#the last bit was supposed to be one more panel

[chipistrate]

Day 21: You & Me, Forever & Ever!

I know this day was probably about The Gays™️ but uhhhhhhhh found family<3

Based on my headcanon that Vanessa and Gregory have met before back when the Pizzaplex first opened- Gregory didn't have anyone to hang out with, so Vanessa agreed to play some arcade games with him! One thing lead to another and they ended up spending the whole day together<3 They didn't see each other after that until the whole Glitchtrap thing, and they don't remember it anymore, but it's still an important moment in their relationship<3

[keeps-ache]

HEY

[spitdrunken]

HIAHA I LOVE HOW YOU WRITE MR SCARLETELLA CAN YOU WRITE MORE. so odd and unsettling and obscene m just giggling with delight

HIIII thank you so much for the high praise <3 this has kind of a different vibe from the last one but plays with similar-esque concepts!!!! this is 'weird and obscene' LMAO

Notes: Suggestive, mild body horror, bolded = dialogue in the Other World's language.

==========================

How do you touch a man without a physical form? Or, you suppose, 'man' isn't quite the correct term. 'Apparition' would perhaps best describe him. Though he can reach out to you and make you feel the illusion of touch, you can't actually make contact with him. Your hand passes through him as if he were nothing but air.

You don't think he minds. It's always a bit hard to tell, with him. Mr. Scarletella ususally just stares you down with a dead look, communication relatively limited. But you would like to touch him! So you experiment a little, an action for which no mutually intelligible word exists. Still, he doesn't move as you poke and prod at different parts of his body, coming up short every single time.

You crouch down before poking at his ankle, just in case. When you look up, your heart stops for just a moment. Mr. Scarletella's neck is snapped back, folded in on itself in order to observe you. Vacant-seeming eyes are trained on your every movement. The sight makes you feel squeamish. "God... Not do," you tell him. "Head look hurt. Not funny." There's no other way you can think of to put it. You get up and stick your hand down, waving your hand in the other direction at the side of his head. He seems to understands what you mean, as his skull snaps back in its usual direction. You circle around him. "Sorry. Not want upset you." He says, although you know he'll never really listen or learn, not when it comes to these things. "Me like you. You like me." As if you'd ever forget. You beckon him. Rather than simply leaning down, his form flickers, distorting, before reappearing in the desired position. There's just one place you haven't touched yet. Once again, you extend your hand, the tips of your fingers brushing against the top of his umbrella. The surface is smooth to the touch and wets your skin, accompanied by a small burst of static ringing in your ears. It takes a moment for the significance to register. "Oh! I can touch your umbrella!" You say, forgetting the Other World's language in excitement over your discovery. Even though it's relatively small. You can't touch Mr. Scarletella himself, but the umbrella appears to be 'realer' than the rest of him. ...Actually, maybe the umbrella is a part of his body? He's not human, after all. He doesn't have to exist according to your logic. Your brow furrows. The puzzle pieces of language move in your mind, until they're slotted together semi-coherently. You point at his arm. "Arm you." Then, you do the same for his leg. "Leg you." You wave your arm up and down. "Body you." Finally, you lift your hand in the direction of the umbrella. "Object you? Me can touch object. Touch you?" Mr. Scarletella's smile widens. It reveals a little bit of the void that stretches on behind his lips. "I see. Correct. Object me. Object is..." After which he lowers his umbrella and says a word you haven't heard before. You try to repeat it, and he says it once again, pointing the umbrella in your direction. "Touch umbrella. I want."

It's definitely... Weird. It's genuinely like touching an umbrella. Cold and smooth and slightly wet. But Mr. Scarletella wanted you to do it, and you're kind of intrigued yourself, so you do it. Because there's clearly something happening. As you trace your fingers over the outer canopy, making sure to at least touch every panel a little bit, his visible form starts to flicker and fade. When you apply a bit more pressure, move a little faster, parts of him start to distort and change colour. His arm appears a little dislodged from his shoulder, static rising in the background.

When you pinch one of the metal tips in between your fingers and rub it, he lets out a laugh that is far more high-pitched than you would've expected it to sound like. Clearly, there's some kind of link between the umbrella and the rest of himself. Though you can't envision what it must be like, he's feeling something. Your hand pauses. In the blink of an eye, Mr. Scarletella has materialised even closer to you, nose close enough to touch yours, if it could. The inky darkness of his pupils makes up most of what you can see.

"Me like. Like like like like." He sounds breathy despite not breathing. "Touch more. Again. Me want you."

[vaaaaaiolet]

Leon's no stickler for wedding traditions. But when no something blue has you feeling blue, he might just have a fix.

f / m fluff and cuteness before you walk down the aisle. leon is a sweetheart. one or two bad puns. you're a lil anxious but that's okay!! ft. your beloved's neck trauma </3

word count: 888 // read on ao3 // drabble masterlist

a/n: for zo from this ask. i got asked about what a wedding between leon and reader in my agent au might look like and this is SO BAD I'M SORRY. I WROTE THIS AT 1 AM WITH CLASS AT 7 THE NEXT DAY. posted on ao3 first bc i was too sleepy to make the tumblr banner 🤧 *gestures vaguely hoping you still like it*

“One peek. For half a second.”

“It’s bad luck.”

“Since when have you cared about being lucky? You’ve never needed luck to land a bullet.”

Shoulder pressed to your dressing room’s door, laughter flutters in your chest. “You don’t get it. It’s the principle.”

“What kind of fuckass principle-”

“Leon!”

“-gets to tell me I can’t see my wife?” 

“Soon-to-be,” you smile, picking at the white lace of your bodice. 

“Oh man.” You practically hear your still-fiancé’s fingers fly up to pinch the bridge his nose. “Sweetheart, you should’ve told me you were such a goody-two shoes before I put that ring on your finger.”

“You didn’t get the memo after I’ve been landing you in hot water with Hunnigan for three years now?”

Leon’s palms clap dejectedly against the door. Half-surrender, half-plea.

“For the millionth time, go away,” you giggle. You lean your back against the door. Imagine him doing the same when the wood paneling seems to press back. Breathe for a beat too many before saying, “You’ll see me in a bit, I just…I need the luck for today to be perfect.”

You think you’ve finally won when he goes silent. For a second, anyway.

“So that’s what it is.”

“Hm?”

“Are you nervous?” Leon asks quietly.

“What girl isn’t nervous on their wedding day?” you whisper back.

“Does it have to be? What if our wedding isn’t perfect?”

Talk about a surefire way to spike a bride’s heart rate. You frantically check your reflection in the vanity mirror. Clutch your bouquet tighter lest it fall fantastically apart at his words. 

“See, this is why you’re not supposed to be here,” you hiss at the door, “now I’m panicking!”

One last roll call. You’re sure you’ve planned for everything. Your something old: your mother’s wedding veil. Something new, the diamonds on your neck. Something borrowed: the roses you’ll carry to the altar, gathered from your maid of honor’s garden that you’ll make sure to toss back. Something blue…

“Shit!” you cry out. 

“What? What’s wrong?”

“I forgot my something blue, Leon, I can’t walk without it!”

“You’re sure?”

Of course you’re sure. It’s Wedding 101, the one rule you can’t break. Everything you’ve been through with the man on the other side of the door has led up to this moment. Your jobs never allowed you the privilege of making mountains out of molehills, but today? This is the moment you’d been promised would be perfect – in spite of the endless trials and tribulations the universe seemed intent on imposing on the both of you. 

Sleepless nights. Far-flung disappearances. Knives at your throats. Knives at each other’s throats that one time with the parasites. Thanklessly saving the world from the brink of disaster only to have each other to lean on at the end of the day. Over and over, falling in love with the only person who understands the fatal mistake of taking normalcy for granted. 

Just once, you wished you could have it like everybody else waiting for you to walk down the aisle. 

“Open the door, sweetheart.”

Your voice cracks. The no doesn’t come out like it should. 

A muffled swish of fabric sounds from the other side, and Leon repeats himself, tacking on a soft please this time. “Do you trust me?”

Nobody more than him.

“Just stick out your leg,” he murmurs. “I won’t look.”

An odd request. You crack open the door. Hesitantly step out your right foot. 

“Little more, please.”

If you’re not mistaken, the faintest of sighs sounds the moment you do. Leon presumably drops to his knees at the muffled thud of carpet that ensues, and it’s suddenly your turn to gasp. He’s reaching up your dress, fingers skirting over your leg, along your thigh-

“What are you doing?” you squeak, gripping the doorframe.

“Not that I’m into the garter thing, it’s kinda gross, actually – phew, you’re not wearing your holster – but maybe this will work.”

Smooth, silky fabric encircles your thigh in seconds. 

“Too tight?”

“Mm-mm…”

He chuckles softly and ducks out, taking care to fix your skirts as if nothing ever happened, looking decidedly the other way the whole time. You pull your foot back into the safety of your dressing room and bunch up your dress in confusion to find-

A navy bow tie wrapped around your upper thigh.

“How’s that?” Leon ventures hopefully.

It’s something. It’s blue. You relay this to him, disbelief eventually bubbling into laughter. 

“But now you don’t have a bow tie, stupid!”

“Would you believe me if I told you I’ve been waiting for an excuse to get rid of it? You know how much I-”

“-hate things around your neck.”

“Right?” The exasperation in his voice makes you giggle. “And they wouldn’t listen when I told them, baby. I told you, I’m hopeless without you.” 

Leon’s hand reaches out on a mission to find yours, one that it fulfils, complete with a kiss on your knuckles. A mission with ulterior motives; you pretend not to see the flash of something blue that glances up at you. The blue you can’t wait to wake up to for the rest of your life.  

“Perfect wedding or not, I just wanna marry you. Don’t you?”

You don’t save the I do for the altar.

What’s one more imperfect tradition?

click for my full drabble collection, and find more of my work here!

likes kill fics :( comments and reblogs are very much appreciated <3

[ponett]

I went digging and couldn't turn up anything, substantial or otherwise, about Matt Moylan. I need to know how low to place my expectations for my second favorite mega men, because it sounds like "pretty damn low"

Matt Moylan is the Director of Publishing over at Udon. He's been there for ages. He's also a total reactionary.

To give full context, this is gonna get a little long.

Moylan is perhaps best known for the Transformers fancomic Lil Formers, which was popular in the '00s. This isn't super important here, but allow me to go on a tangent because it's where a lot of people know the guy from, and it's mildly more entertaining than just screencapping his tweets. The comic was basically just an excuse for him to draw a bunch of chibi Transformers that people would then use in forum signatures and whatnot. Sometimes he would attach his cranky old geewunner opinions and complain about art style changes or new female characters in the dialogue, if he wasn't just making a generic joke about Wheelie being annoying or Seaspray having a silly voice or whatever.

Comedy gold, I know.

Lil Formers was well known within the fandom. Geewunners and kids who didn't know any better and just liked the chibi Transformers (guilty) loved it. Other fans grew more annoyed by Moylan's schtick. As far back as 2009 TFWiki contributor David Willis mocked it in a strip from his own webcomic, Shortpacked:

His wiki page on TFWiki also recounts a bizarre old bit of fandom drama. Moylan had previously worked for the defunct comic publisher Dreamwave, who published the Transformers comics in the early '00s, and in 2006 he went on popular Transformers forum TFW2005 to make several claims about behind the scenes conflicts and unfulfilled story plans. Most bizarre was a claim that Autobot Sunstreaker was supposed to be gay in the Dreamwave comics, which was written off as a childish attempt to rile up the fandom. His claims were all vehemently disputed by the Dreamwave writers he was shit talking, who would also accuse Moylan of anonymously slandering them and sending them threatening emails. Swell guy!

Anyway, hopefully this isn't surprising to literally anyone who's been on a forum in the last decade, but this nerd who won't shut up about the Good Ol' Days of the '80s is now a reactionary conservative who complains about how they're making everything "woke." And unfortunately he's no longer just some guy drawing dumb little one-panel comics about Transformers, he's now overseeing all of the output at Capcom's go-to comic and art book publisher in North America.

Here's some of his tweets to illustrate what he's like these days.

Yes, that's a reply to Mark "Grummz" Kern. He's also chatted up accounts like Libs of Tiktok and Comicsgate ringleader Ethan Van Sciver. Also note the reply in which he tries to tell Greg Weisman himself that Gargoyles had "not an ounce of woke." This guy's brain is fucking cooked.

Here's a take he posted about The Boys, too, just because it's really fucking funny to me:

After I and several other people posted about his behavior over on Bluesky and expressed disinterest in buying anything from Udon (such as the new Mega Man comics), he deleted his Twitter for like a week. He's since restored it, the tweets in question now long gone. Clearly it wasn't a good look for him to be making statements about his employer's values like this, sometimes in the same breath as announcements about new comics. That being said, he's issued no actual apology for his statements, and Udon hasn't acknowledged it at all. There's no reason to believe he's had a change of heart. They're just gonna pretend he never said any of this. And as of a few days ago, he's been announced as the writer for the one-shot Mega Man ZX comic that Udon is putting out later this year. Yaaaayyyy

I know there are a lot of cool people working on stuff for Udon, but Moylan being in a position of power there means I have zero interest in giving that company money. When your Director of Publishing is over on Twitter trying to court an audience of reactionary nerds and proudly proclaiming that Udon is "anti-woke, anti-DEI," and then you go to their website and the first image you see is this...

...Look, I love huge boobs as much as the next bisexual furry pervert, but this particular image in conjunction with his tweets paints a pretty clear picture of what sort of values Moylan is pushing at Udon. He wants to cater to nerds who will buy softcore Street Fighter hentai thinking it'll own the libs.

So hey, if he doesn't want my dirty woke money, fine by me. I'm not touching anything Udon publishes as long as Matt Moylan still works there.

[pretentious-blonde]

built to last

pairing: steve harrington x reader

summary: steve harrington was just supposed to help you build a bookshelf. he definitely wasn’t supposed to have this much fun doing it.

warnings: none! sweet steve!!! PINING STEVE!!!

a/n: part two as promised, but can be read as a standalone.

series masterlist

Steve Harrington sat on the floor of your living room, cross-legged on the floor. A heap of wooden panels and screws spread out around him, still in their plastic bags, scattered like a mini battlefield. He couldn’t understand how many parts a simple shelving unit would contain, but that wasn’t going to stop him from building the damn thing. 

In one hand, he clutched an instruction booklet that he’d already peeked at three times, and in the other, a trusty screwdriver from the tool kit he’d lugged in from his trunk, shoved in there that morning. He really didn’t want to be caught unprepared, especially when you accepted his offer to help. And what help would he be without a screwdriver? None. It was basically furniture building 101. 

