#thanx for dealing with me

[yay-mysterio]

sorry to t***** s****post but I knew you'd haunt all of my what ifs the smell of smoke would hang around this long ... chasing shadows in the grocery line shutup everybody shut up i'm dying from the inside out

[guiltyandashamed]

hiii!!! could you do brothers + side characetrs with an mc who is famous on devilgram? like ever since they came to RAD they became super popular online :D thanx!!!!

headcannons: devilgram-famous MC (brothers + side characters)

From the moment you arrived in the Devildom, Devilgram became your outlet. You posted everything, your outfits, your food, funny observations about Devildom life.Your page quickly gained traction. Now you have brand deals, fans, and even the occasional paparazzi moment at RAD.

Lucifer

At first, he brushes it off. "If it doesn't interfere with your academic performance, I have no reason to be concerned."

Then he sees how successful you are—Sponsors reaching out for promotion or looking to get into business with you. He makes sure you aren't getting exploited, are promoting the right people, and maintain a respectable image.

It's helped you elevate yourself professionally, and he respects your hard work ethic when it comes to taking your position seriously.

Slightly more possessive in public when you're approached by admirers. A gentle hand on your back. A subtle glare that makes fans back off without realizing why.

Mammon

Loudly and immediately obsessed.

Starts posting with you constantly. Tries to leverage your fame for duo sponsorship deals “Get rich together, ya know?”

Deep down, he’s insanely proud. Shows your posts to his modeling friends like, “See that? That’s my human.”

But also gets jealous when fans get too flirty in the comments. Starts hearting every comment that mentions your relationship, even if you’re not officially dating.

Obsessed with fan edits of you. Tries to hide that he watches them, but you can see it in the reflection of his sunglasses.

Leviathan

Has an existential crisis. “You’re more popular than I am on Devilgram… you’re living the normie dream…”

Starts watching your follower count rise like it’s a real-time leaderboard. Gets nervous when you surpass his favorite stars.

Softens up when you post a photo of you two gaming together, calling him your “best coach.” You even tag him. He stares at it for hours.

Gets extra shy when fans recognize him in your videos.

Feels somewhat jealous that tons of people admire you, besides him. You comfort him, “All they see is a person on a screen. You get to see the real me,” which makes him smile and nestle a little closer.

Satan

At first: indifferent. “Social media isn’t exactly my scene.”

But once he realizes how cleverly you use your platform, highlighting Devildom culture, normalizing interrealm relations, he’s genuinely impressed.

“You’ve created a kind of social bridge. I respect that."

Gets incredibly flustered when you post a 3-second video of yourself with a cat. The public seems to go crazy over it, he does too.

Gets very defensive if anyone posts rude comments. He’ll never say it out loud, but you once caught him trying to trace a troll’s IP.

Has a folder on his D.D.D. titled “Their Best Posts.” You pretend not to see it.

Asmodeus

He's thrilled. “You’re famous? Oh, we simply must collaborate!”

Loves being seen with you, you're both beautiful, you both have fans, and you both know how to pose for the camera.

He understands attention better than anyone else, and he knows how intoxicating and isolating it can be.

Offers to help you with skincare routines, posing tips, PR strategy, partly because he wants to help, partly to stay close.

He also gets more clingy in private. “They all want you, darling... but you’re mine tonight, right?”

Beelzebub

He doesn’t really understand the whole Devilgram fame thing, but he gets that it makes you happy. That’s all that matters to him.

At RAD, when fans swarm you, he calmly stands between you and the crowd, not to block them entirely, just to make sure you’re safe and not overwhelmed.

He especially likes your food posts. Thinks it's cool that other people like to see food too.

You’re never just a screen persona to him. You’re someone who laughs with him at breakfast, helps him find rare protein bars, and brings him quiet peace in a world full of noise.

“I don’t care how many followers you have. You’re already important.”

Belphegor

Acts like he doesn’t care. “Tch. So what if you’re popular now? That doesn’t mean anything.”

But he watches from the sidelines more than you think. Lurking in the tags. Scrolling when he can’t sleep.

The moment you start getting approached at RAD, his mood dips. He doesn’t like strangers looking at you like they know you.

Despite the sharpness, there's a vulnerability underneath. He’s afraid of being left behind, forgotten in the blur of lights and fans.

He won’t admit it out loud, but he clings harder when you’re alone together. “Don’t let them take you away from here. From me.”

Diavolo

He thinks it’s fantastic. The Devildom needs more human-devil cultural exchange, and you’re a living ambassador.

His support is big-picture. He encourages you to use your platform wisely and offers official RAD sponsorships or protections if needed.

However, when he sees how people crowd around you or speak to you overly familiar, there's a flicker of protectiveness.

“You're doing wonderfully, but remember, you're not obligated to be available to everyone.”

Occasionally invites you for PR events or asks if you’d like to co-host a Devildom-wide livestream. Always gives you the option to say no.

Barbatos

He’s largely neutral outwardly, but very aware behind the scenes. He monitors your online activity and fan interactions like a hawk, purely to assess threats.

Subtly reroutes suspicious or overzealous fans before they get close. You may never know how often he's intervened.

He offers you quiet reminders: “It’s wise to schedule rest periods. Even stardom mustn’t replace self-care.”

Helps you manage time between your obligations and online work. If you have a shoot or sponsorship, he’s already rearranged your RAD schedule to accommodate it.

He doesn't compliment often, but when he does, it’s precise: “You handled that interview well. Controlled, charming, and sincere. Admirable.”

Solomon

Oh, he thinks it's hilarious, and impressive. “Guess I’m not the only famous human in the Devildom anymore.”

Loves to tease you: “Should I start calling you 'Your Influencer Highness'?”

But he also offers practical help. He’s seen what fame can do to people, and he quietly checks in if your confidence falters.

“Fame’s a fun illusion. Just don’t forget who you are when the lights are off.”

When fans push too far, he’s not above sending them a politely cursed message.

Simeon

Supportive in a very grounding way. “Your success is lovely to see, but more lovely is the kindness you still show.”

Watches your rise with a gentle fondness, like a proud mentor or older brother.

Offers advice if you ever feel overwhelmed by the attention.

Helps you sort through fan mail, especially when it becomes too much. Keeps you emotionally anchored.

He makes sure you still have private, sacred spaces where you can just be yourself, with no cameras.

Mephistopheles

Incredibly bitter that you're more popular than the RAD newspaper he runs. “So you take selfies and suddenly you’re Devildom royalty?”

Has tried (unsuccessfully) to get you to guest-write an article for the paper to boost his own traction.

Occasionally shows up in your tagged posts looking way too smug.

While he pretends it’s all business, he gets quietly flustered when fans ship you two.

Thirteen

She's amused by the whole thing. “You? A Devilgram star? Never thought I’d see the day.”

She makes fun of you constantly for being famous, but secretly watches every story.

Teases you like: “Careful, don’t trip over your fanbase on your way to class.”

If you ever feel down because of rude comments or pressure, she’s the first to call it out.

“Want me to rig their phone with exploding hexes? No? Just say the word."

Doesn’t treat you differently and likes that you are still you, despite the fame.

Raphael

Skeptical at first. “Why do so many people need to see what you ate for breakfast?”

Doesn’t understand the appeal of social media, but respects that it makes you happy.

Has to learn to be okay with the attention you get, he's the type to walk just a little closer when fans crowd you, not possessive, just… present.

If you ever express that you're tired of the pressure, he listens seriously and offers calm advice.

“Then take a step back. You’re not obligated to be seen constantly to be real.”

[cece693]

We Belong Together (DARK! Steve Rogers x M! Reader)

Just something that came to mind and couldn't help but write it. Please tell me if you like this style of writing more or prefer my original one. Thanx for reading!

Summary: Dating Steve Rogers was more difficult than you'd imagined. He was a man riddled with insecurities and, unfortunately, this affected your relationship.

tags: dark Steve Rogers, manipulation, the Avengers are no help, toxic relationship, not Steve friendly, gaslighting, no happy ending and ambiguous ending

Your relationship with Steve was rocky, to say the least. And you know it sounded stupid because you're dating Captain America, the epitope of male perfection and respect, but you weren't dating him. You were dating Steve Rogers, the man who was always beaten to a pulp behind alleyways before the serum took over. The man who did everything to fit in, but was neglected due to his health problems and scrawny appearance. And in a way, you sympathized with Steve—he was still the boy seeking acceptance from everyone, and you, who he'd let into his heart after the whole Peggy fiasco, couldn't desert him. But there was a line between what you would label as love and obsession.

It would be fine if Steve wanted to spend each weekend lazing about in bed, arms wrapped around you, not wanting to let you even use the bathroom, but it was another story if he had your location turned on and was texting you hurtful messages implying infidelity. You'd let it pass one time, but when it became a routine, and Steve became more suffocating to be around, you realized you'd fucked up. No breakup was easy, but when you're doing it to Steve Rogers, a man who was known for his determination and unwillingness to change his mind, it would be near impossible.

With his job as a full-time Avenger, there was never a good time for you to sit down and talk to Steve. He was either tired or stressed, with the latter making you squeamish to even interact with. No Steve was pleasant to deal with, as of late, but a stressed Steve was walking into enemy ground. If the damage to the punching bags was any indication. However, it seems whatever God above favored you when your boyfriend announced he'd asked for a week off to spend it with you. His smile was genuine, but you noted the strange twinkle in his eyes when he casually noted that it would be your anniversary.

"Who knows what surprise I have in store for you." He said, but those words, said with so much innocence had you fretting. You hated to do it, but it seemed you'd be breaking up with him before his plan could come to fruition.

"Steve, about that..." You trailed off, looking away from him to gain courage, but found none. "I don't think we're working out. I want to break up." There, you said internally, just like ripping off a bandaid. You risked looking up at Steve and instantly regretted it. He had a look of silent fury and violence??? but then it washed over with indifference. You expected yelling, even begging, but silence stung more. "I'm sorry, but I..." How would you broach the topic of his toxicity without sounding like a total asshole?

"Is there someone else?" Steve interrupted, quite rudely. He tilted his head, mind racing with every person who'd ever interacted with you. Who had convoluted your mind into breaking up with him? If there was another man, Steve would make them regret their existence. Taking what wasn't theirs to begin with. "Is it Thomas? I knew he wasn't just a friend."

"No!" You shouted, hurt by the implication. Thomas was a co-worker who you befriended—he was like a brother to you, nothing more, nothing less. "This is part of the problem, Steve. You think I always cheat, making me feel stupid for overreacting to your jealousy when it's unhealthy as hell."

"But you always seem so close to everyone else." Your ex replied, his voice wavering between anger and insecurity. "How am I supposed to feel when I see you laughing and talking with Thomas like that?"

You shook your head, frustration boiling over. "How are you supposed to feel?! You're supposed to trust me, Steve! You're supposed to know that if I'm with you, it's because I chose you. But you keep pushing me away with all this suspicion. It's exhausting."

Steve clenched his fists, struggling to find the words. "I only act this way because I care about you, because I don't want to lose you. You know how much I love you. If I didn't care so much, I wouldn't be jealous." He knew it was a stupid reason, but Steve was desperate. He wouldn't lose you over something he had no control over. Didn't you know how handsome, pretty, and unique you truly were? Didn't you see the hungry stares people throw your way? It was Steve's duty as a boyfriend to show them you were taken; his completely.

"That's another thing, Steve! You alienating me from my friends and co-workers."

Steve's face twisted in frustration. "So, what? I should just sit back and let whomever get close to you?"

"I can't control everyone's actions, Steve! Don't try to guilt trip me into thinking your behavior is normal...it isn't. Your reaction just reaffirms my decision." Not wanting to face your ex any longer, you stood up from the table and headed to the door. After all, this was Steve's apartment, and as much as he tried to encourage you to move in, right now you were grateful you stood your ground. But not even before your hand touched the doorknob, Steve's whimpers sounded behind you.

Steve panicked seeing you near the door. You had to understand—he never meant to make you angry, he just loves you so much that perhaps his behavior did come off as overbearing. But this was for your own good, Steve thought, you were too naive, too trusting of people who would only take advantage of you. With tears in his eyes, Steve began to whimper and make himself look half his size. "I'm sorry. I'll change, I promise, but please don't leave me. I love you."

It irked Steve that you didn't face him, but when he saw you pause, his heart rejoiced. Just for it to quickly fall again when you did open the door and told him you couldn't do this anymore. Unable to do anything as you finally closed the door, leaving him alone, Steve's anger made an appearance. Grabbing the closest thing to him, he flung it to the wall and continued to do so until every single item in his living room lay in thousands of tiny little pieces.

You're acting irrationally, Steve told himself. You'll soon come to realize the grave mistake you are making. I'm the only one who could protect and love you. I'll give you space to calm down, and then, perhaps you can understand me.

A week had passed since you'd broken up with Steve, and the man wasn't taking the news well. He believed you would've crumbled and ran back into his arms once the day ended, but when you hadn't called, much less answered his messages, the man grew furious. How dare you block his number and change the locks on your door? Did you have a visitor over, taking advantage of his absence to fuck whomever you desired? Didn't he mean anything to you? The week's absence had made Steve spiral out of control.

The reasonable part of him told him to move on, respect your wishes, and cease contact, but this was you. You weren't replaceable to Steve, oh no, he would make you stand by his side until death do part. Didn't you see you guys were meant to be? It also probably didn't help that the Avengers took his side and began feeding into Steve's delusions.

"I don't get it, man. You treat him right and love him unconditionally. How could he break your heart?" Was Tony's response once he heard of your relationship status. "He's dumb to break things off. I can only hope my relationship with Pepper is as strong as yours." Yeah, Tony wasn't really a help in calming Steve down.

Meanwhile, you were picking up the pieces of your life. Reconnecting with friends Steve had frightened off and taking a much-needed vacation from New York. You couldn't escape Steve when he was a public image—Captain America basically ruled over New York and had a place in people's hearts.

