#surprise ch or ofc art

[kayime]

Does a wrong beginning mean that the entire process and even the result must be wrong?

[minindo]

What are some general mixing tips? Ofc i know every rip is different and stuff is suggestive but i mean like when and how would i use eq, when and how would i use reverb, when and how would i use delay, when and how would i use compression

You have a good point in that every rip (or song or whatever you're doing) is different, even if it's derivative you're making a piece of art so there's plenty of ways to approach it. There's definitely ways to mix that most people would consider sounding better than others, but getting that right is tricky if you can't reliably hear the difference. For a while I didn't really have an ear for these things (hearing clashing and/or subpar mixing) so I just had to go off what other people told me. Eventually, to my surprise, I started to develop an ear for this and now I can judge both my own rips and other people's rips on various criteria. I think that's probably just from raw practice. (Note: I don't have perfect pitch but you don't need that, I have a decent sense of relative pitch now and often use Melodyne to more accurately measure what I'm hearing.) Here's a handful of examples of when I use all of the things you mentioned. This is really not comprehensive, it's just a lot of different tips I remembered.

EQ

Note: You might want to keep the names of frequency ranges in mind here for what I'm saying. If you open Fruity parametric EQ 2 in FL, you can see at the top that it's divided into SUB, BASS, LOW MID, MID, HIGH MID, PRS, and TREBLE. You can find this out by testing, but generally:

bass instruments will be in SUB and BASS (of course). But that's not the only thing that will be there, "bass" is not only an instrument name but a range of frequencies.

Vocals will be roughly around the MIDs, usually.

hi-hats, cymbals and other "wispy" sounding things (like sibilants, the "sh", "t", "ch" in vocals etc) will tend to be in the highest range, near TREBLE or whatever PRS is meant to mean.

Everything else varies wildly, but the good thing is that with visual EQ you can test and hear for yourself what sounds are spread across what frequencies, by reducing or raising them.

Golden rule of EQing mashups: In general, you want to strike a balance in the frequencies between the sources. If one source is naturally strong in the high mids (like in its vocals), you may want to reduce the high mids of the other source to compensate. These songs were not originally designed to be together, so the goal is to somehow make them feel like a cohesive whole. This is why using split stems/multitracks really helps, because you can more accurately reduce certain instrumental elements than a soft EQ would have (for example, by totally removing the bassline of one of the sources so that it doesn't sound muddy against the other source's bass.) Like everything here though, how much you should follow this "rule" would vary in practice depending on the music.

Specific EQ tips:

On DIY vocals I always remove the sub and some of the bass (not too much to where it heavily affects how they sound) because those don't need to be there. I think it cleans up the mix a little bit.

If vocals sound too harsh or piercing, I often lower the high mids. Melodyne pitch-shifting and stretching on certain vocals can sometimes cause that.

Similarly, if percussion is too harsh-sounding, I may lower the highs (treble) a bit, but carefully and not too much.

Reverb

This is another one where… I just use it when it sounds nice. I like putting a little bit of reverb on vocals when it feels like the mix needs it, and sometimes I do it when it probably doesn't need it. Taking FL Studio's Reeverb as an example, the knobs you may want to fiddle with the most would be SIZE, DEC (decay), DRY/WET, H.CUT/L.CUT and maybe BASS?

If I used a de-reverb algorithm on vocals so that I could pitch-shift them better, I would always put a reverb effect back on when I add the vocals into the mix.

One useful thing to note: when you add reverb (particularly to vocals) it's probably a good idea to increase the low cut, this can make the reverb sound less muddier and generally better. This is a tip I gathered from a friend, and posted to Twitter last year.

(There's also stuff to say about convolvers and impulse responses in regards to matching reverb in sequenced music, but I feel like that's outside the scope of this post.)

Delay

Delay makes echo(es) repeated across intervals. You can make the delay panned if you want (even back-and-forth between the ears), or you can make its frequency cutoff reduce with further echoes (sort of a "going underwater" effect), among other options. One thing I use delay for in mashups is when I'm covering a lead melody with vocals and the lead in the instrumental has a delay channel or effect, so I find it fun to match that effect on the vocals too, with the same delay time and panning.

Sometimes you might just want to do it for fun, or to make something sound less empty. In Circus (HQ Audio) - Five Nights at Freddy's I added delay to the vocals. The original Right Foot Creep vocals don't really have any; the Most Mysterious Song vocals might have a little but that didn't matter to me. I added them because it sounded cool and more "full" (one reason might have been the short syllables with more empty space between lines than Right Foot Creep's lyrics normally provide.)

Compression

This one is actually an area I'm less familiar with. I certainly didn't understand compressors for a while, and I usually prefer to use the limiter because the visual aid really helps me understand what's happening to the sound. (That's really just me though, plenty of people I know use other things like Fruity Compressor or common third-party VSTs like OTT, look into these if you're interested.) But they're a very important tool for mixing, and I can definitely think of reasons I would use compressors or limiters:

Evening out the level of vocals. It helps the sound of vocals to have most words be roughly around the same volumes. DIY vocals can especially have this issue, for various reasons relating to how the instrumental may have affected them. A limiter that just smoothes off the high peaks of vocals can be a simple way to solve that. If you want to do it more "finely" for a possible better sound, there's lots of ways syllable volumes can be changed individually. That includes volume automation, clips in the newer versions of FL, Melodyne's amplitude tool, etc.

Compressing drums to make them sound tighter. Again, something that's hard for me to describe at my current level of knowledge/skill lol. I would suggest to put the "Drums" preset in Fruity Compressor on a drum stem and hear what happens to it, as one example of how you can change the texture of a sound through compression.

I can use this topic to talk about the master limiter too. Generally when I'm mixing a rip I like having the volume sort of generally approach the limiter ceiling, maybe going over it a little bit on occasion but not too much of the time. If you compress/limit something too hard, it can become a "brick wall" and will certainly sound like it. (Again, sometimes that could be what you're going for!)

Final note - don't be afraid to use automation clips to change any of these effects' values throughout the track. It's possible that you may want to EQ certain words or lines harsher than others, for example, or that it's appropriate for one section of a melody to have more reverb than the other. Once you get a good feel for what sounds better, you might start going crazy with automation like I have on occasion, but that's not usually expected.

I wrote a lot, but there's definitely parts of this that are lacking in detail either because I thought it was too much for this post, don't have enough knowledge or just couldn't explain it well. If you have any further questions please feel free to ask.

[cloud-somersault]

😈🧐🎨💞🤩

aww, thank you!! and thank you for your tags on ch. 3! 🥰🥰🥰

smiling imp has been answered, but i'll do the others!

🧐 Do you spend much time researching for your stories?

I spend an embarrassing amount of time on research. I mostly research food and environments. For Constellations, I actually looked at maps of China to get an accurate-ish route for where they would go. Every direction Macaque gives is intentional, except that it's not actually China. But every place they visit is heavily based on a similar area that I researched.

also did research on JTTW, but i've been a fan of that book since forever, so. but mostly cultural and religious things. I love theology, too, so I've been having a good time LMFAO. like all the chapter titles have a deeper meaning. surprised no one has thought about that or at least pointed it out to me 🤔

and every meal and every piece of food. the clothing. the environments. everything is researched as much as I have time for. It eventually gets to a point where I get too tired and remember I'm not getting paid to do this LMFAO

🎨 How do you feel about fan art of your stories?

I LOVE FANART!!! I feel so honored whenever I get some. I've gotten a few pieces on my other account, and I fuckign SCREAMED and I'm lucky enough to be friends with the people who drew fanart.

Fanart is how I met half of my friends PFFF so I love fanart alot. the fact that someone was so impacted by my work or so inspired they wanted to draw something is AMAZING TO ME. I have so much respect for artists. they're INCREDIBLE

💞 Who's your comfort character?

ohhhh, i don't know if i have one. I like all of them easily. and I don't think of characters that way. i have comfort relationships. shadowpeach is one, and I've got others in other fandoms ofc.

🤩 Who is your favorite character to write?

HMMMMM.... probably Macaque? Or Wukong. I don't know if this means like...writing through their POV or writing ABOUT them through another POV.

If it's writing through their POV, probably Wukong. If it's writing about them from ANOTHER POV, then Macaque.

I also enjoy writing MK. I want to write something in his POV, because I think his introspection would be fun to capture.

[catierambles]

Lunar Calling Ch.1

Pairing: Clark Kent x Samantha Graves (Werewolf!OFC)

WC 1315

Warnings: None but yanno Minors DNI 18+ ONLY

@brattymum96 , @ouroboros113 , @peaches1958 , @summersong69 , @henryownsme

just tagging the general people for now, let me know if you want to get added

The apartment building was in a more rural part of Metropolis, something Clark was looking forward to as his last place had far too nosy neighbors who tried to make everyone else's business theirs. This place was quieter, the streets less busy with traffic, and the sidewalks cleaner and better maintained. Trees grew in places, adding a touch of nature to city life. The building itself was old, made of brick and his new apartment was on the second floor. It was a one-bedroom, one-bath kind of place, not that he needed or wanted anything bigger. Pulling the rented moving truck up out front, he looked at the double doors leading inside and he was glad he didn't have that much furniture. He could carry even the heaviest pieces with no effort, but they were still awkward to try to maneuver.

Getting out of the truck, he went around to the back and flung up the door, looking at his furniture with his hands on his hips. Well, it wasn't going to move itself. He slid the ramp out from its slot and walked up it, deciding on his couch first as it was the last thing to go in. Getting it down the ramp was easy, gravity did all the work there, but he looked at the stairs of the stoop and the double doors, trying to figure out the logistics of it. Heavy? Not for him. Awkward? Absolutely. Someone walked past him and up the steps as he was still figuring out the physics, but they stopped and he looked at them.

"Need help?" She asked, tucking a lock of deep red hair behind her ear.

"If you wouldn't mind." Clark said sheepishly, figuring she would just summon her boyfriend or someone to give him a hand. Instead, she pushed the sleeves of her hoodie up her forearms and went to one end of the couch, crouching down to lift with her legs.

"On three?" She asked and he got over his surprise quickly, going to the other end and grabbing it. "One. Two. Three." The grunt he gave when he lifted it was entirely for appearances and he noticed that she didn't strain herself at all. Maybe she worked out and a couch was nothing weight-wise. "Where are we taking it?"

"Forty-two A." He said and she cracked a smile that reached her warm, honey-colored eyes.

"Nice, I'm 42B, you must be my new neighbor."

"Clark."

"Samantha, but call me Sam." She said, "Okay, Clark, you are taller than I am, so I'm going to go first. Ready?"

"Ready." He said with a nod and they took the stoop one step at a time as she was walking up it backward. She pushed the doors open with her butt and they carried it inside, heading for the stairs.

"Hoo boy, this is going to be interesting." Sam said, "Ready?"

"When you are." Clark said and she nodded, starting to back up the stairs that luckily had no bends in them. He kept an ear on her heart rate to make sure she didn't over-exert herself, but it didn't change, staying completely steady as they carried the heavy couch up the stairs. She gave a huff when they got outside of his apartment, but she wasn't breathing heavily either. Digging his new keys out of his pocket, he unlocked the door and they carried the couch inside, setting it where he wanted it.

"Any other heavy, awkward furniture?" She asked, her tone teasing, "A modern art piece that's literally just a wheelbarrow full of cinder blocks maybe?"

"No, that's the biggest offender." Clark said with a smile. "I should be able to take it from here, thanks for your help."

"No problem." She said, "I am right next door if you need anything, just go ahead and give me a knock." They left the apartment together and there was a moment of awkwardness as they tried to go out the door at the same time, but he stepped back, gesturing for her to go first and she gave him a smile as she went past him. As she did, he caught the scent of trees and forest along with a musky smell that was…strange, but not unpleasant.

The rest of the move went smoothly and faster than normal as he was able to carry several heavy boxes at once and the rest of the furniture wasn’t nearly as awkward as the couch. It was still nighttime by the time he was finished and the rental had been returned and he relaxed in his new place, leaning back on the couch with a sigh. There was a knock at his door and he looked at it curiously before heaving himself up and going to it, opening it and seeing Sam outside, a large bowl in her hands.

“I figured you would be hungry but would be too tired to cook.” She said, holding it out to him and he took it from her. It was still warm and he peeled back the plastic wrap covering the top. “Beef burgundy with mashed potatoes. I always make too much, a side effect of growing up with a big family.”

“This smells amazing.” He said and it did, the smell of beef and wine mixed with potatoes wafting up from the bowl.

“The potatoes are homemade too, none of that powdered crap.” She said.

“Thank you so much, Sam, I can’t wait to dig into this.” Clark said and she gave him a somewhat embarrassed smile.

“I hope you like it, feel free to return the bowl whenever. It’s not like you don’t know where I live.” She said, “Have a nice night.”

“You too.” He said and watched her go, leaning out of the doorway slightly as she went back into her apartment, the door closing. Turning back into his, he closed and locked the door, raising the bowl to his nose and inhaling deep again, his mouth watering at the rich smell.

It tasted just as good as it smelled, the beef fork tender and the mushrooms cooked to perfection, the potatoes creamy but not too buttery to overpower the rest of it. His phone rang as he was eating and he picked it up, answering it after looking at the screen.

“Hey, mom.” He said.

“Hey, honey, how was the move?” His mom asked.

“Uneventful, thankfully.” Clark said, “I did meet one of my new neighbors though.”

“Man or woman?”

“Woman, her name is Sam, Samantha, she helped me get the couch into the new place. Also brought me dinner.” Clark said and his mom hummed briefly. “Mom. Don’t.”

“Is she a good cook?”

“Very.”

“Marry her immediately.” His mom said and he snorted, “Give me grandchildren.”

“Oh my god, mom.” Clark said, putting his head in his hand.

“I’m not getting any younger and I want grandbabies.”

“I just met the woman!” He said with a laugh, “Besides, I don’t even know if I can have kids with…normal people.”

“What do you know about her?” Martha asked.

“Besides that she’s a great cook and can deadlift a couch?” Clark asked, “She has a big family. That’s it.”

“Is she pretty?” His mom asked and he thought about it for a moment, recalling how her hair wasn’t a true red, but a deep copper color with gold highlights, how her eyes were an almost liquid honey color, warm and calming, and she had a smattering of adorable freckles over the bridge of her nose.

“Yeah, she’s pretty.” Clark admitted with a small smile.

“Okay, get to know her then marry her and give me grandchildren.” Martha said and he snorted.

“My dinner is getting cold, I’ll talk to you later mom.”

“Talk to you later, sweetheart.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too. Give me grandbabies!” He laughed at that and hung up, shaking his head.

[nightscapepersona]

Fly V to the Moon - Ch. 21

“The one where they’re already making new plans… and life is sort of getting in the way?”

Hello again! Here is a snippet of the morning after the date… with a glimpse at the future. Plans will be made even in spite of that small dosis of reality that allowed itself in through the door. Leave a like if you enjoy it... it genuinely means a lot! :)

Pairing: Taehyung x OFC

Genre: Fluff, Idol AU, Coffee Shop AU, Café Singer OFC, Slow Burn

Warnings: Light swearing, but it’s all for banter. Again, this is fluff.

Word count: 1.2k (Super short chapters, so there will be a lot of chapters.)

Recommended Songs: Dream a little dream of me — covered by Kina Grannis

Summary: She’s a foreign elementary school teacher by day, a charming singer by night. Taehyung and company discover her at a small garden jazz café where she had a gig one night, only to find out from Jin that she was an arts teacher at a local school in Seoul — Jin's nephew and niece’s teacher, in fact. Taehyung finds himself on a surprise adventure to the moon.

Masterlist

✻  ✻  ✻

Fly V to the Moon — by Nightscape Persona

Chapter 21: “The one where they’re already making new plans… and life is sort of getting in the way?”

When Lia opened her eyes the next morning, she was on cloud nine. The warm, peachy sunlight filtering through the curtains was nothing to the peachy, giddy waves of tingling coursing through her skin.

Taehyung’s smile and coffee eyes materialized behind her eyelids every time she blinked. His face flushed amid his winter clothes. His beaming face millimeters from hers as he shook her shoulders. His molten chocolate eyes as he grazed her cheek with his fingers, almost about to—abort, abort, abort.

T’was too early for that shit. For heart palpitations and all that jazz. Lia pulled her bed covers above her head to suppress a squeal.

