#she still gravitates to the one person who might get it

[professorlegaspi]

Do I think it’s a coincidence that the person Celia asked to help contact Neeghan is the one person in her friend group to have a protective older sister of his own? No, I don’t.

[dan-the-womans-blog]

Hey! I’d love a one-shot where Hotch is really protective over the reader, who’s been getting some unwanted attention from someone at work. Maybe she’s a bit younger and new to the team, and she’s always been close with Hotch, but lately, he’s noticed that someone’s been making her uncomfortable. I’d love to see how Hotch handles it, especially since he’s been realizing he has feelings for her. Lots of protective Hotch vibes, maybe a little angst, but definitely some fluff and maybe a confession at the end. Thanks so much!

Of course lovely!!

Title: “Shield of Silence”

Pt2

You weren’t sure when it started, but the pit in your stomach had been growing for weeks now. At first, it had just been lingering looks—nothing overtly inappropriate but just enough to make your skin crawl. You’d brush it off, thinking you were imagining things, but the feeling only intensified as time passed. It was like being watched constantly, a gaze that clung to you when you least expected it.

It was your third month with the BAU, and although you were still adjusting, you felt like you’d finally found your place among the team. Spencer had been a wealth of knowledge, always eager to share some obscure fact or statistics. JJ had quickly become like an older sister, guiding you through the maze of FBI procedures and office politics. And then there was Aaron Hotchner—your unit chief, your mentor, and more recently, the person you found yourself gravitating towards the most.

Hotch had been nothing but professional with you, but there was an unspoken understanding between the two of you. You admired his leadership, the way he commanded respect without demanding it, and his quiet but unwavering sense of justice. More than once, you’d caught yourself staring at him, wondering what it would be like to cross that line between professional and personal. But you always pushed those thoughts aside—he was your boss, after all.

Lately, however, you found yourself needing his presence more than usual. There was someone on the team who was making you uncomfortable, someone who lingered a little too close, who spoke a little too softly when he was near you. It was subtle—nothing you could report without feeling like you were making a mountain out of a molehill. But you knew it wasn’t just in your head.

The elevator ride that morning had been the final straw. You were alone, checking your phone, when you felt the presence beside you. Your stomach twisted as he moved closer, close enough that you could feel the heat of his breath on your neck. You stepped away, mumbling an excuse about needing to review a case file, and practically fled to your desk.

It wasn’t until you were safely seated that you noticed Hotch watching you, his brows furrowed with concern. He’d always been perceptive, but this time, his gaze felt like it was peeling back the layers you’d tried so hard to keep hidden.

“Y/N,” his voice was low as he approached you, leaning on the edge of your desk. “Is everything alright?”

You forced a smile, trying to mask the anxiety churning in your gut. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

Hotch didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t push. Instead, he nodded, his expression thoughtful. “If anything’s bothering you, you can always come to me. You know that, right?”

You nodded, grateful for his concern but unwilling to drag him into something that might just be a product of your overactive imagination. “I know, Hotch. Thank you.”

But Hotch wasn’t the kind of man to let things go easily, especially when it came to his team. Later that day, as the team gathered in the conference room for a briefing, you noticed that Hotch had positioned himself closer to you than usual. It was subtle—just a shift in his usual place—but it felt like a protective barrier, a silent assurance that he was there if you needed him.

The meeting went smoothly, but as it wrapped up, the same coworker who’d been making you uncomfortable sidled up beside you, his hand brushing against your arm in a way that made your skin crawl. Before you could step away, Hotch was there, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

“Y/N, I need you to stay back for a moment. We need to go over the details of the Montgomery case.”

The man beside you stiffened, his eyes flickering between you and Hotch, but he said nothing as he backed away. You watched him leave, your heart pounding in your chest.

When the room was finally empty, Hotch turned to you, his dark eyes filled with an intensity that made your breath hitch. “This has been going on for a while, hasn’t it?”

You swallowed, nodding reluctantly. “I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. I thought maybe I was overreacting.”

Hotch shook his head, his jaw clenched. “You’re not overreacting. If someone’s making you uncomfortable, it’s my job to protect you. I don’t take that lightly.”

There was something in his tone that made your heart ache, a protective edge that spoke of more than just professional duty. “Hotch, I—”

He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently brush your arm where the other man had touched you. The gesture was tender, almost reverent, and it sent a shiver down your spine.

“I can’t stand the thought of someone hurting you,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “Not when I care about you as much as I do.”

Your breath caught in your throat, and for a moment, all you could do was stare at him, your mind racing to process what he’d just said. “You… care about me?”

Hotch’s eyes softened, the usual hardness melting away to reveal something far more vulnerable. “I care about you more than I should, given our positions. But I can’t help it. I need you to be safe, Y/N.”

The confession hung in the air between you, heavy with the weight of unspoken feelings. You didn’t know what to say, how to respond to a truth you hadn’t been ready to face. But as you looked into Hotch’s eyes, saw the sincerity there, you felt the walls you’d built around yourself begin to crumble.

Without thinking, you closed the distance between you, your hand resting on his chest. “I feel the same way,” you admitted softly. “I’ve tried to ignore it, but… I can’t anymore.”

For a moment, neither of you moved, the air thick with the tension of words left unsaid. But then, Hotch’s hand came up to cup your cheek, his thumb brushing against your skin with a tenderness that made your heart swell.

“Let me take care of this,” he said, his voice firm but gentle. “You don’t have to deal with this alone.”

You nodded, leaning into his touch. “Thank you, Hotch.”

He smiled—a rare, genuine smile that lit up his usually stoic features. “You can call me Aaron, you know.”

Your own smile mirrored his as you felt a warmth spread through you that had nothing to do with the lingering tension. “Okay… Aaron.”

The moment was perfect, the beginning of something new and fragile, but full of promise. As he pulled you into a comforting embrace, you knew that whatever happened next, you wouldn’t be facing it alone.

And for the first time in weeks, you felt safe.

[meanbossart]

What is your take on Astarion's relationship with his siblings?

I have put unreasonable amounts of time into thinking about what the dynamics were like during Cazador's reign in that house. I mean, imagine sharing the same tasks, bedrooms, and general experiences of abuse and duress with the same people FOR TWO HUNDRED YEARS. That's absolute madness. If any of you have had experiences with co-living with family under stress for any extensive amount of time, you know very well the levels of emotional 4D chess-ing that tend to take place as a result. You end up distributing so much frustration and anger around and often onto the very same people you will ultimately seek comfort from - this is that situation but blown up to impossible proportions.

So, "strained" doesn't really do justice as a descriptor here. I believe the family had a dynamic, ever-evolving hierarchy within itself, years-worthy of time where the spawn shifted alliances and made "cliques" within themselves - rebels would evolve into pushovers and trusted friends would turn into snitches. You had endless amounts of drama within the group and flies on the walls would witness them cut each other's heads off one day and sob into one another's laps the next.

Naturally I think all of them were resistant to the concept of being a "family" at first, but it's pretty much impossible to not develop family-like ties throughout that long of a period. Following Cazador's death, I believe there would be further splintering within as some want to maintain said ties and others are eager to cut them - seeing both their siblings and the relationships themselves as yet another painful reminder of what Cazador imposed upon them.

I think Astarion falls into the latter category. If he had his way, he would never see, speak, or think of his brothers and sisters again. And while the sibling nomenclature is a deeply-rooted habit, he doesn't think it holds any legitimacy whatsoever (whether or not that's the case in his heart is another matter).

Dalyria (the moon-elf physician, whom I have come up with a story, personality, background and motivations during several long showers that might not necessarily line up with yours, so, if anything of what I'm about to say seems pulled out of a hat, it's because it was) is the opposite. She has grown attached to the constant presence of her siblings and taken a mother-goose role upon herself. With the Exception of Leonard and Violet (more on that later) she has decided they are her responsibility and wishes the group would stick together.

I like to think that there's a lot of history between those two in particular. Obviously, the interactions between Astarion and his siblings are very brief, but It's enough to run with. Dalyria shows a lot of concern and understanding towards him and even pleads when he threatens Petras' life - again, I think she did a lot of trying to pragmatically keep the peace among them and genuinely grew attached to a few - Astarion being the main one of said few. You even get the smallest hint of a on-and-off intimate relationship with the way he derisively calls her by her nickname.

Also, Astarion very occasionally showcases enough emotional maturity that I could see him latching onto the one other person around who seems to have her wits about her, but he's still flawed enough that Dalyria can think of him as a younger sibling that needs her care. Not to mention that, to me, she demonstrates a penchant for moral superiority and a dash of a machiavellian outlook, based on her diary and her completely unapologetic initiative to kill a child on the small chance it would lead her to a cure - not any child either, but Leonard's child. I can totally see Astarion sympathizing and gravitating towards someone like that.

Which brings us to the rest of the siblings - I would wager that, at least by the end of it all, Leonard and Violet were the odd-ones out. As it tends to happen within any tight-knit group, when one succeeds by stepping over the others (even if the reasons for it are justifiable) that brews a lot of resentment and eventual exclusion. Leonard not only did that, but he apparently still held onto hope of future and family outside the Szarr house; wheter or not everybody wanted out, I think a us-versus-them mentality is unavoidable under those circumstances, and Leonard was looked down upon by the others in their respective ways for what he was trying to do.

Violet just seems like she had gone a little cuckoo to me. We get very little about her, but when I think of an adult woman playing childish pranks on her roomates while you are all stuck in what's essentially a human trafficking ring... I think of a person who's either just a very silly breed of evil or who has lost touch with reality, and the latter is more interesting, imo. I think no one liked her, not only because she was a nuisance but also because she became completely emotionally untouchable. I think both Violet and Leonard are spawn who did not survive long after they were all freed.

I'll stop here before I ramble on for another 8 paragraphs about Aurelia, Yousen and Petras (Oh Petras, my beloved), but, yes, suffice to say that I believe it was kind of complicated LOL

EDIT: Not me calling Leon "Leonard" this whole post. Sorry buddy, you look like a Leonard.

[mournings-stars]

Alright so let's go with fluff for my fave angels Adam and lute

How would they react with their gf who's a magnet for kids?

Her ass would say that she's not fit to be a mom but kids immediately gravitate towards them and labels her as their mother figure, in mere minutes after they had met her

It'd be so adorable

"I don't know if I'll be a good mom." Then you see her giving a kid, whom she just met, piggy back rides. Like, they instantly trust her?? How????

i totally forgot this was in my drafts guys i swear im coming back LMFAOLO anyway this request is cute asl and i went a lil off topic but trust its still fluff

so first up we got adam

so adam is actually a kid person… once you’ve been around him a while

don’t get me wrong, he calls them “little shits” “gremlins” “hellspawn” whatever he can come up with, but he does want his own — like he was created for this… which when you think about it makes you a little more nervous because he would arguably be a good father in your eyes (idk ab arguably but just roll w me) just based off of this information right? you, on the other hand, weren’t made for this

“do you think i’d be a good mom?” you’d ask one day, totally out of the blue, and adam would probably choke on his own spit. “are you pregnant?” would be his first question, expression not giving away any kind of feeling he would have if you were. when you shake your head, he sighs and that makes you feel worse

but, like, it’s adam — he didn’t mean to make you feel bad, and he definitely thinks you’d be a good mom so after a while, sometime later that day, he’ll bring it up again cause he can tell you were overthinking things

“you know, if you were… yanno,” his eyes went to your stomach, “i’d be really fucking stoked.” and he kinda doesn’t know what you’re upset about, which is completely evident when he mentions how much of a milf you’d be before telling you how good of a mom you’d be, but at least he got there! and he made you laugh in the process

whenever you’re talking to an angel with a kid, adam will point out how the kids are always drawn to you; asking questions, talking with you, and even giving you hugs when you leave

he would not let you go on thinking you’re going to be a bad mom, like if you do ever express that you think you would be a bad mom, he’s not taking you seriously. “why don’t i put a baby in you and we can find out?” is his response, and, “adam!” is yours as he just shrugs

lute on the other hand

maybe you’re already working with kids, like you might work close with the church’s daycare or do some work (not teaching) at a school, so even though you don’t work directly with kids, you still see them often and that really makes you want a child of your own

when you tell lute this, you also tell her your worries about not being a good mom. at first she doesn’t say much, not wanting to invalidate your feelings… but she thinks they’re stupid

instead she talks to the daycare or school and sets you up with one of the programs after your usual shift, making another angel take the day off so that you had to cover for them on short notice

she’d come to bring you a snack in the middle of your shift and just see how good you are with the kids, reading to, playing with, and talking to them while they were just so drawn to you and wanting every bit of your attention

she’d definitely help you out, enjoying the opportunity to play house with you as you showed her what to do. then she’d stay until it was their nap-time. she didn’t bother saying what was obvious, knowing she’d proved your doubts wrong just by the way you smiled and laughed with the children

[wheneverfeasible]

playing with fire🔥

wc: 5k || rating: T+ || cw: some swearing and suggestive language || summary: While Steve and Robin are discussing how best to get Robin to ask out Nancy, Eddie enters and has a jealous misunderstanding. || also on ao3

-

They’re playing with fire and he knows it.

He’s playing with fire. The chances of being burned are of course high, but he can’t stop himself either way. He wants this, wants him, more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone. He can only pray that he’s right and Eddie wants him back.

