#ten-headed demon could be a fun fox

[tolyasword]

I was tagged by @slowtides to talk about what I've been reading lately! Here's a couple things I've read this year so far. I was a little slow with reading the first 4 or 5 months since I was finishing grad school, but I've read all of the above in the last five or so months. I can talk a little about each of them!

The Eye of the World - I finally started on The Wheel of Time series this year. A friend of mine in college about ten years ago told me to read this and with the show, I decided to give it a try. I really thoroughly enjoyed this first book. I found Rand and Mat's storylines a little less exciting than Perrin and Egwyane but otherwise I really loved this and I'm already reading book two! I really want to read the whole series.

Elantris - my very first Sanderson novel. I'm so glad I started with this one as it was his first (written and published) novel so now I can see how his writing has evolved. This was such an interesting concept and really fueled my imagination and made me want to write again. It was surprisingly easy to read (for some reason I was expecting his writing to be denser and harder to get through but now I realize why he's so popular!) and I flew through it. I really want to get my own copy and annotate it while rereading it.

Bloom Into You - A manga series recommended to me by a person irl for reasons. I haven't read manga in a long time and I've never read a non-magical manga before. It was super cute!

Where the Nightmares Go - was throughly enjoyable. The first and last stories in particular were WOW. The second one (I think it was the second, maybe the third) was so terrifying that I literally could not allow myself to picture it in my head as I was reading or I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep for like a week. Highly recommend if you like horror and uncanny fiction.

The Ex-Girlfriend of my Girlfriend.... - It was good! Very lesbian centric (I was feeling a little bi-erasure) but as I'm trying to explore my queerness, I was happy to read through these situations. The latter parts of the book definitely felt a bit more bi-positive and openly queer (umbrella term) so I think it was worthwhile to read. The bright colors and illustrations were also very fun.

Nettle and Bone - After graduating I read a lot of novellas because it was easier than full novels. This was my first T. Kingfisher and will not be my last. The topic was women and breaking cycles and dealing with family and finding independence and also about hot-silver-fox-fighters and demonic chickens. Cannot go wrong.

High Times In the Low Parliament - Another novella. Totally bizarre and amazing. Fae/faeries, government, sapphics, lots of drugs. It was super enjoyable and I think maybe the first novella I read after graduating??? So it's gonna stick with me. I might even purchase a copy.

Off With Her Head - What promised to be a historical breakdown of misogyny unfortunately turned into a repeated argument for 75% of the book, with the only actually engaging chapters being the ones with historical research. It will definitely make you angry if you are a women or are anti-patriarchy, but after a while the anger will get tiring until you get to The One Juicy Historical chapter. I don't usually read nonfiction so this was maybe not the best thing for me to read.

White Cat, Black Dog - I can't say much about this except that Kelly Link is my favorite short story author and I got this practically brand new book for $10 at a used book store. One or two stories were a little meh for me, but nothing downright awful. I love the way this is retellings of other fairytales but feels sooooo different you'd never know it until you read the acknowledgements or notice that the original tales titles are written at the beginning under the titles. I particularly loved the retelling of Tam Lin.

This is for anyone who wants to write a bit about what they've been reading or what's been engaging for them lately! If you want to share, please do! Also tagging a few people: @twoheartsoneclara @antoine-triplett @actuallylorelaigilmore @spellmansabrina @thyla

[here4theheartbreak]

Afternoon Naps (myg + pjm)

AO3 Link Here!

Relationships: Jimin x Yoongi Genre: smut Rating: Explicit Word Count: ~5.5k

Tags: Smut, Consensual Somnophilia, Vampires, Dirty Talk, Multiple Orgasms, Coming Untouched, Established Relationship, Vampire Sex, Vampire Biting/Blood Drinking, Sleeping Medication, Consensual Necrophilia (Technically), Temporary Character Death, Vampire Min Yoongi, Human Park Jimin, Bottom Park Jimin

Summary: Jimin finds out his boyfriend's biggest secret, and reveals his own biggest kink. They realize that this can benefit both of them.

A/N: Fifth Kinktober fic, day 7: somnophlia; this fic is also filling a request from ages ago. @sujigguk requested a fic with “you’re not human”

A/N 2: The fic contains technically necrophilia -- vampire lore in this fic has the vampire "dying" (i.e. heart/breathing stops, body goes cold, rigor mortis sets in) while resting in their coffins. All sexual acts are discussed and consented to by both parties prior to this.

“Jimin!” Yoongi’s voice was sharp… And not all that happy when he opened the door of his apartment. Jimin smiled sheepishly. 

“Surprise?” He said softly. 

“What are you doing here?”

Yoongi looked tense as he stood in the doorway. From what Jimin could see over his shoulder, his blinds were drawn, and his apartment was still mostly dark. Strange, given it was nearly ten in the morning.

“Did I wake you?”

Yoongi hesitated. “No.”

Jimin’s smile faded a little. “I wanted to come by… It’s been a week.”

“We’ve been texting.” 

Jimin’s smile disappeared completely. “I disturbed you. I’m sorry.” He backed up, ready to head down the hall.

“Wait, no, Jimin. Don’t go. You just surprised me, I’m not used to visitors coming by unexpectedly.”

Jimin looked at him, trying to gauge if he was being sincere. Jimin and Yoongi had been dating for nearly six months. It was great. Yoongi was always there for him, their dates were fun, and they never ran out of things to talk about. The sex was mind blowing. Sure, they fought a little, but never a big thing. The one oddity in all their time together… Was that Jimin was never invited to sleep over at Yoongi’s. Yoongi had stayed at Jimin’s a few times, and Jimin had come over once or twice, but never for more than a few minutes. 

The last time they were together in person, Jimin had hinted at wanting to stay over at Yoongi’s one night. Yoongi had seemed okay with the idea, but also a bit stiff about it. 

“I should have texted,” Jimin finally said.

“Yes,” Yoongi agreed. “But… You’re here, I can spare a few minutes.” He sighed heavily and stepped aside, letting Jimin in. 

“Dark,” Jimin commented as he entered. “Are you feeling okay? You look a little pale.” He reached out for Yoongi’s head, only to have Yoongi jerk away.

“I’m fine.”

Jimin scowled then, crossing his arms. “What’s wrong with you?”

Yoongi blinked at him. 

“You’re acting weird. I’ve been with you half a year, I know when you’re not yourself. What’s wrong?”

“It…” Yoongi’s shoulders sagged. “It’s very hard to explain.”

“Well try. I don’t appreciate being kept in the dark. Literally or figuratively.” Jimin went to flip on a light. 

Yoongi grabbed his wrist. His hand was frigid, and his grip was tight. Jimin gasped. 

“Don’t.” Yoongi’s voice was sharp.

“Wh… What’s going on? You’re kinda starting to scare me.”

“I don’t mean to.” Yoongi let go of Jimin’s wrist.

“Why are you so cold?” Jimin went forward. Yoongi backed away but Jimin ignored him, grabbing his face. “Jesus, you’re freezing. Are you sick?”

“Not exactly,” Yoongi mumbled.

“Why won’t you look at me?”

“Jimin, please…” Yoongi leaned into his touch, his eyes screwed shut. “Please just go home… I promise, I’ll explain everything tonight.”

“No. You can explain right now, Min Yoongi.” Jimin crossed his arms and stood in front of the door, facing Yoongi. 

“It’s not easy,” Yoongi muttered. Jimin remained silent. He sighed. “Fine. I… I really wanted us to last.”

Jimin narrowed his eyes, not liking how this was sounding. Yoongi stuffed his hands into his pockets. 

“I’m a monster.”

“What makes you a monster?” Jimin pressed.

“Fangs? Death? Drinking blood?” Yoongi shrugged. “Any number of things. I mean a literal monster.”

Jimin laughed, shaking his head. “Oh, come on, don’t be silly. Yoongi, what is it really?” He asked. He flicked on the light. Yoongi winced visibly, raising his hand to shield from the indoor light.

Jimin’s entire body went cold. Yoongi was standing in front of him. His Yoongi – lean muscle and a sweet, round face, gentle eyes and guitar callused fingers… But not his Yoongi at the same time. The person in front of him was paler than Yoongi – his face almost grey it was so pale. His eyes were dark. Not just dark, but the pupils seemed to have expanded, filling the whites of his eyes and giving him a demonic gaze. 

Yoongi let his hand fall, his expression timid despite the horror his features implied. 

“You’re not human,” Jimin whispered.

“I’m a monster,” Yoongi agreed. “A vampire… Specifically.” He looked down. “Are you going to run away screaming now?”

“Make me, you troll,” Jimin grumbled. He let his arms fall and took a cautious step forward. 

“I’m a vampire, not a troll.”

Jimin grinned at that, seeing the curve of a smile on Yoongi’s lips. “I’ll get it right eventually… Am I in danger? Standing here like this?”

“No. I have excellent control over my feeding… Why aren’t you scared?” Yoongi looked up, meeting Jimin’s gaze.

“I am.”

“You aren’t showing it… Aside from a fast heartbeat… I can’t see any fear on your pretty face. And your heart beats fast around me all the time.”

Jimin smiled. “Flirting isn’t gonna get you out of the doghouse… Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“You’re right.” Yoongi snapped his fingers. “I always forget. When is the right date to tell your new boyfriend you died and came back as a bloodsucking creature of the night? That once a week you have to spend a day in a coffin literally dead or you get wildly sick? Isn’t it the third? Or no, the seventh?”

Jimin slapped Yoongi’s shoulder with some force, smirking when he cried out, rubbing it. “Weak for a vampire.”

“I’m immortal, not immune to my boyfriend’s abuse,” Yoongi grumbled.

“Do you drink blood?”

“Of course I do.”

“Human?”

“When I can.”

“From live people?”

“Is that jealousy I hear in your tone, Mr. Park?”

Jimin glared. “You lied to me for six months, I’m allowed to interrogate you.”

Yoongi smiled softly. “I’m frankly just… In amazement that you’re still standing here. And no… Not live humans, not for a very long time. You may proceed with the interrogation – but I insist on us moving out of my hallway and to an actual sitting location.” He pointed to the couch.

“Do you have anything to drink? If I open your fridge… Will I find bags of blood?”

Yoongi made a noise of offense and crossed his arms. “Of course not, I’m not some barbarian. You’ll find a recyclable bottle of that’s filled with blood. But my sodas are in the door.”

Jimin went over to the fridge and opened it. Sure enough, there were three large water bottles filled with a very suspicious reddish liquid. He grabbed a soda from the door and went over to the couch, sitting next to Yoongi.

“How old are you? I’m guessing that twenty-seven was a lie.”

“I was twenty-seven when I died. Thirty-one years ago.”

“Oooh, I bagged myself a silver fox, huh?”

Yoongi huffed once more. “I died at twenty-seven.”

“Mhm… And now you’re fifty-eight.” 

“Jimin, I’m gonna…” 

Jimin giggled. “I guess I shouldn’t tease you… You might bite me… Would you?”

“Bite you? Not unless you asked.”

“Would it turn me into a vampire?”

“No. There’s a very specific ritual for that.”

Jimin nodded. “Cool. So, what does a vampire do? Aside from drinking blood… What’s special about you? I’ve seen you in the day. You complain a whole lot, but you don’t sparkle or ignite like a firework. We’ve taken plenty of pictures together… And you eat way too much garlic. You also sleep at night, and probably too long… And you aren’t any stronger than I am.”

“You’re making me feel real great here, Jimin,” Yoongi joked, smiling as he spoke.

Jimin laughed. “Sorry—I just mean… You seem human. I’ve never… Really assumed anything was off about you.”

“The great thing about humans, is that you all really like to assume everyone is like you. You avoid the things that support the opposite. Inhuman behavior, to some degree, so long as it’s not shocking or jarring, you can brush off as an odd quirk, a funny trait. I’m close to human, yes, but I am not human. I complain in the sun because my skin is sensitive. Bursting into flames is a myth, but I do burn far easier than most humans. My skin’s melanin has decayed over the years without cellular growth.”

“Which is why you’re so pale too.”

Yoongi grunted an affirmative. “Garlic is a myth, as is the no reflection thing. I’m sure hundreds of years ago, maybe? There might have been some truth to it, but modern technology and modern mirrors work different, so I can see myself the same as you. I am stronger than you, but I do well at hiding it most of the time. Any displays of it, you either don’t see, or brush aside. I do also sleep at night, yes – because I’ve put myself on a human schedule. I do this so I can live among you all without problems. Once a week though, I must sleep during the day. Sleeping at night is akin to a human living on a series of short naps at mid-afternoon. It’s not fully restful and it’s dangerous to do long term. I compensate by sleeping through the day one day per week, in the appropriate resting place.”

“R… Resting place?”

“My coffin.”

Jimin’s eyes bulged. “Coffin?”

“Yes, I am dead. I have a coffin.”

“That you sleep in?”

“Once a week. Otherwise, I sleep in the bed.” 

Jimin nodded, his brows furrowed. 

“Gonna run yet?” Yoongi asked.

“No… Is there anything else different?”

“Well… We’re excellent in bed,” Yoongi joked. Jimin glanced up. “I mean it. We have a… Special thing about us. You’ve had sex with other men before me, right?”

“Yeah, a few.”

“Haven’t you ever noticed that when we have sex… I’m much—”

“Harder.”

Yoongi nodded. 

Jimin pouted. “I assumed it was because I just really turned you on. It’s because you’re a vampire?”

“Well, no, you really do turn me on... A lot. But a few days after I do my daytime sleep, I get naturally more rigid. I’m not sure why – I think it has something do with… Ah, well it’s gross. But it just happens.”

Jimin sat back, sighing softly. “You’re immortal.”

“Yes.”

“Honestly… I think that’s the thing that bothers me most about this. Not that you’re undead or drink blood or… But that you’re gonna never grow old. And I’m…”

“I’m sorry,” Yoongi whispered.

“If we work out…” Jimin began. “And stay together… You’ll turn me, right? You’d have to – for us to… Be together.”

“Not necessarily. While I wouldn’t hate the idea of someone’s company in my life… I know that a limited existence is so valued and important. It’s something that I would be willing to discuss… If we work out, and when you are older.”

Jimin nodded. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Yoongi pressed. “That’s it?”

Jimin shrugged. “We all have secrets, Yoongi.”

“I doubt you have a secret as big as this, Jimin.”

“No… But I have one that… People have left for.”

Yoongi seemed to perk up a little at that, his brows furrowed. Despite the difference in his eyes, the sleek black, Jimin found his expression endearing and sweet. 

“I like your eyes like this… Can you change them at will?” He asked.

“No. They’re like this because I’ve not fed for a while. I have to keep myself fed and rested or they shift; they’ll be back to normal after I wake up and drink… What secret could you have that’s so big, Jimin?” 

“Well… I…” Jimin winced. “God, it’s weird as hell, I’m so sorry.”

“I won’t run,” Yoongi promised. “You’re sitting here next to me after finding out I’m a living dead monster. The least I can do is listen to your secret and try to understand.”

Jimin smiled softly at that. He nodded. “I like… Sleep sex.”

“What do you mean?”

“Like I like the idea of… Having sex with someone while they sleep or are unconscious. With their consent! I mean… I’d never… Do something nonconsensual.”

Yoongi remained silent a moment, thinking. “Do you want someone to have sex with you while you sleep? Or do you want to have sex with someone while they sleep?”

“Both, I guess. I like the idea of both. I’ve never done it. Most people stop talking to me after I tell them.”

“Why would they?” Yoongi pressed. “We all have kinks and fantasies.”

“Yeah, but a lot of them see it as a form of rape. And I get it, it’s a super grey area. You can’t change your mind while you’re asleep, so like… If you say it’s okay, and then as you drift off to sleep decide you don’t want it… Then it becomes nonconsent.”

Yoongi nodded in understanding. “Well I think that can be resolved just by open communication,” he said, touching his hand to his chin in thought. “If you trust your partner and they trust you, you two should be able to communicate what is and isn’t okay. I don’t think a kink like this is unsafe or unhealthy, as long as – like you said – it’s done with full consent.”

Jimin smiled cautiously, his heart skipping a beat. “You mean… You don’t find it gross?”

“Not at all.” Yoongi smiled. “I’m glad you shared it with me. I still don’t think it’s worse than me being a blood sucking monster… But I know it’s a secret you hold close, so I appreciate your trust. But… Would you want to try this with me someday?”

“Would I ever?” Jimin asked. He chuckled a little. “I fantasize about it a lot.” 

Yoongi smirked. He moved little closer, pulling Jimin to him. “Would you want to try it today?” He asked softly.

Jimin’s eyes widened. Yoongi continued. “Look… When I sleep… In my coffin. I’ll be honest with you. I don’t breathe. I don’t move. I am… For all intents and purposes… Dead. I don’t decay, obviously. But my body goes very cold, my lungs and heart go still… And my body stiffens, as a corpse would. That includes… My dick.”

Jimin remained quiet, processing what Yoongi was suggesting. Yoongi slid his hands over Jimin’s shoulders slowly as he spoke. “So, if someone… Say my very curious, very human boyfriend… Happened to get horny while I was sleeping in my coffin… He could climb in and use my body… Ride me… And I’d remain fully unconscious no matter what.”

“Because you’re dead…” Jimin clarified. 

Yoongi nodded. “Temporarily. I wouldn’t wake for anything, unless you shined sunlight on my body. So… If you want to do this…”

“Would you fuck me when you wake?” Jimin said quickly. “If I was sleeping, would you… Return the favor?”

“I wake in the late afternoon usually. You’d likely still be up.”

“Not if I took a sleeping pill,” Jimin suggested. “I have some, I used to get nightmares and they help. I don’t use them often, but I bring them just in case. I could take one after… And you could… Help get rid of your afternoon wood with my body.”

Yoongi shifted visibly on the couch. His tongue darted out, swiping over his lips. Jimin smirked. He leaned forward, sliding his hands up Yoongi’s thighs. “Does that idea sound good? You like it.”

Yoongi nodded. “I do,” he breathed. 

“We can do it today?”

“Yes but… Jimin… You understand what I mean. When I lay in my coffin… You will be looking at the equivalent of a corpse.”

“I understand. But you’re still you. You say you’ll only be still and cold… You won’t be decaying or rotting or anything you associate with a dead body. And you’ll be waking up and… We’ll be together.”

“Of course.”

“Would it turn you on? Knowing I used you while you… Rested?”

Yoongi smiled softly, lowering his gaze. “Frankly? That’s… An incredibly sexy thought. The thought of you climbing into my coffin with me alone is enough to… Well… I’ve thought of it more than once. I never even imagined you’d be willing to… Let alone wanting to… Do more.”

“Should I stay in the coffin with you? After I finish?”

“I’m afraid not.” Yoongi shook his head. “Waking from my rest is a very jarring thing. I fear I might accidentally hurt you. I have a bed in my room next to the coffin, you can sleep there.”

Jimin nodded. “I do want this as long as you do. And I do want you to… Do the same.”

Yoongi leaned forward, kissing Jimin gently. 

“Hey… You’re a vampire… Don’t you have fangs?”

“They retract. When I’m resting they will come out, so don’t kiss me – you could get poked. But when I’m awake I can pull them in and out as needed.”

“Can I see them?” Jimin whispered. 

Yoongi seemed to be thinking about it. He grinned then. His wide, gummy grin suddenly became something much more frightening… And sexier, when Jimin realized his canines had lengthened and transformed into sharp, deadly points. Jimin’s breath left in a rush. 

“Oh wow…”

Yoongi’s smile dropped again to a relaxed expression. “Satisfied?” He asked, his tone slightly breathier with the fangs in the way. 

Jimin nodded. “I think you need to go to bed soon,” he murmured.

Yoongi smirked, one fang peeking out of his lip. “Horny bastard.”

“Not my fault.” Jimin squeezed Yoongi’s thighs. “Should I wait out here?”

“Please. Though it’s not disturbing I do like going to sleep alone. You’re free to come in in about fifteen minutes… I’ll be resting by then. The lube is in the top drawer of the dresser in the bedroom. 

“See you in the evening,” Jimin said. Yoongi rose and leaned forward, pecking Jimin’s mouth gently. 

Fifteen minutes had never been so damn slow. Jimin finished his drink and paced around the apartment, trying to distract from the ticking clock. He took the time to explore Yoongi’s place; he’d never had a chance to before. He had quite a number of interesting trinkets that Jimin wanted to ask about when he woke up. He pulled off his coat and tugged on one of Yoongi’s hoodies, hugging himself in it as Yoongi’s scent drifted into his nostrils from the warm fabric. 

Finally. Fifteen minutes had passed. Jimin entered the bedroom carefully, letting his eyes adjust to the room, even darker than the living room. He found a lamp near a comfy looking bed and flicked it on, looking around. The light was soft, diffused by the heavy shade. In the center of the room was a large, dark coffin. Jimin approached it carefully, his heart in his throat. Inside was Yoongi, looking much paler than usual. He was entirely still, arms resting across his bare belly. He was in his boxers, his cock comically rigid, tenting the front up obscenely. He was stunning. 

Jimin hurried over to the dresser and opened the drawer, finding the lube easily. He shucked his jeans and boxers, crawling onto the bed. He set his sleeping medication on the bedside stand and relaxed into the pillow. It smelled richly of Yoongi’s scent, his cock thickening against his thigh. He moaned softly, stroking himself. He looked over at the coffin, his stomach clenching. This was really happening. He poured some of the lube on his fingers and spread it over his hole, sighing contentedly as he pushed a finger in to prep himself. 

When he was ready, Jimin rose, sliding the lube and his phone into his pocket. He went over to the coffin, taking a moment to gaze down at his beautiful lover. A vampire… He knew he’d likely have a moment of realization down the line – the understanding that this simple confession had flipped his life upside down. But he’d never been one to shy away from the macabre or bizarre, and he always wondered if supernatural creatures existed. Yoongi’s confirmation of that was… Unexpected, but not unwanted. 

Jimin carefully straddled Yoongi’s lap. He knew he couldn’t wake him, but the fear was half the fun. Yoongi was still hard, his position entirely unchanged from the first moment Jimin saw him. Jimin pulled his boxers down just under his balls, smirking when he saw the tip was a deep purple red. He wrapped his hand around it and stroked gently, surprised to find it cool to the touch. Yoongi really was a living dead person. 

A surprising twinge of arousal spiked through Jimin, making him shudder. He wondered if Yoongi could still come in this state. Only one way to find out.

He shifted over, taking the lube from his hoodie with shaking hands and adding some to Yoongi’s cock, and more to his own stretched hole. He moved over and began to settle into Yoongi’s cock, muffling his quiet gasps in his other hand. Yoongi’s cock was so hard it was almost painful. There was none of the give he was used to, forcing his ass open wide to take the tip, and sliding deep into him. He whimpered, shuddering hard when he took his entire length. 

“Yoongi,” he whined softly. Curious, he reached out, touching Yoongi’s pale, cool face. He held his hand by his nose for a moment. Nothing. No movement of air, no shift, nothing. He moaned again, reality slowly sinking in. There was nothing normal or right about this. But God, it felt good. He dropped his hand down, pulling Yoongi’s top lip back. As promised, there they were, sharp fangs, glinting dangerously. Jimin touched one, ever so tempted to prick his finger on it, let Yoongi taste him… But no. Jimin pulled his hand back. That could be discussed at a later time. He settled back on Yoongi’s stiff cock and whimpered. There was no give. He was gonna lose it fast at this rate.

Jimin began to ride him, moaning openly as Yoongi’s cock slid over his prostate. He reached into his hoodie and removed his phone, holding it up. He found his camera app and angled it to show his face first, his cheeks mottled red with arousal. He moaned openly as he pressed record, not bothering to shy away from looking and sounding obscene. 

“Your cock is so hard, Yoongi. You’re gonna break my ass in half, oh!” He shuddered, biting his lip and twisting his hips down. “Fuck, I’ve never had something this hard up my asshole, Yoongi… I’m gonna gape for hours after I’m done with you.”

