#really thought none of these were going to be done

[amourdivine]

୨ ♡ ୧ THE LAST TIME THEY SAW YOU ୧ PAC

Hello my lovelies! Welcome to another pick a card. This reading is all about the last time you saw them! We will be looking into their feelings and thoughts, as well as channeling extra songs and messages from this person. Feedback, likes and reblogs help me grow my platform and are highly appreciated! If you liked this reading, please consider tipping me at @ amourdivinetarot@gmail.comvia paypal! xo ♡

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›    none of the images are mine unless stated otherwise. ›    personal readings are available!

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR PILE.  take a few deep breaths and look at each picture separately. see which one brings you to a feeling, a place or a memory. take your time and feel free to come back to it later!

𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐄 ༉ ‧

how were they feeling the last time they saw you? knight of swords ‧ eight of pentacles ‧ queen of wands ‧ the emperor ‧ eight of cups

Oh, this person was trying to look unbothered. Busy. They were trying to make it seem like they were completely over you and not at all tempted to take a leap towards you. They were holding back their fire, their impulsivity, holding onto logic and stoicism.

This person is proud, okay, really proud. They've got a big ego and along with it, a lot of self-denial, especially when it comes to their feelings towards you. It's almost as if they feel nothing at all, but this Emperor looks nervous, he looks fidgety, like he is trying to keep his hands busy and his eyes away from the Queen of Wands. Many of the messages felt very 18+, lol.

If they left the scene early, it's probably because of you. You made them feel off, you made them feel out of control, uneasy. This person's attraction towards you is no joke, but they're not ready to deal with those feelings yet. It's as if your presence is a hurricane, taking everything down, making them question everything they worked so hard to build. Jesus, pile one, I don't know what you've done to this person, but it has a very intense emotional and physical effect on them.

what were they thinking the last time they saw you? nine of wands ‧ five of swords ‧ four of cups ‧ page of wands ‧ seven of swords

They were focusing on keeping their feelings under wraps. Not only were their nervous, but also quite sneaky. Depending on who this person is, they may have been trying to look happy with other people, so moved on, all the while feeling miserable. If the two of you talked, they may have sneaked in a few white lies about how happy they were to meet you, how good they're doing, etc.

But mostly, their mind was all over the place. They kept trying to make themselves look cooler than how they really felt, planning how they were moving, who they were going to talk to... how they'd approach you, how they'd make you jealous or make you feel inferior. This person is extremely competitive - big ego, like I said. Whatever has happened between the two of you lingers a lot on their mind and leaves them feeling ungrounded, anxious and out of control.

If a fight happened between the two of you, that's what they were thinking of. They had all the comebacks, but held back from fighting. For most of you, they just wanted to rub their happiness, their joy in your face. Regardless of how much of a lie that actually is.

channeled songs and messages. she's so gone by lemonade mouth, liar liar pants on fire, champagne, best friends forever, necklace, silver, diamond ring, "she looks nothing like you", olivia rodrigo, beef, cindy lou who by sabrina carpenter.

𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐓𝐖𝐎 ༉ ‧

how were they feeling the last time they saw you? seven of cups ‧ ten of wands ‧ death ‧ ten of pentacles ‧ four of wands

Gosh, they were overwhelmed inside, pile two. All the what ifs, the yearning and the missing you caught up to this person. They grieved the could've been... or perhaps they grieved what was, for some of you. Right then and there, they realized it may have been to late to fix things, to make them right again. Although they wanted to, they were too tired to bother. The sight of you was enough to bring back old memories, many of which they were probably trying to forget or get over.

A specific song came to my mind for this pile, called The Dress by Dijon. It tells the story of two people meeting up again after some time and they both seem to miss each other, still a little hurt from the breakup - but the feelings are not bitter, just sweet and intense.

For most, they felt a mixture of feelings. They probably didn't let you in on it, but it was there. Joy, sadness, hurt, anger. A lot of these emotions at once, which made them realize that they still hold out a candle for you. They still hope for something more, even if this connection is in limbo right now, their heart could not stop longing for more. There's a lot of fantasizing as well, which is why I'll get to the next portion of the reading!

what were they thinking the last time they saw you? the hanged man ‧ five of cups ‧ the devil ‧ the hermit ‧ ace of pentacles

They figured some time should go by until both of you heal some more before trying again. Honestly, this person may be intentionally giving you some space until the two of you can talk or have something more solid, more stable. They thought the wounds and hurt was too fresh, the regret still lingers and they still feel tied to these unhealthy patterns or behaviors that led to your demise.

If they treated you poorly, ghosted, rejected or even cheated on you, they deeply regret it. They may not have said it, but they're sorry for the way things turned out.

However, they want to heal. They're being more strategic about themselves, looking inward, trying to discover the aspects of them that probably unconsciously ruined this relationship. They seem pretty serious about leaving the past behind, to give it some time until the connection can be renewed. Maybe later down the line, when both of you are older, you'll be able to sit down and talk, once the two of you have forgiven your past mistakes and the regrets are not so heavy on their mind. Even if as friends, they wouldn't want to miss out on this opportunity.

channeled songs and messages. all too well by tswift, birthday candles, night time, silk dress, "stupid", 777, "i should have known", secret playlist, see you again, 405, train, bus, we meet by chance, pictures off the wall, country, folk, 00's pop.

𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 ༉ ‧

how were they feeling the last time they saw you? page of swords ‧ nine of pentacles ‧ knight of cups ‧ the hanged man ‧ the moon

Feelings they tried to bury deep within have come out and made this person realize they really like you. They were curious - they wanted to know if you were single, if you were seeing someone... how you were doing. But gosh, they felt so insecure, indecisive and confused. This person has deep-seated fears when it comes to relationships that they may not let on.

They wanted to talk, to reach out, to ask you out. For most of you, this is an intense crush. They like you, they do, but they have self-sabotaging tendencies that stall them, that make them stay in one place and never move. Even if this Knight of Cups doesn't wish to, he moves away from the woman in the 9 of Pentacles, like he's a walking contradiction.

This person is not used to these feelings. They seem much like a small child discovering something quite obvious to everyone else but them. I hear Rubik's Cube by Athlete in my mind, you should definitely check out the lyrics if this reading resonates.

You make them question their sanity, almost. Not in a bad way, but you've intrigued them, haunted their heart because they have been trying to figure out why these feelings are there, just why they like and want you so much, but there's just no answer. You make them giddy, you make them excited, a little nervous and high up in the clouds. They just don't want you to know that yet.

what were they thinking the last time they saw you? the empress ‧ the moon ‧ two of pentacles ‧ ace of swords ‧ the fool

Quite literally, they could not stop thinking about your beauty. You stand out to this person even if you're not trying to. They just wanted to focus on something else, but their mind kept being drawn towards you, their eyes couldn't get enough of your beauty, your charm, how intelligent, whole and perfect you seem in their eyes.

No matter how they tried to control their thoughts, their hidden world came to the surface. They were forced to acknowledge that yes, they do like you and they might have to do something about it. To take a leap of faith even if it makes them look foolish, childish or stupid in your eyes. They knew they'll have to do it scared if they want to be with you, they'll have to face their fears and insecurities in order to be worthy of you.

They may have been weighing the pros and cons in their mind as well, but the answer was bravery, courage. The cards here suggest they want to do something bold, they definitely have thought about it long enough to realize coming towards you will be a big step, but the great start of an adventure for the two of you.

channeled songs and messages. start of something new by high school musical, late night nostalgia, november, december, aquarius, pisces, venus, libra, 2, 222, breakthrough, "out with the old, in with the new", new year's eve.

𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 ༉ ‧

how were they feeling the last time they saw you? the world ‧ seven of swords ‧ the chariot ‧ two of wands ‧ ten of pentacles

I'm not really sure what kind of connection you may have with this person, but they were quite literally feeling on top of the world. They wanted to show off, they felt successful, accomplished - almost to an arrogant, overbearing degree - and surrounded by good things. They were likely wearing fancy clothes, being loud in the crowd, trying to catch everybody's attention, but especially yours.

It may not have seemed like they were trying to gain your approval because they seemed just so fine and comfortable in the spotlight, but secretly, they were hoping you'd look their way and feel that way about them: successful, well-known, well-read, handsome, accomplished.

Maybe they had a few too many drinks to begin with, or maybe they just partied too hard, but the feeling here is one of humble-bragging whilst simultaneously showering oneself in praise. It's quite interesting, to be honest, but the heart of the matter is that they were feeling good, looking good and they wanted to make sure you would see that. I wouldn't be surprised if this person hit on someone or several different people to try and make you jealous. The energy is not malicious, but extremely immature, f-boy almost.

what were they thinking the last time they saw you? queen of pentacles ‧ six of swords ‧ knight of cups ‧ five of pentacles ‧ five of cups

This is oddly specific, but, you probably didn't give them an ounce of attention. If you did, they didn't think it was enough. They took your actions as rejection, because you seemed so healed, so fine, so unbothered and joyful that this person could not help but think negatively afterwards.

Whatever their plan was, it didn't work with you. If they tried to play mind games, to sweep you off your feet and make you come towards them... it didn't work, so they saw themselves as some sort of failure. This person has a very fluctuating self-esteem, they seem to rely a lot on the opinions and actions of others to define their self-worth.

For whatever reason, they were hoping to gain your approval - but the fact they didn't get whatever they wanted from you made them pity themselves. They may have spent the night over-analyzing, moping to friends or to themselves about it, wondering why you didn't give them a chance, why you didn't look their way.

channeled songs and messages. "homeboy", friends with benefits, dior, crowded place, 666, rap, hip hop, freestyle, ice on my teeth by ateez, overspending, prada, diamond tears, big checks, blackpink, money by lisa, expensive perfume, menswear.

amourdivine. 2021 - 2024 © do not copy, redistribute or edit my content!

DISCLAIMER. tarot is a divination tool, it’s not a substitute for medical and professional advice, nor is it meant to be taken as such. i don’t take responsibility for any choice(s) made by you or others regarding my readings. be mindful ♡

[jeo9n]

INSTAGRAM

you’ve been texting jungkook on instagram non stop ever since he opened his account as a joke. but what you didn’t expect was for him to actually text you back.

