#putting this in the main tags because EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[loveroftheseagod]

guys hes so pretty im gonna frow up

[damselneedssaving]

BATBOYS BUT THEY SEE F!STREAMER!READER PLAYING SMASH OR PASS WITH THEIR HERO PERSONAS WHILE COSPLAYING AS THEM ON STREAM.

★ TAGS: older!damian wayne, older!duke thomas, did someone ask for some crack?, suggestive content (it's smash or pass, people), dirty talk, surprise surprise those boys remain majorly obsessed with you, mention of the boys getting boners, yeah... this one's not for minors, duke glows when he's flustered and it's so cute

★ A/N: this one was requested! and omg, the hero that slid into my inbox sure has one hell of a creative mind. srsly, this was such a good idea, i had to add it to the main timeline 🤭 just a heads up though, because this is suggestive content, i will not be using the taglist. i don't tag for suggestive content as i have no way of checking if you are acc an appropriate age for it or not. oh and as always, you do not need to have read the other parts of this series to get this one!!

★ F!STREAMER!READER MASTERLIST ★

Jason's mouth is dry, tongue like sandpaper as he stares at the title of your stream displayed clearly on his phone: Cosplaying as Gotham's vigilantes!

It takes no less than five seconds for Tim to come stumbling into the room.

"Did you see the stream name?!"

Jason doesn't answer, doesn't think he can. He's too busy staring at his screen in bewilderment to even begin to formulate words at the moment.

But he doesn't need to honestly, something else responds to Tim instead.

A low whistle.

Dick strides into the room. "Forget the name, did you see the thumbnail?"

As though summoned by just the mention of you (or rather, the thought of someone thirsting over you) Damian pops in not a moment after, lips pulled down into a scowl.

"Use those eyes of yours to prey on her, and I will make sure you lose them."

And then, as if to put the final cherry on top of the Wayne family cake gathered in the living room, Duke enters, all but ignoring his brothers in favour of grabbing the remote and using their amazon stick to navigate the TV to Twitch, immediately clicking onto your stream.

All of their eyes dart to the screen.

"That's right, guys! You read the stream name. Your girl's gonna cosplay everyone's favourite group of Gotham vigilantes!"

There you stand, a smile on your face and your eyes crinkled at the corners, looking just as pretty as the week before, and the week before that, and the week before that—

God, you're so pretty.

"Now, you might be wondering: say [Name], how come you're suddenly cosplaying when your channel is usually about playing video games?"

You disappear off-screen, the sound of shuffling causing the boys' saliva to roll down their throat.

"Well, my friends, to put it simply—your girl is about to head to Gotham for a Meet-N-Greet, and is hoping this stream will catch the eyes of the vigilantes there so I can gift you guys with a very special collaboration stream."

The room was already silent before, but after your words, it somehow seemed to double, the boys all staring at the screen with wide, dilated eyes.

You want to catch their attention. Beautiful, perfect you wants to collab with them. Them.

"Holy shit," Tim whispers, breathless and in that familiar daze only you can put him in.

"Fuck me." Jason runs a hand through his hair.

The stream chimes with a donation.

@/therealdamianwayne donated $15,000! They would be lucky to even be in your presence, Beloved.

You giggle, the lower half of your face hiding behind your hands as you bashfully look away from the camera. "Thanks, Damian."

The demon head's lips only quirk up even further at his brother's scalding glares.

The static sound of you clearing your throat reverts their attention back to you though.

"Anyway, does anyone have a suggestion on who I should start with?"

@/dukethomas donated $1,000! what about the signal?

The bats turn to send their daggered eyes to Duke, but he doesn't even spare them a glance, his own eyes too wide with hope as he stares at the screen of the TV.

"Oh! So glad you suggested him actually—"

Woah, woah, woah, what? You're glad he suggested himself? Holy shit, Duke thinks his heart just tried to lunge out of his chest.

In fact, he's so focused on the pink feeling that just engulfed him, that he misses the rest of what you say, and in a blink, is faced with your empty room as you disappear somewhere to change into the outfit.

And when you come back on screen? All dressed up in his metal-plated armour? With his name practically written all over you?

Well... Duke doesn't think he's ever seen such a beautiful sight in his life.

"Thomas, quit blinding me."

Duke blinks, glancing around to see his brothers squinting in his direction, faces scrunched up and mouths pulled into scowls as they regard the light with disdain like the bats that they are.

"Sorry guys." He chuckles awkwardly.

But before he can dim the glow surrounding him, your voice catches his ears.

"'Smash or pass The Signal?' Oh, hard smash."

The way he brightens next is half intentional, and half not. Half intentional because he can feel the way his pants strain against his crotch. And half not because, holy fucking shit, you said you'd smash him.

Before Damian can hiss again at his light, Duke already rushes straight out of the room.

The Wayne heir's lips pull down. "Disgusting."

@/greatestdetective donated $1,000! can you do red robin next?

In an instant, the remaining brothers turn to send the resident sleep-deprived detective very pointed glares, green radiating off them in waves as he shamelessly stares at the screen with dilated pupils.

"Sure thing!"

"You are utterly perverse." Damian points at Tim, brows furrowed and tone screaming judgement.

Tim only scoffs in response. "Oh please, like you aren't waiting just as much to see if she'd smash you."

He catches a batarang right before it hits his face.

"What the fuck?!"

Damian's teeth grind over each other. "Do not accuse me of such shallow thoughts towards my beloved."

"You almost killed me, dude!"

"And I would do it again."

"So? How do I look?"

Instantly, Tim's anger flushes straight out of his system, gaze darting to the screen as he mindlessly catches yet another batarang aiming straight between his eyes.

"Oh fuck..."

You're stood there, hands resting on your hips as you adorn his suit like it belongs on you, like he belongs on you.

His fingers move before his mind can.

@/greatestdetective donated $5,000! smash or pass?

"Geez, again?" You sweatdrop, reaching your hand behind his cowl much like he does when he's nervous. You two share nervous habits, holy shit. "Y'all will think I'm a slut for this but, I don't care. Smash."

With that, you've reduced Tim to a curled up ball, blush heavy on his face, pupils dilated to the sun and back, and mouth muttering obsessively about his love for you.

"Alright, since we're doing the boys, I might as well go through all of them before getting to the girls, hm?" You smile at the camera before sending it a little wink. "Anyone else wanna suggest who I should change into next?"

@/jaybird donated $10! red hood

Dick curses, his phone just short of in his hands as he sends a glare to a very smug-looking Jason stood with his arms crossed and his gaze trained onto the TV.

"Oh? The bad boy?" You giggle from the other side of the screen, hand cupping your mouth much like it did when Damian sent in a donation earlier, that same way the boys recognise as your signature move when you're flustered. "Sure thing!"

Needless to say, the two remaining brothers that have yet to be brought up on your stream are very much boiling beneath the skin.

Something which, is only furthered by the next thing you say.

"I don't quite have his build—which, by the way, is insane. I mean, have you guys seen the muscles on that man? Hot damn. I'd love for him to throw me around."

"Beloved...?" Damian mutters, voice wavering and pupils shaking.

Dick follows after by falling to his knees all dramatic-like, and if Tim hadn't been in a trance, and Duke was in the room rather than who-knows-where to take care of that little problem of his, those two would probably also react with just as much as despair at your words.

Jason, however, lets his jaw drop so low, flies could probably enter his mouth and choke him to death—assuming he hasn't already died from your audacious words, that is.

He's seen people thirst over him online before, of course. But for that to be you? For you to find him—scar-filled, ugly-hearted him—attractive?

Someone better pinch him 'cause he must be dreaming.

"Here I come!"

You stroll in, hands in the pockets of his jacket—his jacket—and face completely out of view, completely engulfed by his mask.

Oh yeah, he's definitely dreaming.

He blinks, watching with a dry mouth as you strike a pose.

"Well? Badass, huh?"

Badass, but, missing something.

It's okay to be a little selfish and ask for more, right?

@/jaybird donated $15! you're missing the guns sweetheart

"Oh! Right you are, Jaybird." You perk up, and the tone of your voice is enough for Jason to tell you're flashing him a smile beneath his mask. "Hope I don't get banned for this."

You disappear off-screen and reappear not a moment later dual-wielding pistols. Dual-wielding. pistols.

Holy shit, that's hot.

So hot, in fact, that Jason can feel the room getting warmer, warm enough to shrink his pants actually.

...

Oh shit.

"Barbarians," Damian starts, his tone screaming all the disgust written over his face, "I live in a house surrounded by barbarians."

Jason narrows his eyes right back at the man, but his eye-contact is swiftly broken the second he hears a—"Smash,"—coming from the TV, and his pants tighten even further.

Damian scowls in disgust.

"Right. I think only Robin's left of all the boys? Not including Batman of course."

Dick's scream breaks the other two brother's out of their staring contest.

@/sweetestassingotham donated $5,000! what about nightwing babe???

You frown at the camera, Jason's helmet now off and placed to the side, tilting your head all cutely. "Isn't Nightwing a Blüdhaven vigilante?"

@/sweetestassingotham donated $5,000! hes sometimes in gotham too :((((

You place a hand beneath your chin, gaze far-off, thinking, before you lift a finger and flash the screen a smile. "Right you are! I think I have a cosplay of him lying around here somewhere? Might be a bit small though, I remember wearing it to a costume party a few years back."

And just like that, Dick's earlier scream of dismay turns into one of delight.

"I gotta say though, sweetest ass in Gotham"—you giggle off-screen—"if we're counting Nightwing as a resident of Gotham, you've got some competition. Have you seen the cake on that guy? Ugh. Another huge smash."

Dick collapses to his knees, thanking everything that he was blessed with such a sweet ass and chose to flaunt it so that you would be able to see and notice that he is very smash-able and that you should indeed, 100% hook up with him when you come to Gotham.

Jason seems to beg to differ however, lips shifting into a scowl before a bang resounds through the room, and Dick is up on his feet in an instant.

"You just shot at me!" He points straight at the younger man, who all but shrugs in response.

"No I didn't. You were just in the way of my bullet."

Dick gawks.

Your voice sounds from the screen.

"Okay, uh, it fits, but it's a little tight, so don't make fun of me, okay guys?"

Dick's, Jason's, and Damian's eyes all instantly shoot to the screen.

You enter, hands running down the skin-tight suit on your body with your lips pulled into an unsure smile.

And as if that sight wasn't enough to bless the boys, you proceed to turn around, head tilting over your shoulder as you use the lens of the camera to check yourself out in Dick's clothes.

To check your ass out in Dick's clothes.

The sound of a camera shutter echoes through the room.

Then another. And another. And another—

Both Jason and Damian turn to see Dick with his eyes trained onto you, entirely in a trance as he repeatedly presses his thumb against the screen of his phone, each time causing the device to echo the sound of a camera shutter.

It takes only a second for Damian to lunge.

"You perverted piece of—"

Dick books it straight out of the room, and Damian goes to follow, ready to use every single technique his grandfather taught him to rain hell on his father's ward for daring to look at you in such a way, when, just like how it always does with all his other brothers, the sound of your voice brings him to an abrupt halt.

"Alright, now it's just Robin left, right?"

His eyes slowly drag themselves to the screen.

"Alright, little confession time, I've always kind of imagined how romantic it would be to have Robin swing into my room just before bed to wish me a good night," you say, and in it's in a voice that's bashful, nervous, maybe even a little embarrassed.

Oh, Beloved, you have nothing to be embarrassed of.

God, if Damian only knew of this before, he would've taken the trip all the way to your city just to swing into your window and wish you good night a long time ago.

"I don't know, I guess he's just got this charm to him."

Be still, his heart.

But how could it?

"Alright, here goes nothing. Final boy vigilante of Gotham."

Damian watches, breathless, as you step into the light like a moonbeam peeking through clouds.

You stand there, hands wound around his hood as you pull it over your head, your smile as radiant as ever and his clothes fitting you so perfectly, they might as well be yours over his.

And as you send another wink at the camera with another, simple but effective—"Smash,"—Damian's brain turns to static.

You have now simply and effectively reduced all the batboys into putty with just one stream.

And you don't even know it.

COMING NEXT -> BATBOYS BUT THEY ATTEND F!STREAMER!READER'S MEET-N-GREET.

[gingybimby]

Collateral Damage of Dragons

Synopsis: Sylus is still a dragon, but keeps tight control on his form. It's only when you lose all inhibitions while ovulating that he matches your energy.

Notes/Warnings: explicit shameless nsfw (MDNI), sylus x afab!reader, no use of Y/N, they're feral and break things, breeding, established relationship, you know he's not human but not much else, explicit consent and safe word established, predator/prey tones

This took too long to write. Barely proofread. Might cross-post to AO3 later. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SYLUS- I've been saving for the birthday memory.

wc: 3.1k

Tag List: @browneyedgirl22 @cherryredstarz

You were possessed. At least, that’s what it felt like rushing into the N109 Zone on your bike, the heavy vibrations making the ache between your legs unbearable. You’d only gotten off work just before racing over into lawless land because you couldn’t bother to wait. It was bad enough Xavier had been hovering, like he could tell your panties were soaked even after spending forty-five minutes wrapping up some paperwork from some wanderer encounters. You adored your sleepy coworker, but there was only one man on your mind all day making you ache.

Driving right into the underground garage where Sylus liked to keep all his various motorcycles was second nature to you these days ever since you and Sylus became rather serious about your relationship. You still liked to dance around each other in your methods of sharing indirect affection, but the dance held an electric zeal to it now. It was a good thing you both liked a little danger.

When you slipped into the base, you were on a hunt. Luckily, the twins seemed to be absent. It saved everyone from some awkwardness and trouble. Your boyfriend was proving to be rather elusive. He wasn’t in the boxing ring, his favorite music room, his bedroom, or the main armory. You made it back to the large common room that had an open kitchen and island with a quiet huff when finally a presence appeared at your back.

Your neck was brushed with a strong nose and curious lips that sent fire right to your aching pussy. Large, strong hands settled on your hips as the deep voice of Sylus practically purred into your ear after tugging your earlobe between his teeth momentarily.

“Looks like a little kitten brought herself to me in heat.” 

You spun on Sylus, pointing an accusatory finger in his face until he tried to bite it. Your glare was fueled with playful annoyance.

“You-! You know exactly what time of the month it is and you were deliberately hiding from me.” You accused even as your boyfriend dragged you closer to press your bodies together.

“Hm.. guilty as charged. Fuck I could smell you the moment you walked in, kitten.” Sylus buried his face in your neck once more to breathe in deeply like he needed your scent to survive. A soft growl reverberated in his throat.

You couldn’t stop the shiver that licked up your spine, leaning your head to the side for him. It was the faintest whimper from your lips that had him lightly biting into your neck, his grip tightening for a fraction of a second before relaxing in what you knew to be an exercise of restraint. That simply wouldn’t do. 

Ever since you learned Sylus wasn’t exactly… human, you’ve been wanting to see more of that wild part of him that he always kept careful control over. You learned quickly that your scent drives him crazy, so you intentionally didn’t put any artificial smells on your skin today.

Oh you knew exactly what you were doing. You intentionally denied yourself the littlest pleasure as the peak of your ovulation hit just so you could truly let loose with Sylus. You even already put in for tomorrow off. It was all for this. You wondered if he suspected anything.

Planting a firm hand on his chest, you pushed Sylus away with blushing cheeks, knowing your panties were ruined and that he could smell that. It was such an unexpected turn on. Sylus didn’t look at all upset at being pushed away save for the tiniest frown as his eyes danced over your face.

“Down boy…” You laughed lightly. “You go sit over there for thirty seconds. I get to have a head start since you decided to hide from me. You better not hold back. I have my safeword: Pomegranate.” 

You swore you saw Sylus’s dilate more than they ever have before at your quiet words. It was so embarrassing at first, having open and honest conversations over something like sex, but Sylus always stressed the importance of it and now it made things like what you were about to do utterly thrilling knowing you’re safe with him. 

You’ve never seen Sylus drop onto a couch so quickly, his eyes burning holes into you. The red gaze never once left your direction and followed you as you neared the doorway to the hallway. You looked over your shoulder at him, kicking off your boots one by one.

“Start counting… Now!” With a final shout you broke into a sprint, heart already racing and giggles flying from you without your say.

During your run, you started discarding things. First it was your holsters for your pistols. Then your socks. Your pants and shirt took the longest, but as you let your ruined panties hit the bare floor, you felt the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end and quickly ran off again, now only left in your bra.

You slid into the long hallway that would eventually lead to his bedroom and felt that sensation again- that you were being watched by a predator. You didn’t even make it halfway down the hall before a heavy mass was shoving you into a wall chest first. A hand landed above your head and there your dark red panties were twisted in his grip. A long drag of Sylus’s tongue up the back of your neck and the rough pressing of his hips into your ass had you gasping out his name, reaching back with one arm to bury your hand in his silver hair.

“I caught you.” Came his low growl.

An irreverent hand slipped between your legs to drag through your dripping folds. He pauses to circle two fingers into your swollen clit for several moments. Pressing yourself back against his cock, you didn’t hold back your noises as he drew them from you.

“My pretty girl… so ready for me… You put so much effort into trying to drive me wild, huh? You want me to breed your pretty pussy so badly, kitten?”

The filth that came from his lips was just what you wanted as you forced him back a step with a harsh elbow, caught by his hand wrapped in your panties of course. Spinning, you dragged him up against you by the waistband of his pants.

“Why are these still on?” You grumbled before his lips crashed into yours in a wild flurry of kisses that was an obscene connection of tongue, lips, and panting breaths.

You only have a brief second to latch onto his shoulders as he drags your legs up around his waist. He only walks you both a small distance before he settles you on a table just meant to display some of his “shiny things” as you call them. Items of exorbitant value that he likes because of one reason or another. You try to be careful to not knock anything over, almost mentioning it to him to be careful, but he was kneeling between your legs.

You were given no warning as his lips closed over your clit for him to suck on and felt two fingers spread your folds to expose your aching hole clenching around nothing. Sylus groaned into your heat, pulling back only briefly to drown you in praise.

“You taste so good- I can’t get enough.” 

You felt the cold tingling sensation of his evol as it wrapped around one of your calves to drag it over his shoulder as he buried his face into you once more. He slipped two fingers into you instead of starting with one like he usually did and it sent your back arching and snapping a hand down to his hair.

“Fuck!” You whined out, feeling his fingers slowly thrust into you at an easy pace. It was when he pulled lightly on your clit with his teeth and teased his tongue along the hood of your clit that made your arm snap out across the table. You were desperate for something to hold onto, but instead you sent a gorgeous piece of kintsugi flying to the ground, shattering immediately on impact. 

The sharp sound made you jump, apologies starting to tumble off your kiss-swollen lips, but Sylus didn’t so much as shift from his position of worship between your legs. He only curled his fingers up to rub that delectable spongy spot in you that made you see stars and felt his grin when you sobbed out his name. It was right there, that delicious edge promising a most wondrous fall that had you bucking your hips into his mouth.

“Sylus! Please! S-so close. Wanna cum…” You cried.

Part of you knew he was going to pull away, but it still didn’t stop your despairing gasps that melted into frustrated growling and huffs. 

Sylus rising from between your legs was a sight you’ll never tire of as his tongue worked over his fingers to collect every drop of your essence. Your slick covered the lower half of his face and that only made the denial of your orgasm all the more painful. The way he was watching you, you knew he was giving you a moment to put a stop to things if you truly wanted. Shaking your head, you sat up just so you could tear open his buttoned shirt. You glared at him when he only gave you an amused quirk of his eyebrow.

“Such a hissy kitten… You should know by now that you’re not allowed to cum tonight unless my cock is buried in you and filling you with my seed.”

Your glare became more of a pout at his purred words, a fresh wave of need hitting you like a freight train. Gods you wanted that so badly. You needed that.

“Then stop talking and take me to bed, or do you not want me to have your baby.” As you spoke you wrapped your legs around him to pull his hips into you and felt his throbbing bulge get soaked with your dripping need.

Sylus’s groan made your toes curl before he was sweeping you up in his arms and stumbling towards his room even as you desperately ground your pussy against his confined cock. His fingers sinking into the flesh of your ass almost felt sharp when he finally kicked his bedroom door in. He was too focused on biting bruises into your neck to even spare a moment of his attention to the fact that he kicked his poor door hard enough to break off one of the hinges.

When Sylus finally threw you down onto his bed you looked up at him with a cheeky smile, rolling over onto your stomach and raising your hips with a little wiggle. It earned you a hard slap as Sylus spanked you while getting rid of what remained of his shirt and his soiled pants. You let out a sharp yelp that eased into a whiny moan as heat radiated from where his palm landed on your ass.

The coolness of his evol was on your skin again as your bra was tugged free and a pillow being moved to support your hips. Then it concentrated on your wrists as your arms were pulled taut in front of you, pinned.

“Is this okay, kitten?” Sylus’s voice was a comforting roughness that always left you putty in his hands. You started to nod before verbally responding instead.

“H..haah… yes. I need you inside, Sy… I need it so badly.” 