He whined, his throat clicking as he struggled to swallow. He turned the camera, filming Yoongi’s body before turning it and balancing it behind him, so he could film himself riding Yoongi. He glanced back, smirking when he realized the camera was catching each long stroke, Yoongi’s cock sinking back into his ass. He spread himself and leaned forward, giving more light for the camera. He fucked himself hard and fast onto Yoongi’s cock, moaning and begging for more, not hiding the pleasure he was getting. He reached back and grabbed the phone, holding it up again.

“I’m gonna come, Yoongi,” he whined. “I’m gonna come from using your thick, hard cock, right here in your coffin. Wanna see?”

He turned the camera and lifted the front of the hoodie. His cock was bouncing with each thrust of his body, slapping gently off Yoongi’s still stomach. 

“I’m so glad you slept shirtless,” Jimin panted. “Make me come, Yoongi… Oh God, please… Fuck my ass harder…” He moved faster, whining high in his throat. It shifted to a shout when his cock began to spurt, shooting ropes of come over Yoongi’s hands and belly. He stroked himself, still riding Yoongi’s cock as he milked the last come from himself. He shuddered and giggled, moving the camera behind him as he pulled off Yoongi. He held his ass open, feeling the cool air tickle him far more intimately than it should.

“Look at that gape,” he mumbled. “Too bad it’s not dripping with your come.” He pulled the camera back as he crawled out of the coffin.

“I think I’m gonna leave you like this… Covered in my come, boxers down… Just so you wake up and know what I did to you.” 

He walked back over to the bed in the corner. “Now, Yoongi… I’m gonna leave the lube right there.” He angled the camera to show himself setting it on the nightstand and picking up the sleeping pill. “And I’m gonna take my sleeping medicine.” He angled the camera back to his face to show him swallowing it. 

“Now I’m going to sleep just like this… No shorts… And I would love it, if you want to… To repay the favor and use my ass while I sleep.” He smirked. “I wonder… Is your come as cold your body was when you first come back? You should let me know… I wonder how that feels inside me…” He shook his head. “Sleep well… See you soon.” He ended the video and sent it to Yoongi, forcing himself to stay awake long enough to hear the buzz of Yoongi’s phone in his coffin. He let himself drift off to sleep, dreams full of sexy, arousing thoughts. 

Jimin’s ass was on fire. He moaned softly, opening his eyes blearily. The first thing he saw was the coffin. He turned his head, spotting the clock… Nearly seven hours since he’d gone to sleep. 

“Morning Sunshine,” Yoongi murmured. Jimin turned, spotting him at his desk. A cup of deep red liquid sat next to him as he worked on something. “How’s your ass?”

“Sore,” Jimin mumbled, reaching back. He was met with a gush of body temperature fluids, pouring from his gaped hole. He whined. “Fuck…” His cock throbbed against the mattress. “What did you do?”

“Me? I simply did as you asked in your video… Very sexy, by the way. Would you like to watch?”

Jimin rolled over, groaning weakly. His cock was hard despite the pain in his ass. It was perfect. “Show me,” he whispered.

Yoongi rose and grabbed his phone. He went over to the bed and sat on it with Jimin, passing him the device. 

Yoongi did far less teasing and talking in his video. He set up the phone at an angle on the nightstand, allowing it to capture most of Jimin’s sleeping body. Yoongi slicked his cock, looking into the camera as he sank into Jimin with a moan. He began to thrust into him quickly, holding Jimin’s ass open as he did. He maintained looking at the camera most of the time, his eyes the same black they were when he went to sleep.

As Jimin watched himself get used on the phone, Yoongi pulled him onto his lap. He’d withdrawn his cock, Jimin could feel. He hissed and whined softly when Yoongi dragged him over and slid back into his come lubed hole.

“It’s sore,” he whined.

“You can get off then, I don’t mind,” Yoongi said, letting his hips go. Jimin smirked. He shifted to get a better angle to watch the video and began to bounce lazily on Yoongi’s cock.

On the video, Yoongi had picked up speed, grunting as he fucked Jimin’s sleeping body. He tossed his head back, shouting and baring his teeth.

Jimin moaned, catching sight of Yoongi’s fangs. He touched his own neck, a little disappointed at the lack of bite marks. Yoongi on video shuddered, his hips going still. He leaned forward, kissing Jimin’s shoulder.

“There’s my first load, Jimin. It was as cold as ice… I’ve never felt your hole squeeze me so tight. Next time I’ll do it when you’re awake… I bet you’ll squeal so pretty when it fills you…” 

Jimin moaned, leaning back against Yoongi. “I wanna feel,” he confessed.

“I’ll make sure you’re awake next time,” Yoongi promised. “Wanna see the rest?”

Jimin nodded, riding Yoongi a little faster.

On video, Yoongi picked up the pace, fucking Jimin’s ass harder than before. He used him for nearly forty minutes, filling his hole three times. Finally, he sagged his shoulders, kissing over Jimin’s back. 

“You’re so fucking sloppy, baby,” he grumbled. He grabbed the phone and angled it down. Jimin’s ass was red, his hole swollen around Yoongi’s cock. He pulled out slowly and come bubbled out, obscene sounds filling the air. Yoongi chuckled. “I’ll leave you like this. When you wake up I’ll give you one more, if you want it.”

The video went black. Jimin leaned forward, his ass aching at the new angle. “I want it,” he whispered.

Yoongi shifted, pulling out only long enough to get onto his knees. He sank back into Jimin’s  already filled ass, and they both moaned at the sloppy noises. Jimin leaned up, wrapping his arms back around Yoongi.

“Bite me when you come,” he whispered.

“You sure?” Yoongi was fucking him hard, his cock twitching.

“Yes,” Jimin promised. He reached down, stroking his cock in time with Yoongi’s thrusts. 

Yoongi was huffing erratically, holding tight to his middle. His fangs grazed Jimin’s shoulder. 

“Are you mine?” Yoongi panted in his ear.

“Yes—“

“Give yourself to me.” Yoongi grabbed his wrist, pulling his hand off his cock. “All the way. Are you mine, Jimin?”

“Yes, yes!” Jimin moaned. 

“I’m yours as well, Park Jimin,” Yoongi whispered. He slammed his cock deep. It began to throb, spilling inside Jimin. At the same time, Jimin felt a sharp pain and then a pressure on his shoulder. Pure pleasure washed over him. His cock began to spurt ropes of come, jerking hard enough to make them land on the floor in front of him. He shouted Yoongi’s name, reaching back and holding his neck as Yoongi drank from him. 

The two collapsed on the bed as their orgasms faded. Yoongi kissed and licked at the wound on Jimin’s shoulder until the blood clotted, sliding his softening cock carefully from Jimin’s aching ass.

“You okay?” Yoongi asked, nudging Jimin’s shoulder with his nose as they cuddled back to chest on the bed.

“I’m great,” Jimin whispered.

“No regrets? Still okay with it?”

“Fully… You?”

“It was so exciting,” Yoongi admitted. “When I woke and felt your come on me… And then saw you sleeping… And that video was stunning. You were so beautiful.”

Jimin smiled shyly. “We’ll have to go easy the next few nights… I’m really sore.”

“Of course. I’ll be gentle for a while, let you heal up.” Yoongi kissed over his shoulder. “Did the bite hurt?”

“No. It felt good… How often can you drink from me?”

“I’d prefer not to often. Living human blood, not bagged, it’s… Very rich and sweet, almost like candy. It can become addictive. I’m honored you let me, but I’ll save it as a treat for myself, if you don’t mind?”

“Of course.” Jimin turned as well as he could. His gaze searched Yoongi’s face, finally dropping down to his mouth, lips pink and cheeks mottled. “It was so interesting. Seeing you in your coffin.”

“I know it can be frightening.”

“No…” Jimin shook his head. “I think it sank in… That I was looking at someone who wasn’t alive. But knowing you’d be awake soon after, it was… This bizarre sort of… Taboo but sexy thing? I’m a freak, aren’t I?” Jimin’s shoulders sagged. 

“No more than I.” Yoongi nudged him again. “We can be freaks together.”

Jimin grinned. “Yoongi?” He said softly.

“Hm?”

“I feel gross.”

“Because of what we did?”

“No, silly.” Jimin laughed. “Because your come is gluing my ass and legs together. I need a shower.”

Yoongi laughed brightly, nodding. “Agreed. Let’s get one... It’s almost dinner, you’re probably starved.”

“You aren’t,” Jimin teased, rising slowly. “No, but I could eat. I’ll take you out after the shower.”

They walked together to the bathroom. “How does eating human food work with being a vampire?”

“Same as it works being alive,” Yoongi said, turning on the water. “It’s just empty calories for me – Which is why I never eat much.”

“There’s so much I feel like I have to learn about what you are… How life is for you.” Jimin crossed his arms as he waited for the water to warm. Yoongi straightened up and wrapped his arms around him. Now that Jimin was aware, he could feel that Yoongi was a few degrees cooler, his skin just a bit paler than human. 

“You can ask anything you need. We have time, and I’ll tell you all you want to know.”

“Yoongi…” Jimin leaned against him, hugging him tightly. He could hear Yoongi’s heart, glugging along at a lethargic pace. He smiled softly. “Can I confess something to you?”

“Hm?” Yoongi asked, resting his chin on Jimin’s shoulder. “I think I’ve fallen in love with you,” Jimin whispered. 

Yoongi went still, his heart skipping a little faster. “Jimin… Say that again,” he said.

“I… I’ve fallen in love with you.”

Jimin could feel Yoongi’s lips curve up into a smile against his shoulder. “In nearly sixty years of existence… I have never heard more beautiful words,” Yoongi admitted. “I love you too, Jimin… I feel like I’ll love you forever.”

Jimin pulled back, meeting Yoongi’s gaze. His eyes were back to their normal soft brown. He smiled. “Coming from someone who is immortal… That’s the most beautiful thing I could hear.”

Yoongi leaned forward, kissing Jimin deeply. He pulled him close, and Jimin melted into the touch. Yoongi may have cold skin, may drink blood and die once a week – but Jimin had never felt safer or warmer than he did at that very moment in Yoongi’s arms. 

[jimlingss]

It's B from @bang-tan-bitches and I would like to request a yandere fic. It can be BTS OT7 x reader or BTS member of your choice x reader. Similar to your amazing isekai story i would like something similar(a long one shot or a multi-chapter, your choice). Whether YN transmigrates to a game or a novel (not as a villain but maybe as a cannon fodder side character that has little importance to the story and just wants to lay low) but YN captures the attention of the love interest(s) and shit starts getting weird, intense, uncomfortable. Maybe it causes the supposed female lead to turn into the villain, maybe it causes the love interest(s) to turn into the villain(s). Maybe YN realizes that something is wrong with the story/game but can't figure it out. Idk. Time period doesn't matter. Modern. Ancient. Fairytale. Fantasy. Whatever.

If you can do this great! If you can't or don't want to, that's okay too. You're an amazing writer with so much talent and I'm really appreciative of all your work. Thank you for taking requests from your fans, I'm sure you've received a lot.

Take care! 😘💜💜💜

at the start of the pandemic, I was getting back into manga and manhwa and then after a few months, I dawdled off but recently, I’ve been getting back into it again haha so this request came at a pretty good time. Hopefully you won’t mind that I’ve taken some creative liberties with this request lol I think it’s more fun if I keep readers on their toes, including the requester.

On another note, I really shouldn’t be writing all my isekai’s with Taehyung as the main lead but he’s just so fitting asdfghjkl

↳ The Fox Bride

2.6k || 99% Light Fluff, 1% Angst || Kim Taehyung || Isekai!AU, Slight Yandere!AU, Nine-Tailed Fox!Taehyung

You are a tutorial character.

But you weren’t always. You still remember being a career woman in the twenty-first century, struggling with overtime and paying bills while trying to keep yourself fed. The success of that ranged from month to month. But more importantly, you still remember that night too.

It was rainy. Your car blew a flat tire. You pulled to the side of the highway and got out.

The last thing that registered was the deafening honk of the semi-truck. 

Then you felt yourself flying upwards.

But when you landed, instead of colliding with the concrete and dying upon impact, you fell back onto your ass in the middle of a market on a dirt road. Transported back a thousand years ago.

Your purpose was fulfilled in the next two minutes. 

“Are you alright?”

The male protagonist had stretched out his hand and helped you up. The hero. The main character. It was obvious with his bright red hair, shining eyes and bronze armour. He was so starkly different from the rest who were gray and drab, including you who was suddenly in a brown shapeless dress. He was practically a neon billboard in the middle of a graveyard.

“Are you Y/N?”

You looked at him, befuddled that he knew your name. But before you could even respond or provide a line of dialogue, he said, “This is a delivery from Baker Jeon. He gives you his thanks.”

The protagonists handed you a loaf of bread. Undoubtedly his first ever quest. 

You looked down, not sure what to do with it.

“Do you know where the blacksmith is?”

You had absolutely no clue. But there was the deafening noise of hammering steel literally ten steps away. You would have to be blind not to see the gruff man shaping a sword at an anvil right on the road and deaf not to hear it. As if that wasn’t enough, the literal sign of the shop read: ‘the blacksmith’.

So you pointed.

“Thanks.” And he trudged off.

You were utterly confused until a background character who said they knew you waved you over. You shared your bread with her, brushed aside when she asked you what was wrong, and you followed her as she walked up to your supposed cottage.

All the while, you saw yourself in the background of the hero’s main quest as he ran through the town.

And that was that.

It wasn’t so hard to figure out where you were or what the hell this was when you put your mind to it. Without much of a job or a family, and no technology but the candle that you had to conserve when night fell, there was ample time.

So you spent it thinking and you eventually solved the mystery.

You were in Beast Boys Harem: A Forbidden Embrace. AKA. a dumb yaoi otome game app that you downloaded on your phone when you were sixteen and bored. You remember because you were too cheap to buy the routes, so you played the tutorial, prologue and read the summaries of the routes online. Now you regret that you didn’t just fork over the goddamn five dollars. 

Even more than that, you regret that you even downloaded the game in the first place.

But at least you’re just a tutorial character. You’re free from the storyline and the plot—

That’s what you thought.

Turns out living a thousand years in the past in a fantasy realm as a woman didn’t bode well. It was probably no different from how it would’ve been like in the medieval ages. You had no trade skills. No one was willing to accept you as an apprentice when you were a woman. You found that you were essentially illiterate with a reading level of a preschooler, no one was willing to teach you, and you had no power or wealth when you were without a father or a husband.

And you’re certain what the landlord and tax-collectors are doing is illegal.

But in this world, in this unjust realm, there is no such thing as the law.

“We know you’re in there!”

You jolt from the heavy pounding on the frail wooden door.

“It’s time to pay up!”

Your hands tremble as you set the candle down that’s still billowing of smoke, the flame smothered out mere seconds ago. As much as you want to hide and pull the blanket over your head, you know that door won’t last. They’ll find you if you’re trapped in here.

“If you can’t, spread those legs of yours!” a low voice spits and there’s chortling from the men.

Someone adds, “Sell your body already!” 

“Open up! Damn whore!”

Without a single possession but the white nightgown clad on your body, you open the latch of the back window. You cringe at the squeak, trying to keep your movements quiet before the door gives way.

You hoist yourself up onto the window ledge. The door bends with the strength of multiple clenched fists against it. Your feet touch the soft grass outside your cottage. The men shout.

And the door finally slams against the wall, hinges broken. 

But by then, you’ve slipped into the shadows.

“Where is she?!”

The blanket is ripped off the bed, curtains are whipped back, every drawer dumped onto the ground and cupboards yanked open. The floor shakes with the weight of their boots and you press your palm to your mouth to silence your panting breaths, slowly stepping away.

“That damn whore slipped through us—!”

But as your shitty luck would have it, a sudden crack has the whole world coming to a standstill.

Shit. You look down at your feet, realizing that the snapping noise came from you stepping on a twig. And it’s exposed your hiding place.

“There she is!” — “Out the back window!”

You grab fistfuls of your dress and bolt. 

“Get her!”

With your cottage on the edge of town, there’s nowhere to run but through the dense woods. It’s shrouded in the darkness, no doubt filled with wild beasts creeping through the thicket. The rustling canopy of the trees doesn’t allow the dim, waning moonlight to illuminate your path.

So you’re left blind. Struggling up the high incline of the forest, feet slipping on dirt and mud. But you keep sprinting with all your might, even when the pointed, coiling branches scrape at your calves until blood sheds and the hem of your dress tears in the underbrush.

“Run, little rabbit!” one of them mocks, “Run!”

The four men continue to give chase, gripping onto their roaring torches, shrieking and howling after you. One of them is manically laughing as if your efforts to flee only adds to the thrill. Their greased hands reach out to snatch you, but the tips of their fingers graze the ends of your hair.

Your teeth are sunk into the bottom of your lip, sobs breaking through your aching chest. Your lungs burn, dying for a break or moment of relief. But you don’t relent and luckily, you manage to build distance between you and the men. Only, that luck comes crashing down by a fucking hole.

A hole in the forest floor that you don’t see. That has your footing all wrong. That makes you scream and fall.

You twist your ankle in a direction it’s definitely not supposed to be in and cry from pain. 

A second later, you force yourself to get up and keep running with tears flooding your eyes and dripping down your cheeks. But it’s more like limping than running, akin to hobbling on one leg and every movement has pain shooting from your swelling ankle.

The effort becomes futile. They surround you within minutes.

“All finished?” The tax-collector’s head cocks with a spreading grin. “You’re not going to keep running?”

Why couldn’t you just fucking die the first time?! Even if it was an awful death where you didn’t have time to prepare yourself or say goodbye to anyone, at least it would’ve been the end. At least you wouldn’t have to suffer.

But there’s no time to grieve. Or hate the new life you’ve been given. This is it. You have to keep going. You have to survive. By any means. You’re about to pick up a branch and uselessly wave it around at them, shout at them to stand back. Anything that you could do to save yourself—

“Who dares come onto my mountain?!”

There’s a deep timbre behind you. A husky voice that quivers the very core of the forest.

As if the wind has swept through, the trees and thicket rustle and it goes silent.

The men fall back onto their asses, some torches clattering to the ground. Their eyes have grown double in size, nearly falling from their sockets and their jaws have dropped to the dirt.

“I-It’s the nine-tailed fox!”

The man scrambles back.

“Demon!” 

Another barely manages to get onto his feet. He turns around and lurches away while shrieking.

They all run. Scattering away as frantically as cockroaches when the light is flickered on.

From your spot on the ground, you turn around with wide eyes. 

Amber irises meet your gawking and they practically glow in the darkness of the forest. He is dressed in a loose, white robe that’s draped over his frame, open to the middle of his chest. And over his honey hair, on the top of his head, his pointed golden ears twitch. By the torch fire still yet to die out, he is illuminated and his shadow is casted on the ground. The blazing flame warms his cold, sharp features. 

He is the most beautiful person you’ve ever seen. In both worlds you’ve lived in.

And you know who he is.

Taehyung. One of the love interests of the hero. A seductive, sly creature that eventually coaxes the hero into selling him his soul to grant one of his wishes. But Taehyung grows to become an obsessed character that wants to do nothing but monopolize and possess the hero for himself.

That same Taehyung approaches you with his lip curled as you teeter to your feet.

“Run away, girl.” He leans close. “Before I eat you.”

“Stop!” 

On sheer instinct and adrenaline, you push him back. Your palm shoves against his firm chest.

Taehyung stumbles back with his eyes becoming rounded. He looks down to where you had made contact against his body. “Did...you just touch me?”

“What?”

Taehyung’s head darts upwards and he captures your wrist in his hand, squeezing tightly. He tugs you in and on your swollen ankle, you stumble into him. Bodies flush against one another. Your face pressed to his warm chest. His arm coming around your waist to break your fall.

He is aghast. 

“You’re not from this world.” Taehyung’s yellow eyes swirl as they gaze into you. “Where did you come from?”

…

It’s been three days.

“Wed me,” he begs for the seventy sixth time. 

You don’t know why you’re keeping a count.

“No.”

You’re hugging your knees for warmth. The rice paper-paneled doors are slid open and letting in the chilly air. He doesn’t seem to be affected by the cold, but you don’t look at him for long. 

You turn into the corner of his home while sitting on the tatami floors as if you’re putting yourself into time out. But you’d like to say it’s your privacy corner. It’s as private as this abode, which was basically one room, could get. 

Taehyung sighs in frustration, placing his hand on his forehead. His teeth grit. “You’re only making this harder for yourself.” Your silence angers him more. “You can never leave.”

You turn over your shoulder to glare. “Even if I married you, you’d never let me leave anyway.”

Taehyung narrows his eyes on you and then smirks. “You’re right. Wed or unwed, I won’t let you out of my sight. You should feel grateful, girl. You’re the best human I’ve ever treated.”

You quietly scoff.

Maybe you should feel scared. Maybe you should tread more lightly. After all, he’s not a character to be trifled with.

But you know he needs you. That alone gives you power. 

As a beast, Taehyung’s been trapped on this mountain by priests for centuries. The only way he can be free is by feeding off of sexual energy and breaking the barrier. But of course, they also cursed him to be unable to touch any woman in this universe. 

You aren’t from this universe.

You jolt when you realize that while you were lost in thought, Taehyung’s crawled closer. He has a foxy smile, amber eyes searching your expression. “Maybe….maybe I’ll grant you a bit of freedom if you would just give into the temptation and let me have a taste of you.”

As cold as he looks, he is beautiful. He is mischievous when he smirks and sly when he speaks. You are utterly spellbound as you look into his irises. And the temptation he speaks of flickers in the warmth of your belly.

But you turn away.

“I already said we only do that kind of thing after marriage. And I will only marry someone I love.”

Taehyung draws back with an unamused scoff. “What a prudish world you’re from.”

He wanted you the moment you were brought to this house. With the intensity of his stare and your captivated state, you had let him pin you to his floor and you liked it. But then clarity came and you blurted that such an act only happens after marriage. A lie just to buy time.

You didn’t expect for the hero to arrive at Taehyung’s house the next day. With his red hair and bronze armour, he had gotten lost in the forest and knocked on the door. Before you could limp over and answer it, Taehyung jumped off the roof and confronted him.

The guy was thrown off the mountain within five minutes.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. They were supposed to have a steamy rendezvous. Taehyung was supposed to get the sexual energy from him! 

The story was going off the rails. And you’re not sure what you’re even buying time for anymore.

The both of you know it’s only a matter of time before you break and succumb to his mesmerizing seduction.

Taehyung is cruel, ruthless, obsessive.

But what’s the most bewitching thing about him is the jarring contrast of when he’s clumsy and nurturing. It’s what he regards as his own weakness. What he hides from others. But you felt your heart waver two nights ago when you were shaken awake in the middle of twilight. When you peeked open your eye to see him gingerly wrapping your swollen ankle with bandages.

He looked beautiful in the pale moonlight, ears, tails, sharp features softened—

“Ow!” You wince as he squeezes your ankle, right on your injury.

“You think too much in your head,” he says and looks at you. “What’s wrong?”

“It hurts.”

A sadistic smile tugs on Taehyung’s lips. He lets go, but only to lift your chin with his fingers. His plush lips are inches away, his breath warm on your skin and he gazes deep into you. “I won’t let you return to your world. I won’t let you run away. I won’t let anyone harm you.”

“You’re mine now.” Taehyung swears, “You’ll fall in love with me eventually.”

You gulp and he smirks.

The two of you know it’s only a matter of time.

[tanakavox]

here guys. This reaction was done @bssaz97 again. And that's it for the author's note.

"I miss baby Zwei!" Weiss sulked.

"We know Weiss, you've been saying that for the past ten minutes," Blake's vein appeared on her head.

"Why can't we see more of him! He was so cute and innocent!" Weiss crosses her arms and huffs..

"He spent the entire time antagonizing me!" Jaune replied.

"He can never do wrong." Weiss cemented in her mind.

"Forget it VB, she's a lost cause." Yang told her fellow blonde.

"Well let's see what this next viewing has in store for us all." Ren calmly stated.

