#the fact there are three cats here is a complete accident

[arch-angel-o]

This is mostly a reference for me but I don't have anything else finished so I thought I might share it here too

I mainly wanted to make some fixed outfits for different type of my cult members so it'll be easier for me to make any comics in the future

[allbark-no-bite]

marriage and honor.

jake seresin x reader (wc: 6.5k)

summary: the Navy has already taken two people from your life, and you don’t intend to let there be a third. that is until Jake Seresin walks into your life

warnings: severe plot holes, mentions of character death, swearing

authors note: based off of the movie Purple Hearts. it’s a great movie and i highly suggest watching it! please bear with me in the beginning of this, the plot holes fix themselves, i promise lol. i literally threw this together because i wrote one scene for shits and giggles and had to commit to it

(read parts two and three here: december and devotion, cats and christmas)

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No one ever expects to have to bury their brother at fifteen. Kinda just like no one expects to have to bury their other brother at eighteen. But you do it the first time and then you do it again three years later. It's a bit like deja vu the second time, like you're reliving the actual nightmare all over again. Except this time there's no one to hold your hand and tell you it's all going to be alright because he's dead and buried too.

They both die honorable deaths in service to their country. At least that's what they say at the memorials. You're not so sure there's anything comforting about dying honorably. They're both still dead, honored or not.

Raised by your grandparents, you'd grown up the youngest of three on a military base smack dab in the middle of San Diego, better yet known as Fightertown USA. True military brats, your old brothers enlisted straight out of high school, one after the other. As their young and impressionable kid sister, you worshiped the ground they walked on and had your heart set on following in their footsteps. That was of course, until they both went and died.

'Sometime these things just happen', is what you were told. And you know, freak accidents do happen. Engines fail, training exercises go awry, safety precautions are ignored. But that doesn't make up for the fact that lightning has, against all odds, stuck the same place twice.

So after the Navy takes away not one but two people from your life, you swear off all things to do with military life. The moment you graduate high school you pay out of pocket just to move off of the base into a shitty the-bedroom-and-bathroom-are-in-the-same-place apartment. You go to college and get the kind of degree that looks good on paper but you can't really get a job with. But it's fine because it helped you to put the past behind you and move on. So much that when your grandmother passes away unexpectedly, leaving your grandfather widowed, you're able to stomach moving back closer to home to take care of him.

At least, you'd thought that you had moved on.

Now, standing in the middle of the courthouse wearing what had been your college graduation dress (the only white dress you could find on such short notice) and watching the man before you slip a ring on your finger, you're not so sure. As a matter of a fact, you actually feel sick, queasy like you might have to bend over the nearest trashcan to get the blood rushing to your head again. That might would be a good idea because what the hell were you thinking.

Jake must take notice of the expression on your face because he offers you a weak smile, his pink lips pressed together. The same thought must be running through his mind too because he also looks like he might be sick at any moment.

What the hell were either of you thinking?

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." Thankfully the minister is too bored looking with his own job to notice that both of you are looking worse for wear. He also completely forgets to say 'you may now kiss the bride', which is another thing to be thankful for. That might have been the straw that broke the camel's back and sent both you and Jake running for the hills. Instead he mumbles a unenthusiastic congratulations and departs from the room, leaving you and Jake standing numbly side by side.

In the following seconds after the minister leaves the room, silence settles between the two of you, partially due to shock and partially because you don't even know what to say. It's a sight, Jake in his pristine navy dress whites and you in your too short college graduation dress.

Finally, Jake clears his throat, swallowing. "Well, there's no turning back now."

*queue rewind noise* 

You may be wondering how we got here.

*six days ago*

"C'mon baby, you didn't think that was funny? Girls usually love that line."

He'd been after you all night, smiling, cracking jokes, buying you beers. You had to admit, he was nothing if not persistant.

"Unfortunately for you, I don't date funny guys." Despite your tone, you're actually genuinely amused by the situation. He's trying so hard, and it's getting him absolutely nowhere.

He's handsome, without a doubt the most attractive man at the bar, but he could be the most attractive man in the world and you still wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. Not with that smile and defiantly not with that uniform on.

"And why is that?" he laughs, undeterred by your blatant disinterest. His friends are watching, have been watching the two of you do this dance all night, and he's not about to back down now.

You watch the smile lines that appear on his tanned face, the way his eyes crinkle in amusement as he awaits on your answer. He's probably a few years your senior, early thirties if that's anything to go by.

"Funny guys are dangerous. They make you laugh and laugh and then boom you're naked."

His smile twitches and yeah, you can be funny too, wise guy.

"Is that where you think this is going?" he asks.

"Where else would it be going?"

And that's how it all started. The beginning of the end.

"You know navy spouses get a monthly stipend and are allowed to live on base?"

You remain facing the bar, peeling at the label on your bottle, not bothering to glance to your side. "You know, I really fucking wish Natasha would keep her mouth shut."

"(Y/n)—"

"It's no one else's fucking business what—"

He grabs the seat of your stool, nearly jerking it out from under you as he pulls it closer to his own. "Listen to me," he growls, a stark change from his usual demeanor.

Stubbornly leaning away so that you're not so close, you regard him with suspicious and narrowed eyes. You raise an eyebrow as if to say he's got your attention, however unwillingly.

"Right now, we're both in a tight spot, okay?"

You knew about his dad. Heard the whole spiel from Natasha— who you're learning that while, your best friend, cannot be trusted to keep her mouth shut— about how they weren't on good terms, hadn't talked since Jake got into the academy, and suddenly he calls out of the blue to tell Jake that he'd had enough of his son's playing around and that it was time for him to start thinking about getting married. That if he didn't within the next few months, he'd arrange the whole thing himself.

"You need a place to live—" You shush him, eyes darting to the people around you. You don't need anyone knowing that you can't exactly afford to pay your rent. Jake rolls his eyes because he doubts anyone could hear him even if he was yelling with how loud it is in the bar, but he lowers his voice regardless. "You need a place to live, and I need to get my old man off of my back..." He trails off, as if you should know where he's going with this.

You don't. You're just staring at him with an increasingly annoyed expression on your face, wondering how soon you can get out of this conversation.

He takes a deep breath and sighs. 

"Hear me out, okay? What if we get married?"

You had actually laughed in his face at first, and Jake was so dead serious about it that he didn't even dwell on the fact that it was the first time you had laughed at something that he'd said.

"Not a chance in hell, Seresin,"  had been your second response. But that's the thing with pretty guys, they can be awfully convincing.

It all happens so fast that you have metaphorical whiplash. Next thing you know, you're wearing a brand new diamond on your finger and going out to the bar with his entire squad the night before their deployment.

Of course, they're all a bit shocked at first. You would be too. You and Jake hadn't exactly been even remotely civil with each other just a few days prior. But if any of them are suspicious of your's and Jake's sudden union, they don't let on, all too happy to have something to celebrate before they ship out. Fanboy and Payback have each brought their wives and Natasha her girlfriend as well. You suppose you're expected to mingle with them, maybe shed a tear or two over the shared bond that your partners are going across the country, but you can't really find a way to connect with them so you kind of just avoid them altogether. You do feel bad, sitting there without a care in the world while they all try to offer comfort and reassurance to each other. But you don't really know what else to do because it's not like you're exactly sad.

Thankfully Javy, or as he's known, Coyote, stands up and raises his near empty bottle of beer in the air and saves you from anymore uncomfortable sitting. "I'd like to make a toast! To the newlyweds!" You spoke too soon. The table cheers and raises their bottles in response, all of the attention turning to where you and Jake are sitting. Cheeks immediately flushing, you have to refrain from sinking down in your seat. Jake is grinning, accepting the few rough pats on the back that he receives from Rooster beside him.

And just when you think that's the worst it's going to get, it gets worse.

"Kiss!"

You're not sure who starts it, but like teenage boys, the entire squad parrots in unison.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

At first Jake just laughs and shakes his head good naturedly, shrugging off the insistent urging of his friends, and you think that's going to be the end of it. But the chanting doesn't stop and finally Jake turns towards you. Your face is probably red hot and undeniably panicked. Heart racing, you try to read him in the half second that you're given as he leans and wraps his arm around you. Is he going to kiss you? Are you supposed to kiss him?

Neither option happens. Jake's arm wraps around your shoulders, pulling you close into his side and at the last moment, he turns to press a kiss to your cheek. A series of disappointed boos follow but they are drowned out by clapping for the most part. He's uncomfortably close, closer than you ever would have liked to be to Jake Seresin, but you have to remind yourself that it's all for show. When Jake does turn away, you can still feel the warmth of his lips smeared against your cheek. Even so, he hasn't let go of you pressed into his side. 

Your heart still racing, you reason with yourself that if Jake can play the part, you might as well too, and under that pretense, allow yourself to hide your face into his shoulder to conceal it's redness. The smell of his cologne washes over you, and oddly enough, you don't hate it. It's subtle, with a hit of what might be amber, and nothing like the overwhelmingly masculine scent that you would have pegged him for. 

If Jake finds your sudden willingness to touch him strange, he doesn't comment on it, likely assuming that you're just trying to make this thing between the two of you seem real. You somewhat reluctantly pull away when Coyote's voice raises again.

"And here's to shooting down some fucking MiGs!"

Again, the table erupts into a chorus of cheering and hollering. You still, allowing Jake to fully pull away from your side while the proclamation rings out in your head. It's a very grounding moment, and suddenly you feel very alone sitting at the table. No one seems to have noticed your shift in mood. Maybe you're the only one put off by Javy's statement because this is their reality. There are people who are not coming home from this mission; everyone just likes to assume it won't be them. You know better.

You can't help it, the words just come out of your mouth. "That's a fucked up thing to say."

It's the first time you've really spoken up the entire night and all heads turn towards you. Based on the look in Jake's eyes, which is a bit apprehensive, as if he knows this is headed nowhere good, you realize you probably should have just kept your mouth shut.

Payback shifts uncomfortably in his chair while the rest of the crew glances around the table wearing varying states of confusion. Their gazes shift from you to Jake, as if waiting for some sort of explanation. 

Coyote is the first to break the silence. "Look, sweetheart, that's just the way things are. Here in the Navy, that's a badge of honor. Your boy Hangman here is the only one of us with a confirmed air-to-air kill."

"(Y/n)—", Jake attempts to interject, but you're not about to let him explain himself to you in front of all these people.

You set your jaw and swallow back the anger threatening to rise up in your throat. "Yeah, because killing people is so honorable."

Coyote scoffs. "We're just doing our jobs. And if that means taking down a few planes while we're at it, so be it."

"Your job is to protect people," you snap. "There are people out there who have families—"

"Alright, that's enough—" Jake begins to interject for the second time, but this time it's Coyote who interrupts him.

"Come on, man. You're really going to let her say that kinda shit—"

You stand up. "I don't need his permission to—"

"I SAID ENOUGH." This time it's startling enough to cut both of you off. "(Y/n), what is your fucking problem?" Jake snaps.

You flinch at the harshness of his question.

Your eyes travel around the quiet table, where everyone is holding their breath, and then back to Jake. His green eyes reflect a type of pissed off what would be terrifying if you weren't so angry yourself.

A small, logical part of you knows that he has a right to be angry. You've picked a fight for no apparent reason in front of his friends and he hasn't the slightest clue why. It's not his fault your brothers are dead and you blame the Navy for it.

Regardless, that doesn't make up for the fact that you're pissed off by his defense of what Coyote has said. Even though you probably owe him an explanation, you're not about to answer him when he's just yelled at you. You also know that if you don't say something, he's going to and you'd rather die before letting him tell you off in front of all these people. You abruptly push away from the table and storm off for the bar top. You can hear Jake chasing after you.

"(Y/n)."

You ignore him in favor of heading towards the back door of the Hard Deck, pushing past people regardless of whether they're in your way or not. Being slightly more considerate, you can hear Jake moving much slower as he excuses himself through the crowd.

"(Y/n)—"

You come to a stop once you reach the door, spinning on your heels with a fire in your eyes.

"What's my problem?!"

Behind you, you can hear the loud jesting and jeering of his friends back at the table. They're still ruffled with excitement from your outburst, and Coyote's voice follows your retreating back. "Jesus man, get your girl under control."

I'm not his girl, you want to snap. He doesn't own me.

Jake has stopped a few feet away from you. 

"What's my fucking problem?! My problem is that your friends are sitting over there calling murder honor."

Jake sighs harshly though his nose. Shaking his head, green eyes looking up, he begins, "He didn't mean—"

"No. I know what he meant, Jake. You're all a bunch of cowards. You're all too goddamn scared to admit that maybe you're not doing as much good as you thought over there, and so you just justify it by saying all killing is good killing, right?" you spit.

His vibrant green eyes harden but he doesn't respond. "That's some real goddamn honor, right, Jake?" you repeat, angrier this time, wanting more than just some watered down reaction from him. If there's one thing that pisses you off about Jake, it's that you've never gotten anything more than what he's conditioned himself to respond with. It's like he's locked up in this stupid box of his and the most you can ever get out of him is a glance. You want him to be angry with you.

"That's enough." His jaw is tight, and you can tell that even despite his lowered voice and rather subdued demeanor, you've hit a nerve.

"Admit it. Admit that you—“

"(Y/n)." His voice adopts a seriousness that you've never heard from him before. It sounds almost dangerous.

Jake steps towards you and for a moment you think you've won. And then in the moment following that, you actually think that he's going to get physically angry with you. Your heart stalls. Jake's a big guy, a naval aviator, and no matter how good he sells himself to be, he could hurt you if he wanted too. You would never have pegged him as someone who would put his hands on a girl, even after only knowing him for a week, but a man is a man, perfectly ironed uniform or not.

