#out of all my ocs he's the one that's changed the most thorough the years

[laurentlemonke]

The 5 stages of Piko 🍉

[asdfghjklmals]

ACCIDENTS✩༶‧˚

GENRE + T/W: sfw, fluff, angst. no smut. mentions of pregnancy, sex, injury, blood, and abortion. suggestive comments. WORD COUNT: 4.5k words. TAGS: satoru gojo x fem!oc, boyfriend!gojo, pregnant!oc, established couple.

SYNOPSIS: during oc gojo girlfriend's yearly check up with shoko, she finds out she's pregnant. how will satoru act when he finds out? AUTHOR'S NOTE: i did make some changes to the beginning compared to the preview that i posted! thank you @mdnxghtjj for staying up late with me to try to make up scenarios on how oc gojo girlfriend would be pregnant by accident lol my google search probably thinks i'm the pregnant one. here is the official start to my version of dad!gojo and the official start to the baby gojo chronicles 🥹 REMINDER: if you want to imagine yourself in oc gojo girlfriend's character descriptions, instead please do!

your least favorite time of the year was when shoko had everyone visit her office for a yearly check up. that was a full examination for everyone.

“here, pee on this.” shoko handed you a pregnancy test. you looked at her with confusion written all over your face.

shoko saw your facial expression and reassured you, “it’s just part of the protocol, (y/n). would you rather pee in a cup? last time you told me you hate peeing in cups because you don't want to accidentally pee on your hands.”

“fine... it’s gonna be negative anyways.” you said confidently. you took the test from her hand reluctantly and went to the bathroom.

as shoko gave you a thorough examination, you couldn’t help but peer at the white and blue pregnancy test sitting in the corner next to the sink. it wasn’t your first time using one, but it was always strange taking one. especially for no reason.

"alright, you're done. have you been feeling better since you caught that cold?" shoko asked as you hopped off the examination able. she went back to the sink to remove her gloves and wash her hands. you had caught some horrible cold or stomach bug over a month ago, and it left you with fever, chills, and non-stop vomitting for weeks. you were so sick that you told satoru you wanted to write a will to leave everything to megumi and tsumiki because you didn't think you were going to make it.

“yeah. i haven’t been that sick in so long. i was vomitting like every other hour. satoru thought he was going to die when i wouldn’t let him sleep in our bed. he slept in tsumiki's old room for two weeks, poor guy. i didn't want him to catch whatever it was,” you chuckled at the thought of your 6’3” boyfriend sleeping in a baby pink decorated room.

“(y/n)…”

“yeah?” you turned to face shoko.

shoko asked you cautiously, “are you on birth control?”

suspicion filled your eyes as you peered at the amber-eyed doctor, “yeah, i’ve been on birth control since i was 21… why?”

“your pregnancy test came back positive.”

you stared at the digital screen. the words “pregnant” screamed at you inside your head. were you really pregnant? this was something you never thought would happen, at least not right now.

“that’s not possible, shoko.” you laughed nervously in disbelief.

“according to the test, you are.” shoko looked confused. as a doctor, she was determined to figure out how one of her bestfriends, who was on birth control, got pregnant. she studied your charts and medical records as she chewed on the tip of her pen.

you tried to retrace your footsteps for the past month. you had a very specific routine, and you took your birth control every morning after brushing your teeth and washing your face. your package of pills sat in your bathroom drawer just below the sink as your daily reminder to take your birth control.

shoko folded her arms and cleared her throat, “uhm, i hate to ask you this because i truly don’t want to know, but when was the first time you and gojo had sex after you got sick?”

you thought it was a strange question because wouldn’t shoko want to know when the most recent time you were intimate with satoru was?

“well…” you looked at her sheepishly, a face full of embarrassment, “we had sex right when my cold symptoms went away.” it would’ve been uncomfortable for your aching body, so you made satoru wait. and yes, he complained about it for two weeks.

shoko massaged her temples as she realized what the problem was, “god, (y/n). remember you were literally throwing up all the time when you were sick?”

your jaw dropped, “does that mean i threw up my birth control…?”

“that could’ve been the case, but if you throw up 1-2 hours after taking your birth control, your body might not have the chance to absorb it. your body was technically missing dosages since you were vomiting almost every day for a week…” shoko explained.

you stared at the doctor. your heart was racing and your mind had a million thoughts running through your head. you couldn’t believe that you were pregnant. there was just no way. as much as you and satoru joked about having kids, you knew deep down that satoru wasn’t ready. and you didn’t think he’d ever be. but you were okay with that. you had spent most of your young adult life raising two kids, so you felt like you weren't missing out on much.

“please, don’t tell satoru.” you quietly pleaded with shoko.

“don’t tell gojo-sensei what?” megumi asked from the office door. he dropped his backpack and his gym bag on the floor, walking towards you and shoko.

your eyes widened as you discreetly shifted the pregnancy test under your thigh, “hi kiddo, don’t tell gojo-sensei that i bought him his favorite kikufuku as a surprise.” that was a horrible lie, you're usually better than that.

shoko cleared her throat to try and change the subject, “hi megumi! you’re early for your exam.”

“yeah, i finished jujutsu practice early.” he replied back to shoko as he reverted his gaze back at you, “(y/n), what’s going on?”

“nothing, i just finished my exam. shoko says i’m as healthy as a horse!” you laughed nervously.

“you’re pregnant, aren’t you?” megumi asked you straightforwardly, “you were complaining about your boobs hurting the other day, you felt sick yesterday morning at breakfast, and you complained about being bloated at lunch today. not to mention, you’re always throwing up in my bathroom at home.”

you stopped to think about the symptoms that megumi just listed. you didn’t even consider that being pregnant was the reason why you were experiencing those symptoms. you always thought you were in the clear with those stupid tiny birth control pills.

you sighed, lifting your thigh to grab the pregnancy test. you showed it to megumi. “satoru doesn’t know… and we’re going to keep it that way.”

“why don’t you want to tell him?” he asked you, “are you guys fighting?”

“no, we're not fighting. this whole thing was an accident because of my cold last month... and to be honest, i don't know if your sensei even wants kids.” you smiled halfheartedly at megumi.

“i won’t say anything.” megumi promised. he couldn't imagine satoru gojo not wanting to reproduce and to have mini-satorus running around to terrorize the jujutsu world.

you warned him, “that means you can’t tell tsumiki either, i don’t want her to rush back home from her study abroad program just because of this.” (read 'wherever you are' here)

megumi reached his pinky out to you and you locked yours with his, both of you kissing your thumbs to seal the seal. he wrapped his arms around you in a warm hug. you needed that comfort right now.

“if i do the math, you’re about 5 weeks pregnant, (y/n).” shoko said, “so stop taking your birth control if you want to keep your baby.” megumi’s green eyes peered over at you, interested in what you had to say about that.

“what if i want to get an abortion…?” you asked quietly. megumi’s eyes now wide in horror. 'how could you even think about abortion?' he thought.

shoko sighed, “i think that’s something you should have a serious talk with gojo about. it would be unfair for him not to know.”

you weren’t sure if you should feel excited, nervous, or scared. you were excited because who wouldn’t want to have a child with the love of their life? you were nervous (and scared) because you didn’t know how satoru would react if you told him. you were scared because your unborn baby would be a target to all rival clans, inheriting all of yours and satoru’s enemies. not only that, but also a target for all intelligent curses as well.

later that night: the gojo/(l/n) household

“how was your yearly check up?” satoru asked as you poked at your medium rare steak that you probably shouldn’t be eating now that you were pregnant. he watched you as you rolled a roasted baby potato around your plate with your fork.

“it was fine. healthy as a horse.” you recycled your joke from this afternoon. satoru furrowed his brows, he sensed something was wrong. you were fine this morning, so what happened between the time you went to work and the time you got home?

“are you sure…?” he started to pry.

annoyance starting to rise in your tone. you kissed the back of your teeth, “i just don’t feel well… and the steak is too rare.” you lied. you always ate your steak medium rare. rareness did not bother you, the cow could still be mooing and you’d eat it.

“i can always put it back on the grill, babe. want it medium?”

“well-done, please.” you mumbled, “thanks, sweetheart.”

satoru picked up your plate, extremely confused on why all of a sudden you would eat a well-done steak. it was very unlike you. he kissed you on the cheek to try to ease whatever it was that was bugging you. you wanted to tell him so badly that you were pregnant. you never kept secrets from each other. you watched him slide on his slippers, opening the door to the patio with catoru following behind him. he slapped your steak on the grill again while looking out at the tokyo skyline.

during this time, you wondered what kind of father satoru would be. you imagined he would be the carefree type of dad. he would be the fun, loving, lenient father while you were the one to lay down the rules. that’s how it was when you were both raising megumi and tsumiki. your eyes started to well up with tears at the thought of satoru possibly becoming a father. was this the pregnancy hormones getting to you?

you quickly wiped your tears as satoru made his way back into the apartment with your steak. he closed the door behind him and sat down next to you at the dining table.

“why were you crying just barely?” he asked softly. he could sense your cursed energy wavering from the patio. he knew every mood you were in just because of how your cursed energy looked to his six eyes.

“i wasn’t crying,” you said adamantly, “my eyes were itchy.”

satoru understood that whatever was bothering you, you didn’t want to talk about it. normally, he would pry and pry until you would finally tell him what was wrong, but tonight, he felt that he shouldn’t. he cut your steak into bite-sized cubes for you, just like how you always did before you started eating.

you caressed his cheek with your hand, giving him a soft smile in appreciation.

“should we go get some ice cream with the kids tomorrow? i promise i’ll treat.” he asked, knowing that ice cream always made you feel better after a shitty day.

“yeah. i need that dairy-free double scoop of chocolate ice cream right now.” (read ‘seeing red’ here)

the next day

you had taken half a day off to meet satoru, nobara, yuji, and megumi in shibuya to grab the ice cream that satoru promised you last night. you and satoru walked next to each together as your spirit birds flew overhead. the students were following behind you with their ice cream cones.

“i still can’t believe gojo-sensei has been dating (y/n)-sensei for over 10 years.” nobara hissed at her two partners as she watched you and satoru walking together in front of them.

“why is it hard to believe? sensei is a pretty good looking dude.” yuji said nonchalantly.

megumi sighed and explained, “that’s not the point, itadori. the point is that (y/n)-sensei is way out of his league.”

“you seem pretty close to her, fushiguro.” yuji pointed out, noticing that megumi always defended you no matter what the topic was.

“i kinda owe her and gojo-sensei my life.” megumi grumbled, “they took me in when i was five.”

nobara looked at him, wide-eyed, “you mean… they adopted you when they were 18?! and (y/n)-sensei is basically like your mom?! oh my god! he needs to put a ring on her immediately for all he puts her through!”

megumi knew the reason why you two weren’t married yet. it was for your safety, not because gojo-sensei didn’t want to. he would’ve married you right after high school graduation if that was the case.

you giggled to yourself as you scooped chocolate ice cream to feed to satoru. he grabbed the spoon from you, licking it clean.

“their conversation is so funny.” you said to him.

“are you listening to them with your shikigami? you’re so nosy.” satoru playfully chastised you.

you called back your birds with your hand signal as they flew closer to you and satoru. they seemed to be flying happily as no danger was around. “your students are wondering why we aren’t married yet.”

“you already know why.” satoru put the spoon back into your ice cream.

“you don’t want to make me a target.” you recited back to him. satoru gojo believed that if you were to marry him, you would be a target and gain all his and the gojo clan’s enemies. that would make you the achilles' heel to the strongest sorcerer known to man.

“it’s not like people don’t know that we’re together.” you rolled your eyes, “i can take care of myself, satoru. i'm pretty sure the kamo clan is out for my head as we speak.” (read ‘love at first fight’ here)

“i know you can take care of yourself. i just think it’s safer this way.” he shrugged.

“but i want to have kids too. i’m not getting any younger.” you inserted, hoping he’d take the bait to talk about having kids.

“what are you talking about? we have two kids, megumi and tsumiki.” satoru said nonchalantly, you wanted to face palm your forehead to how oblivious he was.

digging deeper, you added, “i want kids with white hair and blue eyes running around.”

“hate to break it to you sweetheart, but they won’t be getting blue eyes. there can only be one six eyes in a lifetime, you already know that.”

“what about your white hair?” you tip-toed to ruffle his hair as he laughed, grabbing your hand.

“what about your black hair and beautiful green eyes that i love so much?” satoru grinned at you, “if you want, we can practice reproducing later tonight?”

you threw an ice shard at him, hitting his infinity. “no inappropriate jokes around the students, please.” you chastised him as he winked at you. you scooped another bite of ice cream into your mouth as you frowned.

“so feisty… i’m in for a world of trouble if our future kids ever get your attitude.”

“if that’s the case… you better get ready.” you muttered under your breath.

satoru didn’t hear your comment. “hmmm? what’d you say?” he asked.

“nothing, eat your ice cream.” you replied, quickly shoving another spoonful in his mouth.

"ouch, brain freeze." satoru grimaced.

one week later

time was ticking as the baby in your stomach was growing. you had to tell satoru you were pregnant.

your morning sickness was horrible. you didn’t want satoru to catch onto anything, so whenever you felt sick, you ran to the bathroom near megumi’s room across the apartment instead of your master bathroom. (see the apartment layout here)

“babe?” satoru found you in the guest bathroom, hurled over the toilet, dry heaving. “are you okay?” he crouched down to pull your hair back, “do we need to go see shoko?”

“no, it’s fine.” you pushed him away, “leave me alone, please. i don't want to you see me like this.”

“and why would i leave you alone? there's clearly something going on with your health again.” he comforted you, rubbing firm circles on your upper back.

after your morning sickness session in the bathroom subsided, you miserably dragged your feet back to your bathroom to brush your teeth. satoru leaned against the bathroom door frame, arms folded. you turned to face him.

“don’t you have a mission today?” you asked him, hoping that he'd leave soon.

“yeah, i do. but don’t change the subject. what is going on? are you sick?” satoru asked. the past week you had unintentionally become distant and avoided having deep conversations with him. he felt the cold shoulder from you emotionally and he hated it. he was starting to get fed up.

“no. i’m not sick.”

“do you have some type of terminal illness or something that you’re not telling me about?”

“no, satoru!” you scoffed in disbelief. he was so smart and cunning in battle, how could he not put 2+2 together for something as simple as this?

“do you want to break up with me? is that it? are you tired of me?” he asked quietly.

how could he ask you that after 10 years of putting up with him?

“no!!!” you shouted at him.

“then what is it, (y/n)?!” he finally snapped after a week of trying to be patient, “what are you hiding from me?” satoru’s voice raised an octave as he got more frustrated as the conversation was going nowhere.

you couldn’t handle it anymore. you clenched your fists, water started pouring out of the apartment faucets and showers from your raging cursed energy.

“i’m pregnant!” you shouted back at him.

satoru lifted his blindfold, his blue eyes widened, jaw dropped. it was as if time stood still for him. the only thing he could hear was the sound of your angry breathing and all the faucets flowing throughout the apartment.

“what…?” satoru whispered, “that can’t happen. you’re on birth control.”

“that’s what i thought too. but shoko confirmed it.” you told him as tears started to form on your long dark lashes.

“damn it… damn it. damn it!” satoru hissed. he ran his fingers through his hair, pushing off his blindfold and throwing it at the bathroom counter. “why didn’t you tell me?”

his reaction hurt your feelings, “because i didn’t know what your reaction would be and clearly you’re not happy about it.”

“how far along are you?” he asked, ignoring your comment. he walked towards you to stand beside you, putting his hand on top of yours. you flinched as you took your hand back to wipe your tears away.

“6 weeks. it’s early enough that i can get an abortion.” you sniffled.

“just… don’t make any decisions right now.” he said. it sounded like he was begging you, “we can talk more when i get back from this damn mission.”

satoru leaned towards you. he grabbed the side of your head to kiss your temple, “i love you, (y/n). i'm not mad at you.” he whispered.

satoru’s mission

it took everything in satoru not to leave you behind at the apartment alone after the way he reacted. why did he have to be assigned such a lowly mission? any of the students could’ve handled it, so why did it have to be him out of all people and out of all the days?

he teleported to shinagawa where it was reported that a curse was terrorizing an elementary school. it looked deserted when he arrived at the front gate.

satoru raised two fingers to put up a veil, “emerge from darkness, blacker still. purify that which is impure.”

he walked into the school, his six eyes sensing the curse right away. it couldn’t have been more than a grade 2 or 3. he heard a bloodcurdling scream, leading him to the gymnasium.

“please help!” a woman’s voice screamed and begged as the curse towered over her. satoru teleported in front of the woman and swiftly blasted the curse away with sheer force, exorcising it immediately.

“are you alright?” satoru turned to ask the woman. he stopped dead in his tracks.

she was pregnant.

“please sir, save my baby.” she begged as she was bleeding from her abdomen. her hands and arms shielding her womb protectively. the curse must’ve already injured her before satoru arrived. he kicked himself for his late arrival. he could’ve prevented this if he came earlier.

he lifted the injured woman in his arms, “don’t worry. i’ll save you. nothing will happen to you or your baby.” he promised as he teleported to the closest hospital.

tokyo shinagawa hospital

“it looks like the patient and her baby will be fine. she was close to full term. if she lost any more blood, her and the baby would’ve died.” the doctor reported back to satoru as ijichi stood next to him, documenting everything for the report that he would have to fill out later.

satoru was deep in thought about how this woman begged him to save her baby and not herself. it was the fact that she so selflessly put her baby first that really got to him.

he thought about you and what you would’ve done if you were in that woman’s shoes. he knew that you would protect your baby with your life because he would do the exact same thing. satoru felt his protective instinct skyrocket now more than ever.

satoru’s heart felt heavy. he immediately felt guilty knowing that you thought he didn't want to have kids and how hard this must have been for you the past week. he wanted to be there for you, but he was terrified of the unknown. would he be a good father? would he be able to protect this baby? and were you even happy being pregnant with his child?

“ijichi, can you take care of the rest? i have somewhere i need to be.” satoru asked impatiently.

ijichi complained, “are you sure you’re not just trying to pawn off your work to me?”

“there are two people who need me right now.” satoru waved as he teleported back to the apartment. the two people in question? you and the baby that was growing in your belly.

back at the apartment

you felt satoru’s cursed energy appear as he teleported back into the living room. he walked towards you and hugged you tightly, surprising you.

“can’t. breathe.” you said as your face was squished into his firm chest.

he immediately let go of you, scared he hurt the baby by embracing you so tightly.

“i know what you're thinking, the baby is fine.” you said as you hugged him back even tighter in return, “did you know the baby is the size of a sweet pea according to my baby tracking app? so they wouldn't have even felt that hug.”

“that’s pretty small.” he said, chuckling softly. he paused to take a deep breath, he then looked down at you, “can we talk?”

you nodded as he guided you back to the couch, sitting down in the soft white cushions as he sat on the floor in front of you, holding your hands.

he looked you in the eyes, “don’t get an abortion, (y/n).”

you blinked twice, “well, that’s not what i was expecting. what changed your mind?”

“i never said i didn’t want kids, babe.” satoru said defensively.

you mumbled as you folded your arms, “you made it sound like you didn’t. and your reaction when i told you i was pregnant earlier today doesn’t support that statement.” avoiding eye contact with him.

he grabbed your hands again and explained his point of view, “i was upset that you hid it from me. and i was surprised because you were on birth control which is supposed to prevent pregnancy. and i was really fucking scared.”

“scared? the satoru gojo scared of a baby the size of a sweet pea?” you emphasized. he furrowed his eyebrows at you.

“i had a come-to-jesus moment during my mission.” he started to say, “(y/n), i’d do anything for you. just like you would for me. but now… we can’t put each other first anymore. we have to set our priorities elsewhere.”

“what do you mean by that?”

“we have to think of this baby and how this baby will always come first now.”

you were quiet, processing what satoru just said. yours and satoru's lives were going to drastically change. this baby would be your number one priority in life. you and satoru spent the last decade caring deeply for each other and being each other's prime concern, now this baby would come first.

you realized that he was terrified of having this baby be the center of his universe, knowing that the baby would be defenseless without you and him. satoru wanted to protect this baby with his life, just like the mother he saved today who wanted to save her baby's life.

being a parent meant that you would always have your heart living outside of your body, and that would make you vulnerable to extreme pain, but also let you experience indescribable love. and that was something you were willing to risk experiencing in life with satoru.

“you're right, babe. i agree.” you said softly, you held his cheek in your hand. “you really want to do this? you really want to be a dad?”

“hell yes i want this.” satoru said confidently, holding your hand against his cheek.

“how dare you get me pregnant, satoru gojo.” you jokingly reprimanded him.

he kneeled forward into you as he kissed you softly, “sorry, it was an accident.”

EXTRA:

“babe! show me this baby app you’ve been using this past week.” satoru demanded playfully as he pulled you into his lap. you grinned as you grabbed your phone to pull up the ‘what to expect’ app.

“so! baby gojo is the size of a sweet pea or a nail head. and they’re .25 inches small.”

"baby gojo... i like the sound of that." he smiled at the thought. he nodded, a signal for you to continue.

“it says that baby gojo’s face is forming and taking shape! i hope they don’t get your big head...” you laughed as satoru frowned.

“my head is not big!” he defended himself, “moving on.”

“it says that the heart starts to pulse around this time and we should be able to hear a heartbeat at my first pre-natal appointment…” you said with a smile.

“i’ll make sure i request that day off.”

“you better! or i’ll have a word with principal yaga.” you smacked his chest playfully with the back of your hand. “baby gojo supposedly looks like a tadpole with a tiny tail. and i won’t feel any movement for awhile.”

“so you can’t feel it move or anything?” satoru asked curiously.

“no, but i’m feeling these pregnancy symptoms.” you complained, “my boobs hurt, my heartburn is worse than usual, and the morning sickness is killing me.”

“okay, so basically, don’t touch your boobs anymore, carry extra tums for you, and hold your hair for you when you throw up in the morning. got it.” satoru noted.

you glared at him with your emerald green eyes, “please stop talking.”

wanna know how the rest of oc gojo girlfriend's pregnancy goes? read the next chapter, ‘milestones’ here.

© 2023 ASDFGHJKLMALS — ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PLEASE DO NOT COPY, TRANSLATE, OR REPOST MY WORK.

DIVIDERS PROVIDED BY @/ANLIAN-AISHANG

[leviethinsaint]

HORROR RP PARTNER SEARCH

Hi my name is Leviethin or levie for short. I use he/ they pronouns and I am an open and safe space for any trans or poc role players. I’ve been rping for over nine years. I’m a literate to novella style writer. I tend to write over ten or so paragraphs sometimes more depending on the subject.

I write third person past tense. I write for all sorts of fandoms. I do both cannon and oc writing as well. I tend to only write men, though there are times I can be flexible. I usually prefer male x male but that can be flexible as well.

⭐️I am 23 and married so I’m only looking for friends and adults to write with. Please be at least 20 I feel a little off writing with anyone younger. As I tend to write very graphic and at times smut content most of my plots have it in them.⭐️

I have a ache for horror now that the fall season is upon us. I want gore and violence, I’m ready to get into all sorts of spooky things. I’m open to doing doubles, that way we can have any plot or story we want! I’m also okay with doing one on one writing.

⭐️though if we are doing one on one writing I prefer we write our characters as switches. I don’t entirely enjoy only getting to play one dynamic role. It’s flexible if we do doubles so I can be the dominant for you if you’d like and you could be that in return in mine, I’m willing to talk it all out if you have any questions⭐️

I���m not picky about any ideas just yet. But I love the Michael Myers’s and scream (ghostface) type of slasher. The floor is open for all sorts of discussion I’d love to hear any suggestions or ideas. I’m still formulating some myself. I do however want it to be pretty dark and violent. I know that’s not a thing for everyone and that’s okay!

⭐️but now onto my triggers and such, I’m pretty okay with a lot. I enjoy getting to write freely I’m someone who believes it’s a way to work thorough a lot of traumas. So I only have two triggers, nothing with children or animals at all. And no deep descriptions of vomit, it can be mentioned but no super detailed information I have a horrific phobia. But other than that I’m pretty okay with anything. I tend to lean into taboo things I find it fun to write something I don’t entirely understand or experience. Im open to pretty much all kinks and such when it comes around to the smut as well! I’m open to discussing anything you have in mind.⭐️

⭐️⭐️SUPER IMPORTANT, I work full time and am married while in school. My schedule is pretty full, so there will be times I cannot reply every day. But I try to get replies out within one or two days. But I will absolutely keep you updated If anything changes or happens. Please be flexible with me and I will do the same with you⭐️⭐️

If you’re interested and would like to rp message me here. Or comment on this post! Then we can discuss a bit and move onto discord!! I hope to make some great horror friends, happy spooky season all you little freaks♥️✨

[aylaaescar]

✨🎹🎯🧊🍀

Hi!!! I'm here with a barrage of asks from the ask game!! Sorry if it's a bit too long, I got kind of carried away 💀 But anyways — these asks for Tysinno OR any other OC of your choosing, please!

omg never be sorry for asking me about Tysinno (or any other OCs) shdfjgksg he's my pride and joy, and I love all the brain blorbos dearly. ty!! 🖤

✨- How did you come up with the OC’s name?

honest answer? I don't remember. I'm 90% sure I came up with Tysinno Maratis on the spot when I was first trying out SHOH :') it is VERY likely there is a more thorough/clear answer that I simply cannot recall, but it's been a few years. if I ever remember then I'll come back and edit this djfgk

🎹 - Do they have any hobbies?

several! he's very artistically inclined, for one thing - sketching and painting is his preference, and he tends to go for other people and landscapes for his subjects. think Jack Dawson from Titanic. I could see him being good at pottery if he ever gave that a try, but I don't think he has?

he also has a fondness for literature, both reading and writing. in terms of reading, he likes most anything (but has a preference for horror and adventure). in terms of writing, he's very much a poetry man.

🎯 -What do they do best?

Tysinno himself would make some bitter remark about being a doom magnet to villages of Hunters who take him in as a baby. I, Sierra, would say that it's probably following his sense of justice and doing the right thing? he's very much guided by his morals and his principles; if he sees something that isn't right, he does something, even if it's dangerous for him. the Autarchy says it's illegal to use healing magic on refugees because it's not Shepherd business? well, the Autarch isn't here now, is she?

🧊 - Is their current design the first one?

not really. while a lot has stayed the same (a good heart, introverted tendencies, loving cats, having an enormous guilt complex), his "first draft" counterpart wasn't a goth lol. a bit of a sunnier disposition in comparison to him being a bit glum and stoic as his current self. which isn't to say that he's gloom and doom all the time, ofc - he's just on the pessimistic side, and can get caught up in his own head. first draft Tysinno was a bit more of a stepford smiler.

also, his hair used to be shorter, and he didn't have any piercings or tattoos. that all changed when I came to the realization that he would enjoy both as forms of fashion and expression. :)

🍀 - What originally inspired the OC?

mostly? I just wanted a softhearted, compassionate, sweet healer man for my MC. there's no lack of jerk dude heroes in stuff, and I liked the idea of playing as a guy who's sweet and empathetic, and isn't afraid to be gentle and kind. he's come out a lot gloomier and moody, like I said sdhfgjksg side effect of being the Brightburner and like. everything that comes with? but it's still there. it's why I'm so fond of him.