It had started after Eddie’s expedited trial, after hours of working with the group to find the best defense to clear Eddie’s name, after the judge agreed that Eddie wasn’t guilty and he was free to go, after Eddie had cried silent tears of shock and they’d thrown a huge party. After Steve got to see Eddie living life again.

Eddie became a major fixture of their lives and Steve began realizing that he never wanted that to stop. He’d stopped dating because he found he’d rather spend time with Eddie, would always gravitate towards Eddie whenever they hung out with a full group, would always glance over at Eddie when something funny happened or was said because he wanted to see Eddie’s response.

It was when Robin had come to him in tears with the secret that she liked Nancy, feeling horrible for betraying Steve by having a crush on his ex, that Steve realized he didn’t have those feelings for Nancy anymore because he had them for someone else: Eddie Munson.

“I think I like Eddie,” he had blurted out while Robin was mid-rant apologizing profusely and promising she’d never do anything and would always support him and Nancy being together, which had the benefit of effectively shutting her up when his words processed, her mouth gaping as her eyes bugged. It at least gave him a chance to say that she didn’t need to apologize at all because it wasn’t like she could control who she had a crush on, even if Steve had still been in love with Nancy and was trying to win her back, which…he wasn’t. He hadn’t thought about Nancy in that way in a long time.

Speedrunning his sexuality crisis didn’t take long, thankfully. It might have taken longer if he hadn’t been impatient to getting to the part where he could acknowledge his crush on Eddie, of course, and being able to continue liking him from the respectable distance of friendship like had with Nancy and Robin before both those feelings petered out. Except…

Except Eddie continued to flirt with him, and Steve would sometimes flirt back, sometimes making it a game for who could say the most cringe stuff and sometimes making Eddie flush high on his pale cheeks. Eddie would then quickly change the subject, push past everything like it never happened, but it filled Steve up with hope. Especially when the flirting started to get more physical with them all but cuddling together when they watched movies, even when they were amongst friends and not alone, or when Steve would crash at Eddie’s some nights and he’d wake up with his arms full of Eddie, or Eddie pressed along his back.

He had even felt Eddie’s morning wood before, pressing into his lower back where they were curled together, and he discovered that he definitely did not mind that one bit. He hoped to experience it—and more—again frequently.

The only thing Steve didn’t understand was Eddie’s reaction to Nancy.

He always seemed jumpy when she was around, always looked startled when he’d see her while he and Steve were cuddling or flirting. He wished Eddie wouldn’t care about that stuff. Nancy was after all the second person Steve had told after realizing he was bisexual, because yeah they were exes, but they were also friends. And unlike with Robin or Eddie, she hadn’t been around when he realized these things about himself.

Steve kept meaning to tell Eddie that Nancy was fine with queer people, though he kept getting distracted by Eddie being, well, Eddie. He had even told Nancy about his own crush on Eddie, actually. What’s more, there had been something in her expression when he explained what bisexuality was that made Steve think that maybe his little group of young adult friends was actually more fruity than he realized.

Though Eddie had never actually said the words to come out, there had been enough rumors about Eddie in school that Steve hadn’t really been all that surprised when the guy first flirted with him when the world was ending for the umpteenth time, and after Jonathan and Nancy broke up, Jonathan had begun spending a lot of time on the phone with Argyle and sometimes even Dustin’s girlfriend’s older sister, with him even going to meet up with them after graduation. He’d returned with hickeys that were obviously from two different sized mouths and a pep in his step Steve could only be envious of.

Nancy realizing she might like girls was what led them to this moment, however, Robin and Steve with heads bent together as they discussed all the things Steve remembered Nancy liking and the things she didn’t. If his best friend was going to try to pick up his ex, he’d be damned sure that he helped out in whatever way he could.

“What about a bouquet of fresh flowers with one artificial one in the middle? The card could read, ‘I’ll love you until the final petal falls’ or something.”

“God, that’s so cringy, Dingus!” Robin huffed out in laughter, a large and exaggerated eye roll following. “Does Nancy even like that shit?”

“I’m just saying!” Steve protested, crossing his arms defensively over his chest. He thought it was a good idea. But…she had a point. That wasn’t really Nancy’s thing. He could admit that more and more of his suggestions stopped being about Nancy and started being about things he thought Eddie might appreciate. Cringy and embarrassing and over the top and weird. Yeah, maybe he’d take that idea for himself then…

And then, as if summoned by his name whispered in Steve’s thoughts, Eddie walked into Family Video at just that moment, catching sight of their conspiratorial looks as they whispered ferociously to each other. The shop was empty, of course, but they were still careful.

“What are you two whispering about now?” Eddie laughed, sauntering as though carefree, though his eyes continued to dart around whenever he entered a new area, as though looking for something hiding in dark corners, though whether it was monsters or townsfolk who didn’t fully believe in his innocence was always in question.

Probably both, honestly.

Steve moved his eyes from Eddie’s entrance to Robin, knowing that so far she hadn’t come out to anyone else yet, though obviously that would hopefully be changing soon once she’d figured out the best way to ask out Nancy. Steve felt like the keeper of sexualities here suddenly, knowing everyone’s secret but unable to tell anyone else (though he was certain Jonathan and Nancy might be aware of each other’s as well).

Robin hesitated for a moment, her gaze likewise shifting to take in Steve. They exchanged silent words for a moment, his encouraging while hers were begging to be encouraged, and then she was relaxing against the counter with a small sigh of acceptance and shot Eddie a grin next.

“Just thinking about the best way to woo Nancy,” she said with a wiggle of her brows, though Steve could tell that there was still some anxiety in saying it out loud to another person. Even if that other person was Eddie Munson, who would hopefully be more than just a friend soon. Robin had complained about having Eddie as an in-law before, but she’d never been able to fully hide her teasing smile when she’d done so.

Christ. If Robin was actively going to be brave and do this though, was actually going to ask Nancy out, then he needed to be too, right? Eddie was interested, he had to be. What with the rumors and the flirting and the way his fingers lingered just a little bit too long whenever they touched…

Eddie’s expression, however, blanked.

“Oh,” he said tonelessly. He then blinked rapidly, shook himself, and plastered a smile on his face as he moved towards the shelves of VHS’s.

The smile, Steve noticed, did not reach his eyes.

“Well. Good luck with that,” Eddie said, turning his gaze towards Steve for some reason when he said that. “Wayne asked me to pick him up a movie,” he explained, picking up one called Vision Quest before frowning at the cover. “Something about that dude’s face bothers me,” he muttered to himself, putting it back.

“You know, you could sound more enthusiastic,” Robin drawled sarcastically, obviously trying not to pout.

Eddie shot her a pinched look, gaze darting to Steve again before hastily looking away. “Hey, I already said it was some true love shit. Do you need me to hold Steve’s hand during it?” he scoffed. “Might cramp his style.”

Steve exchange a furrowed brow look with Robin. Why would he need to hold Steve’s hand for Robin to ask out Nancy? Not that he was complaining about holding Eddie’s hand. No, quite the opposite in fact. And what was that about true love? He didn’t recall them ever mentioning Nancy and Robin together before.

He shrugged at Robin’s silent question asking what Eddie’s sudden deal was before turning his attention to the metal head and lifting his hand to wiggle his fingers.

“I dunno, Munson. Maybe I do need you to hold my hand,” he teased, though he wanted to frown again when, instead of laughing or smiling or teasing back, Eddie scowled at the next movie he picked up. He hesitated before moving around the counter. “Hey, you okay, Eddie?”

“Fine!” Eddie said hurriedly, and a little aggressively to be quite honest, Steve couldn’t help thinking. Rude. Eddie just huffed though and put the movie back before scanning for something else, eventually picking up something called Hoosiers. Steve had been eyeing that one for himself, actually, since it intrigued his inner Indianian jock, but he’d let Eddie take it for Wayne if he wanted. Maybe he could actually watch it with Wayne.

That was another benefit of his and Eddie’s friendship: Wayne Munson. Though the guy didn’t know all that had gone on, he knew enough to just let the fact that his nephew was suddenly best friends with a Harrington slide. And he liked sports, giving Steve someone to talk to about it finally besides someone still in high school.

Though, sometimes Lucas joined in on it, and the three of them would watch a game together at the trailer while Eddie just shook his head at having three sports lovers in his life suddenly. Steve could tell he was secretly pleased, however, and was always a little nicer to Lucas to make up for being a jerk about it all before everything went down. He even now went to all of the kid’s games, sitting between Steve and Wayne for protection against anyone who thought to start anything.

Eddie had once asked if Steve was sorry he could never take a date to the games anymore, to which Steve had answered that he’d brought Eddie, hadn’t he? And they even had their own personal chaperone with Wayne. Eddie had flushed, hidden behind his hair, but didn’t bring it up again like Steve had expected him to like they did with other reoccurring jokes.

Anyway, back to Eddie’s sudden moodiness, Robin had less far patience for Eddie’s shit than Steve did, seeing as how she wasn’t the one with a raging crush on the guy. She rolled her eyes and picked up a bag of Reese’s Pieces and threw it at Eddie. “Why are you being such a dick right now? Stop being homophobic.”

That got a reaction out of Eddie. He spun around to face Robin, ignoring the bag that hit his shoulder and fell to the floor while spluttering and pink in the face. “How am I being homophobic, Buckley? How is that even possible when I’m—” Eddie cut himself off quickly, shooting Steve what looked like a panicked expression for some reason. “A-anyways, how am I being homophobic right now?”

“I mean, I literally just came out to you and you didn’t even bat an eye. You just ignored it to go huff about…I don’t know, whatever it is you’re huffing about,” she snarked, and Steve could tell she was just barely refraining from rolling her eyes again, and also that she was a little hurt her grand revelation didn’t merit a reaction. He moved over and bent down to pick up the fallen bag before it could be crushed under Eddie’s sneakers as he stomped to the counter, shaking his head a little at their antics, though he glanced at the bag with a small smile too.

Eddie was actually the one that informed him about the history of the candy. How it had been a relatively newer candy, not all that popular compared to the well-known M&M’s, but the latter company had declined being featured in that alien puppet movie a few years back and so the Reese’s brand stepped in instead. After the movie did so well, the candy exploded in popularity, which Steve thought was just simply crazy.

Eddie was full of random facts like that. He never made Steve feel stupid for not knowing them either, which was honestly one of the main reasons Steve had started falling for him as hard as he was. He wondered if that meant he had some kind of praise kink, since he still thought about Eddie’s compliments back during everything and felt his stomach pleasantly squirm at them.

Now, however, Eddie was suddenly leaning over the counter and staring at Robin with wide eyes and a dropped jaw, causing Robin to rear back in startled and confused concern.

“Holy shit, Buckley, you’re a…” He swallowed, tensing as he glanced over his shoulder at Steve, before looking back at Robin with raised brows. “You-know-what?” he hissed.

Robin and Steve exchanged another confused look (Steve could vaguely hear Dustin’s snide voice telling them that their faces would stay that way if they didn’t stop) before she snorted and crossed her arms over her chest. “A raging, flaming lesbian? Yes, Munson, I thought that was clear by the fact that I’m trying to score a date with Nancy Wheeler.” This time she didn’t refrain and rolled her eyes again so hard it looked like it hurt.

“Yeah, dude,” Steve snorted as he moved to lean back against the counter beside Eddie, resting one elbow on the countertop as he tore open the bag of candy still in his hand. He offered it to Robin first, who held out her hand and let him pour some out, not taking her hand back until he picked out the yellow ones from her palm. They were his favorite and she always let him have them, just he let her have all the orange ones.

He held the bag out to Eddie next, who still looked gobsmacked for some reason. He shook the bag until Eddie held out his hand automatically. With the same automation Eddie began picking out the yellows and oranges to set them aside in front of Steve and Robin respectively, keeping the brown ones for himself. Robin began picking out the browns from her hand for him as well as Steve divided up the rest of the bag.

“Wait wait wait,” Eddie said after a moment. He turned to look at Steve. “You knew she was…” he trailed off uncertainly.

“Gay? I should hope so since I’m trying to help hook her up with my ex-girlfriend,” he grinned with a chuckle, dropping a few of the yellow pieces in his mouth. He winked at Robin. “You know that means that we’ll have inadvertemph—” Steve started to say before Robin’s free hand was covering his mouth to prevent him from saying something crude about being with the same girl.

“Don’t be repulsive,” Robin shuddered, dropping her hand with a yelp and grimace when she felt Steve lick her palm, grumbling as she wiped it off on her vest while Steve just continued grinning at her.

Eddie watched this like he was watching a tennis match, his brow furrowing in further confusion. “Wait…so…” He thickly swallowed, glancing at Steve with a peculiar expression on his face. Steve hoped it was, well, hope. “You’re not trying to get back with Wheeler?”

“Absolutely not,” Steve said, dropping the rest of the yellow pieces in his mouth and scrunching the bag up to drop behind the counter, chewing the large mass quickly. “That ship has long since sailed.” He was the one that hesitated this time, and even without looking at her, he could hear Robin’s silent communication. He shuffled a little against the counter, turning to properly face Eddie.