Only he doesn't. Instead he steps into your space and leans in closer than you've  ever been before. His hand presses into your back, firmly pulling you into his chest so that you have no choice but to shift closer to him, your bodies molding together. "I said that's enough. They can see us arguing."

The press of his mouth to your ear conceals the exchange of your conversation from the listening table. You can smell his cologne on the starched collar of his uniform.

"I don't care if they see us—" Pushing your palm into his chest, you try to reestablish the distance between you, but like a brick wall, Jake doesn't budge.

"You realize that we have to make this look real?" he hisses. "From here on out, they're watching everything we do. The government is watching everything we do. Do you understood that?" His voice is tense, and it sounds more urgent than angry now.

Standing there, you realize his heart is thumping heavily beneath your palm. His body is uncomfortably rigid, like a scared dog waiting for its owner to show up and see the mess he's made. Behind you, the table has gone relatively quite. Rooster murmurs something along the lines of, "It's a little early for there to be trouble in paradise already."

Someone—Coyote—responds, "I don't think he thought this through, man. They won't last two weeks."

Jake's eyes meet yours, and you know he can hear them too. You swallow, trying to relax a little in his grasp. He's right, you have to make this look real, and fighting right off the bat doesn't exactly look good.

"Are they still looking at us?" You finally ask, leery now to even speak too loud.

Jake breathes a sigh of relief beside your ear, taking your sudden quiet as cooperation. "Yeah, just keep talking, okay? Act like we're working it out."

Despite trying to appear more comfortable than you are, you don't move your hand from his chest. The coarse material of his dress whites rises and falls steadily beneath your palm. It's calming in a sense, and you try to focus on its rhythm rather than the fact that you're so close that you can feel the heat of his mouth beside your ear.

"Still looking?" You ask after a few moments pass.

He hums. "Yep."

"Well then what do we do? We can't just stand like this forever." The longer you stand together, the more details you become aware of. Like the fact that his face is freshly shaven against your cheek and that he must have brushed his teeth before this because his breath smells like Listerine.

"Look at me."

"What?" You ask, your brow furrowing as he pulls away. His hand that had been holding your waist firmly in place lifts to grip your jaw.

"You're going to have to kiss me," he explains, glancing briefly over your shoulder.

"What?" Before you can even protest, he's leaning in and pressing his mouth to yours. Without the time to process what exactly is happening given your state of alarm, all you can do is go along with it. His lips mold against yours in what might be the most borderline tame kiss you've ever had. Despite this, you are reluctantly surprised to note how good of a kisser he is. It's just forceful enough to let you know he's in control but not so much that it's unpleasant. His lips are full and taste vaguely of his mouth wash.

You don't kiss him back.

It makes no difference to the group behind you whether you actually kiss or not; they can't tell from this distance and all they have to do is believe it happened. It's more for your own self preservation than anything. It's one thing to play the part, it's another thing to get caught up in it and catch feelings. And with Jake Seresin, that was a dangerous game to play. You'd already felt it, him prying his way under your skin when he'd held you at the table and the smell of his cologne filled your sense. It would be that easy.

To his credit, Jake lingers just long enough to make the kiss believable before pulling away. Even si, it still feels uncomfortably long. He leans back and you don't miss the fact that he wipes his hand across his mouth. "Sorry," he mutters under his breath, looking away.

"Jake..." you begin, immediately feeling bad, but he stops you.

"Whatever, (Y/n). It's fine." He won't look you in the eyes now. You turn to look over your shoulder, desperate to get yourself out of this increasingly bad situation .

"They're not looking," you say, finding the table now amicably chatting with each other rather than focused on the two of you. The sudden PDA must have finally diverted their attention. "...you can step away now."

"Right," he says, clearing his throat awkwardly. Jake drops his hand from your waist and steps back like he's glad to finally put some distance between the two of you. So much for making this look natural.

You return to the table shortly after, in hand to make it appear as if you've made up and smiling tightly when Bob cheerily welcomes you back to break the awkward silence. Once seated, you drop each other's hand beneath the table immediately. The rest of the evening is spent avoiding contributing to conversations that involve the other. If anyone notices, they don't comment on the fact that the two of you hardly look at each other for the rest of the evening, and somehow you manage to put up an otherwise happily married front.

When a few of the guys finally get a little bit too drunk, specifically Rooster, you're all too happy when Natasha calls it a night. Because they ship out the next day, Jake drives you back to the hotel where all of the married couples have rented out a room for the night. Apparently it's a tradition or something. You make the drive in silence. You let him check into the room and carry both of your bags up, disappearing into the small bathroom to splash cool water onto your face. It helps to ease some of the tension from this evening. Leaning over the sink, you watch the water swirl down the drain.

Is this crazy? This is crazy, right?

Jake is sitting on the edge of the bed, head in his hands when you step out. He's taken off his hat and suddenly he seems a lot more fragile than he was a few minutes ago. There's a softness to him, something having been previously concealed by the precise styling of his hair and tense pull of his set jaw. Before you can break the silence, he sucks in an uneasy breath.

"Hey, we need to talk about something. Um, you know... in case I..."

In case he doesn't come back.

You swallow, looking down at the ground. After tonight, after he's kissed you, all of this is starting to feel a little bit to real. What the hell happened to pretending? This was all supposed to be pretend. "Jake, please don't do that—"

He stands up from the end of the bed, and you notice the folded paper in his hands. "This is all of my personal information, you know, bank accounts, passwords, phone numbers... Anything you might need if something happens to me." He says it all as if it's so normal, but you can hear the apprehension in the thinness of his voice.

Already, you're shaking your head as he hands you the letter. "Jake, please. I don't want that." Your heart is pounding and all you want to do in the moment is go back in time and never have agreed to do this in the first place. This was insane. What were you thinking? Like you were going to put yourself through this again? 

"(Y/n)—“ Jake tries, interrupting your spiral of thoughts.

"I said NO, Jake," you snap, stepping back from him and the letter. There are tears burning at the backs of your eyes, like you might burst into a hit of hysteria at any moment. "I change my mind. I can't do this..."

Jake's eyes glance from you to the paper in his hand and then back to you, and then he drops his outstretched arm with what sounds like a laugh. "Right. Not like we're fuckin' married or anything." He releases a puff of air from his cheeks and runs his hand through his hair like he's contemplating pulling it out. "Do you know how screwed we are if anyone finds out about this? Do you, (Y/n)??" he asks, his voice rising to a concerning level. "We're done!" 

"Jake, I—"

He tosses the letter onto the bed and sits back down with a heavy sigh, looking down at his feet. When he finally speaks again, his voice had lowered to a more acceptable volume. "It's a bit too late for you to back out now. If the Navy finds out about this— if anyone one finds out about this, I could lose my job. We could both go to jail."

Silence settles over the two of you as Jake sits on the bed, staring at his feet, and you stand there in the middle of the room, willing your heart to stop pounding in your chest. You need to get out of here before your heart implodes. You turn and grab your coat from by the door.

"Where are you going?"  Jake asks, his voice tired and annoyed.

"I need some air," you say, shrugging on your coat and opening the door. He doesn't try to stop you on the way out. 

You regret the decision the second that you walk out the door. Now that the sun is gone, it's freezing outside. Your original plan had been to go for a walk to clear your head but you doubt now you'd make it very far. Walking down the stairs and out into the nearly empty parking lot, you look around, considering whether or not you would survive the trek to a gas station. When you realize you've left your phone back in the room, you decide against it. You aren't dumb enough to walk in the dark alone. Instead you head towards Jake's truck, which is parked out by itself at the end of the lot. To your surprise, you find it's unlocked and the door swings open when you tug on the handle. You climb in and the switch to lock the door behind you. Even the inside of the car is cold but at least it's out of the wind. You hug your knees into your check and tuck your chin into them, curling up in the driver's seat to keep warm.

And then you just sob.

It's the kind of sobbing that starts long and drawn out and then escalates into the rapid breathing that happens when you can't get enough air into your lungs and it feels as though there's an entire golf ball stuck in your throat. You haven't cried this hard since you were a kid—since your first brother died. You didn't cry the second time, didn't allow yourself to feel anything the second time because you knew there wasn't going to be anyone to pull you back together if you did. 

At least being away from all of this had allowed you some time to forget, even if for just a moment, that they were gone without having to be constantly reminded. You had moved to put as much distance between yourself and the Navy as possible. Because that way life wouldn't get the chance to take another person from you in the same way. Looking at the ring on your finger now, that's exactly the opposite of what you had just done. This was just supposed to be until you could get back on your feet, and if it helped Jake out in the process then great. Now that you think about it, it was stupid of you to think that you would be able to make it through this with out catching feelings for him. 

Now you're going to lose him too.

You cry until you almost make yourself sick and then some more. Your sobbing is interrupted every few minutes when you choke on your own air and have to swallow the golf ball that is lodged in your throat so that you can breathe. You're not sure how long you sit there just crying. Surely at least an hour has passed. By the time your sobbing has slowed, your head hurts and your chest aches enough to be sore.

Knock knock knock

You jump at the noise, head shooting up from between the bracket of your knees. It's dark outside, the parking lot just barley lit in a wash of grey by the moon. Even so, you can make out Jake's broad figure in the darkness.

"Open the damn door." His order comes out in a puff of frosty condensation that warms a spot on the window, his voice only partially muffled by the barrier. His shoulders are hunched against the cold, the upturned collar of his coat doing little to protect him from the brutal conditions.

For a while you just stare at him through the window, swallowing back the spit in your throat.

"Open the door," he repeats, knowing better than to think that you can't hear him. If only locking yourself in his car was the solution of all of your problems. Reluctantly, you reach over and click the lock, slowly rolling down the window.

After it stops, you stare at each other through the open car window, separated only by the frame of door that he could now easily reach out and open. His soft brown hair is mushed and in disarray, nose and cheeks tinted pink form the chill. The pleasant green of his eyes is mostly hidden as he squints against the wind.

Finally, you suck in a breathe, your chest shuddering. "I cannot do this," you stress, all of the fear that you've been shoving down now presenting itself in a singular sentence.

Jake sighs, his face softening to reflect a look of sympathy. "Look, I promise you, it's not that bad. You'll come with me to the carrier when I ship out tomorrow, we'll hug each other goodbye, and then you won't even have to see me for a couple of months. It'll be like none of this ever happened. And when I come back... we'll figure it out. Okay?" His voice is soft and understanding, like he's talking to a child.

You stare at the dashboard, your stomach still churning anxiously. "That's not what I'm... It's not you, Jake." Quite the opposite. "I lost my brothers to the Navy. Both of them. And I don't think I can take losing anyone else."

Immediately Jake's face falls as he puts everything into place. Your initial distaste for him, your furious outburst at Hard Deck, your reluctance to have have anything to do with the Navy... "I—God, I'm so sorry, (Y/n). I had no idea."

You shrug, calming down now that you've finally let go over everything that you've been holding in. "I asked Natasha not to tell you. I just thought that I could get over it so what was the point in even telling you?"

The wind blowing into through the open window is bone chilling and so you can only imagine how cold Jake is standing outside the car. For a while there's only the sound of his quiet breathing.

"Nothing's going to happen to me, (Y/n)," he says into the darkness.

"How can you be so sure?"

Hands shoved into his pockets, body braced against the wind, he shrugs. "I'm not. But if I didn't tell myself that every morning, I'd never get out of bed."

Sighing, you pull the handle on the inside of the door. "C'mon, it's fucking cold out there."

Jake huffs as if to say, you're telling me, and grabs the handle to pull open the door. Only instead of climbing in, he steps further inside the door and grabs your head in his cold hands so that your faces are mere inches apart. "I mean it, kid. I'm not going to leave you, alright? You just gotta trust me."

Looking into his eyes, you know he means it. For the second time since you've known Jake, you really see him. Standing before you is the same man that you saw in both of your brothers. Granted, they were much younger than he is now, but you get it. You'd been trying to see him as anyone else other than the brothers you lost, praying that it would hurt less, but you can't make someone into something they're not. 

"Okay," you whisper. "I trust you, Jake."

You're awake hours earlier than what you're used to in the morning, but that's only because you had glanced at the alarm clock at half past three and realized that you only had few hours left with Jake. The both of you had returned to the hotel room and changed in comfortable silence, slipping into the single bed together without a word. Jake had reached over and pulled you into him without so much as a second thought. Now his body is draped heavily on top of yours, his nose tucked into your hair as your fingers trace along the bare skin of his exposed back. 

You switch between staring at the ceiling and watching the numbers change on the alarm clock, trying to think about anything other than the fact that Jake would wake up in about an hour, you'd drop him off at the carrier at six, and that would be it. You'd only just gotten him and now you were going to have to let him go.

When Jake's alarm does go off, you're more emotional than you thought you would be, but Jake seems to be fine, dutifully putting on his uniform and carefully packing all of his bags, so you try to put on a brave face. You move slowly, dragging out the process of getting dressed as long as possible just so that there's no excuse to leave for the dock any sooner than you have too. After you're done getting ready, you watch him shave once and then again for good measure before he ultimately decides that you've both wasted enough time putting off the inevitable.

The drive there is silent as well and would have been unbearable had Jake not reached over the consol to reassuringly squeeze your hand. He doesn't let go of it until you pull into the crowded port. Between people trying to get their things on board and a bunch of teary goodbyes, it's beyond you how you manage to find the Dagger Squad in the midst of the chaos. Fanboy and Payback are saying goodbye to their families while Rooster and Natasha chatter excitedly with an older man also dressed in naval attire, the name plate on his uniform identify him as 'Maverick'. It's all so overwhelming that only when Jake squeezes your hand again do you realize that it's time for you to say goodbye.

Reluctantly, you turn towards him, interlocked hands swinging between the two of you. He does his best to smile, and to his credit, it's not entirely fake. "Well," he sighs. "This it it."

"For now," you add, returning his soft smile as you look up at him.

