#that it ended up creating this environment of having to do

[pureprofanelove24]

The Price of Worship

Chapter 4: The Poisoned Embrace and the Dark Ascent

[ Resumo ] [ Prólogo ] [ Capítulo 1 ] [ Capítulo 2 ] [ Capítulo 3 ] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7] [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9] [Chapter 10]

The weeks following the reflector incident were a whirlwind, the video of Baby saving you instantly went viral, catapulting the Saja Boys to a new level of popularity. Baby's heroism, combined with his innocent and charismatic aura, was a magnet for attention. The record label, secretly controlled by infiltrated demons, saw the perfect opportunity to pulverize the Honmoon's energy. Crossover events between Vocaloid and Saja Boys were carefully orchestrated, disguised as opportunities to "strengthen friendship between groups" and create engaging content for fans, but their true purpose was far more sinister.

For you, these encounters were a balm, initial gratitude transformed into a growing curiosity for Baby. He was gentle, attentive, and you saw him as your protector, an unexpected friend in such a competitive world, the first "encounters" were always in public, disguised as leisure activities "among friends," but carefully photographed and filmed by management teams for public consumption.

One of these crossovers led them to a futuristic aquarium in Seoul, a labyrinth of giant tanks and glass tunnels where colorful shoals of fish swam over their heads. The team encouraged them to interact naturally, as the cameras rolled, you found yourself next to Baby in front of a vast tank of pulsating jellyfish. The blue-green light illuminated his face, and you watched him with fascination as he pointed to a shimmering shoal of silver fish, darting past. "Look how fragile they are, Miku. So tiny, yet they move as one. Fascinating, don't you think?", he murmured, his voice soft, a tender smile on his face, but with an almost unattainable gleam in his eyes, as if he were seeing something far beyond the fish. You simply nodded, feeling a pleasant shiver by your side.

Later, at the complex's cinema, during a cliché romantic comedy film that the team chose to "promote a light atmosphere," he whispered funny and slightly cynical comments about the plot's predictability. "Humans cling to such simple stories, don't they? Always the same happy ending...", he mocked, his voice low, almost a purr in your ear, as he lightly rested his head on your shoulder in a gesture that seemed like false intimacy to him, but for you was a sign of comfort and closeness. You just chuckled softly, finding him witty and refreshing in his honesty.

The exhausting idol routine you three face daily — endless photo shoots for fashion magazines, consecutive interviews for variety shows, exhausting rehearsals for new choreographies, and advertising campaigns that kept them constantly moving. Even so, between one recording and another, every time your eyes met Baby's, you felt a pang of something new growing in your chest, a slight and pleasant anxiety. It was as if with each interaction, no matter how subtle, an invisible thread was weaving between you.

Meanwhile, Luka and Rin also interacted with the other Saja Boys. At an arcade game station — chosen for the fun, friendly atmosphere perfect for a friendly environment without the risk of photos having a romantic vibe that would enrage the public — Rin, always competitive and energetic, challenged Abby to a game of Dance Dance Revolution. "Do you think you can keep up, oppa?", she provoked, laughing. Abby, with his protective aura, accepted with a confident smile. "Let's see who's the king of the dance floor, brat." The match was electrifying, with Abby displaying impressive coordination that made Rin grunt in frustration and admiration, as the two laughed and teased each other with contagious energy.

Luka, for her part, found herself in a quieter conversation with Jinu and Romance near a chic café — an ideal setting to convey the professionalism and maturity that the photos required — while Mystery observed them from afar, immersed in his own world, occasionally casting a curious glance. Jinu, with his timeless beauty and "ideal boyfriend" aura, was the charismatic leader everyone expected. "It's a pleasure working with you, Vocaloid. Your music truly inspires," he told Luka, with a polished smile. Romance, with his seductive charm, winked at Luka. "Your voice is mesmerizing, Luka. So soft, almost a fairy tale melody." Luka simply smiled, returning the compliments with her usual calm. "You guys are very talented too. The Saja Boys have brought a new energy to K-pop." She was genuinely happy with the possibility of new friendships in the industry.

After the long photo and video sessions, in the safety of your shared apartment, Luka and Rin celebrated their new friendship with the Saja Boys. "He's so cute, Miku! You're lucky to have a friend like him, especially after what happened," Rin commented once, her eyes sparkling at the image of Baby. Luka just smiled calmly, happy to see you so animated and distracted from the pressure of work. In their bubble of optimism and the agency's controlled atmosphere, the idea that anything could be wrong with the charming Saja Boys was unthinkable.

Months dragged on, and the groups' schedules intertwined with impressive frequency, between the Saja Boys' overwhelming comeback successes and the Vocaloid's return from a sold-out tour — the tour was a success, in every country you visited the region's Honmoon weakened — your moments alone with Baby became more frequent, though still under the watchful eyes of the demonic managers. You found yourself thinking about Baby all the time, feeling your heart race with every message notification from him, a silly smile appearing on your lips. He was the first thought upon waking and the last before sleeping, it was a pure and idealized love, born from an act of heroism and fueled by a connection that seemed, to you, unique and predestined.

You yearned for moments alone with him, even if it was just for a quick coffee break between tight schedules, where he always insisted on paying, "After all, I'm your gentleman," he'd joke, and you'd blush.

It was in these encounters that Baby's mask began to crack, almost imperceptibly. As your feelings for him deepened and you saw him as your love, Baby began to feel a force growing within him, something neither he nor the other Saja Boys had anticipated with such intensity. It wasn't just the natural increase in his powers, but a dizzying acceleration that surprised him. Every sigh of affection from you, every loving thought, every passionate smile you directed at him, translated into a torrent of pure demonic energy that nourished him overwhelmingly. He noticed his manipulations became easier, his presence more imposing, his influence more subtle over others, he was becoming immensely stronger, and the source, to his astonishment, was that human's devotion.

With the surprise and realization of this new power, a new and distorted form of affection began to develop in Baby. It wasn't pure human love, but the version of possessive and utilitarian love of a demon who lived in a past dynasty: you were his. A precious possession that granted him unparalleled power, a vital tool for the greater goal.

He began to reciprocate Miku's "love" with a subtle, yet growing, toxicity. His "compliments" became more specific about how you were perfect for him. "Your voice is the most beautiful I've ever heard. It's as if it were made only for my ears," he'd whisper, his eyes fixed on yours, with a tone of ownership. He'd show "jealousy" disguised as care, questioning the time you spent with Luka and Rin, or with other idols. "I missed you today, Miku. Were you so busy with the girls? I feel calmer when I know you're near me," he'd say, with an angelic smile, while his eyes, for a split second, showed a cold gleam of control.

His dark humor, previously sporadic, became more frequent, revealing his indifference to human life, but always with a charm you interpreted as "authenticity." "It's funny how they worry so much about such... transient things," he'd comment, observing the crowd at an event, a proud smile you found fascinating, a sign that he was deep and complex. You, in your innocence and immersed in the bubble of your first love, saw this as a sign that he felt safe to be "himself" with you, that he loved you enough to show his deepest and most complex side. Every possessive act, every subtly controlling comment, was for you the proof of an intense and protective love, a cliché fairy tale where the "prince" is a little eccentric, but loves you above all else.

Away from the spotlights, the Saja Boys' facade of perfection crumbled. In the opulent comfort of their dormitory, each one's true demonic nature revealed itself in all its rawness. Every night, the lust for blood and chaos became more unbearable.

"So, little Baby is becoming the strongest among us," commented Romance, with a lazy and cruel smile, as he watched Baby subtly manipulate the shadows in the room, testing his newly amplified power. "Who'd have thought human 'love' would be such a nourishing feast? Pathetic, really, how easily they surrender their energy."

Baby laughed, a dry, cold sound that would never be allowed on any fancam. "Yes. Their fragility is our gain. She barely perceives the golden chain that binds her to me. The more she 'loves,' the stronger I become. It's an easy game. And more efficient than I expected. Too bad their love is so... ineffective for general use." His eyes, which once glowed with innocence on stage, now gleamed with an ancient hunger and cunning, the desire for control evident.

Abby, impatient, snorted. "I prefer flesh. This wait for the Honmoon tires me. I want blood, I want to feel life drain away. All this daily charade exhausts me. When can we feast freely, Jinu?" He flexed his muscles, the aura of his true demonic form barely contained, the skin of his neck seemingly stretching too far, revealing dark veins for a second.

Mystery, silent in his corner, observed the Honmoon reinforcement ritual that Jinu led. The barrier was rapidly giving way, the invisible cracks becoming increasingly permeable. The nights became the stage for their true purposes. With the Honmoon so weakened, the rifts between realms opened more easily, allowing them to hunt.

Every night off, the Saja Boys transformed, abandoning their human forms. Their skin took on macabre shades, ranging from pale gray to a cadaverous blue with pulsating veins and dark stripes; their nails became sharp claws, capable of tearing flesh and bone with ease; and their eyes burned with a centuries-old hunger, golden like embers, or a molten gold, reflecting the darkness and cruelty of their souls.

They moved through the shadows of Seoul's less illuminated streets, stalking their victims with supernatural swiftness, a scent for fear and vulnerability. It wasn't just for fun, but out of visceral necessity. Love and adoration were useless as they weren't strengthened by them like the huntresses were, the most unfeasible fact for demons is that flesh is primal fuel just as souls are fuel to keep Gwi-ma's fire burning, to sate a hunger that had tormented them for ages it was necessary to hunt and consume and with the Honmoon approaching its weakest state there's no better time than now to do it.

In a dark alley, Abby cornered a young man walking home late at night. The demon's shadow grew over him, and the human's scream was abruptly cut short as Abby's claws pierced his chest. "So easy," he growled, the sound of tearing flesh echoing in the night's silence, as the victim's soul was sucked out of his body in an ephemeral glow. Romance, in another neighborhood, used his soft, seductive voice to lure a solitary woman into a dead-end alley. His eyes became red slits, and a predatory smile appeared. "Don't worry, dear. It will be quick, and you'll feel a final ecstasy," he promised, before a sharp pain and darkness consumed her.

Mystery, more discreet, slinked through windows, invading sleeping homes. He preferred silent terror. His fangs gleamed as he feasted on his victims' panic, before pulling them into the rifts.

Baby, with his newfound strength, participated with enthusiasm. He delighted in whispering empty, almost sweet promises, as his claws tore, slowly draining life, stealing the soul to consume it, and dragging the mangled bodies to the underworld through temporary rifts, where the macabre feast continued in a ritual of darkness and satiety. "So delicious," he'd whisper, his dark humor in his voice, as he watched life drain from a victim's glazed eyes, the body convulsing before falling limp. "They don't even realize what they are to us. Mere meals."

Jinu watched everything from afar, from a high rooftop in Seoul, with cold calculation. He felt the barrier vibrate, about to collapse completely. Every soul consumed, every act of demonic violence in the human realm, tore a little more at the Honmoon.

For the HUNTRIX, the meteoric rise of the Saja Boys and the growing fervor around Baby wasn't just chart competition; it was a disturbing anomaly. They observed the constant media coverage of the "friendship" between the Vocaloid and the Saja Boys, and the overwhelming success of the newcomers, which seemed almost supernatural, defying all industry logic, their new song, released with so much effort, had been swept under the rug by the wave of news about the "hero" Baby.

Rumi felt the weight of the legacy more than ever. The Honmoon was weakening at an alarming rate, small flaws in their own powers becoming more frequent and worrying: a hunting song that didn't resonate as strongly in their hearts, a protective spell that seemed less potent against the lengthening shadows, or the feeling that something was constantly watching them. "They're growing too fast," she murmured, her eyes fixed on a news report showing the Saja Boys celebrating another award, their smiles appearing strangely empty. "It's almost... unnatural."

Zoey, though striving to maintain determination, felt frustration bubbling, mixed with a fear she tried to suppress. "We've trained our whole lives for this. We fight to protect the world. And now, these... these rookies just appear out of nowhere and steal all the attention? What are we doing wrong? It feels like we're fighting thin air!" Her voice was a mix of anger and despair, her fists clenched.

Mira, quieter and more observant, was the first to feel the pang that something was deeply wrong. It wasn't just the competition, there was a strange energy around the Saja Boys, something that didn't fit the pattern of human idols, she started to notice the image distortion that happened on cameras - mere milliseconds - whenever the Saja Boys appeared. The way the Vocaloid were constantly paired with the Saja Boys, and Miku's almost blind enthusiasm for Baby, began to sound a deafening alarm within her. "It's not just a passing trend,... " Mira muttered, "There's something... wrong. I feel a presence, a darkness that's spreading. I can't identify it, but something is moving in the shadows, and it's getting stronger. We have to investigate."

Their concern transformed into a grim determination, they didn't know what, but the HUNTRIX felt that the threat was greater than anything they had faced before. The HUNTRIX needed to find out what was happening, before it was too late for the Honmoon.

NOTES: HELLO, another chapter, sorry for the delay.

The first encounters between Baby and Miku (you) come through band crossovers arranged by demons to overshadow the Huntrix. Miku's love is a mix of extreme gratitude for his saving her and that feeling of first love.

You may have noticed that I wrote about her love strengthening him. Well, that's because I want to use that cliché of "true love" strengthening and becoming a power, but I'd like to use this cliché for Evil, showing what it would be like for a villain to be the target of this kind of love's affection.

Baby still doesn't reciprocate Miku's feelings, but he feels possessive of her since he realized she's the source of his new power and finally:

The Huntrix finally realize something isn't right. Stay tuned for the next chapters, where we'll delve into the film's plot to see what changes.

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[michilinstar]

Hey it's 🪼Anon again! I also want to ask you what you think that To eat a god think of mc as a mermaids or nymph?sorry if I'm asking too much or too childish ...