Shit. He hadn’t been expecting to do this so soon. The fire he was playing with could very well burn him alive right now if this went poorly. But…

Eddie liked him. He had to, what with the way they’ve been flirting and all but canoodling when they watched movies and things together.

“I, uh…I actually have someone else I’m interested in,” he admitted.

And…oh. Eddie’s face, which had started to look hopeful at the thought that Nancy wasn’t his interest anymore, fell again. And that…Steve knew what that meant. He was good at flirting again, could tell when girls were genuinely into him, and he’d picked up those signs from Eddie plenty of times before. He had been second guessing everything because Eddie was a boy.

But he knew this.

Eddie had thought he was interested in Nancy still and had become as bitchy as Steve could get. He looked hopeful when Steve said he wasn’t into Nancy. Looked dejected when Steve said there was someone else.

He had thought it was true, but…this confirmed it, didn’t it? Eddie showed all the right signs of having a crush on him. Eddie liked him.

Steve’s grin then was blinding. Robin choked a little on her own orange Reese’s Pieces before scooping the last few up from the counter into her hand and muttering about needing to check the back for something. God, he loved her so much.

“You are?” Eddie asked, and Steve could see him drawing back into that bitchy shell he’d been hiding in earlier. God, he was adorable.

“Yeah, I am. He’s really smart, but also kind of dumb. I’ve been flirting for ages and he still somehow hasn’t clocked that I have this massive crush on him apparently. I thought I was being obvious,” he teased.

Eddie was still withdrawing backwards, even physically this time as his body shifted to turn away, that familiar pinch between his eyebrows. Steve suddenly recalled a similar look when Eddie threw his vest at him back in the Upside Down, when he and Nancy had been lightly flirting.

Ohhhhh, Eddie’s down bad for him, Steve couldn’t help but think with an even wider grin. Even before Steve had clocked it all. He could only lament his double-guessing things for so long now. He might have been able to score a boyfriend months ago if he’d recognized and accepted the signs sooner. Oh well. No time like the present.

“Well, I’m sure she’s just shy,” Eddie muttered, eyes glaring down at one of the brown candies on the counter with pursed lips. He placed his thumb down on it and pushed until the hard candy shell cracked and the peanut butter filling inside smeared out. Steve couldn’t even find it in himself to be annoyed enough to care. He was far too pleased with himself. “Probably doesn’t think someone like King Steve could like her.”

That was another tell-tale sign that Steve had always ignored. Eddie had a habit of referring to him as his old moniker whenever Steve would talk about taking out girls before. It made Steve wonder if this crush Eddie had on him had been going on for a while. Even ever since high school.

Damn, but Steve really was an idiot for missing out on it for so long. Despite what he had thought was reciprocal interest this entire time, known to the both of them, he hadn’t been quite certain Eddie felt the same way. But surely his own interest had been evident? It wasn’t like he hid his sexuality, had been more openly flirting with Eddie, and sometimes even Jonathan for the fun of it, though both he and Jon knew it was just teasing and nothing real.

Though…

“Eddie,” he laughed, shaking his head. Eddie just started smashing another Reese’s Pieces piece causing Steve to roll his eyes. “Eddie,” he said a little more firmly, finally making the pair of brown eyes he thought about a little too much maybe turn to look at him. “I said ‘he,’” he pointed out.

Confusion marred Eddie’s face as he tried to work out what Steve was telling him. It made Steve wonder if he really did give off such great hetero vibes that Eddie’s gaydar hadn’t clocked him yet despite everything. And he thought his gaydar was shit. Jesus fucking Christ.

“‘He’ who?” Eddie finally asked, still looking confused.

“We’re talking about my crush,” Steve reminded Eddie, and sue him if his own tone got a little bitchy, but Eddie was being completely obtuse.

“What, does she have a boyfriend?”

“Oh my god,” Steve huffed out, partly annoyed and partly completely fucking enamored by the idiot before him. But he supposed that meant Eddie was in good company, since Steve was an idiot too for not having clocked how obvious the older boy was with his crush all this time, even before Steve had been aware of his own feelings. Two dumbass peas in a pod.

Shaking his head, Steve reached out and covered Eddie’s hand decimating the candy with his own. “My crush, Eddie. I said he’s really smart but kind of dumb,” he said with slow emphasis on the correct pronouns.

Eddie had stilled under Steve’s hand when he covered Eddie’s, but it took a few moments more of furrowed brows and pursed lips before Steve’s words finally seemed to catch. Eddie stiffened, his muscles going tense, his expression going slack and neutral.

Steve should have expected it, should have known that Eddie still wouldn’t get what Steve was trying to say, but the look of utter devastation that briefly crossed Eddie’s face before he swallowed it down hiding behind his hair by ducking his head, still surprised Steve.

How was Eddie not getting this?

Huffing slightly, Steve slid his hand from Eddie’s to reach out and brush Eddie’s hair back, hooking it behind his ear. “Like I said. Kind of dumb. He never seems to realize when I’m seriously flirting with him. I would have thought it’d be obvious by now. It’s not like I cuddle with Jon when we watch movies together.”

Eddie, this time, finally seemed to be catching on. He sucked in a sharp breath, eyes widening before ever so slowly turning to face Steve. The flush to his cheeks and forehead rapidly spread through his entire face and down into the collar of his shirt. Steve thought he should be congratulated for not pressing Eddie into the counter to find out just how far down that flush went.

“You—” Eddie’s voice squeaked out. He cleared his throat, his eyes darting over Steve’s expression as though looking for the trick, the trap, the joke. Steve made certain his expression didn’t changed, though he wondered how comforting his expression of exasperation could really be.

Steve let his eyes drop purposefully and tellingly to Eddie’s lips, licked his own which caused Eddie to jerk slightly, and then finally looked back up into Eddie’s eyes with a smirk. “Yeah, man. I mean, I even told him I wanted him to hold my hand and nothing.” He winked. “Maybe he wants to hold something else.”

Typically Steve would not be quite so scandalous when flirting with hopeful-conquests, but he also knew that Eddie wasn’t like any girl he had ever flirted with before. Eddie was brash, frequently abrasive, and more than frequently over the top. He was like a bull in a china shop sometimes, honestly. And Steve couldn’t get enough of it.

Or the way Eddie seemed to choke on his own air, a strangled and incredulous laugh leaving his prettily parted lips. Big brown eyes still stared at him disbelievingly, but at least Eddie was turned fully to face him now. Steve reached out again to twirl a finger in Eddie’s hair.

“Y-you’re not…straight?” Eddie wheezed out, and at least it was a full-ish sentence. Progress.

“Bisexual, actually,” he happily announced, leaving Eddie looking even more floored. “Something about having a guy pin you to the wall and then later say some really nice stuff about you tends to make you realize when you maybe kind of want to kiss him,” he added, a little sheepishly this time.

“Mostly the nice stuff,” Steve quietly admitted with a small laugh. “Don’t get me wrong, the pinning to the wall was nice once you get past the fear your jugular is about to get ripped out by a broken bottle, but it’s really the dude making me feel like I might actually be a good person and always being really nice to me when I don’t understand something that really made the crush grow.”

Eddie’s shaking hand reached up to lightly grasp the one still playing with his hair. “You…you really have a crush on…this guy? Like a real one?”

Steve could only grin, taking a small step closer. “Absolutely. He’s kind of adorable, actually. Tries to put up this big bad rockstar vibe, but I happen to have it on good authority that he’s actually a big softie nerd who cried when an animated toaster got crunched up rescuing his friends,” he lightly teased.

“He was so brave,” Eddie pouted, distracted for a moment by the memory, before blinking rapidly, because there was no way to pretend that Steve’s crush could be anyone else now. He drew in a shaky breath, his eyes darting between Steve’s, and then the most beautiful smile Steve had ever seen spread across his lips. Steve felt dizzy at the sight.

Feeling a little more confident now, Eddie leaned in slightly, his eyes dropping to Steve’s lips before looking back up into Steve’s eyes. He still had to clear his throat a little before speaking again, but the wariness was finally absent from his expression.

“I happen to have it on good authority that your crush might just like you back,” he murmured, and Steve was enraptured by the way Eddie’s eyes sparkled up at him.

“Yeah?” he murmured, swaying forward despite the public location. The store was dead, sure, but they could be interrupted at any moment, or seen by pedestrians walking by the shop. “Think he might be up to pinning me to another wall lately?”

Eddie grinned. “I think he’s willing to pin you to anything you want, big b—”

“Oh my god, please shut the fuck up,” Robin’s aggrieved voice broke in, startling the both of them so badly that they jumped apart as though electrocuted.

Of course, after realizing it was just Robin, Steve gave the bitchiest eye roll of his life and rested a hand on his hip. “You’re just jealous because you can’t flirt with Nancy yet,” he said, tone matching his eye roll. “I’ve been telling you to just hurry up and do it, Buck.” He glanced at Eddie and indicated Robin with a look that clearly said ‘can you believe this hopeless lesbian’ which caused Eddie to snort.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, Hairy. Like you weren’t whining to me about Eddie just three days ago,” she snarked, causing Eddie to grin and Steve to flush this time. “At least wait until your next break before you shove your tongue down his throat or anywhere else.”

“Robin!” Steve gasped, completely scandalized, pressing his palm to his chest. “I expect at least one date first before I shove my tongue anywhere except Eddie’s mouth.”

Eddie choked, face once more flaming, but Steve could only grin at Robin’s disgusted expression.

“The first part sounds fantastic though,” he acknowledged, reaching down to grab Eddie’s hand in his own. “I think I’ll take my first break now. Be back in fifteen, sweetie!” he laughed, tugging a dazed Eddie towards the front door, knowing Eddie’s van was parked somewhere nearby.

“Don’t forget to use protection later, you whore!” Robin merely called back, and despite all her snark and annoyance, Steve knew she was happy for him. And happy for herself that she didn’t need to hear him mooning after Eddie anymore, though she would probably come to regret what Steve was like now that he and Eddie were together.

It was fine, she’d get her payback once she asked out Nancy later that night too.

As for Steve, he proved himself to be a liar, because that night he definitely put out before their first date. Though, he figured with a teasing smile when Eddie brought that up, they had been on several dates at Lucas’s basketball games, remember? So really, he had plenty of lost time to make up for that night, again and again and again.

They might have been playing with fire, him and Robin, but how else were you expected to keep warm?

-

Fun fact! The bit about Reese’s Pieces is true! They’re also my favorite candy. Also, the movie Vision Quest (titled Crazy for You in the UK and Australia) starred a young Matthew Modine, who played Dr. Martin Brenner in Stranger Things. Hoosiers is about a high school basketball team in Indiana going to the state championships.

-

Hostage tag: @derythcorvinus

Courtesy tag: @katyawriteswhump

[thousand-winters]

One thing I really like about Saiki is, since his friends have no idea he has psychic powers, they all hang out with him because of who he is as a person. And when you think about that, it's really funny but sweet that they all pretty much tend to gravitate toward him anyway.

Because he generally seems like a bit of a quiet, grumpy person (his friends know sometimes they have to bribe him with sweets to get him to get somewhere lmao), Teruhashi mentions he's super hard to read too, which is fair since he has a very neutral face and generally also "speaks" in a super moderate cadence, plus he does go "are you stupid?" every so often.

But none of that is really a problem because they all adore him!!! They don't even know he's helping them all the time but they adore him. And it strikes me too particularly because some of them are even protective of him (everyone freaking out when he passes out, Kaido being relieved that at least Saiki got away from the delinquents trying to beat them up, etc.).

Thinking more about it, from their perspective it makes a lot of sense too. If I'm not mistaken, he's Nendo's and Kaido's first friend. He might get a little fed up with Nendo being so simple minded and with Kaido's dramatics, but even if he gets snippy, he's not cruel or mean with them for that, and for all he complains, there are times where he's just hanging out with them casually and not because he was forced by circumstances, like when Teruhashi decided to tag along for ramen and made things complicated for him.

Speaking of, Teruhashi initially was interested in him because she thought it was impossible that someone wouldn't be attracted to her but I get the feeling she likes him because he actually treats her normally too. Which later extended to the others as well, of course, but Saiki was the first one plus the one who's most consistently not reacting to her as a pretty thing to look at.

Then there are characters like Hairo and Toritsuka that are not in the "core" friend group but they still find Saiki fairly reliable. I think a lot of it is that even without the powers, Saiki is actually a very supportive friend, he often participates in the activities they do or helps them out in more obvious ways than what he does behind their backs.

Saiki in general appears like this quiet, but reliable presence who's there for all of them no matter what, so I think it makes sense that these bunch of teenagers tend to be like "ah, I feel like doing this fun thing, who should I do it with... oh, definitely Saiki!"

[yorshie]

I just read almost all your turtle relates work and i loved It! I was wondering how the brothers worked out having a poly relationship with the reader, the dynamics, what they think/feel about It, etc.

It can be headcanons or one shot, don't really mind, I just adore your work with them 👀

Thank you so much for your amazing storys💫

Thank you for the ask Nonnie!

I want to precede this by saying I don’t really have serious thoughts about how a poly relationship with all four brothers would work. I just started writing without worrying about the logistics of it, but I do keep some things in mind so it doesn’t turn into a Marty Robbin’s song.

So I went with head canon style observations and then added a little blurb that just hasn’t really fit in any one-shots I’ve written so far, but seemed appropriate in this context. I hope you enjoy!

