#there's actually no time loop in this one

[valictini]

Some sketches about Siffrin and Loop fighting post game

I feel like their reunion would be very emotional and awesome and whatnot, but then, the day to day… hoo boy, they’d constantly trigger eachother I think. Not on purpose! But I can see them really running on eachother’s nerves. Mostly because of their individual trauma, how they overlap and crucially, how they DON’T always overlap. Clash, even! And I think they should throw hands to release that tension! It’s healthy for them! Trust!

(I wrote a fic about one of their later fights some time ago)

Bonus sketches under the read more, won’t clean those up, I need to stop worrying about things being clean otherwise I’ll never share <3

Yes Madame, it’s actually code for mental breakdown I’m glad you asked

Loop’s first win… yay…?

[rampagingpoet]

A thought: a choose-your-own-adventure style VN would actually be a much better medium than a linear story for a concept I've had kicking around for a while.

The original plan was to have one character experiencing a time loop plot while another is doing Steins;Gate "messages to the past" timeline manipulation. The looper has very precise feedback on their actions over the relatively short duration of the loop. The messenger has very limited feedback on the results of their messages, but can look back over a much longer timeframe. Their goals overlap somewhat but not entirely, and at least to begin with they are not aware of each other's existence.

Crucially, events in a given instance of the loop could change semi-retroactively based on the messages the messenger will have sent if the looper takes specific actions. So if you're the looper certain choices always seem to occur in the "worst" world-state for you eg the monster is there if and only if you don't shoot.

At first this appears frustrating and arbitrary, but it's actually the game's central puzzle. Why do some actions result in fluctuation's in the loop's past but not others? What is consistent about them? Success for the looper requires deducing the existence of the messenger and ensuring the means by which their own goals are achieved don't have results the messenger has to 'fix'.

More choice-based VNs should follow the lead of the old Choose Your Own Adventure books – particularly the Edward Packard ones – in having the worldbuilding change based on whatever would be most fucked up given your choice. You went through the left door? Fuck you, there are psychic chimps now.

[buttercupshands]

Twitter shouldn't be the only one to see the video version of this

I was waiting for Tumblr to be grumpy about the size so it's really just the Loop talk

[covenofagatha]

Do I wanna know? (Part 1)

Sequel to But you're my stepmom!

Picks up a few months later after your dad and Agatha get divorced and you've started college

Word count: 3.8k

Warnings: fingering, mommy kink, slight angst

Fuck. You do not want to do this. 

It’s a Saturday night and you’re here. You should’ve said you had anywhere else to be, but instead, your car almost gets hit as you turn the corner in possibly the narrowest parking garage you’ve ever been in. It makes you swear and you stomp on the brakes so quickly you think you might have a bruise from the seatbelt. 

But luckily, you find a spot on the first floor and squeeze between two other cars, muttering a silent prayer that you don’t scrape against them.

You wipe your sweaty palms on your jeans as you get out and walk into the lobby of the apartment complex. 

It’s nice, although you hate to admit it. You would surely not mind spending more time here if it didn’t mean having to see—

“Hey, sweet pea!” 

Him. You look to your right and plaster on a fake smile when you see your father standing there, slipping his phone into his pocket. 

“Hey,” you say softly, awkwardly patting his back with a hand as he embraces you. 

He had been asking to get dinner with you at least once a week for the past few months since he and Agatha got divorced. You’ve always found an excuse to get out of it — you had homework, you had exams, you had to work over the summer and you were so tired — but now that it’s your first weekend in college and he knows that you don’t have anything going on, he insisted. 

Plus your mom had sort of asked for you to go at least once. Your dad has been sending you updates about his apartment search and random internet posts that he found funny, and having lived at home all summer, you’ve kept your mom in the loop. She is still obsessed with him, always finding ways to bring him up in conversation, and you wish you were brave enough to tell her to just move on. She was absolutely ecstatic when you broke the news about him and Agatha and she’s been pressing you for updates ever since. 

Part of the reason she wanted you to go see him was to scope out his new place and see if there was any sign of a new woman. There was still no sign about the lady he was having an affair with, so you weren’t sure if things had ended. 

And when he moved out the first time, he took your mom’s can opener and she still won’t let it go. Before you left, she texted you that if you saw it, you should steal it back. 

After the divorce went through, your dad had decided to sell the house and look for an apartment a little closer to his work, and he’s lived in this place for about a month now. 

“How are you? How’s it going?” he asks as he leads you to the elevator. He presses his fob to the button inside and then floor six. You remember him being so consumed with having one of the top floors, like that would make him seem more important. 

You shrug and pick at the peeling skin on your fingers. It’s a bad habit — one of your many. “Pretty good. Syllabus week has been a breeze. Made some new friends.”

“Classes seem like they’ll be fun?” he asks. 

“Yeah, I hope so.” 

And then a tense silence falls over the both of you. You haven’t actually seen him since your graduation, which was a whole other level of awkward with your mom there too, and you both know that the two affairs and two divorces has put a strain on your relationship.

It does hurt a little. You wish there was a way you could reach over the cold gap between you and go back to how things were when you were a kid, when you actually liked being around him. 

But too much has happened. 

“Well, I’m really glad you were able to come down for dinner,” he says and you smile tightly. “I can’t wait to show you the place and then we can get whatever you want to eat.” 

The elevator dings and you follow him to an apartment a few doors down and he unlocks the door and lets you go first. 

The floors are a laminate gray, the counters in the kitchen marble white with black pendant lights over the peninsula. The refrigerator is stainless steel and there’s a completely stocked wine cooler fridge built into the cabinets next to the stove. You walk past the kitchen into the living room where the couches from his and Agatha’s house are set up around an entertainment center with a fireplace and a blue rug under the coffee table. 

“What do you think?” he asks, stepping next to you and putting an arm around your shoulders to bring you in close to him. 

You take his fancy bachelor pad in again. “Yeah, it’s pretty nice. Maybe just pizza for dinner? We can order and watch a show or something?”

Staying in and having the television as a buffer is a much better plan than going out and having to make small talk that will end up with him on his phone anyway. He agrees and calls to order the pizza while you perch on the couch and scroll on your phone. You already have a text from your mom telling you to call her when you’re done and your chest tightens at the thought of all the shit she’s going to say. It’s fucking exhausting still being in the middle of this — you really thought it would get better, especially now that you’re in college. And yet, here you are. 

“So…” your dad starts, plopping down next to you with a groan once he gets off the phone. He grabs the remote and turns the TV on. “You like your roommate?”

Your roommate, Alice Wu, is a sweet girl from out-of-state. You think that you and her will get along just fine and you’ve already agreed on all the rules of cleaning and having friends over. The first week has gone well and you’ve gotten close. “She’s cool. I think she and I will be good friends.” 

He nods and turns on a show you watched awhile and the two of you sit in awkward silence until the pizza guy rings from downstairs. You excuse yourself to the bathroom after your dad rings him in. 

The bathroom is through the bedroom and you take careful note of the sheets still strewn all over the bed and the two pillows at the top. One nightstand is cluttered with a phone charger, earplugs, a lamp, and a picture of you on your graduation day in a silver frame. It tugs at your heart and you instantly look away, not wanting to feel any more nostalgia. 

However, on the other nightstand, there’s just a matching lamp. No hair tie, no other chargers or personal belongings. 

But that stuff is easily hidden, so you go into the bathroom. One toothbrush, one retainer case, one razor. You can’t tell if you’re disappointed or glad. 

At least you won’t have to listen to your mom talk endlessly about a new woman. 

Your dad already has a plate with two slices on it for you sitting in your spot on the couch and you dig into it, suddenly famished. The atmosphere does warm up over time, and it’s no longer uncomfortable silence and you do end up talking a bit about his work and more about your school while the TV plays.

He doesn’t bring up your mom or Agatha at all, and neither do you. In a way, it’s nice to be removed from them for a few hours. Your dad has been villainized by both of them — and obviously he fucked up — but he is still your dad, despite your complicated feelings toward him. 

After a few episodes of the show, you shift to get up, grabbing your plate. “You’re leaving already?” he asks and checks his watch.

“Yeah, it’s getting late and I should really be getting back to the dorms,” you say, trying to sound apologetic. Even if the bubble has been nice, you have somewhere you need to be. 

It’s hard for your dad to hide his disappointment, but he gets it and grabs his keys to walk you down to your car. 

“How’s, uh, how’s your mom doing?” he asks. Still putting me in the middle of all the imaginary drama she’s creating with you is what you want to say. But you know that he’ll call her out for it and you’d have to deal. 

“She’s pretty good. Work’s been keeping her busy.” A safe answer. A true answer. 

“Good,” he says and shoves his hands into his pockets and you know what’s coming next. “And Agatha? Have you seen her at all?” 

Imagines of her hot body on yours flash through your mind. Her rosy nipples, her pale stomach, the heat that swallows up her eyes. “Yeah, I’ve seen her around. She’s doing all right, too, I think.”

Your dad nods and stops at your car. “Well, I had a great time with you,” he says and holds his arms out for a hug. You mutter something in agreement and give him an embrace with two pats — the way you’ve done it since you were a kid. “Let’s do it again soon.”

He tells you that he loves you and after you say it back, you get into your car and he watches you as you drive away. 

Begrudgingly, you call your mom and put her on speaker and not even a second later, her voice fills your car. 

“How was it? Did you see anything? Is there another woman? Did you find my can opener?” she asks all in one breath and you take a silent, deep breath. 

You can’t wait to be home. “It was a pretty nice place actually.” Your mom snorts. “There wasn’t any sign of someone else there and I didn’t have time to look around. We just watched a show and ate pizza.” 

She makes a sound. “Wow, father of the year. Maybe he cleaned up the place before you came over.” You hum noncommittally. “What are you doing tomorrow? Want to come over? I’ll take you grocery shopping.” 

“Yeah, let me just check my schedule. Alice and I might be doing something, but I’d love to go there for a bit. Especially for groceries,” you tease and she laughs. 

“I bet your father didn’t even offer to do that,” she says smugly and your face falls. Sometimes you wonder if she does half the things that she does for you just to one-up him. 

“Okay, well I’m almost back now, so I’ll let you know when I’m coming over tomorrow,” you tell her, eager to wrap it up, and about to turn in. “Love you.” You hang up before she’s even done saying it back. 

