#pros: always have cool mug.

[doomingthenarrative]

who up playing mug tetris

[tteokdoroki]

☆༉ — KATSUKI BAKUGOU. compression shirts & sweatpants.

about. hello u guys wanted me to finish this so i did lol !!!! i just can’t get the idea of him in compression shirts out of my mind ok enjoy !! <3

warnings. minors, blank and ageless blogs do not interact. suggestive, making out, hickies, dry humping, bakugou being a huge tease, gn!reader, pro hero!bakugou.

“do you get off on this? dressing like a slut?”

after pushing his bread down into the toaster, bakugou stops mid-sip, his signature red riot coffee mug about a quarter of an inch away from the pink and plush curve of his lips. he looks over to you as if he’s an animal that’s been caught doing something it’s not supposed to. a deer in headlights if you will.

“hah?”

you clench your fists, the foulest pout you can muster spread thinly over your features like a veil, as a petulant huff escapes you. you pretend to be mad at the man for as long as you can, turning your head away from him with your arms crossed over your chest. but you can’t help it. you can’t fight it… your gaze trailing back over to him at a snail’s pace.

katsuki bakugou looks like a fucking god.

not only does the stupid black compression shirt he’s wearing highlight the slender accent of his hips and itty bitty waist — but it clings to every muscle in bakugou’s marble-carved body. you can see every bulge of his biceps and ripple in his backs, even down to his washboard abs. honestly, you count your lucky stars every day that you managed to sink your fangs into the blonde before anyone else did, claiming him as your own. you might have even thrown up if anyone got to see him lounging about the place in grey sweats the way you did, the material just barely sitting on his hips.

you have to swipe at your mouth to stop yourself from drooling when he puts his mug down and lifts an arm up high to put the coffee granules back in the cupboard — his shirt riding up just enough for you to get a good look at a slither if his his sun-kissed, diamond cut v-line and waistband of his boxers too. it’s like the guy is purposefully trying to kill you.

just the very sight of katsuki like this, probably fresh from his work out, has you in a shambles — breaking out into hot sweats, panting like a dog. someone might even think you’re sick.

katsuki pays your little tantrum no mind, crossing his arms and leaning his hip against the kitchen counter while he waits for you to finish.

“you look so good.” you relent eventually, shoulders sagging.

shaking his head in a fond manner, the blonde rolls his ruby framed eyes. “no, you look good.” katsuki coos amusedly, arms opening wide for you as you pad further into the kitchen to snuggle against his chest. although he’s taunting you and you’re playing right into his game, you will always love that katsuki finds little ways to compliment you and make you feel adored — you feel it as he presses the wisps of a kiss into the crown of your head. “you always do.”

“it’s not fair that you get to go around like this! wearing that and making me feel all��!” you wave your hands about eccentrically, a heated frustration burning at your nerve endings as you screech your feelings out.

bakugou smiles to himself, sexy and slow, barely jumping when his toast pops out of the toaster. he grabs it, holds the corner of his food between his rows of pearly white teeth and spins your positions so that he traps you against the kitchen counter. “gonna need some context, babe.” you think that he’s going to touch you but instead reaches behind you to grab at his coffee.

freaking tease.

it’s impossible to think clearly when your boyfriend is this close — his intoxicating musky scent of sweet sweat and cool toned aftershave making you dizzy. “i hate you.” you state indignantly, flopping against his chest and letting it’s plushness muffle your speech patterns. “you’re stupid hot. and a slut.”

“you slut shamin’ me, sweetness?”

“s’what you deserve. dressin’ like you don’t belong to nobody. like you belong to the streets.”

“i belong to you, baby. you know that.” chucking his toast onto the counter, the blonde swoops down to kiss you hungrily — tasting of freshly brewed coffee grounds and salt. of course he would get off to something like this. he’s got you right where he wants you, weak in the knees and melting in his arms.

you screw your eyes shut, squirming in place as bakugou steps back and guides your hand under his tight fitting compression shirt, overloading your brain with just how built he is. fleshy pecks and golden abs. he ends up keeping it rolled up so you feel hot all over. “i can get undressed if it makes ya feel better.”

you can’t help that your eyes drop back down to his cotton grey sweats — they’ve slipped a little lower, low enough for his sharp v-line and soft blonde curls from his happy trail to peek out from the waistband. if you squinted (not that you would need to) you could make out the outline of his semi as it brushes against your inner thighs.

this is it. this is the end. “it makes me feel worse actually. like i might die of thirst or something. especially if you don’t—“

“if i don’, what?” his hands are all over you now, splayed over your tummy, digging into your waist — he overwhelms you. pressing his body against yours until you practically feel him through your pores. bakugou is hot (physically, sure) but against you, your desire for him spreads like a heatwave through every inch of your body — from the tips of your fingers and toes to the top of your head.

“kiss me.” you breathe, a neediness seeded into your tone.

bakugou arches a blonde eyebrow, looking down at you cockily. “c’mere then, brat.”

he uses a finger and thumb to tilt your chin up towards him, leaning down to kiss you before tricking you with a fake out. just as you begin to whinge and complain, the blonde squishes your cheeks so you can’t wriggle away from him and licks into your mouth with a teasing laugh. he only kisses you fully when you grasp at his slender waist, feel him up from under his clothes and slip your hands over his ass — just bellow the waistband of his sweats.

“fuckin’ tease,” katsuki grunts, tugging on your lower lip with his teeth and sucking in your tongue.

a free hand wanders from his bottom, climbs up the rippling muscles of his back and tangles in bakugou’s sandy roots — fisting then as you drag him closer, working your tongue into his hot and welcoming mouth. “takes one to know one, kats,” you mewl into him, letting him swallow your satisfied gasps and squeaks.

every action, every groan and grope becomes rougher, needier, hornier — squeezing each other turns to grinding on one another until there’s no room for either of you to breathe and just as you move to shove your hand down the front of his boxers, everything comes to a halt.

you knock bakugou’s coffee over when he lifts you onto the counter.

“ow! hot!” you squeal, still tilting your head back to make room for the blonde at your neck.

he doesn’t stop, nipping at your skin. “yeah, so you’ve said babe.”

“not you, dummy!” swatting at your boyfriend, you push him off. “the fucking coffee on my ass!”

katsuki blinks, his lashes fluttering against the column of your throat while be peeks over your shoulder at the beverage spilling across the counter and seeping into your clothes.

“that’s what you get for callin’ me a slut.”

“oh…oh fuck you.”

“‘m trying babe.”

“fuck you. slut.”

“keep degrading me sweetness, ‘m kinda into that.”

꒰ end. — all rights reserved © tteokdoroki 2023. do not copy, repost, translate & recommend elsewhere.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Wicked Games 3

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: non/dubcon, cheating, and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Character: Steve Rogers

Summary: you had a one night stand. Or did you?

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging ❤️

A week passes in a tense slog. Barrett continues his pandering penance and you wallow in irritation. You want to put it behind you. You want to get past it but every time you do, it just happens again.

If this was the first time, it would be easy but you’ve lost count of all the times you’ve had this fight. 

Your menial office work does little to distract. It only allows you to think about all the bullshit. The way Barrett dismisses everything you do and has to list of everything you don’t. The way he can’t see his own flaws or how you’ve never once rubbed his nose in them like a dog.  

Is it passive or weak or just acceptance? You can’t say. You just always put up with it.  It’s just easier not to make an issue of every little thing. Problem is, now it’s a big thing. 

When you come home, you’re worn out but you still have work to do. Dishes, tidying, cooking. Even your weekends don’t allow you must rest. You need to sort through the bills and go get groceries. All along the way, he’s in the way. You’re not sure he’s trying to help, more so trying to force his way to forgiveness. 

You grab a bundle of reusable shopping bags from the cupboard overflowing with them. It only took about a hundred of the things to start remembering to take them with you.  

As you shut the cupboard, Barrett’s on the other side of the oven. Watching and waiting. He’d be a lot more help if you didn’t have to tell him what to do. You forgot a mug and to him, that’s high crime, but he can’t remember to pay the power bill without six texts on the due date. 

“So... what’s going on today?” He smiles. 

It used to be that that smile made you melt. It would make all your troubles flutter away like butterflies. Now it’s just another irk. 

“Groceries.” You wave the fistful of bags. 

“Oh, cool, want me to come?” 

You nearly scoff. Every weekend you ask and every weekend he’s too busy. His pals want him to jam in their garage band or go fishing down at some dirty river. Another tick on the wrong side of the Pros-Cons list. 

“Sure,” you shrug. It’s easier to just let him come along. You don’t need another argument and you could use the extra hands. 

You shove the bags into the folded shopping cart and put your shoes on. He toddles behind like a lost child. You’re repress a glare as you grab your keys and purse. You’re going to have to talk this out sooner than later our you’re really going to hate him. 

He follows you out to the bus stop and you wait in silence. You had a car but it broke down last year. Ever since, he gets a ride off his coworkers or friends and you flash your bus pass. It’s cheaper than leasing a car, even a used one. 

You don’t know what stresses you out more; thinking about all the stuff he does or just thinking about your life. You get on the bus and sit near the back. He reaches over to grab your hand. You wince but don’t pull away. 

“Nice day,” he says. 

“Mhmm,” you grumble. 

His attempt at small talk doesn’t go much further. You get off at your stop and walk the block to the grocery store. You unfold your shopping cart and pull out your list. Barrett grabs a bag of gummy bears and dumps them in the cart. 

“Those aren’t on the list,” you say. 

“I know but it’ll be a nice treat for later. We’ll have some tonight after dinner.” 

“Oh, alright.” 

You factor in the extra cost and mentally cross off the avocado from the list. You can go without. You roll through the produce section and work your way down the list. Barrett trails behind you. 