[deepdisireslonging]

Sunrise Guarded by Night Chapter 1: Every Morning

Blüdhaven’s Cuppa Sunrise is a thriving cafe in the city’s center. The co-owner, Ileana, has a favorite customer. He always orders the same thing, despite danger on the horizon.

Pairing: (eventual) Dick Grayson x Ileana Dimitrov (OC)

Warnings/Promises: food mention, talk of gang activity

Word Count: 1660

Note: This was another commission that came in. Happy reading! Comments and reblogs are always welcome.

With a sing-song “welcome in,” Ileana Dimitrov gave the incoming guest a warm smile. Pumps of flavoured syrups and sprinkles of cinnamon and chocolate easily passed through her hands. It was a familiar routine at this point, but early morning patrons and earlier awakenings would never get old for her. She had built up the corner coffee and breakfast shoppe with her own two hands, and the two of her best friend. 

Three years in, Blüdhaven’s Cuppa Sunrise was thriving. Which was a great accomplishment considering the living costs and city collateral damage. 

“Two raspberry scones and two cups of medium roast with mocha shots? Coming right up. Did you get that, Ileana?”

“Got it!”

She stole a glance at her best friend and business partner, Tajra Aksoy. Her pink hijab caught the light from the front window, her smile brighter than the sun. They’d been planning to have a shoppe like this since they were freshmen in high school. From sourcing each roast, down to choosing the floor tile, Tajra had been there to keep Ileana calm. And reasonable when it came to the budget. 

Tajra glanced at the door. She muttered, “he’s late.”

“I know. Probably had to give out a ticket.” 

Five minutes later, just as the morning rush was escaping into the streets, Ileana’s favourite customer walked in. His glittering blue eyes went straight to her as she went ahead and made his usual drink. 

“One of these days I’ll order something different and throw you two for a loop.”

Both of the women rolled their eyes at him. Tajra sassed, “sure you will. What treat today?”

Officer Dick Grayson made a show of giving the display case a thorough once over. To no one’s surprise, he picked the blueberry croissant. It wasn’t always available due to the berry’s seasonality, but when it was… it would surely be his pick as much as the dark roast cup of joe. 

Ileana handed both to him as he handed the money to Tajra. “Always a pleasure, Detective.”

His lips broke into a wider smile. “I would have been here sooner, but I had to issue a ticket.” His smile slipped into a comical frown as the women giggled. “Is my schedule that obvious?”

“Sometimes.” Ileana passed along his change, which he immediately dropped into the tip jar. “Any big plans for the day?” She instantly regretted her question. While his smile remained bright, overly so, it was strained at the corners of his eyes and mouth. 

Dick chuckled. “The best days are when I have nothing to do at all. This is unfortunately not one of those days.” He lifted his breakfast in salute. “I least I have my favourites to keep me going. Oh.” Setting down his cup, Dick looked intently at Ileana’s cheek. “You’ve, uh, lost an eyelash.”

“Oh.” Before she could brush it away, He reached up. 

“Allow me.”

Gently, he caught the loose lash on his fingertip. Ileana caught herself holding her breath. 

“Make a wish.” 

Closing her eyes, Ileana blew lightly over her eyelash, wishing into the aether. 

He hummed. “I hope whatever you wished for comes true for you.” Again, he saluted his breakfast. “See you two tomorrow.”

“Bye!” “Se ya!”

Tajra sighed as the door jingled shut behind him. Then she lightly punched Ileana in the shoulder. 

“Ow! What?”

“When are you going to ask him out? Or at least for his number? Oh. Maybe you can write yours on his cup tomorrow and then-”

“No.” Ileana shook her head. “I’m not going to harass a patron like that. It wouldn’t be right.”

Tajra grumbled, “it’s not harassment if he’s into you.” With most of the morning’s foot traffic headed to work, they began to clean up the workspace. Ileana gave an “umph” when a damp towel hurtled at her face. “And he is into you. Or did you miss all of that flirting just then?” She continued to suggest cutesy ways that Ileana could flirt back. Or where they could go on their first date. Or this that and the other about every aspect of a potential relationship. 

It could never be. Or so Ileana worked to convince herself. He was a detective. Long days and longer nights. She ran a coffee shoppe. Long nights and long mornings before passing out before noon. When would they see each other? She asked as much of Tajra. 

“I will gladly start working the morning prep if it means you get some time with that man.”

Ileana rolled her eyes. “You hate waking up that early.” 

“A two AM call time is worth it if I don't have to put up with the lovey-dovey heart-eyes between you two.” Before Ileana could escape to the back to start the lunch sandwiches, Tajra caught her wrist. “This place is plenty stable for you to have a social life. We’re in Blüdhaven. It may not be New York or Gotham, but there’s plenty of nightlife that would be fun for a night owl like you. When was the last day you had off?” 

“I just had a day off. Saturday.” 

“That doesn’t count. We’re closed on Saturdays.”

Ileana sighed. “If I promise to consider having a life outside of this shoppe, then can I start making lunch?”

Tajra let go of her. “Fine. But next week I’m coming up with a shift rotation so you can have some afternoons.”

“But-”

“No takebacks.” Tajra sent her scurrying with a snap of a towel. 

***

“Blueberry croissant today, huh?”

Dick sat down at his desk with a grin. “Yep. If you want one, I’ve recommended this place several times.” He sighed as his partner Gannon Malloy sat down across from him instead of taking the hint. “Or if you started carrying some cash, I could be persuaded to pick something up?”

“Nah. My sweetheart already calls you my work-wife. That would really send her over.” 

Across the room, the commander cleared his throat. “If you two are done… we’ve got cases to solve.”

“Yes, Sir,” they both replied. Dick finished wolfing down his pastry as they walked over to the board. 

The map of Blüdhaven was sectioned off with string boxes in various colours. Depending on which gang or crime lord took over which block, the strings would shift. One of the other detectives was setting up a box in a new colour. Never a good sign. Dick sipped his coffee as the details landed. A new power had moved into Blüdhaven. No name yet. But someone was buying out blocks on the North West side. Pretty bold considering the land accrued was inching closer to the police station. Depending on who you asked, this block was either neutral or no-man’s-land. Very different meanings and Dick had never liked that. As the commander started to list the descriptions of the potential new members, Dick stole a look at the block on the South East side of the station. The Cuppa Sunrise was far away from the new power. For now. 

“These two especially,” the commander said, holding up a pair of sketches, “are to be watched out for. Do not engage them yet, as we don’t have anything concrete. But take notes of anything interesting. That is all.” He pinned the sketches to the corner of the board. One had a low brow and squashed nose. The other had a long face, probably to match a long torso, and thin lips. 

Malloy sent Dick a shrug. Easy dismissal. 

“Must not be too bad,” he said when they reached their desks. “Otherwise, he’d have us out there scouring the streets.” Malloy leaned back deep in his chair. “I wonder who the new guy is. Or gal. It’s about time we had another female gang leader. Do you remember the last one? Boy, was she a master chess player.” He whistled. Then winced as he watched Dick rub his side. “Sorry. I forgot you got up and personal with that one.” 

That was an understatement. Dick had been out of commission for over six months because of the “chess player,” aka Aisha Domna. A former student of S.H.A.D.E. And he got out easy. Half of the railyard island almost burned down. They considered Domna lost in the fire, though Dick wasn’t so sure. He’d been digging in his free time to see if her known habits had popped up again. 

Dick gave his partner a smile to ease his worry. “As such, I’m in no rush to meet another. Has anything developed with the Hazlip case?” It was an easy out. Mallory had picked up this case himself, and could ramble on it for hours when given a chance. Which gave Dick time to slowly enjoy his coffee. He cupped it in both hands, relishing in the warmth and the memory of the morning. Had he been too forward to catch her eyelash? No, not necessarily. She made the wish. He wondered what she wished for. 

“Earth to Dick?”

“Hmm?” When he blinked, Mallory suddenly had a map in front of his face. 

“Should we cruise the coast or the business district?”

“For what? I’m sorry, I missed a detail or two.”

Mallory rolled his eyes and muttered, “missed several thinking about breakfast.” He pointed at the two possibilities on the map. “For our suspects. One likes to habit the coast and the shipping docks. The other hangs about downtown. Have a preference?”

Standing and grabbing his coat, Dick sighed. “I would say downtown to avoid the fish smell, but your fancy boy doesn’t just walk around. We’ll have better luck spotting his goon.” 

On their way out, Dick gave the string map one more glance. The distance of the new box from the Cuppa Sunshine reassured him. It was a good distance away. And districts take time to grow. So, if everything went well, he’d have time to finish up Mallony’s case before digging into a new one.

***

Part 2: New Landlord

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[rae-blogging]

𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙇𝙊𝙑𝙀 𝙄𝙎?

pairing: Jake Sim x fem!Reader, Sunghoon x OC

genre: Angst, Fluff, Humor

word count: 10k 

synopsis: You’ve been head over heels for Sunghoon for years now,  already aware of how doomed your story is from the start you go from pretending that you don’t believe in love to accepting it, but Jake Sim is adamant to change your mind.

warnings: Mentions of a creep being a .. creep?, reader running away from situations, slight manhandling on Sunghoon’s part (He grabs your wrist), Reader being an idiot, non religious mentions of God, fake dating is proposed but literally barely happens (Lmk if I missed something), Niki iis your brother (not a warning but yk), Yeonjun (TXT) and Yuna (ITZY) are part of the fic too and this is not proofread.

a/n: An earlier version of this fic was posted on my older blog but I ended up rewriting many bits again. Also I really love receiving feedback so please, please reblog my work if you like it.

"So, um, what is your favorite color?" You asked with a slight smile, trying to make the best of the situation (You really were going to kill Jungwon when you see him). 

There were three main dilemmas in your otherwise monotonous life a) Your inability to work/study when you should ; b) Your complete lack of romantic experience. You have -- after thorough over thinking past midnight – come to the conclusion that there’s something wrong with you. Other than the normal kind of flaws that you’re convinced everyone has, of course, like you being too lazy to get yourself a glass of water from the kitchen ( It’s not really your fault honestly, you wouldn’t be this lethargic if Niki didn’t always do your chores for you at home) and  getting anxious for no reason in particular and hyper fixating on said anxiety till neither your existence nor the topic of anxiety makes sense anymore, of course there’s also slightly worse issues with you like your tendency to cancel on your friends right before the plan is brought to life (although that doesn't work anymore and now you get dragged along anyway) or procrastinating all the time and then panicking but still procrastinating and finally, working like a madman and being disappointed if you don't score extremely well (But that's the case with most of your friends too so maybe it's not that big a deal), anyway the point is you're flawed. Quite flawed. You were still trying to figure out what exactly causes your absolute lack of romantic experience (that's how Sunoo put it nicely) or your forever disgruntled and dissatisfied state of mind because you never get any (as Jake had thoughtfully offered his version of the same). Sunoo is essentially sunshine trapped inside a 5’8 human body ( you think he’s shorter but he gets mad each time you bring it up, so you’re trying to make peace with obvious lies) and he’s probably the nicest person in your group right after Reyna. Jake, on the other hand, was probably created simply to make every minute of your existence that coincides with his, painfully exasperating. Alright, Jake wasn’t really all that bad except for his constant reminders about environmental issues, which you secretly found endearing and his unrivalled ability to score well on tests you know he hadn’t prepared for at all, he was actually cool. You’d moved past the time where you called people your ‘best friend’ but if there was one for ‘best friend + annoying idiot you randomly want to punch’ he’d definitely get it. While your friends were aware of the first two ‘problems’ the third one was something you’d have to deal with on your own. Tired of your friends’ bantering with you about your love life, you had of course indignantly insisted that you were better off single — it's so expensive being in a relationship nowadays anyway and you already spent most of your time slaving off trying to pay back your student loan before you turn 30 — of course, you just had to overdo the act and adamantly trash talk every couple which was apparently very offensive (Heesung had said that, and you usually trust his opinion), and now you were stuck at the most awkward blind date you had ever had (and that was saying something considering you had one where the person had asked you to Venmo him a 35 to buy coke). 

"Black. Like my life. Quite bleak, I know" he nodded thoughtfully to himself before you could deny it, "but I am that way you know? Mysterious. It defines me perfectly."

You bet the dude couldn’t spell mysterious.

"Yeah, of course, black is a beautiful color." You tried to sound interested, but it was getting kind of difficult with you making all the conversation and him talking about....well himself. Too much in depth, if you were being honest. 

"This one time, I met a chick in Bali and you know they’ve really sensual brea – “

Not only was Jungwon’s attempt at getting you a blind date a horrific try, but you were also now in the company of a complete pervert. Thank goodness for Choi Yeonjun, the chef of the restaurant (technically the restaurant was his father’s so maybe owner would be a better designation) and your friend (again technically he was Heesung’s friend but your group hung out at Choi’s every Friday and so you were pretty sure that he at least knew you) causing a fire alarm to go off, your date took off running, not even sparing a glance in your direction when Yeonjun started screaming ‘Fire!’, you weren’t sure if he saw your thinly veiled face of disgust or heard the man however you had no chance to ask since everyone was escorted outside almost immediately. You were certain you saw the chef wink at you though.

Anyway, getting a boyfriend was a complete failure and the worst bit? You were relieved. Because you had another person clouding your mind most days (You studied Chemistry along with English so that took up a few days too).

You had a huge crush on Sunghoon. It wouldn’t be that big of a deal really except it totally was and no way were you going to tell your friends who were positive that you hated the concept of love and despised couples that you had heart eyes for your childhood friend.. You have to give it up for yourself for managing to hide it behind faces of extreme disgust and unasked for comments on anything remotely related to love, because you’d liked the boy for quite a while now, you weren’t sure about the exact time period but it was getting really hard being around your friend without breaking down and confessing, so of course the genius you had decided to platonically cockblock yourself by a) Avoiding the poor boy and being snide if you did talk and; b) Being obnoxiously loud and proclaiming love was gross. Unfortunately for you, your friends had moved on from the cooties phase just a year or two later and now you were stuck as the grumpy, single friend who drank too much coffee and had slightly violent outbursts of consistent prodding the people sitting next to you when you got excited during a movie’s scene. Frankly (Name) I am more surprised you have friends. Two things were clear to you from the beginning of your story though: a) You liked your friend more than you should b) You were absolutely doomed from the very start.

‘”Hey!” Jake flailed his hands in the air like the idiot that he was, being greeted by you laughing and doing the same at the other end of the hallway, the students around paid no attention. You weren’t even sure if they weren’t all sleepwalking to be honest.

“How was the date?” he asked, putting an arm around your shoulder as you weaved through the zombified students.

 “He was in love, for sure,” you scoffed, “with everything that moved. Jungwon sure knows how to pick the creepiest men-”

You trailed off at the sudden shock of Jake tugging you closer to him.

He looked at you a smile, his other hand tousling his hair letting out a sheepish laugh,"What? You’d get trampled dude. You never pay any attention to your surroundings.”

You waved your hand around, eager to talk about your tumultuous evening ,“He talked about girls and their boobs and get this- sensous hips..” You raised your hands dramatically in exasperation, “Wait, was it the other way around? By the way, what happened to the save the turtle campaign? Did people even turn up? I heard there’s this dolphin-”

You turned to look at the boy beside you, raising your eyebrows when you saw him stop, jaw clenched looking unamused as you rambled on mindlessly.

“What’s wrong? Did enough people not contri-”

“Did he say something inappropriate to you?” Jake stared at you sternly, surprising you with his serious demeanor.

“Um, not really. He was just talking about some girl from Bali. I don’t know, I kinda tuned out after that.” You gripped his shoulder pulling him with you as you continued walking.

“Oh. Did he do anything el-“

“Nope. I’d slice his dick off.”

“Atta girl,” he smiled warmly, putting his arms around your shoulder again “Did you see Sunghoon yesterday?”

Sunghoon. The same friend you’d spent hours on ends playing Monopoly with, the same person who’d climbed into your room two days before your birthday to wish you when you were 12 (turns out 12 year old Sunghoon wasn’t very bright because he had thought this was the best way to wish you ahead of others), he’d brought you red roses on Valentine’s day because – ‘I do love you though! I love you the most in the world. Like right after Mom and Yeji. Oh, and Gaeul. Wait dad. But then it’s you.’ – he wanted you to know that he really did love you, the same way he loved his family or well his dog but you get the idea. You had wondered then if it was his tsundere way of asking you out. In all fairness though, you hadn’t ever been keen on actually dating your friend, you weren’t sure what people who dated were supposed to do anyway, so initially you hadn’t really minded harboring feelings for Sunghoon but your group had expanded in college, Sunoo and Yuna were your lab partners and, Reyna was on the student sports committee in college. You can’t really remember when it actually happened but you suddenly became increasingly aware of Reyna’s closeness with the boy you’d a crush on and, your desperately hidden feelings tugged painfully at the strings of your heart leaving you with no choice but to steer clear of the said boy in fear of a) You randomly confessing your thickly veiled crush and, b) Finding out/Having the same boy tell you he liked Reyna.

You wish you could at least be mad at Reyna or be able to despise her but you couldn’t. Not with how kind the girl was and how the two of you were always on the same wavelength about everything. She was your friend too, and you missed having her around. Sometimes you wondered if you should stop turning the other way when you met Sunghoon’s hurt eyes or be just as enthusiastic with your replies as Reyna was while talking to you, but then you’d see the two exchanging glances and the urge would die down immediately. You missed Sunghoon  too, of course you did. Up until middle school (before Jay, Jake and Heesung decided to enter the picture) he and Jungwon were your only friends, and the selfish part of you sometimes wanted to relive just that : Monopoly games and shaved ice and lego houses. Sometimes, when you crashed on your bed you still smiled thinking about how simple life was back then. You were getting tired of it now though, having to keep your feelings in, running from one part time job to another, lying about how you were. You were exhausted.

You were broken out of your daydream by a splash of water greeting your face, glaring at the culprit who was trying to gather rain water in his cupped hands, you let out a small smile simultaneously sighing about the open ground you’d have to run through to reach the laboratory.

“Let’s go together,” Jake laughed at your frustrated state, opening his umbrella and pulling you close as you stepped into the muddy ground, grimacing at your shoes that you’d have to clean that night.

The umbrella was too small for the two of you, both getting drenched just halfway through the premises.

“Oh come on” you sighed, tugging the boy along as you ran under the downpour. His hand clutching yours tightly as you made your way to class. The umbrella had slipped out of Jake’s hand somewhere in the middle but neither of you noticed as you took in his damp state, laughing till you saw your professor glaring at the two of you, promptly scuttling to classes after that.

“And a latte for you ma’am.” Jungwon flashed his signature smile at you, that you returned without hesitation, handing you the mug of coffee from your kitchen counter where the two of you’d spent the last 15 minutes trying to recreate TikTok coffee recipes, giving up pretty quickly in favor of the conventional latte. At least the younger boy was good at making coffee though, you couldn’t say the same for Yuna who hadn’t even tried to help you live your influencer dreams and headed straight for your hastily made bed, only to fall asleep in a few minutes. Shin Yuna was your roommate and you loved her to death but for the life of you, you couldn’t figure out how a human could sleep that much.

Jungwon glanced at your roommate, grinning slightly as he noted, “She’s out cold as usual, huh.”

You only nodded, relishing the sweet relief of caffeine on your tongue as the boy in front of flicked your forehead, “Drink slowly idiot, it’s hot.”

You gave him a sickening smile before proceeding to kick him in the shin, which led to him screaming and, consequently a pillow fight. You had to give one to Yuna though. That girl could sleep through anything.

It was only after you both sat down once the pillow fight (The pillows were thrown aside exactly 43 seconds into the fight and now you had a red handprint on your forehead and he had the prints of your nails on his face as a result) was over, that he asked you the question you were hoping to avoid.

“Did you and Sunghoon fight?” he asked with genuine curiosity, eyes averted to your cushion on his lap, as he attempted to untangle its strings.

“What? No, no, why?” you giggled unceremoniously simultaneously cursing yourself for being so obvious.

Damn you and your tendency to talk to yourself during the worst of times.

“You keeping avoiding him like the plague is why,” he looked up at you seriously.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about but we’re both busy, so it’s not that big of a deal,” you shrugged suddenly finding the carpet very interesting.

“And it has nothing to do with you crushing on Jake? Sunghoon & I are no longer your priority, huh?” he quirked an eyebrow at you.

Unfortunately for you, your brain had just decided to launch into a tirade of why Ellen DeGeneres was an A-grade jerk and you heard the question wrong.

After all your efforts to pretend you didn’t like anyone, least of all Park Sunghoon, fate finally thought enough was enough.

You knew you weren’t a good actor.

Oh God, what if Hoon saw through your act too?

Wait.

That meant everyone saw you as a pathological liar who consistently trash talked relationships but they stayed quiet because they pitied you.

This was horrible.

You’d need uproot your entire life and begin anew in Russia and go by the name of Luna because let’s be honest you have a soft spot for Luna Lovegood.

“(Name)?” Jungwon snapped his fingers in front of your face breaking you from a trance as you rushed to apologise for not telling him about your feelings earlier.

“I am sorry Wonnie, I liked him but I was so scared he’d-“

“I was just kidding can you stop looking like a-“

‘What?”

“What?!”

“You like Jake?!” This was a newer voice, and you could hear your friend scramble from the bed even as you placed your hands on your ears to minimalise some noise damage.

“Oh my God, you like Jake!”

Your social life was over and now you’d forever have to be resigned to your room where visitors would be allowed to leave flowers of token at the door at you-

“Wait what?”

“You like Jake? What the hell (Name). I was just kidding but..” Jungwon looked like a truck had run over his cacti and demanded him for compensation for damage caused to its tires.

“So, you were just pretending to like hate romance?” Yuna raised an eyebrow while Jungwon scowl in distaste.

“Yeah, (Name) not cool! I thought you were just being a dick to people and now I learn you have a schoolgirl crush?”

In Jungwon’s defense, he was not wrong.

“Oh. Um yeah. Sorry.”

“What a bummer,” Jungwon sighed as Yuna hit him over the head.

“Wait but like, why don’t you ask him out? Anyone can tell the boy likes you.”

You so hated it when your friends made sense. It was a common occurrence for people to assume you and Jake were dating because of how he doted on you, but then the boy was kind and sweet to everyone, he most definitely did not like you although it was apparent that your friends thought otherwise.

“I got rejected,” you blurted out before they could say anything else.

“What?” both cried out in unison.

Yuna stood up horrified, grasping your face in her hands, tilting it from one side to another as you blinked up unsightly.

“I’ll fight for you-“

“No, you will not.” Jungwon pulled her back before turning back to you again “Explain.”

“Um, I confessed and he said…he was busy with work.”

“I- wait what?”

“What work does Jake do?”

“That’s the weirdest rejection ever, but don’t you guys hang out all the time? Isn’t it awkward and how did you never tell us?” Yuna blurted questions after questions as Jungwon looked at you, prompting an answer.

“Oh, it’s um because, you see,” you wracked your brain for ideas “I’m hoping I still have a chance and it’s not awkward cause Jake’s nice like that.”

“With that rejection? Yeah right.” Yuna snorted, probably planning to punch Jake the next  time she saw him.

“Hey, it’s okay (Name). Things don’t always work out but it’s nice that you tried.” Jungwon tried comforting you.

“Yeah, don’t let it get to you.” Yuna smiled sweetly.

God she was scary.

You let out a sigh, if this was a book, this is exactly where the reader would close it to breathe in deeply and question why the main character was such an idiot. You really were the perfect Y/N and you were only going to prove the readers right by digging your own grave.

You knew accompanying Jake for coffee was a bad idea because a) he always ‘forgets’ his wallet and, b) you had a shift at the café in two hours and you couldn’t be bothered to spend any more time there than you necessarily had to; but you were a girl on mission today.

However, as usual, luck definitely wasn’t favoring you and right as you foot into the air conditioned place, your eyes fell on the couple sitting at the farther end of the café (your and Jake’s usual spot).

“Sung-” Jake’s excited shout died in his throat as you turned him around after an effective pinch to his arm.

“What the hell was that for?” he rubbed his arm in confusion, glancing back at the couple who were still in a world of their own.

“Let them have their privacy,” you shushed him, pushing him towards the chair and grabbing one that faced his own.

“Is it not because you can’t stand to see their mushy eyes and frivolous gestures of romance because you feel lonely and sick?” he plopped an elbow on the table, giving you an innocent smile that you returned momentarily before glaring at him.

“You are too invested in my love life Jake Sim,” you wagged a finger at him with a stern gaze, but a smile broke out on your face all the same.

“Just wanted the all clear,” he grinned, before standing up to place an order.

For some reason, your friendship with Jake was one of the few relationships that you never had to work on. It was easy for you to be able to laugh with him and listen to him talk passionately about things you previously had no knowledge about. He never demanded you give him company or spend time with him if you didn’t feel up to it, and sometimes, when you’d lay low for weeks and feel guilty for ghosting your friends, he’d drop you cheerful messages that you returned to whenever you felt upset. Jake’s presence had in a way filled the void that had been created by his friend’s absence.

“Hey, I forgot my wallet.” Jake returned to the table with a pout, and you resisted the urge to coo while somehow simultaneously managing to curse him out loud as you handed him your card.

Two things about Jake you were sure of : a) the boy was loaded, no seriously, he owned the costliest of clothes and shoes, and b) he was either the most careless person you knew or the biggest miser, and you weren’t sure what are worse.

As your thoughts began to drift again your eyes fell on Sunghoon and Reyna, and you were almost certain that you heard your heart let out a creak. Well, that or Jake dragged the chair to sit down in front of you.

“Isn’t it cute though (Name)?” Jake nudged your hand slightly, grinning at Sunghoon and Reyna. The former fiddling with his fingers, his cheeks red and eyes constantly sneaking glances at Reyna, who sweetly smiled at him.

“What?” You deadpanned, snatching up your coffee from the table.

“The way he acts around her” The boy in front of you scoffed, his eyes still twinkling. Jake suddenly seemed so annoying, you were sure it was a side effect of the stupid Elijah Sparks books he had been reading all weekend.

If there was one thing you had more than mint chocolate ice cream, it was romance books written by E. Sparks. You wouldn’t really detest him all that much if it wasn’t for his extremely exaggerated way of defining love and having the out of league guy fall for the bland girl.

“I, for one,” you emphasized pointing to yourself, “find it really cringe.”

“Cringy?” Jake looked at you with narrowed eyes, “At least use the correct word (Name).”

“Doesn’t matter,” you waved your hands around in the air in dismissing manner. “Point is,” you continued, taking your sweet time as you sipped on your coffee, “That’s weird. Seeing other people is weird. Letting one person have control over your life is weird. Emotions are weird. ”

The inner you was cringing intensely, but that’s fine (Name) you were just overcompensating to ensure you wouldn’t reveal your crush to Jake too.

“You used the word weird a lot,” Jake noted, completely ignoring everything else you said, “Aren’t you an English major?”

