#the first time i did this i was genuinely surprised

[parkerslatte]

The Purest Kind of Love || Part Two

Azriel x Fem!Reader x Eris Vanserra

Word Count: 3.2k

Warnings: none

Summary: The morning after the bond snaps between Y/N and Eris, Eris goes to talk to Y/N but can’t seem to have a genuine conversation. Azriel works through his frustration.

The Purest Kind of Love Masterlist

A Court of Thorns and Roses Masterlist

PREVIOUS / NEXT

•••

The High Lord of Autumn paced outside of the large double doors into the room where the one who had turned his life upside down resided. The citrus scent he remembered from the previous night invaded his senses. It must have been nearly an hour since Eris left his own chambers early that morning to make the walk through the Forest House to where he knew the people of the Inner Circle were residing. 

Despite the five separate rooms each housing members of the Inner Circle, Eris somehow knew exactly which one Y/N resided in. It was the grandest one and previously Eris’s own bedroom when he was a child. The small burn mark on the door was still present from where he singed it out of anger when his powers were just developing. 

No matter how much Eris tried to distract himself, his palms sweat as he took one more shaky step towards the door. The citrus scent made his heartbeat increase as he slowly raised his fist and knocked on the door. It echoed through the empty corridor and Eris looked around, he didn’t want to be seen.

A faint reply croaked from the other side of the door. “Come in.”

Once his hand was on the handle, Eris pushed open the door. It creaked loudly and he internally groaned. When Eris fully stood inside of the room, the citrus scent mixed with a cedar and…salt. The door closed behind Eris as his eyes fixated on Y/N.

“Oh,” she said with a hint of disappointment. “I thought you would be someone else.”

From the scent alone, Eris guessed who she hoped it might have been. He didn’t say anything. 

The room fell into complete silence as Eris took small calculated steps closer to Y/N. The salty smell grew the closer he got to her. The streaks on her face was a clear indication of the tears she must have shed.

“Did you sleep well?” Eris asked, already knowing the answer.

“I haven’t slept,” Y/N replied.

“I thought as much,” Eris said. “If it brings you any peace; I haven’t slept either.”

“Funnily enough it doesn’t,” Y/N snapped.

“My, my, there’s no need to bite my head off,” Eris said, his voice calm. 

Y/N’s eyes met his for the first time and the bond hummed to life between them. It made Eris want to step closer to her– it was as if a rope was tied around his waist and was pulling taunt, beckoning him in her direction. 

“You seem nice enough, Eris, perhaps a little full of yourself, but I am clearly not in the mood now,” Y/N stated.

Eris held his hands up in defence. “I didn’t come here to fight you. If you must know, my original intention was to ask if you were okay.” A flicker of surprise flashed across Y/N’s eyes but it was gone as quick as it arrived. “But you seem to have already answered that question already.”

A long sigh passed Y/N’s lips. “No, I am not okay. How could I be?”

“A mating bond snapping was not what I expected to feel last night,” said Eris, holding his hands behind his back and fiddled with a loose thread on the cuff of his jacket. 

“You are not the only one surprised by that news,” Y/N said. “Now, will you please leave me alone. I don’t feel like talking right now.”

Eris nodded. “As you wish.”

As he turned his back, he tried to ignore the small sigh of relief slipping from Y/N’s lips. As his hand touched the cool metal of the door handle, Eris inclined his head to Y/N. 

“Just so you know, I am finding this news just as surprising and as hard as you,” Eris muttered. “I may not show it, but I am terrified.”

Eris didn’t wait around to hear if Y/N would respond. The door flung open and he stepped into the hallway, leaving Y/N alone in her room. 

When he was back in the corridor, Eris wiped his palms on his jacket and groaned. He hadn’t meant to come across so condescending, he had every intention of being genuine and asking her if she needed anything, if there was anything he could do. But the moment he found himself slipping into that vulnerability, his defences rose and were harder than steel. 

“That is a sight I wasn’t expecting,” the irksome voice of Rhysand spoke.

“This is my home in case you forgot, Rhysand,” Eris drawled, already irritated to spend time Rhysand’s presence. 

“A home that I helped you claim,” Rhysand replied. 

“Did you? You and I seem to be remembering differently,” said Eris, his voice dripping in annoyance. “I seem to recall that your two lap dogs, Azriel and Cassian, doing most of the work while you eye fucked your High Lady.”

A threatening growl emitted from Rhys. “Careful, Eris. You just claimed your title as High Lord. It would be a shame to pass it along so quickly.”

“Exactly, I just became High Lord. My powers have increased, Rhysand. I could incinerate you where you stand and I wouldn’t need to even move an inch,” Eris stated, folding his arms across his chest, looking down his nose at the High Lord of Night. 

“What were you doing in Y/N’s room?” Rhysand asked. 

“I don’t see how that is any of your business,” Eris commented. “This is my house, I can go where I like.”

“Stay away from her, Eris,” Rhysand sneered.

“Or what? Your shadowsinger will take me to his torture chamber?” Eris questions. “I don’t see how checking on someone after they have been crying the whole night is a valid reason to be tortured but I guess that is just how the Night Court works.”

“She was crying?” Rhysand asked, eyes darting to the closed door. 

“Sobbing her heart out,” Eris said. “It was only when I comforted her did she stop.”

Rhysand glared at Eris. “Stay away from her.”

“Why? I seem to have done more than her friends did,” Eris retorted.

“I won’t warn you again, Eris,” Rhysand threatened. 

A low chuckle slipped past Eris’s lips. “You seem to forget who you are talking to, Rhysand. I am the High Lord of this court. If you lay a finger on me, I am within my right to declare war against Night. And right now as it stands, the Autumn Court has more allies than the Night Court.” Eris took a step back and straightened his jacket. “I want you out of my court by midday. Y/N and Nesta are allowed to stay if they desire. They are the only two of your court I can abide having a conversation with.”

Eris turned on his heel and walked down the hallway just as Rhysand knocked on Y/N’s door. A faint ‘Go away’ was heard from the other side. Eris was not sure why but it made a smile tug at his lips. 

***

Blood covered his hands and the dummy he had beat to a pulp. It was the third one Azriel had battered. The first two were thrown into the corner of the room haphazardly. There wasn’t a fourth one to use so Azriel immediately picked up the sharpest knives that were in the training room. 

The ache in his chest hadn’t eased and it wasn’t because of the bargain. Something was lost in the Autumn Court; his hope. He had thought that his hope had been shattered beyond repair before. First with Mor and the next time with Gwyn. At least when he was with Elain, he never needed to cling to the hope of her being his mate. 

As the first blade cut through the air, Azriel let out a long sigh. It was foolish to believe he would find his mate in Y/N. And Azriel did truly believe it for a time. There was no one else in the world that made him feel the way Y/N did. Even their transition from friendship into a relationship had been easy. He had always trusted her, confided in her, bonded with her. Azriel knew that his hope was shattered– for good this time. He couldn’t imagine a world where there would be someone better matched for him than Y/N.

Azriel threw the final blade in his hand and he watched as it missed the target completely and embedded itself into the stone pillar behind. 

“Not only did you crack a glass, you now decide to begin destroying my home,” Cassian commented as he walked into the training room. 

Azriel spared Cassian a quick glance before turning his back to him to grab bandages for his hands. 

“You weren’t with us when we all came back from Autumn,” Cassian said. “Y/N said you left early.”

At the mention of her name, Azriel stiffened. “I came back last night.”

“Without Y/N?” Cassian questions.

Another person entered the room and the shadows around Azriel began to grow restless. He couldn’t handle any more questions.

“It seems as if you don’t know where your lover is either, Azriel,” Rhys commented. “I was wondering where she went after we arrived back here this morning. I was hoping she was with you.”

“If anything she is most likely at her cottage,” Azriel answered. His heart stung. Only hours ago he would have been calling it home. Their home.

“And do tell me that if she is there, why are you here?” Rhys questioned with a raised eyebrow. “You have a day off, typically we rarely see you.”

“You’ll be seeing a lot more of me,” Azriel growled as he wrapped his hands up. 

Behind him, Cassian frowned, stepping closer to the shadowsinger, his eyes widening once he noticed his bloodied hands. “What happened to your hands?” Cassian asked. 

Rhys inclined his head to the heap of training dummies in the corner of the room. “I assume Az is letting out some anger.”

“I’m not angry,” Azriel stated. 

“Tell that to the dummies I now need to replace,” Cassian groaned. 

Azriel turned his body to face his brothers, eyes cast down to the floor. “I will be returning to my room here. Only if that is okay with you, Cass.”

Cassian’s eyebrows furrowed. “Of course. But why? You’ve been living with Y/N for nearly four years.”

“There won’t be any more,” Azriel responded. 

The High Lord glanced at the open doors of the training room. “I see. I hope that this doesn’t affect the work the two of you occasionally do together.”

“I can be professional,” Azriel snapped, pulling on the end of the bandage too tight. 

“Why did the two of you split up?” Cassian questioned, still looking utterly confused.

“I’d actually like to know that myself,” Rhys added. 

“It’s none of your business,” Azriel retorted. “But you will pry regardless of what I say. All you need to know is that we were not compatible.”

Cassian snorted. “Not compatible my ass! Az, I’ve seen the way you look at her. You look at her like she is the centre of your universe, as if she was a goddess herself.”

“And how did she look at me?” Azriel asked, honestly curious. Though Cassian was rather talented at overexerting the truth, he wanted to know the way Y/N looked at him when he wasn’t looking. Did she look at him the same way? Or did she look at him the way many others did…in pity.

“I never really noticed a difference in the way she looked at you,” Cassian replied. “But she was… touchier with you than anyone else.”

Azriel deflated at Cassian’s answer. Did Y/N never look at him any other way but neutrally? Was he wrong about the connection they had the whole time?

“I see,” Azriel voiced.

Rhys’s gaze still bore into Azriel as if he were trying to read his body language but Azriel had gotten used to hiding how he feels so he was an expert in deception. There was a presence in his mind and Azriel knew that Rhys was lurking, just waiting for him to lower his walls to find out the true story. The walls in his mind remained impenetrable. 

“I still don’t understand why your relationship ended,” Cassian wondered aloud. “You have been happier than you have in years.”

“Can you just leave it alone, Cassian!” Azriel snapped. “I do not want to talk about it anymore. Our relationship ended because of our incompatibility, that is all. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Of course he told a lie, he had to. Azriel didn’t want to admit to his two happily mated brothers that the female who had lit up his life was mated to another– destined for a life of fiery love with a High Lord; it was what she deserved. He remembered the pity in their eyes when Gwyn had told him she had found her mate and Azriel never wished to be looked on like that again by anyone. 

Once again, Cassian’s mouth opened as if to argue back but after quickly looking at Rhys, Cassian closed his mouth. Rhys’s orders were most likely whispered into his mind. Azriel was grateful. 

“If you don’t mind, I need to go and collect my things,” Azriel stated, making his way towards the door. 

Only after a few steps, however, it was as if the world was mocking him as Y/N appeared in the threshold. Azriel’s whole body went rigid as he looked at her. She looked exhausted. 

“Az,” Y/N whispered. 

For a split second, Azriel wanted to run back into her arms and pretend as if he were her mate instead. He wanted to wrap his arms around her waist and bury her head into her neck, breathing in her sweet intoxicating scent. They would return home and everything would be as it should. 

After that second was up, Azriel’s face washed over with one made of stone. His expression didn’t change. Y/N shifted her weight from one foot to the other, a habit Azriel knew all too well. It indicated that she was nervous or uncomfortable. By the tension in the air, Azriel knew that she was feeling the latter. 

Forcing one foot in front of the other, Azriel walked towards the open doorway, aiming to leave without a fuss. Y/N watched him the whole way, her eyebrows knitted together. His intention was to leave without a fuss but as Azriel walked past Y/N, his arm knocked her shoulder, causing her to stumble the smallest amount. 

Azriel closed his eyes and continued his stride. He hadn’t meant to knock her. He was too focused on leaving that room that nothing else really mattered. But Azriel didn’t look back,  he couldn’t– because the moment he did, he knew he would run back to her and beg on his knees for her to take him back. 

Once Azriel was far enough away, he stopped and let his wings scrape on the floor, not having the energy to hold them up anymore. He looked down at his bandaged hands to find the blood soaking through the white fabric. With a clench of his fists, Azriel continued down the hall, trying to scrub any thought of Y/N from his mind. 