You stop in the cereal aisle to grab a bag of oatmeal. As you stand, you flinch and cry out at a surprise peck on your cheek. Barrett puts his arm around your shoulder as he presses his lips against you. 

“What are you doing?” You ask. 

“Baby, giving you a kiss.” You look at him and he grins, “I miss you. I love you. I’m tryna be better, honey.” 

“In the grocery store?” You challenge. 

“It’s cute.” 

“Mm, it’s... let’s wait ‘til we get outta here. It’s starting to get busy.” You glance around at the other customers, hoping none of them noticed his little act. “How about you go grab some drumsticks? Flyer says they’re on sale.” 

“Oh, I can do that. Be right back!” He proclaims. 

He shuffles off and you shake your head and turn back to the shelves. The store brand on discount is all out. You hiss in disappointment. You search the rest of the selection. That’s the cheapest on the shelf and you really can’t stretch the extra dollar. 

You look up at the overstock along the top. It’s right up there but you’re just too short to reach. You give a poor attempt then stand flat on your feet. You peer up and down the aisle. You could find an employee. 

“Need some help?”  

You turn to face the stranger and give a start. They aren’t so strange after all. You know him. Well, not know-know him. Everyone in the city knows Steve Rogers, the Captain America. 

“Uhhh...” 

“What’s your brand?” He asks. “They don’t run restock until before closing. I usually come then, less busy but I got... ha, sorry, I’m rambling. What can I grab for you?” 

You lick your dry lips and glance at the shelf. You appreciate the help but telling Captain America that you need the cheapest bag on the shelf isn’t exactly dignified. You point to the price tag on the shelf and he reaches on his toes to grab the edge of the box on the top. He wiggles out a bag and stands flat. 

“Here,” he offers it with a handsome smile. “You know, it’s made at the same factory as the regular brand.” He taps the back of the bag, “exact same address. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re from the same lot.” 

“Oh, well, er... thanks,” you take the oats and put them in your cart. 

“No problem. Sometimes being a hero isn’t very glorious. Sometimes it’s just reaching the top shelf.” 

You force a chuckle. You’re sure the Cap’s life is all sunshine and rainbows. Must be a real ego boost to help the little people. 

“Well, I appreciate it, Captain.” 

“Steve,” he smirks and stares. Your lower your brows and look behind you. Is he looking at someone else? 

“Oh, of course. I should go find my husband.” You roll around him and try to shake off the awkward encounter. You look down at your list as you stop at the end of the aisle. 

“Hope he’s not lost...” Steve calls after you. He says your name and you crane to look at him. You meet his gaze and blanch. He turns and struts off without another word. 

You turn back to your path and slowly leave the aisle. How did he know your name? You replay the interaction and try to recall giving it but you can’t. Well, you’re not exactly thinking straight right now. It’s nothing. You’re just stressed. 

[pinkflamingosims]

Flamingo’s Faves IV, Kitchen Clutter (part one?)

I was making a collection file for my kitchen stuff and couldn't stop myself from taking some pretty pictures.

1. Cutting Boards, Vintage Crockery 4t2 by @moocha-muses, original by @leaf-motif. 2. Paper towels. 4t2 by Veranka. So boring, yet so useful. 3. Spice of Life Rack, Home Chef Hustle 4t2 by @lordcrumps and @tvickiesims. I have a love/hate relationship with this pack. 4. Teapot, Tiny Living 4t2 by @linacheries. 5. Mortar and Pestle, Home Chef Hustle 4t2 by @lordcrumps and @tvickiesims. 6. Storage Stuff by tsld. Sits next to every second coffee maker in my game. 7. Basket Bowls, 4t2 For Rent by @lordcrumps and @platinumaspiration. This pack has so many great bits and we got every last one of them for TS2! 8. Porcelain Tray by @pforestsims (pssst, this is not a kitchen item, it's from the Chateau Bathroom) 9. Small tray, @pforestsims again, comes with tasty treats. 10. One Dining Bowls, 3t2 by Veranka, original by linegud. 11. Decorative Collectible Plate,, Parenthood 4t2 by earlypleasantview. 12. Cambria Fruit Bowl, by Veranka. 13. Banana Peel and Apple Core, 4t2 from Get To Work by @sims-influence. Is this even kitchen clutter? 14. Storage Jars, Buggybooz. A classic, but I always forget how nice all of the recolors are. Peas!

1. Hanging Utensils. From Veranka's 3t2 New Vintage Kitchen, original by Gosik. These don't work on mac, unfortunately. 2. Positronic Pro Magnetic Knife Rack, 4t2 base also by @veranka-downloads. 3. Anti-Donkey Knife Set, 4t2 Cool Kitchen by @kayleigh-83. 4. Pro-Quality Knife Block Set, 4t2 Base Game by Veranka (same as 2). 5. Tom Berry Knife Block, Home Chef Hustle 4t2 by @lordcrumps and @tvickiesims. The japanese steel texture on these is so so pretty and I think I need to have a Tom Berry in my game. 6. Utensils , 4t2 by Veranka. 7. Utensils Bucket, 4t2 by Limonaire, original by @litttlecakes. 8. Utensils Holder, 4t2 kbb's retro vintage vibe by @neosimi. I see now that I only picked the red swatch from this set in all the pictures, but the others are so great, too! There is a cute whimsical vintage style and a cool retro one. 9. Trusty Maxis Utenils Holder, Recolor by luasims. 10. Utensils Holder, Vanilla Kitchen 4t2 by @thimblesims, original by @aira-cc.

1. Wish in a Dish Wall Plates, 4t2 by @lordcrumps. 2. Hanging Pots, 4t2 base by @veranka-downloads. 3. The King's Cookware, 4t2 Country Kitchen by delonariel. 4. Casserole, by buggybooz, must have like everything else in this set. 5. Granny's Cozy Casserole Dish, 4t2 Country Kitchen by delonariel. 6. Conspiracy Mugs, 4t2 by Pixelry, original by @litttlecakes. 7. Retro Dishes, 4t2 kbb's retro vintage vibe by @neosimi. 8. Stacked Pots. 4t2 by TSLD. Fits sinks perfectly. 9. Modern Plates, Home Chef Hustle 4t2 by @lordcrumps and @tvickiesims. 10. Paper Plates, recolor of Veranka's Cambria Plates by @2fingerswhiskey. Comes with red solo cups! 11. Mugs. 4t2 Everyday Clutter by @lordcrumps. The inspiration for this must have been my someone's real life desk. 12. Pitcher, again 4t2 Cottage Living by delonariel. I was really surprised by the modern swatches.

1. Main Squeeze Cannisters, Cottage Living 4t2 by Delonariel. These also have cool modern color options! 2. Deja Brew Coffee Jars, 4t2 by @kayleigh-83, original by @ravasheencc. I love that these are sorted in appliances. 3. and 4. Heritage Flour Tin, and Rustic Kitchen Tin, Country Kitchen 4t2 by Delonariel . 5. Bread Box, Kitchen of tomorrow 4t2 by @kestrelteens, original by @surely-sims. 6. Spicebox Duo, DIne Out 4t2 by Deelee. 7. Heritage Bread Box, Country Kitchen 4t2 by Delonariel. 8. Bread Box, 4t2 kkb’s my cherish things by @neosimi. The colors are soo good!. 9. Storage Box, 4t2 kkb’s retro vintage vibe by @neosimi. 10. Cookie jar, 4t2 by TSLD. 11. Bread Box of Holding, Parenthood 4t2 by earlypleasantview.

[moonyasnow]

TWST OC Showcase: Timofey 'Spike' Orlov

Voice Claim: Patrick Seitz (in his performance of Franky from One Piece)

Beastman - Kangaroo Right-handed Shaftlands 210cm / 6'10 - #990909 / 153, 9, 9 November 12th - Scorpio - 19-20 y.o. 3d year - Junior - Class C, no. 18 Basketball Club Best Subject: P.E. Hobbies: Watching Pro-Wrestling Pet peeves: Betrayal Favorite food: Poppyseed muffins Least favorite food: Just meat Talent: Fighting Floyd-given name: Sharky Rook-given name: Monsieur de Pointe Cater-given name: Spikey Signature Spell: Wild Stab Can make spikes shoot up from the ground or from his hands. Depending on the amount of magic he pours into it those spikes could become MASSIVE.

Link to all my OC Showcases here!

Some quotes:

"Always known I got a scary mug— didn't realize just how scary, 'pparently… 'M real sorry 'bout before…" He stands awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

"You're the easily bribed kind, huh. Didn't figure you the type at first." — "N-nothing! I—" His face flushes a little "I think 's cute."

"Course! I'd never ditch my comrade-in-arms— uh, no, best bud— ok really gotta work on a word for it— a-anyway! I'd never just ditch you like that. You're important to me, yeah? Where you go, I go, 'n all that."

His mother had him quite young, and his father was never in the picture. When Spike was very little, just around one year old, his mother left Spike to be raised by her mother, his grandmother. She said it was because she was too young to be a mother. She never came back after that. His grandmother, an incredibly forgiving and understanding soul, just hoped that wherever she is now, she's doing well, and that she's lived a good life. And so Spike was raised by his grandma, or 'Gran' as he called her, in a pretty bad part of a big Shaftlands city, and they didn't have much money. But they weren't entirely impoverished— they could afford to put food on the table basically every day, though having to cut corners to save water and electricity. Though it still wasn't at all uncommon for their electricity or water to be turned off once every month or so. Especially since Spike had a very big appetite, and both ate and grew a lot. His grandmother thought it was more important he grow up healthy than save money on electricity. So while they did sometimes have to choose between light or food for the night, it could have been a lot worse.

Though they were poor, his grandmother could afford to send him to a nearby public school. When he got there, even at age 6, he was almost twice the size of all his peers. And he wasn't used to playing with other kids— when they saw him they thought he looked scary, and would hide, or run to a teacher. And he was a lot stronger than them, too. When he tried to pat someone on the shoulder, he might accidentally use too much force, and the kid would run to the teacher saying he hit them. He didn't mean to! He just wanted to ask them to play with him.

