#they will have burned out their most powerful member too soon
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rereading order of the stick (again), and greyiew is only in a few comics so far but man do i love this nihilistic wolf
#order of the stick#yes i know it hasn't been terribly long since i last reread it but#i've been desperately trying to get my dnd group to read it and i just had to go back and go through it again#and again. the first 250 strips or so are pretty cringey and there's aspects even later that make me wince#but fuck once you get to the soul splice arc you've read the last bad oots comic#''utterly dwarfed'' is fucking *incredible*#i am both incredibly ready and incredibly not ready for the climax#i bet durkon will live and i'm sure haley elan and roy will#o-chul i'm leaning ''survives'' and lien i think will make it#minrah will probably make it. i bet serini is doomed.#belkar is obviously doomed#i'm 100% on the fence about v#like straight-up 50/50 both ''live'' and ''die'' serve strong narrative purposes#but as to how it all plays out?#v still owes the fiends 23 minutes meaning the order can't rely on them to back them up in the clutch#so on the one hand it would make the most sense for them to hit as hard and fast as possible#but on the other - if the fiends *don't* call in the debt for their own purposes#they will have burned out their most powerful member too soon#burlew is too clever and too good a writer for a traditional battle scene as the climax#more is going to happen. *something* massive is going to shift#serini turns? redcloak turns on xykon and gets eaten by the mitd?#i can't tell! i'm going to flip tf out whenever it does happen though#hnggh this has been 20 years in the making and the climaxes have not failed a single note yet#burlew is goddamned *good* at rising action and nailing the climax of a story arc#it's gonna be fucking incredible ugh
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quiet hours (john price x f!reader)
there is a power dynamic but itâs discussed, price is a major simp, some time jumps
â
priceâs office couch. a brown and beaten thing, a comfortable touch on the side of his desk. john himself had never used it, but kept it from the officeâs last occupant, a buffer in case someone tried to cross over to his side of the room. that was, of course, before you.
it started when your leg was injured. he let you prop up your leg on the couch and somewhere during the twenty minute mark of your conversation, you fell asleep. any other solider and john would have reprimanded them, tossed them out, but you looked so peaceful, soft lips parted slightly. he left you a note, come back anytime, not wanting to risk the sting of rejection to his face.
it became your ritual. you didnât sleep well at night but as a high ranking SAS member, you had some freedom in your daily schedule for occasional naps. he liked hearing your soft sighs as he worked, going so far as to keep a silk pillow for you when he heard you complain about your hair on leather. you chatted or you didnât, always leaving with a small smile and âthanks, cap.â
even the rest of base knew 3-5pm were quiet hours, a small sign posted on his door. the couch wasnât big and with the angle of the door, most people didnât even realize you were in there when they popped in to ask a question. john guarded you like a dragon with his jewels, chewing out recruits for being too loud, never explaining your presence to anyone.
right now, you were sound asleep, your small sighs like johnâs personal soundtrack to heaven. simon had knocked silently, asking some important question about an upcoming mission, and john huffed with annoyance knowing he had to leave you. he got out of his chair, carefully so it wouldnât squeak, and made his way over to you. squatting down, he rubbed a gentle hand over your face, tracing your relaxed cheekbones and brow. âsweetheart, i have tâ go. be back in few.â you whimpered, eyes fluttering, half drunk on sleep. âyouâre leaving?â he shook his head, leaning in so his forehead touched your own. his hand slid towards your neck and brought you closer, practically a kiss. the comfort of it was delicious and you let out a contented sigh. âjusâ for a bit. go back to sleep, bub.â he peeled back, evaluating what kind of captain he was. apparently not a very good one as he kissed your forehead before getting up, the skin on skin contact rushing through his bones like electricity.
