#so i find myself not minding in the end but i like having a work life balance lol

[anashins]

First Valentines without Jaehyun 💔

Pairing: Jaehyun x You

Genre: fluff, romance, suggestive

Word Count: 1,7k

Summary: A flower bouquet delivered to you at your new workplace sends your co-workers into a spiral: Does your oh-so-perfect boyfriend truly exist?

A/N: Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Jaehyun Day! 💖

“Do you like the flowers I sent you?”

“Yes.”

“Then why do you sound so sad?”

You stared at the colorful arrangement you had put in a vase and that was now resting on your table in its full glory of blossomed petals. 

Yellow, orange, pink, white - Jaehyun had ordered the shop to compose all your favorite flowers into one huge bouquet, decorated with transparent wrapping papers and ribbons of the same color scheme. It was nothing short of glamorous and attentive. As expected of your boyfriend.

You let out a long sigh that Jaehyun could definitely hear on the other side of the phone. “When I received the bouquet at work today… I was so happy. Nobody else received something like this, ever. But later that day, when I walked past the restrooms, I heard the girl from the marketing department talking about it.”

“Not that girl again…”

“Yes. She said since I never bring my boyfriend to any work related event and now a mysterious bouquet had popped up out of nowhere, I was surely only pretending and sending it to myself for attention since I’m still a newbie. And who receives flowers on the day before Valentine’s Day anyway, she claimed. Girls are the ones supposed to give out chocolate.”

“Well… did you barge into the restroom and tell her your very well existent boyfriend is currently in the military and was worried the bouquet wouldn’t arrive on time, so he sent it earlier just in case? And that not a single Valentine’s Day has ever passed by without my girlfriend receiving a gift as well?”

“No.” But then a smile flashed across your lips. “I barged into the restroom and told her if she put as much effort in finding a boyfriend as she is putting in sticking her nose into other people’s business, she wouldn’t have to worry this much about a newbie’s private life.”

You heard Jaehyun burst into laughter, and it was contagious for you too. “That’s my girl.”

A silence followed that lighthearted moment which weighed down heavy on your heart again. “I miss you. And not only because of tomorrow when I need to see couples everywhere I go. But every day, I miss you.”

Ever since Jaehyun went to the military, you have been feeling so lonely. The first month was the hardest when his phone time was restricted to one hour per day only. After the boot camp, it had gotten a bit better with regular calls by the end of a day, but you had only been able to see each other once for one day ever since his enlistment. 

You were planning to visit him at his base as this was the only way to at least see him regularly, but the way there was long and exhausting, so realizing it on a regular basis was also not ideal, minding the fact that you would barely have any privacy as well. And there hadn’t been an event when you could have watched his band in public yet. 

When you could see each other for a bit longer? You didn’t know. His application for a holiday was still not through, and you slowly grew impatient. It was pure torture.

“I miss you too,” Jaehyun reassured gently. “But don’t worry, in the blink of an eye, we can see each other again.”

You groaned. “You make it sound like nothing, but it’s actually a lot.”

“I’m sorry there is nothing more that I can do.”

Guilt washed over you for making him feel responsible for something he didn’t have any influence on, and on top of that, it was not only Valentine’s Day, but Jaehyun’s birthday too. He probably didn’t feel much different from you, having to celebrate his special day at the base when it didn’t even fall on the one day a week he was off from duties.

So you quickly added, “Maybe, I will visit your family tomorrow after work, so we will celebrate your birthday together and eat your favorite cake, and you can only watch us doing so through a call.”

“Ah, this is torture. Do you know what I eat here daily? Cake sounds heavenly.”

“Then make sure to visit us quickly, so I can prepare every cake for you that you want.”

“Deal.”

____

It was still morning and you had only sat down at your desk for work when the receptionist approached you, right after the marketing girl had settled at the other side of the office as well. 

Today was Valentine’s Day and Jaehyun’s birthday, so you felt extra gloomy, but you wanted to make sure it wouldn’t interfere with your work. You would pay his family a visit in the evening to have a little celebration with Jaehyun through a phone or video call as promised before. As this wouldn’t remain a permanent situation, you would make the best of it and give him a good celebration despite the circumstances.

“Good morning,” the receptionist greeted you and winked. “There is something waiting for you outside at the reception.”

“Oh okay, I’ll come right out!” You stood up and wondered what it could be since the mail for this day wasn’t due to be delivered yet and Jaehyun had already sent over his gift yesterday. Could it be another gift, possibly from a friend or family member?

“Two times in a row. Now, isn’t this a bit too much?”

The marketing girl couldn’t suppress her snarky comment when you passed by her. You really tried to keep quiet, but your gloominess needed some kind of outlet, she was practically asking for a counter. 

“You know…” You turned to her. “If you were a bit of a nicer person, especially towards near strangers, maybe you would also have people appreciate your existence in the form of gifts or nice words. Maybe try again.”

You stomped away, her rude remark having vanished from your mind in an instant as your thoughts were occupied with the question of what could be sent to you on this special day again as you ruled out another gift from Jaehyun.

Well, as you arrived at the reception, you were definitely assured of the fact that what was awaiting you was not a gift from Jaehyun.

Rather, it was Jaehyun himself.

Standing in your company’s lobby in his full military attire, he was holding another bouquet of flowers in his hands, probably even more luscious than the previous one. A wide smile spread across his face the moment he turned around to you.

“You’re crazy!” you called out as you slowly approached him.

“You’re so beautiful,” he greeted you back as he handed the flowers over to you. 

You were having a hard time keeping your composure and not jumping directly at Jaehyun out of pure happiness over your reunion. 

This was still your workplace and the public, so you had to act accordingly and thus professionally. But a look into Jaehyun’s eyes, whose overjoyed gaze disappeared just for the break of a second and made way for a flash of desire dancing across his face before his gentle features returned, confirmed that he was feeling the same way as you.

You both needed to get out of here. Right now.

“So…” You started and took the flowers into your hands. “How much time do you have?”

“I only got today off and I have to be back at the base by 6pm. I already talked to your boss, you’re free to leave for today too.”

“Hmmm, for how long have you had this planned actually?” You shifted your head to the clock in the lobby. It was 8.05am. “I’ll go grab my stuff and then let’s head out.”

When you approached your office’s door, you couldn’t help but notice that a few people had gathered by the spot, and among them, though she was quick to leave upon your return, was the marketing girl. You snickered inwardly. 

You said goodbye to your co-workers on your way out who couldn’t keep down teasing remarks that you quickly waved off with an embarrassed grin, and left the building together with Jaehyun.

Outside, snow was falling and the wind was ice cold, but you felt warm inside. Almost hot even. 

“You gave me flowers again, even though I am the one who’s supposed to give you chocolate and gifts today,” you said with a pout, feeling guilty that you were empty-handed. How could you have known after all? 

Jaehyun stood in front of you, smiling and seemingly unbothered by the circumstances. “I come home only so rarely, the least I can do is spoil my girl whenever I get the chance.”

It had been months since you had last seen him, and he had visibly changed now that you carefully examined him fully in person. His hair had remained rather short from what you could make out under the beret, but his muscles had grown, you couldn’t help but notice even under his jacket. 

You wanted to admire him in his uniform a bit longer all while simultaneously longing to feel with your own bare hands how much his body had changed after months of training, and what he could do to you now with all the strength he had gained. 

You gulped. One day only might not be enough after all.

“It’s not only my special day, but ours too, remember that. So we can do everything you like,” Jaehyun declared.

You said, “I like the thought that I will have you all to myself today. So I can spoil you rotten too, even without chocolate.” 

The right corner of Jaehyun’s lips tilted up to a smile that was not radiating happiness as the rest of his muscles were stilling. It made him look almost sinister, even though his soft features and dimples might fool outsiders. But not you. You were very familiar with that smile of his. 

He bent down to you and whispered, “And what do you want to do first to spoil me, hm?”

You reached for his hand and before you answered, you dragged him along the streets so that he couldn’t spot your flushed cheeks. “We’re going to a hotel.”

Jaehyun willingly complied with a low laugh and the words, “Now, I should come home more often.”

[etherealeowyn]

Can't Take My Eyes off You - Johnny Storm x Reader

Word Count: 2,418

I really liked how this story came out, and I'm contemplating writing a second part for this piece! Let me know if you want part 2!