Yes, they had, in fact, gone on a date. And, yes, it had, in fact, been most wonderful. He’d been most wonderful. Is it safe to say he’d stolen her heart? Yes. Was it a bad idea to make such an assertion so early in the morning? Nah.

She was doomed. But we already knew that.

Lia’s phone buzzed, sending her into a jolt and out of the reverie. It buzzed again.

She huffed. She’d forgotten to put the phone on night mode. Why the fuck was it buzzing so early on a fucking Sunda—oh my god.

Never mind.

Sitting on her lockscreen were two texts from Taehyung.

Two texts that went something like:

              tvh: so

              tvh: second date when?

Excuse you?

Her heart dropped.

Checking her phone so early in the morning? Bad, bad decision.

A new text popped into the chat, and, after that, messages just kept streaming in.

              tvh: good morning

              tvh: sorry

              tvh: how rude

              tvh: to not say good morning

              tvh: or good afternoon

              tvh: whenever you see this

              tvh: just

              tvh: hello

              tvh: yes

              tvh: :)

The way she was so endeared.

Definitely a bad decision. To read such texts at such an hour.

Across Seoul, Taehyung was questioning his own bad decision to be all bravado and smart with his texts. He didn’t expect said texts to turn to “read” just seconds after he pressed send. Because that meant she was reading them real time. Hence the texting frenzy.

He decided to text something softer with his numb fingers. Numb from the giddy carousel of feelings he’d been feeling since the sun rose that morning.

              tvh: if we could make plans as soon

              as possible, that would be lovely, thank you.

Should he—? Yes.

              tvh: I want to see you again.

Worst case scenario, she’d say no, too soon. But they’d already come this far. What could go wrong?

              lia.jpg: yes.

Yes. She said yes. Yes.

              lia.jpg: :)

He buried his foolish grinning face deep into his pillow. He felt little tugs in his heart.

          lia.jpg: when did you have in mind?

When did you—oh, no.

          tvh: I asked you first

This Lia.

          lia.jpg: what about Saturday?

Saturday?

          tvh: ah, I have a schedule, sorry

          lia.jpg: and Friday?

          tvh: I… also have work

          lia.jpg: Sunday?

          tvh: I’m sorry :(

It’s okay, Lia. One week was too soon anyways.

          lia.jpg: what about the week after? :(

Taehyung felt a different kind of tugging in his heart.

This couldn’t be happening.

He clearly didn’t think this through.

Because he had the whole week after that one booked with work, seeing there was a comeback around the corner. And after that, they were set to travel to the States for several schedules over the course of… three weeks.

Three weeks.

Three weeks now. But… what about then? What about the future? There would always be stuff. Always time to compete with in order to make time for each other. Is this how it would always be?

He didn’t think this whole affair thro—no.

He needed to stop that.

He had a chance and he took it. It couldn’t have waited any longer. Or else they would never even gone out on a first date to begin with. Their strangers to acquaintances to first date phases had already been protracted enough. So what if they had to wait a little to see each other again? If she felt the same way he did, that would not matter.

He pushed those thoughts away.

What did matter, though, was him making a fool of himself by boldly asking “second date when?” like an idiot when he had to backtrack like that. He felt Jimin calling him a dumbass. He did not think, okay?!

Well… on the bright side, it wasn’t such a dumb move. It showed he loved spending time with her the day before and that he wanted to see her again. It maybe even painted him as desperate, but who cares (he cares, who are we kidding.)

Unless.

Unless he’s willing to risk looking even more desperate by offering a reckless alternative.

A sooner alternative.

Because he always could…

He had some free time that week.

That week meaning this week.

He could…

I mean…

What’s the worse that could happen? Lia says no, she can’t.

Lia!

He already took too long to answer. Lest she thinks he left her hanging… he should get typing. Or… he could call her.

He could just start a videocall, right now, and ask her. Voice to voice.

No, no, no. There’s something quite unheavenly about calling a virtual stranger at fuck o’clock the morning after the first date. Bad idea.

He’d text.

Maybe someday they’d be comfortable enough for that.

But not today.

Okay. So.

          tvh: I’m sorry. I won’t be able to make it for

          at least a month after this week

          tvh: but I could make it up to you

          tvh: and explain

          tvh: if you agree to go to dinner with me

          tvh: this Wednesday

          tvh: I know it’s too soon

          tvh: but are you free?

Lia felt her heart sink, then rise, then implode, all in the span of 7 texts.

Her heart sank like a rock in a pond at the first message. He wouldn’t be around for about a month. Which was not the end of the world. It had taken the whole of four months for them to get here. They could wait just a bit more. She could wait. If he felt anyway like she did, they’d stay in touch.

Her heart pounced with curiosity at the next couple texts. He wanted to make it up to her. Which meant he was already feeling like he was letting her down. Maybe? Maybe not? In any case, she could not let that happen. She was disappointed. Yes. But what’d she expect with his lifestyle? It wasn’t his fault. There was no way she’d allow it. She couldn’t stand for him to feel like this in the slightest. Not on her watch.

Then, he also wanted to explain, which made her the most curious. Explain why he wouldn’t be able to make it for at least a month? Lia’s heart also skidded, because that meant... that he cared about her knowing what he was up to. Which meant he held her in some kind of regard. She mattered enough for him to want to share a little something about his upcoming ventures (...or mundanities, a part of life which would be just as nice to be let into, in Lia’s humble opinion). Which made sense because they’d just gone on a date—an arguably very successful date—and he wanted to see her already.

And then he hit her with that dinner on Wednesday which was soon but was she free. Which set off an implosion. Naturally.

So he definitely wanted to see her. There’s that. He wanted to see her before going MIA. No matter how soon it was.

Lia muffled her squeal using her duvet. Again.

          lia.jpg: it is soon.

          lia.jpg: but I am free :)

Her phone buzzed once more.

          tvh: then it is not soon enough :)

Across Seoul, two grinning fools were grinning. Their heads spinning. Thoughts reeling. A good little something blooming in their chests. A peaceful little something strewn with anticipation. With a whirlwind, a beehive, a gushing river of hope, of plans, of possibilities.

With longing for another glimpse at that future promised by their little words.

✻  ✻  ✻

Masterlist

✻  ✻  ✻

All chapters: Chapter 1 — Chapter 2 — Chapter 3 — Chapter 4 — Chapter 5  — Chapter 6  — Chapter 7 — Chapter 8 — Chapter 9  — Chapter 10 — Chapter 11 — Chapter 12 — Chapter 13 — Chapter 14 — Chapter 15 — Chapter 16 — Chapter 17 — Chapter 18 — Chapter 19  — Chapter 20 — Chapter 21 — Chapter 22 — Chapter 23 — Chapter 24 — Chapter 25 — Chapter 26 — Chapter 27 — Update on Part 2 — Part 2 Preview

[thisweekingundamwing]

This Week in Gundam Wing (January 9-15, 2022)

Happy Sunday Gundam Wing family.  Here’s your weekly roll-up, so show your fellow fans some love!

--Mod LAM

Fanfiction

I Reincarnated as a MInor Villainess... (CH.41-42/84) by @thaiteaaddict​

Pairings:  Heero x Duo, Trowa x Quatre, Wufei x Meilan, Dorothy x Relena

Characters: full cast

Rating: Teen and Up

Tags / Warnings:  AU - Fantasy, AU - Isekai, POV First Person, Unreliable Narrator

Summary:  After being killed in a traffic accident, Duo wakes up in a medieval fantasy novel - except he's woken up as one of the novel's minor villains who was supposed to have died in a main character's backstory. Intent on righting the wrongs of his novel counterpart, Duo sets out to change his fate and just maybe improve the relationship between himself and his estranged husband, Duke Heero Yuy. (Duo is isekai'd into the body of a novel's villainess character and runs with it.)

Wild Tonic by @lifeaftermeteor​ for @deathscythehell​ (HGE)​

Pairings: Duo x Quatre, background Heero x Trowa

Characters: five pilots

Rating: Teen and Up

Tags / Warnings:  holidays, office christmas party, alcohol, friends to lovers, fluff, getting together, post-canon, post-endless waltz

Summary:  No one throws a holiday party like the Preventers.

Past, Present, Perfect by @gemstonecircles​ for @picimadar​ (HGE)

Pairings: Heero x Relena

Characters: Heero, Relena

Rating: MATURE

Tags / Warnings: established and long-distance relationship, reunion sex, PWP but with feelings

Summary: Bad weather threatens Heero and Relena’s holiday plans, but no blizzard is a match for Heero making it to an appointment.

The Gift Holiday by @duointherain​ for @seitou​ (HGE)

Pairings: Heero x Trowa, Duo x OC, Quatre x OFC, Wufei x OFC

Characters: 5 pilots + Relena, Zechs, Dorothy

Rating: General

Tags / Warnings: family feels

Summary:  Trowa and Heero have been married for years. The holidays get Trowa down a little bit, so this year Heero has a plan... it's a good plan... it's a this will work plan! And there are a couple dozen kids, Quatre and his wives, Wufei and his wives, Duo and his orphanage... all visiting in Trowa and Heero's home. It's just a dinner. Heero is still sure it's a great plan!

Even on the Darkest Night by @expewrites​ for @theboringbluecrayon​ (HGE)

Pairings: Trowa x Quatre

Characters: Trowa, Quatre

Rating: Teen and Up

Tags / Warnings: winter solstice, past relationship, reconciliation, hurt/comfort, implied sexual content

Summary: For the tenth anniversary of the armistice, the gundam pilots are set to reunite at a cabin Preventer has in the woods.But when Quatre and Trowa find themselves alone there together, the other three delayed by work and weather, they have to wonder if that wasn't the plan all along. And if maybe this is their chance to rekindle what was in danger of being lost.

Fanart

2021 Holiday Gift Exchange Art

Shower Time (2x5) by @lila-oh for @anaranesindanarie 

Double Team Surprise (1x2x5) by @seitou for @trickzill-art 

Relena by the Fire by @avaantares for @lifeaftermeteor 

Cathy and Dorothy by @helmistress for @feanaro07 

Quiet Evening (1x2) by @feanaro07 for @duointherain 

Pilot Group Shot by @gemstonecircles

WTF Zechs (Heero and Relena) by @gemstonecircles

Hair Twists (Wufei and Sally) by @gemstonecircles

New Duo Costume design by @ghost-proof with @incorrectgundamwingquotes and @bettertasting

Gundam Wing meets Sesame Street by @gundayum

2021 Zine “Deep Web” Easter Egg by @2pcbart

Real Recognizes Real (Duo on Heero) by @the-reanimated-bhg

“Do you come with the car?” (4xD) by @darksharinganz​

Other Fanwork

Gunpla and Cosplay

Tallgeese Fluegal by @weirdunclegamer​

Headcanons and Discussion

Masters Thesis + GW, a tempting idea by @kickeddownthestairs​

Other Fun Stuff

@janaverse continues to post screencaps of their GW Sims, so be sure to check them out!

@utamonogatari continues to share some awesome screenshots from the show. Be sure to check out their tag.

@incorrectgundamwingquotes brings us the laughs (Example A, Example B, Example C)

Memes by @the-reanimated-bhg​ continue with Une defenestrating people, Mariamaia being brutual, Wufei screaming into the void, and Quatre’s horoscope

Calendar Events

The 2021 Holiday Gift Exchange with @thisweekingundamevents wraps up today (January 16)!  Keep an eye out for a final roll-up post.

@gwcocktailfriday is welcoming the new year with this week’s prompt.  Post your responses on Friday (January 21) between 3-5PM EST!

The so-called “Big Gundam Server” is hosting the year’s first server meet-up on January 29-30.  Be sure to watch @lifeaftermeteor​ for more info. 

Church of Lemons 2022 has sign-ups open with @church-of-lemons​​! Sign up for a date between February 14 and March 6, so be on the lookout for a veritable avalanche of citrusy fics during that window.

Sign-Ups are open for the 2022 Lemony Shenanigans Event with @gwlemonyshenanigans​​.  Sign-ups will close on March 1, and then posting will begin DAILY May 1-31.

[fanaticfangirl001]

The Outsider Ch 1: Back Talk and Sex Weasels

Tom Hiddleston x OFC (Enid Miller)

Summary: Enid Miller, an artist and member of Taylor Swifts’ girl squad begins to feel conflicted about her friends, life, and romance, prior to the infamous Fourth of July party. To get new inspiration and stay out of drama she moves to London and is rope into a whole lot more when she bites the bullet and goes out on the town one night.

Enid stretches coming through the sliding glass door, looking the same shade as a lobster with her frizzy auburn hair poofing out the sides of a ponytail holder.

“I got a cool concept for album covers, Tater Tot.” She taps her sketchbook.

“Not this again.” One of the girls rolls her eyes at Enid.

“Ennie, we came for a vacation, not work.” Taylor sighs.

“But you’re curious.” Enid lets her hair down.

“Let’s see it then.” Taylor sits on a stool in the kitchen.

“Okay.” Enid flips to the page in her sketchbook: Taylor sitting on a throne with a crown and holding two weasels.

“Why am I holding two rats?” Taylor asks.

“They’re weasels. I tried to use Renaissance paintings as the inspiration, and weasels were a symbol of women’s sexuality. But it’s like you’re owning it. You’re the Queen.” Enid points to the crown and throne.

“Oh great, Taylor and sex rats.” A girl from the group says.

“Good Morning, love.” Tom kisses Taylor’s cheek, “Oh wow, Enid. It looks great.”

“See, cool concept for an album cover, and a great band name.” Enid defends her weasels.

“The Sex weasels sounds like a punk rock hair band.” Tom adds.

“Enid, can we talk in private?” Taylor puts her hand on Enid’s shoulders to pull her away.

The two walk into a guest bedroom.

“I don’t like the concept.” Taylor says bluntly.

“That’s okay, it was just a possibility.” Enid shrugs sitting down.

“And you’re always drawing or filming yourself drawing.” Taylor adds

“Well it’s my work.”

“Are you clout chasing?” Taylor suddenly asks.

“What’s that?” Enid asks, confused.

“I guess that answers my question.” Taylor sighs sitting down.

“Are you okay, Taylor? Did something happen?” Enid pulls her knees up to her chest, and rests her head on them ready to listen to her friend vent.

“No, I'm okay.” Taylor shrugs it off.

“If it’s Tom, just push him off the boat,and floor it. You can afford a good lawyer.” Enid says quickly.

Taylor laughs, “ No, Tom’s perfect, but I’ll keep it in the back of my mind.”

“Then what is it? You’re worrying me.” Enid takes Taylor’s hands.

“The other girls don’t really like you. They talk about you behind your back.” Taylor admits.

“Huh?”

“They think you’re weird.” Taylor explains.

“I am.”

“They also think you’re not really good for my image.” Taylor adds.

“Are you wanting to end our friendship? I can move out of your place.” Enid drops her hands.

“No, you’re a great friend.”

“Why do they think I’m bad for your image?” Enid asks.

“The way you dress and..” Taylor hesitates.

“Comfortable, and?”

“They think you’re too fat to be seen with me.” Taylor puts a hand on her shoulder to soften the blow.

“Oh, I guess wearing a bikini after this discussion is out of the question.”

“Wear what you want. But I’m surprised you aren’t upset after all this.” Taylor says to gauge her reaction.

“Would you believe me if I said I’m not surprised. I don’t really fit in with all the models.”

“If any of the girls say anything to you, please come tell me.” Taylor hugs her.

“I will after I give them a homemade nose job.” Enid whispers to her.

“Please no punching.” Taylor lets go of Enid.

“Right protect the model’s face. I’ll go for a boob punch.” Enid says before walking out.

“Are you going to join us for dinner and drinks tonight?” Taylor asks.

“No, I got a bad sunburn. My skin matches my hair.” Enid shrugs while walking to the shower.

“You make it work though, have a good night.” Taylor goes back to the group of girls getting ready to go out on the town.

Enid sits on the couch with her hair tied up in a towel, pacing around the kitchen to decide on dinner.

“Enid.” Tom walks into the kitchen.

“Tom, you didn’t go out.” Enid looks away from the fridge.

“No, it was a planned girl’s night, why aren’t you?” Tom trails off.

“My sunburn.” Enid shrugs, “ And the other girls don’t like me.”

“To be honest, they aren’t my biggest fans either.” Tom admits.

“Why not? You’re literally perfect for Taylor.” Enid closes the fridge and leans against it,with her arms crossed.

“Too old, too smart.” Tom lists off the things wrong with himself.

“Oh come on no one said you’re too smart.” Enid laughs.