You mumbled an excuse incoherently, trying your best to look unsuspiciously at the boy sitting a little farther away from you, who was now laughing at something Reyna had just said. You weren’t surprised, Reyna was hilarious. You, on the other hand, had a broken sense of humor, laughing at the most inconvenient of times and over the stupidest of things but then again at least you had your own niche of people who understood your humor, all gathering in the comments under the ‘A slice of bread falling’ video that you had watched at least 19 times, on YouTube.

“So, you still don’t believe that love exists?” Jake asked with genuine curiousity.

You gave a half-hearted shrug, “Probably exists. Just don’t believe I’ll ever experience it.”

“And why not?” He played around with the metal straw in his hands (Jake was so totally a VSCO girl, it was a pity the term was no longer used)

“I’m not the main character.” You leaned back on the chair. Sunghoon was now smiling softly at her.

God, you hated cafés.

“Who do you think is?”

“I don’t know. You maybe? Reyna definitely.”

Jake stifled a laugh, “Any particular prerequisites for that, you think?”

“I don’t know man, can we just go?” You groaned, done with the conversation and the about-to-be-an-official-couple couple in front of you, completely pushing your ‘mission’ to the side. You could deal with the embarrassment of telling Jungwon and Yuna that your crush on Jake was unrequited but not with Park Sunghoon and Kim Reyna making heart eyes at each other in front of you.

“Okay how about we have a deal?” Jake sat up straight, his face serious (You think you should click a picture of it or something, but that’d ruin the moment)

“What deal?”

“Go out on three dates with someone. The same person each time obviously. If you end up not feeling anything, I’ll agree and if you don’t…”

This was your chance! You almost jumped up in your seat startling Jake.

“Okay,” you said quickly with a smile, only realizing later how suspicious that must have sounded.

Jake narrowed his eyes, “That was easy. What do you want in return?”

You placed your elbows on the table, fingers intertwined,” a) I choose who I go on the dates with, and b) you don’t ask any questions when you do me a favor.”

“What favor?” Jake’s brain was practically screaming at him to shut up but he never did listen.

“You’ve to pretend you rejected me a while ago.” you tried to keep your composure.

“No questions Jake. Also,” you smiled sweetly at him, making him groan,” You’re going with me on the three dates.”

“WHAT?”

People turned to stare at you, you kicked him lightly.

“Sorry. What?!”

Jake promptly choked on air.

Too busy trying to keep a straight face, none of you noticed your friends head out.

“You’re kidding.” Jake groaned, the tips of his ears turning red.

“Nah” you chuckled, sipping on the last bits of your coffee trying not to fawn over how cute he looked, the last thing you wanted was to boost Jake’s ego any more.

This was the second stupidest thing you’d done this week. The first of course was you running your mouth at Jungwon’s. Which is why the plan wouldn’t work but you had to try anyway. The spiderweb you spun around yourself was getting bigger and the only way out was to continue.

“You’re going out with….Jake?” Jungwon crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes at you as you tried to act unaffected, typing your draft as you nodded.

“Right after you said he rejected you?” Yuna chimed unhelpfully.

You didn’t understand why the girl was awake, it was 11 in the night and she didn’t seem sleepy at all. You had been hoping she’d be asleep.

“I knew it,” uttered the boy to your left.

Your shoulders drooped, he’d call you a pathological liar for sure now.

“I knew he probably too flustered the first time around!” he shook your shoulders violently.

Sidenote, Jungwon was probably where you got your violent tendencies from.

You weren’t sure whether to feel relieved or not, but your friends were scary for sure. A slight smile broke out on your face thinking about how right Jungwon was about Jake acting strangely when he was flustered, you had once had the prestigious opportunity of seeing him getting confessed to and Jake Sim was an adorable mess to say the least.

“Aww, you must like him a lot,” Yuna was perched on the end of your bed, “You’re smiling.”

“I, yeah, I like him a lot.” You replied with a wavering smile.

“That’s why you didn’t want to go on anymore blind dates!” he exclaimed happily

Too far.

“No, that’s cause you only have drug addicts and creeps on your list, Won.”

Before you could whine about Jungwon’s incompetency at playing Cupid, Yuna did it.

“Hey, at least I didn’t spill Sodium Hydroxide all over the table because the T.A. was too hot.”

“Excuse you? I am not the one who wears denim on denim you uncultured –“

“Um guys?” you interrupted hesitantly.

Considering the two were quarreling, they did trust your story and as reluctant as you were to bring back attention on your fake relationship, if there was going to be a massive realization of (Name) being a liar, you’d rather start here.

“Right, you and Jake.” Jungwon sat down on the bed, your eyes following every movement he made.

“We are happy for you of course (Name),” he beamed at you, opening his arms to envelope both you and Yuna into a hug (Yuna kind of snuggled in forcefully but it felt nice anyway)

“So…do the others know?” Yuna tilted her head to face you as you grimaced for what was to come.

“Not yet,” you admitted.

“Let’s have dinner at Choi’s.” she grinned, “you guys should tell the others too.”

“Only if you are okay with that,” Jungwon placed a comforting hand on your shoulder as Yuna nodded sheepishly.

You gave him a small smile, nodding softly.

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

Two down, six to go.

You could only hope all your friends were delusional idiots

You had exactly two hours before everyone headed to Choi’s and here you were, doused in flour wheezing as Jake Sim tried to make the perfect boomerang for his Instagram. This was your fault really for deciding to come over to his house where you supposed to set your stories straight so it was believable but he somehow persuaded you to help him bake a cake for your friends. It’s the first date, he had looked at you with an adorable smile. That should have been a red flag. Jake hates cooking, much less randomly making stuff for your friends to eat when you’re already heading to a restaurant but you trusted his stupid puppy dog eyes instead.

“Look here (Name),” he pointed the camera at you, beaming with happiness “Flip your hair but like real slow. One, two- (Name)!”

Here you were, two idiots doused in flour, laughing uncontrollably

No one should ever trust you with decisions, you swore as entered Choi Yeonjun’s restaurant. The place was filled with the usual chatter and comforting music, none of that helped you feel at ease though because the moment you entered you were greeted by the person you were desperately trying to get away from. At this point you weren’t sure if it was just your crush or your guilt making you do that. Whatever the reason your heart hammered in your chest as you took in the boy’s appearance. A casual white shirt and black sweatpants but he still looked like he’d stepped straight out of a loungewear magazine. You gave him a small smile, hoping he’d give you a curt greeting and head to the table, but he stayed there, eyes raking your body and then fixating on your smile as he made no attempt to return one and you felt yours droop as well.

This was getting awkward and frankly Sunghoon was tired of the silence, and completely exasperated by you.

“Why haven’t you answered any of my texts?” he asked after a short intake of breath.

Because I didn’t want to hear you talk about Reyna.

“I didn’t see your messages.” You gave a forced smile trying to move away and get to your friends’ table. You could see Heesung and Jay exchange looks and Jake getting up from his seat, but almost immediately Reyna tugged his arm, pulling him back to his seat.

Clicking your tongue in annoyance, you looked the boy in front of you with annoyance.

“Sunghoon can you please get out of my- ” your whine was cut short as he tightly grabbed your elbow, tugging you outside the restaurant.

“What the hell Sunghoon?” you exclaimed in frustration, pulling your arm away from his grip, “What’s wrong with you?”

He promptly dropped his hand to his side, face falling slightly as he saw your reddened arm.

“I am sorry.” He spoke genuinely, and you felt your anger ebb away as he gently inspected your hand.

You stared at him expectantly, already knowing what was going to come and hoping he wouldn’t say it.

“I just miss you,” he rubbed the back of your hand with his thumb, eyes almost watering.

You could taste metal on your tongue from how tight you were biting down on it.

“I don’t know what I did (Name),” his voice was a hoarse whisper now.

Your fingers clutched your dress tightly onto fists as you see a tear escape his eyes even as he turns his head to the side.

“You’ll…” the boy in front of you seemed to hesitate before he cleared his throat,” you’ll forgive me if I hurt you, won’t you? I am sorry, I am really-“

Hugging Sunghoon felt like comforting, even though you were both in tears and you could feel his shirt soak under your skin.

“You did nothing, I- I was just distracted. Sorry.” you mumble softly, nuzzling your face further in your friend’s arm, eyes averted to ground.

“It's okay, just text back every once in a while, okay? I wanted to tell you so many things,” you could feel Sunghoon smile into your skin as he heard you, “I do too.”

Your mind drifted towards Jake, the boy would be worried sick till you returned and you felt yourself letting out a smile thinking of his funny frown in spite of the previously almost morbid atmosphere.

“Is it about Jake?” you looked up at the boy, his lips quirked up in a teasing smile.

“You know?”

“You’ve been ditching me all this while to hang out with that bastard,” Sunghoon let out a chuckle, looping his arm around yours as he walked you towards the nearby park, “Of course I know.”

“Shouldn’t we go back to the otherst?” you looked at him questioningly, making no efforts to leave though.

“They can wait. Besides, I have something I want to tell you.”

None of you seemed to notice the retreating figure of Jake Sim.

“It’s my turn,” you tried pushing Sunghoon off the swing but he clung on adamantly.

You didn’t even care for the swing really. It just felt good being with him, you could almost feel the corners of your lips turning up watching him staring into the distance.

Sunsets were never your thing but Sunghoon always loved the hues of the sky around that time.

“What did you want to tell me?” your throat was choking up again, but you weren’t going to cry anymore.

You’d be a better friend. And you’d be happy for your friend.

“I really like Reyna,”

Yeah, no, fuck being a good friend.

“I..” you began but immediately stopped yourself.

You were not extraordinary at anything but being a good friend. You had your shortcomings but your friends came before anything else. You weren’t just going to hurt yourself by revealing your feelings, because you know Sunghoon like the back of your hand.

He’d give up on Reyna.

You’d break two hearts to save one.

So you nodded your head furiously, pushing his head to the front as he stared up at you in amusement, not trusting your voice till you could take in a deep breath at least.

“I know, you’re not subtle.” You chuckled.

“Really?” he looked back at you aghast, “Do you think she noticed?”

Hands fiddling with the rope of the swing you smiled softly.

“She’s not dumb Hoon.”

“Shit, what should I do?” he got up instantly.

“Tell her,” you could feel your cheeks dampen.

Thank goodness for the dark, really.

“I…what if she doesn’t?” Sunghoon seemed hesitant but you know he’d go anyway.

He gave you a small smile before patting your head softly, ”I should go, shouldn’t I?”

No, please don’t.

“Of course, dumbass.” your voice wavered slightly, but Sunghoon didn’t notice, even as he turned back a few steps out of the playground to wave at you, his back turned to you before you could return the favor.

It didn’t take very long for Sunghoon’s silhouette to disappear and suddenly, your feet were too heavy and your body too exhausted, you felt yourself crash to the ground, your hands clutched the grass tightly. Unmindful of the tears that flowed relentlessly.. The last thing you saw before you collapse were Jake Sim’s eyes staring into yours with concern.

All your friends were delusional idiots.

Except for he-who-must-not-be-named and Reyna, because they weren’t there for dinner with the rest of your group. The realization alone was enough to send a pang of hurt down your chest.

All it took was Jake kissing your cheek as he brought you back to the restaurant and your friends (save for Jungwon and Yuna who looked suspiciously smug) were convinced you were soulmates. They weren’t overtly dramatic either, other than the random gasps they’d let out each time you guys even looked at each other. Or maybe you judged too soon.

“I knew there was something going on!” Jay exclaimed when Jake held your hand in his, making Sunoo gag.

That little bastard.

“Move on, Jay.” Heesung hit Jongseong over his head, smile immediately after so he could ask the boy to pass the salt to him.

“What?” Jay distractedly passed the pepper to an annoyed Heesung instead, looking pointedly at Jungwon who seemed really immersed in his pepperoni pizza, “You guys said I was over thinking it.”

Jungwon didn’t even like pepperoni.

He pointed at you, nudging Heesung who was visibly frustrated by now, “She is the one who over thinks everything. You guys never trust me.”

This fucker.

You gave him a tight lipped smile, picking up your fork with murderous eyes not scaring him in the slightest as he smirked at your intertwined hands. Neither of you made any efforts to separate your hands though.

Not only did you have to play pretend with your freshly broken heart but you also had to watch your friends dissect said pretend relationship. It’s not like you had much of a choice though, it would be better to see a lovesick Sunghoon with fake boyfriend Jake than without him.

‘Hey, I believed you!’ Sunoo raised his hand halfway before picking up another slice of pizza “I even saw them making out in the auditorium,”

Jake’s clutch on your hand grew tighter as he choked on whatever he was eating as you glared at Sunoo. Maybe you shouldn’t feel bad about lying after all.

“I knew Jake was crushing hard dude.” Jay guffawed.

Jungwon gave Yuna condescending smile, subsequently being greeted by a kick to the shin by said girl.

Your smile wavered slightly as you saw Sunghoon and Reyna in the distance, hands intertwined, not noticing Jake’s reddened cheeks till you felt your hand being tugged upwards.

“Guys, me and (Name) should head home,” Jake stood up, looking down at you with a hesitant smile.

“Oh God, are you really going to start mak-”

“Shut up Sunoo,” the two of you muttered together, as you got up amidst the chatter of your friends, eyes meeting with Yeonjun who was dealing with a fussy customer, he gave you a small smile before turning his attention back to the man.

Your mind still hazy as Jake led you out and into his car, the ride was a silent one but your mind didn’t give you a minute of peace.

He handed you a glass of lemonade from the nearby stall, as you aimlessly swung around trying to come up with an excuse for when he’d ask you why he found you shaking and sobbing on a playground.

“Can I ask you something?” he twisted the swing towards him, as you shook your head softly.

“Alright,” he had replied complacently, “let’s talk when you want to.”

You weren’t sure if you had ever felt as empty as you did that night. You turned to the side to look at the boy beside you.

“What did you want to ask?”

“It’s fine, you don’t have to answer.” he looked at you for a second before returning his attention to the road ahead.

“You already know, don’t you?” you sighed, eyes on your lap burning looking at the boy next to you.

Jake nodded hesitantly, before veering the car towards the way home.

“I don’t want to go home,” you sat up frantically.

He slowed the car down to a stop before turning to face you.

“May I hug you?” he asked softly.

You nodded after a second of thought.

You were the kind of person who liked the idea of hugs more than hugs itself, you almost never felt the feeling of warmth envelop you like books said. Until that hug. You’ve hugged Jake before, cuddled even (He’s a very touchy person and always gets scared when you watch horror movies. It always ends up with his face buried in your hair). This hug was different though, he smelled like vanilla and you felt your burning as he rubbing soothing circles on your back. His arms around you made you feel like you were 12 again, safe from heartbreaks and growing up, drinking hot chocolate instead of coffee. Suddenly, it was too hard to keep it in. Your lashes getting heavy with the weight of tears that you were trying to hold back, throat hurting from the buried words you’d tried to choke down with smiles.

Dilemma c) The only boy you’d ever loved didn’t love you back and it hurt to admit that, so you sufficed with believing that you didn’t love. You couldn’t love.

“You know what,” you sniffled pulling Jake closer, not willing to leave his grasp just yet, “he once told me I wouldn’t end up dating anyone because he raised my standards too high. That dickhead.”

Jake couldn’t really hear a lot of what you were saying, your voice muffled by his shirt, but he knew you needed him right now, so even though he felt his breath hitch as your buried your face deeper in his neck, he stayed quiet, patting your hair softly.

“I have liked him for so long, ho- how can he just leave me and-” your voice broke into sobs again and Jake could feel his heart drop in his chest, silently cursing the boy in his mind.

Jake held nothing against Sunghoon really, except his obliviousness to your obvious feelings. He was surprised no one else had caught onto how you only ever shared your treasured pack of orange juice with him or completed his assignments with yours whenever he missed classes or despite obviously caring for Reyna, you completely avoided her whenever she was around Sunghoon.

“Even if, he doesn’t love me like that he should have- Are you crying?” your thumb swiped over his cheeks gently.

He hadn’t even realized that he was crying you mentioned it but sure enough he was sniffling a few minutes later, unsure of how appropriate it was to be crying to your crush’s sob story of her unrequited love.

“Sorry,” he rubbed his hands over his face roughly, feeling his heart lighten when he saw you smiling at him.

“Do you believe in love?” you asked him once he began driving again.

You felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted off your shoulder now that you had cried it out.

“Yeah,” he responded almost immediately.

“What’s it like?” you asked, chin buried in the crevice between your knees as you sat  on the passenger seat.

“Like coming home,” he gave you a soft smile, bringing the car to a stop in front of your apartment.

You didn’t want to be alone.

“Can you stay? Please?” you looked pleadingly at him and he gave in quickly to your surprise.

“Only if we are drinking.” he looped his arm around your shoulder.

You let out a laugh..

The next morning came like an epiphany (and a terrible hangover). Two realizations at hand a) You couldn’t go through with the fake dates. You told Jake as much, he looked up from where was what you assumed trying to make you pancakes, he didn’t look surprised at all. He simply nodded and gave you a reassuring smile, “It’s fine. I’ll tell the others we were messing around or something.”

You gave him a pained smile, unsure if the boy remembered the previous night well.

“You can just say we broke it off because we are better off as friends or something.” He suggested as you continued chucking clothes into your bag, not looking at the way his hands trembled.

He wanted to ask you if you were leaving, and if you were feeling better now, but he decided to stay quiet, he had ended up breaking his own heart while trying to fix yours.

He opted to leave after you ate the burnt pancakes together, only receiving a small smile in return when he asked if he’d see you in college on Monday.

b) You needed to leave for a little while, if only to get your thoughts straight. You had done something you shouldn’t have and now your brain was a mess.

You spent the next few minutes informing your employers that you needed to take a few days off, thankfully both were fine with it. Unfortunately you weren’t, it felt like you were running away, you tried to convince your mind uselessly but the damn thing just wouldn’t shut up till you were in your car on the way home, speakers blaring Gracie Abrams because you were too much of a coward to listen to Olivia Rodrigo. Your phone lay switched off amid your haphazardly packed clothes. You wouldn’t need it for a while.

Niki was grounded, and your phone was in your brother’s hand exactly 7 minutes after your random visit home. At least your mother was pleased to see you, although she constantly kept turning your wrists around, worrying that you hadn’t been eating well. Your dad wasn’t home and you were thankful that you didn’t have to see him because you know you’d burst into tears immediately if you did.

You didn’t like doing chores but Niki had grown more rebellious than you remembered and so it ended up being you and your mom alone in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and talking.

“He’s such a stubborn boy,” your mother complained with a smile.

You looked at her inquisitively.

“He and Yeonhee broke up,” She shook her head tiredly “He needs to understand that relationships need time and patience, but this stubborn boy.”

Your hands shivering, trying to ignore how your mother’s words had hit you like a brick.  Yeonhee was like a little sister to you, she was always over at your house, playing with Niki and pranking you when you least expected it.

“Why all of a sudden?”

“The boy won’t tell me a thing. Anyway, how have you been doing love?” your mother smiled at you before patting your cheek lovingly “Resting enough?”

“Yeah, I always rest when I should mum,” you replied inattentively, thoughts swimming in your head.

“I need to talk to Niki, mom,” you told her hurriedly placing a kiss on her cheek as you went upstairs.

“Niki!”

“The door’s opened. Come in.”

You threw yourself on the unsuspecting boy, hitting him on the head right as he relaxed into the hug.

“Ouch, what was that for?”

“How are you?”

“You.” he pushed you away by your shoulders, staring sternly at you “You heard about Yeon, didn’t you?”

“Yeah,” you pouted slightly burying your face in the pillow before facing him “Wanna talk about it? Are you okay?”

“I don’t know, mom keeps telling me I am wrong,” he scoffed, playing with the ends of his sleeves.

“You’ve known her since forever, kiddo. She’s just worried you didn’t think it through.” you tapped his knees to get him to listen.

“It’s just strange,” he whined poking your arm for no reason eliciting more prodding from you “I really care for her still but sometimes I think, I like the idea of her more. When we were friends it was so much different. It’s like I push everyone else away when I think of her, and that’s not healthy.”

Your breath hitched.

Your brother continued unaware of how guilty you felt, “It’s not like I can control my feelings you know. And I do care for her. A lot but I started doing everything the way she liked instead of what I wanted, I even fought with my friends because she wanted to spend all the time with me.”

His voice broke slightly at the end, making your heart hurt. You didn’t like seeing him this way.

“Hey, hey please don’t cry. You should just.. talk once instead of hiding away like this though, okay? I’m sure she’ll understand.”

Hypocrite, the voice in your head muttered.

You have no idea why but your inner monologue person is the meanest human you’ve ever interacted with. And it’s you! You love making yourself hurt, don’t you?

“You’re…you are doing the same thing, aren’t you?”

Niki’s voice trailed towards the end, eyes wandering towards your phone that you grabbed before he could.

“What?” you nudged him playfully “Don’t snoop around my messages, man.”

“Sorry” he muttered “Did you not tell anyone you were coming home though?”

“I- no, no I didn’t.” you corrected yourself with a sigh.

“You know it’s okay to prioritize yourself once in a while, right?”

“Yeah,” you whispered half-heartedly.

“How did you know?” you hesitantly asked your brother, who waited for you to clarify, “How did you know you just liked the idea of her and not her.”

“I-“ he cut himself off with contrite smile, “I felt the happiest around someone else.”

You looked at him with a stricken face.

“Oh, come on (Name) I am not a dick, I didn’t do anything.”

You let his previous words sink as you thought about your own situation. Was it possible that you only liked the idea of Sunghoon? It seemed that way sometimes, you’d forget all about the boy when you were with Jake, and kissing the latter had seemed so right even thought you were both way too buzzed o remember properly, just that you had melted in his arms and fallen asleep right after.

“(Name) you know I’m here for you, yeah?” He said seriously, you could only nod, wondering just how different your dynamics were as opposed to most other siblings as you walked out. Niki had always been selfless, never fighting and ready to give up his share of things if that’d make you happy.

Avoiding people and situations that made you uncomfortable had always been your way of dealing with them. Letting go of your years old friendship with Sunghoon just because you couldn’t deal with your feelings in a healthy manner and then fleeing for home when you heard Jake confess his love for you in your sleep. You wonder how many heartbreaks that humans cry over were created by them.

“Mom, I’ll go back tomorrow.”

“That soon?”

“I have…someone I need to talk to and,” your voice dipped “apologise to.”

You checked your phone on your way back, 18 missed calls from Sunghoon, 21 from Yuna, 16 from Jungwon and Jay, 14 from Heesung and Sunoo, messages from your friends flooding your phone. 1 message from Jake. Your finger hovered over his name, unsure of whether you should click it or not.  You go with the latter. You had to talk to someone first.

She looked gorgeous in the casual blue dress she’d worn. Then again, Reyna always looked stunning, she looked a little lost till she saw you waving at her. Her smile amplified as she hugged you tightly before landing a firm punch on your arm as you whined, unable to control the smile on your lips.

“You had us terrified, idiot.” she took the seat in front of yours, looking you up and down, making you laugh.

“Are you checking me out?” you asked with a smirk.

“Oh, you know it,” she returned easily.

God, you missed this. You were such an idiot.

“I am sorry.” You took in a deep breath.

“I know,” she placed her hand atop yours “It’s fine. You should take as long as you need.”

“Did you see the other guys?” you asked, hands crossed over your lap.

“Oh no. Hoon wanted to visit the park and we thought we’ll start rejoining the group dinners after a bit. You and Jake left early too, didn’t you?”

You fiddled with your fingers, “Yeah.”

“I… Can I ask you something?” you looked at her hesitantly.

“Of course” she smiled sweetly.

“Did, um, did Jake tell you why I took off randomly?”

You just couldn’t do it. You couldn’t tell your friend that you used to have a crush on your boyfriend, that would be a huge dick move, even by your standards (You’d be lying if you said telling on people during elementary and middle school wasn’t your favorite past time, you defended yourself by saying Honesty was a virtue but you were not going to follow Harishchandra’s example here even though you’d only just decided to come clean).

“Yeah, he said you guys had a quarrel and he said something that made you leave. Wouldn’t say what even though Hoon threatened him.” she grabbed the cup of coffee and doughnut that the waiter served, eating slowly before continuing “Did he say something really mean?”

You took in a deep breath.

“He said he loved me.”

Reyna stopped eating.

“Oh”

“Yeah,” you couldn’t stop the chuckle while looking at her confused face.

“Is that bad? Too soon?” she asked, leaning back in her seat.

“No, it’s just-“

“You don’t.” she finished for you.

“I am not sure.” You spoke softly, eyes fixated on the table.

You felt horrid. Is this how Sunghoon would feel had you confessed?

“I wish I did,” you spoke hurriedly before she could respond “I really do, but I, I liked someone else for a really long time and then I just realized that I maybe didn’t like him and I do like Jake but.”

You let out a groan, frustrated by the jumbled mess you were spewing.

“You know, (Name),” Reyna spoke slowly like she was talking to a child “If he really loves you, he’ll wait. He’ll wait till you are ready.”

“Jake please,” you pleaded trying to stop him from leaving the diner, aware of how shocked your friends looked but trying your best to ignore their stares.

It’d been a week since you returned, you hadn’t talked to anyone other than Reyna. Having cleared your head about everything you’d decided you’ll talk to everyone at the restaurant, apologize and ask Jake if you could talk once everyone left but he had stood up immediately as he saw you. You could hear yourself gasp at how gaunt he looked in just a week, his bright eyes looked anything but as you approached closer watching him blink at you like he’d seen a ghost, immediately the chatter of the rest of your friends dimmed as he got up and walked right past you, you grabbed his arm before he could leave.

“Please,” you had never felt this helpless.

He took his hand out of your grasp, “(Name) I really can’t talk right now, I am exhausted and.-“

“Jake, I really don’t know what to say here. Can we please not talk alone?”

“(Name) I-” his voice was cut off by Jay’s.

“(Name) you had us scared shitless, You should’ve at least replied to the messages.”

“I needed some time off guys,” you replied, eyes still stuck on Jake.

“It’s alright (Name),” Heesung assured you “Reyna told us you needed some time.”

You could see Sunghoon getting out of his chair from the corner of your eye, but for the first time in so long it didn’t matter, what he had to say could wait and the realization was accompanied by a slow burn in back of your throat.

Just how many times had you ignored or hurt Jake, too sidetracked by what you felt for Sunghoon?

Your other friends continued to talk but their voice fell on deaf ears, as you wistfully looked at Jake silently asking him for a chance.

“Okay,” he nodded at last “Let’s go.”

You didn’t know where to begin.

“We kissed.” he spoke after a moment of silence, eyes never wavering from the road he was driving on.

“We kissed and I ended up confessing, but you regretted the kiss and you didn’t like me back, so you just..left.” His voice had no emotion it, like he had been saying this line a countless number of times till the pain ebbed away and left a blank instead.

“That’s not it, I just-” you tried to collect your thoughts “I am sorry. I know I scared everyone but I felt so confused because I liked it. I liked kissing you and then when you said – I was just so unsure, I needed time to figure it out.”

“(Name) I know it was sudden and this was not how I planned on telling you, if at all and I get that you needed time but would it really hurt to at least…not leave me hanging?”

