#something I'll maybe fix in the future

[readypanda]

Just finished making the most scuffed wattpad book cover ever lol. Title mostly redacted until I'm finished but here it is

At least it's not AI generated, I guess

[softcryz]

I'm trying to update the Creativity sprite :]

[sciderman]

Me clicking “see all” on the tags of that post on why Nate likes Peter: “Holy shit”

[clownov]

hmm anyone else with 'severe mental illness' that will never fully go away just Constantly Embarrassed hahah just me hahah ok just me constantly seeing myself & my life from outside points of view & being embarrassed? haha not to be vulnerable or emotional but like

[blubble-lake]

days are best with you! 🌄

[unproduciblesmackdown]

being alive at the time i gleaned some general elements abt encanto but never actually heard we don't talk about bruno beyond awareness it existed popping off & i think i heard like the title recited off key off rhythm but in a way that indicates speak singing nonetheless lol so upon experiencing it it's like oh but it's the Verses? while the last refrain goes harder but prior to that it's comparatively underwhelming to said verses which feels appropriate like verses / pieces of a larger picture & that a "we don't talk about him" as a disappointing Lid on infinitely richer more characterful & dynamic "but: talking about him" instances. like well personally it'd be like um seven foot frame....anyway besides being able to firsthand go like oh damn Real (the kind of thing you know exists if alive at the time) it's like alright hang on lol. one thing when a core theme is yeah like "is it a refuge if 'especial' vulnerability ultimately gets pushed out rather than made safer" subset like the parties whose even observation of truths (problems) & drawing attention to them is seen as Ruining Things, like if you're painted as Making futures that aren't simply what's desired or reassuring rather than a guidance via just observing & sharing the truth. but then it's like whaddaya mean living in fear of bruno stuttering and stumbling you could always hear him sort of muttering and mumbling lmao like now that's just Association between the Truth Perceiving & Telling behavior & behavior that's just apparently distinctive of the same person. & like Not Accidentally when [what if people were magic] specifics are obviously primarily abt a metaphorical meaning & like, indeed it was made clear like oh this situation isn't Just b/c [boo we hate your prophecies] & that [an Ability that isn't directed towards what anyone Wants / is "weird" even by these magic standards] isn't Coincidentally given to someone who just so happens to already be "weird" in other ways & be set up to have a different perspective & be pushed away due to having the supposed "extra" vulnerability of unmet needs / insufficient support, same as someone who doesn't "correctly" have any kind of magic ability....like yeah banger and also like Oh Yeah Kind Of Devastating re: that metaphorical resonance allowing for like [set the metaphor aside] now hang on with this about this disabled family member lol. misinterpretation to The Ruinerrr / The Problemmm / The Maliciousss etc (i.e. the scapegoatinggg) despite their efforts likely entirely to the contrary. then despite like, efforts aside, Just Existing, always kind of muttering & mumbling like & what of it. & then like oh sorry weird pets. weird [auspicious for adaptable tenacious thriving surviving; either way simply creatures, existing] pets.

truly like As Is The Idea I'm Sure quickly becomes like hands behind back standing at the window Uh Oh Sisters musing on all the [disabled person] metaphorical & already literal elements there. blair witching it in contemplation like We've All Been There whether being so resented for the mere disruption of "existing in a group as the 'abnormal' odd one out" or like people talking shit abt anything associated w/you as soon as you've left the room, which is also made relevant like, this wasn't Only directed at this person when seemingly permanently gone, nor were they unaware / unaffected prior....pacing in the Musing parlor like things don't Have to be compared to billions but i only ever even see so many things & it's like billions sure is like "get scapegoated rword" & then said scapegoating is presented as only beneficial & we hate autists & even beyond that it's like, grabbing billions, Imagine If Things Meant To Be About Something Were About Something. quite a contrast when they are & furthermore like, deliberate thought & Care for [who gets scapegoated & why] & the truth of like, people getting pushed aside & out who have a key perspective & are primed / liable to come through for others similarly vulnerable & the supposedly Ruinous, Problems Generating disruptiveness is actually the strongest effort to make essential changes to a group. & come through with like, it'd be undermining thee point if it was "reassuring" us like oh haha people will be supportive b/c bruno will be more normal, so great that it Didn't like no, no Normality Reassurance(tm), presence of abnormalities(tm), Good, & everyone Can Deal b/c if you don't then it's pushing this person away, is exactly what happens, including even if they're still Around but are being mistreated b/c that is entirely part of that pushing away like anyone's victim blaming is ready to pounce at any time but if someone can't stand to stay / leaves b/c they can't see another option like that's not out of nowhere nor Regardless of what full support & flexibility they were getting lol. these Active Measures everyone loves so much, which are everywhere always & would include Staying & Trying To Make It Work & those efforts would be "disruptive" & resented & Bringing It On Oneself & etccc smh

that is to all say like. Woww when clearly basically the core thread was these beats of like, the crucial site of [thee scapegoated], & why that comes down on someone & how that plays out. endless ideas about how someone weird(tm) & disabled (&/or queer. but there's no Or here lol. & again like it's a Context like, to even be the one person without kids? likely not living up to "full" correct sexuality in that way alone; any oppression's logics of "inferiority" being logics of ableism, ready examples being that "inferior" race, gender, sexuality (& their experiences as people classed as inferior) all being pathologized as disordered) are seen & treated as someone Ruining Things & who cannot belong like whew. bracing. winding. which, i also recall like i was watching with headphones & during this one dialogue pause i was like "?? what's this Extra Sound i heard there" & had to go over it like twice before being hit upside the head like well it Was still the dialogue pause but it was also bruno Stuttering in a very quiet whisper for the duration of that pause before continuing like iiiiiiii x_x

[musical-chick-13]

Anyone else out here feeling disconnected from their own humanity.

[verenvuoto]

So, uh, this is the same AU as this comic I did.

I have SOME very vague ideas for this AU and I'll give you some lore. Basically, Team Danganronpa is. Well. Is Evil. Obviously. They have Some KInd Of Evil Goal, and organizing the Killing Game is a way to achieve that goal. Maybe it's a cover up for something even more awful.

The first two Killing Games realy happened. The world in general is still kind of messed up (that's why a killing game TV show is allowed) and Future Foundation are still working to fix some stuff. They can't officially get involved with Team Danganronpa because... uh.... Because Team DR has the government's support idk. As the main entertaintment export for the country. Whatever. So FF grabbed Komaeda and were like "hey dude, go use your luck and spy on them thanks". Also he's like 50 here. Because we needed the time for over 50 seasons of the killing game to happen (I'm gonna say they do 2 seasons per year)

Yeah.

Anyway. I have a few more things I want to draw for this AU but that's all, I don't want to focus on it too much, as I have other things I want to draw :''D

Comics in this series: 01 - 02[this one!] - 03

[stvrnioloslvt]

stripes and polo's - Matt Sturniolo

genre: fluff / t.w: none / pt.2 here

—★—

"i don't know what to wear..." you sigh throwing your phone on the bed, your friend on speaker.

"well, why don't you take something from matt's wardrobe? you only need a shirt anyway." you look around matt's room, checking to see if he has any spare shirts on the loose. however, it seemed that he had cleaned the whole room that morning, leaving it spotless and tidy.

"i can't exactly ask him, he's streaming with chris"

"and? just take one now and tell him later. i'm sure he won't mind, he has a thing for you in his clothes"

"that's not true," you mumbled, a rosy blush tinting your cheeks. you knew that your friend wasn't wrong, but it felt so wrong admitting that your childhood best friend had some sort of interest in you...and you did too.

"yeah yeah, if that helps you sleep at night..."

you ignore her remarks, digging through matt's clothes until you found something that caught your eyes: in the middle of black t-shirts, grey sweaters and an overall basic wardrobe, there was a striped polo hidden at the back of the drawer. you pulled it out, turning it around to check for any holes or stains.

"i think i found something," you announced to your friend, putting the polo on. it didn't fit you perfectly, as it was bigger than your shirts, but you didn't mind at all. you rose your hands to your face, smelling matt's familiar scent on the shirt, relishing in the comfort of one of your favourite people.

"i'm hanging up, i'll go tell him that i took his shirt. meet you up in ten minutes, yeah?"

"sure thing, love. see you in ten," and just like that, your friend had hung up.

you glanced at yourself in the mirror one last time, fixing your hair with your hands. you took your phone from the bed and exited matt's room, walking up the stairs to chris's room. as you got closer, you heard loud and clear the two boys screaming at each other, laughing at something stupid chris said.

your hand grabbed the knob, pulling it and entering the room just as chris started addressing the chat again. "chat, matt's type is someone who would pull off man's polo's, i'm telling you." his wholehearted laugh died as soon as you came into view, his face falling into one of pure surprise. he mirrored matt's expression, eyes wide and open mouths as you made sure that you weren't completely visible for the viewers. a little bit of the polo's sleeve was in view, enough to make the chat explode with comments.

you blushed as you realised how terribly timed your appearance was, and how badly matt's reaction had affected you. he eyed you up and down, slowly, taking in each by each of your body, mindlessly reaching out to you, pulling you closer. your heart drummed harshly against your ribcage, trying to escape its home.