Sitting down at the little cabin you rented for the month, you sipped on your coffee and rethought your plans. Initially, you wanted to just start anew in New York, forget about Steve, and continue living your life, but that was thrown out the window. You could sense eyes wherever you went after breaking things off with Steve, and you might be crazy for saying such a thing, but you knew Steve. Knew he would pull strings to keep in contact and have an eye on you.

It also wasn't unreasonable to make such a connection when Steve was the leader of the Avengers—a team of superheroes with varying skills and resources. So your original plan of staying turned into you seeking residence as far away from the U.S. as possible. Yet, when you believe you've found the perfect place, something gets in the way—your bank is unable to transfer funds, the listing immediately reads as sold, the realtor not answering your calls. Every hindrance only makes you come to the same conclusion—Steve.

Yelling when the mug shattered in your hand, hot coffee burning your skin, you realized you weren’t alone. The front door of the cabin was closed, but standing next to it was Steve. The nearby lamp cast a dim, flickering light over his figure, highlighting his state of disarray. His once clean-cut appearance was gone, replaced by stubble, messy hair, and a simple t-shirt with jeans that looked like they’d been slept in. "Get out." You hissed, but the man only stepped closer, frightening you. "Get out! I don't want anything to do with you."

"I tried to be nice, and give you space, but nothing works." Steve said, ignoring your wishes as he advanced toward you. For every step he took, you stepped back twice. You couldn't help but fear for your safety when Steve disregarded your wishes and had this glint of madness in his eyes. "I need you. Can't you see that?"

Your back hit the wall, trapping you as Steve loomed closer. You never took your eyes off him, every nerve in your body screaming for you to escape, but there was nowhere left to go. "Steve, please." you begged, your voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation. "You're scaring me. This isn't love."

Steve’s hand reached out, brushing against your cheek in a gesture that once might have been tender, but now only filled you with dread. "You’ll see, in time. You’ll remember how good we were together. You just need to stop fighting it."

Before you could react, Steve's hand shot out, gripping your chin with a force that made you wince. In a flash, he pulled you closer and crushed his lips against yours, his kiss bruising and possessive. You struggled against him, trying to push him away, but his arms were too strong, locking you in place as he held you tightly.

Your mind raced, panic surging through you as you fought to break free. This was not the man you once cared for; this was someone consumed by a twisted obsession, willing to do anything to keep you. Tears welled in your eyes as you clawed at his arms, desperate for air, desperate to escape.

[doitforbangchan]

honeyy, as you can see... i'm missing my people so much 😭 can we get jinnie - getting rid of the boys - and sneaking into omega's room to spend the night with her when channie's away, please? 🥹❤️

heheheh i love this idea it is very cute 😍thanx bb i hope you like it

ABANB Drabble 02

"This is a long grocery list, Hyune. Are you sure you need all of it?" Felix asked, looking at the texted list that Hyunjin had sent him.

*cough* " Yeah, m' sure. I need everything on that list to feel better." Hyunjin faked another cough, thankful that he was only speaking on the phone or else Felix would have seen the sly grin on the other betas face.

Everyone was out of the house right now. Felix, Jisung and Minho were out shopping, Changbin and Jeongin were at the gym,  Seungmin had gone to visit his family for the weekend and Chan had left this morning for a client meeting. That only left Hyunjin alone… With you. A rare moment he would not pass up on. Hyunjin had not had any time with his omega in what felt like centuries ( about 4 days) and he was beginning to go crazy. 

You were just getting over a cold, having spent too much time dancing in the rain with Jisung a few days prior. Jisung hadn’t gotten sick somehow but you weren’t so lucky. You were feeling much better now but still not one hundred percent so you (more like Minho) thought it better to rest a little more. Your cold gave Hyunjin the perfect cover- ‘somehow’ you had given him your illness so he just had to stay home today while everyone else ran errands. 

He added for good measure, “Plus, Baby would benefit from a lot of that stuff too.” 

That seemed to do it as he heard Felix hum in agreement. “I suppose so. Alright then we will grab it while we’re out, but we may be gone a little longer than usual. Are you gonna be ok taking care of yourself for a while?” 

*cough* “I think so.” He hid his snicker behind the cough. 

The phone was snatched out of Felix’s hand, a loud ‘HEY’ being heard then Minho’s voice rang through the phone. “Do not go bothering Baby while we’re out. She needs to recover and get her rest, and she can’t do that if you’re up her ass the whole time.” 

‘Oh if only you knew just how up her ass I can be, Minho’ Hyunjin thought snarkily. “I won’t. I Promise.” 

Minho scoffed and Hyunjin could imagine how the elder beta was rolling his eyes, “ Yeah right. Get some rest, Hyune.” 

Min had ended the call before he could respond, the line cutting with a quiet beep. Hyunjin pocketed his phone and stood from his place on the couch. The beta listened for any sign of life but heard nothing except the muffled voices coming from the tv in your nesting room where you were resting. He was giddy as he ascended the steps to the second floor, a fluttering in his stomach that he never grows old of was making him jittery and he couldn't fight the smile that lingered on his lips. 

Hyunjin approached your door and gave a tentative knock on the wood. He heard the tv pause and a light shuffle, then a quiet “Come in.” Your voice was still slightly scratchy. 

The beta slowly cracked the door open and peeping his head inside, his long hair swaying with the movement brought a little crackly giggle out of you. “Hi beautiful, how are you feelin’? He asked, taking in how cute you looked snuggled up in your nest.  

“Hi Jinnie. M’ feeling ok, still a little under but definitely better.” You replied, “What about you? Did I get you sick too?” 

He shrugged, “Ah a little, no big deal.” He faked another cough, turning away for a second. Hyunjin needed a way in and playing with your nurturing instincts was the way to go. You seldom let the boys enter your nest, only when you deemed it necessary. 

“Oh Jinnie I’m sorry! How about you come cuddle with me, maybe the body heat will help with your fever!” Bingo. 

*cough cough* “I can’t just invade your nest like that Baby. I’ll be ok.” *Sniffle* 

“Nonsense. You get your skinny little butt in here Hyunjin.” You waved him in with a stern look on your face. 

“Well, if you insist.” He wasted no time before shuffling over to you and flinging himself into your nest next to you. He cuddled up close when you wrapped your arms around him. 

You placed your lips softly upon his forehead, feeling a light fever in the warmness of his skin. “Hm you are warm. Lay down. I have some tea on the bedside- you should drink some, it will help your throat.” He wanted to swoon, even when you yourself were feeling bad you still took care of him in his ‘time of need’. You weren’t lying when you said you felt a fever on his skin though. 

“You’re the best, Baby. What are we watchin?” 

“Greys anatomy.” You picked up the remote and resumed the program. 

“Again? Haven’t you seen every episode like.. Four times?” 

“Shhhhhh” You hushed him, “This is a good part, their plane is about to crash.” 

You both settled in together, cuddled up watching the drama series with drooping eyes. That is where the other members of the pack found you later; both asleep wrapped around each other. Minho grumbled about Hyunjin being a liar and Felix giggled and took pictures to print out later. 

Hyunjin woke up a few hours later with a scratchy throat and a very real congestion in his nose.

Worth it.

©doitforbangchan

@jehhskz

[jimsbeetroot]

hey darling, hope you are doing alright 💗

i love your writing a lot. been having a fuckin stressful time lately, anxities coming back and all, so i wondered if you could write a joey fic, i know you've done a lot already, with just comforting elements. maybe some rain outside, his cats, a friends to lovers kind of thing... or not, honestly, i'll leave it up to you! just in need of some comforting jo! thanx already.

the sound of rain ♱ joey jordison

im sorry to hear you've been having a hard time....hope this helps just a tiny bit <33

Title;“The Sound of Rain” Pairing; Joey Jordison x Female Reader Type: Comfort | Friends to Lovers (Soft) Word count: 2300-ish

The rain started sometime in the late afternoon, quiet at first—just a soft tapping against the windows of Joey's house—but now it poured in steady sheets, turning the world outside into a blur of gray.

You hadn’t meant to stay this long. It was supposed to be a quick drop-off—a hoodie of yours he’d borrowed (and absolutely refused to return until now)—but then he’d offered coffee, then music, then lunch… and now here you were, curled up on his couch with a blanket over your legs, one of his cats purring loudly on your lap.

“I think Missy’s officially adopted you,” Joey muttered from the kitchen, glancing over at you with a faint smile. He had a dish towel slung over his shoulder and a mug of tea in his hand, steam curling into the air.

“She has good taste,” you replied, scratching behind the cat’s ears. “Can’t say the same about her dad, though.”

Joey gave you a look, mock-offended. “You’re seriously gonna trash-talk me in my own house? While I’m literally making you tea?”

“You’re not making it, you’re steeping it,” you teased, but your smile was soft. The playful banter was familiar, safe. You always felt warm around him, and not just because of the hoodie or the blanket or the cat-shaped furnace on your lap.

Joey walked over and handed you the mug, fingers brushing yours. “Well, next time you can make your own damn tea.”

“Deal,” you said, but neither of you moved to talk for a second. The moment hung there—quiet, almost hesitant.

He sat down beside you, not on the other end of the couch, but close. Close enough that your shoulders touched. You didn’t flinch away. Neither did he.

Outside, the rain whispered steadily, drumming gently on the roof.

“Shitty weather,” Joey said softly.

“I like it,” you said. “It feels like everything can just stop for a little while.”

He tilted his head, watching you. “You okay? You’ve been kind of quiet today.”

You sipped the tea and nodded. “I’m fine. Just tired. Life’s been... a lot lately.”

Joey didn’t press. He never did. That was one of the things you loved about him—he never tried to fix you or talk you out of your feelings. He just let you have them.

Instead, he reached out, brushing your hair back gently behind your ear. His hand lingered for a second too long. “You know you can stay, right? I don’t care if it’s all night. Hell, the rain’s probably gonna flood half the roads.”

You didn’t answer right away. The tea was warm in your hands, the cat was still purring. Joey was beside you, his presence grounding, like he always was. Like he always had been.

“I don’t want to be alone tonight,” you said quietly.

He nodded, like he understood the full weight of that sentence.

“You don’t have to be.”

Later, the two of you migrated to his bedroom, not because anything was happening, but because the couch was too small and Missy refused to move. Joey tossed you some old sweatpants and a soft band tee that smelled like him—cedarwood and detergent and faint traces of cigarettes. You changed in the bathroom, suddenly aware of how domestic this felt. Like something more than friendship.

When you came out, he was already under the blankets, his black hair damp from a quick shower. His tattoos peeked out from the sleeves of his old Misfits shirt, and he looked strangely… peaceful. Softer than you usually saw him. You got into the bed without a word, turning to face the window, where the rain streaked in lines of silver down the glass.

It was quiet for a long time. You thought maybe he’d fallen asleep—until his voice broke through the dark.

“Can I ask you something?”

You turned toward him. “Of course.”

He hesitated. “Do you ever think about us?”

You blinked. “Us?”

Joey propped himself up on one elbow, looking down at you with guarded eyes. “I mean… more than just friends.”

The air shifted. You stared at him, your breath catching slightly.

“I do,” you said finally, your voice barely above a whisper. “More than I probably should.”

He let out a breath like he’d been holding it for years.

“I thought I was crazy,” he said. “Every time you come over, every time you fall asleep on my couch, or steal my hoodies, or take care of my cats like they’re yours… it kills me. Because I keep thinking—what if she doesn’t see it that way? What if I lose her completely if I say something?”

“You won’t,” you said quickly, sitting up a little. “Joey, you never would.”

He looked at you, eyes dark and searching. “I don’t want to scare you off. You’re... everything, you know? I didn’t think I deserved someone like you.”

You swallowed hard. “And I didn’t think you saw me that way.”

He reached for your hand under the blanket, fingers curling around yours. “I see you. All the time. Every day.”

The silence returned, but it was full now—warm, meaningful.

You leaned in, barely thinking, and kissed him—soft, uncertain, but real. He kissed you back immediately, a quiet sigh slipping from his lips like he'd been waiting forever.

When you pulled away, your forehead rested against his.

“Is this okay?” you asked.

“More than okay,” he whispered, and for the first time in weeks, maybe months, you felt something settle inside you.

The storm outside raged on, but in that little room with Joey’s hand holding yours, it was finally quiet.

You woke in the middle of the night to the sound of thunder and the sensation of arms wrapped around you. Joey had shifted in his sleep, his arm draped protectively over your waist, his breath soft and even against the back of your neck.

Missy was curled up near your feet, and another of Joey’s cats—one of the shier ones—had taken up residence on the windowsill, staring out at the storm.

You smiled into the dark, your heart strangely full.

You didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. Maybe it would be messy. Maybe you’d both stumble trying to turn years of friendship into something more. But right now, in this moment, it didn’t matter.

Right now, Joey was holding you like you were the only thing that made sense in the world, and outside, the rain kept falling—steady, soothing, like a lullaby for two people who finally, finally found each other.

[madhatterbri]

Damian Priest Fics

All Fell Down - Y/N was in a relationship with Finn Balor. She starts getting closer with Damian Priest. He gets injured, and Finn finds out about their relationship.

Business - You and Damian cut a promo after he allows JD to take a beating.

All Fell Down Part 2 - The fallout costs Damian and Y/N their relationship. Part 3

Telephone - You and your love end up having phone sex because they’re a part on Valentine’s Day.

Brotherly Love - Reader is Drew's sister, and she is dating Damian Priest. He promised her that he wouldn't cash in on her brother and well.

Lucky - Summary: Can you please write a Damian Priest X Fem Reader Fluff Story?! Anything Comforting is okay

Rise and Fall - Fem!reader is Rhea’s protégé & after Rhea gives up her title due to injury, the reader decides to get that title back to Judgment Day w/o telling the group. The group is shocked when the reader comes out with her new look & wins the title. Damian/Reader becomes close while Rhea sees her as a threat that needs to be taken out.