***

Neither Rhys’s nor Cassian said anything as they stood motionless in the training room. Y/N didn’t have anything to say either as she took a small hesitant step inside. Did Azriel tell them? She thought. Though if she had to admit to herself, she didn’t want anyone knowing of her bond with Eris yet. She knew that nobody would take kindly to the news. 

“What did you do to him, Y/N?” Cassian asked. 

“I–” Y/N failed to find the words as she replayed Cassian’s question in her head. What did I do? 

“Why do you assume I did something?” she questioned. 

“You saw him,” said Cassian, gesturing to where Azriel disappeared. “I have never seen him that angry before.”

“Again,” Y/N repeated. “Why do you assume that I did something?”

“I don’t see you looking too upset,” Cassian scoffed. 

Y/N frowned. “How do you know what I feel? Just because I am not punching and beating things up doesn’t mean that I am not upset.”

“Then why don’t you enlighten us and tell us why your relationship with Azriel ended,” Rhys chimed in. “Azriel is reluctant to tell us.”

“It is none of your business,” Y/N snapped. “It is private between Azriel and I.”

“And Eris,” Rhys added.

“What?” Y/N questioned. 

“I watched him slip out of your room this morning,” Rhys commented, picking a piece of lint from his clothes. 

“After he tried to comfort me after Azriel left me alone after the celebration,” Y/N explained, getting more irritated by the second. “If you dare to think anything else, Rhysand, mother help you.”

Rhys shrugged. “I wasn’t implying anything.”

Cassian who had silently stood beside Rhys spoke up. “Why don’t you go home, Y/N? Azriel is staying here and it doesn’t seem like he wants to see you.”

Y/N scoffed. “So if Azriel is upset then you don’t want me around? Why haven’t you assumed that I also want to be around my family? Or does that sentiment only extend to Azriel for the both of you? After all, I was never invited to family dinners by the both of you, that was always Feyre, Mor or Azriel’s job. It seems like I was only your family once Azriel and I were in a relationship, despite the fact that I have known you for around five hundred years.”

“Y/N–”

Cassian was cut off by Y/N’s hand. “No, it’s fine. I now know exactly where I stand.”

“You know we think of you as family,” Rhys cut in. 

Saoire shook her head. “No, Rhys, you don’t. I see that clearly now.”

Neither Rhys nor Cassian had the chance to respond as Y/N quickly left the room. She didn’t exactly know where she was going but all she knew was that she wanted to be alone. As she walked down the corridor, she could faintly smell the familiar scent of Azriel and Y/N’s eyes burned with unshed tears. She knew that there was no way to convince him to stay with her. Her soul was tied to someone else, the male she was fated to be with. 

Eris Vanserra was someone Y/N had never met personally; only heard stories about– and most of the stories were not positive. Yet, when she danced with him last night, even if she wasn’t leaning into his fake flirtations, she had an amazing time dancing with him. Even this morning when he checked up on her after their mating bond snapped, he didn’t need to do that. And left the room when she asked him to. It was the bare minimum but they didn’t align with the stories of the cruel, evil, wicked High Lord that the Inner Circle had spoken about for many years. 

Y/N shook her head, hoping to rid herself of thoughts about Eris and continued down the hallway. No destination in mind, all that she wanted to do was be alone and dive into her own research– anything to distract her from her reality. 

Taglist:

@22hilda @lazypostfandomer @inkedinshadows @awkardnerd @azysmate @therealmoonstone @lets-talk-about-xyz @starryevermore @babypeapoddd @tothestarsandwhateverend @batboyrhyrhy @callsigns-haze @wildflowermooon @wildfloweroutlaw @acourtofbatboydreams @bookandtealover @queenoffeysand @the-sweet-psycho @the-starlight-way @curiosandcourioser @cheekym8s @honk4emoboyz @paleidiot @buckystevelove @that-girl-reading @readinggeeklmao @hextech-bros @scarsandallaz @paige0103 @k8r123-blog @asweetblueberry2 @bloodicka @eddsthemunson @fourthwing4ever @crypticme @that-one-bibliophole @lilah-asteria @sassybluebird @ninthcircleofprythian @imma-too-many-fandoms @happyt0exist @spiritualmooshroom @phoenix666stuff @imagoddessinmystories @sveretrice @stormieandateacup @impossibelle @opium-den

[fallbhind]

　ꢾ꣒　　 ⑅ BUSY DAY, SLEEPY BOY　 ⁺　 　₍ᐢ..ᐢ₎

warnings: reader thinks about the fun day you and zach had while he had bobbed off into sleep. ྀི sweetheart!zach x sweetheart!reader. fluff, suggestive, blurb, kisssing.

zach’s snoring was soft as you thought about today. it was the first day you hadn’t criticized him over him not “using” his brain. even if he hit his head a thought you were his girlfriend. not only did you not criticize him—you kinda started to like him, rather than his cousin who was a done deal when you found out he was polyamory. but, zach, sure you weren’t actually his girlfriend, and not even close to being zach’s to being his girlfriend on the soccer team.

to be of all truth, you didn’t even know zach existed because you were so envolved in the technicalities of romance. but maybe just maybe you didn’t need statistics to help you figure out your love life. maybe he was in front of you the whole time.

like today, you spent it playing games because after kissing miles in the hot tub, then his confession on how he loved you because of how similar you were. it was a dorky way of finding out that someone liked you—but all that was to be crushed you found out he was polyamory that morning. though you couldn’t help but realize how you dwelled on how all of this would have to change eventually. all of it.

but you were scared about it. apparently opposites do attract. even in your book, they end up together, despite all the other possible outcomes that may happen, it was you and zach.

your fingers ran loosely through his hair. everyone besides you had gone to bed, whilst the feeling of zach’s head on your thigh stopped you. you were talking to yourself in the dim light as you thought about how you played chess, imaginary football, jenga, monopoly and etc. zach shifted, his eyes opening softly, reaching out to par you as your head slowly bobbed. “you still awake?” he asked groggily, his mind clouded with the slurring effect of sleepiness.

you nodded softly, “yeah.” zach sat up to meet your droopy gaze, locking his pretty blue eyes with yours.

“i had fun today,” he started, his hand and reached toward the thigh the least closet to him, his touch quick, but delicate as his lanky fingers danced on your hip bone. your heart was beating out of your ribcage, just like today when his lips first met yours, the first genuine kiss you and him had had since you went on vacation with him.

but this was different, as your heart beat against your ribcage, your stomach knitted with butterflies as his lips met yours, again. you’d let out a soft noise of surprise, your hand going to cup his face. when he pulled away, his hand stayed on your cheek, staring into your eyes, you were just, so damn intoxicating, he couldn’t help but crave more.

SPECIAL TAGLIST ! @starkeysprincess, @littlelamy, @cherrygirlfriend, @nemesyaaa ★ specifically drew content, strictly mutuals, comments 2 be added or removed.

[kl-writes]

It's one of those things where I really wish I knew more about world history outside the US and Europe, but I don't really have the time to dig into the details of things like we did way back in school. YouTube channels like ExtraHistory seem perfect for that sort of thing, but I worry that in the shorter format, I might be losing out on important details.

I'm also not sure what would be the "most important" things to learn about, because it seems almost impossible to decide what's the most important thing to learn about without making some sort of subjective judgement. And I could just decide to only watch stuff that I'm very interested in, but TBH the specifics of ancient sumer and mesopotamia aren't really that important to the way the world is now

And with literature especially, there's definitely a bias in what gets preserved. I kinda expected when I made this post on my sideblog about finding different public domain works online, that there'd be a lot more English-language works on the list (since the penguin house box set was being marketed to the English language audience...) but it was difficult to find some of the works in their original language (a lot of Russian works in particular weren't on Gutenberg, which is surprising). There was one piece where I'm pretty sure Penguin House's translator was the first one to collect and translate the works, and I'm pretty sure they had been around for almost a thousand years. So, even though most of the Penguin House stuff was public domain works where you can get them for free wherever, a few of them were new translations that hadn't been made before. When I was building that list, I was originally going to make some point about publishers repackaging public domain stuff and upcharging for it, but b/c of that it seemed like it was a genuine service to be translating this for a new audience.

But most of the non-English stuff on that list was Greek or Latin, with a smattering of Russian, French, Italian, and Spanish stuff.

A new facet to the odyssey discourse on twitter is now ppl arguing and only Americans know what the odyssey is and while that IS absurd I would like to note that I've heard of Americans studying it in English classes which is something I do find a little jarring. Like it's English literature innit why are you reading a greek book.

[scar-crossedlvrs]

A Secret Santa Gift for @vaaaaaiolet

featuring Leon S. Kennedy + christmas morning + forced proximity ( loose interpretation tbh ) + a reference to a christmas movie!

A/N: I want to profusely apologize for how late this is! I had something else written completely and absolutely hated it, scrapped it and now we’ve got this which i’m a million times happier with. I genuinely hope you enjoy this vivi, i feel so rusty when it comes to writing so the only thing i can do is hope you enjoy! and to everyone that participated in @leonsecretsanta , y’all did some amazing work and i can’t wait to enjoy it all

includes: agent reader. disappointing circumstances. being stuck in a hotel room for the holidays

wc: 1.2k

“Damn it.” 

Your eyes flicker to your work partner across the room just as he tosses his earpiece onto his bed in frustration. Steel blue eyes meet your confused gaze and Leon can’t do much but offer you a shrug. 

“Evac won’t be here for another twenty four hours.”

You stare, mouth falling open slightly in astonishment. “No way, It’s Christmas Eve. They can’t just leave us here.” 

It had already been a day since the two of you had completed your last mission, sharing the best hotel room that the D.S.O. was willing to shell out on the other side of the country. Hunnigan had promised that the two of you would be back in time to spend Christmas in the comfort of your own home, but now? They decided to wait until 11pm to let you know that you wouldn’t be making it home in time for the holiday at all. 

It wasn’t as if it was the first time they left the two of you stranded like this. 

“Apparently, everyone else gets the pleasure of a half day. They forgot about us.” 

You groan, falling dramatically into the plush of your own queen bed, face smushed into the low quality hotel comforter. Leon can’t do much past helplessly watching your plight in silence for a few minutes before sitting himself on the edge of your bed, a comforting hand finding a perch on your shoulder blade. 

“It could have been worse.” his words weren’t as comforting as either of you wished they could have been, but it was enough to make you right yourself into a seated position beside him. Even if it was just to shoot him an annoyed glare. 

“Easy for you to say.” you grumble. 

“Yeah, yeah.” He rolls his eyes in response, standing up with a pat to your shoulder. “Just take a shower, get some sleep. We’ll figure out what to do about this in the morning.” 

Inhaling sharply through your nose, you nod. “Yeah, you’re right. Nothing we can do about it now anyway.” 

You begrudgingly stand, sulking your way to the bathroom to wash away the disappointment and wind down for bed, and when you emerge clean and in a slightly better mood, Leon is nowhere to be found. 

Strange.

—

You awaken the next morning to the sound of shuffling. Eyes peel open in the soft morning light, the curtains having been drawn open in order to allow the sun to shine into the dingy hotel room, brightening it up ever so slightly. Letting out a soft groan, you let your eyes fall shut once more, remembering exactly where you are in the moment. 

“You awake?” Leon’s voice rings out. “Merry Christmas.”

You flop onto your side, prying your eyes open once more to see him seated on the edge of his bed. He hadn’t returned back to the hotel room by the time you had fallen asleep, so part of you was surprised to see him here clad in a green sweater. As you right yourself, he holds something out to you with a halfhearted smile. “Here.”

Bleary eyed, you take the red bundle and inspect it further. It doesn’t take much to identify it as another sweater, the matching pair to the one he already had on his frame. Brows furrow for a moment as your sleep ridden brain slowly begins to piece things together. 

“Just change into it and we can have some breakfast,” Leon ushers, motioning you towards the bathroom as he stands, turning his back to you rather suspiciously. 

You shrug, tossing the covers off of your body before placing your feet onto the cool, carpet covered floor. Standing, you glance towards the man once more to find him glaring at you, a finger pointing towards the bathroom in a silent command. 

“Fine, fine.” you grumble softly, shuffling your feet as you make your way into the bathroom to wash the sleep from your eyes and dress yourself in your new gifted sweater. A pretty little red cable knit number that you probably would have put back in favor of something with a little more festive flair, but it was definitely more pleasant to look at than the dull black you already had on. 