"matt-" you called out anxiously, trying to pull him out of his mind, reminding him that there were thousands of viewers who were waiting for his next move, observing like hawks looking for their next prey.

"you look...good," he breathed out, smiling softly at you. behind him, chris was frantically trying to cover up the scene that was unfolding in front of everybody's eyes.

"thank you," you whispered, "do you mind if i borrow this one for the evening? i'm meeting up with a friend of mine."

"go on, sweetheart, it's all yours."

you smiled, turning to leave the room. just as you were exiting, chris read one of the comments: "someone wrote 《matt should teach us how to manifest quickly, cause that shit was crazy》 and i couldn't agree more."

"what are you talking about, that's my best friend..." but even as he tried to hide his blush, it was clear that behind his hand there was a big smile plastered on his face.

who knew, maybe in the future things would change.

©stvrnioloslvt

𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃/𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐘 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊. 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐎 𝐈𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐒 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓

hello everybody! hope you liked it, let me know if you'd like a part 2. also, would y'all like a tag list?

remember that my asks/requests are always open, i'd love to get to know you guys!

thank you.

love you all,

-bree♥︎

[cressidagrey]

Stars all aligned - Chapter 11

Summary:

If there was one thing that both Azriel and Zahra Archeron had in common, it was that they were both very good at blending into the background.

They just never thought that their family were going to be the ones who never saw them at all.

Warning:

I'll keep the warnings, even though there is no outright mention in this part: Bashing of like...every IC member? Especially the Archeron Sisters, discussion of chronic pain, discussion of Infertility, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Underage Prostitution, Underage Rape/Non-con, Implied/Referenced Sexual Assault, Accidental Baby Procurement

If any of this triggers you or makes you uncomfortable, please, take care of your own mental health and don't read it.

(Lovely dividers thanks to @sweetmelodygraphics)

Azriel stared down at Azalea as Zahra held her.

A wave of affection and protectiveness washed over him as he took in the sight of the two of them together, an unconscious possessiveness making him want to reach out and wrap them both in his arms. It was like an overwhelming instinct, something primal stirring within him as the shadows roiled and coiled around his legs.

Azalea.

Azriel couldn’t look away from the baby in Zahra’s arms, the name Azalea just repeating itself over and over in his head.

His gaze was fixated on her little face, the innocence there, even after everything she had endured. That anyone could ever hurt this… this precious creature… it was unthinkable.

Or maybe it wasn't. Ruben was well known for his cruelty...and...well, Azriel wouldn't be surprised at all, if his reasoning for why he had locked his bastard daughter into the dungeon had been to create...something like Azriel. A shadowsinger.

A boy would have been made to train. But a girl...Ruben could keep a girl as nothing better but a slave. And nobody would bother to protest.

The very idea made a cold fire rise in Azriel’s heart, a rage burning in his chest that he struggled to force down. His hands clenched into fists on their own accord, a wave of possessiveness making him want to sweep Zahra and now Azalea into his arms, to hide them away in his shadows until the world couldn’t touch them.

The thought made him want to snarl. The idea of someone even thinking to hurt her, to abuse her…it was unspeakable.

He would hunt down anyone who would dare to touch a single hair on his little girl’s head, to make sure they could never touch her again.

Ours, Master, The shadows hissed.

Ours. The word echoed through him, the possessive instinct within him swelling until it was nearly a tangible force.He wanted her, their little baby…he needed her to be safe.

Even now, when she was safely slumbering against Zahra's chest, content and fed...A harsh bumping sound made him look up as he watched his mother carry a wooden chest down the staircase.

"“Ma, for cauldron’s sake, let me help," Azriel said quickly.

“Language,” his mother protested drily, setting the chest on the floor with a huff. ““I can just about manage to carry that. I am not that old and frail yet.”

He rolled his eyes and crossed the room to gently take the chest from her, the weight of it almost nothing to him.

"What is that?" he asked as he let her wave him to the kitchen to where Zahra and Azalea were still sitting.

““It’s…for you,” his mother said casually as she followed, Azriel carefully setting the chest down on the table. "I think it's finally turning out to be useful," she commented drily.

He could make out Zahra’s curiosity, her eyes fixed on the chest too as she watched the conversation from her place at the table, Azalea still sleeping in her arms.

"I made things for your future children," Esmeray told Azriel as she opened the lid of the wooden chest.

Azriel blinked as his mother opened the chest: There seemed to be all sorts of baby clothing, all hand-knitted and sewn together carefully. Azriel was almost surprised at how many items were packed into the chest, a wave of overwhelming affection rushing through him as he took it all in.

Knitted hats and mittens and socks…carefully made little dresses and shirts and trousers…painstakingly embroidered. 

He reached out to lightly graze his fingers over the material…they were so…so soft to touch, made lovingly and with so much care.

“Ma, you made all of this?” he asked softly, his gaze drawn back to his mother who gave him a soft smile, her eyes shining.

"I had 500 years," she said drily. "You took a long time to make me a grandma."

Azriel felt a flush rise to his cheeks, embarrassment welling inside of him at his mother’s simple words.

Zahra chuckled quietly besides him, no doubt thinking the same thing as she watched the interaction with a look of mild amusement. He tried to give her a glare over his shoulder, but she simply stuck her tongue out at him.

"You'll need to see what fits Azalea of course," his mother continued. "I thought my grandkids were gonna be a wee bit smaller when they arrived," she said with a grin. "But there are clothes in there and toys...and other things I collected."

He was once again surprised at the sheer amount of items inside the chest, the clothes and toys his mother had made and collected all in there. Azriel reached in and pulled up a soft toy, a black bat that was the size of his forearm and nearly Azalea's size. Carefully, he gently stroked his finger over it’s head, a warm feeling welling in his heart at the softness of the fur.

"Ah, I was searching for this," his mother said happily, as she pulled out what looked like a long length of fabric and a metal ring the size of his fist out of the chest

"What's that?" Zahra asked curiously. 

"A Ring Sling," Esmeray answered. "So you can carry a baby but can keep your hands free," she explained. 

Zahra mustered it curiously.  "My sister had a sort of...carrier for my nephew but he hated it," Zahra said with some amusement. Nyx had screamed bloody murder at just the sight of it. Azriel had spent the better part of 3 months combing through Illyria at Rhys' behest to find it in the first place. 

"Ah, yes," Esmeray said drily. “Most Illyrians can’t afford these. We make do with what we have. In this case: Lengths of fabric and one of those rings you can get from the blacksmiths. You can tie these different ways too. You don’t even need the ring all the time," Esmeray explained. "And when you are done having kids, you can reuse the fabric or pass it down."

 Zahra stared at the fabric in curiosity, “That seems rather...clever and simple, actually,” she commented. "Could I try that?"

"Of course," his mother agreed with a smile. "Hand her over to Azriel, and I'll teach you one way to tie it."

Zahra gave Azriel a nod, and he moved to carefully take the baby from her arms into his own. He adjusted his grip as he held Azalea carefully, the baby stirring against his chest at the change. She snuffled softly as he began to gently rock her.

For a moment he just stared at the sleeping baby, a familiar affection welling within him as he began singing a soft lullaby underneath his breath as his mother showed Zahra how to tie the sling.

“We’ll need to see if this works for you, because you don’t have wings,” Esmeray explained as she cinched the length of fabric around Zahra’s body. “Azriel, don’t hog the baby.”

Azriel huffed, “I am not hogging,” he mumbled, though it wasn't exactly the truth as he gently rocked Azalea, carefully holding her little body against his chest. “She’s my baby,” he said defiantly, but still made no move to hand her over. Azalea slept on blissfully without noticing the tug of war, her little fists curling against his chest as she let out another soft snuffling sound.

His mother gave him a look that told him clearly that he was ridiculous. She was probably right. Zahra just gave him a smile, something sweet and glowing that made his heart ache in his chest. 

“Hand her over when you are done being a mother hen,” Esmeray said firmly and Azriel knew there was no point in arguing.

It’s not like she was wrong either. Reluctantly, he handed Azalea over to his mother when she was done showing Zahra how to tie the sling, immediately feeling the pang in his heart as she left his arms. She slept right through being tugged into the sling though, peacefully resting against Zahra's chest.

A part of Azriel felt a bit envious of how peaceful Azalea seemed, even against Zahra’s chest, while he desperately missed having her in his own arms again.

He had to resist the urge to snatch her up again, instead he settled for watching her as she breathed softly against Zahra’s chest, her wings twitching a little in her sleep.

"You can walk her to sleep this evening," Zahra promised him softly, giving him an indulgent smile.

A slight flush rose to his face, a small and bashful smile pulling at his lips in response to her words.

A part of Azriel desperately wanted to protest, to say that he didn’t want to wait another moment but he knew it would make him sound like a needy child. He simply grumbled in response, staring down at Azalea with a pitiful expression as she lay against Zahra’s chest."I'll hold you to that.”

His mother just huffed in the background, rolling her eyes indulgently at his behaviour.

Still, he watched Zahra carefully move around, Azalea peacefully slumbering against her chest. She didn't even stir, clearly comfortable with Zahra. Safe and Sound.

But none of that helped with the complete and utter mess the shadows had made when they had kidnapped her.