౨ৎ

pairing: jeon jungkook x reader

genre: fluff, slow burn, friends to lovers, future smut

warnings: none

wordcount: 2k

you get woken up by your alarm at exactly 6am. like everyday, you open your eyes and the first thing you do is check your phone. catching up with everything that happened while you were asleep. texting your friends back that live in a different time zone than you.

you’re tired but you get out of bed anyway. you have to get ready for work. even if your body is screaming for you to stay in bed.

the first thing you do is make your bed so it prevents from laying back down. you already took a shower yesterday night, which you thank yourself as it saves you time this morning. so all you have to do is brush your teeth and wash your face.

when you’re done with that you make yourself a coffee and start to get dressed. you keep your outfit simple with some baggy jeans and a black long sleeve top because you’d rather be comfortable than fashionable. you always make sure to never leave the house without spraying perfume everywhere on your body. you forgot to but some on one day as you were running late, only noticing when you were already at work and someone might say it’s stupid but you didn’t feel good that day, you didn’t feel like yourself without your sweet perfume. you love to smell good, you love getting compliments on your scent, you love people smelling you before they even see you.

ever since that you never forgot to put perfume on again, but carrying around a travel size bottle of your favorite perfume in your bag just in case.

you pet your cats goodbye one last time before you leave your apartment. you hate leaving them home alone but thankfully they have each other so they are not really "alone" but it still hurts you.

you’re already on the way to the small coffee shop that you work at , as you remember you haven’t texted your boyfriend (jungkook) a good morning text yet. so you pull your phone at your pocket and text him right away. the chat is filled with hundreds of your messages texting him random stuff about how your day was and occasionally sending him some memes and reels you thought were funny.

y/n: good morning jungkoookkk!!

y/n: i’m on my way to work.

y/n: you’re probably asleep but have a good day.

you smile to yourself as you double text him. your not texting him in hopes to get a text back, cause that would be crazy. i mean, that guys is crazy famous of course he’s not going to text me back. you just think it’s funny, although sometimes you think it’s actually kinda weird and you should probably stop, but you never actually do.

as you open the door to your workplace you’re instantly greeted with the delicious smell of coffee, which reminds you, you still have your empty cup of coffee in your hands which you forgot to throw away. your coworker greets you good morning as she looks up from behind the counter.

"good morning. leslie." you greet back as you throw your coffee away. "ugh i really don’t feel like working today." you tell her, while taking of your jacket. she laughs and agrees with you.

"girl, i literally stayed up all night binge watching true crime documentaries." she tells me. "look at my eye bags! i can’t even cover them up with makeup." she says as she lifts up her hand to show me her dark eye bags. "but i guess it’s my own fault. i knew i should’ve turned the tv off after the first episode." she says in frustration and it makes me laugh. i can totally relate to her. you tell yourself one more episode and suddenly the sun comes up and you finished the whole show, wondering where the time went.

happened to me one too many times.

"yea…" you say, tying your apron at you back. "been there, done that." and she smiles softly in response. "should i make you a coffee? cause you really look like you need one." you tell her as you point to your eye bags, mocking her.

she laughs and kicks you jokingly "yes please! make it extra strong."

"will do." you say in a laugh, already on your way to the coffee machine. it’s definitely gonna be a long day for leslie today.

you put the coffee down carefully, not trying to spill the hot coffee all over the counter. "here you go, extra strong for you, your highness. " you bow to her jokingly while laughing like an idiot.

"you’re so stupid." she laughs with you, bringing the coffee up to her lips, trying to take a sip.

you worked a little longer today as usual since it was busy. but you don’t mind. working extra hours means extra money and you would never complain about that.

you take you shoes off and wash your hands as soon as you get home. after that you change into more comfy close just some sweatpants and hoodie and you already feel way better. you walk to your kitchen to feed your cats, who are acting like you leave them out to starve and never feed them. after your done with that you wash your hands again and make yourself something to eat since you only had breakfast today. you decide for pizza today as it doesn’t take long to be ready. you shove it into the oven and while you wait you brows through your phone. you lean against the counter and watch some tiktok’s to make to the time go by faster.

the pizza is done in under 20 times. thankfully. you cannot wait longer or else your stomach is gonna start eating itself. you sit down on your couch with your pizza on your lap. you try to take a bite but it’s still too hot so start browsing through netflix instead to find something to watch while your eating. when you find something your pizza has cooled down already so you start eating.

after your done, you get up and do the dishes right away so you don’t have to worry about it later. after that you decide to take a bath since you haven’t done that in a while and after that hectic day today you really need it.

the warm water hugs your body as you lay down in your bathtub. you feel your body start to relax enjoying the temperature of the water. your eyes are closed as you hear the notification sound from your phone, but you ignore it. you feel so comfortable right now you don’t want to move. so you stay put, enjoying this bath maybe a little too much.

after like twenty minutes you start to get bored and the water has gone cold, so you decide it’s time to get out. you quickly wash your body and get out. you do you skincare and brush your teeth while your body dries, after that you put some vanilla bodylotion on, quickly change into your pyjamas and head to bed, your cats joining you seconds after. one sleeps on top the pillow next to you while the one sleeps between your legs.

you go to grab your phone from your nightstand, checking it one last time before you go to sleep. your just scrolling trough your notifications not thinking anything by it. you stop at one particular notification and your hearts starts to beat faster. sitting straight in your bed, rubbing your eyes to make sure your seeing correctly. you cannot believe what you’re seeing.

jeon jungkook has fucking texted you back.

not only once. he double texted you back.

is this really happening right now?

abcdefghi__lmnopqrstuvwxyz: woww! how long have you been texting me for ? there are like a thousand messages lol

abcdefghi__lmnopqrstuvwxyz: i hope you had good day at work! i just woke up.

abcdefghi__lmnopqrstuvwxyz: i saw your message and there are so many. i felt bad so i texted back. looked like your were talking to yourself haha.

wait. i cannot believes this. am i dreaming?

your hands shake and you’re not sure what to text back. should i even text back? would he text back again?

i take a deep breath. my head is going crazy right now.

after you collected yourself , you text back.

y/n: lol this is awkward.

y/n: i wasn’t thinking you would actually text back.🫣

y/n: i hope my message weren’t bothering you or anything.

you struggle sending the message back cause your hands won’t stop shaking. but can you blame me? the love of my life just texting me back and my stupid ass ignored it because of that stupid bath i took.

i bite on my nails nervously, my heart is beating so fast it might jump out of my chest at any minute.

i wait for an answer back, which is stupid, i know.

just because he texted me back one time doesn’t mean he’s going to do it again.

you know he won’t. but still, you wait.

you wait for like an hour until you realize he’s actually not responding anymore so you decide to go sleep. or try to go to sleep i should say, since your mind won’t stop thinking about what had just happened.

after a while you eventually fall asleep after what felt like hours.

the next morning you get woken up again by your alarm. this time you grab your phone a little faster than usual. scrolling through your notifications with tired but curious eyes.

you eyes widen as you find his notification again.

abcdefghi__lmnopqrstuvwxyz: haha no, you don’t bother me. i read through your messages last night.

abcdefghi__lmnopqrstuvwxyz: you’re funny haha.

abcdefghi__lmnopqrstuvwxyz: judging by the time i usually get the first message from you, i should get a message soon right?

you read the last text and it says sent an hour ago.

okay wait. he texted again? and he thinks i’m funny?

im definitely dreaming because there is no way that this is fucking happening.

your thumbs moves fast as you reply to him.

y/n: no way!!!

y/n: am i dreaming?? please tell me im not

y/n: is this really jungkook?

y/n: no, it can’t be

y/n: is someone playing with me?

someone definitely must be playing with you. because what do you mean jeon jungkook texted me back not one, but twice?

you actually cannot believe it yourself. this is crazy.

you wait a little bit to see if he’ll respond again. but nothing comes so you start getting ready for work.

