#that's the reason i still bother sharing most of the gifs i make instead of just sending them to friends and in discords lol

[assriels]

honeyed temptations

pairing: azriel x reader 

word count: 2.2k

warnings: some smut and suggestive language (mdni 18+ only pls!!), swearing, azriel is whipped for u but is also very stubborn, domesticity/fluff

summary: despite azriel’s relative indifference to most things, he absolutely, undeniably hates the heat. and fucking loves when you wear sundresses.

a/n: continuation of my ongoing headcanon that azriel is actually kind of a stubborn baby, especially with his mate; i have a summer oneshot for cassian coming out soon! <3

masterlist

banners by @/cafekitsune <3

Azriel was fucking furious. It was like the sun had a personal vendetta against him, determined to steal any and all comfort from him as he baked in the hot morning sun in your shared bedroom.

Peak summer in Velaris was nothing to scoff at. Though the Night Court was hailed for the beauty of its moon and stars, the same could not be said for its seasons. It was a solar court and that meant that its moon waxed and waned through the full dearth of the seasons. And summer just so happened to be Azriel’s least favorite. 

Though he could handle the strikingly cold winters the Night Court had to offer — it snowed quite heavily in Illyria, afterall — the heat of the summer was unbearably oppressive. It didn’t help that his current residence was the House of Wind, built high on a mountain cliff where the heat rose and was entirely too close to the sun. Not even the House’s breeze helped staunch his somewhat over exaggerated agitation at the rising temperatures. 

It was still morning, but it seemed that the sun had decided that it would be especially insufferable today, showboating its prowess even at 9 in the morning. 

“C’mon Az,” you implored, gentle hand poking his bare shoulder. “Rhys is here, we have a meeting.” 

He pouted at you from where he was sprawled out on the bed, not having bothered to get up — or put clothes on — despite having been awake for an hour now. He rolled onto his side to get a better look at you, hoping that if he pouted enough you’d have mercy on him and let him stay naked and as cool as possible; the thought of putting on clothes — most of which he owned were black — made Azriel’s head ache. 

“‘s too hot.” 

You huffed a laugh at his childlike petulance. Who would have guessed the feared Shadowsinger of the Night Court couldn’t handle a little heat? 

“You’re being a baby,” you chuckled, sitting on the edge of the bed as you attempted to negotiate with your mate to get out of bed. 

It was then that he took stock of your appearance. You had always been much less bothered by the heat than he was — and much more functional in it — and so your morning routines were never disrupted. You had already bathed and gotten ready, pretty little sundress skimming your curves as the hem tickled the skin on your legs. 

“You look nice,” Azriel noted with a hum of appreciation. Ordinarily, he would’ve reached over and pulled you on top of him to make both of you late for Rhys’s meeting for an entirely different reason, but he couldn’t fathom getting any more sticky and sweaty than he already was, so he resisted. Instead, he opted for toying with the hem of your dress in contemplation.

“Is this new?” He asked, taking in the sweet honey yellow linen and thin straps. You nodded your head and smoothed your hands down your front, fixing the neckline of your dress in a way that had Azriel’s eyes burning holes through your skin. 

“Do you like it? I bought it when I went out with Feyre the other day.” You intentionally left out that you had bought it with the explicit purpose of using it to tempt your mate out of bed, knowing that he always needed a little bit of incentive in the summer. 

Assessing hazel eyes tracked the familiar planes of your body, face lit with an entirely different kind of heat now, “Yeah, I like it.” 

His gaze lifted to yours and you nearly gave into him. The adoration in his eyes and the blush high on the apples of his cheeks was mesmerizing, “You’re very pretty, you know.” 

Azriel’s unfiltered affections for you always made your heart beat quicken, and your attention shifted to his hand resting comfortably on your thigh, thumb drawing innocent circles on your skin. You bent over to kiss him briefly in thanks before patting his hand and getting up off the bed. 

You could’ve sworn you heard Azriel whine in protest, but it was drowned out by the sound of you sifting through the dresser, no doubt searching for clothes to throw his way.

He watched you from his spot on the bed, eyeing the way the hem of your dress billowed from your waist and just barely covered the curve of your ass. He was convinced that he could stare at you for an eternity and still find new parts of you to marvel at. 

Before he could get too lost in his greedy appreciation of your beauty and the stunning way your dress complimented every curve and dip of your body, you were tossing clothes at his face.

“Stop staring and get dressed!” You laughed, “You know Cass is gonna give you shit for being late. Again.”

It was no secret to those closest to Azriel that he was an absolute terror when the summer rolled around. Though it only took a week or two for him to adjust and become begrudgingly functional again, the days leading up to his revival were always a source of great amusement to the Inner Circle. Ah, the perfect Shadowsinger finally reveals his flaws, Cassian would consistently tease.

He only groaned in response, rolling onto his back once again to stare at the ceiling. 

You sighed. Truthfully, you found this side of him endearing – and quite funny – but you knew he had a job to do and nothing would get done unless he was, at the very least, clothed. Sauntering over to the bed, you looked down at him with your hands on your hips. You were met only with a stubborn look in return; you could’ve sworn you glimpsed the ghost of a defiant smirk curving his lips, “Make me.”

You reeled at his challenge. Fine, you would make him. 

The bed shifted as you straddled him on all fours, careful not to let any part of you touch any part of him. His hands came up instinctively to grasp your hips as he didn’t even try to hide his triumphant smile. But you wouldn’t let him get away with it, at least not now.

You encircled his wrists in your hands, guiding them above his head to pin them to the pillow. Both of you knew he could easily wriggle out of your grasp, but Azriel was aware that this was riling you up just as much as him so he conceded. Allowed his beautiful mate to do whatever she pleased.

“Don’t touch,” you commanded in his ear, punctuating your words with a slow swirl of your tongue along the shell of his ear. “If you listen, I promise I’ll be so, so good for you.”

Unexpected emotion flooded his chest as he resisted the urge to break the tension with his affection for you. You were already so good for him. In more ways than he could have ever wanted, more ways than he ever imagined. But he kept his mouth shut, and focused only on the way he could feel the hem of your dress kissing his skin as your mouth nipped at sucked at all the places that drove him insane. 

“C’mon, Az,” you cooed, licking a sinful path up his neck before you blew on his skin, reveling in the way goosebumps rose on his flesh despite the sweltering weather. “Get up for me, huh?”

He didn’t miss the double entendre as you tracked a scathing wet trail down his body, your tongue — frustratingly — the only part of you touching him. He was being difficult and you were making him pay for it by teasing him in ways only you knew how to. Azriel groaned low and deep when your cool breath hit right beneath his bellybutton, abs flexing as he willed himself to maintain his composure. You still weren’t touching him, and he was already embarrassingly hard, body desperate to feel your skin on his. 

His brow furrowed with concentration and lust as he met your gaze right before your lips puckered and you took the head of his cock – pretty and swollen and throbbing just for you – into your mouth. Azriel’s head flopped back onto his pillow as he loosed a long, deep breath, a cross between a sigh and a moan so pleasing to hear that you nearly forgot your initial intentions. 

One well placed stroke of your tongue had your eyes meeting his yet again, all dark pupils and a thin ring of gorgeous hazel. You were the picture of perfect seduction, pretty lips split open on his cock, bent over him in such a way that gave him an unobstructed view of your cleavage beneath your dress. You released him with a sinfully wet pop! as you pulled back and smiled at him, sweet and teasing before you blew gently on his tip. Azriel shuddered.

Oh, Mother above. He was milliseconds away from flipping you onto your back and tearing your godsforsaken dress right off you — or maybe he’d keep it on — but you were faster, jumping just out of his reach and off the bed, as if you hadn’t just addled his mind with fantasies of all the ways he could fuck you in that dress. 

The wicked smirk of satisfaction curving your lips told him that you’d had your intended effect. Azriel was barely able to recalibrate his bearings in time for him to notice you heading towards the door. He sputtered in disbelief, “Where are you going?”

Before you traipsed out the bedroom door, you turned back to look at him, “To be continued, mate. After you get dressed.”

When you shut the door behind you, Azriel could have sworn he heard your giddy, maniacal laughter echo in time to the sound of your footsteps down the stairs. Now he had two problems: 1) he was still hot as the fires of Hell and 2) he was achingly hard and knew he’d have to make a concerted effort not to look too long at you in that dress all day if he wanted to cling to what little composure he had.

He sighed as his shadows swirled around his ears, barely offering any reprieve from the heat. 

Pretty mate. So, so pretty. Everyone thinks so. 

Make that three problems: 3) Cassian would be making innocent comments about you looking so good in that dress just to irritate him. 

The possession roiling around in his gut – courtesy of the mating bond – was his final straw as he scrubbed a frustrated hand down his face. Fucking fine, he would put the damn clothes on. 

☾𖤓 epilogue ☾𖤓

“Where’s that overgrown child you call a mate, anyway?” Cassian quipped after you made your appearance in the dining room for breakfast. 

“Exactly where you think he is,” you laughed over a bite of toast.

“What’s wrong with Azriel?” Feyre implored innocently, “Is he not feeling well?” 

Rhys chuckled and shook his head, “Azriel is not very fond of the summer—“

“That’s an understatement,” you and Cassian mumbled under your breaths in tandem.

“—and it’s a nightmare getting him to do anything in heat like this. But luckily we have Y/N.”

Before your High Lady could ask the question on the tip of her tongue, Cassian stole a piece of bacon off your plate, ignoring the way you protested, “I mean, you’ve seen how whipped he is Feyre. He’ll do anything if Y/N even suggests she wants him to. Az only gets out of bed in the summer because she asks.”

In retribution for your stolen bacon, you speared the rest of Cassian’s eggs and forked them into your mouth before he could inch away from you. You didn’t respond, knowing all too well that Azriel actually would not get out of bed even if you asked, leaving you to resort to other…tactics. 

“I’m not a child, you know.” Came Azriel’s petulant interruption as he greeted you with a brief kiss to your head and the rest of his family with a grunt of acknowledgement, “I can do things on my own, in case you forgot.”

“We’ll stop calling you one, once you stop acting like it,” Cassian taunted.

Azriel’s scoff was his only response as he sat down next to you at the table, plating two pieces of bacon in front of you to replace the one he knew Cassian had no doubt probably taken. You smiled up at him gratefully, and despite the still sweltering heat that had only seemed to have gotten worse as time progressed, he smiled back. 

Feyre was in awe; it was like the heat had melted away his stony exterior, leaving the real Azriel exposed for everyone to see. Feyre met your gaze across the table, a mischievous glint in her eyes that told you she was more than privy to the extraneous measures you had taken to coax your mate out of bed.

“How do you do it?” Cassian not-so-quietly whispered to you. 

“I have my ways,” you responded cryptically with a smirk as Azriel’s hand ventured beneath the hem of your dress, squeezing your thigh.

You would most definitely be paying for your little shenanigan in the bedroom later.  

[freneziwlp]

I hate when you're away

Pairing: Joel Miller x Fem!Reader

Summary: Joel fucks the soreness away.

Warnings: +18 MDNI, smut smut smut ahead, unprotrected p-in-v, fingering, mentions of blowjob, cum eating, begging, horny asf Joel, eating out, daddy kink.

A/n: it's my first weekend with some time off, and what else should I be doing instead of trying my first attempt of writing smut hm hm?! Hehehe enjoy :) also, GIF ain't mine.

" Joel, baby! I'm so sore. " You whine softly as your fingers tenderly caress his tousled morning locks while he spreads warm, affectionate kisses all the way down your abdomen, tracing a path to his intended destination.

" Shhh, just relax now princess, let daddy stretch ya needy lil hole just a bit for his cock, will ya? " His thick accent sending shivers down your spine, leading you into closing your eyes, missing the way Joel spits in his fingers before smearing the sticky liquid all over your still puffy clit from last night's event, rubbing tight circles on the bud and dragging moisture up and down your pussy before shoving two dampened fingers inside you, curling his digits against your spongy walls, feeling you squeezing his fingers inside, your head falling back onto the mattress as you moans his name and bucks your hips against his palm.

Joel had spent a few weeks out due to one of his often travels around the state, doing god knows what with his most faithful partner, Tess. You used to be jealous of their proximity once you realized you had more than a crush on him, annoyed at how close she could casually be around him without making things up as an excuse to get his attention. Thankfully, the jealousy quickly went down the toilet once you found out she probably liked women more than himself did when she boldly hit on you while she was drunk, which you might even had enjoyed if you weren't so focused on seducing her partner.

You were reading a book on the living room's couch when you heard the jingle of keys unlocking you and Joel's shared apartment's door, your back sinking in an somehow uncomfortable position in the old cushions. You dropped your book aside, getting up to greet your man as he had spent long enough away from you, making you all needy for his presence and touch. To your dismay, instead of embracing you with his strong arms and whispering sweet nothings against your hair in attempt to show you how bad he had missed you, Joel didn't even look at you on his way in, dropping his seemingly weighty backpack on the floor, loud thud filling the air, before hurriedly barging in to the bathroom, not even bothering to close the door behind him.

You froze next to where he had just gotten in, not knowing how to react to his awfully unsual demeanor. As a matter of fact, you hadn't even had time to look in his eyes, only taking a hint of his beyond smudged clothes as he stormed away from you. Concern fill your chest as you begin to try to piece the puzzle on what had happened for him to act so distressed. Had the work he went to get done gone wrong? Was he pissed at someone who deared to go against him? You even wondered if Tess had gotten fucking killed by some motherfucking clicker. An assumption that soon vanished once you hear her voice on the other side of your door, talking to someone random on the hall.

Maybe he was just sick of you, afterward. Maybe he had gotten back to his strict and fuzzy way of treating you just like he was when you first got in his and his friend's way.

Unbestknown to you, the reason Joel had ignored your presence was due a fucked up wet dream he had had in the middle of the night when camping in the woods a few days earlier, leading him into waking up with a hard and leaking cock against the restrain of his pants, furious at how he wouldn't be able to take care of it when Tess was snoring right next to him and you were miles away. He tried to ease himself the best he could, struggling whenever he'd revivid the dream where he had you all on fours as he pounded you from behind, squirting on his cock as he demanded for you to cum, referring to him as daddy.

Well fuck, the way he missed your cunt the following travelling days should be forbidden.

The second Joel left his shower he went out looking for you, not bothering to wrap himself up in a towel much less get his body dried. You were sitting down, still in the living room, blankly staring at a random wall when he found you, a hint of regret hitting him when he realized that it was probably his fault you were so quiet but the incessant throb of his cock vanished the concern away. He approached you with loud steps, your eyes widening as you take in his naked form, droplets of water tracing paths behind him and all over his shaped body onto the floor below his feet, your eyes following his whole, parking at his pelvis where his cock was standing hard against his wet stomach, tip glistening with precum. Your mouth went dry as waves of shocks found their way up to the pitch of your stomach landing onto your core, it was safe to say the image of him only took mere seconds to affect you. Joel had his glare stuck on your face, his features harsh and eyebrows furrowed, almost as if he was in pain.

