#shes barely fed and barely paid

[parks-manor-asks]

“ this is going to be a major inconvenience. ”

cyn, i really need my compensation for that skin suit. it was a major annoyance! contact asap! thank you!

- SERIAL COMPANION BO ( @parks-manor-asks )

𝚃𝚘 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚞𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢

-𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚛

[voulezloux]

.

[the-fandom-is-now-my-life]

I don't kiss and tell

Little drabbles where creator!reader gets pregnant and the archons get into a witch hunt

Wc: ~600

Sumeru’s specialty tea is delicious, the lightest taste of anise and black tea with an array of spices that you couldn't even begin to pinpoint. The youngest archon besides you is talking your ear off about the origins and constitution of the tea, the exports it has and how it is different from the teas you tasted in Liyue. 

The only thing souring the atmosphere was the bickering and yelling voices from across the table

“Your dirty citizens are libertine enough to attempt to lie besides a god!” The electro archon points her finger at the anemo archon, her nose scrunched and her teeth bared

“Mine?! I doubt anyone would dare to! At most I imagine they wanted to be close friends!”

The tsaritsa rolls her eyes and mutters something along the lines of ‘very close friends it seems’

“You doubt? You don't sound too sure about that. I'm confident nobody from my nation would dare to make advances on them” zhongli blows on his cup and sips on it

“Didn't the trip get behind schedule around sumeru? I remember Neuvillette was stressed because the welcome had to be rearranged by a week” Furina grabs a piece of cake, playing with the cherry on top.

“ah?!” Nahida gasps as she is chatting with you. She taps her chin ”I can't remember a chance they had alone so I would say it's impossible”

“And why did the trip take an extra week? I was never truly sure about that” zhongli asks her 

“Oh, I was dead set on going to Aaru village and having a quick view to the pyramids” you chuckle a bit, seeing how nahida was upset at the accusations.

“Isn't it weird that Miss Furina is here too? Even if we named it archon meeting it's meant more as a head of state so I was expecting the great judge to be seated here” Raiden points that out

“E-eh?!” She gasps as she leans away from the purple piercing gaze “He was just unable to come so he asked me” 

“Isn't that convenient?”

The tsaritsa sighs and stops tapping her fingers on the wood table. Now looking at you she says “I'm sorry if it's too impolite but can't you cut us the chase and tell us who it was?”

You look away, a tiny strained laugh slipping through your teeth “I think I prefer his safety, thanks” 

“No, thank you”

“At the very least what nation is he from?” 

The next months there was special attention paid to particular carvings or newly acquired habits

“Isn't it curious how they are suddenly so in love with grape juice? Didn't your nation have a winemaker who preferred grape juice?” The tsaritsa asks, a stiff smile painted on her face.

“And didn't they also like a seafood soup that also happened to be one of your harbinger's specialties?” venti matches her energy, already fed up with the fourth accusation 

“Don't make me send someone to kick your ass again”

“I doubt a pile of ashes could put up much of a fight” 

“Our grace has been taking longer walks lately, buer, maybe they are trying to get closer to the dendro element” 

“they told me they wanted to feel the breeze better, that might be it, Beel”

“Why do I get dragged into every discussion?!” Venti yelps from the kitchen

“Doctor baizhu told me to keep an eye on them, the pregnancy seems to have made them crave rocks

“Isn't baizhu from Liyue, lord of Geo?” 

“And also ice cubes, tsaritsa. It reminds me, wasn't one of your harbingers also in Liyue at that time to close a deal with the Tianquan?”

“Why does everyone think is someone from my nation did it?!”

“Nation of freedom…”

“The biggest wine and sparkling wine importer…”

“You used your week to go bar hopping..”

“You are a weak and unimposing leader…”

“That part sounded more personal than anything!”

[bunnliix]

Misunderstandings and Surprises

This was a very fun fic to write, and was also created/brainstormed with the help of the lovely @potatomountain, who I credit with me writing this with Hongjoong instead of Seonghwa hehe. Plus giving me lots of inspo with many pictures of Hongjoong.

Pairing: Hongjoong x reader Summary: You're fed up with your boyfriend putting work ahead of spending time with you, and confront him about it. wc: 1.9k AU: n/a Genre: Fluff/Angst warnings: yelling, fighting, crying, angst with a happy ending, threats of breaking up

You had been at odds with your boyfriend for almost a week now, after he had continued to cancel your dates and time together in favor of hanging with the rest of Ateez or working in the studio for the past couple weeks. You just wanted an hour with your boyfriend, but you only got him when he woke you up while he climbed in bed beside you. You knew what you were signing up for when dating an idol, but this was just too fucking much.

You decided enough was enough, and paid a visit to the company while you knew the boys had dance practice, so you knew he wouldn’t be in the studio where you couldn’t get in as easily. After saying hello to the front desk receptionist and showing your pass allowing you access, she waved as you walked towards the elevators to head up a couple floors to the dance rooms.

The ride up, though quick, only made you more pissed off and upset that you even had to resort to doing this. Once the doors opened, you were on a mission and staff who saw you coming moved out of your way as you headed straight towards the room that was blasting Ateez’s music. Not caring if you interrupted, you pushed the door open and shouted, “KIM HONGJOONG!”

The man in question abruptly turned around and focused on you, the blood draining from his face momentarily at your tone before all emotions were wiped off his face. “Why are you here, interrupting practice?” He asked you calmly.

“Because I’m done with not being able to see my boyfriend.” You said in response. 

“We’ve seen each other lately, what do you mean?” He asked you, confused and concerned at your words.

“If you’re counting you waking me up while I’m in bed, sure. But I have barely seen hide nor hair of you otherwise Hongjoong. And I can’t do that anymore. So either you figure out a better work-life balance, or we’re done. I need a boyfriend that doesn’t disappear on me for days at a time.” You said, your voice breaking at the end as tears welled up in your eyes, before you couldn’t take it anymore and left the room, heading back the way you came.

“Wait! Come back here!” You could hear Hongjoong yell after you, but you couldn’t face him. Before you could make it to the elevator, your wrist was grabbed.

“Please, can I explain? Don’t walk away from me, from us.” Hongjoong pleaded with you, though you refused to look at him, knowing if you did, you’d break down and give in.

“Hongjoong, I need a boyfriend who isn’t going to disappear and be unreachable, who will make me the priority sometimes, at the very least. This is just the breaking point, I can’t do this anymore if it continues like this, I’m sorry.” You replied, looking away from him.

He turned you around to face him, but you wouldn’t look up at him, keeping your gaze trained on the ground in between the two of you. This frustrated your boyfriend to no end, and you could tell by his clenched fist.

“Look at me, please.” Hongjoong begged you while you shook your head.

“Why should I?” You asked him.

The idol didn’t answer you, instead pulling you into the elevator as it opened and people got off, punching the button for the floor that held his own studio. He pulled you behind him, you lacking any will to do anything but let him do what he wanted, and once you were both in the room, he shut and locked the door, before placing himself in between the door and yourself. You plopped down on the sofa in the room, sensing that you wouldn’t be going anywhere.

“Will you let me explain? And please, can you look at me, just once?” He asked, repeating himself from earlier.

“Why? So I can look in your pretty fucking eyes and give in and let you explain again and again why you couldn’t see me for so long? Why work comes before everything else, including me, your partner? Hongjoong, we’ve been together for three years, why is it that recently you’re so occupied with work? You’ve never been like this, and I can’t see why you’re like this now. You’ve been on the go almost all year, and finally when I think you’re home, you can’t find the fucking time to spend with me?!” You rambled on and on, your voice growing louder and louder until you’re shouting. Hongjoong had tried multiple times to interrupt you, and without realizing it, you had angered your boyfriend with your rambling.

You felt fingers grip your chin tightly, and your head was forcibly turned to look at him, but you still averted your eyes.

“Look at me, darling. Now.” You heard him growl, anger the only emotion in his voice. It’s what made you give in and look at him, your eyes making contact with his own.

“Thank you. Now, if you had only let me explain, you wouldn’t have gotten yourself so worked up.” He said, almost treating you like a child.

“I got worked up because I felt that my boyfriend was ignoring me!” You retorted back.

Hongjoong took a deep breath, pulling away from you as clearly you were too upset right now to have a normal conversation. “How about we both take a couple deep breaths and have a conversation and talk honestly about our feelings?” He proposed to you, and you reluctantly agreed, still feeling the anger simmering underneath your skin.

“Can you explain to me why you’re feeling the way you’re feeling, darling?” Hongjoong asked you, his eyes pleading with you to talk to him.

“I felt like I was being pushed aside in favor of your work or time with the boys. I know it’s not fair or healthy to make you only focus on me, but these last couple of weeks have felt so lonely. I feel like I haven't seen you lately Hongjoong. I only get to have you around me when I’m about to go to bed, and you’re usually gone in the morning. I don’t feel like I have a boyfriend.” You explained, eyes welling up with tears once again.

Hongjoong’s face fell, and you could see tears gathering in his own eyes. You were slightly confused at why he was getting so upset, until he opened his mouth to speak.

“I’m sorry for how my actions have caused you to feel hurt like this, dear. I never meant to make you feel this way, and I’m sorry I have. Can I explain a bit of why I was gone so much?” At your nod, he continued, “I have been occupied with work and hanging out with the members, but it’s also partially been an excuse to keep you from wondering why I’ve been gone so much. In truth, the boys were helping me plan something for you, something that honestly was a long time coming.” He told you, getting up from his chair to move to grab something from one of the desk drawers.

He turned around to face you again, a box in his hand, before talking once again , “The boys were helping me design something for you, as well as plan it all out. I wanted to make it perfect and a surprise, but I think it’s better for me to come clean about it now.” He knelt down on the ground in front of you, looking up at you with love in his eyes, love for you, before opening the box to show you a ring inside. 

“I’ve honestly wanted to marry you after six months of dating you, but I never could find the perfect ring, or the time to plan everything out. I wanted it to be perfect because I needed you to know how special you are to me, how much you matter to me. I love you, you’re my entire world, darling. I know this is horrible timing and honestly I wouldn’t get upset if you told me no, but would you marry me?” Hongjoong asked you, sincerity in his eyes.

You didn’t expect this to be why your boyfriend had been almost a ghost lately. You never even had the thought and you felt so bad now for assuming the worst, for assuming that he was putting work and the group ahead of you. He wanted to make it perfect for you, and now you had gone and made him change his plans. Tears rolled down your cheeks, and Hongjoong panicked, putting down the box in favor of moving to cup your cheeks, wiping away your tears with his thumbs.

“Baby, why are you crying? Talk to me, love,” he asked you, tears once again appearing in his own eyes.

“I thought the worst of you, I thought you weren’t making me a priority in your life but you were planning to propose to me! You wanted to marry me and I was thinking that you weren’t even thinking of me!” You cried out, sobbing as your boyfriend moved to wrap you in his arms, shushing your cries.

“I get where you’re coming from, baby, and I should have communicated with you better. I should have been clearer that I wasn’t putting you behind my work or my friends, and I’m sorry for not communicating with you and reassuring you.” Hongjoong apologized to you, kissing the top of your head.

“I’m sorry,” you replied, as he told you again that you didn’t need to apologize.

“I think we both need to be a bit better at communicating.” He said, waving away any more apologies you tried to make.

“I wanna marry you too!” You blurted out, not having planned on saying that, but it came out anyway. “I know I said I was ready to leave you but knowing everything now, it only makes me love you more. You did all of this, for me. You roped the boys into helping you, and into deceiving me, cause they knew about this and still said that Ateez was just busy!”

“I asked them not to say anything, I wanted to make it a surprise. I’m sorry that it ended up like this.” Hongjoong explained further, explaining his plan and how he wanted to have asked you.

You wiped the last remaining tears from your eyes and tried not to sniffle, but failed, before speaking once again. “If you aren’t mad at me, would you mind asking me one more time?” You asked your boyfriend.

Hongjoong smiled softly at you, before getting down on one knee, his original plan completely out the window. “Will you marry me, and make me the happiest man?” He asked you, looking up at you.

Nodding, you softly said, “Of course I will, if you will take me, my stupid decisions and all.”

