#so earnestly over the gem

[normalpillsaddict]

the first time we lost someone

[pieroulette]

yandere simulator; xo (only if you say yes). yjw

interactive roleplaying game: where instead of a yandere winning over your heart, you win theirs. by getting them to say 'yes', only then you will unlock the key to their heart where psychotic love resides.

currently playing. . . xo (only if you say yes)

warning: yandere, slight profanity, some grammar errors (i'm doing my best to study it >_<)

runtime: 3k.

director's cut, — jungwon boo u never fail to prove me that you're legit my muse in writing </3 this is just a fun fun interactive yandere game i randomly thought of, whatever you choose (majority of the votes) decides what happens to you with yandere jungwon :3

character visual: jw

"i'm sorry, but no. you're just not my type—"

you slammed yourself your face on your pillow, burying it so tight it sent you to heaven itself. however you'd rather die this way than pressing the 'continue' button to read the yandere's next words for his darling—which is you.

but you're not even his darling yet, much less being his close friend. maybe just a friend from school?

yeah, definitely.

well, as a twenty-nine years old office lady with her average monotonous schedule with the same routine over and over again for the past eight years, nearing her thirties yet never being able to find a qualified partner that fits her overly high standards—you're left with a game titled 'xo (only if you say yes) you've found somehow on the devil's hours; a game that was immensely difficult to pass, where you would do your best to win over a yandere's heart.

the game's description was too daring, almost too challenging, you are afraid to admit.

"wanna have your sweet affectionate yandere fawning all over you? no worries! however, as the old sayings goes; without efforts, you may never achieve anything—nothing is free in this world. therefore, why don't you sweat a little, get upset a little, cry a little, break a little—like your beloved yandere would once they fall for you? do your very best to get them to say yes to your love confession just once, and all of them—they will give to you.

blood, sweat, and tears; all of them shall be yours as long as you can make them say yes."

© 2024. all rights reserved xo, (only if you say yes)

and now you found yourself on the final level spending atleast, or disappointingly a huge sum of bucks on the game with currency of gems just to speed up the process, with your eyes bearing a newfound dark eyebags as an extra package of consequences.

you swore by your life and on god himself that you're only playing this for fun out of pure boredom and insomnia, however as you thumb through the game's introduction of yandere as it's dominant themes paired with a comprehensive summary of them; you questioned yourself with sheer shock as to why you've never find an ounce of existence about yanderes for the past eighteen years of your life despite being chronically online.

since yanderes are the exact definition of your overly high standards for men, ever since. no wonder you've never found a men like this before, turns out they only exists in fiction—you scoffed at yourself, filled with disbelief as you roll your eyes.

but! who cares if they don't exist in real life? they're now on the tips of your finger, waiting earnestly and eagerly for your love. a giggle so obnoxious escapes your lips, you feel like you are once a schoolgirl again, but without the experiences of one, actually.

but again who cares!

the game flashes a new pop-up, telling you the next step—choose your yandere character to play with. it shows you a list of seven yanderes illustrated on their respective cards, clad in coquettish-sort-of highschool uniforms; pink ties, beige vest over a dark blue shirt and pants paired with their set of flirty gestures as your thumb glided through each character—reading their descriptions; interests & dislikes, hobbies & talents, a little trivia about them, and of course—their strengths and weaknesses.

surprisingly, they had a range of informations so complete it felt like they were real humans. the developers did quite a spectacular job on it, don't they? and even the fact of how their weaknesses remains the same although with differences in how they would act on it or how far they would go; obsession, possession, and damn psychotic—willing to kill for you.

how romantic. . . in a psychotic way, of course. you hummed unconsciously, letting out a sigh after at the disappointing fact of how you still find it strangely attractive in your late twenties.

are you really that of a single pringle? pfft!

as you giddily spend your time trying to choose one of all characters. they're just all too good, looking too good for your heart to take. but one particular character catches your eye, intrigues you even with those pair of eyes—goosebumps ran down your spine as you could feel him gazing back at you.

like at you, literally.

or was it just the game's tactic to make the players like you fall deeper? hm, probably! it definitely was, unless a random ghost must've possessed your phone but that can't be right?

right?! you yelled the same word out loud, snapping your head around your room—looking for any potential jumpscares, but to your relief—thank god. now you can play your little new obsession in peace!

snapping your head back at your phone, eyes lit up in immense stars as you've made up your mind, heart thumping loudly as you scanned his unique features—tapping the "play with me?" soft pink button below the name 'yang jungwon' aka the mischievous leader kitty of the group.

in yandere academy, this group is called enhypen—and they have a bunch of fangirls, and it's not even a 'bunch', the size of their fandom is almost half of the female population in the academy and even outside of its territories—there is this ridiculously long line of female students from other academies. a feat that cannot be totally underestimated, and it's not even surprising as they are packed with dazzling visuals, and a set of numerous talents of their own.

they catch hearts everywhere, left and right, back and forth with their grand entrance to the school. each of them has their own separate fandoms too, and yang jungwon's taekwondo club practices are always filled with hearty eyes paired nerve-wracking screams that his coach spends half an hour yeeting them out.

"huh?" you let that out a tad bit too loud, almost exaggerated even. the game surely didn't turn out the way you thought, as you had the initial assumption that the yandere you chose already fell for you, and that you just had to spend those lovey-dovey levels roleplaying with them with a one or a few more predetermined routes to choose from.

the rules was pretty simple; try to get his heart—make him fall for you in the set duration of thirty days. in other words, there are ninety-nine percent possibility that he might reject your confession out of pure lack of interest. get that three row of bars; friendship, love, and yandereness as high as you can because if you were unable to do so then there will be no second chances of playing the yandere of your choice without paying an excessive sum of bucks, so you just had to do it once and make sure to do it right.

quite a challenging mission, huh? no it really is challenging but you were determined as your nostrils flared out a puff of air, straightening your posture as

the adorable motion logo of the game plays out, loading in a bunch of texts meant to help you along the way;

'yandere has each of their own unique love languages, pay attention!'

'little misfortunes are often a blessing in disguise, sometimes redirecting you away from what we call a 'disaster.'

'completing side tasks will increase your yandere's love bar by two percent!'

it soon pops up a bunch of pinky hearts and sparkling stars after all those introductions and guides before switching to a scene of him, jungwon—standing before you, and as expected, you were instructed to approach him.

the location in his taekwondo club, all while sandwiched in between his die-hard fangirls with those screams that you had to turn down your volume to zero. talk about in starting a cool first impression—well never mind, two choices popped up on your screen.

choice one: wait for him after his taekwondo practices (20% of working out)

choice two: act like a damsel in distress (5% of working out)

"uh," your thumb hovered over the two choices, is this a trap? act like a damsel in distress—what in the actual fuck? who would even do that in 2024?! you begrudgingly tapped on the first choice, and the scene switches to a pop up message:

try again, jungwon left a couple minutes earlier for a dinner with jay!

[ retry? ] [ exit? ]

your eyebrow twitches, what the fuck? just like that . . .? there's even barely a progress and you just have to fucking retry?

and jokes on you as your jaw dropped on the floor with the new set of choices presented before you, four choices—actually.

"what is this?!" you yelled so loud you immediately covered your mouth, peeking outside the window.

day three.

the love bar ain't going the fuck up, it's still there glaring at your face with it's zero percent. well that's fine, atleast the friendship bar goes up a tad bit—by five percent. a progress is still a progress!

but the game is just so greedy! you can't skip a day? sure then! but you only had three gems a day, one is to play the major mission, second to power up your aesthetics, skills, and status. third, to complete your side tasks such as running errands for your home or completing school assignments!

that even takes a whole day to refill back up, and it's not even enough with these thirty days you got and with this slow ass rate of getting jungwon to fall for you! you threw your phone on the bed, huffing like a madman—contemplating whether to spend a few bucks on it or just drop the game altogether. surely, you can't be that too attached with a yandere character, right?

right?!

jokes on you, your fingers find itself on the payment method against your will. ultimately cashing out a few bucks from your bank account with a single tear trailing down from your eye, all of this would be complete waste of money and effort if you fail to reign over his heart.

you let out an almost animalistic growl—filled with downright spite, actually. is this game even for real?! the choices they gave you are almost like deliberately setting you up for failure, definitely is! you were almost sure that is—to the point of contacting the developers themselves but you held yourself in sheer strength of self-control at last-minute, at the last digit of contacting them.

"it's okay, pampering myself isn't a sin." you pat yourself on the back, comforting yourself with a huge pout reaching the floor. it's okay! with a newfound determination, you're sure you'll make it!

day ten.

hopeless! utterly hopeless even the god of romance and cupid's themselves would laugh at you. you would, too. due to the fact that you went as far as googling on how to 'win over a man's heart" or "list of dialogues and actions that makes a man gain interest in you".

one of them even says food, that it is the way to a man's heart. but how the heck are you even going to feed a fictional game character? it would be easier if there was a food dialogue!

right, when is your character—or the game itself deciding to send a heart shaped box of chocolates? that would atleast give you a few percent to his love bar!

throwing yourself at your bed like a ragdoll, groaning and kicking your feet in the air. why do you even bother? for what? your search history is so hopelessly embarrassing, and even more embarrassing was when your co-worker had their eyes ogling at it. your mistake for letting your phone screen lit up for everyone to see, thank god she was the only one. patting you on the back that it was okay, and that she too had her fair share of struggles on fictional men.

truly a fellow comrade, you almost shed a tear.

day seventeen.

is this damn game trying to get on your nerves?

deciding to show a new bunch of rules that they didn't bother to show at the first day—set of rules you mustn't do while proceeding with the act of winning a yandere's heart, that is—you were not to skip a single day of playing—in other words, not spending a time with your yandere as in the game's words itself; they will be lonely and might end up throwing tantrums—loathing you for doing so, ignoring you for a short period or even longer depending on how long you were gone, thus risking the amount of effort you've spent so far down the drain.

and you actually skipped not one but two days because of your hectic work piling up after a fellow coworker's taking a sick leave for a week. . . and that was also after finally getting his love bar up to two percent and friendship bar reaching whopping sixteen percent.

yeah, it's sadly a 'whopping' one for you.

and now it's back at zero, with his friendship bar down to crashing down to nine digit and just as exactly the rules stated; every choice, dialogues, and routes you picked ended up him ignoring you with that furrowed eyebrows and slight pout on his lips, or responding to you in a flat out cold tone.

he's not even in love with you, so what are you even throwing a tantrum for?! you screamed that question at the animated game character on your phone's screen.

day twenty-four.

nah, this won't do. it definitely won't so why are you still trying? you bit your lower lip as you look for cheats, hacks, and tutorials online, praying to atleast find some miracle that could miraculously rocket you to ninety percent of love bar atleast!

since all you have left is six days.

you've spent an embarrassing amount of hours and days on this shit, even more dedicated and focused than you do back in your days as a student. you were so sure by this point that you could actually become a relationship therapist with all these accumulated knowledge!

day thirty.

eyebrows and lips twitching, it is.

level thirty, it is—ending on quite a horrible note, or actually, a total doomsday glaring back at you with all your nonexistent experience combined into a recipe with the title "never been in a relationship before".

a helpless laughter escapes your throat, of course—how can you catch a yandere's heart? much less make him your lover? you've never even caught a human's interest over the past twenty years of your life!

how cruel, how utterly cruel! god truly has it's ways of playing jokes. tears, laughter, giggles, sweat, money and effort—all gone down the drain.

all because of that one sentence ending it all, each word literally jumping out from his animated lips in a bold ass pink letters,

"i'm sorry but i can't accept it. i only see you as a friend, (name). i hope you could understand. . i'm sorry, but no—you're just not my type."

huh?! seriously?! a compelling urge, or a really tremendous one so colossal you can break your table into two parts—all that set of routes you've chosen so far with a careful decision and thoughts just for him to say this? just for the love bar to be at total ten percent?

jungwon, how could you? only ten percent? there's no hint of romantic affections found in his eyes or gestures, his friendship bar only by forty percent (a low score of only being his 'school' friend), heck you didn't even trigger his yandereness. like look at him! his yandere bar is at zero looming percent!

a trace of the pink love bar and red yandere bar nowhere to be seen, this is a pure scam! a love scam in the form of a game! meant to target single old ladies like you, fucking hell!

out of pure rage and disappointment, you slammed your phone on the bed—burying your face on your pillows as you let out a long drawn out, muffled scream. downright mad at yourself for even being so triggered by this whole shit, and at the fact of you acting like teenage girl imbued with hormonal changes,

"can't even get a fictional men to fall for me, i'm totally screwed for life!—"

you're so going to uninstall that shitty game, there's no point in playing anyways when you can't have the same character of your choice.

a notification 'tings' up, interrupting your bursts of tantrums—you look over at your phone with the game still up, a big pink heart-shaped bubble pops up on the screen—slowly draining into a pathetic colour of white, ultimately shredding it apart into a broken heart, mocking at your misery.

however the next message pulls outs a gasp from your throat, appearing in its usual glossy pink heart but a little redder at the bottom.

💌 2:09AM

hey there, our precious darling!

we totally get how you feel, there's no need to fret anymore! here we present to you an exclusive package where you will be given a final chance to retry for jungwon! this is a one in a lifetime chance for you—our dear player!

tempting almost, yet you're definitely not falling for that anymore.

and it's all free, let yourself fall deeper and deeper into this world of obsession. you can't really give up that quickly, right?

yanderes never knows when to give up, anyways ♡

free? there's nothing free in this world, even the game itself stated the same words. you've wasted your time, money, and effort on this dumb game and now it's giving a package that is exclusive only for you?

what dirty trick is this game trying to pull off once again?

© pieroulette on tumblr , 2024.

[strwberri-milk]

I've been thinking about Childe lately, specifically about what would be his love language. Hoenstly i feel like everything and anything 😭

But... What i bet he would be the type to give expensive gifts, so i wonder how would he react if after giving some of these to reader, they suddenly come to him to give his gifts back saying there wouldn't be a single possibility of them ever being able to return the gesture for him

Basically Expensive gifting x Doesn't like being spent money on by others lol

childe is definitely an accidental sugar daddy who isnt aware of how much stuff costs when it comes to buying gifts for those he cares about

Childe loves spoiling you with gifts - he travels so much and is constantly finding things that remind him of you in foreign countries. He doesn't even realise how much he has until he's practically showering you with them, laughing happily at the bewildered expression on your face.