Joel knew that if he looked at you the moment he walked home, all sweet and loving with your big sparkly eyes staring at him, he wouldn't be able to keep his hands to himself as he was in a dreadful need of your mouth on him, but he couldn't give in before taking a long shower, there was no way you would even want to fuck with him smelling like shit. So instead, he chose to ignore you, which wasn't the smartest choice considering you probably would have nasty second thoughts on it, but he would make things up with you the sooner he was all clean and smeeling nice. And boy, did he do.

" Hi there, doll. Have you missed me?" you nodded, speechless. " Well then why don't ya kneel for daddy and show me how much ya missed him, huh? "

The following events were all a blur, your body probably working on auto pilot as it only took seconds before Joel had himself shoved deep down your throat, hands tugging tightly around your hair as he bobbed your head against him the harder he could, desperate to fill your throat with his thick ropes of cum in attempt to get rid of the burning feeling of his need. Which obviously, wasn't enough. After making you give him head he fucked you senseless on the floor, making sure to vividly manevour you in all of the positions he had dreamt of while traveling. You and Joel spent the following hours drowning yourselves in each other's desires until there was no hint of energy left for you to keep going.

That was until he woke you up the morning after, in your shared bed, spreading warm kisses all over your face and neck, engulfing himself into the warmth of your body and silently thanking the heavens for letting him return home safe to your embrace. No matter how much of you he had taken the previous night, his cock didn't seem to take any near satisfaction from it.

He keeps fingering you until the previous soreness you'd been feeling turned into a desperate buck of your hips, wishing for him not to stop, your cunt twitching and leaking as you feel yout orgasm approaching.

" Are you ready for me, doll? " Joel towers over your laying trembling body, bending his torso so he could grab your tits, assaulting your erect buds with harsh pinches. You moans, nodding quickly " Yeah? Then beg for it, wanna hear ya say it "

He knew you hated when he made you beg, annoyed at how easily he could work his way onto your brain and manipulate you into becoming nothing but a slutty whore for him. He knew you hated that you were so easy to succumb to him, not willing to stop once you had it started.

" Oh don't ya try to stop yourself from bein' my bitch now, doll. Your pussy's dying for my cock to get it all wretched " You whimper, your core burning for him.

" Please Joel, p-please... please fuck me! Come on, ugh, I need you inside me already "

Your pleads seem to ignite fire on him as he lowers his face next to yours and smirk hungrily, like a predator scolding his prey. Joel presses his lips against yours in a harsh motion, swallowing your moans. He keeps on clutching on your tits, his free hand lowers to grab his member, holding it against your now drenched cunt. He interrupts the kiss and gets back to kneeling in front of you on the bed, he positions his throbbing cock onto your entrance, bumping on it, eliciting a loud moan from you.

" Mhmm, such a naughty lil bitch for me, all whinin' and beggin', gonna fill you up so good hun' " All of his teasing was growing impatience in you, he hell knows how to drive you insane and would never skip the opportunity of seeing you squirming underneath him " Joel, will you shut the fuck up and fuck me already? For fuck sakes! "

" So much swearing for sucha pretty lil mouth, I think someone's growing mad at me now, huh " He mocked, causing you to growl in annoyance, but before you could complain any further Joel fully knocked himself inside you with no previous warning, thrusting his hips rapidly, both of his hands wrapped around your hips, pushing you desperately against him as his face contorted in pleasure. Your arms pull him against you making his torso bend over again, face falling onto the crook of your neck as you stick your nails into the flesh of his back, scratching and pulling him closer in a way that probably would draw blood from it, which only seemed to get Joel even more turned on as his cock would fuck you harder at each second.

" Yes, yes, yes, FUCK, fuck don't stop, don't stop baby! " Joel smirks, admiring your perky tits bouncing next to his face.

" Such a good girl begging for me. Fuck, ya pussy feels so tight, squeeze daddy's cock harder baby, c'mon " Joel mutters against your neck, his warm lips popping loud pecks and bites on it, you loved the way his beard would scrape your skin while he was fucking you.

" Mhmmm yes, want you cumming inside me daddy, I know you can't get enough of m-me, oh fuck! "

" Fuck, ya know me so damn well, don't ya? Daddy's gonna cum so hard, doll. Where do ya want me huh? " Joel pounds your pussy harder at each sentence, you know he's close from cumming, his hips muscles burning and twitching from how hard he's thrusting his way inside you, loud wet noises filling the air and sweat dripping down his naked back as you keep on scratching it raw.

" I-inside me daddy, mhmm ughh fuck please please fuck... gonna cum, fuck... I'm c-cumming Joel "

Joel tried his best to delay his release, to make the addicting feeling of your pussy swallowing him last the longer it could, but how could he ever control himself when his girl was begging so beautifully for him? How could he resist the thought of cumming so hard inside you that it would make you see stars and scream his name? Joel is addicted to you in ways he had never been with any other woman and his body would always betray him on it. He wouldn't miss the opportunity of bragging about making you cum when himself had jerked off so many times to the thought of it while he was still a mere friend of yours.

Joel growls, emptying himself inside you, cock twitching abruptly as white ropes of cum paint the tight walls of your cunt, your eyes rolling to the back of your head once you reach your own orgasm, jaw hanging open before eliciting a loud whine.

When you're both finished, Joel's body falls upon yours, panting and sweating, his cock softening within your warmth. He kisses your sternum, resting his eyes and listening to your heartbeat.

He pulls his cock out of your hole and you stops breathing for a moment when you feel his hot seed dripping down your pussy, you didn't know if it was the aftershocks of your climax but you could feel something gathering on your lower belly again. You shove one of your hands in between you and Joel's body, your fingers collecting his dripping cum and smearing it upon your swollen clit, making a mess all over it, dragging a low whimper from your throat, which caught your boyfriend's attention.

" Watcha doin' down there, doll? Seems like I'm not the only one who can't get satisfied, huh? "

" Mhmm, seems like it, yes "

" Here, lemme do the work for my woman "

Joel lowers his body all the way between your legs, nipping on your belly until he finds the spot you needed him so badly. You were still recovering from your previous orgasm but there was something about you being covered in his cum that wouldn't let your nerves cool down, you needed him just one more time.

He holds one of your legs and rest it above his shoulder, licking the insides of your thigh before stopping by your pussy, closing his eyes and inhaling your scent, his cock twitching for what it feels like the millionth time since he had gotten back, which almost seemed impossible but honestly, he couldn't care less about possibilities. Joel's jaw drops against your puffy core, his lips caressing your clit in a silent tease, he taste his own juices on you in a delicious mix of musky and sweet.

Lapping up your gathering moist, Joel licks and sucks on your pussy, pressing his tongue right where he knows you would die on the inside, you feel the coil building up again, tousling your fingers in his hair you pull him impossibility closer, bucking your hips on his skillful mouth, he alternates between shoving his tongue inside you and assaulting your clit with circling pressured motions. You feel as if you might explode at any time, wondering when he had learned to give head so fucking well, hints of jealousy hitting you when for a mere 2 seconds you imagine him making other women feel this way, getting interrupted by your orgasm ripping through your body.

If whenever Joel would return from a long trip he would make things up with you by giving you the pleasure of seeing him panting, face covered in your cum and a smirk on his lips after fucking you senseless for a whole night, then maybe it wouldn't be all bad having him away for a lil bit.

[dark-and-kawaii]

꧁༺ 𝒞𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑜𝓃𝑒 ༻꧂

Astarion loses sight of you in a fight, he fears the worse has happened to you. He finds you and manages to bring you back to shadowheart for healing, only to discover he has more to protect than just you…

Angst - Hurt - Comfort - Pregnancy

(Click For Part Two)

You were fearless. He watched as you swung your dagger effortlessly, piercing into the necks of their enemies.

He wondered how you still managed to look elegant even when covered in the blood of fallen warriors.

His gaze never left you for too long, making sure you were safe, while he stealthed around the makeshift arena, racking up his own share of kills. How glorious this was! There was so much blood splattering all around them and with his love at his side it truly couldn’t get any better.

Astarion’s eyes couldn’t be everywhere though, and at some point, he lost sight of you. The last person to recognize him for what he’s worth, the one person he truly couldn’t afford to lose.

His head darted across the battlefield, desperately trying to find you. His panic plunged into sheer dread as fear overcame him. It was happening all over again, he’d seen this before… Alone.. No, please, he couldn’t let this be his fate.

He hadn’t felt fear this whole day; why should he? He was free of Cazador, had you- A subtle manic laugh drew from his throat, he’d never be free of fear, instead of fearing for himself or what his old master would do to him he now feared what would happen to you when in danger.

His red eyes turned a dark shade of black. The expression of a crazy man etched onto Astarion’s face. No, he wouldn’t let fear consume him, no more! He’d finally be the protector! Overcome with fury he went on a rampage. Cutting through the battlefield, slaughtering anyone and everyone in his way, determined to find you. He raced over to where he last saw you, faster than a blue dragon's lightning splits through the air in a storm.

Was he truly going to be the reason you passed on to the next life. Was his fate to destroy everything he held near and dear to his heart? He nearly killed you before with his own fangs and now, no! He wasn’t the cause of that, was he? He hadn’t ever tasted human blood before, but if he was stronger it wouldn’t have happened! If he would’ve ascended he would’ve been able to stop this, however he’s still just a spawn… How could you have fought for his love, a fool who couldn’t even protect you. A fool who was going to be the reason you die.

“FIND HER” He roared at the top of his lungs. “FIND TAV!”

The group of companions didn’t dare hesitate and instantly started searching the grounds, Gale being the second most worried.

Astarion was about to collapse to his knees before hearing Gale's voice, “I’ve found her!” in the distance. It filled him with more apprehension. All he could think is, ’what if she’s dead’.

Staggering up the hill where Gale’s voice had come from, Astarion can see a figure laying in the dirt next to the wizard, “No! You can’t die dammit! Get up!!” he rushed out his words, dismay evident in his tone as he knelt next to you.

“She is unconscious, but alive. There’s hope.” Gale replied.

Astarion let out a shaky breath of relief.

“We must get her back to camp,” Astarion demanded. “She needs Shadowheart, she’s the only one who can fix this!” His voice cracked despite his efforts to mask it.

“I agree.” Gale, mere inches from grabbing you to lift you in his arms until the pale elf stopped him, “Don’t touch her!- I- I will carry her.” Trying to compose himself he lifted you bridal style.

Astarion never left your side during Shadowhearts attempts to heal you. Time never bothered him, not after his 200 years of torment, he waited as “patiently” as he could.

“Honestly, how long does it take! You could at least give me some good news!”

Shadowheart continued to focus on you best she could, everyone including the gods were used to Astarions fits at this point. Gale on the other hand not so much, he could hear Astarion all the way in his own tent which caused the wizard to scrunch his nose. Eventually, leading him to where you were being treated, “Astarion, why don’t you join me in some wine. I’ve got quite the choices, besides… It might be best if we give her some space.”

Astarion scowled, “You expect me to leave her side to join you in some cheap wine? Really? I didn’t think you could get anymore annoying, Gale.”

“It’s done. She’ll be fine after some more rest.” Shadowheart stood from your side and wipes the blood off her hands. She’s been traveling with you and these two men for far too long, toning out their bickering was a skill of hers at this point.

Turning to face you, if his heart could beat he knows it would’ve dropped in his chest this very moment… “Leave us-“ kneeling down next to your bedroll, his eyes fixed on your bandaged wound, “please.”

“I was able to save her,” -Shadowheart bent down towards Astarion- “and the child, but it took most of my energy and resources… Don’t ask for me again for a while. Keep them both safe.”

He was quiet, his eyes wide after the news he was just told.

“Ahhh,” Shadowheart’s voice was surprised, “she didn’t tell you yet? Hmm or perhaps she hadn’t known yet? Curious.”

Astarion could only stare at his love, “A-are you for certain?”

Gale interjected, “I doubt her magic would deceive her, congratulations.”

Dark bruises and cuts decorated your once perfect skin. A deep purple shade surrounded your right puffy eye. His eyes traveled further down your body, stopping at your stomach.

He caressed your still flat stomach, causing you to wince and awake. Retreating his hand, he awaited for your eyes to open and look up at him.

A-Astarion?” You spoke with a small smile carved on your lips.

“Yes, my love. It’s me.” He struggled out, trying his best not to crumble.

You were both silent, hands entwined with one another thankful that you both can spend another day alive in the presence of another.

He was the first to break the silence, “thank you.”

You were so weak, but you wanted to know why he was thanking you out of the blue, “For what?” Your voice barely heard.

“For this,” his hand stretching out to rest on your abdomen, “for giving me purpose again.”

Your eyebrows furrowed, not knowing what he was talking about until it finally hit you. Your arm wavered as you lifted it to place your hand atop of his on your belly. A gentle smile forming on your lips as you stared into his vermilion eyes.

When your breath became labored indicating you had fallen asleep again, Astarion’s attention was back at your torso where the bandage was slowly being stained by your blood. This moment of relief turned to anger again as he lashed out, slapping a metal canister of water out the tent with force. The absolute intrigued him at first, more power meant being stronger to protect you, but now… He was beyond ever considering it again. The cultist not only almost killed you, but the child growing from within you!

“How dare they…” He seethed, “How dare they harm her and my child!”

Astarion was pacing around angrily, how could he have allowed this to happen? He started to blame himself.

“Astarion-“ You spoke up, attempting to calm him down.

“I’ll show them, my love-“ he cut you off, “that nobody is allowed to touch what is mine.” He growled.

His eyes darkened again: “I’ll make them pay.”

[paperultra]

the liminal space.

Pairing: OPLA!Roronoa Zoro x Reader Word Count: 1,575 words Warnings: Swearing, mentions of alcohol use [A/N: written with the cooper!reader from mise en rose in mind. i don't know where in the timeline this occurs, though. lol.]

cingulomania (noun): a strong desire to hold a person in your arms

Living in close quarters can really change how you see a person.

Roronoa Zoro, for instance, had always struck you as rather aloof, having traveled alone for some time before you joined him, and unused to physical affection. He never gave any indication that he was one to enjoy it, and he never sought it out from anyone. That certainly wasn’t odd. You respected his tendency towards personal space, subsequently believing that it extended to his sleeping habits as well.

So when you wake up, hardly able to breathe underneath the hulking mass of a snoring swordsman, you are more surprised than anything.

“Zoro,” you wheeze, patting his back with the hand that isn’t crushed between his chest and yours. Nothing happens, so you swat harder. “Zoro. You’re crushing me.”

His arms squeeze around you as he stirs, inhaling sharply next to your ear. You stop moving as he lifts his head and opens his eyes just wide enough to register you beneath him.

He pauses.

Good morning, sunshine is what you want to say in a cheeky tone. You want to prove that you’re unaffected by the warmth of his body pressing yours into the mattress, the sensation of his breath across your cheekbone and the way his gaze transitions from something bleary into something sharp.

The greeting refuses to leave your mouth. All you can do is blink.

The next thing you know, Zoro’s rolling off of you and out of bed with nary an apology, mumbling something about going to the bathroom.

You hum distantly in response and stare up at the ceiling as he shuffles to the door. Once he closes it behind him, you reach up and fold your hands over your eyes, cheeks hot.

Great.

—

It all started because you and Zoro could only afford a single bed at the inn.

