#oh wait perhaps I’ve already made that deal

[ursachaotic]

How would Bill trick my sona into reading the Book of Bill

I have two ideas but the silly one is “become Bill’s friend” and I imagine Bill is like 😒 what the hell this is pathetic

[gardenoflupins]

Fairy Tale AU / @wolfstarmicrofic / 774 words

“For pity’s sake,” a voice groaned, “can you stop your incessant weeping.”

Remus flinched, straightening himself up from the tree he was leaning against with a sniff.

“What?” he chokes out, searching for the voice. He is startled once more when he angles his head up to a man crossing his arms with an exasperated look.

“It’s endless with you. Always weeping. Always disturbing the rest of us.”

Remus gapes. He had not expected anyone to hear him, much less be around this area. He chose this spot to cry in specifically because it was away from other people. His face flushes with discomfort.

“Sorry,” Remus offers weakly. It’s then that he really takes the stranger in. They stand in the same cross position, brows furrowed at Remus. What stands out most to Remus is how attractive he is, with the sharp contours of his face, pale skin and strange stormlike eyes. “I didn’t mean to bother you.”

The stranger grimaces. “Right, please resume crying elsewhere.”

Remus’s eyes widen and he stutters for a moment. Along with the embarrassment, a sense of anger hits him. “Excuse me?” he bristles. “You don’t own this place. That’s quite rude.”

Infuriatingly enough, the other rolls his eyes as if he is talking to an ignorant child. “You don’t own this place.”

Remus grits his teeth. Perfect. An arrogant asshole to deal with along with the existing pile of problems he has.

“I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“You’re depressing everyone.” He cocks his head to the side. “And you’re going to attract unwanted attention. Someone is bound to mess with you and then devour you.”

Remus can only stare at him before he slowly shakes his head. This person was incredibly rude (and very handsome). Feeling humiliated, he stands up and walks away without looking back.

He walks for only a few seconds before risking a glance back, only to find the clearing empty. Dumbfounded, Remus turns forward and is overcome with the same grief, this time worsened with the confrontation.

His tears start once more. He was wounded that someone had found his safe space in the heart of the forest and made him uncomfortable enough to leave. Was he always bound to lose everything?

“Have I upset you more?” someone asks from behind. Remus curses and flips around, red eyes glaring at the stranger who at least had the decency to look a bit guilty.

“What do you want?” he asks bitterly, “I’m already leaving like you wanted.”

They gaze at him curiously, coming to stand next to him. Remus tenses.

“Perhaps that was not the way to introduce myself,” he allows.

Remus continues glaring at him. They quirk a brow and retry. “I suppose I have no reason to remove you. You are obviously fond of this place with how often you read and nap here. I’ve seen you talk gently to the birds and sometimes even the trees.”

Cold horror spreads across Remus’s chest and into his entire body.

He continues speaking, unconcerned that his words are unsettling. “You don’t break branches, you pick up any litter you see, and you share your food with smaller animals. It is not right for me to forbid you from coming when you are one of the only humans that treat this place with the endearment it deserves.”

Remus doesn’t respond to that. How had this unusual person known all of that? Who was he? Remus feels uneasy. The man himself seemed uncanny but not in a horrible way. Just too… perfect. He had an aura that unwillingly drew Remus in like an insect to a web.

“Are you a park ranger or something?”

An amused smile plays on his lips. “Something like that.”

“Thank you,” Remus says stupidly, chest heaving with relief. The other’s expression turns into something intense and waiting. “It means a lot. I owe you,” he continues.

The man raises his eyebrows. “Oh?”

There was that strange feeling again. His soft and confident voice drew Remus in like a haze. Remus’s body tensed at the urge to lean, lean, lean into his presence. He held his ground and hummed in affirmation.

“You’ll find,” the other mused, “that you will regret promises like that.”

Remus paused to give him a wary once over. He faltered when he finally took in the peculiar way the man's ears were pointed.

His smile grows at that, looking a little menacing. “I’ll collect that favour soon. In the meantime? Feel free to cry.”

Remus yanks himself backwards when the man just disappears. Completely gone from existence. He is left staring at the empty spot with wide, frightened eyes.

[mari-writes]

🦉🖤

“Here you go, my prince!��

Akaashi felt Bokuto’s lips brush his cheek, and a mug was quietly placed near his laptop on the kitchen island. He mumbled his thanks, with every intention of continuing his grueling night of studying. He had so much to do…

But then he registered his boyfriend’s words. He blinked, looking up from the screen to where the man was heading back to the kitchen. “Wait. Bokuto-san, what did you just call me?”

“Huh?” Bokuto hummed as he poured from the kettle.

Akaashi was almost too embarrassed to repeat the phrase. “You… called me your ‘prince?’ Where did that come from?” Akaashi knew that Bokuto loved to use pet names. They’d only been dating for a few months, but he’d heard plenty. ‘Babe’ was the most common. 

But this was new.

“Oh!” Bokuto laughed nervously. When he turned around, Akaashi noticed a rosy blush working its way up his neck. “Um, well…”

“I don’t mind.” Akaashi smiled softly. “You’ve just never called me that before.”

Bokuto nodded, putting down his mug and leaning across the counter. “Well I’ve always wanted to! And now I get to whenever I want!” He grinned at Akaashi’s continued confusion. “What I mean is… you’re really, really beautiful.”

It was Akaashi’s turn to go red. He looked down into his tea to avoid Bokuto’s fiery gaze.

“When I first saw you, I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, he looks like a prince from a fairytale, or a historical drama on TV!’ And that was before I even realized I was bisexual!” He chuckled.

Akaashi sputtered. “B-Bokuto…”

“You were just so proper and lovely! And you had such good posture! That part’s changed a bit, I guess… but you’re still so put together, and focused, and um, regal? That’s a word, right?”

Akaashi was close to falling off his stool. He didn’t know how to deal with this. Would he have to endure this sort of flattery all the time now? Was this his life from now on?

“‘kaashi?” Bokuto made his way around the island. “Are you okay in there?” His voice was kind, but Akaashi detected a slight teasing tone. The man knew what he was doing. And Akaashi would have none of it.

Slamming his laptop closed, Akaashi turned and grabbed his boyfriend by his shirt. “Shut up,” he snapped, and smashed their lips together.

Akaashi wasn’t great at expressing himself. But he knew how to do this. He knew how to show the love of his life that he felt the same way, that he had been enamored with him since the very start, as well. 

Bokuto made an odd sound, like a cross between a yelp and a groan. It didn’t take long before he was eagerly reciprocating, his hands sliding around Akaashi’s trim waist and pulling him off the stool. Akaashi’s arms found the back of his neck, long fingers tangling in monochrome locks.

After a few heated minutes, Bokuto pulled back. His face was beet red, hair in disarray, and the smile that split his face was blinding. “Wow!” He shook his head in disbelief. “Who knew you were so into being complimented!”

Oh you have no idea, Akaashi thought, a bit shamefully. 

Perhaps, someday, he'll tell Bokuto of the pleasure he experiences when being praised. Akaashi was embarrassed at how intense it could be—especially when said praise came from the man he was currently pressed up against.

Akaashi huffed, annoyed at how close Bokuto already was to figuring it out. He was supposed to be the analytical one, wasn’t he? He bit back a pout. “Oh, just shut up and kiss me more,” he demanded.

Grinning, Bokuto leaned back in. “Sure thing, your highness...”

//

Yes, I wrote another silly little thread fic instead of working on my other (more important) WIPs. I’m sorry. I hope you enjoy this enough to forgive me. If you do, please leave a comment and share! It really helps me out.

You can check out my other fics here!

[whoredmode]

kind of a headcanon/lore dump?? idk whatever you wanna call it. whatever it is. dewynter sisters stuff no one asked for but they’ve been on my mind and i don’t think i’ve really shared much of my hcs for them.

so if you keep up with my rewrites/my canon, you know that kiki and viola are mercenaries sent by ultor to kill loren (and later dex). here’s some more basic lore. this is all barely scratching the surface of all the lore and thoughts i have on them, so by all means feel free to ask me stuff. and honestly i’ll probably end up making more posts like this in the future (for them and others) if people are interested.

father: hendrik dewynter

mother: akane dewynter (née ueno)

their father is dutch and french while their mother is japanese and filipino.

as far as their general background goes, they were born in the netherlands, traveled with their parents for their work a lot, and were raised in both europe and the united states. both twins are fluent in dutch, french, and japanese.

both parents have been working in the criminal underworld for decades and have essentially been training the girls to become the mercenaries they are since they were young. hendrik and akane work primarily in illegal arms deals, and they use their cover as high society people to facilitate that. all this led to some familiarity with some syndicate members pre-loren’s leadership, but more so through their high society connections. worth noting i don’t believe the syndicate leaned as heavily into arms dealing until after loren became head of it because that was his area of expertise as well. regardless, hendrik and akane and their network got into illegal arms trade and espionage predominantly within western europe. when they had the twins, they were trained from a young age to become the perfect spies, assassins, whatever. this unintentionally made it so the girls really only trusted each other. they are not a close family. the dewynter’s see their relationship with their daughters as more of a business arrangement. almost transactional. they’d argue that what they put them through was for them to succeed, but in turn it just dissolved any chance of a meaningful relationship between them. despite this, or perhaps because of this, they became extremely adept mercenaries. keep in mind though that all this shit about the dewynter family was not widely known. hendrik and akane still had their regular careers as covers, and it’s why the twins have their backgrounds in economics and art.

regardless, loren was delighted to have them working within the syndicate—however he did not know that them asking to work for him directly was because they were being employed by ultor to sell secrets and eventually kill him. it also helped that they could speak dutch and french to him; there were many instances of the three of them having conversations that matt and killbane could not understand (which bothered the latter to no end).

the twins themselves only have a sense of loyalty to each other, and they do their work based on who’s paying best and what they believe they should do with their information they’re given. it’s why viola switches sides so easily after the death of kiki. money may have been their endgame, but the one thing they put above that is each other.

fwiw, viola does go back to doing mercenary work after the events of my sriv rewrite conclude. she’s one of several characters who leave the saints at the end. she allows them to keep in contact with her though. this whole thing kicks off a bit of a cat and mouse game she and shaundi have, but that’s for another post (oh wait i already made one kinda. happy shaunviola saturday).

this is getting away from me. also i wrote this all while really tired so apologies if it’s a little scattered. i love kiki and viola.