Spike spent a lot of time as a kid watching TV. There wasn't much else to do where he grew up. Especially not since he and his Gran were basically broke. And tickets to the cinema, or going bowling, or visiting an amusement park, all cost money. But there was almost always something to watch on TV. But in particular, from a pretty early age he became fascinated by two genres: romcoms, and wrestling. At first, he didn't like wrestling very much because he thought it was sad everyone seemed so mad at each other all the time. But when his Gran told him they were just pretending to be mad, were just acting, it made him feel a lot better. So after that, even as a young joey, he thought the wrestling moves he saw on the screen looked so cool! And the stories…to him, it felt like his own superhero show. And romcoms...just like he grew up idealizing the guys he saw doing wrestling, he grew up wanting to be like the male leads in the romance movies. Love looked so nice, and warm, and happy, and from a pretty early age he became a bit of a hopeless romantic.

All he knew about his mother was what his Gran had told him, that she had moved somewhere, and that she didn't know where, but hoped that she was happy. His Gran never seemed all that sad she wasn't there, so it was never a big deal to him. He never cared all that much that he never had a mom. His Gran kinda filled that role for him anyway. But he was sometimes sad that he didn't have a dad. Because the boys he saw on TV who had dads seemed to have so much fun with them. His Gran was really really nice and he loved her a lot, but the dads he saw on the screen were different; they tried to teach their sons things, like being strong, or how to stand up to people when they're mean to you, or stuff like that. Moms could do that too, of course… But a mom wouldn't be a boy like he was. So there were some things that just wouldn't be the same. So he really wanted a dad. In particular a dad because… He'd seen pictures of his mom, and she didn't look a lot like him. She was a red kangaroo, yes, and shared some features with him, but she wasn't as abnormally tall as him. Or as scary-looking. So he often wondered if maybe his dad looked more like him. If people were scared of him, too. Spike may not always have been able to catch on it was him and his appearance specifically people were scared of in individual cases of them seeming uncomfortable around him…but it did usually click eventually. He looked at pictures of other kids in books or on TV, and then at his own reflection in the mirror, trying to find which parts of him it was that made people scared, and unwilling to be his friend… He hoped that, if he did have a dad, and he could meet him, he could help him. Or at least, he'd have someone else like him. He hoped his dad was like one of the wrestlers he watched. One of the good ones. The nice ones, who fought bad wrestlers. They were big and strong, maybe even a little bit scary-looking, but people all cheered for them, and liked them.

He didn't do well in school, even though he tried his best. He learned to read and write, but thinking deeply about subjects, or counting really high numbers, or putting his thoughts into words just never came naturally to him. And seeing all his classmates get, at the very least decent grades, he felt even more discouraged. If he wasn't learning anything even though he tried, and all the other kids were scared of him, and the teacher always assumed he was aggressive and dangerous just because he was a Red Kangaroo beastman, then he figured he wasn't welcome there. Didn't belong there. So he started skipping. And doing so, he encountered other kids who were also skipping school. With them, he didn't feel as out-of-place anymore. He was just tall with them. Not scary, not dangerous. Just a really tall kid; which they thought was pretty cool actually. So this group of kids, basically running loose with no adult supervision, gradually started doing more and more dangerous stuff, which, as they grew older, started sometimes crossing the line into being illegal. It was mostly just small things at first. Like stealing candy from the store none of them could afford, so they could share it with each other, or painting with spray cans, or roughhousing that got a bit out of hand and ended up with someone losing a tooth. But these things also lead to them slowly growing a distrust for the police, and adults in positions of authority in general, just because they knew that if the adults knew the kinda stuff they did for fun together, they'd all be in trouble. And none of them wanted that; the little gang they'd formed was important to all of them, after all. So that sense of loyalty fostered among each other slowly became a strict code. And as they all grew older still, their activities became more and more dangerous. Now they didn't just steal candy, but larger things, sometimes even TVs, which they promptly found middle-man buyers for, who could pass them onto more 'reputable' sellers, to be sold back to the public. Some of them started stealing ATMs. When people got upset at each other, it couldn't always just be forgiven the next day anymore. Now, if it was bad enough, people beat each other up. And these kids, raised by TV or violent or uncaring guardians, had no one to tell them off for it. So violence, running from the cops, and breaking the law just became common-place eventually. Especially when they started coming into conflicts with other gangs.

Spike's straight-forward, impulsive 'punch first, ask questions later' personality lead to him doing quite well in this world, developing a reputation as an almost scarily good fighter, even though he'd never trained, and was the youngest of the group. That's how he got the name 'Spike'. He ended up learning most of the things he knows that way, through trial and error. He ended up getting real attached to one particular member of that gang, who became like a brother to him. He would always defend Spike if someone else tried to pick on him for not being super smart, or would get intimidated by Spike and try to pick a fight to prove how much tougher than him they were. That older guy, Oscar, ended up becoming the leader of their little gang; he was the smartest, after all, the one who made all the plans, not to mention quite charismatic. The kind of person people rallied behind. Spike looked up to him a lot. Spike ended up getting some money from their activities, which he gave to his gran. When she asked where he'd gotten the money, he told her that he'd dropped out of school, but he'd gotten a job! She was understanding about his dropping out, saying that the straight-forward path isn't for everyone; there's nothing wrong with taking a roundabout path. What was important was that it was what he himself decided on.

Growing up in the gang had started making him more crass, using 'foul' language and things like that. But the gang was also a comfortable place for him. Way fewer people were scared of him, and the few people who were at least tried to stand up and do something about it, even if that was to try to fight him. He could be unabashedly himself— at least for the most part. He did hide the fact that he really liked baking and loved cute things from most of the group except Oscar; he was worried that would have the others making fun of him for it. But the gang also taught him violence. So while it's not exactly something he finds 'fun', he can absolutely fuck someone up if he needs to. And so he did for the gang on multiple occasions, getting rid of rival gangs' members by fighting them, usually breaking a few bones and taking them out of the game for quite a while until they were healed. They were by no means the biggest gang around, despite what they'd thought as younger kids. They were part of a criminal ecosystem now. And some of the others in the gang started thinking Oscar wasn't bold enough. His strategies for things they'd steal were more methodical; carefully planned out so as not to draw too much suspicion to them, so no one would get caught. But they didn't yield for the kind of money some other people got for jobs. And greed and desperation can drive people to do bad things. One of the people in the gang ended up selling them all out to a bigger, more powerful rival gang nearby, who jumped them all one day. People's bones were broken, he- he thought he saw someone get their neck snapped. People passed out from the beatings they got from the members of the other gang that outnumbered them. He was so busy fighting off people who tried to get at him that he could barely see what was happening around them. Until he heard gunshots. That day Spike realized just what small fry they really were compared to other gangs in the area. Spike was the only survivor. He tried to get Oscar to a hospital, but because they were a violent gang, he told Spike not to bother, since they probably wouldn't receive help anyway. And it's not like they could afford it. So it ended with him being forced to see his best friend and mentor, someone who was at once an older brother and closest thing he'd had to a paternal figure, die on the ground. He was only 15 and half. And he'd just watched his best friend die. Of course he knew the stuff they did was dangerous— he or one of the others had ended up wounded or had gotten into a foot-chase with the authorities more times than he could recall. But everyone had always been ok in the end. The worst that would happen was someone wound up in jail. No one... No one had ever died. Sure, he'd heard about it happening with other gangs, but this...

The first thing he felt was a confusing mix of sorrow and pure rage. His friends, who he'd grown up with, who'd had his back for so many years, who made him the person he was, who'd always treated him like he was just any other guy...were dead. They'd been killed. They even got Oscar. The person Spike had always looked up to. Who Spike thought seemed invincible. Because no matter what trouble they got into, he was always the one who got them out of it. Oscar didn't deserve it— he was amazing, the smartest person Spike had ever met, and he cared a lot for his friends even if it didn't always seem like it at a glance. Once, he'd asked Spike what he was doing there: Spike had a home, and his grandma. Not everyone in the gang was that lucky. But Spike said the gang was as much family to him as his gran was. "I know I ain't good for much besides punchin' folks. Couldn't do school. But I can do this. 'F it helps my gran, 'm gonna keep at it." And after hearing that, Oscar just nodded, and didn't bring it up again. Spike knew that he himself didn't have a lot of hope at a better life than what he'd already gotten himself into. Oscar was meant for so much more than this! he was smart! Capable! Cared a lot! He was meant to go places! Better places! More legit places. Get a real job, a real good one, and get out of this violent life. Spike had never been so angry before in his entire life. The other gang, who killed or recruited all his old friends, went to him to try to recruit him to join them. He was already in too deep in the criminal world to stop now, and he needed to provide for his Gran somehow— her having gotten too old to work— so he swallowed his pride and his rage and agreed. He was doing it for his Gran now, and that gave him strength. But still, he couldn't see the old friend who'd betrayed him and the rest of the gang's face without wanting to literally snarl like a rabid animal.