Johnny dialed Y/n’s number on the rotary phone, and held it up to his ear, taking a deep breath as he tried to calm himself to ask the woman out.

He had only talked to her briefly earlier in the day, but he could tell that this girl was special, so much so that he wasn’t about to leave the café where she worked without getting her number.

He stared at the small, lined piece of paper in his hand, adorned with her nice handwriting, hoping she had given him her real number instead of a fake one.

“Hello?” a voice asked on the other line, and Johnny couldn’t stop a smile from forming when he recognized her voice.

“Hi, this is Johnny, the guy from the café earlier,” he spoke, his voice slightly shaky from nerves.

“Yes, I remember you,” Y/n spoke with a little laugh, finding his nervousness cute.

“Haha I’m glad, I got tickets to see Frankie Valli tomorrow, and I was wondering if you’d like to go with me. I understand if you can’t, but I have a feeling I’d enjoy myself a lot more if you were there with me,” he responded, letting a smirk tug at the corners of his mouth.

“In that case, I would love to go with you,” she replied, and it was obvious she was smiling just by hearing the tone of her voice.

“Perfect, just give me your address and I’ll pick you up at 6,” he excitedly said, writing down her address on the other side of the paper he held.

The two exchanged information before he placed the phone down and hung up, letting out a deep sigh of relief knowing that everything went exactly how he wanted it to. He fell back onto his bed and stared at the ceiling, letting his mind run rampant with thoughts about tomorrow, and how pretty he knew Y/n would look.

Y/n on the other hand, wasn’t as relaxed, she frantically ran over to her closet and began pulling out a series of different dresses, in an attempt to find one she believed would look the best. She’d slip one on and then immediately tear it off after she deemed it wasn’t the best option.

That was until she pulled on a pastel yellow chiffon dress that was fitted around her torso and flared below her waist. It was poofy, but not too much, and it fell to just about knee length. It was elegant, but at the same time, it was playful. She deemed it to be perfect.

She hung it up in her room and pulled out a pair of heels that matched perfectly, and in her opinion made her legs look stunning.

The second she picked everything out, she happily jumped up and down, unable to contain her excitement for tomorrow.

It took her forever to fall asleep that night, and it felt like an eternity waiting for the morning to arrive. But she managed to get a little sleep, just enough to make sure she had enough energy for the day ahead of her.

Johnny began to get ready, slipping on a pair of grey dress pants and tucking in his white button-up shirt. He grabbed a tie from inside his dresser drawer, and wrapped it around his neck, leaning closer to the mirror as he adjusted it. His tongue partially stuck out of his mouth in concentration, and his body had become tense, yet all that stress drained from his body when he managed to get everything to look right.

He looked down at his silver watch and saw that it was about 5:15, so he grabbed his keys and began to walk to where his car was parked. Johnny turned the key into the driver’s side door and opened it before jumping in and adjusting the radio.

He left a little bit early so he could stop at the flower shop to pick her up something because he wanted to do everything in his power to make sure Y/n would enjoy this date. To be completely and utterly honest, he was overwhelmed when he saw the variety of bouquets that lined the store, but he ended up getting a mixture of yellow, orange, and pink roses.

Setting them gently on the passenger seat, he looked at the address written on the lined piece of paper and headed to her house.

The house was well-kept, and Johnny could tell there was a sort of warmth radiating from it. It seemed like one of those houses where good memories were made, and it made him hope one day that he could have something like that for himself.

Walking up the pathway, he held the flowers and adjusted his tie one more time before he rang the doorbell. His throat tightened from nerves as he waited for someone to answer the door, and every second that went by felt like an eternity.

He composed himself one final time when he heard the door unlock, and he couldn’t help but smile when Y/n appeared in front of him. Johnny stood there for a moment in awe of the woman standing in front of him, because her dress clung to her body perfectly, and he loved the way that her hair was down, yet it curled up at the ends.

“You look absolutely beautiful,” Johnny started, “I got you these, I wasn’t sure what your favorite flower was, but I tried to pick out something that was pretty like you.”

He couldn’t stop a rosy blush from appearing on his face when he handed her the flowers. Y/n eagerly took them, and pulled them towards her nose, closing her eyes as she inhaled the fresh scent.

“Thank you, I love roses,” Y/n excitedly responded, looking up at him gleaming.

“You can come in for a second while I put these in water,” she continued, motioning for him to enter with her free hand.

Johnny stepped inside, as Y/n closed the door behind, and immediately he could smell the sweet aroma of baked goods fresh out of the oven. She didn’t take a very long time to put the flowers in a vase, but as he waited, his eyes followed her every move.

He watched as her delicate, manicured hands gently unwrapped the flowers and placed them in the crystal glass. Y/n smiled as she carefully arranged the roses to make sure that they were all situated properly, and Johnny felt like his heart was going to burst right there on the spot.

He hardly knew the woman, yet he was already so undoubtedly infatuated with her that he wasn’t sure what he would do if she didn’t like him.

“Johnny, they look absolutely gorgeous, thank you so much,” Y/n told him, as she set the vase on the counter in front of him, so he could admire the purchase he made.

“Of course, you ready to go?” Johnny asked, holding out his hand for her to take/

She grabbed it before replying, “Definitely, I’m so excited,” and letting her lead her to his car.

Y/n couldn’t help but find his car to be stunning, she loved the baby-blue color of it, plus it was obvious that he kept incredibly good care of it. She watched in admiration as his hand pulled open the passenger side door, and he sweetly smiled at her, waiting until she was inside and situated before closing it for her. He walked around to the other side of the car and hopped in, before starting the ignition and pulling out into the street.

The entire way there, the pair didn’t shut up, it didn’t matter what the topic of conversation was. It was especially nice because both felt more comfortable in the presence of each other by the time Johnny pulled up to the venue.

Y/n could see people waiting outside, but there wasn’t a super long line, which was surprising to her because Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons were pretty big at the time. Their music was playing on the radio practically all the time.

Johnny got out of the car and handed his keys to the valet, before letting Y/n out of the car and taking her straight to the door of the venue, instead of waiting in the line.

“Hey Johnny, have a nice night,” security spoke, as he pulled back the velvet rope blocking the entrance.

Once they got far enough away inside, Y/n questioned, “How’d you know that guy?” surprised by their quick entry.

She noticed that people were staring at them as they walked by, but she just figured it was because they cut the line, now that she thought about it, it was odd because no one looked angry. Rather, they looked more shocked than anything.

“Well, you see, I kind of have an important job,” Johnny responded, rubbing the back of his neck with one of his free hands, he was nervous to tell her about his powers, but at the same time, it was refreshing that she didn’t know who he was. Mostly because it prevented her from having any preconceived notions about him.

“Oh yeah? What do you do?” Y/n asked sweetly, holding onto his arm and turning her head to look at him.

“Uh, I’m part of the Fantastic Four, I have these… powers,” he said, and he expected her to have a drastic, expressive reaction, but she didn’t. However, that didn’t stop his heart from frantically pounding in his chest.

“Why do you look so ashamed, that sounds incredible,” she replied slightly furrowing her brows, as her eyes lit up in some sort of astonishment.

“I guess I thought you’d think I’m some kind of weirdo or freak,” He scoffed, staring down at the ground in front of him.

“I certainly don’t think you’re a freak, and who cares if you’re a weirdo, I consider myself one,” Y/n laughed, “And to be completely honest, it sounds like you’re a hero, which I deeply admire. I could tell you have a good heart.”

Johnny was mildly taken aback by her comment, mostly because he didn’t ever truly think he was a hero. Yes, he did heroic things, but he was much too humble to call himself a hero. But the way the words rolled off her tongue, and the admiration behind her gaze made him feel good. People had told him he was special before, yet the genuine nature of Y/n’s words made him believe it.

His face felt hot as a blush overtook his features, and for a second, he was speechless. The only thing he managed to do at that moment was smile, as he hastily scrambled to come up with a sentence.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been this flustered before,” Johnny replied, letting out a breathy laugh, “I’m not used to getting complimented so sincerely, especially by a woman as beautiful as you.”

“Aww thank you, if it makes you feel any better, you look incredibly cute when you’re all flustered,” she giggled, grabbing a drink for him and herself off the tray of one of the bartenders walking around.

He took a sip from his glass before responding, “I’m glad you think so, if I was any redder, I think I’d turn into a tomato.”