You wanted to push back into him when you felt his cock throb against you. You were still so high strung from your denied orgasm, the cusp just lingering beyond your reach. Couple that with how horny you’ve been practically all week, having waited for this day in particular, you were at your wits end.

While discussion of kids has floated around, you two haven’t tried to exactly plan for any of it. If it happens, it happens was the mentality you both were okay with, but that didn’t mean you wouldn’t try to tip the odds in your favor. It most certainly wasn’t because one of your coworkers on maternity recently stopped by with her new baby and something gripped at you so desperately you’ve been thinking about it non-stop since.

“Don’t worry Sweetie, I’ll take care of you.” Sylus’s words were an oath and you knew he’d deliver.

One of his hands massaged the cheek he slapped moments ago while his other guided him to your dripping heat only for him to sink in right to the hilt immediately. Normally it took a little time for you to relax properly. His breathless laughter was at your neck as he leaned over you, brushing your hair away so he could trail kisses along your spine.

“You really weren’t kidding… you’ve never taken me so eagerly before, baby.”

You sobbed out in utter bliss as his cock filled out every inch of you just as you’ve been needing, but even this felt like it needed more and he was already huge to begin with! His little bits of teasing didn’t even get a real response from you beyond you trying to bounce yourself against his hips.

Sylus didn’t need to be told twice to get moving, working both of you up to a brutal pace that had your entire being singing with pleasure. His cock hit you in all the right ways, reaching deep enough to tease your empty womb. Your evol-bound hands twisted into the bedding as each noise was forced from your lungs.

“More… Feels so good Sy… Want more…” You babbled, unable to see the slight emergence of black scales along his skin.

He’s never had a lapse of control over his form since long before he even jumped to this time from the Deepspace tunnel, but you right now- the way you cried for him, the scent of your fertile womb at its peak, knowing you’ve been struck by a wave of baby fever from a coworker… It made this beastly side of him rear its ugly head. The need to pin you down with his teeth and tail, to claim you as his mate properly with a vicious bite, to fill you completely and knot you to make sure his seed catches. Oh, you ruined him in all the best ways.

He knew his teeth were already sharper with how his jaw ached to clamp down on your neck and uncontrollable drool pooled in his mouth. His nails wanted to become familiar claws, but he refused to lose the sensation of feeling your skin with the sensitivity fingers offered. Your pleading for more was going to be his undoing. He could already feel a knot forming at the base of his cock and from the way you suddenly bit into the bedding with a sob, the rest of it changed too. Firm ridges and all.

“Oh gods… yessss! Sylus!” You were so lost in your pleasure you hardly paid attention to the differences other than it felt so good. Feeling drool hit your shoulder, you instinctively dropped your head the opposite way.

“Bite me.” You commanded between tearful mewls. “I’m so close-”

The noise Sylus made definitely sounded more beastial than man, but where he worried you might get scared, you just cried his name again, begging him to cum in you as you hit your peak. Sylus was growling when he slammed his hips into you, bullying his knot into your tight hole just as he clamped his teeth down on the junction between your neck and shoulder.

You were crying, overwhelmed completely between the pain and pleasure. The way he rolled his hips with every steady pulse as he filled you dragged you through the remnants of your orgasm. Something deep inside you was immensely satisfied, feeling so full of your lover.

You vaguely heard Sylus swear and your neck ache, but everything was fading out fast with sweet sleep dragged you under with a siren’s song.

“Love you… Sylus…” You mumbled before drifting off fully.

—

When you woke up your entire body was sore, but your pussy ached the most. You could smell Sylus on your pillow and hummed in contentment while stretching out as a lazy cat would. You nearly drifted back to sleep when tender fingers brushed your hair from your face and a low voice called your name.

You blearily pried one eye open, barely peeking out from your blanket you had pulled up right under your chin. Red eyes filled your vision and a tender hand crept past your blanket defenses to cup your chin.

“Hey Sweetie… Are you alright?” Sylus looked so concerned, his hair a wild mess as if he’d been running his hands through it constantly.

“Mhm… It was amazing.” You started to push the blankets down to reach out for him when you realized he already had you in a fresh set of one of your favorite jammies. 

“Why aren’t you cuddling me?” You pouted.

“You, my dearest, are a menace.” He drawled out slowly, a visible relief melting into his body and eyes before he dragged a hand through his hair. You narrowed your eyes slightly.

“Were you worried about me?” You questioned, starting to sit up before he shook his head and crawled into bed with you. He dragged you on top of him like you usually preferred and he started playing with a bit of your hair.

“I lost myself a little.” He admitted quietly, meeting your eyes with genuine remorse. “I hurt you because I wasn’t-” “Did I say pomegranate?” You interrupted him, tilting your head slightly.

“No, but-”

“But nothing. I didn’t say it. I wanted all of you. Even the nonhuman-y bits. Those are starting to become my favorite.” You grinned, cheeks going the slightest bit red as the memories started coming back.

“I trust you. You trust me, right?” You reached to run a finger along his upper lip.

“I do.” He responded without hesitation. “I just… losing any level of control for me is-”

“You don’t have to explain. I know.” Your finger traced up his nose and along his brow. “You’re Sylus. My Sylus. And I’ll always love every part of you- good, bad, and wild.” You sat up slightly on his lap, dancing two fingers up his chest while humming. “And if you ever decide you want me to see all of you, I’ll savor every bit of it. Because it’s you.”

Sylus snatched your hand in his, lacing your fingers together with a quiet laugh, his eyes shining with love and face just the slightest bit red. He dragged your hands close so he could kiss the back of yours.

“I love you.” He breathed your name with reverence along with his declaration of love. It’s hardly the first time you’ve heard him like this, but it still made your heart skip a beat. You snuggled into his chest, letting your hands rest together completely entwined.

“I love you too.”

[blueberrybirdsworld]

Out of frame 2/4

Summary : Y/N and Lando Norris have been together for three years. Their relationship is real, steady, and full of quiet love but always behind the scenes. While fans know they’re a couple, Lando has never posted about her, avoids public displays of affection, and never mentions her in interviews. At first, Y/N understood. She believed it was about privacy, about protecting what they had. But over time, being constantly left out of frame has started to hurt.

Genre : angst, SMAU

Pairing : Lando Norris x reader

Faceclaim : @suanbeiii

Main Masterlist

Series Masterlist

@landonorris 📍Tokyo, Japan

Incredible night. Thank you to everyone who came out to support us. Big things coming 🫡

@_user1 he really posted all his friends but not his gf again... yikes

@_user2 is Y/N not in Japan with him? 😭

@_user3 nah this is getting embarrassing at this point. she literally always supports him and he can’t even tag her once??

@_user4 QUADRANT IN JAPAN LET’S GOOOO🔥

@_user5 the helmet is SICK omg 🔥

@_user6 weird how he never has a problem posting the boys 👀

@_user8 so hyped for this drop!! love seeing quadrant going global 💥

@_user10 where’s the queen?? y’all okay??

@_user11 y/n deserves a man who posts her like she posts him. period.

@your_username 📍Monaco

Girls can buy themself flowers too 💐

@_user1 wait. no japan trip for y/n this time?

@_user2 something’s off. they never miss a race weekend together 😶

@_user3 how is she real 😭😭 Lando you better be sending her flowers too!!

@_user4 the softest prettiest queen 🩷 Lando won the lottery and acts like he forgot

@_user5 Lando… be fr. how do you not post HER???

@_user6 she looks like a dream. if my gf looked like this I’d post her every 5 minutes lol

@_user7 you’re literally the prettiest person I’ve ever seen I can’t even hate you I’m obsessed 🥲

@_user8 i don’t care what’s going on but if he lets her go… we need to talk, Lando 😭

@_user9 okay but where do I sign up to be your girlfriend if Lando’s slacking??

@_user10 I hope he knows what he has. because the rest of us DO.

Texts messages

Lando You didn’t like the flowers I sent you?

Lando Seriously, Y/N? That post? What is that supposed to mean?

Y/N It means exactly what it says.

Lando So you ignore my apology and post something that makes it look like I did something wrong ?

Y/N You sent flowers. That’s not an apology, Lando. It’s a gesture. A pretty one, but not what I needed.

Lando You always want more. It’s never enough with you.

Y/N Because you don’t listen. I told you how I felt and you acted like I was being dramatic. I didn’t ask for a parade. Just for you to acknowledge me

Lando So you skip the race, don’t say a word for days, and make me look like an idiot online?

Y/N I said I had work.

Lando No. You said “don’t worry about it.” That’s code for “figure it out or I’m gone,” right?

Y/N You want to talk about code? Because not posting me, not bringing me up, not defending me when people speculate, THAT’s a message too.

Lando I thought keeping us private protected you

Y/N It doesn’t feel like protection, it makes me feel like a secret

Lando This again…

Y/N Yes. Again. Because you keep brushing it off like I’m asking you to tattoo my name on your forehead

Lando You want public affection. Fine. But maybe you could’ve talked to me instead of putting it on Instagram?

Y/N I tried to talk. You shut down. You always do.

Lando Because every time I mess up, you make me feel like I’m never enough

Y/N And every time I open up, you make me feel like I'm too much

Lando Right. Okay. Here we go.

Y/N Yeah. Here we go. Again. You don’t want to make the effort? That’s fine. Your loss.

Lando You know that’s not fair

Y/N Neither is loving someone who makes you feel invisible

Lando I have a race to focus on.

Y/N Enjoy it, Lando.

Lando Sure.

@F1LiveMoments 🎥Live interview moment of Lando at the Japan GP

Interviewer: “We didn’t see your girlfriend this weekend, is she not in Japan with you?” Lando Norris: laughs “Which girlfriend?”

@_user1 nah “which girlfriend” is CRAZY??? like are you trying to be single or stupid 😭

@_user2 he really said that on live TV… with a mic… and a camera… okay.

@_user3 and this is the man she’s been flying around the world to support in silence 💀

@_user4 he better deactivate, apologize and send 400 roses

@_user6 this girl has been nothing but quiet and supportive and he humiliates her like that? I’d be GONE.

@_user7 you can’t be “private” and also crack jokes like that… pick a struggle 😐

@_user8 and then men will say “why is she upset with me” like sir… you said WHICH GIRLFRIEND

@_user9 his media training just packed its bags and left the building

@_user10 @your_username deserves BETTER. we’re all saying it.

@_user12 this man’s idea of romance is “which girlfriend” I can’t breathe 😭😭😭

@your_username 📍Monaco

Sunday ritual 🧡

@_user1 she still supports him after that interview?? I’d be EMBARRASSED

@_user2 baby you didn’t see the clip, right?? pls say you didn’t

@_user3 I have to respect the loyalty but girl… the way he said “which girlfriend” like it was nothing 🤡

@_user4 wait… WHY is she still watching him like this?? I’m actually speechless

@_user5 this is such a sweet post but… after that live interview 😬

@_user6 girl did you see the interview from yesterday 💀

@your_username which interview?

@_user9 oh no oh no oh no 😭😭😭 she doesn’t KNOW

@_user10 this one comment just ended their relationship for real

@_user12 NAH IM SCARED. SOMEONE TAKE HER PHONE AWAY

@_user13 Lando better call her RIGHT NOW because this is about to go so bad

Texts messages :

Y/N “Which girlfriend?” Are you fucking serious right now?

Y/N Was that funny to you? Was humiliating me on live TV was what you needed?

Y/N You really went out there and said that like we’re nothing. Like I never existed.

Lando Y/N... Don’t do this.

Y/N Don’t do what, Lando? Get mad that my boyfriend made a joke like he doesn’t even know me?

Lando You didn’t want to come to Japan. You literally said you needed space What was I supposed to do?

Y/N NOT JOKE THAT YOU HAVE MULTIPLE GIRLFRIENDS ON LIVE TV MAYBE? Just a thought.

Lando It was sarcasm. The interviewer caught me off guard

Y/N No, what caught you off guard was the reality of being called out for once

Lando I didn’t mean it like that

Y/N You never do. That’s the problem.

Y/N Everything’s a joke or a deflection or a fucking PR-safe answer You don't even realize how much it hurt. You made me feel invisible

Lando You ghosted me for a week. You turned down my calls, ignored my flowers, and posted some cryptic caption like I never tried

Y/N Because sending flowers isn’t trying, Lando. It’s damage control

Y/N I was begging for real effort, for presence, for proof that I matter to you

Y/N And you know what you gave me? A joke about having multiple girlfriends ??

Lando It was a stupid moment. I panicked

Y/N God, do you even hear yourself?

Y/N You panicked and defaulted to disrespect. That says more than anything

Lando Okay well maybe if you were actually there we could have talked like normal people.

Y/N Don’t flip this on me.

Y/N I didn’t come because I was hurt, Lando. I needed space to breathe, not to be mocked globally

Y/N You know how hard it’s been? I kept telling myself you just needed time, that you were scared. Or shy. Or private

Y/N But maybe you were just comfortable keeping me secret, comfortable not choosing me when it’s inconvenient

Lando That’s not true.

Y/N Then prove it

Lando I’m trying to...

Y/N Trying would’ve been not letting those words leave your mouth.

Lando I messed up, okay? I didn’t think. I was tired and pissed...

Y/N No. You chose the words.

Y/N Enjoy the rest of Japan. Don’t worry about me.

Lando Y/N…

Y/N No. Fuck you, Norris.

Taglist (closed) : @angelluv16, @httpsxnox, @anunstablefangirl, @chocolatemagazinecupcake, @mayax2o07, @freyathehuntress, @verogonewild, @lilyofthevalley-09, @esw1012, @its-me-frankie, @linneaguriii, @ezzi-ln4, @rlbmutynnek, @actuallyazriel, @sofs16, @thulior, @sltwins, @henna006, @stylesmoonlight12, @lilaissa, @sideboobrry11, @l3thal-l0lita, @lorena-mv33, @ispywlittleeye-blog, @lesliiieeeee, @sageskiesf1, @adynorris, @curlylando, @rebelliousneferut, @justcharlotte, @secret-agents-stole-my-bunnies, @emneedshelp, @lando-505, @yukimaniac, @sashisuslover, @f1norris04, @hi26loveie, @bunnisplayground, @nina481, @reallifemermaidprincess, @cars-and-frogs, @delululeclerc, @txmhxllqnd, @lydia-demarek, @destinyg237, @rhaenyrasversion, @sarascabiosa, @readz4u, @tvdtw4ever, @mynameisangeloflife, @teti-menchon0604, @suns3treading, @op814kitty, @prettyboyroseberg, @willowsnook, @ariesandwolves, @clarksgf, @knivesdoingcartwheels, @pinklemonade34, @fat-meh, @tiaajosephin, @landosbabe4, @easy4, @jule239, @mercrussell, @skylandori, @ryuucollapse, @nickie-amore, @fairyjinn, @seonaw, @mattslovelygf, @strawberrylov-er, @linnygirl09, @dilflover44, @bell1a, @f1fantasys, @sillyfreakfanparty, @janonymus0, @taetae-armyyyyy, @charlesgirl16, @angstynasty, @jules-bea2308, @afternoonarchive, @itsbieberxholland, @rexit-mo, @chlmtfilms, @vampgege, @mochimommy2002, @budgetcupid, @lemon-stvrrr, @bell1a, @taebearyoongs, @hazzasmunchkin, @sainz0fthetimes, @didaaa4, @madelyn2000, @il0vereadingstuff, @march32nd, @chlmtfilms, @literallysza, @cheapdocmartens, @wolfstarsimpxx, @pretzelcat4-blog, @larya810, @6-noir, @urfavftoomie, @ficr3ccs, @strawberrylov-er, @wosof1, @behindmygreyeyes, @justheretoreadthxxs, @pinklemonade34, @ninass-world, @landosbabe4, @leclercdream, @raynetargaryan2,

[shidoglazer]

showing you off

showing you off on socmed fluff drabble ＠shidoglazer

ft : sae , rin , shidou , nagi , reo , kaiser

SAE ITOSHI

- i feel like he’s a very discreet guy, he’d post you guys’s dates on his instagram story every now and then but he wouldn’t show your face to keep the relationship more private. “why don’t you post my faceeee???” “interviewers stick their noses into everything that isn’t their business to grab more money, they’re annoying.”

- if you asked him to, he’ll make a highlight and put everything that has you in it. he’ll label it just as “Highlights 🤍”

- doesn’t really interact with your posts on social media unless he scrolls onto it, he doesn’t need to like or comment on your posts to prove that he loves you. thats what he thinks at least. “why haven’t you liked any of my posts?” “…was i supposed to?”

- if you really wanted to make your relationship with you public, he’ll very, very, reluctantly agree, seeing the way your face lights up makes every pain-in-the-ass interviews worth it.

- he’d probably post a picture of you two kissing or holding hands and tag your main account. beware, the next day you check your socials, there’ll be articles about you two everywhere, your instagram followers has blasted up, everyone is spam liking your posts and your dms are bombarded with fangirls. this is the power of sae itoshi huh?

RIN ITOSHI

- wouldn’t care about privacy. he’d ask you if it was okay to post you, and as soon as you agree he’ll post all the cringy photos you forced him to take with you. you two doing a heart shape with the sun in the middle, the photo you snuck of him helping you carry your shopping bags and so on. “did you really have to take a picture of me carrying your bags?.. you’re making me look like a servant.” posts it anyways

- this man is an absolute loverboy. despite his stern look, he’s whipped for you. will immediately make a highlight for you just so people (and himself) can look through you two’s memories. “rin~ you made a highlight for me??” “yeah. so?” while he’s internally tweaking out from how happy you look.

- he did suggest you to private your instagram account before every fangirl came to harass you, which you wished you could’ve done sooner. “rin. why did one of your fangirls message me and said i looked like a well done steak.” “i told you to private your account.”

- when you comment on his posts, he’ll like it and pin it to the top of his comment section. he’s so cheesy

- despite all that, in the end he hid his story from sae and his parents because he absolutely knew this was going to be brought up at the dinner table to embarrass rin.

SHIDOU RYUSEI

- no shame at all. will post you two kissing, the lipstick marks you left on him, tags you in his bio, makes a highlight for you and occasionally even matching profile pictures with you.

- he keeps notifications for everyone elses posts off except for yours, as soon as he gets an instagram notification he’s in your comment section DROOLING for you. “WHOS WIFE IS THIS??? 😍😍😍” “thank you for the meal😜😜😜” “woah cutie didnt know you matched my freak like dat hehh😘😘😮‍💨😮‍💨”

- as much as you love him you swore you felt embarrassed for your life.

- in summary, he’s just a very open person about you two’s relationship. he doesn’t mind the articles or the interviews, he’s eager to show you off to the world. he’s so cutie woaw

MICHAEL KAISER

- doesn’t even use social media that much unless he needs to do a sponsorship

- finds it useless to post you or post anything about his life, but seeing how sad it made you look he rolled his eyes and posted a photo of you two sitting side by side on the bleachers of a stadium with the sun illuminating you two, even captioning it as “Nervensäge Freundin. 🤍” (pain-in-the-ass girlfriend)

- “kaiser, you posted me on your story???!!” you were basically beaming with happiness as you barged into his room. “tch, don’t overthink it. it’s just to stop you from being sulky all day.” without another word, you pounced on him and clung onto him for the rest of the day.

- thats how he made it a habit to post you occasionally, so he could receive extra affection from you, even if he acted annoyed or nonchalant about it. but oh boy, right after he posted you, your follower count shot up from 1,528 to 729k overnight easily.

- shares your posts onto his stories, likes it and occasionally comments an emoji on it if he’s feeling generous.

NAGI SEISHIRO

- quite active on social media. mainly posts about his games, football and reo. when you asked him why he didn’t post you, “do you want me to? i thought it would be a hassle to handle all the attention.”

- but when you convince him to finally post you, he wastes no time in making a highlight for you. the first post he made was him laying on your lap playing games, a picture you took of him a few days ago. he tagged you in it and captioned: “girlfriend pillow 10/10 :x recommended” you almost kissed him to death.

- after that, he started posting you a lot more frequently, just wanting to make you happy, and theres no doubt that it made your follower count rise as hell.

- posts you two playing games, holding hands, kissing, doing cringy couple stuff, despite all the interview requests hes been getting, its all worth it for your extra affection when you see his posts.

REO MIKAGE

- hes such a sweetheart about it, when you guys took your first photo together as a couple, he was so eager to ask if he could post it on social media. when you agreed, he basically looked like a golden retriever

- until now, before he posts anything about you he’ll always show it to you for confirmation and approval. “beautiful, is this picture okay?” “eh… my hair looks weird..” he’ll immediately discard it and search for a new picture without further words exchanged.

- likes, shares and comments on your posts with confidence although he doesn’t use social media all that often, he’ll always scroll on it for awhile to wind off.

- whenever he posts you, he’ll always caption it as some cringy yet romantic stuff like “Love of my life 🤍” “My world 🌍.” “Everyday with you keeps getting better and better.” “Prettiest girl in the world.”

