#or at least the three most exasperated lol

[musicboxmemories]

The Top Three Unimpressed CulpersTM

[28gaugeshotgunshells]

TWO'S COMPANY THREE'S A CROWD

.- TWD, Rick Grimes x F!Reader x Shane Walsh -.

--------------------------------------------------

A/N: I think this will be at least two parts, but enjoy the first for now! This is written as a bit of an AU? lol, not sure how to exactly describe it. Reader is in Lori's place and it is set during mid or so season 2. I started TWD awhile ago and wanted to write for it. I've never really posted my works before, so hopefully this will be enjoyable for y'all. --------------------------------------------------

Above the sanctuary that was Hershel's farm, was the marmalade sky; perfectly painted with the color of the setting sun. Gentle clouds existed there, and the sight almost made you forget about the disquiet horrors that laid just outside the property line.

A tired sigh falls past your lips as your now callused fingers dig into the damp fabric of the shirt you sit and wash. A dark ragged cloth is clutched in your hand as you use it to scrub and scrub at the clashing red marred into the cerulean material.

Blood.

In the past, you'd only ever really see it when Carl got a bloody nose or whenever you managed to get a paper cut. Now it was anything but a rare sight. As your thoughts wander, your gaze pins into soapy scrubbed out shirt below, eyes burning into the stain. You knew it would never come out, and yet you still promptly dunked it into the cool water of the bucket below. Because you still had to try.

Try and hope. It felt like that's all you ever did anymore, two things that never ever guaranteed pay off. You swish the shirt around in the lukewarm water below, being faintly reminded of the washer you used to have; the haunt of the sweet domesticity you used to know ravaging your mind, possibly even sanity.

"..." You sigh out the built up inner tension, and switch your focus towards wringing out this shirt. Your hands diligently work to twist and curl the wet fabric, squeezing out the water it holds inside.

The only thing interrupting the motions you go through however is the distinct noise of crunching grass, one that usually alluded to nearby footsteps. Your head turns, preferring not to be ignorant to what the source was.. just in case. Although as soon as you spot the source in question, you curse the curiosity driven by your own paranoia.

It was Shane, his figure standing tall and imposing. Most of his impose being due to.. your history. His deceit about the death of your husband, what the both of you shared amidst his lie, the stinging sentiment you felt at the mere thought of him.

God, you really didn't want to talk to him right now.

Your grip on the shirt tightens as you swiftly turn your head back around, stand up, and then speed walk away towards the clothes line. hopefully he'd take the hint from your cold shoulder move. Alas, that hope of yours was severely underestimating just how stubborn Shane Walsh could be.

Within an instant you heard the simple crunches of grass become more urgent as Shane increased his charge towards you. He called out your name, his tone commanding and yet speckled with a sort of desperateness. He wanted you to hear him out.

"Hey hey- Let me tell you somethin'!"

No. You weren't going to do this, not today. He knew you were upset with him, why couldn't he just let you be? And so, without stopping you reach the clothes line and throw up the newly washed shirt, dead set on ignoring Shane.

It was regrettably, not as easy as that though, because as soon as you turned around you were face to face with the former officer. Instantly your face scrunched in annoyance as your mouth flew open to protest his presence, maybe even to berate him, but Shane spoke quicker.

"No no no- wait, just a minute. We need to talk."

"I don't have anything to say to you." You practically growled back as you hurriedly move to leave.

He steps directly in your way, hands reaching out and grasping your hips. "(Name)."

You hiss at him, "Don't touch me!"

This earns an exasperated sigh from him, "Ho-"

"WHUT!" You hear a shout from the distance, your heads turn instantly. It's Rick and he is MAD. "WHUT THE HULL!" Rick comes running full speed at you guys, and while Shane's distracted you take the opportunity to shake him off and step back.

"SHANE WAT ARE YOU DOIN' MANE!?" Rick says super mad as he speed walks over with his hands on his hips.

"NAWRICAHEASHABWALKOVERHERAAA!" Shane shouts back!!

You have no fucking clue what he's saying because his accent goes crazy!

"NAWWSHANEDONTYOUHAHABHAWSAYINGTHATANMMAYY!! YOU KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MAH WIFE!" Rick shouts back.

"YOU KNOW I'M THE BETTER MANE RICK!!" Then Shane and Rick get so mad they press their foreheads together and start shouting a bunch of southern insults.

"You're an egg-suckin' dawg, Shane lemme tell you what!!" Rick shouts.

"Oh nawh mane!" Shane yells back, "YOUR FACE REMINDS ME OF A RUN-DOWN HONKY TONK!!"

"AY AY AY!" Rick growls Rick throws his right hook at Shane, knocking the other on his ass. Then Shane lunges forward like a fury-filled Chihuahua and tackles Rick to the grass.

"YOU BETTER STOP!! STOP!!" You shout to no avail, watching in anger as the two bros duke it out on the ground.

You get so mad that you pick up a large rock and hurl it at Rick's butt, earning a loud "OW!!!!!!" It doesn't stop them though.

Luckily though, you aren't the only ones on the farm and soon enough Hershel comes running out onto the grounds. "OH NOAT ON MAH FARM!" Hershel says, storming over.

"Hershel you have to stop them!" You plead to the old man, wanting help with their outburst.

"STOP IT YOU TURDBURGULARS! YOU-" then Hershel says a REALLY REALLY bad word and it makes you gasp and cover your mouth in shock.

You look over at Rick and Shane and they are also really shocked, instantly they stop fighting and take ten steps away from eachother. Shane looks.. traumatized, but Rick looks pissed!

Apparently Maggie was there too because you see her storm up behind Hershel. "Dad!!! You can't say that!" She whisper shouts at him all mad.

"OH JUST WAIT UNTIL MAH TWITTER FOLLOWERS HEAR ABOUT THIS ONE!" Rick roars, clearly offended.

Then Maggie ushers Hershel off, leading him back into the house quickly. They BASICALLY run away to avoid Rick cancelling them. Distantly you hear Hershel shouting about how "Itsa mah farm!" and "I miss the old days!"

You're also pretty sure you heard him let out a large old man fart, and then you saw a lump form in the back of his pants.. But anyway! You hear loud aggressive breathing and you look back at Shane and Rick who are both now pissed again. You think Rick knows you cheated now.. you didn't want to deal with that.. so...

"Sorry guys Sophia wanted me to braid her hair today." You say before dinking away as fast as possible.

"But Sophia is gone.." Shane whispers quietly to himself.... as he stares at your butt disappearing into the distance..

As you dink away you sigh in relief, literally thanking god that you didn't have to deal with those bumfucks! Although.. you aren't relieved for long because suddenly just then your stomach starts hurting like a bitch!

"WHY DO YOU HATE ME!" You shout at your belly as you boom over next to Dale's RV.

You fall to the ground and clutch your stomach in pain. Oh no.. Diarrhea! You prep yourself for a shart or something but then you just end up puking so you're like oh ok. You hurl into the grass next to the trailer and it kind of gets all over the side of Dale's RV because you don't puke straight down EVER. After like a minute of straight hurling, you finally finish and then Dale jumps out of the RV.

You look up at him from the ground.. his jaw is dropped and his eyes are fully widened. "HOLY COW! I almost thought I was in the exorcist for a minute!" He exclaims.

"Um what..." You reply.. cringe...

"Are you okay?" Dale asks.

"Yes." You reply, not wanting to talk about it..

"Marriage problems..?" Dale asks again..

"How did you know?!" You reply, finally looking up at him in surprise.

Dale shrugs, "I don't know I just guessed."

"Um okay Dale.."

Then Dale comes up next to you and crouches, placing a sweaty hand on your shoulder. "So.. (Name).. It's very common for married couples to fight when the hankypanky gets boring.." He begins. "I am actually a twister champion just so you know.."

"No Dale."

"Aw.."

Dale looks down at the ground all sad. "At least tell Rick I like his armpits."

"NO DALE!"

"Aw.." Then Dale walks back into the trailer.

You shake your head! Bro was wilding after his crazy wife died! First the exorcist and now he's trying to form a threesom- wait.. the exorcist.. Your eyes trail up to the puke on the RV. You remember what the bathrooms always looked like while you were pregnant with Carl.. insanely puke ridden. OH NO! WAS SHANE EVEN PULLING OUT WHILE YOU WERE BUMP AND DUMPING?! (dumping turds and wasting all the toilet paper btw)

Immediately you jump upwards, you run all the way over to Daryl's hobo homeless core set up on the side of the farm. You see Daryl sitting on the ground next to a weird little stick built fire.. he was diddling with a dead rabbit.

"EW!" You gag at the sight. "UGH! DARYL!"

"WHut!" Daryl shouts back, angry as always.

"I NEED YOU TO GO ON A RUN!" You hiss.

"OH HELL NAW OLIVE OIL YO ASS TRIPINGN!" Daryl roars back, clearly not going to do what you ask. What a WHORE!

"URRGGH!! FUCK OFF!" You flip him off, run up to his fire, kick dirt in it to make it go out and then you run away to find Glenn.

"WHERE IS HE.. WHERE IS HE!!" You search the farm like a hawk as you look around for that sumabitch.

IT TAKES YOU LIKE 7 MINUTES BUT EVENUTALLY YOU SPOT HIM DOING SOMETHING YOU DONT CARE WHAT HE'S DOING WHATEVER!! You run up to him.

"Glenn! There you are!" You hiss at him. He looks so confused and concerned.

"Uh- wha- huh?"

"I NEED YOU TO GO ON A RUN FOR ME DAMMIT!"

He flinches slightly when you shout, clearly surprised at how you're directing your random fury onto him. ".. For what?"

You calm down a bit as you pause to explain the predicament at hand.. you take in a deep breath.. "Well it's a special stick that changes patterns when you go pee on it.."

[notreallysane]

Kind of a Halloween thingy (VERY OOC) Au where Aventurine is one lonely mf. Okay, it's true he has a little friendship group but... he can't really say they're friends, they're close enough to have a dynamic and a group name but not for everything else except for a game night once in never.

You can say he is kind of a "Komi can't communicate".He is absolutely gorgeous but he tries to pretend his crippling social anxiety doesn't exist by talking to fictional characters on a screen, if you looked at it you would probably be surprised by the amount of Otome and gacha games he has on his phone.

One in particular recently caught his eye, it's a game in beta development with only three routes at the moment. A Priest, A Teacher and a Beautiful Tief lady. He decides to download to try every route, but gets bored of the priest route at the first date, turns out Sunday is not really the most fun person (character?) To be around even if his route is pretty interesting. Aventurine decides to not even try the pretty tief lady, Kafka is her name, Because he simply is non interested in woman, but he can admit she would make an incredible best friend irl.

That leaves him with the teachers route. And to say he became obsessed with Veritas Ratio would be the understatement of the century.

His plotline, His character, his looks, his feelings, everything feels so human to Aventurine, he feels thirsty for more, he wants to KNOW that man even if only two dates are available for public right now.

He won't be sleeping for awhile thinking about sunset eyes and shy animated smiles... is that healthy? Probably not. Topaz can at least say she tried to knock some sense into him. You can't possibly be in love with a videogame character, a videogame character That's NOT EVEN OUT YET! she sounded exasperated and Aventurine can't blame her for it.

Months pass and the game is out with other route options, none of those matter now that Aventurine has all the time in the world to get Ratio's 100% Route, but... things start to go weird by the middle on the game. The other characters seemed distant and Ratio was the only one talking to him constantly. ((Not that Aventurine complains, every second with Ratio is a second to be cherished... that should probably be discussed on therapy.))

Everyone else seemed to be doing their things individually, even talking to him about other character's he has never heard of even in the games wiki. Who the hell is Himeko? It's almost as if... they're alive or something... lol that would be stupid.

Until one day he gets to a specific chapter on Ratio's backstory, The character breaks down in tears and Aventurine does his best to confort him as much as the dialogues allow him to, but then, Veritas reaches out to the screen and a hand simply passes through his phone like some sort of portal, Aventurine, Panicking, freezes as he watches Ratio slowly emerge from the screen to hug him tightly. Am i dreaming?

They talk for a while as things settle down and Ratio decides to stay with him until they can find him somewhere to live comfortably.

((As he comes to find out, theres a lot of complaints on the steam page of the game from the general public on how the bachelors seemed to already be in love with other in game NPCS nobody has ever seem, the name "Aventurine" is mentioned quite a few times along with "Himeko" "Gallagher" "Acheron" "Dan Heng" "Moze" and others... he hopes he can find those people some day to create a support program for people who fell in love with AI's))

((Yes this is a troupe, no i did not mean for it to get that long

[shepherds-of-haven]

How quick to anger are the ROs? Who has the hottest temper (I imagine it's Trouble lol)

Blade: it's actually quite easy to make him angry (or at least irritate him. Irritation is like one of his two primary modes of living. Grim unsmiling solitude is the other one), but extremely difficult to make him show it or actually "lose his temper." Like, inwardly, he's annoyed by a lot of stuff, but he almost never allows that to rule his decisions or make him act in a certain way, so I would never say he's "hot-headed"--just the opposite, he's typically cool as ice--but he also definitely gets mad lol

Trouble: he's definitely hot-tempered and gets mad easily (and starts swinging at the drop of a hat), typically when his pride or chivalrous sense of "that ain't right!" is offended. Sometimes this also leads to his getting into fights with friends, too. But in other situations, like if he were talking someone through a complex set of instructions and they weren't really listening to him (something Blade, Tallys, or Riel would find extremely annoying), he can be quite patient! So he's actually a mixed bag!

Tallys: um, I would say she's rarely outwardly angry (though frostily offended can happen with her), but deep inside I think she's seething with some of the most icy rage out of all of the characters? As Halek put it in Chapter 8.5: "Lavinet's got the build, but Tallys is fueled by female rage and hatred."

Shery: you can easily shock or scandalize her, but anger is almost never in her wheelhouse of daily emotion. It's mostly frustration (typically at herself) or mild offense, like she's looking at you like "I can't believe you just said that..." but she never really gets angry at other people or even situations!

Riel: crabby. annoyed cat that will bite and bite and bite you... verbally. try twitching one of his carefully-arranged pens on his desk so that it's not quite in line with the others and experience the white-hot fury of 1000 suns

Chase: almost never gets angry, about as unfazed and unflappable as a brick wall. stuff just rolls right off his back. even when he's annoyed, he tends to at least appear cheery and unbothered. on the extremely rare "three-in-a-lifetime" occasions when he does truly lose his temper, he's got a weird way of showing it.