how am i going get through work today, when all i can think about is him. you think to yourself.

~~~~

i hope you enjoy this chapter because im definitely excited about this fanficton ahhh

[thedemoninme141]

The Maiden Of Death Part 2

Summary: You finally needed Wednesday for something and she learns some interesting things about you in exchange and yet she wants to know more.

Part 1

Pairings: Wednesday x Female reader. Wordcount: 5.8K-ish Warnings: Nothing Really? I guess roles reversed by Wednesday getting her feelings hurt just a tiny bit so a little angst?

The walk back from the bus station was a quiet one. Even Enid, who could usually fill any void with her endless chatter, seemed reluctant to speak. She kept glancing at you nervously, as though unsure whether to say something or not. Eugene walked close to her, shielding himself behind her as if you were radiating gamma rays.

You didn’t so much as glance back at the others, walking as if you were alone in the world.

Wednesday lagged behind slightly, her dark eyes fixed on you. Questions churned in her mind, but she knew that asking them outright would show her curiosity. And she would never, under any circumstances, let you know how deeply you intrigued her.

Still, the scene from earlier refused to leave her mind. The way you had dismantled those boys, it wasn’t just violence. It was precision, efficiency, calculated as if you had done this hundreds of times before.

But what stuck out the most was what she didn’t see. You hadn’t conjured any weapons. You hadn’t used whatever strange ability had allowed you to summon a parrying knife in the library.

Why?

The question burned at the edges of her thoughts. She tried to dismiss it at first, reasoning that it was none of her concern. But the more she tried to push it away, the more it consumed her. If you could summon a weapon in an instant, why bother with a bat and a chain? Why risk getting your hands dirty when you didn’t have to?

Without realizing it, she had quickened her pace and was now walking beside you. Your focus was still straight ahead as if you knew Wednesday is going to ask something.

The quiet stretched between you two, until Wednesday broke it.

“Why didn’t you just conjure a weapon?”

The question was direct, delivered with her usual bluntness.

You didn’t respond. You didn’t even glance her way.

Wednesday’s irritation flared. “It would have been faster. Cleaner. More effective.”

Still, you said nothing.

Enid and Eugene exchanged worried glances behind you. They really don't want to be caught between crossfire.

“Are you going to ignore me?” Wednesday pressed.

You finally stopped walking. Turning slightly, you met her gaze with a calmness that bordered on unsettling. For a moment, Wednesday thought you might ignore her again. But then, in a voice devoid of emotion, you said, “I can conjure weapons that I’ve… earned. Weapons that have accepted me. All of them are lethal.”

You didn’t elaborate. You didn’t explain. You simply turned and continued walking, leaving her standing there with more questions than answers.

Wednesday followed in silence, her mind racing. What did you mean by “earned”? And what exactly did a weapon have to do to “accept” someone?

She wanted to push further, to demand an explanation, but she stopped herself. It wasn’t hesitation, she told herself. It was strategy. She would learn the truth eventually, there was no need to rush.

But as she watched you walking ahead, your shoulders relaxed, your posture indifferent, Wednesday couldn’t shake the feeling that you were hiding something. Something deeper. Darker.

You were a puzzle, and Wednesday Addams would solve you.

No one exchanged a word until the four of you reached the main building. You walked away from the group without so much as a glance back. No goodbye, no acknowledgment of the people who had trailed after you all day.

Enid watched you go, a small frown tugging at her lips. “She could’ve at least said bye,” Enid sighed and nudged Wednesday. “C’mon, let’s go. I’m exhausted, and you’ve probably got some brooding to do or whatever.”

They walked in silence back to their shared dorm room. Enid occasionally glanced at Wednesday, her lips twitching as if she wanted to say something but thought better of it.

When they finally reached their room, Enid flopped onto her bed with a dramatic groan.

“I don’t even know where to start,” she said, stretching her arms above her head. “Y/N is just… wow. She’s like… you but not you. Does that make sense?”

Wednesday didn’t respond. She was already at her desk, pulling out a book and flipping it open. But despite her best efforts, the words on the page blurred together, her focus slipping.

“She’s so quiet,” Enid continued, propping herself up on her elbows. “Like, quieter than you, and I didn’t think that was possible."

Wednesday’s fingers tightened around the edge of her book.

“Did you see how she looked at those guys? Like they were… I don’t know, bugs or something. And then wham! Down they went. I mean, I get it, they deserved it, but still.”

“She handled it,” Wednesday said finally, her voice flat.

Enid rolled her eyes. “Yeah, she handled it, but it was… intense. And you don’t think I didn’t notice you staring the whole time."

“I wasn’t staring,” Wednesday snapped, her tone defensive.

Enid smirked, sitting up fully now. “Oh, you were staring. I don’t blame you, though. She’s… interesting. In a creepy, mysterious way. I mean, you two could totally be related or something. Have you asked your parents if you lost a twin or something?"

Wednesday ignored her, her eyes fixed on the pages of her book, though she hadn’t absorbed a single word.

The truth was, Enid wasn’t entirely wrong. You were interesting, irritatingly so. You were like a distorted mirror image of her, similar in some ways but fundamentally different in others. The quiet, the detachment, the sharpness, it all felt too familiar and yet so different.

As the night wore on, Enid sat cross-legged on her bed with her laptop, scrolling through social media and occasionally humming under her breath. Wednesday remained at her desk, engrossed in her book, though her thoughts strayed far from the text.

“Huh,” Enid said suddenly, breaking the silence.

“What?” Wednesday asked without looking up.

“Of course Y/N doesn’t have anything social. Can’t find her anywhere.” Enid frowned at her screen, scrolling furiously. “No Instagram, no Snapchat. It’s like she doesn’t exist. Does she even have a phone?”

“Maybe she doesn't want to be a slave to modern technology either,” Wednesday said coolly, though the revelation piqued her interest. "And why are you so concerned with finding her online?”

“Why are you so concerned with finding her online?” “Because I wanted to write a blog post about her!!!” Enid said, her eyes wide with excitement. “And, don’t you want to know more about her? Where she’s from? Why she’s here? What her deal is?”

Of course Wednesday wanted to know. She just wasn’t about to admit that to Enid.

Instead, she closed her book with a deliberate snap and said, “If she wanted us to know, she would have told us.”

“Or maybe she’s waiting for someone to ask her,” Enid countered.

Wednesday didn’t reply. For a moment, she let herself imagine what it would be like to ask you. How she would ask you. The thought annoyed her. She wasn’t supposed to care about such things. And yet, here she was, her mind tangled up in questions about you, questions she didn’t know how to ask, questions she wasn’t even sure you’d answer.

The calculated knocks startled neither of them, it was gentle but deliberate, three slow raps against the wood. Enid glanced up first. “Uh, I'll go get it.”

She hopped up and padded to the door, opening it cautiously. Her eyes widened when she saw you standing there, hands tucked into the pockets of your black hoodie.

“Is Wednesday here?” you asked.

Enid blinked, clearly surprised, before nodding and stepping aside, opening the door wider. Wednesday finally turned in her seat, and there you stood… you didn’t step in.

Wednesday’s dark eyes narrowed, reading your body language in an instant. You wanted to speak to her, but not here, not with Enid present. She closed her book before standing and as she passed Enid, she motioned with a small, firm gesture for her roommate to stay inside and close the door.

She stepped out into the hall, brushing past you with just enough space to show her own sense of control. You didn’t flinch. You didn’t even seem fazed as Enid let out a defeated sigh and shut the door behind them.

The hall was empty, silent. You didn’t waste time. “There’s another library in Nevermore.” It wasn’t a question. “Where is it?”

The Nightshade Library. Hidden deep within Nevermore, its entrance disguised behind one of the worst puzzles she has ever solved, "Snap twice", Couldn't they make it a bit more challenging?

“Why do you think I would know where it is?” she asked, her tone carefully neutral.

You tilted your head slightly, as if evaluating her. “Because if anyone knows, it’s you.”

The faintest flicker of satisfaction crossed Wednesday’s face. She liked being recognized for her intellect, especially by you.... wait what?

“And if I did know?” she countered. “Why would I share that information with you?”

You didn’t answer immediately. Instead, you leaned against the wall, your dark eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her feel, for the first time in a long while, as if someone were looking through her rather than at her.

“What do you want?” you asked finally, your voice low and measured.

Wednesday hesitated. She could deny her curiosity, feign disinterest, but she knew you would see through it. So she decided on honesty, or at least a version of it.

“I’ve solved enough mysteries to recognize one when I see it,” she said, her tone steady. “And you, Y/n, are a mystery. You’re here for something. At first, I suspected it was something sinister, but…” Her lips twitched ever so slightly, not quite a smile. “Your actions at the shop earlier today disproved that theory. Not that I’m impressed or anything.”

For a moment, there was silence. Then, to Wednesday’s surprise, your lips curved into a faint smirk.

“One good deed doesn’t fix a thousand sins, Wednesday,” you said.

It was the first time she had seen you smirk, and something about it unsettled her. It wasn’t the smirk itself, it was the fact that it felt… earned. As if it was meant for her and her alone.

And it lingered only for a sceond before fading.

“I’ll make you a deal,” you said. “I’ll tell you about me. Not everything, but enough to satisfy your curiosity. How much depends on how much you help me get what I need.”

Wednesday’s brows knitted together, her mind working rapidly to process your words. This was a gamble, a game of secrets and trust or lack thereof. And yet, she found herself intrigued.

“Very well,” she said finally. “But don’t think for a moment that I’ll be satisfied with scraps. If I’m helping you, I’ll expect substance, not crumbs.”

You didn’t respond, but something in your gaze shifted, a silent acknowledgment of her terms. Without another word, you turned and began walking down the hall.

Wednesday followed, her steps light and deliberate, her mind churning with questions. What were you looking for in the Nightshade Library? Why were you so guarded? And why... why did she feel something seeing your smirk?

The statue of Edgar Allan Poe was just ahead as the two of you stopped.

Wednesday stepped forward, she glanced at you, her dark eyes daring you to comment. You remained expressionless, giving her nothing, as always.

She snapped her fingers twice.

The faint clicking of mechanisms echoed, and the statue shifted. Its heavy base slid back, revealing a dark staircase spiraling downward.

Neither of you spoke as you made your way down the stairs.

Once at the center of the library, Wednesday turned to face you. “What are you looking for?”

“That’s not part of the deal.” You said as your eyes were scanning the shelves, skipping over rows of books as though you instinctively knew what you sought. She internally sighed for even offering to help.

It didn’t take long. Your gaze landed on a dusty, leather-bound tome nestled deep in the recesses of a high shelf. The book was thick and worn, and it was tightly bound by some sort of green metallic wires. It was dusty, untouched for ages like most of the books here.

As you reached for it, Wednesday approached, her curiosity clearly piqued. She peered over your shoulder as you pulled the book free, revealing its cracked and worn leather cover etched with strange, arcane symbols. You carried it to a nearby table and set it down carefully, your fingers brushing away the layers of dust.

“What is it?” she asked, her voice quieter now.

Before you could answer or more likely refuse to answer, a faint sound from behind you drew your attention.

Without hesitation, you conjured a katana in one fluid motion. You spun on your heel, the blade slicing through the air, and lunged.

The blade sang through the air as you moved with precision, grabbing the intruder and shoving him against the bookshelves. Xavier’s mask clattered to the ground as he struggled against your grip, your blade pressed firmly against his throat.

“Wait, wait, wait! Stop! Whoa! Whoa!” Xavier stammered, his wide eyes darting between the blade and your impassive face.

Wednesday smirked, crossing her arms as she observed the scene. “You shouldn’t have stopped,” she mocked dryly. “Xavier could use an upgrade. He might finally get the touch he needs so much! Getting rid of his face.”

Xavier shot her a panicked glance. “Not helping, Wednesday!”

One by one, they all came out, the members of nightshade society—Bianca, Ajax, Yoko, Kent and Divina.

“You can’t just bring whoever you want down here,” Bianca snapped. “This place is supposed to be a secret.”

Wednesday rolled her eyes, her smirk deepening. “Clearly, it’s not much of a secret if you’re the ones guarding it.”