He didn't think there were any problems until you come to him with a defeated look. At first he thinks that something bad happened, immediately ready to go on a rampage to defend your honour. You sit him down with you so he has something else to focus on, telling him that you love him and love how much he thinks of you whenever he's working but you just can't accept his gifts like this. They're just far too grand for you and you feel almost guilty accepting them.

He doesn't know what to do with this information. To him, he just wants to spoil you, make you feel loved and this is something he can afford to do for you. He tells you that he never ever expects you to return the gifts to him in monetary value but just by being his you've done far more than any gift to him could ever do for him. He reiterates over and over that his gifts to you show you his appreciate for you, that it's because of how much he loves you that he wants to spoil you in this manner.

It takes a while but he'll manage to break you down, wanting you to make sure that you understand that he does not want you to return his gifts. In fact, he'll make a joke that if you return it to him that's you trying to return his love so he refuses to accept his gifts.

At first you're a little dubious that he's truly content with just you presence and the seemingly meagre gifts you have to give to him but you quickly learn that he was telling the truth. He consistently keens for your attention and seems so at peace whenever you're around him and receives every present you have for him as though it's the most precious of gems, thanking you earnestly for it.

[skz-streamer]

Why I Fell For You

Simptober Small Things You Do M-list

Pairing: Felix (skz) x fem!reader

Genre: Fluff, Hurt/comfort

Warnings:

Notes: literal sweetheart, :((((( I love him so muchhh. I dont rlly think this does justice to him but whateverrr :///

-please read responsibly, and remember that this work is fiction and meant strictly for imaginative fun. the idols used in fics are more accurately faceclaims and personality outlines for imaginary characters, and should not be interpreted as factual representations of existing people

Word count - 664;)

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

The morning sun bathed the room in a gentle light, casting a warm glow over the stillness that had settled in after a night of unease. The argument from the previous evening lingered like a haunting specter, leaving both you and Felix in a state of disquiet. It was a restless night, marked by a conspicuous silence, and the awkwardness in the air felt heavy and oppressive.

The disagreement had begun innocuously enough, a minor misunderstanding that had unexpectedly snowballed into a full-blown argument. Your intention was simple – to express your affection and connect with Felix during his work hours, mirroring the love and attention he consistently showered upon you. However, it seemed like your well-intentioned efforts had crossed a line, and it left both of you feeling hurt and misunderstood.

With the dawn of a new day, you held onto a glimmer of hope that it would bring a fresh start, an opportunity to mend the rift that had grown between you and Felix. He broke the silence with a gentle but firm directive, "Get ready," and there was something resolute in his voice that compelled you to obey. You dressed up in a cute ensemble, the anticipation of the upcoming day carrying a hint of trepidation and hope.

Felix led you to a charming little restaurant, one of those hidden gems that seemed untouched by the hustle and bustle of the world outside. Delicate pastries, exquisitely crafted, beckoned from the display, and the aroma of fragrant tea filled the air. The ambiance was tranquil, with the soft murmur of other patrons providing a soothing backdrop. Despite the picturesque setting, the lingering tension seemed to be a stubborn guest, unwilling to depart.

As you both settled into your seats, the conversation was tentative, stilted at best. The burden of the unresolved argument weighed heavily upon you, and the silence between you two felt like an insurmountable divide. You were desperate to bridge the gap, to ease the awkwardness, and finally, you mustered the courage to speak.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—" you began, but Felix, ever the considerate one, gently interrupted you, his voice a soft murmur in your ear. "Shhh, don't worry about it, hon."

His arms enveloped you in a comforting embrace, and you could feel the steady rhythm of his heart, a reassuring beat against your chest. In that embrace, he began to speak, his voice filled with heartfelt sincerity.

"I'm deeply sorry for what I said last night," Felix confessed earnestly. "It was rude of me, and I really didn't mean it. I cherish your texts throughout the day, and I beg you not to stop."

Tears welled up in your eyes as you looked up at him, the emotion in his eyes mirroring your own. It became apparent that the argument had taken a toll on him, just as it had on you. The raw vulnerability at that moment, as you held each other close, felt profound and healing.

Felix leaned in to kiss your cheek tenderly, his lips a gentle caress. His gaze met yours, and you could see the glint of moisture in his eyes, a testament to the depth of his feelings. Your own eyes mirrored his, and you smiled, a small but genuine one, in acknowledgment of his apology and the love that bound you both.

He took your hand, fingers interlocking, and guided you to sit closer to him, abandoning the space across the table. The physical closeness felt like a bridge, spanning the emotional gap that had separated you earlier. Your fingers brushed against each other as you shared a delicate tart, the sweetness of it resonating with the newfound warmth in your relationship.

As Felix bit into a tart, a playful giggle escaped his lips, breaking the tension that had haunted you for so long. You couldn't help but ask, "What's so funny?"

His eyes twinkled with affection, and he responded, "I don't know. I just love you so much."

————————————

Tags:  @eee5533 @mixtape-racha @cherry-edibles @ren0325 @felixvsp @hwangrimi @sanriiolino @painstakingly-juno @herarcadewasteland @dabiscrustyfeet @kai-jilee  @sungiesoonie  @slvtty4channiee @revelaffee @buckys-pillow, @staygirl86 @chlodavids @jinnie-ret @bbygrlhannie @rebecca-johnson-28  @turtledove824  @interstellarairwaves @yearofthetiger25 @minhos4thkitty @fiqire @backintomykpopphaseagain @liknws @tinyelfperson @aaasia111

[alyrasturnz]

PETER {{ matt sturniolo }}

— part 1

summary — you find yourself grappling with the passage of three long years since the promise was made, yet the anticipated return remains elusive, casting a shadow of uncertainty over your heart and mind. the lingering question of whether he will ever fulfill his sweet nothings linger like haunting whispers in your thoughts

warnings :: mentions of alcohol , gore mentioned if you squint

— angst!

a/n ,, first fanfic ever!!!! idk how to feel 😭

part 2

its the gut wrenching feeling of your heart splintering into myriad fragments, tears meandering down your visage in intricate rivulets, reminiscent of the essence of your being seeping from your inert vessel.

the very last breath relinquishing from the depths of your being, mirroring the conclusive caress you shall ever grace upon his lips. that’s how it felt like. the sensation mirrored the cold embrace of mortality itself.

it was akin to the feeling of parting ways with someone you never intended to depart from. it felt as though a fragment of your essence had vanished, leaving behind only the visceral remnants seeping from the core of your existence.

it was as if existence itself had become an illusion, a mere facade of vitality. though your physical form remained animated, with a pulsing heart and functioning lungs, the essence of life seemed to elude you. lying motionless in your bed, gaze fixed upon the ceiling, devoid of movement or cogitation, a silent observer of your own subdued presence.

the third anniversary of your separation from matt had arrived. his solemn vow to mature and seek you out had dissolved into the void, his hollow promises echoing like a haunting melody, draining every ounce of hope from the depths of your soul.

you held onto his words like precious gems, trusting his assurances that the fault lay not with you, but with the passage of time. every pledge he made, every vow he uttered, you embraced with unwavering faith, convinced that time alone stood as the sole adversary between you.

he said it was just goodbye for now.

you've journeyed through countless seasons, yet the grip of the past refuses to loosen its hold on you. in the depths of your contemplation, you ponder whether he remains the enigmatic mind reader, the innate master of stealing the spotlight in every scene.

In the intricate dance of fate, blame never found its place upon his shoulders. the capricious goddess of timing, with her whimsical ways, stood as the true adversary. despite your earnest efforts beneath the shared moon, the cruel revelation dawned upon you that you existed in separate galaxies, destined to traverse divergent paths.

you stood as a silent witness to his triumphs, beholding the realization of every aspiration he had shared with you, every dream that had ignited his soul since childhood.

you shield the truth of your anticipation with unwavering resolve, never to divulge, while the flickering flame of hope persists, casting its glow upon the passage of time.

you harbored a mix of longing and anger towards him, a tumultuous blend of emotions swirling within you like a raging tempest whenever his memory surfaced. despite his assurance of a temporary farewell, absolution never found its place upon him.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

“it doesn’t have to be like this, matt,” your tear-filled eyes beseeched earnestly. “please. let’s just try”

“we tried. you tried, i tried. we've given our all, but, the pieces do not align," matt exhaled heavily, his head shaking in resignation. “it’s not working, y/n.”

the weight of his words struck you like a thunderbolt, sending a sharp pang reverberating through the chambers of your heart. the sensation of your heart fracturing into countless shards mirrored the tears cascading down your cheeks, painting a portrait of profound sorrow and emotional tumult.

“so what? you're calling it off?” you whispered softly, the words hanging in the air like a delicate veil of uncertainty. the weight of those few syllables carried a profound sense of finality, a moment frozen in time where the echoes of your voice seemed to reverberate with unspoken emotions, leaving a lingering question mark in the stillness of the room.

“no, I'm not," matt declared, his gaze meeting yours as he drew nearer. “it’s just goodbye for now. i promise, y/n, i’ll seek you out when the time is right."

it was an unavoidable outcome. prior to embarking on this relationship, he forewarned you of the potential unfolding of events in this manner. his personal aspirations demanded his undivided attention, leaving scant remnants for you.

you were entangled in a toxic web, yet your yearning for him was insatiable. his presence became as vital to you as the air you breathe, an indispensable necessity for your very existence. each breath you took felt incomplete without him, your lungs aching for his essence as your heart echoed its longing for him.

“we'll cross paths again?” you inquired, the tremor in your voice betraying the depth of your emotions, tears cascading down your cheeks like a relentless stream of sorrow.

“yes,” matt murmured, his tone laced with a sense of urgency, drawing you close as he captured your lips in a fervent embrace. “when we can handle it. when we're ready. when theres nothing in the way and your well-being reigns as the sole focus."

tears cascaded down your face, mingling with his own, as you reunited your lips once more in a poignant connection.

you withdrew, a profound stillness enveloping the room, before fixing your gaze upon him for a final moment. tenderly cradling his face in your hand, he surrendered to the moment, closing his eyes in quiet surrender.

his gaze met yours, a silent exchange that conveyed volumes beyond the reach of words. with a faint smile, you nodded in understanding before gracefully stepping away, leaving unspoken sentiments lingering in the air.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

the aroma of alcohol saturated your senses, the vessel cradled in your hands, your vision weighed down by its effects, while the symphony of the bar's music danced subtly in the background, adding layers to the ambiance.

the complexity of the situation deepened as you grappled with the internal conflict of straying from your usual habits, recognizing the necessity to purge his lingering presence from your thoughts.

the intricate web of circumstances entwined around you as your companions coerced you into this night out, knowing your reluctance to venture forth since matt.

the pulsating club scene unfolded before you, your friends immersed in the chaotic dance of fleeting connections, either lost in the rhythm with unfamiliar partners on the dance floor or ensconced in the front seat of a stranger’s car

the strands of hair gently tucked behind your ears, your eyes shutting in contemplation, followed by a subtle shake of your head, signifying a moment of introspection amidst the chaos surrounding you.

amidst the tangled threads of emotions, you grapple with the enigma that is the concept of one-night stands, questioning the motives behind the players who toy with hearts like pieces on a board. despite your unwavering belief in love, the complexities of this generation make it a Herculean task to hold onto that belief with unwavering faith.

matt thought the same.

he unveiled to you a realm of love so profound, so uniquely tailored, that it transcended the boundaries of conventional understanding. through his actions, he gently nudged you towards the realization that perhaps your musings on love were not mere illusions but rather fragments of a deeper truth waiting to be unveiled.

in the labyrinth of your emotions, a fear lingers like a shadow, whispering doubts about your ability to bare your soul to another as you did with matt. the depth of your love for him resonates with such intensity that you find yourself contemplating the notion of offering your very heart, a symbol of your devotion, should he ever seek it.

the ache of his absence reverberates through the very core of your being, a poignant reminder of the profound connection you shared with him that remains unmatched by any other relationship in your life.

exhaling a deep sigh, you gently set the glass upon the polished bar counter, the clink barely audible over the din of the room, before rising gracefully and proceeding deeper into the labyrinthine depths of the bustling bar.

you've downed one too many, the liquid courage coursing through your veins, blurring the edges of reality as you navigate the labyrinth of intoxication and self-reflection.

“y/n?”

[kurogane2512]

Hellooo, can you do Chelsea x FEM chief(nsfw) From ptn?

GAH CHELSEA MY LOVE <33

I'm so sorry this is so late, the idea has been in my head for so long but I was procrastinating to write :(

18+ CONTENT MDNI

Game: Path to Nowhere

Characters: Chelsea x fem!Chief

Type: Smut and Fluff (kissing, fingering, a lot of foreplay, jealous Chelsea, Chelsea wearing her paid outfit, Chelsea is bottom for Chief change my mind)

A knock was heard on your office door, followed by Nightingale walking in carrying some papers with her.

"Chief, your mail for today."

Thanking her, you let her keep the stack on your desk then watched her walk out before you began going through the mail. There were the usual documents from FAC, 9th Agency and some other organisations followed by requests from Sinners. All of a sudden, you spotted a peculiar pink envelope, adorned with a familiar small gem on the leaflet as a seal. You carefully picked it up and examined it a bit before opening and taking out the similar looking letter, complete with pink paper and a pleasant fragrance infused in it.

You quickly recognized it was none other than Chelsea who sent it. The letter was a simple invitation to her mansion for a banquet she was holding at the end of this week. At first, you became slightly suspicious but kept those doubts aside. For some reason, you knew Chelsea had changed slightly.

"Now I remember, she had requested to be allowed to go home to look over some matters. I thought she had some work but this is what she's doing...?"

You sighed and pinched your temple as you rested back on your chair and pondered more, "I haven't talked with her properly for a while....I got so busy dealing with others that I barely visited her. I guess this is not a bad opportunity."