Red: I think he tends to be more exasperated or frustrated like "nooooo why did you do that" than truly angry or annoyed. I truly can't even imagine him losing his temper to the point of shouting or losing control of his emotions, especially towards someone else. he is extraordinarily even-keeled

Ayla: extremely hot-tempered. jalapeno. she is probably the most "hot-tempered" out of the entire group because, while Trouble has more of a reputation for it because he's so consistently easy to prod, that's only because Ayla is new to Haven so she hasn't had as much time to beat him out 🥲

Briony: 50/50; despite her cheery, bubbly exterior, she actually has a quick-trigger temper and (like all of her emotions), it can take her over quite easily. This mostly applies to strangers/enemies/people she already doesn't like, though, so she's more likely to get steaming mad at, say, a noble who said something snooty to her or take offense at something a stranger said. The nice part is that, as easily it is to anger her, she gets over it and forgets it just as fast! She also has a seemingly bottomless well of goodwill, patience, and benefit of a doubt towards her friends, almost to the point of an alarming bias... like if a friend does something to her that someone else would find irritating, she's more likely to brush it off or not notice it or excuse it than to get angry over it! But she doesn't really extend that same patience to strangers, though she's trying to work on it! 😂

Lavinet: hmmm I would say her pride is offended more than she truly loses her temper or gets angry to the point of yelling, screaming, charging blindly into emotional situations or arguments, etc... She's more likely to be nettled by something someone said, not show it at all, and resolve to do something to "put them in their place" (like if someone carelessly implied she was backwater in conversation, she'd just be like ":) lol :) I guess I am!" while thinking about all the ways she could prove them wrong 🖕) than she is to actually lose her temper in the way Briony, Ayla, or Trouble would.

Halek: never gets angry about anything, ever, possibly because he's just very chill and it's not worth the emotional energy to get all worked up, and possibly because the blood-rage is quite enough, thank you

In all, I think it boils down to:

"Hot-tempered" (gets angry easily and outright shows it)

Trouble

Ayla

Briony

"Cold-tempered" (gets angry but doesn't show it, maintaining a cool facade)

Blade

Riel

Tallys

Lavinet

Not easily angered at all

Shery

Red

Chase

Halek

[asahicore]

iced matcha latte - sjh

part 2 of the coffee mini-series // prompt 70 of the 100 kisses list, an accidental kiss that confuses you both, but only a moment passes before you crash your lips back against each other’s

pairing. coworker!junghwan x fem!reader synopsis. Neither you nor Junghwan have said anything since he confessed to liking you at the end of January. You like the way things are slowly progressing, and anyways, you both know that the other likes you - or at least, that's what you think. Even though he's staying quiet about it, Junghwan might not be as reassured in your feelings for him as you think. genre. spring au, coffee shop au, just lots of fluff, they go on a date and are in love basically, also noona!reader word count. 4.5k a/n. hello lovelies sorry i took a thousand years to upload this second part but hope you guys like it <33 @zreamy cried beta reading so hopefully that means it's good 😣 as always lmk ur thoughts!! will try not to take three months to write the next parts next time lol

spring.

Flowers in bloom. A slight rise in temperatures. That weird in-between season where winter fruit isn’t good anymore but summer fruit isn’t quite ripe yet. Going to school or work when the sun’s already up, and heading back home before it’s gone down. The first rays of bright, warm sun making everyone shed their winter coats and wear lighter jackets instead. Turning down the heating a few notches. Maybe even having a picnic outside.

Where you lived, these were all signs that spring had arrived. They were all punctuated by a general sense of relief that the harsh coldness of winter was over and of anticipation for the even warmer days of summer. But for you and everyone else that worked at the café, as well as your regulars, spring made itself known through yet another sign.

“Six separate people have ordered iced matcha lattes. Six. We opened two hours ago.”

This was how your manager had greeted you as you came in for your shift, a look of worn-out exasperation on his face that you chuckled at. Yeonjun had turned his dislike of iced drinks not only into a personality trait of his but into a feature of the café as well - from early October to late March, no iced drink may be sold in his shop. Every spring, he acted like pouring hot drinks over ice cubes was costing him his life, even though those drinks made up most of the profit of the café during the spring and summer months. People particularly loved your iced matcha lattes. 

“It’s a nice drink, Yeonjun. Refreshing,” you shrug, heading to the back to drop your stuff there and put your apron on. 

Yeonjun’s still sulking when you come back out. “Milk shouldn’t be consumed with ice,” he almost hisses. You’re thankful for the customer that comes in then and unknowingly puts a stop to this conversation that you’ve had a thousand times before.

You give them an apologetic smile when Yeonjun lets out an audible groan upon hearing their order - an iced matcha latte.

What can he do? It’s spring, after all.

“Y/N, it’s been two months since the guy told you he likes you. How much longer are you gonna make him wait?”

If your manager complains about iced drinks every chance he gets, this is how Jayoon decides to fill the silence as soon as there are no customers during the shifts you share. 

“Have you been counting the days, or something?” you say, trying to get her off the subject. You have to fight back a smile, though - the simple mention of Junghwan makes your heart skip a beat. 

She’s right, though. It has been two months since Junghwan’s quick confession as he got on the bus, and neither of you have really mentioned it since. But the air between the two of you has changed - if before, you forced yourself to think of him as a friend because you didn’t think he saw you as anything other than that, now, you let all the eye contact and every discreet touch linger and let yourself bask in them. 

With the way you react to every little thing he does, you don’t think there’s any way Junghwan doesn’t know you like him back. You’re not even doing it on purpose, you just can’t help but laugh at all of his jokes, funny or not, ruffle his hair (which is very, very soft) when he does something cute (which is often), or keep casting glances his way when you work a shift together.

You like that he’s not pressuring you to give him an answer. Of course, you want to date him, and you have no intention of leading him on, but you just want to cherish those heart-fluttering, innocent moments before things get more serious. You like how it all feels new, how his good morning and good night texts still surprise you twice a day and how your heart still skips a beat when he beams at you. Although, you have a feeling that even if you do get used to it, you won’t get bored of it.

Jayoon rolls her eyes impatiently at you. “Whether I have or not is not the issue here,” she says in a way that makes you think she has. “I have to admit I just don’t really get it. You know he likes you.  You like him. He probably knows you like him. Why don’t you guys just date already?”

The volume of her voice increases as she speaks, garnering amused looks from customers in the café, and her frustration at someone else’s love life gets a chuckle out of you too. “You know that two of our regulars have straight up asked me if you guys were together? That means that plenty other people have thought the same, just didn’t ask.”

This fact makes your cheeks heat up. Were you and Junghwan really being that obvious? You couldn’t tell Jayoon that you’d also been asked about Junghwan by regulars that had noticed your recent chumminess - she’d only use it as another argument against you.

“I like the way things are right now, Yoon. It’s nice. We text everyday and hang out or study together when we’re not on the same shift. We’re just… progressing from colleagues to friends, if you will. That takes time,” you explain with a sigh. A customer comes in, and because they’re paying more attention to their phone than to you, Jayoon continues grilling you as you prepare their oat latte.

“But you like each other!” she whisper-yells. “Why can’t you progress from colleagues directly into boyfriend and girlfriend? You already act like it anyway. The guy walks you home, texts you cute shit, and I saw those heart-shaped cookies you gave him for his birthday. How come I never got heart-shaped cookies? Or any shape cookies, for that matter?”

You ignore your friend for a short moment as the customer pays for their drink. When they’ve walked away, you turn to her with another sigh and feign a concerned expression. “Is that what this is about, Yoon? Do you want me to make you cookies?”

“Of course I do, but I’m not letting you change the subject.”

“I swear this is at least the fifth time we’ve had this conversation. I’m telling you, it’ll happen naturally. I don’t want to force anything.” 

“But aren’t you scared your spark will fizzle out?” she asks with a pout.

You think for a second. Every time you see Junghwan, your feelings for him grow. He manages to make you feel all giddy inside but wipe all your worries away at once. So, no, you don’t think your spark will fizzle out - you think it will grow slowly but steadily until it becomes warm and welcoming like a fireplace fire, the kind you want to bundle up in front of and feel the flames of on your face during cold winter nights.  

As the pleasant thought crosses your mind, Junghwan enters the café, big brown eyes finding you immediately and lips coming up in that boyish grin of his you love so much. You return his smile, then look back at Jayoon. “No, I’m not,” you reply, smiling at her too. She shrugs, and you hope this was the last time she branched the topic. 

You turn back to Junghwan as he crosses his arms over the counter, bending down on his forearms so that he’s the one looking up at you. The two of you probably look like idiots, smiling at each other like you’ve just shared amazing news, when all you’re happy about is simply seeing the other. “Your usual?” you ask, and he nods.

You get to work on his latte - two shots of espresso and one pump of vanilla syrup - then ask him what he’s doing here, since he’s not working today. 

“I didn’t want to go to the library to study. I’m so tired, I’m probably just going to stare at my computer screen for a couple hours then call it a day. Being around people who are hell-bent on getting their essays done will just stress me out,” he explains with a sigh.

You chuckle. “Yeah, I get that. Students working to make a deadline are some of the scariest people I’ve ever seen. You don’t need that kind of bad energy.”

As you start on your latte art (he likes it when you make a bear, so you’ve perfected your bear-shaped milk foam drawing over the past weeks), another smile tugs at the corner of his lips. “Plus, I wanted to see you.”

Junghwan always says things like this, and yet, it manages to make your brain stop working every single time. Your hand freezes and the hot milk continues pouring into the cup, effectively ruining the bear’s face. 

Jayoon’s loud groan snaps you out of your daze. She then says something about not needing your kind of bad energy and heads to the back storage. You laugh at your friend’s dramatic antics, but when you lock eyes with Junghwan, you grow shy again, finding sudden interest in the marble countertop. You vaguely notice Junghwan’s smile only getting bigger at your reaction. 

“You look really pretty today, noona,” he says, voice dropping in volume so that only you can hear him. You purse your lips together, making it obvious that you’re trying to suppress a smile, but you can’t help letting out a small giggle at the compliment anyway.

“Go study,” you say, handing him his drink then shooing him off with a smile and a tilt of your head. Three teenage girls have come in, and you don’t want Junghwan’s presence messing with your concentration. They look like the type who won’t say anything even if you completely mess up their order, but you’d still rather get it right. 

“Yes, ma’am,” Junghwan replies, standing up straight and picking up his drink. Your eyes follow his movements, and you’d be lying if you said his height and the inches he has over you didn’t make your heart flutter. 

It’s a slow afternoon, and Jayoon takes over for you once you’re done with the girls’ drinks (two vanilla fraps and one iced matcha latte - Yeonjun would throw a fit if he was there), so that you can go sit with Junghwan until the usual five p.m. rush. He complains that you’re distracting him, but even when you stop talking and busy yourself with your phone, he’s the one who breaks the silence or tries to get your attention again. You feign exasperation but he’s too adorable for you to pretend for long - all it takes is a smile from him and you simply melt.

“Noona?” he calls out suddenly after ten minutes of studying. You look up and hum, waiting for him to go on. His smile makes its way back to his lips before he speaks again, and you mirror it almost unconsciously. “Do you wanna do something together when your shift is over?”

Your grin widens, and you rest your forearms on the table, leaning in closer to him in a conspiratory-like manner. “What do you have in mind?” you whisper.

He imitates your position, and even though the sudden proximity takes you aback, you try not to let it show on your face. The way his smile turns into a slight smirk when he notices your eyes quickly darting to his lips doesn’t help you in the slightest. “Get take-out somewhere and eat at a park? The weather’s nice enough.”

Your face lights up even more at the idea. “Sound good?” Junghwan asks, seemingly relieved at your excitement.

“Sounds perfect,” you reply with a giggle, leaning in close enough to bump your forehead against his before sitting back in your seat. The small action takes the both of you by surprise, but if Junghwan’s growing blush is anything to go by, it’s a good kind of surprise. 

Then, Jayoon calls you for help, so you send Junghwan an apologetic smile, to which he responds with an understanding nod of his head. For the better part of an hour, the constant stream of customers keeps you occupied, but the last quiet minutes until the end of your shift seem to drag on and on. As soon as the clock strikes six p.m., you hurry to the backroom and take off your apron, looking at yourself in the mirror to fix your hair before coming back out. 

Usually, you’d stay an extra hour to keep Jayoon company and help her close the store. For once, you’re glad that your friend is such a fervent supporter of your and Junghwan’s relationship, so she lets you go easily - actually, she’d been telling you to just go for the past ten minutes.

Junghwan is already waiting for you outside when you leave the café. The sunlight of the late afternoon turns his dark eyes a golden color and reflects against his hair. You make sure to commit the sight of him like this, beaming as he holds out his hand for you to take, to memory. You gladly take his hand, heart swelling at the feeling of your fingers interlacing for the first time, and yet so naturally. He leads the way and tells you about the different spots you can pick up food at. You decide on a fried chicken place nearby that’s only a two-minute walk away from a nice park. Both of your stomachs are growling, so something you can eat quickly is the best. 

Ever the gentleman, Junghwan insists on paying for your food. Once at the park, you find one of the last unoccupied patches of sunny grass and set camp there. Junghwan lays a blanket down, and with a small blush, admits to having thought of this before getting to the café. “I was just hoping you’d say yes.”

You tease him for about a minute, until his bright red face and the hunger in your stomach make you relent. You both dig in, letting out satisfied hums at the crunchiness of the chicken. He seems to go for all the pieces with bones, and although you like those too, the sight of him happily eating them is enough for you to gladly accept all the boneless ones. 

Usually, people are quiet when they eat, and start talking afterwards; but for some reason, you and Junghwan are the opposite. You talk so much as you eat that it takes you over an hour to finish your food, and by the time you’re done, the sun has started making its slow descent in the sky. 

These are your favorite moments with him - laughing as you share silly childhood stories and tell each other about the many stupid things your friends have done, or getting to know the other better as you listen to what’s been weighing on their mind lately. You just love hearing his voice and talking to him, no matter the topic. You also like pretending to be mad at him when he steals some of your fries, even though he has a lot of his left - if you pout hard enough, he’ll feed you to make up for his theft. 

Either a food coma hits the both of you at the same time, or you’ve both decided to admire the sunset peacefully, but a comfortable silence falls over you. 

His legs had been stretched out in front of him, upper body resting on his palms, but after some time, he decides to lie down completely, hands coming up behind his head in a makeshift pillow. You stay in your cross-legged position and try not to pay him too much attention, but the thought of snuggling up to him and using his body warmth to protect yourself from the growing cold is pervasive in your head. For a minute, you’re so caught up in the idea of being close to him, of being able to touch his hair and bury your head in the crook of his neck, that when he touches your hand, you jump back in surprise. This makes him laugh, but you feel too much like you’ve been caught red-handed to smile too - you barely even register as he intertwines your hands together and brings them to his chest, right atop his heart.

“What were you thinking about?” he asks. As if intent on betraying your thoughts, your eyes swipe over his upper body before you can stop them. You look away, hoping he doesn’t notice the flustered look on your face, the slight crease of your eyebrows.

“Nothing,” you huff in reply.

“Are you sure?” he insists, giving your hand a slight tug, and another one when you don’t react. “Wanna know what I’m thinking about then?”

When you look back at him, a playful smile is dancing on his lips. “What?” you ask, trying to keep a disinterested tone, even though you’re hoping he’ll have the same thing on his mind as you.

His smile widens. “Come here,” he whispers, releasing your hand to reach out to you. A sort of relief washes over your body as you let yourself lie down against him, head resting on his bicep and hand circling his middle. He’s kept one of his hands under his head to hold it up, but the other one rests on your shoulder, fingers sometimes trailing up and down your arm. You hope that he assumes the shivers that rake through your body aren’t due to his actions but to the chilliness in the early evening air.