Bianca shot her a warning look before turning her gaze to you. “You don’t belong here,” Bianca said, her voice cold. “And in case you didn’t know, Ajax can stone you, and Yoko is faster than you’ll ever be. So I’d think twice before trying anything.”

You didn’t even flinch. Instead, you tilted your head slightly and replied in an even, calm tone, “Do you want to try?”

The group exchanged uncertain glances. Wednesday noted the faint flicker of fear in their eyes, a reaction she found... satisfying.

Yoko stepped forward, chuckling softly. “I’m not faster than you. Don’t mind Bianca; she’s still feisty from getting beaten by you in fencing.” She shot a playful look at Bianca, who scowled in response. Yoko’s grin awkwardly widened as she pulled Bianca back, making way for you.

“By the way,” Yoko added, glancing at Xavier, who was still pinned to the bookshelf, “can I make a tiny request? Not really important, but maybe let go of him before he has a heart attack?”

Your gaze shifted to Xavier, the look in your eyes promising, If you try that again, I won’t stop my sword next time. Slowly, you pulled the blade back as it vanished into the air as you unconjured it.

Without sparing another glance at the group, you reached for the book, tucking it under your arm as you turned to leave.

Wednesday followed, pausing only to glance over her shoulder at the stunned group. “I’d say it was nice catching up, but I’d be lying.”

You didn’t speak as Wednesday walked behind you. She didn’t expect you to. But the weight of unanswered questions was pressing on her. Finally, she broke it.

“What’s in the book?” she asked,

“Information,” you replied simply.

She frowned slightly, pressing further. “Information about what?”

“Not me.”

The two words were curt, but their meaning was clear. Wednesday’s mind immediately clicked back to the terms of your deal. She had taken you to the Nightshade Library, and in return, you had promised to answer her questions about yourself. But this book wasn’t part of that exchange. It was something else entirely.

“Fine,” Wednesday said “Now it’s my part of the deal. I ask you questions about yourself, and you answer truthfully. Do not attempt to lie. I can tell the difference.”

Finally, you stopped and turned. There was something unreadable in your expression—calm, detached, as always, but then it shifted. Slowly, deliberately, your lips curled into the faintest smirk. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Wednesday caught it.

That smirk.

She hadn’t seen any emotion on your face Enid had tried to engage you, when the Nightshade Society had surrounded you with suspicion and hostility. She had only seen it when it was only you and her, it was there, just for her.

It was... unsettling.

Before Wednesday could dwell on it, your voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Ask your questions and be done with it.”

Wednesday’s fingers twitched behind her back as her mind raced through the countless questions she wanted to ask. But she knew she had to start somewhere.

“Why are you really here?”

You raised an eyebrow.

"What did you do at your last school to get transferred here, or did you come willingly?” she elaborated.

“I came willingly,” you said without hesitation, your voice calm, as if the answer was obvious.

“Why?” she pressed.

“I had work.”

“Work?”

“Demon hunting.”

It was so matter-of-fact, so devoid of emotion, that Wednesday was momentarily speechless. She blinked, half-expecting that smirk to return, telling her it was sarcasm. But you didn’t. Your face remained neutral, your posture relaxed yet guarded, as if you had just told her something as mundane as the weather forecast.

“What… what does that mean?” she asked, her voice quieter but no less intense.

“It means exactly what it sounds like,” you said evenly. “I get hired to hunt demons. My father trained me.”

The words landed with an almost tangible weight. Wednesday prided herself on her composure, but even she found it difficult to mask the intrigue and unease bubbling inside her.

Her mind raced. Demon hunting? It sounded absurdly dangerous, but the calmness with which you spoke of it suggested otherwise. Still, she found herself grappling with the idea of someone her age taking on such a task.

“How old are you?” she blurted before she could stop herself. She instantly hated how curious she sounded, but the question lingered nonetheless.

You rolled your eyes, the closest thing to irritation she’d seen from you. “I age normally. I’m your age.”

It was such a simple answer, but it left her with more questions than before. Why would someone your age be hunting demons? Why would your father send you to Nevermore now? And more importantly, why did you move through the world with such deadly precision, like you were always preparing for the next fight?

“Why do you hunt demons?” she asked, her voice softer now, almost hesitant.

You didn’t answer immediately. For a moment, you simply looked at her, your expression unreadable. Then, finally, you said, “I think the questions you’ve asked are enough payment for your assistance.”

It wasn’t a refusal, but it was a wall, just like the one's she has built around herself. You weren’t going to answer. Not now. And yet, the way you avoided the question only made her more determined to uncover the truth. Wednesday wasn’t used to being denied, and she found the challenge you presented both infuriating and... intriguing.

She followed you silently as you began walking again, her gaze flicking to the book in your hands.

“Demons,” she finally said, her voice slicing through the quiet. “What are they exactly? Giant monsters? Beasts with claws and fangs? Creatures of folktales?”

You didn’t answer as if her words had evaporated into the night air.

The lack of response was infuriating and Wednesday wasn’t even surprised. She had expected resistance. Still, she persisted. “You claim to hunt them. Surely you can describe what it is you face. Or do you find it amusing to leave me in ignorance?”

Again, you didn’t respond, and Wednesday’s jaw tightened. Her dark eyes flicked to the book you held, its worn cover and metallic bindings catching the faint light. Now the book intrigued her just as much as you did.

Her mind raced with possibilities. She couldn’t simply take the book from you; you would sense her intent before she could act.

Dispatching Thing to steal it was out of the question as well. She could already envision the outcome: you sensing Thing’s presence, catching him mid-act, and possibly doing something drastic. The way you had nearly sliced Xavier’s throat in the blink of an eye without any hesitation just for sneaking up on you... No, she couldn’t risk Thing. She would need another way to learn more.

Her voice cut through the silence again. “Your swordsmanship, was that something your father taught you?”

This time, you slowed your steps, just enough for her to notice. For a fleeting moment, something flickered in your eyes, an emotion she couldn’t quite place.

“No,” you said simply. “I figured that out.”

Wednesday’s brows knitted together in disbelief. “You figured that out?” she repeated, her tone laced with skepticism. “No one simply ‘figures out’ swordsmanship. It takes years of training, discipline—”

You interrupted her “I figured it out,” you repeated, leaving no room for argument.

Frustration simmered beneath Wednesday’s composed exterior. Your cryptic responses were as infuriating as they were intriguing. She couldn’t fathom how someone could master a skill like that without instruction. But then, nothing about you followed conventional logic.

The two of you reached the steps to Ophelia Hall, for a moment, it seemed the conversation was over, but Wednesday’s curiosity refused to let her remain silent.

When the hallway to her dorm came into view, her frustration boiled into something she rarely allowed herself to feel: desperation. You had what you wanted now. There was no more reason for you to seek her out, no leverage she could use to force you into another exchange.

This was it.

For the first time, Wednesday Addams felt the sting of helplessness. And she hated it.

As you turned to leave, something in her snapped. “Wait.”

You paused, glancing over your shoulder. “What?”

Her mind scrambled for something, anything to keep the conversation from ending. The words tumbled out before she could stop them. “Show me.”

“Show you what?”

“The way you beat me,” she clarified, her tone sharpening as if to mask the vulnerability behind her request. “During our last fencing match.”

You turned fully now, facing her.

She continued, her voice cool and measured. “I know how to handle a rapier. I’ve studied various forms of swordsmanship. But the technique you used—it's unlike anything I’ve seen. It could prove… useful.”

“Useful?” you repeated, your tone neutral but tinged with curiosity

Wednesday hesitated for a fraction of a second, but she quickly masked it coming up with something. “Yes. I’ve been meaning to put Bianca in her place again. Your technique might be just the thing to humiliate her properly.”

“And what makes you think I’d teach you?”

She rolled her eyes as her tone sharpened. “It’s not a matter of ‘teaching.’ You wouldn’t need to explain. I can observe. All I need is for you to demonstrate. You seem to enjoy a challenge. Consider this one.”

You tilted your head slightly, studying her. The faintest smirk tugged at the corner of your lips, and Wednesday felt her irritation flare. That expression again. She hated how it made her feel—off-balance, as though you were the one dissecting her.

“I’ll think about it,” you said at last.

Wednesday’s eyes narrowed. “That wasn’t an answer.”

“It’s the only one you’re getting right now,” you replied.

You turned without another word, continuing down the hall toward your dorm. Wednesday remained rooted to the spot. Her thoughts spiraled, replaying every word, every glance, every flicker of emotion you had allowed her... only her to see.

She had what she wanted, another thread to pull, another opportunity to uncover more about you. But even as she told herself it was all for the sake of satisfying her curiosity, a nagging voice in the back of her mind whispered otherwise.

She ignored it. Or at least, she tried to.

When Wednesday stepped into her room, Enid bolted upright in her bed,

“Wednesday! Oh my god, you’re finally back!” Enid whisper-yelled, her voice a mix of relief and exasperation. She clutched her phone like it was her emotional support animal.

“I was so scared you were out there doing something... you know... Wednesday-ish. And with Y/N? Are you kidding me? I thought for sure I was gonna get a text saying you’d been arrested. What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking,” Wednesday finally replied, “that I do not require your approval or your concern.”

Enid huffed, crossing her arms over her pink top, “Well, someone has to worry about you because you clearly don’t!” She paused, “Anyway... how was the date?”

Wednesday froze mid-step as she turned to face Enid. “Excuse me?”

“The date,” Enid said, emphasizing the word with a mischievous grin. “You know, you and Y/N, sneaking off together into the night, exchanging cryptic looks and intense vibes. Classic romance. Sooo... how did it go?”

Wednesday glared at her, the look sharp enough to cut glass. “It wasn’t a date, Enid. It was an interrogation. One that, I might add, yielded frustratingly little information.”

Enid flopped back onto her bed dramatically, groaning. “Ugh, you’re no fun. How can it not be a date? I mean, the two of you are so...” She gestured vaguely, her hands mimicking some kind of explosion. “...tension-y.”

“Tension-y is not a word,” Wednesday deadpanned, moving toward her wardrobe to retrieve her nightclothes. She disappeared behind the changing screen, her voice carrying through. “And whatever you imagine my interactions with Y/N to be, I assure you, they are nothing of the sort. It was just an exchange of information, nothing more.”

“You’re no fun. Fine, it wasn’t a date. But you can’t deny there’s something going on between you two. Totally intense. And you-”

“Enough, Enid,” Wednesday cut her off, climbing into bed. “If you insist on fantasizing about my personal life, at least do so silently. I require rest.”

Enid rolled her eyes but smiled. “Fine, fine. Goodnight, Wens. Sweet dreams of a certain someone.”

Wednesday groaned internally as she closed her eyes, letting the darkness of sleep swallow her. But even as her mind began to drift, she couldn’t help but replay your last words to her: “I’ll think about it.”

Wednesday’s gaze flicked over the students passing by. You should be here, she thought, where are you?

“You’re weirdly quiet this morning,” Enid noted, glancing at Wednesday as they approached their table with breakfast “Not that you’re usually a chatterbox, but still.”

“I was reflecting on the peaceful silence I enjoyed before you began speaking,” Wednesday replied dryly.

Enid rolled her eyes but let it slide. The two of them sat down, Enid immediately reaching for the stack of waffles in front of her.

“So,” Enid began between bites " I was thinking-"

"Truly a groundbreaking moment in history." Wednesday muttered.

“Ha ha,” Enid said sarcastically. “As I was saying, the Poe Cup is coming up, and we need to form a team.”

Wednesday sipped her coffee, unimpressed. “You mean, you need to form a team. I’m not interested.”

“Oh, come on!” Enid said, pouting. “Last year was so much fun, and we actually won! Don’t you want to keep the streak alive?”

“No.”

“Please? Pretty please?” Enid got out her puppy eyes.

Wednesday sighed, setting her cup down with more force than necessary. “Why don’t you find someone else? I have better things to do.”

“Well,” Enid said, fidgeting with her fork, “that’s the thing. One of the girls on our team transferred out after all the drama last year. So... we’re already down a person even if you join.”

“Tragic,” Wednesday said dryly.

"And everyone seems too afraid to participate, no one seems to come up... So I was actually thinking about asking Y/N to join too.”