Accepting the invitation, you cleared your schedule and made preparations to go as stated. It was a Saturday evening when you reached her mansion, dressed up in a decent knee-length white dress which was the best clothes you could afford. Everything else was too expensive or too casual. You were greeted by a maid who guided you towards an empty room. You could sense by your shackles that Chelsea was in the mansion, probably in a nearby room.

"The Countess prepared these clothes for you. Please pick one as you like." the maid said with a bow, showing you walk-in wardrobe containing a plethora of all kinds of party dresses.

"Uh....do I have to?" you asked nervously, embarrassed by the gesture.

"The Countess would be pleased if you do. She selected everything herself."

You nodded with a sigh then walked around a bit and spotted a stylish suit piece, complete with a crimson shirt and black coat with black pants. While you weren't one to wear suits outside of work, you certainly preferred it over the extravagant and heavy dresses here. You put on the chosen suit with the maid's help, you were fixing yourself in the mirror when you saw Chelsea's figure walking in behind you.

"Did you know, Chief? Legend has it that if you keep chanting "Countess Chelsea, take me as your sugar baby" at a mirror in this mansion, no matter where I am, I'll immediately appear~"

She smirked as she stopped behind you, wrapping her arms around your waist and resting her head atop your shoulder.

"I wonder if that's what you were think right now~"

You eyed her in the mirror, "I won't deny I was thinking of you. However, I'm afraid not to that extent."

"Aww, you break my heart, Chief~"

You chuckled together as she let go and you turned around to face her, immediately taken aback looking at what she was wearing.

"You....You look beautiful, Chelsea." you complimented earnestly, genuinely at a loss of words for how attractive she looked in the ruby colored floor-length dress having a thigh-high slit covered by a black transparent net.

She smiled and leaned closer, caressing the lapel of your coat.

"You don't look bad yourself, Chief. Not to mention, we match~"

Her voice husked in your ear, causing you to shiver for a brief moment before she pulled away and turned around holding your hand and dragging you out to the main hall.

"Welcome to my estate, Chief! You are my rare and precious guest, just make yourself at home. It'll be so boring if you are too nervous~"

She declared, showing you the mansion. You quickly realized you were the only ones around except the servants, it was a banquet exclusive for you two.

"C-Chelsea, you—"

"Ssh~" she put her finger on your lips and suddenly came closer, wrapping her arms over your neck while yours settled on her waist, lightly holding her. Soon enough, soothing music began playing around you and both of you began to sway to the tune, tenderly gazing at each other.

"How have things been at the bureau, Chief?"

"O-Oh, quite well...."

"Hmm~ Still too much paperwork? You know, Chief, if you become my sugar baby then all of that will end~"

"Yes yes, I know~"

You chuckled then picked up the pace slightly as the music fastened, now holding each other in a proper dance position.

"And....how have the others been? That Quinn CEO who keeps inviting you to play chess, the psychologist who loves toying with you, and....who other was it that takes up all your time?~"

You squinted your eyes and felt a different vibe about her, she seemed strangely serious.

"....I look over everyone as required, it's my job."

She raised her eyebrow then turned around and pressed her body against yours, as if being trapped in your arms. She leaned back on your shoulder; your lips were ghosting each other's and you could hear her breathing.

"Everyone except....me."

"What? No. That's not—Mhm!~"

You suddenly gasped as she pushed back further, her hand looping around your head and pulling it closer for her to lean in and place her lips on your neck. It was a simple kiss at first but she quickly sunk her teeth and sucked in, leaving a red spot on your neck.

"You have time for everyone except me. That's how you ignored me this past week. Once my problem was resolved then I was a nobody to you, isn't that right?"

"No, you are wrong. You are still detained; your Mania isn't cured and we still have to look over your crimes. I—"

She didn't let you finish as she turned around and placed her lips on yours, kissing you gently. You were surprised but her bewitching scent and soft lips drew you in, wanting to taste them more. You moved your lips in rhythm with her, pulling her even closer. The music stopped long ago yet you didn't release the kiss, both of you engaged in a needy exchange.

At last, she pulled away, licking your lips like a kitten and gazing at you while she slid her hand down to hold your wrist.

"You are mine, Chief. My....property~"

You suddenly felt your wrists tighten and looked down to see handcuffs made of gems placed fastened on them. You looked at Chelsea in shock as she smirked and pulled on the chain of the handcuffs to drag you along. You decided to follow her pace for now, secretly looking forward to what was to come. You reached a room and she shoved you inside followed by pinning you on a wall, her hands trapping you in.

"Dear Chief, how does it feel to be the one shackled instead?~"

She hummed in your ear, her breath tickling the edge. She then glanced towards the right side where there was a window before she walked towards it and drew the curtains to a close, darkening the room slightly.

"It's going to be a long night, Chief. Wouldn't want anyone to catch a peep, would you?~ Unless....that turns you on~"

You didn't reply then she proceeded to take off her clothes, sliding her dress down as she was left in her underwear. You heart was pounding watching her tempting figure in front of you, her fair and smooth skin shining against the faint moonlight. She smirked as she felt your gaze on her before walking up to you again and caressing your chest.

"It's rude to keep a lady waiting, Chief.....Oh, my apologies. I forgot your hands are tied~"

She feigned innocence before grabbing your hands and pinning them above your head, a hiss leaving your mouth at the force. She smirked and leaned in to capture your lips while her hands fiddled with your pants, unbuttoning and pulling them down as you slide them away from your feet.

"Is this all because I neglected you, Chelsea?"

"So, you do agree you neglected me? How honest of you, Chief~"

You smirked then leaned near her ear, "You know, you didn't have to go to such lengths to get my attention...."

You paused and sneakily brought your hands forward slowly, "....You could have just told me you were jealous~"

"Haha~ I believe you are mis— Aaah~!"

She was interrupted with a moan as you quickly put your handcuffed arms around her, caging her with you before turning around and pinning her on the wall instead.

"How bold of you, Chief! Are you that eager to have me? Can I treat this as a love confession from you?~"

"Love confession? I thought you wanted me to be your sugar baby~"

"Oh my, would you prefer that?~ It's just titles, Chief. No need to be so mindful of them~"

You smirked then attached your lips to her neck, eliciting a pleasant sigh from her as you sucked. She leaned back and pushed your head further then you focused your shackles for a brief moment causing her to squeal, the heat enabled you to break away the handcuffs for you to slide your hands down to her leg and hold it up to your thigh.

"A-Ah! Chief! I didn't think you were so dominating in bed....Did someone give you practice? Was it the Quinn CEO? Or the psychologist? Or perhaps your own Adjutant?~"

"Let's just say I'm naturally gifted~"

You chuckled together as you rubbed your fingers over her folds, holding her up on the wall as her legs wrapped around you. She softly moaned in your ear and began rutting her hips forward, needy for you to go in.

"Hm, just like a cat...needy for attention when she desires..." you thought looking at her state then finally plunged your fingers inside her cunt.

She gasped and arched back further, holding on to you tighter. You rubbed and scissored your fingers in her wet, spongy walls, making her squirm and moan in your hold. She gripped her fingers in your hair and pulled you in for a sloppy kiss, tongues interlocking in desperation. You then moved down to lick her breasts, sucking on the hardened pink buds and lightly nibbling them.

"Haaahn~ C-Chief! Oh, Chief!~ More....Give me more! Show me....t-the beast inside you!~"

"You don't want to see that, Chelsea~"

"Oh, try me!~"

You chuckled then plunged your fingers deeper, taking her by surprise. She squealed more and leaned forward on your shoulder, thighs enclosing and trapping your arm in between. You held her waist and pushed her into the wall instead, licking strips down her neck as you thrusted your fingers deep inside her. Her walls tightened, gripping your fingers tightly, she was close.

You leaned close to her ear to whisper, "Hold me tight, this might....hurt a bit."

She was confused but did as told and wrapped her arms around your neck, you buried your face in the crook of her neck and she sneakily licked your ear, making you shiver. You then focused your shackles again very briefly as you thrusted into her deepest spot, her mind went blank as a wave of pleasure washed over her and she jumped forward from the force of the shackles.

A loud angelic moan echoed in the room as she came, messy juices dripping down her thighs and coating your hand. You brought your hand up and licked her slick clean, the sight making her flustered. She slumped in your arms in near defeat, making you chuckle.

"I told you~"

"Hehe~ Oh, Chief....if you think that was enough for me then you are gravely mistaken. Come on, the party is still going on~"

[artdcnaldson]

i am so so obsessed with the sex lessons au i am white knuckle gripping the sides of my chair bestie i am unwell over the shy slow corruption of reader and patrick desperately trying not to corrupt her too fast or too far while art just laps the whole situation up!!!

can’t stop thinking about the line from the squirting lesson where reader asks “wait is this a pee thing” and patrick rolls his eyes and says no and tells her to shut up, especially in combo with the part where patrick explains a little about the piss kink and i just KNOW the tips of his ears flushed red thinking back on that conversation while he told her to shut up hhhhhhhhh

i need her to be mortified that she’s still curious but also so earnest as she reports back that wow!! she tried touching herself while she had to pee just like he said and it really did make it so much more intense but also (maybe trailing off, going from earnest babbling back to embarrassed as she realizes she’s not sure she wants to admit this?) harder to get off because she really didn’t want to like, (flushing bright red and breaking eye contact, poor thing really hadn’t thought through what she would say and patrick’s throat is so so dry while he nods at her to keep going) wet herself or something?? because she didn’t think she could make herself squirt on her own and she really did have to pee when she tried it so she wasn’t willing to risk it!!

honestly feel free to take any part of this you want to elaborate on and ignore the rest or even ignore all of it lol i just needed to share the brainrot you have instilled in me!!! 🥴

I'm so sorry I let this gem sit in my inbox for so long <3 it got lost in the shuffle my love I'm so sorry </3

BUT YEAH Patrick hears you explain it so earnestly and shyly and he feels like he needs to go take a walk. He feels so insane just imagining you on your back with your fingers rubbing your swollen little clit, and the heel of your palm digging just below your bladder, so the pressure feels so intense <3 He's hard before you've even finished the story, just aching and throbbing and thinking about if he were to fuck you while your bladder was full, if you'd be able to hold back the way you could while you were touching yourself, or if he could fuck you hard enough that you'd lose control of your bladder <3

He thinks you'd be so embarrassed— all blushy and whiny because it's so humiliating, especially if you're shy just talking about having to pee while you fucked yourself. It makes him feel a little dizzy, honestly. When he finally fucks his fist when he's alone, he comes so hard his vision goes all white.

[dmwrites]

(I am not sorry for this btw)

——

I woke up to my evil stepmom, Iskall85, throwing a potion of harming onto my bed.

“y/n! Wake up! You’re going to be late for school! Were you up late watching those stupid Minecraft YouTube videos again? You’re as useless as diorite! You are why I do hard drugs!” She left the room, and I sighed. Another boring day of my boring life. But I was going to be late for school if I didn’t get ready now.

I got up and put on my cutest outfit- my black suit. I threw my hair up into a messy bun, and stopped in front of the mirror to smooth down my mustache. I sighed. I was just y/n, no one special.

My evil stepmom Iskall85 was snorting redstone off the counter when I entered the kitchen. I sighed, because they were evil and wouldn’t even share their redstone dust with me, and grabbed a banana off the counter. There was a honk from outside.

"Bye, step-Iskall. I'm off to school." I said. My stepmom just flipped me off, and I went outside, sighing some more. I ran over to my bestie’s car and hoped in.

“Good morning Scar!”

“Goodness gracious, y/n, we’re gonna be late! Good thing the swaggon goes fast!” My bestie, Goodtimeswithscar said, slamming on the gas. Scar was super nice and popular, not to mention handsome, and everyone at school loved him. I would probably always be in his shadow, but at least he had taken me in as his friend.

“Sorry, I accidentally slept in. And my evil stepmom threw a potion of harming on me. Do I look okay? I only had time to put my hair up in a messy bun. And I bet my mustache looks atrocious!” I said.

“You look so good, y/n!” Scar said, blowing through a red light. “You’re so hard on yourself, you’re like the prettiest guy in school!”

“Whatever, that’s you you’re talking about.” I replied, but blushed a little.

The swaggon came screeching into the parking lot, and me and Scar got out, running to our science class.

Science class was usually a pretty good place to fix my hair and mustache, as the science we were assigned to do was always chaotic. Ms. ZombieCleo, and her assistant JoeHills, were kept pretty busy making sure no one accidentally created a toxic gas. Today, Docm77 and Rendog had been caught doing… something in the back of the classroom, and it gave me and Scar ample time to sort out ourselves.

“As I was saying, y/n, you have to stop being so hard on yourself!” Scar said, handing me a compact mirror and a mustache comb. “You get top grades, you’re great at redstone, and you always slay that suit!”

“I don’t know, Scar.” I said. “I just feel like I’m just some guy, you know? I’ll never catch anyone’s eye, or be prom queen.”

“Don’t be silly. I know you’re gonna achieve something great in this life, y/n.” Scar said earnestly.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and in came one of the secretaries, Geminitay.

“y/n to the principal’s office.” She said. She looked kind of worried.

Goodtimeswithscar gripped my arm. “Great Jellie, y/n, are you in trouble?”

“I don’t know.” I replied. “I can’t think of anything that I could have done.” But I stood up, grabbed my backpack, and followed Geminitay out the door. Ms. ZombieCleo and JoeHills didn’t notice me leave.

“Is everything okay?” I asked Gem.

“I- well- I’ll get the principal to explain it to you.” Gem said, and we walked in silence the rest of the way to the front office. I was so nervous.

“Hello, y/n.” My principal, Mr. Xisumavoid, waved me into his office when we arrived.

“Is everything okay, Mr. Void?” I asked him.

“Well, it is quite the situation.” Principal Xisumavoid said. “You see, your mom just called-”

“Step mom.” I corrected him.

“Right, step mom.” Principal Xisumavoid said. “Well, either way, she called to tell us that she has sold you to someone else so she could buy more redstone and potions.”

I gasped. “What? She sold me? To who?” I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I couldn’t believe my stepmom had sold me!

Principal Xisuma looked down at the paper in front of him. “Ah, to a person called Grian.”

“Wait, what? You mean the famous youtuber Grian from Minecraft?” I gasped.