Bayverse turtles x GNreader

Jealousy goes out the window. Who she? Oh, we don't know her. Brotherly squabbles still exist, but you are never the direct reason for the issues.

This relationship was definitely a slow burn, friends to lovers, where the lines blurred as love grew.

Mikey was probably the first one to start testing the friendship/boyfriend lines. His brand of flirting and physical affection makes him a prime suspect to see how far he could push and what exactly you would be comfortable with.

Donnie seems like the next likely culprit, certainly if he saw how openly you gave affection to his brother he might realize "hey, I'd like some of that", and proceed to tell you what he wanted next time the two of you were alone.

With the older brothers, it would definitely be Leo that has the next epiphany. With his love of listening, he'd probably get you talking and then slowly start scooting closer and closer, on the look out for any signals that you were happy with just two turtles' attentions. Finding none, you'd end up with a cuddle buddy anytime the two of you have a talk.

And Raph? he'd be the last, and he'd just show up with the others on one of the planned hangouts, hesitant and unsure but following their lead. Better not mention the red elephant in the room, or else he's likely to just turn into a roly-poly and scuttle away in fear of overstepping and ruining whatever friendship the two of you have and the luck his brothers stumbled onto. Just keep acting like everything is normal, and he'll bloom.

there's no hierarchy, other than brotherly ones that existed long before you. If someone wants/needs more time/affection, they simply ask for it. If you need time alone, you might have to lock a door or hang up a sign so everyone gets the message it doesn't turn into a revolving door of turtles checking in on you.

Date nights can be with one, two, or all four turtles. Only once was there a date planned while Donnie was shell deep in a project, and it was the one date that everyone agrees was a failure. After that debacle, Donnie gets dragged out of his proverbial dungeon anytime a 'four turtle date' is planned. While the brothers do plan one-on-one time with you, if you guys are hanging out in the lair chances are everyone will gravitate towards the commotion.

Sleep overs are probably the only time things can get complicated. You of course have the option to hole up in the guest room, and there's always sleep piles in the living area that happen often enough that Donnie went ahead and ordered extra mattresses to avoid the fuss of everyone having to drag half their bedrooms out into the Lair proper over and over, but sometimes you just want one snuggle buddy and you end up in one brother's room. It's the one time they'll get territorial over you, and it's an unspoken rule that if someone follows their nose to find you and ends up outside a personal space, they turn around and seek you out another time. It's the one rule not even Michelangelo tries to bend.

Turtle Pile

You woke up in the odd hours of the morning, the need to pee cutting into the bone deep contentment that had settled under your skin. You shifted, slowly, taking stock of where you were and how much wiggle room your turtles had allowed.

The lip of Raph's shell was a solid barrier over the edge of your hip and the line of one leg. He liked to have you up against him while he slept, the better to shield you in case something went wrong. He was laying the opposite direction of you, shoulder to shoulder with Leo, who had half draped himself over your lap and legs.

Leo's head was still tilted into the soft meat of your thigh where he'd been lulled to sleep mid conversation, breath slow and even, muscles twitching even in sleep.

Mikey had taken up your other side, arm snaked over your waist and leg hitched over what you were sure was suppose to be your closest hip, except Leo's shell was in the way. His face was propped close to yours, soft snores adorable, not quite as elevated as you were, and with no pillow to really protect his neck from Donnie's shell.

You were using the tallest brother as a pillow, as he laid out on his plastron, pining his legs and using the slope of his carapace as a make shift recliner. The reason you'd given him was to keep you safe in case someone shifted too much in their sleep, but the true intent was to keep him from sneaking back into his lab and half finished projects.

It was comfortable, safe, and warm, but the pressure in your bladder pinged again. With a soft sigh, you removed Mikey's arm and stretched, slinking up Donnie's shell to slide your legs out from under Leo.

His grip tightened, one sleepy blue eye opening to check on you. "What's wrong?"

It as more a rumble than words, but you understood , and whispered back, "nothing's wrong, just have to go pee."

He hummed, the sound low and familiar, and released you. "Climb back this way, you'll wake Dee."

"I've been awake, "came Donnie's clear, quiet voice.

You rolled your eyes, bracing a hand on one of the massive scutes on Raph's carapace and stepping over Leo's shoulder. "Make sure my pillow doesn't run off, Blue."

Leo gave a bare huff of sound, and you heard Donnie give an exasperated click in the back of his throat as Leo grabbed his brother's legs. "Yes, ma'am."

"Could be doing so much work right now." You heard Donnie grumble as you finished breaking free.

Your bare feet padded across the cool floor to the bathroom, soft steps not loud enough to mask Raph's equally irritated grouse:

"You'll have all weekend to work, nerd, now shuttup and sleep."

The door was just sliding shut when you heard Mikey's voice, the loud whisper practically a yell in the otherwise quiet space:

"Hey, where'd angel go?"

Followed by three sighs of various annoyance at the loud noise.

[iireneleee]

MY FAVOURITE PLACEMENTS FOR EACH SIGN (with explanation of course 😚😚)

remember, don’t take this too seriously cause this whole thing is fully based on my own personal opinion so im sorry if I didn’t mention your placement(s). don’t be offended okay?! MUAH I love all of yall 💋

Aries: I’d probably say 50% venus 25% moon 15% sun — honestly this is kinda hard for me cause my best best friend is an Aries moon and I get along very well with Aries moons however… this one girl that I broke off all contacts with cause she was obsessive ( she still hasn’t stop💔💔 even though we stopped talking for 2 years, super creepy) 50% venus because omg literally almost every single lovely person I know has that placement it’s mad. maybe it’s bc my venus conjuncts theirs (I’m also an aries venus) they express love in a way I adore so 💕💕 for aries sun, 25% because I’m only close with one aries sun but she’s literally so fly I love. but she says some weird stuff occasionally though she’s too unfiltered HAHAHA love that.

Taurus: definitely taurus moon 50% and taurus mercury 50% — taurus moons are literally the cutest people ever. idk why but all of y’all are like little hamsters in my eyes. taurus moons remind me so much of hamsters. many of you are probably leaders and I love being around you guys. super sweet and always there when I need y’all muah muah. people always stereotype you guys as lazy people but every single taurus moon I know are the most hardworking people ever. super admirable individuals 😚😚 those who have natal taurus mercury people are the funniest. y’all are like LOWKEY old souls. very good people to be in a group project with cause they always voice out the best opinions and ideas. they are also really relatable individuals they say things that many people would like relate to idk how to describe it, meme worthy i guess?? I love y’all so much. sometimes they ignore people when they say stupid stuff but whatever they’re literally one of the best people so they get a free pass.🤫🤫

Gemini: mmmm I’d say 50% gemini suns and 50% gemini risings. honestly, I haven’t met many gemini placements 😭 my sister is a gemini rising so i might be a little biased HAHAH sorry my bad my bad. i love gemini risings they always give me one of the best first impressions. i tend to get along really well with gemini risings and tend to gravitate towards them hehe. also for gemini suns, most are pretty cool. i realise that gemini suns tend to be really nice and grounded when you meet them but when you get closer to them they’re little devils IN A GOOD WAY hahah. all my interactions and memories with gemini suns are actually really good. they always promise a good time 🙏🙏

Cancer: CANCER VENUS🔥🔥 for sure cancer venus. omg i love them. they give really good hugs LOL. super sweet individuals. i love the way they express their love it’s so cute especially when you’re the recipient of the love literally so 😍😍. one of my friends have this placement and oml she gives such meaningful gifts. she is the reason why I have high expectations for gifts LOL. i really hope i get to befriend more cancer venuses 💔💔 they’re really thoughtful people who take initiative very very lovely 🫶

Leo: leo moons 🙏🙏 y’all are so chill. literally are the 😐 people ITS SO FUNNY . I love y’all so much I always have ‘beef’ with leo moons lol literally tom and jerry but it’s so fun. bickering (affectionately) I know I lot who don’t study but r really smart or at least all of y’all tell me you don’t study😐😐 I know a lot of you guys who r dancers too and omg really pro dancers srs srs. super fun people but they lowkey about it.

Virgo: definitely virgo sun + virgo venus I have so many virgo sun babes (aka friends) they’re so so sweet. im always having a fun carefree time when im with you guys. never a dull moment. you guys are like my babies srs srs you guys just gave me that youthful feel and it’s so refreshing omg🫂🫂. virgo venus people are so funny idek why they’re so underrated. they’re also very big mouth literally tell them something humiliating that happen to you and if it doesn’t sound like you’re very bothered by it trust people around you probably also know about it BUT it’s okay cause they cute, I can never get mad at them. also very playful people. 💋💋 i love talking to them but at the end of the convo omg we are like probably fighting / arguing (affectionately) LOL i don’t get many gifts from them honestly but they LOVE to give food. hehe 💋💋 to my virgo venus sweethearts

Libra: libra suns + libra moons so 50 - 50 hehe libra suns are really helpful people. they’re like honestly very libra idk why. they’re so so sweet, always there to listen to you ramble. my mama is a libra sun and omg she’s always listening to me ramble and rant ITS SO FUNNY. sometimes you guys are too nice to people that they tend to take advantage of your kindness so always be on the look out and know your worth 😚😚 . libra moons ARE SO FUNNY. i love you guys, y’all always make me lose my breath over your jokes. super random people who talk about out of pocket things but it’s so unique and fun with you guys that I can’t help but laugh everytime i see yalls face. also pretty smart people. you guys always do your best in things that you’re passionate about and it’s really admirable however, when y’all dgaf about stuff man all that quality work is gone LOL but it’s okay me too. best people to have around y’all remind me of those circus seals. 🔥🔥firee

Scorpio: scorpio venus — I really love scorpio venus individuals omg. they’re always there for you and always ready to attend all your big moments without fail. I had this one friend who has a scorpio venus and she take time out of her own busy schedule to train me for my interview and we stayed at the place until like the sunset it was so wholesome. not only did she do that but she was with me when I got my interview results like I was so shocked I thought she stayed cause she also had something to do afterwards but turns out she had nothing to do and she planned to wait for me and leave right after omg i literally melted. I treasure her so much and because of that I’ve always had a good impression of her. super sweet individuals. little cinnamon buns, warm and sweet. they also really are big on physical touch cliché I know but it’s real HAHA. everyone should have a scorpio venus friend or significant other 😭😭💋💋

Sagittarius: sagittarius moons — out of all my close friends in my click, half are sagittarius moons, it’s literally mad. they’re such unique individuals all of them have different personalities even though they have the same moon. but one thing they all have in common is that they find the weirdest stupidest unfunniest jokes funny. it’s mad. I can pull out a photo of a cat on the ground holding a fish and they’d be cracking up like mad. they all really enjoy being around positive and responsible people, people who are like them. they always burst out laughing idk y they try to hold their laugh but they never laugh normally. I love them though it’s always so comfortable around them MUAHHH💋💋

Capricorn: capricorn moons + capricorn mercury 50-50 — omg my baby capricorn moons, they’re so athletic, or maybe it’s just the capricorn moons I know but omg they’re so competitive when it comes to sport. they’re actually really reliable people even though they may seem quite playful and reckless. they tend to be good at math. love food. they also like to make handmade things for their friends and it’s really random. sometimes I come out of class one day and they just ask me if I want a cookie. LOL and one of my friends gave me a piece of paper that she doodled and drew on FOR ME it’s so cute and random but makes me physically like become the 🥺 emoji. love u guys. for capricorn mercuries y’all have the most underrated humour YALL ARE SO FUNNY LOL. you guys make the funniest jokes with the straightest faces like this face, 😐. MAKES ITS EVEN FUNNIER LOL. y’all tend to text a lot and are quite talkative actually. love you guys cause you guys never hesitate to make the conversation about the other party rather than yourself LOL JOKING ( but FR though you guys make me feel like the main character whenever I’m talking to u ) 🫂🫂

Aquarius: mmm i haven’t really befriended many who have aquarius placements so this may not be relatable😭😭 sorry!! but I’ll have to go with aquarius moons. — I tend to get attracted to aquarius moons cause they seem really fun. idk why but they all seem like a ball of sun to me. they remind me of fluffy cows HAHAH. they’re really cool individuals and they’re really kind. super sweet people who are always willing to help you and take initiative LOVE THEM💕💕. wish I get to know more aquarius moons, they’re just so loveable and reliable. 🫶🫶😚

Pisces: pisces moons 50% + pisces risings 25% + pisces mercury 25%💕💕💕 — OMG pisces moons BRUU literally my babes. I love them so much. they’re always there to help. they’re really responsible people even though they like to have fun. best people to have for group projects. they’re also really good at putting themselves in other peoples shoes hence making them very good at comforting others. very good friends that would do anything for you. they tend to radiate the same energy you give them so always give your best to them for you to receive the best💪💪 for pisces risings, I just really like they’re features. they all give like a reserved energy and many people would think that they’re really high achievers and admirable people with a cute face HEHE. they’re really sweet and awkward at first but once you get to know them omg it’s a huge difference they’re little devils LOLOLOL (in a good way🤫🤫) I tend to have many pisces rising friends maybe cause their rising is in my seventh house but 😚😚 whatever. they’re little choco pies, random ik but it just fits their whole persona . pisces mercuries are really chill people who like to talk. I love them so much cause like tend to relate to one another a lot and i just love to talk to them because they’re so easy to talk to. just pull out a random topic and they would prob be able to talk about it, very versatile speakers. also, they don’t really share their opinions at times. like sometimes i want to eat something with them but their whole face writes “no that looks disgusting” so I ask them if they’re sure that they’re fine with the restaurant and they say that they’re fine but they’re not really fine LOLOLOL they’re so cute HAHAH love them. they always put others before themselves.

made by: @iireneleee

[happyk44]

Thinking about Frank telling Percy that after the war he had to ask Pluto's permission to date Hazel. The war gave him some leeway and reason for not doing so, but after it ended, Pluto showed up after a few days and asked Frank why he had not requested permission.