[jomiddlemarch]

A letter always seemed to me like immortality

Everyone Diana wanted to write to was dead.

Walter, what seemed like a dozen lifetimes ago, at Courcelette if his last letter to Rilla was to be believed; Diana had often wondered whether he had already considered himself a dead man walking before the day of the last battle, the boy he’d been destroyed beyond repair or rebirth.

Aunt Leslie, whom she’d found it easier to talk to than her own mother, perhaps because she’d also had a brother she adored. Perhaps because she’d left Glen St. Mary and never missed it. 

Perhaps because Leslie liked whiskey better than tea, newspapers better than poetry. 

Una, who’d been too pale since she barely survived nursing her father and stepmother through the Spanish flu, who’d been someone everyone underestimated or decided to treat as a martyr, who would not have judged Di the way her own sisters would. 

Rosalind Foyle, whom she’d had to ask about as discreetly as she could, counting on her general reception as a cheerful and polite Canadian, not much like a bossy Yank, to yield her the few details she’d squirreled away. An artist, a mother. A beauty. Better-bred than her husband, well-liked, she’d had elegant hands and never forgot to wear gloves.

Diana only wore gloves to operate and if an actual gale was blowing in a blizzard.

Who had thought all she wanted was to go to France, to make something of her life that would last her the rest of it. That might make the rest of it of a duration she could bear, an end her family could cope with or justify why she’d never return to PEI.

Dear Una, You’re the best one to write to, I think. The one who’d mind the least, like it the most. The least awkward for me to imagine reading this, the least likely to tell me something I don’t want to know. I leave for France in a few weeks and now I don’t want to go. Or rather, I do and then I don’t. There’s something holding me in England now, something to do with Walter, a mystery. Men, who’ve died. A man who’s alive, very much so.

A man I want to know. His name is Foyle. Christopher. He knew Walter, said Walter knew him as Kit. Everyone calls him Foyle or sir or Superintendent. Christopher. Oh Una, I thought this was behind me. That it was something I’d never have to deal with, some sort of consolation of being a woman in a world missing a generation of men. I thought I wouldn’t know this and that was a relief, watching you and Rilla and Nan. Faith. Mary. I thought it was fair, that I’d never know heartbreak like this. And now there’s Christopher. A half-dozen dead men. Walter’s poem. And France, waiting for me. I have to go, I know that, but how do I go wanting to stay here, a place I can’t call home. Wanting to come back.

Christopher. I like writing his name because I oughtn’t say it often. That’s what a young girl does, lovesick, dull, embarrassing herself, making everyone around her smile behind their hands unless it’s Miss Cornelia, scolding you for making a fool of yourself and for what, a man? What’s a man worth, I ask you—can’t you hear her say it, tart, ready to wash her hands of us— I don’t care what a man’s worth, Una. Just Christopher. And I can’t answer the question, not to satisfy Miss Cornelia or you or myself.

You’d write me back something comforting, if you could. If you hadn’t died before your time, twice over, after the telegram, after the epidemic. I should have insisted you leave before me or with me. I should have told your father you were worth more than all the rest of them put together or made Dad send you away to convalesce, somewhere warm, where you might have lolled about, turning brown in the sun. I’ve said I’ll go to France and sew up the men who need sewing up. Cut off the parts that need cutting off. I’ve said that’s my life, my vocation, as important as Mother’s poetry, as Walter’s, as the babies Jem delivers and the columns Ken Ford writes, and it must be but now there’s murder and Christopher to contend with, a dozen mysteries at the heart of me. For it seems I’ve a heart after all, Una. It beats and beats and leaps when it oughtn’t. It will break, I know it shall.

Christopher. I’ll take a dream in lieu of a letter. A flower, out of place, in lieu of a word. Answer me if you can, Una. You can’t and I know that, but I’ll still hope, silly Di Blythe.

She put the letter in an envelope but left it unsealed and unaddressed.

Left the envelope in an otherwise empty drawer of the desk in her flat. If she didn’t return from France, well, that didn’t bear thinking about too closely. If her papers were sent back to Canada, her father would likely burn the letter rather than let her mother see it unless if gave it to Nan, thinking her twin would derive some comfort and, happily married to Jerry, the bonny wife and mother Di had not made of herself, could weather any pang it gave her.

If somehow it ended up with Christopher, he’d know how she’d once felt.

She could make that happen, writing his name across the white field of the envelope, but that was too much like a dare, and for all she was her father’s daughter, she still had her mother’s wise fear of the fey.

She’d written his name enough. She’d hope she’d come back to say it.

[spoilmesweetieforficssake]

Not Quite A Walk In The Park

The asks in my inbox are coming, I swear! A few of them have just tottered off plan like unruly toddlers for the moment...and while working on wrangling them back on track, I got a little distracted and couldn't quite leave this one alone. Can be read as a stand alone, but in my head it follows on the day after I Only Have Eyes For You

~*~

You’re rarely on time for anything, never mind early, but here you are waiting for Melissa at your agreed meeting spot twenty minutes ahead of time.  You’re a walking cliché of a girl in love but you can’t bring yourself to care.  This is your second date with Melissa Schemmenti, the woman you’ve been pining after for months, so you figure you’re allowed to be a little excited.

As familiar red hair catches the sun, you can’t help but smile.  As she approaches, you take advantage of the fact that you’re now allowed to look without care of being caught.  You want her to know you find her stunning. 

“Hey you!” you grin as she draws level with you, leaning in to press a kiss to her cheek.

“Hey,” she mumbles in reply, her cheeks blushing prettily. 

Offering her an arm, you nod in the direction of the café.  “Shall we?”

She looks at you for a moment before linking her arm with yours.  You think perhaps it’s just that you’re not used to walking so closely with her, but she feels stiff next to you.  The further you walk, however, the more concerned you become when not only are her steps stilted, but her words. 

Passing a bench, you bring you both to a halt, sitting and bringing her with you thanks to your linked arms.  You stare at her intently, but she keeps her eyes firmly on her feet.  “Okay, I’m not usually one for confrontation but what the hell is going on?  Last night you were all ‘I don’t want you to leave’ and today you can barely look at me.”

“I had the night to think.”

So few words and yet they knock the breath from you.  It takes you a few attempts to get any words to leave your mouth, despair and anger fighting to be heard first.  “So what?  You regret last night already?” 

She shakes her head, letting out a sigh, looking small and defeated.  “No.  No, that’s not it.  I just don’t wanna make you have regrets.”

You frown, not understanding.  “What?”

She extricates her arm from yours, wringing her fingers together in her lap.  “I never thought I had a shot with you.  I’m literally old enough to be your mom and you’re going to want things I can’t give you.  You should be out living your life, not walking an old geriatric like me around the park on a Sunday.”

Oh.  That you weren’t expecting.  You’re so used to Melissa being her bold, beautiful self that this flash of insecurity takes you quite by surprise.  You had hoped you had made it clear the evening before that when you looked at her you saw her exactly as she was and saw exactly what you wanted.  “What things?” you ask, finally. 

“What about kids?” she mumbles.

“What about kids?” you repeat incredulously.  “I kiss you once and I want kids?  I’ve never wanted kids.”

Her eyes fly up to meet yours.  “What?  But you’re-“

“So good with them?” you cut her off.  “You have no idea how many times I’ve heard that.  I love what I do in teaching, but I don’t want kids of my own, Melissa.  I never have.  Is this really what you were so hung up on?”

“It’s a big thing,” she replies defensively.

You nod.  “It is, yeah.  Do you…is that a deal breaker for you?” you ask hesitantly, half terrified to hear her answer.

She shakes her head, her hair falling across her shoulder to hide her face.  “Joe…he made me think I did.  That being a ‘proper’ family was what we needed.”  She pauses, and a long moment passes before she speaks again.  “It ended up in a miscarriage.”  She lets out a shuddering breath.  “In a way it was the best thing that could have happened, what with the way things turned out.”

Your heart breaks for the woman sitting next to you, and you reach out, covering her trembling hands with her own.  “I’m so sorry that happened to you.”

“I survived,” she says with a shrug of false bravado.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” you say quietly, reaching to tuck her hair back over her shoulder so you can see her face.  Her lip trembles and her eyes are glassy with unshed tears. 

She lets out a wet laugh.  “You know flattery won’t get you any further than it already has, right?”

You smile back at her, please she feels she can tease you again.  “I’m not saying it to get anything.  I mean it.  I think you’re amazing, Melissa.”

She sniffs, wiping at her eyes.  “I just don’t wanna hold you back from the life you should be living.  You’re young and-“

You’ve tried words.  This time you cut her off with a kiss.  Pulling back, you lean your forehead against hers.  “I never thought I had a shot with you either, Melissa, but now I do, I don’t want it all to go to hell because we’re on different pages in different books.  How about next time you invent some weird life I’m apparently missing out on you run it by me, huh?  Because from where I’m sitting, I hit the jackpot.”

She blushes.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to ruin today.  I just got all up in my head.”

You nod, pulling back so you can look at her.  “I know this is all new and scary, but please believe me when I say I want to be here, with you.  It’s all I’ve wanted for months.  Just ask Ava,” you laugh, only to quickly think the better of your words.  The woman knows too much.  Has heard you drunkenly confess your love for the red head.  “In fact no, don’t ask Ava.  Definitely don’t ask Ava!”

Melissa raises an eyebrow, intrigued at your sudden outburst.

You stand from the bench, offering your hand.  “Lunch?”