"For now," Jake agrees, his smile brightening now that you seem to be okay also. He pauses, just staring down at you for a moment before he adds, "Are you going to let me kiss you?"

You smile, answering him this time without hesitation. "Only if you keep your promise."

Jake's large hand comes up to cup your cheek, cradling your chin in his palm as he leans down to you. "I promise," he murmurs before pressing his mouth to yours, perhaps even more tender than he did the first time at Hard Deck. Only this time you reciprocate it, chasing his mouth as you lift up on your toes and run your fingers through the back of his hair. Groaning, Jake sighs into the kiss. It's dizzying and you don't know how it's possible to put all of the passion that you've been holding back into one kiss, but somehow you do. His lips are soft and you have to shove down the urge to grip his hair and demand him for more, because it by some miracle occurs to you that you're on a ship in front of hundreds people. 

Jake's the one to pull away, his eyes shining and pink lips slightly more swollen than they were a minute ago. You can't help but laugh, wiping away some of your lipgloss from his mouth with your thumb. "Goodbye, Jake."

"Goodbye, (Y/n). And don't forget, I'll see you soon."

[lani-heart]

|| series masterlist || next // previously

parings -> ( eventually ) enhypen x reader genre -> soulmate au, fantasy au, angst warnings -> angst, rejection word count -> 2.2k

abstract -> misunderstandings built on lies from...

niki's perspective

y/n quit the council and everything was going downhill… Wonyoung was now president and she was clearly overwhelmed with work, event planning, classes, and helping everyone else…

She was holding off elections for her replacement for vice president but she held out hope y/n would take the position again. 

Jungwon got a bit better and took on the president’s duties again but was quieter than usual and even avoided us… Sunoo wasn’t how he normally was, he would be quiet too and ignore everyone

Sunghoon has been getting treatment from the nurses by taking medication to silence his wolf… but all three were still clearly affected by the rejection…

Sooha tries to cheer them up but they ignore her… besides Sunghoon who still tries to force his feelings. Jake has been trying to talk to three to feel better but Jungwon and Sunoo don’t seem to care…

Sunoo even used his powers on Jake…

Everything was getting out of control. Even Heeseung was disappearing from our dorm… Jay has been trying to take care of everyone but everything was a big mess.

I knocked on her door when… “Heeseung?” I asked and I saw the older boy open our soulmate’s door.

“She’s asleep and I was just leaving,” he said and I was left frozen and confused… “I’ve been taking care of her… Wonyoung and Eunchae asked me to help y/n sleep since she hasn’t been as recently” he explained and I sighed.

“Hyung, we need to fix this!” I said and he sighed. “We can't,” he said and I scoffed. “You want to keep her for yourself now/?! You reject–" "Niki… if all of us can’t accept the bond none of us can be her soulmate,” he said and it made sense but impossible…

“Sunoo and Jungwon were happy being with her while you all chased Sooha,” I said and he sighed. “The mate bond will always reach out even if she's only been bonded to two of us” he explained.

“Besides, she still doesn’t trust me… she's just too tired to fight the soulmate bond. In fact, she’s a bit scared to approach any of us” he said and I felt a pang in my chest…

“Let her rest, at least for now”

We went back to the dorm where I saw Jay trying to convince Jungwon and Sunoo to eat… they haven’t drunk blood either.

The school mandated all vampires to feed once a week to avoid accidents… but they haven’t fed for over a week.

“You two are gonna hurt some–” “Are you sure you should be telling us that” Sunoo cut Jake off who sighs and stopped talking…

Hyung, she should at least talk to them

I said in my mind and he sighed… 

“Soon”

The next day it was the same… Sunoo and Jungwon have been getting irritable by the day.

I decided to not listen to Heeseung and went to her room again where this time she opened it and froze. 

She was conflicted…. She wanted to close the door but didn’t. “Can we talk?” I asked and I heard how her heart raced… besides that, she nodded and let me enter. 

“Did I ever tell you what my power is?” I asked and she flinched, making me a bit sad. 

“I control shadows and I can teleport,” I said and I saw her eyes glimmer at least a little. I made the silhouette of a cat, she seemed to smile a bit.

“Can people touch them?” she asked and I shook my head. “No but I can… anything I want I can make alive in the shadows,” I said and she nodded. 

“I know you aren’t here to show me shadow magic, Niki,” she said and I smiled softly. “Has Heeseung explained what's been going on with us?” I asked and she shook her head.

“No… he said you all agreed with leaving me alone. That it’d be better to reject the soulmate bond completely” she said and I felt my eyes widen. 

“No! I didn’t agree with that… Jungwon and Sunoo haven’t either. We thought you didn’t want to see any of us so Jungwon and Sunoo respected what you wanted” I said and she shook her head. 

“I miss them,” she said and I sighed. “Then why’d you reject them?” I asked and she shook her head. “I was told the pain would go away if I rejected them… it didn't, it still hurts' ' she said as she rubbed her bandages… Jake really did hurt her badly.

“y/n they miss you so much… they won't eat nor drink blood. They’ll attack someone and get kicked out if this continues” I said and her eyes widened. 

“And Wonyoung has been juggling everything. We haven’t had a meeting since you last were in council” I said and she shook her head. “She told me she hired a vice president already,” she said and I shook my head. 

“That girl… everyone was lying to me” she pouted. “I know… but I just want everything to be back like it was before,” I said and she sighed. 

“I do too… but Jake” she said and I smiled. 

“He’ll never hurt you again… he won’t even get close,” I said wanting to touch her but I needed to be gentle with her which she smiled softly instead. She got closer as she hugged me and I felt sparks and everything that soulmates say they feel.

“Then I'll fix everything” she whispered and I hugged her back smiling to myself. 

How could he ever hurt someone as perfect as you?

y/n’s perspective

No more moping! No more cowering  No more avoiding my responsibility!

I was in my uniform and went to the council room for the first time in almost two weeks… I haven't even been in class due to feeling down. I can't disappoint any more people.

“No! Don’t you understand how to be vice president?! I explained it to you so many times already!” I heard and I saw Wonyoung hysterically yell at a new council member.

She looks to be a freshman… 

“I don’t think anyone can be a better vice president than you, Wonnie,” I said and she turned to me and looked relieved. “y/n!!” she said as she tackled me in a hug. 

“Are you finally back?” EJ asked and I nodded. 

“We’ve got work to do right?”

It took all afternoon to finish but we finished it with help from Riverfield.

“So you're back to being president right?” Taki asked and I nodded. “Good, because Wonyoung was getting a little too crazy,” Maki said and I had to agree. 

She seemed very stressed and all the paperwork needed to be redone because of it. 

“Where are you going now?” K asked and I sighed. “To fix some things,” I said and he nodded. “Be careful” he said and I nodded. 

I went to the vampire / human council room. I took a deep breath when I knocked. “Sangyeon for the last time we agreed– y/n?” Sunoo answered the door quite aggressively yelling at who he thought was poor Sangyeon… Would I have been scared of Sunoo if I wasn’t determined to fix our bond? Maybe… but I couldn’t help but smile at the boy who looked too shocked.

“I need to talk to you and Jungwon,” I said and he nodded. I saw the boys inside now look at us but Jungwon followed immediately. They looked so pale, and their eyes had a crimson color to them for not feeding. 

They closed the door waiting for me to speak first… “Wanna go to the cafeteria?” I asked and they nodded. “Let me tell them what they need to do, I'll catch up,” Jungwon said rather quickly before rushing back in.

“y/n,” Sunoo said and before we started walking I hugged him… “I missed you both” I said and he hugged me tighter. “Not more than we did you,” he said and I even felt water droplets fall on my shirt. 

“Come on let's go get some food”

Jungwon caught up as I made the two drink blood bags. They were no longer pale nor had red in their eyes. 

“I’m sorry,” I said and they shook their heads. “What Jake did was stupid and we understand you didn't want–” “I did want to see you both… Heeseung told me you guys didn’t want to see me” I said and they both looked confused. 

“What? We never said that… he said you wanted space” Jungwon said and I smiled softly. “Then why did you reject us?” Sunoo asked and I shook my head. 

“Our bond wasn’t rejected, it was temporarily broken… Wonyoung did a spell to break our bond so the pain of getting hurt by one of my soulmates wouldn’t hurt. I wanted to fix it but I was too tired and a little scared to approach you both… but then Heeseung said you guys didn’t want to see me” I confessed and they looked mad. 

“We never wanted that…” Sunoo said and I nodded. I asked for their hands in which they intertwined with mine and I fixed our bond. “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding,” I said and they shook their heads. 

“It's not your fault. If breaking the bond took away at least some of the pain then don’t feel sorry. It was Jake's fault anyway” Jungwon said and Sunoo nodded. “And then Heeseung for not letting us see you,” Sunoo added. 

“I missed you both so much”

jungwon’s perspective

Sunoo and I didn’t show it but we were mad… mad that Heeseung would keep us away from our own soulmate.

“You’re a bastard!” Sunoo yells at Heeseung who looks at us confused and as Jay tries to calm us down his eyes widen. “Let me explain–” “Explain?! What do you need to explain!?” Sunoo yelled. 

“You told her we didn’t want to be with her… you don’t get to make decisions for us” I said and he shook his head. “You don’t get it, do you? As long as one of us rejects the bond we’ll always be here… she’ll constantly get hurt” Heeseung said and I scoffed. 

“Stop fighting all of you, please?” Sooha begged and Sunoo glared at the girl. She was my friend who I did care about but… Sunoo has been avoiding her recently.

He’s been slowly hating Sooha’s presence… he thinks that y/n is upset by her which she is and as a soulmate, he wants to protect her…

“Then tell her once and for all” Sunoo said and they shook their heads. “Sunghoon? You’ll be in pain forever if you don’t end this” Sunoo said and the wolf-vampire hybrid looked at the human-vampire hybrid with sad eyes…

“Sooha–” “Stop” Jake stopped Sunghoon from telling the truth… “For what? For you to threaten our soulmate again? For you to hurt her for someone who doesn’t love you?” Sunoo said and I tried calling the boy down but he wouldn't… this was his last straw

I almost didn’t want to stop him… they would go as far as to see us in pain just to keep our soulmate away? For her to be in pain for Sooha?

“Sunoo, what are you saying?” Sooha asked and Jake was now in front of her coaxing her that there was nothing going on…

“y/n is all our soulmate… and you want to know why she hates you so much? Why do her friends hate you so much?!” Sunoo yelled, making the girl now look at us confused…

“Because Sooha… these four love you. In fact, they love you so much that they’ll reject their own soulmate for you! That Jake would even go as far as to hurt her for you!” “SHUT UP SUNOO” Jake yelled…

“W-what? No… this is a prank” Sooha said in shock. The four older boys instead looked at her with puppy eyes… “I liked you guys too… I probably still do but–” “Then nothing else… I don’t like y/n like that I never will '' Jake said and she shook her head. 

“I love K,”

taglist -> @sunus-sun @loumin908 @on-1ce @shinkenprincess-oh @b-a-nshee-blog @bnnyniky @sakuxxi @chiiiiiiiiis @cncreams @pre1ttyies @justanunstablefrog @graythecoffeebean @starzniiky @singlepringle4you @chirokookie @kthstrawberryshortcake-main @imtoanonymousforyou @lovgfrd @ilovecheese09 @sousydive @pink-but-rosie @kyleebob @jihyosgf @in-somnias-world @jilxxasu @bee-the-loser

please don't be a silent reader !! reblog, comment, and like <3

[solivagant242]

losing you pt. 10

remus lupin x f!reader

warnings: strong angst, swearing, hospital, car accident

pt. 1 pt. 2 pt. 3 pt. 4 pt. 5 pt. 6 pt. 7 pt. 8 pt. 9

amberly is used as the MC here since i used to write a lot of fanfics with her, but feel free to self-insert or use whatever name you’d like <3

________________________________________

“Moony, have you eaten yet?” Her dark head pokes around the corner, framed by the untidy soft curls that he’d always longed to push back from her face. “It’s nearly three.”

He rests his burning eyes on his hands, groaning. “It is?”

She perches on the edge of his desk and leans forward to press a soft kiss on his cheek. “Yes, it is. Did you have lunch?”

Remus grimaces. “Forgot.”

Amberly sighs. “You need to eat, love.”

Her hands find their familiar spot in his hair and he pulls her into him by the waist, savoring the smell of lavender that’s imbued in her clothes and skin. “Thanks for checking on me.”

She nuzzles into his shoulder. “Of course.”

She was so warm. She’d always been warm, everything from those chocolate-colored eyes to her pale, gentle hands that had always been able to soothe his scars and wounds and fears. Her smile melted him like spring sunlight on stubborn snow.

Amberly stroked the back of his head. “It’s okay, Moony.”

He chucked a piece of crumpled paper across the room, fists clenched. “I should have gotten better than that”-

“You did the best you could, right? It’s not like you didn’t try.” Her big brown eyes are wide with concern.

“It wasn’t enough,” he spits, chest heaving. “I wasn’t enough.”

Amberly touches his shoulder and he collapses next to her on the bed, burying his face in the pillow. “You’re always enough, Remus. No matter what.”

A sob shakes his shoulders and he clings to her, tears soaking her jumper, as her fingers card through his hair. 

Icy tears are soaking Remus’ ears and pillow.

He’s been staring at the same blue-washed ceiling for hours now, unable to move or sleep or think anything other than the same four words that have been repeating mindlessly in his brain all day.

It’s all my fault.

It’s all my fault.

It’s all my fault.

If Amberly were here right now, she’d use her thumb to wipe his tears away and kiss the spots where they had been. She’d snuggle right up next to him and rest her head on his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck. He’d wake during the night to find her in the exact same position, clinging to him with her soft curls draped over her face. 