[speed-world]

Hello!! If it's not too much to ask, can you write a cookie run kingdom au where y/n is a traveler? I just think that's the most logical way to somehow get them involved into stories and meet different cookies altogether. Maybe a few scenarios in which involve their encounters with the ancients before the main plot of crk?

A cookie stood with his sheep, observing the lands before him in silence as the winds howled and blew beside him. He was making his last few preparations before his journey, but as he turned around, he saw an unfamiliar face that appeared to be in awe of the lands much like he was…

“Oh, pardon me, but I’ve never seen a cookie like you before. You look so incredibly well and unbothered, may I ask if you have a secret to keeping your dough so healthy?”

“Oh, me? Hehe, I don’t think I have any ‘secret’ to my healthy or anything like that. I’m simply a traveler wandering Earthbread.”

“Really? So am I! I’ll be taking a pilgrimage to the Sugar-Free Road, and complete its 12 trials. What about you, where are you headed?”

“Wherever the earth and winds take me, I suppose. I don’t have a destination in mind, per se, but I’m so interested in exploring the marvelous depths across every corner of Earthbread! But, if you don’t mind me asking, what makes you want to venture to the Sugar-Free Road alone? Surely those trials can’t be the only reason.”

“You sound like you’ve been there before, is there something I should be aware of before I go?”

“Yeah, maybe don’t go by yourself. It’s a treacherous path that’ll leave you wishing you never went. I myself turned back when I was there because of how worn out I was. I would want to go back sometime, especially since I feel more accustomed to traveling to do so, but doing so alone is not something I’m doing again.”

“I see…well to answer your question, I strive to find the truth as to why cookies - those crumbling, incomplete, and not-so-sweet - all must suffer so. I wish for all beings of dough to be happy, and that is I will accept those trials. Hopefully I’ll find the answers I’m looking for at the end of the path.”

“That’s…that’s actually really nice! I respect that a lot, and I kinda feel the same way; wanting everyone to not suffer. But you won’t do well by yourself, would you mind if I tag along?”

“Really? Are you sure my goals won’t get in the way of yours?”

“Nah, of course not! You get to complete the trials and, hopefully, find your answers, while I get to see everything of the Sugar-Free Road and document it! Plus, I get to make a new friend too!”

“New friend..? Ahaha, I’m honored to call you friend too! My name is Pure Vanilla Cookie, and you are?”

“Y/N Cookie, a pleasure to meet ya Pure Vanilla Cookie!”

“Likewise, Y/N Cookie. I’m glad we’ll take this journey together!”

————————————————————————

The screeching roar of a dragon fills the air as it gradually got more distant. The dragon’s pursuer was aggravated, but still determined…

“Huff…huff…darn that dragon getting away, again!! I think I’m starting to loose count, is this the 80th time? No, it can’t have been that much…..argghh—! No matter, I’ll keep hunting it down and—!”

The bushes ahead of Hollyberry Cookie rustle as an astonished cookie stepped out, and looked to the sky where the dragon flew off. They were completely in awe and wanted to get a better look at the majestic creature.

“Woah!! Was that a dragon just now? I’ve seen glimpses of them on my travels, but that one was so close!! This could be a chance to really meet a dragon, maybe even feel its scales!! Hahaha, I gotta go now and—“

“Hey, hold it right there!”

“Huh? Oh, hey there! Are you after the dragon too?”

“That’s one way to put it; I’m hunting that dragon. I need to defeat it for the trouble its caused the Hollyberry Kingdom!”

“Oh my, I had no idea. I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s quite alright, that dragon won’t escape me so easily! But, what brings you out here? And why do you want to see that dragon?”

“Ah, well I’m a traveler, you see? I want to explore every neat corner of Earthbread and all the specialties in between!”

“Really now? Interesting, it’s been awhile since I’ve met such an adventurous cookie like myself! I’m Hollyberry Cookie, pleased to meet you friend!”

“Y/N Cookie, the pleasure is all mine Hollyberry Cookie!”

“Well Y/N Cookie, what do you say we go hunting this dragon together? It’s always more fun to travel with a partner, and I’ll promise you to see every bit of the dragon up close!”

“For real?! Awesome!! Ohohoho, this is gonna be fun, I can’t wait to go!”

“Why don’t you tell me about your travels on the way? I’ll, of course, share you many of my own! I’ll even treat you to the finest berry juice my kingdom has to offer when it’s over!”

“Why thank you! I’ve never had berry juice from the Hollyberry Kingdom before, I can’t wait!!”

“It will be the finest you’ve ever had, you wouldn’t want any other! This is already becoming a fine adventure, hahaha!!”

————————————————————————

Black lightning and dark clouds...What's next, a blizzard that freezes your very breath? The scale of the anomalies is growing. The Cookies in the Frozen Snowfield are perishing one by one. While it seems logical for any cookie to avoid venturing out to such an extreme treacherous environment, two cookies were individually hiking up anyways. Although for their own reasons, their ambitions may align with one another’s….

“Hmm? Oh hey there, I wasn’t expecting any company here!”

“Neither was I…are you a cookie from one of villages affected by the blizzards?”

“Me? Oh no, I’m just a traveler passing by to witness something spectacular!! Here, listen closely—“

“Grrrrrr…..”

“Hhrrrrrraaaaaahh…..”

“The growls of not one, but two dragons-in one place!! I wonder what it is here that could’ve brought them here; ooohh I’ve got to see them up close!”

“You’re here for…sightseeing dragons? How strange.”

“You sound disappointed, is everything alright bud?”

“No. I am here to know more of the weather anomalies occurring through this continent. This harsh weather has caused cookies to suffer and crumble, and I refuse to let it endure another minute.”

“Oh my, I had no idea that was happening. I’m so sorry…”

“Pick your head up, you have nothing to apologize for.”

“Ah, r-right. *ahem*…let me help you.”

“What? No, I’m afraid I can’t. These cookies have suffered for too long, and I can’t risk another getting in the way and—“

“I promise I won’t get in your way. I’ll help aid those cookies with you; I have plenty of supplies to offer some kind of help, be it food or water or anything in between.”

“Hmm…very well then. I believe our interests might be more in common than I realize. Let’s not waste any more time and be on our way.”

“Of course! I’m Y/N Cookie, by the way, pleasure to meet you sir.”

“Dark Cacao Cookie, don’t mention it. Let us do our absolute best for the cookies!”

————————————————————————

Under the intense, near-intolerable heat of the desert sun, two cookies traverse the sands bearing wide smiles of determination. Both hold their own greedy ambitions, yet aren’t driven apart by each other’s desires.

“Hah, you know, I’m still amazed as to why you’re traveling with me to the old ruins. I was wandering the desert to find this marvelous treasure, but you just want to look at them, document them, and that’s it! Why go through such risks if all you want to do is go sight seeing?”

“Hehe, well I guess you could say that’s the treasure I’m hunting for. To see all the wonders of Earthbread, its beauties in its dangers, the uniqueness of every continent, I want to capture all of it and learn everything about it! Plus, it’s super fun to meet all kinds of desserts along the way, especially one as dynamic as you!”

“So interesting, you almost make me want to share the treasure I find with you; almost, of course.”

“I don’t blame you, heh. You wandered all this way for it, it’s only fair that it all belongs to you.”

“Right? I would’ve heard if someone on Earthbread had laid their hands on it first. But then again…I want to show my gratitude for your help. This journey would’ve been boring and perhaps fruitless if not for you; what is your name?”

“Y/N Cookie, a pleasure!”

“Y/N Cookie, I am Golden Cheese Cookie. I shall never forget all you’ve done for me! Your greed for the world is something to admire for eons; nearly as great as my greed for my treasure. You and I together shall be legendary!”

————————————————————————

Somewhere, in a secluded area relatively distant from the nearest cookie civilization, a lone cookie was weeping as she was suffering from a nightmare. A passerby cookie heard her cries, and wanted to know what troubled her so…

“E-Excuse me, hello? Are you okay ma’am?”

“I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I… Oh…it was that same dream again. I’m sorry, I didn’t know another cookie was here…”

“No no, it’s alright, you didn’t bother me. I was just traveling by, venturing out to find some incredible things about Earthbread!”

“You were…traveling? Just freely and…eagerly going about across Earthbread alone? …..why?”

“Ehehe, I suppose why not? There’s so many incredible marvels about this world that I wanna see and experience for myself! There’s just so many things and secrets that I want to know about, how could I not be eager to see it all, ahaha!”

“….s-so carefree and curious…they’re just—“

“Hmm, you say something?”

“N-no, I was just muttering to myself…”

“….Hey, you hungry?”

“What? How’d you…—“

“You have crumbs falling from your hands, how long have you been without something to eat?”

“I…I do not know. I suppose it’s been a while since I’ve eaten something. Maybe I’m getting too lost in my thoughts…”

You pulled out a lot of food from your bags and laid it out in front of the cookie.

“T-that’s so much food! Shouldn’t you keep some for yourself if you’re traveling?”

“I got plenty more, don’t you worry. But if you were here resting from traveling, then it looks like you weren’t fully prepared. Is there any reason why you’re traveling out here?”

“Yes…I want to know the truth.”

“….the truth about, what?”

“Why were we, the cookies, created? Why were we brought into this world? Why were we created so small and fragile? If only all cookies were born strong, unbreakable. If only then…I…”

“Shhh, calm down, alright? Take a break for now, eat up. You can tell me more when we’re back out on the road.”

“I-we?! What do you mean, ‘we?’ I’d get in your way with whatever it is you’re after.”

“I’m not after anything in particular, remember? I wanna traverse and see all of Earthbread, and from the sounds of what answers you’re after, it seems like we may be going down similar paths.”

“….Perhaps you’re right. Okay then, I’ll go with you, to find the answers I’m seeking. …Who are you, exactly…?”

“I’m Y/N Cookie!”

“I’m White Lily Cookie. I’m…thankful for you, Y/N Cookie. I never thought I’d have anyone to help me with this, I figured I’d just burden someone else with my struggles…”

“Don’t mention it, I’m perfectly fine with it! No one should really be alone for a long journey; especially for the one you want to take. I’m more than happy to go with you, White Lily Cookie.”

“Thank you, Y/N Cookie…I will never forget your kindness.”

[ckret2]

Chapter 82 of you can really tell the writer got a new art program this week and went apeshit with it instead of doing anything productive: the Mystery Shack is in terrible peril from the government and only one thing can save them:

Teaching Bill Cipher how to flirt with humans!!

####

The Stans explained the plan to Dipper and Mabel as briefly as possible—that Bill had to save them all by flirting with the head fed—and that was about as far as they got before Mabel started squealing. They wished her good luck with Bill, wished him good luck with Mabel, and beat a hasty retreat, with Dipper tagging along after Ford on the pretense of helping figure out how to get the flash drive out of Gompers.

"This is perfect!" Mabel slammed the door closed—and Bill had the sneaking suspicion she'd trapped him on purpose—then grabbed both his hands to drag him further into the room. "I can see it now! He'll fall in love with you, and then he'll realize that living in a small logging town is so much more emotionally fulfilling than his high-pressure fast-paced big city government job, and he'll see what a special, magical place Gravity Falls is and he won't wanna do anything that could change it, and Washington will call him like, 'Your report is late! Have you forgotten your mission?' And he'll go 'I have a new mission now: my WIFE!' And—"

"Hold on!" Bill pulled his hands back. "I think you skipped the part where you married me off to a government agent."

"No I didn't! Because he says that and everyone gasps and then he gets down on his knee in front of you and pulls out a ring and—"

"In your dreams, star girl." He dropped onto Mabel's bed and crossed his legs. "Think a little less cheesy Christmas romcom, and more noir spy movie with a double-crossing femme fatale."

Mabel measured that up against her limited spy movie knowledge, and asked dubiously, "You're gonna drop him in a tank of sharks?"

"Hey, if you have one...!" Bill laughed. "But, no. The plan is just for me to keep him distracted long enough for the nerd squad to get the flash drive, wipe any sensitive data, and leave it somewhere that'll make the agents think the goat dumped it naturally."

Mabel considered that. She inhaled deeply. "Okay," she said. "But. What if it's one of those movies where the evil girl spy has a change of heart because of the good guy's charm and you do fall in love."

"Do you remember who we're talking about?" Bill asked. "Fine! If we fall in love, you can be the ring bearer, best maid, and officiant—but don't start stapling together a white dress just yet."

Mabel completely skipped past his main point. She whispered, "You'd let me make your wedding dress?"

"I'd turn down every fashion designer in Milan, Paris, New York, and London combined."

Her eyes widened. "I've gotta start drawing wedding dresses." She rummaged around the floor for an unused piece of paper and the nearest crayon and/or marker box.

"Draw me as a triangle," Bill said automatically. "So there, you're caught up on the plan!" He slowly slid off Mabel's bed toward the door. "So if you'd let me out so I can prepare..."

"Ohh no. Grunkle Stan and Grunkle Ford brought you to me to learn how to flirt, and I'm going to teach you how to flirt."

He groaned, but plopped back down on Mabel's bed. "I don't need to be taught how to flirt! I'm a pro! While your universe was still gearing up for a Big Bang, I was fending off marriage proposals from lovelorn generation ships and sentient oceans."

"You're not seducing ships and oceans." Mabel had already flopped onto the floor and drawn a triangle with an eye, and was trying to figure out how to put a dress on it. "You're seducing a man."

"Which is even easier! You people barely last a century, you're desperate! Humans fling themselves at me left and right!"

"Then you'll have no trouble passing my love quiz."

Bill automatically frowned. There was a part of him that still tensed up at the word "quiz" even if he did know more about romance than the entire human race combined. "What, like the one you put the guys through on your dating show?"

"Yes, but with all new questions! So you can't just copy all of Soos's answers to get a perfect score!"

"Psh! Like I need to copy anyone's answers," said Bill, who had never taken a quiz in his life without copying someone else's answers and had been planning to do just that. "All right, hit me."

"Question one! Uh..." She tapped a crayon to her chin as she thought. "What's the best gift to give on a first date? Jewelry, chocolate, a wedding ring, or flowers?"

"Ooh, we're starting with bribery, huh?" When in doubt, the right answer was usually C; but "jewelry" and "wedding ring" seemed kinda redundant. Well—cheating had never failed him before, why stop now? "None of the above! I've got a better answer than all of them!"

Mabel lowered her crayon to give him a skeptical look. "Oh yeah? What?"

"Sneak into their dreams the night before, find out their heart's desire, and surprise 'em with that," Bill said. "That's not even a romantic move. It'll let you win over a human in any context! Birthday parties, baby showers, job interviews, criminal trials, hostage negotiations..."

"What if you don't know their heart's desire?"

"Then you're not me."

She set down her crayon, laced her hands under her chin, and said, "Okay, then. If you were trying to win me over, what's my dream birthday gift?"

"Replacing your bedroom with a bouncy castle with inflatable furniture."

"Ha! No it's n..." She trailed off. "Wait. Ohmigosh."

"Told ya."

"I've been dreaming too small," Mabel whispered. She shoved aside her first drawing and started drawing her fantasy bedroom.

Bill picked up one of Mabel's dolls—a floppy tiger—and started talking to it like he was lecturing it. Forget this whole "taking a quiz" thing; he was much more comfortable in the roll of the teacher than the student. "And if it's a blind date and I can't stalk 'em beforehand, nobody's ever disappointed by a solid gold brick," he told the doll.  "It's both practical and pretty, and it appeals to humans' natural greed without making them feel sleazy about accepting a wad of hundreds from their date."

"What's Agent Powers's heart's desire?"

Heck. He didn't actually know. He'd ducked in on the guy's life a handful of times, but he'd never needed to pay that close attention to him. What did boring people like? "A really nice leather wallet," Bill said.

"Okay, you're off to a strong start," Mabel said. "Question two: what's the ideal location for a first date?"

"What are my options?"

"Fooey to the options! I wanna hear your thoughts."

"Then that's easy: anywhere they can't escape from until they love you," Bill said. "Even better if you can serenade 'em."

Mabel nodded in approval. "Perfect answer, full points! Every Inkwell princess movie and vampire novel on the market agrees! Question three: best first date outfit?"

"Sexy."

"Okay—yeah," Mabel said, "But specifically, what does that look like?"

"Tallest hat you can find," Bill said.

Mabel waited. Bill didn't say anything else. Mabel said, "What about the rest of the outfit?"

"Bow tie. Outfit complete."

"That's just what you wear."

"And it's always sexy!" Bill insisted.

"Maybe in Flatworld, but this is earth! If you go out dressed in nothing but a hat and a bow tie, you'll be having your date in the back of a police car!"

"Fine," Bill huffed. "Fifty pairs of gloves—and the more of them you have hands to fill, the better! A dress made out of blank checks! Two snakes! A fur coat made out of live kittens!" Bill shook the stuffed doll emphatically with each point. "Good enough?!"

Mabel squinted thoughtfully at him. "The kitten coat has potential."

"Damn me with faint praise, why don't you."

"What about more traditional romantic outfits? Like... a red velvet suit with a leopard print shirt? Or short shorts that say 'too hot' on the butt?" Mabel asked. "Or a t-shirt with your date's face on it in a heart! That shows your date 'I'm here to focus on you!'"

"What if my date's face is ugly, did you think about that?" Bill asked, mainly to cover up the fact that he was chagrined he hadn't thought of the velvet suit himself. "Forget about fashion. Next question!"

"Okay, how would you prepare yourself for the perfect date? Aside from finding a tall hat and stalking your date's dreams."

"Hygiene's the most important thing," Bill said. "Humans are very attuned to pheromones. It's one of your base instincts."

A look of relief cross Mabel's face. "Yes! Good start. So we're talking a shower, or...?"

"Oh yeah, if you're going on a date in this country, you've gotta scrub that skin raw. There is no smell Americans hate more than the natural smell of other human beings." 

Mabel nodded enthusiastically. "Right!"

"And once you've gotten rid of your real scent you've got to make sure you smell appealing. And that means making sure you smell the most! Cover up any competing suitors' scents with your own!"

Mabel made an uncertain hum. "Okaaay, sooo... what would you call an appropriate fragrance for a first date?"

He wasn't sure he liked the sound of the hum. "First date? You've got to make a strong impression, and set the mood for romance," he told the doll, so he didn't have to watch Mabel pass judgment. "So, I'm thinking... decaying salmon, deer pee, and ambergris."

Mabel was silent for an uncomfortably long time. Bill glanced at her. She immediately pulled her sweater up to hide her mouth. Voice strained with suppressed laughter, she said, "You don't think, maybe... floral scents...?"

Who did she think she was laughing at! He directed his attention back to Mabel's doll. The tiger didn't judge him. The tiger thought all his ideas were brilliant. "Is this guy looking for a garden or a girlfriend? I know ninety percent of the soaps and shampoos on the market are designed to make you smell like a fruit salad on the beach, but you humans don't know the first thing about what activates your own monkey-brained reproductive urges! Trust me: decaying salmon, deer pee, and ambergris! They reek of raw sex appeal!"

"What's ambergris?"

"It's a staple fragrance in the perfume industry! Some of the most popular scents in Hollywood have ambergris base notes!"

"Okay," Mabel said, "but what is it?"

"Okay so," Bill said, "when a sperm whale gets so constipated it kills 'em, the rest of its body rots off while the turd floats to the surface, and after it's bobbed around baking in the sun for a few decades—"

Mabel lay a hand on Bill's knee and gently said, "No." 

"Hey, I'm not the one who invented ambergris, that's your species's idea!"

"Bill, I'm sorry. But you've got the best and worst romance ideas with no in between, and you don't know the difference," Mabel said. "But I promise you're in good hands! I'm the best matchmaker in Gravity Falls! I helped hook up Soos and Melody, Robbie and Tambry, Waddles and Gompers, the Hand Witch and that hunky hiker guy..."

He threw Mabel's doll down on the bed, slumped back against the wall, crossed his arms, and sulked. Then he muttered, "But I've got the best ideas?"

"Oh yeah. You're like an untrained romance prodigy! You just need a liiittle help filtering out the diamonds from the coal."

He grunted. Then he grudgingly admitted, "Getting Waddles and Gompers together is pretty impressive. They have complete opposite political opinions."

"See? I'll have you date ready in no time!"

Bill heaved a frustrated sigh. "Fine. But I'd better at least get a killer makeover out of this."

"Definitely! I'm getting an expert on the case!" She pulled out her phone to send a text. Plus, whatever you're wearing tomorrow? I'm bedazzling the crap out of it."

"Good!"

"But first," Mabel said, "Let's talk about your technique."

####

"Lesson one of Mabel's Guide to Flirting With Humans: pick-up lines! First impressions are super important!"

"Pick-up lines are easy," Bill said. "I know a million of them!"

"That's great! Then this should be easy." Mabel pointed at the picture of Creggy G in the middle of her Sev'ral Timez poster, whom she'd designated as their attractive human for Bill's flirting practice. "Try one out." 

Bill sized up Creggy calculatingly, and said, "You know, your eyeballs are so beautiful."

"Yes!" Mabel cheered. "It's romantic! I love it!"

"—and they'd look even better in my mouth."