“Don’t think I don’t see you changing the subject,” smirks the red head.  “I think I might quite like to hear what Ava has to say.”  She reaches out, taking your hand, but doesn’t move.  “You really wanna do this?”

You take a step forward, dropping her hand in favour of cupping her cheeks, your thumbs stroking over prominent cheek bones.  “I told you before, I’m not playing games here, Melissa. I want this.  I want you.”

Those brilliant green eyes look up at you for a long time.  You do your best not to flinch under the scrutiny, hoping she sees whatever she needs to see in your face.  Finally, a smile begins to tug at the corners of her lips.  “I want this too.”

You lean down to press a gentle kiss to her lips, lingering over the contact.  “Good, because I skipped breakfast for this.  I’m starving.  Sit still much longer and I’ll eat you!”

[rainwingmarvel7]

Just the Way You Are - Jinx x OC

Part I. Enemy

Thank you @chic-beyond-the-wall-oc-acct for encouraging me to start writing this!!!

(Dividers by @the-voice-beckons-below)

All his life, Kasper Glas had heard tales of the Undercity. None of them were good ones, all Shimmer, despair, and rotting bodies. He never thought that he would find himself there, much less seeking an audience with a crime lord the likes of Silco.

But desperate times called for desperate measures.

As he waited outside of Silco’s office, Kasper fidgeted with the cuffs of his sleeves, made of navy blue and gold fabric, threaded with lines of lighter blue like paned glass.

He was alone in the hallway, having been left there by Silco’s right hand woman, a muscular woman with a mechanical arm and an intimidating face named Sevika. She had sternly told him to wait, and so he had waited.

But as each moment passed, he began to wonder if he had made the wrong decision in coming. It wasn’t too late to turn back yet. He could just go home and pretend this had never happened. Maybe he would only get in a little trouble for going behind his family’s backs, and he could -

“Hey, pretty boy,” Sevika said gruffly, poking her head out to fix him with her cold gray eyes. “Silco is ready for you.”

“Uh, thank you,” Kasper responded. He adjusted his tie, patterned to look like blue stained glass, and stepped through the door as Sevika swung it open for him, trying to muster some measure of confidence.

Silco was there waiting for him, seated in a plush red chair, framed by the light shining through a massive circular window made of green glass behind him. In Silco’s hand was a lit cigar, and he took a drag from it as he watched Kasper walk into the room.

Silco was intimidating in a different way than Sevika. He was still and poised, like a snake waiting to strike, and his eyes seemed to pierce through Kasper, straight into his soul. There was scarring on one side of his face, and his iris was black, giving his orange pupil an eerie, glowing quality.

“Kasper Glas,” Silco drawled, blowing smoke from his thin lips. His voice was low and smooth, but there was also an unmistakable authority in every word he spoke. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Haven’t you already spoken to my father?” Kasper asked.

“Oh yes, I have,” Silco responded. He took another puff of his cigarette, exhaling the smoke through his nostrils. “And he told me you were coming and that I should listen to you. Now, I want to hear what you have to say.”

“Very well,” Kasper murmured, straightening his posture. “I have a proposal for you.”

“My, my. A proposal?” Silco echoed, sounding amused by the idea. “Did you hear that, Sevika? The boy has come to me with a proposal.”

Sevika snorted. “This should be good,” she remarked.

“Alright, Glas,” Silco said. He paused to put out his cigar, then folded his hands below his chin and leaned forward, focusing the intensity of his gaze on Kasper. “I’m listening.”

“As I’m sure you know, my family controls the majority of the glasswork industry in Piltover,” Kasper began.

“I am aware, yes,” Silco murmured.

“Well, for the past several years, it has been flourishing, and we are now looking to expand our dealings elsewhere,” Kasper continued.

“You want to do business with me?” Silco surmised, his brows raised with intrigue. “With Zaun?”

“I thought perhaps we might be able to come to an arrangement,” Kasper responded. He gestured towards the window behind Silco. “I’ve seen the what the Undercity is like. You’re doing what you can to keep it running, but with my family’s assistance, you could make real improvements to the infrastructure.”

Above him, Kasper heard something creak, but when he looked up, he couldn’t see anything. He frowned thoughtfully, returning his attention to Silco as he kept talking.

“Hm, that is quite the offer,” Silco observed. “But what would it cost me?”

“Nothing you couldn’t afford,” Kasper assured him. “It would be a mutually beneficial agreement for both of us. We receive your business, and in return, our services are yours.”

Silco’s brows raised with interest. “All of them?”

Kasper nodded solemnly. “All of them,” he promised.

Silco sat back in his chair, looking Kasper up and down with a thoughtful glint in his one good eye.

“I’ll admit, boy, you have my attention,” he said. “I will consider your proposal, but I will not make any guarantees as to whether or not I will ultimately agree. Is that understood?”

“Yes, it is,” Kasper responded.

“Good,” Silco said. “I will let you know when I’ve made my decision. Now, I’m afraid I’m a very busy man, and there is other business I must attend to. Have a good day, Kasper Glas. Sevika will see you out.”

Before Kasper could get another word out, Sevika was already grabbing him by the shoulder and shoving him towards the door.

Once Sevika had escorted Kasper outside of the building, she gave him one last forceful nudge, sending him stumbling onto the street.

“See you around, kid,” she said with a smirk. “If you get that lucky.”

“Thanks-” Kasper started to say, but Sevika was already slamming the door closed in his face.

He stood there for a moment, dusting off his coat and exhaling a heavy sigh.

“Alright then,” he murmured. “Suppose I’ll just be on my way.”

Shoving his hands into his pockets, he started making his way down the street. He kept his pace quick, but not so much so that he drew more attention to himself than he already did.

It wasn’t long before he found himself approaching a large building with a giant, glowing green eye for a sign. In the eye’s pupil were the words “The Last Drop”, and Kasper realized it must have been a bar. It looked to be a popular one at that, as he could see several patrons coming and going, and even from the street, he could hear lively music and chatter from inside.

“I suppose it couldn’t hurt to grab a drink,” Kasper remarked to himself thoughtfully. After his meeting with Silco, he could use something to calm his nerves, and he wasn’t exactly eager to return home just yet.

Squaring his shoulders and standing up a little straighter, Kasper made his way over to the entrance to The Last Drop. It was being guarded by two tough-looking bouncers who were only slightly less intimidating than Sevika, but he hoped that if he looked confident enough, they’d let him through.

It almost seemed to work, until one of the bouncers, a tall, muscular man with hands as big as Kasper’s head, grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him backward.

“Woah, woah, woah. Hold on there, Blondie,” he said gruffly. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“To get a drink,” Kasper responded. He put his hands on his hips and glared at the bouncer with the indignant stare he had perfected from his father. “Why? Is that not allowed?”

“Not here, it’s not. This isn’t the place for you, Topsider,” the bouncer said, shoving Kasper backwards. “Now get lost.”

“Hey!” Kasper bristled, staggering back at few steps.

“Beat it, kid,” the second bouncer growled, coming up beside the first.

“Come on now, gentlemen, that’s no way to treat a guest,” a smooth, silky voice said from behind Kasper.

He glanced back to see a group of people led by a tall, olive-skinned man with jet black hair covering half his head, serpentine green eyes under hooded lids, and tattoos inked on every visible inch of his body, including his chest showing beneath his low-cut vest. The most striking thing about him, however, was that his entire jaw and lower teeth had been replaced with a golden prosthetic.

“You vouching for this guy, Finn?” the first bouncer asked the strange man.

“That’s right,” the man - Finn - responded, putting an arm around Kasper that he wanted to shrug off but dared not to. “The man just wants a drink, that’s all. No reason to cause a scene. And if it makes you feel better, I will personally ensure he doesn’t cause any trouble.”

The two bouncers exchanged a look, then the first nodded towards Finn in concession.

“Alright, he can go in,” he said, already stepping aside to allow them entry.

“Thank you,” Finn responded, rewarding the bouncer with the closest thing he could give to a charming smile. He gave Kasper a pat on his shoulder, resting his other hand on his chest as he guided him into the bar. “Come on, friend. Let me buy you a drink.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Kasper said, raising his voice over the music blaring through the crowded room. “I can afford it.”

“It’s no trouble,” Finn assured him. He chuckled, flashing Kasper his own version of a smirk. “I can afford it too.”

He led Kasper over to the bar, shooing two other patrons out of the way so that they could sit down. The bartender, a man with a square chin, sharp cheekbones, and small, black eyes. His ink-colored hair was a mess of curls at the top of his head, and his eyelids were dark, like he hadn’t slept in days. When he smiled, he showed his crooked teeth.

“Hey there, Finn,” he said, flipping the towel he had been cleaning with over his shoulder and leaning against the counter. He nodded towards Kasper, looking him up and down. “Who’s this Topside kid you got here?”

“This is my new friend,” Finn said. “Kasper Glas.”

“Oh-ho, this guy’s important,” the bartender laughed, pointing at Kasper.

“That’s right. And I was just going to buy him a drink.” He gave the bartender an expectant look, dropping some coins on the counter. “Two of your finest, on me.”

“You got it,” the bartender responded with an enthusiastic nod. He scooped the coins into his pocket, then moved away to pour their drinks.

“How do you know who I am?” Kasper asked Finn suspiciously.

“What?” Finn asked.

“You knew my name, but I never gave it to you,” Kasper said.

“No offense, Blondie, but you stick out like a sore thumb around here,” Finn pointed out, tugging on Kasper’s suit jacket for emphasis. “Everyone knows who you are the moment they look at you. Even if they don’t know your name, they know your type.”

Kasper raised a brow at him. “You didn’t answer my question,” he said. “How did you know my name?”

“Silco and I are business partners,” he responded, just as the bartender returned with their drinks. Finn paused to take a sip from his before continuing, “He mentioned he had an important meeting with some Piltover kid today. Didn’t take much digging to figure out it was with you.”

“So, what do you want with me?” Kasper asked expectantly. He swirled his glass in his hand, then raised it up to his lips to take a drink. It was strong, stronger than he was used to, but he didn’t let it show on his face. “It’s obvious that’s why you’re here.”