“Don’t worry, you’re far from looking like a tomato, to be completely honest, I’m kind of jealous because when you blush it makes the color of your eyes pop,” she joked, though she wasn’t lying one bit, his eyes did look extremely blue.

Their conversation was cut short though when the lights dimmed, and a man walked on stage announcing that the concert was about to begin.

“Would you rather sit down at one of the tables, or go dance?” Johnny whispered, leaning in close to the woman’s ear. He was content regardless of what her answer was because honestly, he just wanted to be close to her.

“I’d love to dance with you,” Y/n responded, looking at the man with a smirk on her face.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” he spoke, holding her hand and walking her over to the dance floor where couples were already beginning to congregate.

Johnny’s hands softly held onto her hips, as Y/n’s arms draped around his neck. The two swayed with one another as the band began to play a slowed-down version of Can’t Take My Eyes off You.

You're just too good to be true Can't take my eyes off of you

Y/n’s head was tilted up slightly, just enough so that the two could maintain eye contact. Though they didn’t say a word, it was clear that both were enjoying themselves, just by the way their eyes were gleaming.

You'd be like Heaven to touch I wanna hold you so much

“I know this might be forward, but can I kiss you?” Johnny asked, studying the woman’s face for an answer before she even said anything.

“Absolutely,” she responded, her eyes that were once staring into his, now lowering until they were fixated on his lips before fluttering upwards once again.

He removed one of his hands from the woman’s waist and used it to cup the side of her cheek, leaning towards her until his lips connected with hers. The kiss was urgent, yet at the same time tender, and within a couple of seconds, Y/n stepped closer to the man limiting the space between them.

At long last love has arrived And I thank God I'm alive

When their lips disconnected, they pulled away slowly, letting their eyes slowly flutter open. Seemingly still lost in the trance of the kiss they shared.

Johnny’s hand lowered back down to her waist, and he pulled Y/n closer to her body until it was pressed up against his. Her head found comfort lying against his chest, listening to his heartbeat almost in time with the music. He pressed a kiss on the top of her head, before smiling to himself as he looked down at the woman in his arms.

He hadn’t been this happy in a long time, and he was savoring every second of the feeling. Johnny didn’t say a single word because he was afraid that he would ruin the moment, so instead, he simply held her tighter and desperately hoped this was going to be the start of a new chapter in his life.

You're just too good to be true Can't take my eyes off you

[threepandas]

Bad End: Snake Bride

There were pudgy little yellow creatures everywhere, here. As common as squirrels, it seemed. They looked like squishy, somber, ditto-faced Pikachus...sorta? I made a note of it. Stopping to make a few sketches. Not that anyone here would ever get the reference, mind you. And they didn't have the iconic tail. More of a nubby little hamster tail?

I'd have to figure out a better description. For the bestiary. Not to mention a suitably cute name, assuming they weren't deadly, after all...

You never knew, with hidden realms like these.

Throughout my training, the other disciples and I had been beaten over the head with countless tales of "it looked cute/pretty/beautiful/holy/or otherwise harmless AND THEN TRIED TO KILL US. Do NOT make our mistakes! I will pull you from the jaws of death! Just to kill you myself!!" by our Shizun. The man could rant for hours.

He still couldn't let go that a glowing, flower patterned, butterfly tried to rip his throat out. And? Since he technically for them "first"? (As far as anyone can find.) He got to name then poor creatures.

Which is why, there exists a very beautiful species of highly deadly butterfly... called the "flying demon rat bastard spawn".

(God, I love Shizun so much. He is so, SO petty. Hilarious, vengeful, the man's the living manifestation of "target sighted". Man has beef with specific TREES for god sake. I wish I had HALF that kind of energy. Even if it DID get us banned from like... so many places.)

I tried to get a good look at the little guys mouth, seeing one yawn. Hmmm... the teeth suggest venom. Better not startle any of them... but NOT I'm gonna need to catch one to milk it. Great. They seem fast...

A knock out array? No. Need them to want to bite me, so I can get a venom sample...

Crouching, I mulled over the problem. Admiring the little creatures as the clambered up and down the strange flora of this realm. It was fascinating. Humbling, in a way. When, I considered that? No one else had DONE this before. I knew it for a fact. Every single reference to this hidden realm? Was from either the immortal who created it... or four hundred years later, the immortal who sacked the placed.

It was hard to get into, hard to find, didn't boast any supposed ten thousand year treasures or legendary beasts. Just? A humble pocket of life. Started and left to cultivate. Shift and change. Grow!

Who CARES what uses the creatures or plants have?! This place should be STUDIED! All these realms should be studied! They're amazing!!

I spot a moss I haven't collected yet and carefully take a sample. Noting it's location on the map I've started (which is a mess, I fear I definitely have no future there). Of course, as is so often the case? Finding one sample leads to another. Moss leads to "oh hey, a mushroom" to "is that bird or a leaf?" And so on and so on. I nearly forget to make camp.

(It was a bird. It just looked like leaves! Fascinating camouflage!)

Only noticing the light shifting qualities, drags me from my hyperfocus. A nasty (or, I guess, productive? For an immortal.) habit. I had lost days to it, before. Disappearing into the library or some work room, back on the peak, for time blurringly long periods of time. Inedia keeping me from hunger. Younger disciples bringing me tea.

There was a reason, after all, I never made Head Disciple. Even though I got along great with Shizun. I was about as responsible as a goldfish. Entirely too focused on my own studies, to be honest. But to be fair? Let's see YOU focus! When there is so much... I don't know, Xianxia bullshit?

(IS it Xianxia bullshit? Or is it Xuanhuan bullshit? Fuck. It's been a life time. I literally can not not remember. Let's see YOU remember the differences! After literal decades!!)

(God, I miss my books. And the internet. And TV. Honestly? I miss everything.)

Fuck! Side tracked! Again!!

Careful not to step on any of the marshmallow-y not-pikachus, I scramble to collect the last of my samples. Reach out with my Qi, to feel how the ebbs and flows around me shift. I should? Be able to sense any nearby predators. As well as posdibly find a nice qi rich spot to set up camp. Maybe meditate.

Just because I'm exploring hidden realms, doesn't mean I should grow lazy, after all! Whole point of cultivation it to ascend. God hood and all that. And, yeah, I'm still sceptical as fuck. But... count me curious. Why not try?

Oooh! That's a nice ca-! Hmmm?

Something... not-brushes against my senses. As though it should be there. I should sense something. An almost taste and nearly smell of... something? Someone? Kinda like the faintest hint of someone's cologne, lingering in the air, as you move through a crowd that isn't touching you. But... warmer. Like it's still on the skin. Not a lingering remnant from someone who passed through?

It's... weird. I can't sense anybody.

Maybe if I try harder? I pump more qi into my technique. More then is technically polite, honestly. But maybe they are farther out then I think they are? I hadn't exactly expected to be sharing space. This Realm isn't exactly BIG. Just a ring of mountains and the valleys between them. One big, lush valley. Many smaller ones.

Again, it's not a popular realm. Not to mention already looted. And not even particularly Qi rich. So meditating here would be a strange choice. But... maybe they want the relative isolation?

I still can't find them. Dispite knowing they are there. (That technique does not give false positives.) So I risk rudeness. Figure I can always apologize. Maybe they are deep in meditation or something? Pumping more qi, frankly appalling amounts, into the technique, I am damn near half blind as I walk. (For all that I can see better then anyone in this valley at the moment.)

The sensory input is cacophonous. Beautiful. Terrible. Like balancing atop a single hair thin thread. Suspended carefully, above a raging sea, made of wonderous light and churning pains. I use my foot steps to anchor me. Balanced and even. Yet... find nothing. Pull back.

Are they... hiding?

Why?

Up ahead it the qi rich cave (more an over hang, cave is generous) that I sensed. A good, defensible place to set up.

It's only as I'm setting up? That I notice the little Marsh-a-chus? (Is that a good name? I really do need to start thinking of a good name for them.) Have followed along. Crowd the trees and settle thick in various bushes. And... part of me? Wants to go "away, I made friends!" But...

The rest of me? Was drilled in horror story and horror story by my Shizun. And that's so mighty fine "unusual interest" behavior going on there. Might even go so far as to classify it as hunting behavior!

Mmmmhm! Don't like THAT! No sir! Time for some nice and cozy warding talismans! Shall we? The STRONG ones.

