#should just be a lil one shot but we’ll see

[lexicorp]

Transformers Earthspark: Another Place, Another Prison

[screenshot edit thats a bit silly--the maltos are actually generally rather chill even with star being a bit of a lil shit lmao]

This chapter really shoves Starscream into a social gathering with all da peeps for a series of goofy games. Which he roasts the shit out of the majority of the time. He's more into it at the start and gets progressively more drained from it all. It's not as fun if you don't plow the competition after all--XD

just a chap with fun family shenanigans and definitely nothing sus

Previous Chapter: Bee's Good Guy Crash Course

First Chapter: The Need For Read

Next Chapter: Make or Break

Chapter 11: Family Feud

The “Malto Family Game Night”. An intriguing premise. One Bumblebee thought he should drag Starscream into, it seemed, despite the title clearly only set to invite those who are real members of their collective. It even seemed a stretch that the humans and Terrans considered Bumblebee an “honorary” member to begin with. The Terrans, as Earthen cybernetic children, theoretically shared some level of kinship with humans to an extent. As well as apparently being bonded to them on a deeper level. But both he and Bumblebee had no such connection, why should they be roped into human nonsense? 

Why would they allow them to encroach on their little tradition? Perhaps this was some sort of test pertaining to the practice the bug had wanted Starscream to get, after his little lecture. A challenge to see how well Starscream could interact with them. 

Well, for whatever goal the bug had, he certainly could stand a bit of competition. A chance to destroy them at their own ridiculous games? Irresistible. The anticipation of victory, especially one he could lord over the scout later, might just make the growing chaos around him bearable. 

There were too many conversations about too many things being discussed in one room. He’d tried to track a few, but quickly found his audials begin to mute the chatter with a light ringing. If it hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been able to stop himself from calling them all into order himself.

Finally, Hashtag got everyone’s attention and pointed to the whiteboard that now held doodles of all their faceplates, separated into groups. “Alright fam! The teams we’ve decided on are: Me, J.B, and Nightshade with our name NightTagBreaker! Mom and Dad as Purple. Thrash and Mo as Mash–”

“‘Cause we’re gonna MASH the competition!” Thrash cheered as he smacked servos with his human partner.

Hashtag didn’t even seem fazed by the interruption, and scoffed without a hint of disdain. “We’ll see about that! There’s also Robbie and Twitch–”

“Their team’s name is Twobbie.” Mo said with the most dastardly smirk toward her brother, and a mocking tone to the name.

Robbie and Twitch both stood with crossed arms, the human retorting first with an air of superiority. “Uh no. Our name is Twin Blades!” 

Twitch plucked her swords from her back and twirled them as an example with a proud grin. “We’ve got the blades, and we’re basically twins. And way cooler than Mash.” 

Thrash gasped melodramatically with a servo to his chassis, “How dare you!”

“We’ll see who has the cooler name when we beat you!” Mo shot back with a throw of a digit in their direction. Threats so early in the competition? Bold.

Hashtag edited the name on the board discreetly, then turned to ask, “What’d you guys decide on for your name Bee? I was thinking it could be StarBee or Beam for the combo style like ours–” She gestured to her two partners– “Or BugBird, because y’know, Bee is bug coded and Starscream can fly. OR you could be Primary! Because together you have yellow, red, and blue!”

Starscream took his servo from under his faceplate to tip it at the crowd, straightening his posture with a slight tilt of his helm as he offered confidently, “Why not simply call us The Victors?” He wasn’t exactly thrilled that they had just decided that he was paired with the bug, but that wouldn’t change his plans of total domination over this strange event.

Many of them rolled their optics at Starscream’s proclamation, but Hashtag actually had to stop herself from laughing. Not entirely the correct response. Still, at least she was amused, rather than angered by his insinuation.

Bumblebee shook his helm in a way that Starscream couldn’t tell if he actually disapproved or not. “StarBee is fine, Hashtag.” He determined, then mumbled, “Even if it would be nice if my name was first…”

“Well, you always were more of just the backup, rather than a leader, scout.” Starscream pointed out haughtily. “Obviously my piece of the title would come first.” 

Bumblebee glared at him, “I am not your backup! We’re partners and this is friendly competition! And please try to remember what I was telling you yesterday…” He sounded exasperated. 

Starscream dropped his smirk and crossed his arms to align himself with a more professional posture. “Are you going to disclose the rubric, or will your little test be void of any comprehensible scale like all of your Autobot riddles?”

Bumblebee was about to respond, but the Malto matriarch, Dorothy, interrupted. “No tests. We are not making game night about work again. Right Bee?” The bug nodded, looking rather guilty. “We’re here to have fun.”

“Yeah!” Twitch flew up to meet Starscream’s faceplate, “So don’t you ruin it! Family time is sacred!” 

Starscream leaned slightly toward her, thoroughly unamused. “Yes, how dare I encroach on your ridiculous expression of familial bonding.”

“Okay guys!” Hashtag interjected, “This isn’t exactly supposed to be the mood of this scene. Can we rein it in please?” She looked more at Starscream than her sibling, with a pleading look to her optics. Twitch backed down, as did he. 

“Wonderful!” Nightshade collected a set of cards that seemed to be sized for Cybertronians. “The first game Hashtag and I decided upon from the list of requests, is Uno! Three teams will be in one group, and two in another.”

“Then we shuffle it until every team has had a chance to go against each other!” Hashtag added while shuffling the cards and splitting the deck into two stacks. “First group will be NightTagBreaker, Twin Blades, and Mash; then Purple and StarBee.”

“Would it not make more sense to put the team of three into the group with just two teams?” Starscream asked not as much for some level of fairness, but more in the hopes that he could avoid interacting with Megatron’s little spy. He’d much rather attempt their card game with Hashtag and Nightshade. 

“I mean, maybe, but we’ll get there eventually.” Hashtag gave him an awkward smile, then quickly moved on. Scrap. 

They all took to their tables and dealt the cards. Starscream attempted to read the rules from the little box that was cast aside, but Dorothy’s human conjunx told him that it was apparently quite simple. Same color, same number or action, and you could play your card on your turn. The wild card and plus four were clearly above all the other pathetic actions in the roster. Although the skip option was satisfyingly petty. Starscream managed to skip Bumblebee three times in a row, in fact, which he found hilarious. 

The bug however, was less amused, “We’re supposed to be on the same team! Could you maybe not sabotage me and actually try and collaborate?!”

“Only one of us needs to win to get the credit. I don’t need your help to claim victory over these humans at this silly game.”

“I don’t know about that.” Dorothy tauntingly raised her singular card. “Uno.”

“WHAT?” Starscream’s wings flared and he looked over at the bug’s absurdly large set of cards, then slammed a servo on the table to get his attention. “Unleash a counterattack you fool! You must have something in that embarrassing stack in your servos!”

“Oh look who came crawling back for my help.” The scout hoarded his cards with juvenile snark. 

Starscream stuttered and his optic twitched as he growled through gritted dentas. “Excuse me, but if you don’t we both lose you bit-brained idiot!”

“How about not calling your partner names, and actually asking nicely? Or just working with me instead of acting like I’m still your enemy?”

The bug was a stubborn fool. Ask nicely? Did they expect him to phrase orders as optionary as the Prime did? That’s ridiculous! And of course the bug was still his enemy! How stupid was this mech? Bumblebee had been the first to point a blaster at Starscream in the Titan. Just because the Autobots were acting as if something had changed, didn’t mean anything. This was all just another assignment for the scout. 

Wait…who said that Starscream couldn’t simply take the bug’s cards and do it himself? If they were on the same team, then what did it matter who carried out the move? He didn’t know what stupid arrangement of words they wanted from him. It’d be far easier to–

Starscream forcefully snatched the cards from Bumblebee’s servos in a crimson flash, and slapped down a plus two to destroy the Malto’s hope of victory. He made sure to keep his own remaining two cards safe from getting lost amidst his stolen pile. The bug complained and tossed his servos around before attempting to steal his cards back, as Starscream pushed against his faceplate to hold him off.

Then, Dorothy cleared her throat before crossing her arms. “I win.”

“Wha–HOW?!” Starscream shoved the bug aside before pointing a digit at the human. “You lost your turn and were supposed to gain additional cards as the action dictates! You couldn't have possibly won!” 

Oh, so this fleshling aimed to lecture him now? And since when could actions be placed upon one another as a means of canceling the other out? That made no sense with the rest of the rules! Sure, if you were not at the receiving end and were simply the player that is being skipped towards–but mid-action?? That was ridiculous, she made that up!

Her optical ridge rose and she tapped the card plainly placed upon the one he’d taken from Bumblebee. “My last card was a plus two, and I can stack it on yours. Maybe, you should have actually talked it out with your partner.”

Lightning flickered between his wings. He didn’t lose. She’d only crafted some absurd reason to disguise the fact that she was clearly only attempting to prove some point, and make Starscream look like an idiot. That’s what it was. But he couldn’t do anything about it. The human was Megatron’s little agent. Starscream would be scrapped if he did anything against her. 

Starscream’s optics were burning as he wished again that he could set those blasted cards ablaze with only his processor. This game was just another tool for them to mock him. His vents were the same.

“Chill, it’s not like losing one game is the end of the world. Even if I am definitely blaming this loss, on you. I was just the card draw scrapyard–” Bumblebee was attempting to retrieve the scattered cards, and Starscream reflexively grabbed his wrist and pulled the scout up as he rose to his peds. 

“This IS your fault!” Starscream said dangerously, even as the scout transformed out his blaster with his other servo. But as a deafening silence strangled the cavern, and Starscream stared into the bug's startled yet defiant optics…he hated it. He was doing it again. 

His anger attempted to subside, replaced by something else as his grip loosened on the bug. But the curse didn’t seem to approve of that, and it instead tried to channel its power into the servo which mistakenly held Bumblebee. Starscream’s optics widened and he wrenched his servo away. Then yelped as he found Wheeljack’s little device had sent an equal pulse up his ped in some pathetic counterattack to the power. Instead of neutralizing the surge at his servo, all it did was make him fly back clumsily, and hit his helm on the ground. All while the power still felt as if his arm was being ripped apart by scraplets.

“Uh, you guys okay over there??” Twitch called from their own game.

“Ugh…Peachy.” Bumblebee commented dryly as he picked himself up after having apparently fallen back as well. “Someone is just a sore loser.”

Starscream only sat up to grip his violently shaking servo as he glared at it. He wasn’t like Megatron. “Perhaps…It was an overreaction.” He couldn’t apologize. He was too distracted. But he could acknowledge the bug’s point. Maybe that would be enough. 

Bumblebee watched him a moment before a ridiculous grin came to his faceplate. “No kidding.” 

The scout offered Starscream a servo, and he stared at it hesitantly as the lightning slowly died from his frame. He didn’t smack it away, but he didn’t take it either. Instead, he forced his annoyingly numb right ped to cooperate as he pulled himself up. “Besides, with the human’s knack for simply realigning the rules to her whim, how could either of us be at fault? Megatron clearly taught her well.”

“Excuse me?” Dorothy put her servos on her hips. Apparently his comment was somehow offensive. Even the buckethead’s agent detested being compared to him. How poetic.

Starscream paced to give himself enough distance from bot and human alike, before tipping a servo and his hip out in unbridled sass with an innocent vocalizer, “Oh but I’d never blame you for such a thing. In fact, I might have pulled such a stunt myself if we were more acquainted. Although that was a bit of a clumsy rule you constructed in your haste. Perhaps I could give you some advice for–”

Dorothy put her servo up to silence him. “No. I didn’t make it up. Well, not right at that moment–it’s just a common house rule for the game. It makes things a bit more interesting, and can lead to crazy close calls like that.”

“Yes we would never cheat! Especially Dottie!” Her conjunx attested with a protective servo around her shoulder, which she patted with hers. Disgusting.

Starscream’s faceplate scrunched at their show of affection, but willed himself to put on a smile. “I meant no disrespect, truly.” He gave her a half-afted bow, then began assisting the bug in collecting the cards that had fallen to the floor. “So I assume we shall be shuffling the groups now then?”

Not a moment later, there was an obnoxious uproar from the kids as the Twin Blades team celebrated their victory. They had their own argument about how it was achieved, yet it seemed more out of curiosity for their strategy. Of which they happily went into dramatized detail. They all laughed and congratulated them, with playful counters at how close it had been. No one was angry, or accusatory. The only touch they shared was gentle. Starscream stared at them, transfixed. 

Sure, it was not as if he had always fought with his trinemates over such silly things. But still, there had typically been some sort of transition into a wrestling match to settle the true victor. Anything close to that here was meager at best. He wasn’t surprised…only, afflicted with a strange sense of yearning. Which was ridiculous.

“Sounds like it.” Bumblebee remarked as he placed the now reforged stack of cards on their table, then added teasingly, “Are you actually going to be my teammate this time, fly boy?”

“Yes, it seems that might be necessary.” Starscream avoided the bug’s optics as he took his seat again. 

Team NightTagBreaker switched places with Purple. He didn’t quite care for the dinobot, but the other two terrans could be rather pleasant. Although it did seem that “J.B.” was far more focused on the game than attempting to bite his peds this time. 

Starscream and Hashtag shared a glance, and he was the first to break the silence between them, “Do not expect us to go easy on you.” Mimicking her siblings’ manner of playful banter.

“Wouldn’t dream of it!” She responded with a theatrical tone and servo to her chassis. 

“If anyone should be going easy, it is us!” Nightshade added, to which the dinobot seemed to finish the thought.

“Yeah! Because–we are three bots, and you are not.”

“Don’t think that numbers are everything kids.” Bumblebee warned as he fanned out his new selection of cards in his servos. 

This time, Starscream collaborated with the bug as they discreetly disclosed which cards they possessed, and plotted how to best use them. He used his skips to instead protect his unlikely ally from unwanted card draw, until he could change the color again. As well as parrying reverses, or waiting until the other also had a plus two, as to avoid friendly fire. Perhaps that strange rule could be rather useful, when he actually knew to utilize it. Then, he also did not see why they could not stack other actions in such a way as well…

When the scout had called Uno, the dinobot attempted to skip him to postpone their victory. Unbeknownst to them, Bumblebee also had a skip card, but the bug did not place it down. A pause for dramatic effect?

Starscream cast aside his own useless cards and smacked the bug’s shoulder plating. “Reveal your card already you–eh, just what are you waiting for? We won. Cancel their action with yours!”

Bumblebee looked baffled as he stared at his card then back at Starscream. “What?? Jawbreaker skipped me, I can’t cancel that. It’s your turn. Why don’t you use that reverse card you had?”

Starscream’s wings pulled back and he ripped his cards back off the table to hit them with his other servo. “This scrap will do nothing to change it to the correct color! Why on Cybertron can you not just do as that human did before?! Countering an action of equal title mid-attack is perfectly legal in your stupid house rules! We’ve even done it multiple times this round, how is this any different?”

“Stacking only works with the plus two’s and four’s,” Nightshade attempted to explain their absurd standards, “It is not as if you can add onto one skip with another.”

“Uh-huh, you can’t do that Starscream, that’d be cheating.” J.B. insisted like a foolish child. “Right? Because, that’s definitely against the rules.”

Lightning jumped across Starscream’s frame again.

How was he the one cheating? Their “mom” had come up with it first! Noone had cared when she did it. How did it make any less sense to use the skip card in such a way than the other one? Of course the skips could be added onto one another! All they’d need to do is make it a double skip so that–if he and the scout didn’t already win–it’d send the next turn over to Hashtag. How was that concept so hard for them to understand? This game was stupid. 

Bumblebee nudged him, “Hey, we haven’t lost yet!” Starscream didn’t look at him, nor say anything for a long stint of time. “C’moooon, what cards ya got huh?”

Starscream’s optics flickered red and he took in an extended vent, then hiked his wings up with a strained grin and peak to his vocalizer. “Fine, yes, of course! Let's look at what cards I have. Numbers and a single useless reverse action? That will surely lead us to victory. Especially, when as soon as I place something down, those three will no doubt begin a chain of plus two actions of which you would be defenseless against. Or a plus four. Or they could start a reverse chain between one another. Or lock us in a color neither of us have in a plot to instigate the idiotic notion of infinite card draw!”

“You don’t know what cards we have,” Hashtag seemed to be getting frustrated with him, “And besides, it’s just a game. If we outplay you, we win, it’s not that deep!”

“Well, Uno does contain a higher percentage of RNG than skill, but that is a fair point regardless.” Nightshade nodded.

“Um, so, can we just…finish the game now?” J.B asked meekly.

Starscream’s wings swiveled up and down as he forced the stupid power back into the corner of his spark. “Sure.” He could play nice for Hashtag’s sake.

The game proceeded just about as insufferably as he anticipated. He and the bug ended with far too many cards, and Nightshade claimed the win for their team. That was fine. He didn’t care.

Every other match of that accursed Uno left Starscream and Bumblebee once again so close, only for it to be ripped away time and time again. Every instance, more inane than the last. How could they have not even won once?! The last time was entirely the bug’s fault, when he’d blatantly ignored Starscream’s order. He made sure to tell the scout just how stupid that had been, but then the others only seemed to get mad at Starscream for it instead! 

The next game that was chosen attempted to usurp the last in stupidity. The “tic-tac-toe” was near impossible to not end in a tie. It had to be replayed repetitively until a victor was concluded. It was boring, exceedingly plain, and the only viable strategy was far too easily thwarted. In fact, when Starscream was in the midst of cornering their opponent, they instead reversed it back onto him! Bumblebee had obviously ruined the whole thing with his insistence on starting in the middle when it was clearly best to start at a corner. Even when they finally did manage to succeed in one matchup, it was anticlimactic as slag. 

The next was a quite straightforward game titled “Spot-it”. All that needed to be done was match an icon on your own card with the one in the discard. And finally, Starscream was able to dominate. Every single match, he rapidly pinpointed the correct image and practically blazed through his entire stack with only minute lapses in his speed. No one stood in his way! No one even got a chance! It was glorious! 

Starscream laughed maniacally as he gained yet another point without the pathetic aid of the bug. “HAHAH you all are not even TRYING! This game is far too easy. Or perhaps you simply have a slow processor for such things, eh, Bumblebee?” He flicked the bug’s helm and fluttered his wings. Elated that he at long last obtained even a fleeting moment of triumph amongst them. “Good thing you have me to carry your constant lag.”

Bumblebee glared at him, then rolled his optics, “Riiiight. You’re taking this whole thing way too seriously.” 

“Why wouldn’t I?” Starscream stated in a more dismissive than questioning manner with a slight tip of his helm and a shrug. “What’s next then?”

“Pictionary!” Hashtag held up the box with far more excitement than she’d had previously. “Nightshade and I even made more little figurines and an extended board for all of us to play together!” She and her sibling began the setup, while J.B. distributed the items required for each team. “The person who draws whatever it is rotates, then the others on your team need to guess what the person is trying to show them! The color on the board determines what subject it is, and you kinda get a bit of a clue on what it is from that too.”

Simple enough, if the bug could draw a straight line. Starscream claimed the marker first, as he was far more confident in his own artistic ability. The first object he got was a “basketball”. He didn’t know what that was, but he did know how to depict a basket and a ball separately. Surely the scout could comprehend an icon based word puzzle as simple as that. Which he did. But the words only got stranger from there, and that is where their downfall began. 

The worst of it was when there had been the perfect opportunity to draw himself throwing Megatron into the Pit–for the action topic of course–and the blasted timer ran out before he could finish! Apparently there needed to be some sort of middle ground in which to prioritize what details were necessary. He could make sacrifices for the sake of their victory, sure, yet it was still disappointing. How was he to find any sort of satisfaction in this game, if he could not at the bare minimum depict the buckethead getting tossed into a scrapheap?

