#the urge to just post him even when he wasn't done was so so strong

[hellishgayliath]

MY NEW SON IS HEREE (and Pico's new boo cuz I have the power to do what I want) Bao the raccoon dog/tanuki yokai!

Things about him :D

-Helps run a tea shop with his grandma in the hidden city -Gets mistaken for a raccoon/gets perceived older than he actually is a lot of the time because of his fur markings (he knows it not their fault for not knowing but he gets pretty tired of correcting others about it so much) -Has the ability to transform his appearance. A lot of it is used when there's difficult customers causing trouble in the shop (ex: making himself bigger and take on the role of a bouncer) -Eyes glow blue whenever his magic is in use -Big fanboy of Lou Jitsu -Meets Todd in the hidden city and makes the decision of getting a puppy after talking with him -The dog he forms a connection with is a little akita puppy who he names Momo (whose name means peaches) she is a menance but she's cute so its fine <3 -Their house has a lil mini garden in it -Bao unfortunately does not have a green thumb and has no idea what he's doing when it comes to plant care (which is something Pico helps him out with cuz farming and gardening is one of his favourite hobbies) -Actually gets flustered pretty easily, he's just a big ol dork in disguise

-Bao and Gramgram Mugi are like if you got the grandma from Mulan and Tadashi from Big Hero 6 and just made them into yokai and gave em a puppo

[a-twistedheartslonging]

LMAO

That one post about sitting on his lap during a study session is great

I kinda want to ask about the others reactions.

Ahh but not sure who. I feel like there's three major camps of

1) flustered as fuck, doesn't do much else

-riddle, Sebek, deuce, jack, azul, jamil*, epel*, ruggie*, Idia

2) his ass is NOT studying, he's doing whatever's happening now

-ace*, floyd, Lilia, Malleus, kalim, rook*, epel*, ruggie*

3) continues session, tries to turn this on you/maximum flirting to see who furthers this

-Vil, Leona, Rook*, Jade, Jamil*, ace*

* the caveats for some

Jamil's reaction depends on where you are (library, study hall, his room etc) and he's way more likely to just fluster if he's in a more public setting- regardless if you have chosen a more secluded corner- but if he's somewhere where he feels more free and more hidden he's gonna do his best to flirt and be suave. He flusters way more with honest and genuine direct affection otherwise he wins out in patience and subtlety in flirting in the "study" session

Epel is flustered as fuck, also really proud and smug. He's distracted yes but depending on your actions such as promising rewards for finishing study session or going further or even just doing nothing which might confuse him then he'll either continue studying and be flustered or go along with your lead

Ruggie is flustered and might freeze up, he's not studying, he's busy trying to keep his heart from exploding at the close contact. He doesn't know what to do, will follow your lead though. If you just continue studying then you just have a free yeen seat

Ace is NOT focusing-probably wasn't really studying in the first place though that's due to having a one on one session with you- and his thing is that he is way more focused on where this is going, he's nervous about messing up and he's also trying to act like he's studying while trying to see where this goes. He is not very subtle or good at the act, he's very flustered but he's not in the same category as the others because he's more so distracted and trying to do something​.

Rook is no longer focused on studying. It's kind of a toss up of whether he'll put all his focus on you in his arms or if he'll play pretend and try to get you to fluster. Either way, you're in for a time.

Ahhhhh want to get details but brain going, would love further additions

One of the things I think of when it comes to lap sitting is the irony of a human sitting on the lap of a beastmen and I wonder if they think about it too.

Plus, with them in particular the urge to sniff, bite, nuzzle, and lick is very strong. Especially if they have a clear view of the back of your neck and shoulders. Leona says he wants you to sit in front of him in class, so he doesn't get caught napping, but we all know the true reason.

Nibblers/Biters include but are not limited to: Malleus, Idia, (once he gets over some of his anxiety about using his teeth on you) Leona, Jade, Floyd, Ruggie, Jack, Lilia, Sebek, Ace, Rook.

Leona and Silver would likely fall asleep on you. Which sounds cute but they're both solid and heavy so you're gonna get squished when he clonks out and puts all his weight on you.

Funny thing for the guys that get flustered, once they get more used to it, it ends up just being a normal thing and he doesn't like studying without you being close like that.

It helps Riddle destress while he still gets work done and helps Jack ease that separation anxiety he gets after you guys become a couple.

[fleurywiththesave]

OKAY okay lol now see this is so far from the truth BUT i just saw that gif of Matty/Perry Ellis thingy again AND stylist mattdrai au?

oooooh. OOOOOOH, anon. I don't know if you mean Matthew as the stylist or Leon as the stylist, but I can actually see it going either way. Matthew is the intensely enthusiastic rising star who Leon is strong-armed into going to see for some new game day suits, and he wasn't prepared for how peppy Matthew would be. Or how long his eyelashes would be.

OR Leon is the somewhat abrupt and oddly aggressive stylist and tailor who all the best guys use for their NHL Awards duds, and Matthew is convinced to enlist his services because "he'll make you miserable, but he'll make you look great." Only Matthew's not miserable. Other than the fact that Leon seems so determined to make him put clothes on when he really thinks he'd rather be taking them off.

You know what, as long as we're all here.....

Matthew is quite certain that if he had to choose between spending twelve hours getting fitted for a suit or spending twelve hours getting dental surgery, he'd pick dental surgery before Satan had even finished asking the question. But Ekky insists that this guy is the best of the best and that Matthew just needs to put up with whatever he says if he wants to look halfway decent on the red carpet.

He's pretty sure that means that this Leon isn't going to let him wear his slides with a suit.

He almost walks past the storefront, if it even counts as that. It's an unassuming door that must lead into a space behind the specialty foods market that occupies the windows. The narrow hallway just leads to another door, and Matthew has to briefly consider the possibility that Ekky has secretly obtained the rights to his life insurance and is planning to have him murdered before he braces himself and opens it.

"Hello?" he calls. There's a desk, but no one sitting at it, and zero signage to confirm that he's in the right place. "Hello?"

"Matthew." It's not a question. The guy who's just emerged from the back is staring at him. Matthew is staring too, but he has a feeling it's for very different reasons. He's staring because Leon turns out to be no more than thirty, with the best hair Matthew's ever seen and thick-framed black glasses that are kind of making him sweat behind the knees.

Leon is staring with something more like horror, scanning Matthew from head to toe like a robot and apparently not at all happy to see his ripped-neck Panthers shirt, athletic shorts, and the trusty slides. Matthew has a vague idea that perhaps he should apologize. Leon closes his eyes — actually closes his eyes — for a second and takes a deep breath before speaking again.

"Okay. It's okay, we have time. Come with me."

The dim hallway and tiny foyer turn out to be misleading, as Leon leads Matthew into a massive room with brilliant lighting and more racks of clothes than he's ever seen in his life. The walls are decorated with pictures of what must be some of Leon's clients, all dressed and styled to the nines. Matthew even spots a photo of Henrik Lundqvist, damn. Maybe he is in the right place.

"Okay," Leon says, coming to a stop by some of the racks and flipping through them with almost disturbing efficiency. "NHL Awards. Rule number one: pick something other than the ass to emphasize. Anyone who's watched a single hockey game has been there, done that."

"Well, what if that's my best feature?" Matthew can't help but ask. Leon glances back at him and snorts.

"No. Rule number two. No. Sneakers. That's for actors trying to fake relatability at the Oscars. You'll wear dress shoes and you'll like it."

Matthew resists the urge to hide his sandals behind the potted plant in the corner.

"What's rule number three?" he asks.

"That depends on how much trouble you give me," Leon answers. "All right, we'll start with these three racks. What jumps out?"

Matthew hasn't been this nervous about giving the wrong answer to a question since his post-draft interviews. He studies the array of suits in front of him and starts to feel a little dizzy from all the choices. He had no idea they could come in so many colors and patterns. Does Brady know about this?

"Well, okay," he finally says, looking at a gray suit that seems like a reasonably safe option. "I kind of like this—"

"No," Leon says flatly before Matthew can even pick up the hanger, and he snatches his hand back like he's been burned. "Single-breasted only."

"Um. Right. Then how about—"

"Absolutely not. Do you want to look washed out?"

"I don't—"

"Try this one," Leon says, pulling a lighter-than-navy blue suit off the rack and shoving it at him. "With the cream shirt."

Matthew stares at the array of white button-downs in front of him. He swears he can hear Leon's soul dying as he sighs and picks one up.

"This. Go."

When Matthew comes back out, trying not to draw attention to his bare feet, Leon slides his glasses down and studies him carefully, even walking in a circle around him several times. Matthew tries to stay still, but it's not so easy when that behind the knees sweating is picking up again and Leon is close enough for Matthew to get a whiff of his cologne, which is somehow earthy and light at the same time.

"Good," Leon finally proclaims. "Look in the mirror, tell me if you like it."

"Oh," Matthew says when he steps in front of the trifold mirror. He wasn't expecting to be surprised — a suit is a suit, right? — but apparently this particular suit is subtly different from any of the ones he owns. He seems tall and strong, despite being end-of-season skinny, and the jacket draws attention to his shoulders, and the color makes his eyes look brighter. "Hey, that's really nice. What about a tie?"

"No tie," Leon says. He's pulled out a tape measure and is flying through the notes he wants to take with the same startling efficiency as before. Matthew barely has a chance to appreciate Leon's hand on his thigh before he's done with the inseam. "Clearly you don't like having something too close to the neck." He smirks at Matthew in the mirror, and Matthew barely manages to bite back a retort about how there are some things he wouldn't mind having too close to his neck. "You can leave the top button open, but that's it."

When Leon is done getting all his measurements, Matthew finds that he's reluctant to leave.

"So, uh, you'll call me when it's done?" he asks.

"Nope," Leon says, tilting his head toward the sewing machine on the side of the room. "Get comfortable, you're going to be here awhile."

Over the next several hours, Matthew discovers that he could be quite happy putting up with pretty much anything Leon says, regardless of whether or not he's going to get a great suit out of it. He learns that Leon started sewing when he was twelve, making things for his sister and her friends; that he finished his studies in Germany a full year early; that he came to New York with the intention of getting some intern experience through Parsons and focusing on women's wear, but one of his father's former players came to Leon asking for help with a suit and the rest is history. Leon, in turn, learns an awful lot — probably more than he was expecting — about the grief Matthew gets from Taryn for his sartorial choices, about Matthew's feelings on the NHL dress code, and about how his style has changed since leaving Calgary for Florida.

Matthew only has to stop himself from making a suggestive remark about what they'd both look like out of a suit a few times, though it doesn't keep him from wondering.

"There," Leon finally says, pressing a garment bag into Matthew's hands. "Please tell me you know that you're supposed to cut the pocket and vent stitching before you wear the suit."

"I'm not a complete dunce," Matthew says indignantly. Leon doesn't have to know that his billet mom had to inform him of that little fashion rule after he'd already been wearing his new juniors suit for two months.

"Just partially," Leon says, but there's no bite behind it. He grins when he walks Matthew to the door, wishes him luck at the awards.

It's hard to walk away.

Two weeks later, when Matthew cuts the tacking stitches on the night of the ceremony, he discovers a slip of paper in his left pocket.

Rule number three: call me after you win.

— Leon

[istoleyoursk1n]

How do you think the companions would react to a Tav that's shorter then them but physically capable of carrying them around be it over the shoulder or princess style carry?

•❅───────────✧❅✦❅✧───────────❅•

How would they react to a short Tav who could carry them easily?

(I’ve made brief mentions of this type of scenario in a previous post so you may check that out as well.)

.

.

: ̗̀➛ ASTARION

“My, my, if you would've done this for me sooner, I’d be swooning much more quickly than you realize, you know that darling? Now be a dear and carry me over there!”

He would have been the one teasing you/urging you to try and lift him up in the assumption that you simply cannot. He was merely messing with you at the time.

Though, he didn't think you’d actually do it.

He would be startled by your offer/assurance that you would be able to lift him up without so much as a struggle which he then laughed at, not believing a word you say but allowing you to try anyways.

He was just about to say another snarky remark the moment your hands were on him but the words quickly fell flat on his lips the moment you managed to carry him in your arms.

You've never seen him so wide-eyed and confused than this very moment.

His mind would be too muddled on whether he should continue to be snarky or at least show how surprised he actually is about the whole situation.