To Eat A God - Mermaid!/Nymph! S/O

Hello once again 🪼 , Anon! Glad to see another creative ask! And please don’t think of yourself as a bother or childish, I think all these asks are very creative and I couldn’t have thought of a better prompt myself! So please go ahead and keep asking, I love writing for this fandom since it is still growing, and I want to do my part for the readers! Sorry for the late response! But I think I'll be going on Hiatus! There's nothing wrong with my dear readers; it's just me! I need to focus on myself for a bit! I'll, of course, be active on here and I can answer any questions you may have or update you guys on me! Once again, enjoy the writing! (THIS IS NOT PROOF READ, I'm sorry I'm too lazy)

The AU of this universe is that you are one of the many subjects of the symbols that were created by Sextam. Your origin came from when Sextam grew curious about what she could mix into creating humans. Could she create divine beings or give humans features that technically didn't make them humans? She got deep into experimenting and created you. The first prototype. Depending on the species you choose, you either come out as a mermaid or a nymph. The creator caught on to the things she was creating and ordered her to remove them at once, since it would disrupt the balance of humanity. She was saddened by it, so in retaliation, she kept you, the last species of your kind. She had Tria create a spot on Earth as a sanctuary for you to keep safe from the discovery of humans, and mainly the creator. You’re kinda her pet? She visits you in your sanctuary to take care of you and check up on you to the point you’ve made a name in the garden. Everyone only knows about you, though; they’ve never seen you or know your name.

Nulla -

Out of everyone in the garden, Nulla can say he's quite close with Sextam, so he was there when your species was first created. At first, he lowkey didn't really care about what she was up to. But he liked to protect her happiness, so when the creator ordered her to exterminate the species, he was angered. He didn't find out all the details when the extermination happened, so he didn't know Sextam had kept one alive. It ended up being the one that he didn't know was originally created. Sextam kept you because you were the first one; it would be rude to destroy her first creation! So when word got around in the garden that she was keeping one of her creations still alive on earth, Nulla got curious. He could’ve sworn she had gotten rid of all of them, so he went to investigate. When he met with Sextam, he asked her about what he's been hearing. She knew to trust Nulla, so she showed him where she kept you. She opened up a door in her domain that led them to where your sanctuary was kept on earth.

Mermaid route: 

When Sextam showed the water-filled environment she was keeping you in, he was pleasantly surprised. There were areas where land was, but still soaked with water to accommodate your scales. The area seemed to be like a cave with vines hanging around, and in the middle of it all was a large body of water that was crystal clear and blue as can be. They stopped at the edge of the body of water, and he looked around curiously.

“Sextam, where is the mermaid species that you keep?” He asks her curiously when he spots a shadow under the water, swimming.

“They will be here shortly,” She turns to whistle, calling what lies below the water. In that moment, half a head peeked out of the water bright pupil slit eyes burning holes through him, “Do not be wary, they are only cautious of you since they’ve never had any contact with anyone else besides me.” Nulla watches as you swim to Sextam's side and cling onto her robe with that burning gaze.

“Feels like I should with the way it's staring at me…” He says, despite what he says, he's smitten with you. Ignoring the glare he's getting from you, you’re completely ethereal in his eyes. He kneels to see if you could trust him enough to soften that glare on him, but you stand your ground, splashing water with your fin onto his face. He tells Sextam that she can trust him with you anytime, if something were to happen, even if you have an attitude towards him, he's hoping to get closer to a wondrous being like you. And as if he were manifesting it, something came up the following week, causing Sextam to send Nulla to care for you in her place.

The first day he visited you, you refused to get out of the water, even if you were hungry; you were just too cautious to get near him, so what he resorted to was leaving the food by the edge of the water and watching from a distance. You took notice that he's the one bringing your food now, and so the next day, he was surprised to see you lying on your stomach at the edge of the water staring at the door. You still have that glare, but don't back away when he hands you your plate. He goes the mile and tries to sit down next to you, and surprisingly, you let him. It was peaceful and quiet while you ate. The serene environment with the soothing flow of water and the warm glow of the area, he liked this place better than his unfinished domain. He wanted to make conversation, but it was best not to after the glares you gave him that day.  After you were done, you left the plate and slid back into the water. The next day was the same routine, but something different happened.

“I never asked, but who are you? And where is Sextam?” You broke the silence while eating, and he stared down at you wide eyed as he sat on the floor cross-legged, resting his head on his hand.

“She had gotten caught up in major business, so she sent me to care for you. My name is Nulla.” Your glare was now replaced with a disinterested look, that's some progress being made… “And yours?” he asks, and you squint your eyes before giving your answer.

“Y/n…Sextam allowed me the privilege of naming myself.” He gave you a small smile and watched you eat for a while, and decided to admire your space instead. When he turned to look back at you, you were already done with your food, but you lay there staring up at him, resting your head in your crossed arms. He hadn’t noticed that you were analysing his features, but he did notice that you didn't leave as soon as you were done. He turned away with a small smile. He's happy that you’ve grown comfortable enjoying his company a little bit.

The next couple of days, he took notice of how you’ve been warming up to him, and he's been catching himself spending the whole day with you at certain points. As if you knew, on the last day he was assigned to watch you, you swam to the bottom of the body of water and came back up with something. He sat down on the ground cross-legged, waiting to see what you got. When he sat down, he was caught off guard when you slid over to him and sat yourself in the space on his lap. He watched as you grabbed his arm and tied a seaweed-made bracelet around his wrist with small seashells. If he wasnt smitten before then damn he fell deeper in love.

“I like it, thank you, cariño.” He said as he rested his head on your head.

“What does that mean…?” You ask him.

“Maybe I’ll tell you another time.” After that day, he had to go back to his average work when Sextam had her work cleared up. He felt out of place when he didn't have a schedule for visiting you. You were already at the edge of the water, waiting for Nulla, but were surprised when it was Sextam instead. You asked her where Nulla was. She said he went back to his normal work now that she's done with hers, but she noticed the disappointment you had when he stopped coming. So she did what anyone would do for their precious creation and consulted Nulla. She had asked him if he would like to continue visiting you since you’ve taken a liking to him. He, of course, agreed to see his Sirenita (little mermaid) again, so from then on, he's been given special permission to visit you whenever he likes. You were ecstatic to see him again and hopped out of the water when you saw him, and Nulla knelt to caress your face.

“Where did you go…?” you shyly asked.

“Doesn't matter, I'm here now, aren’t I?” 

“Promise not to leave again?” and he laughs.

“Promise.”

Nymph route:

When Nulla stepped into the environment full of life and nature, he could’ve sworn he entered a divine being's domain. Everywhere he looked, he saw greenery; the forestry that was provided to you was kept in perfect health. Sextam mentioned what she named your species, but didn't exactly know what was special about your kind. What was the name..? A dryad. All he knew was that the species was connected to more of a forest environment.

“Sextam, what exactly is special about this human-like species you created?” He asked as he ducked under a tree branch, mindful not to accidentally break it as he followed her through the forest.

“As I mentioned before, this species is known as a Dryad, they’re main priority is to provide protection and care for the health of the forestry. Their kind is birthed from a tree; typically, the species would be large, but since they’re the last of their kind, this nymph is left alone in a forest full of empty homes left to care for it on its own, and what would’ve been full of its kind. I wish I could’ve done more for it, but alas, it's left as the last of its kind.” Nulla listened attentively to Sextam's words.

“Where might it be? This forest seems quite large-” Nullas' words trailed off when he first caught sight of you. A being that looked angelic sat in a forest clearing holding a wild bunny in their arms. It didn't notice Sextam's and Nulla's presence until Sextam called out to them.

“Y/n dear, could you come over here?” She sweetly called out to them, and the Dryads' attention was caught. Its large doe eyes looked around when its eyes landed on them curiously, it stood up and approached them, still holding the bunny in its arms. Nulla was at a loss for words, he admired the innocent beauty this being has waiting for its next orders as it nervously stands there in silence.

“Go on, introduce yourself, dear.” Sextam encourages the shy thing, urging it by putting her hand on its shoulder, pushing it towards Nulla.

“Hello, I’m Y/N… pleased to meet you, sir..” They squeak out with a little bow as it practically suffocates the poor bunny in nervousness. 

“Nonsense, pleasures all mine,” Nulla says as he reaches out to pet the bunny they hold in their arms. He was fascinated with this being Sextam created, it looked human, but it had this unspoken beauty. He wonders what type of personality it has, could it be as sweet as it looks, or have a sour attitude? He wanted to know it, but he wasn’t sure if Sextam was willing to share it with the rest of the garden just yet. That was when lady luck shone down upon him, and she had something come up, since Nulla was the only one who met you, she asked him to take care of you. It was only a week at most; he didn’t see a problem with it. He was happy to do so. The first day he visited your sanctuary, you were peacefully tending to the health of the trees. He entered it and watched from a distance as you rested your hand on the tree, a yellow glow at your fingertips spreading through the tree, giving it a new vitality of life. He cleared his throat to gain your attention, and you jumped and turned towards the sound.

“Good morning, it seems that I'm back.” He says with his hand in his pocket and the other holding your food. You approach him silently, thanking him, you take the food to eat at a nearby rock, and he follows you.

“Ah, uhm, where might Sextam be?” you ask him as you silently eat, and Nulla leans on one of the trees, careful not to do anything to it that might worry you.

“She has a bunch of work and asked me to watch over you in her stead.” He responds as he watches you feed some of the forest animals while you eat. He waits till you’re done with your meal and watches as you abandon your plate to properly feed the forest animals.

“Do you know when she’ll be back?” You ask as you care to a baby fawn as it falls asleep on your lap. Nulla just shrugs at your question.

“Wish I knew what  to tell you, to at least put your mind at ease.” He says as he approaches you slowly. You’re cautious, but he stands a respectful distance away and kneels to your level, holding a hand out..

“May I?” He asks as he gestures to the baby fawn on your lap, you hesitate a bit before nodding, permitting him to pet the baby. He's gentle with the innocent creature and is careful with his actions to respect your worry for the creature. Aren’t you a naive thing, you let him near you that easily? Not that he was planning to harm you, perhaps being disconnected from other living beings with malicious intent didn’t teach you to be more cautious. He came back the next day and found you in a flower field, tending to the flowers if they’re missing a petal or leaf, you magically make it regrow it back. He silently approached you from behind, which was a big mistake on his part, when you noticed the shadow looming from behind you. You reacted almost to a silent heart attack.

“Woah, woah, sorry! Should’ve been more careful, huh?” He says as he quickly grabs you by your waist before you fall back on your behind. You mutter out a small thanks as you turn back to the flowers you are caring for.

“Seeing you do this makes me wonder,” You turn towards him giving him your attention, “you see, I have a grove of flowers, but I can't identify the species of it. Would it be alright if I brought one of them for you to identify?” 

“Sure, I don't mind. I'm sure I could tell what type of flower it may be,” you say as you turn back to the flowers. The following day, Nulla arrived with instead of a flower he came with a bouquet of flowers. You noticed his entry this time and approached him with a face of concern. 

“You didn't have to bring so much, now I feel bad if these were precious to you.” 

“Nonsense, if I were already bringing a flower, why not more for the lovely being?” He says as he takes a flower out and tucks it into your hair. You hold your hands out to him, silently telling him, ‘May I?’ and he happily hands you the bouquet. You take your time analysing the flowers, from the number of petals to the number of leaves it has.

“I believe this may be a daffodil narcissus. Is this flower dear to you, Mr. Nulla?” You ask, and he gives a weak smile, carefully placing a hand on your head.

“There's no need for Mr, and yes, you can say this flower may be dear to me.”  He hands you the plate of food promised, and you go peacefully eat, that day he sees you more open to questions and gets to know you better. He’s not 100% sure, but he feels that you’re getting more comfortable around him. The next day, when he entered the domain, he was awestruck. When he found you, he saw you surrounded by daffodils in a meadow.

“Where did this come from?” He asks as he walks over to you to stand by you, looking around, he notices that you don't jump in surprise anymore.

“Oh, good morning, Nulla!” You smile up at him before putting a flower crown on him, “Since you said the flowers were dear to you, I used the flowers you gave me to incorporate them into my sanctuary.”

“I would’ve never thought to see these flowers everywhere. I appreciate it.” He says as he takes your hand, pressing a kiss to your knuckles. Nulla had let the week go by and didn't notice it was his last day with you. He couldn’t have a say in it since, technically, you were Sextam's property. He was in the middle of his regular work when Sextam approached him, saying that she gives him permission to visit you from then on. He then found out that you kept asking Sextam when Nulla would be coming, and she kinda felt bad, so she let him go as he pleased. When he finally made an appearance, you rushed over to him, showing him more of the flowers you grew.

“Did Sextam bring you back here?” You ask while Nulla braids some of the daffodils into your hair while you sit between his legs.

“Mhm, seems the hada (fairy) wouldn’t leave her be.” he smiles as he finishes braiding the flowers in.

“Well, I wanted to see you again, you’re not gonna leave again, right?” You say as you turn back towards him, resting your head on his knee.

“I don't think so, that's all up to Sextam.” He watches you get up and look down at him with a smile, letting the hair he styled hang from the side.

“I’m sure you’re gonna stay, I’ll just have to keep bothering her!” He smiles as he watches you wander off to check up on the animals. There was a sense of warmth inside, looking at you with those flowers specifically, it makes him feel like he has some sort of claim over you, and he’ll forever hold onto that value.

Septem -

Septem had heard vague mumbling about the new creation Sextam had been busy experimenting with; he had his concerns. After all, did the creator permit her to be toying with the balance of humanity? Septem wasn’t how to go about this, so he consulted the creator. He didn't hear anything else about the matter after that; all that he knew was that the creator personally instructed Sextam to remove this new species at once. He was known for being closest to the creator in the garden, so when the information got to him that Sextam disobeyed the orders of the creator and kept one of her creations alive, he was a tad upset. But how could he be angry at his dear Sextam? She was the most caring being, so he couldn't blame her, he supposed. But it was inevitable for the creator to discover and remove it before it caused any disruption in the evolution of humanity. He thought he should do what he thought would be best for the garden and sought Sextam out to show him the creature she was keeping. Let's say Sextam was internally panicking when Septem came to ask her about you; she had no choice but to be honest. Septem was second in charge. She opened up the door in her temple to lead him into your sanctuary.