Indeed, after some time, he sits up for a second to get his jacket out of his bag. “You must be cold,” he says with what sounds like genuine worry in his voice as he places the denim over your body like a blanket before returning to his lying position. He brings you closer to him, and your head shifts from resting on his arm to his shoulder. You just need to turn your head to brush your nose against his neck and breathe in the warm scent of his skin. Instead, you lift your head slightly to admire his face in the orange glow of the last minutes of sunset.

His eyes are closed and he has a peaceful smile on his lips. You’re suddenly overcome with affection for him - all you can think is that you want to keep seeing his smile, and you want to keep being the reason behind it, for as long as possible. You’re also grateful for all the moments spent together, for all the times he’s made you laugh or done something in the hopes it’ll make you happy, for his patience and his understanding. 

You’re not thinking much, more letting your body do what it’s been longing to do when you bend down to press your lips against his cheek.

“You know-”

Whatever he was about to say is stopped by your lips against his, and you both lean back immediately with wide eyes. You’re not crazy, right? You had been aiming for his cheek, but the gods of bad (or perfect) timing had decided he should turn his head to look at you and speak just at that moment.

After the initial shock has subsided, you both burst into giggles. Even though embarrassment makes heat rise to your cheeks, you’re glad that Junghwan doesn’t seem to mind the incident, just lightly pinches your shoulder and continues laughing. You bury your head in his shoulder to hide your face from him.

“Well, that wasn’t how I was expecting our first kiss to go, but I’ll take it, too.”

The playfulness in his tone tugs at something in you, and your insides twist at the thought of him thinking of kissing you, much like you had over the past couple of months. You force your shyness away and look back up at him, a similar smile to his playing on your lips.

“Oh yeah? How did you think it would go?”

His eyebrows raise at your uncharacteristic forwardness, but you can tell that he likes it. His eyes drift down to your lips and stay there as he speaks, and his voice is so low, you almost don’t hear it. It makes you feel like it’s really just you and Junghwan in the whole park. “Should I just show you?”

“I think you should,” you reply, voice just as low as his.

So he does. He lifts his head to find your lips with his, on purpose, this time. The kiss is slow and tentative as you focus on finding your rhythm together, but it’s perfect. It makes you feel all fuzzy at the edges, makes you feel like your fingers are filled with electricity. As your lips move against each other, settling into a nice, comfortable pace, you can’t help but smile. Now more than ever, you’re glad the two of you hadn’t rushed into anything, because every single moment that has led up to this has been worth it and makes this moment even better. Your noses bump into each other, and you’re not sure where to place your hands, and you’re both so nervous you sometimes have to stop to let some giggles out, but you wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Everything is just right. The last warm sun rays and the slight breeze picking up, the soft blanket underneath you, the chatter in the park, the boy who has stopped kissing you only to leave quick pecks all over your cheeks, nose and forehead as he hugs you close to him. He finds your lips once more, pecks them once, then a second time before kissing you properly again. You’re not in his head, but it’s like he’d tried to control himself when you started kissing, but now the nerves and excitement and giddiness have caught up to him and he can’t help but shower you with affection. You remember your hands and bring them up under his head so that you can rake your fingers through the soft locks of his hair. That seems to calm him down instantly - he hums against your lips and you fall back into your previous, slower rhythm. You can’t help but laugh at this, pulling away slightly to look at him. His eyes are filled with adoration, and his expression is nothing but bliss.

You peck his lips one last time before laying back down next to him to take a breather. He whines at the loss of your warmth and presses a kiss to your forehead, then to the top of your head, nuzzling his face against your hair. After a few quiet moments, you remember he’d try to say something before your happy accident, so you ask him about it.

“Oh, that…” he starts, but says nothing more. You look back up at him, even more curious now.

“That?” you echo. His eyes dart all over your face as if trying to commit every millimeter of it to memory and a smile grows on his face.

“Yeah… I was gonna ask if you, um, if you remembered what I said that day at the bus stop.”

How could you have forgotten? “You mean, as you got into the bus and gave me zero time to say anything in return?”

His cheeks flush slightly but he keeps on grinning. “Yeah, that. I didn’t wanna say anything, but you also haven’t mentioned it, so I was getting a bit worried…”

Even though he’s smiling, his words alarm you. Had Jayoon been right? Maybe, all along, you were sure you were being clear, but Junghwan had no idea what you were thinking. 

“I’m sorry, Hwan. I was sure I was making it obvious.”

“Making what obvious?”

How did he not know? “That I like you, too.”

His eyes light up at your words. He shoots up, almost knocking his head against yours in the process, but is too excited to notice it. You sit up too, his jacket falling off of your shoulders as you do. He looks at you like a kid whose parents just told him they were going to Disneyland. “You do?!”

You giggle, pushing away some hair that had fallen in his eyes. “Of course I do.”

He pulls into a hug so tight, you can barely breathe. This boy really needs to learn to assess his own strength. “This is the best day of my life,” he says, making you laugh again. You wrap your arms around his middle, bunching up some of the fabric of his t-shirt in your hands. 

“Did you really not know?” you ask.

“Well, I thought you might. Or at least, I really hoped so. But I wasn’t a hundred percent sure…”

“I’m sorry,” you repeat, but he stops you quickly.

“Don’t be.”

“But I am.” You pull back to look at him but keep your hands where they are. “I just… I really liked the way things were going.” You’d never been in a serious relationship before, never found someone that you really wanted to take that step further with. But now that you had that someone, you realized you had no idea how to take things from here.

His smile softens. “Nothing has to change. I like the way things are going, too.” He takes a breath here, as if trying to steady himself before saying what he wants to say next. “I just want to be able to call you my girlfriend at the same time.”

It takes you a second to process his words, but when you do, you smile so hard, your cheeks start to hurt. Was it that easy this entire time? Just say, hey, let’s be boyfriend and girlfriend now, and everything could go on as it had been before?

“Your girlfriend?” you echo, half to make sure and half to tease him.

He nods fervently. “Mh-hm.”

You press a chaste peck to his lips. When you pull back, he’s kept his eyes closed, as if savoring the moment. “I’d love that, Hwan.”

He opens his eyes as his smile gets impossibly wider, and engulfs you in a tight hug once more. He holds your face in his hands as he kisses your cheek, then the top of your head. You think you hear him mumble “my girl” against your hair, but the sound of your giggles is louder than his muffled voice.

The two of you stay at the park until almost everyone has left, chased away by the cold, chatting and holding onto each other for warmth. As always, Junghwan walks you home, but this time, he doesn’t let you walk through your door before getting one last kiss or two. You only break away when the upstairs neighbor has to awkwardly clear his throat to be let through. 

Junghwan texts you not even a minute after you’ve exchanged goodbyes to thank you for the amazing afternoon. You reply immediately, and the two of you text the night away, until your phone screen starts to hurt your eyes in the darkness of your room and you really need to start sleeping. 

Tomorrow, you’re doing the closing shift together - you already know that it’ll feel like an eternity, waiting most of the day until you see him again. But you know you will, and that’s all that matters. So you fall asleep with your phone on your heart and a smile on your face.

permanent taglist: @zreamy @sunghoonmybeloved @lalalalawon @sd211 @w3bqrl @raikea10 @wntrnghts @moonlighthoon @4imhry @rikisly @loves0ft @iamliacamila @theboingsuckerasseater9000 (ask to be removed/added!)

series taglist: @ineedsomezzz

treasure taglist: @mosviqu

© asahicore on Tumblr, 2023. please do not repost, translate, or plagiarize my works. feedback and reblogs always appreciated!

[starkbarnes-lovechild]

Might post this on AO3 at some point. Maybe. I feel like I need to. Lol.

Anyway, enjoy another Firstprince fic. :*

<3

Let yourself smile more. When you do, the world becomes brighter. At least mine does.

Henry bites his lower lip, trying to contain his smile despite what the note said. He can feel his cheeks warming up as he rereads the words.

He's been receiving these random notes for the past three months and the giddy feeling in his belly hasn't disappeared. Pez has been teasing him that this secret admirer may help him get over his little crush on Alex. It seemed unlikely at first but the more he receives these notes, the more hopeful he gets.

"Hey, Mr. Darcy!" Speak of the devil, Henry rolls his eyes, shoving the note into his pocket in the process. When he turns, he's bombarded with Alex's smile. His heart stutters at the sight, then mentally curses the stupid organ. How the fuck does the other teen still have this effect on him? "We're still on for Friday, right?"

"Yes, Alex. Our standing study session will still happen." He replies drily, his lips lifting on one side. In his periphery, he sees some of Alex's usual entourage frown in confusion.

"Cool. See you, Friday, Wilde." The asshole winks as he walks backward, likely on his way to lacrosse practice. Henry shakes his head in exasperation, watching as Alex and his clique turn the corner.

He pulls out the note from his pocket, smoothing out the paper. As he rereads the words, he can't help but smile at the short note.

<3

Sometimes I dream about kissing that mole on your upper lip. Is that creepy? Whatever. I love looking at those beauty marks. I want to trace them with my mouth and find out how you would react to my kisses.

Henry lays his palm on his chest, right over his widely beating heart. He's not sure if his secret admirer meant it to sound as sensual as it did but Henry's brain blue-screened. He has a lot of moles scattered all over his body and the idea of this person's mouth exploring his body is... doing things to his randy teenage brain.

He hears someone laugh and his eyes immediately find Alex, head thrown back with pure joy. The image of a faceless boy in his head turns into Alex's mischievous smirk as he explores Henry's body.

He doesn't know how he's still torn between painfully straight Alex and the secret admirer who clearly wants him.

<3

The way you tilt your chin up when you're trying to look tough makes me feel brave, too. I don't think you know just how inspiring you can be, sweetheart.

Henry can feel a sting in his eyes and he's not even sure why. His secret admirer didn't really say something that profound but at the same time, he did. Like any teen, Henry has a habit of comparing himself to his peers. Pez, his own best mate, has a way of lifting people up when they're down. Bea, when she was still attending the high school, formed a support group for teens turning to substance to cope. Alex got the lacrosse team to help prevent bullying by standing up for other people.

Henry does what he can, but he feels like he'll never leave a positive impact in the world. Knowing at least one person finds him inspiring is quite humbling.

<3

I love watching your face when you read Austen. You have the most beautiful expressions when you read about two people falling in love. Sometimes I wonder what your face will look like when you realize just how in love I am with you. PS. Meet me at the music room after class?

Henry swallows thickly, hands shaking as he rereads the note a few more times. The postscript is still the same. His secret admirer wants to meet him and Henry's not sure what he should do.

Part of him wants to meet this secret admirer after months of receiving these sweet notes. But another part of him is scared. What if he's wrong and the secret admirer is actually a girl? He knows most of the school is aware he's gay but some think they can turn him straight, while others are just painfully unaware.

But what if it's a boy and not he imagined him? What if he's disappointed his secret admirer isn't how he pictured? Does that make him shallow? He hates to admit it but even without trying, he's imagining Alex leaving him these little notes. It's a daft fantasy but he can't really help who he falls for.

The day crawls and Henry's patience is running thin. There's at least fifteen more minutes until the school day is over. It's the longest fifteen minutes of his life.

When the bell finally rings, Henry rushes out of his seat he's practically leaving dust in his wake. He knows the music room will be empty today. Clearly, his admirer knows it, too.

When he gets to the music room, the door is closed but he can hear someone strumming the guitar. He wonders if it's his secret admirer or someone else.

He takes a deep, fortifying breath and slowly releases it. When he enters, he doesn't immediately see who's occupying the room. The click of the door shutting behind him sounds loud in the sudden silence.

Henry doesn't move, just leans down against the closed door in case the other room occupant is not his secret admirer. He can hear the clock ticking, counting along with it; eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve. When he reaches thirteen, Alex's timid voice makes him flinch, "Hi."

"I'm supposed to meet someone here," Henry doesn't dare hope that Alex is the someone he's supposed to meet. It's simply not possible that the boy he's been halfway in love with may feel the same. But then Alex stands and makes his way to him, his brows raised in surprise. Henry can feel his heart pounding in his chest and he wonders if Alex can hear his heartbeat.

"Yeah," the other boy enunciates slowly, "me. You were meeting me."

"But..." Henry tries to grasp at words that would make a coherent sentence. "You're straight?"

"Henry," Alex says with exasperation. The smile on his face softens the blow, though. "I dated Liam for like, a month, maybe a bit longer." He's sure the younger boy is laughing at him.

"Oh." He certainly never knew that. "When?" His voice is hesitant, uncertain. He truly does not remember Alex and Liam ever dating. It had always been Liam and Spencer.

Alex's lips twitch, as if he's fighting a smile, "Fall of freshman year. We broke up because we both realized we wanted someone else."

Alex is now standing in front of him, just a foot or so of distance between them. If he raises his arm, he can take hold of the shorter man's waist. If wants, he can pull Alex into his arms and give in to the desire to kiss the other boy.

Then again, Alex is Alex and beats him to the punch.

Alex cups Henry's face, his touch is so gentle yet firm. He nuzzles the other boy's palm, swaying forward. It's hard not to get pulled in by Alex's gravity.

Henry sees the question in those brown orbs. He looks down at Alex's lips, then back to his eyes. A silent request.

When their lips finally meet, Henry finally understands what people mean when their world narrows down to a single person.

<3

Got my acceptance letter from NYU. We're moving to New York, baby! -XOXO Alex

[chunkypossum]

By Solstice End

Azriel x Eris

11,654 total words

Part Two of Three || or… Read on AO3

Parts: 1 2 3

Warning: This chapter is less than stellar. I had high hopes for it but in the end... the holidays beat me down and here we are... I like to imagine that this is Eris writing the chapter himself after the fact when he is still tired and annoyed. Makes it make more sense to me lol. I'm hoping I recharge for the next one though because it's ALL AZRIS and TOOTH ROTTING FLUFF.

⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆ ₊˚｡⋆❆⋆｡˚₊ ⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆ ₊˚｡⋆❆⋆｡˚₊

Eris tried to turn and leave but as quickly as they had disappeared, Feyre had returned. It was as if she had been expecting him to make a break for it and had desperately wanted to keep that from happening. He smiled wryly at her which she dutifully ignored in favor of smoothing her dress and taking two slow, calming breaths. When she looked back up to meet his stare, there as a placid smile on her face. 

“There.” She said, her smile settling into something more natural. “Where were we?” A fresh glass of plain champagne shimmered into existence and into her waiting fingers.

Eris bit back the choked exasperation clawing it’s way out of his throat and plastered on a simple but tired smile. “I believe you were about to lead me off my hunt, aiding and abetting your runaway Spymaster.” 

“Mmm.”Feyre made a show of tapping her chin and looking around the all room. “No, that’s not it.” 

Eris let out a small sound through is nose in disbelief.

She winked up at him as her champagne flute touched her lips. The liquid inside slid down her throat in one swift swallow then she was looping her arm through his, letting thte glass fall away from her grip as it disappeared.