“Yep. That’s me. Grian from Minecraft!”

I turned around to find Grian standing at the door to Principal Xisumavoid’s office. It was really him! With his waffle-looking hair and beady black eyes and red sweater, there was no mistaking him.

“y/n, when I saw that your evil stepmom put you up for sale on Facebook marketplace, I knew I had to do something! Don’t worry, y/n, I am very famous and rich. We will be best friends. And I must say, your moustache looks lovely.”

I gasped and blushed, my tears drying. Famous youtuber Grian complementing me? y/n? Suddenly, I knew my life was about to get a whole lot crazier.

[slothquisitor]

I'm dealing with a lot of deeply incompetent adults in my school building this week, but I did want to share this gem of a student interaction.

Some context: I take my English classes to the library on the regular. We've been once so far this year, so this was our second visit to renew books, get new ones, and the most important piece of our library visit: me and the librarian conducting storytime.

Teenagers are just big kids, and they want kid things very badly but are allergic to seeming at all 'uncool'. So at the first storytime of the year, most of them roll their eyes when we invite them over to our story corner and read them a picture book.

BUT. They secretly love it.

Case in point - The gigantic football player in my second period who stopped me at the door on our way to the library today to very earnestly ask if we were going to have storytime today. When I confirmed that we would, he celebrated as if he'd just scored a touchdown.

Teacher win.

[separatist-apologist]

Lying In Between The Memories

You could call it paradise but it looks just like hell to me

Summary: Following the blood rite, Gwyneth Berdara can't shake the memories of a life long-gone.

The shadowsinger can't seem to move on after five centuries of loving the same woman.

Together, they'll have to carve a new path forward.

Read on AO3 | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10

[ongoing TW for Sexual Assault]

Azriel was gone for three days. Three stupid days in which Gwyn found she missed him. Not at first—not that first day. He’d left a shadow behind, presumably to monitor her. She’d woken to find it slithering around her desk, likely looking for something interesting. Embarrassment flooded through her—had this been the same shadow that he’d used to pleasure her in the library? What kind of awareness did they have, anyway? 

Maybe some things were better left unknown. 

The only thing Gwyn truly had to worry about was Kai, who realized Azriel wasn’t around by mid-afternoon and began trailing her earnestly and Gwyn, who’d never been the subject of someone’s romantic desires before, found herself both uneasy and flattered by the prince's attention. 

Sitting beside her in his pathetic library, Kai paid little attention to what she was reading. Instead, long, moon pale fingers found the bracelet on her wrist. She didn’t know what possessed her to put it on that morning. Perhaps she was missing Nesta and Emerie more than she realized. 

“This is pretty,” he murmured, fingers finding the little rose pendant she’d clasped among the other gems. It had been a solstice gift, stuck on an unremarkable silver chain. Gwyn knew she’d never wear it, and so she’d discarded the chain in favor of the little red rose and fastened it to the bracelet, deciding it was a good omen. “Where did you get it?”

“A friend,” she replied, thinking of Clotho offering it to her with a delighted smile. It hadn’t been from Clotho—likely another group of well-meaning citizen from Velaris donating things to the priestesses locked away in the library. The fact that Clotho had thought of her at all was what mattered. 

It had been the first gift Gwyn had gotten in a long time. Nesta and Emerie, along with Cassian, had also sent up gifts later that day—along with a very lovely blanket from the High Lady, thanking her for being Nesta’s friend and begging Gwyn not to tell her sister she’d said so—had really made that day special. 

Gently, she pulled the charm from Kai’s fingers. “It’s beautiful. Like you,” he added, blue eyes bright with hope.

Gwyn merely smiled, scooting her chair a fraction of an inch away from him. “Thank you, but I’m here only to do a job.”

“And then leave?” he questioned, like her words amused him. “So they can continue to working you to the bone?”

Gwyn turned to look at him. He truly was handsome, in a very specific, limited sort of way. More than anything, Gwyn hated that she was comparing him to Azriel. That was unfair—no one was as beautiful as Azriel, and they never would be. Kai couldn’t help that and yet Gwyn was still doing it. 

“I like working.”

“You wouldn’t have to here,” Kai said, as if that was meant to entice her. Gwyn only sighed, offering him what she hoped was a placid, pleasant smile. 

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Those were the wrong words, because Kai took them as a challenge. No one had ever tried courting Gwyn—the notion was, frankly, absurd. And yet there Kai was. Sending gifts and flowers, escorting her to dinner, and during one ill fated turn through the garden, draping his jacket over her shoulders.

Like she was a defenseless ornament for him to parade around. Seething, Gwyn marched back into her shared room with Azriel, hoping he was having far more fun than she was. And then, because she was pissed off and decided to make it his problem, took Kai’s jacket, with it’s too big sleeves and strange scent of citrus and clove, and slept in Azriel’s bed.

Just because she could. 

By the time Azriel returned, Gwyn was close to begging Rhysand to bring her home, if only for a little peace. Maybe the shadowsinger could sense her frustration, because he strolled in casually right before dawn. She’d gotten very little sleep, curled up in the chair Azriel so often found solace in when his own nightmares plagued him.

“Miss me?”

Gwyn rolled her eyes. “You’re not dead,” she commented, noting a purple bruise gracing his neck just beneath the color of the black tunic he wore. 

“Don’t act so disappointed. If I die, my cock goes with me.”

“And I’m sure tens of females will mourn,” Gwyn shot back as Azriel all but swaggered into his bedroom. She’d forgotten her little stunt with the jacket, rising to her feet intending to change into something clean and plod back to the library where she’d do fuck all for most of the day. The real work happened at night anyway. At this point, Gwyn’s sole purpose was to pretend she was building a bridge between the continent and Prythian when truthfully she was spying. Stealing their knowledge right from under them.

And Gwyn very much doubted Kai would want her as a princess when he learned she was actively committing treason and stomping all over his hospitality. 

Gwyn had made it to her door when Azriel caught her. One hand gripped her waist, while the other found her wrists and pinned them up over her head. “What happened here while I was gone, Gwyneth?” he whispered. 

Daring to look him right in the eye, she replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I don’t smell arousal on that bed. Just your scent wrapped around another male. What happened?”

“Jealous?”

But that wasn’t quite it. She could see there was fear etched in lines of his beautiful face, half hidden under his anger. 

“Nothing happened,” she said, wrenching her wrists from his hand so she could open the door and tumble backwards. Azriel came with her, falling to the floor in a graceless heap. Somehow,

Azriel managed not to crush her under his powerful body, hitting the ground with his elbows instead. 

“Then why can I smell him in my bed?” Azriel asked breathlessly, wincing from what she assumed was pain. 

“Because I slept in his jacke—”

A snarl ripped from Azriel, sending his shadows scattering for safety. 

“Don’t you growl at me!” she snapped, poking him in the chest. Azriel’s wings flared around them before settling, blotting out the first rays of early morning light. Gwyn hated how much she liked when he did that—nothing and no one could touch her here. Looking up at him, Gwyn wished she could paint the gold flecked in his eyes.

Wished she could trace the curve of his mouth, the line of his jaw.

“Did you miss me?” she asked him, heart thudding. Say no, end this right now, tell me I’m crazy—

“Yes,” he replied, lowering his head to run his nose along the length of her neck. 

Oh, she was in trouble and she knew it. “We’re even, Az.”

“Then let’s fix that,” he replied, sliding a hand down the side of her body. “Let me show you what I’ve been thinking about since I’ve left.”

She was going to let him. Right there on the floor, her bed only a few feet away—an impossible distance when he adjusted, settling his powerful thigh between her legs. “What were you thinking about?” she breathed.

Azriel’s tongue replaced his mouth, tracing the line of her collarbone through the rumpled dress she’d slept in. 

“I want to know what you taste like,” he whispered darkly, his words eliciting a shiver. “I want to see you come again, Gwyn.”

“I—”

A pounding on the door saved her from making a fool of herself. Azriel snarled softly, but shoved up off the ground with the fluid grace he’d been robbed of when they’d fallen to the floor. She watched, rising to her own feet quickly as he stalked to the door, catching how he adjusted himself quickly in his trousers before he flung the door open.

Gwyn knew who’d be on the other side.

“Yes?” Azriel asked, his voice devoid of all emotion.

“Oh. You’ve returned. I suppose I thought you wouldn’t,” Kai said as Azriel plucked the bouquet of purple irises from his hand.

“For me?” Azriel asked, arching one of his impeccable brows. A better person would have put Kai out of his misery. Kai couldn’t see around Azriel’s massive body, which gave Azriel license to say, “Gwyn is still in bed. I’ll let her know you came by.”

And then he slammed the door in the prince’s face, turning to look at Gwyn with a deadpan expression.

“For you,” he told her, tossing them to the little breakfast table littered with her books and notes. “I thought nothing happened?”

“You sound jealous.”

Walking to his room, apparently content to abandon whatever had been about to happen on the floor, Azriel muttered, “When I’m jealous, you’ll know it.” And then slammed the door in her face.

Gwyn only smiled.

AZRIEL:

Azriel was going insane. Kai was constantly in his fucking way, interrupting every single time Azriel tried to get close to Gwyn. After three stupid days living in the ceiling of the Rask palace, all he’d thought about was her cunt on his face. He’d been so close that morning, and never again for the rest of the week.

Kai wanted to separate them. Azriel could guess why. The prince was too involved in the life of one foreign visitor, concerned now about her chastity, like Azriel was some mongrel brute that couldn’t keep his hands to himself or understood the word no.

Isolate Gwyn, make her vulnerable, and then take what he wanted. That was Kai’s little plan and Azriel didn’t need daemati powers or his shadows to tell him as much. Azriel had been alive for a long time and this wasn’t his first time around another territorial male.

Azriel was merely a threat to Kai, who wanted the same female Azriel had begun to guard, perhaps a little too jealously. Gwyn hadn’t complained, and he’d kept the snapping to a minimum. If it continued, Azriel thought it might be time to pull things entirely and take her back to Velaris.

Where he’d be barred from seeing her every morning, and would have no excuse to talk to her. That was the only thing that kept him from writing Rhys and demand his brother end this now. Azriel was selfish—but whatever was happening with Gwyn felt good. Something about her presence, even when she was bratty and snide, made Azriel feel seen. There’d been so much shame attached to Morrigan—shame he then transferred to Elain—that Azriel had always assumed that was just part of attraction for him.

He wasn’t good enough for either of those females.

But he felt good enough to be around Gwyn. Azriel wasn’t ready to go back to the way things were, even as he’d begun to suspect he wasn’t going to be able to easily exorcize her from his mind. 

He’d told himself he just needed to get her under him to burn her out of his system, and it was the game of cat and mouse between them that was keeping him so wound up. And then he’d take her out training and she’d press her dagger to his throat, and Azriel thought he’d never be over it. He’d want more and more, until he had it all. 

All he needed was to kiss her. The fact that he hadn’t wasn’t lost on him—they’d skipped right over it in favor of touching, and while he wasn’t complaining, he did want to know what every inch of her tasted like. He wanted to hear those breathless little sighs, wanted to see the well controlled Gwyn unspool just like he was.

And then, when she’d snapped, he wanted to be at her mercy. 

Azriel knew she’d make him suffer for it.

Good thing he liked a little suffering, right?

Right then, the only suffering was Kai’s obnoxious voice six feet ahead of him. He was explaining plants to Gwyn, pointing out each little flower while Gwyn, eyes glazed, nodded absently. This was what she’d asked for, Azriel reminded himself. She wanted more time to translate her books, which meant by day, she was left to Kai’s attentions. 

Azriel very much doubted the prince wanted to make her his wife. Despite the aggressive courting happening, of which Azriel had become an unwitting chaperone, Azriel guessed he merely wanted something new. Someone new. He’d waste a few weeks with her and then grow bored, picking a new lady at court he could toy with. 

Azriel would never admit it, of course, but how often had he watched Rhys do the same thing? Before he became High Lord, Rhys had a cycle—every month, a new female. Azriel and Cassian used to take bets on who might last longer.

They’d never once dared to bet on Feyre. 

Azriel wanted to barge in on the conversation and save Gwyn. If she’d been Elain, he might have—though, Elain would have enjoyed this stroll around the garden. Azriel kept catching little glimpses of Gwyn’s face, carefully arranged to seem interested. She had her tells. The flicking of her fingers at her sides, stretched far apart like she wanted to strangle him before she curled them into fists, attempting to get herself together. 

Shaking strands of that cinnamon brown hair from her eyes.

“Oh? You don’t say.” Gwyn must have repeated herself twelve times. Azriel smothered a smile when he heard her say it again. Azriel had never been much for the outdoors. Maybe Gwyn was the same. There were things he had no business knowing, but wanted to all the same. But when he imagined her, it was always in the same places he imagined himself. 

There was something strangely comforting about that.

“...I can have a dress sent to you, if you want to go—”

“Oh, I can’t dance—”

“I’ll teach you, then. You should see Montessere like this. You’d like it,” Kai was saying, his voice just a shade huskier than usual. Azriel glowered, unseen by the prince and the priestess.

Azriel returned to tuning them out, if only to spare himself and Gwyn a messy scene. He’d promised…but sometimes his temper got the best of him.

Gwyn wasn’t likely to thank him if he beat Kai into the dirt. Rhys, too, who’d spent days furious with him for doing the same to Eris. It had been worth it, and Azriel had never once apologized, even if his temper had resulted in Eris being a permanent fixture in the Night Court.

The thought of seeing Kai around Velaris was enough to convince Azriel to think about anything but Gwyn and Kai. That was a far harder task than he’d originally thought, and by the time he trudged back to their shared room—alone—Azriel was in a foul mood.

Gwyn returned later that evening with a garment bag. Azriel had fallen asleep in his chair, starting awake when she slammed the door loud enough to shake the overhead lights. Turning his head, Azriel dared to ask, “Bad night?”

“You left me out there,” she hissed, throwing the bag into a heap on the sofa.

“Did you want to be rescued?” he replied, well aware his tone suggested he wouldn’t have even if he’d known she wanted him to. That was a lie—Azriel would have cut right in had he thought she’d appreciate it.