Probably ends up being both snarky and impressed because his mind was too much of a mess at that very moment.

Besides, there's a strange sense of security he feels when he has your arms wrapped around him like some sort of shield.

Regardless, he now demands you to carry him like a princess for however long you can as he’d prefer not to walk throughout the entirety of your tiring journey.

: ̗̀➛ WYLL

“Are you- am I- are you carrying me?! By the hells, am I not as heavy as I thought I was? Or are you that ridiculously strong? Ha! Though, I can’t say I’m against this at all!”

Was a bit apprehensive when you offered to carry him, he was afraid that he might crush your poor arms with his own weight.

Definitely needed you to reassure him three times before he finally agreed. It's not that he wasn't confident in your abilities (sort of), he just wanted to make sure you didn't hurt yourself.

Was quite shocked when you did manage to lift him so easily, so much so that an awkward little laugh escaped from his lips.

This was certainly a situation he never thought he’d find himself in.

Even so, that awkward little laugh soon turns into a genuine one, his grin is one of the many things that drive you to carry him for as long as he wants.

He can't stop laughing at the absurdity of the moment but he has no qualms, in fact, he's having a blast!

Now you’re both off being absolute goofballs with Wyll playfully referring to you as his own ‘knight in shining armor’. The scene alone would be sweetly sickening to anyone who caught a glimpse of it.

While he’d never ask for you to carry him again (he’s far too worried about exhausting you), he’d always be willing to find himself lifted in your arms once again if not but a temporary relief from the hard journey ahead.

: ̗̀➛ GALE

“Well. I never quite envisioned myself being in this particular predicament… there seems to be a handful of lovely little experiences that I have yet to indulge in, this included. Now, how do you suppose I’d get down?”

Similar to Wyll, he was a tad bit apprehensive when you first proposed such a thing to him. He wasn't quite confident that you had the ability to carry him nor did he really think he wanted to be.

It would take a tad bit more convincing to get him to be on board with it.

He keeps reminding you of the worst-case scenario where you’d find yourself with broken arms and him with a broken back. Truly something he isn't looking forward to.

He probably closed his eyes the moment you lifted him off the ground, half expecting to fall to the ground right then and there.

His limps were all over the place, grasping at what he could to the point where it landed him in an awkward position. It was fairly obvious that he hadn't been carried like this before.

He was pleasantly surprised when he found himself up in the air in your arms. At first, he thought that this may have been the work of some sort of strength elixir but he had faith in you.

It doesn't take long for him to become a flustered disaster who doesn't quite realize what to do or say. He’s in your arms and he’s far too close, he’s being far too awkward about this and it’s rather amusing to watch.

He’s simply holding on as tightly as possible, asking again and again if you are certain that this isn't something you struggling with. I mean, is he truly this light?

If he wasn't smitten with you before then he sure as hell is now. It would take him a while to come around to ask to be carried again but when he does so, he does it with the biggest puppy eyes you've ever seen.

: ̗̀➛ KARLACH

“No fucking way! I’m up in the air?! Me?! You can lift me?! Bloody hell you're a strong one, soldier. Never thought big ol’ Karlach could be so easily swept off her feet. Gotta repay you for that one!”

She believed that there was no way in hell you’d be able to carry her. She would have crushed you the moment you tried.

Even so, she agreed, it doesn't hurt to try after all. Besides, she's a tad bit curious about herself. However, she does constantly remind you of how heavy she is and to let go if it's something you truly can't do.

She would have backed out last minute to save you if it weren't for the fact that she suddenly felt her feet lift from the ground below.

She would be surprised that your little form somehow has the power to lift her, she’d think it's the coolest thing ever! She's practically laughing her ass off from having you carry her around.

This is the most fun she’s had in a while and she hopes for it to last for as long as your body could handle. Both of your combined laughter would be enough to startle the entirety of the camp.

Right after she’d be more than happy to carry you as well! Consider it a favor after doing the same thing to her. You’ll be having free piggyback rides for days to come! In exchange of free carries from you of course.

She’ll never not laugh every time you pick her up. She's felt so strong and impenetrable most of her life until you came over swooping her off the ground like it was nothing. It makes her fiery heart soar.

: ̗̀➛ SHADOWHEART

“My hero, and just when I thought I’d have to use a quick healing spell or two. I suppose I don't mind playing myself as the ‘damsel in distress’ if that means I get to end up in your arms.”

She wasn't quite on board with the whole idea of you picking her up just yet. She was confident that you’d drop her and you’d end up falling alongside her.

Though eventually, she did come around to it, not that it took too much convincing. She was a Cleric so if both of you ended up hurt somehow, she’d be there to heal both of you.

She was very careful with choosing how she’d like to hold you just before you lifted her up. She tried to get into the most comfortable position possible that would cater to both you and her.

She was delightfully surprised when you did manage to lift her up in your arms, a warm smile plastering itself across her face from witnessing such a shocking act of strength from you.

If this isn't the perfect moment for her to tease you then you are greatly mistaken because she would be teasing you relentlessly for as long as you keep her in your grasp.

Even so, it's all in good fun. She finds herself loving how feather-light she seems in your hold, reassured that you wouldn't drop her despite her previous apprehensions.

She’d never doubt your abilities again in this case, and she’d be more than willing to be held within your strong embrace once more.

: ̗̀➛ LAE’ZEL

“Chk. The fact that your arms remain intact is a surprise. Still. I am capable of walking on my own if carrying me like this was your plan. Your strength is noted but I’d rather set onwards with my head held high and my feet on the ground.”

Her immediate answer was no.

She’d think of it to be a rather stupid idea, she didn't even believe that there would be a slight chance of you carrying her properly.

It would take a lot of convincing for her to ever allow you to carry her with her consent. Doing so without it would result in her punching you right in the face. Ingrained reflexes I suppose.

She’d be annoyed but she’d reluctantly agree when the moment comes around. However, she would make a blatant reminder that if you were to be crushed, it was over your own stupidity.

She instantly tensed the moment you lifted her off the ground, her eyes went wide, and she couldn't believe that she was somehow being lifted by you.

She also generally hasn't been lifted before and she doesn't completely realize how she should be feeling about it. It's strange, and it definitely takes her a while to relax.

Eventually, she’d finally sprinkle some form of praise onto you, seeming rather impressed by your bold display of strength. She might even find it somewhat attractive that you could so easily lift her up.

It would take a while to get used to but I doubt she’d be against it anymore. Your strength is truly a perk of yours that should never go overlooked and she thankfully realizes this now.

: ̗̀➛ HALSIN

“Oh! Well isn't this quite the shocker? Not only do you have a strong heart but it appears that you have strong arms too, haha! And just when I thought I’d undergone everything life had to offer.”

He thought you were joking with him at first. There was no way you’d be able to carry him, he's never seen anyone successfully do so either.

Perhaps he’d let you try if not for his own amusement/pity, but he pretty much was certain that you’d hardly have the strength to lift him an inch off the ground.

Of course, this wasn't to undermine you, but he knew all too well that a man of his stature couldn't possibly be carried like some sort of fairytale Princess.

Safe to say that he was utterly baffled the moment you began to lift him. In all his years alive he has never once encountered someone who was able to carry him with the use of their raw brute strength.

The first thing that came to his mind was worry, he wasn't sure how long you’d be able to hold him or if this was too much. He understands how heavy he is and he’d be absolutely devastated if he were to accidentally crush you.

As fun and ridiculous as this all was, Halsin would be too concerned about somehow crushing you down with his weight so you wouldn't be carrying him for long.

After a few shared laughs, he’d be the one to politely request to be let down. Softly asking if you are okay and hoping that carrying him wasn't too tiring.

Nevertheless, he’s enamored by your display of strength and the new experience truly did make his heart skip a beat. Now there's yet another peculiar thing about you he’d add to his reasons for adoring you.

•❅───────────✧❅✦❅✧───────────❅•

[the-writer-ofthe-fandoms]

Silent Cosmos (Edward Cullen) (Ch. 3)

Pairing: Edward Cullen x GN! Mute!Reader

Words: 2.8k+

Warning(s): Two gross dudes, sexual verbal harassment (not towards reader), swearing,

A/N: omg chapter 3 is finally here. I apologize for the wait. I thought my semester this time around would be forgiving but NOPE. I had so much to do and read, I could hardly write for fun or draw either. I hadn't realized how long it had been since I last posted. I want to try a new method when writing series. I tried with my kpop writing blog, and its where I write a few chapters at a time then periodically post them. Helps keep the flow and motivation going, but that may have been a one off there.

Series Masterlist

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"O star of strength! I see thee stand And smile upon my pain; Thou beckonest with thy mailèd hand, And I am strong again... The Star of the unconquered will, He rises in my breast, Serene, and resolute, and still, And calm, and self-possessed. -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "The Light of Stars"

-------

Edward hasn't been in school for the past few days.

You admittedly felt a little lonely without his presence, though Emmett and Alice have made it their mission to become your new best friends. Jasper tried but he still kept his distance from you, which you didn't mind. Rosalie helped when no other Cullen was around, although she kept a lot of conversations at a minimum, which you also didn't mind.

Alice had told you Edward had gotten a bad cold, so he is staying home. You had offered to bring him your notes the first time so he could copy them down, but Alice told you their father has him basically on lock down until he is deemed healthy. So, after you've done your homework, you've been making copies of your notes to give him when he comes back.

It's the start of a new day and once again, Edward wasn't there. You were at your locker with 15 minutes to spare. You placed the spare folder with Edward's notes on the shelf while your mind went back to that moment you two shared at the welcoming party for your uncle. You felt happy telling him all the stars and constellation you could see, and even happier when he seemed thoroughly interested in your rambles. However, you feel an inkling of guilt when you remember he gave you his jacket. Maybe he got sick from that?

"Dude, I got this weird spot on my dick."

Well, there goes your musings of guilt. You glance to your left and see two guys near you, just chilling against the lockers. You've never met them, though you do remember sharing a class or two with them separately.

"Are you really airing your business out when someone is standing right their?" The shorter one, with dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes gestures to you.

"Relax, Mark. That's the deaf student." The taller one with deep brown eyes and brown hair says with a laugh. You suppress the urge to roll your eyes and choose to just focus on the inside of your locker. Maybe you should get more decorations- "Anyways, I have this weird spot on my dick. It almost looks like I have a weird mole there. I'm hoping it's just a new mole and Cindy didn't give me something."

Gross.

"I'd get that shit checked out then. You don't want it to turn into something worse if it is an STD." Mark says with a sigh. "I told you not to sleep with her, Tony. She made my balls itch like crazy. They still fucking itch."

"I think its just a weird mole. You wanna look?" He cackles while his friend fake gags. They both push off the lockers and walk away to who knows where.

You let out a deep sigh and close your locker. At least the ignorance of other allows you to hear some gossip.

"What's with the sigh, Tiny?" Emmett calls out as he and Rosalie approach you. He has very quickly taken to the nickname Tiny for you. You suppose anyone shorter than him would be considered tiny in his eyes. Rosalie simply opened her locker as you and Emmett conversed.

"Oh, just overheard two people talking about something that should have been a private conversation." You respond with a slight shrug.

"Gah, Forks High is full of a bunch of weirdos, huh?" He grins and raises his brows a few times, crossing his arms while leaning on the locker next to you. You silently chuckle and nod, though you wondered if there was an underlying joke there.

"No Edward today?"

"Nope. Carlisle still hasn't cleared him." He sighs with a sympathetic smile. "Between you and me, Tiny, Edward is still shitting his brains out." He signed that last portion to you.

You gave him a scandalized look and playfully slapped his arm with a small chuckle. You were surprised to feel just how hard his muscles were.

"What was that for?" He gripped where you slapped and pretended to be hurt. "It was a private conversation, no one else here except Rosalie knows sign."

You roll your eyes and shake your head with a smile. You could always count on Emmett to get you to smile.

"C'mon, Rose and I will walk you to first period, like always." He grins and gestures you to follow him. Rose simply came along since she and Em were in the class next to yours. You nod and follow, happy to have good company.