We couldn't just leave her there! the shadows disagreed sharply. Besides, he hasn't even noticed that she's not there anymore...

Azriel had to admit they made a fair point. But it didn’t change the fact that none of them had been thinking straight when they kidnapped her, too much driven by their own outrage and anger. The shadows might have done the right thing in taking Azalea from her father, but they had certainly not gone about it the right way.

And now Azriel got to explain it to Rhys. Which was probably not gonna get over too well.

Oh for Cauldron’s sake...Azriel groaned to himself, running a hand through his hair.

Rhys was going to kill him.Maybe he could just...wait a bit before telling him? Though keeping something like this from Rhys for too long didn’t sound like a great plan either… No. He shouldn't wait.

He needed to tell Rhys as soon as possible.

And then he suddenly felt it.

Felt the push against the wards around Rosehall.

It's the General, the shadows whispered.

Cassian? Cassian was here?

Maybe he should have seen it coming. Maybe he should have… Azriel sighed, feeling an exhausted irritation welling up within him.

What was Cassian doing here? Had Rhys sent him?

He probably should have known that Cassian wasn't going to have the patience to actually wait...

He should have probably known that Cassian, the one that had broken into Zahra's fucking home wouldn't just leave them be either.

Another push at the wards.

Azriel nearly growled in annoyance.

"What's wrong?" Zahra asked him.

"Cassian is outside," he said drily. "I should have seen it."

Zahra winced in response, clearly not looking too excited at the idea of his brother showing up. 

His mother on the other hand, perked up a bit, her eyebrows raising.

"Cassian?" she repeated, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Azriel sighed in resignation at her look.

"Yes," he said quietly.

"You should let him in," his mother pointed out helpfully. "Unless you want him to force his way in."

Oh if he was, Azriel was going to fucking kill him.

Zahra looked at him, a protective hand cupping the back of Azalea's head.

"I'll talk to him," he promised his mate. "He won't take her from us," he promised her fiercely.

"I would like to see him try," Zahra answered, sticking out her chin defiantly.His own expression hardened in response, a fierce protectiveness welling within him.

Rhys and Cassian might be his family. But they weren’t…they weren’t going to take Azalea away from them.

"He won’t," Azriel told her firmly, not even a hint of doubt in his voice. "Not unless he's willing to deal with me."

Still...his siphons were pulsing dully as he walked into his mother's backyard. it bordered right to the warding line and he wasn't surprised to find Cassian at the boundary either. Waiting for him, his arms crossed.

"What do you want?" Azriel asked flatly.

Cassian's eyes widened in surprise at his tone of voice. "Mostly I just wanted to see if you were alright," Cassian gave back. "Rhys laid down the law, y'know? You don't need to worry about Feyre, Elain or Nesta." He grimaced. "I had a talk with Nes...though I think Emerie and Gwyn probably had a bigger impact with the talk they had…”

“They talked with her?” Azriel repeated, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

He had somehow not expected that. He had to admit he wouldn’t have minded being a fly on the wall to that conversation…

"Yes," Cassian answered quietly. "How is she?"

It was clear who he meant as Cassian stared pointedly at the cottage.

"Fine," Azriel said flatly. 

Better now with Azalea…Fine most of the time. Not fine other times. But quite frankly, he didn’t think Cassian deserved to hear more than that. 

Cassian grimaced. "I don't expect you to trust any of us with Zahra any time soon," Cassian said softly. "I just...I just wanted to say that I am sorry."

Something in Azriel's chest loosened a little bit as Cassian's words registered in his mind.

"I'm not the one you should be apologising too," he got out finally.

"I think you are," Cassian disagreed quietly. "Because Zahra wasn't the only one we treated abhorrently. We didn't treat you any better."

Azriel had to bite down the scathing reply that was building on his tongue. Because...Cassian wasn’t wrong. It didn’t make things any easier, his best friend clearly realising that they had…that they had treated him poorly.

"You don't trust me anymore," Cassian said softly. "And I can't give you the fault for it, because it's all on me," he continued weakly. "I realised that I have no fucking clue what's going on in your life."

That stung more than he wanted to admit.

It stung and burned in his chest…because it was true.

Gods, he had trusted Cassian. Had trusted him with almost everything. But now…he felt like that trust had shattered…

Not completely. Not completely shattered, but the cracks were there now. And the pain in his chest grew as Azriel looked at his best friend carefully, taking him in as he stood on the other side of the boundary of the wards.

"Why are you here?" he asked quietly.

Cassian exhaled slowly…he looked...upset. "I just...I just wanted to see you," he said simply, his voice so soft as if he was scared it would drive him away if spoken too loud. "Just...see you and talk to you. How are you?"

Azriel swallowed, his heart feeling like it was being squeezed inside his chest at his friends weary expression and the tiredness in his voice.

“Honestly?” he asked drily. “Not great. You?”

Cassian gave a weak attempt at a huff of a laugh and even that didn’t sound like it normally would. “Not great either,” he said honestly. He huffed out another weak attempt at a laugh, “I think that’s a given...I don't think any of us enjoyed the mirror you held up in front of our faces, but cauldron, we needed it," Cassian said with a sigh. "Thank you, Az." It was earnest. "I spent the whole night awake, trying to figure out where we went wrong," Cassian continued softly. "We took you both for granted. Zahra and you both…"

Azriel’s throat was suddenly dry, his heart clenching again in his chest at his friend’s words.

He tried to force the lump in his throat to disappear, but failed to do so, just letting out a weak huff of air instead as a response.

He hadn’t expected his best friend to…well…to be so honest about it. To actually confront the mistakes he and the others had made.

"I was a shitty friend and an even worse brother," Cassian said with a snort. "I'll do better."

Azriel couldn’t stop his lip from twitching up at that promise. "Promise?" he got out, though his own tone sounded more pleading than he had wanted it to, like a child who had desperately wanted reassurance and forgiveness from someone he trusted.

"Promise," Cassian echoed firmly, a determination in his voice that made Azriel feel like…it made it feel like he meant it. Like Cassian truly wanted to try to...to make amends for the mistakes he had made. 

"And you are not going to break into Zahra's fucking house anymore," Azriel said sharply. "In what world is that alright, Cassian?"

Cassian winced slightly as Azriel spoke, looking almost uncomfortable, for him at least. For once, it didn’t feel like he was here to fight. He let out a long sigh as he ran his fingers through his messy hair.

“I...” he began, before he stopped himself, as if reconsidering whatever he was about to say. “I went about handling the whole thing the wrong way, I know that,” he said quietly at last. "I just needed to know if...If she went through the same thing my mother did," he said weakly.

"The answer is yes, minus the bastard child," Azriel snapped.

"You broke into my house?!" 

***

Cassian's head shot up to see Zahra, standing in the door of Esmeray's cottage, looking...well, more furious than Cassian had ever seen her.

“Yes,” Cassian answered and he had to physically stop himself from taking a step back from her as he caught the anger in her icy eyes as she continued to advance towards him

Cauldron she was terrifying when she was mad...

Not helped by...golden sparks that seemed to come off her and burn off into the icy midday air.

He had never fucking seen anything of that sort from her before. 

But now he swallowed as he wondered if it was in fact true that the cauldron hadn’t left the fourth Archeron sister with any special abilities…

She came to stand besides Azriel, who was looking at her with an expression that Cassian could only call absolutely fucking besotted.

Like she was the light of his life. 

"How dare you?" she seethed.

He grimace. "Feyre was there to?" he tried but Zahra growled.

“I don’t care that Feyre was there,” she said, almost in a snarl. “You broke into my home. Violated my privacy and for what?” she almost yelled at him.

Cassian had to work every muscle in his body just to not take a step back, his hackles rising at the way she was…was absolutely livid.

"I was worried?" he said weakly.

“Oh really?” she said, her voice dripping with disbelief as she all but spat that single word out. “You were worried, so you decided you were just going to break into my home and spy on me? You were worried, even when we haven't exchanged two fucking words in months? How dare you?!"

"I am sorry," he apologised. "I just...Nesta was talking about...and Emerie thought that maybe you hadn't..." he tried to get out the words as he stared at Nesta's sister.

Truly looked at Zahra. He had never thought that she resembled Nesta.

She had skin in a shade that was more similar to Azriel's and his than to any of her sisters...a nose that didn't look like the either, and green eyes that none of the other Archeron sister had inherited...but her lips were Feyre...And the way she drew up to her full height...that was all Nesta.

And the sparks were still swirling around him, a thin golden film that covered her…it was disconcerting to look at. 

"Nesta talked about what?" Zahra demanded.

"About...she talked about an affair you had," Cassian finally forced out. "And Emerie...she suggested that you didn't do it willingly."

She didn't flinch. If anything she stuck out her chin defiantly.

"I did what I had to," Zahra said simply. 

Like that…like that encompassed what she had done. What she had given up to keep her sisters alive…the sacrifice she had made that had never been honored before. 

Azriel's expression was fucking devasted. Cassian could see that. Angry and furious and pained and a thousand other things.

And for just a moment Cassian thought about what if the role were reversed...if it was Nesta and him in this situation, if this had happened to Nesta? He wouldn’t...he wouldn’t have handled it as well as Azriel had. He didn’t think he would have handled it at all. 