“He took me around that fucking garden four times. I don’t care about plants!” she exclaimed. “You know what this is, don’t you?”

Azriel didn’t. He kept silent, waiting for Gwyn to explain it to him.

“This is a game,” she said, her exasperation plain. “He’s never met a female that didn’t want to be his wife and have his babies, and he’s trying to break me.”

“Good fucking luck,” Azriel mumbled. He couldn’t get Gwyn to smile at him, let alone be someone's sweet little house pet. She was going to make some male very, very miserable one day. Why did that amuse him? Azriel stood, drawing his wings tight against his body.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“Bed,” he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. 

Muttering something that sounded distinctly like useless males, Gwyn turned on her heel and left him, slamming yet another door. So much for inviting her to bed with him, then. And so much for eating her cunt on the floor like he’d been trying to do earlier. 

Melancholy, Azriel bathed and put himself to bed without touching himself. He had no interest in himself today. That happened a fair amount—he’d go through periods where everything felt gray, including himself. Sleep was easier, at least, and tumbled into the dark. There were no dreams, no nightmares to chase him awake.

But there was screaming. Loud, terrified screaming of a female he recognized. For a moment, he thought it might be his mother—maybe Feyre, or Mor, or— Gwyn.

Azriel started, kicking the blankets off his body. Taking truth teller with him, Azriel nearly kicked down his bedroom door to get to hers. He was certain he was about to find someone that shouldn’t be there, was prepared to end the night in a brutal murder that would chase them both back to Velaris.

He found her tangled up in her bed sheets while his shadows swirled in the dark, humming angrily like serpents prepared to strike.

“Gwyn,” he said, his dagger clattering to the bedside table. “Gwyn, wake up.”

She shot upright, body coated in a slick sheen of sweat, straight into his bare chest. Azriel could hear her heart thrumming with fear just as he could smell the thick salt of it. It made the hair on his neck stand on end, every nerve alive and primed for danger.

He expected her to shove him back, to demand he leave her. Azriel didn’t know if he could, and to punctuate that, let his wings wrap around them until the world was blotted out. Holding her, Azriel pressed his cheek into her hair. “You’re safe,” he murmured softly. “You’re with me.”

“Don’t go,” she replied, her voice thick from sleep and unshed tears. “Stay.”

His bed was big enough for them both, but hers was not. Was it better or worse for her to wake up in a strange place? Azriel decided to chance it, scooping her up and walking out of that sick smelling room. She didn’t protest for maybe the first time in her life, and by the time he’d laid her back in his own sheets, her heart had slowed enough that Azriel didn’t feel like he needed to fight. 

Arranging himself to his arm was under her neck and her body, clad in a silvery night dress, was pressed against his own, Azriel exhaled softly. There was nothing inherently sexual about it, and yet the intimacy was enough to make him nervous. Gwyn pulled the blanket up to her chin and then turned to face him. “Will you hide me?” she asked. Azriel nodded, shifting both wings until they cocooned her within them.

Gwyn sighed. 

Azriel was half asleep again when she whispered, “You forgot your dagger.”

He took a breath, a smile ghosting over his face. “That’s alright. I’ve got you.”

[eunoiaaaivy]

- ♡︎ NOBODY HAS TO KNOW !!

-cw: suggestive themes, making out (?), possessiveness, neck marking, kissing, established relationship, ooc (?).

-characters: zhongli x reader

-a/n: oh em gee! kinda anxious for this one, i didn't really expect writing for genshin. i know! i know! i can't play on my phone and i tried once but it gives me a broader perception of characters! lemme know if i missed any tags. </3

Zhongli swears that he's never jealous. He wasn't the type to be. However it did not mean he wouldn't be possessive. He was still half dragon after all. That possessiveness had ran tonight, maybe that's why he pinned you against the wall in an alleyway, away from the bustling crowds of Liyue.

Well, he had every right to be possessive of you. The fact that a guy wouldn't stop hitting on you awhile ago annoyed him. Did he not see him beside you or he did but that person only assumed you were friends? This isn't even the first time that person tried to hit on you. It was weeks ago. 4 weeks to be exact, in the same restaurant and spot.

He just wanted to eat with you peacefully, so why can't he? Oh right that guy. This was his final straw.

You were his as he was yours. Like a dynamic of a dragon and it's gems. Dragons are possessive, whatever it is in their possession is theirs and only theirs. In which you are his and he is yours. Maybe the guy was a bit too stupid but nevermind him.

He wanted everyone to know you're his. Well, some people knew already and some don't. His scent would always be on you. His presence is always near you, so how come this guy did not know you were his?

His thoughts were snapped away when you called his name.

"Zhongli, my love, are you okay?" You asked him, blushing with the way you were pinned against the wall.

He didn't answer your question, he was already consumed with the possessiveness in him.

He kissed you, so quick like the wind that you didn't have the chance to be surprised because you reciprocated it as quickly as it went.

Lips on lips, so soft like pillows and smooth like silk. The sweetness between it all. You didn't need him to answer you, as you already knew he was consumed with his possessiveness again. This wasn't the first time and you wouldn't really mind it at all.

He consumed you gravely, his scent invading your senses, his other hand on your waist felt like it should be there forever and his lips felt so perfect against yours-

The sync, the contrast, the way he kissed you, everything was so intense yet so intimate and sweet at the same time.

In no time you had your arm around him, his hands on the wall long forgotten as it went to your waist, both hands now on it.

The kiss isn't just a kiss. It's left you breathless yet earnestly seeking for more. It was granted, ofcourse.

Your lips detached from each other and you were breathless, yet he didn't stop there. His lips instantly attach to the side of your neck, peppering it a trail over from the side to the center.

It leaves you once again breathless, shaky sighs are released. The sounds of kissing only heard from you two and only seen by the moonlight trying to peek its way into that alleyway.

Marks were now seen in between your neck and the side of it. Ofcourse, Zhongli knew boundaries, but this even- was just subtle.

He chewed and gnawed on the skin on your neck, hoping that the person hitting on you would get the hint that you were already taken once he sees you again.

It was an outburst of adrenaline, it was. It felt great, kissing you and all this. A make-out session couldn't hurt every once in a while right? Plus this was urgent.

The marks on your neck increased but no more was added, he went back to your lips, kissing them once again, as if you weren't already breathless.

Finally, he detached his lips and attached his forehead on yours. It was an intimate session, but it felt great for the both of you.

After that intense make out session, this was a serene moment, the love now emitting from him and his emotions free only for you to see.

Like dragons, with anything that's theirs is theirs, more so their life companion. Like dragons, loving another is a fulfilment and an intense outburst of possessiveness and protectiveness at the same time. So like dragons, ever their love so intense yet serene at the same time, he will continue to love you earnestly.

You guys both chuckled, because no one has to know how much you love each other so greatfully yet intensely. Like dragons, the fire in their hearts continues to blaze like their love for their loved ones. Ever so intense yet sweet. Fiery yet so serene. In times like this, no one ever has to know.

[orionsces]

Here's a lil prom scene I wrote bout Taurianbrown info: this is a wip of my evomori au, but this takes place during yhs! other info is that i accidentally wrote grian to be super bi for both salex and taurtis lol

But it didn't matter to him, Grian was confident to know that he was going to surprise his classmates with his charm and good looks. He joked around various scenarios in his head while they were driving back with their outfits for the event, throughout it all he had a peaceful smile glued onto his face.

When they were all getting ready for prom, Salex was putting on her makeup while the two boys were showing off to each other with their formal wear.

Grian twirled around with glee, watching his dress spin elegantly with him. Their voices were muffled but Salex was able to tell that Grian cheerfully talked about his dress to Taurtis who listened to his friend with adoration.

Posing and strutting into the scene while Salex carefully placed her false lashes onto her lid, slowly turning to look at the two while they failed to dance to Britany Spears' Toxic together.

Gently she giggled at their dance training before she took a picture of them with Grian's camera he put on the table next to her. Putting the photograph on a clear spot on the table so it wouldn't get damaged as she continued to admire their energy.

Their excitement for the dance was bursting throughout the room, Salex could tell that Taurtis was doing his best to help ease any anxiety that Grian was having before they went dancing.

Taurtis danced with Grian as they bopped around the melodies coming from his phone, taking his hands before showing him how to slow dance. Knowing that Grian was as clumsy as him, they both fell and laughed loudly while Salex concentrated on her eyeliner.

As she brushed more blush along with glittery eyeshadow onto herself, she noticed the avian took interest in her shimmering makeup and rhinestones in her makeup bag. She chuckled before calling him out with a cheerful tone.

"If you want me to help you put them on, you could've just asked Griande~" She poked at him while she picked up the small gems with her tweezers for Grian to marvel at. Snickering at his reaction, he puffed up his cheeks while she stopped herself.

His eyes were sparkling as he nodded a yes out before Salex sat him down to help put them on him. Tilting her head, she put some blush onto her friend and gently placed the gems on his cheeks and under his eyes.

Grian's tail wagged from excitement as he was pumped up to dance with his friends and classmates, he never went to any of the dances before from his other schools so this was his first one.

He was going to make this night last forever, he was sure of it.

Taurtis was checking his phone and watching funny videos while he waited for his two friends, looking up as he heard the sounds of footsteps approaching him he smiled brilliantly at the two.

"You're so….so shiny and incredible! Oh my god, my brain is not thinking!" His words escaped him instantly as he rushed over to lift Salex, spinning her around.

They laughed gleefully as Taurtis spun them around together gently. Their eyes returned to each other once more, the two lovers blissfully smiled at the other with adoring eyes.

Her eyes glistened a honey glow as her shoes returned to the ground from her moment of paradise, and she whispered into his ear.

"I love you."

Smitten, his words evaporated as he stared at her with a shocked expression before softening his gaze. Taurtis blushed and earnestly smiled with his eyes as he answered with a warm tone like honey and summertime.

"I love you too."

Oh, how he fell in love with her all over again as she did in return, he looked at her like she painted the sky he was under, Grian felt a faint blush as he watched the two's display play out comfortably in front of him.

To be in love like that, what a dream, to be admired by Taurtis like he sewn the stars in the sky would've been a wonderful experience.

They soon were brought back to Earth from their shared paradise as they heard Grian fake gagging over their romantic display. He took a picture and left it next to the secret one that Salex took earlier of them, it was a slight revenge on his part as he poked at the two lovebirds.

Reddening from embarrassment Taurtis astonished his friend as he raised Grian as he did before with Salex twirling with him in his arms. Taurtis was soon blinded by Grian's wing hitting his face and inhaling a feather as he topped over to the couch with Grian in his arms.

They sat up and shook off the feathers from themselves, laughing at each other while Salex helped brush off the rest she could spot. In a silent agreement, they would clean the chaos of feathers in the morning.

Laughing out the door, Salex grabbed her handbag as Taurtis did one last check around the house for anything else they needed before they left for the dance. Grian pushed him out the door as he sarcastically poked at Taurtis.

"Come on, we got everything! Let's go!" Grian called out to his friend who snickered at him, stretching out his wings to prepare. Noticing the stars in Grian's and Salex's eyes, he chuckled as he nodded. They were ready, he locked up their house before he turned to reply to the two songbirds.

"Okay, okay fine let's go then Mister On-time." He playfully shoved Grian into Salex, elbowing his shoulder as they joked around before their flight over. Grian giggled around and messed with Taurtis about his fake injuries as his wings flapped happily.

Grian held onto both of their hands gently but enough to know he'd never let them go, his wings flapped as the dust around them flew away as they did. The stars gathered around them as they soared across the town under them, she felt like a comet as they arrived at the starlight-decorated doors in front of them.

Taurtis opened them for the two, taking a bow as they entered the building with a grin he walked behind them joining their shared marvel at the scene in front of their eyes.

It looked amazing, fairy lights hung up delicately from the various wires across the ceiling. They were shaped like various stars, planets, and phases of the moon, hues gleamed from the lights as they strolled more into the building.

Cutouts of crescent moons, aliens, and spaceships littered the walls of the place next to it was a large piece of paper. The top middle of the paper had elegantly written with the tagline: 'Write something memorable here!'

Along the crumbled paper were litterings of miscellaneous names, doodles, expressions, and phrases from the school. Pens and various other writing materials were spread across the table nearby, and they all decided to leave their stamp on the wall.

Grian drew himself and his friends as their Minecraft skins, he was proud of himself as he turned to look at Taurtis resisting the urge to draw cat whiskers on his and Salex's faces. Snickering at the two lovebirds' melody he grabbed their arms to join in the dancefloor.

Twirling his best friend as Salex carried him to dip him gracefully, grinning along as his eyes sparkled with stars as he was in speechless awe as he was lifted back up.

[tobiasdrake]

Before going to look for the team, I have a handful of FTEs saved up that I want to pop. So I'm going to warp time and space to go hang out with everyone instead of hunting for them.

Let's see, I have two for Halara and one for Desuhiko.

WDO is the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters confirmed. People already have superpowers; the Master Detective program teaches them to hone them. Postcognition is an advanced form of psychometry.

Psychometry's a fun superpower. It's the psychic ability to view and experience the history of an object. Doesn't get talked about a lot in telekinesis/telepathy stuff, but it's an underrated gem of an ability.

Yuma needs to stop bringing this topic up. He keeps whining about not having a Forte but. Like.

Okay. So. His contract with Shinigami strictly forbids him from ever telling anyone about her or the contract. I guess people getting dragged in with him to Mystery Labyrinth doesn't count because those memories don't return with them to their body, so they never truly learn about any of this.

But he keeps raising this topic and. Like. The natural response of anyone who hears, "Why don't I have a Forte?" is going to be "You have Coalescence. Isn't that your Forte?"

And for all intents and purposes, he needs to shut up and let it be. Because there is no way to explain why that doesn't count as a real Forte. Every time he starts in on, "But I want a REEEEEEEAL Forte and not my Shinigami Contract Powers," he's verging dangerously close to violating the terms of his agreement. But he can't stop himself from talking about the things he must not speak of.

It's not unlike the way he constantly, endlessly expects fair play and good faith from crooked cops - like, he cannot comprehend corruption. It does not enter his brain as a thing that could ever exist. No one wouldn't fairly and earnestly seek truth, of course not, that kind of person doesn't exist!