---

It was a passing period and it was just you and Rose at your lockers. You grabbed a new pen and pencil since the last two you had broke and ran out of ink. Rosalie was fluffing up her already perfect, blond hair in the mirror of her locker. She and you didn't converse much, but you still liked her presence. Like the rest of the Cullens, she didn't tiptoe around you or treated you differently. She acknowledged your presence and would answer you if you had questions.

You were about finished in your locker when you heard two familiar voices keep up their gross conversations behind you.

"Dude, Rosalie has the hottest ass." Tony practically jeers, his voice intentionally loud. You glance to the blond next to you and she still keeps fixing her hair, though you can see her brows are a little more furrowed and her lips are more in the shape of a frown.

"Her tits, man, her tits are where it's at." Replies Mark and when you shift just enough to see him in the corner of your eyes, you see him make an obscene gesture.

You hear the slight creek of metal and when you look to Rose, you see her grip is so tight on her locker door that her fingers made indents which made your eyes widen for a moment. She closes her locker and you can see by her side profile she is pissed, and rightfully so.

So, you do what you think would make her laugh at the expense of those two guys.

You tap her arm to get her attention and she looks at you with a glare. You don't let it faze you. If those two are going to be gross about your friend, you'll just air out their business that they so willingly aired out by you this morning.

"You know those two jackasses?" You intentionally look to them as you sign and look back at her. "Well the brown haired one has a spot on his penis that he isn't sure if it's a mole or an STD. And his buddy likely doesn't wash right since he's had prolonged itchy balls."

Rosalie looks almost scandalized until her eyes widen for a moment as she looks at the two dudes and then back to you. She covers her mouth as she laughs when she realizes what you're trying to do.

You were about to sign some more when the two dumbasses approach.

"I know you were talking shit. What the fuck did you sign?" Tony glared, pointing an accusatory finger at you. He gets in your face and you swear you hear Rosalie growl.

You swallow thickly and decide to open your mouth. Your aunt always said you got your stubbornness from your mom.

"I said..." You try not to wince at the pain in your throat, your voice sounding hoarse. "You had a weird spot on your dick and your friend... has itchy balls." They looked at you with wide, horrified looks. "Don't talk about someone's body if you don't want yours talked about either."

"You little shit." Mark hisses and Rose steps closer to your side, an arm just barely in front of yours.

"What's going on here?" Emmetts voice grows louder as he approaches, his usual, carefree smile no longer on his face. He looked scarier than you've ever seen him. Mark and Tony looked at each other before slinking off.

Once they were gone you let out a dry, painful cough. You cover your mouth with the back of your hand and quickly grab your water and drink, soothing your throat. You could taste a tiny bit of iron in the back of your throat as you drank.

Rosalie calls your name softly. "Are you okay?"

You nod in response and take another sip of water. You didn't catch the look they gave each other or Rose gesturing for Emmett to speak.

"What happened, Tiny?" He asks in a quiet tone. You close the cap of your bottle and place it back in your bag. Your throat still ached but you knew the pain from using your larynx will linger.

You start to sign to him everything that occurred, from what you overheard in the morning to him approaching. You can see a flash of anger on his face but he goes back to that small smile. Once you explained your words to Rose and why you said them, a huge grin breaks out on his face.

"I didn't know you had it in you, Tiny." He laughs and pats your shoulder a little too firmly.

"Come, I'll walk you to class." Rosalie said with a soft tone. You nod and wave goodbye  to Emmett. You both start heading down the hallway, the blond next to you tense.

When you got to your class a pale hand stopped you. You look to Rose with a questioning look while her gold eyes avoid yours.

"I just wanted to say thank you for earlier." Rosalie says, the tense look she had fades into a small smile, her eyes meeting yours. You see some vulnerability in her usually guarded gaze. She gives your shoulder a squeeze before dropping her hand. "You didn't have to do that. I'm... admittedly used to that."

"No need to thank me, Rosalie." You smile back at her.

"I do, because not many would step up like that." She softly sighs and her smile grows a bit. You felt her words had more meaning to them, but you decided to not linger on them for now. "I know I've been slightly avoiding you but I have a hard time trusting hu- new people. But, after today, I think I want to open up a bit and be friends."

"I'd like that too." You beam. "Alice has been begging me to do a shopping trip, maybe the three of us can plan a trip soon."

"I'd... I'd like that." She almost looks like she is relieved and less guarded.

"Is your hand okay?"

"What?"

"Well, I saw you grip your locker and you dented it."

"Oh. Yeah, it's fine. I work on cars and my grip is strong. It's nothing." She holds out her hands and you saw just flawless skin. "Well, I will see you soon. Class is starting."

"Talk to you later." You wave and go to class. You sit down at your usual spot and start preparing. You sigh, irritated at the way those two spoke about Rose so loudly. But you also felt happy you and Rose were close now. Her bending the locker was suspicious... there were many things off with the Cullens that you've picked up, however, you don't linger on it. They have their quirks much like you have your own.

---

Edward lounged on the couch reading, back from his trip up to the Denali clan to clear his head. After witnessing that nightmare from you, he needed a moment alone to sort his thoughts. He wasn't sure what he felt afterwards but once he took some time to sort out his thoughts, he came back to Forks. None of the others knew what happened. He didn't tell them those details of your life, as none of them were privy to it. He wasn't either but that bridge has been crossed thanks to his ability and curiosity of the galaxy protecting your mind.

He felt guilt initially when he realized he deeply invaded your privacy. Then, despair and immense sadness followed when he recalls back to your nightmare, your past. Edward had seen many horrors in his long life, he even committed some when he'd hunt those men. However when he witnessed what you went through, he couldn't help feel a spark of protectiveness. You were nice. He found you a joy to be around despite it not being long since you transferred. He doesn't want anything bad to happen to you.

Edward couldn't help but smile when he thought back to you and him outside the fire station. It was a peaceful moment. He couldn't help but linger on the sight of you in his jacket, pointing out the stars and constellations. It was silent other than your internal thoughts. And when he got to witness your galaxy so at peace? He also felt a sense of tranquility he longs for.

Edward quickly put those thoughts away and resumed his attention his book when he heard his adoptive siblings come in. Alice and Jasper pass without saying to him, which he was slightly thankful for. However, Emmett and Rosalie lingered by him.

"How can I help you both?" Edward sighs, snapping the book closed as he looks at both of them.

Rose crosses her arms. "You need to come back tomorrow."

"Why? Did something happen?"

"Yeah, Tiny happened." Emmett grinned and gestured to Rosalie. The blond sighed and let the memory replay of you standing up for her so Edward can see what happened today. He furrows his brows, setting his book down. He stands up from the couch and looks between the two.

"My guess is those two will probably retaliate against our friend one way or another." Rosalie says softly. Edward chooses not to point out how she said 'our friend.' "You spend the most time with them, they'll need you to stick around them the most."

Edward nods slowly. He recognizes Mark and Tony, and he knows they each have a class with him and you. He's heard the thoughts that spew from them both like garbage and he knows they aren't above getting back at someone.

"I'll come back tomorrow." He confirms. He wanted one more day to himself, but tomorrow is good as ever to face you again. He knows how you lost your voice and how you ended up living with your uncle and aunt now, but you don't know he knows. And he'll have to keep that in mind.

Although, Edward couldn't help but smile at the sound of your voice in Rosalie's memory. It was rough and hoarse, and it caused you pain, pain he doesn't want you feeling again... but it was nice hearing that voice that matches to the one in your head... when that space of yours is dropped.

---

You make your way to your locker first thing in the morning. You get yourself situated, grabbing the things you need for your classes before lunch. You set aside the folder where you kept your copies of notes for Edward down on the small shelf. You huff softly, throat still feeling sore from using your voice.

A familiar voice calling your name has you spinning around quickly, a smile instantly growing on your face. Edward approaches you with a small smile, looking the same as he did the last time you saw him.

"Glad to see you're feeling better." You grin, your mind flashing back to what Emmett signed to you in regards to Edward's health. You catch your friend's eyebrow twitch, a flash of annoyance on his face that he quickly recovered.

A Cullen quirk, you muse to yourself.

"Yeah. I'm doing a lot better now." He replies softly, standing  a little closer to you than usual.

"I have something for you." You see his eyebrow quirk as you turn back to your locker. You pull out the black folder and hand him it. "Notes for the classes we share."

Edward stares down at the folder before chuckling. He looks up at you and gives you brilliant smile, one that makes your heart flutter for just a moment. "Thank you, I really appreciate it."

"Of course."

Suddenly, you feel hand on your back. Edward was standing much closer to you with an expression akin to a scowl as he stares off a little. He looks to you and smiles softly, though you can still see the tension on his face.

"We should get to the classroom. I'll probably have questions about what I missed." He says in a low voice. You nod, a little confused by his demeanor. You finish up with your locker and let him guide through the hallway, his cold hand still resting on the middle of your back.

You weren't aware of Tony's and Mark's presences until you both were walking by them to your first period classroom. You paid them no mind, keeping your focus ahead of you. Doing this, however, has you missing the deep and threatening glare from Edward towards the both of them.

As you both walked through the hallway, Edward felt that his non-existent blood boiling at the degrading, violent, and nasty thoughts those two were thinking. He knew they both weren't the best that Forks has to offer, their thoughts sometimes louder than others.

That protective urge he felt after witnessing your nightmare? It's working overtime now and he isn't completely sure why.

What Edward does know that he won't let them try anything towards you.

------

Taglist: @buckybarnes-1917​, @trawberry-fire​ , @dreamy-caramel​, @urgirlfriendspage @azazel-nyx @stinkii-boii @vanessalovesonedirection @sunnyisntthere @theatrenerd101601 @awesomebooklover17 @esposadomd @whichwitchisthebitch @bofadeezs @gons-dad-is-gon-e @kathsuhki @aoi-targaryen @srh-006 @onlyheretosimp

[rollinouttahere-writes]

I'm just gonna copy and paste these from the replies in the post discussing what happened with Umi's mother:

@dummyduck44

I'm curious if the mother of Arlong's daughter is still alive... It's necessarily that I want her and her daughter to meet, but it is something I wonder about.... What was her life like before she met Arlong? Why did Arlong take an interest in her? If she's alive, what would she be doing now?

I like the mystery surrounding it, and part of me thinks it's better with the mystery surrounding it, perhaps with some hints, but I also have the very strong urge to ask.

I know I could just simply ask, and it is likely that I would get an answer (even if I don't, it's not something I'll ever get upset about). I'm also aware that I won't be the only one who's curious...

It's not that I condone the woman's act of abandoning her baby, but I understand (I'm not gonna agree nor disagree with her decision)

If she were to take her baby with her, she could have become a big target. Arlong could have hunted her down if she had taken the baby with her (probably could have done that regardless, but he was preoccupied with the baby). She could have been dragged back to her situation. It could have slowed down her escape, plus she would be carrying a reminder of what Arlong had put her through.

The extremely stressful circumstances she was in could have pushed her to things that she wouldn't have done in normal circumstances (Idk her)

She is still alive and has since gone back to her home country of Wano. Before her encounter with Arlong, she traveled solo and made a living for herself as a bandit. She was always a very feisty woman with a wicked streak a mile wide. She took advantage of the fact that people would underestimate her purely because she's a woman to get their guard down and then rob them blind. When she wasn't doing that, she could be a very fun and boisterous person.

She met Arlong because she was trying to rob him. Despite how visibly put off he was by her mere presence, she persisted and continued trying to get him to loosen up enough that she could swipe his wallet and dip.

Arlong, meanwhile, was having an internal crisis. Her personality type is extremely attractive to him, but she's a human and he absolutely hates that he's experiencing attraction towards her. Then she did actually succeed in stealing his wallet and he was seething over how hot he thought that was.

They happen to run into each other again after that, and Arlong says fuck it and tries to shoot his shot with her. Maybe he'll be able to get over the whole human thing eventually. But, she rejects him. She wasn't looking for a relationship at the time and just wasn't feeling any sort of attraction toward him.

Arlong lost his shit. How dare this human think that she's too good for him? She should be grateful that a fishman like him would even think about being with her. He follows and abducts her shortly after that and then proceeds to keep her captive for almost a year before she escapes.

Presently, she's gone back to old roots. She's still a bandit, but she just bounces around Wano instead of all over the Grand Line like she used to. Every time she saw so much as a ripple in the water when she was going back home, she thought that Arlong was about to lunge out and take her again. She hates being around large bodies of water and avoids them like a plague. She's also part of a group of bandits now. After what happened, she can see the value of traveling in numbers. Maybe she never would have been taken away if she hadn't been alone and therefore an easier target.