"That doesn't give you the right to barge into my home," she repeated furiously. "And it isn’t any of your business.”

"It is!" he protested, some of his own anger and frustration at the whole situation bleeding into his voice. "You���re Nesta‘s little sister! You’re our family too."

Involuntarily, his gaze flicked to Azriel's arm, who’s hands were now clenched into fists, the shadows were dancing around him, looking ready to strike at a moment‘s notice. There was a muscle in Azriel‘s jaw clenching almost rhythmically, that told him his friend was furious and...

Cassian thought his best friend might punch him in the face.

"If I am your family," Zahra said, her eyes flashing furiously, "you’ve all done a horrible job at showing me that," she snapped scornfully.

There was pain in Azriel's eyes at Zahra's words and the anger that was written over his friend's face told him Azriel was thinking the exact same thing as him, that they had done a horrible job at showing her that all this time…

"You’re right," Cassian found himself saying, even though the words almost pained him, as if they were being torn out of his chest. "We have and…I’m sorry," he added, almost whispering the words.

It stung to admit that. Even more than the realisation that they had done a horrible job at being a family to her, that they had messed up in every single possible way.

Zahra was still staring at him, her expression a mixture of surprise and...and exhaustion. Like she had just been…been so tired of everything...

"You’ve apologised already," she said tiredly, the anger seemingly bled out of her voice, leaving only exhaustion behind.

Cassian’s heart clenched painfully at the sight. 

Azriel's arm came around her waist, a kiss was pressed against her temple...It was so loving, so intimate, that Cassian didn't even know where to look. Watching the two of them make out would have been more comfortable to look at.

At least that wouldn't have had Azriel's shadows, swirling around Zahra and twining themselves around every patch of available skin. They were acting protective and...Cassian had never seen them like that before.

"I just..." he said, trying to find words. "I just want to get it right. And I know it's going to take time. And that's alright. But I am on your side. I want you to know that. And I'll do whatever it takes to corall Nesta."

"Good luck with that," Zahra said dryly and it got a snort of laughter out of Azriel, who pulled her against his side. Cassian tried not to grimace at the way the shadows clung to her still, twirling around her.

Azriel and Zahra exchanged a look he couldn't quite place. "There is one thing you should know," Azriel said quietly. "You better come in."

Cassian's eyebrows went straight up at the almost ominous words. He saw the tension in Zahra's body, the way she seemed...almost reluctant? Her nose wrinkled ever so slightly, like she was bracing herself for something.

For what?

Still, he carefully crossed the ward boundary and followed behind Zahra and Azriel…

He got the answer the moment he entered the cottage. Azriel's mother was there, with a...baby on her hip. A baby that looked like...Azriel's twin.

Cassian just gaped at the scene in front of him as he entered the cottage. Zahra immediately was at Esmeray’s side, the baby reaching out for her hand. But the baby was staring at him. At Cassian. 

A baby. A baby that was staring at him with...with familiar hazel eyes and black hair.

A baby wrapped up tightly in a blanket, in Esmeray’s arms that Zahra was cooing over. 

A baby with wisps of shadows that curled around it like a protective cocoon.

And Azriel's mother, looking at the baby with such adoration as he had never seen on her face before...

"Az...What the fuck." he blurted out. Did his brother get a female pregnant? Who? Zahra?!?

He stared at her. Then at the baby. Then at the shadows. Then at his brother. Then at Esmeray,  who was looking at the baby adoringly as if it was the best thing to ever grace the world.

Right.

There must be a logical explanation.

"Congrats, Esmeray. How old is your...son?" he tried and Azriel's mother looked at him like he had just grown a second head.

She's a girl." she said drily. The tone of her voice and the hardness in her eyes taking him by such surprise that Cassian had to stop himself from gaping again.

And it was just then that he realised Azriel was staring at him, his friend was watching him with an expression he had never seen before. A look, that gave nothing away, that sent out a warning...but about what, he didn't know.

"Her name is Azalea," Zahra said softly. Azale reached out for Zahra with little arms, demanding to be held. Zahra acquiesced and Cassian stared as Azriel's arm wrapped around Zahra.

The tableau of a happy family.

What the hell is going on? The thought was like a mantra in his head.

His gaze flicked between Azriel, Zahra and the baby. 

Gods, the baby really did look like a miniature version of Azriel. With black hair and hazel eyes and...and the shadows seemed to be curled around her in a protective embrace, even as she reached out for Zahra.

"Who's baby is that?" Cassian finally asked weakly.

They all stared at him for a moment, Zahra's gaze filled with a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

"It's our baby, dumbass," Zahra said dryly and all the air left his lungs.

He was staring at her in disbelief for a heartbeat, trying to get his brain to process the words.

Then he turned to look at Azriel, who looked...absolutely smitten.

"You...you were pregnant?!" he blurted out.

Cassian swore his brain was about to explode. How had he missed that? How had not known about that?!

"How did I...How did none of us…how…" he tried to get out, but his brain wasn't cooperating.

"No," Zahra put him out of her misery.

What? That made even less sense! "If you didn't give birth to her, then where did you get that baby from?" He asked, utterly flummoxed.

You couldn’t have a baby that looked like you without getting pregnant or getting somebody else pregnant. That’s not how having a baby worked!

"The shadows kidnapped her," Azriel said drily.

At those words, Cassian felt himself staring in disbelief. The shadows kidnapped her...They... W h a t? "They...did what?" he got out and he didn't even try to keep the disbelief out of his voice. This whole situation was too bizarre.

He rubbed his temples. Maybe he had hit his head. Maybe he had gotten utterly drunk and now saw things that weren't...

"She looks just like you Az," he finally said weakly.

Azriel chuckled quietly. “I know,” he agreed with a laugh. 

Cassian's gaze was drawn back to the baby, who had finally gotten what she wanted and was resting in Zahra's arms now. She...Azalea looked so much like Azriel. There was no denying it.

“She's Ruben's bastard daughter," Azriel explained quietly. And suddenly it made sense. "The shadows kidnapped her out of the dungeon."

It took a moment for those words to fall into place in his brain, for the missing pieces to click into place, to understand the implications those words. And when they did…

Cassian swore his heart skipped a beat. He turned to his friend, his brother. Azriel, who was looking at the baby as if she was the most precious thing on the continent, with such...such gentle adoration that…

She was his niece. Which explained the startling similarity. And the shadows had kidnapped her out of the same dungeon Azriel had grown up in. 

"You are keeping her?" It wasn't truly a question. He wouldn’t have expected another answer but yes. And he got it. 

"Yes," Azriel said firmly, his voice and tone brokering no room for argument, or question.

Cassian's gaze shifted to the baby in Zahra's arms again, watching as Azriel’s shadows writhed around her like a protective cocoon, wrapping around every part of available skin. 

"Dad Az and Baby Az," he realised with a weak laugh. "Fuck, have you told Rhys yet?"

That drew out a snort out of Azriel, who grimaced.  "No," Azriel admitted. "You are the first."

And wasn't Cassian going to hold that over everybody's heads. 

"She is adorable," Cassian finally said quietly. 

"We think so," Azriel's voice was quiet, but that gentle tenderness…it nearly broke his fucking heart. 

Cassian's gaze was drawn to the baby again. Little Azalea looked so much like her father.

Because Azriel was going to be her father. Was going to be the one who loved on his little girl and spoiled her rotten, who would hold her hand through her first steps and wipe away tears and kiss skinned knees. 

Azriel was going to do all these things, of that Cassian had no doubt.

[luneariaa]

ᯓ★٠ ࣪⭑ UNSPOKEN. ✧ KENJI S. { 𝐈 }.

✰ — PART 1 ; mentions of kenji having some deep; untold sadness, emi mention, the reader being the sunshine friend to kenji + having close relationship.

✰ — probably will have more two - three parts of the story! tried to fit in one part, but it doesn't work somehow ( ╥ω╥ ) to those who wanted to be tagged in the next future parts, feel free to comment or send me an ask <33 !! ✩₊˚. PART 2.

. dividers by @/strangergraphics ⛓ !!

GROWING UP, for almost his entire life, KENJI— regardless of the increase of popularity and fame, doesn't really have that much of friends. Does he even have them at this point? He doesn't really have anyone that he could actually rely on; even trusted fully.

Despite everything from the outside of one's possible perspective, he's still the lonely, sweet boy deep down. None has ever truly cracked his persona down and managed to bring out his true self, which a part of him is glad for some reason— but the other, not so much.

The attention that he has received all over the world doesn't really mean anything, not what he silently craved and secretly desperate for.

Companionship, someone who actually cares about his wellbeing as a whole despite his ongoing status.

Yes, of course, he loves the fact that he's able to accomplish something that's quite significant to him, at least— getting all of the attention that they think he truly deserved, but there will always be this one void within his heart; as if begging to be fixed with something that even he himself wasn't so sure about it.

His mansion may have everything that he ever needed, but it still feels bleak, somehow, no matter what he's trying to do. What's the point of having large spaces, when in the end, the mere silence will be his only company?

Kenji doesn't even realize it, but sometimes, he ended up just staring blankly at the empty gaps of his surroundings; feeling lost at the said moment.