“I wasn’t thinking, Sunghoon and Reyna, and then you- you made feel like for the first time like there was…someone else I could’ve liked.”

At that, Jake’s eyes flickered to yours, still hesitant as if he couldn’t be sure if you were talking about him.

“I was just all over the place. I should’ve talked to you.” you continued regretfully, placing your head on the headrest “I hurt you, didn’t I?”

“Yes,” he replied without hesitation “but do you, do you mean what you just said?”

You nodded slowly, hands grasping your dress tightly, “I don’t think I like Hoon the way I thought I did. But I can’t be sure about my feelings, Jake, I don’t want to hurt you again.”

“(Name)” Jake’s voice was gentler this time, “What if I want to take that chance?”

You sat up straight in your seat.

“You do?”

“I will.”

You looked at him in surprise, eyes still teary as he pulled up in front of your house.

You stayed as you were for a while, before getting out of the car and turning towards the boy.

“I’ll see you soon?” you asked hesitantly as he gave a small smile and a nod.

“And hey (Name),” he called out after you, “Second date tomorrow.”

Your hands were shaking as you reached for your phone, pressing the floor number on the escalator, heart beating fast as you finally clicked the message you had been avoiding.

You asked me what love was. I didn’t know for sure then and I don’t know it for sure now but, I think it’s when the kitchen is a mess because we tried to bake a cake together but now there’s flour everywhere and our first instinct is to look at each other and laugh. Love is when I can’t fall sleep at night and look at the glow in the dark stars pasted lopsidedly on the roof and smile unconsciously remembering the shaky ladder and mumbled threats and breathy laughter. Love is when I sit still on my desk and randomly doodle your name on my books and laugh about it. Love is you holding my hand and stealing my hoodie and watching cringy rom-coms and eating half burnt pancakes because neither of us paid attention to the time but that's okay, because we are eating it together. Love is the fragrance of coffee in the air, when I get back home after a tiring day and crash onto the couch but you call to tell me about Professor Green’s horrible class policies and suddenly I’m not so tired anymore. Love is wrapping you in my arms and feeling like I'm finally home, even though I’m not sure I’ve ever been home before but that’s okay because in my dreams we always make it there, under the pouring in rain, the umbrella forgotten somewhere along the way, running and laughing and tripping over untied shoelaces, but we always make it home

 Your finger trembled as you clicked the next message from Jake

And by the way, you’ve always been the main character to me.

Goodnight (Name), I’ll see you tomorrow ❤

Thank you for reading, grab a cookie :)

[thickenmyblood]

hey maca :)) I have sth that I’d love to hear your input on! (wall of text incoming so beware- I’m absolutely not mad if you don’t want to answer lmao). Basically it’s about how you portray women in your works and to what extent you see that portrayal mirrored in the canon books. I have noticed that a lot of writers tend to go a traditional route with for example daughters not being heirs like you also mentioned in an answer for a wtsioa ask on here. Considering the cultures Vere and Akielos are based on that’s obviously very logical and a lot of authors (including you) make it work fantastically! Yet personally I never got the vibe of Vere and Akielos being as patriarchal in canon, mostly because the Information we get is kind of confusing. On one hand damen is a walking manosphere (and. all of Akielos in general as well) without any prominent female figures in his life but on the other hand damen only ever speaks appreciatively of for example the female vaskian warriors. Both countries seem to ban women from the army yet Damen also refers to a warrior queen. The regent is a total misogynist but with the wording Laurent uses it almost seems like that is more the exception and not the general rule of veretian court life. Both countries also have ties to Vask, an exclusive matriarchy and Akielos is said to be similar to Patras which Pacat has stated is also partly a strong matriarchy due to vaskian occupations in the past. I could go on for a lot longer but I guess that damens overall positive attitude towards women and especially stereotypically spoken masculine women is what sticks out the most to me. It just seems kind of misplaced in a world that supposedly is as sexist as the original cultures from our world. Which is why I’d say both countries do have gender roles but are overall a lot more egalitarian than their respective real world og cultures. But that’s only my take and I’d love to hear more on what others think about the portrayal of women in canon and how they chose to portray it in fanfiction. Love you and your new work, hope you’re doing well❤️

HELLO!!! Thank you for asking me interesting stuff :, ) you always have the best questions and my sad little inbox is open to you any time, friend. I divided this into parts, so:

My portrayal of women: I need to work on this a lot lmao. I’m not proud of any female character I have ever written for this fandom, and I’m also not proud to say I struggle horribly when it comes to writing female OCs, especially if the story is not about a female character that is a literal projection of me. Or Bella Swan (yes, Twilight literally shaped my sad little brain and the way I write and consume fiction).

Authors writing female characters in a “traditional” way (for fantasy settings): I can’t speak for other authors but I definitely think, in my case, that using the “it’s a patriarchal society, women have no rights, women can’t be heirs, etc.” blueprint is a matter of being lazy. It’s quick, and easy, and it’s been done before so we all know how it works and a) it’s unlikely that you’ll mess it up (in the plot hole kind of way) and b) it’s obvious that most readers know how the usual system works and so you don’t have to spend paragraphs or even chapters explaining it to them. I am very lazy when it comes to world-building for fics. Why? Because when I’m writing fanfiction I don’t give two shits about the world, I just care about the characters doing Things and having Feelings. The moment you start to question these issues (a society where women can join the army, where they can be heirs, where maybe they can have multiple husbands, etc.) a billion issues arise because it’s not the “usual way” and so you’ll have to deal with “unusual problems”. See: plot holes, info-dumping, etc.

Vere and Akielos in canon: I think the books get very, very confusing at times when it comes to gender roles in that specific world. They also get very confusing about how royalty works, in my opinion. So:

Damen never mentions female influences in his life, not even nannies or wetnurses or anything. He mentions past queens and his mother, but even then… It’s always struck me as “what the actual fuck” that we get no information on Egeria. In TSP, he doesn’t even read as curious to me, especially when I think of that line that goes something like “oh, well, he’d never asked how tall she was”.

Then you have Jokaste, who is highborn and also… perhaps trained in politics? It’s unclear to me if she’s ever been directly involved in meetings or been an active member of the Council or even been allowed to study these issues. Clearly, she’s smart and capable and cunning, but like… how? Did she have private tutors? Is she a self-made woman? Like, what’s up with that? Are women allowed to engage in public politics? Are they allowed to be kyroi?

IMO, Damen complimenting the female warriors in Vask has to do with how appreciative he is of war-related stuff. Like, he thinks people with his own qualities are neat. We see this time and time again in the books—having honor, being brave, respecting one’s family, protecting those who need protecting… He compliments these things when he sees them in others, especially in Laurent. Obviously one of the big changes in Damen as a character is that he goes from being daddy’s boy to being like “well, actually… maybe war isn’t always the answer, and maybe war isn’t always honorable”. The Vaskian warriors prove themselves worthy of praise in a “manly” way, if that makes sense. (In the same way, Laurent proves himself in the Okton, not so much to Damen but to other Akielons). So, in essence, War > Any issues he may have about women doing Stuff.

Don’t judge me for this but I can’t remember the Regent talking about women. Do you have any quotes about that? I feel like Book 1 is super rich when it comes to world-building stuff and yet it’s the book I remember the least. I know he obviously has a preference for boys and not girls, but I don’t recall him having interactions with Vannes or ladies at court? I’M SORRY I’M SO STUPID but I don’t own the book so I can’t exactly word search my way out of this one, and so instead of saying stupid stuff, I’m asking anyone reading this (lol, you and my mom probably) to please tell me what canon says on this issue.

Ties to Vask: Er, yeah, I mean… They’re clearly not at war with Vask and have some sort of economic deal (there are Vaskian pets in Arles? Which makes me wonder if they, like, buy them from Vask? Or if the pets are Vaskian and turn into pets in Vere? Slaves are not like pets so I don’t know?), BUT just because they have deals with this kingdom/are on good terms with the ruler does not mean they necessarily approve? Like, maybe they’re like “yeah, it’s weird they give women so much power, but also I need that silk/leather/WHATEVER, so I’ll shut up about that”.

“Akielos is said to be similar to Patras which Pacat has stated is also partly a strong matriarchy due to Vaskian occupations in the past.” Is this in the books or is this something she said in an interview/post-releasing the trilogy? I know in the books there’s a quote that Akielos and Patras are similar because they both have slaves, but other than that I can’t quite remember anything about Patras? Like, I don’t recall Pacat giving us extensive and thorough world-building on either nation, at all. Once again, I am asking you for more explanations on this because I literally don’t remember.

4. My opinion and a Stupidity Disclaimer: As I’ve said above, there’s a lot of stuff I don’t remember and so I’m not trying to preach to anyone reading this or even saying that I hold the truth about… anything. I’m answering questions as I see fit and asking more questions when I run out of answers.

I believe world-building is not one of Captive Prince’s strong points. I will not elaborate on this because this is already long enough but there is simply, in my opinion, not enough material to reach any solid conclusions when it comes to world-building questions such as the role of women in Vere and Akielos, how compulsory homosexuality affects the development of highborn men and women in Vere, exactly what makes Akielos’ view on women different from Vere’s (if there’s any difference at all), the history of gender roles in this world and how it’s evolved up until canon, how Lamen can solve the heir issue without recurring to, once again, “the usual stuff” (concubines, bastards, marriage to women, etc.). It’s clear from what I’ve read that Pacat has come a long way as a writer and that her new trilogy has a lot more in-depth explanations to world-building questions, but this is not the case with CP, and so I’m afraid my answer to most of this is “I don’t know, and I don’t think anyone can know for sure”.

Lastly, I think I struggle a lot with understanding the role of women in this universe because I simply did not see enough women doing stuff, so I don’t know what’s permitted, what’s unacceptable, what’s illegal, what is straight-up execution worthy, etc. This is not me complaining about the lack of female characters in CP, at all, which I know is contradictory to stuff I’ve said in the past (I answered a couple asks a year ago about how I’d wished we’d gotten Vannes’ POV or Jokaste’s POV in the short stories). I’ve changed my mind, and so I think Pacat is entitled to write whatever she wants, just like I’m entitled to talk shit about KR with any living soul who will listen lmao.

To end this on a spicy note, I think sometimes we consume the wrong media and then complain because it doesn’t have what we wanted. If you’re looking for a trilogy with strong, fleshed-out female characters, Captive Prince is not for you. If you’re looking for a trilogy on female struggles and, I don’t know, defying… the male gaze… Captive Prince is not for you. There are plenty of books out there that focus exclusively on female characters, featuring sapphic relationships, and dealing with gender issues. WHICH IS NOT TO SAY WE SHOULDN’T BE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS. This is not about this particular question, but more about a lot of posts I’ve seen floating around… complaining about Pacat’s writing and the themes she didn’t explore.

If anyone has made it this far, thank you for reading, and know this is NOT me telling you what to think. This post is an open question that anyone can engage with, although I hope people will engage with this directly and on this platform, instead of… taking it somewhere else where I sadly can’t engage back! Unlike what happened with our awesome fat Laurent discussion, I will be replying to any questions I get on this (Note: I did not reply to most of those questions because a long time had passed and they were sort of repetitive).

[nonbinaryeye]

Yes, @trustworthy-liar​ and I have plenty of headcannons regarding all the lives of Jonah Magnus.

Continuation of THIS POST.

Jonah Magnus

Charming young man who has one day appeared in the society and acted like he always belonged there. He doesn’t like talking about his past.

When he was young he read all books in a family library. After arriving to London he was very surprised by how much he still doesn’t know.

Met Barnabass Bennet for the first time when the young man was travelling through Scotland.

Barnabass later intorduced him to all his acquaintances in the high society such as Robert Smirke and all the others.

Very easily forgets himself in his studies and research especially when there's no one around to drag him away and force him to eat and sleep.

Still genuenly cared about his peers but unfortunately he cared about a knowledge a bit more.

Infamous member of many gentlemen clubs.

Dissapeared at age 83. His body was never found. There are rumors his ghost still wanders through the halls of the Magnus insitute.

(years mark the time Jonah’s conciousnes was inhabiting the body - who would guess that it correspond with time as the Head of the institute as well)

William Bennett

Young, pretty, had decent amount of money and fascinated by all the wierd and obscure things. He was naturally very intriqued when Jonah Magnus offered him a private tour through the artifacts...

Jonah took over William Bennett at age 21. Feeling sour after unsuccesful ritual he decided to enjoy the decadence.

Met with Mordechai once. Lets say Mordechai was not amused by Jonah figuring some way to live longer. And also by the name of the person he chose.

Accidentally got adicted to opium. Jonah didn’t realized till he skipped bodies becuase he was sure he could stop anytime he wanted.

The only time Jonah travelled out of England - to the world expo in Paris in 1989 (“oh it will be probably lame not as cool as ours”). He realized he did not get over his seasickness and fear of ocean by skipping a body way too late.

He met his death at age 47 becuase he got plenty of enemies and also there started to be several rumors about him. Also the opium addiction. Overall Jonah did not treat this body very well - yes, bodies are disposable but he is still living in them...

Jonah made the death look like a murder and framed one of his enemies for it.

Edward Lyon

Edward was boring looking librarian of the Magnus Institute who cared more about books than he cared about people

Body snatched at age of 34

Everyone wrote off Edward’s sudden change of personality as power getting into his head

Jonah establisehed closer relantionship with the Lukas family again - through the dullest person ever, Thomas Lukas

Went back to meticulously researching the rituals and haven’t stopped since 

Died at the age of 64, written off as a heart attact (but for real Jonah just wanted to enjoy 1920′s as a young man)

Augustus Moore

Served in the WWI and after it ended he´was seeking a new life in London and decided to give a statement to the Magnus Institute where he caught the eye of the Head of the institute who offered him a job in the artifact storage

Jonah was jeallous of Augustus being young and having fun so he took over his body at 28 even though he previously planned to wait a bit longer

Around year 1929 he shortly reconnected with Thomas Lukas (who never figured out that he is the same person as Edward or Jonah Magnus - no matter how many not even subtle hints he was giving him)

Spent most of the WW2 hidden in the tunnels scared for his life institute (”Did I miss a Slaughter ritual?”)

During the great fog in 1952 got scared that there was succesfull Lonely ritual

Because there was way too many fog problems in London he decided to skip bodies in 1965 just to be prepared if there was really some ritual

Died at age 65 in a fire, absolutely unrelated to the conflict Jonah was having with the cult of the lightless flame at the moment

Richard Mendelson

Worked in the Library, double faced, acted nice to everyone but behind their back tried to discredit them to make himself look better

At last he got his promotion (to Head of the institute) at age 33

To Jonah’s dismay Mendelson turned out to be lactose intolerant (no cakes for Jonah :(  )

This time he did not come to Lukas but Lukas came to him and boy was he disapointed, Nancy Lukas turned out to be real pain in the ass

Made a wagger with Nancy wether woman can be the Archivist and survive at least 10 years on such position (almost no archivist actually did) - unfortunatley the chosen Archivist was no one else but Gertrude Robinson herself

Unfortunately met his end at age of 47 in a car crash (because Jonah really wanted an icecream and cheese without consequences)

This only fed the rummors about the position of the head of the institute being cursed by Jonah Magnus himself (technically they were not wrong...)

James Wright

Filling clerk at the research department, unhappy, divorced and lonely man with past alcohol adiction problems

Body snatched at age 45, Jonah wanted much younger body of a man who he thouht was named Robert, turns out his name really was just “Bob” and he coudn’t have that

Turned out James had kids, one of them tried to reconect with their absent fater. Jonah was not very happy about it.

In 1989 met with Peter Lukas

Since he couldn’t have alcohol, he wanted to try opium again (moderately this time) and was shocked that it was illegal, so he turned to smoking and cake

Staged his death at age 68 as a suicide

Elias Bouchard

Worked at the artifact storrage

Jonah took his body sooner than previously planned because Elias wanted to get some horrendous tattoo

Jonah threw away all his clothes...but he kept the funny weed socks

Til his end in the Spiral Michael Shelley never figured out why his friend started to act so weirdly (Jonah had it as his side hobby to induce the paranoia in him by acting like the good old Elias to him from time to time)

Peter was very much not amused by this little stunt of Jonah Magnus

Stabbed by his Archivist to death while he was crying like a little bitch he is

𝙁𝙚𝙬 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙇𝙪𝙠𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙅𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙝 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙣𝙪𝙨

Mordechai Lukas

Already quite rich and well etabilished in the society

Owns a shipping company, which is later the only reason why he still interacts with people

Met with Jonah on gentleman business meeting, they were introduced to each other by Barnabas on Jonah’s demand

To Jonah’s disgust he got married when he was in his early forties

Around 1830s decided to disappear from the society completely only getting ocasionally annoyed by Jonah

After meeting William Bennett he decided that one lifetime with Jonah was enough and dissapeared into the Lonely forever (as you do)

Thomas Lukas

Mordechai’s possible grandson/grandnephew

Rising child lonely at it’s peak

Already married and with few kids when he met Edward. He heard that cheating partner makes one feel very lonely...

Unlike the other lonely avatars Jonah ever encountered this one was trully indifferent towards anything, driving Jonah mad by rarely showing any reaction

Had a brief relationship with both Edward and Augustus however never caught Jonah’s hints who he really is and just assumed that these eyevatars are all kinda the same

Nancy Lukas

The great pain in Mendelson’s ass

Neither impressed nor charmed by him

Regularly calls him out on his bullshit (sexism)

Lonely feminist - believes that independce for women will make everyone more lonely so she supports it

Calls Mendelson “Dick” because that’s indeed short version of Richard

Slightly intriqued by Gertrude Robinson (what a beautiful loneliness right there)

Peter Lukas

First Lukas after Mordechai who really intrigued Jonah

Originally started an affair with Wright because he thought it nice and lonely to be with someone old, who will soon die (boy was he surprised)

Except the train documentaries his guilty pleasure are also romantic movies with tragic ending (Titanic my beloved)

Actually figured it out on his own who Jonah Magnus is(because of course he wanted to play this game again with this fresh new Lukas)

Anyway both @trustworthy-liar​ and I still have plenty of headcannons about Jonah and all of his bodies (especially the oc ones) so you can probably expect more detailed posts with thorough biography of every single one of them in the future.

Just to be clear most of the dates as well as all the funfacts are really just our made up headcannons. We didn’t bother writing here some of the cannon events but they are marked on the  well-arranged timeline.

[lia-jones]

OC-tober - Day 4 - Medicine

Author's note: Thank you to@oc-growth-and-development for the challenge, I think this will be pretty interesting, as it got my creative juices already stirring (you can find their amazing blog and challenge here).All my stories for this challenge will feature my OC Andrea Jones and Victor Li, from the MLQC fandom.

His leg had been hurting for days. Not that he would tell me.

VIctor’s recovery from the accident had been truly remarkable, like everything about him. He was a proud man, and the idea of having someone taking care of him was horrid to him, so he pushed through the injury and the exhaustion, and he didn’t stop until he felt confident enough to move around on his own and drive to work himself.

A fast recovery comes with a price, though. The body needs time to heal, tendons need time to mend, and Victor hadn’t given himself any. As a consequence, every time he was more stressed, or the weather changed, or he outdid himself in one of his running sessions, his leg would throb in fury, lamenting the punishment it had received.

During those days, he wouldn’t let me near him, let alone admit he wasn’t feeling well. Victor would enclose himself inside his walls, insisting on dealing with the pain on his own, snapping at me if I even mentioned it. So I would just observe him closely, secretly taking action so his day would be easier, hoping the pain wasn’t getting the best of him.

Until one night, after putting Owen to bed, I found him sitting on the ottoman of our walk-in closet, half-naked, his hands pressing on his left thigh.

“This is ridiculous.” I scolded, kneeling in front of him to massage him. “Are you really that stubborn that you can’t ask for help?”

His lack of a snarky comeback made me take a closer look at him. He looked pale and clammy, and when he looked at me, I could see an unbearable pain in his eyes. Victor hadn’t only reached his tipping point. He had surpassed his pain threshold a while ago, without me noticing it.

“Ok, we need to get you to bed.” I took his arm and wrapped it around my neck. “I’ll support some of your weight, do you think you can walk that far?”

His expression showed me a steely resolve as he nodded. Even feeling like he couldn’t give another step, he lifted himself with his right leg, trying to balance himself not to weigh too much on me. When I sat him on the bed, he was panting.

“I’ll be right back.” I ran my fingers through his hair, leaving the room.

When I came back, holding a pill and a glass of water, he hadn’t moved an inch. His eyes were closed again, his breath still a bit fast. It was probably worse than I could tell.

“Take this.” I showed him the pill and the water.

“Can’t you just massage it?” He gave me a pleading look. “The muscle relaxants make me drowsy.”

I internally cringed at the tone of his voice, which reminded me so much of our five-year-old son. Victor looked nothing like the strong man he presented himself to be, strong and confident, able to excel at everything. At that moment, he was a scared little boy in pain, craving comfort. It made me wonder if he was like that when he was little, and if he had someone to rely on when he was sick. Probably Mina or Terry.

“You’re going to bed anyway, what’s the difference? You’ll get a good night’s sleep, you surely can use one.” I pushed the glass of water towards him, but he ignored it. “Come on, the pain won’t go away with just a massage, you let it go too far.”

It was the oldest trick in the book, guilting him into doing something, and I hated to do it. But the thought that his own action (or lack of it) had led them to a point of needing me was enough to make him more complacent, taking the pill from my hand and swallowing it with a big gulp of water.

“Good.” I smiled at him. “Now lay down, let me give you a good rub.”

He obeyed in silence, lifting his thighs from the mattress so I could remove his pajamas slacks, waiting patiently for me to start. At the first pressure, he couldn’t help but let out a pained cry, making me remove my hands immediately. His leg was hot, there was surely inflammation in the tissue. Maybe a massage wouldn’t solve it.

“I’m sorry.” He croaked. “Please go on.”

“Victor...Maybe we should go to a hospital.”

“No, no hospital.” He shook his head. “I’m really not that bad, you can continue.”

I started reapplying pressure, grimacing every time I felt him tense up in my hands, covering his mouth with the tip of the pillow to muffle his complaints. After a while, he started relaxing, and the sounds stopped. The massage was working, but most importantly, the muscle relaxant was starting to work. I took the chance to massage him deeper, trying to discover any knots in his tendons, hoping I would be thorough enough to prevent it from hurting again.

“I’m sorry you have to do this.”

I looked up, noticing his glassy unfocused eyes. He was high. All his emotions were on display now. I stopped the massage and quickly went to wash my hands, wanting to milk that rare moment as much as possible.

“You should get some rest.” He slurred slightly. “You must be tired from taking care of me.”

“I don’t mind at all.” I laid beside him and started playing with his hair. “I like taking care of you. You do such a good job taking care of me, it’s good to retribute.”

I smiled as my husband closed his eyes in delight, leaning his head a little closer like a sleepy kitten. I started softly scratching his scalp, knowing he secretly loved it.

“Hmmmm…” He tilted his head so my hand would go where he wanted it to be. “That feels good.”

“We could have more moments like this, Vic.” I tried my luck. “Everyone needs to be taken care of sometimes. You don’t need to wait to be in searing pain to ask for it.”

He opened his eyes to look at me but didn’t say a word. The sadness in them made me reconsider my actions. Victor had a hurt little boy inside him, and hurt little boys don’t need to talk, or to figure out their emotions. They need to be hugged. They need to be loved.

“Do you want to sleep naked or should I put on your pajamas?”

“I won’t be cold if you sleep close to me.”

Without a word, I climbed into the bed and pulled the thick comforter over us, leaning against his right side. I kept on playing with his hair, planting kisses here and there, as I watched him grow more and more relaxed, until he fell asleep.

I took a moment to look at the man I loved before I turned off the light, hoping I had done more than help him with his leg pain. Maybe I helped soothe the little boy that needed comfort and was too afraid to ask for it. Maybe I helped the adult see that it was ok for him to let his guard down and trust someone once in a while. Anyway, I was happy to watch him sleep, perfectly unaware of the world around him, soft snores coming from his parted lips.

There are certain scars that only love would heal. Victor deserved all the love in the world. I would give it to him.

[saiilorstars]

Falling in Temptation

Previous chapters • Sequel to Stars Dance •  Fairy Tale Memoirs (Companion story)

Ch. 19:  The Heist

Fandom: Doctor Who // Pairing: 11th Doctor x Female OC

Chapter summary: When Avalon is well done with her lockdown in the TARDIS, she manages to rope in the traveling gang for an old fashion heist!

Taglist: @ocfairygodmother @anotherunreadblog @maaaaarveeeeel​ [If you’d like to be added to this specific OC’s stories/edits, send me a message!]

"NO! I SAID NO! STOP IT!"

The Doctor burst into Avalon's room just as she woke up from her nightmare. Avalon sat upright with a jolt and cried without actual tears. It was more fear than actual tears she felt.

The Doctor rushed forwards and climbed on the bed. "Ava! You're awake now! It's okay!" Her breathing was jagged but once she saw him she realized he was right. She was in her room. She was safe in her room and not with Kovarian.

"There we are..." the Doctor gently pushed some hair out of her face. Her hair was a bit damp from the sweat that'd collected during her nightmare. "Safe and sound, okay?"

Once Avalon was fully awake she let out a frustrated groan and angrily kicked the sheets off her. "Not again! Dammit!"

The Doctor would've liked to stop her but why bother? There wasn't a lot to do to release that frustration so if she wanted to throw off the covers, she could. He only helped take the covers off in the when she started to tear up because they got tangled around her left ankle.

"I can't do anything right!" She buried her face into her hands.

"Ava, c'mon," the Doctor gently pried her hands off her skin and kept them both in his own hands. "What was it this time?"

Avalon groaned. "Kovarian had me again. But like... I think this was a new room. I can't really remember it that well. It was like a...a library of some sort? She was there...and the Silence...and more people but I can't remember them. I just know that I was pretty scared and sad."

"It's okay," the Doctor scooted closer to hug her. "If the memories come back then okay but we don't have to force them either."

Avalon remembered only fragments of her time with Kovarian and they mostly showed up in nightmares, like tonight. The Doctor made himself readily available when it so happened that Avalon chose to sleep. Every once in a while she would wake up screaming because she thought she was back with Kovarian. The sight of her in that state broke the Doctor's hearts. How he wished he could take it all away but it was clear that even a memory wipe wasn't enough to make the horrible memories disappear. Kovarian no doubt made it a thorough memory wipe but even then Avalon's unique brain didn't take it.

"Can you stay with me please?" Avalon whispered the question so frailly that the Doctor almost missed it.

"Of course," the Doctor smiled against her hair. It wouldn't be the first time he stayed with her after a nightmare until she fell asleep again.

"But like...like stay with me?" She raised her head off his chest and showed him her best sad eyes. "Until I wake up?"

"Oh I know it must be boring but...you're the one who saves me in my dreams. I'd feel a lot better if you were right next to me in real life too."

"I can't argue with your logic," the Doctor said. Avalon rolled her eyes at his smugness. "For my Ava, I'll do anything to make her feel better."

"Never has there been a truer statement said," Avalon sighed contently. "You do everything you can for me."

