#the silver gymnasium

[anonymocha]

Consider: 白銀ギムナジウム / Silver Gymnasium by Hiruno Tsukiko — A collection of stories within the same orphanage about… girls’ love. Sounds simple but it is much more profound than what the premise first offered.

Other poetic/soulful/“deep” yuri I read last year under the cut:

- 君と綴るうたかた / The Summer You Were There by Yuama — Incredibly beautiful and lowkey heartbreaking til the end. About a girl who finds it hard to socialize and a cheerful girl who wishes for her to be happy. With a twist later. It’s still serializing and I hope all goes well for the characters (it just finished, holy shit) 🥹 The vibes are mellow/soft/melancholic. Gymnopedie No. 1. This one is quite a heavy read.

- シメジシミュレーション / Shimeji Simulation by Tsukumizu — The same creator as Girls’ Last Tour. Surrealism, philosophy, and absurd silly questions about reality stuffed in a blender with romantic tension between two girl besties to top it off (it goes somewhere, I promise). This manga was one of the highlights of my first semester. It’s beautiful.

- きみが死ぬまで恋をしたい / My Wish Is To Fall In Love Until You Die by Aono Nachi — Deals with themes of war, magic, and grief. This one brought me to tears several times. It feels very melancholic. The pacing is gentle, which makes the painful parts of the story more painful.

- 君を紡ぐ / Stitch You Together by Kurihara Sakura — A bittersweet one. A girl who can sew, and her friend who got turned into a zombie. Do I need to elaborate?

- 그녀의 심청 / Her Shim-Cheong by Seri (세리), Biwan (비완) — This one is a manhwa but worth a read. It is based of a Korean folktale; the manhwa focuses on the story of a beggar girl and a young bride sold off to a chancellor and how the two of them try to escape their fate. This one is quite a heavy read.

- ライカの星 / Planet Laika by Mayuri Yoshida — DOG YURI… AND ITS INCREDIBLY MEANINGFUL TOO… AND BEAUTIFUL. One of my best reads??? It’s about Laika, the dog sent to space, getting a planet of her own and destroying the earth with her dog gf but things don’t go that smoothly and she met gods you know what just read it.

FEBRUARY UPDATE. THERE'S MORE:

- かけおちガール / Run Away With Me, Girl by Battan — I'm so glad that I lived in an era to experience this. It's about two girls who used to be highschool sweethearts, reunited as adults, except one of them is pregnant. As the title suggests, they plan on running away. This may be one of my favorites, especially since it gave me hope for my future and beautiful poetic panels full of longing to appreciate today. I kid you not, the art is GORGEOUS. It felt dreamlike, ecstatic, yet somehow so so forlorn. So real.

- リリィシステム / Lily System by Yoshitomi Akihito — A short but beautiful read. It tells the story of two girls encountering a virtual reality machine. They navigate both their feelings for each other, and the increasingly blurred lines between virtual reality and reality itself. The art is gorgeous. Especially the environments. Yuri in presence fr.

And many more that I NEED TO READ!!! (Feel free to recommend me more yuri!!! I have around 200-300 yuri in my reading list and 80+ completed and 40+ on hold rn so I may have already read it / put it in my reading list 😭)

A lot of these are INCREDIBLY romantic. Full of yearning, dreaming, and aching longing. The GL genre is full of these, even for the lighter stories. What you have to do is look. And YES Otherside Picnic is an incredible sci-fi yuri go read it (the light novel too).

Happy new yuri! 💘

twitter making me want to eat glass

Do ya'll seriously think lesbian stories don't say basic ass things like 'i can't stop thinking about you, i want you." Are you that up your own ass.

Do you think there are not pick up lines in yuri.???do you think they don't have ~poetic lines~ in wlw media???~ that are way better than this shit?

Apparently if some basic ass shonen said stuff like this you'd be acting like it's the height of poetry. Too bad it's actual wlw stories that aren't queerbaiting you. so it will get ignored.

[naghamadiblueberry]

Need to reread the Silver Gymnasium again, that was some solid yuri, especially the stuff involving the graduates.

Like, it hit me hard, seeing these girls go through relationships with each other and then finding them again later on. Especially when it looked like they wouldn't meet up again, that series really got how much anxiety and anticipation can be utilized effectively.

They don't harp on it or make it the whole thing, but it's this...ominous thing haunting these sweet moments of budding affection. It keeps the knowledge that all things must end in the back of the reader's mind so when it shows "yeah these two found eachother again after all that time", you can feel that sudden lack of tension as a nigh-on impossible wish comes true.

[elliesbff]

“i need you.” — abby anderson

hi hi! sorry it took me so long to get to this second part, i’ve been going through a lot mentally and have just been trying to get my head around things. i genuinely hope this teeters to your satisfaction ♡ thank you for all the likes on pt 1 !

summary: after tending to neglected needs, it takes 5 words to turn the tables. notes: nsfw, scissoring, oral sex, (r!receiving) fingering, (r! receiving) slight dacryphilia, a bit of hair pulling, softdom!abby, sub!reader. wc: 2,793 | tags: none

read pt 1 of " i need you " here!

moments prior,

abby’s braid slid graciously past her shoulder as she pulled away from your short lived embraced, already missing the warmth of her sun kissed skin. it seemed like she was in a hurry, scurrying out of the gym in the blink of an eye. as you took a moment to gather yourself, you realised that she’d left her bottle behind, and her bench remained uncleaned. you stood there dumbfounded, what could she have planned that was more important than gymnasium hygiene? after all, it was her that taught all you know.

when you were nothing but a baby wolf, abby took notice of you as a new recruit and instantly saw potential in you, taking you under her wing and training you like hell to fulfil your true abilities. although you were nowhere near as burly or as experienced in combat as her, you were quite good with weaponry and crafting, as well as adapting to your surroundings, making do with what you had on you during critical times.

she calls you ‘the scavenger’ when you were not present. it was her unique way of honouring how far you’d come since joining the WLF, how she paved the way for the indestructible soldier she firmly believes you’ll grow up to be one day. it’s also just her adorable little nickname for you that she beckons nobody uses in her place.

she has the upmost faith in you. growing closer with each patrol, each gym session, and sometimes just casually hanging about the FOB or at each others rooms. your friendship was something others envied; it was pure, full of trust and built upon mutual respect. but those closest to you knew it meant more than what first meets the eye.

abby was out of sight in the blink of an eye, you look around in a suspicious daze, trying to follow her whereabouts. she was quick, but not quicker than you.

you had a long-overdue session to finish, but abby looked relatively… uneasy. something was wrong, and you could feel it. the line between instincts and curiosity began to blur as your feet developed a mind of their own, your duffel bag and towel long gone as you’d already turned the corner outside the gymnasium.

maybe you were overreacting, maybe it was overkill to automatically assume the worst was happening to her. but if something was really up with abby, you wouldn’t live it down if you didn’t initiate help.

the look on abby’s face as you stared at her through the firmly rimmed glass, her beautifully arched eyebrows furrowing only ever illuminating her intense eyes — a million thoughts a minute ran through your mind, instinctively charging for two heavy silver doors and up a random stairwell. you could smell the scent of pine and sweat — that was definitely abby.

all reasoning for your unexplainable shenanigans flew out the window as you approached abby’s room, a series of shuffles followed by a supposed muffled voice echoed from the opposite side.

your hand hesitantly reached up to knock, only to realise the door was never locked to begin with. abby could never be that careless, — maybe manny, but regardless — she would sometimes recall times where she’d have to remind him to lock up before leaving during your sessions at the gym. she’d never make a mistake she so harshly scolded people for.

your face inches closer to the door, the cool solid wood sending a kiss of shivers across your exposed shoulders as it welcomingly swayed open.

with each step, the unintelligible noises grew much clearer, and it was becoming more palpable as to what that was entailing.

you’re heart only dropped to your gut at the sound of your name, uttered by a helpless, whining mess.

“please… please.”

the door conditionally, and gently swayed closed on its own behind you, a little clck locking the door in full as you took a couple steps closer. was this a figment of your twisted imagination? the soft whimpers and subsequent cries of your name begged to differ. it was no secret now. abby had a thing for you. you were almost too afraid to move as each whine only grew more vehement.

with a couple more stalled footsteps, you froze at the sight of abby, completely ruining herself at the fate of her own hand.

your eyes widened instantly, the warm air prickling your eyes as would salt water. seeing her all ruined over the thought of you was enough to lift your hands over your mouth in keen disbelief.

you attempted to gather yourself, debating whether or not confronting her on this was the best idea — but no normal person would just walk away and forget this ever happened — forgetting the image of abby anderson, issac’s top scar killer, ramming her slick-covered fingers inside her wet cunt all while repeating your name under a dumbed spell? it’s not something that can just leave your mind at the drop of a hat. it certainly wouldn’t later, neither.

while lost in your thoughts, your tense arms dropped to your sides as your feet followed closer, the sound of your boots shuffling against the smooth concrete floor not catching her attention,

“abby?”

you watched as her oceanic eyes shot open, the abby you once believed would simply chuckle and brush off the idea of this, now scurried to find something, anything to cover her herculean figure, freckled arms still just poking out the sides.

it took more than an ounce of self control to not let yourself run wild at the fact that the abby anderson had a rather strong fancy for you, not to mention she was fucking herself to the thought of you.

as your initial astonishment subsided, your body beamed with want. seeing abby flushed and heated clouded your acclaimed critical thinking.

“…can i have a turn?” slipped from your lips after tending to abby’s own neglected desires.

and here you were, moments passing almost at the speed of light. you laid flat on your back, tits perked up from the arch of your back with abby towered over you. her estranged braid slid off her shoulder with her eyes staring you down. your neck generously splayed with bruises and bite-marks, only reminding you that she’s been wanting this for god knows how long. unbeknownst to her, you did too, you just never believed you’d live to ever experience it.

her hand lightly grazed over your tit, meticulously attending to your swollen nipple. her thumb teased at it, rubbing the area in circles to provoke a much anticipated and equally expected reaction. with her hand on your chest and her lips returning to attack your already purpled skin, you stifled a whine, bottom lip bit between your teeth. she kissed along your throat, from the point of your jaw to the crook of your neck.

she continued toying with your body as her tongue traversed to your waist, laying another round of sloppy kisses to your hip bones and abdomen.

it was like your skin grew ten times more tender whilst under her touch, each breath of hers against your skin feeling like a gentle tickle, accompanied by her large and surprisingly delicate hands palming your tits, it was growing to be too much, too much being your style, anyways.

her hand left your chest to firmly grip onto your hips, pulling you closer to her lap. she took her already soaked fingers, prodding at your pussy like you’d done previously. your breaths grew shakier with each flick of your clit.

her eyes returned to that intense, fiercely glare from back at the gym, so that’s why she was so concentrated, or rather in her own dreamland.

her tongue laid a generous coat of saliva along her lips, staring at your pussy like the starved woman she was. for how long she’d ached for this, you had no clue. this was bound to be a moment to remember.

your cunts were practically hugging each other, the feeling of being so close to her pussy only added fuel to the fire that gleamed in your core. the longer abby stared, just taking in your breathtaking body, the stronger the feeling of being exposed grew.

her head dives below your eye view, feeling her nose bump at your clit. she savours it, her tongue peeling out at an antagonisingly slow pace as she glares at you through her arched brows. she could taste it all, her juices mixed with yours..

your hand gently took rest within her blonde locks, hooking into the back of her braid.

“abby,”

you huffed, sounding more like a plead than anything. with each soft, trembling breath, she’d drag her tongue along your cunt in sync.

her face would dig further into you, arms slithering to wrap themselves around your thighs. even if you begged for her to slow down, your needy hole that clenched around nothing, desperate to be touched, told her otherwise.

abby would stare at you longingly, finally able to die happy between your tensing thighs as she rapidly swabbed your clit with your tongue, dragging it along in circles and the likes.

your body jerked at the sudden change in pace, back arching instinctively off the bed. the whole lower half of your body fired up, tingly and numb. her muffled grunts sent you haywire, violently gripping onto her hair. she was like a leech that wouldn’t let go, sucking and lapping around that sweet spot like her life depended on it.

“stop squirming.” abby would demand as she shoved your hips back onto the mattress, not once detaching herself from you.

you could barely comprehend anything she’d say as she was practically suffocating herself between your thighs, and you’d both be lying if you said you didn’t love it.

abby teased your cunt with her fingers, carefully slipping her thick digits inside of you. your legs squeezed around her head at the sensation of feeling so full. her fingers, let alone hands, were thicker than yours. and they felt much more fulfilling.

your moans would blend harmoniously, both equally experiencing pleasure from the other as you climbed the ladder of your climax.

abby’s suppressed grunts would only ring through your ears. where was the abby that was so shamelessly call out your name moments ago?

your grip on her hair tightened, practically dragging her face along your cunt to accumulate as much friction as your body desired. her fingers would work wonders, unforgivingly pumping in and out of you as her tongue would rub against your clit. each time she would flick against it you’d jolt, back arched with a shy hand over your mouth.

in a matter of seconds, abby had pulled away — both her tongue and fingers. just as you were about to reach the peak, you’d tumble down with your high dropping in seconds.

“wh.. why’d you stop?” you breathed out, tears that rimmed your eyes beginning to dissipate.

as if abby could read your thoughts, she placed a leg over yours, dragging your helpless body closer to her. your cunts were mere centimetres apart, the slick that built up from your pleasure mixing with hers.

“wanted to rile you up..” she muttered, her beautifully eager smile spreading from ear to ear as she strategically began kneading her pussy against yours. abby let out a stifled whimper, her perfectly toned arms pulling your leg almost over her shoulder.

you whined as she slowly dragged her pussy back and forth. the only thing ruminating through your mind in the moment was how you wished you’d done this sooner. way sooner. if given the opportunity any earlier, you’d have jumped at it like an animal in heat.

tears generously coated your plump cheeks as abby picked up the pace, she muttered curses under her breath with each drag of her swollen cunt. it was evident she was close, her arms would needily latch onto yours in an attempt to pull you closer than you already were.

the sounds of timid whines and skin slapping echoed through the room. you hoped that nobody would mention a peculiar series of moans to you or abby the next day. but all you could focus on was her slick engulfed thighs, her chest and the hickeys that’d covered her tits. her neck that was equally as bruised, and her face that contorted into a smile once she noticed you were staring.

“this feel good?” she asks, a sudden grunt spilling from her lips a second after.

all you could do was nod. you were afraid once you spoke, you wouldn’t be able to stop. abby, abby, abby, abby, was all you could think of. how strong she was and how easily she could throw you around if she wanted to, how easily you could tug on her braid while she fucked you dumb. it drove you insane how she wanted you and nobody else. she fucked herself to the thought of you and nobody else.

she disapprovingly shook her head, slapping your thigh playfully.

“mm mm, i don’t take nods, use that pretty mouth,” abby grinned, her cunt grinding viciously fast against your own. you whined dumbly, the pleasure overpowering your body. you felt numbing tingles along each cell of your body.

you whined shamelessly loud, “it feels.. so good.” abby’s face enlightened, her hips picking up pace from your undying cooperation. anything for her to keep going.

she squeezed a handful of your thigh and massaged it, letting out her pent up urges that she was only able to let out now.

you dumbly mumbled a bunch of nonsense yes’, keep going’s and abby’s, initially climbing the tower of climax yet again. and abby was, too. as much as she tried to hide it, nothing could excuse how her hips would dig into your abdomen from how quick she practically humped your cunt.

abby held your thighs close to her, gaining the upper hand in creating more friction. her clit would bump against yours almost ever second. both your whines enveloped the air around you as the coil inside you snapped, your pleasure releasing out into a white pool underneath you.

but abby was far from finished.

she pulled your hips closer, with pussies rubbing against each other and whines echoing through the walls. you wouldn’t doubt for a second that someone could hear you.

with more than a couple grunts and calls for your name, abby came down from her own high, her hips faulting and slowly grudging to a stop.

you both panted relentlessly. you swore if she kept going you would’ve came a second time at the snap of a finger.

trying to regain your breaths, abby lets out a chuckle.

she doesn’t say anything, but she shakily pulls herself off of you, propping herself up by her elbow next to you.

a sudden wave of embarrassment washed over you as the reality of both your actions settled in. there was no hiding your attraction to one another now, none of this would’ve happened otherwise.

the never ending pining, hanging out one on one every chance you got and saying it was ‘just to train you’. you don’t know why you were surprised at the fact that abby would think about these things behind closed, or more so unlocked doors.

“..so?” abby’s voice was soft and meek, her hand fidgeting alongside her waist as her head rested on her other hand.

you hesitantly locked eyes with her, your previous shyness fading away as she planted a kiss to your forehead. something as cheesy and cute as a forehead kiss was enough to make you blush, subsiding all the things you both just did.

“..that was better than i expected.” you finally replied. abby’s eyebrow quirked, head tilting to the side.

“oh, so you thought it’d be bad?” she kids in a sly tone, that familiar smile returning once more.

you playfully punched her arm in response, the both of you knowing in reality, it felt like heaven on earth.

“does it look like it was bad?” you poke back, pointing to all the hickeys and bite marks along both your bodies.

only now did you realise how much of a mess you made. there was cum all over the bedsheets, saliva all over your cunts and what not — this place was really overdue for a cleanup.

you chuckle as you examine the aftermath.

“we should clean up..”

“we?” abby questions.

“i don’t mind, i made it too, no?”

abby couldn’t argue with that. she sighs, pulling you up and off the bed so you could both clean up. not without peppering your body with kisses first.

[lovebugism]

u said 2 do ur worst for shy!r so…. steve and reader go to the hawkins snowball dance and a slow song comes on and its a uber romantic song (i’m talking taylor swift type romance) and steve ofc asks r to dance… she’s super shy so she keeps looking at the floor but then steve does the thing where you lift the other persons chin up so they’re looking into ur eyes… if u wanna elaborate on this :)

i changed this up a wee bit, but i hope u like it! — when steve is finally crowned prom king, all he can think about is getting a dance with his (sorta) secret girlfriend (shy!fem!r, hurt/comfort, 1.2k)

Steve abandons his crown and scepter somewhere between the bleachers and the snack table. The thought of finding you is far more important than the chunks of plastic they give him. 

The cold breeze of the early evening cools his warm cheeks, flushed red from the adrenaline and the alcohol. He finds you sitting on the wooden bench outside the gymnasium, pretty and all alone. The skirt of your fairy-tale dress billows around your calves. Elbows digging into your thighs, you prop your chin on your fists and pout softly beneath the pale moonlight. 

You’re the prettiest thing Steve’s ever seen. The saddest, too, maybe.

“Been looking for you,” he says to announce his presence. The lopsided smile on his face is audible. You know it’s dancing on his pink mouth before you ever turn around to face him. 

He’s a pretty thing in a sleek tux. Boyishly handsome. Sort of like he’s playing dress-up. The thought almost makes you smile.

“Sorry,” you apologize in a mousy voice, blinking up at him with sparkly, made-up eyes when he looms over you. “It got… really loud in there…”

“Well, Tommy spiked the punch, so… It was kinda inevitable,” Steve jokes with a lazy shrug, even though he isn’t really joking. 

He watched the idiot steal his dad’s best liquor from the high-up cabinet two hours ago. The Hawkins High class of ’85 got drunk on it in record time. The school pulses with life accordingly. The brick behind you threatens to shake with it.

Your nose scrunches. “Is that why it tasted like gasoline?”

“Probably,” Steve grins.