The screen shows Jaune on Planet Namek facepalming.

"Urgh, what was that idiot DOING bringing me here!" He mutters before turning to look around his eyes widening. "It's... Wait a minute, I can feel it... This is my home! I can finally see its beauty! The lush blue fields, the crystal clear waters, the wind brushing past my... GOD, THIS IS BORING!" He yelled out before groaning. "No wonder I feel at home."

"We're back to Namek!" Ruby shouted in excitement.

"And there's alien Jaune-Jaune!" Nora jumped in.

"Wait isn't this the world where Cinder is supposed to be really powerful?" Jaune asked.

"...oh crud/shit." Many of the original audience replied. Those who were new to the theater didn't exactly understand what they meant but supposed they would eventually see why.

The scene cuts to Cinder confronting Mercury, Oscar, Neptune, and Trifa

"Oh hell yeah! Emerald wake up, we're back in the world where I'm a badass prince!" Mercury says as he shakes her shoulder.

Emerald loudly snores.

"Hey! You said to wake you when 'the snooze fest' was over."

"Not… interested." Emerald conveniently snored.

"Emerald, you will watch this viewing." Cinder orders.

"Yes Cinder!" Emerald miraculously much more awake.

"Wooow." Mercury drawls, shaking his head in genuine disappointment.

"Shut it!" Emerald hissed.

Cinder smiles coldly at them. "Well, Mercury. You've finally pulled it off. You've managed to dash my hopes entirely. With some help, I see." she turns to look at the rest of the group.

"Quack!"

"Neptune, seriously, not helping!" Oscar said ebowing him.

"I can try."

"I'm very curious. Where exactly are you from?" Cinder asks calmly.

"Don't you snitch!" Nora shouted at the screen.

"We're from rem-" Neptune started before Oscar stopped him.

"Neptune, no!"

"Oh right... Thanks for stopping me, Oscar. 'Cause I can't shut-."

"They're from Remnant." Trifa deadpanned.

"Traitor!" Ruby glared at the girl on the screen. Her anger was shared by many in the audience. Whether good or bad.

Blake was feeling the same amount of betrayal twice after remembering how Trifa was one of Ada-his agents sent to kidnap her in the past.

" Little bow girl, why?!" Neptune shouted out in disbelief.

"Because my name is Trifa."

Nora huffed, "Well maybe your name should little bi-!"

"Nora please." Ren asked his oldest friend and companion to let it go.

"'Sigh.' Fine, but I'm still mad." Nora said.

"Oh good. I'll stop by there on the way home. Pick up some space eggs, some space milk, and BLOW IT THE F**K UP!" Cinder screamed at them before calming here. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm usually far more composed. I'm just a little bit ABSOLUTELY LIVID." She said with barely contained rage.

"Oh, Cinder. Quit being such a bitch. I lost my chance at immortality too and you don't see me crying about it." Mercury said mocking with a smirk.

"Yep. Sucks to suck!" Yang stayed for both Cinder's in the audience and on screen.

"Care to say that to my face." Cinder stood up.

"Whoa now One Eye Cinder. We can't fight here, remember, so I can say whatever I like and there's nothing you can do to stop me." Yang explains with a toothy grin.

Cinder growls, but reluctantly sat back down as she began to curse this theater's damned rules.

"Yes, Mercury. But you see, the difference between us is I'll live long enough to regret it." Cinder charges at Mercury and engages him in battle with a battle cry.

Scene cuts to Jaune flying through the sky

"Hey we were getting to the good part!" Mercury shouted.

"And what part would that exactly be Mercury?" Cinder asked directly.

"The fight scene, what else." He said nonchalantly.

Cinder stared at him for a moment before looking back at the screen. Mercury was one of the few people that she could tolerate back talking to her so she paid it no mind.

"Everything looks the goddamn same on this goddamn planet!" He thinks and sighs before he sees something on the ground. "Wait a minute, a body! SOCIAL ACTIVITY!" Jaune yells as he yells flying down and landing next to a body, which was Hazel. "Please tell me you're not dead!"

Hazel begins to speaks in Namekian/Klingon

"What the hell is he saying?" Coco asked.

"It appears he is attempting to communicate with Mr. Arc's alternate in their native tongue." Ozpin rationalized.

"Do you know what he's saying Jaune?" Velvet asked.

"Velvet, I think Ozpin means-."

Velvet giggles before she starts laughing. Her team along with his shortly after.

Jaune was staring at them confusedly before his eyes widened in realization. He chuckled while rolling his eyes, "Oh haha, very funny Velvet."

Ruby just stared at the exchange expressionless, the joke was funny but for some reason she didn't want to laugh. Weird.

"Ah, crap. I find the only living thing for miles- and he's so broken he can't even talk right."

" I was speaking Namekian, you idiot. Don't you know anything about your own people?" Hazel gasps out, barely holding on to life.

"Well, we're demons, right?" Jaune asks hopefully.

"Eh, more like slug people."

"Ah, dammit! I liked it better when I was a demon."

"And I liked it better when I had proper bladder control. Nobody's perfect."

"Yeah, I've been meaning to ask about that. What happened?"

"Let's just say our world elder's kind of a giant green asshole."

Jaune and many of the other male audience members bowed their heads in silence for loss bestowed on the Namekian people.

"Yeesh! Port's a bit of a dick in this one… or lack thereof," Yang quipped.

"YANG!"

"Too soon?" Yang winced.

"Preachin' to the choir on that one." Jaune agreed, an image of Ozpin showing in his head. "Well, it's been fun, but I have to go DIE again…" He turns to leave.

Jaune mentally groaned as he remembered that in this world his life was the one entwined with Ozpin. Also he no more thrilled about the prospect of seeing his alternate die (again?) in a way that could've been easily avoided.

"Dang Arc, you're a bit sassy in this world, huh?" Coco asked.

"And green with antennas." Velvet whispered to Fox.

"Ahhh," Fox nodded, getting a clue of what the counterpart looked like.

"Wait. I might be able to help you." gasped out Hazel.

"Look, buddy. If you want to add me on MySpace, I switched to Spacebook a while ago." Jaune turns to left again.

"What's MySpace?" Oscar asked.

"Beats me, but it sounds mega old." Yang commented.

Ozpin, Glynda, Qrow and even Winter winced at Yang's unintentional jab at them. All of them who used to own MySpace accounts.

Salem just looked confused at the mention of these names. 'What's a MySpace and Spacebook? Is it a form of communication?' She thought to herself.

"No, no, no, no. Listen. I think I know something that might work out for both of us. I don't wanna die and you seem pretty lonely."

"DESPERA-, I mean, go on."Jaune said, getting yells before switching back to a normal tone.

"There's a special ability our people share. Forbidden, even amongst our most sacred clans."

"And we're just going to abuse it?" Jaune asked

"Oh, maliciously!" Hazel said with a grin.

"Bitchin'! How we do?"

"Well that didn't take much convincing at all." Emerald said, impressed by how quickly it took the dying Hazel to convince Arc to comment on what was probably the Namekians form of the Black Arts.

"Hey Jaune-Jaune needs all the power he can get if he wants to kick Cinder's butt!" Nora shot back. "Yeah!" Ruby echoed Nora's sentiment.

"Well, first you put your hand upon me."

" 'Kay" He places his hand on Hazel's elbow)

"Yes. Like that. Now lower."

"Uh-huh."

"Lower."

"Hmm…"

"Little lower."

"Hmm..".

"Ah! If we had junk, you'd be gay right now." Jaune groans as Hazel smirks at him. "Fusing!"

"Gods Dammit!" Jaune facepalmed. He couldn't believe how his alternate would fall for such an obvious trick…. though to be honest he probably would have fallen for it all the same.

Jaune fuses with Hazel, a bright light blinding the viewers. After it's disappears, Jaune only is there and he looks at his hands in wonder.

"Wow. Unreal. My gosh. This is amazing! I feel INCREDIBLE!" He then begins to chant Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! I can win! I feel great! I-can-do-this! HAAA…"

Hazel's voice from inside is heard inside Jaune's head. "What are you doing?" He asked.

"Nothing." Jaune replies after stammering a bit.

"Really? 'Cause it looked like you were chanting to yourself."

"Are you in my head?" Jaune ask changing the subject.

"Yup. Don't worry; supposedly I should fade away into your subconscious. Sooner or later."

"Is this what it was like for you?" Jaune asked Oscar.

"Pretty much." Oscar deadpanned

"...Wow, that's really weird." Jaune slumped in his chair.

"Yep. Well, you kinda get used to it after a while." Oscar replied.

"Does it?" Jaune asked him seriously.

"...No." Oscar slumped into his chair as well.

'If I could have carried this burden in my original body for all these millennia and spared you, I would have… no one deserves this burden.' Ozpin told himself in his mind. He determined it would fix nothing if he told them that, there was no changing the past.

"Okay. So, what now?"

"By my estimate, this fusion should have given you just enough power to wipe out the bitch who killed our people."

"And?"

"Well, let me put this in terms you'll understand: You can win! You feel great! You-can-do-this!" Hazel said, repeating Jaune's chant.

"Oh, ha-ha!"

"Yeah go Jaune/Fearless Leader!" Ruby and Nora both cheered.

Jaune's face turned beet red, but he did appreciate their show of support.

The scene cuts to Mercury and Cinder in a brawler lock

"Impudent... little…" Cinder hissed. Her scouter shows "F**K THIS I'M OUT" before exploding on her face, Cinder grunting in pain.

"Damn, Mercury must actually be pretty strong to make that device off itself," Yang stated.

"Why do you sound so surprised blondie? Still sore about our match up?" Mercury quipped.

"You are so lucky I can't mop the floor with your face." Yang shot back, her eyes flashing crimson.

Mercury and Cinder both back off, producing a small crater due to their power.

"I'm impressed, Mercury. When did you graduate from pull-ups?" Cinder said mocking.

"About the same time you got off the rag." Mercury fired back.

Cinder smirks a bit. "Cute. But bear no false hopes, Mercury. You're a mere paper tiger in front of a storm. You have no idea what true power I possess."

"It's that you can transform, right?"

"I can transform…" Cinder's face's falls. "Okay, when and how?"

"Guldo told me."

A flashback of a conversation between Mercury and Guldo appears

"So... Did you know that Cinder can transform?" Guldo said.

"Huh. That right?" Mercury said disinterested.

"Yeah. And Burter's gay."

"Really!?" Mercury asked, genuinely surprised

(back to present)

"And then I threw a dog treat at him. True story."

"That's so rude!" said the collective voices of Ruby, Weiss, Velvet, and Fiona.

"Oh cry me a river, I lost my conscience long ago." Mercury replied back.

"Right. But if you are so aware, why do you persist in goading me?" Cinder question raising an eyebrow.

Mercury grinned viciously."Because Cinder. You're not dealing with the average Saiyan warrior anymore. I am a Super Saiyan!"

….

"A what?" Oscar asked.

Cinder rolls her eyes at this apparently hearing this before. "Oh, here we go!"

"That's right, Cinder. I've arisen beyond the limits of a normal Saiyan, and into the realm of legend- the legend that you fear. The legend known throughout the entire universe as the most powerful warrior to ever exist!" Cinder starts speaking faintly at this point alongside him. "I, Prince Mercury, have become a..". Cinder cuts him off

"...Super Saiyan. Blah, blah, blah, blah, I get it. Then you slayed the Jabberwocky and went on to save Narnia." She clearly wasn't taking him seriously.

"Wow! This Super Saiyan sounds awesome!" Yang concluded. Her sister as well as Jaune, Nora, Oscar and Ren. What? He could like things.

"Thanks for the praise Blondie." Mercury said.

"Yeah something tells me your alternate is way too overestimating himself." Emerald stated.

"You're just jealous you're not a Super Saiyan." Mercury shot back, unfazed by her earlier remark. Causing Emerald to roll her eyes.

While the name seemed silly to the more mature members of the audience, they too were intrigued by the tale of this being.

"Go ahead and mock me, Cinder, but I'm not afraid of you. So why don't you doll yourself up and get ready for a night on the town, because I'm about to take you to a ballroom blitz."

"Fine. I'll indulge you, Mr. Super Saiyan. But before I do I have a funny little story I'd like to tell you."

"Funny how?"

"I like to call it, "I killed your dad"."

"...Was that supposed to shock me?" Mercury questioned.

Mercury stares at Cinder blankly. "So "ha-ha" funny."

"You see, thanks to a rogue lower-class warrior, your father caught wind of my plans…"

(flashback to planet Mercury)

A saiyan runs up to What seemed to be Marcus Black

"King Mercury, I have urgent news!"

"Speak, Butarega." King Marcus/Mercury said in a booming tone.

'Wait why does the old bastard have my name? Eh, guess it doesn't matter. Wait, does that make me a junior?!' Mercury thought.

"Well well, looks like I should call you Junior now. Huh?" Emerald comments, her smirk showing she greatly appreciated this new knowledge.

"I'm not a junior!" Mercury yelled.

"What's that? Couldn't hear you Junior!" Yang joins in on the teasing.

"I'm gonna get back at you both. Just you wait." Mercury growled. Hating how the tables have turned on him.

"Bardock has gone absolutely mad, sire!"

Off-screen someone screamed out: "Cinderrrr!"

"What's all the commotion about?" King Marcus/Mercury asked.

"He's been telling everyone that Cinder plans to destroy Mercury!"

"Wait, my son, the planet, or me?"

BUTAREGA looks at the king for a few moments before answering " ...Yes."

King Marcus/Mercury blasts Butarega away.

"Oh my gods!" Ruby cried out.

She and many others in the audience were shocked that the Saiyan King just killed his subordinate so callously. However, both Salem and Cinder were impressed at the King's show of force.

"Freakin' smartass." King Marcus/Mercury mutters and goes look a the Counselor. "Counselor Obleck, what do you think?"

"Let me tell you what you need to do. You need to sit him down…" Oobleck began.

"Uh-huh." King Marcus/Mercury said nodding his head.

"...you look her dead in the eye…"

"Yes."

" ...and you say, "Don't blow up my planet.""

"What? He can't be serious." Winter remarked.

"It appears that this version of Bart is not as wise or tactful as he is in our world." Ozpin rationalized.

Teams RWBY and JNR pressed 'X' to doubt.

"And you think that will work?" King Marcus/Mercury asked.

"she'd have to be aaaaaaawfully evil if it didn't. And I'm not gonna lie, I like the cut of her jib." Oobleck said with a grin.

"All right, but I want you to take my son, the Prince, off-planet just in case things go south."

"Don't worry, sir. You'll do juuuuuust fine."

"Wait. Hold on a damn minute, the old bastard actually cares about someone other than himself? Yeah like that's legit." Mercury crosses his arms.

Some in the audience looked at the silver haired assassin and just for a moment, they felt sympathy for him.

shifts to King Mercury approaching Cinder,.

"Cinder, can I sit down and have a word with-" King Marcus/Mercury said before Cinder interpreted him.

"SHORYUKEN!" Cinder yelled out, uppercutting King Marcus/Mercury in the jaw, causing the latter to fall back while producing with an echoing scream.

"K.O.! YOU WIN!" A voice yelled out.

"Yatta." Cinder whisper out looking at the king's dead body with grin

"Seems negotiations didn't go as he was expecting." Cinder floated to herself. What she didn't notice was that Mercury had stared at her after that statement was said.

He wasn't sure why but hearing her gloat about killing his dad made him feel… odd. It's probably the popcorn he was eating. Nothing more.

(back to present)

"And then I blew the planet up. The end."

Mercury stares at Cinder confused. "How did you know about the parts you weren't there for?"

Cinder gives a blank stare at Mercury and then proceeds to transform.

"Wow, nice comeback Cinder. Really showed him." Jaune said.

Cinder chose to ignore the blonde fool, she didn't dare waste the energy to acknowledge him.

"Nep, do you feel that?" Oscar asked with a fearful look as Cinder's power grew as her body.

"I taste that!" Neptune screamed a look as fear on his face as well.

Cinder finishes transforming into his second form, a Bigger bulkier form.

"Whoa! She's huge! Like that Hazel guy from Haven!" Nora shouted.

"She sure is..." Emerald didn't know how to feel about this new form of Cinder's. It looked too bulky and tall.

"She kinda looks like a bull with those horns." Ruby noted.

"All done." Cinder smiles a bit looking at all of them satisfied. "And judging by the expression on your face, so are you."

"What...? How?" The usual cockiness in his voice was gone.

"Let's be practical and put a number to that feeling, shall we? Last time I clocked this form it was at... one million." Cinder's smile only grows widener.

The audience didn't know what she meant by that but they determined that it must've meant that she was terrifyingly strong.

Cinder loved it, if only she could feel what that power was like. She might even get drunk from it.

"You're lying!"

"Am I? Am I really?" Cinder sarcastically said, raises her hand and explodes the island that everyone is currently standing on, making an explosion so big that it can be seen from the planet. Cinder is shown standing on what's left of the island.

"Whoa!" Fiona and CVY cried out. This being their first time seeing a destructive force of this magnitude. Whitley also sweat dropped, while he had been pleased with how powerful he was in one of the previous worlds. This was an entirely different kind of power than he thought was ever possible.

"Not impressed!" Mercury yelled off screen. "I can do that, too!"

"Neptune, are you okay?" Oscar asks flying above the destroyed island.

"Yeah, and I've got a Little bow girl right here!" Neptune replied with a grin holding Trifa closely.

Cinder begans sings to. " Peaceful young races with fires on their houses

Millions of voices all silenced like mouses

Watching the cowards bow toward their new king

These are a few of my favorite things "

"Oh great she's singing now, as if this Cinder wasn't terrifying enough." Oscar said while clinging to his seat in fear.

"Is it just me, or is she singing to herself?" Neptune asks but is cut off by Cinder charging at him and impaling him with one of her horns, causing Neptune to drop Trifa.

(Neptune Owned Count: 15)

Neptune screams in pain.

"Oh no!" Ruby cried out. But immediately was off put by the showed counter on the screen.

Some in the audience giggled at the sight of the counter, even if they knew it was wrong.

"Neptune!" Oscar screamed out.

"Well, he's dead." Mercury deadpanned in his head.

"This is... the worst... pai-i-i-in!" Neptune said through gritted his teeth.

"Really? Sure it isn't this?" She looks up and starts shifting her head up and down." Or this? Or this? Or this? Or this? (Neptune Owned Count: 16-21, with two 1Ups coming up in the last two ones)

"Neptune, stop! You're making him stronger!" Oscar pleaded.

"I-can't-help-it!" Neptune screamed.

(Neptune Owned Count: 22-25)

At this point most of the audience were laughing. It was a horribly dark joke, but the presentation was spot on and too hilarious. The huntsmen and huntresses that knew the blue haired boy felt very guilty, but they couldn't stop laughing.

"One down!" Cinder throws Neptune off her horn and towards the lake. "Ah, I think impalement is my favorite way to kill a person."

Oscar begans to shake with rage. "You condescending... sadistic... callous... MOTHERF**KER!"

"Pardon?" Cinder ask with a raised eyebrow but then Oscar attacks Cinder by kicking and punching her in the face before knocking her upward with an uppercut and finally kicks her towards the ground. Oscar then starts charging up an energy blast.

"WHOO! Go Cute Boy Oscar! Woo-woo-woo!" Nora cheered on her newest teammate. His other friends joined in cheering for Oscar's alternate.

Oscar was deeply embarrassed but also very ecstatic that he was able to keep up with the frightening tyrant.

"Oscar SMASH EFFEMINATE ALIEN! Oscar STRONGEST THERE IS!" Oscar thought to himself.

Oscar launches a ki blast directly at Cinder, causing a massive explosion. Oscar is then seen in midair catching his breath. Cinder is seen lying face down on the ground, covered in sand from Oscar's assault.

"Ten points for team ALPN!" Nora cheered.

"Yeah, how's that feel, Cinder?" Mercury yelled out. "Now if you can, why don't you pick your sorry ass up and take on a REAL Saiyan…" Mercury's voice trails off as Cinder is seen getting up with a annoyed look.

"Huh. That happened." She muttered before turning to Mercury. "Mercury, mind sitting right there for just a moment, I need to go play babysitter."

"Oh crap, abort Oscar! Abort!" Jaune called out.

"Think! What would Dad do in this situation?" Oscar began to think to himself in a panic.

A flashback of Sun wearing a backpack showed up.

"Bye, son!" Sun said in the flashback in a big dopey smile.

"Damn it Sun." Blake facepalmed.

"Wow, my other self has some issues." Oscar realizes.

(back to present)

"I'm beginning to think I have issues…" Oscar thought to himself when he got punched by Cinder and hit the ground. He tries to get up, but gets crushed by Cinder's foot.

Cinder turns to grin at the Silver haired man. "So, Mercury. Does this get you angry?"

"It's getting ME angry!" Nora shouts at the screen. Her team, RWBY, Qrow, Ozpin and Winter show the same hostility towards the Cinder in the screen.

Mercury shrugs. "Not really. Kind of a smartass."

Cinder frowns "Well then, why am I even bothering?"

"Because you get off on it?" Mercury said hetaintly.

Cinder grins viciously. "Oh, unbelievably... Huh?" Cinder moves to dodges a disc but her tail gets cut off. She turns to glare at culprit.

"Alright, who has the balls?!" She screams out.

Camera zooms on to Neptune, who is the one responsible for cutting off Cinder's tail. Neptune then turns around and starts repeatedly spanking his butt.

"Kiss my ass, bitch! I'm immortal!"

Cinder growls angrily and flies after Neptune.

"Whoa! Neptune's back up already? I thought he was out for the count!" Yang confused. Happy that he lived but still confused as to how he was back in good shape.

Neptune imitates Curly's whooping sounds while flying away and screams: "Suuuck myy diiii…"

The shifts to Mercury thinking to himself. "How the hell did he get up? Oh, my God, I swear if he used that wish of immortality on himself, I am going to murd... " He stops himself and opens his mouth in shock. And speaks out loud after a short pause. "That... bastard."

"Hahaha-ha-ha! You can't kill an immortal!" Emerald laughed.

"Why are you laughing? Weren't you cheering for Cinder?" Mercury implies.

"I am but I'm also cheering against you." Emerald explains.

"You're despicable, you know that right?" Mercury deadpanned.

The scene shifts to Trifa healing Oscar "Come on... You can't leave me alone here; you're the only one I can talk to!" She mutters to herself.

Oscar eyes open, regaining consciousness."I... you... healed me."

"You are the only one I respect."

"Then why did you heal Neptune?"

"The better question is: why did I tell him he was immortal?"

"Ok where is this girl in real life, I'm starting to like her style." Emerald comments.

"I'm starting to not like this Bow Girl." Weiss concludes.

"Yeah that was kinda mean." Ruby adds.

"But it did give him a helluva confidence boost." Yang points out.

The audience reluctantly agrees with Yang.

Neptune flies back to the battlefield with a huge grin. "Holy crap! Thank God I'm immortal!"

"Actually, I healed you, you idiot!" Trifa said off-screen.

"Wait, so I could have died back there?" Neptune realized with his eyes widing.

"After all that you're just going to tear him down like that!" Weiss shouted.

"Yeah, and unlike the runt and I, you don't get a power boost from it." Mercury replied.

"Hax! I call hax!" Neptune whined.

The audience agreed with Screen Neptune.

"How did you escape?" Oscar asked.

"Oh, it was awesome!" See, She was gaining on me there for a minute, but then I managed to lose her in some crevices, but she kept cutting me off at every pass."

"She didn't just blow it up?" Mercury pointed out?"

"Thought the same thing, but no! So I thought fast and I used the Solar Flare on her!"

"And then you used your Kienzan to cut her in half?" Oscar asked gleefully

"Um…"

Cinder flies back to the battlefield, angrily and screams at them. "I WILL MOUNT YOUR HEAD WHERE MY TAIL USED TO BE!"

"To answer your question, Oscar. No, I did not do that." Neptune muttered.

"Damn seriously? He could have finished her off so easily, it was literally in his grasp." Coco shakes her head.

