#nightmare before christmas it is 🌟

[berrycake99]

Korn album inspired. Lucifer turned 🧸's head into a duckie🦆🌟

I had to do Alastor twice 'cuz my dumb ass deleted a layer by mistake and tweaked tf out

[zepskies]

Series Masterlist - Break Me Down

Pairing: Soldier Boy/Ben x F. Reader

Summary: You’re a private investigator by trade, but now you happily sit at a desk — leading a surveillance team at Supe Affairs. After managing to end Homelander in New York, Soldier Boy escapes custody. You are recruited for the manhunt, joining Butcher’s team.

Truly, you joined the S.A. for the right reasons. But after you become his accidental hostage, Soldier Boy will break down every single one of them…

AN: For those of you who enjoyed “Checkerboard,” here’s the requested prequel series! It’s gonna be a long road to get to that version of Soldier Boy. Technically this is an AU set post-season 3.

Series Tags/Warnings: **Rated M. (18+ only.) Enemies to frenemies to lovers. Angsty, messy, moral quandaries galore. This is a romance, but it’s a dark world with morally gray and dark characters, including Soldier Boy, of course. **Smut, language, misogyny, violence, and other chapter-specific tags.

🎵 Listen While You Read:

BMD YouTube Playlist || BMD Spotify Playlist

BMD Music Playlist Posters

Chapters:

Prologue

Part 1 - The Game Begins

Part 2 - You Move Me, Baby

Part 3 - Somewhere Down Below

Part 4 - On the Inside Out

Part 5 - Morning, Night & Day

Part 6 - A Hot Meal

Part 7 - Until Midnight

Part 8 - Something in the Way

Part 9 - Breach

Part 10 - Caught in the Balance

Part 11 - The Lion's Den

Part 12 - All Your Wicked Ways

Part 13 - A Generous Deal

Part 14 - Safe House

Part 15 - The Tower

Part 16 - Soldier Boy

Part 17 - More Than Words Can Say

Epilogue - All My Living Time

Series Complete!

Did you like this series? If you'd like to keep supporting me as I continue the BMD-verse, you can:

Ko-Fi Me ☕

Become a Patreon Member 🌟

Not done reading this version of Soldier Boy x Reader? Well, there's more to their story.

(**Notes 18+ only and/or smut)

One-Shots:

In the Dark You and Ben have tackled the insurmountable together, but no one said the recovery would be easy.

Checkerboard** You’re not a supe. You’re breakable. Soldier Boy sometimes forgets that.

Wanderlust** Your wandering hands are keeping Ben up at night.

Love Actually** [MINI SERIES] Ben gets in late on Christmas Eve with a Grinch-like attitude, but you’re determined to force some holiday cheer into his system. At least, you hope you can, before he meets the rest of your dysfunctional family on Christmas Day.

Series Complete!

Wake Me Up** [MINI SERIES] A few weeks after you and Ben celebrate your first Christmas together, he is returning from another mission with the Supe Affairs team. When he discovers that you’ve been taken, he’ll do whatever it takes to find you. And then, to help you heal.

Series Complete!

Strong As Blood** After you accidentally break through a solid wood table, you know there’s something wrong with you. You begin to have your suspicions, but can you keep it from Ben long enough to find out? 

(In other words: This is the story of how you and Ben discover that you’re pregnant.)

Part 1 || Part 2 - Complete

Until Morning A quiet moment between you, Ben, and your newborn daughter.

This One's For You Late one night, finding no other recourse, Ben sings to his infant daughter to help her sleep.

Lesson Learned** There’s only so much teasing Ben is willing to take. He has no choice but to punish you. (Sequel to This One's For You)

Green** Ben spends the day alone with his daughter, to varying degrees of success. When you get home, it prompts a serious conversation.

Calculated Risks You and Ben argue about your commitment to being a working mom. When a rogue supe gets loose at Supe Affairs, mayhem ensues, putting not only your life at risk, but your daughter’s as well.

Imagines:

Getting jealous.** 💚 Ben needs new clothes, but the shop girls think your boyfriend is fair game.

Ben’s reaction to his girlfriend on her period.❣️ How he takes care of you.

Ben loses you. 💔 Includes a “twist” ending…

Talk to Me 💞 In the wake of his vivid nightmare, you confront Ben about his fears and get him to open up. [Sequel to “Ben loses you.”]

Headcanons

Inspiration behind the Part 17 plot twist. It has to do with my love of Smallville. (Spoilers for BMD Part 17.)

How many kids would you and Ben have? The answer is...

Ben's reaction to his daughter Lila's first crush (vs. his son's). The double standard here is ridiculous!

How Ben would react when Lila gets a boyfriend (or girlfriend). Dad!Ben is pretty much what you'd expect...

How Ben reacts when his daughter (Lila) is dating an asshole. He sees an unfortunately "kindred" spirit.

What if Lila caught Ben on a bad day? Featuring reactions from young!Lila and teen!Lila.

What (BMD) Soldier Boy/Ben Would Say to His Younger Self Ben has the opportunity to meet his counterpart from the 1980s. What advice would he offer?

Imagine Soldier Boy (Ben) "Sliding Up" to You in the Club Despite what you might think, he's got moves...

Moodboard below created by @chernayawidow:

"But you move me, baby. All my livin time..."

"A fight for love and glory, a case of do or die..."

Soldier Boy Masterlist

Main Masterlist

[cottonlemonade]

The Candy Scheme

word count: 549 || avg. reading time: 2 mins.

pairing: post-time skip!Ennoshita x chubby!Reader

genre: fluff

warnings: spoilers

request: watching Nightmare Before Christmas with caramel popcorn dressed as pirates with Ennoshita || fluffy, trick or treating with boyfriend Ennoshita

After the Tanakas flooded the Karasuno group chat with pictures of their Halloween decorations, boasting about how many trick-or-treaters they’d attract with the 10ft skeleton alone, one look from you was enough for your boyfriend to join in on your scheme.

The plan in its essence was to first, spend way too much time deciding on costumes - ideally ones that cover your faces, practice stooping your shoulders and using slightly higher voices, and then see if your friends would notice it was you or fill the cheap plastic jack-o'lanterns with free chocolates.

After much consideration, you put on a pumpkin head and a patchy costume to go as an overfilled, chubby scarecrow on a budget and Ennoshita asked his not-so-little-anymore brother if he could borrow the mask and cloak of his Ghostface get-up from the previous year.

On the night of the heist, your boyfriend bent down to press his mask against yours where he assumed your lips would be and you straightened the folds of his long black cloak.

“Shall we?”, you asked, voice muffled through the pumpkin.

“We shall.” He held out his arm to you out of reflex but dropped it again figuring it might endanger the mission if you looked like a couple.

In true pretend-teenage fashion, the car was parked a little way down the street so you would walk the rest. As a cover, you had already put a handful of candy into each collection bucket so that it looked like your night had already started.

“You ready?“

Your pumpkin head wobbled precariously when you nodded and your boyfriend rang the doorbell (a few times for good measure).

“Trick or treat!“, you both called in unison as soon as the large paper ghost disappeared behind Ryunosuke‘s Dracula cape.

“Velcam!“, he announced in a horrible attempt at a Transylvanian-adjacent accent, his plastic teeth giving him a prominent lisp, “Velcam, my children of the night! My wife and I await you!“

Shimizu raised her hand to a half-wave behind her husband, fumbling with her cape to get a bowl of sweets from a table by the door.

Not suspecting a single thing, your friends loaded up your buckets. You were about to turn away, heart skipping from your success when your boyfriend said in a raspy voice supposedly fitting his character, “Your costume is really cool.”

“Why thank you!”, Dracula said.

Then your boyfriend switched to his normal voice.

“How do you like mine?”

Ryunosuke frowned. You could practically hear the gears turning in his head, and then his eyes widened, “Ennoshita?!”

But too late. Your boyfriend had already grabbed your hand and was running cackling across the lawn and down the street. You were doubling over with laughter and he helped you take off the pumpkin head to catch your breath. In one swift motion, he pulled his mask off as well. He brushed a strand of hair out of your face, still giddy as you’ve never seen him before.

“I can’t believe that worked.”, you said, while you rubbed at your sides to get rid of the stitches.

“Just too bad it’s over already.”

You looked at each other.

“You know…”, you began slowly, “Daichi lives just around the corner.”

Your boyfriend grinned, gave you a kiss, and put your mask back on.

a/n: request for @ennoshitas-princess

Thank you for the request and your congratulations! 🥹 I hope you enjoyed it ☺️🌟 A special thank you to the always great @haikyu-mp4 for helping me figure this one out.

[crescenthoax]

a nightmare before Christmas • pt2

🎄or an Annika, Floris, Willa and Targtowers Christmas tale🌟

Part One

Part two

Part three

Summary: Aemond, Daeron, Aegon and Helaena had different things planned for Christmas, but one same fate: their father’s old cabin.

Basically an i’m never gonna love again christmas modern AU because we need to spread some joy on these times and I wanted to write something fun. Mainly centred around Aegon x Female OC.

Part 2/3. Part 3.

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟

“I can't believe you convinced me to do this,” says Aegon, shaking his head. “I don't need no game nor excuse to get wasted.”

“Oh, come on. We’re all going to play,” Helaena tells him, amused. “Even Aemond.”

It translates easily to: ‘You can't be more boring than him.’

It’s not that Aemond is the boring type, in fact, he's just so reserved and responsible that he's gotten used to having fun in other ways. But everyone has seen him drink whiskey as easily as soda and smile as if he had two hooks on his face and scarlet–flushed cheeks while dancing during Annika's New Year's party on the yacht in 2019.

Everyone sits in a circle around the coffee table in the huge living room. Logan stirs some logs in the fireplace, trying to revive the flames before sitting down between Helaena and Annika on the couch. Aegon is sprawled on one of the individual and comfy, green velveteen chairs, just like Aemond on the other, and Floris sits with Willa and Daeron on the other couch.

“So, does everyone know how this works?” Annika asks, finishing pouring herself a glass of white wine. On the table, there is an exaggerated amount of drinks to choose from. “Someone says something, and if you've done it, you drink. If you haven't, you don't. It's simple.”

“Never have I ever explained a game we all know just to seem smart,” Aegon laughs. “And now you drink.”

She sighs and takes a sip of wine after flipping him off. So much for the ‘truce.’

“Logan, why don't you start? That way, we can get to know you better,” Annika insists.

He feels a bit pressured with the number of new and curious looks around him, but he seems to handle it wonderfully. “Hmm. Never have I ever... been to a party I wasn't invited to.”

“Easy!” Aegon singsongs and drinks from his beer. Daeron, Logan himself, Annika, and Helaena follow suit. Surprisingly to everyone, Floris also drinks, drawing attention. “Are you kidding me?”

“Why do you sound surprised?” She shakes her head, pretending to be offended. “Never have I ever gone skinny dipping.”

“I love the new Floris,” Aegon mocks, drinking. “Singleness agrees with you.”

Everyone drinks this time, except for Annika and Daeron, and she gets some skeptical looks. She puts her feet up on the couch to get more comfortable, her black ballet flats shining even brighter than the Christmas tree. “What? I find it unhygienic.”

“Never have I ever creeped an ex on social media,” Willa dares to say this time. Helaena and she are the only ones who don't drink, and Floris joins them while she shifts uncomfortably, seeing that Aemond does drink.

Aegon sees the opportunity to create a tense moment and seizes it. “Never have I ever lost my virginity to someone in this group.”

“Are you serious?” Helaena sighs.

“Very.”

The only ones who drink are the broken–up couple and the one that sticks together like peaches and cream. Willa takes a long gulp of her fruit cocktail, probably trying to shake off the embarrassment. She has not yet understood that no one really cares.

“Never have I ever had a crush on my siblings’s friends or on my friends's siblings,” Aemond says, accusingly looking at Aegon.

“All hail Cassandra Baratheon,” Annika murmurs before drinking. Daeron and Logan follow her, and so does Aegon, without any problem. Helaena turns her head trying to make sense of the situation, but Annika quickly adds, “Never have I ever been with someone of the same sex.”

She drinks. It doesn't surprise anyone that Aegon also drinks. It surprises everyone that Floris does.

“What!?” Helaena demands, laughing. “When!?”

“Never have I ever had a threesome,” Aemond basically answers for her. Annika chokes on the water she's drinking, and Aegon bursts into laughter when he sees the ex-couple drink, along with Logan and himself.

“Well, I don't have to know everything,” Daeron complains, wrinkling his nose in disgust. He usually is the one who always lags behind when it comes to knowledge about his brothers's lives, and to be honest, sometimes he feels it's better that way.

“Never have I ever broken the law,” Willa says. It's not surprising that everyone drinks this time, except her and Logan. Rich people thing, apparently.

“Never have I ever gotten a piercing,” Logan offers.

Helaena is the only one who drinks, her navel and ears heavily jewelled. And then, Aegon looks at Annika and shakes his head.

“I can't believe it. After all this time, and you still are a fucking cheater,” he addresses her.

“Excuse me?” She chuckles, feigning ignorance.

“You just lied.”

“But she has no piercings,” Floris defends her. Annika tightens the glass in her right hand and shifts uncomfortably on the couch.

“She has her right nipple pierced!” Aegon growls.

“Aegon!” Annika shouts, annoyed. “That's not something yours to share.”

“God, you always do the same thing and cheat on this stupid game. Why did you want to play if you're not going to expose yourself?”

“I don’t need them to know what I have pierced and what I don't. It's not about that,” she grumbles, crossing her arms.

Daeron furrows his brow. “How do you know she has a nipple piercing?”

“And when did you pierce your nipple?” Helaena asks, confused.

Annika bites her lip for a moment, suddenly too aware of the piercing that now seems to be warming up, the sensitive, raw skin against her bra. She was supposed to get both nipples pierced, but she couldn't bear the pain, at least not sober. She would come back someday for the next one, of course.

Aegon had taken her to get it done when she visited him in San Francisco last spring. The last time they saw each other. He promised her it would feel good afterwards. It's not something she has experienced yet.

He notices what the memory does to her. Annika moves again, too uncomfortable under his accusing gaze.

“I saw her naked this afternoon. I found her in the shower when we arrived. It was accidental,” Aegon explains casually. Annika's cheeks flush, yet she's grateful that Aegon thought so quickly to cover his tracks.

Now, that’s kind of a lie.

He had seen her naked since Annika's 20th birthday. She spent some time at the Targaryens’s house in London during lockdown, and there came a moment when they were so bored that one night, after swimming and drinking by the indoor pool, she came out dripping from a dive and went into the changing rooms to dry off. He followed her and didn't say anything; he was so bored that he held her against the wall and ate her out until she cried. He always had a thing for her and knew she was as bored and lonely. That night, she sneaked into his room, and he fucked her until she begged him to stop. Earlier, she had told him not to stop when she asked, so they fucked until he passed, and she had trouble walking the next day.

She had never felt such connection with someone before. They got along so well inside the bedroom that it was almost addictive. When they were alone, they got along even better than they did when they were with the others. And it made sense. It made all the sense in the world for them, but not necessarily for the world.

So when they wanted to have fun, without explanations, they flew to see each other. Or they met in places where they couldn't be found, like the time he fingered her at the Eiffel Tower on a random Thursday night in March.

And no one ever suspected. Until...

“I can't believe you said that,” Annika clicks her tongue. “Okay, if that's how you want to play. Never have I ever used Aemond's toothbrush.”

“You did what?” Aemond grumbles, turning to his brother with unease. “Dude. What the actual fuck?”

“Well, thank you very much, you witch,” Aegon rolls his eyes and takes a sip of his beer. Then he smiles at the blonde sitting across from him and extends his can to her. “Never have I ever used Annika's toothbrush," he says, finishing the can with pride.

“God, you're such a pig!”

“Now I understand why Aegon's room is always a suite,” Daeron mocks, putting an arm around Willa's shoulders and leaning back on the sofa, pulling his girlfriend towards him. “You never used my toothbrush, right?”

“I once used dad's toothbrush to brush Sunfyre's teeth,” Helaena adds, tipsy as she could be. Everyone looks at her strangely, and they burst into laughter instantly. “I was really mad at him.”

“Why?” Willa laughs.

“I really don't remember. It must have been important for me to decide to brush Aegon's dog's teeth with his toothbrush,” she shrugs. Logan looks at her amused and shakes his head.

“It's such a Helaena thing to do,” Floris adds. “Remember the time Annika released Helaena’s spiders in the classroom and told Cressida they were poisonous?”

“Why would you do that?” Willa asks.

“Because I hated that bitch,” she replies simply. “She was sort of like my nemesis. She hated me too.”

“I fucked with her,” Aegon adds, “in her cabin when we went to that horrible camp with our school, during lunchtime.”

Floris grimaces in disgust. “But she was in our cabin.”

“I know. She insisted on doing it on Annika's bed,” he laughs, and her jaw drops. “She got back at you; you have to give her that.”

“And you participated in that?!” She screams. “Aegon, I can't believe you!”

“Oh, don't be so pristine. It was over the sheets. And hey, we could have put your toothbrush in the toilet of public bathrooms, but we didn't,” he replies.

“Okay. Never have I ever done it in someone else's bed,” Logan intervenes, somewhat familiar with the dynamics of distracting Annika and Aegon from tearing each other apart like wild dogs.

Everyone drinks, except Annika. “As I said, it's unhygienic.”

“What do you not find unhygienic?” Daeron teases her. “Okay, I want to know this, and I think it's the moment. Never have I ever been with a teacher.”

“You're still on that? I already told you I didn’t!” Aegon leans in to push his younger brother's arm playfully.

“You were sober when I asked you! I thought you were lying for my sake,” Daeron defends himself, laughter vibrating through the walls. “I had heard the rumours.”

And everyone's laughter accompanies his, except Aemond and Floris, who remain in a creeping silence, looking at each other.

“I mean, it's something he would do,” Helaena shrugs.

“No, I had heard that...-“ He stops speaking, the smile on his face turning from confusion to more confusion than grace when he looks at Aemond in deafening silence, just like Floris by his side. When everyone notices it, the atmosphere seems to dissipate. “I had heard that... Hum, one of my brothers... That...”

Helaena and Annika look at each other. Then Annika looks at Aegon, who keeps his mouth in an ‘O’ shape and remains motionless, trying not to add more fuel to the fire.

“C’mon,” Floris speaks for the first time. She and Aemond exchange glances, and the coffee table is not the only thing separating them because it feels like there are miles between them. Floris's voice is cold, just like her eyes. Annika knows her well enough to know that she's drunk. “Rules are rules. If you've done it, you drink.”

“I don't understand,” Logan murmurs, a bit lost.

“No? Well, let me try again. Never have I ever found my boyfriend fucking one of our high school teachers in my own bed, only to find out they had been screwing behind my back since we were in high school.”

