#needless to say he's never in trouble with mom

[astraeajackson]

*us during the school holidays*

my lil bro: *literally LEAPS out of bed at EIGHT in the morning, gets ready at the speed of LIGHT, and proceeds to spend the rest of the day studying and playing chess before turning on the TV to watch videos ABOUT chess*

me: *wakes up at ELEVEN and eats breakfast at ONE before spending the rest of the day playing the piano, writing FANFICTION, and laughing at stupid THOMAS THE TRAIN MEMES on PINTEREST*

sometimes i wonder how the hell we're related-

[swagging-back-to]

god the amount of hoops one of my coworkers jumps through for this violent autistic male is insaneeeee

[theeoriginals]

Something with Klaus based on this quote from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

“… You listened.”

“To you? Always.”

I NEED the tension PLS

what a feeling | klaus mikaelson

klaus mikaelson x psychic!female!reader (no y/n)

author's note; this + the oneshot I did with the ozark quote are so fun to do, if y'all have any more tv/movie quotes you want me to do fics with send them in <333

warnings; umm vague mentions of violence but ultimately nothing besides fluff, reader is kind of an anxious mess but it's short and sweet

Her powers had always been somewhat of a burden. They were unreliable at best, dangerous and deadly at worst. She'd been on both ends of the spectrum, and even though the power that ran through her bloodline hadn't skipped her, it might as well have compared to everyone else in her family.

It'd made her somewhat of a black sheep amongst wolves. Her dreams, visions, couldn't be trusted. She couldn't be trusted.

Her family never really let her forget that, so the first time two Originals walked into her family's innocuous shop, she figured they wanted her mom or dad, or someone else– anyone but her.

But Klaus had set his eyes on her and said her name like it meant something. Like it wasn't basically a curse in and of itself.

The Mikaelsons were kind to her, despite all of the trouble she came with. Rebekah was sweet and mostly understanding, though she could sometimes be a bit hurtful without realizing it. Elijah was ultimately the same, and his interest in witchcraft always made her remember how much she really did love it, even if she was considered cursed by most witches in New Orleans.

Elijah had told her all about how their mother was the Original witch, and that if they hadn't been turned into vampires, they'd all have a bit of magic in them still. Their sister Freya, and Kol, were both lucky to have that part of their heritage still, apparently.

In the months of working with the Originals, helping them to the best of her ability, though, it was Klaus that she'd come to enjoy most.

She'd heard stories of the infamous hybrid her entire life, stories of bloodshed and needless violence, painting a picture of an unforgiving, ruthless man. Admittedly, when he'd first sought her out, she thought he'd come to kill her. For what reason, she didn't know, but there was no other reason he'd want to speak to her unless she'd unknowingly passed on a piece of her cursed magic to him.

But that hadn't been the case, and he'd just been in need of her specific powers, needed her help to keep an eye out for certain people and any future threats that would bring harm to him and his family. She'd quickly learned that above everything, Klaus just wanted to keep his family safe, and she was more than happy to help in any way she could.

Even though most of her visions were unreliable, he still urged her to share them just in case. Even though not a single one of her visions about the Mikaelsons had come true so far, he still made her tell him and his siblings. He never let her doubt herself.

She supposes that's why she's trying not to be upset right now, listening to them talk over her like she's not sitting right in front of them.

"We can't just sit back and let this happen, Niklaus," Rebekah says, her face twisted frustratedly. "Her visions aren't fact, they're mere possibilities. And very low possibilities at that."

She flinched, ducking her head down to hide the hurt Rebekah's words inflict on her, because she can't really be upset when the blonde is right. Sometimes it's just a feeling, not even a vision. She can't blame them for not trusting a vision of a future that is constantly changing.

Elijah, ever the mediator, gives his sister a slightly scolding look before looking at his brother with something apologetic in his eyes. "Rebekah's being... harsh, but brother, she's not wrong. There's no way to prove that it will come true, and because of that, we have no real reason to not fight back. We have to do something, otherwise every vampire in the Quarter will be in danger."

Klaus pinches the bridge of his nose, his face twitching in a glare. His eyes drift to the quiet witch sitting down, twisting her fingers together anxiously in her lap. He catches her gaze and softens at the sadness in her eyes, feeling it pang in his chest.

"I know," He says finally, an apology swimming in his glacial eyes as he looks at the witch. Her sadness deepens with hurt at his words and he tears his eyes away from her, looking to his siblings. "We have to go."

She stands up abruptly, looking at him in disbelief. "But Klaus, they have white oak stakes, and they're going to use them on all of you. They kill you all, and they don't stop until you're all gone, even Freya! I saw it happen, I swear! You have to believe me, please,"

Elijah says her name with pity in every syllable and she swipes a hand out, turning to look at him with pleading eyes.

"You have to believe me, you're going to be killed if you go. They have laid a trap perfectly made to capture you, and you're walking directly into it!"

"We have to," Klaus shakes his head, already walking towards the doors, Rebekah and Elijah following. He looks over his shoulder, giving her a firm look. "Stay here until we return. It's not safe for you anywhere else."

He walks out before she can say anything else, pretending that he can't feel the heartbroken look on her face burning into his back as he leaves.

She hasn't moved from her seat on the couch in the entirety of their absence. With every minute that shows no sign of their return, her heart beats faster, guilt beginning to seep into her pores.

Stuck in this spiral of horrible, self-deprecating thoughts, she's startled when the doors slam open and the three Originals come marching into the compound.

She stands up, eyes wide as she takes in the drying blood staining their skin and their clothes, but can't stop the wave of relief that washes over her at the sight of them all alive.

Rebekah has a slight limp to her step and Elijah seems to be favoring his left side more than usual, and there's blood on Klaus's face that she knows is his, but they're alive.

She lets out a shaky breath as Klaus walks towards her, Elijah and Rebekah heading for the stairs to likely clean themselves up and find a blood source to suck dry and finish healing.

"I was wrong," She sighs, eyes closing in abatement. "I'm so glad I was–"

She's cut off by Klaus's palms cupping her cheeks, and her eyes snap open when she feels the press of his plush lips against hers. She makes a noise of utter surprise that quickly dissipates into a noise of pleasure, and her eyes flutter shut as she lets him deepen the kiss, stealing the breath right out of her lungs.

She chases him as he pulls away, but he stops her, dragging his thumbs gently along her cheekbones as he looks at her with a look she'd dare call adoring.

It takes her breath all over again and she squirms beneath it, feeling like she's teetering on the edge of something big.

"What," She breathes out, licking her lips like she can still feel the weight of his on them. "What was that for?"

"You were right," He says, his voice rough. "You were right. They had white oak stakes and they tried to kill us. The only reason we survived is because of what you told us,"

Her eyes widen and she looks up at him in disbelief. "But... I'm never right. I'm cursed,"

He shakes his head, lips pulling up into a smile, creasing the dried blood on his cheek. "No, you're not, darling. You saved my life. You saved my family,"

Her throat tightens, thick with emotion, and she isn't entirely proud of the way her voice shakes when she speaks. "You listened?"

Klaus's gaze warms with fondness and he gives her a smile that makes her heart race for entirely new reasons. "To you? Always."

[chrollohearttags]

CHARACTER ANALYSIS: EREN JAEGER AKA EJ THE DON

so in honor of me finally reviving Reverb, I decided to do some character analyses and info cards, if you will. These were so much fun (and a lot of work) to make and I really hope y’all like them. I was heavily inspired by a wonderful, talented mutual of mine and her amazing character analysis she did for her series a while back! As always, y’all know reblogs and comments are appreciated!! (Fair warning, this is a long read but it’s been in the works since last year and I hope y’all enjoy)

╔═*.·:·.✧ ✦✧.·:·.*═╗ ╔═*.·:·.✧ ✦✧.·:·.*═╗ ╔═*.·:·.✧ ✦✧. ✦✧.

name: Eren Michael Jaeger | date of birth + sign: March 31st, 1998 (aries sun) | age: 26 | aliases/nickname: EJ, Eren, EJ The Don, The Underground God, Rennie | pronouns: he/him/his | sexuality: straight (but a bit bi-curious) | race/ethnicity: white, italian/turkish + german

song in the video: ChainSwang - BONES (slowed and reverb ver.)

biography and early life: Eren was born in Montclair, New Jersey to his mother Carla and father, Dr. Grisha Jaeger. The couple met while Carla was working as a bottle girl at a gentleman’s club called Starlets in New York, when she was nineteen years old. (age gap oops)

Grisha, who was working at Mount Sinai as part of his residency, was twenty seven at the time and married to (but separated from) socialite and heiress, Dina Fritz. The two were a classic case of opposites attracting and it didn’t take long for their bond to flourish from a one night fling to something far more. A year into their relationship, Carla learned that she was pregnant and Grisha, who had annulled his first marriage some months prior, proposed right away and the couple settled in the suburbia township to raise their newborn son. Eren was described as a ‘very enigmatic and unique child’. Growing up, he was said to have always had a natural inclination towards music. From playing on toy keyboards to babbling songs into his Spider-Man karaoke machine at just three years old, it seemed that early on, the young prodigy was shaping his destiny. Eren attended the Montclair Township Charter Elementary, alongside his childhood best friends, Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Artlert, who were among many of the children of affluent families. He was extremely intelligent and schoolwork was a breeze. The problem was that he could be less interested! Eren struggled to focus and with maintaining relationships, which worried his mom. She took him to therapists, sought counseling and even considered moving him to alternative school when he began getting into trouble.

She worried what would happen to him…but luckily, her fears were for nothing because soon, Eren would show her and the entire world his true purpose. When he was ten years old, Carla enrolled her son in lessons for piano and guitar. During this time, he began to really hone his musical talent, and needless to say, he was a prodigy. All but mastering everyone he picked up. This seemed to be the area that little EJ most thrived in. Even his friendships began to grown. Having left New Jersey before they went to middle school, Mikasa and Armin were the only two people he'd bonded with. But eventually, Eren found companionship in several people from all walks of life and other areas of town. He didn't care about how much money someone had or what they looked like, he just enjoyed like minded people. Finding himself hanging out, playing basketball, skating and of course, making music. However, his father was less than pleased with his academic performance and new group of comrades. As the son of a prestigious doctor, Eren knew that his father wouldn’t approve of his hobbies if his grades weren’t up to par but he never expected that the catalyst for his dreams would be their falling out..when Eren was 15 years old, he made the decision to leave home and emancipate himself from his parents after a horrendous fallout with his dad.

It came as a shock to his friends, who felt that his life was objectively better than their own. However, it was the principle and anyone who truly knew the situation..knew that it was a long time coming and much deserved. Years of being put down or not acknowledged for refusing to follow in his footsteps and the final straw came when his father's cowardice and lying caused him to lose someone very important to him. Something that Eren could not forgive (explaining this later in the story!) After receiving $300 from his older half brother, young EJ boarded a bus to Miami, not looking back once. And he was fully prepared to make a life for himself, one not attached to his dad's name..no matter the cost. After arriving in Florida, Eren would work odd jobs to provide for himself and found housing at a local boys home in the Northside area. Just two blocks from Ocean Shore High School, where he finished out the remainder of his junior and senior years. It was then that he met fellow classmates and future group members Connie Springer and Onyakopon 'Ony' Baptiste (he doesn't canonically have a last name that I am aware of so I gave him one and I will explain it in his own backstory). The three of them immediately bonded and only grew closer when they played on the varsity basketball team together and began working at a local shoe store in the Aventura Mall. This would be the first time that the world would get a glimpse into Eren's musical talents when his friends would record him singing Miguel's "Sure Thing' in the backroom of the store and posted it online.

career: After going viral, Eren began to take his craft even more serious. Going from penning rhymes in his notebook between periods to doing makeshift recording sessions in the chorus classroom, he would post covers and original songs to a YouTube channel as well his Sound Cloud. He would save a portion of his paychecks and do yard, mechanic and janitorial work for neighbors to procure studio time. He eventually saved up and purchased a MacBook, and began making instrumentals. It was during this time that he began working a temp job for a local underground club, where artists like Denzel Curry, Ice Billion Berg and Pouya got their starts. Hired to clean up after sets and during closing, Eren would listen in on the performances, watching, studying and observing the rappers' movements. Having never done an official performance, it was an area he had no experience in. But during an open mic night at the club, he got an opportunity and didn't miss! Debuting one of his now infamous tracks, First Degree, Eren once again shocked everyone with how talented and charismatic he was. It was almost as if rapping and singing came as naturally as speaking did. Now 18 years old, graduated from high school and riding the momentum of his first stage set, Eren continued to grind. Working by day and recording and writing by night. It was then that he began going by the name EJ the Don after Ony joked about his New Jersey and Italian origins, implying that he must have 'mafia ties' because he assimilated into life in this rough area so well. His image and brand slowly came together afterwards..embracing the dark, edgy aesthetic coupled with his buttery smooth voice and unique lyricism, Eren was in a league all on his own.

And it didn't take long for the rising star to catch the attention of some big names in the industry, including renowned Neo-Soul artist and five time Grammy winner Vivian James. Who was not only doing a show at the Miami Amphitheater for a music festival but scouting prospects for the talent agency giant, Ackerman Management Group. Known for catapulting the careers of some of the biggest names in music, modeling and acting. Still building his reputation, EJ got the chance of a lifetime when he not only received a job request but an invitation from Vivian herself, looking for a backup vocalist and pianist. Naturally, being a huge fan on top of a starving artist, Eren immediately accepted and the rest was history! Vivian was blown away that he was able to recite the songs verbatim and so perfectly on such a short notice..so much so, she gave Eren an offer he couldn't refuse: an audition with AMG on the condition that he would work as her protege regardless and it was a no brainer. Two days after his nineteenth birthday, EJ the Don officially signed with Ackerman Management Group, the family business of his old childhood friend, Mikasa. Who was going by the stage name Mika ASH. But it wasn't smooth sailing for the new rap sensation..although he was Vivian's protege, he captured the attention of other executives who was interested in more than his music. Unfortunately, it caused them to try and take advantage of him, both career wise and physically. Eren persevered and focused on what his goal truly was and that was sharing his gift with the world. Six months after being signed, he released his first EP, Living Dead Boy. He went on tour shortly after and released Living Dead Boy II: The Casket Chronicles a year later. Fast forward and Eren took the 'horrorcore' rap scene and the internet by storm, with his gritty wordplay and captivating visuals. Ten years later, he is hailed as the Underground God and widely credited for reshaping the genre as a whole.

musical muses: BONES (the character playlist can be found here), $uicideBoys, August Alsina, Jon Dretto

notable achievements: LivingDeadBoy I sold 50,000 units its first week and debuted number seven on the charts. But his debut single, First Degree was number two on the charts and widely viral on social media. LivingDeadBoy II: The Casket Chronicles sold five times with 250,000 units and at just 20 years old, EJ had his first sold out tour in North America. His debut album was very successful and received two Grammy nominations. (even though he doesn't give a shit about awards and accolades) EJ the Don has released over ten EP's and five mixtapes, as well as three studio albums, one being a visual series. He has gone on to produce, write with and direct for several other artists, including Prince Cee + Ony the God, his high school friends and fellow musicians. He has earned 2 VMA's and appeared in a BET Hip Hop Awards cypher. He has headlined two North American tours seperately and three international ones alongside his groupmates. EJ has made many accomplishments in his ten year rap reign and is far from done.

personality traits, flaws, etc: Eren can be described as very emotional by some yet stoic in the same breath. He can be temperamental, not thinking hostile actions through sometimes. He acts of his own accord without considering other peoples’ feelings. He’s very blunt, and won’t hesitate to speak his mind. He CANNOT hide his true feelings for shit (if his mouth doesn’t say it, his face surely will.) There are times when he’ll go days without answering his phone or making contact with anyone because he loves being in his own little world. Friendships, partners..it honestly doesn’t make a difference if you’re around or not. Especially when he’s locked in, working on important projects. He shuts down when he doesn’t want to deal with something and you’ll have better luck catching a pig flying than him apologizing or doing what he’s told! In the same vein, Eren can be very emotional..it’s almost like a dam breaking. When he finally cracks, it’s hard to control the flood with him. He gets really intense, whether he’s crying, laughing or angry. He’s very passionate when he cares about something and he’ll let it be known. Behind that rough exterior is a gentle, sweetheart of a man that just throws his all into whatever or whoever he loves.

relationship status: Eren is currently seeing the influencer and rising star of pole dancing, (Y/N) (L/N). The pair has been in a low key relationship for some months now, taking it slow and really getting to know one another. Although they started with a hot and steamy romance, sprouting from years of loneliness and celibacy from them both, they’ve really grown to care deeply for one another. He puts a lot of effort into making sure he contacts her regularly bc it is not easy to keep his attention and always gifts her the most expensive and thoughtful things. He never seen himself as the lovey dovey type, but anyone that knows EJ..will tell you that he’s fallen head over heels for miss (L/N)!

physical descriptors: EJ is 6’3, just barely 195 pounds with a slender but toned frame. He’s been working out quite a bit since his last project and tour so he’s a little more jacked than before. He has several tattoos including full sleeves with various pieces he’s been getting since he was 16 years old. A few of his most notorious being the serpent and chain going around his hand all the way to his shoulder, the pink rose with the name ‘Ma’Kiya’ tattooed in one of the petals on his back (🌚) and his mom’s name. He has dark green eyes, brownish black hair that he wears in a half up-half down style most of the time. Occasionally though, he’ll wear it down and grow out facial hair. He’s always wearing some sort of jewelry..his infamous ‘The Don’ chain, as well as his bottom silver grills. His fashion sense varies on his mood.

hobbies + interests: when he’s not in the booth, Eren is somewhere tinkering with cars! He particularly loves older model vehicles and will spend days working to fix them. He loves going to the racetrack, sitting in the skybox like a little kid and watching drag cars and motorcycles go down the strip. He also loves to paint and draw, even designing a majority of his tattoos. (fun fact: he gifted (Y/N) a portrait of one of his favorite photos of her on her birthday.) and of course, he’s a huge gamer. His fans look forward to seeing him on Twitch, being stressed out by whatever franchise he’s delving to at the moment. Especially when he’s with his friends or (Y/N).