Once you park, you text your roommate saying that you won’t be back for the night — staying with family — and walk up to the apartment side door, letting yourself in with the fob on your key ring. 

Agatha’s apartment complex is smaller than your dad’s, but just as nice, and you prefer it a lot more. 

After the divorce, she stayed in a hotel for about a week before signing a lease on a place about ten minutes away from where the house used to be. You had helped her pick out the furniture and spent more time here than at your mom’s house the last couple months of school and she gave you a key to it the day she moved in. 

It got harder over the summer to hang out with her, as you worked at an ice cream shop in the afternoons into the evenings and she was working her normal nine to five, but you made it work. 

Things are really good between the two of you. There isn’t exactly a label on it, per se, but you both know that it’s a relationship. And without your dad in the picture and with her not being your stepmom anymore, there isn’t as much of a need to keep sneaking around — so when she puts an arm around you while you’re walking down the street and kisses your cheek when you say something cute and ghosts her pinky against yours, it’s okay. 

You know things might change a little with you in college now, but you’re ready for it. And if you spend more nights at her place than at your dorm, so be it. It’s not like anyone’s going to know, and Alice will just think you’re staying with family. 

Unlocking the door, you can practically feel the tension seeping away from your body. Agatha makes everything feel better. Even the house you grew up in, the one your mom still lives in, doesn’t feel as home as this does. 

You don’t see her when you first walk in and you walk into the living room to see her typing something on her computer, brows furrowed, and you can just make out the glint of a document through the reflection of her glasses. 

“Hey, you,” you greet, kicking off your shoes. She startles and looks up before slamming her laptop shut and smiling. 

“Hey, honey,” she says and pats the spot next to her while she leans forward to place her computer on the coffee table. “How was it?” 

Agatha had emphatically listened to your incessant complaining about having to get dinner with your dad, but in the end she had also pushed you to go. You groan and flop onto the couch, situating yourself so that your head is in her lap and you’re looking up at her. “It wasn’t that bad,” you admit and she smirks. “Don’t even think about saying ‘I told you so’. I will leave.” 

She tosses her head back with a laugh and you play with the strands of hair that’s falling over her shoulder and teasing your face. “I would never, darling. But I’m glad it wasn’t bad. How is he?” 

Your nose wrinkles. “Can we not talk about my dad? Although, I was just thinking about how much of a reward I deserve for going.” 

“Oh, you think you deserve a reward, do you?” she ribs lightly, raising an eyebrow and poking you in the stomach. You giggle and twist away from her finger before sticking out your bottom lip as pitiful as you can and giving her doe eyes, nodding your head. She rolls her eyes fondly. “What were you thinking, honey?” 

You shrug like you’re just now beginning to think about it. “Well, mommy,” you say, a thrill running through you at her sharp gasp. “I think since I was such a good girl, you should give me an orgasm.” 

“Oh, just one?” she asks playfully, and you surge up out of her lap, turn over onto your knees to face her, and pull her in for a kiss. Your lips move against each other with familiar ease, her tongue licking hotly into your mouth and you moan — her hands slide up under your shirt and rest on your bare skin before you reach down and take it off. 

“As many as you’ll give me, mommy,” you pant, and she grins before starting to suck open-mouthed bites onto your chest. You’re wearing green lingerie but she barely even looks at it before unclasping your bra from behind and tearing it off, throwing it somewhere on the floor. 

She swirls her tongue around your nipple before suckling hard and you whimper, holding her head right against you. It feels like there’s a wire running straight from your boob to your cunt and you quickly feel yourself becoming soaked. Agatha switches to the other one and soon your entire chest is sticky with her saliva and you’ve moved onto her lap, squirming. 

Her teeth nip at the underside of your breasts and you can’t take it anymore. “Mommy, please,” you beg, grabbing her hand and leading it to the waistband of your jeans. Her fingers rest there while you quickly unbutton and unzip and then you shove her into your pants, your hand circled around her wrist to just feel her. 

Agatha chuckles throatily and moves her fingers experimentally against you while you try to grind down for some stimulation. You suddenly feel so empty, a molten heat between your legs, and Agatha crashes her lips back onto yours. She sucks on your tongue and tugs on your bottom lip as she finally presses against your clit and your hips jerk. “So wet for mommy, aren’t you?” she huffs and you nod and try to move against her harder. 

When she finally pushes your underwear to the side and runs her fingers through your folds, you keen and bury a hand into her hair, face dropping down into her neck. She sharply gasps when you start breathing heavily against her skin, content to just keep your lips planted against her throat. 

She slides a finger into you and your walls clench around her, trying to draw her even more in. Each time she fucks you, it feels like the first time — the same energy is there, the same electricity. But at the same time, she knows exactly what you need, maybe even more than you do. 

Her thrusts begin to pick up and heat is rising through your body and you can see little indents in Agatha’s skin from where your teeth have slightly sunk in. 

“Mommy, mommy — please, I need more,” you whine and she obliges by pushing another finger into you and curling them just right. A high-pitched sound leaves your mouth and you start riding her fingers the best you can, rolling your hips to match her and get her even deeper. You’re clenching furiously around her as sparks begin to fly in your lower stomach and you can feel the beginning tendrils of your orgasm start to build. 

Agatha’s thumb circles around your clit without actually touching it. “God, sweetheart, you look so hot right now, taking my fingers like such a good girl. You feel so good, too. Never wanna leave you,” she babbles, making you convulse even tighter. There’s a slight pink tint to her cheeks and her breathing has picked up and you know she’s affected too. Her fingers are moving faster and she pauses for just a moment, making you whimper, before she stretches you out with a third. 

“Oh, fuck,” you swear, your walls adjusting, and the slight burn only adds to the immense pleasure you’re feeling. “Fuck, fuck.” Your head is spinning, completely drunk with her and her perfume that’s been invading your nostrils the whole time, and you can’t even form a single thought. 

She presses harder on your clit and with the hand that’s not currently inside you, grips your hair and pulls you away from her neck. You can see red blotches staining her skin and the thought of her wearing your marks around gets you even closer. “Look at me,” she grunts, her thrusts becoming more sporadic and you stare right into her dark blue eyes with your pleading wide ones. Your breaths intermix and she looks like she might also cum just from this. 

Agatha lets out a strangled gasp when her gaze flickers from your eyes to your swollen lips to your breasts that are bouncing with your movements in her lap. 

“Mommy, I need — right there —” You can’t even string together a coherent thought and she scissors her fingers inside you, the pressure making you see stars. 

She looks you up and down again, drinking you in like she might never get enough, and her chest heaves with each breath she takes. “Fuck, baby, you’re so perfect,” she groans and your head falls back as you keep riding her. “I need you to cum for me, okay? Cum for mommy.” 

“Mommy, fuck, I’m gonna — fuck I love you,” you groan, not even realizing the words slipping out of your mouth, the words neither of you have ever said before, before it’s too late and your orgasm explodes through your body in a way it never has before. You feel it in every crack and crevice inside you and she keeps fucking you just as hard while rubbing your clit and it quickly becomes too much, tears springing into your eyes. 

Agatha’s fingers finally slow down and she coos sweet nothings in your ear and you wonder if she even heard you. It’s been a few months since you’ve been together, but neither of you has really acknowledged the depth between you. 

And you just did, in the middle of sex. 

“You okay?” she murmurs, pressing a kiss to your cheek and you nod before she pulls out of you and you wince at the sudden emptiness. You fall back out of her lap onto the couch. She must not have heard it. 

There’s a slight gnawing feeling that begins to grow in your stomach — if you said it for real, in a moment that couldn’t just be blamed on a dopamine rush, would she say it back? 

Does she feel the same? 

Agatha kisses you before sticking her three fingers into your mouth so you can clean them up. ��Good girl,” she purrs in a low voice. “Was that a good enough reward?” 

You’re still a little out of it, but you nod dazedly. “Yeah,” you say softly and she gets off the couch and walks over to the fridge to get you a glass of water. “My mom wants me to go hang out with her tomorrow. What are you doing at night? Can I come over after?” 

She pauses for a fraction of a second and then glances at you over her shoulder. “Um, sorry, baby. I have to work all day tomorrow. Some last minute things I’ve got to get done.” 

You hum, a little disappointed, but graciously accept the water. “No worries. Maybe Monday or something.” 

“Yeah, of course. Just a second, I need to go grab something,” she murmurs and then walks into her bedroom. You’re exhausted and you get off the couch, stretching your aching muscles, and you’re about to follow her when her phone buzzes on the end table. 

Thinking it’s just a work email or something, you glance at it and your stomach drops, heart lurches. 

It’s a text message from an unknown number. 

Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. 

@lostbutlovely33 @diorrxckstar @whoreforolderfictionalwomen  @katekathry @onemansdreamisanothermansdeath @tayasmellsapples @natashashill @mybraininblood @mysticalmoonlight7  @cactuslover2600 @loveem0mo @readysteddiero-nance @lonelyhalfwitch @lesbiantortilla @crescendoofstars @sol-in-wonderland @ahsfan05 @gbab09 @sasheemo @agathaharness @live-laugh-love-lupone @chiar4anna @fuckedupforkhahn @lowlyjelly @sweetmidnights

[charmed-quill]

The Bet// F.W x Reader Part 2

authors note at end

Summary: Fred Weasley and y/n make a bet: whoever gets a date to the Yule Ball first wins. But what starts as harmless competition devolves into full-blown war.

Word count: 4.7k

Previous Part

Look, Fred Weasley wasn’t the worst person in the world to go to the Yule Ball with.  

Not y/n’s first choice, not by a long shot, but also not the worst.  

Still, standing in her dorm, adjusting her dress for what felt like the millionth time, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was… off.  

It wasn’t like Fred had never seen her in a dress before. They’d been friends for six years, of course he had. 

But this? 

This was different. The whole "dressing up" thing was throwing her for a loop.  

The last time she wore something this fancy was her cousin’s wedding when she was ten, and even then, she had hated every second of it. She still remembered the way the lace had itched against her skin, how uncomfortable the frilly socks had been inside her too-tight shoes.  

But this dress it wasn’t stiff or scratchy, wasn’t something her mum had picked out last minute. 

It was hers.

 And it looked…good.  

Angelina had swept her hair into an elegant bun, leaving just a few soft curls framing her face, while Alicia had carefully applied her makeup, just enough to highlight her features without making her feel like she was wearing a mask.  

Y/n barely recognized herself.  