Wednesday froze. Slowly, she turned to face Enid, her eyes narrowing. “You were planning to ask her?”

“Yeah,” Enid said brightly, oblivious to Wednesday’s sudden tension. “I mean, if she says yes, you and her in the same team? We will have the most unstoppable team in Nevermore history. And if she says no... well, I’ll just have to work extra hard to convince her.”

Wednesday didn’t respond, her mind preoccupied with conflicting thoughts. On the one hand, she had no desire to participate in another Poe Cup. On the other, the idea of you aligning with Enid’s cheerful chaos—and possibly bonding with her—left an unpleasant taste in her mouth.

Finally, Enid broke the silence. “So? Are you in?”

She let out a tired sigh. “Fine. I’ll join your team. But only because your incessant whining is insufferable.”

Enid beamed, clapping her hands together. “Yes! You won’t regret it, Wens. We’re going to crush everyone. And when Y/N joins, it’ll be game over for the competition.”

Wednesday didn’t share Enid’s enthusiasm, but she couldn’t deny a flicker of curiosity. If you agreed to join the team, it would be yet another opportunity to observe you up close, to understand what makes you- you.

“Ready to lose, Addams?” Bianca asked, adjusting her grip.

“I don’t lose. I simply assess flaws in my opponents’ technique until they defeat themselves.”  Wednesday replied, stepping into position.

Strike, parry, lunge—her movements were precise, calculated, and relentless. But even as she focused on the match, her thoughts were elsewhere.

Where are you?

You weren't at breakfast, You hadn’t appeared for fencing class. She told herself it was curiosity, maybe her need for a rematch, nothing more. But the faint pang of disappointment at not seeing you was a feeling she couldn’t entirely suppress.

Bianca’s blade grazed Wednesday’s shoulder, snapping her attention back to the match.

“Distracted today, Addams?” Bianca taunted, taking the advantage to press forward.

Wednesday’s eyes narrowed. She wouldn’t allow anyone, least of all Bianca, to expose a moment of weakness. With a swift disengage and a perfectly timed riposte, she scored a touch on Bianca’s chest, earning a point.

“Hardly,” Wednesday replied, her voice icy.

The match ended in her victory, as expected, but it felt hollow. Even as she returned her rapier to its rack and packed away her gear, her mind kept circling back to you.

Alchemy class had started precisely ten minutes ago. Wednesday sat at her station, her notebook open and pen poised, ready to absorb whatever instruction was given. Despite her usual attentiveness, her gaze kept flicking to the door.

It wasn’t until the teacher began explaining the chemical interactions of reagents in transmutation circles then you finally entered.

You walked in as if you owned the room. No apology, no explanation. Your footsteps were measured, calm, as though arriving late was entirely intentional. The other students turned to look, whispering to one another, but you ignored them all. And took the empty seat beside Wednesday.

She waited for you to offer some explanation, but none came.

Finally, she leaned slightly toward you, her voice low enough not to attract attention. “Where were you?”

Without even looking at her, you replied, “I don’t think that’s any of your concern.”

The curt dismissal sent a flicker of irritation through her. She narrowed her eyes, studying your profile.

“Interesting,” Wednesday said, her tone flat but with a razor’s edge. “Your penchant for evasion is almost as impressive as your talent for making enemies.”

“I didn’t realize I was supposed to inform you of my every move. Should I start providing hourly updates?”

“I wouldn’t have asked if it weren’t relevant,” Wednesday countered.

"I fail to see how my schedule has any bearing on your life.” you replied, turning your attention to the potion ingredients laid out in front of you.

Wednesday’s fingers tightened around her pen.

After last night, she had thought they had... progressed, in some way. Not to friendship, she didn’t entertain such trivialities, but to something more than this cold indifference.

Evidently, she was wrong.

She turned her attention back to the professor, though her thoughts remained stubbornly fixed on you.

When class ended, Wednesday packed her things with more force than necessary. You, as usual, seemed unbothered, moving at your own unhurried pace.

She considered leaving without a word, but the thought of you dismissing her again was unbearable.

As the two of you exited the classroom, she matched your stride.

She didn’t speak immediately, her mind grappling with the questions swirling in her head.

Finally, she broke the silence. “About last night.”

“What about it?” you asked, not looking at her.

“I thought we had reached some… understanding,” she said, her tone carefully neutral.

You finally turned to look at her, your eyes sharp and unyielding. “I told you what I’d tell you. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Her jaw tightened. “And the demonstration you promised?”

“I didn’t promise anything,” you said evenly. “I said I’d think about it.”

“And?” she pressed.

“I haven’t had time to think about it,” you replied, your tone dismissive.

“You seemed to have plenty of time last night.” she said.

Your lips quirked slightly, not quite a smirk but close. “You think too highly of yourself if you believe I’ve spent the entire night pondering your request. And now that I do think about it, I don’t see why it matters. You’re not worth wasting my time.”

The words struck Wednesday harder than she expected. She kept her face impassive, but inside, a strange, unfamiliar ache bloomed. Her jaw tightened, her fists clenching at her sides. She hated the way her chest ached, hated the vulnerability that threatened to surface.

But she would never let you see it.

“I see,” Wednesday said finally, her voice icy. “Then perhaps I shouldn’t waste any more of your valuable time.” Without waiting for a response, she quickened her pace, leaving you behind. Behind her, your steps slowed, and she resisted the urge to look back.

Botany class passed in a blur for Wednesday. The usually calming task of handling deadly poisonous plants gave no solace. Her mind churned with your words, replaying them over and over. She hated how much they stung, hated the power you seemed to wield over her thoughts.

And yet, when class ended, you approached her.

“Meet me behind the greenhouse,” you said, your voice low and deliberate. “After the sun falls.”

Before she could respond, you turned and walked away. She hated how you left her with more questions than answers. But despite herself, she knew she would meet you.

[A/n: Tried another new route, in most fics I see that it is the reader character who earns Wednesday's smile, so I thought I should reverse the roles a bit, how did you guys like this one?]

Taglist: @rqizzu @sevyscoven @kingoftheracoons @masterofpuppets-10

[thisapplepielife]

Written for @steddieholidaydrabbles.

That's Priceless

Prompt Day 26: Hanukkah | Word Count: 442 | Rating: T | CW: None | Tags: Future Fic, Established Relationship, Chrismukkah, Gift Giving, Jewish Eddie Munson

Steve pushes the cart, and Eddie isn't paying a lot of attention. They've been at this for hours, and he's not invested in any more shopping. He's done, done. But Steve's list to buy for is longer than the list of people Eddie even likes, so here they are. Still shopping, and Eddie dropped three stores ago.

When he looks up, Steve's putting a roll of wrapping paper in the cart. It's covered with blue, white and gold graphics, very clearly for Hanukkah. 

"Don't we still have some paper left?" Eddie asks. He's pretty sure they still have the roll they bought a few years ago.

"Well, yeah," Steve answers, "but everybody else gets new Christmas wrapping paper way more often because we go through more Christmas paper. I thought you might like to see something new, too."

Eddie smiles. He definitely, one hundred percent, doesn't care about what the wrapping paper looks like. But if Steve cares, he'll care, too.

"Thanks, that's nice of you," Eddie says, because it is nice, and thoughtful. 

Steve Harrington is a good dude, and that's a fact that Eddie has learned over and over again during the time he's known him.

The night before Hanukkah begins, Steve hands him a box, looking giddy. Eddie pulls the top off, and there's a new menorah. It looks hand-carved, with characters that are designed and painted in a DnD theme. It's totally fun, and not at all what Eddie expected to be in the box. 

"It's kosher!" Steve announces, nearly bursting at the seams, he's so excited.

Eddie picks it up, and it is. Eight candle holders in a straight line, on the same level, with the helper candle spot just a little raised. It is, in fact, kosher. Steve's been listening to him, which shouldn't surprise him at all. Steve always listens, retains information, and tucks it away for a rainy day.

"It is," Eddie says, "thanks, Steve. I love it."

"There are forty-five candles, too. Just in case one breaks or is missing a wick or something," Steve explains, and Eddie really, truly wonders who he's been talking to. 

It doesn't really matter. Steve thought this through, thoroughly, just to make Eddie happy and that's priceless. 

Eddie clears a space for it, and can't wait for the next night. It's his very own menorah, suited to him, just because Steve loved him enough to reach out to someone to have it made.

He's always celebrated both, and Steve has embraced that fully. There's a Christmas tree in front of the window, and now his very own menorah on the mantle.

'Tis the season. Both of them.

If you want to write your own, or go see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @steddieholidaydrabbles and follow along with the fun! 🕎

Notes: I saw the video of the woman showing different menorahs and having the viewers guess if they were kosher or not. There was a fun dinosaur one that was, and it made think, well, there could be a DnD one for Eddie.

[tealeavesandthorns]

"You know, I really didn't think you'd scream this much. I thought you were made of stronger stuff. All those tales about how you survived capture at the hands of the IRA, was it this? Was it screaming, begging? Asking them to let you go?" Sanderson let out a laugh but he walked away from Gareth and placed the cattle prod on his chair. He rolled his sleeves up and moved to the back of the room before looking back.

"I think it's time for a drink maybe?" Sanderson asked and he opened a bottle of water and took a swig from it. "All this screaming, we'll have to keep you hydrated or this will be over far sooner than I'd like." He put the bottle down on the side and picked up a bucket, walking towards Gareth he threw the cold water at him, at least, for now it was clean, even if it was cold.

_____________________________________________

Maria was silent for a long moment on the phone prompting Eve to ask if she was still there. A thousand things were running through her mind and none of them were that Gareth had done this.

"I-" Maria swallowed, there are places he would go, well places Maria thought he might go, but he wouldn't be going anywhere because he hadn't left here of his own volition. "Hugo, I've no idea, M- There are a couple of restaurants maybe-" Maria lied. "A little village, he's resourceful you've seen him."

"Eve-" Maria realised she needed to choose her next words carefully, because she was about to be on her own wasn't she? Everyone else was going to be hunting him and she couldn't let whatever this was play out. She had to get to him first, she had to save him. "Eve, there must be new protocol, after C, I understand. He didn't do this though. He wouldn't, he's been taken."

To say Eve was shook would have been an understatement. Really, she didn't know what to make of it. The video did seem real, and Hugo was one of their agents, after all. But at the same time...he was talking about M. M, who dedicated his entire life to defending the country. Who did everything to keep his employees safe. She was torn.

For a long moment Eve was silent. Staring at the frozen picture of Hugo. The bruised face.

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

Gareth's was starting to bruise as well, but right now the pain was elsewhere again. He tried to suppress the scream, pressing his teeth together. It only worked for a short while, though, and when he realised where the prod was moving next... He held his breath, stared at Sanderson, shook his head. But the man was merciless - and the pain was unbearable. Gareth screamed until his throat hurt, until his head felt like it was going to explode.

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

Eve shook her head. "I--my god, he sent this to literally every MI6 employee..." she muttered. "Maria...are there any places he would go to?"

[mawlaeina]

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT | SAGAU Childe

🍊 content: SAGAU! Childe x Reader

✦ content w: none! fluff or plain or smthn along that line. Though, I think you should read Birthdays | SAGAU! Childe first before this for context igs.

It’s been a few months since Childe was acting weird in the game.

At first, you thought it was just your game lagging—with Childe just abruptly stopping in the middle of a run, or when you’re using another character and for some reason Childe switches in.

But it happened a little too often after a while.

Everytime you’d try to use another character, he would either switch with them out of the blue or the entire game would freeze.

Maybe your phone was being faulty, or the storage was at its maximum capacity (archons, you hoped not).

Whatever your reasons were, it had all been thrown out of the window on the day before Christmas.

It started out like any other day for you—no work or classes, just another day to grind in the game again (and another day to appreciate Childe ofc). You figured you could still play the game despite all the problems you’ve encountered so far, since those weren’t gonna stop you anyway.