simon was waiting patiently outside, his relaxed look menacing to the passing recruits. he fell into step with price easily, walking towards their favored meeting spot. âtellinâ her soon?â john shook his head, dragging an exhausted hand down his face. tell you what? that you were strong and lovely and the most gorgeous creature heâd ever seen, on and off the battlefield? that the only way he slept at night was imagining your own sleepy sighs? that for some idiotic reason, there was a ring burning a hole in his sock dresser? âtoo soon, lieutenant.â simon huffed, the glint of a smirk under his mask. âbeen half a year, cap. jusâ sayinâ.â john fought the urge to run back to his office, to make sure no one bothered you. âsheâs just sleepinâ there, nothinâ special.â simon side eyed him, noting the stress lines and crowâs feet on his captainâs face. âiâll tell johnny âs nothinâ special then. heard heâs interested.â
john prided himself on keeping his emotions in check. it was one of the revered traits of his captain position, the glue to the team. in that moment however, stopped mid stride at his lieutenantâs words, shoulders bunching and fists tightening, he wanted to kill half his team. âyou will do no such thing, lieutenant. thatâs an order.â simon clapped him on the shoulder with his short barking laugh, amusement dancing in his eyes. âroger that.â
â
âi donât know gaz, do you really think he likes me?â gaz had popped in to priceâs for a question but you were there instead, half awake and confused. he liked the couch too, tucking himself at the far end and pulling your socked feet into his lap. ââve never seen cap let anyone else sleep here. if thatâs not a sign, donât know what is.â you rolled your eyes, keeping them on the ceiling. âwell iâve been sleeping here almost six months and got a forehead kiss to show for it.â gaz froze, his hands stilling on your ankle. âyouâre takinâ the piss.â as if. âam not! happened fifteen minutes ago and iâve been overanalyzing it since.â gaz tried to reason how two of the smartest people he knew were such idiots. âdarling, youâre practically married now. iâve never seen-â the door swung open, johnâs strides minutely faltering when he saw gaz on the couch. âback to work, garrick. close the door behind you.â gaz acknowledged him with a nod and suddenly price was in his place, drawing your feet on the top of his legs.
âeveryone wants a piece of you, donât they?â it was nonsensical, what he murmured, almost to himself. you pressed your feet into his thigh until he got the memo, strong hands circling your ankles and pulling them into his lap. âwhat do you mean, cap? gaz was just visiting.â he hummed a non reply, fingers tracing the scar of where your foot injury used to be. âthis all better?â your brows furrowed at the change in topic, nodding your head on instinct. âright as rain, sir.â his thumb, callused and strong, was pressing into your ankle now. it was like john was in a trance, fully focused on your worn socks, refusing to look at your face. âhow long have you been sleepinâ here with a perfectly fine foot, sergeant?â your mouth dropped, confusion clouding your brain. âi- bout four months, sir. i sleep better here than my own bed.â he finally turned his head, his dark blue gaze searing into you. âwhyâs that?â it was barely loud enough for you to hear it, croaked out with a herculean effort. âbecause youâre here. i donât, donât really know why. youâre comforting and safe and smell niceâŠâ you trailed off at the last bit, cheeks warming in embarrassment.
john tucked himself in and laughed, the air from his lungs brushing over your ankles. you answered with a small giggle, still unsure about your blunder. âwhole time it was my smell keepinâ you here. way to kill a manâs ego, sweetheart.â you grinned, sitting up on your elbows. you pressed your foot into the side of his face, forcing him to look at you instead of his lap. âitâs you, john. keeping me here.â the temperature dropped, his ministrations froze. all you did was look, your eyes wide and pleading. begging him to just see, see why you kept coming back like his own personal lapdog.
you were moving, john tugging you closer by the ankles, strong hands moving up your calves until the rest of you was right there. he fixed the awkward angle by leaning down, one hand propped near your head, the other coming down to stroke your cheek. âsay itâs true.â his eyes were still searching for something, so rare for you to see your captain look so unsure. âthis couch isnât even that comfortable so trust me, itâs true.â you had hoped humor would lighten the situation but your murmured truth made the air heavier, your heaving chest almost touching his own. âiâm too old for you.â you rolled your eyes. âyouâre like four years older, get a grip.â he pinched your cheek, muttering cheeky under his breath. âiâm your captain.â your own hand came up on instinct, fingers finally touching the beard you dreamed about. the strands were soft but slightly scratchy, like he had a routine he occasionally forgot. âyouâre john price. anyone who knows you knows that you wonât give me special treatment. iâll run extra laps everyday.â your fingers were exploring now, thumb running down the bridge of his nose to the top of his lips. you both shuffled without realizing, your legs on either side of his torso, cradling his hips. his forearms bracketed your face, caging you in.
âi donât love lightly. no friends with benefits or any of that bullshit.â you drew him in closer, one foot on his lower back until your pelvises kissed. âgood. i want a man who can commit.â whatever he had been looking for, he found in your wide eyed gaze. âiâmâŠout of excuses.â
the kiss wiped out johnâs memory of any kiss before it. it was slow and possessive, a claiming. six months of you just out of his reach would drive any man to this point, john reasoned. thatâs why he took his time, exploring every angle and pressure point, searching for those breathy sighs you always made. he didnât have to do much - one nip of the lip and you were singing for him, melting into his arms. you wrapped them around his neck, pulling him deeper. by this time next year, iâm proposing. john let the thought grow wings and fly, content to explore your touch as he wondered about white wedding cake and matching rings.