My Girl - Can you please write something smutty/flirty with Damian Priest and Fem Reader where both are part of the Judgment Day and they constantly flirt with each other, after an successful Monday Night RAW they are out to celebrate and again Reader and Damian are constantly flirting and teasing each other which causes the rest of the Judgment Day Crew to leave them alone, Damian and Reader stand up to go back to his room where they have passionate sex and spending the night together in the morning after they lay in bed cuddling and Damian asks her to be his girl because the last night shouldn't be and one night stand.

Bet - Summary: A She’s All That AU where Damian accepts a bet that he can make fem!reader, who is a jobber or someone stuck at catering into a women’s champion. Thanx :)

Te Perdiste Mi Amor - Summary: Unspoken feelings hurt Damian and Y/N.

You - Reader is jealous of the attention Damian is getting since he became champion and talks to him about it. Smut. 18+.

Betrayed Me -

Summary: Can I prompt Fem!Reader is the one working with Liv. The last straw was when The Judgment Day got involved in her match against Becky & she lost her chance of holding gold. Liv promised something Rhea never did, and that was going after the Women’s tag titles. Reader also points out that TJD was already falling apart before Rhea got hurt & it was easy to make it look like everyone but her was working with Liv. The only thing that hurt the reader was that she had to betray her crush, Damian, but she had to put herself first for once.

Deal - May i prompt - TJD have a Liv Morgan problem but for obvious reasons can't go after her, however, Damain knows someone that can take care of her. Fem!reader is a member of Uncle Howdy's faction & has shown interest in El Campeon & is willing to help but Uncle Howdy isn't going to let Priest use her without a price & that price is an opportunity for the title. Please? Part 2 | Part 3

Challenges - Summary: If I may request - Liv holds a celebration for herself in the ring & calls out Dom to join her but instead it’s Fem!Reader (ex member of TJD who still has a soft spot for Dom & feelings for Damian). She calls out the lack of open challenges since Liv’s been champion & Liv should focus on finding a challenger rather than a “daddy”. Liv thinks the reader is jealous & hits a nerve when she brings up Damian..then all hell breaks loose. Thank you.

Business Deals -

Summary: Damian Priest x reader request, please?? 😀. Instead of Rhea being out with an injury, it was Damian, but his relationship with the reader isn't toxic like Rhea and Dom's. Reader is in a relationship with Damian and a member of the judgment day. However, when Damian gets injured, Y/N gets sick of Rhea's controlling ways and decides to do business with Braun Strowman behind their backs. On the night that reader finally turns on TJD and attacks Rhea, Damian returns and confronts her. You can pick a happy or sad ending, and btw, the reader didn't cheat on Damian.

Consequences -

Summary: Can I request: Something snaps in Fem!reader. After proving she has earned a title shot, reader loses against Liv Morgan because of Dom’s “help” & unlike Becky & Zelina; reader grabs a nearby bat & goes after him. TJD guides Dom away while Priest talks the reader down. Priest assures that Dom will face consequences & leaves. Reader isn’t waiting & finds that the clubhouse is unprotected & uses her bat to destroy everything, including the gifts that Liv bought for Daddy.

Part 2

Switching Sides -

Ulterior Motives -

I Had Some Help -

Unconditionally -

Hay Rides

Hero

"Friends"

Mistake

Opportunity

Flirt Part 2

Safe

Confession

Cuddles

Acquainted

Halloween

Jealousy Trend

Daddy

Christmas Shopping

Tag Team

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Protector

Survivor Series

Christmas Party

Extra Icing

She's With Me Now

Word of Mouth

Sweet Treat

Christmas Kisses

Fan Mail

Showstopper

Always

No Secret

Wrong Guy, Right Savior

Adrenaline Rush

Reunion

Valentine in the Shadows

Vampire

Can't Let Go

[renren-006]

Hi! Can you write a request for dead reckoning Ethan Hunt? Maybe something where the team, Ethan and the reader are on the mission looking for the key (reader and Ethan are a couple). The mission turns out well. Ethan gets the two parts of the key, but just when he is about to go back to the rest of the team, Benji tells him that the ‘bad guys’ took the reader and Ethan feel his whole world falling and he is willing to risk the whole mission to save the reader.

After fighting a lot of men, he finally finds the reader in the hands of Gabriel and Ethan fights Gabriel with all the hate in his heart for hurting the one he loves.

Then Ethan goes to the reader and he is just really sweet and tender comforting her and asking if she’s okay and he is just happy that she’s alright.

I really hope you can understand, I’m not the best with words😩

It’s totally fine if you don’t want to! Thanx!

Reckoning | Ethan Hunt x Reader

word count: 1972

warning: fluff, good backstory, action, kiddnapping and blood

a/n: hey hey!! yesss!! thank you so much for requesting something!! i loved the movie and i thought about like a love interest other than Ilsa (i do love her character) in the movie!! hope you enjoy!

(for the gif, your ilsa!)

“So, you need my help?” you asked Benji, Luthor and Ilsa who were all three sitting across from you at a coffee shop in Italy. You had been there a few days, tracking Ethan after he told you to go off the radar but you were never one to follow orders, even from the man you loved. 

“In short yes” benji said, “Ethan doesn't know any of us are looking for him”

“Of course he doesn't” You said, sighing, your purse hung on the back of your chair, which you picked up. You dug around for some money for the table. “So when are we leaving?” you asked. Benji smiled.

“He's going to be mad when he realizes we got you involved,” Ilsa told you. She flung her arm between yours as you walked out. The two of you had become close in the years since you first met. Years since Illsa first realized that Ethan already had the one he loved and that's why he never would have left with her. Once she found me and apologized, I told her that I could use a friend like her, someone who trusted Ethan, and who would fight with him. You and her had your own ways of keeping in contact with one another. 

“I know, but that's just something he'll have to deal with,” you told her. She smiled and the four of you walked out to get ready to go and track down Ethan, which was simple enough seeing as multiple different people were after him in Rome. When you managed to pinpoint his location and get him into the truck he was quite surprised at the gang in the car and soon more surprised by you sitting in the seat next to Luthor. 

Ethan stood on the balcony of the building you all took up residence in. The golden sky shone over Venice and created a lumenus look to Ethan. When he noticed your presence a wide smile replaced the solom one he had. 

“I didn't want you involved with this Y/N” Ethan told you, you laughed slightly as you walked into his arms. 

“I know” you told him, hugging him hard, “i love you too much to let you handle this on your own” 

“I love you too Y/N” Ethan told you. The two of you had been together for years. It started when you joined the mission during the collapse of the IMF after the bomb at the Kremlin. You were a friend of Benjis and he wanted your help with the team so you promised to meet at the train station before it left. So when you met Ethan that night and continued to work together, you couldn't help the developing feelings that you had. You knew about the truth of his ex-wife and you knew he had moved on. You knew this because Ethan told you the first night in that train car. You had sat atop the car that night, couldn't sleep after knowing that you were about to stop a nuclear attack. When Ethan joined you he told you, spilling everything he had been thinking about because he said he needed a friend and that you were new, knew almost nothing about him, and for some reason trusted you. You were friends for a bit but then you told him you loved him and he took you out to some nic restaurant and told you he loved you too. 

“I'm going with you to that meeting tonight,” you told him. Ethans face paled at the thought of you there with Gabrial and the others, it made his skin crawl. 

“I can't let you go, hunny if something happens to you…''Ethan said, begging almost that you didn't follow him into the White Widows den. “Nothing will, Ilsa will be there, she wont let something bad happen to me” You told him, holding his face to look at you. “Nothing bad will happen to me”

Ethan, you and Ilsa turned up at the meeting that night. You wore an old dress Ethan gave for missions, something easy to run and fight in, but also something fitting. It was a blue dress, almost silk. You walked into the party, your arm through Ethans as you walked around looking for Grace. Once you found her, and the rest of the party arrived for that special little meeting the night turned sour and memoryless. After the meeting commenced and Gabrial decided that your life was one he's considered ending for the sake of divinity and driving Ethan crazy you knew your promise to him was going to be broken. 

“You choose the girl, or you can let her die the pretty one with the dress” Gabrial said, eying you up. He knew how he could have known. Ethan stuterd and glanced between you and Grace. Ilsa sat there shocked, wondering what her life was worth and seemingly nothing in Gabriel's eyes. As he walked away you remember the hatred in his eyes towards Gabriel. 

You didn't remember how Gabriel got you alone in that halfway with five other men around you, but it happened. Ethan was off somewhere and Ilsa was too, it was just you in that hallway. You reached down to your thigh grabbing the knife you had there. You readied yourself for the men that were coming after you, one after another you took them down, slice, punch, kick, slice, punch, kick slice. You were remarkable with a knife and hand to hand combat. When it was Gabriel walking towards you, two knives in hand you knew you had to fight to stay alive. The two of you slashed and jabbed, your arms cut and bruised, your sides kicked and stabbed. You were limping, barely able to hold yourself up and your dress now had several slashes in them revealing your skin underneath. That fight ended with you dropping unconscious. 

Ethan was chasing after Grace while Ilsa was on the Widow getting her half of the key. Once they both had their respective keys and the other party seemingly unhappy, they met up and connected the key. 

“Ethan” Benji's voice sounded over the radio waves. 

“Talk to me,” Ethan said. The static over the radio was deafening.

“They got Y/N” Benji said. The deafening silence that followed made Ilsa tense. Her friend and the love of Ethans life was taken from both of them. Ethans whole world felt like it was crumbling away. “Gabriel is heading twords a bridge” Benjis voice broke ethan out of his inner thoughts. He looked up hatred clear on his face. 

“Benji, get me there now” He said running off, Ilsa still standing with the key in hand. “Ilsa get that to Luthor” and he was gone. Ilsa ran back to Luthor Key, placed safely in his hands. 

“Ilsa, you need to stop Ethan, if he kills Gabriel then we might not know what this leads to and how to kill the entity” Ilsa stopped from walking away, knowing that if she stopped ethan form the revenge he seeks for his past and for his lover right now, he could hate Ilsa for the rest of his life. “Promise me you'll stop him”

“If it means stopping the entity, then ill do it” Ilsa said, “but he wont like me taking…”

“I know, but revenge comes later,” Luthor told her. Grace sat peacefully in the chair across from him, worrying over her life and the lives of those set back out to fight gabriel. Once she had given the key to Ethan she raced back to the safe space of this room after being instructed to. She didn't want to run anymore, not after everything her life had led her too. 

Ethan raced down the paths that Benji gave him, and soon he reached the bridge. There he saw you a knife to your throat, wounds on your skin and Gabriel behind you. Your neck was twisted at an uncomfortable angle while he dig the knife further in, little drops of blood seeping out form under the knife. You lipped when Gabriel walked or studdard in his moves, you were in a great deal of pain and you wanted to lie down. Ethan's view turned red at the sight of you. He wanted to kill Gabriel and Ilsa was still blocks away from the bridge. Ethan walked up the bridge, jacket forgotten at the bottom. At first Gabriel tried to use you as a way to deter Ethan, but with your injuries you only made Gabriel weaker. He threw you down onto the concrete, making you get a splitting headache from the contact with the concrete. Ethans rage only intensified and the fight began, no guns, onl knoves and fists. 

The fight went on for ever, your vision got blurry and blurier and the blood you had leaking from your wounds only intensified. Ethan was running out of time to sve you if he wanted you alive. Ilsa was closer racing faster towards the fight, and faster twords stipping Ethan from killing the only informant they had for the key. Ethan only say hate and anger as he fought Gabriel. He hurt the woman he loved and almost killed her infront of him. He wanted to end the life of the man who made his life spiral, and sent him to be the spy and international rogue agent he was. 

“Stop!” Ilsa yelled as she came across the bridge, stopping all movement from Ethan and Gabriel. Before ethan tried to stap Gabrial and Ilsa had to run towards the fight again, Ethan wouldn't let you, too blinded by rage. Illsa stepped in taking the brunt of  a blade but shocking the two enough that she got a good hit on Gabrial sending him down and cuffign him. Ethan stood there, helpless and watching.

“Go get Y/N, Ethan” Ilsa said as she secured the man before Ehtan. Snapping Ethan out of his trance he ran over to you. You were barely continuous at this point, and bleeding onto the concrete of the bridge. 

“Y/N” He said to you, barely hearing the ringing in your ears. It was Ethan, you were positive. Your eyes slightly opened to see his worries. face. “Stay with me. Stay with me” He said again, muttering the words to himself like they will help you stay alive. You smiled and closed your eyes again, knowing you wouldn't die on that bridge tonight. 

When you woke up back in the little room of the safe house, your body killing you, you knew they had won. The feeling and overall pain in your body was almost exhausting as you sat up. Ethan stood by the balcony door, watching the sunrise over Venice. 

“Ethan” you said, voice horse and head pounding you watched him turn to look at you, a small cut on his cheek held together by tiny bandages. He walked over to you, sitting on the bed beside you. The morning sun shone into the room, casting  aglow to the room. Ethan looked tired and he looked happy.

“You scared me” he told you, holding your face, you melted into his hands. 

“I'm sorry, I held out for as long as I could. He's calculated,” you told Ethan. 

“I know, I fought him too sweetheart,” Ethan said, cracking a joke. As the sun rose higher in the sky you could truly see how saddened he was by how hurt you were.

“Your my hero Ethan” you told him, he smiled down at you, soon all the sadness was replaced by joy. He had you in his arms again. 

“Let's go home shall we?” Ethan asked you, just as the sun rose over the buildings and a new day, full of more savings to do.

[twilightmalachite]

winkWINK - Epilogue

Characters: Yuuta, Hinata, Kaoru, Izumi

Translation: Mika Enstars

"…Thank you, Yuuta-kun."

