#nina x joy

[mask-of-anubis]

it’s nice to have a friend ch. 4

Chapter 4: “friends who kiss”

Summary: Sometimes friends who used to hate each other sneak around, sometimes they kiss each other, sometimes they even harbor super casual not-at-all-deep feelings for each other and keep them a secret from everyone they know.... you know, just friends being friends.

Link to AO3

[rahabq]

[non-cannon]

I am once again asking for an answer to the original question (but now with Joy).

If Nina wore a well fitting suit, who dies first?

Fabian, Amber, Patricia, or Joy?

If Nina wore a well fitting suit, who dies first? Fabian, Amber, Patricia, or a secret 4th option that I didn't think off?

[boxwinebaddie]

🎸 happy uncneen pepinursteppermint wintereve 🍬 ❤️‍🔥

❤️🤘 + ft. how i think my styles would say HYH

[romancemedia]

Azure and Sett get jealous seeing the other with Nina

[dykelittlemy]

after seeing @galaxyhearth ‘s joynina art i had to draw some :-)

[galaxyhearth]

I appear once a year to spread joy x nina and propaganda and then vanish

[extraaa-30]

s3 prediction: aziraphale will get very into snake husbandry

😇🐍🏳️‍🌈✨💍

[treefey]

I kind of want to make a petition for a platform to take the six of crows cast and just do an actual book adaptation? Like just a 2 season miniseries filmed at the same time like LOTR and done really high quality like that isn't too much to ask, right?

[joysmercer]

you give me feelings that I adore

This is my entry for the 2022 Tumblr Sibuna Secret Santa, written for @dykelittlemy. Hope you like it! And huge shout out to @house-of-secrets for organizing this <3

This will have (at least) 2 chapters but they’re not completely done yet, so here’s part 1. It is canon-divergent from the end of season 2 onward:

Fabina does not get back together at the end of s2, nor does amfie

Nina and amber have A Moment (aka they both realize they Have Feelings and proceed to Do Nothing About It) at the end of the summer when nina goes to see amber’s fashion school graduation showcase

Nina’s in s3 and amber happily decides to stay at school for her final year

No s3 mystery (so, sadly, no KT)

Joy and patricia don't currently have men in their lives and have thus decided to make themselves as useful (read: annoying) as possible to our two girls

Mara’s sending out surprise party invites and therefore not really involved in this, although she’s there in spirit <3

The boys are off doing whatever the boys get up to when sibuna’s not a thing idk

Hopefully the only ooc thing about this is amber’s birthday outfit haha

Chapter 1: they start in my toes, make me crinkle my nose

read on ao3

___

September 2012

Nina slams her copy of The Complete History of the World closed and stares at the portrait of the small woman sporting a pink knitted cap and a slightly-terrified expression on the back. “Harriet Denby, I hope you’re a much better teacher than you are a writer,” she says to it, mentally cursing herself for not finishing her summer reading after returning from her New York trip like she had planned.

But then again, even if she had sat down to do her homework, there was no way she would have retained any of the information, what with everything else taking over her braincells.

Right on cue, the Everything Else in question throws open the door and waltzes in. “Neens, I really, really, really need your help,” Amber whines, grabbing Nina’s hand and pulling her out of her chair before she has a chance to breathe. “What do you think about this birthday ’fit?”

“Huh? Oh.” Nina quickly takes a step back to examine the emerald green pantsuit Amber’s sporting, smiling softly at the small AM embroidered near her hip. “Amber, you look gorgeous,” she says honestly. “Yo—it’s incredible.”

Amber practically glows. “It is, isn’t it? This may be my favorite thing I’ve ever—”

Suddenly, the door bursts open again, the sound of playful squabbling bursting the bubble around the two girls.

“I don’t know why this is even an argument, the green looks miles—”

“It’s her decision—Nina, have you seen Am—oh.”

Amber whips around so quickly that some of her hair tickles Nina’s cheek and wafts the sweet scent of strawberries over her. It’s only when Nina feels a sharp tug on her wrist that she realizes that Amber had only just let go of it.

Get it together, she thinks, but her blood vessels apparently refuse to get the memo, proceeding to tint her entire face in what she’s sure is an embarrassing shade of magenta.

“Nina loved this one!” Amber chirps, doing a little spin to show off the pantsuit again. “I think this is it, guys.”

“Duh, that’s what we’d been telling you for the past hour,” Patricia says, rolling her eyes.

Joy, meanwhile, meets Nina’s eyes and simply raises an eyebrow coyly.

Nina’s blush deepens. She didn’t realize she was being so obvious. “Yeah, I think it’s great. I mean, I thought the blue one was pretty too, you know, the one you showed at your showcase over the summer, but I like this one too, and I think you should wear it, unless you’d prefer—”

“Okay, I think she gets the point,” Joy says, thankfully interrupting the word-vomit.“Patty, I think that necklace Piper got you will match perfectly.”

“What, the one that says ‘Sisters Forever’ on it?” Patricia asks, confused.