Mabel stared at Bill.

"What?" Bill asked. "Too forward? Should I save that for the second date?"

The flirting lesson quickly switched track from teaching Bill how to use a pick-up lines, to teaching Bill what pick-up lines not to use.

And from there, the conversation drifted to a list of subjects Bill wasn't allowed to discuss with the federal agent, which necessitated relocating to the living room so Mabel could set up an easel pad and record all the banned topics. Partway through, Stan drifted in and started throwing in his two cents.

The list of banned flirtation topics included: eyeballs; cannibalism; squid kings; dragonfly mating habits; mandibles; the time and method of living people's future deaths; the cold and lonely heat death of the universe ("Why?! It's a perfect excuse to suggest cuddling for warmth!"); fun get-to-know-you questions like "would you rather kill your mother or your father" or "which conspiracy theories would you most hate to be true"; which conspiracy theories were true; the agent's embarrassing middle school secrets that Bill shouldn't have known about but did; the agent's bald spot; cancer flavors; pending global disasters...

Bill flung his hands in the air. "So what does that leave to talk about?!"

"Anything else," Stan snapped.

"The Chuquicamata open pit copper mine."

"Anything normal."

Bill gave him a look akin to that of a vegetarian who'd just been asked to discuss his favorite cuts of beef. "Have you metme?"

"Try topics that get him in the right mindset for romance," Mabel said. "Like, 'what do you want your future wife's favorite color to be?' Or 'you look like dad material!'"

Bill nodded slowly. "So we're aggressively leading him on. I can work with that. I've never been a fan of subtlety."

"And call him charming," Stan said. "Guys love hearing they're charming. Oh, and tell him his jokes are funny."

"What if he doesn't tell jokes."

"All guys tell jokes when they're flirting! If he's not telling jokes, you're doing something wrong."

"It's true," Mabel said. "Watch any high school romance!" Bill gave them both a dubious look.

Stan glanced up as Ford and Dipper walked by the doorway with Gompers. "Tell 'im, Ford."

"What?"

"All men tell jokes when we're flirting! It's probably in our DNA or something."

Dipper thought about that, and nodded. "I tell jokes when I'm flirting."

Mabel shouted, "You try to tell jokes when you're flirting! Heyooo!"

"Hey."

Ford grimaced. "Usually when I'm flirting, I forget every joke I've ever heard and start asking as many questions as I can think of."

Bill said, "That's because you only flirt with things you want to add to your bestiary!"

"The point still stands." 

Dipper had leaned into the room to read the banned topic list. "Why are conspiracy theories off-limits? He came to Gravity Falls in the first place because he was looking for a paranormal conspiracy."

"Dipper's right," Ford said, "he'd probably be interested in the topic."

Bill flung his hands in the air. "Thank you! That's what I was saying!"

Stan shook his head, "Too close to discussing politics. What if they believe in different conspiracies!"

"Plus, watch this," Mabel said. "Hey Bill, what do you think about Flat Earth theory."

Bill groaned. "I was drunk, those statements were taken out of context, and I can't be held responsible if some idiot with a boat misinterpreted me."

Mabel looked at Ford and Dipper.

Dipper grimaced. "Got it."

Ford nodded. "Conspiracy theories are off-limits."

"This is why you're all single," Bill said.

####

Stan said, "And if you're gonna lie about your job—"

"Which you always should," Bill cut in.

"Obviously! But make sure it's not something too easy to verify. Like, you can't claim to be the governor, what if your date actually voted and knows who the governor is?"

"That's a good point! Margaret was not impressed."

"You're telling me! My suit smelled like broccoli cheese soup for weeks!"

"You shoulda suggested she get the house salad."

"Yeah, I—" Stan cut off. "Wait. How do you know about Margaret? That was twenty years ago!"

Dipper and Ford were in the kitchen, looking for every ingredient they could find that might coax Gompers to release the flash drive the old-fashioned way and listening to the discussion in the living room. Gompers nibbled at a dish towel, oblivious to the fate awaiting him.

Mabel trotted in and patted him as she passed. "Hey, you! You're giving us major trouble, you rascal!"

He bleated at her.

Mabel pushed up to the open fridge next to Dipper, and when he stepped aside to make more room for her, she stepped into his personal space again and leaned into him with her shoulder. "Why are you in the way, bro, jeez!"

"You're in the way!" He leaned against her in turn. "What are you doing in here? Aren't you supposed to be training Bill?"

"Grunkle Stan's taking the lead right now," Mabel said. "My talent is helping people find true love! But his talent is suckering someone into liking you for a day. So I think he's better suited to the task at hand."

"Oh, yeah." Dipper chuckled wryly. "His advice will get you a first date, but not a second date."

Ford muttered, "His technique hasn't changed since high school, I see."

Dipper found the bottle of prune juice he'd been looking for, pulled it out, and stepped back. Mabel yelped when her counterweight disappeared and stumbled sideways into the fridge door.

As Dipper emptied the juice into a mixing bowl, he said, "I'm not sure about this plan. Even with both you and Stan helping. I know Bill's good at tricking people, but... he's so annoying. And not in a lovable way."

"Don't undersell him!" Mabel said. She'd retrieved a pitcher of Mabel Juice and was dumping a full bottle of sprinkles into it—hardcore romance training required high stamina. "He has the potential to be a dreamboat!"

Ford muttered, "He's a manipulative, murderous monster." He was searching through all the cans they'd moved to the kitchen counter for beans.

"Those don't have to be mutually exclusive," Mabel insisted. "Serial killers get girlfriends. Sometimes after they're arrested!"

"I'mmm not seeing a dreamboat," Dipper said. "More like a shipwreck. I mean, when you were trying to come up with a list of romantic date foods, he suggested blood licked off your date's teeth."

"And he was right!" Mabel said. "Vampires, bro-bro!"

"Okay, but I don't think he was talking about teeth that were still attached to his date's skull!"

"He didn't say they weren't attached," said Mabel, with flagging conviction that suggested she hadn't considered that and was realizing Dipper was probably right.

"And five minutes ago you and Stan told him he should pretend to be a princess, and he told you he'd be great at that because he started an Internet dating service that matches up lonely widows with overseas con artists pretending to be deposed princes."

"Well," Mabel said sheepishly.

"And then he tried to talk you two into investing in a pyramid scheme to fund his dating service."

"But we didn't invest!" Mabel said.

"Only because you looked it up on your phone and discovered he'd made it up!"

"I mean, until then, it sounded romantic!" Mabel flung her hands out in a wide shrug. (Something about the gesture looked strange to Ford.) "Finding a second chance at love with a mysterious foreign criminal with a glamorous false identity? That'd be great if it was real!"

"Mabel, it's a scam," Dipper said exasperatedly.

"And do scam artists not deserve love, too?!" Mabel pounded a fist on the table emphatically. "What about Grunkle Stan! He deserves love! A rich overseas widow would be perfect for him!"

"That's not— The point is, Bill's not romantic!" Dipper said. "This plan isn't going to work!"

Ford set half a dozen bean cans next to Dipper's mixing bowl. "He doesn't need to be romantic," he said. "He only needs to be charismatic. And for all his flaws, he's certainly that." Planets will orbit stars and black holes just the same—and not even realize the difference. "He doesn't have to actually win Agent Powers's heart. He only has to keep his attention for a few hours. By the time Bill stops dazzling Powers long enough for him to see the red flags, we'll have the flash drive." He nodded toward Gompers. "If we get it before the agents return with a warrant, we might not even need Bill to distract him."

Dipper sighed. "Then let's hope Gompers likes prunes."

"Come on! Show a little faith!" Mabel said.

Ford muttered, "The last time I put my faith in Bill..." Dipper gestured emphatically at Ford in agreement.

"Not in Bill! In me! Mark my words, Grunkle Ford—I'll get this Cinderella ready to meet his Prince Charming if I have to summon every mouse in Gravity Falls to help sew his ballgown!"

"Please don't summon the wildlife again," Dipper groaned. "The last time you did that, huge spiders kept appearing in our room for a week."

Mabel's pocket vibrated; she pulled out her phone and gasped. She chugged down the rest of her juice in three sickly sweet gulps and bolted from the room. "Biiill! Your personal style consultant texted back!"

"My who?"

She dragged him out of the living room by the wrist. "Come on!"

Ford watched them run up the stairs, then started searching through their cereal boxes for the high fiber one. Tentatively, he asked, "Mabel doesn't actually think we're trying to get Bill and the agent together, does she?" The Prince Charming comment was concerning.

"I don't know," Dipper sighed. "A few days ago she started talking about trying to get Bill a love life? Maybe she sees this as a practice round."

"Really? Why, did he say he wants to date people?" If he wanted to get out of the shack to emotionally prey on the locals one-on-one without supervision...

"I don't think she's even told him yet. It's part of her project to... reintegrate him into society? She probably thinks the power of love can rehabilitate him." Dipper sighed. "She's setting herself up for disappointment. He's been conning people into thinking he's a good guy for billions of years, right? If being loved could fix him, he'd be an angel by now."

"Instead, he's just gotten better at pretending to be an angel," Ford said ruefully. "I'm inclined to agree with you." He found the cereal he'd been looking for and set it on the table by Dipper. "But then... we let him live, didn't we? Because we all hope we're wrong. I suppose that doesn't make us that different from Mabel."

Dipper shook his head emphatically. "Not me." He dumped one of the cans of beans into the prune juice a little harder than necessary. "I let him live for two reasons: because of Mabel, and because of that prophecy. And he doesn't have to change to fulfill some prophecy to save us—when it comes, he might just be trying to save his own stupid butt, too."

"I suppose so." Right—of course, even if he'd agreed to spare Bill, Dipper still didn't have any real hope for him beyond his usefulness.

Over the past month, Ford hadn't seen anything more sympathetic out of Bill than Dipper had. He wondered at himself for even being willing to consider Bill might change. When had Ford changed enough to consider it? Or was he just more susceptible to Bill's same old tricks?

"You don't remember the whole prophecy yet, do you?" Ford asked. "What if this is what it was about? Saving our family from the government because he's the only person the lead agent finds attractive enough to distract him?"

Dipper pulled a face. "I hope not," he said. "After everything he put us through? He owes us a fight to the death with an interdimensional eldritch god."

"Now that's a sight I'd pay to see."

####

MABEL: Heyyy Paz, can I ask for a small favor. I have a friend that needs a MAJOR MAKEOVER!! 😿 Like the FULL PRINCESS TRANSFORMATION treatment!! Can you help him?

PACIFICA: Can't, I'm suuuper busy today. I have the lunch shift AND grooming day at the ranch.

PACIFICA: Plus, why would I help some total rando? 😒

MABEL: Because it's my friend with the beautiful golden hair.

PACIFICA: asldkfggh

PACIFICA: OK fine come by the ranch after work

PACIFICA: and send me a picture of his skin next to a white paper so I can grab some foundations to try out.

####

Bill took a piece of paper and a marker, wrote "Make me beautiful!" and dotted the I and the exclamation point with hearts, flopped the least sunburned part of his arm next to the paper for Mabel to take a picture, and leaned away to keep his face out of it.

As Mabel snapped a couple pictures, she said, "Okay, before we visit Pacifica, I have to warn you. She can be a liiittle bit mean when it comes to fashion. So don't get mad at her, okay? It's how she shows she cares!"

"No it's not," Bill said.

"No, it's not," Mabel conceded. "But it doesn't mean she doesn't care. That's just... how she relates to other people! By insulting their fashion, style, and body. And family. And finances."

"Don't worry, star girl. I can take it."

"But I mean, she might be really, really, super mean about your looks," Mabel said. "And you cannot curse her or threaten to turn her bones into flutes or do anything Bill-ish like that. Promise me."

"Hey, bone flutes! That sounds like a fun arts and crafts project, right?"

"Bill!"

"Re-lax, it'll be fine," Bill said. "She's just your garden-variety pageant girl with an overly-critical mom who tried to relive her glory years through her daughter! I can handle a teenage ex-beauty queen. I'm an expert on those types."

Skeptically, Mabel said, "Really?" She was slowly coming to realize that, in Bill's opinion, he was the expert on everything.

"Oh yeah. I spent years eyelid deep in the pageant scene."

"You did?" she said, surprised. "How come? Did you try to trick a beauty pageant into building your portal or something like that?"

Bill stared at Mabel.

####

Outside the flat hospital, it was a beautiful, peaceful morning. The air was clear, the unseen sun was shining brightly from some unknown dimension, and some 2D equivalent to a bird was chirping in some 2D equivalent to a tree.

And then the hospital doors crashed open with such force that passing shapes momentarily suspected that someone had set off a bomb.

"—don't give me that look, if you'd hustled your hypotenuse and had your birthday yesterday, we wouldn't be in such a rush! You're just lucky you came out so cute, or—" An exhausted, dull pinkish triangle charged out the doors with a very tiny, squishy yellow triangle in her trembling arm. She turned to shout behind her—"Hurry up! There's only two hours until the Best Baby Pageant and he is not going to miss it!"

—and was followed closely by a horrified blue triangle carrying a hat in one hand and a cane in the other. "But Scalene, the doctors still have to do those tests to check for—"

"They can test him later! If he's got some horrible birth defect, he'll still have it after he's won a trophy!" Without slowing, Scalene turned and held the baby out toward the other triangle. The squishy new shape gawked at him in mild befuddlement. "Look at this kid, Euclid! Most newborn brats look like cranky raisins, but he's less than an hour old and he's already bright-eyed and smooth-sided! He was born with the face of a pageant winner—"

Not looking where she was going, she ran into a tree. The bird flew off in a panic, Scalene lost her balance, and she nearly dropped the baby. Euclid caught him, caught her, and held her steady while she leaned dizzily against the tree. "Lene. You should be on bedrest right now. Maybe we should just, you know, take a moment to process..."

"Process what! We have our little angle. Am I supposed to sit in a hospital bed staring at the afterbirth?!"

While Euclid stared at her in shock, she snatched the child back, pushed him away, and wobbled back upright. "What kind of a lazy mother would I be if I was sleeping instead of making my child a winner! You want him to start off life on the right foot, don't you?"

Defeated, Euclid said, "All right. I'll take care of the... the paperwork. At least bring your cane."

"I don't need it. I'm fine."

"Fine?! You just..." He gestured at her, gestured at the brand-spanking-new baby, gestured at her again, then flung his hands up in defeat. "If you drop our baby, I'm divorcing you."

She sighed huffily. "You're so dramatic." But she snatched the cane out of his hand anyway and stormed away, declaring loudly enough that shapes on the other side of the street turned to stare: "If the mayor doesn't declare my Billy the greatest baby in the whole godforsaken world, I'm grabbing the biggest trophy in the room and bashing his eye in!"

####

Bill shrugged at Mabel. "Sure," he said. "Something like that."

####

Gompers stared down at the bowl set on the floor in front of him.

It contained black beans, broccoli, coffee grounds, fiber-enriched whole-grain cereal, oatmeal, and an avocado and half a sweet potato mashed together into an orange-green mush, all stewing in a prune juice soup.

Gompers looked up.

Dipper and Ford were crouched across from him, watching expectantly. 

Gompers bleated balefully at them.

"Go on!" Ford nudged the bowl closer. "It's good for you."

Gompers knew a lie when he heard one. He turned his nose up at the mix.

"I don't get it," Dipper said. "He eats everything. What's wrong with this stuff?"

"I haven't a clue."

"Maybe it's the broccoli?" 

Ford gave him a quizzical look. "Why broccoli?"

Dipper shrugged. "I don't like broccoli, I don't know why he would."

"Hmm." Mystified, Ford propped his chin in his hand and stared into Gompers's eyes. Gompers stared back. Gompers stared into his soul. Gompers didn't blink.

Ford was dragged from this session of nonconsensual soul-searching by the sound of footsteps and Mabel's voice drifting down the stairs: "Listen, you know I love your sense of fashion! All I'm saying is everyone loves kittens, but snakes? That's a pretty niche fashion market! You're not gonna get a lot of takers."

"No, hey, hear me out," Bill said. "I listened to your professional matchmaker advice, now you've got to listen to my professional heartbreaker advice. You'll thank me for this one day! This is my number one romance tip: if you wanna impress a date, strap cobras to your arms and call yourself 'Johnny Cobra-Arms.' It works every time. Guaranteed."

(Dipper snorted.)

"Whaaat? No way," Mabel said. "Seriously, what?"

"It's true! I workshopped this! I've experimented across parallel timelines! It works."

"Quit messing with me, Bill."

"You think I would ever mislead you? No. Picture this." As the pair turned the corner on the stairs, Bill was spreading his hands in front of himself as though gesturing to the scene he wanted Mabel to imagine. "You see a guy, maybe a year older than you, kinda cute but nothing to write home about, maybe a 6/10. Got him in your mind's eye?"

A look of intense concentration crossed Mabel's face as she engaged her Imagination. "Yeah?"

"Okay, now imagine he—" Bill reached the bottom of the stairs and looked around. "Where are my shoes." He raised his voice, "Who moved my fisshoes! I left them right— oh, there they are." He disappeared into the living room. "Imagine your 6/10 has two big snakes wrapped around his arms. And he catches your eye from across the club, comes up to you, and says..." Bill's voice dropped to a pitch that was nearly in the range of an average adult human male, "'Hey. Name's Johnny Cobra-Arms. What's yours?'"

Mabel thought about it. Her eyes slowly widened in amazement. "Oh my god, it would totally work on me."

Bill re-emerged into the entryway, fish shoes donned. "See?" 

"It made him hot! What the heck, how did that happen!"

"See?! It works every time!" He shouted toward the kitchen, "Hey, we're leaving for Alpaca's! I'm taking the car!"

"No you're not," Ford said.

Bill spread his hands in a shrug. "Worth a shot!" He grabbed his umbrella and the magic friendship bracelets from the coat rack and waited for Mabel to open the door. "See, it's the best possible first impression. It shows he's got a sense of humor, he's quirky, he's a little bit dangerous, he's got a great sense of fashion, he's a world traveler, he's good with animals..." The door swung shut behind them. 

The way Bill had shrugged stuck in Ford's mind. 

In his true form, Bill didn't have shoulders. His arms extended out of his sides like the trunks of saplings extending from the surface of flood waters, and they glided around his perimeter in a way that defied conventional physical biology. No joints. 

When he shrugged in his human body, sometimes he'd bob his shoulders up and down in a deliberate mimicry of how humans performed the gesture; and lately, as Bill got used to moving his new body, Ford had seen him sluggishly raise a shoulder when he was too exhausted to gesture more expressively. But most of the time, he shrugged like he still didn't have shoulders. He'd spread his arms, bend his elbows, usually forming a W shape but sometimes when he was particularly emphatic forming a shape like football goalposts, and if he really wanted to make his meaning clear he'd twitch his upturned palms up the way a human would twitch their shoulders.

He did it all the time. He'd done it just now. The gesture was so natural on Bill that Ford had never realized how unnaturalit was on a human—until he'd seen Mabel make the exact same gesture earlier.

She was copying Bill's body language. He wondered if she knew.

He'd have to keep an eye on that.

"Hope Agent Powers is into snakes," Dipper muttered.

Ford laughed—then wondered whether someone pulling the Johnny Cobra-Arms trick would've worked on him. If by now nothing had made him take an interest in a basic, garden-variety human being, he doubted anything could... but, admittedly, he'd at least consider hanging out with Johnny. He sounded like an intriguing character. "If that's the worst thing Bill subjects him to, he'll be getting off light."

With a twinge of guilt, Ford realized just how true that was. Ford was no stranger to having to turn down the volume on his conscience for the greater good—and there were few greater goods than protecting his family—but...

He might not know Powers, but he did know that, whether Bill succeeded in seducing him or not, the man didn't deserve what he was about to be subjected to.

####

(Now that this chapter's finally out, may there be no further delays for a good long while, ugh.

Here's your "what was changed in the wake of TBOB" update: obviously, since we got five whole pages on Bill's beliefs about romance, a lot of that got incorporated into this chapter—the first and last scenes were basically written entirely in response to TBOB.

The scene with Scalene & Euclid, obviously, got their names & descriptions from TBOB & TINAWDC (and yeah, yeah, i'm eventually gonna go back to earlier chapters and edit out Bill's mom being a line so it matches up with canon), and it's obvious what the "best baby pageant" is a reference to (so you can guess whether Bill won)—but Bill being a pageant kid due to his mom was already part of the plans long before TBOB, so I just stuck a couple canon details into the story I was already writing. We were already gonna get into Bill's childhood this chapter & next (as you'll see next week).

Beyond that, most of the chapter was already in its present form before TBOB—up to & including Bill having a list of topics he thinks are acceptable for dates that no rational human would agree with—and all TBOB added was a couple tiny details (like... "mandibles".)

The fact that the list of things that were influenced by TBOB is so much longer than usual is part of the reason this chapter's two whole weeks late lmao.

Anyway, hope y'all enjoyed, happy new year, and I'm looking forward to (finally) hearing your thoughts on the first fresh chapter of 2025!