Under far too many beady little eyes, I slap down security talismans. Full three sixty. Against the ground, the stone, the mountain behind me. I am taking no chances. Just as I was taught.

Which... as I am settling in for the night? Dinner done and dishes drying. Sleeping mat, out and reading to go. Light and warmth talismans, positioned just where I need them? Turns out to be for the best.

Because there is something in the dark. Big. Predatory. And coming towards me.

It's not so large as to show above the trees. But that is small comfort. They are fairly large trees. And honestly? I know only too well, massive size does NOT indicate lethality. Sun turtles are mountainous after all, and THEY photosynthesize! The problem is? There wasn't supposed to be a predator that big in this realm.

Did someone fucking shove a spirit beast or monster in here!?

What? Out of sight out of mind?! No longer their problem, right!? Why kill it, when you can put it in a hidden real to LET IT GROW BIGGER! Destroy an ecosystem! MOTHER FUCK-!!!

The night is silent.

It should NOT be.

Gripping a sword I am only kinda decent at wielding, I pray to the gods, I don't have to use it. I am a spiritual cultivator! Not a martial one! This is BULLSHIT. I don't have anything on me for "unknow predatory mega-fauna" because there WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE ANY! Oh, this is the LAST time I-!

Foot steps. Crushing through the underbrush.

Into the circle of light my talismans cast, fades a pale young master. Graceful and pale in the moonlight. Very... very pale in the moonlight, actually. No better in the light of my talismans. Near ghostly, in his white silks. Touches of pale gold and stark black. Curls of ink wash grey. Like a painting brought to life.

Just a touch too perfect. A touch too beautiful.

With a grace to his movements that... that is too smooth.

It's not until he all but stands in the light that I am certain. His hair. Too lovely and well kept, for it to be an accident or some sort of shaming. Those are NOT bangs. That is the entirety of it. Nothing held back, in a crown or subtle styling. No... no it is SHORT.

No Human Wears Their Hair SHORT Here.

Entering the light? His eyes reflect. Grey like blades. Like storms and death. No pretty silver things. No, it is far too deep a color. Far too dangerous. Slits, that contract with the light. Half hidden by a heavy expression, that I can not begin to interpret. I desperately try to identify the creature before. Feline? No. Lacks the savage edge. Too cool... serpentine. Snake!

"Like a panicked little mouse, honored cultivator. This one might begin to suspect you weren't happy to see me~" they...? He? Says; his voice a low, honeyed rasp. "But how can that be? When this humble servant has been hunting for so long?"

"Surely, my dear little mouse, has been anticipating this day~! Dreaming of the day when her lord would catch her?"

There is something... mean, in that tone. Vicious and victorious. The silent echo of a madman laugh, as he burns the world to ruin. Seizes and achieves all that he desires. Strangles all that he can not possess. Covetous and ugly. Dancing, dancing, dancing around the edges. Demonic, indeed.

Yet... I do not recognize this creature. This demon. He certainly recognizes me, as horrifying as that is. What past does he speak of? Hunting? What HUNTING?! I try to find something familiar, in this strange form. Unless, of course, he is simple insane? Not impossible... but...

"Ah~ my poor little mouse." The demon coos, mocking in his indulgence. His eyes still dance with laughter. Mad and unable to feast. "You don't recognize this poor servant, do you? How cruel! To be forgotten. A passing fancy, barely held, in my mouse's fickle heart."

He's laughing me. Knows I could not possibly recognize him, yet plans to punish me anyway. Somehow. Fuck! This seems genuine. But how? Why!? When would I have-!?

Then, he shifts.

Gone is the beautiful young man. In his place? Rising, rising, RISING? A behemoth of a bandy-wolf king snake. Black, white, with occasional bare traces of that pale gold on the under belly. Hundreds of thousands the times it ever should have been. But... but? There. A scar. Oh gods.

I recognize him now.

A snake got into the village I was born. Absurdly poisonous, unthinkably venomous, it should have been left alone. Gathered very, VERY carefully and taken far away from people. But... people panic. Get stupid. The adults didn't fucking listen. And over sixteen people died that didn't have too. I was sick at the sight of it. They captured the poor creature and were going to burn it alive.

For the crime of being afraid. Hungry. Getting attacked and then protecting itself.

I couldn't bear it. So... I stole it. Hid it in a cave, half way across the valley. Didn't my best to nurse the poor, injured, creature back to health. At least... I tried. The injuries were too severe. I was able to close the wounds. But sickness, blood loss...

Shit. That cave was incredibly qi rich. It's why I chose it! To make up for what I couldn't do! If he had already started cultivation and then... or just resented enough...

It was entirely possible to become a snake demon. Easily, even.

"Sss Sss Sss, ah, recognition~" the massive creature laughed "Why so fearful? Little mouse~ It's not you I want dead. Kindness for kindness, a debt for a debt. And aren't we be grown? Look how strong we've become!"

The booming, breathy cackle did not fit snake lungs. Silibant and painful. Hissing and near silent. It was more pressure in the air then anything. A madness long coming. As demons born of resentment energy tended to be. All burned villages and the screams of those who wronged them. Hatreds and obsessions made manifest.

I... I could barely breathe. Oh gods. Oh gods! What do I do? I.. I can't-!! Tears threatened to choke me. Fear, shaking my limbs and fogging my mind. W-what do I DO?! I'm scared. No. No, no, NO! Please! I'm SCARED!

"Ah~ so cute, so cute! My little mouse grew so lovely~"

Like the world sighing, as fluid and graceful as his steps, the snake became a man again. His grey tinted lips curled in a fang bearing smile. Hands up and braced against the barrier, his full weight leaning forward as he leered. He loomed. My talismans casting odd shadows across his face, giving the madness in his eyes a terrible glow.

"This husband truely did pick his trap well, didn't he? My sweet little mouse~" he purred, eyes unblinking, above a terrible smile. "My little wife has no where to run~! No where to hide! Her husband has trapped her quite cleverly, hasn't he~? Poor, poor, little mouse. Your husband is so mean!"

My heart felt like it was going to burst. Cold. T-trapped. Can't breathe! Oh gods. Is this a panic attack? I.. I think this is a panic attack! Can't think! Static. Legs, refusing to hold me. Sink. Crawling backwards. Away. G-got to get away! Trapped! TRAPPED!

I horror, I watch as he sinks his nails in to the barrier. Hands no longer resting, but digging into it. He-! He shouldn't be able to DO that! Oh gods! PLEASE gods! Tell me he's not strong enough to BREAK barrier talismans of this level! Please! PLEASE!!

"Ah~ acting this way, you make this husband want to bully you, little wife~♡ And ah, such big, fearful eyes~ Am I being mean? Is husband being cruel? Poor thing~"

CRACK.

In horror, I watch as his nail push through the barrier. Like driving stakes through stone. Cracks shooting from the holes, as he digs and digs. Hands closing around the shards he has created, ignoring the blood that spills from where it cuts into him. As the barrier itself whines and crackles in protect. Tryinging desperately to maintain its integrity. Slowly... cracking... failing...

"Let me kiss it better, hmm? No use in trying to run~"

"So be a good girl~♡ my little Mouse. Come to husband~♡"

[babyjinsu]

[r/Unsent_Unread_Unheard] i found the pieces of love that are not mine.

PAIRING ⟢ sungchan jung x fem!reader

GENRE ⟢ reddit au, oneshots, written, angst, just sungchan as your husband

CW ⟢ death of someone, implied emotional cheating (not by sungchan)

SYNOPSIS ⟢ what is a husband to do, when he finds a box containing memories of his wife's dead lover? he expresses it on r/Unsent_Unread_Unheard.