@violetxxvenom @shamelesshoefairy @shawtuzi

[fakescenariosbeforesleepblog]

I want my daddy.

Reader x Cod characters. (König/ Soap)

You're the mother of a beautiful brilliant girl/boy who enjoys your company until it's bedtime, that's daddy's turn and tonight, daddy's not at home on time.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them.

Warning ⚠️: None, just grammatical and spelling errors, maybe not so good but work drained my brain.

König.

Your daughter has been looking through the window the entire evening, waiting patiently for her father who promised to arrive on time to sing her to sleep.

She already took a bath, brushed her teeth, she's waiting and asking about the time.

- What time is it, mom?

- It's 19:30 pm baby, daddy has 30 min to arrive or we will have to get ready for bed without him.

- No, he promised it! He will make it!

Your little girl is getting anxious since the sky is getting darker and there's no signs of her dad so you decide to call him, maybe he will not respond but you will leave a voice message.

To your surprise, he responded.

«Mein Leben (my life), I'm in the middle of something, what's up?» (shooting noises were in the background)

- You will not arrive tonight I assume.

«Nein, we had trouble and we haven't arrived at the rendezvous... (More shooting) Scheiße! (Shit!)... Tell my Kleine (little one) I'm deeply sorry, Ja?»

- I will, but you will have to win her pardon. Stay safe and come home in one piece, okay?

«Ja! I will. I'll be there in the morning Meine Liebe (my love) Ich liebe dich so sehr (ILYSM)»

- Okay, wir lieben dich auch (We love you too)

As soon as the call finishes, your daughter runs to you with some tears In her big Blue eyes.

- Daddy is not here yet! Can we wait five more minutes?

Kneeling down and cleaning her tears you explain to her why König hasn't arrived yet, needless to say she wasn't happy.

«But I want my daddy!»

You tried to fix her night by letting her sleep with you, she stayed at König's side of the bed, you also let her put some of her daddy's cologne to her teddy bear so she would feel her father's fragrance all night.

But the most difficult part was to sing her special lullaby, your German is not very good.

Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf,

Der Vater hüt' die Schaf,

Die Mutter schüttelt's Bäumelein,

Da fällt herab ein Träumelein.

Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf.

Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf,

Am Himmel zieh'n die Schaf',

Die Sternlein sind die Lämmerlein,

Der Mond, der ist das Schäferlein.

Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf.

Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf,

So schenk ich dir ein Schaf,

Mit einer goldnen Schelle fein,

Das soll dein Spielgeselle sein.

Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf.

By the end of the night your daughter slept as well as any other night, but still she missed her dad, she murmured his name a couple times, you weren't upset with your husband, it wasn't his fault but you weren't happy either, your daughter wasn't the only one who missed his presence.

The sun and the sweet smell of melted butter and homemade strawberry jam woke you up, your daughter ran to the kitchen and there he was, her daddy was preparing his special Austrian breakfast. In a way to apologize for breaking his promise. Holding and squeezing both of you between his arms was the best moment of his life after all the horrors he lived before you, he never had faith or believed in a god's plan until you appeared on his way, now he feels blessed and thanks every time he successfully finishes a mission, the best reward he can obtain is arrive home to hug and kiss both of you.

Soap.

Your son is a stubborn child, a mini version of your husband. Every Friday, Soap appears at the door with a bunch of food and candies to start the father and son's weekend.

So, from Friday to Sunday night, your little boy forgets about you, his attention is all for Johnny, you sometimes feel jealous, but mainly, you feel proud of this kind of relation between them. The problem is when Johnny can't come home.

And tonight, that's what is actually happening, your son is waiting at the doorframe, he refuses to leave his vigilance spot.

- JJ, Dinner is on the table!

- Where's dad?

- He will arrive any minute, leave that door and come here now, please.

- No, I want to receive him... He said he will bring a surprise.

- McTavish! You have five seconds before I...

Your phone rings before you can start a discussion with the little boy.

«Hey gorgeous! How's everything going over there?»

- Thank God you're calling, your son doesn't want to leave the door, he's waiting for you. Hey! JJ, Dad's on the phone!

«That's why I'm calling, there's an emergency here so I will not go home tonight...»

- Wait, you're on speaker.

- Dad!? Where are you? It's Friday night!

«Hey buddy! I know, but I'm still working... Uncle Simon needs me for a mission so... I will not arrive tonight, but mom and you can spend time together»

Your son's face is red as an apple, anger is filling his little body.

- But you said we will play videogames all night!!

- Videogames All night?

«(he laughs nervously) Don't say that in front of mom, I'll be in trouble.»

- You promised it!

He hits the table with his hands and leaves the kitchen while you and Soap in one voice yell at the boy «Don't hit the table!». After some minutes discussing, your husband convince you to give your son an extra hour of playtime. You, not so happy agreed, you're against rewarding him every time his father can't be with him.

Going upstairs you can hear your son playing, clicking the mouse and keyboard hardly, once you're there in the doorframe you can see him playing but not enjoying, then an idea popped up.

- JJ... Do you want me to play with you?

He observes you from head to toe, looks again to the PC and simple mutters.

- Do you know how to do it?

Scoffing and clearly offended you sit at his side.

- Of course I know, your father is not the only one who played all day when he was young,huh.

He lets you try, you're nervous since it was almost 8 years ago when you played for the last time. Technically since your son was born. But you quickly understand the game, instantly you're killing and dominating the game, your little boy is amazed, time later, both are yelling, laughing, cursing, clicking the keyboard as fast as both can, time ran and none of you had noticed how late it is and you haven't heard the principal door opening until Johnny scare both of you.

- Well, well, well, What we have here?

- DADDY!

- Fuck! You scared us! I thought you would be here tomorrow evening.

He laughs loudly while is hugging your son.

- Sorry love, I wanted to be here so badly to surprise JJ I ended that mission as fast as I could.

- Dad! Mommy is amazing! We've been winning! You never told me she beat your ass when both played videogames.

You're sitting there looking at your husband proudly while his jaw is almost hitting the floor.

- Buddy, mommy learned all those moves from me.

- No, that's not true, she's better than you.

- Okay, gentlemen playtime is over for tonight, it is almost 3 AM.

Both men start to complain about you ending the funny time, but in the end lights are out, Johnny takes your son to bed and reads him a story, while you're changing your clothes. After some minutes your husband closes your bedroom door and looks at you with a playful look.

- What?

You say looking at him through the mirror.

- You'll have to pay for revealing my secrets love.

He approaches you slowly while you're turning back to him.

- It's not a secret honey, You're not as good as me in videogames.

Suddenly you're between his arms, both kissing and starting a different kind of games.

- Oh Lord, How much I love to be at home.

[fatkish]

I was wondering if I could get Tenya with a friend reader that has verbally and physically abusive parents (and if it could end with him helping reader leave, that would be great!)? Thank you for considering!

Tenya Iida x Reader Drabble

Your parents weren’t the best. They are physically and verbally abusive towards you. You have a mutant quirk that gives you dragonfly wings, pointed ears compound eyes similar to that of an insect and a lizard like tail. You’re able to breath fire and are impervious to flames. But your parents aren’t mutants so they think certain aspects of your appearance are ugly, even though you’re covered in iridescent, shiny (f/c) scales.

You are a student of class 1A and are in seat 21 and are ranked 7/21 academically. Quirk-wise, you’re ranked 10/21 for your overall quirk performance in Aizawa quirk apprehension test. You were transferred to UA due to your parents insistence, your teachers at your previous school knew about your parents treatment of you and tried to help you but they failed. When they sent over your student transcripts, they alerted UA about it secretly, needless to say, UA accepted you after seeing how well you used your quirk and the fact that you were among the recommended students.

It was a weekend day when you unintentionally met Iida. You and Iida had become friends over the early school year and became study buddies. You had been out getting groceries after studying at the library and were running late getting home that afternoon when you ran across Iida. Being the responsible young man that he is, he insisted he help you with your errands and to avoid suspicion, you agreed to let him help.

You both had finished your shopping and were headed towards your house. You tried to insist that you didn’t need any help bringing everything in but he persisted. So you unlocked your front door and let the two of you in. You both walked into the kitchen and you began to put the groceries away with Iida’s help. You had been putting the vegetables away when your mother walked in and eyed Iida.

“(Y/n), who is this? I don’t recall saying you could bring anyone over.” Your mother chided in a sugary sweet tone that you knew meant you were in trouble.

“Ah! Hello, my name is Tenya Iida and I humbly apologize for entering your house unexpectedly, I merely wanted to assist my friend (y/n) with their chores since we happened to meet at the store. Please accept my most sincere apologies” Iida deeply bowed as he spoke to your mother.

Unknown to Iida, your mother was the worse of your parents and would never pass up a chance to ridicule you. Knowing that nothing good could come from this interaction, you kept your head down as your mother invited Tenya to stay for dinner. As your mother talked to Iida in the living room, you were stuck in the kitchen making dinner, which consisted of chicken Katsu curry, sesame spinach salad and miso soup. For dessert you made Sakura rice cakes and Sakura mochi.

It was 5:00 pm when your dad got home and you had just finished making dinner when you mom walked in with Iida and your father. After greeting your father, Tenya and your parents sit down for dinner while you serve everyone. Iida can somewhat sense the tension but he doesn’t know what the reason for it is. As you sit down and you all begin to eat your mother begins to talk.

“So Iida dear, I hear you go to school at UA, how is it?”

“Well, the teachers are among Japan’s finest and we learn very valuable lessons from them.”

“You seem like a very smart and accomplished young man”

“Why thank you Mrs. (l/n)

“It’s too bad our (y/n) can’t be more like you. I mean, they can cook well at least, but that’s not enough to get them anywhere. I just fear for their future ya know, with the way they look, it’s not like anyone is going to be attracted to them. Our little (y/n) will be alone for their entire life”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t believe it’s right for you to say such things about (y/n), they’re incredibly smart and talented and are one of the top students in our class. I don’t think there’s any need to fear for their future”

Iida tried to reason and defend you but your mother persisted with her cruel words. You tried to get Iida to stop but he continued to defend you. After a few more harsh words left your mother’s lips, Iida had had enough.

“I think it’s time I went home, thank you for your hospitality. It is late and I should be heading home.” You had walked Iida to your door and that was when you both heard your mother call you a freak. You hung your head as you said goodbye to Iida. As he left you went back inside and closed the front door only to be smacked across the face by your mother.

Your mother began to berate you and scold you for inviting a ‘friend’ over. She continued to hit you as you just let her hit you, knowing that fighting back would only make it worse. It was when she used her heat quirk to burn you that the front door opened and Iida pushed your mother back. He quickly had you gather your things as he called the police on your mother for abuse.

When the police came and arrested your mother, Iida offered for you to come and stay with him and his family. You tried to deny his offer but he wasn’t taking no for an answer. He brought you to his house, which was huge by the way, and explained to his mother what had happened and that you needed a place to stay. When his mother heard what your mother did to you she told you to stay as long as you needed.

His family was so kind and you got to meet his older brother Tensei. His family welcomed you and treated you nicely and it made you realize how much better things could be. Eventually Iida’s family became your found family and you loved having dinner with them. Your parents had lost custody of you and the Iida’s happily adopted you and you officially became part of the family.

[seeingivy]

blessing

megumi fushiguro x gn!reader

you and fushiguro talk about names

content: nothing, light mentions of blood

an: your consolation prize - a megumi draft while I edit you belong with me gojo. if your name has a meaning, im sorry it doesn't anymore.

--

“Do you think names are important, Megumi?” 

Megumi flutters his eyes open and squints in the dark to direct his gaze to you. You’re splayed right against his bare chest, nimble fingers drawing indiscernible shapes onto his skin. He knows you can’t sleep after missions, which is the only reason he allows your needless rambling at four in the morning. 

“Is this another of those angel sign things Nobara taught you?” he groans, lifting a hand to place it in your hair, the smell of your strawberry shampoo wafting into his space. 

“It’s angel numbers and astrology signs.” you respond, lightly nudging him with your elbow.

“That stuff isn’t real.” 

“Maybe not Megs, but it’s fun to think about.” 

You look over at him and Megumi can feel his heart thumping in his chest, your expectant eyes staring at him as you wait for a response. And he hates that your stupid eyes always make him give in. 

“Okay, fine. Tell me.” 

You grin and readjust yourself so you’re propped up on his chest, so you can get the perfect vantage point of the grumpy face he’s going to make at you. 

“Some people think names have power. Like, depending on what the meaning of your name is, that can affect how you act and who you are and stuff.” 

He frowns, reaching forward to flick you on the forehead, before grabbing your hand and resting your knuckles against his lips. 

“So you’re saying, if we named our kid asshole, he’d be an asshole?” 

“Our kid would be an asshole because you have an attitude problem. Not because we named him asshole.” 

He rolls his eyes, reaching forward to pinch your cheeks. 

“But think about it, Megs. For example, Yuu’s name means relaxed and caring. Don’t you think that fits him?” 

“Itadori is anything but relaxed, Y/N.” 

“Okay, well. It’s half true. Nobara means thorny. Doesn’t that compliment her cursed technique?” 

“Uh huh. I still don’t buy it.” 

“Or Gojo-sensei. Satoru means understanding, like enlightenment. He’s literally the strongest sorcerer.” 

Megumi wraps his arms around your waist, pulling you up closer to burrow his face into your neck. He loves the smell of your shampoo, of your flowery perfume - but loves it even more when he can smell it on himself the next day. 

“You talk too much, Y/N.” 

“Do you know what your name means Megumi?” 

“No. I’ve never really thought about it.” 

“Your name means blessing.” 

Megumi has never wondered about his name or what it means. All he knows is that when he was younger his dad and Tsumiki’s mom disappeared one day, leaving the two of them alone. That is until Gojo showed up. 

And unlike you, he’s never really thought about these things. Star signs, Enneagram personality types, birth charts, angel numbers. According to you, they’re little signs - from the celestials, the universe, something out there bigger than you two. 

Granted, he knows you’re being silly. That you don’t really believe it. But he can’t help but wonder. If his parents saw him and picked out the perfect name. Or if they saw a baby book and closed their eyes and pointed till they found one they liked. If they named him blessing, because they thought he was one. 

If they were intentional in their love for him, like you have been for the past year, the two of you have been dating. You leave a glass of water on his nightstand, so he makes sure to drink water in the morning. Pick up his drycleaning when you’re on your way home, insisting that it’s no trouble and you’re already there. Tell him to throw pennies in fountains and make a wish just because. 

“I think it fits perfectly, Megs.” you whisper, tracing a little star onto the side of his arm. 

He doesn’t respond, his blue eyes focused on the ceiling above you too. 

“I just mean. Gojo-sensei was probably really lonely after everything that happened with Getou. But you were around and he had you with him, so he wasn’t really lonely. And-and I know Yuuji appreciates being here with you and that he really admires you. Nobara too and-” 

“Y/N.” 

You think back to the mission, earlier today. And it keeps replaying through your mind, every time it’s quiet enough to think about it. 

You let your guard down for a few seconds. A few seconds too many because when you and Yuuji turned around, he was on the floor - thick, red blood spilling out of his forehead. And really, if you weren’t busy discussing what souvenirs to buy on the way out, if you were paying attention, maybe you wouldn’t be the one dragging him back to Shoko’s and watching from a distance with such an intense guilt that it made your stomach burn. 

“I think you’re a blessing too, y’know? Maybe I don’t say it all the time, but I do. I guess it’s just hard to say how you feel sometimes when…I don’t know, we could die tomorrow Megs and-”

Megumi brings his hand back up to your hair, brushing through the tangles at the back as he presses a kiss to the top of your head. You know Megumi. His hand in your hair - to drop it, to let it go. The kiss on your head - that he’s already looked past what happened. 

“What does your name mean, Y/N?” 

“Dunno. Couldn’t really find it in the books or anything.” 

--

You wake up to the left side of the bed empty, the mattress cold and missing a Megumi shaped space. His glass has been drained on the nightstand, meaning he’d probably left already for breakfast. You quickly pad back to your own dorm and pull your uniform on, before joining them all for breakfast. 

You join the three of them at the desk - already loudly arguing about god knows what. You place a hand on Megumi’s shoulder as you slide into the seat next to him, granting you a small smile from him. He places a hand on your thigh and squeezes, another one of Megumi’s silent messages. 

You’re okay. 

Nobara and Yuuji are holding up the name book you had looked at the day prior, Nobara pinching the end of his ear as they argue. 

“This name thing isn’t true. You’re full of shit.” Yuuji complains, pushing the book towards you and Megumi. 

You open up the book, already open to Yuuji’s name at the end of the book. 

“Who the fuck said I thought it was true? It’s just fun to look at.” Nobara responds.

“Well, why did you bring it up? You’re acting like you’re connected with some celestial body shit but you’re just making stuff up.” Yuji responds, standing up. 

The three of them stand up, packing up their things as they get ready to head to training on the field with the second years. You’re still stuck on the book - flipping through to check everyone’s names. Gojo, Shoko, Toge, Maki. 

As you flip through the pages, you note a dark indentation on one of the pages in the middle, and quickly try to flip through to find it again. 

“You coming?” Megumi asks, bag slung over his shoulder at the door. 

“Yeah. I’m coming, give me a second.” 

The three of them shrug as they walk out, their incessant chattering still heard from the window outdoors. You finally find the page and the dark blotches of writing at the bottom. 

Someone’s written in the book, with a black marker. You recognize the handwriting immediately, Megumi’s freakishly neat handwriting inscribed in the book. 

Y/N. Meaning: love or warmth. 

You quickly shut the book and run out, where the three of them are already walking to class. Nobara and Yuuji are now peering over her phone, looking at god knows what, which you take as your opportunity to grab Megumi and lightly drag him back. 

“Megs.” 

“Hm?” 

“Did you write in the book?” 

He rolls his eyes, lightly nudging you with his elbows, as you guys keep walking on. 

“No. I didn’t.” 

“Yes. You did. I know your handwriting, idiot.” 

“No. I didn’t. And even if I did, so what? The book was missing your name.” he responds, pinching his eyebrows as he looks at you.

“Okay. So you did write in it. But you can’t just give my name a meaning, we don’t even know if that’s true.” 