“Yes, exactly! Now go, try it on,” Joy says, shooing her and Amber out the room. “I’ll stay here and makes sure Nina gets her homework done. She clearly needs help with it.”

Nina blushes. As soon as the door closes, she heads back to her desk, pointedly ignoring Joy staring at her.

“Nina Martin.”

Nina sighs. “You can go. I’m almost done with this.”

Joy, being Joy, pays her no attention and simply sits at the foot of Nina’s bed. “I don’t care, actually.”

“So why, exactly, are you here?” Nina asks, finally turning around to glare at the other girl.

“You know why,” Joy says cheekily. “C’mon, you can tell me.”

“Um.”

“Listen, I know we’ve had our differences, but I give really good advice on matters of the heart, you know.”

Nina raises an eyebrow but stays silent, partially because she doesn’t trust herself to not spill her guts right then and there, and partially because she has no idea what Joy is going on about.

“I’m serious! How the hell do you think Patricia and Eddie finally got together last term? They’d both still be sad and lonely if it weren’t for me.”

“You mean like they are now,” Nina says sarcastically.

Joy raises her hands in protest. “I blame America for that. There’s something different in the air over there, I’m telling you.”

“Hey!”

“I mean, you and Amber left as best friends and come back as, you know,” Joy teases, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

“Stop, there’s nothing going on,” Nina protests, but her emotions betray her and she finds herself smiling against her will.

“Uh-huh.” Joy grins. “Right, so you don’t have an itty-bitty crush on your gorgeous roommate.”

“I—” Nina starts to protest, but suddenly stops herself. In order to lie about it, she has to be clear on the truth: she has a crush on her roommate.

On Amber, her best friend.

A girl.

She’d never really admitted that to herself before, not really. But now that the words are at the tip of her tongue, everything seems so much more real.

“I, um,” Nina tries again, but her heartbeat makes its way up to her throat and chokes the breath out of her. Her ears are ringing. Why are her ears ringing?

“Oh, Nina,” Joy whispers. “Hey, it’s okay, we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

“No, no, it’s okay,” Nina says hurriedly, shaking her head. The ringing stops. That’s better. “How did you, you know—” she gestures to the necklace hanging around Joy’s neck.

“That I liked girls?”

“Yeah, but like, how did you get the confidence to, like, say it?”

“I don’t know,” Joy murmurs, gently rubbing the pendant.

“How helpful, thanks.”

Joy laughs. “No, it was—” Suddenly, she smiles, a mischievous glint in her eye. “It was Amber, actually. You know she was the first out of us to come out, right?”

Nina nods. She wasn’t here when it happened, but it was one of the first things she’d learned about her.

“Well, until then, it wasn’t something I’d considered for myself, but once I did, it just made sense.” Joy shrugs. “She was so self-assured about just being herself, it made me too.”

“Hmm.” Nina sighs. “That makes sense, I guess.”

“For what it’s worth, you don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to,” Joy says seriously. “But you’re the odd one out among us girls—”

“Besides Mara.”

Joy waves her off. “All I’m saying is that we’re all here for you, but also…those feelings of yours? She feels the same way, I’m certain.”

Nina stares at her. “Now you’re just saying things.”

“Are you joking? Amber spent all afternoon complaining that you weren’t there and how you have better fashion taste than either of us. It was a bit rude if I’m being honest.”

“Uh-huh, and I’m supposed to believe you because…?”

“So we’re ignoring the fact that you were clearly holding hands for like, five entire minutes before we came in.”

Nina flushes. “Whatever.”

Joy smirks. “We’ll work on that confession later. For now, we’ve got work to do.”

“Work? What?” Nina asks. Joy ignores her and reaches into her sweater pocket, pulls out a mini-notebook and glitter-pen, and stares at her expectantly.

“So, Miss Future-Girlfriend, any gift ideas?”

“I’m regretting this entire conversation.”

[eelnoise]

with hearts aligned (nsfw!)

zoro x fem!reader this fic's followup btw. takes place between fishman island and PH (yes there's lore!! 🙄! and yes zoro did keep all that shit bottled up for a bit!!) cw: confessions of love, somewhat troubled zoro, not-so-awkward first times (our boy is intuitive okay ?!), piv sex, fingering, cute stuff idk an: okay i know this took a long time but i re-wrote this like 5 times and accidently got hyperfixated on ffxiv and generally needed a break from writing BUT WE ARE BACK BABY !!! wc: 3.4k tagging @bby-deerling @kaizokuniichan @sleepymarimo @willowbelle @nina-ya

The clinking of cutlery upon plates and chatter among friends fills the small island tavern with animated joy and serene relief. Brook plays the violin somewhere to the left side of the room, though the eager blathering of the crew drowns out the more finer notes and melodies played. 

A well-deserved interruption and a welcome change from the unpredictable nature of the past few day’s events – though for Zoro, it’s a distraction that’s come to an end. Despite the crew being whole again, he still feels a hollowness within – something no amount of eating or drinking or fighting can fill.