Floris finishes her glass of red wine in three long gulps. Helaena stays silent, her hand resting on her mouth to hide the surprise. Logan and Willa shrink in their places, while Daeron scratches his head uncomfortably, and Annika bites her inside cheek.

Aegon takes a small sip of his drink with a loud noise. “Aemond… This is fucked up. Really, really bad. The kind of thing I would do.”

Floris leaves the empty glass on the table with so much accidental force that it breaks. Helaena startles, and Floris stands up, swaying. “This has been fun. Have a good time.”

She walks away without even looking back at Aemond, leaving everyone too bewildered to react quickly. He sighs, leaves his drink on the table, and tries to stand up.

“Floris, wait...”

“Haven't you done enough?” Annika spits venom, getting up and pushing him back into his seat. No one understands if Aemond doesn't resist her push or if she really used brute strength. Through gritted teeth, she points at him with her index finger. “No. Don’t you even dare.”

It's she who takes light steps and disappears upstairs, following Floris. Aemond shifts uncomfortably.

“I wouldn't do it if I were you,” Aegon warns.

“Man. What the hell?” Daeron sighs, running his hands over his face. “How long has this been going on?”

"I don't know. It happened a couple of times in our graduation year, and then we met each other last year, and... I don't know. It's been...”

“Aemond, right now, no one has a worse opinion of you than I do,” Helaena tells him, placing a hand over her heart. “Who did you screw?”

He puts his hand on the bridge of his nose. “Mrs. Rivers.”

“The health teacher? Seriously?” Aegon jokes.

“And you didn't think, I don't know, to break up with your long term girlfriend before doing it? Or after?” Logan intervenes. Aemond looks at him seriously.

“Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Hey,” Helaena tells him. “He's a friend.”

“He's not my friend,” Aemond hisses. “He's just a stranger who came to our door like a lost puppy.”

Aemond stands up and disappears, not up the stairs but towards the dining room, and Aegon is almost sure he hears him heading to the yard. Surely to smoke a cigarette secretly from all of them because God forbid he lets his friends and family know that he also feels and makes mistakes and drinks and smokes and is not the perfect child everyone thinks.

“Hm, Willa, do you want to eat something? Would you help me clean this up?” Helaena offers to the girl who looks terribly uncomfortable. At the same time, she signals Aegon to check on Aemond.

Aegon shakes his head, and Helaena stiffens her face. She has a look that's too demanding sometimes that reminds him of his mother's, and it gives him chills. It makes him get up from the couch and hit Daeron's shoulder to follow him to the yard.

He obeys, a bit confused. “Where are we going?”

“To see if Aemond is okay.”

“Of course he's okay. He's Aemond. And if we had to be checking if someone is okay, it should be Floris,” he says.

Aegon stops him in his tracks and grabs his shoulders. He looks at his brother, although he's taller than him, he still needs to learn a thing or two. He understands that the age difference between them is enough, but he also understands that Daeron is no longer a child.

“You're a man now, and that means you must learn something about this family. It's a twisted family of fucked–ups, and we screw up every day. I've messed up. Helaena has messed up. Mom and Dad specially, blah, blah. It happens, it's like it's encoded in our DNA. Aemond screws up too, and I'm sure you'll do it someday too. Not necessarily with Willa, it just will happen. And no one understands the feeling better than us,” Aegon explains. “This is what being part of this family is about. And we have an unspoken agreement; no matter what it is, we get through it. We don’t judge. Aemond is our brother, so we are not gonna judge him even though he deserves it.”

“Alright. I understand,” Daeron says and follows his older brother. As they suspected, Aemond is smoking, to the youngest’s impression. “I feel like I don't know you.”

“You don't,” Aemond mutters.

“Are you okay?” Daeron asks, resisting the urge to punch him or roll his eyes. “Why didn't you tell us what happened?”

“Yeah, like I would judge you for it,” Aegon laughs. “I hooked up with mom's pilates instructor while dating Alysanne.”

“Oh my God. I'm not like you, Aegon.”

“Realization sucks, right? It's tough. We've all been there. Fortunately for you, I'm the worst of us,” Aegon laughs. The two youngest ones remain silent, and the sound of crickets is the only thing heard for a moment. “Screw you both. You could try telling me otherwise.”

“Well...” Daeron hisses.

“Fuck you, seriously” Aegon flips them off. “Back to the important stuff. What happened with Floris?”

Aemond gets lost staring at a fixed point on the snow-covered ground, as if he's recalling all the events that led him to do what he did. But he can't. “I don't know,” he confesses sincerely. “I don't...”

“Do you love her?” Daeron asks.

“How could I not love her? She's been with me all my life. And I've been with her all her life. Since we were kids. School, my accident, high school. Birthdays, funerals, parties. She's always been there. We've always been me and her. Just like Helaena and Annika. Or Aegon and… Alcohol.”

“Oh, no. You’re making jokes now?” Daeron panics, and Aegon chuckles. “That doesn't mean you love her. It means you're used to her. And Floris doesn't deserve that. Neither do you.”

“I know she doesn't. She deserves something better,” Aemond says. “And I really care about her, and it hurts to have lost her, and it hurts to think about a life without her.”

Aegon rolls his eyes. “She'll always be there. You know, Helaena will never let go of those two girls. They've always been a pain in the ass for us and always will be. That's the fun part of being us.”

Aegon knows they would always be with them because their friendship with Helaena was not going to end. He knows Annika and Helaena would always be friends. But Aegon and Annika wouldn't always be together.

“I guess you're right.”

“Why didn't you invite me to come here with you?” Daeron asks suddenly. “I could have... I don't know. I understand you didn't want to spend Christmas at home, but I didn't think you wouldn't want to spend it with me.”

“Hey, you didn't want to spend it with us either. Otherwise, why did you come here with just your girlfriend?” Aegon questions. “We thought you'd get bored, and honestly... You are still not old enough to enter the casino or drink excessively.”

Daeron rolls his eyes. “You think I don't have a fake ID? I could have come with you.”

“And if you had come, we probably would have avoided this nightmare before Christmas situation,” Aemond says, scratching his good eye. “I don't know, I guess it’s hard for us to think you’re not longer a kid.”

“Sometimes it hurts being left out all the time, you know?”

“Welcome to being a Targaryen in the real world,” Aegon says, patting his shoulder. “You're officially invited to our Christmas getaway in 2024. And this time, it will be just the three of us.”

“No, I think I'll go home for Christmas next year,” Aemond shakes his head. “It's a pain in the ass, but not as much as being here in this situation.”

“I shouldn't have asked about the teacher thing,” Daeron laments.

“You had no idea. I didn't even know either,” Aegon sighs. “Did she tell the girls? Helaena seemed surprised. And I don't think Annika knew either.”

Aemond shrugs. “When it happened, she packed her things and didn't say a word to me. We know Floris; she's quiet, reserved, and she won't show what she doesn’t want you to find out. She wouldn't go with Helaena to tell her that her brother is a liar and a cheater, and she wouldn't tell Annika because she's also my friend. Was. Whatever.”

“I don't think she'll stop talking to you; she'll just give you a hard time. You know Annika,” Daeron reassures. “By the way, is it true about the piercing?”

Aegon smirks. “It's true.”

“Did you see it?” Daeron asks, with a grin.

Aemond smacks him on the back of the head. “Have some respect.”

“Oh, I saw it,” and other things. Daeron wants to ask what he has always wanted to ask, but he bites his tongue, remembering the situation that unfolded because of his questions. Aegon notices and appreciates it. “Well, the party is obviously over. We should eat something and go to bed. If we're lucky, the storm won't be so bad, and you can leave tomorrow.”

“Oh, yeah,” Daeron says, suddenly a bit dejected. He actually wants to stay. “Right. That sounds good.”

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟

Annika and Floris made no appearance while the rest had dinner watching a horror movie. The girl went downstairs for some food for Floris and then apologized to Willa and Logan for their absence, going back upstairs with her friend immediately.

Aegon drank more beer with dinner, and as soon as they finished eating, Aemond tried to wash some dishes, then went to his room alone without saying a word. Daeron had looked at Logan and Helaena, who were talking and laughing as if nothing had happened, with a strange expression and asked, “Where do you plan on sleeping?”

Helaena pinched his cheek as if he were a little kid. “You are adorable.”

It was her kind way of telling him to fuck off.

And although Daeron invited Willa to swim in the indoor pool, she claimed she wanted to go to bed, too tired to even breathe. If he had to be honest, all the drama had exhausted him too. So, the gang was reduced to Aegon, Helaena, and Logan. Aegon couldn't stand to third wheel with her little sister and a guy who dresses like some dude out of a Netflix Christmas rom–com , so he grabbed some beers and went up to his room with plans to drink until he passed out.

It doesn't happen.

He grunts and gets out of bed, exhausted from trying to sleep. The drunkenness already is part of his natural mental state.

The only lights on the house are the Christmas tree lights tinkling at a strange pace, and besides the muffled music echoing from the pool and the occasional laughter from Helaena, the only thing that can be heard is the squeaking wind. He makes his way to the kitchen feeling utterly cold; the heating in his room was so high that the change is brutal. He's not going to bother looking for the heating controls at this hour, and the fire in the living room fireplace has almost died down.

The refrigerator light beams on Annika's figure. She's sitting on the counter, with a glass of water, a pack of cigarettes, and staring at her dimly lit phone screen. She's wearing a black and pink satin pyjama set, tank top and shorts, and a somewhat warm robe, but she looks frozen. Her hair is wet.

“Late-night swim?” Aegon asks, startling her. “That brings back memories.”

Annika clicks her tongue. “No, I had to shower. Needed to get Floris's vomit off me.”

“Yikes,” he sticks out his tongue. “How's she doing?”

“Well... She... It's going to be tough.”

"You didn't know about…?”

She shakes her head, putting her phone aside. “No. She came to our flat one day with suitcases and teary eyes, and there was no need for her to say anything. We assumed that, well, she would tell us in her own time. She just said they wouldn't be coming back together, not like other times, and we figured it must be serious because she flew from Boston to New York,” she explains. “Did you know?”

“No, of course not,” he shakes his head. “Hey, don't give Aemond a hard time.”

“I couldn't care less about Aemond.”

“Did she fall asleep?”

“Passed out from crying too much, rather. I can't believe he did this to her. I mean... Ugh. It's something we might have expected from you, certainly not from him.”

“Oh, well,” he shrugs as he takes a seat on the bureau next to her. “I know my limitations, believe it or not. For starters, I would never be in such a closed relationship for so many years. They were in a cage, both of them.”

Annika rolls her eyes. “Can you believe they had a threesome?”

“I know, right?” Aegon laughs, and she joins in. “The kind of stuff I'd expect from you. Trying to revive a relationship that's clearly dead by adding a third party.”

She laughs. “Sounds like something I would do. You know how much I tend to cling to things even when the odds aren't in my favour.”

Aegon sighs. “So...”

“So...?”

“Can I see it?” Aegon suddenly asks, and Annika looks at him confused. “Your piercing.”

“I thought you said you saw it in the shower,” she says, placing the glass of water on the marble table. It makes a noise that feels louder than it actually is, and she squirms uncomfortably at the thought that someone might have heard it and finds them there, alone, together.

For someone who claims to be a loner, Aegon has a constant need for attention and contact, especially if it's from Annika. It's nothing new; he used to pull her braids when they were kids to attract her attention. Now he begs her to let him see her boobs. Normal.

He smiles. “I didn't. Everything was full of steam and foggy.”

“But you saw it. You were there when I got it done,” Annika reminds him, embarrassed. “You gave me the little piece of chocolate when my blood pressure dropped. You put a can of Coke on the back of my neck and helped me button my blouse.”

“First of all, it was Dr. Pepper. And second, it doesn't count because I didn't see it properly. And you left before we could do anything...” He shrugs. Annika squints her eyes. “I want to see it. Please.”

“You exposed me in front of everyone and almost got us caught. Why would I show it to you?”

“Because you're good at giving me what I want,” he says, devilishly smiling as he leans toward her.

“And what about what I want, huh? Not everyone can have what they want. I want a unicorn, for example.”

“I'll buy you a horse and pay to have a surgical pink horn put on it. Damn, I'd pay to have wings attached and teach it to fly if you want a freaking rainbow pegasus,” he roars, his voice deep.

Annika laughs and lowers the strap of her satin pajamas so Aegon can see. Not sure why she does it, but Annika loves to give him what he begs for. He doesn't ask for permission to stroke the side of her breast with his thumb, right at the curve. He moves her wet hair back and sighs as he feels the goosebumps on her skin.

“I like it. Although sometimes I catch it with the towel, and it's a little annoying,” she tries to ignore the fact that he's touching her after months and that when he touches her, her skin turns scarlet, just like everything around her. She looks up to find his gaze. “You were right, anyway.”

Annika never knew how, but it was he who had convinced her to get them because she was so sensitive in that area. Maybe she just wanted to please him, or maybe he knew that Aegon, even if he didn't admit it, knew her very well. He always knew better when it came to her.

“Have you tried it?” He asks.

“No, not really. I'm afraid it might still get infected. Besides...” She paraphrases, and Aegon lightly strokes the surface of her skin with his fingers. Another shiver runs through her, and she falls silent. “We shouldn't.”

“It's Christmas Eve. We're both alone...” He suggests, brushing the tip of his nose against hers. “I know you don't like being alone on holidays. You always have someone to warm your bed. And your options here are quite limited.”

“You're alone because you want to be alone,” Annika tells him, letting out a sigh. “I might have left, Aegon, but you let me go.”

“And you never tried hard enough either,” Aegon retorts. He pushes her swiftly, standing up and cornering her against the kitchen counter, slipping between her legs hanging from the high stool and placing his arms on the counter on either side of her body. Their breaths mix. “Please, let me do it.”

“I mourned you, Aegon,” Annika reminds him. “It hurt, what you did. How you laughed when that woman at the store mistook us for a couple. How you looked me in the eyes and said that what we had was all in my head. It was humiliating. That's why I left, because you hurt me. And after all that, you blame me for not reaching out for you? How can you say that?”

“I would have hurt you worse if you hadn't left, and you know it,” he says. He doesn't ask for permission either when he delicately strokes the tip of the jewelled nipple with care, and Annika hisses, hypersensitive as ever, melting in his hands. He smiles. “There it is. That’s my sweet girl. My favourite girl.”

She doesn't say anything and covers her mouth when he leans and catches her nipple between his teeth carefully. He knows how she likes it best, and the taste of the soft flesh mixed with the metallic aftertaste it’s exceedingly erotic. It's so intense that she has to close her legs together immediately as she feels that tingling sensation, although his body doesn't allow it. The way she feels stimulated inside and out is almost unbearable, and she unconsciously puts her hand through her shorts because she knows Aegon will spend a while playing with her before even doing anything.

When she tries to ease that discomfort, Aegon grabs her wrist and removes her hand from her shorts. She shivers when she loses contact, but he brings her fingers to his mouth to suck them clean, and Annika breathes heavily.

“Please,” she implores, grabbing him by the neck. He knows she's not asking him to fuck her exactly; she's asking for more. She tiptoes, grabs his cheeks, and tries to make him look into her eyes. “Aegon, please.”

He grunts with difficulty. He shoves his hand inside her shorts, pulls her underwear to a side and, without warning, shoves two fingers in; she's so wet that it offers no resistance.

“Isn't this enough?” He asks, moving the way he knows she likes. Annika opens her mouth and moans against his lips, and through the refrigerator light, he sees her wet eyes and a tear sliding down her cheek. “Why isn't this enough, huh?”

Why am I not enough for you? If I were, maybe we could be.

“I want...”

“No,” he hisses to silence her and prevent her from finishing that sentence. “You want to come on my fingers, that's all. You want my body. And I want yours. That's it.”

No, it's not.

She shakes her head. He doesn't stop, feeling Annika's heart beating against his own chest and how she tightens around his fingers as she struggles to stay still and not make any loud noises.

“I want you,” she tells him, quickly and muffled in a moan, against his lips when she orgasms. Aegon kisses her and swallows the pathetic declaration she utters, holding her with the other hand to feel her close before she goes away forever, but she seems to read his mind. “It's me, Aegon. Me. I'm not going to leave, and I want you. And I want everything from you.”

He wishes he could say yes to her, but he doesn't. He can't do that to Helaena, no matter how much he desires the same. He has to sort out his life first. He's not going to stop drinking. He can't see himself working in his father's company, marrying her, having children. He can't see himself disappointing her over and over when he turns out not to be what she wants.

She wasn't raised for the conventional either. She also has an intense fear of abandonment that would make her do anything for him to stay. This ends in two ways; either she leaves when she realizes she made a mistake and hates herself for letting herself be hurt by him, or she becomes an unknown version that assembles and disassembles for his entertainment.

In both scenarios, he loses her. Physically and emotionally. Two sides of the same coin.

Aemond couldn't stand a relationship of so many years and cheated on Floris. Aemond. The perfect son, Aemond. The perfect boyfriend, Aemond. The gentleman who would propose as soon as he graduated from college, buy an apartment, provide for his family, and have Alicent's first grandchildren...

“Say something,” Annika begs him, pulling him out of the thoughts that have fallen one after the other like a row of dominoes. She clings to him while with the other hand she runs it over his bare torso. He hasn't realized that he no longer feels cold. “Aegon. Anything. Anything, please.”

He can't.

“This is who I am. This is what I can offer you.”

“I'm not a child anymore. I don't want to fly to another country to see each other in secret and act like a couple for two weeks just for you to discard me like trash and go fuck someone else when you’re bored of me.”

He’s never bored of her, though. He just drinks her away. Smokes her away. Fucks her away.

And he knows it's been enough when she sobs.

He puts his hands over hers and separates her from his body. Now he feels the cold of Aspen again. If there was mistletoe above their heads, it's most likely withered. He gives her a kiss on the forehead and wipes away the tears falling down her cheeks.

“I'll leave my door open,” he warns her as he walks toward his room without looking back. But he knows it's useless; Annika won't come.

He leaves her crying in the kitchen, silently, on Christmas Eve. Because that's the kind of person he is. Annika knows. She has always known. She has seen the girls crying in the kitchen before; this time is no different. She has seen the girlfriends he brought on family trips. How he runs them dry. How he breaks their souls.

But Aegon knows that Annika is not like them. He knows that Annika means much more than anyone else. And he knows he can't. He would feel like a bird trapped in a box. He would make her miserable...

He promised to her mother he wouldn’t.

And he knows she deserves something better.

“At least admit it,” she asks him, from the other end of the kitchen when he's about to cross the door. He doesn't turn to look at her. “At least admit that it was real.”

But he leaves nonetheless.

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟

Freya died when Annika was fifteen, and Aegon seventeen. She had been diagnosed with one of those strange and lethal diseases a few months earlier. Aegon couldn't remember the name, but they had told him. He still doesn't know why to this day.