[sophrosyncc]

— but i'll be there when your reality drowns .

warnings/tags : SFW, no beta we die like chrysos heirs, alternate universe, blood, slight biting, choking, all lowercase, gender-neutral reader, ft. amphoreus trio (castorice, phainon, mydei)

author's note : first post done! now the only issue is keeping it consistent ... apologies to the historical siren lovers in advance because I doubt this is very accurate

word count : 1.4k

imagine meeting siren!anaxa for the first time.

as someone who lived by the ocean, sirens were a common folktale shared around in your area. they were dangerous creatures rumored to have a human-like appearance, taking on a fish's tail for their lower half instead of legs. sharp teeth, fins, and predators.

in the distant past, sailors loved to talk about how they were nuisances in the waters. infamous for their reputation of causing multiple shipwrecks or stealing fish they had caught after multiple hours of labor. even pirates would spread information to comrades through horns, guns, and most importantly flags.

but what caught the attention of most people were songs, art, and poetry about their beauty.

historical records described them with scales that would rival the most precious pearls. ethereal appearances and perfect faces with little to no flaws. voices that allured resilient individuals, oblivious to the danger awaiting them as they allowed the depths of the ocean to swallow them whole.

you could distinctly remember phainon making a joke about it. if he learned that mydei was a siren, he would walk into the ocean without doubt and keep his arms wide open. the blonde-haired man didn't hesitate to smack his head with a rolled up newspaper.

"sirens aren't real." mydei sighed, ignoring castorice's quiet laughter in the background while phainon scratched his head. "but you shouldn't make jokes about that."

at the time, you believed them as well. the last sighting of the creatures were more than one millennia ago.

now?

sirens were more than just myths passed around by families to scare children who dared to sneak out of their houses. they were real.

and you remembered the night you met one for the first time.

you were walking along the shores, carrying a basket full of salt while you were on the way home.

it was a tedious task, one that had you huffing for breath or kicking the sand out of boredom, but you knew you couldn't slack off. these were only one of the main ways your friends earned money other than joining competitions, hunts, and other activities. the sights at night made it worth it anyway. a joy you didn't get to appreciate often other than the rare days you were free.

nothing compared to the delight of seeing the stars in the sky reflected in the tranquil waters of the ocean. however, this time, the others weren't with you to enjoy the beauty of it.

a fishing competition drained the energy out of everyone last week, especially when you were against one of the most skilled and experienced teams. all the preparation fell pale to the actual fight. you were sure you saw phainon holding two fishing rods at one point. castorice was telling him to put the other one down because it was slowing down efficiency. mydei was fortunately caring enough to handle every chore last while the rest of you were exhausted.

despite his intimidating appearance, you could compare him to a mother hen with how protective he was over the group.

"focus on recovering." he clicked his tongue, flicking his finger against phainon's forehead. that earned a small whine of pain from the white-haired man. mydei turns to look at both of you. "the same goes for you and castorice. I don't need you two dropping dead."

the memory brought a smile to your lips. this was the least you could do for all of them.

with newfound determination, you steel yourself for the remaining hours left before you reached home. maybe you could ask castorice for some of her books that you could read when you arrived. she enjoyed sharing poetry whenever the house was quiet—absent from the childish bickering and pots clanging in the kitchen—left to her own personal space that she didn't mind having you in.

before you stopped walking at the sound of someone's voice.

last time you checked, you were pretty sure you were alone right now in the beach. that wasn't a good sign at all.

you placed the basket down on the sand. slowly, you walk to the source of the noise, keeping your hand right next to your leg. your fingers wrap around the wooden handle of your dagger, firmly gripping it as you try to watch out for any movement.

was there someone following you? if they were, they didn't seem to be doing a good job at it.

"...is there anyone out there?" you hesitantly call out.

.

.

.

only the silence answered you.

a relieved sigh left your lips, moving the dagger back to its leather sheath.

perhaps it was just your imagination. auditory hallucinations weren't uncommon for you when it was late at night, or when you were barely surviving off a couple hours of sleep.

until the hum came again.

the pitch remained low. soft. almost as if they were singing to themselves only, yet the echo was loud enough to reach your ears. even at this distance, the cadence of their voice remained calm, further enhanced by the sounds of the tides washing across the shore. soothing. it sounded exactly like a lullaby torn from the pages of fairy tales you've once read as a child.

beautiful.

entranced, you took a step forward.

they continued humming, oblivious to a listener they've unknowingly drawn in with their song.

the shivering breeze from the ocean left goosebumps behind, wrapping your arms around your body in search of more warmth. it was too cold with winter approaching. every step made your feet even feel heavier, wet sand slipping into the corners of your slippers, trying to ignore the uncomfortable sensation of grains prickling your skin.

all of these nuisances were washed away by one single goal, guided by the melody that grew louder as you went nearer. it kept a firm tug on your heart. pulling you closer with every tone and rise, barely aware of the water rising up higher and higher.

desperate for more, you push yourself to walk faster.

even if mydei was going to scold you for getting a cold later, you had to keep listening. you wanted to listen. no matter what. to envelop yourself around the sensation of peace and comfort it gave you.

you needed to hear their voice closer. closer until it was all you could hear and breathe in—

something wraps around your ankle.

without warning, it drags you down by force.

you fall to the ground and hiss at the pain, reeling from the sudden pain in your spine, clutching your head. the sound of your heartbeat pounded in your ears as you scrambled for your weapon.

"shit, shit—" you curse, panicking as you struggled to wrap your head around the situation. "where was it?"

near your thigh, you flail your hand and finally feel the familiar leather against your palm.

but before you can grab it, fingers wrap around your throat and tighten their grip, abruptly forcing you down. you gasp as the air is knocked out of your lungs, leaving you heaving for every single inhale, clawing at the hand slowly choking you to death. mind spinning from the dizziness. the shadow looming over you grew larger.

in the growing darkness of your vision, you barely manage to catch a glimpse of something glimmering amongst the blur of colors that seemed whole. scales. iridescent scales.

the hypnotizing voice. a tail for their lower half.

a siren.

he was a siren.

you shiver at the press of something sharp against your neck. even with your eyes squeezed shut, you already know what's happening—his fangs barely prick the surface of your skin, drawing blood out—and bite back a whimper from the pain. the sound of your heartbeat grows louder, faster as he doesn't make any move to back away soon, helplessly digging your fingers deeper into the sand. a rough sound revebrated from the siren's throat in response. his grip on your wrists tighten.

was it contentment? pleasure? fun from toying around with prey? you swallow.

and then without warning, you feel something wet brush against your skin. you jolt at the sensation, eyes snapping open with bated breath, watching him.

he's licking your neck.

you gasp, slapping a hand over your mouth as he continues. the siren nuzzles your neck. he's lapping up the wound, refusing to waste a single drop of blood. the slender fingers around your throat move to the back of your neck, pushing you closer against him. you squirm and try to put distance but you know it's futile. when you finally look down—

one red eye with a slitted pupil stares back at you.

[ginnsbaker]

All Of Your Pieces (25 - Anger and Bargaining)

Chapter Summary: Wanda’s absence used up all the hurt you could feel, until you were just a husk, observing and unfeeling.

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Female Reader Chapter word count: 4.4k+ | Chapter Tags: angst, violence, and more angst Warning: thoughts of self-harm and suicide

A/N: There will be a few chapters without Wanda, but I promise you will get your answers about Y/N // More author's notes here.

Series Masterlist | Main Masterlist

Forty days had passed since you last felt her heartbeat next to yours.

Time moved differently after that loss.

Forty days had passed, and you still woke up expecting to find Wanda tangled in the sheets beside you, hair splayed on the pillow, her sleepy smile lighting up your whole goddamn universe. And every morning, without fail, you reached over to cold, empty sheets. It was as though some tiny part of you still believed in a world where the Snap was temporary. Where you’d press a kiss to Wanda’s forehead and feel her warm breath against your neck.

Steve Rogers didn’t quit. Not right away. The moment you all returned, he and Carol pored over galactic maps, trying every back-channel cosmic contact she had. If there was a whisper of a rumor that might undo the Snap without the Stones, they chased it. But every lead fizzled eventually.

After some time, Carol got called away to help other worlds pick up the pieces Thanos left behind. Some had missing leaders, others had entire fleets wiped out. She promised to keep looking, but the fact was, the universe still needed her out there. You knew she carried an unspoken guilt—like she was leaving you all short-handed—and maybe she was. But you couldn’t hold it against her.

Tony, on the other hand, took an entirely different route. You remembered the day he stood in front of the compound’s main table, staring at the empty chairs around it, then just... shook his head. He’d gone off to direct a wide-scale humanitarian effort—food drops, medical camps, building shelters for those left behind. 

That left Steve and Natasha, holding down the fort in the old Avengers compound. They answered crisis calls, put out smaller fires. You sometimes forced yourself to be there, but the truth was, you mostly holed up in your room. On a good day, you managed a half-hearted pitch of ideas or opinion. But eventually, the good days ran out. Your absences grew more frequent, until the four walls of your room became your entire world.

Natasha, for her part, never complained. She’d set food in front of you—a sandwich, a salad, sometimes just a handful of nuts—because that was all you could stomach before your throat closed up. She’d give you space when you needed it, which was often. It wasn’t fair, but you couldn’t stop. If the world was going to keep spinning without Wanda, then everyone else might as well feel miserable, too. 

Steve didn’t know how to fix you, either. You caught him trying to say something uplifting once or twice, always cutting off at the last second, like he realized it was useless. And maybe he was right. The bright-eyed captain who believed wholeheartedly in second chances looked haunted now, and it was supposed to hurt you too, seeing him this way, but Wanda’s absence used up all the hurt you could feel, until you were just a husk, observing and unfeeling.

In the end, it all boiled over. It was a Thursday (or was it Wednesday? You couldn’t tell anymore and you didn’t care) and you were in your usual state, laying on your side, eyes drifting unfocused over the rumpled sheets and the plain wall beyond them. You barely registered the footsteps in the hallway anymore, the way people whispered outside your door.

You heard the door open and didn’t bother turning to see who it was. You knew it had to be Natasha. She came by at least twice a day to see if you’d eaten or taken a breath that wasn’t soaked in sorrow. You waited for the usual quiet routine: maybe she’d try to hand you a plate, maybe she’d hover for a few seconds before closing the door again. But this time, she stayed put.

“Get up,” she said, voice hard.

You didn’t bother looking. “Not hungry,” you muttered.

Natasha snorted. “I wasn’t asking if you were.”

Something stirred in your chest, but you pushed it down. “I’ll get off this bed when we have a plan to bring them back,” you mumbled.

“Right, because you’re the only one in the entire goddamn universe who’s lost something,” she snapped.  

You clenched your jaw but refused to take the bait. Instead, you stayed wrapped in the thick blanket that was starting to smell faintly, a reminder that it had been too long since you last showered.

Natasha walked further into the room until she was standing by the foot of the bed. “So, what? You’re just gonna lay here while everyone else does the heavy lifting? Maybe we’ll draw straws on who gets to babysit you tomorrow.”

You felt a flash of heat behind your eyes, a protest waiting on your tongue. She didn’t give you the chance.

“You’re pathetic,” she says, her voice cold. “Sulking, while the rest of us try to pick up the pieces.”

You stayed silent, fists clenched, but Natasha wasn’t done.

“You know what I see when I look at you?” she continued, her tone colder than you’d ever heard it. “I see someone who had the nerve to get married in the middle of a war and is now lying down like it’s over. Someone who had Wanda—Wanda, of all people—and still can’t get out of bed to fight for her memory.”

“Natasha, that’s enough,” you growled, jaw aching from how hard you were clenching it.

“She promised you she’d come back, didn’t she? And you’re what she’s supposed to come back to? This?” Natasha gestured toward you, surrounded by the remnants of uneaten meals and discarded clothes. Filth.

Your pulse hammered in your ears, and for a moment you couldn’t believe what you’d just heard come out of Natasha’s mouth. You shoved off the bed and glared at her, the anger spiking hard and fast.

That final jab ignited you. You tossed the blankets aside and stood, eyes burning with a fury that wanted a target, any target. “What the hell do you want?” you snarled. “You come in here, wave her name around—”

She didn’t blink. “I want you to remember we’re a family,” she said, voice dropping a notch,  like that single word ought to mend every wound. “And don’t give me that crap about how Wanda was your only family. I get that she meant everything to you. But that doesn’t mean you get to shut down and isolate yourself while the rest of us are trying to—”

Before she could finish, you turned on your heel and yanked open the closet door. You started rifling through the small stash of clean clothes you hadn’t touched in days. Jeans, sweatshirts—whatever you could grab first, you shoved into a battered backpack without bothering to fold.

Natasha’s stance went rigid. “What are you doing?”

“Leaving,” you spat, wrestling the zipper. “I need space, and I can’t get it here. I’m done being your charity case. Hell, I’m done being mine.”

“So, you’re just gonna run?” she said, voice dripping with disdain. “You think that fixes anything?”

“I’m not running,” you countered, but it rang hollow even to your own ears. “I’m just… I’m tired. Of disappointing you, of pretending to believe that one day, it’ll get better. Whoever you think we’re still searching for—whoever you want me to be right now—is gone.”

“That’s not true,” she tried, but it came out weak. You slung the backpack over your shoulder and glared at her.

“Sorry,” you said, though you didn’t sound it.

You had no idea that would be the last time you’d speak to her for half a decade.

—

You weren’t sure what you were looking for. Perhaps a distraction? Or maybe confirmation that you’d burned all your bridges or that there was nothing left to lose? Whatever the reason, you found yourself on the road, drifting from state to state in a sedan with a busted radio, living off gas station coffee. The entire country looked exactly how you’d imagine the aftermath of an apocalypse. Everyone was still lost in their own heads, grappling with a new reality that marched on regardless. When night fell, you’d grab a cheap motel or doze off behind the wheel in a rest stop parking lot. 

Eventually, your thoughts circled back to the single question that always seemed to latch on whenever you’re on your own: What happened to her? The woman who gave birth to you, then chose everything else over you. The mother who hated you for a crime you never intended—for being the twin who survived when your brother didn’t. She’d never let you forget it, either, though it was your father who raised you until the day he died. She’d gone on to build a new life with a new family. You’d never bothered to find out how that turned out.

Against your better judgement, you decided to see for yourself.

You tracked down her address, almost expecting to feel a thrill of righteous anger or maybe a sense of closure. But when you parked outside a modest home in a suburban corner of Indiana, the only thing you felt was numb. A battered pickup sat in the driveway. A neat row of hedges trimmed the walkway. There was a “Welcome” sign on the porch that felt like a mockery of everything your relationship wasn’t.

You rang the bell, heart thudding like a judge’s gavel in your ears. When the door opened, you found yourself looking at a teenage boy—gangly, messy hair, a fading bruise on his chin. His eyes flicked over you, wary.

“Uh, hi,” he said, voice cracking a bit.

You didn’t know how to start, so you just said the first thing that came to mind. “I’m looking for—” You almost choked on her name. The woman who’d turned her back on you for most of your life.

His face went still. “She’s gone,” he muttered, stepping back a fraction, hand still on the doorknob.

You stood there dumbly, trying to make sense of why you came here in the first place. You’d come all this way, expecting maybe you’d find some closure or a reason to hate her more. Instead, the universe had already taken her, the same way it had taken Wanda.

Your mother was gone, and so was the chance for any resolution. A pit settled in your stomach, but it wasn’t grief. More like resignation.

“You’re her son, then?” you asked, not sure if you were talking to him or to yourself. 

He nodded, shrinking into the doorway. You blinked, realizing with a jolt that this boy—your half-brother—had lost a mother, and now he was dealing with a stranger on his doorstep.

Some half-formed apology stumbled out of your mouth. “I—I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I was just—”

“Who are you?”

You stood there dumbly, trying to make sense of why you came here in the first place. You’d kept tabs on her off and on for years—checking the local high school’s teacher listings, scanning social media posts from former students who mentioned her name. Even if your mother had cut you loose all those years ago, you couldn’t shake the need to make sure she was okay. It was a habit. Or maybe a compulsion. You never confronted her, never tried to mend the rift, but you watched from the wings, hoping she’d change her mind about you one day.

“I— I was one of her students,” you lied, the words scraping out as though they barely belonged to you.

Your half-brother frowned. “Her student?”

You nodded.

“She taught high school English. You look… older than most students.”

You forced a small, self-conscious shrug. “Yeah. I—graduated some years ago,” you improvised. “But, uh, she really helped me. You know, with…” You let the sentence hang, hoping he’d fill in the blanks.

His brow smoothed a little. “So you came all this way just to—what, see her?”

You nodded, trying to act more confident than you felt. “Yeah, I guess. I’d been out of state. I heard about everything that happened…the—I didn’t know if she was—” You paused, swallowing against the tightness in your throat. “I hoped she made it.”

Tears threatened to spill from your eyes as the realization hit—you truly meant it. You were genuinely hoping your mother survived. 

He pressed his lips together, the corners turning down. “She didn’t,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

You blinked. You’d imagined confronting her, maybe not violently, but definitely letting some of your pent-up rage loose. But Thanos had gotten to her first, just like Wanda.

“So… that’s it,” you murmured, bitterness coating every word. “She’s gone.”

He nodded, looking as uncomfortable as you felt. 

You glanced past him into the living room—torn blankets, battered furniture, the marks of a family living with one less body than before. It made you think of the compound, of Natasha and Steve and the vacant seats around the briefing table. Anger surged again, but this time, it sputtered out almost instantly. You were just too tired.

Your half-brother stared, waiting for you to leave. Eventually, you offered some hollow farewell and dragged yourself back to your car. 

You sat in the driver’s seat for a long time before turning the key. You tried to drum up some of that anger—something to keep you standing. But all that remained was the same lonely ache you’d fled the compound to escape.

That truth was, you hoped your mother would learn to forgive you. That if she didn’t see you long enough, she’d start hating you less, and maybe hating less would make room for love that you craved from her. But she never reached out once, all these years. 

And that piece of fact kept something in you alive.

If your mother could hate you so passionately, refusing to forget, maybe that meant you could hold on to Wanda just as fiercely. Because if forgetting your mother’s cruelty was impossible, then letting go of Wanda’s love was unthinkable.

With a shaky breath, you pulled away from the curb. 

—

The next few months passed in a dull, furious blur. You ended up in a one-room apartment on the edges of Manhattan, taking advantage of the fact that rent had plummeted with half the city’s tenants gone. It was cheap—no argument there—but also claustrophobic: four walls, a tiny bed, and a single lamp that flickered off and on if you leaned on the wall too hard. You told yourself it was temporary, but you’d stopped believing your own excuses weeks ago.

Half the world was locked in grief, and it showed. You couldn’t walk down a block without seeing signs offering counseling or “miracle cures” for heartbreak—some free, some borderline scams. You ignored them all. Some days, you’d get cornered by self-proclaimed grief coaches, waving pamphlets in your face, promising that acceptance started with a single step. It took everything in you not to bark out a bitter laugh. 

Your reflection in the bathroom mirror told a brutal story. You’d lost weight, enough that your cheeks looked sunken, and your hair was a matted disaster. It clung together in greasy clumps that made brushing an impossible task. More than once, you’d tried to work a comb through it, only to end up yanking out knotted clumps. But it was easier to do that than bother with shampoo or conditioner. Sometimes you felt you deserved the pain, just for having the audacity to survive.

You didn’t socialize, rarely ate, spent most of your time in stale sweatpants staring at the peeling wallpaper. At night, you’d lie on the squeaking bed, that infuriating half-broken coil stabbing your back, and think about how easy it would be to check out—just drift off into oblivion. You’d picture Wanda’s face, and for half a second, you could almost convince yourself you’d see her again if you just let go.

But something always pulled you back. 

Wanda’s memory, stronger than the morbid allure of death. She’d never want you to hurt yourself, and you couldn’t betray her like that. You’d close your eyes, mouth twisted with grief, and whisper, “I’m sorry,” to the empty room. Sorry you couldn’t be better at coping, sorry you had no way to bring her back. 

Sometimes you caught yourself imagining the impossible. A miracle. And if, by some freak occurrence, you cut your life short before that miracle arrived? The idea of Wanda coming back and finding you gone—it made your chest tighten so hard you could barely breathe.

No, dying wouldn’t do. You told yourself that every time the thought crept in. You had to be here—just in case. And until that day came, or never came at all, you’d sit in that lonely apartment, hair tangled, knuckles white, battered by regret. And if death knocked on the door one evening… you weren’t sure you’d say no, but you’d at least wait to see if Wanda could somehow be on the other side instead.

—

For the next several months, you drifted in that numbing routine: sleeping too little, eating too little, and caring about even less. You spent your days in your crumbling Manhattan apartment, flipping through channels that couldn’t decide whether to focus on the lost or the survivors. After finding nothing to hold your interest, you muted the TV entirely and let the images pass by like a grim slideshow.

Then you caught a name—Ronin—and froze.