He huffs and sits at the spare spot next to you. The old bench creaks in protest. He takes his first good breath all night when he’s finally alone with you. The fresh air and your perfume fill his lungs, smoother than silk. There’s a subtle euphoria and a distant nostalgia between it all. 

He’s spent years chasing this feeling. He thought maybe being crowned prom king would solve all his problems. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. ‘Cause you did.

“You coming back inside?”

Your lips purse to the side of your mouth as you ponder the question. “I don’t know… Probably not.”

Steve’s freshly shaven face swirls with visible confusion. He loves a party — especially when he’s the life of it — so it’s hard for him to comprehend how other people don’t. Even though he knows, more than anyone else, that you’re made of something much more delicate than that.

“Why not?”

“Prom’s not really my scene, Steve,” you answer with a scoffed-out laugh.

He flashes you a crooked smile in return, painted silver in the moonlight. His cologne swaddles you in its musk when he leans over to nudge your shoulder. “You promised me a dance, remember?”

Your soft features harden into a frown. “Absolutely not.”

“Oh, c’mon! You know you wanna dance with me,” he protests through a poorly bitten-back laugh.

“Why?” you press, meeting his beam with a lighthearted scowl. “So all your friends can laugh at me?”

“Screw ‘em! They’re assholes— who cares?”

“I care. ‘Cause you’re not the one they’re laughing at, King Steve.”

You spit the stupid nickname with playful venom in your tone, but Steve can’t help but smile at it, anyway. He’s a week away from graduating, halfway employed, and Hawkins High’s reigning prom king. It’s all slightly maddening — especially now that he’s got you.

He wonders if you applauded when he won that stupid crown. If you laughed at him about it, or if you were strangely proud. He’ll ask you about it later. After he gets that dance.

“Let ‘em laugh,” he shrugs.

You shake your head, averting your gaze with a sad smile. You wish it were that easy. 

“You don’t know what it’s like,” you tell him as the heavy bass inside the school starts to slow. Through the high-up frosted windows, you hear Girls on Film fade into Never Tear Us Apart. 

“Sorry for wanting to dance with my girlfriend,” he teases to ease the tension. It comes out more serious than he intended, though, ‘cause he is sort of sorry. Nothing about your two worlds exactly meshes — yet here he is, still hopelessly trying to tangle them together.

You know this, so you sigh. “Sorry for not being prom queen,” you joke back, only partly serious. You blink at him with a pair of twinkling eyes — slightly smudged with mascara. The sparkles of your eyeshadow glint when they catch the moonlight. 

“Don’t want you to be prom queen,” Steve confesses softly, smiling at you somehow softer. “I like you the way you are right now.”

You get a warm, tingly feeling in your stomach. It wells up your chest and into your throat until you feel like you might cry. 

You roll your eyes at him when they start to burn, laughing softly to distract from the overwhelming feeling. Your gaze flits to the velvet night sky, speckled with twinkling stars, until you get the courage to look back at the boy beside you. His face glitters with something hopeful. 

You swallow hard and ask, “You still want that dance or what?”

Steve glows with a boyish excitement. “Yeah! Are you kidding? Of course, I do.”

“Out here, though,” you tell him when he rises from the bench.

He smiles at the stern look in your delicate eyes. “Why? You ashamed of me or somthin’?” he jokes, as if he wasn’t named just prom king.

You stand before him with your arms crossed over the pretty corset of your dress. You bite back a smile. “I just wanna spend time with my boyfriend without it being on the cover of The Weekly Streak tomorrow,” you confess.

“Fair enough,” Steve nods, smoothing his wide hands over your sides. 

Yours are much less confident. They tremble with a misplaced worry as they spread over his shoulders. Your fingers fidget on the satin lapels of his expensive suit. His longer ones guide you back and forth, swaying you gently to the slow beat of the muffled song.

—Don’t ask me, what you know is true…

Don’t have to tell you, I love your precious heart—

You get lost in it all before you mean to. The warmth of having him so close, swaddled in his big hands and deep cologne. 

His honeyed gaze hasn’t yet wavered from you, but you don’t have the heart to meet it. He’s looking at you like he loves you. Like you’re the prettiest thing he’s ever seen. Like you’re the fucking prom queen. 

You don’t feel particularly deserving of any of it.

“Are you still having fun?” you ask with a scrunched nose, visibly riddled with feelings of inadequacy. You still haven’t quite figured out why he’d rather be out here with you than inside with everyone else — with Vicki Carmichael, the actual prom queen.

“Loads,” Steve answers without missing a beat. His hands squeeze reassuringly at your hips as he flashes you a crooked grin. “It’s not even a question, honestly. I’d choose you over those schmucks in there any day of the week.”

He nods his slicked-back hair to the pulsing brick a few feet away. A few gelled chestnut strands drape over his forehead. You fight the urge to push them back.

“Really?” you squeak with your pretty face, all dolled up, twisted with an innocent look of confusion.

You have no idea how beautiful you are, Steve thinks to himself.

“Yeah,” he nods, grinning wide and wearing all his adoration on his chiseled, golden face. He could hide it if he tried. “Tommy Hagan isn’t nearly as pretty to look at.”

[hcsiqs]

| you could be my silver spring

• pairing: paige bueckers x singer!reader

• summary: “ you’ll never get away from the sound // of the woman that loves you ”

• warnings: none

November 2021

“And singing the United States National Anthem, our very own: Y/N L/N!” the announcer's voice rang through Gampel Pavilion. Azzi gave you a quick pat on the back as you turned to her giving a quick smile before walking to the center of the husky logo; where the microphone stand stood.

You let out a deep breath before looking over to the sound tech people and giving them a small nod before an instrumental version of The Star-Spangled Banner filled the gymnasium.

As you began singing you could see your face appear on the screens surrounding you with the flag appearing on the sides. For the first time you heard your voice taking over a large space as it smoothly came out of the speakers. The high notes of the song hit perfectly with early claps falling from people’s hands as you finished off the song. You gave a small smile to everyone before walking off the court, Azzi immediately giving you the biggest hug ever.

“Holy shit!” the girl giggled as she squeezed your body, “I knew you could sing but…you just made the national anthem sound like a pop song!” she gushed.

“Really? Thank you, Az!” you replied, a bright smile taking over your features as you pulled back, the curly haired nodding her head quickly. “Ok good luck!” you giggled before quickly being ushered off the court before going to sit in the student section.

————

“You know her?” the blonde asked as the team jogged back onto the court.

“Yeah, we have a lot of classes together,” Azzi nodded, watching Paige’s gaze follow you off the court. “No”

“What? I wasn’t—I didn’t even,” Paige threw her hands up defending herself.

“Paige,” Azzi’s voice was stern, “Don’t.”

But, of course, Paige didn’t listen. Which is what led to the moment of your guys' breakup during December of senior year.

December 2023

“Yes! Thank you! Thank you so much!” you spoke excitedly into the phone, as tears formed in the corners of your eyes. “I’ll be there as soon as possible! Thank you again!” you said into the phone before hanging up the phone.

“Paige! They wanna sign me!” you smiled as you turned to your girlfriend, who was playing Fortnite in her bed.

She immediately dropped her remote into her lap as she reached over and placed a kiss on your cheek. “What I tell you?” she smiled. “Everything I say is facts.”

You just smiled stupidly nodding your head as a couple tears traced down your cheeks, your body overwhelmed with the excitement. “I just can’t believe it…”

“Wow, my girlfriend is a famous music artist,” Paige reached her hand over her heart, until you pushed her hand and brought her into a kiss.

The two of you stayed like that for a few minutes before Paige pulled back, “So, you gotta move to LA or some shit?” she asked jokingly.

You bit down on your lip, a strike of pain hitting your heart as you had forgotten to tell her that you actually had to move away.

“Wait, do you?” she asked, now fully having her body turned towards you.

You stayed silent, your eyes dropping to your hands that were holding hers. The blonde removed her hands from your grasp as she ran them down her face. “Fuck,” she said under her breath as she dropped her head to your shoulder. Your hands immediately wrapped around her body as your right hand ran through her hair.

“I’m sorry P,” you kissed the top of her head.

“It’s not your fault for being a fucking amazing singer,” she let out an airy laugh, her evident in her voice.

There was a moment of silence between you two, just holding each other; the video game now fully forgotten even as KK and Ice started blowing up Paige’s phone for her being the reason they lost.

“So…what does this mean for us?” you asked, causing Paige to lift her head and look at you.

“I love you, I really wanna try,” she spoke softly, squeezing your hand.

“I love you too,” you smiled softly, feeling like a weight was lifted off your chest.

Even though the two of you tried as hard as you could, being on opposite ends of the country with both having extremely busy schedules and constant travel led to the relationship ending on mutual terms, for the both of your mental health's sake.

July 2025

“Fans, are you ready…for your All Star halftime entertainment?!” you heard through the speakers of Gainbridge Fieldhouse as you stood underneath the stage waiting for it to rise up and reveal you to the crowd. “Make some noise for grammy award winning…Y/N L/N!” and with that the stage lifted you up as your song, Taste, started playing.

“Oh I leave quite an impression,” you sang, as the dancers beside you started to do their choreography.

While Paige was walking through the tunnel to go back to the locker room for halftime, she heard your voice vibrating through the area making her stop in her tracks.

Towards the end of your set Paige had made it to where she could go see you perform your last song. She had made it just in time to see the outro, which you had been known for changing it based on where you were performing, “He said it was big, but it was mini // I like it Fast and Furious like Vin D // Indy is too perfect, someone pinch me” you finished with a small laugh into the microphone before the stage took you back down.

You then changed into a sequined top in the shape of a bra, paired with a matching sequined miniskirt before taking your seat courtside for the rest of the game.

Your eyes kept wondering to the blonde on the court. She had gotten stronger and tanner since you had last seen her, LA clearly had been treating her good. And as the game came to an end with Paige’s team winning, you walked on the court, your ex immediately walking over to you too.

“So, how’s LA been?” you teased, a smile playing on your lips.

“It’d be better with you showing me around.”

[jpitha]

Color Me Surprised.

Human vision is hacks upon hacks upon hacks. Forget about how our brains just make wild guesses about things we see, or how there are whole parts of your vision that your brain can't see and just does "content aware fill" on it, or how your peripheral vision isn't nearly as good as you think it is.

Our brains just make up colors because we don't like to see two colors next to each other.

Magenta doesn't exist.

****

“Ugh, what is going on?” The Gren moved to cover their eyes as they staggered back, their reverse articulated legs unsteady.

“What? What is it? What’s wrong Peni’tam?” Jalisa stared at her friend as they moved back, their 2 pairs of eyes squeezed tightly shut.

“That… that thing. It hurts to look at!“ Peni’tam finall turned away and with their back to it, opened their eyes. They looked down at Jalisa. “It doesn’t hurt for you to look at? Is it some kind of human weapon?”

Jalisa peered around Pani’tam. Behind her, on the landing platform was a starship. It was small as starships go, likely only holding 4 or 5 people. With a Flip drive, you didn’t really need a large spacecraft for anything. Most destinations were no more than two or three days away, but humans tended to build large anyway. No reason not to when space is nearly limitless. Interdiction ship probably. Military, or at least formerly military.

It was small and sleek, with very few protrusions. Currently sitting on spindly landing legs, it almost looked like an insect.

It was also bright magenta.

“It’s just a ship Peni’tam. The color is a little unusual, but humans tend to paint their ships wild colors anyway. It’s got a bit of a dazzle camo pattern, made up in two or three shades of magenta.”

“Magenta? What’s that?” Now that Peni’tam wasn’t facing the ship they were much more steady on their feet.

“It’s just a color. Like, a really bright pinky purple?” Jalisa looked down at her pad. “Here, let me see if it’s emitting something.” She touched a few points and ran a scan. “Pani’tam, it’s cold. Even the reactor is off. It must be here for a refit.”

Pani’tam turned again and immediately winced. “Ow! No, something is up. That ship hurts to look at. I don’t mean like figuratively, I mean, literally it is painful. It is doing something.”

“Well, let’s step away from it then. We can find another way to the cafe. I just wanted to pass by the pads because I like to look at the ships.” Jalisa said, wistfully.

They went to the cafe by circling around the station past the gymnasium. Inside, Jalisa saw people running and lifting weights that seemed almost comically tiny until she looked over at the sign over the entrance.

OPERATING AT THREE GEE TODAY. EXERCISE CAUTIOUSLY.

She rolled her eyes. Of course the gym nuts would find a way to use the gravity generators to make the workouts more intense.

At the cafe, Jalisa and Peni’tam got their drinks and sat down at a wide, long table. “I just can’t believe that color doesn’t hurt you.” Pani’tam took a sip of their tea. “Your vision must be completely different than ours.”

Another human at the table heard their conversation and turned. “Oh, you saw the Variegated Elegy?”

“The little magenta ship? Yeah, Peni’tam here-“ Jalisa gestured at her friend “-got a massive headache when she tried to look at it.”

The human nodded. “I’m not surprised. It’s an old interdiction ship, originally designed to strike deep into Gren territory during the war. Now that the war is over, it’s here to be refitted into a yacht, and probably repainted too.”

“Oh really? That’s too bad. The magenta dazzle camo is so interesting.” Jalisa sipped her coffee and looked at the human. She was tall, with close cropped hair on one side, and the rest was swept up almost into a dark asymmetric pompadour. She was wearing a tailored uniform without any indicators of rank and just two silver pips on her left breast. She had a scar along her right cheek as well. She looked very rakish, and Jalisa had to look away quickly.

The human laughed. “It’s pretty neat isn’t it? Unfortunately, the Confederation races can’t process magenta. For some it just looks like a very odd blue, others see a very odd red. A few races like the Gren with very accurate color reproduction get headaches and it causes them pain. The color was chosen on purpose for that particular ship.”

“A color… hurts? Also I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

The woman winks. “I didn’t throw it. You can call me Tyler.”

Jalisa blushes just a bit. “Hi Tyler, I’m Jalisa.”

Tyler nods. “Works over in HVAC with Pam and Lan’urian? Nice to meetcha.”

How did she know that? Tyler continues. “Anyway. Yeah, for the Gren, when they see magenta they try and process it, but since the wavelength for blue will never be with the wavelength for red, the color can’t really exist.”

“But we see it?” Her coffee forgotten, Jalisa leans forward.

Tyler laughs. “That’s because our eyes are hacks upon hacks upon hacks. Half the things we ‘see’ aren’t real. Our brains just invent magenta when we put red and blue next to each other. We learned early in the war about Gren vision processing and were able to use it to our advantage. Now that the war’s over, we’re retiring the pain job. Gotta be good members of the Confederation after all.” Tyler rips off a sharp - though sarcastic - salute.

“So, the color of the ship itself is a weapon?” Peni’tam said, with a note of amazement in their voice.

“Yup! Pretty neat right? A weapon with no power and no ammunition and still causes nearly incapacitating pain if a Gren doesn’t look away.”

Jalisa looks at Tyler more closely. She seems so effortlessly confident. “How do you know so much about this, Tyler?”

Tyler shrugs. “Oh, it’s my ship. In the war I was an Intelligence Collection Agent and I ran the Variegated with a small tight crew.”

Jalisa nearly chokes on her tea. “You’re a spy?”

“Was a spy. War’s over, so we don’t need spy’s anymore, right?” Tyler winked again. Jalisa wasn’t sure if Peni’tam caught the gesture or knew what it meant. A wink was very situational and could mean lots of things. Tyler tossed back the rest of her coffee. “Anyway, I’m here for a few more weeks while the refit takes place.” She stands and looks down at Jalisa. “I’m free tonight. Call me, we’ll get dinner.” And without another word, she turns and walks out of the cafe.

After she left, Peni’tam stares at Jalisa. “You aren’t going to go to dinner with her are you?”

“And why not, Peni’tam?”

“She’s a spy! She spied on us during the war!” Peni’tam’s grey fur ripples and her mouthparts clack with stress.

“The war is over Peni’tam. Everyone on both sides fought it. I’m sure you had plenty of your own spies.”

Peni’tam shakes their head. The fur whooshes back and forth while they do it. “She’s so… cocky and self-assured. She practically made your date invitation a command.”

Jalisa blushed again. “I know. It was pretty cool.”

[lillypad910]

I’m the person who asked for the Queen Bee with Big Dick! Billy and omg PLEASE do a smut with it (btw that just fulfilled all my dirty mind tysm).

Didn’t think this would be my ticket to fame but no complaints-

Of course!!

Ex-Queen Bee

Pairing: King Billy! Billy Hargrove x Queen Bee! f! Reader

Warnings: Smut, p n v, oral (f receiving), fingering (v and a ), pure filth, degradation, slut shaming, enemies who fuck,

Summary: You have lost your rep as the Queen Bee of Hawkins High at that party last week, but with this loss from the Tigers at the basketball game, Billy propositions you for some much needed attention.

A/n: Someone call Jesus cause I might need to just go ahead and start my walk to hell after this one

It has been a week since Billy was an asshole at the party, calling you out in front of everyone. You have lost a lot of power over everyone, your friends started drifting, Carol realizing how genuinely stupid it was of her to do everything you asked. Tommy broke up with you, returning to that bitch.

Tina is the only one who still sticks around, at least for now. You hold some power over her, after kicking Carol off the cheer team. People look at you differently, snaring and glaring at you whenever you walk by, but you don't let it bother you. You refuse to let it bother you.

"Go, Tigers, Go!" You all cheer, doing a small routine on the sidelines of the basketball court. The members of the basketball team fight their way to win. Billy dribbling the ball closer to the net as the timer counts down.

The crowd behind you and your cheer squad go dead quiet as the ball is thrown into the air. The buzzer goes off as the ball teeters on the rim of the goal, but it doesn't go in. The ball falls over the edge, bouncing onto the hard wood as the other team's cheerleaders and audience blares into loud excitement.

The Tigers have lost the Home game.

Walking out of the gym with the rest of the squad about 30 minutes after the game has ended, you make your way down the hall when you remember you forgot something in the locker room.

"Shit," you quickly grab your bag off your shoulder and look inside, your necklace no where to be seen, "Ugh, girls, I'll see you tomorrow. I forgot something." Tina waves you off as you walk back towards the gym.

You step into the gymnasium, your sneakers squeaking across the now dead room, echoing through the large space. You take out the key Coach gave you earlier in the year as the Cheerleading Captain, unlocking the door before stepping inside.

You look inside your locker, then around the surrounding area. You catch a glimpse of silver under the bench.

"There you are," You mumble before crouching down and getting under the bench to snatch the necklace off the floor.

"Shit, do you show your ass off to everyone?" A voice comes from behind you and you jump, knocking your head into the bench.

"Fuck!" You yell, grabbing the top of your head as you climb out from under the bench, looking over at the unwanted visitor. There stands none other than fucking Billy Hargrove. "Ugh, fuck off, Billy." You groan, standing up, not even bothering to fix your skirt as it now just barely covers your ass.

"Aww, you don't like seeing me, Queen Bee? Or should I even call you that anymore? You know, since you're loosing your influence."

You roll your eyes, obviously annoyed at his presence, "Why are you even in here? This is the Girl's locker room, William."

"Hey, don't fucking judge me, Whore." He shoves his hands into his pockets, glancing around the room.

"That doesn't answer the question, Jackass." You raise a brow. Billy just sighs, looking you up and down.

"Well, originally Tina was supposed to meet me in here."

"Really? That dumb bitch?"

"I thought you two were friends?" He counters.

"More like... she does what I ask and I give her popularity points for it." You cross your arms over your chest.