“You stupid decisions are what make you, you. I wouldn’t have you any other way, I want you to be yourself and no one else.” Hongjoong told you, as he slid the ring on your finger.

You pulled him up for a hug, before he pulled you down onto the couch, with your head laying on his chest. He leaned down to kiss your forehead, as the two of you laid there.

“I love you, darling. So very much.”

“I love you too, Kim Hongjoong.”

Later that night, a picture was posted to Hongjoong’s instagram of two hands, his own and yours, with matching engagement rings on both. A simple caption accompanied it, “Forever yours.”

Taglist: @bethelighthalazia

[bangchansgirlsblog]

My medicine

Summary: Chan’s overworked and you take care of him.

Enjoy

-🩷

**

“My love?” Y/n called while knocking on the door and slowly pushing it open.

He was sat there, hunched back, headphones on, fingering slowly typing, and eyes droopy. Her heart shattered at this.

Chan had been losing his spark ever since comeback season started. He was so tired all the time. He never paid attention to her. He was always quiet or just distancing himself. After long days he would just come home leave her with a kiss and enter his studio room. His spark was gone completely and it ached every inch of her body now.

She knew she wasn’t allowed in the studio (not because of Chan’s demands she just felt like that was his space and his place) but she couldn’t help it. It was the same routine over and over again. Today he hadn’t even acknowledged her presence when he walked into the house just straight away heading into the kitchen then the studio.

She was fed up and she decided to do something. She decided to take care of him. She had been trying to but today she wanted to actually put her plan in action.

“Channie,” she called for him one last time.

“Hm?” He replied softly while he looked up at her. His eyes were red and he had eye bags under his eyes. The twinkle in his eyes gave her hope though. Hope that he was still there somewhere.

“Baby, can we go cuddle? Please?” Her voice came out almost in a whisper as she begged for her boyfriend’s attention.

“In..” he was interrupted by a yawn, “in a minute baby, lemme just finish this,” he turned back to the laptop but Y/n had had enough. Something in her snapped. Maybe it was the pain she was in but she couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Chan, your tired, your not even there anymore, you barely talk to me, you act like we’re strangers, you don’t eat, your losing weight and your becoming even more paler! Please just don’t do this to me, I’m tired of watching and losing my boyfriend, baby please,” this caught Chan off guard. He stared at her almost losing his jaw on the floor. Truth is, he did feel like a zombie yes, but he didn’t know it was affecting his girlfriend as well and now watching her stand in front of him pleading with him to get off the laptop made guilt eat him up straight away.

“Okay my love, we can go. Just calm down hm? Don’t work up yourself because of me. I’m okay-“

“Chan your not, your not you anymore. Your someone else and I don’t want attention I really don’t Chan I just want you to take care of yourself, bring back my Chan,” the tears threatened to spill from her eyes but she held it in. There was no reason to add more stress on Chan’s workload and problems.

He sat there and listened to her, he always listened to her, “Okay, hey it’s fine okay?” He got up from the chair wincing at the sharp pain that was caused from hours of practice and pulled her into a hug, “I’m here baby, I’m right here. Let’s go shower hm? I missed you,” he admitted smelling her shampoo. It was almost like a euphoric feelings because his heart started to melt. He started to feel emotions and they came over him with so much power making him sad once again.

“I got the bath running,” was all Y/n said before pulling him behind her to their shared bathroom.

She tiptoes and helped him undress then undressed herself and they both entered the warm bath. She sad in between Chan’s legs and cuddled up to him. His hands wrapped around her taking her in.

“Chan, I love you.”

That was it, that was all he had to hear before the tears started to fall from his eyes. He was so tired, so drained. Y/n was his medicine.

“Channie?” She got up but was pulled back down with his grip.

“I’m sorry I’m such a bad boyfriend,” he whispered through sobs.

“Baby…you’re not a bad boyfriend don’t ever say that,” she scolds him making him chuckle a little.

“No I mean it baby, you’ve been busy. It’s okay to be busy! I chose this life with you because I love you. I know you’ll be so busy these couple of months and I’m okay with it. I just want you to take care of yourself. Don’t lose yourself over the stress or worry or anything. I’m by your side forever,” her hands played with his under the water. He left small kisses on her shoulder trying to assure her that he was grateful.

“I know some days are tough but I’ll always be at home to make sure to cheer you up okay? Don’t keep anything from me or I swear bangchan I’ll burn down that studio of yours!” She slowly nudged him playfully.

“You’re the strongest girl I know, you know that right?” He looks at her in such awe. This was HIS girlfriend. She was all his and he was so grateful.

“Oh well, what can I say?” She smirks and pokes her tongue out. Her hand laid on Chan’s cheeks as she wiped away the tears. “My pretty boy, it’s okay to cry. Even your eyes are beautiful when they cry,”

“You’re such a sap,” he joked.

“You love it,” she rolled her eyes and grabbed the shampoo to start washing his hair.

“Mmm this feels good,” he was now calm and more relaxed. His muscle pain had somewhat improved.

**

They laid in bed in each-others arms. Chan struggled to sleep on most days but today he felt more content. Aftee having a nice home cooked dinner and getting an hour long massage from Y/n he felt loved and the feeling of coldness was now filled with warmth. His eyes closed and he slowly fell in a deep sleep. One of the best sleeps his had this whole year.

[missmarveledsblog]

Hand on heart (Jake Seresin x Singlemom!reader)

chapter one

summary : coming to new place is scary , but the adventures along the way might not be right ?

warnings : none not really mainly fluffy fluff

also pic i made doesnt respresent reader description i just needed it for the photo i will try keep reader free for all but she is f.a.b

Battles in life can either motivate or terrify a person , the course of life shifts abruptly from one course to another in a split second . Waking up to a note a couple month before birth well it shifted one battle to a whole new one . From thinking it was all perfect to wondering what she was blinded to , while now she was facing a new battle, one that may have been the most challenging yet .

A lengthy road trip to a new life and a toddler wasn’t what she would have pictured, not in the slightest . But it was a job that paid well and provided daycare , a contract with in her reason and time difficulties she’d be stupid not to take it . She was even able to find a nice home for a reasonable price , maybe it was scary , it was all new and frankly she was terrified of messing up but shit her grandmother didn’t raise her to run from a challenge but to face it head on ,she would be david conquering goliath .

The moment she pulled into her new driveway exhaling as she knew the challenge of trying to move a sleeping toddler was about as careful and stealthy as moving a bomb. Belle was out cold , tired of staying awake in the confines of the dreaded car seat. Slowly getting out the car walking up the driveway heading to the new how opening the door , putting the sleeping toddler on the sofa as she set up the travel cot before then transferring . a quiet celebration of her success as she began getting to work , unpacking the boxes in the kitchen . time was of the essence knowing she couldn’t really well slack off , rest and relaxing could happen once it was all finished. House and belle came first and then she could worry about herself that was for sure. Doing it all alone would always be a scary concept something she made her peace with when she was standing on her grandmothers porch at the age of twenty one with a big bump thinking back it was ridiculous getting married , she graduated early and started college a little earlier , even while she was pregnant. What helped most was the scholarships and the help from her grandmother now twenty four she was doing the best of what she could.

Belle graciously slept for an hour upon arrival and confused whines walking up in the new environment that told her the toddler needed her attention more than the unpacking did . she at least got some of the baby’s room done and beds for both of them to sleep in that night.

“ hey pretty girl , look where we are “ she cooed lifting her up as the little fist rubbed the sleep from her eyes . “ you hungry ?” only for a whine to fall from the toddlers lips .

“fries “ she cried out .

“ fries it is “ she chuckled bringing her to change her diaper first as the toddler still out of sorts and hungry was looking for her fries . “ ok ok grumpy butt lets go get you fed “ she chuckled as they headed out the car handing the toddler a cracker to hold her over and well so she could concentrate on the road. Til she seen the fast food chain of restaurants and slightly praying it wasn’t too crazy inside. She noticed a group in the far corner was about it but other than that the place was completely empty , void of any others which probably most perfect outcome . standing she barely kept her attention on anyone bar the pint sized human holding her hand and the menu . not knowing that the new life she was starting was going to clash with the old one . turning she took other side not wanting to let the toddler disturb the group and yet their uniforms looked familiar .

Two weeks previous :

“ glad to finally have you on board mrs l/n “ captain pete mitchell smiled showing her around the base .

“ you guys seem persistent to have me on your team “ she laughed nervously never really considering working for the navy hell she never knew they had aviation she was sure it was all sea base.

“ You're the best of the best i’d take it as a compliment , you're a mother too I hear ?” He smiled brightly .

“ a freshly turned two year old little girl named Belle who would totally be so jealous now “ she chuckled. “ she is going through a flying phase. My best friend took her to see an airshow and she's been obsessed since,” she explained.

“ please bring her to visit and your husband or partner too “ he lead her into the empty hanger.

“ oh its just me on my own “ she winced ready for the sympathy pity or judgy looks .

“ Well then bring yourself and the little future aviator ” he patted her shoulder as he began to show her around , showing her where everything was held the tools and parts , order sheets and inventory . She never was so excited to start working; it was always her dream to work in aeronautical engineering . She was always into the ways of flying machines from commercial to well fighter jets such as the ones she would be working with . life was never anyway easy , her mom was in and out of rehab all her life before completely up and leaving altogether , her dad well wasn’t much better either, only the man left before she could walk to do what he wanted . one woman she could always count on was her grandmother and two big brothers , no matter what the woman held her up only she died six months which was why she was moving now . how much she helped with everything from the pregnancy and even when she returned home after she woke up alone . As they talked, she could see the group passing by into the hanger, those uniforms of the khaki color all laughing and joking, and she and Pete headed down to finish the final bits of paperwork .

Present:

“Oh i think mama will be working with them “ she cooed as belle was more concerned with the tray of food than the words of her mother .

“ hey y/n is that you ?” a voice called only for her to see her future boss walking toward her .

“ hey captain mitchell how are ya “ she smiled brightly .

“ please even in the hanger it just pete .. this must be the future aviator belle” he smiled only .

“ she is beautiful little girl “ a man spoke only to see couple people standing with her new boss .

“ dagger squad this is the new aeronautical engineer that starting next week mrs y/n and this is here is going to be a future aviator miss belle who i hope will come visit the hanger soon “ he chuckled as the two year old cooed up at him .

“ nice to meet you both ma’am name phoenix call me nat this is bob and fanboy and the one who looks like his ovaries are about to explode is rooster “ she chuckled .

“ he’s worst then a woman with babies “ fanboy snorted .

“ how can i not be look at her little hands that french fry is bigger than it “ rooster chuckled.

“ belle you wanna say hi “she asked softly.

“ hiya “ she shyly said almost hiding her face as she did so .

“ i want one “ the man sighed .

“Ok moving on from that welcome to san diego “ nat smiled shooting her friend weird look .

“ would y’all like to join us looks like it getting busy in here” she looked around as the table began filling .

“ we’d love to , i’ll sit with you while they get the food would you like anything ? belle ?” phoenix asked.

“ frieesss “ the toddler smiled happily .

“ coming up ma’am ?” rooster stood .

“ it’s y/n please less of the ma’am and i’m fine let me give you money for her fries” she went to grab her bag only for them to walk off .

“ it’s on us “ he called back .

“ so good another female is working in the hangar honestly thank you “ nat chuckled .

“ i mean it’s same with my field it mainly men i barely worked with a handful of women “ she snorted.

“ well we heard you made cyclone sweat so your already a big league “ .

“ i think cause i’m younger some don’t take me serious and being female i’m sure you know “y/n explained handing belle her bottle.

“ yeah did you start college at twelve “ nat joked .

“ well not that early actually i was just gone sixteen “ she snorted .

“ wait so your like one of those genius kids that cool and belle i’m sure is following “ nat cooed at the baby.

“ she is very clever for her age just hope she settles well this is so different from texas “ .

“ i’m sure she will love it here”

“ its all new but i mean all new things are scary kinda glad i bumped into y’all make it slighty easier” she smiled weakly .

“ oh its not too bad i mean they can be bone heads but their sweethearts .. don’t tell them i said that though “ nat winked .