Perhaps because he was the eldest. Because Alicent had pushed him out first, a measly two years before Helaena, and two measly years before Freya gave birth to her daughter. Annika only found out about her mother's illness a month before she passed away. And when it started to get ugly, her parents sent her away. She couldn't be with her when she died, couldn't say goodbye, couldn't ever come to terms with it...

And she never found out that Aegon knew all along.

Alicent had always told him that he had to take care of his younger siblings and, by extension, Annika, who seemed more like a sister to Helaena than he ever was. Annika wiped Helaena’s tears and Annika fought Helaena’s bullies and even Aemond’s at times. Freya said that Annika could take care of herself, but she wouldn't object to having Aegon around. At times, Aegon might have felt that Freya was the only person who still saw him as the golden child and not as the boy who fucked up everything he touched. Freya would entrust Aegon with her most precious possession without a second thought.

But one day, on one of those days when she was pretending to be okay for her daughter's sake, she saw Aegon drinking his third glass of the evening and shook her head. She put a hand on his shoulder and sighed. “I'm not going to ask you to take care of her once I’m gone; it's not your responsibility. But it would hurt me a lot if you were the one who ends up hurting her.”

Two years later, he went off to college and said he wanted nothing to do with that damn debutante ball, but he made the damn mistake of attending anyway.

The rest is a story not fit for Christmas.

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟

The holidays should be a time of love and peace, and yet, in the Targaryen Aspen retreat cabin, the only festive thing is the fact the atmosphere is as bitter as the mistletoe. Helaena, Logan, and Willa, the designated cooks and the only ones who seem to know how to use the stove and microwave, are the ones preparing breakfast. Floris sits on the windowsill, watching as the snow falls heavily and sticking to the ground outside. The noise of the television and the crackling fire is all that can be heard.

Aemond and Daeron play a game of express chess after setting things on the coffee table for breakfast. Aegon watches them while smoking a cigarette inside, much to Helaena's dismay, as he has no desire to step onto the icy exterior.

Annika is the last to appear, wearing those ridiculous fur boots and a pink Chanel sweater with a Camellia logo. Her steps and the sound of the two huge suitcases being dragged down the stairs make everyone look towards the staircase, desperate for someone to break the ice. She shrinks under the attention, very uncharacteristic of her, and Aegon sees Helaena and Floris exchange worried glances.

“What are you doing?” She asks, watching them prepare pancakes for breakfast.

“Breakfast,” Willa says. “Do you want coffee?”

She shakes her head. “No, I don't want coffee. I want to leave. The night has passed. I thought everyone would be ready to leave. Usually, I'm always the last to be ready.”

“You can't leave. The roads are filled with snow that probably no one will clear until after Christmas. There was a storm last night. It's not safe,” Logan reminds her, pointing to the TV where the weatherman urges residents and visitors to stay indoors until further notice. “Even if you could cross the road, there are no flights available.”

Annika smiles and takes off the sunglasses she was wearing. “No, I'll ask my dad to send his pilot, duh. I'm not taking any commercial flights. I wanted to ski for Christmas, and that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to the nearest place with snow and a sauna.”

Daeron and Aemond look at each other, aware that the unpleasant part of Annika is speaking. Something is wrong.

“Well, I don't want to leave. We're here already, we can make it worthwhile,” Hel tells her. Annika rolls her eyes.

“Fine, you stay. Floris?”

She opens her mouth and sighs. “It's not that I want to stay, but flying in these conditions... I don't know. It's only two more days. Maybe even tomorrow we can leave. I'm not going to risk it.”

“Great. I guess it's just me,” Annika grumbles, grabbing her suitcases. “Well, have fun, I suppose. Au revoir. Arrivederci. Goodbye. Chau.”

“I'll go,” Floris says, resigned, and walks behind her. Daeron does the same, and Aegon follows them out of pure curiosity. “Annika, you can't leave!”

“She's right, it's not safe!” Daeron shouts from the door. She has started to drag her suitcases down the stairs with difficulty, the stupid boots slipping on the ice. The car is covered in snow, and it will take her a while to clear it, not to mention that the snow keeps falling.

“Watch me!” She says, reaching the bottom of the stairs with the first suitcase. She holds onto the railing and makes the ascent again, slipping several times. Then she grabs the other suitcase.

“At least let me help you,” Daeron offers. He shakes off the cold and takes Annika's suitcase. She struggles for a moment, insisting she can do it, but he prevails and lifts it.

“Be careful,” Floris says, putting a hand to her mouth. “Annika, would you call when...?”

“Fuck!” Annika yells when she slips down the stairs. Aegon sees her lose balance and fall to her ass, hitting herself several times before reaching the stone path.

If he weren't concerned because he heard her hit her head against a step, he definitely would have burst into laughter. Floris also screams, shocked, and Daeron drops the suitcase in the snow to rush to help her.

“Annika!”

“Daeron, don't throw my suitcase in the damn snow!” She reproaches him, holding her head with one hand.

“Yeah, she’s okay,” Aegon deduces, descending the porch steps carefully. Annika doesn't even acknowledge his existence.

“What happened?” Helaena asks, coming out with the rest through the front door. “Oh, God. Are you alright?”

“I'm fine. I tripped,” she admits, defeated. Daeron and Floris take one of each arm and help her to her feet. When she stands and puts her weight on her feet, she begins to whimper in pain and holds onto both. “Ouch, ouch!”

“What's happening?” Daeron asks.

“My ankle!” She complains. “It hurts, hurts! Oh, God. What if it’s broken? What if I can't walk ever again?”

“Calm down. I don't think it's broken; if it were, you'd be crying,” Logan tells her, quickly descending the stairs. He replaces Floris' grip on one side of her body. “Can you put weight on it?”

“No, it hurts like a son of a bitch. Shit,” Annika moans, and Logan lifts her into his arms to take her back into the house. “Daeron! Bring my suitcases!”

He sighs but obeys. The last thing he wants is to bother her more than she already seems. Everyone enters behind Logan, and he takes her to the living room while Floris cleans the melting snowflakes from her hair.

Logan leaves her on the couch and sits in front of her on the coffee table, resting her foot on his lap. Without asking for permission, he tries to untie the boot, but he doesn't understand much about its operation. He tries to remove it with pressure, but she screams and writhes in pain.

“No, no! Don't do that!” She scolds him. “Damn it. I can't believe it.”

“I don't want to say I told you so, but I told you so,” Floris says, arms crossed. “Those boots are the death of you.”

“Maybe we just need to cut the boot off,” suggests Aemond.

Annika throws a cushion at him for the brutal idea.

“Not the Moschino. No!”

“It's probably just a sprain. But either we cut it off, or I could still trying to take it off and hurt you even more,” Logan tells her.

“I would sacrifice the boot,” Helaena tries to reason. “We can get another pair. You can't get another foot; that's for sure.”

“Kill me. Kill me now,” she says, bringing a cushion to her face and screaming into it. “Fine. Cut them. Kill them. Just do it quickly. I don't want to see.”

Helaena squeezes her shoulder, standing behind the sofa where Annika has put her head on the backrest and taken the cushion to her face. Willa hands Logan a knife, who puts it through the boot and tries to cut the material with considerable difficulty while Annika whimpers. If one were to see the scene from a distance, they would probably think they were cutting off her foot.

When he removes the boot and the thermal sock, everyone analyses the extremely swollen ankle with disgust.

“Is it bad?” She asks, removing the cushion from her face but not daring to speak. Aegon puts it back on her face, wrinkling his nose, but she hits him. “Don't touch me. Logan. Is it really bad?”

“Well...”

She opens her eyes wide. “Oh, my God!”

“Hey, don't worry,” he tries to calm her, patting her knee gently when she starts to cry. “You'll be fine. Painkillers, rest, and lots of ice. Everything will be fine; you'll be walking in—“

“Give it to me,” she reaches out her arms.

“What?” Logan asks, confused.

Aemond lightly hits his arm. “She means the boot.”

“The... The boot?”

Aegon nods. “Yes, she's crying over the boot.”

“It was so beautiful!” She exclaims when Willa hands it to her, and she hugs it with distress. “It's not fair. I bought them on our trip to Milan. They were the last pair. Do you remember, Flo? Do you remember how we were walking, and I saw them in the shop window, and...?”

Logan looks around, not understanding how no one seems surprised or confused by the girl's attitude. It's Daeron who whispers in his ear, “She cries over trivial things to avoid crying about what she really has to cry about. The odds of her being incredibly sore are very high, but she won't admit it.”

“Oh, well,” he scratches his neck, uncomfortable. “Bring her some ice. Try not to put weight on your foot for a while and keep it elevated.”

“Hey, look on the bright side. At least you didn't ruin your cashmere sweater,” Helaena says cheerfully. Willa frowns, observing her pink sweater for a moment.

“I want to go home,” she protests. “Why does everything have to happen to me?”

“It'll be okay. We'll have breakfast so you don't take a painkiller on an empty stomach, and you can try to leave when the swelling goes down,” Logan reassures her, getting up from the table and walking to the kitchen. Then he turns to Floris. “Yeah, she's not going anywhere. Not today, at least.”

Floris bites her lip, a little amused, and shakes her head. “A Christmas Eve to remember,” she says, and then helps everyone set the table for breakfast.

By mid–afternoon, everyone has had a few drinks and taken a dip in the indoor pool. Floris and Aemond maintain an incredibly mature distance, astonishing Aegon as he discusses it with Willa. Daeron seems to have become very friendly with Logan.

Annika didn't want to move, and in a sour mood stayed on the couch watching some stupid Christmas movie.

“They are cute,” Willa says, referring to Helaena and Logan. Her red curls are dripping water, and she holds onto the edge of the pool while sipping a sip of a daiquiri Aegon made for her.

“Whatever,” he says, rolling his eyes.

“Don't you like someone making her laugh? Daeron always says she's a pretty lonely person and has a hard time getting along with others.”

“Aren't we all?” He chuckles. “I guess... It's always us who bring our girlfriends home. I mean, if we don't count the little friend Daeron brought home at seven years old who started crying when he showed her Aemond's snake, and his mother picked her up half an hour later, you would officially be the first girl Daeron brought. And Aemond and Floris have been together forever. And I...”

“Bring a different girl to every gathering?” Willa laughs.

“Yeah, as pathetic as that sounds,” he continues. “The point is, Helaena has never brought anyone else but Annika. She's her person. We got so used to it that now it's weird to see her with someone else. I don't think any of us realized that one day we would meet her partner.”

“It's weird. They seem to have that confidence that makes you think they've known each other forever,” she ponders. “Anyway, it's nice that they get along. She can't be with Annika all the time, I think. Eventually, they'll have to find a significant other.”

He dips his head in the pool to avoid hearing the last words and then emerges, leaning his elbows on the pool's edge, rubbing the water off his eyes.

“And that will be a great day for everyone,” he sighs ironically. Willa inspects him carefully. “What?”

“Nothing,” she shrugs. “I mean... I'm very observant.”

“Yeah, I remember. A very curious little mouse, I told Daeron.”

“When we went to your house in San Francisco, do you remember the day it got really cold, and the airline had lost my luggage?”

“Hm, vaguely.”

“You gave me a sweater to wear while Daeron and I replaced my clothes.”

“I did?”

“Yes. You told me to be careful not to ruin it,” Willa tries to make him remember. “It was a pink cashmere sweater with a Camellia. Like the one Annika's wearing.”

Aegon bites his cheek. He knew he shouldn't lend the clothes Annika had forgotten at his apartment. Man, Annika never lends her clothes. How could he be so stupid?

“Sure... It's… It was mine. We bought it on sale. You know, two for the price of one,” he says, nervously laughing. He’s more worried about Annika finding out he lend her sweater. “It's very soft, much softer than any other fabric. I like wearing it. Yes. And I love pink. I have that sweater at home, and a lot of other pink clothes. I'd show you...”

“Aegon,” she sighs amused. “I'm not going to say anything.”

“You're not going to say anything about what?” He asks, trying not to sound mortified.

“You and Annika,” she murmurs, so only he can hear.

Aegon laughs. “There's no me and Annika.”

“You knew about her piercing, and she looked too worried when you mentioned it, but not surprised. Come on. I think everyone knows; they're just waiting for you two to say it and pretending not to know,” Willa tells him.

“There's nothing to say. It was... Nothing. Just something physical. It didn't mean anything.”

“What didn't mean anything?” Daeron asks, appearing out of nowhere behind Willa and hugging her around the waist. “Is Aegon bothering you?”

“I think I'm bothering him,” she says playfully.

He climbs onto the pool's edge, coming out of the water dripping, and walks to grab a towel without saying a word. After almost completely drying himself, he goes to the living room where Annika watches the Grinch, sitting in the same position they left her, with a blanket over her lap and ice over her head.

“He looks like you,” he tells her, ignoring the fact that he left her crying in the kitchen the night before. He always does that.

“I'm not in the mood,” she says, not moving her eyes from the screen. He peeks behind her and shakes his head to wet her. “Bite me.”

“Aren’t you a delight,” he says, taking a seat next to her. “Are you in pain?”

“No,” she replies, arms crossed and clearly a bit drowsy from the painkillers, without even looking at him.

“I thought we called on a truce.”

“I think we shouldn't talk at all,” she tells him. The indifferent tone stirs something acidic in Aegon's chest, and he squirms with sadness. “Oh, sorry. Was I too harsh?”

“I don't understand why you're angry. I should be angry. You gave me the blue balls. At least you got to finish.”

She looks at him and lets out a laugh. “I can't stand you.”

“Where do you think you're going?” He asks when he sees her trying to get up.

“Far away from you,” she says, being careful not to put weight on her foot. Aegon takes her arm and throws her back on the couch. She lets out a groan and wriggles, trying to escape his grip, but he holds her by the waist and presses her to his chest. “Let me go.”

“There’s something you need to know. Willa knows about us,” he warns, putting his mouth to her ear. She shifts uncomfortably. “It's just a matter of time before everyone finds out.”

“Then you kill her to keep the secret. God forbid someone finds out you touched me, or even looked in my direction.”

“Do you think that's the problem?” He asks, his palm resting on her stomach, lips against her neck. “You think I care if anyone finds out?”

“You made it pretty clear.”

“Do you want me to make you come again in this sofa where anyone could walk in and see us?” He asks, kissing her under the ear as he moves his hand from her navel to her centre. “You might understand that’s not what I’m worrying about, then.”

Annika hits his hand off and lets go of his grip. “No. I want you to leave. I'm serious. I don't want you to talk to me, look at me, or breathe in my direction. I don't want you near.”

He smiles crookedly. “Definitely harsh.”

“Go away. I can't go up the stairs, so I'm asking you to leave.”

She leans back against the backrest and covers herself with the blanket, resting her cheek on her hand. Aegon sighs in defeat. He’s not used to being rejected by her, if she ever got complicated usually some sweet talking and his fingers worked like charm to remedy her.

“Annika...”

“I don't want to hear your pathetic excuses,” she says. “You can take your blue balls and shove them in the snow as far as I’m concerned. And if you feel lonely, you have two hands.”

He looks at his hands.

It would hurt me a lot if you hurt her.

If he stays, he'll hurt her. If he leaves, he'll hurt her.

Freya was wrong. His mother, too. He can’t take care of her.

“Can I stay here and watch the movie at least?” He sighs, noticeably tired. She looks at him sideways and doesn't answer, but gives him a piece of her blanket. He settles a bit closer to her and curls up in his place, feeling a bit cold. “Do you want something to drink?”

“I want you to shut up.”

He nods. “Okay. Deal. I'll shut up.”

But he can't. He glances at her certain times, focused on the movie and looking as unhappy as ever. He clicks his tongue.

“You know...”

“No. I don't want to know.”

“Fine,” he nods again. Moves his leg frantically and manages to keep quiet for two full minutes. “But, if you think about it...”

Annika puts the TV on mute and turns to look at him. He stays silent when those green eyes haunt him. “It was real. It wasn't a waste of time. I wasn't just another one of your girls. It was different. It always has been. You were there, and it was real.”

“Of course, it wasn't a waste of time,” he starts saying. Freya's voice drills into his head. It would hurt me a lot if you hurt her. “And it was real.”

“And why don't you admit it?”

“What do you want me to admit?” He sighs, tired, and rests his cheek on the back of the sofa. Silver hair wets the green fabric, but he doesn't care.

“That you want me.”

“I can show you how hard I am so that –“

“That you love me,” she corrects.

He tries to escape, almost panicked, but she takes his cheeks and forces him to look at her. Her eyes are hypnotic. Her cheeks. Her skin. Her hair. The nose and eyelids reddened from crying so much because of him.

Of course, he does.

She's so close that their lips almost touch. He has leaned over her, because he does love her. Because she's right. And she no longer wants to run away... But he can't say it. However, he finds another way to be honest.

“I knew when your mother got sick,” he says, delicate as if confessing a sin. “I always knew. And she told me I shouldn't take care of you because you could take care of yourself, but that the idea of me hurting you would sadden her. I can’t do that to her.”

She leans back even though he tries to kiss her. She moves back so much that it cuts through his chest.

“What?” She gasps, not understanding. “What... What are you talking about? What does that even mean?”

And there's more. And there's so much you don't know. Because I've loved you since we were kids. Because I've taken care of you since we were kids. You don't have the right to treat me like a villain. I've always taken care of you. This time is no different.

“Aegon,” she calls him, in a sob. But he doesn't react, so she hits him in the chest. “Are you fucking kidding me? Why would you say something like that? Why would you even –“

“Because it's the truth. You wanted to know the truth. There it is,” he says. “We can't be together, Annika. I've learned to live with that, and you should too.”

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟

Floris pours herself a glass of water while Aemond looks at her with a dangerously careful gaze. He has always been tough, since they were kids, and it worsened after the incident with his eye. The sapphire only makes him appear tougher, ruthless, even.

But Floris cannot see anything other than his good side. His heart. The way he cares about his family, even Annika, with whom he always had a somewhat distant relationship. He cares.

That's why it was strange when she found him with their professor. It wasn't strange to have packed her things and taken the next flight to move from one state to another in less than six hours though.

He didn't object.

It's the first time they see each other, and there's a lot to say. He sent her things, and everyone moved on. She doesn't know what happened to the apartment or that damn snake of his that wouldn't let her have a puppy because it might eat it.

“Floris,” he finally calls her. She can't look at him. She can't see the person who cares and matters to her, who would never have hurt her. It's a different person standing beside her. “Please, look at me. We need to talk.”

She shakes her head. “We don't need to talk.”

“We need to clear things up.”

She smiles ironically. “What do you want to clarify? You slept with a teacher multiple times over these past few years and brought her to my house, to my bed. Do you have a valid reason? Other than the fact that you obviously no longer love me?”

Aemond weighs it for a moment. And then nods.

“I do love you.”

She laughs. “Sure.”

“You're my best friend. The best I've ever had in my life.”