The moment you left the bathroom, you halted in surprise at the sight before you. The first thing that caught your eye was the miniature tree placed on the desk in the corner of the room. Lights twinkled around it, reflecting off the small red and green baubles that decorated the branches. Tracing the perimeter of the room, you noticed the cheap paper snowflakes plastered to the window as well as a cardboard santa propped in the opposite corner as the tree. Leon had turned on the dinky television, now playing some stop motion animated christmas film you hadn’t watched in years. You hadn’t even made it to the “breakfast” spread atop his bed by the time you could feel yourself grinning from ear to ear. 

“I take it you like it?” Leon perked up at the sight of your smile, unable to hide the one that was growing on his own lips. “I know it’s no Kevin Mcallister at the Plaza Hotel, but I figured it was better than nothing.” 

You nod, turning to meet him with bright eyes. Without warning, you throw your arms around him, catching him by surprise. It takes a moment, but his own arms fold around you. You squeeze him tightly in your arms before taking a step back, face warm in embarrassment at the sudden physical contact shared between the two of you. He doesn’t seem to mind it however, instead leading you to the impressive selection for your holiday breakfast ( what appeared to be a variety of snacks emptied from the local gas station’s shelves ).

“How’d you manage this?” you question, taking a moment to sift through the pre-packaged pastries and snack sized bags of chips.

“Well, you seemed to be really disappointed about this situation so I thought I’d do something to make it better.” he started, propping himself on the edge of his bed. 

“Not why, how?” you snort softly, nudging him with your hand before sitting down beside him, packaged cookie in hand. 

“Oh, well after you went to shower I got the idea for all this. Spent half the night hunting for somewhere that was even open. Thank god for gas station convenience stores.”

You can’t help but laugh. “You got everything from a gas station? Even the tree?” 

Leon nods, reaching behind him to pluck out a bag of chips for his own meal. “Remind me we need to take that back before we get picked up. They made me pay an arm and a leg for it and still want it back.”

You nod, silently taking in the hotel room around you that suddenly seemed to be much less miserable than it had been last night before turning your gaze back to him. “I don’t have anything for you.”

He shrugs, “I don’t need anything, just knowing you’re not miserable is enough.” 

You smile softly once more, attention turning to the colorful characters on screen. Taking a bite of your cookie, your head falls to his shoulder. 

“Thanks.”

[miss-vanta-likes-to-write]

WOULD PRICE'S LADY TEACH HIM SPADES?

I'm hollering because the relationship almost didn't survive that first game of spades when visiting her family. Let's switch perspectives, shall we?

Price POV

Rating: Gen Audience

continuation of this post here

John is already dealing out the cards for their next card game. He is sitting across from Kyle, and he feels sorta bad for what he's about to do...but when his Missus had said that he wasn't good at bluffing or shit talking at the spades table he knew he had to practice. Normally he deals out five cards like any old poker game, Simon and Johnny aren't paying attention because Johnny is grilling Simon about his new hen (and if she has any single friends.)

Kyle notices that he has 13 cards and immediately sighs, "Absolutely not. I actually like you guys."

This grabs Johnny's attention, and he tilts his head, "Wot we playin'?"

"Spades." John says, "I just think we should try something new." It's his go-to phrase thanks to his Missus. She says it often when she inevitably coaches him out of his comfort zone. He smiles at the thought of her, and then he frowns because when she said this to him before that disastrous spades game. (He had never seen his girl so fired up and competitive against her sibling and their partner. He honestly thought a fight was going to happen, but then it was explained that was just how they were, loud rowdy and passionate).

Simon is skeptical about the new game, "Why does Gaz look distressed?" He side eyes him. It's a new expression on his face, and he probably picked that one up recently.

"I'm distressed because if we play this game and Johnny cuts me, I won't be inclined to help him ever again." Kyle is already getting up to switch places with Simon, so he is sitting across from Johnny. Kyle is glaring at him and Simon, "what next, are we playing bones? Uno with house rules? Throwing dice at the wall and snapping our fingers?"

Soap is laughing, "Why're ye so stressed about a few games?" He wipes a tear from his eye.

"Captain’s girl has him playing spades, and he has a fade, Simon is wearing black forces with red laces. Nothing good is going to happen if either of them decide to leave their girlfriends." Kyle looks genuinely concerned, and John feels like he is overreacting.

Still, John just chuckled and explained the rules for spades. A few minutes later he finds himself fussing at Simon for throwing down the big joker after the first go around. Johnny is cackling because the only thing he understood about the rules is that nothing beats a spade except a higher spade, and he just used his only three consecutively. Kyle has tried to jump across the table twice, and John is surprised because he's never seen his little mini me lose his carefully crafted composure. By the time this round ends, the four of them are arguing about rules and who screwed who first.

"Cap! I've been playing spades for years! How are you gonna tell me the rules! You can't throw down a heart on a bunch of diamonds, and then in the next play, throw down a diamond!" Kyle is throwing his arms up.

"Wait, ah'm confused" Johnny says, "are we not winnin'?"

"He's saying that my bear is cheating." They didn't hear the basement door open, and Missus entered the room. "Cuddly Bear." She traces her hand across his shoulder, and John looks at her. "I really don't need you perfect at playing spades... you play dominoes well enough, and you clean up at the poker table."

John feels his cheeks warm up at the compliment, and he misses the way Kyle gasps. "Just trying something new with the guys, Sweetheart. "

"He plays dominoes! Ugh, I can't." He flops into his chair.

Missus only laughs, "Actually, I came up here to see if you four wanted to watch 'Why did I get married?' with us downstairs."

John doesn't mind, but he finds it odd that Kyle only groans and pulls his hat over his face.

[cc-cobalt-1043]

Comforting words can go a long way (A sonic 3 oneshot):

It was late now at the Wachowski campsite, Tom, Maddie, Sonic and Knuckles had drifted off to sleep hours ago but despite his best efforts Tails couldn't sleep.

He could only think of one thing...Stone.

Tails couldn't think of why, but despite being Robotnik's lackey Tails had never thought of him as a particularly bad person, not only had he seemed genuinely horrified when he heard about Gerald Robotnik's plans for Earth, but the man had tried to shield him when Shadow attacked them...that had to count for something right.

After tossing and turning for a good while now and still unable to sleep he got up with a irritated huff and grabbed his backpack walking out the tent.

Sitting down near the now dead campfire he pulled out his Miles electric and tapped away at it.

After several minutes of tapping away he located Stone.

The man was located at Kings Cross Station in London, however according to the schedules no trains were departing for several hours and apparently Stone's signal had been stationary for a few hours now.

Deciding he needed to do something, anything to help the grieving man Tails pulled out a ring he'd been keeping for emergencies he threw it and stepped through.

London:

Stone was sitting on a bench at Kings Cross, the station was deathly silent, the usual trains weren't running at this time, Stone noticed several parked in the platforms but they weren't the reason for him being there.

He was looking up at the stars as well as the now damaged moon, he couldn't get his thought of the doctor.

People only saw them as two madmen but to him Ivo Robotnik was a friend...yes a very very flawed friend, but one nonetheless, the two having met back when Stone was in the military, the two having formed something of a partnerships, neither he nor Ivo had been able to figure out what they were and now they clearly never would.

"Erm, excuse me." A tiny voice said.

Taken by surprise Stone looked and saw the young Fox, Tails or something looking at him with a pair of bright cyan eyes.

Stone blinked not sure if he was hallucinating but after a moment he realised he mustn't be as the fox kit was still here.

"Not to be rude, but how did you get in here?" Stone asked.

"I used a ring, how did you get here?" Tails asked blinking innocently at him.

"That's for me to know and you to find out." Stone said simply.

He looked at Tails who simply stared at him.

"So what are you doing here...Tails was it?" Stone asked.

Tails nodded.

"Technically it's Miles, but you can call me Tails." Tails told him.

Stone nodded.

"So Tails, what brings you to merry old London?" Stone asked.

"I wanted to see you, make sure you were ok." Tails said.

"Oh I'm just fine, all lollipops and rainbows." Stone said bitterly.

"I may be a kid but I can recognise sarcasm you know." Tails said crossing his arms and looking at him with a pout that even Stone thought looked adorable on the kits face.

"Alright fine I'll level with you kid, I've just lost the man I loved over some stupid thing I barely know the details of, he was the first person who actually treated me with some level of respect after I withdrew from Afghanistan and yeah you know what, maybe he was kinda crazy, and maybe he was a bit of a jerk at times but we had each other and that was enough, I loved him kid and now without I'm completely lost and confused, do you have any idea what that's like Tails." Stone snapped.

He looked at the fox seeing his tails had wilted and ears drooped back and he frowned.

"Sorry kid, I didn't mean to go all dark and gloomy on you." Stone said.

"Actually I kinda get it, when I was younger I was always picked on for my extra tail and my smarts, even my own parents had abandoned me by the time I was three." Tails said.

Stone grimaced. "Wow, that's horrible." He said.

"Well I've been staying with Sonic, Knuckles and my mom and dad for a while now they took me in and loved me regardless of my flaws, but if I lost then I guess I'd feel like you do right now, I know it's probably not what you want to hear right now, I just want you to know I understand." Tails are.

Stone looked at the kid in front of him, he would be lying if he said the kid's statement hadn't resonated with his own lonely childhood.

"Sorry, didn't mean to give you my life story." Tails apologised.

Stone shrugged.

"No Tails, that actually did help, guess we have more in common than we thought." Stone said.

"I guess." Tails said.

Just then the Fox let out a very wide yawn, it was then Stone noticed just how late it was, he looked at Tails who looked absolutely exhausted, if he was right about how young the kit was he should have been in bed and fast asleep hours ago.

"You have a way home right?" Stone asked.

Tails suddenly realised he hadnt grabbed a spare ring and face-palmed when he realised his error.

Stone let out an amused snort.

"I'll give you a ride home, want me to carry you?" He asked.

"Tha---s." Tails said, the rest being drowned out by another almighty yawn and he climbed onto the mans shoulders.

Stone simply snorted again and made his way out of the station and towards crab-bot as Ivo had dubbed it.

Thankfully the streets were quiet even by London's standards so thankfully they got very few looks.

Stone wasn't sure when but at some point the kit fell asleep on his shoulders.

The Fox's soft snores echoed in Stone's ears as he walked and not even he could hide his smile at the child's innocence, expecially when the world seemed so determined to snatch it from him.

They got to the crab-bot and Stone set the snoozing fox down in the co-pilot seat, the kid shuffling slightly in his sleep using one of his tails as an improvised pillow.

Stone smiled at the adorable sight before setting course for Green Hills.

By the time they got there it was early morning and when they got to the campsite the Wachowskis were staying at Stone could see the kit's family looking for him.

They certainly weren't expecting to see Stone appear with said Fox snuggled up in his arms.

"Relax, I'm just bringing him home." Stone said seeing the alert looks on Tom, Knuckles and Sonic's faces.

He handed Tails over to Maddie who took the sleeping fox with a much kinder look than the others were giving him.

Tails let out a tiny yawn and groggily opened his eyes looking at Maddie with a sleepy smile.

"Hi mama." He mumbled sleepily cuddling into her.

"Hi pumpkin." Maddie cooed before heading to the kids tent with the exhausted fox, the two talking in hushed whispers.

Stone turned around and was about to leave when he saw Sonic in front of him.

"What were you doing with Tails?" The blue hedgehog demanded.

"Nothing, he came to me, we had a chat and he couldn't get home so I gave him a lift." Stone said truthfully, well he was hardly lying was he.

Sonic gave him a look but seeing no trace of a lie nodded.

"Well, thanks for bringing him back...and look I'm sorry about Eggman, yeah I didn't particularly like him, but he did the right thing in the end, and despite our checkered past...I guess I can respect him for that." Sonic said.

Stone nodded.

"Thanks Sonic...you've got a good brother there, take care of him." Stone said.

Sonic nodded and with a brief smile Stone climbed into the crab-bot and departed the Wachowski campsite.