And it’s entirely his fault.

You sit across the table from him, sipping at a near-empty glass of wine and discussing something inaudibly with Usopp. He can’t quite read your expression from where he’s seated, but you look interested enough in the conversation. 

And if it’s obvious to himself that he’s keeping you at arm’s length, it’s clear to anyone with a working conscience that he’s doing his utmost to avoid you. The many longing gazes from his peripheral do not go unnoticed, but he dares not to look – for the hurt in your eyes would crush him and sear and stain into his soul.  A far-flung difference from the camaraderie that came before all of this, when the two of you were rarely found an inch too far apart from one another – and now Zoro can’t even look you in the eye. After his many imagined intimate rendezvous,how could he?

With you distracted, he lets his eye wander across your face, to the length of your arm, down to the glass pinched between your fingers – but it comes to rest upon your lips. He watches, transfixed on the flight peek of your tongue behind your teeth when you speak, how your lips twist with each syllable, how they purse when you’re in thought, and the way they stretch across your cheeks when you smile.

Zoro’s throat tightens, a sharp dagger of guilt carving into his chest. He forces his stare to the table, the tiniest sliver of your form still lingering in the corner of his vision. You’ve journeyed this far, fought, bled, and laughed together. And now, for once, he’s unable to find the words to say.

The weight of his inaction bears down on him, leaving him listless. The only respite he’s found is in the distraction of a battle, a thudding, a clash, steel ringing against steel. In those moments, he’s alive, he’s focused, and the words that plague his every waking thought cease to exist. But without the battle, Zoro is left with nothing but the echoes of unspoken desires.

His hand trembles, gripping his mug of ale as he brings it to his lips. The bitterness of the brew does little to quell the fire in his chest. He’s a swordsman, a pirate – not a poet, bard, or a man of words. It’s a mess of feelings. Lust, want, longing, love, all these indescribable sensations that only serve to make Zoro feel weak and helpless and vulnerable when faced with them. He feels like a coward, daring never to speak to you again, never to confess his feelings, and never pulling you into his arms and kissing you senseless.

Zoro’s eye meets yours for one singular fleeting moment, the intensity of the connection making his heart race. He knows he can’t keep up this charade, this dance of avoidance – but how does one even confess to these feelings? How does one bridge the gap between comrade and lover? He scratches his chin, trying to come up with a solution, but all he can think of is a single, frustrating fact: he can’t keep running.

Whether it’s every empty bottle he’s seen the bottom of tonight, the last of his resolve wearing thin, or just the sheer guilt of it all that drives him suddenly to his feet, he isn’t sure. Inhaling one of the deepest breaths he’s ever taken, he silently trudges around the table to where you’re seated.

At first, he hovers awkwardly so as to not interrupt the conversation you’re having. Both hands come to rest at either side of the back of your chair and he can feel his pulse through his fingertips on the wood – and when you tilt your head up to look at him, a curious smile twitching at the edges of your cheeks, he cracks.

Zoro clears his throat and forces his gaze. “I need to talk to you for a sec.”

His voice is hoarse as he asks, and he hopes you can’t hear the nerves that lie beneath his words. Surprised by how much he’s sweating and how his heart races against his ribcage, he swallows to regain some semblance of composure.

“It’s important,” he adds, trying not to stumble over his thoughts. It’s a pitiful excuse, but all that comes to mind amidst the maelstrom of emotion in his head.

“Oh, yeah – of course!” You reply with raised brows and begin to stand. Zoro allows you the room to move, taking a step back from the table. “Sorry, Usopp,” you say as you turn and give him a weak shrug, “Remind me where we left off later?”

“No prob!” The sniper shoots a thumbs-up and the two of you exchange a wave before you turn to follow Zoro away from the lively table and out of the tavern.

Zoro leads you to a quiet spot by the docks nearby, where the salty scent of the sea mingles with the faint tang of fish and the distant hum of the island. He can’t bring himself to look at you, electing instead to focus on the water and the twinkling reflection of the night sky in the soft waves.

“Everything okay?” You ask softly, taking a few steps toward him and assuredly taking note of his hesitance. “What’s up?”

“I missed you,” Zoro replies, fixated on the sigh of the shifting tides lapping at the wooden posts below. “A lot.”

“I missed you too, Zoro, but what’s so urgent?” The concern in your tone is apparent and caring, and normally works to soothe him when his mind runs rampant – but this moment, this situation he finds himself in, it does the opposite.

“No,” Zoro shakes his head, his fingers twitching at his sides. “I missed you - differently from the others.”

“Differently?”

Zoro’s jaw clenches, and part of him wants to jump into the ocean and swim as far away from the island as his arms will take him. The honest admission hangs heavy on his tongue, the weight of the years of denial suddenly threatening to push it out. He pauses, opens and closes his mouth a few times, then finally, with a shaky exhale, he looks you straight in the face.

“I love you.”