It was uncanny, looking in the mirror and seeing someone who actually—Merlin forbid—looked pretty.  

She swallowed, fingers tightening slightly on the fabric of her dress.  

It was just one night. Just Fred. Nothing had to change.  

Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself, ignoring the way her stomach flipped at the thought of heading downstairs.

—

Fred stood by the fireplace, hands stuffed in his pockets, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. The common room buzzed with energy, students heading off to the Great Hall in clusters, adjusting dress robes and exchanging last-minute compliments.  

George, Lee, Angelina, and Alicia had left just moments ago, after much teasing and knowing smirks thrown his way.  She’ll be down in a moment, they had assured him before disappearing through the portrait hole.  

But it had been more than a moment.  

Fred huffed, glancing up the dormitory stairs. Had she changed her mind? He wouldn’t blame her. Their whole arrangement, or whatever you’d call it, was far from ideal. A last-minute   truce  , born out of mutual stubbornness and sabotage. He knew y/n hadn’t exactly been   thrilled   about going with him.  

Still… part of him didn’t want to be left standing alone in the common room like some abandoned fool.  

With a sigh, he ran a hand through his hair and took a step toward the stairs. If she wasn’t coming down, he’d bloody well—  

The door opened.  

Fred froze.  

His words, his thoughts,   everything   slammed to a stop as y/n stepped into the warm glow of the common room.  

She looked…  

 Merlin.   

Fred wasn’t sure what he had been expecting, he’d seen her in dresses before, plenty of times. 

But this? This was something else entirely.  

The firelight cast a golden hue over her, catching on the delicate fabric of her dress as it moved with her. Her hair, swept up with effortless elegance, framed her face in soft tendrils, highlighting the curve of her jaw and the brightness of her eyes. Her makeup was subtle, just enough to make every little detail stand out, her lips, her cheekbones, the way her lashes fluttered slightly as she scanned the room.  

She was beautiful.  

And Fred?  

Fred was stunned.

He barely managed to school his expression before she looked up, meeting his gaze.  

"Got tired of waiting?" she teased, stepping forward, smoothing her hands over the fabric of her dress.  

Fred cleared his throat, forcing himself to breathe properly. "Thought you’d done a runner," he said, managing a smirk. "Was ready to heroically charge up the stairs and rescue you."  

Y/n rolled her eyes. "You just wanted an excuse to break into the girls' dormitory."  

Fred chuckled, but it came out almost   nervous, and since when was he, nervous   around her?  

His eyes flicked over her once more, like his brain was still trying to process that this was   actually y/n standing in front of him.  

"You clean up alright, y/l/n," he said, voice lighter, teasing, though there was something else beneath it—something even he wasn’t sure he wanted to acknowledge.  

Y/n raised an eyebrow, tilting her chin slightly. "Just alright?"  

Fred grinned, stepping closer, offering her his arm. "Don’t get a big head about it."  

She huffed, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes, something challenging, something thrilling.  

As she looped her arm through his, Fred couldn’t help but feel like maybe, just maybe, this arrangement wasn’t as terrible as he had thought.

—-

Fred and y/n stepped through the entrance to the Great Hall, and for the first time that night, neither of them had anything to say.  

The entire space had been transformed.  

The usual long house tables were gone, replaced by elegant round ones draped in shimmering fabric, flickering candlelight bouncing off crystal goblets and golden plates. The ceiling was enchanted to reflect a breathtaking winter sky, soft flakes of snow drifting lazily down before vanishing just above their heads. Ice sculptures lined the edges of the hall, carved into delicate figures that seemed to move when you weren’t looking. The chandeliers overhead twinkled like a thousand tiny stars.  

It was… stunning.  

Fred let out a low whistle, eyes sweeping over the scene. "Blimey," he muttered. "They really went all out, huh?"  

Y/n didn’t answer right away.  

She was still taking it all in, her gaze moving from the enchanted icicles hanging from the balconies to the grand staircase leading to the raised dance floor. She had never seen the castle look like this before, so ethereal, so dreamlike.  

It almost felt unreal, like stepping into some sort of fairytale.  

Fred glanced at her, catching the way her eyes shone under the candlelight, the soft parting of her lips as she stared in quiet wonder.  

Something shifted in his chest.  

"You alright there, y/l/n?" His voice was teasing, but noticeably softer than usual.  

Y/n blinked, snapping out of whatever spell the Great Hall had cast over her. "Yeah," she said, glancing up at him. "It’s just… I dunno. I wasn’t expecting it to be so—"  

"Romantic?" Fred finished, raising an eyebrow, his smirk playful but his voice lighter.  

Y/n scoffed, nudging him with her elbow. "I was gonna say impressive, but sure, Weasley. Whatever helps you sleep at night."  

Fred chuckled, but he didn’t tease her back. Instead, he let his gaze linger for just a second longer than necessary.  

The music swelled in the background, students filing in around them, laughter and chatter filling the air. The entire evening stretched before them, full of possibilities neither of them had really considered until now.  

Fred shifted slightly, adjusting his grip on her arm before tilting his head down toward her. "Guess we better get on with it, then," he murmured.  

Y/n met his gaze, something flickering between them that neither of them wanted to name just yet.  

With a quiet breath, she nodded.  

Y/n stood beside Fred, her hands clasped in front of her as she watched the champions and their dates take to the center of the dance floor. The music started soft and elegant, a slow waltz drifting through the air, filling the Great Hall with something delicate, almost fragile. The enchanted ceiling reflected the winter sky, stars glittering overhead like they had been placed there just for this moment. Snowflakes spiraled lazily down before vanishing into shimmering wisps of light.  

It was beautiful.  

She had never seen Hogwarts like this before. Had never felt this kind of stillness, this quiet anticipation that wrapped around her like a whisper. The usual laughter and chaos of the Great Hall had been replaced by something softer, something weighty in its beauty.  

She stole a glance at Fred.  

He was watching the dancers, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth like he was amused by the whole thing, but there was something else there, too. A quietness she wasn’t used to seeing in him.  

And that was when it hit her

Something felt different tonight.  

They had been friends for years, partners in crime, rivals in pranks, always pushing and pulling, always toeing the line between bickering and camaraderie. But this, standing here beside him in a ballroom full of flickering candlelight, the warmth of his arm just inches from hers, the way he had looked at her when she had walked down those dormitory steps,   

It didn’t feel the same.  

It wasn’t uncomfortable, not exactly. But it was new. Like she had stepped into something she hadn’t expected, something unfamiliar but thrilling all the same.  

The music swelled, couples twirling across the dance floor in graceful, sweeping movements, and suddenly, she was hyper-aware of Fred beside her. Of the way his fingers twitched slightly at his sides, like he was debating something.  

She swallowed.  

"Getting bored already?" she asked, keeping her voice light, teasing, as if nothing in the world had changed.  

Fred turned his head, his gaze flickering to hers. He smirked, but not in his usual way, not in the way that made her roll her eyes or shove his shoulder. This was something softer, something amused and knowing all at once.  

"Nah," he murmured, tilting his head slightly. "Just waiting to see if you trip over your own feet when we dance."  

Y/n scoffed, nudging him with her elbow. "Bold of you to assume I’ll dance with you at all."  

Fred chuckled, looking back at the floor. "We’ll see about that, y/l/n."  

And something about the way he said it sent warmth curling through her chest.  

She exhaled slowly, turning her attention back to the dancers, pretending she wasn’t thinking about the way his voice had dipped just slightly, or the way her stomach had flipped at the sound of it.  

Y/n barely had time to protest before Fred was tugging her toward the dance floor, his grip firm but light as he grinned down at her, mischief dancing in his eyes.  

"Come on, y/l/n," he teased, his voice low enough that it sent a strange, warm shiver down her spine. "Let’s show them how it’s done."  

She rolled her eyes but let him lead her anyway, her fingers curling against the fabric of his robes as they moved into the sea of swirling couples. The candlelight flickered overhead, casting soft golden glows against the ice sculptures, the music swelling around them in a gentle rhythm.  

Fred slid a hand to her waist, his touch lighter than expected, and lifted their joined hands. "Try not to step on my toes, yeah?"  

Y/n huffed, settling her free hand on his shoulder. "I’d worry more about your own coordination, Weasley. We both know you’re all limbs and recklessness."  

Fred chuckled, the sound low and warm, and for a second, she forgot they were in the middle of a crowded ballroom, surrounded by students, teachers, and swirling magic.  

"You know," he mused as they moved to the beat, "I don’t think we ever settled our bet."  

Y/n raised a brow, amused. "Oh? And what exactly needs settling? I’d say it was a draw at best."  

Fred scoffed, spinning her suddenly, pulling her effortlessly back into his arms before she even had time to process it. "A draw?" he echoed, shaking his head. "No, no, no. I clearly won. You were the one who asked me, remember?"  

Y/n narrowed her eyes, her fingers tightening slightly against his shoulder. "That is not how I remember it."  

Fred grinned. "Sounds like selective memory to me, love."  

She huffed. "Fine. Even if I asked you first, which I didn’t, you were already on your way to ask me."  

"Exactly!" Fred said triumphantly. "Which means I still would’ve won in the end."  

Y/n rolled her eyes, but there was no real heat behind it.  

Because the truth was, she wasn’t even thinking about the bet anymore.  

She wasn’t thinking about the competition or the weeks of sabotage.  

She was thinking about the way Fred’s hand rested so easily at her waist, how effortless it felt to fall into step with him, how his grin softened when he looked at her now—like maybe this wasn’t just about winning anymore.  

And that realization sent her stomach flipping in ways she wasn’t prepared for.  

She exhaled slowly, focusing on keeping her voice steady. "You’re impossible, you know that?"  

Fred smirked, tugging her just a little closer as they turned with the music. "And yet, here you are, dancing with me anyway."  

Y/n swallowed, feeling that damn warmth creep into her chest again, curling beneath her ribs, making it increasingly difficult to remind herself that this was just Fred.  

Just Fred Weasley.  

Her best friend.  

Her rival.  

Her date.  

And, Merlin help her, something about that last word felt different now.

Dancing with Fred Weasley was dangerously easy.  

Y/n had expected him to be all awkward footwork and dramatic spins meant to throw her off balance, but instead, he led her through the steps effortlessly, his grip firm but light, his movements confident without being cocky.  

The warmth of his palm at her waist sent a slow heat curling in her stomach, something she tried desperately to ignore.  

