#so they probably will survive this I don't know
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headspace-hotel · 2 days ago
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The idea of Pleistocene rewilding, even though it annoys the hell out of me, is so interesting in what it implies about ecosystems.
If we accept that North America's ecosystems are "incomplete" or "impoverished" because of the extinction of Pleistocene megafauna, that implies there is a "complete" state of ecosystems. In the absolute sense, of course ecosystems don't ever have a "complete" state, but is it possible for an ecosystem to be relatively incomplete? What does that even mean?
Could an "incomplete" state of an ecosystem be recognizable without knowing what used to exist in that ecosystem, for comparison? Could a researcher tell that they were in an environment where an animal had gone extinct, without any direct evidence of that animal or knowledge of what it was? Who is to say how many taxa of a kind of creatures "should" be in the ecosystem?
Say we accept, then, that North America's ecosystems after the Pleistocene (but before European colonization, which involved intentional destruction) were "complete," in the sense that researchers couldn't detect any obvious "dysfunction," whatever that means.
But 10,000 years, compared with life's history on the earth, are nothing--- the blink of an eye. There hasn't been very much time for entirely new types of animals to evolve.
So it would imply that ecosystems have a LOT of plasticity and ability to re-arrange to absorb shock, and that animals can quickly expand their ranges and change their niches to adapt to the new state of existence.
...this, in turn, implies something strange about the introduction of new animal species to a continental mainland: that "native" and "non-native" animal species probably won't be distinguishably different in their impacts in the long term, because the ecosystem is chaotic and constantly changing to begin with.
Introducing new animals to islands is a disaster, because it's introducing an animal with a niche that didn't exist before at all, such as terrestrial predators or large herbivores. Introducing plants is a disaster in a small and unpredictable sample of cases.
But in the example of horses in North America, the impact could range from positive (horses used to be here, and their extinction "damaged the ecosystem," therefore horses being introduced "fixes" that damage) to neutral (the ecosystem adapted to not having horses very fast, therefore the ecosystem can likely adapt to having horses again very fast). Saying that horses are invasive seems to require us to believe contradictory things: that the ecosystem has changed so much since the Pleistocene that horses no longer belong, and that ecosystems can't adjust to change quickly.
Then, why indeed should we not introduce camels, or cheetahs, or lions?
Well, this is where "Pleistocene rewilding" gets on my nerves: it sees North America as fundamentally impoverished of animals, and at the same time, somehow treats different species of animal as weirdly interchangeable. We don't know if the American lion was closer to a lion or a tiger, and we don't know some important things like its hunting behavior. The "American cheetah" was not any more closely related to the African cheetah than to the cougar, and might not have been a specialized fast runner like the cheetah.
So this might apply to the horse just as well: the species of horse in Pleistocene times might have been so different from today's horse that they don't have the same role in the ecosystem. Well, is it better to be horseless or horsed?
I don't think that introduced species are inherently bad. This isn't a extreme position. Among plants, very few introduced species actually become invasive, and even some of those considered "invasive" are not actually harming the ecosystem in a way that can be demonstrated. I don't think I would recommend the introduction of a plant purposefully, though...or would I? With climate change occurring rapidly, I am in favor of moving species to areas where they can survive.
One philosophy of biodiversity is that the more biodiverse the ecosystem, the more ability the ecosystem has to absorb shock and adapt to change. Introduced species could have a range of potential to adapt different from native species, and could raise the shock absorption potential of an ecosystem. But they would also disrupt existing relationships and cause a shock to the native species that already exist.
Range expansions are an alternative to extinction for some species. We will probably HAVE to consider introducing species to new areas in the future. Well, imagine in the future we put Zebras in Arkansas, and the Zebras outcompeted the white-tailed deer in that area. Is that good or bad? Both species get to keep existing, but the deer's range is a bit smaller. Is the measure of biodiversity more important in a local area or in the world?
Makes my head hurt...
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I got Spitsbergen Island, no idea what the fuck it was so I looked it up. At first it seemed fine, while coal mining isn't tye best,as I'm not exactly the strongest, perhaps I can work with the tourism attractions, or do something online. I'm already trying to be a game creator/programmer sooo idk.
While it's very cold, as long as my house is heated and I have the right clothes I could survive, maybe even live. I would hope there's internet however, so I can even do online stuff/work, and connect with people, including my family. I would probably get a husky as well, not only for company, but to keep me active.
Then I found out about the housing, so most houses are either for recreation, or are rented out to employees, by the employers, so if you live there, you are probably only there for work. And renting makes me think some of the pay is docked, just for you living in the house. Like what?
Also, there is always a chance I'd die from the polar bears. Thankfully, while they are protected, people are REQUIRED to carry a rifle in order to shoot them in self-defense. And why I am not an amazing shot, I at least know the very basics of shooting, loading, and holding a gun. How you don't put your finger on the trigger until the lest second, point the barrel down and away from people, and your feet of course when safety is off, safety on in most situations, etc. However, I would have to learn how to take care of my gun, as I have not been taught that, and while I've shot guns before, it's only been a few times, and it's been some years since I've last shot one. So while they aren't a new sight, I'm in not way, shape, or form accustomed to shooting and holding one.
So I might not make it, but I'll definitely be trying my hardest.
spin the wheel for a random location!!
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yaniluvs · 2 days ago
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“nerds don't date , right?” ⎯ how to lose a bet and your heart in seven days.
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[ 정인 ] ✷ ‎. . things just get more interesting when you're fake-dating the hot nerd and are involved in a bet with him.
۫ 𖨂 𓈒 𝑛erdy!jeongin ��� ‎ ‎ 𝑓em!reader ˙ . ꒷ g. fluff , humour , crack , forced proximity , classmates to lovers , uni au , fake dating , skz ensemble . 64OOw. ⎯⎯⎯ LiBRARY ⟢ cw. suggestive , as of now . ┆ 📹 ⋮ a y.jg mini series .ᐟ ֹ ₊
yani's note 𑁍ࠬܓ hihi >< so like, part two hehehehhehehe. this turned out to be literally double the wc from the previous one..... oh and i just crossed 8OO followers???? what???? like two posts ago i crossed 7OO, oh good lord, thank you so much!! comments, likes, req./asks and reblogs are always appreciated !! send in a reply or an ask if you want to be in my mastertag, or my individual series' taglists. happy reading, love <3
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you had never seen jeongin this stressed in your uni year.
it had been barely a day since the dinner, and he was already acting like his life was spiraling out of control. not that you blamed him—you were a handful, after all. but still, the man looked like he was fighting for survival, while you?
you were thriving.
not only were you fake-dating him in front of his family, but thanks to him, you also had the perfect bet to keep things interesting.
and now? now, you were at the usual café on campus, sitting comfortably with your group—felix, ryujin, yeji, and minho—while absolutely basking in the aftermath of your deal with jeongin.
the blonde leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm. "so let me get this straight," he began, voice amused.
"you made a bet with the yang jeongin—topper, nerd, absolute try-hard—where you get to flirt with him for three whole months, and if he falls for you, you win?"
you grinned, stirring your latte lazily. "mhm."
ryujin raised a brow. "and if you lose?"
you waved a dismissive hand. "then he gets to ignore me forever, i guess."
yeji snorted. "as if he'd actually do that. boy’s definitely gonna lose."
minho, who had been silently observing all this time, sipped his americano before finally speaking. "you're really confident, huh?"
you flashed him a smirk. "min, have you met me? of course, i'm confident. i know he’s gonna fall for me. i learn from the best, you know."
felix grinned. "well, duh. everyone loves you."
yeji smirked. "hyunjin and jisung sure do."
ryujin laughed. "oh yeah, didn’t hyunjin say you were literally his type?"
you shrugged, fighting back a smirk. "maybe."
felix gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "oh my god. is this why jeongin is acting so feral? is he jealous?"
"no, he’s probably just pissed that i exist."
minho scoffed. "that’ll change soon enough."
"exactly," you said smugly. "so, obviously, i’m winning this bet. there’s no way i’m falling first."
your friends exchanged looks, all of them barely holding back their very obvious amusement.
"sure," yeji said, lips twitching.
"of course," ryujin agreed.
minho sipped his drink again. "i totally believe you."
felix just grinned. "this is gonna be fun."
meanwhile.
jeongin had never been this mentally exhausted in his life.
one dinner. one stupid dinner. that was all it was supposed to be.
now? now he was fake-dating y/n in front of his entire family and locked in a three-month bet that would undoubtedly ruin him.
and to make things worse? jisung, seungmin, hyunjin, aeri, and yunah were not helping.
"bro," hyunjin was saying, leaning against the café booth with a stupid grin, "you’re done for."
"over. finished." jisung added, looking way too entertained.
jeongin shot them both a glare. "i am not going to fall for her."
hyunjin raised an eyebrow. "really?"
seungmin, ever the realist, merely sighed. "jeongin, have you met y/n?"
"yes, seungmin," jeongin deadpanned. "i have. unfortunately.*"
yunah giggled, twirling her straw. "she’s really pretty, though."
aeri smirked. "and hot. and cute. and bold."
hyunjin nudged jeongin. "she literally calls you 'hot nerd.' i would’ve folded instantly." he said, dramatically putting a hand on his heart while pretending to faint.
jeongin shot him a disgusted look. "you have no standards."
jisung snorted. "and you have no chance."
"i hate all of you." (and we're back !!)
"no, you don’t," jisung said, grinning. "you hate that you know we’re right."
seungmin nodded. "statistically speaking, you're screwed."
"oh my god," jeongin muttered.
jisung clapped his hands together. "alright! place your bets! how long do we think it’ll take for jeongin to fall first?"
"two weeks," hyunjin said immediately.
"a month," aeri guessed.
yunah smirked. "three weeks, max."
"one week," jisung announced proudly.
jeongin slammed his drink down. "i hate every single one of you."
almost a week later.
you found jeongin in the library, because of course you did.
dressed in an oversized cream sweater, silver-rimmed glasses perched perfectly on his nose, black slacks, and expensive-looking loafers, he looked annoyingly good for someone who spent all his time studying.
unfortunately for him, you were here to ruin his peace.
sliding into the seat across from him, you grinned. "morning, iyennie."
jeongin didn’t even look up. "no."
you gasped dramatically. "no? that’s all i get? where’s my 'good morning, beautiful?' my 'you look stunning today, y/n'?"
jeongin exhaled sharply. "why are you here?"
you leaned forward on your elbows, smirking. "to see my lovely boyfriend, obviously."
jeongin twitched. "we are not fake-dating at uni."
you shrugged. "doesn’t mean i can’t flirt with you."
jeongin dragged a hand down his face. "i hate this bet."
"you literally proposed it, genius."
his jaw clenched. "i hate you."
you batted your lashes. "no, you don’t."
jeongin physically recoiled. "oh my god."
across the library, hyunjin and jisung sat at another table, watching the interaction with matching grins.
hyunjin nudged jisung. "one week?"
jisung smirked. "one week."
. . .
“i’ve decided that i’m going to end you.”
jeongin barely looked up from his notes. “cool. try not to be too obvious about it.”
“no, really,” you said, leaning forward across the library table, resting your chin on your hands as you stared at him. “i’m going to make your life miserable.”
jeongin finally glanced up, adjusting his silver-rimmed glasses with the most unimpressed expression you’d ever seen. “isn’t that what you’ve already been doing?”
you gasped, placing a dramatic hand over your chest. “wow. that was hurtful, iyen.”
jeongin twitched. “stop calling me that.”
you grinned. “make me.”
his fingers curled around his pen, and for a second, you wondered if he was genuinely considering launching it at your forehead.
the library was quiet, aside from the occasional whispers of students flipping through books, the dull hum of the air conditioning, and the muffled sounds of footsteps against the carpeted floor. your table was nestled in the back corner, surrounded by towering bookshelves and dim lighting that gave the whole setting a very academic romance kind of vibe—not that jeongin would ever admit that.
and, of course, the two of you weren’t alone.
like said earlier, across from you, at another table, were felix, ryujin, yeji, and minho, watching with way too much amusement.
they can't miss good entertainment, right?
and a few tables away, jisung, hyunjin, seungmin, aeri, and yunah, were also watching with expressions that ranged from entertained to downright smug.
because, honestly? no one believed jeongin was going to win this bet.
not even jeongin himself.
"are you done?" he asked, voice clipped, flipping a page in his notes.
you smirked. "not even close."
leaning back in your chair, you crossed one leg over the other, watching him with open interest. he was dressed as he always was—annoyingly fashionable for someone who didn’t seem to care about fashion. a fitted black turtleneck, an oversized houndstooth blazer, tailored slacks, and his signature silver-rimmed glasses that rested so perfectly on the bridge of his nose.
his black hair was slightly tousled, as if he’d been running his fingers through it in frustration all morning (which, knowing you, he probably had).
"you know," you mused, tilting your head, "if you weren’t so insufferable, i’d probably have a crush on you."
his pen hovered mid-air, his lips parting slightly before he turned to glare at you. "what?"
you shrugged. "what? i’m just saying. you’re kind of my type. hot. smart. dresses well. severely grumpy. i like a challenge."
jeongin’s eye twitched. "w—"
"oh my god," hyunjin suddenly groaned from across the room, throwing his head back. "can you two just kiss already?"
jeongin immediately choked on air.
your lips twitched as you turned to hyunjin. "not yet, jinnie. i have a bet to win, remember?"
hyunjin smirked. "oh, you will win. no doubt about it."
jisung laughed. "he’s already halfway there."
"this is a library, hello?" the librarian hissed.
"but we're the only ones here, miss y-"
jeongin slammed his book shut, stood up, and turned to you with murder in his eyes. "we’re leaving."
you blinked innocently. "we are?"
"yes." he grabbed your wrist and tugged you up from your seat, ignoring the very loud, very obnoxious oooohhhhhs coming from both friend groups.
felix gasped. "look at him. so dominant."
"i didn’t know he had it in him."
"they grow up so fast."
seungmin merely shook his head, unimpressed. "he’s just running away."
jeongin glared at all of them before practically dragging you out of the library.
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now playing, if you love me by colde
the late afternoon sun draped the campus in warm, honey-colored light, stretching long shadows across the pavement. the air was crisp but comfortable, carrying the faint scent of freshly brewed coffee from the campus café nearby. a few students walked past, caught up in their own conversations, but none of them paid much attention to the very mismatched pair walking down the sidepath.
jeongin was suffering.
because you were practically dragging him.
"y/n," he grumbled, his arm stiff as you held onto his wrist. "why are you like this?"
you hummed, pretending to think. "born this way, i guess?"
jeongin sighed, shaking his head. "no remorse. none at all."
"absolutely none," you confirmed cheerfully, still leading him forward.
he didn’t know where you were taking him. you probably didn’t either. but that didn’t seem to matter to you. it was just one of those things—where you decided something, and everyone else just had to go along with it.
he really should have thought this through before making that bet.
the sky was beginning to shift into soft hues of orange and almost blue when jeongin’s phone buzzed in his pocket. he pulled it out, glancing at the screen, and immediately stiffened.
his mom.
he stopped walking so abruptly that you almost crashed into him.