Items like “Taylor Swift”, “Swan”, or “Cell Phone”, were ridiculous. Was he supposed to have done research before this blasted thing? They had to redraw cards in an attempt to acquire a usable item multiple times. Yet even then, there were many moments where the bug had far too much confidence in his ability to depict whatever it was he’d gotten. His illustrative skill was predictively lacking, and he was lucky Starscream had been able to make out any of it at all. At the very least, Bumblebee was adequate at determining what Starscream was forced to illustrate. 

Although he would admit that this game certainly seemed the most balanced, those with their ridiculous bonds and understanding of one another, inevitably gained some sort of advantage. Which got annoying fast. Every little moment longer the scout took to guess what the item was, or the next incoherent blob he depicted, made the tapping of Starscream’s ped quicken. 

Starscream growled and his wings flicked back, “NOW what is it?” He squinted as the crude image began to take some sort of shape. “The Autobots?” The bug shook his helm and gestured for it to be more general. “Cybertronians?” A gesture for him to elaborate. “What other word is there!?–” His optics flashed red, with a brief moment of his spark feeling as though it were being wrenched out of his intake, as the word came to him–“Transformers.” A disgustingly rudimentary title. Of course that was all that they were reduced to in this human game under the subject of pop culture. 

He was correct. But he still felt distant from the bug’s excitement toward their apparent close call. Starscream hit a servo against his own helm in an effort to knock out whatever had possessed him. This reflex was evidently questionable, but he was easily able to brush it off. He couldn’t have his processor glitching in the midst of this event. It would not only be quite discomfiting, but would also bring more petty disruption to something the Terrans seemed to have put a great deal of effort into. He had to keep it under control.

By the end of it, he and the bug only managed to cross half of the spaces needed to win. Infuriating. Starscream despised losing. They weren’t even able to claim second best. Pathetic. 

By the next game, Starscream was decidedly over it. 

This “Charades” only served to make one dance around like a fool in some absurd hope at expressing the word on their slip of flimsy scrap. It was near identical to the concept of the last, but regressed into something far less tolerable. Perhaps it could be more amusing if it was less about imitating Earth creatures and instead aimed toward mimicking someone else in their group. That had been a favorite amongst his trinemates back in the more tolerable cycles amidst the Decepticons.

Bumblebee flapped his arms around stupidly as he attempted to display what he’d plucked from the pile. He looked utterly ridiculous. Starscream would never catch himself offline doing such a thing. What was the bug even supposed to be? He was acting as though he were attempting to fly, similar to how Nightshade seems to need to operate their alt mode. Clearly some form of Earthen avian, but how was he supposed to know which classification was required?

“Ugh,” Starscream rubbed his optics, “what do you call those tiny avian creatures on this planet?” 

“Birds!” Twitch chirped in an oddly endearing manner.

“Right. That is what he is, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, basically.” Bumblebee halted mid motion to shrug, then whirled his arms around before finding his balance again. “Think we can count that one Alex?”

“Mmm…” Dorothy’s conjunx, Alex, squeaked his uncertainty at the notion. Obviously unsatisfied with such a vague answer.

Dorothy smacked his shoulder, although it looked like it barely connected. “I think we can give it to ‘em. Starscream hasn’t exactly gotten as acquainted with what all our little guys here are called yet.”

“I don’t need your pity points, human.” Starscream muttered in a visceral hiss. When would he have had the time to study such things? Why should he care what all these birds were labeled on this insufferable planet? He had far better things to do! Starscream had a million other exceedingly more important matters that required his brilliant processor, than reverting back to cataloging miscellaneous fauna on some backwater rock!

 “Oh, I suppose it’s alright.” Alex relented, none the wiser to Starscream’s bitter comment. “Why don’t you try another one, Bee?”

Bumblebee chuckled as the timer ran out, “Sorry pal, but I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until next time to witness my famously flawless acting skills. How about you and Dot go next? Gotta show me your moves too!”

Starscream watched the rest of them play out what remained of the game with blank optics. The images he processed paced in a choppy framerate, and the clarity distorted to a lower quality. A moment's glance at the scoreboard told him that there was absolutely no way they would win in the larger scheme of things. It meant nothing. He couldn’t even attempt to sabotage the competition, or challenge the validity of his competitors' victories. He’d surely get caught, and only gain pointless drama that’d get him into trouble. Which he did not need more of.

Had he even passed that scout’s stupid test? Even if Starscream didn’t claim the more favorable glory he sought, it’d be worse if the failure was calculated against whatever new standard Megatron sought from him. Starscream was actually surprised his ever looming Lord hadn’t made further appearance by now. He was sure something was bound to happen soon. Perhaps this was all some sort of means to get him to let his guard down. Or to determine what could be used to force him in line. Megatron might be getting a byte more creative in his time as a traitor. Even if he was attempting some type of psychological approach, surely he’d revel in any excuse to beat the slag out of Starscream for any reason he could pull out his exhaust pipe.

This whole ordeal seemed too calm. Too casual. They all had many moments of clear annoyance towards him, yet constantly held themselves back but only a few meager remarks. It was not as if he held any particular power in this situation to warrant them to fear standing against him. They only seemed unsure, or dismissive. Even occasionally acting as if their apprehension was entirely absent. They were clearly hiding something. 

Starscream had been lost in his own thoughts for so long, that he’d just about missed their little awards ceremony to conclude the night. That was until there was a crack and pop that sent a far too familiar shock through his muddled audials. He flinched and stumbled backwards away from the noise. Nearly trampling one of the Terrans but unable to utter an apology as he barely processed their presence. 

It was only a device to distribute colorful material over the crowd. Their laughter was mocking him. Their celebration over their stupid series of trials that they rigged towards their own success, was disorienting. 

Starscream was done. He’d played their games. He was not about to attempt to decode what they wanted next. 

He stealthily retreated back into his corner of the cavern. It hadn’t been all horrible, he supposed…Regardless, he was tired. They were all too loud in the wrong way. 

The curse flared with thoughts echoing some stupid impulse that’d use its power to blast them into oblivion. Then he wouldn’t have to worry about any of it. Then their threat would be neutralized.

But that wasn’t right.

Lightning flickered and stabbed across his frame as he now sat with his wings to those soaring seekers on the wall. He just wanted to leave. To fly away to a Cybertron where they were waiting for him. Where he too could enjoy such festivities. Where they’d cheer his name for his achievements. Where he could revel in their praise–perhaps even…alongside his trinemates, untainted by his mistakes.

Where…it would all feel real.

[snezus-christ-risen]

That feeling of finishing a fic and not knowing what to write next… and then inspiration strikes 🎄

[marauder-misprint]

would u write abt some angsty (mybe w a happy ending?) w remus, please? if possible maybe smtg like the bet trope, im soo down bad with bet tropes, 😔😔😔 im sorry if its a burden, and thank you for spending ur time reading this

You said "bet trope" and I said bet. So it's more fluff than angst... oops? I'll try to get more angst with Remus soon

Conducive

Remus Lupin x fem!reader

additional content

4.7k words

cw: fluff, lil angst,

“Moons, how is it that you’ve never been kissed, yet everyone calls you Casanova?” Sirius asks at dinner in the Great Hall one evening.

Remus raises his eyebrows but doesn’t look away from his plate.

“I respect women?” he offers. 

“We all respect women here. But come on, even Peter’s kissed Mary,” James adds.

Remus looks up at his friends. “I’m here for an education. Dumbledore was kind enough to let me be here; least I can do is focus. You three are distraction enough.”

“I just think you could do with some more… distractions,” Sirius says, waving his fork around as a prop to make his point. 

“If I wanted a female distraction, I’d have no issues obtaining it.”

“No issues, huh?” Peter asks. “Care to prove it?”

Remus shot him a glare. “Did you miss the part where I said if I wanted it?”

“I don’t see how you don’t want it.”

“Wormy’s got a point,” James says.

“Let me rephrase: If I needed a female distraction,” Remus says, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Sure, I want it from time to time, but if anyone else found out about my furry little secret, I’d be out of here. So I’m making the most of my time.”

“No one is going to find out!” Sirius says. “Have. Some. Fun.”

“You lot found out.”

“We live with you.”

“Still. You don’t think if I got involved with someone that it would take them that long? It was hard enough lying to you. What if I start to actually like someone? It’d be impossible.”

“Then don’t like them. Just get them to like you enough to kiss them and then ditch them,” Sirius suggests, earning himself a glare from Remus.

“That just sounds cruel.”

“More cruel than you denying yourself feminine company?”

“I’m Casanova, remember? I get plenty of company.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I still think you should prove it,” Peter says. “Do what Pads suggested.”

“What?”

“Get a girl.”

“Keep her ‘round long enough to get off and then you jet. Easy ‘nough, yeah?” James clarifies for Remus, given his mildly confused look.

“No,” Remus says firmly. 

“What if we made a bet out of it?” Sirius asks, leaning forward. 

That got Remus’ attention.

“Okay, then what do I get out of it? When I win.” 

“If, and only if, you can get a girlfriend and snog the living daylights out of her, we will… uh… willingly study with you in the library for finals. We’ll be complacent participants, helping you and ourselves. As you try to drag us to do every year,” Sirius says. He pauses as the other two nod. “And if you fail, butterbeers are on you for the rest of the year.”

Remus snorts. “So if I do it, I just get company in the library and you benefit. But if I lose, I’m financially ruined?” 

“More incentive,” Peter retorts. 

“You’re on,” Remus says, offering his hand for Sirius to shake. He does. “If I wasn’t sure I could do it, I’d be asking for better terms.” 

“Wait!” James interrupts with Remus and Sirius still mid-shake. “I feel like we should pick who it has to be. Otherwise you could just ask Marlene to snog you.”

Remus makes a face. “She’s dating Dorcas, you know this.”

“No, no, he has a point,” Peter says. “Either of them would snog you if you said it was for a bet, especially if it means we,” he gestures to him, James and Sirius, “lose said bet.”

“Fine. Pick the girl. For the love of Godric, pick someone single and semi-tolerable.”

The boys scan the hall, not paying attention to house. Their eyes land on you. All three boys seemed to be in agreement before any of them voiced your name. 

“Her,” James says, pointing at you.

You were just as perpetually single as Remus, although he didn’t know what your reason for being so was. It wasn’t like boys never approached you, offering to pay for your drinks at Hogsmeade or to stand by you at the next Quidditch match, but the boys always walked away looking a bit down. You shot them down. Every single one of them.

So in the boys’ attempt to get him to prove his ability to charm a girl, they also wanted to see a miracle. From the grins on their faces, they know it’s going to be impossible.

“So you want my financial ruin?”

“I want either want butterbeer or you to get fucking laid,” Sirius says coolly. “It’s a win-win for me.”

“We said nothing about me getting laid!” Remus exclaims, panicking. “We said kiss, snog, neck, whatever you want to call it. Not laid.”

James laughs, “If you can get a snog out of her, you’re definitely getting laid.”

“I hate that I shook on this already,” Remus groans. He knows he has no way out of this now. 

---

You are blissfully unaware of the bet the Marauders have going. You have no reason to think that you are of any concern to them, besides that Remus now occasionally says hello to you in passing. If anything, it feels like the other three are purposefully avoiding you, not that that matters to you. It’s preferable that way. You had always found Remus to be the most tolerable of them, but that didn’t mean you were friends or spoke to him all that often. Right now, it meant that you said hi back to him.

You are studying in the library when Remus comes up and asks if you’d mind if he shared a table with you. There are other tables available, but you agree. You are struggling with your Transfiguration essay and if it comes to it, you’re almost positive you could ask him for help. Until then, you work near each other in silence. That is, until someone else joins your table. 

Andrew Lark, a boy in your house, sits across from you. 

“You going to Hogsmeade this weekend?” he asks. 

“No,” you say shortly, not looking up from your essay, although you do stop writing. You don’t want to write the wrong thing down because Andrew was talking.

“Do you want to? I’d love to take you.”

“No thank you, Andrew.”

“Come on, love. Let me take you out.”

“I have no desire to go to Hogsmeade this weekend, nor do I want to go out with you.”

“Baby, we’d have-” he starts to say.

“Lark, she said no,” Remus says calmly, having stopped working as soon as Andrew approached the table. 

Andrew shot Remus an annoyed look. “Wasn’t talking to you, Lupin.”

“I know. But you weren’t listening to her.”

“This doesn’t involve you.”

Remus scoffs. “You interrupted my studying by being here. I’d say I’m semi-involved.”

“Then sit elsewhere,” Andrew says, before turning back to you. “Last chance? It’d be more fun than you’re imagining.”

You give Remus a sideways glance. He’s looking at you, waiting for your response as much as Andrew is. 

“Surprise, surprise, Remus is right. I said no.” You give Remus a quick smile before turning back to your essay.

Andrew rolls his eyes and stands up. “Think about it, dove. My offer will always stand.”

Then he walks away. You and Remus both return to your silent working. You feel Remus’ eyes on you every once in a while; you can also tell he’s looking at you from when he pauses his writing, letting his quill just hover above the ink pot longer than a person normally would. 

“So what do you have against Hogsmeade?” he asks after a few minutes. 

You snort. “Oh, nothing really. Andrew’s been asking me to go with him for months and I’d really rather not go with him. Plus, Slughorn’s essay? Haven’t even started that.”

Remus nods with a breath of relief. “Good, I don’t know how anyone can actually not like Hogsmeade.” He pauses. “Would you like company when you work on that essay?”

The question catches you off guard. You look up at him and you’re sure the shock is evident on your face. 

“I, uh, can’t stop anyone from being in the library,” you say, feeling uncertain.

“Well, no,” he chuckles. “But if you’d rather work alone…”

You don’t respond right away; you’re considering it. Remus wasn’t a bother. You didn’t know why he would give up a Hogsmeade trip to be in the library with you though. You knew he usually accompanied his boisterous friends to the village.

“If it’s just you, I suppose company could be nice.” A small smile is playing at your lips in a way Remus has never seen before. “If you’re thinking of bringing the rest of your little gang with you, I’d rather you stay away then.”

Remus chuckles. “Those gits will be off in the village. Possibly pestering Lark.” He sends a wink your way.

You shake your head as you look back down at your essay, but there’s an undeniable smile on your face now. Remus sees it as a success. Maybe with a little persuading from him, the others would let Lark know he needed to back off of you and you’d be free from his pursuits. 

Come Saturday, you and Remus are back at the same table. Except he’s sitting across from you and reading as opposed to working on his own assignments.

Curious, you ask, “Weren’t you assigned this essay too?”

“Finished it.”

“And you don’t have anything else to work on?”

“No. That’s why I’m reading.” He flourishes his book for emphasis.

“So you gave up going to Hogsmeade for…” Your voice lilts like you’re asking a question.

“To keep you company while you work.”

“I work alone all the time. I’m usually more productive that way.”

“Maybe you just haven’t had company conducive to efficiency.”

“Who talks like that?” you laugh. “Company conducive to efficiency.”

Remus smiles at you and sets his book down. “I’m just saying! Some people are more of a distraction while others let you do your thing. James and Sirius? Distractions. Peter… He goes back and forth between the two.”

“And I suppose you’re conducive for them.”

“Most of the time. Others, I’m as bad as they are.”

He picks his book back up to continue reading and you return to your essay. The library is silent except for the scratching of your quill and the occasional turning of pages by Remus. You sneak a few glances at him when you finish a sentence or a paragraph, and you catch yourself full on staring at him when you finish. As you put your work away, you clear your throat to get his attention.

“I suppose you being here was conducive, but I feel bad that you didn’t go to Hogsmeade.”

He shakes his head. “Don’t. Sometimes I need a break from certain people.”

“Then let me make it up to you. Let’s go to Hogsmeade together tomorrow.” You pause and blush at what you just said. “If you want to, of course, and don’t have anything else planned. I just thought that, because you didn’t go today and tomorrow will be less busy since everyone goes today.” You feel yourself rambling which makes you blush harder.

“Yeah, okay. That’d be nice. Meet you in the Great Hall after breakfast? Or lunch? I’m really okay with either.”

“I’m not a morning person,” you say with a chuckle. “We could get lunch in Hogsmeade?”

“Oh, okay. Then meet by the Grand Entrance around noon?”

“Sounds like a plan, Lupin. I’ll, uh, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As you walk away from him, he can’t help but smile. This was going better than planned. He didn’t have to ask you out; you asked him. And all he had to do was not be forward about it with you. Now, he just had to work up to kissing you, and then snogging. 

You’re more nervous than you expected to be in the morning. You had never been on a date before, and you weren’t even sure if this would count as one. Your roommates were confused as to why you didn’t go to Hogsmeade yesterday with them but were going today.

“It’s just backwards!” one had tried to explain when they heard of your plan. “Everyone goes to Hogsmeade on Saturday and does homework on Sunday!”

“Which leads to Hogsmeade being packed and then the library being packed. It makes sense to go today.”

You purposefully left out that you were meeting Remus and going with him. Just as he hadn’t told his friends that he was making progress with you. For now, until something proper came out of it, this Hogsmeade visit would be something you shared only with each other.

Remus is waiting for you when you finally leave your dorm. The walk to Hogsmeade is quiet. It’s not awkward though. You’re glad he’s not trying to force conversation. You fear that would be more uncomfortable. 

“So where do you want to go first?” you ask as you arrive. 

“I don’t mind as long as we hit up Honeydukes and Three Broomsticks at some point,” he says with a shrug. 

You can’t help but think he looks a bit cute with his hands shoved into his pockets. 

“Start at Three Broomsticks then? Get our lunch and go from there?” you suggest. 

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

As expected, the pub isn’t too busy. You find a table and order food and butterbeers from Rosmerta. Then it’s just the two of you at a table. He asks about your essay that you were working on yesterday and if you think Slughorn will like it. He talks about his own. Conversation covers a lot of school, but then it drifts to your friends and Quidditch. And then to the Marauders and their pranks. Time flies by so quickly. Your plates are emptied quickly and you go through several mugs of butterbeer. You only notice how much time has gone by you glance out the window by chance and the sun is lower in the sky than you had expected.

“Oh! We need to get going if you still want to go to Honeydukes.”

Remus looks to the window and nods. “I didn’t realize the time…”

He waves down Rosmerta and hands her some galleons. You smack his shoulder gently as you exit the pub together. 

“You paid? I was the one who invited you to Hogsmeade. I should’ve paid.”

He rolls his eyes. “Doesn’t the guy on a date though?”

You blush, which in turn causes him to blush. So this was a date. And you had initiated.

“Let me pay for your chocolate at least.”

“Oh, don’t go down that road,” he says with a laugh and a wide smile. “You are underestimating how much chocolate I’ll be getting.”

“Galleons worth?” 

“Galleons worth.”

“Remus Lupin! That cannot be healthy!”

“‘S not my fault my stash gets raided constantly.”

You laugh. The air is light between you. He really does get several galleons worth of chocolate; you thought he was kidding. You insist on paying for part of it. The owners of Honeydukes patiently wait for you to leave the store before locking the door behind you. The sun is set by the time you’re walking back to Hogwarts. The crescent moon is high in the night sky, bathing the path back to school in a pale light.

When you reach the castle, still standing outside, you say, “This was fun. I’m glad I got to go to Hogsmeade.”

“I’m glad I got to go with you.”

You feel your face heat. The romantic in you tells you, no, begs you to kiss his cheek. Tell him he’s why it was so fun. Talking over butterbeers was your favorite way to pass time and you really enjoyed getting to know him better. But you weren’t so bold. 

“Goodnight Remus,” you say before heading inside. 

He stood outside for a few minutes longer. He should have kissed your cheek. He was kicking himself for not doing so. But that might have been too bold and risked scaring you off. It was probably for the best that he didn’t. He needed to work up to it. The boys were waiting for him when he returned to his dorm.

“Where have you been all day?” James asks accusingly as soon as Remus walks through the door.

“None of your business, Mum,” Remus says, tossing the Honeydukes bag on his bed.

“Honeydukes?” Peter asks, sitting up. “You went to Hogsmeade? Just now?”

“You went to Hogsmeade without us?” James asks, putting two and two together. 

“You went yesterday,” Remus reminds him.

“You chose to stay back. Why go today?”