â
years later, no matter how you both decided to decorate your new house together, he insisted on a brown couch for his office. something hideous and comfortable, not matching the decor at all. something just for the two of you.
- -
price intimacy brainrot (iâm PMSing)
#i want to sleep on his couch#literally just sleep#price#price is right#tornadothoughts#john price#please dishonor me captain#captain johnathan price#captain price#captain price x reader#captain john price#price imagine#john price x reader#price x reader#john price x y/n#john price x you#price x y/n#john price x f!reader#john price x female reader#price call of duty
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Curiosities
Part 2
Request: Yes or No
Summary: King Aegon keeps his word and uses his power as the king to get what he desires. His decision flips (Y/N)'s world on its axis.
Pronouns: He/Him/His, M!Reader
TW/CW: Typical GoT/HOTD warnings, mild slutshaming, implied homophobia (the Faith), mentions of child exploitation/abuse, mentions/implications of sexual and physical abuse toward sex workers, mentions of child/teen-adult relationships, takes place in S2 and while it doesn't follow the latest episodes as of currently beware of spoilers
These warnings keep getting longer and longer đźâđš
Divider from @targaryen-dynasty!
~~~
The members of the Small Council rose to their feet when Aegon strode into the room; uneasy glances and frowns being exchanged when they took in the skip in his step and the wide smile dangling from his lips. He had something in mind, something that most certainly wouldn't do them any good if it came from Aegon Targaryen of all people.Â
"Good morrow," Aegon greeted them, setting his hands over the armrests of his chair and settling down comfortably at the end of the table. The council members tentatively sat down, dipping their heads in greeting and exchanging more glances. He raised his hand when Lord Jasper went to speak, effectively silencing the man. "Before we begin, I'd like to bring up the subject of taking an official paramour. These last few days have been... hard, to say the least, but I believe my pain has been soothed."
"Your Grace," Alicent began, her eyes fluttering shut in exasperation and chest falling with a heavy sigh. "I believe it's far too soon to be taking a mistress, much less the proper time with war brewing on the horizon. You are without an heir for the moment, so I understand the desire to-"Â
"This is hardly about heirs or children, Mother." Aegon cut in swiftly, his back pressing against the chair and jaw ticking with a smidge of annoyance. "I want this. I will have this, one way or another. I am merely... informing you all."Â
Clearing his throat, Maester Orwyle regarded his king with a small smile. "Perhaps knowing the name of your lover will soothe worries, Your Grace. Does she reside in the Red Keep? What house is she from? We certainly wouldn't want to bring any offense to her family during this time. Many fathers are oft' protective of their daughters and would find it insulting for one to become a mere mistress."Â
"You're in luck then," Aegon grinned widely, his thumb rubbing against one of the many rings adorning his fingers. He took in the perplexed and curious looks on each of their faces, savoring their undivided attention. He swiped his tongue over his lips and reached forward toward his goblet, tilting it toward the cupbearer and listening to the heavenly sound of wine being poured. "For my lover and future paramour does not come from any noble family." He couldn't help but giggle, taking a sip from his wine. "He comes from the Street of Silk."Â
Silence followed his revelation, each of the council members staring at him in complete and utter shock. His mother moved first, her folded hands unlacing so she could rub the bridge of her nose. Her eyes squeezed shut, lips rolling into her mouth to prevent any unsavory words from spilling out. Lord Jasper reached for his goblet next, drinking every last drink in it and motioning for some more while Maester Orwyle and Lord Tyland blinked at him in astonishment.Â
"Y-Your Grace," Maester Orwyle stuttered, "The Faith of the Seven views the act of-"
"The Faith views incest, bastardy, and prostitution sins as well, Grand Maester. Yet many of the men sitting at this very table are guilty of at least one of these things. Besides, I am of Targaryen blood and I am the King of Westeros, am I not? My grandsire King Jaehaerys put a law in place exempting those with Valryian blood from being judged, did he not?"
Aegon's smile shifted from genuine into a more daring one, his eyes burning into those of Maester Orwyle and any other council members who felt bold enough to look in his direction. "My word is law."