Mermaid route:

At first, he was very uninterested; his only business there was to remove you at once to avoid any issues. I mean, he was vaguely impressed with the sophisticated and comfortable sanctuary that was created for you; it wasn't a cave, but everything was built like Roman architecture. The water provided was also crystal clear, and some waterfalls were running in the background. Sextam kept leading him through the sanctuary when she made a sudden stop at the edge of a body of water. He looked forward and caught his eye on a figure seated at a podium under the waterfall. When he laid his eyes upon you, he was awestruck. (not much changed about his expression, just his eyes slightly widened). You looked like a being that truly had a place by a god; he was almost disappointed that he didn't see your species before its extermination. Pity. he would’ve let you live if it didnt anger the creator so. 

This man is only staring at your side profile, you hadn’t noticed Sextams or his presence. Septem was bothered that you hadn’t greeted them, so he let out a noise by clearing his throat to catch your attention. You turned towards the sound and got startled. You quickly dove into the water once you noticed the unrecognized intruder.

“It completely slipped my mind to mention that they aren’t accustomed to new beings and get startled if it isn't me,” Sextam says with an apologetic look towards Septem. 

“Sorry to bother, could you step back so they could be comfortable to approach the edge?” Sextam asked as she knelt down to the edge of the water. Septem had a grimace, but did what she asked. He watches as a head emerges from the body of water, and Sextam coaxes her out of the water more so she is now seated at the edge.

“Is this the creature? What do you name this species?” Septem asks as he looks down on you, as he hides his grimace behind his robe sleeve.

“I call it a mermaid, but they prefer to go by Y/N,” Sextam says as she brushes out your hair with her fingers.

“You… named it…” Septem then glances at your curious gaze, “You’ve only created a connection to this, its end would be inevitable.” He states and looks back at Sextam with a pleading look.

“You may keep it around. Temporarily. For now, it is under watch, and if it is deemed harmful to the development of humans, then it will be terminated.” He gives you a judgmental look, “Am I understood?” and you silently nod, watching as he turns to leave your sanctuary, when Sextam speaks up.

“Septem, I know this is much to ask of you… but if you didnt mnd, could you watch over them? I’ve become terribly busy.” Septem turns to the side, giving her a side glance.

“What makes you think I'm not equally busy?” He says as he takes a moment to take in her expression before giving in, “I suppose I can,” he says and then leaves, but before he actually exits the domain, he catches another voice asking Sextam questions about him. The following day, he visited the domain according to Sextam's instructions and silently approached the body of water. Sextam told him that she told you to meet him at certain times of the day so he waited a bit and then you hopped out of the water suddenly causing him to step back to avoid water splashing onto him. You still have that damn curious look on your face and he ignores it by handing you your food.

“I ask that you avoid splashing water in the future.” He says as he watches you eat the food as he stands by holding his hands in front, observing you. He takes in this abnormal appearance of a hybrid of fish and human, your scales glint in the light, and your hair is well kept and decorated. Once you are done with your meal, you hold out the plate to him and thank him, but he notices you have something else to say.

“If you have something to say, I suggest that you speak now,” he says as he takes the plate with one hand.

“Who are you..” You say with those god forsaken curious eyes.

“I'm hurt that Sextam hadn’t mentioned me,” He says as he continues to look down on you, trying to assert some sort of dominance. He has no idea why your curious look bothers him so much, “I'm Septem, I run the garden where Sextam is from. There's no need to introduce yourself,  I already know.” There's a long silence between you two until you speak up.

“You don’t talk much, do you? Is that a god thing or a you thing?”

“I have no need to speak to you, I am merely here on Sextam's request.”

“Do you have any friends at all?” There was a long pause.

“I have work to do rather than socialize.”

“Sounds lonely.”

“I have no desire to be bothered with friends.”

“Liar.” It takes all of his willpower not to do anything to you, must you infuriate him with all these inquiries? He watches as you swim off to creator knows what, and he finally leaves, enjoying peace.

The next day, he returns.

Not because he wants to—but because he’s obligated. The air shimmers faintly as he appears, expecting more of your endless chatter. Maybe you'd try to insult his solitude again. But instead, you’re sitting at the edge of the water again, arms crossed, glaring up at him like he’s the one wasting your time.

“You left,” you say flatly.

He raises an eyebrow. “Correct. I have duties.”

“I wasn’t finished talking.”

His jaw tightens. “You speak too much for something that shouldn’t exist.” He watches, disinterested—until you toss something small and sharp toward his feet. A perfect white scale. Your own.

“I shed it on purpose,” you say. “You said I was a mistake, right?” Septem didnt know what to say and just sighs, handing you your plate of food, and you just scoot it way. He couldn’t believe what he was about to do, but he knelt down and hesitated.

“I apologize, I suppose I shouldn’t have said that…” You turned to look at him and jumped into him, embracing him. He was taken aback; he had never done something like this. What does he even do?

“I was just glad to see someone new,” Septem was uncomfortable, you can say, “you’re warm…” But you just kept getting closer, so he just gave in and hugged you back. He was adjusting to this new development, but you did end up eating your food. Just in his lap, he could feel his clothes wet, but he sat through it. But in that moment, he realized why your annoying, curious face irritated him. It made him feel something new, something that he wasn’t ready to feel, so he treated it like a virus. But he shouldn’t have these wretched feelings; the creator didn't approve of your existence. But maybe he can allow Sextam to keep you around as long as the creator doesn’t find out. Septem had continued to visit you, and he still had that distant attitude that almost made you think that encounter was a dream. That was until Septem made an appearance one day with something.

“You’re late.” He says, standing there with your food.

“Missed me?” You tease, and he gives you a disinterested look, handing you your food. You notice he's getting comfortable with the wet environment as he sits down on a damp ledge, crossing his arms, contemplating something.

“I’ve spoken to Sextam,” You perk up at him initiating conversation, “I promised her to let you stick around since I’ve assessed that you can't be harmful to humanity.” He gets up and does something you wouldn’t expect them to do; he smooths out your hair and holds out his hand, offering you something. It was your scale that you plucked out. Except, it was created into a necklace.

“I prefer it that you keep all of you in good condition, so don't go harming yourself anymore.” He says as he goes to hook it around your neck, and you smile at him, Guess you did make some progress.

Nymph route:

Septem had never personally really seen what it was like for humans on Earth; all he knew was that the others were in charge of aspects of it. His main job was to make sure there wasn’t a disruption in the balance. So when he entered your forest environment, it was the first time he had seen a place full of life, and everything in the garden was just. Fake. Sextam led him deeper into the woodland environment, trying to find what she had created. It didn't take long for the forest to open up into a clearing, and that's when he locked eyes with you. Sextam started calling out for you to get down from the tree, so you followed what she asked. He watched as you cautiously approached and stood in front of them, looking up at them with slight curiosity but disinterest.

“What use does this creature have?” Septem asked Sextam as he stared blankly at you as you gave him a look.

“It's a dryad, they are basically tree spirits and protectors of the forest.” She turns to smooth out your hair, “and they’re the last of their kind after the order the creator sent.”

“It doesn’t seem to have a significant use… I apologize, but we must carry out the creator's orders to the end. We mustn’t make exceptions.” He says with that fake ass smile and Sextam gets between you and him.

“Please, I ask this of you, Septem. Allow them to live, they are no harm to the humans-!” 

“Very well, but they are to be under watch by me. Anything I deem harmful will be exterminated.”

“I do need someone to care for them in my place,” she glances behind her, looking at you curiously, peeking out from behind her, looking at Septem. 

“Very well,” He says as he gestures for you to approach him. You silently approach him, and he says something, “I expect the best behavior.” The next day, instead of Sextam, it was, of course, Septem. Septem was walking around searching for you so he could make the trip fast and easy, but he was having trouble looking for you. Perhaps it would be a good idea to put a bell on you… He stopped in his tracks when he heard a distant melody, and he decided to follow it. He entered a familiar meadow and spotted you sitting on a rock playing a flute. He approached you with an uninterested look, placing your food to the side.

“I’ve heard of those. How does one play it?” He asks, and you stop playing once he speaks up.

“You don't even know my name, and you’re asking me questions?” You say, looking back at him.

“I have no need to learn the name of something that was bound to be exterminated,” he says as he scoots the plate over to you. You put the flute away and begin your meal, and you can feel Septem's gaze on you. You ignored it, however, Septem was busy analysing your features. You really did have a look of a divine being, except you weren’t. He shook it off; he has no business wondering when he's only here to keep you alive for Sextam's sake. The next day, he found you at the same spot, except it looked like you were actually expecting him. You greet him with a slight bow of the head and hold out a second flute.

“What's the meaning of this?” He says as he cautiously takes the flute.

“You asked how to play. I don't mind showing you.” 

“I have no time for this-” you then cut him off by holding your hand up and patting the spot next to you on the ground, and he very visibly grimaces. 

“A little dirt is not gonna hurt you…” He lets out a sigh and sits down next to you. You hold up the flute and signal to him to follow. He's exasperated. Why is he just letting you order him around? He's above this, might as well entertain you since you probably won't be around much longer. He sat through the lesson with you, and he surprisingly enjoyed himself. Before he left with the flute, you let him keep it. He stopped in his tracks before crossing the boundary that separates your two worlds.

“I am known as Septem.” You take this moment as a signal for you to tell him your name.

“I go by Y/N,” he nods and leaves. The next day was unexpected; he took the flute back with him, but he hid it in his sleeve on his way over. (embarrassed ahh). When he entered the sanctuary, you were kept in. he went to your usual meet-up spot when he started to hear sniffling. He got closer and found you sniffling with tears streaming down your face in front of an animal that had passed.

“What has happened?” He says as he abandons the flute somewhere nearby and goes to assess the situation.

“I see no use in wasting your tears on something bound to die.” He says, looking down at the body. After these past couple of days, it felt like an anomaly to see you like this; you always wore a smile or had a serious attitude.

“All life is special,” you hiccup in between, “it should be treated with love, not with no care for how short it is…” He wasn't sure what it was, but something clicked in that moment. He didn't have time to figure out what it was when he felt your hand cling to his sleeve for support; he didn't move a muscle. He had time to figure out what it was later; all he knew was that you needed his time to grieve. The next day, you had a smile on your face, but he didn't know why; he knew you were still upset inside.

“I’ve decided against removing you,” he spoke up after getting tired of just watching you play with your food. “You don't have to worry about that now, focus on your mental health… and I’ll be here to give you my time.”

Unum -

To be fair, I'm sure Unum is caught up with everything that goes on in the garden. So when he heard of something that Sextam created, he wanted to see it. The man was already fascinated with humans, so what wouldn’t intrigue him about something that branched off of humans? He instantly went to seek out Sextam to ask her questions about this new species she created. Sextam was happy to answer any of Unum's questions; she even offered to show you to him. As always, it was obvious he took the offer. Sextam led him through the halls of her domain until she stopped in front of a door that took them to where you were kept. He was happy to get to know you and show you to his wives. When he first entered the sanctuary, you were kept in. he was fascinated by the environment you live in and what makes you different from humans.

Mermaid route:

Once he stepped foot into your sanctuary, it felt like a completely new world to him. The water-covered environment in a cave with greenery, his heart was pounding. What would this creature look like? How does it act? How does it stay alive? He was hoping that you would answer his questions. He caught up with Sextam to be able to ask for a hint about what it looks like.

“I heard it has human features. What does it look like?”

“It's half human, half fish.” His eyes lit up when she said that. Does it have a fish head and human legs? Or the other way around?

“Does this new being have a name for its species?” He asks once more.

“I’ve taken to calling it a mermaid.” She happily says as she stops by the edge of the body of water. He stood beside her, eagerly watching the water, when Sextam whistled out a tune. He continued to examine the water when suddenly he spotted something jump out of the water and back into it in front of him. It was as if time had stopped; the fish tail he had seen glimmered under the light, as well as the jewelry that it had worn. Sextam knelt by the water and reached a hand out to the emerging human head. Even with water rushing around him everywhere, he could still hear a beating heart. This new being isn't all human, though, but it's human enough to have what makes a human special.

“Hello, I'm Unum, and I'm hoping you have a name you chose yourself?” He says as he knelt by the water next to Sextam.

“Sextam allowed me the privilege of giving myself a name, it's Y/N,” You say with a smile, looking up at him as you hold onto the ledge where they stand. He reached out a hand to touch you, but he stopped inches away.

“Do you also need consent like humans do?” 

“Mermaids pretty much work like humans; we just need water to move about and live. But you have my permission to touch my hair!” He never thought about it like that; they’re exactly human, like they just have fish counterparts. He reaches out to touch your hair, and he wants to ask to touch your tail or at least get to see it up close. You notice his gaze into the water, and instantly clock that he wants to see your tail.

“Excuse me please,” You say as Sextam and Unum step back and watch you hop onto land, “you wanted to see, right? You can touch it, I don’t mind.” Unum jumped at the opportunity and felt along your shimmering tail, each crevice and shape fascinated him. (Why do I lowkey imagine the tail as the rainbow fish from the children's book?). He had so many questions, and he wanted to show his wives the discovery he had made. He hopped back onto his feet and turned to Sextam.

“Would it be alright if I showed my wives Y/N?” He held both her hands and stared at her eagerly.

“I don't see a problem with it, it's great timing actually, I’ve been getting busy and need someone to watch them.” Before she could say anything else, Unum readily volunteered to watch you. The next day, Unum showed up with his lovely wives. He entered the domain speaking compliments and praises about you to them, and how interesting you are. They followed him with a smile, laughing to themselves about his antics. Using the whistle method that Sextam taught him, he called you to the surface to meet his wives and to eat. You resurfaced and happily hopped onto land to greet them.

“Morning! These are my lovely wives, Solaris, Ignis, and Aeliana!” You greet them each with a smile and a small bow. Unum hands you your food. (Worry not, his wives made sure it was safe beforehand.)

“I made it with the help of my wives!” You thank them all before beginning your meal.

“Unum tells us much about you,” Aeliana spoke up with a smile.