There’d been sightings of a masked vigilante cutting down criminals with lethal precision, first in Indianapolis, then Houston, and now, apparently, San Antonio. The camera panned to shaky phone footage—a black-clad figure, swords flashing, leaving a trail of bodies. Your pulse picked up speed. You recognized the stance, the lethal economy of movement. 

Clint Barton.

No one else came to mind. The man who’d trained you in close-quarters combat, who’d taught you how to hit your targets with almost the same precision. All this time, this is what he’d been up to, dispensing justice on a scale that made you question if you really knew the man.

Suddenly, you weren’t so detached anymore. Ronin might be consumed by vengeance, but a part of you envied what he was getting out of it.

Retribution. 

If the Avengers’ moral code had died with half of the universe—maybe you could join him on that side of the line. Or stop him before he burned out. You didn’t know which impulse guided you harder.

—

The drive to San Antonio took exactly two days and five hours. You had tried to make it faster, but the monotony of the journey wore on you, making the road feel endless. Fatigue set in quicker than usual, a combination of restlessness and the fact that you’d been surviving mostly on energy bars, neglecting to properly fuel your body. It was no surprise your efficiency as a driver had taken a hit.

Clint’s pattern wasn’t hard to figure out, once you knew what to look for: big fish, small pond. You staked out the grimiest part of town, where word on the street said Ronin was likely to strike next. 

But you found the target first.

He was holed up in a dingy suite on the third floor of an abandoned hotel. You broke in through a cracked balcony window. Almost too easy, you thought, adrenaline rushing through you like a drug.

Inside, you found him alone—his guards apparently out—and when he swung around at the sound of your footsteps, his face went pale at the sight of your drawn sidearm.

“Who the—” He didn’t finish. You cracked him across the jaw with a single punch, sending him stumbling back. In your old life, you might have hesitated, let him speak, read him his rights or something. But that compassion was gone.

The old you was gone. It figured.

You bound his wrists with cable ties and dragged him out to the balcony, your heart pounding. You’d never felt so in control. So… alive. Not since—

Something in the air suddenly moved. 

Clint, perched on a ledge a few floors down. You recognized his silhouette, the lean set of his shoulders. His hood concealed half his face, but not the unmistakable shape of his jaw. He sprang up with grace you’d seen a thousand times on the battlefield, landing silently on your balcony.

The moment he recognized you, he pulled back his hood, grimacing but otherwise composed. If you hadn’t known him for so long, you might have thought he wasn’t surprised at all. He started to say something, his mouth opening slightly, but you cut him off, your voice icier than you’d ever heard it.

“What the hell are you doing, Clint?”

His jaw tightened, and he pulled his sword free, pointing it at your captive. “He’s mine,” he growled.

“You’re welcome,” you said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “I saved you the trouble.”

You yanked your captive to his feet. He started babbling—pleading with you, with Clint, it didn’t matter. You didn’t really hear him, though, not in any language your mind was willing to process. Without hesitation, you shoved the muzzle of your gun against the side of his skull and—

Wanda, lying in bed one lazy morning. She’d been propped up on her elbows, her hair a mess, the covers bunched around her waist. You had just cracked one of those stupid jokes she always pretended not to understand. The punchline hovered for a few seconds before slowly, like the sun peeking over the horizon—it dawned on her. 

Her entire face had lit up, a blush creeping into her cheeks, her laughter bright yet still sleepy-soft. The joy washed across her expression in deliberate waves, and it was like watching daylight burst through the clouds. You swore you could feel the warmth against your skin, bathing you in light, making you remember for the thousandth time just how deeply you loved her.

—pulled the trigger.

The body crumpled in front of you, a burst of red spraying the concrete, some landing on your neck and cheek. You lowered the gun, arms shaking with the aftermath. 

Clint said nothing at first. He just stared, his sword lowered. He looked like he was ready for you to attack him next, or maybe for him to do the same. 

You didn’t return your pistol back to its holster right away, just in case. You stared right back, tears sliding free and rolling down your cheeks. No shame in it. Your lips curved into a small, defiant smile, one that felt alien but unstoppable. You didn’t bother wiping your tears or the blood. You just smiled.

“You’ve gone nuts,” Clint muttered tightly.

“Take me with you,” you said. “Bring me along, Clint. Whatever you do next… I can help. We can… we can double the body count of all the scum that crawled out of hiding after the—”

He narrowed his eyes. For a moment, you thought he might strike you down right there, disown you for crossing that invisible line. But he only stood in rigid silence, shoulders coiled like a trapped animal. 

“I work alone,” he said at last.

You nodded, tears still falling, but the corner of your mouth twitched upward in a sort of quiet resolve. “Nothing has to change. You keep doing your thing. Just… point me in the right direction. You and me, Clint—we can watch each other’s backs.”

He stared at you like he was seeing a stranger, not the person he once trained. The lines around his eyes deepened. “Does Nat know you’re here?”

The slight narrowing of your eyes was all he needed as an answer. After a beat, he turned away, dismissing you completely. Something in your gut lurched.

You didn’t really think it through—maybe you wanted to scare him, maybe you wanted to force him to acknowledge you. But Clint heard the click, spun around, and dropped low before you could squeeze off a shot.

He spun, dropped low, and let an arrow fly in one smooth motion. It sliced past your temple, drew a thin line of blood on your forehead, then lodged itself in the wall behind you. 

The cut stung, but you were used to much worse pain.

“You’re slipping,” you said coolly, ignoring the warm trickle down your face.

He huffed, a sound with no humor. “I’d say I hit my mark.” He notched another arrow but never loosed it. Instead, he took a step to the balcony’s edge, glanced over his shoulder with a look you couldn’t quite read, then vaulted off.

You rushed to see where he landed, but all you saw was neon glow and dark emptiness. He was gone, swallowed by the city.

—

A week later, you found him again—this time in a dusty backwater city, two states over. Rumors flew about a masked swordsman butchering gangs before they knew what hit them. You traced the stories, interrogated survivors, and stumbled across Clint on a rooftop under a weak moon. He wasted no time trying to lose you, weaving in and out of abandoned warehouses and barely-lit alleys until it felt like a game of cat and mouse. You knew it was a test, maybe even a taunt.

At last, in a crumbling storage building where mold clung to the walls, Clint stopped running. You stepped inside, gun in hand just to show you could. He was leaning against a fractured window, mask tugged above his jaw. He watched you for a beat, then pulled a folded sheet of paper from his belt and tossed it at your feet.

A map—circles, scribbled names, locations. You could almost taste the violence in every ink stroke: gang leaders, arms traffickers, crooked syndicates. You ran a finger over one of the circles, a knot of tension forming in your stomach.

“Deal with them,” Clint said, voice low but clear in the still air. “If you can. Otherwise, stay out of my way.”

He didn’t wait for a reply. Pushing off the window frame, he adjusted his hood and left by a half-collapsed doorway before you could ask if he’d changed his mind about teaming up.

Your fingers tightened on the map. A surge of grim satisfaction ran through your veins. This was what you’d wanted, wasn’t it? A chance to channel your anger into action? Your grip shook a little, thinking of Wanda, how far you’d drifted from the person she’d known. But you slid the map into your jacket all the same.

[kwanniverse]

WHAT SEVENTEEN’S GIRLFRIEND WOULD LOOK LIKE:)

OT13 x 3rd pov

genre(s): fluff, humour

warning(s): none

word count: ~1.25k

*work of fiction that is what I think of seventeen and their ideal type, do not get any wrong ideas or judgement*

work all mine, no reposting without creds, no stealing of published work, copyrighted:D

scoups:

his girlfriend is definitely someone who he is scared of like how his members fear him because of his aura, as soon as he comes home from work, he will be running for his life if he sees his girlfriend mad. he always tries to please her, giving their relationship his all and on most occasions she returns the love, making them quite a happy couple with a healthy relationship (unless cheol pisses her off then you already know he’s sleeping on the couch tonight😃).

jeonghan:

his girlfriend isn’t the angel you think she is either, just like him, because he would need someone to be his evil partner when joshuas not around. she is very playful and pranks jeonghan’s members too, making seventeen groan internally whenever jeonghan brings her to practice with him. she has an outgoing and bubbly personality (1), makes friends with anyone and everyone to “earn” their trust, just to prank them afterwards.

joshua:

unlike her boyfriend, she is someone very calm and collected, and if i do repeat myself, ✨NORMAL✨ she’s got long, smooth hair that matched her visuals so everyone calls her and joshua the visual couple, she puts up with shua’s antics because anything he does is cute to her, blushes whenever he calls her baby, is the melt absolutely KINDEST soul you’ve ever met and could do no wrong, the main reason why joshua fell in love with her anyway.

jun:

girlfriend is unexpectedly funny, just like him. an introvert obviously, but she knows jsut when and what to do to make you laugh or smile after a bad day, and did i mention an amazing cook? (her food is so good svt begs jun to ask her to make some for them) makes jun the best chinese mala dishes ever and treats jun as her number one priority, MAJOR green flag!!!

hoshi:

isn’t it obvious? his girl would definitely have that tiger energy in her as well, bringing headaches to every single seventeen member whenever she tags along during practice because oh damn you bet she’s loud and crazy and chaotic, just like hoshi. they call her the tigress, but svt has to admit she’s got the skills of a dancer too (also part of the reason why hoshi went head over heels over her was because he saw her effortless and flowly yet sharp dancing and loved her artistic style🔥) likes to tease hoshi by joining in on the anti horanghae club, often hears and keyword, IGNORES hoshi’s complains on how she likes woozi more than him but can you blame her?🐯

wonwoo:

his girlfriend is interesting. she's mysterious, her feelings so hidden only someone so close to her like wonwoo would know what she's feeling or thinking. she looks really cold on the outside, but is the absolute sweetheart inside once you get to know her. LOVES mystery and crime shows, and reads books so much wonwoo had to built her a small library in their shared apartment. the seventeen members and wonwoo himself sometimes feel intrigued to knowing more about her. she also loves cats and although has an RBF, couldn't hurt a fly because she's so sweet.

woozi:

his girlfriend loves music. albums, records, vinyl players, radios, dg booths, she loves them all. instead of being quiet, she's actually quite talkative and an extrovert who gets along well with basically everyone. finds woozi's height cute and pinches his cheeks every time they go to the studio. cries a lot and very emotional, but her tears aren't always sad tears and most of the time are tears of overflowing joy and pride whenever seventeen wins an award, the most supportive girlfriend to her boyfriend's career fr.

the8:

his girlfriend loves the art and can make REALLY good tea. chamomile, green, earl grey, fruit teas, you name it, she somehow has the ingredients and teabags for it???🍵🍃 very peaceful and understanding so her and minghao barely ever fight. she gives in really easily, and is sort of the peacemaker, her voice alone enough to calm down any tension. the one who suggested her boyfriend to start trying yoga and meditating with her to which he eagerly agrees to. her voice is music to anyone's ears, and never, ever does raise her voice at anyone, doesn't hold grudges and VERY forgiving.

mingyu:

unlike him, she is very focused, neat and organised, and is polar opposites to mingyu because she's careful and firm, somewhat a perfectionist but then again, mingyu defends with "opposites attract" which is somewhat true, because they fell in love at first sight after he accidentally knocked down her cup of coffee on himseld one random night at a cafe. she loves reading up on animals and is the BIGGEST eco friendly enthusiast on earth, cares passionately about saving the environment so makes seventeen recycle and use sustainable materials but that just makes mingyu fall in love with her once again.

dokyeom:

his girlfriend is the cheery girl version of himself. cute and short, but her heart is bigger than the universe. has a burning interest towards nursing and healthcare, and is incredibly smart too! loves taking care of children and aspires to be a pediatric nurse. she has a strong set of values and a moral compass that she sticks by too, and will NOT tolerate it if anyone crosses the line, breaks her limits or hates on her boyfriend because let's all be fr, who hates our happy pill dk right?

seungkwan:

his girlfriend has has an outgoing and bubbly personality (2), never fails to make anybody laugh. she is seungkwan's whole motivation to keep going and she would do anything, and i mean anything, in a heartbeat for his boyfriend. she does NOT care about any hate comments and defends her boyfriend very aggressively, but a smile is always plastered on her face and she's always bright and positive, lighting up anyone's day. she is the diva and is just as if not even more savage than seungkwan, does not gaf and would roast seventeen as if she owned the place. this world is hers, and we're all just living in it:D she actively peels oranges for seungkwan because it is "good for him"🍊.

vernon:

like him, his girlfriend lives her life exactly how you expect her to. nothing fun, nothing boring, but at times, she does break "character" and wants attention from her boyfriend who of course, instantly melts at her eyes that he doesn't know whether to describe cute, or a look of "vernon hansol chwe you better look at me this instant or i will dig your eyes out" YES, kinda creepy and gives silent treatment when mad so yeah...she's chill with her girls though and very generously splurges on her friends, treating them to whatever whenever because she also helps to pay the bills out here, but may or may not fake her "anger" sometimes just to see the pitiful side of vernon because she likes to spice her life up a bit, yk?

dino:

his girlfriend is quiet...or is she really and has the best humor, has a collection of jokes that never seem to run out?? dino as her boyfriend is forces to laugh at every single one of her jokes even though some of those he questions whether she got it from his dad but moving on, she would have the BEST fashion taste and sense, and is SHOPPING BESTIES with seungkwan and minghao(and also sort of a shopaholic). challenges dino actively to games where she wins (most of the time). loves sports and athletics, and may even be fitter than dino himself???

[my-rose-tinted-glasses]

So we’ve been talking about tropes these last couple of days thanks to @abstractelysium super fun tag game. And although I did my three, since then I’ve been thinking about what is probably my favourite trope, although I never thought of it as one. But then I started thinking of more examples, and there are a lot of them, and also thinking that we have so many tropes about how they meet and fall in love, this is just another one. And if this has already been pointed out as a trope or has a name and I somehow missed it please correct me. And I guess some of these can also be put into other tropes, like enemies to lovers or friends to lovers, but to me, at their core, they start at that small gesture of kindness.

Because he was kind.

If someone comes up with a better name for this I'm open to suggestions. I suck at titles. There are more examples of this so I'm choosing the ones I think exemplify this more for me and also trying to get shows from different places. I guess this trope is pretty self explanatory, and although there is no shortage of kind boys in bl, I'm focusing on the cases where there was a past moment, where one of them was kind to the other and it planted a seed. Regardless of what happened after.

Takara no Vidro

Takara consoling Taishin when he was sad because his bird died was what started it all. He was shown kindness from a stranger and would follow him everywhere after that.

Cherry Magic

This applies to all versions of this show. Adachi showed kindness to Kurosawa and allowed him to be weak and so the epic crush would begin.

We Best Love

Despite the enemies to lovers thing, Gao Shi De's crush started because Shu Yi showed him kindness when they were kids. 

About Youth

This could apply to both couples on this show. With the main couple kindness is the whole reason Qhang falls for Ye Guang. And then he falls right back pretty much for the same reason. And Ray falls for Ah Jian because of what he did for him that day. Everyone is just really kind in this show, ok?

Love Mate

He tied his shoes (I also love this btw) and gave him his lost card and wished him luck. Haram was lost right there.

Dangerous Romance

The umbrella that started it all.

Old Fashion Cupcake

This one is on both sides. First because of the talk Nozue gives Togawa after the interview and then Nozue can't help but fall right back after Togawa was so kind to take him by giving him a crash course staying young. I do love them so...

I Became the Lead in a BL Drama

"To be able to love or like something so much is wonderful. That's why I can't wait to play this role." And, just like that, a perfectly normal obsession crush began. I miss them. Can't wait to see them again.

Only Boo

Was there anything Kang didn't do for Moo? Starting with the toothbrush and then continuing to feed him so he wouldn't starve. I adore these boys.

I'm gonna stop for now and maybe do a bigger list at some point. But if everyone can think of other examples please tell me. I'm gonna add this trope to my spreadsheet, so I need all the shows!!!

[rav1377]

Breeding Season

cowboy!John Price x fem!reader (ranch au)

tw:yall if you can’t pick up the double entendre of the title….there is BREEDING KINK IN THIS. WE ALL KNOW IT-ahem. smut, piv, semi-rough, semi-public, grinding, etc.

sorry but im turning this into a series…..the creative juices are flowing once more….this is a background/prequel one that will feature the beginnings, adding the story as we go. THERE WILL BE SMUT I SWEAR. DONT DOUBT IT.

it’s breeding season on Price Ranch again. the April rain fallen on the grass, dewey and wet. but it’s not just breeding season for the cows. no, John Price had some other ideas for his wife.

you’re standing next to Simon by the cow chute, checking off tags on a clipboard, ensuring each one is accounted for. Simon releases a lever and the cow chute opens, heifer running out and down the fence line to the open pasture. Johnny nods and opens a gate to let another heifer through. Kyle stands on the third bar of the fence, cattle stick in hand to prevent more than one getting through. she runs into the waiting cow chute, and Simon shuts the lever. “65!” he calls out to you, and you peer down at your clipboard, scratching through her number. getting all your pretty charolais cattle their shots before breeding season is imperative. you lean down, picking up your syringe and solution, filling it up before inserting it into her rump. she doesn’t budge though, put at ease because of the chute. you pat the spot where you injected her and nod at Simon. he releases a lever and she runs away. it’s humid, Texas sun and rain creating a swamp of everyone’s skin. you glance at your watch, it’s almost noon. “alright! we’ll call it for now! break for lunch boys.” you call, looking over at Simon and then the two other men. Kyle dismounts the fence and Johnny exits the cow ring. the walk back up to the house is quiet though. comfortable. John’s working at the main house, counting numbers and arranging auctions.

the cool rush of the ac makes everyone sigh in relief. boots are torn off in the little mud room, else they face your wrath. you walk into John’s study, kissing his temple as he works. “goin’ okay?”he asks, chin resting in his palm. you hum in affirmation before walking out of them room, John’s eye tracing the sway of your hips. you’re probably going to prepare some sandwiches for the boys, fresh fruit and sweet tea with it. this year he’s mind’s been racing recently. you’ve just been looking so good, darling. he’s played with the idea for a while, he wants a big fat family with you, get you nice and pregnant. you just work so hard for him and his boys, it definitely does something to that head of his. you’re too good for him, soft and sweet. he wants, no needs to get you all full. see you walking around the ranch slowly, hand on your round belly. he can already see a youngin’ bouncing on your hip as you make dinner for your beautiful family.

he’d met you at your fathers ranch. he’d been a few years out of high school, looking for work, when he’d seen a help ad in the local paper. Clearwater Ranch. named for the pristine lake that sits on the property, fed by a natural spring. John remembers that day clearly, walking up to the old house, and you, the prettiest thing he’d ever laid his eyes on, opening the door. you’d had a sweet little dress on, baby blue like the Texas sky. he’d seen you somewhere, not completely sure where. “John?” you’d asked, looking up at him. you recognized him too, from school. he’d grown since then, into a strong man. his biceps bulged out of the tee shirt he’d worn, arms hung at his sides. his legs fit snug in his jeans, and his boots were facing you as he tried to keep his jaw closed. “y/n” he said, almost a whisper. you couldn’t deny he looked good. toned and fit, his brown hair fluffed up at the top of his head, and it looked his was trying to grow some little stubble out on his jawline. “what the hell you lettin’ all the dang air out for, girl!” your father calls, and he limps from the living room to where you stand. you see, your father was sick. bones and body taken over as he was racked by a cough again. you rushed over, holding the older man up. “im fine, now why don’t you let the boy in already.” he wheezes, following your arm to the dining room that’s right of the door. your hands twitch back to where he stands, and you look back at the young man. “right.” you say, not questioning your father. “come in, John.” the man steps in and looks everywhere but you as the door closes behind him. you stand behind him, eyes flitting from your pa to the back of John’s head. you didn’t know why he was here. “sit down, boy, I ain’t gonna bite ya’” your father drawls, leaning back in his chair. John nods curtly and pulls out a chair, sitting across from your father. “pa, what’s going on?” you ask, sitting next to him. you father continues to examine the young man, eyes boring into him. John would never say it, but he was nervous, being inspected by two sets of eyes now. “your William Price’s boy, ain’t you?” your father says finally. John nods, “yes sir.” your father extends a hand to the man. “David L/N.” he says. “John Price.” your father nods as John shakes his hand. “I was sorry to hear about their passin’. bad way to go.” John nods in agreement. his parents had been killed in a car accident when he was seventeen, the ordeal caused by a drunk driver. your own mother was the victim of a drunk man with a gun and hunger for money. “pa.” you cut in again, voice taking on an edge. “hush, im getting there.” he cuts back. patting your right hand. “you got any family besides them?” he asks, gazing at John. “no sir, rest of our family is small, not a lot of people to go to.” your pa nods, looking to you. “he’s here because you need help.” your eyes widen. “pa, we are managing fine.” you say, facing him. “im old and sick. im dying. the doctors say i wont have much time here on this earth and i want to spend it off some dang pills.” he coughs again. the dementia had been hitting him bad lately. you’ve felt so helpless. him and your mother didn’t meet until your daddy was almost 46. your mother was 38. your pa’s almost 72 now, and getting sicker, thanks to bad genes and a lifetime of grueling work in mines. your father grips your hand. “sunflower you need the help. you are running yourself ragged tryin’ to keep this place together. I can’t even help you anymore. we’re hiring a work hand.”he says, air of finality entering the room.