His world has been nothing but simply revolving around his stardom life as much as the realization hits him; an endless, monochromatic-colored world that he tacitly faced alone with some fair, or unfair number of struggles.

"Must be a tough day today, yeah Ken?"

"You should take some more needed breaks, at least!" He swiftly got pulled out of his train of thoughts, eyes immediately glancing to the source of sound. This is his reality now, not the one that he keeps on unconsciously reminiscing of.

"Pushing yourself too hard wouldn't be too good for your health, y'know." A euphonious voice scolded him lightly, accompanied with a bright, albeit concerned grin.

Kenji now took notice of you standing by the doorway; your smile remained despite the visible apprehensive look that was directed towards him. Completely aware of the mere truth behind your words alone, he averts his gaze back elsewhere— cracking a small, yet almost forceful of a smile as if he's trying to ease down your concerns.

"Yeah, you got a point. It's just the usual, I guess," he scratches the back of his head while lazily slouching on the bed. "It's not me if I don't mope over some pointless stuff."

"Well, it's not that pointless if it bothers you." You exhale out, gradually pulling him out of the bed.

"Maybe we can try something for the day— maybe you wanted to play baseball for a bit? I'll watch 'cuz you know I suck at those."

He couldn't hold back the snort from escaping, which earned a disapproving pout from you, but nonetheless, you added further.

"Or we could just play around with baby Emi as always! Or both, I don't know.."

"Perhaps that could at least ease your mind for a bit..?"

He could clearly sense your efforts; chuckling as he knows that he doesn't have any other plausible choices, but to simply follow your lead without any complaints. When it comes to you, Kenji knew it would always be futile to try anything quite the contrary from it.

"That sounds nice, actually." A genuine smile, despite the hints of his exhaustion, tugged at the corner of his lips. Has he even noticed it himself on how easy it is for you to coax him out of his shell? "Playing with Emi sounds amazing."

Kenji admitted along with a smirk being present by now, replacing his previous smile while doing some mini stretches here and there.

"I know!" You merely giggled over his words, "Besides, I just know that the baby already misses you. I fed her earlier too, in case you're wondering!" His pretty, midnight-colored eyes seemed to brighten up after you finished speaking for a bit.

"At this rate, I think you're spoiling her a bit too much," he castigated facetiously, earning an eyeroll from you when one of his hands ended up atop of your head— giving it a playful ruffle.

"Well, what can I say.."

"She's just a cute, big baby."

His genuine smile returned in mere seconds, finding the whole idea to be quite endearing; causing for him to feel the warmth that's starting to blossom within his chest. He's totally aware of his whole responsibility at this point— unintentionally, yet welcoming the idea of becoming a father to the baby kaiju, now willingly to take care of her because she's one of the reasons that actually changed him for the better.

Throughout the whole conversation that the two of you have shared with one another, it seemed as if the burdens on his shoulders has been lifted away; the atmosphere becoming more comfortably lighter than before without you even realizing it yourself.

Kenji doesn't even know how, but your sole presence has something in particular that keeps him grounded, and he values you deeply for that.

Even with such mystery that's been shrouding around you, it never really bothered him that much; respecting your boundaries and taking an immediate notice on how you seemed to be uncomfortable with talking about your own past and parents, in a way. He assumed that something might have happened before, hence the vague details you kept telling him— no irritation present ever.

Maybe someday, you'll have the courage to tell him. But for now, you would rather keep it a secret.

@luneariaa. do not repost; reblogs are welcomed. all rights reserved.

[gh0stsp1d3r]

Ok but hear me out bestie:

I think a fix with Luke and reader (established couple) and they have a pregnancy scare (totally false alarm) would be so funny

Their reactions and maybe some fluff in the end would be cute too

i love this sm omg 😭 😭 he’d be terrified

𝒫𝓇ℯ𝑔𝓃𝒶𝓃𝒸𝓎 𝓈𝒸𝒶𝓇ℯ

masterlist

You woke up in the middle of the night, suddenly feeling the urge to throw up. You were nauseous as you stood up, stumbling towards the bathroom.

You breathed heavily, a hand over your face, leaning against the wall. You put the back of your hand onto your forehead, furrowing your eyebrows. You didn’t feel hot.

You were confused, and that’s when the thought popped into your head. You were late, and you felt sick. No way. You originally thought, shaking it away.

Your heart and mind raced with the thought throughout the rest of the day, and it was when you were training with Luke when he noticed. You were off the whole day. He disarmed you, your sword falling to the ground. He smiled, getting ready to tease you when he saw your face.

"You good?" he asked you, smile faltering when he looked back up at you. His expression turned into one of concern as he stared at your features, trying to figure out what was wrong in his head.

"I... have something to tell you."

He furrowed an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side and looking at you in confusion.

"Y/n?"

"Sit down." You told him. Okay, now he was really concerned. He sat down with you on a nearby rock, holding your hand in his to bring comfort.

"Luke... I think I'm pregnant."

His mouth flew open, eyebrows creasing, trying to tell if you were joking or not.

"What? Are you serious?" he asked you with a nervous laugh, gripping your hand a bit tighter.

"I don't know, really, I have to take a test, but I needed you to know."

"What makes you think that your pregnant?"

"I woke up this morning feeling super sick, and I threw up... And I'm a week late!"

He swallowed the lump in his throat, nodding slowly to your words. "We should... take a test, right?"

"Yeah, but where the hell would I even get one? Not too sure that's something they keep in a camp."

"I know they have some in the big house. I can go sneak in and steal one or two." he shrugged.

You furrowed an eyebrow, wondering how he knew that, but ignored it for now. You just nodded, and he grabbed your sword, helping you off the rock. You both walked silently to your cabins.

"I'll get them tonight, and see you tomorrow morning." He told you, both of you standing in front of your cabin.

"Okay." you sighed out. He leaned in, putting his lips on yours. "See you tomorrow," You spoke when he pulled away. He nodded, waiting until you were inside to walk to the Hermes cabin.

He let out a sigh, running a hand over his face, glancing over at the big house and back at his cabin.

He knocked on the window next to your bed, you sat up quicker than the flash, opening it as quickly as you could.

"Jesus, did you even sleep?" he whispered to you, looking around your space. You shook your head. "I couldn't."

"Here." He handed you two boxes. "Thank you." You whispered, going into the bathroom while he sat on your bed, anxiously waiting for you, his leg bouncing up and down while he bit his nail.

It had felt like hours until you came out, holding both tests in front of you, both negative. He let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding in.

"Thank Gods." He muttered, sighing and getting into the bed next to you. You put your head on his chest, wrapping your arms around his figure.

"I don't know, would kids be that bad?" you asked him, looking up at him.

"I mean, I'm not against us having kids in the future. Right now, In camp? Recipe for disaster."

You nodded in agreement, looking back ahead, and shutting your eyes.

"Believe me, soon as we're outta camp, I'll give you all the kids you want." He told you with a smile, kissing the crown of your head while you giggled.

[yzzart]

"Oh, hello, Vogue!"

pairing: Tom Blyth x actress!reader.

summary: invited by Vogue, you and Tom participate in a famous panel about answering quick questions.

word count: 1.323!

notes: here it is! i focused all day, without drama, on this writing and finished it minutes ago. — enjoy!

"We're, like, Patrick and Kat!" — Tom nodded in agreement, looking and paying attention to your words and almost forgetting that you were being recorded. — "Anakin and Padmé?" — You wrinkled your nose gracefully.

"Lady and the Tramp?" — He suggested, smiling tenderly and was won over by your laugh and a long touch on his arm made by you.

"Oh my god, yes!"

"Hi, Vogue!" — In a gesture of introducing yourself, you waved to the camera in front of you accompanied by an inviting and friendly smile. — "I'm Y/N."

"And I'm Tom Blyth." — Tom introduced himself to the camera and future viewers. — "… and we are about to play Off the Cuff." — He moved the small cards, which contained countless and random questions, and directed his eyes to you.

"Uh, a great entrance!" — You crossed your legs, making yourself comfortable on the chain, and held out the small cards as your eyebrows arched at Tom.

"Thank you, my dear." — He winked at you and took, carefully and planning a bit of suspense, one of the white cards; the topics were random, they could be about TBOSAS, behind the scenes or something related to your relationship. — Everything was a mystery. — "What was the last song you listened to?"

"Hm…" — You rested one of your hands on your chin, trying to fake a thoughtful image. — "A song, which is still unknown to me, that you hummed in the morning." — Your laugh was registered and echoed throughout the room, and Tom was amused when he remembered what happened. — "I should have recorded it!"

"It was a little chorus, and it stuck in my head." — He explained, placing the small card in a reserved place next to him. — "I don't remember the name of the song, but it must be saved on my phone" — His eyes fell on you again. — "Then i can sing for you again." — Tom uttered with melody and his lips curving in a shy smile.

"So adorable and romantic" — You tilted your head, with a pleasant and welcoming smile, at your boyfriend finding your words cute. — "Oh, i think i know the answer to that, what is an item you never leave the house without?" — Your hands shook the small card, waiting for your boyfriend's response.

"You definitely know the answer!" — Tom stated in slurred words accompanied by a laugh. — "In New York, the key to my motorcycle and i have it all the time." — His chin bowed a little. — "And maybe, in the future, in your bag."