His adrenaline was finally dying down from that morning, because honestly? It had been a whirlwind day—and it wasn’t even noon yet.

He’d arrived outside Family Video nearly a half-hour early because punctuality suddenly felt like a life-or-death situation. He’d never admit that to you though, he’d probably just tell you he was an early riser, or traffic was lighter than he expected if you asked. A white lie to avoid seeming pathetic.

Truth was, he’d spent most of that time staring at his reflection in the car window, smoothing out his hair, worrying if he looked too eager—or maybe not eager enough. Telling himself not to look so desperate, then proceeding to check one more time anyway. He was just glad you could see him without the stupid company vest, that he did have some semblance of a fashion sense. Further proven when he caught you looking him up and down a few times over the course of the day. 

You didn’t know him in high school, which was both a blessing and a slight curse. He couldn’t sail by being “King Steve” and all the popularity that came with it, but maybe that was a positive thing. You were meeting just him, just Steve. You said yes to just Steve, and that was a good start. 

When you finally appeared—warm smile, eyes full of anticipation tied with that slight nervousness—Steve immediately forgot all the conversation starters he’d practised. He forgot how lovely you were up close, it threw him slightly off balance as you approached.

He couldn’t quite believe his luck: you’d actually let him help you pick out a bookshelf. Yes, it was a mundane task, but it was a chance nonetheless. He just hoped you didn’t accept because of the heavy lifting—or worse, pity.

He was hopeful that whatever this was, would put a stop to his terrible track record of recent romance. 

So, no pressure. 

He asked if you were comfortable with his car—not wanting to force you—and a wave of relief swept over him when you agreed that his trunk was indeed larger. When you both reached the passenger side, Steve—being every bit the gentleman he was trying to be—opened the door for you.

He had fully stocked the glove box with a selection of cassettes, some rock, some pop, and even some old jazz records from his dad’s study—just in case you were into that. He wanted to cover all the bases. 

You thumbed through the tapes, taking a jab at him for his eclectic tastes, which he welcomed with a faint chuckle. You chatted with him the entire drive, and it was fully welcomed, with him asking question after question, wanting to get to know you better. 

He’d tried so hard not to stare at you, but every time you laughed at one of his stupid jokes, he couldn’t help but glance your way—just to soak up the way your eyes lit up at something he said.

When you got to the store, it turned out to be bigger—and more confusing—than either of you expected, but that only made the whole thing funnier. You cracked jokes about all the weird items on display—like the life-size ceramic dog statue that looked bizarrely regal in the middle of the aisle—and Steve laughed, genuinely, relieved that he didn’t have to come up with any forced banter. It flowed out easily, like water.

When you finally found the bookshelf section, you spent time comparing finishes and sizes, your head tilted thoughtfully while you tapped your fingers against your chin. 

Steve tried to appear useful—pointing out this shelf or that one—but mostly, he just liked watching the way you beamed whenever you found something close to what you wanted. Eventually, you settled on the biggest option of all. Typical.

“I don’t want to have to buy another shelf anytime soon,” you’d explained, eyeing the tall, dark wood frame.

“Right, because buying a bigger shelf isn’t just an excuse to buy more books or anything.” Steve joked.

You’d looked at him, eyes dancing. “Obviously,” you said, in a voice dripping with sarcasm.

He’d grinned. Your energy matched his and his anxiety from earlier was almost entirely gone. You had a sense of humour. You were quick. He liked that.

The real task was moving the damn thing. Getting the unopened box of parts up to your place felt like an Olympic event. He nearly died hauling the massive bookshelf up the flight of stairs to your apartment—he was pretty sure one of his arms was going to give out—but there was no way he’d admit that to you. You’d offered to take one end, but he’d waved you off immediately. No way was he letting you do that. 

“I got it,” he’d insisted, heart pounding. If he were being honest, part of it was pride, sure—but the bigger part was that look of concern you kept giving him, and how nice it felt to be needed again. It had been a while since he felt that way, and it felt good. It felt really good. 

By the time the two of you managed to wrangle it up the final steps and into your living room, his arms were shaking. He pressed his lips tight, ignoring the slight burn in his shoulders, giving you a triumphant nod as if he did this sort of thing every day.

“You okay?” you’d asked, eyes flicking to the flushed look on his face.

“Yeah, totally fine,” he’d lied, trying to catch his breath. “All good.”

You’d nodded and stepped away to make coffee, leaving Steve alone with the dreaded instruction booklet. With you gone, he allowed himself a second to let out a small, nervous huff. 

He’s totally got this. It’s just like any other puzzle, right? Except it’s bigger. And 3D. And a little more complicated. But still, he’s got this... Mostly.

He spread the pieces out on the floor, still in their plastic casing, scanning for anything that looked like the logical first step. If he were honest, he’d never built anything this big before. But you didn’t know that and he’d prefer to keep it that way. 

He was so absorbed in mentally prepping for the ordeal that he almost didn’t hear you come back. But the soft clink of cups drew his attention, and he glanced up to see you standing there, holding two mismatched mugs. One was white with a blue rim; the other had some faded floral pattern along the side. 

Mismatched cups. He wouldn’t have guessed he’d find that detail adorable, but it just seemed so you—practical, unpretentious, sweet. He’d built you up in his head the days leading up to this, and now you seemed a little more human. Still nerve-wracking, but human. 

Your hair was slightly tousled from the breeze outside, or from hauling that box inside—he wasn’t sure which—but either way, you looked at home. It was a nice image. 

“Figured you might need a boost after your workout on the stairs.” You said softly, offering him the faded mug.

“You read my mind.” He picked up the coffee and cradled it for a moment, letting the warmth seep into his aching hands. “Thanks… It was honestly nothing.” he shrugged, trying to downplay how out of breath he’d been.

You lowered yourself onto the floor across from him, tucking your legs underneath you. The scene felt strangely intimate, the two of you crouched on the floor like kids at a sleepover. 

“Sure,” you said, taking a sip from your own mug, seeing through the sweet lie. “I’m kinda the one putting you to work here, so it’s the least I can do.”

Steve glanced at the scattered wood and screws, a determined look on his face. He could not screw this up. It took a lot of willpower not to glare at the instructions for a fourth time. 

“I’m happy to help,” he said aloud, his voice a touch too casual. He didn’t want you to know how sincere he was, how good it felt just to be around you—and how it had been a long time since he’d felt this comfortable with someone new. Someone who he began to click with so quickly. He could not ruin it by building this thing incorrectly.

You offered him a small smile. “Well, let me know if you need anything. I can help screw things in, or hold up the pieces, or—”

Steve waved you off, trying for a confident smirk. “Nah, don’t worry. I’ve got this covered,” he assured you, tapping the screwdriver against his palm. “You can just…supervise. Maybe read me the instructions if I accidentally, uh, if my hands are full or something”

“Sure,” you said, laughter dancing in your eyes. “I’m great at reading, by the way. Got loads of practice.”

“See? Perfect team already,” Steve replied, flashing a grin in your direction. 

He tried to stop himself from smiling too hard, not wanting to look like an idiot as he chastised himself. You're gonna scare her off.

But inside, you were fighting your own battle: trying not to show just how pleased you were that this considerate, unexpectedly funny boy had agreed—offered, actually—to spend his Saturday morning with you, building a bookshelf you could’ve probably pieced together on your own eventually. You almost felt bad for taking up his weekend. 

But you couldn’t help but think how nice it was, feeling looked after for a change, seeing him all earnest and determined to do a good job.

“If you get stuck, just say." You wrapped your hands around your mug. "Or if you want me to hold something in place.”

“Will do,” Steve promised, flipping open the manual. His brow furrowed as he scanned the step-by-step images. “I think Step One is just laying out all the pieces and checking if we have them.”

You looked around at the piles of wood. “So…do we have them all?”

“Uh…” Steve quickly counted, mind flashing back to that moment when he’d lugged the box up the stairs. He was pretty sure he hadn’t left anything behind. “I think so?”

A quiet laugh escaped you, and he couldn’t help but beam—he liked that sound. He wanted to be the one to draw it out of you again. 

Your eyes flicked down to the mug in his hands, noticing how big they looked against the delicate porcelain. Something about Steve, all broad shoulders and careful hands, handling that little cup was…endearing.

“Okay,” he declares as he puts down his drink, attention fully on the folded paper. “We got this.” he insisted, though his smile gave him away.

“You sure about that?” you teased, nudging him with your elbow. “Because it looks like you’re holding the manual upside down.”

He huffed out a laugh. “Listen, I’m just—this diagram is confusing, okay?”

“Uh-huh. Sure.” You rolled your eyes.

Still, the two of you were grinning like dorks, giggling over the supposed simplicity of what the box had promised was a “quick assembly.” The sound of your laughter mingling with his reminded Steve of an old married couple—it was playful bickering, not the tension-filled kind. And for the first time in forever, he didn’t feel that usual weight of having to be perfect.

He’d spent so much of his life chasing approval: from his parents, his ex-girlfriend, the kids—not wanting to let anyone down. But right now, with you kneeling next to him on the carpet, trying to figure out which side of a wooden plank was the top, that pressure completely melted away. He found himself bursting into warm laughter every time you caught him doing something wrong, or whenever you made a joke at his expense. He didn't mind. Not in the slightest.

You were just relieved you didn’t have to go through this furniture fiasco by yourself. Watching him wrestle with a piece of wood while claiming he totally had everything under control was surprisingly entertaining. His confidence, that slight puff of his chest whenever you teased him, was too endearing to ignore.

Eventually—somehow—the two of you got the shelf together, the last screw twisting into place. You both sat down in front of it, looking up to admire your joint handiwork.

“All right,” Steve declared, brushing imaginary dust off his hands. “Mission accomplished.” He turned to you with a wide grin. “You wanna put your books on it now? I could hang around—maybe help alphabetize?”

 “Yeah, no.” You snorted, crossing your arms as you eyed the imposing shelf. “That’s enough manual labour for the day. My arms will fall off if I even think about lifting anything else.”

“Fair.” He laughed, secretly glad you declined, honestly—his muscles were already feeling the burn from lugging the thing upstairs, and he had no idea how he’d look if he had to repeat that process again. Probably not cool. Definitely not cool.

Silence stretched for a second as you both looked at each other. You looked comfortable. Comfortable with him being there still. He took it as an invitation to talk to you more, not wanting this to be over just yet.

“So,” he ventured, propping up one leg, “why’d you move here, anyway? Don’t get me wrong, it’s, uh, full of character—” He shot you a grin. “But it’s not exactly high on anyone’s must-see list.”

“No one’s asked me that quite so bluntly yet.” Your voice was warm, though, and Steve saw a smile tug at your lips. “I got a job at the local newspaper. It’s not glamorous—I’ll probably be making coffees for everyone for the next few weeks—but it’s a stepping stone, right?”

He blinked. Newspaper. He was immediately impressed. Your eyes were shining with something like hope. And if there was one thing Steve Harrington admired, it was someone with hope. 

“Seriously? That’s impressive,” he said, meaning every word. “Congrats. That’s, uh, kinda a big deal.”

“Thank you.” You paused, a shy expression forming. “I’m excited to do real reporting eventually, you know?” You lifted a shoulder in a faint shrug, trying to act casual, but he could tell you were proud. He admired that.

There was a small part of him that felt a flicker of insecurity creep up the back of his neck. You’re clearly smart, and driven, but what was he? A guy who shelved videos and had questionable carpentry skills? 

The thought gnawed at him for a moment, but he forced it aside. Telling himself not to spiral in your living room, there would be time to do that after he left. 

“Couldn’t be worse than my first job,” he offered, hoping to lighten his own mood—and maybe make you laugh.

“Yeah?” You perked up. “What was your first job?”

He grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck. “I, uh… wore a sailor’s uniform. For an ice cream shop. For a whole summer.”

For a second, you just blinked, then your eyes widened. “Wait—what? Like a full-on costume situation, or…?”

“Oh God, don’t even— Look, it was a legit uniform, okay?”Steve groaned, face heating.  “Hat, kerchief, everything. It was humiliating.”

“That’s amazing,” you said, stifling laughter behind your hand. “Do you still have it?”

“Fuck no,” he burst out, shaking his head so adamantly his hair bounced, eyes narrowing in playfully. “Why? You interested in seeing that or something?”

“Maybe.” A mischievous gleam flickered across your face. 

“Wow, okay. Didn’t think you were into that sort of thing.” He gave you a gentle, teasing shove with his shoulder, trying to hide his darkening cheeks. You giggled, falling back a little, and for a moment, he thought about just closing the distance right there. 

A comfortable silence settled over the room again, your playful banter trailing into quiet. The shelf stood assembled, your coffee cups had gone cold, and the clock was ticking further into the day. He couldn’t escape the sudden awareness that this was probably where he headed home. He felt the weight of it in his stomach. You must’ve noticed his demeanour shift. 

“You okay?” you asked, voice laced with concern.

He cleared his throat, forcing his gaze away from the door—he didn’t want to see it, not yet. 

“Yeah, yeah, I’m good.” Then, softer, “I just… had a really good time today.”

“Me too.” You nodded, relief softening your features. 

“Yeah? Good,” he exhaled, fiddling with the hem of his polo. He was so close to saying something else, but the words were stuck in his throat, so he blurted them out quickly before he could lose his nerve. “’Cause, uh, I don’t want this to be the last time we hang out.”

You looked at him curiously, a small smile growing on your face. His heart hammered. Keep going, Harrington. Don’t freak out.

“I, uh—” he scratched the back of his neck. “I liked this. I like… you. And if you’d be cool with it, I’d really love to see you again. Maybe under different circumstances?”

He half-expected you to burst out laughing at him. He felt so vulnerable he could practically see his own heart beating. Instead, you just stared at him for a moment, expression unreadable, until he panicked.

“I mean, I could always come back if you need something else built,” he joked. “Like, if a table breaks or you need a chair assembled or—” He shook his head. “Sorry, that’s weird. No pressure. I—um—”

“You don’t have to make up excuses, Steve.” You rolled your eyes good-naturedly, shifting closer. “I’d love to see you again.”

He froze, eyes darting to yours. 

“Really?”

“Really,” you confirmed with a nod, and the certainty in your voice settled him.

A grin spread across his face, wide and unfiltered, and he laughed breathlessly. “Okay. Well, I’m working Monday, so…” His eyes flicked around for a second as he gathered courage. “Bring that tape back? The one you borrowed? Then I can tell you where we’re going for dinner.”

Your cheeks flushed, and you tried to look nonchalant, but that pink tint gave you away. 

“Yeah, sure. I can, uh… definitely do that.”