"Hmm..." You watch Billy's eyes trail over your form, stopping for a second when his gaze reaches your chest. "You know, I hear no guy has even given you the time of day since that little brawl at the party." This catches you off guard, causing you to blink for a second before turning your head away from him.

"So?"

"Please, Bitch, we both know a whore like you needs all the attention." Billy steps closer to you, getting right up in front of you. "I wouldn't mind... supplying." You scoff at his proposition.

"Are you fucking serious? You? Shit, and I thought I was desperate." You go to move around him but he stops you, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you close to him, turning you around so your back is against his chest.

"Come on, Whore. We both know just how needy you are." His hands slip down your abdomen, pulling up the cheer uniform you have on. His fingers graze over the bare skin of your stomach, causing goose bumps to go up your arms.

"Fuck you, Billy." You try to wiggle out of his grip, but he only tightens his hold on you. One of his hands move downward, slipping under the skirt and into your underwear. Your breath hitches as his fingers push inside you.

"Please, you can cuss me out all you want, Bitch. But we both know this pussy needs attention. No other guy is willing to give what I'm offering." He pumps his fingers inside you, causing small moans to leave you.

"Fuck..." The word slips out without your approval as your knees nearly buckle. Why are his fingers so big?

"Do you like getting your pussy fucked? You fucking whore." Billy curls his fingers, causing you to slap your hand over your mouth. This doesn't seem to make him happy though.

Billy pulls his hand out of your clothes and shoves you down onto the bench in front of him. Before you can even react, he has his pants down to his ankles, his huge cock right at your face.

"Come on, Bitch. Be a good little slut and suck my dick. I wanna know what Tommy spoke so highly of." His voice is deeper than usual, eyes blown dark. Something about his attitude is... hot.

"Ew," You refuse to be his bitch, "I would rather die than suck your cock, Billy." Billy sighs.

His hand pulls up and wraps around your ponytail, yanking your head back. You gasp and he takes the opportunity to shove his fat cock down your throat.

You gag, your hands gripping at his thighs, "Mm!" You try to push yourself off but he holds your head down.

"Go on, Whore. Suck my cock like a good bitch." Tears form in your vision as he begins to bob your head on his cock, not giving anytime for you to adjust to his size in your mouth.

"That's it," Billy groans, "Just like that." You glare up at him, but decide to take advantage of this.

If he wants to see you be a whore, you'll show him a whore.

You concave your cheeks around him, sucking hard as you grip his thighs. You begin bobbing your head yourself, allowing him to loosen his grip on your hair a bit.

"That's right, suck that dick." He groans as you get a little sloppy with it, causing some spit to dribble down your chin. You feel your throat going sore fast, his cock rough as he thrusts it into your mouth.

"Shit-" Billy yanks you off, causing his cock to leave your lips with a sloppy pop. He looks down at you with those darkened eyes, his cock dripping with precum.

"What's wrong, Billy? Is my mouth too good for you?" You give him a smirk, still trying to catch your breath from when his big dick blocked your windpipe.

"You fucking Bitch." Billy shoves you to lay stomach down on the bench before yanking your underwear down. You don't fight him, actually finding it hot how rough he's being with you. Most guys are gentle, kind, they worship you, but he's being so aggressive.

He steps over the bench, straddling it behind you, pulling your legs so you are doing the same. He pushes you down so your face is squished into the metal seat.

"Gonna fuck you so good. Ruin you so no one else can fuck you." You feel the ridges of the bench rub against your bare cunt, the cold of the metal feeling oddly good.

"Please, like that tiny cock could do much damage to me." You say, looking back at him just enough so you see the flash of fury go over his eyes. He spanks your ass once, a hard slap that will definitely leave a mark, before lifting your hips as he pushes his cock right against you. You hold in the moan as the tip of his dick presses against your cunt.

"Beg." He orders you, but you glare back at him.

"No." You groan back at him. Billy leans over you, getting right at your ear.

"Fine." He bucks his hips forward, shoving his fat cock into you forcefully, causing you to grip the bench tightly, gasping as you brace yourself for the best fuck of your life.

"Shit!" You push your sneakers into the tile of the floor, causing your ass to lift off the bench a bit more, but Billy just grabs at your hips and thrusts into you, repeatedly hitting that perfect spot inside you than makes your toes curl. "Oh- Oh, fuck!" You moan out, gripping tighter onto the bench as your body starts to rock, inching forward with every harsh thrust he gives you.

"You like being treated like a whore? Like having a fat cock up your pussy?" You can hear him grinning through his words. They make you wanna vomit, but you can't deny how full his cock makes you feel.

You can feel him hitting deep, feeling your stomach make contact with the cold metal of the bench over and over again as he thrusts into you. God, you could have his cock in you all day.

"Y-You're being so gentle." You barely pant out, trying to provoke him further, but it only gets a laugh from him.

"Gentle? Please, Slut, I'm anything but." He grips your hips tighter before pounding his dick into your cunt, making you gasp.

It doesn't take long for this treatment to push you over the edge, you cunt spasming around his big dick as you come undone. You begin to feel overwhelmed as he doesn't stop. You pant like a dog as he fucks into you, harsh and deep. You feel like your insides are being rearranged.

"Fuck, look at you. Going stupid already, Whore?" You blink as you come back into focus at his words.

"N-No, I can take it. This is-Ah!" You shut up as your face is shoved down into the bench under you.

He fucks into you for what feels like hours, you don't know how many times you come undone on his cock. The bench is soaked as he finally does that last deep thrust, filling you with his cum, the warmth shooting through you. He pulls out before he can finish completely, pumping his cock in his hand as his cum shoots over your ass.

You both take a moment to catch your breath, him spreading your legs further to watch his cum leak out of your abused and sore cunt.

"Gotta' admit, Bitch. You look pretty like this." He moves his hand down, digging his finger into your cunt, earning a whimper from you.

"Billy..." You moan out his name, not even realizing it until after the fact. He just smirks, taking out his now covered finger and spreading your ass open for him to see.

"Ever had someone fuck you back here?" He presses his thumb to you, watching your ass slowly let it sink in. You whimper again, earning a small chuckle from him. "Going to ruin it too," he shoves his fingers inside your ass, the mixture of his cum and your slick helps lube the intrusion, making it nearly frictionless.

"Gonna make you my personal Bitch."

Tag list!

@cagethemunson

@spikeybatt

@cherrycolas-things

@r-a-d-i-0-n-0-w-h-e-r-e

@ali-r3n

@thepurplelovewitch

[sodamnradd]

4 times Draco & Hermione flirt with other people + 1 time they admit it’s driving them spare.

So Draco’s flirting with some hyper-blonde at the bar. So she’s draped all over him. So he just checked out her tits—Literally nobody could care less than Hermione does.

“It’s fine,” she says, steering Ginny to the opposite side of the bar. “We hooked up once. It wasn’t serious.”

“Yeah, but we all thought he was obsessed with you.” Ginny scowls in Malfoy’s direction. “Harry says he can’t shut up about you…” Her voice falters, and Hermione follows Ginny’s gaze to where Draco’s unlatching the woman’s arms from around his neck. His eyes are locked firmly on Hermione.

“Granger.” He slips beside her moments later, casting a swift kiss on her cheek. “You came.”

He laces their fingers together, pressing his chest to her spine, and whispers into her ear, “Dance with me,” breath tinged with firewhisky.

Ginny rolls her eyes as Hermione downs a quick shot of tequila and lets Malfoy lure her away.

Hermione shrugs and mouths, “We’re having fun.”

“Isn’t that wanker fifty or some shite?” Draco lowers his spoon, watching Hermione on the opposite side of the canteen, giggling like she’s drunk on Amortentia.

Harry says, “Apparently the term is ‘Silver Fox’. Something to look forward to in a few decades, I suppose.”

“I didn’t realize that’s what Granger’s into.” Draco pushes his tray back, appetite gone.

Harry snorts.

“What?”

“She’s into you, you know.”

He’s desperate to prod Potter for more information, but he’s only slept with Granger twice, so they’re not serious. Explosive doesn’t mean serious, right? That’s what makes it explosive. That enigmatic ‘what if?’ hanging in the air during each encounter.

Draco looks on dejectedly, wondering if he’d prefer exclusive over explosive.

Seven times.

They have slept together seven times, and Draco is still acting like a total wanker, training that new Auror like it’s perfectly dignified to put his hands on her waist to adjust her posture. The girl is blushing so hard Hermione’s suffering from second-hand embarrassment just witnessing it.

Who can blame her? She knows how it feels to be trapped beneath the weight of that intense gaze. She also knows what they look like at the peak of climax. He looks at Hermione with more heat. But there’s no denying the glimmer of interest as he teaches the trainee basic self-defence charms. Damn him.

She slams the gymnasium door shut without looking back.

You can’t have breakup sex if you were never even together, right? But Draco swears there was something final about their last time.

Granger’s face is usually brimming with emotion, but once he helps her off the kitchen island, she goes cold. Detached. All the fire from their eighth time vanishes, and Draco is left wishing for something he thought he already had.

The next evening, she shows up to Potter’s birthday clutching Goldstein’s arm.

What the actual fuck? Is she sleeping with him, too? On the grand spectrum of Ministry blonds, what a prosaic downgrade.

Their eyes meet across the dinner table.

‘Meet me upstairs?’ mouths Draco, gut twisted a hundred times over.

Hermione hops onto the bathroom counter as Draco locks the door behind them.

“Why are you here with another bloke?” He crosses his arms, leaning against the door.

“Why are you flirting with trainees?” she fires back.

“Why are you chasing Silver Foxes?”

Heat crawls up Hermione’s neck. “Who taught you that?”

“Am I not good enough or something?”

“Clearly it’s the other way around.”

“What the hell are you on about?” Draco straightens out. “I can’t get enough of you, if you haven’t noticed.”

“Yes, but I’m not the only one.”

“But you are.”

Hermione pauses, flabbergasted. “You’ve been flirting with other people while you’ve been sleeping with me.”

“So have you.”

“Only because you were.”

“Because you were.”

“Oh my Gods.” Hermione huffs out an exaggerated sigh. “This is going absolutely nowhere.”

“You’re right,” Draco replies. “We’re making no progress, you and me.”

Hermione nods, sadness creeping into her eyes. “I guess that’s that.”

“What? No.” Draco steps forward, blanching. “Do you really mean that?”

“I don’t know. What else is there?”

“Exclusivity,” suggests Draco, point-blank.

“You don’t want that.”

“Says who?”

“Your reputation.”

“I’m pretty sure the entire office thinks I’m obsessed with you.” When Hermione doesn’t respond, having heard that rumour herself, Draco clears his throat and adds, “They might not be wrong.”

“Were you really only flirting with other people because I was because you were?”

He takes a second to reflect, but ultimately shakes his head. “I have no idea what you just said, but how about it? You and me. No trainees. No silver foxes.”

“No hyper-blondes at bars.”

“Course not,” he replies, pretending like he knows what she means. “And no dirty blonds at dinner parties.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.” Draco grins, stepping forward to seal the deal.

Later, Draco’s relieved to discover exclusivity is just as explosive as the enigmatic ‘what if?’ Better even, because Granger is finally, without an inkling of doubt, his.

(854 words, cross-posted from twitter)

[stalkerofthegods]

Lord Hermes Deep dive

Lord Hermes is amazing, he is the darling of the gods and of our hearts, he is strong in gymnastics and in spirit, he is the last thing we see, and the lord of our words, and as a worshiper and as a researcher I believe he is amazing and wonderful, I absolutely adore him, so I should probably stop writing, or it'll become a love letter, but I've worshiped this god for around 2 years, maybe more, but I know well he is amazing and deserves respect.

Herbs • Krokos (Crocus) koumara Tree, olives/olive oil, crocus, hydrangea, chrysanthemum, Palm tree, Almond tree, The Silver Birch tree, Crocuses, Saffron, Wheat, Rosemary, Pine Tree, Mint, Cinnamon, Cassia, Golden Benzoin, moly, strawberry

Animals• sheep, dogs, boars, lions, Tortoise, Ram, The dove killing species of Hawk, Hares, constellation Lepus, pig, beef, mutton, pork, Cattle/oxen, roster, birds of omen, snakes, and guard dogs, fish, horses

Colors• Red, purple, silver, gold, copper, and black, Orange, Grey, Green, Red, white and brown (associated with traveling)

Crystal• Amethyst, Quartz, Orange topaz, Agate, Marble, smoky quartz, copper, silver, and gold, Eisenkiesel Quartz, Silver, Yellow Topaz, Amber, Citrine, Emerald, and Peridot, red marble, Hematite, jade, malachite, fluorite, pyrite, lapis lazuli, alexandrite

Symbol• Caduceus, Kerykeion (Herald’s staff and magic wand, lulls mortals to sleep and can wake mortals at will), Winged Cap (also called petasos, and a brimmed cap, this cap was called “Cap of Aidoneus, the unseen” because it rendered its wearer invisible), Golden Sickle, Winged Boots- called “pteroeis pedila”, A Sack (the kibisis) Talaria (winged sandals), and Petasos (winged helmet), golden or adamantine blade, shepherd pipes, Purse, Pouch, Hermai.

Mortal or immortal • immortal 

Zodiac• Gemini and Virgo, and cancer 

Equivalent (this means alike, not the same) - Mercury (Roman), Hyperion (Greek), , Horus (Egyptian), Ra (Egyptian), Amun (Egyptian), Freyr (Norse), Bragi (Norse), Odin (Norse), Baldr (Norse), Heimdallr (Norse), Lugh (Celtic), Áine (Celtic), Mercurius (Roman god), Thoth (Egyptian god), Anubis (Egyptian god), Woden-Odin (Germanic god)

Attendees • Oreiades (oreads), Pan & the panes, Satyroi, oneiroi, he is often seen with Hestia.

Ephiphets• Agetor -Guide of Souls, Agonius or Enagonius -pertaining (Hermes’ role as presider over solemn festivals such as Agonius) Agoraea and Agoraeus- to Gods who were considered being the protectors of the assemblies of the people in the agora (also has a reference to the agora as the marketplace), Argeiphontes- “radiant one’, Euskopos Argeiphontes, literally “the sharp-eyed Slayer of Argos”, Chthonius or Chthonios, “of the earth or underworld, Hermes Trismegistus- “Thrice Great Hermes”, Kriophoros- the “ram-bearer” is a figure that commemorates the solemn sacrifice of a ram, Leucus- “white”- an epithet of Hermes in Boetia, a Greek city containing Thebes, “Of the Golden Blade”- he carried a sickle made of adamant, Cyllenius, or Kullhnios- from His birth or temple site on mount Cyllene in Arcadia, Diaktoros Argeiphontes – “the courier” Argeiphontes, Kratus Argeiphontes- “strong” Argeiphontes, Hermes Promakhos- “the Champion” Logios- writer, knower of intelligent design, Tetragonos- four square, Aglaos -Splendid, Agoraios - Of the Market Place, Aipytos -Of Aipytos, Akakesios -Of Akakesion, Angelos -Messenger, Agreiphontes -Argus-Slaying, Bouphonos -Slayer of Oxen, Dioktoros -Messenger, Dolios -Crafty One, Enagonios- Of the Games, Enodios - of the Road, Epimelios - Keeper of the flocks, Eriounios - Luck-Bringer, Euangelos - Bringer of Glad Tidings, Euskopos - Watchful, Gumnasiarkhos - Leader of the Gymnasium, Hermeneutes - Interpreter, Kerdoos - the Gainful, Kerukes -Herald, Kharmophron—Heart-Delighting, Khthonios - of the Earth, Khrysorrhapis -Of the Golden Wand, Klepsiphron - Deceiver, Kourotrophos - Protector of Youth, Kranaios- unknown, Krateros - Mighty, Kriophoros - Ram-Bearer, Kullenios - Of Mount Kyllene, Logios -of Speech, Maiados Huios - Son of Maia, Mekhaniotes - Trickster, Nomios - Protector of Flocks, Oiopolos - Shepherd, Pantokrator- Ruler of the World, Pheletes -Thief, Poikilometes - Full of Various Wiles, Poneomenos - Busy One, Promakhos- Champion, Propulaios - Before the Gates, Psukhopompos - Conveyer of Souls, Takhus - Swift, Tetragonos - Square, Trikephalos - Of the Three Ways/Heads, Trismegestos - Thrice-Greatest, Tukhon- Bringer of Luck, Aglaos- Radiant, Bright, Beautiful, Pleasin, enevolent. Angelos Athanatôn - messenger of the gods, Angelos Makarôn- messenger of the Blessed, Akhos Phêlêteôn- leader of robbers and thieves, Chrysorrhapis- of the Golden wand, Dais herairos - comrade of the forest, Diaktoros- guide & messenger, Dolios- Craft of Wiles, Dôtor Eaôn - giver of good things, Dôtor eaôn- Giver of good things, Enagônions- giver of good things, Enagônios-of the game, Epimêlios-Keeper of the flocks, Erikydês- famous, glorious & splendid, Eriounês - Luck bringing & ready helper, Euskopos-Keen-sighted, Hermêneutês- interpreter/translator, Kharidôtês- giver of joy/graces, Kharmonphrôn- Glad-Hearted, Krateros- Strong & mighty, Kriophoros- ram bearer, Kydimos-glorious, mastêrios- of searchers, mêkhaniôtês-trickster, Oiopolos- sheep tending& shepherd, Phêlêtês- their, robber, rustler, poikilomêtês- full of various wiles, Polytropos - Much traveled& much wandering, pompaios- the guide (he’s a psychopomp) 

Element • air 

Number•Four, eight, Squares

Past courtships• Merope, Aphrodite, Dryope, Peitho, and Hecate,

Personality• People say he is chaotic, some say he’s wise and can be calm, he does give serious advice and is a serious guy, but he also has a sense of humor and won’t always steal from you. (he won’t if you ask him not to..I think.) He is also sassy and side eyes (from other people) I find him difficult to track down, He's very kind and upbeat sometimes, depends on how u contact him and what mood he's in, he gives great advice and someone good to depend on.

Patron of• of cunning thieves and liars, Patron of herdsmen, Patron of orators, Patron of inventors, Cattle-herders, Shepherds, Goatherds, Horse & mule breeders, Grazing pastures, Cave shelters, Guard-dogs, Animal predators, Bucolic poetry, music, Animal fables (ex- the tales of Aesop), Laws of hospitality, he is the Protector of guests, Cattle-rustlers, Bandits, Crafty thoughts, Mail carriers and sorters, Retail workers, Canvassers , Editors, journalists, and writers, Newspaper routes, Bank tellers, Carnies , Casino workers, Gas station attendants, Mechanics, presentations, public speaking, playlists (I've heard this years ago)

Diety of• Divine Trickster, boundaries and thresholds, Creator of civilization as Trickster, Messenger of the Gods, transgressor of boundaries and taboos, Inventor of fire, Inventor of sacrifice, of mysteries, Bringer of sleep, dreams, and visions, free will, Psychopompos or Guide of the Dead, Escort of the Gods, thieves, graves, and heralds, Luck, Unexpected Fortune, Giver of Good, of sacrificial priests, successful communication with enemies, translation and language, gymnasia and athletic youth, logos world order, trade and commodities, astronomy, knowledge, speech, Inventor of boxing, running and foot races, of exchange, alchemy, science, internet, Magic, Presider at solemn sacrifices, Divine Movement, Ruler of the Orphic House of Cancer, Ruler of the Planet Mercury, Western astrological signs of Gemini and Virgo, Scribe of the Gods, Protector of all messengers especially in war, Protector of wise women and elderly women, Fertility and Procreation, God of Masturbation, Soul Transformation and Guide through Consciousness changes, Heraldry and animal husbandry, speed, Codes, and Secrets, Caretaker of graves, Protector of travelers, Mechanics, Wine-pourer of the Gods, Inventor of weights and balances, Controller of Birds of Omen, hospitality, diplomacy, physical and moral boundaries, Orators, presentation, public speaking

Home• Mount Olympus 

Fact• He invented the alphabet and dice and the lyre, he also has a stone called the “hermai” on the side of the road or a stone with a penis (he was a fertility god) to show a border or a crossing, sometimes to explain direction and distance, or in important landmarks is up ahead, the herms were worshiped, with offerings and anointed with olive oil and adorned with flowers and wreaths, telling us about the sacredness and importance of the hermai. (The ones near tombs are also connected to funeral rites). Some say he created fire, because in his myth of his birth he started a fire to sacrifice cows to the gods.