Leading them straight out of the main hall, Feyre said cheerfully, “That’s right. We were going to take a walk.” 

Eris found it hard to be too irritated. Even if the orchestration was painfully obvious, Feyre was a smart distraction. The girl’s earnest behavior was a Boone in any deception. This trait of hers had led to more than one High Lord being deceived some years ago. At least Erris knew it as happening. So long as this ended very soon, he would play along. 

The High Lord and Lady of the Winter Court had spared no expense even utilizing the the frozen landscape outside to create a cold but inviting garden space for people to stroll through. The wind and most of the chill had been blocked by magic and what wasn’t could be combatted with complimentary parkas readily available at the garden doors. This way, guests could still enjoy the eerie stillness of the Artic nights and watch the swaths of color that lit the sky in waves of dancing lights. 

Eris and Feyre of course, declined letting their own magic keep their fingers and toes toasty while they walked. It was ridiculously opulent, Eris noted, going so far as to raise his nose at the floral displays. The grounds were encrusted with more flowers than the Spring Court. Cascading rose bushes fell into the path in colors so hushed they could have been mistaken for flowers made of snow. In fact, some of them appeared to be just that. Intermixed with the real peonies, lilacs and roses were fake ones made out of snow and ice that glittered alongside their softer counterparts. It created a dizzying effect but was not entirely unpleasant. 

“I don’t suppose we will find any allergy prone Illyrians out here?” Eris asked. He meant it as a snide remark but found it disgustingly difficult to keep the hopeful tone out of his voice. 

Feyre hummed softly in response and said, ”Perhaps not. I’ve already heard at least one complaining heavily about why they even needed a garden in the middle of the frozen landscape in the first place. Big babies.” She muttered clinging tighter to Eris’ arm with both hands and leaning into his escort. 

“I don’t suppose I could persuade you to give away his location after our walk?” Eris asked flatly. He squeezed her back taking a strange comfort in her presence at his side. 

Naturally, Feyre sidestepped the uestion entirely with one of her own. “I hear you got to attend the solstice alone this evening. How did you manage to work around your father?” 

Eris’ jaw tightened but he answered. “Believe it or not, the old fool got sick.”

“That is surprising” Feyre mused. “And your brothers?” 

This did make him smile a bit. “I convinced him they would only embarrass him. Which is most likely true, especially with Lucien here. They wouldn’t be able to help themselves and make a scene.” A shake of his head showed his wearnines. Something usually reserved for private moments but Eris found himself letting his defenses go around Feyre a long time ago. 

She nudged into his side with a smile. “Lucky you.” 

“Yes, very lucky.” He said with a touch of sarcasm. “Over 500 years old and I still have to lie and cheat my way out of the house just to get some time to myself.” 

Blowing out a dramatic breath, Feyre pretended to be apologetic. “And here I go, spoiling it all.”

“Not at all.” He squeezed her hand gently. “You were always my favorite Feyre.”

A bright laugh escaped her lips as they winded through the narrowing path. Flower petals, both real and carved, crunched under their feet as they went. It wafted up an intoxicating mix of scents that Eris suspected were giving off a light magic of their own. His eyelids felt slightly heavy but his heart was warm and full. 

“Dont lie, we all know Nesta is your favorite.” She laughed again, the flower magic working through her as well. 

“Only,” He began smiling widely. “Because she can dance. You’re far easier to get along with.” 

“I can dance.” Feyre said indignantly. 

“No, my dear.” Eris said, patting her hand, “You can do a lot of things, but dancing is not one of them.”

She slapped Eris playfully on the arm as they continued deeper into the enchanted garden. A little ermine came to keep them company, winding in and out of Eris’ legs as he walked, like one of Azriel’s shadows might have. He would have at least appreciated one of those trailing him tonight but they were suspiciously absent as well. 

Step after step, their walk continued for a little while longer. Eris found it easy to talk with her. Feyre seemed to be making it a point to update Eris on all that had happened in her life since the last time they had spoken, which had been over some formal state dinner or another. Those talks were usually formal and distant since Beron was usually present. Eris had always been at ease around her but they had never really had a conversation quite this in depth before. 

Feyre told him about her latest paintings and the classes she was teaching, about Nyx and his flying lessons and asked him the most curious things about his own life. She wanted to know if he had read any good books lately or what his favorite paths to walk in Autumn looked like. The conversation never strayed to politics as it usually did. She asked nothing about his father or brothers, or even his people. It was entirely domestic. 

Without even realizing it, Eris found himself divulging information with relish as he shared his favorite reads and walked her through his latest baking ventures. He felt his heart warm when he made her laugh with a story about a particularly needy crow who had been hanging around his bedroom window after he made the mistake of feeding it one time. It was easy to forget that Eris had another reason to be poking around the party, someone else he wanted to spend time with. Eris couldn’t even blame the heady feeling from the garden magic alone. He knew, somehwere deep down, that he had been craving his kind of easy friendship for long, long time. 

Eventually, about the fifteenth time she caught Eris glancing around for a stray shadow or two, Feyre seemed to have a little mercy on him. She paused their pace and turned to him. “Thank you Eris.” 

“For?” He asked politely. 

“Entertaining me. My own mate seems to have disappeared and I always enjoy your company.” 

He bowed his head slightly towards her and smiled. “Of course High Lady. In that case, should I seek you out more often for idle gossip?” 

“Stop that.” She said playfully smacking his arm. “But yes…” She said a bit more seriously. “I promise to make time for this whenever you need it most.”

“Thank you.” He replied a little taken aback by her tone. Before he could remark on it further she thrust a drink into his hand. 

“Here,” Feyre said at last, “Drink this.” It was a delicate champagne flute full of cobalt liquid. 

Eris only pursed his lips at her for a moment before downing the entire thing in one swig. Nothing happened at first and Eris found himself mildly disappointed. Just as that feeling manifested he suddenly had no need for it. Slowly a gold thread seemed to grow from his chest and pull outward until it lit a path for him leading deeper into the garden. 

Almost sighing in relief, Eris gave Feyre’s hands on his arm one more squeeze before she let go. Finally, he could go collect his bat. It had been a long night already and he was very tired. There were a pair of very strong arms that he wanted to fall into. 

“Follow that.” She said, nodding in the direction of the golden thread. “And good luck.” 

Before he could ask what the hell that was supposed to mean, Feyre vanished, having winnowed back into the party. 

“Well.” Eris said to himself as he reached out and plucked at the gold string tentatively. The glittered light bounced around his finger as it passed through. 

“I suppose this could be a ploy to get me alone and defenseless before offing me but at least it’s creative.”

Following the precious beam, Eris wound through the darkening garden until he found himself standing at the edge where a border of scalloped hedges lay, staring out into the frozen tundra beyond. Still, the thread pointed on. 

“Yes. They are definitely luring me out into the wilds to kill me.” The words were coated in a sardonic tone as he mused the different ways his tired allies might finally try to be rid of him. 

Or…Her thought, perhaps his father’s men had tampered with the drink and this wasn’t the Night Court’s intention at all. 

Just as he was trying to decide between taking another step out into the snowdrifts or turn back around and find more booze to drown his irritation in, something flew straight at Eris’ head. With a wave of his hand, the snowball split apart, fracturing into a million particles inches from his face. The fractals glittered around him, catching in his eyelashes as he blinked them away. 

“Hey bastard that’s cheating!” Called Cassian as he came running toward Eris. 

“Who are you calling a bastard, brute?” Eris crossed his arms over his chest, correcting his posture in the Illyrian’s presence. That stance usually commanded a certain respect that Eris was used to people bending to. Cassian completely ignored it.

Instead, the male swaggered over to Eris’ side, smirking like a wildcat. Rhysand wasn’t far behind. 

“Have you seen our brother?” They asked in unison nearly bursting out in a fit of giggles like school children. Drunk as skunks. Eris rolled his eyes. 

Still, something inside Eris eased at the sight of their merriment. It wasn’t until all he could hear in the garden was their blundering laughter that Eris realized standing on the edge of the magic, staring out into the haunting arctic night, he really had expected the worst. 

 “I was rather hoping the two of you would have the answer to that question.” Knowing that these two idiots would be the worst of his worries for now, he was able to let his taut muscles relax. 

They gave one another the most curious side eye before setting both their sights back on Eris. A hungry gleam shone in both the hazel and the violet pair. Eris swallowed uncomfortably against it. 

“I suppose you’ll do then.” Rhys said, ignoring Eris and flaring out his wings as he made his declaration. 

“For what?” Eris took a step away from both of them, back on his guard. Suddenly wary of their motivations, his eyes narrowed. 

“Snowball fight of course.” Cassian said merrily, coming up to put a meaty arm around Eris’ shoulders. He tried to shrug it off but Cassian only pulled him closer. 

“I won’t be doing that.” Eris replied, finally managing to slip out from under the gorilla’s hold. 

“Az said as much.” Cassian mumbled disappointed. 

Eris’ attention snapped to him. He started at Cassian, scrutinizing his expression that had quickly been shuttered.  “What are you talking about?” 

The High Lord elbowed his brother in the ribs and quickly changed the subject. 

“Oh come now Eris, it’s the holidays.”  Rhys gestured between the two of them. “Aren’t the High Lords supposed to be strengthening our alliances during this time?” 

“I’m not a High Lord.” Eris corrected him.

“Yet.” Those violet eyes sparkled with mischief and Eris had the absurd urge to rush back to the forest house. 

“You didn’t.” Eris mouthed in disbelief. 

Rhys nearly burst from his laughter, holding his arms tightly around his middle. “Oh Cauldron Eris, what do you take me for? Of course we haven’t done anything. I’m just saying. You will be one day and it would be nice if I didn’t want to strangle you every time I spoke with you.”  

Eris chose not to answer. There were a lot of things he took Rhysand for, none of them appropriate to say just then. He wanted Rhysand sober for those jabs. Seeing the normally cold and cruel male unable to pull himself together long enough to speak a sentence was unnerving. 

“Rhysand we have been working together for several years. If you were ever going to stop hating me don’t you think you would have done so by now?” He tried not to show it but something inside Eris, something he didn’t want to name, deflated a little at the accusation. It’s not that he wanted to be friends with Rhysand but he did want to be accepted. Though Eris would never admit it. 

“Rhys!” Cassian exclaimed, “How could you hate this face?” The big gorilla was back with another arm slung heavily over Eris’ shoulders. His other hand came up and squeezed both of Eris’ cheeks together. Cassian shook his head in disappointment at his brother. Rhys leaned in and scrutinized Eris’ face like he was really considering the question. The crease in his forehead deepened in thought and he frowned. Irritated, Eris wanted to light up like a match and while he was able to hold himself back, he did growl at the duo.

“Who said I hate him? Eris? Who said I hate you?” 

“Cauldron,” Eris started, shaking Cassian off. “The two of you are incredibly intoxicated.”

“All the better to snow fight … play snow … ball fight with. All the better to snowball fight… with.” Rhys held up his pointer finger, concentrating on it with crossed eyes as he tried, and failed, to get his sentence out. 

“This is why Azriel wins every year isn’t it?” Eris asked derisively, a smile breaking across his face despite himself. His hands were deep in his pockets as the two males before him broke out in another fit of inebriated laughter. They were annoying and Eris made a show of being annoyed, but honestly he didn’t mind too much. 

Somehow their antics made Eris feel warm inside, different from the fire in his veins, like he was a part of something bigger. It was a feeling he sorely lacked when dealing with his own family. Eris easily blamed it on the soft, loving magic of the garden but, somewhere deep inside of himself, he suspected that wasn’t entirely the truth. 

“I resent that. We take our snowball fights very seriously.” Cassian explained, puffing out his chest.

“I’m sure you do.” Eris drawled, looking around. He was growing tired of babysitting drunk Illyrians and wished to continue his search. 

“Oh no you don’t.” Rhys put an arm around Eris’ shoulder and tugged him away from the castle and out towards the blistering night. 

“I’m not going out in that.” Eris said flatly. 

Cassian sighed like it was Eris who was the one being difficult. The irritation slowly building up in the male was about to come out in a fiery torrent but he squashed it down, just wanting to find a way out of their clutches. 

“Will you just trust us?” Rhysand asked in his velvety dark way. Eris had to bite back the need to huff. How anyone ever fell for that display was beyond him.

“No.” Eris made to turn away again but Rhysand only held him tighter.  

Eris winnowed out of the male’s grasp just a couple feet away and straightened out his jacket. “I suppose I will leave you two idiots to-“ Cassian was there in a heartbeat, grabbing Eris around the waist and pulling him in close to his side. 

Now seething Eris started to protest, embers crackling around the ends of his hair. Thinking quickly, Rhysand thrust out his own magic, pulling Eris into that night dark embrace of his power winnowing the three of them away. 

“Get your disgusting paws off me you brute.” Eris made to pull away from Cassian but the male was not listening. He pulled Eris from the bitter cold and snow where they had rematerialized,  into a room hot with steam. 

Immediately the two other males began to undress. When Cassian noticed Eris standing stock still staring at the two of them incredulously, he smirked. 

“Embarrassed?”

Eris scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest but turning pointedly away. “Hardly.”

“Then what are you waiting for?” Cassian winked at him as he struggled to remove his shirt.

“What am I doing here?” Loosening his grasp on his anger, Eris sighed, dropping his hands down to his sides as he looked around. 

The antechamber was small, hardly enough room for the three of them and two sets of giant wings but the warm wood surrounding them made it feel less confined and more cozy. With his fire magic, Eris had never had the need or desire to step into one of these Birchins though he heard Azriel speak of it from time to time. Now that he was here, he could almost see the appeal. Steam wafted from under the door that led to the main area and Eris had to admit to himself that he was curious.

“Well you couldn’t expect us to wait around for Azriel forever could you? Might as well make him come to us.” Rhys shrugged. Having finished his preparations, the male sauntered into the next room, the door closing shut softly behind him. 

That might have been the first thing the High Lord had said all evening that Eris couldn’t outright refute. With a sigh, he waved a hand lazily in the air and his clothes were magically removed, folded neatly in one of his pocket voids and replaced with a towel. 

“Nifty.” Cassian observed with a little envy. 

Eris huffed a small chuckle as he adjusted the towel around his waist. Annoyed at the over-the-top sounds the brute was making as he stretched his arms up over his head, Eris glared sidelong at him. Cassian looked over and noticed his stare before Eris could hide it and grinned widely. 

“It’s ok you can say it… you’re jealous of my muscles.” Cassian joked. 

Eris rolled his eyes and swallowed every hateful word he wanted to say. Normally he would be chomping at the bit to knock the beast down a few pegs but as the night wore on, so did Eris. 

When he didn’t reply Cassian continued. “The strong should protect the weak. I-“ 

“Just because my muscles aren’t comically oversized does not mean I am weak.” Fire sputtered out of the ends of his fingertips but Cassian only laughed. 

The bat waved a hand dismissively. “Whatever. Your magic can only get you so far.” Eris scoffed again.