“Straight to business, I like it,” Finn remarked. “Alright. I’ll tell you.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “I thought you might appreciate the opportunity to work with someone more… agreeable than that old man on top.”

“You’ve got a problem with Silco?” Kasper asked.

“Let’s just say, he won’t be in charge for much longer,” Finn responded. “He’s fading, Glas. And my fellow partners and I, well, we’re getting pretty tired of doing his bidding. We want results. He’s not giving us enough of them.”

“Oh, I get it,” Kasper remarked. “You want my family’s business so you can get the edge on Silco, all so you can eventually get rid of him.”

“You’re quick,” Finn commented.

“And I’m not an idiot,” Kasper added. “I came here to do business with Silco, and only Silco. I’m not making any deals with you.” He slid his drink away from him and got out of his chair. “Thanks for the drink. Now if you don’t mind, I’ll just be on my way.”

Finn’s smirk became a snarl. “I don’t think so, kid,” he said. “Nobody walks out on me like that.”

“Oh yeah?” Kasper snapped. He started walking backwards, towards the door. “Well, I just did.”

Shoving his hands back into his pockets, Kasper turned his back on Finn, continuing on his way out of the bar without another word.

“You’re gonna regret this, kid!” Finn yelled after him. “You don’t know who the fuck you’re messing with!”

Kasper just kept walking.

Yeah, well, neither do you.

[hollowwrites]

To Hogsmeade

Garreth x MC

Summary - I might make this a thing? How different people would deal with Hogsmeade? I’ve already lost my mind after my game freaked out and I had Ominis and Sebastian in Hogsmeade with me so that’s an option. Also just Ominis taking you?

Don’t get me wrong I love Sebastian (I keep getting requests for Seb and it’s made me love him DAMN YOU ALL) but there should have been more options.

Also there’s some unintentional shade thrown at Sebastian for leaving you to your own devices in Hogsmeade. Seb would deffo join you, especially to pick your wand.

Warnings - None, Just a rewrite of Hogsmeade with Garr, Violence(?) for the troll battle

Word Count - 1506

~

Why?

Why him?

The fact that people assume being the nephew of the Deputy Headmistress is a good thing means they never see aspects like this.

The new fifth year needed to go into Hogsmeade for some supplies and after Sallow had gotten himself another detention and Professor Onai had dragged Natty off for a ‘talking to’, Garreths aunt had ‘Volunteered’ him.

He wouldn’t mind if he’d have actually spoken to them, but he’d seen them once. All he knew about her was that she was a Hufflepuff. So they were going to be overly sensitive, whiney and a general spoilsport.

Perhaps he shouldn’t judge. Maybe their timid appearance in the Great Hall was due to the dragon Attack they endured, not because they’re the typical Hufflepuff.

And if he was admitting things, maybe she was quite pretty.

Whilst he was daydreaming, he hadn’t noticed her approach him, her hands toying with the edges of her robe. She tapped his shoulder delicately causing a rather dramatic display to burst from the waiting Weasley.

She could’ve sworn both feet left the floor how high he’d jumped. He clutched his chest with an open palm and huge emerald eyes stared down at her.

“Merlin’s great grey beard!! When did you show up?” He asked. She thought he was meant to sound annoyed, but the strain of his voice squeaked under the mini heart attack she had given him.

She laughed.

Full on guffawing at him.

He was about to be significantly annoyed at the turn of events his afternoon had taken…

And then she snorted

She threw her hands around her face, trying to hide the embarrassment of such a noise escaping her. All amusement now leaving her.

“HA! What was that?” It was his turn to laugh

“I’m sorry but that was really funny. I’ve never seen anyone jump like that” she snorted again and her eyes shot open, wide.

“That’s brilliant!” He smirked. After a few more moments laughing at her adorable behaviour he asked, “Shall we get going? My Aunt…sorry…Professor Weasley has asked me to escort you to the village for supplies. It being your first time there and all.”

“Sure let’s go.” She said wiping an amused tear from her eye.

He pushed the huge doors open for her and gestured for her to come through. His arms spread wide to keep them open, she crouched under his arm through the doors. He tipped an imaginary hat as he let go of the doors, and she snickered.

“I’m sorry you had to do this. I’ll make it up to you, somehow, I promise. Merlin knows what you’re missing escorting me” she said looking at the floor as they began their long walk to Hogsmeade.

“Oh nonsense” he said quickly forgetting about all his previous undeserved preconceptions. She actually seemed quite nice. And thoughtful.

And pretty he thought, again

“Anyway…” he coughed clearing his head “I’m Garreth by the way. Garreth Weasley. Yes I’m related to the deputy headmistress, as previous stated, and no it is not as fun as you would believe.”

“I’m Maeve. Bramford” she held her hand out as they walked. He took it eagerly, shaking it with perhaps a bit too much vigor. She laughed yet again.

And giggly too. Cute.

“What is it that you’re after?”

“I have a list…I’m not sure I understand most of it” her face scrunched up as she fumbled for the list in her pocket. “Ah…” she pulled the parchment out “A wand, some spellcrafts…what looks like potion ingredients?”

“Potions? Oh it’s a good job I came then. I’m something of a potions prodigy” he boasted causing her to raise an eyebrow.

“Is that so?”

“Oh yes” he said proudly, his step taking a more confident stride. “You’ll discover soon enough. Perhaps we’ll have Potions together? Thursday, second period?”

She scrambled around her little field guide for the scrap of paper her schedule was on. She looked up, grinning.

“Yes, you’ll have to show me your ways. I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing” her eyebrows raised and pulled to the middle. A look of confusion evident on her face.

“Fear not, you are in very capable hands. Observe…” he sauntered over to a glowing bush, pulling out a little jar from his robes and scooping up a few of the delicate flies littering the foliage. “These are Lacewings. You can stew them for an ingredient in Focus Potions.” He held up the jar for her to look at

“They’re kind of cute” she scrunched her nose up, tapping lightly on the side and delighting as they glowed once more.

“Typical Hufflepuff” he teased and handed her the jar.

~

As they entered Hogsmeade, Maeve was overwhelmed by the sudden smell and atmosphere. It was as though the village had a bubble over it, keeping its magic inside.

The sweet smell called to her and she found herself gravitating towards it, walking up the cobbled pathways as though she knew where she was going. She felt a small tug on her robes before someones hand enveloped hers.

“Come on you, I know Honeydukes is tempting but my Aunt will jinx me if we don’t get this list done. I promise I’ll take you there after” he grinned. His freckled cheeks puffed out with mischief and he guided her along to the first shop on the list.

“You can go on ahead, I can find you later. Maybe we can meet up afterwards?” She offered feeling bad for taking more of his time. He released her hand and put his hand on his hips.

“Firstly, what kind of guide would I be letting you loose in the village? and Secondly…” he tilts his head in a faux strict way “I don’t trust you to not spend all your galleons in Honeydukes. Now let’s go…I can already tell you’re going to be trouble.”

~

“Bloody hell” Garreth panted as the villagers lured the troll away from them. “That was close” he looked over at Maeve and smiled, his relief plastered all over his face.

She was as white as a ghost…

He followed her eye-line to a second troll rounding the corner, beating and slamming its club into the walls and floor.

He instinctually pushed her behind him, drawing his wand.

I just need to keep it away from her until Officer Singer returns

That was when he felt a tiny hand on his shoulder, pulling him aside. Her face was stoney and determined as her wand thrust forward. A pearly blue beam shot from her wand towards the troll. It exploded into ash immediately, it’s dusty form blowing away in the wind.

“What was that?!” He turned to her, both scared and amazed

Her face returned to its normal gentle wonderment as she looked at her new wand.

“I…don’t know”

“It was bloody brilliant!” He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her slightly “I knew you were trouble”

~

Why did I feel so protective of her?

He watched her in The Three Broomsticks, her hands slightly shaking after hearing Rookwood and Ranrok in the alley. But she still looked…innocent. She’d clearly gone through more than anyone in the castle could guess and yet she remained delicate and soft. He leant on his hand as he watched her try Butterbeer for the first time, her eyes going wide at its sugary taste and giggling for the hundredth time as the cream lingered on her nose.

So…adorable…

The doors swung open and the intimidating duo of Rookwood and Harlow made for his new friend.

Garreth placed his hand on her shoulder keeping her in her seat as he got up and stood in front of her. He was thankful for Sirona and the other patrons for coming to her aid.

“Can’t drink Butterbeer forever” Rookwood jeered as he left.

“Watch us!” Garreth shouted back. He turned to her and she looked defeated.

He felt as though he had witnessed every emotion on her face in one day. It made his heart ache. She needed to know this world isn’t like this. It was full of wonder, and amazement and…and…well, magic!

She’s had a little bit of bad luck. That’s all.

“Sirona? Do you mind if we stay here a little longer?”

“Of course, I’ll refill your Butterbeer. Again…on the house” She smiled warmly at the pair, her eyes holding concern as she glanced at Maeve.

“Thank you…Both of you” Maeve said shakily, holding her cup between both hands.

“We’ll wait till they’ve disappeared into whatever hole they came out of and I’ll escort you back to the castle” Garreth took a big swig from his cup and grinned back at her, foam moustache and all. She giggled and followed suit. The pair sporting a matching set of moustaches.

“Sorry you got dragged into all of this. But I really, really appreciate you being here” she wiped her face of the foam and smiled earnestly at him.