"Douse this bitch!" Mercury yelled.

Mercury, Oscar, and Neptune fire a barrage of energy blasts at Cinder, covering her in smoke.

"Did we get her?" Neptune asked

"Neptune, we can feel her energy. Why do you bother asking?" Oscar asked back annoyed.

"I'm an optimist."

"You're an idiot." Mercury said, glaring at him.

"You're both wrong. You're dead." Cinder said as the smoke cleared and is shown to be unfazed by the blasts.

"You know what? I'm sick of this." Oscar said, his face hardening. "If I'm gonna die, then I'm gonna go out the same way Jaune would!" He moves in to attack Cinder head-on.

"Oscar, no!" Neptune goes to fly after Oscar.

"No! What are you doing?! Don't go out like my other self!" Jaune shouted clutching his head.

RWBY, ALPN, and Ozpin were clouded in worry.

" No, goddamn it!" Mercury also flies after Oscar when a new figure surrounded by light appears in front of the trio. The light clears, and the figure is revealed to be Jaune.

"M... Mr. Jaune!" Oscar cried out.

"Yes! Fearless Leader is here for the rescue!" Nora cheered.

The Jaune in the audience let out a sigh of relief.

"Well, well, well! I'm legitimately surprised I missed one of you." Cinder smiles a bit. "But that's just fine because I've been working on some jokes. Now tell me if you've heard this one: How many Namekians does it take to-" She gets sent flying by a punch from Jaune.

"Just one." Jaune said stoically.

"GO JAUNE GO!" Ruby screamed.

Most of the audience looked towards her from her outburst, including Jaune who was staring wide eyed at her.

"Er, you know. Smash Tyrant Cinder's no good face." She attempts to save face, throwing out air punches to diffuse the situation.

"...Yeah!" Nora shouted.

[doodlingstuff]

The Butcher’s Wife

*This starts romantic, fun and sweet, but ends dark, angsty and painful. Read at your own risk.*

Partially based on true events.

You can also read on AO3.

1 Meet the Butcher

The clack of the tumbler against the counter breaks through the loud music of the club. The looks in her direction don’t stop Mary from holding her hand up, asking for another drink.

Her plan today, is drowning herself in alcohol until she forgets.

“That would be one drink too many, love.” Carol says, bringing down Mary’s lifted arm to catch the attention of the bartender.

“I’m paying for them. Got my own money.”

“Oh, you stubborn brat.” Leika says from her other side, grabbing Mary from the shoulders. “It’s not about the money, but your liver.”

“Can get another liver! Can get as many organs as I like!” Mary replies indignant. Her friends should be a support, not a liability.  

Perhaps Mary should’ve tell why she had dragged them to an almost empty club on a Wednesday night.

Leika and Carol watch with disapproval as the next drink is poured. Mary doesn’t care. She will drink as much as she wants. She’ll piss her parents off and then she’ll make her brother Stuart give her an endless reprimand. But she’ll get away with it.  

Mary will do things her way no matter what.

“At least make it last, won’t you?” Carol asks this time, softer.  

“And you could you know, tell us what the fuck has you moaning. Was a man, wasn’t it?”

“You’re like this for a man, sweetheart?” Carol took a strand of blond hair and passed it behind Mary’s ear.

“Tell us the name and he’s dead.”

“Stuart.”

“St- Your brother? What the hell Mary?” Mary gives a sip to her drink before replying.

“And father.” She takes another sip. “And mother.” Mary downs the rest of the liquor and slams the glass again on the counter.

“All Hatfords are f-” Mary is interrupted by her hiccup. “-cking nuts.”

Instead of giving her the oblivion she sought, alcohol is making Mary’s tongue slippery. She must start measuring her words. Not because of her friends though. They know –sort of- that Mary belongs to the British mafia.  

Or at least, they know the basics: big family business, Mary wants to live her own life, Stuart is a clod who is decided to rule with Mary once she turns twenty-one. Today is her twenty-first birthday. The talk didn’t go well. Mary just wants to forget.

But in the meantime, she must be careful of who’s listening to her words. Normal people tend to get spooky when they hear “mafia” out loud and so close.

“What with them now?” Leika asks, bored and stretching out her own hand to buy them drinks. Mary is thankful that her friends know when to stop taking care of her, and start joining the party. They’ll need a cab for sure once they’re done.

“I’m twenty-one today. Time for me to join the biz. I don’t want to. I won’t do it.” Mary finally buries her face in her hands. There’s no point in giving herself a hangover when that isn’t going to fix anything.

“It’s your birthday?” Carol asked, oblivious to the real problem. “We should be partying, not watching you get drunk, love!”

“Why would I celebrate? Stuart has all this plans and my parents agree with him, and I just want to live.”

“Then go live! What’s stopping you?” It’s Leika now the one who slams the glass on the counter. “Hey, you. Another round here!” She shouts to the bartender.

Mary doesn’t waste her breath. She just stares at her friend. They know Mary can’t just walk away from her family. At least not if she intends to reach her next birthday.

“Shit. Your right.” Leika says, reading the dread look in Mary’s eyes.

“But you’ve got tonight. Go have some fun. Drink yourself senseless and tomorrow would be another day. It’s still your birthday after all.”

“You could start by banging that beefcake over there. He has been looking your way for far too long to be decent.”

“Beefcake, you said? Where?” Carol asks, sitting up straight in a careless move, so at odds with her, scanning her surroundings like hound looking for her fox.

“Sit down you moron. He’ll notice.” Leika says, pushing Carol back to her stool. “Right there.” She points a few places away. “The one with auburn hair. What. A. Man.”

“Oh, girl if you’re not taking your birthday present I am.”

Mary allows herself to feel envy of her friends just for ten seconds.

They can have their own lives. They can hookup or marry whoever they choose. They can come and go as they please without having to think about alliances, repercussions or dangers from stepping into the wrong territory.  

If only Mary could be free of that.

It’s not that she doesn’t appreciate what she’s got. She’s fortunate enough to be part of one of the “nicest” of mafia families. The Hatfords are British after all, so they’re not as blood thirsty as others. They run their every affair smoothly, easily. And they only use blunt force when needed. And only what is necessary. Not more, not less.

Those ten seconds are enough for Mary to take a glimpse at the man Leika and Carol are still savoring like one would normally do with a good steak.

Mary no longer wonders why they can’t hold their tongues in place. The chap is a beefcake indeed; strong built, rough hands, pale skin and auburn hair that seems made of copper and bronze under the lights of the club.

He doesn’t look very tall though, but that’s fine for Mary. The Hatfords aren’t a tall bunch.

“Now what? Will you drool all night with us, or you’ll actually do something useful and ask him for a drink?” Leika says.

A smile surprises Mary when it breaks free from her face. She can’t remember the last time she paid attention to a man.

Stuart, mother and father had made clear that Mary wouldn’t have a say if she married someday, and she’d been punished the few times she dared hanging out with someone. She learnt the hard way to keep her hands and eyes to herself.

But tonight, tonight she wants to celebrate and make a statement.  

“No, wait. What if he’s waiting for us to stop crowding her and then he comes to ask her for a drink?” Carol wonders, a spark of illusion making her eyes go wide.

“He’ll have to man up then. I’m not missing this lass’ face and someone has to kick her butt to make her move when he asks.”

“I’m still here, you know?”

“You shoul-Oh my God. Oh my God. OhmyGodOhmyGodOhmy Gooood. He’s walking here.”

“Bloody hell. Act normal.” Leika says, half-slapping Carol to make her turn around and ignore the man walking towards them.

Even meters away, Mary can spot the bright, chilly blue of his eyes shining like diamonds in the dim lights.

He looks like a demon made of fire and ice cutting through the crowd on his way to where Mary is sitting. It certainly looks like he is going for her, but there is no way in heaven and hell that such a man places his eyes in tiny blonde Mary with her dull gray eyes and her small frame that has nothing to do with the exuberant girls staring as the man keeps walking their way.

Mary turns around to see what kind of woman is behind her, but finds empty spots.  

When she turns again, she is surprised by a strong chest close to her face, and a mixed scent of whisky and bergamot.

“Would you grant me a dance, milady?” The stranger asks, a hand stretched in Mary’s direction.

She reacts in a haze that was probably induced by the alcohol, or it might be due to the rumble of the music, or perhaps it was the power behind those eyes that screamed danger all the way.

“Bloody hell. He’s American.” Carol whispers behind Mary’s back as she walks hand in hand with the stranger to the center of the dance floor.

Mary doesn’t have time to worry about her lack of dancing skills once they are in the middle of the crowd. Without letting go of her hand, the man makes her give a turn, and then he presses Mary’s body against his. Mary presses a hand to his chest to keep her balance, and her eyes go up, up to meet the frozen blue waiting for her.

“You looked like you needed a rescue from your friends.” The volume of the music is too loud to speak in a normal volume, but he manages to make it a provocative whisper into her ear, that sends shivers down Mary’s spine. She’s suddenly glad that he’s got a strong grip around her waist.

“Maybe I did.” She replies, steeling her voice so it doesn’t show how much this stranger is affecting her in so little time.

“What is a smart girl like you doing out on a Wednesday night?”

“It’s my birthday.” Mary says. It wasn’t exactly what she decided to go out, but it’s the truth. She shouldn’t be speaking truths to strangers. No matter how handsome they are. “What about you?”

“Business meeting.” He replies, twirling a strand of blond hair between his fingers. Mary can’t tell when she started craving to run her hands across that perfect dark red hair, but she can say they weren’t moving an inch.

“Travel often?” She asks with hoarse voice. Dammit. She won’t get anywhere good falling for a guy now.

“Not across the sea. This was a special occasion.” The smile he flashes is equal parts stunning and a promise of pain that Mary knows well.

It’s the smile of a predator.  

Something in her starts to scream to get away, but she’s too infatuated now to pay attention to her instincts.

She’s half-drunk. She’s still mad at her parents and Stuart. She still wants a way out of her life. And she’s still pressed against the hard abs of the stranger. A stranger that can become someone she knows.

“I’m Nathan.” He whispered in that deep voice that was weakening Mary more and more.

“Mary.” She manages to say.

That’s the last coherent word that Mary manages to say before getting lost in the warmth of Nathan’s body for the rest of the night.

2 Marry the Butcher

The next year comes in a wave of travels back and forth from England to the US and back.

Mary knows who she’s fallen in love with. She knows that Nathan is a charming man with her, but also the brutal head that holds power all the way from New York to D.C.  

She knows that in the bed, Nathan will tear her apart limb by limb in a succession of precise kisses that will make her unfold completely for him. But she also knows that in the basement, he is capable of tearing apart limb by limb in a succession of precise cuts anyone who crosses the Butcher’s territory.

Mary can’t care less about it.  

It’s true that he is far crueler and more bloodthirsty than anyone in her family. It’s also true that since she met him, Mary stopped seeing her friends. However, it’s also true that her family don’t stuck their noses in her life anymore.

Whatever power holds the Butcher of Baltimore, is keeping even the Hatfords away from Mary and she’s not giving that freedom up.  

So, when Nathan pulls his predator smile on her, and asks if she would marry, Mary says yes without a second thought.

Stuart is pissed. Her parents disown her. Mary doesn’t give a damn.  

Nathan is much more than what she could ever had imagined, and she doesn’t need to hide who she is in front of him. Whatever her family had done, he’d done worse.  

They are made for each other, and so they marry under the September Autum sky.  

Auburn and blond mix like the leaves falling from the trees.  

Blue opal meets silver and Mary thinks she will be safe forever.

Mary is too in love to see that the smile meeting hers for a kiss, is no longer the smile of Nathan, but the Butcher’s.

Leika and Carol cheer on the back anyway. Unaware that they won’t see Mary alive again.

That night, the Butcher tends his knives to his men, and he goes to the most expensive hotel in New York for his honey moon.

Mary believes in their love. She thinks she owns the Butcher. Mary is sure that he is hers as much as she is his.

She is so drunk in love when they arrive to their room in heated kisses, that she gives herself away without hesitation over and over again.  

With every new moan and squirm, her head gets further and further away from her body, and she totally forgets that the Butcher mustn't have any heirs.

If children arrive, Nathan will love them as much as Mary will, because they are a family now, and even if they would be strange and the kids will see and hear and learn a couple of things that no kid should know about in their entire lives, they would be perfect for them.

Those nights, are the best of Mary’s life.

She thinks she finally has it all and she dares to believe that good things will never end.

3 Fear the Butcher

When Mary realizes she has to run, it’s already too late to step back.

The first fifty pregnancy tests were a lie, so she headed on her own to the clinic only to be confirmed that she was expecting a child.

She should’ve gone back to her family. Beg forgiveness of her parents and join Stuart as head of the Hatfords. But she can unsay that she’s pregnant and escape while he's still out.  

So instead, she sees how Nathan ceases to exist and becomes the Butcher right in front of her. In their living room. The same living room where they shared kisses and dances and laughs about their families and the world.

Nathan is so angry at her that his face is contorted in rage.

Mary is waiting for words and shouts, because they had fought before.

She’s certainly not expecting the heavy hand slamming on the side of her head, making her fall to the floor.

“Nathan.” She says, her voice strained with fear. This isn’t the man she married.

“You had only one thing to do. Only one. And you failed you fucking useless whore.”

“Nathan.” She tries again.  

Her pleas turn into a kick in her belly. Mary bends and crosses her arms around her middle, trying to protect the baby if it isn’t too late already.

“One. Fucking. Thing.” Nathan crouches beside Mary. She thinks he’ll come into his senses, but it’s only to grab her from the hair and bring her to her feet. “Go get rid of that before I do.”

“Our baby. No.”

“No?”

“It’s our child. We made it. Nathan, you’re only stressed because you think you aren’t allowed to have kids, but when it’s born, things will be different. We’ll be a family.”

“A family.” Nathan echoes. Mary dares to feel a spark of hope. He had never laid a hand on her before but this will be the last time. Nathan will realize his mistake in the morning.  

They will become a family. They have to. That’s why Mary married.  

Nathan and her are bound to be together.

Nathan pushes Mary way too hard. She stumbles. He leaves.

Mary still believes Nathan will love the baby.

***

Mary comes back alone from the hospital.  

No. Not alone. She’s not alone anymore. Abram is in her arms, sleeping.

Nathan refused to go with her and he never visited, but when he sees that Abram looks just like him, he’ll fall for the baby as much as Mary has.

When Nathan meets the baby, he’ll realize that there was no point for hitting Mary so often along the past months. He’ll see what a beautiful family they’ll be.

Mary slips inside without making noises. She gives just two steps inside when a figure moves close to her.

For a moment, Mary thinks its Nathan, but she’s faced with Lola’s Joker smile.

“Look what we have here. Little bird returned with her nasty pup.” Mary braces Abram’s tiny body closer to her chest and shields him with her arms. “Maybe I can give him his first marks?”

Mary’s blood is boiling inside of her. She wants to erase the smile from Lola’s face with her fists. But once Nathan looks at Abram, he’ll see there’s no point in keeping that woman around for more than business. So, Mary swallows her hatred, leaves to her room and avoids Lola for the next days until Nathan is back home.

He finds Mary feeding Abram. The baby is always hungry and smiling. Nathan will forget his grudges when he meets the baby.

“What’s its name?” He asks from the doorframe. Mary can see it’s the Butcher talking, but she hopes that looking at the baby closer will make him shed the predator skin and become Nathan.

“Abram.”

“My mistakes should carry my name too. Nathaniel.”

“But-Okay.” Mary stops herself before unchaining the Butcher’s rage. She’s walking a thin rope. “Nathaniel Abram.”

“I don’t want to hear that crying.” Nathan says and walks the way he came.

Mary still believes that it’s only a matter of time before Nathan gives Abram a chance. She can wait. Abram can wait as well.  

They have all the time of the world.  

When Abram is asleep, Mary places him gently in the side of the bed, surrounded by a wall of pillows to avoid him from falling, and she sleeps too.

Most nights, Abram will cry in a soft way, as if he had understood Nathan’s orders. And Nathan himself stopped sharing the bed with Mary long, long ago, so it was easy for her to reach for Abram, feed him, change him and put him back to sleep without much noise.

Nathan hadn’t gotten close to Abram, but he hadn’t rejected him either.  

Mary believed they had a chance. If the Butcher wasn’t back.

That particular night, Abram cries louder. Mary changes him, tries to feed him, holds him tight to her chest to calm him, she sings to soothe him, she makes soft noises to distract him, but something is bothering Abram and she doesn’t know what that is.

Mary is tired. She has no help. She knows nothing about children. She’s losing her patience, but it’s her baby and Nathan will hear-

“I told you to keep that thing silent.”

“I don’t know what’s wrong.” Mary’s voice was cracking, close to tears. “He never cries so much. Maybe if you hold him.”

Nathan was no longer in the room. Mary shouldn’t tell him to hold Abram. The Butcher was here. She rocked Abram more to make him stop, but something was wrong and Nathan’s voice had startle him further and further as the Butcher approached them.

“Shut that thing now.”

“It’s not a thing. I can’t just unplug him. Nathan maybe he’s-”

The phrase was left unfinished as shock replaces the desperation when the Butcher grabs Abram from an arm and slams him into the floor.

Abram doesn’t cry anymore.  

“If I have to shut that the fuck again, it will be from a window. Clear?”

Mary wants to slam herself into the Butcher and take out his eyes with her bare hands. But she knows her efforts would only end in her bleeding and Abram.

Abram.

As soon as the Butcher leaves the room, Mary sinks into her knees and picks up gently the small body of her baby. Abram is not making any sound. His arm is hanging limp. There’s a gash bleeding in his head.

Mary knows she needs to get him into a hospital, but the Butcher or his people will be outside, cornering her.

With the things in the room, she cleans the wound and bandages his arm as best as he can using some of his clothes.  

A minute goes by. Then two. Then an hour.  

Mary crumbles into tears beside him and maybe it’s the movement of the bed what makes the baby let out a small sound. Mary finds his chilly blue eyes. The eyes of the Butcher still free from evil, but already filled with pain and fear.

“One of us has to make it out of here alive and it’s going to be you, Abram. I promise.”

Mary’s words are carried away by time and air, but the promise is made and she knows in that moment, that it’s only her and Abram against the world. So, she will make sure her baby lives.

Even if it costs her life.

[hateswifi]

Making Do (With What Life Give Us): Part 4

So last part, don’t be afraid to talk to me, I love interacting with you all. I hope you enjoyed this short (15k word) fic. Without further ado, I give you Part 4.

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

As her friendship with Adrien grew she realized that he and Chat Noir are the same person. They had kissed during Dark Cupid, turns out they both remember it and found it awkward and decided on being friends. They would have won the gaming competition if Marinette hadn't given her spot up to Max. She had won his father's hat competition without prior knowledge of their friendship, in fact, Gabriel had offered a scholarship which she would have taken if not had it been for her need to disappear to be Ladybug. But she did take commissions from her new uncle, Jagged Stone. Chloe and she had become co-class presidents together again and everyone was quite happy. She also joined them in battle as Queen Bee with the promise of secrecy. Adrien and Chloe had officially unofficially adopted the two blondes into their family. Her parents are super protective over them especially after hearing about their nightly escapades as heroes. As a group, they were close, with the help of her family, to figuring out who Hawkmoth is. 

After an awkward conversation that Marinette did not in fact like Nino more than a friend, he joined the friend group with the later addition of Alya, his new girlfriend. Throughout it all, Damian and her family had started to come to Paris more, thankfully no one from her friends besides Chloe and Adrien had met them. She didn't want to tell Nino and Alya because of the Ladyblog, Alya had a tendency to stretch the truth and to do practically anything to get a good story. She didn't fully trust them and with good reason and it all started at the beginning of her third year in Paris.

A new student joined the class, which would have been fine besides the lies she was constantly telling. "I'll meet you in the park in ten minutes," she had said to Adrien.

"You wouldn't believe what she just said," Adrien snickers to Marinette as she comes out of hiding.

"How'd you know I was there?" Marinette asks, sitting beside him.

"Chloe texted me saying you felt something suspicious about her," Adrien said.

"And with good intention, she's clearly lying," Marinette pouted.

"Obviously, she's best friends with Ladybug even though she just moved here? How does that even make sense?" Adrien asks. "So I'm not saying that you should, but I'm going to meet up with 'Ladybug's best friend' I feel like she would LOVE to catch up with her, don't you think?"

"I'll let you know what my dear friend says," Marinette smirks. Adrien and the rest of her brothers had started to rub off on her.

"I don't recommend it, I would wait to see what she says first," Tikki whispers from Mari's purse. "Or you could interrupt as you depending on what she says."

"We'll see," Marinette said, standing up. As she entered the park she heard the liar talking. 

She coos. "Ladybug isn't even the most powerful hero, it's Volpina, the holder of the fox miraculous." She pauses while she pulls out her necklace. "This is the fox miraculous, it used to be my grandmother's, but she passed it down to me. I let Ladybug have her time to make a name for herself because we're best friends."

"You've been here for like two days," Adrien started.

"And," Marinette says, walking up. "That was a necklace released in Gabriel's last line. Also why would you tell a total stranger about something, 'so important' something that is supposed to be a secret," Marinette said, sitting down beside Adrien.

"Sabine, Tom, and Chloe are waiting at home for lunch, want to come?" Marinette asks Adrien.

"I would love to!" the liar interrupted, standing up.

"And you are?" Marinette asks.

"Sorry Mari, my dad wants me to come home today," Adrien said, standing.

"It's fine, just remember mama and papa would be heartbroken if they don't see you soon," Marinette said walking towards the entrance.

"Hey I've been busy, could you imagine how much more busy I would be if we hadn't threatened to dye my hair?" Adrien laughs, remembering that wonderful weekend.

"What do you mean?" Lila asked, racing up behind them.

"A couple of weeks ago, Adrien wanted to have a sleepover with our friend group, but his dad was being himself and decided that he couldn't," Marinette started, prompting Adrien to finish. "They snuck in through the window with some semi-permanent dye and the dyed my hair lime green. I threatened to shave my head if he kept forcing me to stay in the house."

"You're a bad influence on him!" Lila shouts, grabbing her arm.

"All I'm showing him is that he doesn't have to live his life as a prisoner in his own house," Marinette responds, pulling her arm from Lila's clutch.

"And I couldn't be happier," Adrien says as his car pulls up. "Bye Mari, we still on for after school?"

"Yes, Mama said if you don't learn how to back soon she'll disown me," Marinette laughs, hugging him.

"She can't disown you and even if she did Bruce would be more than happy to take you back," Adrien snickers.

"So are we never going to talk about this again?" Lila asked, the two friends stopping in their tracks.

"As long as you don't lie, we could start a friendship," Marinette smiles. "See you in class, Lila. Welcome to our class." They wave and walk there separate ways.

Stuff started to go downhill from there, Alya and Nino believed Lila lies over Marinette and their friend group them. It was a dark time in Marinette's life, everyone besides Chloe and Adrien. The retaliation that the class set against them was beyond tolerable. Gabriel still made Adrien deal with Lila because apparently 'she is all the rage right now.' Marinette had been more unhappy than usual so Marinette's parents decided that she needed a break from the drama, but on her last day before her vacation when everything went to hell. 

"I can't believe she was even let into this school!" Alya loudly exclaimed during lunch. 

Lila's sniffled, she had been distressed because Marinette 'supposedly' made fun of her for her past, "What do you mean?"

"Well before she became a jealous wench we were best friends, I just so happen to know almost everything about her," Alya snickers.

"What do you mean? She has secrets?" Lila asks, rubbing her eyes to wipe her tears away.

"She used to live in America, where her dad left her before she was born. Her mother was a stripper and died because she couldn't pay for her drugs and was shot," Alya laughs. "She lived on the streets until Sabine and Tom adopted her. Then she became friends with Chloe and Adrien for their money and connection, obviously. She then manipulated Adrien, Lila's soulmate, to hate her."

"I recommend you silence yourself before I break your elbows and give them to Titus," A voice comes from the entry of the cafeteria. "You're saying only the bad, most of them exaggerated and false.