“Sweet,” Steve said softly, practically glowing. He’s still got it. 

A few minutes later, he was slipping on his shoes by the door, shrugging on his jacket. You stood there, arms crossed lightly, eyes flicking between him and the bookshelf like you couldn’t decide which one was more impressive. 

He paused, realising this was it—time to go.

But you were looking at him with such a sweet, hopeful expression that every nerve in his body was screaming.

Kiss her.

He swallowed hard as you looked at his mouth, then back up at his eyes. A silent invitation you were too scared to initiate.

Fuck it.

In a surge of courage, he leaned in—maybe not quite as smooth as he hoped, but good enough to press his lips to yours. 

He cupped your cheek, and the second his lips met yours, a delicious, dizzy warmth rushed through his veins. It was like every nerve in his body had lit up at once��your warmth, your scent, the softness of your mouth pushing away all the lingering insecurities in his head.

You made a tiny sound of surprise, then melted against him, one of your hands curling gently into the collar of his jacket. The feeling sent a heat through his entire body, making the tips of his ears burn.

When he finally pulled back, your eyes were half-lidded, and you looked stunned. Which, for some reason, made his heart squeeze even tighter.

“Wear something nice on Monday, all right?” He told you gently, unable to help the little smirk tugging at his lips. “I’m driving.”

“I will.” You nodded, lips curving into a grin. A beat of silence before you spoke again. “See you, Steve.”

He gave a quick nod, fighting the dopey grin stretching across his face. 

“Yeah, see you,” he said as you gently shut the door. He practically bounded down the steps and into the cool air outside. Resisting the urge to shout out loud to everyone within hearing distance about what just transpired moments ago.

He made it to the car and slid into the driver’s seat, adrenaline buzzing in his veins like he’d just done something incredible—because, honestly, it felt like he had.

First thing he was gonna do? Call Robin. Obviously. Because he needed to tell someone about how he, Steve Harrington, who thought he might’ve lost his edge, just built a freaking bookshelf and scored a date in the process. Both of which he was equally proud of.

Turning the key, he let out a slow, happy exhale. Then, with a smile that refused to quit, he pulled away, your building disappearing in his rearview mirror—though the thought of you remained right at the centre of his chest.

God, he couldn’t wait ’til Monday. 

[keferon]

Ok i said i would do itater, but this was done for my sister who got really hurt and wanted comfort out of my drabble, shout out to you @saltynsassy31 XD

This will probably be very OOC bc again, i am NOT too acquainted with these characters

So apologies in advance, but i think this will still be very entertaining for you :]

So yeah, here's part 2!

---

Jazz was tired, they haven't given him much time to rest since he came back. And even if they did, it's not like he could rest anyways, thinking about....about Prowl.

No way he could have just left him, right? After everything....it just didn't feel right, and the way they spoke to him about it too. Call him crazy but something in his gut told him they were hiding something from him. But it just never seemed enough to push him to look into it (oh how he would regret that for the rest of his life)

Today was supposed to be a normal routine check to the new mechas, with new recruits coming in for him to teach.

Jazz was given a new mecha suit, despite his protests to it (which surprised even him honestly, but it just didn't feel right). He hadn't gotten the chance to see it yet, today was the day they would present the new model, though it was said to be in its early stages still.

...

He doesn't know how it happened, how he'd gotten here, but all he knew was that he had seen red. When he gotten to see his new mech suit, it seemed oddly familiar in touch, in fact something about it made him feel sick to his stomach.

Small dents and scarring coated the plating around the panels that opened to the cockpit. He recognised that plating, from crawling on it with his magnets, sleeping on them comfortably despite being made of metal (there was something so warm about it, but that warmth was....lost. He wanted to puke). But what broke the string holding him together, a scar, a scar so familiar it sent him back to the exact moment he witnessed his partner getting it in the first place.

Jazz had weilded that shut himself, they had gotten in a bad scuffle a while back, and with worry he wanted to try and make sure Prowl wouldn't be in too much pain before they could get some proper help.

"Jazz?" Someone called out to him. That was the last thing he remembered.

Now? Now he stood by the halls in which they didn't allow the likes of him inside, the halls in which the scientists worked on. He made a fast dash to the last room, the room one of the scientists told him had the one he was looking for (though he wasn't proud to admit he had perhaps aggressively gotten that answer out of the poor guy). He had a weird unknown blaster weapon with him that he had ripped from the mech suit he was supposed to try out (deep down, he hoped that weapon didn't belong to Prowl. He hoped that he wasn't too late), using that, he blasted the door open hoping that would keep anyone from stopping him from getting inside.

As soon as Jazz layed his eyes on the scene before him; his partner hanging from wires holding him into place, chain keeping him from leaving, mutilated almost beyong recognition save his face, and with a small weak staticked cry from his partner, "Jazz?" the small bit of awarness he had gained back was gone again. All he could do in that moment was to yell, a desperate cry that came from the pits of his lungs.

"GET AWAY FROM MY PARTNER!"

And in another flurry of motions he didn’t have complete control over, he was beating the ever living hell out of the prick who decided it was a good idea to mess with HIS partner! He didn’t even know how long he had been at it until the twisted man he called a boss scratched his face, small bits of blood flowing out. In shock and pain, he grabbed the man by the neck of his shirt and threw him to the otherside of the room. Once he was certain that he wouldn't be getting up again, he turned to face Prowl once more, running and calling out to him as he ran to scoop up his beloved's face, blurting out a mess of an apology.

"I'm so sorry, i shouldn't have brought you here- we, we need to get you out-"

Oh did the guilt eat him up from the inside, he- he shouldn't have brought him here. Prowl probably hated him right now, but the sudden distant bell of an alarm down the halls had him scrambling to his feet to try and make things right.

Suddenly, as adrenaline slowly faded off, he realised how much damage he had actually taken throughout his rampage, a limp on his left leg catching up to him. Stinging pain on his face and limbs, but he needed to keep moving, they weren't safe yet.

"I have to get you to a safe place," he mumbled, mostly to himself, "and- and then maybe call for help. Oh but who could i even go to?" As he spoke, he started to set Prowl's limbs free from it's chains, gods they were so damaged, he could barely look at the missing parts. But as he worked his way through, he let out small sighs of relief to see that at least, he seemed to not be missing some vital parts. He could still maybe make a run for it, if only he could stall the facility long enough-

"You really shouldn't have...."

Jazz turned in shock, Prowl's voice snapping him out of his panicked haze.

"Prowl..." if he wasn’t crying already, now he certainly was. Gods he fucked up badly.

Not having the courage to face the other just yet, he turned back to the chained leg he had been working on. Prowl didn't seem to have wanted an answer either way, sitting up as he watched the organic do his work (Jazz tried to ignore the missing arm).

As he finished getting rid of the chain, he got up again, letting out a hiss of pain from his injuries (which did not go unnoticed by the mech). Clutching his left side as a bleeding cut let out a terrible stinging sensation which he doesn't think he'll ever get used to, he walked over to the final limb stuck under chains. As he walked over, he briefed over the quick plan he thought of

"Look, i- i know you might not trust me right now-" a huff, almost soundling like a disbeliefing chuckle, was heard from the mech, Jazz ignored it. "But there is a place you can go to and hide, hide- hide until maybe i can get help or- or find a way to send you back-"

"You wouldn't make it that far." Prowl spoke, matter of factly, which got a hit under Jazz's skin

"I know that! Which is why you will make a run for it. There's an exit by the other side of this room where you can leave-"

A sudden realisation hit Prowl. Jazz wasn't planning on coming with him.

And the human nodded, seeming to understand that Prowl finally got what he was saying. As he reached the last final screw to Prowl's chains, he finished off what he was trying to say "I'll keep them busy long enough for you to leave," before he could finish, as the final screw was let lose and Prowl was free to move, he felt himself be lift up from the ground and let out a startled yelp. "Wha- HEY!"

It took Jazz being shoved inside Prowl's cockpit for him to realise that he had been picked up by the mech (maybe a possible concussion he thought to himself). Jazz couldn't even try to jump out as, despite it missing the plating to shut him inside, Prowl placed his servo up to close to exit.

Desperately and confused, Jazz called out, "What are you doing?!"

To be entirely honest, Prowl wasn't sure himself, he was just as confused as the human to his actions, usually so full of logic. This one was acted apon pure emotion. Emotion of fear, anxiety, anger but most importantly

Desperation

Because somehow, this stupid human had his spark between his fingers, and he'd be dammed if he let him get himself killed just for him.

This isn't how he would want to say goodbye

---

Thanks again, to my sister who pushed me to write this, and also helped out in some parts!

Might have done more if i could, but it's super late rn lol (it's 4am and our mon will kills us for staying up this late).

Again sorry for any OOC moments, but i hope this was to your enjoyment! Maybe i can do a part 3 to this, but idk enough about how things work to do that, so i let anyone be free to mess around with this :]

Oh my... oh fuck I can't. I just keep thinking about Prowl pressing his palm on his chest even when other humans eventually get to him and start shooting. He's a mess, half of his armor is missing he's probably leaving an energon trail behind him. But he knows that while it would take a lot of bullets to take him down, it would take only one lucky bullet to kill Jazz. I'm. AUGh

[marikamlp]

Pit Girl Feast Analysis (season 3)

Possible spoilers I suppose

Before this season is over and we all know for sure who is who during the feast, I want to make my contribution to the analysis of who is who here. (This is a long post but bear with me, please)

My analysis will not include Misty because, obviously, we all know she is playing the so-called "Overseer" in the original script, who prepares food off-screen.

So let's start off with...

Tai

Tai is a pretty easy one because we were pretty much told who she is during the promo for the panel in Brazil

There are two characters that are wearing pretty similar outfits. The one on the left and the one in the middle on the right photo. However, only one of them is wearing the green gloves. So the one on the left would be Tai.

Melissa

I do think Melissa survives at least up until Pit Girl feast. And I think Melissa is the bunny costume, as both the bunny and Melissa's character in the winter BTS photos from season 3 are the only ones wearing the Yellowjackets uniform

But I also find it very interesting that Melissa is wearing a mask that is visibly resembling a rabbit given Shauna's history with rabbits in the adult timeline and their connection to Jackie.

Gen

In the BTS photo, Gen seems to be wearing the same kind of raccoon fur and green bandana as the middle character in the second photo. It's definitely an interesting choice to make Gen a survivor for that long given how unimportant she has been up until this point but I think it also makes sense since she seems to be on Shauna's and Melissa's side. And it makes sense because I think that...

Shauna is the Antler Queen

Since season 1, Shauna has been struggling with envy and greed for power. And I love her, but she is a queen of blaming others for her falling to the background. We know she's been angry at Jackie and blaming her for putting Shauna in the shadow. And she seems to be doing the same with her envy over Natalie's position. However, Natalie is clearly not doing well as a leader, girls are not really listening to her and she seems to be unable to actually grasp how to execute the power that is connected to her position. And we know that these scenes will take place in the near future:

Which for me seems like Shauna will question Natalie's leadership, and she might actually rise to the power and take up the position as the new leader.

I've also got a photo proof for that:

I don't think that any of the other characters' outfits seem to fit this closely to the Antler Queen's attire.

Van

She's a hard one. I'm somewhat sure and unsure of my choice at the same time. The BTS photo of Liv is not really showing much however I feel like the little part of the shirt is looking a bit similar to the shirt of the "Hunter" (Now I know this name does not fit Van and I agree but let's remember this is the name that has been used to describe this character in the scrip of the Pilot episode, I don't think it was ever set in stone and as we have seen with Javi, all of the girls take on the "hunter" role during the hunt)

But what's more, look at the hunter's shirt. It seems to be looking like the one Van is wearing both in season 3 and season 1 and might also be in season 2 but I don't remember it from season 2 so don't hold me up on that:

We can also see Travis wear that shirt in season 2

but I think it's mostly associated with Van's character or at least she's the one wearing it the most.

My last proof is the face mask sweater pattern. Because in one of the teasers for season 3 I believe, we can see Van wearing a sweater with the same pattern as the one on the face mask:

Misty has also worn a sweater with a pattern like that, might be the same one to be honest

But again, we know who Misty is already, as it was revealed in the pilot episode and Van is the only one who has been seen wearing both the face mask and the shirt of the "Hunter" throughout the series. And also in season 3, and I wouldn't take that for granted.

Travis and Lottie

Both of them are a question mark for me. There are only two places by the fire left and I do not think Nat is present for the feast and I will discuss that in a while. So solely based on the similarity of the hair, I would put Lottie as the pink hoodie character

Which would leave as with this seating:

Where is Nat?

We do know that Nat is one of the survivors in adult timeline so she has not been eaten and sacrificed to the Wilderness. But I think she might not be a part of the cult. Shauna has a history with throwing people out and even though Nat doesn't die the way Jackie did, I think she will be exiled to survive on her own as Shauna's punishment for Nat. Which would explain why her outfit in the BTS photos from what little angle we get seems to be looking more civilised and less culty than other girls

Now, does that mean there are 9 survivors or does it mean Pit Girl is in fact not the last sacrifice? I don't know honestly, and I think we might not find out during this season. We can only wait, watch and speculate.

If you've gotten this far, congratulations and thank you for indulging me

[illyrianbitch]

Lights, Camera, Love!

Pairing: Reader x Rhysand

Summary: Rhysand, Hollywood's hottest heartthrob, has everyone smitten—everyone except you, his co-star. But when rumors of your feud begin to affect the show's ratings, your producers propose a last-ditch solution: a fake romance to salvage your public image and reignite fan interest.

Warnings: cocky Rhysand, just two snippy co-stars, ianthe, co-parent feysand, helion and amren as big hollywood peeps

Word Count: 4.7k

a/n: this is a lil series ive had tucked away with some inspo....lets see if ayll fw it enough hehehe. dedicated to @milswrites and @daycourtofficial bc their love for this pushed me to pick it up again

✹ ✶ 𖧷 ✶✹

It was unprofessional, truly. 

You wanted to roll your eyes, to scoff and walk off set. 

But instead, you simply shifted uncomfortably in your seat, adjusting the hem of your dress as Ianthe, your overly enthusiastic interviewer, fluttered around Rhysand like a lovesick butterfly. Her giggles grated on your nerves as she leaned in a little too close, her hand lingering on his arm just a second too long.

Ianthe was known for her probing questions and flirtatious demeanor— it’s what made her such a popular source for exclusive interviews. Not only did she know the right questions to ask, but she knew exactly how to ask them in order to get what she wanted: juicy gossip, something she could feed on. It wasn’t a coincidence that her last name held such a resemblance to the word parasite. She was one. 