(You use the term “afford” loosely here. The truth of the matter is that you grossly underestimated how much a room would cost, and the owner of the one place willing to lend you a room for half the usual rate demanded physical labor to make up for the rest. Given that Zoro would be spending most of his time hunting down a bounty, the majority of the unpaid labor fell on your shoulders.)

(But you digress.)

The room is small and bare, which is fine, because you and Zoro don’t have much between the two of you anyway. The only problem is that there is only one bed. Zoro had expressed no qualms about sharing so long as you didn’t disturb his sleep, and you had readily agreed, not wanting either of you to sleep on the floor.

After the first morning, you’re not sure if that was a lapse of judgement on your part or not.

Zoro doesn’t mention it at all before he leaves for the day, and you don’t, either. However, when he comes back in the middle of the night and you’re already in bed, squinting and shielding yourself from the bright hallway light as he takes his slippers off and walks in, he sits on the carpet just a few feet away from your side.

“What are you doing?” you ask as he proceeds to lay down.

“Sleeping.”

He closes his eyes and folds his arms behind his head. You frown.

“Why aren’t you sleeping up here?” No answer. You lift your head from your pillow, indignant. “Hey, don’t ignore me! I know you’re still awake.”

“I’ve had a long day,” he grumbles, “so I’d like some quiet so I can sleep. Thanks.”

You huff.

The thought that Zoro might actually be just as embarrassed flits briefly through your mind, but you extinguish it just as quickly. He’s never seemed like the kind of guy to be self-conscious about those kinds of things. A more likely reason is that he’s decided that he wants his own separate space after all and can’t be bothered to kick you off the bed.

So, you kick yourself off instead.

“What are you doing?” The phrase now comes from Zoro as you throw the covers off and grab your pillow, kneeling on the ground beside him. His eyes open and his brow furrows.

“Take the bed. I feel guilty.”

“I don’t want the bed.”

“Everybody wants the bed.” You lie down on the carpet and cross your arms over your chest, stubborn. “I’ve already slept in it. Now it’s your turn.”

“You’re an idiot,” Zoro says.

Neither of you budge.

The next morning, you decide that the first morning was in fact not a fluke, as you awake with your face smushed against his chest and the smell of steel in your nose once again. He’s not on top of you, at least, but the way he clutches you while you’re lying on your side, one ankle hooked over yours, is somehow ten times more mortifying. You wake him up in the midst of untangling yourself and pretend like nothing happened.

Who’s the idiot now? (The answer is both of you. Both of you are idiots.)

—

The third night, you and Zoro flop onto the hard mattress with twin groans, heads spinning and feeling overall miserable.

“That was the shittiest booze I’ve ever had,” Zoro slurs next to you, face down in his pillow.

“But you got a lead, right?” you mumble.

“Yeah …”

You had been there in the bar when he’d gotten that lead, but you can’t remember what it was for the life of you. Another inn? Another bar? Ugh, you’re never drinking there again.

“I’m cold.”

There are blankets on the bed. Unfortunately, getting underneath them would require a lot of moving, and you are physically incapable of exerting yourself that much right now.

You shiver and turn onto your side to curl up. You’ll fall asleep at some point, anyway.

Zoro murmurs your name.

“Hm,” you groan, eyes screwed shut.

He doesn’t say anything in reply. But you hear the mattress squeak, the bedsheets rustle as he shifts closer, and your breath catches when the small distance between you closes. He does not wrap his arms around you, no, but your knees touch, and the heat from his skin melds into yours. You hear his breathing slow to a crawl.

Through your drunken haze breaks through a sudden need to draw him into you, to tuck your face into his neck and keep it there forever. You want – you want. But you’re exhausted, and your head aches, so you find yourself slipping into a deep slumber instead.

He’s already gone when you wake up.

—

A suspiciously lumpy gunnysack in the corner of the room catches your eye once you enter, hand over your mouth to stifle a yawn.

“What’s in the bag?”

“Eight million beri,” Zoro says from his seat on the bed. Cleaning supplies for his swords are strewn around him, and he sheathes the Wado Ichimonji as you close the door. “I ran into another bounty on the way back.”

“Eight mill –” You clear your throat. “Wow. That was pretty lucky.” Eight million beri. Sometimes you wonder if you’ll ever get used to how much bounty hunters can make. (God, that would’ve been more than enough to pay for the room.) “We’re heading out to a marine base tomorrow morning, then?”

“That’s the plan.”

He puts away his supplies, setting them and his swords against the wall near his pillow before standing up to pull down the sheets on his side. You turn off the bedside lamp and do the same, crawling in with a sigh.

The two of you simply lie side-by-side until you decide to break the silence with your big mouth again.

“Am I a burden to you?” you ask.

“No.” The plainness of Zoro’s tone is a small comfort, you suppose. “Why are you asking?”

“Well …” You already regret bringing this topic up as you trail off, biting your bottom lip. “I feel like I haven’t really done much. I mean, I help with navigating and searching crowds and stuff, and I’ve been getting better at fighting, but I can’t help you, you know?” You fiddle with your fingers. “You don’t actually need me.”

There’s a gap between you and Zoro that you’ll likely never be able to close. You had always known that, and so had Zoro; in fact, he had told you at the start that going with him was a bad idea, given your inexperience in bounty hunting and traveling in general. And although you’d like to think that your ability to read a map and fix things convinced him of your usefulness, there are times when you think Zoro regrets bringing you along. Like now.

Zoro grunts, turning to lay on his back. His shoulder nearly lands on your hands, and you draw them to yourself as you wait for his answer.

It is brief and straightforward.

“I’m not forcing you to go with me,” he says. “And if you were a burden, I would’ve told you a long time ago.”

“Oh.”

It is brief and straightforward, and yet, there’s a strange lump in your throat. You swallow it and nod, even though he cannot see you do so.

Nothing more is said. However, as the night goes on, you reach out, and you find him, and Zoro finds you, and the space between your arms fills up with warmth and an unspoken promise. And you sleep very well.

[rebelliousstories]

Pretty as a Peach

Relationship: Cooper “The Ghoul” Howard x Reader

Fandom: Fallout

Request: No

Warnings: Fluff, Strong Language, Brief Angst

Word Count: 1,322

Main Masterlist: Here

Fallout Masterlist: Here

Part Two of: Peachy

Summary: There’s something odd about this girl that had started traveling with the duo. But it does give Lucy a peak behind the curtain on the Wasteland’s most notorious partners in crime.

“Rise and shine babies!” Someone screamed right as the light started to filter into their shelter for the evening. Lucy groaned as she stretched, before rubbing her eyes and looking around. The same woman from last night, the one that The Ghoul called “Peach” was still there. She shook awake the man next to her, who merely grumbled.

“‘M tired, sweetie. Just go back to sleep.” He said, voice thick with accent and sleep. Cooper reached a hand up and removed his hat from his eyes to look at where the offending noise came from.

“You said we’d leave at the break of day. Don’t tell me you forgot already, old bones?” She teased, bending over to place her hands on her knees.

“I’ll show you old man.” Howard growled, and swiped for the woman. But she stepped back and giggled maniacally at his failed attempt.

“Come on. I wanna get this show on the road.” And she left without another word. Her two new companions were made to catch up to her as she left. Thankfully, neither one had bothered unpacking much which made the whole process easier. Lucy watched as Cooper marched forward and slowed his pace once he made it to the woman.

The vault dweller was fascinated by what she saw on their journey through the day. She saw a different side of The Ghoul that she was traveling with. Not going as far as to say sweet, but definitely caring. As they walked, Lucy saw the pair in front of her sharing food, water, and on occasion, words. It was not until a familiar four legged friend came up that their words became loud enough to be intelligible.

“Oh, who is this?” She knelt down to the dog with a dead iguana in her mouth. The pup’s tail was wagging at a hundred miles an hour at the attention, while the woman scratched behind her ears.

“That’s DogMeat. Ain’t mine, but stays with me I suppose.” Cooper drawled, looking disinterested in the animal, but his partner knew better. Yet, she said nothing about it.

“Well, hello DogMeat. I’ll let you have breakfast.” The woman stood back up and watched the dog for a moment more, before resuming her pace. DogMeat stayed behind for a bit, just long enough for her to tear into her meal, before she rejoined the trio. This time Lucy got an even different view of The Ghoul.

Occasionally, his hand dipped down to find the dog he claimed not to care about, delivered a passing pet, and then retracted it. Usually at the same time, his other hand would search out the peachy woman next to him before, also, retracting. Lucy could not hear the words spoken between the two, but she could see the gestures. When she complained about the sun, and shielded her eyes with her hand, Cooper reached up and placed her hat on her head. If she was fanning herself, he would reach into his pocket and give her his canteen.

But she also did things for him that made her have hope for civilization on the surface. Whenever he began to pat himself down, she would reach into her own bag and give him a readily available chem for his inhaler. If Cooper rubbed his stomach and reached for his canteen, she would hand him some jerky instead. They took care of themselves, as well as each other. Lucy knew that if she were to ask, they would both say that this was just a partnership born out of necessity. But if there is one thing she had learned on the surface it is that people just do not stick around other people unless there is a deeper reason.

She saw it in the way they sought each other out as they walked. If they moved through difficult terrain, he would always make sure that it was safe for her to move first. As the night grew closer, and the cold came in with the night, Cooper kept the woman closer and closer until they found shelter. The trio found themselves a little barn type structure to stay the night. It was open save for one set of door, but it was better than sleeping in the elements where you had no idea someone was sneaking up on you until it was too late.

Cooper looked around the area as he set down his saddle bag. Peach came over and set down the hat on top of the bag before setting out to explore. She made her way all over the dilapidated barn, careful not to break the barn or herself. It was not until she tried to climb to the hayloft that The Ghoul stepped in.

“Don’t you go climbin’ woman. You gonna get yourself hurt, Peach.” He groaned, watching her pause briefly in her efforts.

“I’ll be fine.” She shot back, already resuming her climb. Her journey was successful as she safely made her way into the loft, and poked her head out off of the side.

“See? I’m fine. You should come up, Coop. ‘S got a good view.” And she rolled out of sight. The man sighed heavily, but followed her request much to Lucy’s astonishment. She watched him climb the same rickety ladder that Peach had climbed just moments before. Staying down on the ground with DogMeat, the vault dweller began to gather things that they would need to start a fire for the evening. Light faded fast as she finished building the flames up to a point that they could enjoy it. A little bit later, the duo came down from their loft. Hay stuck to her hair and his duster, but no one had made a noise so Lucy was not sure what they were doing for the last hour.

“Come here, DogMeat.” She called,and the canine responded. Her head rested in the woman’s lap as she scratched her nails over her fur. The pup closed her eyes and eventually fell asleep in her lap, to which she gushed over.

“Oh this is just the cutest thing ever.” Peach cooed, careful not to raise her voice and wake the dog.

“Yeah, she’s pretty cute.” Lucy agreed, watching them in their moment. Both women turned to the man with them simultaneously and looked at him with hopeful faces.

“It’s a dog. Whatcha want me to say?” He grumbled, knees up to his chest and head bare from his hat.

“Oh, don’t give me that, Coop. You think she is adorable.” Peach leaned her body into the side of the ghoul next to her, who merely shot her a look, to which she ignored.

“Okey dokey. I’m going to go to sleep. Goodnight you two.” Lucy proclaimed, setting up a little palette a bit a ways from the fire. It was close enough that she could still feel the heat, but far enough away that she could give the couple their privacy.

“I kinda like that Vaultie, Coop.” The woman sighed, keeping her voice to a whisper as she gazed at the young woman that was now asleep.

“Ain’t nothn’ special ’bout her. ‘Cept her last name. Pain in my ass most of the time.” He replied, finding his eyes on the young woman as well.

“I was that ‘pain in the ass Vaultie’ once. Remember?” Her question made The Ghoul pause before he responded.

“Yeah I do. But now, you’re my little peach girl. Pretty as one too.” Cooper dropped a kiss to her hair and slung an arm around her while she settled in to sleep. They laid together, with her tucking herself in closer underneath Howard’s duster. As they drifted off to sleep, Lucy laid awake. She could barely make out what was being said but it was interesting to her enough that she would have to ask about it. The Ghoul’s Peachy Girl was a former vault dweller.

[justsomegdude]

Hate or Lust?

Summary: Y/N and Negan get separated from the rest of the saviors for a few nights.

Warning: Negan is a warning himself, swearing, tension, sexual tension.

A/N: I randomly made this with my boyfriend on call! I hope it’s good!!

You’ve known Negan for a while, you were one of his first members. He always seemed to be annoyed by your presence, he enjoyed your work but not you as a person.

You were getting ready to set out with Negan, and a few other of his higher ups to go check out a few abandoned buildings that Dwight said he saw. Of course Negan chose you to go with him. He enjoyed how hard you worked, and how much you’d do for everyone. He didn’t bother to talk to you though.

You walked up to Dwight, slinging your bag over your shoulders. Dwight seemed to have a scowl on his face, never lightening up since Negan burned the side of it. He looked up at you as he fixed his sleeve. “How far away are they?” You had asked and slid your hands into your pockets.

He looked out towards the gate. “…not far away. maybe an hour at most?” He glanced at his sleeve, and then looked at you again. “Big boss making you go?” Dwight knew about the whole thing between the two of you. Dwight was honestly one of your best friends here, so if he didn’t see it himself you would have told him anyway.

With a nod of your head, you heard more footsteps on the gravel ground, slow dragging footsteps that could only belong to one person. “Hey dwighty-boy! You ready?” He stood behind you, looking towards dwight. You turn around to look up at him, which he did not return.

Dwight glanced between the two of you until you looked at Dwight. “Uh.. Yeah.” He wasn’t gonna say anything more, but noticing how there was tension creeping up into the air as Negan stayed put behind you. “You gonna ask the (lady/him) too?” Dwight’s eyebrows furrowed. He knew Negan well enough to know that he’ll never talk to you unless someone mentioned it.

He finally looked down at you, it was your turn to not do it back. “Hey.” His voice was firm, he obviously wasn’t going to enjoy this. You turned your head and looked up into his eyes. His usual smirk wasn’t ever shown when he looked at you. “You ready?” Was all he said, looking up at Dwight again. Your stomach clenched and you looked at the gravel covered driveway. You don’t know what you did to make Negan hate you so much, but it wasn’t a nice feeling.

“yes.” You spat out, it might come off as disrespectful, but Negan doesn’t want to waste time even punishing you. Dwight could be heard entering a truck. Negan stayed behind you, he didn’t make a plan on moving. You heard footsteps behind you from other men, but thinking it was Negan moving you spun around. Then, Negan instead of The Sanctuary in your view had you step back. He looked at you, by choice.

“Watch it, Y/N.” He said firmly, talking with gritted teeth. He held Lucille loosely as he still did not move. His eyes stayed on yours. Your stomach flipped, he never chose to talk to you, or even look at you without reason. So to say you were nervous was an understatement.

Taking a step back, you were the first to stop the staring contest. “Yes sir.” You said, in a quiet voice as you started walking towards the truck you had usually taken, although never keeping the same passenger. You didn’t look back at Negan, but his eyes could be felt on you still. Hopping into the truck with the keys, twirling them before sliding them into the key slot.