Alicent's eyes fluttered open and she leaned back in her chair, casting a glance at the rest of the council members. "Think of what you are asking-"
"I've made my decision, Mother." Aegon interrupted once more, smirking at the way she clenched her jaw, and turned his head to study his newest Hand, Ser Criston. The knight straightened up, ever so loyal, and Aegon smiled brightly. Finally, someone who wouldn't object. "I have some orders for you, Ser Criston."
Digging his teeth into the warm loaf of bread he'd been given, (Y/N) walked along the gravelly, muddy road in the direction of the Street of Silk. His breakfast had been a gift from a patron who frequented the brothel, one of the few good things of working where he did. Lavish gifts were expected from nobles who could afford whatever they desired, though they more often than not merely dressed their favorite workers up like little dolls.
The smallfolk could hardly compare but they provided the more necessary gifts; food, drinks, materials. It hardly had anything to do with genuine love or care, and more so the simple desire of holding the gift over his head, but (Y/N) would never be in a position to ignore free food.
Madam Sylvi had long stopped providing him with anything other than a place to bathe and sleep, claiming he was no longer a babe and had to provide for himself just as the rest of the smallfolk. She was a good madam, better than most brothel owners, and she tried to take care of all the women and men she took under her wing, but she couldn't be everywhere at once; and she couldn't kick out every patron that grew bolder or more sadistic.Â
His eyes dragged away from the light gray clouds rolling overhead as he stepped into the Street of Silk, the sound of pleasure and music filling his ears from brothels accepting patrons. Eager men bustled up and down the street, jeering at those lingering by their respective brothels in hopes of enticing one to come inside. But still, things seemed more oddly quiet than usual, (Y/N) noted, and he soon realized why when he noticed the elegant carriage waiting outside of Madam Sylvi's brothel.Â
Ripping the bread in his hand apart, he tossed one piece toward the child sitting in an alleyway, his ribs visibly showing throw his thin layer of dirty, ripped clothes. The child sprang to his feet and dug eagerly into the bread, his eyes lighting up with newfound life.
As (Y/N) shoved the rest of his bread into his mouth and quickened his step, he hoped one act of kindness would spare him later. He swallowed down the food, throat itching for water, and stopped by the large double doors where a fellow brothel worker stood by.
His lips parted to question her on the carriage but he winced when he noticed the darkening bruise on her cheek, staring near the corner of her lip and ending near her eye. Hardly seemed like an accident. Alise brushed her fingers over the purple skin, her dark eyes slightly watering and her nose scrunching up in pain.
"Was it Felir again?" He asked instead with a gentle sigh, taking a step toward her and sweeping back some of her blonde hair.Â
"Always is." She responded with a sigh of her own, dropping her hand down toward her chest where her dress plunged enough to show most of her cleavage, finger hooking to drag it down even further. "He pays too well to be thrown out, though. I hear he's grown tired of his new wife now that she's grown heavy with child. I'm certain we'll be seeing him around more often when the babe comes."
"I'm sorry."
"You mustn't be." Alise dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Be thankful he has no interest in boys, otherwise he'd do a whole lot more than what the Targaryen's done to your neck." She reached out to push back the hood of his cloak and dragged her fingertips over the markings on his throat, an amused grin forming on her face until she winced and touched her cheek again.Â
"You should rest." (Y/N) told her, giving her arm a delicate squeeze before he pushed open one of the large wooden doors leading into the brothel. The air still reeked of smoke, sweat, and drinks despite the open window but most of the brothel had been cleaned up and ready for another round of patrons. He and the others would be given a chance to rest and eat, although when he spotted the two men in their shining silver armor and long white cloaks, he suspected his day wouldn't be the same as the rest.
The Sworn Brotherhood - better known as Kingsguards - were sworn to never own land, take a wife, or father children so they could fully focus on their duty of protecting the king and the royal family. Of course, they were still men, and despite the sworn promise to remain as pure as fresh snow, most of them were regulars at brothels; but they never sought workers out in their uniforms, much less in broad daylight. It'd be asking for swift punishment.
"Here he is, the man you seek." Madam Sylvi announced with a smile full of feigned joy that only made his stomach drop. She rose from her chair swiftly, the long skirt of her dress swishing with her movements, and she hurried over to him, her arms sliding around his shoulders and head dropping to whisper in his ear. "The King has asked for you, sweet boy. I do not know why but you must mind your step and tread lightly." Her nails dug through the fabric covering his arms.Â
Aegon.