💭 dude ok im so.. i hope u guys love this as much as i do :(

[r/Unsent_Unread_Unheard] i found the pieces of love that are not mine. posted by u/chan01 • 5h ago

i'm not sure what to feel about this whole situation. i should have never opened the box. you hid it for a reason and i don't know why i let my curiousity get the best of me.

i wasn't even looking for it, i swear. i was just cleaning and moving things around to make space to put our baby's crib in our bedroom, and then i saw the box-- tucked away so neatly under the bookshelf.

i shouldn't have opened it. if i had known it would hurt me this much, i never even would have touched it.

i've always known about the existence of your ex boyfriend, even though you never told me; and i know you never knew i knew. i know he died several years ago from a car accident on his way home from work. and i know that for seven years, his mother has still been reaching out to you to talk about her son and you guys meet up sometimes.

i always thought you were just being kind-- helping her heal and cope from the loss of her child but no. i think. in some ways, you still want to be connected to your dead lover.

the box was filled with movie tickets, love letters, dried flowers, photographs, and everything that reminded you of what it used to be. your diary was filled with nothing but him, grieve, love, and longing. your last entry was a few years ago. we were married then. maybe you're over him now, with our baby on the way.

he's been gone for years, yet he's still lingering around your mind and our home. he's in the way you write about him, in the way you keep your memories tucked safely from me like it's sacred and untouchable. he's in the way you grieve and in the way you pray for him.

i can't even be mad or hurt because you're not cheating on me. you can't cheat on me with someone no longer here. you're not lying to me because i never asked about him. i didn't want to remind you of him. you're not even doing anything wrong. you just... you just can't let go. you're just grieving of a love ended too sudden and too soon.

and i know you love me. i know you love me because you said yes when i asked if i could be your husband for life. i know you love me because you laugh at my bad jokes. i know you love me because i've heard you talk about me to the stray cats and in the way you pulled me closer in your sleep. you chose me.

but you love him too.

and if it's not love, it's grief. but that's love too. love that is unspent and has nowhere to go. grief is your love preserved and you must've loved him so much to grief this long. and i fear it will forever remain with you, unexpressed, unspoken, implicit, intimate.

i can't compete with a ghost yn. i can't compete for your love with someone who has been idealised in death. i can't fight with someone who has no body. i can't ask you to forget, to erase, to call it off, to let him go.

oddly enough, i don't know why i wish he was still alive. but if he was, i wouldn't have had this chance to be your husband. but if he was...

do i pretend like i don't know? that you still visit his grave from time to time? how do i convince myself that the person you love now is me? i love you so much yn, as much as it hurts.

even if i'll probably never have all of you, the parts of you that i do, those are everything to me. and for that, i'll keep on loving you and the parts that are not mine to have.

💭 aaa i know i'm not finished with the first riize reddit series yet, but this is another series that i'm not sure what to call yet but it's angst mostly. i love angst... aah...

[justwinginglife]

Welcome To The KN8 Host Club Cafe!

Special thanks to @amaturesposts and @minasfwoopyponytail for letting me pick your brains and always supporting my crazy ideas, like throwing together a Valentine’s Day Event, oh, I don’t know, THREE days before Valentine’s Day arrives, lmao. Love you both.

If you’re in need of relaxation, of sustenance, of good company- located in the heart of Tokyo, Japan, at the center of block 13, there is a cafe renowned for its charm. Some travel the world in search of it, some only need travel the length of their city block to find it. But all who step through its doors are welcome and all who leave are fulfilled. If they ever want to leave, that is…

You have just stumbled upon the entrance to this famous cafe, and finding yourself as curious as you are famished, you make the decision to push open its doors. The outside of the cafe is humble, homey. Easy to overlook. But once you cross the threshold, stepping a cautious foot inside, you discover that you have now entered a world far more grand than you could ever have imagined. 

“Welcome home, M’lady.”

Greeting you at the door, a sweet boy with kind eyes and gentle features takes your hand, pressing a tender kiss to the top of it. With his radiant smile, ivory hair, and chivalrous demeanor, he reminds you of a knight in shining armor, straight from a fantasy novel. His name tag reads “Ichikawa.” You make a note to remember that name as he leads you to your table, pulling out the chair so you may be seated. You thank him and he bows as he leaves. 

Your stomach grumbles as you peruse the colorful menu. Each option appears inviting and exciting, with photos of each dish helpfully displayed beside it. Your mouth waters as your eyes travel across each photo, taking in every grain of rice and every sliver of sauce. It appears to be a near impossible task to choose a single, preferred dish among the many exquisite options and you fear you may just end up ordering half the menu. 

As though sensing the state of your current conundrum, your handsome server makes his way to your table. A gloved hand crosses his body as he bows low in greeting. 

“Good evening, M’lady. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Hoshina, and I’ll be your host for the night. Might I interest you in a drink, to start?” His voice is seeped in charm and his violet eyes gleam at you from behind his ebony locks. You find yourself quickly captivated by him.

“What would you recommend?” You ask shyly, careful to keep the adoration from your voice. 

“For a sweet lady such as yourself, might I recommend a sweet drink? Our strawberry lemonade is a rather agreeable choice, though not nearly as agreeable as you.” He shoots you a wink. 

Warmth bursts from your cheeks. “S-strawberry lemonade it is…”

He smiles warmly, noting your order in his mind. He doesn’t need to write it down, he’s worked here for far too long and is nothing short of a seasoned professional. “And for your meal, would you prefer something more filling or something light?”

You contemplate this for a moment. “Well, I’ve got a class soon, so I’d prefer to be refreshed. Need to stay on my toes, don’t wanna be falling asleep during lecture.”

“I’ve got just the thing for you. It’s both refreshing and energizing. Any food allergies I should be aware of or flavors you’re particularly adverse to?”

You shake your head. 

“Then may I request you place your faith in me, and allow me the honor of choosing your meal for you?”

You think for a moment. You’re not really sure what you want and, honestly, you think you’d do anything this man asked of you, so you think to yourself, why not? You nod and allow him to place your order for you, trusting that he will choose wisely. 

Your eyes follow his path as he travels across the dining room. He walks over to the kitchen window and waves at the men behind the kitchen counter.

“Kafka! Kaguragi! Got another one for you, make it good!”

They mock salute him. “Always do!”

You smile at their infectious enthusiasm. Everyone in this place seems to be so kind and welcoming, of course the kitchen staff would be included. 

Hoshina comes back with your lemonade in the meantime. Flower petals sit on its surface and a fresh lemon slice curls over the edge of the cup. The drink is so elegant that even the ice cubes seem to sparkle. 

“Your drink, M’lady. I hope it’s to your liking.” 

You take a sip and your eyes light up. “Wow, you weren’t kidding- it’s super sweet! But I love it!” You lick your lips.

He grins. “Anything I can do to assist my lady.” He bows again before hovering at your side for any further needs.

“You can sit down, you know.” You gesture to the seat across from you. 

“If it is what my lady desires.” He waits for your permission.

“Please.” You gesture again.

He slips into the seat in front of you, and you’re about to continue your conversation with him, maybe even ask him questions about himself, when suddenly a boy about his age slides into the seat beside him. 

“Not fair. The manager has me wiping down tables and you get a cutie who’s actually inviting you to sit with her? Nuh-uh, I wanna sit too.” 

If you weren’t sitting a foot away, you were sure Hoshina would’ve rolled his eyes. 

“She’s in my section. You take care of your side and I take care of mine, remember? You’re intruding, Narumi.” He says the boy’s name almost like it’s a curse. 

Narumi snorts. “It’s just cuz she’s cute. If she wasn’t, you wouldn’t mind switching tables with me.”

Hoshina’s smile pinches at his cheeks but doesn’t reach his eyes. “Or maybe I enjoy doing my job and doing it well. Can’t say the same for you though.” Then he turns back to you, eyes softening slightly as he meets your bewildered gaze. “I apologize for my coworker here, miss. He sorely lacks any manners and lacks even more work ethic. In fact, he truly lacks any talent at all.”

You shake your head to protest, to tell him you don’t mind the extra company, but the boy quickly interrupts, scoffing at Hoshina. 

“No talent huh? You think I can’t do a job as easy as this, as well as you can? Just you wait. I’ll show her everything she could ever want and more, and when she starts requesting me all the time, then I’ll be the one sitting pretty with my feet up while she munches away and talks her cute mouth off for me. Then you’ll see how good my ‘work ethic’ is.” Narumi puffs his chest out arrogantly. 

Now Hoshina does roll his eyes. “You do realize that doing all of this, just so you can sit back and relax, under the guise of ‘keeping her company’ as her ‘host’ is literally the opposite of work ethic right?”

Narumi scowls and gets to his feet. “Shut up, Hoshina. Just wait and watch.” He dashes off, but he’s back before you know it. His hands carry a tray full of different appetizers and he lays them before you free of charge, attempting to win your favor. He grins, proud and self assured, as he waits for your assessment. 

“Good going, now you’re losing the boss money. Hope you know that’s coming out of your next check.” Hoshina mumbles under his breath. 