Your view was out the window, waiting for the other saviors to get into their trucks. You weren’t sure who was gonna be in your car with you today, so you waited. The door opened which made your eyes dart towards the passenger door, expecting anyone but him to show up. He got into the passenger seat and slammed the door shut. Your eyes on him but his eyes on the trucks in front.

You were now gonna have to share a truck with the man that seemed to hate your guts.. Negan. His leather jacket was on but it was now unzipped, Lucille was set on the floor in between the door and his knee. Your truck was the last in line so for him to be joining you, especially as he’d choose anyone but you, it was weird and not like him. “The other trucks were full.” Negan's voice was heard as you realized you were staring at him. Your eyes went back to looking out the window.

“Okay.” Was your response, you weren’t really sure how else you could even respond. The trucks in front of you started so you started your own. Negans presence made an uncomfortable tension. You and him weren’t heads on, but there was an underlying feeling of hatred.

The gates opened to the sanctuary, the few trucks leaving and you started your drive behind them. Usually with whoever your seating partner was there would be at least noises, but with Negan.. There wasn’t even a peep other than the truck's engine being heard. You guys were driving for about an hour like Dwight assumed when the trucks in front came to a slow stop. We arrived and Negan seemed to want to leave as quickly as possible, not even letting you stop the truck completely before he jumped out with Lucille.

You exit your truck after turning it off. Rounding the truck to get to where the other saviors were standing. It seemed like everyone didn’t care to wait for you, but Negan didn’t move until you were close enough to follow. There were two groups of us, although not discussed and just went either way, you weren’t sure which group to follow so you went to the one with Dwight, that just so happened to be the one with Negan.

Entering the house that Dwight chose to go in, someone that you didn’t bother to learn the name of stayed at the door for guard. The room you automatically walked into was the living room, where it looked mostly untouched other than pictures that were clearly taken off the wall, by the fact there were nails left behind. Everyone went into seperate room to search, two in the living room, one in the kitchen, one in the dinning room, and Dwight went into the bedroom on the first floor. Since all rooms were occupied you went up the stairs to go to the first room you saw. It was rather quiet other than the small chatter from the saviors down below. Looking through drawers you found nothing but clothes. Walking over to the bed to look in the nightstand, there were gauze(bandage wraps) which you quickly pocketed for yourself. Hoping no one will notice.

There was a voice from behind you, where the door was. You looked over to see Dwight. “Hey Y/N, find anything?” He entered the room, by how he sounded, he didn’t see you hide the gauze for yourself. You closed the nightstand drawer and stood up.

“Nothing but clothes so far, i’ll keep looking though.” You nodded and went to the other side of the bed to look at the other nightstand. Pulling the drawer open to find batteries, which has you picking them up and throwing them at Dwight. He almost didn’t catch it, he fumbled a little. “Sorry thought you were paying more attention.” I smirked, it was silly banter we did.

Dwight found it funny and finally cracked a smile after how long you’ve seen him without any emotion. He put the batteries in a bag. “Knew you’d find something.” Dwight said and walked towards the door. “Negan said that he doesn’t want to stay here too long, since he thinks he saw a few walkers.” You just nodded at him.

“Thanks Dwight.” You thanked him and he left the room. Taking a quick look around the room to see if there could be any more places to look, not much to look for as this room seemed to be the most bland. Taking a walk around the room before getting onto your stomach to look under the bed. There was liquor. Pulling it out to see what it was you heard footsteps and slid it back under the bed quickly.

You looked under the bed still, pretending like you hadn’t rodin anything. “Y/N.” Negans voice heard, it was a stern way to say your name, and it instantly made you uneasy. Why was he suddenly talking to you so much? “I heard something, what was it?” You looked up at him from where you were laying to see his eyes not at your face, but somewhere around your body. You sighed as you grabbed the liquor, and stood up to show him. Negan quickly smiled when he saw it and took it from you. “Damnnnn. Nice find.” He seemed happy with it, maybe he’ll act like he hates you less. Negan snapped for one of the saviors to take the liquor and bring it to your truck. His hand went to your shoulder, and it made you instantly freeze and you don’t know why. “I’m gonna have some funnn tonighttt,” His tone was bouncing-like. somewhat energetic. “because of you, Y/N.”

Negan then left and it made you speechless. He’s never smiled around you, not talked, not touched, not even looked at you most of the time you’ve known each other. There was nowhere else to look in the room so you left the room. Everyone was already outside taking the stuff they found to the trucks when one savior started to scream about a herd coming. You and Negan were left in the house and tried to run towards the door only to see the walkers already starting to surround the house. Negan saw this as you tried to run out the door and he had quickly grabbed on to your shirt and pulled you against him. “shh.” Negan said quietly. He was protecting you?

The trucks were heard driving off and negan cussed under his breath. They stranded us here without worrying if we were okay or not? Negan's grip is still firm on your shirt. Not letting you move, which made you feel the need to not move an inch. Negan's arm wrapped around your waist as he slowly pulled you back so you weren’t in view of the windows. Why would he care so much about you all of the sudden? “Negan..” You whispered. Which then led him to putting his hand over your mouth.

Negan kept you pressed against him, his arm around your waist and his hand over your mouth. You were hiding from any windows, to not be seen. Everytime Negan heard a noise his hand around your waist got tighter just slightly, but once knowing it okay he loosened his grip. You were unsure how to react to all of this, so you stayed still. Why Negan was protecting you so much was beyond what you knew. Your knees slightly trembled because of the nervousness with both the walker herd and Negan.

When Negan thought the coast was clear he slowly let go of you, but you didn’t move. He leaned down next to your ear. “Y/N.. I think we’re good.” Negans voice was low, he tried to tell you to move it in a way that made it seem less rude. You nodded and stepped out of his reach and towards the door. Your hand went to the doorknob as you tried to react calmly after what Negan had just been doing to you for minutes. When you finally opened the door there was a walker that wasn’t heard or seen and came walking towards you, Negan quickly pulled you back and hit the walker into the door frame. blood and brains dripping from the now dead.. dead guys head. Negan was protecting you left and right now, which only made you confused.

Taking a look outside to view around for anymore close walkers, and when there were none you and Negan quietly ran towards the truck. You didn’t know how to get back to The sanctuary.. You always were following behind a truck that knew where, but you didn’t. “Negan.. Do you remember how to get back?” You looked at Negan and somewhere along the line of when you were checking for walkers and now, Lucille was with him.

He quickly looked at you. “No?! you don’t know?!” He was more nervous sounding than angry. He cursed under his breath. “All I know is we came from that road..” Negan had pointed at the road that you both knew you guys drove down. Starting the truck and driving towards the road. “Those pieces of shit. How could they just leave?!” His hand hit the dash and it made you jump. Negan looked at you before trying to calm down.

—————

It was hours after then and you and Negan had no clue where you guys were. Ending back up at the houses since you’d been marking where they were at least, made you realize that you both were fucked. Your truck was almost out of fuel and it was getting colder. you didn’t dress to be out this long.

Your truck was parked at the side of the road while you and Negan had reentered the looted house from earlier. There was only one blanket that you always kept in your truck just in case.. so you had agreed Negan used it, although it wasn’t much of a debate since you knew Negan wasn’t gonna let you have it.

He was on the bed in the room downstairs and you were on the couch out in the living room. The colder the night got, the more you shivered. Asking Negan for the blanket wouldn’t do anything, but you had to try. Standing up from the couch and taking a slow stroll over to the bedroom, the door was open but you knocked anyways. Negan wasn’t asleep but he was close to being. “What?” Negan said with a quiet, raspy voice, clear on how tired he was.

You took a step into the room. “It’s really cold.. and i was wondering if i could have the blanket..?” Asking Negan a question felt scarier than it should have.

He sat up and faced you. “fuck.. fine. but you’re staying in this room with it in case I want it back.” He agreed and unwrapped the blanket from around himself and threw it at you. You didn’t want to push anything so you wrapped it around yourself and you were going to sit on the floor before Negan spoke up again. “Don’t be an idiot. Get on the bed.” His tone was a low grumble.

You hesitantly sat on the bed next to him, wrapped up in the blanket. At times like these you wish that there were more things to do than sit in silence, but without music, or drawing supplies, no games, it was all very boring. Negan laid down next to you, covering his eyes with his arm.

It was awkward, in the same bed as the guy that you used to think hated you, but now that he saved you twice you weren’t sure. You could feel the annoyance radiating off of him with how he was acting. “You didn’t have to give me it, you know..” You spoke quietly. This made Negan uncover his eyes to look at you.

“My leather jacket is enough to keep me warm, don’t worry about it.” He put out, turning over on his side with an audible groan. You kept sat up for a little while so it didn’t look like you were copying him, until you also laid down. Cuddling up with the blanket as you pretended he wasn’t there, so you could ease your mind into sleep faster.

—————

Waking up in the morning, your blanket was still around you, but you felt another thing on you. You looked over at Negan only to find out his arm had been wrapped around you while you both slept. Maybe Negan accidentally moves a lot in his sleep, and would most likely hate waking up with him touching you at all, so you try to quietly and gently move his arm off of you. What you didn’t expect was his arm to tighten around you. His unconscious form wouldn’t allow you to move his arm off of you.

The only thing you could do was wait for him to wake up. Which obviously took longer than you’d wish. He most likely fell asleep after you then. Waiting for him felt unnecessarily long, because all you were doing was lying there silent and still. Probably ten minutes you were sat there with his arm wrapped around your waist until you felt him move, a small noise coming out of him as he finally took his arm off of you and sat up completely. To not make it seem like you were awake, you waited a little longer. He got up and walked out of the room, which made it perfect for you to finally ‘wake up.’

The blanket you used, you left on the bed. You didn’t need it as much anymore since it was day and it would get warmer out. Walking out of the room a minute after Negan did, you saw him looking out the window. “Hey Negan.” You said getting a little closer. He turns around to look at you.

“Hmm?” He hummed and looked back out the window. “Hi?” He questioned why you asked, understandably so since you guys usually never talked.

“Do you think they’ll come back for us?” Your question made Negan clench his jaw and face you again.

He looked at you for what felt like forever before he finally answer. “They better.” Was all Negan came up with. You noticed that he was getting upset, so you took that as a sign to shut up. You looked out the window as well to see what Negan happened to be looking at. There wasn’t anything out there, must have been just hoping for them to come back.

Negan and you were waiting around almost the entire day doing nothing. Since the saviors that so rudely left you took almost everything from the houses nearby there was next to nothing to actually do. You ventured into the other houses but again, all were looted by the people who left you. No sign of them even coming back yet.

You were outside laying in the grass looking up at the sky that was slowly getting darker. Negan was standing by you, you couldn’t tell if he was watching you or just watching for anything in general.

“you look dumb.” Negan spoke up, looking down at you. Which made you look up at his direction.

“I don’t see you finding anything to pass the time.” You glared, although not really fun it’s better than nothing.

Negan nods, “Yeah, and i don’t see any food on the table either, so maybe help me find some before it’s too late?” His statement made you stand up and wipe your clothes from any collected dirt.

Looking over at him, his eyes were closed. “Yeah? and how do you expect to find food? we’re not hunters.” Your statement made his eyes open. (Daryl randomly appears and hands them squirrels -Ray)

Negan stared at you for what felt like minutes yet again. His eyes weren’t only on your own, but seemed to go up and down, what felt like judgement. “I mean if they don’t come back, we’ll need to find food somehow.” Negan finally broke the silence.

“Well no duh Negan, we aren’t just gonna let ourselves starve??” Your hands go up as you shrug, annoyed. Negan’s eyes went to the ground. You sighed. “Well if we can’t hunt, since we both don’t know how i assume, how do you expect us to find food?” You said, a more logical reply.

Negan looks around. “We’ve only been around the houses we’ve already taken from, we can move out more. See if there’s anything around?” His question was reasonable, probably the most reasonable thing he’s said all day.

You walk over to the truck, which has Negan following you. As you both get in the truck and you start it, you don’t really know where to go from here. So basically the rest of the day was spent driving around. Not much talking happened yet again between the two of you, like two kids that hate eachother but the teacher paired you up anyways.

“Stop.” Negans voice was heard suddenly which made you stomp on the breaks. More or less the sudden noise scared you. “Jesus christ not that fucking’ fast!” He glared at you for your abrupt stop.

“You said stop randomly, what would you have done?!” You glared back at him. Negan ignored your comment and got out of the truck. Were you to follow him?

Hoping out of the truck to see why Negan had left, was a mistake because he started taking a piss. You sighed and walked back to the truck. He could have at least told you why, so it wasn’t weird that you followed him. Negan noticed but said nothing. You looked around the place Negan has forced you to stop at, seeing if there was anything other than woods… there wasn’t.

As you make it back to the houses from earlier.. yet again.. you found nothing nearby. Your truck was almost out of fuel, and you didn’t have any food. If Dwight doesn’t come back soon it’s gonna end up with one of us death, if not both. Making your way back inside had Negan basically pacing. This was the first time you’ve seen him actually nervous.

Walking over to him had him stop and look at you. “Are you.. okay?” Was the only thing you could think to ask. Negan sighed.

Negan nodded and began to pace again. Although you could tell he was lying, he also wanted to be seen as a ‘fearless leader.’ So of course he’d pretend. “Those fuckers left us, and they didn’t even come back!” He exclaimed, as if you didn’t know what was happening. You came up to his pacing self yet again and gently grabbed his arm to get him to quit pacing.

He stopped and looked down at you. “It’s just us. You don’t have to pretend you’re alright.” You quietly said. This made Negan let out yet another sigh.

“Okay, I’m not fine, alright?” He was still looking down at you, and your hand was still holding onto his arm. “How can i be a leader when my group isn’t with me!” He sounded frustrated.

“I’m still here.” You said which made Negans facial expressions soften. “You’re still my leader, Negan.” With what you said made Negan finally break the eye contact.

You both stayed silent, in the same position for a minute. “As much as I love being a leader, with only one follower it’s not easy.” He finally spoke up. It was your turn to sigh.

Your arm gently slid down his arm to his hand. “As much as you seem to hate me, be annoyed by me, even hate being around me. You’re not alone here.” You paused, he didn’t seem to pull away from your touch at all. “We’ll make it back to the sanctuary, you’ll be your usual leader self again. You can go back to hating me then, but for now, instead of treating me like you can’t stand being around me, let me help. Talk to me.” You spilled out what you’ve wanted to say all day. It was dumb to say half of the stuff you just said, but you had to tell him. You couldn’t stand seeing him pretend to be okay while he’s clearly frustrated and nervous. He’s your leader, and for him to be one he needs someone to follow him. You will be that someone.

Negan was speechless as he looked back up at you. You stared at eachother for minutes before he finally said something. “I never hated you.” This caught you by surprise. He paused. “You being one of the best saviors had made me nervous. That maybe someday you’d think you’re better than i was, so i avoided you.” His eyes fluttered closed, and his face scrunched up as he paused yet again. “You were always one of the best, ever since you joined the group. And it’s not an excuse for me to have been such an asshole towards you after all you’ve done for me. I’m supposed to be your leader, but i’ve treated you like absolute shit.” His voice became shaky when he finished. His eyes opened again.

