#speaking of shrimp colours

[lily-blue-blue-lily]

that thing about shrimps seeing extra colours except its levels of tiredness instead of colours and im a shrimp. that doesnt make sense. ive unlocked new levels of tiredness that no humans have known before. thats my point. you know?

[general-gt]

It’s snowing in my country right now and I’m so excited. Also working super hard to knit my sister a scarf and I forgot how much I love knitting.

[mieczyhale]

i didn't know i needed Kaz threatening shrimp colors, but apparently i did bc this was incredibly satisfying fjsjfj

(the fic)

[euclydya]

💰 (ur very cool btw)

HMMMMMMB.

When we're bored up front and Inland also happens to be up front we just throw things through its head. Tbis does not bother it whatsoever like it doesn't hurt or anything and Inland doesn't feel anything so we've kinda made it a game 2 see how much random shit we can throw through inland's head/face... thing. Tbe biggest object successfully tossed through it so far has been Myself 😃👍❗ -Half Light

In unrelated news Either our headspace is falling apart or the innerworld view has shifted to HARRY'S headspace of all things bc 90% of the time it's just a black void. I mean we'll take that over the Cold Cave Full Of Fog that we've been having for the past.., month almost??? But. Screams. Girl dot com. I miss hte small cabin thingy we had like 2 months agoNFJDDJCJXJXJC Trant can teleport us back there if he focuses Rlly hard on it but he's not always uP FRONT like bitch (!!!) @ our brain WORK WITH US PLEASE stop changing the headspace so often!!!!!!!!! JDJDJDFJDKDKDJD

LIKE IT'S NOT A SERIOUS ISSUE it's just Annoying. -Electrochem

[elecman108]

This is my only flex, ever.

How well do you see color?

I’m cry I scored 60, I feel blind

[cyberr-v0id]

Hey. Hey tumblr. Guess what???

I’m a tetrachromat and closer to the shrink colours than over half the population! Apparently!

[hai7ani]

Please I need your Bonten Rindou to have a comeback PLEASE.

It has ruined me. (In a very good way btw)

And possibly some lil drabble about Bonten Sanzu....I fear you might have cooked with your bonten's perception 🙏🙏🙏

Main masterlist | cw dark content, bonten timeline, death/grief, reader and sanzu are both a bit twisted (they're both not very right in the head lol...), no romance (but ig it depends on how you view it?)

Moth to a Flame / Sanzu Haruchiyo

i.

Sanzu has never thought you pretty growing up.

You were originally a friend of his sister 一 or her best friend, as you both liked to call it. Never a friend of his, despite the fact that in your early days you have always joined him and his older friends (with Senju dragging you along with her) at the park playing football and getting rough with each other like boys.

He has never once considered you a friend. Not an acquaintance, or even a mutual. Simply... no one.

You're nothing to him.

Every evening after school, you'd show up at their house in sweaty uniform without fail. There would always be excuses floating around you and his sister whenever Takeomi would question your presence, even on the nights they'd sit and have dinner together as a family. Sanzu has always hated sitting across you on the dining table, having to watch with a face of disgust whenever your ugly, heavy glasses would slide down the bridge of your oily nose 一 a result of the entire evening spent playing tag on the playground 一 and having meat stuck between your chunky, purple braces.

He also hated the fact that Mikey had liked you, a lot. It was obvious to everyone in the circle that whatever Mikey had felt for you was a lot different than simply being a friend. He's never treated Senju the way he liked treating you. He liked bringing you to his house 一 hand in hand 一 and inviting you to play with his own sister who harbours a shy nature in comparison to you, who was bubbly and sweet to everyone you meet, especially the elders.

He didn't think you were all those times. He hated you so much.

Sanzu was almost happy that you started packing your things to leave the day you turned 13.

Keyword: almost.

You dropped your equally ugly Elmo keychain in his room the night before you left.

ii.

You're 26 when you return to Japan.

Things have changed a lot since you left so long ago, including yourself.

Amsterdam has been nice to you all these years.

You put on coloured contacts that make you look like a vampire, your teeth are straight and white. You wear red-bottom heels proudly to wherever you go, skinny dress tight and your hair always done nicely, in a bun. Your hips sway with every step you take. You speak English well 一 it's a lot better than before, after the years of European influence, when all that you had to learn from back then was broken phrases of nonsense from Mikey and Baji during judo lessons in the former's home gym, with his grandfather guiding you sternly.

Come to think of it, you haven't heard of Grandpa Sano's voice in ages. You kind of miss it, honestly, when he'd yell at you to straighten up your spine and not slouch so pathetically like a dead shrimp. The last you have heard of his rasp from the cigar he liked smoking was when you were 12. He died when you were all 13 and 14 and 15 from chronic lung cancer.

Like autumn, leaves dry, and they die.

They all die.

You bow once, to the Heavens. You feel a scratch at your elbow, but you ignore it.

You bow the second time, to the Earth. Fingers start pinching at your wrinkly skin, and yet you ignore it, still. The gong is loud and your ears hurt. You start to grow annoyed.

You bow the third time, to all lives on the soil we share 一 humans and animals both. We are all animals on Earth.

Nails cut into your flesh and you bite at your lip, but your face remains stoic.

You straighten up, and you stare at her photo on the altar.

It hurts, but not enough to shed tears.

He finally speaks up when you finish. His voice is still as curt as before. It always is with you 一 never with the other girls who liked flocking to him when young.

"I'll kill you if you don't turn around."

He wouldn't. Not with the fine-lined tattoo running down your spine, the power now in your veins as you stand tall and remain silent.

You don't spin on your heels to look at him like he expects.

Like leaves, they all die.

Your best friend, too, it seems. "Rest in peace, Senju."

iii.

Sanzu finds himself smoking a lot more packs lately.

The multi-coloured pills in his cabinets has also been increasing significantly, much to Kakucho's dismay. The man has never liked when he was high on drugs, even more so when he'd show up late at the warehouse for meetings and ceremonies, high out of his mind, and slurring his words. Mikey lets it slide, Kakucho does not, while the others don't even care.

But this is him, he thinks. The more you nag and restrict, the more he wants to do.

Though lately he hasn't been doing it for pleasure. Something seems awfully missing, and he hasn't been able to figure out why exactly this feeling remains in his chest and keeps him wide awake at night.

It seems to grow stronger 一 always increasing in its intensity and never faltering even the slightest to at least show some mercy 一 when he'd see girls on the streets with blonde hair and bright smiles.

He thinks it's better to not care than to care. He inhales sharply, eyes lingering at the stray cat circling around his feet.

He puffs out the smoke between his cracking lips and throws the cigarette on the ground to step on it. Clicks his tongue when the flame does not dissipate at the first, and steps on it a second time. He shoves a hand into his pocket and feels for his keys, knuckles growing white while he holds the familiar piece of plastic in his hands.

