It’s In His Kiss

Soulshine

What’s your favorite flower/tree/plant?

Sunflowers

Dora’s Desert Rose(Propagated by my great uncle and named after my great granny Dora)

Prickly Pear Cactus

Favorite colors?

Yellow

I also have a favorite color combination, is that weird? I love lime green, teal, and black paired together.

What do you always doodle?

Flowers and silly faces.

How do you take your coffee/tea?

Iced Tea with Lemon or Iced Green Tea both unsweetened.

Favorite candle scent?

Gardenia

What’s your go-to dance move when you’re alone?

Uhhh a combination of this...

Favorite quote?

“Listen to me, your body is not a temple. Temples can be destroyed and desecrated. Your body is a forest—thick canopies of maple trees and sweet scented wildflowers sprouting in the underwood. You will grow back, over and over, no matter how badly you are devastated.”

Beau Taplin

Favorite self-care routine?

Walks around the neighborhood and reading.

Fuzzy socks or house slippers?

I’m a barefoot type of girl but I. The winter fuzzy socks

What color are your eyes?

Depends on the day. Blue, green and hazel.

What is your favorite eye color on others?

I don’t really have a favorite.

Favorite season? Why?

Fall, the change in the air, the change of the trees and Halloween.

Cheek, neck or nose kisses?

All three😉

What does your happy place look like?

Favorite breed of dog?

Do I really need to answer? Lol German Shepherds.

Do you ever want to be married? If so, what colors would you pick for your wedding theme?

Sure if the right man comes along. I’ve honestly never planned my wedding. One those who couldn’t care less.

Cursive or print?

My handwriting has become a combo but I prefer cursive.

Favorite weather?

Raining especially during Monsoon season. Here we have what is called the Creosote bush. When it rains it gives off this beautiful smell.