You didn’t know how to reply at first, I mean what could you even say to all of that. You thought of anything else you wanted to say, about you two, or about how he felt. “Negan..” You whispered his name so he’d look at you. “I let you lead me because you’re a good leader. Even if i thought you hated me the entire time, everyone has a reason for a wall to be built up. To hide certain people away. I never once doubted you as a leader, because I know I couldn’t lead. especially not as many people as you do.” This made you both squeeze eachother hand. You wanted to continue but you didn’t originally know how do you waited until words came to mind or Negan spoke.

Without a word from either of you Negan opened his mouth to speak. “I didn’t only build up a wall for you because i thought you’d take my place. There was something about you that i noticed right away.” He paused. His body turned to face you more directly. “I saw how brave you were, how you could defend yourself, and i wanted you in my team. But when i got you.. I messed up. I’d have been better to you if I didn’t think the way I did, or feel the way I do.” He seemed like he wanted to say something specific but he couldn’t.

You rubbed at his hand. “Negan, take your time. We’ve got plenty..” This small remark made you both smile softly. Negan just nodded.

His eyes closed for a moment before he looked directly into your eyes. “After my late wife died, i thought i wouldn’t like anyone. I was wrong.” Negans voice was quiet but firm, whatever he was getting at meant something. The fact that he mentioned the one person he swore to never mention.. made this even more emotional for the both of you. “What i’m trying to get at here y/n… is that I think I might like you. And that’s why I wanted to act like I hate you, to hide the fact I fell for someone after Lucille.” His eyes never left yours, so yours didn’t leave his.

You stared at eachother for moments until you felt your cheeks heating up. How did you feel about Negan? He was rude but you always like him.. “Negan.. I can’t say I like you yet. But i’m willing to try.” Your reply made Negan smile, and go to hug you. As you were hugging for what felt like forever you heard tricks outside. Which made Negan hide you behind him as he looked out the window. It was the familiar trucks, The saviors were back.

Getting back to The Snactaury, you and Negan got to finally explore what was talked about when alone in that house together.

TAG LIST!

@pinchofhoney

@starstruck-loner

@rome-writes21

[runnning-outof-time]

Hi K! I have another prompt I’d like to send in. This time with Tommy. “I believe this is yours.”

I also decided to make you something so be prepared to expect something soon!

Hi Daisy! Thanks for sending this prompt in also! I hope you like what I’ve done with it - I had the temptation to be a little devilish with it….I hope it makes sense! Sorry I got a bit carried away with it too…. Enjoy! :)

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

Part of my 3.5k Celebration — find more stories here!

From Another Angle

Tommy Shelby x Reader

Warnings: some suggestive actions…nothing graphic

Word Count: 1318

Summary: (Y/N) takes a different approach to get Tommy Shelby to change the way he runs his factories.

(Y/N) walked confidently across the factory floor, making her way directly to the office where she knew she’d find the man she needed to talk to.

She didn’t bother answering the man who questioned her presence. Instead she asked a question of her own: “is this Mr. Shelby’s office?”

“Ye-yes, it is. But why are you here, ma’am?” the confused worker asked, but he was not answered.

(Y/N) simply nodded and made her way to the closed door. She knocked on it, turning the knob and opening it before the man inside could call for her to enter.

The entrance that was made had Tommy expecting to see one of his family members. Upon looking up, he was surprised to see a woman he’d never met before. “Can I help you?” he questioned, his eyebrows raising as he removed the glasses from the bridge of his nose.

“You can,” (Y/N) answered, making her way to one of the chairs that were positioned in front of his desk.

Tommy watched her all the way in, his eyebrows still raised as she took a seat, crossing one leg over the other as she then stared pointedly at him.

A staring match ensued, neither wanting to be the first to break the silence. It was like they were sizing each other up; trying to work out the others motives and weak points.

Eventually, (Y/N) spoke: “I was sent at the request of Jessie Eden. You know her, don’t you?” she asked, her one eyebrow lifted in intrigue.

“I do,” Tommy answered with a single nod of his head.

“She’s a comrade of mine. We’re in the fight together,” she then explained the connection between her and the aforementioned woman.

“Well a friend of Ms. Eden’s a friend of mine,” he played cordial with her.

“I wouldn’t be so quick to assume my friendship, Mr. Shelby,” (Y/N) warned him, her red lips curving up into a smirk as she spoke.

“What can I do for you…?” Tommy trailed off, hoping she’d fill in his blank with her name. He also took this time to run his eyes over her figure, certainly not missing the fact that she was dressed for this occasion, her blouse and skirt tailored to her frame nicely.

“(Y/N) (Y/L/N),” she happily shared with him, “I want to speak to you about the prospect of equal pay for the women who are employed in your factories.”

A scoff left Tommy’s lips upon hearing the reason for her presence. He shook his head slightly before waving his hand, “what I said to your comrade still stands, Ms. (Y/L/N). I have no time, nor care, to negotiate.”

Most would have caught the abruptness in his tone and left right there, but not (Y/N). No. She was ready for the fight…truthfully, she was hoping for it. “I know what fields of business your family and yourself are in, Mr. Shelby. I know that you are well off and that you have enough money to own the whole of Birmingham, yet you are pitting your workers against each other, cutting the men close and the women even closer to wondering how their families will eat. Something needs to be done about it.”

“If I needed help figuring out how to run my factories, I’d ask for it. Now, Ms. (Y/L/N), if you could please…”

“Mr. Shelby, your 12:30’s here,” the same man that had directed (Y/N) to the office announced as he stuck his head into the room. Tommy looked past (Y/N) for a moment, nodding to the man before he stood up from his head. (Y/N) stayed seated.

“I have a meeting,” he said in a matter of fact tone.

“I wasn’t finished,” she bluntly replied.

Tommy raised his eyebrows at her answer, his mouth opened slightly as he tried to get a read on the woman in front of him. She clocked his stare, smirking under the intensity of it. He rested his knuckles on the desk then, his eyes still focused on her as he hoped she’d crack under his gaze.

“Mr. Shelby,” the man chimed in from the door, cutting into the staring contest that was happening.

“Tell them I’ll be done in a minute,” Tommy responded to the man without removing his eyes from (Y/N). For once, the huff that came in response just before the door shut didn’t bother him…right now he had other things in mind.

“Jessie Eden told me about you, Mr. Shelby,” (Y/N) finally spoke, her smirk still present as she stood from her seat to move even closer to him.

“And what did she say?” he questioned, intrigue flashing in his eyes.

“She said you had a peculiar way of going about business…that you’re not below going down avenues that others wouldn’t dare to even think of in order to meet an end,” she elaborated, setting her palms on the desk so the she could lean forward, knowing that she’d give him a better glimpse of her cleavage as she did so. She loved that his eyes dropped to her chest almost instantly.

“Why did she send you, Ms. (Y/L/N)?” he asked, his eyes flitting across her figure again, getting stuck on her dark red lips for more than a moment before returning to her eyes.

“I thought that it’d be beneficial to try things from a another angle,” she answered, leaning even closer. At this point, they were close enough to feel each other’s breath.

“What’s your angle, eh?” he questioned, intrigue present in his tone. His fingers were itching to reach out and take hold of her chin; to hold her in his grasp and secure the upperhand in the situation they both know was coming. But he kept them on the desk, his knuckles now white from how hard he was pushing them down.

“I am also not below going down those avenues to make sure business gets done.”

A smirk was present on (Y/N)’s lips as she closed the rest of the distance to press her lips to his, hooking him into a searing kiss. Tommy allowed his hands their freewill, wasting no time in taking hold of her jaw so that he could deepen the kiss. (Y/N)’s hands were busy finding something else.

Despite his grip, she was still able to break away from him. He let her face slip from his grasp, his hands dropping down to grab the desk again.

“Not bad, Mr. Shelby,” she commented, looking at him through hooded eyes as she ran her thumb along her bottom lip to make sure the her lipstick wasn’t messed up. She took a quick glance down at her other hand before letting out a breath of a laugh. “Oh…” she trailed off as she looked back up at him, “I believe this is yours,” she stated, holding a packet of papers that had the breakdown of wages written on them. It was the same packet that she managed to grab amidst their exchange.

Tommy opened his mouth to speak, a dumbfounded look now present on his face. Seeing it made (Y/N)’s grin grow. She now had the upperhand, and he knew it.

“I’m going to be taking a look at it…to make sure that us women get our fair pay,” she said before turning from the desk and walking to the door of his office, making sure to sway her hips as she went.

(Y/N) exited the office without another word being said. The grin stayed present on her face as she walked away knowing that she’d just left one of the most powerful men in the city speechless.

“Mr. Shelby’s ready for his meeting now,” she announced to the man who interrupted her earlier, her grin growing as she saw his reaction.

Damn, she was having too much fun with this.

Tagged: @mystcldydrms @the-anxious-youth @cloudofdisney @look-at-the-soul @elenavampire21 @mrsalwayswrite @julkaamazing @evita-shelby @lilyrachelcassidy @notyour-valentine @shelbydelrey @theshelbyslimited @peakyswritings @just-a-blackhole @watercolorskyy @strayrockette @peakyduchesss @alexxavicry @captivatedbycillianmurphy @yummycastiel @dark-academia-slut @tommystargirl @emotionalcadaver @stevie75 @lyarr24 @signorellisantichrist @zablife @anotherblinder @cillmequick @dandelionprints @letal-y-poetica @gypsy-girl-08 @insanitybyanothername @depxiety @raincoffeeandfandoms @dragons-are-my-favorite @dlmlufics @forgottenpeakywriter @cljordan-imperium @brummiereader @areyenotfondofmelobster @everythingelseisextra @little-diable @thomashelbyswife @shaddixlife

MASTERLIST

[sammiknowss]

His Own Little Secret

Louis was laughing happily in a bar, voice still a little scratchy, and comfortably cross faded. 

He and the guys had been lucky enough to have a bit of a break between shows, and they just so happened to be in Tampa, so they spent the day lounging on a yacht just off the coast, enjoying drinks and a bit of weed, before they came back to shore to party for the night.

They had decided against going to one of the more exclusive clubs, mostly because they all spent the day out on the water, and none of them were willing to clean up and dress up to get in. Instead, with a bit of research, they found a hole in the wall spot that was full, but not packed, and most, if not all, of the patrons didn’t seem to know or care who he was. 

He was sitting in a booth, facing the door, sipping on his Vodka Redbull when the door opened, and a small group of girls filtered through. They seemed to share his and his band’s sentiments, if not to a more extreme level, as he could still see the straps of their swimsuits under their still-damp clothes. 

The girls were fit, but relatively unremarkable, so he tuned back into the story that Oli was telling. Oli had just gotten to the good part when they passed back behind his booth once more, and one of them caught his eye. 

She wasn’t his type, really. He tended to go for the overly thin, leggy, model types for a one-off, and with his son and his tour, he hadn’t had anything deeper than that in a long while. 

She was thin, sure, but in a sporty way, with strong, slim legs and a tight little ass that he took a moment to admire as she walked with her friends in search of a booth. Her hair was pulled on top of her head in a long, curly ponytail, and her skin was sunkissed, cheeks a little pink (from a sunburn or alcohol, he didn’t know).

She was cute. 

She wasn’t really his type.

But something about her made the cogs in his intoxicated brain spin. There was something about her…

He stared, unabashedly for a moment (luckily without her noticing) before one of the guys took notice.

“Which one?” Michael asked, tipping his head in their direction.

“Oh,” Louis answered, dropping his eyes from her, and tracing the condensation from his glass that left a ring on the dirty table, “it’s nothing.”

“It’s obviously something,” he muttered back, squinting into the group, like that might help, “been staring for longer than you ought to.”

“One of them is just familiar, I think…” he trailed off, staring her down for a brief moment before it clicked.

“Shit! I got it!” He exclaimed, slightly too loud, “she was at the show last night, second row of seats, looked like she hated it.”

Luckily, the din of conversation in the room covered for his shouting. 

More often than not, Louis didn’t fixate on one or a few people at his shows, but something about this girl had caught his eye enough to make him check back a few times, and she genuinely did not seem to be enjoying herself, like, at all. 

He honestly didn’t have anything against her if she did hate it, or hate him, but something in him wanted to be a little shit. He wanted to go bother her and get to the bottom of it. 

Louis moved to get up, but Michael stopped him, “Where are you going, asshole?” He asked, somewhat fondly. 

“Gonna talk to her.”

“You just said she didn’t like you, mate.” Michael was a voice of reason. We all need friends like Michael.

Louis was, admittedly, a little drunk, but he got up anyways, and Michael didn’t actually stop him.

As he approached, she caught his eyes, and blinked a few times, seemingly trying to make sense of what she was seeing.

“Hello,” Louis led with, only to be met with silence, as she looked back to one of her friends desperately. Her eyes were brown, and it seemed that she had at least put on eye makeup to make her doe eyes pop before coming to the bar. It was light and simple, but it made her eyes hypnotic. Louis didn’t think brown eyes could be that enticing.

He waited patiently while the girls communicated silently before one of them pushed her towards him and walked away.

“I’ll go on if you want me to, love.” Louis said, taking a sip from his drink, “but I’d love to buy you a drink and find out why you didn’t like the show last night.”

Her already pink cheeks darkened a shade, and she nodded silently.

Mixed signals at best.

She truly hated him, but she wanted a free drink?

He was a bit confused (he’d blame it on the alcohol), but followed her to the bar like a lost puppy anyways. 

“Hey D, what are you - what the actual fuck?!?” A girl leaning against the bar began to greet her before she spotted him.

Louis watched as the back of her head bobbed up and down silently.

This girl, it seemed, was a much bigger fan of his, as she gave him a beaming smile and reached her hand out around her friend, who she had called “D.”

“Louis,” she greeted, a little breathless, “my name is Eliza, it’s actually kinda crazy to meet you. We just watched you play last night.”

Louis took her hand in his and shook it for a moment, “I know.” 

“You know?” She said, a little too loudly, “what the hell does that mean.”

“You guys were close, right? Just past the pit?”

Eliza’s cheeks flamed red, and the other girl, the one who initially caught his attention, used the distraction to slip away.

“Yeah… we were.”

“So what brings you here?” He asked, tipping back his drink and swallowing the last bit. He waved at the bartender and pointed at his empty glass with a kind smile.

“Okay, sure…” the girl narrowed her eyes at him, “but I feel like I should be asking you that.”

“Smart girl,” Louis touched a finger to his temple, tilting his head to the side, “I’m here because I had a show yesterday.”

The girl laughed a little too loudly, “I know that. I was there, remember? What I meant was, why are you following D to the bar?”

“Oh,” Louis said, nodding to the bartender as he handed him another drink, “I just wanted to figure out why she didn’t like the show.”

Eliza’s reaction was almost comical. Her eyes widened, and she pursed her lips in a cartoonish manner. Louis was fairly certain that if she had taken a sip of her drink, she would have spit it on him.

“What the hell do you mean?” 

She only paused long enough to turn and look at her friend before looking back.

“No. No. D’s just shy and has major crowd anxiety. She loved the show. She was one of the ones that really wanted to go. Paid for some of our tickets and all.”

“Oh.” Louis said, a bit dumbfounded. It made sense. Why would she have been so far up if she hated him. No way the tickets were cheap.

“She honestly doesn’t want to be here either,” Eliza tipped back her drink, “funny how all this worked out.” 

Louis agreed, tapping the rim of his glass to hers gently, “too right, you are.”