“Because-” he starts to say.

“You’re working on the bet, aren’t you?” Sirius cuts him off. The smile Sirius was sporting said that he knew he was right.

“Yes.”

James and Peter gasp. Sirius grins wider.

“So you going to tell us how it’s going?”

“No.”

“Why not?” Peter asks with a pout forming on his face.

“You’ll just know when I succeed.”

Sirius rolls his eyes and laughs. “Must be going well if you’re still confident you’re going to succeed.”

---

“Andrew, for the love of Merlin, leave me alone,” you complain on your way to class.

Whatever the Marauders did to him at Hogsmeade wasn’t enough. He seemed more urgent than ever to take you on a date, even with you telling him that you weren’t interested in him in the slightest. He stands in the doorway to your class, which he isn’t in.

“Come on, just one date. It’ll be the best one you’ve ever been on!”

Remus looks up from his conversation with the boys at his desk at Andrew’s voice. He hears you groan.

“Let me into my class!”

Remus is there in a moment. 

“Lark, let the lady through,” Remus says firmly.

Andrew spins around in the doorway, still blocking it but now looking at Remus. 

“Little Lupin to the rescue? You fancy her or something?”

“Yeah, a bit,” Remus answers, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. “Now let her through. I think she’s made her opinions of you quite clear.”

Andrew glances at you over his shoulder. 

“Hear that, dove? Lupin likes you.”

“I’d hope so. We went on a date.”

Andrew’s arms fall so he’s not blocking the door as well and Remus pulls you through, which makes Andrew stumble slightly out of the way.

“What do you mean you went on a date?” Andrew asks indignantly. “A date? An actual date? With him?”

“That’s what I said. Care to confirm?” you ask, looking up at Remus, who is still holding your arm.

“Yeah. It was quite lovely. She’s quite lovely.” He looks down at you with a soft smile. 

Then without thinking, you lean up and press a chaste kiss to his cheek. Andrew looks ready to scream and a few hollers erupt from behind you. You scan the room for the source. The Marauders. You’re not too surprised at that. Of course Remus’ friends would be watching him as he came to play hero. It’s less than thirty seconds, but by the time you look back over to the door, Andrew has vanished.

“Thanks, Remus,” you breathe.

“Maybe he’ll finally leave you alone, huh?”

“Hope so.”

He walks you to your desk before returning to his own, where James pats him enthusiastically on the back. Throughout the entire lesson, you two are looking over at each other. Most of the time, when one is looking, the other isn’t. You only make eye contact with him once all lesson, which caused both of you to turn a deep shade of crimson. 

By the end of the week, Andrew stops asking you out on the daily and appears to be purposefully avoiding you and Remus. You find ways to spend more time with him, scheduling study time in the library and comparing schedules so that you can walk to your classes together. You even join him and his friends for lunch every few days. They were rather shocked the first time, but quickly turned into a welcoming group. 

It became obvious to those around you that you were seeing Remus. It came as a surprise to many people, including your friends. 

“What do you mean you’re dating Remus Lupin? When do you talk to him?”

“What do you mean you went to Hogsmeade with him? Alone?”

“When did this happen and why didn’t we know about it?”

Excuses of minding your own business and not wanting to count your chickens before they hatched echoed in your dorm. It really had come out of nowhere, but you suppose it was because Remus pursued you in a way that no one else had. He wasn’t putting you on the spot to do the things he wanted and disrupting you when you were clearly busy. He liked to be in your presence and took your opinion into consideration before suggesting things. Even better, he put Andrew Lark in his place. 

You were headed to your usual table to meet Remus for a study session; you refused to call them study dates because you knew your mind would say that you can’t be productive on a date. You laugh at your thoughts: dates are not conducive for studying. You hear Remus’ voice as you walk through the shelves, collecting some books you know you need for your Herbology assignment. You stop mid-step when you hear additional voices at your table.

“Have you snogged her yet, Moony?” Sirius asks.

“No, not yet,” he answers with a sigh. 

Not yet. You smile.

“Well, could you get on with it? You’ve been spending so much time with her. We need you for this prank.”

“You were the one to suggest the bet. Sorry I’m taking my time.”

“But you’re going to break up with her once you do, right?” Peter asks. “Complete the bet and get out before you catch feelings. That was the point of this.”

You bite your lip, hoping that somehow this wasn’t about you, that maybe Remus had a voice twin and they were talking about the other boy’s girl. You knew that it wasn’t possible, but you had to hope for a moment. But then James spoke. 

“Even better, you got Lark off her back so she owes you. She owes you a snog and then you’re free. You’ll have gotten your kiss, Casanova.”

Lark. He had only been after you for a while. And Remus had been the reason he was leaving you alone. 

You leave your hiding place within the books, stepping into their line of sight. Remus’ eyes go wide as he sees you. His heart breaks when he sees the tears in your eyes. You had heard and he knew it. 

You lock eyes with him and you shake your head. Holding the books close to your chest, you turn to leave the library. How could you work with someone who was only with you to snog you for a bet? A damn bet? 

You ignore Remus calling after you. You don’t break into a run; you have too many books in your arms to run, but you’re walking as quickly as you can. From the sound of his footsteps, he is running. Running and calling your name, saying it isn’t what you think. That the boys don’t know what they are talking about. You spin on the spot to glare at him through tears when he finally catches up to you and places a hand on your shoulder. 

“Did you or did you not ask to sit at my table in the library because of, of, of that bet?” you spit. It comes out harsh. It was supposed to. You were angry and upset.

“I did, but-”

“There’s no buts about this, Remus,” you say firmly. You’re firm but your voice is laced with sadness and uncertainty. “All of this was because of a bet. And I’m not a bet. So yeah. Go fuck yourself.”

You leave him standing in the corridor. He could’ve followed you. Some part of him knew he should have so that he could explain. 

---

You avoid Remus at all costs. He tries to hunt you down in the library, in between classes, in the Great Hall. He’s even taken to sitting outside your dorm. Your roommates step around him, muttering insults. He doesn’t blame them. If it had been anyone else doing this, he would be saying the same insults under his breath to Sirius, James and Peter. He hated himself for agreeing to the stupid bet in the first place. He should have just gone after you on his own terms. 

About a week later, you spent all day studying in the library and you were honestly surprised that Remus didn’t show up once. You missed dinner, but you didn’t mind. If you had gone to dinner, you might have run into Remus and if you were safe in the library, you were staying there until you went to bed. Except you ran into Remus while trying to go to bed. He was asleep outside your dorm’s door. You knew you should’ve just gone into your dorm and ignored him, but you were a good person and wouldn’t let him sleep like that all night. You nudge his side gently with your foot.

“Lupin,” you say softly. “Lupin, wake up.”

He stirs, rubbing his eyes. When he sees that you’re the one who woke up and not some disgruntled prefect, he jumps to his feet and hugs you. You make a startled noise at the hug.

“Please, let me explain,” he whispers.

“You have five minutes. Then I’m going to bed.”

“Okay, thank you,” he says quickly. “Thank you. Okay, so yes, it did start as a bet.”

You groan and reach for the doorknob. He puts his hand on top of yours to stop it from turning. 

“I have four minutes and thirty seconds,” he says, causing you to roll your eyes. “A bet that I couldn’t get a girl and snog her. I accepted because Sirius was being rude. Stupid, I know. But please, please, please believe me when I say the bet stopped being relevant the moment you agreed that I could keep you company in the library while you worked on your Potions essay. I wasn’t doing it just to snog you and prove to the boys that I really could get a girl.”

“And I should believe you because?”

“Because if it was just for a bet, I would’ve kissed you when we got back from Hogsmeade the first time. I would’ve snogged you in front of Andrew and the boys. Just to prove that I could do it. I would’ve been done.” He pauses, trying to read the expression on your face. “I’ve been spending so much time with you because I genuinely like you so much. I like being your boyfriend. I like being around you. I like making you smile. I like making you laugh. Yes, I’d like to snog you very much. But not for a bet. I want to snog you to feel your lips against mine. I like studying with you, I like paying for your butterbeers. I like walking around with you. I like when you hang out with my friends. I’d like to hang out with your friends.” 

He pauses his ramblings to catch his breath briefly.

“That is, if you’ll forgive me for even partaking in this stupid goddamn bet. And you somehow convince your friends to forgive me too.”

You cross your arms and lean against the doorframe. You take in Remus’ appearance. You’re used to him looking perpetually tired, but he looks exhausted, so much worse for wear than usual. His hair is a mess and clothes uncharacteristically rumpled. His expression is so genuine and sad, practically begging you to understand how much he cares for you.  

“Please. I know you’re more than a bet. So much more. The only good thing about the bet is that it actually got me to get close to you.”

“I’ll forgive you under one condition,” you say.

His face lights up and he takes a step toward you. 

“Anything. You name it and it’s done.”

You smirk. “When you do snog me, please do it in front of Lark. A little revenge on that sorry bastard.”

Remus smiles widely and nods. Then he places a gentle kiss on your lips. It only lasts a second, over as soon as it began. 

“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” He gives you an identical kiss. “One snog in front of Lark coming up.”

[puckinghischier]

Sunburnt

Jack Hughes x fem!reader

summary: reader gets a little too excited on her first day at the lake, resulting in a nasty sunburn

notes: hi!!!! long time so see!! my writing slump has been brutal, but i had a lil pool day today and was sitting there thinking about what a summer at the hughes lake house is like while sunbathing and this little piece popped into my head. it’s not much and probably a lil all over the place, but i hope you enjoy!! i missed all of you 🥺

[3.3k]

(also, unedited bc it’s late and i’m going to bed. i might edit it in the morning, we’ll see)

You’ve waited all year for this. You have absolutely nothing on your agenda but two straight months of lake house fun and working on your tan.

Your move to New Jersey had really put a halt to any tan building for a majority of the year. You learned quickly that the winters were long and brutal, leaving little room to feed your sunbathing addiction.

You had tried to find a salon to tan at, but you quickly got bored of the bright lights and sterile smell. You even tried spray tans a couple of times, but you always felt you had more of an orange tone than a golden one.

You didn’t have to worry about any of it for a second longer, though. You were finally in the place you craved to be year-round.

Since the season ended early for the boys this year, the Devils losing their shot at the playoffs, you and Jack had packed your things and left Jersey the second all of his current post-season duties were over with.

Jack had managed to secure himself a pass on any other post season activities the players might be pulled for. He wasn’t required to return to the city until pre-season started.

Luke and Quinn were set to join the two of you whenever they could, but with Luke playing on the U.S. national team, and Quinn’s playoff run with the Canucks coming up, it would be weeks before either brother made their way to the beloved lake house.

Ellen and Jim were also set to join at some point during the stay, but weren’t yet sure of when they could escape their work for a few weeks.

This leaves you and Jack with the entire house to yourself for the beginning of your stay. You loved the other Hughes brothers, but with Luke living with Jack and your own roommate being a homebody, the two of you were rarely ever awarded with true alone time.

You were currently putting sheets on the bed in what will be yours and Jack’s room for the next two months while Jack unloads his car.

You were nearly done when you hear the sound of a suitcase being dragged up the stairs.

“God, Y/N, I know we’re going to be here a while, but it feels like you packed your entire apartment in here.”

Poking your head out of the open doorway, you watch as your boyfriend heaves your gigantic suitcase up the double flight of stairs.

“Well, I was going to only pack a few swimsuits and pjs, but I figured I should pack some real clothes for when the rest of your family gets here.”

Jack responds with a glare as he climbs the final step, stopping to take a breather. His face was a light shade of red and there were a few beads of sweat on his top lip.

“You know, I figured since you just finished your season you’d still be in pretty decent shape, but it looks like you’re going to have to stay in the gym all summer. Maybe do a bit more cardio and weight lifting, seeing as you’re struggling to carry my lil’ ole’ suitcase,” you tease, retreating back into the bedroom to place the decorative pillows on the bed.

“Maybe if you didn’t shove a dead body in your luggage I’d be able to carry it up the stairs like a normal person. But no, you had to pack cinderblocks.” He rolls the oversized suitcase into the corner of the room, placing his own measly duffle bag next to it.

You let a small giggle slip out, walking over to where Jack was standing with his hands on his hips.

Once you reach him, you place your hands through the opening left by his arms on either side of his torso, hugging him close to you. You let your chin rest on his chest as you look up at him, his own face tilted down so he could meet your eyes.

“Thank you, my big strong hockey player boyfriend, for carrying the dead body in my suitcase up the stairs. I’ll make sure to leave your name out of all this in court,” you joke, leaning up to place a small peck on his lips.

“Oh, how kind of you. How will I ever repay you?” Jack places his own arms around you, pulling you even closer.

“Hmmm…” you pretend to think. “How about helping me rub tanning lotion on my back and laying in the sun with me for the rest of the day?”

Jack acts like he’s mulling it over, raising his eyebrows while tilting his head to one side.

“I guess I can manage that. Considering the circumstances.”

You smile up at him, pulling out of his embrace.

“Yay! Okay, I have to go get changed. Set up the chairs for us?” You ask him, clapping your hands together out of excitement.

“Your wish is my command,” Jack says with a bow, playfully rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

You turn to open your suitcase to fish out one of the many bathing suits you brought as Jack makes his way out of the room.

“Find the sunniest spot you can! I need to make up for lost time!” you shout after him, hearing a laugh as he makes his way down the stairs.

Only 10 minutes later, you walk out of the sliding glass door leading to the backyard. You spot Jack on the dock down near the lake, putting the final touches on your sunny oasis.

You make the small trek down to him, pool bag in hand and sunglasses on your face.

“Wow, all this for me?” you announce your presence as you reach the end of the lengthy deck.

Jack had set up two tanning chairs on the end of the dock, an umbrella in-between them for when you inevitably claim you’re too hot and sweaty to sit in the sun any longer. He had a small cooler set up with waters, beer for himself, and some of your favorite fruity seltzers.

He had even found a small fan that he clipped to the arm of your chair to keep you cool while you laid out in the sun. He was fiddling with the small speaker he had under the umbrella as you approached, a country song flowing out around you.

“Only the best for my little felon,” he recalls your earlier conversation, raising up to give you his full attention.

Once his eyes fall on you, his mouth snaps shut.

You had picked your skimpiest bikini, wanting to get all of the risqué swimsuits out of the way before the two of you had company later in the summer.

The number you were currently sporting was a pale pink matching set. Two tiny triangles covered your chest, while a high-legged thong covered the rest of you.

You watched as his darkening eyes raked over your body, his tongue poking out to wet his dry lips.

“Hell, baby, you can stuff my dead body in a suitcase if you’re going to look like that while doing it,” Jack breathes out.

You laugh at his response, walking over and setting your stuff on your chair, patting his bare chest as you walk past him.

You bend over to grab your tanning lotion out of your bag when you feel a light smack on your ass cheek, straightening up to find Jack standing right behind you, his hand finding its place on your exposed hip.

“Y’know, we could skip this whole tanning thing and go make use of that big, empty house while we have the chance,” Jack lowly whispers in your ear, sliding his hand around to ghost his fingers up and down the soft skin of your belly.

You lean your head back on his shoulder at the touch, allowing yourself to enjoy it for a few more seconds before turning around in his hold and placing your hands on his freckled shoulders.

“I think that’s a wonderful idea and would absolutely love to….” You trail off, standing on your tip toes and letting your lips touch his ear as you speak. Jack gulps, closing his eyes as he feels your hand slip from its spot on his shoulder and continue to move downward, almost reaching the band of his swimming trunks when you stop.

“…..after we tan” you finish, bringing your hand back up to pat his cheek, causing his eyes to shoot open.

“Okay, not fair,” he pouts as you push him back so you can continue digging through your bag.

“You told me you’d tan with me, so tan with me you shall,” you remind him, finding the bottle of lotion and holding it out to him.

Jack fulfills your wishes and very thoroughly applies the dark lotion to your skin, only being reprimanded for wandering hands a few times.

The two of you lay out on the dock for hours, enjoying each other’s company while feeling the rays soak into your skin. You talk about Jack’s team and this past season, what the upcoming season might hold, what the plan is for when the rest of the Hughes family joins, and various other light topics.

At one point you let the soft music and warmness of the sun lull you to sleep, only waking up when Jack comes over and gently shakes your shoulders.

“Y/N, c’mon, time to go inside. You’ve been in the sun for way too long, you’re going to get burnt,” Jack softly speaks to you as you come back into consciousness.

“Mmm, don’t wanna. Too comfy. Warm. Five more minutes,” you fight him, turning your head over to face opposite him.

“Nope, not an option. Can’t let you get too fried on your first day. You won’t be able to do anything for days if we don’t go inside, Lovey,” Jack uses the nickname he stole from your own family.

You grumble in protest, but peel yourself from the chair nonetheless. You notice how much lower the sun is in the sky and wonder what time it is. You pull your phone from your bag to see you’ve been out here well into the evening.

You realize you and Jack forgot to go grocery shopping after you got here, your excitement about the sunshine causing you to forget any other chores you intended on doing today.

You grab your bag and follow Jack back up the dock, admiring the way the muscles in his back are flexed due to him carrying the still full cooler on his shoulder.

“Hey, J, what are we gonna do for dinner? We don’t have any groceries and I’m not sure if you want to go out, but-“ you’re cut off by your own stomach, the growl loud enough for the two of you to hear over the music still flowing through the speaker in Jack’s pocket.

“Yeah, looks like we’re going out, huh?” Jack laughs as your cheeks turn an even darker shade of pink than they already are from the sun.

You reach the house and help unload the cooler into the fridge before making your way up the stairs to rinse off and change.

When you step into the bathroom and undress, you’re shocked to see the extremely present tan lines already formed on your very red skin. You hadn’t noticed it outside, but your entire front half is a fiery shade of red.

You lightly press two fingers to the skin in-between your breasts and notice the two white fingerprints left behind. Your eyes widen when you realize how badly burnt you are.

You exit the bathroom to grab the after-sun lotion you packed before returning and turning the shower on, making sure you remember to lather yourself in the lotion after you’re done showering.

You peel back the curtain and step under the warm stream of water, but the feeling of the water hitting your sensitive skin causes you to cry out, trying to remove yourself from the water’s harsh sting.

Your scream of pain grabs Jack’s attention, causing him to rush up the stairs and burst into the bathroom, panic evident on his face.

“Y/N, what’s wrong, are you okay?” he steps into the bathroom, looking around for the source of your scream.

“Jack, we have a problem….” You whine, pulling the curtain back to reveal the state of your skin.

Jack’s eyebrows shoot up, eyes widening at the angry, red color of your skin.

“Oh Lovey…”

You stand with the curtain open, shivering despite the elevated temperature of your skin. You had turned the water to cold to avoid the searing pain again, but the cold felt like small knives poking into your flesh.

“I think we got a little too excited with the tanning lotion….” You squeak out, trying to wrap your arms around yourself, but any touch to your skin felt like fire.

Jack’s eyes fill with sympathy, but also guilt.

“I’m so sorry, Y/N. I should have woken you up sooner. You just looked so content I didn’t want to make you go inside just yet.”

“No, it’s not your fault. I should have set a timer or something. You know how I get,” you wave off his guilt, knowing you can get a little sun-drunk sometimes.

Although, you had never let yourself get this burnt before.

You blame the New Jersey climate and its lack of warm weather for your tanning needs to prevent this from happening once you do manage to get somewhere warm and sunny.

Jack still looks at you, not sure what to do for you, but not wanting to leave you by yourself, seeing as you’re stuck standing with your arms held out a few inches from your torso to avoid any unwanted skin contact.

“I don’t know how I’m going to shower, Jack. The water burns so bad, even on cold. But I have to get this sticky lotion off of me,” you whine again, frustrated that you’re burnt so badly you can’t even wash the tacky lotion off of your body.

“I’ll go get a soft washcloth, hang on,” Jack leaves the bathroom for only a second before returning with a soft, blue cloth in his hands.

He adjusts the water temperature and holds the cloth under the lukewarm water for a moment before applying some of your body wash to it and handing it to you.