“They said I make people feel dumb, about things.” Tom explains.

“Like what things.” Enid sits on the counter.

“Literature, Art, Plays.” Tom lists again.

“Well if you want to talk about those things, come find me.” Enid says stopping him from listing other things.

“What were you planning to make for dinner?” Tom looks around the kitchen.

“Well i was planning on ordering a pizza, would you like to have pizza with me.” Enid offers.

“I’d love to. What were you thinking of toppings?” Tom sits on the countertop.

“Barbeque chicken, bacon, jalapenos, and onions.” Enid finds a pizza place on her phone.

“You’re a mind reader.” Tom adds laughing.

“No way, that’s my go to pizza order.” Enid dials the place. She orders the pizza and goes to sit in the living room with Tom. The pizza comes and the two eat in silence watching the waves crash into the shore.

“Are you okay?” Tom asks as Enid sits down after throwing away the plates.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“That’s an awful answer.” Tom laughs.

“Don’t tell Taylor.” Enid starts.

“Interesting start, sure.”

“When we left the room this morning to talk privately, she told me the other girls didn’t like me and thought I was too fat to hang out with her. I told her I wasn’t upset because it’s not surprising but that was a lie.” Enid admits.

“Enid. Why didn’t you tell her that?”

“Tom, it's not that easy. She’ll never know that feeling of people rejecting and ostracizing her.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s pretty and famous. They’re all pretty, skinny, and famous.” Enid huffs.

“You’re pretty.”

“I know I’m gorgeous, that's not what this is about. It’s the fact that people are saying I’m not good for Taylor’s image because of my looks. I mean who made and brought Taylor soup, when she was sick. Me, not anyone else here.”

“You do live with her.”

“Tom, not the point.”

“That is the point. “

“How?”

“She trusts you enough to ask you to live with her.”

“But Maybe I shouldn’t live with her anymore. The girls told Taylor I’m a clout chaser. I don’t even know what that is.”

“It’s someone that uses another person to gain attention.” Tom explains.

“I would never.” Enid says offended.

“Where would you even move to?” Tom asks.

“London, sounds nice. I got a personal tour guide.”

“You’re talking about me, right.”

“Bingo.”

[xxcatchingcloudsxx]

Title: The Roommate's Boyfriend

Status: Complete

Word Count: 32,518 (94 Pages)

Ch. 1: 6,422 (19 Pages)

Ch. 2: 7,254 (21 Pages)

Ch. 3: 5,481 (16 Pages)

Ch. 4: 5,548 (16 Pages)

Ch. 5: EXTRA: 7,813 (22 Pages)

Couple(s):

Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu (MAIN)

Wen Kexing/Han Ying (ONE-SIDED)

Zhou Zishu/Han Ying (ONE-SIDED)

Zhou Zishu/OFCs (BRIEF)

Zhou Zishu/Jin Wang (ONE-SIDED)

Han Ying/Xie Wang (MAIN - EXTRA CH.)

Du Pusa/Qiao Luohan (MENTIONED)

Liu Qianqiao/Luo Fumeng (MENTIONED)

Tropes Used:

Modern AU - University AU - Roommates AU

Overall Summary:

Wen Kexing hadn't meant for things to end up like this after meeting his roommate and good friend's, Han Ying, boyfriend. He hasn't anticipated Zhou Zishu's tempting words and sinful touches. He hasn't meant for everything to spiral so out of control. Hadn't foreseen that Zhou Zishu had intentions, to begin with. (NOW WITH AN EXTRA CHAPTER)

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

In The Guilt, I Sought Pleasure

Chapter 1: WKX POV: Wen Kexing meets Zhou Zishu, the man dating his roommate. He's not impressed. But he does, unfortunately, end up sleeping with him. Multiple times. And catches the man cheating with others. Multiple times. He does not tell his roommate. He probably should. Sorry, Han Ying.

To Breathe Your Air

Chapter 2: ZZS POV: Zhou Zishu first catches wind of who Wen Kexing is at an art show, by a man named Han Ying, who was very eagerly singing Wen Kexing's praises. Zhou Zishu wants this Wen Kexing and as such, creates a plan that involves dating Han Ying to get closer to Wen Kexing. He hadn't anticipated that he would be haunted by his past involving his cousin, Jin Wang, throughout the whole experience. Was this guilt?

Of This, I'm Not So Surprised

Chapter 3: HY POV: Han Ying has loved his roommate, Wen Kexing, the moment they first met. He's fine with them just staying friends. Soon, he meets a Zhou Zishu at an Art Show and then again around campus. They start going out. Then it all goes downhill when he finds out what his roommate and his boyfriend have been doing behind his back. Han Ying should have known. People like them don't fall for people like him.

Clouds of Uncertainty

Chapter 4: ALTERNATING POV: WKX, ZZS: Wen Kexing moves out, Zhou Zishu welcomes him in. They find solace in the aftermath of their harmful actions in each other. They learn to stop drowning.

Han Ying and His New Roommate +4

Chapter 5: EXTRA: HY POV: Han Ying knows he should not wallow in his sorrows. He gets a new roommate, Xie Wang, and after a while, he notices that he's not so bad. Eventually, Han Ying learns to move on completely, and not only gets a new boyfriend, but also gains four more new roommates. They get a bigger apartment. He gets a home.

Please Read This! It took so long for me to write 😭

[spaceclefairy]

The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, Ch. 13

Pairing: Michael de Santa/ OFC; Trevor Philips/OFC; Michael de Santa/OFC/Trevor Philips; Michael de Santa/Trevor Philips

Summary: Los Santos is a hellscape, but if you've got brains and a little determination, it can be a real hell of a playground. Michael needs money, Trevor needs whatever Trevor wants, and Franklin's moving up in Los Santos. Jen's just along for the ride.

This is gonna be fun.

Author’s Note: I've been writing this beast of a thing since 2013. It's been through a thousand different incarnations, but it's been in my drafts for the last six years. I realize this fandom isn't as popular as it used to be, but I might as well have a little fun and finally start posting it.

Also, not to be that bitch, but this is on Ao3. I would very much appreciate kudos/comments, if you’re so inclined!

Part 1  ||   Part 2  ||  Part 3  ||  Part 4  ||  Part 5  ||  Part 6  ||  Part 7  ||  Part 8  ||  Part 9  ||  Part 10  ||  Part 11  ||  Part 12

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

Karen and John, the IAA agents, pulled Jen out of the office that morning to take her down to IAA headquarters. She went without a fight, much to the surprise of everyone in the office. They were expecting a blowout fight, especially because the two agents barged in without so much as a hello. Normally, she’d have been a little mouthier with them, but even she realized she had to take this seriously - whether the investigation was real or not. Hence, the willingness to come quietly along.

Clearly, Jen’s mandatory invitation to the IAA was public knowledge. It took less than thirty seconds from the time she sat in her (brand spankin’ new) car for her phone to start blowing up. Haines’ name flashed in bold across her screen, a not-so-gentle reminder that he hadn’t done his job properly. Jen hit ignore every time he redialed. Instead of dealing with Haines, she called her own lawyer in preparation for whatever Karen and John were about to do to her. She knew better than to show up without (helpful) backup.

Once Jen arrived downtown at the IAA building, she wasted no time charging into the lobby, her heels clicking furiously against the tile as she stalked through the front door. Haines and Dave showed up in Dave’s sedan not long after Jen and just before Karen and Dave pulled up.

The two agents were followed closely behind by Jen’s own lawyer, Richard (no relation to Richards Majestic). Richard was one of those buff dude-bro types with the San Andreas fake tan; he was mostly there for looks. She wouldn’t have hired him if (1) he wasn’t one of the best lawyers in the state and (2) she kind of needed a good lawyer right now. And, yeah, Richard fits the bill well. He’s good at what he does. Like, really good. Good enough to remind her, gently, not to back-talk the two people who could ruin her career, not that she needed to be reminded that John and Karen could ruin her.

Haines and Dave had to stay outside, much to Jen’s personal satisfaction. Karen and John were quick to tell them to stay in the lobby while they led Jen and Richard into the inner guts of the IAA. She cackled quietly to herself, prompting Richard to give her a concerned glance; watching Karen and John spoil their fun would keep her in a good mood for the rest of the day, despite her own predicament.

Richard pulled Jen aside before they walked into the interrogation room. “I know you know what to say. I’ll be right here. What do you need from me?”

“I need you to take notes and look pretty,” Jen said, stepping past him. “You’re gonna slap ‘em with the defamation suit after this is all cleared up.”

“I don’t know if we can do that, but I’ll take care of it if we can.”

“And that’s why you’re the best at what you do, Rich.”

Karen put them in a backroom with a table and four chairs. It wasn’t one of the real interrogation rooms, like the warehouse the FIB likes to put people in. The real IAA interrogation rooms are far below ground where there’s no light, no hope, and no means of escape. This room was just situated to look like a real interrogation room. There was a security camera in the upper corner of the room, trained on them like they were about to star in a shitty procedural cop show. The room was definitely mic'd-up, too, but she couldn’t see where the mics were. 

Karen and John sat across the table from her wearing matching solemn expressions. Jen fought the urge to roll her eyes. You’d think they’d give up on the posturing considering their victim for the day was the fuckin’ DA.

“We’re required to tell you that you’re not under arrest and you can leave the room at any time, Miss Dixon.” John reclined back in his chair. Obviously, Karen was going to be taking the lead here. “But fewer bathroom breaks mean you’ll get out of here quicker.”

Karen slapped a file down on the table in a fine impersonation of every single police officer Jen had ever met. “You need to tell us everything you know about what the FIB is doing.”

“What is this, CIS: Vice City?” Jen grunted when Richard kicked her under the table. “And by that, I mean, what can I do to help you, agents?”

Karen fixed her with an even glare. “All you have to do is tell us that the FIB tampered with the voting equipment to get you elected, and we’ll take it from there.”

“I don’t know what business the FIB conducts, as I am not an FIB agent and therefore am not privy to the goings-on of its agents.” Jen returned Karen’s glare with her own cool stare. “I ran a fair race.”

John chimed in, surprisingly. Jen thought he was almost asleep. “You graduated from law school less than ten years ago from an out-of-state school. No connections, nothing to make you important. There’s no way you could have beaten the incumbent DA.”

“Uh, we live in Los Santos.” Richard kicked her again, but she ignored him. “Our mayor used to be an offshore hedge-fund manager, and the president of the fuckin’ country is an actor who’s still acting. The people of Los Santos don’t care that I can tie my own shoes or walk and chew gum at the same time as long as my tits are still perky.”

“Be that as it may,” Karen snapped, “there are standards for these things, and you didn’t meet the requirements.”

“I cleared every qualification check, I have the required education, and I’ve been an attorney for the statutory length of time.” Jen cocked her head. “What part of that doesn’t meet the requirements to run for this office?”

“Did the FIB just send you on through?”

“Why don’t you shitbags go bother Haines and Dave and let me do my job? You should be on my side, anyway. I’ve been passing you the big cases and dealing with your messes for years-”

This time, Richard didn’t bother to kick her under the table. He cut in to keep her from opening her mouth again. “Can we wrap up this line of questioning? Miss Dixon has already expressed that she is unaffiliated with the FIB.”

John snorted. “You gonna answer for her, Rich?”

Richard knew well and good that he had to let her answer the questions, so he bit his lip and backed off. He looked over at Jen, pleading silently for her to keep herself in check. Really, please, dealing with her already made his job is hard enough, and she’s just making it harder every time she makes one of her unnecessary comments.

Jen caught the hint, not that it was hard to catch. “My attorney has recommended that I assert my rights to keep my mouth shut, which is what I’ll be doing for the duration of the interview.”

“You’re not gonna answer our questions?” Karen asked, pursing her lips. Her grandstanding was atrocious, but between her and John, it was her head on the chopping block if she didn’t get Jen to rat out Haines and Dave. “You won’t even throw your babysitters under the bus.”

“I assert my Fifth Amendment rights in light of your question.”

“You sure you wanna keep tiptoeing around this?”

Jen glanced over at Richard, who looked like he was going to have an aneurysm if she didn’t keep her mouth shut. “I have the right to do so.”

Karen rolled her eyes. “Fine. There’s no point in you being here, then.”

Karen grabbed her thin files and left the room, John following right behind her, yawning like he’d rather be anywhere else. They’d gone through all the trouble to get her there that morning and had nothing to show for it. They’d expected as much, but it still didn’t make things easier on them. There was nothing to find – they just needed her to cave and spill the beans on everything Haines had been doing with Mr. K. Covering up their actions by harassing her should have been an easy cover, and it was common knowledge that Haines was on Jen’s shit list. She should have been downright singing for them.

There’s something to be said for loyalty, it seems.

Jen followed Richard out the front door of the building, blowing right past Dave and Haines. She’d have to keep ignoring Haines’ phone calls for the rest of the day, but she’d call Dave later to help with damage control.

Richard stopped her at her car. He was clearly not pleased with his client’s behavior. “I thought you knew what to say!”

Jen scoffed at him. “I do. I said everything I needed to say.”

“You can’t talk to the IAA like you do to opposing counsel,” Richard huffed. “These people will arrest you for breathing in their general direction.”

“They can’t arrest me because I didn’t do anything. Gotta have probable cause, Rich.”

“Oh, you know better than that.”

Jen had an answer for him right on the tip of her tongue, but whatever it was got lost as her phone started to ring. Huh, she thought she turned the ringer off that morning. Normally, she’d just ignore the call, but the name on the face of her phone wasn’t ignorable. Holding up a finger, she stepped away from Richard to answer the call.

“Lester Crest,” Jen hummed. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Glad to hear you’re in a good mood,” Lester observed, clearing his throat. “You’re not going to be for long.”

“What happened now?”

“Are you in a place where you can get up to Sandy Shores?”

“Yes,” Jen hesitated. “Why? What’s happening in Sandy Shores?”

“Your boyfriends aren’t coming back to Los Santos anytime soon,” Lester replied, sounding just a little too pleased for Jen’s liking. “Franklin’s going to swing by to pick you up. You’ll need to call him and let him know your location.”

Jen sighed and rubbed her temples. These men were going to be the death of her. And bless Franklin - he had to deal with their shenanigans way more than she did. “Should I expect the worst? Has anyone been killed or maimed?”

“Eh, maybe roughed up a little. Madrazo put a hit out on both of them.” 

“You’re fucking kidding me.”

“I wish I was,” Lester replied. Jen could hear him smashing his fingers against his keyboard, searching for who-knows-what. “Something went sideways on a job he contracted them to do. Not sure what happened yet, but I’m entrusting you and Franklin to find that out.”

“Oh, I can’t wait. Is Madrazo not sending people up to Sandy Shores?” She paused. “Am I gonna have to shoot someone again? Because I didn’t handle that well the first time.”

“You’re probably not going to have to shoot anyone – not unless you get trigger happy with Trevor or Michael. No, it looks like the hit only applies to Los Santos. It’s probably just meant to keep them from going home, and thus cut off from their resources,” Lester said. He didn’t sound all that sympathetic, and Jen could concur. They made their own bed, and now they had to lie in it. “I noticed you didn’t deny the boyfriends thing.”

“Well, Michael is my boyfriend. If I can really call a forty-five-year-old man my boyfriend, I mean.”

“I said boyfriends, as in multiple. Trevor was at your apartment for a pretty long time the other night, wasn’t he?”

Jen snorted. “You seem to know something you shouldn’t. Like usual.”

Lester snickered. “Avoiding the question, counselor?”

“It’s what I do best. I guess you’re tracking them?”

“I’m tracking all of you. Makes life easier.”

Jen really, really liked Lester. Bless him, too, right along with Franklin.

“I’ll let that slide as long as you can keep other people from tracking me.” Jen shifted the phone to her other hand so she could wave goodbye to Richard and climb into her car. “Think you can handle that, Mr. Crest? Or is that outside your skillset?”

Jen could just picture Lester rolling his eyes on his end of the phone. “I know what you’re doing, and it’s working. I’ll put a block on your phone.”

“Thank you very much, Les. I’ll let you keep that wiretap you’ve got going at University of Los Santos’s cybersecurity lab.”

“I like you, counselor.”

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

Franklin picked Jen up outside of her apartment. She would have had him pick her up at the Cluckin' Bell down the street from the IAA building, but she didn't feel like leaving her new Jester out in the open. She'd never owned anything that expensive, so she was more inclined to take care of it than her old Schwartzer (which was now, according to Trevor, a charred hunk of metal rusting at the bottom of a lake).