You didn’t want to do the interview to begin with. The upcoming release of your newest season meant various events and panels that left you unsettled and anxious. You loved your job— loved your character even more. But being in the public eye alongside Rhysand was hard. Suffocating, really. 

It felt like hours that you sat there with a practiced smile, waiting as she conversed with Rhysand. The studio lights were warm, and the backdrop behind you— a cover of the show's logo— made you feel a bit more comfortable. But still, the unease persisted, and you counted down the seconds until this interview was over and you could return home. 

"So, Rhysand," Ianthe said, her voice silky smooth. "You've become quite the heartthrob lately. How do you handle all the attention from your adoring fans?"

Your first instinct was to laugh. Your second was to roll your eyes. The third was to vomit in your mouth. You somehow resisted the urge to do all of the above, settling for biting back the rising nausea at the shameless flirting. 

Rhysand leaned back in his chair, a charming smile spreading across his face. "It's all part of the job, I suppose. Though, I must say, the fans are incredibly supportive. It's their enthusiasm that keeps us going."

Us. This time it physically burned you to not roll your eyes, even subtly. Your lips curled into a pained smile. Ianthe didn’t seem to notice the forced gesture, her gaze locked onto Rhysand as if you weren’t even in the room. 

You looked down, absently playing with a ring on your index finger. The metal felt cool and familiar, and you smiled faintly at it, feeling a warmth spread through your chest. It seemed to fill your lungs with a steadying breath, one that was enough to gather yourself, to steel your resolve and endure sitting beside someone who sucked up all the oxygen in the room without even trying.

It took a few more minutes before Ianthe was turning to you with an expectant smile— perfect white teeth. Veneers, most likely. The smile was strange up close and you resisted the urge to lean in and expect them further, to search for any signs of hidden pointed teeth, sharpened to resemble that of a predator. 

You blinked, tilting your head and welcoming her attention with a large smile of your own. Certainly not as perfect, but a lot less unnerving, you hoped. 

 “Y/n,” She started, readjusting herself in her seat. “You look beautiful. It’s always nice to see you.”

You gave a small nod in acknowledgement. You’d talked to Ianthe a few times, mostly on red carpets and press events. Never longer than a minute, never past fake pleasantries and a kiss on the cheek—- from her end. 

“Thanks Ianthe,” you said, smile still plastered on your cheeks like glue. “It’s always a pleasure talking with you.”

There was a glint in her eye that told you she didn’t believe a word you said. At least you both had that in common, perhaps you could bond on your shared love of bullshit. 

 “Tell me, what's it like working alongside Rhysand? He seems to have quite the presence on set."

You paused for a moment, considering your response carefully before delivering it with a smile. 

“Rhysand is an experience. Even after years, he still manages to keep me on my toes.”

What your statement really translated to was: Rhysand was a cocky asshole. Everything was about him. All. The. Damn. Time.

"It's truly remarkable how he commands the attention of everyone in the room. It's as if the rest of us simply fade into the background when he's around.” 

Because he’s an attention whore. 

You didn’t say the last thought— as much as your body screamed at you to. 

Rhysand's smile tightened imperceptibly, a flicker of irritation dancing in his eyes before he masked it with practiced ease. "Well, thank you," he replied smoothly,  "I suppose it's just the natural magnetism of a true star."

He delivered his words as a joke, as if you both shared a similar, endearing humor regarding one another. You fought to conceal a satisfied smirk, knowing that your veiled dig had hit its mark. 

Ianthe continued to prattle on, her questions growing increasingly mundane as the minutes ticked by. There was a lull—a brief moment of respite where Ianthe paused to collect her thoughts. 

It was Rhysand who broke the silence, his voice dripping with faux sincerity. "I must admit, I've always admired Y/n’s dedication to her craft," he said, his tone almost earnest. "It's not easy to disappear into a role the way she does."

You bristled at the backhanded compliment, knowing all too well that beneath his seemingly benign words lay a razor-sharp edge. It was a surprise to you that Ianthe didn’t pick up on it, her dull eyes and bright smile still worn on her nauseatingly beautiful face. 

"Well, Rhysand," you replied, forcing a tight smile, "I suppose we all have our strengths. I can’t coast on charisma alone.”

His smirk returned in full force, a wolfish gleam in his eyes. "Ah, but isn't that what makes us such a dynamic duo, sweetheart?" he said, "The perfect balance of substance and style."

You fought to conceal a frustrated sigh, to bite back the snarl you wanted to make at the annoying nickname he’d adopted for you recently. He knew it drove you nuts, knew it made you want to call him something less sweet. 

As much as you wished to continue the conversation, to match his veiled insults with ones of your own— that were sure to be far more clever, you knew that this verbal sparring match would only serve to prolong your agony. Instead, you plastered on a diplomatic smile, nodding in agreement as Ianthe launched into yet another round of inane questions.

✹ ✶ 𖧷 ✶✹

It felt like an eternity before you were freed from the clutches of the interview. 

Ianthe stood, flashing you a smile that felt more condescending than friendly. "Thank you both for coming," she said, her eyes lingering on Rhysand. You watched as she scanned him one last time, eyes drinking him in like a fresh glass of wine. 

You forced a polite nod. "Thank you, Ianthe. Always a pleasure."

She gave you a look that made you feel small, but you quickly swallowed it and turned away, heading toward the exit. As much as a nice, warm bath was calling to you, you had lunch plans with Lucien and were itching to be in the presence of someone you actually liked. 

"Well, that was entertaining," Rhysand commented, a smirk playing on his lips as he caught up to you. 

You glanced at him, trying to keep your irritation in check as you quickened your pace, offering a few spare smiles to the employees you passed. "If by entertaining, you mean tacky, then sure."

His smirk faded slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. He raised a brow.  "Tacky? I was just keeping things lively."

"Lively," you repeated with a laugh. You stopped, the movement so abrupt that Rhysand almost bumped into you. You turned to face him with a flat look. “You’re a shameless flirt."

His eyes narrowed at you— a deep blue that you swore at times was almost violet. His head cocked to the side and you shrank deeper into yourself, feeling somewhat at odds and uncomfortable in his burning gaze. The smirk tugged harder at the corner of his lips.

“Well, isn’t that the whole point?”

You scowled, opening your mouth to respond. But before any words could leave your mouth, a familiar voice filled the air. “Rhys!”

A head turn led you to catch Feyre’s eye as she walked towards you, a bright smile on her face. Her eyes lit up as her gaze landed on you and Rhys, one hand holding onto the smaller one of her son. 

You watched as Nyx, quite possibly one of the prettiest kids you'd ever seen, ran up to Rhysand with a joyous laugh, opening his arms up, wide and expecting. In one swift and natural movement, Rhysand scooped him up effortlessly, his earlier annoyance instantly dissipating from his features. 

“Hey, buddy,” Rhysand said, his voice softening as he kissed Nyx’s temple.

Against your better judgment, a smile tugged at your cheeks at how brightly Rhysand’s face lit up. He pulled Feyre into a quick, sweet embrace, placing a chaste kiss on her cheek.

If there was one thing you were willing to give Rhysand credit for, it was this.

His breakup with Feyre had been incredibly public. The divorce, the fallout—both of their reputations took a hit when it came out that she had initiated the divorce, later compounded by her being outed on a date with a woman from her past. Yet, despite everything, they both managed it with such grace.

Feyre was incredibly sweet. You never truly understood how Rhysand landed her in the first place, how they had been married for over five years, so deeply in love that they started a family. You thoroughly enjoyed her company, even though it wasn’t as often as you would’ve liked. She was still Rhysand’s family, after all, and you took every chance you could to avoid being around him when it wasn’t necessary. 

But Feyre was a large reason you enjoyed your job. She eased the anxiety that came with joining a cast that was already so close, essentially taking a role that had belonged to her— even though your character was introduced after hers was written off. 

It was clear that despite everything, Rhysand and Feyre had managed to maintain a bond, not just for their sake, but for Nyx’s. The love they still shared, the ease with which they navigated this new chapter of their lives—it was something you respected, even envied a little.

You averted your gaze, fingers running over the cool metal of your ring as you turned to leave, but Feyre called your name, her voice as kind as usual. 

You paused, looking back at her. “Yeah?”

Feyre’s smile was warm. You took her in for a moment, how naturally beautiful she was— how she exuded a certain energy that you could only describe as regal. A smile fit for a queen.  “How was the interview?” 

You shrugged, giving a small smile. “The usual. Ianthe was...”

You pursed your lips as your voice trailed off. There were many ways you could finish off your sentence but you weren’t sure how diplomatic you could be anymore or if Feyre would be bothered by an honest review of your interviewer. 

Feyre leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “A bitch?”

You laughed, catching Rhysand’s glance as he looked over for a moment. His attention quickly returned to Nyx and you turned back to meet Feyre’s beautiful blue eyes. “Exactly.”

Feyre shook her head, a sympathetic look on her face. “She was always so condescending with me, too. It’s because she’s desperate to sleep with that loser.” She pointed a thumb over her shoulder, jokingly but lovingly casting a glance back at Rhysand. She clicked her tongue. “Poor delusions.”

Another laugh left your lips and you nodded, suppressing a grin. “Yeah,” you drawled, “She wasn’t very subtle.”

Feyre raised a brow. “I don’t think subtly is in that limited vocabulary of hers.”

Your eyes drifted to the small interview set, where Ianthe was still standing, talking to someone and sparing regular glances over at Rhysand—a predator about to make her move. It was best for you to leave now, you thought, to avoid watching the inevitable hunt. 

“I should get going,” you said, turning back to Feyre. “I have plans. But, it was so nice seeing you.”

Feyre beamed, putting a hand on your arm. You briefly took in the ink that covered her forearm, the delicate, beautiful tattoos that you always wanted to admire further.  “You too,” she said, “Let’s have lunch soon.”

You nodded, a genuine and pleased motion. Your conversation with Feyre was the first one today that you didn’t have to fake any polite mannerisms. “I’d love to.”

Casting one last glance at Rhysand, you watched as Feyre approached him and put a hand out to Nyx. Rhysand smiled down at her, a soft, familiar look that made your chest tighten with an emotion you didn’t care to examine.

✹ ✶ 𖧷 ✶✹

It was 10:00 am when you were called into the production office, a room nestled in a quiet corner of the studio lot. You were tired, having only slept a few hours the night prior, and you could feel life slowly dripping back into you with each sip of coffee. The area was relatively private, shielded from the prying eyes of paparazzi, so you opted for comfort over glamor, dressed in jeans and a simple hoodie—nice, big, and comfortable.

Helion was usually meticulous about these meetings, ensuring both you and Rhysand were well-prepared and informed ahead of time. This sudden summons felt off. You didn’t know what to expect, and that uncertainty weighed heavily on your mind as you pushed open the door to the conference room.

Rhysand was already in the room when you arrived, effortlessly lounging in a chair with the kind of put-together look that only seemed to accentuate your own disheveled state. It made you hate him even more. You didn’t attempt to hide your scowl. He glanced up as you entered, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Phew, you'd think it was a Sunday and you were hungover," he remarked casually, a small smile playing on his lips. 

You shot him a pointed glare, resisting the urge to snap back and opting to take the open seat next to him, sitting back to take a sip of your coffee. 

Rhysand leaned over into your space, reaching a hand to tug at the strings of your hoodie with a grin on his lips. You swatted his hand away with a deepening scowl. "Cut it out."

He chuckled lightly, settling back into his chair. "So, what do you think this is about?" 

“No idea,” you sighed, crossing your arms defensively. You gave him a pointed glare. “What did you do?”

Rhysand raised an eyebrow. “And why are we automatically assuming I did something?”

“Well when are you not?” You titled your head. “Doing something, I mean.”

Rhysand caught onto the meaning of your words instantly. He narrowed his eyes at you before something crossed his features. Then, he was leaning in again, a smirk on his face as he scanned your own. “Are you feeling a bit left out? You’re always welcome to join.”

You rolled your eyes, letting out a scoff of disgust as you maneuvered yourself to lean farther away from him. “You’re shameless.”

The door clicked open, and your attention snapped over as Helion entered the room. You began to offer him a smile, but the motion died on your lips as you met his gaze. 

You loved Helion— as an executive producer, and the main man regarding your public relations, you’d formed a great relationship with him. It helped that you were best friends with his son, too. But today his typically buoyant air was clouded, his expression wearing the weight of serious deliberation. It was one you could only compare to that of a disappointed father about to deliver bad news. Beside him, Amren followed like a silent storm cloud. 

Amren, on the other hand, was someone you didn’t have a favorable relationship with. She was Rhysand’s personal agent and she excluded the same energy he did— something that tasted a lot like pretentiousness.  Her sharp gaze swept the room, and you instinctively avoided meeting it.

If Amren was here, and Helion was wearing that stern expression, it could only mean trouble. You shifted uncomfortably in your seat, a knot of apprehension tightening in your stomach.

You and Rhysand shared a quick, knowing glance, a similar confusion mirrored on both your faces. You straightened yourself as Rhysand offered a disarmingly charming smile. 

"What's going on?" he asked.

Helion exchanged a glance with Amren before sighing heavily. He leaned forward, slapping a piece of paper onto the table and pushing it toward both of you. 

The first thing that caught your eye was the TMZ logo— something that made your stomach drop instinctively. You bit at the inside of your cheek, your eyes repeatedly running over the headline. You looked up through your lashes to meet Helion’s expecting gaze. 

Rhysand's voice was incredulous as he spoke. "Did you... print these out?" 

You casted a quick glance of disbelief at him. Idiot. He paid no mind. 

Helion ignored the comment, taking a seat across from you as he leaned back, crossing his arms. He gave a nod towards the two copies before you. “Go ahead. Read," he instructed calmly, his expression grave. The tone alone made you shiver from its unfamiliarity. 

You picked up your copy, scanning the bolded headline and the accompanying pictures. 

FAILURE ON SET: HOW AN OVERBEARING CO-STAR FUED IS THREATENING THE VIEWER EXPERIENCE

Ianthe Parcite weighs in on the rumored feud between co-stars Y/N and Rhysand after exclusive interview.

As expected, the large printed image was a glamor shot of Rhysand and one of the interview set. You were nowhere to be found. Your grip on the edges of the paper tightened as you began to read the article.