You take the cloth from his hands and attempt to wash yourself, but any movement of your limbs causes your damaged skin to pull, making you whimper out in pain.

“Okay, don’t worry baby, I got you,” Jack takes the cloth from you, stepping into the shower, standing in-between you and the water streaming out of the shower head.

“Please, be careful, J, it hurts,” you whine out, eyeing the cloth in his hand.

“I got you, Lovey, trust me,” Jack tells you as he drags the cloth over your skin so lightly you’re not even sure it’s touching you.

He continues the feather-light motion slowly, until he’s cleaned your entire body.

“I have to rinse you now, okay? It might sting, but we’ll go slow,” he turns to rinse the cloth, letting it soak with water once more after there’s no traces of soap left.

You close your eyes as he squeezes the water out of the cloth onto your arm, the sting only slightly better than before, but bearable enough you only have to have him stop once.

After he rinses all of the soap off of your body, Jack turns off the shower and finds the softest towel in the cabinet under the sink. He pats your sore skin dry, then rubs the after-sun lotion all over your body before helping you into your pajamas.

“Jack, I don’t think I can wear this, hurts too bad,” you tell him when he hands you the matching button up shirt to the shorts you’re currently wearing.

“Okay, go topless, then. Won’t hurt my feelings any,” he winks at you, causing you to roll your eyes with a smile.

Once you were as dressed as you could stand to be, Jack helps you to the bed sitting in the middle of your bedroom. Luckily your back wasn’t burnt, so he helps you into a partial sitting position, piling several pillows behind you to prop you up.

He starts to pull the blanket over you, but you stop him, knowing anything touching your skin right know would bring you to tears.

“Babe, you’re going to get cold if you don’t cover up with something. As soon as the sun sets you’ll get the chills,” he eyes the large window on the other side of the room, knowing it’ll be dark in another hour.

“Jack it hurts too bad, I can’t,” you cry out, pouting at him.

“Okay, fine. We’ll figure something out later,” he gives in, walking over to the other side of the bed and sitting down.

He turns on the tv and attempts to find something for the two of you to watch when your stomach growls again, reminding you that you still hadn’t eaten since this morning.

“Jack, I’m still hungry.”

“Do you want me to go grab something?”

“No, don’t leave me here by myself, what if my skin starts melting off?” you exasperated.

Jack laughs at you. “Your skin isn’t going to start melting, but fine. I’ll go find the take out menus and see who delivers.”

Thirty minutes later the doorbell rings, signaling the arrival of your Chinese food.

Jack goes to grab the food and bring plates upstairs so the two of you can eat in your bed, knowing you don’t feel like trying to walk downstairs to the dining room table.

He sets everything out like a small buffet. You manage to sit up a little straighter and try to reach for a plate, but the movement brings a new stinging warmth to the skin of your arm.

“Jack, I can’t even reach for a plate, how am I supposed to fill said plate and feed myself,” you say, frustrated.

Jack doesn’t say anything, but he takes the plate you were reaching for and puts all of your favorites on it. He grabs a fork and moves so he’s sitting cross-legged beside you.

“Here, open up,” Jack brings a fork full of food towards your mouth, motioning for you to open your mouth as the fork gets closer to you.

You open your mouth and he shovels the food in, going back in for more food once you had chewed and swallowed the first bite.

“Are you really going to sit here and feed me that entire plate?” you ask him, slightly embarrassed that this is how your first night at the lake house is going.

“Well, yeah. You said you were hungry, right?” Jack responds, looking at you as if he thought your question was stupid.

“I am, but you don’t have to do this. You can eat your food. I’ll figure out something. I feel like a kid sitting here being fed,” you tell him, wishing you could cross your arms the way you usually do when you pout.

“Y/N, you’re sitting in front of me with no shirt on. I’m trying my hardest not to stare at your boobs right now because I feel it would be wildly inappropriate to be sporting a boner when my girlfriend is clearly in pain. I can assure you, the last thing I’m thinking about right now is you resembling a kid,” he says, seriousness lacing his tone.

You laugh at your boyfriend, causing the skin on your belly to burn slightly, but you don’t care. You love how Jack can always make you feel better about any situation, even one as embarrassing as this.

“Now, c’mon and open up. Your food is gonna get cold,” he fusses, bringing another fork full of food towards your mouth.

He feeds you an entire plate of food, then eats his own. He takes the dishes and leftovers downstairs before coming back up to take a shower of his own.

Once he’s done with his own shower, he brings the bottle of after-sun back into the bedroom and lathers your skin in it once again, hoping this will help soothe your skin a bit more before the two of you try to sleep.

He settles in the bed, and as he predicted, you’ve started violently shivering.

“Can I please put a blanket on you now? I know you said it hurts, but you’re going to shiver right out of this bed if you don’t cover up,” Jack pleads, hating to see you shaking like this.

“Yeah, we can try. But maybe just the top sheet only for now,” you tell him, still apprehensive.

He gently pulls the top sheet over your body, letting it fall right at your collar bone.

You thank him for that second coat of after-sun because you can actually bear the thin cotton on your skin this time.

“Better?” he asks, waiting for any kind of negative reaction from you.

“Better. Thank you, Jack,” you tell him, causing him to relax a bit.

“Don’t sweat it, babe,” he shrugs it off, moving to get himself settled on his side of the bed.

“No, I mean it. I’m sorry I let myself ruin our first night here. I just got too eager, I guess. Forgot I haven’t laid out in a while.”

“It’s okay. Really. It’s partially my fault, too. For letting you sleep for so long without making you move under the umbrella with me,” he turns the light off, sliding down next to you, but not touching your skin.

“Well, I promise, I’m wearing sunscreen and sunscreen only for the rest of the summer,” you swear to him, moving your hand to loop your pinky through his, not being able to handle not touching him.

“I mean, I’m all for it, babe, but I don’t know how my parents and brothers will feel about that,” Jack quips back. You can hear the amused smile on his face, even though the room is pitch black.

“Goodnight, Jack.” Is all you say, rolling your eyes and smiling even though you know he can’t see you.

Jack lets out a laugh, squeezing your pinky.

Your skin may be on fire due to your love of sun soaking, but your heart has been sunburnt for years; Jack’s own personal sunshine setting it on fire every second you’re together.

[tteokdoroki]

*ੈ🌩️‧₊˚— the world in your name + eren jaeger.

૮˶ᵕ ༝ᵕ˶ა synopsis — in the quiet of the night, eren realises that he'd destroy the world for you. no matter what universe your love may exist in.

⭑ warnings — please read + mdni ! characters aged up, fluff, angst, childhood friends to lovers, mentions of nightmares, modern!au with some canon references, aot manga spoilers (?), marriage, eren has a son, not beta read ! - fem!reader.

⭑ words — 1.5K.

⭑ notes — hi !! hello its eren's birthday and if you've been on my blog recently you'd know that i'm falling in love w him all over again so... here's a soft lil one-shot for my boy. i miss him, i want him happy again. enjoy! - m.list ✩

“hey, ‘renren. what are you doing out here all by yourself?”

before he even has a chance to respond, you’re slipping a jacket over eren’s shoulders— tucking yourself under his arm since you know that he finds comfort in your body heat.

“nothin’ much,” he leans down to brush his lips over your forehead, taking the time to appease his guilty pleasure as he breathes in the scent of your shea shampoo. “got a little crowded in there. needed the air— plus the stars are out tonight.” he’s making excuses and he has no doubt that you’ll see right through his bullshit. eren can already feel the smile on your face as you bury yourself deeper into his side, your lips brushing up against him from over his clothes.

after a second of selfishly taking him in yourself, you look up— eyes glittering and loving, reading deep into eren’s soul just like they always have, and so easily too. “bullshit.” your voice lays flat but your eyes are amused as you tip toe up to reach eren’s cheek, kissing him there. he finds that cute, that he’s taller than you now and it’s the opposite of when you were growing up. that he’s big enough to protect you where you’d do the same for him as kids. “eren jaeger not wanting to be the centre of attention at his own party? you sick or somethin’ renren?”

“don’t call me that, we’re not kids anymore.” the brunette grimaces even though his heart bristles happily in his chest.

“you don’t even like the stars. you hate being cold.”

“i like them when i’m here.” eren wraps an arm around your waist and turns to face you fully, tugging you into his chest— his forefinger and thumb tilting your head up so he can look at you better. love you a little longer. “with you.”

you roll your eyes, but melt like butter under his touch. “don’t be corny, honey.”

“you love it when i’m corny. you think it’s romantic.” he says and god— there’s that smile again. the one where your eyes crinkle and it raises your cheeks so high, it looks as if you might burst with happiness. your smile, it makes the world turn on its axis, makes the waves it the shore and the leaves fall from trees and mountains crumble into the seas. it fixes everything, it fixes him.

“come back inside, eren. we’re all waiting for you.” your voice is so soft, he can’t help but shut green eyes away as you cup the side of his face with the softness of your palm, letting the tips of your fingers twirl through his chocolate brown locks in a way that makes the stress sag from his body. “our son wants to see you blow out the candles, make a wish before mommy puts him to bed.”

“we’ll put him to bed together. i just—“ eren is so fucking lucky, he’d be a fool not to take that as fact. you’ve given him everything; a happy life, a home, a beautiful son, and all the love he could ever ask for— even after everything he’d been through, everything he’d put you through over the years. he wasn’t the best to you, not always, but you stayed. when his parents died, when the world gave out beneath his feet and he couldn’t stand up on his own. you shouldered his burdens with him even though he wasn’t as half as good to you as he should have been. but he loves you with everything he has and everything he doesn’t.

he sighs in content, brought back to reality when you cup his face with two hands instead of one and he opens his eyes just to see how worried you look. “i’ll be there in a minute. just…stay out here with me for a bit.” eren wraps his hands around your wrists softly, grounding you while you ground him and his unfairly long eyelashes flutter against your gentle palms.

“okay,” you breathe, relieved that he’s back from wherever his mind had taken him. back to you. “another minute. as long as you need, ‘ren.” there’s that pet name again, the one tied to distant memories of summers and melting ice-pops and scraped knees. you’ve known him so long, you still know how to make his heart race and you’d even given him the honour of being called your husband.

eren loves you so much. he wonders if he’s told you that he loves you today or if he’s made you feel as such. you always make him feel loved, you take care of him and your beautiful son a little more than yourself— but he swears he’ll always be there to pick up your pieces if you fall apart like he’s done before. you need looking after too, and eren knows it’s silly but sometimes he holds back on his hurt and anguish because he knows you’ll drop everything to make it go away.

you’re his partner, his wife, his first love, the mother of his child and his equal— but eren won’t let you give away any more pieces of yourself, even if that’s what you’re supposed to do when you love each other. he’ll keep you whole, feed you pieces of himself instead, keep your world spinning because he loves you.

that’s why he doesn’t tell you about the nightmares he’s been having lately. the ones of another world. the ones where he tells you he’d flatten the world for you if you told him to and the one where you look at him as if he’s a monster.

even there, you find it in your heart to love him.

eren doesn’t tell you about the nightmares because he knows that in this life, if he had that same power… he’d flatten the world for you and your son— he’d do anything to keep you safe and happy. rip stars from the sky and buildings along with them, trample the earth until everything has no choice but to start anew. that’s how much he’d sacrifice himself for you, how many pieces he’d give up just to keep your smile the way it is. he struggled to love you with the words he needs, but he hopes to whatever higher being or power is out there that his actions are enough.

because eren jaeger loves you enough to kill the entire world in your name.

in this life and all of its alternatives.

“papa! come! cake time!”

the deep depth of eren’s thoughts is breached by his little son calling out to him from the sliding glass doors on your back porch with a sheepish mikasa in tow. its then that the older brunette pulls his forehead away from yours, a smile settling on his handsome and matured features as he crouches down to welcome his little boy into his arms.

he’s so much bigger than eren had realised, maybe time is slipping away from you both. he’s almost two, has eren’s eyes and his untamed hair, but the face is all yours. that smile, the one eren’s son is giving him is so big and bright and beautiful and it’s all yours. another gift you had given eren, another person to love.

“hey there lil’ man! daddy’s comin’, okay?” eren grins as his toddler clambers into his lap to give him a slobbery kiss and a squeeze— making his head spin with adoration. even more so than hen he feels you come up behind him and rub his shoulder lovingly. “give momma ‘n i a second, yeah?”

“‘mkay!”

the toddler jumps up to hug your legs next, tugging you in the direction of his aunty mikasa with a pout that could rival eren’s. “sorry for interrupting,” she whispers fondly and apologetically. “he wanted to come get you guys, he’s been trying to ward sasha off from eating the cake.”

“well we can’t have that, can we baby?” you coo as if you’ve got the world beneath your fingers— brushing back your son’s hair before you lift him into your arms, holding him close as if you can’t believe he’s real and that eren gave him to you. your little product of love. “let’s follow aunty mika inside ‘n get papa’s candles going. then aunty sasha can have some cake, how’s that sound?”

“good momma! les’ go! les’ go!” he chants excitedly, laughing along with you as you follow mikasa back into the house— away from the cold outside.

and it’s in that moment, that eren finds himself warm— even without you by his side. because you leave him filled with so much joy, so much happiness that he couldn’t ever feel like he was unloved. not even for a second. you and your son, you’re both all that eren has in this world, you’re what ties him to this very existence, what gives him a reason to keep going.

before he can even register it, eren reaches out for you both from his place on the porch— calling out your name before you re-enter the house. “i love you,” he murmurs so softly that he fears his words might have been lost with the sway of the trees in the wind. “both of you. so much.”

but then you smile, that same smile that eren would tear the world apart for and say. “love you too. and, happy birthday, eren.”

[alwaysonthemend]

Author’s Note: Coming to ya’ll once again with yet another Jake fic that’s just self-indulgent smut. Inspired by the lovely (read: horny) conversations that I had with my Jake lane besties yesterday. Blame them, not me. This fic is also inspired by the Gibson TV interview that Jake did a while ago because of this post from @indigofallingsky

If you haven't seen the interview, you can watch it here.

Content Warnings: Fem!reader, swearing, jake being a huge flirt, oral (f receiving), fingering, spanking, choking, p in v sex, unprotected sex (ik it's bad I just have a problem), squirting, softdom jakey, semi public sex, sir kink, lil bit of spit play maybe? and a shit ton of dirty talk. 18+ MINORS DNI

Word Count: 5293

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

You’re nervous, to say the least. And more than that, you’re frustrated because you’re so nervous. Being a photographer, it’s literally your job to be around famous people – and you pride yourself on never getting starstruck or anxious. You’d discovered quickly that most of the celebrities you interacted with were assholes anyway, and the few that weren’t assholes had either been boring or just plain weird. You’d stopped giving a damn years ago. 

But now, as you stood there waiting to introduce yourself to the man you would be photographing, you couldn’t stop the butterflies that erupted in your stomach as you watched him. You’d heard of him and his band before. You loved their music and you’d even been thinking of buying tickets to one of their upcoming shows if you could manage to get the time off from work. You knew what he looked like, but nothing could have prepared you for actually seeing him in person. He was gorgeous – sinfully so. You couldn’t help but stare as he walked around the room, introducing himself to everyone that he would be working with for his interview. 

The first thing you noticed was his hair; it was messy but beautiful, like someone had run their fingers through it haphazardly before he showed up. It was a gorgeous brown – almost copper when the light reflected on it. It looked especially gorgeous in contrast against his navy blue suit. And Jesus, did that suit fit him so well. He wasn’t a very tall man, but his entire body looked strong – solid. His thighs filled out those suit pants in a way that should be illegal. And his face… you could stare at it for hours. Plush lips, a perfect set of white teeth, and brown eyes that reminded you of bourbon. And of course he would be a fucking guitarist. 

When he finally made it to you, you had to fight to keep your voice steady and your eyes on his. 

“I’m Jake.” He said, giving you a dazzling smile as he extended his hand towards yours to shake. You took it, praying that he didn’t feel the slight tremor in them. 

“I’m Y/n. I’m going to be your photographer today.”

“Hi, Y/n. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The sound of your name from his mouth made your knees weak and you mentally rolled your eyes at yourself. “ Do you work for Gibson?”

You nodded. 

“Yep! Have for a few years now. All I’m going to be doing today is taking a few candid shots of you while you play and then we’ll do some actual posed shots afterwards” You gave him your best attempt at a professional smile. 

“Well, I’m lucky to have such a gorgeous woman taking my picture.” 

Your jaw dropped as he walked away from you, calm and collected after saying such a thing to you. Your eyes followed his retreating form as he went to take a seat on the little stool in front of the camera. He turned over his shoulder and locked eyes with you. He winked and you could feel the blush as it overtook your face. You dropped his gaze quickly. 

You took a seat on another stool by the wall. You wanted to listen to him before you took him over to take pictures. 

“Whenever you're ready, Mr. Kiszka. I’ll be asking you questions, but we’ll cut me from the final so it will be just you speaking.” The director, David, explained to him. “Let’s start with your full name.”

“Full name?” Jake asked him, a half smile painting his pretty lips. “How long do you want me to-” he chuckled. “Jacob Thomas Kiszka, sir.” 

His eyes locked on yours as he said the word, and your lips parted yet again as he pinned you with his gaze. 

“I don’t know.” He laughed, eyes snapping back to the camera. You glanced around to see that no one else seemed to have noticed him looking at you. You let out a shaky breath, your nerves completely unraveling the longer you were in his presence. Get a grip, y/n. 

“And tell us what you play.” David asked, and you watched on the little monitor as the second camera angle zoomed out for a wider shot. 

“I play guitar for the band Greta Van Fleet.” He answered, and you marveled at the smooth sound of his voice. David continued to ask him questions and you couldn’t help but be impressed – Jake was clearly a master of his craft, and yet he didn’t come across as egotistical or too self-assured. His talent spoke for itself and your heart raced at the quiet confidence that the man exuded. He was a gorgeous balance of confidence and professionalism. 

Every so often though, Jake’s eyes would sweep to find you. They’d linger on you for only a moment, before finding the camera again. Each glance was so fleeting you almost felt like you were imagining it – wishful thinking, and all that. But it kept happening; enough for you to believe that it had to be on purpose. You bit your lip, trying your best to remain focused on the job at hand and to stop the blush that seemed to have taken up permanent residence on your face.

Once David had asked all of his questions, he asked Jake to actually play his beautiful red Les Paul. Jake rose from his seat and strode quickly towards where his amps had been set up. He breezed by you, giving you another pointed stare from the corner of his eye. This time, you stared back – meeting the challenge in his eyes. He smirked. 

You watched him as he plugged in his guitar and strummed the strings once, checking their sound. He turned a few knobs on his instrument before strumming the strings again, this time seemingly satisfied. 

“Anything in particular you want me to play?” He asked, directing his gaze towards David. 

“Nope. Just whatever you would like to, really.”

Jake nodded once before beginning to play. The sound he coaxed from the instrument was beautiful, each note crisp and clean and oozing with sex appeal. His quiet demeanor melted away to reveal a man who was a master at what he was doing. You stared as his fingers danced across the strings and frets, effortlessly quick as he played. His face was focused, lost in his own world. 

Your cheeks blazed as you felt wetness seep into your panties as you watched him. Your breathing picked up and you felt as if your heart was going to beat out of your chest as you watched toss his head back and close his eyes. You could only stare as he rocked his hips into his guitar in time to the beat of the song he was playing. You’d never been this affected by anyone in your entire life. 

Your core ached and you clenched your thighs together. Jake’s gaze shifted to meet yours at the movement, and his eyes practically sparkled as his eyes drank in your form. There was no hiding your arousal from him. You trained your eyes on your shoes, unwilling to meet his eyes. He tore his stare away from you and retreated back into guitar world. All you could do was sit there in agony as your lust for him grew by the second. 

Finally, he finished and David walked over to him and clapped him on the back. 

“That was great, Mr. Kiskza. Excellent.”

“Thank you, sir.” Jake smiled, unplugging his guitar from the amp. 