defeated, you face John again. your not exactly angry at him, just what the worlds handed you, and right now, he’s what the world is forcing you to. “what will we pay you?” you say, looking up from the table. “well, erm.” he clears his throat before continuing. “i was hoping for a place to stay.” he says. “you wouldn’t have to pay me or anything like that, i’ll work for free, but my family didn’t leave me land or a house, their wills didn’t exactly explicitly state it. it got taken by the government.” he explains. Your father nods, John was still technically a minor then, no one else to lean on. “you got a place then, boy. food to eat too.” nodding at him once more, he rises. “come.” he says, tapping John’s shoulder with his cane before walking out the front door. you stay seated, eyes narrowing on John. the door shuts behind the two men and you walk to the kitchen, plopping in the old chair by a window that overlooks the property. the hills turn and oaks bend in the wind. the clear lake sitting on the right side of the property, calm and still. you wish this didn’t have to happen. you wanted your pa to be better, but it didn’t look good.

on the front porch, your father sits down in a white rocking chair, looking over his land. John follows suit, but looks at his boots nervously. “John, i know im old. i really am dyin’. i want you to take care of my girl. she’s been one of the only things ive had in this god forsaken life besides her mother Audrey.” he says, not looking at the young man. John nods, and he’s 8 years old again, getting a cookie and pinch on the cheek from your mom at the state fair. “sir…” John asks, looking at the elderly man now. “no no, i plan to leave this world as free as when i came. they can’t shove no more pills into me to stop it. you heard me. take care of her.” he growls, pulling a pack a cigarettes from his shit pocket, flipping open the packet and taking one out. “you got a light?” your father drawls, looking at the man. “uh-Mr.L/N…should you really be smoking?” John rubs his neck. “boy give me that goddamned lighter ‘fore i snap your dang neck.”John’s quick then, pulling out a silver lighter from his father, passing it to the man next to him. your pa puts the tube in his mouth before lighting it, handing out the lighter to John again. John stares at him, unsure of what to do. “quit starin’ at me boy, im goin’ anyway, may as well speed it up.” your pa gazes out into the corn field in front of the house. “you want to go?” John asks. “son, when you’re as old and as tired as me, you’ll be itching to go. my Audrey’s waiting for me. and i ain’t worried about my girl, she’ll be better off without an old man like me dependen’ on her.” he blows out smoke before glancing at John. “plus, you’ll be around to help out too. take care of her.” your pa nods, rocking slowly in the chair. John’s silent at that. “William was a good man. knew him from the mines, way back when. knew he’d be good for at least one thing in his life.” your pa nods again and rises. “get your stuff in the house and tell y/n im in the corn barn. and don’t you dare tell her you gave me a light.” the man goes down the steps slowly, and limps on his cane to the barn on the left side of the field. John looks at him as he walks off. he stands and walks to his truck, pulling out a beaten duffle bag with the few belongings he has before walking into the house.

the kitchen smells like lemons as he walks in, and you’re seated by the window. you look up at his intrusion, eyes following his strong arm that carries the bag. “follow me.” you say, walking to the stairs. the barefoot patters of your feet hit the ground as you step to the stairs. walking up, John keeps his head straight down, not wanting to risk a peek up your skirt. he is a gentleman after all. you show him to a guest room, patting the bedspread as you tell him about how the bathroom’s hot water is slow and the pipes are old, saying how they might make some odd noises or leak. John nods, setting his bag down. he’s just grateful you let in a stray like him. you sneak a glance as he faces a wall, trailing down his thick back. “well, im going to get started on dinner. my pa out in the barn?” you ask, hand on the doorframe. “yes, he actually told me to tell you that.” John chuckles, hand back on his neck.

couple hours later you have dinner prepared. chicken and Alfredo pasta, all made from scratch. John hasn’t head a home cooked meal in who knows how long, and when he takes the first bite after your pa says grace, he’s restraining himself from moaning. it’s just so good though. the alfredo sauce isn’t too think or thin, got just the right amount of cream in it. before he knows it, he’s eating with fervor, choking down a bite after another. after everyone’s done he follows you into the kitchen like a puppy, helping you wash the dishes and put them away. “I got some night chores to do, John. you go on upstairs, get cleaned up and go to bed.”you say, hand on his shoulder. something twitches in him at that. nodding, he walks up the stairs, belly full and satisfied. he takes a hot shower for the first time in months, been busy traveling around, looking for work. hasn’t had much time to relax like this in a while. as he washes his hair, he thinks about the day, all that happened. you’re so soft and just kind, giving freely. he feels himself chubbing up and he blushes, ashamed. he shouldn’t think like that. you’re technically his employer for gods sake. still, he drifts his hand down, cupping his balls in thick hands, moving up to stroke himself. he groans quietly and tries to get his mind off you, trying to convince himself it’s just because he hasn’t had a moment to himself in a while but he can’t, mind drifting to your pretty face and the honey sweet sound of your voice, stroking harsher now. his hands rough and rushing his release, desperate now. his props an arm against the wall and leans toward the tile, gasping. his so so close. he thinks back to the way you looked at him when you opened the front door, eyes all wide and surprised to see him. the way you touched his shoulder and laughed at something stupid he said while you washed the dishes. he grunts and bucks into his hand before he’s spilling, release dripping down his legs and into the shower stream. he pants softly before finishing his shower.

he lays in bed that night, feeling something that he hasn’t had the last few years.

peace.

GUYS THIS GOT SO AWAY FROM ME-I AM SO SO SORRY THIS WAS NOT APART OF THE PLAN. GOING TO TURN THIS INTO A SERIES, ITLL TAKE PLACE IN THE PAST AND THE OTHER BOYS WILL BE ADDED, UNTIL WERE AT PRESENT DAY (the stories present day) SO YEAH

LEMME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SEE SMTH SPECIFIC IN THIS OR IF YOU HAVE A REC NAME FOR THE FIC!!! BRAINSTORMING NOW. TYSM FOR BEING PATIENT AND FOR ALL THE SUPPORT

-cass/rav 💕:D (whatever u wanna call me!)

[steddieas-shegoes]

if you fall, i will catch you

for @steddielovemonth day 2 using Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper

rated t | 855 words | no cw | tags: high school, prom, slow dance, flirting, open ending but assumed getting together

🪩🕺💃🪩🕺💃🪩🕺💃🪩💃🕺🪩

Prom is stupid.

Steve didn’t even want to come. He didn’t have a date and nothing is more embarrassing than showing up to prom alone. Even the nerds come as a group, dancing and laughing together.

His mom made an appointment for his suit fitting and he couldn’t really explain to her that there was no need. She still thinks he and Nancy are on track to be married when Nancy graduates high school. He doesn’t know how to tell her that he’ll probably die alone.

Okay, that’s a little dramatic. He’s probably not gonna die alone.

But he may die unhappy, and that’s worse.

Most of the music hasn’t been terrible so far, at least. Only one slow song played and no one seemed interested in dancing to it.

Steve’s a fucking wallflower at his own prom. He never saw this coming.

He figures he could probably escape within the next few songs, no one would even notice his absence. He makes a mental plan to wait until one of the parent chaperones walks back to the other side of the room.

Then he’s off.

He manages to escape to the hall behind the gym, the one that leads to the auditorium and drama class, not the main building of the school. No one should be back here. It’s the perfect escape route.

“Never thought I’d see the day when King Steve is trying to escape prom,” a voice says from the end of the hall. The music from the gym is echoing in here, but the voice is much louder. It’s familiar, too. “Miss Wheeler too busy with Byers to dance?”

It’s Munson. Steve sighs.

“Why are you even here?”

“It’s my senior prom, too! Or should those of us not graduating not be allowed?” Eddie walks closer and Steve sees that he’s actually dressed up. It’s not a designer suit like he’s been forced into, but it’s nice. Eddie looks…nice.

“Wait,” Steve registers what he actually said. “Not graduating?”

“Yep. Apparently quadratic formulas are crucial to my development and I cannot enter society until I understand them.” Eddie kicks his foot across the tile, leaving a scuff mark from shoes that have probably been waxed beyond necessity. “And I guess dissecting a frog and turning in homework may have helped.”

“But aren’t you pretty smart?” Steve thought he was one of those dungeon dweebs like Dustin. Dustin’s the smartest person he knows, without a doubt, kid or not. He thought all the nerds who play that game were like that.

“Sure, I’m smart enough,” Eddie scoffs. “But I don’t play by their rules. I forget to do homework. I argue.”

“But if you know the stuff, they can’t fail you.”

“Ah, but they can. I don’t have the Harrington name to convince them to change a D to a C. It’s all good. Everyone expected it.”

Steve’s brows furrow, forehead creasing as he thinks about how many things people expected of him that won’t happen.

“Just because people expect it doesn’t mean you have to give it to them,” he says.

Eddie’s eyes widen and he seems shocked by Steve’s words. But the shock wears off quickly. Steve wonders if he imagined it.

“Right you are! Very wise words from the king,” Eddie bows dramatically.

Steve laughs.

Eddie glances up, tense until he realizes Steve’s not laughing at him, just at the entertainment. He stands straight and holds out his hand.

“I do believe such wise words should be repaid with a dance,” Eddie puts on a fake British accent, nose pointed to the sky, smirk playing on his lips.

Steve thinks this must be what it’s like to be charmed by someone.

“A dance?” Steve asks. “Here? With me?”

“It would be my honor,” Eddie loses the accent and turns his head back down so he’s looking right at Steve’s eyes. “Miss Lauper wrote this song just for us, after all.”

Steve’s confusion grows until he hears the song coming from the gym. He can only imagine how awkward it must be in the gym while some couples slow dance with chaperones watching their every breath. He reaches out and takes Eddie’s hand.

“The honor is mine, sir Munson,” Steve tries for an accent like Eddie had previously, but it falls flat.

Eddie pulls him close, but hesitates before he puts an arm around his waist. Steve feels breathless all of a sudden, like they’ve rocketed into space and he forgot one of those astronaut suits. He nods, giving permission for Eddie to take the lead.

When Eddie pulls him closer, they’re almost flush against each other.

Steve’s heart is racing.

“I didn’t know you were weird,” Eddie admits quietly. It sounds a lot like admiration. He’s swaying them back and forth gently, and Steve finds it’s easy to lose track of everything but the way Eddie’s hands rest on his body. “It’s nice to see you, Steve.”

It’s a lot more than what it sounds like.

As Cyndi Lauper plays, Steve wonders if this is how his prom was always meant to be spent: in Eddie Munson’s arms, falling.

[joooooniecore]

After all this time - Chapter 6

Your friends have been successful enough to drag you out of your workaholic routine for a vacation out of country.

The only problem? Your long term crush who actually used to be your best friend is also going there. And he is bringing his girlfriend, your ex-female best friend.

What could go wrong? Right?

✧˖* pairing: ex-bestfriend!mingyu x f!reader

✧˖* chapter count: master-list

✧˖* genre: ex-best friend mingyu, friends to strangers to friends to lovers, fluff, angst, slow-burn, smut.

✧˖* playlist: spotify playlist

✧˖* full work warnings: resurfaced old feelings, toxic relationship(not between the main characters), angst, confusions, resentments, past misunderstandings, a very slow burn

✧˖* explicit warnings: penetration, explicit language, cursing, bodily fluids, praising, body worship.

✧˖* author's note: sorry for not posting this chapter on time. i was severely sick and couldn't get out of bed for five days straight, hence couldn't edit this thing and post it. i hope you like this chapter. this is a long chapter as i wanted to keep the palace tour in one chapter only. did you feel the willingness of mingyu to be friends again? kinda frustrating to not know what he thinks right? well no worries, you will love the next chapter. anyways, thank you to everyone who reached out to see why i delayed the post. i love yall!<3

--- love, artemis.

✧˖* tag-list: @ana-marais98 @hellosighsophy-blog @ppaia @mingyuisthevictimofsvt @tokitosun @iarayara @cheolliesvt @seungcheolsblackcard @alohacrispyrn @lilylikesthat

COMMENT TO BE IN THE TAG-LIST!<3

<< chapter 1 | chapter 2 | chapter 3 | chapter 4 | chapter 5 | chapter 6 | chapter 7>>

The next morning, luckily you woke up right on time. You had set an alarm for 6 o’ clock because you wanted to have a slow morning just for yourself. You got out of your heavy blanket, a bit unwillingly and decided to freshen up first and then dress up well. You love winter fashion and you have brought some good clothes but you were too tired to dress up since the last two or three days. Now that you have time for your own, you decided to dress up like you always do.

You decided to wear a short black velvet dress, with a body warmer below. You paired it with thick stockings and black boots. Throwing a long black overcoat over the outfit, you stood in front of the mirror admiring yourself. Normally a person wouldn’t want to wear boots to a tour of a castle but the boots you own were extremely comfortable and actually didn’t hurt a bit. After putting on some light makeup, you decided to get out of your room and get some breakfast.

You kept the coat on the sofa and decided to get yourself a bowl of cereals. You were not in a mood to make something so this was the easiest way out. The microwave dinged indicating that the milk was warmed up. You chose a cereal and sat on the table, taking bites as you scrolled through your emails.

By the time you were done with your breakfast, you saw the others slowly approaching the dining area. You gave a radiant smile to Chan as he greeted you back with a soft ‘good morning’.

Seungcheol came in next as he grumbled about having to wake up this early. He poured himself some coffee and sat beside you on the sofa, slowly sipping it. You on the other hand opened the book you were reading and skimmed through the pages, clearly trying to not get bothered by Maya.

“Are you trying to ignore Maya?”, whispered Seungcheol.

“Kind of.”, you answered awkwardly.

“Good. She deserves that. I would have punched her face but I don’t think you would like that.”, Seungcheol joked as he flexed his muscles.

This made you laugh as you patted his back and promised to bring him with you whenever you needed a bodyguard.

Soon everyone was done with breakfast as Seungkwan announced that it was finally time to go. You got up, fixing your dress as you wore your coat and the boots that were waiting for you in front of the main door. As soon as you got out of the bungalow, you could feel a pair of eyes on you. You looked up to see Mingyu quickly turn towards Maya and walk up to the front gate. You stared in confusion but decided to ignore it and started walking out.

Chan informed everyone of a tram that was available nearby. One can take the tram and it will take them straight to the Prague Castle. You guys decided on taking the tram as it was cheaper and easier means of transport. The journey to the castle was nothing eventful, as everyone got separated in the tram, to find a seat. You sat beside Seungkwan and stared out of the window, taking in the beautiful scenery of the city. You always loved transport systems as it allowed you to drown in your own thoughts.

After what felt like half an hour, you reached the destination. Everyone got down from the tram and after asking for directions, the nine of you finally stood in front of the prestigious Prague castle. The word ‘beautiful’ would have been an understatement. The castle was beyond words. It was massive and magnificent. The details that were carved on the stones made you stare at it in awe. You have only read about castles in story books that looked this magical. You took a good ten minutes to soak it all in. You wished to stay in this castle forever but that would be weird right?

Seungkwan’s voice brought you out of your thoughts as you walked up to where he was.

“This is our guide and she will help us tour this entire palace.”, explained Seungkwan.

The guide was a small petite middle-aged woman who looked like she knew things about this place that no one knows of. She was dressed in a formal attire and spoke English very well. You greeted her with a with a warm smile and internally thanked Seungkwan for choosing a woman. It’s a weird concept of yours but you always feel lighter when touring a place with a woman guide. It helps you communicate easily and ask various questions that might get annoying at some point.

Walking through the gates of the magical castle, the woman-guide spoke first, “Welcome to the Prague Castle, the largest castle complex in the world and a treasure trove of Czech history and architecture. My name is Elinor and I will be your guide for the day.”

Her voice was extremely professional but also captivating. It was warm and deep and didn’t have an annoying shrill to it.

“How long does it normally take for this tour?”, Chan asked.

“Uhm up to 3 hours. It also depends on how quick you guys walk.”, joked the guide which made everyone laugh a bit.

As you walked through the gates, you could see the history and the talent of the artisans from that age. You always get shocked at how skilled these people were in make something this massive and also detailed.

“As we enter the castle grounds, we find ourselves in the picturesque Hradčany Square. The square is surrounded by stunning Baroque architecture, including the impressive St. Vitus Cathedral, which we'll explore later. Let’s take a moment to admire the square's tranquil atmosphere and the beautiful buildings that surround us.”, said Elinor as she guided your group to the area.

You looked around, taking it all in. It was beautiful. The architecture was to die for and the beautiful buildings surrounding the square gave it almost a heavenly look.

“This is amazing.”, said Jeonghan as he stared at the Cathedral.

Everyone nodded, as if hypnotized by the beauty of this place.

You decided to click some pictures of the place, as Mingyu did the same. You both almost made it look like a competition to click the best pictures.

“I think I will click better.”, spoke Mingyu suddenly to which you gave a smirk as if silently challenging him into a photography competition.

“Ugh why do they need so many pictures?”, you heard Maya speak.

You decided to ignore her as you attempted to click more perfect shots. You were more of a candid photographer. You loved clicking pictures of people, who have no idea they are being clicked. If someone told you to click a picture of them, that’s when you get awkward and wobbly. Right now, clicking the pictures of the intricate designs, seemed so much better.

“Let them. They enjoy it.”, Jihyun strictly spoke, which you could hear perfectly from the distance. You acted like you were too engrossed in clicking pictures so that you could eavesdrop what the conversation was getting at.

“They are best friends, right?”, you could hear Elinor ask, clearly out of curiosity.

Seungkwan laughed and said, “Yeah kind of. They were partners in photography in college. The best team anyone could ever get.”

You couldn’t see Maya’s face but you knew she was bubbling with anger. You decided to end her misery as you walked out of the corner acting completely oblivious of the conversation.

“I am done clicking.”, you declared. Just then you heard Mingyu approaching too, signaling that he was done too.

The guide gently smiled as she guided you guys to the entrance of the massive cathedral.

“We'll now enter the breathtaking St. Vitus Cathedral, the spiritual heart of the Czech Republic. This magnificent Gothic cathedral took nearly 600 years to complete and features stunning stained-glass windows, intricate stone carvings, and the final resting place of many Czech saints and rulers.”, said Elinor as the nine of you entered the closed area of the cathedral.

The inside was even more spectacular. The glass windows, the high ceilings and the beautiful designs. Even if the lighting was low, you could feel the rich architecture. You were so in awe that you almost missed what Elinor said next. The room was dimly lit so you couldn’t even see properly the faces of your friends. You stared in confusion as you suddenly felt a presence behind you.

 “She told us to look up, silly.”, came a deep voice close to your ear. You looked first at the owner of the voice, Mingyu who was grinning as he pointed towards the ceiling.

Then you looked up, craning your neck, and saw the most beautiful ceiling you have ever seen. The details, though too far away to capture with naked eye, were so beautiful. Amidst all this you could still feel Mingyu’s presence behind you as he almost pressed himself against your back. The inside of the cathedral was a bit crowded which explained the minimal distance between you both but it still didn’t help your thumping heart from calming down.

You were too scared to break this spell and decided to selfishly bask in the warmth of his body against yours, even if it didn’t mean a thing to him.

Elinor’s voice made you flinch as you created distance between you and Mingyu and walked up behind her to follow the group out of the cathedral and into a different location. The inside of the cathedral was too dimly lit to click a good picture on your camera. It was an old model and didn’t have much good features to click in the dark.

“I will send you the pictures I clicked inside the cathedral.”, Mingyu said as he walked up to you and quickly joined the group. You gave a small nod as you continued to walk.

You were actually getting scared of the bold attempts that Mingyu made to talk with you. You have no idea why he was suddenly having this urge to talk with you and be friends with you again. You were honestly scared about Maya being jealous and spilling the beans about your feelings for Mingyu which would complicate the situation more so you decided to maintain a respectable distance even though he was being all friendly.

“Next, we'll visit the Old Royal Palace, a complex of buildings that served as the residence of Czech rulers for centuries. We'll explore the palace's grand halls, including the impressive Vladislav Hall, with its unique ribbed vaulting and stunning Gothic architecture. This is where the Czech coronation ceremonies took place, and you can almost hear the echoes of history within these walls.”, explained Elinor as your group got inside the main attraction of this area, the palace.

You quickly took out your camera to click some good pictures of the architecture. You were always intrigued by how artisans pulled such beautiful pieces off even at a time when there were no high - defined machines. You snapped pictures of the details on the walls, ceilings and even pillars. The coronation ceremony arena was even more beautiful as you felt like a princess walking down the area.

You silently clicked pictures of all your friends as they loitered in the area. You were great at secretly clicking pictures of people and you got some pretty good snaps of Jeonghan and Seungcheol being snuggled together. Jihyun looked extra gorgeous in the soft pastel shirt she wore and you couldn’t resist but snap a lot of her pictures. Seungkwan who was adoringly looking at an oblivious Vernon was your next subject of pictures. Then you snapped pictures of Chan who was busy admiring the details and looked cool in the soft glow of the palace walls.