"I don't know about that..." the Doctor mumbled. He did try but it didn't mean he was successful at it.

"I do," Avalon watched him kick his shoes off. She had a strict rule about her perfectly white sparkly duvet covers not being soiled with dirt. It took only one lecture for that lesson to stick. "You're my Fairy Tale Man. You always save me."

"I try-"

"You do," she insisted. She reached to undo his bowtie, thinking it'd be too uncomfortable to lie down with.

The Doctor watched her easily maneuver the strings. She'd taken custom of undoing his bowtie every once in a while and he learned fast that he loved the feeling of her soft fingers touching his skin. Sometimes it wasn't even the bowtie she was aiming for, she just liked touching him. It was something intimate but not sexual, more gentle and...loving?

"There we are," Avalon handed him the the bowtie. "Wanna keep that in your pockets, right? Bigger on the inside?" God forbid one of those ever got lost. He'd go crazy for sure.

"You should sleep, c'mon," the Doctor scooted slightly so they could both lay down.

Avalon immediately scooted her body the amount the Doctor had pulled away. "I'm not sure I can sleep now."

"You're making me stay still, you're going to sleep."

Avalon laughed. "Fair enough." She snuggled up to him and practically pulled his arm over her waist. "That's better. Now I know for sure that I won't have another nightmare, not when my Fairy Tale Man is holding me."

"The trust you have in me is beyond me," the Doctor admitted with genuine guilt lacing his words.

"Oh shush. You have got to stop blaming yourself for everything bad that happens to people around you. That's what gives Kovarian fuel to her cause."

"How do you mean?"

Avalon sighed and tilted her head up at him. She'd been wondering when it would be the right time to tell him the fact that she knew about his previous companions and all the battles he'd been a part of; that Kovarian had forced her to learn everything. Maybe now is as good a time as ever...

The Doctor could see the struggle in her eyes and assumed it was yet another thing Kovarian caused. "Ava? You can tell me."

"...I'm afraid of how you'll react."

A ripple of anger flourished through the Doctor's body as he thought of what Kovarian told Avalon to make her fear telling him something. Despite his moral code, he was sure that if he ever saw that woman again...he'd kill her. And yet, as he passed a hand over Avalon's hair he did it so gently that Avalon could never guess the dark thoughts that were running through his mind right now. "You can tell me anything, Ava. You can always tell me anything." Avalon closed her eyes when she felt his lips press against her temple.

"I...I know about things...from your past..." she had spoken so quietly she wondered if he managed to hear her words. When he didn't respond, she tilted her head up again. He was still but there was a clear fear etched across his face. Now he was afraid.

"What-what kind of things?" his voice had fallen to a similar volume as Avalon's whisper.

"Kovarian made me learn about some of your previous, most recent, battles from your past. She thought that it would help brainwash me if she taught me the 'truth' about you."

"Oh..." the Doctor couldn't find a place to glue to his gaze to. His hearts were beginning to hammer under his chest just thinking what Avalon knew. This wouldn't be happening if you'd had the courage to tell her yourself, he snapped at himself.

He'd been focused on the happy, kissing times and actively ignoring the darkness that followed him. He was foolish to think that he could keep the blissful bubble around them forever. Sooner or later, Avalon would learn his past.

Avalon's hand slid from his chest up to his cheek. She could only guess what was going on in that big head of his. That's what Kovarian wanted. She wanted him to be guilty and ashamed because when he did feel those things, he would either let himself be killed or do the job for them.

"I understand it wasn't your fault," she assured him.

"What do you know?" the Doctor found his courage but he wasn't sure if he could hold onto it as she answered.

"I know about the Reality Bomb the Daleks built and how the walls of the universe were breaking down. One of your old companions, Rose Tyler, inadvertently helped break the walls when she was trying to get back to you. I know that the Daleks made you see how changed your companions were because of you." Avalon watched his face sink as she told him everything about the Crucible. She hated the way he couldn't look at her out of shame.

"I had to do it..." he weakly argued when Avalon reached to the point of Donna Noble's memory wipe. He swallowed hard just remembering the way Donna had cried and begged him not to take her memories. "I ruined her life...like I ruined everyone else's."

"You didn't ruin them, you changed their lives," Avalon flinched at his hard scoff. He pulled his arms from her body and moved away from her. She immediately missed his warmth but even as she tried to reach for his arm, he made himself scoot to the edge of the bed.

"Tell me what else you know," he instructed her, his voice cool yet she didn't miss the sharpness in it. There was no choice of keeping everything back.

With a sigh, Avalon went back to talk about the year that never was. As soon as she mentioned the Master, the Doctor's entire body flinched. His horrified expression told her she should've never learned about him. It made it all the more difficult to keep going. "I know about the...the Toclafane? I think that's what they were called. A lot of people died but I also know that it never happened. No one died." She then switched gears to the Battle of Canary Wharf. "I-I remember that the Cybermen...the robots...they were everywhere. And the Daleks. Kovarian showed me the pictures of the aftermath. That's how I remembered it better. So many people died..."

"And I was at the middle of it," the Doctor muttered. "I was the reason. I couldn't save everyone. Kovarian was right. I got up and left afterwards."

Avalon pursed her lips together. "You didn't do it on purpose. It's what happened when you crashed into Amy's garden."

"Avalon I know who I am. I know that I do change people. I mean, I changed Rose so much that she accidentally helped Daleks because she wanted to cross worlds. I did that on accident. Imagine the times where I've legitimately manipulated people to change."

Avalon lowered her gaze. She couldn't take his eyes the way they were, all dark and full of hatred for himself. "This is what Kovarian wants, you know. She wants you to hate yourself-"

"Oh she's a bit late at that, love. I hated myself long before she came about. Is this what she showed you, then? She wanted you to hate me as much as I hate myself."

"But I don't hate you," Avalon once again tried touching him but he got up from the bed altogether.

"Avalon, I would appreciate if you were honest here."

"I am being honest-"

"Avalon!" he snapped, startling her. Her blue eyes widened and blinked fast. "Sorry," he apologized. The last thing she deserved was to be yelled at. She should be yelling at him. "It's important to me, okay? Did learning these things make you think differently about me?"

Avalon swallowed hard. "If you want the truth? Yes...I was a little scared." She felt a twinge of guilt in her stomach when she saw the look of horror on the Doctor's face. "But you know that I'm not afraid of you. Would I be here if I was afraid? No. Right? It was a natural response given everything Kovarian showed me. I saw people dead but I never once blamed you. I am simply aware of the reality that you unfortunately have been in. I am so sorry you've endured all that. Nobody should ever have to."

"Kovarian showed you all that - a minuscule part of my horrors by the way - so you would join them, because she knows how dangerous I am. But that's not everything, why talk about my friends from the past? No," the Doctor almost stormed to Avalon's side. "Why? What could she want from that?"

"Oh Doctor, it's not relevant." Avalon turned her head away too fast for him to believe that was true.

"You look like it bothered you, or scared you. " He brought her gaze back with a finger under her chin. "What else happened, Avalon?"

The Doctor's eyes begged her to answer, for him. He needed to know how much they told her about him, how badly she would be scared of him. Avalon couldn't take it.

"She said you would leave me behind like you did with the others," she whispered. "You would change me, like you changed the others, and that you would leave me, Amy and Rory behind. We'd become more names to your list."

"Oh Ava..." the Doctor's eyes softened, his hands cupping her face, "I wouldn't...I couldn't! Not you!"

Avalon leaned into his touch. "She was so hellbent on making me change my mind about you, but I can't. I know what surrounds you, I know that sometimes people do change around you but they change because of everything they've seen. How could I not change when you've shown me different worlds? How could I not change after everything?"

"You shouldn't have to change, that was Kovarian's point," the Doctor moved to sit on the edge of the bed with Avalon. "Nobody should have to die because of me. If I wasn't around, how many people would be alive right now?"

Avalon held onto one of his hands before he could pull them both away from her face. "How many people would be dead if you hadn't helped them? Or...how many people wouldn't exist because of you?"

The Doctor couldn't help smile at that last bit. "Well...maybe it's not all that bad. I got you after everything. I got my Ava."

"And I want to be here for a very long time," she promised him. "I know the truth, Doctor, but it's not the distorted one you and Kovarian have. Believe me." She moved herself so she could hug him.

I wish I could, the Doctor silently thought. He held Avalon for as long as she wanted, but there was still a part of him that wondered if she wasn't just a little bit afraid of him after seeing the mass chaos he'd caused in the past.

~0~

"I'm bored! I am so bored!" Avalon dramatically walked around the console room, stopping between Amy and Rory. "Please, can we go out?" She threw her head back, squeezing her eyes shut. "Please?"

The couple shared the same irritated faces and even answered at the same time, "No!"

Avalon groaned and walked away from them. "But I'm bored! It's been weeks without going out! I'ts not fair! I got dressed and everything!" And she was pretty sure that she looked damn good for a day out. She'd rummaged through her closet and found a white wrap top with three-quarter puffy sleeves that she adored. She paired with light blue jeans and a pair of brown ankle-length boots.

"Jeez, you're worse than the Sapling and he's a child," Amy made sure to remind loud and clear so that Avalon would drop her games.

"Oh c'mon!" Avalon stomped her foot, making it clear that she would not be desisting anytime soon. "It's been months since I got back and I'm pretty sure my health is back to normal!"

"It'll never be normal again," Rory frowned but Avalon shushed him.

"If you're not on my side, don't help! C'mon guys!"

"Why are you even bothering us about this?" Amy threw her hands in the air and turned away. She loved Avalon, she did, but sometimes she got on her nerves. Right now was one of those times. "We're not the ones in charge of the TARDIS!"

"Course not, I am," the Doctor came in with the Sapling. "Why are we discussing who's in charge?"

"Doctor, I'm bored!" Avalon exclaimed. "Can we please go out?"

"Oh, I'd love to go out," the Sapling closed the book he was holding and excitedly turned to the Doctor. "Can we?"

"Avalon, why do you do that?" the Doctor sighed with annoyance. "You know hearing you say that makes him want to go out too."

"Really? Didn't know that..." Avalon failed to hide her knowing smile. This wasn't the first time she was asking to go out so she'd began to think of some tricks. "C'mon, it's been weeks since we went to Leadworth. I'm okay now!"

"Because you've been under constant watch," the Doctor reminded her. He was truthfully afraid of taking her out somewhere not sterilized. She was correct about her health - she'd been okay lately and her health was almost that of a regular human's - but it still didn't make the Doctor any less nervous. "I don't think it's a good idea." Needless to say, Avalon wasn't happy with his words. A deep scowl marked her face while he played casual and took the Sapling's book. "Here, why don't you read it? Seems like your kind of thing anyways." He held the book at her for a second before she snatched it from his hands.

"History of Jewels?" she read the title with an unimpressed look. "Seriously? You want me to read this?"

"I learned a lot from it!" the Sapling exclaimed happily. "I like the Fire stone best! What was its proper name, Father?"

"The Ignis Jewel," the Doctor tapped the top of the Sapling's head, making the tree child giggle. "It's actually quite impressive! You should read about it!" He told Avalon who responded with a groan.

"You're bored too," she watched him carefully avoid looking at her when he crossed the room to come up to the console. Ever since she told him that she knew about some of his past, he'd been so weird with her. She should've seen it coming though. As if the Doctor could ever let it all just go. The only thing Avalon hadn't worked out yet was how to get him to move on from it. And he certainly wasn't helping when he kept pissing her off.

"Doesn't matter what I think," the Doctor said from his newest spot away from her.

"Aha!" Avalon whirled around with a finger pointed at the Doctor. "So you are bored!"

"He just said it doesn't matter, Avalon," Rory said before the Doctor could answer. He moved around the ginger and tapped the cover of the book she was holding. "Why don't you go read instead? You love doing it anyways."

Avalon rolled her eyes. "You guys are so mean!" She stomped her way out of the room, leaving the group to hear her stomps getting father and farther.

"Sapling, why don't you go make sure she reads the book?" the Doctor asked, thinking that if the Sapling was around Avalon she would hopefully simmer down.

"Okay!" the Sapling turned and ran after his Mother.

"She is so bored," Amy shook her head.

"I hadn't noticed," the Doctor sarcastically said.

"Would it be so bad if we just went out for a little bit?" As soon as Amy asked the question, she had her husband on her.

"It's too dangerous! She's not ready for that!" Rory was almost shouting so Amy planted a hand over his mouth.

"Do you want Avalon to come back!?"

Rory pushed her hand off his mouth and continued on but with a much quieter voice. "She's not ready to go out."

"Yeah, but she makes a point. How do we know when she's ready if we never let her go out?" Amy folded her arms and waited for somebody to give her the answer. She smirked at the silence that followed. "Exactly. Doctor, she did stay in Leadworth for a few days and nothing happened. How come we can't try something else just for a little bit?"

"Because what if it goes wrong?" the Doctor didn't hesitate to respond with. Unfortunately, he forgot he was dealing with Amy Pond.

"What if nothing happens?" she counted and walked up to him. "Look Doctor, I get that we're all worried about Avalon's new health situation but we can't actually keep her locked away forever. She likes Rapunzel but she will hurt us all if she stays here another day!" Amy looked between the Doctor and Rory while she waited for either of them to make a comeback. Of course, none of them did. "So, where should we go?"

~ 0 ~

Avalon was quietly reading through the History of Jewels with the Sapling next to her. Since he had already read the book with the Doctor, he was giving Avalon the most important pages he thought she would like. The Doctor had been right: the Sapling's presence did semi-simmer Avalon's anger.

Neither of them noticed the others walking into the media room until the Doctor cleared his throat. He was leading Amy and Rory in and came to a stop beside Avalon's side of the couch. "Ava...?"

"Hmm," she hummed and pretended to keep reading.

"Right, well, we've been talking about it and...maybe you're right. You should have the opportunity to start travelling again." The Doctor didn't want to say that he was expecting Avalon to jump from the couch with excitement but...he did expect it. So when Avalon merely turned the page of her book, he became worried that her anger had worsened.

"Avalon, didn't you hear?" Rory called. "We're going to take you out like you wanted."

Avalon exchanged a secret glance with the Sapling. Both of them smirked.

"Avalon?" Amy asked.

"I have to thank you, Doctor, for making me read this thing," Avalon began to turn the pages of her book. "And the Sapling showed me his favorite jewel, the Ignis Jewel?" She got up from the couch and held the open book for them all to see. "Interesting thing about it is how it was stolen from a civilization and then placed in some elegant museum for other aliens to see."

"Yeah, so?" the Doctor tried taking the book from her but she slammed it shut, nearly getting his fingers had he not flinched away in time. Soon as he saw her mischievous grin, he dreaded what was to come.

"I know what I want to do today! I want to heist!"

"You want to what!?" Both Amy and Rory simultaneously yelled.

Avalon laughed and turned away, swaying with her book to her chest. "Doesn't it sound like fun!? A heist!"

"Yes! Yes!" the Sapling clapped on the couch. "I want to heist too!"

"No, no, there will be no heisting of any kind!" the Doctor wagged a finger at her that she did not see. "Why would you get an idea like that!?"

"Because of your stupid lockdown!" Avalon turned around, her grin momentarily replaced with an angry scowl. "Do you know how many TV series I've binge-watched in these past months?"

"Well..."

"FIFTY!"

"Okay, fifty..." the Doctor made a face and mouthed the number at Amy and Rory. They both nodded their heads in confirmation, making him do another face. Alright, that could drive him crazy too. It would, the voice in his head declared.

"The TARDIS was kind enough to give me series that haven't come out yet on Earth and it showed me one called Brooklyn-99! And guess what they do every year?" Avalon didn't wait for any of them to guess, she blurted the answer out in pure excitement. "They heist! They literally heist and that's what we're going to do today!"

"Avalon Harmony Reynolds you cannot be serious," Amy sternly looked at her granddaughter, wanting both to laugh and shake the girl.

But Avalon was so excited that she didn't even bat an eye at the fact Amy used her middle name that she hated. "I am so serious! Here!" she chucked the book at the trio, making them all scramble to catch it before it hit them. "Check it out!" she told them once Rory held the book between Amy and the Doctor. "It says the Ignis Jewel was stolen from a primitive civilization that would use the jewel to start fires. The jewel ensures fire. If it stays on the ground longer than a minute, it'll start a fire."

"Isn't it cool!?" the Sapling got on his knees on the couch, scooting himself to the armrest next to Avalon.

"Yes, but what's not cool is how these museum chains took it just so other people can come and look at it! It's literally sitting on a pedestal under glass!"

"Okay, okay, I get that it's been stolen but us stealing it back doesn't make us any better," the Doctor said, though there was a glint in his eyes that Avalon saw. He was so interested, he wouldn't be able to deny it for much longer.

"Except when we take it back, we can return it to its proper place!" Avalon grinned. "We'd be like Robin Hood! And we can make a wager if that'll make things more interesting."

"We're not doing this," Rory closed the book but he was mighty surprised when he heard Amy go "Weeeelll..." His head snapped in her direction. "Amy!"

"I don't know, knowing that it's already been stolen and we'd just be taking it back..." Amy shrugged her shoulders and mumbled, very lowly, her next words, "...sounds kinda fun..."

"Amy!"

"Yay!" Avalon clapped her hands. "Amy's on my team!"

"What - no! There'll be no teams because there'll be no heist! Doctor!" Rory whacked the Time Lord's arm to get his support. "Tell her!" Silence. Rory blinked and turned to the Doctor. "Doctor? Tell her!"

The Doctor cocked his head to the side, one eye squeezing shut. "I'm thinking..."

"What!? There's no thinking!"

"I'm looking at the possible consequences-"

"DOCTOR!"

"He's in!" Avalon waved the two men off and high-fived with the Sapling. "I told you we could do it!"

Rory slapped a hand over his face. "I can't believe this is seriously happening."

"Better believe it Rory Williams!" Avalon laughed so joyfully that for a moment, the trio forgot about their concerns for this crazy idea. Avalon hopped on the couch with the Sapling and together they clapped. "We are heisting!"

"Stomp jumping on the couch," Amy scolded them before they fell. The pair immediately let themselves fall on the couch into a sitting position.

Avalon flipped her head in their direction, her smirk back on her face. "So then, let's get the teams together."

~ 0 ~

"Knock-knock!" Avalon tapped a knuckle against River's cell, startling the brunette for a second. "Hi River!"

"What are you doing here?" River got up from her bed and hurried up to the gate. "You're not sneaking out again are you?"

"Oh great so the last version I met isn't that far from this you?"

"Somewhat, that was a month ago for me. Where are you right now?"

"Um, well, sort of getting back on my feet. Oh! I did have my first reading in Leadworth - have you gone to that?"

"No..." River eyed her strangely which only confirmed her answer.

"Oh, well, you're invited to my first public reading in Leadworth, October 21st, 2011 at 11:00 AM."

"Duly noted," River hurried back to her bed to jot the date down in her journal. She wouldn't miss that for anything! Her daughter's first public reading? Her heart swelled with pride just thinking about it. "So, what are you doing right now then?"

"Welll..." Avalon swayed her head, missing the way River smirked at her.

"What are you up to, young lady?" These were rare moments where River could sneak in a little bit of motherhood on Avalon without her suspecting.

"We are heisting today!"

Bemused, River stopped writing in her journal. "You're what?"

"We're heisting! And I want you to be on my team!"

River had to laugh. She finished writing the date down in her journal then came back to the cell bars. "Avalon Harmony Reynolds, what are you doing?"

"There's this thing called the Ignis Jewel that's been stolen and placed in a museum so I thought we should pull a heist and steal it back! We'll give it back to its rightful owners!"

"Why on Earth would you want to do something like that?"

"...because I'm bored," Avalon answered with a straight face, only making River laugh again. "I've been locked away for months now with only Leadworth. I was promised stars and planets and I am ready to come back!"

"And the Doctor actually agreed to this?" River asked fully knowing that the man would agree to anything that Avalon asked to.

"Course he did," Avalon shrugged. "He's bored too. So what do you say? Want help me steal something and make sure the Doctor loses?"

The same smirk that'd been on Avalon's face earlier was now on River's. "Always."

~ 0 ~

"Alright," the Doctor announced as he unrolled the schematics of the museum they would shortly arrive at. He pressed the paper against a large table in the TARDIS library for them all to see. "So the Bijou Museum is three-story building with roughly about 10 rooms on each floor. What we're looking for is on the third floor right there!" His finger tapped the small square nearing the middle from their right side. "Each room has their own security feed but, as per rules, I will disable them upon our arrival. Can't have us getting caught before we even steal the damn thing."

"Right, because that would be wrong," Rory said with a sigh of irritation. No one had listened to him about how ridiculous this whole thing was. He should've known that his daughter would of course agree with the entire stunt. River was just as excited as Avalon! Shocker.

"Oh shush," Amy bumped his shoulder with more or less the same excitement as River and Avalon. "It might be fun. I've never stolen anything."

"To be clear," the Doctor cleared his throat and raised a finger in the air. "We are not stealing this, we are retrieving it for a civilization who deserves to get it back." As he finished his clarification, his eyes landed on the Sapling. He didn't want his tree child to get the wrong idea that stealing was okay if you were bored. "We are not stealing."

"Right, we're heisting," Avalon moved around the table so she was across from the Doctor. "Totally different."

"It's really not," Rory mumbled but yelped when Amy jabbed her elbow into his side.

"We're doing something good," the Sapling chimed in to help his parents. They were so excited and he was too!

"Oh father," River shook her head. "Lighten up. It'll be fun. So, the cameras will be off?"

The Doctor nodded. "Yeah. I'll just make it so the screens show the same thing on a loop."

"And nobody will notice that it's a loop?"

Avalon snorted. "Please. They're probably bored to death up in that security room. I bet they're so good at solitaire."

"These are alien security guards, Ava," Rory pointed out. "They don't even know solitaire."

"Actually," River swayed her head. "That's what most of the boys play at home."

"Please, don't help."

River smirked.

"Right then!" the Doctor said to keep things moving. "So we'll have about two hours to pull the heist before the cameras start showing the live feed again. In two hours, we all need to be back in the TARDIS no matter what." His eyes reluctantly found Avalon's. For the life of him he just couldn't face her. Each time he did, he remembered that she knew more about him than he ever wanted her to. The shame and guilt were just inevitable. "Whether or not we have the Ignis Jewel, we all need to come back."

Avalon gave a firm nod. "I understand. Thanks for doing this though." This time the Doctor nodded slightly and quickly looked at someone else. The action hurt Avalon more than she would've thought.

River didn't miss it. She made a mental note to look into that later.

"Anything is fair game except for the TARDIS," the Doctor went on as he pulled up a second copy of the schematics from his inside pocket.

"And your sonic," Amy gave him a pointed look. She held her hand out for the infamous sonic. The Doctor reached into his jacket's pocket and pulled out his beloved sonic. "Thank you!" Amy placed it on the table where the TARDIS would take care it until they got back.

"Alright," Avalon clapped her hands together. "Final thing: the wager." Her eyebrows quirked with a smirk on her face. "If my team wins-"

"Which we will," River muttered to Amy who agreed with a hum.

"-then you have to let me and Amy choose where we will go for the next month. And we pick River up each time. No buts about it."

"Fine, but if you lose - which you will - then you have to stay inside the TARDIS for another month." The Doctor planted his hands on the table and leaned forwards, smirking so smugly like he already knew what the outcome of the heist would be. "No buts about it," he mimicked her tone.

Avalon's tongue pressed against her teeth before she finally clicked it. "Fine." She did the same as him and leaned forwards on the table. "But you can't use any sonic of any type! Not even a little sonic pen!"

"Don't have one..." the Doctor faltered for a moment as he realized he'd never actually made one, "Why haven't I thought about that yet? Never mind! No sonic, no TARDIS. However, I'm also going to need River to promise not to use any of her little weapons she has stored."

River opened her mouth to argue but promptly shut it and shrugged. "Yeah, alright. They're all in my cell anyways."

"How do you even get that past the guards?" Avalon genuinely asked with curiosity.

"I'll tell you later," River smirked until she noticed Amy's disapproving look. Her smirk fell and she cleared her throat. "Or maybe not. Probably not."

"So," the Doctor called, "Two hours. No sonics, no weapons, no TARDIS, and no hurting anyone! Me, Rory and the Sapling against Avalon, Amy and River. Any other question?"

"Yes," Avalon leaned just a bit closer over the table, leaving a questionable distance between her face and the Doctor's. "Are you ready to cater to my every desire after you lose?"

The Doctor would've liked to have answered with "I always strive to" when he remembered there were other people in the room. He might have thought of kissing her too - her smirking lips were begging to be kissed - but other people and his own thoughts were forcing him back. Instead, he chose not to answer directly. He reeled away from the table - putting some distance would help him control himself - and turned to the others. "Let's head out, team!"

"Yes! Good luck Mother!" the Sapling scurried around the table to hug Avalon. The ginger, however, was a bit distracted with the Doctor's rash departure from the room but the Sapling tugged on her sleeve to claim her attention in the end. "Mother, good luck!"

Avalon smiled lightly at him. "Don't go getting yourself into trouble."

The Sapling giggled and rushed out of the room with Rory.

Avalon looked at her own team, choosing to focus on the task they had. "Well then ladies, let the heist begin."

~ 0 ~

Avalon, River and Amy decided to scope out the precise room where the Ignius Jewel was on display. The museum was functioning as it normally would, meaning the room was pretty crowded.

Amy noticed that the other displays of gemstones and the artworks against the walls each had their personal crowd of people. "I'm beginning to think that Rory has a point here."

"What do you mean?" Avalon distractedly asked while she and River studied the Ignius' display. It was a normal golden pedestal with a glass box over it. The jewel was tucked on a navy blue pillow. It was fairly easy...or so it appeared.

"There's loads of people!"

"Shhh, Mother," River put a finger over her lips, but Amy rolled her eyes. "Don't go all nervous on us."

"How are we supposed to get this out without getting caught?" Amy folded her arms and gave a nod towards the jewel.

"Well I have a few ideas," Avalon announced, earning two different reactions from the other two. Amy looked rather concerned that she'd already come up with a way to steal something in a crowded room but River seemed intrigued and perhaps a tad impressed that it only took her a few minutes to get ideas.

"Let's hear it," River gave Avalon the floor but made a gesture for the ginger to keep it down.

"Well," Avalon clasped her hands behind her back as she moved to the left side of the pedestal. "First option would be to lift it out of the glass assuming we could disable the alarm system."

"We'd need to get into the security room," River pointed out, not intending on shooting the idea down but only reminding Avalon they'd need to do that step first.

"What?" hissed Amy but neither her daughter nor her granddaughter paid her attention.

"Right. Shouldn't be that hard though, not if we use the right mode of entry," Avalon agreed with River and slowly moved to the other side of the pedestal. "If we're feeling adventurous-"

"Always," River nodded and shared a smirk with Avalon.

"-we could get some rope and climb down from up there," Avalon raised her head at the ceiling. The spot directly above the pedestal was an air vent. "We'd only need to clear out the room-"

"How would we do that!?" Amy once again hissed.

Avalon and River fixed the same stare on Amy. "Wait for lunch hour, duh."