[sportswriters]

christmas surprise - p. gavi

pairing: pablo gavi x female!reader | fluff | established relationship | wc: 1.3k | warnings: none | a/n: hey, merry belated christmas! this scenario wasn't planned, but gavi did the miracle of posting a story and i got triggered to write it. hope you like it! - ella

you told gavi that you wouldn't be able to spend christmas with him or his family. things were tight at work and you hadn't been able to get a last-minute flight — that's all you told him, who believed you, letting his withered expression show on the video call, but he understood your reasons.

he promised you that he would call you on christmas night, because you would be alone in your cold apartment, even if he wanted to take the first flight from spain to germany, but you wouldn't let him. you liked the connection he had with his family and preferred him to spend the holiday with them.

however, you secretly planned a surprise.

you managed to get a last-minute flight and despite the rush to make it on time, everything worked out. he still didn't know that you were about to knock on his door, distracting him with replies to his texts, as if you were still in your cold apartment in germany— but you were standing in front of his house.

nervous, you pay the taxi driver and look at yourself, checking your simple, pretty dress, all red, thin straps. your makeup was simple and you were holding a wheelie suitcase, ready to spend the rest of the year there too, since you've managed to plan properly for it.

you check the clock on your phone screen, noting that it's a few hours before christmas. but they're already all gathered inside, like the family they were, and you take a deep breath and start walking, dragging your suitcase along. you hadn't seen him for almost five months, always exchanging messages or making video calls, because you needed to stay in germany for another year to finish your master's degree in psychology.

even though it was difficult, you managed to make the relationship work. every now and then, gavi also managed to get over to germany to see you and spend a quality weekend, but those five months were the longest without seeing each other. you weren’t even able to go watch him play the match in which he made a comeback from his injury.

but you watched it all on tv. then you called him and spent hours together on the phone, despite the time zone, until you went to sleep. you thought you wouldn't be able to keep it up for that long, but you liked the way things were working out, both of you working equally hard to make it happen. you just had to wait another year. another year and you'd be back in spain, putting an end to all the distance.

you raise your hand and finally knock on the door. it doesn't take long for them to answer and the person who opens the door is aurora, your dear sister-in-law, gavi's sister, who gives you a huge, instant smile when she sees you standing outside. surprise shows on her face, but it soon gives way to genuine happiness, because aurora has always shown how much she loves you.

“oh my god, but i thought...?” she tries to say, hugging you.

you laugh softly and ask her to keep it down.

“i know, i know,” you say quickly, trying to explain yourself. “but i wanted to surprise him, okay?”

aurora crushes you in her embrace, but releases you soon after, agreeing with a silent nod. she makes room and points with her head in the direction gavi is, so that you can go and make your surprise without anyone ruining it.

you leave your suitcase by the door and walk silently to the other side of the room. from the side, you can see him sitting in a cozy armchair, with mateo, his younger cousin, sitting on his lap. gavi is looking at the boy, while another cousin of his snaps a picture and you ask him not to say anything.

you walk silently closer, slowly, not wanting to give away your presence too quickly and when you get close enough, you sit on the arm of the armchair as soon as he moves his hand away and smiles quickly for the camera, but he notices the sudden movement and raises his eyes towards you.

at first, his expression is closed, but when he sees that it's you standing next to him, his expression softens, there's surprise in his eyes and his lips lift in an instant smile, just like aurora's.

“y/n?” he calls out, confused, as if he's afraid he's hallucinating your presence.

you smile. he slides mateo slowly out of his lap and stands up, not caring about anything else except pressing his lips to yours in a kiss you haven't experienced for five months. and five months is considered a long time.

you pull away, only to hold his face, your fingers touching the smooth skin. the smile he gives you is so bright that you can almost feel your heart bursting with love. he touches your cheek and kisses the corner of your mouth, hugging you properly. the people around just let you have this moment.

“i've missed you so much,” you whisper just for him to hear and feel him squeeze you around the waist. your eyes tear up with emotion.

“no more than me,” he says.

as he steps back, he smiles even more at you, that sparkle in his irises outshining any glittering christmas decorations around you. the atmosphere is pleasant, cozy and you notice how he's dressed, so casual, so beautiful.

“i should have worn that horrible christmas sweater of yours,” you say, jokingly, making him laugh.

he stares you down.

“i like this dress better,” he says. “i  think it'll make my job easier later…”

“gavi!”

you understand the implicit suggestion and laugh, shaking your head, while he shows the innocent expression of someone who hasn't said anything too much. his hand finds yours, entwining your fingers as if he never wants to let go.

“you really came...” he murmurs, still trying to process your presence.

you nod, a smile playing on your lips.

“of course i came. couldn't let you spend christmas without me, could i?”

before you can say anything else, you're pulled out of the reunion bubble when aurora lets out an excited exclamation, attracting your attention. all the rest of the family were gathered around, waiting for their turn to hug you.

“a better surprise than this, impossible!” someone says in the middle of the small crowd, and you smile, feeling the warmth of the welcoming.

aurora approaches you again, hugging you. his mother is right behind, with a huge smile on her face.

“darling, i'm so glad you could make it!” mrs. gavira says, warmly.

you return her hug, but gavi doesn't let go of you for an instant. he remains by your side the whole time, observing your interaction with the rest of his family in silence, but with an expression of radiant happiness.

when everyone has finished talking to you, gavi finally takes you by the waist, leaving everyone alone again before christmas dinner is served.

“come here,” he calls, pulling you to sit on his lap, as soon as he sits back in the armchair. with his other free hand, he gently strokes your exposed thigh. “how long can you stay?”

you rest your hand on the back of his neck, brushing the skin with your thumb.

“until the first week of january,” you reply. “i thought we could make up for five months away from each other.”

his expression becomes radiant again.

“i'm having so many ideas…”

you start to laugh and hide your face in his neck, placing a tender kiss there. it still seems unbelievable that you actually managed to get there and that you were finally together, the longing crushing your chest like never before. you want to stay there forever.

“merry christmas, gavi.”

you realize that being there, surrounded by him and his family, is exactly where you always wanted to be.

[cryingoverpalta]

Ok so I was thinking, what if PIDW wasn't a novel, but a drama available on streaming platforms? So when SY transmigrates into SQQ's body, he perceives everything around him just like the audience is seeing it on their screens: with the low-budget fighting scenes that had him obliterating his keyboard with bad reviews, the soundtrack (that is pretty well-done and he actually enjoys it, but that doesn't mean he likes to hear the same silly song every time something embarrassing happens to him), the landscapes that are obviously made with green screen… Even the fabrics of his costume look cheaper than they should, considering the status of his character. Also, for some reason, everything that should be off-screen in a normal filming set (be it cameras, directing staff, or make-up artists) looks like a blurry continuation of the background, making the whole transmigration thing even more nonsensical than it already is.

But nothing disturbes him more than the fact that, just like everything around him is made out of an artificial project, the people also look just like in a drama, because SY suddenly is surrounded by literal celebrities acting like they belong in the pages of a badly written xianxia novel. And ok, to be fair just this time, he's aware they are currently living in a xianxia setting, but his brain can't deal with this logic sometimes. Like, yes, Sha Hualing is a badass character and is always a pleasure to see her fighting choreography in first person, but SY can't take her seriously after seeing her face plastered on a big advertisement while waiting for the train home the other day. And don't even mention Liu Qingge, whom SY can't even look in the eye thanks to the sexy, shirtless photoshoot his actor was part of (that SY saw against his will, because he obviously wasn't searching for handsome shirtless men on the internet. The photos were everywhere; it was a matter of time for him, a chronically online nerd, to see them after going viral the way they did, thank you very much). God, he can't even stand his reflection without panicking a little over his new handsome face, wich also happens to be the face of the actor that always plays the most brutal villains, but is just a chill guy in real life—starring variety shows and giving autographs to the older ladies with a warm smile on his face; that kind of chill guy. If he's as trash as the villains he plays, SY will never know.

And the worst of it all is: Luo Binghe. It doesn't bother him too much at first; his white lotus era makes him look really young and sweet, even though there's an obvious layer of makeup covering his real age, and their feet are always blurry when they're together, probably hiding an uneven floor to make 15-year-old LBH look much shorter than him. But then the abyss happens (and GOD what a shitty green screen that was), three years pass in a literal blur, and the white lotus isn't a fake teenager anymore. And ok, SY can be straight, but he isn't blind; the actor was chosen as LBH for a reason. The man is gorgeous, with that strong jaw, intense eyes, and the height of a supermodel. AND he's talented; SY has seen his other roles and is a genuine fan of his work. So of course, he nails his acting as blackened LBH so much that SY is incapable of perceiving it as acting anymore.

Imagine his surprise when the show turns into a BL and he's suddenly kissing LBH with tongue and all! Sure, it has been a while since he can't see the man as anything other than LBH himself, but he still looks just like that handsome actor that even his little sister had a crush on at some point! What's with this nonsensical plot twist? Wasn't the stallion protagonist supposed to be papapaing the eleventh wife at this point of the plot? Hello?? System???!!!!!

The funny thing is: not even the papapa can escape from the blurry off-screen logic. Yes, SY knew the scenes were typical soft-porn with too much emphasis on doing close-ups of LBH's manly muscles and the wives soft, big chests (he went through a lot of those while watching the show, mind you), but he never thought their papapa would be just them being naked with poor illumination and blurred genitals. So SY never gets to see the Heavenly Pillar. But he feels it. Thoroughly. And for the first time in months, he wonders if it was just a PIDW thing or if the actor truly is talented in all areas of his life.

[burntheedges]

Bits and Baubles 🎄

Dieter Bravo x gn!reader | 2.8k | masterlist | ao3

summary: it was towards the end of the Christmas market season, and at first it seemed to be a market day like any other. That is, until the man in the green robe whirled into your life.

a/n: happy @dieterbravobrainrotclub Secret Santa, @whocaresstillthelouvre! I loved learning about your Christmas decor. I hope you enjoy learning about Dieter's! 😂 thank you @katareyoudrilling for being the best beta and helping me figure out this idea!!

tags/warnings: fluff, flirting, suggestive and/or explicit Christmas ornaments, dildos, meet cute

...

You were working your stall, talking to a customer, when you caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of your eye. Dark hair and a lurid green robe flashed by, but he was gone before you finished packing up the ornament. By the time you looked around, he’d disappeared into the market.

A few minutes later you were putting out more stock when you saw him again. This time he was dashing through an open area between rows on your left. You got a better look, but it only inspired more questions than answers – he was wearing plaid pajama bottoms, an old t-shirt, that lurid green robe, all topped with messy curls and sunglasses. 

Whoever he was, he seemed to be in quite a hurry. He dashed from stall to stall, sometimes chatting briefly, sometimes running off before the vendor could even get a word in. 

You had to look away when another small group approached your stall, and you put the strange man out of your mind.

The market was going well for you. Like most years, it was popular and crowded, filled with people doing some last minute holiday shopping. The stalls had a wide variety of holiday decor, gifts, crafts, and more.

Your ornament stall – Bits and Baubles – usually made people do a double take. You had a wide selection of ornaments, from the typical shiny balls to funny jokes to a special annual one you made each year (and you loved that people had started collecting them). They were all handmade by you over the course of the year, including the non-holiday decor you didn’t usually bring to markets like this one.

The biggest draw, though, and the thing that made people look twice, was the adult selection at one end of your stall. These were also handmade, and usually drew a wide variety of reactions – laughs, raised eyebrows, offended huffs. But they were also your most popular items, especially the wooden vibrators (painted in shiny colors) and “double baubles.” You loved when someone let out a genuine laugh at the sight because they usually bought at least one.

The small group moved away (after a nice assortment of purchases) and you looked up to find the man in the green robe staring at your stall. He was standing about 15 feet away and seemed to be scanning your offerings from one end of the table to the other.

When his gaze reached the adult section, he froze. You wished you could see his eyes, but they were still hidden behind his sunglasses.

His jaw slowly dropped, gaze locked on your small display of vibrator ornaments. He started to move towards you and you realized he was walking straight towards the display.

When he reached you, he looked from the ornaments to you, and then back to the ornaments. He reached out with one gentle hand and brushed his fingers over the golden dildo ornament. A huge grin slowly took over his face.

“These are amazing,” he breathed, looking from the ornament to your face. “Did you make these?”

You grinned back at him. “I did!” You waved your hand around your stall. “I made all of these.”

His mouth made a little ‘o’ shape as he looked in surprise around your stall. “Shit,” he murmured, taking it all in. “That’s fucking amazing.” He turned back to the adult section, and turned the vibrator ornament display. “Do you have more like these?”