“All words have made up meanings. If someone came up to us and told us that trees are actually called birds, we’d start calling them birds.” 

“Okay but-” 

“I decided. That’s what your name means. Because that’s what you are. Now, be quiet and focus on training.” he responds.

He drops your hand and walks past, stretching in between Nobara and Maki as the group of them start stretching out. He looks over and gives you a soft smile, the one he only reserves for you, and you can only think that you truly are blessed, to be loved by someone like him.

--

taglist: @porridgesblog @platrom @k0z3me @kayleegomez @yihona-san06 @bsenpai @sweetenertea @skzismyhome @mykyoon @violetmatcha @rebeccawinters @luna0713hunter @shotenvinsoott @itzmeme @squirrelspoetry

[chvoswxtch]

hello, can i get a macchiato (barista’s choice of over ice) with what it would be like for spencer to come home to you after a hard case/long day?

hi nonnie!

one macchiato coming right up :)

headcannon below the cut

spencer reid has a hard day

spencer is a talker. maybe not always a conversationalist, but a talker. there's a million & one fun facts constantly running through that genius brain of his that he's always eager to share

you'd learned early on in your relationship that asking him something as simple as "how was your day" could turn into a fifteen minute tangent on the origin of that phrase before he even got to answering your question

needless to say, you can tell when he's had a really long day, or when a case has been particularly hard, because he's quiet

typically when the jet lands, he's calling you before the wheels even touch the ground to let you know he's home, but when it's been a long day or a hard case, he'll send you a short text instead

he doesn't greet you as enthusiastically when he walks through the door, & he's not talking a mile a minute. his greeting is quiet & strained, & you can see the deep shades of exhaustion beneath his eyes

even the way he walks is off, & you can almost see whatever it is that's getting to him is weighing down on him

instead of immediately seeking you out to join you in the kitchen or the living room or wherever you are, he'll head straight towards the bedroom instead

physical touch is not one of spencer's love languages, or something he enjoys in general, but on days like this, the comfort of your touch is something he wants, but he just still doesn't know how to ask for it

throughout the course of your relationship, you've learned how to read him. you've learned how to tell what he needs & when he needs it, relying on his body language & nonverbal cues when he can't seem to get the words out

you picked up on the way the tension would leave his shoulders when you hugged him, or how he'd exhale a deep breath of relief when you kissed his cheek. he practically melted into your embrace when your fingers gently moved through his mess of curls, & lightly scratching at his scalp made him putty in your hands

when he comes home like this, you don't bother with asking him if he wants to talk about it. you know he'll automatically say no, not wanting to burden you with his troubles, but also bc he's still learning to express himself emotionally

so you follow him into the bedroom, & you climb into bed with him, & you let him know that you're there, physically but also mentally

you wait patiently for him to accept the comfort of your touch, & even when he's laying with his head on your chest & his arms wrapped tightly around your waist, you wait for him to speak first. sometimes he wants to try & talk about what's bothering him, & sometimes he just wants to feel something pure & good

you'll never forget the first time he explained to you why he prefers to lay in silence sometimes. it still tugs at your heartstrings even months later

"everyday, I see the worst of humanity. some cases, there's a happy ending. sometimes we make it just in time to save at least one person, and sometimes that feels like it's enough. but some days...it doesn't make up for the extent of the depravity that we witness. it doesn't make up for the people we couldn't save. I spend every single day surrounded by violence and chaos and...evil. but when i'm with you...that all goes away. I don't want to think. I just want to focus on the good."

recently, you'd introduced spencer to a little game you & your mom used to play when you were younger. when something was scary, or when you had a bad day, you'd ask her to tell you something good, & she'd tell you some highlight from her day, or the first good thought that came to mind

you've learned to identify the long days vs the hard days depending on if he wants to play or not. if it's just been a really long day & he's tired, he doesn't usually participate. but if he comes home after a case that really affected him, it's almost painful to hear the need in his voice when he asks

"tell me something good. please."

hugging him even closer, like you're trying to protect him from all the bad things outside of your shared bedroom, you gently kiss his forehead & whisper softly

"the universe is infinite. there are galaxies and solar systems out there that haven't even been discovered yet, and may never be. our world has existed for millions of years, and yet, i'm lucky enough to get to exist at the same time as you. the stardust that created our universe, and our world, is the exact same stardust that we're made of, which means you and I have always been connected, even long before we existed, and we still will be long after we're gone. it's always been you and me, and it always will be."

lifting his head to look at you, spencer's hazel eyes are full of curiosity & awe. he knew you were smart, maybe nowhere near a genius like he was, but still very smart. however, he was the one with the science background, so to hear you speak so eloquently about space caught him off guard

"where did you learn that?"

rolling your eyes with a soft laugh, you shook your head & smirked at him

"i love you, too."

a faint blush creeps on his cheeks, & he gives you a small sheepish smile

"sorry...i...i do love you. that...that was beautiful. i just-"

cutting him off, you reach over onto the nightstand & pickup your copy of "astrophysics for people in a hurry", holding it up for him to see. he glances between the small book & you in puzzlement, & you smirk at him

"i'm trying to keep up with my genius boyfriend."

for the first time since he's walked through the door, spencer smiles. a real, genuine, smile. taking the book from your hand, he sets it aside & shakes his head, gently cupping your cheek

"i don't need you to do that. i just need you to be with me."

letting out a soft laugh, you lean into his touch & place your hand on top of his

"did you hear anything i just said? i've always been with you, and i always will be. we're bound by the stars, pretty boy."

spencer's lips split into a wide grin, & now that his mood is considerably lighter, he leans in for a soft kiss

"can't argue with science."

[maaskuline]

HIII SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN VERY ACTIVE LATELY ;w; i know i don't need to apologize but i just really wish i could be here more often, i've been missing being able to rp my goofy greaser boy this week!!

little vent under the cut just to update on what's goin on fjaoiceocjwkgj

my step-dad is in the hospital rn, and there's a very real chance he might pass away eventually. i'm very conflicted about it bc we never had a very good relationship at all. but he's also the primary carer for my mom who is disabled, so i've been a little extra busy with helping her out while he's been in the hospital — along with starting a new job and general financial trouble all around

SO. needless to say it's been a bit rough this week 😅 so don't be too surprised if activity here is spotty. i still have the rest of the asks from the last rp meme i reblogged in my inbox and i rlly wanna respond to those but my anxiety has just been through the roof, which makes it even harder for me to like. articulate thoughts and talk to people. ;w; so if you sent me anything and i haven't responded yet please just bare with me atm

i really wanna do something fun when i'm properly able to pick the activity back up!! but i'm still brainstorming on that rn so who knows

IN THE MEANTIME THOUGH...... if anyone wants to plot anything perchance, feel free to hmu 👉👈 i'm probably gonna have to ask that you already have some kind of idea of what to plot though bc, brain has been blank writing wise lately and words are harder to articulate for me rn but. if you're willing to deal with that then ur free to dm me if you'd like!!

also my discord if anyone would like to add me there!! (preferably let me know who you are if you add me so i don't think ur a total stranger lol)

[thoughtsforsoob]

Txt as your little brother?

a/n: hello! i do not have any little siblings (let alone any siblings) so this may not be 100% accurate. I do know a lot of people with siblings though and i've had a lot of cousins my whole life :) hopefully this will be enjoyable :D please feel free to request anytime! inbox is always open for requests and ideas!

tags: f!reader

yeonjun

he admires his older sister and want's to be just like her, even well into his teen years

he has his little group of friends that he's had since pre-school and once they all get older, some of them start to hit on his sister and he tf flips out!

"hey! no one talks to my sister! just imagaine it as dating me...the same DNA!"

they all gag and despite the gross image, they do not stop hitting on you until they have all found relationships

he is used to you driving him around but as soon as he gets his license, he takes you everywhere!

he even lies for you when your parents ask where you are.

he'll open the door for you at night and even better, he will go pick you up from whever you went that night.

goes all out on chrismas and birthday gifts because his sister is amazing and deserves the best

soobin

sweetest older brother in the whole world

he is always watching over you to make sure you are okay but he knows when to bud out of something

he is the type of brother that would drive you around and if you insist on driving, he is holding on for dear life to persude you to let him take over the wheel

he always seems to come home with something for you. food, clothes, skin care, candy...

he buys you a lot of your skin care and he always takes you shopping! what a great brother

he is also always down for a late night skin care sesh where you both gossip about drama at school and work and eat a ton of junk food

omg he is type to take care of you when you're sick too

he's your older brother so no matter how old you are or where you are, he is always going to take care of his baby sister.

beomgyu

he is the brother that comes into your rooms, throws something at you, turns off the light and leaves...without closing the door

so so annoying

his main goal in life is to torment you! he does not take this job lightly at all

he is very fun to go places with

when you both were younger, you'd play hide and seek in the store and if you both got caught, you'd both giggle while your mom scolds you.

you two would also hide in the middle of the circular clothing racks and jump out to scare each other and your mom

needless to say, you both are always in trouble but it's okay because you keep each other company when you're grounded

you both were the type to make up songs, games, or performances as kids

you both also get into lots of trouble at school together

as adults, he becomes your partner in crime and you go out everywhere together

taehyun

taehyun is the type of sibling to pretend he does not care about you. like, "oh my sister? idk i don't care what she's doing."

news flash, he does care

he shoes he cares in the most lowkey ways ever

if he knows your mom isn't going to make dinner because she's going out with dad, he will take you out to get food or he will make you whatever you want to eat.

he's also really comforting, which is suprising to those who do not know him much

when your first s/o breaks up with you...all hell breaks loose

he barges into your room with sweets you like he lets you tell him everything...

god forbid you tell him who this person is...he will ask around with your friends until he finds out where they live and he will eggs their house or some shit

he also let's you have full access to his clothes since he knows you like his clothes

he does get annoyed when suddenly all of his t-shirts are missing but he could never stay mad at you

huening kai

being a group of 4 siblings was quite chaotic but you and kai seemed the have a different connect bc .... ya'll were twins

you both grew up wearing matching clothes, practicing the same instrument, and singing.

of course, you and your sisters connected well but you and kai, again, had a little bit of a deeper connection

he comes straight to your room after school and starts to spill all of the gossip about what happened to his friends and him that day

he is the type of brother is also be very caring of not just you, but all three of his beautiful sisters!

buys expensive birthday gifts once he get's his first job and he loves when you three use your gifts

when it comes to dating, he is opposite of yeonjun in the sense that he would rather you date one of his friends

he knows them well and he knows that they are less likely to hurt you

(heheh he loves seeing you and his best friend soobin as a couple. he def gives the "if you hurt her, ill castrate you" talk).

[hochsleep]

Chapter 2: First day in the quarry

• Era: Season 1

• Warning: foul language, disturbing thoughts.

• Summary: Daryl brings you to a camp in the quarry and now you have to get to know its inhabitants. Will you and your sister be allowed to stay? Have you finally found a safe place to stay?

• Word count: 6,9k.

• A/N: I will say right off the bat that there is almost no interaction between Daryl and Y/N in the chapter. But aside from the romantic relationship with Mr. Dixon, I also want to spell out the interactions between the reader and the other characters in the series. It's important, after all they're all in the same group and I don't consider all the other characters just set pieces. I love many of them immensely and I want to express my love here. But after these digressions, we'll usually be treated to chapters with a lot of Daryl. For balance.

The first chapter seems quite weak to me and if you made it here after that, you're good! I'm having trouble spelling out the beginning. I haven't really fumbled with the characters yet, especially my own, but the second chapter was easier for me to write and it feels really better. Glad you guys are here!

Yeah, that's pretty much all I wanted to say here for now.

Enjoy reading!

Your first day of your career was stressful to say the least.

You knew this place. One day your best friend got involved with a bunch of local amateur rockers who liked to hide from cops and law problems far away from your hometown. One day these assholes decided to perform at a bar in Atlanta, calling it their first big tour. Needless to say, they ended up not even being allowed in that bar? Their playing was pretty mediocre, they were more attracted to the image of rock stars and their lifestyle than the music. Their lead singer looked like Axl Rose and was a real asshole. Billy Stevenson. Famous for his husky voice, his problems with the local Dunwoody police, and his love of underage girls when he was in his early 20s. You couldn’t help it, your friend Holly was madly in love with this asshole and all your attempts to talk some sense into her were unsuccessful.

So when you and Holly were 16, you first tricked your mom and went on her boyfriend Billy Stevenson’s “tour” with her. You just didn’t want to let her go alone. Holly was naïve enough to get into trouble, and Billy had little interest in the safety of his underage girlfriend. So you volunteered to be her voice of reason on this trip. It wasn’t so bad. Except for a few days on the road in an old pot-smoking van with six sleazy guys who were failed rock stars. At least you finally got out of your little town and could see Atlanta. The big city you were hoping to go to after high school. And your best friend was with you and seemed really happy so you just ignored all the other aspects of the not-so-safe trip.

That group decided to stop at this very quarry for the night before finally reaching Atlanta. That’s how you first got here. It was only seven years ago, and it felt like an eternity. You never thought you’d be in this place again. You didn’t think Lottie would be with you. And you obviously couldn’t, even in your wildest fantasies, imagine under what circumstances you’d end up back in that old quarry. The end of the world. It’s still hard to believe.

But back to the camp that Daryl brought you to. It was hard to get a few words out of him on the way to the quarry, but at least after several attempts he introduced himself. He was probably just tired of your questioning or your annoying voice. He liked Lottie better because she kept quiet while you talked and talked all the way. Anyway, Daryl led you out of the forest and the first thing you came to was a small clearing where the trees had been cut down years ago.

The first thing that catches your eye is a few camping tents with folding chairs and ropes for drying laundry. A woman with two children was sitting near one of these tents, and she was the first to look at you. The woman frowned slightly and whispered to her young son in Spanish to go back into the tent. You wondered how bad you and Lottie looked now if the woman had that reaction. Three days in the woods must have taken its toll. You’d had to sleep on the ground as it was, with nothing to put underneath you. But you always gave your knitted cardigan to Lottie to wrap up in so she wouldn’t freeze at night lying on the cold ground. Even if you were shaking from the cold yourself because Georgia nights feel like they’re polar. Oh, and you fell at least four times while you and Lottie were walking through the woods. From fatigue, dizziness from lack of food, a couple times you tripped. Resulting in bloody knees, elbows and palms. So yes, probably a strange girl covered in mud, blood and her own sweat did not arouse confidence in the camp.

You swept your eyes further and saw an old mobile home, on the roof of which stood an elderly man in a Hawaiian shirt and with a shotgun in his hands. He seemed to be trying to see what was going on down here. Two girls came out of the house. Two blondes, similar in appearance but different in age. They’re probably sisters, or so you’d think.

“Dixon, what’s going on here?” came a man’s voice.

A tall man of strong build wearing a shirt unbuttoned across his chest, showing off dark short hair and a large silver pendant. He looked to be no more than thirty-five. The man had his hands at his sides and was squinting at Daryl. Oh, now you know his last name. Not that you needed the information, but it was still interesting to know.

“Found them in the woods,” Daryl said hoarsely, waving his hand in your and Lottie’s direction while you stood behind his back, “gotta help the kid.”

“Let’s step back and talk, buddy,” the man snorted, as if saying the last word with disdain.

You could see Daryl’s shoulders tense. He nodded to the man and they both walked back toward the forest to discuss the situation. You couldn’t blame him. Today, with the old world dead, and with it the law and perhaps ethical rules controlling human behavior, you shouldn’t have trusted strangers. Especially ones from the woods.

“Are we not allowed to be here?” asked Lottie quietly, wrapping her arm tightly around yours, "are we going to get kicked out?”

For a ten-year-old, she was pretty savvy. Though it didn’t take much intelligence to notice the wary behavior of the people in this camp. You stood there in the middle of the clearing while several pairs of eyes stared at you and your sister tried to hide behind you. You wished you could hide too. It seemed easier with Daryl standing in front of you and covering you.

You saw a boy, looking about the same age as Lottie, walk confidently in your direction. Behind him, a tall, thin woman with long brown hair and a piercing gaze walked at a quicker pace. His mom?

“Carl, stop!” huffed the woman, catching up with the child, but he cared little for her words.

“Hi, I’m Carl Grimes,” the boy with the bright blue eyes smiled sincerely and pulled Lottie’s hand, “what’s your name?”

Lottie looked at his hand and then at you. You smiled slightly and nodded at her, encouraging her. It had been so long since Lottie had seen the other children, it seemed like years rather than a couple of weeks.

“Charlotte L/N,” the girl replied, looking apprehensively at Carl.

“Pleased to meet you,” Carl ventured and put his own arm around her arm to seal the acquaintance.

Lottie opened her eyes fearfully, but relaxed just as quickly, realizing that a boy her age wouldn’t hurt her.

“Carl,” the woman walked over to you and the boy and shook her head annoyedly, looking at him, “you definitely heard what I told you.”

“It’s okay,” you found the courage to answer the woman, “we’re not dangerous. I mean…”

“What’s your name?” the woman shifted her gaze to you. So cold it sent shivers down your spine.

“Y/N,” you replied, looking at her uncertainly.

“Y/N, I think we should all stay away from each other for now until we figure this out,” the woman said, grabbing Carl’s arm and pulling him aside. “For safety’s sake…ours and yours.”

“Lori, you shouldn’t chop off your shoulder,” the older man finally came down from the roof and approached you with a broad smile. “The two young ladies are obviously scared and tired, hardly a danger to anyone.”

“We’ve had enough of the Dixons who came here from the woods too and now we don’t all feel safe,” Lori answered him in a low voice so Carl and the others wouldn’t hear too much extra.

“Lori,” the old man shook his head faintly, looking at the woman, “this conversation is inappropriate right now, don’t you think? Obviously the girls need help, that’s what really matters.”

“Let’s see what Shane has to say to that,” Lori said and with another glance in your direction, dragged Carl by the arm to the side.

The man sighed his head as he watched Lori walk away behind Carl’s arm and quietly clucked his tongue. But then the good-natured smile bloomed back on his face as he looked at you.

“You must be hungry, ladies. Come on, I’ll feed you and we’ll get to know each other without any barbed looks in your direction,” the old man clapped his hands, “and don’t mind Lori, she’s always in a bad mood lately, it’s nothing to do with you.”