[Read on my blog for the best viewing experience with Oi~ssu ♪]

Season: Summer

Location: 2wink ThanX Festival Stage

The day of the 2wink Fan ThanX Festival, in the audience…

Kaoru: Whoa~, they pulled it off again…! Those two are incredibly nimble!

Even though I’m not the one doing it, I keep getting second-hand anxiety that they’ll mess up!

Izumi: Like, how is it even possible to juggle whilst so off-balanced?

…Though, this feels more like an acrobatic troupe’s performance than an idol one.

Kaoru: Ahaha, well that’s fine, isn’t it? It’s a performance suited for those two, right?

They used the weapons they had to appeal to their strengths. That’s what 2wink has always done.

Still, I didn’t expect you to attend, Senacchi.

Izumi: I just happened to get a ticket from Yuuta-kun. I didn’t have any other plans, so the timing just worked out, that’s all.

On the other hand, I’m surprised that you’re the only one out of UNDEAD to attend, Kao-kun. I figured they’d all be there to see this.

I had gotten the impression you and the others are really fond of these guys, you know?

Kaoru: So even you got that impression, huh, Senacchi?

Well, the truth is, the others all had work they had to do and so they wouldn’t be able to attend, but…

I actually just got a message earlier that they’re on their way.

Seems that in the end, they really want to see their juniors perform on the big stage.

…It’s not like we’re those two’s guardians, or anything.

We understand that being over-concerned with them would end up being meddling those kids’ don’t need, but…

Even still, when one of them has a gloomy face right beside you, you just can’t help but reach out to them, you know?

Izumi: I mean, that’s fine, right?

No matter how splendidly they grow, it’ll never change the fact that they’re important to you.

Izumi: …If they don’t like being worried about, then they’ll just have to prove themselves on stage.

Perform the best live ever, and blow away all of our worries.

Location: Backstage Wing

Hinata: Good job, Yuuta-kun! The energy around the venue is absolutely fantastic~!

Yuuta: Good job to you too, Aniki. …Though let me remind you that the real deal starts now!

Hinata: Yup! If up until now has been a performance depicting 2wink’s past, then from here on out it’s a performance to show “what's to come”!

…Thank you, Yuuta-kun.

Yuuta: What’s this all of a sudden, Aniki?

Hinata: I just was thinking about how hard it must’ve been leading a project for a Fan Thanx Festival.

Sure, you’ve had to think up plans and hold meetings with staff before, but… I don’t think you’ve ever done something to this scale before.

I think the Fan ThanX Festival is far bigger than anything we’d ever done before. And I imagine it was really tough communicating and stuff with Mitsushita-san too.

Yuuta: That’s for sure. It was to the point that there was a time I seriously was afraid of what was going to happen…

But, in the end, I think I managed a live performance that was satisfactory.

That, and… It gave me a chance to reassess things.

Hinata: Like… yourself?

Yuuta: Well, a lot of things? Myself, the feelings of my fans… and you too, I guess?

I found myself thinking, “and this sort of tough stuff is what Aniki’s always doing as leader”, at times.

Hinata: Yaay! ♪ Yuuta-kun praised me!

Hinata: …But you know, I haven’t done anything as tough as you did, you know?

I’d never come up with plans and stuff all on my own. And if anything happened, I’d always go right to Yuuta-kun, you know?

Speaking of which, this time around I respected your decision and didn’t butt in much, but…

You still managed to complete the project. And that’s really amazing. I’m really happy, you know.

So, thank you Yuuta-kun, for making this 2wink live such an amazing one! ♪

Yuuta: Sigh… You’re just exaggerating, Aniki.

Hinata: So, from now on, I think I’ll ask you to help out by doing plan meetings and the like too, Yuuta-kun!

The two of us make 2wink, after all~. Let’s continue to help each other out, ‘kay?

Yuuta: …You say that, but you just want to go and have fun, don’t you?

Well, that’s fine. The experience will come in handy for when I do solo work, right? ♪

Hinata: Hey~! Don’t say such lonely things, Yuuta-kun!

Yuuta: You’re being too clingy, Aniki. My outfit’s going to fall apart. A lot of effort was put into the making of these, you know?

And our time is nearly up too, so get it together, okay?

Hinata: Yessir~. We have to make sure we show our fans how serious we are!

Location: 2wink ThanX Festival Stage

Hinata & Yuuta: “Láilai! Láilai!”[1]

Hinata: “Everyone, are you enjoying our live?”

Yuuta: “In the first half, we sang some of our old songs and showed off some of our fan-favorite performances!”

Hinata: “Feelin’ nostalgic? But y’know, we’re just not satisfied with stopping there!”

Yuuta: “There’s not enough excitement and thrill in looking back and going, “wow, it’s been great”!”

“What, oh just what are we going to do? I’m sure you all have hiiigh expectations for us…”

Hinata: “After all, we 2wink are the only ones who can blow your expectations out of the water!”

Yuuta: “Don’t feel satisfied just yet!”

“Starting now, we welcome you all to a world of amazing fun…♪”

Hinata: “♪~♪~♪”

(…This is so fun, isn’t it, Yuuta-kun? ♪)

(To tell the truth, when our plans for the Fan ThanX Festival were more or less finalized… I too felt like there still was something missing.)

(But, I didn’t say it right away.)

(Because, this time, it was you who wanted to proceed with the plan’s management. I thought that as long as you were happy with it, it’s fine.

(And I believed that our fans would feel happy with it, too.)

(…But, then you said that it wasn’t enough. That you wanted to ensure it was an amazing performance, one that’d surprise our fans even more.)

(We might be aligning less and less, and we have more differences than ever, but, y’know?)

(At that moment, we shared the very same feelings. And I thought, “things will be just fine the way they are, won’t they?”)

Hinata: (That… Just that alone makes me incredibly happy!)

(To be able to stand on the same stage as you like this, with all of our fans supporting us like this… I’m so happy! ♪)

(So, Yuuta-kun… Let’s have even more fun! Let’s make today’s performance the very best it can ever be!”

Yuuta: “♪~♪~♪”

(Aren’t you flying a bit fast, Aniki? Trying to provoke me, are you?)

(Fine by me. I’ll show you!)

(…This is 2wink’s performance. Our fan’s eyes are all on us, but…)

(That doesn’t mean it’ll last forever. There’s always the chance fans will be drawn away or lose interest.)

(—I won’t allow that to happen.)

(Everybody here. I want all of them to gaze upon 2wink and 2wink only. I won’t let anyone else have them.)

(I want to capture everyone’s hearts, and never let them go! I’ll prove myself to them with my brilliance!)

Yuuta: “Now, the fun’s only just getting started! Don’t take your eyes off us, even for a second!”

“We’re going to make this a performance so amazing that you won’t be able to think of us, and nothing else…♪”

[ ☆ ]

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They say “来来” here, which is “rairai” in Japanese, and “láilai” in Mandarin Chinese, meaning “come, come!” or “come and see!”. Since it was intentionally chosen for its shared use in Chinese, I’ve decided to translate it into Mandarin Chinese.

[arthropodwithapen]

Here's a prompt : tony being , as usual , a helicopter parent and peter getting irritated over it and they have a huge fight , peter tells tony "you are not my dad" and then they stop taling and you know , angst ensues. Cue a mission where tony protects peter while getting hurt in the process and peter calls tony dad and tony calls peter son and then some iron dad spiderson feels that we all love.

Thanx in advance !

Thank you for the prompt!

I give you: a stressed Peter is buried under mountains of school work. Tony is trying his best to help. If at first you don't succeed.. lock yourself in your lab and deal with it later.

Word count - 3925 words

***

Peter didn’t look up from the table when Tony walked in. His head was buried in a book and the other hand was scribbling notes onto a sheet of loose paper. 

Tony slid a finger along the table, coming to stand next to him. 

“Hello.”

Peter didn’t look up. His pen never stopped scratching on the paper. “Hi.” 

Tony took a few small steps until he was stood right behind him, watching him write. 

He gave a small chuckle. “Can you even read that? No offence but your handwriting is an atrocity.” 

“I don’t have time to be neat,” he mumbled, still scribbling away. “This essay is due in two days and I haven’t even finished reading the book.”

“What is it you’re reading?” Tony made to pick up the book but Peter snatched it out of his reach before he could.

“Hey.” 

Tony put his hands up in surrender. “Sorry.”

Peter finally looked up at him. His jaw was set. He looked unimpressed, definitely irritated and Tony had the feeling he was treading on thin ice. He could tell he hadn’t slept well the night before. Maybe a bad day at school too. Something was wrong. 

“I’m really busy,” Peter said. “This is, like, essay number seven this week. Do you need something?”

Tony took a risk and settled sideways into the chair next to him, still facing him. 

“No, no. Nothing. Just wanted to check on my boy, that’s all.” 

“Well, he is fine.” 

He didn’t look it but Tony played along anyway. “Good. And.. if I’m honest, I’m a little bored. You mind if I hang here for a bit?”

Peter waved a hand, turning back to his work. “It’s your table.”

Tony searched his brain for something that could be wrong. Sleep, that was number one. But it was a busy time at school so that made sense, he knew the poor kid had a mountain of homework. That would also explain his coldness; being tired made Peter a little grumpy, they all knew that by now. 

“Right. I’ll just.. sit here.” Tony shifted his chair closer to the table and slid his phone out of his pocket. Maybe he could respond to some emails or messages or something. “And I’ll be quiet,” he added. “I promise.”

Peter merely hummed in acknowledgment. 

He was quiet.. for a while. Everything was quiet besides the scratching of Peter’s pen on the paper and the occasional rustle of the page in his book being turned. Tony was restless but he tried not to show it. He stopped himself from fidgeting and sat as still as he could beside him. He couldn’t focus on anything, all of the emails were boring and all of his unanswered messages equally as uninteresting. All he really wanted to do was talk to Peter and find out what was wrong and how concerned he should be. He knew he had a tendency to overdo it when it came to his concern but that was neither here nor there. 

Tony huffed and put his phone face down on the table. He had had enough of looking through his emails. He leant forward on his elbows and tilted his head, watching Peter. His tongue was poking out from the side of his mouth and his eyebrows were pinched in concentration. 

“Why are you smiling at me like that?” Peter asked without looking up. 

“‘Cos your concentration face is adorable.” 

“I am not adorable.” 

Tony laughed. “You so are.” 

Peter made an exasperated noise. “I thought you said you were being quiet.”

“I’m bored.” 

“And I’m busy.”

“You don’t want to come to the lab for a bit? Take a break?”

“No. And I really need to concentrate. I’m serious.”

“Okay..” He clicked his tongue. “Serious.. Got it. Serious. I can do serious. I’m great at serious. I’m a professiona -“

“Mr Stark.”

Ouch. They’d finally got him to stop calling him that. Had he really pissed him off that much? 

“Sorry. I did promise, didn’t I?” 

Peter lifted an eyebrow, looking terribly unimpressed. “You did.”

“Commencing the ‘quiet protocol’ now.” Tony drew his hand across his mouth, miming closing it like a zip. Peter didn’t laugh and turned back to his work. 

The room was silent again, Tony just as fidgety as before. Maybe he should just leave, take himself to the lab and be alone. But thing was, he didn’t want to be alone. He felt like a little puppy, desperate for attention and all he was getting here was the grumpiest of receptions possible. But most of all, Tony just wanted to know that Peter was okay but he had a feeling that any conversations concerning feelings wouldn’t go over well. At least he could try handle the simpler parts of taking care of him. 

Tony stood without another word and made his way into the kitchen. Food and water - the most basic of human needs. Essential to keeping a stressed teenager happy and healthy. Right? 

He thought he did a pretty good job of it actually. A few minutes later, he was walking back to the table with a glass of water with ice and a plate which was arranged quite impressively with an assortment of fruits, vegetables and Peter’s favourite sweet snacks. 

He set them both down in front of him and with his now-free hand he brushed a hand over the curls on the back of Peter’s head which was bent low over his work. He’d made good progress on his book, Tony noticed. His pen stilled for a second and he looked up to eye the plate of food before looking up at Tony who slid back into the chair beside him. 

“Thank you,” he said earnestly. 

In the interest of being quiet, Tony didn’t respond, only gave him the fondest of smiles he reserved only for him. 

He went back to his emails. Peter went back to his work. He didn’t touch the food. He scribbled and scribbled and scribbled until the page was full and then he turned it over and scribbled some more until that was full too. He neared the end of the book and then on the final page, he slammed it shut and thrust it away from himself like he couldn't stand to look at the thing anymore. 

Tony watched silently as Peter put his elbows on the table and thread his hands into his hair, squeezing just tight enough that Tony almost said something but he held his tongue. He was supposed to be being quiet.

He almost jumped when Peter suddenly shot up from his chair, hastily grabbed all of his things and stomped down the hall and into his room. Tony heard the door slam from where he was sat, stunned.

He sat for a few minutes wondering if it was something he’d done that had tipped him over the edge. Absentmindedly, he grabbed a carrot stick from the untouched plate of food and nibbled on it while he thought over the puzzling matter. Teenagers. 

He decided to leave him alone for the next few hours. He was sure he’d come to him if he needed anything or if he thought Tony might be able to help him. Maybe Tony wasn’t the best at writing essays about books but he’d give it his best go if it meant he could take some of his stress away even if he was only there to offer suggestions. 

Later that evening, Peter still hadn’t made a reappearance and Tony stopped ignoring the parts of himself that were telling him to worry about his Spider-Kid. 

“Pete?” He knocked gently on his door. 

“Mmhm,” he heard from inside. Tony cracked the door open.

He was now typing on his laptop frantically, his notes spread out across the desk in front of him. Never did Tony think if he was ever the one to be raising a kid he’d have to tell them to stop doing homework. 

“Kiddo, why don’t you take a break? You’ve been at this for hours.” 