Once, Sirius had joked that sleeping with Amberly when she stayed the night must be like sleeping with a very large and very affectionate Venus flytrap. Remus had laughed as warmth flooded his bones and Amberly blushed next to him.

Now he doesn’t think she’ll ever look at him, much less hug him, again.

If she’s even here at all-

The thought hits him like a punch in the gut and he doubles up as a raw sob rends his chest in half. 

No more holding hands on the way to the bakery in the mornings. No more sleepy cuddles on the battered living room couch. No more back and neck rubs by the light of the fireplace in the evening. No more random animal and math facts exchanged over lunch, or cheesy cat memes sent over text at all hours of the day. 

All of that would be gone.

The added thought of and it’s all my fault wraps iron fingers of guilt around Remus’ ribs and squeezes. He buries his face in his hands as tears pour down his face, more tears than he believed possible after all the crying he’s been doing.

You did this to her. You pushed her away. Over and over again, after all she tried to do was help. You were a complete and utter prick to the one person who loved you more than she loved herself. 

Merlin, she’d do anything for me. Did do anything for me. Countless visions of keeping her waiting, of her making him his favorite food even when she was tired, of those brown eyes being exhausted and drained because of him rose to his thoughts. But always, always so warm and full of love and that he felt like he was coming home every time he saw her face.

Until now. 

Remus chokes back another sob.

The hospital gave him a room on the first floor, down the hall from Amberly. Apparently it was the “least they could do” after the state he’d been in when he saw her. He’d collapsed to his knees on the floor as the sheer force of what he’d done hit him. Sirius- who’d still been very close to punching his face in- had had to drag him out as the doctor watched impassively. 

Down the hall.

She’s just down the hall. 

His feet are on the ground before he knows it and he’s padding noiselessly down the white, blue-lit corridor. An eerie silence permeates everything. The narrow windows in front of the doors are dark and silent. No one is awake at two forty-three a.m.

Her room.

Her door.

Her bed.

Her-

Remus feels fresh tears pour down his face and he sinks onto the chair at the side of the bed. 

She’s still, so still. Her face is paler than ever against the sterile white of the hospital sheets. Her eyes are deeply shadowed, and she’s breathing so faintly that the blue quilt is hardly moving. Her hair is spread across the pillow like it’s melting into the night, barely discernible in the dimness of the room.

He takes her hand. He can’t remember the last time they held hands, not the way they’d used to. Fingers interlocked, warm and sure, the one single guarantee out of everything in this life that he’d loved and loved and loved.

Amberly stirs. 

His lips part as he turns towards her, shocked; her eyes flutter open and fix on him.

He can’t tell what she’s thinking. He can’t read her expression at all, and as he opens his mouth to croak out a I’msosorryIloveyoupleasedon’tleavemepleasepleaseplease-

“You’re not Remus.”

Her voice is soft, almost disappointed. There’s an odd note of resignation in it that strikes Remus to the core. 

He clears his throat and tries to keep the tears out of his eyes. “It’s me.”

“No,” she murmurs, shifting slightly in the bed. Her cast rustles against the covers. “He wouldn’t have come.” Her eyes close again.

Remus’ throat closes up at the note of assurance in her voice. “Wh- what do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” Amberly mumbles. “Busy. He’s too busy.”

“Busy with what?”

“Stuff,” she breathes. “I think I should leave him alone. He doesn’t like when I help.” A tiny bit more alertness returns to her eyes and she gazes at him in the dark. “It’s my fault.”

“No,” Remus manages to choke out. “It’s not.”

Her eyes are luminous in the dark. “It is. It’s why I have to stop.”

“Stop what?”

“Stop”- Her voice is getting breathy and quiet as she sinks back down into sleep. “Stop caring.”

Then she’s asleep again and tears pour down Remus’ face as her hands goes limp and slowly, slowly slides away from his. 

[mrslittletall]

I am not done talking about Dawntrail and it comes from a Youtube comment this time. I was listening to the Living Memory theme and someone pointed out "This expansion was full of complicated parental relationships". And holy shit! They are right! It seems to put the whole of Dawntrail in a completely new perspective. It starts with Gulool Ja Ja and his three children. He has one biological child and two adopted children. Wuk Lamat and Koana both love their dad loads and see themselves as siblings despite not being blood related and obviously not being the same race (outside of both of them being cats). But Zoraal Ja... he feels like he has to live up to a legacy. A legacy that nobody ever wanted from him. He got so obsessed with being the "Resilient Son" that he shut his heart out and didn't allow his siblings or his father to get through to him. Maybe we have to blame Gulool Ja Ja here for neglecting his biological son... we don't know much about their relationship because the story is told mostly through Wuk Lamat's eyes, but Zoraal Ja is the tragedy of a child that wanted to live up to the legacy of his dad and... failed. And this Zoraal Ja is having a child of himself. Gulool Ja. A child that he completely ignored and neglected. Probably because he feared that he would give him the same complex that he had. But he still loved his son. Shown by Gulool Ja getting all the authorities of the King after he died... (still want to know who the Mom is. At first I thought Gulool Ja is a clone of Zoraal Ja.) Then we have Bakool Ja Ja. He starts out as a comically evil villain and I still think his redemption arc was too sudden but here we have a case where a child was forced by his parents to be something they didn't want to be. Everryone worshipped Bakool Ja Ja as the blessed siblings while he was carrying around the guilt of the one who lived among hundreds of stillborn siblings. And that brings me to the last and probably messiest relationship. Erenville and Cahcuia. I don't think Cahcuia is not liking Erenville. In fact, I think she loves him very much. But she isn't a good mom to him. And I think part of her knows that. We don't know why she had her son, if he was wanted or an accident, but it was clear that she was not ready to have a child. And she did neglect Erenville because she wanted to live her own adventure. She even send him away. Maybe it was so that he got a new perspective and learned about the world, maybe she was really thinking something, but ultimately, Cahcuia feels pretty childish. It goes so far that Erenville has to learn his mom has died already and she acts like it is all not a big deal while being an endless, a memory of the person she once was. We see Erenville having a TERRIBLE time coping with all of this. And it feels like Cahcuia is not helping. Erenville needs to grief her and she acts like her second death is not a big deal. In the end they had some words for each other. But was it enough? Was it really enough? This relationship is so messy and I guess for some people it really hit close to home, so much that they hate Cahcuia. Because she is the mom who loves her child dearly, but... she has troubles caring for them in a way that the child needs. It just, agh, it makes me feel things. All of these relationships. There are probably more I missed. Feel free to elaborate in comments or reblogs.

[ultimateyapper]

anyway, here's wonderwall. | chapter one

[ chapter 2 ]

were you truly mentally prepared for what would unfold in hotarubi? it couldn't be any worse than having a gun to your head right? despite the late hour, it's nearly impossible to get what taiga said out of your mind.

there's a mole.

but why would there be a mole at darkwick? who would it be? someone you know? a friend? how does taiga even know this?

there's officially too much on your mind to get any sleep.

yawning, you turn over to pull your phone off the charger. it was cute with an adapter shaped like a cat paw. the smile kaito wore as he handed it to you was full of pride. he said he got it "just because". it was clearly a lie after luca suggested it was consolation for skipping out on training but it's funny remembering how red he got afterwards. it was a sweet gesture but how does he expect to pay off his debt if he keeps buying things "just because".

the screen lights up and after blinking away tears from the initial brightness you read the time. ten minutes after midnight. maybe there's something interesting on wickchat? there wasn't a lot of time to check during the last mission.

eventually you make it to your messages. only a select few people are active due to the late hour and kaito is one of them. you can see him typing in your group chat. the one he made after the mission in frostheim. you temporarily left the chat while talking with taiga. although, in all honesty, trying not to get killed by taiga would fit better. you had texted him more than 10 minutes before you came to his room. yet still a gun was pointed to your head for the third (maybe fourth, you were losing track) time that week.

with complete and utter seriousness he claimed he "didn't know any honor student".

how many times did he expect you to introduce yourself exactly? you considered being a smartass and just saying a fake name. instead you decided to move, slowly so you didn't set him off, and show the texts.

suddenly the blonde started spamming the group chat in all caps, lighting up your phone with vibration after vibration. something about getting his point across to that dumbass, who you're assuming is probably luca. in hindsight, you could've just turned notifs off but when taiga was clearly starting to get pissed off you went with the quickest option. upsetting the guy with a machine gun for a special artifact isn't exactly at the top of your to-do list.

( #1 peekaboo fan )

im surprised to see luca up this late

the conversation comes to an abrupt halt. three dots circle at the bottom of your screen followed by a cat emote waving hi.

( kaito ✮ )

hiii : D

i added you back earlier btw i dunno why you left but it was probably an accident right??

wait sorry did i wake u up

mb 💔💔

( Lucas Errant )

I suppose it is a bit strange, yes? My conversation with Kaito must have made me lose track of time haha

( #1 peekaboo fan )

yeah you're usually knocked out lol and dw kaito i was already awake : )

( kaito ✮ )

ohh ok lol

i can't sleep either

( Lucas Errant )

You can't? I thought you said you were going to sleep because I was boring you.

( #1 peekaboo fan )

lmao

( kaito ✮ )

bro you were talking about fun facts and shi

ofc i was nodding off

( Lucas Errant )

My apologies. I assumed because of your life at home you'd be interested in it.

( kaito ✮ )

no not really

( #1 peekaboo fan )

wdym?

( kaito ✮ )

he was telling me about farm life as if i didn't get enough of that at home

( #1 peekaboo fan )

wait you grew up on a farm!?

( Lucas Errant )

I'm really interested in the culture. In the U.K I took horseback riding lessons but I've never seen any other farm animals in person.

( #1 peekaboo fan )

ooo that does sound fun

pigs are really cute

( kaito ✮ )

bruh

you would take horseback riding lessons

( #1 peekaboo fan )

you didn't like it there?

( kaito ✮ )

i mean... i liked being able to help my grams.

she's older so she needs that support

but in any other scenario??

nobody is getting that muddy for free

like you won't say that when you have a bull sprinting at you full speed

( #1 peekaboo )

this visual... 💀

( kaito ✮ )

bro 😭

( #1 peekaboo fan )

nah but fr

luca if ur interested you should volunteer at jabberwock

it's not the same but it's close

haru could use the extra help

( Lucas Errant )

Working with anamolous creatures would be an interesting learning experience. I'm not familiar so one day if you're free?

( kaito ✮ )

wait

( #1 peekaboo fan )

YESS

i'll show you everything i know ^_^

( kaito ✮ )

just the two of you?

( Lucas Errant )

I'm glad! I'll be available tomorrow during advisory. We have the same class right?

( #1 peekaboo fan )

yeah I'll meet u and we can go from there!

it's a date :3

( kaito ✮ )

WHAT

( #1 peekaboo fan )

u coming with?

( kaito ✮ )

yeah I'll come

( Lucas Errant )

I do worry if this is suited for you Kaito, but if you feel up to it I won't stop you.

( #1 peekaboo fan )

yea u don't like getting dirty right? you don't have to if you don't wanna

( kaito ✮ )

no it's fine i'll just try not to get anything on my uniform and

...keep an eye on him

( #1 peekaboo fan )

what

( kaito ✮ )

nothing.

( #1 peekaboo fan )

right so

see y'all tomorrow

im gonna go to bed

( Lucas Errant )

Yes, me as well. I wish both of you a good night's rest.

( #1 peekaboo fan )

seriously get sleep kai or im going to get you

( kaito ✮ )

promise? 😳

JK JK

gn

an emote of a cat waving goodbye signifies the end of the conversation. that's that you suppose. haru wouldn't mind right? he did really need the help. he's impressively good at what he does but you can't help but feel that he overexerts himself. maybe before you go you should text him to—

"meoww!!"

you nearly jump out of your skin. below you a soft yet prickly sensation is revealed to be a cat, pawing at your leg. the cute little thing is an orange cat with light spots along it's body and tail. as soon as your attention is fully away from your phone it jumps on your leg making you laugh.

it makes no complaints as you scoop it into your arms and cradle it close. it's a bit surprising to see one of the campus cats being so cuddly. they're friendly but very independent as chancellor cornelius had said. most of them don't linger for long, always busy with something else. this one is is a bit smaller though so maybe it was still new to the school.

the vibrant orange of it's coat of fur is reminiscent of the cat who fixed your window. where did that one go off too?

you finally lay down for the night. the warmth from your new companion lulling you to sleep as he settled on top of your chest.

in the morning you'd call haru to let him know you'd found some extra help.

[sakyhana13]

I have a Hazbin Hotel fanfiction where Vaggie is a Carmine and here I have a compilation of memes of the Carmine girls and their dynamics in this dubious fanfiction that hasn't come out yet.

The relationship between the three of them is basically that typical sibling thing: "Mommy found you in the trash, but if someone said that to you, I'll want names."

They will pick on each other, but in the end, they will be sleeping cuddled up in a pillow fort with Clara moving restlessly around the bed, Odette with all the sheets to herself and Vaggie curled up in a ball like a cat.

Clara and Odette are somewhat protective of Vaggie, because she is their youngest sister and even though she vehemently denies being treated like the baby of the house, claiming that she is an adult with the body count and PTSD of a retired war soldier, no one cares. , she is the baby of the house and nothing will change that. Let Charlie say it, after a short conversation with the older Carmine sisters, she came out pale and shaking (she thinks she would faint when her future mother-in-law talked to her).

Odette is the oldest sister, Clara is the middle child and Vaggie as previously mentioned is stuck as the youngest child.

Clara is chaotic, extroverted and clearly has ADHD. She is the artist daughter, theater and cinema are her passions, even in hell she still writes some scripts and records short shorts during her days off, when she is not doing odd jobs as a DJ in the clubs in the lust ring (Carmilla obviously doesn't know from that). She is usually the one who gives the bad ideas, the one who drags her other two sisters into adventures or misadventures. She is a talker, a person who knows how to deal with the public, a stellar negotiator and salesperson. And well, she will do everything, everything, to make her sisters happy.