But then his gran died. She'd had quite a bad cough for a while, and pausing to cough had caused her to slip and fall down the stairs. When he found her after coming home, it all felt like some big, sick joke. With that, the last thing keeping him and his emotions in check was gone. He went on a rampage, showing up at the gang's HQ and beating every single member he could find to death, saving his 'old friend' for last— after a brutal beat-down he squeezed his head so hard his skull cracked. He didn't realize until then just how strong he really was. Police who showed up to the scene later would find the entire place covered top to bottom in giant, razor-sharp spikes. It seemed that was how he discovered his Signature Spell: 'Wild Stab'. That was also how he realized he was a mage in the first place; he was too poor to ever have gone anywhere close to any kind of educational source about magic, and any previous occurrences he'd just chalked up as being something else. And those spikes were what had actually done most of the heavy lifting during said rampage. Though he wouldn't know just how much damage he'd caused. All he knew was he got so mad he couldn't think or see anything, and he punched a lot of people, and felt something weird and kindly tingly everywhere. He himself was grievously injured. He'd gotten a bad beating from the people he fought, and was black and blue everywhere, and bleeding. At some point he'd also managed to impale himself in the arm on one of his own spikes. He didn't realize it until after he'd staggered away from the scene and ending up falling into a gutter. He was still alive, but on the brink of death. He thought he was going to die. He was only 16 at the time. But then he heard someone begin to approach him. Spike told whoever it was to: "Screw off and let me die in peace". He was just so tired. He wanted to take a nap... The man said no. He gave Spike an offer: If Spike agreed to work for him, he'd get him patched up, and then get him the funds to retire early. Not really having anything else to do, Spike just answered: "Maybe. Depends on the job."

The next thing he remembers is waking up in the hospital three months later. And when he woke up, he'd gotten a letter in the mail. From a place called 'Night Raven College'. Then they found Spike's biological father, who he moved in with. His father was neither happy nor upset to meet him, but did seem annoyed that Spike would be moving in with him. They quickly came to an agreement that they stay out of each others' space. They were just living together; and only until Spike turned 18. Spike had wondered about what his dad might be like often as a joey, and wondered if he was just as big and scary-looking as Spike. Little Spike always took some comfort in thinking maybe he was, and that maybe he could meet him one day. Turns out he wasn't. He was tall, but definitely not as tall as Spike, and while a little bit rugged, he wasn't exactly scary to look at. He couldn't help but feel disappointed... He'd always hoped his dad would be just like him, and that with him, Spike could finally no longer feel so out-of-place. But now even in what was supposed to be his 'home', he felt like an unwanted intruder. So he just felt more out-of-place than ever. He wasn't exactly upset by his dad not wanting to be his dad. He was just a person living his life, who maybe didn't even know Spike existed at all before this. But... That comforting idea he'd idealized of a dad who was just like him, and was proud of Spike being just like him...someone Spike could go to for guidance, who'd want to help, and never be too busy to come running when Spike really needed help...seemed to just kinda go up in smoke. And for the first time he realized how vulnerable he truly was. He really had no safety net. No one to catch him. His Gran had always tried her best, but she had to work so often, and then became too weak to do a lot but just simple stuff around the house. But all that time, he hadn't really noticed the lack of it. Maybe because he'd also distantly had this thought that he had a dad out there somewhere, who loved him, who'd care for him when he finally met him, and welcome him with a big hug. He went walking around the street that night, because it felt familiar... Eventually he stopped walking next to the bank of the river passing through the city, and just sat down on the ground, and cried, hugging his knees. He missed Oscar. He missed his Gran. He missed all his other friends. He hadn't even begun to fully process they were all gone yet. And he had no one who could help him do that. He was left there, alone. Just a 16-year-old who grew up too fast, with no one to guide him, show him how to feel, how to think.

Miscellaneous facts:

He goes to anger-management classes now. He doesn't get angry often, and if he does it's always for a very clear reason. But when he does, he sometimes goes overboard and ends up causing an absolute mess. His Signature Spell scares him, honestly. He doesn't like that it's so violent, since it's a part of himself he isn't proud of.

He has lanky yet weirdly strong arms.

He's still got the same attitude as he did when he was a street punk, he's incredibly tall, and he's always had a horrendous case of RBF, so most people are scared of him as soon as they meet him. He's not very forward thinking and is pretty bad at planning ahead and he knows it. He just focuses on the thing right in front of him and gets going with it. He's always done better as the lackey of smarter people.

Just how much he can mess both things and people up with his strength when he tries can make him honestly terrifying, especially when he gets genuinely upset. But he's still got a good heart. And when he's comfortable and not on edge, he's actually a giant softie who cries when the dog dies in a movie and gets shy and embarrassed really easily if you know what to say/do. And deep down, he's pretty insecure about a lot of things. His appearance and way of speaking just scares people into being really wary of him. That he looks scary, and that he could really harm someone if he wanted to, are his two biggest insecurities.

He has more manners than you'd expect of a street punk, since his grandmother was very insistent on teaching him, and he does try to follow her advice when he needs to. In practice, this usually means he only swears around his friends, and gives very polite, even somewhat stiff first greetings. And he's super extra polite when he's visiting someone else's house. If they're an adult he always calls them 'sir/ma'am/mx'. He'll be pretty stiff and awkward the whole time, and won't know what he can and cannot stand on, and if he should take his shoes of— And he always tries to bring a gift, even if it's just something small like chocolates or homemade sweets.

He's pretty good at baking, actually! And pretty ok at cooking too. He was actually the go-to cook in the gang when they couldn't go out to some fast food place. He really likes cooking for people, and sharing meals with his friends. The kinda guy who will say, no irony to be found, that 'food always tastes better when you share it with others'.

He doesn't normally have freckles! He has them at NRC because he's so pale, Savannaclaw is so bright and sunny, and he does not put on sunscreen that often.

The city he grew up in was the kind of city that seemed to be constantly either cloudy or rainy, but also got really cold and snowy in the winter.

At NRC

For a while, he didn't really know what to do about the letter he got. He'd never been good at school, after all. And he wasn't good at thinking about the future; what good could going to school even do, if he even managed to finish it at all? But somewhere in the back of his head, he knew Oscar would probably tell him to go for it.

And it's not like he really knew what else to do.

There was that weird guy who'd saved him, and said something about Spike working for him... But he really didn't wanna just stick around waiting for who-knows-what to happen.

So he decided to go.

At the Entrance Ceremony, he was shocked when he heard the mirror call for a 'Timofey Orlov'. His gran was the only one who ever called him Timofey after he dropped out of school. In his head 'Spike' had just become more like his real name than a nickname at some point. He doesn't dislike Timofey, but in a way it feels...somewhat intimate to hear. For the rest of the school-year he had to tell everyone he met; teachers, other people who remembered him from the entrance ceremony (which was a lot, given just how tall he was, and how his height combined with his gravely voice made people ask if he was even a teenager) that he preferred going by 'Spike'.

And then, after feeling very out-of-place in his custom-tailored Ceremonial Robes, having been sorted into Savannaclaw, he found himself standing next to another freshman; some guy with lion ears. And they ended up rooming together. Spike tried to be polite and introduce himself, but all he was met with was the other guy turning his back to him to take a nap.

But he eventually found out the guy's name was Leona. Leona Kingscholar, apparently.

At first it didn't click for him. Spike just said he thought it was cool, and wondered what it must be to like to have the same surname as a royal family, asking if people treated him like royalty because of it. Leona answered 'not really'.

"Huh." Spike said. "Well that blows. 'F you have a cool name, figure other folk'd treat you like you're cool too. Just ends up bein' confusin' then."

When he found out Leona— who'd ended up becoming 'Lona' because of Spike's habit of not paying too much mind to proper annunciation— was a year older than everyone else, and not due to being held back, but having chosen to attend a year later, Spike just looked at the cast still left on his arm and asked "Wait, I coulda done that?! I figured it was a 'now or never' kinda deal!"

Leona ended up becoming a really good friend of his, and Spike basically his first follower/lackey.

At one point, during their second year, the new Housewarden of Octavinelle had tried to recruit Spike to his own dorm. But all he got was a death glare and a 'piss off!' in return, with Spike making it very clear he was "Not jumpin' ship! Doesn't matter what ya try to throw at me!"

Oh, and when Leona eventually straight up told Spike that he was the Leona Kingscholar, as in, the prince, when they were doing homework (read= Spike trying to do his homework in Leona's general vicinity and asking him for help with questions he didn't understand) Spike just went 'Mhm.' . . . "...Wait really?!"

"So that's why you're so rich!" and then rubbed the back of his neck and asked "So uh...d'I gotta start callin' you 'your highness' or 'sir' or somethin' now and junk?" to which he was just met with a "Do whatever you want."

Spike just kinda went 'Oh. Ok.' Then proceeded to ask 'Lona' for help on another question.

(Spike's entire world was rocked when Leona started pointing out all the other people going to their school who were actually big-name celebrities or the kids of rich CEOs or something)

His literal second day, after classes were over, he was approached by Night Raven's entire Basketball team, who proceeded to all get down on the ground and literally BEG him to join their Club. "Uh… Not doin' any other stuff, so guess I could—" then who he thought was probably the leader grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously, thanking him profusely and promising he would not regret it!

He ended up becoming the MVP of the team. If they managed to get the ball to him, it was almost always a guaranteed point for them; most games he was playing in ended up turning into the other team trying their absolute best to work AROUND him, because everyone knew that as soon as he was on the opponent's side of the court and he had the ball, even if he was still pretty far away, he could jump and have a 70% chance of getting the ball in the hoop anyway.

And he became good friends with Floyd, Ace and Jamil, once they joined the Basketball club.

And through the Basketball club, he met Neige— specifically after an NRC vs. RSA basketball match hosted at Night Raven in Spike's second year at school. After saving Neige from some Night Raven students who were harassing him, it was love at first sight for Neige, and it didn't take Spike long to develop a crush.

And eventually, after hanging out more and getting closer, Neige taking every chance he got to visit NRC, they started dating.

Spike was incredibly nervous and sorta awkward at first— he'd had a few crushes growing up, but had never actually gotten even close to a romantic relationship. But the nerves started wearing off with time, leaving just a very happy Spike, hopelessly in love with his boyfriend.

Since he grew up basically without adult supervision, starting to skip school so early and with his gran often working, he was so used to just doing whatever he felt like that having teachers with authority over him came as a shock. He'd never really experienced being told off by adults before— adults who weren't police, at least.