Since Trevor and Michael essentially skipped town to get away from Madrazo’s men, Franklin and Jen had to make the four-hour drive up to Blaine County to meet them. When they arrived at Trevor’s derelict - and getting steadily grosser - trailer, they found the owner of said trailer standing outside in the desert sun, screaming at Michael, who was screaming back at him fit to beat the devil. The fussing pair were accompanied by Trevor’s paranoid neighbor and an older Latina female who seemed oddly comfortable even though her mouth was taped over.

Franklin pulled up outside the chain-link fence. "What the hell is happening here?"

Jen almost didn't want to get out of the car. "Trevor's done something stupid, I'm guessing."

"Or Michael pissed him off again."

The screaming outside of the trailer was only getting louder, and this time, it was punctuated by Ron's nervous fretting.

"It kind of sounds like we're both right," Jen replied. She looked over at Franklin. "Why did we have to come up here in the first place anyway?"

"Because we're the only ones dumb enough to put up with this shit."

"You're goddamn right about that," Jen said. She reached under her seat for her purse and dropped her phone and keys in. "Let's go calm them down, I guess. And figure out what the deal is with the woman."

Franklin shook his head. "You'd think Trevor'd at least take the tape off her mouth."

"I don't know, Trevor's so used to seeing people with the tape on, he probably forgets it's not natural."

Franklin crossed the gate first. Both Trevor and Michael paused mid-sentence to greet him before resuming the screaming match. Jen followed close behind him and settled herself on Michael's right side, directly between him and Ron. Franklin did the same thing on Trevor's side, creating the dividing line between him and Michael.

Ever the mediator and the voice of reason, Franklin held up his hands. "Can one of you please just tell me what's happening?"

The screaming match started again, with both Trevor and Michael trying to yell over the other. Finally, Franklin just pointed his finger at Michael. "What is going on?"

"Oh, of course you want Work Dad to tell you what's going on!" Trevor snapped, throwing his hands up. "Because those facts aren't unbiased at all."

Jen raised her eyebrows at him. "Trevor, you'll get your turn, too. We just want to know why we had to drive all the way up here."

Michael never learned how to lower his voice growing up, and he doesn't have the presence of mind to do it now. "Trevor kidnapped Madrazo's wife and now the old fucker's got a hit out on us!"

Trevor shrugged and nodded. "Actually, that pretty well sums it up.

Jen could see more than a few neighbors peeking out from between their blinds out of the corner of her eye, which told her they'd probably better go inside before the whole street came to watch the show. "Why don't we go inside and discuss this, boys?"

Trevor ushered them in and slammed the door behind them. The trailer had been crowded enough the last time Jen had been there when it was just Trevor, herself, and Ron. The addition of three more people made it feel more like a closet than a home.

Trevor took the lapse in conversation as an opportunity to introduce his hostage. "This is Patricia."

Michael planted himself on the living room couch. "She's so fucking bored out here that she's already cleaned this place. Imagine that - the hostage is bored."

Patricia shrugs, and something about that simple movement tells Jen that this probably isn't the first time Patricia Madrazo has been in this particular situation, albiet with less dangerous and less weird kidnappers. There wasn't much else she could do around the trailer other than clean or watch TV anyway since Trevor didn't seem to give a shit. Trevor trained his eyes on the older woman while Michael and Franklin watched with mild discomfort.

Jen gingerly leaned against the edge of Trevor's kitchen counter. She'd meticulously chosen the cleanest part of the counter she could see. The trailer was still filthy, despite Patricia's alleged attempts to clean it. The kitchen counter was no different; while it wasn't sticky as it usually was, there was still ground-in filth wedged into the tile grout and discoloration from who-knew-what staining the tile.

Jen chewed the inside of her cheek and folded her arms across her stomach. "Well, boys, ya fucked up."

"Can you just start yelling and get it over with?" Michael asked, fixing her with a distressed stare. "And I didn't fuck up - Trevor fucked us both."

"I did the right thing by taking Patricia with me," Trevor snapped. "Madrazo's a piece of shit."

"Well, Trevor, you're not wrong about Madrazo," Jen said. Ah, yes, there's the rising anger deep in her stomach. It's the kind of anger she used to fuel herself every morning. "What the fuck were you two thinking getting into bed with that shitstain Martin Madrazo like that? Taking out a star witness in a federal case? Kidnapping the scumbag's wife?" Jen held out her hand in submission to Patricia. "No offense to you, Ms. Madrazo. I realize you had no bearing in your husband's affairs."

The older woman nodded. Trevor had taken off the tape once they'd entered the trailer. "Oh, none taken. Please continue, dear."

"Thank you, ma'am," Jen replied, turning back to the boys. "I did some digging on the long, lovely drive up to good ol' Sandy Shores. He's got a hit out on you like you wouldn't fucking believe. It took me, Franklin, and Lester half the favors we have combined to figure out where all the heat was coming from. Every gang in the city is looking for you."

"Well, what can we do? Trevor kidnapped his fucking wife!" Michael snapped, flinging his hands up. "Is he gonna send his boys up here to look for us?"

Trevor growled deep in the back of his throat. "Ms. Madrazo has nothing to do with this!"

"Shut the fuck up, both of you! I'm not even close to done talking," Jen yelled, causing the three men to jump again. She bit her bottom lip, pulling at the chapped skin with her teeth. "No, they're not coming up to Blaine County. They'd be in Azteca territory, and that would cause a problem between Madrazo and Ortega. But you two sure as hell aren't going back to Los Santos anytime soon."

"So where do we go from here?" Michael asked, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. The space between his eyebrows furrowed, and he suddenly looked every day of his forty-five years.

Jen had never seen him back down from someone yelling at him, nor Trevor for that matter, but she assumed they understood the gravity of the situation. She similarly lowered her voice. "Well, you two will have to stay up here in Blaine County until it's safe. Paleto Bay is fine, the mountains are fine, but if you set foot in Los Santos, Madrazo's men will hunt you down and kill you, and there will be nothing Lester, Franklin, or I could do to save you."

"I'm not afraid of any of these fuckers," Trevor snapped, jumping to his feet. He stalked the length of the trailer (which was maybe only twenty feet, minus the space taken up by the six people currently crowding his living room). "I'll take every last one of them out, just like the Lost MC," he snorted, "and those inbred O'Neal brothers. I thinned that herd no problem. They can't do shit to me and they're not taking Patricia back to that hellhole."

"If you think you’d get away from a Martin Madrazo-brand assault, you’re an idiot. I understand that you think you're the Invincible Mr. Philips," Jen said, turning the intensity of her glare on him, "and maybe sometimes you are, but you’re not an idiot. Madrazo had you take out an entire jet plane with one gun. You have no idea how deep his pull runs - it doesn't matter if he's about to go to jail or not. The feds are doing everything they can as we speak to stack up another set of witnesses against him. I need all three of you to stay alive, and the only way that's going to happen is if you two lay low for now and let me, Franklin, and Lester do damage control until we figure out what to do."

Michael hummed. "You know, T…"

"What?" Trevor and Jen snapped simultaneously. They traded a glance of understanding.

Franklin rubbed his temples; no amount of painkillers could kill this kind of headache.

Michael sighed and shook his head. He had a temper and he knew it, but Trevor's was worse and Jen could give them all a run for their money when she had a mind to (like now). "This may be a good time to plan that test heist…"

Trevor opened his mouth to speak, but Jen beat him to the punch and cut him squarely off. "You know what? Please find a bank to rob out here in the sticks. Rob a liquor store, a gas station, hell, sacrifice some hitchhikers to whatever's left of the Altruists for all I care. Anything to keep y'all busy while I deal with your problems again and mine."

"Hell yeah!" Trevor yelped, finally on board with something. "Tell Lester to get off his ass and - wait, who's giving you a problem?"

Michael cocked his head. "You haven't mentioned anyone giving you problems?"

Franklin raised his eyebrows. "You're talking about that election tampering shit, right?"

Jen nodded. "Yeah, that. Agency's been snooping around in the poll stats for the past few weeks. I was actually in the middle of being interrogated before we drove up here."

Franklin shook his head. "You gotta watch the news more often, man."

"You got Lester on it yet?" Michael asked, his voice dark. That old protective streak had already gotten him into too much trouble, but he couldn't help it.

"He's looking into it," Jen replied curtly. "There's nothing for them to find and the Agency knows it, so I'm sure they'll try to plant something. I've got your buddy Davey looking into it, too."

"He can do something about that?" Michael asked, incredulous. Dave Norton was essentially useless, but for that little wily streak that made him very, very dangerous. "I didn't think that kind of cloak-and-daggers subterfuge was his area of expertise."

"It's not," Jen said, rubbing her temples. She wished he'd leave it alone, since now he had Franklin and Trevor's protective streaks revving up. "But Steve Haines wants to keep me in my position-"

"Yeah, I'll bet that turd wants to keep you in a few positions alright," Trevor growled, clenching his fists. "Oh, just another reason to let me get my hands on him."

"You're right about that." Jen grimaced. Nothing about Steve Haines was even remotely appealing - not his crunchy, gelled hair, not his Golf Dad frat boy aesthetic, not his dimple butt chin. "Point being, I make their job easier and I'm traceable back to you, so Haines and Dave are gonna keep me where I am, even though they've done a pretty shitty job as of late. Haines is a sneaky little bastard, but when he wants something, he goes all in to get it and keep it. It'll get handled."

Michael scratched the stubble on his chin thoughtfully. "If you even think you smell something fishy coming for you, you come back up here, alright? If we can't get into Los Santos to protect you, you're gonna have to come to us."

"I don't need protection. I've got cops circling my building day and night," Jen replied, but she sighed anyway. Even if she didn't feel like she needed protection, it wouldn't hurt to have them as backup. She didn't trust the cops to do their job anyway.

Trevor sat back down on the couch next to Michael. "Well, I think you should come stay with us here anyway. There's room on my bed for three."

"Room for three?" Jen sniffed. "Who? You, Mike, and Mr. Raspberry Jam? Don't worry, I'll be fine all by myself."

"Oh, I bet you would," Trevor replied, his voice low and lecherous.

“Can you shut up about that, T?” Michael snapped. “Jesus, we talked about this!”

Jen paused and looked at them strangely. What had they been talking about? Surely not her?

Franklin huffed. "Man, I did not need that image in my head."

"Me either, Frank," Jen said. "Let's get out of here. We need to get back home before it gets late."

Franklin got up and followed her to the door. He had his own problems to deal with, and as usual, now he's gotta deal with Trevor's and Michael's problems, too.

Michael followed the both of them to the door and kissed Jen goodbye, making her promise to be careful.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm always careful. Y'all don't do anything stupid," Jen said, giving Michael's hand a gentle squeeze. She followed Franklin out to the car and ducked her head out of the window once she’d climbed in. "And if any Agency fuckers come skulking around asking questions, tell them I don't know y'all and I just come up here for the anonymous group orgies. Wouldn't be the weirdest thing going on in our local government."

[parknoonseob]

Secret Checkmate summs

The English cut out the mature scenes, so the English and Korean chapter numbers don’t match. Ch 11 summary is ch 11 in the Korean raws, but ch 10 in the English. 

Ch 11 summary:

Soo actually gets to see Euns painting up close.

Soo asks himself why Moon still has this art piece. Like most people, Moon must have felt some good will toward Eun if he kept the painting. Moon says he remembers the noise/news surrounding the piece. Moon says Eun was filled with talent and doesn’t know why he did that (ruining the painting). If he had just kept quietly listening to Moon then Moon would have paid more attention and doted on him more. Eun was the student Moon wanted to teach the most. Moon says: It’s quite a shame. I miss those days. When I look at the things Eun left behind at my house, I think about him often.

Soo is surprised to learn about their relationship. Moon said they spent hours talking and it was easier for Eun to sleep at Moon’s house than go home late at night. Eun would spend more time at Moon’s house than his own. But things have changed now and Eun doesn’t respond to Moon’s texts or calls. Soo says isn't it a given that he's ignoring you? You are not as close as you once were to Eun. Moon says… well, i guess so. Soo ends the interview there.. Soo realizes he messed up. He shouldn’t have asked so many personal/emotional questions so early in the interview.

This is Soo’s feelings about Eun/the motivation for his actions- he despises Eun’s rise to the top. Eun’s someone who is praised by accomplished and influential people, which makes E. If Soo cant manage to catch Eun and match Euns level, Soo will drag Eun down to his level.

He’s back at his office. His sunbae can tell Soo didn’t get any good info from the interview. “The moment you get tired is the moment the game ends. Keep pestering. Reporters don’t stop. If you do, the thing you want will be in your hands. The deadlier person is the one who wins.” Soo thought he was deadly, but apparently not. “How much more of a crazy boi do I have to be for you to fall into my hands?”

Eun is on the phone with a likely current pupil of Moon’s. The friend says they hate their situation, but can’t do anything about it because Moon will make them successful if they do as Moon says.

The person on the phone:  It’s better than losing Moon’s favor and my path forward being blocked. Are you doing well now that you ran from Moon? Your source of income got cut off, they’re accusing you of being a thief, all this makes it hard for you to return/make a comeback. I don’t want to live like you. You can do plenty of other things besides painting, Me, not so much. Don’t think badly of me. I just can’t afford to help you. It isn’t just me, everyone is tired.

Eun gets annoyed and sarcastically (?) says that he wishes the person the best.

Ch 12 summary:

Soo is at the door. Eun says you’re at another man’s house fully knowing what he’ll do to you, but then tells him to leave because Eun isn’t in the mood to talk to Soo. Soo keeps ringing the bell and Eun gives in. Eun asks if Soo is there to finally make a mess of him (sekshually). Soo is being kinda docile (?) which is unlike him and throwing Eun off. Soo repeats what he learned from his interview with Moon, that they were once close, but Eun threw it all away. He says Eun is incredible for throwing away a sure thing. Eun asks if that’s anything to praise. Being doted on by an old man made his skin crawl. Soo asks if Eun also has bruises on his body like the other pupils do. Eun says it’s been a long time since he left and that his body is perfectly free of marks. Eun has had enough of the boring talk and wants Soo to make a mess of him (again, sekshually).  Soo is suspicious of Eun rapidly changing the subject. Soo says if he goes inside, Eun will immediately lay Soo on his bed. Eun tells him to learn from Eun. Soo says he has no intentions of learning anything from Eun. Eun says if it’s a shame bc he likes Soo’s face, but if he isn’t there for anything (sex) then they have nothing to talk about and slams the door. Soo shoves his hand in before the door closes and yells at him to open the door now!

Ch 13 summary:

Eun looks nauseous and Soo asks if he’s ok. Eun yells at Soo for being reckless and tells him to write what he wants and leave him alone. Soo comes over countless times and Eun’s supposed to tolerate it? He accuses Moon of sending Soo to Eun to provoke him, drive him insane and deliver Eun to Moon. Soo asks if he’s so upset bc Moon did something similar to him (injure him) and Eun says no. Eun drags Soo inside and shoves him onto his bed and takes off his shirt. Eun wants to end things right now. Eun says Soo can do whatever he wants. Soo can play with him and throw him away. Soo is surprised to hear that. Throw Eun away? He doesn’t want to do that. He says he can help with the thing Eun wants most- cutting off all ties/connections to Moon.

Ch 14 summary:

Eun says that isn’t a subject for Soo to go near and asks if it’s that hard to end whatever Soo and Eun have right then. Soo thinks it would be a shame to end it and refuses to give in to Eun. Eun unbuttons Soo’s shirt and tells him over and over to have sex with him and gets angry at Soo when Soo keeps refusing. Eun looks at Soo with a pained look on his face and Soo revels in it. Eun compares Soo to all the other people in his life, who use him to get what they want and even if he gives them everything, they’ll complain that he should give them more. Only when Eun is finally unhappy will they stop demanding things from him. They say Eun has it all, but where is the person who has everything, Eun asks.

Soo knows that there are plenty of people just like him, people who hound Eun to get what they want and they do it because it’s Eun.

Ofc Soo doesn’t want to tell Eun this and just says they must have some good reason for their actions, but Eun wants to hear none of that. Eun is visibly upset as he asks Soo if he has some good reason for hounding him too. Seeing this side of Eun turns Soo on. Soo never imagined he would get hard from seeing Eun without that care-free expression on his face.