"whoa—" you blinked at him. "what’s wrong?"
he held up a finger. "be quiet."
you snorted. "like hell."
"y/n."
you grinned, unbothered, as he answered the call.
"hello?" jeongin said, his voice immediately shifting into something softer, more polite.
"oh, jeongin! how are you, sweetheart?"
you gasped dramatically beside him. sweetheart?
jeongin shot you a look. a warning. a plea.
you ignored it completely.
"hello, ms. yang!" you chirped before he could stop you, leaning in way too close to the phone. "how are you?"
there was a pause on the other end.
and then—
"oh, y/n, dear! how lovely to hear your voice!"
jeongin closed his eyes. no, no, no—
you beamed. "aw, you're so sweet. it's lovely to hear yours too!"
jeongin wanted to die.
his mother laughed. "such a charming girl! i hope my son is treating you well?"
you turned to him with the smuggest smile, tilting your head. "oh, he’s wonderful, ms. yang. so sweet. so attentive."
jeongin gave you a blank stare, deadpan. you? a menace.
his mother sighed happily. "ah, that's good to hear. oh! that reminds me—jeongin, darling, you haven’t forgotten about next weekend, have you?"
jeongin blinked. "uh… next weekend?"
you raised an eyebrow, watching him.
"the family gathering, jeongin!" his mom continued. "your uncle’s wedding anniversary celebration. you have to come. and of course, you must bring y/n!"
jeongin froze.
you?
you? (i'd be offended)
he turned to you so fast you almost thought his neck might snap.
you, on the other hand, were staring at him with way too much excitement in your eyes.
he cleared his throat, forcing his voice to stay neutral. "oh… right. that."
you leaned in, lips parted in interest.
ms. yang laughed. "don't tell me you forgot?"
jeongin exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to his temple. "i… might have."
you gasped. "baby!"
he glared.
"oh, don’t worry, dear," his mom said, brushing past his frustration entirely. "it’s going to be a lovely event! you must come with him, y/n! i won’t take no for an answer."
your grin widened.
jeongin knew that look.
it was the look of pure evil. the look of someone who had just won. (no he just read too many comics)
you placed a hand over your heart, feigning surprise. "oh my gosh, ms. yang, really? you’d want me there?"
"of course!" his mother said immediately. "you’re practically family now!"
jeongin almost choked for the umpteenth time that day.
you looked so pleased.
"well, in that case," you said sweetly, "i’d love to come. wouldn't want to disappoint a lovely lady like you, ms. yang."
ms. yang sighed, completely oblivious to his suffering. "wonderful! oh, i knew i liked this girl!"
jeongin shut his eyes, inhaling deeply. why him?
"alright, sweetheart, i won’t keep you two," his mom said. "make sure to text me later, okay?"
"yeah, yeah," he muttered, still trying to process what had just happened. "bye, mom."
"have a good evening, ms. yang!" you called cheerfully.
the call ended.
silence. and then—
"you evil, evil woman," jeongin muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
you grinned. "aw, is my baby upset?"
"don’t call me that."
"oh, but i must," you teased, tapping his arm. "we are dating, after all."
jeongin groaned.
you rocked back on your heels. "sooo. a family event, huh?"
"shut up."
"your entire family is gonna be there?"
"y/n—"
"and your relatives?"
jeongin exhaled slowly, praying for patience. "yes."
you beamed. "god, i love this bet."
jeongin stared at you. "why are you enjoying this?"
you shrugged. "because you're not."
his eye twitched. "i hate you." (.........yeah, yk the drill)
"you love me."
"shut up."
you giggled, nudging his arm as you started walking again. "come on, hot nerd. we have so much planning to do."
jeongin sighed, dragging a hand down his face as he followed after you.
he wasn't going to lose this bet.
he wasn't.
but, why did it feel like you had already won?
the city was beginning to glow.
golden streetlights flickered on, one by one, casting soft halos onto the pavement. neon signs buzzed to life in the distance, painting the skyline in hues of red, blue, and green. the cool evening air carried a mix of scents—freshly brewed coffee from a nearby café, the faint spice of street food stalls setting up for the night, and something softer, like rain on warm pavement.
and in the middle of it all—you and jeongin.
he was still following you, albeit begrudgingly, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat.
"are you actually planning on telling me where we're going?" jeongin asked, his voice laced with skepticism.
you only grinned, walking a little ahead of him, as you turned around, still walking backwards, facing him. "nope."
he sighed. "of course not."
as the two of you had left the campus a while ago, jeongin had expected you to stop at the nearest café, maybe a convenience store. but instead, you kept walking. past the busy streets, past the familiar landmarks, past the places where most students usually hung out.
and now?
now, you were leading him through quieter roads, where the buildings weren't as tall, where the sky was starting to open up above you, where the city lights didn’t drown out the stars entirely.
it was weirdly peaceful.
not that he'd admit it.
"you're too trusting," jeongin muttered, watching as you walked ahead of him without a care in the world.
you glanced over your shoulder, raising an eyebrow. "oh? and why's that?"
"you’re just… walking around at night, alone, dragging me—your supposed fake boyfriend—to some unknown location." he narrowed his eyes. "for all you know, i could be leading you into danger."
you let out a soft laugh. "oh, please. if anyone’s the danger here, it’s me."
jeongin rolled his eyes. "right."
"you think i'm scared of you, topper?" you smirked, nudging his shoulder. "you’re, like, the least threatening person i’ve ever met."
"good," he said flatly. "that means i can stop pretending to tolerate you."
you gasped dramatically. "so rude! and here i was, thinking we were bonding!"
"bonding?" jeongin scoffed. "you kidnapped me."
you hummed, tilting your head. "wouldn’t call it kidnapping. more like… involuntary adventuring."
"that’s literally just a fancier way of saying kidnapping."
"details, details." you waved a hand dismissively, your bracelets jingling softly.
jeongin shook his head, but there was a small—very small—curve to his lips.
for a while, the conversation drifted into comfortable silence. the only sounds were the rhythmic tapping of your footsteps against the pavement, the occasional passing car, and the distant chatter of city life.
"you come here often?" jeongin asked suddenly, his voice softer now.
you glanced at him, slightly surprised by the question. "hmm?"
"wherever it is we're going," he clarified, watching your expression closely. "you seem… familiar with the way."
you hesitated for a second, but then you smiled. "yeah. i do."
he studied you, noticing how your fingers fiddled with the strap of your bag—a small, almost absentminded gesture. "alone?"
"sometimes." you exhaled lightly, looking up at the sky. "other times, with my friends."
jeongin didn’t miss the slight shift in your tone. it was subtle, but it was there.
"and tonight?" he asked, glancing at you. "why me?"
you turned your head toward him, meeting his gaze.
and for a moment—just a moment—you didn’t say anything.
the city lights reflected in your eyes, turning them into something almost ethereal. the night breeze played with the loose strands of your hair, making them dance against your cheekbones. there was something unreadable in your expression, something jeongin couldn’t quite place.
but then— you grinned.
"because i felt like annoying you," you said simply.
jeongin blinked. and then scoffed. "wow. and here i thought i was special."
"oh, you are," you teased, looping your arm through his before he could react. "you're my favorite victim, actually."
he stiffened. "y/n—"
"you’re warm," you interrupted, pressing closer. "a human heater. i should keep you around more often."
jeongin let out a very long sigh, tilting his head toward the sky like he was asking some higher power for patience.
"you're insufferable," he muttered.
"and you are cute."
"shut up."
you giggled. "ooooh, that blush is telling me a different story."
jeongin groaned, refusing to meet your gaze. "i hate this bet."
"you love this bet."
he side-eyed you. "you know, i think you might be evil."
you only winked. "oh, honey. i'm very aware."
and the walk continued like that—small banter, stolen glances, the occasional brush of hands when neither of you were paying attention.
jeongin hated how natural it felt.
hated how easy it was to talk to you.
hated how, despite himself, he was actually curious about where you were taking him.
he didn’t get attached.
he didn’t, right?.
but with every teasing smile you threw his way, with every time your fingers lingered against his, with every moment you laughed at something he said—
he started to wonder.
maybe jisung had been right.
maybe this bet was a really, really bad idea.
the view you chose for me
the path sloped upward, curving gently along the hillside. the city behind you had slowly started to fade, the buzzing neon signs replaced by the soft hum of cicadas, the distant rustling of leaves, and the whisper of the evening breeze. the sky above stretched out like a painting, shifting from the last golden hues of sunset into the deepening blues of twilight.
jeongin slowed his steps, glancing at you. "are we almost there?"
"patience, iyennie," you hummed, walking ahead with a skip in your step. "good things take time."
he rolled his eyes, but a small, amused exhale escaped his lips.
then, finally, the world opened up.
the trees thinned, revealing an expansive hilltop that overlooked the city. a vast, open field of wild grass spread around you, swaying lightly in the wind. the horizon stretched endlessly, where the last golden threads of daylight kissed the deepening night. below, the city twinkled like scattered stars, a soft, pulsing glow of blues, oranges, and whites.
and above, the first stars had begun to appear.
tiny, glimmering specks against a sky that seemed endless. wisps of deep indigo melted into shades of violet, streaked with soft pinks from the remnants of the sun. there was something ethereal about it—something quiet, untouched, almost unreal.
jeongin exhaled, barely noticing how his breath caught for a second.
you, on the other hand, stretched your arms out with a dramatic sigh. "isn't it beautiful?"
he glanced at you.
the wind had tousled your hair, strands of it floating like silk against the dim light. your face, turned toward the sky, was bathed in soft twilight, the shadows curving gently along your cheekbones. your eyes reflected the distant stars, and when you smiled—
your lips curled into a slow, satisfied grin, and your eyes crinkled into tiny crescents.
something in jeongin’s chest lurched.
"yeah," he murmured before he could stop himself. "it is."
you turned to him, blinking. "see? told you it was worth it."
jeongin tore his gaze away, clearing his throat. "it’s… alright."
you laughed, nudging him with your shoulder. "wow. that almost sounded like a compliment, yang."
"don’t push your luck," he muttered, walking past you.
you grinned, plopping down on the grass before patting the space next to you. "sit. enjoy the view."
he hesitated.
then, with a small sigh, he sat down beside you, the grass cool beneath his palms. the air smelled faintly of earth and rain, the breeze gentle as it curled around both of you.
a moment passed in silence, the two of you simply staring at the sky.
you reached into your bag, pulling out a small snack box.
jeongin glanced over. "what’s that?"
"food, obviously," you teased, opening the lid. inside, neatly packed, were a few triangular onigiris wrapped in seaweed. "can't survive without snacking every moment,"
you picked one up and held it out to him. "here. i made these this morning."
jeongin blinked. "you cooked?"
"is it so surprising? i'm a good chef, i'll have you know." you frown, and wiggled the rice ball in front of him. "c’mon. try it. first time making them, so i need honest feedback, topper."
he hesitated, eyeing you for a second before reaching out to take it.
and that’s when it happened.
you looked at him—waiting, expectant, your expression filled with the kind of excitement that was so genuine it almost startled him. the soft glow of the evening light traced the edges of your face, highlighting the curve of your cheek, the arch of your brow, the slight parting of your lips. your lashes cast tiny shadows against your skin, and when you smiled, your dimples deepened, your eyes turning into crescents once again.
jeongin—
forgot to breathe.
for a fraction of a second, he didn’t care about the stupid bet. didn’t care about the fake dating, or the fact that he was supposed to be annoyed by all of this.
all he could think about—
was how pretty you looked.
and then—
you turned your gaze back to the sky.
the moment broke, like ripples in a pond.
jeongin blinked rapidly, forcing himself to look anywhere else. he bit into the onigiri, trying to act normal.
it was good.
really good.
but he wasn’t about to inflate your ego, obviously.
"it’s… okay," he mumbled.
you frowned, clutching your chest. "just okay?"
he smirked, raising an eyebrow. "i’m just being honest, like you asked."
you narrowed your eyes, then suddenly leaned in closer, way too close. "are you lying?"
jeongin stiffened.
you were right there, inches from his face, eyes locked onto his like you were searching for the truth. the scent of vanilla and something faintly floral drifted from you, and jeongin—
had to grip his knee to keep himself from leaning back.
"i—" he swallowed. "no."
you hummed, tilting your head. "hmm. suspicious."
then, before he could react, you grinned.
"well, i think i did an amazing job." you leaned back, stretching your arms behind you. "maybe i should become a chef. quit university. open a cute little café. i’d call it ‘y/n’s love bites.’"
"love bites?" jeongin actually choked on air this time.
"hey, careful!" your eyes widened, your hands immediately burying into your bag, pulling a bottle out. you hand it to him, after opening it.
"what? is it not a nice name?" you pout at the look he gave you after gulping down the entire bottle, still coughing.
"really though? love bites?"
"mhm." you laughed. "because.. love bites. and because i’m good at biting. and love. and actually, love b-"
"god forbid a man wants to have a snack in peace."
you burst out laughing. "jeez, relax, iyennie. i’m kidding."
"you’re really insufferable."
"and you are fun to tease." you winked.
jeongin groaned, looking away.
but his ears—
were very, very red.
the stars were out in full now, scattered across the endless stretch of the night sky. the city below twinkled in response, as if the lights of the world and the heavens were competing for brilliance. the grass beneath you both was soft, slightly damp from the evening air, but comforting in a way that made neither of you want to move.
the silence between you had settled into something familiar—not awkward, not tense. just there. a moment where neither of you had to fill the space with meaningless words.
but then again, you’d never been one for silence.
"so," you started, shifting slightly so you faced him, "i realized something."
jeongin barely glanced at you, still watching the stars. "what?"
"i don’t know anything about you."
he raised an eyebrow. "you know plenty."
"mm, do i?" you leaned back on your palms. "i know you're stinky smart. i know you have the ability to make even professors shut up with a single argument. i know you have the fashion sense of a pinterest model and the patience of a grandma stuck in traffic."
jeongin let out a dry chuckle. "that’s oddly specific."
"am i wrong?"
"…no."
"exactly." you grinned before tilting your head. "but i mean, i don’t know you. like, i don’t know what makes you tick. what makes you.. you. i don’t know what you wanted to be when you were a kid, what your childhood was like, what your favorite memory is."
jeongin stayed quiet, eyes flickering toward you briefly.
you rested your chin on your knees, watching him. "i wanna know."
"you’re way too curious."
"and you’re way too closed off."
he sighed, shaking his head. "you don’t need to know all that. we’re only dating in front of my parents. not here."
"yeah, well, i want to get to know you," you said simply. "and this is completely unrelated to the whole fake dating thing. it can be platonic, you know? i just think it’s unfair that you probably know way more about me than i do about you."
jeongin looked at you, thoughtful. "do i?"
"you tell me, topper."
his lips twitched slightly, and for a moment, he looked like he was considering something. then, with a small sigh, he leaned back on his elbows.