“And then? Why did you do this to me?” She asks. There's no anger in her tone, as if the anger had dissipated after the exhaustive conversation with Annika, who she covered in snot and vomit. It's curiosity, no more, no less. It's intrigue.

“It has nothing to do with you.”

“I know I have my issues, but I firmly believe I've never done anything to hurt you. Not intentionally at least. I haven't been a bad girlfriend or a bad friend either. So, I ask you again, if you love me, why did you do this to me?”

“Because I love you,” he nods. “It's easy for me to love you, Flo. It's warm, and you feel like home to me. But I'm not a kid anymore, and neither are you. Adults have to leave their homes to create their own paths.”

Her eyes fill with tears. “I thought we were happy.”

“We were. I am. And I really don't want to lose you... But I cannot keep doing this,” he sighs, and gently takes her hand. “I'm sorry. It was stupid. And I don't think you can forgive me, but...”

“You're right, I can't,” she tells him, sniffing. “You should have told me what you felt when you felt it. You shouldn’t have let me waste all this past years. We could have found a solution; we did when, you know… Or we could have... –“

“Flo, there was nothing else to do. We tried everything,” Aemond tells her, a bit firmer now. “You don't love me in that way either. I know you, and I'm sorry. I've felt this distance between us for a while. You're not happy in Boston. You're happier with Annika and Helaena in New York. You would be happier if you had a dog instead of a snake. You would be happy if you explored a bit of who you are and what you want to be besides me.”

She sobs. “How am I supposed to go on after this?”

Aemond knows she might not, but maybe, after all, it's the only way for her to understand that between them, there's nothing but the love they've outgrown. Childish, puppy love.

“I'm sorry. It was stupid. And I'm not even seeing her. I guess I needed a getaway car, and that's the one I found... I guess you'll have to be the better person here and forgive me. It will take time, but I hope you know that I really mean it when I say I regret what I did to yoy.”

Floris clicks her tongue and rubs her face with her hands. “Well, you never apologized for anything. So I guess you are saying the truth. But it only makes me feel worse because this means you screwed up big time and you’re aware of it.”

He lets out a little laugh and leans in to kiss her on the forehead. “You taught me a lot. More than anyone else in my life. You gave me everything you could, and it's time for both of us to move on with what we taught to each other. When you're ready, when you're at peace... I hope I can be your friend again. Because I can't bear the thought of you not being in my life anymore.”

She understands what he means. Not in a romantic way, but they know each other too well. No one will ever know him so much, and vice versa. No one will ever live what they lived together.

“I’m always gonna love you,” she confesses. Again, not in a romantic way, but there's no need to clarify that.

Aemond tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m always gonna love you, too.”

“I need time. A lot. When I go back to New York, I'm going to transfer a university there. I fell behind a bit, but I'll catch up. I'll go to therapy, and I'll learn to forgive you. But I don't want to see you for a while.”

It hurts him almost as much as the pain that sometimes paralyzes half of his face.

But he knows he deserves it.

“You'll be fine,” he tells her. “You were always… Resilient. More so than me.”

“I know,” Flo smiles. “I’ll be fine. I got my girls with me.”

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

are you planning on doing any winter/christmas/holiday one shots?? I’ve had an idea for one since before Halloween but it’s kinda just a rough concept. I’ve loved your take on magical realism and time travel stuff with buddie. The prompt is in that vein so if you need a xmas fic idea lmk!! ty for blessing us w your amazing buddie works!!!💗💗💗💗 🎄⛓️⛪️📖🌟🌷🐈‍⬛🪦🔑

^^^^😉😉😉

Hey! I'm definitely open to hearing it but probably not if I'm being honest. I am putting some Christmas stuff in Promising Light, but overall I don't celebrate it/like it as a holiday and try not to spend much of my November/December thinking about it, beyond family stuff with loved ones that do. I find the whole season to be an autistic nightmare, tbh.

But thank you for thinking of me! I think one day I will open a request form for prompts, too! So I do like hearing ideas.

[ken-page-oogie-boogie-tribute]

Welcome to @ken-page-oogie-boogie-tribute

A space to honor the legendary Ken Page 🎤 and his iconic role as Oogie Boogie 🎲 in The Nightmare Before Christmas. This account is a tribute to Ken’s incredible talent and a place for all TNBC fans to come together in remembrance 🖤.

Ken’s voice made Oogie Boogie a character we’ll never forget 🎶, and his impact on theater, film, and music will forever live on. Here, you can celebrate TNBC, share your love for Oogie, and pay homage to the legacy Ken Page left behind ✨.

Join us in celebrating the spooky magic of The Nightmare Before Christmas 🎃 and the unforgettable mark Ken made on our hearts 💫.

Godspeed Ken!🫡 Our true Seven Holidays King!

💘🍀🥚🌟🎃🦃🎄

[koko-raccoon]

F/O and OC lists:

Fictional Others ❤ (note: I am not non-sharing and I do not mind doubles. In fact, I love doubles and I love finding other people who have the same favorites as me) :

Romantic:

Buster Moon 🎤 (Sing)

Teddy 🛠 (Bob's Burgers)

Cosmo 🔎 (IF)

The Captain/Admiral 🚢 (Queen Mary's Dark Harbor)

Caine 🦷 (The Amazing Digital Circus)

Lord Hater ⚡ (Wander Over Yonder)

Bill Cipher ⚠️ (Gravity Falls)

Yondu Udonta 💘 (Guardians of the Galaxy)

Jaq/Sir Hugh 📿 (Cinderella)

Rudy 🎪 (Killer Klowns from Outer Space)

Michael Myers 🎃 (Halloween)

Earl the Squirrel 🎄 (Universal Studios)

Lord Garmadon 🐍 (The Lego Ninjago Movie)

Spider-Man Noir 🕸 (Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse)

Dale 🐿 (Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers)

Professor Membrane 🧠 (Invader Zim)

Honest John & Gideon 🦊🐱 (Pinocchio)

Mr. Peabody 👓 (Mr. Peabody and Sherman)

Vision 🤖 (MCU)

Platonic:

Timon 🦋 (The Lion King)

Crushes/low key an F/O but not officially one:

Husk 🎲 (Hazbin Hotel)

Bender 🍻 (Futurama)

Glinda 🎆 (Oz the Great and Powerful)

Casey Jr 🚂 (Dumbo)

Helen 🐌 (Bob's Burgers)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fan OCs (I have my own Original Characters but listing them would take up too much time and energy. But maybe someday I'll put it together)

Kylee 🏕 (Camp Lazlo)

Ebony ❄ (Prep and Landing)

Pumpkin 💅 (Prep and Landing)

Winter 🎙 (Prep and Landing)

Rudolph 😡 (The Muppets)

Princess 🍭 (Wreck-it Ralph)

Irene 🎬 (ParaNorman)

Sue 🎨 (Monsters University)

Tammy 💋 (Monsters University)

Danny  🛹 (Monsters University)

Olivia 📒 (Monsters University)

Kiwi 🍪 (Disney/Ducktales)

Raquel 💃 (Disney)

Birdie 🥊 (Disney)

Catalina 🙀 (Disney)

Pepper 📚 (The Boxtrolls)

Hamilton ✂️ (The Boxtrolls)

Chleo 🛼 (Wander Over Yonder)

Lady Luck 👓 (Cool World)

Squeaker 🌃 (Bojack Horseman)

Anna 🌕 (Gravity Falls)

April 💍 (Sing)

Hope 🌙 (Sing)

Tanya 👗 (Rock Dog)

Zynthia 🎶 (Guardians of the Galaxy)

Cassandra 🎆 (Guardians of the Galaxy)

Celestine 🌟 (Guardians of the Galaxy)

Juniper 👿 (The Lego Ninjago Movie)

Diane 💎 (Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers)

Midnight 🔮 (Eureeka's Castle)

Joliet 🔪 (Krampus)

Dina 🧨 (Killer Klowns From Outer Space)

Professor Ant 🐜 (James and the Giant Peach)

Quorra 🔫 (Star Wars)

Switch (AP-87) 🤖 (Star Wars)

Vulture 🐀 (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

Waverly 👩‍⚕️ (Halloween 1978)

Martha 🎄 (The Grinch 2018)

Jack 🧜‍♀️ (Queen Mary's Dark Harbor)

Adam 🧟‍♂️ (Queen Mary's Dark Harbor)

Ivy ✨ (Onward)

Busby 🌵 (The Looney Tunes Show)

Kattan 💫(The Looney Tunes Show)

Nona 🎸 (Kid Cosmic)

Minky 🎠 (Hazbin Hotel)

Yancy ♥️ (Hazbin Hotel)

Vivi 💨 (Encanto)

Beeb 💐 (Smiling Friends)

Misery(Julie) 🎭 (South Park)

Miss. Skunk 💥 (The Bad Guys)

Jingle Belle 🎁 (Despicable Me)

Francesca 😾 (Pinocchio)

Billie 🎮 (Bob's Burgers)

Joan 🛋 (Bob's Burgers)

Lily Belle 📄 (Mr. Peabody and Sherman)

Paula 🔧 (Futurama)

Lucky 🎤 (IF)

Lisa ☠ (Halloween Horror Nights)

Cubie  🎱 (The Amazing Digital Circus)

[sillysaurus]

☆ about me ☆

𓈉 ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

૮꒰˶ᵔ ତ ᵔ˶꒱Ა ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

☆ this is my agere blog sfw/nonsexual!!

☆ u can call me lucario, or nothing tbh

☆ i am a boy, he/him

☆ big/bio age: 18

☆ permaregressor

☆ autism, trauma, and mental illness'

☆ furry, kidfur, agerefur (whatever the sfw term is)

☆ other: aroace, gay/mlm, physically disabled, punk, metalhead

☆ i post all kinds of agere content (no specific aesthetic), art, picrews, game content, cartoon content, plushies, rare irl pics, headcanons, mood/stim/outfit boards, i take requests! but please make sure to say whether its agere/petre related or not (and add some details!)

☆ kins and comfort characters

☆ posts where i give information/talk about myself/experiences/regression/vent will be tagged #personal , if you'd like to know more about me <3

☆ my instagram is si11ysaurus (my username everywhere is either sillysaurus or si11ysaurus)

☆ oc sideblog! @burger-bugpup

things i like!!

૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱Ა ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

☆ blue! 🫐💙🩵📘🌀💤

☆ dinosaurs and prehistory 🦕🦖

☆ animals (favs: marine and bunnies) 🐾🐇🐷🐛🦑🐡🪼

☆ outer space 🧑🏻‍🚀🌙🪐💫⭐️🚀🌠

☆ stuffies 🧸

☆ clowns/clowncore 🤡🎪🎟️🎭🎡🎠

☆ puppets, costume performers, animatronics

☆ puzzles, legos, toy food, trains, dinosaurs, construction cars, monster trucks 🧩🚂🦕🥣🚜

☆ halloween and other spooky things 🎃🍭🦇🍿🌑🍫🕸️🍬🧟‍♂️

☆ alternative styles/aesthetics ♠️⛓️🖤

☆ boyre, masc things/aesthetic

☆ weirdcore and liminal spaces 👁️🍄🖼️🔆

☆ coming of age movies/tv shows/books

☆ games: animal crossing (PC ID is 1209 6237 701), stardew valley, slime rancher, cookie run, pokemon, minecraft, my singing monsters, twisted wonderland

☆ tv: craig of the creek, rugrats, the nightmare before christmas, tmnt, clarence, curious george, octonauts, bubble guppies, summercamp island, max and ruby, spookiz, spongebob, alvin and the chipmunks, KND, kindergarten the musical, metalocalypse, criminal minds

DNI (do not interact)

૮꒰ - ༝ - ꒱ა ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

if u are/if u interact with nsfw/kink of any kind: ddlg, abdl, ageplay, etc. post/reblog smut or anything like that

proshippers, radqueers, transID, pedos, zoos, lolisho

bigots, conservatives, capitalists, the phobes

if u have triggering themes on ur account: gore, s/h, e/d, excessive blood, etc. (agere content about horror sources is okay!)

if u interact anyways/ur account makes me uncomfortable in a way thats not listed, i will just block you

BYF (before you follow)

૮꒰ ˶> ༝ <˶꒱ა ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

please don't swear/curse on my blog

i wont put religious people on my DNI but i do have the tags blocked and i probably wont follow u if u post about it, please dont sent any religious requests

if u happen to find my main/find out who i am, please dont share (im closeted)

i am a blunt and aloof person, so i might not seem kind but i promise im trying my best to be!

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

🐇 🐰 💙 👑 🔇 🚹

[tanktopgallavich]

🌟weekly game wednesday🌟

thank you to @deedala for the tag! 🥰

💟Name: ri 💜

#️⃣Age: ancient

🗺️Location: siri, play "boston" by augustana

🧥Do you own a robe? Describe it. yes, it goes with me everywhere in the winter months! it's purple and very fluffy!

☕️Do you have a favorite mug? Describe it. i have two. one is a huge one from a special trip to hershey park, pa and the other one has the characters from the nightmare before christmas on it.

🧣Do you have a favorite blanket? Describe it. it's a dark blue, fleece and has cartoon pictures of owls on it.

🍵Coffee or Tea? depends on the time of day. i love both equally ☺↳🔥🧊Hot or Cold? for coffee, always hot (i hate iced coffee!) for tea, i'd prefer hot, but iced tea is so good in the summers

🧦Fuzzy socks or Wool socks? colorful fuzzy socks with pretty designs

🧤Gloves or Mittens? gloves, i need to be able to move my fingers

🔥Fireplace or Campfire? i'll say campfire because i have a bunch of good memories hanging out around them, but i hate how the smell lingers in my hair afterwards.

🌞🌜Sun or Moon? moon

🍬Chocolate candy or Sugar candy? always chocolate

🥐Sweet Pastry or Savory Pastry? sweet pastry 😋

🎃Peppermint or Pumpkin Spice? PEPPERMINT EVERYTHING (though i do love me some pumpkin spice in october)

🛏️Go to bed early or Wake up early? wake up early because i feel so good about myself and productive

🥣Cold cereal in milk or Hot oatmeal? oatmeal

🍞Potatoes or Bread? potatoes in almost any way, shape or form 🥔

And Finally... 🚬Gallagher or Milkovich? milkovich 🖤

tagging: @juliakayyy, @francesrose3, @ian-galagher, @metalheadmickey, @sleepyfacetoughguy, @heymrspatel, @michellemisfit, @mmmichyyy, @gallawitchxx, @gardenerian, @crossmydna, @whatthebodygraspsnot, @vintagelacerosette, @thisdivorce, @too-schoolforcool, @lingy910y, @metalheadmickey, @transmickey, @suzy-queued and @such-a-barbarian

[dearanakin]

GLAD TO BE HERE

Summary: Both Steve and Eddie share traumas after the Upside Down events. After that day, they had been keeping each other company, and since then, the realization of their feelings grew wider. Word count: 1.6k

Ps: This is my first time writing a Steddie story so please be kind lol this is a holiday special, Merry Christmas to all my besties!!

Warning: Just a lot of fluff, mentions of trauma and PTSD

🎄🌟

Steve smelled like his cologne and aftershave, he had just finished fixing his hair in front of the mirror from his bathroom before walking down to his backyard. He was throwing a small Christmas party with his friends and the kids.

It's been a hell of a year, he thought to himself. He almost barely survived the Upside Down, the scars around his neck and his stomach were a living reminder of what it felt like hell for him.

Not only him, but also for the man standing across the beer pong table. Eddie felt like he was a second away from life that day, almost being eaten alive left him living with PTSD. Almost every day he would have nightmares about that day, the event screaming back at him, the feeling of the demo bats eating his flesh.

After all those past months, both of them gladly had their friends help. They were constantly talking to each other as well, as long as doing therapy. They would call each other almost every day and make each other company so they wouldn't think too much about the attack. And that was when they started feeling something switching between them.

Eddie was the first to bring it up and Steve, of course, freaked out. He wasn't expecting to actually feel something that different and unfamiliar. Suddenly, they realized they had a crush on each other.

The metalhead watched as his friend approached their group of friends, bringing a pack of beer, watching as they enjoyed the game, already half-drunk.

Steve looked up and met Eddie's gaze at him. He smoothly grinned at the man, his hands were stubbornly shaking just at the sight of Eddie looking at him like that. They were about to exchange Christmas gifts and he was already nervous, wondering what he was getting.

Eddie walked up to Steve, helping him place the bottles of beer on the table before they left for a few minutes.

They walked to Steve's living room side by side, not actually giving a fuck about their friends. Because they knew.

The girls knew way before the former King of Hawkins High realized what he was feeling.

“Oh, my God Eddie! You like Steve!” Nancy blurted out one time. She and Robin met with him after he asked them for advice about some “different feelings” he's been having, as he said.

“Holy shit, my friend is bi!” Robin almost lit up fireworks after that.

And then, when they met with Steve after both him and Eddie had the talk, the girls were so happy it was almost too weird. Robin even started giving her best friend advice, especially during their break at the Family Video.

Steve was the first to grab the package and handed it to the man in front of him. Eddie took the gift and stared at him, narrowing his eyes.

“I swear you'll love it. Henderson helped me pick up” He said, his lip twitched in awe as he saw Eddie's expression change after hearing Dustin's name.

“Dustin fucking helped you with this? I'm more concerned now” He joked.

Rolling his eyes, Steve nudged the box into the man's chest. “Just open it”.

And as soon as he did, his face lit up and his jaw dropped. He couldn't control the excitement after seeing a new set of Dungeons and Dragons inside the box.

“Not fucking way! Thanks, man” Eddie filled the small space between them, giving him a sided hug. His fingertips brushed against Steve's left cheek, who almost faltered at the touch.

“You gotta keep the Master of Dungeon role-play going” He said, trying to not sound too nervous around his friend. But sometimes it was just impossible.

And Eddie always noticed the nervousness, but somehow managed to be the one to actually make this new interaction less uncomfortable for both of them.

“What did you get me?” He asked as he saw Eddie's grin grow wide on his face. The chains on his jeans were jiggling as he walked toward the couch and held up a bag and lifted it up for him to grab it.

The metalhead watched as his friend opened it up and faced the denim vest he had mentioned about before.

Steve was speechless.

Before even considering liking Eddie, he said he liked the fabric when the man handed it to him that day. It was in the Upside Down. After that, he gave it back to Eddie only a few months later, after they were past the trauma and all the jnjuries.

“It was about fucking time. I almost forgot I had that vest” He laughed as Steve tossed it to him. Back then, he was recovering at his new trailer, where he was living with his uncle. Eddie was always getting visits from his friends and Steve.

“Yeah man, I really liked it and almost got it for myself” Steve joked, sitting next to the guy on the couch. “How are you recovering?”

It was really hard to talk about it then, they shared almost the same experience, so they knew exactly how it was to be almost eaten alive.