“I’ll be turning you over to our photographer now, Mr. Kiszka. She’ll take good care of you.” 

You wanted to shrivel up and die as David said the words but you just plastered your work smile onto your face and rose from your seat. 

“Right this way, Mr. Kiszka.” 

You led him into the little photo room off to the side of the main studio. It was a small space – adorned only with a backdrop on one side of the room and your equipment on the other side. One singular wooden stool had been placed in front of the backdrop. You walked over to the lights and switched them on. 

“Just have a seat right there.” You told him and he complied without a word. You positioned yourself across from him, camera in hand. You peered through the lens, adjusting the viewfinder and fiddling with the settings until you found what you liked. 

“Alright, Mr. Kiszka. Let’s just start with you playing for a bit.” 

“Yes ma’am.” You prided yourself for only letting your eyes widen for a brief moment before you schooled your expression. 

He began to play a soft tune and you walked around towards the left side of him, snapping shots as he played. The lights behind him from that angle created almost a halo around his head and brought out the red in his hair. 

“Good. That looks good. You can stop playing now.” You walked back in front of him. This was easy – slipping into work mode in order to distract yourself from the sinful thoughts that had been plaguing your mind since he walked in. “Now look up to your left for me.”

“Like this?” He asked, turning his head. 

“Chin out a little bit for me.”  He followed your direction. 

“Good. Now turn your body towards the door.” He swiveled on the stool. “Cross your left leg over your right and hold the body of your guitar in your lap.” He situated himself just as you explained. “Perfect. Now turn your head slightly to look at me."

The look he gave you was domination incarnate, his eyebrow raised just slightly, his eyes holding a challenge in them, and his plush lips just barely parted. You swallowed thickly as you took the picture.

“O-okay, now legs apart for me. Right hand in your lap. Hold the guitar in your left.” 

“How do you want me to hold it?” He asked, giving you a smirk. You bit your lip.  

“Prop it against your thigh.” 

He furrowed his brows at you. You sighed and walked over to him. You nudged one of his feet out further with your own and you did your best to ignore the way the muscles of his thighs strained against the fabric of his pants. You ignored his stare as you walked around him, assessing the position. Slowly, you placed your hands on his shoulders, turning his torso to face the opposite wall. You could feel the warmth of him through his suit.

“May I?” You asked him, gesturing towards where he was holding his guitar. 

“You may.” His voice was pitched lower, husky and smooth as whiskey. 

You reached out and carefully took hold of his guitar, situating it so that it rested against his thigh at an angle. 

“Take your left hand and hold right at the base” Your cheeks flamed as you realized the way your words sounded – the double meaning not lost on him either. He gave you a shit eating grin.

“You're good at this.” He said, voice nearly a whisper and dripping with… something, you just weren’t sure what. 

You huffed a breath as he rested his hand against the body of the guitar, right where you’d told him to. Mustering all the confidence you had, you met his stare. “Thank you. Sir.” The grin that overtook his face was downright sinful but you ignored it as you walked back over to the center of the room to take the shot. “Look at me.”

“Last one. Would you mind setting the stool off to the side for me?” 

“Of course.”  He said, voice saccharine and eyes glittering. He placed the stool by the wall. 

“I want you to face that way.” You jerked your head towards the right. “Hold it in your right hand, down by your side.” 

He complied. 

“This good?” 

You cocked your head to the side, eyeing his position. 

“Step your left leg forward just a bit.” That looked better. “Now look to your right, over my shoulder. Chin up. Perfect."

You released a breath you hadn’t realized you’d been holding as you snapped the final picture. 

“Alright, I think I’m finished here. Thank you, Mr. Kiszka. You’re free to go.” You hated the feeling of disappointment that took place in your gut. 

“Shame. I was enjoying myself.” 

“You like posing all pretty for pictures?” 

“You think I’m pretty?”

Neither of you moved for a long moment. It was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop and your breathing was embarrassingly heavy. Every line in his body was drawn tight, like he was ready to spring into action at any given moment. The look in his eye was dangerous – threatening even. 

Finally daring to break the spell, you turned around and switched the camera off. 

“It was a pleasure working with you, sir.” 

He simply hummed and exited the room quickly, not even glancing back once. 

You released the tension that you’d been holding in your shoulders and let out a shaky breath. You could hear him in the other room saying thank yous and goodbyes, but you couldn’t bring yourself to go back out there. As much as you wanted him, you couldn’t put your job at risk like that… and anyways, the longer you thought about it, the more you became convinced that he had just been messing with you – harmless flirting since he’d obviously caught on to your attraction to him. You shook your head at yourself and cringed – you couldn’t believe you’d been as forward as you had with him. Sure, he’d most definitely started it, but you’d allowed your self control to fly out the window. Damn you, Jake Kiszka, you thought as you began to pack up the equipment. 

Once you were finished, you grabbed your purse and headed for the door. There were still several people there, milling about as you passed through. David was off in the corner, speaking to one of the sound guys. 

“Am I done for the day, David?” You called to him, stopping just by the door. 

“I release you from your duties.” He said, giving you a kind smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

“See you tomorrow.” You waved and exited the filming room. 

You’d made it almost to the end of the hallway when you heard someone clear their throat. You spun around quickly, startled at the noise. 

“Woah. Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” You knew that damn voice. Jake emerged from one of the doorways, a grin on his face – the same one he’d been giving you all afternoon. 

“What are you still doing here?” You asked him, clutching your purse tighter to your chest. He had taken off his suit jacket, leaving him in nothing but a black button down. He’d untucked it and unbuttoned all of the buttons except for a few at the bottom. His necklace glittered where it rested against the tan skin of his chest. His guitar case was nowhere to be seen.  

“Waiting for you.” He said simply, shrugging his shoulders. 

“Me?” You couldn’t help but ask, suddenly afraid – despite the fact that he’d been openly flirting with you for the better part of two hours.

“Forgive me for assuming,” he said as he stepped towards you, caging you into the wall with his body, “but I could see it all over you in there. You want me. I want you. Figured we could do something about it.” 

You swallowed, brain working a mile a minute as you processed his words. There was no lie. You wanted him – and apparently he wanted you too. And doing something about it was sounding better and better by the second. 

“What did you have in mind?” You finally asked, voice coming out far more confident than you felt. 

“Oh, lots of things.” He said, voice low. “Been thinking about all the possibilities since the moment I saw you.” 

“There’s a dressing room down the hall.” You said quietly, nodding your head in that direction. “Locks from the inside.” 

“Oh?” He said, cocking his head to the side. “Can’t wait long enough to go somewhere else, huh?”

You flushed. 

“No, sir.” 

His eyes blazed at your words. Fast as lightning, his hand shot out to grip your bicep tightly and he all but dragged you down the hall. You pointed to the door to the dressing room and he ripped it open. You stumbled through the doorway, dropping your purse to the floor. He kicked the door shut and locked it and then he was on you – forearm pressed to your chest to back you into the wall. His face was inches from yours and you could feel his breath on you as he spoke. 

“I’d like to kiss you now.” 

“Then what are you waiting for?” 

He crushed his lips to yours in a bruising kiss, immediately plunging his tongue into your mouth. You submitted to him willingly, allowing him to lick into your mouth with no resistance. He tasted like cigarette smoke and somehow that turned you on even more, and you whimpered quietly into his mouth. His palms settled on your waist in a way that you could only describe as possessive, and he dug his fingers into your flesh as he kissed you. You threaded your fingers through his hair and pulled, earning a groan from him. 

He pulled away, a string of spit connected your mouths as he drew back to look at you. You thought he looked gorgeous earlier, but that was nothing compared to how he looked now; his hair was messier and his cheeks were flushed, and his plush lips were swollen and slick with spit. He looked so fucking pretty. 

“You taste just as good as I imagined.” He said darkly. “Wanna taste the rest of you.” 

Without warning, he attached his lips to your neck, sucking and biting at the sensitive skin. He slotted his thigh between your legs and you moaned at the pressure. You rocked your hips forward on him, desperate for any type of friction on your throbbing pussy. 

“Please, Jake.” You whined as he nipped at your ear. 

He pulled away from you sharply. 

“You call me Jacob or you call me sir, understood?” 

You nodded. 

“Words.” He urged, eyes ablaze with lust. 

“Yes sir.”

“Good girl.”

He attached his lips to yours again, sucking your bottom lip between his teeth. He tapped your thigh, signaling for you to jump up. You did, wrapping your legs around his waist as he gripped your ass with both hands, walking the two of you over to the vanity in the corner. He placed you gently onto the counter.

“Can I taste you, sweet girl?” He asked, lowering himself down to kneel on the floor so that he was eye level with your dripping cunt. 

“Yes, Jacob.” You whined. 

You toed your heels off, allowing him to slide your skirt off of you, tossing it impatiently somewhere in the room. He nudged your knees apart, splaying his palms on your thighs to keep you steady. He eyed the wetness leaking through the cotton of your panties and chuckled.

“You’re fucking soaked. Look at you.” He said, nuzzling his nose against you and inhaling deeply. 

“Please.” You begged, pussy throbbing with your need for him. 

“Please what?” 

“Please. Need you. Need your tongue.” 

“Yeah?” He asked, giving you a grin. “Where do you need it?” 

You whined and rocked your hips towards him. 

“Jake-Jacob.” You corrected yourself. “Need your tongue on my clit. Please, sir.”

“Since you asked so nicely.” He looped two fingers into the waistband of your panties and pulled – effectively ripping the thin fabric. He wadded your ruined panties up and slipped them into his pocket. 

“For safekeeping.” He said, before licking a stripe up your weeping center. 

“Oh, fuck!” You yelled, threading your fingers through his hair. Your other hand gripped the edge of the counter as you threw your head back. He swirled his tongue around your swollen clit, suckling on it in a way that was almost too much. You cried out with each movement, his tongue playing you like that damn harmonica you'd seen him play on stage.

Without warning, he plunged his tongue into you, and he pressed his thumb to your clit. His other hand gripped your thigh, squeezing so tightly you were sure you would have bruises tomorrow. 

“Gonna make you cum on my tongue, sweet girl. I want to taste it so bad.” He said into your heat, and you moaned loudly. He increased the speed of his thumb on your clit, and his tongue plunged in and out of you mercilessly, and it didn’t take long before you felt that familiar coil beginning to tighten in your belly. 

“Fuck, I’m gonna cum.” You mumbled out, legs beginning to tremble. 

“Give it to me.” 

It was like your body was waiting for his permission. No sooner had he spoken the words, your orgasm was tearing through you. Your entire body shook as you came, and you called out his name as he kept working you through it, prolonging your pleasure. 

Jake rose from between your legs and you moaned at the sight of his face covered in your juices. He swiped a finger through your folds to collect your release and then wrapped his fingers around it, groaning at the taste of you. 

“You taste sweeter than fucking candy.”

“Kiss me.” You demanded, and you were embarrassed at the blatant neediness in your voice, but it melted away quickly as he met your demand. You could feel him, hard as a rock in his pants. You reached up with shaky fingers and began to undo the buttons on his shirt. When they were all unbuttoned, you slid the shirt off his shoulders and your eyes wandered over the expanse of skin, tan and glistening with sweat. 

“Fuck, you’re gorgeous.” You whispered, sliding your palms across his chest and up to squeeze his broad shoulders. 

“So are you, sweet girl. Slide back for me.”

You did as he asked, scooching back on the counter until your back pressed into the cold mirror of the vanity. 

“Take off your top.” He said, voice suddenly hard and demanding. 

You gripped the bottom of your shirt and pulled it off, revealing the lacey bra you had on underneath. 

“Shit.” He said, eying your breasts through the fabric. He reached behind you to unclasp your bra, allowing your breasts to spill out for him to admire. Wordlessly, he wrapped his lips around your left nipple, biting at the hard nub. You moaned at the sensation. 

“You like that? Like when I bite these pretty nipples.” 

“Yes.” You cried, and he bit down harder – the sharp pain serving as a warning. “Yes sir.” You corrected, tossing your head back. 

Suddenly, you felt one of his talented fingers slipping into you and you whined loudly. 

“Jacob!”

“Yes, sweet girl?” He asked, but you had nothing to say in return. You opened your mouth to ask for more, but all that escaped you was a loud moan. He caressed your walls with his fingers, eyes affixed to your face as he watched you surrender to the pleasure. 

“You look so pretty like this, y/n. All needy. Your cunt is dripping.”

“All for you.” You told him, toes curling in pleasure. He added another finger, curling them inside of you in the most delicious way. 

“God, look at you.” He said, leaning on his free arm as the other fucked into you mercilessly. “Never seen a prettier sight.” 

You whined, and the sound came out as almost a squeak. The pleasure was overwhelming, and you could feel yourself hurdling quickly into a second orgasm. 

“Already?” He asked you, cockiness dripping from his words. You clenched around his fingers, his tone spurring you on even more. “My needy little girl gonna come again for me? So soon?” 

“Yes, please sir, let me cum. Please!” 

“That’s it, baby. You sound better than my guitar. Cum on my fingers. Come on.” 

Your mouth dropped open into a perfect ‘o’ as you came again, this one even more powerful than the first. 

“Shit! Fuck!” 

“Careful, y/n. Don’t wanna be too loud. Someone might come in here, just to see your pretty cunt squeezing my fingers.” 

You’d never been one for dirty talk, but Jake was making it work. Something about his smooth voice saying such filthy things was driving you wild. 

“Jacob, I need you to fuck me. Right now.” 

“Oh you do, huh? Little kitten desperate for my cock?”

All you could do was whine in answer, brain cloudy after two orgasms. 

“Mmm. Wanna feel your pretty pussy wrapped around me.” He said, pulling his fingers from you with an obscene squelch. He took your hand in his and pressed it to the noticeable bulge in his pants. “See what you do to me? Jesus, I’ve never been so hard.”

“Fuck me. Need it so bad.”

“Patience baby.” He laughed. “Lemme get a condom. I’ve got one in my wallet.” 

You grabbed his wrist in your hand tightly, stopping him from reaching into his pocket. 

“I’m on birth control. And I’m clean. I want to feel you, sir. Please.” 

“Fuck.” He said through gritted teeth, eyes so dark they looked black. “Dirty girl, aren’t you?” 

You watched, mouth watering as he unbuttoned his pants. He slid them down so that they pooled around his ankles, and you moaned seeing that he didn’t have any underwear on. 

His cock was big – bigger than you’d been expecting. The head was pink and weeping with precum where it curved upward to rest against his soft stomach. He was a sight to behold. 

He brought his hand up to rest underneath your chin, fingers just barely grazing your skin.

"Spit."

You did as he commanded, allowing your saliva to drop from your mouth into his waiting palm. He groaned and wrapped his hand around his base, your spit mixing with his precum to make the perfect lubrication

“Can I taste you, sir?” You asked him, giving him your best doe eyes. 

“Oh, my sweet girl,” he said, one hand pumping himself slowly as the other caressed your jaw. “As much as I’d love that, I wouldn’t last if you did. And I wanna cum in your sweet cunt.” 

“Next time?” The question slipped out without thought and your eyes widened at the implication. 

Jake smiled, wide and dazzling. 

“Next time, baby.”

He pumped himself a few more times, using his thumb to smear his precum over his head. Finally, he nudged the blunt head of his cock through your folds, gathering your wetness. 

“You ready for my cock, baby girl? Ready for me to split you open?” 

“God, yes. Please.”

He gripped your hips in his strong hands and pulled you to the edge of the counter, allowing for your feet to touch the floor. 

“Turn around and bend over, y/n. I want you to watch in the mirror while I fuck you.” 

You moaned and did as he asked, pressing your ass back into him as you bent over the counter. You rested your forearms on the counter, and watched in the mirror as Jake slipped into you. Your pussy throbbed as you watched his mouth fall open – his brows clenched together and a breathy moan fell from his lips. The stretch of him was overwhelming as he pressed into you, slowly sinking into the hilt. He groaned in your ear as he finally bottomed out and you dropped your head back towards him. He pressed wet kisses to your neck as he stilled, allowing you time to adjust to his size.  

“Jesus, you’re so tight wrapped around me. Smooth as fucking velvet.” He said, lips brushing the shell of your ear. 

“Move, Jakey. Please move.”

“‘Jakey,’ huh?” He chuckled, beginning to slowly rock his hips into you. “I like that.”

He quickened his pace, pistoning in and out of you. You watched in the mirror as his face fell slack with pleasure and sweat dripped down his temples and neck. You pushed back into him with each thrust, desperate and needy for him. 

“You want me to go harder? You sure you can take it, pretty girl? You’ve given me two already… think you can give me another one?”

You moaned loudly, high pitched and pornographic, at his words. 

“I asked you a question.” He ground out through clenched teeth, wrapping his left arm around your waist  to pull you into him. His other hand delivered a hard slap to the side of your ass. 

“Fuck! Yes! Harder, sir!” You cried, the sting of the slap only adding to your pleasure. 

“God, you feel like a fucking dream.” He groaned, slamming into you at an impressive speed. The sound of his hips slapping against you was loud, and the wet sounds coming from in between the two of you were lewd and unmistakable. If anyone walked by the door, there would be no doubt about what was going on in here. He slapped your ass again, this time much harder, and you wailed at the extra pleasure the sting gave you. 

“Fuck, y/n, I’m close.” 

You have no idea what comes over you as he says that in your ear, but you’re opening your mouth to say the words before your brain has time to process it. 

“Choke me, Jacob. Fuck, I want you to choke me.”

“Oh, fuck.” He practically whined, wrapping his right hand around your throat. He squeezed lightly as he pounded into you. 

“Harder, Jakey. Harder. Please.” You wailed, and his fingers tighten around your throat. Your head began to swim and your vision wavered as your climax finally starts to build up again. It’s overwhelming, a feeling like something is trying to claw its way out of you. 

“I’m gonna cum.” You wheezed out, and Jake moaned nto your ear. 

“Give it to me. Cum on my cock.”

Jake released his hold on your throat and finally, your orgasm overtook you. Your vision whited out and your whole body began to shake madly. You screamed Jake’s name as you cum and distantly you hear him as he reaches his own climax. He’s moaning curses into your damp skin but it’s like you’re in another plane of existence. Your orgasm seems to go on forever as you clench around Jake – drawing every drop of cum he has in him. You've never had an orgasm last the way that one just did.

He stilled in you, and the both of you sit there, breathing heavily. 

“Y/n…” Jake says, voice wrecked and shaky. “You just- have you ever done that before?”

“Done what?” You slurred, brain covered in a fog. 

“You fucking squirted. That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

You shook your head. 

“No. Not done that before.”

Jake slipped out of you carefully, the both of you hissing at the feeling. You swayed where you were bent over the counter and Jake placed a steadying hand on your back. 

“You okay?” He asked, concern lacing his voice. 

“Yeah, fuck. I’m great. Just need to sit down.” 

Jake grabbed his shirt and placed it on the floor before helping you ease down onto it. 

“I’ve never cum that hard in my life.” You told him, a sleepy smile gracing your lips. He gave you a matching one in return. He looked so pretty looking at you like that – hair a mess, skin slick with sweat. He looked completely fucked out. 

“Me neither. Holy shit.” 

You giggled. 

“Come back to my apartment with me.” He said, pulling his pants back up and buttoning them. 

“Jake I don’t think I’m gonna be able to go again for at least a week.” You told him, letting your head fall back to rest on the wall. 

“No, I’m going to make you dinner and draw you a bath. And then I’m gonna cuddle the shit out of you. Come on.” He helped you to your feet. 

He grabbed his shirt off the floor and gathered your clothes  up as well, handing them to you. 

“Sounds pretty nice to me.” You giggled. “God, I’m probably going to get fired. There’s no way none of them heard that.” 

“Good.” Jake said, slipping his shirt on over his shoulders. “Now they know who you belong to.”

“Oh I belong to you now?” You jokingly challenged, carefully stepping back into your skirt and wincing. 