"alright. what do you want to know?"
your eyes lit up. "anything?"
"within reason."
you hummed, thinking. "okay. what did you want to be when you were a kid?"
jeongin let out a short laugh. "you’re gonna make fun of me."
"oh, now i really have to know."
he rolled his eyes, but the corners of his mouth quirked up slightly. "i wanted to be a detective."
your eyebrows shot up. "no way. detective yang jeongin?"
"yeah, yeah," he muttered. "i used to love mystery novels as a kid. thought i’d grow up solving impossible cases, catching criminals, the whole thing."
you grinned. "that’s actually kind of cute."
he scoffed. "yeah, well, then i realized i’d have to deal with actual crime, and i was like, ‘yeah, no thanks.’"
you burst out laughing. "you wanted to be sherlock holmes but without the danger?"
"pretty much." he shrugged. "so i settled for something else."
"which is?"
"business and english."
you made a face. "oh so we're almost twinning?"
"i thought you knew?"
"um no? we barely share any other sessions, only sometimes, business."
"well that's because we have different batches, genius."
"huh. when's yours?"
"at nine."
you clicked your tongue. "good lord, typical topper behavior."
he shook his head, a small chuckle escaping him. "alright, your turn. what did you want to be as a kid?"
you hummed. "i went through so many phases. i wanted to be a singer, a poet, an author, a fashion designer, a painter… i was all over the place."
jeongin’s eyes softened slightly. "you’re still kind of all those things."
you blinked, caught off guard, ready to fight. "excuse me?"
"no, i mean, you write. you sing. you compose. you’re always dressed like you just walked out of a magazine." his voice was casual, as if he wasn’t just casually complimenting you without thinking.
and for some reason—
your heart stumbled a little.
you quickly recovered, clearing your throat. "well. somebody is paying attention."
he smirked. "unfortunately."
you gasped, nudging his shoulder. "and here i thought we were having a moment."
"you should know better by now," he teased, but there was something gentle in the way he said it.
you huffed dramatically. "fine, whatever. but i thought walking out of a magazine was your thing?"
"i wouldn't mind someone appreciating fashion, darling."
"...moving on. next question. what’s your favorite memory?"
jeongin hesitated for a second. then, with a small exhale, he said, "when i was ten, my family took a trip to japan. we went during the cherry blossom season, and i remember standing under this huge tree, just watching the petals fall. it felt like…" he paused, searching for the word. "magic."
your lips parted slightly.
for a moment, you could see it—ten-year-old jeongin standing under a sea of pink, eyes wide with wonder, cherry blossoms falling around him like soft whispers of a dream.
"you still remember it that vividly?" you asked softly.
"yeah." he looked up at the sky. "some moments just… stick with you."
your chest ached a little at that.
you didn’t know why.
you shook off the feeling. "well. that’s a very wholesome memory."
he smirked. "what were you expecting? something embarrassing?"
"maybe," you admitted, grinning. "but i like this one, too."
a comfortable silence settled between you again.
"what about you?" he asked.
you blinked. "huh?"
"your favorite memory."
you smiled slightly, hugging your knees. "i have a lot of good ones. but, if i had to pick, maybe…" you trailed off, thinking.
jeongin waited patiently.
you finally spoke. "back home, we used to have power outages a lot. and whenever that happened, my mom and i would sit outside with candles, just talking. we’d make shadow animals on the wall, tell stories, and drink warm milk while waiting for the lights to come back."
jeongin listened intently, his expression unreadable.
"it was such a simple thing," you murmured, "but it always made me feel.. safe."
for a long moment, he didn’t say anything.
then, finally, he said, "that sounds.. comforting."
you glanced at him.
there was something warm in his eyes, something quiet and understanding.
and for the first time that night—
you weren’t thinking about the bet.
you weren’t thinking about how you were supposed to be fake dating in front of his parents.
it was just the two of you.
sitting under the stars.
sharing pieces of yourselves you never expected to.
and somehow— it didn’t feel fake at all.
it was peaceful.
you were still determined to learn everything about him.
not just for the bet.
not just for fun.
but because, if you were honest, he intrigued you.
and you always liked figuring people out.
so, after a few minutes of silence, you spoke again.
"so," you started, shifting slightly to face him, "we were talking about memories."
jeongin glanced at you. "we were."
"you know what we weren't talking about?" you raised an eyebrow. "your love life."
he scoffed. "love life? who said i have one?"
you gasped, pressing a dramatic hand to your chest. "wait, no way. don’t tell me you’ve never had a girlfriend before, iyennie."
"i literally told you i've never been on a date.. like on day one." he shot you a look. "also, don't call me that."
"i think you know that i don't believe that," you grinned. "also, i will always call you that."
he exhaled through his nose, clearly regretting ever agreeing to this conversation. "i’ve had one."
you perked up. "so you did!" your eyes lit up with curiousity. "so, one? as in, just one?"
"yeah."
"how long ago?"
he hesitated for a second. "three years."
your mouth dropped open. "damn, that’s—wait. that means you’ve been single since you were—"
"yeah, yeah," he cut you off, rubbing the back of his neck. "i just… haven’t really been interested in dating since."
"interesting," you mused. "so what happened?"
jeongin sighed, clearly debating whether to answer.
then, after a moment, he said, "she was.. nice. we just weren’t meant to be, i guess."
you narrowed your eyes. "that’s such a boring answer, yang. give me details."
he smirked slightly, shaking his head. "you’re really nosy, you know that?"
"and you're really secretive." you tilted your head, watching him. "it’s okay if it.. ended badly. you can tell me."
he was quiet for a beat, then finally spoke.
"it wasn’t bad, exactly. we just had different priorities," he admitted. "she wanted a lot more attention, a lot more time together. and i was…" he paused, exhaling. "i was too focused on school, my goals. she got frustrated. said i didn’t care about her enough."
you hummed. "did you?"
he frowned slightly. "i did care about her."
"but maybe not in the way she wanted," you guessed.
jeongin gave you a look, as if surprised at how quickly you caught on. "yeah."
you nodded, thoughtful. "so, you’re the kind of guy who expresses love in actions, not words, huh?"
he blinked. "i guess you could say that."
"noted." you grinned. "i’ll expect a bunch of favors and free tutoring sessions as proof of love."
he rolled his eyes. "we’re not in love."
"not yet," you teased.
jeongin let out a dry chuckle. "you really think you’re gonna win this bet, huh?"
"oh, i know i will," you said smugly. "face it, topper, you like me."
"i tolerate you," he corrected.
"that's what they all say," you laughed. "give it time."
for a moment, he just watched you, his gaze unreadable. then, shaking his head, he muttered, "unbelievable."
you turned your attention back to the sky. "alright, next question."
"you’re not done interrogating me yet?"
"of course not. i’m just getting started." you shot him a smirk. "so, mr. future ceo, what’s something you’re actually passionate about? like, not just academically."
he hesitated.
you raised an eyebrow. "you do have hobbies, right? you don’t just study for fun?"
"of course i have hobbies," he muttered.
"well?"
"…i like music."
you blinked. "wait, really?"
he nodded. "yeah. i don’t do it as much now, but i used to sing trot with my grandparents all the time when i was younger."
you stared at him, genuinely surprised. "you? music?"
"what’s so shocking about that?"
"i don’t know! you just seem like ‘i only study and occasionally judge people’."
"well, i do judge people." he smirked. "i also kinda life photography, for some reason."
"really? so he likes singing and photography? what kinds?"
"mostly landscapes. architecture. things that don’t move too much."
you hummed. "so, no people?"
"not really." he glanced at you. "though… i think i’d like taking pictures of someone if they were interesting enough."
you tilted your head. "like who?"
for a second, jeongin didn’t answer. his eyes flickered over your face, something unreadable in his expression.
then, with a small smirk, he simply said, "dunno. haven’t found them yet."
your stomach did a weird little flip.
you cleared your throat. "huh. well. you should show me your pictures sometime."
he shrugged. "maybe."
you nudged his shoulder. "that means yes."
"that means maybe."
"sure, sure." you grinned before shifting topics. "alright, what’s your biggest ick in a person?"
he smirked slightly. "besides you?"
"rude," you huffed.
he pretended to think. "probably… people who pretend to be someone they’re not."
you nodded. "yeah, i get that. fake personalities are exhausting."
"what about you?"
you didn’t hesitate. "people who can’t communicate."
jeongin raised an eyebrow. "that’s… a very mature answer."
"right?" you sighed dramatically. "like, if you have a problem, just say it. why do people make everything so complicated?"
jeongin chuckled. "agreed."
there was a pause before you added, "also, people who wear socks to bed. they scare me."
he burst out laughing. "what? why?"
"i don't know, it just feels wrong!"
"you’re insane," he said, shaking his head.
"maybe. but at least i’m not a sock-sleeper."
jeongin laughed again, and for some reason, the sound made your chest feel warm.
the conversation continued, shifting from childhood stories to embarrassing moments, from random questions to deep musings.
at one point, you found yourself just… watching him.
the way his dimples appeared when he smiled.
the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed.
the way his gaze softened ever so slightly when he looked at you.
and maybe, just maybe—
you were in trouble.
but you weren’t going to admit that.
not yet.
for now, you were just a girl sitting under the stars with a boy who was supposed to be your fake boyfriend.
and yet, somehow—
it didn’t feel fake at all.
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mastertag ୨୧ @cosmicalily @hyunjiiza @modesttiger @woozarts @katsukis1wife @bddaramjis @reignessance @peskybirdysya @honeyybbuubblleess @ellemir2404 @4ng3l-ch1ld @urlocalmultigroupfan
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obae-me · 2 days ago
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The Devil's Desire
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Nothing like trying to come back from a long hiatus with more Luci content. It's always him, I can't escape.
Warning: This fic contains a makeout scene but nothing explicit, so 16+.
Disclaimer: I am NOT bashing religion, nor am I calling out any specific faith, denomination, etc. It's written to be mostly generic on purpose, and is simply based on a real life experience I have had before. Don't take this seriously, please.
Word Count: 2.3k
With that out of the way, please enjoy some Luci romance!:
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To lie with the devil is to wake up in hell. Tender lips stained with debauchery embrace nothing but lies. Tainted is the temporary vice. Lost is the lamb who leaves the flock. Damned is the devoured; the ones drowned in their own sins, plunged into the fires, entombed in brimstone. The cries of pleasure now ones of wailing. Of gnashing their own teeth. Made to suffer an eternity of eternities for shunning the light.
At least, that’s what they say.
And by they, right now you meant the very adamant woman standing in front of you, brandishing pamphlets like they were her very own Ten Commandments. If only 'Thou Shall Not Harass Unsuspecting People on the Street' were one of them. If you had your own rules, that would make it into the top five for sure.
Unfortunately, the lady slowly singling you out from the rest of the passers-by did not share your same sentiments. She was on a mission. Her mission? You. The goal? To wear you down and pester you long enough to join whatever group she was promoting. You’d seen these things enough before to see the danger signs in advance. A clipboard so they could take your name and number. A promotion selling tickets that you’d inevitably have to use your email to register for. All in an attempt to get your information so they could track you down in a less stalker-y sort of way.
“Oh, hello, dear. How are you today?” The hunter was closing in, two teens carrying signs at her side working on sequestering you- the weaker link- away from the pack.
“I’m good, how are you?” Damn your polite force of habit! Curse you, customer service default settings!
She grinned, knowing that if she played her cards right, she could probably keep you trapped here for a while longer. She spoke, and due to the survival instinct in your brain, you were capable of tuning her out for the most part. Something something, for the greater good, something something, special soul. They never meant what they said, or even if they believed their own words, it was undermined by their intentions. You’d been in this boat before. You kept waving your hand and nodding your head, explaining to her that you were busy and had someone you were meeting.
As you stepped backwards, she approached again. “Just one minute of your time! One minute could save your soul from Lucifer’s clutches!”
Without entirely meaning to, the drop of that name made you pause. Every once and a while, you forgot that the person you had come to know so well was such a prominent- albeit infamous- figure in the human world. Although, the way he tended to be described made him seem more like a boogeyman rather than a demon capable of Armageddon, scaring children across different nations and cultures into behaving. Perhaps you should be insulted on his behalf. Perhaps you should share some of the stuff you had seen. Tales of ivory wings and the blinding glow of a fallen angel whose twisted voice now told beings to Be Afraid. With a haunting beauty so enveloping, you openly fell further into the nightmare. That being said, you almost laughed in her face, wanting to tell her that the man she was so afraid of had been fretting over what kind of coat to wear this morning. Black was classy. But blue made his eyes pop more. But red was his color. Thirty minutes he pondered over this. “I’m not all that worried about it.”
Maybe you hadn’t contained your amusement as well as you thought you did, because for some reason, a righteous fire had lit under her sandy open-toed wedges. “You should be! Whatever promises the devil gives you, it will only bring you misery in the end! He cares nothing for you! Only HE can give you the joy you seek.” Her pointer finger raised up while she gazed to the clouds like she could peer into Heaven from down here. It was hard to tell if the dramatics were more for you or her. When she glanced at you again, she appeared spooked, clutching pearl hands at the ready.
An arm snaked around your waist, a hand settling on your hip. If the touch wasn’t so familiar, you would’ve jumped. “I don’t know. I think I bring plenty of joy, wouldn’t you say, love?”
Speak of the devil, in a quite literal sense.
Relief flooded your body, the tension you’d unknowingly built in your shoulders loosening. Even posing as a human, Lucifer was intimidating. At the very least, no one bothered to approach him out of the blue. This party buff seemed to extend to you as well. This lady seemed much less interested in trying to convince you of anything now. She cleared her throat and thought about potentially leaving you one last message of warning, but the man in your company wasn’t having it. He scoffed under his breath before he gestured to some of the other sign bearers in the group, tilting his head slightly to the side.
“Strange weather today, isn’t it? You might want to help retrieve your things,” Lucifer announced. Eyebrows raised. The weather was quite nice today, albeit a little cold. Curiosity got the better of her. Just as the woman turned around, a heavy gust of wind blew over you all, making pamphlets and signs fly upwards and into the streets. Subtle. People scrambled. The lady hiked up her skirt and ran to the edge of the sidewalk. Cars screeched to a halt and honked, people stopped to gawk at the calamity, all the while, you felt yourself being tugged away.
Lucifer’s hand remained on your waist for a few minutes until he was certain the annoyance was far behind you. How much of a mess was the scene now? You turned your head to look over your shoulder, but only saw darkness as a gloved hand covered your eyes. A slight huff sounded off to your side.
“Leave it. This hesitancy of yours is what got you caught in the first place.” The hand moved from your eyes to the top of your head, making you look up at him with a twist of his fingers. “I leave you be for a few moments, and you once again find yourself tangled up in nonsense.” His narrowed eyes flitted over your form as if checking for signs of distress or injury, like the woman was a master of combat with pamphlets as her weapon of choice. Always the worrier that one. He’d have still a similar reaction if you found yourself lost in a grocery store…
A frown crossed over your face. “I did try to leave. How many times do I have to say ‘no thank you’ before someone leaves me alone?”