Odette is obviously the child whose mind never stops thinking of new ideas and theories. She is the inventor of the weapons produced by the Carmines industries, but she has her personal projects that don't involve military weapons, like gadgets to make her life easier, like her little robotic assistant ASSIs and her hellish computer because she's not using the fucking technology manipulated by the Vees. She's basically an Entrapta, autistic technological genius inventor. And it all started because she saw a plane take off and she wanted to do something similar. Carmilla had to prevent her daughter from meeting Jesus a few times (all 3 of them in fact, being little devils who got into trouble whether they wanted to or not). She just seems to be controlled and less chaotic than Clara, but anyone is less chaotic than the middle Carmine, but don't be fooled, just like the entrapta she's a bit of a mad scientist, but she and Vaggie usually reverse each other in controlling chaos. , normally she will agree with Clara's ideas at first and then bitterly regret having gone. Despite this, she feels responsible for her little sisters, so that they stay safe and well, she would do heinous things to care for and support the two idiots that her mother did the favor of tying her to forever.

And then we have Vaggie, you know how she is. But before the fall, even before her time as an exorcist, she was a quiet and shy but extremely curious child. She wasn't an artist like Clara or an inventor like Odette, in fact she was an explorer. Your eyes seeking to learn about the world around you, especially the little animals among the leaves. Loving every second he could spend outdoors watching the little ants do their work or exploring the forest or beach near his childhood home. Vaggie strangely has a chaotic streak, but is it completely by accident or because she went along with her sisters, usually she will be the voice of reason, but when is she not? Well, maybe hell's heaven will turn yellow and hot pink. Vaggie is autistic and I don't have much else to say other than: I love this headcanon and you can pry it from my cold, dead hands. Plus Vaggie would definitely lose her other eye to protect her sisters if she had to, but she'll never admit it, because she'll never hear the end of it if those two scoundrels hear it.

Yes, Carmilla has chaotic and neurodivergent daughters who would knock God off the throne if it were for their sisters, their mother is very proud.

(Sorry for the bad English, it's not my language, and the crazy text, but I've had this in my head for a while and I wanted to get it out, because I don't know when I'm going to write a fic with it.)

[wolven91]

Easedropping

Nick opened the door to the train's empty cabin and settled himself into the seat. He had a brief moment where he allowed himself to hope that he'd get the cabin to himself for the journey, but one look out the window at the packed platform dispelled that notion as soon as it appeared.

The mag-lift train would set off shortly and after an evening's travel would be on the opposite side of the planet along with thousands of others.

The cabin could comfortably house four passengers, but that was for four of the alien passengers, the big ones. With Nick being a human, he'd actually have ample room for himself as humans were not the largest species out here. The man could have stretched out of the padded seat that he was in and never touched the walls.

With a wince, he removed one of translators from his ear and placed it onto the table in front of himself. Nick's ear was aching, he must have put it in at a weird angle or something. Leaving it out would rest his lobe and he'd just put it back in as and when.

That's when the cabin door slid open to reveal a black and white furred taurian with a thick gold ring through the end of her muzzle, her horns barely fit in the doorway.

"Ey! We got three spaces in 'ere!" The bull-like taurian called back down the corridor outside the cabin.

"Hey can we- oh, you ain't going to understand me." The taurian started before trailing off while glancing at the unused translator on the table. Nick could understand her however as his second translator in his other ear was working perfectly fine, albeit hidden from her view. The taurian was joined by her compatriots moments later.

A black furred felinoid and a similarly black furred ursidain's face appeared on either side of the taurian's shoulders, all of them curious as to their friend's find.

"Jackpot!" Bellowed the ursidain gleefully and shoved past the hesitating taurian, who was sent stumbling into the cabin. The giant she-bear sat heavily on the same bench as Nick causing him to be bodily lifted off the cushion briefly as the ursidain displaced. He landed and found himself sliding towards the Ursidain as she warped the bench with her far greater mass. When he touched against the side of her thigh, it gave easily, her black fur rolling against him. It was warm to the touch and was not missed by her either. Thankfully, she didn't make the wrong assumption and pointedly ignored him.

Re-seating himself, Nick watched as the Felinoid with pitch black fur that rippled with a glossy sheen, settled herself opposite the human with the table between them and finally, the taurian, with a shrug, settled into the remaining seat before closing the door behind her.

"I hope you don't mind us sharing." The felinoid mentioned lightly, but the ursidain broke in with a chuckle.

"Ah, he can't understand ya, even some of your words are even out of his hearing range without that thing in." The bear-like alien explained to the cat-like alien.

Nick did consider correcting them, but instead simply remained quiet. If they asked him a direct question, he'd respond. Otherwise, he'd settle himself into a long session of people watching while pretending to look out the window. He didn't miss the fact that the felinoid had 'accidently' started resting her foot against his leg after crossing her legs.

"Aw look at him. By The Feast, I love humans." Rumbled the ursidain's voice from above and to his side.

"Got to admit, there's something about them I like too." Replied the taurian, nodding in Nick's peripheral vision.

The felinoid made an 'mmm' noise as she continued to stare at the human. Nick tried to avoid letting on he could see out of the corner of his eye how she was completely focused on him. He kept his face completely still.

"It's how small they are for me. Actually, a bunch of folk I know of feel the same. Humans just look cute and small. They need protecting!" Claimed the black mountain to his left, she was quite animated, her thick arms, as wide as Nick's torso swept through the air with ease as she spoke.

"Naah! They're sexy!" Countered the taurian as a retort. "Look at him! Dressed all provocatively. No horns and no headband to cover it?! Goddess." He felt another set of eyes staring at him now.

Nick was almost certain the side of his head was about to start smoking under the intensity of their combined focus.

"And! They're really weird." Nick briefly frowned at the taurian's claim, but smoothed his features with, quite frankly, incredible skill, he if did say so himself. "They're all the opposite way round. Their males act like females! And, and! I heard! They like sex and what we look like, just as strongly as we feel it." Claimed the bull excitedly.

Ah, Nick understood now. Taurians had a gender-norm flip when compared to humans. The males and females were satisfied with their stereotypical roles but found humans to be quite fascinating as a human of their opposite gender, suddenly, (stereotypically) enjoyed the same things they did. The males had a maze of protocols and rules surrounding them, whereas the females had the libido of a high school jock.

It had been described by a fellow human who had spent time in taurian space that the female taurians often acted like, quote, 'lads lads lads' and were quite oblivious to what was 'proper' when interacting with the males of their race as the males were far more 'prim and proper'.

"Mm, I honestly don't mind. Apparently, humans like us anyway. Did you know they worshipped us?" The felinoid stated, finally breaking off her stare to glance at the other two occupants of the cabin.

"What?!" "Rubbish!" Came the two replies.

"Oh it's quite true. Even in their ancient times, they had entire murals built to give homage to our visage." Said the Panther-esk feline, as she brushed the curve of her claws against her fur and inspected them closely.

"Even to the point of its destruction, on Sol-3 they kept and loved feral versions of ourself right up until the end" Cats?! This one believed that cats counted as worship towards the felinoid race? Well it come cases... honestly... he could see how they could take the wrong message away.

Nick didn't enjoy hearing about Earth, it was still a bit raw for him, but he couldn't ask them to stop now. But he needn't have worried, the panther continued, pressing on.

"What I find fun, is that most humans believe most felinoids they meet are female."

Nick resisted the urge to raise his eyebrows. It was true, he'd never seen a male felinoid before, the ship full of them that turned up at his station was entirely female... right?

"They don't realise that our genders are just very similar to one another. A surprise for a human to learn if they hadn't asked beforehand!" The panther chuckled. "Apparently the adventurous ones can be quite shocked."

"Haha, yeah like they... wait.. you're female right?" Asked the ursidain.

"No, I'm male? By the seven truths; you're joking right?"

The pregnant silence was tortuous as Nick resist the urge to burst out laughing. He had to bite his tongue hard enough until he was sure it would bleed.

"My god you're as bad as they are!" Accused the felinoid with an outstretched finger.

The cabin fell into silence again. After a few minutes, the panther spoke once more.

"I'd let this one believe whatever he wanted. I've spent the last ten minutes trying to press my leg against his so I can feel his warmth..." She, Nick correct himself, He was speaking to the window now, but the felinoid was still addressing his companions.

"If he'd let me curl up next to him, I'd do whatever it took. Tucking and all."

The taurian chuckled.

"Some of them are quite open. We're going to be all sleeping in here... maybe you can try and say you're freezing? Ham it up, do a bit of a shiver?" The scheming black and white alien suggested, hatching a scheme.

The panther alien scratched at his chin as he considered.

"As long as I'm my demure self, he might be for it."

"I'll just say we all spoon together! I wanna' hug him and squeeze 'im." Declared the black bear. "I'll just make out we're all cold!"

The taurian looked frustrated.

"Two points. One, he'll be lost to your tits and two, what about me?! I want a turn! I'm fine not spooning, that's not my thing, but it means I'm left out!" She crossed her arms over her muscled chest and glared at the door in a huff. With a glance, Nick felt she was inches away from kicking the door in a huff. Nick noted the other two were looking at each other and having a conversation with their eyebrows in silence.

It wrapped up with the felinoid nudging his head towards the door.

"Well.. what if we 'go for food'? It'll give you an hour or two to work him over?" Suggested the ursidain, 'subtly' tilting her head.

"How? Just drop to my knees and suggest he lower his pants? Make kissy faces? His translator is out! Oh yeah; that'll work." The taurian huffed, rolling her eyes.

"Do you want the chance or not?" Demanded the felinoid.

A moment ticked by.

"Yes."

A few moments more and the ursidain's knee was slapped by the felinoid as he got up and moved out of the cabin, gracefully moving despite the rocking of the moving train. The black furred mountain was less graceful, wobbling and stomping when her balance was found wanting.

The door closed and Nick was left alone with the black and white cow, who idly toyed with the ring the glittered in the setting sunlight.

The man looked round 'idly' and as naturally as he could. When he had her attention, Nick gave a tight lipped, but hopefully warm smile to her.

Nick had to admit she was attractive, he probably wouldn't have said no if she had approached him, but he wasn't sure how to react to such a candid conversation.

"Say.. you-.. ah.. you still don't understand me." She started then stopped, the wind visibly taken out of her sails and looking outright dejected.

"And why wouldn't I?" Asked Nick with a ghost of a smirk on his face.

The human worried for a moment whether he'd given her a heart attack as he refitted the spare translator into his ear.

"You.. did.. I mean, we... err.." The large and imposing lady spluttered.

It was adorable.

"Don't worry, it's different to hear things with no filter, but I wasn't insulted... not really." He tried to assure her, folding away the table now it was unneeded.

"So... about why I stayed behind...?" She asked, with a hopeful tone that was painfully obvious. These female Taurians really were like oblivious young men, full of nerves and hormones with no idea how to use what they had.

"Well we've only got just over an hour and a half... how do these beds unfold?" Nick asked carefully, thankfully for her, so was he.

[yeehawbvby]

When the Moon Fell in Love With the Sun | Ch. 1

March x F!Farmer

Rating: Mature/Explicit (eventual smut)

Chapter Summary: The farmer hangs out at the forge on a rainy day!

Author's Note: I wasn't planning to post this until I completed the whole thing, but I got too excited after mapping out my plans for the rest of it LMAO.

The kind comments I got here and on ao3 about December after my last FoM fic boosted my confidence enough to write more about her. That took place before this one, so I recommend reading it if you haven't already!

I hope y'all enjoy this :3 x

Table of Contents + Work Summary

Check it out on ao3!

Next

December woke up with a gasp. 

Her pale skin was moist and clammy, and her white fringe clung to her forehead, having escaped the confines of the clips she often held it back with while she slept. She had a throbbing headache, too. Her dreams had been ruthless, and she spent the night tossing and turning restlessly as a result. 

It wasn’t uncommon for this to happen when she was nearing significant times of the year. For starters, it was the first day of spring — the first day of December’s second year in Mistria. It had also been roughly a year since she left Aldaria’s adventurer’s guild, which she’d joined three years prior. It was a bittersweet change from her snowboarding career, something she’d given up about two years ahead of that after an accident that she would swear up and down was due to a loss of passion and its resulting supposed carelessness.

No matter what horrors December had faced while slaying monsters and saving lives, it never compared to the trauma of landing a move with a loud and excruciating crunch in her hips and knees, a face full of snow, and ultimately darkness when another, louder crunch reverberated through her neck. 

She could’ve easily died that day. The fact that she made it out of her coma afterwards was a damn miracle.

It was a time she re-lived often in her slumber, like last night, and it was the predominant reason why she kept a slew of medications in the drawer of her nightstand. SSRIs. Benzos. Anti-inflammatories, both in over-the-counter and prescribed doses. Steroids for worse days, like today; her joints ached more than usual, and if rain hadn’t already been pitter-pattering against her windows, she would’ve known from her body’s signals that a storm was brewing.

That moment in her earlier 20s was also the reason December craved simplicity. Safety. Not a boring life, but one where she was able to feel impactful without risking everything on a daily basis. 

Her life in Mistria thus far had been perfect for that. But she couldn’t just wave a hand and magically erase what had already happened, so the frequent nightmares and chronic pains were something she’d just have to deal with.

Goose jumped up onto the bed and made a bee-line for December’s torso, purring contentedly while he rubbed his head against her chin once he was situated. Although the cuddles were welcome, it took only a few moments of her lips being tickled by black and white fur for her to abandon ship. She lifted the cat up and held him close, reassuring him that she’d continue snuggling once she readjusted. 