"The King has ordered your swift removal from this.. establishment so that you may settle into your new apartments in Maegor's Holdfast as his new paramour. He asks that you only take belongings of sentimental value so we may escort you to your new home as quickly as possible. He's asked of us to assure you no harm or insult will come to you for as long as he reigns." One Kingsguard spoke, his voice largely devoid of emotion and stance rigid with alert, but he shifted his weight from foot to foot. He seemed nervous, perhaps flustered. At least he attempted to appear like a Kingsguard whereas his companion blatantly ogled one of the girls until subtly elbowed.
(Y/N) looked between the two men, his fingers curling around the skirt of Madam Sylvi's dress. It'd been years since he'd last clutched to her like a child, but he felt tremendously small under the unnerving stares from the two knights. "Sylvi," He exhaled, tearing his eyes away from the knights to look at her soft features.Â
"Perhaps it will be temporary, until the anxieties and worries of war pass." She soothed softly but the subtle tremble of her voice gave away her real thoughts. Paramours could be replaced, they often were, but hardly any noble - much less a king - had ever so publicly announced their new lover. "Go collect your things, (Y/N). We mustn't make King Aegon wait."Â
Madam Sylvi ushered him up the stairs toward the rooms on the second floor where workers without homes to return to slept. His legs moved automatically toward his room at the end of the hall, or rather... his old room.
The idea hadn't settled in fully, not yet. He'd called the brothel home for far too many years. He'd been born in one of the many rooms he walked past; he'd raced up and down the halls whilst playing games; he'd been bathed and clothed and doted on by many in the very place he now had to leave.Â
"(Y/N)!" A squeaky voice called out, soft footsteps thumping after him. (Y/N) stopped by the door into his old room, hand hovering over the doorknob and head tilting to peer down at the girl rushing toward him. Lyla collided with his leg, her arms wrapping around it and her chin resting over his hip as she looked up at him with glittering blue eyes. "Are you leaving?"Â
"Afraid so, Ly." (Y/N) answered, opening the door and stepping inside the familiar room. The girl of only thirteen followed him inside, her lips forming a pout. He still remembered when her first flowering had occurred, a sign she'd become a lady. Her maidenhood had been up for auction the following month and a stout fisherman had managed to be the highest bidder. (Y/N) had been the one to clean the blood from her legs and ensure she drank moon tea.Â
With a heavy exhale, (Y/N) looked over his rather plain room. He'd never given it any thought to decorate it with things from around King's Landing, for many of his fellow workers had sticky fingers and an eye for beautiful things. His bed was big enough to fit his body and his blanket thick enough to keep him warm throughout winter. There were a few potted plants around the room, something he added for some color and life. Otherwise, everything would merely be wood-toned.
"Will you visit?" Lyla asked, seating herself in the middle of his bed and tugging at the ends of her dress as she crossed her legs. Her eyes followed him as he sorted through his clothes and belongings in search of anything he'd miss, only to conclude the single item he considered valuable was the bracelet wrapped around his wrist; a simple gift from Madam Sylvi but one he held dearly.Â
"I... am not sure, Ly. I will try to, if... if they allow me." (Y/N) responded, kneeling down by his bed and blindly searching until his hand bumped into the small wooden box he kept. He slipped his fingers around it and rose back up to take a seat beside the young girl, lifting the lid to reveal the glittering jewelry hidden within. Lyla gasped softly and shuffled closer.Â
"They're pretty!"Â
"Gifts from countless men and women, noble and smallfolk alike. I have collected and hidden them throughout the years for they are of little use to me. But, now that I am leaving... I believe you should have them. Take a few for yourself, Ly, but hide them where no other will find them. You must tell Madam Sylvi that you wish to exchange the rest for coin. It should be enough for your aunt to pay her debts and you'll never have to come here for work again." (Y/N) instructed her, digging through the jewelry until he found a thin silver necklace and clipped it around her neck.
"Truly?" Lyla asked quietly, her eyes shimmering with tears. Her fingers glided along the necklace until they curled around it, squeezing it tight in her smaller hand.Â
"Truly." (Y/N) nodded, setting the box on her lap and planting a kiss on her temple. His fingers brushed back some of her black curls, a bittersweet feeling bubbling in his chest at the tears that spilled down her round cheeks. An orphaned child so desperate to remain with the last of her family that she'd shown up on their doorstep asking for a job, first as a mere servant and then into something more horrid.Â
With Lyla's future looking brighter than his, he stood from his bed and took one last look at his room before venturing out into the hall and down to the first floor. The knights awaited him by the doors, the younger one of the two once again distracted by those coming and going. The one who'd addressed him straightened up at the sight of him, his gaze dropping down to (Y/N)'s empty hands and the lack of luggage.Â
"I have... little of value."