Day after day, they were hanging out and talking on the phone. They started to look forward to seeing and talking to each other, as much as sharing jokes and laughs. It didn't matter if it was about the event or something else.

“No way, man. This is your vest!” Steve couldn't even hide he was surprised by Eddie's gesture. It was more meaningful than he thought it was.

“Yeah, you said you liked it, and it honestly looks good on you” He teases, leaving the guy with flushed cheeks. Eddie smirked and watched as the other one dressed the vest over the sweater he was wearing.

“You're not wrong, though” Both of them laughed as Steve playfully spun around.

They stared at each other for a few seconds, eyes focused on both faces. The music outside was a blur, the room suddenly became a little warmer.

The host broke the flirtation and smiled. “Can you help me out with something in the kitchen?” He asked suddenly, but Eddie just nodded.

Clueless of what it was, he looked around the kitchen island, not having any idea of what kind of help he was looking for.

“What the hell do you want, Harrington? There's nothing here” He let out a scoff, watching as Steve grinned, biting the inside of his cheeks.

He looked up, and Eddie followed his gaze, eyes on a mistletoe hanging above them.

“Oh… Are you sure you want-”

Steve cut him off, he didn't want Eddie to have second thoughts about his decision, so he nodded. “Yeah”.

Before his friend could come up with anything else, he planted a soft kiss on Eddie's lips. His ringed fingers tugged on a few strands of the nape of Steve's neck, making him shiver under the careful touch.

He actually didn't know what to do next. Clearly, Steve didn't have as much attitude as the other one has. The only thing he thought about was cupping Eddie's jaw. And man, did the curly haired guy like it.

It was sudden, different and good. So good. It was light, but warming to the touch, it felt right. It didn't have malice, obviously, but it made him feel something building up inside his body.

Steve felt a spark under his skin, he felt like a struck of lightning was running through his veins.

They spent a couple of minutes only savoring each other's lips before Robin showed up, carefully walking through the living room, watching her friends share their first kiss.

She cleared her throat feeling nervous about how their reaction would be and stared as both of them took a moment to break the kiss.

“Uh… I'm sorry, but Jonathan wants all of us to take a picture together. You're both required” She said, already spinning around ready to leave them alone.

Steve yelled her name, and she stopped by her tracks, looking at them once again.

“It's fine. You don't need to be embarrassed” He reassured and Eddie wrapped one of his arms around the man's waist.

“I'm sorry, I thought you guys wouldn't like to be seen exchanging saliva” Both of the guys snorted at her statement, and she felt lighter.

“Rob, don't worry about that. It would've happened anytime” Eddie earned a taunted slap on his ass from Steve and they all laughed.

They all gathered together for the picture Jonathan was about to take. He set up the timer and positioned himself next to Nancy and Will.

They were all busy fighting to get in the shot, not even noticing how close Eddie and Steve were. They were smelling each other's colognes as their skin were touching while their arms were rubbing against each other.

Five seconds before the shot, Steve turned his head to face the man next to him. “Merry Christmas, Ed. I'm glad you're with us today”.

“I'm glad to be here with you, especially” He said. Before they could look at the Polaroid camera, the flash went on.

A few minutes later and they were all talking about how great the picture turned out. Only then making sure to point out how Steve and Eddie weren't looking at the camera. Instead, they were staring at each other, their faces with a tender smile and a new history for them to talk about.

From that day on, they knew they were doomed. One, because their friends won't let the fact that they were madly in love with each other. And two, because it was impossible to not like each other.

[nabulous]

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[cottonlemonade]

[closed] Welcome to my Movie Night!

Ahoy everyone! 🌟 👻

First of all, thank you so so so much for surpassing 9 0 0 followers! (my jaw has yet to be picked off the floor) You are all so appreciated and I'm so happy that you like my stories enough to come back for more 🥹

It’s been a hot minute since I did a request game so here is a little October mini event, that I plan to finish before Halloween 🎃

For most of you this is probably old news (It’s great to see you again!), but for all the lovely newcomers (welcome!), here is how it works. Using my inbox you would let me know what your movie visit looks like:

movie (setting) + popcorn flavor (genre) + your costume (setting) with [character name]

i.e.:

- “I want to watch Hocus Pocus and grab some caramel popcorn dressed as a princess with Suna” would get you a fluffy story about spending a rainy day inside with husband Suna

- “I will watch Goosebumps, have pumpkin-spice popcorn and come dressed as a traffic cone with Atsumu” would get you a fluffy-spicy story about you and your crush Atsumu at a Halloween Party

* Those of you who don’t find anything with the prompts I provided, can make up your own by coming dressed as a pirate! 🏴‍☠️ Like so:

- “I’m gonna watch The Nightmare Before Christmas and have some sweet’n’salty popcorn while dressed as a pirate with Tsukki! My prompt: […]” will get you a fluffy-angsty story with your boyfriend Tsukki and your own prompt

- just like last time you can also add the customization to the existing costumes (prompts) i.e. pirate tomato and here you could let me know if you have something more specific for your costume shopping extravaganza in mind - please keep them as short/“vague” as possible so that I have some creative wiggle room 🪱🫶🏻

As always, feel free to mix and match the settings, genres and prompts however you like and keep in mind that the stories will all be x chubby!Reader and, unless requested differently, the default pronouns will be female 🌱 you can also just come say Hi or ask something you're curious about! 🫶🏻🌟

Masterlist || About Me

dividers are from me 🐠

[crescenthoax]

a nightmare before Christmas • pt3

🎄or an Annika, Floris, Willa and targtowers Christmas tale🌟

Part one

Part two

Parth three

Summary: Aemond, Daeron, Aegon and Helaena had different things planned for Christmas, but one same fate: their father’s old cabin.

Basically an i’m never gonna love again christmas modern AU because we need to spread some joy on these times and I wanted to write something fun. Mainly centred around Aegon x Female OC.

This is part 3/3.

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟 

Floris looks at Annika, tucked under the sheets of Helaena's enormous bed, clinging to them as if they shield her from the outside world. “I can't believe you're not coming to the Christmas Eve dinner.” 

“I feel sick,” she responds, keeping the blankets over her. “And my ankle hurts; I can't wear heels.” 

“That's not a valid excuse,” Floris insists, sitting on the bed next to her friend. “Hey, everything okay?” 

“Yes, of course. Just don't want to dine, that's all.” 

“But we worked so hard to prepare this dinner!” Helaena protests. 

Then Annika uncovers herself. Her nose is slightly red, and her eyes are a bit swollen, but she disguises it with tangled hair falling over her face. “You made sandwiches with potato chips.” 

“I made three different kinds of sandwiches?” Hel replies as if it were obvious. 

“Yes, ham and cheese, a questionable tomato at the back of the fridge, and probably expired pastrami.” 

“Did something happen to you?” Helaena asks, a bit concerned and suspicious. “Did Aegon make you angry or something?” 

She thinks for a moment. Unable to piece together the story in her mind after what he confessed. She feels betrayed, a bit lost, too distressed. Initially thought she would spend the rest of the days in bed until they could eventually leave, but there's another doubt gnawing at her. 

“Did you know about my mom's illness before I found out?” She asks her friend. Not accusatory, Helaena understands that very well, but in a confused way. 

Helaena sits on the bed next to Floris, furrowing her brow. “What are you talking about? I thought your mother –“ 

“Aegon knew,” she blurts out as an explanation. “Your mother told him, and he never told me. He always knew she was going to die and never told me.” 

Floris and Helaena exchange a glance of sadness. Floris gently strokes her hair and sighs. 

“It wasn't something Aegon had to tell you, I think,” she offers, very gently. “But where did that come from? Did he tell you?” 

Annika nods. 

“Why?” 

“He was drunk,” she quickly lies. “And it turns out my mother told him not to come near me because he would hurt me. That's why he didn't want to be my escort for the debutante ball, I believe.” 

“That doesn't sound like your mother,” Floris says, puzzled. “I mean... Aegon was always a mess, but she trusted him. She always wanted him to be your escort, practically from the day you were born.” 

“Yeah, it doesn't make sense. Why would your mother say that? And why would Aegon tell you now?” 

She smiles sadly. “I guess our rivalry got out of hand, and now he wanted to genuinely hurt me. I don't know.” 

Helaena nods her head angrily and stands up. “Well, it doesn't make sense! And Aegon can't just tell you those things without giving an explanation. He's an adult, and it's time for him to face the consequences of his own actions. You're going to the dinner, looking more beautiful than ever, and we'll find out the rest of the story. I'm sure there's more.” 

“How are we going to do that?” Floris asks. “If Aegon hasn't told her everything...” 

“We'll make him tell. We'll find out what happened on the night of the debutante ball, this time, the truth. I know my brother; he can be a drunk and thoughtless, but he's anything but violent. What happened that night always felt off. We need to learn the truth so that we all get closure,” Helaena indicates, and Annika sighs. “If Aegon has a chance to redeem himself, I think he deserves it. But first, he'll have to suffer.” 

Helaena walks to the closet and rummages through it while Annika covers herself with the sheets again. 

“Oh! It's the perfect occasion for the red dress,” Floris says, shaking her above the sheets. “Come on! Make him suffer.” 

“You guys are pimping me out,” Annika complains, her voice muffled and distorted as her face is covered by a pillow. Helaena and Floris grab her arms to unearth her from the pile of blankets and pillows. “I don't feel like wearing the red dress, especially not for eating stale sandwiches.” 

Floris jumps up and leaves the room, while Annika settles back on the bed. After a few minutes in which Helaena still holds the red dress, also known as the best piece in Annika's wardrobe, Floris returns with Daeron, who has an unbuttoned shirt at the neck and trousers on. He isn’t ready for dinner yet. 

“What's going on? I thought you couldn't climb stairs, what are you doing here?” Daeron asks, then looks at his sister, who shrugs, and Floris nods. 

“He jumped up here,” Floris explains. “And now, she doesn't want to go to the Christmas dinner.” 

“What are you talking about? How can you not go?” He asks confused. “Helaena gave Logan one of Aemond's suits, and we're getting dressed just for you. What's happening?” 

“She's sad,” the word drags on Helaena's tongue playfully, and she shudders with embarrassment at hearing it. 

“I'm not sad!” She despairs. “I'm tired.” 

“You're never too tired for any event involving the red dress,” Daeron wonders, and sits on the side of the bed. “Hey, come on. I get that we all had very different plans on how to spend our Christmas, but we're here now, and that has to count for something, right?” 

“But...” 

“Commmmme on!” He insists, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her. “It won't be fun if you don't attend. I'll make you a fancy invitation drawing if that's what it takes.” 

She rolls her eyes. “Fine. I'll go. But you're carrying me down the stairs.” 

Daeron winks at her. “I'll be back in fifteen minutes.” 

“So, we have work to do,” Floris says, grabbing her makeup case. 

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟 

“It's not an optional dinner,” Aemond repeats, rubbing his temples. Aegon is sprawled on his bed, munching on a bag of Cheetos while watching old episodes of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. “Would you turn that off and pay attention? Helaena was very specific. You need to get dressed.” 

“Why? We came here to relax and get away from our family. Sorry if the idea of dinner with them doesn't excite me again,” he says, taking another handful of Cheetos into his mouth. He laughs when Scott appears on the screen. “God, I love that guy.” 

“You love that guy because he's just like you,” Aemond sighs. “What's the problem?” 

“No problem. I've realized that I'm perfect, and it's everyone else around me who has issues,” he playfully grumbles while stretching on the bed and trying to push his brother out of his room. “Now, it's time for you to leave.” 

Aemond takes Aegon's wrists and moves him aside. “Get your greasy Cheetos–fingers off my shirt. It's clean.” 

The older brother looks at him for a few seconds and then lets out a sigh. He shrugs and gives him the typical look he always gives when letting him know he's ruined the fun, only for Aemond to drop his guard so he can embed his orange-stained hand in his brother's white shirt. 

Aemond lets out something close to a feminine scream upon seeing Aegon's handprint. He smacks him on the head harder than intended. “That was my last ironed shirt!” 

“It looks like you'll have to choose: wrinkles, Cheetos or dining naked,” Aegon smiles evilly, shaking his head to shake off the sensation of the hit and pretending that Aemond didn't almost grant him a one-way ticket to meet God for Christmas. “Now lose yourself.” 

“Not coming to dinner is not an option,” his brother warns him. “Something's wrong. You're going to tell me what, or are you going to keep pretending you haven't downed a quarter of a bottle of wine?” 

He doesn't want to say it. He doesn't want to let it out, but he doesn't know if it's the alcohol or that his brother's hit has rebooted his operating system and loosened his tongue because with an unusually casual tone and almost indifference, he blurts out, “I slept with Annika.” 

And it actually comes out with a connotation that is not the one he intended. As if he doesn't care that he did it. As if he's avoiding it. 

Then Aemond hits him again. Much softer, because this time, he didn't really hurt him, so he doesn't deserve it. But he does deserve the hit for being an idiot, of course. 

“Have you gone crazy?” his brother asks, rubbing his temples. “How can you be so stupid? When was this, last night? Is that why Annika wanted to leave?” 

“Huh? No, not really. We've been sleeping together for a while. First time around three years ago, and then whenever we feel like. This past months it got overwhelmingly serious. We’ve been seeing each other all around the world, like, illicit.” 

“You? Sleeping with someone consistently for months? You, who won't even let our driver take you to see someone if the drive lasts more than 20 minutes? Flying from San Francisco to New York to sleep with Annika?” Aemond raises an eyebrow. 

“Not that much,” he explains, contemplating the past few months for a brief moment. “Sometimes we flew to other states, sometimes to Europe. South America once, even. That's not important here.” 

“I think that's exactly what's important here, Aegon.” 

“It's not a big deal. We had a fight in the spring and didn't see each other after that. She didn't go home, neither did I, and obviously, we wanted to avoid each other so much that we both ended up stuck here,” Aegon explains, rubbing his eyes in frustration. “And now, she's here making all sorts of demands...” 

“Well, of course, she'll make demands. She's been in love with you since we were kids,” his brother tells him. 

Aegon rolls his eyes. “She's not in love with me.” 

“And why do you think she flew around the world to see you? What, do you think you have a magical dick?” 

“The sex is good,” Aegon quickly says and smiles. “I mean, it's really good. The best. And yes, my dick is usually irresistible.” 

“Have you considered that you have good sex because you love her, and she loves you?” 

“It's supposed to be you hitting me and telling me that out of all of Helaena's friends, Annika is off-limits, and we shouldn't have done that, and we messed up, and it's a bad idea, and we're going to ruin everything.” 

Aemond blinks, amused. “I would say that if you weren't in love with her. Annika keeps you in line. You keep her humble. It works.” 

“I can't spend the rest of my life hoping Annika will fix me,” Aegon grumbles. “And I don't love her. And even if I did, she doesn't want anything to do with me.” 

“Why? What did you do?” 

Aegon sighs. “I told her the truth. That her mother didn't want me near her, that we couldn't be together because she once told me it would hurt her if I, of all people, hurt her daughter.” 

“That's twisted,” Aemond murmurs, suddenly getting serious. 

“I know, so –“ 

“What's twisted is that you use her dead mother as an excuse not to be with her, Aegon. If you can't handle your feelings, face them yourself. You know how sensitive the holidays are for her. How could you say something like that to her?” 

“Because I thought that way, she would understand that we can't be together.” 

His brother hits him again, a bit harder than the second time. 

“You're a pig.” 

“I know.” 

“And still, Freya loved you a lot,” Aemond adds. “As much of a disaster as you were, she wouldn't have entrusted Annika to anyone else. Screw Dalton Greyjoy; you should have gone with her to the debutante ball. That's what she would have wanted. You know that.” 

“And why would she tell me otherwise?” 

“She was trying to get you to find something that would make you not want to hurt yourself, perhaps?” Aemond suggests, a bit resentful in his tone. “Because it seems like the rest of us have never been worthy of you even trying.” 

“Oh, don't give me that nonsense now. You know I try.” 

“You planned an escape from our family. On Christmas 

“And here you are with me. What's your point?” 

“Do you know why I came?” Aemond questions, giving him a shove on the shoulders that leaves him sitting on the bed, somewhat dazed. The action isn't violent, just authoritative. “Because Mum asked me to make sure you didn't kill yourself on the snowy road. To make sure you didn't overdose, and we found your body weeks later. Mum doesn't know how you are in San Francisco. She doesn't even know why you're in San Francisco. No one knows what you're doing. So don't pretend we came here for me; we all know we came here for you.” 

Aegon crosses his arms and avoids his brother's gaze. “You're tough” 

“Yes, I am. And I'm right.” 

“I'll find myself dead before admitting you're right.” 

“Admit that I'm right, and I'll let you skip the dinner.” 

Aegon stands up, reluctantly. “So, what are we having tonight?” 

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟 

Aegon looks at the silver tray in the centre of the table. Helaena has truly gone the extra mile to make the enormous table look like it's out of a tale, with a white tablecloth, decorations, candles, fine china, and matching glasses. One would expect that under the tray, there would be a turkey or any dish that matches the decoration. 

But it's a tower of sandwiches. 

There are other snacks and a couple of salads of questionable origin. But Helaena made them look beautiful. 

“Well done, Hel,” Aegon says, putting an arm around his sister's shoulders while holding his glass with the other. He gives her a chaste kiss on the forehead. “It looks very nice.” 

“You're drunk, aren't you?” 

“I was. Now I’m just hangover,” Aegon says. He's wearing a dark green sweater and black pants, and he looks at Aemond with his white shirt, to which he tried to hide Aegon's Cheeto-stained fingerprints by putting on a tie, making him look ridiculous. “You look dishevelled. What do you think, Hel?” 

Helaena has put on a silk blue dress that reaches mid-calf and has various figures embroidered in silver thread: suns, moons, stars, and various insects. It's something only she would wear, and she carries it so gracefully that it looks even more expensive than it is. 

“Why are you wearing a dirty shirt?” she asks, disgusted. 

“I didn't... You know what?” He tries to calm himself down, unable to be anything other than kind to his sister. “Forget it.” 

“I can walk from here,” Annika tells Daeron, who holds her arm and insists on guiding her to the dining room. Floris holds her other arm. When they enter the dining room, the blonde smiles. “Wow. You really overdid it, Helaena.” 

Aegon lets go of his sister when Annika sets her eyes on them and just takes a long sip, trying not to look at her directly as if she were Medusa. 

“I chose the tablecloth,” Daeron proudly says. 

Aemond elbows Aegon and crouches to whisper to him. “She's wearing the red dress. You're so screwed.” 

“I'm not screwed. Shut up,” he complains, pushing him lightly. Aemond laughs and goes to sit at the head, right where their father always sits. Aegon looks at Annika for a moment, and just the sight of the golden waves of hair in contrast to the red dress makes him sigh. “I'm screwed.” 