He tisked, his posture straightening as he fixed the scarf around your neck. The plush fabric was rubbed against your jaws. “There’s your first issue. Manners are all well and good until someone takes advantage of it. At some point, you have to drop the politeness and just say ‘no’. With your entire chest.” All of a sudden, he took two pointer fingers and manipulated your cheeks and lips to mouth some words. “N. O. Just like that. Can you say it with me? Nnnn…ooo…”
You narrowed your eyes a bit at his teasing, batting his hands away. “Knock it off, Luce…”
“Hmm. Maybe I should go get one of those eccentrics and tell them we changed our minds and—“
“No!”
“Ah, see, you are capable of it.” Someone was mighty pleased with himself. Anytime he found himself in a place where he was free from his responsibilities, he always got shockingly more playful. It would be cute if it weren’t so frustrating right now. His hand started running over your head. “Good job.”
“That’s not funny. You heard how they were talking about you… I hate listening to it.”
At your words, his teasing smile faded. Rolling his eyes, he lowered his hands. “I would much rather you save that vexation for yourself and how they treated you. All the humans in the world could despise me and I would not bat an eye.” Suddenly, his finger tapped your chin, trying to regain your full attention. “I only care what one of them thinks about me.”
Something about the sudden sappiness in public snapped you out of things. You turned a bit on your feet and started walking. “Did you check us in already?”
“I took care of it. Did you want to head in now or wander around the town a while?” His partial pout at ignoring his romanticism could almost be felt physically as he matched his pace with yours.
“I think I’ve had my fun for now.”
A hum, and his hand found your own. Clasping it, guiding you to the hotel as you both walked. It was astonishing how such a move cast a level of camouflage over you two. Suddenly, it was as if you both were a normal couple following the regular flow of foot-traffic, keeping each other warm in the crisp air with the heat of each others close proximity.
If the devil was so callous, why were his hands so tender?…
The rest of the walk was a bit of a blur. The people, buildings, spoken words, all unimportant compared to the sensation of having him near. The elevator ride jostled, giving you some more awareness to your surroundings. A short walk, a brandished key card, and he opened the door for you, the very picture of a perfect gentleman.
If the devil cared not for you, why would he bother with chivalry?
The “room” was huge, with an entire kitchen, walled off bathroom, closed off bedroom, and separate living area. This was more an apartment than a simple hotel room. The luggage was already brought inside, Lucifer’s portion already opened and put away. “Leave it to Diavolo to save you the biggest, fanciest suite in the hotel. If the tub has jets, I’m never leaving.”
“Do you expect the Avatar of Pride, the right hand to royalty, to expect anything less?”
“You’re funny if you think Diavolo wouldn’t give you something like this regardless of your gilded titles. Careful, your sin is showing.” You rolled your eyes and gave him a playful nudge.
He swiveled on his feet and poked your ribs. “You dare push me?” His voice rumbled in amusement deep in his chest. “Rather bold to do to such a dangerous demon.”
“Oh? Is that a threat? Going to take my soul? Well, you’re going to have to get through me first.” Fake punches flew through the air, striking at his chest and face with no force. Although you knew real punches would have the same utterly useless, painless outcome for him.
The world tilted, some of the air leaving your lungs in a giggling gasp as he scooped you up over his shoulder. He twisted, spinning around occasionally to leave you somewhat disoriented until you were plopped down on top of the bed, the whole mattress bobbing. Lucifer hovered over you. “You cannot hope to win, human. You’re mine now.”
Something in your chest fluttered at that. “So you win then, is it? How would you like my soul? Grilled? Blended? Braised?”
One of his hands worked on removing the scarf from around your neck, the back of his index finger tracing the outline of your chin. Just a breath away from being in contact. “Let me see…” Adjusting, rubbing his nose against yours, he waited for that tell-tale sign of permission, of you closing some of the distance. Temptation struck you, flooding in your heart. The plunge was too alluring. You bit of the fruit, and the devil wrapped his clutches around you.
Watch out for the schemes of the devil, who prowls like a beast, waiting for the moment to strike and devour- lips whispering inner desires. Raise up your guard to save yourself from being pulled into darkness, into his embrace, limbs aching and craving. For his claws shall tear and shred in eagerness, unable to contain themselves as they remove the body of protective vestments. He will take the very breath from your lungs. Crush the bones with a heaving chest. Partake of your flesh.
Lucifer raised his head for a moment, letting you both catch your breath. Your thumb traced his bottom lip, puffy and scarlet where you’d nipped it. Red was always a good color for him. That’s why you picked the crimson coat for him today. It matched his cheeks, the end of his ears, his longing eyes.
“Authentically,” he said, answering your question you felt you asked two lifetimes ago. His mouth covered yours as his broad hands squeezed your shoulders. “Slowly…” You could almost feel his hum in the back of your throat as he spoke between kisses. “Bit by bit…” His teeth grazed you top lip. “Over the course of a lifetime…” His affection moved on, venturing out and exploring your cheeks and gently over your eyelids. “So you’ll be right here with me… exactly like this… for a very-“ a searing mark was placed right under your earlobe, against a tingling part of your neck, “…very long time.”
To lie with the devil is to wake up wrapped up in braids of limb and cloth. Tender lips stained with last night’s embrace whisper saccharine words. Cherished is the temporary stillness. Beloved is the lamb who measures the meter of the heartbeat of the wolf. Blessed is the enamored; the ones drowned in their own affection, plunged into the fires of passion, entombed in each other’s chests. The cries of pleasure echoed with ones of mirth. Of declarations and vows held tight between their own teeth. Made to persist an eternity of eternities for existing as the other’s light.
For it's his desire.
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liyliths · 2 days ago
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.˚𓅆࿐ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐣𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 an aot au / inspired by the hunger games
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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄
summary: survive. that's all you've known you're entire life - to survive. survive district 12, survive the reaping, and survive the capitol. but when you're reaped for the 98th annual hunger games alongside levi ackerman, will you seize the opportunity of rebellion when it arises? the mockingjay is singing, dear reader, please choose wisely.
“Pretty.” A voice calls from behind you, and your gaze catches the reflection of light ginger hair in the mirror. “You look pretty.” You turn around, but can’t quite come up with the right words to say. “Thanks,” you muster up, meeting the girl’s amber eyes.  “Are you ready?” The ginger tentatively asks. Judging by the dread hidden beneath her eyes, she doesn’t look like she wants to face the reaping either. “I guess so.”
pairings: levi ackerman x reader
contains: fem!reader, strangers to lovers, slow burn, hurt and comfort, semi canon compliant, character death, descriptions of blood, phycological trauma, rebellion, this is gonna hurt but be so rewarding, and any other warnings that come with aot characters/the hunger games universe
word count: 6.5k
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You've hated the capitol for as long as you can remember. You hate them for everything they've taken away from you. The people you've lost, the cruelties woven into everyday life, the way you've had to survive, and the games. The Hunger Games. Who came up with them anyway?
You know better than to ever dare say anything out loud about it.
It was all about control. After the thirteen districts were defeated in the rebellion, twelve remained. The capitol created the Hunger Games—a brutal punishment for the districts, forcing their children to fight to the death in an arena every year on the anniversary of the capitol's victory. The games are broadcast across Panem, turning slaughter into spectacle, while the people in the capitol sit comfortably with their champagne, watching children kill each other for their entertainment.
It was cruel. You hated how you couldn't do anything about it, how you couldn't save any of the innocent children sent to be slaughtered. All you could do was live with it. That's all anyone could do—and hope to hell they wouldn't be selected for the games.
You don't think the people in the capitol quite understand what the districts go through, especially in the slums of District 12. You can't remember how long it's been since you've been fending for yourself... it feels like that's how your entire life has been. All you know is survival.
You stare at your reflection in the mirror, fidgeting with the collar of your blue blouse, styled with a neat beige skirt you borrowed from the mayor's daughter. Even though you've never been particularly close, a few years ago she was kind enough to offer you presentable clothing for this dreadful day every year. It became a tradition between you two.
Perhaps she pitied you, or maybe she is genuinely kind. Probably both.
The reaping was today. Today, they gather all the children from each district to their town center and draw two unlucky names from a bowl to fight to the death. You know better than to expect to see someone from twelve make it back from the games. No one in District 12 comes back.
"Pretty." A voice calls from behind you, and your gaze catches the reflection of light ginger hair in the mirror. "You look pretty."
You turn around, but can't quite come up with the right words to say.
"Thanks," you muster up, meeting the girl's amber eyes.
"Are you ready?" The ginger tentatively asks. Judging by the dread hidden beneath her eyes, she doesn't look like she wants to face the reaping either.
"I guess so."
This was the last year either of you were eligible for the games, with the cutoff age being eighteen. The final reaping you'd ever have to endure. You're not sure if that's a relief or a curse because after this, you can't put your name in for extra rations anymore.
You've put in extra entries since you were twelve for more rations, or tessare. As they've stacked up over the years, your odds are now seventeen times worse.
That means nothing to lose, right?
One thing about District 12 is that it's never quiet. Usually, the bustling sounds of conversation come from the market, along with the sound of pickaxes against coal, and kids running around with the town strays. The only sounds you can hear today are the dread-filled footsteps of children and anxious parents walking toward the town center. Everyone takes their time heading to the reaping.
Not even the birds sing today.
-
The peacekeepers with ugly white suits stare, making sure everything is going smoothly. You see two girls holding hands. The mayor's daughter walks in silence beside you. Her father said his goodbyes, he said he'll see her for supper and she believes it. You know better than to tell yourself you'll be back, just in case the worst happens. Boys and girls alike between the ages twelve through eighteen file into the town hall after getting their identities verified by the peacekeepers.
Everyone is quiet.
After the children get checked in, everyone settles to their selective spots—the girls and boys in opposite sections and parents nervously waiting for their children on the sidelines. A tap on the microphone in center stage rings through your ears from the speakers, startling you amidst the silence.
"Welcome!" A lady beams with a twisted smile, excitedly surveying the crowd. "Happy Hunger Games! And, may the odds be ever in your favor."
You feel yourself scoffing at that. This lady recites the same shit every year, with the same bright ugly hair and outfit, although they change colors each time. You always wonder what she's going to wear next.
"Now, before we begin, we have a very special film brought to you all the way from the capitol!" The lady announces, shifting her focus to the projection screen strung up in the town center for all to see.
You tune the video out every year. You don't want to hear the capitol bullshit about "generosity" or "forgiveness", you find it rather ironic. If this was about a lesson for the districts after the rebellion, why carry it on for generations?
You don't think you'll ever find the answer to that, that is just how it is. However, one thing is certain—you know the capitol is twisted.
"Are you alright?" The amber-eyed girl whispers to you, genuine concern etched on her face. She is nervous too—you notice the way her hands fumble with the insides of her skirt pockets.
"I'm ready to get this over with," you lean over, whispering to the girl. You see her nod in agreement out of your peripheral vision. Soon enough, the bullshit video was over and the bright-haired lady's insufferable voice echoed through the town hall once more.
"I just love that!" The lady gushed, but was quick to move on to the next "exciting" order of business. "Now, the time has come for us to select one courageous young man and woman for the honor of representing District 12 in the 98th annual Hunger Games!"
She paused, as if waiting for some sort of applause. She didn't get one.
"Well, as usual... ladies first." She flashed a bright smile, disappointment lingering on her face. It makes you wonder if she enjoys being the one picking children to be sent to the games, as if she should be praised.
You watch her waddle to the left side of the outdoor stage in her heels, oh-so-gracefully dipping her hand into the reaping bowl for the girls and filing through the pieces of paper with entry names. You look at the ginger next to you, she looks even more nervous than just a few moments ago. You want to comfort her, but before you can say anything, the capitol lady on the stage pulls out an entry and waddles back to the microphone.
Seventeen entries. Your name is entered in that bowl seventeen times.
The bright-haired lady awkwardly fumbles with the paper and squints through the sunlight beaming under the clouds as she reads the entry. She takes a deep breath before she announces the name. Everyone is holding their breath. It's quiet.
"Petra Ral!"
You think you can feel your heart stop.
The ginger next to you, Petra—froze in place. Everyone knew her as the mayor's daughter, which meant everyone knew exactly where to look for her in the crowd. All eyes were on her. You glance up to the stage where you saw her father, the mayor, stand up in his seat to protest, but was quickly blocked by peacekeepers.
"Come on up, dear." The bright-haired lady quips, beckoning the ginger to the stage with an oh-so-welcoming smile.
You glance at Petra, and your eyes lock with her amber ones. You think the look on her face might haunt you for the rest of your life.
She knows she's going to die in those games. You know she's going to die in those games.
The crowd around you and the selected tribute clear the way for the two peacekeepers marching toward the ginger. You can only watch as they grab the side of her arms and escort her toward the stage. She tries to thrash away from their grip, but it's useless.
She won't last a day in that arena. Between the careers, the mutts, and whatever else the gamemakers throw at her, she won't make it. It's not fair.
It's not fair, it's not fair, it's not...
"I volunteer as tribute!"
The words burst from your mouth before you can even think about stopping them. The peacekeepers stop in their tracks. It's quiet again.
"Oh! I believe we have a volunteer!" The capitol lady claps enthusiastically from the stage.
You feel a new set of peacekeeper's arms wrap around yours. Your limbs feel practically numb as they drag you up to the stage. You pass Petra as the other peacekeepers take her back to her place in the crowd. You don't even look at her. You have to stay strong. You know every camera in the town hall is on you.
It just shows the capitol doesn't care who gets picked for the games, mayor's child or not.
She has everything to lose. What do you?
"This is District 12's very first volunteer!" The bright-haired lady announces excitedly, putting her hand on your back once you bring yourself up the steps to the stage, carefully guiding you toward the center.
"What is your name?" She asks, her colorful eyelashes batting at you.
You swallow hard, trying to find your voice. "Y/N L/N."
"Well now, let's have a big round of applause for our very first volunteer!" The lady requests, but no one follows her as she begins to applaud.
Your eyes lock with Petra's from the stage. Then, something unexpected happens. Three middle fingers of her left hand touch her lips, and she raises them to the sky. The rest of the crowd follows Petra, one by one, putting three fingers in the air as a salute.
You know what that gesture means. It's an old and rarely used sign of your district, occasionally seen at funerals. It means thanks, it means admiration, it means goodbye to someone you love.
You can tell the bright-haired lady doesn't know what to do at this point. She pauses for a moment, but quickly moves on. She's good at deferring. "Now, for the boys!"
This time, she doesn't take her time grabbing an entry, most likely eager to get the ceremony over with. She hastily waddles in her stilettos back to the microphone from the entry bowl, unfolding the paper and putting on a gleeful smile.
"Levi Ackerman!"
You watch the tension among the crowd of boys visibly drop, a collective sigh of relief settling over them, except for one. His posture remains rigid, muscles tight as all eyes shift to him. He's lean, with dark raven hair that looks vaguely familiar. His gaze darts around in disbelief as peacekeepers move in, gripping his arms. He brashly jerks against their hold, trying to break free, but it's no use. His expression shifts sharply, anger flashing across his face like a spark ready to ignite.