"One day i'll ride it, you can be sure." — One of the cameras focused on her face, capturing her words, or rather, a promise that you would love to keep one day.

"And i'll be there, my love." — Blyth took another card. — "Among all the characters' looks in the film, which one would you wear?"

"Definitely, all the looks worn by Tigris." — You moved your hands. — "In addition to being beautiful, they seem to be so comfortable, especially the one where she talks to Coriolanus after he tells her about Lucy Gray." — The image of the aforementioned scene was then shown in the video with editing. — "Hunter looks so beautiful in them."

"Definitely." — He agreed

"With all the sets and locations in the film, which one was your favorite?" — Another card was discarded by you. — "Tell us!" — His voice sounded curious and excited by the older man's response.

"Hm, i loved recording them all." — Tom turned his eyes to an invisible fixed point. — "But, i think i choose the cabin." — His attention returned to you. — "Even with those mosquitoes and little bugs that i've never seen in my life."

"You were scared of most." — Your laughs came in sync.

"It was impossible not to be scared!" — Tom added. — "There was one that almost got into my shirt and another in the river." — Taking another card, Tom read the words written on it and continued with a peculiar and curious expression. — "Name one unforgettable thing i've ever done for you." — The question came out slowly, delicately and with a touch of enthusiasm; and several moments, memories flashed in his mind. — "I'm excited for this."

"My god, it's impossible to give just one answer." — A slightly euphoric and nervous question left your lips, and you laughed nervously as you tried to think and choose just one of the moments and deeds that Tom has done for you. — "It's so hard to choose one." — And it wasn't exaggeration or drama.

"You don't have to think so much, darling." — Tom's voice calmed your mind so tight and focused on the answer; nervousness was visible on your face. — "I see the gears in your head locking up." — He joked, trying to relax you and leaving the cards in his lap and resting one of his hands on your leg.

Finally, something landed in your mind; It was completely automatic. — Like a lamp being turned on when touched.

"Well, it's recent, but, it's stuck in my head!" — You started. — "Ah, during the L.A premiere and you were wearing a pendant necklace and there was my initial." — The way you responded was sweet, soft and passionate in front of the camera lenses and people in the room. — "And i was speechless, just admiring that little piece and feeling like the most loved person in the world." — You sighed, with your eyes shining against the oldest's blue orbs.

"In my world, you're." — Tom confessed, looking directly into his eyes and his hand still remained on his leg. — "It was a surprise and i was so excited that i wanted to show it to you ahead of time." — That tall, young British man smiled with passion, which burned in his chest and had no embarrassment in showing it.

"A secret that no one knows and can now be revealed?" —Another slightly peculiar question.

"I have a photo, actually, a polaroid in my wallet." — Tom ran his hands through the pockets of his pants, looking for what he had mentioned, but, from his disappointed frown, the object was not present. — "It's not here, so it must be in your bag."

"100% chance." — Your head nodded, nodding in confirmation. — "Which photo is it?" — You asked, curious and wanting to see her later.

"One of the ones Rachel took backstage and it quickly became one of my favorites." — Without specification, several photos scrolled through your head. — "It was in the forest, and you were wearing a helmet, that of Coriolanus, of peacekeeper." — Oh, that!

"I think I even posted it on Instagram!" — Either it was still in your gallery, with a favorite star next to it, or, actually, in your feed. — "She's so adorable, i had her as the wallpaper on my phone for a long time."

"Now, that one I know very well." — Your boyfriend looked at the card between his fingers and then at you. — "A song that reminds me." — Tom bit his lip, vibrant and with the answer on the tip of his tongue.

"Definitely Daylight by Taylor Swift." — You pointed your index finger in his direction, thinking about more songs or explaining why you chose her. — "It's impressive how you manage to fit so well into almost all of her songs.

"And in all of our playlists, you always, always add this song." — He wasn't lying. — "I'm sure it'll be in my Spotify retrospective."

"Oh, and also that line." — You sat down in the chair again. — "In a world of boys, he's a gentleman." — Tom's ears, and those of some people behind the cameras, were witnesses to your quick and small singing; a lyric, which was also from Taylor, where fans marked it and made a point of putting it in each of his edits. — They've already shared it with you in your DM and you've already saved some videos. — "There are so many songs, i can't choose just one."

"Perfect." — Tom murmured, as his deeply, crystal clear irises admired and contemplated you.

[lynnie-ee]

Hellooo, I checked your rules carefully before requesting, Could i have a oneshot for Jack howl? where his and fem reader's child (or maybe children) travelled back time where the child/childrens' parents time in NRC, and both of them wasn't in relationship as couple or haven't confessed yet.

╰┈➤"Days at Night Raven College were never normal, but not even the Prefect of Ramshackle could have imagined that on her way to her dorm, she'd find her future children. On her free day, on top of that."

╰►Female reader, oneshot, 2.1k words.

╰► Characters: Jack Howl.

╰►Note: Thanks for requesting! This has been sitting on my ask for two years already omg, I'm so sorry TT. I'll do my best to resume answering asks! Either way, I hope you like it, and sorry if there are any grammatical mistakes, english is not my first language :>

╰►Masterlist / (requests open)  

⤿

⤿

‘My bed, my bed, my bed… All I need right now is my bed. And a warm drink. Oh, and my fluffy pajamas, and maybe a snack-'

After a long day at school, it was evident the magicless prefect was in need of a more deserved break. But it was Friday, and Grim joined Ace and Deuce at a game afternoon, so she could rest, for once. Oh, when was the last time she had a peaceful evening? It was nice not to be buried in work, at least for a second.

“Oh, mommy! We’ve been looking for you, mommy!”

What.

“I really should go back to sleeping eight hours, I’m even starting to hallucinate.” The prefect mumbled to herself, because why else would she hear the voice of a CHILD in the middle of school?

“Moooommy! Don’t ignore me, I know you can hear me!”

Again.

“Maybe a nap of five hours will fix this, yup.” She continued her path towards Ramshackle. If I don’t acknowledge it, it doesn’t exist...

“Mother, please!”

“A nap and a balanced meal, that’s all I need…”

The young kid seemed to have grown tired of her failed attempts to call the prefect, so she was quick to hurry to where the Ramshackle student was, interrupting her walk. Instead of continuing to call her from afar, she abruptly stood in front of the tired girl.

“Mom!”

“A CHILD!”

The magicless student suddenly screamed, visibly perturbed at the fact that her ‘hallucinations’ actually belonged to a rather tall girl (who seemed to be at least eight years old), instead of some voices in the back of her tired mind.

“Oh my… I’m so sorry, are you lost?” She immediately swiped her demeanor, trying her best to shake away the fatigue. “What’s your name? Were you looking for your parents?” The prefect was quick to ask, crouching down to be at the same level as the kid.

“Ah, you finally noticed me! Please don’t get mad at me, it was Uncle Ace I swear!”

“Sorry?”

“He was bragging about how great he was Ancient Curses when he was at school, and then he wanted to make a demonstration but Uncle Deuce stepped in and interrupted him and then everything went BAM, and then WOOOSH and we woke up here, so we started looking for you and Papa and-“

“You lost me at Ancient Curses.” She mumbled while sighing, a bit startled by the child’s sudden outburst. “But you said something about Papa, right? Tell me what he looks like and we can look for him.”

“You know what he looks like! It’s not time for your jokes.” The child pouted, seemingly offended at the statement of the prefect, whose confused expression contrasted with the annoyance of the kid in front of her.

“…I don’t?”

“But you’re married to him.”

“…”

“…”

“I’M NOT MARRIED YET?”

“Yes, you are! You told me you got married after university!”

“I’m in high school, so how can you…?” She paused quickly, straightening her back to stand up as she grasped her words, her shocked expression only growing as she analyzed the situation. Then something clicked, and she anxiously crouched again to speak to the little girl. “Wait, wait, oh no…Who did you say were your uncles?”

“Well, there’s Uncle Ace and Uncle Deuce, but also Uncle Epel, Uncle Sebek, and-“

"How old are they?"

"I don't know? 30...40... Something like that I guess."

(Y/n) sighed heavily, promptly closing her eyes, her hands softly pinching the bridge of her nose as the situation started to be clearer for her. After a few overblots, some kidnapping and other incidents, (Y/n) found hilarious how plausible the possibility was that the child before her was telling the truth. She was now living in a world with magic, after all.

"So, it's more likely that you...are my child?” The kid nodded. “From the future?" Another nod.

"Yeah, exactly! I've never been in the past so sorry if I said something confusing, Mama!"

Mama.

Oh, great seven.

"Don't worry, kiddo. It's alright, it's alright..." The prefect mumbled, mostly for herself rather than for the child, as she patted her head softly. "Now I suppose we have to look for someone who can help you to come back to...the future, yeah. Let's go." (Y/n) tried to recover herself as quickly as possible, ignoring the questions in her mind by extending her hand for the little girl to take it.

"Oh, but I have to come back to tell my siblings that I found you!"

"Please tell me I heard 'siblings' incorrectly."

"No, no, but you'll be happy to meet them! Let's go find them~."