They both watched her for a moment as she stood with their friends. She was smiling, only slightly, as one of their friends made a dramatic display of throwing darts at a dart board, “I’m gonna talk to her, yeah. At least apologize for judging her too quick.”

“Go easy on her, please.” Eliza said, putting a hand on his shoulder, “she really does love you, and if you’re an ass, it’ll ruin her more than most others.”

Louis was mock offended, pointing to himself, “me? An ass? Never.” 

They laughed together for a moment before he more sincerely muttered, “of course I’ll go easy on her.”

She gave him a beaming smile as he walked over to where the girl, who’s name he still didn’t know… perhaps it was Dee?

“Slipped away from me there, love.” He announced his presence as he approached from behind. She turned to look at him, eyes wide and a bit panicky.

“Can we talk?” He made sure to keep his voice as quiet as he could, gentle, approachable.

The longer he was in her presence, the more he felt like he was unprepared to handle whatever mental turmoil she had going on. She reminded him a bit of a flighty deer, or maybe a rabbit.

So he didn’t expect what happened next. He didn’t expect a small, cool hand to be thrust in his direction with the silent command of, “follow me.”

Despite his better judgment, he took her hand, and glanced back at his group one more time before following her out the door of the bar. 

He halfway expected for her to stop there, with the night air blowing around them, but she didn’t. Keeping his hand in hers, and staying half a step ahead, she led him on a quick, albeit questionable, walk. 

They passed through an alleyway, and between some fences that he was almost certain was private property, before he found himself on a quiet beach. 

She paused to take off her sneakers and socks, picking them up and holding them in her hand before stepping into the cold sand.

Honestly, the sea at night was not one of Louis’s favorite things. What was once a beautiful, shimmering blue-green, was now an angry, churning of inky black.

She dropped to the ground, sitting in the sand and pulling her knees up to her chest. She wrapped her arms around them and rested her head on her knees as she looked up at him, a bit wide eyed.

Louis stood, probably looking stupid, for a moment before he joined her, looking out at the water.

There was a silence between them, for a minute or two. It probably would have been uncomfortable, if not for the weed and alcohol in his system. At the present, he was happy to sit next to a pretty girl on the beach.

After a bit, she spoke, voice hesitant and barely audible over the waves, “I didn’t hate the concert. I promise.”

And, God, did Louis feel like a dick. 

“I know, love,” he attempted to soothe, “your buddy sorted it all out for me.”

He watched out of the corner of his eye as she deflated, body relaxing, grabbing a fistful of sand and allowing it to slip between her fingers.

“So, tell me about you, then,” he keeps his voice light. 

He doesn’t know why, but he wants to talk to her. He wants her to feel comfortable in his presence. 

She lets the shortest giggle escape her lips before meeting his gaze very seriously, “You cannot be asking me that.”

“What do you mean, love?”

“You are a rockstar. You have performed with the biggest boy band of all time. You have played venues all over the world. Shouldn’t you be telling me about yourself?”

It was the most words she had managed to string together, and it was sass. Louis was proud.

“That’s precisely why I want to know about you. You already know about me.” He paused for a moment, and when she didn’t speak, he prompted, “Start with your name.”

“Delilah…”

It seemed that all of the attitude drained out of her body and was replaced with nerves once more. Louis wanted to touch her - to calm her down in some way. In any other world, he wouldn’t be able to, but in the darkness, with the sound of the waves hitting the shore, he reached over and placed his hand on her shoulder, gently pulling her into his side.

She was stiff in his hold, but he didn’t relent, muttering a ‘keep going’ as he rubbed his tattooed hand up and down her bicep.

So she spoke.

She was in school, college, in the area, but was from another state. She didn’t allude to which, but Louis was fairly certain it was one of the southern ones based on her light accent.

She liked dogs, which Louis made sure to congratulate her on. Her favorite color was yellow, and Louis’s concert was the second concert she had been to.

The longer she spoke, the more she relaxed against him, and it felt good. Louis didn’t often like to admit that he wasn’t the biggest or strongest bloke around. Often, girls were about the same size as he was, but Delilah was quite petite, fitting perfectly against his form.

There was something about this girl, Louis thought, gazing into the night with a comfortable silence falling over them. She was relatively unremarkable. Sure, pretty enough, with killer hair, but she was just generally average. And it was a breath of fresh air. It felt like forever since he had met a girl that reminded him of home. But something about this girl did. 

A girl in Tampa, Florida, of all places. A girl who could not be further from home. But for some odd reason, she felt a bit like home.

Louis had no idea how long they sat in the sand. He should have pulled his phone out of his pocket and checked, but he wasn’t willing to do anything that would disturb the precious bubble of peace that he had managed to find. 

It wasn’t until she was shivering against him, the cool mist coming off of the sea doing nothing to help, that he decided that it was time to make their way back to the bar. He was certain that Oli was probably losing his shit looking for Louis, and he could only hope her friends were looking out for her.

“Okay, love,” he said, breaking the tentative silence, and giving her one more squeeze, “we should probably get you back to your friends.” 

He reluctantly took his arm back and stood, offering a hand to help her stand.

When she stood, eyes sparkling in the light of the moon, Louis was overwhelmed with the urge to kiss her.

Quick. Just to see what it would be like.

But it had been a while since his last drink, and he had sobered up a bit. 

And, with a sinking feeling, he knew. This was it. He would never see sweet Delilah again, and it wouldn’t be fair to her to do that. It wouldn’t be fair to make her think that there would ever be anything between them, even if she did brighten his mood substantially as the evening went on.

No. Instead of following his instincts, he pressed the softest kiss to her forehead, and clutched her hand a little too tightly as she showed him the way back to the bar.

When they got there, Oli was outside, pacing frantically as he made calls. As soon as he saw the pair coming towards him, he shook his head, said something into the phone, and hung up. 

“Where the hell have you been?!” Oli scolded, “we have to be on the road in an hour!”

Louis just shrugged and let go of Delilah’s hand, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his chest. 

She seemed to be struggling too, though, as she gave him a forced, closed lipped smile that didn’t reach her eyes, and started walking down the road.

A better man would have made sure she made it home safe.

A better man would have gotten her number so he could check on her in the morning. 

Louis was pretty quiet for the rest of the night, even after they had boarded the bus, and were traveling at about 70 mph down the interstate. He sat quietly, nursing a mug of chamomile tea (which he honestly thought tasted terrible, but he needed to sleep). 

When Oli asked what happened, he didn’t tell him. Delilah was his now. His own little secret that would stay tucked into his chest.

[bunnysdollette]

˖ . ݁𝜗𝜚. ݁₊ you start living your best life when you stop taking everyone else’s shit. let’s just be real 💭🎀

‹𝟹﹒HOW TO LET GO OF OTHER PEOPLE’S THOUGHTS ABOUT YOU

Hey everyone, it’s me bunnysdollette and this is my secret hideout where I ramble about the events of my life while simultaneously trying to share my advice with you on how to get your shit together aswell. This is completely raw, super-introverted, awkward, anti-social thought daughter shit. This is the only corner of the Internet I feel safe being 100% myself and I’m glad to be sharing that side of me with you today.

Anyway, today’s subject is going to be on learning not to take anyone else’s shit and learn to start putting yourself first. The way you carry and regard yourself ultimately determines how others will view and treat you in life.

As always, my inbox is open and I’m still on the hunt for moots. Getting back into blogging has been so fun and I’m really enjoying it so far. I’m looking forward to meeting new people through this blog. So let’s be friends! I don’t bite. Just remember I’m a minor and I don’t tolerate weird shit either.

‹𝟹 HO, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY

If you are constantly comparing yourself to others and living in a world of paranoia and frequent embarrassment just for showing a fragment of your true self, you will in turn cultivate an environment that is harsh and unforgiving because you have written this code into your mind that says that will be the result all the time no matter what.

We are all human and we are all imperfect, but in order to reach our full potential we have to take our suffering and mistakes and in turn use them as helpful tools for acquiring our dream lives. What has happened to you in the past was truly terrible, but without that you wouldn’t be the person you are today. It sounds cliche, but it’s true. If we are constantly living in a fantasy world, then there is no opportunity for personal development or growth.

Everything is okay now and things will only get better from here. You have to realize that now you are taking the time to invest time in yourself, soon you will experience much happier moments and achieve bigger and better things. Never doubt yourself. ☆

‹𝟹 HO, IT IS WHAT IT IS

You should never worry about what others think. I know it sounds much simpler in theory, but it’s the golden rule of anything that you have to learn to be a more successful and level-headed person. If you are happy and your needs are fulfilled, you shouldn’t give a fuck about what anyone else has to say because they are just looking from the outside in. They are a stranger to you. Their opinion doesn’t hold any value, and your life will go on despite their comments.

Here is how you should look at things. The reality of it is that most of the things you think others think about you are just in your head. I went at my school for years thinking everyone secretly hated me, but that wasn’t the case. I was making it up.

Most people didn’t really have a reason to dislike me, I’m generally liked and regarded as a kind and pleasant person and I know I deserve that. but I would take small interactions and blow it up and overthink. When I started to say negative things to myself, I would notice them coming true. When I would come the next day and instead put more effort into my studies and ignore what others may think of me, I feel much lighter and things generally work out.

Even then, I know people dislike me for whatever reason but it doesn’t bother me anymore because I know who I am and I’m too focused on my own life to cry over it. I can’t change how they feel about me. I can only change what’s in my control. Everything else is just what it is.

thanks for reading

[parkerflix]

—high hopes

ethan landry x gn!reader + hint of chad meeks-martin x gn!reader

wc: 0.8k

genre: angst, love triangle, open ended ending, e2l & f2l, e2l is one sided thought yk the vibes

synopsis: ethan held out hope that his thoughts were wrong.

a/n: for like the 3 people who asked for a part 2 to i hate u <3, ily ! also i am opening requests! send wtv my way and i’ll try my best!

taglist! @l5byrinth @knightinshiningdenimjeans @pedrettilov3r

ethan had always had an inkling of a crush on you. it wasn’t something you had seemed to be aware of, and he was grateful that you weren’t. unlike him, he was perceptive on your feelings & the feelings of others around him.

so when he had introduced you to his friend group, his interest was piqued when chad, the nicest one out of all of them seemingly disliked you.

he hadn’t bothered to confront chad about it, mainly because he just seemed to steer clear of you. ethan knew it bugged you, and you weren’t sure how to fix it. he didn’t want to tell you that chad was acting that way because he liked you, that might just ruin his chances.

he was always acutely aware of how you tended when chad came into the room whenever you were over, or how you would try to converse with him and get chad to join whatever you were doing. ethan figured you acted like that to try to get on chad’s good side, never quite understanding why you weren’t liked by him.

today was different than most days, you hadn’t come over due to having an impromptu study session with mindy. ethan understood that you were busy, but he was missing your presence in the dorm. you were over more often than not, and if you weren’t at his place you was at yours instead.

he was laying on his bed, trying to write his philosophy paper when he heard the jingling of keys. chad wasn’t aware, but ethan had managed to make you your own copy of their key. turning his head, his heart swelled with hope that it was you, coming over even though it was later than you normally came.

unfortunately for him, it was just chad, giving him a wave and closing the door. he was busy seemingly on the phone with someone, dropping the bags of takeout on their wobbly table.

chad made his way over to his bed, flopping onto the mattress, and ethan just eyed him curiously. chad finished his conversation and hung up, taking a quick glance around the room, a frown appearing on his face before it was replaced with a nonchalant look. ethan had caught the frown, not wanting to confront the bigger man.

“where’s your friend?” chad asked, catching ethan off guard.

ethan made his way from the bed to the table, rummaging through the takeout bags. chad had picked up italian (your favorite). he saw at the bottom of the bag what presumably was your food, your favorite from the restaurant.

“uhm, they’re with mindy for a study session.”

chad let out a hum, going back to his phone and letting the conversation die.

ethan grabbed his food, sitting on his bed, fiddling with the container lid trying to sort his thoughts.

“do you like them?” the words had left his mouth quicker than he could register it.

“what?” chad quickly looked up from his phone, eyeing ethan.

“it’s a simple question, do you like them?”

chad rolled his eyes, sitting up on the mattress.

“no.”

“you’re a horrible liar.”

“what does it matter anyways?”

ethan stilled at the question. he had known you for what felt like forever, and he had yet to make a move. he wasn’t even fully sure if you shared the same feelings, not with you focusing on chad every time he was near.

“it just matters.”

“that’s a shit answer dude.”

“and?”

“you can’t just question people if they like someone out of the blue for no real reason.”

“it mattering is reason enough.”

chad exhaled loudly, a sign he was starting to get agitated.

“it’s really not, do you have something to say to me?”

“do you like them?” ethan asked, hoping to get a truthful answer out of his roommate.

chad ran a hand through his hair, quiet for a moment before answering.

“not that it matters, but i do. but i’m not expecting nor do i want something to happen.”

ethan knew chad was lying with that second statement, he had seen the way chad secretly took care of you, not wanting you to know. he let out a sigh, running his hand over his face.

“i knew it. fuck why do you have to like the same person i like?”

both of them got quiet after that, a beat of silence before they both heard the sounds of your tamogachi keychain, signaling you were there.

you opened the door, and waved to both of them, neither one of them moving. after closing and locking the door, you made a beeline for the table, picking up your food.

“my favorite! you guys are seriously the best.”

chad had a pained look on his face, making your heart clench for some reason. ethan seemingly had enough of whatever moment you were having with chad, grabbing his coat and walking out the front door, muttering something unintelligible.

you stared at the door, not knowing who you should check on, whether it be ethan or chad.

[aliveinacoffin]

Deja ya de llorar

Shoto x GN! Reader

You've had a very bad day, and you're very tired, and you have a very cute husband.

little angst/very comfort, mostly fluff ^*^

The front door swung open harshly before it was more gently clicked into place. The decoration hung on the outside knocking back in protest.

You violently kicked your shoes off, not bothering to put them neatly back in their place in the shoe cubby that rested against the wall. Trying to get on with the settling down process, you went through the motions of hanging up your jacket, not noticing that you missed your mark and instead, it fell miserably to the floor.

"I'm hooome." You sighed, barely loud enough to be heard from the front door to the kitchen. You then limply tripped over the side, flopping down hard on the couch, squishing your face on the plush cushions.

There was silence in the house, no sounds of music or the TV playing. Most notably, no sound of your husband. Usually, he was out in the dining room doing papers or just otherwise bumbling around the house. Sometimes he'd meal prep or work out or even just be doing some D.I.Y project. But today, there seemed to be an absence of him. Which, wasn't a big deal, both of you were heroes, having met each other in class 1-A. Ever since you two had just been inseparable, clung together like magnets. Still, he made no mention that he would be working late.

You sighed and flipped over to your back, and took your phone out of your pocket. Lazily, you dialed his work phone and waited for him to pick up.

"This is Icy-Hot. I'm not available right now, reach either my assistant, partner, or me at a later time. I apologize for the inconvenience." The familiar one-toned voice you had gotten used to bleated back to you, and the phone beeped to leave a message. You made a confused noise before moving over to his personal phone number, the one that not many people had.