Roots• Greek mythology, Mount Cyllene

Blessings • protection on the road, money randomly found, easy speaking, good parking, and less traffic. Herds multiply (fertility); Herds protected (from predators), Success in trade, Goods protected from thieves, having Persuasive speech, Poetic inspiration, Safe traveling, Protection of guests, Homes protected from thieves & criminals, having Wiliness and stealth, 

Curses: Herds die off by disease and infertility, Herds lost to predators, Unsuccessful trade, loss in money, loss in memory, loss In conversation, unwelcome ghosts in the house.

Food recipe • Panspermia, a mixture of beans, peas, seeds, olive oil, milk, and honey, should only be offered to Hermes in his Underworld aspect. This offering is considered food for the dead and should not be tasted by the living (considered bad luck if Aten by living) 

Offerings • Keys, Dice, Playing cards, Coins, Rocks/pebbles,Lucky charms (Cereal), Rabbit's foot, Horse shoe, Magic 8 ball, Coffee, Energy drinks, Herms, Road trip snacks (perhaps Hostess donuts), Airplanes/trains/cars imagery, Foreign/new foods, Trail mix, Peanut m&ms, rumane the marble popping soda drink, Turtles, Lyres/string instruments, Sandals/shoes/running shoes, Journals, Camping gear, Survival gear, like multitools, fire starters, first aid kits etc, Pens/pencils, Small (stolen) trinkets, Language dictionaries, Work out gear, Panpipes, Postcards, Letters, Mail, Stamps, Envelopes, Zodiac signs, Sheep/goats, Car parts, Backpacks/drawstring bags/bags, Crocos, Sticks, Saffron, Sticks, Books, Cups, Scales, Dream journals, Graveyard dirt, Cookie fortunes, Bikes/skateboards/skate, Old licenses/IDs, Sport trophies/jerseys/jackets/gear, Wings, Letters/numbers, Video games, Magic kits, Oranges/Lemons, Beer, White wine, Red wine for (His chthonic aspect), Milk, Mutton, Pork, Beef, Chamomile tea, Honey, Olive oil, Strawberries, Foreign foods, Eggs, Virgo or Gemini moon water,Golden objects, Silver objects, Musical instruments, Wands, Money/coins, Foreign money/coins, Dice, Pebbles, Feathers, Turtle shaped objects or art, Strawberry art or toys, Crocus flowers, Written stories or letters, Travel food, Souvenirs from your trips wheat, honey, twigs of olive, honey-comb and honey from local bees, cassia, cinnamon, saffron, include eggs, onions, garlic, pomegranate seeds, and fish or pork, barley grains, mead, beer (Especially German), lead, papyrus, pebbles, herms (or boundary stones), chocolate, whipped cream, coffee drinks, brightly-colored easter eggs, blueberries, granola, almonds, walnuts, pecans, Absinthe, beer, gin, vodka, red-bull, dry white wine, blessed moon water (especially in Virgo, Cancer, or Gemini), metal, jars, gin, pomegranates, onions, fish, garlic, Statues, Turtle Imagery, Hawk Imagery, Ram Imagery, Rooster Imagery, Marbles, Postcards, Chocolate, Lemons, Almonds, Mutton, Foreign Food, Brightly Colored Eggs, Onions, Sunflower Seeds, Fig Newton Cookies, Granola, Candies, Strawberry Milk, spring water, cookies or cakes, Wine, Golden cakes, Golden raisins, Apples, Music or poetry, Dancing, Drawings, pineapple, anything with computers, (especially boxing games, online games, and hackers), orange peels, gas station coffee!!, apples, bananas, grapes,Anything containing mercury, Crocuses, Panpipes, Saffron, Strawberries, Chocolate, Wheat, Honey, Lemons, Almonds, Cassia, Cinnamon, Pork or mutton, Spring water, Comforting a dying loved one, letters

Devotional• Board games, Dominos, pick up sticks, playing jacks, bouncy balls, peanut m&ms, write letters, go on walks, go run, do marathons in his honor, road trips, learn about alchemy, astrology, astral travel, prophet dreams, anything astrology related, learn basic car mechanics, give whatever to panhandlers, go talk to panhandlers (keep them company) , pranks, public speaking, tip well, stargazing, geocaching, learn a new language, Learn ASL, work out, Deive safely and predictably, use your blinkers fucking properly , bike/skate, clean your car, make a travel alter (for Hermes), get a passport, Travel , practice keyboarding, have a penpal, Train your voice, magic tricks, check your mail/email , low risk gambling (ex• lotto tickets) , make sigils, race, Play tag, be nice to wait staff, play sports, make maps of trails near you, make maps in general, play string instruments , Make herms, Carpool, Uphold confidentiality, Coin tricks, Be a reliable worker, Thrifting/yard saying, Dumpster diving, Making trades and barter, Help look for missing people/pets, Travel to new places, Learn a new sport, Practice speaking in public or online, Practice writing, Learn astrology, Learn astronomy, Learn about agriculture and animal husbandry, Learn magic tricks, Collect coins, Have a feast in His name, Dice games (ex- DnD), Card games, Donate to homeless shelters in His name, Give money to the hhomeless, Keep a dream journal, Write Him stories and poems or jokes, Honor the dead, Invoke Him on your travels or when looking for a job, always thank Him when you arrive safely or have some luck in your life, studying, learning, playing harmless pranks, attending magic shows, going on adventures, trying out new things, donating to fundraisers, working out, Taking a scenic route on your way home,Picking up loose change, Going to thrift stores, Being patient with delivery drivers, Going for walks, Making a mood board, Making a playlist, Making a dedicated journal, Giving to those in need, Going to/Watching sporting events, Practicing safe driving, Donations to hospitals and health institutions Donations to local artists, learn on how to save on gas, learn how to surf, draw sigils on shoes, leave coins when you leave places (extra points for pennys), give people in need a bus fare, clean off snow on other peoples car, clean your car, stopping for others (nicely, don’t run them over!), let him pick music, get a passport in his honor, decorate your passport, learn how animals communicate, call a love one, establish and force, dedicate a electronic to him, collect stamps and post cards, keep ur secrets, communicate with people when your upset,Keep a journal, Learn a new language/Revisit, Learn ASL, Learn about the evolution of language and how it is always changing, Be mindful of the language you use in daily life, Change your self-talk to positive, Voice training (Particularly for trans worshippers), Thinking before you speak, Learn about older forms of communication (ex- Morse Code), Learn braille,Go to the library and practice reading books in a foreign language ,Practice writing (great to do, Learn about the elements of writing, like allegory and metaphors, Play pranks (remember that good pranks cause confusion, not harm), Buy scratch offs/play the lottery, Understand how gambling addictions affect people, Dice and card games, Learn about good luck charms/Make your own, Learn about superstitions, Games like billiards or darts, Arcade/video games/carnival games, Make small/friendly bets, Poker nights in his honor, Do aGame of horseshoe, Learn parlor games, Smoke a bowl with Him, Learn a good joke, Write/perform stand up comedy,  Checking your mail, Checking email/voicemail, Buying stamps, Flipping a coin, Dice divination, Charm casting, present a presentation in his honor, public speaking in his honor

Siblings• Aeacus, Angelos, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Dionysus, Eileithyia, Enyo, Eris, Ersa, Hebe, Helen of Troy, Hephaestus, Heracles, Minos, Pandia, Persephone, Perseus, Rhadamanthus, the Graces, the Horae, the Litae, the Muses, and the Moirai.

Appearance in astral or gen• Winged cap and boots, Traveller’s cloak, Youthful usually beardless figure or with a beard, with a Caduceus, sometimes seen with a mustache

Parentage• Zeus and the nymph Maia or Uranus and Hemera

Sacred days, festivals- Wednesday, the 4th day of the month, Hermaea, Agonius, in Cydonia social order was inverted for the festival and masters waited on their slaves, and slaves got to taste freedom. 

Season• March, April, May, June (based on zodiacs) 

Status• Messenger of the gods, and an underworld worker, he is called the darling of the gods

Music • anything from flutes or the lyre.

Sacred places• Mt Kyllene in Arkadia (his birthplace), Arcadia, mount Cyllene, Tricrena mountains, his Temples, his Cavern-shrines, Altars in market-places, gymnasiums, athletic arenas, house entrances. 

Planet• mercury

Tarot• eight wands, magician, judgment, and maybe seven swords 

Scents/Inscene • Frankensince, Myrrh incense, Lavender incense, strawberry, camphor, and malabathrumcock, storax, mastic, mace, moly, nettles, asafoetida, ginger, and marjolane, dragon’s blood incense, list cloves, tobacco, nag champa, poppy, and vanilla, ink on parchment, Musk, White Sandalwood, Nettles

His kids -Hermaphroditus, Tyche, Abderus, Autolycus, Eudorus, Angelia, and Myrtilus, Arabos, Abderos, Aithalides, Bounos, Daphinis, Ekhion, Eleusis (according to others, she was a minor goddess of Eleusinian Mysteries), Euandros, Kaikos, kephalos, keryx, kydon, libys, Mytilos, Norax, Orion, Paris, Paris, phaunos, polybos,saon

What I associate with him• rock music, bricks, dinosaurs, and wine (I promised to share my first cup of wine with him once I turn 21)

Some summarized myths •

Birth- Hermes was born from his mother Maia, the goddess of the fields, and his Father Zeus, he hid in a cave with his mother in Mt. Cyllene in Arcadia, the same day he was born (or when he was a toddler), he ran away while his mother was out, he stole cattle and turned their feet backwards, to 'trick' Apollo, he went back to the cave and made a fire and sacrificed 2 cows to catch the gods attention and ate 1 and hid the rest, outside after he ate he saw a  tortoise feeding and cleaned it out and made strings together from a cow he ate, and made a lyre and a plectrum, and Apollo found him, furious he took him to his father and he denied everything and zeus found it hilarious, and he had to head back to the place where he hid the cattle, on the way he played the lyre, Apollo was enamored by it and asked for it and in return he would be his best friend and forgive him, and while helping Apollo tend to the cattle he made pan pipes, which Apollo made him a deal for his iconic golden snake staff and the skill of phropecy by using pebbles.

Killing Argos- Zeus had a lover Io, Who he was laying with in a field, Hera saw and strolled over, he struck in panic turned her into a cow, and Hera came over and demanded it as a gift, and zeus obliged, zeus in a panic asked Hermes to slay it, Hermes went to the cane where the all-seeing giant was, he lured him to sleep with a song, and when he was asleep, he slashed all his eyes and killed him, and took the cow, and in grief Hera turned the giant into a peacock to save the memory and to honor the giant. that's the myth where he gained the title 'Argos slayer'

Prayers•

Safe travels

Swift-footed Hermes, friend of the traveler, friend of those who find themselves far from their homes, by will or by chance, I pray to you. Hermes, who moves between the realms with authority and ease, who leads men and women on their last, longest journey, who stands at the crossroad, who watches the byways, in you I place my trust, for by your might I know that when I stumble I will rise again, that when I choose my way I will choose aright. Hermes, as I make my way through the world, whether I wander or whether I walk my path with care, be with me.

In general

Hermes of the ready wit and the lightning smile, wing-footed one who carries the words of the gods, compassionate one who guides the newly-dead to the hall of Hades and fair Persephone, quick-thinking one who takes interest in the world and works of mankind, whose hand we see in a run of luck and a clever scheme, I call to you. Hermes, bearer of the herald’s staff, your gifts are great. You guard our homes with constancy and care, you grant to us a portion of your own craft and wile, you join with us when we revel and are merry, you stand with us when we are far from home, alone. You are ever with us, O Hermes; O god who holds in hand the good of men, I honor you.

hestia & hermes for good money

I call to Hermes, god of the marketplace, god of the the deal, from whose hands fall shining coins. I call to Hestia, goddess of the home, goddess of good management, who knows the ways of thrift. Grant me a keen eye to spot a bargain, I pray; grant that I know false economy from true. Grant me the craft to repair what is broken, grant me the sufficiency to save for what may come. Grant me the wisdom to live with care, O gods, the discipline and skill to live within my means; grant me the wit to know my needs and my desires, grant me the judgment to know the difference.

This info is some UPG and some traditional, I do not find UPG disrespectful at all and some of it is my own experience, and I am not debating about it. My info is still valid, and I'm sure my sources is, just wanted to clarify this! Much love! I did get some info from other Tumblr users, I made this way back, I still update it, I dont own any of this information.

sources - https://twelfthremedy.tumblr.com/post/621849449656942592/hermes-offerings/amp

Wikipedia. “Agetor.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, 10 Nov. 2010. Web. 12 May 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agetor.

Burkert, Walter. “The Gods.” Greek Religion. Basil Blackwell and Harvard UP, 1985. 156-59. Print.

The original book was published in Germany as Griechische Religion der archaischen und klassischen Epoche. by Verlag W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart, copyright year 1977

1b) Atsma, Aaron J. “ESTATE, ATTRIBUTES & ATTENDANTS OF HERMES : Greek Mythology.” THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art. 2000. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/HermesTreasures.html, Wikipedia. “Agonius.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, 10 Nov. 2010. Web. 12 May 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agonius, Wikipedia. “Agoraea.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, 26 June 2010. Web. 12 May 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agoraeus, Wikipedia. “Chthonius.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, 20 June 2011. Web. 26 June 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chthonius,Wikipedia. “Hermes Trismegistus.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, 9 June 2011. Web. 26 June 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes_Trismegistus., “Kriophoros.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, 11 June 2011. Web. 26 June 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriophoros, Wikipedia. “Leucus.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, 13 Feb. 2011. Web. 26 June 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucus, Atsma, Aaron J. “ESTATE, ATTRIBUTES & ATTENDANTS OF HERMES : Greek Mythology.” THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art. 2000. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/HermesTreasures.html, “CYLLENIUS, Greek Mythology Index.” MYTH INDEX, Greek Mythology. Myth Index, 2007. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. http://www.mythindex.com/greek-mythology/C/Cyllenius.html, Sannion. “Wildivine.org – Offeringsto Hermes.” Wildivine.org – Dionysos, Hermes, Nymphs and Pacific Northwest Polytheism. Wildvine.org. Web. 26 June 2011. http://www.wildivine.org/hermes_offerings.htm.1, Sannion. “Wildivine.org – Offerings to Hermes.” Wildivine.org – Dionysos, Hermes, Nymphs and Pacific Northwest Polytheism. Wildvine.org. Web. 12 May, http://www.wildivine.org/hermes_offerings.htm, Sannion. “Wildivine.org – Hermes’epithets.” Wildivine.org – Dionysos, Hermes, Nymphs and Pacific Northwest Polytheism. Wildvine.org. Web. 12 May 2011. http://www.wildivine.org/hermes_epithets.htm.

https://greekpagan.com/category/prayers-2/hermes/

https://journal.uny.ac.id/index.php/diksi/article/download/49223/18693#:~:text=The%20red%20or%20green%20color,one%20of%20the%20Olympic%20gods.

 travelingthief.tumblr.comhttps://www.tumblr.com/themodernwitchsguide

I use resources, I do not own the info, and most deep dives have UPG (that I use in my work.) And I only take some information from sources. I am 14, this is my hobby, I am learning but I spent many hours and days on this, and I am always open to criticism. I have been doing worship for 5 years. Please know you can use the info, I do not sue, but I will take action if this work is used without permission and not put as a resource if used in any work. without permisson and not put as a resource if used in any work, for the public.

[yellowbunnydreams]

Bunny Punk (Part 1)~Punk!William Afton x F!Reader~

~So this started out as a concept, then turned into a one-shot, then I got to a point and thought to myself 'This is a series isn't it?' Thanks to @ruh--roh-raggy for putting up with my bullshit and proofing some of this story. I don't know how long this story will be, but I can imagine it might be one of my shorter series.~

CW: 18+ MINORS DNI, mention of scars, body and face piercings (inc, tongue, reference to others), tattooed!reader, punk!William, tattooed!Afton, age gap (Reader 20's, William 40's)

You sighed as you looked around the party going on in your college's gymnasium, filled with people perhaps double or so your age and the occasional peer who looked as bored as yourself, milling about and laughing as shitty music played in the background that you weren't even sure of the name of. Glancing at the sign strung over the doorway, you cursed yourself internally, wishing you hadn't signed up to help with this reunion event as you could have been doing much better things with your time. Like working on the million and one assignments that you felt like you had. Or perhaps simply just sleeping and procrastinating on those assignments.

The oversized black hoodie that you'd somehow convinced the dean of your department to let you wear sported some black embroidered gears along the sleeves, your nickname from your club printed over your left breast. Hair tied up and a tight pair of jeans, the cleanest you could find in the pile of washing that moved between your bed and a chair as required, never quite making it to the wardrobe.

Seeing the free food and drink table that was technically for the guests of the event, you bit your lip as you decided to go and visit it. What harm would taking a few snacks and drinks do? None of the faculty were looking, and the ones who were milling about were too engrossed in talking to old students and favouring talking to people too old to be wear jock-jackets and cheerleading skirts. Rolling your eyes as you wondered why they were all dressed up like they were awaiting for their class photos all over again.

William wasn't entirely sure why he'd accepted the invite back to his old college, his teeth finding the labret piercing along his lip and chewing it somewhat absently as he looked at the drinks table, thick brows furrowing as he decided whether or not to go fetch another drink. It had sounded like a good idea at the time when his friend Henry had convinced him to go, even though the theme was silly and he hadn't felt comfortable dressing as he was now for a while, but his friend had ditched at the last minute and now he was stood on the side-lines. Smiling politely as people he barely recognised came up to him and complimented how good he looked for his age, cooing over how they hadn't seen him in years.

It would perhaps be bearable if he remembered any of these people.

You weren't looking where you were going as your head darted around, trying to avoid being spotted by the dean before suddenly you walked into somebody, gasping as you stumbled back and a large hand shot out to grab you by the arm, steadying you. Blinking as you looked at who you'd walked into.

Whoever he was, he was older. Dark brown hair greying at the temple and becoming peppered through his short, sweptback haircut, greying eyebrows with the left one decorated by a complimentary silver ring. A septum piercing caught you slightly off guard, but the greying eyes hidden behind golden wire framed aviator glasses held your attention. Slight scowl on his sharp features as you couldn't help but notice a lip ring, cheeks filling with colour as you thought how handsome he was.

"Sorry! I um..Sorry." You stammered out, averting your eyes quickly before hearing a grunt, the hand letting you go. William's eyes raked over you quickly, assessingly as he took in how young you were, the oversized hoodie with the subtle designs, a name he couldn't quite read on the breast.