"Young man," a voice breaks him out of his bubble. Today is one of the very few nights he isn't high on anything, and the sudden interaction with another human being who isn't Mikey catches him off-guard a little. Just a little.

"We're closing soon." She says. Her bandana is loose at the corners and her apron is untied. "Are you waiting for someone?" The old cloth slips off her hair and she catches it with a hand swiftly. But her eyes remain on him. They're still the same after all these years.

For some reason her question agitates him.

She does not pull away despite the deepening crease between his brows.

"You've been standing here for days. Can I get you something to eat tonight?" Her smile is warm this time 一 way too warm. She smiles just like his dead mother.

It makes him see red.

"Mind your own goddamn business, hag." He spits, and he leaves. Fast.

She watches his retreating back as he stalks off into the night 一 efforts drained, heart empty.

"That's all for the day, son. You can go home. I'll finish up." She turns to the part-timer busying himself behind the counter. He's about 19, freshly graduated from senior high 一 just like him back then.

While leaning a palm against the wall to fix on her left shoe, she looks at the memory board of her store hanging off of it 一 reaches a frail hand up to pull a piece of polaroid closer to her eyes full of cataracts.

The picture is old with time, but she remembers the story behind it just like yesterday.

A young girl with pristine white hair that she claims to be natural 一 just like the young boy next to her 一 full of smiles and holding a dessert proudly for the camera.

Akashi Senju was here!!!

Everyone, this is the best crepe in town!!! Haru-nii agrees ^_^

21/4/2016

iv. cw: dark content, choking, nudity, suggestive, twisted minds speaking, 18+

You like to think you've changed for the better.

You're a lot better at speaking now. Before Amsterdam, you were a bubbly kid, sure 一 but that does not mean you had been good with words. You have a bad habit of not thinking and filtering words through your head before you talk. It's one of the things that makes you feel genuine to people, but something that can gradually leave a trail of annoyance in people's hearts if not managed well.

You've always thought it was your poor management skills with words that had driven Sanzu away. He's always hated when you'd open your mouth to speak to him. Never liked it even when you'd mumble innocent compliments to his lego buildings or to his amazing seeking skills when playing hide and seek at the park.

But that's alright. You can change.

You never liked doing presentations or public speaking, but you would always swallow down the bile in your throat whenever someone laid eyes on you, if it means you'd be able to speak up more.

You can always change for him.

You heard from Senju once that his brother hated your glasses to death. She thought it might hurt your feelings if you knew, so she'd kept it a secret for years. It comes out to your ears anyway during a challenging round of truth or truth, and it shocked her to see you reacting so positively even to his feelings of distaste for you. "That's alright! We'll go to the optometrist after school. I've heard contact lenses aren't very expensive to afford, right?"

Contact lenses were, in fact, pretty expensive to afford. Even more so for a young student like you back then, who knew little to nothing when it came to managing money and her savings. You still spent a fortune on them, though. You were willing to do it, if it meant getting rid of the glasses he'd hated on you so much.

For him, you were willing to change.

The only thing you had been patient about yourself back then were really just your braces. You needed time for your teeth to be straight again, so you can finally start smiling even brighter for him.

Perhaps it might make him like you a little bit more.

You followed your father to the other side of the world when you overheard the boys speaking in his room one scorching afternoon 一 about how he'd just wished you were gone. You never wanted to leave Japan, but if it meant he would be happy that you weren't around him so much, you were willing to go. You can cry at home, but you can't cry in front of him. It will only disgust him even further.

For him, you were willing to disappear.

But Mikey calls you back to Japan after years of no-contact and recruits you as an advisor in replacement for Takeomi. The man hasn't been doing well since the death of his sister, and Mikey hasn't been able to trust anyone enough to take on his position in the organisation.

Kakucho has had enough to deal with in his own role, and Kokonoi Hajime only wants to be in charge of money and figures. Haitani Ran, the older brother of a duo, wants nothing more to do with the power that has earned him nothing but betrayal, and Haitani Rindou is way too focused on a slut to take on any major responsibilities on his own. Mochizuki Kanji hates Mikey, who he should not be letting so close, and Sanzu is... not well 一 Mikey can't tell if it's grief or something else that has been bothering him.

And you're beautiful, to say the least. You're no longer the ugly girl from childhood that he always says you are.

"美しい," is what Mikey says, when he sits before you in a quiet room on a huge oval table, as he bore holes deep into your soul. He's no longer the boy you knew from childhood who'd drag on your hand and play dress up with your dolls even though he knows nothing about Barbie and makeup.

He is simply an empty shell of a man 一 no soul, no heart. But he still smiles when you reach a hand over to caress his palm and trace along the lines of his skin with your fingers. Your gaze is seductive that it almost works, but he does not give in. Mikey has no heart or soul to truly feel any lust, but you can still see the hints of a small flame growing behind his eyes.

And even then, Sanzu still thinks you're ugly.

He gives you the same look of disgust while you stand naked before his eyes in a hotel room, right in the heart of the city, with police sirens ringing through the night.

Under his angry gaze and hateful eyes you feel just like a little girl again. The girl inside you that you've spent so many years suppressing, begs to be let out from her cage. She yells, screams, bites on the metal bars to be released.

But you're eager to please him tonight. You shut her away again.

Anything to make him happy.

"What can I do for you today?" You ask. His dick is still soft behind his silky, black slacks and he scoffs.

"You talk like a fucking slut. Quit it."

"You don't like sluts?" You question, brow raised high as you step closer to him on the bed, who has his legs spread far apart as he sits on the edge. You welcome yourself between them and cock your head to the side while you watch his face contort into somewhat confusion.

"Hah?"

The disgust still remains, however.

"Saw you looking at Haitani Rindou's lady earlier. She is indeed very pretty." You point out, nodding in agreement. He visibly shifts in his seat and makes a noise to cover up his fluster.

"Do you like her? I can be her."

Silence.

"Or do you prefer the cop who betrayed his brother? I can't be her, sorry, since she's dead, but we can do role play if you like."

I can try. For you.

"Fuck no. I know better than to mess with the Haitanis." He defends. Your lips curl, watching the slip in his demeanour with so much fun, as you inch closer, closer.

And closer.

"So? What else can make you feel better if not those?" You trace your lips along his collar and gently push it flat against him when he doesn't move away. Dark red lipstick stains his shirt as you pull back to admire your work. "Purely sex? I can make it work."

He tries pushing you away at that, but you grab onto his wrists with your ice cold hands before he can even touch you.

"Something extreme, maybe?" You wrap his hands around your throat. It bobs with every drop of saliva that you swallow. You kind of hope he feels the blunt edges of the many words you've pushed down along your throat, too.

"This?" His fingers shake against your skin, you feel.

"Choke me if it makes you feel better. You know you want to. You hate me, don't you? Choke me like you mean it."

His breath grows shaky as they fan against your cupid's bow. You're so close to him 一 way too close.

For the first time in probably forever, Akashi Haruchiyo is scared.