Soo is turned on from seeing this different side to Eun. Soo says there’s one thing he wants from Eun: Eun’s when where how and what. Soo will decide all of it (basically dictate what he can do). Even if Moon gives Soo 100k$, Soo won’t give in to Moon. Eun says Soo isn’t an ordinary psycho, he’s an [advanced psycho]. Soo then says if Eun knows his response to Soo’s request, he should come over and blow him lol

Chapter 15 summary:

Soo says if Eun turns down his offer, he’ll go right to Moon. Eun figures that Soo’s kink is seeing Eun cry while Eun is blowing Soo, but Eun’s preference is the opposite. Soo wants Eun to be submissive, but Eun won’t let Soo have that. Soo says if he tells Eun to do something, then he should just do it. Soo pulls Eun’s arm, shoves Eun’s face into Soo’s crotch and tells Eun to blow him. Eun does a terrible job and bites Soo’s dick on purpose, which makes Soo ask if they should disregard the deal and let Eun keep being toyed with by Moon. Eun sucks harder. Then it’s Eun and Soo going back and forth about the deal. Eun eventually relents and agrees to the terms, but in return there can’t be any records for anyone to find.

Eun gets a creepo message from an unnamed person, saying there are students at the university that remind the unknown person of Eun, but Eun is one of a kind. The person continues on, writing that they miss Eun’s body and asks Eun to contact them again.

Eun says the most important part of the deal is Soo being undeniably on Eun’s side. Soo needs to prove it by telling Eun about the intimate details of his life (awink wink). Soo then asks Eun if he wants Soo to take nudes. Soo’s already used to being naked in front of Eun so no biggie. Eun didn’t mean it that way. He wants Soo to wear his glasses instead of contacts the next time they meet. He knows wearing contacts all the time must be uncomfortable for Soo and asks Soo to wear his glasses when they next meet. It’ll be just like the old times.

Ch 16 summary:

Soo wonders if Eun knew they went to the same high school from the start but was acting dumb, and him bringing it up now is Eun looking down on Soo again.

Soo starts biting his nails as he rattles off the things that come to mind: how Soo was only focused on his grades, how Eun remembering who Soo is surprised him, and why Eun didn’t mention it earlier. Despite not knowing the exact reason why, Soo agrees to wear the glasses. Eun tells Soo not to bite his nails anymore bc of his injured hand and Soo tells Eun not to touch him. Eun doesn’t know why Soo is being so pricky and asks if he wants to have sex. Soo asks why Eun is always so horny and Eun tells Soo that it’s because he knows Soo hates it. Soo wants to understand the reasons behind Eun’s actions and tries to pry more, asking if Eun slept with Kim Seojoon too. Seojoon being the guy over at Eun’s house in ch 8. Soo demands to know why Eun is doing this to him, asking if Eun sees him as some toy. Eun only replies that he finds Soo’s hatred of Eun very cute and starts fingering Soo. Soo once again threatens to throw Eun to Moon if Eun doesn’t listen to Soo. Eun gives in and agrees to do as Soo tells him to do, under one condition: Soo is to write an article stating Eun is ready to make his (re)entry into the art world.

Moon has an unknown man on his bed, the man’s hands and mouth tied with tape (tied with? idk) and a vibrator inside him. Moon stares at his phone, reading the article about Eun’s potential return with curiosity and excitement.

[lokikingofasgardslover713]

Ch 4: Crestfallen

Masterlist 

The Auction House Master

Pairing: Loki Laufeyson X OFC

Warnings: Angst, Fluff

Summary: It gets better, they have a plan and Loki is finally falling into his role as her soulmate, but does it last?

A/N: I just couldn’t leave it alone and we have more whump. We are picking up around 4 weeks after she has been brought to the compound.

Words: +4,400

___________

Loki was surprised they brought him in on the discussion of Treasure and her treatment, as they referred to it. Taking a seat around the table along with Shuri, Tony, Steve, Sam, Bucky and Thor, it seemed they were taking it seriously she was Loki’s soulmate.

Appearing Shuri was going to speak, all sat attentively but Loki who was showing impatience at missing his usual time of sitting with his mate. Hopefully this wouldn’t take too long.

“There is progress,” Shuri began, a hologram of charts and graphs pulling up in the center of the table for them all to look over.

This was agitating to say the least, this meant nothing to Loki, physical evidence did. He was seeing progress, more than the charts showed, his mate was speaking more, in dreams at least. When they physically met, she remained quiet, but he could sense she was at ease and not giving up, it was heartening to say the least.

“I know it doesn’t appear to be much, but slow progress is better than none,” Shuri said, Loki noting several look worried that there wasn’t anything on the charts.

“These are just charts, diagrams,” Thor spoke up oddly enough, the golden god not having spoken much of Treasure, even when Loki spoke to him of her, but it was weighing on Thor as well. “But there is obvious signs she is doing better; she at least comes out of her room, speaks when spoken to. That seems like progress mere charts can’t show.”

“Your right, these are just charts,” Bucky spoke up, he could taste the tension rolling off of Loki.

Bucky had lost his soulmate decades back thanks to HYDRA, though he loathed the god at times, it didn’t mean he wished that sort of heartache on Loki, or anyone for that matter. The physical loss of a soulmate was excruciating, but the loss of their mental state was worse. The brunets very own soulmate having suffered in a mental hospital until eventually taking her own life due to the agony he was placed under when he was being turned into the Winter soldier.

“But it still doesn’t give insight to her true mental state,” Bucky continued, meeting Loki’s gaze. “That is what we need to focus on, there is nothing worse than psychologically losing your soulmate.”

Giving a nod, Loki had a feeling the metal armed soldier knew more about the situation then he originally let on when they first found Treasure. Truth be told, this was infuriating, looking over to Thor who was watching him out of the corner out of his eye. Loki was close to getting to his feet and leaving but fought against it as Shuri spoke to Sam.

“What have you found to help her decompress,” the teen spoke up to the falcon who looked over to Loki for a moment.

Yeah, unfortunately Sam could understand the gods hell. “It appears she does well with the diamond paintings-,” he spoke up everyone caught off guard as Loki cut him off, but it was kept calm.

“She listens to music, it appears to help while she is working on the diamond paintings,” Loki spoke stoically, feeling he should voice what he had found as well, he shared closer quarters with her than the others did he not? Even if he was in a separate room the god knew the team were not ignorant to the fact he stayed there most of the day.

Sam gave a nod, “music often helps. Is she sleeping?”

“She is,” Loki spoke up but made sure it was noted in his tone there was to be no questions of dreams. To Loki, their shared dreams were a subject between the two of them that served as a sliver all their own, were no one would watch them endlessly.

“Her dreams-,” Shuri began but Loki quickly cut her off, his resolve finally cracking.

“They are between my mate and myself alone,” Loki sneered hatefully as he got to his feet followed by Thor and several others as chairs scooted loudly and they all froze.

“Hey, take it easy we are only trying to help,” Tony snarled back at the god who glared them all down.

“You call placing her in the same environment she came from to poke and prod at her in the same manner, help? She loathes going into that lab day in and day out or whenever any of you request it. If you would simply allow me to take her to New Asgard all this would be over in mere moments instead of dragging on for weeks as you have been doing,” Loki spat, not moving a muscle, the air becoming charged with seidr.

“Well I don’t see you doing any better to help the cause,” Tony snarled back, “withholding information-.”

“She is my mate! It is my duty to keep her secrets! Which means, what she and I discuss in private is not meant for anyone’s ears but our own! She trusts me to keep her safe, and I will not fail her a second time,” Loki snarled back, grabbing for Tony but Thor was quick to catch him.

“This is enough,” the golden god bellowed, his voice so loud it made everyone’s ears ring for a moment. “Are we not going to discuss what we were brought here to or not?”

Loki pulled away from Thor, eyeing his brother and the dawning realization this wasn’t a discussion to go over charts. “Thor,” Loki croaked, “what are you not telling me?”

“We are sending her to Wakanda,” Steve spoke, the gods attention turning to the captain who had stepped closer. “Shuri should be able to get this done quickly, a week at the most-.”

“Then if you are allowing her to take my mate to Wakanda then it should be no different to allow the healers of Asgard the same opportunity,” Loki stated, swallowing hard to wet his suddenly parched throat.

A motion from Bucky got the gods attention before the metal armed solider stated his peace as well. “We know, but Shuri has already began the process. The same that helped me. It can cause damage in itself if it isn’t completed.”

Shuri met Loki’s gaze, seen the despair. “We have a place set up for both of you,” Shuri began to reassure before pausing for a moment. “Allow me to finish and if it doesn’t work, then as soon as I am done you take her wherever. All I ask is let me finish what I started.”

Taking in a deep breath, Loki didn’t want to cause Treasure more harm. He resented them all, but his care, no, this was love, his love for his mate had him swallowing his pride. “When do we leave?”

It felt as if the room sighed when Loki asked his question. The team relaxing along with it as Shuri gave a faint smile.

“In the morning. I was going to wait, but you know as well as I do that she stopped making progress the past few days. There will be a jet waiting for us at 6 am. I won’t take her to the lab right away but will allow her to rest and become familiar with the city,” Shuri confirmed.

Pressing his lips in a thin line, Loki had heard all he needed, giving a nod before leaving in a wisp of seidr this time instead of a slamming door.

“What the hell was that,” Tony snarled at Thor, stepping up to the god who only glared at the billionaire.

“You know as well as any Treasure’s mood is directly affecting him,” Thor growled back.

“You were supposed to talk to him before hand,” Tony snipped as Steve and several others came around to speak as well.

“Hey, chill out,” Natasha snapped at Tony. “You didn’t talk to Loki?”

“No, it was all I could do to catch him away from her, but he is trying in his own way to help,” Thor spoke up as he looked to them all. “I didn’t have the heart to tell him he was losing her once more.”

Loki didn’t like the idea of his mate being taken to Shuri’s home to undergo more poking and prodding when New Asgard was just as capable without all the invasive test. Though it appeared it was decided before he had ever voiced his opinion.

In his mind, the god knew it wasn’t that simple, not with her. The trauma he sensed she had faced, witnessed in her nightmares was possibly worse if not more so than his own due to it beginning the very moment she was born.

Sure to enter her room via the door, Loki was sure to slip in quietly. Treasure would know it was him, but he didn’t find her hunkered over the art table or in the kitchen where it appeared she focused on cooking as well. The past week had found Treasure stepping up to him when he entered in a sort of greeting where she looked him over before giving the faintest smile.

Though it seemed she was in the shower, hearing the water running and deciding to busy himself by looking over the numerous diamond canvases she had finished. The large art table he provided was littered in small containers of plastic diamonds that accompanied the large sticky canvases.

Over the past few weeks this had been the therapy Sam had come to the conclusion would be helpful for her. Apparently the falcon was known for helping ones with trauma similar to hers.

It appeared the numerous paintings she had already completed were placed on the small kitchenette table she had drug next to the art table. The one she was currently working on appeared to be one she was making up as she went along, the canvas itself blank but from what he seen it looked to be a garden. Realization dawning it was his mother’s garden.

There was music playing softly as he looked over the artwork on the dining table, shuffling it around to note they all appeared gardens, and all the ones he had brought her were done as well. It seemed she was favoring this to sleeping the past several days.

Looking to the open bathroom door, he heard the pattern of water change as she moved in the stall. It terrified him that he may be losing her once more to an unseen force he couldn’t combat. They had made progress, the both of them, but she was far more troubled than he first realized and wondered if his own torment had anything to do with it.

A since of guilt hung over Loki as he stepped towards the bathroom, the water shutting off as he did so, but he had to assure she was OK.

The hot water did little to clear her crowded mind. Sam had spoken with her, Bucky as well, explaining there would be days like this where no matter what it was just hard. Treasure had opted for a shower but to what end she wasn’t sure as she almost collapsed in exhaustion when she stepped out. 

She had been up for several weeks with HYDRA compared to the three she had been going nonstop, but this was a different kind of exhaustion. Drying off, she tugged on the leggings and cami before starting into the bedroom. So addled she didn’t realize it was time for Loki to make his visit and all but jumped out of her skin when she bumped into the god as she exited. 

“What’s wrong mate,” Loki began, sure to not touch her but was quick to steady her with minimal touch as her steps faltered. 

Meeting his gaze, she didn’t know how to tell him what was wrong. This time she didn’t draw away from his touch, but muscles still flinched under the light caress. Treasure didn’t feel like she had the past few weeks, steps faltering once more with Loki assuring she was seated on the bed before taking one next to her, sure to give her space.

“I don’t know,” her voiced cracked, nervousness in her tone, she felt addled and had no idea what to do. 

“Mate-,” Loki began, preparing to tell her of the move but had a feeling it may make it worse. 

Taking in a deep breath to steady his own unease, he knew he needed to tell her, but also knew she needed rest. “You should rest love. I will stay, so you are not alone,” he spoke quietly, reaching for the fur he had gifted and placed it over her legs. 

She knew there was more to what he was saying but it appeared it was a thing that could wait. Treasure didn’t know how to tell Loki she needed to leave. There was an itch under her skin that felt as if she stayed cooped up much longer she would go mad but wasn’t sure the admittance would help. 

For once he may be right. Nodding drunkenly, she pulled her body against the pillows as the god made sure she was covered. Eyeing Loki as she done so, the god got to his feet to take a seat in the armchair next to the bed, pulling the book kept between the cushions into his hands.

Slowly heavy lids began to flutter closed, watching Loki until they finally shut in exhaustion. Watching close, Loki felt his own body ease as hers relaxed further into the mattress, her true name echoing in the gods ears as he felt his own self slipping into a restful sleep. 

His soulmates name spoken once more but from her lips as she took a seat next to Loki on the bench nestled in his mother’s garden, on Asgard. This place no longer existed but in dreams. Looking over to his soulmate as she sat gently, clothed in an Asgardian pants suit matching his colors perfectly. Loki should know even in dreams she would refuse to wear a dress and it made him smile. 

“The name suits you love,” Loki spoke with a smile as she returned the sentiment.

“Does it,” she hummed, inching close so she was all but buried in his side.

“This is the painting you are working on,” Loki spoke up as he focused on her, there were two sides of his mate. This one was spunky, as a young warrior should be, but the other was a hardened shell, making the god wonder if HYDRA had split her very soul in two.

“It is,” she smiled as he turned to face her. Reaching out to take her left hand in his, she smiled as he turned it to make the ring of snakes and emeralds glitter. 

“This one no longer exist does it,” she asked innocently, Loki reaching a freehand out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. 

“No. It was-.”

“Sigyn’s.”

“Yes. I believe you should have one of your own love,” he smiled, both looking down at the hand for a wolf to knot around the finger and glitter with more emeralds. Caressing over her cheek with the same hand that had tucked the stray strand behind her ear, Loki smiled as she leaned into it. 

“Where is your other half,” he asked, sometimes he could reach the shell as he called the cold being, through dreams, and tonight he felt he needed to try.

“Siberia. Lost in the wilderness.”

“Can I reach her?” 

“You need to, she doesn’t need to be alone,” his spunky mate spoke with a sad smile.

As he stood, the calm garden faded along with the bright half to reveal a windswept wooded area. It appeared to be spring, but snow was blowing around as he turned to find the cold one eyeing him in shock. 

How did he enter her dream like this? Nervously she stepped back, not sure how to proceed, how to tell him she wanted to be alone tonight.  

Calling her true name, she shifted apprehensively, the mere mention of it set off a flood of memories that made no sense at the moment. Everything and nothing flashing in front of her mind’s eye, a lull in time as she looked to Loki, her soulmate, as if seeing him for the first time.  

Venturing towards the god, she felt different to say the least now that he voiced her name out loud. Hearing it flow off the gods tongue made it sound divine in this hellish waste. Nodding in acknowledgment, she studied Loki as he dared a step closer.

A harsh idea flitting over her thoughts had the snow picking up, and a coldness take over her body. This was an odd development, the gods breath smoking from his lips as he approached and the temperature around them dropped noticeably.  

“You know I won’t hurt you,” he spoke, gaze flicking to her left hand when she moved it to take the hand he offered, the ring having caught her eye. 

Looking back to him, her skin visibly paled white, almost blue as it grew colder before it appeared she calmed, the snow slowed, and she took on her original appearance. This made him realize she was more than a soldier like Bucky. 

“Can you,” he hinted to the cold, holding her gaze. 

Looking him over she didn’t give an answer either way but placed her hand back at her side and stepped back. 

“A little bit, but it's only at odd times. I haven’t been able to do so in a while,” her voice rasped, she looked prepared for a fight. 