The admission hangs between you, the weight of years of suppression. Zoro shifts his weight from one foot to the other, twinges of regret creeping up the nape of his neck.  It takes you a moment to reply, and considering the nature of the confession, it's reasonable. Zoro's nerves feel like hot coals beneath his skin as he watches your face for any sign of an answer.

“...for real?” Your gentle response fills his entire being with a wistful spark of hope.

Zoro's fingers curl into fists. "Yes, for real," he confirms, still not looking up. His heart thuds painfully in his chest, a heavy, leaden weight. All his hopes and fears rest on the outcome of this conversation. He's unsure if he could handle rejection, but he can't go back to the pretense any longer. Zoro swallows, tasting bile at the back of his throat. "I should've told you before now, but I... I'm an idiot.” He lets out a humorless laugh, his voice quiet.

He isn’t sure when you move, but a smaller, softer hand wraps around his – and in an instant, he feels himself relax into your touch. Zoro relaxes his grip, allowing your fingers to entwine with his.

He snaps his gaze towards you, his heartbeat ringing loudly in his ears. You peer at him, a sweet, crooked smile on your lips and a blush across your face. And when your free hand finds purchase on his cheek, Zoro finds himself leaning in. 

You meet him halfway in a genuine, tender kiss that sends a jolt of electricity coursing through him. Zoro's arms wrap around you and pull you close. The world around falls away as you both delight in the embrace. The kiss is gentle, delicate, and filled with longing. It floods him with an unexpected warmth – and for once, he can't think of the past or the future. He's simply lost in the present moment.

When you finally pull away, Zoro can't help but lean into your palm on his cheek with a bit of a dazed smile on his face. Holding onto your hand, his other hand slowly moves to cup your cheek in return. His heart is pounding, his mind a blank slate tinged with overwhelming happiness. He's lost in your gaze, unable to speak, but he doesn't need to. The moment says everything.

"Do you know how much I missed you?" you murmur, lips ghosting his and thumb trailing upward to gently trace the lower half of the scar that now covers his right eye. "How often I thought of you?"

And then you say it - the words he's only imagined hearing you speak.

"I love you, too.”

Zoro's chest tightens, a lump forming in his throat as he meets your gaze, his heart swelling. Words fail him, the raw emotion in his gut silences his voice.  A slow smile spreads across his lips, a look of awe and joy shadowing his features. He doesn't need words. The simple fact that you feel the same is enough to fill him with warmth and peace. 

Leaning in again, Zoro captures you in another deep kiss – a deep and soulful kiss that speaks volumes. He's consumed by the feeling of being with you, of finally being able to express his love. His hand moves to cup the back of your head, pulling you closer, and he kisses you with all the passion and longing he's suppressed for far too long.

You sigh into him, the sound willingly swallowed by Zoro’s growing hunger. Arms wrap around his shoulders and you press yourself into him, the opened-mouthed kiss quickly turning into a twist of tongues dancing together in a frenzied rhythm with audible smacks of saliva mixing with each meeting of your lips. His hand clutches your hair more firmly, his other hand slipping around her waist to pull you impossibly closer.

The gesture is all-consuming, a whirlpool of desire and affection that leaves him lightheaded. For the first time in years, he feels like he's truly alive, his heart beating in perfect harmony with yours.

Slowly breaking the kiss, Zoro's lips ghost over your jawline, trailing down to your collarbone as he breathes in your scent, savoring every moment. He wants to memorize the taste, the feel, and the sound of your breath as his hands roam over your body, his heart beating a furious tempo.

You let out a small gasp when his lips touch your sensitive flesh, your body reacting to his every move. Goosebumps raise in the wake of his fingertips as he nibbles at your neck, causing your grip to tighten and for you to moan softly into his ear. 

Part of Zoro wants to take you here and now, but what remains of his will stops him. He growls into your neck and lifts you up fully and, – with a little assistance from you –  heads in the direction of the ship anchored nearby. The others wouldn't be back for a while, so why not take advantage of the privacy?

You’re weightless in his arms as he carries you away from the bustle of the small island village and towards the deck of the Thousand Sunny. Zoro can feel himself growing hard beneath the fabric of his pants as you kiss and nip along his neck, giggling in his ear when he retaliates with a playful squeeze to your rear and a rumbling growl against your skin.

He wastes little time pushing the door to the men’s quarters open with the tip of his boot, his grip on your hips tightening when he moves to lift you onto the nearest bunk, one hand still clutching your waist while the other travels up under your shirt to caress your chest, deft hands making quick work of unhooking your bra and tossing it aside to be forgotten.

Zoro’s breathing hitches, his eyes dark and lustful as he dips his head to suckle at the swell of your breast. He can feel himself twitching against your thigh, and despite his inexperience, he wants nothing more than to please you. 

He kisses down your body, taking a nipple into his mouth and flicking it with his tongue while his hand roams, finding your core already soaked with desire. He pauses, fingers grazing over your clothed slit and feeling you shiver in pleasure. Zoro murmurs your name, and snakes his fingers beneath the waistband of both your shorts and panties before sliding them down your legs in one motion, leaving you naked and bared before him. His own pants follow suit, quickly discarded next to yours.