And you're no longer looking at Sanzu, unfortunately.

"Fuck一" you don't let his hands go despite his resistance, "fucking let me go."

Despite his words, you can feel it slowly, as his hands start tightening around your throat. "You're fucking insane一" he spews, pupils dilated behind his irises, "you're not right in the head, bitch."

He presses his hold tighter around you. Sanzu forces out a laugh, while your vision starts growing foggy. He's shaking all around as you grip onto his wrists tight, as a way to ground yourself before he can actually kill you with his bare hands. You try clearing your eyes to look at him one last time.

"Die. Fucking die." He says. "I fucking hate you."

v.

Sanzu lights a cigarette as he stands in the cold.

Though it's not very cold tonight, no 一 the weather's moderate this time. He's felt colder before.

It's still empty in his heart, but he can make do from today onwards.

Your arms are warm as they wrap around his waist gently, wobbly lips kissing along his spine and the meat of his shoulder blades as he inhales the tobacco, before turning around to take a good look at you.

He grabs at your jaw with the other hand to pull you close to his lips and exhaling the cloudy smoke into your mouth.

You take it just like a good girl when he pulls back to watch in amusement as you resist the cough bubbling up in your chest.

He repeats it a few times, and when he finally deems your actions satisfactory, he only kisses you then. Messy, wet, full of saliva 一 he licks at your lips disgustingly, sucks on your tongue like a horny teen, rubs himself up against your thigh.

His hold is steady and you almost melt into his arms when he accidentally burns your chest with the tip of his cigarette. Almost.

Sanzu does not let you touch him just yet.

"You're fucking mine." He whispers, voice low when he pulls away. His grip is still tight and painful around your jaw, but you think his eyes are full of love when they bore into your own.

"Remember that."

Mikey does not appear in your thoughts ever again.

You sigh dreamily and fall to his chest gently. He's there to welcome you as you melt, head low while he gazes into your eyes.

For the first time in your pathetic life, you touch skin with the boy you love the most. He's finally looking into your eyes this time, without the hateful gaze that you have always hated since young but still let him look at you that way simply because you liked him so much back then to even stop him.

You still like him so much today.

Sanzu hugs you close as you say your words.

"I'm all yours, Haru."

[nayziiz]

Fortune Cookies | CS55

Pairing: Carlos Sainz x reader (you)

Author's note: I'm trying something a little bit different with shorter form fics, so please send through any requests or feedback. These one shots will likely not have a second part unless it really speaks to me to continue with it. Thank you!

Masterlist

Carlos and Chinese food became synonymous with comfort and joy for you. No matter how hectic or exhausting the day had been, the mere thought of those savoury aromas wafting from the takeout containers lifted your spirits. It wasn't just about the food; it was about the ritual, the shared moments of relaxation and indulgence after the daily grind.

You'd often find yourself craving the familiar flavours of General Tso's chicken, beef and broccoli, or shrimp fried rice. It was your guilty pleasure, your ultimate comfort food wrapped up in those neatly packed cartons. And even on those rare occasions when everything seemed to go smoothly, when the world felt like it was on your side, you still found yourself yearning for that unmistakable taste of Chinese cuisine.

But for Carlos, it was a bit of a dilemma. His dedication to his strict diet clashed with your unwavering love for Chinese food. While he meticulously monitored his calorie intake and adhered to his fitness regimen, you were more than happy to indulge in your favourite dishes without a second thought. Yet, despite the disparity in your dietary habits, Carlos never once complained. Instead, he embraced your love for Chinese food with unwavering support and a touch of humour.

He'd jokingly remark about how he'd need to cycle a few extra kilometres to burn off the excess calories from the sweet and sour chicken or the tempting spring rolls. His commitment to both his health and your happiness was evident in his willingness to compromise, to go the extra mile—quite literally—to accommodate your cravings.

And so, evenings became a ritual of unwrapping those familiar containers, the aroma of soy sauce and spices filling the air as you settled in for a cosy meal together. It wasn't just about the food anymore; it was about the laughter, the conversations, and the shared moments that made those Chinese takeout nights so special.

As you stepped out of the shower, enveloped in a cloud of steam, the enticing aroma of Chinese cuisine greeted you like an unexpected embrace. Confusion flickered across your face as you entered the kitchen to find Carlos unpacking an array of dishes, his expression carrying a mischievous glint you couldn't quite decipher.

Your eyebrows knitted together in bewilderment as you took in the spread before you. It was the familiar feast of Chinese delicacies you adored, laid out invitingly on the kitchen counter. But something about the way Carlos was beaming at you hinted that this was no ordinary takeout night.

“What's all this?” you asked, a puzzled expression creasing your brow as you stepped into the kitchen, the scent of Chinese food mingling with the steam from your recent shower. “I thought we were making pasta for dinner?”

Carlos chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he turned to face you, the corner of his lips curling into a playful smile.

“Well, I may have had a change of plans,�� he admitted, a hint of mystery dancing in his gaze.

Your curiosity piqued, you watched as he gestured towards the array of Chinese delicacies spread out on the counter, the colourful containers beckoning enticingly.

“I couldn't resist surprising you,” he confessed, his tone infused with excitement.

A smile tugged at the corners of your lips as you took in the unexpected feast before you, the tantalising aromas tempting your taste buds.

“You sneaky devil,” you teased, a flicker of amusement glinting in your eyes as you realised the extent of Carlos's surprise.

But beneath the playful banter, you felt a swell of gratitude wash over you, touched by his thoughtfulness and the effort he'd gone to make this night special. It didn't matter that your dinner plans had taken an unexpected turn; what mattered was the gesture—the spontaneous act of love that had turned an ordinary evening into something extraordinary.

As you surveyed the assortment of Chinese dishes laid out before you, your gaze fell upon a pair of fortune cookies nestled among the containers—a surprising addition to the usual fare. You couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in bemusement, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips as you realised that Carlos had orchestrated this evening down to the smallest detail, including an unexpected twist.

"Fortune cookies?" you remarked, a hint of laughter lacing your words as you picked up one of the crisp, golden cookies, its edges delicately folded like a secret waiting to be revealed. "You really went all out, didn't you?"

Carlos grinned in response, his eyes alight with mischief as he reached for the other cookie, the anticipation palpable in the air. "I thought it might be something fun for a change," he admitted, his voice tinged with excitement.

With a shared glance brimming with anticipation, you cracked open the cookies simultaneously, the brittle shells yielding to reveal the tiny slips of paper hidden within.

As you read the message from your fortune cookie, a playful grin tugging at your lips, Carlos watched you with a mixture of anticipation and excitement, his heart pounding in his chest.

“What does it say?” he asked eagerly, his voice tinged with a hint of nervousness. You couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the message, the words dancing across the slip of paper in your hand.

“You are destined to marry the person across from you,” you replied, amusement colouring your tone as you set the paper down on the counter.