While fighting the Pyro Regisvine with Childe, your screen suddenly freezes and glitches for a moment before the fight continues.

Wait…

Continues???

You watch, completely dumbfounded as Childe moves on his own. You try to tap on any of the icons but it doesn’t work—it’s like he was alive and conscious as he fought the large boss plant.

What surprises you even more so was the fact that he transformed… into Foul Legacy…? You rubbed your eyes, hoping that maybe you were just tired or maybe even dreaming.

After the fight was done, Childe settled in place, still in his Foul Legacy form as the Regisvine falls to the ground. He turns around, his attention seemingly focused on you before the screen turned black.

You take in the first few moments of silence, thinking what was that just now—like, no seriously, what just happened?

Reaching out to your device, you began to make an attempt to turn in back on again, but nothing happens. You sighed, scratching the back of your head as you wondered what you were going to do now.

You figured you could go celebrate Christmas—that’s no fun, you’d hate to celebrate Christmas by yourself, you’d rather spend the day grinding for primos or something.

Well, not like you had a choice anymore. After all, your device was broken—playing Genshin Impact was no longer an option at the moment. Begrudgingly, you began to decorate your room a bit.

You started with a small, white Christmas tree you found somewhere in the storage room, adding a few decorations and lights to its leaves—making sure that it wasn’t too much or too bare.

After that you just added a few more things here and there to the room, lights and all that to make the atmosphere a bit more festive and warmer than it usually is.

Once you finished, you take a step back, sitting on a nearby chair as you pondered what to do next.

Out of pure randomness you just decided to bake some cookies instead—it would keep you busy for the remaining hours of the day, and maybe Santa would even grant you a wish if you leave some out for him.

No, you never really believed in Santa, but anyways-

You baked some classic chocolate chipped cookies, and neatly arranged them on a plate before placing it on the desk inside your room.

You partnered the cookies with a glass of milk, and a shot glass of vodka because why not? it was yours to drink in the morning anyway—at least, that’s what you thought.

You do a few more other things to tire yourself out before heading to bed, kissing your hydro slime and Childe plushies goodnight—hoping that by tomorrow your device is back to normal, and that what happened earlier was just a random glitch.

Eventually, you fell asleep, at a much earlier time than you usually do.

Meanwhile, when the screen turned black, Childe had noticed since your face had disappeared, and he couldn’t hear you anymore either.

He’s been trying to communicate with you or even move freely on his own—to show you that he’s conscious. But doing so was messing up the boundaries that keep you two separated (aka the device).

He turns back to his normal self, the after effects of Foul Legacy weighed down on his physical body a bit when he does so.

He steadies himself, as he wishes to himself again that he wants to see you.

Not just through the screen—he wants to meet you, physically. He thinks that by doing so he may be able to sort his conflicting emotions out, which have been growing by the day for some reason.

It amuses him in a way. How much you like him despite his nature, how he came to be who he is now, and despite knowing what he does.

You just like him as he is, and it was very unlike him to be swayed by it.

It was unlike of him to reread the letters that you sent to him, to look forward to his birthday every year—hell, to look forward everyday whenever you come online.

He keeps telling himself, that he could never feel the same way as you do. Being worlds apart only meant that it was futile to even entertain the idea.

But he somehow dislikes it when you use other characters, whether it was to buff his damage or to heal him, he just disliked it.

So, while picking up the rewards from defeating the Pyro Regisvine, he unconsciously finds himself wishing to meet you, even if it was just for a moment.

He sighs for a moment, closing his eyes and folding his arms, contemplating about something. When he opens his eyes once more, he immediately makes a double take.

He’s suddenly in a different room. He feels different too, he doesn’t know how or why, but he just does.

He looks down on himself for a moment, checking if there were any changes. A small, red and white hat falls from his head and onto the floor when he does, catching his attention.

He crouches down for a moment to pick it up. Once it was in his hands he inspects it—triangular in shape with a white ball at the top. He decides to hold onto it for now before looking around the room.

The place looks comfy, and warm and soft. It was definitely much different from his own room—with a lot of stringed lights, and a snowy…

A fake, snowy tree with a few decorations.

The design wasn’t overwhelmingly festive, it was just right for whatever ocassion the owner of the room prepared for.

He remembers that you had mention something about this in one of the letters you’ve written to him on his birthday. Merry Christmas was it? It was something about gifts and presents, though he’s not entirely sure.

He takes a few steps around the room, wondering how he got here—maybe the work of an Abyss Mage? He shakes the idea away, sitting down by the edge of what he thought was an empty bed.

As he places his hand behind him, he pauses as he felt the curve of a leg. His head turns, finally noticing you who was almost drowned by the covers, and surrounded by soft materials that resembled him and some hydro slimes.

Oh.

Oh.

He was frozen in place as it registered to him, his thoughts were suddenly racing, with an odd rhythm and pulse coming from his chest.

He was excited.

It wasn’t the same excitement that came from battling enemies, or fighting with strong people.

No, this was entirely different. It was like he was thrilled to see you, to meet you, face to face without any barriers or boundaries for the first time.

“Comrade?” He speaks, his voice is quiet—almost afraid to wake you when you looked so peaceful in your sleep.

But he also wanted to wake you up, and ask for your name.

He squints his eyes and gets off from the bed. He feels weird staying in such close proximity to you.

He walks over to your nearby desk, deciding to check out some of your stuff. He wanted to investigate—unable to help his habits as a Fatui harbinger.

Seeing a plate of cookies, a glass of milk, and a shot of alcohol on the desk, he was left rather confused and intrigued. What on earth were you up to?

Against his better judgement, he picks up one cookie and examines it. It looks good.

It doesn’t seem to be poisoned. So, there’s no harm in trying them, right?

Before he knew it, he’s eaten about half of the cookies, a fourth of the glass of milk, and took the shot of alcohol—which was much to his liking.

He comes back to you, sitting by the edge of the bed once more as his eyes watch how you snuggle with the toy that resembled him.

“You really love me that much, huh comrade?” He speaks to himself before scoffing quietly in amusement.

He tries to sort out his feelings as he just stares at you.

It’ll pass.

He was quiet for a long while, sitting still beside your sleeping figure. After a few moments he finally lets out a sigh, telling himself that he’ll think it through another time.

It’s not love.

He tells himself again, firmly believing it as he takes out the red and white hat from earlier.

He reaches out to the toy version of himself, carefully placing the hat on top of it as to not wake you up.

Seconds after doing so, he immediately finds himself falling to the familiar ground of Teyvat.

He groans as he stands up, clearly annoyed of what just happened. He scratches the back of his head, clearly confused how he got sent back to Teyvat in such a manner.

“Huh… I didn’t get the chance to say Merry Christmas.”

✦ it’s been a while since I’ve written anything, so this is a bit rough, also a bit rushed? idk, it’s not that great *sad noises*

✦ late Christmas / holiday fic for everyone, sincerely from ur favorite trash writer

✦ I love him sm, can I cry-

✦ not lore accurate Childe, don’t come at me

✦ lots of grammar mistakes, don’t mind it pls

[frownyalfred]

This just occurred to me but - did Bruce get to keep his money in eye of the sky? I feel like access to a bank account with millions of dollars in it would be a resource that wouldn't exactly be "safe" for him to have, but then like, are the assets just going to sit there for the rest of eternity? (I think the fact that none of that money would be able to be put back into the economy would piss Bruce off...) Or is Clark like "ah yes your money will be allocated to our cause I need you to sign this for me :)"? Or some secret third option? What are your thoughts

In case you are wondering yes I will be sending in asks in hopes to flesh out the world building questions that pop into my head at ungodly hours even though the story is over for the rest of time if you let me I think you've infected me forever help it's so fucking compelling (although the rest of your stories are also wonderful I've been a fan of yours way before this au in particular I'm not trying to pigeon hole you into one singular thing keep writing <3)

Ahh thank you so much for sending this, you really keep me invested in this fic and the worldbuilding! My take is that when Kal-El finally revealed Bruce’s identity to the public and took him up to the Watchtower, it was all done at once.

Kal-El would’ve needed J’onn and Cyborg’s help. Cyborg would’ve folded in the accounts already funding the Watchtower to ensure their stability. Wayne Enterprises would be allowed to keep enough to stay afloat and functional, minus all research into “dangerous” topics like weapons or experimental gadgets etc. Kal-El’s public mercy, as it were. I’m sure LexCorp was burned to the ground, so it really is mercy.

Bruce Wayne’s personal accounts would be frozen to ensure he couldn’t escape easily, and that his family couldn’t easily stage an escape. And to cut off the fledgling Resistance/Insurgency.

Since Injustice canonically revolves around the Regime taking on the duties of an occupying government, anything they say is essentially law. So if they take Bruce’s money, there’s no one to stop them. Things are allowed to proceed as normal, as long as those activities don’t threaten the Regime.

I’m not sure if Kal-El keeps the money frozen or allocates it to the Regime. Either are likely options in my mind, to be honest. The Watchtower is expensive, but they have more than just Wayne Enterprises to pull from, now. Maybe all of Luthor’s money is used as Kal-El’s final “fuck you” to Lex. Hmm.

[funkybatics]

Prettier than the stars

warnings: none!! they kiss and it's a little heated but that's it

A/N: I CAN FINALLY POST STUFF YAYYYY!!!! here's a cute fluffy fic with the silly man himself!! Dottore!!! this can be seen as akademiya or modern-day college au! ALSO HES AN ADULT IN THIS FIC!!! I hope u enjoy <3 ^U^

He couldn't help but look at you.

Why would he be interested in the stars above when the brightest one sits next to him? Shoulder touching his and bringing him a sickening warmth.

It was an odd feeling. He couldn't decide if he despised it or not, it made him feel weak after all. But he also could not bare the thought of not having you with him, so he let it stay.

"Zandik?"

He blinks, zoning back into reality. He goes to respond but feels his heart get lodged in his throat.

You looked so beautiful. The moon was full tonight and its glow illuminated you so perfectly.

Your hair was a slight mess, strands sticking out in different places. There were noticeable eyebags under your eyes, from the constant sleepless nights you've had (being a college student isn't for the weak hearted)

Yet, you still looked serene. It was you, and thats all he cared about.

"Are you alright?" You tilt your head, tired eyes analyzing him, "You were spacing out, should we head back? Are you tired?"

He bites the inside of his cheek and glances away, eyes narrowing ever so slightly, "I'm fine, you needn't worry about me."

You hum in response and look back at the stars, "What's on your mind?"

"What?"

"I know that look in your eyes, you were quite deep in thought you know. Another genius breakthrough?" You turn to grin at him.

He's silent, gazing intensely at you.

"...Zandik? Hello?" Your cheeks heat up as he stares into your soul for what seems like forever, "Are you-"

"A breakthrough would be the right words yes." He shifts his body to face you properly, "____, would you be willing to help me with a theory?"

"A theory? Of what kind?" Your eyes lock into his and time seems to still. He has an air of... vulnerability to him.

"When I'm with you, I find myself feeling... sick. My chest feels tight and my stomach flutters." His brows furrow as he tries to find the right words, "Even so, I don't... mind your company. In fact, when you're not here I feel even more lost."

He lets his hand come up to cup your cheek.

"Zandik..." your eyes soften and you lean into his touch with a smile, "I love you too." He only stares at you, his hand tensing slightly as he processes the words.

"..."

The only warning you get is the subtle furrowing of his brows, before he suddenly pulls you into a kiss. You can tell he's never really done this before.

It's alright though, you don't hesitate to take the lead and help him out. Tangling your fingers into his soft, curly blue hair, you deepen the kiss.

He lets out a noise when you swipe your tongue along his bottom lip, and he feels his head go numb when it finally enters. After what feels like an eternity you both pull back for air, lips swollen and hearts racing.

"Was...was that useful data?"