'Breath in, breath out, everything's fine. The children won't come into your life right now. You have a lot of years ahead before, you can do this.' The prefect thought, reassuring herself that this brief taste of her future life would go away as soon as she found someone who would send her kids back where they belonged, hopefully without even getting to know who was the father of the kids, and the person she would probably marry.

The last thing she needed was information that would only make her feel awkward with one of her classmates. That, if her future husband even went to Night Raven College, perhaps it was someone she hadn’t even met yet-

“OOOH, YOU FOUND MAMA!”

“Oh, hi Mom. You look different.”

Wolf ears.

Fluffy tails.

Golden eyes.

“Great Seven…”

There was no denying it now.

She knew very well those features; it was painfully easy to reach a conclusion.

“Is…Is there a chance, that maybe, your dad’s name is Jack?”

Perhaps her crush on the Savanaclaw student wasn’t as hopeless as she thought.

⤿

⤿

Her children were quite interesting.

After giving a long explanation to Professor Crewel, he (begrudgingly) promised to come up with a solution to help her. After finishing their conversation, he left the alchemy classroom where she found him, willing to go looking for books to fix the situation, giving her time to observe more carefully the kids who waited on the chairs next to hers, as the teacher entrusted her not to leave the room while he looked for the solution.

As she sat in one of the classroom chairs with the youngest kid on her lap playing mindlessly with the buttons of her blazer, she could only watch as the other two children played with some books they found around, carefully noticing the little perks of their personalities.

The oldest was a tall one who had less noticeable beast features, which could be the reason why she didn’t figure out immediately the resemblance she had with the Savanaclaw first-year, as the similarities lay more on her strong personality and respectful demeanour rather than her looks.

Contrary to that, there was the second born, an energetic six-year-old boy, whose appearance seemed to be almost identical to his father. (Y/n) had never seen photos of Jack when he was a child, but even so, she could swear that would be exactly how he looked when he was young. Perhaps she could ask him about it later…?

However, with the youngest, it was a bit more difficult. She was a lovely five-year-old, with hair just like hers in both colour and form, but her face seemed different, and she couldn’t figure out if she looked more like Jack or herself, so perhaps it was a mix of them, she supposed.

“All of you are very cute.” The prefect commented mindlessly, not aware of the smile that adorned her expression, as she ran her fingers through the soft hair of the youngest child, who seemed happy at the contact, seemingly used to it. “It’s quite nice to know that I’ll have such a lovely family in the future…”

“It seems Professor Crewel wasn’t lying, after all.”

Who…?

“PAPA! You’re here too!”

“Jack?!” The Ramshackle student acknowledged the presence of the first-year with a little more intensity than she intended, as she turned around to see him standing close to the door. The Savanaclaw promptly closed the door before getting closer to them, as the youngest child jumped out of her lap to run towards him.

“Prefect.” The beastman greeted with his usual stern voice, unaltered at the two youngest children that quickly climbed to his arms, carrying them as if he was used to it, as both children bombarded him with greetings and questions.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were in club practice.”

“I was supposed to be there, yeah. But Professor Crewel informed me about the…situation. So, I’m here to take responsibility and help him to find a solution.”

“…Responsibility?”

“For my kids. Future. Future kids, of course.” He said, but the prefect couldn’t help but notice the lack of eye contact he had, something unusual for him, although, given the circumstances, it was understandable; but was that a blush on his cheeks…?

“Our kids.” (Y/n) mentioned, pushing his limits slightly, curious at the reaction of the first year.

“…Yeah.”

“You seem fairly comfortable with them, by the way.” She added, pointing with her chin at the way he held the kids, making Jack glance at both kids as they kept talking to each other.

“I’m used to carrying my siblings in this way, I suppose it’s natural for me.”

“Interesting.”

An awkward silence reigned over the room; the children surprisingly going silent, maybe waiting for the teenagers to speak to each other, but it seemed that they were…too embarrassed for it.

“Should we take a look at the books we have here while we wait for the Professor to come back? Perhaps we can help him.”

“Good idea.”

“Good.”

⤿

⤿

“Bye, mama! Bye, papa! See you in a few years!”

“Haha, yeah, see you…”

“Come back safely.”

After Professor Crewel was able to send the kids back where they were supposed to be, both Jack and the prefect were quick to bid them goodbye. When everything was fixed, their teacher excused himself to come back to his duties, as both first-year students thanked him for the help.

She sighed with a tired demeanour as their teacher left the classroom, and then realized that Jack was still in the room with her.

“Would…would you like to talk about what just happened?” The beastman broke the silence, an awkward air surrounded him, and (Y/n) could sense the anticipation in his voice covered by his usual respectful tone.

“If I’m honest with you…Not really. What’s in the future should be left where it belongs; in the future. I think there’s no need for us to worry about something that’s not gonna happen until a few years more, you know?” Answered (Y/n) in the sincerest way she could reply. She was already too tired after running around the campus with three little children at what was supposed to be her free afternoon, and way too exhausted to be concerned about kids that didn’t even exist yet.

“It’s alright, I understand.” She could see a glimpse of disappointment on his face combined with a weird touch of relief. Maybe he wanted to speak about it but preferred not to push her if she didn’t want to.

Jack’s politeness and sense of justice was something the prefect always admired about him, one part of his personality that led her to develop a small crush on him, one she thought was senseless as the beastman didn’t seem to have any interest in her. But it never hurt to prove her luck.

“But if you’re up to chat about anything else, perhaps you want to take a walk in the city tomorrow? I have to pick Grim at Heartslabyul in a while, but I don’t have any plans for the weekend.” She suggested timidly, a tender smile making way its way to her expression, a vibrant contrast against Jack’s surprised face.

“Oh- I…I guess I’m free at that time, so I suppose I can, yeah.” The Savanaclaw student answered, trying to play it cool, ignoring the heat at his cheeks, awkwardly resting his hand on the back of his neck.

“That’s great! We can meet at the front gate-”

“I’ll pick you up at Ramshackle, don’t worry.” He added, his gaze far away from the prefect’s eyes. “If you’re okay with it, of course.”

(Y/n)’s smile quickly changed into a gentle laugh as she was amused to see the sudden shyness of the first year, giving her more confidence to answer. “I’d love to, actually. I look forward to it.”

“Great, see you tomorrow, then.” The white-haired boy turned back, wanting to go back to his dorm before he could get more embarrassed.

“Oh, Jack, before you leave.”

“Yeah?”

“Someday, can you show a picture of you when you were little?”

“Uh- why?”

“I just want to prove a theory of mine.”

“…I will, then.”

“Cool, thanks.”

⤿

⤿

[mydearestbeloved]

#0.2 [Chapter]

CW: Implied Yandere, Angst

⚠️SPOILER ALERT to my "Trial Player"-AU (Imagine 1#).

Note:

I have too many ideas but too little time, so I'll just post them as drafts here until I have the time to edit them thoroughly.

_____

Draft I:

As you sat alone in a rare moment of peace, your thoughts wandered, weighed down by the inevitable future. You watched Jinwoo across the room, his back turned as he spoke quietly with a few of his shadows, too preoccupied to notice the turmoil churning inside you. You wondered if he could sense it—the quiet resignation you’d tried so hard to bury beneath the surface.

For a long time, you had wondered which of the tropes would define Sung Jinwoo. The question had plagued your mind ever since you were brought into this world, even before you officially met him. Back then, you had always believed he was the type to sacrifice himself for the world. After all, in the original story, he had gone back in time, facing the Monarchs alone. He shouldered the burden, unflinching, and in doing so, sealed his fate. It was the path of a man who believed no one else could bear the weight of the world.

And you? You always saw yourself as someone who would burn the world for the ones you loved. Before getting isekai’d, that had been your mindset—I’ll burn the world for you. If you had someone like Jinwoo, someone precious, you’d scorch the earth before letting them be taken.

But now, everything had changed. You weren’t just a bystander. You were a part of his story, no matter how much you had tried not to meddle. You were in too deep, and every day you spent by his side made it harder to imagine a future where you weren’t there. But you knew what was coming. Jinwoo’s path would lead him to turn back time, and when that happened—when he used the Cup of Reincarnation to stop the Monarchs—you would be erased.

The system’s melancholic silence when you’d asked it about your fate had only confirmed your worst fears. There was no need for a trial player when the world was safe from the Monarchs. You would disappear from this reality, perhaps return to your own. Or maybe you would simply cease to exist.

You had already accepted it, in a way. If Jinwoo chose the world over himself, then I would choose to sacrifice myself for him. You would give him the chance to live in the world he chose to protect. You would disappear quietly, like a glitch in the system, repaired and erased without a trace.

But he must never know.

If Jinwoo knew... if he found out what you planned to do, it could change everything. You weren’t blind to how it might affect him. He had changed from the man you once read about. This Jinwoo was not the same as the one in the original story. He was growing more possessive, more attached to you. It was subtle at first—the way he watched you avoid the spotlight, how he seemed to enjoy it when you recoiled from fame—but now, it was undeniable. He wanted you by his side, always. His actions, his words, even his touch—everything told you that he wouldn’t let you go easily.

And if he knew your fate? If he discovered that by turning back time and saving the world, he would lose you... What would he do?