Because it was just Fred.  

Fred, who she had spent the last several weeks sabotaging. Fred, who had annoyed her beyond reason since they were twelve. Fred, who, despite all of that, made her laugh more than anyone else ever had.  

And maybe that was the problem.  

Because something had been shifting between them, something she had been too stubborn to see before tonight.  

The music changed to something slower, couples swaying close, and Fred leaned in slightly, his breath warm against her ear.  

"Alright, y/l/n," he murmured, his tone far too smug. "Who do you reckon is shagging who by the end of the night?"  

Y/n snorted, instantly snapping out of whatever ridiculous romantic haze had been creeping up on her.  

"Subtle, Weasley," she said dryly, shooting a glance around the ballroom.  

Her eyes landed on Jack Carmichael and his date, who had definitely been sneaking off toward a shadowy alcove near the back of the hall. She nodded toward them.  

"That one’s a given," she said. "He’s been trying to get her out of here for the last half-hour."  

Fred followed her gaze, chuckling. "Bet you ten Sickles he barely makes it up the stairs before she tells him to piss off."  

Y/n grinned. "You’re on."  

Fred twirled her unexpectedly, pulling her back in a little closer than before, and she hated the way her breath caught.  

Get it together, she scolded herself.  

Fred’s eyes flicked toward the table where a few sixth-years were gathered, drinking out of goblets that definitely weren’t filled with pumpkin juice.  

"Alright, new bet," he said. "Who snuck in the booze?"  

Y/n scanned the room, eyes narrowing. "I’d say Nathaniel Burke, but he’s an idiot and would’ve gotten caught already."  

Fred smirked. "True. So?"  

She exhaled through her nose, thinking, then grinned. "My money’s on Lillian Moore. She looks too innocent. It’s always the innocent ones."  

Fred laughed, his grip at her waist tightening briefly. "You know, y/l/n, you might be onto something."  

Y/n opened her mouth to throw another sarcastic remark his way, but something in her chest twisted unexpectedly when he smiled at her.  

Something warm, something alarming, something that had been creeping in for weeks without her permission.  

Because suddenly she was remembering every little moment leading up to this

The way he had looked at her when she first stepped into the common room tonight. The way he had teased her but never once insulted her. The way he had waited for her reaction before taking her hand, before leading her into this dance.  

And, Merlin help her, she realized all at once that this hadn’t just started tonight.  

It had been building for weeks.  

Every time he had grinned at her, every time they had gone back and forth with playful insults, every time their arguments had felt more like flirting than fighting

She had been falling for Fred Weasley.  

And she hadn’t even noticed until now.  

The thought was so overwhelming that she nearly stepped on his foot.  

Fred raised an eyebrow. "That hesitation, was that you losing the bet already?"  

Y/n blinked, snapping herself out of it. "Absolutely not."  

Fred chuckled, shaking his head, completely unaware of the internal crisis she was currently having.  

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to focus on the banter, on the laughter, on anything except the fact that she was looking at him differently now.  

Because the second she acknowledged it?  

She knew there would be no going back.

—-

Fred leaned back against the wall, his butterbeer warm in his hands, the golden glow of the Great Hall flickering over y/n’s face as she took a sip of her own.  

She was grinning, her lips still curled in amusement from whatever ridiculous bet they had just made, her eyes bright despite the dim lighting. She was leaning slightly toward him, like it was natural, like it had always been that way.  

And maybe it had.  

Fred took a slow sip of his drink, pretending he wasn’t completely distracted by her.  

By the way she looked tonight. By the way she always looked, if he was being honest.  

And suddenly, it hit him.  

This wasn’t new.  

This feeling, this warmth curling in his chest, the way he kept catching himself looking at her longer than necessary, this hadn’t come out of nowhere. It had been building, sneaking up on him so slowly he hadn’t even noticed it.  

It was there in the little moments, moments he could suddenly recall with sharp, stupid clarity.  

Like the time she had shoved a stolen Chocolate Frog into his pocket during first year, grinning as she whispered, “Take the fall for me, Weasley.”  

Or the time she had patched him up in second year when one of his own pranks had backfired, muttering the whole time about “how much of an idiot he was”, but her hands had been so gentle as she wiped the blood off his chin.  

Or the way she always seemed to understand him, even when he didn’t say anything.  

The way she could read his moods better than anyone else could, the way she knew when he needed a joke and when he needed quiet.  

The way she never treated him like a joke, even when he made himself one.  

Fred swallowed, staring at his butterbeer like it held all the answers.  

He hadn’t meant to feel like this.  

Hadn’t meant to notice how pretty she looked when she was focused on something, or how her nose scrunched when she was thinking, or how her eyes lit up when she was about to start an argument with him.  

But here he was.  

And for the first time, he wasn’t quite sure what to do about it.  

"Oi, Weasley," y/n nudged him with her elbow, snapping him out of his spiraling thoughts.  

Fred blinked, forcing himself to smirk. "Y’know, y/l/n, if you wanted to get close to me, you could’ve just asked."  

She scoffed. "Please, I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t passed out. You looked a little dazed there."  

Fred chuckled, shaking his head. "Just thinking."  

Y/n raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous habit for you."  

Fred snorted, taking another sip of his drink.  

Yeah.  

Dangerous indeed.

The Great Hall had gotten too much.  

Too crowded, too warm, too many couples tucked into corners, whispering to each other like the entire world had disappeared around them. Everywhere Fred turned, there was some overly romantic display, some sickeningly sweet gesture, and Merlin help him, he needed fresh air.  

So, naturally, he grabbed y/n’s hand.  

"Come on," he muttered, already tugging her toward the doors before she could argue.  

Y/n let him, though he could feel her curious gaze on him as they slipped out of the hall, the sound of music and chatter fading behind them.  

"Where exactly are we going, Weasley?" she asked as they stepped into the cool night air.  

Fred inhaled deeply, letting the crisp air fill his lungs. "Anywhere but in there. Too many people snogging like their lives depend on it."  

Y/n snorted. "Jealous?"  

Fred rolled his eyes, nudging her with his shoulder. "Oh, absolutely. Watching Kevin Whitby nearly eat his date’s face off was thrilling."  

Y/n gagged. "Disgusting. Alright, lead the way."  

And so they walked.  

The path leading away from the castle was quiet, save for the faint sounds of the ball still drifting from the open windows. The stars above were bright, the sky clear, and the lake stretched before them like a dark, endless mirror. The wind was cold but pleasant, ruffling the edges of their dress robes as they followed the stone path toward the water.  

It was… nice.  

Comfortable.  

Like they had done this a hundred times before.  

And maybe they had, maybe not in fancy dress robes, maybe not with the weight of something unspoken pressing against Fred’s ribs, but it was still them.  

Still easy.  

They fell into natural conversation, talking about nothing and everything—making fun of McLaggen’s tragic dance moves, placing one final bet on whether or not Olivia Davies had smuggled an entire bottle of firewhiskey under her cloak.  

But beneath it all, Fred could feel it.  

That… thing.  

That stupid, frustrating thing that had settled in his chest hours ago and refused to leave.  

Because every time y/n laughed, something in him twisted.  

Because every time she nudged him, teasing and light, it sent something warm rushing through him.  

Because every time she looked at him, really looked at him, he felt like she was about to figure him out.  

And that, that scared him more than anything else.  

He had spent so long not noticing. Had spent years thinking of her as just y/n—his best friend, his competition, the one person who could match him beat for beat.  

But now?  

Now, all he could think about was the way she looked under the stars, how the silver light caught in her hair, how her lips curled when she was about to say something smug.  

Now, he was noticing everything.  

And he wasn’t sure he liked it.  

Y/n nudged him again. "You’re quiet."  

Fred blinked, forcing himself to smirk. "Unusual, isn’t it?"  

"Extremely." She shot him a suspicious glance. "You sure you’re not getting emotional over all the romance in the air?"  

Fred snorted, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Oh yeah, I’m the emotional one. Not the girl who gasped at the ballroom decorations like she walked into a bloody fairytale."  

Y/n gasped again, but this time out of offense. "I did not—"  

"Did too."  

"Fred—"  

"You even twirled, y/l/n," he teased, his smirk widening. "Don’t try to deny it, I saw it with my own two eyes."  

She groaned, throwing her head back dramatically. "I hate you."  

Fred grinned. "No, you don’t."  

Y/n turned to shove him, but he caught her wrist before she could, laughing as he held it up between them.  

And suddenly

The laughter faded.  

Not completely, not abruptly, but just enough.  

Because suddenly Fred was staring at her, and she was staring back, and something about the night felt too still.  

Her wrist was small in his grip, her pulse just barely thrumming beneath his fingertips.  

For a second, just a second, he almost didn’t let go.  

But then

He did.  

And whatever had settled between them slipped away before it could take root.  

Fred cleared his throat, shoving his hands back into his pockets. "Anyway. Should probably head back before George accuses me of running off and eloping."  

Y/n snorted. "I dunno, Weasley. I think we’d make a pretty tragic love story."  

Fred smirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.  

"Yeah," he muttered. "Tragic."  

And as they made their way back up toward the castle, Fred ignored the fact that something about that word didn’t sit right with him at all.

They were just steps away from the castle doors when Fred couldn’t hold it in any longer.  

It had been building all night, all week, really, if he was honest. Maybe even longer than that.  

Every glance, every laugh, every stupid little moment that had felt so normal before had suddenly taken on a different meaning.  

And now, standing beneath the stars, the castle glowing softly in the distance, it hit him all at once.  

He loved her.  

Maybe he always had.  

Maybe he had just been too thick to realize it until now.  

But now, now it was all he could think about.  

Y/n was walking just ahead of him, her dress shifting with the breeze, hair slightly undone from the night, still looking as effortlessly beautiful as she had when she first stepped down the dormitory stairs.  

And Fred, heart pounding in his chest, suddenly realized he couldn’t go inside without saying it.  

Without doing something about it.  

"Y/n."  

His voice was quieter than usual, but she stopped immediately, turning to face him with a curious tilt of her head.  

She hadn’t expected him to stop. Hadn’t expected his voice to sound so… careful.  

Fred took a breath. Now or never.  

"I—" He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair, trying to find the words when really, there was only one way to say it.  

"I like you."  

Silence.  

Fred barely noticed the cold anymore, heat rushing through his chest as he watched her eyes widen, her lips parting slightly in surprise.  