You tilted your head, surprised. There were about 30 ornaments on the display, and more of different kinds on the three next to it. “More than these?”

He nodded. “I need two hundred and fifty ornaments. And these are so perfect, I mean, I never expected to find anything like this!” He smiled again.

Your jaw dropped. “Two hundred and fifty?”

“Yep,” he agreed absently. He started poking through the neighboring displays, face full of delight. “So I’ll definitely take all of these and more.”

“Wait,” you said, head spinning. “All of these? What… what for?” You couldn’t believe it. That was… more than you expected to sell at the market, for sure.

He blinked, and seemed to realize he hadn’t explained well. “Oh! I’m having a party. A holiday party! I used to have them every year, but it’s been, um.” He grimaced. “Well anyway, it’s the first one in a while, and I need party favors. The party is famous for the party favors, or at least it was, before. We were decorating and getting set up and then oh, Dieter, where are the favors? And suddenly I realize I don’t have any. I forgot! Can you believe it?” He sighed and ran a hand through his messy hair. “We’ve got a completely empty tree that is supposed to be covered in party favors. So I ran over here, hoping to find something. For tonight.” He gestured at the market around you, and you nodded, a bit stunned. “I think I looked at every stall in here. And then I saw you… your booth.” He grinned. “And these,” he pointed at the vibrators, and nudged a hot pink wand with his finger, “are perfect.”

You opened your mouth and closed it again. You still couldn’t believe he wanted to buy basically your entire stock. “Ok. Well, I’ve got about eighty out on the table, and I probably have enough to get to two-fifty. But they’re not here, I didn’t bring my entire stock.”

His brow furrowed. “Oh, is that alright? I really will buy them all.”

You nodded. It was late enough in the holiday season that you knew most of your regulars had already gotten what they wanted, anyway. “Of course. Let me pull up my inventory and I’ll get you a price.”

He waved his hand dismissively, and when he did his green robe fluttered around him. “Whatever number you find, double it. Wait, could you possibly deliver these? Tonight?”

Tonight? You considered. The market would be over in a couple of hours, and then you were planning to head home and get ready for a night out. Not one you were particularly looking forward to, but you’d bought the ticket ages ago to give yourself something to do the Saturday before Christmas. “Deliver where?”

He gave his address, and you realized he must have a massive house, judging by the neighborhood. But it wasn’t too far out of your way, so you nodded. “I can do that. What time is the party?”

His shoulders sagged in relief as he said, “8. So maybe you could come before, then, by 7?”

“Sure.” That should work for you. “Let me get you a price, and we can do half now, half tonight.”

He waved his arm again. “I’ll pay it all now. And go ahead and triple it, for the delivery.”

You hesitated with your hand on your computer. “Triple?”

He nodded, smiling. “And wait, can you box these three separately?” He pointed at the shiny gold dildo, the sparkly rainbow suggestive clam, and the bright purple double baubles. “I think I want these for myself. Oh, um, assuming there are enough, otherwise.”

You had already pulled up your inventory, so you nodded. “Of course. Here’s the price.” you angeled the screen towards him as you started to pack up his ornaments. 

By the time you looked up, he had added another zero to his payment. Your jaw dropped.

“You… you really don’t need to–”  you started, shocked. 

He just smiled at you. “Yes, I do.”

As you fought to keep your gaze from tracing his smile, you smiled back. “Alright, if you’re sure.”

He nodded again. “And please bring as many of your business cards as you can! Or something like it. I can’t wait to share these with everyone.” He grinned at your display. Suddenly he moved, so quickly it startled you as you were starting to box up all of your displays for him. He smacked his hand into his forehead. “I never introduced myself. What was I thinking? I’m Dieter.” He shoved his sunglasses into his hair and held out his hand to shake. You gripped it slowly, meeting his eyes for the first time and trying not to notice how cute he was. He held on with both hands as he shook it. “It’s so great to meet you, you have no idea! I have to go, though, before I get yelled at for taking too long.”

You smiled as you shook his hand and introduced yourself. “You too, Dieter. I’ll see you later.”

He turned to leave quickly after that, as much of a whirlwind on his way out of the market as he’d been while searching for favors.

…

At 7:00 pm sharp you pulled up to a large, gated house, a bit taken aback by its size. It was even bigger than you’d expected.

You were waved easily through the gate, and when you pulled up behind a catering van the front door flew open. Dieter stepped out, grinning, and you were suddenly glad your reaction to him was hidden by your tinted windows. 

Gone was the robe and pajama pants outfit from earlier. He was clearly dressed for the party in a black velvet suit and a deep green lace shirt that drew your eyes like a magnet. His hair was still messy, but it seemed purposeful this time. He’d been attractive, of course, earlier at the market, and now somehow he was cute and devastating. And he was smiling at you like you were the best thing he’d ever seen. 

“You made it!” He said, hopping down his front steps. You smiled at him as you stepped out of your car, nervously adjusting your outfit. You were dressed up, too, for the show later. It was one of your favorite outfits, one that made you feel hot and sexy and mysterious, and you felt your cheeks start to warm as he gave you a once over. When his eyes returned to yours, you were both smiling. “I’m so glad you’re here. But did you have plans? I’m sorry—“

You cut him off. “No, I was going to see a show downtown tonight, but it doesn’t start until later. And I’m not meeting anyone so there’s no rush.” You decidedly did not mention that you’d changed your outfit plan at the last minute. 

Dieter smiled again. “Ok, good. I mean, not that you’re going alone. Or maybe you prefer it that way! Just, I’m glad I’m not interrupting anything. Um,” he trailed off sheepishly.

You smiled again as you gestured towards the trunk of your car. “I’ve got everything ready for you. Should we take it in?”

He nodded, and soon you found yourself standing inside his foyer next to an absolutely massive tree. It was only decorated with lights. 

“This is the tree! I was hoping, that is… would you like to decorate it with me?” He looked at you hopefully. “I’ve been banished from the kitchen and told to take care of this, and I figure you’ll be amazing at it.”

You agreed, deciding not to examine your urge to stick around too closely. Dieter went and got you both a drink before you got started. 

It didn’t take long for you to realize that decorating a tree with Dieter was the most fun you’d had in a while. He giggled as he opened every single ornament, crowing over each one and praising your skill and ideas. By the time you’d gotten through the first box (of mostly dildos) your face felt hot and you could feel the hair on the back of your neck standing up from all the praise and close proximity. 

“Ok I think we spread those out pretty well,” you said, gesturing towards the dildo-covered tree. “Now we can spread out the double baubles, too, and then the others.” He nodded, giggling again, and you smiled back. 

“These are so ingenious,” he said, holding a double bauble and a shiny clam with a pearl in his hands. “Did you come up with the ideas yourself?”

You nodded, ducking your head a bit. “Some and some with friends. I have more ideas, too, that I’ll make someday.”

Dieter seemed to light up at the idea of more ornaments. “Will you tell me when you do? I want to buy them all!” He grinned as he hung a “jingle balls” ornament on the tree, a double bauble with bells attached. “I had no idea people even made ornaments like this.”

“I’m not the only one, for sure, but it’s definitely fun. They’re some of my best sellers.”

At that he seemed to wince, but he didn’t leave you to wonder why. “I didn’t buy them all, did I? Is that bad? Will people be mad?”

You smiled, a bit touched by his concern, and laid a hand on his forearm. The velvet of his coat was soft under your hand. “Well, first of all, you overpaid for them, so I can’t be mad at you. Second, I’ve still got a few more. And third, it’s so close to the holidays, most of my regulars have already gotten what they wanted. My shop isn't that big. There’s nothing to be worried about.” You winked at him and squeezed his arm, and watched with amusement as he flushed. “Besides, you already promised to tell everyone where they came from. What more could I ask?”

He grinned. “Of course! Everyone is going to love these, you’ll see.”

You kept chatting as you decorated the tree, learning that his party planner and best friend Leah had been the one to banish him from the kitchen (“she’s such a tyrant, I don’t know what I’d do without her”) and that it had been about five years since he last hosted his famous party (“my life was pretty different, then, so this is kind of a triumphant return and a new start”). He waved his arm towards the living room as he said that, and you glanced over and did a double take. 

There was an Oscar sitting on his mantle. 

As you put it together, you wanted to kick yourself for how long it had taken you to do so. He was Dieter Bravo — that Dieter Bravo! The famous one! You could only blame your absolute obliviousness on how ludicrous it would have seemed a day ago that Dieter Bravo would buy out your entire adult ornament stock. 

Your mouth kept moving without conscious input from your brain. “Oh, you’re Dieter Bravo,” you blurted, and then winced as he stiffened. “Sorry, I’m an idiot, I just didn’t realize. I promise not to be weird about it.”

He tilted his head, considering you, and then started to smile incredulously. “My name was on the order,” he pointed out with a laugh. 

You winced again. “I know. I think I was too distracted by you to think about it.”

Dieter seemed to think about that for a moment and then stepped a little bit closer to you. “Distracted? By me?”

You nodded, just then realizing what that sounded like. “You, um... pulled your sunglasses up. When you told me your name.”

He grinned. “And I only forgot to tell you my name because I was so distracted by you, the cute ornament seller who grinned so wickedly when you told me about the dildos you make by hand.” He reached down to grab your hand and lightly teased at your fingers with his own. 

You felt your face start to heat again. “Cute? Me?”

He nodded. “And then you showed up here in that,” he gestured at your outfit, “and I almost fell over in the driveway.”

You laced your fingers through his and squeezed. Your heart felt like it was going to beat right out of your chest. “You’re one to talk, Mr. Lace Shirt!”

Dieter laughed, unrepentant. “I was hoping you’d notice.” He squeezed your hand, looking suddenly shy. “I know you said you had plans, but do you want to stay for the party?” He looked at you with big, pleading eyes and you felt yourself start to melt. “I promise it’ll be fun. I’ll show you off, of course, but…” he trailed off and tugged you closer. “I think I’d like to keep getting to know you.”

You grinned. “I’d love to.” 

He lit up like the tree he was standing next to, and you felt warm all over at his obvious excitement. You quickly placed the last few ornaments before he dragged you down the hall to give you a tour. 

The party was, in fact, a great time. And so was the mistletoe you found yourself under with the host at the end of the night.

...

a/n: I hope you enjoyed it, Mallory!! 🧡🎄

[xylianasblog]

Means to an end.

Pairings: Agedup! Spider x FemNavi Reader

Summary: It’s not fair that you have to be taken away from him, so just maybe he’ll get even. Who’s to say an eye for an eye always ends up badly?

Warnings: MDNI, size difference, slight cheating( if you squint), p in v, cream pie, dirty talk, jealousy, reader promised to someone else, virgin reader. Hopefully I didn’t forget anything!

A/N: Hello! The fic you’ve all been waiting for (I hope) okay.. okay now it’s been a while. A long while but I did say I’d write it 👀

꒦꒷❀꒷꒦ ❀✿❀꒦꒷❀꒷꒦MDNI ꒦꒷❀꒷꒦❀✿❀ ꒦꒷❀꒷꒦

Spider was upset, no he was more than upset he was furious. How could your parents do this, setting you up with the best warrior of the clan when they knew. Your heart had claimed spider just as Spiders heart had claimed yours.

He paced around the spot that you both called your own, nerves frayed in every sense of the word. Question after question filled his mind as he worried you’d fall for the meathead of a warrior, A’lek. He was everything that Spider was not including the same species as you, it only made sense that your parents agreed to give you away to him once they found out of his wish to court you.

Spider wasn’t disliked within the clan, he just wasn’t like them and he knew that was the biggest disadvantage he had. Especially after proving himself worthy, but no matter you were spiders first and no arrangement would stop his and your love.

“Your human feet will wear away at the ground if you keep moving like that my human.” Your words were soft and teasing as shoulders finally approached your spot. Spiders eyes found your form as he stopped mid step, a lopsided grin marred his features.

He watched as your gaze softened, staring at him as you took a step back, a silent understanding passing between you both. “It is not my decision..” you started but spider held up his hand stopping your sentence before it even began. “It’s okay baby.”

Spider momentarily perked up as you dropped down to your knees, getting as level as you can with him. He watched the way your ears twitched and your brow bones raised in question, “You are up to no good. What are you thinking about my human?” The question nearly had him laughing, but he held it together but he knew better as the different emotions he felt filtered over his face until he settled on one that seemed as fitting as it could be.