“ well i look forward to looking forward to working with you all i am excited i’ve worked on jets before but commercial ones and some classified but i can’t talk about those” she wiped belles face easily following along with the conversation .

“ well we could use your hands i mean last guy was so old he was starting to get sort of sloppy and the replacement is going for deployment so i think that’s why they’re doing the whole civilian contract sort of thing “ nat shrugged as the guys came back to the table rooster blowing the fries before hovering them over the tray looking at y/n who just nodded as he dunk them on the tray making belle giggle and laugh.

“ so what made you get into engineering ?” fanboy asked slight shoving rooster out of the way to sit next to her.

“ oh my grandpa he was actually in the navy but he used to tell me all about the mechanics of things and i fell in love with it all ,he worked on ships and shipping containers though different side but like belle i was taking to a air show and well fell in love “ she animatedly talked away as they listened and after while rooster and belle were having their own conversation til she was heading out the door with the tired toddler with their numbers in her phone so they could meet up sometime before she started .

“ hot and smart” rooster said easily as they walked into the hard deck .

“ way out of your league way too smart to even fall for any of your dumb asses “ nat snorted .

“ i mean i don’t swing that way and they're not that bad but thanks for the compliment “ the blonde drawled .

“ her accent is way better than that too “ rooster sighed sitting down .

“ wasn’t talk about you seresin i was talking about our new engineer we met her when we went to get food “ nat smirked .

“ wow how hot we talking “ javy no longer interested in the game .

“ very she bit young though i think she twenty something and the cutest little girl ever” nat smiled brightly.

“ oh kid yeah i’m out “ jake snorted .

“ hey belle is the cutest two year old i’ve ever seen “ rooster defended .

“ how many two year olds do you know chicken ?” jake smirked .

“ not many but she is the coolest “

“ roosters ovulating aside he isn’t wrong , a sentence i never thought i would say “ nat gasped jokingly.

“ wanna say it again so i can record it “ he winked.

“ nope anyways she starts next week once little belle is settled in daycare so none of you jackasses scare her off “ nat warned them all .

“ for once you don’t need to worry about me moms are too messy “ jake shrugged heading off to the bar .

next chapter

[stayteezdreams]

Revenge, and New Friends

Plot: When your so-called "friends" decide to abandon you in a haunted house that you never wanted to go into in the first place. A witness decides to help you out, and helps you get a little petty revenge.

Prompt: You get left behind in a haunted house by your friends, and one of the cute actors helps you out and gets revenge on said "friends".

Pairing: Lee Jihoon "Woozi" x Gn!Reader

Warnings: Shitty toxic friends, border-line bullying. Mentions of fake blood, guts, etc.

Words: ~3.2k

As you slowly forced yourself down the seemingly never-ending halls and rooms of the large building, you tried not to let the resentment take hold as your "friends" walked ahead of you. You had insisted on staying outside and waiting for them to finish the haunted house, but they insisted even more on you coming in.

They guilt-tripped you into it eventually, insisting you were being a buzzkill and that they would feel bad for leaving you outside. Now, you regretted it completely. They barely paid you any attention you couldn't help but think it wouldn't have made a difference if you were there at all.

You noted the way some of them glanced back at you before whispering amongst themselves, but you tried not to let it get to you. You often found yourself being the butt of their jokes. You honestly had no idea why you still hung out with them. Maybe because they were all you really had anymore; friend wise.

Your body jolted at the jump-scare that rocked the room, you heard them shriek and laugh before they ran into the next room, leaving you behind a bit.

Jihoon thought you had come in by yourself at first, seeing the way you were by yourself behind the larger group. But then his ears caught on the conversation of the people going past the fake mirror in front of him.

"God Y/n really does suck with this kind of stuff." One of them said with a rye chuckle.

As they glanced back in your direction, he figured they were talking about you. His eyes lingered on you as he saw you clearly were not having a good time. Honestly, he felt a bit bad, but you did come in here yourself right?

One of the other spoke up almost hesitantly, attempting, in a poor attempt at defending you.

"Well, they did say they didn't want to do it."

"Yeah, you did force Y/n to come in." One chuckled, not really defending you, but not lying either.

The first one who spoke scoffed, who appeared to be the leader of the group to Jihoon. "They just wanted attention."

Jihoon found himself rolling his eyes at this. He had come across plenty of people like her. He continued down his walkway, listening to their conversation some more as he wondered when he should jump out to scare them.

"Hey," the girl began softly, a wicked smile on her face "we should totally leave Y/n by themselves."

The others glanced at each other, some of them smiling and nodding along, while some of the others seemed a bit hesitant.

"Oh come on! They deserve it after being such a buzzkill. Its harmless, they'll be fine. When we get to the next room, run through it as quick as you can, don't let Y/n catch up okay!"

"Won't they be upset?"

"So?" She laughed, "We can just say it was an accident."

Jihoon felt his chest tighten. 'What shitty friends' he thought to himself as he looked back at you, seeing you struggling to keep up because of your fear.

First you were forced to come in, and now you were being left behind for fun. Jihoon didn't know you, but he felt bad for you. No one deserved "friends" like this.

He stayed where he was as the group started their plan, as soon as they entered the next room, he saw them run off, their repressed laughter following their wake.

As you approached, Jihoon got a better look at you. He had to admit you were cute, even as you were obviously fed up with being here. A mixture of annoyance and fear on your face. As you got to the door, your face fell with the realization that you were now alone, and it made Jihoon's heart clench.

Were you scared? Angry? Sad? Disappointed? All of the above?

"Of course they left me." You muttered, unknowingly heard.

You hesitated as you looked back, wondering if it would be worth it to go back through the entrance and deal with the embarrassment. Jihoon wouldn't blame you honestly. You hadn't even gotten to the worst parts yet.

Taking in a deep breath you resolved to suffer with the haunted house rather than go back. Turning you began to head further in before something stopped you.

He wasn't sure why he decided to do it, but it certainly wasn't his best timing.

"Hey."

A soft gasp left you as you froze in fear at the sudden voice coming from beside you, you looked at the wall in confusion and Jihoon almost laughed.

You heard shuffling before a figure slowly appear from the darkened corner draped in bloody cloth. He lifted his hands up as he spoke, his voice somewhat muffled from behind his mask.

"I don't want to scare you."

Confusion washed over you as you stared silently at him. The scare actor didn't want to .... scare you? Was this part of his bit? To gain your trust and then do something to freak you out?

"Uh-huh" You finally muttered, obviously unconvinced.

"Seriously." He said as he took a step forward, only for you to take one back.

'Fair enough'

He let out a soft sigh, "I'm not supposed to be doing this, this isn't a way to scare you I just... I overheard what your friends were saying earlier. And that they planned to leave you behind, on purpose."

You heard the softness to his tone, as though he truly didn't want to hurt your feelings. Though it was too late for that.

Letting your arms fall you swallowed, "I already knew they left me on purpose. But why are you going out of your way to tell me?"

"Cause they seemed like shitty friends, and it made me mad." You could hear the angry tone in his voice, and it made your heart flutter.

You were used to everyone around you ignoring your feelings, now a stranger was upset for you? It was, new.

"Wanna get them back?"

You tilted your head a bit. "Huh?"

"Do you want to get revenge."

"Revenge? How?"

He smiled, but you didn't see it. As he started to approach you your body tensed, still not fully trusting him. He reached out and grabbed your wrist, his grip loose enough that you could pull away if you wanted too. But you didn't, allowing him to lead you back to where he had emerged from the darkness.

You saw pathways for the actors to use throughout the haunted house as the mystery man continued to lead you down the thin corridors.

As you moved in silence, you slowly started to hear familiar laughter and yells. You had gotten to the point your friends made it at. You could see them through one of the false mirrors as they clung to one another, enjoying their time.

Your chest clenched at the sight of them. Your heart jumped when the one who started it all spoke up as she looked back behind the group. "Do you think they're freaking out?"

They all laughed as another one spoke up, one you had known for a long time, who clearly never had your interest at heart. "Probably! I kind of wish I could see it."

"Come on, let's keep going. We might as well leave them here too."

"We can say we thought they left out of fear!"

As they laughed and moved on, your heart dropped. So not only were they going to leave you behind in the haunted house. But they were going to abandon you all together.

Jihoon could see the anger and betrayal on your face, he gently squeezed your wrist. "I wouldn't hang out with them anymore."

"I won't be." You tone was cold, and he understood why.

Looking over at him as he let go of your wrist, you watched as he removed the mask from his face. Your heart jolted at the sight of him, he was much more attractive than you had been expecting.

When his eyes met yours, he smiled softly, and your stomach swirled. He handed you the mask and you raised your brow in confusion.

This time, instead of grabbing your wrist, he grabbed your hand, sending yet another jolt through you. "Come on."

This time you seemed to head in a different direction to where your friends had gone, possibly to cut them off.

"Why are you friends with those people anyways?"

You hesitated for a second before answering, deciding for the short answer over the long story.

"I moved here for University, and I ended up rooming with some of them. I just kind of ended up in their group and never made any other friends out here."

You saw him nod in understanding as you entered through another passageway. Once you entered the next room, you could see through the fake windows the dark room your friends would be coming into next.

There were holes in the walls and chains hanging from the ceiling, fog covered the floor as eerie lights shined randomly through the room. There was various autopsy tables covered in blood and sheets, some appeared to have bodies underneath them.

"Stay here, I'll be right back."

As he left you by yourself, you felt odd. Not quite scared, but definitely uneasy. Even so, it was a lot better being on this side of the haunted house.

Hearing footsteps approach, you saw another scare actor come back with the one who had helped you. He was dressed as a zombie, and you recognized him from a previous room, he scared you as he shot out from underneath a table and grabbed your ankle.

"I hope you don't mind but I kind of told some of the other guys about what happened."

'Yeah, that's not embarrassing at all.'

The other guy spoke up before you could respond, probably to save your embarrassment.

"I noticed how they were acting earlier, I thought it was odd. But it makes sense now, shitty friends."

Seeing another guy dressed as a clown poke his head into the room you almost jumped, but held it in.

"It's almost ready!"

As the guys nodded you looked between them, "What's almost ready?"

"They had you sign waivers, right? Before you came in?"

You nodded, "Oh yeah, the one that said we can't sue or complain if we or our personal possessions get hurt, damaged or dirty?" You basically recited it and he smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, that one."

"I think I'm the only one who actually read it." The other guy chuckled, and you smiled nervously, "What exactly is going to happen?"

The one who had helped you stepped forward and lifted your arm that was holding his mask, "You'll see soon enough."

Your heart was pounding as you waited impatiently underneath the sheet, the metal table underneath you cold against your back.

Holding your breath as you heard familiar voices approach, you peaked from underneath the sheet.

Your "friends" entered the room, clutching onto one another as they crept silently closer. There was no movement around you, and had you not seen them hide, you wouldn't even know there were others in the room.

As a sudden, loud horn blared, making not only you but the group jump in fear. The doors behind them slammed shut, revealing two people clad in doctors' outfits, their makeup making them appear mangled and dead.

Your so-called friends screamed in fear as the actors ran towards them with shrieks and fake saws. As they ran your direction, you knew it was now your cue. Sitting up with a yell to draw their attention, you did as you had been told, pulling the string you had been holding in your hands.

No one told you what it did, but you watched as a fake body dropped from above the group as they ran past. Fake blood and guts fell from the body, directly onto the group, causing them all to scream.

You gasped in surprise as you watched as they tried to flee, slipping on the fake blood as they went.

They didn't escape the room before more actors jumped out, clawing at them and chasing them away. You watched as they yelled, cursed and screamed while disappearing out of the room.

You had been so shocked by the events that just unfolded that you didn't know how to react. Seeing someone approach you, you watched as he took off his mask, revealing the man who had helped you with all of this.

Removing the mask he had given you earlier you mirrored the grin on his face, finally feeling the amusement from the revenge he allowed you to have. The screams and yells of your now ex-friends could still be heard as they faded in the distance.

"Feel better?"

You let out a chuckle and nodded, "Yeah I think I do." Looking around you grew curious. "What usually happens in this room?"

He hummed as he looked around, "Well usually, it's an escape room of sorts, and that-" he pointed up at the body that had doused your ex-friends, "-usually only happens if someone pulls a lever that says, 'Don't Pull', which they do about 80% of the time.'