“We’re happy to put a face to this Y/N he loves to talk about!” Solaris speaks up.

“From what he said about you, it was hard to believe such a being existed!” Ignis joined the conversation.

“I'm sure there are a bunch of questions you all have. I'm happy to give some answers!” You say finishing your meal, and Unum's eyes light up since he technically has the most questions.

“I’ll go first! What makes you different from humans?” He asks.

“Ah, let's see…. Well, the biggest difference is that mermaids have to live underwater rather than on land. And we need to stay moisturized to keep our tails from drying up. Otherwise, we’re kind of similar to humans.” 

“What diet do you have?” Ignis asks.

“Pretty much aquatic plants and other fish, we obviously can't access stuff on land.” The rest of the day, you were accompanied by Unum and his wives. The next day, you waited for them again since you had made something from your trinkets. They visited you like the usual routine, and you were already out of the water, waiting for them to arrive.

“Oh, you’re already here!” Unum happily said before handing you your food.

“Mhm! But before I eat, I have something for you guys!” You say, holding up bracelets you made out of seaweed and carefully decorated with seashells, “Take it as a thank you for taking care of me in Sextam's place!” They were all overjoyed that you thought of them, so when Sextam was done with her business, Unum literally BEGGED her to let him and his wives stick around so they could keep seeing you. And you were happy to see them.

Nymph route: 

Sextam had led him to a large forest-covered environment, and he wondered what could possibly be living in the forest. Everything looked the same to him, trees, trees, oh, meadow, oh, and more trees! That's when his eyes caught onto a figure brushing out their hair. But he thought this was a new creature? It looks a lot like a human. He can feel a sort of divine power from it, but it must come from when Sextam created it. Sextam and Unum approached you cautiously, mostly because you were meeting someone new besides Sextam.

“Y/N, dear, could you come over here and greet Unum? He's very curious about you.” Sextam beckons you towards them, and you oblige.

“Hello! Im Unum, you can say im close with Sextam.” He says with a smile and holding his hand out in which you take to shake.

“It looks human to me, what makes it different?” He asks Sextam while you excuse yourself to check on the animals of the forest.

“The broader term for its species is a Nymph, but this one specifically is a branch of it called a Dryad. A spirit of the trees. Its main purpose is to protect the forest and its dwellers.” She explains. (You might be the Lorax, idk man.)

“Does it have some sort of power?” He says as he looks back at you feeding the animals.

“It's not a powerful as Tria if that's what you're referring to, it only has the power to heal nature.”

“What does it eat?” He asks.

“Just plants, it wouldn’t like meat at all.”

“What-” Sextam cuts him off,

“Unum, I'm sure you have so many questions! But rather than get the answer from me, why not get your answers from them?” She gestures to you, “I’ll be gone for a while, so could I trust you with them?” Unum eagerly agreed and wanted to show you his wives as soon as possible. The next day, he visited you and brought along his wives. You were growing new plants for the animals to nibble on when Unum greeted you, kneeling down to your level when you freaked out.

“Unum, Sextam warned you to be careful with them,” Ignis spoke up.

“Ah, good morning, Unum, and uh,” you gesture to the three lovely ladies, and they each introduce themselves.

“Ignis,”

“Aeliana,”

“Solaris,”

“It's nice to meet you ladies,” You say with a smile, and Unum helps you up.

“I hope we’re not intruding. Unum wouldn’t stop insisting that we meet you.” Aeliana speaks up.

“Nonsense! I'm always glad to host new companions!”

“You’re domain is quite beautiful!” Solaris says.

“Indeed, Unum wasn’t exaggerating about the environment and the lovely being that is being housed in it,” Ignis says.

“You ladies are quite lovely yourselves!” You started to engage in conversation with them and got comfortable fast, and Unum stood in the back, feeling left out. (yk that face he makes while you’re actively dying from poison in the game? He makes that one.)

“Are we making you feel left out, Unum?” Solaris asks, and he nods.

“Sorry, we’re just getting to know the being you loved to talk about!” Ignis says and then hands you your food, “Here, sweetheart, sorry to keep you waiting.” You thank them and eat your food. During that amount of time, they asked you questions about you and your species, mostly Unum, but the girls had their fair share of inquiries! They didn't have time to stay the whole day, but you had an enjoyable amount of time with them. The next day, they visited you once more, and you, of course, ate your meal given.

“We were wondering, what exactly do you do in your free time?” Ignis asks.

“Well, I'm not sure what you guys think of entertainment, but I mostly check up on the well-being of the forest and, most importantly, play with the animals kept here.”

“Are there animals here besides Quinque’s domain?” You nod in response to Unum's question.

“That's right, yesterday you didn't see since the animals went into hiding, if a person entered that they didn't know were near.” You got up from where you were sitting and went to fetch the animals. The animals came out, but were too afraid to come any closer. You beckoned a rabbit to come closer, and a brave soul came out and ran into your arms.

“I think I'm starting to see the appeal that Quinque sees in these creatures,” Aeliana says.

“How do we get them to come out?” Unum asks.

“I’ll show you.” You say as you carry the rabbit in one arm and sit down on the grassy floor, “If I may be so bold, follow what I'm doing!” You hold out your hand to the animals hiding, and the others follow suit. Soon enough, the animals come pouring out, surrounding you all. The girls have fun with the fuzzier animals such as bunnies, skunks, and smaller birds. And of course, Unum tamed the bear that hangs around these parts. They made a connection with the forest animals and even took to naming a couple of the animals. The next day, you had a surprise for them, or more like the animals had a surprise for them. (Yes, you are technically snow white, or Aurora?) When they came, the animals had worked together to make flower crowns for everyone. It was a sweet sight, Ignis with the owl that she had taken a liking to, had given her a flower crown, Aeliana with the bunny, who had gifted her a small bouquet, and Solaris with her skunk had gifted her with a flower ring. And last but not least, Unum with the bear who gave him a bear hug. Side note: he took a nap with the bear as soon as that happened.

“We actually wanted to tell you that we’re going to be able to see you from now on,” Aeliana said.

“Unum and along with us had spoken with Sextam, and she gave us her blessing to have free will to see you even after she is done,” Solaris says.

“Really? Well then, I'm glad, and I'm sure the animals are glad to.”

Every bit of support helps me do what I love! Link in the image below!

[bandzboy]

very much this... cr.

[pocketgalaxies]

responding to orym's "what am i here to say" with the most earnest gentle curious non-judgmental "i don't know!" god i could cry about it.

[shepcdr]

psa!!! i have moved to a new blog that i am currently keeping off the radar/off of tumblr recommended -- i worked out a system where i'm slowly following back the mutuals i have here once i finish writing the drafts i owe to y'all. which i feel is making it very nice and low pressure for me 😌

once i've whittled down my draft count, i'll switch the urls back over so that i'm at this url again... so no huge rebrand or anything, and it'll be back to business as usual! i expect it to be a process of another month or two, so for any of my mutuals i haven't followed just yet: if i've got one of your drafts cooking, i promise i'm getting around to it! and for any new followers, that just means a potential delay on me getting around to looking at your blogs until i'm officially moved over.

after the move, i am going to be more selective going forward in the sense that i want to keep a cleaner dash, as well as to be actively plotting/building dynamics/writing with mutuals. "writing" is last on that list because i will never judge reply speeds, ic or ooc!! i do however want to have some intial ooc back and forth, a foundation to build narratives upon, and some active interest in building character dynamics/rships.

i'll expand on all this when i make the move official!

[saltatio-favillae]

manager making unsolicited comments on my personality is pissing me off so bad I might actually go back to school

[alexanderwales]

This is a water-seal stoneware crock. The design is ancient.

It is, essentially, a large ceramic vessel that you put vegetables and sometimes brine into. To prevent spoilage, you place those ceramic weights on top of whatever food is in the crock, and that keeps them weighted down, below the level of the water. Because fermentation creates gases, most crocks have a "water groove" in them. The lid sits in the groove, which allows air to escape but not come in. Because fermentation creates gas, the interior of the crock is positive-pressure, and because the gas created is almost entirely carbon dioxide, it's a low-oxygen environment that additionally helps prevent spoilage.

And all this would be pointless without lactobacillus, the bacteria that chomp down on the vegetables you put into the crock. They're anaerobic, which means totally fine without oxygen, and they produce an environment that's inhospitable to most other organisms. The main things they produce are CO2, which means no oxygen for other bacteria, and lactic acid, which makes the fermented thing sour and also decreases the pH low enough that many other bacteria cannot survive. They tolerate high levels of salt, which kill yet more competitor bacteria. It ends up being a really really good way to keep food from going off.

Our ancestors figured this out thousands of years ago without knowing what bacteria were. This general ceramic design has been in use around the world in virtually every place that had ceramics, salt, and too much cabbage or cucumbers that was going to rot if they didn't do something about it. It's thousands of years old, so old that it gets hard to interpret the evidence of the ceramics.

And I have crocks like this in my kitchen, where I make my own ferments, and I always think about how beautiful and elegant it all is, and how this was probably invented hundreds of times as people converged on something that Just Works.

(I do have pH testing strips though.)

[0bnoxious0range]

The more I think about the differences between how the Trojans show affection vs how the Foxes do, the more I come to the conclusion that they unwittingly created the perfect environment for Jean and Neil’s arcs respectively.

Take for example the way Cat and Laila show Jean affection. The forehead kisses, the hugs, the endless reassurance and compassion. It may go without saying but Neil would’ve hated it if he ended up in that situation. He would’ve booked it faster than you can say Wesninski. But Jean? I mean sure he was baffled at first, but the way he grows to lean into it? The way he shows affection the same way back? Jean needed that brand of affection in a way Neil won’t ever. He needed to learn that he was deserving of such love; that there are people out there now who cared about him as deeply as he does them.

Neil on the other hand needed to learn a whole different set of lessons. The Foxes showing him that they care was less such obvious displays of love and more about patience in the face of his complications. More about their willingness to stick by him when the fabricated life he clung so hard to unraveled at the seams. Jean wouldn’t have flourished as much in that environment because he didn’t need understanding as much as he needed love. He didn’t need someone to help piece his life back together as much as he needed someone to love what was already there.

Neil is like an innocent looking stray cat that the foxes still kept even when they got bit; while Jean is like an abused show dog that the Trojans nurse back to health. And good lord do I love them both for it.

[intersex-support]

Help an intersex family in Gaza!

Hi everyone. I'd like to share about a fundraiser that is very important to me. A good friend of mine is in contact with the organizers.

(Described in alt).

Their story:

"Hello, my name is Abeer. I'm organizing this fundraising campaign from Belgium on behalf of my family, who currently live in Gaza. 

Since October 7, all families in Gaza have been subjected to genocide. My family is one of those families that has had to flee its own home several times because of the threat of regular attacks. 

After two months, my family decided to return home and take the risk of being bombed at any moment rather than stay in the street. Our 4-floor building now contains over 100 people who have fled from different parts of Gaza. We always open our hearts for our own people, but we can't do it without your help and support. 

My parents, Kamal (53) and Moukaram (51), are suffering from the war because of their age and health. My brother Suliman, his wife Rawan Abualnaja and their two-year-old daughter Bisan are trying to stay strong, but it's complicated by their little daughter's enormous needs. My other siblings who are not married are Mohammed 25, Inas 22, Ibrahim 17, Abdallah 15.

My family medical condition during the war:

My father suffers from delusional disorders. He can't work or help my family financially. Mohammed and Ibrahim suffer from a chronic disease, congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It is difficult for them to obtain medication in Gaza. One of their medicines has not been available in Gaza for two years. During the war, they couldn't get their medicines because they simply didn't exist anymore. My family members are still suffering. They don't want to be potential victims. They want to escape death and live like other families on the planet.

 On 01/01/2024, they attacked the local mosque and the missile failed to explode and ended up in front of my family's house. My family is in danger and the missile will explode any second.

Since then, my family has decided to be evacuated from Gaza because of the senseless attack on our city. Please help me evacuate my family to Egypt so that they can rebuild their lives in peace.

I've been in Belgium for over five years. I feel useless because I haven't been able to do much except try to help them with their daily living expenses. That's why we created this campaign. We're raising funds to evacuate my family to Egypt, a place that offers a glimmer of hope and stability. However, the cost of the evacuation is high, hence our call for crowdfunding.

Every contribution makes a difference The funds we raise will be used for :

- Evacuation from Gaza for both families (Rafah border crossing fees for 9 people total)  - Two months of temporary living expenses in Egypt, including food, shelter, and transportation  - Passport fees  - Food expences untill they leave Gaza 

No matter how small your contribution, it can make all the difference in breaking the cycle of violence and uncertainty. By supporting our campaign, you are offering a lifeline to our families so that they can rebuild their lives, heal from their trauma and make a fresh start in a safe and secure environment. Please leave a comment and share our campaign with your friends, so we can reach more people and make a bigger impact. Together, we can make a difference!"

They are using a French platform called Papayoux Solidarite instead of GoFundMe. Abeer also has a Paypal account for non European donors.

They are currently at 33 588,78 €/ 50,000 €.

Let's see if we can get them to 34,000 today. Any donation matters, even $1 or $2 donations can add up.

We need to help them meet their goal. Intersex liberation means intersex liberation everywhere--it is so important that we show up in solidarity. Those of us living with CAH know how dangerous salt wasting crises are without medication, and how important it is to urgently help Mohammed and Ibrahim get access to the medications they need to support their CAH. Intersex solidarity means that we need to show up and support intersex people facing genocide.

If you can't donate, please share. Consider doing an art raffle to raise money. Do whatever you can to help this family because it is urgent, and we need to act in solidarity with them now and make sure that the intersex community is here to support them!