She's a lot more withdrawn and quiet after everything that happened. She never quite got back her old personality.

What she had done with Umi didn't fully sink in until she was long gone. Her mind had been in survival mode for around a year by that point, and then giving birth to a baby she didn't even realize she was carrying left her in a very dazed, trance-like state. She was in shock and wasn't processing anything beyond getting away from Arlong.

In hindsight, she does feel a bit of remorse over essentially using a baby as a diversion so she could escape. She knows that she never would have been able to go through with raising her, but she does regret not trying to at least get her to an orphanage so she wouldn't have been left to Arlong.

Years later when Umi is making a life for herself with the Straw Hats, her mother sees a wanted poster of her and is able to recognize her. After the initial discomfort of seeing such a grim reminder, there is a tingle of pride. She's happy for Umi that she didn't turn out like Arlong, doubly so once she realizes that she even assisted in his defeat. She still has no intention of getting in touch, but it is some weight off her mind to know that Umi is doing well. If they ever did happen to cross paths, her mother wouldn't let on to who she is.

[agentlizardofowca]

For the fic ask game may I ask for ✄ DVD BONUS for Let's All Assume the Worst please and thank you and please 🙏

- TesIsAMess

Deleted scene for Let's all assume the worst.

Post credit scene with Lawrence, because I am in love with him.

Only cowards hide out in their rooms for more than a few hours. So, after a day of hiding out, Perry ventured back into the house. Making eye contact with anyone (except Phineas) was awkward, because they all looked at him like they knew his darkest secrets now.

Every time someone's eyes trailed to the vague remains of the bruises on his neck, Perry had a strong urge to rub at them.

The boys were in bed, Candace was playing the ducky m(o)mo-rpg in her bedroom, Linda was at after-dark-cooking-class (he still wasn't sure what that meant,) and Lawrence was chilling on the couch, watching whatever movie was playing on channel 5.

It couldn't be awkward between them, Perry would rather die than be awkward around Lawrence. So he pulled up his socks and sank into the couch beside him.

For twenty-three seconds they watched the movie in silence.

"Do you remember, when I said you could tell me everything?" Lawrence asked as he struggled himself into a less skewed position. He was halfway between lying down and leaning on his side. It was amazing because this pose did the impossible: Lawrence was perpetually chinless, but in this pose, he somehow had a double chin anyway.

Perry nodded as he recalled the exact moment Lawrence alluded to.

"And then you signed I can't tell you anything. I'm mute Lawrence, don't be rude." Lawrence grumbled in the deep voice he used to impersonate Perry, as Perry half-assed the same signs just like he'd done all those years ago.

Lawrence turned his head and looked at him with a lopsided smile. "I didn't mean it. Please don't tell me everything."

Perry chuckled a little and stuck his feet under Lawrence's back, just to bully him.

「There is so much you don't know,」 Perry signed with a smile that threatened to tell him more, even if he had no intentions of telling Lawrence about his recreational interests.

"Perry stop now, please."

「I was tied up just a few days ago.」 Not a lie, but context really made a big difference.

"Perry!" Lawrence repeated, this time more desperately.

「Nice and tight,」 Perry signed with snappy movement.

"Perry, please you're killing me."

With the heel of his socked foot, Perry pressed into Lawrence's thigh. 「I'm joking. But. We're both adults, right?」

"We are."

「So it's no big deal.」 Perry hoped this might end it.

"It kinda is when you walk around with a bruise like that."

Perry huffed, resettled so he could look at Lawrence directly, and leaned in close, almost menacingly.

「I did not pretend to be mute and deaf when you started dating again, for you to be this weird about this now.」 And Perry gestured at his neck.

On the other end of the couch, Lawrence was suddenly a little pale and a little sweaty. "You heard us?"

「Sure did Daddy.」

Lawrence groaned and sank into the couch cushions as if wanted them to swallow him as Perry barked out laughter like an elderly hyena.

They didn't hear the front door opening, so they were caught off guard when Linda's voice sounded behind them.

"Now what are you two laughing about?"

They both whipped their heads around in surprise. Perry recovered first, and he climbed up on the backrest of the couch to try and sign, but Lawrence was almost as quick, and he wrapped both hands around Perry's waist and pulled him backwards.

Perry was now unable to sign because his arms were helicoptered wildly to try and stay upright. When he failed, both men tumbled to the floor, where they lay in a giggling heap.

Near the front door, Linda sighed and mumbled "boys will be boys," in a fond voice. She let them be.

On the floor, the two men tried to stop laughing, but every time they made eye contact they started up again.

Eventually, they returned to the couch, had a drink, and fought over the remote.

Perry insisted they watch myth busters, but before the first episode ended he had fallen asleep on Lawrence's shoulder.

Things were no longer awkward.

[purplecherryuwu]

Let me ramble about Adam x Hades x Belle

Okay so it obviously started with just Adam and Hades at MK

They were dorm-mates and at first they hated each other but you know- enemies to lovers stuff

Sadly Adam was friends with Gaston at the time and he does not like his best friend dating another guy because it's so emasculating

A backstory I have for Adam is that he was raised by the castle staff without parents as we don't hear anything about his parents in the canon BATB (although tbf Descendants doesn't gaf about continuity but I'm somewhat trying), and as the prince and only heir to the throne he wasn't allowed outside much

Then he met Gaston by chance one day when he was ten and they became best friends, he was his only friend until he started attending Merlin academy

So with the risk of losing his, in his eyes only real friend Adam breaks things off with Hades which leads to a big fight between the two and they don't interact at all after that

So not long after this Adam's curse comes into play and we all know what happens there BUT- in my AU the setup is a bit different

So first off in my AU the enchantress who cursed Adam was really Aphrodite in disguise, why did she do it?

Orders from Zeus when he heard how Adam had broken his brother's heart, because he cares about his brother? Not really, but it was in his eyes a valid excuse to play a cruel trick on the prince

Now the plan was originally to just turn Adam into a mindless beast for all eternity because gods usually aren't for second chances (unless it's Hera with Zeus's cheatings... for ZEUS the mortals never get second chances even when it's almost NEVER their fault)

When Hades hears about this however he's horrified, yes he's angry and hurt but he never wanted THIS

So he uses his own powers to soften the curse into what we know in BATB (yes it doesn't match with the continuity but when has Descendants ever cared about continuity?)

After this Hades decides he is done watching his family treat the mortals like their little toys they can make and break however they want and this is what leads him to plan the takeover off Olympus

We all know the story of Hercules and BATB so yeah-

NOW skip to the end of D3

Hades and Adam get to talk with each other and (I am resisting the urge of my vision of them singing "For good" from Wicked-) it ends with them being somewhat friends but Hades does not want to bring up anything about their old relationship since Adam is married and he crashed and burned with Maleficent

HOWEVER- Adam cannot stop thinking about him, back when he was young and Gaston convinced him to break up with Hades he used the argument that Adam didn't know what real love was and real love couldn't be between two men

But now that he's been with Belle for so long and knows what true love feels like he knows what Hades and he had- it was real.

He felt like he feels with Belle but... maybe just a bit different

He tells Belle all about this because she's his wife and she's always been the smart one in their relationship

Belle is very amused but slightly concerned about her husband's history but- this is Mal's father who saved Audrey's life

So she agrees for the three of them to sit down and have a more- deeper talk about their relationship

Long story short it ends in a throupple because if Adam and Hades are a thing post D3 Belle will ALWAYS be a part of that relationship and now I shall dump some headcanons on you

Ben fucking fainted when they told him and Mal wanted to bash her father's head in

Adam becomes a flustered mess whenever Hades scoops him up because he's not used to that kind of affection since Belle's not strong enough to carry him

Belle and Hades can both calm Adam down whenever his temper acts up in different ways, Belle talks him down- Hades matches his temper

The three of them read together all the time with Hades- mainly just telling the other two stories of all the shit his siblings have been causing over the years

Cuddle time is the best for all three of them, though Hades would never admit it

[stardustluvs]

hi, me again... I'm sorry but I need Nolan (I fell in love with your writing, please don't be mad at me)

I have one more idea for Nolan.

Let's go..... Nolan is participating in a video and has to win the challenge. But he gets hurt (nothing too bad) after getting hurt he keeps begging them to call his girlfriend, he needs her by his side

kiss it better || n.h.

Word Count:

Pairing: Nolan Hansen x fem!Reader

Summary: What the req says

Warnings: Slight injury(?), Mention of blood (not a lot)

Author’s Note: Changing up how I’m styling the title of my fics slightly! I wrote this instead of sleeping. Also, thank you anon for the request! I appreciate you! Also most of my fics are set in the older style of MrBeast videos as opposed to the newer ones just because I miss when it was his friends competing instead of random people LOL Also I know I haven’t posted a fic in two weeks, shhh…

Requests are open! || masterlist

Everything was going smoothly, he’d spent a lof of time in preparation for this upcoming video, a challenge whereas to win, a sort obstacle course race must be completed. Nolan completely understood the challenge he was faced with, though he may have underestimated the difficulty of it.

Upon looking at the race in person, he could see it would give him a plethora of challenges and problems. It also looked overwhelming, slightly dangerous. Jimmy spent a lot of time already reassuring him and the rest of their friends it would be fine and if God forbid something did happen, they'd be able to safely resolve the issue.

You would've gone to watch Nolan compete, you normally did, except this time you had plans that you needed to get done, having put them off for months now. You could easily expect a few updates from Nolan throughout the day though, he was constantly checking in.

The first part of the course was easy. He just had to not fall and get to the other side. Among him and his friends, everyone was able to make it easily, a few sly remarks from Kris and Karl, but Nolan knew it was all in good fun.

The second part seemed much more terrifying than the first, it looked harder too.

This course was longer, and it consisted of having to run, dodge, and balance at multiple areas.

He didn't get a lot of time to process what he had been looking at when Jimmy called out saying it was time to go.

He started out strong, actually, he was quite far in the lead compared to the rest of the group.

Karl was a close second, calling out to him and making joking banter towards Nolan. That was however, when things started to take a turn for the worst.

Nolan's foot caught against a bit of the course where the ground came up, causing him to trip. At first glance you'd assume he'd have been able to get up and carry on, no big deal. However as he fell, his knee scraped one of the nearby obstacles, sharp enough to break skin, even through the material of his pants.

Immediately he sat up, clutching his knee. He held back curse words and bit down on his lip to try to mask the pain.

Karl saw him first and immediately rushed over towards him.

"Woah- Hey, are you okay?" Karl urged.

Nolan just shook his head, moving his hands to see how bad the cut was. It wasn't so deep he would need immediate medical attention, however it was deep enough to form a nasty cut, and draw a decent amount of blood.

"Jimmy- Hey we need to stop, Nolan's hurt," Karl called over.

Jimmy wasted no time on listening to Karl, putting everything about the video on the back burner. He rushed over to where Nolan was sat on the ground. A few people from around set had rushed over with first aid supplies, being more than prepared for the incident.

"Can someone call Y/N?" Nolan asked to no one in particular. He allowed the people who rushed over to help clean up his knee, wincing a little at the pain from all the movement.

"Yeah- yeah, I'll give Y/N a call," Kris reassured, pulling out her phone and moving quickly to get to her contacts list.

Meanwhile, you had been sat in your car, parked in front of the grocery store. You had been scrolling through your phone momentarily before getting a call from... Kris?

It was odd, and you wondered why she would be calling if she was meant to be filming with everyone right now.

You answered, a little worried and concerned.

"Hello?" You asked as you pressed the phone to your ear.

"Hey, Y/N, can you come to the set right now?"

"Uhm, I'm a little busy, why? Is everything okay?" You asked, concern filling your voice more and more as you wondered what the issue was.

"Nolan's hurt- He's okay, he didn't like break anything or anything like that, but he fell, and his knee's kind of fucked up now," Kris explained, hurrying to tell you that he was okay, knowing you would worry.

"He asked for someone to call you," She added.

"Okay, oh my God, thanks Kris, I'm on my way," You said, ending the call and putting your phone away.