Percy is kinda surprised Hazel doesn't look annoyed. Sure she's from the 40's but he thought permission to marry was the common request. Wasn't permission to date outdated, even by 40's standards?

And Hazel shakes her head and explains that historically a lot of children of Pluto/Hades would be courted by other demigods as a trick or a trap. If a child of the Underworld asked her out, permission would be implicitly granted. If a mortal asked her out, permission would be implicitly granted.

But a non-Chthonic demigod, especially an Olympian one and one of such high rank like Mars, requires permission so Pluto or one of her siblings, or even Proserpina, may assess that this person is someone safe. Even friends can betray you in the end, she notes and Percy hates every single word of what she's said.

Years later when he comes to terms with his feelings for Nico, he agonizes about it. He knows Nico likely won't give a shit if he doesn't have permission, and Hades won't do anything to Percy besides maybe yell at him if he refuses to ask because killing him would upset Nico, but if he's going to date Nico he'd like to be on somewhat good terms with Hades for once. Neutral terms, even.

Frank may have lucked out with near immediate acceptance - why, wouldn't he? Hazel was his world. He would rather die than hurt her - but Percy was a thorn in Hades' side from the moment they met, and he was well aware getting permission would be a long process to go through. Probably some more stupid quests to prove himself.

And he'd do them. He hate it but Nico was worth it.

But part of the reason of living at the Nome these days was to stop having to do quests. To stop have gods interfering in his life to the point of standing on the ledge of the apartment roof and staring down at black asphalt and garbage bags shoved into a corner.

But Nico is worth it. And Percy - well, he'd like to think he's safe for him now. That he won't hurt him accidentally anymore. That they're good. And he's pretty sure Nico likes him back. When he visits, he always gravitates towards him. Sits by him when he's finished training with Walt. Takes him outside with Carter or Zia so he doesn't develop agoraphobia, and holds his hand the whole time so he "can't run away". He strokes the back of Percy's hand every time they're standing still.

He blushed when that one lady thought they were a couple. Didn't correct her either. Didn't ask why Percy didn't correct her. Didn't let go of his hand.

He hasn't interacted with a Greek god in the last four years. At least not in person. His dad and step-mom send letters every few months through Hermes, who hands them off to Nico to deliver. They're nice letters. Hoping he's doing well. Updating him on how the castle repairs are doing. Telling him about quiet spots in the ocean he can visit at a certain time if wherever he is doesn't have access. He's used a couple of them, with Sadie lazing about on a shitty rowboat far above his head.

It's nice to just lay there on the sand. The first time he'd been worried it was a trap. That some sea god would whisk him away for some adventure that would leave him more torn than he already was. But Phillip had sat with him, wand at the ready, his penguins casually swimming above them and it had been fine. No sea gods, no sea monsters, no animals other than the penguins.

So Hades will be the first Greek god he sees in person. It reminds him too much of his first quest. While Ares has been the first, Hades had been the second and Percy had stood in front of him, feeling too small, everything at risk, and someone he loved dearly on the line. If he failed then, he might never get her back.

If he failed now, Hades might enforce ways to keep them apart. To make sure Percy couldn't ignore his lack of permission and date Nico anyway.

What terrified him the most about not earning permission was the implication he was still dangerous to other people, to Nico. He was sure he was safe now. He didn't freak out at the little kids. He didn't wake up screaming. His gut instinct wasn't to pull Riptide out at every single loud noise. He didn't dissociate as much as he used to. He wasn't on edge all the time. He trusted the other people around him.

He didn't want to die nearly as much as he used to.

But what if it meant nothing? Therapy, medication, avoiding the things that caused him stress - what if it wasn't enough? Yeah, he has attacked Nico once but that was years ago, Percy had been extremely stressed out, and Nico hadn't even cared about it when he apologized. It took him a few seconds to even remember what Percy was talking about.

Aside from that one instance, Percy liked to think he'd always been safe for Nico. But then he remembered Bianca and his gut churned viciously.

Still, Nico was worth it. Nico was something he wanted. He'd do it for him. He'd do a lot of things for him.

Grover stood with him at the entrance of the Underworld. Mrs. O'Leary was splayed out, catching the rays of sunlight and rumbling happily as Annabeth gave her a couple treats and belly rubs. She joined Percy's other side and pinched his arm.

He still loved her. He always would. Their relationship to each other wasn't something that could be killed off, even with the distance and Percy running away. Same with Grover. Either one of them could vanish for years at a time, and when they came back, it would be like no time passed at all. They were clicked into one another like a necklace with interlocking friendship charms.

"You got this," Grover said with a clap to Percy's back. His hand drew up to Percy's shoulder and squeeze. "And we'll be right there with you."

"Or just outside the door," Annabeth adds. She flashes her wrist, a shiny watch on it. "And I have a battering ram if needed."

Grover's face went pinched. "That's not helpful."

"It's realistic!" Annabeth argued. "When has he ever come out here peacefully?"

"He's only been here twice!" Grover said in a gritted whispered shout. "You need at least three times to indicate a pattern."

The two of them stepped back ever so slightly so they weren't shouting through Percy, and continued their bickering on what constituted a pattern indication and whether or not it was helpful or supportive to indicate a fight might break out.

The noise helped clear the sound of his own voice in his head. He zeroed in on Grover's words clashing against Annabeth's opposing side, and breathed steadily. The two of them knew him so well. Hopeful realism.

"Guys," he said as clear as he could.

They went silent immediately and drew back to his side. Grover looped his arm around Percy's, pulling him close in by the elbow. Annabeth squeezed his hand once before letting go.

"You ready?" she said.

He nodded and reached for the doorknob. "Let's do this."

[erikahenningsen]

96 for cadina?

96. “Can’t you stay a little longer?”

Cady starts spending a lot of time with Regina after the spring fling dance.

Despite no longer being in the neck collar, Regina still isn't able to do all that much without needing to take breaks, and she can't drive with the pain medication she's taking. Everyone seems to be tiptoeing around Regina, like she's both fragile and dangerous at the same time, and Cady doesn't think anyone else has visited Regina since she came home from the hospital.

So they watch a lot of movies and TV shows in Regina's cozy home theater—things Regina has already seen but Cady hasn't, so when Regina falls asleep in the middle, exhausted by her medication, she doesn't miss anything. It's a good system.

What is not a good system for Cady is the way Regina cuddles up to her, falling asleep on her shoulder or occasionally in Cady's lap entirely. They always start with a respectable foot of space between them, but the more tired Regina gets, the closer she gravitates.

Cady's heart has been pounding so hard so often lately that she suspects she might be entirely indestructible, the world's first immortal person, because this surely should have killed her by now.

It's a Saturday afternoon and they're watching the second or third Bring It On movie—Cady honestly doesn't remember which. Regina seems particularly tired today, and Cady remembers her mentioning that she had a physical therapy appointment yesterday after school.

About twenty minutes in, Regina's eyes started to droop. It's a domino effect: Regina gets sleepy. Regina starts leaning into Cady, softly at first and then resting her head entirely on Cady's shoulder. Regina shuffles around, trying to get comfortable. Cady, like a person who is capable of handling this, guides Regina to lie down with her head in Cady's lap.

And that's how Cady winds up running her fingers through Regina's hair, so much affection swelling in her chest it's almost painful.

She's always had strange reactions to Regina, from the day they met. Regina's always made her nervous, but the more time they spent together, the less Cady felt genuinely anxious, and it turned into... something else. Butterflies in her stomach when Regina laughed and touched her arm. The heady, lightheaded feeling she would get when she got a whiff of Regina's perfume. The way her brain slowed down and then ceased processing new information when Regina flipped her hair and smiled at Cady.

And now, this... whatever it is they're doing. Cady is certain Regina doesn't view her as anything more than a person who is nice to her when no one else is and also doubles as a good pillow—while Cady spends more of the movie watching Regina than the screen.

When the movie ends, Cady checks her phone. It's starting to get late, and her mother will probably be calling soon. Despite every bone in her body aching to stay here with the gentle weight of Regina in her lap and the softness of Regina's hair under her fingers, Cady starts easing herself out from under Regina.

Regina stirs, eyes blinking open slowly. Cady thinks she looks particularly adorable sleep-soft and groggy.

"Where're you going?" Regina complains.

"It's almost eight," Cady says apologetically. "I should—"

"Can't you stay a little longer?" Regina cuts in, voice soft.

It's like Regina reached inside Cady's chest and squeezed her heart. She's always gotten a little thrill out of Regina explicitly asking Cady to hang out with her—the feeling of being wanted, even if only as a friend.

"I..." Cady relaxes back into the couch. "Yeah, for a bit."

Regina makes a pleased sound as Cady resumes stroking her hair without even really thinking about it, and for several minutes neither of them speak.

"Cady?" Regina says quietly.

"Yeah?" Cady asks.

"Thanks," Regina says, looking up at her, eyes kind of sad, "for coming. And for staying."

It takes Cady a moment to find her voice, to dig it out from under the heavy tangle of emotions in her chest.

"Always," Cady promises.

Regina smiles up at her, and Cady thinks she'd endure a million more torturous movies just to see Regina smile.

[the-s1lly-corner]

so after Digital Circus came out, I've been having extreme Pomni brainrot, with her joining the horde of comfort characters for me. I'll like to request B, C, D, G, I, K, L, O, Q, R, T, V, W, X and Z. I'm so, so sorry this is a ton, if you wish you can do half of these requests. also sorry if I'm late by any chance

Fluff alphabet with Pomni! (1)

cracks my knuckles dont feel bad for asking for so many letters! if i didnt want people requesting so many for one character i would have put a cap on it!! i admit im not sure how long im going to do the fluff alphabet, i guess for however long people send in requests for it

BONDING- you guys bond by trying to find the exit/j but also not entirely a /j since now that i think about it i can definitely see it. otherwise a lot of your bonding comes from you showing pomni around outside the tend, since she still hasn't had the chance to explore the rest of the grounds

CUDDLING- small spoon simply because she is very small and needs someone to ground her to reality. very soft and squishy, its like holding a squishmallow

DATES- if this were the real world i can see pomni being a coffee shop person, but since it isnt... hmm.. i think dates mostly stick to spending time together in one of yall's rooms

GIFT GIVING- pomni does not give me vibes that they give you large things for gifts regardless of availability... they seem to be more of a handy small trinket person, "hey i saw this and thought of you and figured it might be of use to you" type of deal

IN HOUSE ADVENTURE- since pomni is still new to the endless possibilities of whatever it is caine cooks up for you guys, she gravitates towards you, out of trust and comfort mostly! you guys are kind of 50/50 in terms of if you guys actually function well as a team and solve whatever you need to do to reach the end goal caine has in mind

KISS- she cups your face, i think.. i can see it, very shy about it too, she will immediately pull away all bashfully. mouth kisses are her default, both giving and receiving

LOVE LANGUAGE- quality time and words of affirmation make pomni feel loved! its also how she shows her love, as well! especially the quality time, but as well as acts of service!

ODDITY- obviously this is likely going to be an issue for a while since shes new, but she is a bit. off given her trying to get used to being in the digital world. but just give her time and youre golden! though, i dont think pomni is ever going to fully accept being in the digital world

QUIET TIME- down time between you two is usually spent with the two of you sitting together in one of the common areas or your rooms. each doing your own activity while existing in the same space, fairly comfortable silence.. you two dont do everything together, and thats a-okay

ROSES- i think pomni would, tying into the "hey i thought of you" thing! pomni would not be opposed to being given flowers, pomni looks like a buttercup enjoyer

TUNES- first song that popped into my mind, no explanation.. maybe i miss beach bunny..

VALENTINE- in the real world she would treat you to a night in, with a few movies as well as your favorite snacks. probably gives you some flowers again.. in the digital world, the options are more limited... perhaps you two check out the carnival by the tent? the games there arent rigged.... probably...

WANT- they want someone who will actually listen to what shes trying to say and achieve, to be taken seriously. sure, a lot of the time in the pilot pomni is freaking out because shes coming to the realization that shes trapped, but i until we get more there isnt much i can say for her.. for now..

ZZZ- very sound sleeper, actually! tosses and turns every now and then but nothing too excessive, add that in with the cuddling segment and you guys would be pretty well rested after a night together, if you needed sleep in the digital world

[almightyhamslice]

SIR DADADOO REDESIGN!!!! I'm so stoked abt him. I designed him while I was fucking stoned lol. He's supposed to be a vampire-themed night exclusive mascot, designed specifically to tell bedtime stories to park guests (like he had his own room with a large chair and a faux fireplace & several specially made braille books for him to read, since he had virtually no eyesight). He would wear a different cape for each day of the week. I drew the butterfly cape cuz I was at a queer art event n I asked everyone else there what pattern they thought I should draw on his cape lol.