You chuckled softly as you moved to climb off the table, "Well I'm glad I got to experience it from this side."

He smiled, "Me too." Motioning for you to follow him, he led you back into what appeared to be a room for the actors to get ready and rest.

Handing him his mask you smiled softly at him suddenly feeling shy. "Thank you, by the way, I don't know if I said that yet."

He smiled and nodded, feeling shy himself now.

"Why did you by the way? I mean, you could have just ignored me or lead me out of the haunted house. Why go out of your way to do this?"

He thought for a second, "At first I was just going to ignore it, maybe leave you alone just so you could get through the building without any trouble. But then..." he paused as he looked at you, "I just- I don't know. Wanted to do more I guess." The words seemed forced, as if he wanted to say more but wasn't sure. "But it's nothing, it was fun honestly. Just promise you won't hang out with those creeps anymore, okay?"

You smiled and nodded while raising your hand, "I promise." You grimaced a little, "You aren't gonna get in trouble because of me, are you?"

He smiled at your worry for him, but he shook his head, "No, our manager is cool, he lets us do this every so often when assholes come through the haunted house."

You chuckled and nodded, "Okay, good."

As someone else entered you looked back, you saw the zombie guy from earlier, and beside him was the guy who had been dressed as a clown earlier. Most of his makeup was gone now and he smiled at you, "So, this is your new friends huh?"

Your heart fluttered a bit as your "new friend" introduced you, "This is Vernon and Minghao, and this is-" he looked at you and blinked a few times, both of you now realizing you never got each other's names."

"Y/n" You said with a soft laugh, "I'm Y/n."

They both smiled as your new friend stuck out his hand to properly introduce himself, "I'm Jihoon."

You shook his hand with a soft smile, "Thank you, Jihoon."

"Well, Y/n, wanna know what happened to your friends?" Minghao asked with a smirk.

You and Jihoon both looked at him curiously as he continued, "They got so worked up they started yelling at everyone. That one girl, the really loud obnoxious one, even threatened to sue because her designer shoes got ruined. The manager just showed her the waivers she signed, and she got all hissy about it. She's still complaining, but security is gonna escort them out."

Jihoon saw your face twist up with regret and he caught your eye pointing at you, "Don't feel guilty, they deserved it."

You let out a soft sigh, "I don't regret that part, I just feel bad for it causing you trouble."

They all shook their heads before telling you it was cool. "We love this shit." Vernon said with a laugh, "Makes it more exciting."

You let out a soft laugh as Jihoon gently tapped your arm, "Don't worry about it okay?"

After you were introduced to the rest of the scare actors, getting most of their numbers, having now, you hoped, made new and better friends, Jihoon walked you out. You managed to get an Uber, so you weren't stranded. The thought of your "friends" white interior cars getting covered in fake blood crossed your mind and you smiled.

Turning back to Jihoon once more, your stomach fluttered with butterflies. "Thank you, again." You chuckled, "I thought tonight was really gonna suck, but it turned out a hell of a lot better than I expected. Even if I did lose my entire friend group in one go." You let out a soft sigh at this and Jihoon felt his chest clench.

"You may have lost one, but you gained another."

He saw the doubt on your face, and he met your eyes with a serious gaze. "Seriously. You got a lot great with all those guys in there. I know them, they wouldn't have asked for you to keep in touch if they didn't mean it. Don't think it's just them being nice."

"What about you, weren't you just being nice when you started all this tonight?"

He shrugged his head, "At first yeah, but now... we're friends." He smiled, making you chuckle and nod your head.

"But if you're really grateful for me help, you can buy me a coffee tomorrow to thank me."

Your heart skipped in your chest as your ears grew hot. You nodded your head and smiled at him, "Okay, I can do that."

Hearing a car peeling out of the parking lot nearby, you looked over to see a familiar car speeding past. You let out a soft scoff, and the reaction told Jihoon who it was.

"I hope they get pulled over." You said softly, making him chuckle.

"That would be the cherry on top, huh?"

Clearing your throat, you looked back at Jihoon just as your Uber was pulling in. "So, tomorrow then?"

He nodded, "Tomorrow. I'll text you."

As you got into the Uber and said your goodbyes, you let out a long sigh. Your night certainly did not turn out how you expected, and though it started horribly, it ended hell of a lot better.

Thinking back on Jihoon and his actions towards you, your chest grew warm as you smiled fondly to yourself. You wondered if he would really become your friend, though, part of you hoped he might end up being more. A thought Jihoon also shared as he watched your Uber drive away, a fond smile on his face.

xx End xx

ugh, I kind of hate how this came out, but I hope you liked it. My brain has not been helping me with these lol.

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[acesw]

The Grecos, Schneider, and her Religious Trauma

One of the characters I really find interesting is Schneider. There are strong signs that she has religious trauma, which ties really well with the neglect she's experienced growing up and the way this trauma reflects her behaviors and words.

The Grecos are known to be really religious, and they're quite devout to Christianity as a means of life. It does not mean that they wouldn't do things to ensure that they're able to at least eat. Living in Chicago of all places is already one struggle enough, making sure they get by despite having bad relationships with gangs adds so much.

Prior to moving, they were more devoted to God as coming from a community in Sicily. They moved because of how bad the poverty situation had been (the major Italian emigration in the 1900-1910s), hoping to seek a better life in America. Of all places though, they moved to Chicago, where there were crimes and gangs all about. This resulted to the Grecos having to pull strings to keep their head up the water, and they still practice Christianity as a means to maintain morale.

We then have Schneider. The youngest and most neglected child of the Grecos. She was barely fed and paid attention to among her 11 older sisters. The Narrator also notes that she was even neglected from the start, as she turned a year old before her father realized she wasn't baptized.

Now, there are two main instances that showcase Schneider's religious trauma peeking through are the traces "From One Castle to Another" and "Long Night Trip". Both of which are very much talking about Schneider's past. There are parts of the dialogue that stick out to me.

-From One Castle to Another

"It's impossible to keep every child well-fed. Schneider could not even get a piece of bread in the Eucharist. But a good daughter would not let anyone worry about her. She sat on the bench outside the church and hummed. She found a way out for herself."

"The Grecos are among them. They're covered by the dark cloud of long-handed umbrellas. [...] But you can't find Schneider. [...] It rains heavier. The priest opens his arms to embrace the sky, 'The Lord be with you.' " " 'And also with you.' Schneider responds in a voice that could hardly be heard. She puts her hand on her heart. This is the first time she responds to the Lord. And it will be the last."

-Long Night Trip

The Narrator talks about Schneider's slow descent into losing her faith in these conversations. She used to pray and hope that God would fix things and give an answer for her and her family's suffering. And all that happened was that it got worse.

It only ever makes Schneider question and doubt, and eventually she stops believing in God. But everyone around her, her family in particular, still maintains their strong belief that he'd guide them out of struggle. Meanwhile, she take things into her own hands for that matter.

And again, everyone would resort to praying, praying, and praying. Yet Schneider wouldn't dare try. Because if he listened to her this one time then they heard all the other times and never cared to help. That rubs salt in the wound.

So with this, we see how Schneider creates her newfound identity. She starts frequenting underground markets and doing certain odd jobs. She is able to make amends with other gang leaders and grow her own strong faction in Chicago.

All so she makes enough money for the rest of her family to eat and thrive. It showcases her sense of selflessness, her full care for her family despite how they treated her. She cares for them more than anything, because even with barely receiving love, they're the ones that raised her. Schneider actively does it all to prove that she can give.

Even in the main story there are those hints of that trauma seeping through. Throughout the game she refers to her bosses as "My Lord", a name that's usually reserved for God.

In the 'Green Oranges' segment of chapter 2, we see that Schneider's younger self describes America as a new world. A place of wonders, where blessings will be given and all sins will be forgiven. There, "God loves the world". Because back in Sicily, she believes that God does not love her and her family here. This ties back to the major Italian emigration in the 1900-1910s, where again, the poverty situation had been so bad. Not to mention the overpopulation and the natural disasters that came with it.

Meanwhile, her adult self is heavily injured from the gunshot wounds and Vertin stops shooting her. She expresses her frustration of being unable to die fast, which then turns to this: "Or did God finally forgive me...He allowed me...to stay alive!!"

"God would never make or guide one to that first action," Schneider thinks, because only she alone did it. She decided to step in, with no guidance of the God she once loved. The God that never forgave her.

The entirety of chapter 1 and 2 shows that her trauma runs really deep. The youngest and most neglected child turns into the most diligent and faithless Greco. She expresses her clear disdain for God, and does everything in her own power to do what "he never did for her and her family."

[vnards]

GhostABO pt2

The man steps forward, signaling to his partner to lower his weapon, deeming me not a threat even with the blood on my hands. There is silence between the three of us, breathing and subtle movements the only sounds between us. His examination puts me in a spotlight I know isn’t glamorous.

               Kidnapped. I was kidnapped six months ago. Omegas tend to be wanted. Desired, even. A thing to obtain. I was a victim of that fantasy and the price has been paid in the blood of those around my feet. I didn’t have clothes. I didn’t have dignity. I didn’t have respect. I spent my days in a cold, bare room. Devoid of comfort, joy, or safety. A prison. They fed me when they felt like it. Used me as they felt like it. At first there was an act. A promise of comfort for obedience and discipline, but that’s the first step in giving up.

               The man in the mask takes a few steps closer to me, moving slowly as to not a spook an wounded animal before he speaks again, “You do that?” He simply asks, finally acknowledging the bodies on the floor. I nod. Not ready to drop my defenses against these two alphas with guns and the physical advantage over me, I refuse to go from one prison to the next without staring down death himself. I drop the knife in my hand, the clattering a disturbance in the stillness of the room, disarming myself willingly to survive this unscathed. The skulled alpha examines me again, sizing me up. He turns towards his partner, “Go tell Price there’s an omega in the perimeter, she’s coming with us.”

               Both men move into action, completing their orders with years of ease. The other man exits the room, already talking into his comm device as his voice trails behind him. It leaves only me and the alpha in the room. He straps his gun away on his vest and steps closer, “You can call me Ghost. We’re not here to hurt you.”

               Ghost. The familiar has a name.

I exhale, a few defenses coming down at the wariness of my bones. The tiredness melting into me. I’ve been fighting for more than just a day. I’ve been fighting for six months. It must be the tiredness that convinces me to trust this stranger. Trust this alpha with my safety. The promise of safety too close to ignore. “Please…” I don’t know what it is I’m asking for, but I reach for Ghost.

And he reaches back.

He catches me as I fall into him, he hardly stumbles at the new weight, the warmth of his body chasing away the cold. “I got you.” I hear him mutter, almost unconsciously. I fall for the stupid promise and believe it.

next part ->

[fioreofthemarch]

repast

Fandom: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Pairing: Link/Zelda Words: 880 [✨read the oneshot's two companion pieces: yearnings and kin]

The first thing Link began to wonder about the Light Dragon – once his tears for her ran dry and his grief made room for a growing curiosity – was whether she ever got hungry.

In her previous life, she’d had a utilitarian relationship with food. Link had cooked all manner of dishes for her, and each one she would eat in a straight-forward, disciplined manner, dutifully setting about tidying up once she was done. If he asked what her favourite meal was, she’d say, ‘All of them!’

Now, it was possible that dragons didn’t need to eat. Immortality, its terribleness aside, probably had benefits like that. The question was, would they want to?

Link hadn’t paid the Light Dragon much mind during his travels. Dragons seemed to be ten a rupee these days, arising out of chasms, swimming over villages, winding through canyons and so on. Now that he had learned who the Light Dragon really was – telling himself he’d known for a long time to muffle the anguished guilt he felt at not having known right away – he had begun to track her movements. Occasionally, she would break her kingdom-spanning flight path to spend a few hours circling the skyward Temple of Time. It was there that he waited for her now.

“Zelda, I’ve come to make your favourite,” he called up to the Light Dragon from the roof of the temple, unsure if she’d heard. Undeterred, he set up a cookpot and began, sauteeing a dozen apples in a hefty amount of goat butter – this being the only meal Zelda had ever requested of him, maybe two winters ago on a freezing evening camped somewhere in Hebra. She’d said if she had one wish, it’d be a hot buttered apple, and with pride Link had made that wish come true.