"Are you meant to be in here? You don't look like one of my old classmates." Crossing his thick, strong forearms across his chest, your eyes naturally flickered to the tattoo sleeve on his right, the intricate designs standing out as bio-mechanical, following where the bones in his arms laid, although there was another design you couldn't quite make out on the inside of his forearm.

"I um..I'm one of the student volunteers for the event, sir." You explained quickly, snapping your attention back to his face as you found yourself more flustered that you'd been staring at him. Hearing a snort coming from the taller man as you watched a smirk flicker across his face.

"Volunteer?" The smirk on his face developed and he couldn't help but let it spread as he looked down at your nervous face. Feeling a sense of satisfaction that you looked so flustered, watching how your eyes would momentarily flicker to his arm and trace the linework before seeming to catch yourself and focus on his face again. "They still getting you to do that stupid shit? Do they still offer extra credit for it?" He asked, making you reciprocate the smile as you shook your head.

"Nah, extra credit would be nice but we get two free lunch credits for our 'service' tonight." Shrugging your shoulders as the man whistled, looking back at the food table and then back to you. Allowing you to quickly steal glances at the tight black t-shirt and jeans he was wearing before he turned back to you.

"Two whole credits hey? And they don't let you have any of the good stuff on the table?" Raising an eyebrow before the grin returned. "How big are the pockets on that hoodie?"

"Sorry?"

"The hoodie pockets, how big are they?" He asked, gesturing to your hoodie and making you look at it, humming in thought before you answered.

"I can carry a two-litre soda bottle and a bag of chips usually."

"Perfect. Fancy stealing some snacks and ditching this snooze-fest?" He grinned, making you raise an eyebrow in return and cross your arms this time, looking up at him and wondering how serious he was.

"Snooze-fest? What it this the eighties? And secondly...I may have been aiming to 'help the help' when we collided." Grinning as the man offered his arm to you and you cautiously took it, feeling silly as you stuck close to him. Seeing a few of the people around you glancing sideways at you and the tall tattooed man, but looking away quickly as he glared at them.

Approaching the snack table, you went to break away but he held onto your arm, keeping you close as he looked about before his large hand darted out, grabbing cans and baggies of snacks and pushing them into the large pocket of your hoodie. Your cheeks burning as he kept brushing against your stomach with each pass, swallowing softly and turning to look around, see if anybody spotted you before the taller man nudged you, snapping your attention back to him.

"Don't look around, if you look suspicious, they'll look at you in turn." He said softly, grabbing another couple of cans and baggies before filling your pocket, releasing you before he nodded and winked, tapping the side of his nose with humour lighting up his eyes. "Meet me outside the gym in a moment, can't be seen leaving together."

With that he disappeared into the crowd, leaving you wondering what the hell had just happened. But after a few moments, you followed through the crowd, curious as to what he planned on doing with so many snacks and drinks, although from what little you had interacted, he seemed like a pretty funny guy.

You spotted him just outside the gym, staring into a cabinet with his brow furrowed slightly, hands stuck into the pockets of his jeans, thumbs hooked over the outside as you approached, looking curiously inside the cabinet and spotting what he was looking at. For the reunion they'd brought together photos of old clubs and trophies from games and tournaments. You guessed it was to 'relive the best days of their lives'.

One photo stood out to you though, a group of young, scrawny lads in matching t-shirts of various colours. There was a taller guy with dark curly hair and braces that looked like a stiff breeze might topple him over, but he was holding a silver trophy high up with a grin, arm around a significantly taller boy. There was something familiar about him and squinting at the photo through the layers of glass revealed a lithe figure, the start of tattoos peeking from underneath the short sleeve, piercings decorating a tight-lipped smile. Looking back at the man stood next to you and back again, your eyes widened slightly.

"Holy shit, is that you?" Earning a snort and a chuckle, watching him bite at the labret on his lip before smirking at you confidently.

"Have I really changed that much?" He teased, gesturing to the piercings and the all black, just like he appeared in the photo. Although now he was broader, more muscular and you could practically feel the confidence oozing off of him. Shrugging your shoulders, you chewed your lip absently.

"I mean, I would have thought you ditched the piercings at your age. You're not lanky either. More like a dad-bod." Fake pouting as he placed a hand over heart, raising his eyebrows in a way that made your chest tighten for some reason as his lips curled into more of a smile.

"Oh these? I just put them back in when I might run into pretty college girls. And you watch your mouth about the dad-bod. I heard girls your age like DILFs." He teased, watching your cheeks flush and your eyes snap away temporarily, enjoying teasing you and playing around with somebody so young and trying to find their rebellious feet. He remembered being like you, and he was glad he'd maintained that fire into his more mature self.

"What kind of porn level logic is that?" You sputtered out, crossing your arms and huffing to get a stray strand of hair out of your face. Uncrossing them after a moment before reaching into the hoodie pocket and pulling out a soda can, cracking it open and beginning to walk off, hearing his footsteps follow behind you with a slight scowl over your shoulder at him.

"If you're going to run off, makes sense to keep me with you, at least then you can pretend to be giving me a tour."

"You fucking went here, you should know your way around, or has some metal made it into your brain?" Rolling your eyes, flushing as he easily reached into your hoodie and pulled out another can, fingers brushing your stomach once again before he fell into step, your legs having to move faster to keep up with his long languid strides.

"Ooo, so original! You almost made my lip quiver with your meanness." Laughing as he bumped into you slightly, looking around the hall and taking in how much the decorations had changed. Rolling his eyes at the motivational posters that seemed to permanently reside on the white walls, wondering what happened to the small row of thin lockers that used to live in an alcove along the west wall. "Says the baby with virgin skin." He threw back, making you scowl at him in disapproval.

"How do you know what I look like under this hoodie? I could be covered enough to set off a metal detector and you would never know." You countered, watching his smile grow before he leaned in as he walked, slightly conspiratorial.

"You know, most punks like to show off their art. Tattoos, piercings, clothes. You'd have shown me by now if you had anything." His close, deep voice made you shiver, clearing your throat as you looked at the hall walls, realising you'd subconiously been heading towards the engineering department as you'd walked. Groaning as you remembered all the projects you should be working on.

Turning to your left, you kept quiet, allowing the tall man to trail behind you and finish his drink before he threw it into the trash nearby, pumping his fist silently to himself as he got it in from a good distance away. You secretly smiled at the image, wondering how he could continue to be so childish. Stealing snacks. Throwing things into bins from a distance.

Your hand landed on the door to your workshop before you even knew what you were doing, fishing into your jeans and pulling out a ring of keys, unlocking the door and breathing deeply as the scent of soldering irons and copper hit you. Nodding your head into the room as the man looked in curiously.

"If you're going to hang about, don't touch shit. You probably wouldn't understand half the stuff going on in here." Scoffing as you went in first, hearing his footsteps slowly entering behind you as you paced over to your project cabinet, unlocking it and pulling out a complex set of wires and metal bars and rings.

Kicking out a stool and emptying your pockets onto a free space on the table so you could sit more comfortably. He took a seat at the same table and peered curiously at what you were working on after a quick glance around. Whilst the workshop hadn't changed much, the sight of new projects scattered around at various stages of completion made him feel right at home again. Reminded somewhat of his old workshop at Freddy's before the company had gotten too big for just him and Henry to work on the animatronics alone. Now the biggest project yet 'the pizzaplex' was set to open in two months, and he had to admit, he missed the small little cramped space of Fredbear's diner when he and Henry had shared a single office with security.

Your slender fingers worked deftly as you tried to nudge wires and tense wire coils into place, swearing under your breath as you began to feel too warm in the hoodie. You always felt warm whilst concentrating, plus you needed to clear your arms for testing again. Gripping the bottom of your hoodie and pulling it over your body before chucking it over another seat. Revealing a tight tank-top underneath, one of the straps falling off of your shoulder and making William swallow as his eyes instinctually ran across the curves of your shoulders and collarbones.

"What are you working on?" He broke the silence, distracting himself as he furrowed his brow, trying to work out what was so familiar about the structure your hands tinkered with. Strand of hair falling into your face and you tried to huff it away from your forehead as you glanced at him.

"It's just a proto-type. Nothing special." Feeling suddenly embaressed about the project, brow furrowing as you noticed one of the springs out of place and using a thin hooked tool to pull it back into place again. Nose scrunching up as you took a deep breath and studied it carefully, checking for any more flaws.

"Prototypes are important, they help you find all the flaws in your designs. Maybe a second pair of eyes might be able to look over it for you?" He asked, holding out his hand in offer with a kind smile, meeting your concerned frown before you tenderly handed it over. Reluctant to give over your work that you had spent so long on, although it was more personal to you, you didn't want to have it all ruined in a moment because of somebody else's carelessness.

"Just be careful okay? It's important to me. Don't make me get the shop safety poster and make you test on it." You threatened playfully, earning a smile as his eyes sparked with mirth. Carefully turning over the device in his large hands with surprising care and diligence, humming quietly as he moved it under the lights to get a good look at it.

"Don't remind me. I had a habit of falling short on the marks on that damn test every year, probably because Mr. Schmidt hated my guts for dicking around in shop." He chuckled, making you raise an eyebrow as he revealed he used to be part of the shop. Feeling curiosity burn in your chest as suddenly you felt a tiny bit more confident in letting him handle your project.

"You used to - OH MY GOD!" Your thought was cut off as he suddenly perked up and slipped his hand between the rings and wires on his non-tattooed arm, making the colour drain from your face as his fingers became tangled into place along the more delicate parts at the end. He looked fascinated as he moved and flexed his hand, turning it this was and that to get a proper look, circling his wrist as you began to hyper-ventilate slightly.

"I thought I recognised some of this.... Is this a springlock?" He asked, perfectly calm as he flexed and checked movement for a moment more before disconnecting from the framework easily. Your heart pounding in your chest as you stared at the mechanical suit arm on the desk, wondering what had just happened.

"I think.. you may have failed the shop safety tests for different reasons." Breathing heavy as your hands snatched it up again, performing a quick safety check before placing it down again. Running a hand over your hair and feeling your hands tremble slightly. "And..yeah... it's a springlock design, V2.4 currently...Holy shit you just..."

William chuckled and showed off his arm under the light, brushing some of the coarse dark hair on his forearm so that you could make out the deep, pale scars that ran up the skin that you hadn't noticed before. Eyes widening as you showed off the same arm, your own matching scars more pink than his, from your own springlock incident three months previous during your first testing phase.

"I'm very familiar with them, as you can see. But I'm very impressed! If type I'm familiar with had been handled that roughly, I would have had myself a few more scars and a nice trip to the emergency room." He chuckled, smiling brightly, offering his large calloused hand for you to cautiously shake.

"I never introduced myself. I'm William, William Afton."

Your jaw dropped as you felt your grip on the handshake faulter. Brain turning over the name over and over again as you struggled to comprehend who was sat across from you.

"Y-You're...Oh my god you're...you're actually him aren't you?" Breathing hitched as you watched the smirk on his face reappear at your realisation, nodding slowly and releasing your softer hand to watch them cover your face as you groaned into your palms. "I've been insulting William Afton...I...Shit I've insulted you." Feeling as if the earth could swallow you up and consume you would be a preferable option to meeting your hero and having him look at your work.

"I thought it was quite cute actually. You're such a baby punk...Hmm..There's got to be a better name for that.. Bunny punk? Yeah, bunny punk, you're all soft and cute, stamping your foot like a little bunny rabbit and trying to appear tough." Your reddening cheeks almost becoming their own heat source as he smirked at you, resting his chin against his hand as he glanced over you again.

"I'm not...I'm not a 'bunny punk', Mr. Afton." Your cheeks burned as he sucked on his teeth for a moment, looking you over before he grinned again, your chest sent fluttering as that smile seemed to radiate confidence and an almost predatory nature to it.

"You're very right young lady...You're just a little bunny aren't you? I think that's what I'll call you, bunny." his smile broke and he stuck his tongue out at you, making your body ache slightly as you realised he had a silver stud on his tongue, such a cute nickname combined with your idol sat across from you looking all too hot with his piercings in flustering you all the more.

"Sir, I-"

"Wow, that's something usually only my employees or pretty ladies in bed call me. You're bold aren't you, bunny?" William couldn't hold back the teasing as you grew increasingly flustered, cheeks burning up and the flush spreading down to your collarbones. The way your shoulders curled in allowing him to see a dark mark against your shoulder blade, piquing his interest more as he stood up, walking behind you and his large hand resting on your back, feeling how you tensed up as he studied the lines of the tattoo against your skin.

"You were right, I really had no idea what was hiding under that hoodie of yours." Chuckling as he felt the goose bumps along your skin forming under his finger. He swore he could almost feel how quickly your heart beat inside your chest as he placed his hand between your shoulders. "But-" he pulled his hand away and leaned onto the desk next to you, forcing you to turn your head up and look at him. Lips parted softly, making him ache at how deliciously under-prepared for him you looked. Wondering how far he would be able to push the flirting and the teasing before you ran from him.

"Mr. Afton, I... I have admired your work for a very long time." The words were slow to fall from your lips, trying to force yourself to be polite and ignore the part of your brain that was screaming in delight at how he touched your back, how your celebrity crush flirted with you and made you feel special.

It wasn't helpful that your brain kept suggesting to you how that lip and tongue piercing would feel kissing you, or running against another pair of lips that desperately wanted attenton.

"I used to go to Freddy's when I was little. That's when I fell in love with robotics honestly." You breathed, watching his expression turn to surprise as his eyebrows raised, watching the way the eyebrow piercing caught the light before you turned your eyes to his tattoos. Finally seeing the design on the inside of his arm was a knife, mixed into the biomechanical designs that dominated the arm. "I think I met you once back then, although I don't think you had any piercings."

"I took them out in the restaurant, well, apart from a couple more....private...ones." He smiled, listening to you talk as he felt his body aching more as you stroked his ego. He might have been many things, but able to resist somebody offering him praise and idolisation wasn't one of them. "Go on, bunny."

"I found an article about the springlocks, and the designs were just..beautiful. The engineering? The design? How such complex machinery could be fitted into such a small space, it was entrancing." Feeling your heart beating faster as his grey eyes focused on you intensely, shuddering under his intensity. "So I wanted to continue the project. I was..I guess I was hoping you were still into engineering and I hoped that I could maybe recreate the spring-bonnie suit that I loved so much." Nervous babbling coming to an end as he gazed at you, a grin spreading up his face as he looked down at you.

"Spring-bonnie was my suit in particular actually." The fact made your heart only pound faster, flustering yourself all over again that you didn't know such a simple fact. All those chaotic thoughts pausing as he raised his hand and caught your chin, forcing you to look at him as he ran his tongue against his lip. "You did all this work, for me?"

"Y-Yes sir."

"What a good girl you are. Would you like a reward?" William's voice was calm and controlled, but inside he was feeling a little feral. Such a cute thing having devoted her entire career to following his work, recreating the work she loved, wanting to gift it back to him. It stoked a dark, hungry fire in him and suddenly he was back in college himself, the punk that made ladies swoon as he bit his piercing at them, with all the charm and suave that age had brought him.

The tiny nod of your head was all he needed to lean in, his lips brushing yours, barely ghosting them before they met yours fully. A soft squeak escaping you as it caught you slightly by surprise. The cold metal of his lip ring down the centre line of your lip contrasting to how hot he felt against your lips. Moving together slowly at first before your tongue ran across his lip and William growled deeply in his chest, parting his lips and pushing his tongue into your mouth. One hand moving to the back of your head and pressing you into it, allowing him to dominate your mouth, the feeling of his stud meeting your tongue sending shivers down your spine.

Finally the kiss broke, leaving you breathless, a silver strand of saliva connecting your lips before William licked his lips and broke it. Grinning widely at you, you swore his eyes almost looked black in the lights of the workshop before he handed your hoodie back to you, making you pause for a moment in confusion, perhaps a little hurt before he spoke.

"You're going to put that back on, bunny. We're going to grab our stuff, and then we're going to go to your dorm or where-ever the fuck your bed is. I think you deserve an extra special thank you for being such a dedicated volunteer tonight." The words made you light up, nodding enthusiastically, throwing on your hoodie and allowing him to stuff some of the snacks and drinks back into your pockets, more opening shivering as his thick fingers brushed against you through the fabric. Swallowing softly as he also picked up the springlock arm and cradled it in his hands with a grin as you raised a curious eyebrow.

"Come on then, bunny. Lead the way." Letting you lead the way out of the workshop and locking up behind yourself before he followed shortly behind you, watching the way your body moved hungrily as he imagined stripping you bare for him and considered how pretty you might look naked in his own workshop.

[supercap2319]

"I like your watch." Y/N told the football player he followed onto the bus and stalked him until he was alone. The player from Grove Hills' smiled awkwardly.

"Um... Thanks?"

"I want it." Y/N demands like a child.

"Yeah, but it's mine, so fuck off, before I kick your ass." The football player said. He tries walking around him, but Y/N moves in his way. Y/N's eyes vamp out, he snarls and launches onto the guy's neck, biting down hard and rough as the boy splutters and groans in pain. Y/N continues to drink from the player's neck, reaches around, and unclapping the silver watch from the football player's right arm.

Later on, Y/N wipes his jersey and face clean as he heads back inside the gym, but not before being caught in the act by Stefan. "Nice move. What do you do for an encore? Feeding on dumb jockstraps? Nice one."

"Listen, Stefan, if you're gonna start another boring lecture about becoming like Ripper you, you can save your breath. I don't want to listen to preach." Y/N said.

"No. I was impressed. Getting yourself on the football team. Plenty of vervain-free victims bussed in for the competition. Well, played. For an amateur." They approach Stefan's motorcycle and come to a stop. Y/N looks at him. "Amateur? What makes me an amateur?"

"Well, you know, the problem with a gymnasium is, too many witnesses. You gotta go somewhere a little more private for some real fun." Stefan smiled.

Y/N looks mildly interested in Stefan's words. "Oh, yeah? Where?

"Oh, I know this little dive bar off the beaten path." Stefan picks up a helmet. "Come on." Y/N looks at the helmet and the bike. He remembers Stefan's T-100 Triumph. He took Y/N riding when he first transitioned to show him life could still be fun as a vampire. If he actually cared, his heart would be warm at that gesture.

"You're bluffing."

"You're forgetting that I had my switch flipped in this town, too. I know where to take someone to have a good time."

"Such as?" Y/N asked.

"We'll hit this really great gay club I know and show off those muscles of yours. I'll even treat you to a dance." Stefan said.

"Why would I care about clubs or gays?" Y/N asked with his arms crossed.

"Because you'd be surprised what guys will let you do to them when they're horny. Give them a little wink or slap on the ass and they're yours." Stefan promised, green eyes shimmering with mischief. For a moment, he looks like Damon.

"Oh, so Saint Stefan does know how to have fun?" Y/N snarkily says.

"You forget I was a Ripper. The Ripper could teach you things that Damon or Klaus could only dream of when it comes to being a vampire."

Y/N took Stefan's other helmet and put on his head. "Show me. Show me the ropes."

Stefan smiled. "Atta boy."

[lucrezianoin]

List of Year 24 complete manga work in English or Italian

I made this list mainly to myself, but you can easily use it too. I am on a mission to read every Year 24 group manga available, so here I collected:

licensed manga (in English and Italian)

online scans

Every licensed manga has a the name of the publisher too, and you might find the Italian translation easier than the Japanese.