Your camera slowly panned to Mingyu, who was weirdly not with Maya anymore as he kept on snapping pictures of the place. You glanced around to find Maya talking on her phone and concluded that it was the reason why she was not clinging to him.

You hesitated a bit before snapping a few pictures of Mingyu who was so engrossed in clicking pictures himself. He looked extremely handsome in jeans and shirt. The black leather jacket made him look so put together and classy. A sunglass took its place over his eyes once he was done clicking and that gave him almost a boyish look. Mingyu was tall and that itself was an accessory and you almost forgot that you were surrounded by other people.

“I can see you drooling.”, Seungcheol’s voice startled you as your cheeks flushed and you ducked your head to hide the embarrassment.

“Why are you here to torture me?”, you glared at him to which he gave a hearty laugh to simply annoy you more.

“Why don’t you just confess?”, asked Seungcheol.

“Are you crazy? He has a girlfriend for fuck’s sake.”, you whisper yelled as your eyes went wide.

“Yeah, well you confess, he rejects, you get eternal peace.”, he explained casually.

“You are seriously lucky that my best friend likes you or else you would have been ten feet under the ground.”, you glared at him, this time in a murderous way.

He threw his hands up in the air, as a sign of surrender and said, “Sorry ma’am. No need to confess anything.”

“Who’s confessing and what?”, came a voice from behind as you both turned to find Mingyu standing there, dumbfoundedly.

Seungcheol smirked and you could see the wheels turning inside his head. Before you could stop him, he spoke, “Our friend ____ here has a crush on someone.”

Seungcheol ran away from the scene before you could even hit him and you stood there awkwardly under Mingyu’s scrutinizing eyes.

“Y-You like someone?”, asked Mingyu and you couldn’t understand why he was so shocked.

“Kind of yeah. It’s not a big deal.”, you said, wanting this conversation to end.

“Do I know the person? Is it a college friend?”, he asked next which made you internally groan.

“Listen, it’s nothing important. Don’t worry about it. I will confess to that person when the time feels right.”, you replied, suddenly feeling a bit bold.

You could see something wash over Mingyu, as he gave a small smile and walked up to Maya. You couldn’t decipher what happened and decided to ignore it and enjoy the trip. The rest of the walk in the castle was all calm as Mingyu seemed to maintain a distance from you and you decided to not get bothered by it as it was somehow good for your heart.

“We'll now visit the Basilica of St. George, one of the oldest churches in the Czech Republic. This beautiful Romanesque Basilica features stunning frescoes, intricate stone carvings.”, Elinor spoke, like a recitation as you entered the church.

At this point your head was completely empty as you simply decided to wander and enjoy the history with your own eyes rather than clicking pictures. You clung to Jihyun as you both giggled and scanned the place. Jihyun asked you to pose in front of a beautiful mural and she clicked few pictures of your outfit which you were glad for.

The guide quickly ushered your group out of the church, murmuring something about the shortage of time and took you to this place called ‘Golden Lane’.

“This is the Golden Lane, a picturesque street lined with tiny, colourful houses that date back to the 16th century. These houses were once home to the castle's goldsmiths, and today they're filled with quaint shops, cafes, and museums.”, Elinor explained but her voice seemed to be just in the background as you stared in awe at the lane.

Your eyes sparkled as you took in the beautiful colours of the houses. Suddenly you heard the soft click of shutter as you turned to find Mingyu pointing his camera at you. You gave him a questioning look to which he just shrugged his shoulders and started clicking pictures of the streets.

After the street tour was over, Elinor spoke, “Now we have only the art museum left. If you guys are interested in that then I can take you there.”

You all looked at each other, clearly tired from all the walking. You wanted to visit the museum but seeing how tired everyone was, you decided to not bring up the topic. You secretly decided to visit it when you come out for your solo trip day.

“I think we will head back home, if that is, okay?”, said Seungkwan politely.

Elinor showed no sign of annoyance as she quickly guided your group out of the castle area and near the front gate. You guys thanked her for the amazing service and she was kind enough to give you her card to contact her whenever you guys visit again.

After the tour, everyone was hungry so the decision to eat lunch was immediate. Chan again knew a great place near the palace which served great Czech dishes and took you guys there. The food was delicious as usual and the nine of you devoured everything that was ordered. After lunch, everyone hopped on a return tram back to the bungalow.

The afternoon went by in the glimpse of an eye. Everyone went to their respective rooms to rest or do whatever they liked till the sun went completely down and Chan called everyone into the living room to drink some hot chocolate and cookies that he made.

While enjoying the hot drinks and chocolaty heaven, Maya decided to suddenly speak up.

“We should go to the old town square in the evening.”, said Maya enthusiastically.

“Huh? All of a sudden?”, asked Seungkwan, clearly not buying it.

You guys weren’t accustomed to this place and so you weren’t sure it was a good idea to roam a busy place on such an eventful evening.

“Yes! Also, I have a friend who lives here and she was able to give me information about a bar that is celebrating Christmas Eve in full swing today.” explained Maya.

Seeing how everyone went silent, Maya decided to speak again, “Come on guys. It will be fun. It’s Christmas eve after all! Right babe?”

She finished off the sentence and clung to Mingyu to get his validation on the topic.

“Yeah. It’s Christmas Eve after all.”, said Mingyu hesitantly and Seungcheol agreed along with him.

Everyone nodded their heads and decided to get dressed before the outing.

You weren’t exactly willing to go because you felt weird dressing up but Jeonghan was ready to drag you out of your comfort zone. Chan was able to search up about the bar from his contacts and it was a very expensive one. The bar Maya selected also had an in-built heater so covering up wasn’t much needed. Chan was even kind enough to hire a taxi just so that the ladies can dress well.

“Chan is a gentleman.”, said Jeonghan as he rummaged through your suitcase for something fitting.

You nodded your head absentmindedly as you went through the pictures you clicked today.

“You didn’t bring anything sexy! Goddamit!”, yelled Jeonghan out of frustration.

“I wasn’t exactly planning to wear a mini dress in freezing cold Jeonghan.”, you snapped back jokingly.

He looked at you, eyes gleaming with something that you were scared of. He gave a gentle smile as he stood up suddenly and rummaged through his own bag and brought out a wrapped box.

“What is that?”, you asked out of curiosity.

“I was supposed to give you this at night for Christmas but here you go. I bought this dress for you from a store back home.”, he said as he handed the box over to you.

You giggled a bit as you unwrapped the present and inside was the most gorgeous and sexy red dress you have ever seen.

It had a simple front, with rhinestones cascading down . It would end just above your knee. The back was the statement piece itself. A low dip back cut ran down the entire length of the dress just up to the hip area. Rhinestone attached ribbons going criss cross along the entire back and tying into a bow on the lower back. The dress was beautiful, bold and so gorgeous. 

“Are you sure this would suit me?”, you asked, a bit nervous for wearing something this bold.

“You would look breathtaking in this. Mingyu would be begging on his knees.”, joked Jeonghan.

You rolled your eyes and got inside the washroom to change and do your makeup. Jeonghan was right. The dress fitted you like a glove. Your curves accentuated due to the silk fabric of the dress. It made you look sexy and even more attractive. You decided to go for a simple make up look so that it doesn’t draw the attention away from the dress. Letting your hair fall, in its natural way made you look gorgeous. You never really kept your hair open but on such rare occasions, you wanted your waist length hair to have its moment.

As you came out of the washroom, Jeonghan fell on his knees, exaggerating his reaction. You laughed as you twirled to give him a show. Jeonghan stood up and went out of the room to call Seungkwan and Jihyun in.

“Oh my god! You look so fucking good what the hell?”, was what Seungkwan screamed as soon as he entered the room to see you.

Jihyun hugged you tight saying if she had a chance, she would date you.

After mustering courage, you decided to wear the black boots and the coat that you wore in the morning. You wrapped the coat around your waist as you wanted to show your outfit when you reach the bar.

As you came out of your room, Chan explained that Seungcheol, Vernon, Mingyu and Maya were already on their way to the bar and it was just them five here now. After getting ready completely, you guys got into the hired taxi and drove to the place.

The bar was beautiful. It had the classy look, like most of the places in the city. It almost looked like a sophisticated royal party but the neon lights and music gave it a modern look.

As soon as the five of you entered, Chan quickly spotted the rest of the people and joined them. Jihyun was quick enough to order few drinks. You decided to not get much drunk as you ordered a cocktail and decided to nurture it for most of the night. The others decided to go for some strong shots. Seungcheol also backed off from drinking as he was going to make sure everyone reaches home safe.

The night went along as everyone became tipsy and swayed to the music blasting through the speakers. Out of the corner of your eye you saw Maya leave and before you could see where she went, Jihyun and Seungkwan dragged you on the dance floor.

You allowed the songs to flow through your body as you swinged from side to side while bumping playfully into Seungkwan and Jihyun. The three of you giggled drunkenly as the music made everything else tune out from your mind. Suddenly you noticed a presence behind you, touching your exposed back and you flinched. Turning around you saw a man trying to get close to you. Jihyun and Seungkwan were no were to be found as you realized that you got lost in the crowd for a bit.

“Hey babe, wanna dance?”, he asked clearly trying to flirt.

“No thank you.”, you replied politely. The man furrowed his eyebrows and insisted one more time, not budging from the spot. You panicked a bit trying to create a distance and distanced yourself before looking towards the table everyone sat earlier to find Seungcheol. He knew how to handle these situations. Panic rushed through your veins as you saw that no one was there around you that you knew of.

A strong hand grabbed your wrist as you flinched, trying to get away from the smell of alcohol mixed with sweat that attacked your nose. The man smirked as he tried to pull you closer. You are not a weak woman and knew how to hold your ground but at that moment your brain was too foggy to even register how to escape. As a single tear escaped your eye, you suddenly felt the grip loosen and leave your hand.

You looked up to see Mingyu standing there, glaring at the man who was trying to force himself on you. Mingyu was way taller than the man and that made him drop his strong demeanour and scurry away to escape the probable chance of getting beaten up.

Mingyu approached you and gently held onto your shoulders trying to ground you. He slowly bent forward and gently whispered in your ear, “Are you okay?”

You simply nodded, not sure if you still have your voice. Mingyu looked around a bit and when he was unable to find the rest of the friends, he decided to again ask you, “Do you want to go out for a bit?”

The idea of getting some fresh air instantly made you calm. You nodded and Mingyu quickly grabbed your hand, trying to make both of you pass the heavy crowd and out into the fresh chilly air of Prague night. The Old Town Square was itself breathtaking as lights twinkled in every nook and corner. All the shops were illuminated for Christmas Eve and it almost looked magical against the soft snow. You sat on a nearby bench trying to take a breather. Even if it was almost late at night, the area was bustling with people which made you extremely happy.

Mingyu sat beside you as he sighed, “Are you seriously okay now?”

“Yes. I am fine. I was actually terrified. Thank you for saving me.”, you answered shyly.

“Come on. That’s what friends are here for right?”, Mingyu said as he bumped his shoulder against yours.

Friends. Yeah, you both were friends after all. Only friends.

“How are you liking this trip so far?”, you asked, trying to fill the silence.

“Oh. I am loving it. I am actually finding myself through this trip. I don’t know how to explain that but it is so.”, Mingyu said, a soft smile playing on his lips.

“Uhm, can I ask you something?”, asked Mingyu, clearly hesitant.

You nodded your head and internally prayed for him to not ask something awkward.

“Why did you and Maya ended the friendship?”, he asked and you mentally slapped yourself.

“Oh. Uh it was some sort of misunderstanding. I clearly don’t remember it now after so many years.”, you partially lied as she was still his girlfriend.

“No. Don’t lie to me. I know you. You are not someone who ends friendships just because of childish misunderstandings. Don’t stop from answering me just because I am her boyfriend. Tell me. I am very curious.”, he sternly replied.

Mingyu had always been great at reading you. He could read right past your lies and made-up stories. He could see right past the fallacy you create for you.

“Wow okay. I mean I seriously don’t remember much detail but it was I believe a fight over a disagreement. Oh yes. She was dating this one boy in college and we went to a party together and the next day she suddenly came up to me and said that I was trying to steal her man. I was flabbergasted and tried to reason it but she showed me all these blurry pictures of me hugging the guy and I seriously didn’t remember much about that night as I was super drunk. I actually felt guilty because maybe I seriously crossed the line because I was drunk.”

“Then? So did you really do it unknowingly?”, Mingyu asked out of curiosity.

“I don’t think so I should say you this.”, you answered apologetically.

“Please.”, Mingyu pleaded, his eyes glistening under the soft street light.

“She framed me. That is all I can say. I don’t know much details myself but another friend told me. And I was so tired of trying to be better for other people that I never asked her about it again. I just left.”, you answered sadly.

Mingyu nodded clearly not sure what to say. You patted his back in a gesture that it was fine that he has nothing to say. Mingyu had a habit of guilt tripping himself when he realizes that he was unable to help someone and you could tell that he was blaming himself at that very moment.

“There was nothing you could do Mingyu. I distanced myself and I never told you about it.”, you said as you correctly read his mind.

“How? Okay fine. Stop reading my mind.”, he chuckled sadly.

“Wanna head back inside now?”, he asked after a long pause.

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

As you both entered the loud chatter of the club, your mind was a little bit clearer than before and your heart felt lighter somehow. You never really wanted to ruin the friendship you and Mingyu shared and this was the moment you realized that maybe it is your overthinking that is making you distance yourself from him.

The loud music welcomed you both as you walked up to the table all your friends were seated at. Jihyun got up and hugged you as he heard what happened from Chan. Apparently Mingyu had texted him in detail what happened and where you both were. Maya was still not at the table and you quickly gazed around to find her standing near the bar. You sat beside Jihyun and she ordered another cocktail for you to enjoy the rest of the night with.

click <<here>> to go to chapter 7!

✧˖* end notes: posting every monday! do suggest me ideas if you have any. also do like and comment!! it gives me motivation to write better.<3

[gothwineaunts]

I don’t mean to assume or make anyone alarmed but I’ve heard you and flynn are skipping the focus on Annabel and Lenore bc of a group of Montresor fans (as Lenore and Annabel aren’t popular with them).

Is that true??

I’m not asking because of what’s happening in fastpass, I heard about this information around when season 2 came out.

Wow, that's honestly absurd. Sorry hon, I dunno where you heard that but it's made-up nonsense. A rumor, and not even a particularly good one. I think most anyone would be able to see through it, but I'll go through it with you anyway because I've seen some angst on the tag about this. 1. Lenore and Annabel are the main characters of the story, and that has not changed and will not change. If we intended to toss them aside in season 2, why on earth would we have set so much up in season 1? Also all of the promo art is still of them, and we spent a lot of time on it. So I think it's a safe bet to assume they're still the main characters. 2. Nevermore is, and has always been, a sapphic gothic romance. Montresor is a man. Where is the sense in changing the intent of a story, and likely losing readers in the process, just to appeal to a niche group? 3. As for this niche group of Montresor fans, where? Who are they? And what power do they supposedly have over us to force us to completely change the story to their shadowy whims? Idk if you noticed this but people kind of hate Montresor. He's easily the least liked character in the series. And making him the main character would be maybe the most unpopular decision we could possibly make, so how would that be selling out or making fanservice, if everyone... would hate it? Wouldn't that make it the opposite of fanservice? What is the logic there? 4. As far as I am concerned, Annabel and Lenore are popular with most everybody in the fandom (including people who happen to also like Montresor) on account of them being, once again, the main characters of the story. 5. Annabel got the first flashback, and then Ada, then Prospero, then Eulalie, and Will. I feel like there are enough data points there for most people to be able to see the trajectory of the arc. If you can't, I'm not going to explain it. 6. Related to the above point, do you suppose we've passed over Lenore by accident? Or we just forgot about her? Or is it more likely that we're doing a thing? 7. Y'know, it's always Montresor people make up these moralistic rumors about. I'm sick to death of people being weird about Montresor. Some of you out there really need to learn what a villain is, it's frankly wild how much confusion there seems to be around this concept. 8. This rumor smacks of "you don't actually care about the sapphics" but I regret to inform you that Flynn and I are both sapphics. And worse, we're sapphic together. Kinda shoots that idea out of the water. 9. Is this because everyone is mad they haven't kissed yet? Because this is still the same slowburn you read last season. I don't know why anyone thought there'd be a kiss like ten panels into the new season. 10. If I seem edgy, it's because it's pretty insulting to imply that we just do whatever readers tell us to do when it comes to creating the story. We really put our hearts into this series, and our plans for the plot will not change, no matter what y'all say or do. We do not crowdsource our art. And if we did, it would make an absolute mess of things. Thanks for your question, I hope I cleared things up. <3

[jinwoosbabyboo]

Nika's Open Mic Night!

𝕎𝕖𝕝𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕪 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕟 𝕔𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕓/𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕣𝕠𝕓𝕚𝕟

Calling all the LADS writers of Tumblr

Please read → Everyone and anyone is free to join. Write something for the prompt and tag someone who you'd like to see participate. You can do it in a reblog to this post or make your own post. Your character can be a self-insert, your MC, or an OC If you make your own post please add me in your taglist or tag it with #nikasopenmicnight I love reading you guys work. I'm going to be making an ongoing list with links to all the stories of everyone who chooses to join. There is no deadline have fun !

Okay I'll shut up now here's the prompt

the prompt: running into your main lads man (boyfriend) while you're out with your second favorite lads man (as a friend) and how they would react. [Credit: Anon]

I'll go first....Who's next?

This was supposed to be a quick trip, in and out, get what I need and leave. I should’ve gone to a different store because I knew better than to think I'd make a ‘quick trip’ to target. Dumbass. Nothing was ever a quick trip when me and Raf hung out. So here I am buying all new decor for my library at home. Rafayel stood by giving his opinion even when I didn't ask for it “How many blankets does one girl need?”

“There’s no such thing as too many blankets” I giggled as I squat down to chose a fluffy red blanket. I knew Sylus would like this no matter how much he likes to act like he doesn't care for them I see how he throws one over his lap when it’s within reach. “Thinking of me?” I jump at the sudden sound of his voice looking up to see his tall frame looming over me. It wasn’t uncommon for him to pop-up on me considering he has my location. I couldn’t help the smile that split my face in two as I looked up at him. I stood up and shoved the blanket in this direction. “What do you think?” His hand gently ran up and down the fabric, but his intense stare was fixated over my shoulder “It’s nice”

I turned to see Raf giving Sylus a just as intense stare, but instead of a frown like Sylus he had a smile on his face. His smile didn’t reach his eyes and I could practically feel the lightning cracking between them. Am I in the middle of some kind of pissing contest? Men. “Sylus stop being rude he's my friend” I poked him in his side which made him jolt, but he finally looked at me. His gaze softened slightly as our eyes locked. “Princess i’m not doing anything” He poked me in my forehead and I swatted his hand away; he knows I hate when he does that. “Don’t play dumb” I scowled at him and all he did was give me that sexy ass smirk. Sometimes I wish he was ugly …. no I don’t. Sylus put his gaze back on Rafayel and pulled me impossibly close to him by my waist. “Apologies if I'm interrupting, but we have an appointment with a tailor that we can’t miss”

Why is he lying? This is the first i’m hearing of said appointment. I struggled in his hold trying to pry his fingers from my waist, but he gave me a few small squeezes making me snort with laughter.

Raf didn’t even try to argue he threw his hands up in surrender “No worries I have paintings to finish” he grabbed his items that he tossed in the cart, gave my nose a pinch along with a quick “I’ll talk to you later” and sauntered off. The second Rafayel was out of sight I managed to wiggle my way out of Sylus' iron grip “What appointment are you talking about?”

“There isn’t one I just didn’t like the way he looks at you” He said in a matter-of-fact tone as if I was supposed to know that. “How exactly does he look at me?”

“The same way I look at you” I narrowed my eyes at him inquisitively; he returned the same look and I knew he was mocking me. “So you don’t trust me” It was more of a statement rather than a question.

“And here I thought your deductive reasoning skills were improving” he shifted his weight as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I trust you sweetie I don’t trust him he wants to be more than a friend” something was off although he seemed annoyed I could tell that it wasn’t me he was upset with. All of his tells were on full display by the way he avoided eye contact with and how his fingers absentmindedly tapped on his bicep. “Are you jealous?” I teased poking his chest repeatedly. He glowered at me as I tried and failed to stop the evil grin that spread across my face. “You’re enjoying this a little too much for my liking”

“You’re so cute when you're jealous” I reached up to pinch his cheek but as always he grabbed my wrist before I could even get close. “Enough” he’s so sick of my shit, but it’s not like he’s going anywhere. "Don't worry no one can steal me from you"

tagging w/ no pressure ;

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@deepspacenova @world-of-hearts @comatosebunny09 @leighsartworks216 @awesomephilosophus

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