It surprised him when one day he said something about 'when I was a Joey' and one of his teachers responded with 'you're still only 16'.

He sure didn't feel 16.

He started wondering if that was weird.

He started realizing he'd never really been treated like a kid before. Somewhat by his gran, but mostly when he was very little. By the time he was in school, he was much bigger than the other kids and his face also made him look older than he was, so they treated him more like a teenager than a child. And the same went for all the other adults he'd ever encountered.

Throughout all his time at NRC, he kept feeling like he 'stole' his friend's place somehow. Oscar was supposed to be the one going to some fancy magic school— not him. Oscar actually had the skills to make good use of an education— not to mention even get that education in the first place. Spike started skipping school when he was 9, and had dropped out completely by age 11.

Spike knows would never have made it in any of his classes without Leona's help.

And that night…the things he did… He tried his best not to think about it. He partially can't remember much anyway. He just knew he flew into a bloodthirsty rage, and only emerged from it when he was about to finish off the person who betrayed him and the others.

He feels strange, thinking about how easy it was.

That night he realized he had it in him to hurt others. He didn't exactly want to hurt others, but he could. ...Probably good people, too. He didn't feel bad about what he did. Not in the way he knew he was supposed to. He knew he'd be able to do it again.

But he did feel bad thinking that...maybe that was exactly what his teachers and classmates saw in him when he was a joey.

Were they right, then? Was this the only outcome for him?

That night…the reason he accepted the stranger's offer was probably because after what he'd done, he already felt like he was a monster. He'd accepted that he was, even.

But Neige… His hands were so soft. Clean.

He didn't know why he was allowed to hold Neige's hands in his own— his own, that had hurt so many people already, and would probably go on to hurt more, if the vibe he caught from his savior were right.

He hoped that, if he really was a monster…then at least he could be the monster that protected Neige. And Leona. And all his friends.

More sprites:

Tag list: @another-random-paradise @thehollowwriter @faefum @cactus13-rolloflammesimp @beneathsakurashade

@nyx-of-night @theolivetree123 @babyghoul138 @skibidibabygirl @screamintoad

@mishig

[cirqueduroyale]

Propaganda under cut

Kingston

Pros

Loving father

Thinks his kids are super cool

Would do anything for his kiddos

Cons

Tells scary bedtime stories

Dad jokes

Lets his kids go wherever they want all day with little to no supervision

Won't buy the twins a cell phone, even though they have been very good about this whole moving thing 😠

Aries

Pros

Rich

Worlds best Grandpa (source: handmade mug gifted by grandkids)

Encourages the pursuit of knowledge (in any field that will benefit his business)

Family oriented (source: Cashworthy Family Financing brochure)

Cons

Disowned his son

Neglectful

Financially controls his family

King George Mills

Pros

Loved and dotted on Quinn

Encouraged children's' interests (especially if they could be put in a show)

Took all the kids to get vaccinated (against his wife's wishes)

Helped Penelope with her husband problem

Cons

Showed clear favoritism toward Quinn

Locked his conjoined twins in the attic. Only letting them come out to perform in his Freak Show 😬

Often forgot about Penelope

Put Quinn in therapy as an attempt to make her "less autistic" (by the advice of child therapists at the time)

Charles Klownikov I

Pros

Taught Kingston 'illusions'

Thought Kingston was the coolest kid ever

Defended son against bigots (including his father and old friends)

Cons

Dad jokes

Honkin died 😤

Manet Pantomimal

Pros

Always encouraged Pascal's interests

Tried his best to be present, despite also being an indentured servant

Cooks delicious healthy meals for his son, even though he's an adult now

Cons

Lied to Pascal about his background

Won't tell his son who his mother is

Ron Strongson

Pros

Gave fatherly advice to Leo and now grandfatherly advice to Red...and anyone else who asks

Treated Leo like his own son when he realized how neglectful his actual parents were

Let's Leo stay at his home, now that his own house was repossessed by...The Bank

Makes sure Leo eats 3 actual meals a day

Cons

Doesn't have kids

Held a grudge against Leo for accepting his old job. Which soured their relationship for 15 years.

[mysteriesmuse]

Cover(s) Story 💕💤

Izuku who knows how much you hate hotels especially when you’re on missions or “vacations” together so far from home. Whom always gives you a reasonable amount of space in the bed in the room because your cover story is always being some newly wed couple. Who loves the awkward way you snort and snicker at the ridiculous sight of rose petals lining the room or the incredible swan towel sculpture on the bed when you both enter the hotel room. Who’ll help you get to work cleaning the petals up and sweeping them off the smooth pink covers with his large scared hands. A lulled serious kind of chit-chat over the type of mission y’all are on together; the logistics of what needs to be accomplished and how as your hands brush and petals flutter to the floor. Who wears the goofiest ridiculous make-shift pajama’s to make you comfortable on the other side. An All Might shirt and pants like any dedicated fanboy.

Izuku who’s learned exactly which side of the bed he should put his things on because he’s traveled enough with you on missions to know exactly which side you prefer, which is his side normally — but he lets you have it. Who lets you turn the fan and adjust the rooms AC exactly how you like it: cool. — but with the duvet and extra blanket on your form pulled up to your chin like a child being tucked in. Who, chivalrously, lets you use an excess of the hotels conditioner and who always forgets to bring his own toothpaste and so you let him borrow yours. Whom always sorta likes the way that you two smell like each other: the clean fragrant aromas of hotel soap, under the covers when you’re both getting ready to sleep.

Izuku who knows that you like to clutch something in your sleep. Who, for a change, makes no snarky comments about the plushie that he knows you’ve packed into your suitcase. A strange luggage addition for a pro hero. Bc something about the unfamiliar location coupled with the stress of the operations and the stress of the flight makes it difficult for you to sleep without a piece of home and you’ve found that as a grown adult that a little soft friend does the trick. Izuku, who’s a gigantic young-rising prohero, that’ll curl on his side to face you — and just talk. Who rambles you to sleep (semi-purposely he knows you always will around a certain hour) as you chit-chat like kids at a slumber party and will watch you nod holding the little guy in your arms, also curled on the side. And it’s that initial respectful proximity with the line of pillows and the gigantic honeymoon suite sized bed that seems to dwindle during the night: the days spent with your fingers curled around his bicep, and your hands intertwined, or you sitting on his lap in public have slowly eroded the natural platonic spacing between y’all at night. Izuku himself sleeps mostly like a log, like physically, not metaphorically. He’s a light sleeper, but he always discovers that when he’s with you he tosses and turns a bit more. Somehow peaks an eye open to find that your legs are touching his or that your hand has grabbed his, or that the entire wall of pillows has somehow been kicked off by himself and Izuku at that point will slide his eyes closed and decide to let it be. If he accidentally cuddles you in his sleep (he’s notoriously a sleep cuddler) then he’ll have to let it happen. Besides, he doesn’t feel like tossing and turning anxious about touching you in his sleep for the rest of the night. Bc maybe he just needs a piece of home and that’s how he finds himself most mornings with him cuddled against you, that silent slipping away from your skin every morning as he throws the covers off from his side of the bed and gets to work on the coffee maker. Listening to you stir as soon as the steam starts pouring into the mug loving the the way you stretch and say, “hmm hey, hubby.” a smile inching upwards as he watches you and your bed head sit up against the headboard as he, like a good hubby, hands you coffee the way you like it. And it’s times like this that sometimes he wishes playing pretend didn’t feel like something so real.

[marzipanwings9099]

☎️

HOORAY, A SKETCH 🌹

💥 The action takes place 2-3 years after the previous sketches and events of the animated series, provided that the boys were 13-14 years old. What you read further is not canon, but represents the author's (Marzipan's) fantasies and headcanons for the characters. Thank you for your attention! 💥

"The night sky was truly beautiful, and the cooling chamomile tea was even better. It's no secret that chamomile is calming, but Secret didn't need that, he was already feeling great, because...

- You'll freeze. - A familiar voice was heard behind him.

- It should get warmer soon, the titmice whispered. - Kipp giggled, moving so that George could sit up.

- The titmice whispered, you say? Do you have a fever or did you drink chamomile?- George said thoughtfully, watching the birds flying across the pink sky. He inhaled the summer air that had managed to seep in during the last days of spring and turned his gaze to his boyfriend. - No, seriously, Kepp, why aren't you sleeping? - But the question was followed only by puzzled silence and a sad sigh. - Are you worried about university? - Like Kipp turned his thoughtful gaze to George, which could be considered a "yes." - Uni-uni... Do you want to talk about it?

Moving closer to him, George gently hugged him by the shoulders. Kipp, however, sighed sadly again and remained silent, burying his face in his knees.

- If you keep quiet, caterpillar doll, I'll start telling you about Eliza and Jane's new clothes. - Finally, the impenetrable Secret laughed and raised his head, after which he groaned tiredly.

- How do you always manage to piss me off?

- I know you don't like Eliza, it's no secret! - George said, hugging Kipp with both hands, to which he received another whale-like groan.

- I don't knoooow... - Kipp drawled, taking a sip from his mug and handing it to George. - At what point did everything become so difficult?

- You're filling your head with nonsense. University is a great place to start from scratch! Maybe you'll find new interesting acquaintances?

- Or maybe I'll remain a geek with a love for soda...

- Well... I see only pros in this, not cons.

- I should take my life more simply... - Kipper fell silent, leaning on George, and then quietly continued. - Can we start talking about Eliza and Jane's clothes yet?

- Nope! Let's talk about... - While he was thinking, Secret had already managed to go downstairs and lie down on George's lap. - "Gathering of Young Knights"!

- I read through pain and tears, why are we assigned to read this? The main character is as dumb as a cork. He could have avoided meeting Gansteloth, or whatever his name is, by simply going out an hour later, as he was advised to do, but of course he did not follow this advice and got into a duel. The End. Thank you, I'm out of tissues for tears. - He finished sarcastically and looked at George, who was watching him with a gentle smile and loving eyes. - Are you staring, Georgie.