Sir Dadadoo was not a very popular mascot back when the resort was active; I imagine he evoked a similar sense of fear that you might get from a mall santa or mall easter bunny; an unidentifiable stranger one might be wary or uneasy of. He tried his best to be kind and approachable, but often parkgoers would avoid him because they thought he was terrifying. And after all, who would gravitate towards a leech mascot? Dadadoo felt ostracized by his own nature, by what the scientists made him to be. He felt trapped in the kindergarten, and sought to find a way out, even if he had to claw his way out himself.

Dadadoo bonded with Syringeon over their mutual distrust of the scientists, finding joy in plotting with Syringeon to stage a coup behind the humans' backs. It was initially going to be a two person scheme involving just them, but Dadadoo knew they'd be quickly outnumbered and overwhelmed without an army. Syringeon suggested using a combination of their own DNA, but the initial test failed miserably, so Dadadoo turned to Queen Bouncelia for help. She agreed, initially because she respected Dadadoo's ambitions and was intrigued by the idea of escaping, but later she grew attached to the idea of raising a family with Dadadoo. I think he was more clinical about the Naughty Ones at first, he initially saw them as nothing more than pawns in his game.

Things changed after he was sealed in Bouncelia's pouch, once his conspiracy had been figured out. He felt sorely betrayed by all four of his colleagues, but most especially Syringeon and Bouncelia. He initially wanted to kill both of them for attempting to kill him slowly, but after ages being in Bouncelia's pouch, he started to come to terms with his fate and Bouncelia's role as his jailer. Though she was inebriated by sedatives, she'd still try to communicate to him as if he were by her side. When he was finally torn from his flesh prison, he strayed behind as all the other Naughty Ones ran free; he wasn't sure if he had killed Bouncelia, but he was sure she was in pain. After his escape, he was much more attentive to his remaining children, since he was unsure if their mother would be able to care for them again.

Sketches of various Naughty Ones. There used to be more of them, but these are the ones that are left after their long imprisonment. Sir Dadadoo also has one additional child named Junior, but... you'll meet them later.

[the-guilty-writer]

Statistics, Rubix Cubes, and Waiting Rooms

Request: You can read the original request and headcanons based off the request here.

Spencer Reid x daughter!reader

Summary: Your dad, Spencer, sits with you as you wait for your psychological testing to begin.

A/N: I think Spencer with an autistic daughter who is late to get a diagnosis is my favorite thing to write about because it's self-indulgent for me as well as the people who gravitate towards my blog. Also, I made it so the reader is going in for psychological evaluation rather than just for autism since in my experience a psychologist will evaluate for multiple things rather than just for a target diagnosis when the screening process first starts (but this is just my experience and it may be different for others). Please note that autism comes in a spectrum (or rather a pie chart) for a reason, so this is by no means is a representation of the experience of every AFAB autistic person.

CW: talks about autism, misdiagnosis, reader recalling that she's been told that she just has anxiety, waiting room atmosphere, picking at skin

---

You never thought that a place could be too silent or too still. For years you had sought comfort in the quiet corners of libraries to avoid noisy lunch rooms and wrapped your arms around yourself on the metro to deaden the sensation of constant movement. But today, sitting in the near-empty waiting room of a psychiatrist's office, you strained your ears to hear something and looked around for movement that wasn’t there.

“(Y/N),” your dad, Spencer, whispered gently in your ear. “Sweetie, you’re picking at your fingers again.”

You looked down- the nail beds that your Aunt Penelope had so perfectly manicured just a few days ago were now ruined. You had pulled and picked away at the skin so much that it was fraying. There were a few places where you’d managed to pick away at the layers until it was pink and raw and close to bleeding. All without you even noticing.

“Something soft or something hard?” Spencer asked you.

“Hard,” you replied instantly. If you got something too soft, too moldable, too easy on your hands now, you might scream.

Your dad produced his old rubix cube from his pocket. The thing was ancient- older than you were- but that just made it more special. The joints rotated easily, but always snapped into place where you wanted them to. And it made just enough noise that it disrupted the deafening silence.

With the cube already mixed up you got to work. Part of you wanted to rush, but part of you wanted to take your time. Part of you wanted this to be over and part of you wanted it to never stop.

When you got to the last few moves and the colors still weren’t in place, you stopped your work and squeezed the object.

“Do you want help, or do you want to do it on your own?” Your dad asked.

“I want help,” you said.

You handed him the cube. Spencer twisted the cube a few times until it was the last move- the one that would put all the colors back into place. He handed it back to you and you rotated it one more time- the cube locking into place with a satisfying click. 

You breathed out, trying to let the tension in your shoulder go, but it didn’t seem to want to leave.

“What if-” you weren’t sure if you could articulate what you wanted to say. “What if it comes back as nothing we haven’t heard before?”

Lucky for you, Spencer Reid could basically read minds.

“Then we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” he said. He gently took the cube from your hands and misplaced a few of the colors- ones that you could easily put back in place- then handed it back to you. 

Thankful that your dad seemed to know exactly what you needed right then, you put the colors back in place. “But you’ve gone through all this trouble and taken all this time off work. What if all the tests say that it is just anxiety?”

You gave the cube to your dad again, who began to mix it up as he talked.

“I couldn’t find a definite statistic,” your dad said. “But it’s estimated that over 40% of girls with autism are misdiagnosed at least once with a mental illness or disorder before receiving an autism diagnosis. And most girls don’t receive a proper diagnosis until they’re in their late teens or early twenties.”

“So I’d fall into that statistic,” you said.

Spencer sighed and put the cube away. “You’re more than a statistic,” he said. “You’re my daughter. And that means I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that no matter what diagnosis you get it’s the right one so I can help make your life just a little bit easier.”

Your capacity for eye contact fluctuated- sometimes you couldn’t look at anyone or anything and sometimes the reflex to hold eye contact was so intense it felt like if you didn’t you would die. This was one of those moments, when you looked so deeply into your dad’s eyes that you could see your reflection and it felt like that was the only thing keeping you from exploding.

“(Y/N) Reid,” a nurse called from the door. You looked over to her and felt your hand shake nervously. “We’re ready for you.”

You swallowed and took a deep breath.

“Daddy?” You hadn’t called Spencer “daddy” since you were five, but at the moment it felt like you were five again- small and defenseless against the world with only your father (and his revolver) to protect you. “Can you come with me?”

Spencer smiled, tight-lipped and gentle. “Always.”

And just for a second, it didn’t matter what you got diagnosed with, because no matter what your dad would always know what you needed and he would always fight for you, no matter what.

[a-writing-otter]

All Fire, No Heat

(follow link to read on AO3)

Astarion weathers his lower lip between his teeth as he gazes across the fire. Karlach is sitting close to Wyll, regaling him with her side of a famous clash with the Blade of Frontiers as he, for everyone else’s benefit, corrects with the actual events.

This little… whatever of Astarion and Karlach’s isn’t so weak that it flickers at the fact she’s talking to Wyll with an arm around him, that’s just Karlach. No, his attention is far more rapt on the way she tells the story.

She talks often about Avernus in that shallow, barely-there way that most of them talk about their lives. Karlach cracks jokes and blushes past the depths of her horrors, but Astarion knows. Oh, Astarion knows someone who’s faced the cruelty of the universe and come out broken and he smells it on her charred skin. But the horrors she speaks about tonight aren’t ones committed to her, they’re things she’s done.

Weeks together and he knows how to read between the lines. She’s talking rather openly, but keeping it light, playful banter that she passes between her and Wyll. It’s not her words that intrigue Astarion, but rather how she says it.

In the low light of the fire, juxtaposed with the dark of the night, Karlach glows. Well, quite literally, her ports sputtering and smoking as her excitement mounts, but in addition, her teeth are shining, eyes gleaming like a predator and something is beginning to connect in his head. He suddenly sees her as a beast, a creature bent low, the last thing seen before the embrace of the void with dripping maw and scraping claw.

And it clicks—she truly was the Fury of Avernus, Advocatus Diaboli, the Right Hand of Death.

When she glances up, turns that dark, ferocious gaze on Astarion and winks at him, Astarion feels his breath hitch.

While he’s a rather formidable foe for near every person he’s cornered, it’s not a new concept that he can’t win every fight. And he knows, objectively, he might lose a fight against a number of his cohorts, but looking at her, seeing the way she looks at him, imagining what she’d look like to others, Astarion knows he would have no chance against her. That concept makes his skin prickle, his throat feel dry, and something ache in his pants.

It isn’t terribly long before they all decide to retire, petering off one by one. Astarion leaves relatively early into the dispersal as watching Karlach grow more and more animated makes Astarion feel crazy, but his eyes don’t stray far from the campfire. Karlach and Shadowheart are the last to leave, the former gravitating towards Astarion’s tent in a way that has started to feel familiar.

“Can I help you with something?” he asks without looking up from the tome he’s been pretending to read, fighting to keep his voice even and his thoughts forward.

“Oh, I think so.” He can see her standing there from the corner of his eyes, bobbing on the balls of her feet (the damned woman really can’t stand still), something expectant on her features. It’s no wonder that Astarion can’t see her as the terror she used to be when she’s this godsdamned cute. To call it an act is uncharitable, Karlach truly is sweet and kind and warm, but tonight he’s been gifted a chance to see beneath it. It’s hard to square away the beast in the fire from the doe-eyed woman who’s looking down at him, eyes soft and lips tilted into that small, secret smile she reserves for him.

“And what might that ‘something’ be?” Astarion asks.

Karlach lets herself wander closer now, stepping into his space until she’s towering over him, the smile on her face doing just as much for Astarion as the flash of her teeth had. She gets close, but doesn’t touch—she never touches until Astarion instigates it.

In the beginning, it’d been frustrating, had wrapped around to endearing, but now it’s a touch frustrating again. After a lifetime of people clawing, pawing, gripping Astarion whether he liked it or not, it’s nice to have someone who asks, someone who cares, but in the same breath, now that his discomfort at her touch has turned to craving, her asking almost becomes a chore.

Almost.

“Is it this?” Astarion asks, raising a hand to hook it into the strap of her top, pulling her down as he leans up. She’s warm, he does feel that, and the pressure of her lips against his own makes his spine tingle. He can taste ale on her breath, a bitter sort of accompaniment to her otherwise oaky, burning taste.

When he pulls away, Karlach doesn’t go far, her forehead resting against his and he can’t help but to smile at her in return as they linger there together.

“You were terribly animated tonight,” Astarion says, breaking the quiet they’d wrapped themselves in.

“Oh? That?” Karlach laughs. “It’s Wyll’s fault, the right bastard. He starts spouting his ‘shite about his time in the Hells and someone has to right him.”

“And that someone is you, beloved?”

He sees Karlach’s skin glow a little brighter at that pet name and he can’t help but to chuckle in response.

“Well, I was the only one there!” Karlach clears her throat and starts to pull away, but Astarion puts a hand on her arm, keeps her close.

“The way you talked about your time in Avernus was fascinating, your behavior almost terrifying.”

“I’d never act like that towards you—“ she immediately goes to defend, voice a touch panicked.

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it.”

Karlach falters for a moment as she tries to piece together what was just said. From here on out, he knows he has to tread lightly.

“What an awe-inspiring foe you must have been,” Astarion continues. “The Fury of Avernus, hm? The name alone must have inspired reactions, good and bad. What kind of terror were you?”

“I— Well, I—“

Karlach’s hands are a little uncertain on Astarion’s waist, like she’s not sure if she wants to pull away. Astarion takes the hand not holding her top to traipse fingers up and down her bicep, tracing the natural line of her skin while clearly avoiding the ports there.

“My name carried weight,” she starts slowly. “If that’s what you’re asking.”

Astarion hums, encouraging.

“Even the great ‘Blade of Frontiers’ had reason to fear you. I’ve seen the glint in your eyes before, the way you bare your teeth. Sometimes I see why people mistook you for a devil.”

When he feels Karlach tense, he’s afraid he’s stepped too far.

“Devils are terrible damned things.”

“Yes, yes. Horrible,” Astarion agrees. “And you waded through them like they were nothing, didn’t you? They must have had nightmares about you, you the story that they breathed to one another in their camps, promises that if they saw you, you’d be the last that they’d see.”

He’s close to her now, speaking against her throat. It’s only recently he’s gotten the benefit of tasting her ichor, body safe enough to take from burning, smoky blood, heady like he remembers a good whiskey tasting. There’s solace to be had in the fact that she’s shuddering, that her breath hitches ever so slightly as lips and teeth and tongue tickle a place she’s so sensitive.

“I… had a way with them,” she begins, Astarion seeing how she’s feeling out the words and where he’s going with this. “I could be cruel, oh, gods, I could be so damn cruel. It wasn’t always my axe that did them in. Plenty of times I was without it and had to make do with my bare hands.”

Now it’s Astarion’s turn to shudder.

“You were ruthless.”