You sighed, knowing that it was probably going to be okay, you reminded yourself that Kris told you Nolan didn’t break anything and was okay except for the fact he got hurt. You were about fifteen minutes out from where the set was, and you could only do so much to get there quickly with all the traffic.

Back at the shoot, a medical team continued to try and get the bleeding to stop. It was slowing down…slowly, and it hurt like hell.

“Did you call Y/N?” He asked Kris when he saw her show back up beside him.

“Yeah, she’s coming,” She replied.

The reassurance that fell over his body at the news you were on your way was visible to anyone who paid attention. It was no secret that he was extremely dependent on you, and that was fine, it wasn’t like you minded him clinging to you any time something happened. It was cute.

When you got there, the first person you saw was Jimmy, who greeted you and was immediately guiding you over to where Nolan was.

It looked…worse than what you imagined in your head, which made you panic slightly, seeing all these medical professionals around your boyfriend. It seemed excessive.

“Hey, you okay?” You asked him, sitting down beside him.

Immediately he pulled you into a hug, wincing slightly when he had to move his leg.

“What happened?” You asked him.

“I fell, cut my knee pretty bad,” He replied.

“We’ll go home as soon as they’re done, okay?”

He was about to object, saying he wanted to continue the video, but before he could, his friends all seemed to agree that was for the best.

You waited with him, allowing him to rest his head against yours while the medical team seemed to finally be finishing up after what felt like ages.

They explained that he may have a bit of a difficulty walking since the cut was pretty nasty, but it should heal up in no time, which you thanked God for.

“Ready?” You asked him, starting to stand up as you reached your hand down to help him up.

He nodded, grabbing your hand. You helped him up the best you could. He inhaled sharply at the slight pressure being put onto his knee.

You allowed him to use you to lean on and help balance, saying goodbye to everyone and getting to your car.

“Thanks for coming so quickly,” He thanked you.

You shook your head, “Why are you thanking me for that?”

“Because I know you were busy today is all,” He said, shrugging a little.

“Never busy if you’re hurt,” You smiled softly, leaning over and kissing him gently.

[saints-helen]

(okay so quick context, medieval au where blue used to be nightmare and dream's personal knight after the queen Nim died, and for ~plot reasons~ I haven't posted yet they got separated and the twins are princes no more. Blue started guarding the twins when they were 4 and him 20, he left them when he was 22 and them 6, and they got reunited again when he was 32 and them 16 (although we haven't seen dream make an appearance yet~)

(Nightmare is laying his head on Blue's lap here btw)

So, context (most of it anyway) done, enjoy!)

-----------

".... you know.."

"?"

"Do you remember? back when you were small and you couldn't sleep?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember what I used to do, then?" He smiles as he asks, and Nightmare carefully keeps his expression level, calm, unbothered.

"No." He says, like a liar, as if he could ever forget, as if he could ever let go of the only person who looked at him and saw Him, instead of whatever he could be used for, instead of whatever he could ruin just by existing. As if he didn't cling to the very memory of the man, body ripping apart, screaming as if he didn't immediately feel the urge, no matter how long it had been, to call out to him, to sob to him as if he were there when his body was crumbling in on itself and building itself anew and just begging him to make it better, please, just make it all better.

He stares at Blue as his smile softens a bit, eyes cast down to his face to shield from the light of the fire that graces Nightmare's back. (he can barely even feel it)

"What did you use to do?" he asks, as if every single interaction they've ever had in those two short, far too short years together didn't immediately jump into his mind, begging to invade it constantly with the Aching memories of someone who Cared.

Cares.

He still cares.

"Well, you Were very small.. and it Was a long time ago.." he recalls, eyes squinting either from the light or from his smile. Nightmare didn't care to know, never cared to know why Blue did the things he did lest he not like the answer.

"When you were just a baby, you and your brother, the queen would let me into your room sometimes to play with you, or rock you or just to help you sleep." He explained, fondess dripping from his voice and Nightmare fought off the nausea it brought him it was so Strong. Still Reeking of love as if it happened only yesterday. Emotions tended to dilute over time, positive ones especially, but not with Blue, not him.

They only seemed to get Stronger.

"One time, when you were being particularly fussy, she handed you to me, and I was so worried about messing up and making it worse that I kept refusing, but she insisted. But.. once you were in my arms.." His hand settles on Nightmare's head, and Nightmare focuses all he has on the pressure of it against the corruption, trying to feel it through it as much as he can.

"It felt as if I just.. forgot. Like I was somewhere else for a moment. I forgot that you were a prince, and I forgot that I was a mere squire, holding the queen's tiny son in my hands. For a moment it just.. it was just you and me, it seemed. Just me, and the crying little baby in my arms." His thumb strokes his skull, and Nightmare fights back the urge to close his eyes at the feeling.

"You poor thing, you were getting so Tired from crying but you just wouldn't relent. I tried to rock you, to coo over you to sing, none of it worked. Your little baby voice was getting hoarse." He laughs, quiet and fond and Disgusting. "Babies can be so Stubborn, You especially, Night. But I didn't look at the queen all helpless, nor did she ask, she just.. she was just watching, I think." He shifted where he sat and Nightmare held his breath, only letting it out shakily when he wasn't let go of.

"I think she was testing me, checking the see if I'd be a good knight or something, I hope I passed, she had very high standards." He chuckles. "So since you refused to stop crying, and your little face was getting all purple from the effort of it, I did the only thing i could think of." He ghosts his hand down infront of his eye, and Nightmare does his best to stay very, very still.

"I did this.." He holds the side of Nightmare's head in one hand, and the familiarity of it almost makes him choke, the embarrassing amount of yearning he feels almost sickens him, almost makes him gag, bile rising in the back of his throat but he swallows it back. Blue draws his thumb along the bridge of his nose, and all at once Nightmare feels like he's going to Die.

"It calmed you down almost immediately, I was so happy when it worked, she was too. All the while your brother was sleeping soundly through the whole thing." He doesn't stop, the pad of his gloved hand so soft against his bone, and Nightmare squeezes his ankle with a tendril so tightly he feels it'll break, all to stop from shaking.

"You were out like a candle. I used to do it with my little brother as a baby, and it seems you two are very similar." He feels a pang of jealousy, and the humiliating thought of wanting only Blue's attention on him and him Alone passes through his head before he squashes it down in horror. For fuck's sake he's been a twin all his life, and he starts getting jealous Now? "That's where I got the idea to do it." He continued, unaware of the mortification Nightmare is feeling at his own thoughts. He's not even his fucking kid, at least Blue's brother and him are related, he's not related to- to anyone, not anymore, not after what he's become. He's never belonged to anyone less, and Blue may believe he's the same person still, still pampering him and loving on him and stroking his nose as if he's that same child he used to guard but he Isn't.

He isn't, and he never will be again. And all the proof he needs of this fact is the way he Refuses to tell Blue that, refuses to break this fragile illusion that he's still someone worth caring for, someone worth calling a stupid nickname like "Night", shortening the horror he is to something Beautiful and Loved.

He's Disgusted with himself, disgusted with the fact he's lying to and manipulating the only person who ever even gave a single Damn about him, all because he's too selfish for the slivers of affection he gets from him, all because that when he's with him, for one single moment Nightmare can just forget what he is and pretend he's still worthy of something Good. He doesn't tell him, he never Will tell him, he'll just wait until Blue, smart as he is, realises he's being lied to and leaves on his own.

..God, nightmare is so Selfish, and no matter how hard he tries he just can't Stop, can't pull away, can't resist, the pull of the stars too strong for the blackhole he is, sucking in everything that is right and good and leaving nothing behind, but he'll never be full. God it's never Enough.

So he just.. forces a response through his hoarse throat.

"I see." He says, as if he isn't putting active effort into not crying right now. Blue hasn't even Stopped.

"It still worked, when you were four til six, you'd go to sleep immediately. Surely you remember that?"

He doesn't respond, doesn't think he can without his voice cracking.

"Well, no matter. it still works now it seems." He says, and Nightmare can Feel the emotions radiating off of him, emotions relating to Him, the corpse on his lap, and he clenches his fist so hard he feels shards of bone Crack, breaking even smaller.

".. Nightmare?"

"I Can't."

He shoves himself off, love love love marinating the air with an aftertaste of worry and God can he not ruin anything for once?

He holds himself up by the arms, shoulders hunched and shaking as he bites back the sob in his throat, tear droplets, with an inner reflection of teal, drop onto the dead leaves beneath him, corroding them and curling them up in rotting black almost immediately.

God, God, everything be does brings Ruin.

"What's wrong, Night?" Blue asks, Nightmare's hand coming up to rub at his face.

He never wanted to hurt anyone.

He never wanted to hurt Anything. He doesn't want to hurt the very small sliver of good in this world he has left. "I'm not- I Can't." He chokes out, and it sounds like begging, because it Is. "I can't just Keep- I can't- I'm not h- it's not Me-" he sobs out, all wet and disgusting, as if he had the Right.

"Bot me anymore you're talking about and I try- I try so hard but I'm not- I'm Not- I'm not anymore and i can't be again because I've already ruined this beyond repair." He holds up his hands to speak, as if pleading his case again to his mother's court that no, god, he didn't mean to, please he never meant to, he'd never do anything to jeopardize his brother but they just wouldn't Listen.

But now, he refuses to plead innocent, begging the innocent judge on his Knees to sentence him to death like he deserves, lock him up in a tower, just Anything but look at him like That.

"I can't be God I can't be him I can't get better so just stop trying to make me better stop- Thinking that I can be anything but- but-" he can't bring himself to finish it, his rambling cut short by gasping breath and the sizzling sound of tears dropping below him.

He shifts his knees to catch them. He doesn't want to Kill.

"I can't I can't I can't I can't-" he begs "I can't be what you want me to be I can't be your Son anymore I Can't, I just Can't." He clutches at his chest, his one good eye too blurry and bad to make out the expression on Blue's face.

He blocks out his emotions though, he doesn't want to know what he's feeling.

"I can't- God-" he sobs "i know you felt it I know you Saw, my LOVE is so so high I've killed so many people I only bring ruin and they were right, you Know they were right. Mama didn't make us equal." He lowers his head. "She gave all the good to Dream and all the bad to me and they were Right, they were, I'm the extra made so he could be Perfect, just LOOK AT ME!" He looks up, eye wide and manic and Begging "All i bring is- I never Listen I- do you even know how this happened?" He asks, voice suddenly quiet, and he looks down at his hands. They're shaking.

"I Can't- after you left after everyone else- Died, it was just me and Dream, it was just me and my brother.

"We were- we were seven, and we didn't know what to Do. We didn't know how to work, how to hunt or to farm, we didn't know Anything." He lowers his head in shame "He'd go making flower crowns, clumsy, the way you taught him, and sell them. Or at least Try and I-" he rubs his face again. "I didn't even bother, I just- I just stole. I just stole and stole and stole and told him I was working for it, which I Was." He laughs, wet and meaningless. "It took a lot of running."

"One day though, the farmer- I think he had enough of me, he caught me one day and said, instead of berating me he said- he gave me a bag of apples and laughed and joked that it was for giving him such a good work out every day, that it was for a holiday or something, I don't know, his excuses were many." He takes a shaky breath. "I was so, so happy, I thanked him profusely, and he looked at me weird, I sensed he was uncomfortable, but I thought I was just- thanking him wrong or something, so I didn't think about it." His hand clenches into the dirt.

"I was hungry. I was so, so hungry, that I ate one on the way, and I-" his voice cracks "It hurt so Bad Blue, it hurt so much. He put a curse on me, he did something to me I don't- I don't know if it was magic or a spell or some poison or- or something but he did something to me and it Hurt, it Hurt so Bad." His voice wobbles as he speaks, and Blue says nothing, hands folded on his lap as he listens.

"I didn't know where I was, I didn't know what was happening, I didn't even know if I was screaming or not because all I could hear was this sickening Squelch as something made its way out of me, breaking everything in its path." He wraps his arms around himself for comfort, rubbing them as if it would replace the warmth of another body.

"It broke through my head and I passed out, and when I woke up everyone was Dead. I couldn't breathe from the smell, it was blood and dust and something burning in my nose, and I couldn't Breathe.

"There were pitchforks everywhere and torches and it was sunset, and Dream was looking at me and he-" he cracks up "He Ran. he ran and I never saw him again. And I- it hurt so Bad." A shuddering breath, Blue still doesn't react, Nightmare doesn't give him time to.