At first, the Light Dragon didn’t seem to notice him. He considered hitting her with an apple-fused arrow to get her attention, but was worried he’d discover, in retaliation, that dragons had a taste for humans. Over the course of an hour however, she circled lower and lower towards the temple and the cookpot, until she gently touched down, her body wound around the outer perimeter of the roof. She rested her head by the cookpot, a huge bright eye fixed directly on Link. He froze, unsure if she was really in there, and also what the proper etiquette would be when dining with a dragon. As if in answer, she sniffed at the pot of apples. Taking one in hand, Link offered it slowly out to her; she sniffed it again and opened her mouth just enough for him to push the apple between her teeth. In astonishment Link watched as the otherworldly creature munched carefully on the apple and opened her toothy jaws for a second.

Half a dozen more he fed her this way and each one she ate faster, opening her mouth wider to demand more. By now the supply of savoury-sweet apples was running low. “I’ve only got a couple left, Zelda, but I can come back—”

Chomp! The Light Dragon snapped its jaws down around the cook pot, sending apples flying in all directions. Link reached up and grabbed the edge of the pot, trying to yank it free. “Stop! You can’t eat this! Let go!”

Then he was falling, relinquished from the Light Dragon’s teeth when she roared, and he landed on the gravel just before the cookpot landed on him. He cried out in pain, and in response the Light Dragon recoiled, drawing up into herself, the roof shingles crunching under her claws. 

Dusting himself off, Link set about collecting the apples, finding them flung across the roof and soiled with gravel. With a sigh, he prepared to throw them into the cooking fire when, at his side, something soft nudged his arm. The Light Dragon, or Zelda, or whatever mix of the two she was, tapped him with the very tip of her snout, having crept back towards him. In Link’s hand was the final apple, mostly intact. The Light Dragon nudged him again, making a low rumbling noise, barely more than a whine. 

“It’s okay, apology accepted,” Link said. “Glad you still like my cooking, old girl.”

Then, the idea coming upon him with a laugh, Link threw the apple as high as he could. There was a tornado of rushing air and dust as the Light Dragon soared upwards, unwrapping herself from temple and launching herself in pursuit of the apple, which she caught with a swift snap of her jaws. Her prize seized, she descended again to fly past Link, so fast he could barely touch her, before rising into the sky and out of reach. Her way of saying thank you, he supposed. 

Later on, returning to the surface and Demon King-shaped task at hand, Link would horde apples by the dozen and spend even his last rupee on goat butter whenever he stopped by a town. From then, he knew that if his grief struck stronger than he could handle, he could return to the Temple of Time with as many apples as he could carry, and dine with Zelda again - just like they once had, in times gone by. 

[atsadi-shenanigans]

You Could Just Ask

Summary:

“You still gonna be a jackass to our friends instead of just asking me to pleasure you?” you say. He swallows. His adam’s apple bobs. “If this is my reward, absolutely.” He can’t see you smile at this angle. He can feel your grip leave his cock to slide your fingers through his hair before you grab. Still slow, still steady, giving him plenty of opportunity to stop you. He don’t. He lets you pull his head back, bare his throat, and only whimpers and shivers against you.

Or: Astarion is terrible about communicating what he wants. But Eleanor is getting good at translating gremlin.

Astarion has been in a fucking mood for two days now. It’s driving you nuts, it’s driving everybody nuts, and by all accounts, it’s driving him nuts. Ain’t nobody can put a finger on it, neither. He’s well fed, y’all went on a murder spree day before yesterday, and he even found a nice, silk jacket to wear around camp.

Man’s got it made.

And decided to be a bitch about it.

You sit at the breakfast fire, needlessly poking at the embers with a stick while he makes snide swipes at Gale’s cooking (which he don’t eat), Karlach’s clutter (she just found a stuffed owlbear to match Clive), and Lae’zel sharpening her weapons (he got a point, there).

Even Wyll stares at the fire, shoulders set in a tense line. Something’s gonna snap if somebody don’t do something.

“It’s not as if you can deal any real damage,” Astarion says to Shadowheart, who tried to get him off Gale’s ass and is now taking the brunt of it. “We all saw how accurate your spells were in the temple.”

She looks all cool and collected. Just lifts one of her eyebrows. But her knuckles are white as her fists tremble. Shadowheart fought off the mother superior of her former, well, it ain’t called a church, here. But she fought the bitch and won and she paid for it.

“That’s it.” You stand

Astarion clocks the movement and turns to face you (stares down his nose at you; or tries to since you two are the same damn height).

“Y’all wanna head out?” you say over your shoulder to the others as they stash their day gear into their packs. “I think we’ll stay here, today.”

“Gladly,” Gale mutters in an outside voice.

“Welcome to it,” Karlach says which means hoo-boy, even she’s getting pissy.

Wyll gives you a blank look, that slowly morphs into a sly “good luck” sort of grin. Turd. Everybody thinks the Blade of Frontiers is so upstanding, much nobility, wow. But Wyll is a sly little shit, is what he is. He just hides it real good until it’s time to strike.

They all shuffle on outta there double quick. Astarion watches them go as he checks his nails for damage that ain’t there.

Then you’re alone—well and truly, Shadowheart and her half-elven hearing—and you turn to your exasperating lover.

“The fuck was all that?” you say.

He just looks at you, all unimpressed. Sniffs. “What was what, dear? You’ll have to be more specific.”

You will not throw your camp slipper at him. He dodges too well, and then you got to go fetch the damn thing before either Scratch of Sweetums gets it and demolishes it (or drops it in the river, bad dog) (but not really bad bad dog, and he got pets later on, anyway).

“You’re being a dick,” you say.

To which he, predictably, rolls his eyes. “As if it’s my fault we’re surrounded by incompetent idiots.”

His gaze flicks down. Just for a second. You almost miss it, but it landed on the top of your tunic. You got yourself a new one of those, too. But only to wear around camp, cause it’s got itself a damn titty window under some satin neck straps. Astarion’s pupils flare wide a second, and then he glares at you as if challenging you to comment.

You been together several times, in several way by now. He usually initiates (you did once). But you got a suspicion.

You step closer. Reach out slow and careful to crook your finger over the top of his trousers, since he tucks his shirt in and all. Then you pull, slow and steady, leave him plenty of time and distance to stop you or pull away.

But his pupils dilate again, and he steps into you. Lets you drag him flush against your front.

“Astarion,” you say. The man actually licks his lips. “Did you get horny and decide to be an asshole to everybody about it?”

A hint of a smile tugs his lips before he buries that under scorn. “Of course not.”

But you’re learning his tells. The way his gaze hovers over your face, darts down to the titty window and the hint of cleavage like a hummingbird. Also the less than subtle grind against you as he says it.

“Were you being a dick to get us alone?” you say.

A pause, this time. His voice wobbles a touch when he says, “No.”

You lean in. Catch the way his face tilts to meet you.

“I think you’re lying,” you say against his lips. “I think you want me alone, and I think you went all bratty so I’d feel ornery about it.”

His inhale stutters. A minute shiver runs through him. “And what would you do if you were, ahem, ‘ornery?’”

It’s mind boggling how much things’ve changed in the months since y’all met. Since the disastrous first days of…this. That you can be here now, with him, talking like this? It’s a minor miracle.

He’s so fully pressed into you you can feel his cock twitch even through the cotton trousers.

“Did you do all this so I’d fuck you?” you say. You cannot keep the smile off your face or outta your voice.

He finally cracks. Closes his eyes and runs his lips over yours. Drawls, “Maybe.”

“Is it the strap?” you say. He’d picked it out and purchased it in the city, and then the nice sex shop man showed you how to put it on and, well, implied how to use it. And clean it (that part was very explicit, detailed instructions.)

The tip of his tongue swipes your upper lip. His hands ghost up your sides.

“Would you?” he says.

He takes charge in the sheets. But he bought that dildo to use on him, and he seemed to enjoy it when you did (he whimpered as you fucked him).

You’re learning what you like in terms of dirty talk (it’s surprisingly graphic). He’s an excellent teacher. So you gird your loins, ignore the heat all the way down your neck, and open your mouth. “You want me to spread you wide on my cock and fuck you all better?”

He sucks in a gasp. “Gods, darling, yes.”

Then his lips crash into yours and you’re both stumbling towards y’all’s shared tent.

The rest on AO3 for very, very rated E reasons.

[rottengurlz]

Audrina Thatcher She/Her ★

She grew up with both of her parents in her life but they could never be around as much as they wanted to be. Her parents were highschool sweethearts who dropped out once they became pregnant with her. Audra is the oldest of 5 kids but she always felt like the actual parent of her household. She still loved her parents more than anything, she cared for them just as she cared for her younger siblings. Once all the kids were in bed Audra was warming dinner for her parents who had to work the late shifts because they paid more. She would have to go to school the next day exhausted, barely being able to stay awake in class. She was the one who picked up her siblings from school and helped them with their homework. She fed them, put them to bed, and each day repeated the same.  

She’s bisexual

She’s 5 foot 8 inches

She smells like Geranium scented soap

She still talks to her 4 other siblings secretly. She has 2 younger brothers named Theodore and Edward and 2 younger sisters named Rosemary and Frances. Their mom purposely named them older names because she thought they sounded smarter. She’s the closest to Theodore and talks to him every day on the phone. He’s the only person she’s been honest about her “ailment”. He was hesitant at first and thought she was losing her mind and stopped talking to her for a while. But eventually he accepted her, but he still sends her recommendations for therapists every month.

When she could still cook her favorite thing to make was Carbonara. It was the first thing she’d make when her family got food stamps at the beginning of the month and they could afford meat. Her siblings called it “fancy spaghetti”.

Her favorite color is cornflower blue

Regardless of how exhausted she was every day she had very good grades in school and was always praised by her teachers. She always wanted to go to parent teacher conferences as a kid to show off to her parents but they never had time. 

She got into college on a scholarship and was planning on getting a degree in business. She was the one who managed her family’s money and all the bills. She hoped those skills that were forced on her could actually get her somewhere in life. 

Audra worked a part time job as a waitress to help her family while she was gone. She found out from her younger brother Theodore that her parents were using the money to gamble. He didn’t want to tell her at first but he found an electricity shut off notice and was scared so he ran to the only person he knew he could trust.

She ended up dropping out of school because she was working too many hours to try and keep up with her parents spending and began failing all her classes. Losing her one chance at changing her life was the final nail in the coffin for Audra. She realized she couldn’t take care of her parents anymore and instead she needed to take care of herself since no one else ever would. She refused to move back in with her parents or give them another cent, once she told her parents that her mother slapped her across the face. That was the last time she ever saw her family.

After shoving her family into her past she did whatever she wanted, she spent her money however, slept with whoever she wanted, went to clubs, made friends, and had fun. For once in her life she was finally free, until she wasn’t.

The day she was turned she woke up in an alley with the stars lighting the sky. She was thrown into a corner, faced down like a piece of trash. She doesn’t remember much from the beginnings of her hunger besides their screams. 

After every feeding it was like she became conscious again, the world became clear, and the screams of her victims would echo through her mind. She remembered the crunch of their bones as she gripped their throat. She remembered the blood sliding down her throat and warming her belly.  She was a monster. She needed to die but she deserved a chance at living more.

She would prowl clubs, bars, casinos, anywhere with pathetic little people who would give up a little blood for a fun time. She would pick up the most desperate person she could find and take them up to a room she made sure they paid for. She would seduce them, fuck them, and then drain just enough blood so she wouldn’t kill them, rob them of everything they had in their pockets, and then kick them out. 

She met a woman named Leona at a casino bar, but Leona was different; her eyes weren’t glazed over like every other addict ruining their lives in her vicinity. She wasn’t oozing with desperation and helplessly trying to hide a wedding ring Audra would just steal anyways. Leona was alluring, her eyes blazed a fire over every inch of Audra’s skin, her plump red lips had a confident smirk like she knew all she would have to do is wave her hand and Audra would crawl right into her lap. 