If she could, Amy would have really liked to scold both of them for being so...alike. Without even trying, Avalon and River were too alike in situations like these and that honestly worried Amy for the future. What kind of trouble could these two get into when nobody was around?

"I checked the schedule," Avalon continued with River. "Lunch is in two hours which is just the time limit we have anyways. It'll be our last resort."

"I say we start the easiest way possible," River declared and before either woman could ask her what that way was, she reached inside her jacket's pocket to pull out a familiar tube of red lipstick.

"Oh I bloody love you!" Avalon laughed a bit too loud and got some looks from the other guests.

River's smirk widened. "Let's go ladies!"

~ 0 ~

"Excuse me?" the Doctor had come up to the reception desk on the first floor of the museum. A young brunette woman was working the desk when he arrived. "I was wondering what times are your scheduled tours for the, uh, third floor?"

"Well, you just missed one," the woman said as she stood up from her seat. "But you can catch the next one in twenty minutes. There's actually a pamphlet, hold on…"

"Take your time, take all the time you need…" the Doctor murmured as he watched Rory and the Sapling creep up to the opposite side of the desk.

"Here we are!" the woman exclaimed, raising her head up just as Rory was about to slip into her part of the desk.

"Oh! Why don't you show it to me!?" the Doctor quickly moved the woman to the very edge of the desk. He decided to pull her out of the desk so that they were standing on his side, hunched over the pamphlets. "I have a son, you see, and he's so adamant that we go through the best tours. Care to pinpoint those?"

Once the woman was thoroughly focused on the pamphlet, Rory tried slipping into the desk again. The Sapling remained just at the edge in case anybody happened to stop by, but he had to physically stop himself from giggling at the funny squatted-walking Rory was doing. He couldn't stand up to search the desk so he had to naturally walk with his legs squatting.

He was loving Heists!

Rory was quick to search for what they came for. His hands raked through the drawers until he reached the last one. It would be in that one that he found a ring of keys. He was careful to take them without jingling them and then bolted from the desk altogether. His hearts hammered until he reached the safety of a hallway.

A few minutes later, the Doctor and the Sapling joined him.

"I hate this!" Rory declared as he handed the ring of keys to the Doctor. "I just stole security keys! Don't-" he pointed a warning finger at the Sapling, "-you ever do that, Sapling! Got it!? Don't do what I'm doing! What any of us are doing!"

The Sapling brought his hands to his mouth as he laughed. "I know, grandfather."

"Oh..." Rory nearly lost his balance when he realized just how truly bad this whole thing was. In the Sapling's mind, his mother, his father, his grandmother and his great grandparents were all teaching him how to pull a heist. "Oh, my stomach hurts. My stomach really hurts." Rory pressed a hand against the wall to lean against while his arm wrapped around his stomach.

"Loosen up, Rory!" the Doctor exclaimed as he scanned the hallway for any suspicious actions. So far, no one had seen a thing. "Now then, these keys will let us walk into any room we want."

"But the damn jewel isn't even in a room with a door! Why did we get the keys at all?" Rory asked once he felt air begin to come back to him.

"Because if we have them, then the girls don't! Do keep up, Rory!"

"Yeah!" the Sapling mimicked his Father's tone. "The girls won't be able to lock or open any rooms!"

Rory's face went flat as his eyes flickered between the Sapling and the Doctor. "Oh, you two are so-"

"That is beyond petty," River's voice pulled the trio's attention to the end of the hallway. "I'm impressed, Doctor." The Doctor quickly stuffed the ring of keys into his inside pocket. Avalon and Amy had come up on either side of River. "But it won't be enough to win this."

"I'm going back to the petty part - that was really petty!" Avalon scrunched her face at the Doctor. "Fairy Tale Man, what the hell?"

The Doctor only slightly looked at her before turning away with Rory and the Sapling. "Off we go!" he ushered them off and ran behind them.

Avalon's face went grim for a moment, and even though it was just for one moment River still noticed it, then turned to the women. "So, lipstick, who are we using it on?"

"I was going to use it on whoever was in charge of those keys. I thought the same as the Doctor," River admitted with a sheepish smile. "I know, don't tell me." Avalon chuckled.

"But he got the keys so now what?" asked Amy.

"We move onto the next phase of our plan of course!" River took the lead down the hallway. It was fairly easy maneuvering their way through without being suspected. Nobody suspected three simple women wanting to find the best art piece on that floor.

Eventually, they stopped in front of a less crowded hallway. They would be going into the security room to de-activate the alarms.

"Amy, ready?" River asked.

Amy fervently nodded. "Keep an eye out. Easy-peasy."

River then looked at Avalon. "Ready?" Avalon was more than excited to finally start. River almost laughed and blew their cover. "Right. One, two, three!" She flung the door open and immediately went up to the first of two men.

"Hey! What are you-"

River grabbed the man's collars and yanked him forwards for a kiss. Avalon went straight for the second man and punched him across the face. She quickly swiped the small stun gun from the man's waist.

"Oh, you know you can't keep that," River warned when Avalon turned around. "Part of the rules, remember?"

"This is to stun," Avalon said, chucking it to River. "And you can keep it for now. Is he going to be okay?"

River looked back at the man she'd 'kissed' and nodded her head. "Yeah. He thinks he's dreaming that he's tied up. Hilarious really. And this one," she moved past Avalon to the man she'd knocked out. She smudged her lipstick across the unconscious man's lips. "Should be doing the same when he comes to. Blimey what a hand you've got."

Avalon proudly smiled behind her. "Now we can get the alarms!"

"Yes! They should be pretty visible!"

Avalon turned to the control panel. Her eyes flickered to the dozens of screens playing the loop that the Doctor had preset before arriving. Everything was completely normal to these people. She and River focused on the mess of buttons and and wires sticking out.

"So while we're here, you want to tell me what's going on with you and the Doctor?" River worked swiftly to find the head of the alarms on the screens. So far, she only had the alarms for the first floor.

Avalon had paused working for a moment to throw River a look. "What? How do you know-" She didn't get to finish asking on account of River scoffing loudly. "It is so weird how you do that!"

River laughed. She'd succeeded getting through the alarms for the second floor and now she just needed the third floor. "I always know about you, sweetie."

"Still," Avalon folded her arms over her chest. "So...so you know that he and I...?"

"Are in a relationship?" River only stopped to nod at her then went right back to work. "Of course I do. Can't hide that from me even if you tried."

"And...and you don't...you're okay with that?"

A flicker of confusion crossed River's face at the question. She stopped working again and turned her head in Avalon's way. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know cos...cos you're from the future. I mean, one time Amy even said if you were the Doctor's wife in the future."

"Hasn't said it to this me yet," River said, prompting Avalon to realize the Byzantium hadn't yet happened to this River yet. "And I really hope she never says it to me. That's...that's just..." She shuddered a breath and made Avalon smile out of relief. "Besides, we've talked about this, remember? The reason I know things about him is because I've seen future versions of him, and you! All your future is my past! We're going in the wrong order, sweetie, so of course to you it would look like I just know everything. But the truth is, I don't know everything. You tell me a lot of it, about you and the Doctor. Your future together." River loved watching her daughter's face light up with delight.

"You mean that?" Avalon clearly tried to dial down her happiness and relief but it was a hard thing to do.

"Of course I do! I honestly don't know how you stand that man for more than a few hours! I salute you Avalon, because it can't be easy!"

Avalon laughed for a short moment before a lamenting sigh came through. "Too bad right now we're in a funk. He's upset because I told him that I know about his past, you know the darker parts? He doesn't know how to be around me and...I don't like it. I wish I could sit him down and make him talk to me again but knowing him all I'm gonna get is his silent brooding face."

"You'll have to give him some time, Avalon. Just like you got your space after Berlin. Give him sometime to really think about it and then he'll come to you. Trust me."

For some reason, Avalon could trust River. It wasn't even because River was from the future, something about her always had Avalon more inclined in her favor. Even when the Doctor was completely against River, Avalon always tried defending her and seeing the helpful sides River often brought to their group. Things had always been like that.

~ 0 ~

With the alarms off, the jewel would be easier to take once they came up with the right plan. However, Amy raised the question of how they would make a clear getaway if somebody would immediately notice the jewel was missing.

"We get a decoy," River's tone was blatantly telling her mother this was yet another obvious thing.

"Really?" Amy jutted her hip. "And do you know where we could get a perfect decoy Ignis jewel?"

"Oh!" Avalon gasped when the answer hit her. "The little shop! There's always little gift shops in these places! I bet they sell all sorta of toy versions of the pieces here."

River pointed at Avalon with a proud smirk. "See that, Mother? Avalon's thinking!" Amy rolled her eyes. "Good job Avalon!"

"Thanks. The Doctor always tells me about the stupid gift shops he's spent hours at..." Avalon's smile lessened when she thought about him. She bet that right now, the Doctor wouldn't tell her anything about what he liked.

"Let's go to the gift shop then, see what happens," Amy sighed and rushed off first.

"We need to head to the third floor," River instructed as she and Avalon followed. "Each gift shop probably sells what's on that floor."

They got to elevator quickly and pressed the 3rd floor button. Once they arrived they made a quick down the hallway. Spotting someone familiar, Avalon skidded to a stop near the entrance of the Ignis jewel's room.

"Doctor!" she clung to his arm before he would run off on her.

"What!? Let go!" he frantically exclaimed, assuming this was one of her heist tricks.

"No, listen to me!" Avalon let go only so that he would calm down. "We, uh, we...we took down the alarms."

That sure made him freeze. "What?"

"Just for the 2 hours. They're down."

"Why would you tell me this?"

Because I really like you and I'll basically tell you anything you want. That would've been nice to say out loud. It would've pulled a smug smile from him. Avalon would pretend to hate it when in reality those smiles made her melt for him. "I just wanted to even the playing field. Wouldn't be very fair, right?"

"Right..." the Doctor gave a slow nod. He made to turn back for the room when he realized he hadn't even made sure Avalon's body wasn't reacting to the new environment. With all the heisting and his own issues, he'd forgotten. He could never let that happen. "How are you feeling?"

The corner of Avalon's lips twitched, warning to turn into a smile. He still wants to make sure I'm okay. Of course he would. He hasn't broken up with you and he hasn't stopped being kind. "I'm okay. I'm having a lot of fun so...thanks for doing this."

"Avalon!" River hissed from the other end of the hallway, making Avalon jump in her spot. "Stop cohorting with the enemy!"

"Gotta go!" Avalon quickly said and kissed the Doctor's cheek before running off.

The Doctor stayed put in his spot for a few seconds. Whether he wanted to or not, he smiled after her. He was aware of his rude behavior towards her and yet instead of yelling at him, Avalon did that instead. He just didn't know what to do now that she knew more about his dark past.

"Father, I'm in!" the Sapling's voice rang through an comm. piece in the Doctor's ear.

The Doctor shook himself out of his thoughts and focused on their task. "Right. Be careful Sapling!"

"I know!"

"Oh, and the alarms are off. I repeat: the alarms are off." The Doctor turned back for the room and strode in like any other visitor. He scanned the room and saw Rory pretending to study an art portrait hanging next to the Ignis Jewel.

Check.

He then spotted the current tour guide leading a group of guests around the room.

Check.

"And if you look very closely, you can see that each figure is actually made of dots..." the male tour guide was gesturing to the huge portrait hanging in the opposite side of the room. "It was inspired by the human painter-"

"Georges Seurat," the Doctor cut in, nearly sliding in beside the tour guide. "Marvelous French painter if you asked me. Least that's what I used to tell him."

"You've met a human?" One of the guests in the crowd asked, making it seem novelty despite being humanoid themself.

"Of course. Do some travelling, you see..." the Doctor prepared his longest rambling story that he would tell with extra pauses.

Rory glanced over his shoulder to make sure the crowd was deep into the Doctor's riveting story. They were. Rory turned away from the painting and quietly used his own comm. piece. "Sapling, now."

"Yay!" the Sapling exclaimed. He was up in the air vent waiting for his signal and now that it was, he peered over the vent. It was perfectly above the Ignis' display. He placed a hand over the vent and let his fingers extend into branches.

Rory nervously watched the branches stick against the wall and slowly creep its way down. From his spot, the Doctor made sure the Sapling was heading his branch in the right direction.

"Little bit to the right," he mumbled under his breath and continued with his story for the guests.

"Sorry!" the Sapling tried moving his body around so he could see the display and the wall but the slits of the vent were too narrow.

"You've got it now," Rory assured him. The branches were reaching the top of the display. Despite the Doctor telling them that the alarms were off, the Sapling still hesitated to actually touch the glass display. "C'mon Sapling!"

The branches slipped between the wall and the glass case but now the Sapling would have to sneak under the case for the jewel.

"A little to the right now," Rory instructed while not making it blatantly obvious he was staring at the branches on the wall. "No, no, my right not yours!"

"Sorry!" the Sapling shifted the branch to the right side and started to feel the tip of the cushion. "I feel it! Now I just gotta-"

"Aaaah! What is that!?" A screaming woman had froze the trio in their respective stops.

Rory scrunched his face when he realized a woman had stopped by to see the jewel.

"Thanks Rory," the Doctor groaned lightly before rushing towards them. The crowd was right behind him.

"What is that!?" the woman kept crying and pointing at the branch stuck on the wall.

"It's an infestation!" the Doctor quickly supplied the excuse as quickly as it came to him.

"Sapling, get out of there," Rory hurriedly left the crowd to speak to the child.

"I know! I know!" the Sapling wiggled his arm which in turn made the branch on the wall wiggle as well. He winced when he heard the same woman's scream again.

"Nothing to worry about folks, just a petty infestation," the Doctor said only a few seconds before the Sapling disconnected the piece of branch from his body. He beamed at his regular hand and quickly crawled back through the vents.

Down below, the branch crumbled into pieces...and the same woman still screamed.

~ 0 ~

"Right this way folks," Amy the newest museum tour guide led a group down the hallway, going past the Ignis' room.

"Wait, we're not going into this room?" an elderly humanoid man asked and pointed to the room on their way.

"Not right now. It's at the end of the tour, c'mon," Amy motioned the group to walk faster with her.

Inside the room, River and Avalon were making rounds looking at different artworks separately. There were hardly any people in the room since Amy had taken away the current tour group. Avalon waited near the entrance and as soon as a roaming guard walked in, she loudly coughed. River turned right away from an art piece and made a casual walk in the guard's direction. She purposely went around another jewel pedestal and dropped a red jewel that looked exactly the same as the real Ignis.

Avalon waited for River to be a safe distance away from the guard before gasping loudly. "Oh my goodness! Is that the Ignis jewel!?" At her question, the guard spun around to where she was pointing.

"I think it is!" River agreed and motioned the others in the room come see it.

"But that's impossible!" the guard rushed towards the sight, though because people were spread around the jewel, it was difficult getting through.

Avalon took her opportunity to dash up to the Ignis' display.

"Move! Let me see!" the guard shoved an old woman out of the way, earning himself a colorful response from her. "Sorry, ma'am!"

River poked her head around the crowd to see Avalon lifting the glass display, though it seemed pretty heavy judging by the struggle she was in. Avalon had her entire arms wrapped around the glass case and she lifted with all her might. She was halfway there when they got a lovely call...

"Mother! Hi!" the Sapling's sudden call made Avalon drop the case back in its place. At his call, the group turned away from the jewel and allowed the guard to finally pick it up.

"This is just a gift shop souvenir!" he groaned. "Seriously people?"

River scrunched her face but Avalon stalked her way out of the room, intending on shouting at the Doctor and Rory for sabotaging them. However, only the Sapling was in the hallway.

"Where's your father? Why are you alone!?"

The Sapling chuckled. "Father said he wanted to go to the gift shop and I snuck out. I don't think he's noticed yet-"

"Sapling!" they suddenly heard the Doctor's voice from the end of the hallway. He came zooming out of the store and sticking his head into each room for the Sapling. "Sapl-"

"I'm here, Father!" the Sapling waved his hand.

"Yeah, nice going! And sabotaging by the way!" Avalon shook her head and ushered the Sapling to the Doctor.

"Really?" the Doctor smiled proudly at the Sapling for a moment. "Good job, Sapling."

"I didn't mean to but okay!"

"GO!" Avalon yelled through her gritted teeth and was quite satisfied to see both of them rushing away from her.

~ 0 ~

The trip to the gift shop spawned a device for a purpose that Rory couldn't understand yet. The Doctor tinkered with the makeshift device on their way down the hallway. "Right then, with this we'll be able to grasp the frequency of the glass display. According to the Sapling, Avalon struggled to lift it which means that it has to be pretty strong."

"What - so you were sabotaging them?" Rory threw him and the Sapling a disapproving look.

"No, of course not, but the Sapling had perfect timing!"

The Sapling agreed in a hum. "Mother was trying her best to lift the case but she couldn't. I thought I might help her but then I remembered we were on different teams. Maybe next time I can be on her team!"

Rory's eyes widened. "The next...? No! There won't be anymore heists after this! Doctor, whatever you're thinking, please tell me it'll work so we can finally leave this place?"

"With luck, it will," the Doctor tapped a knuckle against the small beeping device in his hands. He'd found some petty tech souvenirs in the gift shop that he'd torn apart to reconstruct for his needs. It resembled his sonic but it was not his sonic. There were no sonics allowed after all. "And I added a touch of a laser in case it doesn't."

"Why would we need a laser?" Rory dreaded to ask and felt even worse when the Doctor smirked.

A short moment later they were back in the Ignis' room. The Doctor moved to the Ignis' display and discreetly took the scan of the glass. The results concluded that they would need to come up with another way to take the glass off because lifting it would require at least two of them and the Sapling couldn't risk using his branch-like abilities in public.

"Gentlemen, listen very closely..." the Doctor started to whisper their next moves and in the next few minutes, they enacted it.

The Sapling was hopping around the room, taking Rory from one art piece to a pedestal. He excitedly touched one pedestal, immediately instigating the scold of the guard.

"Sorry, he's just so excited," Rory apologized but by then the Sapling had gone to touch an art portrait.

"Hey!" the guard went after him and thus Rory too.

The Doctor pointed his makeshift device at the Ignis' display and shot a thin laser at it. He leaned closer to it, making it seem like he was just getting a better look at it while his hand slowly went in a circular shape. Just one small circle and he could pull it off. But midway through, something in the next room exploded and rocked everyone on their feet.

"What!?" the Doctor spun around, his first thought going to the Sapling and Rory, but they were just as confused as everyone else.

"Avalon?" River came running into the room with Amy at her side.

Avalon! The Doctor dropped his device to the floor and bolted for the women. "Where's my Ava?" He searched around them but, like everyone else, they didn't know what was going on. The Doctor could actually feel the way his hearts started picking up their beats. "Where is she!?"

"I-I don't know! She was supposed to be cutting through the wall-" River tried gesturing to the wall directly behind the Ignis' jewel but she was just as concerned as the Doctor.

"Everybody stay put!" the guard in the room started heading for the entrance. "Nobody move-" But the Doctor was already way ahead of him, literally. "Sir!" the guard called but the Time Lord was out of the room in two seconds. "Sir!"

"What do you think happened?" Amy quietly pulled River to the side while the rest of the guests were ushered together.

"My guess?" River gave Amy a look asking her if she truly wanted to know. Of course Amy did. "My daughter got carried away with her new toy. Now c'mon, we'll have to be in front of the pedestal in a bit and then we'll have to get Rory and the Sapling. We'll need to do a lot of running!"

~ 0 ~

Avalon was crouched in front of a wall, humming the tune of Once Upon a Dream tune to herself as she finished cutting a circle into the wall with a new gun. She had no idea that guards' guns were this powerful. She'd made an explosion a few minutes ago just because she'd accidentally fired it at one of the metal shelves. The shelf had fallen against the wall and pretty much destroyed everything that'd been on it, but everything else in the storage room was fine.

"River and Amy: I hope you're ready," Avalon said once she successfully cut the hole in the wall. It was a small hold that wouldn't be give her away but would still be visible on the other side. She put the gun down on the floor then pulled out another Ignis decoy jewel from her jean's pocket. Her hand squeezed through the hole and was relieved to feel the velvet of the cushion the Ignis jewel was on.

On the other side, River and Amy were standing directly in front of the pedestal. Amy looked over her shoulder and saw Avalon's fingers searching for the jewel.

"She's in," she whispered to River who was keeping her eyes on the guests. The guard had positioned himself at the entrance, not letting anyone come in or go out until the museum figured out what had caused the explosion.

"Good, because we'll be running in five minutes."

"Why five?"

"Because that's when they'll be figuring out we took down the alarms."

"Ah." Amy's eyes found Rory and the Sapling across from them and willed her husband to meet her gaze. She mouthed 'Five minutes and run' to him, hoping it'd be enough to get the point across.

Thankfully, he had.

River discreetly glanced behind them and saw Avalon was puling her hand back through the wall with the Ignis Jewel in hand. "That's my girl," she whispered proudly and continued to look ahead.

Back in the storage room, Avalon had cheered when she pulled her hand out and saw the bright red jewel in her palm. "Avalon Reynolds, you are a genius!" She had just stuck her hand back into the hole when the Doctor burst into the room.

"There you are! Are you okay!?" His sudden entrance and yell had startled Avalon into smacking her head against the wall.

"Doctor, you idiot!" She rubbed her forehead with her free hand.

"What are you doing!?" the Doctor made sure to close the door behind him. The guards were going back and forth trying to discover the origin point of the explosion. It was then that he noticed the fallen shelf in the corner of the room. "And what did you do to that!?"

"Had an accident with that," Avalon nodded her head to the gun sitting beside her. "It's all good, though." She struggled to yank her hand out of the hole again but once she did she cheered. "It's all very good!" She jumped on her feet and turned around with the Ignis Jewel in her hand. "Because I just won this heist!"

"I thought you were hurt," the Doctor sighed but she scoffed at his concern.

"Please!"

"What!?"

"Oh you know what it means! You've barely looked at me ever since I told you what I learned with Kovarian! So don't come running here, telling me that you were concerned! Just acknowledge that you've lost!" She waved the jewel in the air and strode for the door, only for the Doctor to grab her arm and turn her back.

"I always care, Ava! I've just been having trouble accepting that you have a better idea of what I am!"

Avalon shoved his hand off her arm and scowled. "For the last time, I know who you are! You're my Fairy Tale Man and I hate seeing you doubt yourself! I know who I'm dating, alright?" Her anger faded to be replaced with a soft sigh. Her lips curved into a near pout. "And I really miss his hugs and his kisses..."

The Doctor's shoulders slumped as his head seemed to lower. "I'm sorry Ava. I'm afraid that this whole blissful bubble is reaching its end and that you're going to be afraid of me. Lots of people are afraid of me...but I don't know what I'd do if you were afraid of me."

"That's never going to happen," Avalon felt like this would have to be something she would be repeating for a while. That was okay. She knew that a few months ago she was in constant need of reassurance. It was her turn to be there for the Doctor and she would be. "I need my Fairy Tale Man right next to me..." She took the needed steps to leave them face-to-face. "And if he needs me to tell him every morning, every afternoon, every night I'll do it." Her free hand came to stroke his cheek. "I'll be there."

The Doctor smiled down at her. "Even if he's an idiot?"

"Yeah, I think it's a cute look on him..." Avalon smirked at his reddened face. She laughed and kissed him, muffling her own laugh.

It was true what Avalon had said. The Doctor had only just now realized it'd been too long without a kiss between them and now that he had her with him, he would be making up for lost time. He passed a hand under her chin, lifting her head up slightly more. It gave a much better angle for a rougher, faster kiss. Avalon brought her arms over his shoulders, never realizing that she'd let go of the Ignis jewel. Neither heard it clink against the floor and roll a few feet away from them.

Avalon forgot the Heist altogether when the Doctor hoisted her up. He hadn't yet done that and she wasn't complaining one bit. She wrapped her legs around his waist and met his lips again for a continuation. The Doctor's hand gone up to the back of her neck and firmly pressed her against his body. He couldn't get enough of her right now. Her sweet lavender scent, on a normal day, was simply wonderful but right now it was intoxicating. He left her lips - something Avalon deeply groaned for - but she got over it when she felt his hot kisses on the side of her neck.

She moaned and tilted her head in the opposite direction, giving him an easier access to her sweet skin. He had only started a few seconds ago and he was already settling in the crook of her neck, a spot he'd come to learn was one of the spots for Avalon. He gently bit down and smirked when she automatically gasped. He felt her fingers grasp the back of his hair, an extra treat for him for being oh-so-kind to her.

"More, more," she patted the nape of his neck, letting her eyes fall shut.

"More?" he taunted with a soft kiss on the same spot.

She groaned at it, making him laugh. "Not funny! Don't start what you're not going to finish you tease!"

The Doctor bit the same spot again, harder than the previous time, and heard her moan for him. He continued his series of kisses afterwards, bouncing her bit to keep her steady between his arms.

Avalon laughed when his lips once again attached themselves to her neck. Seems like he found his favorite spot, she realized and once he started leaving new hot kisses on her clavicle then nearer to her throat and finally lower...she realized it was her favorite spot too. He was outlining the v-neck of her blouse but had distinctly heard her moans louder when he went straight down her throat. She was right, he was a tease and he was enjoying every minute of it. She eventually got frustrated that he'd forgotten about her lips for a while so she raised his head. "I'm up here my love." She dove down for a kiss, quickening it within seconds.

Neither of them noticed the steam that was beginning to rise from the Ignis jewel on the floor...but they flinched when the sprinklers went off. All the rooms had suddenly fired its sprinklers on.

Their lips reluctantly, and slowly, disconnected as they both turned their heads up to the sprinklers.

"I thought we disabled the alarms...?" Avalon made a face at them, though she had to look down from to avoid the pelting of cold water in her eyes.

"Fire system is a different system," the Doctor said distractedly.

"But why would they go off...?"

Their eyes simultaneously widened at each other when they remembered. "The Ignis Jewel!"

The Doctor let Avalon down and both turned their attention to the steaming jewel on the floor. "It wants to burst into fire but the sprinklers are disabling it. We gotta get it out of here." The Doctor ran towards it only for Avalon to scream "NO!" and jumped on his back. "AVA!" The Doctor shouted at her.

"It's mine! I had it first!" She exclaimed, keeping her arms tightly around his neck.

"Avalon, get the hell off of me! I'm trying to bring it back to the TARDIS!" the Doctor tried prying her hands off him but she was strongly holding them together.

"Yeah, and bring it into the TARDIS first! I know that you're trying to trick me! You bring it in and you win the heist!"

Maybe I am, he silently thought. She was just too smart. "Fine! But it's fair game!"

"IT'S MINE!"

The Doctor spun around twice before finally pushing Avalon off his back. He winced when he heard her hit the ground with a loud thud. "Ava!" He turned around just as she groaned.

"Ow..." She scrunched her face in pain.