"I felt so, so strong, like something was thrumming beneath my marrow and begging for more. It scared me, I didn't know what to Do. I wanted to go look for him, I wanted to go explain but I was Scared. I was scared of hurting him too so I left, I buried who I could and I left, and I've been- I've been wandering ever since."

"You felt it." He blurts out, wanting to delay the inevitable. "You felt it all in my soul, when you saw me again. I felt it, you CHECKED me. And I- I don't think you liked what you saw."

".... I'm not- Him, anymore I can't- I can't pretend again. I can't sit here and hear you tell me about him and- I can't, I can't lie anymore blue I- I'm sorry. I killed him. I'm sorry. And I'm all you have left."

".... Nightmare..." He still flinches despite himself, and Blue extends hand, so he pulls away, Makes himself pull away, because it's no longer instinct to do so. "C'mere, please."

"..."

God he's always been Weak. Weak and a coward and-

"You did what you had to do." He tugs him close, and nNightmare, dazed, lets him.

"You were scared, you were so, so small Nightmare, you and Dream both." He wraps an arm around him, his voice so soft it could barely be heard over the crackling of the fire.

"I don't condemn you for stealing. I don't condemn you for lying. And I don't condemn you for-" He pauses. "For killing others, in self defense."

Blue pulls him against his chest, and Nightmare is too weak to pull away.

"I am not Angry, I am not Judging, it's never been my job to, my job is to protect you, queen's orders."

Nightmare opens his mouth to retort, but Blue shushes him, so he clamps it shut again and lowers his head. Blue doesn't let him however, gently lifting it by the cheek and chin.

"I don't care if she's dead, I don't care that your kingdom has fallen, and I don't care if I'm no longer your knight, I don't care if I'm a stranger to you anymore because I have you Back.

"I didn't like what I saw, you're right. I wondered what happened, you're Right. But I was just so, so happy to have my little prince back that I just didn't care, I held you, because I wanted to, and in that moment nothing mattered more than doing that, nothing mattered more that feeling you solid again in my arms. You could've been covered in venom and poison and all manner of danger and I still wouldn't have cared."

"I was." He says quietly, meaning I Am.

"And I still don't care.

"We're not the same people we were ten years ago, we both changed, we both did things we didn't want to do because we had to, that's what growing older means, holding onto hope even if it feels like there's none left to hold.

"Nightmare.. you didn't Ask for this. You were just a hungry, scared lost child doing his best. You did your Best Nightmare. and it was Good Enough.

"Because you're still here."

He begins shaking again, but stays limp.

"You're still here, and I'm so, so happy you made it."

"I'm not Him."

"If you weren't, you wouldn't let me hold you right now."

That shuts him up.

"You did so, so Well with the cards you'd been given. Literally every single one begged for you to die but you Refused. You Refused to die Nightmare, you survived, you Made it.

"I have no doubt in my soul that what you did that day was necessary. Poor people steal, that's why the kingdom should provide for them, so they don't have to. But the kingdom was gone, the farmer didn't care, and you were all on your own and you made it Anyway. You placed yourself where I could find you, where you could find Me. You took this little ragtag group of criminals and made them your family, and I have no doubt that you were afraid every single step of the way, whether alone or together, and so was I."

He tucks him beneath his chin, as if he still fit him perfectly.

"You did so, so well in bringing me here. You wanted to survive so you Did. You wanted to find me, so you Did. You put together a good enough team to find me and take care of you and listen to your orders and you Did. You did Everything you set out to do, all on your own, and you did it so Well." His breath begins shaking, tendrils curling and digging into the ground to stop him from crying, but when has Nightmare ever won?

"You were scared, and you were hurt, and you were alone and you didn't know what was happening to you but you Made it." Why is he smiling right now? How could he fine any joy in the Thing that Nightmare has become? He nuzzles against the top of his head and Nightmare chokes back a gasp.

"I don't care if you changed, because it's still You, it's still You beneath all that anger and fear and Hate, it's still you no matter how much pain you were in, no matter How much you had to do to survive. I don't care about your LOVE nightmare, i care about You, it could be any level and I'd still want you, Still love you."

He Sobs, gripping the arm that cradles him like a man clings to his last coin on his death bed, begging the ferry of the river styx to be Kind.

"You did well, and I'm so, so proud of you, dust and blood and corruption and all, your tears may burn me nightmare but I'd take the fire if it's from you.

"This isn't pretend Nightmare, it's real, you can never fool me with a lie or a trick because I'll always catch you, you're not lying to me Nightmare, you're just.. You. and that's why I stayed."

He can barely even hear him beneath his sobbing, his breaths are short and uneven and ragged and pleading, what he's begging for he doesn't know, but Blue seems to, because he leans back against the tree and curls nightmare inside his body, shielding this crying beast from the world that he's hurt so Badly.

"You're Mine, Nightmare" He says quietly. "Whether prince or thief or killer or prisoner or Child. You're mine, you can't change that anymore than you can change the fact that I love you, and we both know you can't do that."

"Please" He begs, "I'm so so sorry-" restless legs pushing against the grass and twigs and leaves as he pushes himself ever closer "I'm so sorry, God I'm so so sorry Please-"

He shushes him, as if he simply had a skinned knee or a bruise on his face, as if it means nothing to him at all. "i know you are sweetness, I know you are, it's okay, you're forgiven, the world forgives you, it forgives all of you."

"God please- I'm so- I'm so so Sorry-"

"shhhh.. you're okay, I'm here, it's okay, hand it over to me Nightmare, give it all over, I'll carry it with you."

"please-"

"You did so well getting here on your own, you did so well reaching me again, all you've had to do lay it to rest my love, lay it all down."

"oh my God-" He sobs.

"I'll take it from here."

[pixel7777]

Batstarion's New Groove: Ch. 2/10

See Ch. 1 for work summary and content tags. Read this chapter below the break here or on AO3!

Work is complete on AO3 and posting nightly on Tumblr.

Artwork by the amazing @vetochkarowan

Astarion

Astarion soared through the night, his wings cutting through the cool night air. What had begun as panic – a desperate escape from the bewildered faces of his companions – had transformed into something unexpected.

This is... exhilarating.

This wasn't like flying with Gale's magic. When the wizard cast Fly on him, it felt controlled and precise – a spell maintaining his body at exact coordinates in space. This was wildly different. His new form responded to every subtle shift in the atmosphere, his wing membranes sensing changes in pressure and temperature he'd never noticed in two centuries of existence.

A warm updraft from Waterdeep's streets caught him, lifting him higher with barely any effort. He rode it instinctively, spiraling upward, feeling the muscle movements in his wings adjusting without conscious thought.

So this is what it's like to truly fly. No wonder bats seem so bloody smug. Ha!  Now I can be smug too.

The city spread out beneath him like an illuminated tapestry. Lantern-lighters were making their rounds, dotting the darkening streets with pools of golden light. From this height, the people below seemed insignificant – tiny specks unaware of the small white bat observing their inconsequential lives.

For the first time since transforming, Astarion felt a rush of something like joy. No stupid meetings, no long list of problems to deal with. Just the open sky and the night air.

He dipped lower, skimming over the rooftops, feeling the currents change as he passed over warm chimneys and cool slate tiles. His ears caught fragments of conversations – merchants counting the day's coin, lovers whispering sweet promises, children being urged to bed.

Banking sharply, Astarion rode a particularly strong current over the harbor, where the sea air mixed with the earthier scents of the city. Ships rocked gently at their moorings, their lanterns swaying like earthbound stars.

Strange how he'd never appreciated the full tapestry of Waterdeep's scents before. His senses had always been keen, but this bat form experienced the city as a rich bouquet of information – the salt of the harbor, the yeast from bakeries preparing tomorrow's bread, the smoke from countless hearths, the distinctive scent of hundreds of different lives being lived.

Freedom. That's what this flight was. 

The smell hit him first – an intoxicating, pulsing scent that made his tiny nose twitch. Without conscious thought, Astarion found himself banking sharply, diving toward a swirling cloud of... something near one of the harbor warehouses.

What am I doing? he thought even as his body plunged downward, wings tucked tight against his sides.

The cloud resolved into individual specks – insects, dancing in the air around a patch of standing water. Mosquitoes, midges, and other buzzing nuisances. He could smell the blood inside their tiny bodies – microscopic droplets they'd harvested from the dock workers, sailors, and tavern patrons.

Instinct seized him. His rational mind retreated as his new form took over. Astarion swooped through the cloud, mouth open, echolocation guiding him perfectly as he snapped his tiny jaws.

Success! Something crunched between his teeth.

And then...horror.

Oh gods, what am I – 

The taste hit like a slap. Bitter chitin, gooey insides, and yes – the tiniest hint of blood, but overwhelmed by the revolting, acrid flavor of insect innards. The texture was somehow both slimy and crispy at once.

"Disgusting!" he squeaked, though it emerged as a pitiful chirp.

He spat out the half–chewed bug, but the damage was done. The flavor coated his tongue, making him twist and dart through the air as though trying to escape his own mouth.

A dock worker looked up, laughing at the small white bat apparently having a midair tantrum. "Look at that little bugger go! Must've caught a bad one!"

Astarion shot the man a ruby–eyed glare, forgetting entirely that his fearsome vampire stare was now compressed into a face roughly the size of a walnut.

I need water. Wine. Anything to wash this abomination from my palate.

He spiraled upward, leaving the tempting-but-treacherous insect cloud behind. His brief experiment with bug-eating had concluded with a resounding failure. Apparently when it came to taste preferences the vampire part of vampire bat overruled the bat part.

As he gained altitude again, a fleeting thought of his companions passed through his mind. They were likely in chaos by now. Gale would be theorizing wildly, Zelara would be beside herself with worry (and probably delight at his fuzzy form), and who knew what the others were doing.

Well, they could wait. Right now, he was flying, he was free, and the night was still young. Besides, he needed to find something to drink that would eliminate the lingering taste of bug guts.

Astarion's sensitive ears picked up the distinctive clink of glasses from somewhere below. He banked, circling lower until he spotted the source – an open-air patio where patrons dined by candlelight. His gaze fixed on a particular table where a couple leaned toward each other, engrossed in conversation, their wine glasses temporarily forgotten.

Perfect.

He swooped down, calculating his approach with more confidence than skill. The woman's glass contained a promising dark red vintage that would hopefully banish the lingering taste of insect. All he needed was to grab the rim with his dextrous feet and – 

How hard could it possibly be? I've mastered lockpicking, wielding daggers, and slitting throats. This should be trivial.

Astarion angled himself carefully, reaching with his clawed feet to grip the glass. The instant he made contact, he understood his miscalculation. The glass was impossibly heavy, and his tiny bat muscles strained against its weight.

Bloody hell–

The glass tipped, then toppled completely. Dark red wine cascaded across the table and directly onto the woman's pale dress. She shrieked, jumping to her feet.

"What in the Nine Hells–"

Her companion spotted Astarion and swatted wildly. "It's a bat! Get it!"

Astarion darted between the man's hands, executing an elegant barrel roll that would have impressed Lae'zel.

"Pardon me. That vintage was clearly subpar anyway," he squeaked, though it emerged as high-pitched chittering.

He wheeled away, snickering inwardly at the chaos he'd left behind. The woman dabbing frantically at her ruined dress, the man still swinging uselessly at the air – there was a certain delight in causing mischief without consequence.

Banking around a corner, Astarion spotted a fountain in a small plaza. Water sprayed in elegant arcs, the moonlight catching the droplets and transforming them into silver. Without thinking, he swooped toward it, darting through the water streams. The cool mist against his fur was unexpectedly refreshing.

This is actually rather fun. Who knew being small and fluffy has its advantages?

After several passes through the fountain's spray, he attempted to land on the stone rim, intending to take a dignified sip. His approach seemed perfect, but the moment his feet touched the stone, his center of gravity shifted unexpectedly.

One moment he was perched elegantly; the next, he was tumbling backward into the water with an undignified squeak.

Cold water closed over him. His wings, perfect for air but useless when waterlogged, flapped frantically. Panic seized him.

Can bats swim? I don't believe they can swim! Curses!