Maybe he should’ve eased into it. Maybe he should’ve said it differently. But hell, there was no stopping now.  

He took a step closer.  

"I like you, y/n," he repeated, voice steadier this time. "And I—I don’t mean in the way we joke about, or the way everyone always thinks we do. I mean, really. And I think I have for a while, I just…" He let out a breathless laugh, shaking his head. "I was too much of an idiot to see it."  

Her lips parted like she was going to say something, but nothing came out.  

She just… stared at him.  

Fred’s heart dropped.  

Oh, hell.  

Maybe he’d messed this up. Maybe he’d just ruined everything

But then

Y/n moved forward so fast he barely had time to react.  

Her hands curled into the front of his dress robes, pulling him down as she kissed him.  

Fred’s mind blanked.  

For a second, he didn’t breathe.  

Didn’t think.  

Didn’t do anything except feel.  

Because Merlin’s bloody beard, he hadn’t expected that.  

But then, instinct took over, and his hands were at her waist, tugging her closer, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure she could hear it.  

It was slow, softer than he ever thought a first kiss between them would be. No teasing, no sarcasm, just… her.  

Just them.  

The night was silent around them, the only sound between them the faint hitch of breath, the quiet shift of fabric, the snowflakes drifting through the air like the universe had planned this all along.  

When they finally pulled away, Fred’s forehead rested against hers, his grin so wide it was almost ridiculous.  

"So, uh…" He exhaled, still catching his breath, his hands still resting firmly on her waist. "Can I take that as a yes?"  

Y/n laughed, arms still wrapped around his neck, eyes shining with something he had never seen before but desperately wanted to see again.  

"Fred Weasley," she murmured, shaking her head fondly. "You are such a bloody idiot."  

Fred smirked, tilting his head slightly. "Yeah, but I’m your idiot now, yeah?"  

Y/n grinned, tugging him down into another kiss.  

And Fred?  

Fred was completely okay with that.

A/n: so I wasn't planning on writing a part 2 for this but so many people asked so I hope you enjoy this!!!

[fortune-maiden]

Thinking about Shao Yuanyuan and her wildcard potential and it hit me today... just how much does she know? Does she live in a time loop similar to Lu Guang or does she hop in and out of the past like Cheng Xiaoshi? Does she know that Cheng Xiaoshi also has a death node?

It suddenly occurred to me to that the Shao Yuanyuan we likely saw during the fire in Ep 4, was either a time leaping SYY from the future or at least one who had information from her future self to know to be in Bridon at this point in time and also a Shao Yuanyuan who might have just realized Cheng Xiaoshi had awakened his own powers.

Given her meeting with Cheng Xiaoshi in Ep 6 where she acts like Cheng Xiaoshi should be aware of how this all works, I suspect that it's because the version of Shao Yuanyuan from Ep 4 arranged this meeting because she encountered Cheng Xiaoshi during the fire and thus knew he would show up in Bridon and go searching for them through Wang Qing. She needed to set up that meeting so she could tell Cheng Xiaoshi face to face not to pursue her anymore (and make things more complicated).

I also think that was her second attempt at doing so - the first being to go back years earlier to tell the Qiao family not to let him go to Bridon. But the future refused to change so she found another opportunity to try again.

And based on Lu Guang's comments it sounds like she would have also failed again in the original timeline. It's not clear how her conversation with CXS went last time (if there was one) but at the very least she might not have had time to make CXS promise not to chase after her anymore, and that would have likely sealed his fate. If anything, a sudden interrupted meeting like that might have even encouraged him further.

And this is all coming from a Shao Yuanyuan from an unknown point in the future...

Anyway this is a lot of words to say where in time is Shao Yuanyuan?

And what the heck does the timeline look like from her perspective?

[undomesticated-animal]

Honestly, body euphoria has done WONDERS for my ability to keep a physical self care routine, and I keep thinking back to Young Domi being so fucking OVERWHELMED by the thought of having to haul myself through the daily gauntlet of mirrors, lights, smells, self-shaming, and dysphoria inducing body modifictions made in a desperate bid to feel worthy of my skin. The idea that this could ever be anything but NEUTRAL AT BEST was laughable to me, so much so that I didn't even realize how terrified I felt by the possibility it could be real.

I can't go back and tell Past Domi all the things I understand now that I know would have mattered so much, but I can say them on the internet and maybe someone gets to learn them faster than I did.

Body euphoria isn't just for trans and intersex folks. And I mean this more than just "oh cis people should get gender ephoria too" (it's true!) because I also mean that the idea that body euphoria/dysphoria is neatly segmented up into little slices of life with no crossover is unrealistic and painful for everyone. Thinking that I was only allowed to care about my euphoria around gender actually made it REALLY hard to recognize I was having DYSphoria around my gender at all. After all, I avoided thinking about that in exactly the same ways I avoided thinking about the dysphoria around other aspects of my embodiment! I must just be bad at body positivity, "it's always easier to do for others than for myself 🤗 teehee" was a go to blow off for me when people asked me to confront how visibly uncomfortable I was in my body.

Because the thing is, it ISN'T easier to do for others than yourself. It really isn't. The part that's easier is avoiding the shame we feel about it. But once we confront the shame, loving your body is the easiest thing in the world. <- this is gonna be where Past Domi went "oh fuck this noise" and bounced but HEAR ME OUT

A body you cannot live with is a body you cannot care for, and a body you can't care for is a body you will almost always struggle to live with. This feedback loop is the CORNERSTONE of body dysphoria for a lot of people. It's a chicken and egg situation where it's nearly always going to be impossible to know what came first, but once either is present, the other will kick into gear to really hunker down in your psyche.

The feedback loop works the other direction too though. This is why people tell you to find the little things that make a tiny difference. They are (usually) not telling you that it'll be enough on its own, but every one of those you find uncovers new ones, and little by little you start feeling up to bigger pieces of self care because you've recovered enough to start putting int the front-loaded work for the worthwhile outcome

When that upwards feedback loop clicks? It's night and day. Like I genuinely don't know how to describe what it's like to just sort of.....wake up different. But it happens all the time, and it KEEPS happening. And you start to realize you're not "waking up different" you're just....getting to know yourself without feeling so uncomfortable with what you're learning that you shy away from yourself

I dunno man, I don't have a point here, but I've been processing old grief lately and the grief of how long I spent viciously hating myself and truly believing that's what neutrality feels like.....Little-Domi deserved better, and so do yall

[the-timeloop-tourney]

This post will self destruct when the poll is done

[beneathsilverstars]

OKAY... i think for dagger ending au i'm putting the game events in a very specific order.... siffrin finished kingquest before the friendquests because they were focusing on one quest at a time, because if they tried to look for too many things at once they wouldn't do a very good job looking for any of them? like wait i remembered to look for x in that room but i forgot to look for y, umm i think i have no idea which rooms i actually searched for what.

so he locked in on kingquest first, with loop hangout part way through it. and then he poked around for stuff to read in the forgotten language now that he could read it, but he didn't know enough about wishcraft to make sense of it. he did go into the locked star room, but didn't read the diary (bc he won't until after friend quests bc the stars make him sad). so he was pretty stuck on loop quest at that point, so he finally turned his focus to his friends: first mira, then bonnie, then odile — and happening upon the right papers to find that familytale took a whiile — and ofc finally isabeau.

then the perfect family run didn't work and they were devastateddd. what now!!?! they went through the house a couple more times with friend quests completed, got sick of those and switched to just skipping around the house checking this and that. finally they went all the way back to dormont again to talk to loop in person, and the two of them decided they should try checking the forgotten language books again. the ones they found didn't make much sense, but one of them was in the secret library right? maybe there's others hiding somewhere in there too? (<- said in the tone of someone who is checking the freezer for their phone because hey, why not try it now that we've exhausted everything that would make sense.) and that's why siffrin was planning to loop straight to floor 2 — they had a mission, and they were done doing everything in dormont, it doesn't help, it's just manipulating their family for their own benefit.

and that's where we get the au divergence!

so in that final run through the house, siffrin knew that the king had mentioned wish craft, but nothing else about it. they were taking their time and having the long versions of conversations and rereading everything (outside of dead-ends), which includes:

the craftonomy book - they discuss how the king is using time craft, which would normally kill someone

the newspapers - they discuss the king's origins and the stars on his armor

the sparkly diary - they discuss the forgotten island, and siffrin asks isabeau to try saying it

the letter - siffrin talks about running away from home, and trails off

and, now that siffrin has completed the friendquests and is checking every single little thing for the first time since then, he finally opens up the star room's diary and has his family read it for the first time! since they haven't read the forgotten language books about wish craft, isabeau and odile dismiss it as fiction. siffrin, though, feels like he understands wish craft better. and in this au, where he's been feeling very stuck but now suddenly desperately wants to stay in this version of the day in a deeper way than ever before, he starts to wonder if there's a way he could make a wish to get out, somehow. but he still has no idea how wish craft works.

and then he doesn't need to follow up on that, because that's the last loop!

also, here's the sus points they got, in addition to yknow the whole conceit of the au and the effects that would have on their behavior the next day.

When picking up the Circle Key, choose "What's up with the circles?" and then "The Universe."

Activate the switch in the Death Corridor.

Enter the right side hallway on the first floor proper with Siffrin 20 or more levels above the rest of the party.

Interact with the first tear in the right side hallway.

Interact with the dictionary in the locked Storage Room.

Bump into the counter in the Kitchen after already bumping into it five times in previous loops.

Interact with the cutlery closet in the Break Room in a loop without Odile's Friendquest completed.

In the right side hallway at the row of tears, choose either the Age Alliance or the Beauty Alliance.

When reading the Sparkly Diary in the Library, choose "But can you try and say it anyway?"

Choose "Wow, a secret passage~!" when opening the path to the Secret Library.

Interact with the book on shields on the very right bookshelf in the Secret Library.

Open the star-shaped door using Memory of Memories.

Interact with the orrery in the room behind the star-shaped door on the same loop as looking at the newspapers in the Writing Dorm on Floor 1. 

Interact with the hair-covered door before obtaining the KeyKnife.

notably this doesn't include any of the points you get by skipping conversations or events, interacting with equipment you already own, or reading the forgotten language books on wish craft. and without that last one, no sus event.

[moonpie016]

Do you like wholesome peaceful moments with Soul and Whole?

Do you want that?