"And you are... someone she paid to pretend to like her?" Lila asked.

"No, she doesn't need to pay me, even if she could she wouldn't be able to. She is my best friend," he said.

"Ummmm... No! I'm her best friend and she's never spoken of you," Alya said, crossing her arms.

"A real friend would check her statements before announcing these lies. Speaking of the Angel, where is she?" he asked.

"You must not be talking about her because she's an actual demon," Lila sniffles. "Have you heard the things she's done to me?"

"And I don't believe you," He said.

"Thanks, Demon. I never needed any of them all I needed was my closest and most trustworthy friends," Marinette said after she had run and hugged him.

"Hey, Angel, it's good to see you again," he said into her hair.

"And who are you, 'Demon', you never answered," Alya asked, putting air quotes around 'Demon'.

"I'm Damian, Marinette's best friend," Damian said, an arm wrapped around her shoulder.

"That's debatable, we both know I'm her better friend," Adrien snickers.

"Nope. I was her first friend," Damian answers.

"But first is the worst, and as being her second friend, I'm the best," Chloe says, smiling.

"Come on guys, you get to spend all the time with me, let me spend some time with Damian. I haven't seen him since Thanksgiving," Marinette says, snuggling into his embrace.

"Good job making the conversation all about you," Lila remarks.

"Whatever... come on let's go to class, the sooner this ends, the sooner I can leave," Marinette says and they turn to walk to class. 

"Who the hell does she think she is?" Lila said, crossing her arms.

"A jealous, psychotic, gold-digging, wench," Alya answers.

"With good tastes though, did you see that hot piece of man that defended her," Lila said.

"Dark and brooding," Alya adds before they head to class. The lesson was normal, glares and disappointing glances sent her way, as she designed. With fifteen minutes before dismissal for the day, a knock came at the door. 

"I'm here for Marinette," Damian said, entering the room.

"Oh thank God, I don't know how much more of this crap I can take," She responds in English. "Bye Chloe, Adrien, love you both, see you next week." She hears her friends respond with a bye as the door closes.

The trip went well and the time was well spent. Marinette released her first line while in Gotham under, the alias she used to be known as, Sunshine. They had a party held in her honor where for the first time ever, she showed her face to the public and the Ice Prince and Princess Sunshine became an official couple. She melted his heart, as said by a majority of the news outlets. 

She had also made a speech at the closing of the ball. "So honestly, I just want to thank Bruce, who was kind enough to foster for me, Damian, who was a supportive food friend turned boyfriend, my brother, Jason, Tim and Drake, who taught me to live my life. Along with my two best friends, who I met in Paris, Chloe Bourgeois and Adrien Agreste. My adopted parents, Tom and Sabine, who only have my best interest at heart. Last but not least I would love to thank my antagonists all my classmates, who I'm too mature to call out by name, especially the liar, you know who you are."

The girls watch in disbelief. Lila was crying actual tears as she saw her lie-kingdom begin to fall. Alya cries as she sees her career end. 

When Marinette returned a couple of days later, Marinette walked into class early, smiling. Alya stood there, arms crossed and glared ready. "You are a petty waste of--"

"I could have been petty and released all your names," Marinette says, trying to walk past the red-head.

"No, that is just common courtesy, it was just petty to bring us up in your lies," Lila said.

"You want to see petty, fine," Marinette said, dropping her bag on Bustier's desk. She pulls out her notebook and rips it.

"So... why should we care," Lila asked.

"That. That right there ripped up and at the bottom of the waste bin is our end of the year trip," Marinette said, pointing to the waste bin.

"You! You petty bitch!" Lila screams.

"Yep, and proud of it," Marinette smiles and takes a seat, but not before placing a stack of papers on their desk.

"Also this is for you," Adrien says, walking into class. He places a stack of papers on Alya and Lila's desk.

"And what are those," Lila says, significantly paler than normal.

"Well from me, those are lawsuits from my parents, Jagged Stone, and the Waynes," Marinette said, smiling as she took a seat.

"Mine is a court-mandated cease and desist order for your Ladyblog, for spreading rumors about the Agreste Brand. For you, Lila, your papers are termination papers, for spreading false rumors," Adrien said.

"W... What, you can't do this the Ladyblog is my life work!" Alya screamed.

"Who cares about you!? My mum is going to send me back to military school if she finds out I got in trouble for lying, please don't do this," Lila exclaimed, falling on the ground.

"I gave you a way out last year, you didn't take it," Adrien said, sitting beside Chloe and Marinette.

"It's all your fault! If you hadn't been such a bad influence on him I could have had it all," Lila screamed, attempting to jump at him.

"Nope! you couldn't have," Damian said entering the room.

"Lila Rossi, you're under arrest for working the terrorist, Hawkmoth and using celebrities' names to get free things," the officer said.

"Damian, what are you doing here?" Marinette asks, standing up to greet her boyfriend.

"Father and I are here on business," he responds hugging her,

"And does any of that business have to do with you helping me?" Marinette asks, smiling into his embrace.

"Some of it the other half was actual, WE work. I'm going to be working in this wing of WE when I graduate," Damian smiles.

"Sounds great, Demon," Marinette says, breaking the embrace to look him in the eyes.

"I can't wait to start this next chapter of my life with you by my side, Angel," Damian said, kissing the crown of her head.

Extra (how Damian realized Marinette was definitely not just a friend):

Marinette had come to the ball (not really party just really big party) wearing a light blue off the shoulder cocktail dress, looking as beautiful as normal. He had been enjoying himself until he saw it. Normally he’s not one to be jealous, but the way she was smiling at this guy was bothering him. Damian found Jason and told him. “I have a suspicious feeling about that guy.”

“Are you it’s not because how he’s making her smile?” Jason asks, nudging him with his elbow. 

“And why would that bother me!” Damian asks. 

“Well remember that time in the gym, right after Marinette became Ladybug and you found out she had a partner,” Jason asks, Damian gave a nod, yes. “Well today could be that day. The longer you wait the less chance you have with her.” He finishes before walking away. 

Extra (how they became a couple):

He was utterly and completely hecked --gotta keep it family friendly ( ; -- he was in love with his best friend and it looks like someone had already beaten him to it. At the thought he walked away to the balcony, failing to notice the bluenette, who had seen him sad and decided to check up on him.

When she found him he was leaning on the guardrail he was holding a glass of grape juice, not being the legal drinking his brothers found it funny to give him it. “What’s the matter Dami?” Marinette asks, putting a hold on his shoulder. 

“It nothing, I just realized that I’ve been missing who's been in front of me this whole time and now its too late,” he sighs, taking a swig from his glass.

“Missing who?” Marinette asks, placing her head on his shoulder.

“You, you’re the best thing that’s happened to me and it’s too late now,”  Damian explained.

“What do you mean it’s too late?” Marinette said, lifting her head. 

“Didn’t that guy ask you out?” Damian asks, standing up straighter. 

“What? No Dami. He’s a client,” Marinette explained, pulling him into a hug. 

“Wait seriously?” Damian says. “God, I’m so stupid.”

“Yes Damian, if you hadn’t noticed I’m head over hill for you,” Marinette says, kissing his cheek. 

“Seriously!?” Damian asks, picking her up in a spin. 

“If I didn’t know Adrien I would say you’re the most oblivious person I know,” Marinette giggles into his embrace.

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

Tag list:

@northernbluetongue @chocolatecatstheron @throneoffirebreathingbitchqueen @gwennex @abrx2002 @sonif50 @silvergold-swirl @sturchling @rosep16 @toodaloo-kangaroo @captainmac6 @crazylittlemunchkin @tired-butterfly @emo-elaine13 @book-lover-2006 @weird-pale-blonde-person @rebecarojas07 @dahjokester @jessigurl-design @vixen-uchiha @daminett4life @cici-schnee @clumsy-owl-4178 @lavenderchaitea @grimmhallow31

[animebabe301]

I’ll Be Okay

Pairings: Reader x Naruto x Gaara

Warnings: None, not really anything to be warned of

Genre: Angst

Word Count: 2k+

Author’s note: I tried really hard to make it angsty, ya’ll, but I’m not really good with it. Hopefully I can improve from here on out :) But this is for @serendipitybaebee

Summary: You, Gaara, and Naruto had been friends for awhile, but little did you know that these two wonderful men were the ones you’d have to choose between for love.

As you made your way across the village, you came across Lee, Ten Ten, and Neji. They seemed to be immersed in their own small conversation, and you wanted to know what they were discussing. “Hey guys, what are you all chit-chatting about?” you asked curiously. “Oh, nothing,” Lee replied, “just that the kazekage is here to visit his best friend.” “Wait, what?! Gaara’s here?!” Nodding his head, Neji simply explained that they last saw Gaara at Ichiraku’s Ramen Shop. Running towards the shop, memories of the first time you’d met Gaara played in your mind. You remember back at the chuunin exams that Gaara had been feared of simply because he fought to kill. As a kunoichi of Konoha, you were taught to resolve any altercations by talking things out, but if the other shinobi were to result to violence, you would only defend-never kill unless necessary. Everyone feared Gaara-even you. There was only one person who didn’t-Naruto Uzumaki. Naruto was the weird kid, for sure, and a jinchuuriki like Gaara, but Naruto never had the bloodlust that Gaara did.

You didn’t understand why the villagers hated Naruto. He wasn’t the cause of what had happened to the village that night, he was only a small newborn baby, but rumors spread like wildfire from person to person, making everyone turn their backs on a small orphan child. You were an orphan like Naruto as well, but luckily, your grandma was willing to take you in. Your parents had died while fending off the Nine-tailed fox when Naruto was born. You couldn’t blame Naruto though. Your grandma explained to you all the details of the night it happened. You were only a few months old, your parents were shinobi who were protecting the village. They trusted your grandma to take care of you before they went to attempt to fend off the Nine-tailed fox. As a young child, you didn’t like Naruto either, mainly because you were scared of him and the stories and rumors people would spread about him being a demon or that the night would be back the moment he’d gotten mad. You didn’t understand why people were so mean to him as well. He was a child just like you and the others, yet the villagers treated him badly.

One day, you were walking through town with a few of your friends while they were making remarks about Naruto and that he was an orphan because of his selfish needs and that his parents had killed themselves because he was an unwanted child. You didn’t laugh with your so-called friends though, you actually felt bad that this young boy was being hated on. You saw the sadness in his eyes, the tears that were forming in his eyes, and the fist by his side. Your grandma happened to be walking by as well, and had called for you to go home with her. That was the first time you felt a sort of sadness for Naruto even though you didn’t know him. Later that night while making dinner with your grandma, you didn’t know what to say to her. Your grandma was quieter than usual that night. While seating yourself across the table from her, the quietness in the ear was deafening. “Grandma, are you okay?” you asked. Before her spoon reached her mouth, she brought the spoon back down to her bowl. She asked you a question, a simple one in fact, “why did you not stand up for that boy?” “Grandma…is it true that his parents didn’t want him? Why are people so scared of him?” was all you could ask your grandma before she told you about that night.

She began by telling you of how Naruto’s dad was hokage, and his mother was the jinchuuriki before he was. Then onto how your parents were killed because of their loyalty to protect and defend the village. Your grandma knew of the details and horrors because she was one of the skilled shinobi who had simply retired due to her old age. Although she was old, she was close with the Third Hokage who had visited with your grandma a few times before. You’d seen him around more as a child, but less and less the older you grew. With tears in her eyes, your grandma asked you, “If someone said that you were an orphan because your parents were dead, wouldn’t you be sad as well?” That was when you decided to befriend Naruto. You’d left your friend group and started to play with Naruto instead. Eventually, you and Naruto became the inseparable two. Although all eyes were on you throughout the village, you grew up with Naruto, building a friendship with him that would, in your eyes, last a lifetime.

Your friendship with Naruto then brought you both to Gaara. He’d become your friend after his fight with Naruto at the chuunin exams. Eventually, the three of you had become inseparable and were only separated by the distance between Konoha and the Sand village. Because the village of the Sand and Konoha were allies after the incident at the chuunin exams, Gaara and his siblings were the shinobi in charge of bringing messages or goods to Konoha. While they stayed for a week or so, you, Gaara, and Naruto would go around Konoha having fun and laughing at weird things all three of you found amusing. Everyone would always make faces and whisper amongst each other at the fact that you, a regular kunoichi was hanging around not one but two jinchuuriki, but you didn’t mind. As your grandma had taught you, “if you feel like it’s the right thing to do, then do it and don’t look back,” so looking back you never did.

After catching your breath, you peeked inside Ichiraku. Naruto had already beat you to meeting up with Gaara. You huffed as you saw them both laughing together at something Naruto had done. Hearing you behind them, they turned around to look at you. “Y/N, I was just about to look for you! Look who’s here—” was all Naruto could say before you pointed your finger at Gaara. Scared out of his wits, Gaara sat there silently. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to be visiting?!” you yelled while Naruto simply sank into his seat. With a smile on his face, Gaara explained that it was a bit last minute, and being Kazekage had been a bit rough on him since he was only beginning and was still figuring things out. “That doesn’t give you an excuse!” you continued on. “Okay, okay, Y/N, lesson learned,” Naruto said while pulling out a chair for you to sit in between them both. Throughout the day, the three of you spent time walking around the village and reminisced every memory you all had of your younger days.

Eventually, you all ended up at a river, south of Konoha, at the request of Naruto. You all had invited the other classmates to join you as well since it was a popular spot during the summer. Swimming was fun, but exhausting, so you decided to rest with Temari while sunbathing for some time. “You know… my brother’s not usually talkative with other girls other than me.” “Does that make you jealous?” you teased her. “No…” she said before continuing, “I just think he might like you more than just a friend…” “What do you mean?” you asked curiously. “I think he LIKES you likes you, Y/N,” she said with her eyes shut underneath her sunglasses. Your chest suddenly tightened. You had thought about all the times Gaara had been so kind to you, but you were oblivious to his attempts. With a small o formed on your lips, Temari answered your own thoughts. “But don’t worry, I’m sure he’d make you a happy girl, he’s doing his best, Y/N-” What she didn’t know was that you weren’t in love with Gaara. You were in love with Naruto. You only saw Gaara as your friend, and you knew that Naruto was going to be the one guy who you’d forever be in love and inseparable with. You tried to keep it on the down low, and the only other person who knew your feelings was your grandma. Temari interrupted your thoughts with a simple, “—just don’t break my little brother’s heart.” That night, you tossed and turned while thinking of how to approach Gaara about what Temari had said. No matter how tired you were, you couldn’t sleep peacefully. Your grandma had heard you tossing and turning from her room, so she came in to check on you. Asking you what was wrong, you explained your situation to her. You cried as you told her that you didn’t want to choose. You wanted to stay friends with Gaara while loving Naruto, but you didn’t know that Gaara had feelings for you until now. Holding you until you fell asleep that night, your grandma couldn’t help but try to help you understand that you’d have to choose one day.

The next morning, you, Gaara, and Naruto were set off to your last adventure before the sand siblings were to return home. Lord Third needed to speak to Naruto about his last mission, so you and Gaara decided to meet with him later. Walking along the path towards the stone faces of Konoha, you were trying to make conversation with Gaara without being awkward and weirded out by the fact that he liked you. You both stopped at the top, overlooking Konoha. Before you could say anything, Gaara blurted out, “I like you, Y/N… I just wanted to let you know before I left back to my village.” You sat there quietly, while tears started forming in your eyes. One way or another, you couldn’t lead your friend on, making him believe that you had the same feelings even though you didn’t. “What’s wrong? Are you okay? I—” “I don’t like you,” you said, cutting Gaara’s question off, “I only see you as a friend, and I don’t think you should like me. You need to go find someone else to like, Gaara. I’ll always be your friend, and I’ll always be here to support you, but I like Naruto. I don’t like you the same way. Naruto is the guy I want to marry, not you…” While sitting in an awkward silence, Gaara sighed and said, “I know you like Naruto, I just thought I had a chance…” “I’m sorry, Gaara, but please give your heart to someone else who deserves it. I can’t give you the love you’ve given me. I’m sorry,” you explained to Gaara. When you looked up, Gaara wasn’t looking at you, instead looking over Konoha. Nodding his head in agreement with what you said, he simply said, “you’re right.” “I’m so so sorry, Gaara. I like Naruto, and I want to be your friend as well. I just don’t want this to sever this friendship we’ve built over the years.” Turning his head with his soft green eyes and a smile, Gaara held your hand and said, “It’s okay, I’ll be okay, Y/N.” That was a lie. You knew he was hurt, but Gaara was always the type of friend to put other’s needs before his own. He wasn’t selfish, but you only saw him as a friend.

Sending Gaara off was awkward, but you hugged him and told him to let you know if there was anything he needed, he just needed to contact the Third Hokage to send you and Naruto to the Sand village to help him with whatever he needed. “Yes!” Naruto said while pulling you and Gaara in for a hug, “We’ll be there for you no matter what!” With a smile and a nod of thanks, Gaara said his goodbye and turned to leave with Temari and Kankuro. With a small hint of a tear slipping from Gaara’s eyes, he turned around to wave one last goodbye. Your heart hurt from breaking Gaara’s, but you felt that it was the right thing to do. Gaara was only your friend, and you were sure that Naruto was the right person for you. Two great shinobis of the world, yet you could only have one.

[craby-bouquet]

22 (with Mingyu? or whoever you want of course) :)

22. “I’m just here to establish an alibi.” 

Mingyu came running through the hall, closing the door shut right after hurrying through it. A smile on his face, his fox ears pointed, clearly listening to whatever was happening behind the door he leaned against.

You frowned at him, startled at the boy suddenly standing right in front of you.

"What are you doing here?" 

He looked at you, and seemed surprised to see you out of all people "I could ask you the same question."

"No you can't. This is literally my dorm."

He pouted "Oh. I thought it was someone else's…"

You raised an eyebrow "Right." 

He focussed on the closed door again, it seemed like adrenaline was running through his veins.

You frowned at him. You two didn't get along at all,  why on earth was he staying here?

He giggled when he heard someone yell through the hall, and put the lock on the door before turning to you. He once again looked surprised to see you, like he had already forgotten you were there.

You crossed your arms "You didn't answer my question."

He shrugged "So? It's not really your business anyway."

"You're literally in my dorm! If it's none of my business, then get the fuck out! I haven't slept today."

He rolled his eyes "That explains your mood."

Your mouth opened wide, how dare he "I could just drink your blood instead of the packages I have left in my fridge, you know that right?"

He smiled, clearly trying to get on your nerves "No you can't, fox blood is gross."

“I’ll decide that for myself…” You threateningly bared your pointy teeth, and took a step towards him.

He put his hands up in front of his chest and sighed “Fine. I’m just here to establish an alibi.” 

You frowned and put an arm to your waist “An alibi? For what?” 

He shrugged it off like it was nothing and started walking to the kitchen like he owned the place “Not important.” He opened the door to your fridge and looked disgusted at the sight of it “No food?”

“Of course not. I don’t eat you dumbass.” 

“Well I can’t eat blood, so you’re gonna have to get me food.” He shrugged like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

You raised your eyebrows “You’re not serious, right? I’m not getting you anything. I don’t even know why you’re still here.”

He rolled his eyes “I told you, I need an alibi. I can’t leave.”

“Well I don’t want you here.” You crossed your arms.

He sighed impatiently “You can just sleep and whatever, I just need to stay here for the rest of the day, and possibly the night.”

“No.” 

“I promise I won’t disturb you little vamp sleep.”

“I want you to get out.” 

So anyway, he stayed as you went to your room to sleep for a few hours. You heard him softly watch television and walk around your apartment to get water and whatnot. You fell asleep after that, and only woke up a few hours later to the smell of blood. It made your throat burn, but also concerned you. What if that dumbass hurt himself?

You hurried out of your dark room, into the main room, where Mingyu was putting a sack of blood into a sippy cup. He smiled as he saw you walk in.

“Ah! Good… eh, evening, sleepy head. I thought I’d get you some dinner… or breakfast. Y’all vampires are confusing.”

You rubbed your eyes “I can’t believe you’re still here…” 

He turned to look at you, cup in his hands “Look, I know we didn’t start off well, but this could totally change that. We’re locked in together now, we can get to know each other.” 

You took the cup he handed to you “Thanks… but we’re not ‘locked in’ together. You broke in, and decided to stay.” You took a sip of the blood and were surprised at how delicious it tasted. 

He noticed your eyes got bigger and smiled “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

“How did you know how to make this? You don’t drink blood, right?” You quickly went through everything you’d learned about hybrid demons in your head, and were pretty sure all of them just ate normal food.

He shrugged “There was a recipe with it, so I added water like they said.” 

You were impressed. As you drank more and more, you felt your bad mood ebb away.

“So you’re a good cook?” You asked him as you two were sitting on the couch, watching a movie. From one moment to another you two had stopped fighting, and just had normal conversations. He was way nicer than you had imagined him to be.

He pouted “I’m good at following the recipes. So yeah, I can cook I guess.” He laughed.

The ten o'clock bell rang, telling everyone to get back to their own dorm rooms, and telling the creatures of the night that the night school was starting.

Mingyu got up “Well, it’s time for me to head back. I had way more fun with you than I thought I’d have.” 

You smiled “Me too. One last thing, though.”

He turned around to see what you wanted.

“What did you need an alibi for?” 

He laughed out loud “I ate my roommates food again. But he said last time that he would kill me next time so I needed to be somewhere else.”

send me a pinterest based prompt

Masterlist | SVT Masterlist

[lunarsaga]

Me: I'm not gonna write a fanfic, I'll just do this in snippets My "Snippets": *full fanfic chapter length and only getting longer* Me: ......uh.......

This Episode:

The Band Of Seven, Resurrected

Finally catching sight of their friends again was a bit of a relief for both Luna and Ai. It had been a long couple of days, going all the way home and coming back. Part of Luna hoped they’d get just a little bit of rest before whatever shit hit the fan next, but another part knew the odds on that were pretty low. Still, it was nice to be back.

Kagome was the first to spot them as they flew in. “It’s Luna!”

“Luna’s back!” Shippo proclaimed joyfully.

“Hey, y’all,” Luna greeted as Ai touched down. She hopped off the demon’s back as her friends offered their greetings. “What’d I miss?” She asked.

Miroku was the one to answer. “Quite a lot. It seems that we may encounter a new enemy: the local villagers recently informed us of a group of mercenaries called the Band of Seven. The villagers believe these ruthless killers may have been brought back from the dead.”

With a grin on her face, Luna shrugged at the idea. “Undead mercs, huh? Nothin’ we can’t handle.” She held up her fist for her sister to bump it, and as Ai changed back to her human form, Luna noticed their little group was smaller than it should’ve been. “Where’s Sango?”

Kagome bumped fists with her sister, smiling at Luna’s nonchalant comment. “She went off with Kilala. I sensed a Jewel Shard nearby earlier… so I think she may have gone to look for Kohaku.”

Luna didn’t have time to respond. Off in the distance, she heard the distinctive echo of a sound she was all too familiar with.

“What on Earth was that?” Ai asked, her hand on Luna’s arm.

Kagome glanced at her sister nervously. “Was that…?”

“Gunfire. Definitely.” Luna’s eyes were locked on the trees in the direction the sound had come from. Mere seconds after they heard the shots, there was an overwhelming tang of copper in the air.

“And the smell of human blood…” Miroku said, gravely.

Inuyasha hopped up onto a tree limb, hoping to get a look at what was happening. He couldn’t see it, but he sure as hell could smell it. “And it ain’t from just a handful of people, either.”

So much for a second to rest, Luna chuckled to herself as she tightened the straps on her backpack and immediately kicked into gear. “What’re we waiting for, then?”

And off they were, charging headlong into danger as always. Luna could sense something was up; more so than usual. The stench of blood was never a good sign in the first place, but there was something else setting off warning bells. Something she couldn’t put a finger on.