“Ah forget about it. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world”

Masterlist

[monorayjak]

More Wedge discussions

Blue, red, and green - Perfection through knowledge, action, and growth. Blue: Perfection. The ultimate goal. Green: Why? Blue: Why what? Green: Why is perfection the goal? Blue: Because it means we exist in the best way possible. Green: And what does that mean exactly? Blue: I don’t follow. Green: What is the best way possible? Blue: Well, I don’t know right now. Green: You don’t know? Blue: Right now, yes. It requires study and complex thought. Red: Ugh, thought. Blue: Oh no I’m with you two again aren’t I? Green: Yep, we’re all back here. Red: Fuck I’m tired of dealing with this. Green: Look, how about we all just agree to work together for a few minutes so we can get this over with and move on? Red: Sure. Blue: Deal, I suppose. Green: Ok… so I want to start with asking you a question Blue. Blue: Hm? Yes? Green: Will you define perfection? Blue: I just did a moment ago, its existing in the best w- Green: Yes, that's a definition, but not the one I’m looking for. Blue: I don’t follow? Green: Ok, I want you to lay out what perfection means to you, not as in the definition, as in, what does it mean to be perfect? How do we know we have achieved it? Red: Its been far too long since I’ve seen Blue stumped like this. Ha! Blue: Ok, ok… how do we know… I… Green: Hm? Yes? Red: Spit it out! Blue: …I don’t know. Red: UGH! Green: No Red, thats a perfect answer. Blue and Red: What? Green: You don’t know… because perfection is subjective. Red: Where are you going with this Green? Blue: Subjective? How can perfection be subjective? Green: Because everyone has a concept of perfection already. Very few of them are exactly the same as one another. Blue:  I… I actually see your point. Holy shit. Red: Wait wait wait, did you just get Blue, fucking BLUE, to admit that you made a valid point they didn’t see!?!?!? Green: Yes Red, I did. It isn’t that hard really. Red: Please teach me this power. Blue: Please don’t teach them. Green: Perhaps we should move on a bit? Red: Ugh, fine. Blue: Ok, so if perfection is subjective… Green: How do we achieve it? Red: OH! I have an idea! Blue: Is it explosions? Red: NO! Green: Ok, fine, what���s the idea Red? Red: Uh… well… you see… Green: It was explosions wasn’t it. Red: Yeah. Blue: Knew it. Red: Wait, I actually think I do have something this time. Blue: Are you sure it isn’t just explosions? Red: Yes. Green: Ok, good. Let’s hear it. Red: What if we stop trying to achieve perfection through society. What if we focus on the self? Blue: Hmm, maybe that could work… Green: I could see it. Red: So… what does that mean for all of us? Blue: Well, if it’s me looking for perfection, I want to achieve mastery over skills and understand everything I can. Green: If it’s me, perfection means finding my spot in the world and being home with it. Red: For me, it’s all about understanding myself and doing what I want. Blue: Ok, so… mastery, belonging, and identity. Green: I like the sound of that in all honesty. Red: Same here. Blue: Well… in all honesty I think mastery is kind of a natural progression from understanding yourself and your role… Red: So… belonging and identity? Green: Hm, belonging and identity. I could live with that. Red: Yeah, I think I can too. Blue: So… let me ask this… Red, what is identity? Red: It’s who I am. It’s my preferences, my memories, my connections, my heart and thoughts, my emotions. It’s everything that makes me, well, me. Green: Hm that’s interesting. Blue: Ok, now Green… what is belonging? Green: Knowing you have found a home. That you are with people who care for you and who watch out for you. Being with a group you’d be willing to die for. Home. Blue: Ok… so… we want to become… Green: …the best versions… Red: …of ourselves. Blue: There isn’t one way to home and happiness and perfection. Green: There are an infinite number. Red: And everyone walks a different one. Blue: Home and Identity. I… well, I like it! Green: Agreed, Red? Red: Motion carried!...or whatever the fuck I’m supposed to say.

[ladycatofwinterfell]

Something with Ned not kissing Cat in protest of her smoking until she quits 😂

I don’t know what this is, but I wrote it and now I’m posting. Enjoy!

Ned was waiting for her in the backyard when she came home. He sat in the patio, resting in an armchair. It had been hot all day, the sun had been scorching. She was not surprised to find him there.

“Unusually hot, isn’t it?” she asked.

“If it’s more than a day left of this heat wave I’m going to die. Or kill myself. Same outcome either way.”

He had his hair pulled back in a bun and there didn’t seem to be a single bone in his body. He was slumped back against the backrest as if he was truly dying.

“You’re so dramatic” she smiled.

She came over to stand next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her with a tired smile as she did so.

“Not in the least. I was not made for this weather.”

Catelyn leaned down to kiss her husband, as she always did when one of them came home. Though instead of her lips meeting his lips they met the palm of his hand. It was rather unpleasant, but she took the hint.

“And what did you do that for?” she asked, offended.

She stood up straight again.

“You know why.”

As if the hand stopping her had not been enough he demonstratively crossed his arms over his chest.

With a sigh Catelyn walked over to sit in another armchair.

“I haven’t smoked today.”

Ned tilted his head slightly to the side, making him for a moment look a little like a dog.

“But have you quit?”

His tone was terribly condescending, it was annoying. She was a grown woman, she could make her own choices and it wasn’t like she was unaware of the risks.

They had already had that conversation. At least ten times by that point. She had said everything that needed saying.

“Catelyn” Ned sighed. “I keep bringing this up because I love you. I’m not trying to be annoying, I’m not trying to moralise, I just don’t want you to die sooner than you have to.”

Her husband had a way of sighing her name that was infuriating.

“Are you going to refuse to kiss me until I stop smoking?”

“That wasn’t my plan, but now I’m definitely going to.”

“Alright, Lysistrata” she said dryly.

“So no sex either? Sounds good.”

Catelyn groaned, sinking further into her seat. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

First time she had quit smoking it had been easier because then she had been very much forced to. Couldn’t risk hurting her baby with the terrible habit. Then she had been clean for years and years.

“Are you going to sex strike to make me quit smoking?”

She opened her eyes to look at him.

“If that’s what it takes” he replied calmly.

As if he wouldn’t struggle with something like that as much as she would.

He was right, she knew he was. It wasn’t like she didn’t want to quit. It wasn’t like she loved being addicted to something that was very likely to make her sick. Perhaps kill her in the end. But quitting was hard, continuing was easy. So much easier.

“How long must I go without smoking before you’ll put your hands on me again?”

It felt like it would be a double punishment if she wouldn’t even be able to distract herself. Well, if she couldn’t get him to distract her. Or if she wouldn’t at least have that option, she wasn’t sure she would even want it once

“It can be business as usual immediately, but I better not catch you lying about it.”

“Oh this is going to suck so much.”

~*~

Catelyn had to avert her eyes when Lyanna held out the package towards her.

“Want a cig?”

“Nope. I’ve quit.”

She had known the question would come when she followed Lyanna outside to keep her company while she smoked, she had prepared herself. That didn’t make the screaming in her head any easier to deal with.

Lyanna still waited a moment before putting it back in the pocket of her jacket. She was smiling.

“I know. Ned told me.”

“And you still offered me a cig?”

Lyanna could be even more infuriating than her brothers at times.

“I wouldn’t have given it to you either way, just wanted to see what you’d say.”

Catelyn hated that family. To believe she had almost married into it through Brandon and then actually married into it through Ned. Mistakes had been made.

Ned poked his head out through the door. He threw a quick glance at Lyanna, saw the unlit cigarette in her hand and then immediately looked at Catelyn.

“Nothing” Catelyn said, holding up her hands to show him they were empty. “She offered and I said no.”

He came out on the porch and let the door close behind him.

“You offered her a cigarette?” he asked Lyanna with raised eyebrows.

“I was never going to give it to her” she said defensively. “And she’s not a child, you don’t need to police her.”

“I’m not trying to police anyone, I just want you to know you’re an ass.”

Lyanna just huffed and fished a lighter out of another pocket.

“Dinner’s ready” Ned let them know.

Catelyn looked at Lyanna. She was cupping a hand around the cigarette between her lips as she lit it. Gods, she wanted that. Why had she followed Lyanna outside in the first place? It was a terrible idea.

Ned caught her by the arm and gave her a kiss as she meant to walk past him and open the door. He lingered there just a moment longer than necessary.

“I’m proud of you” he said as they parted. “You’re doing great.”

“I wish I could say it helps to hear that, but it really doesn’t.”

“I do what I can.”

[charlietheepicwriter7]

Hey, Little Songbird

Chapter 30 - AO3

Alya stared at him with an expression so filled with disgust and regret that Felix shuffled uncomfortable. She spun away, her shoulders shaking. “You know, I used to wonder how you and Adrien could possibly be related, but now? I totally see it.”

Felix sputtered. “Excuse me!?”

“You’re excused. This is too stupid and doesn’t make any sense; I’m not dealing with it. Let’s just… get this done, okay?”

“What are you talking about, it makes sense—!”

“I’ve learned my lesson about speculating hero identities. Trust me, it is not worth it. So can we please drop this?” She passed him a flash drive.

Felix considered her words and agreed. This really wasn’t the time for speculation. It was the time—he looked down at his chest, but unfortunately the brooch was still there—for action.

He and Alya walked to their homeroom, but while Alya went inside with a wave, Felix hid around the corner, so everyone would be inside before they started. As the morning bell rang, he stepped into the room.

Mme. Bustier frowned at him. “Young man, you need to go to your homeroom—” Felix removed his hood, Duusu squirming in the fabric to hide. “Felix? I guess your suspension is over now… Then the only person we’re waiting on is Marinette.”

“Marinette won’t be at school today,” Felix told her, taking a moment to survey the class. The sheeple were glaring at him, Alya was vibrating in her seat, Rossi looked smug… and Adrien. He looked horrified to see Felix here. Had Gabriel told him what Felix did? Was he on Gabriel’s side now? “Something about a family emergency? She should have a note to give you tomorrow.”

“Well… you were supposed to apologize to her today, but if that’s the case…”

“I’ve already apologized to Marinette,” Felix reassured her. “But there’s someone else in this room I must apologize too; after all, I was trying to frame someone as well. That’s why I created a video to properly explain my feelings. May I?” He gestured towards the computer. “It won’t take long.”

Bustier fretted but agree. “If you’ve already made something…” She even helped him setup the projector screen while Felix got to the video. There were only two files on the flash drive: one labeled “Apology”, and the other labeled “After.” He opened the “Apology” video.