You wonder if he'll accept it—his fate. You don't even know if you have. No one from District 12 comes back from the games.
The black-haired boy is placed beside you as the capitol lady reapproaches the microphone after greeting him, rather cheerful. You think her voice might give you a headache. "Here they are, our tributes for District 12!"
You know what everyone's thinking. I'm sorry it was you, but I'm grateful it wasn't me.
You flinch at the feeling of a hand on your shoulder, turning to see the bright-haired lady grinning at you. "Well, come on you two, shake hands!" She says and takes a step back, allowing you to get a good look at the boy next to you.
Now that you've met his eyes, the unmistakable silver-blue irises staring back at you—you do recognize him.
He wasn't much better-off than you, he was an orphan too, fighting to survive in a world that gave him nothing. One night during a terrible rainstorm, the bakery burned a batch of bread, and that's when he saw you, hollow-eyed and starving. Despite his own hunger, he was able to salvage one loaf of bread out of the pigs pen and shared it with you after getting chased off by the bakers. He split it with you without a word, expecting nothing back in return.
You're forever grateful for that.
He is the first one to reach out his hand, his eyes carefully gazing into yours. You wonder if he remembers too. You raise your hand and return the handshake. You grip his hand, rough calluses brushing against yours, and he gives you a reassuring squeeze. The bright-haired lady starts to speak again before you two can finish.
"Happy Hunger Games! And, may the odds be ever in your favor!"
Though, you both know your odds are fucked.
The guards escorted you and your district partner to waiting rooms inside of the town hall to say goodbye to anyone who might want to, usually family or friends. You're only given a handful of minutes, but you don't exactly expect anyone to walk through that door. Hell, you wouldn't even blame Petra if she didn't.
With your hand on the windowsill, you rest your weight against it, taking in these last few minutes until you're hauled off to the capitol. You know you aren't likely to ever see your home again. You know you'll miss it, the woods have always been home. Unexpectedly, the doors burst open and you're met with none other than the mayor's daughter, Petra.
"You didn't have to," you whisper. It's no use. Although you two were never particularly close, she still rushes up to you and scoops you into a big hug. Your arms reluctantly reach around her back, taking a shaky breath.
Petra pulls back from you, her expression almost in shock. "I thought—I thought I was... I don't know how I can ever repay you for this!"
You can't help but smile at her generosity. "You don't need to. There's no use anyway."
The ginger shakes her head furiously. "I've seen your hauls when you come back from the woods! You can hunt," she speaks quickly, she knows she's running out of time with you. "You can hunt, and you're a survivor. You can win this."
Your smile fades, and you feel yourself sigh. You don't want to let her get her hopes up for your return. You can't.
"Petra, you and I both know no one from District 12 comes back—"
"Don't you dare speak of such things. Make them pay," she interrupts, her voice lower. She nods, almost to herself, cautiously scanning her surroundings before reaching into her dress pocket to pull out a shiny pin.
She hands it to you—it's gold, with a bird in motion of flight in the center. It's a Mockingjay.
The Capitol originally engineered a mutation known as the Jabberjay, designed during the rebellion to eavesdrop on rebels and spies by recording and repeating conversations. However, the districts quickly caught on, using the Jabberjays to spread false information. Once they outlived their usefulness, the capitol abandoned them in the wild, expecting them to die off. Instead, the Jabberjays mated with female Mockingbirds, creating an entirely new species—the Mockingjay.
You're not quite sure what Petra meant by 'they', either, but before you have the chance to ask, or rather, thank her for the pin—a peacekeeper barges through the door announcing your time is up, and begins to escort Petra out of the room. You shove the pin in your skirt pocket, hoping to the gods the peacekeeper didn't see it, only able to watch as Petra gets dragged away from you.
"You have to try!" She says one more time, but this time, you give an optimistic reply, though you can't help but doubt yourself. "I will!"
As soon as you finish your sentence, the door is slammed shut behind the peacekeepers as they drag Petra out. You are left alone in the suffocating silence of the dim room once again, aside from the sound of your uneven breathing.
You hate this. You hate knowing that you're never going to see her or your home ever again.
-
You and Levi are hauled in a military vehicle to the bullet train along with the annoying bright-haired lady. You can't help but tune her blabbering out, and judging off the look on Levi's face, you think he's doing the same. After a short while, you are escorted onto the train that travels between the districts and to the capitol.
You'd never seen it in person, but it definitely exceeded your expectations. The train's shiny silver metal reflects against the sunlight, almost blinding you. It is infamous for the high speeds it travels at. You're not exactly sure how fast it goes, but you know it can reach the other side of the country within a day.
When you step inside of the train, you're met with the most luxurious interior you've ever laid your eyes on. There are sets of velvet furniture, walls adorned with exclusive wallpaper, paired with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. A delicious scent overwhelms you, and your mouth waters at the next thing you lay your eyes on—food. Practically enough to feed the entire population of District 12 if rationed out properly.
There are pastries, plenty of fruit, along with a great selection of cheese and meats. The only time you've been able to eat meat was when you caught your own in the woods, usually squirrels or rabbits, but on rare occasions—deer.
The dark-haired boy beside you seems just as stunned as you are, both of you frozen at the sight of the food laid out before you. It feels almost selfish to have this much when everyone back in District 12 is starving. Guilt knots in your chest as you hesitate before slowly stepping toward the table overflowing with beautiful dishes. Out of the corner of your eye, you see your district partner fall into step beside you, just as hesitant.
It's not fair.
You both eat anyway.
The first thing you reach for is a fresh roll of bread, still warm, its soft crust glistening with a light coat of melted butter. Out of the corner of your eye, you catch Levi picking up a pastry—a cheese danish. You'd had the chance to try one once, traded by a kind woman at the market for a couple squirrels. To this day, you think it was the best thing you've ever tasted.
As you're stuffing your face with bread rolls, a bubbly voice chirps from behind you. "Pace yourselves, you two!"
You resist the urge to roll your eyes. It's not like she'd understand—raised in the capitol, she's so out of touch it's almost humorous. Nothing you can do about that.
"Good grief," a gruff voice follows after the sound of a door opening. You turn from the table to look at the man, his expression almost as unimpressed as you feel. "Let them eat."
The first thing you notice about him is the unsteady way he staggers toward you, followed quickly by the sharp, rancid scent of alcohol hitting your nose. He's drunk, no question about it. As he draws closer, you get a better look at him. Short blond hair, fair skin, and hazel eyes that flick lazily between you and Levi, sizing you both up disinterestedly.
"Congratulations," the drunkard slurs, snatching a glass from the nearby table, his fingers twitching with anticipation as he hovers over the selection of bottles. After a brief, careless scan, he settles on an amber-colored liquor, filling it to the brim without a second thought.
You and Levi exchange an uncertain glance before shifting your attention back to the man, watching as he stumbles toward a seat beside you. He drops into it with an exasperated sigh, taking a long swig of his drink before grandly gesturing for you and the dark-haired boy to sit across from him. Hesitant, but with little choice, you both obey, sinking into the stiff cushions of a square sofa.
The man says nothing—just sits there, staring at the two of you. You grow uncomfortable underneath his gaze, but before you get the chance to break the silence, your district partner does it for you.
"You're supposed to be our mentor?"
The drunk lets out a low chuckle, taking another swig of his drink before setting the glass down with a dull thud on the table beside him. From behind, the bright-haired woman pipes up, her voice demanding. "Show Hannes some respect! He's won these games before!"
You scoff under your breath. Respect? You're expected to put on your best manners while being shipped off to the Hunger Games—on top of discovering your mentor is a washed-up drunk? What a joke.
You doubt this guy will even try to be of any help, but it's worth a shot. You lean forward in your seat, raising an eyebrow. "So, what great advice do you have for us, Hannes?"
The drunk smirks. "Well sweetheart," he exaggerated, "the best advice I can offer you is to accept, deep in your heart, that you will not be making it out of that arena."
The bright-haired lady, whom you have yet to figure out the name of, gasps. "Hannes! Don't be absurd!"
Levi's jaw tightens, a scowl settling across his face as he stews in silence. Then, without warning, he shoots up from his chair, reaching to snatch the glass from Hannes' hand. You can only watch as the drunk resists, gripping the glass stubbornly until Levi yanks it free with more force than necessary. The amber liquid sloshes out, splattering across Hannes' white button-up, leaving dark stains that will definitely not wash out.
"Sober up, then we can have a mature conversation." Levi hisses, his glare burning into the drunk's hazel eyes.
Hannes lets out a frustrated huff, snatching the now-empty glass from Levi's hands before storming off from his seat through the automatic door, disappearing into another room. Shifting your gaze, you glance up at the dark-haired boy as he settles back into a seat across from you, looking surprisingly content after the outburst.
"What?"
You can't help but roll your eyes. "That went well."
"He'll come around! I'll be back," the bright-haired woman chirps, her arms swinging dramatically as she strides after Hannes, disappearing into the other room and leaving you alone with Levi.
Silence settles between you. You don't know what to say to him—not that it would matter. You're both thinking the same thing anyway. Hannes was probably right. The odds of either of you making it back home are slim, between the careers, mutts, and whatever other nightmares the gamemakers have waiting.
"Do you have anyone back home?" You break the silence, solely in an attempt to escape your thoughts, even if it's just for a moment.
"No," he says without looking at you. "You?"
You purse your lips together. "Nope."
Silence suffocates the room once more. You figure there's nothing more to talk about at this point, it's just a matter of getting through the week until the games commence. You're not exactly eager to get close to Levi. What's the point? Neither of you are making it out of the arena. And even if you did, it wouldn't be together. One of you might turn on the other. The idea sounds ridiculous, but when it comes to survival, you can't doubt the intentions of anyone.
As your eyes drift to the wooden grandfather clock by the automatic door, you can't help but wonder—is there a way out? A way out of the games, a way out of the system. But after 98 long years of their existence, you're certain the capitol has thought of everything. Every possible scenario, every desperate attempt a tribute might make to escape—it's all definitely been accounted for.
-
Later, the bright-haired woman whose name you learn is Valerie, returns alone, clearly unsuccessful in coaxing Hannes back. To pass the time, she decides to give you and Levi a tour of the train. You can't even begin to fathom how much one room might be worth, let alone the entire bullet train. When she finally shows you to your bedroom, offering some privacy, you almost gape at the sheer luxury laid out before you.
Dark wallpaper with undecorated walls surround the room, with a chandelier reflecting a beautiful dim yellow glow in the center. The bed is massive, you figure you could fit about six people on there if they squeezed together, and the decor is nothing you've seen before, rich with details you can't even name. Off to the side, you have your own luxurious bathroom with unlimited warm water, along with a huge walk-in closet, its walls lined with endless amounts of clothing. It's overwhelming, to say the least.
You find yourself shuffling toward the bed laden with silk sheets, taking a seat as the canvas of the bedframe embraces you. As you sat, you felt something in your pocket prod at you—the pin Petra gave you. Carefully, you pull it out of your pocket, examining the details. You were never sure about Petra, but you suppose that maybe after all... she was the closest thing you had to a friend.
Your fingers delicately trace the pattern of the Mockingjay on the gold pin.
It brings back memories of simpler days, sitting beneath the trees, listening to the Mockingjays sing alongside your younger sister in the forest sometime after you both lost your parents. You remember it was her favorite bird—you'd listen to her hum melodies, and they'd sing the tune right back.
Those days weren't exactly simpler. Food was always scarce. Your mother wasn't around, and your father was always too busy in the mines to help with food. You managed, but once your parents were gone, it was your responsibility to keep you and your sister alive.
And it was hard. Really hard.
Your father had taught you how to use a bow and arrow. On rare occasions, he'd sneak you past the electric fence into the forest outside District 12, strictly forbidden territory, to hunt a few squirrels for supper.
Once, you snuck out into the forest on your own without his permission. When you returned with two squirrels in hand, proud of your catch, your father was furious. You knew it was because he was scared for you and your family, worried about what could've happened if you'd been caught. You understood the risks—but you also understood the consequences of coming home empty-handed.
You stopped sneaking out into the forest, and yes—your family barely scraped by. Once it was just you and your sister, you had no other choice for your survival to go back into the woods just to eat. Sometimes, if you got extra game, you would sell or trade it at the market, and that always helped.
The winters were always harsh. So harsh.
You and your sister were lucky enough to keep living in your parents' house, but luck didn't mean much when there was hardly any food or warmth. By the time winter crept in, the rations from extra entries were nearly gone, and the thick layers of snow drove all the animals into hiding. You were only thirteen, just a kid when you had to fend for you and your sister.
That was your only job—keep yourself going so you can keep your sister alive. Yet, you managed to fail.
The winter was particularly terrible that year, you and your sister were living off just about nothing. You had no firewood, no food scraps, and no warmth—just each other. But it wasn't enough. She fell ill and you did everything you could. You tried to access medical assistance, which was practically unheard of in District 12, so you did what you could with what little you had, trying to nurse her back to health on your own.
But it wasn't enough.
One morning when the sun rose, you went to wake your sister before you planned to go beyond the prohibited fence into the forest, desperate to find any signs of game. She had been sick—terribly sick, and deep down, you knew it. When you tried to wake her, gently cupping her cheek in your cold hands—you found no signs of warmth in her skin. You felt her hands. Her arms. Her body. Everything was frozen cold.
You tried to shake her awake. But she didn't stir. She never woke.
So yes, the capitol never did anything to you, but you've seen the way they've neglected your family, children, the homeless, the starving, exploited the districts—everyone. Even the privileged among the districts, such as Petra, the mayor's daughter—were not safe from the capitol. No one was.
It's not fair.
So yes, maybe they have done something to you. Maybe it is personal.
You remember Petra's words. "Make them pay," she said. You didn't understand what she meant back then, but now you think you do. You're not sure how, but you know you want to.
You need to make them pay.
-
"Rise and shine, dear!" A jarring voice ruptures you from your slumber, forcing you to rise from your bed with a gasp—only to see the bright-haired lady... what was her name again? Oh... Valerie.
"Breakfast is getting cold!" She adds with a sing-song voice as she draws the blackout curtains open, revealing the mountains you're passing through in flashes of speed your vision simply cannot keep up with. You groan as the morning light meets your eyes, covering your vision with your arm for some relief as your senses are overloaded.
She prances out of your room, only before adding in a quick, "chop, chop!"
That was the best sleep you think you've gotten in years. Though, today is the day you arrive at the capitol, one day closer to the games. You take your time getting up, you don't really care if your food is cold—food is food. You can't complain, long story short. Finding the bathroom connected to your room, you turn on the warm faucet water and splash it onto your face, refreshing yourself before you make your way to the dining room with the others.
When the automatic door slides open, you're met with Valerie who flashes a polite smile at you whilst sipping on a fancy cup of warm coffee, along with Levi and your bright mentor, Hannes, sitting at the wooden dining table. Your presence catches Hannes' attention, and he beckons you over to the table.