Yuma is so honest that it manages to wrap around and become a character flaw.

I have absolutely no idea what the ability to fry people with electrokinesis has to do with investigating crimes, but this is only further confirmation that the WDO is the Xavier School.

Being super honest to the point of being overly trusting and gullible is Yuma's main talent. So... it would follow that his Forte is... the ability to disseminate a large amount of information freely to everyone around him?

...that sounds weak but no, the power to widely broadcast knowledge would be a killer ability for trying to unravel a corporate conspiracy. It might even offer an alternative for mystery-cracking to the Mystery Labyrinth. Try and aim for that, Yuma.

Oh, no. No no no no no. That's not true. Not at all.

Every time you capitulate to Shinigami and resort to the Mystery Labyrinth to solve a case, that's an act of giving up. It's a tacit admission of the futility of trying to crack the case yourself. You still put a lot of work into the Labyrinth, don't get me wrong; But someone who never gives up wouldn't grab Shinigami's hand out of desperation - Especially given how much you loathe to do it.

Whenever you're backed into a corner by Amaterasu security, you panic. Then you sell the lives of the culprits to Shinigami in exchange for a supernatural handicap. That's giving up, Yuma.

This feels like powerful foreshadowing, especially given the double meaning of "death" and the parasitic horror floating over Yuma's shoulder.

But even if that winds up being the writer's interpretation, I stand by what I said. If Yuma had an iron will to never give up, then every case wouldn't end in him going, "OH NO IT'S HOPELESS! Help me, Shinigami! I accept the lethal consequences that I despise as a cost of letting your evil powers help!"

Maybe the first time, sure. But after that, every time he resorts to the Mystery Labyrinth, it's an act of surrender.

[mcrdvcks]

Down Bad - Chapter 20

Chapter Summary: Hunter decides to follow his instincts and take a leap of faith.

Word Count: 5.7k+

Pairing: Hunter x fem!Jedi Original Character

Notes: wow! i am really tired. my summer job (i do online shopping, so filling orders at a local grocery store) and this weekend we have a cyber sale, which means 8 hours of walking around filling orders. luckily, i got off a few hours early today (even though i have to wake up at 4 in the morning tomorrow) so we have this short, but sweet chapter that i hope y'all like!

Series Masterlist - Chapter 19 → Chapter 21

AO3 Link For Chapter

Hunter sat on the edge of the bed, looking back at Amina who was quietly sleeping, hugging his pillow. He sighed, opening the small box in his hand.

It wasn’t a large jewel, but he knew Amina didn’t care for flashy things. Which is why he bought a ring with a small square cut emerald in the middle, and some smaller gems surrounding it on a gold band.

He closed the box with a muted thud and turned it over in his hand. “What’s that?” Hunter looked over at the door to see Omega, her backpack over one shoulder.

Hunter hesitated for a moment, his mind racing as he searched for the right words to say. Omega stood in the doorway, her eyes fixed on him with a curious expression, waiting for an explanation.

"It's just... something for Amina," Hunter finally replied, his voice quiet and hesitant. He wasn't sure how much to tell Omega, knowing that the young girl was perceptive and intuitive.

Omega furrowed her brow in confusion, taking a step closer to the bed. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Is it a present?"

Hunter nodded slowly, his gaze drifting back to the small box in his hand. "Yeah, something like that," he admitted, his voice soft and contemplative. "I... I wanted to give it to her as a surprise."

Omega's eyes widened in partial understanding as she realized what Hunter was implying. "Is it...?" she began, her voice trailing off as she gestured towards the box.

Hunter looked back at Amina, who was still sleeping, as he got up from the bed and walked out of the bedroom into the living room with Omega trailing behind him, her eyes fixed on the small box in his hand. She watched with keen interest as he made his way over to the kitchen counter, setting the box down with a soft thud.

"What's in the box?" Omega asked, her voice filled with curiosity as she approached the counter. She leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she waited for an answer.

Hunter hesitated for a moment, his gaze drifting back to the box as he debated how much to reveal. He glanced over at Omega, noting the eager expression on her face, and decided to be honest with her.

"It's a ring," he admitted, his voice soft and hesitant. "I bought it for Amina."

Omega's eyes widened in surprise at the revelation, her mind racing with questions. "A ring?" she echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Like... an engagement ring?"

Hunter nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the box as he spoke. "Yeah, something like that," he replied, his voice quiet yet resolute. "I want to ask her to marry me. Maybe not today, but… until I plan it out. But it's a secret for now, okay? We don't want to spoil the surprise."

Omega nodded eagerly, her eyes wide with excitement as she leaned in closer to get a better look at the box. "I won't tell anyone, I promise," she vowed solemnly, her voice filled with determination.

Hunter chuckled softly, ruffling Omega's hair affectionately. "I know I can count on you, kid," he said warmly, his heart swelling with affection for the young girl. "Thanks for being so understanding."

Omega beamed up at Hunter, her smile lighting up her face as she nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, Hunter," she said earnestly, her eyes shining with sincerity.

---

A few days later, Rex and Echo stopped by for the day before they went on another mission together. Hunter, Rex, and Omega were walking around the island, as Rex held the box with the ring before handing it back to Hunter.

“It’s a nice ring. But…”

Hunter turned to look at Rex, “but, what?”

Omega furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, “yeah, but what?”

They stopped at the grassy field, where Amina was teaching the young clone cadets and Sami, Tala, Orar, and Othik.

“We know what happened to the General and Senator Amidala.” Rex said as Hunter tore his glance away from Amina over to Rex.

“What are you trying to say Rex?” Hunter asked.

Rex sighed, “nothing. But you know how much she cared about her brother and the Senator. How do you know she’s open to it? Maybe she doesn’t want to fall to the same fate as them.”

Omega looked up at Rex, “but just because her brother died, doesn’t mean she’s scared of being with Hunter. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be together.”

"I know, Omega," Rex began, his voice tinged with empathy. "But we have to consider Amina's feelings too. She's been through hell and back, and the last thing we want to do is add to her pain."

Hunter nodded in agreement, his gaze drifting back to where Amina stood in the field, her laughter ringing out as she interacted with the young cadets. Despite the joy on her face, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling of doubt that lingered in the back of his mind.

"I just want her to be happy," Hunter confessed softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't want to push her into something she's not ready for."

Omega reached out a hand to squeeze Hunter's arm reassuringly, her eyes filled with understanding. "I know, Hunter," she said gently, her voice soft yet determined. "But sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith. Love is worth the risk."

Hunter glanced down at Omega, he knew she was right; sometimes, you had to trust in love and believe that everything would work out in the end.

Taking a deep breath, Hunter made a decision. He would wait for the right moment, the perfect opportunity to ask Amina to marry him. And until then, he would cherish every moment they had together, savoring the love and happiness they shared.

As they continued their walk around the island, Hunter felt a sense of peace settle over him. He knew that whatever the future held, as long as he had Amina by his side, everything would be okay.

---

A few days passed, and Hunter found himself unable to shake the thought of proposing to Amina. He had the ring, he had the perfect moment planned out in his mind, but still, he hesitated.

But one evening, while Crosshair, Wrecker, and Hunter were gathering wood for a campfire, Amina and Omega were setting up the chairs.

“Amina, can I ask you something?”

She looked over at Omega, “sure, honey. What is it?”

“You told me before that relationships were prohibited by the Jedi. But wasn’t your brother married to a Senator?”

Amina finished positioning the chair as she sat down and gestured for Omega to sit in the chair next to her. “Anakin and Padme kept their relationship hidden from everyone. I was the only one they explicitly told, but a few others found out as the war continued.”

Omega furrowed her brow in confusion, her mind swirling with questions. “But why did they have to hide it?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Amina sighed softly, her gaze drifting off into the distance as she recalled the events of the past. “It was complicated,” she began slowly, her voice soft and contemplative. “Anakin was a Jedi, and Jedi weren’t supposed to form attachments or have personal relationships. It was part of the Jedi Code.”

Omega nodded in understanding, though her expression remained puzzled. “But why?” she pressed, her curiosity getting the better of her. “What’s wrong with forming attachments?”

Amina hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words to explain. “The Jedi believed that attachments could lead to strong emotions like fear, anger, and jealousy,” she explained gently, her voice tinged with sadness. “And those emotions could cloud a Jedi’s judgment and lead them down a path to the dark side.”

“So, because Anakin loved Padme, he went to the dark side?” she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

Amina shook her head, her heart heavy with sorrow. “I thought at first that was why. But then I found out soon after that Chancellor Palpatine was a Sith Lord. He had been manipulating Anakin since we were brought to the Temple. I told him that he shouldn’t be so trusting towards him, but Anakin didn’t listen.”

Omega listened intently, her eyes wide with disbelief at the revelation. She couldn't imagine the pain and betrayal Amina must have felt upon discovering the truth about Palpatine's deception. "So, it wasn't because of love that Anakin turned to the dark side?" she asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Amina sighed softly, her gaze drifting off into the distance as she reflected on the complexities of Anakin's fall from grace. "Love was certainly a small factor," she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness. "He had nightmares of Padme dying during childbirth. I suspected that it was Palpatine manipulating his mind. He wanted to do anything to save her from dying, but in the end, he was the reason she died.”

She looked back over at Omega, “but, I guess no, love ultimately wasn’t the reason Anakin turned. It was how he felt betrayed by the Council, how they didn’t help him when he needed it. His love for Padme kept him going, gave him a reason to keep fighting in the war. Without her, I’m not sure he would’ve continued being a Jedi after Ahsoka left the Order.”

"But what about you, Amina?" Omega asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you ever worry that... that the same thing could happen to you?"

Amina's heart clenched at the question, her thoughts drifting back to her own experiences with the Empire and the horrors she had endured at their hands. She reached out a hand to gently brush Omega's hair away from her face, her touch light and tender.

"I won't let that happen, Omega," she vowed solemnly, her voice filled with determination. "I won't let fear and anger consume me like it did Anakin. I have too much to live for, too much to fight for. And too much to prove.”

Omega looked up at Amina, her eyes wide with admiration and respect. She reached out a hand to squeeze Amina's reassuringly, her own determination echoing in her gaze. "I know you won't, Amina," she said softly, her voice filled with unwavering confidence. "You're stronger than anyone I know."

Amina smiled gratefully at Omega, her heart swelling with affection for the young girl. "Thank you, Omega," she said warmly, her voice tinged with emotion. "Your faith in me means more than you'll ever know."

As they sat together in the fading light of the evening, a sense of peace settled over them. Despite the challenges they faced and the trials that lay ahead, they knew that as long as they had each other, they could overcome anything.

Meanwhile, Hunter and the rest of the Bad Batch made their way to the campsite, their arms laden with firewood for the evening. Hunter's mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the ring hidden away in his pocket, the weight of his decision weighing heavily on his mind.

As they settled around the campfire, Crosshair glanced over at Hunter, his gaze sharp and probing. "Something on your mind, Hunter?" he asked casually, his tone betraying his curiosity.

Hunter hesitated for a moment, his thoughts swirling as he debated whether or not to confide in his brother. Finally, he sighed softly, his shoulders slumping as he gave in to the inevitable. "Yeah, actually," he admitted, his voice quiet yet resolute. "I've been thinking about asking Amina to marry me."

The other members of the Bad Batch looked up in surprise at Hunter's confession, their eyes wide with disbelief. Wrecker let out a boisterous laugh, clapping Hunter on the back with a grin. "Well, well, well, looks like someone's finally ready to take the plunge," he exclaimed, his voice booming with enthusiasm.

Crosshair arched an eyebrow skeptically, though there was a hint of amusement in his gaze. "Are you sure about this, Hunter?" he asked, his tone tinged with uncertainty. "Marriage is a big commitment, especially considering everything Amina's been through."

Hunter nodded slowly, his gaze drifting off into the distance as he reflected on his relationship with Amina. "I know it won't be easy," he admitted, his voice tinged with emotion. "But I love her, Crosshair. And I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

With his brothers' words of encouragement ringing in his ears, Hunter felt a surge of determination wash over him. He knew that proposing to Amina was the right decision, and he was ready to take that leap of faith.

---

A brush of her hair slowly woke her up, as she blinked her eyes to see Hunter smiling at her, his hand brushing hair out of her face. She couldn't help but return his smile, her heart fluttering at the affectionate gesture.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Hunter murmured softly, his voice warm and tender as he leaned in closer to her. "Did you sleep well?"

Amina nodded, her gaze drifting to the window where the soft glow of dawn filtered through the curtains. "Yeah, I did," she replied, her voice still heavy with sleep. "What time is it?"

Hunter glanced at the chrono on the nightstand before turning back to Amina with a grin. "It's still early," he said reassuringly, his hand finding hers as he squeezed it gently. "But I couldn't resist waking you up to say good morning."

Amina's heart fluttered at the sincerity in Hunter's words, her cheeks flushing with warmth at the affection in his gaze. "You're such a sweetheart," she said softly, her voice filled with love and gratitude.

Hunter chuckled softly, leaning in closer to press a tender kiss to Amina's forehead. "Only for you, cyar’ika," he whispered, his lips brushing against her skin in a gentle caress.

Amina smiled at the endearment, her heart swelling with affection for the man she loved. "I'm so lucky to have you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she reached up to cup Hunter's cheek in her hand.

Hunter's expression softened at her words, his eyes shining with love and devotion as he leaned in to press a soft kiss to Amina's lips. The kiss was gentle yet passionate, a silent promise of the love and devotion they shared.

As they pulled away, Amina couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment settle over her. Despite the trials and tribulations they had faced, she knew that as long as she had Hunter by her side, everything would be okay.

"Hey, um, Amina?" Hunter began hesitantly, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box underneath the covers.

"Yeah, baby?" Amina's voice was soft and full of curiosity, her eyes locked onto his.

Hunter swallowed hard, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. "There's something I've been wanting to ask you," he began, his voice trembling slightly. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Something important."

Amina's eyes widened slightly, her curiosity piqued. She sat up a little more, giving him her full attention. "What is it, Hunter?" she asked gently, her voice encouraging.