Carlos's laughter echoed yours, relief washing over him as he reached for his own fortune cookie, fingers trembling slightly with anticipation.

"That's so weird," he remarked, his eyes sparkling with a mixture of humour and affection.

With a shared glance filled with curiosity, you watched as he cracked open the cookie, the brittle shell yielding to reveal the message hidden within. Your breath caught in your throat as he handed you the slip of paper, your eyes scanning the words in disbelief.

“Will you marry me?” you read aloud, your heart skipping a beat as you looked up to find Carlos on one knee before you, a small box cradled in his hand, the glint of a simple ring nestled within.

Time seemed to stand still as you gazed into his eyes, the warmth of his love enveloping you like a comforting embrace. In that moment, surrounded by the remnants of your Chinese takeout feast and the echoes of laughter that filled the air, you knew that this was the beginning of a new chapter—a story written in the stars and sealed with a fortune cookie.

With tears glistening in your eyes and a smile spreading across your face, you reached out to him, your heart overflowing with joy.

“Yes,” you whispered, your voice trembling with emotion as you accepted the ring and his outstretched hand, knowing that this moment would be etched in your memory forever—a testament to the unexpected magic of fortune and the unwavering love that had brought you together.

[daughterofthemuse]

You would think crossing the country is easy but nooooooo

"What happened between book 4 and 5?" lots of shenanigans that's what ‼️

[quitealotofsodapop]

Celestial Water Monkeys

Was discussing in the notes of this post with @silverlycanthropelover about the possibility of Celestial/Stone Monkeys surviving the Great Flood by adapting to the sea.

One of the jokes is that "Sea Monkeys" (the frozen brine shrimp toy), are actually a misunderstanding of sea dragon records talking about the little mer-monkeys that inhabited their seas.

Basically

Ao Guang: "What are those things hiding in your mane?" Ao Shun, surrounded by tiny mermaid-like monkeys: "I dunno man, they just showed up one day, and they won't stop picking through my fur." Ao Guang: "Why haven't you scared them off?" Ao Shun: "Honestly? They are pretty adorable. They clean my body of parasites, and comfort me when I'm feeling unwell." Sea Monkeys: (*happy chirping + porpoise-like squeaks!*) Ao Guang: "They do seem very useful... How do I go about hiring them?" Ao Shun: "I believe you cannot choose them brother, they choose you." (*cut to hundreds of years later when Ao Guang is lying at the bottom of the East Sea, despaired at the loss of his youngest pup Ao Bing*) Sea Monkeys: "Chirrp?" Ao Guang: (*looks up to see a swarm of brightly-coloured mer-monkeys, all swimming around his gigantic body as they pick off the barnacles and parasites that settled in his depression.*) Leading Sea Monkey, petting the king dragon's face with sympathy in their eyes: "Chirrrrp." Ao Guang: (*smiles for the first time in weeks*) :')

Like pilot fish to a great white, the smaller creatures stick to dragons in a symbiotic relationship. The royal dragons are very protective of their monkeys. Ao Guang refuses to acknowledge the irony of a Stone Monkey being one of his greatest annoyances, whilst tending to his beloved servants.

Wukong has no idea that these little spiritual monkeys exist! To think that some Stone/Spiritual Monkeys survived the Great Flood by changing their whole biology, or existed even beforehand, is an amazing discovery!

The Water Monkeys are a lot smaller than Wukong or Macaque, being roughly the size of tamarins. They don't speak "human" languages very well, their vocal cords are more attuned to the calls of dragons and other sea life. They can still chirp and chatter as monkeys do, allowing for some delightful conversation between the Stone Monkey King (they do not recognise Sun Wukong as their king) and the school of excited fairy-like monkeys.

[oepionie]

THE RED MEANS I LOVE YOU. jade leech

Synopsis: A certain eel seems to have developed feelings for you! Though…he is quite protective and unsettling, isn't he?

Character/s: Jade Leech x GN! Reader

Tags: Some fluff, Light allusions to hidden Yandere behavior, Mentions of violence and injuries, Jade Leech is sus but soft for you (?)

WordCount: 300+ | 💌Masterlist | Song Link

Jade Leech, for reasons you can't understand, has developed feelings for you.

If this were a typical high school love story, this would be greatly welcomed. The eel was handsome, courteous, intelligent, and charming. Who wouldn't want him as a partner?

Though instead of the dizzy, lovesick exhilaration you get every time he cares for you all gentle and soft, you're bewildered. Jade didn't have a reputation for being sappy or soft; instead, he was courteous and direct, speaking with a silver tongue and a sly glint in his eye. You assume this special treatment of you was a deliberate choice since he appears to interact with other students in his usual shady manners.

He brings you a cup of tea, steam rising above the warm, sweet beverage. When you take the drink into your hands, it ripples with movement beneath the lilac lights of the lounge. Jade takes the initiative to put down a cute little shrimp coaster on the table. The sweet and delicate action a stark contrast to what he had done earlier.

The unconscious body of a Savanaclaw student lay near the entry doors, just out of your peripheral vision. His body was covered with bruises, skin coloured red, blue, and purple.

That was the same student who had been harassing you earlier, encroaching on your personal space, and generally making you feel uncomfortable. Maybe he wouldn't be the way he is right now if he only realised that a certain eel had seen what he was doing.

Jade takes your hand in his, pressing a fleeting kiss on your knuckles. He invites you to dinner to have tea and sample his new mushroom risotto recipe; if you didn't know better, you wouldn't be able to tell that he was the same ruthless eel who delighted in seeing other people's pain and suffering.

Still, you squeeze his hand back, a smile blooming across your face as you accept.

Oh, what could possibly go wrong?

Likes and Reblogs are greatly appreciated and really motivating on my end!

[thehollowwriter]

The Official (Remastered) Bio of Finn Clearcove

Basic Info:

Class: Class 2C

Dorm: Octavinelle

Club: Gargoyle Research Club

Birthday: 20th November

Age: 17

Height: 146cm

Dominant hand: He's ambidextrous

Unique Magic: Mirror Image. He can copy the voice of anyone he directly touches and their physical form if he pushes hard enough. If he wants, he can limit it to certain characteristics. (E.g: voice or eye colour). He can also copy their unique magic. However, it often comes out "wrong" (for example, King's Roar will result in a goopy black tar instead of sand), and if it results in a physical object like Riddle's collar, the object will look nonsensical and ai generated

Preferences:

Favourite subjects: Art, biology

Hobby: Painting

Likes: Butterflies, animals, reading, music, cooking, painting

Dislikes: Large crowds, loud people, showing his teeth, loud sounds, bright lights

Favourite food: Chocolate mousse, shrimp

Additional Info:

Homeland: The Coral Sea

Species: Cookie Cutter Shark Mer

Family: His father and later on Chrysos who belongs to @distant-velleity

Nickname: Blue Angel, courtesy of Floyd (thank you @azulashengrottospiano for the name!)