- I'm not allowed to do this, your geekery?

- I'm not a geek! Stop making fun of my love of comics!

- Okay, okay, sorry... - George answered, holding back his laughter. Stroking Secret's fluffy hair, he finished his tea and watched the rising sun.

- By the way, why did you wake up? Did I wake you up?

- You could say that, it was very strange and scary to feel you in my arms and suddenly, sharply, feel the cold and your absence.

- Got it, we'll sleep in separate beds? - Kipp said, smiling again.

- Don't even dream about it, I bought you churros, you're my slave now, boy! - George laughed, feeling Secret laugh silently down below. During the time they spent together, Kipp had become an integral part of his life, and it was his laughter, voice, messages, jokes, dark eyes and fluffy hair that made George smile. No matter how sappy and poetically sweet it all sounded, he loved him with all his heart.

- God, I'm a slave to the churros, where is this world coming to, it seems like I'm not afraid of university now!

- Wow! It turns out the churros are saving the world! - George shouted, throwing up his hands.

Making a "hand-face" Secret laughed again, then got up from the steps and went back into the house, giggling.

- So am I banished from your bed or not? I need to be ready! - Secret threw, also getting up and hurrying after him.

- While my parents are not home, you are completely at my disposal, teapot. - Leaning on the door frame, Secret watched George, who had turned pink.

- Sounds... Tempting. - George barely squeezed out of himself, after which he heard the click of the switch behind Kipp's back and he was very successfully pulled by the collar of his pajama shirt and kissed on the lips. A slight smile broke through the already short kiss. Pulling away, both smiled slyly. Not because of some shaky thoughts, but rather because of the sparks that electrified the tips of their fingers and made them smile stupidly, lovingly.

- Yes, it looks like it's time for us to sleep. - George began to leave, backing away and Kepp belatedly shouted "There!...". The tabletop, like a sword, struck his back.

- You are the worst romantic in my life, you know that? - Already applying the frozen ice with them, Kipper said.

[yejinsone]

yu jimin.     she/her.     cis   woman.      ›      spotted   at   the   met   steps   ,  yejin won ,   most   likely   listening   to   comme de garcon (like the boys) by rina sawayama   with   their   airpods   pro   .   the   twenty   four   year  old  gained   quite   a   reputation   ,   known   to   be   -guarded   yet   +self-assured    to   anyone   who   knows   them   .   you'll   easily   spot   them   when   you   hear   about , glasses tucked into a collared shirt, hidden tattoo's crawling up her arms, and a family ring that burns ,   followed   by   grey vetiver by tom ford   .   latest   nepoupdates   article   talks   about how her dad sold lost pieces under her name, kickstarting her career (true),   but   i   guess   any   reputation   is   good   reputation   .

penned by gabe ( he/him , 26 , pst )

statistics

full  name:  yejin won

nickname:  yeji or jin

date  of  birth:  july 27th, 1999 (24 years old).

zodiac  sign:  leo

place  of  birth:  providence, rhode island

current  location:  new york city, new york.

gender: cis woman, uses she / her pronouns.

sexuality:  bisexual.

languages: english (native), korean (native).

 background + headcanons

born and raised in rhode island, to a family of artists or art curators, yejin was surrounded by art and lived in museums and galleries

she's always been her daddies girl, loyal to a fault, letting him make every decision in her life even if she isn't proud of them

everything she has earned or done on her own she wears on her chest, and the rest, that she's taken credit for, chips away at her. but she still has to wear it proudly, even if she feels herself rot on the inside, she'd never go against her dad.

yejin makes the best out of her situation, she owns a gallery of her own, and works endlessly to make every decision her own

every decision she can make, she makes fiercely, and with no fear

she's incredibly passionate, filled with fascination for everything beautiful, where it be art or people, she collects them all as if it were her job to do so

she loves too hard, romanticizes everything, and has a list of ex's but swears they've all shaped her, when she probably only remembers the good rather than the bad

probably the reason for all her break ups, she's all surface area, everything you get, it's all you can see

she's only half aware of how guarded her heart actually is

she's studied art her whole life, just got her masters, and she's a proud little nerd about it

when she's not looking effortlessly cool, at home, she plays games, does puzzles, and loves a mug of hot cocoa

she loves animated shows and movies, knows it's a bit ridiculous for someone her age but it's a guilty pleasure she wears proudly especially as animated shows have become more mainstream the prouder she is to be a fan

very much gives serious exterior but like she's a nerd

that's mostly it!! open to any an all connections i'll prob put up a connections page soon tbh... like i should do that right?... lol anyways i hope u liked getting to know yeji, thank you for reading!!

[twitchmonetization]

Beyond Donations: Diversifying Your Twitch Revenue Streams

Hey fellow streamers! If you're reading this, chances are you're no stranger to the world of Twitch. Maybe you've already built a fantastic community, and the donations are rolling in. But what if I told you there's a whole world of revenue streams beyond those generous tips? Yep, you heard me right. It's time to level up your Twitch game and explore new ways to fill that virtual piggy bank.

1. Subscriptions: More Than Just a Badge

Sure, subscriptions are a familiar concept, but let's dive deeper. Beyond the cool badges and emotes, think about offering tiered subscriptions. Create exclusive content for each tier to give your subscribers an extra reason to stick around. Whether it's behind-the-scenes footage, custom shoutouts, or subscriber-only game nights, make your community feel like VIPs.

2. Merchandise: Wear Your Brand with Pride

Why stop at virtual goods? Design some awesome merchandise that your viewers can proudly wear to represent your channel. From custom T-shirts and hoodies to mugs and mousepads, there's a whole world of possibilities. Not only does it boost your revenue, but it also turns your community into walking advertisements. Win-win!

3. Affiliate Marketing: Share the Love (and the Revenue)

Consider partnering with companies whose products align with your content. Share affiliate links during your streams and let your audience know about awesome products you genuinely love. When they make a purchase through your link, you earn a commission. It's a fantastic way to monetize your recommendations and support your channel simultaneously. Click here Twitch monetization

4. Sponsorships: Turning Passion into Paychecks

As your channel grows, companies may start knocking on your virtual door for sponsorships. From gaming peripherals to energy drinks, these partnerships can provide a steady income stream. Choose sponsorships that resonate with your audience, and always be transparent about your affiliations. Authenticity is key!

5. Ad Revenue: Let Those Ads Roll

Enabling ads on your Twitch channel can be a simple yet effective way to generate extra income. While it might not make you an overnight millionaire, every little bit counts. Just be mindful of your audience's experience – no one likes an ad every five minutes. Strike a balance that keeps both you and your viewers happy.

6. Virtual Events: Turn Your Livestream into an Experience

Take your content beyond the screen by organizing virtual events. Whether it's a live Q&A, a gaming tournament, or a charity stream, turning your stream into an experience can attract more viewers and potential revenue. Get creative and make it an event they'll remember.

7. Teaching and Coaching: Share Your Expertise

If you're a pro at a particular game or have a unique skill, why not offer coaching or tutorials? Many viewers are eager to improve, and they'll be more than happy to pay for your guidance. Platforms like Patreon or even setting up your own website can be a great way to organize and monetize your teaching sessions.

8. Crowdfunding Campaigns: Let Your Community Fuel Your Dreams

Thinking about upgrading your streaming setup or attending a gaming convention? Launch a crowdfunding campaign to let your community contribute to your goals. Platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo can be powerful tools to turn your dreams into reality while keeping your audience involved.

Conclusion: Diversify, Engage, Thrive

So, there you have it – a roadmap to diversifying your Twitch revenue streams. Remember, building a sustainable income takes time and effort, but the journey is as important as the destination. Engage with your community, stay authentic, and most importantly, have fun! The more you invest in your channel, the more your audience will invest in you. Happy streaming!

[museswithinx]

Brady smiles, even though he feels like a huge dork. He's grateful that Jake's letting it go and that he's cool with letting Brady meet his dog. "Awesome," he says. "That's--cool. Thanks."

"So you know the basics," he confirms. "Should be pretty easy for you. Do you know a spot we could go to? Some place that's pretty flat and won't have residents that'll call the, well, you because we're disturbing the peace or something?"

He's joking, mostly. He hopes Jake gets that, but maybe he should say...

The smile that spreads across his face next is slow, but builds into something bright. "That's--" he says, gripping the handle of his mug a little more tightly, as if it's going to do anything to stem the shocking rush of elation that goes through him.

It doesn't mean he has a shot.

And he probably shouldn't want one, for a bunch of reasons.

But still.

"Cis-male, pansexual," Brady says, gesturing to himself. "Pro-nouns are he/him. I appreciate you, uh, sharing with me. Definitely a relief to know I can recommend my usual kinds of books."

He clears his throat, then nods. "Just the two," he confirms. "Two siblings, three parents, and a shit ton of honourary aunts, uncles, and cousins. You mentioned a cousin, right? Is all your family here in Mystic Falls?"

"Of course," he says with a nod. He's sure Gideon wouldn't mind the company and well, he didn't mind it either. It was an excuse to keep seeing him...

Brady confirms it's similar so at the very least, Jake wouldn't make a total ass of himself. Chuckling, he answers, "We'll stay away from the residential neighborhoods since there's always at least one complainer." Mrs. Hendricks was just one of many. "I do know of a place though. It used to be a parking lot for the old movie theater, which is long abandoned now that we've got a newer one. The kids use it sometimes to play kickball and what not so I think we could do some longboarding there."

Jake almost feels like an idiot for the way it came out. Like maybe he should have rehearsed it or something. It was too late now though and he felt nerves bubble up intensely as he waited for a response.