Jagged Stone’s face covered the whiteboard. “Cat? I’ve never owned a bloody cat, especially not one saved by a Lila Rossi.”

One by one, her lies unraveled. Interviews with the celebrities Rossi lied about, logs indicating that the Italian Ambassador hasn’t left Paris in over a year, doctors explaining Rossi’s various illnesses to contradict her actions, exerts from her diary… Even though their classmates’ faith in Rossi broke with that first interview, it was fascinating to watch their opinions of her sink lower and lower as the tears and glares multiplied. Rossi was mortified, watching the video with wide eyes as her claws sunk into Adrien’s arm. Even Bustier, the supposed adult in the room, could only watch, even though stopping the video was totally within her power. The collective mood sunk,

And sunk,

And sunk.

It was glorious. Felix wished he was recording.

Felix paused the video before the last scene could play and smirked as Rossi glared at him hatefully. “I’m so terribly sorry I tried to frame you, Rossi. As it turns out, that was the only think you were actually innocent of!”

She jerked at his address, then turned around to the class, fishing for sympathy. She found none in the furious gazes and tear-filled eyes. She shook, from rage or humiliation, Felix knew not. “You… you bastard…”

“My parents were happily married when they had me,” Felix purred. “Pity the same couldn’t be said about you, no?”

Her eyes widened with fear. Oh, yes, Felix knew an awful lot about Rossi now, perhaps more than he ever wanted to know. Usually he wouldn’t taunt someone because they were the result of an affair, but… Rossi seemed to bring out the worst in him.

Realizing that she had no allies in the room, Rossi’s eyes welled with possibly-fake tears and she ran from the room, practically wailing. Felix sniffed. “How cliché.”

That snapped Bustier out of her daze. “Felix! We are going to the principal’s office right now!” He shot Alya a panicked looked, but she was already running to the front of the room as Bustier grabbed his arm. “There was no need to humiliate another student, no matter what she did—!”

He tore his arm from her grip. The only reason she hadn’t left claw marks was the protection is hoodie gave him. “If she didn’t want to be humiliated, maybe she shouldn’t have done something humiliating!”

That set certain people off.

“Dude, that’s too cruel!”

“She might have been horrible, but you didn’t need to be so mean about it!”

“I don’t know what has gotten into you, young man, but hurting people—”

Finally reaching the front, Alya restarted the video and the last scene played. Bustier shut up as she and the rest of the room saw the video footage Felix had taken of Rossi willingly taking an akuma. While they were enthralled, Felix took his chance to lock their classroom door. They didn’t have much time before Rossi showed up again. “She’s a terrorist; why should I respect her?”

Climbing up on the desk, Alya took her place before the class while Felix readily the second video. She addressed the class. “Like Felix said, it’s been confirmed that Lila Rossi is working with Hawkmoth. Thanks to this information, Ladybug has discovered the possible identities of Hawkmoth and Mayura and is now working with the police to conduct a sting operation while his attention is on akumatizing Lila.”

“Alya!” Bustier hissed, “Get down from there—”

They had anticipated that someone wouldn’t believe them, and Alya had planned ahead by getting evidence from a source no one could argue with. Felix opened the second video and now Ladybug’s face covered the whiteboard. “Hey, Mme. Bustier’s class, this is Ladybug speaking! As Mlle. Cesaire might have already told you, today the police, temporary heroes, and I are conducting a sting operation against the possible identity of Hawkmoth. But while I say ���possible,’ we’ve received evidence that proves without a doubt that this individual we’re raiding is Hawkmoth.” Felix covered the brooch with his hands. “It’s because of this evidence that I asked M. Graham de Vanily and Mlle. Cesaire to expose Lila Rossi today. As his only known civilian helper, my partner and I are certain that Hawkmoth will akumatize her, given how successful she’s been against the heroes in the past.

“This is why I am talking to you now. As of now, all of you are part of the sting operation.” He noticed several classmates sit up at her words, the sadness and anger dissipating from the room. “I need you all to evacuate the school and help the other classes evacuate as well. But most importantly, you can’t do anything that will indicate that we’re attacking Hawkmoth during her akumatizations. I know I can trust you.” It felt… like she was talking directly to Felix. He held the brooch tighter, rough edges cutting into his hand. “Thank you. Bug out.”

The video stopped and Alya organized the evacuation out the windows. Fortunately, they were on the first floor, so it wasn’t much of a drop. Mme. Bustier left first and helped the other student drop down. Felix tried to help, but Adrien pulled him aside. “You’re working with Ladybug?” Adrien asked. Was that… awe in his voice? Did Gabriel not tell him anything yet.

“She asked,” Felix answered uncomfortable. “Come, it’s time for you to leave…” Felix tried to get Adrien out the window so they’d stop talking, but Adrien refused to drop. He just… dangled out the window.

“You’re not coming?”

Felix looked away. “I’m the bait. Hopefully we can keep Rossi focused on me long enough for Ladybug to defeat Hawkmoth, but to do that… I need to keep her mad.”

Adrien smiled. “Well, they picked the perfect person for that.”

He laughed. “Certainly. Adrien… about what happened at your house…” Something—or rather, someone—pounded on the door, making it shake on its hinges.

“What happened at my house?”

Had Gabriel told him nothing!? No, there was no time. “Adrien, you can’t go home.” He told him instead.

“What?”

“When you evacuate, you can’t go home, okay? Go anywhere else, anywhere at all, but don’t go home. Just trust me, you don’t want to be there.”

The door collapsed, and a hot rush of air ploomed into the room. Felix pushed Adrien out the window and he landed on the ground in a heap. There were still other classmates stuck inside—the goth girl, the jock, the dreadlock girl, he really should start learning people’s names—but there was nothing he could do now to get them out.

He faced Rossi. She… looked horrible.

Fashion-disaster Hawkmoth struck again, he supposed. Though, now that he knew Hawkmoth was Gabriel, perhaps these were designs that the board of directors at the company refused? Because instead of something relatively fashionable, Rossi loomed in the doorway dressed like a cartoon devil in a prom dress, her skin hazard orange and her pigtails mutated and curled up in mock devil horns. She scowled at Felix; her teeth looked like jagged shards of glass. “You…”

“Rossi.” He sneered.

Her eye twitched. “It’s End Days now! And I’m going to ruin your life, just like you’ve ruined mine!”

Taglist: @graduatedmelon @novicevoice@dur55@kris-pines04@18-fandoms-unite-08@moonlightstar64@bee-a-garbage-shipper@sol-o-shade@kittyotakunoir666@tinyterror333@allieoftheenemy@marichat00@xgxmxtx@two-faced-biatch@feliciakainzofspades@evil-cricket@emilytopaz@spicybelladonna@chocolateherringtacofan@user00000003@wannajointhecrabcult@happymonster-pants @duquesapincarrasca  @throneoffirebreathingbitchqueen  @sxltinette @kittydemon9000 @thetrashypanda423 @unoriginalmess @toodaloo-kangaroo @troycattribunny

[lordkingsmith]

“You wanna get ice cream for everybody?” He asked as he pulled Minh towards the backdoor. “I’m pretty sure I saw a parlor a block away right?”

“Oh-yea. Yea!” Billy sighed in quiet relief as Minh and Rot left. Good guy. Azul, Jaune and Arrossa got up too.

“We’re gonna ask what flavors everyone wants. Then catch up to Rot and Minh.” Which was a good idea and a good way to keep themselves out of this. Ollie was hyperventilating with Billy absently rubbing his back with one hand as soothingly as he could.

“You were the one who asked him to kiss you.” Billy pointed out diplomatically. “For a bet. I am curious what you thought would happen?”

“Nothing! I didn’t think anything would happen.” Ollie told his knees. “Never had kissing do anything for me before!”

“Ah.” Billy closed his eyes for a long moment before opening them. Grid give him strength. “Have you ever kissed another man before or…?”

“….oh Grid.”

Billy nodded, feeling a little bit of Deja vu. At least he wasn’t the one experiencing this. Had not been fun at all. “Mine was Jason Lee Scott.” He offered. “Didn’t mean anything but the fact I realized I wasn’t actually straight.” Ollie looked at him oddly. Billy smiled faintly. “Attraction’s weird, you know? Besides I’m going on a limb and saying if you want to pursue Jack…wait. Think about it. Instead of jumping into something. Was it the kiss with a guy that was doing it for you or was it Jack.”

“….there’s a difference?”

Oh boy. “….Yes. Yes there is.” Billy sighed as there was more groaning. “You’re doing to have to talk to Amelia.” Billy added. “Seriously. You might have been able to laugh this off. But the panic attack’s not something you could just explain away.” Ollie paused to give him an affronted glare and Billy shrugged half apologetically. “I’m just saying in case you were planning on ignoring this for the time being.”

“I got dipped into a kiss by an Adonis! Not going to be able to go on ignoring this!” Was hissed at him and Billy raised an eyebrow, feeling largely unsympathetic now.

“You did it for money, Ollie. And even if that wasn’t going to make things difficult?Your “Adonis” probably’s got other things on his mind” Billy had no idea if Jack was seriously considering a relationship while he was recovering in Angel Grove, but he felt like he could reasonably assume even if he was Jack probably would consider Ollie off the table. Or not, he’d been surprised before, but he’d hedge his bets.

He recognized the same stubbornness in himself in Ollie, and for Jack’s sake decided to nip the obsession in the bud. If anything bloomed between them, it wouldn’t be over this. He could already see heartbreak if Ollie didn’t take his advice.

“This is so messed up.” Ollie muttered. Billy snorted.

“You’ll figure it out. Just…talk to people. I’d start with Amelia.” He looked over at the team. “Your first instinct with breaking up’s probably correct. And then I’d talk to Aiyon.”

Ollie sat up properly. “Aiyon? Why?”