Her vision blurred and sparkled as she sat up. She leaned against the cool wallpaper beside her while she waited for it to pass, taking deep breaths in an attempt to speed up the process and giving Goose neck scratches to distract herself from it. 

She figured she could try to map out her day while this went on, too. She wouldn’t have to tend to her crops because of the rain, so that was nice. Wouldn’t have to worry about ringing the animals in and out of their homes either. On a worse day like this, not having to listen to the clanging of the large bell Hayden had trained them to respond to was more than welcome.

December couldn’t really afford to just sit around and relax, despite everything. There was still plenty to be done: errands to run, forage to gather, materials to acquire for Adeline’s projects, ores to mine and smelt and smith… she felt there was no good in putting her life on hold, even for a little bit. So after patting a few kisses to Goose’s forehead, December set him down on her pillow and went on with her usual morning routine. 

Her meds went down easy, her breakfast was quick and light, and she let the warm water of her shower soothe her weary body for longer than what was probably necessary. After making sure Goose was fed and watered, she did the same with her barn and coop animals, stopping to give each of them some love along the way. And after that, she decided that she’d spend the day at the forge. She was due for a pickaxe upgrade, and it couldn’t hurt to craft a new sword too if she had the time.

She always felt a little excited to go there. December was by no means a fan of smithing — the heat of the furnace made her skin crawl, and the loud clanging of hammers on steel made her wish she didn’t have ears — but she didn’t hate doing it in the rain or snow, and enjoyed spending time with March and Olric.

For the longest time, she didn’t entirely know what to make of Aldaria’s self-proclaimed greatest blacksmith. That didn’t stop her from developing feelings though. March seemed to never know how to treat her, and that didn’t bother her most of the time — if anything, she thought it was very endearing, and found enjoyment in riling him up — but it could get a bit confusing. 

She’d already known that he doesn’t dislike her anymore; and about half a year into her residency in Mistria, he’d stopped basically going after her on-sight. He’d begun to do kind things like teach her his smithing techniques when she struggled, buy her a drink if they ran into each other near Darcy’s stall on Saturdays, and he had tended to her wounds after a particularly rough day in the mines just a few months ago. She’d argue that the last experience softened him even more.

As she passed the inn and waved her hellos to the villagers scrambling to shelter from the weather, December wondered, why was March still so closed off? Why did he try so hard to push her away some days, even after she “proved herself” by being a significant part in restoring Mistria?

The farmer mused that maybe it was their names. Was he mad that there was another month-name in town? She smiled to herself while approaching the fountain, wondering how he’d feel if she tried to duel him about it.

She might as well. Maybe he’d feel like playing today. 

Unsurprisingly, the man in question was outside working hard as ever, keeping himself dry and his metal relatively hot with the large red canopy tent he and Olric often set up on days like this. He only noticed December approaching when she walked through a particularly deep puddle, creating a small splash beneath the weight of her combat boots. 

March directed his attention back to his work just about immediately. 

Foolish mistake. 

Claiming a spot on the opposite side of the anvil, December lifted her hands from her pockets, pointing finger-guns at him with both. The motion in his peripherals prompted March to look back up, and December noticed that he seemed to fight a laugh at the sight before him. 

“What are you doing?”

Her natural voice, although slightly raspy, was light and gentle. She did her best to lower it an octave and put on a drawl anyway for the bit, “This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.” She failed horribly. 

March chewed his bottom lip for a short moment. He was really struggling not to giggle. It made her feel proud. 

“What?”

“Put ‘em up.”

“I’m not—“

December squinted and made a few pew sounds as she flicked her wrists. 

To her absolute delight, March played along.

His brows raised while he observed her movements, patiently standing his ground as if he wasn’t being brutally wounded. Once she settled, he lifted his chin and his hammer with a sly grin, locked his nearly-black eyes onto December’s icy blue ones, and raised the weapon over his head, swinging it in her general direction.

As she clutched her metaphorical pearls and began to feign taking a hit, December took note of how his intense look had made her heart race. Maybe she was falling harder than she thought.

She swiftly pushed that idea back and moved onto wishing that things could always be this way: March messing around with her too, no (well, some) questions asked, rather than trying so hard to be all stone-cold and macho in the wake of her goofiness. She liked it when he allowed her to know she was his friend, rather than having to assume. She’d cherish the feeling while she had it for now.

“You monster.” 

After the exclamation, December straightened herself out and made her way to the stone wall behind her assailant. Over the past year, the corner connecting the wall and the water basin had become the designated spot for her stuff to reside while she smithed. 

“Get better aim,” March quipped, dipping his metal… blob, in its current state, back into the fire for a moment before going back to shaping it. 

After gathering the ores she’d be smelting, December removed her jacket and draped it atop her backpack to protect it from potentially being flooded. It sucked that it would just be in the way if it were under the canopy with them, but while she could leave it inside the shop, she preferred having her things in sight. 

Once she placed her ores down near the furnace, she closed in on March, asking, “How’s this then?” while lifting a single finger-gun to his temple. 

She made the same noises as earlier to mimic gunshots before he could properly react.

Reluctantly, March smiled, swatting her hand away. She couldn’t help but smile herself — she loved breaking his facade more than most things.

After a glimpse at her curled lips and dimpled cheeks, a sight he enjoyed far more than he wanted to let on, he rolled his eyes. “Don’t you have some dirt to shovel?”

Tying her hair into a high ponytail and putting on some protective gear, December responded, “Unfortunately for you, I was planning to hang out here all day.”

March groaned. “Just don’t get in my way.”

“Only if you don’t get in mine.”

The door to the smithy opened. It was probably Olric on his way over.

“Do I ever?” 

December ignored March’s question in favor of greeting his brother with a smile and wave before getting started.

“Hey, it’s December! Nice!”

“She’s not here to help, you know,” March told him. 

“So what?”

“Ugh.”

December turned away from her task to blow a raspberry at March. Another eye roll was all he gave back before locking into his craft again.

Olric stretched his arms across his chest and behind his back while he made his way towards the farmer. “Jo and Hemlock are having everyone at the inn again tonight. Are you coming?”

She shrugged, feeding her silver into the crusher to be broken down. “Depends how much work I get done here.” 

“Come on,” he grinned, “it’ll be fun!”

“Are you trying to make me give up on this?”

Olric jested, two gloved thumbs up, “I suppose I’d never turn down a sale!” 

“I would,” December mumbled. “Shit’s expensive.”

March grumped, “Go complain to a smith in the capital and let me know how it goes.”

“I never said it shouldn’t be expensive. You guys are crazy good at this.” Prepping the coals now that her ores were ready for smelting, December reasoned, “I just prefer to make my own things.”

Olric beamed and patted her on the shoulder. “Very resourceful of you!” The gentle giant didn’t know his own strength, though, and jostled her more than intended. 

To save herself, December batted him away with the too-long fingertips of her borrowed gloves, prompting him to finally go and help March out with their copious amounts of nails. It was almost comical how many of those orders they fulfilled on a daily basis.

March sighed, pausing for a moment while Olric took his place opposite to him. The redhead made sure to nod his head to the side, prompting his brother to scoot further down with him to make room for December to work. 

“You know,” he added, “for someone who’s always telling me to take more breaks, you’re pretty bad at it yourself.”

“‘Do as I say, not as I do,’ or whatever.”

“Oh yeah? And what if I ban you from using the forge?” he smirked. 

As if it were the most logical answer possible, December stated, “We fight to the death.” 

“Again?” 

March couldn’t see it, but December smiled at the nod he made to their earlier “battle.” 

“A lover’s quarrel..?” Olric wondered. It was barely audible, but loud enough for the two to hear and jump into defense-mode.

“Huh?” December turned to look back at him, wide-eyed and red-cheeked — a rare sight, given how little she usually expressed with her face beyond her mouth — while March told him to fuck off, his own complexion now beet-red and his eyes still plastered on the metal. The older brother snickered, not responding to either of them.

Carefully pouring her molten silver into the multi-ingot mold beside her, December groaned. “If I agree to go, will you stop bugging me about it?” she asked lightheartedly.

“I could be persuaded.” 

She huffed out a laugh, shaking her head. March, unfortunately, couldn’t pass up the chance to see her smile again, so he paused his work and watched as she moved to dip her cast in the water nearby before quickly stopping her in the act. 

He called out a stern “Hey.” Once he got her attention, he shook his head, silently telling her to stop. December froze in place, her stare swimming with curiosity. 

March nodded to the cubby of equipment nestled into the side of the shop and next to the furnace, before instructing her to do the following: grab a pan and a hand towel from it, wet and ring out the towel, then place the towel in the pan and the mold on top of that. 

He felt his heart swell with pride as she nodded along, following his instructions. Her only question in the process was why she needed to do this, March’s answer being that it would prevent water damage to the metal.

He’s had a few apprentices here and there that thought they were too high and mighty to do something as simple as follow his directions. But she trusted his judgment completely, even now that she was an incredible smith herself. Something about that made him feel… well, something. 

He heard Olric laugh out of his nose and finally turned his attention away from the girl to glare, his cheeks pink again. His brother had been watching the whole interaction and was visibly excited by how smitten March was.

Removing the quickly-cooled ingots from their molds and dipping one into the fire, December finally decided, “I guess I could use a drink...”

“It’s on March!” Olric volunteered his brother, his wide grin sparkling with mischief. 

He’d be damned if he didn’t at least try to nudge March to make the move he’d secretly wanted to for so long.

Little did he know it only made March more reluctant. The blacksmith didn’t like being told what to do, nor did he like when people would beat around the bush. He’d gladly suffer for the sake of his own stubborn nature.

March scoffed, “Why would I do that?”

December joined the brothers, ready to begin shaping her silver. As she reached March’s side — not too closely, lest she whack him in the face with her hammer or be burnt by his own materials — she gave a featherlight kick to his calf. 

“You tell me,” she teased, “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Whatever.”

“So you’re in?” 

“Yeah,” December nodded at Olric, “I’ll go.”

[bonefall]

do you have any toxic families who “get better” even if they aren’t perfect? sometimes parents do get better but for me it wasn’t until i was an adult so it. feels complicated.

I do! But I am aiming for there to be more examples of families that don't, or are broken in a way that they can never be what they always imagined. It's my little way of rejecting the more common depictions of toxic families, which is, "Oh they're still your parents. You only get one. They tried their best. Forgiveness is always good and always necessary."

Imo the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb, so, jot that down

Digressing, here's the families with some toxic dynamics I'm planning;

Sparkpelt and Nightheart: Reconcile, I don't rewrite arcs until they are done but I am dead set on fixing the buildup of miscommunication between the two of them.

Tallstar and Palebird: Reconcile, expanding on Pale having severe postpartum depression when he was born

Bramblestar's Thorns: Spark and Alder reconcile along with Jessy, Bramble is always on thin ice with them.

Lionblaze and Dove/Ivy: Lion and Ivy are able to mend, Dove hasn't forgiven either of them.

Thunder Storm and Co: Gray Wing has some things to unlearn that he picked up from Clear Sky, but is strongly considered Thunder's dad here and comes out wiser from this. Clear Sky is Not forgiven.

Owlclaw and Whitewater: I haven't had the chance to really talk about these two yet, but the fact that White is scared of her child is influential to him as a little bully.

Tangleburr and Deerfoot: Deerfoot died to TigerClan and Tangleburr supported it until it was too late. This is something that haunts her, that they weren't able to fully reconcile.

Blackstar: Instead of Blizzardwing being Featherstorm's second mate, he was unhappily cat married to Hollyflower and they were CONSTANTLY fighting. Black was very close with his siblings as a result of this.

Crookedstar and Rainflower: Staying largely unaltered, however, she is not allowed to abusively rename her child. sincerely what the fuck. why did Hailbert "The Word Of The Leader Is The Warrior Code" McStar allow this. Why Can You Not Say No. Crookedjaw is an honor title in BB.

Sedgecreek: Actually ends up cat divorcing her wife Greenflower when she's xenophobic towards their daughter Swallowtail and their grandchildren. Also she gets to become deputy.

Aaaaand under the cut is Graystripe's family thing because it's so large it couldn't fit in a bullet point summary

Graystripe and Co

He has never really moved on from Silverstream, or the death of Feathertail. He loves his Three Bs, but it's always obvious to them that his heart is somewhere else. They're compared to Storm and Feather a lot, and Gray doesn't realize how much it hurts to be second best to siblings you never met.

But worse is that he can't stand up to Millie, when she smothers Briarlight after she's paralyzed. He can't lose another mate, so he doesn't defend his daughter, and he's not there for the other two when Briar ends up being the only cat Millie focuses on.

And Millie... after over a year of mistreating Briarlight and making it all about her, she gets cut off completely. Jessy upgrades Briar's mobility device, giving her more freedom than she's had since the accident, and Millie's response is, "Don't give her false hope! Shame on you, she'll ALWAYS need me with her!"

Briar says, "No! That's enough! I don't want to hear from you until you learn some respect!"

Millie is cut off for several months. Graystripe is forced to stay on her side of the line. Blossomfall and Bumblestripe are working through their resentment. Blossom's kittens come and grow, the impostor happens, Stemleaf and Briarlight are both victims of his regime.

Shellfur and Bumblestripe both have long reckonings with how they supported him. Shellfur is nearly cut off by Spotfur and threatened with not being involved with his nespring's lives, Bumblestripe goes on a long journey with Ferncloud and Cloudtail, replacing Graystripe's Vow with Ferncloud's Parting.

There's a lot here. I intend for some things to get better, some things to get worse.

[xino-writes]

Whumptober 2024 Day 16 - "wound cleaning" - aventurine

[ao3 series link]

This isn’t a way to clean emotional wounds. And Aventurine is well aware of that fact. But his chest hurts and he can’t breathe without thinking of the pain and his past and everything’s just bubbling up and he wants out. Out of it all.