Your heart clenched at the thought. He might choose you over the world. He might become the man who would burn everything to keep you by his side. And that scared you more than anything.

Jinwoo was always kind. That was a fact you couldn’t deny. Even with his immense power, even with his ruthlessness on the battlefield, there was a kindness in him that remained untouched. You didn’t want to take that from him. You didn’t want to become the reason he veered off his path, the reason he sacrificed the world for something as selfish as... a love for the you who weren't meant to be.

So, he must not know.

You would carry the weight of your secret, and when the time came, you would disappear. You would become nothing more than a fading memory, like a glitch once fixed, leaving no trace behind.

You looked at Jinwoo again, your heart heavy with the knowledge that you were running out of time. His gaze met yours, and for a moment, his expression softened, as if sensing the depth of your thoughts. He crossed the room, sitting beside you with a quiet, almost casual presence that belied the intensity of his emotions. His hand brushed yours, and you felt the familiar warmth of his touch.

“You’re thinking too much again,” he said softly, his voice low and comforting.

You forced a smile, trying to mask the storm inside you. “Maybe.”

Jinwoo didn’t press further, but his eyes lingered on your face, searching. He always knew when something was off, but for now, he seemed willing to let it slide. You leaned into his side, resting your head against his shoulder, wondering how long you had left before everything changed.

Because no matter how much you tried to keep your cards close, the end was inevitable. And when it came... you would disappear, leaving Jinwoo to walk the path alone once again.

_____

Draft II:

You stared out the window, your thoughts swirling in a labyrinth of uncertainty. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of life outside, but inside, your mind was far too loud. The weight of everything—your existence here, Jinwoo’s fate, the inevitable outcome of this world—all pressed down on you like a suffocating blanket. You thought about Jinwoo, about his burdens, his strength, and the path he was destined to walk.

He must not know.

That thought repeated itself like a mantra in your head. If Jinwoo knew what you were willing to do, if he knew you were planning to sacrifice yourself for him, everything could change. And that change could unravel the story you knew—the story you had come to love, the one you were never meant to alter.

In the original story, Jinwoo was the kind of man who would sacrifice himself for the world, or for his loved ones. You had always admired that about him—the quiet strength, the resolve to protect even if it meant carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. But now, as you sat here in his world, things had shifted. You were in too deep. And if things continued down this path, it would be you who would disappear once Jinwoo reversed time to stop the Monarchs.

You had asked the system once, in private, what would happen to you after Jinwoo used the Cup of Reincarnation. Its silence had told you everything. You would cease to exist. You wouldn’t be needed anymore because the trial—the system—would be over. You would either return to your world or vanish entirely, leaving no trace. And Jinwoo... Jinwoo would never remember you. Once the timeline reset, his memories of you would be erased, as though you were nothing more than a glitch.

Perhaps that was for the best.

You didn’t mind sacrificing yourself for him. If you disappeared, at least you would know you had done something meaningful. Jinwoo would live on, and he wouldn’t be burdened by your memory. He would believe, as always, that he had faced it all alone.

But the thought of how your disappearance might affect him—it gnawed at you. Jinwoo had already lost so much. What would he feel if he knew you were gone, even if he couldn’t remember why? How would it change him if he somehow, deep down, sensed the absence of something—someone—important?

Where you 'important' enough?

“You’re thinking too much again,” came Jinwoo’s voice, low and smooth, as if he had been reading your mind. He was suddenly beside you, his presence steady and overwhelming, as it always was.

You blinked, pulled from your thoughts, and turned to face him. He looked at you with those deep, intense eyes that seemed to see right through you, his gaze unwavering as if he could sense your inner turmoil. He stepped closer, his thumb brushed your cheek, his touch grounding you. “You’re always overthinking.”

You laughed softly, a sound tinged with both amusement and sadness. “I can’t help it. It’s in my nature.”

He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. “Then let me help you. You don’t have to carry everything alone.”

The irony of his words wasn’t lost on you. He, who had always been alone, who had carried the weight of the world by himself, was now offering to share your burden. It was almost poetic.

You nodded, leaning into his touch. “I’m fine, Jinwoo.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “You’ve been distant lately.” His thumb continue to brush against your skin, sending a wave of warmth through you. “What are you thinking about?”

You. That was the truth, wasn’t it? You were always thinking about him, about the burden he carried, and what it meant for both of you. But you couldn’t tell him that. You couldn’t tell him you were planning to disappear, or that you were ready to sacrifice yourself for him. He’d never let you.

So instead, you asked, “What would you sacrifice for the world, Jinwoo? Or for someone you care about?”

His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was trying to understand where the question was coming from. He was silent for a moment, considering his answer. “I’d sacrifice myself if it meant saving the people I love,” he said finally. “I’d protect them at any cost.”

Of course he would. That was the Jinwoo you knew. The Jinwoo the world knew.

Please, never change.

But what about you? Would he ever put you in that equation, or were you just another person in the background—someone to protect from afar, someone he couldn’t afford to get too close to?

“What about me?” you asked softly, your voice barely above a whisper.

Jinwoo’s gaze darkened, and for a moment, you saw something flash in his eyes. Something possessive. Something that made your heart race. He stepped even closer, his hand now cradling your face, his thumb tracing the line of your jaw.

“I’d burn the world for you,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t you know that by now?”

Your breath hitched at the intensity in his words. There was no hesitation, no doubt in his voice. He meant it. He would destroy everything if it meant keeping you by his side. And that terrified you.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

You had always thought Jinwoo was the kind of person who would sacrifice himself for the world, and maybe he still was—but when it came to you, something had changed. His focus had shifted. You weren’t just someone he protected. You were his. And he wasn’t going to let you go.

You tried to keep your voice steady as you said, “You can’t—”

“I can,” he interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. “And I will.”

Your heart pounded in your chest, a mix of fear and something else—something you didn’t want to name. “Jinwoo...”

He leaned closer, his forehead resting gently against yours. “You’re mine, (Name). And I won’t let you go. Not for the world, not for anyone. I’ll keep you by my side, no matter what.”

The weight of his words settled over you like a heavy cloak. You had always known he was possessive, but this... this was something else. It was dangerous, all-consuming. And the worst part? You weren’t sure if you wanted to resist it anymore.

But even so, you couldn’t tell him. You couldn’t tell him about the future you knew, about the Cup of Reincarnation, about your eventual disappearance. Because if you did, you knew he would do everything in his power to stop it—even if it meant burning the world to the ground.

So, instead, you leaned into him, letting his warmth envelop you, even as your heart ached with the knowledge of what was to come.

“I won’t let you face it alone,” you whispered, more to yourself than to him.

And for now, that was enough.

End Note:

It's popular to say, get yourself a partner who'll burn the world for you.

I still love that trope the most, but I also want to try new flavors without forgetting the others I've tasted. So, I improvised, and this is how my "Sung Jinwoo/Trial Player!Reader"-fanfic Imagine came to be.

In a nutshell: Jinwoo is intense, but (Name) is also intense in her own way~

[loveafterdeath-if]

Update (more like me rambling than an actual update, tbh)

Hope y'all are doing alright! I saw my inbox filled with asks and kind words (y'all are the best, as always), and I'll start answering everything once I wrap up Chap 2, Part 2. I want to focus fully on writing so I can get you the whole chapter before March at least, haha.

I'm gonna start correcting what I've written so far to avoid ending up with 100k words to fix all at once. We're about 50% through Chap 2, Part 2 (38k words, but it'll probably hit 40k with corrections). There are branches that have messed with my brain because I wanted to include scenes for each RO, but I don't regret it. I love games with lots of replayability (is that how we say it?), so I want mine to offer that too.

Chap 2, Part 2 will have a ton of branches for each RO, plus the option if you're not pursuing anyone, so it might take a while to get that full chapter out. I honestly don't know how other authors keep track of so many branches! I've always respected them as a reader/player, but being the one writing makes me wanna hand my future kids over to those incredible authors…

On top of that, I'm dealing with another issue. I've been writing so much that I think I'm slowly slipping into that "They gaze at her and say," "They take the paper and it falls" vibe (is that even a thing? Idk). You know, the kind of writing with no real description. I find myself double-checking everything to make sure the descriptions are 'good,' and I think I'll just play some IFs when I got time, to help me regain my groove without turning phrases all weird (I hate reading books, that's why I'm gonna play IFs). This is making me slow down a bit.

I've been pushing myself to write at least 4-5k words each day for the past 3 (4?) months, and I think I shouldn’t have done that. I'm putting pressure on myself without even realizing it. It's only when I end up with 'only' 3k words that I start feeling upset and push through to hit minimum 4k. I'm feeling good for now and don't mind writing that much, but I really don't want to wake up one day and boom—burnout. A Ko-fi member and some folks in my inbox have kindly reminded me to take breaks and take my time, so I think I'll slow down a bit. Like, maybe aim for 3k words?

I've been writing for years, (started on Wattpad in French, and yeah, it was… something) so no worries about the game going on hiatus or anything. I love writing, especially interactive stuff—so basically IFs, haha. Just wanted to keep you in the loop!

Anyway, this ended up way longer than I intended. Stay safe, don't forget to eat your greens, stay hydrated, and all that! <3