“Oh, sweetheart,” Jake said with a smirk. He looked like sin incarnate. “I’m never letting you go.” 

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

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[marnerparty]

soft launch

Jamie Drysdale x Zegras!reader

ynzegras

Liked by yourbestfriend, lhughes_06 and 15,094 others

ynzegras my favorite secret ❤️

View all 128 comments

trevorzegras call me right this instant

ynzegras I’m good!

user1 she’s off the market folks

user2 maybe she should give Trevor some tips

ynzegras someone had to say it🤷🏼‍♀️

lhughes_06 safe to say this wasn’t shared with Trevor?

ynzegras yeah .. 🫢

lhughes_06 BOLD y/n

trevorzegras oh so LUKE knows!?

ynzegras @/trevorzegras bestie > brother sometimes, it’s just a rule!

masonmctavish23 now I’m confused.. are we not best friends?

ynzegras uhm ofc we are?? can I only have one best friend??

_quinnhughes who’s ass am I beating?

ynzegras I 💙 you my Quinny

user3 we need to find out who this is

user4 we thinking hockey player?

user3 not sure.. how do we think Trevor would react?

trevorzegras really bad I think

ynzegras

Liked by jackhughes, edwards.73 and 20,456 others

ynzegras while everyone’s obsessing over who my boyfriend is, I’m obsessing over my bestie back in Ann Arbor #goblue

View all 195 comments

lhughes_06 thanks for being my good luck charm 💛

ynzegras anything for you my favorite Hughes :)

jackhughes HEY

ynzegras sorry not sorry j :/

_quinnhughes Jack why are you acting surprised?

ynzegras yeah Jack, be like Quinny and always have my back

jackhughes 🙄

edwards.73 so happy I finally got to meet you!

ynzegras me too, Ethan! we’ll get those tacos next time together instead of that disgusting chinese food 🤮

edwards.73 yeah, I wonder who picked that dinner @/markestapa

markestapa we’re still talking about this? we agreed majority would decide and you two were the only ones voting for tacos!

ynzegras I don’t recall agreeing to that

edwards.73 me either

lhughes_06 we definitely did

ynzegras 😑

user1 I definitely didn’t forget about her boyfriend

user2 maybe the boyfriend’s Luke

ynzegras absolutely not

jamie.drysdale thanks for the invite 🙄

ynzegras you had pt!

jamie.drysdale would’ve skipped for you

trevorzegras you would’ve what for who?

jackhughes 👀

user3 anyone seeing this!?

jamie.drysdale

Liked by trevorzegras, jackhughes and 18,765 others

jamie.drysdale her > the view

View all 117 comments

lhughes_06 she IS the view

jamie.drysdale facts

ynzegras gorgeous sunset

jamie.drysdale gorgeous girl

trevorzegras I think everythings starting to make sense

user1 trevor confirming yn & jamie!?

user2 dating his best friends sister? no shot

ynzegras fr who does that?

masonmctavish can I move in?

trevorzegras I bully rookies

ynzegras don’t listen to him, Tavy. of course you can

trevorzegras you make decisions for MY house?

jamie.drysdale our*

masonmctavish yn is 100% my favorite

Liked by jamie.drysdale

jackhughes Jamie isn’t a lil baby anymore 🥹

trevorzegras oh trust me, definitely is. still can’t properly do a load of laundry

jamie.drysdale TREVOR! you promised you wouldn’t share that

trevorzegras well you know what you promised? 😐

jamie.drysdale 🤐

ynzegras can’t help but think that’s about me guys

user3 really conflicted on this dynamic here

ynzegras honestly same

tterry19 this is the most anticipated soft launch ever

trevorzegras not you too🤦🏼‍♀️

ynzegras

Liked by jamie.drysdale, yourbestfriend and 17,402 others

ynzegras appreciation post for the one I love mostest 🧡

Tagged trevorzegras

View all 342 comments

trevorzegras love you more🤍

elblue6 i miss you! come to the lake this summer!

ynzegras anything for you mama Hughes❤️

jackhughes mom get outta here

jamie.drysdale you made him cry

trevorzegras JIMMY!

ynzegras he’s a drama queen

edwards.73 zegras siblings over hughes siblings there I said it

jamie.drysdale yn > trevor there I said it

user1 RELATIONSHIP CONFIRMED

ynzegras 🤍

trevorzegras you’re sleeping on the couch

jamie.drysdale don’t we have separate rooms?

tterry19 these are gold

trevorzegras get out of my sister’s comment section

tterry19 no🧡

ynzegras YES TROY TELL HIM!

anaheimducks our favorite siblings

Liked by ynzegras

jamie.drysdale

Liked by tterry19, masonmctavish23 and 22,450 others

jamie.drysdale best friend’s brother sister

Tagged ynzegras

View all 433 comments

jackhughes THE CAPTION

ynzegras ikr & I didn’t even help him

user1 who would’ve thought Jamie gets a girl before Trevor?

ynzegras wow, that’s kinda rude!

trevorzegras Jamie is a ladies man

trevorzegras WAIT I THOUGHT YOU WEREN’T AT LAST NIGHTS GAME

ynzegras I lied :)

simon_benoit11 Jamie grew up

ynzegras wow look at all these ducks showing up

_quinnhughes hurt her I’ll kill you

lhughes_06 same

edwards.73 same

colecaufield same

ynzegras @/colecaufield nice of you to make an appearance!

user2 wish it was Luke

jamie.drysdale same

trevorzegras I wish I could hate this but I can’t

tterry19 Am I the only one that didn’t see this coming??

jamie.drysdale yeah

nsuzuki_37 who would’ve thought Jamie would be the one to confirm this?

ynzegras he’s growing & I’m proud

daniterry1 cutest

ynzegras ILY

jamie.drysdale godparents?

daniterry1 👀

tterry19 yn, yes, jamie, no

ynzegras

Liked by daniterry1, lhughes_06 and 19,656 others

ynzegras been busy loving this guy ❤️

Tagged jamie.drysdale

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[dorkus-mcdingus]

Played Like a Puppet

Tags: TWST Fem!OC x Platonic!Canon, Stage in Playful Land, Platonic!Rosalie x Gidel Honest/Gino Foulworth

AN: I mainly use the EN localization for some of the dialogue but I use Fellow and Gidel's JP names (I mainly see Ernesto Foulworth and Gino Foulworth being the names they've chosen once Playful Land sank so it's why I don't use it and why Rosalie and the other characters refer to them with their JP names). Also, Gidel admittedly was an interesting character to write since I've never written a mute character before so I really hope I did him justice. 😅

‘If only that talk worked!’ 

Was the resounding thought that rang through everyone's heads as they continued to sit like lifeless, stringless puppets in their cage. While the minutes ticked by, everything seemed hopeless as one by one, a fellow schoolmate got locked up behind the dimly lit stage with them to be sold off for a hefty profit. Or at least that's what their kidnappers were thinking.

‘The money we get from handing you over is gonna put food on our table. You better thank ‘em while you can, Gidel. Y’know, for filling our bellies!’ 

Those words for Rosalie rang an all too familiar tune, annoying enough to make someone's ears start bleeding. Despite the rage, the urge to grab Fellow's cane and beat them senseless with it, deep in the pit of her stomach along with his little exposé on why they're getting kidnapped, her grimace turned to a deep sigh and a frown. 

They were nothing short of desperate with their situation, and heaven only knew how long those two were suffering out on the road. It wasn't smart to have sympathy for a couple of con men, but with them having no home, Fellow's immense jealousy for those lucky enough to get a proper education, and them having to constantly worry about when their next meal will be, that they stopped so low to commit heinous deeds. It's a tale all too familiar with the girl. 

From Grim's frown, to her fluffy tutu, to the dingy wooden floorboards she and her schoolmates were forced to sit on behind the main stage, her eyes couldn't stop wandering around the room even as she tuned out the noise the others were making. 

Although, the sight of the tiny cat beastman caught her eye as he stood close to the cage as if he were guarding it with his life. With the giant mallet clenched tightly in his tiny fists, he would occasionally cast a glare at the prisoners, warning them to keep quiet.

As for the captured boys, some would kill their boredom by talking with each other but just to annoy Fellow while he was taking a long call, Lilia called,

“Marco!” 

They all looked at each other with confusion completely etched on their faces.

“Marco!” 

The call was met by a few minutes of silence until a voice called back,

“Polo!” 

“Ah, kufufu! If I can guess, is that Cater I hear?”

“Ah, you got me Lils!” 

“Hey wait a minute, don't you usually play this game when you're swimming?” Jack asked. 

Jade couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

“Is that so? What an odd game.” 

“Yeah, you usually play this when you go swimming.” Cater explained. “Although one thing I should mention, you play this with your eyes closed.”

Amidst the annoyed groans and the calls, Rosalie kept her mouth shut as she kept glancing at the little boy playing the role of a prison guard.

“Mrah? Why are ya lookin’ at Gidel, Ro?” Grim whispered. 

Rosalie shot the tubby direbeast a look as she whispered, 

“Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut, Grim.” 

“Hehe, you got a plan or somethin’? That's my henchman!”

“No. In fact I lost all faith that we’ll get out of this alive.” 

“EEEEEEH?! THEN WHY DID YOU TELL ME TO KEEP MY EYES OPEN AND MY MOUTH SHUT?! Geez, Crowley really slammed me with one downer of a henchman!” 

Without a second thought, Gidel was quick to hit the cage in order for him to quiet down.

“I wouldn't go swinging that around all willy nilly little kitty cat.” Leona remarked with his usual smug tone. “You don't wanna damage the goods and get in trouble, do you?” 

Alas for him, the arrogant lion had a point. It was bad enough that the property was getting damaged, but if he were to damage the goods?! Not only would that get Fellow in trouble, he knew he would be upset with him.

There was no doubt that the Night Raven students were unbearably annoying, but much to their dismay, they wereprecious cargo. They're the top of the line puppets complete with powerful magic. In both Rosalie and Grim’s case, she was supposed to be the beast tamer to the gluttonous direbeast and the set couldn't be broken or damaged whatsoever!

Seeing his down turned ears, she looked over to him quietly saying,

“Oi! Oi! Gidel?”

Turning to the girl, he shot her an icy stare and shook his head. He then pointed to the room where Fellow was, pointed to himself, and shook his head once more. 

“Fellow said to not talk to you? Is that what you're saying?”

He nodded. 

“Well why not? I'm just waiting out the time until I become mute and lifeless like a doll, so I thought speaking to you would take my mind off of this.” 

Gidel's ears stood up and his eyes went wide while cocked his head as he raised an eyebrow. Did this girl realize that he couldn't speak? Was she out of her mind?! Still, compared to Grim as well as the rest of these gremlins from Hell, and aside from her heckling his big brother, she was more mild mannered. 

As cautious as he was, he decided to listen to her and answer her questions as best as he could despite the barrier between them. Besides, they weren't going to be free anytime soon, so why not entertain her one last time? 

It started off simple with questions like

“Where are you from?”

“What's your favorite color?”

“How did you meet Fellow?” 

Little things to get to know him better, and in turn, she would answer the same questions about her. Only, she would detail how she met Grim for the first time, never forgetting the fact that he set Kalim's rear on fire along with the rest of the mirror chamber. 

As it turns out, Fellow had been looking after Gidel for as long as he could remember and was the only one that could understand him while others didn't bother trying. No matter what, even despite his difficulty with speaking, his big brother always made him feel included. Even with the kind of life he was dealt with, it was incredibly hard especially since he had trouble reading and writing. Not to mention, he's seen how much this had been affecting Fellow as he didn't have a great education himself so he had to teach him what he can. 

“I see.” Rosalie sighed. “Seems like you two only have each other in this cruel world. I feel a similar sentiment with myself and Grim, as he and I have witnessed all sorts of trouble. Still, much like yourself if anything happened to Fellow, I would be just as heartbroken if anything happened to Grim.” 

Gidel huffed as he stamped his foot hard. He paced the area near her side of the cage, grasping his short and shaggy hair with his sleeve-cloaked hands. He pretended he had a magic wand (or a magical pen) in his hand, waved it in the air and shot it as if he were casting a spell. 

“Wishing you had magic? I'm guessing you're thinking that if you had magic then you could help your brother suffer less.”

He nodded. 

Deep down something in him wished he was bigger and stronger so he could help him more. All he had for protection was the mallet he carried with him everywhere at any time.

“I get that.” Rosalie remarked with a sad smile. “Having power on par with my peers would be a great asset, but being magicless isn't all bad. Although, much like you, I don't know my parents either. Before my brothers left the foster home, we were as close as can be. It's been a long time since I've seen them so I’m a little jealous that you and Fellow have such a strong bond.”

In return, Gidel gave her a smile and a nod. 

“By the way Giddy, how much do you think Grim and I will be worth in your eyes?"

Once more, Gidel's ears perked up while his eyes went wide.

“I'm just curious because for the longest time I never thought I was worth anything. Hell, I just thought that I would be discarded like trash.”

The little boy closed his eyes, mimicking the same thoughtful pose Fellow would often do. He paced the floor before he raised his arms high above his head, then slowly lowered them back to his sides, nodding with a cheeky smirk.

“That much?” 

He smiled, giving another nod as he happily bounced on his toes. 

“You're quite the confident little con man, aren't you? Did you ever hear how much of the cut you two are going to get?”

Pausing for a minute, he took a step back. From what he could remember, their boss had plenty of Thaumarks to give and said it himself, but the way the girl phrased it made his stomach drop. 

‘What is she thinking? What does she know about him?!’

"How do you know your boss isn't lying to you? How do you know that he'll keep his word and make you rich?”

Seeing his eyebrows pinch together, he held his mallet tight, ready to hit the cage again.

How dare she say that! How dare she scare him like that! Last time they worked for him, they made so much money that they didn't have to worry about food for a long time! Why is she insinuating that they're getting screwed over! Fellow sacrificed everything for this! His pride, his blood, sweat, and tears, he would do anything if it meant that he and Gidel could be able to be comfortable and not worry about their next meal anymore! 

Still, the threat didn't deter the girl that was stuck in a ballerina's costume. Instead, she looked him in his bright green eyes, much like how Fellow would calm him down whenever he had a nightmare, and gently said to him,

"I ask because I worry for you both." 

‘What?!’ 

Was all he could think. The sheer amount of confusion was completely plastered on his face as he tried to process what she said. She knew they put her and her schoolmates through this so why was she more worried about them than herself?! Did her head get dropped as a baby or something?!

Unable to make sense of this, he shrugged his shoulders as if he were asking her,

“Why?”

“Because I've been around men like your boss, or more accurately, I've been adopted by people like him. Believe me, it's hell. Either I get called a demon child, I get neglected, or I’m just primped to make them look good when really, they don't care about me at all. In the end when they get bored of me, or they don't feel like taking care of a girl that they adopted as their daughter, I get thrown out like some old toy no one wants to play with anymore.”

The way her eyes didn't waver as she told him her cold and brutal truth, Gidel's eyes grew wide. While she could acknowledge that despite her rough upbringing, she was far more privileged than them. However, that mutual understanding of being a puppet for the wealthy men who don't even give a smidgen of a damn about them, made his ears turn downward. 

At least there was that little bit of common ground between them.

Upon realizing this, Rosalie let out a dry laugh in spite of herself.

"Sounds familiar I suppose. The truth is, I know what it's like to be a puppet for wealthy jackarses like him. They promise you so many wonderful things only for them to play the wolf in sheep's clothing and lie to your face. If your boss truly cared about you, he would do anything if it meant you two are safe and sound. From the sound of how pissed off your brother is, seems like he's the puppet boy in this sort of business transaction. A corporate slave made to dance for the men who look down on you two.” 

As much as he hated to admit it... she had a point. She clocked them just like that. 

The realization made the boy’s heart race and his breathing grow heavy. She and Grim were just like them. A pair of lost souls trying to survive while only having each other in this cruel world. Knowing that she's from another world with no relations in Twisted Wonderland, if not for the headmaster taking her in despite NRC only enrolling men, they would've ended up just like them. Broke, homeless, scraping by so they could afford something to eat, and to add insult to injury, she was a layperson just like him. 

In truth, the thought was more terrifying than any run-in with the police. Someone meeting the same fate as theirs.

With a frown on his face, he looked over his shoulder making sure Fellow was still distracted by the boss ripping him a new one over the phone. Once he was in the clear, he reached inside the cage bars and gently touched her cheek with his eyes slowly blinking at her. 

“Thank you. You're a sweet kid, you know that? Just a shame the world spat you out like you're a piece of rubbish. Oh well, on the bright side, at least I’d be able to help feed you both.” 

The moment they both heard the phone slam and Fellow groaning, completely irritated, Gidel immediately took his hand away from the cage as the fox beastman’s steps drew closer. 

The gaudily dressed park manager fished a cigar and a lighter from his pocket, while the room immediately became cloaked with the smell of smoke the moment he walked in. 

“Mind letting me have a hit from that? I had a rough night.” Rosalie groaned. 

“Heavens, no!” Fellow retorted as he exhaled another puff of smoke. “Also, aren't you a little young to start smoking?”

“I used to steal some of my sister's cigarettes when I was fourteen. They tasted like arse if I’m being honest with you. However tonight, I feel like relapsing into my old habits again if I’m going to be a puppet for the wealthy again just like you are right now.”

As kind as she was, she was harsh with her cutting remarks from her sharp tongue as well as her never-ending sarcasm. It was easy to write her off as a privileged little schoolgirl but who could tell how much hurt she took until she became so jaded.

As far as the NRC scholars were concerned, the fact that she somewhat understood them made the scars hurt so much worse.

After all, it takes a special kind of pain to make such twisted individuals like these nasty little brats.

[sunlightmurdock]

Professor Bradley picking you up from a Halloween frat party after you got a lil too tipsy

Let’s not get into the logistics of how you would call him in 1986, even though imagining you almost black out drunk yelling into the receiver of the wall phone at a frat house is a pretty funny image.

Either way, Bradley’s there. And he’s not happy about it. It’s risky, everyone seeing him here — he could get fired if people figure out what the two of you are up to. But you asked for him, and he’s not going to leave you somewhere unsafe.

He walks through the house, frowning at its smell and the sight of several of his students grinding against each other or shot gunning beers. He finds you sitting on the back porch with your head in your hands.

“Can you stand up?”

You lift your head and blink at him slowly, your eyes struggling to focus on him. He takes that as a no. That’s the last thing you remember before you’re waking up in his bed, still in your costume and upsettingly hungover.

Wandering through his apartment, you find him in his kitchen, standing in just a pair of plaid pyjama bottoms and nursing a cup of coffee over the morning paper.

“Good morning, Miss Prince.” Bradley taunts, referencing your less than conservative Wonder Woman costume. You groan, overcome with embarrassment and battling a heavy head. Bradley smiles as you stumble over to him and reach for his cup of coffee.

He hands it to you and presses his lips softly to the top of your head.

“You smell like a frat house, honey.”

“I’m sorry.” You sigh as the coffee warms your throat, setting it down on the counter and turning to press your face into his chest. Bradley reaches around you and sets the mug on a coaster as he hugs you with his other arm.

“You should be, but we’ll talk about that later,” He tells you calmly, rubbing his palm delicately along the length of your back. “C’mon. Shower with me.”

He washes your body tentatively, kissing your neck, your shoulders. Smoothing his hands across your stomach and waist, up onto your chest. Then he gives you a pair of his boxers and one of those t-shirts that’s a size and a half too big for him. He tells you that he’s got work to do.

You convince him to stay anyway. Bradley’s living room is big enough to entertain, but you always wind up sitting on his lap anyway. Curled against his chest while an episode of the Twilight Zone plays on the tv in front of you. You’re silent for a while too long. Almost three episodes.

“I’m sorry for making you get me.”

“I know.” Bradley hums, not lifting his gaze from his book as you stare at the television. He’s holding it calmly above your head. If he wasn’t upset he would be stroking your back and watching TV with you.