“Bloodthirsty.” And this time Astarion sighs which makes Karlach laugh, though it’s quiet, like she’s trying to keep it between them.

“Were you that way with yours lovers, too?”

Kalarch hums and he imagines she’s seeing the through line. Her hands are suddenly firm on his hips, gripping tight enough to bruise, were Astarion able to. The pressure is all the same and he feels his stomach flip in response.

“Is that it? You’re looking for something a little more… forceful?”

“I’m looking for anything you can give me.”

And Astarion knows she can give him so much, wants to give him so much. He’s waited for her for so long and he’ll wait for her longer. Never before has he had the build up before the taste. So much of being with Karlach had been patience and restraint and it had been nice, but now? Now, he wants reckless abandon.

Her hand comes up off of the bruising grip of his waist to wrap around his throat. Both of his hands come up, grip her arm out of instinct, but there’s no panic. He trusts her. Oh, he trusts her with his everything. So when she squeezes, he feels his stomach flip and hears a keening noise escape that takes a moment to register is him.

“I can give you anything,” she purrs, a low rumble to her voice that makes Astarion absolutely throb. “But what about what I want to take?”

“Y-You—“ Astarion pants, licking his dry lips with drier tongue. “You think you can take it from me?”

And when she tightens her grip, a masterful hold on his jugular with her middle finger and thumb, Astarion can’t help the way that he full-on moans, especially when she pulls him, lifting him onto his toes and closer to her face.

“I don’t think you could stop me.”

It’s how he ends up in his tent, down against the bedding, Karlach’s tongue in his mouth and her body pinning his down. She’s always been stronger than him, but this feels different. Karlach is cutting off his air with her strong hand, grinding her knee into his crotch in a way that has him wordlessly begging for her. She doesn’t even seem to care that he’s coming apart at the seams as she pulls back, mouth a red, wet mess.

“Oh, look at you,” she taunts, squeezing his throat and laughing when he gurgles. “There’s nothing you can do, is there? Just lying there, taking it. Gods, you’re so pathetic.”

And he claws at her hand, trying and fighting to find air or form words, but elated at the fact he’s helpless to do anything. He feels pathetic like this, tears pricking his eyes as he writhes beneath her.

“Held down and captive, yet you’re getting hard. I can feel it, love. You’re grinding into my knee. Do you need it that bad that you’re prostrating yourself for your captor?”

Yes, yes, yes! He does need it that bad and he needs it from her, gods, he only ever needs it from her. He bucks his hips, grinding into her knee and when she pushes down further, harder, sharper, he bucks and cries, swearing he could cum on the spot just from this.

Karlach shifts her weight, pushes down harder on his throat and his head starts swimming. It’s not the lack of air that’s doing him in, it’s the pressure and the voice and the cut off of blood he’s drank no longer swimming through his veins. Her blood, held back by her hand: he sees the irony in it.

“Are you that depraved that you’ll cum like this? Not even touched, not even relieved, just in your pants like some desperate whore?”

He doesn’t even want to deny it. If she talks at him like this, strings him out, he will cum and be as pathetic as she or anyone else has seen him. While he pretends to be better, he knows better—Astarion is pathetic beneath it all.

“Go on, then,” she baits. “If you’re so damned desperate, show me.”

He stares at her, vision swimming with tears as she cocks an eyebrow at him. Swallowing thickly, he feels her thick fingers on his throat and gasps beneath it. She’s not moving her knee anymore, holds it stationary against his crotch and, when he bucks, she doesn’t lean into it.

Oh, she actually means it.

He lifts and lowers his hips, rubbing against her knee like some kind of dog in heat. Over and over, he gyrates against her. His breath is coming in pants as a bastardized pleasure crawls through his body. He’s leaking into his pants, against her knee, but he can’t stop. She’s laughing at him, flexing her fingers to remind him who’s in charge, who’s the one controlling him. All he can do is pant and whine and continue to grind his cock against her.

He croaks out, tries to give her some kind of warning, but the grip on his throat has made his head fuzzy and pleasure made his tongue useless.

“Oh, already? Gods, you can’t even hold it together. If you’re that fucking worthless, spray like a bitch, then. I told you to show me.”

He pants, moves his hips faster and sharper, the rough fabric of his pants grating against his cock, but Karlach is staring down her nose at him and tightening her fingers and her knee is firm and— and— and—!

Astarion’s back arches as he humps her leg, cumming against her as he dirties himself for her pleasure. He knows it’s going to stain his clothes, that it’ll take awhile to clean out, but all he can do is pant as he pumps his hips weakly before falling back.

When his vision clears, he sees her annoyed, critical stare. If it wasn’t for the thumb stroking over his pulse point, the other hand rubbing his sternum, he’d think she was serious. Even in her pretend, she has to remind him she still care for him and that makes him smile a bit.

“What’re you grinning at?” She sneers. “You think you’re done? Might be so useless you can’t keep your cock up to let me fuck myself, but it doesn’t mean you’re free. Get up.”

She gets off of him and this, this, is his favorite part. Karlach gets on her knees, hooks her thumbs into the top of her pants and starts to slide them down.

His mouth fills with saliva, his belly with want, and all he can do is gaze as she puts herself on display. She’s a woman carved of muscle, her firm stomach, thick thighs, and powerful arms all rendering most useless, but his eyes fasten instead on the bush of hair surrounding her pussy, wet and wanting just from the display that Astarion’s put on.

It takes effort not to immediately try and dive his face into there, but he knows better with the way Karlach’s been barking orders. She strips her pants and sits back, legs closed while his eyes focus on what he can’t quite see. He looks up to see her bored expression, ruined only by the way she’s weathering her lip in the way she does when he’s between her legs and she’s wanting more.

“Come here. No—“ Astarion stumbles to a stop, on one knee and halfway up before falling back.

“Crawl to me.”

Gods, if that doesn’t make his spent cock twitch again. He lowers himself, on his hands and knees, dragging himself to where she’s sitting ramrod straight, legs out in front of her and crossed at the ankles. He frames her legs, looking up at her while she continues to stare down at him critically. Through it, though, he can smell her want, can see the dilation of her pupils, and he knows she’s enjoying this.

She brings her legs up to her chest then draws one onto one side of Astarion and then the other. He doesn’t dare break eye contact they’re holding, but he can’t help the quiet noise that escapes as he’s suddenly bathed in the scent of her sex. Once again, his mouth waters, enough this time that drool escapes down his chin.

“Clean it up.”

He blinks, eyes sliding back into focus as he stares at her, confused.

“You heard me. Clean it up.”

Finally, he glances down, sees the splatter of saliva on the tent between her legs. There’s hesitation there and Astarion opens his mouth to make some kind of catty comment when there’s suddenly a fist in his hair and his mouth and nose are shoved against the ground.

He means to complain.

He moans.

His tongue lolls uselessly out of his mouth, spreading more of his mess onto the floor as Karlach clicks her tongue.

“Fucking useless, can’t even do a damned thing I tell you right. For fuck’s sake—”

He’s dragged back up, his mouth and chin a mess as Karlach searches him with a critical eye. There’s a growl that escapes as he’s jerked around again by his hair, this time ending up on his back, looking up at her.

“Can’t even trust you to use your mouth correctly.”

No, no, she can’t. God, he can’t say the last time he’s had a partner get him this strung out, degraded and humiliated, all for their taking.

Well, he can—

His mind starts to sharpen slightly before she pulls on his hair again and forces him to look up at her. His vision sharpens on her, radiance and death all in one, a perfect red sun on a dull horizon, like another.

“Karlach?” he croaks with something like a tremble in his voice that she must understand is not arousal because her hand comes up, sweeps across his cheekbone. There’s a momentary crack in the facade as they meet each other’s gaze. She does understand. Karlach bends low, foreheads together for a moment and Astarion breathes in deep, trying to soothe the knot in his chest. Her earthy scent washes over his pallet and the places in his memory that were sharpening, stabbing into the softness of the moment start to dull. And when she raises her head to kiss his brow, his nose, and then his lips, he smiles at her in return. Astarion’s hand comes up and he squeezes her hand still holding his face, the pair sharing a nod before he lies back and her expression returns hard and haughty, the switch so instantaneous that it makes Astarion shiver again.

His hand comes up and before they sink into it, his fingers catch on her top and he pulls slightly. Karlach looks down at it and then at Astarion who offers her a cheeky smile.

The way she rolls her eyes and how her lips twitch is nothing short of affectionate. She knocks his hand away and takes a second to slide the top off, now completely bare for his gaze. Astarion feels his cock twitch, but Karlach pays it no mind.

“So damned fucking demanding. Demanding a lot for someone who can’t do shit for himself.”

He reaches out for her again, but she takes both of his wrists into one large hand, pinning them above his head.

“Oh, I don’t think I can trust you with those,” says Karlach. “You had the time to prove you were worth something and you left me fucking cold, so now I’m taking you out of the picture.”

He turns his head to see where she’s holding a vibrant red toy phallus. It’d been an... investment of sorts, one that the poor smithy probably wishes he knew less about, but one they haven’t used as much since they found Dammon and were able to get Karlach a proper tuneup. Well, not on her, at least.

She holds it up, makes sure that Astarion catches full view of it before she releases his wrists and reaches behind herself. Astarion doesn’t have to be told not to move to keep himself still, far too enraptured by what he’s watching happen.

Karlach props her hand against the floor. With the hand holding the phallus, she brings it in front of her and between her legs. A soft, feathery sound escapes as she rubs the head of it against her clit. Astarion watches, enraptured, as it dips between her folds, Karlach grinding against the toy in slow, steady motions that cover it in her own juices.

He whines for every moan that escapes her, watching as her own pleasure mounts. While he would be so content to watch her grind herself to completion, he knows that Karlach is too invested in putting on a show, almost as much of an attention whore as Astarion is. The toy creeps back further and further until Karlach lifts herself up onto her knees, lines up, and then sinks back down.

They moan in unison as Karlach takes the phallus into her, slick covering her hand and now pooling onto the stomach of Astarion’s shirt. His fingers scrape above his head uselessly as he watches her.

“You like it?” She’s breathless sounding as she starts to ride the toy, its red length disappearing and reappearing with every stroke. Astarion’s eyes are focused on the way her pussy hugs onto it, makes room for it and then tightens up when it’s no longer inside of her. He nods mutely.

“This could have been you. Fuck, you would have liked that, wouldn’t you, fangs? Your cock in my cunt, filling me up, feeling how tight I am. Not a lot of folks can say they’ve fucked a girl like me.”

And Astarion nods again. He loves it, loves when she lets him fuck her. But tonight, he’s not for that. He’s for lying back, watching as she fucks herself over and over, the wet sound of the toy pounding into her hole making him harder. Her scent is all around him and he wishes she was dripping down his chin, that he’d been good enough for her earlier to feel her cum on his tongue. And yet…

“Oh, but you like this, don’t you?” Karlach looks over her shoulder and laughs at what she sees. “Fuck, getting hard watching me fuck myself. Here.”

And she arches her back and spreads her legs wide, pussy on full display from its dark red, swollen clit, to its puffy lips spread apart, to the hole sucking on the toy inside as she pounds it deep. Her other hand comes up as she starts to stroke her own clit, her voice getting loud. Both hands are soaked with her own slick before long as she pants and moans. He doesn’t miss the way she says his name, a crack in the armor of the game they’re playing.

“Do you like this, Astarion? That you’re— you’re my toy, that I— I get to decide what you’re good for. You like being my— my bitch. You’re my fucking bitch. Shit, I—“

She’s pumping her hips now, pushing herself further onto the toy as she furiously strokes her clit. He sees her pulsing around it, can smell the way she’s close. Her voice is getting higher, her movements messy, and Astarion is whining with her. He is her bitch and her bitch wants her to cum for him. He can’t say it, can only stare at her, and look at her glistening pussy while he drools on himself.

Karlach bends low and fucks the toy, head against Astarion’s as she growls and grits. And then all at once, she whines, whole body spasming with Astarion’s name hugged in her cries. Astarion’s body burns, his cock aching, and he swears he almost cums untouched just from hearing and seeing her.

Then they’re both there, panting and wheezing for a moment as Karlach comes down from her high. When she lifts her head, her chest is glowing blue, the light shining on both of their faces. Her expression is soft and he doubts she can help it when she leans forward and kisses him.

It’s quick as she regains herself and sits up, sweeping the hair from her face with her free hand as she pulls the phallus out of her pussy. The toy glitters with her juices and Astarion doesn’t bother hiding his hunger as he licks his lips.

Karlach looks at him, tilts her head slightly as a wicked smile crosses her face. She takes his jaw in her hand and pushes at the space between his teeth through his cheeks, opening his mouth. Wordlessly, she feeds the soiled toy into his mouth and Astarion whines as he greedily takes it in. Even through the taste of the toy, her taste it divine. His tongue swirls around it as he eagerly sucks it clean, eyes focused on Karlach’s face, watching her watch him.

“Good boy,” she soothes, massaging his jaw as she slowly starts to work the toy in and out of his mouth. Astarion falls into the pattern of sucking it off without qualm, cheeks hollowing and filling every time she pushes it in. It’s a slow, methodical sort of motion and, before he knows it, it’s filling his throat, its base to his lips as she gazes adoringly up at Karlach.