Audra didn’t fuck Leona, Leona dominated her. She consumed every bit of her, and Audra was happy to give herself up on a platter. The moment the bite came Audra couldn’t stop herself from drinking her dry. Leona’s blood was intoxicating like nothing she had ever tasted before. She was watching the life drain from Leona fast, she was shaky and pale, but she didn’t pull away from her. Instead, her eyes rolled up into her skull and she was desperately pulling Audra closer to her like she was urging her to suck even more. It was like they were stars hurtling towards earth together ready to destroy anything in their path. Leona was special and Audra knew she would never be able to let her go. 

All of her clothes are stolen or bought from stolen credit cards from rich assholes she fucked. She would specially steal from dickheads who had pictures of their families hiding inside their wallets. 

She thought being a vampire could at least give her cool powers like telekinesis or mind control but all she got was a thirst for blood and to look desperately anemic. 

She loved dying her hair as a kid to every cheap hair dye color she could get her hands on. Since turning her hair no longer grows so she buys wigs now whenever she wants to changer her hair.

[svtyandere]

omggg hi i’m so excited this is exactly what i’ve been waiting for 🥹

can i request a yandere jeonghan imagine where he continually cheats on y/n to try and make her jealous but it only causes her to hate him more. like i want her to turn cold towards him and he ends up breaking down because she can’t look at him the same anymore.

yk maybe turn a little crazy hehehe 🤭

and thank you! i can’t wait for your future writings!! 🤍🤍🤍

TW: threats of self-harm, mentions of murder, yandere behaviour

Doormat. That’s what your friends accused you of being. And that’s what you were every time Jeonghan walked out the front door. You knew what he was doing, anyone with half a brain knew. And honestly, you were fed up. 

Jeonghan stumbled through the door, the imprint of lips pushed onto his collar and breath reeking of alcohol. A greasy, “hey baby”, crawled out of his throat. Yet you paid him no mind, completely immersed in eating your dinner. Dragging his gaze up, he frowns as he realises there is only one plate on the table, yours. "What's up, huh? Why'd y'not make food for me?" He pouts and slumps against your back. Biting back an anguished scream, you lift your plate and carry it toward the kitchen. Jeonghan however, almost falls over due to the abruptness of your actions.

Jeonghan looks like he’s praying. His hands grasping at the skin of your soft thighs and his knees bare against the hard cold floor, is the greatest juxtaposition, he thinks. "Baby please, I love you more than anything in the world. I only did it for your attention, I'm so desperate for it. I need it! I need you!", he whimpers, pushing his face further into your thighs. Slap! As soon as his pleading eyes meet your own cold ones, you raise your hand and strike. The moan he lets out is downright sinful. This sound, however, furthers your hatred. "You're fucking disgusting. Going around and sleeping with other women. I hate you." At this, tears, which previously have been pooling in the corners of his eyes, stream down his face. Jeonghan wails, "No please! They mean nothing to me! Nothing! You are all that matters, they're worthless!" At this, he pauses, considering. Gently, he reaches for your chin, twisting it to face him. "All of those women I flirted and slept with, every single one... is dead. I killed them all. Taking me away from you and causing you to hate me was a crime punishable by death. I can show you if you'd like? Prove my love for you? Or maybe you should punish me? I've definitely been a bad boy... and bad boys need to be punished. If not by you... then I'll do it myself." As he finishes his speech, he leaps up. Positioning a knife at his wrist, he pleads to you, "Take me back baby, I know I've been bad... I just missed you so much. If you don't love me... pay attention to me... I don't think I can live."

[yulen-the-ghost]

(Unedited) Land of Tender + Post Marriage Hualian interaction

(There's no title either lol)

Fragment:

"M-my Lord!! I have been loyal to you, the rest of my girls just didn't get it!!" She weeps. "My Lord, it's true that I tried to poison you the first time we met, and... Several other times, but I've changed!! You, you, YOU GAVE ME A HEART!!" "Didn't you say I 'broke your heart' just moments ago?" Hua Cheng points out bemused. "WELL IT DOESN'T MATTER, I-- I LOVE YOU!!" Xie Lian turns around with a dangerous expression. His face is full of black lines as he finally steps forward in front of Hua Cheng and slashes with his bare hand. Not an ounce of spiritual power was needed to turn that demon into a literal pulp. Xie Lian shakes his hand to get rid of the substance—that can't be called blood—and turns around to face his husband. "Now I see why this business was so urgent. I'm glad to have come personally." He says plainly, but the detachment makes it sound dangerous.

"Your Highness, you're here." Hua Cheng turns around, making the silver jewelry ring lightly.

"Of course, I--"

"Wait. Cover your mouth and nose. You can use Ruoye." The ghost interrupts.

"Oh, ok but why?-" Xie Lian tries to ask, when Hua Cheng turns suddenly.

His eye shines even in the middle of the dark of the cavern, and his next steps are cautious.

His gaze narrows, and when Xie Lian turns to look in his direction, a field of red flowers is seen ahead.

"Oh, what is-?"

An arm stops him from moving forward.

"Be careful, Your Highness. These aren't regular flowers." Hua Cheng warns through the communication array.

What could possibly be so serious as to warn me through that method? And he's even calling me by my title. Xie Lian thinks.

But his concern is quickly answered when the ground shifts, like something was moving underneath.

Roots rise from the ground, and one of the flowers blooms into a beautiful tall woman.

Her skin is pale and tender, long dark hair cascades like a straight silk all the way to her calves, and she is dressed with nothing but a soft pink lipstick to enhance her face.

Long dark nails adorn the hands that are placed in her hips.

She frowns slightly, her notably sweet voice tampered with irritation. Or fear.

"L-lord Chengzhu!! What are you doing here? We already paid our debt!!" She rages, using an imposing tone.

"Of course, I know. I'm not here for that. But I'm expecting you didn't forget about our agreement?" Hua Cheng replied icily.

Xie Lian had barely ever seen the ghost king speak like that. What kind of deal could they have?

He blushed slightly and shook his head. If he doesn't visit brothels, why would he make THAT kind of deal? He scolded himself. ...Unless that's the reason why he doesn't visit such places.

"Of course I haven't forgotten. We pay our rent, unlike anyone else in ghost City, maintain order, and are forced to stay here to wait until you feed us." Her naturally alluring voice contrasted with the current stern tone, gives her an air of elegance.

FEED THEM!!?? Xie Lian automatically recited sutras internally to erase any impure thoughts about the exchange. Imagining Hua Cheng like that... Xie Lian gripped the hem of his robes.

"And what happened this time?" Hua Cheng arched an eyebrow.

"What do you mean? We have been following your rules, however unjust they are." The woman proceeds to cross her arms.

"Admirable," Hua Cheng sneers. "You can keep that attitude even after one of them snuck to bite my residents."

"SHE'S A YOUNG ONE!!" The flower excuses. "And that wouldn't have happened if you fed us more generously."

"Maybe I'd feed you better if you paid in time."

The woman scoffs. "Are you gonna kick us out?"

"You know the rules. I'm the only one who is willing to shelter you, and the only one that can feed you without either falling for your tricks or running out of power."

The woman winces. Just then, another one of the flowers blooms into a young beauty, and swings her claws towards the prince.

Xie Lian has a perfect instinct for danger, and dodges effortlessly. When the young one swings back for a second strike, the ghost king grabs her by the arm and lifts her up in distaste.

He turns to the first woman and arches an eyebrow.

Her face is finally showing her distress and she kneels to the ground.

"PLEASE LEAVE HER ALONE!! THIS ONE HAS FAILED TO EDUCATE HER PROPERLY AND IS WILLING TO TAKE HER PUNISHMENT INSTEAD!!!" She begs.

"This is the third time, Lady. A couple innocent passerby, the brothel in my city, and attacking my honoured guest." He swings the lady to the rest of the flowers, releasing her without the risk of getting attacked.

She lands lightly on her feet and rushes to hide behind the tall woman.

"You know the Land of Tender attacks in groups. I don't think I can believe your honesty so much after this." Hua Cheng warns, stroking for once, the hilt of E'ming.

"W-well, if I need to fight you to protect my girls, I will!!" The woman snarls.

"I knew it was a terrible idea to believe you had a heart."

"Maybe I'd still have one if you didn't break it." The flower rages.

She jumps forward, summoning a vine to whip at the ghost.

"Nonsense. All you've ever felt has been thirst of lust." Eming flies forward and it's countered by a third flower woman, who uses a thorn-dagger to fight back.

He lets Eming have fun on his own as he snaps his fingers to summon his silver butterflies. In the light of the room, it's revealed the red vastness of the place, who is just a field of flowers. Many more bloom into raging and laughing women.

Some of them lung towards Xie Lian, praising his looks and themselves, explaining that they would be the perfect match.

He fights back perfectly fine, but the sweet words seem to strike a nerve on Hua Cheng.

He turns around just in time to hear Xie Lian saying "Ruoye!!"

Your Highness, remember it's already covering your mouth!! The ghost king warns.

Right. Thank you, San Lang. Xie Lian answers, and a wall of butterflies covers just in time before one of them scrapes the prince.

"You worry too much. Look at how resilient your 'honoured guest' is. He didn't need you to count this as a 'third incident.'" The lead woman rolls her eyes as the vine strikes a group of butterflies shielding Hua Cheng.

"That's not the point. I will not tolerate anyone who disrespects my husband."

The sharp gaze of Hua Cheng strikes her as much as his words, and her already pale face turns into a paper sheet white.

With that reaction, the rest of the flowers seem to lose focus, and the butterflies easily reduce them to sap.

"The only reason you managed to survive this long," Hua Cheng starts, stretching his arm to receive E'ming back, "is because you took my energy. The only reason you're alive is because I allow it."

The flower falls to her knees once more, looking pitiful.

"M-my Lord!! I have been loyal to you, the rest of my girls just didn't get it!!" She weeps. "My Lord, it's true that I tried to poison you the first time we met, and... Several other times, but I've changed!! You, you, YOU GAVE ME A HEART!!"

"Didn't you say I 'broke your heart' just moments ago?" Hua Cheng points out bemused.

"WELL IT DOESN'T MATTER, I-- I LOVE YOU!!"

Xie Lian turns around with a dangerous expression. His face is full of black lines as he finally steps forward in front of Hua Cheng and slashes with his bare hand. Not an ounce of spiritual power was needed to turn that demon into a literal pulp.

Xie Lian shakes his hand to get rid of the substance—that can't be called blood—and turns around to face his husband.

"Now I see why this business was so urgent. I'm glad to have come personally." He says plainly, but the detachment makes it sound dangerous.

"Gege, I--" Hua Cheng's voice trembles.

"Are you immune to their scent?" Xie Lian asks, pointing out that Hua Cheng has nothing to cover himself with.

"No. I just don't breathe."

It makes sense. Xie Lian nods.

"I see." Xie Lian rubs his chin and proceeds to place his hands where his lips are covered by the silk. "How did you transfer spiritual power with them?"

The prince asks honestly, but Hua Cheng can't help but panic. "Not like that!! Gege, there is an array inside this cave. I don't even need to enter to give them the energy they need to survive!!"

Xie Lian hums, and Hua Cheng proceeds to explain further. "They made it sound dirty, but actually, the deal was for them to 'pay for the damage done to their victims and don't attack anyone else.' They had to stay here for me to protect and feed them, and the money wasn't for me. Let's just say... Some of the residents of my city were not originally ghosts."

Xie Lian remains silent for some time, looking up at his husband with what could only be described as an incredulous look.

Hua Cheng proceeded to panic further. All because of some stupid attempt at being merciful to some heartless demons.

Xie Lian turns around and crosses his arms.

Out of respect, the butterflies are already gone, so he can no longer see his face.

The only reason his pulse isn't rushing at top speed is because he deliberately stopped his heart and kept it that way to avoid the poison from flowing in his veins.

Xie Lian snorts. His shoulders are shaking, and then he bursts out laughing.

"!!??"

"HAHAHAHAHA-- SAN LANG, I MEANT IT HAHAHAHAHAHAHA" Xie Lian turns back around to his husband and looks at him in the eye. "I'M GLAD I CAME PERSONALLY!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"

"Gege?"