[mysterysciencewhatever]

one thing i love about mash is the little background things that they do. not because theyre essential to the plot or literally anything but it just helps the show and the characters feel so alive. hawkeye spraying bugspray around the tent and getting trapper in the eyes has absolutely nothing to do with the scene or the topic of conversation its not even integral to the episode its just something theyre doing in the middle of everything else happening because they have to. hawkeye sitting in the colonel's office filing the nails of the skeleton dummy just because he's bored. trapper creating a paper clip chain on one end and hawkeye dismantling it at the other end while theyre in a meeting. theyre reading theyre painting theyre writing theyre winding up skeins of yarn theyre knitting theyre mending socks and playing chess. theyre playing football or basketball or golfing or going fishing or having cockroach races. not because these things are important but BECAUSE theyre unimportant. its what makes them human. Its what makes the sets feel lived in and not just sets. if you've got a group of characters who never do anything but talk about the scene on hand then you dont have a group of characters at all you have a group of plot devices. make them bored make them fidgety make them interact with the environment around them make them live.

[astrow1zar6]

Astrology placements that are ignored/underrated

12th house stelliums: people with prominent 12th house placements tend to be forgotten about a lot I notice. Many were very outcasted from an early age or were used to others pushing them into the background. they don’t get credit for their amazing creativity & emotional intelligence. They have extremely colorful inner worlds and can live more in their head than in the real world which is a reason why they can be easily overlooked in a group. Many feel like they are in the outside looking in like they were meant to just be observers in the world and never participate. They experience a lot of solitude in their lives but this solitude teaches them how to heal themselves & others. They gain a lot of wisdom from their time alone and they can be emotional sponges soaking up others energies easily which is why they tend to isolate a lot to recharge. They need a lot of alone time to function properly in the world if they don’t get enough alone time they can start acting very dysfunctional.

Mercury in Pisces & Cancer: they don’t get enough credit for how intelligent they truly are. Being water signs they are able to absorb information quickly & retain if for a long time too. They tend to have a very high emotional IQ. They have an amazing ability to read the room and can pick up on things that aren’t verbally said. They are quite influential as well and can control what people think to an extent (can be very manipulative because they are so good at emotional cues). They can manipulate you into taking their side.

Taurus moons: although exalted I feel like people really don’t talk about this sign much. They are usually very sexy people and are very comfortable in their natural bodies. Very intelligent and money driven. These people are literal money magnets. Because of their reliable and practical nature many can climb the corporate ladder faster than most. They are very reasonable and factual which is why many tend to be politicians or big bosses. Very conventional personalities. Also the creativity in their fashion is extremely underrated. These people can pull off such interesting pieces.

Virgo placements: I feel like Virgo placements get one of the worst reps of the zodiac. Many describe Virgos as being very naggy, insecure, hypercritical, bland ect. Virgo in astrology rules the untouched, unreachable, purity, devotion, analysis and healing. Virgos also rules over the maiden that is known for traditional beauty in astrology. This makes them usually very desirable and attractive which is why many Virgo risings tend to be models they represent the untouchable and the high standards of traditional beauty. Virgos face a lot of traumatic sacrifices that they often make for themselves & others. Many Virgos could’ve grown up having to almost serve others and make a lot of sacrifices to keep others happy. Could’ve been expected to heal those around them which is why many can be so hard on themselves and expect perfection out of everything they do. Many expected them to keep up a “perfect persona” mostly their family which they carry around everywhere. I also notice a lot growing up we’re constantly criticized for their looks/appearance. For example; Bella Hadid (Virgo risings) dealt with a mother who would compare her beauty to her sisters and commented on her weight. Could’ve been pushed too much to be “lady-like” creating a deep obsession with their looks and lower self esteem. Could feel restricted from showing sex appeal or could be over-sexualized by others.

The 4th house: the fourth house rules over your families karmic cycles, ancestors, all family members, generational wealth, the home, your environment & your deepest emotional point. People with placements here tend to experience mood swings & absorbing other people’s emotions like sponges. You can also tell someone’s life story or background just by this house alone as it represents the beginning and ending point. Most people with a lot of 4th house placements tend to prefer solitude and alone time in order to recharge & their emotions run very deep

The 7th house: is honestly crazy misunderstood! It’s not only about relationships which is what I notice people mostly talk about when this house is brought up. It rules of contracts, how people see you, rumors, law, your part in social standing, and enemies. The way people treat you is based on this house, the way you perceive yourself and express yourself to the world is the 1st house just to get that straight. The 7th house can be a big fame indicator and usually points to either success or failure in the public eye. Which is why it’s common for people with sun in the 7th or Pluto in the 7th to gain massive fame or have extreme power in the public eye, but it can also indicate the rumors people spread about you and the enemies you attract. You can attract a lot of jealousy from others. Having heavy 7th house placements can be talked about by others a lot for good or for bad. You are usually people’s main topic of conversation, people love to hate you! Especially if you have a Sun, Venus, Uranus, & Pluto in the 7th house.

Mercury aspects: you can see someone’s humor, mannerisms and tone of voice through this planet. If someone talks too much they most likely have Gemini-sag in their Mercury, if someone is academically disciplined yet judgmental it seems to always be cap mercs, if someone’s comedic and a great host with a flirty nature usually a libra merc. You get the point it plays a big role and most don’t talk about it much. Most people mistake someone’s Mercury sign for their sun sign a lot!

6th house placements: I find most people find talking about 6th house placements to be extremely boring lol which i understand but it actually plays an important role in your chart. The 6th house is associated with issues relating to our sexual, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. I feel like this house is probably the most under talked about and ignored house out of all of the houses. The 6th house is how you deal with day to day life and your motivation to complete tasks. When difficult placements fall in the 6th house, the individuals with those placements must carefully see how they treat themselves. Our ability to tend to matters related to our 6th house can help fuel our self esteem & ensure that we are in alignment with ourselves and values so we won’t be menaces to society lol. This shows how you manage day to day life and how you find beauty in the mundane simple things.

Gemini placements: they are not just chatterboxes, very rational and reasonable individuals who are naturally curious. Sometimes they act cold and detached but that’s because they like to observe from a 3rd party perspective. That way they can easily read people and question their motives & they are very good at it too being rules by mercury. They usually love puzzles and are great networkers. However surprisingly a lot of Gemini placements aren’t talkative and most are pretty chill and understanding. They are incredibly logical and fun & are very open minded. They are open to really anything if you are convincing enough they love trying and learning new things.

Pisces placements: there’s a lot to uncover with this sign. They are the most sacrificial yet deceitful. Being ruled by Neptune as a mutable sign they have identity crisises often and can take on others personalities & looks. These people are natural actors/ actresses, they have an ability to make you believe they are who YOU want them to be, or atleast they think you want from them. They manipulate people without even realizing and get away with a lot because they are easily adored and almost worshipped by the public. They are the definition of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I see Pisces placements who are stalked easily as well and attract a lot of obsessive and dark individuals. They usually grow up feeling very misunderstood and yearning for others to know the real them but it’s usually difficult for them to be themselves around those around them due to fear of rejection and a difficulty with expressing their needs.

[fairyysoup]

easy living

pairing: eric (a quiet place: day one) x fem!reader

summary: You ran into Eric on accident. Now you're facing the end of the world together. How do you get to know someone when you can't make a sound?

tags: smut, oral (f receiving), dry humping, piv sex, silent fucking, angst, hurt/comfort, survival, discussions of trauma, slight suicidal ideation by reader, words of affirmation as a love language, stay silent or die (obviously), strangers to lovers, apocalyptic, the cheesiest ending bc it's me writing, billie holiday lyrics bc it's also me writing

a/n: here it is, the silent fucking fic i promised y'all a year ago when this movie was announced. it was supposed to be like 1-2k words of plain smut but then I got too into the theory of what one does when you can't show affection through words and I genuinely discovered a tidbit of trauma I didn't know I had while writing it so I will be talking to a therapist about it, and also I'm literally out here baring my soul lol.

i also want to thank @bigtiddythanos @raraeavesmoriendi and @maximoffwxnda for supporting me throughout this writing process <3 this fic literally would not have been finished or published without y'all

ALL MY WORKS ARE 18+ MINORS DNI

The rain has ended. Morose, you stare up at the ceiling, wondering when you’ll get something close to free reign with your voice again. 

Of course the world had to end while you were at fucking Whole Foods.

You’ll miss certain things. Things you always took for granted, that you never even considered made a lot of noise until now. Typing on the computer. Making stir fry. Microwaving a burrito at 3am. Lighting a match, washing your face. Taking a shower.

And other things, too, that are more obvious, like singing while making cookies. Slurping the bottom of a milkshake. You’ll never be able to have a pet bird. You’ll never be able to see another concert again, and damn it if you didn’t really want those Glastonbury tickets a month ago. But it all just seems trivial, now. You don’t see why you shouldn’t just lay here on the couch forever. 

On the other side of the coffee table there’s a gentle shuffling. Eric rouses as quietly as he can; at the very least, your apartment creates a hospitable enough environment that he isn’t startled awake. It’s so silent in the apartment that you can hear the slight shift in his intake of breath, the rustle of the pillow as he turns his head to look at you. 

You want to look at him, but you fear that you’ll end up wanting to talk. So, you say nothing. You do nothing. You stare at the white paint on the ceiling and you wonder whether it would be better to get on one of the boats headed out into the water, or to move inland, away from people, away from sound. There has to be somewhere far enough away from the city that the… creatures won’t go, right?

Eric waves his hand in your periphery, so that you have no choice but to acknowledge that you know he’s awake. You have no choice but to turn your head and look into the depths of his eyes, and feel all the pain of the last 48 hours return to you. You’d been able to talk last night, just enough, in time with the rain and the thunder– enough to learn that he has family across the world. 

You can’t imagine knowing that somewhere, across an ocean and half a world away, your parents may or may not be dead. No way to contact them, no way to know what’s become of them. You can’t even begin to fathom the fear that he’s feeling, as much as you’re despairing. 

Eric’s big eyes tell you everything. Sadness and fear, and trying to grasp at the smallest hint of normalcy he can get. He blinks at you, and mouths, You okay?

No, you’re definitely not okay. Things are not okay. Things are broken and can’t be fixed. Things will never be the same again. He knows that, as much as you know that. But you nod anyway, even though you feel your heart beat a little bit slower than usual, like it wants to just go ahead and give up already. Tears prick at your eyes, and you have to close them before you let on that you’re lying.

Eric knows you’re lying, of course. How could anyone be okay, in this kind of situation? But he waits until you open your eyes, and then he mouths, Coffee?

You let out a small sigh of relief, and a smile that’s indescribably warm crosses your face. Even though he can’t make a sound, he knows exactly what to say.

You don’t have a coffee maker that doesn’t also make a ton of noise. But through some kind of witchcraft, Eric quietly empties two k-cups into a glass measuring cup and boils a soup pot full of water on the stove, and suddenly you have hot coffee in front of you. 

On a notepad left on the counter, you write, Wish I had some tea for you. 

Eric’s lips turn up at the edges, and he takes the pen from you. You’re able to doctor your coffee for about one second before he slides the notepad back to you.

Bloody American.

Your ensuing huff of a laugh is enough to make him turn pink around the ears, and he turns to place the dirty measuring cup into the sink. He reaches for the faucet, but then thinks better of it. You’ll have to figure out how to wash the dishes later.

You both drink your coffee in silence on the couch. You never considered yourself uncomfortable with silence; you’ve lived alone, you’ve gone for weeks without uttering a word before. But it’s so difficult to be sitting next to someone– someone you feel you could really get to like– and not be able to say a word. To make a sound, laugh or cry or snort or grunt. 

You’ll never be able to know what Eric’s laugh sounds like, or listen to his favorite song with him, or watch some stupid rerun of Friends with him while ignoring your responsibilities. He’s right there next to you, he’s risked his life to save you once already, and yet he’s so far away. You’ll never get to know him in all the ways you want to. Will you ever really know him at all?

He’d created a diversion when one of the fucking things had you trapped in a corner, between a dumpster and a brick wall. He chucked a rock at a car and set off an alarm, and then ran with you down an alleyway, his arm wrapped tight around your waist. Eric looked so sad, following you like a lost puppy. He was fucking drenched, too, so you know he’d probably been through one hell of a morning. And then the rain started, and the creatures were confused and… well, you weren’t just gonna leave him, scared and alone.

You, too, were scared and alone.

Eric’s hand appears to brush away a tear that had begun to fall down your cheek, betraying your internal monologue. You look to him with puffy eyes, and he pulls his hand away, suddenly unsure of whether you’re okay with such an intimate gesture. 

Your coffee cup meets the table with a quiet tap. You’re slow to move, but you scoot towards him, his arm still outstretched towards you, his eyes wide. Eric has the prettiest eyes in the world, you think. You want to tell him so.

But you’re a little too choked up to form words, anyways. Your forehead meets Eric’s shoulder, and his arm comes around you before you can huff the first silent sob that brims up. He coos softly into your hair, so softly that you can barely hear it, but it conveys enough. It does enough. 

The world is fucked. Your life is fucked. You have tunnel vision and you can only see things getting worse from here on; the only good thing you know anymore is holding you and caressing your head so gently that it pushes your tears out for you. 

You’ll never get to see a movie in a theater, and smell the stale popcorn again. You’ll never drive down the highway with the wind in your hair. You’ll never ride a roller coaster or sing karaoke. You’ll never go to a club and have a drunken heart to heart with a stranger in a bathroom.

“Do you think it’s worth it?” You whisper, so faintly that it’s barely above a breath, your lips pressed to the shell of his ear. “To try to exist in a world where you have to pretend like you don’t exist?”

Eric pauses, holding you to him. You can see the wheels turning in his head, while he tries to figure out what to say. Then he turns his face to put his lips against your ear, the same way you’d done to him. 

“I think it’s worth it to try to survive.” His breath tickles your skin when he whispers, “So survive with me, yeah?”

You nod solemnly, your tears threatening to rise up again. “I can’t stand not talking to you.” It’s so hard to keep your voice from cracking, from rising above the merest hint of a whisper, directly to him and no one or nothing else. 

Eric takes it in stride. “You are talking to me.” He pulls back and bats his eyelashes, and you think, he oughta fucking know what that does to me. 