“I’m a general you-”

“What - hicc - ever” Hiccuping, Cassian continued before Eris could protest further. He puffed out his chest and took a deep, animated breath. “Eris, since you’re…” He waved a lazy hand at Eris’ torso, “... Built the way you are, I should take it upon myself to promise to protect you… you know, like family or whatever.” As the sentence drew on, Cassian’s bravado faded a bit and the last words strung out pathetically. Eris had to stifle a laugh of all things. 

“Because I’m weak.” Eris smirked at the drunk brute.

“Yea because you’re- wait no!” Cassian huffed, his alcohol hazed mind trying to catch up to Eris’ wit. “No because you’re-“ 

Cassian growled again as Rhys poked his head through the doorway, interrupting. “Are you two just going to bicker in the doorway all night?” 

Eris grumbled under his breath, something about “overgrown bats” that the other two couldn’t quite make out. Mask of indifference securely fitted, Eris slipped past Rhysand towards the inner chamber. Cassian’s drunk promise, though he knew better than to let it affect him, cracked something inside of his cold heart. He would have rather burnt to cinders before letting either of them see that kind of emotion cross his face. 

Eris entered the large inner chamber full of more hot steam and several tiered benches lining the walls. Naturally, he chose a spot strategically placed near the exit and as far away from Rhysand as he could get, hoping the dog would sit next to his master. 

It had been a fruitless effort from the start. Cassian stomped in moments after the other two had found their seats and frowned between the two of them before taking a spot next to Eris. He raised a split eyebrow at his brother who sighed before slipping into darkness and reappearing on the other side of Eris. Suppressing a growl Eris thought to himself that it was a damn shame the two couldn’t just pass out and leave him be. 

Relenting, Eris sighed, leaning back on his elbows and immersing himself in the experience. Maybe if he just stayed quiet they would leave him alone and he could slip out after a while unnoticed. That too, was a fruitless wish. 

Silence permeated the heavy air between them but it was not uncomfortable. The three of them simply sat there letting the steam fill their lungs and coat the hard planes of the bodies in glistening pearls. It was Rhysand who broke the silence, groaning slightly as he flexed his wings, stretching them to their full span and back in again. 

“Why do I already have a hangover?” He complained. 

“You stopped drinking brother.” Cassian chided with a soft laugh. 

“Why the hell are you so fine then?” Rhys lobbied back. He opened an eye to glare at Cassian.  

“I… haven’t.” He waggled his eyebrows at Rhysand picking a flask up from the bench where it sat next to him, just out of sight. 

“You bastard. Why haven’t you been sharing?” Rhysand admonished, grabbing for it.” Cassian moved just in time, holding it out of his High Lord's reach but the other male, thinking quickly, used his dark magic to steal it right from Cassian's grip. It plopped into his waiting hand and Rhys had it emptied in seconds. 

Cassian shouted and before it could break out into an all out brawl they were both shocked into a standstill at the sound of Eris’ laughter. 

Eris choked down the sound seeing both sets of eyes turn on him, bewildered. Rhys grinned like some feral beast making Eris groan. 

“I didn’t mean that.” He supplied,sitting up and trying to get out of whatever bonding moment was about to happen. 

“Yes you did.” Cassian rounded on him. “Don’t lie.” 

“I-“ Eris hesitated unsure of how to best explain himself. 

“It’s just that… the way you act towards one another is so ridiculous … I’ve never… he is your High Lord and you’re acting like chil -“ 

“Like family Eris.” Rhysand said, sitting up a little straighter. There was that look in his eyes again. The one that Eris couldn’t stand. The one that sat between pity and the words he knew the High Lord really wanted to say. 

You’re not like us, Eris. You’ll never understand. You’ll never be family like that.

They lapsed back into silence for a beat before Eris said plainly. “I may not have that kind of… background.” An audible swallow made Eris’ throat bob, unsure how to be this vulnerable, especially in front of them. “But I am… determined to have that kind of future.” 

“The Fae are old Eris, the land older still and everything is slow to change. But, as our own mates have made it quite clear, it isn’t a proper excuse to not do more and try harder. I look forward to your rule and promise to always back your ideas for the betterment of us all.” Rhys sat up, fully turning to Eris and his eyes were clear, shining. That stare plucked at Eris’ nerves and he nearly squirmed under it. 

“Well, if you two are done with your feeling circle -“ Cassian began but Rhys was quick to punch him in the arm making Eris huff out another small puff of laughter. 

“I think this steam is getting to my head. It’s time to go.” Eris stood up and left the two pitiful males whining behind him as he summoned his clothing in the antechamber. 

Their muttering followed him and he smiled despite himself as he got dressed. 

“You scared him off.” 

“Me? You’re the one who couldn’t keep your hands off him.” 

“Ugh Az is -“ 

There was a strangled noise as if Rhysand had elbowed Cassian in the gut again, cutting off his speech. 

Eris shook his head, deciding not to look further into those words just then and winnowed away. 

When the world unfolded around him, Eris was pleased to find that he wards on the property had recognized him as an earlier attendant and let him right in. Eris was now in a secluded hallway on the second floor of the ice palace, the sounds of the party below him thumping up through the floor into his feet. 

A railed balcony circled around the middle of the tree at the center of the festivities and as Eris drew near the music and laughter from below bellowed. He took up a place leaning against the railing and looked down over the party. 

The absence of giant Illyrian wings couldn’t be more stark. As much as Eris had been looking forward to his night away from the Vanserra manor, he was about to get irritated enough to go back. 

“You found me.” A voice sounded next to his ear. It was seductive and soft like velvet. Eris smiled. 

His lips may have curved upward but his shoulders dropped in disappointment all the same. “I wasn’t looking for you.” He cast a side glance at Nesta who smiled back mischievously. 

“Oh yes you were. You just didn’t know it.” She held out her hand expectantly. 

“What am I to do with that?” Teasing, he looked down at her open palm. 

“Take it!” She hissed, reaching for him. 

Making a dramatic show of protest, Eris rolled his eyes to the ceiling but pressed his hand into hers all the same. 

“I was supposed to only make sure that you were still in one piece after those two idiots had gotten their claws into you. However, I think I need a dance for my troubles.” She winked at him and even though Eris was desperately tired, he smiled, spinning her once out into the middle of their little private space and then back into him with a sigh. 

“Very well then. As you wish.” He eased them into the music with expert grace. Nesta hummed her approval, melting into his arms. 

“So are you then?”

“What?” He whispered. Eris’ thoughts had quickly escaped him. Now that he was in the relative safety of someone he was mildly comfortable with, he felt like he could relax. 

“In one piece.” 

“I’m not sure.”  Eris shuddered. Unable, or maybe just unwilling, to process his feelings about his encounter with, those two idiots, as she so affectionately called them. 

“That bad huh?” Nesta sighed as Eris pulled her close and they began again in time with the music below as it flowed into a new, slower song. “They mean well you know.” 

“Do they though?” Eris sounded unconvinced. He was almost positive that neither of them would remember interacting with Eris at all come the next day. “I was under the impression that the alcohol they had replaced their blood with simply caused a temporary insanity.” 

“That too.” Nesta’s laugh tickled the hairs on the back of his neck as she pressed herself into him when they spun. “But truly they’re trying.” 

“If you say so.” 

They didn’t speak for the rest of the number, using their energy to instead concentrate on the flow of each other’s bodies. Perfectly and strangely in sync with one another, they danced. It wasn’t until the very end that Eris spoke back up. 

“I find myself willing to stay for another dance.” His voice was tired but no less sultry and teasing for it. 

“I promised to make this a short and sweet reprieve; however, I could offer you another promise in exchange if that’s alright.” 

“Of course.” He breathed, letting her pull away from him enough to look into his eyes. 

“You look tired…” Nesta smiled, holding out her pinky to him. “Forever dance partners?” 

“Forever dance partners.” He agreed, wrapping his own pinky around hers. “And I am tired. Where is he?” Eris asked a little desperately, pressing an uncharacteristic kiss to the side of her temple. She stiffened momentarily in surprise but melted quickly after patting his cheek with a smile. 

“Ok go.” Nesta whispered. “Go find him.” 

“But where-” Distantly, Eris heard the clamoring of Rhys and Cassian bumbling down some hallway or another close by, Eris’ name on their lips. He grumbled under his breath. 

“Go, I’ll hold them off.” Nesta laughed, pushing him away from her and toward another, seemingly empty corridor. 

Despite Nesta promising to cover for him, The two bats on his tail seemed to be getting closer and closer. Trying to stay out of sight, Eris opened one of the first doors he came to and slipped inside the darkened room. 

Closing the double doors quietly, Eris leaned his forehead up against the seam and took a grounding breath. He was Eris Fucking Vanserra and here he was scuttling around in the dark like a rat. 

After giving himself a moment to catch his breath, feeling the ache of exhaustion seep into his bones, Eris told himself he would just call it a night and head back to the forest house. He would find a way to make Azriel pay later. Revenge would be delicious. 

One peaceful breath is all he would receive. In the middle of his next inhale a voice slithered out of the darkness to curl around his nape. Eris shivered.

“This hiding spot has already been claimed.” His teeth hurt from the way they clenched against that sound.  

“What am I? A night court attractant?” He muttered under his breath before turning around and giving Amren a grimacing smile. 

“Why…” she drawled tilting her head to the side like a spider assessing something caught in its web.  “…Are you hiding from my High Lord?” Amusement sparked in those pale eyes.

“I’m not…” Eris began to argue but the sounds of Rhys and Cassian shouting his name made him shrink into the shadows nullifying any argument. He sighed, throwing himself back on the wall before going limp from exhaustion. 

Amren eyed him with a cruel smile from her perch on Varians lap. Eris closed his eyes and laughed softly to himself. Hiding was exactly what he was doing, him, a Vanserra, tucked away in a forgotten room with an ancient creature and her play thing. 

She didn’t wait for an answer other than the partial concession he had already provided before going back to devouring her meal. A grimace settled on his face at the sounds and against his better judgment he opened his eyes. 

“Thank the Cauldron.” The words were uttered through a relieved sigh. Right behind the pair was another set of double doors that would surely lead him to a quiet, empty space where he could prepare to winnow back home in peace. 

Steeling himself, Eris took a breath and pushed away from the wall. He took no more than two steps forward when Amren pulled away from Varian who whined at the loss of her. She narrowed her eyes at him as she took a sip from the goblet sat beside her on the little golden table next to their chair. Heat from that stare felt like knives at his back but Eris ignored it in favor of escaping. 

“Not even I saw this one coming.” She purred, turning away to lick a strip up the column of Varian’s neck. 

The veiled comment stopped Eris in his tracks. He froze, hand outstretched towards the gilded doorknob and hissed. All evening he had been stripped down over and over to his most vulnerable states by nearly every member of the Night Court’s inner circle. All of their comments and poorly masked distractions had grated him down to nothing. Eris had reached his limit. 

It occurred to him that he was finally in the same room with someone who, though slightly terrifying, might not care enough to keep any secrets from him. Asking was worth a try since he was about to go out of his mind either way.

Turning to the tiny female, Eris surged forward until he was inches from her. Though he towered over them both where they sat Amren did not flinch. Varian however, glanced between the two, nervous to be placed so close to the rising tensions.

Past the point of caring about consequences, Eris snatched the drink from her grasp and downed it before Amren could even snarl at him. Varian’s hands visibly tightened around her waist as she tensed and Eris was silently thankful for the hold he had on her. Maybe he wouldn’t get his throat ripped out for his foolishness. 

Gathering up his remaining pride Eris looked down his nose at Amren and asked, “What was that supposed to mean?” His voice was smooth and practiced. 

Amren, unphased by the Prince’s display, let her blood red lips curve into a menacing smile. “I don’t know what you mean.” 

Remaining poised was a strain. This was getting ridiculous. Eris narrowed his eyes on her but after a beat, released the breath he had been holding and turned to walk away. Rhys and Cassian’s voices could still be heard from somewhere down the hall and, more than answers, Eris just did not want to get caught by them again. 

From behind him, Amren harrumphed as though she had been poked and muttered something to Varian that sounded somewhat like “fine, fine”. 

Clearing her throat she said, rather reluctantly, “Alright boy, come here.” Eris almost smiled at the fact that Varian had been able to make her heel but the way she called out to him made him cringe instead.  

“Must you call me that?” He asked through grit teeth, unable to help himself. He knew she was far older than he, but something about the way she said it reminded him so much of Beron that he had had a hard time hearing it.

When Amren didn’t answer he finally turned back around to face her. There was a conspiratorial look on her face that made Eris clench his teeth together again in anticipation for what she might say to him. Varian also eyed her suspiciously. 

“Fine.” She drawled, a cat-like grin widening across her features. “I promise to quit calling you boy… Eris.” 

Varian’s suspicious stare melted into amusement as he raised his eyebrows at her. Amren closed her eyes and nodded her head towards Eris, as much of a show of respect he could ever hope for from someone like her. A disbelieving puff of laughter escaped his lips and he returned the gesture, unsure of what else to do. 

When she made no move to say anything else to him, Eris turned his back on the pair once again and finally found his escape into the dark adjoining room. The air was cool against his heated skin and he instantly let out a breath of relief as the doors closed behind him. 

The doors clicked quietly shut as Eris leaned back against them with a sigh. He scrubbed at the bridge of his nose with one hand trying to work through what just happened when someone let out a dramatic sigh from just a few feet away. Eris glanced up through his fingers and growled.  

“Oh for Cauldron’s sake!” Eris threw himself dramatically against the door and slid to the floor, completely exhausted. 

“Well aren’t you as mature as ever?” Said a too sweet voice from the corner of the room. His legs were splayed out childishly in front of him and he let his head loll lazily to the side. Now making eye contact with Mor who was sitting in an oversized chair, one of a pair, and sneered at her. 

“Is this some sick coincidence or are you a part of this too?” Eris asked, his voice rough with irritation. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She patted the chair next to her. “While you’re here, come sit. I’ve been meaning to have a word with you anyway.” 

“No.”

“Quit being a baby. Hungry?” A small spread appeared on the table before her and she smiled mischievously at him when he perked up at the smell of roasted potatoes and lemon chicken. Constantly being yanked around by too many people, he hadn’t stopped to think about it but now it was painfully obvious that he hadn’t eaten anything all night.

Grumbling, but not louder than his stomach, Eris relented, standing and dragging himself over to Mor. Plopping down hard into the soft leather armchair, Eris groaned, unable to even sit up and feed himself. With his head laying back on the cushion Eris reached out blindly for something to eat, only just grazing the edge of the table over and over pathetically.

“Oh Mother save me.” Mor muttered, thrusting a warm roll into his stretched out fingers. Eris immediately brought it up to his lips and tore off a chunk. 

“Mphnk mm.” He mouthed around his chewing. 

Surprisingly, Mor laughed. “You are such a baby. Who would have thought your arrogance was all for show? When it really comes down to it you’re rather pitiful aren’t you?” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Eris meant it to sound haughty but it was evident he just wasn’t into putting on a show tonight. He couldn’t even sit up to look at her, he was so tired. “Fine. Something something, slutty outfit, something something. That better?” 

Mor smiled into her glass of wine. “Much.” She agreed. 