Aegon sits next to his brother. On his side are Willa and Daeron, and facing them, more by force and Helaena's order than by their own will, Annika sits. She has Floris on one side, Logan next to Floris, and Helaena on her side at the other end, right where their mother usually sits. They kept the table small to make it a bit more intimate. 

Aegon doesn't thank her about that at all. Annika doesn't even register him, often talking to Floris and even exchanging a word with Aemond, but not with him. 

“How's your ankle feeling?” Logan asks Annika. In the background, Helaena has put on terrible Christmas music that makes Aegon's head hurt, and everyone eats the sandwiches with a knife and fork to please her. Aegon thinks they look like lunatics. 

“Oh, it's fine. It hurts a bit, but it's okay. A bit swollen. I don't think it's as bad as I thought.” 

“You'll be walking normally before you know it.” 

“Are you a doctor or something?” Florid asks, confused. 

“I still have two more years to become one,” he explains. “I chose the internships in Aspen because my family is from here, and I've been away for a long time. But I attended college in Massachusetts.” 

“Oh, lucky,” Annika winks at Helaena discreetly, and Aegon rolls his eyes. “My uncle is a doctor.” 

“Of course. Lannister. I knew I recognized it from somewhere,” Logan snaps his fingers. “He's a master of cardiology.” 

“I wanted to study medicine,” Daeron interjects, and everyone looks at him strangely. He stops chewing the chips he put in his mouth and swallows quickly. “What?” 

“Since when? You hate blood. Aegon cut his finger once and you almost passed out,” Helaena laughs. 

“Well, I never said I was going to do it, damn,” he sighs annoyed. “Besides, business is easier, and it guarantees more than anything else.” 

“What about you, Willa? Are you in business too?” Helaena asks. 

She smiles. “No, biochemistry.” 

“And top of her class,” brags Daeron, putting an arm around her shoulders. Willa blushes slightly and shifts uncomfortably, with so many eyes on her. “She's fantastic. She has like, I don't know, five internship offers.” 

“Oh, so you're smart-smart,” Floris tells her, fascinated at the possibility of having someone else to play chess with besides Aemond. 

“Some might say. I consider myself diligent, nothing more,” Willa shrugs, the chiffon of the dropped sleeves of her pink dress moving gracefully. 

Aegon takes a sip of wine, as bored as he can be whenever the conversation turns to study or life plans. He sprawls in the chair and discreetly stretches, trying not to make noise, when accidentally his foot hits Annika's, and she startles. 

“Ouch!” 

“It was an accident,” he quickly excuses himself, seeing that all attention turned to her complaint. 

“Be careful next time,” she says, her voice cold and hard like the ice covering the pavement. She looks at her ankle with a wrinkled nose, and he shakes his head. 

Aemond kicks him under the table to stop him from making an inappropriate comment, and the hit takes him by surprise too. “Ouch.” 

“Do you think it's funny?” Annika asks, annoyed. 

“God, no. It's not funny,” he sighs. He tries to restrain himself, but he can't. “It's hilarious.” 

“Maybe we should move on to dessert,” Aemond insists, half trying to lighten the mood, half not wanting to eat the overdue pastrami sandwich. He's sure he got the worst one as punishment for Floris' incident. 

“Oh, but there's no dessert, just an orange jelly that Willa made,” Helaena says. “There wasn't much we could do, and Annika burned the cookies, so...” 

“I didn't burn them! You didn't tell me when to let you know to take them out of the oven!” 

“Wait, no dessert?” Daeron asks, outraged. “What are we going to eat tomorrow?” 

“The leftovers from Christmas Eve,” his sister responds plainly. He looks at the shredded sandwich on Aemond's plate, and he shudders. 

“So... Bread crusts? No Christmas pancakes?” 

“I'm sure tomorrow morning it will be viable to go out and get something decent to eat, and if not, we'll make an effort. My truck can probably handle most of the snowy road, and if the weather improves, they'll probably even make the Christmas parade, and we can watch it,” Logan says. “Worst case scenario, we'll eat cans of beans.” 

“At least we have plenty of alcohol,” Aegon mutters. “Christmas is saved for me.” 

“I can't believe it's Christmas, and there won't be any figgy pudding,” Daeron sounds disappointed. 

“I thought you hated figgy pudding,” Floris tells him, puzzled. 

“And I do. But it's tradition. Like gifts. We have no gifts. What are we going to do tomorrow morning?” 

“You can always sleep until noon and miss Christmas morning,” Annika jokes. “I didn't think you were so traditional, Daeron. Certainly not to escape your family and come spend it only with your girlfriend on Christmas.” 

“Let them screw in peace,” Aegon blurts out. 

“You're rude. We're at the table,” Annika crosses her arms, as if the previous night hadn't seen her on the kitchen counter. 

“We wanted peace and quiet, and we would have done all those things anyway. But now that we're all here... I don't know, it's weird. Because it doesn't feel like Christmas,” Daeron says. “Well, I don't think Christmas can feel like Christmas if I'm not trying to fall asleep in Annika's guest room because the party is boring.” 

Everyone laughs. 

“It’s not Christmas if Aegon doesn't pee on the tree and blame it on Sunfyre,” Aemond adds. 

“It was only once!” 

“And do you remember the Christmas when we locked ourselves in the basement to drink anise liquor, and your uncle Daemon found us, and we thought he was going to scold and accuse us, but he laughed at us because we were drunk on damn anise liquor?” Floris recalls, almost bursting into laughter at the memory of Helaena with her cheeks full of liquor, too scared to swallow the burning drink once her uncle found them. 

“I didn't know about that,” Daeron complains. 

“It was a long time ago. You were probably asleep in Annika's guest room,” Aemond recalls. 

“When was it?” 

“It was the first Christmas without my mom, I think,” Annika says, resting her chin on her hand, somewhat pensive, as if she had been lost in the memory. Floris puts a hand on her shoulder and squeezes it. 

“It was,” Aegon nods. 

He could never forget that night. The three girls had gone to sleep as drunk as skunks in the middle of the party, and he had put Aemond to bed with Daeron. Being slightly older than the rest, he knew how to handle and disguise his drunkenness a little better than them. He had wanted to go out to smoke on the balcony of the second floor and had seen Annika walking briskly to what had been her mother's painting studio, locking herself in there. He sat silently against the door and listened to her sobbing the rest of the night, too conflicted to try knocking on the door. 

He often wondered what would have happened if he had knocked on the door. If he had told her he was there with her, even if she didn't want to talk about it. Even if she just wanted to cry. 

But it is no use to ask himself that. 

“I know it wasn't the initial plan for anyone, but we're all here now, and I'm glad it turned out this way,” Helaena interjects. “I’m grateful, for all of you.” 

“I am too, Hel,” Floris smiles and raises her glass. “I want to propose a toast, for this... Christmas disaster. Even though it's Christmas Eve, and we're eating sandwiches with probably expired cold cuts thousands of miles from home, I wouldn't want to be with other people on Earth.” 

“For Hel's expired cold cut sandwiches and Willa's orange jelly,” surprisingly, Aemond says, raising his glass. Then he looks at Floris. “I'm grateful too, for all of you. Even the stranger over there.” 

Helaena shakes her head, amused. 

“And for Aegon's Cheeto-stained fingers on your shirt,” Daeron teases, to annoy him. 

“And Annika's sprained ankle,” Logan adds. 

“And may the Moschino fur boots rest in peace,” she sighs, also raising her glass. 

Everyone stands up to clink their glasses together. The sound of glass clashing, and everyone's laughter vibrates through the room. For a second, everyone seems to forget the dilemmas, tribulations that brought them there, the deceptions, and old secrets. For a second, they are a family again, the family they have chosen. It doesn't matter that dinner is sandwiches and orange jelly. 

And it works. For a second, it works. Until everyone sits back down, the joy still part of their faces, and Aegon takes the bottle of red wine while still standing. “Anyone want some?” 

It's Annika who holds her glass toward him from her seat. He looks at her, glimpsing the neckline of her dress from his angle as he pours the wine. Her cheeks are flushed from the wine, and her green eyes are highlighted with feline eyeliner. Her lips are still shiny even after eating. Blood-coloured nails hold the glass, and she even has a defiant look. Her hair is in a low ponytail. 

And the dress. He hates that dress. It's a ruby red shade that clings to her body, not in a vulgar way, from the beginning of her breasts to the hips, and it reaches her knees a bit looser. Shoulders and collarbones are evident, and it has two straps that fit on her arms. He has seen that dress several times. He has wanted to tear off that dress every time. 

This time is no different. 

“Aegon, the wine,” Annika warns him. 

He snaps out of his stupor at her click. He takes the glass he has poured too much when the wine spills over his hands and even to the elbow, and drops fall on his mother's white tablecloth. He curses, almost embarrassed. 

“Oh, shit,” he says, taking his napkin and trying to clean up the mess he made on the tablecloth. Daeron tries to stop him when he sees that he seems to be spreading the stains, and Aegon doesn't stop. Among the decorations, he knocks over Willa's water glass, splashing it on her skirt. She recoils startled at the cold. “Oops, shit. I'm sorry. Let me...” 

“It’s okay,” Willa tells him, and Aegon tries to clean up the water that drips from the tablecloth to the floor when he knocks over a candle, and the tablecloth takes a moment to catch fire. 

“Aegon!” Helaena scolds him, getting up from the chair quickly. “Do something!” 

“Oh, shit. Oh,” Aegon panics and tries to blow out the flames that have engulfed more than half of the table, but it doesn't work. 

Anxiety courses through him as everyone starts shouting for him to do something, so he takes off the sweater and tries to extinguish the flames. 

The sweater catches fire too. Daeron forces him to let it go and burn with the rest of the things. Then, before anyone can react, Floris appears with a fire extinguisher from who knows where and manages to put out the flames. 

A graveyard silence falls in the room. Annika clings to Floris' arm. Willa has a hand on her chest while Daeron covers his mouth in disbelief, and Logan has his hands on Helaena's shoulders. 

The sound of Aemond's blinking clock is the only thing that can be heard. Then he clicks his tongue. “Merry Christmas, by the way.” 

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟 

Everyone stayed to clean up after that fiasco. Even Annika, with her bad foot, forced herself to walk a bit and throw the remnants of the tablecloth ashes into the trash. 

“Hey,” Annika calls to Helaena, when both are alone in the kitchen. She leans on the counter. “What's going on with you and Logan?” 

“Why are you asking?” Hel questions, pretending not to care. 

“Because you've been with him practically since he arrived, and I know you,” she accuses. “You've always been special when it comes to guys. But not with him. You like him” 

“Maybe...” 

“You love him.” 

“Well...” 

“You want to have sex, get married, have seven kids, and be a trophy wife with a veterinarian on a retreat farm,” Annika jokes. Helaena laughs. “I have to tell you; I always thought I would lose Floris before I lost you.” 

“You're acting like I'm getting married tomorrow,” she rolls her eyes. 

“Well, when you love, you love in a very special and deep way. I wouldn't be surprised.” 

Hel grabs her hand. “You'll have that someday.” 

“What do you mean?” Annika asks, confused. 

“The conventional life. You know. Marriage, kids, love. You'll have that someday,” Helaena replies. She shifts uncomfortably. “You don't have to be always alone.” 

And yet it seems like my fate. Always the wrong one, never the one. Always the “almost”. Always the nights and never the mornings. 

“I know that,” Annika downplays. “But we're not talking about me. We're talking about you.”

“Well, speaking of you...” 

Annika straightens up when Helaena turns around, muttering something unintelligible. Then she shows her the empty fire extinguisher. 

“What do you want me to do with that?” 

“Would you mind going to the service cabin to get the replacement?” 

“The service cabin? Do you mean that horrible shed at the end of the garden where we once locked your father in for a whole night? That horrible shed?” 

“Come on, you're not going to tell me it still scares you, right? Besides, they've fixed it. The floorboards no longer creak. Please, bring the other extinguisher to put this one in its place, and my parents will never know what we did here,” Helaena pleads. Annika rolls her eyes and takes it. 

“Of course, I'm not afraid," she admits. "But why me?” 

“Because everyone else has other tasks. And you yourself said your ankle felt better 

She protests but fulfils her friend's request, unable to see any of the brothers in trouble for setting the table on fire. She throws a wool coat over her shoulders and walks outside through the kitchen door. 

The service shed is located about fifty meters from the house, at the other end of the snow-covered yard. She makes the journey with a little difficulty, some snowflakes falling gently on her skin and melting instantly. Although the yard is turning into hardened snow, Aemond has cleared the path because he spent a large part of the afternoon making the round trip. The piled-up snow on the sides of the cobblestones betrays him. 

She blows on her frozen hands as she moves her legs lightly to avoid losing warmth before putting her hand on the frozen handle, pulling with some force, opening the door with difficulty. The squeak is tremendous and almost feels like a bad omen. 

It's a fairly large shed since it used to be the maid's quarters when they bought the house, but they never used it as such because it was never in a condition for anyone to sleep there. At least, as Helaena said, they had repaired the floor. She tries to turn on the light, but it's only a dim light that flickers tiredly. She hurriedly leaves the extinguisher aside and looks for the other with her eyes among the clutter of things. She stretches when she finally finds the device on a shelf, leaning all her weight on the uninjured ankle. 

“What are you doing here?” Aegon's voice surprises her, and the extinguisher slips from her hands in shock, hitting the floor with a bang. 

“Are you crazy? I could have gotten hurt,” she says annoyed, watching as it almost hits her healthy foot. Aegon carries a box of things with both hands and kicks the door closed to leave the box on a shelf. “What are you doing here?” 

“I just asked you the same thing,” he says, sighing with effort when he finally puts the box on the shelf. “Who would have thought Helaena had a colonel's skills when it comes to cleaning. She even caught you; I see.” 

She raises an eyebrow and chuckles. She heads for the exit without even saying a word, and Aegon growls again. 

“Are you still angry?” 

“Wonder what gave me away.” 

“Besides the dress to make you look good, and you've ignored me all night...” 

“I'm not ignoring you. I just have nothing to say to you, and you've made it clear that you don't either. We have nothing to talk about, Aegon.” 

“We were friends before, Annika. We were friends before being...” 

“Before being what? Your world-traveling booty call?” She cuts him off, with a hand on the latch. “You know what? I don't want to hear it.” 

Aegon hurriedly puts a hand on the door and closes it when she tries to open it. “Wait.” 

“I don't want to talk to you!” She yells, trying to open the door again. Aegon puts both hands on the wood and pushes outward while she pulls on the latch with all her weight. “Move!” 

“Just listen to me for a second!” 

“I don't want to hear you! Every time you say something, you hurt me even more!” 

“And yet you think you and I would have worked?” 

“Do stop bothering me!” Annika shouts at him, pulling on the latch again with all her strength. “For God's sake, Aegon, how much do you weigh?” 

He opens his mouth to answer, but remains silent when Annika staggers backward and is left with the latch in her hand, while they hear the latch from the outside falling to the ground. 

Aegon nods, lips tight. “That was your fault.” 

“My fault?” She yells at him. “No. The last thing I want is to be stuck here with you. Go get something to open the door. Helaena! Aemond! Daeron! Willa! Floris! Logan!” 

“Oh, great. Only the bears can hear you, Annika,” Aegon mocks her, and the wood bangs on the door. “Relax. Move. I'll open it.” 

“By kicking it?” She asks, arms crossed. 

“Of course, what do you think?” 

“You're... You know what? Go ahead. Kick the door open.” 

She steps aside as Aegon moves all his limbs as if he wanted to warm up his muscles whose only recreation is going up the steep street of his apartment when he returns from buying cigarettes on the corner at three in the morning. He prepares, takes a little distance, and hits the door with all his might. 

Annika smiles satisfied when she sees him on the floor, in pain, holding his leg and complaining like a child. “Are you done? Can I shout for the others again?” 

“That would be fine,” he whispers, almost breathless, straightening up to sit on the floor, almost defeated. “I don't think any of them have gone to bed yet, so shout loudly.” 

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟 

Daeron laughs as he positions Willa on his lap, both sitting on individual sofas. Aemond and Floris are next to each other, a little too smiley from the alcohol intake, and Helaena is sitting on the floor beside Logan's legs as he holds a guitar on his lap. 

“Hel, you're a terrible singer!” Floris mocks. 

“What about you? You sound like a wounded wolf!” Helaena responds, offended. Willa laughs too. 

“Come on, play another one!” Daeron asks Logan. 

“Well, only if you insist,” he replies, and starts playing the first chords of a song without saying which one. 

Incredibly, it's Aemond who takes a sip of his wine and guesses it first, singing the first verse. “Such a feeling's coming over me, there is wonder in most everything I see...” 

“Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes, and I won't be surprised if it's a dream,” Willa continues, cheerful. And of all, she might have the least hoarse voice. 

“Everything I want the world to be, is now coming true especially for me,” Daeron continues, using the tip of a small beer bottle as a microphone. 

“And the reason is clear, it's because you are here, you're the nearest thing to heaven that I've seen,” Floris and Helaena sing together, while the blonde moves her arms in the closest thing to a dance she has. 

“I'm on the top of the world looking down on creation!” They all sing this time, including Logan. “And the only explanation I can find is the love that I've found ever since you've been around… Your love's put me at the top of the world!” 

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟 

“How long have we been here?” Aegon asks, exhausted. 

Annika checks her watch. “Ten minutes.” 

“What are they doing in there that they can't hear your screams?” he complains. “I want to get out of here. It's cold and creepy.” 

“I don't know, but they're probably having a better night than me,” she says, leaning against the dusty shelf with a bit of disgust. “I hope you're happy.” 

“This isn't my fault. If you had stayed and listened to what I wanted to tell you, you wouldn't have broken the damn latch,” Aegon reproaches again. 

“Did it ever occur to you that I don't want to hear what you have to say because you messed with the one thing you know hurts me the most?” she says, wrapping herself even more in her wool sweater. 

He lowers his head, feeling a bit guilty. Suddenly, everything Aemond told him feels too heavy. “Annika…” 

“How could you?” She retorts suddenly. “How could you keep something like that to yourself? For years? How could you not tell me?” 

“What did you want me to say?” He asks, standing up to her level. “I'm asking you seriously. What was I supposed to tell you? I wasn't supposed to tell you I knew she was sick. And I certainly wasn't supposed to tell you she didn't want me near you.” 

Annika laughs. “You weren't supposed to use it as an excuse to not be with me. It's not fair that you're doing this to me. My mother has nothing to do with you being a mess who can't get his priorities straight.” 

“Do you think I don't have my priorities straight?” He asks, starting to feel more annoyed than concerned for her, who clearly is fine. 

“Please, I know you don't have your priorities straight. You dropped out of college, live in San Francisco on your father's money doing God knows what, and push everyone out of your life so they won't see that you're nothing more than a complete disaster.” 

“Oh, who are you kidding, trust-fund princess? Hey, guess what, your mother dying doesn't give you a free pass to be a complete jerk with everyone when things don't go your way. Grow up a bit.” 