Hunter slowly opened the small box, revealing the beautiful ring inside. The emerald glinted in the morning light, the smaller gems surrounding it sparkling softly. Amina gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she stared at the ring in shock.

"Amina," Hunter began, his voice steadying as he looked deeply into her eyes. "I… will you marry me?"

Amina looked at the ring, her mouth wide open in shock. Not just because he was proposing to her, but because she dreamt of this while she was captive by Palpatine. Then, she thought it was just her mind giving her a break from the torture, but instead it was playing out right in front of her.

For once, her force vision was a good one, not a bad one.

Hunter shifted in the bed, disturbed by her unusual silence, “Amina?”

She put a hand to his cheek and kissed him before moving so she was on top of him while he was on his back.

Their lips met in a tender embrace, the warmth of their love enveloping them like a gentle caress. Amina poured all her love and devotion into the kiss, savoring every moment as if it were a precious gift.

Hunter's arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. His touch sent shivers down her spine, igniting a fire within her that burned brighter with each passing moment.

When they finally pulled away, their breaths mingling in the air, Amina looked into Hunter's eyes and saw nothing but love and adoration reflected back at her.

Amina broke the silence, “I- I dreamt of this. When the Emperor had me. I- I thought it was just a dream, not a force vision.” She said, with a wide smile.

"You dreamt of this?" Hunter asked softly, his voice tinged with disbelief. He couldn't quite wrap his mind around the idea that Amina had foreseen their proposal during her captivity.

Amina nodded, her smile widening as she reached out to caress Hunter's cheek. "Yes, I did," she confirmed, her voice filled with warmth and affection. "I thought it was just a dream at first, but now... now I realize it was so much more."

Hunter's heart swelled with emotion at her words, his gaze never leaving hers as he took in the magnitude of what she was saying. He had always known that Amina was special, but this revelation only served to reaffirm that belief.

"Does that mean... you knew I was going to ask you?" Hunter asked, his voice barely above a whisper as he searched Amina's eyes for answers.

Amina chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Maybe," she teased, her tone playful yet tender. "But that doesn't make this moment any less special. It’s not like I knew for sure that it was going to happen. I just knew that it could happen, and if it did happen, it would look like this.”

Hunter couldn't help but laugh at Amina's response, his heart lightening with joy at her lightheartedness. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace as he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “You still haven’t given me an answer.”

Amina raised her eyebrows, “I thought the kiss was the answer.”

Amina's playful response brought a chuckle from Hunter as he held her close, the warmth of her laughter filling him with a sense of contentment. "Well, I suppose it was," he admitted with a grin, his fingers gently tracing patterns on her back. "But I still want to hear you say it."

Amina rolled her eyes affectionately, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “Can I have a few rotations to consider your prop- ” Hunter rolled them over so he was on top of her as Amina let out a laugh.

As Hunter playfully rolled on top of Amina, their laughter filled the room, mingling with the warmth of their love. Amina wrapped her arms around Hunter's neck, pulling him closer as she looked up into his eyes with a mischievous grin.

"Well, well, well," she teased, her voice laced with playful sarcasm. "Someone's eager to get an answer."

Hunter chuckled, his heart light with joy as he gazed down at Amina with adoration. "Can you blame me?" he replied, his voice soft yet filled with playful banter. "I've been waiting for this moment for what feels like forever."

Amina's grin widened as she reached up to run her fingers through Hunter's hair, her touch gentle yet filled with affection. "And here I thought you were the patient type," she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Hunter leaned in closer, pressing a tender kiss to Amina's lips before pulling back to meet her gaze. "When it comes to you, patience tends to go out the window," he admitted.

Amina's heart fluttered at his words, her cheeks flushing with warmth at the sincerity in his gaze. She reached up to cup his cheek in her hand, her touch soft and tender as she gazed up at him with unwavering affection.

“Okay, okay. I, Amina Skywalker, accept your proposal.”

Hunter let out a small growl, his lips curving into a playful smile. "Smartass," he replied, his voice laced with amusement.

Amina giggled, her laughter filling the room as she reached up to run her fingers through Hunter's hair. "What?" she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I accepted the proposal. You didn’t say how."

Hunter chuckled, his heart light with joy as he leaned in closer to press a tender kiss to Amina's lips. His touch was gentle yet filled with passion, igniting a fire within Amina that burned brighter with each passing moment.

As they pulled away, their breaths mingling in the air, Amina looked into Hunter's eyes and saw nothing but love and adoration reflected back at her. She felt a sense of peace settle over her, knowing that she was exactly where she was meant to be.

“Let’s get married today.” Amina said.

Hunter moved away, sitting straight up as Amina sat up in bed, “today?” He asked.

She pulled the covers off of her and moved towards him, now straddling him. “Why not? Rex and Echo are here, and we don’t know the next time that will happen. All we need is a ring for you and a dress for me. And I’m sure that Shep would be more than happy to officiate.”

Hunter looked up at Amina, his gaze soft yet filled with determination. "Are you sure about this, sweetheart?" he asked gently, his voice tinged with concern. He wanted to make sure that Amina wasn't rushing into anything, that she was truly ready to take this next step in their relationship.

Amina met Hunter's gaze, her heart swelling with love and affection for the man she loved. "I don’t want some big, elaborate wedding. Why wait when we have everything we need right here? We can get married right in front of the Archium, we can invite your brothers and the young cadets and kids.”

Hunter's eyes softened as he looked at Amina, the determination in her voice evident. He reached up to cup her cheek, his thumb gently brushing her skin. "If that’s what you want, then let’s do it," he said softly. "We’ll get everything ready today."

Amina beamed, her excitement palpable. She leaned in to kiss him once more, her heart racing with anticipation. "Thank you, Hunter," she whispered against his lips. "This is going to be perfect."

Hunter smiled back at her, his heart full. "I’ll go tell the others," he said, reluctantly pulling away. "You go find something to wear."

Amina nodded, slipping off the bed and grabbing a robe. She glanced back at Hunter with a smile before heading out of the room to find something suitable for their impromptu wedding.

Hunter watched her go, a sense of peace settling over him. He quickly got dressed and headed out to find his brothers and Omega. He found them in the common area, gathered around the table.

"Hey, everyone," Hunter said, getting their attention. "I’ve got some news."

Wrecker looked up, a grin spreading across his face. "What’s up, Hunter?"

Hunter took a deep breath, his nerves bubbling up. "Amina and I have decided to get married today."

There was a moment of stunned silence before the room erupted in excitement. Omega practically jumped out of her seat, her eyes wide with joy. "Today? That’s amazing!"

Crosshair raised an eyebrow, a small barely noticeable smirk playing at his lips. "Well, it’s about time."

Echo clapped Hunter on the shoulder, his smile genuine. "Congratulations, Hunter. What do you need us to do?"

Hunter felt a wave of gratitude for his brothers and Omega. "We need to get everything ready. Amina suggested getting married in front of the Archium. We’ll need to set up some chairs and decorations. And, uh, I’ll need a ring."

Rex, who had been sitting quietly, stood up and nodded. "I’ll help with the setup. And don’t worry about the ring; we can find something suitable."

Hunter smiled at Rex. "Thanks, Rex."

Omega was practically bouncing with excitement. "I’ll help Amina find something to wear!" She turned to Hunter, her eyes shining. "This is going to be perfect."

Hunter nodded, feeling a swell of emotion. "Yeah, it is."

As everyone dispersed to handle their tasks, Hunter felt a sense of calm settle over him. He headed out to the Archium to start setting up, his heart light with anticipation.

---

Omega had run outside and caught up to Amina, “so, where first?” she asked, as she grabbed Amina’s hand as they walked.

"Let's head to the market first," Amina suggested, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I saw a boutique there that might have something perfect for the occasion."

Omega nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with anticipation. "Sounds good to me!" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement. "I can't wait to help you find the perfect dress, Amina."

As they made their way through the bustling streets of Pabu, Amina couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over her. Despite the hardships they had faced, there was something comforting about being back in familiar surroundings, surrounded by familiar faces.

They soon arrived at the market, the vibrant colors and lively atmosphere filling the air with energy. Amina led Omega towards the boutique she had spotted earlier, a small smile tugging at her lips as they stepped inside.

The boutique was filled with an array of elegant dresses, each more beautiful than the last. Amina's eyes swept over the racks, her heart racing with excitement as she searched for the perfect gown.

Omega's eyes widened in awe as she took in the sight of the dresses, her gaze darting from one to the next. "Wow, these are amazing," she breathed, her voice filled with admiration.

Amina nodded in agreement, her heart pounding with anticipation. She moved towards a rack of dresses, her fingers trailing over the delicate fabrics as she searched for the one that spoke to her.

After looking through three racks Amina found one- a white off-the-shoulder dress with a fitted bodice that flared out into a full, tea-length skirt with a draped neckline.

Omega's eyes widened in awe as she took in the sight of the dress, her admiration evident in her expression. "Wow, Amina, that's beautiful," she breathed, her voice filled with genuine admiration.

Amina smiled, her heart swelling with gratitude for Omega's support. "Thank you, Omega," she said warmly, her voice tinged with excitement. "I think this might be the one."

Omega beamed up at Amina, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I think so too," she agreed eagerly, her enthusiasm infectious. "Let's try it on!"

Amina nodded, her excitement mounting as she headed towards the fitting rooms with Omega in tow. She quickly slipped into the dress, the fabric draping elegantly around her as she admired herself in the mirror.

Omega peeked her head around the corner, her eyes wide with anticipation. "How does it look?" she asked eagerly, her voice filled with excitement.

Amina turned to face Omega, a smile spreading across her lips as she twirled in the dress. "What do you think?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement.

Omega's eyes widened in awe as she took in the sight of Amina in the dress, her admiration evident in her expression. "You look stunning," she breathed, her voice filled with genuine admiration.

Amina laughed, her heart light with joy at Omega's words. "Thanks, honey," she said warmly, her voice tinged with gratitude. "I couldn't have done this without you.”

Omega grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Anytime, Amina," she replied eagerly, her enthusiasm infectious. "Now, let's go find you some shoes!"

With that, they headed back out into the market, their laughter filling the air as they searched for the perfect pair of shoes to complete Amina's bridal ensemble.

---

As the group was setting up, the young cadets and kids, led by Ruse, one of the older clone cadets, stopped by to help.

Phee and a small girl walked over to Hunter and Echo. “Now, what’s going on here?” Phee asked, crossing her arms, “I’m gone for one week and it seems like something important happened.”

Hunter smiled warmly at Phee and the young girl, his eyes crinkling at the corners with amusement. "Hey, Phee," he greeted, his voice filled with warmth. "Yeah, something important did happen."

Echo nodded in agreement, a small grin playing at his lips. "Hunter and Amina are getting married," he explained, his tone casual yet filled with excitement.

Phee's eyes widened in surprise, her mouth dropping open in shock. "Married?" she echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Wow, that's... unexpected."

Hunter chuckled at Phee's reaction, his heart light with amusement. "Yeah, it kind of was," he admitted with a grin. "But we're both really excited about it." Hunter looked down at the young girl, “who is this?”

“I found her on Cvanni. The Empire took her from her family, so I thought I’d bring her here while we look for them. Plus, I know your girlfriend is good with kids.”

"What's your name, sweetheart?" Hunter asked gently, crouching down to her level.

The girl grabbed Phee’s leg, hiding behind it, “her name is Jynna, and she’s just a little bit shy.” Phee said. Hunter held out a hand as Jynna walked further behind Phee, “yeah, she doesn’t take well to strangers.” Phee bent down and picked up the young girl, “but I’m sure she’ll adapt. I’ll let you two get back to setting up.”

---

Omega and Amina made their final stop to the salon to get their hair done by Lila, the Twi’lek who cut Amina’s hair not too long ago.

"Welcome back, Amina, Omega," Lila said cheerfully, her voice lilting with warmth. "What can I do for you today?"

“Amina’s getting married today!” Omega cheerfully replied.

“Ah, well that explains the large clothing bag.” Lila looked at the bag slung over Amina’s shoulder.

Omega grinned up at Lila, her eyes shining with excitement. "We're here to get our hair done for the wedding," she explained eagerly, her enthusiasm palpable. "Can you help us?"

Lila nodded eagerly, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "Of course, my dear," she replied eagerly, her hands already reaching for her tools. "Let's get started!"

As Lila worked her magic on Amina and Omega's hair, the salon buzzed with excitement. The other patrons looked on with interest, their curiosity piqued by the news of the upcoming wedding. As they chatted and laughed, Amina couldn't help but feel a sense of joy wash over her. Despite everything she had been through, she was surrounded by love and support, and she couldn't wait to marry the man of her dreams.

After what felt like hours of pampering and laughter, Amina and Omega emerged from the salon with their hair styled to perfection. Amina's hair cascaded down in elegant waves, while Omega's was pulled back into a sleek ponytail with a few loose curls framing her face.

As they stepped out into the warm sunshine, Amina couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building within her. Today was the day she would marry the love of her life, and she couldn't wait to begin this new chapter of their lives together. "Are you ready for this, Omega?" Amina asked, her voice tinged with excitement as she linked arms with the young girl.

Omega beamed up at Amina, her eyes shining with excitement. "I can't wait!" she exclaimed eagerly, her enthusiasm contagious.

As they approached the Archium, they could see Hunter and the rest of the Bad Batch hard at work, setting up chairs and decorations in preparation for the ceremony.

Amina's heart swelled with gratitude as she watched them, knowing that they had all come together to make this day special for her and Hunter.

As they joined the others, Hunter looked up and caught sight of Amina and Omega, a warm smile spreading across his lips. "Hey, you two," he greeted, his voice filled with affection. "You look beautiful."

Amina blushed at the compliment, her heart fluttering at the love and adoration in Hunter's eyes. "Thank you, Hunter," she replied warmly, her voice tinged with gratitude. "Everything looks amazing."

Omega beamed up at Hunter, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yeah, it's gonna be so cool!" she exclaimed eagerly, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Hunter chuckled at Omega's enthusiasm, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Glad you're excited, kid," he said with a grin, his gaze softening as he looked at Amina. "You ready for this?"

Amina nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "More than ready," she replied, her voice filled with determination. "I can't wait to marry you."