Narumi’s eyes narrow, but before he can shoot back a witty remark, you laugh softly. “Don’t worry, I’ll pay for them all. Thank you for bringing them so quickly, I was starving.” You smile up at him.

He blinks. “I-uh…I… your…welcome?” He slowly sinks into the chair beside you, watching you try out your appetizers curiously. He has no idea who you are but now, all of a sudden, he is dying to know. He wipes a crumb from your lips with his thumb and shades of pink bloom across your cheeks at his gentle touch. 

Suddenly a throat clears.

You look up to find a man with long, verdant hair looking down at you all, arms crossing over his polished suit. He appears to be the cafe’s manager. His name tag reads “Izumo.” Your eyes widen as you recognize the renowned name. The Izumo’s are known for being extremely wealthy, with businesses extending all over Japan. This must be one of them. 

“What’s this? It appears two of my best hosts feel like slacking off on the job. Oh, but that can’t be right, because they know what happens when they slack off.” 

Hoshina rubs the back of his neck sheepishly and Narumi frowns, but you quickly interject. 

“I’m sorry to have concerned you, Mr. Izumo. This is actually my first time here, and unfortunately, my indecision led me to require aid from both of your hosts. You see, I couldn’t decide what to order, and Hoshina and Narumi were kind enough to bring me some options.” You gesture to the array of food before you. 

Izumo straightens. “I see. Is that right?” His interrogative gaze travels back and forth between Hoshina and Narumi. They nod quickly. “Well then. I suppose, if it’s for the customer, I will overlook this matter. I do hope you enjoy your stay, miss, and please let me know if there is anything I can do to make you more comfortable.” He leaves and the boys let out an exhale.

They both turn to you in an instant.

“Your next drink is on me!”

“Your next meal is on me!”

“Hey- I just offered her that!”

“No- you offered her a drink; I offered her a meal. There’s a clear difference.”

“But it’s the same idea!”

They begin to bicker again, but it only makes you smile. What a lively atmosphere; it’s starting to grow on you. In fact, everyone here has been so wonderful and kind to you. Besides that, the food and drinks are delicious and the decor is nothing short of entrancing. You notice a boy named Iharu has taken such care to keep the place spotless and sparkling, and you're sure his attention to each and every detail is the reason you can enjoy such luxury. You wonder what it would be like to receive the same love and care from him that he seems to put into his work. And then you think to yourself that you may just have to come back and visit again. Scratch that. You’re sure to come back again.

But who is it that you’re hoping to see more of next time?

(Click each linked name for individual fics and enjoy! Happy Valentine’s Day, besties!)

Taglist: @pixelcafe-network @ouiouimochi @inkytypewriter

[movrning-fxlsifier]

ㅤ ✦ JUST LIKE A FAMILY SHOULD

ㅤ ✦ GOKURAKUGAI YOMI

cw for full series: mutation, body disfiguration, body mutilation, manipulation, murder, implications of murder, implications of non-consensual approaches, kidnapping, physical restraining, violence, blood, detailed gore, cannibalism, vomit, nausea, manipulative tendencies, obsessive behavior, stalking, micromanagement, mentions of suicide. please do not read if the content stated here disturbs you. thank you.

notes: as the first order of this blog, i did try to go out with the most detail as possible. note, this has spoilers from gokurakugai, so it is advised that you read all chapters published of the manga before reading this, as some references to the manga will be made. also, this work will have a continuation, so as to avoid having to repeat myself constantly, all of the warnings for this series were stated above. yomi is personally a favorite character of mine in gokurakugai, so, seeing as there isn't a lot of content for him, this is my take on yandere yomi. keep in mind that this is a series; once the reader's fate is sealed, this will be continued in a separate post...

extra: the reader goes by they/them. they will be referred to by those pronouns, not she/her or he/him. re-blogs and follows are appreciated!

A string of missing people is the first sign that something's off in Gokurakugai. No, disappearances like these aren't abnormal — you've lived long enough in this district to know that for the past weeks, situations like these have been happening. Of course, you don't ever know what happens to the culprits, but it's not your task to weasel yourself into problems that may well carry more consequences than it's worth dipping oneself into.

You tell yourself that it'll pass— a sliver of hope, perhaps. After all, criminality will always be around, and all people can do is sit back and watch while those in power handle the evil that grows and lurks beneath their heels. However, with all your hope, you find that these disappearances only grow more concerning in nature.

At first, it was whispers of a small boy that went missing, and then a tale about how two women had been taken away for purposes of display and the black market. Now, it was rumors of a serial murderer being around if not a set of oddly rhythmic, patterned cases of suicide—one right after the other, as if almost intended—a group suicide.

You walk under the burning sun and from the corner of your eye you see a sign— Gokurakugai Troubleshooting Agency— and for a moment, you have half a mind to open the door and waltz inside to pour out your problems— well, not your problems, but the district's problems. Surely, they'll be willing to help. And yet, something in your mind drives you to hesitate, so your lips purse into a thin line, and you continue on your way.

You don't know why you hesitated, why you stopped—but something etched in the back of your head whispered you to move on. And so you did. You willed yourself to lift your eyes off the ground, and you let out a puff of hot air. With hands gripping your sleeves, seeking some form of reassurance, you moved along.

These incidents would only continue, and you'd have to move on.

You find much later that your supposed indifference and unwillingness to act was a mistake—one that perhaps initially you could've avoided, had you dared to enter the premises of the Gokurakugai Troubleshooting Agency. Alas, you had not, and you had ended up going down a completely different route.

You found yourself heading towards a particular cemetery—not a frequent visiting place of yours, but you went there every now and then. Rumors swirled around that place—corpses found littered around, draped over pieces of cobblestone that had edges of it painted a mahogany hue.

Some organ tissues could still be seen—half-decomposed, half beating alive, as if something had gnawed it open and its insides gutted out, reaped and eaten, consumed by some voracious thing. These words were a tad bit unsettling, but granted, you had never once faced a situation that could lead to such disasters. While it might have boded ill for you, you had left the pit in your stomach called fear outside the moment you'd walked through the front door of your apartment's ground floor.

You found yourself kicking away a rolling stone as your shoes stepped on dead leaves and pavement. Cold wind caressed your skin, making the hairs at the back of your neck stand—almost as if your body was prepared for another presence to be lurking nearby. To calm yourself, you absentmindedly reached for your elbows and arms, gently squeezing and rubbing, like a mother would do to her child when they cry during the night.

You swallowed an empty lump and it bobbed down your throat, your gaze flitting from side to side—unfocused—perhaps there really was something lurking there. Whatever threat wished to be perceived by you never came by, because all that greeted you when you walked closer to the gravestones was an undead silence.

It was not a silence that you could label as a natural silence, no—this was a thick, heavy silence that threatened to overwhelm you—it was not normal. You knew then, something was watching you. Whatever was watching you did not want to make itself known. It wished to remain isolated still, and until it wanted otherwise, things would stay that way.

You discarded it as an animal lurking around, maybe some creature of nature that was lost and had its eye on you, as other animals would if anything else invaded its territory—you just never took into account or possibility that the thing watching you was no thing at all, but a person.

Come a few weeks, and the sensation you felt at that cemetery does not ebb away. In fact, it grows worse. You do not know where this feeling came from, because it is unnatural. You feel as though your stomach is twisted into knots, and the sheer oddness of this whole situation is that no matter where you look at, you see no one. If someone was trailing you, you could not see it. Perhaps that was the most unnerving part of it all.

Your nights grew weary—newspapers dropped with news of mutilated bodies, teeth marks imprinted into the corpses of civilians and half-torn flesh of thighs and legs. The cases got more horrific. Headless bodies and missing limbs, even children started to disappear along with adults, and the sensation of there being eyes on you never once ceased.

You lurch and nearly succumb to your nausea.

What more could you do? Your alternatives were thinning. You could try and run this issue by the Troubleshooting Agency a few blocks away, yes, but would they care? Most people chalk up these problems to mere paranoia or a lack of sleep, but you swear that your hours of rest thin by the minute. You can't afford to let the rest of your life worsen in quality all because of some stalker.

The next morning you throw up. The sensation gets worse, like the walls are closing in on you and you can't breathe. Your vision almost seems clouded as you make your way out of the apartment's ground floor and you head to a subway station, the shadows of the sector leading underground swallowing you whole as your fingers twitch, absentmindedly reaching for the collar of your shirt, tugging on it slightly for some sign of reassurance.