At the mention of food, saliva automatically accumulated in your mouth. You could literally feel your stomach digesting itself all these three days. The last thing you ate was a handful of wild raspberries found in the woods. The only safe thing you knew. It was a shame there weren’t many berries, but you weren’t in a position to complain. You’ve never been a believer, but you seem to finally understand why people pray before eating and thank God for sending food. But it was more hunger playing on your emotions, nothing serious.

The elderly man introduced himself as Dale. He nobly hid you and Lottie in his motor home, where no one would look at you both with supposed apprehension. You were truly grateful for that. And you were even more grateful when Dale put a plate full of pasta and meat chowder warmed over a fire in front of you. You didn’t like meat other than chicken, but right now you’d eat anything that had animal protein in it. Lots of wild protein. And damn it, it was the best chowder you’ve ever had in your life. Or at least in the last month. It was warm, rich, salty and peppery, even though you’d forgotten spices existed, and it was really hearty. Even Lottie, who was a very picky eater and would certainly not have eaten such an array of food at any other time, was happily gorging herself on the food Dale had provided. The man watched you with a caring smile as he poured the wild herbs into cups. An impromptu tea you wouldn’t mind having now.

“So, girls, how did you get into these woods?” asked Dale, placing a plastic cup of decoction in front of you. The pleasant, soothing scent of herbs enveloped you, and it was easier to breathe.

“We’re from Dunwoody,” you said, smiling slightly at the old man, “just like everyone else traveling towards Atlanta when we heard there was a safe camp for the uninfected. When we got to the town, it turned out there was no camp," you explained without going into detail.

You didn’t tell him how your mother was eaten in front of you and Lottie. How your stepfather John piled into the house that same day and ordered you to immediately pack all the essentials. How you took a long drive from Dunwoody in his old Ford, and when it stalled, you stole someone’s pickup truck. How you spent several days in the woods, eating the canned food you had collected at home and what you found in abandoned cars on the road. You didn’t tell him how you had to run away from walkers several times and how John cracked one of them open in front of his ten-year-old daughter, after which she was afraid to go near him. How you finally made it to Atlanta, but instead of a camp you found only abandoned military equipment, fire-damaged buildings, and crowds of corpses. How you couldn’t get away from them and John drew them off so you and Lottie could escape. You didn’t tell how the man who raised you from the age of ten and replaced your own father was torn apart by reanimated corpses, spewing out his insides as he screamed exhaustedly before life left him. How loudly Lottie screamed “Daddy!” and sobbed, and you had to literally carry her on your back to escape the walkers. How you ran off into the woods again, where you finally broke away from the mob of rotten ones. You didn’t tell how Lottie had been silent for the last two days, not realizing that she had lost both her parents so quickly. How the two of you wandered through the forest and survived only on wild berries and rare streams of water. You could only hope the water wasn’t poisoned with walker DNA. You didn’t tell him how you were found by four of those horrible creatures and chased after you. How Lottie was grabbed and almost bit. And how you gave up and for a moment thought it was best for both of you, you didn’t tell him either. The memories were still fresh and the realization of your weakness had not yet reached you. And there was a lot you hadn’t told Dale.

But he probably knew from the sad look in your eyes that you didn’t need to ask. Not now. And in front of Lottie, who was trying hard not to think about what had happened.

“Are you going to kick us out?” finally dispelled the silence, Lottie looking at Dale with her innocent childish gaze in which hope flickered.

“Kick you out? What makes you think that, little lady?” the old man raised his eyebrows, looking at the girl.

He and probably Carl were the only ones who already saw you as part of the group. Maybe also Daryl, since he brought you here, but you weren’t sure.

“That woman, the boy’s mom…Carl’s mom, she doesn’t want us here…and neither does that big tall man,” Lottie pressed her lips together. A habit you both shared when nervous or doubtful.

“Well you may have scared them, we’re all scared right now, but that doesn’t mean they want to kick you out,” Dale shook his head, “we all came to this camp hoping to find a safe place and we found one. Everyone arrived gradually and we were all new here, but no one kicked anyone out. Daryl, the one who brought you here, and his brother Merle, who I suggest you stay away from, were the last newcomers to this group, they too came from the forest a couple weeks ago and people just…got used to new people in the camp. Time goes very fast now, two weeks feels like two months ago,” the old man sighed, “and yet. No one’s kicked anyone out of this camp yet. If you want a safe place and a nice, well almost, company of other living people, you’ve found it and are now part of the group until you decide to leave. That’s the way it Is.”

Lottie smiled at Dale’s words. She didn’t want to leave. New people scared her, but she couldn’t help but be glad to be alive. Especially after seeing nothing but dead people for the last couple weeks. And she liked that there were more kids at camp. Carl and those kids whose mom had hastily hidden them in the tent. Maybe they could be friends. And maybe you wouldn’t have to give your food and clothes to Lottie anymore. She’d like that. She also liked Dale. He was kind and caring. He reminded Lottie of your grandfather from Oregon, the one you both went to see the summer before school. This place really could be a new home and Lottie really hoped it would be.

“Thanks for the food, Dale, it’s really good,” you said smiling and occasionally glancing at your sister’s satisfied face.

“Yes, thank you!” nodded the girl confidently, remembering to thank the old man.

“It’s all Carol,” the man brushed it off, but then apparently remembered that you have no idea who Carol is, “I’ll be sure to introduce you to her and the others. But you’d better get cleaned up first.”

Oh, right.

You still looked no better than a walker. Still covered in blood, sweat, and mud. You used to feel awful after a long day of work on particularly hot days in Georgia, when you sweated all over and literally felt like the dirtiest person on the planet. All you wanted to do was go home and give yourself a good scrubbing with a washcloth. But a light layer of sweat was a drop in the bucket compared to how truly dirty you were now. Not to mention the fact that you’d forgotten about shampoo for two weeks at least, and now if you ran your greasy hair over a frying pan, you could fry an egg without oil and it wouldn’t even burn. It was only now that you didn’t have to run and survive in the woods, where walkers could find you at any moment, that you thought about how you looked. You felt like wiping yourself with an iron sponge like the one your mom used to scrub the burned-on food off the dishes. Or scrub yourself with sandpaper. And burn those clothes you’ve been wearing for so long. There’s no saving it, you’re sure of that. But the problem is, you and Lottie left your backpacks in Atlanta. You had literally nothing with you. Wearing those filthy, tattered rags after you’ve washed up…It's rather not wash up at all.

“I don’t have a change of clothes and…” you looked awkwardly at Dale, “all our stuff was left in Atlanta when we ran away from there.”

“Oh, right,” nodded the old man, “you came light,” he reflected.

There are enough people in the camp. And they should have enough clothes, too. But you weren’t even sure if you and Lottie were staying here. You didn’t know for sure until now. Asking for clean clothes from these people would have been supercilious and you didn’t want to deal with it.

“Stay here, I’ll be right back,” Dale said with a smile before leaving you and Lottie in his motorhome.

You didn’t even have time to object. He wouldn’t have let you.

“He’s cute,” Lottie grinned at you after a few seconds of silence, and you only grinned back at her.

Dale didn’t keep you waiting long as promised. He came back to the house accompanied by a young girl. One of those blondes you saw earlier. The younger one. The girl seemed your age. Maybe a couple years apart. She smiled charmingly and looked like a doll with her soft blond hair, blue eyes, and rosy cheeks. The girl held a stack of clothes in her hands.

Oh shit.

You wouldn’t want that. I mean, sure you wanted to wash up and put on clean clothes, but you didn’t want to feel indebted and steal from these people. You already felt like you owed Daryl for saving your life and Dale for the food and the warm welcome.

“Hi, we haven’t had a chance to meet yet,” the girl said in a voice as sweet as sugar syrup, “I’m Amy.”

“Y/N,” you nodded, lifting the corners of your lips slightly, “this is my sister Charlotte,” you nodded at the little girl next to you.

“That’s my full name, but I don’t like it when the full form is used, I’d rather just Lottie,” the girl explained.

“Nice to meet you,” Amy smiled even wider and for a moment you thought her rosy cheeks were going to burst, “I brought you both some clothes.”

Amy held out a stack of clothes to you and you took them into your hands. There were bigger clothes on the bottom, probably for you, and some smaller ones for Lottie on top.

“Thank you so much, I don’t know how I can repay you to be honest…” you pressed your lips together awkwardly, looking at Amy.

“Don’t need anything, it’s all right,” waved the girl away, “we’re here to help each other. It’s my stuff, I don’t know if it’ll fit, but if it doesn't we’ll look for something else. Maybe my sister has some or…well we have a lot of women in the camp,” she explained hastily, “and for Lottie, Sophia’s stuff. It’s Carol’s daughter and…”

“All right, honey, thanks,” Dale interrupted her, noticing that with excitement Amy was starting to gibber and explain too much.

“Yeah…anyway, if something doesn’t fit at all, we’ll look for more,” Amy nodded, exhaling.

“That’s fine, and thanks again,” you nodded at her.

“Thank you,” repeated Lottie after you.

“No problem, I’ll see you later,” Amy smiled once more and walked out the door.

“Okay, I have a shower room there a little farther closer to the bedroom. It’s not much of a dream, but it’s washable. The water is also scarce and it’s mostly cold, so I suggest you do all your business quickly because it’ll take a long time to rub down not lake water,” Dale began, walking past you further to show you everything, “Soap and shampoo are on the shelf next to the shower. And I’ll give you a towel. When you’re done, go outside. We’ll get to know the others.”

Dale gave you both a towel each and left you and Lottie alone in his motorhome, assuring you that no one would come in here and you could relax.

You sent Lott to wash first and hoped you’d have some water left over. But now you’d dive into the lake to wash yourself, frankly.

Lottie came out a few minutes later. Her long hair was wet and slightly disheveled from the water, but she looked fresh and clean for the first time in a long time. Lottie was dressed in knee-length blue leggings with a star pattern and a white T-shirt with a cartoon bear on it. Clothes were a little big for her because the Sophia you didn’t know yet was probably older than your sister. Or at least taller. But Lottie didn’t complain. Especially when she saw that she’d been allocated ballet flats with a strap around her ankle. Not very practical footwear now, but better than one miserable rubber boot. You hoped you wouldn’t have to run around anymore and Lottie’s shoes wouldn’t be something to worry about in that case. Especially as she seemed to like it very much herself. She loved shoes and ballet flats before all this. Fuck you could see sneakers on her feet, it was a rarity.

You walked into the tiny shower room, which somehow also contained a toilet and sink. The shower was disastrously small and you were left to guess how to turn around so as not to bruise yourself on the toilet and sink. You pulled off all your dirty clothes and shoved them with your foot closer to the door so they wouldn’t get in the way. Your gaze fell on your reflection in the small mirror above the sink. The crumpled, tired, and lost girl who had once smiled so brightly looked back at you. It was the worst version of you. And not even because of the blood and dirt on your face. Not because of the purple bruise on your collarbone and a few scratches on your neck. Not because of the greasy hair that clumped on your shoulders. It was because of that faded look in your eyes. The one you’d never seen in your life, not even in your worst moments. The funny thing was that now all those situations and your worries about them were nothing compared to your current problems.

You didn’t want to see it anymore. You stood under the shower head and turned on the water. Cold jets ran through your hair, dripping onto your skin and causing a tabor of goosebumps to follow. But damn it now, that cold water felt like the embrace of a god you didn’t believe in, but now you were ready to believe in. You could only dream of a hot shower now, but the temperature of the water no longer mattered as long as the dirt and blood was washed away with the streams of water and left under your feet. You turned off the water to lather your hair with a man’s shampoo for lack of more. It smelled divine anyway. Everything smelled divine now after the smell of sweat, blood, and rotting corpses in your nose. The only thing your nose has been picking up lately. So the smell of pine branches and mint almost made you have an orgasm. Especially when you felt the foam between your fingers, lathering up your dirty hair. The next step was the mendal smelling soap you used to lather your body with. The sharp pain recognized your scratches on your sides and legs, but that was a good thing as they were getting clean. You had nothing to treat them with back then in the forest and could only hope you didn’t get an Infection or die of blood poisoning. That would be ridiculous and a shame in today’s world. As your slippery soapy fingers slid over your body you felt as if angels had come down from heaven to bathe you. It was very good. Very good. And it felt even better to wash the soap off yourself along with the rest of the dirt and blood. There was barely enough water, you used the rest and hoped no one else would shower today. At least you justified to yourself that you really needed it more.

You wiped yourself with a clean towel and exhaled with relief. Now you could get dressed. You made a mental note to thank Amy again, because she had been kind enough to share even fresh underwear with you. Today couldn’t have gotten any better after that. Even if the cute polka-dot cotton briefs were a little small for you. You didn’t even want to think about the condition of your own after a week of wearing them. It’s horrible, you should just burn them. Amy also brought you a bra, which was also incredibly cute, but you hadn’t used that part of your clothes since you were a teenager after your cousin Martha scared you with the story about bra pips causing cancer and terrible breast pain. You remembered that to this day. But even without those stories, you were uncomfortable in bras, and they pressed and chafed your skin every now and then. You gave them up a long time ago. There were the occasional snide comments from male customers at the store where you worked and the stares of middle-aged women, but your comfort was more important to you. So you put your bra aside and began to dress next. Next were light-colored jeans that were supposed to be loose, but looked like skinnies on you because you were fuller and taller than Amy. But the main thing was that they weren’t close to bursting at the seams if you sat down in them and that was enough. You even liked the way they fit around your soft, rounded hips. The last one was a soft pink short-sleeve button-down shirt. It fit you well without being too tight, unlike the jeans. Anyway, you threw on a thin gray sweater with cute buttons and bows embroidered on them. It was a far cry from your lazy, near boho style, but you didn’t complain. Amy had also brought you some sneakers, but you preferred your shabby yellow converse shoes, which were still alive. And you hoped to save your colorful knitted cardigan that your mother had carefully knitted for you for Christmas two years ago. It’s the only thing you have left of hers. The cardigan and Lottie.

You came out of the shower room and sat across from Lottie at the table. She looked at you anxiously. You knew what was wrong. She was scared. And so were you.

“We can escape through the roof hatch,” you whispered to your sister as if someone could hear you.

“No, we won’t do that,” Lottie shook her head and stood up from the table to say confidently, “let’s go.”

You and Charlotte walked out of Dale’s motorhome just as a young Asian-looking guy you didn't know was about to knock on the door.

“Oh, I…” he looked at you fearfully, “I thought Dale was in there.”

"He’s not there,” you shook your head.

“Yeah, I already figured that out,” the guy scratched the back of his head awkwardly, “I’m Glenn by the way,” and then extended his hand to you.

“Y/N,” you replied, squeezing his hand lightly.

“And you…?” Glenn looked at the girl next to you.

“Lottie,” she smiled. Glenn was about to reply when Dale appeared behind him.

"Oh, you girls are done now,” the old man clapped his hands, “have you met Glenn yet? He’s a good guy,” Dale clapped the younger guy on the shoulder in a friendly way.

"Come on,” Glenn lowered his head in embarrassment and you noted to yourself that he seemed really quite shy.

"Well, we need to find Shane and introduce you to the others, follow me,” Dale waved his hand, urging the three of you to follow him.

There’s nothing more for you to do. You took Lottie’s hand and followed the man. Glenn walked beside you, awkwardly tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans. The whole situation was embarrassing for you, too. Eventually you talked Daryl into bringing you to camp. You had hoped to just ask for food and lodging for one night, not expecting anything more. But now it’s people have lent you clothes and seem to actually let you stay here and live with them. This is something you could never have dreamed of. Unprecedented generosity.

“Shane we have an unspoken leader,” Glenn said as you walked, “well I mean we’re kind of his group, but there are other people in the camp who just knew about this place and stopped here on their own. Shane decided to organize all of us and he seems to know better than the rest of us how to handle difficult situations, so we just figured he could…I don’t know, be in charge? I mean, he’s really being listened to.”

“So he decides who can stay here?” you asked.

"We all decide together, Shane just makes the final determinations in matters like this, but since the camp is large and not everyone is, shall we say, part of our group, you could take a spot a little farther away and live on your own,” Glenn shrugged, “but that’s not necessary, no one minds if you’re actually with us.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” you almost whispered, remembering the look in Lori’s eyes.

Dale led you to a campfire where people were beginning to gather. The sky was darkens rapidly and the air, warmed by the day, was cooling surprisingly quickly. Everyone wanted to take a seat close to the warm, cozy fire. You felt a thrill of excitement at how many eyes were directed at you at that moment. Lori and Carl, who you already knew. But now there was no coldness and distrust in the woman’s gaze that she had greeted you with earlier. And Carl was smiling, waving his hand to Lottie as if they were already friends. Next you saw Amy next to an other woman, her sister. The younger sister smiled at you, and the older one nodded her head in greeting. Next to them sat a middle-aged woman, unfamiliar to you until now, with short gray hair. She had her arm around the shoulders of a blonde girl who looked a little older than your sister. You suggested that perhaps she was the same Sophia who had lent her things to Lottie. Sitting next to them was a full man who looked at you in disgust. Actually, it wasn't just you, he looked like that at everyone if you watched him. He was definitely not someone you wanted to meet. The next person you saw was a chubby dark-haired guy who was holding a guitar and seemed to be playing something, but stopped when he saw you and Lottie. Next to him sat an older dark-skinned woman who smiled politely at you. And finally Shane. The same man who dragged Daryl into the woods to ‘chat’ when he brought you here. You recognized him from the confident pose he stood in, towering over these people.

Speaking of Daryl. You didn’t see him among these people. But when you looked to the side, you saw a familiar figure with a crossbow over his shoulder. Daryl was walking away, obviously not even thinking about joining the group around the fire. You watched as he separated and didn’t look in your direction, though you were obviously staring. But you were standing far enough away that he really didn’t notice your stare.

“Y/N, right?” you hear a male voice say and turn around to Shane.

“Yes,” you nodded, pursing your lips. “And little…?” Shane shifted his gaze to your sister and smiled at her.

“Charlotte,” the girl replied, squeezing your hand tighter.