Zoro's hand finds its way between your thighs again, spreading your folds with ease, and he lowers his head to kiss you once more, his tongue probing your mouth as his fingers gently stroke your clit, drinking in your soft moans.

"Show me." He whispers just loud enough for her to hear. His expression is a loving one, though she notes the slightest bit of hesitance in his words.

Show me how you like it.

You nod and guide his fingers, taking two of the large digits and easing them in circles on your clit. "Not too rough, though," you say patiently, letting go of him with a soft sigh and an encouraging smile. 

Zoro hums in acknowledgment, his thumb and forefinger doing as you ask, the slickness of your pussy allowing his fingers to move easily as he continues to tease at your clit. His other hand rests on your hip, steadying you as his thumb rolls over the sensitive bundle of nerves, eliciting small moans from you. 

Zoro brushes the tip of his finger against your entrance in an experimental move, and by the way you wreathe and whine, he's urged to continue his work. He slides one past your folds and inside of you, making your toes curl and your back arch.

"Shit–" You sputter out between breathless sighs of desire. "Feels really good..."

One finger becomes two, your inner walls clenching around them as he scissors them in and out of your pussy. There's a wet slosh of sound coming from where you meet, your wetness audibly coating his fingers and dripping down down his wrist. 

Zoro's breath hitches at the sound of your pleasure, his eyes dark with desire as he watches your reaction. He's entranced by how your body responds to him, and he can't help but lick his lips as he continues to finger you. He adds a third, the stretch making you gasp and tighten around him.

His pace increases, his fingers swirling and thrusting within you, and he watches as your body writhes and arches beneath him. He can feel the tension building in you, the way your breath hitches and your eyes flutter closed.

"Do you want me inside you?" Zoro asks, his voice low and thick with need. He's anxious to give you pleasure, but he's struggling to keep himself from joining his fingers inside you.

"Please," you whine, eyes wide and watery with pleasure but red hot with the need for more. "Need you, Zoro."

Zoro's heart beats wildly in his chest, his own need for you overwhelming as he pulls his fingers from your slick warmth and licks them clean before sitting back on his heels to position himself between your legs. He lines his cock up with your entrance and looks into your eyes, the passion reflected in his own.

Without warning, he thrusts forward, plunging deep into your tightness. You're hot and wet around him, and he lets out a growl of satisfaction as he bottoms out. He pauses for a moment, allowing you both to adjust and to revel in the feeling of being connected. He pulls back, slowly at first, then picks up the pace as he leans over you, the headboard digging into the wall with each forceful thrust. Zoro's eyes never leave yours, his gaze locked as if he's trying to absorb every detail of your expression.

Each stroke of his cock against your walls feels heaven-sent, and the taste of you that lingers on his tongue drives him crazy with want. Nails dig into the flesh of his triceps and your back arches, a song of passion belting from between your lips, a serenade made for him and him alone.

Zoro grunts at the sound of your pleasure, his thrusts becoming even more ferocious as he watches your reaction, the sight of you so lost in ecstasy driving him to the brink. He grips your hips, holding you steady as he pounds into you, the sweat glistening on your skin as your bodies collide.

The moonlight trickling in from the window illuminates your body below him. It's a sight better than anything he could dream, your face contorting in bliss and ecstasy, hands clinging harshly onto him as if he'd disappear if you let go. Savoring a feeling that neither wants to forget.

"You're so fucking perfect." Zoro growls, leaning over you to kiss you feverishly, his tongue seeking yours as he fucks you. He can feel the tension building, the way your body tenses and your nails dig into his skin, and he knows you're close. He wants to give you this moment, wants to make you cum as much as he wants to feel it himself.

"Come on," he urges, his voice thick with lust. "Let go for me." The words were a warning, a promise that he wasn't going to last much longer..Zoro increases the pace of his assault, his own release imminent as he watches your face, your eyes half-lidded and flushed with pleasure. Together, you move, driven by the primal need for release.

Zoro's thumb meets your clit, matching the rhythm of his thrusts with the speed of his ministrations. The dual stimulation pushes you over the edge, crying out butchered attempts at his name as your body convulses around him, your orgasm washing over you in waves. Zoro can't hold back any longer, feeling his own climax building as he watches you.

With a roar, he lets go, burying himself deep as he cums, the spasms of your walls milking him as he shudders and groans into your ear, seed spilling inside of you. He pants heavily, leaning over you as he rests on his forearms, his forehead meeting yours. He stays like that long enough to press a quick kiss to your lips before collapsing atop you with a very exhausted, but very relieved sigh. 

You breathlessly hold him close. Cradling his sweaty form to your chest, one hand makes its way into his moss-green tresses to lightly scratch at his scalp. Zoro lets himself relax, letting out a sigh and nestling into your shoulder. He closes his eyes, feeling thoroughly sated in your embrace.