After being enticed by the roll, Eris managed to sit up and put together a small plate of food for himself. They ate in silence but she somehow managed to irritate him anyway. Drinking heavily from her seemingly bottomless wine glass, Mor kept staring at him from the corner of her eye. The reluctant energy wafting off her began to grate on his nerves. 

Finally sated enough to bear the weight of whatever was on her mind, Eris looked over at Mor and waited. 

“What?” Her tone was annoyed like he had been the one to corner her, not the other way around. 

“I was waiting for you to tell me.” He said, sitting back in his chair and crossing one leg elegantly over the other. Eris clasped his hands over his now sated stomach and let the corner of his mouth tip up slightly, just enough to annoy her. 

Mor tapped her rub painted nails on the side of her wine glass in thought, considering Eris carefully. After the third time she opened and closed her mouth Eris rolled his eyes and sat forward, bracing his forearms on his knees and stared her down intently. 

“Morrigan. Thank you for …” He nodded towards the food. “This… but the demure act does not suit you. Say what you wish to say.” 

Sitting forward, she inhaled sharply through her nose, staring him down. The look was pointed and critical but not in the way it usually was, coated with all out hostility. Now she looked at him with something more like curiosity. The power of truth lit up the core of her eyes as her lips parted once again. 

“You love him.” It wasn’t a question but the words were barely audible. Just a breath of surprise that passed through those painted lips. Eris could only swallow against the accusation, denial was just out of reach. 

The iron masks that hid his true self, the ones he had crafted over years of trial and error, protected Eris from his father, his enemies, and from having to put himself in a position as vulnerable as the one he found himself in now. It wasn’t fair that after just one night of being pelted with the prospect of having a different life, one free of the need of those masks, that they crumbled away like they were made of nothing more than paper.  Yet, as he sat there and looked back at her, Wris couldn’t find the words to hide the ruth that he knew was already written all over his face. 

The only thing keeping him from giving her the answer she already held in her knowing gaze was that Azriel and Eris hadn’t spoken those words to one another. Their secret affair had been going on much longer than anyone knew. Even though they had relinquished the hold on that secret to a select few, it hadn’t put them any closer to defining what they had to each other. Eris had tried not to think about how he truly felt, it terrified him. Not just to feel those things openly but at how much it would hurt to lose them should something go wrong. So much could go wrong. 

His silence was the only answer she needed. Mor closed her eyes against the fear he was now projecting, giving Eris time to adjust himself. The odd urge to thank her died in his throat as he slid a safer mask over his features. Just when he thought she was about to taunt him, Mor pursued her lips hiding a smile. 

Eris’ nostrils flared in annoyance but she held up a finger to silence him before he could say anything. 

“I had a whole fucking thing planned but just as I thought you would… you ruined it.” 

Indignant, Eris huffed, about to argue with her when she stood up and tugged at his arm until he joined her. Now facing one another Mor reached up and gently held his face in her hands. Eris was too stunned to do anything but allow it, his composure quickly crumbling again at the look on her face. 

“You be good to him.” She breathed. “Be true and protect each other and I promise… I promise Eris that I will be there to support you, both of you. I will always give you the benefit of the doubt and seek the truth before lashing out.” With her promise spoken, Mor released the hold her had on him and something seemed to dim in the air around them. Like power had risen up and enveloped them as she spoke. 

Something started to click into place in his mind but Eris pushed it away, promising to analyze it later. Instead he focused on the emotion welling up in his throat. Eris tried to swallow it down but found that he couldn’t. Silver lined her eyes and he was afraid that his own mirrored the effect. He was too tired for this irrational display and stepped away from her daming stare. 

Before he could say anything she pulled away from him wiping the corner of her eye with the end of her pinky and gestured to the door at the opposite end of the room from where he had entered. 

Eris looked for Mor to the direction she was pointing and back again. A smile crept up on his face as he said, “If Rhysand and Cassian are behind that door this entire Ice palace is going to be melted to the ground. I hope you and your ilk are prepared to take the blame.” 

“Oh shut up and just go.” Mor pushed him towards the door, choking on her own laughter. “Before I change my mind and flay you like I’ve wanted to for centuries.” 

If you want on or off the tag train just holla at ya boi ... @iftheshoef1tz @born-to-riot @pathfinderofnight @acourtofladydeath @fieldofdaisiies @fell-in-luvs @aktrain @honeysuckle-daydreams13 @pippsmcgee

[admirableadmiranda]

I've been thinking about JGY's confession at the guanyin temple. How he confessed to his crimes and how he taunts his opponents and how he's a liar. I saw a meta and it beens on my mind ever since. How JGY's own words have contradicted itself. I just didn't get it. Today, while randomly doing something I had spontaneous thought of, wait how did JGY even know that Jin Zixun is on the Qionqi Path in the first place? How did he even know that there will be a fight there? Isn't it because he's expecting one? Why did he only tell JZX?

I just laughed in exasperation when I realised this. JGY did know what he was doing when he sent JZX to Qionqi Path.

Oh yeah, he's admitting to everything he did while in the temple honestly because why not? Maybe if he tells the truth and people get upset enough, he might be able to prey on those emotions enough to get away. His words contradict themselves in that he'll lie and lie and lie and then cut you with the truth when you least expect it.

And lol, yeah! He did know exactly what he was doing! He found the perfect doom fork in order to get exactly what he and his father wanted. Since Su She had cursed Jin Zixun (and it's really not clear whether or not he knew that then, but given how close allies they are later, he definitely knew later on that Su She was the one to do that and still framed Wei Wuxian), he was able to push Wei Wuxian into an unwinnable fight because Jin Zixun would either kill him or Wei Wuxian would kill Jin Zixun. Sending Jin Zixuan there only heightens the chances of things going wrong, given Wei Wuxian and Jin Zixuan's loud history of getting into bad fights and not liking each other at all, and allows him to remove the two people ahead of him in line for the position of Clan Heir.

It is a dastardly, diabolical plan and honestly this alone should be enough for people to put him in the antagonist bin because the only reason he had for doing that was powergrabbing. There was no possible good faith reason he had to game the situation like that, not when he himself knows that he is the most politically savvy of the three of them and the one best suited to actually talking down the situation instead of exacerbating it.

[hxhhasmysoul]

So things like shrinking his domain and inverting the barrier to combat Sukuna's open domain, tricking Sukuna to catch him off guard with red, countering burnout by destroying and rehealing his own brain, instantly figuring out how Sukuna was doing things like using max elephant for "piercing blood" - none of that shows smarts either? You hate the idea of Gojo winning, I get it, but you could be more self aware of your bias lol.

I didn't say Gojou showed no smarts, you're pushing the goal post. You came at me with tactics, now you come at me with smarts. This way you can "win" any argument by making people too exasperated to talk to you.

Gojou came to this fight unprepared. And yes after shit hits him he figures out how it works. Because he can reflect on things post factum, because nothing affects him.

Sukuna catches Gojou off guard an equal amount of times as Gojou catches Sukuna. The thing is that most of the fight it was Sukuna pulling something Gojou countering. It may be smart but it's not smart tactics because there's really little planning involved. Especially not when you have infinite resources and are invulnerable. It's pretty clear he came into it expecting to win almost instantly and and he's like oh dear, I need to actually do something more for once than expand my domain and wait for my opponent to die. So he starts to plan staff later in the fight because of how well Sukuna is prepared.

Both Sukuna and Gojou make mistakes and pull risky stunts. The difference is that rules apply to Sukuna and he bears the consequences of his arrogance. Gojou does not. They both are arrogant enough to get brain damage, Gojou by his own risky actions. For Sukuna it affects him. Gojou brushes it off.

Sukuna constantly balances output of the technique with how many things he's using at the same time, he needs to hide and cover himself, etc etc. It's clear the fight drains him. It's clear he prepared very consciously to this fight. He planned what techniques to use how and in what order.

Gojou just manages to instantly figure everything out, pull off everything he tries, and get everything back to regular output regardless of how long they are fighting, how much damage he takes, etc etc. He doesn't have to hide, avoid and so on because nothing affects him in any serious and lasting way.

If the rules don't apply to you it's not hard to counter things. It's not much of an achievement to figure things out on an infinite timeline. Gojou was created by Tengen to have two CT at the same time, two that support each other. And according to this fight, no matter what happens, Gojou can restore everything he expends and nothing permanent happens to him.

As I said, instead of taking mental damage from the prison realm, he learns valuable information about barriers from it... And this the cherry on top. Because it's not even about purely sorcerer and cursed energy stuff, he's mentally invulnerable...

Oh, and anything he does to Sukuna is yet to be revealed to actually have any side effects on Megumi. So far only Sukuna's actions seemed to have done damage to Megumi, Gojou's magically haven't. At least nothing indicates that. Three layers of plot armour.

Did you really not understand the Monopoly metaphor or can't you see past your bias.

Also I know my bias, Gojou fans like you, made me dislike him as a character in this story. Not because I think he's a bad character to have in a story per se. Because you people can't see past your masturbation object, be it because of his looks or his power, whatever gets you off. You don't see what detriment Gojou is to the Jujutsu society, to the people around him, to the story. You don't care that other characters have been sitting on their asses for chapters on end watching TV, not participating in Gojou's dick measuring contest. You don't see how disappointing it is to see Kenjaku plan something for 1000 years, try plans out, fail and learn from that. And it all matter nothing because Gojou is one walking deus ex machina. You don't seem to understand the disappointment that the over reliance on Gojou which lead to collapse of society, just gets undercut with a "just kidding" Gojou will fix it all... You don't care that this battle has no emotional stakes beyond two assholes' dick measuring contest. You need to understand that there are fans who care about the themes, the plot and most of all other characters than Gojou.

I don't hate Gojou's winning because I hate him as a person. I hate this fight, I hate that he's out of the box, I hate him winning because of how it affects the story and other characters.

I enjoy Sukuna because he's fun but he's a supremacist asshole who needs to die. It just that him getting killed by Gojou would mean fucking nothing. Him losing to a man who is unaffected by anything and whose actions have no detrimental effect on Sukuna's hostage is laughably pointless.

Gojou and Sukuna are a symptom of the same disease. Gojou is actually worse because the juju society is convinced that someone like him existing is good actually. That he's the guarantor of the status quo. And they are not wrong. The elders were killed, probably on Gojou's orders. For Gojou to instantly reinstate the status quo with Gakukanji as a lead. The typical liberal change to uphold the status quo.

I suspect Sukuna is going to pull something now. Maybe finally show his cursed technique. But this fight likely won't be less disappointing. Honestly if after all this, the show of Gojou's plot armours, Sukuna somehow wins or kills him, it will likely feel like such a fucking ass pull. Maybe Gege will manage to sell it but it's hard to be hopeful.

It seems that for you it's about power scaling. And the joy of your cock winning the who's the more arrogant dipshit fight. Am I right? If it is like that indeed, good for you. Your perfect asshole won.

But for me this fight would be a loss either way because of the characters sitting on their fucking asses watching TV and their wasted potential. It's a loss because Gojou who severely needed character depth will not get any... he's the lonely strongest who is a shit teacher and an irresponsible and arrogant man whose mistakes lead in part to the current predicament, but it's ok because him being the strongest solves everything. It's a loss because Sukuna doesn't deserve a dick measuring contest, he deserves for weaker people than him to band together, plan it out and kill him. Some of the strong kids and Kashimo to weaken him and Angel to fucking kill him as is her right. It's a loss because Yuuji needs to confront Kenjaku, he needs to save Megumi and so far nothing in either of those directions has happened.

[cherrychaiparadise]

the first who ever did || ch. 2

there's things i wanna say to you

length: 3800 words

rating: m (language, brief female masturbation, a cheeky massage)

future smut MDNI!!!

chapter summary: You came here to work, not lust over your obnoxiously attractive partner. But, a tiny workplace crush never hurt anyone, right? His “no coworkers” rule was getting more and more difficult to keep. But how could he when you were there? Seducing him solely with your existence. 

a/n: lol this took a lot longer to upload than i'd originally planned but if you're impatient like me there are 23k words uploaded on ao3!! @/bisexualduckling00 as well :)

read ch. 1 here !!

Unfortunately, you could always count on Monday morning to arrive every week, but hat doesn’t mean you could always count on your alarm to go off at the right time. You cursed your way out the door, almost forgetting to lock it behind you. You had yet to walk to the main road and hail a taxi, which took at least twenty minutes, which you absolutely did not have.

“Huh. I assumed you just sleep at the embassy since I never see you leaving in the mornings,” a husky voice chuckled behind you.

“Sometimes I do,” you finished locking your door. “But now, I’m running late and I have a presentation at eight.”

Javier quirked an eyebrow and tilted his head ever so slightly. “It’s 7:30. It’s a twenty minute drive.”

“Exactly!” you waved your arms at him, exasperated. “That’s not enough time for me to catch a cab and still get there on time.” 

He bit his lower lip before chuckling again. How dare he laugh at your struggle! “Loquita, you mean to tell me you’ve been paying for a taxi from here to the embassy twice a day for the past three weeks?” You shrugged. “Let’s go,” he motioned you towards his door, already beginning to walk away.

You followed him wordlessly, unsure what exactly was happening. His strides were long, his too-tight pants clinging tightly to his ass. Not that you were looking. Javi opened the passenger door, giving you an expectant look. “Come on, don’t make me tell you twice,” he clicked his tongue on the side of his mouth.

Obeying, you slid into the seat. The car was surprisingly clean, with a little green air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror. The sweet scent of tobacco tickled your nose, you knew the smell clung to him, and most likely couldn’t be washed away by a dozen showers. You almost mentioned how bad his smoking habit was for his health, but you knew it would just do more harm than good. 

Javi broke the silence first, “We could do this again, if you’d like.” His grip on the handle tightened the slightest bit. “Carpooling. It makes sense, saves you time and money. Is better for the environment and all that good shit.”

Your body warmed at his offer, even if it was disguised in faux-environmentalism or whatever that last comment was. “We’ll split the gas,” you offered. He gave a brisk nod, and that was that.

The rest of the car ride passed pleasantly. You rested your head on the window, enjoying Javi’s music taste as The Eagles played softly through the speakers. Between gazing at the greenery outside, you stole quick glances of Javier. You hadn’t taken the time to just look at him yet, and you found that you weren’t able to stop. 

His work-roughened hands lightly gripped the steering wheel with a casual ease, his thumb gently tapping along to the rhythm of the music. Beneath his yellow-tinted aviators sat his aquiline nose, further down was his angled jawline and thick, smooth neck. God, everything about this man was sharp and broad at the same time. He was all angles and warmth and strength. You suddenly felt overwhelmed, being in such a small space while in his presence. You had to look out the window again before your eyes could drift to his arms. Or, god forbid, his thighs. 

How were you supposed to survive this car ride twice a day, five days a week? You came here to work, not lust over your obnoxiously attractive partner. But, a tiny workplace crush never hurt anyone, right? You’d be over him in a week or two. No big deal.

-

To show your gratitude, you decided to make coffee for the two of you each morning. Javier always complained about how bad the coffee at the embassy was, and you had an espresso machine that your mother had gotten you for your 23rd birthday, so it just seemed like a no-brainer that you could pay him in delicious, freshly brewed coffee.