“Y/N and Charlotte, I remembered,” the man grinned and nodded, “well, my name is Shane. I know we didn’t start this acquaintance on the most pleasant note, but I think we should all try again.”

“Does that mean we can stay here?” asked Lottie quietly, looking uncertainly at the big man.

“Sure,” he nodded his head, “yes, you can stay.”

Okay, maybe it was easier than you thought.

With a relieved exhale you were finally able to allow yourself to relax at least a little. Dale sat you both closer to the fire between him and Glenn, and you began to get to know the people around you. The blonde next to Amy was Andrea and you weren’t wrong to think they were sisters. T-Dog and Jacqui were introduced next. Lottie thought the guy’s name was funny. Carol then gave you a friendly smile and introduced her daughter Sophia. You guessed it here too. Oh, and her husband Ed, who wasn’t even paying attention to what was going on. Dale nodded toward where two adults and several children were sitting around a smaller fire. The old man introduced them as the Martinez family, and you recognized the woman as the one who had rushed to hide her children from you in the tent a couple of hours ago. She seemed friendlier now. Like everyone in this place. Oh, a little later a middle-aged man joined you and called himself Jim. He wasn’t too talkative, but he seemed to get along well with Dale, because pretty soon the two of them were discussing the old man’s motorhome and how to fix the insides of that old car.

The atmosphere became even more pleasant after everyone had eaten. You and Lottie refused to eat because Dale had already fed you a while ago. You were full, but the main reason was your shyness and unwillingness to eat all of these people's food. They had already given you too much in one day. After a while Carl dragged Sofia and Lottie away to play near the fire. The children were tired of listening to the boring adult conversations and no one dared blame them. You watched with a soft smile as your little sister was a little embarrassed but still interacting with the other children. She missed it. And you missed seeing her happy for so long.

“Hi,” you felt someone sit down on the log next to you. Lori.

“Hi,” you turned in her direction and only now noticed that most of the group had started to disperse to their tents.

"Listen, I wanted to apologize for the way I acted this afternoon,” the woman clasped her hands together, looking in front of her, “the day was difficult and…”

"It’s okay, I understand,” you nodded, “times are like this, it’s dangerous to trust strangers from the woods so easily. I mean it’s always been unsafe, but things have definitely escalated now.”

“That’s for sure,” Lori grinned and nodded, “but I’m still sorry, Y/N.”

“Forget it, I’m not offended, really,” you smiled at her.

“Okay,” nodded Lori in response.

Lori was silent for a few moments before she spoke again.

“It’s good you’re here, I can’t imagine how hard it is to survive out there in the woods alone,” she sighed.

“Yeah, it wasn’t easy…” you nodded, “but Daryl saved us and I talked him into bringing us here for real.”

“It’s worth being careful with the Dixons,” Lori said, “Daryl and his brother Merle…they’re not easy to get along with.”

Merle? You’re hearing again that it’s best not to go near him. You didn’t know him, but you chose to trust everyone’s prejudices. Lori’s the second person to tell you to stay away from another Dixon. But if he resembled Daryl even a little bit, you could tell that he would indeed be difficult to get along with. But that’s if you wanted to, because so far, you haven’t.

“You don’t seem to like them both,” you said, throwing the twig into the fire without looking at Lori.

“With their arrival many no longer feel safe really,” the woman exhaled and looked at you, “Daryl at least hunts and contributes to this group, but his brother…don’t be alone with him, stay close to the others.”

“Okay, you’re scaring me a little,” you grinned a little wrongly.

“Sorry, just trying to give you a heads up that’s all,” Lori only shrugged.

"Okay, I’ll…keep in mind what you said,” you nodded. “That would be nice,” a soft smile appeared on her face. And you smiled back.

You sat silent in a cozy silence and looked at the fire. All around you could hear children’s laughter, the conversations of people you’d barely gotten to know, the tracks of a campfire and the murmuring of crickets in the grass. And at that very moment it seemed to you that life hadn’t changed at all. The dead don’t walk the earth and don’t eat the living. You hadn’t lost your parents and friends. And the thought of letting the walkers eat you and your little sister out of your own powerlessness hadn’t bothered you for the last week. It’s like everything’s back to normal.

Like you were living again.

Glenn was kind enough to give you and Lottie his tent. He promised he’d find you two your own when he went out on the highway again, but for now he’d moved into Dale’s motorhome.

You and Lottie wrapped yourselves in sleeping bags, which didn’t really keep you very warm on this cold Georgia night, but it was a lot better than sleeping on the grass in the woods with bugs getting into your hair and you could barely sleep, torturing yourself with the thought that walkers would appear at any moment. You finally felt safe. In that old camping tent in your sleeping bag, cradling your little sister in your arms to make you both feel warmer.

“I like it here,” whispered Lottie.

“We’re lucky to have come across such good people,” you said.

“I thought there were no survivors left, it’s been so long since we’ve seen them.”

“I’m sure this group is far from the only survivors.”

“I wish daddy had gotten to this place with us,” said Lottie faintly, pressing her thin lips together.

“I know, honey,” you closed your eyes, feeling the burning in them, “I wish he was here too.”

“Do you think he’s looking out for us? Grandmother always said the dead watch over us from the sky,” the girl asked with hope in her voice.

And who are you to dash her hopes? Even if you didn’t really believe in it. The dead walk the earth, not watch over the living from above. That’s the way it is. But Lottie doesn’t need to think about that.

“I hope he is,” you whispered, “he’s certainly happy for us. We survived and found a safe place with good people.”

“Yes, he’s happy for us,” agreed Lottie, “him and mommy.”

Lottie was silent for a while and you thought she had fallen asleep. You could still hear the crickets outside the tent.

“I don’t want you to go, Y/N,” Lottie said quietly.

“I’m not going anywhere,” you replied with complete confidence.

“I don’t want you looking out for me from upstairs,” the girl said barely audibly.

You frowned. If only Charlotte knew what you’ve been thinking about lately. If only she could pay attention to how you almost gave up back then in the woods when the walkers caught you. What would she think? Would she trust you like she did before? You were scared. Scared that she’d find out. Scared that in a stressful situation you’d give up again and there wouldn’t be Daryl or someone else around to save Lottie instead of you. Scared that she might actually die. Scared that you might die, too. You didn’t really want that. You just didn’t know how else to handle the situation. You just let your weakness get the best of you and it almost killed you and your sister. And you didn’t want that to happen again.

“That won’t happen, I promise,” you whispered, “you and I will be together until the end, and I definitely won’t die before you."

"I love you, Y/N,” Lottie said a little louder.

“I love you too, sweetie,” you kissed the top of her head, “now go to sleep,” and pulled her tighter against you.

Toward morning, the sound of crickets and Lottie’s soft sniffling put you to sleep. And that sleep was so sweet.

[plusvanity]

hey👋 how do you think varg got so insane and have you seen that interview with his mom? she claimed he was normal growing up

He had always been insane lol.

Yes, I've seen that video, it's quite underrated but it tells a lot about the way that he grew up.

If 'insane' means malignant narcissist, then there are two theories known of that can be brought into discussion. Narcissistic tendencies develop in very early childhood as a coping mechanism when a child is mistreated and emotionally neglected. When I say mistreated, I mean physically abused and/or being spoiled rotten (yes, this is also abuse because you steal your child the chance of living in the real world by treating him/her special, affirming that he's/she's entitled to everything and anything, denying him/her consequences from his actions etc. etc.), and when I say emotionally neglected, I also include emotional inconsistency given by the parents (the mother usually). This means the child is most likely to walk on eggshells, completely unable to predict the parental response to a mistake that he/she makes.

In Varg's case, I see a combination of both things.

He has bitter feelings towards his father that sometimes slip out and we all can see that while he still has a 'great relationship' with his mother.

Hypothetically speaking, if his father was harsh with him while growing up, his mother spoiled him rotten to 'make up' for the damage. This type of treatment would render him very furious (on his father), but also very entitled to what his mother has to offer in return. This already sounds like him lol, doesn't it?

Following this hypothesis, it goes much deeper. While being childishly angry at his father, splitting his parents in 'all good or all bad', he can never see his mother as being equally abusive by building up the very false idea that 'what I can materially offer you, can compensate for everything that your father say/does'. So, he cannot be mad at his mother because that would mean that he is not treated right by not one, but both parents, and this is extremely threatening for him. Therefore, his mother will always be his savior, the one and only 'Madonna', so to speak. This is the archetype that narcissists look for in their romantic partner and needless to say, his wife occupies the role of a perfect mother who never punishes him, never show him that he is wrong, enables his flawed and delusional behavior, etc.

I don't believe for a second when his mother said to the camera that she 'never saw any signs that he would end up doing what he did', telling the interviewer that Varg had always been 'a sweet little boy that wouldn't get in trouble' and all that stuff because there are always signs, absolutely always. You don't just go out of the blue to burn down churches. This type of behaviour doesn't install overnight. You always start with small, miniscule offends, and you build up your courage to go further and further. And I won't even start on how arson is , in most cases, the number one offence preferred by juveniles. So, there must have been signs, but of course that admitting this to the camera would put her in a bad light and it would be threatening for her image. But lying is lying. I know I cannot prove that she's lying in any way, neither I cannot disprove that she is lying, but look at what her son did and judge for yourself.

She seems highly narcissistic to me. I won't comment on her look, but she seems very preoccupied with how she presents herself.. I will leave you with this. The way she speaks is very light compared to the gravity of the subject and there are many more things that I could point out, but this answer would be too long.

Anyway, considering that Varg ended up like this, it's very likely that he experienced a lot of emotional inconsistency from his emotionally 'Dead Mother' (I will use Andre Green's terminology because it suits her well) and a harsh, unemotional, unavailable treatment from his father.

The fact that his parents divorced is also a big indicator of incompatibility, which will leave an everlasting mark on their children. (thing that happened with Per Ohlin also in his own case)

Now Varg talks nicely about his family on Twitter and in his books because, like all narcissists, he has to maintain a fantasy that he had it all perfect, that he is the product of a wonderful marriage that never ever went wrong and other delusions like this that will help him sleep better at night. Reality is hard and cruel and we all know that Varg is 'too privileged' to live in the real world and realize the contemporary mockery that became.

It is very possible that his parents persuaded him and his brother to be in competition with one another, stirring up even more envy in Varg and adding layers to his inferiority complex. We might never know for sure, but we can observe the direction in which Varg (possibly the family's 'scapegoat') went.

Again, the fact that he talks nicely in his books about all of his family is nothing but smoke and mirrors because he has to sell a certain image to his audience.

This is extremely long, but I can't be succinct when coming to psychology lol. That's my take.

[monokuma-apologist]

Some of the participants of the next-gen killing game! These guys belong to me and @detective-dick-gumshoes-pot-room!

(Some of these older designs are inspired by the drawings done of these silly guys by @foryoupeko!! Please check out the art they did I kid you not I pull it up just to look at it at least twice a day IT’S THE GREATEST THING- Also! These are all traced from sprites from the official games in an attempt to recreate the style as closely as possible! Needless to say doing this was mostly for body and face shapes! And finally, this doesn’t contain all of the important characters!)

When the tragedy had begun to die down and the world was beginning to recover, Makoto rebuilt Hope’s Peak Academy to ensure that those who fell victim to the Killing Games were remembered…and to restore Hope’s Peak Academy to the shining beacon it was always meant to be. But something’s gone wrong- it’s impossible. How is he back? What’s going on?

Koji Hinata - Ultimate Gamer

Though it seemed for ages like Chiaki really was gone for good, with the help of Kazuichi and Alter Ego, she was able to be brought back- restored, though stuck fully digital. And she and Hajime were able to be happy.

Koji is an AI created by her years ago to serve as Hajime’s and her child. Though usually quiet and cynical, he loves his parents more than anything in the world and is a whiz at video games.

Now, with an artificial body, Koji was selected to attend Hope’s Peak as the Ultimate Gamer, just like his mom…

…and, having already been forced to participate in a killing game at a young age, Koji wants nothing more than to go back home to his mom and dad.

Hotaru “Angel Boy” Tanaka, the Black Dragon of Tartarus - Ultimate Poet

Sonia and Gundham struggled for ages to conceive, though they wanted a child more than anything in the world. But they stayed hopeful. When Makoto found an infant orphaned by the Tragedy, he suggested the pair take him in- and thus, Hotaru is their “angel boy”, their gifts from the heavens.

Hotaru is just as odd and proud as his father, though he’s much more smooth and charming. He has an interest in all things strange and unusual, and truly cares about those around him.

Natsuki Kuzuryu - Ultimate Sportsman

Natsuki is really bummed that he didn’t get chosen as an Ultimate Swordsman, but he supposes this will have to do.

Though he often comes across as cruel and detached, Natsuki is fiercely loyal to the other Jabberwock Island kids, and won’t let any harm come to his little sister Fumiko or his best friend Aika.

Kiko Naegi - Ultimate Lucky Student

Though she’s never gotten along with him, Kiko takes great pride in the accomplishments of her father and will fiercely defend him against anyone who tries to slander him or his attempts at restoring Hope’s Peak.

She ends up taking lead the most, though she at first clearly has a disdain for the other participants…especially the kids who grew up on Jabberwock Island. She’s extremely annoyed by Honda’s constant emphatic support, but she does grow to care a lot about him.

Fumiko Kuzuryu - Ultimate Negotiator

Fumiko was always a daddy’s girl- and as she grew older, she retained that same innocent physique that her father once had. Fumiko, though, takes great pride in this, as it thoroughly assists her endeavors to manipulate those around her.

Fumiko puts on a very sadistic, uncaring persona, but she’s deeply loyal to her friends and especially her brother, comforting him greatly when Aika dies. She’s the participant who most frequently performs the autopsies.

Aika Mioda-Soda - Ultimate Mechanic

Aika has the combined passion and enthusiasm of both of her parents- and is proud to be following in her dad’s footsteps as the Ultimate Mechanic. Though she causes a lot of trouble- frequently pulling pranks on other participants- she’s desperate to at least build camaraderie between everyone and stop the killing before it happens. How tragic it is, then, when she accidentally becomes blackened herself- executed by one of the machines that her dad built so long ago.

Honda Hagakure - Ultimate Salesman

Honda’s older brother told him that his time at Hope’s peak would be full of great riches, great fortune, and great romance- and he’s right a third of the time, so one of them is bound to happen, right?

Honda is very frightened of this killing game- knowing he’s unable to kill anybody and is an easy target, making his chances of escape slim to none- but when he’s not struggling to withhold panic, he’s usually following Kiko around, who he thinks is a brilliant leader and the smartest person here. (He may or may not have a very obvious crush on her).

Though he can be a bit of an idiot, Honda genuinely wants everything to be okay and is more than willing to make sacrifices for those he cares about.

He’s a bit of a kleptomaniac, with a briefcase full of completely useless trinkets he stole from his peers.

[psychedelic-ink]

We Fall Like Snow ║ Part ⅠⅠⅠ

series summary: After the events that took place at the Cliff Beasts set, needless to say as his bodyguard (and friend) you became overprotective of Dieter. You have all your worries under control until you accidentally flip over a young fan by grabbing her wrist, causing the media to stir with speculations as to why. Luckily Dieter's family arrives in the nick of time, scooping you both from New York to their cozy cabin; however winter wonderland can't last forever and you need to face the consequences of your actions sooner or later.

pairing: Dieter Bravo x bodyguard!ofc; Amina Addams, written in reader format

chapter summary: You meet Dieter's cousin Everett. The family takes you ice skating.

word count: 8.1k

chapter warnings: dieter being a softie, piv, oral (receiving), lots dirty talking, near-death experience (almost drowning), vaginal fingering

**dividers by the amazing @saradika

The winter sun warms your skin as you step out of the car. You assume that the tall blond man being embraced by Adaline is the Everett you’ve heard so much about. Dieter laughs and pats Everett on the back. 

You stand awkwardly in the snow, the freezing cold seeping through the soles of your boots, you feel a sense of isolation wash over you. You are used to being an integral part of Dieter's life, but now you find yourself on the outside looking in. You watch as Adaline embraces Everett, Dieter standing nearby with a grin on his face, and you can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy and longing. You want to be a part of this scene, to be included in the laughter and camaraderie, but instead, you are left standing on the sidelines. The sense of exclusion weighs heavily on your shoulders, and you can't shake the feeling that you will always be an outsider.

You take a step forward, your eyes looking up at the cabin. It’s quite big and cozy looking. You see decorations here and there, shadows of colorful light visible from the windows. There’s also a wreath hanging on the door. When you reach the family, Everett looks you up and down with curiosity. A shy smile touches your lips. 

“And who’s this?” he asks as Adaline tears away from his broad frame. 

“Oh, this is Amina, Dieter’s bodyguard,” she introduces them politely. “Amina, this is Everett, Claus’s sister’s son— Dieter’s cousin,” 

As Everett reaches out his hand, you can't help but be struck by the contrast between him and Dieter. While Dieter's warm brown eyes radiate comfort and familiarity, Everett's crystal blue gaze is sharp and piercing, like a beam of light cutting through the darkness.

You take Everett's hand, feeling a jolt of electricity as you make contact. His smile is wide and friendly, but you can sense a hint of reserve behind it as if he's not quite sure what to make of you.

"It's nice to meet you," you say, trying to put him at ease.

Everett nods curtly, his accent revealing hints of his German heritage. His voice is clear and commanding, the kind of voice that would be perfect for a podcast or a radio show.

"I wasn't aware that bodyguards had to tag along everywhere," he says.

You can feel the tension between you and Everett, as if you're both trying to size each other up. 

“Well they don’t,” Dieter answers instead, his voice thick with sleep. “But some stuff happened and mom invited her to tag along,” 

Mom invited her

During this whole thing you never once stopped to think about if Dieter actually wanted you around. You always kind of assumed that he did. You try to brush off the sting of his words, but it lingers in the back of your mind. Everett looks at Dieter with his one eyebrow raised. 

“What stuff?” 

Claus slugs his arm over Everett’s shoulder, guiding him inside, “We’ll tell you all about it later. You know how your cousin is, always getting into trouble— Let’s get settled in first,” 

Everett sneaks both you and Dieter one last look before disappearing inside with Claus, you can hear vague murmuring. Adaline sighs next to you. When you turn to look you notice a fond smile blooming on her lips, she shakes her head. 