“It’s a unique talent,” he began, lifting a hand for the blowing snow to circle them in a beautiful flurry that made her smile.  

“You’re not as nice,” she said, staying put while Loki stepped flush, furrowing his brow at the odd statement. “Out there as you are in here,” she finished, watching realization dawn on the god. 

“Reality hasn’t been kind to either of us, I think you would agree,” Loki spoke, moving to caress over her cheek and watching angry marks rise across the soft skin as if he had struck her, but fade away slowly. “It pains you still; to be touched.”

Looking him over she nodded in agreement with the statement. 

“Touch can be terribly painful,” Loki continued, shifting his weight to note her place a foot back but didn’t pull away. “But; touch can be quite pleasing if it is meant to comfort.”

Holding her gaze, Loki ventured to caress over her cheek once more, this time, tired eyes fluttered shut as a trail of pale blue followed in its wake. This gave him hope as he brought up his other hand to cup cool, soft cheeks gently.

Carefully he watched for the flesh to turn red, but thankfully it remained unfazed as he caressed over her cheeks with his thumbs, or that was until she opened her eyes in terror and she immediately stepped back. The skin looking scalded before it healed. 

Intently she studied his face, looking him over closely before bravely stepping forward, a hand held as if she was about to touch him but stopped. The god noted the sky turn black and her eyes squeezed shut. In moments it cleared to leave her a child, who appeared 12, standing before him. 

The innocence in her eyes made Loki realize she was dredging up old memories, ones taken from her as the child. Reaching a hand to his, it prompted Loki to look down as he took the smaller one in his and noted he appeared younger as well. Loki kneeled before her with a smile on his face, one she appeared happy to return. 

“I know this isn’t us now, that we can never regain what we lost but this gives me comfort,” she admitted, Loki nodding in understanding and keeping her gaze. 

“You’re right little one. When innocence is lost, there is no getting it back,” he sighed watching her close. “I must tell you something.”

“What is it,” she asked innocently, studying him as his brows furrowed.

“You and I are leaving for Wakanda in the morning,” he tried to sound casual, but the look of acceptance told him she wasn’t really surprised.

“More test,” his young mate whispered, voice cracking slightly as she looked to their clasped hands.

“I'm afraid so pet,” he murmured, placing his other over top of hers.

How? How did she tell him without screaming her throat raw she couldn’t take any more tests, prodding, questions. She was free of HYDRA, that was supposed to mean no more, no more, no more! Isn’t that what they had all told her? She wanted to force the words out, but it only came out in a hoarse whisper.

“I don’t want to sit through more test, more prodding,” she croaked, keeping the younger Loki’s gaze with tear rimmed eyes.

“I know, but-,” Loki began, though he honestly couldn’t come up with an explanation, a lie, to soothe her.

Falling to his knees, Loki reached to caress her cheek, heart fluttering as she leaned into the calloused palm. Surely the healers could take care of whatever Shuri had started, there was no need in any of this, any of her suffering.

Letting out a huff as he kept her gaze, he was at a loss, silver tongue silenced at the sight of his nervous mate. Slowly she returned to how he knew her now as did he, catching her as she collapsed to her knees and fell into his chest.

“Forgive me lover. I am as lost as you,” Loki huffed, petting along her shivering spine.

“I know,” she sniffed as if crying but when he lifted her chin to meet his gaze he seen she had not a tear in her eye. “It appears we have to make our path together.”

“Appears so love. But I need you to rest for me. Yeah,” he spoke soothingly, rubbing along her spine as she settled into his body, wrapping arms around him as he slowly woke.

Looking over to his mate, Loki got to his feet and stepped to the bed, noting the room was extremely cold. Lacing his fingers into her hair, the god realized she was drawing from his seidr, it was rare but possible.

Letting out a sigh, she was on the verge of waking before lithe fingers massaged over her scalp. Settling more into the pillows, a sense of calm washed over her, more so as the mattress dipped before her, mind drifting, but not before making the decision to wake before morning.

Whether it was training or an internal clock, she woke long before dawn and when Loki’s arms loosened. Shifting carefully in the gods arms, she looked over his sleeping face, committing it to memory and noting he looked relaxed, younger even.

She wanted to reach out, caress his face, to possibly wake him with a kiss, a snuggle even, but she didn’t feel they were there. That would take time, and it was time she didn’t have. There was no desire to travel to Wakanda, no matter the peace they offered.

Finally free of HYDRA, she wanted to make her own choice, even if it killed her. Loki didn’t have a choice, he was trying to be a better god himself, which meant he had to adhere to stricter rules than her. Truthfully she cared less about being good, she just wanted to be left alone, and it killed her soul she couldn’t be alone with Loki.

Giving the god one last look, she gingerly scooted from his hold to get to her feet. Sliding them into the shoes by the door, she grabbed the backpack hidden in the cabinet and threw it over her shoulder. If there was one thing she knew about Loki, it was the fact he had disabled the room cameras.

Pulling the tablet from the pack while watching the god, she pressed over the screen. It had been only a few days ago she had devised a plan of how to make a blank spot in F.R.I.D.A.Ys system in order to escape.

Looking back to Loki as she placed the tablet on the counter, her chest began to ache. She knew what this was and fought it as she hurried out of the compound. Deciding on hijacking something outside of the facility to aid in her escape so it wouldn’t be easily tracked.

Waking in a cold sweat, Loki immediately felt the loss of his mate weighing heavy on his chest. Angerly he leapt from the bed, storming to the door to find the tablet. In anger he crushed it in his hold as he carried the ruined remains out into the corridor.

Storming into the docking area of the compound, Loki started for Shuri, using the broken tablet to point at her. The others there, Steve, Bucky, Tony and Thor were quick to rally towards the teen for protection and to find out what was going on.

“This is your doing,” Loki snarled at the teen as Thor and several others came forward to stop the irate god, Tony jerking the tablet from his hands.

Without hesitation the billionaire twisted his wrist for a hologram to hover over the busted tech and show the last thing it was used for. Schematics of the program she had used to disable F.R.I.D.A.Y had them all marveling at the knowledge it had taken to create the literal loophole so she could leave.

“If you hadn’t suggested taking her to Wakanda she would still be here,” Loki snarled as he forced himself to calm. “We need to find her, now!”

“OK, but you have to stay here,” Steve spoke up.

“I will not,” he snipped beginning to start out of the docking area.

“Loki,” Thor bellowed, making his brother pause. “The agreement with their authorities, if you leave without proper clearance, you forfeit her freedom as well.”

“I knew it! I knew you would find a way to leverage us against one another! To think I was fool enough to trust you,” Loki snarled advancing on Thor.

“It was to protect the both of you! Don’t you dare pin this on me,” Thor snarled back, not backing down as the air charged with seidr.

“Whoa,” Tony spoke up hurrying forward as Steve and Bucky did the same in attempts to quell the fight. “OK, look, we will start tracking her now, and Barnes and Rogers will bring her back.”

“It should be me! As it was to be all along,” Loki snarled at the billionaire.

“Let me finish,” Tony bellowed himself making them all pause. “In the meantime, I am going to assure you have all you need to leave the compound and retrieve her from them. Is that clear?”

Tags: @marshyrebelcloud​​ @cruel-kitten​​  @moonfaery​​ @dark-night-sky-99​​ @gramaeryebard​​  @katstablook​​ @andiyholly​​ @jovanna-shewolf​​ @nickyl316h​​ @aslandia726​​ @furstinnajoelle​​ @itsbqueenthings​​ @collinsstanharbour​​ @jazzieomega​​ @moonlightprime​​ @bambamwolf87​​ @tomhardy41​​ @get-loki​​ @drakonwild​​ @alexakeyloveloki​​ @scorpionchild81​​ @devilbat​   @jane-777​ @wegingerangelica​ @the-minus-four​

[twinkletoes-rp]

6, 7, 19, 20, 30, 31, 32, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 51 (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

Fanfiction Questions meme

6. List your OTP from each fandom you’ve been involved in.

Oh, geez... I’ve been involved in so many fandoms, LOL. I don’t really know if I can/should name them all. I’ll give you the ones (ONLY OTPs - doesn’t mean I don’t ship other things, too) I can think of off the top of my head.

Kiba/Hinata (Naruto), Fakir/Ahiru (Princess Tutu), Stiles/Derek (Teen Wolf), Kirito/Lisbeth (Sword Art Online), Harry/Hermione (Harry Potter), Goku/Bulma (Dragon Ball), Yusuke/Botan (Yu Yu Hakusho), Todoroki/Izuku (BNHA), (better!)Bakugo/Uraraka (BNHA), Toph/Aang (ATLA), and Adrien/Marinette (Miraculous Ladybug)!

7. List your NoTPs from each fandom you’ve been in.

(This isn’t meant to be hate on the ships I name! I just don’t ship them, that’s all! Ship and let ship! ;))

Naruto/Sasuke (Naruto), Kirito/Asuna (Sword Art Online), Ron/Hermione (Harry Potter), Harry/Ginny (Harry Potter), Goku/Chichi (Dragon Ball), Yusuke/Keiko (Yu Yu Hakusho), Bakugo/Izuku (BNHA), and Aang/Katara (ATLA).

19. Is there a ship (in your current fandom) which you wished you could get behind, but you just don’t feel them?

I’m not sure I have a ‘current fandom’ since I live for, like, everything at once, but maybe technically Naruto would be it?

In that case (again, no offense to anyone - and removing the ‘I wish I could get behind’ part ‘cause I do not), NaruSasu. I just...don’t get it? At all? Maybe it’s the ‘what could have been’s or whatever, but when you just take the series at face value, that relationship is...really icky, at least to me, and that’s putting it lightly. It’s so damn unhealthy, especially for poor Naruto. They were never even friends, Sasuke always treated him like shit, and yet...?! *throws hands at half+ of OG series and virtually all of Shippuden* IDK, man. Something’s weird there, and I don’t like it. Can’t support that. Naruto deserves better, damn it. (*casually links her Naruto AU fic where he DOES get better (in more ways than one), TYVM*)

20. Any ships (in your current fandom) which you surprised yourself by liking?

Going with Naruto again, so. Hmm... I guess maybe Kankuro/Tenten? I didn’t even know that was a ship until a friend showed me a really good fic, and I was hooked! lol.

Another might be KakaObi, but only in AUs where Obito survives the cave in and gets out with Kakashi and Rin and recovers, continuing to be the sweetheart he is instead of the ass he turned out to be in canon. Because he, too, deserved better, damn it!

Another is one I might have made up, not sure (mostly in the context of my Naruto AU, NGL), lol: Karin/Shikamaru! It makes sense and there are lots of compelling reasons when you break it down! You know, 'cause Shikamaru would need (or probs at least prefer) someone on his smarts level, and she's a genius, too, just in a different way. And once she mellows out, Karin's really cool, and (in my AU) she grows to eventually adore Naruto (actually fights to defend/protect him in the Pein arc!), and anyone who loves Naruto is good in Shikamaru's book! lol. Plus, she can tell him when he has his genius brain twisted in too many directions, tell him he's being an idiot and help him figure things out in her different way. lol. IDK, I like it!

30. What inspires you to write?

I just...love writing?? I’ve wanted to be an author since I was 8-9 years old, started writing when I was 11, and I’ve been writing ever since! I’m 27 now! I’ve had a few dry spells, ofc, but I always end up coming back! I just feel like writing is in my blood (partly because, I like to joke, my last name is the title of one of Shakespeare’s plays, haha)!

Pretty much anything can inspire me to write, though. I’ll see a pretty flower and be like “OOH, that flower could feature perfectly in this chapter in this way!” and then write 1k about that! lol. Or I could read a review of one of my new chapters and end up thinking of something I’d never considered before and then write almost 3k on that alone (looking at you, middle section of Ch 6 of my Naruto AU, lol)!

Basically, if it sparks joy, I’m gonna write something! X’D

31. What’s the nicest thing someone has ever said about your writing?

Nicest?? Hmm... I mean, I’ve had a lot of things said about my writing... Not sure I can really narrow it down? lol.

I guess the nicest things I’ve ever been told are when I make people cry (espec multiple times!) and actually feel the emotions the characters are feeling, that the characters and their development feel so real that it’s like they’re real people instead of fictional/they’re written so much better than the creator himself wrote them. (Been getting those a lot on my Naruto AU, actually. lol.)

32. Do you listen to music when you write or does music inspire you? If so, which band or genre of music does it for you?

I tend to prefer silence while I write, but sometimes, my house is loud and people keep breaking my concentration (house of 5, lots of animals, not the quietest, lol), I sometimes listen to music. I usually prefer instrumental, and then usually Naruto or Wolf’s Rain (sometimes Princess Tutu, too) instrumental tracks. The Naruto one I like best also has rain sounds mixed in, which is great because I love the sound of rain! Woo! (Here’s a link to that one if anyone else wants in on this! ;))

39. What is your greatest strength as a writer?

Emotions and getting into the nitty-gritty stuff therein. As an extremely visual, emotional writer, I’ve always been able to feel the emotions of the characters pretty much exactly how they’re feeling it in the moment and then put it on paper. I also make people cry a lot with my writing and get them to feel what the characters do, so that’s awesome! It’s always my goal to get my readers to feel things because then I feel like they’ve really connected with the story and characters I’ve written!

40. What do you struggle the most with in your writing?

Transitions are dicks. Sometimes I struggle ‘cause it’s been, like, two seconds or five hours, and I don’t know how to show that, lol. If I can, espec with the last one, I just fade to black. lol.

Also, sometimes I feel like I use the same sentence structure a lot, mostly the ‘..., but...’ format (at least lately). It’s really annoying, and I worry my readers notice and get annoyed/think I suck because of it. lol.

41. List and link to 5 fanfics you are currently reading:

“All the ways I say ‘I love you’” by Leonardo_Charles_BlueWood_21 (Fandom: Ninjago)

“Paradise Lost” by AnchoredTether (Fandom: Voltron Legendary Defender (Zootopia-esque dark AU))

“where my armor ends” by dalniente (Fandom: She-Ra Princesses of Power)

“of cats and curses” by faerialchemist (Fandom: She-Ra Princesses of Power x Fruits Basket crossover)

“Mischief is its Own Reward” by dalniente (Fandom: Megamind)

43. Is there anyone in your fandom who really inspires you?

I don’t really read Naruto fanfic too much anymore, so like...I guess, technically, another main fandom of mine right now is Fruits Basket, so: without a doubt, @kyosohmastan ! They’re my absolute favorite Fruits Basket fanfic author! Everyone’s so in character, the writing is so sweet and feelsy, steamy when it needs to be, and I really love the writing itself - it’s just so well done and beautiful and I die happily when they post a new fic or chapter? Ahhh! Plus, they’re just so nice and talented in so many ways, we have the same opinions on certain things (like Kakeru Manabe is Too Much(TM) for us, haha, no offense to those who like him! lol.), and I just really, really feel blessed to know and read their fics! Love them so! <3

44. What ship do you feel needs more attention?

I’m not sure which ship this is talking about? Hmm... But a ship I definitely think (have always thought) needs more attention is Kirito/Lisbeth from Sword Art Online! It’s so slept on, and that is a damn fucking shame because they’re so healthy and sweet and have so much more amazing potential than they’re given credit for (way freaking more than the actual canon couple, just sayin’, no offense to anyone who likes the pairing)! I have written a good few metas (and a fanfic) on the subject (some/most of which are on my Lisbeth RP blog, actually, lol)! If anyone wants to discuss/RP/anything involving this ship, please let me know! Would love it!