“Because I need to get this out of the way so I can get on with everything else. I still haven’t started my maths or biology or history or -“ 

“I get it, you’ve got a lot on. But you still need to look after you. You aren’t going to be doing your best work if you’re this stressed out.” 

Peter’s head snapped up and Tony worried that he’d said the wrong thing. 

“Just come and have something to eat. Take five. It’ll do a world of good, trust me.” 

“I’m not hungry.” 

“Peter.” He was always hungry. Growing teenager mixed with a super spider metabolism? He was lying through his teeth. 

“I’m not. I’m fine. I’ll come get something when I’m done.” 

“How much have you written?”

He glanced back at the laptop. “Three hundred words.”

“How many do you need?”

Peter mumbled a number Tony didn’t catch but the reddening of his cheeks told Tony it was quite a lot more than three hundred. 

“Well, I’m sure you can smash them out after you’ve had something to eat.” 

“I told you already, I’m not hungry.” 

Okay, attitude. Tony raised his hands in a show of peace. “Okay, okay. I’m just trying to help here. I’m just looking out for you.” 

“Well, quit it! I don’t have time for this.”

Tony raised a disapproving eyebrow. “I don’t think there’s any need for that tone.” 

Peter shot him an incredulous look which then turned swiftly into a scowl. “I don’t think there’s any need for this conversation.”

Tony tried another tactic. He softened his gaze and his tone. “Come on, Pete. You know you can talk to me if there is something bothering yo-”

“Oh, my god! Would you just leave me alone? You’re bothering me!” Peter’s fist were clenched tight, Tony saw them balled on the desk. “You're not my dad!”

Tony was an expert at hiding his emotions. So when his heart took a blow like that, he was perfectly adept at containing the agony so it didn’t show on his face. He just took it. 

He nodded slowly, pursing his lips. “Okay, kiddo,” he said softly. “I’ll leave you alone. You can come find me if you need anything.” He left quickly, shutting the door behind him. 

It hurt. A lot. Peter wasn’t his biologically but that hadn’t ever mattered to him. Tony loved him like he was his flesh and blood and he’d always thought the feeling was mutual. Maybe he had been wrong all along. 

Tony did what he did best when something unpleasant happened - he hid in his lab and tried to forget for a while by tinkering until the callouses on his hands were either bright red or leaking blood. He stayed down there for hours and didn’t sleep for a minute that night. He was too upset to do anything else. The thought of having to face going back upstairs was so uncomfortable that he willed himself to believe for a few hours that he could spend the rest of his life down there.

Peter didn’t want to talk, that was blatantly obvious and Tony wasn’t too fond of the idea of having to leave the comfort of his lab and so he remained there until the sun rose and then remained for a few hours after that.

Peter had already left for school by the time Tony found the courage to venture back upstairs. FRIDAY informed him that he hadn’t been the only one that had spent the entire night awake. 

He sat with his coffee for a while, wondering what the next possible step he should take was. Did he acknowledge what had happened or just let it go? Could he let it go? Should he wait for Peter bring it up? Would he? Man, there was a lot to think about. Teenagers.

He sat ruminating and trying to come up with a plan of action until he received a notification on his phone. It was an emergency alert. Iron Man was needed.

Call him selfish but he was almost grateful for whatever force was causing issues in New York that day as it gave him something to do and provided the perfect distraction.

Unfortunately for him, only a little while after they’d begun fighting, a little red and blue flash in the corner of his eye said he wouldn’t be forgetting about the kid anytime soon. 

“I thought you were supposed to be in school, kid.” Tony couldn’t help it, it just slipped out. 

He was met with no response. 

“Spider-Man! You’re on civilian evacuation,” Cap said over the comms. 

“Roger that, Captain,” Peter mumbled dejectedly.

Tony flew past Clint who paused for a moment, having also picked up on the teens melancholy and he shot Tony a look before pulling out an arrow and firing it at one of the goons on the ground. Tony touched down next to him, the faceplate retracting, and muted the comms.

“We fought,” he told the archer without preamble. He was a dad, he could give him advice. “Any tips?” 

Clint laughed, reaching up to mute his comm too. “Tips on dealing with moody teenagers? Nah, you’re on your own, I haven’t got a clue. But please, if you manage to figure it out, let me know.”

Tony grumbled under his breath and shot off again, dodging a blast from one of the high tech weapons they were trying to neutralise. Tony found the target, aimed and stunned him before he could try it again. 

He flew down beside him, ready to grab the weapon and take it back to the jet. Another flash of red caught his eye and he looked up to see Peter swinging with a woman in his arms, carrying her to safety. 

Tony took care of the weapon and then flew back to the centre of the chaos. He couldn’t help watching Peter whenever he was within range, it was engrained In him to make sure he was safe at all times. It also meant that he wasn’t able to commit much attention to his surroundings and so he was a little sloppier than usual. He wasn't the only one who noticed but thankfully Clint stuck up for him when Cap questioned it.

“Karen says all the civilians are clear of the immediate area.”

“Great job,” Steve replied. “You can wait for us at the jet if you want.”

“I can help.” 

“We’re almost done here anyway. Seriously, take five. You’ve done your part and you’ve done a good job.” Tony was thankful Steve took the lead of benching him before Tony had to. He had the feeling that would have caused quite the scene given the current state of affairs. 

Peter appeared on the edge of a rooftop, crouching with his hands between his legs in one of his signature poses. Tony cracked a smile at the sight. No matter what had happened he would never stop loving his kid and his spidery ways. 

Guns fired and Tony had to tear his eyes away, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand. He couldn’t for long because Peter jumped and swung down, throwing himself directly into the battlefield. 

Tony grumbled internally but chose to hold his tongue. He was being oddly quiet but anything else he was sure would just end in arguments and no one wanted that. 

Tony watched him snatch a gun from the hands of one of the enemy with a web and webbed it up out of he way. The man himself was next and before he could move, he was struggling against the restraints that had him firmly secured to the lamp post behind him.

Two goons saw Spider-Man take down their friend and yelled - with more fury than Tony thought Peter deserved to have directed at him - and aimed up at the web-slinger. Clearly these guys had some hard feelings after the ferry incident. 

Tony saw it happening and felt himself moving before he’d actively chosen to do so. There were two blasts of light, one that Peter dodged easily and the other that wasn’t so simple and would have hit him square in the chest if Tony hadn’t thrown himself in front of him. 

He didn’t feel the impact. He didn’t feel anything. Just saw the light fading. He never felt himself hit the concrete. The only thing he remembered was hearing a scream that hadn’t come from him.

***

“.. Up! Wake up! Please! Oh, god, please! Wake up!” 

Inside his metal tomb, which was as unresponsive as he was, Tony felt the jostling movements as someone above him tried to frantically shake him awake. 

“God! Tony, please! Say something!” 

They were becoming louder and more desperate. Tony wanted to reassure them, like a primal urge to keep them safe and happy was stirring inside of him, but he couldn’t move his mouth. His eyes were still closed - he had to get them to open first of all. 

“Oh, my god. Oh, my god. No. Wake up. Please!” 

I’m trying, he wanted to say. I’m okay. I’m awake. He couldn’t speak. 

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! God, I’m so so sorry! Please, Tony, please,” Peter begged. 

It was all he needed to try and wake himself up, hearing the hysteria creeping into Peter’s words. Tony blinked his eyes open. The inside of his suit was dark apart from the small blinking light at the edge of his vision which was his back up power. He’d be able to get out of the suit, thank goodness for that. If he could just figure out how to move..

“Karen? K-Karen, is he.. is he dead? Please, just tell me if he’s dead, just say it. Just say it now. Just tell me.” 

Oh, god. 

The faceplate flicked open and Tony found himself looking up at a very distressed Peter. His mask was off and they were in a secluded alley not where he remembered being last time he was conscious. Peter must have dragged the suit out of the chaos. The poor kid was white as a sheet and his eyes were frantic. They found his. 

“Not dead,” Tony managed to say in a rasping wheeze. 

“Tony!” 

Peter flung himself down over the top of him, hugging the suit and holding on as if his life depended on it. The impact jostled him and he became aware of a burning sensation in his chest. He held in his gasp for Peter’s sake. 

“Oh, my god, Tony! I thought you were dead! You fell! You - you..” 

“Shh, hey, shh. Give.. give me a second to figure out if I am actually alive. I’d hate to.. to give you false hope.” Talking hurt. 

Peter leaned back, sitting on his heels but keeping one hand on the chest plate of Tony’s suit. His other hand went to his comm. “Karen?” A pause. Peter’s wide eyes looked him over. “She says.. she says you might be concussed. And.. and - god - your ribs. Broken.”

“Mmhm. Feel that,” Tony groaned. 

“You’re.. you’re bleeding too.” 

“Huh. Where?” 

“You’re head.”

“Well, she did say concussion. Doesn’t miss a trick, does she?” 

Peter’s lip was wobbling. Tony had the absurd urge to laugh. There was nothing funny about this but everything was suddenly hysterical. He worked with all of his strength to keep it in. 

“Why are you smiling?” Peter sniffed. 

“Because you are adorable.”

“Stop it. I am not.” He sniffed again. 

“You never believe me when I say that but I promise you, I’m right.”

Peter shook his head, keeping his lips pressed firmly together which only proved Tony’s point further. 

“Come on, kiddo, help me out of this thing so I can give you a hug.”

They had to work together to get him out of the suit. The more Tony moved, the more he realised how much everything hurt. He winced with every inch they sat him upright. Peter kept him steady with a hand on his back, his super strength bearing most of Tony’s weight. 

When he was upright, Peter didn’t go in a for a hug. Tony felt a trickle of blood down the side of his face. For a split second, he wondered if Peter was still just as upset as he had been the previous night - if he was still bothering him. But one look at his face told Tony that wasn’t true. 

“You jumped in front of me,” he whispered. There were tears in his eyes.

“My suit’s better.” 

“You’re hurt.”

“You could have died.”

Peter squeezed his eyes closed. “You can’t.. you can’t do that. I thought..” His inhaled sharply. “I thought you were dead and I thought the last thing I said to you was.. was..” Peter gave an awful sob. 

“Oh, kiddo. Come here.” 

He wrapped his arms around Peter who dissolved immediately into a blubbering mess. 

“I didn’t mean it, I swear! It wasn’t true! I didn’t mean it!”

Tony suddenly felt like an idiot for ever believing those words. How had he ever been stupid enough to think for a second that Peter could have possibly meant them? If he loved Tony only half as much as he loved Peter, then that would still be an enormous amount. He didn’t know how these things - matters of the heart - worked, not really, but he knew one thing and that was that his kid was his, blood or not. 

“I know, kiddo. I know.”

“I’m so so sorry!”

His hand was in his hair, Peter’s face pressed against his shoulder and spreading snot and tears and all things gross all over him. Tony didn’t mind one bit - he himself was leaking blood all over the place too.

“You don't have anything to be sorry for.” 

It didn’t calm him down. In fact, Peter made a miserable sound somewhere between a sob and a moan and shook harder. 

“I’m sorry! Please, dad. I’m so so sorry!” 

Tony froze. He’d never said that before. Never. Not once. Tony never thought he would given how long it took for him to be comfortable even saying ‘Tony’. He’d practically had to beg him.

Ribs twinging, heart bursting, Tony turned his head so he could plant a kiss on the top of Peter’s head. 

“There is no need for apologies. I know you didn’t mean it.” Tony sighed contentedly. “My son. My boy. I love you.” 

Peter nodded frantically, still sniffling. “I love you too.” 

“I know you’ve been stressed out lately. How about when we get home and I get myself  patched up we have a talk about whatever’s really bothering you? Come up with a solution. Sound good?”

“Yeah..”  

“Good.” He squeezed him, repressing his wince as he did so. “Good.”

Footsteps came crashing along the street towards them as Steve came running into the alley. “Tony! I got here as soon as I could, we just got everything cleaned up. Are you okay!?”

He looked at his son and smiled. “Perfect, Cap. Everything’s perfect.” Peter smiled back. Everything was truly wonderful.

Peter looked up Steve. “He’s lying,” he said, “his ribs are far from perfect.”

Tony groaned. “Thanks for the reminder, kid. I had just about forgotten.”

“We’ll get you patched up in the jet,” Steve said, relaxing when he saw his friend was relatively okay. 

“Get me some ice for my ribs, Capsicle, would you? I know how much you love ice.”

Peter’s laugh was his favourite sound in the whole world.

The end. 

[dreamytfw]

Dean's emotional abuse is so interesting because he literally doesn't know any better. Not in a "🥺 poor bby he's so hurt and lonely it's not his fault" kind of way. Cannot stress enough that is NOT what I'm doing here. He's still responsible for the things he says and does to others. A tragic past does not absolve people of the abuse they do to others.

What I'm talking about is how he basically had no models for any type of healthy relationship while growing up. You really think John "almost all of my former allies have threatened to kill me if they ever saw me again" Winchester taught that boy how to communicate and deal with his feelings in a healthy way?? Hell no. And we know that John kept a strangle-hold on Dean into his mid-20s (we learned that in the pilot). And he had, what? Just under 2 years away from John before he signed his own death warrant to save Sam's life? During which he was grieving the loss of his dad, trying to process his survivor's guilt, trying to deal with the mindfuck that is "btw your little brother? The one I told you to always look out for even if it meant putting yourself in danger? Well, he might be the antichrist and you may have to kill him kay thanx byeeee" John left him with, and trying to figure out what the hell Azazel was doing and how to kill him. And then, after he got back from Hell, dude was being Apocalypse edged for, like, 11 years straight.

He literally did not have the time, energy, or any sort of emotional capacity to learn that you don't show care for others by yelling at them, trying to control everything they do, and manipulating them into obedience. So while the things he does to Sam, Cas, and later Jack are bad, sometimes bordering on horrendous, that root of Dean genuinely not knowing that he shouldn't do that shit to people he cares about is a fascinating aspect of his motivations from a viewer's POV.