“He says that yet leaves us with all the luggage,” she clicks her tongue with a smile. “Anyway, let’s carry this all inside. I hope you’ll find everything alright,” It takes you a while to notice that the last part was directed at you. You nod quickly as you pick up two bags, they’re only slightly heavy. Dieter gives you a blank stare. 

“I’m sure everything is lovely Mrs—” you clear your throat.  “Adaline,” 

As you make your way towards the quaint, cottagecore-inspired stairs, you’re being tugged back before you reach the first step. Adaline’s already up the stairs. 

“Hey,” 

It's Dieter, his face contorted in a way that you can't quite decipher. As you lower your gaze, you see that his hands are empty, palms turned towards you as if he's expecting you to give him something. You raise an eyebrow in confusion.

"What?" you ask, your voice tight with curiosity.

He gives you an exasperated look and steps closer, the warmth of his body radiating towards you in the cold, crisp air. You are suddenly very aware of his lips and neck, your own breathing becoming shallow and labored. Dieter leans in, slightly bending his knees as he takes both bags from you, his fingers brushing against yours in a slow, steady motion that sends shivers down your spine.

"You don't need to carry everything," he says, his voice low and intimate. "You're on vacation."

You stare at him unblinking, caught in the spell of his proximity and warmth. He climbs up the stairs, and when he realizes you're not following him, he turns and gives you a bright, humorous smile.

"Come on, what are you waiting for?" he asks, his voice laced with playful mischief.

"Yeah— Coming," you manage to reply, your throat feeling itchy and dry. You quickly make your way up the stairs. 

The two of you enter the cabin together. Everett and Claus are both leaning over the counter, talking with quick breaths. Meanwhile, Adaline is rummaging through the fridge half-bent over. Looking around you notice the fireplace, large windows, and cozy-looking furniture. You see that the cabin isn’t fully decorated, one window has colorful lights dangling from the top of it while the other does not. The Christmas tree that sits in the corner is also undecorated, naked, essentially. 

Dieter drops the bags and heads towards his family, you follow a close trail behind, the familiar movement causing you to feel nostalgic. Everett spots the two of you and breaks away from his conversation with Claus, who seems unbothered by the interruption. You wonder what the two of them were talking about, and if it has anything to do with your arrival.

“Dieter!” 

“Everett!” 

They embrace roughly as guys do. Everett slightly pushes Dieter down as the latter affectionately pats his stomach. They both laugh. When they part, their arms are still tangled around one another, and Everett’s gaze lands on you. 

“So you brought your bodyguard, huh?” he asks, the question directed at Dieter. 

You feel somewhat relieved that Claus wasn’t filling Everett in about what happened back in New York. 

“She’s also my friend jackass,” Dieter answers, his tone light. “She’s here to have fun and relax—” 

“Oh good, that means no one will stop me when I wrestle you to the ground,” 

You chuckle at that, stuffing your hand in your pocket you tilt your head. 

“Just because I’m not on the clock doesn’t mean you can wrestle him down,” the smile never wavers, and you shrug. Everett gives you a lopsided grin. “Besides, I taught him a couple of moves. I’m sure he’ll be able to hold his own,” 

“Oh?” he hums, raising an eyebrow. “So you think he can beat me?” 

You look him up and down. Did you think Dieter could beat him? No. Probably not. But you don’t allow the question to linger in the air. 

“Positive.” 

He laughs, and the sound sends a pleasant tingle up your spine. Looking at Dieter, Everett squeezes his shoulder. 

“Hear that Dieter? She thinks you can beat me, care to prove her right with a friendly match?” 

“If you promise not to cheat,”

“Me? Cheat?” Everett lets out an exasperated gasp and touches his chest. “I would never.” 

Dieter rolls his eyes at that but he’s smiling, he pats Everett’s stomach once more and peels away from the embrace. 

“Sure then.” Dieter’s gaze momentarily lingers on you, eyes softening. “We can fight.” 

“You two used to wrestle a lot?” 

Everett nods, “We used to do it annually when the family came together but that doesn’t happen anymore. Flights aren’t cheap,” 

“Oh, you took a flight here? From where?” 

“I didn’t but for my folks to come over they would have to. They live in Germany,” 

Noticing your shock, Dieter cuts in. 

“Most of my father’s side still lives in Germany; my aunt, my cousins, grandparents. They don’t like to travel a lot, but Everett lives here so we get to see him more often than the rest. The other’s sometimes facetime us on Christmas,” 

“And we usually meet up here but someone—” Everett’s brows furrow as he turns to his cousin. “—Didn’t make it last year,” 

Dieter groans, eyes staring up at the ceiling. “How many times am I going to say this I was working,” he suddenly gestures to you. “If you don’t believe me ask her, she was there while I was busting my ass off,” 

“Oh yeah, he was very busy,” you say, exaggerating every word and adding a wink at the end. Everett laughs, and Dieter pouts. 

“Just because he’s a movie star he thinks he can ignore us,” Everett answers, Dieter’s frown deepens. 

“Don’t call me that.” 

The air grows heavy with the subtle venom beneath his words, Everett is still smiling, however, you can see worry crossing his face, and the corner of his eye twitches. You immediately regret making fun, you should’ve known better. 

Though, in your defense, you had called Dieter a movie star many times before and he never once showed any signs of annoyance.  Everett lifts his hand to presumably put it on Dieter’s shoulder, but the latter moves away before he can. 

“I think mom might need my help,” 

Your eyes wander to the kitchen, you can't help but be struck by the chaos unfolding before you. Adaline is flitting about like a hummingbird, her hands a blur as she mixes ingredients and tosses them into a bowl. Dieter soon joins her, following her instructions and pulling out pots and pans from the cabinets.

It's a sight to behold, and you can't help but be entertained by the mother-son duo in the kitchen. But as you watch Dieter reach for a bowl, you can't help but be struck by something else entirely.

His shirt rides up ever so slightly, exposing a patch of skin just above the small of his back. And oh boy, is it a sight to behold. You feel your mouth fill with saliva as you drink in the sight of Dieter's soft stomach and freckled skin.

You try to look away, but it's too late. Everett has already noticed your gaze, and you can feel your cheeks burning with embarrassment.

You turn to him, hoping he didn't see what you were looking at. But the twinkle in his eye tells you everything you need to know. He knows exactly what you were looking at.

“Sorry about that,” he says sheepishly. For a moment you think that he’s talking about you ogling his cousin. “I wasn’t expecting him to get mad at that,” 

You blink, his words slowly registering.

“Me neither,” you mutter, observing the tips of your boots. “I call him a movie star all the time, he’s never seemed upset by it before. Like, I joke about it constantly.” 

"You know, his parents have a habit of calling him that when they're upset with him," Everett whispers, leaning in closer and brushing your ear. "They use it very derogatory. They're supportive of what he does, but sometimes it can get heated, especially with all the constant news flowing around him. And, well... when he didn't show up last year, they did get a bit upset."

You have a feeling it might’ve been more than a bit. 

Everett's words wash over you, and you can't help but feel a sense of melancholy. You've seen the headlines about Dieter, and you know how cruel the media can be. The paparazzi have never shown him mercy, and you can't begin to imagine the toll it must take on him and his family.

Everett seems to sense your distress, and he takes a step back, his hands coming to rest on his hips. His playful wink is meant to lighten the mood, but you can't shake the feeling of sadness that has settled over you.

"But hey, you didn't hear it from me," Everett says, his voice low and conspiratorial. "He's a bit touchy on the subject."

Dieter's mother calls out to him, her voice carrying through the house. "Everett, dear. Why don't you show Amina to her room? Breakfast slash brunch will be ready in a bit."

Your heart sinks as Dieter doesn't even look up at you, his eyes fixed on the bowl in front of him. You can't help but feel a pang of hurt, wondering if there's any way to bridge the gap between you and Dieter.

Everett leads you upstairs, showing you to your cozy room. 

Unlike the living room, your room has already been fixed up before your arrival. It’s bright, the walls pastel yellow, and the windows large with Christmas lights dangling down from the top. You also spot a tiny balcony, a roundtable stands in the middle of it. The bed is king-sized, it looks luscious, and soft as if it was ripped directly out of a commercial. There’s a small fireplace in the corner of the room. A soft tingle spreads throughout your muscles and you realize how in dire need of sleep you are. 

“Tired?” Everett asks standing next to you, when you turn to look at him you see that he’s smiling. 

“A bit but I’ll be fine,” 

“You’ll probably have time to rest after we eat, then I think Adaline wants to go ice skating,” 

"Ice skating?" you ask, your voice filled with hesitation. You've never done it before, and to be honest, you're not sure you have the talent to glide on top of a frozen lake.

Everett nods, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "Yeah, we do it every year. But don't worry, you don't have to skate," he says with a chuckle, clearly seeing the hesitation on your face. "There's an open cafe there that makes amazing hot chocolate. You can just watch and warm up with a cup of cocoa."

You let out a breath of relief, feeling grateful that you don't have to force yourself onto the ice. "That sounds great," you say, smiling shyly. You're not sure how much you would enjoy skating, but the thought of sipping on a warm cup of hot chocolate sounds like heaven.

You stand at the edge of the frozen lake, the snow drifting softly down from above, and you can't help but feel a sense of peace wash over you. The world around you is blanketed in white, and you feel like you're standing in the center of a beautiful, wintery wonderland.

Dieter is close by your side, his knuckles brushing over yours. The small cafe behind you is a beacon of warmth and comfort, its rich, chocolatey aroma wafting over to you on the chilly winter breeze. You can't help but feel your mouth water at the thought of sipping on a warm cup of cocoa, your hands wrapped around the mug as you huddle together in the cozy warmth. There’s only one other family occupying the cafe other than the Bravos.

"Are you sure you're not going to at least try?" Dieter prompts, looking at you with a crooked smile and an amused gaze. "I never thought you'd be scared of a little ice."

"What's that supposed to mean?" you ask, narrowing your eyes at him.

"Oh, I don't know. I just figured someone as tough and fearless as you wouldn't be afraid to take on a little challenge," Dieter says, his voice laced with teasing.

You can't help but laugh at his words, shaking your head. "I'm not afraid of a challenge, I just don't want to fall ass first onto the ice in front of all of you," you say, looking around at the rest of the family.

Your cross your arms against your chest as Dieter grins widely. He raises his hand that holds a pair of skates that Adaline had brought for you just in case. 

“Don’t tease her, Dieter,” Claus says. He and Adaline are holding hands as they slowly start to move around the ice. “God knows you were terrified your first time too,” 

“I was ten, dad.” 

Without another word, Adaline and Claus skate away, leaving you, Dieter, and Everett standing together on the ice. Dieter is still holding out the skates, his smile taunting as he looks at you expectantly. You feel slightly off after the car ride. Dieter's behavior seems to be more erratic than usual and it's unsettling. It's not uncommon for him to act one way and then the other, but for some reason, it feels more jarring this time.

You chew your bottom lip, your eyes flitting between the skates and Dieter’s excited eyes. You’re not a fan of trying new things, especially when there’s a very high chance that you might be bad at it. 

“Come ooon…” he sings, dangling the skates. “I know you want to,” 

Everett nudges your arm with his own, a smile crossing his lips. You had forgotten that he was there. 

“We’ll be sure to help you out,” Everett points at Dieter, his smile widening into a grin. “And I’m sure this one here won’t let you fall,” 

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," you say smiling. "He might decide to seek revenge for all those early mornings I made him endure."

Dieter grins and nods, his look is soft, and it makes you question your cutthroat answer. It’s really not fair that he can sway your mind this easily. Sometimes you wonder if he knows the power he holds over you. His being oblivious to it might be worse actually. You let out a sigh, shake your head, and yank the ice skates from his hand. His eyes glimmer and the look makes your chest feel tight. 

“We got her,” Dieter says. 

“Only if you promise to teach me,” 

“I promise.” 

Quickly strapping on your skates, you stand with wobbly legs. It’s not a perfect fit and your feet slide up and down within. Everett’s already on the ice, watching you two as Dieter offers you his arm. With a smile, you cross your arms with his and your nails dig into his clothed bicep. He always feels warm. 

As you step onto the ice, the cold air hits you like a wall and you feel your cheeks sting with the sudden chill. You struggle to keep your balance, wobbling, and flailing as you try to skate forward.

Dieter, sensing your distress, wraps his arm on your waist instead and steadies you, his body heat radiating through your coat and warming you up. You’re surprised when you realize how nice this actually feels, how normal it is. 

But just as you start to feel comfortable on the ice, Dieter suddenly pulls away, leaving you to stumble and nearly fall.

"Hey, where are you going?" you call out, trying to keep your balance.

“This is the best form of education,” Dieter grins, skating backward. “I’m the mama bird and you’re the baby bird,” 

“I don’t think mama birds kick their babies out of the nest!” you shout but you doubt he’s heard you, biting the inside of your cheek, you stretch out your arms and try to find some kind of balance.

You struggle to stay upright, and you can't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Dieter is skating circles around you, teasing and taunting you with his impressive skills, while Everett watches from the sidelines with a mix of amusement and concern.

Everett is quick to fill the gap, skating up to you with a grin. "Need some help?" he asks, offering his hand.

You take his hand gratefully, letting him guide you around the ice. You allow him to guide you for a bit but then let go— determined to prove that you can skate on your own, you try to stand tall and glide forward. You try to stand tall and glide forward, but your efforts are short-lived as you lose your balance and begin to fall.

Just as you're about to hit the ice, Everett's quick reflexes kick in and he catches you, lifting you up and steadying you once again.

"Whoa there, you've gotta relax and take it slow," Everett says, his voice one of laced a clearly seasoned ice skater. "Here, let me show you how it's done. Before you try to upstage someone who’s been nearly skating his entire life,"

You laugh at Everett's words, and here you thought you were as unreadable as a blank wall. 

Everett takes your hand and begins to guide you around the ice, showing you how to move your feet and find your balance on the ice. His patient instruction and easygoing demeanor help you to relax and enjoy the moment, and before long you're gliding around with ease.

As you skate, you can't help but notice Dieter watching you from a distance, his eyes fixed on you and Everett as you skate hand in hand. But as soon as he catches your gaze, he turns and skates off to join his parents. The intensity of the moment gone.

"Don't take Dieter too seriously," Everett says, sensing your discomfort. "He can get a little competitive at times."

You're surprised by this revelation, as you've always thought of Dieter relaxed, most of the time anyway. You never thought that he has a competitive streak.

"Really? I didn't know that," you reply, glancing over at Dieter as he skates across the ice with ease.

"Yeah, it's all in good fun though," Everett adds with a grin. "He's just trying to show off a little."

He teaches you more tricks and tips about ice skating, slowly it’s starting to get easier. You start to get to know Everett better, chatting and laughing as you glide across the ice. You learn that Everett is an engineer, but he doesn't seem too thrilled about his job.

"It's okay, I guess," Everett says with a shrug. "But it's not really what I wanted to do with my life. I always thought I'd be working on cool projects, designing and building things from scratch. But it's mostly just sitting in front of a computer all day, running simulations and crunching numbers."

You can sense the disappointment in Everett's voice, and you can't help but feel a little sorry for him. "That sounds really frustrating," you say sympathetically.

"It can be," Everett admits. "But I'm trying to make the most of it. I still get to work on some cool projects once in a while, and I get to see the impact of my work on the world. It's just not as exciting as I thought it would be."

“Yeah, I get that,” you answer, eyes lingering on Dieter who’s currently talking with his parents. When you turn back to Everett you see that his brow is raised, seeming slightly intrigued by your vague answer. You stammer over your words and scratch the back of your head. “I mean don’t get me wrong, I love my job but it can be a bit overwhelming.”

“Dieter giving you trouble?” 

“I wouldn’t say that it was him giving me trouble—” 

The conversation is cut short as Dieter skates back over to you and Everett, he announces that his parents are heading into town to do some shopping and they've invited you to join them.

"It's a bit of a drive, so we wouldn't be able to go into town a lot. So if you have anything you need now would be a perfect time to go and get it," Dieter says.

You hesitate, still feeling tired from the drive the night before. But Everett jumps at the opportunity, saying that he needs to buy something warm to wear at home since he forgot to pack a coat.

"Come on, it'll be fun," Everett’s words are directed at you, trying to coax you into joining them.

But as you stand on the ice, feeling the tension between you and Dieter, you're not sure if you want to go. 

"I don't know," you say, looking back and forth between Dieter and Everett. "I'm still feeling a little tired from the trip."

But to your surprise, Dieter smiles and says, "It's okay, I'll stay with you if you don’t wanna go. The walking distance isn’t that far so we can head back home whenever you want to.” 

You and Dieter stand side by side as you wave them off. But with the distraction of others gone, you feel at loss for words, as if this was the first time the two of you have been left alone. It’s a silly feeling, really. Talking to Dieter had never been something difficult to do, it always came naturally to you as breathing, even at the beginning of your friendship. You feel Dieter’s arm pressing against yours, a soft sigh falls from your lips. Even if he notices the sound, he doesn’t say anything. 

The snowflakes are delicate and light, drifting down from the sky like tiny crystals. As they land on your skin, they feel cool and refreshing, a welcome contrast to the warmth of Dieter's touch. 

“I’m sorry,” he says, his voice dropping. “I’ve been a bad host haven’t I?”

“No, no of course not—I get it, it can be hard spending time with family. Besides we’re all a bit tired from the ride over here, it’s normal for nerves to take over,”  

Dieter nods and looks down at the ice, his handsome features shadowed. He doesn’t say anything else, his apology lingers in the air, neither of you not really knowing what to do.

Snow falls softly around you.

"I learned a few things from Everett. Want me to show you? I’m a pro now if you haven’t noticed,"

You’re both equally surprised at the sudden string of words leaving your mouth. Apparently, your body couldn’t handle the uncomfortable silence anymore. Without thinking you clamp a hand over your mouth and giggle. Dieter grins at you. 

You can see the hint of a spark in his eyes. "Sure," he says, his voice laced with amusement. “Show me what you got pretty girl,”

Your eyes go wide, wanting to hide your shock you take off across the ice, gliding and swirling around Dieter as you demonstrate what you've learned. You’re still a bit slow and a bit clumsy, but you’re making it work somehow. You can feel the chill of the ice against your skin, and you can't help but laugh and smile as you skate.