Relationships: Finn is polyamorous with the Octavinelle trio

Sexuality: Finn is gay and polyamorous

Appearance:

Finn has long, fluffy forest green hair that has a curly seaweed/kelp like shape that goes to just past his is shoulders. It is often tied in a tight bun. His eyes are a bright amethyst and his teeth look like they came straight from the mouth of an angler fish, twisted and horrific.

Finn is very chubby and most people think "soft" and "squishy" while looking at him. Until the dread sets in, that is. He's quite pale as well but has recently started to tan a bit. He is very very small and most of his clothes have to be taken to be adjusted so they actually fit him.

In his true form, Finn's tail and face are forest green in colour, just as is the rest of him. The palms of his hands are seafoam green. His tail is like that of a cookie cutter shark's. There is a large patch of scarring on his left shoulder and the middle of his tail. He has long black claws that are retractable and incredibly sharp.

Finn has a band of black scales around his neck, and from just below that all the way to his navel are photophores that glow in the dark, which helps him camouflage and can even make him look like a school of fish from below.

Personality:

Finn is quiet and mostly keeps to himself, barely speaking to most people unless absolutely necessary, and is usually polite. He lives be the rule "don't bother me and I won't bother you". His "default" expression, if you will, is usually just a blank or serious face.

Finn is intelligent and quick-witted. He often weeds information out of people for Azul, taking the role of the "therapist bartender" except most people get an uncanny valley feeling if they look at him for too long. Despite his politeness something about him always feels wrong to others. They get this sense of dread that make them want to leave as soon as possible.

Finn is quite sadistic and has a deep love for the twisted and macabre. This is often reflected in his paintings, many of which are disturbing in nature. He is very happy to extend his sadistic ways to other students if he deems it necessary. Only if he deems it necessary. (What he deems as necessary can vary)

Finn is, most of the time, immensely confident in himself and who and what he is. He is quiet but he is not, by any means, shy or timid. He does have his insecurities though, mainly about his teeth since they're often viewed as ugly. He covers his mouth whenever he laughs or smiles in public.

Some "Fun" Facts:

▪︎Finn is haunted by the ghosts of the siblings he devoured in the womb in true shark mer fashion, they aren't aggressive towards him but they are tethered to him and cause him nightmares and endless stress and fear (they are the cause of the sense of dread people get around Finn)

•Finn's voice is very soft and very nice to listen to. It's like a flowing river. He's difficult to hear at times.

▪︎Finn enjoys flying and is very good at it

▪︎His family comes from the deep of the midnight zone, so he is well versed in abyssal magic and the dangerous and powerful spells that come with it

•Finn likes to garden

Fic Masterlist

Art by @clovenoko

Art by @boopshoops

.....................................

A/N: Here's the boy! New and improved with an extra long personality section ooops

Tagging: @distant-velleity @krenenbaker @kitwasnothere @officialdaydreamer00 @jaylleoo14 @oya-oya-okay @cynthinesia @azulashengrottospiano @whspermy-name @minteasketches @the-banana-0verlord @adarkenedforest @whspermy-name @twisted-wonderland-but-gayer @ramshacklerumble @cyanide-latte @boopshoops @skrimpyskimpy @jovieinramshackle @quartztwst @amOnline @offorestsongs

@the-trinket-witch @ghostiidasponk @poisoned-pearls @natsukishinomiyaswife

[littlefreya]

What are party tricks of Henry and characters?

Don't be confused if Leon disappears for an hour and comes back from the kitchen with an insane fancy dish he decided to cook in order to spice up the party. Is anyone into some truffle risotto? Perhaps some shrimp cocktail?

But that's not all. His other party trick? Sleight of hand. How the hell did your bra end up in his pocket?

First thing first, this man can drink and still stay relatively sober, so avoid having a drink competition with him because there is no way you'd beat the Bull. Drinking is one thing though, but have you ever seen a guy light a shot on fire and drink it straight from the glass when it's still burning?

It started as a challenge, Sy's buddy thought he was too afraid to light his beard on fire, but Sy ain't one to step down from a challenge, and since then, it has become his go-to when he wants to impress a pretty little thing.

Clark can tell you which colour underwear you are wearing. He is not sharing his secret and how he knows... but somehow, he got it right, and since it was a challenge, and you are pretty damn impressed, you are definitely up for having a drink with him ;)

Introvert Walter is actually pretty damn good with the guitar... and while he is very humble and quite shy, once he spots a strings instrument, all hell breaks loose, and he has his sleeves rolled up, playing an epic guitar riff with bras being thrown at his feet.

August, probably hypnosis because there you were having a nice chat with him on the dance floor, speaking about political science and some deep philosophy stuffed.. and next thing you know.... (Cut for smut)

you are in the back room of the party, with August's head buried deep between your thighs and his tongue fucking you to oblivion.

Mikey is famous for his card trick, and the trick is quite simple: you pick a card, any card and whoop! What do you know? It's his phone number.

Also, don't dare him to get a piercing or a tattoo on a whim because he will sure as fuck do it.

Sy's "fire trick" is cool and all, but have you seen a dude create actual fire???? Igni! There goes that guy's beard... Yeah he is not supposed to use it to impress anyone; he is a Witcher, a professional.. but he is always one ale away from doing something risky... like filling his mouth with hard liquor and spitting fire.

He says he learned it from a chick called Xena.

[strawberrymilk-sunshine]

You get no say in it

if you're wondering why I wrote this blame the chapter of the Halloween event where Octavinelle scares the Magicam monsters

...I hope this is good

Warning(s): reader has a kind of controlling parent, child reader, platonic yandere Floyd!! (not proofread)

Your father brought something home a while ago. Something strange, something you've never seen before.

Your father called it a monster. But, to you, it looked more like a human than a monster.

You thought it looked pretty. He had two different coloured eyes, his body was a teal colour, and his hair was too, with a strip of darker teal falling over the left side of his face.

You wanted to be his friend! But... you know your father, and he would never let that happen...

"(Y/N), you are not to speak with that monster." Your father commanded. "Do you understand?"

"Yes father!" You told him, knowing for a fact that you were absolutely going to speak with the monster the moment your father left.

"Good. I'll be back soon, (Y/N)."

"See you soon, father!" You said, focusing once more on the thing you' been drawing.

The moment you heard the door slam shut, signifying your father leaving the building, you ran as fast as you could to the basement. The basement was used to store your family's treasures, including the monster.

You walk up the old rusty stairs. You got to the top of the platform that led to the large water tank. You got down on your knees, causing the old staircase to shake.

You stuck your hand in the water.

You yanked your hand out of the water before the jaws bit your hand off.

"Hi!" You excitedly said to the monster. "What's your name?"

"You're a weird one." He said asked. "Every other one of you I've met's been scaaaaaared of me~"

"Well I'm not!" You said. "I'm not scared of you at all!"