I added an "online" to the ones you can definitely find scanned online. Every title is linked to where to read the story nearby, keep in mind these websites come and go and might have ads.

If you see a licensed title in italics it means that the manga cannot be found anywhere online and scanned (and translated). Or that some short stories in the collection (if it is a collection) cannot be found anywhere online and scanned.

Let's start!

The authors are (in order): Moto Hagio, Keiko Takemiya, Riyoko Ikeda, Ryoko Yamagishi, Yasuko Aoike, Yumiko Ooshima, Minori Kimura, Kihara Toshie.

MOTO HAGIO

Licensed in English

They Were 11! (JP Oversized and Viz)

The Complete Poe Clan (Fantagraphics, coming out November 2024)

Heart of Thomas (Fantagraphics)

A Drunken dream and other stories (Fantagraphics)

Neo Parasyte m (Kodansha Comics; first chapter is by Moto Hagio)

Lil' Leo (Denpa books)

Otherworld Barbara volume 1 and 2 (Fantagraphics)

A,A' (Viz), impossible to find it seems

Licensed in Italian

Il cuore di Thomas - The heart of Thomas (J-POP)

A Cruel God Reigns, 9 volumes (J-POP)

Star Red (J-POP)

Hanshin, la dea dimezzata, collection of stories (J-POP) (anilist)

Il Clan dei Poe volume 1 and 2 (J-POP)

Barbara, vol1, 2 and 3 (J-POP)

Marginal vol1, 2 and 3 (J-POP)

Online (English only) (chronological order)

-> Full series

The Heart of Thomas (manganelo)

They were 11 (mangadex)

They were 11: Higashi no Chihei, Nishi no Towa (mangadex)

U wa Uchuusen no U (collection of stories) (mangadex)

Silver Triangle (mangadex)

A, A' (mangadex)

Marginal (mangadex)

A cruel god reigns (mangadex)

-> One shots

Bianca (mangadex)

Girl on the porch with puppy (internet archive)

Poor mama (mangadex)

Autumn Journey (internet archive)

11-gatsu no Gymnasium (mangadex)

Unicorn no Yume (mangadex)

Onshitsu (mangadex)

Marie, ten years later (internet archive)

Cabagge Hata no Isansouzokunin (mangadex)

Houmonsha, prequel of Heart of Thomas (mangadex)

Shiro - The Castle (mangadex)

A Drunken Dream (internet archive)

Ragini (mangadex)

Kinyou no Yoru no Shuukai (mangadex)

Kimi Wa Utsukushii Hitomi (mangadex)

Hanshin: Half-God (mangadex)

Egg stand (mangadex)

Angel Mimic (internet archive)

The child who comes home (internet archive)

Slow Down (mangadex)

The false king (mangadex)

Iguana girl (mangadex)

Afternoon sunshine (mangadex)

Yuujin K (mangadex)

Yama e Iku - Going to the mountains (mangadex)

The Willow Tree (mangadex)

Moments of lonliness (mangadex)

With Love to "From Eroica with love" (mangadex)

Neo Parasyte m's short story "Yura no Mon wo" (mangaplaza, first story, which is the free one)

KEIKO TAKEMIYA

Licensed in English

To Terra, 3 volumes (Vertical Inc)

Andromeda stories, 3 volumes (Vertical Inc)

Licensed in Italian

Il poema del vento e degli alberi - Kaze to Ki no Uta, 10 volumes (J-POP)

Verso la Terra - To terra, 3 volumes (J-POP)

Il suo nome era Gilbert, autobiographical novel (J-POP)

Online (English only) (chronological order)

-> Full series

Kaze to Ki no Uta (mangadex)

To Terra (mangadex)

Andromeda Stories (mangadex)

Rintarou Panic! (mangadex)

-> One shots

Sunroom Nite (mangadex)

Hohoemu Shounen (mangadex)

On a snowy day (mangadex)

Star (mangadex)

20 no Hiru to Yoru (mangadex)

Mister no kokori (mangadex)

Natsu e no Tobira (mangadex)

Manatsu no Yoru no Yume (mangadex)

Koufuku no Hato (mangadex)

Toki wo Yuku Uma (mangadex)

RIYOKO IKEDA

Licensed in English

Claudine (Seven Seas)

The Rose of Versailles, 5 volumes (Udon Entertainment)

Licensed in Italian

Le rose di Versailles, 5 volumes (Edizioni BD)

La finestra di Orfeo - Orpheus no Mado, 9 volumes (J-POP)

Anello dei Nibelunghi - Nibelungen no Yubiwa, 4 volumes (Goen)

Claudine (Goen)

Ayako, 2 volumes (Goen)

Caro Fratello - Dearest Brother, 2 volumes (Goen)

Elisabetta - Elizabeth (Yamato)

Eroica la Gloria di Napoleone - Héroïque The Glory of Napoleon, 12 volumes (Magic Press)

Online (English only)

Bara Yashiki no Shoujo (mangadex)

Early Spring Trembling (mangadex)

Porando Hishi Ten no Hate Made (mangadex)

Dearest Brother (mangadex)

Nibelungen no Yubiwa (only 3 volumes, 1 missing, mangadex)

Claudine (mangadex)

Versailles no Bara (up till volume 12, mangadex)

Summer in Cantenbury (mangadex)

RYOKO YAMAGISHI

Online (English only)

Shiroi Heya no Furari (mangadex)

Yasha Gozen (mangadex)

Harpy, collection of stories (mangadex)

Hatshepsut (mangadex)

Hiruko (mangadex)

Medusa (mangadex)

Hemi no Hire (mangadex)

YASUKO AOIKE

Licensed in English

From Eroica with Love (Cmx, unfinished)

Online (English only)

From Eroica with Love (still being translated, currently at chapter 21 (mangadex)

Vampire (mangadex)

The free shooter (mangadex)

Tasogare ni Kaere (mangadex)

Z (mangadex)

YUMIKO OOSHIMA

Online (English only) (chronological order)

No longer male (mangadex)

To Joker (mangadex)

Banana Bread no Pudding (mangadex)

Grass Crown Princess (mangadex)

He His Him (mangadex)

Across a golden prarie (mangadex)

Summertime (mangadex)

Long long cafe (mangadex)

MINORI KIMURA

Online (English only) (chronological order)

Ame (short stories) (mangadex)

Warped mirror (mandagex)

KIHARA TOSHIE

Online (English only) (chronological order)

I'm fine with dying (mangadex)

Diamond Gojiran, 3 one shots (mangadex)

With love to "From Eroica with love" (mangadex)

NANAE SASAYA

none

MINEKO YAMADA

none

[crystalandparrot]

Rottmnt x Reader

School Tour

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

All actors are names made by me, any relation or comparison to these characters is purely coincidental.

Warning: Drug use, marijuana but its not underage drug use and it's legal.

Intergalactic by the Beastie Boys bounced between your ears once you stepped up to Empire High School. Most students were leaving for the day, talking amongst themselves and making plans for the weekend.

"Ms. (L/n)!" A man with a blonde effeminate wig that most students would call a "Karen" haircut waved furiously at you from the top of the steps. He bounced down the steps, his hair poofy and bouncing.

You quickly put your headphones away and tucked the phone in your pocket. "Mr.—"

"Dale is fine! I don't like formalities, I had enough of those in high school." Dale, the Principal of Empire High, chuckled goofily. "How about I give you the tour?" Dale asked, gesturing to the large school doors.

You nodded with a grin, following Dale inside. In between showing you the classes, he asked questions regarding your resume. Some questions were about family, achievements, and activities, but then he surprised you by asking about your schooling. "Oh! I was attending a Mystic College in the Hidden City. Don't worry, it has the same schooling as New York--"

"Oh! I wasn't worried about that! We have a couple of Yokai students and faculty that go in between schools." Dale opened the door to the gymnasium, holding it open for you to walk in.

THUD--SNAP

You looked forward, your eyes immediately expanding once you saw a punching bag quickly flying your way. For a split second, your eyes darted to the top of it, and upon seeing a broken chain your heart continued to drop. You couldn't resist the shriek that left your lips and the closing of your eyes.

THUD

Not feeling anything, you stopped screaming and opened one eye. Your eyes were looking at a large three-fingered, green, hand. Below that hand sat a silver watch with a teddy bear hour hand. In the large hand sat the punching bag, almost like he froze it in time. His fingers wrapped around the sides of the bag, almost fitting perfectly in his palm.

"Tyler! What did we say about using mystic abilities?" A deep voice boomed throughout the building.

"Sorry, Mr. Raph!" A pre-pubescent voice called back.

"C'mere and hang this back up." The deep voice commanded, tossing the punching bag forward. A teenage bull Yokai caught it like he was thrown a pillow. He quickly hung it back up on the one hook that was missing a bag.

"Are you okay, ma'am?" That deep voice shook you from your frozen spot. You looked up, into the deep brown eyes of the huge turtle Yokai in front of you. He wore a sleeveless red hoodie that had holes torn into it where the turtle's spikes poked through. On his legs were black shorts with two red stripes on each leg, matching the color of the red sweatband on his forehead.

"Y-yes.." realizing you were whispering, you cleared your throat, "Yes. Sorry, I'm fine."

"I know, my appearance is probably a little scary--"

You couldn't stop your mouth before it ran, he just looked so dejected, "No! I was just surprised at the sudden bag of sand flying towards me at light speed, I swear! Your appearance is quite nice to look at--"

"Ooh!" A crescendo of students began.

The large Yokai turned with a glare, "Do you want laps? 'Cause it sounded to me like you guys were asking to run laps right now." He insinuated. The students gasped and then they all went back to their original training. The teacher chuckled, then turned back to you. It was then that you noticed the adorable snaggle tooth that he had. "Sorry about them. High schoolers, y'know?" He chuckled again.

You chuckled this time and nodded, "I'm (Y/n) (L/n). The new librarian slash computer lab teacher." You held out your hand for a handshake.

"Raphael, but you can call me Raph. The guidance counselor slash wrestling coach slash gym teacher," Raph's hand completely covered your hand as he shook it.

"Thank you. For saving me, I mean. If it weren't for you, I probably would have been flattened." You said once Raph released your hand.

"It was no problem, really!" Raph said, rubbing the back of his neck bashfully.

Behind you, Dale cleared his throat, "I hate to interrupt, but it's nearly five and we still have your classroom to see."

"Oh! I didn't realize it was getting so late." You said, pulling out the purple phone to look at the time. As you did, you saw about twenty missed calls and double that in texts from your number. Surprisingly, they were all instructions from Donnie/Othello, telling you how to treat his phone, one password for unlocking his phone and no others, apps you were allowed to use and detailed explanations on how to use them, and finally, instructions to meet and exchange phones.

"Did you wanna...exchange numbers? We're both gonna be afterschool teachers so it might be useful for the future." The adorably large Yokai asked as his face flushed the color of his sweater.

"I'd love to!" You almost handed him the phone, but then paused. "Wait. I'm sorry, it's a long story, but I accidentally switched my phone with someone else's, so I can't put your number in here." Before the turtle could change moods, you grabbed his phone, "So I'll just give you my number." Raph's face flushed brighter as he felt his tail wag in his shorts. He's never met anyone like you before. Without Raph even knowing it, you had given his phone back and left with Principal Dale.

"Yo! You whipped already, coach?!"

"Tyler! Ten laps!"

A harsh wind smacked you in the face as you stood in the scarcely populated park. It was currently 8:59 p.m. as Othello's phone read. You tucked the phone into your puffy sweater pocket and hugged your body. Donnie's meticulous texts said he'd be at Rucko Park at 9 P.M., so you naturally arrived five--okay ten minutes early. You didn't expect it to be so cold, though. Maybe you should have worn more layers or arrived closer to the allotted time, but...you kind of wanted to make a good first impression.

"Madam." A familiar voice shook you from your thoughts. You seemed to do that a lot lately.

Looking up, you spotted the purple-clad turtle Yokai from earlier. Quickly standing, you couldn't resist the temptation of copying his mannerisms slightly, "Good evening, sir. I understand we've fallen into quite the predicament with our cellular communication devices?" You raised an eyebrow.

'...Is she fucking with me?' Donnie heard that little voice in his brain, but his excitement overruled it. "You understand correctly, good lady! Might we resolve this disastrous plight before any other events can overturn this already cruel night?" Donnie finished with a bow.

"Wow."

Donnie felt sweat run down his brow. Maybe he should have listened, that little voice was usually right anyway--

"That. Was incredible."

Donnie looked up, a hopeful gleam in his eye.

"I would continue, but that was better than anything I could have come up with. Did you just make that up?" You asked, stars in your eyes.

Donnie felt himself nod, no words leaving his lips.

"That's awesome." You breathed. "Oh! Your phone, good sir." You held out his phone with a similar bow, adding a bit more flourish as you held out his phone. "I obeyed your instructions to the tee. Well, I only really opened Spotify, but I followed the instructions!" You explained once Donnie took his phone from your hand. You stood fully straight, "You're Othello Von Ryan?"

"Ah! The lady has exquisite taste? Yes, I am Othello, or Donatello, as most know me. You're (username)?" He asked, referring to your Spotify account.

"(Y/n), as most know me." You repeated with a grin.

Donnie chuckled, handing back your phone, "You've been following me for a couple of years, I see," he must have looked through your app.

"Yes! You've helped me so much—you were basically my life line in college—" your face flushed as you realized your words, "YOUR MUSIC! Not you, well, technically you, but—"

"How?" Donnie quieted your thoughts with a single word.

"Your studying playlists kept me sane. If I had to scroll through another classical music studying playlist I would have shrieked." You dragged your hands through your hair, invoking a chuckle from the tall Yokai. "It was such an interesting mesh of music that I was able to get Valedictorian from all my studying! So, thank you." You smiled.

"Valedictorian?! My playlist made you study enough to be the top of your class! Take that Leo!" Donnie laughed chaotically. You accidentally let out a chuckled, startling the turtle into looking back at you.

"I hope you don't think this is overstepping but, I was wondering if you'd listen to a song? I thought you'd like it because of all of your playlists, and if you like it I have a ton more." You asked, scrolling through your Spotify accounts now.

'She's been polite, kind, and stayed out of your phone for the majority of the time you'd encountered each other. The least you could do is listen to a song you won't like.' Donnie reasoned with himself. "Of course! Text it to me, I'll make sure to save your number, oh loyal fan." Donnie joked.

"Really? Sweet! I'll save your number too, oh gracious music supplier." You joked back.

'Her chemistry is electric,' Donnie thought. He felt a buzz and watched as his phone lit up with a text.

"Thanks for meeting with me to switch phones, I wish I could stay longer, but—"

"No, need to explain. You have a date or you have friends arriving—"

You chuckled, startling Donnie from his self conscious rambling, "Oh, yeah. A super hot date with Jupiter Jim while I unpack my new apartment." You connected your headphones back to your phone. "It was really nice meeting you. Maybe we can hang out in the future, if you're up to hanging out with a school librarian?"

Donnie's gaping mouth finally closed as he looked into your hopeful eyes, 'Why were they hopeful?' He gave a small smile, "I think that sounds like a wonderful idea."

"Great!" Copying his bow from when you first met, you said, "Adieu, Sir." With that, you both left with your old phones and a new acquaintance.

CLAP "Alright! We start shooting in two weeks, people! And we're already on shit detail."

Leo leaned one cheek on his fist as the other scrolled through his texts. Old flings, fans who found his number, other actors, but nothing that he found important.

"What are we gonna do about Tiffany?"

Leo looked up, seeing all his directors and most of his co-stars looking at him, "Huh?"

"Tiffany! Your co-star? The love interest? The whole reason we've been here for five hours?" The director asked.

"Well, what's the main issue? Why are we trying to fix her little issues when the big issue is what's gonna make or break this?" Leo asked, shoving his phone into his pocket.

The others in the room began to get nervous. Most began sweating, and a few turned red in embarrassment.

"What?" Leo asked, now concerned.

"Tiffany is refusing to be your lead unless..." the director sighed, refusing to look at Leo, "unless you wear a human disguise."

Blink. Blink. "Ha!" Leo began laughing a deep chortle, straight from his core. The others in the room began laughing with him, albeit nervously. "Then let her refuse!"

The director stopped laughing, "But, but. She's your lead—"

Leo had suddenly stopped laughing to glare at his director as he spoke, "No. I'm the lead. Tiffany Blanco was supposed to be Renae Whittler, Primetime's love interest." Yanking the script from who knows where, he began reading, "'Renae Whittler initially despises Primetime, thinking him to be the man who ruined her life, but upon realizing they are after a common enemy, she begins to love him for the way he is. Together, they fight crime, discover truths, and explore worlds, and possibly each other.'" Leo read flatly. "'The way he is'. If you make Primetime human, is that making him, ‘the way he is'?"

The humans in the room looked ashamed and guilty, while the Yokai, some in disguises, looked at Leo in awe.

"If she wants to refuse, let her refuse. Because I will be damned if I let some twenty-three year with small tits and big dreams tell me who I am." With that, Leo stood and stormed out of the room.

As Leo paced the halls, one of his main co-stars, Danny Filmore, ran into the hall after he left. Danny was a deer Yokai who played the role of Primetime's 'Guy in the chair', Marcus Tracy. His character reminded him a lot of Donnie. Without a word, Danny sat in one of the chairs lining the crips walls and pulled out a vape. The vape was slim and purple in color, but it shined under the flickering fluorescent lights above. He took a long inhale and then a small inhale of regular air. After holding it, Leo realized Danny wasn't smoking Nicotine.

"Jesus, Danny, not here." Leo whined.

"What—" Danny started, but was then interrupted by a violent cough from his throat. He held up a finger, telling Leo to wait a minute. Again, Marcus Tracy reminded Leo of Donnie, not the actor who played him. "—ever man, you know Anthony doesn't give a shit." Danny finished, his eyes now bloodshot and lidded.

Anthony Silvermeadow was the director. He wasn't a pushover by any means, but he was pretty lax on the rules. As long as you weren't  under the influence while shooting, he didn't care. Most of the time you saw him with a drink in his hand.

"That was pretty ballsy, man." Danny said, tucking his vape away.

Leo sighed, running a hand down the back of his head, "I know. But...it took so much for me to audition as me that it feels wrong to do anything else. I promised my—" Leo paused on the 'b-word', "—family that I wouldn't change for anyone. And I intend to stand by it."

Danny nodded, but stayed silent.

"I guess I should apologize?" Leo asked Danny.

"Nah. You're right. Tony even said so." Danny let the words hang in the air.

"But?" Leo waited.

"You gotta find your own love interest." Danny smirked.

Leo's mind raced through his texts, his old friends, anything he could think of that would give him a hint of where to start. With a click, the once flickering lights stayed on just as an idea passed through Leo's brain. 'Lightbulb.'

Once Donnie got back home, he pushed his hand into a metal panel next to a large, circular, sealed door. It lit up purple, reading his palm. The panel flashed green, accepting the readout and unlocked the metal doors. The first row of doors twisted clockwise then opened. The second set rotated counterclockwise then opened to reveal the large lab within. Donnie added them for extra security and totally not because they were in a Jupiter Jim movie and he thought it looked cool.

"Donnie!" Shelldon, Donnie's drone and adopted child (not literally speaking...I think?) flew out of the purple themed lab and flew around his father.

"Anything new?" Donnie asked as he walked over to his purple chair. With a click and a hiss, the shoulder pads on Donnie's battle shell released the front of his plastron where it was connected.