45. What is your all time favourite fanfic?

I’m not sure I have a favorite fic. But one that I always come back to (all of her (mostly G1) My Little Pony fics, actually - first found them when I was, like, 12, and have kept rereading over and over through the years, haha) is A Mother in Her Eyes by LoveLikeElena on FFN. It takes place in the author’s own MLP universe, but I love said universe so much, and her takes on the characters are amazing and so sweet! I love her look at the serious subjects that follow the characters through her ongong MLP series! <3

51. Rant or Gush about one thing you love or hate in the world of fanfiction! Go!

Fanfic readers have become really, really lazy. No one reviews anymore, maybe leave a kudos here and there if you’re lucky (I have a major love-hate (more hate) relationship with kudos...), and it’s so, so, so discouraging to us writers! I wish they knew how it felt, to be honest, espec the ones you know are reading, but just...don’t comment. It’s ridiculously disheartening to work so hard on something for days, weeks, even months or years on something, only to get basically nothing in return. It’s like posting into the void, and it sucks ass. It’s part of what made me quit writing for a good few years, actually, and I’m so sad to see that it’s still a thing. I comment on everything I read because I know how it feels and how much it hurt! It hurts like hell, especially because I remember how it used to be just 6-8 years ago when everyone commented! I desperately pray the fanfic/content consuming world fixes that really soon or we might lose some really amazing writers! Please, even an emoji or keyboard smash! I don’t care, I’ll take anything (and I know I’m not the only one)! <3

[herotheshiro]

just found out abt the futekiya free manga may deal so ofc i leapt on that shit but mostly bc i saw an IG post in passing for MOTION EMOTION that mentioned the deal and y’all know (well idk if i ever said it on here but just believe me on this) that i’ve wanted to read this manga ever since i found out the side characters from sneaky red got their own story !! (on that note i should also finish sneaky red since i have this futekiya sub. while i believe i have read the full raws, the illegal translations never finished so lol)

anyway... it was... not what i expected? i like thanat’s art, they have a style i like but ... the dubious consent tag on futekiya is there for a good reason lol ... thanat’s note at the very end is that takeru ended up not being like how he was kind of portrayed in sneaky red (a kind of weak-willed seme who’s pushed around by ayumu) which like ok np that they changed it but ... idk i don’t like stories where someone is kind of manipulated into the relationship and that’s basically what happened to ayumu. i mean the beginning was ok, ayumu just became more aware of takeru and then takeru kind of forced him to get the relationship ball rolling which like ... not what i prefer but it’s aight ... but then that line in the last or so chapter where takeru is like ‘i’ll make you believe that you want this [relationship with me]’ or something along those lines ... just made me so sad.

the concept of the story is fine (i became more aware of my kouhai and their feelings for me, whoop we’re in a relationship now before i realized it, and oh jeez he’s growing up so fast and now i feel like i look bad as his senior aaaa) and i don’t have a pressing issue w senior-junior dynamics where the junior has more “power” in the relationship (i’m not talking in a seme-uke kind of way, just mainstream social dynamics. like the junior being the breadwinner of the 2 that’s what i mean) ... but that line just made me shudder in a way bc it’s a clear line of emotional manipulation, he’ll make sure they stay together even if ayumu has doubts. i mean ... to defend thanat i guess, it could be worse since it’s implied that ayumu feels ok enough to “mooch” off of takeru but ... i get kind of uneasy at that underlying dynamic of manipulation. i was ok w that other manga ‘if we were stranded on a deserted island’ or whatever bc they both were kind of fucked up towards each other but this one is a lil wack bc ayumu isn’t like that towards takeru

i mean this person’s other work is fucking sneaky red which is abt a dude who enjoys being physically abused by his lover which is a whole other thing to discuss so i shouldn’t be surprised the dynamic turned out like this but. idk i was just hoping it would be more fluffy. i mean you sensed the gap bw takeru’s typical presentation and his crosshairs on ayumu in the 1st-2nd chapters so it wasn’t like out of nowhere but idk. i feel like they didn’t really develop much after they got together. like the 1-2 ch after they got together idr (”we’ve been dating for a year now”) weren’t really that necessary imo, even if it was to hash out the thing abt ayumu feeling inadequate as takeru’s senior.

anyway this incoherent stream of consciousness aside ... i guess tl;dr is that motion emotion wasn’t what i expected and i didn’t like it as much as i wanted to. like legit when i saw that i could read motion emotion for free i was so hype but i read it and i was like ‘oh...’. it wasn’t like MAD problematic if to any degree, i’ve def read more sketchy BLs re: consent but ... idk! i think i was just disappointed bc it didn’t match my expectations i’ve had for like i think over a year, idr when was the last time i touched sneaky red.

EDIT: ok i went and reread that line i disliked. i think the sentiment is supposed to be that takeru wants ayumu to have more faith in their relationship (not in a malicious way) but like ... that line is written or localized so weird. maybe my issue is that their relationship progressed too fast for me to feel like ayumu consented adequately to it. i mean i get it, ayumu is supposed to get swept up easily by takeru’s actions but ... i mean as i said before, i think the reason i feel so uneasy is bc the final thing is not what i expected back when all i had was the cover and the raws of the 1st chapter. i genuinely don’t have an issue w gap moe in relationship dynamics re: how the couple presents in public vs them in private (why does it sound like i’m trying to convince myself of this) but ... idk i didn’t really like it here i guess. i think i’m still reeling a little bc i just finished reading it like not more than 15 min ago

[houseki-no-suffering]

do you kind if I ask why you like Euclapis? (or how the ship was made).

not at all! it came out quite long and kinda meta-y tho so i put it under a cut

i dont quite remember how it started tbh, but it was probably from an ask @lieutenantruby sent me for a shipping meme. it was super fun to write and it got me thinking, cause ive always loved lapis but i never considered how lapis and euclase would interact. 

euclase seems to have a pretty solid opinion of lapis’ character (see ch 60) so they must have interacted at some point.

Lapis is smart and curious, the kind of person for which the end justifies the means as long as it doesnt conflict with their personal values. They’re witty, sharp, and a little bit of a dork. They like the game more than the solution. Rules are made to be circumvented.

Euclase is equally smart, but they have a tendency to take things more seriously. They’re older, they feel responsible for other people and this makes them less carefree and more group-oriented. The group’s goals are more important than the individual’s. Rules are made to be observed.

@art-heap summarized euc and lapis’ dynamic perfectly imo when they said: “whilst Euclase thought of Lapis as uncaring and as someone who manipulates for their own self interest (which they no doubt did), Lapis would’ve seen Euclase as almost cowardly for not pushing the boundaries to find things out”

as with most characters (or pairings) i like, Euc and Lapis complement each other, which means there’s potential for conflict, growth, and interesting scenarios. we have two extremely smart characters who both have a tendency to hide behind words and calculations and who plan for the long term. 

dialogue is one of my favorite things to write and i think other writers will agree with me that writing layered dialogue is incredibly satisfying: every word, sentence or action has a potential to be something more, to hide some secret objective. you can play with foreshadowing and drop details for readers to pick up later.

so, i wasnt really invested into the shipping aspect of euclapis yet, but they were interesting characters and i had written a lot of metas about them. there was potential. i wanted to see what a conversation between the two of them’d look like cause it seemed fun to write.

thats how i started thinking of writing “What are the Odds?” 

it was around christmas i think. the first draft of “A Leap to the Moon” was almost done and I realized i was sorry i couldnt include any euclapis interactions in it, so i started thinking of writing a new fanfic.

i thought that lapis would fit the trope of a young attention whore who likes pissing euc off just cause they can, while euc would be a cold-kind type of person, gentle but icy and overly concerned with appropriateness. A teacher-student AU seemed to fit this dynamic pretty well.

ofc, the original idea for the fic changed a lot in these months (it was supposed to be a oneshot) and i warmed up a lot to these characters. but it was (and still is) very fun to write cause it’s pretty different from what i’m used to: Lapis is not the type of main character id usually go for

Euc too was challenging to write, cause they’re changing quite fast in canon and we know very little about them, so I tried to come up with a good backstory for them (which is gonna come up later in the fic). on the other hand, Lapis is an asshole and proud, but they also have a heart, somewhere, so there’s potential for growth for both characters. which is what stories are all about.

idk it kind of surprises me how well these two work together and i absolutely love how the fandom warmed up to euclapis, especially thanks to @lapishead @art-heap @rutipads and the other ppl who pushed the euclapis agenda before it was popular

[tattooednursewrites]

Falling is Like This - Ch 6

Masterlist

Ch 1

Ch 5

Summary:   Hazel has dinner with her soulmates.

Warnings:   Language

Steve x Bucky x OFC

Soulmates AU – Not Civil War compliant. Not Agents of Shield Compliant.

A/N:       Sorry it’s been so long between updates. I’ve been battling depression demon and have had a hard time writing. I’m hoping it won’t be so long next time, but I’ve learned not to make promises. 

Hope y’all enjoy! <3

Ch 6

           Pushing your door closed you toed off your boots. You grabbed some ibuprofen and a glass of water and headed toward the bathroom. You had made sure to leave yourself enough time to shower and change before you were supposed to meet Steve and Bucky for dinner. You were really trying not to get your hopes up, but despite their initial reaction to meeting you, you were excited to get to know them both. Hopefully it wouldn’t be too awkward.

            You had texted Jemma as soon as they had left the lab. It seemed like she was almost more excited than you were. She made suggestions on what you should wear, and made you promise to text when you were getting ready. You messaged her quickly, letting her know you were home and you didn’t have much time to get ready, before setting your phone on the bathroom counter.

              You put your hair up, so it wouldn’t get wet, and took the fastest shower you could – while being careful with your left arm and the stitches on your face. After drying off you took a minute to look at the array of bruises on your left side and put ointment on your stitches. When you finished you found yourself in the closet trying to figure out what to wear. Jemma wanted you to go all out, but you wanted to be comfortable if it was possible. Jeans and a top seemed a bit too casual while the dress that Jemma suggested was way too formal. You settled for your favorite maxi dress… it was a black sundress with little flowers on it, and the empire waist cut was flattering. Bonus? It was comfy.  

              You let your hair down and ran your fingers through it a bit. After you touched up your makeup you picked up your phone. Snapping a quick mirror selfie, you sent it to Jemma, asking if you looked okay. Almost immediately she responded, saying you looked gorgeous – and to go make your soulmates grovel. You sent her a kissy face, and plugged your phone in, leaving it by your bed. You looked at your alarm clock and tensed. It was time. You slipped on your boots, took one final look in the mirror, and grabbed one of your nicer bottles of wine out of the kitchen.

            It had taken less time than you thought to get to their apartment, and you had made it to their door with a few minutes to spare. Fuck. Now you just had to convince yourself to knock. You paced a bit, trying to calm the nervousness that was attempting to overwhelm you. You could do this. With one more deep breath, you turned and knocked before you could change your mind.

              Bucky swung the door open with a grin and froze when he saw you. You fidgeted when he didn’t say anything, or move to let you in. He was just staring. “Buck, is it her?” you heard Steve call from inside, and you watched Bucky jump slightly, before shaking himself and opening the door further. “Yeah,” Bucky called over his shoulder, before softening his voice and turning back to you. You noticed a pink tinge on his cheeks. “You look amazing, Hazel. Sorry… I just… you were there, and you look… well… sorry about that. Kitchen is this way,” he added, before turning you and leading you inside. You hoped he didn’t notice you blush at his reaction.

            Their apartment was homey, lots of pictures, a big leather sectional couch with a few pillows and multiple blankets draped over the back. The kitchen was state of the art, of course, and looked like it got a lot of use. Steve turned from the stove to greet you as you entered but stilled when he saw you. You were starting to wonder if you were too dressed up. He recovered faster than Bucky had, and smiled at you. “Hazel, thank you for joining us. The spaghetti is almost finished, would you like something to drink?”

              “I brought this,” you replied, holding out the bottle to him.

              “Nice. Should we open this now, or with dinner?”

              “Probably best to wait for food, yeah?” Bucky asked looking at you.

              “That’s…” you tried to keep your voice from wavering. “That’s probably a good idea.”

              Steve smiled, turning back to the food. Bucky gave you a little smirk. “What can I get for you until then?”

             “Water?”

              “Sure,” Bucky replied with a wink, moving around Steve to the fridge.

             When he handed you the glass, his fingers brushed yours and it was all you could do not to drop it. His touch made you feel all fluttery. You wondered what it would feel like elsewhere. You noticed him watching you and realized you hand been staring at the spot he had touched. Oops. “Thanks,” you said belatedly, taking a small sip from the glass and hoping it would help to clear your head.

            Bucky smiled at you with an odd mixture of amusement and what looked like desire. “Want to sit down?” He led you to the table, pulling out your chair for you. You sat and turned so you could still see the kitchen.

           “Buck, do you mind grabbing the garlic bread out of the oven?” you heard Steve call from the stove.

           “Sure,” he called back, before turning to you. “Be right back.”

            You used the time to yourself to take a couple deep breaths. Was everyone this nervous on their first date with their soulmates? Or was it because you thought you’d been rejected? Or maybe because there were two of them, and they already knew each other… had a life together. What if you didn’t fit into it?

 ***

              “I don’t remember getting this nervous on dates,” Bucky whispered as he opened the oven.

              Steve chuckled softly. “That’s because you didn’t. You charmed them all without a second thought. But this is our third, this is Hazel… it would be odd if you weren’t nervous.”

              “Are you?” Bucky asked, slicing the garlic bread and putting it on a serving dish.

              “Very,” Steve huffed out. “I don’t want to fuck this up.”

 ***

              “I’m nervous, too, if it helps,” you said, entering the kitchen. Your thoughts had started to get away from you sitting alone at the table, so you had headed back into the kitchen, overhearing their whispered conversation. You watched as they both froze and turned to look at you. “Sorry, couldn’t help but overhear. I was feeling a bit lonely. I certainly didn’t mean it interrupt. I can…” you gestured behind you.

              “No,” Steve spoke first and seemed surprised that he had. “Please don’t go anywhere. This is obviously an awkward situation… made more so by the way Bucky and I reacted to you initially. I’m sorry for that, truly. But make no mistake, we want you here. We want to get to know you. We – I… I’d really like you to stay.”

              “I just…” you hesitated, looking between them. “You both are already… and I’m… what if I’m not… what if you don’t…” You stumbled over your words… your worries and insecurities tumbling out.

              “Hey,” Bucky soothed, moving toward you. He only hesitated a moment before pulling you to him. You turned your head to rest your right cheek on his chest as he wrapped his arms around you. “We’ve been waiting for you,” he murmured. “I can’t tell you how many times we’ve talked about you… daydreaming about what you’d be like. And, just saying, you’re already better than anything I could ever come up with.”

              You ducked your head to hide your blush, glancing up at Steve who had moved closer. “Really?” you asked, your voice slightly muffled by Bucky’s shirt.

              “Absolutely,” Steve replied, his voice gruff.  “The last thing we want is for you to feel left out, or unwanted. Darlin’ you are so very fuckin’ wanted. Trust me. Us. We are so happy that you’re here with us. Let’s open the bottle you brought, eat some food, and try to relax a bit. Yeah?”

              You nodded against Bucky’s chest. It was odd how comfortable you felt being close to them. “Yeah, I’d like that,” you gave him a small smile – careful not to pull your stitches, as you moved back from Bucky a bit. Steve wrapped his arm around your shoulders, leaning in to kiss the side of your head.

              “Good, that’s good,” he sighed against your hair.

              “Well, sounds like a plan,” Bucky agreed, smiling at you both. “Let’s eat.”

 ***

              Dinner was delicious. And after your mild freak out things actually felt less awkward instead of more. They had you sit at the head of the table, Bucky on one side and Steve on the other. They asked you about yourself and answered your questions in turn. They talked a little about growing up together in the city. It was taboo at the time, them being soulmates. They kept their relationship quiet, dating and whatnot despite being together. They didn’t seem to like the various labels, and you didn’t care for them either – you’d always just said that you were attracted to people for who they were and not their gender.

              Bucky refilled your wineglasses as Steve escorted you to the couch. Again, they had you between them. The wine and little touches were making you think about other times they could have you between them… with much less clothing. You felt yourself blush, ready to blame the wine if asked about it.

              “So, when did my words show up?” you asked after Steve explained his two sets of words from Bucky.

              “They were there when I woke up, too. After they pulled me out of the ice, I mean,” he touched his chest. “It wasn’t until I found Bucky again that I really understood what they meant – us having a third.”

              “I… I think I noticed not long after they showed up…” Bucky started, his eyes were unfocused and a small frown formed on his lips. “I didn’t understand what it meant, not that I remember anyway, but I noticed the difference enough to try and keep them hidden.” He looked at you, and the pain you saw in his eyes was overwhelming. You brought your hand to his cheek and felt him nuzzle into your touch. “And when I got out, I knew I needed to keep you safe, even though I didn’t know who you were.” Steve reached over you, his hand resting on Bucky’s leg. “Even from me… I knew that you should be scared of me,” he took a deep breath. “Finding Steve again helped… and Shuri – she did more for me than I can ever begin to repay. Between the two of them, they made me feel like it was safe… safe to hope for you.”  

            Steve stood, pulling Bucky into a hug before reaching and pulling you to them as well. The mini group hug should feel awkward, but it doesn’t. You make room for each other easily, as if you had been doing it for years. You took a deep breath, relaxing into them. “I hoped for you, too.”