Hunter's heart swelled with love at Amina's words, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Me neither," he murmured, reaching out to take her hand in his.

Omega grabbed Amina’s other hand, “come on, Amina. We have to get dressed!”

Omega's words snapped Amina out of her reverie, and she smiled down at the young girl, her heart overflowing with love for her makeshift family. "You're right, Omega. Let's go get dressed," she said, squeezing Omega's hand gently before following her towards their quarters.

As they made their way down the top of the mountain, Amina couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building within her.

When they reached their house, Amina and Omega wasted no time in getting ready. Amina carefully pulled out the wedding gown she had picked out, her heart fluttering with excitement as she gazed at the beautiful fabric.

Meanwhile, Omega rummaged through her own bag of clothes, pulling out a dress that Amina had helped her pick out for the occasion. It was a simple yet elegant design, with a fitted bodice and a flowing skirt that fell to her knees.

Once they were both dressed and ready, Amina and Omega made their way back to the top of the mountain in front of the Archium, where the rest of the Bad Batch and their friends were gathered.

Hunter was waiting for them at the front of the room, a warm smile spreading across his face as he caught sight of Amina. She felt her heart skip a beat as their eyes met, and she knew that this was where she was meant to be.

i tried writing the ceremony of the wedding but just couldn't find the right words at all, so this is what we're left with… oops. but next chapter amina and hunter go on their honeymoon!

also, here are the links for amina's ring and dress, just because i have a hard time describing something without looking at it :)

ring - dress

tags: @callsign-denmark

[blackjackkent]

Rakha assumes that the Faith-Leap Trial is the last one, based on what the statue said, and that they can now proceed further into the sanctum in search of the Nightsong. Shadowheart, however, stops her as they approach the first altar with its niches for the Umbral Gems they have been collecting.

"Wait."

Glance around.

Narrator: You detect the gentlest of presences disturbing the temple's ancient, stale air. It seems to encircle Shadowheart, welcoming her.

Rakha narrows her eyes uncertainly, looking around, trying to gauge the source of this strange feeling. But there is nothing, only the cool, dust-laden air and the shimmering veneer of Shadowfell magic coating every surface.

"What's going on?" she demands sharply. "Tell me."

"There's something more I need to do," Shadowheart says earnestly. "Or the trials will have been in vain. There is a holy weapon hidden away - the Spear of Night. I have to claim it, then use it to make a sacrifice in Lady Shar's inner sanctum. If I succeed, I'll become a Dark Justiciar."

Rakha listens to this thoughtfully. A sacrifice. This could mean any number of things. She's still not deeply interested in the trials themselves except so far as they open the way to the Nightsong, but she knows they are important to Shadowheart. (She also knows, deep down, that Wyll is not at all comfortable with their presence here or pursuing Shar's approval, which makes the whole thing more tense overall.)

If, however, Shadowheart is telling the truth and this is a required part of the trials, then it might be just as necessary as the rest in order to reach the relic and shatter Ketheric's immortality.

"All right," she says slowly. "Where is this spear?"

Shadowheart brightens hopefully. "There's a library in this place somewhere. That's where I need to look."

Rakha nods. This doesn't really narrow it down, but there is much of the temple they haven't yet seen. "That is what these trials demand?" she asks, pursing her lips. "A blood sacrifice to appease Shar?"(*) She does not like the way the beast in her head squirms excitedly at the idea; in many situations it is a sign of the wrong choice.

It's hard to tell if Shadowheart recognizes Rakha's discomfort, or the reason behind it. But she does smile slightly, reassuringly. "Don't worry," she says firmly. "This place has been empty for years. The sacrifice can't be a simple mortal. More likely it's a monster - and we're well-versed in dealing with those, aren't we?"

In spite of herself, Rakha flinches. All too well, she thinks bitterly.

(A/N: Technically we've already passed the entrance to the library, but I'm going to use this as an excuse for Rakha to explore the rest of the facility before going over there. XD Sometimes I have to play tricks on Rakha to get around her extreme directness.)

-----

(*) Slight tweak of the in-game dialogue ("You really want to go through with this? A blood sacrifice just to appease Lady Shar?") to better fit Rakha's speech patterns.

[hekateinhell]

Before I started with the NSFW prompts, I was going to try to do Kinktober 2022. That didn't happen, but I did have this prompt and pairing scribbled in my notes app, so here she is, actually done. Lestat/Armand, post-canon AU, rated E (cock warming, canon-compliant), 2k. For @ancelegance, who read this already. 🖤

"What is it, Armand?" Lestat didn't even spare him a glance, although a faint smile tugged at the corners of the lips. So focused was he on the mounds of paperwork before him; it took him longer than it normally would have to realize he wasn't receiving a response.

Come with me.

"Armand, mon chèri, you know I would love to spend the evening with you, but look at this! I'll be lucky to grab a small drink before dawn." It's not meant to be defensive, but frankly, it felt as though Lestat could either manage one of two things: being Prince or being a Blood Spouse to one such as Armand – the circumstances of which remain a story for another time.

"Fine," Lestat sighed, flinging down his pen with all the added flair of a dramatic theatre child. Looked up and met Armand's large dark eyes with a forced cheeriness but a genuine affection. Must everyone always find him lacking in some way? Perhaps Armand read that in his expression because he appeared to shrink into himself momentarily, his youthful face vulnerable and sad once more.

Damn.

"I'll compromise with you," Lestat pushed back his chair and patted his lap, "Come here." Suddenly self-conscious but never one to disobey a direct command from Lestat's lips in this, their new season, Armand timidly slid his arms around Lestat's shoulders before straddling his lap and leaning forward to rest his head against the prominent clavicle.

Tell me what I can do for you, my wild one. Let me be a comfort to you. It's a plea, equal parts a desire to comfort and the need to assert his usefulness – if to nobody but himself. Lestat pressed a kiss to those auburn tresses, his hands instinctively resting on Armand's narrow waist.

"You already are such a comfort to me," he murmured, hoping Armand heard the sincerity that Lestat tried to infuse into every word.

A sigh was the only response as Armand tightened his grip and drew as close as he possibly could to be completely flush to Lestat's more muscular body. "I need you," he whispered as if it were a sinner's confession rather than a lover's ask, his hands repeatedly opening and closing over the fabric of Lestat's silk shirt.

"Of course you do," Lestat couldn't resist the tease, while swallowing down the rest of that thought. Of course you do, after I've denied you for so long. "Take whatever it is you need then, mon coeur," said Lestat earnestly, and he meant it; the notion of an equalized relationship still not an entirely familiar concept to him.

Armand wordlessly drew Lestat's hand to his face, nuzzling against his palm like a kitten might, before turning it over to place a lingering kiss on the topaz gem that adorned the golden band around Lestat's ring finger – clearly expressing his devotion and appreciation for his beloved, his Prince.

The tableau he made, with his dark lashes dusting over his cheekbones as he bowed his head, was enough to make Lestat's heart twist painfully in his chest. He pulled back his hand to twist it into Armand's hair instead, drawing him in for an embrace that was rough and possessing and perhaps a bit desperate. Surely Lestat wasn't that much of a withholding spouse that warranted the display Armand had just presented?

Armand’s smaller, delicate hands came to cradle Lestat’s face as his fangs grazed Lestat’s bottom lip, the sharp nails digging into the flesh just enough that Lestat resisted moving, opting to let Armand take control. Contrary to most appearances, it was nice–comforting even–to be held in place by Armand as he so often was.

It’s either the best or worst kept secret in their court.

"You do well, Lestat," Armand whispered in between kisses that were somehow chaste in their tenderness yet obscene in their urgency.

Lestat didn't do well; he knew this. His Prime Minister wouldn't be in the temper he was usually in if that were the case. Armand needn't come begging for a quick caress and a sweet word if Lestat were doing well.

Still, hearing the loving affirmation murmured in that honeyed voice was enough to make Lestat's throat tighten, and he blinked rapidly to dismiss the subsequent unwanted emotional response.

Armand, damn him, caught it anyway, and he smiled like a child, delighted.

“Imp,” Lestat waved him off gently with a laugh that wasn't entirely forced. “Go on then! Do what you came here to do, mon chèri!”

“Oh, I'm about to, mon roi,” Armand teased as he rose with a flourish.

Of course, Lestat watched – a man in a trance – as Armand unlaced his knee-high leather boots with a precision and a learned seduction that only a vampire, only Armand for that matter, could possess. His white ruffled shirt and grey trousers were next to follow, purposely left discarded on the rug.

For a man that hadn't felt the sensation of human arousal in his body in the last two hundred years, Lestat would certainly think he was at least experiencing the imitation of it, if it weren't for the obvious fact that nothing ever changed in the region below his waist.

What a pity, a travesty, really!

Nonetheless, Armand's was a bewitching beauty that Lestat longed to claim for himself; a wildcat he'd finally subdued into the demure, sympathetic creature that stood before him now.

Permit a man his delusions of grandeur, please. If nothing else, it appeased Lestat's ego to see the efforts Armand lavished on him. Always had... How could it not?

"Cherub child," Lestat teased in an abrupt flash of wickedness. What a thing to say as Armand approached him, seemingly dancing, before kneeling down in front of the ornate mahogany chair. Completely nude, his curls tumbling over his shoulders as his hand came to massage the ever-present hardness between Lestat's thighs.

"Expecting a miracle, are we, darling?" Lestat questioned, amusement and confusion evident in his voice as he reached out to push Armand's hair back over his shoulder, unobstructing the view of that angelic face.

"No," Armand looked up at him now, tiny fanged teeth coming to nip lightly at Lestat's jaw – an effective distraction – while a satin-like hand quickly freed him from the confines of his trousers.

Hard not to gloat like a mortal man upon seeing the satisfied glint in Armand's eyes each time he took in Lestat's physical endowments, even if he had no use for them beyond the mere aesthetic.

"Is that what you think? That I have no use for all of this?" Armand gently stroked Lestat from base to tip, lingering as though he, Armand, were gaining pleasure from the act itself.

"Do you, really?"

All other thought left Lestat's mind when he looked, really looked, at Armand's face for the first time all evening. His entire face flushed pink, darkest at his cheeks and plump lips, the stolen heat making itself known like rouge painted onto the features of a china doll. He felt almost feverish to the touch when Lestat dragged his knuckles along the apple curve of a perfect cheekbone, "You must have been starving to gorge yourself like this!"

Oh, but I am starving still, Lestat...

"I told you," Lestat reminded him, veritably hypnotized, "Take whatever you need from me. It's yours, Armand. I swear it." Armand startled and blinked at this in a way he hadn't the first time Lestat had spoken the words. He looked terribly, frightfully, young then – the seductive bravado slipping for a moment before his lips curved into a rare, genuinely serene smile. "You did tell me that, didn't you?"

It wasn't a question that sought a response, and Armand didn't wait for one. Turning to face the doorway, he held the edge of the antique desk with one hand while the other reached back and readily sought Lestat's cock.

"Armand-"

You said whatever I needed. Now, quiet.

He could only watch spellbound in rapt fascination as Armand sank down on his shaft in one fluid, rehearsed motion. A motion so skilled it ought to be scandalous. Armand had evidently prepared himself well beforehand, but it was not without a sense of pride that Lestat noted a subtle catch in his breath. In all probability, a part of the show, given a vampire's tolerance for pain, but Lestat still thought it polite and gentlemanly to enquire, "Are you alright, love?"

Armand was fully nestled in his lap now and warm. His internal heat surpassing what Lestat had felt on his face moments ago; the private clutch of Armand's body was snug, slick, and so agreeably warm. "It's an adjustment," Armand replied as he nodded against Lestat's shoulder, interlacing their fingers and bringing Lestat's hand to press on his lower abdomen.

Lestat could have laughed out loud. "My, you are certainly full of flattery tonight! Perhaps I shall ignore you more often." Armand didn't respond, but his fingers over Lestat's hand slacked as his body stiffened, his chin tilting downward ever so slightly.

Why did the wrong thing always slip out so easily to Armand? What sort of damnable curse was this?

I didn't mean that, Armand! You know that I didn't. You know how much of my love you hold, don't you? Tell me that you do…

He's the one gripping Armand's fingertips now, and Armand gave no reaction before suddenly taking in a sharp breath and sitting up again while keeping his toes pressed to the carpet. Never relinquishing an inch of Lestat's cock inside him as he braced his elbows along the hard wood and picked up the court document Lestat had been pursuing in frustration when Armand had first walked in.

His voice was clear and melodic when he read it out loud, as it was when he allowed his accents to come through. Sweetly caressing the vowels with a trace of their native French, the language in which they'd first been acquainted.

As the pronounced exhaustion that came only from duty and obligation began to make itself known – combined with Armand’s soft and saccharine tones and the heat that enveloped him – Lestat felt himself becoming rather lethargic in a manner not unlike a stray animal that’s long-last found its refuge in a storm.

His forearms formed a cage around Armand's middle, cheek pressing against the jut of an unblemished shoulder blade. At some point, the words faded out, but the delicate sounds remained – all Lestat knew in those moments as he drifted in and out of a half-sleep was the delectable inner warmth and the unmistakable scent of his boyish companion. Barely noticed a hand passing over his head, pausing briefly to tousle his golden curls before Armand made a small cut in his own skin.

Go on, lover. I fed for both of us tonight.

How easy for Lestat to turn his head to the other side and sink his fangs into Armand's throat without opening his eyes, relying instead on muscle memory and his predatory senses to find the vein, finally latching on with a slow and drowsy suck like an infant to its nurse.

Merci, Armand. Lestat squeezed his hips, grinding against him for good measure as if he could conceivably get any deeper, perhaps disappear entirely.

A kingdom to spend the rest of his eternity in this position.

Upon drinking his fill, he carefully retracted, sealing the wound with a lick and a kiss, dropping his forehead back down to its previous placement, partially hidden beneath that russet hair. Content to be wholly supported by Armand's deceptively slighter body while he slumbered, satiated in all the ways a man and vampire could possibly be.

Was I to your liking then, my Lestat? Coy, yet cocky at the same time. Knowing he had given Lestat what Lestat had needed, but craving the acknowledgment that Lestat had, in fact, understood what just transpired between them.

Indescribably so, as always.