“Not like this,” you breathe to him, because that’s really what it is– it’s a breath. A sigh. A gust of air and nothing else, barely anything that registers on your vocal chords. Your hand on the back of his neck, pulling him close to you. His hand, tightening on the middle of your back, holding you there. “I want to talk– I want to get to know you.” 

“Well, this isn’t so bad, is it?” Eric turns his head. His forehead nudges yours at the temple, and you swear you see a flash of a smile on his face. “What do you want to know?” 

His forefinger traces up and down, up and down, a gentle pattern that keeps you grounded. You bite your lip, trying to keep from letting the sounds come out too loud. You say the first thing that comes to mind. “What’s your favorite song?”

“Easy Living. Billie Holiday.” 

“You’re kidding.” You’re blushing, hot in the cheeks. You’re imagining it; slow dancing in the kitchen with him while oldies plays on the radio. You didn’t think such an innocent question would send you spiraling like this, but it hurts worse to know that it will probably never happen.

“Absolutely not.” 

“Somehow… I can’t picture you listening to jazz.” 

“Picture it all you want,” he whispers. Eric swallows, and continues, “My granddad used to have these records, and we used to play them on Christmas. But when– when he died, the records went missing. I couldn’t find the song until a couple years ago,” he explains, and his voice cracks just slightly into a murmur. 

You both freeze. You wait for the sound of creatures coming down the hallway, busting down the walls… nothing happens. You let out a breath, and you pull his face closer to yours. His eyes flick over your face, and you put your lips against his ear. 

“You have to be so quiet. Can you do that for me?” Eric nods in your hands. “I wish we could do anything but this. I wish that we could have met in better circumstances. I wish… I wish I had known you before all of this. I think we would have had a lot of fun. But if this is the only way I can get to know you, and hear your voice now, I’ll take it.” You’re nodding as well now, like you’re trying to convince yourself of it. “I’m telling you this because I don’t know how long we have. Together, I mean. And I don’t want to waste it passing notes. Okay?” 

“Okay.” He sounds clipped. His hand fidgets on your back, and you pull away to find him misty-eyed, his brows turned up. He fishes for words that don’t come, and then he nods. “Okay.” 

Neither of you move. The atmosphere around you feels heavy, like it’s pressing in on all sides. Eric’s hand slides up your back and to your face, and you remember that you’re still holding his. You’re near sitting in his lap with how close you’ve become, and the realization of that feels like a punch to the gut.

You think you should pull away. You don’t. 

Eric’s thumb traces a gentle arc across your bottom lip. It’s so featherlight it’s barely there– his eyes are honed in on your mouth, clearly lost in thought. You’d let him stay there as long as he wants, but you want every minute you can get. “Eric–”

He closes the gap and kisses you. The way you’d said his name– or not said it, rather, you sort of mouthed it against his thumb– had done the job you wanted it to. It feels like this was the obvious conclusion to the system you’d worked out, the close proximity and your shared fears. He’s scared, he said as much last night. You’re scared, you said so just now. 

Nowhere to go, nothing else to do except be right here, living. Alive, together. Kissing Eric, and him pulling you close by the waist, so that you do swing your leg and seat yourself in his lap. And as much as you love talking, and it breaks your heart that you can’t jabber at him, there are some things you just can’t put into words. Like the way that his hand on the back of your neck lights you up inside, or that you can’t think of anything other than all the areas where his skin is touching yours, and how you suddenly wish there was way more of them.

It’s stupid how much you like him already, really. You can feel your nonexistent friends clucking their tongues and shaking their heads, saying, “One day? That’s all it takes? You find some guy at the end of the world and you fall in love in 24 hours?” And they’d be right– maybe it’s not love. Not yet, anyways. But you could see it easily becoming that. And that fact scares you even more.

Your hands find Eric’s chest and the frantic beating of his heart tells you nearly the same thing. You break the kiss, trying to quietly catch your breath without gasping like you’re half-drowning. It’s harder than you expected. 

“Been wanting to do that all morning,” Eric whispers. And just like that you’re falling again, faster this time, like he’s just melted your wings right off and sent you plummeting.

You struggle to keep from gasping aloud when he kisses your jaw, just beneath your ear. It’s the lightest touch but you swear it burns, sears your skin. 

Your hands find the back of the couch, twitchy fingers digging in to keep you steady. Your mouth finds his again, his tongue tasting of coffee, and Eric kisses you a bit harder now, a bit sloppier. 

Breaking away, you open your eyes to find his wide, starstruck, his mouth hanging open like he’s been shocked beyond belief. You didn’t honestly intend for this to happen– you wanted to talk. But somehow this seems better, more appropriate. 

How do you get your feelings across when talking isn’t really an option? When innocent attraction becomes… whatever this is? 

You press a single finger to his plush lips, signaling exactly what you mean without a word. Quiet. 

Eric purses his lips, kisses your finger without breaking eye contact. His pupils are blown out so far that the barest hint of golden brown surrounds them, glinting in the sunlight from the window. 

You lean forward, until your mouth touches his ear. “Your eyes are so fucking pretty, Eric,” you whisper to him, and your teeth latch onto his earlobe to tug gently. You can’t help it– you grind your hips down into his lap, without even thinking of doing it. “You’re so pretty.”

Eric whimpers. It’s a soft sound, hollow in the back of his throat, but it’s still too loud for the world that you’re in. You clamp your hand down over his mouth, and his breath comes out sharp and hot over your knuckles as he tries to regain composure.

“Do you want me to stop?” You ask him, whispering gently in his ear. Against you, he shakes his head no. “Want me to keep going?” Eric nods his head yes. 

He’s shaking under you, his fingertips digging into your lower back like he can’t hold onto you hard enough. At the thought, your pulse pounds, blood positively humming through your veins. 

You nuzzle his cheek, and give him the sweetest kiss you can while your hand is still clamped over his mouth insistently. “You have to be. Fucking. Silent. Do you understand?” He nods. “We can’t make a sound. Okay?” 

Eric nods again, and keeps nodding until you let him go. If the rain was still pouring like earlier, you could tell him how much you want him, too. How you don’t want to be mean, you just don’t want to get hurt. This is a bad idea, all things considered. But Eric slides his hand down and cups your ass to lift you up a bit, and the words bad and idea suddenly fucking vanish from your vocabulary.

You stand long enough to kick off your sweats, your day old panties going down with them. You hadn’t dressed to be sexy yesterday, you dressed to get groceries. You don’t necessarily want Eric to see your faded cotton underwear with the stretched out elastic and multiple frayed holes. You don’t think it would add to your sex appeal right now. 

He doesn’t notice the lack of a strip tease– he’s already taking you by the hips, not even waiting for you to shuck your t-shirt. He pulls until you’re stood in front of him, and then hooks your leg over his shoulder. 

So. Eric doesn’t need to be asked to go down on you, he just does. The gentleman. His hands are firm on your ass as he nuzzles into the patch of hair between your legs, and the precarious balancing act makes you snatch onto the back of the couch again. 

His tongue glides through the folds of your pussy slowly, methodically. You aren’t sure if he wants to take his time, or if he’s going slow so that he doesn’t make too much noise when doing it, but he latches onto your clit and sucks agonizingly softly, like he knows he should do it harder but won’t risk making you moan. 

It’s so gentle, and it builds. Pretty soon, you’re having a tough time keeping your whimpers in, even when he’s basically just teasing you, flicking his tongue over your clit with even the barest pressure. Your head has fallen back on your shoulders, your hand now clasped over your own mouth to stifle your sighs. 

Then, Eric’s hand glides up to splay across your lower back, and he sucks long and hard at your clit, and your hand squeezes murderously at the back of the couch while you ride out your orgasm on his tongue. 

Knees buckling, you collapse into Eric’s lap. He has a doe-eyed look on his face that’s way too innocent after what he just did to you. With panting breath and shaking hands, you cup his rosy cheeks in your palms, shaking your head in disbelief. 

Eric’s brows tilt in worry, like he did something wrong. He opens his mouth, but you put your fingers against his lips to silence him, and lean forward to breathe, “You’re too sweet for me, Eric.” 

He traces his fingers lightly up your spine, and turns his head. “Maybe one day I won’t have to be sweet. Maybe then I can really fuck you.” 

The sound of his whispering voice in your ear makes you shiver, your lust reaching a boiling point. The idea of him really fucking you– that this isn’t even him as normal, that he’s having to hold so much back– makes you burn hot all at once. That this isn’t something he’s planning on doing once. That there’s a ‘one day’ that he sees in the future with you in it. 

With a nod, your breath catches in your throat. You find your way to his mouth again, kissing him desperately. You can taste yourself lingering on his lips, and your hips rock forward against his again. 

Eric inhales sharply, stifling his own moan. You guess you have to take it just as slowly as he did, ease him into it. You work your hand beneath his unbuttoned fly and palm him, keeping your touch gentle against his hot skin. He shakes, his hands laid out against your spine, his eyes sparkling when he looks up at you. 

You push your forehead against his as you sink onto his cock, letting yourself adjust to his size. His breath stutters as he tries to keep quiet, small puffs of air spilling out and meeting your electrified skin. You curl your fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck, rocking your hips just barely, settling into his lap. 

This is more intimate than you can ever remember being with anyone, but right now it just feels right. Maybe it could be cathartic to fuck like a couple of animals in the face of doom, but Eric pulls your body flush against his, one strong forearm around your waist, and his nose nudges yours, and you think this is better. This is what you both need. Closeness. Sweetness. 

There isn’t a lot of movement– you can’t risk it. You and Eric seem to be in agreement on that, because as soon as you start trying to move in earnest, he just pulls you back to him, his arm around your waist and his hand petting the back of your head. 

Eric rocks his hips up into yours slowly, deeply, and it’s the depth of it and the slow sensuality that keeps you floating. Your clit catches on the patch of hair at the base of his cock each time you roll your hips with him, and you have to kiss him to keep from keening aloud. He doesn’t seem to mind it. 

You know he’s close when he tucks his face against your neck, his arm tightening around you. “Feels so fucking good,” comes his whine in your ear, and you gently shush him, your hand resting on the back of his head to keep him muffled against your shoulder. You want so badly to look at his face when he cums, but there’s that pesky issue of staying alive, and that hinges on whether or not he can keep quiet when he does. 

To his credit, he bites your shoulder and only whimpers a little bit. It’s just a squeak, but really, he could have been much louder about it, and then you would have both been in trouble. Imagine having to run for your life with your pants down. 

Ever the gentleman, he keeps you there even after he’s spent and sensitive, his hand clamped down on your thigh to prevent you from moving. His thumb finds your clit, and he lifts his head to watch you, his hooded eyes trained on your face as he brings you to the edge and over it again. He watches the way your brows tilt up, the way you struggle to keep your own eyes open, and the silent moan that threatens to break past your parted lips.

Eric claps his hand down over your mouth before it can. Your eyes fly open, your cunt clenches down around him, and he bares his teeth as you cum hard. It’s cyclical, comes in waves as he continues to stroke you through it, as he keeps his hand clamped down on your mouth to keep you quiet. 

To keep you quiet. 

Feverish and exhausted, you come down with your chest against his, Eric’s head flopped back onto the backrest of the couch. Your knees fucking hurt and you have yet to get off of him, and you sort of dread the moment when you have to. But this means your mouth is positioned right next to Eric’s ear, and you’re nothing if not a talker.

“Eric?” you whisper, and he turns his head just enough to let you know he heard you. “I’m glad that I met you when I did. Even if it’s terrible timing, I’m glad we met.”

A sweet, tired smile flits across Eric’s beautiful face. He nudges his nose against your temple. “I’m glad, too.” 

You shift off of him, and he squeezes your thigh just at the same time as he scrunches his face. He’s such a trooper about it, you kiss his cheek as you go, leaning over to grab a pair of earphones from the coffee table. 

You hand one ear bud to him, watching as confusion crosses his face. He watches you type on your phone as he tucks the bud into his ear, and you the other. 

On low volume, you listen to the soft piano and saxophone intro to an old jazz standard. Eric grins, his hand finding your cheek before he pulls you in for a kiss. 

And then, Billie Holiday’s voice plays for only you two to hear. 

Living for you is easy living, It’s easy to live when you’re in love And I’m so in love, There’s nothing in life but you.

[typicalcommondandelion]

Haiii guys the animation is finished. Do you ever think about these two. Because I sure do

[yaut-jaknowit]

Story idea: pregnant human gets to the point where she just says fuck it and walks around their home in the nude because it's the only way she can be comfortable. Her yautja mate sees this as an absolute win.

Eyes Never Wander

Character: Wolf (Male Yautja) x AFAB!Pregnant!Reader

Warnings: Suggestive content

Word Count: 2208

Summary: In your homes with Wolf, you are currently pregnant. One thing you've come to learn about Yautja Prime: it's fucking hot and humid. No matter where you lived before could never prepare you for the humidity in the air or the heat that pelted you. With your pregnancy, it has only made that feeling worse. Your clothes would stick to you like a second skin. What's a way to fix that? Go naked around the house. Wolf doesn't mind one bit.

Author Note: Absolute win on both sides. And if you do this while not pregnant. You're about to become pregnant.

Masterlist

Ao3

Out of all the places for you to end up in, this isn’t where you had hoped. The average temperature was a few degrees too high for you to comfortably handle everyday. The humidity was killer as well. It drove you insane when nothing could get dry in a reasonable time. Plus, these aliens have never heard of a dryer. So, any closes you’ve worn take days to dry outside. Even then, they never feel completely dry.

Said clothes would stick to your skin and drive you insane with the over sensitivity of your skin. Everything grew too much for you to handle. In a place you weren’t used to; in home you hadn’t grown up in; with a man you loved so much. He’s the only reason you’ve stayed here, enduring such a harsh environment that wasn’t meant for such a soft human.

Let alone, one so pregnant.

One look at your closet had you closing the door with a slam. “Fuck that,” you murmured and stomped out of the bedroom. Your swollen belly made it evident to everyone what your condition was. No male dared to say a word to you. Yautja or not, do not mess with a pregnant creature. They’ll do everything in their power to protect themselves and their unborn children.