“I mean it, I just — I had too much to drink and I didn’t feel safe.” You mumble into the fabric of his sweater, beyond ashamed of yourself. He closes the book and tosses it onto the coffee table, taking off his reading glasses.

“I know,” Bradley says again, leaning down to kiss the top of your head. “I’d rather you call me. I’m glad that you did. But you know better than to get drunk like that without a ride home.”

“I had a ride home. She was passed out upstairs.” You defend yourself, pushing yourself upright and settling your thighs on either side of his hips.

Bradley gives a small shake of his head. “I could lose my job. You know that, right?”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you.” You promise, leaning forwards and kissing his lips softly. He reciprocates, pushing his hands slowly under the loose t-shirt, squeezing at your waist.

Bradley’s lips tilt upwards into a small smile as your mouth works eager kisses along his jaw, down his chin and onto his throat. He pushes the t-shirt up around your ribs, letting you press closer to him.

[lunajay33]

New World🍂Part.14

Summary: You grew up in a crappy town with one friend who kept you going, everything started to fall into place, that’s until the world ended and the dead ruled the world, now you and your best friend Daryl Dixon had to stay alive but will you finally confess?

Part.13

•Masterlist•

The next morning we packed up some of the food and heading out hoping to find the others and if we couldn’t then we’ll just have to come back here

As we walked along the ever lasting road Judith was snacking on little treats I was feeding her, thankful she was a quiet baby so we didn’t have to worry about another attraction for walkers

“Ya sure yer good holding her?” Daryl asked as he adjusted the crossbow over his shoulder

“Oh ya I’m fine, I gotta get use to it anyways”

“How’s the baby been?”

“She’s good, she’s been kicking around in there definitely gonna be a wild one definitely a Dixon” I said as Judith giggled

“She?”

“I don’t know I don’t like calling her “it” and I just feel deep down she’s our little girl I dreamed of”

“Maybe she is, all we got left is hope”

Judith fell asleep in my arms as we continued walking as we came to a town full of deserted houses

“Maybe we should check these, there might be supplies” I said pointing to a White House on the corner, he grumbled in agreement, he searched the place first before he gave the all clear that I could explore the house

“Seems like someone was here recently” I said noticing the cereal dishes on the table

“Mmmm be on the look out”

Looking around the bedrooms I found another baby blanket for Judith and some baby clothes that’ll fit her better

“Find anything?” Daryl called from the doorway

“Just some baby supplies for Jude, you?”

“How about these?” He asked holding up a lacy blue thong

“DARYL! Put that away you’re crazy”

“Well I’m keepin em until ya wanna have some fun”

“Yer lucky I love you Dixon” I said trying to cover the rising blush on my face as I heard him let out a laugh

He sat on the bed watching me as I continued to rummage through the room, Judith tucked against my chest still sleeping

“Yer gonna be a great mom” I looked back at him smiling

“You think?”

“Look how yer with lil asskicker, she loves ya”

“I won’t say I’m not nervous or scared because I am, Jesus I’m terrified but to know I’ll be able to hold a little baby that we have together, that’s what keeps me hopeful that something might work out, that we can be a family” I said as I sat next to him

“Ya got nothin to be scared about, I got ya, all three of ya”

After rummaging through a few more houses we decided to keep walking maybe meeting up with whoever was in these houses before us

“Did ya hear that?” He asks stopping me in my track as we listened out again, two voices in the near distance, a male and a female oddly familiar, he took my hand leading me through the tree until we saw a road, a silhouette of a two family members I thought I’d never see again

“I’m gonna go first, they’ll be on guard, wait for my signal” he whispered as he left the tree line approaching Rick and Michonne

They shot up hearing Daryl’s walking, katana and gun pointed right at him as his hands were raised

“Rick it’s me” he groaned in his gravely voice I love so much

They lowered their weapons sharing emotional hugs just like Daryl and I did when we reunited, we all really became a family at the prison so finding others again made that hopeless feeling dwindle just a little more

He whistled obvious signal for me, I walked out and they all looked in my direction

“Y/n?” Michonne called running to me and squeezing me tight

“I missed you”

“I missed you too”

She pulled back to I could see Rick

“I’ve got a surprise” I smiled pulling Judith out of her nap sack against my chest that was covering her, Rick ran over swiping her out of my arms holding her tight, crying in joy as he placed a kiss to my forehead

“Thank you so much” he said with so much hope as I saw Carl come out of van joining us

“She was amazing, never fussy, I’d do it all over again” I said resting my hands on my belly

“How’s the baby?” Michonne asked as we sat down on the road, Daryl on my left Carl on my right

“She’s good, tired but we’re doing better after finding Daryl again, now you guys, hope we find more” I said as Carl leaned against me, we were close at the farm and start of the prison before everything happened, it was nice to have him around again, just wanting to protect him

“She?” Carl asked

“I just have a feeling she’s a girl, call it mothers intuition”

“Either way she’ll be beautiful” Michonne smiled

“Thanks”

We continued to catch up and everything, they told us about some guys they came across and had to run away from, when we heard rustling around us, men soon surrounding us, we all stood in defence, ricks gun out, Michonne katana, and Daryl’s crossbow

“Look at this, the prick who killed our guy” it was them, the group they were telling us about

A man I hadn’t seen behind me took hold of me wrapping his arms around me so I couldn’t move

“Weapons down or the knocked up one gets killed first”

Everyone dropped them, Daryl looking at me with fearful eyes

“Dont ya touch her” Daryl growled

“Hmmm I don’t think so I think I’m gonna have some fun with this one” he laughed in my ear as the other men started beating on Daryl, Michonne and Rick trying to stop them

I groaned when I was pushed to my knees feeling the pebbles from the road dig into me making me whine the emotions high, he took my shirt and ripped it in half exposing my chest and bump

“Don’t touch me pig” I said getting enough strength to kick him off, take my knife out of my waist band and stab him right through the chest

Everyone stopped what they were doing turning to me, but my eyes were on the man that had Carl pushed to the ground

“Let him go” he laughed mockingly, the rage boiled in me when I heard Carl cry, I walked over as he stepped back taking his hands off Carl

“Woah woah” he said before I pushed the knife straight into his throat blood splattering all over my face, watching him drop to the ground, this gave the others enough distraction to finish off the others, when they were all dead Daryl ran to me, his face busted but in this moment he didn’t seem to care about that

“Are ya okay peach?” He asked looking over my body, anger evident on his face when he noticed my shirt was ripped

“I’m….im fine, are you okay, you’re bleeding”

“Don’t worry, here change” he said as he went into my backpack pulling out a shirt we got from a house, he used the ripped shirt to wipe off the blood covering face then helping me put on the fresh one

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to but……but I had to”

“Ya saved us peach it’s okay” he said holding me to his chest

“Come on, let’s leave the men to talk you need rest” Michonne said guiding me to the back of the van with Judith and Carl, finally feeling the adrenaline wear off

“I feel sick” I groaned leaning against the window

“Just sleep, we’ll worry about everything tomorrow”

Taglist: @deansapplepie @ghostboneswrites2 @willowshadenox @thebadbatch2022 @writer-ann-artist @i-wear-wet-socks313 @thestonedwriter @lettersfromyourlove @heidiland05

[simslegacy5083]

Today's (11/22/2024) Episode: Orientation Blues

Despite having his close friends with him, Skye’s first visit to the high school was definitely not drama free.

“Why did I drink all that soda with lunch!?” Skye moaned, exited the  auditorium with his parents and classmates. “Now everyone is going to remember me as the kid who burped so loud in orientation it interrupted the principal's welcome speech. They’ll come up with some awful nickname for me, like Burpface, and I’ll be the butt of all the jokes. My life is OVER!”

“I don’t think it was that bad” Greyson said. “Yeah, and we’ll hang out with you no matter what” Peter agreed. “Thanks guys” Skye smiled sadly, unconvinced but appreciative that his friends were trying to help.

“You know…” Luigi told him once they’d said their goodbyes “we haven’t taken you school shopping yet.”

“If you change up your look, get some new clothes and a new pair of glasses, I bet no one will even recognize you. It’s not like you met many new sims in person today anyway since we sat with Don, Denton, Amaya and the kids. What do you think son – interested in a little retail reinvention?”

Skye nodded energetically “That sounds great! No one will laugh or call me burpface if they don’t realize I was the one who did  it! Thanks dad.”

“My pleasure” his father smiled broadly “I have work tonight but I’m off tomorrow. We’ll start bright and early, so we don’t have to rush.”

Noemi snuggled in close to her spouse as Skye rushed ahead towards the teleporter that would take them back to the island “Well that certainly seemed to lighten up our boy's bad mood – good job you!”

Skye’s mood skyrocketed that evening when he got a text from Elyse “So BORED 💀!” it said “Come hang? New TV in my room, Simflix and Chill?”

“Sure!” he texted back, his pulse suddenly racing “I’ll be right over”

Stashing his phone in his inventory Skye ran to the bathroom to brush his teeth “ugh, if only we’d done our shopping trip TODAY!” he said to his reflection “then I could show Elyse my cool new look. I guess this will have to do.”

Finding Noemi out back practicing the barrels with Roach he called out “I’m going to Elyse’s, we’re going to watch a movie, bye!!” barely giving her time to shout out “have fun” before he was speed walking towards the boardwalk.

“Watch Out!” Skye screamed, covering his eyes just before the chainsaw welding main character of Moonlight Massacre 3 claimed their last victim.

As the credits rolled Elyse turned towards him, laughing “you are such a scaredy cat!”

“Well excuse me for not enjoying 2 hours worth of jump scares and death.” Skye shot back, his heart still pounding and not in a good way.

Seeing she’d hit a nerve Elyse backed down and changed the subject “Sorry. No more horror movies, I promise. Now tell me, how was orientation?”

“Terrible” he replied morosely “I embarrassed myself by burping right in the middle of the principal’s speech. I really don’t want that to be my main recognizable moment around school, so mom and dad are going to take me to pick out a whole new look tomorrow.

“Hey” Elyse replied “WE should go shopping together instead! I’m sure your parents won’t mind. Then I can help you pick out some really cool new outfits. You’re always telling me how much you like my style after all.” She blushed, suddenly unsure of herself… unless you’re just humoring me.

Skye did love Elyse’s sleek dark goth ensembles, but he also had one important question “I can wear SOME stuff that isn’t black, right?”

“I think we can find you something cool with blue highlights” she grinned “Come on, it’ll be fun!”

“OK… I’m in!” Skye smiled back at her, suddenly excited “I’ll talk to my folks and then text you to figure out a time. This is going to be great!”

“Glad I could make my lil’ blue teddy a little less blue” she giggled evilly, dredging up the nickname she’d used for him when they were toddlers.

“Oh Grim Elyse, you can’t spread that nickname around! It’s almost as bad as Burpface!” he groaned. Her teasing devolved into a tickle fight between the two friends, and while a good teenage ticklefight has no real losers, she eventually agreed to keep his childhood nickname their little secret.

When she finally caught her breath, Elyse had another proposal. Mom promised she’d make her famous taco casserole tonight and I’m starving. You want to stay for dinner?” “Sure” Skye smiled “You know I love your mom's casserole.” Skye’s sadness from earlier in the day was forgotten as he trailed her out of the bedroom. His best friend sure knew how to turn his bad day around.

View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

[lunasky2491]

Wolfstar one shot ♤✯

TW swearing

Ok so I’ve just had this random thought and I just know it would have happened once.

So Sirius is sitting down in transfiguration and Minnie is coming round picking up the homework she set last lesson. Then she just stops in front of James and Sirius and gives him a pointed look as James chuckles lightly handing over his essay while Sirius smirks lightly looking down at his very interesting desk.

Minnie: so mr black I don’t see an essay here or perhaps if i’m sorely mistaken you have ‘accidentally turned your parchment invisible’.

Remus just shaking his head in the background:

Sirius: well Minnie you see…

Peter covering up his snort with a cough:

Sirius pulling out a clump of chewed paper full of ink stains: there was an incident.

Minnie pursing her lips: and a simple reparo didn’t suffice, did it not mr black.

Sirius blatantly ignoring her remark: and you see, a dog was involved.

James bitting on his fist so hard in order to not burst into hysterics:

Minnie: ah a dog I see, what a dark creature indeed, so much so that any charm could never repair such an ingenious written paper..

Sirius quietly responding: exactly! exactly!

Minnie: and where mr black did you inquire such a creature?

Sirius being his dramatic self: well Minnie, it all started after breakfast..

Minnie: get to the point mr black, also no acting is necessary.

Sirius just carrying on anyway: me and prongsie boy were taking a stroll down by the lake to meet with moons and wormtail

Minnie: this is Serious mr black, please I implore you to be professional.

Whole class: Nooooo! You’ll set him off again!

Sirius at the same time: Sirius? But I’m Sirius! Where is this Sirius? I need to have a word with this Sirius seriously! This is identity fraud Sirius and I seriously need to have a word with you..

Lily: Sirius when on earth did you learn about identity fraud?

Sirius: just now lil’s, when someone has just seriously pissed me off by pretending to be Sirius.

Remus: please can someone stop all this fucking madness, I’ll hear about it all fucking night if you don’t.

Minnie: Mr black

Sirius: Well they say we’re all mad moons but I’d say crazy for me instead, always have to stand out, don’t I.

Remus: for the fucking life of me, Sirius please, I want to keep my fucking sanity thanks.

Sirius: wait would I or would I not be more crazy if I was locked in a room of rats?

Remus and Peter letting out a sigh while James looks like he’s living life to the fullest:

Sirius: rats! Ha! Hear that wormy? Rats! Hey great future experiment!

Peter: please, if I had to be stuck in a room to do that I would be insane quicker than any other black could.

Remus ‘deadpans’: imagine having to deal with that shit 24/7 at least you don’t have to share a fucking bed with him.

James: Ha, suck it up moony it wasn’t me who decided to be his boyfriend.

Remus: if only I knew..

Sirius pouting: BUT MOONS!

Remus being unable to hide his small smile: ah alright pads I forgive you

Sirius smiling broadly: now what am I supposed to do about this Sirius?

Minnie: Sirius!

Sirius: which one?

Minnie: Mr Black!

Sirius: wait a second Minnie, did you just call me by my name?

James: oh pads! I’m so proud you’ve done it my beautiful boy you’ve done it!

Remus: Merlin’s mother fucking beard, we’re in for it tonight peat we’ll never hear the end of it!

Peter: nearly seven years, seven, honestly moony I never thought I’d see the day.

Remus: and shit she held on so long as well.

Peter: so close, but we knew they’d get to her in the end.

Remus: and alas they fucking did.

Minnie: JAMES! I do not need your input!

Sirius: prongs we’ve done it! We’ve broken her! I’ve never been so proud!

James: we should get a reward for this. The first to soften Minnie’s heart.

Sirius: a service to the school prongs no doubt!

James: precisely pads precisely!

Remus: Pete we’re fucked truly and utterly fucked!

Peter: careful mate you’re losing your perfect prefect status. I’m surprised Minnie hasn’t picked up on it yet.

Remus: oh fucking hell, how they even believe all this fucking shit prefect fucking perfect mother fucking shit in the fucking first place! What a load of fucking Bullshit!

Peter: ummm let it out let it all out moony!

Remus:oh do this shit Remus, do that Remus, go do the stupid motherfucking prefect fucker control shit! Oh don’t forget to put on that bullshit fucking smile and act all fucking perfect Remus. The younger fucking years need fucking roll models Remus those little shits need someone to look the fuck up to some fucking body. And all for fucking what because I have a fucking book in my mother fucking hand what a load of mother fucking bullshit fucking fucker shit crap.

Peter: let it all out moons let it all out.

Remus: you know all these fucking school fucker books are a load of mother fucking fucker crap. Half of them don’t even have decent shit. You know how fucking many I have had to change the cover for so it looks like I’m doing the mother fucking bullshit work. No i’m reading some actual decent shit which actually have stuff I fucking need to know! But oh no Remus you’re not allowed to fucking know that shit you have to monitor the mother fucking hallways in-fucking-stead!

Peter: I get you I get you it’s all right Rem.

Remus: this is all just fucking crap Pete like how the fuck do they want me to do all this shit. How I’m considered the responsible one of you lot I have no fucking idea, I’m responsible for most of the fucking shit we do unless prongs or pads pulls something

Last minute and land their arse in detention.

Peter: I know Rem it’s a mystery.

Remus: fuck yes it is, fucking shit though honestly.

Peter: I know I know

Remus: you think Minnie has had enough of them yet?

Peter: honestly I’m wondering how the fuck they are still alive at this point, just look at that stare.

Remus: yeah, if looks could kill they would be dead a hundred times over.

Meanwhile:

Minnie: boys you will stop this at once!

Sirius and James pouting:

James: but Minnie we are so proud of you look how far you’ve come.

Sirius wiping away fake tears: so proud!

Minnie: boys I’ve had enough we’ve wasted over half the lesson.

Sirius: but look at what we’ve achieved look how far you’ve grown.

Minnie: I’ve had enough Mr Black there is supposed to be a reason for me talking to you at this precise moment in time.

Sirius clutching his pretend pearls: I’m offended Minnie just when I thought we had come so far!

James: oh cheer up pads our dear Minnie just needs time to work through her previous denial, baby steps.

Sirius quirking an eyebrow at Minnie: prongs your right we just need more time.

James huffing out a laugh: just a bit longer pads we will make her love us yet!

Minnie ‘her pressed lips moving up a bit in the corners’: now boys you had something else to tell me.

Sirius: of prongs look she does live us after all.

James: oh I’m blessed Minnie truly blessed!

Minnie: well Sirius what were you goito say?

Sirius puffing his chest up in joy:so as I was saying me and prongs

James: hello

Sirius: we’re walking by the lake and suddenly a massive black dog jumps out of nowhere and grabes my book!

James pretends to swoon: truly terrifying!

Minnie: sure

Sirius faking sincerity: unfortunately it happened to be my transfiguration book with my work inside.

Minnie: let me guess the dog ate your homework.

Sirius: exactly, see if you look closely you can see bite marks but of course it ate most of my work.

Remus ‘snorts’: obviously, snuffles will eat anything he can get his fucking paws on, a favourite of his seems to be my mother fucking socks!

Peter huffed out a laugh: oh yes the end of the word isn’t it Rem.

Remus: YES! YES IT IS! He ruins everything! My poor socks all nearly ironed and folded and he has the fucking audacity to spoil it!

Peter: a travesty!

Remus: oi ast cau y fuck i fyny!

Peter: what?

Remus: fy sanau ffycin gwael, dwi'n mynnu cyfiawnder!

Peter: ok.. then whatever it is I support you.

Minnie: I am still very much intrigued on how a dog has gotten into the castles grounds as we only allow certain pets, does this one happen to know you.

Sirius: no never seen him before, but I can’t say the same for others maybe there have been strange sightings around here.

Peter whispering to Remus again: well technically he isn’t wrong unless you count a mirror.

Minnie: well actually your suspicions are correct, the headmaster has had many reported sightings of a dog chasing a stag.

The four marauder all looked between each other with a knowing look while moony smirked at the fond memory and Sirius and James stared guiltily at each other:

Remus re-entering the conversation: wow what a peculiar sight professor, I’ve never experienced such a sight before have you.

Minnie: ah Mr lupin, no I haven’t but it is most strange I must admit.

All four marauders hummed faking innocence:

Minnie: well Mr black I have decided to give you an extension till the day after tomorrow, for your mishap. Remus please make sure he completes it and make sure they don’t get into to much trouble.

Remus: of course profesor.

Minnie ‘a small tug at her lips but more than she gave Sirius’: very good Mr lupin if you wish you can come by my office later for tea.

Remus ‘letting out a kind smile’: obviously Minnie, I wouldn’t want to let you down.

With that Minnie turned her back but not before another quirk of her lips towards Remus:

Sirius ‘whining’: oh moons you could get away with bloody murder and she would would just invite you around again for tea and biscuits.

Remus ‘smugly’: not just biscuits pads but chocolate as well quite a few as well.