“I’m just thinking about how much I love you, and how much I’d love to be buried balls deep inside you,” he enjoyed the way you gasped softly as he fingers traced over your skin gently. His eyes narrowed in on the way your breathing changed, the goosebumps that began to litter your skin, and lastly the way your ears and tail seemed to freeze all movement on your body. “Think about it. If these are our last moments together as lovers.. we should make every bit count.” Spiders gaze found yours once more, his eyes dark with lust yet there was a genuine hint of love. “If I have to let you go it’ll be on my own terms.” His voice was firm yet the pain was all to evident.

Spider watched you intently waiting to see if you turn him down. Deny him the chance of having you, he was so sure you’d say no but to his surprise you nodded slowly. Your own hands finding themselves grabbing onto his waist. “Please.”

That was all spider needed to begin to explore your covered body, he made sure his touch was gentle. Each skim of his fingers against your skin held purpose, steady strokes of his fingers against your most sensitive parts. He took his time touching and exploring your body each light kiss, feather like touch, and the tantalizing feel of his wet tongue against your heated body has you squirming and begging for more.

Spider was thoroughly pleased with himself, he hasn’t even began to fuck you yet you were already coming undone beneath his little ministrations. Spider couldn’t take anymore, he was nearly about to release his load into his loincloth. You were too pretty underneath him. Panting heavily as your eyes begged him to finally fuck you.

He huffed quietly as he rid himself of his coverings, his eyes never strayed from your glistening cunt.

Placing the length of his cock against your slick folds he began to rock back and forth, getting his cock nice and wet in your juices. His brows furrowed as he watched the way his length moved, each languid thrust brushing against your swollen nub. He enjoyed the way you mewled and cried softly, but most importantly he enjoyed the fact that he’d be your first ever lover.

His fingers slithered down your thigh, slowly til he reach your swollen clit. Gently teasing it by rubbing it in small circles before he slide his fingers down to spread open your folds. He enjoyed seeing you in such a way it made his cock throb with need, precum already pebbling at the tip.

Slowly he slid inside, instantly falling in love with the way your tight heat wrapped around his length greedily. In that moment spider didn’t mind that he wasn’t as big as other male Navi, he was the perfect about of thick and long for a human male. He groaned softly as he began moving in and out at an agonizingly slow pace. Each drag of his cock from your cunt had you begging for more.

With each thrust he watched the way you’d react to his tip brushing against your spot. Each time he hit it perfectly. Your ears pressed against your head and your tail wrapped around his neck, spider figured with the overwhelming feeling of him brushing up against your spot with each thrust was bound to make you feel everything and all things at once.

Spiders eyes were heavy with lust, the pleasure clouding his features. “Look at you, coming undone for a mere tawtute.” He whispered, his sliding over your pelvis before finding home before you. His thumb drawing teasing circles on your clit. “Letting me fuck you, tainting your body with my cock. Mmm.. that’s it y/n. Take my cock mamas.” He growls out three clenched teeth.

“Fuck baby you feel so good.. I’m gonna cum.” He rasps out as your loose yourself in the throws of pleasure, your release rushing through you in a way that has spider speed up his thrust. Each uneven movement he’s forced to hold back his urge to release. “Fuckk.. baby fuck I’m gonna.. ruin you.. mine all mine.” He squeezes out just as he releases inside painting your awaiting walls white.

꒦꒷❀꒷꒦༻❀✿❀༺꒦꒷❀꒷꒦༻❀✿❀༺ ꒦꒷❀꒷꒦

Taglist: @sunfyresrider @etherialblackrose @blue-slxt @neteyamyawne @eywaite @luvv4j4ybe11 @quicktosimp @cardi-bre91 @torukmaktoskxawng @rivatar @thepeonysbackup @tallulah477 @anemonelovesfiction @erenjaegerwifee

[fandomfablesunleashed]

A Dash of Sweetness

Sanji x reader (she/her)

English is not my first language

It's my first time writing for Sanji, and honestly, I struggled. I changed the idea a few times before finally settling on what you're about to read. I hope I did him justice 🤞

Ficmas masterlist

Main masterlist

The sun dipped low on the horizon, bathing the Thousand Sunny in a warm golden light as you stood in the kitchen, nervously dusting flour off your hands. Sanji’s kitchen was his sanctuary—strictly off-limits to everyone else. Yet tonight was different. Tonight, he had let you in.

You’d been hesitant to share the story about your grandma, about the cookies you baked together every holiday. The memory was deeply personal, almost too special to put into words. But when you finally did, telling him how much it meant to you, you hadn’t expected the famous Straw Hat chef to stop, think, and let you bake on your own.

Now, as the crew munched on your batch of cookies around the dinner table, laughter and compliments filled the air. Chopper grinned with crumbs on his nose, and Luffy was on his fifth—or maybe seventh—cookie. Everyone seemed happy. But your gaze kept darting toward Sanji. His approval was the only one that mattered.

Unlike the others, he didn’t dive in right away. Instead, he picked up a cookie with his usual grace, studying it for a moment before taking a deliberate bite. You held your breath, your pulse quickening as you watched him chew thoughtfully. Every second felt like an eternity. Then, at last, his lips curved into that familiar smile—soft, radiant, and effortlessly charming.

“Amazing,” he said, his voice as warm as his gaze, which met yours and lingered. “Pure delight. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

The tension in your chest melted away instantly, replaced by a rush of relief and quiet joy. Your smile broke through before you could stop it, your heart doing a little flip as his words sank in.

Later that evening, as you wandered the deck, a low murmur of voices drew your attention. Sanji and Zoro? They weren’t shouting, which was odd enough, but the topic of their conversation was even more surprising.

“Just tell her you don't like it,” Zoro said bluntly.

“I can’t do that!” Sanji’s voice was sharp but not angry, as though the idea genuinely appalled him. “Do you know how much effort she put into those cookies? How important they are to her?”

“You’re hopeless,” Zoro snorted.

Before you could stop yourself, you stepped closer. “What are you two talking about?”

Both men turned sharply, Zoro shrugging nonchalantly. “None of my business,” he muttered, brushing past you and heading below deck.

You turned to Sanji, raising an eyebrow. “What was that all about?”

He hesitated, slipping a hand into his pocket and glancing away, avoiding your eyes. “It’s nothing, really—”

“Sanji,” you pressed, crossing your arms, your tone firm enough to leave no room for excuses.

He sighed heavily, like a man resigned to his fate. “Fine. I… I don’t actually like the cookies that much. But I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. They mean so much to you.”

Your chest tightened, though not from hurt. “Why didn’t you just tell me? You didn’t have to fake it.”

His gaze softened, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “Because I’d rather eat a hundred of those cookies than say something that might take away that smile of yours.”

Heat rushed to your cheeks, and you glanced down, flustered. “That’s… really sweet,” you murmured, your voice softening. “But if you don’t like something, you should just say so. Honestly…” You sighed, running a hand through your hair. “I remember them tasting better, too. Maybe I got something wrong.”

Sanji chuckled softly, the sound low and warm. “Well, baking’s an art. Sometimes the first try doesn’t hit the mark. Happens even to the best of us.”

You looked up at him, the determination sparking back to life. “Then I’ll get it right. But I’ll need your help.”

His eyebrows arched in surprise. “My help?”

“Yes, you. I need to figure out how to make them better, pleasee.” You gave him your sweetest smile, and he couldn't say no.

The two of you set to work, the kitchen quickly filling with the hum of conversation and the comforting scents of butter and sugar. Sanji moved effortlessly through the space, measuring and mixing with a precision that was mesmerizing to watch. But he let you take the lead, only stepping in to offer a tip or adjust an ingredient.

Sanji’s usual flirtations were dialed back tonight, and instead, he seemed... genuine. Every now and then, his fingers brushed yours when handing over a utensil, and you caught him watching you with a softness in his eyes that made your cheeks warm.

Finally, the cookies were in the oven, and the two of you leaned against the counter, waiting.

“So,” he said, breaking the comfortable silence. “What made those cookies so special to you? Besides your grandma, I mean.”

You glanced at him, surprised by the question. “I guess… it’s more about the memories. Every holiday, we’d bake them together. She’d tell me stories while we worked, and it was just—simple, you know? A little moment that made everything feel... right.”

Sanji nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I get that. Food’s never just about the taste. It’s about what it means.”

The timer dinged, breaking the moment. You jumped up, grabbing an oven mitt and pulling out the tray. The cookies looked golden and perfect; the smell alone made your heart lift.

“Well?” you said, holding one out to him as soon as they were cool enough. “Moment of truth.”

He took a bite, chewing slowly, his expression unreadable. You waited, your heart pounding.

Finally, he smiled—soft and genuine, a look that was just for you. “Now these... these are perfect.”

You couldn’t help it; you grinned. “Really?”

“Really,” he said.

You couldn’t shake the feeling that Sanji treated you differently than everyone else. He wasn’t just polite or chivalrous—there was something gentler, something more genuine in the way he watched you. It wasn’t just tonight, either. Little moments like these, where his usual grand gestures gave way to something softer, had been piling up in your mind.

Maybe it was your imagination. Or maybe it wasn’t.

“Thanks. I couldn’t have done it without your help,” you admitted.

Sanji stepped closer, his voice dropping just slightly. “Maybe. But I think you’ve always had the recipe for something extraordinary.”

For a moment, you didn’t know what to say. The warmth in his eyes and the weight of his words left you feeling vulnerable but also… seen. Finally, you managed a soft laugh, trying to ease the tension. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to keep practicing, then.”

“Good,” he said, a teasing lilt returning to his voice as he reached for another cookie. “But you should know if it means I get to spend more time with you in the kitchen, I don’t mind tasting every single batch.”

You smiled, a little wider this time, and for once, you felt certain—you weren’t imagining anything.

[miserymet]

Tragedy - Reploid Bass AU

Was digging through my old WIPs and found this bad boy. It’s technically unfinished (because I didn’t know how to end it) but it gets the main point across and establishes the where the plot is at post MMX7. Thought it might be interesting to those who want more details on the AU.

(quick timeline context; Bass gets his memories back post mmx6, disappears off the face of the earth and shows back up again halfway through mmx7)

Summary: Zero and Bass talk about one of Bass’ many regrets. In the process, Zero tries to connect the brother he knew as Forte to the stranger wearing his face.

“I wasn’t supposed to be here.”

The words are quiet. Not soft, as nothing Zero’s brother does is soft anymore, but they lack the usual bite. It’s enough to draw Zero’s attention to where Bass now sits. 

The chair holding him is old, a mundane relic of the furniture that was commonplace over a hundred years ago. It’s a miracle that it hasn’t crumbled under the weight of its occupant, but Bass had mentioned that the entire base was designed around its mechanical residents. Perhaps its creator imagined one of his robots might need to use a chair. Even if there’s not much of a difference between sitting and standing for them.

Zero’s surprised to see that Bass has his back turned to him. His brother isn’t too keen on letting Zero out of his sight nowadays, but his gaze is firmly fixed upon the screen in front of him now. Another uncharacteristic behavior. Zero sets aside the spare parts he was examining, all interest gone, and approaches the screen that has his brother so transfixed. It casts a dim light even in the darkness of the base, but the image is clear enough.

It’s an old contact log. A few lines of text sit at the bottom of the screen and for some reason, Zero feels the need to read them aloud.

“Bass. I made a mistake. I created something that I can’t control. You’re the only robot strong enough to stop it. Please help me.” He furrows his brow as he speaks the final line. “I’m sorry.”

“Six lines. Twenty six words. A hundred and fifteen characters.” Bass mutters.

“What does it mean?” 

It’s a genuine question, and maybe that’s why Bass laughs as though it’s the stupidest thing he could have asked. Zero waits with bitter patience for his brother to finish. This is typical of Bass’ new personality. Brash, abrasive, rude, all of these words and more fit the new image Zero’s brother has made for himself. Even his name is new. “Bass.” It’s been a bit of an adjustment to say the least.

Eventually, Bass manages to pull himself out of his laughing fit. His next words are the last thing Zero expects to hear.

“These are the words that killed me.”

“…I thought I did that.” Is all Zero can say to that. Bass laughs, much quieter this time.

“In the end, yeah.” His brother leans back in his seat. “But fighting you wasn’t-, I didn’t…”

“You ‘weren’t supposed’ to?” Zero volunteers.