Just as the call was going to send you to voice mail, he picked up. "Hello? Is everything alright?" Shoto's voice called out to you, concern lacing his voice.

"No," You sighed, exhaustion taking over you slowly, unable for you to fight it much longer, "You weren't home and I was just making sure you were alive."

He chuckled, "Well I am don't worry. I'm on my way home soon, just another big battle in Tokyo, and you know how traffic can be." He sounded happy and content, and jealousy filled you at his ease.

"I hope it went well, and I'm glad you're safe. I love you, get home soon."

"It did, I'll tell you more at home. I love you, I'll see you soon."

The call disconnected, leaving the house in silence again. Suddenly, without even prompt or major reason, tilled filled your eyes and you were left breathless.

You were so tired, your body and mind so worn down that everything was moving too fast for you to keep up. Your eyes stung all the time, and your joints ached, body screaming in protest for running on fumes for so long.

You also had so many hard cases this month, a tsunami had hit the east, and because of the shortest of pros, you had been sent down there to mitigate the damage. The things you saw only added to the pile of horrors that kept you up at night. Lost little girls, old men torn apart, and young men crying in the middle of the street would haunt you for years to come. The paperwork and reconstruction that took weeks to finish, on top of commission work and public work, you were left beaten and bruised.

You cried yourself to sleep on the couch, too tired to change out of your civilian clothes or even move yourself to a comfortable position to find even a restful sleep.

___________________________________________

When you woke up, crusty, thirsty, and hungry, you found yourself in your shared room. Pictures of you and Shoto decorated the space, along with your different families and friends. Books, papers, and other small trinkets littered the room. When you came home after being away from a work trip, it always made your heart warm and fuzzy at your cozy living space, knowing you shared it with the person you loved the most.

You heard soft music from the downstairs, and slowly you drifted out of your bedroom. (You were also pleasantly surprised to find yourself in soft pjs.) Peeking out, a smiled crawled on your face at the sight you were blessed with.

Shoto, still in his hero outfit, was swaying softly to a soft song that you recognized, Hijo del corazón. While doing so he was making your favorite comfort meal. Both of you always had each other's comfort meals prepped and ready to go in case the others needed it.

"Have I ever told you how much I love you?" You said sleepily, hooded bagged eyes looking at him with ease.

Shoto turned to you, jumping a little in surprise before he completely melted under your gaze.

"Yeah, you tell me every day you love me, plus, I get a daily reminder you do every time I wash my hands." He tapped to the ring on his finger, the pale moon gem that was the centerpiece. The weight of your sun ring reminded you of both your vows, in sickness and in health.

"True, but I super love you." You walked closer to him, nuzzling against him while he kept busy.

"I love you, hard day?" He asked, and even though his eyes were on the food, you knew you had his full undivided attention.

"Hard month more like it. I'm just glad we're almost done though." You sighed, dragging your feet to grab a glass of water. Your heart filled with warmth when you saw your respective bachelor party cups.

"I'm glad, I miss you at home." Shoto said almost pouting.

"Just a little bit more recon, and a smidge more paperwork and I'm back to a normal work schedule. What about you though?" You asked, eyeing him up and down with a raised eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" He turned to you, looking at you with his own raised eyebrows while he carried the food to the table.

"You're still in your hero suit, you didn't change back at the agency." You said that the answer was the simplest thing in the work. In truth, it kinda was.

"Oh," He looked down at himself, embracement suddenly flooding his cheeks. "I was just in such a rush to get home, I guess I didn't change." He started to eat with you.

"Why the rush? I'll always make it home." Or try to, at least.

"I missed you, plus, I have a surprise." Shoto suddenly got up, walking over to the kitchen to grab a fancy-looking velvet box.

"Sho' I don't mean to break your heart, but we've already gotten married." You laughed quietly at your own joke, turning in your spot to follow him.

"No not that. I know you don't really like jewelry, but I saw it and I just had to give it to you." He had you the box gently, placing it in your awaiting hands.

You looked at him before tenderly peeling open the box, and a gasp escaped your lips when you saw what was inside.

It was a beautiful golden heart-shaped locket. The design it had was stunning, on the front was an open sort of caged design, and you could see the inside of the locket through it. Around the mini heart-shaped window was a winged sort of design with small bridges on the side. On the back were two interlocked hearts surrounded by leaves and little tiny snowflakes.

When you peeled it open, it was your guy's wedding pictures. But it wasn't one where either of you were fake smiling. Instead, it was you ugly laughing with your eyes closed and leaning toward Shoto. While he had the widest grin ever looking at you so tenderly it made tears spring to your eyes.

"Oh Sho', it's beautiful. Thank you so much, I love it." You stood up to bring him into a tight hug. He hugged you twice as hard, resting his head on your shoulder.

"Of course, I hoped you'd like it." He whispered.

"I love it, thank you so much for being here for me." You sighed into his arms, the warm embrace he protected you into would always bring you inner peace.

God you loved this man, and you knew he loved you ten times as much.

[faelapis]

so i watch wwdits. and i gotta say. that was the worst episode i've ever seen of not just this show, but maybe any show. ever. wow. i'm actually impressed with how bad it was.

i'm considering doing a more serious dissection of how Not to do a character arc or narrative framing. but for now, let me just share some general thoughts:

undoing guillermos vampirism totally shits on his character arc of standing up for himself and taking what he wants regardless of the morality of it. i hate it and it sucks.

also, the reasons make no sense. guillermo has had zero problem killing people until now. the roundabout way they try to explain it, like wow, he could smell someone's shampoo and imagined him picking it out and felt their mutual humanity... why would that not apply to any of the other people he's killed? he's even had somewhat of a relationship with some of them. yet all he's ever done when they die is give a distressed frown AT MOST.

guillermo is a killer and always has been. lately, he's even proud of it. that has, metaphorically, been part of him "embracing who he is."

but what bothered me even more was nandor. we all know this situation (guillermo being turned by someone else) is his fault for neglecting turning guillermo for 13 years... but instead, everything is framed as guillermos own fault for having someone else turn him. like - look at how mad you made nandor, guillermo. look what you've caused, guillermo. look what you made him do.

which, yikes. i feel like i dont need to say how bad that is.

even worse than nandors jealous rage.... i really hate the stupid condescending "forgiveness" afterwards. thats actually worse. like guillermo was right to be meek and apologetic for this, like it IS something he needs to be forgiven for. but its "okay" now because nandor "forgave" him. lets just move on. no need to interrogate nandors entitlement over guillermo.

you can argue theres the unstated idea that nandor is overreacting. sure. we, the audience, dont want guillermo to die, and thats part of the irreverent way the show treats death and killing.

but still, yknow?

i feel like i'm taking crazy pills, because the real question isnt whether nandor should "forgive" guillermo. in this context, guillermo has done nothing wrong. nandor totally reneged on their agreement as vampire-familiar. guillermo is supposed to serve nandor, and in return, nandor is supposed to turn guillermo. but he keeps not doing it, and in general being shitty towards guillermo. so guillermo takes matters into his own hands.

that COULD be a great character beat. it could confront nandor with his selfishness, and this uneven power relationship where he gets guillermo to stay by not fulfilling his promise.

but the question of whether guillermo should forgive nandor for not turning him, or for throwing a fit when someone else does? not even brought up. even though that really seems like the most pressing question. its crazy how subservient and apologetic guillermo suddenly is, like its S1 all over again. he does some token yelling at nandor, but his primary emotion is clearly guilt. its not enough to remotely change the shitty framing.

look. this show doesnt exactly have much "morality", and i dont want it to. i dont want any of these guys to become upstanding citizens. i like the irreverent tone and how theyre all killers.

but i do care about character arcs and agency.

guillermo has been treated like hes inferior the whole time hes been a familiar. and hes put up with it because he wanted to be a vampire. so by becoming a vampire, he forces the relationship to become equal. he also finally gets what he wants. which is ESPECIALLY poignant when it happens regardless of what nandor wants. it takes back his own agency over the situation, because nandor CAN'T hold it over his head anymore.

and then nandor doesnt like it. and goes into a murderous rage because of own entitlement at being the one to turn guillermo. thats fine as a starting point to a character arc, but guillermo doesn't even stand up for himself. he doesnt fight back as he should - or really, would, given how he's evolved to be more assertive. and then its reinforced by the stupid "forgiveness", like nandor has any right to forgive someone who did nothing wrong. it sets up this convenient scenario where nandor is not confronted for being a shitty master, but guillermo IS confronted for taking control of his own life.

and now, just as conveniently, guillermo just... doesnt like being a vampire, either. so nandor gets to further be a "good friend" making amends by helping "unturn" him. all framed like its about guillermo finding out what he "really" wants.

this is lame and it sucks. not only because guillermos reasons make no sense (again, he's been a killer this whole time? if anything, his arc is more accepting his own lack of morality), but because it resets the chessboard in a way where nandor doesnt have to learn anything.

nandor doesnt have to confront the sting of guillermo having agency to make this choice without him. he doesnt have to deal with the fact that it never got to be him who turns guillermo. he doesnt have to be forcibly confronted with the fact that he now has to treat guillermo as an equal, because guillermo now doesn't need anything from him.

and it sucks because all that could actually be a great jumping off point for them to, despite everything, start a real relationship. maybe even a romantic one. they could mutually realize they actually care about each other. regardless of this pact.

and you can say that by guillermo deciding to be human (as extremely lame and deeply uncool as that is), it also gives them this "equality." because he would stay with the vampires because he wants to, not because he needs something from nandor.

but you're missing the point - its NANDOR who needs to learn. its HE who needs to be confronted by guillermo making his own choices.

so guillermo just... conveniently changing his mind because he was a full vampire for one (1) fucking day and suddenly decided he's too good to kill people?

it robs nandor of that entire arc. and no, i'm not counting his stupid "forgiving" guillermo as learning to treat him like an equal. that would require a lot more introspection about his own entitlement. that would require him to actually say with his chest that guillermo had every right to make this choice, and its not on nandor to forgive him, its on guillermo whether he would forgive nandor.

that doesn't happen. what actually happens is nandor decides to show guillermo "mercy," which, again, firmly places the agency in nandor's hands. at no point does he have to be vulnerable and accept that guillermo might not want to be with him. at no point does he have to introspect about how he's treated him this whole time.

also. there is a long, proud line in patriarchal thinking of husbands "forgiving" their wives for perceived "disobedience," which only reinforces the husband as the head of the household and that said wives "should" have been more obedient. forgiveness is not always an act of kindness. sometimes it's very condescending. which it is here.

(same for the interpretation i've seen from some, that nandor "always knew" guillermo wasn't cut out to be a vampire. like that's why he didn't turn him. what a horrible, condescending idea. i don't know how you can look at nandor being like "i'm not going to give you what you want, because i know better than you" and not think it's shit.)

yes, i'm aware of the cheating metaphor. but its a bad metaphor. at least, not without acknowledging that its been an unequal relationship for 13 years where one partner has been neglecting the other constantly. at that point, the nuance should really come out and maybe the partner "cheating" isnt the worst here.

but that doesn't happen.

also... it's just a bad episode. like. in general. like the whole thing with the guide, where you think she actually gets to assert herself? sounds great. too bad its totally undone by gaslighting her into thinking they do like her and are nice to her. like the problem is they just didnt verbalize that "enough." thats yet another bullied or ignored character whose arc of standing up for themselves (even by immoral means, because its an immoral fantasy show) is undercut.

it sucks. guillermo sucks for losing his defiant streak (and metaphorical empowerment through vampirism), nandor sucks for being entitled. this whole show sucks. i suck for bothering to stick with it so long. i'm done. i'm out.

[hanako-arasakas-twink]

Hanako Arasaka: Jealous Headcanons

Pairings: Hanako x GN!Reader

Warnings/Tags: Fluff; light drama; Suggestive

A/N: My first and definitely not my last post about this corpo mommy ✊️😔

Hanako is composed, collected, and everything that screams stoicism and elegance. She's never shown any emotion in the public, but when she does, she does it smoothly—subtle, even. Most of the people around her won't notice it except for the specific person she's found to have become irritating in a way. She hated the fact that they can get your attention so easily—don't you know that she's the finest woman you could get in this God-forsaken place?

As one of the leaders of Arasaka, Hanako is used to getting what she wants. Never in her life did she have to work hard to get what she wants and it's a fact most people knew by now, and if it meant using that power to get you to focus on her again then so be it. She won't shy away from doing something petty like—give that person a somewhat disgusted look, makena subtle snarky comment about how they act, or even lowkey tell them that they're annoying. Hanako will not be direct about it, but her words will have a sharp edge to it.

If that person would still be persistent and decide to brush off her subtle warnings, she'll most definitely turn her focus to you—convincing you to go home with her and just ditch the event you two are attending. Hanako won't take "No" for an answer. Instead, she would just take you with her with a slightly gentle maneuver towards your awaiting AV. She would also throw in a little "I'm tired, let's go home" or "we've already gotten what we needed from here, I see no reason for us to stay longer" just to convince you to get away with her. Then, once Hanako's convinced you, she'll throw the other person a glare over her shoulder.

The AV ride would be hella tense, to be honest. It's more of her, just straight up staring at you with an unreadable expression on her face. You won't be even sure if she's just admiring how you look or she wanted to eat your soul—who knows? BUT, once you two have reached your shared penthouse apartment, she will talk to you about it. At first, she'll let you change into a more comfier clothes, but she will not bother changing just yet. All of her focus is on planning how to tell you about it, and she's most definitely constructing her words in her head already.

When Hanako finally decides to talk to you about it, unlike her cold persona in public, she will let her guard down here in private. She'll tell you about how she didn't like the other person eyeing you like some kind of meat, about how she didn't like their subtle advances to you, and Hanako would most definitely tell you not to be too oblivious sometimes. And if you decide to brush it off under the rug by saying that the other person was just trying to be friendly, it would most definitely make her senses flare up a bit. Hanako isn't new to things such as desire. She knew damn well that the other person had taken a liking to you, and she hated the idea of other people not knowing their place. She might approach you with that icy look on her face—uncaring even if you're taller than her, she'd straight up stand close in front of you and glare at you up close. At that point, you weren't so sure if she's hacking your system or just trying to take a look at your soul.

If Hanako were to be really intense with her jealousy, she might resort to physical contact. She might be all over you once you two are in bed—like resting her head on your chest while her arm is drapped over you, she might also plant kisses on you jaw and neck just to remind her that you're still jers and that other person is irrelevant. When she's feeling bolder, Hanako might be the first one to initiate a more intimate gesture like kissing you. When she does, her kisses will be slow and steady, she will be passionate about it, and she will savor the feeling of your lips on hers. Hanako doesn't rush things, and she most definitely enjoys the slowburn between you two. The corporate world had already taken so many things to her already, and she would not let her jealousy take her time from branding you as hers.

Overall, Hanako is more of an observer and someone who expects that the people around her would automatically know their place. If not, then that's the only time she would strike and make a subtle but sharp intervention.

[tavshortfortavern]

Reaper!Tav

Reaper is a job in ffxiv where the person makes a deal with a voidsent (being of pure dark aether) to share their power and fight with them in exchange for aether. They fight with a giant scythe and can absorb souls to gain a new form where they merge with the Reaper and look even more demonic. A voidsent is always consumed by hunger and can never really be satiated.