“Here,” you offered him the cup that morning. His brows furrowed together. “Tómalo, Javi. Es para ti,” you pushed the coffee into his hands until he finally took it, his fingertips brushing yours as he did so.

He sniffed the cup. “Me hiciste un café?” he said with a slight tilt of his head.

“Siempre te quejas del puto café gringo. This way I don’t have to deal with your whining anymore,” you said with a shrug.

Javi took a tentative sip, then a bigger one. The groan in the back of his throat almost brought you to your knees right then and there. It had you imagining things that were most definitely not appropriate fantasies to have of your partner. “This is amazing. Thank you,” he gave your shoulder a friendly nudge as you walked to his car. “You’re like my energizer bunny or something.”

You gave him a questioning glance. 

“You know, the little pink bunny? From the batteries,” he acted like that explained everything. “The coffee… batteries…how do you not know this? Anyways, you keep me going.” You knew he was just talking about the coffee, but you couldn’t help but blush at his words. 

The next day you found a yellow sticky note on your desk. ‘Lunch?’’ was scribbled in thin, stringy letters. Javi was in a meeting, but you had a sneaking suspicion that it was his way of repaying you for the coffee. Your suspicion was confirmed he returned, taking his normal seat across from you and looking up at you from below his brows. “Arepas alright?” You nodded, and that was that. 

You and Javi fell into the friendly routine of coffee in the morning (and the puto gringo cafe throughout the day, of course) and arepas in the afternoon. You’d share jokes and gossip during your daily walk to buy arepas from the street vendors and take turns choosing which station to listen to on the nightly drives back from work.

Then, he’d walk you to your door, even though it was technically right next to his door, and bid you goodnight. Just because you stayed in for the nights, didn’t mean Javier did. You still heard him leave his apartment shortly after dropping you off, and would often hear him arriving again late into the night. You didn’t know where he went off to, and you thought it better that way. Not that it was your business anyways. The two of you had become closer over the weeks, but you were still only work friends, and nothing more.

A month passed and you still weren’t over this stupid crush. It’s not like he was making it any easier on you. He wasn’t flirting, per say, he was just too…nice. How could you be frustrated at someone for being too fucking nice? Ok, it’s possible you were frustrated with yourself as well. It wasn’t as if you had been doing yourself any favors: making him coffee and sharing inside jokes and dirty looks when someone said something stupid. You were digging your own metaphorical grave of unrequited attraction. 

Each small gesture, every door he opened for you, each arepa he offered, every little smile or friendly nudge chiseled away at your plan to not dig yourself deeper than you already had. You didn’t have any friends here yet, and that combined with Javier’s attention and looks…it was like there was no other option but for you to become slightly infatuated with the man.

The following day started at 4:30 in the morning when you, Javi, and el Bloque de Búsqueda raided a suspected sicario hideout. The results were minimal, but the paperwork was not. By the time midnight rolled around, the two of you were still covered in a layer of dried sweat and dirt, barely halfway through the stacks of folders and photos that needed to be sorted and documented. “I’m sure there’s something in here that we’re missing. I can feel it,” you stretched your back, as if that would make a difference in the mass of angry muscle that had been aching all day.

“Me too. Something’s not right with this.” Javier flipped through the pages of his own file before rolling out his soldiers. You were both tense from the heavy physical exertion and the immediate eight hours of sitting in chairs with zero back support. 

“My body feels like it’s going to disintegrate,” you sighed, leaning your head into your hands. “I need a hot shower, like, now.”

“You could come back to my place,” Javier mumbled. No more than a second later, his eyes grew wide, nearly bulging out of his head upon realizing the weight of his words. “Not to shower, that’s not what I meant.” Great. Lovely to know how absolutely repulsed he was by the idea of you naked in his apartment. “I meant you could shower at your place, and then we could look over the files afterwards. At mine. The couch is more comfortable.” 

You weren’t sure you had ever heard him ramble like that. It was endearing. So endearing that even though you should say no, that you should definitely not go to his place and sit on his couch late at night, you couldn’t bring yourself to decline his offer.

“That sounds much better,” you nodded. “Let’s go.”

-

What had he just done.

The car rides alone had been fucking torture. Javier had spent half the time trying not to embarrass himself by saying something stupid and the other half trying not to get distracted by your sweet smell. What did you even smell like? Coconut? Sugar? He wasn’t sure but he knew that he craved it. Your scent. Your taste. You.

And now this? Inviting you over to shower at his place? 

Fuck. His “no coworkers” rule was getting more and more difficult to keep. But how could he when you were there? Seducing him solely with your existence. 

He knew that this was a bad idea. He hadn’t even meant to invite you. The words just slipped out, and then he’d realized what he’d said and he had to fix it somehow. It’s not that he didn’t want to spend time with you or didn’t want to be alone with you. He did. Fuck he wanted to be alone with you. But he knew how dangerous that was. His self control had already been wearing thin and he knew that if he wasn’t careful, it would snap.

-

That hot shower, alone in your apartment, was the best thing you’d felt in weeks. You changed into a pair of capri leggings and your dad’s old t-shirt from his time in the Marines, feeling clean and refreshed. Your hair was still slightly damp, but you couldn’t be bothered to dry it. You doubted Javier would mind anyways.

Javier opened the door to his apartment and you noticed that he had also changed from his usual button down and jeans to a t-shirt and sweats. He smelled of soap and mint, although you could still sense the faint cling of tobacco on his skin. His wet hair curled slightly at the base of his neck, the rest of it spilling across his forehead. And maybe you imagined it, but you could have sworn that you saw his gaze slightly drop to your chest as he let you in. 

“Something to drink?” Javi offered as you curled yourself into his couch.

“Coke again?”

“I was thinking something stronger this time,” he chuckled to himself. “But if you want-”

“No,” you interrupted. “No. I definitely need something stronger.”

He nodded, pouring you both a glass of whiskey and taking a seat next to you on the couch. You felt the weight shift, causing you to lean towards him the tiniest bit. You took a sip of the drink, it burning as it went down. You cleared your throat hoping Javi wouldn’t notice your struggle. You were more of a fruity cocktail girl yourself. A tiny smirk on the edge of his lips caught your eye. Shit. He definitely noticed, but was considerate enough to say nothing else. 

You tried to focus on the work in front of you, but your attention kept drifting to Javier. You were used to watching him work, the two of you worked together every day, after all. But never on his couch, in the comfort of his own home, with wet hair and a t-shirt that clung to his chest. You could hear the soft exhale of his breath, feel him adjust himself when he became uncomfortable. Everytime he sipped his whiskey you imagined how his lips would feel on your skin instead of the glass.

These were dangerous thoughts to be having when you were alone. And drinking.

When Javi stretched, any and all thoughts flew out of your brain. His arms rose over his chest, flexing his deltoids which only accentuated his absurdly broad shoulders. He cracked his knuckles, drawing your attention to his long fingers. Just looking at them sent a shiver up your spine. The hem of his shirt rose up an inch or two to reveal the soft patch of golden skin peeking from beneath. If that wasn’t enough, the groan from the back of his throat elicited the desire that had been simmering under the surface of your skin for weeks to the top. Goosebumps broke out along your back and even though it wasn’t cold, you swore you felt your nipples tighten.

“Sore?”

“Fuck, yes.” Javier ground out. “I hate to admit it, but my back isn’t what it used to be.” He took a long drag of his cigarette. You hadn’t even noticed that he’d lit it. 

“I could, um,” you hesitated, internally debating whether or not this was a good idea or not. Of course it wasn’t, but you hadn’t gotten here by making ‘good choices’ had you. “I could give you a massage, if you’d like?” Your hands moved to your lap, needing something to fidget with “I’d charge people ten bucks for one in college as a side hustle, so I’m basically a professional. I’d give you a discount, of course,” you weakly laughed to yourself. Fuck, you were rambling again.

Javier didn’t seem to mind though. He never did. “You want to give me a massage?” 

You nodded bashfully, “Only if you want.”

“Like I could resist your hands on my body,” he winked. 

You stood up and grabbed a bottle of lotion from the side table and a chair from the dining table. hoping that if you hid your face he wouldn’t see the bright red that had blossomed across your cheeks. You set the chair in front of the couch, “You’ll need to sit facing the backrest, and put your arms up on it, too” you told him. He obeyed, spreading his legs open as he straddled the chair. “I’ll be right behind you,” you brushed your hand across his shoulder as you slid behind him, sitting back on the couch. In this position you were straddling him from behind, your thighs gently brushing against his hips. The warmth of his body burned through the fabric of your leggings, making you inhale sharply at the contact.

Holy shit, you hadn’t been this nervous since you were seventeen and about to sleep with a boy for the first time. Javier had you feeling like a teenager again and you were both fully clothed. About that… “Um, again, you don’t have to if you don’t want to,” the last thing you wanted to do was make him feel pressured. “But it would be better if there wasn’t clothing in the way.”

“You asking me to strip for you, Conejita?” 

You were so stunned, your brain couldn’t even keep up to question his use of this new pet name. “Just- just the shirt will do.” You could feel his smirk even though he was facing away from you. The chair creaked as Javier leaned back, grabbing the bottom of his shirt and slowly peeling it up and off his body. Holy shit. You hadn’t seen him shirtless before, and it was a sight to behold. His waist was impossibly narrow but his back stretched out to his straight, broad shoulders. His round deltoids connected to the very visible outline of his trapezius. A beautifully defined line ran down the middle of his back where hip dimples peeked out from the waistband of his pants. He was a fucking piece of art.

You felt his body tense under your gaze, which was the exact opposite of your desired reaction. “Relax, Jav,” you soothed, tracing a finger down his spine. “You need to be comfortable if you want to get anything out of this.” He released a terse breath, his previous flirty demeanor entirely gone. You rubbed reassuring circles along his hip. “I’m going to start now, alright?”

“Ok,” you noticed that his voice had dropped an octave. 

You started by pumping a handful of the, surprisingly enough, eucalyptus scented lotion into your palm and spreading it across the wide expanse of Javi’s back, starting from the bottom and working your way up, gradually increasing the pressure. You loved the feeling of his bare skin beneath your palms. His back was warm and soft, dusted with a light layer of freckles. Several raised patches of scarred skin stood out to you and you wondered about the stories behind them.

Once the lotion was worked in you began to knead the skin across his back, again working your way from the bottom up. Javier sucked in a tight breath as you came to an especially stubborn knot in his shoulder. “Let me know if I’m hurting you too much. It may be uncomfortable, but you shouldn’t be in pain.” You continued working that patch of muscle, but with a gentler hand. You rubbed small circles with your thumbs until you felt the knot melting away and Javi visibly relaxing. 

He let out a long, open mouthed exhale, “That feels amazing. Please don’t stop.”

An image of Javier saying that, undressed and beneath your hands, but in a very different situation, flashed through your mind. Perhaps in his bed. What did it look like? You bet it smelled like him. Or maybe right here, on the couch. Could things have gone differently tonight if the two of you had had a few more drinks? God, you knew this was inappropriate but what else were you supposed to think of when he talked to you like that?

Focusing on the soft smell of eucalyptus, you continued your work, twisting your hands across his back, stretching the skin and underlying muscles back and forth. Up and down his back your hands roamed, thoroughly working through each tense area until you were satisfied. “You did so good, Conejita,” you bit your bottom lip to stop the gasp that threatened to escape. “If you don’t mind there’s this one spot in my neck that’s been driving me crazy for days. Right here,” he pointed to the  prominent muscle on the side of his neck. 

“Of course,” you hoped he couldn’t hear how breathy your voice had become. Pressing your thumbs to the heated skin, you circled and pinched at the amalgamated knot. How had you missed this? 

As your fingers danced across his skin, you heard something rumble at the base of Javier’s chest. A deep, primal noise. You felt it rise up through his throat and out past his lips. The quiet groan sent a deep ache shooting straight down to your core, making your chest flutter and your panties grow damp. Just from that one little noise, god damnit. 

Immediately, his body tensed up beneath you again. Hopefully all your hard work hadn’t just gone to waste. “That’s better. Thank you,” his voice was rough, as if there was still another groan trapped in his throat. 

“Any time,” you murmured. 

Looking over his shoulder, he gave you a soft, closed mouth smile, his face softening. “Really, you’re wonderful.” You noticed that his cheeks had a pinkish flush across them.  He looked so pretty like this, vulnerable and safe and relaxed. As if he wasn’t carrying so much weight on his shoulders. You were glad that you were able to ease it, even if just for the night. 

-

It was nearly three in the morning by the time you had brushed your teeth and gotten into bed. Even though you had been awake for close to twenty four straight hours, sleep refused to overtake you. Instead, your mind was wide awake, pleasurably plagued by memories of Javi’s toned, muscled figure, his smooth skin beneath your hands, and that heart-stopping noise that you had drawn out of him with nothing but your hands on his back. What other sounds would he make? With less clothes and more touching?

Would his voice remain deep and husky? Rough and raspy like the stubble on his cheeks brushing against your thighs and his calloused hands on your hips. Would he growl dirty words into your ear while he takes you from behind? You imagined how he could toss you around like you weighed nothing. How he would have his way with you, using you for his own pleasure. And god, that thought shouldn’t turn you on so much, but what could you do about it now that you knew what hid underneath his cotton button downs?

As if with a mind of its own, your hand migrated below the waistband of your underwear, fingers slipping between your already soaked folds as your mind continued to drift.

Or would he be soft and sweet? Warm and velvety like the chocolate pools of his eyes and the way his muscles moved in a smooth, fluent motion. The way he called you Conejita, gently cradling the word in his mouth like it would shatter if he wasn’t careful. You imagined him praising you, coating you with sweet, sugary words while he gently worked you over the edge. Would he try to keep quiet but be unable to prevent the little whines and whimpers from slipping out? Just the thought of Javier whimpering was enough to send a visceral shudder throughout your body.

Your eyes drifted shut as two fingers slid inside to collect your own wetness and spread it around. Your other hand rose to your tits, gently massaging it while you began to rub soft, slow circles around your clit. A small whimper arose in the back of your throat as you picked up the pace, the strokes turning longer and more repetitive. You imagined it was his hand working you, imagined his skin, hot against yours. His head between your thighs.

God, it didn’t take much after that. You tightly pinched your hardened nipple while your fingers swirled tight, fast circles, hitting just the right spot on your sensitive clit and you came right there, and clenching around nothing, wishing that Javi was there to fill the aching emptiness.

[yostresswritinggirl]

oh man imagine the rage when cyno later meets azar at the sanctuary of surasthana, since he did play a big part to the whole artificial god fiasco that lead to reader getting hurt and all the other shit that was happening in sumeru

well at least reader can now say "always knew they were up to something no good"

and oh my the tighnari wrath is not to be taken lightly, the most reader would do is just glare at the sages since they don't have the energy to deal with them, the most chill out of the three even though they're the one who sustained the most injuries

-cyno lovebot anon

Oh shit, I forgot about that! Yeah no Sage Azar definitely got some bruises here and there, and Nahida must have telepathically told Cyno to not kill the man while Azar's begging and saying that it was the Fatui's fault for that particular accident, not him

Reader is really just so exasperated about the whole thing like "yeah I hate them but it's all water under the bridge now", they want to forget about it and move on with their life but Tighnari and Cyno would not let it go, Tighnari is forever in debt to them even tho it felt like karma for all the shit they put him thru lol

[the-blue-fairie]

For the Fictional character ask: the icons themselves Mickey and Minnie Mouse!