Zoro pulls out of you eventually, gently rolling off your body to rest. He pulls you into his side as he nuzzles into your hair. "I love you." He whispers, his voice soft and tender and almost unrecognizable.

Snuggling into his side, your hand still lazily strokes his head. "I love you too," you reply, voice equally tender, and a smile playing at the corners of your lips.

Your soft touch and tender words soothe Zoro, your shared connection cemented in the aftermath of passion. He wraps an arm around you, pulling you closer as he feels himself drifting off to sleep, a smile still lingering on his lips. The words you whispered echo in his mind, a warm feeling settling in his chest – and together, in each other's arms, you find peace.

[mask-of-anubis]

another joy x nina au <3

season 3 au

Summary: Joy attempts to gossip with her girlfriend about the love triangle she just discovered, but Nina, as always, is more interested in boring dusty books.

____________________________________________

“Nina!” Joy called.

She’d checked everywhere. Nina wasn’t at school, in her room, or anywhere apparently.

At last, Joy spotted her in the kitchen, hunched over the sink reading some giant, old book.

“Nina Martin,” Joy said again as she walked to the kitchen. When Nina didn’t look up, Joy walked up to her and pinched her waist.

“Ah! What?” Nina asked, startled. From the look in her eyes, Joy could tell she truly hadn’t heard her at all.

“I’ve been looking for you since classes ended,” Joy said.

“Why didn’t you just text me?”

Joy raised her eyebrows. She grabbed Nina’s phone out of her back pocket and tapped the screen. She had 10 texts from Joy.

Nina grimaced. Joy took it as an apology.

“What are you even reading?” Joy asked. She turned the book over and read, “A Complex History of Mummification and Theories on Waking the Dead?”

Joy stared. Nina was silent.

“Why the hell are you reading this?” Joy asked.

“Uh… leisure?” Nina said.

There was no time to dwell on it. Joy closed the book. “Whatever, I have to tell you something.”

Joy grabbed her hand and led her upstairs. When they got to Joy’s room, she looked over her shoulder for listeners then shut the door behind them.

“Okay, this is really big, so prepare yourself,” Joy said. She took a breath. “Jerome is cheating on Mara with Willow.”

It was mind-blowing, catastrophic news. At least it was for someone who wasn’t always “accidentally” waking the dead.

Nina frowned. “Is it bad that I didn’t know Mara and Jerome were still together?” she asked.

“Oh my god, you’re so oblivious,” Joy huffed.

She went to her closet and pulled the doors open so she could change.

Nina sat down on Willow’s bed, watching as pieces of her uniform got tossed to the floor from behind the closet door.

“So apparently, when Mara and Jerome got back together,” Joy said, peeking her head out so she could talk, “Jerome was secretly also getting romantic with Willow.”

Joy pulled on a jumper. “And now he’s dating both of them at the same time – how messed up is that?!” Joy said.

Finally, Nina got on the same page. “That son of a bitch…” she gasped.

Joy slammed her closet closed. “Yes, exactly!” she said.

“How did you find this out?” Nina asked.

“He’s stupid,” Joy said. She rolled her eyes. “I caught him doing a pros and cons list to weigh his options.”

Nina scoffed. “That little rat,” she said.

“I know!” Joy said. “And now, I have to figure out how to break it to them.”

Nina paused. “Wait, you haven’t told them? How have you not said anything?”

“It’s delicate!” Joy said. “You can’t just spring that on someone over text.”

“If it was Amber, I would tell her immediately,” Nina said.

“Thank you, oh righteous one,” Joy said. She crossed her arms “If you’re such a genius, how would you do it?”

“I dunno,” Nina said. “I’d probably be like, ‘Hey, guess what you guys have in common? You’re both Tauruses and you’re also both dating Jerome.’”

“Neither of them are Tauruses,” said Joy.

“Well then just the second thing,” Nina said.

“Why do I tell you gossip? I always regret telling you gossip,” Joy said. She was as bad as Patricia.

Nina stood up and crossed her arms, thinking.

“I just can’t believe neither of them have found out yet. Mara is as sharp as a whip, how has she not noticed her boyfriend is dating her roommate?” Nina asked.

“Because he’s a snake,” Joy said. “And he’s distracting them with all this attention and flowers and bullshit. Do you know what love bombing is?”

“I’m guessing it’s the opposite of whatever you do to me?” Nina said.

“It’s when you shower someone with so much love and affection that they can’t tell you’re manipulating them,” Joy said.

Nina considered this. “That’s so slimy,” she said. “You just manipulate me out in the open.”

“I know,” said Joy. “You’re welcome.”

“You’re telling them, right?” Nina said.

Joy sighed. “Yes,” she said. “I have to. I just don’t want to see their faces when I break the news.”

Nina grabbed her hand. “Look, don’t stress. It’ll be fine,” she said. Joy pouted. “They’re tough girls. And their worlds are far bigger than Jerome Clarke.”