Characters: Wyll, Dammon, Rolan, Zevlor

Warnings: None

Notes: Some crossover stuff. Reaper is the coolest job. Aesthetically and storywise. I really need to get back on track instead of coming up with new ideas

Wyll

Has never heard of a voidsent so assumes your a warlock like him

In a way the two classes are similar. Devils are a lot more cunning and into contracts. Your voidsent is simply a ravenous beast.

The voidsent won't manipulate you into anything. But you feel their bottomles hunger like its your own, making you act rather scary in battle especially when you channel them and become enshrouded

There are clear ups and downs. But if you had to ask, you rather deal with the beast than annoying fucks like mizora or raphael

Once he meets your avatar his alarm does grow. Its definitely different from Mizora but no less dangerous

Overtime he does come to see that you and the voidsent do have a fairer deal. No power plays or manipulation tactics, both of you stand to gain something frok each other.

The voidsent gets to feed and experience light for the first time coming from an eternally darkness ridden world and you get a powerful boost in strength

Has an easier time opening up to you about his deal with mizora and his origins

The two of you understand sacrifice and the want to protect something with everything you had

Admires the way you fight with a scythe. He hasn't seen people fight with such a weapon

You really do look like an avatar of death

But he trusts you to have a hold of that hunger

Dammon

The most open minded of the characters

First noticed you by that giant scythe you carry on hour back. He quickly knows its not a simple farming tool. Really it was a work of art. He's happy to repair it whenever you ask

Not a common weapon either but he's seen the way you weild it. Its enough to send enemies running

But he's also seen you enshrouded, a horrifying spectre clawing out of a dark portal, like Myrkul himself appearing, merging with you

He's been to the hells and seen his fair share. But seeing your new intimidating form made him almost run as well

Doesn't really understand magic as well as wizards but he's always been fascinated with infernal machinery which is a tabboo subject

So when he sees your voidsent out and about with you, is the least bothered by it. Not that he isn't, just less so.

You say you've kinda bonded with them. Telling him the story of a world consumed by darkness, its people turned into voidsent. Your voidsent was just a regular person at some point. he's horrified at the revelation

It was the reason you were willing to bring the avatar around. To see a world with light and color. It delighted him how sympathetic you were, changing his view on the voidsent

He's happy to hear you have a fair relationship, both being equals. Something not at all true for warlocks and their patrons

Might actually greet it when you come over with the voidsent still around

Rolan

Will never admit it but your enshrouded form genuinely scares him. He puts on a brave front

The actual voidsent scares him even more. Doesn't want it anywhere near him. Thank you

Early on he just wishes to avoid it. But when you end up saving him multiple times does he begin to care about your situation

Is the most openly against your deal with the voidsent. He's seen how infernal pacts go, nothing good comes from it. He can't imagine why you would want to lend it your mana. When doing so too much would kill you

And how do you know if this things won't take over?

When he notices you drained on mana, he'll lend some of his own. You did save him and his family after all

He really wants you to get out of this deal but you reassure him that the deal it equitable

You voidsent doesn't want you gone or worse, your its main source of food after all. And you'd like to think you've bonded with them after all this time fighting side by side

He'll huff and call you a fool but doesn't push it. He knows you can handle it better than most people, your kind and good, less likely to be consumed by the temptation of power

Just dont go pushing yourself for other people too much ok? He doesn't want you dying when he hasn't really paid you back (thats all no other reason- shutupyoutwo i can see you giggling!)

Also lectured you once not to bring your voidsent into the shop you'll scare his customers

Zevlor

During that first fight at grove he noticed the strange weapon you carried. It was odd to use a farmer's tool but maybe you needed to improvise?

Then he saw you weild it and the hairs on the back his neck stood up

You were a forced to be reckoned with. Suddenly it wasn't a farmer's tool but an instrument of Myrkul. Reaping souls of your enemies

It was almost mesmerizing watching you hack and slash everything around you. But he noticed the dark energy your attacks emitted

Like Rolan, majorly concerned when he witnesses the voidsent fight by your side

He eventually asks about your abilities and you don't hide the deal you made with this 'voidsent'

Quickly grows concerned for you. There's a chance you could drain yourself dry from fighting this way

At one point he sees you merge with this things and take on a menacing appearance. The scream you let out chilled him to his bone as it sounded inhuman. You dived into battle ravenously, like a man possessed, like a hungry beast

But he couldn't take over fighting, not when you outclass most people. Still he makes sure your not overexerting yourself

The voidsent wasn't a higher being and needed you just as much as you did. It soothed his worries a little but he never likes seeing it hang around

[wh0refornikolailantsov]

Prompt: “As beautiful as always.”

Song: Never Let Me Go – Florence and the Machine

For Reader x Tolya please?

Sup, did you miss me? In all seriousness sorry for being gone so long, my depression hit me like a truck and Baldurs Gate took over my single brain cell. But I'm back now, I think. Not at my usual pace but hopefully more consistent than I have been.

I Know All The Steps, You Still Surprised Me - Tolya Yul Bataar

Content Warnings: Fluff. Canon Compliant Threat and Discussions of Violence. Not Beta/Proof Read.

This wasn't your idea of fun. You had avoided most of Nikolai's required events until now, managing to find all and any reason for not attending. But despite every effort, you could not weasel your way out of this one.

So instead you are stood by some marble carved pillar, watching a bunch of nobility, drink and dance and try not to be too loud with their idle gossip.

You catch a glimpse of Tamar, walking arm in arm with that pretty Squaller who's name seems to just escape your memory. Nadine... Naomi... Nadia, you're convinced it must be Nadia. Tamar looks happy, talking as much with her spare hand as with her words. Her gestures all grand and her smile wide, Nadia's adoring gaze never taking flight from Tamar's face as she talks.

You let yourself smile, sharing in that happiness, moments like this, quiet and observed from afar, when love doesn't realise you're watching it bloom, those are moments that make things like the grandeur of tonight tolerable. And as much as sharing in the joy of others can bring that swelling in your chest, there is that part of you that is searching the room for your own little corner of happiness to be found in the sea of poised expressions and far too well practiced steps.

Happiness finds its way to you, before you can properly search it out, walking up behind you, a plate in hand, and dressed in more material than you've really ever seen him in. "Squid?" Tolya asks, slipping into the untaken space at your side. You gently push the plate away with a shake of the head, trying to not give away that he startled you.

But you end up taking a double glance once you see him. "Tolya," you say feigning more surprise than necessary. "You have covered your arms." You brush a hand down the fabric across his forearm. You cannot remember a time when he has worn anything to cover them.

"Something about etiquette," Tolya shrugs, "not my choice."

"Wouldn't want to deprive the room," you joke. He rolls his eyes, but the softness is there, as it always it.

"Look at you," he says, giving a single handed gesture to your equally uncharacteristic outfit.

"I look like one of them, I look..." you try to search for a word that fits. Pompous. Pretentious. Aristocratic. Hypocritical. But nothing seems to be cutting it.

"You look," Tolya says, not letting you find the words. “As beautiful as always.”

You are not sure how to respond to that exactly, so you just give him a half smile and turn your eyes back to the crowds. "We are going to get in trouble with Nikolai for not mingling."

"Not in trouble," Tolya says, "but maybe he will be disappointed."

"Like a sad puppy," you add, sighing. "I don't like this. It feels... wrong."

"I understand, you're thinking about out there, while all this is going on in here, it feels wrong to be drinking and dancing while outside is a warzone, while he is still walking around doing as he pleased," Tolya need not utter a name for you to know exactly what he means.

"Well, I am not drinking, and I am not dancing," you inform Tolya. Tolya turns his head to look at you as one of the waiters approach with two thin glasses.

"From the prince," the waiter tells you offering you one each. You can feel Nikolai watching you without even bothering to try and find him in the crowd, so you take the drink and fake a smile.

"That... he has ears everywhere," you mutter taking a sip.

"I think he is more concerned with you having a little fun," Tamar says, dropping in on the conversation, arm still linked with the Squaller. "You two do know how to have fun, don't you?"

"We know how to have fun," you say, but you hear how unconvincing it sounds. "Tolya we know how to have fun, right?"

"I think our ideas of fun are just rather different to the majority," Tolya tries to reason.

"Just dance you two, it will keep him happy and Saints, you might even enjoy it," Tamar says before turning back to Nadia, "can I have this dance my sweet?"

"It would be an honour," Nadia replies, allowing Tamar to guide them to the floor.

"Maybe we should," Tolya admits, looking at them.

"If you can find someone willing to dance with me, and not make fun and willing to risk the injuries, then fine, I will dance," you laugh, finishing your drink.

"Dance with me," Tolya offers, like it was the easiest thing in the world. Like those words don't nearly still the beating of your heart in your chest.

You remind yourself to breathe. It's not like you've not danced with Tolya before. You've danced with Tolya more times than you've danced with anyone in your life. But the moments you spend dancing with Tolya, they don't feel like they exist in this life. They feel out of reality. Those quiet nights on the ships deck, following steps to a song that no music can play. Trying to keep in time when the only rhythm is the ocean waves. That feels untouchable when the sun is up, when the moon is cascading on anything except the two of you and the wood of the decking. You don't dance with Tolya in moments that feel real. If you did you would start to let yourself remember things as they are and not as ghosts of dreams and quiet whispers.

But he puts his plate down and holds out his hand anyway. "Would you do me the honour?" He asks giving the smallest of bows to pull a smile from your lips.

"Tolya I'll make an idiot of myself," you tell him.

"Then let's make ourselves both fools," he says in return. You don't know how to argue with him, and you don't truly want to. Nothing could make you feel like some fancy ball in some palace wing is a place you'd choose to be. But moments with Tolya make otherwise insufferable nights, things you cannot bring yourself to regret.

You walk with him, trying to teach your mind to stop drowning out the music and pay attention to the steps. Tolya pulls you in by the waist like he has a hundred times. But that was in the quiet. That was by moonlight. That was with no one but the ocean and the stars to bare witness.

This is here and now and real. This is with people and friends and audible music. And you feel your breath catch.

Even over the sounds, Tolya can still hear the thudding of your heartbeat. "When have I ever let you fall?" He asks.

But you're not scared of falling. Far too late for that.

He twirls you around, and it's clumsy, you're both moving to a music different to everyone else, a pace the two of you only know with a soundtrack only you both can hear. But you're laughing, and his hand is holding yours and for a brief set of moments you cannot think of anything outside of the bubble the two of you have created. The ocean in your mind is calm and his eyes are on you and you don't have it in you to be anywhere else but right here.

[starwarsanthropology]

Ordo and/or Maze for the headcanon game <3

i am very excited to put these motherfuckers in a jar and shake

Ordo

Headcanon A:  realistic

He’s a huge snacker. Loves 2 munch and snack moreso even than the other clones, who are all Noted Lovers Of Food. If he learned to bake or cook he would  have little finger-food type snacks on hand at every available opportunity, like muffins or cookies or little savory puff pastry bite type things. Will share if he has lots, and enjoys the compliments (or if he didnt make it, might bask in Caretaker Pride), but if he only has a little he gets really food defensive. I think the minute he gets the aging cure and his metabolism slows down he starts to get a little chubby bc he’ll eat for pleasure instead of just the food is fuel mentality all of them learned on rations. Teasing results in a (credible) threat to be banned from home cooking forever.

Headcanon B: while it may not be realistic it is hilarious

As he gets older and sees more of the world (and gets therapy yessir) he stops putting so much stake in Kal’s opinions (of both him and others) starts viewing Kal’s bullshit social views and his “family values” stuff especially as silly and kind of rote prattle. Very “sure grandpa, let’s get you to bed”. On the other hand as soon as his brothers say some shit it’s on sight. He is going to train them out of casual misogyny if it kills them.

Headcanon C: heart-crushing and awful, but fun to inflict on friends

I think that as much as he does love Kal and does know he and the other Nulls are loved by Kal, he intentionally places himself as a buffer between them. It started as habit on Kamino, because they were all protecting each other from the Kaminoans, and when Kal adopted them Ordo got the most immediate focus, which let the others build up their trust and boundaries in their own time in a way Ordo didn’t really get to have, partially bc Kal had earmarked Ordo as the ‘leader’ of the group. And then even when he was their buir, he was still the only reason they were alive instead of decommissioned or reconditioned, so Ordo was constantly trying to run interference so he’d get blame, because Kal is bad at not playing favorites, and Ordo was kind of the favorite. Obviously there was never any risk of anything but being yelled at and running extra drills, but it took a long time to internalize that. Even as an adult, part of him is still really stuck into this role, where he and Kal both see himself as sort of his brothers’ keeper, and it actually stresses him out a lot, not that he really recognizes that until he starts to unlearn the habits. The rest of the nulls are all aware of this and are varying levels of okay with it, amused by it, and bothered by it. If he didn’t have this formative experience I think he’d have settled into a middle brother role with a side of still being overprotective of his siblings.

Headcanon D: unrealistic, but I will disregard canon about it because I reject canon reality and substitute my own.

I think he is a bratty bottom in his heart of hearts.  He needs a chance to be unrestrained and Bad tm and to be rewarded and praised when he’s good and for his partner to work for him to give them control by prooving that they aren’t going to toss him away when he isn’t compliant and useful to them. Also hes so used to being in charge and in a position of responsibility he deserves to hand himself over to someone and get fucked so good he cries about it

Maze: I don’t have very many out there thoughts on Maze. he seems like he has his shit together moreso than just about anyone else in Republic Commandos its very funny to me that he keeps being cast as like. Having arguments in opposition to the protaganists bc i think his points make more sense than theirs

Headcanon A:  realistic

One of the more emotionally intelligent and self-aware clones. I do not think this is because he’s inherently good at emotions though I think he used to repress the shit out of them but he’s pragmatic enough that once the war started and he noticed his preformance slipping he went and got himself, if not a therapist, some psychology readings and at-home exercises for like. processing emotions and stress and navigating both workplace and personal relationships. Half of it is irrelevant to him but he gets a lot of milage out of some of the tools to manage frustration and interpersonal communication. 

Headcanon B: while it may not be realistic it is hilarious

As one of the more patient alphas, I think Maze was often tasked to wrangle younger cadets and therefore has a grade-A Teacher Voice as well as a grade-A Command Voice. He does not use it often bc he learned it for like. baby cadets who cry when u yell at them and need to be treated more gently, but sometimes when he’s really tired and/or has been interacting w kids you’ll get Teacher Maze with higher pitched, gentler voice, pitched to carry exactly as much as when he’s booming orders, saying things like “Alright everyone, it’s curfew and you have to get to bed now!”. Hilariously, almost everyone under his command find it scarier than the Command Voice bc they think he’s being passive aggressive and are terrified to find out what happens if you cross Teacher Mode Maze. Really he’s just out of it, did the wrong code switch, and is more likely to give someone a pat on the head reflexively than anything else. 

Headcanon C: heart-crushing and awful, but fun to inflict on friends

i honestly can’t think of anything. Maze seems so practical and reliable to me I can’t think of anything heart-crushing compared to the horror that order 66 must have been for him

Headcanon D: unrealistic, but I will disregard canon about it because I reject canon reality and substitute my own.

Not a headcanon but I want him to have those gamer girl cat ear headphones so bad