"Hahahaha-- sorry, did I surprise San Lang?" He smiles through the bandages, wiping away a tear in his eye.

Hua Cheng doesn't dare to even move, acting like a real corpse.

"Sorry, I would never doubt you. I did get mad at the flower tho..." He looks at the mess on the floor, guiltily remembering how good he is at stepping on flowers.

"I see. Gege saw an opportunity and took it." Hua Cheng smiles.

Xie Lian's face brights once more, glad about the reception of his husband.

"You deserved it for the marriage joke!!" The god pouts.

"I already said sorry for that!!" Hua Cheng whines.

Xie Lian lets a couple of dice fall and roll on the ground, hugging his beloved. As soon as they're transported into their bedroom, Xie Lian tears Ruoye from his face, and the silk rushes out of the room, sliding beneath the door instead of opening it.

Xie Lian tips on his toes to kiss Hua Cheng. He's greeted back without complaint, and the kiss depends with a sweet scent.

When the god retreats, he asks "San Lang, are you ok?"

"Hm?" Hua Cheng asks innocently. "What do you mean?"

"You're all red."

"Well, I am Crimson Rain Sought Flower."

"No~ this means something else." Xie Lian taps the border of the bed to invite Hua Cheng to sit next to him.

"I am in love with Gege," he says, obediently following his beloved.

Xie Lian blushes and denies with his head. "Yes, but that's not what I mean."

The prince's eyes are dazed and he tugs at the left arm of the calamity, revealing a gash on the skin.

"You're poisoned."

Both of his eyebrows rise. "I already told Gege not to worry. I can prepare an antidote to expel the poison without getting affected."

"Hm, that would work if your blood wasn't rushing again," Xie Lian pointed out, looking at the wound.

The blush on the ghost king's cheeks means that blood is rushing underneath. The poison is moving inside, and soon it'll become a problem.

Xie Lian pulls the arm close to his face, and starts to suck the poison.

The ghost's eye widens at the familiar scene, but he feels as if his soul just left his body when the prince swallows.

"GEGE, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT!!" Hua Cheng cries.

A soft light shines next to him and then, he's pinned to the bed with the sight of His Highness donned in his fine royal attire from XianLe. A particular set that he will never forget.

Xie Lian's eyes are already lewd, and he whispers "My good soldier, I am poisoned with the Land of Tender. Will you help me out?"

Immediately, the ghost king grabs him and turns around positions. Now his own self is wearing the soldier garment from the same kingdom, and E'ming is sent flying out of the room.

The prince rips his robes in the same way he did hundreds of years ago, and lifts his arm to caress Hua Cheng's cheek.

"My beautiful, brave San Lang." Xie Lian whispers.

"Gege."

The hand proceeds to pull the bandages loose, revealing a red eye.

The soldier obeys a non verbal sign to lower his head, and the prince kisses his eyelid.

"My beautiful, brave Hong'er." Xie Lian smiles.

"Your Highness."

They look at each other with blushed faces before kissing again.

Notes:

As I previously said, this is unedited, so I'm going to clarify some things here:

- The Land of Tender (at least here) is all a single entity. Hua Cheng decided to give it an opportunity to prove being innocent, but in the end, it wasn't.

- Xie Lian heard there was an affair Hua Cheng had to handle personally, and decided to tag along as soon as he was available.

- Hua Cheng started calling Xie Lian "Your Highness" kinda out of reflex because he remembers the Land of Tender and Xie Lian being involved as a prince 😭

- The demon had permission to get away, but it would no longer receive 'food' nor shelter from Hua Cheng. Since the resented souls of her victims still lingered on, it didn't want to get out.

I'd like to post this later on AO3, and I might make an extra chapter of the aftermath if this gets enough attention. 😏

- She wasn't in love with Hua Cheng. It was just a trick.

[dadfemme]

Someone to Lose - Chapter 3

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3 | Interviews

a03 // wattpad

You and your team have compiled a reasonable list of interviewees by the time another body shows up. Narrowing down a legitimate pool of witnesses and potential suspects had been a tall task with a tight-lipped town like yours. Lips that got even tighter around two new faces. Knowing this you had Emily and Luke stay at the station and do other digging to better profile the suspect.

Regardless of their roles, however, the agents put their time in. There wasn’t a single person working on the case who didn’t average a 10-12 hour work day. Everyone pulled their weight. 

Despite your different roles you’d found that you and Emily crossed paths often. It started brief and unsubstantial. Quick brushes by with polite smiles when you were headed to different corners of the small station. No different than running by anyone else. Then one evening you’d caught her pooling over some old files and dropped her a cup of coffee on your way to your office.

At first she’d barely registered you enter, so focused on what she was reading. Her eyes eventually landed on the lidless paper cup, coffee still hot enough to release a bit of steam.

“Do I look like I need it that bad?” she laughed. 

“Finish up and get some rest, Prentiss,” you tossed over your shoulder on your way out by way of answer. You didn’t stay for her to test it to see if you made it right. You knew you had. You paid attention to that stuff with your guys, and she was no different. Certainly not.

Since that night Emily seemed to go out of her way to engage with you. She’d come and lean on your doorway to talk about the case, or whatever, really. You particularly enjoyed her big smile while she spoke with you, which contrasted nicely to her usual stoic appearance. You came to look forward to her popping in, but you tried your best not to look forward to it too much. That would be silly. So you looked forward to it a very normal and regular amount.

Anyway.

Back to the present: The new body and the interviews. Right.

By the time the station got the call, you’d had paperwork to finish so you sent the boys to go secure the scene and Alvez tagged along. You found you really liked Luke. He’s what you imagine your guys will be after a few years. The boys were earnest and incredibly hardworking, but they lacked the type of easy confidence that Luke had that came with age. A sense of comfort in his role, which just emanated from him.

With the men gone, you and Prentiss were on interviews. Although she was a newcomer, you figured a stranger in uniform along with a familiar face like yours made a perfect pair to interview. Nothing more unassuming than two women just asking a few questions. As you’d hoped, the two of you blew through potential witnesses and potential persons of interest together with ease. You were surprised at how well you complemented eachother. Transitions between each session were seamless, and her questions were either perfect segues for yours, or they were so clever even you hadn’t realized what she was getting at any more than the individual across the table had until she’d caught them in an inconsistency.

Eventually the guys returned, and with the last individual interviewed you all found yourselves at 6pm with a full day under your belts.

“Okay I’m calling it,” you announce. “Our days have been too long. We’ve put our time in so let’s get out of here.”

“You guys going to the bar tonight?” Joe asks

“Oh man I forgot it’s the third Wednesday of the month,” Danney answers, rubbing his eyes in a weak effort to get the tired out. Joe was less than deterred.

“Let’s go! Feds, you too. It’s great. The drinks are dirt cheap, the beer comes by the pitcher, and the music is entirely questionable.”

At Prentiss’ confused expression you speak up, “It’s open DJ night. Anyone over 21 can come and have a go at the music. It’s rarely great, but always fun.”

You watch one eyebrow quirk before an amused smile slowly spreads across her lips.

“Well, how can I say no?”

Some of the guys let out a little whoop and soon everyone’s packing up their bags and heading for the bar.

-

The night was exactly as promised. Various individuals either overly nervous or entirely too cocky got up to the small DJ booth in the bar (read: black folding table) and was given 30 minutes to play their sets.

Despite the rather clunky music the lot brought to the bar, the group was having a great time. You always love to spend time with your team, and having the agents with you made that no different.  You sat back and sipped your second beer from the communal pitcher while Garrett sang as off key as he could muster to a Cher house remix. Toward the song’s end your gaze drifts to Emily, and not for the first time that night.

Now you know yourself. You’re a very happy, very flirty drunk. So if you keep glancing toward her, well that’s only weird if she catches you while wearing what the boys call your “lovergirl eyes”.

You can’t help it. Her big smiles at the absolutely abysmal music. Her easy banter with Luke and the guys. It all feels like it happened so fast. Like getting acquainted to a new town and new people was so easy for her. You were impressed and in awe. Truthfully, the little crush you’ve developed was inevitable. You’d resigned to it that day on Ana’s property when she apologized, staring at you like you were something worth looking at.

You watch her stand and head toward the bar, and almost immediately the bartender sets two bottles in front of her. While she waits to run her card you approach, putting your elbows on the sticky bar next to hers, your shoulders touching.

“When I said it’s on my tab tonight, I meant it.”

She smirked at your words, not yet looking at you. Thin fingers move to pluck your glass from your hands to soon replace with one of the cold bottles she bought.

You don’t even think to fight your grin. “Attentive. Cheers.”

Your bottle clinks with hers as the two of you take a swig. Now she’s looking at you, her eyes studying, and there’s something else in them you can’t quite read.

“I didn’t know the FBI made them like you, darlin. Shame you have all that hidden by a suit.”

The two of you are broken from your bubble to find Becks Lammers. The man peaked in high school and deals with it with alcohol. He’s hit every woman with the misfortune of dating him. Tonight, he reeks of cigarettes, and is clearly having difficulty keeping his eyes focused as he tries to waltz off after his shitty come-on.

You watch her nostrils flare, and you stand, before she has a chance to swivel around.

“What did you just say?” Your growl is punctuated by a grab to his arm, bringing him back to face you. You nearly see red.

He scoffs, “Lighten up, Sheriff. I was just kidding, right little miss agent?” He goes to cup Emily’s shoulder in that patronizing way men love to do.

Your grip on his other arm tightens and he stops midair.

“Touch her and I’ll book your ass so fast for that tax evasion that you think you’ve been hiding it’ll make your head spin.” You step into his space, so close you can smell the alcohol.

“In fact, I’ll do one better, I’ll bring you to the station myself and I’ll make you regret ever stepping foot in this bar tonight, Lammers.” You stand there, solid and unwavering.

His eyes go saucer wide.

“I-I was stupid for saying it. It was nothing. I’ve had too much to drink. How about I just get goin’.” He turns on his heel and skitters out of the bar.  

*

Emily sits and observes the interaction, her dark brows raised. It was new to be on the other side of someone defending her against some scummy guy making a pass. On her team she’s used as the bait, cursed to grin and bear it for the sake of the case. Up until tonight she’d more or less resigned to it.

“Is he really evading his taxes?” she asks once the door slams behind the man.

“Unsure.” The sheriff snorts. “Just seems like the type.”

Before Emily can sit on the interaction further, she feels Jane grab her arm.

“Come here,” she says, as Emily feels herself pulled out of her thoughts and onto unsteady legs. She allows herself to get walked halfway across the scuffed floor before she has the thought to ask, “Wait what’s happening?”

"We’re going to dance.” The blonde says simply with that brightness Emily found herself so fond of as of late.

“It’s a slow song,” she continues. “Everyone’s already dancing, even Alvez.” The blonde tips her chin to her right, and sure enough there he was, posted up with a woman who could very well be his grandmother’s age. So wrapped up in the sight, Emily missed the sudden proximity.

“Come closer,” comes a softer tone. “We can’t be the only ones not on the floor.”

By this point, Emily’s hand had already been taken and wrapped around Hailey’s waist, and the realization makes her nearly go rigid. Not wanting to give off her nerves, she takes a deep breath and relaxes just in time for a strong arm to gently pull her closer. A lot closer. Her free hand clasped by the Sheriff’s, they begin to sway.

On one hand, Emily is grateful for the cheek resting against hers. It allows her own reddened cheeks to stay hidden from Jane’s eyes. On the other hand, the closeness has resulted in a warmth that began deep in her stomach, that crawled through her chest, and spread up to where the tips of her fingers joined the younger woman’s. This isn’t good. Emily Prentiss does not get distracted on cases. She focuses on her breathing still, allows her eyes to drift shut. It’s so unlike her to react to someone else this way. She can’t even think of the last time this has happened.

Jesus, Emily. You’re an adult. Get a hold of yourself.

*

Oblivious to the brunette’s turmoil, you find yourself comfortably wrapped in her arms until the song ends, marking the conclusion of open DJ night. She doesn’t seem to meet your eyes once you separate, so rather than dwell on that you instead focus your collective attention on ensuring everyone gets out of the bar and starts for home safely.