He composes himself and clears his throat, looking away to hide his flustered face.

"O-One test run is never enough, multiple trials are needed to get proper data. I'll be expecting your help from now on."

"Are you asking me out?"

"Yes."

You scoot closer to him, giggling, and lay your head on his shoulder, "I accept."

As you look back at the stars, he finds he still can't focus on them. He feels a fuzzy warmth as you lean against him.

You're prettier than the stars anyway.

[theartofsimpatry]

A snippet that I dont plan on finishing:

Royal AU Shigaraki x reader

Imagine King!AFO gifting a young Prince!Shiggy a playmate; a child of one of the maids, you. You were one of the only people to treat Shiggy as a fellow human, not as the future king and not as a inhuman monstrosity, you treated him just like any other kid. Even with his dark magical abilities. You were so nice to him, complimenting his abilities when he showed them to you and you even hugged him! (Maybe this was because your mother made sure you were rewarded for being nice and punished privately if you being mean to Shiggy). Shiggy fell for you hard even as a child, he wanted to spend all of his time with you, playing, hugging and reading together… that was until King!AFO decided that Shiggy’s playmate was going to make Shiggy soft so you stopped visiting him.

He was sad… he has no one else but you and now you were gone too?! He threw tantrums at first, he threatened the poor staff, he even tried to run away to find your house in the kingdom but no avail. King!AFO saw this change in attitude a problem to be solved and started whispering in Shiggy’s ear about how King!AFO would never force you to leave Shiggy… maybe you left because of his looks? Because of his dangerous dark magic? I mean really… children can be so fickle…

Prince!Shiggy eventually accepted you leaving out of disgust for him as truth. His hatred and mistrust of the world grew with age. His dark magic grew in power with that hate. At 14, he decided to leave his large and expansive royal bedroom to permanently live in the dark and grimy conditions of the castle’s dungeon. He loved having a first row seat of what happens to those who question or disobey King!AFO. He eventually became the sadistic monster that people saw him as a child. A self-fulfilling prophecy. The Dungeon’s Monster, is what people called him.

Awhile you were growing up in a fairly normal life, after King!AFO decided you weren’t going to see Shiggy anymore, he paid off your mother to work somewhere else in the kingdom. Your mother became the head maid of a noble family, while you were stuck… probably going to end up the same as your mother, working for someone rich. You didn’t want such a life for yourself… you wanted more. You got as much education as you could but you still looked like an uneducated peasant to the nobles of the kingdom. That feeling, of being looked down upon, you hated the most. So was it really such a surprise when you decided to join an anti-bourgeoisie group? In the group, you were in charge of spreading the word of your cause with flyers and posters you hung up in the dead of night. Unfortunately for you, someone turned you in. You were given a brief kangaroo trial where the supposed witness saw you in the pitch black and described you as a 6’7 muscular man with long blonde hair and facial tattoos at first then changed their story after seeing you in court. You and your mother cried in court and begged for mercy but you received none. You were sentenced to life in the dungeons.

You only heard horror stories about King!AFO’s dungeons… a man-like beast that stalked the halls and carried out the most brutal of tortures. That the beast loved to kill for King!AFO and not even the guards were safe from him… You would shiver hearing the stories but what now? You were truly going to come face-to-face with the beast? You only hoped it was nothing more than a fairytale to scare peasants like you into obeying King!AFO’s every command.

“Can’t wait to see what this pretty face looks like after he’s done with it.” A guard that was dragging you by your arms snorted. You held your composure as best as you could. Men like this craved reactions from others, good or bad. Disgusting little vermin, thats what your thought about them. They were rough when chaining you to the dungeon wall. No doubt you would have deep red and purple marks on your wrists by the morning. You put on a brave face when the guards left, leaving nothing but darkness with the tiniest lit candle.

“Oh? What’s this?… A new disobedient dog that needs training?” A hissing voice came from the shadows of the dungeon halls. A hunching figure emerged from the darkness, the figure was cloaked in a large black robe making the figure look larger and more intimidating.

You instinctively tried moving your chained arms but all they did was make the chains rattle loudly. You could finally see some of the cloaked figure’s face, the more the rattling you caused the more crazed his grin got. His red beady eyes seemed to glow in the dark. The monster is real… at this moment you felt yourself regretting every decision you’ve made. Fuck the anti-bourgeoisie movement! Being a maid for life is ok with you!! Fuck them for making you stupidly hope for a better future! The creature of horror came closer to the tiny candle and you could see more of his appearance.

“And a pretty disobedient doggy at that.” His chapped lips opened to a creaky grin that almost reached up to his ears, showing his stained and twisted teeth. He could only be 15 feet away now… you still tried to hold a brave face while trying to hold your quivering legs steady. You glanced around, maybe if you didn’t look at him, he would go away? Now you were thinking like a child… When a shimmer of sliver caught your eyes, a large silver bucket was just a few feet away from you, probably was supposed to be used as a toilet. Before you could think of doing something with it against him, the man was in front of you in an instant.

[midnight-mourning]

Up on the Housetop

❄️❄️Midnight's DCA December Day 20❄️❄️

mmmm i enjoyed the chaos of this one, it's still fluffy and sweet, but I will admit i went for a bit of gremlin sillies with it, hope you enjoy ^-^

Prompt: Had a funny idea. DCA believes Santa is real (programming so he doesn't spoil it for kids), and won't let reader downstairs on Christmas Eve (reader is trying to put out presents lol) Or alternatively, he knows but is just being difficult/is trying to do his own Santa stuff

Word Count: 1330

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

You loved Sun, you really did. His sense of humor, his pleasant demeanor, how affectionate he was, and so much more. You cared about him a lot, so much, really. Moon as well, of course, but Moon wasn't currently causing you problems. For once. 

You see, tomorrow was Christmas, and at this point, you still had a lot to do. Mainly, because you only had half the presents out, the rest had been hidden away, along with stocking stuffers and the likes. For one reason and one reason only; Santa hadn't come yet. 

More specifically, you had to go down and put everything out under the guise of it being Santa and not you. Why? Because the attendant stills believes in Santa Claus, and you'd be damned if you were going to let anything get in your way of keeping that myth up for them. 

And that included the attendant themself. 

However, it was Sun that was the sole problem causer tonight, standing in front of you, hands on his hips as he blocks your access to downstairs. 

Your own arms are crossed, frown matching up with the strained smile on his visage. You thought he was charging. But it seemed the moment you snuck out to get things done, he was right behind you, hand on your shoulder as you were about go down the steps. 

After determining that you were up to no good, he all but pushed you back into the bedroom, you protesting all the while. 

Now, you were at a stalemate. He was refusing to let you pass, and you were refusing to go to bed. If only you hadn't left the tree on downstairs, the light it provided was just enough to keep him out and not Moon. He at least was easy to bribe. 

"Friend. This is ridiculous." He waves to the roof. "Santa could be here at any moment and you're awake!"

You huff. "So are you, Sunny. I just need to go downstairs for a second, then I'll be right up to bed, I promise."

"I can't allow you to do that. What if he's already down there and we don't know!"

You shake your head. "If he's already been then I won't even look in the living room, I promise."

"I can't trust your word! Not after you betrayed my trust today." He crosses his arms to mimic you, chin turned up.

You pinch your brow. "It was just a snowball fight, Sun."

"Just a snowball fight—" He splutters as you put a hand up to stop him. 

"All's fair in love and war, how was I supposed to know that you actually thought I didn't have any left." You think for a moment, then point your finger at him. "And last I checked, you pulled the exact same stunt by kissing me as a distraction!"

His rays flick, faltering a moment before muttering in agreement. "I suppose that's true. But nevertheless, my decision is final. Now I suggest you go back to bed before I make you. And you know how much I hate bedtime."

"This is my house!" You protest, stepping closer to him so you're only a few feet apart. "I should be allowed to go down the stairs of my own home."

"What do you need so badly that'd you risk ruining Christmas for?"

You lift a finger. "First of all, not trying to ruin Christmas. Second of all,"—you can't think of a reason, shoot—"It's none of your business.

Sun bends to your height, gaze narrowed. "Oh, but I think it is, Sunshine. Unless you can give me a truly valid reason, you will not be going downstairs."

You stare at him, squinting in simmering frustration. His rays tick once, twice, otherwise inmoving. 

You make a run for it, and get caught instantly. Your legs are kicking and flailing as Sun marches you away from the stairs and back towards the bedroom. The second he sets you down again, you trying run again, and almost succeed, getting halfway down the steps. 

The more this goes on, the more feral you both become. 

Eventually though, you both get tired, and somehow end up sitting in the middle of the hallway, sitting cross-legged across from each other. Sun is still blocking your access to the stairs, and you're getting very tired of it. 

"It's almost midnight." You state. 

Sun nods. "That it is."

"Bet you Santa's already stopped by." You quip.

He shrugs. "Maybe so, but that's even more reason to stay upstairs then so to not ruin tomorrow."

You groan, laying back on your back. "Work with me here, Sunny. I'm begging." You throw your hands up. "I'll do whatever you want if you just let me downstairs for five minutes. Please."

"I'm sorry, Starlight. But the answer is still no. I can't have you disturbing Santa."

You, for the briefest of moments, consider telling him the truth, but swallow that thought immediately. While yes, he's being incredibly annoying, ruining his fun, for the purpose of trying to make his fun, was silly. Besides, it's not like shocking him would be enough to—

A  new thought crosses your mind. A devious one. One that might just work. 

You sit up, eyeing the animatronic across from you with caution. Then, you scoot a little closer to him. You see him tense ever so slightly. You scoot again, and again, until your knees are knocking against each other now. 

He tilts his head, obviously suspicious. Good. You think this wouldn't work nearly as well if he wasn't.

You put both hands on his shoulders and lean in. 

At first you just sit there, breath hot against his faceplate. Your eyes flick up to his, his pupils flick down to you. You chuckle, and with as much passion as you can muster close the gap—

And blow a raspberry against his cheek. 

You jump to your feet as he sits there, utterly confused, and rush downstairs. 

"Hey!" You here behind you, metal footsteps bounding after you. "That was uncalled for!"

You become a snickering mess as you race into the living room. You don't know how you're going to put out presents with him behind you but you'll worry about that later, just enjoying the victory at the moment. 

"I disagree, I think it was a great... tactic..."

The living room is filled with presents. Not just the ones that you'd put out earlier in the month. You turn, and see your stocking is filled, and the cookies you'd put out are crumbled, milk half gone.

"There's no way..." You mutter, hand going to your hair. "That's impossible."

As you're dealing with the idea that you might be the subject of some weird reverse home invasion, or that Sants might actually be real, a hand rests on your shoulder. You look up as Sun sighs at the sight, then tilts his head down to you, eyes crinkling. 

"Well, Merry Christmas, Sunshine."

You blink. It clicks. "I, what, you, how,"—you shake your head—"You were faking?!"

"Yes, I was hoping you wouldn't find out this way. I know how hard you were trying to keep up the act for us."

"Moon too?" You can't believe it. All that work, for nothing. 

Sun's arms wrapping around you, bending so that you're almost eye to eye. "We appreciated it, we really did! But we also wanted to surprise you and it became this, jumbled mess instead." He looks away then. 

"Hey." You reach your hand up to direct his attention back to you. "What you did was sweet, just shocking is all. I wouldn't have been trying so hard if I'd known."

His forehead presses to yours as he chuckles. "Guess we're both just a couple of silly excuses for Santa then."

"Seems that way." You kiss him once. "I think I'm alright with that though."

Sun pulls you closer as you giggle, kissing you again himself. 

"Me too."

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Thank you for the silly little request @twomanypockets!! As you can see i had a bit of fun with it, thought a combo/sneaky reveal fit very well hehe

Masterpost link

Tag list (if you would like added, see this post for more info):