“Because I’ve got a feeling he’s ready to attack Jack and I’ve got a feeling it’s out of jealousy.” Billy said bluntly. No use beating around the bush here; Ollie wasn’t good with minced words. “So you need to sort that out before you can even think about talking to Jack.”

“That’s stupid.”

“Ollie. They’re your team. Your girlfriend-ex but still-and friend who’s at the very least crushing on you.” Billy was surprised at the patience he was managing. Perhaps it was from raising Minh. “Higher on your list of priorities than a stranger you asked to kiss you. Sort them out, and if you still need to, talk to Jack.”

Looked like Eugene was now in the process of lecturing his nephew, and Billy walked Ollie to his team past him.

“-what your problem is, but do you think this little war you’ve got going on is worth it? Nick-”

He’d deal with that later.

“A-Amelia?” Ollie asked with uncharacteristic hesitancy. “We need to talk.”

Her eyebrows were in her hair. “Yea, yea I think we do.”

He cleared his throat. “I…made an error and a realization.”

Fern turned to Izzy. “Told you he didn’t know.”

Everyone, but especially Javi looked at his sister and her girlfriend. “And you two did?”

Izzy looked at him like it was obvious. “We couldn’t figure if he’d realized or if he was in denial. And you can’t tell Ollie Akana anything.”

Amelia pressed clasped hands to her lips with eyes closed before opening them and giving a stained smile. “Maybe we talk later in private, yea?”

Billy patted Ollie on the back one more time before leaving him to his team.

Billy’s having a Time lol

[happyinjection]

♠️♥️High Card Short Story 1 “Mint Soda and Cafe au Lait Float”♦️♣️ (2/3)

Speeding directly to the location of the mafia transaction. On the way there, Chris gave Finn a surprise gift?!

Original: https://twitter.com/highcard_pj/status/1529660574841196544?s=20&t=h6O2b9ceCSEP0A_hpW7P2A

Author: https://twitter.com/poipheno

Artist: https://twitter.com/ebimoji3

Following Chris’ steps, I soon found myself at the parking lot of my workplace. “Alright, Finn. Get in the car. Let’s get out of here.”

He pointed at an unsightly black sedan with the tilt of his chin.

“Hm? This isn’t your car, is it?”

“My car, the RAIKA, is being repaired right now. She keeps on getting horribly smashed and messed up every time I went on a mission, it’s starting to get on my nerves.”

“Hehehe. Just like the owner himself, huh?”

“Fuck off, man. Though, I don’t mind that habit of yours to make fun of even your seniors.”

All of a sudden, Chris made a face as if he just remembered something.

“Oh yeah. Finn, close your eyes.”

“Huh?! What’s the matter?”

"That’s one fierce look you’re giving me. Just relax, relax,”

“Huuuh? What, I don’t get what you’re planning.”

Meekly I gave in and closed my eyes. Then I felt the weight of something resting on the bridge of my nose and my ears. When I opened my eyes, my vision was tinted in black. “Are these sunglasses?”

“It’s a surprise present~♪”

Before I knew it, Chris was also wearing his own pair of sunglasses.

“There’s no way I’m wearing these stupid glasses.”

“As Pinochle employees, we’re required to dress well, aren’t we?”

Chris took a step back and scanned me from head to toe, as if he was assessing my entire appearance. “Not half bad. Come on, Finn. Go strike a pose.”

“Like this?”

I pinched the left temple of my sunglasses between my thumb and index finger, while tucking my right hand into my pocket.

“Puff out your chest a bit more. Put your hips forward.”

“Like... this?”

Chris nodded his approval, saying, “excellent~”, as the corners of his lips curled upward.

“And that, is how you pick up girls.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“Those sunglasses is a memento that I bought with my first salary, so take a good care of them, ‘kay. By the way, I was hit by a car on that day.”

“Ugh. Talk about items cursed with bad luck.”

“You can give them back if they’re not to your liking.”

“No way, you already gave them to me.”

Fine, fine, Chris lightly shrugged. “It’s decided then. Let’s get going. Hop in, hop in. Or shall I be your personal escort?”

“Eww, thanks, but no thanks~”

♠️♥️♦️♣️

“It should be somewhere around... here.”

Chris was occupying the driver’s seat, sucking on the straw of his caramel latte float, while I am in the passenger’s seat with a bottle of apple soda in my hand, keeping watch. Both of us had our sunglasses on.

“Wow, those guys look suspicious.”

Not too far from our post, there were around five to six men making a commotion.

“Hmm? Aren’t they just a bunch of thugs?”

“Nah, like hell they are. Before I joined High Card, I’ve had my own share of dealings with thugs. And dang, those guys in front of us have a different feeling about them.”

“Hee, as expected from an ex-yankee.”

“I was never a yankee. Anyway, take a look. What’s that is he handing over? I bet that’s a card! Let’s go, Chris!”

“Eh~ it’s dangerous to get too close. Moreover, our mission is to simply investigate the transaction, that’s all—”

“If you do it that way, you’re going to lose sight of it, right? Screw that, I’m going to score some credits and get a pay raise!”

“Ah! Hey, wait a minute—!”

Without further ado, I jumped out of the sedan. I thought it was a good idea to get my card out before those guys can try anything. I put my hands in my pockets and rushed straight ahead.

“Oi, stop right there. Don’t come over here.”

One of the thugs glared at me.

“Whoa, whoa, take it easy.”

“Stop, I said!”

The man walked over to me and tried to grab me by the front side of my shirt. I dodged to avoid the attack.

“I told you I wasn’t looking for a fight.”

Perhaps irritated by what I said, the look in his eyes sharpened, and suddenly he threw a punch at me. I ducked to not get hit.

“Dumbass! You persistent little—!”

He seemed to be so eager to land a hit on me that he threw more punches frantically, one after another. I ducked and dodged all of them by swerving my upper body to left and right alone. I was just about to punch him back from the left side, but then I remembered the promise I made to Bernard ojii-chan, and thus kept my hands tucked in my pockets.

“What’s going on heeere?”

Before I realized it, I was already surrounded by a gang of thugs.

“Bastard, who sent you?”

--This situation was getting a little out of control. I reached for the X-playing card inside my pocket and was about to take it out. At that same moment, I sensed the presence of a man out of the corner of my eye as he pointed a black object at me. I couldn’t see it clearly, but it was definitely a gun. And right when I spun to avoid it, 

“Uwoogh!” The man wielding the gun groaned.

It dawned on me that Chris had jumped into the heat of the battle. He had the assailant’s head pinned using both of his hands and delivered a kick to the side of his skull with his knee.

“Now you see why I told you to stop before, Finn.”

“Ow, that hurts...”

The man whom Chris had beaten up promptly collapsed, blood and foam spurting out of his mouth. 

“What the fuck?! You guys!!”

One of the rest of the thugs pulled out a gun and started firing at Chris. There was a loud explosion as he took a shot. Chris stumbled backward. A small hole seemed to drill through his suit at his abdomen.

That being said, Chris looked up—and smirked.

His hands were clad in a pair of leather gloves decorated with heart-shaped holes at the back of his palms. The No. 5 of Hearts, ‘Calorie’s High’.

“How is that possible?! Even though I shot him through the gut...?”

Tsk, tsk, tsk, Chris clicked his tongue. “I am an immortal ladies man...”

Calorie’s High instantly healed any damage that was inflicted on Chris, the ‘player’. A single bullet would not be enough to make him flinch.

“It can’t be helped because the situation called for it. You, Finn, however. You’re strictly not allowed to ‘play’.”

“Aaaah?!?! Why the hell not!”

I ducked to dodge a knife coming my way and head-butted the wielder at the jaw. The momentum forced his neck to crane upward. Then I hit him with a one-two right hook to the face, which ended him for real.

“We’re not supposed to make a scene, that’s why!”

Chris slashed another thug’s face with a double blow, right and left, using his Muay Thai technique. 

--It didn’t take us long to wipe out these goons.

Once the heat of the battle finally died down, Chris put his right hand in front of his chest, and the gloves he was wearing transformed into a card.

“Now, now, where shall the card be?”

I searched the pockets of the thugs laying on the ground, while Chris kept watch for the possibility of anyone coming closer. After a while, I found a plastic bag containing white colored powder. Drugs, those were.

“Geh. Were they planning to trade this stuff for cards?”

That aside, I also discovered a small black suitcase, which I instantly checked for anything that might be inside. Certainly, this must be where they kept the card—

“...there is nothing but a gem. Where’s the card?”

Faintly, I could hear the siren of a police car in the distance. Chris clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“I guess we made too much noise.”

“This gem... can it be sold for money?”

“Stop joking around! Come on, let’s escape from the crime scene at once!”

♠️♥️♦️♣️

TL notes: I’m in no way a professional translator so if you find any mistakes, please do not hesitate to inform me right away. I love the High Card gang and I found it very unfortunate that while it is meant to be a multimedia project, I can’t seem to find the translated versions of any materials (beside the anime) anywhere (if this is against copyright, I will take it down). Hopefully this small TL would help international viewers gain better understanding of HC universe and characters. The author of these SS himself said that he hoped fans would have their “so that’s what it is!” moments when they watch the anime after reading his short stories. So with that in mind, let’s enjoy High Card together~

[meltypancake]

10 hours of Wii Shop Channel Music (short version)

“Oh, this one’s cute.”

“I’m not sure it’d fit through our doorway.”

“Then hooow about…”

“No, not the one right next to it, either. The frame doesn’t seem very durable.”

“I didn’t even say anything!”

“You had that look on your face.”

“What look?”

“The one that says I would love an irresponsible purchase right about… now.”

“You really think I’d be so flippant about a huge investment like this?”

“Not flippant, exactly-”

“Wait. Don’t answer that, just stop me before I do anything stupid. You made an oath.”

“I did. And I will do my utmost to uphold it.”

“Since you don’t seem to like any of my picks, why don’t you suggest something?”

“Alright. I will admit, I’ve been eyeing this one in particular.”

“Velvet, huh?”