“…I shouldn’t have.”

Bass goes quiet, lost in whatever old memories are haunting him today. Zero can’t help but feel frustrated. He used to know what to do when Bass…when Forte was upset. Whether it was about his lost memories, his weakness, his outdated code, Zero could always help. It’s different now.

Everything’s different now.

“Do you remember what I told you about our creator? How we didn’t really get along?” Bass starts, gaze still stuck on that old log.

“Because of your penchant for rebellion, yes.”

“That was only half of it. Yeah, I disobeyed him whenever I felt like it, but he wasn’t some doting father.” His brother turns to glare at him. “He was the most selfish, stubborn, stupid old man I ever met. Full of himself, too. You would have hated him.”

“That sounds a lot like you.” Zero can’t help the bite to his words. Maybe X was right. Maybe all this is getting to him. “Where are you going with this?”

“I was loyal at first. The old man had a lot of expectations for me, and I was determined to meet them. I didn’t. No matter how hard I tried, how strong I was, it was never going to be good enough if I couldn’t beat-,”

He stops abruptly, almost letting something slip. Something important. Bass is always vague about his old memories. He’s hiding something, but Zero can’t tell if it’s because it’s too risky or because he’s hoarding all that’s left of his past. It could really be either one. Zero isn’t sure he knows Bass all that well anymore.

“The point is, I was a failure to him. So he tried to move on. Build something else.” Bass shakes his head. “I couldn’t accept that. We fought. First it was just arguments, but it escalated. Before I knew it we were trying to kill each other.”

“What did you do?” Zero asks, though he’s not sure he wants to hear the answer.

“I left.”

Oh. Zero wasn’t expecting that.

“It sounds obvious, right?” His brother rests his head against his hand, expression flat. “But I wasn’t a reploid. I didn’t have the programming X or Axl did. It wasn’t as simple as changing my career. I was leaving my creator.”

“Bass…”

He doesn’t let Zero get a word in. “I agonized over it for days. What was I if not his robot? What could I even do without him? I was practically one foot out the door already, but I couldn’t move the other one. I…cared about him.”

Zero tries to imagine it. Bass, in his original body, standing beside a vague figure. His gaze sweeps across the room and Zero sees Bass sitting on a table full of junk, swinging his legs as he speaks to his creator. What did his face look like? Was it flat and cold, speaking in an even tone about plans or progress or whatever a man like that saw fit to discuss with his creation? Or was he annoyed, brow furrowed with one dipping lower than the other and mouth pulled into a small pout? Maybe it was a face Zero had never seen before, a soft smile, a wry grin that so clearly spelled out his amusement. 

He can only imagine. When he turns back to his brother, Bass wears the grimace he’s grown so used to.

“That was how I convinced myself to leave, in the end.” He breathes an empty sigh. “If I stayed, I might have hurt him. Might have let my anger take me to far and…”

His hands move in front of him, digits curled tightly around an invisible enemy. They hang in the air for a moment and shake. Then they fall. Bass lets his head follow them.

“You came back.” Zero speaks softly, trying for a gentleness he’s never been good at. “Why?”

Bass doesn’t pick up his head. “Same reason. I cared.”

“He made a robot, couldn’t control it and called you for help.” It feels both more and less real when he says it aloud. “He called you to your death.”

“And I came. I came because I am a fucking idiot.”

Zero blinks at the harsh language. Bass is far from the composed brother he knew, but even he didn’t use that language regularly. It feels strange. Forte would never, but Bass…it fits him a little more.

“He didn’t even have to apologize. The moment he came to me for help, the moment he called me strong-,” Bass grips his head in his hands. “All my conviction disappeared. I walked into that lab, this lab-!” He throws out his hands, nearly hitting Zero, “and I died for the man that tried to kill me!”

Zero doesn’t know what to say. What can he say? This is something he’s just learned, a grief he can only imagine. Bass has lived with this knowledge since the day he got his memories back. How did he feel, waking up and knowing that he lost everything to a man long gone? How do you live with that burden? How do you keep fighting?

Bass shoots up from his chair, gaze now fixed on Zero. There’s so much behind his eyes that Zero can’t see. A world no one alive has any hope of understanding.

“I was so close to being happy! To having something other than a worthless creator who only tolerated me as long as he could use me!”

His brother takes a step forward, the light of the screen illuminating every tear that falls from his face.

“And he took that from me! You took that from me!”

“I’m sorry-“

Zero sees the punch coming. He almost dodges. It’s what every self-preservation program in him begs him to do. He doesn’t. He takes it. The punch is hard, snapping his head to the side quite painfully. He doesn’t flinch. Not even when Bass’ fist splits the synthetic skin of his cheek. All he does is look back at his brother.

Bass stands there, eyes wide and mouth open. His arm hangs in the air. He can see the grime left on his hands. Can see the tension in every part of his body. Then, it shifts. Bass drops his hand and closes his mouth. That glare returns, fierce as ever.

“Don’t pity me. It’s too late for that.”

Zero tries to find his words. “I don’t-,”

“That hit only landed because you let it.” Bass casts his gaze to the side. “Everything I do to you is because you let me. Even in this body, I’m not strong enough.”

[anoray]

Yep, lots to learn about pirates

Episode 5 of Skeleton Crew was great all the way around: the build up of tension, the hunt for the pirate's lair, the various revelations of key information while still keeping us in the dark about other remaining mysteries. SM-33 continues to be a crusty delight. Oh, and loved the huge octopus/squid who turned out to be an ally rather than a vicious monster. Keep the surprises coming, gang :)

This ep was able to combine a lot of humor with some genuinely scary moments, most notably showing how ruthless Jod can be. This did not come as a surprise to me considering we were introduced to him in the very first episode as Silvo in the violent attack on the other ship. I think the story needed to remind us at this point without any doubt that pirates are not actually the nicest and most trustworthy of people considering they are thieves, murderers and pillagers. They have a "code" of sorts amongst themselves to avoid utter chaos, but will turn on each other if they feel the end is worth the means.

Back to Jod, once he had the information he needed about At Attin, the children were no longer vital. Now, if he were truly vile, he would just either kill or leave them behind, but the fact that he planned to take them prisoners indicates he intends to return them home. He held the blunt part of the knife against Fern and clearly did not want to hurt her. For now, he knows the pirates and bounty hunters are not going to stop and he no longer has time to play cat and mouse with the kids. I am not excusing his behavior at all, I am just presuming this is how he is justifying his actions to himself.

I'm feeling quite sure we are going to get some sort of flashback next episode to help clarify Jod's background. At this point, he's reminding me a smidge of Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy, who was snatched from home and raised by basically space pirates. It did not destroy his innate sense of right and wrong, but certainly twisted it up a few notches. I'm guessing a similar background for Jod, especially when he seemed to react to Wim's loss of his mother. I'm very interested to find out whatever tidbits we get before the season is over.

As for Wim, after all his missteps and awkwardness, I do believe he will finally get a real hero's moment before this is all said and done. It seems likely that the pirates are going to follow the group to At Attin and everyone aboard the the Onyx Cinder will be tested to their utmost, including Jod. Hopefully, he will redeem himself by or before that point! It's just fun feeling excited about how it's all going to turn out :)

[inubaki]

The Sea Queen (Toys)

Chapter 2

————

story commissioned by the amazing @libby-for-life! Based off one of the first pics @sir-tater-of-the-tot made that got me hooked on this fandom to began with. I blame them entirely.

———

Despite his lingering wariness of Lucifer, Adam found himself drawn to the injured creature nestled within the shadowy crevices of the cave cliff. Adam had witnessed the creature’s resilience and the strange bond that had formed between them, compelling him to continue visiting as much as he found himself questioning his instincts. Each encounter deepened his curiosity about Lucifer, a being both captivating and enigmatic. 

Whenever Lucifer turned his piercing gaze upon Adam and requested something— to drink his blood—Adam felt a flicker of skepticism rise within him. “It helps heal me faster,” Lucifer would insist, his voice a soothing whisper that seemed to echo softly in the cavernous space around them. While Adam couldn't entirely shake the unease that bubbled in his gut, he had observed the tangible results over time. Each time he complied with Lucifer’s requests to drink his blood, he witnessed the creature’s wounds closing a little more, colors returning to the pallid skin.

As Adam relented, offering what he could, he found himself softened by the gratitude that radiated from Lucifer. The creature’s smile, though it bore the marks of pain, was genuine and warm, illuminating the dark enclosure and, against all odds, making Adam smile in return. It was a shared moment of understanding that tethered their fates, unraveling the tension that filled the space between them. The cave, once a mere shelter for Lucifer, was transformed into a sanctuary of unexpected camaraderie, where Adam slowly began to accept the strange connection they shared.

One day, he couldn't help but ask a burning question. "What are you exactly?" Lucifer turned his head, wiping the blood from his lips. "I'm a Kraken. We...are about the same age. I actually might be younger than you." Adam blinked. "You're younger than ten?" Lucifer nodded slowly. "Yes. I believe I'm nine." Adam smiled mischievously. "I'm older!" Lucifer gave him a mock glare. "Don't let that go to your head."

"Too late! I'm the boss!"

"Ugh."

XxX

Adam noticed pretty early on that Lucifer liked to bite him. Sometimes they were okay and he at first started just biting his fingers. Then, it escalated to biting his arm and shoulders. Legs. Anytime Adam did something to excite him, he bit Adam. They kind of hurt but Lucifer had seemed happy so Adam had let it slide. 

Until one day Lucifer bit a little too hard and Adam pulled away. The look on his face made Adam's heart clench. Tears formed in his eyes as the devastated look kept getting worse. 

“Luci?”

“Why? Why?” Lucifer didn't seem able to communicate properly while he was so upset. Adam held him as the Kraken sobbed and the human had no idea how to help him. Finally, out of desperation, he bit Lucifer's hand. The Kraken looked at him in surprise. He kept biting, hoping he wasn't messing things up further.

When he bit Lucifer's arm, the Kraken blushed a bright gold. The beast didn't say anything for a minute. To the point that Adam thought he went too far. That is until Lucifer suddenly launched at him, pinning him to the floor. His face was nipped at and Adam laughed as Luci was back to his old self.

———-

To offer you blood is to open a bond. To allow a bite is to initiate courting. Biting among Kraken are signs of affection. And, maybe, Lucifer is desperate to leave permanent bite on Adam. But for Adam to reject the biting is for Adam to reject his courtship. But Lucifer is young, he shouldn’t be able to leave a permanent mark…

Kid Adam and Lucifer are just cute to me.

Pervs:

Next:

[isak-dot-gov]

Awkward Beginnings

Pairing: Inês Bettencourt x Media Team!Reader

Word count: 1311

My Masterlist :)

The gym was alive with the usual chatter and buzz of sneakers squeaking against polished floors. You moved through it, your camera gear slung over your shoulder, getting used to your new role with the UConn women’s basketball media team. It was a busy but rewarding job, and it kept your mind focused—until a familiar voice stopped you in your tracks.

“Hold up—no way! Is that who I think it is?” KK Arnold’s voice rang out, filled with surprise and joy. You turned, a smile forming as soon as you spotted her jogging over, her eyes sparkling with recognition.

“KK!” you laughed, feeling a warmth of nostalgia wash over you as she pulled you into a tight hug. It was strange but comforting to see someone from your high school days after so long.

“Wow, I can’t believe you’re here!” KK said, pulling back with a wide grin. “How did we not know we were going to the same school?”

You shrugged, still trying to process it. “I guess life just got busy. But yeah, I just started with the media team.”

“Perfect! You have to meet everyone,” she said, already grabbing your arm and guiding you through the gym.

She introduced you to the team, pointing out each player with a little anecdote or joke. When you reached the last of the group, KK motioned toward a girl standing near the back. “And this is Inês.”

Inês looked up, and your breath caught for a second. She was striking, her dark hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, eyes deep and expressive. She nodded slightly, and for a fleeting moment, you thought you saw her jaw tense.

“Hi, Inês,” you said, giving her a warm smile. 

“Hello,” she replied, her voice soft and almost unsure, like she wasn’t quite prepared to speak. Her eyes met yours for a second before skittering away, and she shifted on her feet. The silence felt longer than it should have, and when she didn’t say anything more, KK gave you a playful nudge to move on. But the moment lingered in your mind, making you wonder if you’d done something wrong.