Your male Yautja lover hovers nearby when you go out to the vendors. Wolf will not let you out of his sight around so many people. Though, it was against their code to injure or harm a pregnant creature, he does not trust everyone. You are only human after all. Heavily pregnant and waddling around.

A sight you know he heavily enjoys. His eyes find you whenever you are around. He watches the evidence of his potent seed taking place in your ravish body. You know he likes observing you. He’s never felt this way before with another.

The sound of your fast foot steps catches the male Yautja’s attention. His head peered over the edge of the couch. His gaze immediately finding you marching through the house towards the kitchen. You feel his gaze, piercing through your skin. Nothing to hide the shape of your form moving through the dwelling he’s built.

In the kitchen, you snatched up a fruit that was similar to a dragon fruit mixed with a banana. Strange to look at but it was delicious to consume. When you were about to turn around, large hands gripped at your waist and tugged you flush with a warm, humid body. Despite hating the heat and humidity at the moment, you sighed and relaxed against Wolf’s body. His presences calms you in an instant.

Wolf leaned over your figure and let his tresses create a curtain around the two of you. “What a sight to see, love,” he purred and gripped your hips tighter. “What has caused this? Do you need help with the laundry?” You are stubborn and independent, even in your heavily pregnant state, and want to do everything yourself. Only asking for help when you are in a pinch.

Both of your arms wrapped around the back of his neck and tugged him down a little further. “No. No offence but I fucking hate this area. It’s hot, humid. My clothes won’t dry in less than a day. My clothes stick to my skin uncomfortably. I decided to say ‘fuck it’ and go without. I know you won’t complain.” You find a thin strain of his tress underneath the rest of them and toyed with it, mindlessly.

And boy, were you right.

To have his pregnant mate walking around their shared home, naked. He growled low in his throat and rubbed his jaw against the top of your head. His scent further rubbed into your skin. Though you were pregnant with his child, he loved to continuous mark you up, scenting for everyone to steer clear of you.

Wolf let his hands drift up your sides, skating his claws over your ribs then back down to palm at your thighs. “To see my mate, naked like the day they were born, pregnant because of my doing, walking around in our home… it’s a life I could only dream of.” His claws carefully grazed the tops of your thighs as he touched whatever part he wanted of you.

Then, his hands wandered back north and palmed at your swollen belly. The Yautja was large, towering over your form. His hands slid down a little more to the lip of your stomach and gently lifted up. Instant relief flooded you. You sighed heavily and rest as much as you could against him. Your mate held you there, letting the weight be his burden for the moment.

“This needs to be an everyday thing, Wolf,” you mumbled, voice going hoarse from the lack of power you gave it. Said Yautja chuckled. The vibrations running up your back and spreading out to the tips of your fingers.

“Yeah?” he teased, arms not faulting. “I can’t help it if my seed produces such large offspring.” You elbowed him in the side. He takes the hit without even making a sound.

“Yeah, this is all your fault. Mate can’t keep it down.” Wolf growled, arms flexing without moving your belly. The weight still in his hands.

“I didn’t hear you complaining each time I took you,” he rumbled back to you and lowered his mouth next to your ear. A purr starts in his chest and creates goosebumps. They run across your skin and cover your limbs.

You turned your head enough to send the Yautja a glare and a huff in tandem. Wolf’s purr deepened and helped you relax again, softening against his thick scales. The tress you were playing with, you decided to tug on it. Wolf tensed up, purr stuttering for a moment. “You may never hear a complaint from me in those moments, but you’ve heard me plenty of times now.”

With all the medical care you have access to at your mate’s status, you still can’t get rid of the aches and pains. Sweet, old Wolf does his best to draw baths, massage your aches, and feed you delicious foods. Only those could so far while dealing with a situation such as this.

Slowly, he lets your weight return to you. You whimpered but put your hands on top of his. Your fingers carded between his in a reassuring grasp. The texture of the scales on the back of his hands is stark to your own skin. You mindlessly run your thumbs up and down the sides of his palms.

“That may be true, but I’m beyond thankful for allowing for this opportunity to continue.” He knows if the pregnancy was too far of a risk, even above ten precent of serious injuries or death, he wouldn’t let you talk him into it. A healer had been brought in with the help of a scientist. They were able to give the facts to Wolf about this very situation before it happened. It helped calm his older heart, reassured your chances of passing were low.

Same with the strain it would put on your smaller frame. It took months upon months trying to convince him that this was safe, you would be fine in the end.

Not that he didn’t want to have a child with you. That’s one of the things he wanted most in his life. To see his permanent mate pregnant. The thought of losing you greatly outweighed that want though. It was simply brushed to the back and forgotten about.

Finally, he had broken about eight months ago and took out the implant he had requested you used. For both of your safeties. Weirdly enough, it was instantaneous that you had wound of pregnant that same night. It was as if your body knew it was the perfect time for this to happen.

Now, look at you. The happiest you’ve ever been with your mate, on the verge of starting a family.

Your eyes softly shut as you leaned towards his face and nuzzle against the softer, wrinkly scales on his cheek. “And I thank you for this. I know you are scared. I won’t deny that I’m not either.” You took a deep breath and opened your eyes to find him already watching you closely. “Considering this is hybrid baby. And the father is a towering alien that could pop my skull open like a grape.” Of course, he never would.

His purring deepened again. An upper mandible slowly reached out and caressed my cheek. “I won’t lie to you, little one. I am scared. Still scared. You are the most precious thing to ever walk into my life all those years ago.” He squeezes your fingers in a firm yet gentle grip. “To have this opportunity to create life with you is amazing.”

The two of you stayed like that, just enjoying the moment. The warmth of the other person. It was a beautiful, soft moment. Two lovers basking in their love for the other.

Until the ache in your ankles grew too much. As you took a breath in to speak up, Wolf was easily scooping you up and carrying you over to the couch. The lean Yautja sets you down on the cushiony couch.

Wolf goes over to where the dragon fruit-banana had been dropped and picks it up. His eyes roam over the piece of fruit and walks back over to the kitchen. A whine comes from you as he takes away your snack. Your bottom lip pushing out into a pout.

Said fruit is tossed into the trash can next to the counter. You gasped, ready to argue about throwing away a good piece of food. Then, he grabs another, fresh one and grabs some pink colored grapes. Wolf brings them to you spot on the couch and kneels down in front of you. The bowl of grapes is set off to the side. The banana-like fruit is held in front of you.

The moment you tried to grab it, he pulls it away and starts to peel it. Your hands drop back into your lap as you looked at him with a confused look in your eyes. It was easily peeled. Wolf offers it to you again. You attempted to take it from him but he pulls away enough for you to get the idea. You snorted with a small smile. Then, you leaned forward and take a bite from it.

For a fruit, it had a hint of spiciness to it. Strangely enough, you’ve grown a liking, a need for spicy stuff during your pregnancy. These types of fruit have made your life ten times easier to deal with this stupid craving all of sudden. Well, until your stomach decides it doesn’t like it for a week. That’s been fun to deal with.

He fed it to you until it was gone. The peel was set off to the side on a small side table. Next, was the bowl of grapes he knows you enjoy. Wolf holds them to you in an offering, allowing you the chance to take or deny the gift.

The lovesick smile on your face tells him everything he needs to know. Wolf sets the bowl down in your lap and plucks a grape up. Just like before, he holds it close to your mouth.

Gingerly, you leaned forward and took the piece from his pointer finger and thumb. Once biting past the thin skin of the fruit, it’s flavors burst across your tongue. You groaned and licked at your lips.

This continued until the bowl was empty and you were happy and well fed until lunch. Said bowl was set off to the side. Wolf shuffles closer to you and scoots his way between your legs. Before he touches you though, he looks into your eyes. No words were needed. Not after all this time with each other. You gave him a simple nod.

Wolf timidly rests the side of his head against your belly. His bright eyes were hidden. All his focus was narrowed down on the life growing inside of his wonderful mate.

Something underneath your skin nudged against his cheek. Wolf reared back, head snapping to face you. The expression he held was the most you’ve ever seen him make before. You laughed, head tilted back and savored the image for the rest of your life.

“I-I felt them kick,” he sputtered, astonished at the findings. You placed a hand on your belly and ran a thumb over the stretched skin.

“Yes, you do. They probably recognized that their father was close by. Isn’t that right?” you cooed towards your stomach. Another powerful kick had you wincing. “Alright, alright, thank you for letting me know you’re there.” For some reason, they always got kick shy when Wolf came to feel. This was his first time feeling it.

He placed his throat over the mound of your stomach and started to purr. The kicking instantly stopped. Shit, that works?! It worked on you too. You leaned back against the couch and looked down at him.

For someone who his species consider old, you would’ve never picked another male. Never.

[gf2bellamy]

bet — spencer reid

pairing: spencer reid x fem!reader ( no use of y/n ) summary: you and spencer have a bet on who is going to be the first to expose your relationship content warnings: mention of a victim a/n: when i tell you this took me ages omg i was struggling

You and Spencer had a bet. 

A ridiculous, entirely unnecessary bet, but a bet nonetheless.

The stakes? Bragging rights, and the satisfaction of being able to tease the other endlessly.

The challenge? Who would be the first to slip up and accidentally reveal your secret relationship to the rest of the BAU team. 

Both of you knew that secrecy wasn’t exactly your strong suit. Between Spencer’s tendency to ramble when nervous and your habit of wearing your emotions like a neon sign, it was only a matter of time before someone pieced it all together.

And that was what made the bet so much fun—because neither of you wanted to be the one to crack first. 

Some mishaps had already happened, moments that came far too close to giving you both away. 

Like the time Derek had caught Spencer staring at you during a team briefing. “Hey, Pretty Boy, you got something to add, or are you just lost in thought over there?” Derek had teased, a smirk tugging at his lips. Spencer, predictably, had flushed a deep shade of red and stumbled over a vague response. 

And, of course, who could forget the case in Chicago when Hotch had walked into the room just as Spencer had brushed a strand of hair out of your face? The gesture had been so natural, so tender, that even Hotch had paused for a fraction of a second before continuing his sentence. You could’ve sworn he’d given you a knowing glance, though he hadn’t said a word. 

Right now, you were sitting at your desk, trying (and failing) to focus on finishing your report on the case from two days ago.

“Spence, what was the address of the place where we found the second victim?” you asked, tapping your pen on the paper as you glanced up at your boyfriend sitting across from you at his desk.

“1375 Oakridge Drive,” he replied almost automatically, barely looking up from his own report.

“Thanks,” you mumbled, jotting it down and trying not to get distracted by the little curl of hair falling onto his forehead.

The bullpen was unusually quiet.

That peace didn’t last long, though, as Derek and Garcia burst into the room, engaged in what sounded like a very enthusiastic debate. 

“Reid, listen to this!” Derek called out, cutting across the bullpen as Penelope trailed behind him, waving her arms dramatically. Both you and Spencer instinctively looked up from your work.

“Okay,” Derek began, leaning one arm casually on the divider of Spencer’s desk. “Do you think watching a rom-com with someone is romantic?” 

“Specifically with a friend,” Penelope interjected, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Because apparently, Mr. ‘Romance Expert’ here thinks it is!” 

Derek rolled his eyes. “Come on, Penelope. It can be romantic. I mean, think about it—it’s all cozy, emotional, and half the time someone ends up crying or sharing popcorn. You’re telling me that doesn’t create a vibe?” 

Spencer blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. He sat up straighter, adjusting his tie slightly as he considered his answer. 

“Well,” he began, his voice contemplative, “the concept of watching a romantic comedy doesn’t inherently equate to a romantic interaction. However, if the participants have underlying romantic feelings, the environment—such as sharing an intimate space or engaging in emotional dialogue—could certainly facilitate a sense of connection. For example, I—” 

He froze mid-sentence, his brain catching up with his mouth as he realized where he was going. 

Oh no. 

Your eyes widened in panic as you watched Spencer flounder. His lips parted as though he might try to backtrack, but the damage was already done. 

“For example…?” Derek prompted, his brows shooting up, clearly intrigued. 

Spencer quickly cleared his throat, fumbling for a save. “Uh, hypothetically. I mean, generally speaking. Like, if two people…were, um, interested in each other—not me, of course—then maybe…” His voice trailed off as he glanced at you. 

You bit the inside of your cheek to keep from laughing, knowing full well that he was treading dangerously close to losing the bet. 

Derek narrowed his eyes, studying Spencer for a moment. “Hmm,” he said slowly, drawing out the syllable. “You’re acting a little weird there. Something you wanna share with the class?” 

“Nope!” Spencer said quickly, shaking his head so forcefully it made his curls bounce. “Absolutely nothing.” 

Penelope raised an eyebrow, looking between you and Spencer with suspicion. “Uh-huh. If you say so.” 

You decided to intervene before they could dig any deeper. “Alright, Garcia, what’s your stance on the rom-com thing?” you asked, redirecting the conversation. 

The distraction worked, and Penelope launched into an impassioned argument, effectively pulling Derek’s attention away from Spencer.

You shot Spencer a look across the desks, mouthing close call. He gave you an apologetic shrug, his cheeks still faintly pink. 

Two days later, you made the mistake. The one that was ten times worse than the rom-com slip-up Spencer had made. 

You were in the file room, buried in paperwork that Hotch had assigned to you earlier that morning. The hours had been long and draining, and you’d barely made a dent in the pile.

Derek was there too, flipping through some files, his eyes narrowing in concentration, while Garcia sat at the table, her usual flair of colorful banter filling the otherwise quiet room.

She wasn’t doing much work, but she was keeping the rest of you entertained with her gossip. 

“This is tiring,” you mumbled, your voice barely audible as you stretched and yawned.

You handed Derek a file, trying to keep your energy up, though it was clear you weren’t succeeding. 

Spencer, who had been quietly scanning through a set of documents, glanced up at you, and then took a step closer. “You should go take a break and grab a coffee,” he suggested, his voice warm and concerned. “I’ll take these off your hands.” 