You grab a pastry before sitting down with the two of them. You're not sure what it is, but it's still warm, fresh out of the oven, melting in your mouth with the first bite. Sliding into a seat across from Hannes and beside the dark-haired boy, you catch the fresh, crisp scent of clean fabric—briefly comforting—before it's quickly overpowered by the sharp, bitter sting of alcohol wafting from Hannes, making you grimace.
You scoff, gesturing at the empty glass sat in front of the blonde mentor. "Really? Starting off your day strong, I see."
He chuckles at that, shaking his head lightly. "It's not the strong stuff dear, relax."
"Levi here was the one to convince the man to lay off, be sure to thank him." Valerie chimes in from across the room, sitting in a velvet chair as she sips her coffee.
You steal a glance at the boy beside you, meeting his sharp, silver-blue eyes. He's clearly holding back a scowl, though his face doesn't seem built for anything resembling a warm expression. You guess you can't really blame him.
As you settle in your seat, you're suddenly swarmed with enormous plates of food placed in front of you from the maids. There's eggs, sausages, and even pancakes with a side of syrup. They set two glasses of juice in front of you and Levi, and you can't help but give a small nod as a thank you when they depart.
You gratefully accept the plate of food set in front of you, digging into the pancakes first. They remind you of a Christmas morning long ago, when your mother had managed to gather the ingredients for a special breakfast. These pancakes don't taste quite like hers, but it's a rare treat nonetheless. Out of the corner of your eye, you notice Levi beside you, silently forking a sausage and slicing it apart with precise movements of his knife.
As the two of you ate, Hannes couldn't help himself but watch you and Levi try and act polite before the abundance of food, because he too lived in District 12, starving like the rest of you. He knew what it was like, but he wouldn't judge the tributes that ate like it was their last meal, because likely—it was.
"So," you mumble as you chew. "You sober enough to try and actually help us out now?"
Your mentor can't help but stifle a laugh as he refills his beverage with some sort of new red colored alcohol—you have no idea what it could be. He simply ignores your question, reaching for a fabric napkin to wipe the few drops of alcohol he accidentally spilt on the table. You see an opportunity to get his attention.
If you want a shot at this, you'll have to make him realize you're serious about it.
Swiftly, your hand reaches over to Levi's table knife and you clutch it in a fist, plunging it into the napkin Hannes tried to lift. It gets pinned to the wood of the table just right between his fingers. Your mentor's eyes go wide, shock plastered across his face as if you've completely lost your mind. Beside you, Levi fights back a grin, the corner of his mouth twitching.
You hear a gasp across the dining room from Valerie, who slammed her almost-empty cup of coffee on the table beside her. "That is mahogany!"
You watch her get up and storm off to the other room. You're not even sure what that word is supposed to mean, but you realize she was talking about the wood that the table was made of.
"Well then, look at you!" Hannes raises his eyebrows, yanking his nearly punctured hand back from the table. "You killed a napkin."
With an exaggerated sigh, he pulls the knife from the wooden table, setting it neatly back with Levi's silverware. His expression shifts, growing slightly more serious. "You really wanna know how to stay alive? You get people to like you."
You don't respond, your gaze locked on his with quiet defiance. Hannes gestures to the center of the room, his patience thinning. "Stand over here. Both of you."
Reluctantly, you and Levi obey. He rises from his seat, moving to circle you and your district partner. Surprisingly, he's not stumbling like he was the day before. You guess he is in-fact a bit more sober, although it is just the beginning of the day. His eyes rake over both of you, scrutinizing every detail—your features, your posture, the tension in your muscles, examining everything visible on the surface.
"You're not entirely helpless," he mutters, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Once the stylists clean you up, you might even secure a few sponsors." He pauses, then smirks. "Though, you both have about as much charm as a dead rat."
You scoff, crossing your arms. "Gee, thanks."
Levi's glare sharpens, but Hannes ignores it, leaning in slightly. "Listen, if you can agree to not interfere with my drinks..." His eyes narrow, reluctantly finishing his sentence. "...I'll help you, but you have to do exactly as I say."
You raise an eyebrow at that as you feel a pair of eyes on you. You turn to Levi, exchanging a quick glance before he turns back to face Hannes. "Fine."
"So what do we need to do first?" You ask. "How can we—"
"The first thing you need to do is comply with your stylists," Hannes starts, grabbing the glass left on the mahogany table to take a swig of his red drink. "We'll be at the capitol station in a few minutes, and you'll be put in their hands. You're not going to like what the stylists do, but don't resist."
You furrow your brows together, shaking your head in confusion. "But—"
"No buts, just trust me." says Hannes. He takes his glass drink along with a new bottle of amber alcohol, treading toward the automatic door to the other room, leaving you and Levi alone.
As the door slid shut, the windows in the dining room darkened. You realized you're in the tunnels of the mountain that lead into the city of Panem, just where the capitol and all of its citizens reside. The chandeliers in the room still keep it well-lit, but it is still dark enough to assume it's night if you weren't paying attention.
Both you and Levi can't help but feel yourself drawn toward the windows, tentatively walking to them. As you watch the tunnels blur past, a sudden burst of blinding light floods your vision, forcing you to squint against the harsh glare. When your eyes finally adjust, the sight before you steals the breath from your lungs.
You're in the heart of the capitol—a bustling city with modern buildings and skyscrapers stretching as far as you can see. It's overwhelming, far more vibrant and abundant than anything you've ever seen broadcasted back home. You realize now just how much you underestimated it.
The train begins to slow, and soon you're met with the sight of the capitol's grand train station—along with swarms of people, hundreds of capitol citizens gathered outside, cheering wildly as they catch sight of you and the dark-haired boy through the window. Their outlandish outfits are a chaotic blur of colors, so bright and jarring it's almost blinding. Each shade is louder than the last, a dizzying mess of vibrance that's almost too much to take in all at once.
You shake your head, watching as the swarm of capitol citizens wave and cheer at you while the train grinds to a halt. "I can't believe they look at us like we're..."
"Animals in their zoo," Levi finishes your sentence, his stoic eyes meeting yours.
"Yeah," you breathe, fingers absentmindedly fidgeting with the small pin tucked into your skirt pocket.
Levi gives you a slight, reassuring nod, his silver-blue eyes steady on yours. "You ready?"
You can't help but feel nostalgic at those words, remembering it was just yesterday when you told Petra you were ready to leave for the reaping. You thought you were. And even this time, you're not entirely sure.
"I guess so."
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next chapter (coming soon) story navigation playlist
taglist: @fleshandbonez @reivelmin @estella-novella comment and ask to be added!
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plushcroft · 1 day ago
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You thought why not try therapy? People deal with all kinds of things so why wouldn't your situation be more common? You spill to the new therapist.
Now the therapist you started talking to seems confused. "People donate organs and survive a lot more than you think. It sounds like yours were taken without your consent so that would definitely cause some trauma. There is nothing odd about asking for help. This is a safespace. We might even help you track down the thieves depending on your testimony."
You then removed the thick false glasses to reveal missing eyes out of your sockets. "I guess I should have specified a majority of organs, including the usual life sustaining ones were missing when I woke up and do you want to know the worst part is? I can still see out of these sockets, I can feel hunger with no stomach, yet even I don't understand why I'm still alive. Funnily enough I remember making a deal with someone when I was drunk but I don't even remember the contents of the deal. It was just a 'hey want to give immortality a spin? You'll probably need it next week, next thing I know I crashed into a tree one week away. My mistake thankfully only affected myself. No one else was in the accident except for my stupid self. Hell, I don't even know how I got myself into- wait why are you freaking out? I'm being honest here! I lost my own pulse when my own heart was removed, I don't even think I have a brain anymore. But I haven't hurt anyone! Why are you so scared?"
After realizing your problem was something even a professional would be nervous around you left somehow without alerting anyone. Maybe just maybe someday you could figure things out. You had the sacrifice list at your house to finish. Most people bought crickets for their pet reptile not themselves.
To be continued?
The ritual calls for 100 sacrifices, but after reading it carefully you realize that it never specified they had to be human. Deciding to be the smartass that you are, you got a petri dish full of bacteria and sacrificed them instead.
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serickswrites · 2 days ago
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would you do an alternate ending to “whumpee, the hostage”? where whumpee survives and caretaker gets to apologise to and comfort whumpee? pleaseeee
Hello, Anon! I think you are wanting a sequel to this piece? (At least I hope you are). Please enjoy!
Part 1
Warnings: hostage situation, gunshot, blood, wounds, bleeding out, temporary character death, cpr, hospital, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery, hurt/comfort, caretaker and whumpee
"WHUMPEE!" Caretaker screamed again as their knees gave out. "NOOOO!" They cried as the two uniformed officers held them. Caretaker clutched at their sleeves. "NO!" They were too late. They were right there. Whumpee was right there. They had failed.
Chaos erupted around Caretaker. Multiple shouts and gunshots rang out. People ran around Caretaker and into the bank. But it didn't matter. Caretaker had failed. Caretaker had failed when it had counted the most.
"GET EMS!" Someone shouted. "WE HAVE AN OFFICER DOWN!"
Officer down? Caretaker's head jerked up, their heart pounding. Did that mean?
"EMS STAT! OFFICER DOWN!" The voice repeated.
Caretaker didn't hesitate. They got up on wobbly legs and surged forward. No one stopped them from running into the bank, everyone was too distracted with managing the hostages and bank robbers. They froze as they saw several medics crouched around a prone figure. Whumpee.
"Pressure's dropping," one medic called out.
"I can't get the bleeding to stop." Another replied.
"We're losing them!"
Caretaker stumbled forward. Whumpee. This wasn't happening. Whumpee hadn't died. Whumpee couldn't die. "Whumpee," they said softly as they could finally see Whumpee's face.
Whumpee's features were slack, their face pale. They lay in a pool of their blood, surrounded by medics and other officers. Caretaker could see the bullet wound in their chest. Had the wound been any further to the left, Whumpee would have died instantly when they were shot. As it was, Caretaker wasn't sure how Whumpee was still alive.
"Starting compressions," the first medic said as they began to pump Whumpee's chest.
"Please, Whumpee," Caretaker whispered. "Please don't leave me."
"Give them space," someone said, grabbing Caretaker's arm.
"This is Whumpee's partner. Let them through," someone else said.
Caretaker suddenly found themself just outside the circle of medics, staring down at Whumpee's body. "Please, Whumpee, please don't leave me," they repeated.
"Gotcha!" The first medic said triumphantly. "Let's get them to the hospital before they crash again."
Caretaker was pulled along by one of the medics as the others raced Whumpee out the door. "You're their partner, right? Come with us. You can fill the hospital in on all the information they'll need."
The world felt like it had tilted on its axis and it was all Caretaker could do to keep upright. Some part of them distantly recognized that they were probably in shock, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was that Whumpee stay alive.
Somehow, Caretaker found themself sitting at Whumpee's bedside hours later. Whumpee was alive. And would live. The sounds of the heart monitor was a comfort to Caretaker. Whumpee had died. And had nearly stayed dead. And would have died with the last thing Caretaker said to them being horrible.
"I'm sorry I said all those things to you, Whumpee," Caretaker whispered as they took Whumpee's hand in theirs. "I didn't mean it. I'm so sorry. You're not incompetent. You're brilliant. You're amazing. You're the most wonderful person I have ever met. And I was terrified to lose you. I am terrified to lose you.
"I'm terrified to lose you, Whumpee, because I love you. I love you so much. I love you so much and I haven't said anything in case you don't feel the same way. In case you don't love me. But," Caretaker's voice broke, "seeing you lying there on the floor, I realized I never said anything. And I couldn't stand the thought of you dying without knowing how loved you are. So, even if you don't feel the same way, Whumpee. I love you. With every fiber of my being."
Caretaker brushed Whumpee's bangs off their forehead. "And I realize that it's easy to say this while you're unconscious. But, I'll never stop saying this to you. I'll never stop telling you how precious to me you are. How much I need you. Because I love you.
"And so, love, I'll wait here as long as it takes for you to wake. Because I don't want to spend a moment away from you. Not when you were nearly ripped from me before I could tell you how much I love you."
Tags: @mousepaw @jumpywhumpywriter @knightinbatteredarmor @hufflepuffwritingstuff2 @anightmarishwhump
@steh-lar-uh-nuhs @celestialsoyeon @st0rmm @ay5ksal @pedro-pedro-pedro-pedro-pe
@pepeniascat @hostagesituations @whumperofworlds @swift-perseides @keeper-of-all-the-random-things
@edutainer2022
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bluespiderlully · 2 days ago
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KNY - Fix it! AU (+ My Characters) Canon Hashiras
This is the first post of the modern AU series, where I'll share with you moodboards and headcanons, for this post I'll cover just the canon Hashiras and in the next ones we'll see the non-canon and the OCs ones. A little warning: some of these headcanons are angsty but the concept I want here is of course hurt/comfort and it's a "bad things happened in the past but things aren't going bad now, we're all friends" kind of things. Anyway angsty headcanons aren't the majority.
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🌊 Giyu Tomioka
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Knows how to play piano, likes classical music a lot
60s/70s/80s sci-fi books reader, would probably start a conversation about a random book he red and end up talking about philosophy, religion and politics (Enmu and Harriet are the only ones to have actual conversations about the topics and don't just stand there confused).
Loves marine biology but never succeded in making a goldfish survive for more than one week.
🌫 Muichiro Tokito
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Definitely a cat person.
Suffers from sleep paralysis and nightmares but draws anything disturbing he sees as a copying mechanism, Giyu thinks his art is pretty cool.
Super skilled at snowboarding and skateboarding.
🌪 Sanemi Shinazugawa
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Overprotective with everyone he becomes friend with.
He always has rage issues, but they used to scare Ayumi off so he started working on it and managed to become calmer.
He doesn't listen to music, he listen to NOISE, if a vocalist doesn't sound like a clogged sink he doesn't listen to it.
🐍 Obanai Iguro
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Has a Glasgow smile after surviving a serial killer attack. In this AU he wears a mask too, he just doesn't like to show the scar. He doesn't eat in front of people for the same reason.
Owns a black ball python and a white hognose snake and spends a lot of time decorating his terrarium (but he is careful with the hognose one, he doesn't want him to get stuck stucked as they always do).
Interested in occultism, reads a lot about it.
🌸 Mitsuri Kanroji
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She does ballet since when she was 4.
Very good at baking sweets, but likes few of them so she always ends up giving them to others.
Makes friends easily and very quickly, her and Kyojuro are best friends since they were at kindergarten.
☄️ Tengen Uzui
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When he was a child he wanted to become an astronaut, now he found out about planetary defense and wants to become part of that organization because "diverting asteroids is cool".
Got in every kind of trouble at school.
Drives like he could respawn infinite times.
🦋 Shinobu Kocho
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Could talk about chemistry for hours.
Listens to metalcore and hyper pop and ends up hyperfixating with a song and listening to it until she ends up hating it.