In an exclusive interview with TMZ, Ianthe Parcite, known for her candid critiques, has taken a stark stance on the alleged feud between Hollywood’s famed co-stars, Y/N L/N and Rhysand Darling. Contrary to initial impressions, Ianthe now reveals that behind the scenes, tensions ran high and professionalism faltered. “I sensed an atmosphere of unease and discontent,” Ianthe remarked, reflecting on her recent encounter with the co-stars. “Y/N appeared dismissive and disengaged during our interview, which is concerning for the show’s dynamics.” Ianthe didn’t hold back in her assessment of Rhysand either, noting his apparent lack of receptiveness to her questions. “Rhysand’s demeanor was noticeably distant, almost unreceptive to any meaningful dialogue,” she disclosed. “It’s unfortunate when personal dynamics overshadow the professionalism required on set.” The revelations have sent shockwaves through the fanbase, with many expressing disappointment over the potential impact on their favorite series. As speculation swirls around the future of the show, fans are left wondering if the rift between Y/N and Rhysand will escalate and if it's worth watching a show doomed for failure. 

You scoffed incredulously, pushing the paper further away from you as if its distance would minimize the anger that simmered underneath your skin. You deeply regretted holding back in the interview— regretted not tearing that pompous bitch into two.

"So she doesn't even include a picture of me and yet I'm the main one she rips into?" 

You found the courage to look around the room, your gaze landing on Helion with pleading eyes. His response was a noncommittal shrug, accompanied by a slight raise of his eyebrows. It was clear he didn't have an easy answer, either.

Running your tongue along your teeth, you shifted your gaze to Rhysand. His jaw clenched as he laid the paper on the table. "It's not even a great photo of me," he remarked dryly, "I'm too pale in it."

Your mouth fell open in exasperation. "Unbelievable," you muttered under your breath.

Rhysand shot you a glare that lingered for a few tense seconds. You matched his gaze evenly before he redirected his attention to Helion and Amren. "This is ridiculous," he asserted, "Did they seriously publish this?

A moment passed. Helion sighed heavily, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Yes. Every tabloid is eating it up.”

You clenched your jaw, feeling every muscle in your body tense with the frustration prickling at your skin. “It wasn't our best interview, sure, but it definitely wasn't that bad," you insisted, tapping a finger down on the offending article.

Amren's gaze flickered toward Rhysand, and you followed it. Rhysand shifted uncomfortably, his expression briefly sheepish before he turned to you with a defensive edge. You narrowed your eyes, tuning to face him properly.

“Did you do something?”

Rhysand rolled his eyes. "Don't be ridiculous.” 

Your mouth fell agape and you let out a deep, angry breath through your nose. “Don’t use that word about me,” you hissed at him.  You pointed emphatically at the paper. "That is ridiculous. And you look like a guilty dog. What did you do?"

"Nothing," he finally muttered, his eyes narrowing in irritation. He shifted in his seat, pulling at the cuffs of his sleeves. 

It was Amren's voice that cut through the tension, her tone cool and calculating. "It's what he didn't do, really," she remarked cryptically, her gaze still lingering on Rhysand.

He shot her a pointed glare and you frowned, your brows furrowing to a tight knit. A faint headache throbbed at your temples. Turning to Helion for clarification, you found him leaning forward, lips pursed in thought. 

"It appears Ianthe was a bit... offended that Rhysand turned down her advances," Helion explained carefully, his words laden with implication.

Your eyes widened in surprise, disbelief coloring your features. "Seriously?" you blurted out, your head twisting to face Rhysand once more, moving with such swiftness that an ache pulled at the muscles of your neck. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Rhysand's eyes widened in response, his expression a mix of offense and confusion. "Excuse me?" he retorted, a hint of incredulity in his voice. "So you have a problem with me when I sleep with people and when I don't?"

Annoyance flared within you. "You flirted with her the entire interview," you accused, your voice raising slightly in pitch. "The one time you decide to take a vow of celibacy and it's with the one name that can tarnish my reputation?”

Rhysand scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Your reputation, of course," he muttered sarcastically. "You're such a hypocrite."

"Your actions reflect on me too, Rhysand," you shot back, "Do you ever think about that?"

He rolled his eyes, crossing his arms with a pinched expression. "Oh, please," he countered, "If you hadn't been sulking and throwing daggers at me the entire interview, I wouldn't have had to flirt with her to salvage it. You should be thanking me."

Your jaw tightened at his words. "Thanking you? Look what happened—"

Before you could finish your retort, Helion slammed his palm down on the table with a sharp crack. You and Rhysand both jumped at the sudden interruption, turning to face him with wide eyes.

"Enough," Helion declared firmly, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Stop bickering like children."

You and Rhysand exchanged a reluctant glance and with a sigh, you sank back into your seat, folding your arms defensively. 

"It'll blow over in a week, right? No big deal," Rhysand said casually, his tone attempting to downplay the severity of the situation. You raised your eyebrows at the suggestion, but as hopeful as it sounded, part of you knew that this was a bigger deal than you both cared to admit.

Helion regarded him with a critical eye, his lips pressed into a thin line. Feeling an itch at your skin, you unfolded your arms. 

"He’s right," you said hopefully, running a hand through your hair. "I mean, rumors of us not being... the best of friends isn't something new. People know this."

Rhysand offered a nod of agreement. “Exactly. It's just tabloid fodder," he said, his gaze shifting between Amren and Helion with a hint of concern.

Leaning slightly on the table, Amren shook her head slightly, her eyes– a color so light they were almost silver— glowed with intensity as they swept over Rhysand and then fixed on you. The heat of her gaze made you swallow and you found yourself tempted to apologize for things you’d never done— confess for crimes you hadn’t committed. But against your instincts, you held her gaze for another lasting moment. Amren seemed to appreciate the stare and she raised an eyebrow of approval before she spoke. 

“It's more than that now," she stated firmly, her voice cutting through the air like a finely sharpened knife. "This isn't just idle gossip anymore. It's becoming off-putting. A few small rumors are funny at first, but now people don't want to watch. It's affecting our ratings."

"We can't afford to lose viewers over this," Helion added, his voice tinged with a sense of urgency you’d never heard. He was stressed— extremely so. He picked at the gold rings that adorned his hands. "The show needs a strong, united front, not two leads sniping at each other in public."

You exchanged a glance with Rhysand. Your mind raced and you settled your gaze on Helion. 

You trusted him. He always had your best interests in mind, and navigating public fallout wasn’t unfamiliar territory for you. This was fine, this was manageable. 

“Okay,” you said, the words directly intended for him.  “What do you want me to do?”

He threw a glance at Amren. 

“Well,” he started, “We need to manage the narrative. The tension between you two is too obvious. Starting with the press tour, we'll need you both to project a good connection. No more sniping or tension in public—it needs to be all smiles and cooperation."

You nodded slowly, digesting his words. Next to you, Rhysand sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration. "Are you saying we need to fake being friends?"

The two agents before you shared another glance. You frowned at the exchange, an unsettled feeling brewing in your gut. Helion’s face slowly shifted into one more amused— and you watched as a grin grew on his lips, something suspicious, mischievous even. His eyes gleamed.

“Not just friends," he said, his gaze shifting between you and Rhysand. He looked to Amren one last time, who gave a small nod of approval before he continued, 

"We need you to fake a romance."

You choked on the air in your throat, your heart skipping a beat at his words. You blinked rapidly, gaze darting between Helion and Amren, seeking any sign that this was a joke or a misinterpretation. 

They were messing with you both, surely. This was some joke to make you both apologize, some horrendously unrealistic suggestion that made the idea of you two being simply friends something straight out of paradise.

But their faces were deadly serious— set with a purposeful intent etched into their features. Helion’s grin ate at you. 

Rhysand's laughter broke the tense silence, though it lacked humor as he shook his head in disbelief. His wide eyes met yours, a silent exchange of incredulity passing between you before both of you turned to Helion simultaneously. When no other words were offered to you both, the reality of the suggestion seeped in. 

As if you both registered it at the same time, both you and Rhysand rose swiftly. 

"Absolutely fucking not—" 

"—There is no way in hell I'm—"

✹ ✶ 𖧷 ✶✹

GUYS IM OBSESSED IM SORRY I CANT. reader is such a hater and i think its so funny, whatever rhys does its just *eye roll* booo he sucks

i loveee them ur honor

if youd like to be added to the LCL! taglist, lmk!! <3

permanent tag list 🫶🏻: 

@rhysandorian @itsswritten @milswrites @lilah-asteria @georgiadixon 

@glam-targaryen @cheneyq @darkbloodsly @pit-and-the-pen @azrielsbbg

@evergreenlark @marina468 @azriels-human @panther-girl-124

Rhysand tag list 🫶🏻:

@serrendiipty

[yumeka-sxf]

While I don't have a lot to say about the new chapter, I did want to point out why Damian is using his left hand for his "paradise fist." In the Japanese version, when Mr. Green is giving advice to Emile and Ewen, he actually use the English word "paradigm shift" (written in katakana to indicate it's a foreign word).

But when Ewen and Emile convey the advice to Damian, they mispronounce it as "paradise left". Endo provides kanji for this word to indicate what it's supposed to mean, 楽園の左手 ("rakuen no hidari te"), which translates as "paradise left hand."

I believe it's common in shonen manga for characters with powerful, named attacks to have them written like this - with kanji and furigana, even though they're using foreign words. There's been examples in SxF as well, like the below panel of Anya using her "raising hope" attack to throw Yor's weapon 😅

In the case of this chapter, it indicates that the boys are interpreting "paradise left" as some sort of ultimate attack. Hence why Damian creates battle gear for his left arm.

Besides this, I loved the return of Damian's "Anya shojo" filter 😂 Becky and the new boys even got to be part of it!

And of course, Anya's total shift in mood, from being totally bored with all the attention to "waku waku" after seeing Damian's new weapon. It's so her.

I don't find Emile and Ewen all that interesting, so most of this chapter was kinda "meh" to me. But I did like the advice that Mr. Green gave them - I feel like it's something that will be relevant to other characters down the line! Oh, and this panel made me snicker a bit.

For this chapter's extra illustration, Endo drew "hero boy Damian" (sans his paradise fist...oh well 😆)

This chapter ended similarly to the last one, where it's hard to tell if this arc will continue or not. I'm hoping we'll move away from Eden for a while and focus on the other characters. I know the more drama/spy-focused chapters are harder for Endo to write, so I'm glad he takes his time with those, but it does feel like it's been a while 😅

[miasmaghoul]

did you guys think I was done with my swiss angst? because uhhh newsflash i am Not Okay and therefore making it everyone elses problem. fair warning, this isn't as happy as the last one was. at all.

It's the wee hours of the morning when Aether's phone chimes. Too early for the sun, but far too late for anyone with sense to be awake - but there are always exceptions to the rule.

🧀: front door in 20

Finally, the text he'd been waiting on. Aether nods to himself, sending a thumbs up and adding a ratty old tee to his pajama bottoms. His back cracks when he stands to shove his feet into the ridiculous fluffy bunny slippers Aurora had given him as a sort of reverse going away present. They're warm, he'll give her that. Aether yawns as he stares down at their beady little button eyes, debating going to wake Cumulus and Sunshine for Swiss' return. They'd taken to sleeping in Cirrus' room, and sleep has been hard enough with the rest of their pack gone. Aether decides against it - it's not like Swiss won't be there at a more sensible hour. The girls deserve their beauty rest.

Aether steps into the hall and doubles back for his robe almost immediately. It's chillier than he'd expected, and he yawns again as he cinches the belt and heads for the door of the ghoul wing. It's a bit of a walk to the main doors of the abbey from their dorms, and the place is filled with nothing but silence at this time of night. His slippers are the loudest thing around, slapping between his heels and the marble floors. He almost wishes he'd just gone barefoot, but it really is cold, so he supposes it's a fair trade for feeling a bit absurd in the things.

He makes it to the door with eight minutes to spare, and it's only then that he looks at his phone again. The screen lights up just as he goes to unlock it.

🧀: pls be there somethings wrong

Aether's stomach leaps into his throat the second he processes the words, and suddenly he's pacing in the courtyard. Slippers crunching through coarse gravel as he watches the long stretch of dirt road that connects the abbey to the rest of the world. He tries calling Swiss but there's no answer - Aether figures he must be within the dead zone caused by the wards kept in place by magic more ancient than even the building he calls home. It's good and bad news; on the one hand, it means Swiss is close. On the other, it means he gets to spend five incredibly long minutes wringing his hands over what could possibly be so wrong that Swiss had to warn him about it.

Maybe he should've woken the girls after all.

It's a moot point, he's certainly not walking back now, and Aether knows if he had it would just mean three worried ghouls pacing instead of one. He tucks his chilled fingers into his armpits to get some feeling back into them, mind racing a mile a minute. It's been doing that ever since Copia made the decision to call Swiss back, an unsettled sort of anxiety sitting at the back of Aether's mind. Easy to ignore when he's busy with clinic or church duties, but here in the dark? Not so much.

It can't be more than a handful of minutes before a telltale dirt cloud crests the hill the abbey sits on, and like a punch to the gut Aether can feel something is off. Colder than even the air turning his breath into little clouds, harsh as a steel toed boot - whatever is happening, it isn't good.

The old panel van speeds closer, the passenger door flings open before the driver even tries to brake, and a body tumbles to the gravel with a solid thud and accompanying grunt. Aether gawps for all of a second before rushing over, kneeling in the rock and reaching for what is clearly a very stricken ghoul.

"Swiss? What's going on, why -"

Now, Aether prides himself on his composure. It's what makes him so good in their little clinic, being able to keep a straight face through even the worst things. But the look Swiss gives him, wide-eyed like a beast being hunted and panting like one too, takes even his breath away. It takes a long, long moment for Aether to look past his terror and see the mask hiding the rest of his face. The veil accompanying it. The bodysuit, once covered in glittering gems, now torn, picked over and smeared with red that smells of iron to his sensitive nose. Why is he still in his stage attire? It's been at least eight hours since he started traveling, surely they would have allowed him to change...

"Are - are you bleeding?" He reaches for the other ghoul and, for the very first time, Swiss flinches away from him. Aether blinks. Twice.

Then he feels it.

The icy chill of panic, lost between the cold air and anxiety clouding his mind, bites at Aether's heart through the bond between them. A thin thread wrapped around his being itself, a connection he shares with all of his pack. They all feel different, and right now Swiss' feels like it's about to slice right through whatever ghouls have in place of a soul.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Aether soothes, like he's trying to coax something wild from one of the abbey's outbuildings. Both hands outstretched, voice low and even on reflex. "It's me, Swiss. It's Aether. Can you hear me?"

He reaches out not just with words, but with magic too. Weaves cautious threads of quintessence into the breeze and lets them snake closer to Swiss' trembling form. They meet Swiss' own power, and the sparks that burst out of nothingness knock Aether right on his ass. Something is very wrong.

"Swiss," he says again, trying to catch his attention with a wave. "I'm right here love. Can you hear me?"