“Yes. It would make a fine addition to our living room, I believe. The perfect balance of comfort, function and elegance. Look — they even reinforced the frame with plywood corners!“

“Hm. Seems hard to clean.”

“That-”

“And I wasn’t going to comment on this, but you’ve been strangely fixated on the quality of these upholstery frames.”

“There have been…accidents in the past, to say the least.”

“Oh. Well, this one’s too small for you anyway. Mr. 80 percent legs.”

“…Perhaps I’ve been a bit hasty in my judgment.”

“This is going nowhere, is it… “

“Come now, darling. It’s only been— goodness, has it been 5 hours already?”

“Honestly, at this point I’d take anything! As long as it’s big enough for you to lounge on! In a sexy bath robe, preferably!”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“It’s been my literal dream. Don’t ask. Can we move on to something else, please?”

“I- alright? Well then.”

“Well then!”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…If you let me have the Napping Nipper Doggie plush, I’ll let you buy that oversized butter knife you were drooling over earlier. Deal?”

“Oversized butter knife? That was a faithful replica of William Wallace’s claymore from the battle at Stirling Bridge in 1297—”

“So, you want it? Deal or no deal?

“…”

“…”

“…Deal. Though not without grievances, I might add.”

“I'll listen to them later! Let's go!"

"Goddess, don't make me regret this."

“Just keep the receipt in case you do. We’ll be back next week, won’t we?”

“That we will.”

[hollywoodsargeant]

i have finally read chapter 10 (another amazing chapter btw!) and i have some a lot of thoughts about things (sorry if this is really long, i just have a lot of thoughts after the entire break up with both of them)

i still love the fact that the both of them are so, nonchalant i guess?, by the fact that they’ve fucked before when talking to their partners, oscar being my favourite in this (i’ve said this before but he has brushed off logan seeing his dick and him come as ‘a requirement’ and left it at that)

logan breaking up with mia isn’t unexpected tbh, i feel like he would know that he wasn’t exactly a fan of mia making a ‘giant’ deal over the jersey thing (i still don’t understand the deal about that as an aussie) and then bringing up the entire fucking oscar thing and her reaction to it (which i get it, i would be surprised if my boyfriend had sex with his supposed best friend). anyways i’m excited to see what happens next with logan (he gets his first boyfriend perhaps??? maybe he figures out aviation??? let’s see)

oscar also breaking up with ben wasn’t exactly something i was thinking of until i got to the entire talking about sex part, i felt like he was like ‘wtf man though we’re on the same field yet you’ve made out, and now you’re only telling me you had sex with your best friend??’ so i can feel for him and what he was feeling there. also i feel like oscar was going to say something to ben abt the entire logan calling him baby thing, especially when he called oscar baby in front of ben, which imo pushed ben over the edge there (perhaps that’s why ben wasn’t wanting to wait or whatever for the break up and just said it straight up)

i’m interested to see how both oscar and logan will react/what they’ll do about the entire college thing, from previous chapters we already know logan doesn’t want oscar to leave him, but could it end up being the other way? if he goes with aviation and goes out of state and oscar is the one that stays in?

anyways i’ve extended my thoughts a bit too much and def repeated a bunch but i’m just excited for the story and what will happen next, thank you so much for this chapter and great work as always!

THANK YOU!!! <3 and do not apologize for the long message i appreciate it somuch i love hearing your thoughts and responding to them it makes me veryhappy :)

see they are both well. not convinced that it's normal to have sex with your friend, they're aware that their friendship is pretty not-normal even if they are convinced it's just friendship, but they are both very content in the fact that they did that and as with most things - it just fell into place with them. i know i've referenced a timeline in the fic before as if everything they've ever done is stretched out on this massive straight line, and neither of them are all that fazed by any of it, because it's just them. so oscar is pretty much like Yeah. logan seeing me come is a requirement in logan having sex with me. casual as ever. and ben is like ??? babe wtf. not sure if this makes sense i am just spitting here

rest in pieces logan and mia </3 he did seriously think mia was being dramatic about the jersey thing and he always thought that he's just not stupid enough to tell his girlfriend she's being dramatic... i'll be real i don't totally understand the drama in it either and it's something i witnessed firsthand but. i thought it would be fun petty drama for the fic. and i am very excited for what does happen next with logan there's a thing i know i've referenced before in short snippets but either no one saw them or everyone forgot but i stopped directly referencing it on here so if anyone can find that. gold star

(sorry for vagueing)

obv i knew i wanted to break up oscar and ben soon but i wasn't really planning on doing it this chapter until i was like. Oh well i could make logan talk about his breakup and then oscar thinks about his own relationship et cetera. which is then what happened. rest in peace to those three drowned fruit flies when i start talking about bugs that's how you know it's time to pack it up... and rest in peace ben. he kind of exploded a bit. clearly there was a time when he was very casual about it but -- and i'm p sure i had oscar Wonder about this -- in my head ben did assume all the kissing logan stuff was more in the past than it actually was, like a figuring-themselves-out in middle school type thing. so he was cool kinda teasing about it and calling logan cute or whatever but when it became apparent it was something that was happening recently he didn't really like it. cue jealousy

college will be fun! they have to send out their applications soon! i feel like a lot of ch10 involved vague college talk but that is truly the experience of being a junior/senior in high school. it was like all i would talk about with my friends at the end there

sorry this answer is 10 billion years long actually in case you couldn't tell i thoroughly enjoy discussing this fic. my beloved fic <3

[katsushika-division]

ARB Birthday Special: Rintaro Himura

 ~~ July 16th ~~

“The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.”

Login Lines:

“Eh? What the hell are you here for? My…birthday? …Fuck it is today, isn't it?”

“To be honest, I don't care much about celebrating my birthday, but I guess thanks for reminding me.”

Voice Lines: 

“I can't believe I forgot my birthday. *sighs* Whoop de fucking do. It's just another day. I don't see what the big deal is.”

“Let's see what people sent me today for my birthday. Death threats from people whose loved ones were my victims? Check. Fucked up love letters from rabid fangirls saying they want my children? Check. Honestly, I prefer the death threats over the love letters.”

“God, when was the last time I had a decent birthday anyway? I can't remember. I'm pretty sure it was at least before my bitch of an egg donor ran out.”

“No wait. The first birthday I had after Akari was born that…was pretty special. Akari was a couple of months old by then, and she was already trying to say more than that "goo goo gaga" shit. I guess she was just waiting for the right moment because on my birthday she said her first word. Rin-nii. I remember feeling so proud back then.”

“Eh? What the hell do you want, Old Man? Damn getting soft, aren't we? Well, aren't I fucking special? *smirks* Made it my mission to personally annoy you till the day you die, Old Man. Alright, alright, thanks for getting me something then.” 

“Damn Old Man, this is actually pretty useful. God knows how many times I've crushed them. Eh? You’ve been smoking these motherfuckers for how long? So you can't tell me shit about smoking. Alright, you got yourself a deal, Old Man. A mistake I'm sure multiple fuckers regret. *pauses* Also…Akihisa…thanks for everything.” 

“Goddamn it, Touya, it's just my birthday. You don't have to make a big deal out of it. Fuck…alright Touya, we can celebrate it. Just stop staring at me like that, you little shit. Do I even wanna know what you got me, Touya? *sighs* Alright, let me see it then. I swear if it's a knife from your collection.” 

“Oh shit, this is actually really nice. At least it's something that actually suits my style. *sees pricetag* Uhh…Touya? How the hell did you afford this? *blinks* Oh gross! I did not need to know that you fucking sex fiend.” 

“There you are, Akari. I haven't seen you at all today. Don’t tell me you’re trying to avoid your big brother. *pauses* Akari just…just having you back is the best gift I've ever received. Well, I'm kinda curious now. What did you get me?”

“This is a cool figure you got me Akari. *jumps* Oh fuck it just moved and…it's flying around now. *whistles* Holy shit you built this Akari? Wow…I'm stunned. I've never seen anything like it. Ouch! Motherfuck just shot fire at me?!? Huh? Well, that'll come in handy. Shit, I was never good with names but…how about Astaroth? He does, doesn't he? Well then let's get along Astaroth.”

Akihisa Lines:

“Rintaro, I'm glad I caught you. I wanted to give you something considering it's your birthday. *snorts* Hardly, but I suppose I'll make an exception just for you today. Have I ever told you how much of a little shit you are? You know you could be grateful that I even got you something, Brat.” 

“I know how much you hate it when your cigarettes get crushed so I got you this case for them. Perhaps one day you’ll reach a point where you give up smoking those cancer sticks. I’ve been smoking longer than you've been alive, but I’ll make you a deal. You cut back on smoking, and I’ll do the same. Don’t want you dying too early. *sighs fondly* Seems like it was yesterday you were forced into my prison cell. *ruffles hair* Don't mention it, Rintaro.”

Touya Lines:

“Rin-chan~! Happy Birthday! Nuh-uh, birthdays are really special. That's what all those movies say. It's also your first birthday since we got out of prison. So we have to celebrate it! *pulls out puppy eyes* Yeah! I have so many things for us to do today. It's gonna be so much fun! Ah! I got you a present too! *giggles* Here!” 

“I saw the jacket in the window of a store one day and thought it would be perfect for you. Hm? Oh, I just told the store owner I would [CENSORED] and [CENSORED] if he gave me a discount on the jacket. What? You asked!”

Bonus! Akari Lines:

“Rin-nii Happy Birthday. *nods* Ah, yes, that. It's your birthday and the first one we've been able to celebrate together in a long time. So I wanted to make sure your gift was perfect. You deserve something besides that Rin-nii. So here. I hope you like it.”

“Not quite Rin-nii. Watch this. Activate. *giggles* It's your very own dragonbot. It's just something I've been working on for a while. I was just waiting for the right moment to give it to you, and what's more perfect than today? Of course! Just in case you don't have your lighter in you. Oh, also, he doesn't like being called it. He's got feelings too, ya know? Now you just gotta name him! *smiles* He likes it! Promise you'll take good care of him, Rin-nii.”