Well too bad./hj

CW: bright colors

---

---

It's Harmonia, gasp. What's he doing? Drowning in his own questions. But, he hopes to answer them one day.

The lyrics are from Self- by Will Wood.

---

---

The two, they were just feeling happy. A-ok. But, after sitting there for hours doing nothing, and actually doing nothing. The feelings creep up on them. Physically and mentally. But they're fine.

It's just a part of the loop they're stuck in.

Soul tries to bring it up, but feels like it's not the time to. So, they just sit there. Tea in hand, thinking.

Just there.

---

[kakashiskunai25]

Imagine if Obito got stuck in Izanami jutsu where he was manipulated into a scenario where he could only save one person between Kakashi and Rin, a choice which would get the other killed immediately and every time he chose rin after agonizing long moments of breakdown, the scene would start again and again until he finally accepted that she is gone and save Kakashi instead who still could be saved, ending the loop of emotional pain.

Ps: he also realizes how painful it is for him to actually lose kakashi since he literally gave his own life to save him from getting crashed.

[dreamingofaizawa]

Take It

Kensei Muguruma x AFAB! Reader

***This is an 18+ work of fiction, if you are not of age, be gone ***

Warnings: Smutty smut, overstimulation(I think?), squirting, breath play(maybe?), cumflation(kinda?), rough fuckin', then soft Kensei (sorta)

Word Count: 1k

Author's Note: Uh, yeah this popped into my head idk man I'm horny for this guy. You can't convince me he ain't got a massive dick. ANYWAY

Enjoy~

“Still think you can take it, sweetheart?” 

That is what you’d said, when you came to him all those months ago seeking his training. Him being your Captain, Kensei Muguruma, who’s a damn powerhouse and has knowledge you can use to your advantage. You said you could take it, his harsh regimen, and you did. Training with him has proven lucrative, your stamina and strength and sheer power have increased exponentially under his strict and intense guidance. Soon enough you were going head-to-head with him, even though you still couldn’t beat him if you tried. There’s a reason he’s a captain, after all.

All of that training, all the time spent trading blows and bruising each other’s skin. You’d never predict you’d end up in his damn bed.

“Y-yes I ca-” a sharp gasp is ripped from your lungs and your eyes roll back in your head as his weight is thrown into his thrusts, shoving your face further into the drool-soaked pillows. Fuck him for that, he did it on purpose to cut you off. But fuck if it doesn’t feel amazing. His thick, rough fingers dig so hard into your hips you can feel them bruising, but you can’t find it in you to care. He’s a rough man, it’s only fitting he fucks rough.

“Oh yeah? Wanna take it back yet?” He slows his pace, but he’s hitting so deep it doesn’t matter. Damn you can feel him in your throat. You’re still gasping, still trembling beneath his hands and still crying from the pleasure that can’t seem to fade no matter how long he pins you to the bed. It’s been hours. One arm reaches around and loops around your neck, the muscles in his arm cradling your chin as he yanks you back against his chest. The angle shift has you crying out, your legs shaking as you cum hard. He’s just so big, his body and his dick. Every movement sends shockwaves through your muscles and it’s getting real hard to think about anything beyond the pleasure and heat. Sharp teeth nip at your ear, just barely bringing your mind back. What was it he said again?

“Come on, pretty little thing. You can take a hit but can’t take dick? I guess we gotta shift our training huh?” Fuck him. First time in his bed and he’s mocking you for not being ready for it. 

“F-fuck you, Kens-” The corners of your vision turn black when he flexes the arm around your throat and shoves his hips up into you. He tuts, like he’s scolding a damned child.

“No, I’m the one fucking you, silly girl.” The bastard barely even sounds out of breath. Damn it, he won’t even let you finish one sentence or thought. You claw at his arm when he picks up his pace, trembling in his hold for the nth time tonight. He’s slamming into you with every thrust and sending spots dancing in your eyes, you aren’t sure how much more of this you can actually take. Then he reaches over with his other hand to rub tight, rough little circles over your clit and you swear you lose consciousness for a second, white blanking your vision. You can feel yourself squirt over his thighs and your entire body tenses before going completely limp in his hold. His groan is feral, shakes your bones, and he’s using your limp body to find his own end. Briefly, you wonder if this is what it feels like to die, but then you can feel him still and suddenly you feel so full. You’re manhandled into a more comfortable position, lying on your side and tucked safely into Kensei’s chest as you both labor for breath.

It feels like forever before he actually speaks again, and the softness in his voice startles you.

“Breathe, sweetheart.” Shakily, you take a breath, and a shattered sob is forced from your lungs when his large palm presses into the pouch of your stomach where his cock is still buried to the hilt. You grip that arm, albeit weakly, trembling with the effort. He’s going to kill you like this, the pleasure is going to make you pass right out and you’ll die.

“Shh sweet thing. Relax baby, I’ll be gentle.” It’s slow and agonizing, and feels too damn good, as he pulls free of your spent pussy. Your legs shake, he’s reminding you to breathe, the sensitivity between your thighs is at an all time high. You can’t be bothered about the gush of cum that leaks from you when he’s finally free, but when it’s all over all you want to do is sleep. Exhaustion tugs at your mind, and when his lips carve a gentle path down your shoulder and his fingers dig gently into your bruised hips to relieve your tense muscles, you succumb to the depths of slumber.

When you come to, you can’t help but notice that you’re clean. No sticky mess between your legs, no sweat clinging to your skin, no saliva or tears on your neck and face. Even your hair feels clean and washed. You’re still wrapped up in thick, strong arms, the heat of your Captain’s skin seeping into your body. Shivers crawl down your spine when his voice, riddled with sleep and much deeper than usual, ghosts over your shoulder.

“Mornin’ sweetheart. How are you feeling?” It’s so tender it almost shocks you. He can be caring when he wants to be, but usually he holds all the kindness of a drill sergeant even when he wants to be comforting. But now? He sounds so soft, so sweet it’s almost alarming. Big fingers trace over your hip and up over your chest to cup your chin, gently shifting your gaze to where he leans over you.

“Focus baby. I asked you a question.” His gaze is expectant, as it always is. Yeah, it’s definitely Kensei.

“I’m alright.” Your voice is croaky, rough with overuse. 

“Good.” He’s back down again, pulling you tight into his chest and breathing into your hair. 

“Did you bathe me?” He grunts out a yes, and that’s all the answer you get before he’s snoring against your head.

[buttercupshands]

honestly is I ever used that concept for like an actual direct fan game it would've just been Loop appearing and dissapearing while STILL promising soooooo many times that this is the last one

it just sounds funny

like

"This is definetely the last time, super super super duper promise!"

"We both know it's not!"

and Loop doesn't make it better by dissapearing again

[sinnabarmoth]

Mistakes Were Made

Prompt: You make the mistake of letting Xavier and Sylus meet and an intense instant rivalry between the two is born, now you're stuck between them.

Content warnings: Adult language.

Length: 2k

How did things turn out like this?

That’s all you could think as you sat in a cafe with your co-worker Xavier and the leader of Onychinus on either side of you.

~~~

It had started a couple days ago when you mentioned to Xavier that you were chasing down a lead regarding illegal protocore testing in the N109 zone. Xavier had insisted on going with you in case there was danger. It didn’t matter how much you assured him that you had everything in hand, that your inside informant was reliable, he wanted to come with to get it. So you had scheduled a time to meet with Sylus but had hoped Xavier would accidentally sleep through it since his sleep schedule was just as abysmal as Sylus’s.

It didn’t work. So you drove into the N109 zone with Xavier. You asked Sylus to just send one of the twins since you had a co-worker with you. He didn’t listen.

“Is that your informant?” Xavier asked, gesturing to the man leaning against a motorcycle.

You sighed, “Yes. That’s him. I can just talk to him myself.”

“No. It’s fine. We’ll talk to him together.”

“Great…” you walked over. Sylus looked up as you neared, the sly smile on his face dropping slightly when he saw Xavier.

“Hey, you said you had a lead?” you said, hoping to just get in and out.

“That I do, kitten. But first shouldn’t you introduce me to your friend?” Sylus said, gesturing to Xavier.

“Kitten?” you heard Xavier mutter.

“I told you I was bringing a co-worker.” you told Sylus through clenched teeth. “This shouldn’t be a surprise, especially not to you. Y’know, since you apparently know everything.”

“I didn’t know who your co-worker was.” Sylus continued to glare at Xavier. “Not that I would since you never mention him.”

“Funny. Until yesterday I didn’t know that she had an informant in the N109 zone.” Xavier said with similar barely concealed malice. “Not that I expected her to have anything nice to say about some back alley crook that operates out of this place.”

“Back alley crook?” you could see Sylus’s eyes flash with warning as his evol threatened to come out.

“Okay!” you clapped your hands together, stepping between the two of them. “The lead? Please.”

Sylus dropped his gaze from Xavier down to you. “Of course, sweetie. Right over here.” he wrapped an arm around your shoulder and turned you toward the bike as he pulled up something on his phone. You watched the CCTV footage he had lined up, taking note of the street signs so you knew where to check out.

As you were watching the footage you hadn’t even noticed his arm sliding down from your shoulders to rest on your hip. He did stuff like that all the time so you never thought much of it until Xavier cleared his throat loudly. You turned to see what was wrong and saw he was glaring at the arm around you.

“Oh uh…” you shrugged Sylus’s arm off and went back to Xavier. “I know where we need to go now. Let’s head on over now while clues may still be fresh.”

“Right.” Xavier looped his arm through yours. “Well, thank you for the lead…I never actually got your name.”

“Skye,” Sylus lied with practiced ease. “And you are?”

“Xavier.”

“Xavier…sounds otherworldly. Almost alien. I mean, how many Xaviers does a person meet?”

“I think it’s a fairly common name. Nothing strange about it.” Xavier said.

“If you say so.” Sylus turned to you. “And are we still on for our outing to the arcade this weekend, kitten?”

You could feel Xavier’s gaze boring a hole through your head though you refused to turn and acknowledge it. “Uh, maybe. Depends on how fast we can wrap up this case. Bye and thanks again.” you tugged on Xavier’s arm and sped away.

Xavier had still been staring hard at you. “So, your informant is a rather strange man.”

“Yeah. He’s just like that but he’s harmless I swear.”

“And you make plans to hang out with him at the arcade?”

“How about that lead huh? Let’s get going and get this case wrapped up so we can go get hot pot!” you said loudly, ignoring his question in hopes of him dropping it.