And it’s late at night and he’ll bother his cat cakes and the Doctor if he leaves, so here he is, standing in his kitchen, holding a bottle of.. something. He’d been given it by one of the other Stonehearts months ago, and only now he’s opening it.

He should really talk to someone, but there’s no better therapy than drinking at three in the morning, eh? Besides, he can’t sleep and it’s not like anyone else is awake that he’d want to talk to about this. So he pours himself a glass and sits on the counter as he drinks. And drinks.

He lost count of how much he’d drank over the next hour, just trying to get rid of that burning feeling in his chest. People had lied to him, saying that this might just be a way to help, a thing to turn to when nothing else has helped him yet. But instead it’s just bringing the memories closer to the surface, to the forefront of his mind above all else.

He’s wiping his tears when he knocks the bottle over, and when he moves to pick it’s pieces up, he slams into the cabinet by accident, effectively showering him in glass shards. At that, he doesn’t move, just sitting there on the ground, staring at the glass shards that twinkle in the little moonlight in the room.

He doesn’t move when the lights flicker on and he hears Veritas’ voice filter into the room. He exhales, and lets his partner clean up the mess he’s made with the glass, numbly staring down. Because how could he mess up with something as simple as this? At picking up glass he’s broken by himself. At the very simple idea of getting a drink alone at night?

He blinks, and then finds himself in the bathroom, being pushed to sit on the edge of the tub, vaguely hearing his partner mumble at him, something about being ‘completely idiotic’ and ‘stubborn as a mule’, and a series of other metaphors and idioms and other words he didn’t feel in the right mindset to try and pay attention to.

He barely registers the tweezers picking shards of glass out of his skin, and the blood that’s dripping down his side, staining the white sleep-shirt he’d stolen from Veritas. His mind is foggy and so are his thoughts, as he’s entirely focused on fighting back the memories that keep threatening to take over his mind.

He’s not back in that place, he’s not that kid anymore, but his brain doesn’t seem to recognize that. He’s holding back all instincts, all memories, everything, just trying to keep the facade of ‘Aventurine’ up, even if he’s just.. alone at home with Veritas. Veritas, who he’s told bits and pieces, who knows that his childhood wasn’t great. Veritas, who he’s trusted enough to let in.

But doesn’t trust enough to break his walls down for. A funny thing, really, isn’t it? That he trusts Veritas with so much, but not with his real self? Or his entire real self, that is. He exhales, and once he feels like he’s had enough of the glass being carefully plucked out of his skin, he just.. collapses against Veritas, laying his head on the other’s shoulder. He barely registers the reprimanding words the other says before he feels the tweezers against his skin again.

He stays against Veritas’ chest for the entire rest of the time that the other is gently picking pieces of glass from his skin, and he’s only pressed away when the Doctor goes to grab supplies to bandage him up. He zones out at that again, only shuddering when he feels the anti-infection cream.. or what he assumes is that, be gently spread over the wounds.

Veritas is anything but reckless, so Aventurine wasn’t surprised when he’s been properly bandaged and he’s then dragged to get new bed clothes on. Like he does almost nightly now, he grabs a random shirt that’s likely Veritas’ and then a pair of pajama pants from a set that he never wears together.

And then he lays down, like he had before he’d begun to spiral and decided to turn to.. unhealthy methods to cope. His cat cakes smother him in attention, and he can’t bring himself to brush them off to sleep. He pats each of them on the top of their shells, and lets his head sink into the pillow.

He doesn’t register the other body pressed to his side until a bit of purple hair comes into his vision, and he looks down at Veritas’ head on his upper chest, a faint smile crossing his lips despite it all. He’s feeling.. remotely better now, smothered in attention from his cat cakes, and although on a much lesser scale, also by his partner.

He tucks an arm around the other man, and blindly grabs for a blanket with the other, eventually finding one and pulling it up and over them -- including the cat cakes. He faintly exhales and closes his eyes to try to drift into sleep.

After all, a good night’s rest should help him get rid of this.. stress and everything that’s built up over these past few hours. And if it doesn’t, then he has the man in his arms and the cats that have taken up napping on his chest for the night, anyways.

[dcu-rarepair]

Day 3 Gifts

Eight fantastic Gifts have been released for Day Three! Head to the Collection to check them out, and view the Release Schedule to see what’s in store!

We also have a handy Commenting Guide to help our Giftees with showing their Giftors some love. And now, here’s today’s works: 

double page spread by anonymous for Zero_Ducks

Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Dubious Consent Explicit | Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Dick Grayson/Clark Kent/Slade Wilson It's not the first time Slade has fucked him before completing a rescue. It's not unusual; in fact, it's expected. This is the first time they've ever been walked in on, however, and he doesn't seem surprised. Dick doesn't know what to make of it.

honey, can't you see? by anonymous for ZeroMonster

General Audiences | No Archive Warnings Apply Stephanie Brown/Kara Zor-El Kara Danvers is in Gotham on a work trip with her boss, Cat Grant. After an accident at the studio's filming location, Kara has to summon her acting chops at the doctor's so as to not give away her identity.

Little's Worth In Famine by anonymous for DontStopHerNow

General Audiences | Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Clark Kent/Vandal Savage Detailing the inner thoughts of Vandal Savage during the Justice League episode Hereafter as he works with a time-displaced Superman far in the future after an apocalypse on Earth. As well as the lonliness when Superman has to leave him.

Catching a Canary by anonymous for Pillow Lord

Art | Teen and Up | No Archive Warnings Apply Dinah Lance/Sandra Woosan Lady Shiva and Black Canary have a run-in on a mission.

Have you seen The Matrix? by anonymous for dxncingquxxr

General Audiences | No Archive Warnings Apply Dick Grayson/Joseph Wilson ‘You’re okay ?’ He asked one-handed, knuckles touching Dick’s cheekbone when the man ducked his head and smiled. “Have you seen The Matrix ?” Dick goes down in a fight and Joey is anxious to make sure he's okay. They spend some well-earned comfort time together, but is everything as good as it seems ?

A little discipline can mess you up inside by anonymous for kieran_granola

Explicit | Underage | Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings Kon-El | Conner Kent/Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent & Kon-El | Conner Kent Kon has never needed to follow orders and he isn't about to start now. But discipline is important for any young hero and Batman is going to make sure he understands that, even if his methods are a little... unorthodox.

Only for you by anonymous for abovesnakes

Mature | No Archive Warnings Apply Minhkoa Khan/Jason Todd Jason stared at the box left in his safehouse. He needed to figure out who left it here and what they wanted. It was an easy enough task. He really didn't expect a boyfriend out of it.

if i can't dance (i don't want to be part of your revolution) by anonymous for Silver_Snow_77

Canon Divergence AU - College Roommates Teen and Up | Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Tim Drake/Lonnie Machin Lonnie’s goals when he decided to apply to Gotham University were simple: introduce anarchist ideas to the students and build connections to create a network of like-minded individuals. Nowhere in his plans did Lonnie foresee Tim Drake as his college roommate or his growing feelings for the other man.

[theanomily]

Regarding the H.I.V.E. birthday bundle, specifically my less-than-satisfactory contribution to it:

(Under a cut because I estimate this to be about 1000 words).

The shortest way I can say this is "sorry."

In a longer form, I acquknowledge that Wing is a beloved, respected character of the H.I.V.E. series, becoming a favourite of many, and ranking highly in the minds of everyone else. If anyone deserved better treatment in this event, it was undoubtedly him, not to mention the real-life disappointed H.I.V.E. fandom.

I also acquknowledge that this was probably the largest communal event since the release of Bloodline three years ago and that the date on which it was announced was long enough ago to counter any explanation I could possibly give, especially since I, as a minor, have more time to commit to any one project than an adult burdened with full-time employment and more significant responsibilities than I. Yet I shall offer one regardless and leave the perception of my character at the mercy of your own individual judgements. It is as follows:

Some of you might remember me directing a post to an "anon" threatening me in January, which I have since deleted. This is actually not a recent or isolated issue- not even for my blog, although I doubt that anybody remembers her posting so-called "edgy" stuff on it back in like 2019. But if you do, fun fact: it was the same person. This person used to be my friend, then a "girlfriend" and is now something of an enemy. As well as threats, there has been blackmail and cases of physical violence committed against both me and my other friends. The reason I bring this up is because she followed me to the store I worked at sometime mid Feburary and provoked me there too. I was stupid, I shouted at her, and I was rightfully fired as a result. And the reason I mention this at all is because it has been hell finding a new job, eating up the time I had specifically set aside for this project.

Then, the entirety of March I more or less dedicated to finally reading bloodline (I read it twice more after my initial "live react" posts so I could actually get the juice out of it).

On the 23rd of March, my cat died, and to be brutally honest, I spent the entirety of April not doing anything that wasn't complete brainrot (hence the surge in my blog activity 💀).

May brought with it UCAS exams (UCAS points being what you need in the UK to get into university).

June brought the results, one of which was a C in physics, a grade that my school, family, and peers viewed as an unforgivable failure. As such, I had devices as well as other "distractions," including my books, taken away until the end of July so I could focus on resitting everything. Additionally, I was forced to go to school two hours early for extra lessons, given hour long detentions until the end of the academic year and had to have random meetings during my breaks to really rub in how stupid I am (no exaggerations are being made here; my head of year managed to drag calling me the r slur into a forty minute rant on one occassion).

Then, in August, my uncle got into a car accident and requested that myself and my parents fly over into Zimbabwe to help him. Fair enough, but in the time it had taken us to get over there, the man had gone off-grid (as he has a habit of doing) and we still have no clue of his whereabouts.

I promise I will make amends, and the only path I can see heading towards this objective is completing and redoing what you have seen for this project alongside a few other elements I had planned to incorporate into it. To be more specific, I will:

- Finish the birthday bundle.

I'm sure you've noticed that the "playlist" and "prompts for you" categories are missing from my offering. This will be rectified, and I will add these to the original birthday bundle post so it can be completed. I had elected to avoid those categories as I figured that having a few tasks done to a "rushed and painfully mediocre" standard would be better than having a small amount of awful content for each element of the bundle. The reasons why those two categories were chosen to be neglected were that a) no music I know at all aligns with Wing and b) I had not noted that the "prompts for you" was an existing section and only remembered when reading through the example Otto post, meaning I had not left myself enough time to sit with and revisit ideas to see if they really were any good. Additionally, that fanfic is nowhere near finished. I do plan to edit the published chapter and then continue it, and I shall try my best to stick to frequent, regular updates of a higher quality and quantity than I have presented you with thus far.

- Improve what I have given you

I plan to drastically improve my digital art for each "mini" picture that's in my work- you can see that there's a very, very good reason why I kept them all mini. When I'm done, they will be transformed into something that can at least be posted at their full size without risking the health of your eyes.

- Add to what I've given you

I know I've done very few headcanons, so I'll be sure to focus on Wing for future ones that I'll publish on my blog. In all likelihood, the next post of mine will be a much longer list of Wing headcanons. And even if it is not next, it will still hopefully be in the near future.

My initial plan for the "Wing art" was to make a rudimentary physical model of him. I can't promise it'll be of high quality since the last time I did this, I was four years younger, working with better materials, working without keeping it a secret, and crafting the fox emoji rather than an entire person. I also can't see how the colour green, which is what I was assigned, will fit in. But I'll do it anyway.

Something that I played with a bit while waiting for the prompts to be given out was character art. Currently, I have WIPs for Shelby and Laura and have posted a Ms Leon. I want to do something for every character, and Wing will most certainly be included in that, so I promise I'll take extra care to do him justice when I get around to him. Consider it to be like a non-picrew alternative to the cover image.

I also have a physical drawing in the works, though I confess this too shall probably take a while in the interest of refining skills before applying them so I don't waste the one piece of sketch paper I bought.

Once more, I am so extremely sorry for what I have done, and I will ensure that never again shall this height of inadequacy be reached and inflicted onto people who deserve so much better.

Thank you for reading

[cheeriecherrymain]

Incorrigible Flirts And Besweatered Men [Chapter 2]

Pairing: TA!Viktor x fem!Reader Rating: T Warnings: None that I can think of Proofread: Not even a tiny bit Chapter Summary: You enter friend territory with Viktor, get an email that might change your future, and get asked on a date (but it’s not actually a date).

It’s been two weeks since the new semester started. Two weeks, and you’re already stressed over the amount of work you’re doing. You’ve told yourself again and again that it’s only going to get more difficult as the year presses on, but somehow, the sentiment has not made you feel any better.

You suppose one of the bright sides of being in another one of Heimerdinger’s classes is that you’ve met Viktor.

When you’d asked for his number, you’d maybe given him the impression that you only wanted it for school purposes; however, he didn’t seem to mind that you texted him daily - if it bothered him, he’d never said anything. In fact, he was always quick to reply to your messages.

Viktor doesn’t seem to be the type of person who’s particularly attached to his phone, so you like to think that maybe he just enjoys talking to you.

—

You startle out of sleep when your alarm starts beeping aggressively in your ear; you don’t remember leaving your phone on your bed the previous night, but knowing your own habits, you probably fell asleep while watching meme videos. Again.

You squirm around a little bit to find the optimal stretching position, only to be deterred when you realize all three of your cats are curled up on your legs, rendering you immobile.

You quickly snap a picture of them, and flip to Viktor’s chat window.

Y/N: Good morning!

Y/N: Hopefully you’re already awake, and I’m not waking you up.

Y/N: I might not be able to make it to class today.

You find yourself smiling when a set of dots appear beside Viktor’s name.

Viktor (Phys510A): Good morning, indeed.

Viktor (Phys510A): Everything is alright, I hope?

Your heart flutters at his concern, and you take a moment to compose yourself. He’s just being nice, you tell yourself, He would check in on anyone else just the same. But despite your inner monologue, you still can’t help the warmth that spreads through your chest and down every nerve ending in your body.