However, there's a giant wave of relief that washes over him when Brady confirms he was also part of the community. Maybe he should have suspected but he never liked to assume. Of course, that didn't mean he had any interest in Jake like that whatsoever but...

"Gay," he confirmed gesturing to himself. "I'm, uh, not always so good with the sharing, truthfully. Been trying to work on it but it's not one of those things that come easily." He said. "Thank you for sharing with me though. I, uh, don't know a whole lot of people in the community so it's... I don't know. Kinda nice."

"That's cool," he said, "I would've liked another sibling, like maybe a little brother but my parents stopped after Harper. Getting into trouble is like an Olympic sport for her, plus I think my parents just like the two-sibling dynamic. They both grew up with that." Even though his dad had lost Aunt Vicki far too young. "For the most part, yeah. My grandparents on my mother's side live in New York but they stop in frequently to visit."

[projecthipster]

Bacon

Good old bacon. Salt-cured pork belly. It’s the food of suburban Sunday mornings with instant coffee, and markedly unhip diners, so why is it a hipster food?  Well, most of my “research” “sources” (links I found from Ecosia results or Wikipedia sources) date from between 2008 and 2013, and if you lived through those years, you’ll recall the Bacon Mania of the time. If you didn’t, you're probably too young to care about this blog. If you did, you probably still don’t care but it’s not for reasons so chronological. Did you know that the Baconator only dates to 2007? I didn’t, I more or less assumed it had always been a Wendy’s menu stable. But no, prior to the late-aughts rennaisstrip, bacon burgers were actually somewhat rare in mainstream fast food. Some date the beginning of blogosphere Baconmania to John Scalzi (yeah, the sci-fi author) taping bacon to his cat on September 13 2006. In other words, baconmania coincided with the crest of the hipster wave, becoming an irreverent cultural icon at the same time that “The Hipster” was becoming such a codified costume, defined in large part by that very same irreverence. Of course they would merge. But why did they become associated, even tangentially, in the first place?

Well, part of it is irony - it was a retro, all-American, so-uncool-it’s-cool sort of food that falls into the same box (often literally) as donuts and Pabst Blue Ribbon. The Late Hipster strove to take these Homeric icons (that is, of Homer Simpson, not the blind bard) and render them anew, as trendy, young, and redefined - the same but slightly different. Now the bacon would be in a milkshake. The donuts would have bacon. The PBR is in a frosty mug. Plus it’s us drinking it, not the other kind of white people. But I think the greater part is rebellion. Hipsterism, after all, is nonconformity, and by the 2000s, conformity meant diet culture. Homer was a satire of the 20th century Square, the dad of old sitcoms that were the target of Matt Groening’s once-laser-precise irony gun. Going into the new century, the new establishment being satirized by hipsters were the likes of Patrick Bateman with his fastidious health routines, and, only mildly less psychotically, the Gayle Waters-Waters type of health-conscious suburbanites who wouldn’t be caught dead eating processed meat, let alone fatty, salty bacon. The consumption of bacon, then, became an act of rebellion against that norm— a tame sort of gastronomical anarchy, and the truest hipsters are rooted in anarchy.

Anyway, unless you, dear reader, have been raised Jewish, Muslim, or vegetarian, you know what bacon is. You’ve had Sunday mornings in your life. You know the sizzle of dropping fatty strips into a hot pan and letting them cook to a consistency varying from shoe leather to wooden shingles, as Americans are apt to do. This is wrong, of course. Frying bacon to crispy in a kitchen that also has an oven, or even a barbecue, is more or less like assembling handmade pizza dough and fine Italian cheese in a kitchen with a wood-burning clay pizza oven, and serving it by rolling the cheese in the dirt behind the kitchen for a bit.  The quality gulf between sad pan-fried crunch matter and soft, meaty, delicious oven-roasted bacon is really such that they ought not to be considered the same food, but they are, so that’s neither here nor there. Without further ado, since we’ve had plenty of ado already, let’s consider the pros and cons of bacon, to achieve our final score:

Pros:

Delicious, especially when oven-roasted

Great on a burger

Can wrap a roast to make it better and less dad-dinner-dry

Can wrap around scallops for a fancy appetizer

Nostalgic charm

Smells great

Goes good on fancy donuts

Can be flavoured with good flavours like hickory or maple

BLTs are wonderful

Cons:

Not very healthy

Many people will try to pan-fry it or even insist, objectively wrongly, that bacon should be crunchy. These people should be exiled to some small island without any pork products, and I’m sure they will be soon, but they’ve already hurt us.

Not vegetarian, and in fact is usually a product of unethical and emissions-producing factory farms (this counts as two cons)

A little cheesy as an aesthetic item non-gastronomically speaking

That’s nine pros vs five cons. You know how that averages, then.

I give this hipster food four chocolate coatings out of five.

Project Hipster is a futile and disorganized attempt to dive into the world of things that the internet has at some point claimed "are hipster," mostly through ListChallenges search results.

This review comes from the seventh list, 50 Hipster Foods.

Stay deck.

[mrman444]

May Favorites

I really like watching videos of people talking about their favorite things from the month. So I thought I’d try doing something like that myself. So here are my favorite things from May 2023 (this is not an ad, I’m not affiliated with or paid by anyone).

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon: I’m trying to get back into reading. I used to read a lot as a kid but I stopped around high school. I’m only around a hundred pages into A Day of Fallen Night (I’m reading really slowly) but I’m really enjoying it so far. I love the way Shannon writes and I love all the characters so far. I don’t sit down to read very often (I’m trying to be more consistent), but when I do I always get sucked in.

16oz Carter Move Mug (in the color “lavender”): I love this thing. It’s really comfortable to drink out of and it’s completely leak proof with the lid on. It also comes with a splash guard and fits in my car’s cupholder unlike my other Carter mug (an original Carter Wide Mug). I’ve been getting drinks at cafes with it and that’s been a cool new experience.

AirPod Pros 2nd Gen: The only other AirPods I’ve ever owned were the original when they first came out. These are much better obviously lol. The active noise cancelling is great and the transparency mode is super useful. I didn’t expect to use it as much as I do. The only thing I don’t like about them is the fact they slowly slip out of my ears as I’m wearing them. They’ve only fallen out once or twice but it’s still annoying. The original AirPods barely fit my ears at all, so these are an improvement. But still.

Nivea Sun Protect Super Water Gel SPF 50: I’m not a person who enjoys doing his skincare or buying new products. I have very sensitive roseaca prone, acne prone, combination skin. So the majority of products I try either make me break out (I think I’m allegeric to some ingredient that’s in a lot of things) or burns my face. This sunscreen doesn’t do either of those things though. It’s super lightweight and feels more like a moisturizer than a sunscreen. It doesn’t take forever to rub in or make my face oily. Also it comes with 140g of product in each container for not a huge amount much of money.

Booda Butter Deodorant: A TikTok I saw recommended this product and I decided to give it a try. It’s a natural deodorant that comes in a glass jar. It actually works pretty well. Normally natural deodorants don’t work at all on me but this one does. Sometimes it does wear off by the end of the day so you have to reapply. But other than that I like it. I want to start switching over to more “zero waste” products as I run out of my current ones, so I’ll probably keep buying this deodorant. Plus you get a cool jar once you’re done with it.

[thic-cryptid]

Homebound 78

“It’s an empty box?” He asked, looking up at Izzy as if this were a cruel prank.

“It’s a signal blocker. I know you have that fancy keyless car, which are easy as hell for people to steal.”

“Oh! I never thought about that,” Stede said, standing so he could hug Izzy over the table. “How thoughtful of you! This is a wonderful gift!”

“Yo, check out my new hat!” Jack called, pointing to Izzy’s gift, which of course he’d already put on. “Not you ladies though!”

“I’m not your teacher anymore,” Izzy’s mom said, pulling his hand away so he could no longer block it. She chuckled before releasing his hand.

“What did it say, Hannah?” Kai asked, closing the book.

“Catchin’ bass and eating ass,” she laughed, “It has the Bass Pro logo.”

“That goes perfectly with my gift,” Ed said, pushing an unwrapped shirt toward Jack.

He unfolded it and held it up to his chest.

“I’m Guy Fieri and your ass is Flavortown?” Stede asked, tilting his head.

“It’s a show!” Ed whisper yelled, “Anyway, your gift was too awkward even if I wrapped it, Stede, so I have to get it from the closet. In the meantime.”

He passed around the rest of the presents. Izzy smiled at the silly gag gift Ed handed him, a Danny DeVito mug.

Ed hurried back with Stede’s gift, an old fashioned record player.

“Aw, you remembered,” he whispered.

“Everything sounds better on vinyl.”

Stede looked like he was going to cry. Izzy wasn’t really sure what they were talking about, but he gave them their moment.

“Alright, time for dinner.”

“Wait! I brought gifts too!” Jack said, standing up.

“You really didn’t have to do that, you’re a guest.” Kai argued even as Jack passed both of them new coffee mugs. “Thank you, Jack.”

“This is so nice. I’m going to use it for my sleepy time.” Izzy’s mom said with a smile.

“I’ll give the rest of you gifts later,” Jack said awkwardly. “I wouldn’t want to hold up dinner.”

“I too have gifts for everyone,” Stede said before either of the women could argue once again that they weren’t too old for whatever joke gift Jack had gotten for everyone else. “Hannah, Kai, I made both of these for you.”

“We took a silk dying class over the summer.” Ed explained, his mother touching the fabric very delicately. “Before we left Cali, he asked me what your favorite colors were so he could make you both a scarf.”

“How thoughtful, dear, thank you.”

“I know you’ve always loved silk,” Izzy’s mom said to Kai, leaning close so that they could feel each other’s new scarves. “This is lovely.”

“Here, this is for you, Izzy!”

“There better not be a tarantula in this,” Izzy rasped, drowning at the holes in the plain, brown box.

“Even better!” Stede declared, which wasn’t promising. Izzy opened the box very carefully.