She furrows her brow, annoyed. “Your father preferring his grandchildren over you doesn't give you the right to be a jerk either, but here you are.” 

Aegon runs his hands over his face and stifles a scream. “God! You're fucking crazy. You shouldn't be here. None of you should be here!” 

“Well, tough luck, champ. We're here trapped, literally and figuratively. Deal with it.” 

Annika crosses her arms again and turns her back, but Aegon hasn't finished. 

“No, but seriously. You being here has ruined everything. Floris and Aemond fought over your stupid little game…” 

“Oh, come on! As if I made Aemond sleep with someone else!” 

“And if they hadn't been here, I'd probably have someone sucking my cock right now.” 

“Is that all the fuss? That no one has sucked you off?” She asks, putting her hands on her hips. “I'd do it if you weren't such an idiot, just a reminder.” 

He bites his inner cheek, holding back the urge to shout. 

“You… You're insane, Annika. You were yelling at me two minutes ago, and now you want to suck me off.” 

“I never said I wanted to, just that I would.” 

Aegon blinks. “You would? I mean… Now?” 

“You lost the privilege of asking me to suck you off when you threw my dead mother's name into this mess,” she says, crossing her arms. 

“And if I eat you out?” 

“If you come near me, I'll bash your head in with those rusty golf clubs,” Annika points to them in a corner. Aegon smiles. “I’m going to ask you a question.” 

“Thanks for the heads up.” 

“Are you never going to settle down, or do you just not want to settle down with me?” She asks, leaving modesty behind. Aegon doesn't seem willing to answer. “And if it's not me, then I want to know why it's not me. Why not me?” 

“Anything else you want to know?” He mocks. 

“Why did you drop out of college? What's in San Francisco that made you move there? Why did you leave?” 

Because I want you far away, far away. As far away as possible. I want you to forget about me. 

“I don't think I can settle down. You know how I am.” 

“I knew how you were when we were teenagers. We fucked for the first time three years ago, and since then, you've left but always come back to me. And you want to convince me that I'm just another of your girls?” 

He groans. “We have the best sex, that's it.” 

“And you know why.” 

“You sound like Aemond,” he says. “Who, by the way, knows. About you and me.” 

Annika walks toward him carefully and sits astride. Aegon knows she's testing him, but he's also sure she wants to sit and doesn't want to ruin her clothes by leaning against any dirty places. 

“I don't care if Aemond knows,” she tells him. The wool cardigan slips off one shoulder, and he tries to keep his eyes anywhere else but her cleavage. “Did you tell him?” 

“Yes.” 

“Why?” 

“Because I wanted him to punch me and tell me how out of my reach you are and that I made a mistake.” 

“And he didn't tell you that?” 

“He said other things,” he cuts her off quickly. “But, you know what I think is funny? That you're here playing a game like a stupid teenager, trying to get me to say I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you when you never thought to tell me that yourself. Because you couldn't bear that it might not be a reciprocated feeling, so you haven't even thought about how you really feel about me. You just want me here to tell you I love you and fix you. I know you. You're an expert at sucking the life out of those around you, and I won't let you do that to me.” 

“I can't do that. You have no life, nothing I could suck.” 

“I have a dick that could use it.” 

“You're making me cringe,” she shakes off a pretend shiver. The dress fabric has ridden up to the middle of her thighs, and he puts his hands on her waist, pressing forcefully to draw her closer. “What's in San Francisco?” 

Aegon kisses her, holding the back of her neck so she won't pull away. Maybe he wants to shut her up, and maybe he wants to kiss her, sometimes he doesn't even understand it himself. But his pants feel tight, and she's at his mercy and willing, because she kisses him again. Palms against his chest, clutching the shirt and crumpling it between her impatient fingers. 

“I want to fuck you right here,” he whispers against her lips. “One last time, please.” 

“One last time? And then what?” She asks, arching her back slightly to bring her chest closer to his. “And then you'll disappear forever?” 

“Maybe.” 

Annika removes his hands from her with some difficulty, creating some distance between their bodies. “It's hard.” 

“What's hard?” 

“Loving you,” she replies simply, her green eyes almost soaked. Aegon's lips part slightly in surprise, and soon he stops breathing. “It's hard and painful. And you only make it worse.” 

He doesn't know what to say. Suddenly, he's a little boy again who doesn't understand why his father doesn't celebrate his achievements and why his only company is the babysitters and why no one wants to do the science project with him—because he's the problem. 

There's something about it that shakes him to his core when she stands up, adjusts her dress, and the wool cardigan swallows her almost entirely, shielding her from his cruelty. He wants to say something, but he can't formulate the words. His mind is blank. 

“I…”  

“You wanted to hear it? Well, now you have,” she interrupts him, leaning against the wall on the other side of the shed. “I don't want to hear from you.” 

He blinks, dumbfounded, and after a few moments of silence, he finally lets out, “There's nothing in San Francisco.” 

“What are you talking about?” 

“San Francisco. There's nothing keeping me there. I'm not doing anything in particular either. I guess I'm just running away,” he says. “There's nothing of you there.” 

“Is that why you mail me my pink sweater? Because you had to move to a different country and a different city that had nothing to do with me?” 

“Basically.” 

“So, do you hate me?” 

“I don't hate you,” he responds. “And you're right. You always have been. I love you too.” 

Annika runs her hands through her hair in frustration and lets out a bitter laugh. “Are you kidding me?” 

Soon, they hear a noise coming from the door, and it opens to reveal Daeron with his hand on the doorknob he fixed from the outside. “There you are! We've been looking for you for a while. The doorknob broke and fell. Are you okay?” 

Their presence doesn't seem to matter to either of them. 

“You're driving me crazy,” Annika shoots at Aegon, walking out the door without even acknowledging Daeron's presence. 

“What's wrong with her?” the younger one asks, confused. 

“Not now,” Aegon replies, walking quickly and pushing his brother aside. Behind him, he hears the shed door close in the breeze. “Annika, wait.” 

“I'm tired of waiting for you,” she protests, her voice firm and cold. When she enters the house, her muscles relax in the warm atmosphere, and the others look at them curiously. 

“Where were you guys?” Floris asks with concern. “Why do you look dirty?” 

“Because Aegon broke the door, and we got stuck in the utility shed.” 

“Could you stop saying it was my fault?! I needed you to hear what I wanted to tell you, and you broke the doorknob!” 

Floris looks at Aemond confused, and he shrugs. 

“You kidnapped me in the shed! I wanted out!” 

“Okay, that's enough, it doesn't matter who broke it,” Helaena intervenes, putting her hands on Annika's cold shoulders. “What's going on? Why are you fighting now?” 

Annika crosses her arms. “You already know, Aegon knew about my mom's illness long before I did. All that time, he knew and didn't tell me anything about it. And apparently, her dying wish was expressed to him instead of me, her daughter. Isn't that funny?” 

Helaena hugs her tightly as if they were little girls again. Floris looks at Aegon appalled, while he clenches his fists. Logan and Willa shift uncomfortably in the room. 

“So... Is that true?” Floris dares to ask. Aegon nods sternly. “I mean... Annika, that's not his fault. It wasn't something he could tell you, I think.” 

“No, I know that… But what's macabre about the situation is that he uses it as an excuse to ruin my life, that he uses my mother as if her words were something sacred to him and acts like he respects her wishes when he's been fucking me for over three years!” Annika says. The room falls silent for a moment, and the air is tense. 

Daeron enters, shivering from the cold but with a smile. “Hey, you left me locked in the shed. Thank God I was able to fix it. What are you talking about?” 

“You two have been fucking... For three years?” Floris asks, surprised. 

“What!?” Daeron exclaims, looking at his brother. “You and Annika?” 

“It's not...” He begins to say, looking only at Helaena as if he owed her an explanation, but instantly falls silent when Annika laughs. Finally, he sighs. “Yes, Annika and I. I'm sorry. I really didn't want you to find out like this.” 

“No, he didn't want you to find out, period,” she adds. “He uses my mother as an excuse not to be with me, but that didn't stop him from showing up on the night of the debutante ball and ruining absolutely everything!” 

“I've had enough of this,” Aegon barks, approaching her almost dangerously and grabbing her arm tightly; his face inches from hers. “You want to know what happened that night? Everyone wants to know, right? I bet you do. You staged this whole show, so I'm going to tell you,” he says, letting go of her arm, trying to control the violence generated by the situation. “I beat Dalton Greyjoy not because I wanted to ruin your night or because I was drunk; in fact, I wasn't even drunk. I beat him up because you were a girl, and he was older, and I spent half an hour listening to him talk to his friends about everything he was going to do to you. And how after he finished with you, his friends could have you. That's right. He could sit next to you and act like a gentleman with plans to hurt you while I was on the side being villainized for not wanting to hurt you. And you know what? It's not fair. I was taking care of you. I have always taken care of you.” 

No one dares to speak after his revelation. Daeron frowns and scratches his neck, somewhat uncomfortable, then puts his hands on Willa's shoulders as she hugs her legs curled up on the sofa. Logan doesn't dare to breathe, and neither does Floris. 

Aegon steps back a few paces as if he needs to get away from all of them. 

“Aegon. Why didn't you ever say anything?” Helaena asks. 

“What use would it be? Annika would say that I was trying to ruin not only her life but her relationship. You wouldn't have believed me, none of you would’ve.” 

Annika laughs, and this time, she approaches him. “Aegon, after all we've been through, you really thought I would have believed Dalton Greyjoy over you?” 

He shrugs. “I didn't want you to get your hopes up. You were a bit foolish, and I wasn't exactly a knight in shining armour.” 

“Always so considerate of my feelings,” she says, rolling her eyes. “God, Aegon, you're... a fucking idiot.” 

“See? See how she is?” He addresses the rest and points at Annika. The only one who laughs is Helaena, who seems tempted by the whole situation, unlike the others who are uncomfortable but too involved. 

“I mean, you should have told me. And to be honest, I didn't need you to take care of me like that... I appreciate that you told me the truth, but you embarrass me.” 

“Well I lied to you; I was a bit drunk, yes,” he smiles, feeling the tension between them disappear. Then he remembers that everyone is watching them. “Would you guys mind?” 

“Um... No? We've been here listening for five minutes. We deserve to know how this ends,” Daeron complains. “Please, make it our Christmas gift.” 

“Fine,” Aegon says. “But then forget the air fryer I got you.” 

“That's what you got me for Christmas?” Daeron asks disgusted. “Forget it. Continue. Pretend we're not here.” 

Annika shakes her head and looks at Aegon again, almost pleadingly. “So. How is it going to end? Forget about my mother. Forget about Dalton Greyjoy. Just you and me.” 

“You wanted to hear me say that I love you, and you ran the moment I did. So, you tell me, how's it going to be?” 

“You love her!?” Daeron shouts. 

“Daeron!” Everyone yells at him. 

She squeezes her eyes shut tightly. “I'm willing to try. But if you're not willing, if you don't make an effort... it ends here, now. And I mean it.” 

Aegon has a lot to evaluate; he knows that. He has to learn not to run away, to face tense and uncomfortable situations just like she does. 

But if there's anyone who would make all these horrors more bearable, it's Annika. 

He laughs and pinches her cheeks. “Well, I have to admit you’re the best sex I’ve ever had. I can't lose that." 

“Ugh! You're so crude,” Annika protests, struggling to pull away from him, overwhelmed. “In front of everyone. Seriously, what's wrong with you? You're not right in the head.” 

“Of course not, and neither are you,” he teases, while trying to pull her closer. He squeezes her cheeks with one hand and plants a chaste kiss on her lips. There's a feeling that reminds him, though, that he still has to face Helaena's scrutiny, silently standing by the Christmas tree with an indescribable expression. “Hel?” 

“What?” She asks, confused. 

“Is this okay with you?” 

“Annika and you?” She asks, and he nods, still holding Annika around the waist. Helaena laughs. “It's a bit disappointing how uneventful it was, but, yes. I mean, you finally admitted it.” 

“But I...” 

“You're my brother, and she's my best friend. It’s like it was written in the stars, and, please, the only ones here who didn't know you two were sleeping together were Daeron and Floris.” 

“Hey!” They say in unison, and then look at each other and sigh. Daeron shakes his head. “Ah, why lie. She's right. I would have never seen it coming. I mean, I never imagined you two were in love.” 

“I knew,” Willa says, and her boyfriend looks at her puzzled. “Didn't you notice? Besides, the last time we were in San Francisco, Aegon lent me Annika's pink sweater. It was obvious.” 

Annika turns her head like the Exorcist and looks at Aegon with an expression bordering on the macabre. “You. Lent. My. Pink. Sweater?” 

“Please don't break up with me,” he sighs and gives her a kiss on the forehead. 

“It already beat the record for your longest relationship,” Aemond teases, and everyone laughs. 

“Alright, since we're confessing things... I have something to tell you,” says Helaena, approaching to take Logan's hand, who is sitting on the sofa. “He's my boyfriend.” 

Floris gasps in surprise. 

“Please tell me you're not moving to Aspen,” Annika pleads. 

“He doesn't live here in Aspen; we lied to all of you. We have been dating for months,” she says, carefree. “I wanted you all to meet him before everyone at home, wanted to meet Willa, have Aegon and Annika finally admit they love each other, and know what happened between Aemond and Floris. At first, I was going to propose hosting Christmas in New York, but I knew everyone would find an excuse not to come, so when I saw on Dad's credit card statement the flights Aemond and Aegon bought to Aspen, I convinced Annika and Floris to come. And I mentioned this place to Daeron several times during the weeks leading up to it, knowing he'd end up coming instead of going to London. And, hey! Everything worked out perfectly.” 

Everyone looked at each other, a little scared. 

“So... You knew we were all coming?” Aemond asks. 

“Basically, yes.” 

“And you two pretended not to know each other...” 

“Yes, exactly. The storm and getting stuck here were a coincidence. I wanted you to meet in a calm environment without preconceptions. And I sent you both to the shed, but the doorknob breaking was also a coincidence. It was fate, I think,” she explains. 

Aegon opens his mouth to say something but can't formulate words due to surprise. “Anything else?” 

“Oh, yes... I saw you and Annika together in France a few months ago. But I didn't say anything because Logan and I also went incognito.” 

She laughs and walks over to hug Helaena. “My beautiful, beautiful weirdo. I love you so much, but don't ever do something like this again.” 

“And you could have told us about him,” Floris also gets up to give her a hug. 

“There was never a right time; something always came up, and we really wanted to spend the holidays together. Introducing him at home when everything was a mess wasn't a viable option,” she replies, giving Floris's hand a squeeze. “I'm so sorry, guys, but I really wanted to bring you all together, and this was the only way I found. Are you mad?” 

Her voice is so sweet and gentle, and she's so Helaena that none of them can be angry. She knows it very well and is kind enough to at least apologize; she knows there will be no consequences. 

“Of course not, Hel. I really enjoyed being here with all of you...” Aemond begins to say. 

“Don't get sentimental on me now,” Aegon cuts him off, giving his sister friendly pats on the head. “Thanks, Hel. Even though we had stale sandwiches, thanks. Now, if you'll excuse me, I want to take a shower. I'm freezing and dirty.” 

“That’s a Christmas miracle, alright,” Floris teases. He gives her the middle finger. 

“I have a girlfriend now. I have to look presentable. She's truly neat.” 

Annika raises an eyebrow. “I don't remember you asking if I wanted to be your girlfriend.” 

“It's not necessary,” he says, and leans to support her body in his arms, carrying her like a princess. She wrinkles her nose. “Well, good night.” 

“I thought you were going to take a bath?” Daeron says. “It was too good to be true.” 

“Yes, I'm going to shower. She's coming with me. Enjoy yourselves.” 

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟 

In the two hours that Aegon and Annika have been in a relationship, he has realized that Annika doesn't joke when it comes to a shower. 

“You know,” he says, a towel wrapped around his hips as he finishes brushing his teeth and watches the girl apply lotion. “When I brought you to the shower, I was expecting some sex. You know. Like a honeymoon. Christmas shower sex.” 

She looks at him, her golden curls a bit darker and soaked. She's wearing a pink satin robe. “But look how cute you turned out with the cream bath. And I thought you liked my shower gel.” 

“I smell like lavender,” he says, indignant. “Don't get used to this.” 

“Why would it be so terrible to use shampoo, conditioner, and soap separately?” 

“I'm telling you, my 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner, and soap are fine. Cosmetics are just an industry that takes advantage of women to make money and destroy our planet.” 

“Alright, Mr. I use my family's private jet to pick up chicks.” 

“Those days are behind me,” he says, shaking wet strands of white hair to splash her. She scoffs, and he takes her by the waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. “I have my favourite girl with me.” 

“Wait, let me just...” Annika asks when he starts kissing her neck, tickling her. She shifts her shoulder restlessly and leaves her cream on the marble countertop when he unties the robe's knot and runs his hands over her body. “Aegon, stop. I need to dry my hair.” 

“But it's been so long,” he says, turning her around and cornering her against the counter. He helps her jump up and gets between her legs, opening the robe more. Annika smells like lavender, and he does too. It's even a bit comical. 

She takes him by the nape of his neck and pulls him to her lips, kissing him fiercely, as if seeking some kind of animalistic release. Annika hugs him tightly, pressing her naked chest against his, while Aegon's hands grip her thighs so firmly she's sure he'll leave a mark. 

She could cry. “I missed you,” she murmurs on his lips. 

He smiles mischievously, reaching her wet centre. She squirms every time he gives her the attention she needs, tracing small circles on her clit. 

“I need you so bad,” he gasps, feeling her tighten against his fingers. 

Then Annika experiences a moment of enlightenment and leans back. “Wait. I'm not on the pill.” 

Aegon blinks, as hard as he can. “Are you fucking kidding me?” 

“No, I stopped taking them since...” 

“I don't have condoms,” he curses, resting his forehead on her shoulder. 

“How do you not have condoms?” 

“No, I already used them,” he replies without thinking. She lets out a heavy sigh through her nose, and he raises his gaze a bit embarrassed. “I didn't know you were coming. You know I was trying to...” 

“I don't care,” she cuts him off, breathing a bit calmer but still agitated as if coming down from a moment of ecstasy. “Ask Daeron.” 

“Don't you think it's a bit humiliating?” 

“To Logan, then.” 

“Annika! I don't want to think about him having condoms. He's my sister's boyfriend.” 

She rolls her eyes. “I also have an older brother, and I doubt he'd make such a fuss when I tell him you're my boyfriend.” 

Aegon shudders, but a smile appears on his face. “I'm sure Rhys will love to hear the news.” 

“Your mother will be happy.” 

“Of course, she loves you more than she loves me,” he tells her and gives her a kiss on the cheek. “Listen, I could just...” 

“It's not going to happen. Get me condoms,” she orders, pushing him away from her body and tying the robe again. “Go, while I dry my hair.” 