"Avalon, I am so sorry!" the Doctor reached to help her stand up. She took his hand but the moment she had a tight grip on him, she yanked him down to the ground beside her. "Uff!" the Doctor felt his back connect with the floor in two seconds flat. He heard Avalon's teasing giggle beside him and turned his head to see her looking at him with the biggest smile on her face. She was looking incredibly beautiful right now despite the water soaking them wet. Her ginger curls were sticking to her face, but her blue eyes were shining with mirth. It was as if somebody had pressed the rewind button and they were back to a time before the Silence and Kovarian had struck. They were traveling together while Amy and Rory were honeymooning. It was just him and Avalon, exploring and pulling shenanigans like this. The Doctor admitted to himself that he could see a life like this with Avalon, only with Avalon because he lo...

Oh God. I love her. The Doctor felt his hearts stop while he caught up to his own thoughts. He loved her. He loved Avalon. He loved the wild, unpredictable, passionate writer that was Avalon Reynolds. He loved her sweet self, her kind eyes and warm heart...he loved her temper and her challenging personality.

"Gotcha!" Avalon giggled again as she bopped his nose.

The Doctor grabbed her hand before it could leave his face and kept their fingers intertwined. This is my girl, he realized with his swelling hearts. He couldn't imagine himself being with anyone else but her. Only Avalon would pull this kind of stuff on him, and truth be told it was the same stuff he'd do too. One moment they were passionately snogging and the next...she was jumping on his back and he was spinning around to get her off.

He brought their interlocked hands and kissed Avalon's hand softly. "You got me alright."

Avalon blushed and sat upright. "Yeah?" He nodded and smiled when she leaned down to kiss him again. "You got me too," she whispered and pressed another kiss to his lips. "And I'm...going to get myself first place for this Heist!" She jumped from her spot and swiped the Ignis' jewel off the ground.

"Avalon!" the Doctor cried but a part of him was already laughing by the time he got up.

The ginger ran right past him. "Can't catch me!" she taunted on her way out.

The Doctor smirked after her. "I do love me a good chase!"

Avalon's laugh echoed down the hallways they ran through. And because somebody knew her laughter so well, River was able to catch it from the next room.

"Now Amy!"

"RORY!" Amy yelled before she made a dash with River.

"Sapling!" Rory grabbed the Sapling's hand and ran after the women.

"You can't leave this room!" the guard at the entrance barked but River neatly punched him across the face.

Amy's mouth fell open but River yanked her out of the room. "You just punched that guy!"

"Yes, I did! You're welcome!"

"River!" Rory called once he and the Sapling were behind them in the hallway. "You just punched a guy!"

"You're welcome!" River groaned and picked up her pace. They needed to get out of here fast or else she'd have another charge against her.

The group ran past guards and lingering guests until they reached the first floor. Elevators were down so they had to take the stairs, but with their adrenaline they crossed them in no time. Finally, they saw the TARDIS standing in the basement just like they'd left her earlier.

"I see Mother and Father!" the Sapling exclaimed just as the pair had disappeared into the TARDIS.

"I WIN! I WIN! I WIN!" Avalon was cheering around the console when the group ran inside. "I win the heist!"

"Oh shut up!" the Doctor went after her in a sulk. Soon as he saw the others coming in, he took the TARDIS off. Safe and sound they were, but nobody was safe from Avalon's relentless yelling.

Avalon was dancing around the console, waving the jewel in her hand. "I win the heist! And my dear Doctor lost! I win!"

River laughed and high-fived her daughter. "Good job!"

"Yeah!" Avalon high-fived Amy next. "We won, ladies!" She turned around to the Doctor and smirked. "Did I mention I won?"

"You might have mentioned it once or twice," the Doctor muttered.

"Thank God this is over," Rory exhaled and finally felt his stomach rid itself of those knots. "What was that explosion anyways?"

"That was me! I accidentally fired a shelf," Avalon dismissed the matter with a wave of her hand.

"WHAT-"

"But I won! I won the first heist!"

"First and last," Rory cut in with a stern finger pointed at his granddaughter. "We are never doing this again!"

Avalon's smirk promised something else, though.

"Mother, I'm so happy you won," the Sapling rushed to Avalon's side and hugged her. "But maybe next time I can win!"

Rory groaned, throwing his hands in the air as he turned away. Amy moved over to console her husband.

"Alright, this is truly been a pleasure," River started making her way around the console, switching buttons here and there to set course for Stormcage. "I must get going though."

"No, not yet. You should dry up and get changed," Avalon gestured to River's wet appearance. They were all soaked from the sprinkles. "Can't have you going back all wet and stuff."

"Right," River agreed with a nod. "Give me a second then." She hurried off for the corridors and since the water had been truly cold, Amy and Rory followed seconds later.

"Sapling, you may be made out of bark but please go get dried up too," the Doctor nodded the child towards the hallway.

"Okay! But what are we going to do with the jewel now?"

"Well, we're giving it back to its rightful owners," the Doctor glanced at Avalon to see her agreeing with a nod.

"Yes! And listen Sapling," Avalon stepped up to the Sapling, crouching in front of him. "Uncle Rory was right when he said that we don't steal. What we did today was different, alright? It was fun, but we weren't trying to hurt anyone. I really hope you understand this..."

The Sapling laughed carelessly. "Of course I do! Mother and Father don't hurt people! Heisting was just different but I know that it's not okay to steal."

"That's my boy," Avalon chuckled and kissed the Sapling's cheek. "Now go get dried up!"

"Okay!" the Sapling ran off to find his bedroom.

"He knows, Ava," the Doctor said once they were alone.

"I just don't want him growing up with my irresponsible behavior in him," she sighed. "God knows I was a handful."

"Was?" the Doctor innocently asked and received quite a hard mock glare in return. "You should've seen me back in my day."

"I'd like to learn about it one day," Avalon's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "What was my Fairy Tale Man like when he was a child?"

"Oh, dangerous question..."

"Even then?"

"Yes."

"Oh my..." Avalon laughed shortly then came up to him, a soft smile gracing her soaking face. "Well, when you're ready, I'd love to get to know about those parts of your life. Nine hundred years has to have some nice parts right?"

"...yes," the Doctor nodded slowly. There were plenty of moments he would always cherish from his past. Funny how easily he could forget them when somebody dangled his darker moments in front of him.

Avalon reached around his neck to undo his bowtie, reminding him of the gentle moments he'd missed between them as well. "You should go change too." She picked his left palm up and let his bowtie fall into it. "I'll meet you here in 20 minutes. Maybe 30. This-" she gestured to her wet curls, "-might take a bit more time to tame."

"You still look beautiful as ever," the Doctor passed his hand through her curls. Avalon closed her eyes for a minute and let herself enjoy the touch of his fingers playing with her hair. The Doctor would've loved to play with her hair for hours, but he needed to he responsible. "Go on, love. I don't want you getting a cold. Lower immunity system means you're a lot more susceptible to common illnesses like a cold."

"Right," Avalon sighed with a shrug of her shoulders. She turned to leave but stopped at the stairs. "Oh," she turned back, "And don't worry. I'll be sure to wear this blouse more often."

The Doctor's face went red in an instant, especially when Avalon pushed her hair to one side so he could see the reddened spots on her neck and, shamefully, near her cleavage. He coughed in embarrassment while Avalon laughed.

"I'm a biter too so...expect that the next time," she blew him a kiss and ran off.

My girl alright, the Doctor smiled to himself once he was alone.

Author's Note:

Listen I just KNOW that if Avalon was real she would totally vibe with Brooklyn 99. I even know for a fact that she would love Rosa Diaz. I just do okay? And you just know that it would only be Avalon and the Doctor who would pull heists. It's just so them. But yayayay the Doctor knows that he loves her, when do you think Avalon will realize she loves him too? I loved writing that moment too.

[nightwingshero]

For the Writing Meta Asks 1, 6, 7, 10, and 20?

Thank you!!! Under the cut because this got way too long. 

1. Tell us about your current project(s)  – what’s it about, how’s progress, what do you love most about it?

I am currently working on a few scenes of Blair’s canon! One where she goes supernova, one where she first joined the Legends, and the other is when Jax is seriously hurt and they capture Vandal Savage. I love her interacting with Martin, Jax, and Ray. But also her, Leonard, and Mick can be a lot of fun too. It’s like writing the nice fun part of a horror movie or a drama before everything goes really really bad. Blair’s canon is up and down, and sure, she’s witnessed some bad stuff, but Leonard disappearing is just the first of the losses she suffers. But I’m almost done with the supernova piece! So that’s exciting! 

6. What character do you have the most fun writing?

I have so many, honestly. But so far its Blair, Veronica (Batman OC), Emma (CoD OC), Wren, Whitney, Quinn, and Dahlia. Dahlia is just...she’s something else, let me tell you. That mouth of hers and that pride? Gets her in trouble a lot, but she’s so cunning, and so very close to the Shelby boys, she’s just so much fun. Especially when she has Rosie! Wren is fun because she’s so grey of a character, so complex and very very emotional. Wren is a part of probably some of my best writing. Emma is fun because she’s such a hardass Marine and takes no shit. She’s my first OC ever, and she does what’s right no matter the cost. Writing her with Roach, Yuri, and Nikolai is just...a ride, for sure. Veronica is fun mostly because I love DC and the Batfamily. I’ve always wanted an OC that worked closely with Selina Kyle, and I have it. Luckily, I can also use her in Young Justice with @water-writings oc from time to time, because it gets interesting. Whit is fun to write because she’s so different from what I’m used to writing. But her arc is a favorite of mine, and I love her growth, especially when she kills her husband. Quinn...is an overly confident and witty character that drives Wren nuts for more than one reason. But I love it because he ties in Miller from Jacob’s story, and mixes things up a bit. He’s honestly a strong, brave character that I wasn’t expecting. Plus, he’s part Russian, and I love writing when his accent slips a bit! 

7. What do you think are the characteristics of your personal writing style? Would others agree?

Oh, I have no idea. I have been told by some people that my description and show of emotion with my writing is really noticeable, some have even made the comment of it being like a scene from a movie? Because it plays out perfectly in their mind or whatnot. And I think I would say that’s accurate, and whether other people agree or not, I’m not sure. I think I focus a lot on the details to make it feel real, like you’re actually there, or you’re experiencing it right alongside my characters. I want it to feel real enough for you to connect and appreciate, if that makes sense? I do first person 99% of the time, but take a moment to make the observations that make it feel somewhat third person--just taking note of possible emotions and thoughts of others without fully knowing it that is what they’re thinking. I try to get enough detail in there to show it, but I try to also make it vague. It’s honestly a good read of the room, and the observations of the scene is always different for each character. For example, if in a dark bedroom, Wren would notice the moonlight streaming through the curtains, while Whitney would notice the type of curtain is it, and Blair would be looking at something completely different (I mean, she’s a space person, so in any normal situation probably the moon, but not in this example), like looking for a light or something to make the dark room not dark anymore. Different characters call for different observations and a different feel when being written. 

10. How would you describe your writing process?

Chaotic and torturously detail-oriented. I normally write in order, but as of the past year, I’ve done things out of order, and I jump with wherever my inspiration takes me. I take note of every detail I can for a scene, not too much to overwhelm, but enough to make it feel real...and this is embarrassing to admit, but uh...whenever there’s a scene that my character is going to be in, I go back and rewatch it for the correct dialogue, reactions, and details of movement and what actually happens in that scene. Like, the arrest of Joseph Seed, I had to make sure the wording was correct and that I had his movements timed perfectly because I am one of those people that has to have everything perfect. Luckily, I don’t have to do this too often with some of the fandoms I write in. Its the Arrowverse and Peaky Blinders that makes it more of a hassle, because there are key episodes and key scenes that are vital for Blair (Kinsley, Carmen, and Gabriel too) and Dahlia in those shows that I have to go back and capture. I just like to be thorough when I write canon scenes like that. Any other time, I’m throwing on the OC’s playlist and listening to the right songs that capture the mood I’m looking for, and go from there. Much like Blair’s supernova piece. I threw her playlist on shuffle and went for it. 

20. Tell us the meta about your writing that you really want to ramble to people about (symbolism you’ve included, character or relationship development that you love, hidden references, callbacks or clues for future scenes?)

Okay, this is a dangerous question for me, I could go on forever. When it comes to symbolism, Whitney and Wren all day, for sure, are my favorites. Most of my symbolism for them derives from Greek mythology, Wren being Nemesis reincarnate, her being the Judge (hence my icon), the gold apple (which also ties in for Whitney as well), Whit being the Mother of Eden’s Gate and her ties to Hera, just...lots and lots of Greek mythology. There are some biblical ties there as well, but more for Whitney than Wren, and not very many. I’m always throwing in callbacks and foreshadowing in my writing though, I can’t resist. Blair once calling Leonard “Frosty the Snowman” as a joke? Yeah, that hits heavy when he “dies” and loses his memories. My writing is usually laden those, and none immediately come to mind (they will after I post this, just you watch), and it’s fun because there’s like...a moment when you’re like “hmmm, interesting”, only for it to come back a chapter or two later and make you go “omfg!!!! that’s the thing!!!” or just a callback that makes you smile, because who doesn’t love a good reference? I love them, so I throw them in where they fit. That’s a consistent throughout my writing, no matter the character or story, because there’s always something. Now, as for character and relationship development? I always get excited when I watch relationships develop, and there are always subtle but vital moments that you pick up on. Wren staying more with John, Leonard being more protective and close with Blair, Alfie taking more of an interest in Dahlia and spending more personal time with her, like...it’s the little things that shift and change. The character development is more fun for me and more personal, because it’s like investing all this time in making a plant grow, and watching proudly as it blooms. Some are more subtle than others, Wren growing more and more grey and her becoming the bad guy when you don’t really see it until it happens, Dahlia’s values shifting and changing. While others are more obvious, like Blair’s trauma affecting her and her growing as she harnesses her powers and becomes stronger. Everything I do, everything I build and create, is put together with great care and planning. Most, if not all, things happen for a reason, especially with meaning and symbolism. Sometimes I worry I go overboard, to be honest. 

[ellaofoakhill]

In Defense of Fanfiction

This was in part brought on by this thread on Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/benedict_rs/status/1349954211358924800 but these are also thoughts I've reflected on the last few months. Anywho...

There are numerous criticisms that’ve been leveled at fanfiction and its writers in recent decades:

It’s bad

you can’t make money off it

it’s terrible

it’s like having training wheels on

it’s the dumpster fire sloppy, lazy, unimaginative writers immolate themselves on

it is inherently inferior to original work

And more besides. At best, it’s considered a stepping stone to writing one’s own original work. At worst, it’s made out as a sort of theft of someone else’s original work (Lookin’ at you, Anne Rice).

It’s often thought of as lazy because someone else created the characters, the setting, etc.; all you as the fanfic writer did, unless you threw in an OC or two, was jiggle the pieces around a little.

Many writers do use it as a sort of practice, yes; I certainly did, or thought I did, anyway. And a confession? I have written bad fanfiction. There’s still Danny Phantom fanfiction on an account whose password I forgot years ago that was at best cringe-worthy, and at worst blatantly derivative, and I’m kinda glad it isn’t connected with me. I outgrew it, plain and simple.

But I know better now. Take a look at the mythologies and folktales of the world, and how those stories were passed on. There are many versions of the Greek myths, and many more that simply never survived to the present day, and many many more that were never written down in the first place.

Let’s take one example, the origin of Medusa. In an older Greek version, she was a daughter of the ancient sea deities Phorcys and Ceto, along with her two sisters. In another, penned by Ovid (that guy exiled by Augustus who projected like crazy), she was punished by Athena for banging Poseidon in Athena’s temple, which seems a bit unfair, especially if you’ve heard the alternate, non-consensual version of this story.

This version, with Medusa’s unjust deformation by the gods (still, sadly, has a relevant modern interpretation, considering how all-too-often women are effectively told “don’t get raped” rather than men being told “don’t rape”, and how women are condemned for not going out with entitled young men who then do something like bring a gun to school; seriously, my gender sometimes), was so far as I’m aware, an Ovid original.

Someone else created the characters, the settings, everything. He just juggled the pieces around. That’s it.

And his work is considered with all the gravity of other ancient classics of Western literature.

Looking at that, and enough ancient works to fill a container ship, it almost seems like humanity has been changing and playing with previous works for a fantastically long time. Fanfiction, then, isn’t a fringe genre; it is a central aspect of the human experience. Travelling storytellers would tweak and wholesale add or drop pieces of their work depending on whose court or village they played in, while still retaining those classic heroes, villains, and tropes; that arguably constitutes fanfiction. It’s only in the modern context that recent interpretations of intellectual property rights have maligned this fundamental human tendency.

To be clear, I don’t have a problem with the protection of intellectual property, especially when it’s being used to protect a small-time artist in whatever medium from having their work exploited by corporate greed or government propaganda machines, which I suspect is what the whole idea was originally intended for, along with fostering creativity itself by making sure creative people are the ones paid for their work. But when it’s being used as a bludgeon to suppress the creative spirits of others, that runs counter to the whole point, doesn’t it?

Yes, probably an unusually high proportion of fanfiction is poorly written, but I suspect this is more to do with people treating it as a stepping stone than any inherent flaw with the genre itself. But it’s not a huge difference; where 90% of fiction is varying degrees of bad (I have a Wattpad account I know this for a fact), fanfiction is probably 98%. I have read good, literary-quality fanfiction which needs no more than another draft at most to be good enough to put in a book.

Do you want some examples? Wicked stands out as a published and widely acclaimed piece of fanfiction (There are thorough lists out there, I’ve seen them, I unfortunately can’t remember any at this time). But if you’re interested in reading a few talented authors of fanfic that my feeble mind does recall, @phantomrose96​ has some fantastically written My Hero Academia one-shots and her A Breach of Trust is widely praised; suzukiblu on ao3 has convinced me that yuzula is NOT an atla crackship, and has a fascinating writing style besides; and a wound that never heals (always leaves a scar) by wastefulreverie (also on ao3) is a brilliantly written My Hero fic that explores a facet of hero society that canon itself has not proved good enough to comment on, despite the fact that it should be central to the plot.

This has gotten ever so slightly off-topic. Long story short, I realized I never wrote fanfic because it was “practice for something better”. I only write stories that captivate me, that I can’t not write; chances are a lot better that you’re not gonna stop reading it if I can’t stop writing it, right? And those old DP fics, and my more recent much better work, captivated me. And there are fanfiction ideas I have that I may well work on in the future. I wrote Xerxes, a Fullmetal Alchemist fanfiction, because a good idea came to me. I wrote Allmom AU, a My Hero Academia fanfiction that has over 26k hits on fanfiction.net and 2k more on ao3 (and close to 1000 hits on Wattpad, too, for that matter), because a good idea came to me. No, I haven’t hit the big-time by any stretch of the imagination, nor am I any authority on fanfiction, but I have written things that a lot of people enjoyed.

I wrote fanfiction because I wanted to, and I’ll write it again in the future because I want to. I won’t ever deny it, nor will I apologize for it.

And you shouldn’t either.

[clairecrive]

“Chaos”- Bane x OC [Requested]

After a long therapeutic writing session, I’m back with some Bane goodies as promised! this was requested a long time ago by a girl on wattpad but idk why I never had enough ideas/inspiration to finish it until a couple of days ago. And so here it is. It’s been a while since I’ve written so I’m hoping this isn’t that shitty lol. Anyway, I hope you’ll enjoy it!

Tag list: @mollybegger-blog​, @br0ck-eddie​, @of-love-and-of-the-sea​, @evelynshelby​, @shadow-of-wonder​, @deaflikehawkeye​, @innerpaperexpertcloud​, @fandom--0verdose​, @sopxhiea​, @fuseburner​ (let me know if you wanna be added or removed)

Blending in the shadows had always been the accomplishment Ace was the proudest of. Throughout the years, she had mastered it to the point of perfection, so much so that even the man who claimed to own the shadows hadn't been able to spot her. She wasn't there to spy on them so she'd eventually come forward and make her presence known. Only when the time was right though. For now, she had to listen and observe.

When she heard the mercenary give the last instructions to his men and was about to dismiss them, Ace decided it was time to come forward.

"That's an excellent plan indeed, except that it will fail." Emerging from the shadows she walked into the room with confident strides. As soon as they saw her, the men pointed their guns at her. However, she didn't pay them any mind. Ace's eyes and focus were solely on the burly muscular man standing at the centre of the room. He was in control, that much she knew, alas the men wouldn't move a muscle without his permission.

"I didn't ask for your opinion, did I?" Straightening his posture, his hands landing on the straps of his vest, Bane quickly shut the intruder up.

"Nevertheless, I gave it to you. Now, you should be wise and take it because I'm right." Standing in front of him, Ace held her head high for better holding his gaze. From this position, she could see how he was able to instil fear in everyone. However, Ace acted as if the difference in height was nothing more than a fact. Like he was a man and her a woman.

"And why would you know anything about strategies and plans?"

"Does this mean that you don't recognize me then?" Pouting, Ace twirled a strand of her hair between her fingers. To be fair, Ace was pretty known in the underworld. Being the right hand of a mass murderer and a sociopath will do that to you.

"Should I?" Ace knew it was his way of minimizing and mocking her but she only mirrored his smirk. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Well, no matter. You should know though that I'm pretty good at this stuff. Me and my partner were quite famous."

"I don't entertain myself with gossip." Was his simple answer almost as if he was explaining to a little girl that no, he didn't play with dolls.

"Anyhow, I don't need my reputation to speak for me. Hear me out, let me be a part of your plan and then you'll see why he called me Ace." She proposed feigning confidence. To be fair, she knew that putting herself in the mercenary's dent could be extremely dangerous. Bane had the power to end in her life with just a snap of his fingers. However, Ace was sure of her abilities and she knew that Bane was a good strategist so he'd be able to see that.

"Ace up my sleeve?" He arched his brow at the not so subtle wordplay. What could you expect from a clown, Bane smugly concluded.

"You get the point then, great. I'll admit that I hated the name at the beginning. I'm more than a plan B, even my partner knew that. It was just for show. The only difference between men and women is cultural, after all." This was a fight Ace would always advocate for. Hell, her whole existence and the role she played were a testament to that. Of course, since the very first moment she started, Ace knew that in a predominantly male business she'd have to deal with a lot of sexism and belittling. But she was ready, she'd endured it all and now she'd mastered the art of shutting them up exposing their ignorance.

"Plato." He noted. Would you look at that. The notorious Bane, infamous mercenary and revolutionary, was familiar with the classics to the extent that he could recognize whose quotation it was. Remarkable.

"I'm surprised you know." She had to give him that. One had to give credit where credit is due.

"I know plenty of things." Well, now he was just being cocky. He could afford that, sure, but that didn't make it less annoying.

"Of course you do," she replied with a smug smile, "So what about that plan you were talking about?"

"You realize what you're getting into, don't you?"

"And you'll realize who you're dealing with because apparently, you don't yet."

"Very well." Nodding, he mutedly allowed her to join him. Returning to the map he was previously looking at, he moved so that there was enough space for her to stand next to him.

"Let's hear your idea then," he prompted her and she could feel the challenge in his tone. One she gladly took.

Once she offered him her plan, a better plan, that highlighted the weakness of the previous one, Bane valued his options and at the end, without any reservation, admitted that hers was indeed the most practical and efficient one. They were now all shackled in a van, armed to their necks, ready for the mission. She was sat in the backseat behind Bane who was sat in the passager seat, arm in her hands. They weren't the only one in the car, there were at least other five of Bane's soldiers but the only sound you could hear was the ones coming from the streets. Maybe it was because she was used to working with someone who couldn't shut up to save his life, but the silence was growing to be deafening.

"So, are sitting in front of us because you're big as a mountain or because you're the boss?" Her voice cut through the quiet vehicle. The men around and behind her didn't move a single muscle to show that they had heard her. However, Bane turned around slightly, now the sound of his mask hissing was louder and clearer. If looks could kill, Ace would at least have been cut by his.

"You should stay focused. This mission is extremely important. I won't tolerate any incompetence." He admonished her like a father would a little girl. And while Ace wouldn't mind that comparison in another context, wink wink, she also wouldn't mind if he was a bit looser.

"Please," rolling her eyes she leaned against the back of his seat, her mouth next to his ears since his face was still turned to her, "you really don't know anything about me, do you?" Feigning offence, her dark red painted lips pouted, Ace quickly wondered if he was just messing with her or if he was really clueless. Bane struck her as a quite thorough person, he'd have certainly done a background check on her by now. No matter, she decided, he's going to know soon either way.

"I'll just have to show you how I got my nickname, then," The pout had now shifted to a smirk and she leaned back to her seat. Her attention back out of the window while Bane's eyes lingered on her face a little longer before he turned back, imperceptibly shaking his head. This woman could either turned out to be a blessing or a curse. Now it wasn't the moment for such thoughts though, he had a mission to accomplish.

Since traffic hadn't been that bad, they had gotten to their destination quicker than expected. The van they were in pulled right outside the building they were going to sack, Gotham's bank, while the other vehicles and consequently Bane's men, parked on a secluded street right where the back exit of the building was. Those people were literally never going to see them coming. Before climbing out of the car, they assessed the situation, controlling that the information they got, on which they were basing the success of their plan, was still correct. Ace could only wait 'till Bane had finished his check-ups since she was sitting behind him and it was one of those cars where people in the back had to climb out through the reclined seat in front of them. The men were busy with their tools and electronic devices to notice that a slight change in plans was going to be needed.

Ace watched as a black limo neared the building and eventually stopped in front of it on the other side of the street. Whoever was in the car had to be someone important, not only because of his expensive choice of cars but also because he wasn't travelling alone. When a suited man stepped out of the car, he was immediately followed by a group of bodyguards as he made his way inside. Ace hadn't recognized the man, she hadn't even had the chance to look at his face but she knew that he wasn't supposed to be there. Her and one of Bane's hacker had studied the schedule for every single employee working that day and also the manager's one too. He wasn't scheduled. That also confirmed her theory of him being someone somewhat important along with wealthy since everybody knew that there was at least a one-month waiting list to be received by the bank's manager. And here he was instead, this mystery man who had put a glitch in their operation, that calmly strolled over the security checks like he owned the very ground he was walking on. Ace hated men like that. Here was another thing she had in common with Bane.

"He shouldn't be here." Bane's voice met her ears. Without turning to him, her eyes still in front of her trying to assess the number of the armed men, Ace simply nodded to let him know that she'd heard him.

"We'll have to use a different approach." She pointed out as the layout of a new plan was slowly forming in her mind.

"We should wait for other of my men to join us. We're not prepared to face such a number." Bane huffed, annoyed for the delay that this hitch was going to cause.

"Nonsense," Ace disagreed facing him, "I have an idea." A smug smirk formed on her face as she explained what her plan entailed. She was just going to need two men with her while Bane and every other man were to enter from the back. This was they were going to sneak up on those snob men up there and get what they came here for.

"Have you failed to see the van parked right there, which holds at least ten fully armed men? How are you going to hold them off with just two men? I was not aware you were suicidal." The patronizing tone in his voice was evident but Ace tried to ignore it. He doesn't know what you're capable of, she told herself. Not yet, she concluded.

"That's because I'm not. This is the second time you underestimate me, Bane. However, I won't take it personally since you've yet to see me in action. I assure you I'm more than capable of what I'm telling you." Her face now void of any smugness, her eyes solemn as she spoke, Bane wondered if she was too full of herself.