It was a small cactus.

“You put a cactus in a box?” He teased.

“Well, I couldn’t just hand it to you! I’m not as cool as Ed, I have to wrap everything g. I put holes in it though, so it could breathe!”

“Stede, you’re so weird,” Ed said fondly.

“I got you something that you desperately need but won’t buy yourself,” he explained, handing him a perfectly wrapped gift.

Ed tore it open, revealing a daily planner. “I hate it.”

“You’re welcome,” Stede said, kissing his cheek before turning to Jack. “Sorry, I have to email you the code. I know that’s not very exciting, but I assure you, you will adore the gift I’ve purchased for you!”

“Alright, let me type my email into your phone.” Jack said, taking it as Kai got up to go get the latkes.

Page 78

Weekly AO3 Recap

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[cyborg-franky]

Going X-mas Shopping With One Piece Characters - Platonic

Did someone say they wanted some platonic things? well then! Going shopping with OP chars for their S/Os and you guys are best friends.

Ace

You’ve been friends with him for ages and you knew how flustered and panicked he could get no matter how he tried to come across as cool.

He wanted to get something for his partner and dragged you, his best friend along with him.

“So these are my ideas,” He started and soon listed off loads of things, you lost count of all of his plans and things he’d found for you.

It was sweet, honestly.

It was lovely seeing him so in love and just wanting to spoil his partner for Xmas.

But you did need to be the voice of reason.

He couldn’t buy you everything after all.

You drag him out for boba and try and recommend the things you personally think his partner would like the most.

Manage to calm him down, even help him pick some nice wrapping paper while your at it.

A fun yet, hectic day with Ace.

Marco

He seems to have it all planned out.

You met him for lunch, and he pays, as a thank you for coming so short notice to help him out.

He’s been so busy with work and he believes in finding gifts in person instead of online.

You are happy to help Marco, you’d do pretty much anything for your best friend.

You walk around the shops and he seems to know what he's looking for, he just enjoys having company and a second opinion.

Just because Marco mostly knows what he’s doing doesn't mean he doesn't get distracted by the odd shiny thing and his plans get a little derailed.

And that's where you step in, keep him on track or you’ll be in the store for far too long.

Marco has a habit of letting things get away with him after all.

You think Marco doesn’t need help and as much as he knows what his partner likes and wants it’s nice to have company and someone to keep him on track.

Sitting with a hot chocolate after hours of shopping together is also a plus.

UNDERCUT THATCH - LAW - KILLER

Thatch

Oh, he wants to buy his partner everything and anything and has a habit of buying complete crap with the best intentions.

He will 100% pick up everything he finds neat and buys it for his spouse.

That’s why he invites you, the lure of free dinner and his undying gratitude get you and you meet up with the energetic chef.

You had no idea Thatch could shop, you can feel your feet screaming at you as you follow him into yet another store.

It’s your job to tell your best friend that his partner does not need the novelty mug that has a rude word on the bottom.

Or the apron that is a naked man.

After the world's most hectic shopping trip you manage to make Thatch think about his choices more and he seems pleased with what he bought for his spouse. 

That’s when he takes you to dinner and you can rest your screaming feet.

Law

He seems like the last person who would need help buying things for his partner but actually, the man is an anxious mess and is always this close to having an internal emotional breakdown whenever he’s in a busy shop [Me to baby]

So he asks you, feeling awkward and muttering under his breath.

You happily agree and arrange to meet.

Law is a nightmare going shopping with because he will pick up two almost identical things and stare at them debating which is better.

He doesn’t like to buy his partner lots of things, he likes to find one perfect and meaningful gift so it will take him an entire day.

So, bestie, get used to this.

He’ll give you lists of pros and cons for each different item and you will just need to add your input, which he listens to, considers, and goes back to staring between the two.

Eventually and thanks to you Law figures out what he wants to buy.

And then he takes you for coffee and you can’t wait to get out of the mall.

Killer

You get a message at 3 am from him asking you for help shopping tomorrow.

Killer never asks for help but he’s been struggling to get his ass in gear to go and buy something for his partner for ages.

And he’s running out of time.

You agree but also wish he wasn’t at your door at 9 am sharp.

You look a mess and he greets you, taking you to breakfast at the very least which helps you get ready for the day.

Shopping with Killer was great, everyone moved the fuck out of his way and it meant you could be cheeky and get some of your own shopping done too.

You really have to pry every cookbook from his hands as he gets distracted.

He knows what he wants, at least he’s in the right direction.

Killer just needs an extra opinion that isn’t Kid saying everything is ‘shit’ and cussing out wayward toddlers.

Once he knows what he wants he’s in and out in a flash though.

Thankfully.

And then off for a beer.

[andypantsx3]

Hi! I’m a HUGE fan of your writing— happy 2nd anniversary! If there are any ficlet slots still open, could I request Todoroki with “What? Does that feel good?” I can’t wait to check out all the prompts!

Hello my love!! You're so sweet, and thank you so much for the prompt!! To no one's surprise I have chosen your Shouto request as the first one to write lmao. I really hope you like it!!

Melt [Todoroki Shouto x Reader]

Word count: 1K Rating: SFW, some implications. Prompt: "What? Does that feel good?" Tags/Warnings: Fluff, Established Relationship, Pro Hero AU

“It’s literally so hot out,” you complained, pulling the door closed behind you and immediately beelining for the couch.

In the still air of your apartment, things were already a bit cooler, but you could still feel the phantom burn of the sun on your skin, the sticky heat rising up from the pavement, the damp of sweat at the back of your neck. You’d made the mistake of scheduling an appointment in the middle of a heatwave, and you needed curative treatment, stat.

As you approached, a head of red and white hair poked up from over the back of the couch. One very handsome pro hero boyfriend, halfway through a day off, and only halfway awake, it looked like. Behind him, a book laid open on the coffee table next to a mug of cold tea. 

He blinked blearily at you, long and slow like a cat, two mismatched eyes tracking you lazily across the apartment.

“Please hit me with the AC,” you begged, climbing over the arm of the couch to access Shouto faster. He shifted to make room for you, reaching out an arm to tug you in between his body and the back of the sofa. You sighed contentedly, burrowing into him, ready for the cool relief of his quirk.

Only, no cooling effect was immediately forthcoming.

You waited another moment, already imagining the blissful chill against your skin. The ice cold touch of Shouto’s right side, perfect, arctic, freezing—

Nothing.

Your head whipped up, your vision snagging on grey and blue, watching you with rapidly-awakening interest. Between the heat of Shouto’s body and the fabric of your couch, you could feel yourself beginning to rewarm uncomfortably, sweat prickling at your hairline again. You shifted.

“Uh, help me out here, dude,” you said, staring at him. Shouto just watched you back, only the most minute arch of a white brow indicating what he thought of being called dude.

“I believe you're forgetting something, love,” Shouto said finally, his voice low and warm, rough with the edges of sleep.

You quickly ran through a mental checklist of things you were supposed to do today, running back over the sleepy conversation you’d had with him this morning before you left. Nothing in particular stood out to you, as Shouto hadn’t employed very many words, instead communicating largely through an immovable arm banded across your body like steel, and a sleepy kiss of surrender when you finally managed to wiggle out from under him, which quickly grew more interested and threatened to make you late.

“I did?” you asked, eyes searching his handsome face for some clue. 

Shouto stared back evenly. Slowly, you realized there was a glint in his eye that you recognized, and you suppressed a groan. It was the exact one he always got when he was up to some shit.

“Oh no.” You quickly attempted to squirm out of Shouto’s grip but he shifted more fully over you, trapping you firmly under kilos of heavy muscle. You were hot enough that you couldn’t even enjoy the normally delicious heat of him, the hard press of a body honed to perfection pressed all along you.

“I’m actually going to melt,” you pronounced as he settled against you. “You’re going to have a puddle for a girlfriend, is that what you want?”

Shouto looked deeply unphased by the idea of a puddle girlfriend. He did lean down, however, to look you in the face more fully. “Payment is required for my services,” he said blandly, though you could tell he was enjoying being a little shit.

You knew well enough that you were trapped, and you ran up the white flag almost immediately. “Anything. I will literally give you anything,” you said.

A pale brow arched. “Anything?” he said consideringly, almost to himself.

You nodded frantically. “Anything.”

Shouto thought a moment.

“I require a kiss,” he said lightly. 

There was more, you knew there was more, but you leaned up to press your mouth against his anyway. You felt a tiny smile pull at his lips, but then a frigid wave of cold seeped obligingly across your skin and you sighed into his mouth, shuddering.

“What?” Shouto asked softly. “Does that feel good?”

“God, yes, yes," you groaned. You felt the corner of Shouto’s mouth twitch up even further, and you kissed him more firmly just to shut him up, though he’d not said anything. A cool hand passed down the length of your arm, leaving pebbled skin in his wake and you couldn’t help but squirm in delight.

“Fuck I love you,” you said.

Shouto’s kiss went a little more fervent in answer. 

Eventually, you broke apart. Shouto’s right side flared again, another chilling wave of absolute perfection, and you sent up a silent thank you for the fact that Shouto both existed and had the most versatile quirk ever. 

He spent a few moments just looking you over, watching you carefully in that attentive way he had. “Better, love?” he asked.

You nodded, settling easily into the exquisite cool of his body. “Better.”

“Good,” he said, another small smile pulling at his mouth. “Then we may discuss the second part of your payment.”

“Second part?” you echoed, watching him warily.

The glimmer in his mismatched eyes preceded his answer.

“I believe I was promised a puddle girlfriend,” he said and there was promise thick in his voice, in the pull of his smile. He looked like he knew exactly how to melt you into a puddle, and the stupidity of making a statement like that to a little shit like Shouto finally struck you.

You shivered.

And this time, it had nothing to do with his quirk.