Just as he began to think he might actually drown in this ridiculous form, small hands plunged into the water and scooped him out. He found himself cradled in the palms of a young girl, perhaps seven or eight years old.

The tiny human beamed down at him, hoisting him up like some sort of prize catch. Astarion coughed out a few droplets of water, his dignity drowning faster than he had been moments ago.

"Oh! Look what I found, mama! A tiny white bat!"

Astarion bristled, mentally cataloguing his humiliations. First, he had nearly drowned in a decorative pond. Then, rather than perishing with at least some semblance of grace, he'd been rescued by what appeared to be a human larva – a child barely tall enough to reach a doorknob. At least the girl hadn't called him something truly mortifying like – 

"He's so cute!"

Cute? His wings flapped indignantly against her palms. I am not CUTE. I am a centuries–old vampire, a creature of shadow and nightmare, a being who has tasted the blood of countless mortals. I am elegant, fearsome, deadly – but certainly not CUTE.

The little girl giggled as his fur bristled, completely misinterpreting his outrage as some sort of adorable display. Astarion silently swore that if he ever returned to his proper form, he would find this child and hiss at her.

With a sudden twist, he freed himself from her grasp and flapped into the air, water droplets scattering from his wings.

Ugh.  Mortifying. Still, perhaps freedom comes at the cost of some dignity, he thought, climbing back into the night sky.

Astarion shook himself vigorously, sending water droplets flying from his fur. While the dip in the fountain had been undignified, he had to admit there was one unexpected benefit – the revolting taste of insect had been thoroughly rinsed from his mouth.

Well, that solves one problem, he thought, finding a perch on a nearby statue to continue drying. Perhaps my only problem.

He licked his wing and used it to smoothe down his ruffled chest fur, the action coming to him as naturally as breathing. It struck him then, as he groomed himself under the moonlight, how remarkably unburdened he felt. No spawn seeking guidance. No committees awaiting his leadership. No endless questions about integration policies or Aureum Vitae distribution schedules.

Just a small, white bat with remarkably few responsibilities.

This isn't so terrible, he mused, stretching his wings experimentally. Fly where I want. Do as I please. No one expecting anything of me.

A familiar pressure suddenly built in his mind – the unmistakable sensation of a magical sending. Gale's voice filled his thoughts, clear as though the wizard stood beside him.

"Astarion? Are you all right? Do you need help? Where are you? Everyone's worried, especially Zel. Please respond if you can hear me."

Gale's voice carried a tone of exasperated concern that Astarion knew well – one that meant the wizard was simultaneously worried and irritated. He considered ignoring the sending entirely. Let them fret a while longer. He was enjoying his unexpected freedom.

But if he didn't answer, Gale would inevitably find some absurdly complex magical way to track him down. The wizard was tenacious that way, especially when concerned. And Astarion wasn't quite ready to be found.

Fine. I suppose I owe them that much.

Concentrating on the magical link, he focused his thoughts into a reply: "I'm perfectly fine. Just enjoying the night air. No need to worry or come looking. I'll return when I'm ready."

He had no idea whether Gale would hear his normal voice or receive a series of squeaks. Either way, the wizard had his answer. Basic romantic partner obligation fulfilled – his beloved would not suffer a heart attack from worry. Probably.

The magical pressure receded, and Astarion flexed his wings again. The night was still young, and Waterdeep had so much more to explore from this new perspective.

Astarion stretched his wings, ready to take flight again. The night called to him – a symphony of scents, sounds, and sensations he'd never experienced in his normal form. He bunched his muscles, fully intending to launch himself majestically into the air – and promptly went nowhere.

What in the Nine Hells?

His wings flapped furiously, but instead of achieving lift, he merely scuttled across the statue's head, his claws scraping against stone. The graceful flight he'd experienced earlier seemed to have abandoned him entirely.

Come on, you ridiculous little body. Fly!

He tried again, putting more power into his wings, only to produce an awkward hopping motion that sent him spinning in a small circle. His pride suffered with each undignified attempt.

This is absurd. I'm a bloody bat. Flying should be the one thing I can do without effort.

Several more attempts yielded nothing but frustration and exhaustion. His wings ached from the exertion, and he remained firmly grounded on the statue. Passersby had begun to notice the small white bat having what appeared to be some sort of seizure on top of Waterdeep's memorial to some long–forgotten hero.

I refuse to be defeated by gravity.

Oh. I see.

In a moment of desperate inspiration, Astarion simply let himself fall sideways off the statue's head. His stomach lurched as he plummeted, but instinct took over before panic could fully form. His wings caught the air, and suddenly he was flying again, the awkward launches forgotten as he banked smoothly through the night.

So that's the trick. Falling first, flying second. I suppose that's why they – we – mostly hang upside down?

As he climbed higher into the darkness, Astarion considered this new revelation. The bat form clearly had rules of its own – rules that contradicted his vampiric understanding of how bodies should work. Even his hunting instincts had betrayed him, leading him to that revolting insect cloud when what he really craved was proper blood.

Right. Listen to the bat for flying and other batlike things. Ignore the bat for feeding. No more bugs, under any circumstances.

There was a certain art to this transformation, it seemed – knowing which instincts to trust and which to override. His centuries of undead existence hadn't prepared him for the peculiarities of being small and furry, but he was nothing if not adaptable.

[zeninsama-moved-again]

Can you please tell me about your self hip with Naoya and what you love about him? I am ready to see the vision

ohh violet... okay so this more the context of how i started liking naoya and self-shipping with him to begin with hjfdsk but hopefully it gets the job done. tried my best to keep this spoiler-free but i am discussing naoya's character so be wary of that if you haven't read jjk.

long as fuck so no pressure to read it hgjdfks <3 tldr; he's pretty and bitchy and took up mental real estate for a long time

wow where do i even begin... so naoya has been a favorite character of mine since around 2022, so going on three years now... i've always liked him tbh, like i enjoy a good villain and something about naoya being so sniveling and condescending really appealed to me, not to mention he's hot in a vaguely emo way that is absolutely my type. looove his little ear piercings and eyeliner. back then, liking naoya wasn't as popular as it is now and probably will be once he's animated.

(i remember when i first started posting on ye olde zeninsama blog that i liked naoya, my inbox was flooded with people being like "b-but he's a misogynist!" hgjdfks like yeah bitch we read the same series!)

so my feelings towards him went from an initial liking of his character + what he added to the story (especially to maki's development) to more profound feelings around the time menthol came out, believe it or not. back then, cass and i were still cooking up ideas for the prequel and we wanted to give reader an ex-boyfriend that was sniveling and evil and wouldn't make people sad if aki punched them in the face because naoya absolutely had it coming...

this lead to me cooking up an entire backstory for menthol au naoya. it was really important to me that i didn't erase how he is in jjk, i wanted to take his character exactly as he is and simply drop him into a new environments this lead to my first naoya playlist, my first characterizations of him, etc. i spent so long rotating this fucking guy in my head that it made me soo fond towards him.

the second thing that really made me attached to naoya happened a handful of months later, an anon on ye olde zeninsama blog recommended a fic to me called "fever daydreams" on ao3. it's actually mostly a gojo x reader fic but reader was formerly naoya's wife, so it focused a lot on their relationship as well. i already had so much love for him at this point but this characterization of him absolutely floored me, like having my own headcanons about this man validated and hearing new ones that really softened him while still staying true and accurate to his canon self... when i finished that fic, i had to shut myself in my bathroom and sob and dry heave for like half an hour hgjkfds it moved me so much... that was actually the fic that made me a gojo fucker too but that's a different conversation.

compared to other jjk characters, naoya is not very intimidating, or even strong for that matter. he's just fast and loud and a bitch and misses toji every single day of his life. self-shipping with him was also incredibly easy for me because i don't have an urge to defeat him or demand his respect gjkdfs i am an incredibly docile and domestic person at my core <3

OKAY I CANNOT AVOID SPOILERS ANYMORE SO IF YOU REALLY CARE AND WANT TO AVOID IT STOP READING <3

naoya is just incredibly special to me... like he is such a widely-hated character both within the jjk fandom (the western jjk fandom, jpn loves him) and within the jjk universe, the thought of being the only person that grieves him when he dies is what moves me. knowing you had an entire life together with a side of naoya that was reserved only for you, that dies with you because nobody else could understand it.

also i adore the amount of female symbolism that's actually associated with him. for starters, his domain is a womb, and the results on which deity his hand sign represents are conflicting but one is a female deity and the other has the ability to "transform a girl inside the womb into a boy" so whatever one you take, come on hgjdfgk. not to mention his manga cover is him crushing a pomegranate over his head and pomegranates represent fertility. this is crucial to how i view naoya tbh.

[snippychicke]

It's just Business --Six: Cleaning

I should just spam post these. The fic is done, but I keep forgetting to post.

AO3 | Master post

Sanji was lost in thought as he cleaned the galley after breakfast. Granted, there wasn't much. Zeff had drilled it into him to clean as he went. He did more out of habit, as well as allowing himself the time to think.

He was overjoyed that you had joined the Straw Hat crew despite your obvious hesitancy. Leaving Baratie and Zeff was one thing-- it was hard but also freeing. Like a bird leaving the nest once it was fully fledged, and taking flight to find its own way in life. 

But leaving you? That hadn't sat so well in his chest. Despite not actually being in his day-to-day life, you were still a constant. He had counted the days passing on the Baratie by how many more until you returned. 

The mere idea of not seeing you for who-knew-how-long had terrified him. Never seeing your smile again, or being able to wrap you in his arms tight and feeling you all but melt against him as you squeezed him back? It would be a nightmare. 

Thank the gods you decided to follow. He had been over the moon when you conceded; you and him, finding the All Blue. Together, just as he often dreamt. 

He hadn't really given much thought as to why you caved despite your initial reluctance. But after last night…

-*-

"So why are you flirting so much with Nami when you already have a girlfriend?"

Everyone in the men's quarters froze at Usopp's sudden question. Sanji was convinced he had misheard him, which - considering they were all getting ready for bed - was understandable, and asked: "I'm sorry, what?"

Usopp fidgeted, obviously uncomfortable with everyone's attention now on him and the tense feeling in the air. "I mean, you've been flirting with Nami kinda hard. Like, full-on heart eyes whenever our navigator is even mentioned. So do you and our new helmsman-slash-bookeep have like, and open relationship, or…" 

Sanji laughed despite the uncomfortable feeling of his face growing warm. "God no, nothing like that. We're just close friends is all." 

The silence didn't ease any, and all three men were staring at him now. "What?" Sanji finally asked. "Do you have a problem with that?" 

"Just the fact it's bullshit," Zoro muttered, one eye opened from his own hammock. 

Sanji crossed his arms. "Well I wouldn't expect you to know much about having friends." 

"Nah. Zoro's right," Luffy added. "You two are closer than friends." 

He was definitely blushing by now, and the urge for a cigarette was itching at him. "I assure you, we are not. There is nothing romantic between us." 

Which, that was a half-truth. He couldn't deny the fact he was still in love with you, at least not to himself. He was convinced no matter what, he was always going to love you. But you had made it clear you weren't interested in him that way, and he'd respect that. 

"Like I said, bullshit." 

-*-

Why had you decided to change your mind? Was it simply that the bonds of friendship were that strong, and you were already wavering that his request had broken your resolve?

Sanji had given up on you returning his feelings years ago. He had flung himself into trying to find those same emotions in other women in an attempt to cover up the ache from the realization no matter what he did, you never believed he was being serious. 

That plan had worked - for the most part - back at the restaurant. It had only ached a little bit when you and him would steal a bottle of wine and escaped to the back deck to catch up. To hear your laughter echo across the night, cheeks darkened from the alcohol. Or the fact you would end up cuddled to his side after a few drinks, desperate for human touch after being by yourself for such long periods of time. He couldn't help but indulge in the chance. Arm slung over your shoulder, dreaming of what-ifs and maybes as you would both lapse into companionable silence. Pressing a kiss to your forehead when he could tell you were on the verge of sleep before gently encouraging you to bed. 

And now he was going to be around you everyday; hearing that laugh, seeing that smile... Nami was a beautiful woman, but she had nothing on the way your face lit up with delight as you bantered back and forth. How you literally would try to bite back a smile while pretending to be upset. 