~~~

Days passed since that meeting with Sylus and Xavier was not dropping it. He kept on asking how you had come to know “Skye” and why exactly you were close enough to be hanging out as friends. You kept answers short and vague so he didn’t learn that you were actually friends with the leader of Onychinus. It was not helped though when Xavier asked if you really were going to hang out with him that weekend.

You tried to assure him that you two were pals and nothing more and in your haste to try and sweep everything under the rug you had accidentally invited him to go out with you and Sylus.

You arrived at the arcade, Sylus was already waiting there and Xavier had come in with you. You had told Sylus about accidentally inviting Xavier before this happened and made him promise to be on his best behavior. Whether he actually listened or not was yet to be seen. Knowing Sylus though, probably not.

“Hey Skye,” you said with a tight smile, “Ready to win some plushies?”

“Of course, kitten.” Sylus looked past you at Xavier. “Nice to see you too. What are you planning on doing while we’re at the claw machines?”

Xavier’s eye twitched. “I was planning on also using the claw machines.”

“Ah, well, you have fun. Come along kitten. I’ve been eyeing one of the classic machines for a while now.”

“Oh, just one of the classics. Don’t feel like having a challenge?” Xavier said, keeping you by his side with his arm linked with yours.

“Well, I was scoping out the machines for plushies that she doesn’t have yet. The challenge has nothing to do with it since I have nothing to prove.” Sylus answered, eyeing the way Xavier was keeping you next to him.

“How about we just skip the claw machines for now and play something else?” you said. “They have four player way racing over there. We could all do some racing and maybe come back to claw machines later.”

“Sure. Sounds like fun.” Xavier smiled brightly and started walking away with you in tow. Sylus followed after.

You had thought that the racing would be a good idea but very soon the guys started competing even worse than they had been bickering about the claw machines. The second one race ended they were starting another, calling for another round whenever one of them came in behind the other.

Oh this was a mistake. All of this was such a mistake.

“Is he cheating? He has to be cheating somehow!” Xavier said after Sylus passed him again.

“Sweetie, tell your co-worker that instead of focusing on me he should be focusing on driving better.”

“I am just focusing on keeping up with the both of you! Don’t drag me into your petty little feud.” you snapped, cursing as you took the corner too sharply.

“We are not feuding. Feuding would imply that there was a some kind of competition.” Sylus said. “For which there isn’t because I believe that win belongs to me.”

“One more game.” Xavier demanded.

“Well you two have fun with that.” you got up. “I’m tired of sitting here, I’m going to go back to the claw machines.”

“Excellent idea, kitten. I was thinking I was done with this game too.”

“So was I.” Xavier shot from his seat. “Which machine do you want to play?”

“For the love of…” you muttered.

You went off to the claw machines, ignoring both of them as you approached a machine and put in a token. Xavier and Sylus both offered to play for you to get whatever plushie you wanted but you glared at both of them. “I’m perfectly capable of playing myself. Thanks though.” you forced a smile and went back to focusing.

They were getting on your nerves a little. If they didn’t stop fighting you were going to end up ditching the both of them. Maybe you could call Rafayel to hang out instead or go bug Zayne at work.

For a while they both seemed to reach a truce as you played the claw machines. They had each disappeared at one point and when they came back both of them had arms full of plushies from different machines they must have played at. You looked at the giant pile of plushies before you and sighed. How were you meant to get all these home?

Thankfully the arcade was willing to give you an extra large bag to put all the plushies in. It was still awkward to tote around, and you felt embarrassed dragging it into the cafe after you left the arcade.

Which is where you were now. Sitting between Sylus and Xavier who silently glared daggers at each other over your drinks. “So…anyone see any good movies recently?” you asked, trying to get some kind of conversation started so you didn’t need to sit in silence.

“I did see one last night.” Xavier said. “I fell asleep on the couch and it woke me up with some loud explosion. I woke up worried a Wanderer was attacking the building at first.”

“Haha,” you laughed, imagining a bleary-eyed Xavier snapping awake ready to fight. “Did you end up watching the movie after it woke you up?”

“Well I couldn’t fall back asleep so I watched the rest of it. It was okay.”

“Only okay?”

“It was a Hunter inspired movie and I kept getting sucked out of it by how inaccurate it was to actual Hunter protocols.” Xavier said with a shrug.

“I get the same way when this one has us watch mafia movies.” Sylus said, pointing to you.

You turned to him wide-eyed and whispered. “Why are you mentioning mafia movies?”

“Do you know a lot about organized crime, Skye?” Xavier asked. “Then again, considering how she knows you that shouldn’t be so surprising. Although, hearing that you two have watched movies together is surprising.”

“Is it? We do spend quite a bit of time together when I’m not helping her chase down leads or fight Wanderers. There is a reason we had plans to go to the arcade today, just the two of us.” Sylus said pointedly.

“Kill me now.” you muttered under your breath.

“Seems I am learning a lot today. One of which is that my partner seems to have poor taste in new friends.”

“Xavier!” you snapped. “Don’t be rude.”

“He’s been rude the entire time!” Xavier retorted, gesturing to Sylus.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. But do not blame the fact that my kitten would rather spend the entire day with me whereas you had to impose yourself on our outing.”

“Okay that is it!” you yelled at both of them. You stood up from your seat and turned to look at both of them, hands on your hips. “You two are going to stop bickering and making snide comments to each other! You are both my friends and I like spending time with both of you. But if you continue to be assholes to each other about it then I’m not inviting either of you out with me ever again. Do I make myself clear?”

Sylus and Xavier fell silent, watching you with a mixture of shock and regret. “Yes ma’am.” Xavier said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “Sorry for getting carried away.”

“Apologies sweetie. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Sylus said, offering you a smile that you shot back down with a single glare.

“Good. Now the both of you apologize to each other.”

At this both of them looked ready to argue but you only continued to glare at them. “I mean it. If you two don’t apologize to each other I’m not spending time with either of you for at least a month. Now turn to each other and apologize.”

For a minute you didn’t think they were going to do it. They were making a point of not looking at each other, frowns etched deep on both their faces. Thankfully they knew to take your threats seriously and begrudgingly turned to one another and muttered some half-assed apologies. At least it was something.

“Good.” you sat back down with a small huff. “Now, who wants to play kitty cards?”

Xavier and Sylus looked at each other. “Best two out of three, winner gets to play with her?” Xavier suggested.

“You’re on.” Sylus grinned, that competitive edge coming back.

You only sighed and sat back as they started their game. You could only wonder how long this tenuous peace between them lasted before they ended up throwing teacups at each other. In your head you made a mental note to keep your guy friends as far away from each other as possible.

[darl-ingfics]

Feveruary Day 3: Caught in the Rain

Fandom: ATEEZ

Sickie: Seonghwa (fever)

Caregiver(s): ATEEZ

Word Count: 1,359

Notes: There's more to this story, but I cut it where it felt natural to cut it. Maybe I'll release a part 2 in the future...

The photoshoot was supposed to be quick and easy. A luxury brand had asked KQ for ATEEZ to model for them, specifically requesting Seonghwa and Yunho. Their communication had been timely, respectful, and cooperative. The shoot was going to be Quick and Easy. That was the whole reason Hongjoong and their manager had ultimately allowed Seonghwa to go: the schedule was short and the required energy low, a perfect first engagement back after the eldest had just barely recovered from a nasty case of bronchitis. 

What actually ended up happening was neither quick, nor easy. 

The marketing associates who had previously been in contact with their managers are no where to be found on set. Instead, two company executives, clearly in the middle of some sort of power struggle, were running the show, and constantly trying to undermine one another. They nitpicked the stylist teams, unnecessarily extending the process. They kept interrupting the director of the shoot, asking the photographers ridiculous questions, touching equipment they knew nothing about, trying to chat with Seonghwa and Yunho when they were trying to listen to directions. They’d made it through a handful of pictures inside the studio before moving outside, like executive B had wanted, but by the time they got out there, the weather had stopped cooperating. A storm had begun to roll in, and while the photographers and managers pushed to go back in, both executive A and B had insisted they get the outdoor shots, assuring everyone that things would be ‘fine.’ 

They’d only been snapping pictures for thirty minutes before the downpour started. 

So now, ten minutes later, Seonghwa was sitting on a bench outside the studio, shaded somewhat from the rain under the large leaves of a tree, but still shivering from the chill of the wind against his soaking wet clothes. He wasn’t sure where Yunho or their manager were; the photographer had left him here a few minutes ago while the executives and director argued about what they wanted to do with the shoot. Seonghwa didn’t much care at this point. He was tired. He was cold. He was ready to go home. 

But he was also professional enough not to say anything until he was asked, so he simply sat shivering on his bench in the meantime. 

Seonghwa’s daze was broken when his shoulders dipped as a jacket was placed on his shoulders. He blinked up, shelling his eyes from the rain to better see Yunho. 

“No.” Shaking his head, Seonghwa began to shrug the jacket off. 

Yunho’s hands held the fabric in place. “No, yourself.” Seonghwa continued shaking his head, so Yunho kept his hands in place on his hyung’s shoulders. 

“You need your jacket,” Seonghwa insisted. 

“Not as much as you do.” Yunho shifted to sit next to Seonghwa, looping one arm around his shoulders. 

“Yunho, it’s raining. You’re all wet.”

A chuckle rumbled in the taller man’s chest. “So are you.”

Lightning flashed above their heads, a roll of thunder following lazily. Seonghwa’s head rested against Yunho’s shoulder. “I want to go home,” he said quietly. 

Yunho placed his head on top of Seonghwa’s. “Me too. This whole thing has been one big clusterfuck.”

“Don’t say that too loud,” Seonghwa warned. 

“Hyung, the closest person is more than three meters away, and there’s no way they could hear me over this rain.” 

“Still.” He paused, clearing his throat. Not quite a cough, but it made Yunho frown all the same.

“You feeling okay?”

Seonghwa shrugged. “I’m tired.”

“Me too, hyung. Me too.”

*

“Oh my god.” San threw his book to the side, standing immediately when Seonghwa and Yunho walked into the den. The rest of the group, (minus Hongjoong, who was working at the studio,) were waiting patiently for the duo to watch a movie. But this was unexpected: while Yunho and Seonghwa had already removed their jackets and shoes, they were still visibly damp. “Wait, stop, why are you all wet?” He ran over to the pair, one hand running through Yunho’s hair, the other feeling Seonghwa’s shirt. He pouted in confusion, wide puppy eyes scanning between them. “Why are you all wet?”  