Sirius: oh you sly little bitch

James finally burst into his fit of hysterics:

Remus: what can I say, it’s just the way I am.

Ok so this originally wasn’t meant to be a one shot and only like 5 lines most but it practically wrote itself in the end so I just went with it. Hoped you enjoyed ☾✮

[jujumin-translates]

Event | 5th Anniversary: The Way Back Home | Chapter 4 - Autumn Planet Story

*Contains spoilers for Act 12 - eternal moment*

Azami: Took longer than expected, but we finally managed to get the tent set up.

Omi: The sun is setting, so we should probably start preparing dinner soon.

Sakyo: The ingredients we prepared in advance are in the luggage. Let’s divide up the work and get everything ready.

Banri: …Oi, give me that firewood.

Juza: …Yeah, yeah.

Azami: Kinda surprising to see you two working together to tend to the fire like actual adults.

Banri: Not like I wanna do it or anythin’.

Juza: Like hell I’m lettin’ myself be handcuffed to that guy again.

Sakyo: Hmph, that’s pretty different from back then. You really have grown up.

Taichi: Yeah, yeah! Omi-kun, I’m gonna take a pic! Ah, Sakyo-nii, you join us too!

Juza: Why are ya takin’ pictures, Taichi?

Banri: He must be takin’ Omi’s place since he’s busy cookin’.

Taichi: Hehe, I’m getting lotsa good shots. We could make like a behind the scenes album with these are something!

Sakyo: An album, huh…? It it’s profitable, we should do it.

Banri: ‘Course you’d say that, money-grubber.

Taichi: While I’m at it, I’m gonna send the pics to Director-sensei on LIME! And I’ve gotta take a good pic of the curry too, and…

Taichi: Here, here, Ban-chan and Juza-san, look over here~. ‘Kay, say cheese!

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Omi: Okay, it’s done.

Juza: Looks good.

Azami: With Omi-san here, even camp food can be good.

Banri: Aight, time to dig in.

Sakyo: Let’s eat.

Taichi: It’s soooo good~! Camp food cooked together and eaten around the campfire is the best!

Omi: That’s one of the real charms of camping.

Juza: We’re gonna be on the pirate ship around noon tomorrow, right?

Taichi: I’m so hyped to be on the pirate ship!

Sakyo: However, to make up for that, we’re going to have to fit in a good amount of practice before we go. We’ll all be getting up at 5 a.m. tomorrow.

Banri: Are you being for real?

Azami: The sun ain’t even gonna be up then!

Omi: Haha, relentless as always.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Omi: Zzz… Zzz…

Juza: Zzz…

*Clanging*

Taichi: Uwah!?

Juza: The hell…?

Sakyo: All of you, get up quickly. We’re starting practice.

Omi: That sound of you banging on a frying pan with a ladle… that startled me.

Azami: Damn, it really is 5 a.m..

Taichi: I thought there was something wrong.

Banri: Couldn’t think of a more dramatic way to wake us up?

Azami: Typical way to wake someone up for an old man.

Sakyo: Shut your mouth. Stop wastin’ time and just get on with it already!

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Azami: So this is the pirate ship, huh?

Taichi: It’s so big~...

Banri: You’re like half asleep.

Omi: Well, we did get up early and have an early morning rehearsal.

Omi: Here, Taichi, look at the great view.

Taichi: …Whoa!

Taichi: It really is a great view! They sky and the sea are so pretty!

Sakyo: It is a beautiful view.

Juza: ‘M glad it’s sunny out.

Banri: How about we look around the ship for a bit since we’re here.

Taichi: Ah, I’m gonna go to the bathroom first!

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Taichi: Hmm, bathroom, bathroom…

???: Onii-chan!

Taichi: Waah!?

Taichi: Wait, huh!? Mi-chan!? What are you doing here…!?

Masato: What are YOU doing here, Nii-chan…?

Taichi: Ma-kun, too!? What’s going on!? Where are Dad and Mom!?

Mirai: Mom’s at home! And Dad’s over there.

Taichi: Huh…

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Taichi: So it turns out, my lil’ sis, Mi-chan, and my lil’ bro, Ma-kun, happened to be on the same ship as us!

Juza: That’s an incredible coincidence.

Azami: What’re the odds?

Taichi: Dad’s here too, but he got seasick, so he’s resting now…

Taichi: So I’m gonna stay with Mi-chan and Ma-kun until he’s feeling better.

Banri: Then how about they come around with us?

Taichi: Eh, are you sure?

Omi: Of course. The more the merrier. Right, Sakyo-san?

Sakyo: Do you really think I’m so heartless as to leave Nanao and those two behind?

Banri: You might be.

Sakyo: …Oi.

Juza: I got no problem with it either.

Masato: Thank you…!

Mirai: That’s great, isn’t it, Ma-kun!?

Mirai: Ma-kun said he started to love space pirates and regular pirates after seeing Onii-chan and everyone in the MANKAI performance~.

Mirai: That’s what he asked Dad to bring us here today.

Masato: M-Mi-chan, don’t say that now…!

Juza: Is that so?

Taichi: Eh~, you never told me that! You should’ve told your big bro.

Banri: What’d ya think of our play? Was it good?

Masato: Yeah… everyone was so cool. Nii-chan too.

Taichi: Ma-kun…!

Omi: I’m glad to hear you say that.

Banri: Come see us again in the future, yeah?

Masato: Yeah!

Juza: Well, this pirate ship’s got a top deck, right? Let’s head up there while we’re at it.

Masato: I wanna do that!

Taichi: Alright, let’s go!

Mirai: A-chan, let’s hold hands!

Azami: Huh? Sure, I don’t mind, I guess…

Sakyo: Never thought I’d see you walking hand in hand with a little kid like this.

Omi: It’s like you’re a big brother.

Azami: Hmph.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Masato: Waah…!

Omi: This is a great view.

Masato: Okay… Umm, so that direction is north, and this way is south…

Juza: You’ve even got a compass, huh?

Sakyo: Just like the captain or navigator of a pirate ship.

Masato: No, I’m just an apprentice.

Sakyo: An apprentice?

Masato: I read a book about an apprentice pirate the other day.

Masato: I’m sure it take a lotta skill to become a captain or a navigator, so I thought maybe I could just become an apprentice or something.

Azami: That’s oddly realistic of you.

Juza: Y’know, an apprentice could one day become a captain or a navigator.

Banri: …Yeah.

Banri: “Even if you’re an apprentice… if you’re willin’ to put in the work, ANIMS will gladly welcome you on board.”

Masato: …!

Mirai: Yeah~! Then I wanna be Bat’s wife!

Azami: Wife…

Sakyo: Hm.

Banri: Look at you, you’re quite the ladies’ man.

Azami: S-Shut up.

Taichi: I’m not just handing Mi-chan over to you that easily, A-chan!

Azami: It ain’t serious!

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Banri: This cruise was pretty interestin’.

Sakyo: Glad to hear that Nanao’s father is feeling better.

Taichi: Thanks for letting Mi-chan and Ma-kun tag along, guys!

Taichi: They both had a blast and Dad was really thankful too.

Omi: We all had fun too.

Taichi: But in the end, we still couldn’t find any hints for what our spinoff should be about.

Banri: That ain’t true.

Taichi: Huh?

Banri: What about what Masato said? Y’know, “apprentice”?

Sakyo: I see. Something like the apprenticeship period of the ANIMS crew could work…

Sakyo: No, it’d be interesting to see a spinoff showing their past stories, not just their apprenticeship.

Juza: There ain’t a whole lot about it, but… some of Tig and Doug’s lines do mention their childhoods a bit.

Azami: It’d be nice to see a different side of the crew and see how they grow.

Omi: Yeah, plus that goes along with what Banri said about going back to the basics.

Juza: That’s true.

Banri: Aight, then that’s what we’ll choose for our request.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Azami: That was good.

Juza: Today’s camp food was delicious.

Omi: I’m glad you liked it.

Taichi: Hahh, I’m stuffed! I can’t possibly eat more…

Sakyo: Oi, don’t just lay down so suddenly.

Taichi: Can’t you just overlook it for today~?

Taichi: …!

Taichi: Hey! The starry sky is super pretty!

Banri: Hm?

Omi: Ooh… it’s like a natural planetarium.

Sakyo: Well, I suppose there’s some time to look at the sky for a bit.

Juza: …You can’t see this kinda thing in the city.

Azami: It’s kinda… magical.

Banri: The starry sky’s so clear, I wonder if that makes it ever prettier.

Taichi: Since we’re here, how about we all lay down and stargaze.

Banri: Ain’t six grown-ass men laying down together and stargazin’ kinda cringe?

Sakyo: Don’t be too harsh and just help tidy up.

Taichi: But this is one of the best parts of camping…!

Taichi: At least lemme take a pic of this view so I can remember it!

Taichi: …Yeah, that’s a good one!

Taichi: I can’t believe I got such a nice pic with my phone~! Maybe I’m just getting that good at using a camera!

Banri: Taichi, gimme a hand with washing this.

Taichi: ‘Kay, kaaay! I’m coming now!

Taichi: Hey, hey, since we all went and did our own separate things yesterday, let’s all take a bath together after cleaning up today!

Banri: You’re never lettin’ that one go, are you?

Juza: I don’t mind…

Sakyo: Tch, no point in fighting it. Let’s hurry up and finish tidying up then.

Taichi: Yeah!

[ ⇠ Previous Part ] • [ Next Part ⇢ ]

[themotherofhorses]

Hi.

I love your handmaiden and Aemond series.

Love the stories with the babies and getting to see dad Aemond. Protective dad Aemond would be amazing.

I was just wondering if you will be writing a one shot or blurb to show how Aemond reacts over Otto basically only seeing his love as a toy that will be discarded soon. Especially when he is to get married.

Would love to see pissed off protective in love Aemond.

Also what happened to the Septa that hurt the reader? Did Aemond make sure they knew how damn wrong they were?

Love your fics. Can’t wait to hopefully read more. I hope you have a lovely day/night.

- 🌸⭐️

hello my lovebug! thank you sm for your sweet words, im happy you’re enjoying the series <3

we’ll get some pissed off protective!aemond VERY SOON. i got something cooking up (aka handmaid finding out she’s prangent)

hella otto slander is coming too, along with a pt. 2 w the septa. i won’t spoil much but it’s basically otto being a stupid lil bitch baby and spreading some rumors that handmaid is a silly whore bc he hates to see a hot witch girl win.

although im kinda curious now. what do y’all think should happen to the septa? and otto. and any tongue that rises against aemond and his handmaid.

[illarian-rambling]

🧁?

-starsoughtfrost

🧁 – What's the sweetest moment you've written using one of your OCs?

Well this seems like a perfect excuse to post a snippet :)

Sighing again, then wincing at the pain in her ribs, Astra waded over and sliced off a clump of the revenant’s white hair. Quickly, she braided it and stuck it in her pocket. Antonin would have his proof. She turned back to Mashal with a morose expression, yet couldn’t help but smile to see her friend hale and whole.

“Are ya a’right?” she asked, walking over to take his hand in hers. “You didn’t come up for a lil’ while. I was worried.”

Mashal rubbed at his eyes, clearly embarrassed. “There’s some sort of sinkhole a little ways over there. Turns out, I don’t have any secret flotation runes, so I had to climb my way up. Sorry I took so long.”

“Love, I reckon you took just the right amount of long,” the witch teased. “You saved my sorry hide, after all. And I figure I could whip up some flotation runes for ya, should you want ’em.”

“I…. Actually, I might take you up on that,” Mashal replied. “I think I used to enjoy swimming, so— Ah shit, I forgot about rust! Nevermind. Gods, I’m going to have to take everything apart to dry when we get back to the hotel…. Anyways, I’ll still take you up on that though. Just in case we run into some more water before I get my body back.”

Astra barked a laugh. “Yeah, I can fix ya up with somethin’. Maybe you can teach me to swim someday, though I’m feelin’ pretty pleased with my performance. I bet I’ll be a natural, once I really learn.”

“I guess we’ll find out.” Mashal’s mouth curved into a barebones smile, only for his eyes to flicker nervously. “If that’s the case, then… then are we going to stick together once I’m human again?”

The witch’s eyebrows shot up. She hadn’t considered that before.

“Of course we are,” she replied. “I— I mean, if ya want to, that is. You’re my friend, Mashal. The first friend I’ve had…. The first friend I’ve had in a damn long time. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed bein’ around someone the way I enjoy bein’ near you.”

The more she thought, the more she found the words were true. There was something about this man that brought out the best in her, and made her want to bring out the best in him. To find the deepest well of his heart and learn its depths as thoroughly as she might study the mysteries of magic itself.

She’d never had a friend like Mashal before. And now that she had him, she didn’t want to ever let him go.

At her side, Mashal’s smile blossomed gently back into place. He squeezed her hand and Astra felt a smile slide onto her own face. She knew how nervous he sometimes got with delicate motions like that.

“I enjoy being near you too,” he finally said. “I’d like to keep it that way, even once everything is put to rights.”

She's so smitten and so oblivious at the same time it's a medical marvel. Hope you enjoy and thanks for the ask!

[the-handling-and-care-of-pokemon]

Bulbasaur Line

The camera turns on, revealing a close up shot of a man in his early to mid thirties. He has short curly black hair and a short black beard and mustache. Dressed in a lab coat that is clearly just thrown on over casual clothing, the light brown skinned man brings his bespectacled face closer to the camera. “Alright, looks like it’s showtime.”

The man backs up and adjusts his glasses. “Hello, and welcome to The Handling and Care of Pokemon. This is a little project I have been wanting to do for a while now. Ah, but before I get ahead of myself.” The man clears his throat. “My name is William Evergreen. Well, Professor William Evergreen that is, and I am somewhat of an expert in the field of raising Pokemon. As an experienced breeder, I have raised just about every Pokemon there is. I breed Pokemon for two reasons; to ensure the survival and prosperity of all Pokemon species whether to be released into the wild or given to trainers. Also, cause I love raising Pokemon.” Professor Evergreen smiles.

“Now that you know a little bit about myself, let’s move on to this project. New trainers are beginning their journeys everyday. Which means beginners are getting their first Pokemon everyday as well. And it’s not just trainers: all sorts of people love Pokemon and want to raise them as well. Of course, there are plenty of resources for raising Pokemon, like books and websites and even other professors. However, some of these sources can be, well less then credible.” The professor realizes what he just said and quickly raises his hands in defense.

“Not professors though! You can always count on us to be well researched in our fields and to provide the most accurate information we can, heh heh heh…” He shakes his head and regains his composure. “Moving on, as I am well versed in the care of Pokemon, I decided to make this video series dedicated to sharing my knowledge on the needs and precautions of each species. This does come with a couple disclaimers, though. One, the Pokemon I will be presenting were all raised in captivity. I say this as a warning that wild Pokemon are different from captive-bred Pokemon. They are more likely to be unpredictable and may very well attack anyone in their territory. So remember to never approach a wild Pokemon unless you have your own Pokemon or an adult to protect you. Lastly, I will only be covering Pokemon that a feasible to tame and raise. That is to say, I will not be covering Pokemon classified as the following; Legendary, Mythical, Ultra Beast or Paradox. Basically Pokemon that are not known to breed, though there will be one exception. But, well, you’ll know it when we get to it.” He clasps his hands together and grins widely.

“Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to the fun stuff.” He pulls out a Pokeball from his belt. “We’ll start off the first episode with a relatively easy Pokemon. All you trainers from Kanto should be familiar with this little guy.” The professor tosses the Pokeball and it opens, shooting out a beam of light. The light quickly forms into a small green reptilian-like Pokemon. “Buuulb.” It looks around and, seeing the professor, walks up to him and nuzzles his leg. Professor Evergreen kneels down and pets the Pokemon’s head.

“This is the seed Pokemon, Bulbasaur. One of the three Pokemon most Kanto trainers will start their journey with, along with Charmander and Squirtle. Of the three, Bulbasaur is known to be the easiest to raise. They grow fast and are fiercely loyal to their loved ones, even after a falling out or abandonment.” The professor squishes Bulbasaur’s cheeks between his hands. “Though, how anyone could abandon this little cutie is beyond me. Isn’t that right, lil’ one?” The Pokemon looks up happily with closed eyes. “Buuuulbaaaa!”

Professor Evergreen looks back to the camera. “Now, like most Grass Pokemon, Bulbasaur can gain all of their nutrients through photosynthesis: the process of synthesizing food from carbon dioxide and water by utilizing sunlight. This is, of course, the most effective way for them to gain energy and nutrition, but it’s not exactly exciting is it. Bulbasaur are actually herbivorous as well and can feed on leaves and berries to gain additional nutrients. Berries especially make for a nice treat, though spicy berries are usually avoided. There is always an exception to the rule, so my advice is to try offering a variety of flavored berries to your Bulbasaur, even spicy ones. You never know.”

Standing up, the professor walks off camera as the Bulbasaur watches, curiously. The Pokemon perks up as Professor Evergreen walks back on screen, holding a few pink peach-like berries in his hands. Bulbasaur growls happily and walks back to him as the professor holds out a berry to the grass Pokemon. Two vines come out from the bulb on the Pokemon’s back and take hold of the berry. As Bulbasaur gladly munches away, Professor Evergreen places the remaining berries in front of the Pokemon and turns back to face the camera.

“This Bulbasaur really loves sweet flavored berries, like Pecha berries. Now, onto the next topic which is care tips. Bulbasaur need lots of sunlight and plenty of water. As we have already discussed, they get pretty much all their food and nutrients through photosynthesis. Watering is especially important. Bulbasaur tend to show signs of dehydration through wilting flowers on their backs and lethargy. It should also be noted that if you live in an area where the weather is overcast a lot, you needn’t worry. Bulbasaur can store the energy from berries and leaves as fat reserves for those cloudy days. While they prefer fresh forest air, Bulbasaur can do very well in urban settings. They are also highly resistant to air pollution, thanks to being part Poison type.

While Bulbasaur may not look like the most energetic of Pokemon, they love walks, especially on those nice sunny days. So make sure to not simply allow access to sunlight, but get them outside as well. Maybe a nice walk through a park. Even better if you have access to a nature park. I know your Bulbasaur will love it.”

The professor’s expression turns serious. “Now, while the Bulbasaur family is certainly the easiest and most docile of the Kanto starters, it should be noted that each member is capable of releasing various spores and powders when threatened. Among the worst are the purple poisonous powders that they tend to rely on for self defense. They won’t readily use this on their trainer, but people and other Pokemon they don’t trust or know well, that’s a different story. These spore clouds spread, too so don’t think you’re safe just because it’s your Bulbasaur. Another thing of note is something you really only need to worry about if you have a full grown Venasaur. They are known to release pollen during mating season. This pollen is basically a signal that says ‘Hey, I’m looking for a mate. Any takers?’ This pollen is similar to regular pollen, so if you’re allergic to plant pollen, you’ll most likely be allergic to this as well.

Another note on Venasaur; if you don’t like Bug Pokemon you might want to take some precautions when going out with your Pokemon. Venasaur release a fragrance that Bug Pokemon find near irresistible. If you want to catch some new Bug Pokemon, then Venasaur will be a wonder lure. If you don’t, well make sure you have lots of repels on hand.”

The professor looks down at the now sleeping Bulbasaur and smiles warmly. He looks back at the camera as he remembers something. “I almost forgot. Bulbasaur are very nurturing and tend to be much more caring when around younger or weak Pokemon. This behavior can also be seen towards human infants and toddlers as well. So, if you’re a breeder or a family person, a Bulbasaur might just be a perfect Pokemon for you.

And with that, I guess I should wrap this up. Please contact me with any questions or inquiries. I’m happy to help. If you are looking for a Pokemon, please stop by my lab. As mentioned before, I am a licensed breeder and have many Pokemon that are looking for new homes. Please tune in next time, where I will be discussing a very popular family: the Charmander line. Until then, take care and remember to respect all living things. Goodbye.”

Professor Evergreen walks towards the camera and clicks it off.