There's an unusual amount of people walking past you, and the hallways become crowded, the distant beeping of the subway and white noise filling your ears. It caused an ache in your head. Before the doors to the subway opened, you caught sight of an unusual figure. Pools of red—vibrant scarlet irises—meet your own eyes in a way you cannot describe. Inhuman.

For a moment, you stop walking, but the doors open—people flood in and you lose sight of him. For that moment, you forget the sensation of being watched. You feel like your breath isn't going to be your last today—but soon enough, the feeling returns, and a pit draws in your stomach—a sensation that threatens to eat you whole. Something in you is sure of it. That man is the person watching you.

You have half a mind to run after him, to try and find him to see where he went—another part of you urges you to stay rooted down to the floor. Your limbs feel as though they cannot move, and for the first time in a long time you feel as though you are consumed by helplessness. It's a feeling you hate, but you cannot shake it out of you no matter how hard you try and drain it out of your bones.

You forget entering the subway.

You head back home, feeling sick. Whoever that man is, you had to find out. In all the years you had spent living in this district, you had never once seen this man before. You could only faintly recall his appearance, even if it had been a shocking look that he donned—irises a deep red that almost mirrored blood, and short, white locks of hair. He was tall, that was for sure, so having managed to disappear within a crowd of people seemed distinctly off to you.

But whoever he was, he had to have a name. Problem was? The chances of you encountering him again within Gokurakugai was miniscule. You'd have better chances convincing a blind man the sky was blue. So began your task of searching for your stalker. You figured if there was one way to draw his attention, it would be by going back to all the places where you had felt the feeling of being watched the most.

So back to the cemetery you went.

Was it a good choice? Probably not. Did your mind conjure this up as a logical response? No. Did you follow through with it anyway, disregarding all matters of self-preservation and the gnawing fear that ate away at you in the back of your mind? Entirely.

Your privacy had already been stripped as is, so fearing the fact that someone was watching you was now illogical. Now, your fear was directed to the man who was watching you. It didn't take long for you to find your way back to the abandoned cemetery—the place was deserted as ever (not that you expected it to be otherwise).

However, something was off the moment you stepped into the vicinity of the graveyard—a sharp scent of iron. Your nose crinkled slightly, hand going up to cover your nostrils and mouth—fuck, it smelled horrid. In your squeamish disgust, you took steps forward while still covering your face. You stopped the moment you saw a chunk of torn flesh. Mutilated. It wasn't human flesh, you were sure enough of that.

It looked strange, something inhuman. The flesh was too pale, too sturdy. A thin, white sheen covered its outermost layer, punctured by something similar to jaws. This—whatever this thing was—mutilated creature was not something normal, nor was the thing that attempted to eat it. You tried to walk past the fleshy thing—the pink rims of the decomposing segment looked like utter filth, something repugnant—and soon enough you reached the center of the graveyard.

Again, the thick silence returned. From within the thick silence woven, a crunch of leaves was heard. The snapping branches and dead cry of birds left unheard were enough to draw your attention. However, what greeted you this time was no person, no man, but a faceless thing of hell that you could describe no more differently than a demon. Rows of sharpened teeth and a blank expression—you were on your feet running at a mere glance of it.

You knew it would chase, that was the nature of a predator—fuck, this was a horrible idea—you cursed yourself mentally for thinking that this was a good way to draw out your supposed "stalker", assuming your conclusion was correct and that man was indeed your stalker. The air left your lungs when a hand yanked you back into a separate passage.

You had the urge to stomp on the individual's foot until you turned your head just enough to meet the same, scarlet irises from before. Then the color drained from your face. Same man. White locks, pale skin, and blood-colored eyes. Up close, he was much taller than you had made him out to be back at the subway station. Fuck, who was this man?

On instinct, you rip yourself away from his arms. The sudden lack of touch feels odd, and you feel cold. Your brows furrow into a frown, a bead of sweat running down your nape. Before you know it, you speak— "You." The word comes out like venom spit out from the mouth, a hiss that does not distinguish anger and fear. Your heart pounds.

"You're defensive—"

"You're my stalker," you interrupt. You see the corner of his lips twitch up into the hint of a smile. Your body feels tense. The thing is probably still out there searching for you, and this.. this man is the only reason you're probably alive at the moment.

"You've been following me."

The man only tilts his head slightly at the accusation, as if it weren't a bold comment you'd thrown his way. His eyes, at the very least, didn't show a hint of remorse. They held nothing at all. They were just red, so intensely red. He smiled a small smile. An amused expression.

"Point taken," he answered back— but the way his voice rumbled in his throat, the way he glanced at you? It looked as if he saw this as nothing more than a joke, like your feelings of rotting fear had meant nothing to him. "But you've yet to do anything about it."

Was that a challenge?

His eyes held a hint of mirth in them, and you felt mocked. In a way, you were being mocked by him— what little he had spoken had been spoken sardonically, and while there was no denial in his words, that didn't mean it had to be reassuring.

You stiffened up at his last sentence, though, because you noted that he was right. You hadn't done anything about the fact that he was following you. You had the choice to pay a visit to the Gokurakugai Troubleshooting Agency. You didn't. You had the choice to confide in a close friend that lived nearby, tell them about your situation. You didn't. You had the choice to at least try and say something, anything at all. You didn't. Anything and everything you could've done, you didn't do.

The man smiled. He sauntered over to where you stood, figure looming over yours, arms relaxing underneath the burning rays of the sun. "You had all the time in the world," he initiated, left hand going into his pocket. "All the time in the world to tell someone about your situation."

His eyes fixed on yours. You took a step back, a queasy feeling stilling in your stomach.

"And at the end of the day, you thought it would be prudent to draw the attention of a maga to try and draw out your pursuer," he drawled, a lazy lilt to his voice, as if prolonging the conversation. "You must lack the natural human instinct of self-preservation if you chose to disregard the rumors swirling that deathbed."

"So you would have cared if I died—" "I would have not."

Your words die in your mouth. You look into his eyes. They stare back at you. Unflinching. He's not lying. Something about the way he spoke the words made your blood run cold. Why would he go through the trouble of following me if he didn't care for my life at all..?

He glances aside before meeting your gaze again, the unyieldingness of his stance in this conversation unnerving you furthermore.

"I believe you misunderstand my intentions, [name]."

The way he speaks your name makes you flinch. "I didn't give you my—"

"What kind of stalker doesn't learn the name of the person they pursue?" he counters, taking a step back as he leans against the wall, shadows casting from above covering his visage. "You were careless in trying to avoid capture."

"Well, forgive me for not responding appropriately," you shot back— "I've never had to deal with a stalker of all things in this district." Your lips tug into a thin line. For a moment, there is silence until the man clicks his tongue.

"You lack basic sense of survival," he chided, arms crossed lazily. He doesn't seem interested in your reasoning— rather, he seems to have discarded it entirely as irrational. "Something so simple that should have been ingrained into you the moment you were born."

A pause. "And yet it isn't." He faces you. "Peculiar, don't you think?"

"What are you getting at?" you demanded. The back-and-forth jabbing from him to you was eating away at both your nervousness and your patience. You really don't think you can last much longer unless he gets straight to the point.

"What I'm getting at is that you're incapable of self-defense and survival on your own," he answers blatantly. His arms unfold, one falling limp to his side while the other rests, hand on his hip. "If I hadn't dragged you back there, I doubt you'd be breathing at this moment. You'd sag like a corpse onto the floor."

He glances aside. For a moment, you think you can hear a distant rumble with a snarl—or perhaps it's just the paranoia from the past days still clawing at your mind. "[name]," he calls, and your attention is snapped back to him.

"The thing you so loathe is called a maga," he straightens up his posture while he explains. "And as it stands, it's looking for you."

"Why would it be looking for me?" you interrupted— earning the hint of a faint, hardened glare from the other.

"It's looking for you because it feeds on human flesh—that's how it survives."

Oh shit.

As if on cue, you hear a shrill growl, some guttural groan that sounds like a starved beast. The man in front of you remains unflinching—unbothered.

"You have two choices," he drawls, stepping away from the wall, eyes locking onto yours. "You can come with me, and you'll live. Or..."

You see from the corner of your eye a group of limbs tethered to a chunk of pale flesh— the same creature that you heard earlier has found you. "... You can try your chances with that thing."