[obitobis-simp]

Jonin obito Au but obito is still a freak

Imagen obito manages to free himself from madara by going inbetween that chidori and being there earlyer he get's coma but he lives

Memory ussus and a lot of CPTSD he's fine anyone woud think he's normal now but he isn't

He's legaly still dead cuz no one ABSOLUTLY NO ONE wants to deal with the absurd amount if paiper work so he legaly is still dead and he abuses the heck out of it and will bring it up every opertunaty he gets

Ppl don't notice he's a freak untill he starts open his mouth and say some wierd fucked up shit like as if he's talking about the waether

Obito: Yaeh the uchiha massacer was wild i got there in time to watch that shit go dowen i was so glad to always have popcorn in kamui

Sasuke : so you didn't nothing while this happned

Obito: sasuke pls i'd never and I didn't do nothing i sat there and watched it while eating popcorn and thinking ' damm didn't know bodys coud move like that'

Sasuke: WHY AREN'T YOU DEAD INSTAD

Obito : many reson ig ? I mean legaly speaking i actuly am dead alrady Oh also i can phase through things and can't realy kill what can't be hit yk

He has nughtmares about " an ugly stinky old witch very ugly and stinky"

Whoever thought giving him 3 genin kids to look after is just as mentaly deranged as obito but dw kakashi us there too cuz legaly it's his team and oh damage controll cuz obito get's urges to be an unhinged problem if he doesn't take his meds and therapy( his therapists need therapists and or are scared of this sweetie with 42 underling mental issus cuz ge's tottaly normal most of the time exept when he isn't)

He's very sweet happy and still a stalker but he has a heart of gold an wierd 10 tailed mini dog thing with 1 eye and a spiral thingy that showes up from time to time obito doesn't know what these things are or where they are from but since they pass the vibe cheack they can stay

Wierd shit happnes to him atlest once a week

Imagen this obito meets the other obitos somehow the convo they have in my head

They all magicly aper on the battlefiel of the 4th shinobi war

Jonin obito on the 4GNWW with other obito variation : WHAT THE HECK WHY DIES THIS WIERD SHIT ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME I PROB STARTED A WAR IN MY PREV LIFE OR SOMTHING

White haired (unhinged completly lost it and gave up on sainaty) obito : uhh abt that So who wants to tell him ? 🙂

Tobi: ughh-

All obitos : SHUT THE FUCK UP TOBI NO ONE CARES

(Any obito): not only that (casuly lists all massacers and acts of terrorisem he comitted and or was involved in) 😐

Jonin obito : yaeh sounds like somthing i woud do in theses situations🤔 what why are you all I all ? staring

War arc obito : i fucking hate you go kill yourself or somthing 😠

Jonin obito : Hey what the heck did i do ? ALSO I'M YOU LIKE WTF ?!

White haired obito that got more sane after the war: well we coud just blame everything on trauma but thanx to you fucking asshole we now gotta face the realaty with the fact we are just inhersntly insane with or without being manipulated into it thank

Tobi : wow they hate you more then me

Silance...

Madara finaly : WHAT IN THE EORLD IS GOING ON ?! I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS?!

Jonin obito jumping on his AU kakashi shoulders : AGAAAAAA THE UGLY WITCH FROM MY NIGHTMEARS

The obito thst actuly was in the muddelvifxthe war he started (maby canon obito idk) : yaeh i have a question. My wuestion no 1 is why is other mes hair white ?

Anyone tbh but in my head it's either naruto or kakashi: THAT'S THE QUESTION YOU CHOSE TO ASK IN THIS SITUATION ? There are a lot of things that need answers and you chose to ask /focus on about your fucking haircolour ?! And not like why there are multiple diffret versions of you (and maby kakashi idk kamui shenanigans ig?)

Obito : hey that's a resonoble question cuz last time i cheacked my hair is black

Kakashi: AND LAST TIME I CHAECKED YOU WHERE DEAD

Jonin obito : if it helps i'm legaly speaking still dead

Any obito : that's on you honestly i'm suprised at the shit i got away with

kakashi : TFYM?

Any obito: wait so you actuly never noticed me sitting 3 meters behind you in a bush?

Another obito: or in your Apartment?

Anther obito : oh funny story i'm pretty shure he tottaly saw me that 1 time baised on eye contact but he prob thought i was a hallucination idk (was feeling bored and daering that day/night)

another kakashi apering and smaking one of the white haired obitos in the head with porn: WHAT THE HELL OBITO I LEFT YOU ALONE FOR 5 MIN ?!

That obito : i got bored okay

Kk eye twitching: realy ? You did ? WHEN I SAY DON'T COMMIT TERRORISEM ON THIS PLANET IT WASN'T AN INVITATION FOR YOU TO BECOME A SPACE PIRATE AND BULLY SOME ALIAN GODS (otsosuki) AND EHEN U SAY STOP BULLING ALIAN GODS IT ISN'T AN INVITATION FOR YOU TO DO THIS WHOLE TIMLINE MESSY THINGY LIKE HOW TF DID YOU EVEN DO THIS ? I WAS JUST ON THE TOILETTE FOR 5 MIN ?

That obito : in my defense your instructions weren't very clear and i was bored and i don't like boering why'the heck you think i started a war ? I was bored and wanted shit to finnaly happen

kakashi: DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW TO SPELL consequences?

Obito: . In all honesty you want to know a secret ?most of the shit i do is for keeping me intertained of cuz being " normal " is boering and i don't like boreing i only do the shit i know i get away with anyways it's no big deal but to answer you question it's C O N S E N T

Kks: WRONG that's how you spell consent but i'll let it slid cuz that's importaint too

Ob: realy ? I was messing up on purpose iym a genius

Kk: ...yaeh for that and not like idk inventing time travle but who cares clean that shit up and bring everyone of you back where you shoud be

Ob: i coud do that or Or hear me out i do it completly random and we are gonna watch what happened next ?

Kks: is this gonna affect or timeline in any way shape or form ?

Ob: no not all why ?

Kk okay fine 2 days then you have to make everything normal agin

Ob : only if you buy me dango

Kk: fine let's go get this done with

Litterly everyone completly baffled exepf obito

War arc obito : what ? I've seen wierder shit happen

N: LIKE WHAT COUD PSSABLY BE WIERDER THEN THIS SHIT THAT JUST HAPPEEN ?

obito ignores everything related to that trying to gaslight everyone that was just a filler episide

[tragically-jane-doe]

I FORGOT THERES NEW EPISODES FUCK

In-a 💖💖💖💖 Thanx for finally looking out for your lil sis

Oh yeah I forgot our man is in a house fire

Get your twink ass outta my house

I'm so happy about in-a being in hee-joo corner my girl needed another ally

Fuck these parents

I'm sorry I can't get over how they're clearly in PJs but sa-eon mom is rocking around in heels

Thank God they were just red herring us in EP 8

The driving pass scene is just so fucking silly

Sang woo in the corner sad eyeing his first love holy shit

"Tell me how to hate you" "tell me how not to love you" continues to be lines that BREAK me

Hee-joo is really like every girl having a lil melt down in the bathroom

I too like to do gorey lil crafts Mr og sa-eon

Okay grandpappy go off

If this man starts over explaining how maybe he might not actually be paik sa-eon and hee-joo is just that's been known I will be so happy please

Sa-eon having to be nice to sang woo now that he saved him im loving it

Nah idk if she's obsessed enough she only sent like 100 txts and a millon voice mails

How much do you think he wanted to start kicking his feet twirling his hair when he saw all the texts and VM

IGRL YOU CANT JUST DISAPPEAR HES GONNA LEAVE THE HOSPITAL LOOKING FOR U

In-a baby girl what Cha doinggg

I TOLD YOU HEE-JOO I TOLD YOU

"I've lived because of you, ive endured because of you" is quickly taking second place

Dw babe ik still insanely downbad for you

Guys I think they like eachother

such a fucking baddie here to cause some mischief

THOSE ARTS AND CRAFTS ARE LOVELY

I love Sang woo and Yu-ri dynamic

Never knew stalking your wife could be hot huh

SIR THAT IS DOUBLE STANDARD LET HER STALK YOU

Poor Mr Kang HE JUST CARES SO MUCH

Hee-joo watch out Mr kang is coming for your mans

HER DAD DOING THE SIGHS WHILE WATCHING AHHH HES SO PROUD

The traumaaaa

OH MY GOD WE WERE RIGHT

Stop they're so fucking cute it's sicking

REAL SA-EON GETTING HIS ASS BEAT TODAY

MY BOY MR KANG GOT RANCID VIBES FROM THIS MOFO

NVM Do-jae is a lil bitch who doesn't understand he's dealing with a actual sociopath

ITSA TRAP MY BOY A TRAP

Peek a boooo my boo

WHY DO-JAE WHY DID YOU START THIS

Ooooh honey sweetie baby child Do-jae DO-JAE BAYBE

Rip my psycho dude

Oh damn he's been at this for ages

Goddamn mommy dearest much

HE'S KILLED CHILDREN AS A CHILD MAAM

I don't like agreeing with sa-eon dad but the man's has a point

Cool he's not dead TIME TO REPENT FOR YOUR SINS SWEETIE

Hes not angry just disappointed

Oh sang woo baby going thru the trenches

Wouldn't it be crazy if all of this could've been avoided if the real sa-eon didn't get seen by the lil brother

HEE-JOO GETTING HER BACK BONE

Did this mother fucker send his own DNA report to in-a just so he could marry hee-joo Jesus Christ

Yes ma'am push his ass down

Eeeeeeeee

Again this man wants her to dom him so bad

He's such a fucking idiot I love him

HES CRYING FUCK

Y'all im losing it THEYRE SO LAME AND IN LOVE

DID EVERYONE KNOW HEE-JOO COULD TALK IN THIS FAMILY JESUS CHRIST

I still can't tell if the step daddy is trash or not?

NVM he's showing up with a gun to a memorial I'm gonna say he isnt

But like he isn't great either but better than sa-eon parents at least

Hee-joo baby girl where r u u can't be dead just no theres like 2 more episodes

Ty Mr reporter man I love you

Wow everyone finding out that they're married like this damn

They cliff hanger me again fuck

I WAS BORN TO MEET YOU

They really pulled no punches huh

I'm sorry where's my here's what to look forward to previews?!?! HOW AM I TO COPE

I know she's not dead but I would like to see her not being dead

Anyways happy new years

[thoughtfullyrainynightmare]

A/N: This is a collab between myself and @loosesodamarble that we finished a couple days ago! I just got around to posting it ^^' It's for the 1.6k follows event from some weeks ago ^^ Caelum belongs to Erika, and Leonidas is mine

Summary: Caelum Roulacase, who is a later bloomer and has been in Spade to learn magic from King Yuno, is now back in Clover. But... he is dealing with some thoughts and a lot of emotions that he'd rather first get out, and discuss with someone else. And the best person he can think of for this purpose is Leonidas Vermillion. The two young men hit off a conversation and... perhaps start a new friendship Genre: General Pairing: Caelum & Leonidas Length: ~5.5k Contains: ...Philosophical discussion? Some manga references? It's very safe imo

And for a moment, Cal smirked with a kind of a huff, and looked up in what appeared to be amusement. Which it was. Since in that moment, Cal thought about how much the mannerism appeared as that of Leon's father. 

An apple doesn't fall far from the tree, or how was it? He thought in passing before opening his mouth again. 

"Is this seat taken?" He asked, gesturing to the other seat around the table. 

Leon glanced at the seat, which was vacant. And it wasn't the only seat, or the only table, available outside. Or inside for that matter. Which in itself was telling. 

But there was no reason to decline the request as he wasn't expecting anyone. 

"No, you're free to join me," he nodded with a kind smile, which was returned with another nod. "Do you want to get something to drink first though?" He continued with a slight wonder. 

But Cal let out a sigh while sitting down, and picked up the menu card on the table lazily. "Depends on what they have on offer."

The tone was tired, and more downbeat than one might have expected. Perhaps something was bothering him?

The two boys sat in silence for a moment as Caelum perused the menu.

"I, uh, suppose I should be saying 'welcome back'," Leon said while resting his hands on the table. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Caelum blinked in surprised and looked up at Leon with a half-hearted smile. "Oh. Yeah. And thanks."

This crossing of paths was made awkward not only by the fact that the boys weren't particularly close but also due to them not seeing each other in the last three years. Not for a lack of effort. Simply, Caelum hadn't been in Clover Kingdom whatsoever.

"I wasn't even aware you'd come back," Leon again broke the silence. "And here I thought I'd hear about it first from Dawn-"

"Ahahaha... That's the thing..." Caelum's laugh was clearly forced, making Leon pause and furrow his brow. He and Cal locked eyes, prompting Caelum's answer. "Dawn doesn't know I'm back. Right now, only my family and Uncle Langris have been told."

Leon nodded, not entirely sure what to say to that.

Leon kept quiet long enough for Caelum to wave over a server and put in a drink order for himself. When the server left, Caelum put his attention back on Leon.

"I was kinda hoping to talk to you first, actually," Caelum admitted. His fingers drummed against the table's surface. "'Cause I know we're not really buddies but I was kinda hoping someone would hear me out."

Leon raised a brow. "And that someone can't be Dawn?" Whatever could Cal be worried about? And what would it have to be for him to seek me out over Dawn of all people?

Looking at Caelum, there was a lack of warmth from the boy. They weren't close, but Leon recalled him usually being smiles and gentlemanly grace. But now, he was stiff and muted, like a dimmed light. 

"No." He simply said, eyes down, and lacking of that very glimmer that he used to hold, which was only emphasized the blunt answer. 