“Hold it there,” she orders, letting it go. Astarion is quick to obey, holding it for her as she gets off of him.

He’s hardly aware of what’s going on until he feels a coolness on his skin. Still wearing his shirt, he’s been relieved of his pants and underwear, heavy cock hard and curled against his stomach.

Karlach pokes at it with a bare foot and he whines around the toy, humping the air.

“No, no, you’re not using that for anything tonight,” she chides, walking the length of his body and turning around so he sees her ass and tail. Reaching back, she takes the toy and he pants slightly, eyes on the web of saliva connecting his spread lips and the toy.

Standing above him, he’s got a perfect view of when she pushes the toy back inside of herself with a luxurious sort of sigh.

There’s a moment of confusion as he assumes he’s going to watch her fuck herself again, but this time, she sits and straddles his chest and he feels it poke into his sternum. Quickly, the toy is forgotten as she leans forward, her ass in his face as she grabs his legs and pulls them back towards his chest until he’s bent in half, cock now deliciously pressed between her tits and his legs over her shoulders. In spite of that, he can’t help but feel a little silly, ass in the air, Karlach on his chest, the toy inside of her poking him. His vision is cutoff by her figure, but some things start to suddenly click as something wet and warm lands on his asshole, belatedly realizing it’s saliva. He lets out a curious note and then feels something shift on his chest, Karlach sighing as he realizes she’s fucking herself once, twice, three times with the toy and then pulls it out.

“Bitches don’t do anything but give whatever is asked of them,” Karlach informs as he feels the head of the dripping wet toy, wet with her slick, circle his wet asshole. Immediately, he’s twitching and pulsing, not sure if he’s trying to push her out or suck her in when he realizes what she’s about to do.

“I— I don’t know if—“ He begins, but suddenly Karlach shifts her weight back and suddenly her pussy is on his face. Like a child latching onto a bottle, his mouth opens, his tongue flicks out, and he’s wrapping his lips around her hole, pushing his tongue inside of her. The sigh she lets loose only encourages him as he starts to fuck her with his tongue.

When the toy starts to push inside of him, he’s almost too distracted to care. It’s tight and uncomfortable, but he feels her slick dribbling down the toy and onto his skin and the idea that she’s pushing herself inside of him makes him comply. There’s no delicacy to this tonight, Karlach bottoms out inside of him and Astarion’s toes curl in delight. As much as he loves when he gets to fuck her, Astarion is just as delighted as when she fucks him.

They both settle into it as Karlach moves the toy in and out of his ass, spitting on it every now and then to ease the way, but Astarion taking a bit too much relish in the pain and what that’ll mean tomorrow. Karlach herself seems to be getting into it as she drops her weight, smothering his face and rocking against him as she idly rides his tongue.

Astarion is hardly present anymore, sucking and lapping and moaning against Karlach’s cunt as she continues to fuck him. Every now and then she’ll dictate orders—“Come on, I shouldn’t have to tell you to suck my clit.” “Fucking useless, stick your tongue back in.” “Lift your chin, if you’re going to make me do all the work.”—and all Astarion has to do is listen. He’s floating in the moment, hardly able to do anything other than be taken completely by the Fury of Avernus. All he can do is be a passive body as she grinds against his mouth and nose, using him for her pleasure while she continues to fuck his hole and otherwise take him from the equation.

He knows she’s playing dirty when her hand moves, the angle shifts, and suddenly the ruthless pounding of the toy is hot on the core of his pleasure. Astarion sobs into her pussy and tries to move, tries to bounce on the toy, but all he can do is wiggle pathetically as she keeps him in place. In his haze, he tries to plead, tries to say her name, tries to beg, but all he can do is wiggle his lips and cry under her. He’s completely as her mercy and that reality would usually terrify him, but now, it’s got him completely boneless and passive.

“Did I find it?” Karlach taunts, fucking that spot harder, the base of the toy slapping against his asshole with a percussive noise that echoes in their tent and likely the camp. “Is this the spot my bitch wants me to fuck him at?”

She lifts her hips off of his face and Astarion wants to complain, but all he can do is lie back, tongue lolling out, and eyes shut as he pants, focusing on where Karlach is fucking him.

“I asked you a question,” she snaps, pushes the toy in deep and grinds it against his prostate. Astarion cries out, back arches, and all at once, it’s over. His hole is hugging the toy, spasming around it as he holds it deep against his core, his own cock Karlach so repetitively called useless sprays all over their stomachs, and Astarion sobs like a child before going completely limp.

Belatedly, he feels his legs and ass come back into contact with the ground in a gentle sway, the toy still inside of him pushed that much deeper, releasing a whimper from Astarion. Then he feels a hand come down between his legs, hears a grunt and keening noise, and as he opens his eyes, he sees Karlach’s cunt right in his line of sight, her hand furiously working her clit over as she lets the high heavens hear her thoughts about fucking herself. He wants to help more than he has the words to say, but he’s unable to do anything other than stare.

It’s not a long stare since Karlach quickly goes rigid, he sees her body tremble in another wave of pleasure, and then she falls to her knees and elbows.

Panting reverberates in the tent for a few minutes as they both come back to themselves. Astarion, despite cumming first both times, is still in a boneless pile by the time that Karlach is twisting around. He can’t do more than whine when he’s pushed and prodded, but when his face ends up between her breasts, her hand in his hair, and her body against his, he can’t help but feel content.

They lie like that for days, months even.

Or, rather, several minutes before Astarion is able to lift his head just enough to look at Karlach. Who’s smiling at him, expectantly.

“That was fine,” he dismisses her unasked question, stretching his arms above his head and turning so he can lie on his back. A quick glance to the side earns him an affronted looking Karlach before his lifts his arm and, like a wild cat, she pounces to lay on his chest.

“‘That was fine’. Fucking bullshit,” she gripes. “You were completely into it and were completely starstruck to be pushed around.”

He makes a balking sound at her only for her to grip his face and force her to look at him. Her grip is hard and his mouth closes with a ‘snap’ of his teeth. Karlach holds him in a harsh gaze before she breaks and laughs.

“Damn, if I knew you were that into me fucking you, I’d have done it sooner!”

“You have fucked me before,” he points out, shifting so he can remove the toy phallus from his ass.

“Yeah, but, you know, not like that.”

When he looks up, he sees Karlach looking pensive, away from him.

“What is it, darling?”

Karlach doesn’t meet his gaze, instead burrows down further into his chest as she wraps her arms tight around his waist, hugging him close. It’s moments like these that Astarion remembers that she cares about him. She really, truly cares.

“You know I don’t think any of that shit about you, right? The ‘useless’ and ‘pathetic’ and stuff?”

He lets out a huff before wrapping his arms around her shoulders, kissing her broken horn.

“No, Karlach, I don’t think you think any of that.”

One day, he’ll find the words to tell her what she means to him. One day he’ll tell her that he feels safe, she makes him feel safe in a way he’s never been before. Maybe it’ll be poetic, maybe it’ll be while she’s drunk and he’s feeling vulnerable, or maybe, just maybe, it’ll be in some meadow with flowers and birds and he can give her a scrap of the romance she deserves, that she’s always deserved, but has been robbed of by the likes of Gortash and Zariel.

He knows his time in the sun is limited to when they remove the tadpoles (and they have to remove the tadpoles), but he wants to spend every golden minute with her until they both burn up and their ashes can be mingled together.

And one day he’ll find a way to say that.

But tonight, he pushes at her slightly and smiles when she whines.

“Get up, I’m not sleeping covered in dried fluids.”

Karlach groans loud and annoying, flinging her limbs all over him again and again until he’s forced to pin her down to get out from under her. And, after tonight, he knows that she’s letting him win.

“If you’re terribly kind and behave, I’ll bring you a towel so you don’t even have to move,” Astarion offers, looking her in the eyes.

Karlach pauses and he knows what she’s doing, her gaze flickering over his face little by little, taking in his lips, his nose, his eyes, the points of his ears and the points of his teeth. Before, it’d made him feel exposed and gawked at, but now he’s understanding that it’s her horribly sappy way of committing this, committing him, to her memory.

“Don’t take too long,” she relents.

“And spend a minute longer away from you than necessary.” He kisses her palm when she touches his face again, offering her a quiet, genuine smile of his own. “I’d sooner face off with the Fury of Avernus.”

Astarion walks towards the river with a towel, the sound of Karlach’s laughter ringing in his ears and his dead heart terribly, wonderfully full.

[exvangelical-christian-nerd]

TW Religion

Look I understand why religious people take offense to Good Omens, the Hellaverse, and that type of media (I've made posts on this before, about how the church kinda made their own bed, and I stand by that). I'm religious. I'm a practicing Christian. There are things in the shows that bother me a bit at times. There are parts of the fandom that I think go too far, but that happens in every single fandom. I think many of us who've been in any fandom for a bit can think of an example where someone just took something way to far. I mean there are multiple stories out there, to the point you sometimes see jokes about it, where someone went from fan to felon pretty dang quick. Or cases where a group of fans got more than a bit culty. The difference with the Hellaverse specifically, is, I believe, that if you take it to far you can start messing with very real demons, who are not the same as the ones in the show, and I don't want to touch that.

Now all that said, the fact that I am religious is a key contributor in why I love this kinda of media, and why I gravitate to it. I like things that bother me, at least things that bother me theologically. I really like things that make me question my faith, or components of it. Also, if I haven't made this crystal clear, the church has caused me a great deal of pain, and continues to do so. I have a lot of religious trauma to work through, and it can be really hard, because I often feel really alone. Most people with religious trauma leave the religion in question. I'm still here. I have to grapple, almost daily, with separating my hurt from my faith, and separating what I was taught from what I actually believe. I'm exvangelical, but I'm still a church going, bible believing Christian, and y'all that's a special kind of hell. It hurts, a lot. Sometimes to the point where it makes me physically ill. People I love and respect, continue to say things knowingly or unknowingly that cut like a knife. And How many times can you get stabbed? How long? How long must I hurt?

These shows help me process. They help me look at things from another perspective and go "do I believe that? And if I do, why?" Also sometimes they call me out, and that's never fun... but it can be important. But one of the big ones is that it gives me a chance to process my hurt with the symbolism of my childhood. It's healing.

I latched onto Emily, because I see myself in her. I see someone who believed, and had the rug pulled out from under them. I see someone, who still believes, but feels betrayed. Someone who now has to confront and question, because "if this was a lie what else is?" And "I trusted this person and this is what they did?" And possibly worst of all, "I helped enable this. I allowed this to happen. I might not have known, but I still helped. What have I done?" I know those feelings. I live them every single day.

I understand Aziraphale's choice to go running back to heaven (whether I like that choice or not, and I don't). It looked like they would accept him as he was, even accept those he loves. He sees an opportunity to change things for the better, in this system he knows, and cares about even. It's not going to go well. We know it's not, and I think even Aziraphale knows that, but that need to believe it can change, that you change it, yeah I get it. I really do.

I understand Sera's desperation to protect. I remember feeling St. Peter's aversion. The desperate bargaining we've seen from the cherubs trying to convince themselves what they're doing is right, or at least not wrong, I've done it. I see myself in Vaggie, trying to mend the damage she did. I was an armored gay. I know I too caused harm. Lucifer's abandonment issues and desire to just leave it all behind him or try to. It's all to real. And Crowley's disillusionment with everything? His belief that he is "on his own side", because where else could he possibly go? Yeah I get that too.

And I could go on

And on

And on

[corvus-the-trickster]

Honestly is it any wonder that Evie and Jacob gravitated towards Henry & Roth (respectively).

A month after their father's passing (at least according to theirs and George's bios) they're sent on a mission with George who seems annoyed by them both ("a successful mission then, in spite of you two") and then they go to London and (at least that we can see as an audience) Henry is the first person to truly offer condolences for their father's death, something that would resonate with Evie considering how much she revered Ethan. And then there's Jacob, who spends most of the game being insulted by the templar's (Ferris calling him a coward, Elliotson mocking him about Ethan, Pearl using him, the Earl of Cardigan calling him a villain and a coward etc) and then here comes along this man (Roth) who calls him brave and heroic and seems to genuinely like him and the way he does things (which is important later with Evie's comment of "father was right he never approved of your methods").

They're probably both still grieving to various degrees and are looking for some sort of comfort. Evie resonates with Henry who is kind and gentle (and we know Ethan was emotionally and physically distant from them) and Jacob resonates with Roth who shows him approval and praise and warmth, something he might not have gotten from Ethan. In a way Henry and Roth are filling in the gaps of what Evie and Jacob might've felt was missing from their lives. Except in Jacob's case Roth is more so what he wants rather than what he needs and it ends in tragedy.

This is long and ramble-y sorry. I just have a lotta thoughts about these 2 and I'm bad at articulating things.

Jacobs bio at the end also talks about how Ethan's death granted him freedom from being the watchman and that freedom aspect probably tuns a whole lot deeper what with his canonical night time escapades in gambling rings and dens. And what does Roth offer? That very same freedom he say desires. Maybe not explicitly but it's very much implied.

Jacob gets that freedom away from Ethan's expectations (be it from ethan, evie, george or other assassins) via that chaos from Roth. Even with as cautious as one should be around Roth, Roth still gives him at least the illusion of choice when it comes to the start of their partnership.