Dieter watches you with a mixture of pride and amusement, and you can see the ghost of a smile lingering on his lips as he watches you skate. As you drift away from him, you can feel the tension between you melting away—Thankfully.

You drift further and further away from him, not really aware of how far you’ve gone. Slowly, you start to sense that something is wrong, an uncomfortable prickling itching at your skin.

At first, you dismiss the feeling as nerves or anxiety. But as you skate on, the ice beneath you starts to feel brittle and unstable. You hear Dieter calling out to you, his voice laced with panic and fear, and you turn to see him skating toward you as fast as he can.

But it's too late. With a sickening crack, the ice beneath you shatters and collapses, sending you plummeting into the freezing water below.

You scream as you hit the surface, the icy water taking your breath away. You can feel the cold seeping into your bones, numbing your limbs, and stealing your strength. You try to swim to the surface, but the weight of your clothes and the slipperiness of the ice make it nearly impossible.

You hear Dieter's voice calling out to you, but it seems distant and muffled as if he's far away. You're going to drown, all alone in this icy, freezing water.

Darkness closes in around you. 

You never should’ve gotten on top of the ice.

Dieter watches in horror as you fall through the ice into the frozen lake. Without hesitation, he moves towards the hole, his heart racing with panic.

The ice is slippery and treacherous, and Dieter can feel the cold seeping into his bones. He can see you struggling in the water, your arms flailing as you try to swim to the surface.

Dieter's limbs feel heavy and numb. He reaches out with trembling fingers, trying to grab hold of your hand. You’re slipping away from him, your body writhing in the icy water. Dieter can feel the fear and panic rising in his chest, he feels on the verge of tears if he’s completely honest.

He remembers what his father taught him when he was a kid, about how to help someone who falls into a frozen lake. Keep your cool, don't go in after them, and call for help. But Dieter can't bring himself to follow those rules. 

So he ignores the voice in his head, his arms outstretched to grab hold of you. The water is icy cold, numbing his limbs and stealing his breath. But he ignores the pain.

With a surge of adrenaline, Dieter hauls you up and out of the water, his arms straining with the effort. He can feel the ice cracking and splintering beneath him, but he keeps moving. You’re shaking and shivering, your clothes soaked. Dieter wraps his arms around you, trying to generate some heat and rub her body to warm her up.

As he holds you close, Dieter can feel his own body starting to shake with cold. 

“Are you okay?” he asks with panic, ignoring his own freezing skin. Dieter cradles your face and rubs your cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. “Come on talk to me sweetheart, can you hear me?”

Your teeth chatter and you nod, “Y–Yeah— I’m just v-very c-cold,” 

“Alright, hang on,” 

Dieter helps you to your feet, he prompts you to lay your weight against him as he guides you both away from the hole, his feet slipping and sliding on the icy surface. When he finally reaches the end of the lake, he calls out to the staff and asks for a vehicle. He can feel you shaking in his arms. 

Dieter doesn’t let go, and after this, he doubts he’s capable of letting you go.

You're not sure what had surprised you more, nearly drowning to your death or the fact that Dieter managed to pull you out of the freezing water. 

You had nearly drowned, the icy water pulling you under with a ferocity that left you feeling helpless and panicked. A moment you wouldn’t be forgetting for a while. But Dieter had appeared out of nowhere, reaching out with strong arms to pull you out. I felt like half a dream and half a nightmare.

The drive back to the cabin had been a silent one, but not because you were too stunned to speak. It was the weight of the moment, the feeling of gratitude and relief mixed with the shock of the near-death experience that left you speechless. Dieter's arms were wrapped around you the whole way back, a constant and comforting presence.

You couldn't help but feel a bit disoriented due to the role reversal at that moment. Normally, it was you who was worried about Dieter, checking in on him and making sure he was okay. But this time, it was Dieter who was worried about you, and the thought was both surprising and deeply appreciated.

You step out of the shower, the steamy heat of the water clings to your skin. The mirror is fogged up from the humidity. You take a deep breath, relishing in the feeling of warmth and cleanliness that comes with a hot shower.

As you dry off, you can't help but think about Dieter. You close your eyes and imagine the two of you together, cuddled up in front of a fireplace as the snow falls outside. You feel as if this thought is almost forbidden, but think about it anyway, not being able to control the way your mind works after the adrenaline rush. 

You can almost feel Dieter's soft lips on your forehead as he whispers sweet nothings in your ear, and you feel a warmth in your chest that has nothing to do with the steam in the bathroom. 

You take one last look in the mirror, noticing the way the steam has caused your face to glow in a soft, romantic way.

When you enter your room, you’re surprised to see Dieter kneeling in front of the fireplace, a small flame flickering in the hearth. He looks up at you, but his usual smile is replaced with a somber expression.

Remembering you’re wearing nothing else but your towel, you tug the fabric closer to your chest, your breath hitches. You had never accidentally gotten naked in front of Dieter. In fact, you had made a conscious effort to ensure that he has never seen you naked, which was a hard thing to do considering who he is.

"What are you doing here?" you ask, hiding your anxious smile beneath the palm of your hand.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay," Dieter replies, his voice laced with concern. "And I wanted to make sure you were warm. I’ll leave."

You can see the worry etched on Dieter's face, and your heart breaks a little. You stop him just as he’s about to leave the room, blocking him with an outstretched arm, his gaze moves across your exposed skin and stops at your eyes. 

"I'm fine, Dieter," you say softly. "You don't have to worry about me. I'm tough, remember?"

"I know you are," Dieter says, his voice heavy with emotion. "But that doesn't change the fact that I was terrified when I saw you fall into that lake. I don’t know what I would do with myself if something happened to you,"

You feel the fire starting to warm the room. "I'm okay," you say. "I'm safe. And I have you to thank for that."

As Dieter's face approaches yours, you feel a surge of nervous excitement. Your hands tremble as you grip the towel tighter, your knuckles turning white from the effort. The fire in the fireplace crackles and pops, casting a warm glow over the two of you.

Dieter's hands gently cup your cheeks, his thumbs softly caressing the delicate skin beneath your eyes. You can't help but sigh at the touch, your eyes fluttering closed as you succumb to the moment. You can feel your heart racing, your breath quickening as Dieter's lips inch closer to yours. It's as if time stands still, the only thing that matters at this moment is the two of you. When he speaks again, you can feel his lips brushing against yours. 

“It’s my fault. I’m the one who asked you to skate even when you didn’t want to, then I left you, so caught up with my bragging,” his face is closer now, you can almost taste his lips, the air between you thick with tension. “You should be mad at me.” 

"But I'm not," you say, your eyes flicking open to meet his gaze. The sadness in his eyes is palpable, and you feel a tightness in your chest at the sight. You can't help but remind yourself of the time he was just inches away from kissing you in that hotel room before his parents interrupted.

You reach up to brush a stray lock of hair from his face, your touch gentle and loving. "I don't know what it is about you, Dieter, but I just can't stay mad. You have a way of winning me over, no matter what."

As the words leave your lips, you feel like you're making a confession of sorts. Your heart is pounding in your throat, making it hard to catch your breath. The room suddenly feels suffocating, the walls closing in on you. The only thing that feels real at this moment is Dieter, his presence the only solid thing you can focus on.

You feel like you're drowning in his gaze. Your hands shake as you reach out to touch his cheek, your fingers trembling against his skin. You can feel the heat radiating off him.

You don't know what the future holds, but at this moment, you just don't care. 

As you stand there in nothing but a towel, you feel a sense of vulnerability wash over you. But as Dieter's gaze meets yours, and all of that disappears.

He reaches out and touches your cheek in return, his fingers gentle and warm against your skin. You close your eyes, leaning into his touch, your lips parted in anticipation.

And then, he finally kisses you. His lips are soft and warm, and as he presses them against yours, you feel a heat flaring over your skin. You moan softly, your arms wrapping around his neck as you pull him closer, deepening the kiss.

You can feel the desperation in him, the way his hands grip you tightly as if he never wants to let you go. You feel the same way, your heart racing in your chest as you kiss him, your bottled-up emotions finally overflowing.

You feel like you're lost in a whirlwind of emotion, completely consumed by the feeling of his lips on yours. You don't care about the fact that you're supposed to be just friends, or that your job makes it complicated. 

Your bodies press together as if they can't get close enough. You run your hands over his chest, feeling the muscles flex beneath your touch, and you can feel him shudder.

"We shouldn't be doing this," he whispers against your lips.

"I know," you whisper back. "But I can't help it.”

He sighs softly, his lips trailing down your neck as he kisses you with increasing intensity. You moan softly, your head falling back as you give yourself over to the moment. Dieter's hands trail down your back, you can feel arousal pooling between your legs. His touch is gentle, but you can feel the tension in his fingers, the way he's hesitant to explore further. 

"Are you sure about this?” his fingers nervously trace the edges of the towel. "I mean, this could be an 'oh my god I almost died and now I need to fuck the nearest person' moment. I don't want you to regret this in the morning, or think that I'm trying to take advantage of you in your post-death-defying-adventure horny haze."

“You’re all good Dieter, believe me. I—” you swallow thickly, this moment feels like a dream, something that might disappear from between your fingers in an instant. “I don’t know what I feel but this—This is something I won’t regret.” 

Dieter's fingers work quickly to untie the towel wrapped around you, casting it aside with a flick of his wrist. Your own hands are equally eager, fumbling with the hem of his shirt as you try to peel it off his shoulders.

The room is filled with the sound of heavy breathing and the rustling of fabric as you both move toward the bed. The warmth of the fireplace envelops you, adding to the heated atmosphere of the moment. Finally, with a final tug, his shirt comes free and you both tumble onto the bed, skin to skin, lost in the heat of the moment. 

You can't help but feel a twinge of guilt deep in your gut. Despite the cozy atmosphere of the room, with the warmth of the fireplace and the soft, romantic light of the setting sun casting a golden hue, you can't shake the feeling that what you're doing is wrong.

You try to push these thoughts aside as you sink into the soft mattress, surrounded by plush pillows and blankets. The faint sound of snow falling outside adds to the sense of intimacy and coziness. Dieter's lips find yours again, and you try to focus on the present moment. He swallows the guilt that lingers in the back of your mind with a kiss, his tongue licking the inside of your mouth.

It is as if he’s everywhere all at once, his lips and hands moving over your skin as if they are a means of healing. Every touch feels like a balm, soothing away the doubt in your mind. Dieter cups your breasts, nipples pebbling at his touch, he’s rough but also carries a tenderness. Briefly, you wonder if this is what he’s like with the others as well. But the thoughts are quick to escape you when you feel wet, open-mouthed kisses traveling down your torso. 

His mustache and patchy beard tickle you when he reaches the soft curve of your stomach, nuzzling it, he pulls your legs further apart, his breath against your heat sending a pleasant shudder up your spine. Dieter’s tongue dips between your folds and you let out a gasp, hips raising off of the bed with anticipation. His mouth moves lazily, drawing your clit between his lips, he sucks and draws circles with the tip of his tongue. You feel yourself nearly blacking out, slack-jawed, you groan at the way you slick drips from you and onto his tongue, drenching Dieter’s lips completely. 

“F–Fuck…Shit—You’re good at that,” 

You twitch when he chuckles, his breath forcing a shudder up your body. 

“Well— as you probably know— I had a lot of practice,” 

“Don’t get cocky,” 

“Oh don’t worry, you’ll know when I get cocky,” 

You can tell by his voice that he’s grinning from ear to ear, but you can’t bring yourself to quip back when he sucks your clit again—making the most obscene slurping sound you’ve ever heard a man make. Crying out, you pull at his hair. He kisses your mound, tongue still moving, and you feel two fingers pushing inside you. Your thighs close without you even thinking, he groans into your pussy and looks up at you between heavy lashes. 

“That’s right baby,” he moans, voice rough. “Suffocate me, use me— Shit—You look so fucking hot right now—I wanna take a goddamn picture,” his eyes closed, teeth gently nipping at your clit. 

Dieter’s fingers move deftly inside, both of the digits knuckle deep as he stretches you. Your breathing heavy, your head falls back. You take what he said to heart and start to grind yourself into his mouth, thighs shaking around the frame of his face, the small earing he has grazing the inside of your thigh. 

“Want you to flood my mouth,” Dieter growls, his voice muffled as he buries his face between your legs. “Make a mess of me sweetheart, please,” 

“God you have a filthy mouth,” you gasp, your lips feeling wet and swollen from his attention. “Just don’t stop talking, Dieter. Just— Keep talking,” 

“For someone who tells me constantly to shut up, this is a bit of a surprise.” he teases, his eyes locked on yours as he continues to thrust his fingers deep inside you. "But I'm more than happy to give you what you want. What do you want me to say, sweetheart? Do you want me to tell you how beautiful you are like this, all wet and willing? Do you want me to tell you how hard I'm going to fuck you as soon as you cum all over my face?"

Your lips part with a groan and fist his hair, pulling his mouth closer to you as you beg for more. Dieter responds with enthusiasm, his tongue lashing over your sensitive flesh as he continues to talk in that rough, tremulous voice that drives you wild.

"I know it's hard to wait," he says with a mock sympathetic tone. "But there's no way this pretty little pussy is going to be able to take me unless you make everything nice and wet for me. So let go, baby. Cum for me,”

You can't hold back any longer, the pleasure building inside you until you think you'll burst. Dieter's dirty talk and skilled touch are too much to resist, and you find yourself crying out his name as you come, your body convulsing.

Dieter doesn't let up, his lips and fingers continuing to work their magic as he brings you through wave after wave of orgasmic bliss. Finally, spent and sated, you collapse back onto the bed, panting and trying to catch your breath.

"That was amazing," you gasp, still trembling with aftershocks.

"It's nothing compared to what's coming next," Dieter groans, his eyes dark with desire as he looms over you. "I'm going to fuck you until you can't remember your own name, sweetheart. And then I'm going to do it all over again."

You can't wait, your body already responding to the promise in his words. As Dieter moves over you, his body covering yours, you feel the heat radiating off of his skin and the rough stubble on his chin scraping against your neck.

Dieter's lips find yours. The taste of yourself is heavy on his tongue as he flattens the muscle over yours, groaning into your mouth. His hands roam over your body. 

You wrap your legs around his waist, pulling him closer as he grinds against you, the hard length of his cock pressing against your damp thigh. You just came but still, you feel that pleasant tingle deep in your core, begging to be taken care of.

Dieter seems to sense it too, his movements becoming more urgent, more desperate. He presses you further into the bed, his body covering yours as he enters you in one smooth, powerful thrust. You cry out, your body arching up to meet him as he begins to move inside you, his hips pistoning back and forth as he takes you higher and higher.

You cling to him, your fingers digging into his back as you ride the wave of pleasure, letting it crash over you again and again. Dieter's movements become more frenzied, his breath coming in short gasps as he drives himself deeper and deeper into you.

Finally, with a guttural cry, he reaches his own climax, pulling out, his body goes rigid as he spills himself over your stomach. You hear a string of fucks coming out with panicked whispers. You wrap your arms around him, holding him close as you tell him that it’s fine. His lips tenderly move above the slope of your shoulder as he draws circles around your oversensitive clit. It doesn’t take you long to come undone a second time, your orgasm washing over you smoothly like soft waves caressing a shoreline.

As the aftershocks of your orgasms fade away, you lay tangled in each other's arms, panting and spent. 

The room is bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, the shadows cast by the furniture elongated and strange. The fire in the fireplace has burned down to a handful of glowing embers, the once-warm room now cool and still.

You lay there, tangled up in the sheets, still naked and vulnerable. Dieter sleeps peacefully next to you, his chest rising and falling with each breath. He really made true of his promise, making you come until you basically passed out.

But the peace is short-lived, shattered by the harsh ring of your phone. You reach out a hand, fumbling for the device in the darkness. The screen glows brightly, the time displayed in bold digits: 3 AM.

You answer the call, your voice thick with sleep. It’s Shannon. 

“Yeah? What’s wrong?” 

A minute later you hang up the phone, your mind racing with worry. Shannon's words echo in your head, the gravity of the situation sinking in. You don't want to wake Dieter, but you can't shake the feeling of panic that's welling up inside you. Pictures of you and him, circulating the internet— People were asking questions. 

You slide out of bed, grab Dieter’s shirt and pull it over your head. You pad over to the window, pulling back the curtains to look outside. The world outside is dark and quiet, white snow covering the soil underneath. You feel a sense of isolation wash over you as if you and Dieter are the only two people in the world.

You turn away from the window and walk back over to the bed, sitting down on the edge and staring at Dieter's peaceful face. You can't believe that this is happening, that you've allowed yourself to be caught up in a situation that could be a dire hit to both of your careers.

You continue to stare at Dieter, your touch his hair, soft underneath your fingertips. You're not ready to face the reality of the situation, not yet.

So you sit there, lost in your own thoughts, and the minutes tick by. 