How was he supposed to keep his heart contained? If the rest of the crew already thought you were romantically involved, surely you would catch on as well. That the indulgent touches, his pet names, all of it wasn’t as platonic as you believed.

Would there be that disgust in your expression like when you caught him flirting with others--Nami included? Would you be angry? Or would you laugh in his face before pity overcame your expression and you told him you would never feel that way for him? 

Could he even dare to hope that maybe, despite everything, you’d blush shyly and smile at him? Or-- more likely-- smack his arm while burying your face against him as you were prone to do when embarrassed. 

God, if only.

Sanji was pulled out of his thoughts as the door opened and you wandered in, face reddened by the sun and wind. "Damn, you've really been busy. I expected at least a few of Luffy's dishes left." 

Sanji smiled as he threw the dish towel over his shoulders before leaning against the island separating you. "It's easy to clean when he doesn't leave anything but crumbs. Were you going to come help, or do you have something else on your mind?"

You shrugged your shoulders as you leaned against the island as well, mimicking his pose. "Mmm, sorta? Mostly just missing the covered helm of my ship, to be honest. I'm going to be sunburnt as hell, but also I just wanted to come bother you." Your smile grew as you winked. "Just think, I get to be a pain in your ass all the time now." 

That damned smile of yours was going to be the death of him, yet at the same time he knew he'd die a happy man. "How ever am I going to survive the horror of being stuck on a ship with two lovely women as well as being the boss of my own kitchen?" He teased back, delighted as your face turned darker yet and you looked away. 

"You dork," You scoffed. "You would be in seventh-heaven right now. I can't believe we're heading to the freaking Grand Line. As pirates. My parents are probably swearing up a storm right now." 

Sanji chuckled as he turned to start making you something to help cool you down. "I'm still surprised you agreed. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy as well, just surprised." 

"Yeah, well, I seemed to recall saying something about you being stuck with me forever." 

His smile grew as he remembered that promise-- shortly after your parent's death as you decided to continue their work. He knew you had no interest in working the Baratie; you weren't one to stay in one place for long, nor were you fond of the large crowds. 

He had been so worried it meant he would never see you again --that you would sail away one last time, never to return. He hadn't been able to keep himself from pulling you against him tight, mentally thanking every deity yet again when you decided to keep your parent's transport route. 

"And I said you'd never be alone." Sanji poured the ice drink into a glass and handed it to you, smiling softly as you met his gaze. He meant it back then, as well as now. Even if it ended up killing him. 

》°《

One of the cooks had left out a bottle of Brandy. And well, Sanji had been assigned to clean up for the night, and you had decided to ‘keep him company.’ 

Teenagers did stupid things, and neither of you were immune to that fact. 

The kitchen was roughly cleaned, though Sanji could admit he spent more time talking with you, leaning against the same counter you sat on - especially once he mastered mixing up Brandy Alexanders. The more the late hours wore on, the more Sanji was entranced with you. Watching your eyes catch the light from the overhead lamps, or run your tongue along your lips to catch a bit of the creme from your drink. 

Sanji would be willing to argue you had started things first; when you leaned forward so you could play with his hair, your fingers stroking his cheek softly... He wasn't sure what enticed you, but held still as if afraid moving would scare you away. 

Yet when you finally met his gaze, cheeks flushed as you bit your lower lip, Sanji couldn’t help himself. He leaned closer, one arm braced on either side of your hips before brushing his lips against yours. He could taste the chocolate still on your lips, making him sigh as he pulled away.

Your hand wrapped around his tie, stopping him. There was a challenging glint in your eye as you pulled him close for another kiss. 

Sanji swore he had died and gone to heaven as he indulged himself. Kissing you properly like he had always dreamed about, tasting the remnants of drink on your lips along with your own natural taste - that was better than any meal he had tasted. His hands moved to your thighs, squeezing the soft flesh lightly as he pulled you closer, so tempted to see if he could convince you to part them so he could step closer still; to have those strong legs wrap around his waist, to press his hips against yours…

Except before he could push his luck, you pulled away, gasping for breath. “Wait. Stop.”

He groaned, but rested his forehead against yours as he placed his hands back on the counter. “What’s wrong?” He asked, though silently swore to himself that if you hinted he was a bad kisser again…

“It’s just… too much,” You whispered. “We-we’ve had too much to drink. This isn’t us.” 

Sanji leaned back, his eyes meeting yours. He wanted to confess that this was exactly what he had always wanted - that this was what he wanted as much as finding the All Blue. But even in the haze of bliss and brandy, he could see the hesitancy - the fear - in your eyes, and it cut him straight to the core. 

He gripped the edge of the counter tightly as he forced a smile. “As my lady wishes.” He pressed a lingering kiss to your forehead before stepping back, offering a hand as you slid down from the counter. “Do you want me to walk you back to your ship?” 

You shook your head, face flushed. “No. But… thank you.” 

Watching you walk away was like cutting his own heart out, but he stood strong as he shoved his hands in his pocket. 

[chesters-ocs]

SOULMATES (4)

couldn't help myself. continuation of the previous 2 posts. a little sorta day in the life. something about the mundane is so fun to write

wc: 852

@the-whispers-of-death pspsps im taking this au and running with it lol

It had been a number of days since Sylvester met his soulmate, which then caused a crash of panic onto him after him and Mārīte got back home.

Ever the curious little thing, his daughter all but demanded to have everything explained, and it was then that he silently cursed himself for never bothering to even tell her about something as simple and universal as a soulmate.

At least it seemed she was majorly interested, her eyes sparkling as she clung to his every word… How naive, he thought, before waving that thought away, not wanting to berate a child for being that: a child, and not understanding the world yet.

Without any further interference from his soulmate, he couldn't help but believe he made a horrific first impression. He won't blame the man, however. His mind was practically mush, and there's precious few who are willing to date someone with children from previous relationships…

As if you can even call it that, it was a glorified fling at best, and destructive at worst… Usually the worst, actually, now that he thought about it in hindsight.

No matter though… With complete radio silence from the stranger, he fell back into his usual routine. Mārīte's at school, and he's on his lunch break at some nameless company he'll forget about a few years from now. Though he supposes there is one good thing about it. Location's pretty good: central London makes it easy to find a grocery store or a bakery. Easy enough that he decided to walk, despite the rain. It's nothing worrying, given the compact umbrella in his backpack.

Sylvester steps out into the street with an expression as neutral as ever, as the man brings up and opens the umbrella. It's a simple, black thing, made of cheap material, but it gets the job done. That's all he needs. And so he trudges down main street, keeping an eye out for anything interesting.

Shops seemed to come and go constantly, rent always rising and sinking at the heart of the city. If he wasn't used to it, he would probably be overwhelmed by the size and quantity. Boutiques here, office buildings there, little family owned businesses sandwiched between both.

And speaking of family owned.. a new bakery had opened nearby, Sylvester noted. There's a couple balloons by the entrance, and the signs say there's an opening week sale. Not thinking too much, he crosses the street over to it, and pushes open the door, and unequipped his raggedy umbrella.

The place is small, but cozy. There's plenty of pastries and snacks-to-go on the display by the cash register, and the young woman in the apron greets him cheerfully.

After a second of taking the place in, the man nods, saying his own greetings. But he doesn't even spare a glance at her name tag, instead looking over the fresh goods, as well as the coffee menu.

"… Hello. Can I have a large latte to-go, as well as the chicken sandwich?"

"Of course, cash or card?"

"Card, please."

He's met with a nod, as the worker punches in the prices, and the total appears on the small card reader. He enters the pin the moment the woman turns around to work the coffee machine. A beep confirms his payment, the check already getting printed.

Within a few moments, he's out, small paper bag in tow. In the few minutes he was inside, the rain had worsened. At least the wind isn't strong today, he thought. That's one thing he didn't miss about his home: the rain tended to come with strong winds, and it did not help his hometown was a coastal one. He was used to trashing umbrellas just after a few uses due to that…

Nevertheless, he still had time to return to his office building, and sit down at his desk there. He carefully unwraps the sandwich and places the paper cup on a coaster, when he gets the urge to check his phone.

Lucky that he did too. A new message, sent moments after he left to buy lunch. He almost groaned, noticing how he forgot to turn on the volume: a nasty habit of his to do.

He swipes to check the notification, not even blinking at the unknown number. The man figured this is just another client needing a quick job.

"Hello, is this Sylvester?"

At least the message was a simple one too. A few taps later, he sends a response, before shutting off the device.

"Yes it is."

A shame he didn't notice how the person on the other side already started typing, as he snacked on his lunch. The taste is a pleasant surprise, and in the moment, he figures he'll have to go there more often. Maybe bring Mārīte there too… She'd probably like the cakes, he muses.

However, he still didn't turn up his volume, already getting distracted by office work, so it's only when he gets back home with his kid, that he'll properly see the barrage of new unread texts. Someone claiming to know his mystery-man soulmate.

[avampyone]

for Hemlocke: 🍯 for a food headcanon

Half vamp Hemlocke until post HW/Void ark raids: At this point in time, Hemlocke still ate food for nourishment. He enjoyed mostly simple dishes especially if they were done much in the style of a charcuterie board - fruits, meats, cheese, beef stew, soups in general. He wasn't a fan of anything too rich or too sweet. If in a situation where there was a lot of bloodshed or the scent was strong enough, he would feel compelled to drink but fought these urges off.

Full vamp: Hemlocke usually takes a preference for tea or spirits now though he can still safely try out food for the taste. It just doesn't do anything to sustain him. His favorite would be blood currant tarts or hard candies made with blood that his friend Teagan makes.

The hunger pangs are painful for Hemlocke that he can only resist for so long before starvation turns him wild. At that point, he'll instinctively hunt for blood even of monsters, voidsent or other vampires if he finds them. Luckily, he met Arazul who helped him with making a medicine that eased these pains.

The first version was an awful bitter medicine that Hemlocke forced himself to drink and still only staved off the hunger for a time when he became too weak to fight or keep going on. The doctor's made a lot of improvements since then and mixing the new medicine with bottled blood from the Alchemist's guild has proved to help the most.

There are still times he feels tempted, but his willpower has grown over time. He's become better equipped to deal with these scenarios as they come up.

Thank you for the ask!!

[greatestheroofgreece]

Herc Headcanons 1

I'm gonna go ahead and post some headcanons whenever the urge strikes me, mostly to help me flesh out my take on a sane Herc.

Since his memories of Illya from FSN seem to be strong enough that Bersercles remembers them in FGO, I don't see why Sabercles wouldn't remember them as well. So he treats Illya as a surrogate daughter.

Speaking of kids, one bit of canon that needs addressing is that Herc had a lot of children; he had over 50 tykes to his name even before he started his Labors, and that number only increased over the years. This is why so many people are able to claim to be his descendants; he had so many kids that there's a good chance they legitimately are. On the headcanon side of things, given how he acts with kids even as a Berserker, this blog is taking the stance that Herc tried his damndest to be there for every single one of them, but that did inevitably mean that (especially during his adventuring years) he wasn't able to spend as much time with any one of them as he would've liked.

Herc is remarkably humble for a man who's accomplished as much as he has. He knows he's damn strong, of course, but he never assumes his opponents are helpless before him unless it's definitively proven. Even for those that literally cannot hurt him, he'll still show respect for the prowess and skill that they display. As a side effect, this means that whenever he buckles down and truly commits to a fight, he does his utmost to murder the shit out of his opponent post-haste; he usually respects them too much to not take them seriously. As for people who aren't fighters at all, well, they're just flat out capable of doing things he can't, and thus are worthy of great praise indeed!

So this is less a headcanon and more just a thing I think is kinda wild. In Fate, Achilles was one of the people trained by Chiron, and by all accounts he actually finished his training too. Here's the thing: Heracles accidently killed Chiron in his Fourth Labor. Which means Achilles was almost certainly a teenager at the time. Given that Achilles' whole deal was either die young in glory or die old in obscurity, that means there wasn't that many years left after Chiron's death until the Battle of Troy began. Heracles could well have been alive when Hellen was taken by Paris; considering he still had six years of Labors left after killing his centaur buddy and that he still had a whole hell of a lot of adventuring left to do even after the Gigantomachia, he might have actually outlived Achilles in Fate. I don't know yet where I actually stand on this (I default to him being dead before the Troy Troubles are done), but I still think that's a pretty crazy thought.