Looking at it now, it looks far more horrid than you thought of it before—gaping mouth, saliva leaking from the mouth, with sharp rows of teeth that don't quite seem to end—it seems like something out of a horror movie, and the notion is a cruel joke to you.

"You can't just—" you cut yourself off, head turning sharply to meet his gaze. "Why would I go with my stalker willingly?!"

"Your other option is death."

And that has you frozen, because you know he's right.

ㅤ ✦ JUST LIKE A FAMILY SHOULD ㅤ PT. 1 FINISHED

[scaryfangirl2001]

The void continues to ripple and shift around them, as if the very fabric of reality strains against its own limits. Jordan, Soth, and Jonathan find themselves in an uneasy yet curious silence, each contemplating the strange convergence of their worlds. Suddenly, a small figure tumbles out of the still-closing rift, her long brown hair floating around her like a halo.

Annabon House lands softly on the crumbling concrete, her mismatched fluffy socks peeking out from beneath her ballet recital outfit. Clutching a puzzle box tightly to her chest, she looks around with wide, intelligent eyes, taking in the new surroundings and the unusual company.

Jordan approaches her gently, careful not to startle the young girl. "Hey there, you alright?" he asks, offering a reassuring smile.

Annabon nods, her eyes locking onto Jordan's. "I'm okay," she replies, her voice steady despite the surreal circumstances. "But where am I? And who are you?"

Soth steps forward, his expression softening as he crouches down to her level. "You're in a bit of a strange place, but you're safe with us. I'm Sothera Vidar, but you can call me Soth. This is Jordan and Jonathan."

Jonathan, still strumming absentmindedly on his guitar, looks over and gives her a nod. "Welcome to the madhouse, kid."

Annabon giggles, finding some comfort in the familiarity of the adults' presence. "I'm Julianna-Bonita House, but you can call me Annabon. I'm usually better at introducing myself, but this place is so... odd."

Jordan notices her interest in the void and its shifting patterns. "You seem pretty brave, Annabon. How did you end up here?"

She shrugs, her analytical mind already working to piece together the puzzle. "I'm not sure, but I was with my dads, and then I found myself here. They're both doctors, so I'm used to strange things happening."

Soth stands up, glancing at Jordan and Jonathan. "Well, it looks like we've got a new member in our little crew. Let's make sure she stays safe while we figure this out."

Jonathan raises an eyebrow, his sarcastic charm kicking in. "So, what's the plan, fearless leader?" he asks, looking at Jordan.

Jordan straightens, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "The plan is to find a way out of this void and get everyone back where they belong. We'll figure this out, together."

As they set off, Annabon walks beside Jordan, her small hand clutching his. "Do you think we'll find my dads?" she asks, her voice filled with hope.

Jordan squeezes her hand reassuringly. "I promise we'll do everything we can to find them."

Julianna-Bonita House:

Current Age: 7

Nickname: Annabon

Family: Diagnostician amputated Daddy Greg, Oncologist masterchef Papa Jim-Jim, 4-year-old sister Misty

wears mismatched fluffy socks

tends to carry puzzles with her

very picky eater despite her papa's good cooking

doesn't have a big sweet tooth but never turns down a candy cane

Math is her best subject and sometimes offers tutoring to struggling classmates. For a small fee, of course

strong sense of empathy

shows her leadership and negotiation skills

Her height is short for her age

has long brown hair

HEY, WHO WANTS TO MAKE A OC TRAIN!

Ok now that I have your attention, here is what I'm thinking... 

We are going to create the BIGGEST CROSSOVER between everyone’s OC’s. It’s going to be like a relay race between a whole bunch of different writers. Everyone will have an opportunity to add their OC and their part of the story into the mix.

It’s going to be one CHAOTIC MESS! But that's what's going to make it so fun!

How this will work:

I’ll start with my own section of the story.

You’ll continue the story, adding your OC and their perspective.

Leave your part open-ended so the next person can continue.

The more OCs that join, the harder it will be to keep track—good luck! 😆

You can write a single paragraph or a full scene—whatever you’re comfortable with!

All skill levels are welcome! Please join and we want you in!

After you write your tid bit, you can write a few facts about your character, as a reference for other writers

BUT….

Here are some rules to abide by:

Please keep this story clean. I have minors reading this. 

So no swearing, no gore, no spice, just keep it PG. Please!-keep it fun for everyone!

Other than that you are free to take the story in any direction you want! 

Here is the starting point of our adventure. If you wish to join this little fesco, reblog this post, and add your part of the adventure!.

Let the chaos begin!

White nothingness swirled around him, expanding in all directions, erasing any hints of life. The horizon line was blurred, nothing more than a suggestion at this point.

Jordan Waystone stood on what remained of a parking lot, a jagged slab of concrete adrift in the void. Bits of concrete crumbled around the edges. A broken sign clung to the pavement. The colorful letters of the sign were faded and peeling, slowly being claimed by the void. It was like looking at a faded photograph. It was wrong. Everything in here was wrong.

Jordan watched the void. His grey hoodie hung loosely around his frame. The fabric floated around him, along with his headphone cord. A pair of blue ear phones sat comfortably on top of his hair, squashing the tight curly mess. Music played gently through the speakers, and his fingers moved in tune, matching each beat with a drum of his fingers.

"Bloody! They should be here by now," he muttered. His fingers sped up in annoyance. He had timed this. He knew when the void was about to shift. Still, the whiteness persisted. Jordan huffed, pulling his headphones off his ears. The sudden quietness was deafening. He itched to put the headphones back on.

A toy truck floated next to his face. Jordan snagged it out of the air, studying it between his fingertips. It was bright yellow, a stark contrast to his olive skin tone. It was cool to the touch, and he could feel its weight in his palm.

"Proper strange," he thought.

It must be new. That meant it was near. He was close, so close. Things would be right again. He would make them right. He realized his hand had closed into a tight fist. He opened it, revealing the lorry in his hand. An inscription on the side of the truck caught his eye. It was written in black marker: "Mark, 14." He guessed the number was the boy’s age. He wasn’t much older than he was, Jordan thought with surprise.

He breathed out. Even if it was here, he wouldn’t be able to fight it. He released the toy truck, watching it spin aimlessly into the void.

The void rippled. Jordan’s head snapped up. The dimensions walls moved outwards, like it was made out of liquid.

"Finally," Jordan breathed. He smiled, watching as the void collapsed in on itself, drawing inward into a knot. Creating a small black hole in the center.

Jordan kicked upwards, sending his body toward the rift. The void continued to draw on itself, forming a black dot in the center of the white canvas. Then it exploded outwards, sending ripples across the expanse. Each ripple hit him, sending a tingling sensation along his body. He pushed through drawing closer.

 The knot ripped open. Blue sky tumbled out, and scents of a different world flowed past him. Light, sunlight touched his skin. Something he had almost forgotten the feel of. All of it—so different from his home dimension. And it felt so right. 

A figure tumbled out of the tear. They flailed, their arms spun wildly. They kicked trying to right themselves. 

Jordan floated next to them. The figure jerked away, eyes wide.

"Oi! No need to look so miffed, mate," Jordan said, grinning. "I’m Jordan Waystone, and I need your help."

Jorden way stone:

personality: formal, analytical. usually the calm one but will hold a grudge.

Has a need to make everything right.

He has a problem with things being out of place.

About 16 years old.

likes music

He's not technically part of the novel i'm writing.

But I love him ether way

[puppppppppy]

AND I MET THE CHANGE GOD TOO. OKAY. COOL OKAY

[sysig]

Hi there! As a requestober request could you please draw something cute with Mob? I'm planning on rewatching Mob Psycho 100 and it would be great to see fanart of him in your style! :D

Day 17 - She loves me, she loves me not...

[sskk-manifesto]

Finally got around to watching ep 11 (´；ω；｀)

[comfortlesshurt]

brutally reminded that somewhere out there is a physical copy of an absolutely terrible detective conan genderbend au i wrote when i was like 12

i am not thriving today so here's a tag rant

[akkivee]

there’s like three months until kuukou’s bday and i’m thinking it might be already time to start chipping away at my kuukou week this year LOL

[st4rstudent]

I think every social media website should have an effective tagging system, just my thoughts

[tardis--dreams]

I may have hit an all time low mental health wise but I'm being so chill about it

[salsflore]

ummmm

[electricpurrs]

i just defeated a giant boss in 15 minutes i feel like it shouldnt be that easy was that a prank