You spun around to face him, smiling at the sight of him standing there, his sleeves rolled up and his hair slightly tousled.

His expression was a mixture of concern and adoration, and you couldn’t help the little flutter in your chest. 

You smiled at him, genuinely grateful for the offer. You’d been working for hours, and the fatigue was beginning to take its toll. 

“Thank you,” you murmured, your voice soft with appreciation. Without thinking, you leaned in slightly and planted a quick kiss on Spencer's cheek, your hand instinctively resting on his face—something you'd done countless times without giving it much thought.

The moment your lips brushed his skin, time seemed to slow. You pulled back almost immediately, but not fast enough. Your heart skipped a beat as you looked up into Spencer’s eyes, wide and shocked.

His brown eyes were locked on yours, the same stunned expression mirroring your own. 

It was like a slow-motion realization hit you both at the exact same time—you just kissed him. 

Before either of you could process what had happened, a loud gasp echoed from behind you. 

“Oh my god!” Garcia squealed, her voice thick with excitement. 

You felt your face burn as you snapped your eyes shut. You could practically hear Derek’s mischievous chuckle follow suit. 

Spencer's back stiffened, and you knew exactly what was coming next. 

“Well, well, well,” Derek's voice rang out, full of teasing amusement, “Look what we got here” His tone was almost dramatic as he clapped Spencer on the back. 

“Way to go, my man! Getting the girl!” Derek cheered loudly. 

You dropped your hand from Spencer’s face to his chest, your shoulders slumping as you sighed loudly.

It was out in the open now—so much for the bet. 

Penelope’s voice cut through the air like a burst of confetti. “I knew it! I’ve been saying it for months, but nobody would listen to me!”

She was practically bouncing on her feet as she grinned at the both of you, clearly pleased with herself. 

Spencer gave you a nervous but warm smile. You could tell he was about to say something, but before he could, you were swarmed by both Derek and Garcia. 

“I knew you two were together,” Garcia squealed, pulling you into a tight hug. “Oh my god, you two are so cute.” 

Derek, on the other hand, ruffled Spencer’s hair. “I’m proud of you, man.” 

You could feel your pulse racing as you glanced at Spencer, who was doing his best to keep his usual composure, but the hint of a smile tugging at his lips betrayed him.

He gave you a look that could only be described as amused exasperation, as if asking, Well, I guess we don’t need to worry about hiding it anymore, do we? 

A quiet laugh escaped your lips. Spencer’s smile softened as his hand reached for yours.

“I’m sorry,” you murmured softly, leaning in a bit closer to him. “I didn’t mean for this to—” 

He cut you off with a gentle squeeze of your hand, his voice just low enough for only you to hear. “It’s okay,” he whispered, “I think it’s about time they found out.” 

Later that night, you and Spencer were lying in bed. Your head rested on his chest, and your fingers absentmindedly drew soft circles over his chest as you listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath you.

His hand was gently resting around your waist, his thumb lightly brushing over the skin of your arm. 

"Today was fun," you murmured into his chest, the sound muffled but sincere. 

“A lot of fun,” he chuckled, the vibration of his laugh resonating through his chest. 

You couldn’t help but smile to yourself, remembering the teasing from Derek and Garcia, and the way everything had just spilled out into the open.

“I for sure thought you’d be the one to lose the bet,” you teased, your voice light and playful. 

Spencer raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a soft smile. "I didn’t," he said, his voice playful but confident. 

“Why is that?” you asked, lifting your head just enough to prop yourself up on your elbow. Spencer met your gaze, his smile never wavering.

He was looking down at you with that soft affection that always made your heart skip a beat.

"You're more obvious than me," he said, brushing a strand of hair out of your face with his fingers, the touch tender. 

You immediately furrowed your brow, sitting up a little straighter. “No I’m not,” you said, a playful frown tugging at your lips. 

But the moment his fingers gently brushed your hair again, any trace of the playful frown disappeared. A warm smile spread across your face, unable to resist the effect his touch had on you. 

Spencer tilted his head, his eyes glinting with that teasing spark you knew so well. “Oh really?” he said, his voice laced with amusement, his gaze never leaving yours. 

You rolled your eyes at him, but the smile on your face betrayed you. “Okay, maybe,” you admitted with a mock sigh, before leaning back down onto his chest. 

Spencer’s laughter rumbled softly in his chest as he kissed the top of your head.

You snuggled closer to him, your face against his chest once more, feeling the beat of his heart beneath you.

"Goodnight, Spence," you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper. 

"Goodnight," he replied, his hand gently squeezing your waist as he kissed your forehead one last time. 

[rotagnus]

your future darling | 🩷o .｡.:*☆

some information about your future spouse!! gender-neutral although i may mention masculine/feminine energies. my first future spouse reading guyss i'm excited. i usually never did these but here we are!! i'll be as blunt and honest as possible because i can't guarantee all of us a fairy-tale ending, but i truly believe that all of us get what we deserve.

this may deal with some heavy topics, so as always, use your discernment. i may not be the tarot reader for you!!!

p1.

they really lovee thriving in environments where everything is changing. they like blending in and not being noticed but like, being the noticer. the observer. so when you first raise a brow and look at them it makes them feel a lot of things. they'll definitely be a bit scared, because there's this INTENSITY about you. this grace that you carry, this genuineness, and it'll be like a shock to their system because you're truly a very unique spirit, a very unique energy that they haven't encountered. to you, this person will literally mimic the same exact thing. meeting the person will be the start of truly living for a lot of you, and things will get so chaotic from their, but not in a bad way, y'know what i mean? they let you act like you truly are, without being guarded. many of you suffer with blocking your actual nature out from others because you don't want to break. you hate being out of control, and so you meticulously portray yourself as someone else, but when you have a moment of losing control? they're not going to judge you for laughing a certain way, or saying something. and you'll be like '...no way'. and slowly but surely, you'll start opening up, and they'll think you're the most beautiful thing they've ever seen.

for a lot of you they'll have hair darker than their skin color to a noticeable degree (ex. light skin and dark hair) or hair much brighter than their skin color (ex. dark skin and light hair). they're definitely more guarded as well, as a result of suffering heavy losses in the past due to similar things that you have experienced. this'll be a bonding moment for you, but this conversation/realization will take place months after you know each other. a slipup, because deep down, both of you don't want the image you've been showing to each other to break and show that broken inner child you both nurse, only in the darkness. but once you doooo? goddamnn you guys are gonna have a BOND. because you both know that you value each other as deeply as the other does, while your whole life, you had imbalanced energy with other people. always givers. never takers.

they are extremely talented. they know how to do things even when they're not given all of the supplies, all of the materials, and their determination is so high it can make them a bit manic at times. they do enjoy life, and they have a good sense of the material world; they may like fashion, art, anything to do with humanity and what it creates. food too! they know that life is a one-time thing, at least this specific one, and they don't shy away from experiencing all those things. neither do you, but you're still much more reserved about it, and may be more reasonable surrounding things like that. you'll love seeing them coo and fawn over a cute puppy or a cute piece of clothing, and they'll love looking at you and seeing that you're looking at them with such a soft, lovesick expression on your face. you'll have them stammering and stuttering when normally they're very sharp and put-together.

with them you'll truly be able to settle into your feminine energy. a lot of you struggle with letting loose and not always taking care of things and settling into masculine energy (which has been a safety net for you, a lot of the time) but with them life will get so much better and you're going to be able to relax, truly. after meeting this person, oddly enough, days actually do get better; not just because of THEM, perse, but it'll be because you entered a new phase of your life after learning a lesson. i think a lot of you have THREE chapters in your life, and you'll meet them very early on in the second one. they'll baby you and take such good care of you and really show you a side of people that you never knew existed. they'll hold you and they'll notice you're tense, and still massage you and kiss your temple and make sure that you're fine. a very gentle person, in general, but ESPECIALLY with you.

they're probably an extroverted introvert for most of you. they love their friends and are genuinely a kind person, but they're SOOOO sweet to their friends, so endearing. they're easily likeable so for you, to have YOU be their favorite person, will be an absolute honor. you know how to melt them. i think that something about them is in fact very attractive and a lot of people may have tiny crushes on them, but they're LOYAL to the one who bagged them (you). they'll make sure that you have a deep trust in them and they wouldn't ever break it. a lot of you will get this person because you're very grateful, and deeply glad that you have an opportunity to LIVE and grow. this is your harvest, the one that was watered with rain and trauma prior to it blossoming.

p2.

this person has a STRONGG energy. extroverted and bright. they come off as...a lot, and to some people, too much, but for you, you'll be like OMG someone who can handle me!! and what's funny is they'll see you and think the same exact thing. they're very sure of themselves and because they hate being perceived as soft and weak, they're definitely going to seem brash and insensitive at times. you, however, are very good at reading people, and you'll understand where they're coming from. they may try very fervently to push you away, but you'll be like 'i ain't leaving'. it's giving beast boy and raven omgggg. this person will try to change their physical looks to be 'accepted' more, and fit the standards that the world gave them. deep inside, they're very insecure, so whenever you give them a compliment? they might deflect it. but deep down, DEEP DOWN, they have a heart of gold. they care immensely about the fact that you looked so WITHIN them to notice things. you'll get their coffee just right, or something, and they're gonna be STARSTRUCK.

as for how they treat you, they will take great care to notice you just as much. they never allow themselves to be tender with people unless it's individual-to-individual because once again, they don't really like being perceived as someone who cares, but they'll definitely be veryyy affectionate when it's just you guys. this can throw you guys off a little bit because you'll think they don't really like you. THEY DO. they just show it in a very...odd manner. this of course doesn't mean that you deserve this, so you guys will have a LOTTT of things to talk about, but at the end of the day, i think you both will fight hard for this relationship to work. a simple argument won't scare you guys, and you both will do your best to make it not sound like a confrontation. be careful with their temper, though.

something else i'd note is that they probably know struggle. they've gone through SOMETHING, in their life; poverty, depression, prejudice, etc. they're not one to judge very easily, although, compared to the other piles, their sense of humor may be a bit more crude (this generation's men 🙄🙄) but not to an outlandish level. if it was, i know that most of you would leave them immediately, so don't really worry about it being too cruel. they're very good with kids, is what i'm hearing. very tender and that'll probably be one of the moments that makes you realize that they're not as tough as they like to say they are. i think that they'll be particularly attracted to you because you don't hold their moments of softness against them. you, in fact, love it, when they feel comfortable enough to portray a different side to you than you are used to.

night is definitely going to be significant for you guys. idk why but you two are definitely opposites; yin and yang, the sun and the moon, day and...night. many of the times you see each other, will be in dark spaces, at first. there may be separation at times, and you both will yearn for each other but both have atrociously stubborn senses of pride, but i think, once again, you guys are both deeeeeeeply in love with each other. but it'll take a while for you guys to settle down. it won't be something that happens quickly, but it will still be dense of moments and times that'll make you feel as if it's truly special. you have had your fair share of heartbreaks before, so at first, you'll look at this person and be like '...they're not different than the rest of them lmaoo but at least i can value them for less than what i did with the others' and then you truly do realize that damn, this person IS different.

they can mess it up at times by not being gentle with you, but they'll learn early on that you're a veryy prompt person and you value security instead of stupid little flicks of insecurity on their side. they'll quickly learn that with you, it's way easier to talk things out rather than act passive aggressive. they also know that you would never settle for someone less than what you deserve, so they're going to try their DAMNDEST to be it. half of you guys will end up giving 'rich auntie' vibes with this person which is so CUTEEE. dogs are important, small white ones is what i'm hearing? not sure if that can be significant for anyone. this whole fs will be a new phase, a new beginning, a 'new kind of love' (that song started to play!!)

p3.

they will definitely balance you out. i think that for a lot of you they may look tired physically, or worn out in one way or another. it is possible that they work night shifts or have a longer workday than others, or that they're busy; the gym, late at night, for example. they're good at what they do, deeply passionate. those who are in research fields pour themselves into everything they do until they have no identity outside of their passion. many are former gifted kids and oldest siblings that had to be more mature early on, which can be a double-edged sword; they have this safe warmth about them that initially attracts you to them, but when you find out why they're so empathetic, you wonder if it was really worth it. some of you will see a certain person in your future spouse; this can be good or bad, depending on who it is.

for a lot of you, at the first moment you see them, they'll be emotionally unavailable, but then, the second time you meet them, they'll be a completely different person than the first. warmer, kinder. they are most definitely seen as a hero/protector. there's something magical about them, the way they look; most will have a darker complexion/features, and will prefer to dress in monochromatic colors. everything about this person will be extremely neat, and they can be a perfectionist at times. despite this, when you truly get them to open up, they're the brightest person you know.

they don't like rough humor. this person also has a deep resentment of anyone who's mean, and they wield their heroicness as a weapon. they may be a bit odd around women specifically (if you're not one, this doesn't apply to you) due to a lack of feminine energy growing up. they have difficulties opening up, and when they see a figure that THEY can find safety in, they cling to them very tightly. they have attachment issues and hate any instability that can happen, so when plans change? expect that person to be a bit panicky, although they might try to hide this side due to understanding that it can be overwhelming for another person, as well as a defect in their usually shiny and perfect self.

they seem quiet at first, which is why a lot of you probably won't anticipate THEM being the one, out of all people. they're rather reserved, so i think that for a lot of you, there'll be a push by the universe for you to meet. a group project, an accidental conversation. you'll both be drawn to one another and feel a deep...weird connection of sorts, and ultimately, you'll have late night calls that turn into late night sleepovers that turn into living with each other. it probably won't go fast, and for a lot of you, this'll reset your nervous system as you're always rushing. it'll definitely test your patience, but in the long scheme of things, it'll ease your anxiety. this person will be your rock, your pillar.

they're going to be on the smarter side of people, so expect you becoming a listener, but this will feel deeply special, as they're the listener for most people and it'll mean the world to them, to have someone who cares about what they're rambling on and on about. you might recognize that you're something special to them because of the way they look at you; puppy-dog eyed, fidgeting with their hands, and body language nervous, but their eyes will always be on YOU.