The smell got stronger and stronger, until… they reached its source. Despite the amount of nasty shit she’d seen in her ten years of hunting supernatural monsters, there were some things that still turned her stomach, and seeing a single human being standing in a veritable ring of blood and gore was definitely one of them. His black hair was pulled into a twist; his lips were painted red, he had blue tattoos like tear tracks under each eye, and one side of his kimono was tucked up under his belt. The dude was just squatting in the middle of the carnage, eyeballing the barrel of a matchlock gun like it was his first time seeing one (which, hell, it might be, she thought to herself; in this time, they would’ve only recently been invented). He seemed completely unbothered by the dozen and a half bodies of freshly murdered warriors and their horses surrounding him.

Inuyasha was the one to get to the scene just ahead of the others, calling back over his shoulder: “Stay back! Don’t come over here!”

Instinctively, Luna remained in front of her sister, her arm out to try and block her view. Her stomach was churning, and her hand was poised to pull her gun if needed. No way this guy could be human… right?

“Did… that one person do all this?” Kagome’s voice was a shocked whisper.

It was then that the guy in the middle noticed them. He stood, his sword over his shoulder and his head cocked slightly to the side.

“Are you the one I’ve been looking for?” He asked, a grin on his face as he shielded his eyes from the sun. “Are you Inuyasha?!”

“Got a bad feeling about this.” Luna mumbled, “That guy isn't a demon, is he?”

“I don’t think so,” Kagome uttered back to her, “I don’t sense a demonic aura….”

“How’d you know my name?!” Inuyasha demanded.

He got no answer out of the guy with the sword. Instead, the guy squealed: “You’re adorable!”

A dumbfounded silence fell over the group. Luna glanced around at the others to make sure she didn’t just lose her mind—but no, the general consensus among her friends was along the lines of ‘what the actual fuck?’

“I especially love those fuzzy ears of yours!” The guy continued, licking his lips. “I want them~”

Alright, so this guy was nuts. Luna had had enough of ignoring the bad vibe she was picking up from him. She dropped her bag next to Kagome’s bike and readied herself for a fight: detached the ammo bag and shotgun holster from her pack and slung them over her shoulder, slipped her short sword through one of the belt loops on her jeans, and pulled her shotgun to make sure it was in hand and loaded. She kept her eyes moving back and forth between Inuyasha and the dude with the sword during the next exchange:

“Who are you?” Inuyasha demanded, “What are you after? You don’t smell like a living person, you reek like corpses and graveyard soil!”

No answer.

“Inuyasha,” Miroku said in realization: “Could he be—?”

“Yep,” Inuyasha confirmed, before calling out to the guy with the sword again: “Some villagers were talking! They said some disgusting specter rose up from the grave. That’d be you, I presume!”

Right, zombies, Luna thought to herself; if he really is undead, the Sacred Salt won’t do as much as it would a demon… It’d sting, but what I really need is-… She smirked and holstered her gun again, grabbing a different weapon from the bottom of her bag.

“Are you one of the Band of Seven?!” Miroku asked of the specter as Luna was tuning back in. “Answer me!”

After a long pause as the specter seemed to size the monk up, his response was even worse than before. “Inuyasha really is good looking, but you’re pretty sexy yourself~”

Luna snorted so hard she thought she was gonna eject her brain through her nose. Ai whacked her in the arm as a warning.

“No one minds if I suck him up, do they?” Miroku grumbled.

“No.” Inuyasha said, flatly.

“Hold on!” Kagome said, “He’s got a Sacred Jewel Shard! He must’ve been revived with the power of the Shard!”

“So that was what I was sensing,” Luna mumbled, “but why does it feel off...?”

“Where’d you get the Jewel Shard?!” Inuyasha once again attempted to pose a question to their opponent, only to once again receive a weird, adoring response:

“You know, you’re cute when you’re angry~!”

“Shut up!” Inuyasha shouted, jumping forward and drawing his sword. “Alright, dead man, you’d better start talking to me, and I want real answers!”

The expression on the specter’s face shifted from one of reverence to one more sadistic as he regarded Tetsusaiga. “That’s an interesting sword you have there… let’s see whose is stronger.” He lifted his own sword, making an odd motion around his head and shoulders with it as if he were gearing up for something. “Yours or mine?!”

When he brought his arm down, something that looked almost like a bolt of silver lightning shot from his blade. Inuyasha barely had the chance to block it as it cut an arc through the air toward him.

“Inuyasha!” Kagome called out in surprise.

“Stay back!” Miroku threw his arm out in an attempt to shield the others. “It’s some kind of trick sword!”

“That’s my cue!” Ai shifted into full demon form, jerking her head at the sisters and the little fox. “All aboard!”

Kagome climbed on no issue, but Luna glanced at Miroku, who made no move to follow them. “You coming?”

“I’ll be alright, you keep them safe.” Miroku said, resolute. Not about to argue, Luna climbed on the demon’s back and Ai leapt into the air above the fight.

“You gonna be okay holding all of us after that long flight?” Luna asked her friend.

“I’m fine, it’s the same weight as you with your pack on.” Ai sassed back.

“Yeah well, fuck me for being prepared,” Luna laughed, starting to prep the other weapon she’d brought.

Kagome managed to tear her eyes from the confrontation below to try and see what her sister was doing. “What did you bring, Luna?”

Luna grinned as she clicked the last accessory into place, then turned back to show her sister. “This? This is my baby.” She held up her favorite weapon: it was a fully-customized folding compound crossbow as long as Luna’s arm. She pressed a release on the side, and the arms shot into place, making both Shippo and Kagome jump.

“Whoa!” The fox demon exclaimed, “What kind of a weapon is that?!”

“It’s a crossbow, Shippo,” Kagome explained, “It’s kind of like my bow, but the arrows are smaller and it’s easier to fire.”

“Self-loading, too,” Luna smirked as she strung it up, “The ‘arrows’ are called bolts. This thing can shoot way faster than a longbow, and since we’re dealing with Zombie Harley Quinn down there—” She grabbed a bolt from her ammo bag to show it to them, “—we’re gonna need these. They’re tipped with pure silver. Great for dealing with Vampires, Werewolves, The Undead, and The Unholy.”

Shippo reached out to touch it, but Kagome stopped him, shaking her head rapidly. “It’s safe to assume you shouldn’t touch anything Luna has in her bag, Shippo.”

The kid swallowed nervously. “G-got it...”

Below them, the fight continued. Inuyasha could barely avoid each strike of the snakelike sword, and his opponent only seemed to be having more and more fun.

“What do you think of Jakotsu of the Band of Seven, huh?!” He shouted as he swung the sword once more.

“Not too much!” Inuyasha came back at him with Tetsusaiga, but to no avail.

Kagome gasped. “He needs help!”

“That’s what this baby’s for,” Luna grinned, patting her crossbow. “Ai, can you stay out of reach of the sword but get me close enough to shoot?!”

“It’ll take a miracle!”

“Better start praying, then,” Luna lined up the shot, finger still as stone on the trigger. There was a familiar voice in the back of her head; she could hear her father saying: “Aim for where they’re gonna be, not where they are.”

I know, dad. She tried not to sigh audibly as she managed to get Jakotsu’s head in her crosshairs and pulled the trigger, quick as a viper.

And… almost missed him.

The consecrated silver bolt seemed to burn through the air as it shot just centimeters shy of the specter’s nose and grazing his arm, burning a hole in his kimono. He whipped his attention to the woman who shot it.

“How dare you interfere?!” He snarled, rearing his arm back and whipping his blade toward them.

Luna felt her stomach drop. “Motherf—”

“You idiot!” Ai snapped at her, trying to fly out of range of the sword as Kagome and Shippo both clung, screaming, to Luna’s back. Just as the sword arched toward them, there was a familiar cry of:

“HIRAIKOTSU!”

And Jakotsu’s blade was then tangled around the aforementioned boomerang. All three riding on Ai’s back sighed in relief when they saw Sango swoop in on Kilala. Ai touched down just as Kilala did, transforming into her human form and unceremoniously dumping the sisters on their asses.

“Are you all okay?” Sango called over to them.

“We’re fine!” Shippo answered.

“Perfect timing, Sango!” Kagome said.

“Some weapon, Luna!” Ai huffed in the Hunter’s direction. Luna just stuck her tongue at her.

Jakotsu was practically red in the face, shrieking in frustration: “What is with all you vile women?! Can’t you see I’m trying to battle Inuyasha?!” In the same breath, he whipped his sword again, toward Sango this time. The movement freed the Hiraikotsu, and ended up leaving a small slice on Sango’s arm as Jakotsu pulled it back.

“Stay out of this!” He continued, “None of you will interfere!”

But their “interference” had served Inuyasha well enough: it gave him just the opportunity he needed to rear back and punch the specter in the face.

“Shut up! I’m tired of listening to your pointless babble!” Inuyasha growled.

Jakotsu grunted as he tumbled back, then rubbed his cheek and pouted like a kicked puppy. “That was cruel…”

“Oh, get over it!” Inuyasha snapped, “Now tell me who gave you the Sacred Jewel Shard before I have to seriously hurt you!”

Kagome and Miroku rushed to see if Sango was okay, but she assured them that it was just a graze; she was fine. Her attention was more on the subject at hand.

“I have a feeling that the shard came from Naraku,” She said, somberly. She looked at Kagome. “When you sensed a Jewel Shard earlier… it was Kohaku. I saw the Saimiyosho around him as well.”

“That means that your brother is still under Naraku’s control…” Miroku said. Sango nodded.

Luna had set her weapon down next to her backpack, and came back with a bandage for Sango’s arm. Her mind was going at a million miles an hour, trying to figure out how the hell they were gonna handle this—first an undead band of Ronin, now they have something to do with Naraku. What was Naraku playing at...?

“Gotta wonder what the hell is next…” Luna mumbled sarcastically. Seconds later, she would regret asking. A cloud of black smoke poured over the cliffside, drifting right toward them.

Like he knew what was happening, Jakotsu got up and collected his sword. “Inuyasha! You should get out of here while you can! Bye!” And with that, he was just… gone.

“What the hell—” Inuyasha broke off with a startled yell when the cloud reached him. “Its poison!”

“But where’s it coming from?!” Miroku wondered.

“We need to move.” Luna reassembled her bag in less than thirty seconds—side effect of doing it so often. “We can figure out what the fuck is going on when we’re safely away from here!”

Why do I feel like we stepped into something huge here? Luna thought to herself as the group of friends moved away from the cloud of gas.

[ren-deru-16]

Oooh, oooh~ let's keep feelings~

“All right! For beating ADAM, a toast for Langa!” Kojiro cheers while raising his cups with everyone else. Dope Sketch was closed for the time being as they prepared a small celebration above the building. “Also, let’s also congratulate the newest legend of S, Arima!”

Arima let out a nervous laugh. “It still feels a little weird to call me that…”

That night, Arima and Langa raced each other, passing through narrow roads, jumping over stalactites to cross over the ridge and other fun stuffs. It was a close race but Arima proved to be quicker and smarter and she won, making her as the new legend of S.

When she told them that course that was used is now in her authority, they swore they can see her giving off an excited and demonic energy as she called it now her “domain”. It only gave emphasis to her S nickname as DEVIL.

Kojiro cooked the food for them and everyone was having a good time. Langa was wolfing down some burgers, with Reki telling him to eat other stuffs too. Sketchy was found sleeping comfortably on Carla and Miya had to clung to Kaoru to stop him from murdering the little fox like creature, with Arima apologizing and explaining to appease his anger.

Overall, they were bonding happily.

Not until they were surprised to hear the sounds of a helicopter approaching and they looked up.

“ADAM?!”

The man jumped off the copter with a parachute on his back to their surprise and everyone scrambled away to avoid the parachute. Langa wouldn’t budge until Reki pulls him away, just in time for the parachute to land on top of Dope Sketch.

“Dude, that was dangerous! Why did you do that?!” Reki yelled at him.

“I’m here to give Langa-kun a gift to congratulate him for defeating me!” He smiled like usual but it’s a little more different now.

“Oi, what about a gift to the new legend of S?”

He shrugged. “The course is my parting gift. She can do what she wants with it. Speaking of which, where is that devil?”

Arima flinched as she attempted to stay quiet while eating pasta. Of course, the man noticed her easily and laughed.

“Ah, I finally get to see the other side of the newest legend outside S! My, to think someone as crazy and notorious for dangerous tricks like you is like this in the morning, I wonder how people would react!”

“Oi, are you blackmailing her?” Kaoru glared at him.

“Nonsense. I was only trying to get to know her, right, Arima-kun?”

“H-Hai…” she looked away while sweat dropping. “A-ADAM, don’t just suddenly jump over a helicopter to come. Why can’t you come like a normal person?”

She was so meek it was hard to believe she’s a risky skater.

“But it’s as flamboyant having an entrance like that.”

She sighed. “This is not S. Right now we are just normal people enjoying the day. At least try to be a normal person with that mask on.”

“You’re so boring, Arima-kun. I prefer you as a DEVIL. You were much more interesting then.” He was ruffling her hair while she was eating pasta.

The others looked at them in shock.

“Since when these two have been in good terms with each other?!?!”

I mean, every time they are talking about ADAM, Arima would go hostile at him and snap at him and ADAM would also taunt her as well but at the same time, he’s showing to be hostile at her.

They are basically oil and water so it’s naturally normal for them to be shocked.

ADAM was being loud and was pestering a meek Arima when she looked up at the copter and saw Tadashi, who was smiling with amusement.

***

“There he is! The newest legend of S!”

“It’s DEVIL!!”

“Kyaaah!! DEVIL-kun you’re so handsome today!!”

Arima was skating forward the crowd after he was challenged by someone named Echidna previously. Reki and the group were on one side, cheering at her.

“I hope you didn’t forget our deal, DEVIL.”

“Of course. You bet your whole money, I bet my pride and title as the legend of S.”

“Don’t get too cocky, brat.”

“Same goes to you, geezer.”

“I’m still young!!”

“Reminds me of Shadow” she smiled in amusement before preparing for her beef.

***

“You look happy today, Miya-kun. Did something good happen?” she asked the boy next to her.

He smiled. “Remember my story about my friend? He finally talked to me and told me, “Let’s hangout next time. Sorry for avoiding you”. It made me really happy. It made me think he just probably needs time like what happened with Reki.”

She smiled and patted his head. “Good for you, then.”

“Ano… Arima-san?”

“Hai?”

“I really like you but… to you, I may still be a kid but!” he grabbed her hand suddenly, to her surprise. “I promise I will grow up! I know I’m still a kid but I’ll grow up! Until I do that, will you wait for me?”

He looked so earnest it made her smile. She’s not in any relationship now because of skateboarding and most guys found her a huge turn off when she could skate ten times better than them.

“Even though I’m the DEVIL that beat you? Even though I’m a different person when skating?”

“I-I had mixed feelings after knowing but… it’s part of who you are and you’re a genuine and nice person… I-I like you!”

The blush on Miya’s face was really cute and she patted his head.

“Sure. I’ll wait for that moment you grow up, Miya-kun.”

He blushed madly upon seeing her smile and he bowed. “T-Thank you!”

Meanwhile, Reki and Langa were hiding behind the wall eavesdropping.

“Yosh. You did it, Miya.” The red haired grinned. Well, the younger boy approached them before regarding about Arima. Of course, he wanted to help and give moral support.

“4 years of a gap is not much, huh?” Langa says.

“Arima is simple. If Miya will ask her if she’ll wait, she will. She doesn’t think of romance at all. Miya may have a chance.”

***

Reki and Langa met up at midnight in one of the empty courses. A few minutes later, Arima arrived.

“So, you want me to watch over your beef and the proctor?” she said.

“Yep! We’re counting on you, Arima!”

Her lips twitched in a smile as she stood on one side from them. “I’ll be using another track to keep an eye on things. In the meantime, you two forget I’m here and just skate to your heart’s content.”

The two boys prepared as she made a countdown.

“3, 2, 1, start!”

And the two boys drifted off the track with the sun rising up ahead.

-End-

Oooh, ooh~ let's keep feelings~

Thanks for reading these!

[maddiethebull]

28. "Gosh you look like angel..." Asmo x MC ^^

OOOH this is too cute!! Love this pairing of fluff and Asmo! Thanks for making a request

Asmodeus (Obey Me!) - Prompt #28 - “Gosh, you look like an angel…”

You lived out today as if it were any other day, because, well, it was. Birthdays weren’t all that important to you, it just meant you were a year older. Though you didn’t care much about it, you did find it endearing that the brothers decided to throw you a makeshift ball when Mammon found out that your birthday was going to be tomorrow. All you wanted to do was have a nice birthday dinner but that wasn’t enough.

“MCCCCCC you HAVE to have a partyyyy!!” shouted Asmo as you were explaining that it was no big deal and none of the brothers had to go to such lengths for tomorrow. But even though you said not to, Lucifer was ordering Mammon and Levi to put decor up as Beel and Satan moved furniture and Belphie swept the wooden floors.Currently the House of Lamentation was chaos and Asmodeus was “helping” by drawing a birthday card. He had good intentions, but he wasn’t the most gifted artist, most of his artistic skill, in fact all of his artistic skill seemed to lie with makeup and fashion, not pen and paper. He drew a lopsided teddy bear and colored it pink, because he knew that was both his and your favorite color. With them all working hard and Asmo giggling happily at his drawings, you decided to scuttle off back to your room since it was nearly 12:30 a.m. and unlike the average demon, you had to sleep every night. Asmo peeked at you walking away and went to retrieve something from his room. 

You were getting ready for bed when you heard a knock at the door, you opened it and it was none other than Asmodeus holding a beautifully wrapped box with a pink satin bow on it. 

“I know you don’t care about your birthday too much, so, to get you excited I decided to give you a gift! Wear this for the party and you’ll be even more gorgeous than you normally are! Not as hot as me, but you’ll be a very close second.” 

You chuckled, “aww Asmo, thank you for the gift,” you said, heading straight for the package (winky wink, nah just the birthday present lol) 

“Wait!” he shouted, “you can’t open this until tomorrow, silly,” he said with a playful wink. You jokingly rolled your eyes and agreed to his conditions. He handed you the present and for a split second you saw the most tender look in his amber-orange eyes, 

“Happy birthday, MC. I’m actually super happy that I get to spend tomorrow with you. And that I get to be all dressed up and hot for your birthday ball.” You brushed it off as just being kind, you never thought of Asmo as the type to be lovey dovey and you certainly didn’t come off as that type either, though secretly all you wanted to do was cuddle up with him for the night. But alas, while the Avatar of lust flirted constantly, you never thought he meant it. As your train of thoughts went down this track, it made you feel quite sad and you wouldn’t want to go to bed feeling down so you decided to cut this conversation off while you weren’t too focused on whether Asmo was actually into you or not. 

“Okay, it’s getting late and-”“OOOOH you’re inviting me in aren’t you? Such a sly fox!”

“No, Asmo, good night,” you both chuckled and he left for his room. 

The next day came and you awoke to more than just the box beside your bed, it was all seven of the brothers. Lucifer held a cake (and held Beel away from eating it) and everyone else wore birthday party hats. Mammon somehow wore his wrong, you didn’t know why it was upside down or how it stayed like that but the sight of all of them together made your heart do backflips. These had to be the most amazing friends you’ve ever had. They cheerfully sang happy birthday, Asmo gave you your card, and thus began your day. 

You had breakfast which was specially made by Satan, your favorite pancakes with some garnishes of pink and purple heart sprinkles added by Asmo. 

You dug in and Asmo sat down next to you, 

“So, MC, did you open your gift from me yet?”

You shook your head no, though now you felt the urge to get up and grab the box immediately. What can I say, it’s fun receiving gifts. You kept eating your pancakes as he spoke up again, 

“It’s really special, okay, so open it while I’m there.”

This made you wonder what he was going on about, you had a slight inclination to assume it was just some high tech sex toy but he did say to wear it to your party, so that’s surely ruled out, right? Please be ruled out… You gave Asmo a nod and turned to Lucifer. 

“So,” you said, “what time is my birthday ball going to start?”

Lucifer replied, “promptly at five o’clock. I will let the guests in, though we didn’t have much time to send out invitations. I have invited Diavlo and Barbatos as well as the angels and Solomon.”

“We should probably finish decorating since its nearly ten, we mustn’t procrastinate,” added Satan, “and Levi was removed from decor duty since he tried incorporating Ruri-chan into the banner…” 

You replied, “Well, I have no problem helping out, me, Asmo, and Belphie can hang up what’s left of the decorations.”  There were minor grievances toward you setting up for your own party, but seeing as how all of the brother’s stayed up, besides Belphie and Asmo, they weren’t too keen on working anymore. So it was planned, you would help set up then you would get ready. After breakfast you and Asmo went to Belphie’s room to get him up again seeing as he went straight to sleep after singing to you. Right before you knocked on the door, 

“MC, why don’t we just put up the decorations, just the two of us?” Asmo said gently with a smile. You weren’t sure why he’d asked but it did mean you wouldn’t have to deal with a grumpy Belphie, so you both just went back to the ballroom. There were minor mishaps as you decorated, you had to stand on a ladder and nearly fell off, you managed to regain your balance but you looked down to see Asmo with a worried look and open arms. Though, to be honest, he wasn’t the strongest of demons, so you weren’t sure how safe it would’ve been for either of you had you actually fell. When you were both done, an epic high five was delivered and you went off back to your room. 

It was now time to get ready! You showered and put on your makeup and just as you opened your closet, looking for something to wear, you remembered that you already had something. You called Asmo to come to your room, he came swiftly and watched with eager eyes as you opened your first gift of the day. 

You gasped, “Oh, Asmo, this is beautiful.” You rushed at him to give a hug and he gladly accepted. You went back to your bed and picked up your gift to admire it once again. It was a wine red silk gown; backless with a mermaid silhouette. You noticed embellishments of small diamonds at the bottom of the skirt, you were genuinely in awe. 

“You’re welcome, I knew you’d love it since I was the one who picked it out afterall.” He gave you a sweet smile and left you to get dressed, but wait! He forgot to give you his favorite diamond necklace. It was only for the night but you felt honored being able to wear the thin, teardrop shaped necklace. You felt like a beautiful princess, worthy to date a prince (of Hell). Then he left for real to let you get dressed. The guests began arriving and when you re-emerged from your room, all eyes were plastered on you. The wine color of the backless silk dress, the diamonds so elegantly sparking around your neck, the click clack of your heels against the marble steps – it was captivating. 

As you descended the staircase, you saw Asmo emerge from another door carrying little cupcakes as confectioneries. He looked up and, wow, did he blush. The wash of pink on his pearlescent skin reminded you of a rose blooming amongst white lilies. 

When you got down to him and the other brothers, Asmo seemed speechless, which was very out of character. You almost began to get self conscious without his showering of compliments, did the dress not suit you as well as you thought? He set down the plate of confectioneries and approached you slowly, like he was approaching the eighth wonder of the world. He looked you in the eyes, you could see so many emotions that you could barely decipher before he turned his eyes to the ground and with a tender smile, he spoke. 

“Gosh, you look like an angel…” He whispered gently almost as if he were trying not to let anyone but you hear.

“Asmo,” you blushed, “I was waiting for some praise,” you let out in a joking tone. 

He laughed with such joy, looking at you with bright burning eyes.

“Well, Ms. MC, I do believe that the breathtakingly gorgeous birthday girl and the best looking man at the party should have a dance.” He bowed and held out his hand, you graciously accepted and you danced the night away under the Devildom night sky. The party went on and you opened various other presents from the boys, one was a Ruri-chan t-shirt, another a cookbook with a bite? taken out of it. You couldn’t help but smile and laugh and exclaim that this was the best birthday you’ve ever had.

[inventors-fair]

Let’s Talk Flavor: Commentary

I would say overall that most of these cards were fantastic and a great number of the story ideas were good. There will be parts where I suggest edits, and the thing about story edits is, well, it doesn’t impact game design. That’s the thing about the Fair and the thing about Magic in general: the whole thing could be replicated with number systems and program lines and it would be the exact same. It’s the fact that a creature has Flying, or that a spell is made of Lightning that makes the game exciting. This was an interesting experiment. 