Swiss won't stop pawing at the ground, digging past the gravel into the packed earth below. He's looking everywhere at once, twitchy and breathless, and Aether decides he needs to take more drastic measures.

It's underhanded to wait for Swiss to look away before he pounces, but it works. He manages to get the other ghoul pinned to his chest with both arms, locking both of Swiss' legs with just one of his own. Swiss, as Aether thought he might, does not react well. He flails as best he can, trying to shout, to bite and claw, and Aether can hear the wear on his voice. Like he'd been screaming since long before that van rolled up.

"I've got you," Aether grunts out, flooding his embrace with quintessence so strong his hair stands on end. "Just let it happen, let - Lucifer, let me help you."

Aether focuses, holds Swiss close, and with a pulse of magic so intense it scents the air with ozone the other ghoul goes limp in his arms.

Aether holds him there until his own breathing evens out, until the black spots in his vision clear, and the second they do he's moving. Pushing himself up and gathering Swiss in a princess carry without a second thought, hauling him back inside to figure out just what the fuck has happened here.

It's a shorter walk to the infirmary than to their wing, so it's there he heads. It's empty, of course, and Aether lays Swiss out on their one stretcher with great care. It's easier to take stock of him like this - though Aether still doesn't know why he's in uniform - and the sight makes his stomach twist.

The bodysuit is torn mostly on the thighs, shredded like it had been scratched right through. A quick exam of Swiss' fingers reveals the source of the blood smearing the costume - his nails have been bitten and torn down to the quick, and multiple fingertips bear small cuts. From picking at the sharp parts of the outfit, he assumes. That would account for the small pile of shiny stones he finds in Swiss' tailcoat pocket, at least. He pulls the mask from the other ghoul's head, and -

"Oh, Swiss..."

Even in his unconscious state, the other ghoul's face holds a twisted grimace. Like he's fighting something so deep in his own head that even Aether's power can't reach it. There's only one way to find out, Aether supposes.

He sets the mask and veil aside, covers Swiss up with a blanket, and presses two gentle fingers to Swiss' sweaty brow.

"Come back to me, knives. I promise I'll help, just like you asked."

A gentler spark of quintessence has Swiss sucking air through his teeth, confusion writ large on his face and he tries to figure out where he is. That frigid panic slices through his chest once more, but this time Aether is prepared for it.

"Shh, it's alright." He presses a large hand to Swiss' chest, right over his heart. Fixes him with a warm smile. "It's okay, Swiss. You're home."

Whatever Aether thought his words would do - comfort, soothe, reassure - they have the exact opposite effect. The cords in Swiss throat stand out with the force of his scream, a haunting, visceral thing that bounces off tiled walls and etches itself onto Aether's very bones. He grabs at the rails of the stretcher, gritting his teeth so hard Aether swears he hears a crack, and the look on his face is something between terror and agony. Maybe both. Aether holds him down through the thrashing of his limbs, through another scream as bloodcurdling as the first, and does the only thing he can think of.

It's not easy to wrangle a ghoul, even in glamour, least of all when said ghoul is doing his level best to shove you away, but Aether thinks a few bruises will be well worth figuring out what's happening here. It is with practiced ease that he drops the rail of the stretcher with one knee, gathers Swiss in a crushing embrace, and pushes the other ghoul's face directly into the side of his throat. The same place he always holds Dew when he needs to ground himself, to think straight. Aether doesn't know what it is about this one spot, but he's willing to risk a set of blunted teeth to the jugular if it means bringing Swiss back to something like normal.

Even still, he's shocked that it actually works. It takes a minute, but soon enough Swiss' flailing slows. His fists cease their assault of Aether's chest and arms, gripping his robe instead. His breathing slows, and after the longest two minutes of his life, Aether hears -

"Ae...Ae..."

"Yeah, it's me," he replies, soft and gentle. He loosens his hold, one hand coming up to hold the back of Swiss' head and the other stroking his spine. "I'm here, I've got you. It's okay, you're -"

"Aeon."

It's forced out, a choked sound, and before Aether knows what's happening Swiss is sobbing for all he's worth into his robe. Loud and filled with the sort of pain that could only come with heartbreak, in one way or another. Aether doesn't dare move, wouldn't dare risk setting off...whatever is happening here again. Instead, he keeps quiet and simply holds Swiss close, as close as he can manage. It isn't hard, not when Swiss seems to be trying to crawl into his chest.

Then, quick as they started, the sobs stop. Swiss freezes, face still buried in Aether's now-soaked throat, and Aether can feel him nosing at the collar of his robe.

"Ae...ther?"

Oh thank fuck.

"Yeah. Yeah, it's me." He tries to keep his voice from shaking, but it's an impossible task. The other ghoul tries to pull back, and this time Aether lets him. Looks down at his reddened eyes and wet cheeks with such scrutiny and concern that Swiss hunches unconsciously. "Swiss, what...what happened to you?"

"Where...?"

"The infirmary." Aether doesn't take his eyes off the other ghoul for a moment, helping the suddenly dead-limbed ghoul lay back down. "At the abbey," he explains further when Swiss gives him a confused blink. "You're home, love."

Swiss stares at him like he's grown a second head, and with no warning he breaks out into the most hysterical laughter Aether has ever heard. New tears follow old tracks, the sound of it humorless and hollow, and when Swiss finishes it leaves Aether with the worst sort of pit in his stomach. At some point he'd grabbed Swiss' hand, and the grip Swiss has on it could break bones.

"Home," he echoes, voice all rasp, grinning mirthlessly at the ceiling. "S'at what you call it when you're ripped away from the thing that brings you more happiness than you've ever felt? S'at where I am, Aeth?"

Quick as anything, Swiss turns that foul grin on him. His eyes sit wide, crazed, and Aether doesn't think he's ever been so confused.

"Swiss, I don't...what are you talking about?"

"What, you didn't look?" Swiss lifts his other hand, wiggles bloody fingers at his own head. "I know you were in there, I can feel you in my brain. Don't lie to me now, I'll know."

Swiss taps the tip of his nose, winks, and if Aether wasn't confused before he sure is now.

"You know I'd never do that," he rumbles, obvious concern threading the words. "Not without permission. I'm not Phil." Maybe, in this one case, he shoukd have been. Aether tilts his head, watches Swiss' eyes flash with something he can't quite name. "Swiss, did...did something happen? I know Copia called you back, but I haven't gotten to see him since the notice went out. I don't -"

The other ghoul's face goes blank, and then the tears are back.

"They...they took me," Swiss wails, beating a weak fist against the padding of the stretcher, and Aether leans in immediately. Gathers up the hand he was already holding in both of his own as Swiss starts to shake. "They...I...Aeth they took me and - and -"

Swiss turns away from him, just for a moment, and Aether's heart breaks at the pain his next words carry.

"They took me away," Swiss finally forces out, thick and inconsolable. "And I...they didn't even let me say goodbye!"

Aether moves like the wind, clambering up onto the stretcher to give Swiss something to cling to. And cling he does, like a baby possum to its mother. These tears are different from the last, hot and constant and full of the entire spectrum of emotions Swiss has displayed in these last minutes. Aether stays silent through every heaved breath, every gulp and hurt cry, until Swiss has exhausted what little energy he must have had left.

"I'm so sorry," Swiss croaks, trying to catch his breath. "I...I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Nothing," Aether replies, simple as anything, and it has the desired effect. Swiss goes still, looks up at him with dripping lashes.

"...what?"

"There is nothing wrong with you," Aether confirms, rubbing slow circles into the other ghoul's back. "Medically speaking, at least. Aside from your fingers, which are easily fixed. That much I did check." He taps his forehead against Swiss', gentle. Swiss blinks, a stray tear slipping down his cheek.

"How do you -"

"You just told me," he rumbles, reaching down to grab the blanket Swiss had managed to throw off. Just in case the blood sets him off again. "Goodbyes are powerful things, Swiss. Powerful things." Aether kisses his cheek, tastes body-warm salt. "If you say someone took that from you..."

"Two of 'em," Swiss almost whispers, his poor voice shot. "They...right after the show they just -" he gestures at the air with a limp hand "- and that was it. I...they took me to a car talkin' about 'official business' and then to the airport and I didn't even get to get my bag from the fuckin' dressing room so I was stuck in this fuckin' thing the whole way and the humans wouldn't stop staring and I...all I could think about was him."

"Him?"

"Aeon," Swiss huffs, miserable. "He...they all saw, but he...he just looked so sad, Aeth, I can't -"

These sobs carry no tears, the well gone dry, and Aether just holds him. It's all coming together now - the bloodied, anxious fingers, the panic, the rush of uncontrollable emotions. They point to one thing. When Swiss catches his breath, he speaks up again.

"Can I tell you something, sunspot?"

Swiss shrugs. It's good enough.

"When I first met Dew, he couldn't stand me."

That gets Swiss' attention. He peels his face from Aether's chest, looks up at him with a furrowed brow. Obvious doubt.

"It's true," Aether nods, reaching up to adjust the flat pillow under Swiss' head. "Well, at least thats what he told me. I think he just wanted an excuse to stay away from me, to be honest. I don't think he knew why, not at the time, but I did."

Swiss' eyelids have gone so heavy. Aether tucks him in up to his chin.

"When you find your mate," he explains, "you just sort of...know. At least quints do, I can't speak for anyone else. I knew Dew was meant to be mine before he even knew my name, I'm pretty sure."

Swiss manages a weak, wet chuckle. Aether gives him a soft smile, pressing a lingering kiss to his forehead before he continues.

"Anyone with a functioning brain could tell you and Aeon were meant for each other, same as me and Dew. Why do you think he's so drawn to you? Why you're never away from each other for more than a few hours? You must have felt it, even if you didn't know what it was." Aether takes hold of the other ghoul's wrist, lining their hand up palm to palm. Swiss watches, dazed and clearly exhausted, as shimmering purple energy envelops the pair of them. "You're one of us. At least a little bit."

Aether laces their fingers together, careful to avoid any injured fingertips. Kisses each of Swiss' knuckles in turn as that glow dissipates.

"S'at why it feels like my chest is full of burning cement?" Aether gives him a single, sad nod.

"Being taken away from him like that, without an intact mating bond? I'm surprised you made it back without gutting someone first."

Swiss actually chuckles at that, and Aether's worn heart soars. Just for a moment, until reality sets in again. This is going to be the really awful part.

"I can fix the pain," he offers, voice low, and Swiss gives him an eager nod. Aether holds up one finger. "But -"

Swiss visibly sags into the stretcher with a weak huff of laughter.

"Always a but."

"Always," Aether agrees. "But...the only way to do so is to sever your connection to him. Entirely."

Aether has seen some shit in his day, but he truly can't remember seeing someone look as horrified as Swiss does when the words hit him. He looks like every dream he's ever had has just been shattered, like all the world's misery has coalesced behind his eyes.

"What?"

"Yeah, I know," Aether sighs, looking at a spot just over Swiss' shoulder. Even he can't stomach the hurt on his face. "Wouldn't be the first time it's happened. Omega had to do it for Zephyr and Ifrit, back in the day."

That seems to hit Swiss like a brick, judging by the way the stretcher shudders. Aether still can't look at him.

"Zeph couldn't handle being Above for very long, their vessel deteriorated too quickly. And they knew that, if they left with a connection like that in place, Ifrit would only suffer for it. So Zephyr went to Omega one day and he just -"

Aether makes a snipping motion with two fingers, and the room falls silent for a very long time.

"But...but they hated each other," Swiss eventually murmurs, every word an obvious effort. Aether shakes his head.

"Only when you knew them, love. And this is why."

Swiss stares at him with a mix of confusion, revulsion and a new sort of horror. The kind that speaks of realization.

"Wait, so if...if I don't want to feel like this it means -"

"There's a chance you won't hate each other, if it helps." Aether reaches up, caresses Swiss' cheek with the backs of his fingers. "But it will never be like what you have now. You...there won't be any love left between you, Swiss."

The words hang heavy between them, and Aether feels awful for throwing all of this at Swiss in his current state, but he couldn't just let him suffer. Not without knowing.

"What the fuck..."

"I know, believe me I know."

"There's nothing else? You can't just...I dunno, fuckin' magic away the pain? Hide it? I don't care, I just -"

"It's this or nothing," Aether interrupts gently, the sadness in his voice very real. "I'm sorry Swiss, but it's either this or nothing. You sever this connection, everything goes back to normal inside you. If you don't, all it will cause you is more pain. More of that uncontrollable emotional state. It's not a choice I can make for you, but -"

"Will it...will it get better when -" Swiss coughs, throat raw, "- when he gets back? When he's with me again?"

Aether sighs, but nods.

"No reason to think otherwise. But Swiss, that's months from now. You could -"

"And a mating bond will...will fix it? Like you and Dew? You're apart and fine, so -"

"From what I know, yes. But I just want you to understand -"

"Then no. Fuck no."

"Swiss, please, you -"

"I said no, Aeth." His eyes have gone hard, trembling lips set in a firm line. "I can't do that. Not to him. I don't fuckin' care what happens to me, I can deal. Answer's no."

"...even if you hurt someone else?"

That makes Swiss blink.

"What?"

"The only reason I'm not bleeding all over you right now is because you're bound in glamour," Aether tells him, thinking back to the nightmare that was Swiss' arrival. "If you'd had your claws, your fangs? Love, I almost brought Lus and Sunny with me. You could have mauled any of us in that condition, nevermind if there had been Siblings around. If you stay like this and Papa - and Frater releases your glamour..."

He doesn't have to finish. Swiss looks so lost, more vulnerable than Aether has ever seen him. It hurts to see, hurts to feel that thread around his own heart go that much more taut.

"It's your decision, Swiss. I can't make it for you."

Aether kisses his forehead, a large hand cupping Swiss' hot face, and as his expression crumples Aether has a feeling he has his answer.

[multifandom-nerds-blog]

Sakamoto Days 199!!!

They're so dumb and in sinc already. True father and son duo.

This page and the following panel. What does it all mean? That the JAA was already after Ando when Shin was a baby (and him?), before Ando dropped him of with Asakura? Although Shin does say that Ando is saying bullshit, we don't know what Shin means with that since we don't actually got to see what Ando was thinking about. (Except for trying to flee the country, which is already Andos plan.)

I do gotta add a theory I've had for a bit now. Which is that Shin was actually born with the powers, and that Asakuras chemistry simply activated them earlier than they would have otherwise. Don't know how likely that is though.