“God, give me patience,” he murmurs, leaving the bathroom for his room to put on a change of clothes and lose all his dignity heading to his younger brother's room. 

He walks stealthily and knocks on the door a couple of times, swaying on the spot. Daeron opens the door, a bit surprised. “Hey, what's up?” 

“Here goes nothing, I guess... By any chance, do you have... You know...?” His brother looks at him impatiently, and he sighs. “I ran out of condoms.” 

“Oh,” he avoids laughing. “Wait a second.” 

He closes the door in Aegon's face, missing his nose by just a few millimeters. A few seconds later, he opens it again, only showing his head and extends his arm to give him a small box. “Have fun.” 

“Ribbed? Are you kidding me, Daeron?” Aegon sighs when he reads the box, putting his hand to his head. Listen, if I come back with this, Annika will make me sleep on the stairs, and I won't have sex. Don't you have something simpler?” 

“What do you think I am? A pharmacy? Get your own stuff,” Daeron mentions and closes the door in his face again. 

He returns to his room, almost dejected. He's had enough, and it doesn't even occur to him to knock on Aemond's door. He finds Annika with her hair tied up and folded over her head with a strange device, wearing the same pajamas from the night before. 

“Did you get the stuff?” 

“Um...” he tosses her the little box. She quickly reads and returns it the same way, shaking her head. 

“That is not going anywhere near me, let alone inside” she replies. “Sorry, champ. We can always do other things. Fun things.” 

“Like what?” He asks, tempted by the idea. Annika approaches him and pushes him onto the bed, straddling him. She gives him a kiss on the lips and moves to his ear. 

“Well, I could return the favour from the other night...” 

“God,” he almost pleads, in a tone of voice resembling a whine. His cock twitches beneath her, expectant, and Annika doesn't take much longer to kneel in front of him and play with the elastic of his pajama pants. “Annika, please do something already.” 

“Well. Tell me you love me first,” she teases, stroking him over the fabric. 

“I love you,” he says, leaning down to give her a kiss on the forehead. “You're the best, and you're the queen of the whole world and the universe.” 

“You know me so well,” she purrs before lowering his pants and taking him into her mouth. 

Aegon growls when she strokes the wet tip with her agile tongue, feeling like a teenager knowing he won't last long because she knows exactly what to do. How to take it all, how to sink her cheeks, how to use her hand, and how to caress other parts of him. 

Unconsciously, he tries to tangle his hand in her hair, and she slaps him and stops pleasing him. “Hey. No. I'm trying these heatless curls. It took me a lot.” 

“Are you kidding me?” he complains, furrowing his brow. “But...” 

"Shh, it’s fine," she hushes him, taking his hands and intertwining them with hers, using only her mouth. He groans impatiently, and it doesn't take much longer for him to release in her mouth. She takes every drop, and he doesn't even get a chance to say anything before Aegon has her pinned against the mattress, kissing her lips and making her laugh. 

“You're so...” he says but gets interrupted by a knock on the door. “Oh, fuck. And now what?” 

“Maybe it's Santa,” she jokes, hitting his arm to get him off her. Aegon adjusts his clothes, just like she does, and it's she who heads to the door. 

“If he doesn't have a box of condoms, tell him I'll kick his ass back to the South Pole through the chimney,” he says, settling on the bed. 

“North. Santa lives in the North Pole,” Floris corrects when Annika opens the door. She looks distraught, with a red nose and teary eyes. 

“Are you okay? What's wrong?” Annika asks, taking her arm and ushering her into the room. She strokes Floris's hair, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, talk to me...” 

Floris doesn't speak; she just bursts into tears and hugs Annika. 

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟 

It's late, and while everyone seems to be asleep, Aegon and Annika remain awake in silence. He shifts uncomfortably on the hard floor, sighing and raising his torso to observe Annika sitting against the back of her bed while Floris sleeps peacefully in her arms. He gave them some space as they spoke quietly, but then joined the conversation and told Annika she could stay there for the night. 

“Still awake?” He asks, although he knows she is. 

“It's hard to sleep,” she replies. “I really hate your brother.” 

“Do you think she'll be okay?” Aegon asks, referring to Floris. Annika carefully moves her from his arms to the other end of the bed, and when she returns to her place, he climbs into the bed on the other side and lies down on her. Annika looks at him tiredly. “What? It's my turn.” 

She rolls her eyes and runs her hand through his hair, adjusting it so he doesn't crush her chest. “She'll be fine, eventually. But I can't go to San Francisco with you when we leave here. She needs me right now.” 

“I understand,” he replies, lifting his head. “Are you going back to New York?” 

“I want Floris to settle in. Helaena is going back to London to see your family, and we'll all meet again on New Year's,” she explains. Aegon nods. “You can come with us.” 

“To New York?” 

“Yes. You know, you could help us move Floris's furniture around.” 

He laughs. “You're asking me to move in with you.” 

“No, I'm asking you to come with me so we can go back home together later. My apartment is big, and it'll just be Floris and me,” she tells him. “I don't plan on making you leave your life in San Francisco for me. And right now, she really needs me.” 

Aegon sighs. “I feel like we're married. We're not having sex, and we have a child to take care of in our bed. We're skipping a lot of steps.” 

“Or we already had a lot of sex,” she laughs, giving him a kiss on the forehead. Aegon squeezes her waist. “It's the least I can do for her.” 

“Well, of course, you both need a male presence. I have friends in New York. Maybe we can introduce her to one.” 

“She'd hate your friends.” 

“But I want to reconnect with them. Show them the hot girlfriend I got...” 

“The girlfriend you got?” She teases. “Oh, God. You're a weirdo.” 

“I am,” he says, leaning up to give her a brief kiss on the lips. “And so you'll have to put up with me for the rest of the week, roomie.” 

“Floris will be thrilled.” 

“We'll get her earplugs because I have no intention of giving you a break.” 

“It’s a promise, then.” 

🧣⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⍣ ೋ *ੈ🎄‧₊˚ . *ੈ✩‧₊˚ ೃ࿐🌟 

Christmas morning unfolds with a surprising sense of normality. There are several miracles to be thankful for, such as Annika helping prepare breakfast and, as the road was clear, Logan and Helaena making an early trip to fetch provisions. This allowed Daeron to enjoy his Christmas-themed pancakes (or something resembling them, as they were made by Annika). 

Floris looks a bit sad, but occasional hugs from Helaena or Annika manage to bring a smile to her face. Additionally, Annika accidentally tripped and spilled her hot chocolate on Aemond's Christmas sweater, also known as the last clean piece of clothing he had for his stay. 

“How clumsy. My foot still hurts. Whoops.” 

Aemond says nothing, just giving her a friendly punch on the arm. Despite any lingering resentment between them, they laugh, at least for now. Everyone could have returned to their homes, different states, or countries, but they chose to stay. 

“You know what I think?” Daeron says, helping set the table. “We should make this our own Christmas tradition.” 

“I think what made it special was that it wasn't planned,” Floris replies. “I mean, 80% of us were deceived.” 

“I can't believe you didn't see it coming,” Helaena says. “I fooled two of the smartest people I know. Does that make me the smartest one here, then?” 

“Wouldn't you like that,” Aemond smirks. “But you come pretty close. Maybe third place.” 

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Aegon complains. “You wish you were as beautiful as Annika and me.” 

“You're not even close to her level, Aegon. She's too pretty for you,” Daeron tells him. 

“Still in love with her?” He teases, and Daeron crosses his arms, while Annika passes behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders. 

“He's still my favourite, and now I have a new favourite,” Annika says, putting one of her hands on Willa's shoulder. “I really hope you guys come to visit us.” 

“I just hope it's not like the visit we paid Aegon,” Willa recalls. 

“Of course not. I'm more fun.” 

“Alright, sit down already,” Logan asks when the table is set again. Everyone takes their places as the night before, and he raises his cup of hot chocolate. “Merry Christmas, guys. Thanks for including me.” 

“We haven't included you yet; it caught us by surprise. The next time we meet, we'll subject you to our initiation ritual,” Daeron explains, looking the most horrified at the idea of his sister's new boyfriend. 

“He's right. Are you free on New Year's?” Aegon asks seriously, and Annika kicks him under the table. 

“Enough nonsense, and let's try Annika's pancakes,” Helaena suggests, with a smile. “She got up very early to make them.” 

“Yes, I did. And I broke a nail in the process,” she says, embarrassed. “So if you find a nail, don't be surprised.” 

Floris grimaces and wrinkles her nose when she sees the pancake that simulates a deformed star. “I love you, but maybe learning to make pancakes should be a New Year's resolution for you.” 

“You demand too much from me.” 

Everyone laughs, creating a warm atmosphere despite the cold outside. Aegon looks around and feels truly fortunate to have these people with him. If he had to go back a few weeks and were offered the chance to live out his initial plans instead of this Christmas fiasco, he wouldn't change it in a million years. But that's not something he'd tell them. They know already. 

And, as Daeron said, he really hopes they can repeat it next Christmas and make it their own tradition, away from their parents, although he doubts it will be as special as this one. 

“Annika!” Helaena yells, as everyone spits out the pancakes in disgust. “You put salt instead of sugar!” 

“Oh, no.” 

Well, perhaps he could use a less-special Christmas.

[justanordinaryficwriter]

Hello everyone! My name is Izzy, this is a sideblog of blorbosfrommyhead. Here you'll find self insert fanfiction so if that's not your thing I suggest you turn away now. There will be no smut as I'm ace and highly uncomfortable with my fictional others being sexualized. I'll write when the inspiration strikes me so don't expect regular posting.

Characters I'll write for are:

Romantic:

🤚Casim(Aladdin and the king of thieves)

☀️Kars(Jojo's bizarre adventure: Battle Tendency)

💰Lupin(Lupin the third)

⚔Xenk Yendar(Dungeons and dragons:Honor Among Thieves)

🌙Jadeite(Sailor Moon)

🖤Darkling(Grishaverse)

🎲Oogie Boogie(Nightmare before Christmas)

🔥Valtor(Winx Club)

🌟king Magnifico(Wish)

🐶John Wick(John Wick)

🍎Ryuk(Death note)

👨🏻‍💻Izaya Orihara(Durarara)

🌌Starscream(Transformers G1)

💠Gojo Satoru(Jujutsu Kaisen)

🔆Ardeth Bay(Mummy)

🐄Alameda Slim(Home on the range)

Platonic:

💔Jean Pierre Polnareff(Jojo's bizarre adventure: Stardust Crusaders)

🧛‍♂️Alucard(Hellsing)

⚾️Yamcha(Dragon ball series)

Familial:

🥼Nurse Bendy(Moral Orel)

🎪Pomni(The amazing digital circus)

💀Spencer Reid(Criminal minds)

💪🐺🔨 Yuji, Megumi and Nobara(Jujutsu Kaisen)

There will also be reblogs of stuff like writing tips, other people's fics and whatever else catches my attention.

🌙Mari and Jadeite

safeshiptember swap AU prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/727895521231011840?source=share

For dancing and the dreaming-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/728884322206203904/for-dancing-and-the-dreaming?source=share

drabble ask game-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/731354510224752640/or-whichever-you-like?source=share

drabblecember listening to holiday music prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/737213688863457280/eternally-smitten-and-bioexorcizm-drabblecember

JanAUary soulmate AU prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/740386981100568576/eternally-smitten-and-bioexorcizm-janauary-day?source=share

💰Maria and Lupin

safeshiptember fantasy AU prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/727964571479015424?source=share

Alcohol and bandages-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/729706324929150976/patched-up?source=share

Full moon-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/732310078729977856/full-moon?source=share

drabblecember sleeping in prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/736328868030529536/day-10-sleeping-in-the-one?source=share

💔Elizabeth and Polnareff

safeshiptember beach prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/728504179767803904/safeshiptember-day-13-beach-the-one-where-two?source=share

drabblecember decorating prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/735810393473253376/drabblecember-day-3-decorating-the-one-where-two?source=share

Dancing on the blades-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/736842165803761664/dancing-on-the-blades

🤚Anabelle and Casim

safeshiptember moonlight prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/728681005719912448/williameastons-safeshiptember-day-17?source=share

JanAUary Tangled AU prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/740028654159020032/eternally-smitten-and-bioexorcizm-janauary-day?source=share

🖤Ivka and Darkling

Question-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/729065379794747392/waiting-out-a-storm?source=share

Ocean deep-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/731033675025793024/benthic?source=share

🥼Nosy and nurse Bendy

familial September babysitting/childhood prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/729314081764524032/girlyaoiss?source=share

Autumn-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/730128538327465984/autumn?source=share

🧛‍♂️Florence and Alucard

safeshiptember prompt friends-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/729591601533435904/williameastons-safeshiptember-day-tommorow-the?source=share

🎲Inky and Oogie

Bound by darkness-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/730317516924207104/title?source=share

drabble ask game-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/731347449807060992/how-about-for-oogie-raylex?source=share

Halloween-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/732721153829994496/williameaston-safeshiptember-day-27-friends-the?source=share

🔥Thalia and Valtor

Let the flames begin-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/731218712572690433/title?source=share

What haunts us-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/731596812975308800/what-haunts-us?source=share

drabble ask game-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/731622724303208448/for-you-and-valtor?source=share

Adversaries-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/732766470586679296/a-battle?source=share

🎪Marbles and Pomni

Family reunited-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/732029603972038656/family-reunited?source=share

🐶Katie and John

Little dark age-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/732310070964125696/enchant%C3%A9?source=share

🍎Maggie and Ryuk

Hurricane-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/734591848460451840/hurricane

drabblecember cold weather prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/735502227675004928/cold-weather?source=share

JanAUary flowershop/tatoo parlor prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/738409878200221696/eternally-smitten-and-bioexorcizm-janauary-day?source=share

Paint it black-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/742131935604768768/paint-it-black?source=share

☀️Isabel and Kars

I was made for loving you-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/735974251391221760/regrets?source=share

💀Juniper and Spencer

drabblecember movie marathon prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/736573140503871488/eternally-smitten-and-bioexorcizm-drabblecember

👨🏻‍💻Abigail and Izaya

drabblecember being sick prompt-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/736760243789414400/eternally-smitten-and-bioexorcizm-drabblecember

🌌Sarah and Starscream

Home-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/738789853524901888/home?source=share

🌟Estrella and Magnifico

Cost of the crown-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/738849810084495360/cost-of-the-crown-estrella-never-thought-not-even?source=share

🐄Rosie and Slim

Bullseye-https://www.tumblr.com/justanordinaryficwriter/741934506422976512/bullseye?source=share

💗Joanne and Naomi

(masterlist banner by cafekitsune)

[toaster-toads]

🌲☀️🌻Welcome to my page~! 🌸🌾⛰

✨Some things about me, - I'm Christian, an old soul in her 20s that is struggling but not trying to fit in this world and to keep up with her chronic illness~✨

Aesthetics_: Cottage-Core🪕🌲🧺, Nature-Core🌾🪵🐢, Fairy-Core🧚🪷💐🔆,

My Fandoms_(In no order):

Assassins Creed🏺🛡⚔️,

Animal Crossing🦊🦤🦉🏡🦔🦦,

Amazing World Of Gumball👾🐱🐰🐡🌈🌟,

Bread Winners🦆🚚☀️🪷🍞🥖,

Brave🏇🏹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⛰🌲🌾🏰🪨,

Hilda🏔🧣🌲🐾,

Gravity Falls🐖🧢🔍📜🌲,

Moomin🎩🪶🐌🌲🍄🌾🏔🏕,

Over The Garden Wall🎃🦗🕸🍁🍂🌲🌾,

Cookie Run Kingdom🍪🏰🧙‍♂️🍰✨,

Tangled🌄👑☀️🍳👸📜,

Red Dead Redemption🤠🐂🐴🌙⛰🪕🌲🌾,

How To Train Your Dragon🐉⛰️🌲🪵🗡️,

Pirates of the Caribbean🏴‍☠️🦜⚓☠️🪙🏝🛖🌅🗡️,

Sailor Moon🌟🌌🌃🎇🎀💖👘🐈‍⬛,

Calico Critters🌲⛰🌾☀️🪵🏡,

Minecraft🌳🌲🌴⛰🏠🪵🍯🐝🐺🐮🐷🧟🌾,

Miraculous Ladybug🐞🐈‍⬛🏫🎆🎒🧀,

Time Princess👑🎀🥻✨🎉📖,

Jurassic Park🦤🌲🪺🚡🚁🌋🌄,

Wonder over yonder🌌🌙✨🌈🪕,

Puss in Boots🐈🐈‍⬛🐕🗡️👢,

Dishonored🎭⛲💀👑🐀,

Thief💰🌃🌔🗡️🐈‍⬛,

We Bare Bears🐻🐻‍❄️🐼,

Adams Family🤺🕷️🕸️🖤🐈‍⬛🌘👌,

The Walking Dead 🧟🔪🪰🐅🥀🏹🔦⚰️🦠🧬💉, Nightmare Before Christmas 🎃👑💀🪦🍁🍂👻🌕,

The Magnificent 7 🌅🏫🛤⛰🏕🪕💰⚰️🧨,

Fallout 💉🎰🏟⛽️🏚🪖���💀☢️,

Golden Girls 👵📺💃🍰🌅🥂☕️☀️,

Borderlands 🚧🌋🧨⚒🧪🥄💥💨,

The Amazing Digital Circus 🎪🎊🧶🎭🎈🎉✨,

Star Wars 💫🌌🚄🛸🏜🌋🛖🪐🌒☄️,

Overwatch 🤠🔫⚙️💥⚡️❄️🏹⚔️🧨🪓🌃⛩🔭🧪,

Marvel 🦸‍♂️💪💥💫💬♥️🕷️🚀⚡🚨🏎️,

DC 🦇🤡🦸‍♂️💬💥🧪,

((More to come I’m sure…))

🌲🌾I’m on here to just use this space as a place to share my favorite things, headcanons, doodles, art, and other creative things! 🌾🌲

🪷Still trying to learn my art style and rediscover myself again…➿🪷

[moonlighthoneybee]

Blanket & playground for the agere asks thingy!!

hihi!! 🧸🌟 

Blanket- what age or age range do you regress to?

hmm this one's a bit complicated hehe i often feel like i'm both 0 and 10 years old at the same time! though if i'm very distressed and upset while small i'm usually just 0-1

Playground- favorite small shows/movies/games/books?

shows: winnie pooh, hamtaro, monster high, over the garden wall, gravity falls, owl house, she-ra

movies: nightmare before christmas, winnie pooh & the heffalump, mulan, beauty & the beast, httyd, lotr, dnd movie

games: animal crossing, pokemon, moshi, lil gator game, mario kart

books: peter rabbit, winnie pooh, fairy tales, lotr, the hobbit, good omens, pride & prejudice

thank you for ask!!! :D