"What is the other name others call you?" He asked, knowing it had everything to do with her choice now that he saw her infamous smirk making a comeback.

"I'm the Lady of Chaos, oh great Bane. Whenever I go, that's what I bring and that's what I leave as a trail," sure of herself, Ace elaborated and in front of her confident façade, Bane could do nothing other than believing her.

"For your sake, I hope you deserve that title," he observed before he signalled to his men that it was time to move. While they silently climb out to make it to the back entrance unseen, Ace and the two men Bane chose, walked to the bank's entrance. To avoid drawing unwanted attention to them, she tried to make small talk with them. Attempted to tell a lame joke either, just to sell the idea that they were a group of friends and not some mercenaries on a mission.  Despite the sketchiness of their clothes, they somehow managed to walk in without catching the eye of the mystery man's security.

As soon as they stepped in, the two security officers gestured for them to walk through the metal detector. That won't sit well with the two gun Ace was wearing but that won't be a problem. Not a second after the loud alarm of the detector was heard, Ace drew the gun shooting some warning bullets in the air before pointing to the officers that had stepped near her. Just like the two men behind her did. Understanding that they were greatly outnumbered, the officers hold their hands up letting their arms go.

"Now now gentlemen, would one of you be so kind as to show me your office?" Taking the piss out for men was Ace's favourite thing. She nodded the men to walk in front of her while the two mercenaries guarded the entry door.

She didn't have to walk long since their office was near the security check. Both men walked in and waited for Ace to instruct them what to do. She saw them glance at each other causing her to roll her eyes, she knew what was going through their heads.

"What a big of a  fool do I have to be to have wondered away alone with two strong me like yourself, you must be wondering. Am I right?" She waited a bit before speaking again. Not that she was waiting for them to answer, merely for the theatrical effect. "But of course, because after all women are not that strong, are they?" Lowering her guns, she walked in front of them.

"I have taken upon me to prove everyone who would think that wrong," she foretold hinting at what she was going to do. But of course, they were too idiot to take the hint and so the same ease one would steal candy from a baby, Ace knocked them out with her guns. With the right amount of strength, one hit was all it took.

Chuckling while admiring her work, she felt oddly reworded. Men, she thought shaking her head. Taking her eyes away from their bodies, she looked around the room to look for what she needed.

"Ah," reaching for it she pushed the button that would ensure their plan could be carried out with any more surprises. The front doors of the bank automatically locked while a bulletproof gate quickly lowered, keeping out the inconvenience that was those armed men. Hearing the noise, Bane knew it was his signal to proceed. And so he did, swiftly and quickly making his way inside the building and the floor where he knew his target was.

In the meantime Ace that was soon joined by Bane's men, was making sure that all the people on the floor understood perfectly what they had to do and what will happen to them if they didn't obey.  Once she was certain the situation was under control, she strolled to the floor where Bane was. He had been there for almost 15 minutes now, he should be about to finish by now. The two men that she had left behind knew that they had to join them in about five minutes so that they could leave unnoticed through the back entrance.

She reached the highest floor and was pleased to see that bane's men had subdued the guards and the bodyguards of the mystery man who had got caught in this. Smirking she saluted him as if to say "well done". It wasn't hard to spot the room where Bane was. Yes, it was the only room on the floor, right at the end of the hallway. But the screams coming out of it were a dead giveaway too. The mystery man was putting up a fight and causing problems, hence the screams.

Stepping in the room and assessing the situation, Ace could see that Bane was having no problem at all in dealing with the manager. The smug look he sent her way, confirmed that thought letting her know that he was almost done. So she turned to cause of such ruckus and noise.

"What's got your panties in a twist dear?" Using a patronizing tone, she crunched to be at his eye level.

"Of course he has a whore at a hand. What is your problem, lady? Don't you see he's a fucking beast?" Struggling in the mercenaries' grip, the man barked outraged. Ace couldn't stop herself from laughing in his face. Men.

"Haven't you heard? Behind a beast, there's a prince." Roughly patting his face, Ace readied to deliver the last blow. She had nothing against this young man. Well, apart from the fact that she hated everything he stood for and the city herself. Now, however, things had gotten personal. She hated misogynistic men, and even more misogynistic slurs.

She smiled sweetly at him, the gestured in sharp contrast of the movement of her hand. But that's what she wanted. Messing with his head so that he wouldn't be able to see her blow coming. And, as a matter of fact, he didn't. And that alone gave Ace immense satisfaction. Even more than seeing the red print of her hand on his cheek.

"Oh, and another thing," she feigned to have just remembered something, "don't ever refer to women you don't like as whores, okay? For future references." She added smiling with her lips in a thin line. "Good boy," stretching her legs she lifted from her position and moved aside knowing that now it was Bane's turn to deal with him.

Since he wasn't supposed to be here, Ace didn't know if he had been one of Bane's targets or if he had just become one. No matter, she knew that Bane would either let him leave to tell the tale and warn others or if he'd just kill him to avoid any further inconvenience. As the masked man walked toward them with long calculated strides, Ace knew. The man wasn't going to get the chance to put her advice into practice. And it seemed that the man understood that too and showed that he hadn't understood his lesson since he started begging her, thinking her as the weak one.

"Don't you have a heart?" The man pleaded to try to appeal to her humanity but it only made her laugh.

"Isn't it funny that people always assume that you're heartless?" She pondered out loud looking at Bane, "instead of facing the fact that maybe it's this wicked world we live in that made us who we are." Finishing her thought, she bent down so that her mouth was close to the man's ear.

"I wasn't born without a heart nor with all these scars, neither of us were." She whispered like it was a secret but really, was it so hard to understand? Quickly glancing around her shoulder, she made sure that Bane knew her next move. He slightly nodded. She had his approval.

"We are a product of the circumstances of our lives, Bane." Finishing the man off, she stood up rubbing the dirt off her hands and turned to the masked man. "We're not so different, you and I."

"While I'm not sure about the accuracy of that statement, I wouldn't mind having an ace up my sleeves." The wrinkles around his eyes became more evident as he recalled the wordplay she had used during their first meeting. But that wasn't his style. "Or you could be my Lady of Chaos, my Persephone." He added displaying once again his knowledge of the classics, unaware that it was the perfect way to appeal to her. After that and after seeing the way he worked, the way he had treated her, with respect, like they were equals, she didn't need any further convincing. She was sold. Taking the hand he was offering her, she sealed the deal. He could be the Hades to her Persephone. Both roles unexpectedly fitted them perfectly. Content for the successful outcome of the mission and the allegiance that had just been sealed, they both walked out without rush knowing that they were in control. Useless were the police sirens that were approaching. They didn't stand a chance against them. And while they didn't know it yet, as Bane and Ace glanced at each other once they were sat in the car, she knew that everyone was going to know it pretty soon. Very soon.

A/N: for anyone who doesn't know the name Persephone means "the one who brings chaos", so I thought it was extremely fitting Ace.

[rockthistowninsideout]

Never Too Late For A Leap Of Faith

Part 2

Part 1 here

Five times Taichi only feels the presence of Digimons and one time he actually meets them (again).

Words: 1401 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Tags: 5+1 Pairings: Taichi Yagami/OC, Sorato, Jyoumi

Inspired by this youtube video talking about how the end of Kizuna fits into the narrative of the Epilogue in 02, posted by TheDigiKnow. It’s in my opinion a thorough and yet personal analysis.

   The last time Taichi had been this nervous was before his final exam in his studies. He stood before a sleek black door on one of the highest floors in a governmental skyscraper in Tokyo’s heart, Roppongi. Behind the door sat a panel of the Japanese government, wanting to hear his expertise. He wondered if Koushirou was already in there. After another deep breath, telling himself to just screw it, it wouldn’t be any better if he stood here for another minute or two, he knocked.

   “Ah, Yagami-shi.” The prime minister bowed to him, as did everyone else, when he entered.

   Taichi did his best to compose himself and not get all flustered by the honour of the prime minister knowing his name.

   “Hello Taichi-san”, someone said at the other end of the table and Taichi noticed to his relief that it was Koushirou already standing beside a holographic screen.

   Taichi bowed to everyone around, then proceeded towards Koushirou. He put his briefcase onto a desk and extracted his notes. He looked at them but then he realized he wouldn’t need them. Nodding to Koushirou, he said, after a few welcoming words “The public has known Digimons mostly as, at best, a nuisance and at worst as a life-threatening force. But we know that Digimons also have a different side. They are caring, loving, and loyal companions who want nothing but the best for humans.

   Notice how I said ‘who’? Rationally looked upon, they might be only comprised of data, just like a music or a text file. But they are much more. Imagine the agony you might feel when a CD with your favourite song breaks or a very important text file gets deleted. Now exponentiate that to the grief you feel when losing a loved one, maybe even finitely. This is how we felt when we had to let our Digimon partners go all those years ago because the nature of human-Digimon bond was a doomed one, it was only temporary. Something we lose when we grow up because Digimons make the most sense when you are a child.

   And as an adult, you lose sight of what is important in life. You think you have cracked the meaning of life, working hard and getting married – and while I don’t want to disparage marriage or family, not at all – we treat it like it’s some kind of competition. That way, though, carefreeness, our sense of fun, and the lightness of just being and living get lost. But when you have children of your own, you start seeing the world again through the eyes of a child, and slowly that lightness returns.

   To make a long story short, we as humans are better off having a good connection to Digimons instead of condemning them as monsters. They preserve our childlike side and add to our social value. This is not about being chosen for a great task, like Izumi-kun and I had been, but about living peacefully together with a species that is much like us humans: Every Digimon is an individual with a fully-rounded personality.

   We are here to propose diplomatic relations to the Digital World with the long-term plan of finding a Digimon partner for every human, if they wish to have one. Izumi-kun will now introduce you to his network of DigiDestined that he’s been running for nearly fifteen years now and that shows that not only peaceful connections between humans and Digimons are possible, but also between humans themselves.”

   If Taichi had thought the anxiousness he had while standing in front of that office door had been bad, well, he’d blatantly been wrong. He had to suppress the urge to vomit while he watched Koushirou typing furiously on a holographic keyboard. It didn’t make any sense to him, though. As long as he knew Koushirou, there had been the steady rhythm of his fingers flying over the keys, a soft hammering, the sound of knowledge and curiosity. But now it was only silence, as if someone had muted reality.

   With a final enthusiastic hit, a picture appeared on the floating screen floating that was painfully familiar. A crystal blue lake, nearly perfectly circular, glittered in the sunshine, surrounded by a dense wood. In the middle of the lake was an island with the most peculiar yet reassuring sight around: a gleaming tram wagon, empty but for a few odd creatures looking like they’d been sitting there for eternity.

   Taichi looked down when he felt someone take his hand.

   “Let’s go together”, Koushirou said smilingly.

   On the other side, he felt another person’s presence. Yamato hadn’t taken his hand but his upper arm was brushing Taichi’s. Taichi inhaled deeply, then nodded. It was time.

***

   “Taichi-san?”, a hardly-surprised, childish voice asked.

     Taichi took a deep breath but he didn’t turn yet. It was too good to be true, it was what he had dreamt of since their disappearance after the Eosmon incident but he was wiser as to put too much hope into this voice. After all, it could be a hallucination his wishful mind had made him think.

   “Taichi-san, do you not want to say hello to me?”, the voice asked again. Someone tugged at his hand.

  Finally he looked down. A tug at the hand could hardly be imaginary, could it?   Many teeth greeted him, then the mouth closed and he looked into Agumon’s blinking blue eyes. “Taichi-san, you’ve finally come back to me!”, Agumon exclaimed and held out his arms.

   Taichi laughed while he cried, crouching down before his Digimon partner. “Yeah, it took me a while, a lot of things have happened.” He embraced Agumon. “Are the others with you? Because we’ve all been waiting so long. Biyomon and Gomamon and Palmon and Gabumon and Tentomon and Patamon and Gatomon. They’re all here.” Agumon stepped away and made a sweeping gesture. The Digimons came forward, their gazes flickering between Taichi and the group of people standing a little distance behind him.

   “Yes, we’ve all come back. And we want you to meet some special persons.” Taichi wiped away the tears with the back of his hand, then got up and beckoned the rest towards him with a wave.

   “Oh, Sora-san”, Biyomon exclaimed and excitedly fluttered forward, straight into Sora’s arms.

   Yamato and Gabumon looked at each other amicably; they’ve never been much for words but understood each other perfectly nonetheless.

   “Jou-senpai, I hope you’ve been eating well and not studying too hard while I was away”, Gomamon greeted his partner after he’d waddled over towards him.

   “Kouhirou-han, still carrying your tablet with you? I’m glad you haven’t changed a bit.” Tentomon buzzed excitedly around Koushirou’s head.

   Mimi and Palmon were running towards each other, screaming with joy, but actual words were not decipherable.

   “Takeru-kun, Takeru-kun, why haven’t you come earlier? I was so bored without!” Patamon flapped towards Takeru, then settled comfortably onto his head after Takeru had taken off his sailor’s cap.

   A solemn but smiling Gatomon stood before Hikari, paw extended. “I’ve been keeping this”, he said.

   Hikari took the whistle gently, a flood of memories rushing through her mind, then she blew it mightily.

   As if they had agreed on that as a sign, the remaining people shuffled forward, most were visibly nervous.

   “Kana-chan! Oh, Kana-chan, it’s been so long!” somebody suddenly yelled from the edge of the forest. A red birdlike Digimon, with a green beak and yellow coat pattern on his belly, waddled as fast as he could towards Taichi’s wife who’d been leading Hotaro to the Digimons.

   Now she dropped to her knees, crying “Oh Muchomon” in delight and embracing her Digimon once he had reached her.

   The remaining spouses, who had not been DigiDestineds, watched a little warily. They had heard the stories, hair-raising at times and most certainly not what children should have to endure, so they were familiar with the concept of Digimons. But meeting them now in the wild, so to speak, in their natural habitat, was something they still had to get accustomed to.

   Until Gatomon turned to Hikari’s daughter and introduced himself. Then he added “We welcome you to the Digital World, hoping that you will find a home here just like it is ours.”

   Meaning the same, but phrasing it differently, Agumon exclaimed “I’m hungry, let’s have a picnic!”

   Which earned him laughter from everyone. The ice was broken.

[hummingbirdstars]

I’m gonna create an AU

I think I’m gonna make an Undertale AU. Has anyone already used the name HelperTale? I hope not, because I want to!

So, the basis of HelperTale is that monsters and humans in that universe are distinctly aware of the multiverse, and try to stay as up-to-date on it as possible. As I have a lot to talk about, the rest will be under a read more bar.

Some kids are born with Aptitudes, where they can get special jobs and livelihoods based on the AU’s part as a multiversal helper. 

One Aptitude is for Protecting the Home, where they are guards and protect the AU’s inhabitants from viruses (Fresh), corruption, and destruction. 

Coding Aptitudes, for another, can be put into several categories- one to help hide the AU’s code (mainly from Error) and creating firewalls to keep their world safe. Another Coding Aptitude would be Searching, where those with that Aptitude would scour the Mutliverse for those in dire need of Helping.

And this brings us to the main point of the AU- Helping. Helpers are categorized into four, and are placed in groups of four. The first is the Coder, someone with a mix of Helping and Coding Aptitude. These Coders take in all the cries for help and find the first one that their group can safely handle. The second is the Imposter, someone with incredibly good acting skills who can go and take the place of the person calling for help- just for a little while, so they can recuperate. The third is the Healer, who stays in the Home AU and cares for the healing person- from the other AU, the one who called for help- still with me? The final person in this group of four is the Backup, someone who’s mastered all three Aptitudes, so they can take over in case someone of the other three is busy.

Backstory is something I’m still coming up with, but I have a few ideas. First, Aptitudes only pop up when a kid turns 8 years old. At this point, the Seekers (another Aptitude, where they spend years honing their senses so they can detect other Aptitudes) will go to the house of the child and look at their Aptitude. Depending on what it is, the kid will go to one of several special Villages as a new home, a new life. They can still chat with their families, but only those with Aptitude may know where the Villages are.

Second, children spend their entire childhoods in their Village. Every single kid gets a little USB slot (special-made for the AU) installed in their skull. This is in case someone gets corrupted while on a mission or on their duty, it heals and restores everything. These slots are covered up with code, and only the kid can wipe away the code on their own head, nobody else’s.

Third, anybody can cry for Help. It’s meant to have that same feeling the Player has in Undertale, you know, the *You call out for help, but nobody comes. Except those in HelperTale do their best to make sure that somebody comes. But you can only use this once in your life, probably some sort of bull-crap code destiny thing that combines with all the other powerful AUs- if it’s truly a life-changing thing, that a lot of things depend on it but the person making the choice is a wild-card, that would constitute for a Cry For Help. Humans, Monsters, it doesn’t matter.

Fourth, once someone cries for Help, their world’s data (and their personal data) is given to a Coder who can help. The Imposter will plug in that data through the USB and temporarily remove their own personal memories, to properly play the part. Time will be frozen thanks to Determination. The Imposter will take the place of the person who cried for help- let’s call this super depressed person who needs help Zach, for simplicity- will take the place of Zach, and Zach will be brought to HelperTale.

The Coder will watch the progress of the Imposter- if they can eliminate what was hurting Zach, they will do it. While the Imposter lives out Zach’s life, so nobody thinks anything’s wrong, the Healer will take care of Zach and fix him up the best they can. This means mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and any other way needed. Once Zach is all healed up, the Coder will send a message to the Imposter- who by that time is hopefully in a good enough state of mind in Zach’s life to take it- and if all goes well, time will be frozen again. Zach will be given a very in-depth rundown of what went on in their absence, and Zach and the Imposter will switch places. The Imposter will regain their own memories, and Zach will be put in HelperTale’s logbook.

Of course, not every ‘job’ can go as smoothly as I just described. A lot of things can happen, and these things usually depend on the state of the AU. Imposters can get hurt, killed, tortured, and more. This is what they sign up for, using their Aptitude to help others. If the Imposter is compromised, the Backup will take the Imposter’s place, and the Healer will help both the Imposter and Zach.

But if monsters and humans are so different, how can Imposters look like them? Coding again, years of acting and specialized classes, and learning how to do everything imaginable, just in case. Magic is flexible, the world runs on code, and every single person with Aptitude at some point must be able to learn every single kind of magic. Yes, every single kind. Because of this, everybody is more-or-less equal, and thanks to knowledge and opportunity, there was never a war and Monsters and Humans are completely equal.

(I may even create a comic based off of this, if I get a drawing tablet- I even have ideas for the main ‘cast’, including my own OC who would be a Healer- who could also, with small modifications, act as an Undyne if need be!)

Sans: would have an identical twin. They would be Comic Sans (Sans, main ‘character’ like everyone is used to) and Sans Serif (personality of Underswap Sans). They are completely identical, but Comic has glasses and Serif strongly enjoys his bandana. They have twin Aptitudes of Helping. Comic is the Imposter of his group, and Serif is the Backup.

Papyrus: There is no Papyrus, not really, instead his name is Times New Roman, Roman for short. He’s snooty and arrogant, because he’s good at his job (being a Papyrus) and he knows it. Given an accident or two and a character arc, he could end up being a very likeable character indeed. He is not in the Sans’ group, but in his group he is the Imposter. In school, he was very popular. 

Alphys: Her name would be Ally here, and she’d be tinted more green than yellow. Again, if she needed to play an Alphys, simple enough. She has a Coding/Helping Aptitude, and is in the same group as the twin Sanses. 

Undyne: The younger sister of my OC, and has a crush on Ally. She has a Protecting Aptitude, and takes pride in her virus-destroying capabilities. Thanks to how thorough she is, she is swapped out between the AU itself, and protecting Villages. She’s well-traveled, still brash at times, but very open and accepting.

Toriel: Red Magic (Determination and Time) teacher. Called Miss Tu-Toriel because of how wonderful she is. Is the collective Mom of the Helping Village, and takes her duties very seriously. Very old, very strong, and is the last line of defense if anything gets into the Village. Offers cooking classes as an extra-curricular- after all, there are plenty of worlds out there, this one included, where cooking is a valuable skill, is it not?

Asgore: Teaches Cyan and Orange (Stopping and Moving) Teacher. Is called the Dad of the Helping Village. Never fought with Toriel, and is happily married to her with their children (Asriel, Frisk, Chara, and Kris). He enjoys gardening, and offers it as an extra-curricular- after all, there are plenty of AUs that deal with plants, and I’m not simply talking about the Floweys!

Asriel: Different entity to Flowey- Flowey’s are rather different, I’ll get to them in a minute. He has fire magic, primarily. As an adult, he teaches basic classes on all seven main types of magic. Also teaches yoga, is surprisingly flexible. 

Chara: They teach classes about dealing with LV and EXP, on both ends of the spectrum and everything in-between. They also teach classes in dealing with murderers, and using words to their advantage. Can be bribed into extra Determination classes with chocolate.

Frisk: They teach classes in code and rule-breaking, such as manipulating souls and buttons and the like. They also teach classes that talk about dealing with any kind of mental illness, whether seeing them or pretending to have them, or actually having them. They are very kind and well-liked, but are terrifying when they actually get mad.

Kris: They are the Caretaker. If an Imposter is in a bad spot, they can usually count on Kris to create a distraction (somehow) and help them get out. Kris is powerful, and gives fighting lessons. They have never been beaten, ever, not in anybody’s memory.

Gaster: Has a Seeking Aptitude, but has an affinity for Coding. As a result, he invents all sorts of things that have to do with Aptitude, hoping either to speed up or slow down the process- nobody knows why. Is the older brother to the Sans twins, and was devastated when they popped up with twin Helping Aptitudes. He sees them more often than their parents, but it’s the thought that counts!!

Flowey: Floweys are all over the place. They are made of different flowers so most can’t leave, but those who look even vaguely like buttercups usually have an Aptitude. No matter what, every single Flowey has to have a flower name, it’s tradition. 

I’ll probably come up with more, but this is what I have for now!

[dat-fandom-losertown]

I LOVE YOUR PACIFIC RIM AU SO FAR!!! I was so engrossed I almost forgot to sleep last night! I love how you portray things, and you write very well! If it's okay to ask, do you have any examples of what you think the characters wear? I know you explained some, but I'm a bit visual when it comes to outfits (in my head I just imagine them in whatever suits the Mood™ :'3). If not that's okay!!! I wouldn't mind a (more?) thorough word-explanation, either!!! Please and thank you? :D

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I am so touched that you like TDBU so much!! Is it weird to say that I saw you liked each chapter and it 100% made my day?  And, like, the mom friend in me wants to yell “DON’T SKIP SLEEP”, but I can’t count all of the times I’ve pulled an all nighter just to finish a good fic so... 😂😂 But really, thank you so much for taking the time to read TDBU and leaving an ask!! 😄💖

As for what the characters wear, I plan on drawing the main 4 once my Hand and Brain decide they wanna work together Lol (I hate artist’s block), but for now I’ll try giving you a description and various reference pictures of what they wear, because I don’t think I ever went into real detail about it. Clothing is one thing I usually don’t think about often in real life, and, looking back, my writing really shows it 😅🤣

This got really long because I did everyone (because not everyone gets a custom wardrobe like the main 4) and I love to ramble and talk a lot, so I put it all under the cut 😊

Basically, in my AU, trainees are allowed to wear basically whatever they want as long as it’s “gym appropriate” (but no shorts). So for the OC trainees, imagine a lot of yoga pants, leggings, tennis shoes, fitted T-shirts, and tough pants. All of the background employees and Luther wear the cannon Pacific Rim uniform (the first and second outfits), with the only exceptions being the scientists and Chloe (they go semi casual, some good examples can be found using Google Images), and Marshal Fowler (who also follows cannon; the third pic).

For Markus, Simon, North, and Josh, I imagine them wearing things that are close to cannon like below. Just imagine that North’s shirt doesn’t go off one shoulder, and Josh loses the jacket, and Simon and Markus lose the turtlenecks/hoods. They all, of course, have their casual outfits, but whenever Connor or Ritch see them, it’s like this. The one exception being at the party where they were all wearing various types of pajamas and comfort clothes (imagine whatever you want for the pajamas, honestly).

I imagine Hank wearing clothes close to Cannon as well (at least for now), like below. That’s his favorite sweatshirt and is seen most frequently in it along with various, dark-colored sweat pants that usually have food stains or random, small holes at the seams from age. Although, as Connor mentioned briefly in the last chapter, he has seen Hank without his infamous sweatshirt once when he dropped the alcohol off the night of the party (and I am offended at myself for not pointing that out in that chapter. It was supposed to me a very minor thirst moment for Connor because Hank’s arms are 👌 in this AU), and that was the stained, grey T-shirt we all know from the “Wake Up Lieutenant” scene. He also either wears an old pair of tennis shoes or slippers depending on how his day is going/what kind of mood he was in that morning (Connor will actually mention this in the next chapter, which will be up tomorrow!!).

Gavin is where things start to deviate (no pun intended) from cannon. He normally wears a grey (any shade as dark or darker than below) or a muted red T-shirt (similar below). He always wears dark (either blue or grey/black) fitted jeans (but not skinny or tight!!) with it, but no jacket. He’s technically a full-time Jaeger pilot, so he needs to wear clothes he can easily and quickly change out of so he can get into uniform and to the jaeger ASAP. A jacket and tight pants are two more obstacles between him and a city-destroying alien, but he’s also vain enough to not want to wear the official uniform all the time and to not go around looking like Anderson.

The only connection to D:BH cannon that Ritch and Connor’s wardrobe have are their “light and dark” color schemes. Their wardrobe is almost completely identical, with the only major differences being the colors and the fact that Ritch has heeled boots**. The pictures below show what Connor wears every single day (minus the gloves; he only wears those during training), but his shirts can be any shade of dark grey, and he has another set of pants that are navy blue. The second picture is more accurate to what Connor wears as pants than the first pic (whch should also help explain how he hid so many alcohol bottles without it being immediately suspicious), but the belt is the same as the first pic. All you need to do to get Ritch’s outfits is replace the black shirt with a white, off-white, or silver/light grey shirt, make his pants grey (he always makes sure his pants are darker than his shirt, but lighter than Connor’s shirt), and replace the boots for the ones in the third picture. His gloves and boots are both black for dirt and blood reasons, but his belt is a dark grey so it doesn’t "clash” with the light color scheme.

**Ritch fully realizes how dangerous it is to fight in heels, but by the time Amanda had adopted them and started their training, Ritch had been stealing heels and wearing them every day for years in order to be significantly taller than Connor and more easily differentiated from him, so his leg muscles and feet had literally grown used to the incline of the heels. Wearing normal boots (like Connor’s) was (and still is) uncomfortable for him. There will be more details and such about this discussed within the next 2 or 3 chapters, but know that there’s a low chance of him breaking an ankle or something while training or fighting due to reasons. (I’m taking some creative liberties with Ritch’s “shoe problem” because [both thankfully and frustratingly] I couldn’t anything about overuse of high heels by children or anyone else with developing muscles. However, the effects Ritch has in this fic do happen to women after years of almost daily wear, just to a lesser extent, but nowhere on the sites I used said that the heels were higher than 3 inches, which was the minimum Ritch was wearing.)