Ando points out the hypocrisy in telling someone who you can't kill while being an Assasin. Which is honestly fair, and Sakamoto doesn't even fight it, just asks where the bomb is. (And promptly goes to a straight attack.) And Shin does seem to know where the bomb is, like Taro points out later in the chap. Except maybe, could it be, that the bomb is just a bluff? Or Ando already figured out/knows that Shin can read minds after his reaction before (previous pic) and said something else? No idea. Again we are once not shown what Shin can read in Andos mind. Probably for a more emotional scene later, but who knows.

Sunglasses, Ikari, from the previous chapter attacks (with an anchor, of course, we are on a boat. Should have expected an anchor as a weapon, lmao.) And Taros instinct is already to just pick up Shin and run of with him in his arm. The fatherly instincts in him are to strong.

Meanwhile Shins trauma from being abandoned at a young age without any answers shines through strong. With, for now, the set believe that blood relation goes over anything. I can't tell if the panel of Taro is only him noticing Ikaris next attack, or if he's already thinking about what Shin is saying here. Never the less. He still immediately protects Shin, who at this point isn't a bystander, but still a kid and (for Taro at least) one that has got nothing to do with the job.

ALSO IKARI IS A CREEP. EWWWWW. GET AWAY FROM THE CHILD.

And while Taro is like constantly making sure that Shin doesn't die in all that chaos, ever since he meeting him, Ikari has no fucking issue to strangle (and assault because omg) a child. Just from the start of this flashback it's clear that Taro never liked killing when it wasn't neccesary, if at all. He saved him at first by just saying he would get rid of him infront of the thugs. He then keeps saving him over and over, even though Shin is a little shit and sends the shop owners after him. Telling him to either stay away from trouble in his way, "I'll be right back" - "don't get thrown overboard again" - from last chapter. (Even asking him if he's okay) I just really like this, seeing how despite the killing itself Taro always had something genuinly nice at him. Killing is work for him, nothing more. Not harming innocent bystanders isn't just a rule to follow, but something he deems right. Keeping a child safe in a fight, asking him "What's wrong?" and "you okay?" when the child looks sick? Even though he has obviously no idea how to act with a (traumatized) child?Just a natural instinct.

Between all that he even decides to apologise to Shin because he can't understand his feelings. He doesn't understand Shins internal struggles. However he's not just bursting out anymore that he's gonna kill Shins dad, because it made Shin upset before, and instead says that he's gonna keep the enemy busy and for Shin to escape. Again, telling him to get to safety. And In a way even telling him to just stay away from the underworld I think.

So in summary. Sakamoto Taro is an assassin here, killing is his job. But he so obviously believes that innocence exists. That other people are innocent. He also believes that you shouldn't harm children (after all children are supposed to be the most innocent). But Taro also doesn't see himself to ever be part of that. At least not yet I think.

[shigayokagayama]

What are the biggest losses between the manga and anime? I just finished watching mp100 and I'm curious what the manga has!

ok biggest losses are kind of hard to define because like. anime and manga are two inherently different mediums and there are a good amount of cuts that improve pacing and then a good amount of cuts that people sort of argue over the merit of so im just going to go for biggest differences. i would also highly recommend reading the manga just because it is a pretty different experience tonally along with the minor plot differences and cut scenes + theres a bunch of omakes that both flesh out characters that dont get too much focus and have some really good bits in them. putting the rest of this post under a cut bc i ramble

mogami arc

this one is kind of inescapable i feel like but the anime version of the mogami arc had a LOT of things trimmed for a couple different reasons. season 2 already got an extra episode in order to do the fire scene as a cliffhanger so with the way things shook out the director had to choose between a. cutting a bunch of stuff out of separation arc to make it one episode so mogami arc couid stay three episode or b. cutting a bunch of stuff out of mogami arc so separation arc could stay two episodes. imo they made the right choice, whats even the point of adapting mob psycho if you dont get confession arc right, but some of the cuts to mogami arc will be dearly missed and others will be fought over to the end of time. cuts include:

minori being established as a brat in a video everyones shown and the video being part of how reigen deduces shes possessed (reigen deducing her possession in the manga is generally just a lot better done and after you read the manga the scene in the anime feels so awkward because you know whats missing

the psychics deciding to band together to beat this little girl to death to save themselves and shinra stepping between them to protect her and getting utterly thrashed, not by mogami, but his fellow psychics

reigen trying to convince mob to leave without him and call for help while he distracts him which leads to this

the general mogamiland section lasting a lot longer and being more brutal (notably the stray cat mob feeds getting killed in front of him)

mob getting fucking torn to pieces by spirits during the fight instead of ambiguously dying offscreen

generally would recommend if nothing else reading the manga version of this arc and confession arc because i feel like these are the only two where you lose like. a significant amount of the story and themes from the cuts. speaking of....

2. WHY THE FUCK DID THEY CUT THIS I WILL BE MAD UNTIL I DIE

maybe its just because i reread this arc on its own probably 50 times before the anime came out but this is the only arc where the cuts actively piss me off because there is absolutely no reason they had to do it. they cut a bunch of important shit, left in things that didnt need to be there, and added scenes that contribute literally nothing to the overall point. if they just did any one of those things or combo of two of those things i wouldnt be as mad but it feels like they put a bunch of filler in then speedran the actual story

cut #1 that pisses me off: HOMOPHOBIA?????

THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A HEART IN HIS EYE. WHY DID THEY NOT INCLUDE THIS. THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF TERUS ARC. THIS IS HIM SEEING THE PERSON HE HAS IDOLIZED AND DEIFIED IN HIS HEAD AT THEIR LOWEST AND STILL CHOOSING TO LOVE HIM, AND THROUGH THIS HE IS CAPABLE OF BEING LOVED EVEN THOUGH HES NOT PERFECT BECAUSE NO ONE IS. WHY WOULD YOU CUT THIS?

cut #2 I NEED WHOEVER CUT THE DIALOGUE FROM THE FIRST PANEL IN PRISON

the lack of inclusion of the first panels dialogue along with the cuts to the mob and shigeo conversation (WHICH WE WILL GET TO) make me think the person who adapted this arc fundamentally misunderstood what was happening. this line. is. THE POINT. THIS ISNT SOME SEPARATE SCARY THING. THIS IS MOB. HE IS CHOOSING TO DO THIS BECAUSE HE IS SCARED AND ANGRY AND HURT BUT HE IS IN CONTROL OF HIS ACTIONS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

cut #3 HE DOESNT WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS ACTIONS

this entire conversation is so good and i was looking forward to watching it voice acted for so long and its just. gone. for me the "i am shigeo kageyama who are you" reveal felt like a gut punch because the opening being "i knew i would be needed" made me go "oh hes like possessed or his powers are sentient or something" and this conversation was the slow unraveling of my view of these as two separate people and instead as a scared, traumatized teenager who has convinced himself that the parts of himself he hates are something else outside of his control instead of an intrinsic part of who he is because if he's convinced that the parts of him that are able to feel desire and frustration and anger and malice are him then he'll lose all these relationships he's worked so hard to cultivate as his perfect, non confrontational self. and of course that isnt true. all his friends and loved ones are making their way to the center of a damn hurricane because they see he's in distress and want to help him. but he cant see that so he pushes them away. ugh. mob. protagonist of all time.

cut #4 WHY WOULD YOU CHANGE THE COMPOSITION OF THIS I CAN LITERALLY SEE HOW THIS WOULD BE ANIMATED IN MY MINDS EYE W

can you imagine how beautiful this would be in motion. just. god.

cut #5 HE WAS TALKING OUT LOUD. REIGEN HEARD ALL THIS

:(

cut #6 the bowling arc

so the scene where reigen takes his shoes off is supposed to be a lot more solemn bc like. taking your shoes off before killing yourself is a trope in japanese media (ive heard it started in media and bled over into real life but i might have it backwards?). reigen knew he was probably going to die. anyway i cant take this scene seriously because of this edit

the bowling arc.

cut #7 WAAAAAAAAAAAA

WAAAAAAAAAAAA *sniff* AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

cut #8 homophobia again

rip pensive fruity tea sip

cut #9 mob threw the cake directly in reigens face on purpose

i literally experienced every stage of grief realizing this got changed. why. its so perfect. why would you change this.

3. World Domination arc

so WD arc is in a very interesting place where it had a lot of scenes cut but unlike the other two most of the cut content youre like. yea probably best not to include that. ill start with the good content that got cut then go into the weird content

serizawa got his power drained by toichiro. i am quite sad this scene didnt make it in because its sorta heartbreaking

teru fighting off the claw assassin is shown and we see that teru can both make shadow clones AND hold a barrier while attacking, he seems to be the only esper with this ability!

the reason dimple could tell mob's family was alive is that there was no sense of grudge at the house which would have been left behind by people passing in a violent manner

mob briefly goes unconscious during the start of the toichiro fight and dimple possesses him and says "shit"

dimple possessing mob shoots shibata with a gun

we get mukai lore.

it doesnt make any sense and just raises more questions but we get it.

toichiro has a team of telepaths to recap where everyone is because this arc took an entire calender year to update

literally everyone shows up to fight shimazaki. i cannot stress enough how many people show up to fight shimazaki. it would be faster to list espers who dont show up to fight shimazaki

the middle school delinquents show up and start fighting the claw grunts literally completely out of no where and this is never brought up or referenced ever again

when mob and ritsu get home ritsu says all their stuff is in boxes and they need to hurry and redecorate the house before their parents get home which implies that shou packed the entire households worth of belongings into boxes and hid it somewhere before lighting their house on fire which is such a funny mental image that i cant even be mad at it. loony toons ass plot point.

4. other random interesting cut things

takenaka is just generally more of a bitch during alien arc. "ah i think they took him" remains one of the funniest goddamn panels in the manga

peak

alien arc overall is a lot funnier in the manga, i have a slight preference for the manga version just bc theres a lot of really good bits that didnt make it to anime but the anime version is so heartfelt and nostalgic it makes me happy

between omakes and small things that got cut or changed for the anime teru just feels way more fleshed out in the manga. like. anime teru is a completely different person. its hard to explain if youve never read it.

the all girls school part originally went right before the ghost family stuff and was the beginning of mob's existential crisis about why spirits and people get different treatment but tbh it works well where it is i just wish it werent. like that.

the scene where ritsu and teru shake hands was teru draining ritsus power which he seems to have learned to do from encountering ???%

teru.

ow

thats all i can think of off the top of my head, im sure ill realize i forgot something some time after posting this but. yeah. read the manga its good

[tranquilpetrichor]

lesson learned

synopsis: in which a tutoring session turns out to be much more in disguise.

cast: tutor!gunwook x fem!reader ft. gyuvin and ricky (briefly)

genre: high school!au, f2l

wc: 2.2k (2225)

warnings: suggestive, making out, yn’s outfit has a skirt, gunwook kisses yn on neck, they call each other "cute" and "hot, they r nerds, please don’t do this in a study room, barely proofread and edited help

a/n: i swear why is finishing stuff so hard, this could be so much better but i'm happy i managed to finish it. also it's kinda hard not writing from y/n's perspective but it shre is interesting. i wanna make longer fics lol but for now enjoy this bc i love writing about nerds and especially ones who are down bad.

be sure to reblog and like to support your creators!

bright sunlight filtered in through the windows of the empty study room as park gunwook typed away on his laptop, trying to get homework done quickly.

outside, some students were walking across campus, birds were flying freely, and there were a distinct lack of clouds in the sky.

he would probably be there too, but he was supposed to be tutoring you soon. as boredom was slowly starting to set in, he double-checked the time. it was one minute after your appointment was set to begin.

odd. you weren’t usually late to anything.

before he could ponder it further, you walked into the room, sighed and put your stuff beside him, apologizing for being late. “i was talking to another professor about something, and i didn’t expect it to take that long. my bad…”

something seemed a bit different about you, but he wasn’t sure why. he shrugged the thought off and chuckled quietly.

“it’s no problem, y/n. one minute is nothing. do you prefer the curtains open or closed?”

you waved a hand at the window. “let’s close them.”

he got up and pressed a button on the light switch panel near the doorway, and the curtains automatically came down. this private school sure spent money on interesting things, but at least they were occasionally useful.

cute outfit, he thought.

was that a new pair of boots? it paired nicely with the skirt you were wearing. you managed to look hot and adorable at the same time.

how unprofessional to be distracted by your appearance—he frowned.

snap out of it. it’s time to do math, not stare like an idiot.

luckily, you didn’t say anything, even though he swore he saw a tiny smirk on your face, which you quickly removed in favor of a more neutral expression.

that was weird, he thought as you got your tablet out—the one you liked to take notes on during the calculus class you two had together.

he wasn’t sure of your exact grade in the class, but he heard it was quite high. you were smart, but didn’t seem to have problems asking for help if you needed it. in his opinion, that was pretty admirable.

gunwook noticed that if you did need help, you’d go to the teacher or try and talk to him. the two of you exchanged numbers eventually, texting each other for study sessions.

he loved being able to talk to you more, slowly learning little things about you—like how you wore a certain necklace on big days for luck, that your go-to snack was nuts (he couldn’t help but think of you as a squirrel after that), and that you had a dog named citrus.

he got the feeling that you weren’t the biggest on socializing with many people, preferring to only keep compaany with a few friends. he’s mutual friends with a few of them, like jungwon.

it was refreshing compared to his large friend group (although he loved them) and the many people who were merely interested in him for his looks.

of course, he wouldn’t mind if you were interested in his looks, but hopefully you also liked something beyond that.

you probably did—who else would end up chatting about precious stones or logical fallacies with him? he loved seeing you excited and passionate.

god, his face was probably going to be red if he kept this up.

“i see you said you wanted to look at stuff from the last lecture when you were booking the session,” he said, trying to banish certain thoughts from his head. “series can be difficult, so i get it.”

you nodded, offering him a sweet smile. “yeah, i just wanna go over a few of the divergence and convergence problems on the first practice problem set. i have the problems listed here.”

you pushed your tablet in his direction, and he picked it up.

he glanced at your solution for the first one, nearly written. “i mean, it looks like you applied the test correctly. just to make sure, how did you know to use that one?”

you didn’t hesitate to answer.

“given series is a p-series where p is equal to three. p is greater than three, so the series will converge.”

as expected, you kept up with his questioning. of course you probably knew what a damn p-series is. he’d just wanted to hear your voice some more.

speaking of voices, maintaining a professional tone with you was a miracle. gunwook’s composure and eloquence were paramount to getting him through student council meetings, debates and tutoring sessions, but those skills seemed to want a temporary vacation.

“do you want to move onto the next one?” he said, defaulting to his standard tutor voice.