Since I already answered an ask about Mickey, this one will be exclusively about Minnie.

Favorite thing about them: I love, in the House of Mouse, how she's a lynchpin in keeping the House of Mouse afloat and does so much to hold it together, from keeping the projector in order to organizing cartoons, etc.

I also love it in shorts etc. when she's allowed to get hopping mad. A righteously frustrated Minnie is a wonderful Minnie, just like a happy and contented Minnie is also wonderful. :)

Least favorite thing about them: How she can be dismissed by a certain subset of the general public as "the generic female character." Which isn't an issue I have with her, it's with how (some) people see her, but there you go.

Three things i have in common with them:

I can be very gentle and demure. At the same time, if I get exasperated enough, I can make people know it.

Sometimes I worry I am not appreciated by my family group in the way I want to be.

I have a sentimental, romantic side.

Three things i don’t have in common with them:

I am not a mouse.

I am less sociable than she can be, at least when talking with others in person. I tend to be very introverted and reserved.

Regarding House of Mouse, I'm not as adept or as businesslike an organizer, although I always do try to be supportive of my friends.

Favorite line: Perhaps her exchange with Mickey at the end of the Gift of the Magi segment of Once Upon a Christmas. It's a lovely segment, and it's stayed with me even though I think I only saw the movie twice when I was little - once in school possibly, and once when we checked the VHS out from the library. It's just simple classic Gift of the Magi poignancy, I know, but there's just something beautiful and archetypal about it being Minnie and Mickey.

brOTP: her and Daisy

OTP: her and Mickey :)

nOTP: This fucking rat. Mortimer, I don't like you lol.

Random Headcanon: I'd like to synthesize all the different shorts/films where Mickey and friends re-enact literature or plays (Christmas Carol, Three Musketeers, Midsummer Night's Dream) and say that Mickey and Minnie don't just have to be separate iterations of themselves if it's cute to imagine them happily play-acting these parts with love and warmth for each other in their hearts. And it is cute to imagine.

Unpopular Opinion: I'm not sure if I have one?

Song i associate with them: This is going to be an odd one, but the temperance song "Come Home, Father" by Henry Clay Work from the 1850s/60s.

You see, the 1941 Mickey and Minnie short "The Nifty Nineties" was at the end of the VHS copy of Pollyanna that my family owned, and it includes a sequence of Minnie crying over the song, so since then, I've associated this song with... Minnie Mouse.

Favorite picture of them:

This moment from the Gift of the Magi segment of Once Upon a Christmas that I've gushed about already. Unlike with Mickey, I was able to find the exact moment from the scene I was looking for in screencap form.

I also want to give a shoutout to the pictures/stickers of Minnie in an old CD-ROM game, Disney Magic Artist Studio. I meant to bring up the game's depictions of Mickey last night as well, but in my haste I forgot.

See, you could put the "stickers" in various backdrops and then print out the image - or animate the stickers as well. I can't find the most iconic depictions of Minnie that I remember (I'm taking the above screencap from a Youtube vid), but suffice to say there were lots of cool variations - like Minnie dressed like she was on Mount Olympus, in the jungle, as an astronaut...

I DID find a picture I made with the game saved on an old computer a few years back, though, so let me share it. Enjoy astronaut Minnie!

[appleciders]

6, 8, 18, 19

beautiful flipped symmetry in these numbers bro thank u!

6. Are there any fics from others you reread all the time?

ooh, all the time i'm not sure, but i'm a serial bookmarker (LOVE to bookmark something) and i definitely do come back to stuff!! i'm having trouble thinking of names right now. there's just so so much incredible fic out there tbh. if you're willing to do some sifting, here's the full unfiltered (💀) list that's been growing since i was like 14

(oh wait: actually, just remembered one that i do come back to probably at least once a year, until the sun makes the hills its grave. i have no idea how i even found it, given that i only watched the first two seasons of the 100 and i'm missing half the context for it, and i don't know why this one resonates with me so much, but there's a certain kind of mood i get into where i love to reread it)

8. What project(s) are you currently working on?

i haven't been writing too much at the moment! moving and life stuff has thrown a wrinkle in it. i've got a bunch of half-finished ficlets for bad sisters that i don't know if they'll amount to anything bigger, especially bc the response to the last one wasn't super interested. for in-progress projects that have been on new-hyperfixation backburner that i hope to return to, i've got my mary circle of magic au for wn and my lupe butching her way through domesticity fic for aloto

18. What’s one of your favorite lines you’ve written in a fic?

oh hmm. this chunk from housed as they are has been sticking with me all through this year, so right now i care for it a lot!

“Another part of me can’t stay here.” She tips her face toward Addison, almost apologetic. “Both hurt. But I love too many people to keep away from either.” “So go,” Addison says. “Go and come back.” Like the tide, Maggie thinks. Like the circulation of blood from the heart. Go and come back.

less seriously, i love a lot of the silly little jokes i made in this same fic lol

19. Give us a small teaser from one of your WIPs.

i wish i could give you a chunk from the prompt that's sitting in my inbox, because i do hope to get some wn brain soon to be able to fill it for you!! but here is some mary&lilith from the mary fic i mentioned in the meantime (with bonus shannon)

Lilith makes a face, entirely ungrateful of Mary’s prodigious restraint. She looks around. “Where’s Beatrice?” Shannon and Mary give her matching looks. “Still? Yanna’s hands.” Exasperated, Lilith appeals to the Living Circle god of healing. “One day, the pipes for the private baths will break, and she is going to have to bathe in the trough with the pigs.” Mary shrugs. “She might prefer that. Over you.” Lilith scoffs, splashing a wave of water at Mary. Mary slaps the water to spray her back. Shannon, caught in the crossfire, retaliates by shoving Mary off the bench. Mary grabs Lilith in her attempt to keep purchase. The two of them fall sideways in slow motion, Lilith’s vice grip clenching around Mary’s wrist. They surface, spluttering. “Oh, you–” Mary starts. “Shannon,” Lilith harmonizes. To any outsiders, Shannon would seem placid, at most mildly amused. To the two who know her best, she is utterly, unbearably smug. Mary looks at Lilith. Lilith looks at Mary. As one, they lunge, grabbing Shannon on each side and yanking her in. She lets them; she comes up laughing. All three of them are grinning, then, neck-deep, droplets of warm water hanging like clear beads from their faces. Lilith doesn’t even start a whirlpool, though, as she readily threatens, she could.

[japannkenn]

Ao3 wrapped questions!

❤️

3, 11, 12, 15, 17, 22,

Thanks for the questions!

What work are you most proud of (regardless of kudos/hits)?

AHAHAHAH ok so I can’t choose, so I narrowed it down to three. First up has to be, of course, my newest fic When In Venice. It is definitely one of my favorite things I’ve ever written. I’m obsessed with the dynamic between Luca and Alberto I managed to create. I really don’t know! There’s something about it. I love drunk, lethargic Luca falling madly in love with Alberto (a man, who quite literally is a complete stranger) and being confused and hesitant about it because of his true identity. That sentiment is wholly inspired by But First, Coffee by jofngve and Annie_Mantic. It’s not as prominent as I’d like, but it’s there and I think it’s the perfect drama only Luca would struggle with. He’s my special boy <3. It’s just so fun and fresh and I’m very proud of it. I really wish more people would see it, because I feel like it’s really telling of who I am as a writer ,,, if that makes any sense. I love wacky, funny, romantic stuff! And there it is :)

That aside, my second favorite fic of mine would be he looks up, grinning like a devil because…. Come on. It’s hilarious. I crack myself up. Who doesn’t love Crack Treated Seriously? I feel like I have a lot of great one-liners and prose (imagery) in there, I love the way Luca is just shamelessly horny for Alberto and how he’s made it his end-all-be-all mission to hook up with him. But the best part is Alberto’s exasperation over it. It’s solid gold and just,,, eek! Also I might be a bit biased towards it because of the memories it holds! I began writing it while on vacation in Oahu, Hawaii. I was sitting on the oceanfront view balcony of my hotel at night, watching the dark waves roll, and laughing my ass off.

Last one might be kiiiinda controversial. My (vaguely implied?) Giulberto fic, Marcovaldo Muscoli. It was written very sincerely when I was personally struggling with the same feelings as Giulia in the fic. Plus, it’s fun, it’s fresh, it’s relatable. I love to project onto these characters (did I mention that?). It talks about gender envy and identity, puberty, familial relationships in regards to adopted siblings, weird and potentially controversial feelings, that kind of thing. I love it! It’s my little black sheep! Something from the heart as a growing teen <3

What work took you the longest to write?

braised in the sand. It was written over a five month span and I completed the story before posting it. So I started writing it in March (after re-reading god only knows by secretsoup and promptly kickstarting my Luca phase all over again. Believe it or not, I got over Luca once but it yanked me back down by the reigns again 😂 I have the lovely Luca writers to thank for this <3 ((👀skypied, brunosaderogatory, The-Ressurection-3D, pinkplaidmoonshine, chemicalesbian, secretsoup, jofngve, Annie_Mantic, whalecarcass, 👋👋👋 HI)) and posted it in August. I thought having scheduled chapters would be a fun thing to try—spoiler alert: it’s not. Or at least not for me. I was too eager to post everything! Hats off to the authors out there who have the discipline to wait and schedule when chapters are posted 😅

How many WIP’s do you have in your docs for next year?

I have about two WIPS and probably a thousand unposted fics in my docs. They don’t concern me lol. I’m the type of person that starts something and obsesses over it, promptly forgetting about everything else I’ve got waiting to be finished 💀

What WIP are you taking into next year with you?

A fic called Somewhere In Northern Italy, a Luca x Call Me By Your Name AU 😂 it’s funny. And no, Luca is actually Oliver in this one💋

Your favorite character to write this year?

Alberto Scorfano. Of course. Alberto. He’s my bean. My baby. My kin. My love. My lifeline. I love to project onto him. I have some TMI personal issues? Alberto does too. I’m sad? So is Alberto. I’m hungry? Oh, Alberto too. He’s great! He’s versatile! I can stretch and shape him like a piece of taffy! His life in Portorosso actually sucks™️, now look at that, he’s a gondolier from Venice! Yes! Yes!!!!

Which work has the most comments?

braised in the sand, but mostly from a single reader (which I love and appreciate <3) AHAHAHAH lol. That said, AO3 Luca fandom is deaddd so despite all the TLC I pour into my fics, hardly any comments! Which sucks! And I know the other Luca writers agree. But it’s fine. Great, even. I wouldn’t change it for a thing!!!

Thanks for the questions! I had fun! Pass em’ along!

[acluelessfangirl]

Now I am the first to admit that I am terrible when it comes to consistent spirituality and witchery; the result of many things that's a way more personal post than I'm gonna put on tumblr but I digress. However, I am both pleased and exasperated to say that when my spirit team needs to get a message through they have figured out how to hit me over the head with a proverbial brick.

Or rather a proverbial shield.

About, oh three years ago now? I fell head first into arthuriana as a special interest (among other big positive changes) and my spirit guide team went 'Ah, now see we can work with that' (apparently anime is not their preferred appearance lmao) and since then that's how I get everything and honestly I'm very much ok with it. My parents even got me the Arthurian Magic book (a good resource but I also have feelings about parts lol), and I found one very specific tarot deck they like that I use a combination of physical and digital cards for.

For me, the most amusing part of it all is that when my guides want my attention they start throwing names in my path. It's not that hard since I work in customer service; names, addresses, emails, and all sorts of things suddenly become full of familiar names of people and locations. (there was one week at an old job where I swear to god I helped every Morgan in the city.)

So for the past two weeks, I've been having that experience, including an incredibly funny (to me) moment where a guest in the lobby goes "Where is Sir Lancelot?!" and I snap to attention (because Lancelot? in my workplace?). But the stress has been a lot so I haven't really been paying attention to this other than momentary chuckles and lift-me-ups. Until today when I pulled up a guest's information to get their account settled and their name is Percival.

Percival.

Now mind you I also helped an absolutely adorable grandmother named Kay, but Kay has been one of my known guides since they decided that this is how they want to present themselves. I adore him, both the knight proper and my guide who presents as him, but I don't always listen to him right away. (in fact, when I'm stressed and depressed listening to my guide team is the last thing I wanna do even though it's the first thing I should do.)

No, the reason why Percival got my attention (in hindsight you'd think it'd have been the guy shouting about Lancelot, but alas) is because Percival is a Grail Knight and... Well...

I kinda, sorta, really hate the Holy Grail.

Like, it's no secret in my house that I am so exasperated by how grail-centric all of the Arthurian magic books are. I did not find Arthur's court because of the grail, I do not want the grail and do not ever intend to even think about going on a quest or search for the grail. I hate that damn cup.

But also that's not a name you see every day, at least not where I live..

So I came home, walked the dog, and finally did cards and... Yeah, Percival. First as Justice, then the High Priestess, and then the Knight of Cups.

Yes, he is a Grail Knight, but that's not why he was brought to me and it's not relevant to our upcoming adventure outside of the fact that it's a title he has.

[greendragonette]

Ark Survival Evolved: No Engrams Challenge, day 37

Thought a bit more about next steps. Figured I can at least start preparing for caves, and so hatched my sarco eggs; got a female, male and max level male twins. One of them definitely gets saved for further breeding. Imprinted all of them, they'll make a core of water caves' breach force. Other than that I should get on with finding a good shark pair. Could probably do with a whale and a newt too (I don't really want to fish more than absolutely necessary and I guess I have better chances of taming a newt since ptera can carry it, than fishing up a scuba tank and risk it breaks).

Theris and pteras are still alive, which I blame mostly my cookout session on. I didn't even made all the kibble, just the simple one, and got almost ninety of that x.x Kinda want to tone egg-laying down, lol.

Other than that, not much happened at base, just planted two more lemons and one carrot.

Spent the vast majority of time hunting down loot. Am exasperated AF with the game right now - nothing for ages and suddenly during one session got three tranq arrow blueprints?! And a ton of waterskins just after I finished juggling the few I had. Ugh. Still no narc blueprint, but using most of those I squirreled away upped my spare tranqs to three hundred in total. Time to make some friends! :D

Noteable loot:

-bary saddle +blueprint

-anky and roo blueprints

-more shark and croc saddles (+blueprints)

-very good flak gloves

Some photos from my base, as promised:

Kitchen; the best I could do without a grill and industrial cooker; very efficient for my standards

Smithing corner, so far rarely used

Inside crew in a very open living room; 'raw mats' bronto has pretty colours

Hachery and daycare

Taste the rainbow

Call me a parrot, but I love these colours

View from above

Tumblr doesn't like adding more photos, so for now that's it :/