"Why aren'tcha~?" He asked. "Ya got lotsa reasons to be scared of me. I mean, I've got two sets o' teeth, plus I swallow prey whole. Alive. Ain't that spooky?"

"That's so cool!" You said in amazement.

"...really?"

"Yeah!!"

"Huh. You really are a weird one, huh?" He looked at you in amusement. "Fine, I'll answer your questions, I guess~"

"So what are you? Father says you're a monster but I don't believe him!" You told him.

"I'm a moray." He responded.

"And what's your name? I wanna be your friend!"

"My friend?" He asked. "You're so strange... wanting to be friends with a monster... but fine, Little Shrimp-Fry, I guess I'll be your... friend." He said, giving a wide grin. He lifted his hand out of the water, wanting you to shake his hand. "My name's Floyd, nice to meetcha~!"

You made a friend!!

Your father doesn't exactly let you leave home, so you don't really have any friends...

But now you have one! You have someone to talk to, someone to play with, though you can never let your father know.

You visit him every single night, making sure your father never knows.

"So, Shrimp-Fry, what's your family like?" Floyd asked you one night.

"My... my father runs a very successful and powerful business, but I don't know what it is... and mother isn't around much, I don't know why."

"...I have a twin brother back home." Floyd told you. "We look a lot alike... you probably wouldn't be able to tell us apart if he was here with me."

"Do you miss him?" You asked. Floyd looked shocked for a moment.

"Yeah... yeah, sometimes I do." He admitted. "And, a-and we have this friend, Azul, yeah? He's an octopus! And he can grant anyone any wish they want, for a price."

"Any wish?"

"Impressive, right~?"

"Do you miss your home...?"

"Of course I do, Shrimp-Fry...! I mean, it's... it's my home... it's hard not to miss it." Floyd told you. "But if I'm being honest..." He sighed. "I don't think I'll ever get to go home. I think I'm just gonna rot away here... nothing more than a novelty to your kind."

That's right...

Your only friend isn't here willingly.

Whenever you talked to him, he'd tell you all about the sea.

How beautiful it was, how much he loved it...

How much he missed it.

You felt sad for him. You can't imagine just suddenly being taken away from your home and being treated as just some trophy.

You don't want to lose him, but wouldn't he be happier in the sea...?

You want to help him.

You began drawing up escape plans for you and Floyd. The two of you are going to escape your father's house together.

The night you finished the plans, you immediately went to show him.

You gave him detailed explanations of all the different crayon drawings.

"You sure that'll work, Shrimp-Fry?" Floyd asked, tilting his head to the right. "Not to doubt you, but-"

"(Y/N)?!" The man stormed up the rusty stairs as you stood there, completely frozen in fear. "(Y/N), your father has told you many times you are not allowed to speak with the monster. OR to enter the basement!" Your father's assistant yelled.

"I-I'm sorry! I just wanted to-"

The man picked you up.

Floyd watched it all happen from the water. He didn't know why he did it, maybe because you were his only way of escape, but...

He grabbed tight onto the man's ankle and pulled him into the water.

You watched everything happen from the platform. You watched as the crystal clear water became more and more red.

The man didn't resurface, but Floyd did.

Most of his face was covered in blood.

"Eh? What's wrong, Shrimp-Fry?" Floyd asked, noticing how scared you looked. "You're safe, you aren't hurt, so what's wrong?"

"I-is he... ok...?" You asked, terrified.

"...yeah. Don't worry about him, Shrimp-Fry. He'll be fine. You just go off to bed, m'kay?" He reached out of the water, and patted your head with his blood soaked hand. "We'll talk more about escaping tomorrow night."

You discussed your escape plan with him every night.

And eventually comes the night you decided to put your plan into action.

You grabbed Floyd's hands and began attempting to pull him out of the water.

It was harder than you'd expected, but you got all of him out of the water eventually.

He was much longer than you'd thought, and heavier too...

Thank goodness you live close to the sea.

You dragged Floyd through the hallways and then, you ran into the one person you didn't want to.

Your father.

"Can you... close your eyes, Little Shrimp-Fry?" Floyd asked. "I have some personal business with this one."

You saw your father's look of absolute terror as this mock-human monster he'd taken as a trophy crawled towards him with murderous intent.

You squeezed your eyes shut and covered your ears with your hands as Floyd began to attack your father.

After many minutes passed, two wet hands grabbed yours.

"Start walking, Shrimp-Fry. It's probably better if you don't open your eyes yet... I'll let you know when you can." Floyd told you.

You trusted him.

You kept walking through the hallways, your eyes still tightly shut.

"I think we're far enough away now..." Floyd whispered to himself. "You can open your eyes now, Little Shrimp-Fry~!"

You realized that Floyd's hands and face were once more covered in blood, and your mind came to the terrible realization of what happened.

"Is he... dead...?" You asked.

"...don't worry about that right now, Shrimp-Fry." Floyd told you. "Just keep on pulling us towards freedom!!"

When you finally made it to the sea, you were ready to say goodbye to Floyd. Since your father's dead now, you won't have any issues making friends!

But then...

You were pulled into the sea along with Floyd.

"Ahhhhh... it feels sooo good to breathe the saltwater again..." Floyd said. "Thanks for everything, Shrimp-Fry~!"

"Um... y-you're welcome." You nervously responded. "Can you put me back on dry land now...?"

"Are you kidding?! Of course not, Shrimp-Fry!!"

"What-?"

"I waaaas planning on just leaving you for dead once you got me back out here, ehe... buuuuuut then something changed." He explained, holding tightly onto you as you got farther and farther away from the shore. "I'm not sure what changed. But now... I don't want to ever let you go, Shrimp-Fry..."

"NO!" You screamed. "I-I WANT TO LIVE ON LAND! I W-WANT TO BE A NORMAL KID! I WANT-!"

"Shhhhhhhhhhh... everything'll be oooookkkkk, Shrimp-Fry~"

"You're a part of my family now... you don't get a say in it."

[waterskies]

Little update on my newly set up 10gal

I know, I know. It looks bad. But it's okay. It's just in its diatom phase. Every new tank goes through this. It's this brown algae like stuff that covers everything. But they are little organisms called diatoms. They'll go away on their own once the tank settles itself. The ramshorn snails I put in there will also help to clean it up.

Up until today, this tank didn't have a filter as the one I had intended on using wouldn't work when I went to set it up. So I just had a little internal pump in there to keep a flow going. Now that it's got a filter, I put old filter media from my 40gal into the filter on this tank, so it's got beneficial bacteria already to go for some new fish. But, since this tank sat for what a week or so without a filter, there's some built-up ammonia and nitrites that I'm going to let get filtered out before I add any fish in there. I'll give it a week and test the water again and see how it's doing.

So far, though, some things are going well. Some things are not so good.

We have cyanobacteria on the driftwood closest to the light. Which is no biggie. I'm treating the tank with some stuff that gets rid of it.