"A new number texted you. You have repeating interactions. Would you like me to —" Eight different guns popped out of Shelldon's back compartment, "remove the pest?"

"No!" Donnie cleared his throat, then sat in his chair regally, "No. That won't be necessary. Rename contact (L/n) and check new message." Donnie opened his computer and flipped through his files.

"Contact: (L/n). Sent: "Don't Stop Movin' by S Club. The vibe is 80's dance." I like this chick!" Shelldon added, once his automated voice cut out.

"The vibe?" Donnie asked out loud.

"I think she's referring to your playlists and how the vibe is always different, dude." Shelldon explained.

"Huh. 80's dance music...go ahead and play it, Shelldon." Donnie waved his hand in Shelldon's direction.

It was quiet before a synthetic voice started with the hook. It was followed by a heavy thumping base, then a pleasant male vocalist began to sing the bridge. The words were a nice balance of fast then slow, with vibrato when appropriate. A sudden appearance of a female singer gave Donnie goosebumps. Their voices had a nice harmonization. Her voice grew more and more powerful as the instruments grew. Donnie couldn't help but tap his feet and bob his head. As the lead sang the chorus that was accompanied by more background singers of equal talent, Donnie felt a grin spread onto his lips. The need to boogey was insatiable. The chorus repeated in the background when the male vocalist came back to the mic. The speed in which the song progressed seemed to get quicker, like the hook, chorus, and bridge were all shortened.

By the time the bridge came on again, Donnie couldn't resist. He stood up, performing his dancing moves he’s secretly perfected over the years unbeknownst to his brother and father who all shared the same house.

Until now, that is.

Splinter, also known as Hamato Yoshi, and also known as Donnie and Mikey’s father, walked to Donnie’s lab to explore the commotion. With a cane and small shuffle, Splinter peeked around the door, spying Donnie dancing like he was in an 80’s music video.

“Ah, young love.” Splinter nodded, then put a hand to his chin in thought, “Maybe I will marry one of them off.”

[paganimagevault]

Ai Khanoum 3rd C. BCE - 2nd C. CE. More images on my blog, link at bottom.

"These wise sayings of men of old, The words of famous men, are consecrated At holy Delphi, where Klearchos copied them from carefully To set them up, shining from afar, in the sanctuary of Kineas.

As a child, be well behaved; As a young man, self-controlled; In middle age, be just; As an elder, be of good counsel; And when you come to the end, be without grief.

—trans. of Ai Khanoum stele by Shane Wallace and Rachel Mairs.

Ai-Khanoum (/aɪ ˈhɑːnjuːm/, meaning Lady Moon; Uzbek Latin: Oyxonim) is the archaeological site of a Hellenistic city in Takhar Province, Afghanistan. The city, whose original name is unknown, was likely founded by an early ruler of the Seleucid Empire and served as a military and economic centre for the rulers of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom until its destruction c. 145 BC. Rediscovered in 1961, the ruins of the city were excavated by a French team of archaeologists until the outbreak of conflict in Afghanistan in the late 1970s.

The city was probably founded between 300 and 285 BC by an official acting on the orders of Seleucus I Nicator or his son Antiochus I Soter, the first two rulers of the Seleucid dynasty. There is a possibility that the site was known to the earlier Achaemenid Empire, who established a small fort nearby. Ai-Khanoum was originally thought to have been a foundation of Alexander the Great, perhaps as Alexandria Oxiana, but this theory is now considered unlikely. Located at the confluence of the Amu Darya (a.k.a. Oxus) and Kokcha rivers, surrounded by well-irrigated farmland, the city itself was divided between a lower town and a 60-metre-high (200 ft) acropolis. Although not situated on a major trade route, Ai-Khanoum controlled access to both mining in the Hindu Kush and strategically important choke points. Extensive fortifications, which were continually maintained and improved, surrounded the city.

Many of the present ruins date from the time of Eucratides I, who substantially redeveloped the city and who may have renamed it Eucratideia, after himself. Soon after his death c. 145 BC, the Greco-Bactrian kingdom collapsed—Ai-Khanoum was captured by Saka invaders and was generally abandoned, although parts of the city were sporadically occupied until the 2nd century AD. Hellenistic culture in the region would persist longer only in the Indo-Greek kingdoms.

It is likely that Ai-Khanoum was already under attack by nomadic tribes when Eucratides was assassinated in around 144 BC. This invasion was probably carried out by Saka tribes driven south by the Yuezhi peoples, who in turn formed a second wave of invaders, in around 130 BC. The treasury complex shows signs of having been plundered in two assaults, fifteen years apart.

Although the first assault led to the end of Hellenistic rule in the city, Ai-Khanoum continued to be inhabited; it remains unknown whether this reoccupation was effected by Greco-Bactrian survivors or nomadic invaders. During this time, public buildings such as the palace and sanctuary were repurposed as residential dwellings and the city maintained some semblance of normality: some sort of authority, possibly cultish in origin, encouraged the inhabitants to reuse the raw building materials now freely available in the city for their own ends, whether for construction or trade. A silver ingot engraved with runic letters and buried in a treasury room provides support for the theory that the Saka occupied the city, with tombs containing typical nomadic grave goods also being dug into the acropolis and the gymnasium. The reoccupation of the city was soon terminated by a huge fire. It is unknown when the final occupants of Ai-Khanoum abandoned the city. The final signs of any habitation date from the 2nd century AD; by this time, more than 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) of earth had accumulated in the palace.

While on a hunting trip in 1961, the King of Afghanistan, Mohammed Zahir Shah, rediscovered the city. An archaeological delegation, led by Paul Bernard, unearthed the remains of a huge palace in the lower town, along with a large gymnasium, a theatre capable of holding 6,000 spectators, an arsenal, and two sanctuaries. Several inscriptions were found, along with coins, artefacts, and ceramics. The onset of the Soviet-Afghan War in the late 1970s halted scholarly progress and during the following conflicts in Afghanistan, the site was extensively looted."

-taken from Wikipedia

...

"The silver ingot engraved with runic characters found during the excavations of the Treasury could suggest they were Sakā/Sai. This inscription comprises 21 characters of a script and a language that are unknown and both attributed to nomadic people of Sakā origin, by comparison with a dozen similar inscriptions coming from an area extending from Ghazni in Afghanistan to Almaty in Kazakhstan, and dated between the 5th century BC and the 8th century AD."

-taken from Ai Khanoum after 145 BC: The Post-Palatial Occupation by Laurianne Martinez-Sève, University of Lille, 2018

[revasserium]

reqs are open :)

the butterfly effect

tsukishima; 1,285 words; fluffy as all living fuck

he has always noticed the little things - the deep, rumbling hunger of the earth, the repeating shuffle of the summer wind, the soft tectonic movements of falling leaves, the velocities of birdsong. and even though he’d never admit it out loud (alright, maybe once or twice to yamaguchi, but does that even count?), he thinks that these are the important things. things that normal people wouldn’t notice, things that normal people take for granted.

“well, it’s just a high school club.”

is it?

“ah, i’m the normal guy, nice to meet you.”

are you?

after the match, you find him hunched over the basin in the boy’s bathroom, panting, his bandaged fingers clutching at the time-stained ceramic, his shoulders shaking as he tries to relearn the meaning of breath, of air, of only and just.

“you’re a liar,” you say, leaning against the bathroom door, keeping it propped open with your shoulder.

“and you’re not suppose to be in here,” he deadpans, glancing at you in the watermarked mirror. he sighs, splashing his face with his good hand before twisting off the faucet. slowly, he unbends himself, straightening up to his full height, dragging the back of his injured hand over his lips as he turns towards you.

“c’mon, they’ll be wondering where we are, and i don’t need anymore rumors of us dating going around school.”

his voice is calm, his expression neutral as he brushes passed you, but he doesn’t miss the way your eyes follow him like motion-based trackers; he can almost feel the crosshairs on his too-flushed cheeks, on his water-logged lashes. he turns back to raise an eyebrow. his heart is the flatline of an earthquake city, his stomach a tangle of twisted phone lines, all static and electricity and unsaid words.

“ah… so you have heard of them,” you muse even as you fall into step next to him.

he scoffs, running a hand through his sweat-slicked hair.

“people at school aren’t known for their tact, especially not about things like this.”

you grin, linking your hands behind your back as you dance three steps in front of him, reveling in the way he narrows his eyes, in the way his steps stutter. he isn’t the only one who’s learned to listen to the language of silence, to the spaces between the words that give them meaning, that make them whole.

“and by people you really mean the second years, right?”

tsukishima sighs, tugging off his sports glasses to polish the lenses with the edge of his sweat-soaked shirt. you watch as he diligently wipes down one lens, and then the other, before stretching it back over his head, adjusting the straps.

“well, tanaka and noya, first and foremost.”

your laughter shakes through him like silver bells. he thinks he’d never get tired of the sound, and suddenly, it is winter and the sky is dark and the first snow of the season is falling around you and you’re laughing, spinning in circles beneath the snow-drift sky, your face turned up to the heavens, arms stretched out as if you’re three seconds from taking flight —

“tsukki! look! look! snow!”

he resists the urge to smile so he rolls his eyes instead; his breath comes out in a puff of white and somewhere out there, he knows that a hundred thousand other kids just like them are lifting their faces, marveling at the falling snow. he knows that somewhere along a stretch of land only 73 miles wide in mexico, a hundred million monarch butterflies are settling in to roost for the winter, and that each flap of those hundred million wings might shake a summer storm into existence, somewhere down the line.

“yeah. i see it.”

but right here, right now, in this rapidly emptying gymnasium hall, filled with the effervescent echoes of teenage dreams, he wonders if you are the hurricane. if you are the summer storm, and he is just the seismograph doomed to record your wreckage.

“so, what are you gonna do about it?” you ask, as the both of you resume your walk down the hall, towards where you both know the team is waiting, the third years still crying, hinata still hollering, kageyama too bloated with happiness to tell him to shut the hell up, yamaguchi probably preening beneath the praise of all his teammates.

“about the rumors, or about us not actually dating?”

you purse your lips, you shrug, but you blush as well. he doesn’t miss the way your shoulders lift up towards your ears, sweet and shy as sunflowers reaching for the last drop of sunlight.

“either. both,” you turn with a devious grin and flash him a wink, and not for the first time, tsukishima thinks he feels that deep, rumbling hunger; he knows the repeating shuffle of his thoughts about you, the soft tectonic movements of your body and his.

he knows the velocity of your voice, the resonance of your smiles, the way it shakes loose the sky within him till he almost tastes that sweet first snow, all that wake and wonder.

“hm… i dunno. you did call me a liar earlier.”

his grin is savage, satisfied. he almost laughs as your entire body inflates with indignation. he wonders how long he can tease you for before you float right off the ground — someday, he wants to try.

“well you are.”

“what, by saying i was normal?”

“yes, and that this was just a club.”

he blinks, he didn’t know you’d remembered. but then again, he should’ve known.

“well. it is, and… i am.”

you frown, taking three steps closer, caging him in even though he knows that he’s got at least a foot over you — a whole head and a half taller, and still —

“liar,” you say.

“hm… and what are you gonna do about it?”

he knows it’s coming three seconds before it does, but it doesn’t feel any less shocking. the warmth of your lips on his, the half-stolen breath still poised in his chest, the widening of his eyes before they flutter closed. there are no fireworks, no explosions, no earthquakes or natural disasters. there’s just this moment, just him and you and your lips on his and —

you take half a step back.

he allows himself a smile.

because he’d never wanted them to just be rumors and he knew that he’d never, ever be considered normal. not by you, or him, or anyone else.

“ahhh… now you’ve done it,” he says, with a soul-rumbling sigh, reaching out to jab his finger into your cheek. he marvels at the way your eyes still widen, as if you never saw that coming.

“done what?” you ask, even as he reaches out to tug on the ends of your ponytail, making you laugh.

“tch. you know what,” he scoffs, tucking his hands into his pockets as he slinks passed you, his eyes cast up, his cheeks tingling with a blush he can’t quite tamp down. and when you hurry to catch up with him, bumping your arm into his, he doesn’t make to move away. instead, he bumps you back and basks in the way your footsteps sound, ringing out against the empty gymnasium halls.

because, sure, this might just be a high school relationship — or it just might be falling in love.

and as he reaches down, hesitates, and finally, finally grabs your hand, somewhere out there, he feels a butterfly flap its wings.

[feelingbluewrites]

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄𝙩 𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨

➳𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮: 𝙎𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙪𝙥 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚, 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝘽𝙤𝙠𝙪𝙩𝙤, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙢.

➳𝙆𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪 𝘽𝙤𝙠𝙪𝙩𝙤 𝙭 𝙛𝙚𝙢!𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

➳𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨: 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣, 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙖𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙩, 𝙛𝙡𝙪𝙛𝙛, 𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙨𝙮, 𝙆𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙤 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

➳𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩: 6𝙠

➳𝘼/𝙉: 𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙎𝙏 𝙁𝙄𝘾𝘾 𝙊𝙐𝙏 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙄𝙏 𝙄𝙎 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙍𝙏. 𝙒𝙍𝙀𝙉𝘾𝙃𝙄𝙉𝙂. 𝙄 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙞𝙩!

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

“What the shit-” The back of your head throbs, turning around to see what had just smacked you in the head. You’ve just about had it today and getting hit in the head was about to send you over the edge. Whoever threw that is going to get an earful, Until your eyes land on another pair of caramel eyes. 

“I’m so sorry!” The man with the strange silver hair smiles at you widely, “Are you okay?” He leans in closer to take a look if your head was alright. “Watch out, dude.” You give off a scoff, standing up straight and fixing your hair. “My bad! We didn’t see you, I just did this crazy spike and stupid idiots saved it.” As he speaks you can feel the confidence radiate off of him. If you hadn’t opened your mouth he probably would still be there talking nonsense. 

“Why the hell were you playing volleyball?” You ask him, eyebrows scrunched, and so, so, annoyed. He raises an eyebrow at you, pausing before he answers. “We’re in a gym?” He questions you, The way he questions you makes you feel like you should be embarrassed about something. Though you feel dumb as you look around and realize you had stumbled into the gymnasium. You were so out of it you ended up wandering into a different path than the way you usually go to get to the parking lot. 

“I knew that!” You grew embarrassed with obvious burning red on your face. He laughs and leans in a little too close for comfort. You stumble back a bit, furrowing your eyebrows. What the hell was he doing? He’s looking at you like crazy. Taken back, you start to open your mouth to question him. 

“You’re really pretty.” He smiles before you could even talk, The words roll off his tongue so smoothly, you’re not really sure how to react.

You look away with blush on your face and you’re wondering what the hell you say back to him. He chuckles as you try to form your words. He was charming as hell, He had no shame.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

That was approximately 2 years ago. Though when you look back you can remember it like it was yesterday. It seemed just like yesterday when you first hung out with Bokuto and he took you fishing, something you rarely enjoyed, but Bokuto made it fun. He ended up fishing a log but you caught your first fish with Bokuto. Well, he reeled it in but it’s still the same right?

Ever since then, You and Bokuto were inseparable, Tied to the hip. So many memories and adventures you could recall. Like that time where you both ditched class and went to the thrift store, picking out outfits for each other, and returning home wearing the horrendous top Bokuto had picked out for you. 

Or that time where you and Bokuto found a box of abandoned kittens on the side of the highway. You both cared for them the whole weekend until you knew you both couldn’t care for 6 baby kittens. Bokuto begged to keep them but eventually you convinced him that he’d go into debt taking care of them. And he fell for it. 

But your favorite memory was after one of his games. You had been cheering for him all night, and everytime he would get a point he would look up at you and wave. You were his good luck charm, he’d like to call it. He liked looking into the crowd and seeing you. Even if his fangirls were cheering, you’d always cheer the loudest. And after the game, when fans swarmed around him, he grabbed onto your wrist, leading you both out of the pile of fangirls around the both of you. 

“You’re my favorite fan.” Bokuto teased. You smile up at the goof, smacking his arm weakly for getting you to blush. 

And ever since then, you had feelings for him. You’d never had feelings for anyone like you did with him, He made you feel something nobody else could ever get you to feel. Sure, you’ve had small crushes and “boyfriends” but Kotarou was different.

He always got you to turn away blushing, He always said what he was feeling and thinking. As opposed to you, who holds things in a lot of the time, always thinking before speaking. Being Bokuto’s friend, you learned so much from him and became a different person because of him, in the best way possible.

It was natural the way your feelings grew, anytime you were at school you would hang out with Bokuto, not that you had a choice, he’d always find you in a sea of people. And when you weren’t at school you would be with Bokuto and Akaashi, doing something dumb, most likely. So of course, as the days, weeks, months went by, the way you looked at Bokuto started to change. You went to bed wondering if he’d feel the same way, wondering if he felt what you feel whenever you look into his eyes. 

You don’t think so. He never made a move so why should you? You would only hurt yourself by chasing something that doesn’t want you. You were only his best friend, That’s all you’ll ever be to him.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

“What the shit-” Bokuto’s eyes follow the ball and have a clear view of who it has hit. He knew who you were. You were an advanced student, teachers and even the principal had told Bokuto many times that he should reach out to have you help him study. Bokuto cuts out of his daydream, realizing you were rubbing the back of your head still confused as to what had hit your head. 

Bokuto marches towards you, Going to make sure you were okay, because that was a nasty hit if he does say so himself. As you turn to look at him, his eyes light up with excitement because for once you actually look at him. He’s been trying to talk to you for a few days now, here and there in class. It was only about helping him out with a subject, of course, nothing else. 

“I’m so sorry!” Concerned about your head, he leans in closer to get a better look. “Are you okay?” He notices you fixing yourself up, trying to stand up to him as he realizes he’s practically hovering over you. “Watch out, dude.” You scoff, and Bokuto blinks. He’s confused as to why you're mad, getting hit in the head with a volleyball didn’t hurt that bad right?

He had blurted out as many words as he could think of to try to keep the conversation going. He didn’t pay no attention to what he was saying just as long as you were listening and had your eyes on him. 

“Why the hell were you playing volleyball?” He knows that’s a genuine question because you had not looked around, only looked at him with a confused expression. Bokuto wants to laugh, because you’re so cute. Sassy and a bit of an airhead like him. “We’re in a gym?” Bokuto raises an eyebrow at you, signaling for you to look around and see how many volleyballs are flying around and the guys in jersey’s practicing. 

When you had finally raised your head high enough to see, he noticed you roll your eyes in embarrassment with a hint of rose on your cheeks, and he swears he could hear his heart skip a beat.  “I knew that!” He chuckles at you, wanting to get a longer look at you, he leans in and he notices the features on your face. So unique and beautiful in its own way. He could stare at you all day if you let him because he swears to himself, he has never seen a beauty like yours. 

“You’re really pretty.” He blurts out before he could think, Not realizing he had been seeming a bit like a creep. He just couldn’t help himself but get a better look. He notices you turning more red, turning away from him, breaking eye contact.

And from that day, Bokuto had something for you. He didn’t know what it was, but it was something and damn he could not get over it. 

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Bokuto had feelings for you too. Making it obvious so many times, and so many times you did not get the hint. He wouldn’t get this close to a girl if he was not interested in them. You were special to him and he tried to show it to you so many times in so many ways.

In bringing you flowers on random days, begging you to come to his games just so he could flex in front of you, calling you at night just to see what you were doing, all he ever thought about was you. From the way you put your hair up, to the way you laugh at his jokes. He was smitten. 

You would think from all these feelings swimming inside you both one of you would stop bitching around and make a move, right? Well, not exactly.