Joy squeezed her hand. “I guess,” she said. “I just don’t want to hurt them.”

“You’re not hurting them,” Nina said. “You’re protecting them.”

“Ugh, why do I have to be such a good person?” Joy groaned.

“You’re cursed…” Nina said sarcastically. “Are you gonna do it now?”

“Willow has her last detention and Mara has a quiz bowl match,” Joy said, looking at her watch. Nina frowned; she didn’t know they had a quiz bowl team.

Joy sighed. “They won’t be back for at least another hour.”

“Right,” said Nina. She crossed her arms and rocked on her heels.

“So…” Joy looked around and noticed she had an empty room, a rare occurrence with two roommates.

“Wanna make out while we wait?” Nina asked, reading Joy’s mind.

“Mhm,” said Joy. She grabbed her hand and took her to her bed.

•••

An hour later, the room was quiet until the door slammed open.

“I’m free, I’m free, I’m freeeee!” Willow sang as she burst into the room.

She startled Joy and Nina, who had been kissing on Joy’s bed. They pulled apart so quickly that Nina bumped her chin into Joy’s nose.

Willow spun around in glee. Nina slapped Joy’s hand out from under her shirt. Joy folded it firmly in her lap.

Willow stopped spinning and caught her balance. “As of this hour, I am no longer a slave to Mr. Sweet and his evil little chores,” Willow said. She flopped down on her bed with a happy sigh.

“Congratulations, Wills,” Joy said. She shared a comical look with Nina.

“Nothing like being free from detention,” Nina said.

Willow rolled onto her stomach and seemed to see them for the first time. She examined them silently. Joy was used to Willow’s wide-eyed probing stare but Nina shrunk back a bit.

“Has anyone ever told said that you’re so cute together?” Willow said.

Nina and Joy looked at each other. “No, they mostly tell us we won’t last another month,” Nina said honestly.

“Or if you’re Jerome, that we should win the Most Batshit-Crazy Couple award in the yearbook,” said Joy.

“Rich coming from him,” Nina said under her breath. Joy elbowed her.

Willow smiled to herself. “I know it’s hard to believe, but Jerome can be sort of sweet actually. He has a sensitive side,” she said.

Nina gave Joy a look. Joy frowned.

“Well, um, I should go,” Nina said. She squeezed Joy’s hand and stood up. “See you at dinner?”

“Mhm,” Joy said, her eyes on Willow, who was smiling at her phone and twirling her hair.

As Nina left and went downstairs, she passed Mara on her way up. Mara smiled at her like normal, her face unsuspecting. Nina wished Joy good luck and braced for dinner.

For a moment, she was thankful she was dealing with a reawakened tomb raider instead.

[mask-of-anubis]

This concept makes all Amber’s frustration with Fabian’s antics even funnier. She’s like ‘bro it’s not that hard, I could run circles around you as her girlfriend.’

Headcanon: Amber and Joy had beef in S2 bc Amber was in love with Nina who wasn’t in love with her, yet she wasn’t causing a fuss. Unlike Joy who decided she didn’t want to wallow in unrequited love and took action. Because Joy could do that, and Amber couldn’t. Wouldn’t.

[non-cannon]

Something something, au in which Nina and Patricia go to prom together and Nina convinces Patricia to dance with her and they become a couple and Joy sees this. And shortly after everyone arrives at the start of season 2 Joy pulls Nina aside and gives her the shovel talk

[eldritch-nightmare]

do the others know about you?

synopsis: you're just a human dating someone that's... well. you can certainly never introduce them to your friends or family. but do their friends/companions know about you?

a/n: is it a good idea to include every single creepypasta i can think of from the top of my head... no. will i do it anyway? yes, i will. anyways this right here is my pride and joy. i enjoyed writing it, and i'm proud of it, so i hope you guys enjoy it as well.

warnings: possessive behavior in a few, yandere behavior in a few, spoiler alert alex almost kills you but dw there's no character death here.

includes: jeff the killer, eyeless jack, jane the killer [richardson + arkensaw], laughing jack, slenderman, nina the killer, the bloody painter, the puppeteer, clockwork, jason the toymaker, hobo heart, nurse ann, zalgo, x-virus, homicidal liu, ticci toby, tim wright, brian thomas, jay merrick, alex kralie, and jessica locke.

jeff the killer would more than likely tell the others about you, though mostly just so everyone knows that you're off limits for killing. he also just has this thing where he needs people to know what belongs to him so they know not to touch it, and in his mind, you belong to him so. none are allowed to touch you.

eyeless jack isn't that open about his personal life to others. mostly because he can't remember any of it, but also because he's just a guarded person in general. at most, the only people who know about you will probably be jeff, ben, and maybe sully.

jane richardson doesn't really hide your existence, mostly because she doesn't have contact with the others, so it doesn't matter. everyone of importance knows that you're together, and the government knows as well, so.