Leon leaned back in his chair, opting to make himself assume a more relaxed and open position, over that of questioning. "Well, in that case, I'd be happy to lend an ear," he stated, to which Caelum nodded. 

And it almost felt as if in that nod, there was a thanx. 

"So... You've spent time abroad too, right?" 

Leon quirked an eyebrow and glanced to Cal for a moment, because it seemed almost as if a rhetorical question. 

Cal knew that he was only half-Cloverian. 

"Yes. I travel quite frequently, but most of the visits are short in nature. At least these days. Though it's a goal for me to spend some extended period of time back in Thea again, to know how it is to really live there. See the kind of insight to the country that you can't get from a short visit," he explained, factually, but in a rather casual manner. 

And again Cal nodded, listening to the explanation. "How was it?" He asked, but before Leon could answer, he corrected himself. "I mean... I'm not looking for an explanation about what kind of a country that is, or the customs or the people or the..." he trailed off, his voice fading in the slightest as the words kept pouring out of him. 

After which, he sighed, and rubbed the back of his head. 

"I ... How was it to live there?" He spoke with a heavy tone, as if it had been an ordeal, whatever it is that he went through while in Spade. And granted that there were plenty of stories still in the air about Spade, the weight of the tone wasn't all too surprising. 

"Caelum..." Leon said while leaning forward and placing his hand onto the table. "It doesn't sound like that is the question you'd like to ask from me."

Cal's lips parted for a moment, but as he was about to speak, the server brought him his drink. 

"Thanks," Cal stated, and Leon nodded. After which, as the server left, there was a brief silence that hung over them. 

A train of thought that was lost, perhaps. Or just words that would have jumbled together no matter what. 

Until, finally, Cal sighed again. "It isn't," he admitted, and picked up his glass, taking a sip. "I just thought that someone who has been travelling could... maybe... I don't know, understand how I feel."

Leon let out a thoughtful hum. "Well... if we want to split hairs, I haven't been 'travelling' that much. I spend time between two countries. But if you want to talk to someone who has been travelling, I can direct you to my mother."

Cal let out an amused scoff as a reply.

"You didn't just visit, or travel, to Spade," Leon pointed out. "You lived there for an extended period of time. And... I can't imagine how anxiety inducing that must've been."

A look of recognition, perhaps awareness was the better word, flickered across Cal's face before he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"It was rough at times but I wouldn't say 'anxiety-inducing'," Cal said.

"Come now, you don't have to downplay any of your troubles. You shouldn't be, really." Leon smiled at Cal, his eyebrows raised, making his expression and words a bit more inviting to his companion. "Cal, you said you wanted to talk to me and now you're closing up?"

"Hm. Aha... Caught me," laughed Cal. While he smiled, it still wasn't full. But a hesitance and tension seemed to ease from Cal. "I don't want to look back on my experience as negative. But there was just... a lot. The Grinberryalls are good people and they took care of me, but it always felt awkward because they're family friends of family friends and, well, just hearing it, it sounds-"

Leon nodded, chuckling despite himself. "The degrees of separation felt like too much. And perhaps you felt like you were taking advantage of a flimsy connection?"

"Y-yeah!" Cal's face colored up to a rosy pink. "I think everyone in Spade got sick of hearing me say 'I don't know the royals directly but my parents are coworkers with the king's foster brother'... But it was all I had."

Leon laughed again. It was amusingly familiar.

Someone reaching to establish a connection and reap its benefits was nothing new in the realm of nobility. Son of Whichever Family. Heir to Whatever Title. People wanted to justify getting a chance to interact with someone, no matter how tenuous the link might be. In Leon's experience, though, people rarely showed shame when attempting to appeal to his parents or Leon himself. Folks usually behaved entitled to what they desired.

But Cal felt shame for grasping at the thin thread that gave him a chance to speak with King Yuno. Not that Leon blamed Cal. Sometimes, even the best people had to stoop to uncomfortable levels to achieve their goals.

"Hm... If you ask me, I think you don't need to be so ashamed of the opportunity you were granted," remarked Leon. "You're humble enough to admit that your connection to King Yuno isn't strong but you didn't have any ulterior motives, unlike some. To be perfectly frank, I don't think he would've taken you in if he believed your intentions weren't pure."

"Really?"

"Without a doubt." Leon sipped from his drink.

Cal stayed quiet for a moment, just thinking about it. 

Sure, King Yuno had an... unusual background to say the least, and was someone who didn't take the suck-ups seriously in the slightest. Not that a lot of the higher ups did, but where King Yuno differed, was that he didn't entertain the gestures or attempts, or take advantage of the gold-digger behaviour. Which... by extension also meant that he, at least, didn't think so about him. 

"I... suppose you're right" Caelum admitted with a faint, relieved smile. 

"And... in case it becomes a talking point," Leon continued in a rather casual manner, because it seemed within reason. "I don't think anyone here thinks that you were trying to take an advantage of the loose connection either."

"Well... here people know me," Cal stated. "I wasn't exactly ... well, hoping for them to have forgotten who I am."

"And they haven't."

"It's just that I was reminded of it so often while in Spade."

"I get it."

There was another silence that settled into the air, as the two sipped their drinks. The world went by. People had errands to run, or they were just enjoying the weather, same as them.

"Is that what you were so worried about?" Leon inquired, glancing to Cal from the corner of his eye.

"I... suppose.." Cal rubbed the back of his head. "It's... as said, I was reminded so often about seeming like I was just... a gold-digger that it... I'm just..." he trailed off for a moment, and looked back into his glass, as his mind settled into a sea of static.

"You wanted to be reminded that you're a good person, with well grounded morals and ideals and wouldn't take a advantage of a person like that?"

"...Something like that," Cal chuckled. 

Which was replied with a chuckle from Leon too.

"Dawn could easily have told you that," he noted. Which was true. Dawn would have given him the same reassurance. Though maybe it would have been coupled with something more in addition. 

"Yeeahh..." he uttered, smiling a little bit. "But it's different," he tried to argue. "When you have someone who has been in the same place and situation, or at least similar, then... there's... you get a better educated response and opinion than from someone who hasn't been in your shoes."

"Hmmm..." Leon hummed while trying to choose what to say, because there were a few replies that he could give. "Well... to be perfectly fair, I haven't exactly been 'in your shoes' since my situation is different from yours," he argued. "Because when I go cak to Thea, I stay with my grandparents. Who I know well, and there is no question of lineage or trying to take an advantage of them because... they are my grandparents. So, what would they say? That I can't visit them? That it would be unreasonable for me to visit people within close family?" He paused for a while, looking at Cal. "If anything, I think you had it more difficult, and had more ... opportunities to rise to the occasion." 

"Man, I wouldn't call what I did 'rising,'" Cal said through his laughter. "More like I was scrambling to... not even keep up but to catch up to my peers. And I was trying to prove that I wasn't wasting King Yuno's time."

The ending of the statement carried a weight, an insight to Cal's anxiety.

"Mhm. Well if that's how you're thinking of it, then do you think you accomplished your goal?" Leon questioned. "Catching up and spending the time well?" He gazed at Cal expectantly.

"Well..."

Cal raised his hand and a concentrated sphere of light formed over his palm. It was a basic seeming spell. But for Caelum, who had been unable to output a fizzle of magic for 12 years, it was a testament to his newfound strength. Cal looked upon the star-like sphere above his hand and beamed.

"Yeah, I do think so. I trained as hard as I could and did my best to focus on what I was there to do." Caelum closed his hand, extinguishing the light in a smooth motion. "Wasn't easy though. It felt... really weird. Like everyone was watching me but also ignoring me because my circumstances were weird and I was an outsider."

Cal opened and closed his hand a couple times before locking eyes with Leon.

"Do you ever..." Cal's eyes narrowed and his nose scrunched up, as he seemed to weigh his words. "Is it like that for you?"

Leon blinked at the sudden shift. Sure Caelum had been able to talk out what had been weighing on him but turning the attention to Leon in the midst of the conversation felt like whiplash.

"Is it like what?" Leon asked.

"I know you said that you have an easier time visiting Thea 'cause of family but... is it still kinda like my situation?" Cal said. "Do you both get noticed and get neglected because of what makes you different from the rest of Theans when you visit?"

Leon let out a long "oooh..." then pursed his lips, considering the question.

Leon wasn't a total stranger to Thea the way Cal was to Spade. But he wasn't entirely belonging either. That was true.

Leon sat back in his seat and intwined his fingers loosely onto his lap in thought. "I never thought about it, really," he admits. "Because... I think that wherever you go, there will be people who'll ignore you, and some who pay attention to you. That's just how humans are."

"But that's not what we're talking about," Cal interrupted, making Leon nod.

"Which is why I think I can relate to the feeling," he admitted. "I'm... not full Cloverian, and I'm not full blown Thean either; I have components of both." He paused for a while, thinking about what to say. 

And after a little bit of pondering, he sighed. "Here, though they didn't downright say it to my face, after most people of my age got their grimoires, I was considered 'left behind', because I didn't have one," he stated while manifesting out his grimoire. 

Its red surface glimmered in the sun, and its golden design danced around the surface, as if streams of fire and light. And the way it floated around in the air, as if pulsating with fire and light and pure warmth, was... strange. Not unpleasant, but strange. While it held something comforting and familiar, something else about it felt foreign and wild. 

"I took my time crafting this," he finally said while looking at the grimoire. But closed his eyes, and dispelled the book of spells, just as quickly as he had manifested it. "Which is why here, I was considered ... weak-er, among other things. Or defective, I suppose," he uttered. "And when I'm in Thea..." he sighed, "while, again, people don't say it to my face, they see me as weaker because of my paternal lineage."

Cal frowned at the words, which earned a glance from Leon.

"It's... complicated," he only explained. "But umm... the thing is that my paternal lineage also makes my mana more secure and grounded, and inhibits mana depletion. Which is a merit." 

"And you're not... bothered by any of it?" Cal asked, careful and silently, as if under his breath. 

"Well... as said, my family is supportive of it. And... having comparatively more secure mana is hardly something to be sorry for," Leon half joked. "But, there is a long answer to the question, which I've already started," he chuckled apologetically. "While the short answer is: They ignore and notice what they want to notice."

Cal groaned, "I guess you're right..." He tilted his head to the side as he sighed, causing the fringe of his hair to fall in his face. "And to think you have to deal with that here in Clover and Thea."

"Unfortunately, yes. But at this point, I'm largely used to it." Leon lazily waved a hand through the air.

As sad as it was to think, Leon and his sisters would never truly "belong" in one place. With one people. Their births. Their magics. Themselves as people. They were distinct from other citizens of both the Queendom of Thea and the Kingdom of Clover, being both but neither at the same time. While they could understand the parts of themselves that came from either nation, such as the grimoire Leon crafted in line with Thean tradition, the children of House Vermillion still had so much of themselves to determine because of what set them apart thanks to the circumstances of their births.

Leon understood that all people had to define themselves beyond their bloodlines. But it felt particularly pressing for himself, Cyra, and Nora...

"Y'know..." Cal's voice brought Leon back to reality. "It's strange to think that even with multiple kingd-" Cal caught himself and raised a finger. "With multiple nations working together, the citizens are still kinda sorta looking down on each other. Not totally but a judgey-ish thing..."

"Mm, yes, there is a condescending-ish-ness sometimes."

To Leon's response, Cal let out a short burst of a laugh. It wasn't impossible for Leon to loosen up, the pun battles he had with Alistar were proof enough. But hearing the prince take on a similar speaking mannerism as him tickled something in Cal. He felt a pang of regret not being able to befriend him sooner or more deeply. But, he thought with the optimism taught to him by his parents, that it wasn't too late to start befriending Leon in the present.

"Call it national pride or perhaps cultures being slow to accept and integrate," Leon said. His tone was light but his lips were pulled into a thin frown of disapproval. "But we can't deny that relations are much friendlier than before."

"Hooo yeah!" Cal full on cackled and threw his head back. "Twenty years ago, the only thing I could've learned in Spade was how dungeons looked and smelled. Still..." He shook his head. "Life's being kinda unfair to a guy like you. Since you're stuck in the middle. Sorta kinda..."

"Unfortunately, yes. Though I feel honored to know you see it as an injustice towards me," Leon remarked with a light tone and touched a hand to his heart.

"Hey, I'm only telling the truth," said Cal as he brushed his hair back and tucked the strands behind his ear. "A guy as knightly as you doesn’t deserve to be looked down on, Leon. And you being so amazing is probably why Dusk is always trying to visit House Vermillion, to learn a thing or two from you."

Leon's lips twitched for a second.

"That'd be flattering..." Leon spoke under his breath while Cal took a long swig of his drink. "But I don't believe that to be the case..."

Cal's cup hit the table with a faint thunk.

"What was that?"

"Even if that were the case, I shouldn't let the opinion of others distract me. Be it negative or positive evaluations," Leon said, gracefully dancing around the implied topic that wasn't his or Cal’s to comment on. "What truly matters is fulfilling what you seek to accomplish. Whether that's crafting a grimoire." Leon gestured to himself. "Or taking a crash course in how to use magic." He gestured to Cal. "And as we've both shown, our goals have been reached." 

Cal stared ahead of himself, thinking about his experiences. Thinking about the lessons he got, and the ones that he didn't... quite yet understand. And frowned. "Shouldn't..." he hesitated while leaning forward, and supporting himself with his elbows. "Shouldn't there be a feeling of accomplishment then?"

Leon let out a hum, lifted his chin and stared to the side, to the city streets with a directionless gaze. "I suppose how grand of an emotion are you expecting," he just said. 

"What do you mean?" Cal asked, hoping for a clarification.

"Like..." Leon uttered with a faint frown, thinking about how to formulate the idea into words. "You did accomplish something, while in Spade. You became more familiar with your magic, right?"

"Yeah," Cal replied, but it was lacking in confidence, and was laced with frustration. Because his... accomplishments were basically in getting to the level that was expected of someone of his age. Which most wouldn't deem as an accomplishment. 