Let’s talk about cards!

@ace-hobo​ — Captain’s Wrench

This is a perfectly fine card. I like the “fixed” Voltaic Key style, the moderate power level. It’s a card that someone would probably be middling in artifact decks but fine in budget builds. I’m sort of feeling an Ixalan vibe, maybe with a little steampunkishness. I get that the wrench belongs to De, but it’s a little confusing regarding why they have the wrench. If they’re the captain and they’re not in the engine room, why is the card depicting a tool that would suit them better if they never left the engine room? Maybe the story should be about how DESPITE their captain status, they spend time in the engine room. It’s an easy enough tweak.

@cas-420 — Boiling Blood

The card is pretty good. It’s very aggressive and has synergistic potential. I really don’t see where the flavor is tying into it. I am favorably inclined towards your text, in concept. I can see where you were making the pun on “execution.” The wording is clunky with the repeated syntax, and could have just used the execution line. But what does that have to do with the card? The flavor evokes dissent, protest, retaliation. The flavor of the card evokes speed, purpose, initiative. It’s not a perfect tonal match. I would save the text for a different card with a clearer purpose

@dabudder​ — Wisdom of the Tides

In terms of card wording, I believe you’d be looking for something like Mysteries of the Deep, where you have an “instead” wording — unless you’re supposed to draw an additional card after? It’s a little confusing how you have it now. Still, Flourish is a fine mechanic, executed well. This was pretty close to being a runner-up. I like the nod towards crabs. We’ve been having a crab mood lately. Overall, not bad. Might need to be four mana, but that’s me being cautious.

@deafeningsandwichpeach​ — Jyska, Artificer Overlord

The name is probably the best thing about this card, and it’s fair enough for a legendary creature. Considering that this is essentially the Nim ability from original Mirrodin and that it’s a vanilla creature otherwise, I would contest that you’re severely overestimating the power level of this card. It’s not as strong as it seems. In terms of flavor text, this is basically exposition. I won’t dissuade you from story-rich cards, but there’s too much information presented in a manner that overloads the reader. Simplify, punch, beat, punctuate. In terms of presentation, the whole block should be in quotes, and you don’t need to attribute the quote if the character’s on the card itself.

@demimonde-semigoddess​ — Thaw

Great name, great snow flavor. I can see this in the tundra wastes, something emerging from the snow, bursting out. I had to do some digging. As it turns out, “gelid” is a real English word I had no idea about! I thought from the shackles and your flavor text that it was some Coldsnap lore. In terms of the text itself, it’s not bad. It’s just that the two statements are somewhat disconnected. They work both on their own, but together, they don’t gel well. Still, bonus points to mechanical flavor for an anti-ice feel.

@dimestoretajic​ — Phytotemple

The card is pretty funky for an uncommon, pushed but not busted. I’d call it a pain in the butt but no more than Wayfaring Temple. Ah, I see, the wayfarers, an homage. But there’s a lot I don’t understand. Who lost the wayfarers? Who’s saying this quote? Why did the phytotemples start appearing in general? Did the original wayfaring temples break into them? What does Selesnya have to do with construction crews? How is that related to the phytotemple’s physiology and motivation? Most importantly, why is there a street named after a Selesnya dissident? I think you should have focused on one specific area of the card’s backstory.

@emmypupcake — Bloom Nurturer

I was really surprised that there wasn’t a card already named this. In terms of card wording, look at High Tide or Bubbling Muck; I think it would read “Until end of turn, whenever you tap a Forest for mana, add an additional G.” The quote doesn’t light my world on fire, but it fits well and reads well. Just remember to indent the attribution with shift+enter. Overall? Good enough.

@fractured-infinity​ — Shara, Skalla Vengeant

I had to do a little digging, but I like how you incorporated Vivien’s lore in here. That said, Skalla is also, well, destroyed, presumably forever. Where did the spirit come from? Is it wandering around Skalla? In that case, did Vivien go back? Why? That raises a couple questions. In terms of this card, it’s broken. In anything but the most pushed Commander formats, it’s three mana to deal seven damage to any creature you want with minimal repercussions. Any prevention makes her impossible to deal with. In limited, she would sweep unfairly.

@ghost31415926535 — Man-Eater Wurm

Firstly, I would like to apologize for the flavor bar being in the middle of the line. That’s my bad. Let’s talk about the rest of the card. In concept, it shouldn’t be too overpowered. But deathtouch and trample together create complex rules baggage that many casual players simply don’t understand. Nine times out of ten, they’ll never be printed together. Seeing that this is exactly how you submitted it, consider for next time: Only the first keyword needs to be capitalized in a string. Something like Unearth needs its own line. The flavor text is standard enough. Just remember that quote attribution also needs its own line.

@gollumni​ — Gives You Hell

I love the name here. I got that All-American Rejects song stuck in my head now. Remember that one? Anyway. Firstly, you don’t need to put “target” there; “Enchant creature” implies it. Secondly, and least importantly, don’t forget you can add watermarks in MSE! Thirdly, the flavor text. I get it, but it doesn’t flow great. If there was some wordplay to be done on fire-spitting and whatever turn of phrase you used, like, “spitting poison” in the literal sense — I don’t know, I just expect something a little more concise. It’s a great concept and has the potential to be very funny, so points there. Also, the card itself? Fantastic.

@greensunzenith​ — Decorated Demon

Liking the name. I don’t like how this card has to be a rare. It’s more of an annoyance than anything. It feels like a card that prevents decisions. It’s not aggressive, nor is it particularly interactive. Conceptually it works, but I’m not in favor. The flavor text is a bit of a head-scratcher. The real question is: who is giving demons sigils? How do they become redeemed? On what world CAN demons become redeemed? This isn’t a Bant thing, is it? I’m a little lost as to the specifics, since it doesn’t play into any tropes and doesn’t inform the world in a recognizable way.

@i-am-the-one-who-wololoes​ — Goblin Decorator

If the flavor text had simply been, in quotes, “Earwigs would go so well with that wallpaper!”, then this card could have been a runner-up. Also, this should definitely be an uncommon. The effect is awesome and powerful and annoying and plays into a variety of strategies. Still, the flavor text is just...too much. It’s a lot of text that tells a story that doesn’t really need to be told. We get enough from the name and that last sentence, combined with a fun ability that matches the card. That’s all we need! Gotta simplify.

@ignorantturtlegaming​ — Dust, Revenant Force

For future cards, I would highly recommend reading up on design philosophy, what Magic’s colors are about, and how cards come into being. There are a lot of questions that this card raises, and a lot of things that need to be edited.

Green doesn’t get first strike, certainly not mono-green.

Why does this card cost five green mana? What does it provide for the limited/constructed environment?

It should be “Fox Warrior.”

The first thing about the flavor text is that there is far too much of it. It’s exposition for exposition’s sake. Fine in a high fantasy short story, but not on a Magic card.

The second thing about the flavor text is that Dust appears to be a white-aligned character through their actions and themes. I don’t feel anything green about them.

@juggernaut-is-a-metalhead — Devil’s Payment

I’m going easy on card art attribution since, well, it’s Disney and they are indeed evil, but in the future, please attribute it to the show itself and/or the director/copyright holder. So, the card itself. Is it supposed to be a common? Is it an homage to Cruel Bargain and Infernal Contract? This certainly isn’t a common effect, and for one mana, well, I don’t know what to say about this card. In terms of the flavor text, why is everything separated in lines like a poem? It’s way too long to fit into a card with three lines of rules text already. I don’t really understand what it’s even trying to say. The devil asked for the MAN’S youth. What does that has to do with his own? And why is it only sometimes capitalized? I don’t really understand this at all.

@koth-of-the-hammerpants — Hidden Bombardier

Great name. For the card text, it’s powerful, arguably fine in the right format, but very strong regardless. It also needs to say “It deals 3 damage” instead of just “Deal.” Gotta get past the 90′s, erryone. So now, the flavor text... I kinda get it? I just don’t understand what makes this card a shapeshifter. I don’t understand the world in which shapeshifters exist. This card feels like a Goblin. It’s an interesting kamikaze take, if a little too flowery and on-the-nose. It doesn’t exactly inform me, and it doesn’t exactly excite me.

@mardu-lesbian​ — Ballynock Adoptee

I had to look up to make sure that there were dwarfs on Lorwyn, and by golly, you’re right, there are! In RW hybrid in Eventide, anyway. And that brings up to a major story problem. By the introduction of dwarfs, the world has already plunged into Shadowmoor, and the thoughtweft has already been replaced with the mindweft. I’m stealing this from the wiki, so berate me if I’m wrong, but I always got the sense that the kithkin were highly xenophobic regardless of where the Great Aurora was. The jarring question that remains is: how does a non-kithkin creature become part of the thoughtweft/mindweft? It goes against what we know about the Kithkin and the world in general. If there’s a good explanation, I’m all ears, but I’m not convinced at this point in time.

@mistershinyobject​ — Phenax’s Messenger

Bonus judge trivia time: I studied Latin in high school and a little in college. From what I can tell about The Callapheia from other cards bearing it’s flavor text, it is meant to evoke classical poetry from Greek and Latin epics. The lines are written four at a time, indented carefully. HERE is a link to all cards with “Callapheia” in the flavor text. The gist is, this card does NOT evoke that. There’s a lot of text, a lot of quotes, a lot of forced story that could have been way punchier if you just had stuff about a snake eating a prophet. I love the card as a limited filler. But yeah, gotta do more research into what it means to have certain aspects on your cards.

@nicolbolas96​ — Unpredictable Betrayal

You know, it’s hard to evoke Nicol Bolas well in flavor text. He’s one of Magic’s major villains, a huge face of many sets, with years behind him. And honestly? You didn’t do a half-bad job in this flavor text. Props! That said, this card is way busted. For one, double strike doesn’t affect fighting at all, so that’s...something. For two, it would need to be three sentences; you did a run-on for that last one. For three, mechanically? This is a two-mana spell that eight times out of ten will absolutely destroy two creatures you don’t control. In limited, that’s insanely powerful. In any format that plays creatures, that’s usually amazingly good. There’s a reason spells like Blood Feud and Clash of Titans cost what they cost. Getting two creatures you don’t control to fight is powerful.

@nine-effing-hells​ — Cairn to Athusis

Actually, this card was one of my favorites from the contest. I’m a heavy Gruul player when I’m not playing cruel control, and I think the gist of this card is super interesting. You made it an enchantment artifact AND a shrine, giving flavor there as well to your new world. The only thing I would have changed is erasing that first sentence from your flavor text entirely. The second is so powerful that it stands on its own. It’s poetic without being overwrought, specific to the world and building off of known tropes. Also, it tells us that “orcs are RG in this world” which is a great mechanical touch. Just needed that little bit of trimming.

@real-aspen-hours​ — Deflect Consequences

Now this is an interesting card!... What practical use does it have? I’m curious what this has on something like Harmless Offering. I don’t believe that cast triggers will be affected. Maybe it would specifically go against things like “counter target spell you don’t control” or something, but if control changes... I’m uncertain of this card’s applications past the gimmick point. That said, it would be fun to cast a Leveler and have it enter the battlefield under an opponent’s control. I’m not in love with the flavor text. It’s fine. Doesn’t light my world on fire. A touch wordy. But it’s fine. Fits the name and the ability well, so that’s nice.

@reaperfromtheabyss​ — Inconquerable Alseid

Besides the fact that “Hope” should be lowercase and separated by a colon, the flavor text is really cool! I don’t like this card much. It’s honestly fine, and it’s an interesting commander card that could lead to some cool consequences, but there’s a reason Undaunted has reminder text. It doesn’t look good floating there by itself. There are some abilities that just need reminder text all the time, and Undaunted is on so few cards that it significantly needs this. I think I was a little too harsh on this card on my first go-around, but I haven’t warmed up to it yet. I think the great flavor could have been used on a simpler, more protective card.

@scavenger98​ — Kadalla the Scornful

I’m 99% sure it should go “First strike, deathtouch, haste.” Order of keywords is weird sometimes. So are creature types. I don’t really understand the world on which an Elf can be Mardu colors. It’s a stretch of the imagination to say the least. The card itself is...fine? I’d honestly make her an uncommon in today’s world. Yeah, she’s powerful, but she’s a 2/1 for three with all different mana symbols. Regarding the flavor, it’s well-worded, but it’s lengthy and doesn’t actually tell us anything about the character or the world. It doesn’t inform the card, and that’s its major misstep. Again, though, good writing.

@shandylamb​ — Multani’s Offspring

A fine card, a funny flavor. Just so you know, though, “Saproling” is pretty much only relegated to the token, and this card would probably see print as a plant or fungus. And additionally, as nice as the pun is... What’s this card even trying to say in the story? Multani’s only known child is Muldrotha, and that’s deep lore as-is. As funny as this card might be, it really doesn’t mesh with a Magic feel.

@starch255​ — Unscrupulous Horpske 

There are only two things I’m concerned about. Firstly: what about this creature makes it “unscrupulous?” What scruples does it have normally in its species? Secondly, this card is trying to make potato salad canon in the multiverse, and I don’t know if such a travesty would be allowed to happen. Potato salad is an affront to taste, no offense to the horpske.

Literally everything else about this card is a 10/10. I would also encourage you to work on a set symbol. Everyone should!

@teaxch​ — Hidden Seers

Interesting. So what timeline is this? Is this supposed to be, like, a return to Tarkir? Cool concept, I think, although I’m not entirely sold. After hearing the shaman’s whispers, why is Surrak’s first instinct to assume that without dragons a human would lead the clan? Wouldn’t the thought of a world without dragons evoke other thoughts and fears first? That’s my main hand-iffy-motion reason. This is also a supremely petty nitpick, probably the pettiest thing I’ve ever said about a card, but if this is the Dragon timeline then wouldn’t the watermark be the Atarka one instead of the Temur one?

@tmstage​ — Apostasy

Everything about this card is good...individually. Great name, but what does that have to do with the ability? What is it trying to depict? What does shuffling your library have to do with religious dogma? And the flavor text feels overbearing. Nykita as a character is someone I’d like to know more about, but this card doesn’t tell me much about her. It’s mostly that the mechanics and the flavor don’t mesh in the least, and, well, it’s not a good mechanic. Shuffling is time-consuming, game-prolonging, and has no discernible benefit to the game outside of incredibly niche cards that mostly don’t affect you as the player. And the more I read the flavor text, the less it makes sense. “Allow the world to deform your flawed notions?” It sounds awesome, but what does it mean?

~

Thank you all for your submissions. New contest tomorrow. 

[imaginethathaikyuu]

Okay birthday request for Kuroo (that dorky cat). Where he's a fox demon and it's been like a long time since he celebrates it or haven't at all. Reader finds out about this and decides to throw him a small party.

PSA  i know nothing about kitsune boys or whatever, i just wrote my own thing and did absolutely no research on them so..if i got some lore wrong or whatever, sorry about thatalso i tweaked the request a bit to fit my idea of kuroo a bit better hope that’s okay ;P (went with “fox boy” rather than “fox demon” cuz thats just what i was feelin tonight)

kitsune boy!kuroo gender neutral reader

-

The stories of a half fox, half man residing in the forest of the mountains in town had always interested you. That folklore seemed to call you into the woods, where most people wouldn’t dare set foot, in hopes of finding such a thing. 

You didn’t think you’d actually have any luck. 

You believed he was real, you really did. But in the back of your mind you heard the voices of those in the village telling you you’re dumb for trying to find such a dangerous creature - others told you he wasn’t real at all. That it was just a story. 

But you knew better than them. You’d made the familiar trek into the forest every day for years - since you were a child. You had been looking since then for a boy you once met, who had ears and a tail, who you had only met once.

“I’m not stupid,” was the first thing he said when he suddenly emerged in front of you, seemingly out of nowhere. You were only about ten years old, and he looked to be the same age. He spoke clearly, he sounded wise even though he was just a child. “I wouldn’t show myself to someone who’s dangerous. I’ve watched you a lot.” 

You didn’t get to say a word to him, as a noise that you could only describe as a high pitched bark perked his pointy ears - you watched them turn toward the sound - and he ran off. He was gone just as quickly as he had appeared, and it felt like you had dreamed the entire encounter.

And you did dream about him. For years to follow, that boy was in your dreams. He seemed to grow with you, his appearance altering in your dreams over the years; he grew taller, bigger, older. As if he was somehow visiting you in your sleep. But you knew that was impossible. 

Or… was it? Wasn’t the entire idea of his existence impossible? But it wasn't. He wasn’t impossible - he was real. You knew he was. 

That’s why you made that trip to the forest, every day for years. You ignored what others said, their warnings of fake stories or dangerous creatures couldn’t keep you from those woods. Their words weren’t louder than the voice in you head demanding you settle the curiosity in your heart and find him again. You were searching for that boy in your dreams. That boy you had met so long ago. Years past before you would meet him again. 

But you did meet him again. 

Just like all that time ago, you didn’t see where he came from. You didn’t hear or see him coming. But you turned your head, and there he was. And he looked just like he did in your dreams.

He was tall, you wondered how he was able to hide himself with such height. He had black hair and pointy ears pointing out of the fluff. But he had a human’s face and a human’s body. Apart from the tail. He wore clothes, though they looked like garments of an old man, decades old.

You didn’t know what to do, but you didn’t sense any danger from him. Although you hardly sensed his presence at all. 

“There you are,” he said to you, as if he’d been waiting for your return. “I’ve been looking for you, you know.”

Were you being scolded… by a fox? 

You wanted to ask him where the hell he’s been, what the hell he meant when he said he’s been looking for you, because you’re the one who was looking for him all this time. He’s the one who’s been hiding. But all you could choke out was, “W-Who are you?” 

He scratched his head. “You don’t sound like I thought you would…” 

“What?” 

He laughed softly at the sound of your voice - you must’ve sounded different than anyone he’s met before. And that only made you wonder if he’s ever even met another person before, or if you were the first. You hoped you were the first.  

“I’m Kuroo,” he said before turning around and walking away with his hands on his hips. “What’re you?” 

“What?” you asked again, following him. His footsteps were silent, while the crunch of the forest floor under your feet seemed to echo through the trees. 

“You have, like, a name or something, right?” 

“Y/N.” 

“Y/N,” he repeated, before twirling to look at you. He wore a sly grin, his eyes shined with mischief. “How fitting. Y/N.” 

And you followed him through the woods that evening, asking him question after question - most of which he didn’t have an answer to. 

By the time dusk had arrived, he was shooing you away. “Go. Get back to where you’re supposed to be. But come back soon, alright?” 

“Tomorrow,” you said. And you kept your word. 

You visited him every day since, learning more about who he was and how he lived. And you kept a journal of the things he told you, so you’d never forget them.

He was playful and kind. And he was a prankster, often jumping out from behind a tree to scare you. He got a good laugh out of doing that. 

On this particular day, you had brought your journal with you with the intention of filling in some missing information. You had grown quite keen on the boy, you had to admit. You wanted to know everything there was to know about him - not just because he was a mythical creature, either. But because he had the kind of personality you were drawn to. 

He was really interested in your handwriting, and you had promised you’d teach him a few things about reading and writing if he’d answer your questions. Surprisingly, he complied with you - that wasn’t something the troublesome fox did often. 

“When’s your birthday?” you asked him first, pen in hand. 

“Birthday?” 

“Yeah,” you said. “The day you were born.” 

He was laying on the ground on his back, his arms resting behind his head as his tail swayed back and forth to his side. You were resting your back against a tree. 

“I don’t know,” he shrugged. “I’ve never had a birthday.” 

“Everyone has a birthday, Kuroo.” 

“Not me,” he said, matter of fact. “I never have, and I never will.” 

You rolled your eyes before looking down at your journal and writing one word: Stubborn. 

“You have to have a birthday,” you said under your breath. “They’re actually a lot of fun.” 

He sat up to face you. “How?” 

“Well, everyone tells you Happy Birthday, even people you don’t talk to every day. And sometimes you have a party. Some people get you gifts. You get to do whatever you want on your birthday.” 

Kuroo scoffed. “I get to do whatever I want every day.” 

You laughed, “Right. I forgot about that.” 

“You have to tell me when it’s your birthday so I can get you a gift,” he said, giving you a sweet smile. “I should celebrate your day, too.”

You smiled right back at him, “But we need to figure out what your day is, Kuroo.” 

“I don’t need a day,” he said, getting up to go check out whatever it was across the woods that caught his eye. “Every day is my day.” 

“Kuroo,” you groaned, getting up to follow him. 

“And I don’t need any gifts!” he continued. “The only thing I want is…” 

You walked a bit faster, trying to catch up to him so you could hear him better. “What?” you asked, waiting quite impatiently for him to continue. 

“The only thing I want is for you to keep coming back,” he said. “I’m always afraid you’re not going to. Or that one day you’ll have one of those loud killing things instead of your book.” 

A gun. That’s what he was referring to. He’d seen hunters carrying them before, when he’d gone too close to town. And he watched them using guns, too. He told you about the experience in detail - it was the only one of his stories you wanted to forget. But you told him what they were called, and he either had a poor memory (he didn’t) or he was too stubborn to correct himself (he was.) 

“I don’t even have one of those things,” you said, smiling sadly at him. He nodded. “I still want you to have your own special day, though.” 

“Today can be the special day,” he said, shaking his head. “But it always feels special when you’re around.” 

That made you smile more than you’re sure Kuroo intended for it to, and you closed your book and put your pen in your pocket. You agreed with him. Every day did feel special when you were around him. 

For the rest of that evening, you decided to focus on the moment of being there instead of taking notes on Kuroo. You’d have plenty of days to get to know him, after all. 

[1-2-4sudoku]

Snapped Restraints: Chapter Three: Crumbling

 On Sunday, we visited Dick and his wife Barbara in their house in Bludhaven. 

I sat between Tim and Damian in the car, which I thought was brave of me. Cass was behind us while Alfred drove the car and Bruce rode shotgun. 

I didn’t like to leave Nadia alone (probably because my dad tried to kill once or twice), so I’d brought her with me. I allowed Damian to hold her while Tim napped on my shoulder.

Damian’s whole face lit up as Nadia began to climb up his shirt. I’d lived with him for three weeks now, and it was the first time I’d heard him laugh. It was a beautiful sound.

“Damian!” Bruce snapped, making his youngest son jump. “Give it back to Juliette!”

“She. Not it,” I corrected him bitterly, then called her back to me. 

“You shouldn’t have brought that thing along in the first place,” grumbled Bruce.

“I told her she could,” Alfred interceded on my behalf. “Nadia is sanitary, intelligent, and more polite than you, Master Bruce,”

Buuurrrrrrnnnnn. “Thank you, Alfred.”

Dick and Barbara, it turned out, lived in one of those thingies where all the houses are connected at the sides but it’s not an apartment. The door was answered by both inhabitants.

I was shocked when Damian voluntarily hugged Dick. “I missed you, Grayson.”

“I missed you, too, buddy,” he replied earnestly. He hugged each one of us tightly. I decided that he gave the best hugs.

Barbara was just as nice as her husband. Everyone bent down to hug her in her wheelchair, except Cassandra, who just knelt and hugged her head on her knees and a huge smile. They must have been incredibly close. I knew Cass visited here a lot, since Bruce didn’t bother to send her to school. 

When Barbara greeted me, she said: “You must be Juliette. Dick showed me how fast you can fold origami. You have talent.”

I blushed and thanked her. She had red hair and kind, intelligent green eyes behind round glasses. Her eyes smiled at me.

The family spread themselves throughout the living room and kitchen. Damian followed Dick everywhere, with Tim not far behind at times. I sat on the floor by the coffee table and showed Cass and Barbara how to make origami fairies.

After only around fifteen minutes, the doorbell rang for a second time. “That must be Jason!” Dick said happily.

I looked up grinning from ear to ear. “You mean as in Jason Todd? Redhood the mob boss?”

“You did not,” Bruce growled. Fucking Gargoyle Face again.