“Not sure if you’ve noticed, Sannie, but it’s raining,” Yunho replied with a good-natured smile. He readjusted his arm around Seonghwa’s shoulders, tightening his hold on the older man, who had yet to stop shivering since their moment on the bench two hours before. “And our photoshoot was, surprisingly, outside.”

“It was outside?!” Wooyoung’s jaw dropped. “Did you know that?”

Seonghwa shook his head while Yunho replied with a simple, “Nope.”

“And they didn’t take you inside when the rain started?” Wooyoung clarified. 

“Not for a good 45 minutes,” Yunho answered. 

“But you’re makeup and hair and stuff?” San asked, incredulous. “They didn’t think about all that hard work going to waste?” Yunho shrugged one shoulder, shaking his head. 

“We apologized to the stylists on their behalf,” Seonghwa spoke up. “Thanked them for working so hard despite… it getting ruined. It didn’t help that the one exec kinda liked it better messed up…” His voice trailed off, his eyes wandering away to the floor. 

Wooyoung shook his head. “That’s ridiculous. I would’ve fought someone.”

“Kinda hard to fight a high-profile brand executive.” 

Wooyoung scoffed, pushing off the couch, stomping to the kitchen and back to blow off steam. San had yet to stop pouting, running a comforting hand up and down Seonghwa’s arm (the one not currently smushed against Yunho). 

“It wasn’t horrible,” Yunho added, his voice placating. “The shoot director was really kind, and had some amazing ideas. He tried to get us back inside the minute the clouds rolled in. And the stylist team? I’d go back just to work with them again.”

“Stop all this toxic positivity.” Wooyoung crossed his arms over his chest. “You can be mad at people for treating you like shit, Yunho.”

“He called them a ‘clusterfuck’ earlier,” Seonghwa supplied unhelpfully. 

Yunho nudged him. “Of course that’s what you remember.” 

“Wait, hyung, you called the a clusterfuck to their face?” Jongho asked, shock evident on his face. 

“No, of course not, we were-“ Yunho breath caught, as he pitched to the side with a loud sneeze. He shook his head after, blinking in surprise. “Shit, excuse me. Didn’t expect that one…”

“Fuck! Now you’re sick too!” Wooyoung started pacing again, threading his hands through his hair. 

“Okay, okay. Calm down, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Mingi said, taking control of the situation. He pointed towards Yunho and Seonghwa. “Let’s get you two warmed up. Go hit the showers. Hwa-hyung, be honest, can you stand on your own? Cause you haven’t let go of Yuyu since you got home.” 

On a normal day, such a direct call out would invoke a demonic wrath from the eldest that few were brave enough to face. This was not a normal day. 

“I would like someone to stay with me, please,” Seonghwa admitted, voice quiet out of exhaustion rather than embarrassment. 

Mingi nodded. “Sannie, go with him please. Jongho, Woo, you guys go heat up dinner. Sangie, do something productive, I trust you.”

“You don’t trust me?” Wooyoung whined. 

“Never,” Mingi replied simultaneously with Yunho and Jongho’s emphatic, “No,” and Yeosang’s “Let me have ONE thing!”  

Amidst the chaos, San had successfully extricated Seonghwa from Yunho’s embrace, and had led their eldest down the hall. 

“Pretty sure his fever’s back,” Yunho muttered to Mingi after the bathroom door closed behind them.

Mingi shook his head. “Oh, definitely. He’s so quiet.” The rapper’s eyes turned to scan Yunho. “You better not get sick, too, mister.” 

“Mingi.” Yunho put his hands on his friend’s shoulder. “I’m fine.” 

“You better be. Go shower.” He hit Yunho’s butt playfully as the dancer turned to go. Yunho whipped back around and clumsily hit Mingi’s hip, earning a laugh from his friend.

Once Yunho’s footsteps had disappeared up the stairs, Mingi joined the group in the kitchen. 

“Hongjoong-ah’s gonna kill someone,” Wooyoung singsonged under his breath to Mingi as the taller man leaned against the counter. 

“As long as its not us, I’m not complaining.”

[maplegyu]

I have screamed all my initial reactions at Kae already and I have also cried bc to be loved is to be seen ahahahah so I can actually yap a little more coherently now!!!!!!

I love that Kae always keeps me in the loop for nfs updates but I never actually see the content until they drop it! Even when Kae tells me little bit of their plans, I'm still blown away by what they execute. I had to pick my jaw off the floor with this one. Honestly, I'm still reeling.

When I requested celebrity!kmg and small business owner!reader, I didn't think we'd get this far 🥹 it just makes me so happy Kae loves this couple enough to keep writing more of them. I'll never shut up about being honored af that nfs is our middle child!

The moment I opened keep reading and saw how Kae did the format/structure(?) for this, I was blown away. Genuinely. They're known for their fantastic and creative layouts and I love that I will never get used to it cause Kae likes to experiment and push boundaries and surprise us!

nfs 3 isn't just a culmination of kmg and sweets' story, it's a testament to user xinganhao's storytelling and artistry! The mix is all here. Everything caratblr loves about Kae's writing, you can see it here! And i can say this confidently cause i've binged so much of their work! All the elements Kae is known for (both in their posts in xinganhao and ylangelegy) it's all mixed in here!

And to Kae: honestly, idk how to thank you enough for your work on this! Ever since nfs pt 1, im sure i called it a type of love language. The care and effort you put into making it special. I never thought i'd see our middle child turn into this amazing piece of work! (ofc i never doubted your abilities, you alr know im one of your biggest fans and i will gas you up forever) But it's just crazy how you turned my little fun thought about Mingyu selling out regnie pudding into one of my favorite stories and birthed one of our favorite couples!

I see how you're always challenging yourself! And you're so inspiring about how you always try new things and push creative boundaries! It's such an honor to get to collab with you any time. Forever kilig you like my ideas and enjoy my yapping. Thank you for always feeding my delulu with your masterpieces! 💖💍

not for sale 💳 mingyu x reader. (3)

celebrity!mingyu and small business owner!reader. check out 🛒 not for sale's masterlist.

You can’t bring yourself to end the call. 

Your phone is overheating. You’re below the acceptable battery threshold of twenty percent. And the dark-haired boy on the other end of the screen looks more asleep than awake. 

You should end this call, but you can’t. 

Mingyu doesn’t seem keen on ending it either. His eyes are drooping and his head has begun to loll every so often. He’d spent the first couple minutes of the call talking about his day— the seemingly endless rotation of engagements that came with being a celebrity. 

Sometimes, it still strikes you as odd that this is the life you now lead. Being on FaceTime with somebody that hundreds, maybe thousands of people fawned over. 

But you were friends… right? And friends called each other. Friends texted. 

This is friendly, a small voice in the back of your head tries to convince you. So very, very friendly. 

The conversation has since mellowed out. Mingyu makes good on his word; he falls quiet, observing your work like it’s some form of entertainment for him. At one point, you even forget he’s watching. 

It’s why you’re a bit jolted when he absentmindedly mumbles, “You have nice hands.” 

You pause in the middle of bubble wrapping an order. One cursory glance at your screen, and you see that Mingyu is absolutely fighting for his life to stay awake. The sight almost makes you smile. 

“You should head to bed soon,” you say instead of addressing his compliment. “We’ve been on call for— what? Two hours, I think.” 

Mingyu says something too low for you to catch. You give a noncommittal hum of ‘hmm?’, prompting him to repeat what he’d said. 

And maybe he’s just tired enough to decide fuck it. Maybe it’s past midnight and that makes everything fair game. 

Because Mingyu breathes out a quiet “not enough,” and you swear your something screeches to a halt in your brain. Two hours. Not enough. 

You swallow. He’s out of it, you think to yourself, your fingers quivering a bit as you cut, tape, seal. He’s sleep-deprived and talking out of his ass. 

That’s what gives you the audacity to ask what’s been on your mind for days now. 

“Mingyu,” you ask, “why do you want to be an ambassador for Bittersweet?” 

A beat. One that stretches long enough for you to wonder if Mingyu had finally succumbed to his exhaustion. 

But then, his voice— quiet, but not any less sincere— rings over the line. “Because I like your jewelry.” 

Plain and simple. You’re not sure why you expected more. 

He goes on, his tone a little softer, slower. “I like what you’ve done with the business. I like… how hard you work. Your passion. All that.”

Mingyu pauses to yawn. You glance over to see him smiling into his phone, his half-lidded gaze trained on your hands moving over your workbench. It makes his next words a one-two punch on your poor heart. 

“Your brand may be called ‘Bittersweet’,” he says, “but you’re as sweet as they come.” 

EXCERPTS FROM "MINGYU opens up on being named Rising Star of the Year"

Q: Earlier this year, the Internet fell in love with you for being an ‘advocate for small businesses.’ You’ve seemed to take it a step further, though. 

MINGYU: [laughs] Is that what they’ve been saying? I had no idea. But, yes— the pieces I have on right now are from a small business. It’s called Bittersweet Jewelry, and it’s something I found one day while scrolling through SNS. 

Q: You didn’t know the seller prior to purchasing? 

MINGYU: No, not at all. They didn’t even know it was me. I used an alias for a while. 

Q: I see. A lot of people believe your support has been reflective of your personality. Being caring, considerate. 

MINGYU: That’s very nice. I appreciate that. Although, if I’m being honest, I’m just a guy who likes good jewelry. I admire consistency, quality. [holds up his rings] These have it in spades. 

Q: That’s why you keep coming back to brands like Bittersweet. 

MINGYU: Sure. We could say that.  

[...]

THE TOP FIVE SONGS MINGYU HAS BEEN PLAYING ON REPEAT LATELY

Love Me Like That by Sam Kim

Linger by The Cranberries

Tadhana by Up Dharma Down

If You Do by GOT7

LMLY by Jackson Wang

[...]

Q: What do you look for in a partner? 

MINGYU: Now, Minghao… [laughs] 

Q: Sorry. The readers want to know. 

MINGYU: I’m never going to escape this question, am I? Give me a minute to think about it. 

Q: Sure. 

MINGYU: [after a moment] I’d like somebody dedicated and passionate. Someone sweet. And… 

Q: And? 

MINGYU: Someone with nice hands, I guess. [smiles] 

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