It would be seen as the bare minimum. 

"And... are you not proud of what you did?"

"I think it was necessary for me to do, if I want to get anywhere in life," Cal half admitted, half stated. Because there was an honest truth in it too. In this world, you still needed magic, of some kind, in order to get anywhere. I don't want to be a burden to those around me...

"That isn't what I asked," Leon gave Cal a kind smile, but earned a kind of a frown from the other young man, who was now looking to the side. "Because I think that... if you wouldn't have wanted to make something out of yourself, you would have stayed. You're choosing to be a better knight, and a mage. Which in itself is an accomplishment."

Cal just listened, in silence. Partly because he didn't exactly know how to reply, and partly because he wanted to hear where Leon was going with this. 

"Sure it might have taken a bit longer for you to gather the tools you need," Leon shrugged. "But because you've worked to earn the place you're in now, you know that you can do much more. And you have that... ability and determination to continue from there."

Cal listened, while realizing that Leon hadn't actually replied the original question about feeling accomplished. 

"You're hungry for me," Leon commented. "You aren't... fully satisfied, or have this ... grand sense of accomplishment, because you recognize how much further you can go."

Caelum stared at Leon as the other boy as his words sank into his mind.

He's unsatisfied because he knows there's further he can go. That was the truth of it all.

For so long, Cal felt like he'd been trailing behind those around him.

Socially, he was behind someone like Dawn who would be the one to break the ice with strangers whereas he waited for someone to introduce themselves first.

When it came to academics, Silver Adlai eclipsed Cal, being an effortless genius who had skipped grades twice.

Leon was well-mannered and good-humored, making him adored by nobility and the lower classes, which anyone, not just Cal, could be jealous of.

Alistar garnered admirers from a young age thanks not only to his good looks but his exceptionally strong magic.

And then the one who Cal was behind the most: his younger brother Raphael. Raphael had the coveted Spatial Magic that came from the Vaude bloodline. It had the ferocity of Langris offensive spells. And the precision of their father Finral's teleportation spells. And he showed so much potential long before Cal ever performed his first spell.

Cal loved his brother dearly. He adored his friends. And admired those he wasn't as close with.

But his anxiety over his abilities, specifically his magic did come from seeing how easily it came to others. While he was busy grasping the basics, others were strengthening and refining their abilities. What he learned in Spade was indeed valuable and helped his grow. But his step forward wasn't nearly large enough to close the gap between himself and his peers.

Cal saw those around him. And he knew he still had a ways to go with his own powers.

For that reason, seeing that he still lacked in comparison to others, Cal's accomplishment felt so weak.

"So am I...?" Cal grit his teeth. "Will I never truly feel accomplished? Is that my fate, Leon?"

Leon gave Cal another compassionate smile, which quickly turned into one of amusement. 

"Y'know, I asked something similar from my father not too long ago," he chuckled. "I don't remember the exact wording of my question but... I remember what he talked about in his reply."

Cal stayed silent. There was a kind of an anticipation in him. But it was tangled with something that ached to defeat. 

Hell, he had just gotten started and he felt like giving up already? Was that really what all that work added up to? It was almost enough to make him laugh in his grief. 

"His reply... He asked from me, how... I thought he felt when he became the Wizard King."

There was a pause... during which Cal frowned. 

"How... it felt to become a Wizard King?" Cal repeated, as if wanting to makes sure he had hear it right.

To which Leon nodded. "I didn't have a reply either," Leon glanced at Cal with a smirk. "But then he went on to talk about how... that place, that profession... He told me that he remembers standing in that office for the first time after the official 'coronation', and how he just looked around the room like... 'this is it. I have come as far as I intended. This was the goal, the dream.'" 

There was another pause, during which the two young men around the table, didn't exchange looks. Instead, their eyes were down to the depths of the table, or the pavement beneath their feet. 

"To him... growth had been one... important thing. As long as you can grow, and decide to do so, there's a way forward. That is what drives him. But when he stood there, he had reached an end of the road."

Cal felt like he knew the feeling. What Leon was describing. 

"There was no grand feeling of victory."

Cal's eyes closed. 

That was it. That was the feeling.

"And then he talked about how... he remembers my mother entering the room and asking how he felt. If he was happy? Satisfied?"

Cal's eyes opened, back into the void in the table. 

"He didn't answer," Leon commented with a half of a joke, which was delivered with a kind of a grin. "But he told me that mother knew, and said that... He had ran out of titles. Merits that can be given as medals and diplomas. But that... didn't mean that growth needs to stop. That... there were once mages who didn't have those titles and certificates and medals, but... they continued forward all on their own. That growth never ceases, unless you choose it to end."

This was again a long route to the answer to the question that had been asked. Cal didn't mind. Actually, he thought that he preferred, in these kinds of discussions, the long answer. 

"And he could look back all the accomplishments that he had achieved. He could be proud about all of them. Take a breather. But in the end he would continue forward."

Cal's eyes flickered. 

"So... there are senses of accomplishment. But they're not these grand end points. They're middle steps. Because... stopping the journey would make life awfully dull."

Cal closed his eyes, tapped his fingers against his cup, and sighed. It wasn't a melancholic sigh though. His anxiety, though not entirely washed away, had ebbed like a river. There was relief in that soft exhale. A sense of understanding and calm that came with hearing how even a great man like Fuegoleon was faced with a problem not too different from Cal's own.

"Weird. You say something that should be taken as a definitive answer and yet I can't help but feel like it's another question."

"And what would that question be?" Leon asked.

"'What comes next'." Cal answered. "We can grow and learn and accomplish. But then we can still ask 'what else can I do?'"

"Hm!" Leon seemed to perk up at the reply. "Not a bad way to see it. So long as you don't ask it with too much anxiety."

Cal nodded in agreement before his eyes drifted to the sky.

The heavens, for which he was named, were partially cloudy that day. Spring was in full swing. Meaning...

"And what's next for me is my getting my grimoire," Cal said with a beaming grin.

"Mhm. A momentous occasion for you and our peers." Leon traced the rim of his cup which was now close to empty. "And after that, you'll be joining the Magic Knights?"

"If all goes well."

"For someone like you, there's not a doubt in my mind," Leon assured. He paused then touched his chin. "Well, maybe there is one doubt."

"Hm?" Cal raised a brow. "You worried for me, Leon?"

Leon's expression didn't give off a sense of worry though. There was a mirthful smile playing on his lips instead.

"Frankly, I don't know which squad you'll be joining. Pick the wrong one and you could be squad-ering your potential."

"... Snrk!" Cal slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Do you think your parents will have a cow if you don't join the Black Bulls?"

"Pfffff!"

"And don't worry about not joining my squad. We got the lion's share at last year's exam..."

Cal clamped his other hand over his mouth.

Leon chuckled to himself as Cal fought his laughter. While not his best material, it seemed to do the job of expelling the last remnants of Cal's tension.

There was a  moment of an almost silence that fell between the two, as Cal tried to catch his breath, and Leon chuckled to himself under his breath. But at the end of it, Cal leaned back in his chair, the same as Leon, and they sipped their drinks. 

Cal looked across the table, and thought about the reasons why he wanted to have this chat. Or a chat. More of an 'a chat' because he hadn't known what to expect. Not really anyways. And ... though the conversation had taken a lot of unexpected turns, it had been a good conversation. A very good conversation. 

"Y'know... Leon?"

"Hm?"

"I ... wouldn't mind doing this again-, like... hang out," Cal rubbed the back of his neck. "And maybe talk about something less serious."

Leon let out an amused hum. "But in all seriousness..."

Cal gave him a look; eyebrows lifted, and chin lowered, almost as if to ask if Leon was being serious. 

"I wouldn't mind either," he admitted with a small smirk. 

"Maybe Dawn and I can come to the Crimson Lion Kings' headquarters some day, and Dusk can tag along to enjoy the good discussion," Cal suggested. 

To which Leon hummed. Maybe one of these days his sister and Dusk would... either realize that they were in a relationship, or would make it official. He himself wasn't quite sure which one it was at the time but... it would sort itself out in some point. Things had a habit of falling into place like that, as long as one kept moving forward.

[kawaiikenna]

I’m…really sad. I don’t think I’ve felt this sad in a long while. I feel like I’m grieving my dad’s loss all over again. And all I did was move some boxes. They were the last few boxes of my stuff that was left in my parents house that I just never went to get after moving around. Nothing big or sentimental. Just random things that had been shoved into boxes for me to pick up.

My mom got remarried this past November and she’s moving into a new place since they didn’t want to live in my dad’s house together. Which I should’ve seen coming. But since she’s moving out she’s renting my teen hood home to my little brothers and some other roommates. So the people living in that house won’t all be strangers.

But it’s now fully disconnected from the home that I finished growing up in. Things that had been in their places for well over a decade are now no longer there. The furniture is different. Most of the pictures of my siblings and I growing up have been taken down and put in storage. I had to leave the key to the house my dad gave me when I was 13 for the renters. When all of the boxes were packed away in my car and all of the lights were turned off, I looked at that house.

It was almost the exact same as when I first saw it when I was 11. But now, nearly two decades later, it was a somber feeling that came over me instead of excitement like I had felt at 11. This house was no longer his house. The one my parents made into a home. The one that my siblings grew up knowing. The one where I lived for ten years before I finally stepped out into the world. The one that I was welcomed back into when my roommates and I all got kicked out of our apartment nearly exactly a year later.

I know that it’s just a house and home is figurative. But that doesn’t make it hurt any less. It’s kind of like the feeling I have about my grandparents new house. It wasn’t the one I grew up knowing therefore there’s no memories tying me to that new place. But this hurts worse because there’s only so much of my dad left and now a huge part of him is gone. I’ve been crying in my car for the last hour because it feels like I’ve lost him again and I don’t want to lose anymore of him than I already have.

I miss him. I really wanted him to be there as I took these last final boxes. Waving as I drove away, back home in another town. But he wasn’t. And all I felt was sad. Overwhelming, heart rending, sobbing sad. I, I don’t know how to deal with this specific feeling of sadness and grief. It seems like something so small and insignificant to everyone else but so soul shattering to me. I don’t really know what to do other than shove it away and pretend that it’s not there.

Anyways, thanx for letting me rant and be sad here on the internet. Sorry if I made anyone else sad too. Hope you and I will have a better rest of the day/night instead of just being sad on the internet.

[zukadiary]

hello! love love love your blog, literally a life-saver for a foreigner like me. I was wondering if you knew anything about how ayaki nao became top star? I was reading her takawiki and it just kind of seemed random to me, and for such a brief time as well. thanx!

Thank you so much! Ayaki Nao came out of one of the weirder eras in Takarazuka history, when they decided to shuffle a bunch of 2 or 3-ranked otokoyaku into Senka for a couple of years. Several shuffled back out and became drop-in top stars: Ayaki Nao, Emao Yuu, Kouju Tatsuki, Kozuki Wataru. Of these, Ayaki Nao and Emao Yuu seemed (at least on the surface) to provide kind of a bridge to their successors while the company figured out who's next/worked out contracts/whatever the company does. There are also a lot of deals cut behind the scenes that we never see, that affect both who becomes top and for how long.

Despite the shorter run, Ayaki Nao had a pretty standard number of pre-top debut leads!

[literaticat]

I'm considering trying to get my publisher to pay me in fifths instead of quarters for my next contract, for tax reasons. Do they ever do fifths? And if so when is the fifth payment usually scheduled?

Ahahah this question gave me hives -- it's the struggle of my LIFE to get publishers to divide payments *less*!

Most of my contracts are paid out halves or thirds -- like so:

1/2 on-signing / 1/2 on delivery & acceptance of final (this is the ideal, but for bigger deals it's getting harder to achieve)

1/3 on-signing / 1/3 on d&a of draft or sketches / 1/3 on d&a of final (this is the ideal for illustrators or for books sold on proposal)

OR 1/3 on-sign / 1/3 d&a final / 1/3 on publication (not great)

OR 3 parts, weighted -- so big part big part small part -- like 20k on sign, 20k on final, 5k on pub for example (better than the previous at least)

.... I've seen them do 4ths -- like part on signing, d&a, publication, and on publication of the paperback (or one year after pub, whichever comes first). This makes me feel ill, and <rant> I personally would die before I'd be OK with a more spread out payment than that, my god, enough is enough, it's already NOT AN ADVANCE if the book is already published, I literally feel like setting something on fire just thinking about it, how dare anyone want to pay for something A YEAR after the shit is published ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? And what if the book tanks and they cancel the paperback or try some other shenanigans? Part of the point of an advance is that they are taking a risk, actually, and the risk is negated if they can just cut bait. If I hired a roofer and then told him "thanx for the roof, looks great, here's part of the money, I'll pay you the rest next year when I see how it does during hurricane season" he'd SUE ME. As well he fuckin should!!! OMG I AM FIRED UP!!!! </endrant>

So anyways. My point is. I guess you could do 1/5 on sign, 1/5 on draft, 1/5 on final, 1/5 on pub, 1/5 on pb pub or one year later?

The payment on PB pub is already somewhat normalized for adult books with very large advances (though it's still quite uncommon in kids books). But please please please PLEASE for the sake of your author and agent brethren don't ask for a payment further out than that -- I don't want them to get any bright ideas.

(Also, Important to note if there are tax issues: You can ask the publisher to hold your payment if need be. Your agency is legally required to pay you within a certain time of getting your money in (14 days I think?), and even if money comes in during early 2024 but was paid by the publisher in 2023, it has to count as 2023 money. Agencies CANNOT hold your money for you, but the publisher can. So sometimes if, say, the end of the year is coming up, and my client has a tax thing where they don't want any more income but I know that they have a D&A coming, we just ask the publisher to hold it until January. It's never been a problem, they are more than happy to wait to pay you!)