That’s far from it actually. 

After graduation, the two of you had naturally drifted. It wasn’t the fact that you both stopped liking each other or stopped getting along, it was just how most high school friends go. Someone you used to know to someone you don’t anymore. 

You had gotten a place of your own, something you’ve been working so hard for and had started going to university to continue your own education. At first, slowly drifting from Bokuto had been hard, he was there for almost your entire highschool life. He knew so much about you and went through so much with you. Eventually, you decided to bury the feelings you had, nothing had ever happened between you two and it never would again. Sometimes that happens, and you had decided to just let it go. As much as it hurt, it wouldn’t do any good to dwell on it. So you brought your head back up and looked forward, because you don’t want to look back anymore, there was nothing you could change. 

As for Bokuto, he took it pretty rough for the first few months. You had started answering less and less, going to his games less and less, started working more. He just thought you wanted time to yourself. He had noticed not having you around was having a toll on his playing ability. There was no one to cheer for him, no one waiting for him in the crowd anymore. 

Bokuto knew he would continue to focus on volleyball after highschool, and as the years went by that’s when he joined MSBY. You weren’t around anymore, but he always held out hope. Hope that one day, you’ll walk through the doors back into his life. 

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Years had gone by since the last time you saw him, you don’t have the same number as before, not knowing if Bokuto had tried to contact you at all through the past years. You had a new normal now. Waking up, working on an online class, going for a quick jog, getting to another class, going to work, then coming home and sleeping so hard you have bags under your eyes. 

There was also something that had been relatively new as well aside from school and work. Your boyfriend would come three times a week to come sleep with you in your bed. It was nice, having someone warm snuggle up next to you as you sleep. 

At first the relationship would be a bit awkward and rocky because it’d be one of Bokuto’s old best friends, Tetsurou Kuroo. Kuroo, years before, would be aware of the tension between you and Bokuto. He’d always take a step back because he respected that you both had something, that was until after graduating the pair of you would start to see each other more often, being in the same city and all. And eventually it would end up with late nights of watching movies and playing weird tabletop games. 

And eventually, he asked you to be his girlfriend. You accepted hesitantly, not much educated on how it was like being in a relationship but you knew being around Kuroo made you happy, and feel less lonely. A big difference with Kuroo was that he actually made a move, unlike Bokuto. So throwing all caution to the wind, you got with Kuroo. 

The relationship was still relatively new, only dating for as little as 5 months, the two of you had been friends for years, close friends. It was comfortable and something that you didn’t have to second guess and worry about. He was sweet to you, made as much time as he could for you while also being busy with volleyball stuff. 

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

“C’mon, pleaseeee? They’re all asking to see you.” Kuroo gently rubs his thumb against your hip, taking his head out of the crook of your neck and looking up at you. You down at him with tired eyes, close to falling asleep. “What if it’s awkward?” You ask him genuinely. He had been begging for you to go with him to a reunion they all planned for one night, in this gorgeous air bnb, You knew Bokuto would be there. But that wasn’t the reason you didn’t want to go, right? No, you just didn’t want to go because you had to take care of your neighbor's bunny. Still, you also did miss your old friends, you had so many great memories with them. 

“It’s just gonna be like old times, beautiful, you have nothing to worry about.” Your boyfriend reassures that it’d be fine, but a feeling inside your stomach didn’t feel so good. You hesitated still, maybe there would be no harm in going. Lost in your thoughts, you look at Kuroo, he’s smiling up at you with devious eyes.

“You didn’t say no!” You giggle at him, “I didn’t say yes, silly” He shrugs and digs his head back into your neck. “It still isn’t a no.” He hums. Your fingertips gently graze his back, “Fine, I’ll go. But only because I want to play games with Kenma again.” You don’t know if this is a good idea, but it might be good to move past the highschool feelings. You haven't seen Bokuto, Akaashi, or even Kenma in awhile, It might be refreshing. You keep telling yourself. Nothing could go that bad right?

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ 

“Oh shit- shit- shit” Looking around frantically, you desperately try to find the matching earring on your left ear. You swore it was on the floor the last time you saw, you don’t know how you lose things so easily, but you do. Everything was ready to go, checking off on the list as you got yourself situated. Bags packed, make-up packed, hair products packed. All set, maybe it was a lot for just one night, but you liked to be prepared. You planned to be at the air bnb in less than 10 minutes, which means you would have to leave in… 15 minutes ago. Kuroo had been waiting outside, in his car, for the last 20 minutes as you got yourself ready. Eventually you were taking too long looking for that earring you decided to go with no earrings, and as an alternative you put on a necklace, it matched better anyway. 

Barely slipping on your shoes out the door, Kuroo finally spots you walking out, starting his car. You flash him a smile as you open the passenger door, “You look beautiful.” Humming and rolling your eyes, you never know how to take compliments and just for that, that’s the reason Kuroo compliments you even more. 

As he drives further from your place, you gulp, and fiddle with your fingers out of nervousness. Though you still put on a poker face, just so you don’t have to worry your boyfriend. The closer you two got, the more it seemed like your shoes were shrinking, eventually having to take off your own jacket. Why were you so nervous? You’re fine, Y/n. There was nothing to be nervous about.

Maybe you were overthinking this whole situation, it was just one night. Yeah, you were freaking your pretty little head out for nothing. 

“C’mon, sweetheart.” Kuroo opens the door for you, hand out for you to grab it. You thank him for being so sweet, taking his hand, letting him lead you to the front of the huge air bnb you see before your eyes. It was top tier and you had no idea how Kenma had this much money to rent this place out, Even if it was for one night, it was like a mansion. 

The front door swings open as you both enter, immediately you hear all the voices that were filled in your highschool memories, it’s nostalgic. “Kuroo!” A voice booms in your ear causing you to look to your left, spotting Bokuto and Akaashi approaching the both of you. Being behind Kuroo, they haven’t spotted you yet. You take a gulp and swallow down that anxiety, letting yourself loose, you’re supposed to have fun tonight. “Hey man, you look no different!” Kuroo laughs, putting both of your bags to the side on the floor. “Akaashi! You said I looked so different from the last time you saw me!” Bokuto looks at Akaashi disappointed, it makes you chuckle. This is still the same man you knew years and years ago. 

As the pair start to bicker, you peek out, taking a step from Kuroo to get a better view of where everyone was. Looking around you see so many more of your old friends. A small smile spreads across your face, until your eyes stop on your old best friend, staring back at you with wide eyes.

“Y/n! I missed you!” His voice is still smooth as ever, wrapping his arms around you, bringing you in for a hug. With no time to react, your arms wrap around his neck, taking his scent, just like you did back then. 

A bit surprised, the more you sink into the hug. You thought he would be angry with you, yell at you, you didn’t even think he would talk to you, or look at you. But that was not the case at all. 

It takes a few seconds before you pull away, looking at Kuroo who had been eyeing you two for a bit. “It’s so nice to you, Bokuto-san.” Smiling innocently up at him, he returns one back. 

Bokuto had one of those smiles where no matter what you would smile back, he wore his heart on his sleeves often, no matter what you always knew his intentions were pure. You couldn’t help but get sucked back into the feelings you had tucked away so long ago. As the memories flooded your mind, you remember exactly how he made you feel. 

The tension in the air is thick, Nobody says anything, instead they’re looking at the both of you. Neither you or Bokuto notice anyone else around, almost as if you two are the only ones in the room, because all you both could see is each other’s eyes, full of pent up love that has gone on for years. And you swear that they’re hidden away, but as he scans your face, his eyes soften, and you don’t know what to do with yourself. You can’t help yourself. 

“Um-” Akaashi clears the air, bringing you and Bokuto back to your surroundings. “Let’s go, Hinata had planned a bunch of games and activities for us.” Akaashi’s voice is soft, not to cause the tension to be more awkward than it already was. Leading the three of you into the backyard where you had seen Hinata and Kenma setting up cornhole and many other games to keep the group company. 

You take a breath, taking Kuroo’s hand into your own. You didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. There was nothing there… Right?

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Kuroo’s arms are gentle but strong, you feel them carry you to the upstairs bedroom where the both of you stay for the night. You had fallen asleep after multiple games of charades, not knowing how long it had been going on. The last thing you remember is Kenma trying to imitate a turtle. Naturally, your eyes had gotten heavier, falling into a deep sleep. 

So you wake up, a bit absent-minded on where you are now. A few seconds set in after waking up, Kuroo sleeping next to you peacefully. You groan, grabbing the phone that was charging next to the nightstand, seeing the clock turn to 4:30 am. You don’t remember putting your phone to charge, most likely it was Kuroo who had done so for you. 

Giving him a quick peck on his disheveled hair, your mouth feels dry, Realizing the last drink you had was a shot of vodka the guys had offered to you. You groan, wanting to go back to sleep but you are in desperate need of water. 

Your feet drag on the hard-wood floor as you go down the stairs, it’s messy down there, dark as well. They must’ve stayed up a bit more before heading to bed. Being careful not to wake or scare anyone, you quietly make your way into the marble kitchen. Drinks and beers still open from the night before, it makes you want to gag, hating the smell of liquor. 

Grabbing a bottle of water on the top shelf of the fridge, you take a sip. Feeling more and more refreshed as the water gets in your system. You hear a floorboard creak a few inches away, snapping your head behind your back, you blink. Staring in the black abyss for a few seconds. 

A tall muscular shadow emerges from the darkness, and you gasp, not knowing who was there yet. Until you saw the silver hair shining from the moon hitting it through the window. “Bo!” You scream as quietly as you could. “You scared the shit out of me!” You put down your water bottle, breathing regulating as you realize it’s just Bokuto. “Me?! You’re the one who scared me!” He half whispers. 

“I thought someone broke in!” He chuckles a bit, finding the situation another one of those moments where you both are just idiots. “You’re such an idiot.” You tease, grabbing a marker from the counter, labeling the water bottle with your name. 

“Why are you still up?” As you look at him, you see the bags that had formed under his eyes, hair messier than he would like it, Almost like he hasn’t gotten any sleep. 

“I just… Couldn’t sleep.” Bokuto sounds defeated, you know him, he wouldn’t just not sleep for no reason, something was definitely bothering him. Though, being a bit awkward, you don’t know what to say, not wanting to push him or engage in this conversation. You don’t want him to get the wrong idea, or anyone else for that matter. Your boyfriend already suspects something is going on, you shouldn’t ruin anything else.

But you can’t seem to walk away. 

“What’s wrong?” Your voice is sincere, wanting to make sure he was okay. “Just thinking, don’t worry.” He reassures you with a smile, and with that your feet start to head towards back the staircase. You knew you shouldn’t push it anymore.

“Do you hate me?” Bokuto’s voice is reluctant, almost like he blurted the question out by accident. Taken by surprise, you turn to look back at him, confused as to why he would ask. Because the truth is, you could never hate him. 

“I don’t,” You pause, “Why do you think that?” And by the way he looks away from you, he probably isn’t doing okay. He’s never looked away from you before.

“You’ve been avoiding me all night.” 

Oh. That’s what he’s been up thinking about. You didn’t think you were being obvious or anything. You weren’t trying to avoid him, if anything all you wanted to do was talk to him just how you both would back then. But being with Kuroo, you shouldn’t even be thinking about the old times with Bokuto. Because if you did, the feelings would come rushing back again, and Kuroo was so good to you. He doesn’t deserve that. 

“No, I haven’t” Shaky breaths are all that comes out of your mouth, so convincing.

“You say that, but you haven’t talked to me at all this whole night.” Crossing his arms, you knew he was right, what else should he think? You haven’t acknowledged him this entire night. 

“Don’t take it personal, Bo.” Though you know he will, Bokuto always took everything seriously. 

“Why did you stop being my friend?” Your heart breaks a little as you could hear the hurt in his voice. Still, you don’t understand, why was it a big deal?

“No I didn’t.” You lie. 

“You left me behind…” You take a deep breath, not daring to let the tears fall. “And you took Kuroo with you.” He pouts in the way he always used to do, which always left you giving in. 

Before you could answer, he cuts you off, “Why did you pick him? Over me?” You stand there, starting to shake because you never wanted to be the reason why Bokuto was upset, he was such a happy boy, and that’s all he deserved, was to be happy. So as you stand there, watching him open up in front of you, years later, you start to slowly break. 

“I didn’t choose anyone, Bo.”

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

“Akaashiiii, why is Y/n mad at me?” Bokuto had been in this trance for days. Trying to text you, with no response, no delivery notification had even showed up on his phone. Not knowing that you had changed your number, only thinking that you had ended up blocking him.

“She’s probably busy, she has a life of her own you know?” Bokuto huffs.

“Of course I know that!” He pauses, “But she wouldn’t just leave me out of the blue like that, that’s not like her.” He thought you just needed some space, as normal people do. Maybe you’d be going through something but once that was done, you’d come back to him, normal and beautiful as ever. But once you didn’t, he really had thought he did something wrong to make you go away.

That was until hours later he had seen you post on your own story. Hand in hand with one of his good friends, Kuroo. A heart sticker plastered onto the screen, with a tag of Kuroo’s own account. 

He swore he heard his heart crack inside. 

He wanted to be the one holding your hand. He should’ve been the one holding your hand, he’s the one who’s been wanting it for years. He’s angry with himself because all this waiting had been for nothing, because you have someone that loves you, and he’s angry with himself because it isn’t him.

But even then if you hadn’t talked to him in years, or seen him, He would still be looking for you. Everywhere he went. He would still be thinking of you, loving every inch of you even if you weren’t physically there with him. And seeing that picture, he knew that you were gone a long time ago. 

And he knew that no matter who you were with, what you were doing, where you went, he would still love you, even if you didn’t feel the same way. 

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

“Did you have fun, babe?” Kuroo gently squeezes the top of your thigh, driving with one hand on the wheel. You smile up at him. 

Of course you did, But you were in conflict with yourself. Because of course you adored Kuroo, he was your first real boyfriend, he had been so good to you. But every single time, you were always brought back to Bokuto. No matter who you were with, what you were doing, where you went, everything always brought you back to him. 

“Of course, I’m just severely hung over.” Chuckling, you put your hand over his, not wanting him to question what has been on your mind ever since the morning. You were going home now, though. Away from Bokuto, You could finally get back to your normal life, without having to second guess your feelings again. 

As you got home, Kuroo insisted on bringing your bag inside. Following him inside, he gave you a quick peck on the cheek, something that always brought you calmness. “Thank you, Tetsu.” 

He smiles gently at you, “I’ll come over tomorrow, I just have to deal with work tonight.” He speaks so softly, gently to you. You nod at him, reassuring that you were fine to spend a night alone. And you really needed it, after having a long night, while also dealing with a hangover. 

Kuroo closes your front door, leaving you alone in your cozy apartment. Taking off your shoes, you head for the bathroom door, ready to take a relaxing bath. And damn that was the best bath you’ve ever had in your life. 

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

“This damn tv!” You curse, throwing the remote somewhere onto the couch that will definitely be in one of the cracks later. The tv had been flickering for some time now, along with your lights. The rain outside had gotten heavier as the hours went by, there wasn’t much for you to do.

Fuck the tv. You walk into your kitchen, scanning the fridge, looking for something to eat. Though you hadn’t gone grocery shopping yet, all you had was a bologna sandwich that was- well wayyy overdue. 

You debated on eating at your favorite restaurant tonight, well with how the weather is looking that looked like it wasn’t going to happen. Grabbing your phone, you dial the number of another restaurant that does take out. That was until there was a knock at your door.

Who the hell would be at your door at this hour? Kuroo was busy with work, your family was out of town at the moment, who else could this be?

Hurrying to open the door, you put your phone down. Your hand gripping the knob, the door swings open and you hear the drips and thunder coming from outside. 

Bokuto stands at your door. Hoodie over his head, drenched in rain. Taken by surprise, you take a moment before asking what the hell he was doing here.

“Bokuto? What are you doing here?” Your eyes shift all over his body, not knowing how to react. Should you be happy he was here? Should you be angry as to why the hell he was here, after specifically telling him that you weren’t interested in this friendship anymore the night before?

He smiles gently at you, taking a deep breath before speaking.

“I love you.” At this point you're even more confused.

“What do you mean-”

“You know what I mean, don’t make me say it again just for you to turn me away.” He finishes your sentence with his words, words that break your heart because you don’t want to turn him away, but you have to. 

“Kou-” Before you could put your foot down, he speaks again.

“Please, just let me say what I need to say-” So you do.

“I know you’re with Kuroo, and I’m happy that you are happy” A genuine smile peeks from his lips.

“But, I know if you give me the chance, I won’t let you go, and I’ll love you just as much as I did the first day I met you, Y/n.”

Frozen in your spot, you take a second to comprehend what he’s telling you. He’s loved you since the first day? The day you got hit with a ball? He’s loved you for that long? There’s no way. 

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” A blush spreads across your cheeks, making you turn away from him. 

“But I do, Y/n.” He sighs lightly, sneaking his arms past your arms and wrapping his arms gently resting on your waist. And as you look into his eyes, you know he’s being serious, you can’t bring yourself to tear him away from you. 

“Nobody, Absolutely nobody in the world makes me feel the way you do. You can stay not believing me, but I know what I feel when I’m with you, there’s nothing better than when I’m with you, Y/n. And I’m so sorry it took me so long to say it to you, but give me a chance-”

And as the tears escape from your lids, you can’t seem to hold yourself together anymore. 

“No, Bokuto! You can’t just make your way in here and beg me to give you a chance! I’ve felt the same way for so, so long! But it’s no use, I’m with Kuroo now.” You move your hands up to wipe away the streams that burn your cheeks. Bokuto’s eyes soften, glistening as he watches you cry in front of him, A sight that he’s always hated ever since high school. 

“I know you love me too..” He trails off his sentence waiting to see your reaction.

“No, I don’t! I-I love Kuroo now.” You’re angry with him. Angry with yourself. Angry at the world, because how could all this time you both felt the same but nothing had ever happened? And now years later the both of you are standing in the doorway, with the rain starting to creep inside, You can’t help but want to kiss him. But you couldn’t because you had a wonderful boyfriend, who adored you, and now with Bokuto here, There was nowhere else for you to run, there was no solution to this problem. 

“Please, just leave.” Before he could open his mouth to say something, you spoke. 

He shakes his head, a tear streaming down his face. A sight you had not seen in so long. “I don’t want to let you go again, Y/n! At least not until I know that I did everything I can because I’ve loved you the longest, This isn’t fair!” 

You shake your head, pulling his hands off your waist. “This isn’t fair, Bokuto!” Sobbing, you don’t dare to look up at him. You silently cry into your palms, Bokuto doesn’t know what to say. Well, he does, but he knows it isn’t fair as well. He knows he’s being selfish with you, but he cannot go on without knowing if he did everything he could to get you to be his.

A silent minute goes by, with no words spoken, only the sound of rain behind the both of you. Until he grabs your hands gently, his soft hands bring you to look up at him, with red, and swollen eyes. 

“You can’t tell me you don’t feel something for me too…” He whispers softly, his eyes are low, a small smile gently telling you that it’s going to be okay, no matter what. As you look at him, you can’t look away. You focus on Bokuto, and only him at the moment, because he’s here telling you everything you’ve been wanting to hear since high school, years later. You try to form words, to answer him with. To tell him that this isn’t right anymore, the time for you both has run out. 

But you can’t, because he was right. Looking into his eyes, you feel nothing but love. Your heart yearns for him even after all these years. You have no answer, because he was right. No matter what, your heart will always choose him.