“mhm. i remember our teacher said there was more than one way to do it. i never tried to figure out the other ways, but now i’m curious.”

gunwook flipped to a certain page in his notebook. “do you want me to show you how i did it? it’s definitely a different method, but we got the same answer.”

you shrugged. “sure. take your time.”

you were twirling your stylus pen in your hands and swiftly tucked it atop your ear. fuck, did you not know how cute you looked? your hair was neatly parted near the middle right now, but he wondered what it’d be like to see you disheveled. at this point, he might be thinking with something other than his brain.

you spent another few minutes talking with him, bringing his memory back to previous tutoring sessions. he remembered you said once that having to justify your reasoning on a topic was one of the best ways to deepen understanding, and that he was skilled at identifying the holes in your arguments.

“that’s why i would hate to lose a debate against you,” you had admitted. “it’s always more fun when we can work together.”

the offhanded comment could’ve had another meeting. as an friend, gunwook couldn’t quite discern your intentions, though. whether you just wanted him at arms length or in your arms was just another guessing game he played.

he was aware that the balance of power was always shifting between you two, but at the end of the day, you two were pretty much equals intellectually, keeping things in equilibrium. however, his underlying feelings of attraction threatened to ruin the balance.

as the session continued, you had a satisfied smile. you asked him about unrelated math proofs and got him off track. why did you want to discuss all this when your sessions were usually more focused? something was definitely off.

“well, that was actually everything i wanted to ask about,” you said to him suddenly, packing up swiftly. “i was just going to go if you don’t have anything else.”

he frowned.

no, please don’t.

what was wrong with him?

“unless, you wanted me to stay..” you continued, a smirk on your face. your laptop was closed and all of your study materials were neatly filed away.

you were definitely teasing him, and it was working, your behavior making him somewhat flustered. there was no turning back if he let himself escalate things right now. he could just let you leave—that’s what rational gunwook would do.

fuck it. rational gunwook was not in the room right now.

he reached out and grasped your arm. “and if i did?”

you smirked and stepped towards him. “then i’ll make sure you don’t regret your choice.”

with that, you pressed your lips to his, surprising him. gunwook quickly recovered, his arm snaking around your waist, pulling you in more.

no wonder you booked the session for an hour and a half.

if anyone opens this door, i’m definitely getting kicked out as a tutor. at least these walls are pretty soundproof.

he pulled away for a bit to catch his breath. "wow, did you come here just to kiss me?”

you laughed, gazing at his eyes. "it wasn't only for that, although i'd be happy to do it again. let me clarify. i have feelings for you.”

you continued. “i’ve honestly thought about it. you’re hardworking, and not just in the classroom. when i see you practicing or studying, you dedicate yourself fully, and it inspires me to do the same. you're kind, even to people who don't deserve it. on top of that, you’ve always been a good person to talk to about anything and everything. i trust you.”

“oh, and i guess you’re cute. and hot.”

you added the last part with a small smile. after each reason, he found himself surprised by your sincere words.

gunwook groaned. “y/n, you have no idea how down bad i am. i don't even remember exactly when it started, but what i do know is that i met someone interesting, someone who challenges me and jokes with me. someone who's beautiful in every way. i'm so fucking into you."

he paused, before deciding to tease you a little. "i have a question about one thing, though. you ‘guess’ i’m cute?”

“well, did you want me to say for a fact that you’re cute?” you asked.

he pouted slightly. “would have been better.”

“fine,” you said, taking his hand. “it is an undisputed fact that you’re cute.”

“thank you.”

"and hot."

"i guess so..." you rolled your eyes, an amused grin on your face. “now can we get back to kissing?”

“i was acually trying to be professional, even though i had feelings for you too,” he whispered against your ear. “but since you insist, i’ll give you what you want.”

not wanting to rush despite his boyish excitement, he leaned down and slowly began to kiss you again, running one of his hands gently through your hair. you closed your eyes.

“want you to take control, gunwook,” you said, your breath hot against his skin and your arms wrapping around his neck.

how could he say no? he was so screwed whenever it came to you. wasting no time, he brought your hips closer to his, enjoying the proximity.

he’d never seen you like this, so blissful and carefree. all he wanted to do in this moment was to make sure you kept feeling that way.

he got a small idea.

“hold on, i’m going to lift you,” he said, and you tightened your hold on him, lifting your legs so that they wrapped around his waist. you looked like a koala, hanging on so protectively to him like he was a branch.

you let out a tiny laugh of glee—it was the cutest thing he’s ever heard.

he moved over to a chair, and carefully sat down with you in his arms. your skirt was spread across your lap, contributing to the newfound messiness of your appearance, and your legs dangled off both sides of the chair.

“let me know if you don’t like something,” he said in between kisses. “the last thing i want to do is pressure you.”

“of course,” you responded, squeezing his shoulders reassuringly.

as a surge of newfound confidence rushed through him, his kisses became more intense, trailing down to your collarbone. you tilted your neck slightly to allow him more access to the area.

shit, he was probably the luckiest guy alive right now.

“so beautiful,” he murmured, tracing your chin with one of his hands, “and you’re mine.”

damn, calm down now.

“wow, for someone who’s so sweet, you sure do have a possessive side.”

he winced. “is it too much?”

you laughed and smiled playfully. “not at all. i find it hot.”

that sentence alone sent a warmth through his body.

“that’s good to know,” he replied with a smirk. he was definitely going to do that more often.

soon, his lips found yours again, like a moth to a flame. damn, he could spend all day doing this (if they had no risk of getting caught).

in his pocket, his phone buzzed, and he sighed, looking at the notification.

gyuvin: r u coming to get ice cream with me and ricky? u said ur tutoring thing with ur gf ends at 4:00

the time was 3:44 pm. wow, were they really at it for that long?

gunwook smiled. gyuvin had texted “gf” as a joke, but little did the poor guy know.

“is it something important?” you asked, still on his lap.

he shut off the phone, looking back at you. “it’s gyuvin. during lunch, me, him and ricky made last minute plans to get ice cream—they’re asking me if i still want to come. i should get going soon.”

of course, his feet didn’t want to move.

you looked intrigued. “do they mind a plus one?”

yeah, they're going to tease me the entire time.

“i’ll ask,” he responded, face somewhat warm from embarrassment. "but one of these days, i’ll take you out on a proper date, just us two. you deserve it.”

your eyes lit up, and you smiled. “i’ll hold you to it, gunwook.”

his phone buzzed again.

gyuvin: yea sure bring her, we support

gyuvin: besides i have ricky he's gonna be my bf now

"they said yes," gunwook said, laughing silently at gyuvin's last message. "let's go in 5 minutes?"

you reciprocated, resting your head gently on his shoulder. "any longer and i don't think i could leave."

[writingslob]

Esoul (Yang cheng) x Lin Ling hcs ? ^^

[E-SOUL/ YANG CHENG] x [LIN LING]

Content warning: Spoilers for episode 5

Author’s note: They are both aged up to be over 18! I hope you guys enjoy it!

.

.

.

Yang Cheng was very nervous. This was his first time playing E-Soul in anything other than children’s plays, and while this was supposed to be a small ad made by a small company, he still couldn’t help but feel faint at the auditions. There were a few other actors and a small panel of judges (he couldn’t help but keep sneaking glances at the one in the middle—he was by far the prettiest person in the room. He blushes at the thought.) Auditions went, and a week later, he got a callback. 

He was (pleasantly) surprised to see the same man from earlier at the shoot. Yang Cheng was even more surprised to learn that the man (who was the same age as him) was both the director and writer of the ad. The shooting went well, and by the end, he developed a bit of a crush on him, Lin Ling. But, Yang Cheng thinks dejectedly, this would be the last time he would ever see him again. (He couldn’t muster up the courage to ask him for his personal number, like a coward.) That was until he got an email from Lin Ling a few weeks later, asking if he wanted to take part in another one of his commercials. 

With Yang Cheng becoming Lin Ling’s go-to actor and them bonding over both having 0 Trust, the two of them became good friends. (Yang Cheng hoped for more.) Xia Qing and Shang Chao teased him relentlessly for waiting for so long, but he couldn’t help it—every time he looked at him, he felt weak in the knees and butterflies fluttering in his stomach, and even the thought of asking him out left him in a flustered panic. 

One day, Lin Ling texted him if he could come to the park at sundown. Confused, he agrees. Walking to the park, he spots Lin Ling standing in front of the fountain, a small handpicked bouquet of flowers in hand. With a light blush, Lin Ling asked if he wanted to go out on a date with him. Yang Cheng couldn’t say yes fast enough. 

(Today marks their 5th anniversary together. Yang Cheng smiles as he kisses a still-asleep Lin Ling. In the back of a drawer, a small golden ring shimmers.) 

[drunkeninlovesailor]

Beckoning

Remember this post by @transformers-spike? I've decided to give the prompt my own try.

TW: nsfw, highly suggestive

now ya beckoning for me to dance

“It’s not quite lingerie”, you told Soundwave as he helped you tie the last ribbon of your costume, purple fabric hugging your figure tightly in some places, while flowing delicately over others. It was light, almost see-through (lie, it was see-through), soft and elastic enough to allow the performance you would put on. 

“You’d be surprised by how often us humans wear such clothing for occasions like this. Actually, you’d agree that it adds to the art it’s supposed to represent”, there you were, dumping unsolicited info on him like it could distract him from the fact you were wearing that dress. Performance or not, he could have seen any other human wearing it and he’d be unimpressed, but you? Oh, on you it bore a whole new beauty.

You smiled at him, almost sheepishly. “There’s much about human dancing that I’d love to show you. We’ve found ways to make a simple human instinct a form of beauty, built categories for it, and, well, rules and such”.

Soundwave tilted his helm in understanding, visor still fixated on you, boring that invisible gaze into your figure and the fabric that shifted and flowed as you made your way across his desk. 

You had his curiosity, now you should make it worth the while. 

You licked your lips. “So, the single components can rotate on their axis, right?”, you pointed at his tentacles. “I need you to bind about,” you gestured, “this length worth of them”. 

He did as asked. He was always so good at taking orders, you mused. 

“Perfect”, you purred. Antennae stirring, he drew closer to you and you knew he enjoyed the praise as he inspected your clothing. Whatever that beautiful processor of his was concocting, you were sure your little idea was far above his wildest dreams. 

Making sure he adjusted his tentacle vertically to the floor - his desk, floor to you - you instructed him in the set of songs he was supposed to play for you. A little gig of his, one you had many ways to find use of.

He recognized a couple of them, oh, more than a couple. And those he recognized, he remembered playing in other settings too. Spike stirring lightly behind his interface panel, he shot you an intrigued glance in the form of a Japanese emoticon. 

“Patience, wave-kun”, of course you had to use that nickname. The first time it happened, he tilted his helm like a confused feline as you giggled at how wonderfully witty you were.

“Alright, here we go. Remember, don’t move until the playlist ends”, five tracks, fifteen minutes, but why?

As you held onto his tentacle with both hands, you hooked a leg around it - you felt it, the surge of charge beneath the panels - and nodded at him. “Let’s begin”.

The first track hadn’t even reached half its duration and he was already cursing himself for not having started the recording before. 

There you were, leg hooked around his tentacle, swinging, swaying, letting the momentum carry you in tandem with the low bass. Your hips undulated, grin across your lips as he stared at your body.

You braced yourself as you held one leg up, another slithering across his tentacle. One move from him, and you’d have lost balance. With expertise, you let go and caught yourself again, twirling once more, legs hooking as your hair cascaded around you. Upside down, you grinned at him again. 

“This, my darling”, and he swore you pressed your chest and closed your thighs around him on purpose, “is called pole dance”. 

And then, tempting like a succubus, you kissed your makeshift pole before you rose again and began to spin as the song reached its crescendo. 

You were enjoying it.

You were enjoying it and he knew. He could feel it on his tentacle. He could feel it as you rubbed your slit up against him, sultry and devilish. 

And you loved it. 

You were always a bit of an exhibitionist at heart (lie, you would never admit how much it turned you on), but you never had the courage to give into it. No matter how many times you’d practice in the privacy of your apartment, it was never something you were going to show to the world.

Until he came along. 

His gaze was burning into you and every glance at his faceless visor made the fire burning in your loins just a little hotter. You bit your lip as you swayed, back arching and hooking a leg up so you could give him a good show. 

You hoped that beside the allure of it he would also recognize the art. You knew he would. You hoped his spike was straining behind his interface panel. You hoped he was filming all of it. 

You smiled wickedly and cascaded, catching yourself just in time to press your chest flush against the pole once again and slide, dragging your tongue along it too.

Something like a rumble echoed through the music. 

You climbed up again, swaying with momentum as the third track began, trusting the movement and the strength of your legs. You knew he wouldn’t let you fall - but even so, your dance had captivated him. His other tentacles remained unmoving, trusting your expertise.

Besides, you had precisely instructed him not to move as you gave him your little show. 

You saw his servos twitch nonetheless. You sent a kiss his way, beckoning him.

“What’s wrong, Soundwave?”, you teased, slithering all the way down until you touched the ground in a perfectly executed split, “are you not enjoying the performance?”

The panels beside his neck cables flared up, but he retracted them quickly. A noise of metal slabs brushing against one another, you figured he was tightening his fists. 

Your dress rode all the way up as you swayed again, and you could swear you heard a groan. “Come on, love. We’re at the fifth song already”.

You climbed the pole again, careful as you went, and shot him one last sultry glance. 

“Watch me now”, and your hands both left him, allowing you to fall before gripping him again. The kinetics that came with it made you twirl faster, hypnotizing as your limbs wrung around him and the song reached its climax. You struck a pose, leg up, back bent, spent and debauched. 

Silence.

You felt him move and stability was lost until you found yourself against the ground, his tentacles, four of them, wrapped around your limbs with one barely inches from the hem of your underwear. Him on top of you, mass displaced, at the limit of his ever-lasting patience.

“I hope you enjoyed the sho-”, that one tentacle slithered under and the others tightened. You held back a whimper, and he slithered further.

“I’ve been such a tease, have I not?”, you rolled your hips to meet his touch. This time, he made sure you couldn’t stay silent. Carefully removing your underwear and finding it completely drenched, he set it aside and slid his tentacle between your thighs. Like you’d been doing just moments before. Now who’s the tease?

Your clever hands threaded through his seams and ridges, landing on his interface panel - it was warm, and the biolights around it kept pulsing. 

“You’ve been so patient with me, like always”, you kissed his visor, making his engines pick up the pace, “but you know, I did it for you, too”. 

Of course, he knew. You were trying to impress him, entertain him, show him more of your wonderful world and make sure it remained engraved in his memory. 

“You’re the only one I’ve ever performed for”, him, him and only him. 

And oh, a confession. “I love it when you watch me”. 

His engines flared and a hiss warned you he had released his spike. “But I like this better”.