This stuff works miracles. It just takes two doses 2 days apart, and the cyanobacteria never comes back. It doesn't affect shrimp, snails, or fish. And it doesn't harm your beneficial bacteria either. Though it may drop the oxygen in the water a bit so an air stone during treatment is recommended. Anyways, now that I'm done advertising, lmao

The Java fern wedged in the driftwood above the cyanobacteria is doing well. You can see the brighter green leaves that are new. It's really taken off in this tank.

Speaking of new growth. We've got new leaves on the cryptocoryne wendtii. Surprisingly, I didn't have much melt on them. They just look sad because of the diatoms, lol

New growth on the dwarf sagittaria as well.

Same for the vallisneria asiatica and rotala rotundifolia.

Both anubias also sport a new leaf! Don't mind the snail poop on the leaves. That's evidence of a job well done!

Well, that's the 10gal update. I'm still bouncing around between having a small school of middle schooling fish and some sort of small bottom dweller or getting a betta. I keep thinking about chili rasboras. I've always thought they were lovely despite me not being a big fan of the colour red(I'm more of a blue/purple type). Anyways I'm rambling. That's it for now~

[shadowphoenixrider]

Over a Bowl of Gumbo

(Direct sequel to Sins of the Past, where Gambit makes good on his promise to Shadow, and they Talk. More fluffy than the other one, but about the same amount of talking! At least we know where all the X'Men's 'talk about your feelings' budget went.)

Gambit made his way down the dormitory hall, following the voices that floated up from the dorm with its door ajar, keeping careful hold of the bowl in his hands.

Almost as soon as he'd crossed the mansion's threshold Shadow had been taken from him, bundled away into hot towels and towards the medbay, Beast rattling off orders in Medical-Speak that Gambit had no hope in understanding.

He'd not seen her since, and though he knew full well Beast would take care of the mutant, Gambit had found his mind loud with chattering worries. He couldn't silence them, but he could busy himself the only reliable way he knew how - something that made an even grumpy Scott forgive him. A bit.

As he approached the room, the voices became clearer; a warm southern drawl and the quieter accent no-one could place, talking casually. Gambit smiled warmly, gently drumming his knuckles on the door before pushing his way in.

Shadow was sat up in bed, propped up by pillows and in soft long-sleeved pyjamas, whilst Rogue sat at her feet.

"Hope Gambit not interruptin', mes amies?" He asked, glancing between them.

"No, we're fine here, sugah." Rogue smiled, eying the bowl in his hands and standing up. "There any more of that gumbo of yours?"

"Some, if ya quick. Hopefully Wolverine ain't ate it all." Gambit replied. He noticed the two women share a glance and smile, before Rogue began to take her leave. "She ok?" He asked lowly as she passed him.

"Doin' better now." Rogue nodded. "You did good, Remy."

They shared a smile before she left, and Gambit made his way into the room.

"What've you got?" Shadow asked, shifting to sit more upright.

"Gambit do believe he promised you a bowl of his gumbo when we got back. Careful, it still hot." He smiled, gently passing it to her. Their fingers brushed, and both had to resist the instinct to recoil. "No shrimp, only de chicken."

"And enough spice to kill?" Shadow raised an eyebrow, setting the bowl in the dip of her crossed legs. Gambit chuckled richly - he hadn't realized how much he'd missed her ripostes.

"Need a little spice to warm ya up!" He grinned, sitting where Rogue once had. "Beast would agree!"

"Uh huh." Shadow stirred the stew, taking a conservative taste. Gambit found himself watching her face carefully, gauging her reaction.

To his relief, she smiled, uttering a pleased hum. "Mmm! I can see why Rogue wants to get more."

Gambit beamed at her praise, not quite sure why.

"Glad ya like it, petite." And with that, Shadow dug in - her hunger clear.

Gambit turned his attention to her room, letting her eat in peace. Despite her still being at the X-Mansion as a guest, Shadow was already making her dorm her own. Large posters clung to the wall, one of a sci-fi show Gambit was fairly sure Beast also liked, another that listed all of the raptor birds that could be seen in their area, and yet another with all of the constellations in the night's sky. Books and textbooks were propped up haphazardly together, ranging from the expected subjects of cell biology and biochemistry to a variety of sci-fi and fantasy reference books, one about cat behaviour and another with a title Gambit was sure was there to embarrass people snooping in her room.

Another pile of books sat on the desk by the window, conspicuously kept separate from the others - one Star Wars novel, another about dragons and the last about bird migration. A model of one of the ships from the sci-fi show sat in pride of place in the window, along with a small black resin Egyptian cat, painted with colourful jewellery. Gambit smiled to see it.

"I told Rogue." Shadow's voice broke the Cajun from his thoughts, and he looked back to the young woman. She was stirring the gumbo thoughtfully, having devoured a good half of it already.

"'Bout what happened with your powers?" He asked. She nodded.

"Yeah. I figured that of everyone here, including you, she'd know what it's like..." Gambit nodded.

"That she does, petite. What'd she say?"

Shadow smiled.

"Oh, sugah." Rogue reached forward, gently taking Shadow's hand in her gloved one. "Ah'm so sorry."

"Yeah. When I saw it happening to Wolverine, even on purpose..." Shadow shook her head. "I panicked. It brought everything back, and I just...bolted."

Rogue squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Ah know that feelin', sugah. Did it myself when mine came in too." She smiled sadly. "Folks 'round here have similar stories, though. You're not alone."

A small smile pulled at Shadow's lips.

"I...yeah. I guess you're right. I just...I didn't know how you'd react. I was scared-"

"That we'd treat you differently." Rogue finished for her. "Oh hun..." Another gentle squeeze. "We all have our demons in our past. If we turned you away for yours, all the X-Men'd have to disband!" She smiled softly, kindly. "You're safe here, Shadow. They'd understand."

Shadow's smile trembled, eyes stinging.

"I, I hope so."

"Gambit brought you in like a bedraggled kitty cat he found in a storm drain." Rogue chuckled. "You're not gonna get left out in the cold like that here."

Shadow took a shuddery breath, trying to regain her composure.

"Thank you. I...I'm still not looking forward to telling the others about it."

"Don't worry about that. You can tell them today, tomorrow, or never at all, if ya like." Rogue said. "No-one needs to tell their stories if they're not ready or don't want to." She smirked. "And if they start buggin' you? They'll have to go through me!"

That made Shadow giggle.

"Thank you, Rogue." She squeezed the other woman's hand. "I really appreciate it."

"No problem, sugah."

Gambit smiled fondly.

"Rogue always better than me at sayin' the right things," he said.

"I dunno." Shadow said, a shy smile playing on her lips. "I think you did alright."

"You're very kind, petite."

A comfortable silence settled between them, the young woman finishing off the last of her meal. Gambit noticed that the teal-clothed pyjamas she was wearing were patterned with sleeping cats, one curled into a ball prominently stitched over the shallow swell of her right breast.