Ch 7

[spaceclefairy]

The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, Ch. 1

Pairing: Michael de Santa/ OFC; Trevor Philips/OFC; Michael de Santa/OFC/Trevor Philips

Summary: Los Santos is a hellscape, but if you've got brains and a little determination, it can be a real hell of a playground. Michael needs money, Trevor needs whatever Trevor wants, and Franklin's moving up in Los Santos. Jen's just along for the ride.

This is gonna be fun.

Author’s Note: I've been writing this beast of a thing since 2013. It's been through a thousand different incarnations, but it's been in my drafts for the last six years. I realize this fandom isn't as popular as it used to be, but I might as well have a little fun and finally start posting it.

You've played the game, you know how this goes. There's not a damn thing here that's even slightly appropriate. That being said, there's canon-typical smut from the get-go. Let's do this.

Also, not to be that bitch, but this is on Ao3. I would very much appreciate kudos/comments, if you’re so inclined!

Part 2  ||  Part 3  ||  Part 4

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

Jen was having a fuckin' great morning. She'd finished early in court that morning, so she didn't have to keep waiting around for everyone else to finish up their motions before she could go back to her office. Two motions ruled in her favor, notification of a winning appellate brief, and no pisant Agency yahoos snooping around the office. And now she could actually finish her work - truly, the makings of a fantastic day.

As the District Attorney of good ol’ Los Santos, she got the nice corner office. It was sparsely decorated with a few personal mementos, but more importantly, it was a good, functional work space. She'd closed her office door - the universal sign of go away - and plugged in her headphones for a little too-expensive noise-cancelling zen. She had two open documents on her computer for briefs to be written and a casebook in front of her for research. And she'd get to go to lunch in an hour. Seriously, if the rest of her day would proceed just as easily, she'd be in truly rare form.

She hummed along to her zen playlist, typing away at her computer, until she heard, just faintly, a knock on her office door. Normally, she’d ignore the knock, but it might be her case manager. She pulled one earphone out of her ear and yelled for her visitor to enter.

It wasn’t the case manager. Michael de Santa, dressed to the nines in a gray suit and tie, sunglasses tucked into his jacket pocket, slid his way into Jen’s office. Despite the easy grin on his face and his attempt to look more important than anyone else in the building, he seemed a mite uncomfortable. Being in the DA’s office with a criminal record will do that.

"Mornin', gorgeous," Michael said. He took a seat in one of her upholstered office chairs. The chair was burgundy - hideous. He made it look a good sight better. “Didn’t think you’d actually be in your office.”

“I’m just as surprised as you are. Didn’t have much on the calendar this morning.” Jen gave him a clean once-over. “Well, don’t you look spiffy. What are you here for? You usually avoid this place like the plague.”

“I’m comin’ to take you to lunch!” he replied, leaning forward in his chair. The easy grin was back full force, and he did seem a fair bit more comfortable in her office with the door closed. He glanced at the documents standing in sentry-like neat stacks on her desk. “If you’ve got time, that is.”

Jen couldn’t hide her surprise - she raised her eyebrows. It wasn’t like him to come down to her office to take her to lunch in the middle of the week. Michael might meet her for lunch on a Friday if both of them had time, but he didn’t just waltz his way into her office on the regular. She couldn’t imagine how he got back to her office in the first place; the receptionist and front desk security guard would’ve had to buzz him in, and he didn’t look remotely trustworthy enough for that, even despite the neatly tailored suit.

“Yeah, I’ve got time. I was going to head out after I finish this brief,” Jen said, tapping away at her keyboard. “Give me just a second. And stop reading my paperwork - you know I’ll tell you what’s in it later anyway.”

Michael gingerly placed the documents he’d been skimming back on her desk. Jen got twitchy if things were out of place, and he really didn't need her to be irritable right now. “I don’t know what any of this stuff says anyway. Why do you lawyers have to write like that in the first place?”

“Because if we didn’t, every yahoo with a computer would fill out a bunch of MyLawForms paperwork to file and we wouldn’t get paid as much.”

“Job security,” he replied, nodding. “That’s fair.”

Jen closed her laptop, grabbed her bag and blazer, and stepped out from behind her desk. “Ready when you are. Where are we headed?”

“Natalia’s.”

Jen, again, couldn’t hide her surprise. Natalia's was the Italian restaurant - Michael's favorite. “That’s pretty fancy for a Wednesday lunch, big spender. What’s your angle here? Handjob in the car after dessert?”

Michael laughed, and Jen was gently reminded how he could have talked his way back into her office. He had an easy laugh and an infuriating charm when he wanted to - the kind of self-assured air of which some lawyers could only dream.

"We've got something to discuss, away from here," Michael replied, hand on her office door. "But if you wanna throw in the handjob, I ain't gonna say no."

"Depends on what you want to discuss. We'll see how you behave at lunch and maybe I'll throw you a bone," Jen winked, sliding past him. She led him back down the hallway to the front desk, swiping her badge so she could exit. "You’re driving."

She opened the door into the receptionist area and held it open for Michael to walk through. The receptionist, Mary, waved vigorously at them as they passed. Mary was a Liberty City transplant; she still had the accent even after ten years in Los Santos.

"Jenny!" Mary exclaimed, waving her over. Jen flinched at the nickname, which Michael caught out of the corner of his eye. "It's so sweet that your fiance is comin' to take you to lunch. He's so charming! And cute!"

Mary dragged out the last syllable of cute. Jen fought back a snicker. Michael, her fiance? She bet he was getting a real kick out of this.

"Well, you know, I've got him trained pretty well by now," Jen said, smirking. Michael had a big fuckin' ego, so that oughta teach him. "Listen, Mary, I'm gonna be gone for awhile. I'm taking a long lunch."

"No explanation needed!" Mary replied, winking at Michael. “Let him wine and dine you a little bit, Jenny!”

Jen gritted her teeth this time, on the delicate verge of reminding Mary not to call her Jenny, but Michael caught her before she could open her mouth. He smirked and wrapped an arm around Jen's shoulders, moreso to hold her in place and remind her they had places to be.

He grinned. "I know my place."

"Oh, I'm gonna show you your place when we get out of here," Jen replied, bumping him with her shoulder. She led him to the door. "See ya, Mary. Can you buzz us out?"

As soon as the door closed behind them, she thumped his arm. "You told her you were my fiance? Where's my ring, Mike?"

"It's at the jeweler's," Michael replied, shrugging. Jen rolled her eyes and led him through the courthouse atrium. "Hey, I'll buy you a ring if you want a ring. Something real shiny!"

Jen smirked once she had her back turned to him. It was kind of funny, especially since most of the office knew he definitely was not her fiance. That, at least, was common knowledge around the office. "I'll buy my own goddamn ring. You can buy me a drink instead."

"Done.”

They exited the courthouse through the employee entrance in the back and headed out to Michael’s car. He’d parked his black Tailgater next to her white Schwartzer in employee parking. She didn’t mention that he’d parked in the Public Defender’s spot again (she’d end up getting another angry email later). He opened the door for her and waited for her to climb inside before climbing into the driver’s seat.

"I did get you something, actually." He reached into the backseat of his sedan and handed her a blue bag. “It’s not a ring, but I think you’ll like it.”

It was a necklace - small and dainty, nothing ostentatious, but simple and pretty. Jen leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Whatever you want to talk about at lunch must be a real doozy if you’re handing out jewelry beforehand instead of after. But thank you - it’s pretty.”

“You’re welcome. And yeah, you’re gonna want something pretty after lunch, too.”

"That bad, huh?"

"You're not gonna be real happy if that's what you're asking."

She shrugged, draping the dainty necklace around her neck. "Whatever it is, I'm sure I can handle it."

"All I'll say is I'm gonna need your help."

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

Their table was nestled in the very back corner of the restaurant, secluded and just out of sight from the rest of the restaurant. It was their regular spot; the hostess knew them both well enough to just wave them to the back of the restaurant whenever they walked in. This particular table had a perfect vantage point of every point in the room - the front door, the cash register, the exits. Everything lined up swimmingly to make sure that no one of any interest would be listening, whether or not there was anything interesting to listen to.

“I’m doing a job,” Michael said simply.

He leaned back in his seat, waiting for her reaction. Jen had a poker face to beat the devil himself, but Michael knew her tells. He could usually tell when he was about to get an earful, but her ever-simmering temper didn't seem to be bubbling up just yet. Her answering voice was carefully even, betraying nothing. Whatever she was thinking, Michael knew he was probably in the clear.

“Explain.” Jen leaned against the lip of the table, taking a sip of her drink. She was more than aware of Michael’s past. Witness protection could only keep so much on lockdown and he’d told her about some of the shady shit he'd done back in the day himself (mostly to brag about his accomplishments). “Why do you need to do a job? Don’t you have a pretty nice stash tucked away somewhere?”

“Technically, yeah,” Michael replied, checking the front door of the restaurant. He’d do it every so often, and he’d done that for as long as Jen had known him - always looking looking looking. To say Michael was unobservant was to make a grand misjudgment of his character; he was obtuse sometimes, inherently over self-involved, but never totally oblivious. At least, not when it came to matters of life and death. “Did you hear about that house that got pulled down up near Vinewood?"

"Yeah, it was one of Martin Madrazo's properties. We've been watching that house for years - it's a multimillion dollar cocaine den. He puts his mistresses up in that one. " Jen narrowed her eyes. "Why? What did you do, Mike?"

Michael shifted in his seat. "I may have… pulled it down off the cliff."

"Jesus! What the hell? Are you trying to get dusted?"

"I didn't know it was his! I didn’t know who he was until a few days ago!" Michael pursed his lips and took a sip of his drink. He'd ordered a scotch, which he'd almost totally finished off already. "Amanda's been fucking her tennis coach. I guess he's friends with one of Madrazo's mistresses, since he was shacked up there when I found him. I may have… overreacted a little."

Jen's mouth hung open. She shook her head when she realized it. "That's a lot to unpack there, Michael. Sorry about Amanda, I guess. Why didn't you check to make sure it was the guy's house?" She paused before he could reply. "You know what, I don't want to know. I don't work the property cases anymore, but I'll try to direct the investigation as a structural fault in the foundation. Madrazo is federal business anyway, not the state. We don't want anything to do with him."

"Well, he's all but shown me what he's gonna do if I don't foot the bill for reparations." Michael leaned back in his seat, eyeing Jen evenly. "I'm not asking for much, but I just need you to do a little something for me.”

“Create a distraction? Keep the heat off?”

“Bingo,” Michael replied, smirking. This was one of the many reasons why he liked Jen - not too many questions about the shady shit beyond what he’d told her (and he’d told her quite a lot over the years) and enough brains to know what needed to be done. She’d make a killing in the game if she’d go all in, but Michael knew she wouldn’t, not without proof of return results, at least. But she’d get that proof after this job. He'd make sure of it. “This job is gonna make some noise. The less heat on us, the better.”

“I’ll make sure my investigators are somewhere remote for the day. We just had another hitchhiker murder out in Sandy Shores, so I’ll send the heat up there and no one will put it together.”

The murder didn’t exactly need to be investigated this quickly. She already had an idea of who was behind it - the Lost MC chapter of Blaine County had gotten some new members after the Liberty City chapter had been run out of their homes five years ago, and the whole combined group was making a mess of things. She'd heard that the Lost's meth business was dying on account of the club members being their own best customers. She'd also heard that the Aztecas and a squadron of rednecks were trying to cut in on their business - for good. Most likely, she could organize some sort of small sting and get a squad up into the desert. That should keep enough of the heat out of Los Santos for the day.

“Sounds perfect. I’m gonna give you the phone number for a friend of mine so you’ll have the ID in case he calls you,” Michael replied. Jen handed her phone over so that he could put it in. “He won’t, most likely, but there’s always a chance he might want to negotiate something in the future - if you’re interested.”

“Oh, I’m always interested in making friends here in Los Santos, Michael,” Jen replied. She took a sip of her drink.

“That’s my girl,” Michael grinned, taking the check from the waiter when he came back around. He left a few bills on the table and motioned for Jen to follow him. “Let’s go - you’ve still got an hour for lunch, right?”

Jen smirked and followed him towards the door. “I’ve got as long as I want.”

“Feel like making a quick detour before I take you back to work?”

Jen opened her car door and hopped inside. “You’re driving.”

Michael pulled out of the parking lot and headed in the general-but-not-quite direction of the courthouse. He’d hardly rounded two blocks before his hand was on her knee, just above the hem of her skirt.

“Easy there, big spender,” Jen said, raising her eyebrows. She leaned against the window and stared up at the towering buildings dotting the streets. “You haven’t even found somewhere quiet to park.”

Michael slid his hand a little farther up her thigh, the tips of his fingers tickling the soft skin of her inner thigh. "You really wanna wait that long?"

Jen shifted her leg to give him a more advantageous angle. They'd done this a thousand times before, usually after a long dinner when Michael couldn't wait long enough to get back to her apartment. Or when he'd done something stupid and he was trying to use sex as a bargaining tool (it rarely worked with her, but she did appreciate the effort). Her knee bumped comfortably against the gear shift as he trailed his fingers up, up, up.

"You must be thinking this job isn't gonna go your way," Jen said. She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes as Michael's index finger ran softly up the line of her underwear. "If you're handing out jewelry and taking me to lunch at Natalia's on a Wednesday and finger-fucking me on my lunch break."

Michael pressed his finger against her still-clothed clit, his knuckles drawing circles against her slit. He dipped his finger past the line of her underwear and found that she was slick. He pressed his ring finger against her opening, sliding that single digit home. "Ah, I should do that more often anyway."

Jen grabbed his wrist and pressed his hand against her, sliding his finger in deeper. "You're deflecting."

"You really wanna talk about this while I'm finger-fucking you?" Michael said, huffing out a short laugh. He slid a second finger in, curling and rubbing at the slick, soft spot just under the tips of his fingers. "You're fuckin’ persistant."

She sighed softly, spreading her legs wider, her cunt clenching down around his fingers. His cock twitched painfully against his zipper, and he fervently wished he'd just pulled over. She loved this, and he loved that she loved it - the recklessness of it and the thrill of mild exhibitionism got him going like nothing else.

She groaned softly and rutted against his hand, squeezing his wrist hard enough to give him a good cramp. "Wouldn’t be sitting here with you if I wasn’t persistent. Fine - later, but you're not getting out of talking about it, not if I'm getting involved in the revival of your criminal enterprise."

"Fair enough," Michael replied. He added a third finger, pleased by the low groan she made in the back of her throat. "Now, relax and let me work."

Michael pushed his fingers in and pressed down on her clit with his thumb. Her grip on his wrist tightened, manicured nails digging into his skin. There would be little half-moon indentions in his skin, but he could cover that up with a watch or something. She tended to get rough and scratch him, but he liked it that way. It made him feel like he was doing a good job.

“Mike, please,” Jen whined. “You gotta pull over.”

“Alright, alright. You ain't gotta tell me twice.”

He ducked into a parking garage and swung into a spot. She barely gave him enough time to change gears and slide the seat back before she was climbing into his lap. He grabbed her hips to keep her steady. He loved when she did this - pawing at his zipper, pulling his tie, kissing him so hard their teeth clacked together. He'd gotten used to being the dominant one in every relationship until he'd met her, and he'd found he liked her methods just fine. Not to say that he wouldn't pin her down if he could get her to hold still, but he was more than happy to let her do the work most of the time.

She pulled his cock out and sank down on him, grinding her hips against his. He pressed his face into her neck and held her steady as she rocked up against him. She finished quickly, her nails digging into the back of his neck, and he was right behind her.

Once she was done, she lifted herself off of him and sat in his lap for a few seconds, forehead pressed to his. He caught the faintest whiff of her perfume - warm and citrusy, almost like cloves. She’d worn the same scent for as long as he’d known her.

Michael chuckled at her contented face. “Couldn’t wait, I guess?”

"Not when you look this good, no."

"I guess you want me to take you back to work, right?"

"Not really, but I guess I have to go back."

"Eh, you could always take the rest of the day off..."

"Ordinarily, I might be inclined to do that." Jen climbed out of his lap and situated herself back in the seat, smoothing out the wrinkles in her skirt. Her underwear had fallen out of reach somewhere, probably under the seat. "But if I'm setting up paperwork for an investigation in Blaine County on a certain day, I should probably start writing up the request."

"Fuckin’ A! Let’s get you back, then."