Y/N: I’m okay, I promise.

Y/N: Just a little bit of potential legal trouble.

Viktor (Phys510A): Legal trouble?

Viktor (Phys510A): Do you need help?

With a wry grin, you send the picture of the cats piled on your blanketed legs.

Y/N: If I move them, I’ll go to jail.

Viktor (Phys510A): Miss. Y/N.

You can feel his exasperation through his text, and you barely manage to suppress a laugh.

Viktor (Phys510A): You are a menace.

Viktor (Phys510A): You had me genuinely worried for a moment.

Y/N: Awww, you care about me?

Viktor (Phys510A): Of course I care.

Viktor (Phys510A): You’re one of Heimerdinger’s top students.

Y/N: Oh, ouch???

Y/N: And here I thought we were at least friends by now.

Y/N: But I see how it is.

Y/N: I’m only a student, after all.

Y/N: Woe is me :( 

Viktor (Phys510A): You say it like you consider us friends?

Y/N: Of course I do!

Y/N: You’re one of the only two people I send good morning texts to.

Y/N: The other person is my cousin.

Y/N: She works at a pizza parlor.

Y/N: I get free pizza if I let her gossip with me.

Viktor (Phys510A): Is this your way of saying you want something from me?

Y/N: No!!!

Y/N: omg you’re missing the point completely.

Y/N: I can’t believe I showed you my litties when I’m being treated like this

Viktor (phys510A): What are litties?

Y/N: KITTIES*

Y/N: You’ve stooped low, Viktor.

Y/N: Calling me out on a typo.

Viktor (Phys510A): Physics and its subsequent lessons have no room for typos.

Viktor (Phys510A): I’m just preparing you for class.

Y/N: Physics and its concepts were discovered by total accident.

Y/N: That’s basically a typo, but real life.

Y/N: Therefore you cannot scold me for having fat thumbs.

Viktor (Phys510A): You’re really going to stick with that argument, aren’t you.

Y/N: Yes. Yes, I am.

Viktor (Phys510A): If you’re not in class today, I’m telling Heimerdinger that you’re hungover.

Y/N: But then he’ll be disappointed in me!

Y/N: He’ll make The Face and everything!

Viktor (Phys510A): It’s your choice.

Y/N: Terrible, awful, horrible man.

Viktor (Phys510A): I’ll see you in class :) 

You set your phone down with a pouty sigh, and debate just going back to sleep. However, you know that Viktor is a man who will follow through on his threats, however playful they are, and you don’t think you have the emotional capacity to deal with disappointment from the Professor.

So, with great difficulty and many protests from your cats, you haul yourself out of bed to get ready for the day.

—

You walk into the lecture hall, waving to Viktor and the Professor, and take your favourite seat; second row from the front, just to the left of the center of the room. 

The class had shrunk considerably since the start of the semester, with most of the unenthused students dropping the course, but in your mind, the front row was only for serious students. You might still be a part of the class, and you certainly cared about your grades, but you weren’t passionate about the subject like some of your peers.

The second row was the optimal choice.

Once you’re settled, you pull your notebooks and supplies out of your bag. It’s an ancient thing, made mostly of scraps and patches at this point, but it gets the job done. You only have to unwrinkle a few pages of notes as you go over them.

Then again, you only go over your notes for a few pages, before your mind - and your eyes - starts wandering. Specifically, over to Viktor.

He’s a good teacher, whether he’s helping Heimerdinger with lectures, or wandering from student to student to quietly answer questions. He’s insightful and intelligent, and he’s encouraging in his criticisms. 

Not to mention, he turns a lovely shade of pink when you flirt with him.

You’ve noticed a couple of your classmates try to behave the same with him - friendly with a flirtatious air - and you’ve never seen Viktor get as flustered as with you. In fact, with everyone else, he hardly gets flustered at all. He keeps his professionalism in check, and keeps the conversation subjects strictly on class material.

That isn’t to say he doesn’t do the same with you, of course; his first instinct with you is to help you with any questions you have about the days’ lecture, but he’s…warmer with you. Friendlier, and more open. Plus, you’re pretty sure you’re the only person in the class who has his personal number, and he’s always quick to text you back-

You startle out of your thoughts when your pocket vibrates and, with a quick glance around to make sure you haven’t drawn attention to yourself, you pull your phone out of your pocket.

You’re half expecting a cheeky text from Viktor, something along the lines of ‘Why are you checking your phone in class?’, and you’re only slightly disappointed when you don’t see any notifications from him. You do, however, have an email.

You swipe to see who it’s from, deciding it’s most likely junk or spam - but the name of the sender makes you pause.

Firelights Studios.

Your heart leaps into your throat so quickly that you nearly choke, and you’re quick to open the email.

You don’t fully read most of it - that’s a task better left for outside class hours - but you’re able to understand the gist of it; you try your hardest to keep your excitement at bay, but as you quietly slip your phone back into your pocket, you’re unable to keep your hands from shaking.

There’s no way in hell you’re going to be able to focus on working for the next three hours.

—

The class drags on far longer than it should, despite the fact that it ends right on schedule. Part of you is grateful for the longer lessons - it really allows you to get into your projects and be present for learning - but mostly, you’re just cranky that you have to sit for so long.

You walk swiftly down the steps at the side of the lecture hall, your mind still reeling from the email you got earlier. It had seemed to be good news, from what you’d read; you hadn’t seen any apologies or ‘we regret to inform you’s hidden within the multitude of paragraphs.

And then a tug on your shoulder, followed by the sickening sound of snapping threads, brings your thoughts out of the clouds and back to reality. It happens so quickly that you don’t even have time to react - your shoulder bag is torn open after getting caught on the edge of a bannister, and your various papers and school supplies explode across the floor.

You swear quietly, and stoop down to try to collect everything. You’re not sure how you’re going to carry anything, though, once you try to find space in the bag that is - at this point - little more than scrap fabric.

You sigh deeply, and run your hands over your face. 

And then the creak of a chair right beside you, and the shuffling of papers.

You remove your hands from your face to find Viktor just to your left, helping you gather up the mess you’d made. You just watch him for a second, both surprised by the gesture, but also not; because he’s Viktor. Of course he’d rush in to help.

“Thank you,” you manage to squeak out, scrabbling around to move all your stuff into a more tidy pile. You’re not entirely sure why your throat tightens the way it does, nor why tears start to sting the corners of your eyes; you just hope that Viktor doesn’t notice, or make a comment on why you’re so quiet.

Once everything is set up into neat little stacks, Viktor produces a fabric square from his own shoulder bag, and hands it to you. “It won’t replace an actual school bag,” he says softly, “but it will at least allow you to carry everything back to your residence.” 

You stare at the square for a moment, taking longer than you’d like to realize it’s a reusable grocery bag. You quickly unfold it to start packing your things up, mumbling your thanks once again.

Once all is said and done, Viktor stands up beside you and offers his hand.

“Well,” you sigh, as he helps you to your feet, “I don’t think I’m going to be able to fix it this time around.” You regard the ruined satchel in your hand, and crinkle your nose up.

“Are you sure?” Viktor asks, though you can tell by his tone that he’s just trying to be supportive. “A…little bit of extra fabric here and there, and maybe…”

You fix him with a disbelieving stare, and he trails off.

“At this point, the entire thing is made of scrap fabric,” you explain. “I’ve had this bag since I was thirteen, I think? Or maybe twelve?” Viktor looks surprised, but you continue, “It doesn’t matter. I’m overdue for a replacement, is the point.”

Your attention darts down to the worn-leather bag hanging at his side, and you ask, “ Viktor, you wouldn’t happen to remember where you got that, would you?”

His gaze follows yours, and realization dawns on him. “Oh- yes, actually.” He reaches into one of the satchel’s pockets, and digs around for a couple seconds. “It’s a little hole-in-the-wall sort of place - I don’t think they even have a website, all of his reputation is based on word-of-mouth.”

He pulls out a tiny notepad and a metal pen, and scribbles down an address. “Here,” he says softly, handing it to you, and you don’t miss the little jolt of warmth you feel when your fingers brush together. “It’s, ah. It’s reasonably priced, for hand-crafted goods, and there are lots of designs to choose from. You should be able to find something.”

Butterflies explode in your stomach when you see the pink dusting his cheeks again: he’s just as affected by the little touch as you are.

But your nervous excitement turns into anxiety when you read the address he’s written down for you.

“Is this place in the-” you pause for a moment, “Is this place in Zaun?” You try your best to keep your voice even, but it proves difficult. You don’t want to be the kind of person who judges any part of a community based on the worst of the people that can be found there, and you understand that most of the residents in that district are only trying to make ends meet: but you’d be naive - if not downright stupid - to walk through the undercity without a single care.

“It is,” Viktor confirms. “Is that an issue?”

You fidget nervously, picking at the dry skin around your cuticles. “Only because I’m a single woman,” you tell him, starting to feel like you’re overreacting. “It’ll be fine though, I’m sure. I’m just being my usual nervous self!” 

Your attempt at deflecting goes poorly, because Viktor continues to frown at you. You think for a moment that you’ve offended him or worse, but all at once his features soften and his shoulders relax.

“I hadn’t thought of that,” he says quietly, sounding almost guilty.

You shrug. “I mean, you’re a guy, so you don’t…I mean, obviously you have to be careful still, but…you don’t really have to be on guard every time you leave the house.”

“It is the same as when we met,” he says, “when you hesitated following me. Clearly there are dangers in the world that even I do not know about. But you need a bag, and I stand by my opinion that this man is one of the best craftsmen in the area; and I cannot send you there alone in good conscience.”

Then quieter, “Are you free this weekend?”

[purgemarchlockdown]

I've won tumblr (got nice compliments on my art)

I dunno if you guys will see this but if you dont mind here's some rambling about it since I Like rambling about my art:

Her father did come home at the end :))))) I am Haunted by how there is most likely more to that scene in Purge March then we are shown.

Flower Symbolism was really fun...buried with white lilies because of the purity symbolism (her want to be pure is going to kill her/she "killed" her own purity...if that makes sense) and the baby's breath is cause I wanted to subtly get the idea across of dead cat = dead amane and thought a flower used for the funerals of Young Children would be a nice touch.

That specific hand thing was not on purpose! All the other ones are but that one was an accident!

Amane is always looking back because she can't feel secure, she's always looking behind her back to check if someone's watching and judging her. And usually there is!

Plus I just like drawing character's looking back, it's a fun angle.

The Religion or Military Conscription line is what caused me to make this- it was just too perfect. Though the footnote and asterix stuff also really made me want to do it. Amane is only a footnote in god's plan :))))))

I should of made a gravedigger Amane Momose design for this it would of fit really well. I hope the sense of desensitization was conveyed well? I'm unsure if it got through.

I won't elaborate much on the marks on the coffins but the guilty coffin was so fun to include. Originally it was just going to be the guilty symbol and then I went "I should put her in another coffin" So I Did.

Cat Amane :)))) The cat scene took a surprisingly long time to figure out. I redid the whole scene and I'm still not sure if I'm completely satisfied with it but I Think it gets the idea across.

The closed eye uses a technique called boiling! I love boiling, I love boiling so much, if it wasn't for the fact I had a three day deadline and also didn't fit super well with certain visuals this whole thing would of been boiled. I love making lines wiggle so much-

[wickedsrest-rp]

Welcome to our weekly round-up! We do these every week to provide plot drops, highlight starters posted that week, and share other information about the setting. Anyone is welcome to use these bullet points in starters, plots, anons etc. Also let us know if you want us to include one of your setting-related plots in here for next week by sending us a bullet point!

What’s new in town?:

Something not quite right is in the air as the impact of the mining accident proves to be more far-reaching than anyone anticipated. Check out our ongoing plot of the week for ways to interact!

Darkling Lake was cleared out early after many witnessed a panicked woman who appeared to be turning into an obsidian statue. She tripped and sunk into the water before she could be questioned. This has caused residents to believe the ooze from the cracks can now affect people. While authorities have assured residents the incident was a prank, their lack of concrete evidence has failed to remove the concern.

Late Sunday evening as the sun set, La Sauce spouted out an alarming amount of the strange black ooze it's known for. While the area is currently roped off by law enforcement, since people in some louder areas of town have appeared to randomly have their mouths zipped shut.

Art Walk has a new mural and it is jarring to say the least. Three lone bagels upon a mountain of cream cheese seem to be staring back at people despite the fact they lack eyes. If someone looks back in just the right spot, they may find a new found enthusiasm for bagels and spreading the word of Bagelism. Others are finding their shoes randomly completely submerged in cream cheese throughout the day, but that's probably a coincidence.

Starters:

Alex is both amused and concerned by the traveling Spongebob statue on campus and is looking for answers

Jasper wishes the art students would stop with the meme art but that doesn't mean it's okay to mess with student's work

Cassius is unsurprised that the crabs are decidedly cursed, but he wasn't expecting a crab rave

Being a good citizen, Ren warns the residents of Wicked's Rest to avoid a particularly rude man

Fang advises people stay away from the Claw at Rock Lobstah, but also plugs her cheap crab removal services

Teagan doesn't know who Spongebob is but she is decidedly unsettled his statue is following her

Stinky air got you down? Metzli too. They're sorry in advance if they try to fight you

It is urgent that Nora gets an address. Can you help?

Place your bets, Bridie has Battle of the Bots going on. Which knife equipped roomba will steal the win?

Just Beau sending the internet well wishes in this most normal of ways while sharing masterful artistry

Milo is eagerly awaiting being able to get and play the new Zelda game, so share your gaming experiences

Luis has questions about who named cat things and why it's called a primodorial pouch

PSA to Jo's Neighbor: No one wants to listen to Karma Chameleon 18 times in a row