Friends with Obanai, enjoys spending time with him and helping with his terrariums.
🔥 Kyojuro Rengoku
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Eats a lot but would set the kitchen on fire if he tries to cook anything.
Couldn't get a driving licence and gave up on trying for his and others safety lol.
Cancer survivor but still feels insecure about his scars and about the fact he has some extra weight. He doesn't like talking about that.
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Parts: | 1 | 2 |
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wizardandpirate · 8 hours ago
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Me when im evil
(Future of AU + info under cut)
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Doodles for my lil' Doey AU:], AU where he splits into the 3 kids instead of dying. Translations of my god awful handwriting and plans for the AU below. Warning; whole lot of yapping... too tired for filter.
"The gentle voices lie."
"I'm sorry."
"Please don't hurt me."
Doesn't remember how to be a kid <-
Me when Tumblr is stupid and won't let me make Jack's text yellow.
Also if you can't tell who's who, Matthew has a bow tie + hat on the middle of his head, Kevin has the spikey markings and hat on his left, and Jack has his hat on the right.
Anyways!
For the foreseeable future I'll post sketches like this sometimes, and maybe do a fully colored digital one if I have a really good idea. I probably won't make a bunch of art for this as I feel the idea is good but my art skills are a little too bad for it💔 but I do love the idea and might plan to write similar concepts.
I've realized if I do write a fic for this, it may or may not change the concept a little. I do adore this idea but I don't know if the factory is a setting I'd be good writing inside of. Might make a small fic about them escaping and surviving as a family though^^ probably being hunted though I fear😔 I do not think monster hunters, the government, or any other scientific facilities would let them off the hook. That's a setting I'm used to working in so it's why I'm more likely to write it in such a way, if I do at all.
Something something write outside your comfort zone but no actually because I write for comfort so fuck you actually, fuck you me who said that two seconds ago😎/silly/j
If you make any fanart for this AU, please please please tag me! Even if it's just a doodle you don't wanna post, please do show me. The idea has my heart and soul as does this freaking dough. They're literally my boys, okay? Beloved sons + kissy beloved daughter. I am their dad now. But if anyone wants to be their mom I mean../JJJJJ (im sorry.. lesbinism took over)
Me when it's almost 2AM and I'm still yapping about this freaking AU.
Asks are open for this AU^^ You can send asks with the very small chance I'll respond with doodles and the higher chance I'll respond with words. You can ask the character questions, and I'll respond in character, or just ask me directly. Idm either way, I'm not full on roleplaying though.
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kuroyuki-kokuyoku · 2 days ago
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Remember Lee Chul Min?
You know, the asshole who abandoned everyone at the Shelter to die and go on to found his own Guild?
Yeah, there's no mention of him succeeding in life beyond that.
And knowing how petty and malicious Cale can get, I imagine him waiting until Lee Chul Min has peaked at life.
Maybe he got married, had a kid or two. Maybe he reunited with a surviving relative. I imagine his job as a Head of a Guild gives him a pretty generous paycheck. I also imagine his subordinates greatly respect him.
Then KRS strikes.
Now knowing in canon proper, LCM is a coward with a "survival of the fittest" mentality. In Earth 2, he had to be gaslit into staying and helping with Cale cutting off all matters of escape for him within a conversation. I imagine his counterpart in Earth 1 is no different, but he's worse. He doesn't learn from running away. If anything, he'll probably double down on his toxic "I have the power to do anything I want and everyone else weaker than me is canon fodder" mentality.
And that's what KRS would use against him.
I imagine he flips everything over and exposes LCM for what he truly is and all the shady shit he's, without a doubt, been up to in all these years.
KRS didn't just go after his job. He went after EVERY ASPECT in LCM's life that he has built on the corpses of Central Shelter.
His wife divorced him. His kid(s) are ashamed of him. His relative disowned him. His loyal subordinates, who just days before would have happily died for him, now wants to feed him to the next monster that shows up. And all of Korea wants his head on a pike.
Even after all this, KRS is not yet done with him.
As a last show of "mercy", KRS pays out of his own pocket the best lawyer money could buy, so LCM could avoid the death penalty by the skin of his teeth.
And so, LCM is quietly serving a life sentence in prison.
But not before KRS anonymously spread around the names of the surviving relatives of the prisoners that LCM had allowed to die so he could continue to live his cushy life after the fall of Central Shelter.
His only condition, LCM still needs to pay in blood for the rest of his miserable years, don't kill him.
You try connecting Cale's actions post the transmigration to his past as Kim Roksoo and it gives you more insight into how he might have been as a team leader. Like, take the Golden Plaques thing for example. You know Director Ma gulped and clutched his pocket everytime he had a meeting with the guy because he knew Kim Roksoo was boutta suck him dry.
I love side story 2 because of this particular reason. Choi Han did mention it after getting Choi Jung Soo's memories that his personality is still the same even after transmigrating. But side story 2 shows us how. He wasn't known to the public much but he was famous among the government and guilds and all the power players. And I doubt it'd have been for a different reason then. Even then he was a terrifying bastard whom they couldn't help but listen to because he was the most efficient tactician.
This is why reading the initial chapters of the series, specifically the war with the indomitable alliance, after knowing his past as Kim Roksoo puts so many things into place. Like, no wonder he was so good at understanding the power dynamics between the nations. No wonder his predictions were so on point. Even with the knowledge of TBOAH world it would have been difficult for anyone else to achieve such an overwhelming victory in the war. Their side never lost a single battle and it's in huge part owing to the expert strategising of Cale.
The Church of the Sun God insulted Mary and Cale decided in a heartbeat he'll bring them down for daring to do so. Do you think something like that ever happened on Earth? Someone insulted his subordinate and he instantly started plotting their demise? He lost a subordinate once. If it was due to someone's betrayal, like a colleague, a guild or any other human or organisation, you know they never came out alive from that.
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rowenabean · 2 days ago
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Medieval market
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@artanisnerwen and I at arrival to the market. Photo taken by someone we noticed taking a photo of us and asked if she could get one on our phone too. I'm glad I asked, it was the only photo we got of both of us full-length all day!
As previously mentioned, there was a medieval market day within reach of my home yesterday! My sister and I are both sewing and costuming people, so we went off together.
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Both our outfits were full coverage, and we brought alternatives to change into if it was too hot, but neither of us did. I definitely was hot and sweaty in it - it was a hot day! - but I felt probably... not hotter than I would with bare skin exposed? I was glad to have something between my shoulders and the heat of the sun, since we were standing in the hot sun all day. Obviously I wore sunnies - and needed them - and I had a hat balanced on top of my bun for a substantial chunk of the day, but the clothing itself was surprisingly not that bad. (Glad I wasn't in wool, though.)
I have... a lot to say about my outfit. One more pretty photo, then it's under the cut.
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My outfit was modelled off a c10th Century Viking. There's a lot that's unknown - it's hard for fabric to survive a thousand years or so! - so this is in the nature of a best guess. Going layer by layer, with my thoughts on each one:
Shift
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Fabric: cotton/linen plain weave. Linen is historical, cotton had not made it to this part of Europe yet (or for a few more centuries!). However, it has much the handle of a pure linen, and for a shift I thought was a reasonable dupe.
Dye: with sorrel root: plausible but not attested in period. The shift probably wouldn't be dyed, but it wouldn't be a modern bright-white as the fabric started, and also I had already stained it by the time I finished sewing it (I should not be allowed around white fabrics!)
Construction: no one argues about this so I didn't delve into any primary sources. It's constructed as 2 rectangles with gores at the side seams and sleeves added, which appears to be what everyone on the internet is doing, exact historicity is beyond me. I sewed it with french seams (attested ~1-2 centuries after the period I was reconstructing, although no reason to think they DIDN'T use them earlier as not that many textile fragments survive) with a machine and modern polyester thread, but handstitched my neckline and hems - the main reason I french seamed rather than felled the seams was that I couldn't be bothered hand sewing that much (slash didn't have time in the week between starting to make my outfit and the fair)
Smokkr/aprondress
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(Aprondress is a common modern name, smokkr is a hypothesised traditional name for this, I prefer the latter personally)
Fabric: 100% linen plain weavee. While this is a fabric that was known in period, it was likely not used for this garment, which was usually and possibly always made of wool. The shoulder straps were generally made of linen, but they would have been undyed (and probably loops, rather than the straps I did. This was the only choice I made solely because I want to make it more wearable in the modern era, although it also saved me precious sewing time the night before). I like to think that if a Viking was making a dress for an NZ summer she might consider using linen for it, though.
Dye: onion skins, small amount of yarrow exhaust thrown in. This is historically plausible but not attested. We know they used bright colours, but we don't know if they specifically used onion to achieve them.
Construction: I'm calling this a best guess. There are no surviving smokkr, and no paintings that obviously show one. They're mainly attested in the tortoise brooches which hold them up, which are widespread in graves across Viking Europe across multiple centuries. A couple of finds suggest that it was probably at least sometimes fitted and at least sometimes (but probably NOT always/everywhere) pleated. Personally, I think it is likely that it was a standard garment that altered in form somewhat across the centuries. I chose this reconstruction both because it's plausibly historic but also because I thought it would be wearable without a shift as a modern dress, which it is and I actually love it enough to consider making another! Also sewn with french seams and all visible stitching is hand-sewn.
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(After my swim, as a modern dress)
Accessories
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Trim: wool (accurate) fingerloop braid (accurate) contrast is modern dyed yarn (inaccurate). This is an interim trim until I a) get better at fingerloop braiding (this is VERY much the nice bit, the other end of it is a bit average) and b) natural dye some 4-ply to use for the purpose
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Brooches: I started the day with some earrings that had roughly the right vibe, but a lady at the fair was selling pot metal reconstructions which are much more accurate. Interestingly, she didn't seem to know what they were for - she was selling them as individuals not pairs, and when I put them on my dress said "oh that's pretty!" as if it wasn't, like, the one thing they are designed for...
Beads: just a random string from an op shop, very inaccurate
Hair: a conundrum and a half. There are caps attested in the British Isles for viking women, but not in Scandinavia. There are probably veils in Christian Scandinavia, but much fewer smokkr, so it's not super likely someone would have worn both. I went with a braided bun, after some sculptures of valkyrie/goddesses, but who knows whether this is actually what they wore or not. Next year I'm wearing a veil anyway, my neck got sunburnt.
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The market itself was a fun day; it was heavier on the market than on the medieval, but there were a few genuinely medieval costumes and stalls around, and some lovely people. Highlights were the family with crossbows, ordinary bows and a Roman Scorpion to try out, as well as weaponry for sale. We had a chat earlier in the day, but decided to come back to try out the bows as they had quite a wait - when we came back we discovered that we were out of cash! They didn't have any other forms of payment but let us each have a go anyway because "you're friends". (I choose to believe it was the historical costumes as well as the chat that labelled us as friends!)
The other highlight was a lady with a hurdy-gurdy (and her friend with a recorder - I had also brought mine as a medieval prop!) who had just stopped playing and was very cooperative with our many questions about just how it works and even volunteered information that I didn't know to ask! (Situations where you can say "my other instrument is the harp" and be the more normal one)
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shujigutz · 3 days ago
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is hanma a good daddy to his kids or not. Bc I can see him falling into the abusive parent role but he’s also just a chill guy 😢
!! warning :: death mentions, profanity, could be ooc cuz im projecting, just hanma idk
*
; hanma is a good father. IF he tries. his ass could NOT be a dad (cuz he's a mom, he's the one that got pregnant /j)
; he's the type to take very silly pictures of your kids, maybe send it to you when you're away like "lmao yn look at this 🤣🤣" and it's just a pic of his camera an inch away from your child's face in 0.5x
; will have lighthearted but funny banters with your kids, doesn't matter if they're young or not, he's a clown himself and he would clown with his kids too
; i feel as though hanma is, in a way, emotionally constipated. he has a lot to say but he doesn't know where to start. that's why he looks very distant at times and even uninterested, but really he does give a fuck.
; like doesn't he hate everyone. one can say it's arrogance, i'd say he's a hateful piece of shit /lh
; but ANYWAYYY. i don't see hanma being one to want many kids depending on the timeline. if it's the good timeline, he'd be happy enough to have three or two kids with you, he wants to raise them with you because he loves you and he wants to see maybe, just maybe, a duplicate of him but only if back then he was raised differently.
; i think if he does raise them well and one day they just.. look like him, a part of him somewhat heals. it softens and soothes him, even though perhaps he's going to mourn what he could've been. but if he were like that, he probably would've never met you lol.
; other timelines however.. only child or none. hanma doesn't like putting his loved ones at risk, he knows that he's living on the edge, perhaps live today but die tomorrow, so why risk it all even if he really wants to create a family with you? he loves you, he does, but he'd rather put a bullet through his own skull than one day witness it go through his kid's, or yours, instead.
; not just that, he also doesn't want to burden you significantly if one day he gets killed on a mission. as much as he loves to have little rascals wearing both you and him out, it's only fun when he's also in it, he doesn't want to one day leave it all to you and let you carry it on your shoulders alone. i like to think that hanma's the type of guy to prefer it to happen to him than to someone he loves, HES NOT A NONCHALANT MF. THAT MAN IS NOT GONNA SURVIVE THE IDGAF WARRR
; as very chalant as he can be, he is also blunt about it. he says it as it is, he doesn't sugar coat, why would he when it's a serious matter? even if it wasn't, he wouldn't do it either because beating around the bush gives him an itch on the ass 😇
; in conclusion, he leans towards a considerate, calculative father. so an okay one, 6/10, would be a good friend to his kids actually once they've matured and reached an age where he and they can relate on such topics.
; if u disagree i won't listen cuz we're talking abt a MAN here, hanma as a MAN, A MAAAAANNN, HES A MANNN 💯💯💯
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charliedawn · 3 days ago
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Hi Charlie! Kindly coming into your ask box- First of all how are you? I adore your stories, I read them whenever I'm feeling down and it's perfect whenever I want to forget about my real life problems haha.
I was wondering how would the slashers react to a Hungarian y/n? Obviously I never found anyone writing about this scenario, for we 'hungries' are few. I'm actually Székely (Hungarians who speak the older version of the language and live in a different region than actual Hungarians), which means I'm Transylvanian. Like how would they react finding out that reader can literally move around with a bottle of alcohol on their head without it sliding off? Having long hair that is traditionally braided in two, and red ribbons braided in it (this is female case, which means the girl is 'on the market'), being able to speak multiple languages, meeting bears every single month given living in forest mountains, and owning traditional clothes that in old times mean high status? I'm sorry that this sounds so personal but like all my life (ever since I found out about slashers) I wanted to know how one might react to this kind of situation, given most fandoms, OBVIOUSLY include English reader. You can ignore if you want and sorry if u don't understand what I wrote :')
If you don't want to write for this (like I feel like I'm being too specific and personal with things) then I guess how they would react to reader with an interesting accent- all my English friends told me they love how I speak it's funny for them. Sending hugs and kisses I adore ur work <3
No need to apologize ! My pleasure. This is a really unique and interesting request, and I had fun searching what a Székely reader would be like. I hope I did it right. 😆
Slashers React to a Székely Reader
Jason Voorhees
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Jason, being deeply connected to his own forested home, would be fascinated by your experiences with bears. He’s used to dealing with intruders, but meeting a bear every month ? That’s next-level survival. He’d probably view you as someone incredibly strong and capable, which earns you a lot of respect in his eyes. Your ability to balance a bottle on your head would both impress and confuse him—he’d tilt his head like how ? He is a clumsy man and if he tried the same, no bottle would survive. If you let him touch your traditional clothes, he’d be extra careful, appreciating the craftsmanship and the colors.