@scarletcowboy @beemyhuneybee @fishm0ther @deviouscrackers @elsajoyagent8

@luckyyyduckyyy @zenkaiankoku @jogimote @local-shrub @amarynthian-chronicles

@robinette-green @everlightreader @sinister-sincerely @starredeclipse @dangerva

@juukai @crystalmagpie447 @mothgutz236 @lizyxml @divinit3a

[nickistuffs]

Design Choices

Hi, I’m back with some inspiration! As a designer in product development, this photo really resonates with me.

Pairing: Harry x Designer Reader (curvy or plus size—whatever you feel works best! This is just my preference 😌) Summary: Harry invites you to a Pleasing meeting. Warnings: None. Just fluff 💗

Please enjoy! I’m just doing this for fun. ...

Today, Harry had a meeting for his cosmetics brand, Pleasing. While getting ready, he saw his girlfriend sitting at her desk, working on designs and 3D renders for various brands vying for her talent.

He’d always wanted to add Y/N to his team of designers or do a small collaboration. However, being the shy and offline person she is, Y/N mostly kept her work to her portfolio and artworks online, with little to no social media presence. She’d told him before that she didn’t want to be seen as the girl who got work because of her boyfriend—something Harry found ridiculous since he would’ve gladly welcomed her on the team if she’d asked.

After slipping on his socks, he tiptoed to her workspace, wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and placed soft kisses on her head. Briefly, he watched her work on what appeared to be a floor plan for a coffee shop. An idea crossed his mind, one he hoped she’d be open to.

“Hey, baby. Are you busy today?”

“Uhmm, not really. I’m just finishing my files, and my meeting got moved to tomorrow. Why?” she replied while continuing to type up details and notes for her contractors.

“Well, if you’re done with that, would you like to join me in a meeting today?”

She quickly saved her file and closed her laptop, looking at Harry with curiosity.

“For… your next album?”

“No, silly! For Pleasing. We’re finalizing some packaging boxes and stickers for a new nail polish release this New Year.”

“Oh! Right, sorry. My mind’s been all over the place.”

“No worries, love. So, do you want to come?”

“Sure, but can you pack my stuff for me? I’ll just go change.”

“Go ahead. I’ll take care of it for you.”

Harry rummaged through her work bag, filled with her essentials: a pen case, notebooks, journals, sample swatches, three different types of measuring tools, and other knick-knacks she might need for meetings or site visits. Knowing her, inspiration—or a design mishap—could strike at any moment. He added her laptop and earphones to the bag just as she walked back into the room.

“Ready! Do you have my bag, babe?”

“Yup, everything’s secured. I’ll just put on my shoes, and we can go.” ...

As Harry drove them to Pleasing’s unofficial office, he broke the silence.

“Babe, thank you for coming with me today. I thought you’d say no and stay home.”

“Well, I know I’ve said I didn’t want to be part of the product development team, but I still want to support you. If going to this meeting means so much to you, I’ll gladly hop in when I’m free.”

At a red light, Harry grabbed her hand and kissed it gently. ...

When they arrived at the small office, Harry and Y/N were greeted warmly and offered coffee, pastries, and nuts. She placed her bag on the floor and settled onto the couch, her eyes immediately drawn to the sparkly, hot-pressed foils on the PR boxes inside a nearby cardboard box.

“You can touch them if you like,” said Harry’s head designer.

“Thank you. Harry, may I?”

“I know you’re dying to feel it, love. Don’t let me stop you.”

Harry smiled at her excitement as she examined the new products Pleasing had created. He silently observed her body language, sweating a little as he hoped nothing was out of place—knowing how detail-oriented she was.

“These are so nice. The feel is great. Do you have options where the box is fully foiled or mixed with matte finishes for texture variety?”

A sigh of relief escaped Harry’s lips as he saw her getting into her element.

“Yeah, we have all of that here,” the head designer replied. “Here are the inserts, the bottles, and other packaging we’ve printed, along with the initial samples, if you want to try them.”

They laid everything out on the table. Y/N immediately locked eyes with Harry.

“These are amazing! The supplier you got is really good. You have to tell me who they are!”

Harry chuckled at her enthusiasm.

“It’s a secret, love. I can’t reveal that to the competition. I might even ask the team to whip up an NDA before you leave.”

The three of them laughed at Harry’s joke, but soon the meeting shifted into a more serious tone. Work began in earnest, with Harry choosing his preferred designs, giving feedback, and discussing limitations and options with the team.

Meanwhile, Y/N started snapping photos of Harry looking serious, as well as top-down shots of the table and the stickers he was pointing to.

**“What do you think, love?” Harry asked.

“Sorry, I was distracted. Can you say that again, babe?”

“I asked if we should add another color to the collection, or if this is enough?”

“Well, is it in your budget? I thought you already finalized a color story. Adding another might confuse the supplier if it’s a last-minute change. I’d recommend saving it for your next release or an expansion of the range, maybe with a different collaborator.”

Harry nodded, impressed by her quick, thoughtful response. He felt a surge of pride, knowing he was in a relationship with someone as brilliant and passionate as she was. ... Thank you so much for reading! I have more in store and might write again soon. See you! 💗

[escyn]

Haircut [in seclusion]: Zuko Joins the Gaang Early

a[n] homage to @a-witch-in-endor's While Might Oaks do Fall (aka the funny-hat AU), if you haven't read it yet you really should because it is a masterclass in detailed imaginative yet grounded world-building that is a joy to read

Zukka Week Day 5 (id in alt)

+ some close ups

other things from ZW2024: Day 3 | Day 6 | Day 7

[fluffypotatey]

To be honest I am a huge Nalu shipper. But the thing is I want to know the difference between the way Natsu cares about his guildmates and Lucy. Like what is the obvious difference since that boy sees every as Nakama so how can we say that the wag he cares about Lucy is different?

Like even when Erza passed away? (All the way back in first season there was a segment where the guild was gathered at her grave and all) Natsu was still very reactive. Plus he was also said to be depressed even when Lisanna passed.

What's the difference between all of them and Lucy?

the fact that he stayed. the fact that before he met Lucy, Natsu wasn't one to stay in a group or even want to work with anyone besides Happy at the start of the story. hell, he was ready to just file Lucy down as "New Guildmate" once they reached Fairy Tail

but then, Lucy doesn't leave. she follows him on his mission to save Macao despite her not needing to or even really understanding everything about it. she stays and then fights with him and saves him. it's no secret that Natsu is strong and can take care of himself really well. he's been going on solo missions for years now, and no one has really stopped him, but that means he's been in a lot of sticky situations where he and Happy are on their own and have no backup. and yet, without asking, Lucy offers it

and i think this is the moment when Natsu considers that maybe it's okay to have someone there to have his back (sans Happy)

"but Natsu only needed Lucy for the next quest because of the requirements," well, Natsu also wouldn't have taken or even considered that quest if it weren't for Lucy, yeah? he was not a team player (in the picking job's sense) or really wanted other people to help him on his quests sans Happy. and then he goes and picks a job that caters to their team whilst ensuring that Lucy can't say no

or maybe i'm reading too much into it 🤷🏻‍♀️

or maybe Natsu's got horrible abandonment issues that he will latch onto people so fast (Igneel & Lisanna) but also cause him to distance himself so far when left behind (his 1st time at the guild, Lisanna's death). Erza and Gray are Natsu's closet friends after Lisanna and yet they cannot reach him when he closes himself off. and then we have Lucy, who stuck by and had his back, so who is to say Natsu didn't make some contingencies to ensure whether or not she'd join him?

but maybe it's the rose, colored ship glasses i have on

because yeah, Natsu cares for all of his guildmates. the power of friendship is his biggest motivator. when we meet Natsu, our first introductions of him is defending his guild's reputation from Bora (who was using it as a guise for human trafficking) and saving Macao. and our 1st big arc (Galuna Island), where Natsu adamantly refuses to allow Gray to use Ice Shell and sacrifice himself despite how antagonistic they've been to each other. we get Natsu 100% at Erza's defense throughout the Tower of Heaven and he is even ready to defend Wendy though they only met hours ago

Natsu is a character with a bleeding heart and cannot help but wear it on his sleeve, but we don't really see him allow others to fight his battles or have his back until Lucy comes in. to be honest, i don't even think he had his heart on his sleeve until Lucy. he still has a bleeding heart (i don't think anything could stop that), but he was not ready to be open in receiving company because he was so used to it being ripped away from him

that being said: of all the characters he interacts with, he finds Lucy to be someone compatible enough for him to start going on team missions and inviting her on them (for example, his 1st S-class mission, which he stole, he went to her house to show it to her. the fact that part of the reward was a celestial key might be a coincidence, but i wouldn't doubt it as Natsu and Happy's trump card in case she refused)

but yeah, the difference is that he stayed and didn't push her away at the beginning, but instead continued to invite her along with him to the point that doing a mission without Lucy wasn't his regular anymore. compared to the rest of the guild, of whom he spent most of his childhood with, even if he spoke to no one, they would still be around and talk to him anyway. he might not invite them on job and only challenge them to fights, but the guild is his home and a constant in his life, a constant he needs (bc heavy abandonment issues).

"okay, but he still pushed her away after he watched Igneel die right in front of him. and he left the guild for a whole year, too. so what's the difference there?" you may ask.

so 1) Natsu never thought the guild would disband. he returns to Fiore after a year and is the last to know that they disbanded. he assumed, like all the other times before and while he and others were sealed for 7 years, that Fairy Tail would still be there when he returned. he assumed that his disappearance would not impact so hard because the guild would still be around and Lucy would have the others with her

which, did not happen :)

and like, so many guild members go off on jobs, quests, or even just leave for an indiscriminate amount of time (which i, personally, believe was his rationality for leaving), so him being gone for a year was nothing! right? no harm, eh? his plan was never to be gone forever :))))

2) he just watched his father die and lose any chance of having some semblance of a long term reunion with Igneel. he literally lost one of his main driving motivations for getting stronger and taking jobs. before Fairy Tail, before anyone, it was Igneel. and to learn that a) Igneel was always with him to begin with and b) he only got to see him for less than a day after 14 years of nothing......i would feel lost too ngl

man's needed space from everybody. and he also needed comfort, but Natsu has been shown not to really be the character who asks to receive comfort (and when he does receive it, it's usually when he's already emotionally compromised). he is in the habit of shutting people out after being abandoned or losing someone close to him, with his next rationale being to "get stronger" in order to prevent what happened in the past to ever happen in the future.

anyway

what makes this different? well for one, he sent the letter only to Lucy (or it's implied since no one else is shown getting one) because of how the two spend most of their time together. even the line that goes with the panel makes it sound like Natsu is unsure on how the note will be received (maybe even hesitant? but that could be my own hopes)

and one of the 1st people he reunites with after a year is Lucy and we get such a similar parallel to the first chapter of Fairy Tail between the two as if the narrative itself is slotting them together to say "ah yes, now everything is back to normal and new journeys can begin"

but yeah, this is just a long way of saying, that Natsu does love his friends and guildmates but even when he is close to them, he kept to himself (and Happy) and sort of stayed in their orbit but always with some emotional distance because of his fear of abandonment. and then you have Lucy where he will stay for and allow her to orbit around him and he will invite to new adventures no questions asked

that's the difference

[micamicster]

Bruce Springsteen's fourth album DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN as Penguin Classics (series): Andrew Wyeth / Alan Stephens Foster / John James Audubon / Edward Hopper / Cy Twombly / Robert Hodgell / Kiyoshi Asai / Adolphe Sunaert / Alexander Louis Leloir / Pablo Picasso

[everyryuujisuguro]

[thethingything]

oh boy so I've had to deal with more stuff in terms of booking this fucking dental surgery and unless someone cancels their surgery, we're gonna have to wait until early August, which on the one hand gives me longer to get stuff together to pay for it, but on the other hand means I'm stuck dealing with the pain for significantly longer