jane arkensaw would prefer certain people didn't find out about you, though she may tell some of her close friends about you if she's certain that they will keep your existence a secret as well. then again, it's not like you'll ever come into contact with any of the others so long as she has any say about it.

laughing jack more than likely lets everyone know about you because he literally can't shut up about you. he loves you! people need to know that he is so sickeningly devoted to you! even the kids he terrorizes know about you!

slenderman doesn't have any say on whether or not people learn about you because they're gonna find out anyways. besides, it's better if they did know about you because then they would know that you are off limits for killing. anyone who dares to even try to harm you will understand the pure wrath slender can bring down upon them.

nina the killer wants everyone to know about you. she needs everyone to know that you two are together and that she loves you so very much. she tells everyone all about the dates you two have and the gifts you get each other. it's cute, though it can be annoying at times.

the bloody painter doesn't interact much with the others, so not many of them know. helen doesn't really care if anyone finds out that he's dating you, it doesn't really matter to him. though... he will have some words if any of them try making a move on you or hurting you. you're his muse, after all.

the puppeteer doesn't want anyone to know about you, not even his proxies. you're his. no one else deserves to even know that you exist, so why the hell would he tell anyone about you? at most, the only person who knows about you would be emra because he knows that she won't tell anyone if he orders it.

clockwork doesn't let people close to her, so only a small handful of people would even know about you. she likes that none of the others really knows about you, though a part of her thinks about telling them so they know not to make you a victim. not that you'll ever become a victim, of course. she'll protect you from anything, don't worry.

jason the toymaker wouldn't want anyone to know about you. honestly, his whole thing is making sure that you belong to no one but him. you don't need anyone other than him, so why would he tell anyone about you? the others will know that he has someone in his life already, someone he'd burn the world down for, but they'll never know it's you unless they visit his toy shop.

hobo heart would be delighted if the others knew you were his. you have his heart, so it's only natural for everyone to know that you love each other, right? that's how relationships work. he doesn't really speak much with the others, but when he is around then he'll let everyone know who has his heart.

nurse ann is hardly ever around the others for them to even know about you. the only three to know of your existence is liu, sully, and helen because those are the only people she's close with. they don't need to know about you, it's not like they'll ever hurt you. trust me, she won't let them even if they were to try.

zalgo is just as surprised as everyone else that he's like... together. with you. shocks him every day, to be honest. but yes, he wants everyone to know you're his. he doesn't see you as a weakness, though he knows how fragile humans are so he makes sure you're safe from any that may cause you harm. it also sends a... delightful chill to the core of his existence knowing that everyone knows you belong to him.

x-virus basically needs everyone to know that you're together. not because he's possessive in any way, but because he needs to use this as a way to keep you with him. a tactic to keep you from leaving, if you will. with you dating cody, you're safe from harm. if you ever leave him, then you're no longer under his protection. so... stay with him.

homicidal liu is... hesitant, to put it simply. he doesn't particularly mind if the others find out, but he most certainly won't go out of his way to tell anyone. he doesn't want you involved in the darker parts of his life because he's worried about your safety. there are a few that he simply doesn't trust to know about you. sully, on the other hand, would love for everyone to know about you. he doesn't tell anyone because he respects liu's wishes to keep your existence a secret. though, he can't lie, it does make his heart race knowing that he and liu are the only ones who know about you.

ticci toby neither hid your relationship from people nor did he let anyone know about it. he's a naturally reserved person, so it wasn't like he was super open about himself with the others. in the beginning, the only one to know about you would probably be slender, but that's just because it's like... toby's boss, essentially. of course, those who were paying attention could see the signs.

tim wright would definitely keep your existence secret for as long as possible. the only person who knew about you in the beginning was brian, if we're being honest, and after all hell breaks loose, he'd do everything he could to keep you from getting involved. god forbid if jay or alex found out about you. jay would've used you to find him, and alex would've tried killing you.

brian thomas was open about his relationship with you, so everyone knew who you were. you even offered moral support to everyone filming marble hornets. of course, brian disappeared one day... and then you lost contact with alex... and tim was trying to move on with his life, so you didn't really keep in touch with him either. then jay came around, and... well. that led to a certain hooded figure watching you from afar.

jay merrick was neither open nor reserved about his relationship with you. he probably mentioned you early on in a few tapes, and he maybe even introduced you to alex when they were still friends. you'd probably be mentioned in casual conversation with tim, but ultimately it was a situation where if someone knew, they knew. and if they don't, then they just don't.

alex kralie was more reserved about his relationship with you. his closest friends knew, such as jay and brian, but that was about it. of course, once the operator entered the scene and alex started cleaning up loose ends, your life was endangered. alex... he wanted to kill you. he had to kill you. you suppose it's a good thing jay managed to find you before alex could.

jessica locke is obviously very open about her relationship with you. no need to keep it a secret, y'know? you two are like... the couple, y'know? everyone knows you're dating; you guys don't hide it. why would you two keep it a secret? there's no reason to.

[romancemedia]

The Love Triangle of Nina-Sett-Azure begins (1x09)