Michael Myers
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Michael doesn’t react outwardly, but he watches. A lot. He’d probably test your balancing skills by suddenly throwing something your way while you’re carrying the bottle. If you catch it without dropping the bottle, you’d get a slow approving nod. He might also silently grab a red ribbon from your hair, just to see how you react—if you snatch it back, he’ll keep doing it just to mess with you. But, he would also appreciate the traditions and understand your connection to nature—since nature is fairly important to him as well. If you could, he would ask you to learn the language. True, he would not be able to speak it—but just hearing it would make him happy. He would also ask you to teach him your traditional dishes.
Brahms Heelshire
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Brahms would fixate on your braids and ribbons. He’d like the idea of your clothes being a ‘status’ marker since Brahms is from a higher-class family himself. But the ribbons…he would like them, but might get possessive, asking you to remove the ribbons or change their color so others don’t think you’re ‘on the market.’ Because you are not. You are HIS friend. No sharing or letting someone take you away from him. He’d also adore your ability to speak multiple languages, insisting you talk to him in Hungarian just so he can hear how it sounds. Your traditional clothes ? He’d want you to wear them all the time in the manor, seeing them as regal and elegant.
Bo & Vincent Sinclair
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Bo would act like he’s unimpressed but would secretly be very intrigued. He’d tease you about the bottle-balancing trick—"Alright, but can ya do that while runnin’ ?"—but would absolutely brag about it to tourists before luring them into his trap. He would show them your trick and kill them while they are dumbstruck. Or he would ask you to bring his beers like that—and exclusively like that. And when he first saw you in your traditional clothes ? He was mesmerised. You looked like a damn princess. When you told him what the braids and ribbons meant though…Bo suddenly grabbed your braids and quickly pulled your braids loose…On the market ? Like hell you are…
Vincent, on the other hand, would love your traditional clothes. He’d want to sketch you in them, fascinated by the detail and historical meaning behind them. He would love to take pictures of you too. He would ask you about your culture and be really interested. He would also be impressed by the bottle trick and would immediately inform Bo because Bo would be impressed too for sure.
Norman Bates
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Norman would see you as someone from another world—elegant, mysterious, and old-fashioned in the best way. He’d be captivated by your hair and the meaning behind the ribbons, maybe a little too curious about your availability status. If you ever wear your traditional clothes, he’d compare you to an old painting, romanticizing it. Your survival stories about the mountains and bears would leave him both impressed and slightly intimidated.
Norman *comes up behind you and slowly wraps his arms around you from behind* : "…Te vagy gyönyörű, drágám."
He would learn the recipes for Székely Gulyás (Székely stew), Puliszka (A cornmeal dish similar to polenta, eaten with cheese, milk, or stew) and Töltött Káposzta (Stuffed cabbage, a staple at Székely celebrations) to surprise you.
Freddy Krueger
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Freddy would not take you seriously at first—until he sees the bottle trick. Then, suddenly, he’s got a new game to play. He’d try to mess with you by making dream versions of your traditional clothes wrong just to see if you notice the inaccuracies. He’d also probably joke about the bears—"So, what, you got one as a pet ?" If you start speaking Hungarian with him, though ? He’d hate it—he loves running his mouth, and now he doesn’t know what you’re saying. He would have to get a dictionary. He doesn’t like reading.
Pennywise & Penny
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Pennywise would see you as someone tied to old traditions, which he respects in a strange way. He’d enjoy the idea of you carrying history with you. Penny, on the other hand, would love that you meet bears regularly—he’d probably insist that the next time you see one, you have to bring him along. The bottle-balancing trick ? Oh, now it’s a game. He’d try to distract you just to see if you mess up.
Penny would definitely imitate you and laugh as he starts dancing with three bottles on his head.
Jack Torrance
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Jack would instantly bond with you over alcohol—if you can balance a bottle on your head, you must know good drinks, right ? He’d want to drink with you, hear your stories, and maybe even try balancing a bottle himself (bad idea). Your language skills would impress him, but he’d be especially curious about your encounters with bears—probably comparing it to his experiences in the snowy Overlook. He would also use you as an inspiration for his work and ask you questions about your traditions. He would also be interested in learning your language.
Ghostface! Eddie Munson
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Eddie would be so hyped about your skills. "Dude, that’s metal as hell ! You walk around with a bottle on your head and survive bear encounters ? Like…what ?" He’d immediately ask you to teach him your language, failing horribly but loving every second. Your traditional clothes would remind him of a fantasy character, and he’d start calling you things like “the warrior queen of Transylvania.” He’d also be obsessed with the fact that you speak multiple languages—every time you switch to Hungarian, he’d dramatically pretend to swoon.
You: "A mosolyod beragyogja a napomat."
Him *looking at you with a big smile* : "I didn’t understand a single word that just came out of your mouth, but I love it."
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dandysworldhcs · 3 days ago
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If toons does gaming
Poppy definitely plays alot of fast paced game with or without combat (like Ultrakill,Phighting,Grace etc)
Boxten will try to join Poppy with her game, although he is not good in these kind of game at all (he is more of an relaxing game gamer since those game kinda overwhelm him,he will try to participate and Poppy will let him rest and play relaxing game with him too if Boxten can't handle it)
Finn play alot of fishing game,as expected, but also play fighting games
Shrimpo game mostly consist of violence(ofc) but he sucks at it cuz he is too busy being angry
Brightney,Shelly and Astro play puzzle game a lot (Astro and Brightney seldomly game,since they isn't much of an online person)
Shelly is excited to progress no matter what game,even if the game is quite boring
Rodger only game with Toodles or Glisten,Toodles play those educational kid games or other genres game with other toons
Connie play horror game with other to scare other,has tramatized other toons before by playing innocent looking horror game without telling them it is horror game
Glisten is a tryhard,he tried to be perfect in every game whenever playing with someone (he definitely play dress to impress)
Teagan really seldom or never play game,if she did she probably play with Toodles ig
Gigi like those RNG game,Puzzle game and horror game too when playing with Connie
Dandy play peaceful game,he actually dislikes violent game (same with Astro)
Bobette has similar taste with dandy,but still can still enjoy some violent game (she just prefer peace more)
Vee definitely cheat in game,she play every game and can also always found a bug to use to make it easier for her(she will play fair sometimes) and I think she is more interested on action and fighting game or survival game,since those need her to do more calculations on it
Sprout and Cosmo definitely play those cooking game,and play alot of survival games together
Ginger join Cosmo and Sprout in their games too, although Ginger prefer more relaxing type of games
Scraps and Goob play co-op games or competitions games together,Scraps likes whatever game with Combat element while Goob like those taking care of pet games
Looey play games thats silly or has alot of comedy elements(Finn too ig) and Looey play those endless minigame a lot (he just playing for fun)
Flutter unfortunately can't play game,but Gigi,Goob and Scraps has craft some stuff so she can play game without arm,she just play slow paced game without much action stuff(she don't have fast enough react to play those stuff anyway)
Dazzle likes puzzle game and Razzle likes RPG games,they play RPG game with a lot of puzzles so they both get to play together
Tisha don't game as much,she games with Shelly most of the time,she do enjoy some not too hard puzzle games and a few not too hard survival games
Rudie play a tons of Christmas or winter themed games,surprisingly, he isn't picky with games and will try whatever game is there
Coal and Pebbles so dog so they can't game,but Pebble enjoy watching other gaming and Coal rather just chill
Toons that can handle horror game well:Connie(99%),Gigi(80%),Poppy(50%),Glisten(50%, but tries to act calm even tho he is scared the whole time),Bobette(90%),Toodles(40%,but she knows how to face fear well),Scraps(70%) and Vee(95%)
i actually think Vee would dislike the idea of people cheating in games, considering she has her own gameshow
I think shed like the feeling of winning something fair
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yanderes-galore · 1 day ago
Note
may I request a yandere concept for James Sunderland in DBD?٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و ♡
Here's the mentally unstable and depressed blonde. But in DBD. I reread the previous stuff I did for him to try and help me write him how I did before.
I'M SO MAD THE SILENT HILL 2 REMAKE ISN'T FOR XBOX YET! 😭
Here's some prompts I did for him.
Here's some Tarot HCs I did for him.
Yandere! James Sunderland (DBD) Concept
Pairing: Romantic
Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Delusional behavior, Murder mentioned, Jealousy, Projections, Possessive behavior, Guilt, Depression, Mentions of suicidal thoughts, Attempted murder on Darling mentioned, Denial, Manipulation, James plays victim, Forced affection mentioned, Forced relationship.
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Honestly, having him as a yandere in his original universe is already bad enough.
James comes from a pretty tough place in his life.
After the death of his wife, he went to Silent Hill for either answers or clarity...
Then all of a sudden he's here, in an entirely new hell where he has to face creatures and killers beyond comprehension.
I've said this in previous posts about him, but James is extremely delusional and mentally unstable.
This is a man who killed his wife while she was dying in the hospital.
He's a man plagued with depression and has thought of ending it quite a lot.
When it comes to his obsession, he most likely sees you like he did with Mary, his wife.
He's often tormented by how much you remind him of her (regardless of gender).
This makes James conflicted enough as is.
At first, James doesn't want to admit he's falling for you.
He doesn't believe he deserves to be loved or even feel love again.
He feels panicked when he feels his cheeks warm or his chest beat faster.
He tells himself you don't even mean to make him feel this way.
You're just helping him survive, you're a survivor.
The only reason you help him is to benefit yourself.
Yet he's over here getting all bothered because you're paying attention to him.
He's pathetic and he knows it.
Despite his denial, he still feels his feelings getting stronger.
He falls fast due to how unstable he is.
Deep down James wants to chase how you make him feel.
He wants you to drown him in your everything, to make him forget about Mary.
He craves your kisses, warmth, hold, all of it.
He wants that so bad, he doesn't care how wrong any of it is.
He wants you to help him cope, but none of it is healthy.
He doesn't deserve to feel possessive or jealous.
He doesn't deserve you.
Yet isn't it human nature to want something you can't have?
James is unpredictable, always too deep in his delusions and hallucinations.
Now's not the time for any of that... You need to survive.
Unfortunately... James can't ignore the envy he feels forever.
He's aware he's a horrible person, a monster probably just as bad as all the others here.
Yet he craves you like you're his sanctuary.
James gets irritable when he sees you with other survivors.
He sometimes even hates how Mary seems to haunt him in your features.
James can never seem to cope properly.
His poor obsession is often a victim of this.
James tends to cling to his obsession.
He's either always following you or trying to pull you into tight hugs.
He's a possessive man, always muttering and asking you to forgive him.
He knows he shouldn't be doing any of this, he should leave you alone.
Yet he continues his actions, often pleading for you to forgive him until someone pries him off.
James has frequent unstable thoughts.
He plots how to harm or get rid of other survivors, even if they'll just come back.
There's even some brief delusional thoughts he has about Mary, making him target you.
It's terrifying when he pins you to a tree, hands around your neck as he calls you 'Mary'.
You're scared to die, even if it doesn't matter in this place.
James has no morals, not anymore.
James is aware of his failing mental state.
In fact... He knows how to use it.
James knows he should be ashamed of playing victim... but...
It gets you to play attention to him.
If James opens up to you, something he usually hates doing, he can garner your pity.
If he tells you about his depression... his darker thoughts... you'll comfort him.
You won't pay attention to anyone else if he steals your attention, right?
He doesn't care if he's manipulating you.
Your eyes are on him... you're holding him... you're comforting him...
He hopes you'll let him kiss your lips too, he wants to taste you.
James is a pathetic man who can't figure out what he wants.
He wants you to tend and care for him, to make him forget about Mary.
At the same time he views your presence as torture, only able to see Mary in you.
James isn't sure how much he can take.
Maybe this really is hell.
Maybe you're meant to be his torment, a worse torment compared to all the monsters in this place.
James hates it at times... but you're all he ever wants.
He's addicted to you, no matter how violent it makes him.
The others know him as a liability.
But he needs you.
Every kiss and ounce of affection... He takes it.
Even if you didn't want to give it.
James is a pathetic and selfish man.
He used to deny that, but he knows it now.
James would do anything to keep you to himself.
Manipulation, murder, it doesn't matter in the end really...
James just needs you, dead or alive...
You're his only way to cope.
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hermesserpent-stuff · 1 day ago
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hhmmmmmmmmmm dunno how to write mystique ooofffffffff
Remy says softly and keeps scratching. Creed hums happily and nuzzles into the teen’s leg with a churr. Remy pauses for a second and Creed makes a small upset noise and then the scratching returns. He purrs happily at the soft attention. He is not used to it. It is nice.
“Dude. I don't get how you're brave enough to let him sleep in your room. Much less let him rub on you.”
Lance says softly. Creed gives a huff but Remy croons softly and smoothes his hair. Creed goes back to relaxing. 
“Sabretooth is not a monster, just a survivor. So, as I see it, as long as I'm not a threat to his survival, he’ll avoid killing me. Probably.”
“Probably?”
Lance sounds concerned, and Creed stirs himself a bit ready to interject when the front door opens and someone stomps into the house. Creed tenses up and growls. Someone is disturbing his nest and pup when they are resting; when they are at their weakest. His claws pop out as Mystique walks into the room. He knows its her because her smell is always weird and twisted. 
She scowls.
“Why are you here Creed?”
She snaps arms crossing as her form shifts to show her true blue skin. Creed growls a little. 
“I live here. Have for over a week.”
“Excuse me? Who gave you permission to be here?”
“I dont need permission. I live here. This is my territory now.”
He says, nose in the air, flashing teeth. She snarls and then Remy is beside Creed and speaking. 
“Sabre’ooth came lookin’ for Magneto and I invited him to stay, madame.”
Remy says head bent a little. Mystique’s eyes light up with rage.
“You did WHAT?! You had no right to do that!”
She starts to step towards the kid and then Creed shoves her back. Remy is immediately jumping in front of him.
“Monsiuer. S'il te plaît! Please! Mon petits are right there. Non. We talk like adults!”
Creed growls and Mystique clicks her tongue.
“There is nothing to talk about. Creed you are leaving!”
Creed rolls his eyes. 
“No I'm not. We’re talking like adults in the kitchen so we dont disturb Remy’s kids.”
He says and shoulder-checks her while exiting the room and pulling Remy along. Remy makes a tiny noise and Creed loosens his grip a fraction not wanting to damage the kid.
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