[martinsaenz96us]

R.I.P. LittleBigPlanet

It's been a really sad year for "LittleBigPlanet". First the servers for LBP3 PS4 just shut down (servers for previous entries are also shut down), and not only the digital copy of LBP3 PS4 (digital copies of previous entries have already been delisted), but all the DLCs that's ever been released from LBP1 to LBP3 are being delisted from the PSN store. It really sucks that this once beloved franchise is being butchered to death in favor of bland realistic graphics cinematic games, live service games and catering to the so-called "Modern Audience" (*cough*cough "Concord" *cough*cough*). It's just not right how this franchise has been treated lately. The last game in the franchise "LittleBigPlanet 3" has been released about 10 years ago at this point. All the franchise has going for it now is just a spin-off named "Sackboy: A Big Adventure" released back in 2020, which is nothing like LBP (it's basically "Super Mario 3D World" but LBP themed). Sackboy, a worthy mascot for the "Playstation" brand in the PS3 Era is now gonna be known as Sackboy from "Sackboy: A Big Adventure" (a spin-off mind you) instead of Sackboy from "LittleBigPlanet" (where he's originated from). Sackboy has always been in a special place in my heart growing up, I even used to draw him (besides Sonic) in my journal a lot during high school. Back in junior high I was in special needs because of my autism (I even rode the bus and took field trips with special needs kids). I played a lot of video games and I was also a bad boy (I used to get in trouble a lot by giggling and misbehaving during class). My homeroom teacher had a Wii with "Wii Sports Resort" (great game) and even my all time favorite "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" (better than Melee, change my mind). He would let us play when we were done with our assignments (we even got to stay after school to play and eat pizza in homeroom if we had good behavior). I never knew about LBP at the time and if you've been following me through the years, you know that I've been a big fan of "Sonic the Hedgehog" ever since kindergarten. So when I first heard LBP featured Sonic the Hedgehog costumes as DLC, I immediately wanted to buy the game for that sole reason (the same way I first got into Smash starting with Brawl). I was also into games that would let you create your own character or levels, that factor also drew me closer to wanting LBP and even "ModNation Racers" (rest in peace) too at the time. But I had a PSP instead, I got both LBP both and ModNation on it and I was a bit disappointed. LBP on PSP was my least favorite version, it felt so limited customizing Sackboy (not being able to place stickers on him too was a drawback for me), or customizing in general (ModNation on PSP is in the same bane too). Once I beat it 100% I wanted to start creating a level, and oh boy it all went downhill from there. The options were limited, the game kept crashing at any given time while creating. So needless to say I did not like LBP on PSP at all, and all it did is made me want a PS3 even more that I kept begging my mom to buy one for me. Around maybe my 8th grade year, I finally got a PS3 (I think it was a birthday gift, I can't remember). I became so happy that I immediately bought LBP at "GameStop" (I also bought both LBP2 and ModNation Racers at the same time). Upon booting LBP for the first time I immediately got so hooked. I wanted to beat it 100% but the only drawback was that I only had 1 controller, and there's sections in the game that require 2 to 4 players to get the prize bubbles. I felt kinda let down since I wasn't able to obtain those prize bubbles without multiple controllers, but I some how managed to get through a handful of 2 player sections using only 1 controller (like the "Construction Site"), which took dedication and dying a lot. I was so proud of myself for accomplishing sections that were only meant to be played with 2 people. The other 2 player sections however I wasn't so lucky, so I begged my mom to buy me more controllers, I didn't tell her why thinking she wouldn't agree with me. Then after beating LBP 100% I became obsessed with making costumes for Sackboy and showing them off while playing online, even in LBP2 I did the same thing. LBP2 is easily the best in the whole franchise. During the release of LBP2, the franchise hit it's all-time peak (I got a PS3 soon after the release of LBP2). LBP2 has also the best story mode. They were difficult at times (mostly ACEING all the levels, even in LBP1 it was difficult), but I still had a blast playing through it all. I also 100% the story mode and went on to complete all the level kit DLCs (which I did eventually). Fun Fact: At the time of LBP2's peak, "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic" was also at it's all time peak (on the internet of all places). So while playing LBP2 I saw a bunch of levels related to MLP I got so annoyed by it. I played one of the levels I came across just for the sake of it, then I became intrigued and wanted to see what the whole fuss was about at the time. So one day I turned my TV to "The Hub" (R.I.P.) and the first episode I've ever watched was "Party of One" (you know, the one that featured Pinkamena who spawned a bunch of creepypastas). After watching the episode, I instantly fell in love with the show. The characters, the art style, everything about the show was so appealing to me. I've always been really really shy IRL, but then "Fluttershy" caught my eye since she's the one I can relate to, so she became my all time favorite pony to this day. I loved MLP so much I even drew ponies in my journals during my freshman year in high school (I was the quiet kid). And that is how I became a Brony. So back on-topic. I made so many memories with this game in particular that I will cherish forever. The community levels was a big step up from it's predecessor. Even when playing community levels online with random people made it so worth while (back when online play was FREE). All in all, LBP2 has become one of my most favorite games of all time. I loved the enjoyment of coming home from school to hop on straight into LBP2 (and also ModNation Racers) to play online with other people. Even one of my cousins enjoyed playing it, and would play together every time he'd come over. During my freshman year in high school, I heard about the PS VITA and I instantly wanted to buy it because LBP was on it. So eventually I got it with LBP (and because I love handheld gaming minus mobile gaming). I played it non stop, even between switching classes I would walk while playing. LBP on PS VITA was also great (not as good as LBP2, but way better than LBP PSP). I really liked it, and with the use of the touch screen and the back trackpad. The story mode was good, I liked how it had a slightly darker tone to it, compared to the previous entries. The characters were wacky and interesting (and some ugly tbh). And just like the previous entries, I 100% it all the way through. Online play was pretty cool too (but very laggy at times) and community levels were kinda good but a bit disappointing (not LBP2 good but it's passable). I also had fun making costumes everywhere I went (I even uploaded some on my DA page). LBP Karting however was OK (not up to LBP2 standards). I played through the story mode and 100% it too. The community levels were actually pretty interesting, there were even remakes of "Mario Kart" tracks that were spot on (but no custom music like LBP2). My biggest complaint however was the inability of customizing costumes like the previous entries (just changing outfits and placing stickers on doesn't cut it either), even the kart creation was barebones. Overall, the game just feels like a blatant rip-off of "ModNation Racers" (despite being made by the same developer "United Front Games" R.I.P.), which had better character and kart customization and you can even download custom made ones by other people and upload your own. LBP Karting does have better track customization however, but that's not saying much. And adding insult to injury, the fact that a full blown "ModNation Racers Sequel" got canceled in favor of LBP Karting is just a big punch in the face from Sony. A ModNation Racers sequel would've been miles better (pun intended) than LBP Karting in my honest opinion. Around probably Junior year, I got a PS4 with "LittleBigPlanet 3". From what I heard however it's been called the worst in the franchise, since the game was rushed to meet sales for Black Friday. So as a result, the game released with many bugs and glitches turning alot of people off from the game altogether (So I guess it's the "Sonic 06" of the LBP franchise). I bought it around maybe a month or 2 after it's release, and from what I played I really haven't experienced any bugs or glitches. In fact I really liked it, it felt more fleshed out and about as good as LBP2. Basically it's LBP2 but more expanded with new playable characters and creative additions such as expanded layers, new gadgets etc. I also liked how you had the ability to play every community levels ever made in both LBP1 & 2. I actually did play LBP3 on my PS3 first, but I then gave away my PS3 to my cousin to buy a PS4 (which I regret doing). What turned me off however wasn't the game itself, it was the fact Sony was charging for online pay (which killed online play for me) despite the fact it used to be free. At the time it costed $60 just for one year of online play, I could buy a full price game from retail then play & keep it for as long as I want. Paying for playing online is just a scam altogether. I did pay for one year just to play LBP3 online, then never payed again because what was the point. I did however registered my cousin's account to my PS4 to play online, so I played LBP3 online again then lost interest since the damage has already been done. Now I can't play it online anymore if I ever wanted to since the online servers recently got shutdown, and yet they still expect us to pay monthly/yearly for this (I did recently hear that Sony not only increased the price but added 3 tiers to pay for. The most expensive tier however is $120 a year, if that doesn't sound like a scam then I don't know what does). And recently I got myself a "Steam Deck" as a personal birthday gift about 2 years ago. Best decision I have ever made, and I would go as far as saying it's way better than the "PS5" (millions of games to play, it's a handheld, it's fully backwards compatible with everything via emulation, and best of all free online play). Lately I've been replaying LBP1 (and ModNation Racers) on a PS3 emulator and immediately fell in love with LBP all over again (although it's not perfect running on the Steam Deck with minor graphical issues and crashing every now and then). I've enjoyed every minute of it just like how I was when I first started played it back then, and now with a custom server is giving me the ability re-live those moments playing community levels and playing online without spending a single penny. Thank you "Media Molecule" for giving us a gem that will forever be in our hearts. Your love and passion that you created has brought joy to all of us around the world and will forever cherish the moments we spent playing your game. And lastly, thank you for giving us the power of playing, creating, and sharing our creations with the world. Rest in peace "LittleBigPlanet", you maybe gone now but will not be forgotten. Here's hoping for "LittleBigPlanet 4" in the near future (if Sony is willing to, and getting their act together) .

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[nonokoko-is-daydreaming]

Post-graduation hcs part 1

I have been thinking about what might await the boys once they graduate, realistically speaking. I'm tempted to do another hc series similar but them as parents or with a s/o or something 🙈. Sorry, some are shorter than others. Hope you like them:

🌹 Riddle

He moved in an apartment with Trey and Chenya temporarily until he has enough savings to live on his own, alternatively moves in with his s/o, if he has one, ideally after graduation. He had been preparing for an independent life away from home post-overblot without telling his parents and when the moment arrives there's probably a big fight between them, especially when Mrs Rosehearts discover he won't study to become a magical doctor like she planned.

In his birthday vignette he shows interest in studying law, so I think he would be a judge. To me it's canon because it's a reference of how the Queen of Hearts was the judge in Wonderland trials.

Riddle disappointed his parents —more like infuriated Mrs Rosehearts— and had multiple arguments with his mom about what his future but he no longer cares what she says. He might like to continue being in contact if they come to terms he's free to do whatever he wants with his life; most likely only his father accepts this. #DisneyletRiddlehaveatleastoneredeemedparentchallenge

Riddle will need time to heal and accept this rupture is the best for him, but he'll still look at the past and mourn for the childhood and family he never had. He likes his job but sometimes he feels beyond exhausted after certain cases. Praying he gets the growth spurt or self confidence on his height he deserves 🙏

♠ Deuce

Deuce had one goal already in mind since his early freshman days, being a police officer, and by his determination you can bet he worked on it until the dream became a reality. Needless to say mama spade is super proud of her boy.

Oh the delinquent angsty teenager becoming a police. The irony. The amount of comments and stories his mom will share with his friends when they come to their hometown. They're not letting it live down.

Trey mentioned in chapter 5 that the best mages from fire and policemen are recruited by an international organization called Arcane Response Unit, which if I remember correctly it's the one that responds in OB cases when they aren't extremely dangerous. I find it sweet imagining Riddle and him keep seeing each other due their jobs.

❤ Ace

I'm sorry I have no idea which career he could be interested in (╥﹏╥) Maybe when we know his unique magic and more about him I'll write something else. But you know that joke shop the Weasley twins had where they sold magic artifacts and miscellaneous stuff?? Yeah, that could suit him. I believe he could have more ambition than just owning a shop though...idk

After graduation I can see Ace, Deuce, Grim and MC choosing to share an apartment while studying their major studies, if MC is still in TWST of course. Main trouble gang now as roommates, imagine the chaos.

♣ Trey

If he's roommates with Chenya and Riddle, they split chores: he's in charge of the cooking most of the time. He's also the one who keeps most contact with Heartslabyul classmates due his popularity as the "dad friend", but his closest relationships aside from Riddle are with Cater and Adeuce. Often reminds them via message to rest and gets upset if he finds out they have been slacking on a healthy lifestyle after moving away from home.

Either chooses to run his family bakery after his parents retire or becomes a chef in some restaurant. I imagine Azul would be interested in keeping Trey close or tries to hire him for his restaurant business.

♦ Cater

Your Cay-Cay keeps being fire on Magicam! ✧⁺ /hj

Just like Ace I believe Cater tried to make the most out of his school life, so planning from the start what he exactly was going to do wasn't in his top priorities. He knew he still wanted to have time for social media, and despite some minor existential crisis about his future he was realistically listing his abilities and cons in his search for okay-ish jobs.

Eventually he set up for working on social media management or marketing: him being able to read the room + being updated with the latest trends and internet language + meme culture + his obsession liking of Magicam + knowledge to make great pics to post = Best job for him!

In spite of the time being a publicist for brands and influencers take he still updates his Magicam account. Not exactly a worldwide star but I can see him having around +500K overtime and even hitting the million there or in his twst youtube channel. Because of his job and hobby he still cross path with Vil sometimes.

About his family... Just like Riddle I see him looking forward to move in #ASAP, but Cater kept in contact with his family because their relationship still could still be fixed. Therapy may be needed to further explore and heal his family issues and roots of his depression but eventually he's better, if anything still a bit salty with his sisters (don't get me wrong everyone here should go but Cater is in the list or easier to convince) Extra good sis points if they are the ones who talk with Cay-Cay about going to therapy and agree to go with him if asked <3

🦁 Leona

For a moment I wrongly thought "This man is filthy rich, I 100% can see him not doing anything with all the money he has if he feels like it." before the realisation that contradicts his character smacked me in the face. Seeing how he denied the idea of losing without a fight in the tournament I think he'll try to exit his title as being only the second born and make a name for himself.

Given he's a respected leader in his dorm and how he can put in work his leadership skills when the moment requires it Leona would want to be involved in his kingdom management.

Leona has a tattoo that resembles Scar's, and I think that was a symbol of the royal guard, so maybe he'd become royal guard captain. Something like an ambassador or related to military or diplomatic relationships, representing the royal family and travelling for politic reasons.

Knowing Leona he'd be keep ignoring his depression until others talk him out of that procrastinating attitude and force convince him to search help, most likely his s/o or Farena's wife scolding, since it seems he'd do what they tell him even if it's grudgingly. Cheka probably goes to RSA and by then any ill feelings towards his nephew are gone, although he'll always act like he annoys him.

🍩 Ruggie

In Ruggie SSR dorm card is shown Ruggie is fluent at Animal Linguistics. With his participation at the Animal Linguistics Speech Contest I'm positive he could find a job about it, perhaps work alongside Leona as the royal family interpreter.

Regardless of which career he chooses he'll make some good cash and after receiving paychecks he'll spoil his grandma and give small treats to his neighbours by buying a lot of food and making occasional meals for everybody when he visits.

🐺 Jack

Unless he marries somebody whose homeland is different I picture him living in his hometown tending to his cactus. He has a nice house, big enough to raise some kids, and space enough to grew his plants. Man has simple needs and he is content with it.

Definitely the most likely who ends up having a spouse out of all the students, closely followed by Epel and Rook imo.

At first I was blank about his career but thanks to a user on Reddit I agree with them that Jack could be a personal coach or some sort of athletic instructor, for instance ski/snowboard teacher since he likes it. Or a professional athlete.

🐙 Azul

Azul invests in the market and hit big numbers earlier than anybody else. Technically he doesn't need to work anymore or worry about making an income but he still runs a restaurant, expanding his empire as the owner of high quality restaurants both in land and sea. Chains like Applebee's are shit under his foot in comparison lol

Still trying to keep in contact with his dear classmates who he spent so many wonderful days Definitely not because he could use having the Asim new family leader or the royal captain or a honourable judge like Riddle or the STYX leader nono-

🐬 Jade & Floyd 🦈

The ones who mop the floor with Azul's competition

They are still by Azul's side, but they continue in their family business behind the scenes. Probably meet Riddle in the courtyard. Not because they are careless to leave traces behind mind you, Floyd just felt like squeezing some annoying dude and the law is being unfunny and charging him for aggression. Jade is never caught on the things his twin is accused of, but Riddle has the feeling he's never too far from the fights.

Each time the case is closed or paid with community services. Azul pays the penalty fees and the octotrio always act oh so casually about it while getting in Riddle's nerves. Poor golfishie thought he'd see the last of them after ending NRC and now he's near a mental breakdown when he reads "Leech" in his next trial file. Said trials must be a sight to behold, which is why Jade goes whenever he's not busy, amused.

👑 Vil

The octatrio preferably lives on land for different reasons: Floyd has an expensive and varied shoe collection he can't wear underwater, Jade happily built a greenhouse for his terrariums, and Azul has houses both in land and sea to supervise his restaurants and going on vacation when he feels like it.

Despite their shared shady business is likely the twins do secondary jobs to entertain themselves: Floyd keeps starting projects and dropping them once he gets bored, from modelling to participate in monster truck events. Jade studied economics and is in charge of the financial administrations of the business, but is member of a mountain lovers forum and its most active and enthusiastic user.

Vil had already planned his career since a child. However, he continued to expand his horizons: actor, super model, movie director, guionist, activist for lgbt rights and other causes, maybe helping Crewel to make a new fashion collection for upcoming seasons...you know, he takes Barbie's motto seriously. Probably loves being a director because he can envision and lead a movie while being on screen. He's Barbie because he can be everything he decides to be except being more popular than Neige

He keeps in contact with several classmates, including Rook, Epel, occasionally Cater etc. He has an online shop that sells products made by himself, except collabs he makes with other brands like Azul's moisturiser. Don't worry Floyd is okay, they found other merman to use :)

🏹 Rook

✨ Le chasseur de tes cauchemars ✨

Leona and company keep feeling observed, he has many people terrified. If hunter isn't his job then it must be related to beauty, but because he sees beauty in everything I'm not sure. Perhaps he has the same job as whatever his family worked to get all those villas but maybe they are just rich and inherited that CMON DISNEY TELL ME IF HIS FAM HAS A SHADY BUSINESS ALREADY! ARE THEY COPS?? WTF I NEED INFO

If he doesn't follow his family footsteps he could enjoy working as a photographer, capturing the inner beauty of the world both as a naturalist photographer and a fashion one. Hunting and stalking are his hobbies.

One of those who has higher chancer to get married at some point I think, but it's a bit tricky. He sure loves many things but something about it tells me in the present time he thinks he still has so many beautiful things and people to meet that he cannot imagine committing to somebody for the rest of his life yet?? Unless that person was fine he would marvel and compliment and stalk anyone he's around...

Open to having a longtime and stable relationship but it would make more sense if he waits until later in his life to get married in my opinion, realistically speaking at least. But be could also jump straight to marriage if his love for his s/o is that big, if his s/o is Neige, Vil or someone he adores as much as them.

🍎 Epel

Another student who had his future somewhat well thought out since he was a freshman.

Not long after graduation he studies a major degree and works in his family farm, trying to improve the Harveston farmers laboral conditions by implementing innovative methods to grow apples more resistant to cold temperatures...First he has to convince the skeptic elderly that technology and science can mesh together with tradition just fine. (This idea is from what he says in the Harveston event)

As weird as it sounds I can see Epel gaining more muscle after all those years working out. I'm divided between him growing taller or being ripped but continue being the shortest of the first year gang lol