Neither of you register what that means until you turn to one another, alone, lit only by the nearly full moon shining over the gravel parking lot.

This time she catches your eyes, but she’s got that unreadable expression again, and before your alcohol addled brain can figure out exactly what it means the brunette suddenly steps closer into your space. Her breath is against your lips. One, two, three, puffs of air. The tension is unbearable and the second you watch those big brown eyes flit down to your mouth you’re helpless to do anything else but close what distance remains between the two of you.  

You hadn’t allowed yourself to imagine this, but even if you had it wouldn’t have been anywhere near to what it feels like now that it’s real. Tipsy or not, she’s real, and she’s kissing you.

Her lips are soft and she tastes faintly of the alcohol, but underneath it’s just her. You’re so busy running your fingers up and through thick hair that you faintly register hands settling on your hips, pulling you impossibly closer to hers. Her tongue dips into your mouth, followed by a sigh, and a whimper against your lips that shoots straight to your core.

You’re helpless to the moan that escapes your throat, which seems to snap Emily out of whatever spell she was under. The agent steps back abruptly. Your gaze falls to her heaving chest before you move back up to her eyes.

“I don’t think I meant to do that,” Emily starts, eyes building up to panic.

And you laugh.

You laugh and nod, bringing your fingers up to your cheeks. 

“Oh god. Am I blushing?” you snort.

Emily’s brow is furrowed, but her shoulders relax slightly, her earlier expression replaced by a far more perplexed one.

When she stays quiet you continue, “The night got away from us, don’t sweat it. Go home and get some rest.” You squeeze her arm by way of goodbye and you both head for home.

It didn’t need to be a big deal. You’ve kissed women before. Prentiss is attractive. It’s nothing more than that. More accurately it can’t be more anything than that.

You’ll deal with this in the morning. You’re both professionals. You can pretend this never happened. For tonight, though, you’re going to drift off to sleep thinking of the softest sounds of pleasure that had escaped one Emily Prentiss.

[anastasiaskarsgard]

can you do a one shot where the Marquis likes to play piano but he’s always been a lil shy about it. One day while the reader roams the marquis’s estate, she catches him playing and quietly listens until he’s finished before applauding

ALMOST

Today had been one of the most frustrating days the Marquis had to endure, for as long as he could remember. As he swiftly made his way down the halls of his sprawling mansion, he tried to clear his mind of all thoughts, but for the first time, could not.

Considering his greatest strength was his perfect control over his thoughts and emotions, he was barely keeping himself together. Even though he had never had a panic attack, and until today, didn't even believe they were real, he knew without a doubt, he was on the verge of having one.

And that was unacceptable.

Slamming the doors to his music salon open, he didn't acknowledge the maids that practically ran out of the room, at the sight of their distressed master. All who worked in his home, knew to give the Marquis the room, if he is in a mood. He was known for being temperamental and cruel, and often preferred to be left alone. He was immune to female and male charms, and had no close attachments to anyone. As far as the staff was concerned, he was a soulless machine, but he paid better than any other house, as long as you minded your business.

The Marquis began to play the antique Grand piano at the center of the room. Worth more than most people would earn in an entire lifetime, it had a haunting quality to its sound that couldn't be found in the newer models. Losing himself in the music, he was able to temporarily forget what had been plaguing him most of the day. As the song came to an end, he felt calm once again until someone had the audacity to start clapping.

Taking a deep breath, he turned around and stood, prepared to tear into what ever soon to be ex employee lost their fucking mind. Instead, he was met with the reason for his loss of control he'd been suffering since he first laid eyes on her.

"what are you doing out of your quarters?" He snapped glaring down at the young woman he had been saddled with earlier today. She was the daughter of a new business associate that was off doing a job for the Marquis, and since he was new, the Marquis often held collateral in the form of people's loved ones to make sure the job got done.

Usually, he'd put them in a room and lock them in for the duration of their stay, but he at least made them comfortable. If wasnt like he put them in the dungeon, which he totally owned since his mansion was very old. The suites he used for their stay were luxurious and had various forms of entertainment to pass the time. His staff kept them fed and even fulfilled any requests they had, so they hardly could call themselves prisoners. But that's what they were in truth, and he'd never cared how they felt about fhat. They were not allowed to roam freely through his home, and hardly ever saw him beyond the initial introduction.

For whatever reason, when he was introduced to this young woman, he hadn't wanted her to be frightened. When she had asked if she was free to explore his estate, he'd given her permission to do so, to everyone present shock.

To his dismay, she had decided to spend the day following him around, asking about his extensive art collection, and making him feel like they'd known one another for years. Never had he been so comfortable in another person's company. For many years people had spread the rumor he was a real psychopath and he had always thought they were likely correct. He had always considered his lack of connection with others to be a positive attribute. In his line of work, attachments were weaknesses.

Deciding he was being far too familiar with her, he excused himself, and made a beeline for the security room, to see how everything was going.

Upon entering, he was informed that everythibg was going as planned, and all endeavors so far had proven successful. This was almost unheard of in his life, and his mind quickly returned to his guest. He couldn't help but wonder what she would do to amuse herself. There were many ways she could get herself in trouble, and as he sat there thinking about how stupid he'd been giving her free reign, he ordered the staff to locate her and then make themselves scarce.

After only a few moments, they found her, and immediately exited the room, leaving the Marquis to sit in front of the screens and observe her. He could see the confusion on their faces with his behavior but he couldn't care less. Their opinions hardly mattered to him.

She was currently in his equestrian facilities, outfitting one of his favorite Andalusian stallions for a ride. Watching how easily she made the normally high strung animal feel at ease was riveting. Although he was a gorgeous animal, hed always been stubborn and difficult with new people. Not so with this woman; you'd think she raised the damn horse the way he was cooperating.

When the traitorous beast actually lowered his head, to make it easier for her to put on his bridle, the Marquis scoffed aloud, and sprung from his chair. Leaving the room without thinking where he was going, he found himself exiting his mansion, walking towards the stables.

Just as he was almost inside, she rode out on a different horse than his favorite stallion. When she spotted him, her face lit up and she smiled one of her disarming smiles and made her way over to him.

"I'm so glad you're done! I asked the stable guy which horse was your favorite, and got him all ready for you to go riding together." She stated enthusiastically. "Do you need to change or can you ride in a suit?"

The Marquis just stared at the girl completely dumbfounded for a few moments. Had she honestly prepared his own horse, and decided that he was going to go riding with her? The absolute audacity of this woman! He didn't know how to respond, so he didn't.

Honestly, he had been wanting to ride as of late. He'd been neglecting his horses, and even though he employed a small army of people to take care of them, he felt a bit guilty when too much time passed between interactions. Because of his guilt, he would go ride with her, not because of her he justified to himself. "I have riding gear I can change into inside. Give me a couple minutes." He'd said before storming off.

He had planned on taking longer than necessary to get ready to make her wait, but decided that was childish. He refused to hurry though, making a point to keep a relaxed pace.

When he'd rejoined her, shed surprised him again, when she took off on her horse at a break neck pace. Chasing after her, he couldn't help but admire her form as she seemed to become at one with the animal. When they effortlessly cleared a fence, he had to veer off to the side, knowing full well his horse was not a fan of jumping.

He slowed his horse to a trot, and looked around at the beautiful scenery. Sometimes he got so absorbed into work, he forgot what a beautiful world he lived in. His work wasn't pretty, so he'd always tried to make up for it, by surrounding himself with as much beauty as possible.

As he came through the trees and found his companion barefoot and splashing around in the small lake he had created on a whim last summer, he couldn't help but smile at her antics. She was the most free spirited, uncomplicated being he'd ever come across. The way she displayed her emotions so freely, and genuinely seemed to enjoy life was intoxicating. Deep down, he knew he should turn around and never go near her again, but he almost didn't care.

Almost.

"come in the water, it's lovely." She shouted out to him "do you mind if I strip down to my underwear? It looks just like a bathing suit, I just don't want to offend you."

"Don't flatter yourself, you couldn't offend me if you tried. If you want to prance around in your underwear, I won't stand in your way." He said with an air of nonchalance, even though internally he was having a celebration.

"you're going to join me right? Do French men wear boxers or briefs?" She asked as she took her dress off and stood before him without a smidge of insecurity. "Unless you aren't allowed."

"why wouldn't I be allowed to swim in my own lake? That is a ridiculous notion." He scoffed, sliding off the horse and storming over to the frustrating woman. "Do you think so little of me, that I am not my own person? Do I seem weak to you?" He asked lowly as he glared down at her. He knew he was over reacting, but he didn't know what she meant and he hated being confused.

She looked so adorable peering up at him with her big doe eyes, as she chewed on her plump bottom lip. "I was just trying to be smooth, and find out if you had a wife or girlfriend or something." She said quietly. Her eyes lowered to her hands as she fidgeted. "you couldnt possibly be single. You're too perfect. Supermodels probably fight over you on the daily."

He smirked and gently lifted her chin to look in her eyes. "Maybe being perfect scares them all away." He gazed down at her thoughtfully, before coming to the conclusion she wasn't kidding. She actually thought he was perfect.

The idea that someone thought he was perfect and desired by hordes of women was extremely amusing. While it was true, some women had satisfied his natural male urges, he never laid with a woman more than one time.

Chuckling to himself, he took his clothing off and neatly placed it on a nearby bench. He knew he had a visually pleasing form, and stayed in top physical form for his own vanity and his career choices. He wore black boxer briefs, and ignored the way she was checking him out as he passed her and dove into the water.

She squealed and immediately followed, swimming gracefully beside him as he cut through the water. Coming to a stop, he turned to her and tried to ask her a question, but couldnt think of what to ask. Not one to ever be afraid to speak up or get answers, he tried to be logical and ask himself what was his issue. Did this slip of a woman make him nervous? Did he care what she thought of him? Or was he just having an off day, and she so happen to be here for it? Was he attracted to her sexually? Did he want to touch her, and in turn allow her to touch him? It wasn't like he was a virgin.

So caught up in his contemplations, he failed to notice, till it was too late, and he'd been plunged beneath the surface. Using her weight to dunk him, she had her hands on his shoulders as she pushed him down her body, underneath the surface. Continuing down by his own ministrations, she lost contact with him when he continued deeper than she was able to go. He opened his eyes underwater, and watched as her shadow rose up to the surface. Swimming swiftly behind her, he made sure to remain behind her where she could not see him. Sneaking up behind her, he grabbed her by the waist and took them both beneath the surface.

She was a very capable swimmer, and he enjoyed their rough housing. He could not recall the last time he had played with someone.

"what's in your hair?" She asked with a look of concern on her face. Reaching up, she ran her hands through his hair, before grabbing his face with both hands, and kissing him square on the lips. It was an aggressive move, but she still remained gentle somehow. Nothing else existed in that moment. He was left breathless when she pulled away, and then realization set in.

He liked her. He really liked her.

Without saying a single word, he swam to the shore, gotten dressed without even attempting to dry off, got on his horse and left her there. He knew he was being a coward, but he hadn't gotten so far in life by following his heart. He was strictly a brain user, and it was telling him to run.

So he had, all the way to the piano.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have kissed you. I read the situation completely wrong and it won't happen again." She stated earnestly.

Looking in her eyes, he could see she really believed she had made an error. He knew nothing good would come from getting involved with him, and she'd likely end up regretting ever meeting him. He was self aware enough to realize he was not a good person. Anyone that he got involved with would suffer in some way whether at the hands of his enemies, or from something he would do, or not do.

Pulling her close, he smirked before kissing her forehead. Placing his chin on her head, he chuckled at the two of them. "Sometimes the hardest thing, and the right thing, are the same."

"do you know the most sad word in the world?" She asked him.

Thinking through many words in several languages, he knew many sad words.

"almost." She sighed, snuggling closer in his arms. "He almost loved her. She almost was good for him. He almost stopped her. She almost waited. They almost were happy. They almost made it."

She pulled herself free from his arms and turned for the door. "my father is here and said everything went well. I just wanted to come say goodbye and apologize." With those parting words, she was gone.

A few days later, when her father told her the Marquis had almost been able to kill the legendary John Wick, but had been killed in the end, she almost laughed out loud.

Almost.