“This is a family day, Bruce,” Barbara reminded him, sounding irritated.

“And Master Jason is family,” Alfred added.

The doorbell rang again in a way that suggested someone was leaning on it heavily.

“He’s getting impatient,” Dick said. “I better let him in.”

I followed him to the front door. Opening it, he revealed the burliest man I’d ever seen who wasn’t Bane. He was tall, had black hair, and wore a leather jacket.

“The fuck is this?” were his first words as he gestured to me.

“Language,” Alfred chided him from the couch.

“The newest addition to Bruce’s ever increasing child collection,” Dick told him.

“I’m Juliette Lativian,” I informed Jason. I stuck out my hand and we shook. His hand almost mine almost completely.

“You have a rat in your pocket,” he noticed.

“You have guns in your holsters,” I replied cheekily.

“Jason!” Dick hissed.

Jason just laughed. “I like this kid Julie.”

I wagged my finger at him, but I was smiling. “I don’t answer to Julie, Jules, or Wayne.”

“I have a new favorite,” Jason announced.

I had a new favorite, too. He didn’t make fun of me for Nadia, which shot his credibility way up. Adding to that was the fact that he clearly did not like Bruce.

We stayed at the Grayson residence for two hours, and I spent the whole time with Jason. We talked about everything from gun laws to mob bossery to books to origami. With me, most things ended up being about origami.

Before we left, I gave him a fox that I folded. “Consider this a reminder to visit me.”

“I won’t need it,” he said. “But I’ll keep it because I like it.”

When damian, Cassandra, Tim, Alfred, Bruce and I got home:

“Don’t talk to Jason. Don’t interact with Jason. You’re not allowed to be friends with Jason. You’re not allowed to welcome him into this house, either.”

The next day, Tim came down for breakfast wearing his MAKE WAY FOR THE GENIUS shirt.

“Change,” Bruce said. He barely even looked up.

“Jason got that for you right?” I asked.

“Yes,” Tim said on his way to the coffee machine. His hair stuck up like Einstein’s.

“SO CHANGE.” Bruce demanded. “NOW!”

Tim flinched, muttered: “Yes, Bruce”, and left to do that. With one kid left to pick on, Bruce turned to me. “You’ve got the filthy rat on your shoulder.”

“Nadia isn’t filthy, Father.” That was Damian, saying the words in my head before I could spit them out.

Bruce rounded on him. “If it isn’t filthy, why not let it share your bed? Why not let it walk through your food?”

He made a grab for my beloved rat, but drew his hand back quickly when he heard approaching footsteps.

“Master Damian, have you fed Titus yet?” Alfred asked.

“Actually Alfred, I think I did today,” Bruce said.

Damian stood up very fast with very wide eyes. “I’ll check,” he replied with a pale face.Then he strode out of the room at godspeed.

Didn’t Damian have a cat once? I wondered.

Before we left for school, I gave Nadia to Cassandra to watch.

“Guard her with your life,” I whispered urgently. I didn’t want to know what Bruce would do to her on a bad day.

Cassandra nodded, but that wasn’t good enough for me.

“Promise me that you’ll guard her with your life,” I insisted. “You have to say it out loud. I know you can. Just say it to put me at ease.”

“I promise.” she amended.

“Thank you.” Reassured, I could now leave for school.

I was in seventh grade, Damian was in fifth grade, and middle school had recess together. I guess neither of us had bothered to make friends, so we found ourselves sitting quietly together on the swings. I broke the silence.

“I know it hurts.”

Damian replied defensively, with a bitter note to his voice. “If you’re going to tell me to stand up for myself, don’t, because I hate hypocrites. I know he hits you to.”

“Then I guess we’re both just a little too used to people treating us like shit.” After I said it, it surprised me how blatently true it was.

“Well, you know who hurt me first,” Damian remarked. “Who was it for you?”

“My parents,” I admitted. “Both were drug addicts.”

A girl with pink highlights in her hair appeared near us. “Were your parents high when they decided to have a kid?”

“Leave her alone,” Damian exacted.

“Fuck off!”

I got up. “Why don’t you go crawl back into that nasty little  hole you came from?”

Then a kid standing next to the pink haired girl who might have been her boyfriend barked: “Don’t tell her what to do!!’, and he pushed me back hard.

I fell on the swing I was standing in front of, only I slid back on it further. Then gravity took effect and pulled me forward with a lurch. My shirt rode up and the hot plastic swing burned my exposed back. 

I’m told that Damian attacked those two and beat them up pretty badly. I didn’t see it though, because I curled up in fetal position and hid my face. It was an instinct to protect myself that I couldn’t shake needing.

I’d been with Bruce for a month now and somehow it was schoolyard bullying that coaxed me into a panic attack so bad that it was more like a nervous breakdown. I suppose it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

I wouldn’t let anyone touch me, and I hit them if they tried. Even Damian. I cried and screamed at the top of my lungs for everyone to stay away from me.

I’m told that everyone else involved was taken to the office. One of the guidance counslers managed to calm me down slightly and take me to her office, where I hid under a table and fell asleep. 

All I really remember is sheer sheer terror, anguish, and frustration as I tried to coax flashbacks to the back of my mind. I thought it was going to swallow me whole if I didn’t get it out of my head. I guess that just exhausted me so much that I conked out.

Sleep was blissful. Bruce was not. He didn’t talk the whole ride home. I sat in the backseat with Damian, who clutched my hand. I think he was trying to comfort me, though.

At home Bruce took me and Damian to the kitchen. Alfred wasn’t home. He must be buying groceries or something. I don’t think Cass is home, either. At least she has Nadia with her, I thought. And Bruce was seething with fury.

“DO YOU REALIZE HOW YOU MADE ME LOOK?!?!?” he bellowed. The counsler must have figured out that most kids don’t suffer debilitating breakdowns when someone else pushes them. Fuck.

“Not good,” I squeaked.

Bruce’s veins bulged and his face twisted itself into the likeness of a gargoyle. He pointed a finger. “THANKS TO YOU TWO SHITS, I GOT TO SPEND 30 MINUTES TALKING TO THE PRINCIPAL ABOUT YOUR HOME LIFE AND FAMILY PROBLEMS!!!!!!”

Damian’s lower lip trembled. He was trying to be strong, but he was still a ten year old. “I-I’m sorry, Father,” he stuttered.

“SORRY ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH!” Gargoyle Face thundered, and he punched Damian in the stomach twice. The second blow was severe enough to make his poor son puke all over the linoleum floor.

He yelled at him for that, too. “LOOK WHAT YOU DID, YOU LITTLE FUCKER!!!”

I was tired of being terrorized, and I was tired of seeing others hurt. I tried to lunge at Bruce, but I slipped in the puddle of vomit fell, and bit my lip hard. Gargoyle Face grabbed me by my hair and started pulling me up. Shrieking with pain, I scrambled to my feet so that I wouldn’t be scalped.

I fell into line just like that. Pain was the price I always paid when I tried to stand up to bullies.

Gargoyle Face forced me to look at him, forced me to look into the eyes of a demon. “Come with me.”

He half dragged me to my room, and all I could think was: At least he’s forgotten about my baby brother.

That sorry excuse for a father was trembling with fury as he pointed his finger at me. “This is what you get for making me look bad!”

Then he tore the place apart. He tossed everything off my bed, overturned my furniture, ripped apart my closet, and gathered my paper creations. He threw them in the dormant fireplace and lit them ablaze.

Seeing that was like having my soul burned. I couldn’t care less about my clothes or furniture, but it devastated me to see my world destroyed. The colorful origami transformed any hostile environment into a realm of beauty. 

Burning my origami was like burning my house to ashes. It takes ages to create a home, but the most incredible of them can be destroyed in less than five minutes.

This was never going to be different, the flames taunted me. It was the ultimate betrayal. Tears ran down my face, but I didn’t make a sound. I knew better than that,

Then I peered out the window and saw Alfred’s car pulling up. The kind old butler’s arrival gave me courage, and my anger was quickly burning through my fear and replacing it. “Stop it.”

Bruce whirled and stalked toward me, then leaned in dangerously close. I could feel his breath on me. “What was that?”

“Stop it. You can’t just treat your kids like this and claim to be a hero.”

“I could kill you with one blow, Jules. What makes you think you can talk to me like that?”

“Three words. Alfred is home.”

He looked out the window and turned pasty white.

“Don’t push me over the edge. If you do, I swear on that’s holy I will destroy you. And. My. Name. Is. Jul-i-ette.” I barely breathed those words, but I made sure that Gargoyle Face heard me.

He put on his human face quickly and left me to clean up his mess with the little resolve I had left.

As I remade my bed, I barely contained my anger. As I put away my clothes, I promised myself that the warning I gave Bruce was the last one he was getting.

[chemicalmagecraft]

Foresight is 20/20 Chapter 11

I smiled even before we reached the gates. "It looks like we have a welcome party," I noted, then licked my lips.

"How can you tell?" Gai asked.

"Chakra sensing."

As soon as we were inside the gates of the village, I was tackled by a very energetic blonde. "Kouki!" Naruto yelled as he did his level best to crush me like a tin can.

I awkwardly patted him on the back. "Heyyy, bud. Could I please breathe?" I choked out. I gasped for my breath after he released me from his adamantium grasp. "Stupid freakish Uzumaki strength," I grumbled in between breaths.

"What was that?" Tenten angrily asked me.

I rolled my eyes. "Not directed at you."

"Hey Kouki," Naruto said, "why are you all brown?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Okay first off I think technically it's more 'bronze' than 'brown,'" I said, "and b, it's called a tan."

"How did you get so tan in only a few days?" Dad asked me. "Didn't you have a parasol?"

I sheepishly put my hand behind my head. "Well..."

~~~~ku

I sighed as I lounged on the thankfully clean floor in front of the window.

"Are you sunbathing!?" Temari asked me.

"Soooo waaaarm~" I replied.

"I swear you're a cat or something."

I grinned a catlike grin. "Meow~" She sighed and stormed off.

~~~~ku

"...I guess I get tan really easily?" Okay to be fair I do. And it stays for a while, even if I stay inside most of the time. When my brother, whose complexion is almost exactly the same as mine, got a similarly dark tan from being a lifeguard, my mom noted that it was probably due to our "gypsy blood." I wouldn't put it that way myself, mostly due to the fact that the word "gypsy" is actually kinda offensive what the heck mom, but I guess it's a plausible reason... I was thankful, though, that the sun didn't give me any more freckles. No offense to people with a lot of freckles, but I'm fine with only having like ten freckles on my face that mostly just look like a bunch of beauty marks, thank you very much.

"Welcome back, niisan," Hinata said with a smile. I couldn't help but notice that Kurama didn't at all look like he was annoyed with Hinata carrying him.

"Sup, Hina-chan. Did Kurama-chan tell you guys I'd be here?"

He huffed and turned his head away from me, the tsundere.

"Love you too, bud!"

"So what are you going to do now that you're back?" Neji asked me.

I shrugged. "First I'm going to take a bath, then I'll probably take a nap or something. I'm pooped."

"Surprising to hear that from you," Ai commented.

"Even I have my limits, Ai. Working on the seal was fun, but I'm glad it's over and done with." I yawned. "Now if you guys don't mind, I'd like to go take a nice, long bath now." I waved goodbye. "Thanks for coming to greet me!"

kukukuku~

I yawned, sat up in my bed, licked my lips, and stretched my arms. Then I fell back to sleep.

kukukuku~

"Okay, time to work now," I said after I rolled out of bed. Before doing anything, though, I checked out my window. It was nighttime. I shrugged. "Not that much of a problem to someone with twenty four-plus hour days." I licked my lips. "Right, let's get crackin'." I assumed a meditative position on the floor and reached inward, to my chakra. Mostly the red stuff, but also some of the blue. Just as a human touched by the red (I.E. me or the jinchuriki) has to have over a certain amount of red chakra in them to not die, it seemed that beings made from the red needed at least some blue in them to function. To be honest, I should've figured that out sooner, what with how the Biju Dama uses blue chakra. 'Course, I did figure it out when I sensed not only another biju, but Karura, who was a non-biju red chakra spirit. And with that revelation came some important progress on an idea that I'd had. And over the ride home, I'd honed and perfected that jutsu, one that I was now ready to use. Sure, I'd been wary of potential danger, but I felt a lot better after a message from my future self, or at least a future self... Future vision can get pretty freaky.

And so, I grabbed hold of almost all of my red chakra, just leaving a comfortable yet small amount over the minimum amount I needed to live, as well as enough blue chakra to sustain a demon of that power level. I used yin-yang release and some of the mechanics behind clone jutsus in general to mold that chakra into the proper shape. When I was done, the chakra moved on its own.

I opened my eyes to see my shadow turn pitch-black, then split off into two, one normal and one still a me-shaped abyss. The ebon shadow moved and stretched so that it was across the room from me. The shadow... rose, changing in shape and color to form what felt like an alternate-universe mirror. First off, shadow me looked even more girly than I did. Sure, that wasn't saying much what with how I was still way prepubescent and had girly hair, but she had longer hair and a skirt with leggings, so there's that. Plus she looked a little shorter than me. Second off, she had what appeared to be fox ears and a tail, likely an artifact from Kurama even though they didn't look exactly like his. Third, she was both a pallette swap and mirror image of me. While her complexion was roughly the same as mine, her eye markings were white with black dots instead of black with white dots, her clothes were dark red instead of blue, her hair was a shade of blue so dark it was almost black, and her eyes were red with slit pupils. As for the mirror part, her bangs were parted to the right instead of the left and each of her freckles were situated to be on the opposite side of her face from mine. Though she had fox ears instead of human ears, I could see she still had a rendition of the nubby nub nub thing on her right ear as opposed to my left.

"I am thou, thou art I," she said in almost my voice. Man, that was weird. "Sup, me."

"Sup," I responded, then relaxed my posture. She did the same, though she was mindful of her skirt. I was already kind of sure of the answer, but... "Hey, just to be clear here, you're supposed to be a girl, ja?"

She nodded. "Ja." She blushed. "I have more control over my form than just using the transformation jutsu and I figured I should differentiate myself as much as I can from you, so..." I feel like something could be said about me that "I" felt the need to justify that even to myself...

"I take it you picked out your own name too, right?"

"Yup." She grinned. "To counter your light-light hope-and-fortune name, I picked Chikage."

"Thousand Views?" I asked jokingly.

She facepalmed and groaned. "Okay yes, I guess that that's the traditional reading, but I meant more along the lines of Thousand Shadows. Or even Blood Shadow. Heck, Shadow of the Earth is kinda cool too."

"So does that mean I have your permission to keep 'Kouki?'" I asked.

She gave me a deadpan stare. "Dude, I literally said that I picked a name to balance out yours."

"Yeah, but if you think about it, 'Kouki' is us, not me. The guy that is us combined is Kouki."

She shrugged. "Would be pretty weird if you randomly started to go by another name. You're Kouki Prime and I'm totally at peace with that. Let's stop talking about semantics and see what this jutsu of ours does, exactly."

I nodded and clenched my fist. "I think I got weaker..." I unclenched my fist and did a few small stretches.

"Makes sense," Chikage said. "Even if you aren't using it, your red chakra still enhances you. Still, that also means you should have more control now."

"Right," I said. I held my hand out and tried to make some wind chakra. It felt a little off without my red chakra, but I got the hang of it surprisingly fast. Much faster than I'd managed the last time I'd tried it, wire-thin threads of wind chakra burst from my fingers, curling around my new double/clone/sister maybe? "Sorry, but you understand what I'm doing, right?

She snorted. Curiously, a small puff of smoke came from her nose when she did. "Dude, I'm you. Of course I know. Just make sure to ask future you first to make sure it doesn't screw us both over."

"Right, was going to do that anyway." I activated my eyes for just long enough to get a message coded to a version of myself in the exact situation I was in.

"Yup. Go ahead."

I didn't want to completely spoil every single highly-dangerous-yet-incredibly-interesting experiment I did, but I knew it'd be stupid to actually do them without using the Shoraigan to make sure I didn't end up turning Konoha into a crater. And so in my time of need, I discovered another power of the Shoraigan that was just as good as the ability to tell the future. At least, I'm assuming that's what happened in about a thousand other timelines that I never went down. Or I guess I did go down them, but just not the me that is me? Man, anything involving time travel gives people headaches, doesn't it. I could only time-warp information and yet I still got headaches.

Where was I?

Oh right. Main Shoraigan power number three. Or maybe just another version of the first main power? In addition to being able to download future information directly into my brain, I found out I could send my past self and/or selves information when I randomly got thousands of very similar chronopathic messages saying something roughly along the lines of "Holy crud we can send messages to our past selves!" and some telling me to stop sending messages back to past me, which was very hypocritical of future me, but I complied. I wonder if there's a version of me who found out about the Shoraigan by having that future message sent back by an alternate version of-

"You're getting off track," Chikage said, her eyes now a slit variant of the Shoraigan. Guess that meant she could use it too despite not having my eyes(?). "Stop telling the fans about our cool new power and kill me already."

"Right, sorry." I closed my hand into a fist, causing the Wind Release: Razor Wire to chop her into pieces. Instead of blood going everywhere, though, the cuts became red chakra which reformed back into her body with some loss.

"That hurt," she muttered. "But it seems we won't find out what happens when I die if we use that. Maybe try fire?" She was made from an aggregation of the powers of Kurama (fire/wind) and Shukaku (earth/wind), so while there was some fire in her it wasn't out of the question that fire would hurt her a lot more than wind...

I nodded and we both stood up. I guess maybe it was customary to use fire chakra from the lungs, and yes that was apparently how you got the most power, but I liked the idea of channeling it through my hands better, plus that way I could try to add lightning to it despite not knowing how to do it too well. I knew fire from the hands was possible from the flashback to the time of Ninshu, so theoretically... "Do not try this at home, kids." I made a few hand seals, then held my hand like how Kakashi does with the Chidori. An unfortunately uncoordinated ball of fire and lightning chakra emerged from my palm, as well as the slightest whiff of burning flesh.

Ow.

Chikage waved her arm in front of her torso, creating either a bullseye target or the illusion of a bullseye target. I thrust the ball of plasma right into the center of the target. Her body destabilized almost as soon as the probably-poorly-thought-out concoction of chakra touched her. While some was... ruined, I guess, by the attack, the majority of the chakra Chikage was made from was sucked back into my body. With the chakra came her memories, which was... interesting. I feel like I should note, though, that getting pyrolectrocuted hurts like the dickens.

"Is everything okay?" Uncle asked as he barged in. "I heard crackling sounds."

I casually stuck my hands in my pockets. "Yeah. I tried to use lightning release. Do you think you could ask Dad if I could get official training? That kinda hurt."

He looked concerned. "Are you hurt?"

I gave him a thumbs-up with my unburned hand. "Yeah, just a little stinging. Nothing a little healing factor won't cure. You should see the other guy."

"O...kay..." He thankfully left without much question, allowing me to take the other hand out and assess the damage. The friction from just taking it out of my pocket stung.

"Eeee..." I winced. I mean, it didn't look like it was too bad of a second degree burn, but... it was blackened. I really hoped that was just soot. I applied some red chakra to it and it thankfully just flaked off and didn't scar or anything. "Not doing that again, at least without adult supervision. Hope my pocket isn't ruined..." I tilted my head a bit. "Now before I can forget, I should probably do this." I activated my Shoraigan and sent a message coded to two certain iterations of my past self. Sure, it'd have happened anyway because of diverging timelines, but insert dead Daves joke here. "Right," I said. "Now that that's over. Chikage, out." She didn't do anything. I blinked. I could definitely feel her somewhere in me, but...

Oh.

I was Chikage. Well that was interesting. I concentrated on what I'd done before and felt a small snap in the back of my head.

"I'm back," she said in my head. Red chakra flowed from my body, forming Chikage, arms crossed and leaning back onto thin air. "Is that what it feels like to fuse?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I guess maybe with Pink Steven it was, just with less nearly dying and womanchildish giants."

She chuckled and picked me up. "C'mon, we gotta do it now."

I smiled and hugged her, laughing. She hugged me back. We started laughing and spinning each other until we just melted back together. "Ah, good times," I said. "Now we should probably get a training ground so I can see what I... you... we... can do..." I sighed. "Man, this is going to be weird..."

[famedhunter]

( michiel huisman, 42, cismale, he/him ) Well if it isn't ASA FOX. Rumor is that they’re a(n) HUMAN from SUPERNATURAL and they found their way to Devil Hills, KS 2 DAYS AGO. They can be a bit of A WOMANIZER & AGGRANDIZING, but some of that is made up by their tendency to be FREE SPIRITED & PERSONABLE. One of their top played songs is HELL'S BELLS by ACDC. Some sights and sounds that embody them are LOUD AND DETAILED CAMPFIRE STORIES, A GLASS OF FINE SCOTCH, GUNPOWDER AND FRESHLY PAINTED SIGILS, AND FADED FLANNEL SHIRTS. Hopefully they pick the right side of things or stay out of the way.

biography.

asa fox was born in emerson, manitoba, canada. his father’s identity is completely unknown to him as it has only been his mother and him his entire life. travelling between the states and home was pretty common for him growing up, as his mother’s aunt had moved to kansas. his life was rather uneventful until he was saved from a werewolf while visiting his great aunt by mary winchester.

only ten years old at the time, he idolized mary. she was a real life superhero. throughout his childhood and into his adulthood, he wrote her letters and wrote information on the back of postcards of places he had been, especially after he started hunting himself. he wanted to save people like she had and in the back of his mind there was always a desire to meet her again to say thank you one more time and show her the great hunter he had become.

his hunting travels took him throughout the united states and canada, always looking for the most thrilling case that he could find. he had met and befriended many hunters, always super friendly. he had been known to visit harvelle’s roadhouse from time to time before it burnt down. friends would always describe him as a great guy to be around, always made a moment super fun. but those close to him soon developed a drinking game to take a shot every time that he mentioned the word wendigo, since he loved to tell his story of killing five wendigos in one night.

it is unknown what percent of his hunting stories are truthful, but its a given that he would get some smiles and laughs from anyone in the room when he spoke. whenever he could, he would return home to visit his mom. she knew of what he did, had met a lot of his hunting friends, and had gotten tired of trying to get him to stop. with his constant running around and lack of a father figure growing up, he never really saw himself settling down with anyone.

his sleeping around did catch up with him when he fathered twins with a witch named tasha banes. she kept the identity of their father a secret to everyone except asa and the twins max and alicia because of the fact that he was a hunter. asa tried to visit his kids several times a year, making sure that he was there for their birthdays. he didn’t let his mom in on the secret, because he figured they would be safer the less people knew.

around ten years after the birth of his children, he exorcised a demon named jael after a particularly bloody case involving the slaughter of many in a small town in oregon. notably, he also befriended jody mills. he was hunting a ghoul in sioux falls and she saw right through his fbi rouse. the two developed a stronger connection than asa allowed himself to have with most, visiting whenever he went through town to continue their fling as well as take a case on together.

when he get word of devil hills from a fellow hunter, he heads his way down from canada despite his mother’s concerns. he’s renting out of the briar patch motel. keeping his eyes on patterns of deaths and strange occurrences in the town, you’re likely to find him reading the paper at sunshine diner or drinking away at the twisted bull alehouse. he’s very flirty but hoping that more hunters start showing up to help him and understand that being territorial would be a terrible idea.

personality.

asa is super friendly and personable. he can get along with nearly anybody and loves to crack jokes and make people smile. given how much he idolized mary and instantly put hunters at superhero status, he can stretch the truth of some of his hunting stories to make them bigger and better. anybody that works with him knows that he is great at what he does, however. he is also compassionate, which keeps him constantly on the road to save people as he had been saved. apart from his aggrandizing nature, he can also find it hard to take some things seriously and others may describe him as manipulative to get what he wants out of others.

wanted connections.

always open for oc hunter or monsters wanting a connection to asa. canonically, i would love to see jody mills, tasha banes, alicia banes, max banes. also if anyone made jael *insert chef’s kiss emoji*