Lifting his eyes to her face - least he be caught staring at that area - he noted that whilst her eyes were still a little red, that was the only evidence of her previous sorrow and distress. The colour was back in her face (perhaps a little intensely thanks to the spices), brightening her nose and cheeks. Her hair had mostly dried, curling tightly in on itself - she seemed to have lost an inch of height, but her brunette curls were now defined, almost like ringlets. He could just glimpse her pale ear lobes hiding behind the thick curtain of her hair.

"You're staring." Her voice snapped him back to reality, and to Gambit's surprise, he felt heat rise into his face.

"Ah! Jus' admirin' the scenery, petite!" He said, scratching the back of his neck. She raised an eyebrow at him, that same unconvinced look as she'd had when they first met. "I...Ya look much better, Shadow."

"I am." She nodded. "I should be better tomorrow, but Beast wants me to take it easy until then. Says it's better not to tempt fate after a shock to the system like I had." She paused for a moment, spinning the spoon in her fingers. "I don't know if he told you, but...I was entering a bad stage of hypothermia."

"Yeah." Gambit looked away, out of the window, where the rain still hadn't let up. His gaze drifted to where they had been. "Said that it were lucky I found you when I did. That..."

"Shadow's hypothermia symptoms were progressing fast." Beast said gravely. "She was displaying one of its most insidious symptoms; confusion. If she had been left alone for much longer, Shadow might not have been able to rescue herself, either under her own power, or to have enough wherewithal to call for assistance."

"You mean..." Gambit's heart felt like it stopped in his chest. The doctor dipped his head.

"Yes. We could have lost her, if not for your intervention."

"Yeah." Was Shadow's soft assent. A long pause, before she made a little 'hah!' "I guess that's two I owe you, now."

"Two?" Gambit raised an eyebrow, looking back to her.

"When you saved me in that alley, remember? When we first met." Shadow smiled. "Now you can add this to the list."

"Hah! You don't owe Gambit anythin', petite." He chuckled. "Gambit just happy you're safe. Besides, ya did pay me back for de first save. Healed me, remember?"

"Oh, yeah." She chuckled. "Well...I guess this gumbo makes two, then. It was fantastic." True to her word - aside for the last remnants of brown liquid at the bottom, the bowl was cleaned.

"Ah, only too glad ya liked it, mon amie." Gambit smiled proudly. "It be a Gambit special."

"It certainly was special. Thank you." Shadow's smile was warm and reached her eyes, making his heart trip over one of its beats. She reached to put the bowl on the bedside table, and Gambit leant over to help. Disappointedly, there was no accidental contact between them this time.

"How mad was Scott?" Shadow asked.

"Very." Gambit chuckled ruefully. "Guess most of it were out of worry for you, be fair. Did kinda disappear without tellin' them and didn't have my comm on. After what happened wit you, makes sense."

"Not mention you have that ability to magically disappear and appear without anyone hearing you." Shadow smirked, folding her arms.

"Hah! So ya keep tellin' me." He chuckled. "Didn't even me a chance to get outta my gear 'fore he be givin' me de lecture 'bout always keepin' my comm on, not disappearin' when he talkin' to me, all de usual." He leant back, stretching his long legs out. "Heard it all before."

Shadow raised an eyebrow at him.

"I dunno Gambit, if he has to keep saying it..."

"Don't! Ya as bad as Rogue!" He laughed. "Least he be keepin' it shorter dis time. Worried 'bout ya. Though, Gambit did manage to sweeten him up by promisin' to do his gumbo for dinner."

"Aw, and here I thought I was special!"

"Hey now, Gambit did promise ya first!" He turned his head, and noticed Shadow's eyes were roving down his body, specially down his legs. He gave no indication he'd seen her. "Gumbo take a while to cook anyway, so might as well do a big batch for de team too, non?"

"That's fair, I guess." A thoughtful pause. "Hey, Gambit?"

"Mmm?"

"...Why did you turn your comm off?"

Ah.

"Well..." Gambit rubbed the back of his neck, feeling traitorous heat start to crawl up his face. "If I knew you were in the state you were, woulda kept it on. But..." Why was finding the words so difficult all of a sudden?

"Gambit thought ya needed time. Scott can be pushy, even when he mean well, and...Gambit didn't think dat was what ya needed right den. So, he figured if he find ya first, you would have the time ya needed...and not be alone."

Shadow fiddled with the bedsheet, winding it around her finger.

"How did you know I didn't want to be alone?" She asked quietly. Gambit tried to ignore the sting in his chest at the insinuation.

"Let's jus' say Gambit have some experience wit this," he said. "De types of alone ya wanna be that nearly kills you...That's when ya need someone more den anythin'."

Shadow opened her mouth. Closed it. Just stared at him for a long couple of seconds, before she glanced shyly at her crossed feet.

"Thank you, then," she said softly, raising her head to look him in the eyes. "For...not just rescuing me, but being there for me." A smile grew across her lips. "For being my friend."

Gambit smiled back, feeling warmth blossom in his chest.

"De rien, petite." He replied. "Any time. You make it easy."

He was pleasantly surprised to see her blush slightly, and more so when she reached over, taking his hand. Though her hand was much smaller than his, her fingers were long and delicate-looking - surprisingly elegant for a woman who presented herself more as scrappy and laissez faire.

"I mean it, Gambit." Shadow said, her gentle voice full of deep-hearted conviction. "Thank you."

The Cajun found himself lost for words for a good few moments, before he clasped her hand in both of his, encompassing her with warmth.

"I feel de same, Shadow. Merci."

Her smile was like a sunrise, and Gambit found himself lingering, staring into blue eyes that reminded him of aquamarines, enjoying this quiet, peaceful moment.

That was until Shadow yawned widely.

"Urgh. Mmm, sorry Gambit." She rubbed her eyes with her spare hand. "Guess I'm more tired than I thought."

"It ok, mon amie." He smiled, squeezing her hand with his. "Ya been through a lot. An' de gumbo probably makin' ya sleepy too."

"Yeah." She looked at him from under regretful hooded eyes. "Sorry to chase you away."

"Non, don't be. Gambit happy to stay an' watch over you, but ya probably get better sleep without him." He smiled sadly, reluctantly getting to his feet.

"Depends on how loud your card shuffling is." She smiled, settling back onto the pillows. "But yeah. I think I need a kip. Thank you again, Gambit. For the save and the food."

"No problem." Gambit replied, taking the bowl. "Get some rest now, ok? Don't go sneakin' out again."

"Hah, rich coming from you." She chuckled, her tone light. "Alright. I'll see you when I see you."

"Sleep well, mon amie." Gambit said, stepping away. Shadow's light went off behind him.

Just before he left the room however, he stopped, glancing over his shoulder. Shadow had her back to him, only her wild messy hair visible above the sheets bundled around her.

"Fais de beaux rêves...chère." Gambit whispered softly, before he closed the door behind him.