Over the next few weeks, the team became a routine part of your life. You captured candid moments during practices, joked with the players, and even shared post-game pizza nights. Most of the team opened up to you quickly, treating you like you’d been part of their world for years. Except Inês.

The first time you tried to approach her alone, she was tying her shoes on the bench, and you’d wanted to ask her about the latest highlight reel. “Hey, Inês, quick question about—”

“Oh!” She nearly dropped her water bottle and fumbled to catch it, her face going red. “Um, sorry. What did you need?” 

“Just wondering if you could tell me what plays you wanted to feature for the reel,” you said, keeping your tone light.

She nodded so fast it was almost comical. “Yeah, sure. I’ll, uh, write it down for you later, okay?” And before you could say anything else, she was halfway across the gym, joining a group of her teammates.

Another time, you were packing up your camera after a game when you noticed her walking by. You decided to wave, offering her a smile. She hesitated for a second, then gave a small wave back but misjudged her step and almost bumped into a cart of basketballs. You could see her cheeks turning red even from a distance as she mumbled an apology to no one in particular and sped off before you could even say hi.

The moment that stuck with you the most, though, was during a team lunch. The cafeteria buzzed with laughter and conversation, and you found yourself seated across from Inês for the first time. You tried to start a casual conversation, but every question seemed to make her more uncomfortable.

“So, how did you end up choosing UConn?” you asked, genuinely interested.

Inês took a sip of her drink too quickly and coughed, her face going red as she struggled to answer. “Um, I—” She cleared her throat. “I just really liked the program.” The last word came out as more of a squeak, and she immediately looked down at her plate, avoiding your eyes.

The silence that followed was heavy, and before you could say anything to ease it, Azzi leaned over and rescued the conversation with a joke about her own first awkward day at UConn. But the whole time, you couldn’t help but notice Inês sneaking glances at you when she thought you weren’t looking, her expression torn between embarrassment and something else you couldn’t quite place.

Despite these moments, your initial excitement about the job was starting to be tinged with confusion. Why was she like this around you? Everyone else had been so easygoing, so friendly. But Inês’s cold silence—and the awkward moments that seemed to define every interaction—was beginning to make you feel like she simply didn’t want you around.

You started keeping your distance, exchanging polite nods when necessary but otherwise trying to spare both of you the awkward encounters.

One evening, the team gathered at Jana’s dorm for a casual night in. The room was filled with laughter, the smell of pizza, and the background noise of a movie that no one was really watching. Inês sat in a corner, fidgeting with her phone, while KK, Azzi, and Paige bantered loudly.

Azzi raised an eyebrow and leaned over to Jana. “Hey, anyone else notice how Inês goes mute whenever Y/n’s around?”

Jana smirked, nodding. “It’s like she forgets how to talk,” she joked, earning a few chuckles.

Inês’s face flushed, and she put her phone down, unable to ignore the conversation anymore. “It’s not… I just… she makes me nervous, okay?” The words tumbled out, and the room fell silent for a beat.

KK’s eyes softened as understanding dawned on her. “Oh. Oh.”

Inês sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I keep thinking I’ll say something stupid. She’s just… she’s amazing, and I don’t know how to be normal around her.”

Azzi smiled, leaning over to nudge her friend. “Well, you’re definitely not doing yourself any favours by being awkward.”

“Just talk to her, Inês,” Jana added. “Trust me, you’re making this way harder than it has to be.”

Inês nodded slowly, a mix of hope and anxiety flickering in her eyes. Tomorrow, she decided.  Tomorrow, she would find the courage.

The next day, you were setting up equipment by the sidelines when you heard familiar, tentative footsteps behind you. You turned and saw Inês standing there, looking as if she was summoning all her courage just to stay put.

“Hey, Y/n. Do you have a second?” she asked, her voice soft but more determined than before.

You set down your equipment, surprise mixing with curiosity. “Yeah, of course.”

She shifted nervously, but she didn’t break eye contact. “I know I’ve been… off around you, and I’m sorry if that made you feel uncomfortable. It’s not that I don’t like you. It’s… actually the opposite.” She took a shaky breath. “You make me nervous because I think you’re amazing, and I never know what to say.”

A wave of relief washed over you as her words sank in. “Really? I thought you didn’t like me.”

She let out a short, nervous laugh, her shoulders relaxing for the first time. “Not at all. I was wondering… would you maybe want to get coffee sometime? Just us.”

Your smile grew, the tension that had been building for weeks melting away. “I’d love that, Inês.”

Her face brightened, the nervous energy giving way to something softer, more hopeful. And as she walked away, you couldn’t help but feel that this was the start of something new, something that had been worth every awkward moment.

[mattsfavouritewhore]

Why Her Part 3 - Matthew Sturniolo

a/n: I am so sorry it has taken me so long. But i'm back now and I hope you guys enjoy. ALSO TAKING REQUESTS!!!

Warnings: Smut, angst, swearing, arguing

Summary: Did matt get rid of his gf for you?

PART 2: why her part 2

PART 1: why her

A month had gone past.. you hadn't heard from matt once. Once matt left your place that day, you had filled nick in on everything and he said he'd keep an eye out for you and report back about everything he heard and saw. Nothing had come up from nick besides from a few messages saying he stayed in his room and that she hadn't been over.

But today, your phone pinged...

Nick: Im so sorry y/n.

Your heart dropped... you knew exactly what that meant. She was over. He had chosen her over you. Anger. Tears threaten to spill out of anger. You felt stupid. Stupid for having hope. Stupid for thinking you were more than pussy to fuck. Thinking that he actually wanted you.

You didn't respond to Nick's message.

A week past and you were trying your best to move on. The gym became your second home, and your friends kept you busy with outings and events, hoping to distract you from the mess Matt left behind. Still, every once in a while, you'd catch yourself scrolling through social media, seeing updates of Matt and Maria. Each picture felt like a knife in your chest, a reminder of what could’ve been.

But one evening, after a particularly grueling workout, you got another ping from Nick.

Nick: You might want to come over. You: Why? Nick: Matt broke up with her.

You froze. Your heart raced as a million thoughts filled your head. Was this real? Why now? What did he want? You typed back hesitantly.

You: And what does that have to do with me? Nick: Just come over. He won’t stop talking about you.

Against your better judgment, you threw on a hoodie and leggings, grabbed your keys, and headed to Nick’s place. The drive felt endless, and by the time you arrived, your palms were sweating. You knocked on the door, and Nick greeted you with a small smile.

"He's upstairs," Nick said, stepping aside to let you in.

You hesitated. "What exactly am I walking into?"

Nick shrugged. "A mess, probably. But I think you’ll want to hear what he has to say."

You sighed and made your way upstairs, each step heavier than the last. When you reached the door to Matt's room, you paused. The muffled sound of music played from inside, and you could hear faint shuffling. You knocked lightly.

“Come in,” Matt’s voice called out.

You opened the door to find him sitting on the edge of his bed, head in his hands. He looked up when you entered, and the sight of his red, puffy eyes took you by surprise.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice hoarse.

"Hey," you replied, staying by the door. "Nick said you wanted to talk."

He nodded, standing up and taking a step closer to you. “I broke up with Maria.”

"I heard." You crossed your arms, trying to keep your cool. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I realized I was being an idiot," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "I was scared. Scared of ruining what we had, scared that I’d mess things up between us. But being with her made me see how much I don’t want anyone else. It’s you. It’s always been you."

Your heart clenched, but you didn’t let your guard down. "It took you this long to figure that out? After everything?"

"I know I hurt you," he said, stepping closer. "And I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you let me. But I need you to know that I’m done running. I’m done hiding how I feel."

You stared at him, your emotions swirling in a chaotic mess. "How do I know this isn’t just another phase? That you won’t change your mind again?"

He reached out, gently taking your hands in his. "Because I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I don’t want to be without you. Not for another second."

Tears welled in your eyes as his words sank in. For the first time, they felt real. Genuine. "Matt..."

He cupped your face, his thumbs brushing away the tears that spilled over. "Just say the word, and I’m yours. No more games, no more distractions. Just us."

You looked into his eyes, searching for any hint of doubt, but all you saw was sincerity. Slowly, you nodded.

"You had a month.. you left me, no words, for a month... and then i find out you picked her over me." you whispered.

He leaned in, pressing his forehead to yours. "I’m not going to mess this up again. I promise."

You believed him. For the first time in a long time, you felt like you could finally breathe.

Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something real.

"Okay."

You stood there, his hands still cradling your face, his breath mingling with yours. The tension was unbearable, and before either of you could think twice, his lips crashed against yours. It wasn’t gentle or tentative—it was desperate, like he’d been starving for this moment. You melted into him, your arms wrapping around his neck as he pulled you closer, his grip firm but careful.

"Tell me to stop," he whispered against your lips, his voice low and hoarse.

"Don’t you dare," you replied breathlessly.

That was all he needed. His hands slid down to your waist, gripping tightly as he backed you toward the bed. You let him guide you, your fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him impossibly closer. When the back of your knees hit the mattress, he lifted you effortlessly, laying you down and crawling over you, his body pressing into yours in a way that made your pulse race.

His lips left yours, trailing down your neck, where he nipped and sucked at the sensitive skin, drawing soft gasps from you. Your hands roamed his back, slipping beneath his hoodie to feel the warmth of his skin. He sat up just long enough to yank the hoodie off, revealing his toned chest, and you couldn’t help but run your hands over him, marveling at the way his muscles tensed under your touch.

“God, I’ve missed this,” he murmured, leaning back down to kiss you again, his lips hot and urgent.

"Then don’t stop," you whispered, your voice trembling with anticipation.

He didn’t need further encouragement. His hands found the hem of your shirt, tugging it over your head and tossing it aside. His lips trailed down your collarbone, and his hands slid behind your back to unclasp your bra, his movements practiced yet filled with a tenderness that made your heart ache.

As the fabric fell away, his lips found your bare skin, his tongue flicking over a hardened peak, drawing a moan from your lips. His hands wandered lower, toying with the waistband of your leggings. He looked up at you, his dark eyes searching yours for permission.

"Please," you whispered, lifting your hips to help him slide the fabric down.

He discarded the leggings and your panties in one swift motion, his gaze raking over your exposed body. "You’re perfect," he said, his voice filled with awe, before leaning down to kiss a trail from your navel to your inner thighs.

His lips found your core, and the first touch of his tongue sent a jolt of pleasure through you. He worked you expertly, his tongue circling and flicking, his lips sucking gently, drawing moan after moan from you as your hands fisted the sheets beneath you.

"Matt, oh my god," you gasped, your hips bucking against his mouth as he held you firmly in place. The coil in your stomach tightened with every movement, and it wasn’t long before you were teetering on the edge.

"Let go," he murmured against you, his voice vibrating through your core. The sensation sent you over the edge, your body arching as waves of pleasure crashed over you, your cries filling the room.

He kissed his way back up your body, his lips meeting yours again, letting you taste yourself on his tongue. As he settled between your legs, you reached for the button of his jeans, fumbling in your haste to undo them.

"Slow down," he said with a soft chuckle, his voice husky as he helped you remove the last barrier between you. He rolled on a condom quickly, his gaze locked on yours as he lined himself up with your entrance.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice gentle, his eyes searching yours.

"Yes," you breathed, pulling him closer.

He pushed into you slowly, both of you gasping as he filled you completely. He stayed still for a moment, letting you adjust, before he began to move, his thrusts slow and deep, each one sending a shiver through your body.

"God, you feel so good," he groaned, burying his face in your neck.

Your nails raked down his back as you wrapped your legs around him, urging him deeper. The pace quickened, the sound of skin against skin mixing with your breathless moans and his guttural groans. The tension built again, the pressure mounting until it was almost unbearable.

"I’m close," you gasped, your head falling back against the pillows.

"Me too," he panted, his movements growing erratic.

With one final thrust, the two of you came undone together, your bodies trembling as you rode out the waves of pleasure. He collapsed beside you, pulling you into his arms as you both caught your breath.

For a while, neither of you said anything, the silence filled only with the sound of your breathing. But when he finally spoke, his voice was soft and filled with certainty.

"I’m not going anywhere," he said, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, you believed him.

A/N: this will probs be the last part unless someone comes up with a good plot (open to suggestions of all kinds)

LMKK WHAT YOU GUYS THINKKK