"Very well." The knight cleared his throat. "We must depart for the Red Keep, then."
(Y/N) had never been in a carriage before, and he had to admit it was an odd feeling. Many of the roads leading back toward the Red Keep were bumpy and far from easy to travel. He found himself holding onto the cushioned seat beneath him as his body lurched and swayed with the bumps and light shaking of the carriage, his fingers digging into the soft fabric in a vain attempt at stabilizing himself. How lords and ladies could withstand such dizzying rides was beyond him.Â
When the carriage finally rolled to a smooth stop and the door on the side opened, the extent of the situation finally dawned on him. He'd never been to the Red Keep; Seven Hells, the only time he'd even stepped on the road leading up to the castle had been on his way to Fishmonger's Square.
But there he sat, in the main outer yard with the loud groaning of the main gate sliding closed behind him. He forced himself to step out of the carriage and out into the yard, the sight of servants, knights, and courtiers greeting him.Â
"This way, my..." The knight trailed off and exchanged a wide-eyed look with his companion. (Y/N) was no courtier, no page or ward, no lordling with lands and titles. He was merely... a prostitute; a whore as patrons loved to call him and his friends. Everyone around them seemingly came to the same conclusion, their stares becoming scrutinizing or pitiful.Â
"(Y/N)," He said quietly, tugging his cloak further over his shoulders, suddenly feeling extremely aware of how plain his clothes seemed in comparison to the courtiers lingering around. He prayed the hood covered his neck from prying eyes. "Call me (Y/N), Ser."Â
The knight nodded, his helmet slipping further down his head with his movements. It seemed the new Lord Commander of the Kingsguard had chosen... a questionable lot for the job. (Y/N) dug his teeth into the tip of his tongue and lowered his head, an action that'd become second nature to him whenever he left the brothel, for drawing attention to yourself in the city was asking to be robbed or killed. It hardly helped him inside the castle, however. Those they walked by stared and whispered amongst themselves, blatantly motioning in his direction while doing so.
(Y/N) saw the look in their eyes, the way they turned their noses up and scoffed as if his mere presence brought a stain to the castle. Nobles believed themselves to be better than those who worked to provide everything they required, and it was that sense of ego that often made them the best customers; for a simple stroke of their ego had them spilling more coin than they could count. Most of them were fools, even with the high education they received, (Y/N) knew this well. Appearing timid and meek did people little favors in Flea Bottom, even less so among the nobility.Â
Madam Sylvi had been right. He had to tread lightly.Â
After a long walk through many hallways and staircases, the knights finally stopped before two large oak doors and simultaneously pushed them open to reveal the bedchambers within. "Your apartments... (Y/N)." One spoke rather awkwardly, vaguely motioning with his hand for him to enter. (Y/N) stepped into the room and stopped, blinking at the size alone.Â
His... 'apartments' were even larger than the brothel if the two floors combined into one. On the far right end elevated by a small platform sat a luxurious-looking bed large enough to fit at the very least five people with a wooden canopy holding sheer curtains at the sides. Near the bed sat a desk with blank papers and a quill ready to be used alongside beautifully carved wooden chests for storage whilst on the opposite side stood a large closet.
In the center of the room, a beautiful rug with flower designs covered most of the floor, long couches and comfortably looking seats atop with a dining table set nearby. Lined along the walls were numerous paintings and shelves, some filled with books and others empty.
His eyes were immediately drawn to the large open window at the left side of the room that overlooked part of the city and ocean, a gentle breeze flowing in from it. Near the window sat a bronze tub on one side and a few more chairs by a fireplace on the other. Extremely extravagant, he had to admit, but far too much for a single person. His old room seemed pebble-sized in comparison.Â
"I am Ser Corlin and I will be stationed outside at all times if you ever require my presence or assistance. I will follow you wherever you must go and am sworn to give my life for you if needed as King Aegon has assigned me as your Sworn Shield." (Y/N)'s brows furrowed and he whirled around to face the more talkative of the two knights, his eyes flickering to the other one when he dipped his head and left. Ser Corlin seemed a well enough protector, if not a little young.Â
"Why would I need a... 'Sword Shield'?" He hardly knew what that meant, but based on Ser Corlin's words it appeared to be quite the important job. "I am merely... I am hardly important enough to need protection, Ser."Â
"You are King Aegon's paramour; the only one of many to be given such attention. We cannot know for sure if any envious past lovers may wish ill upon you or if Rhaenyra the Cruel will attempt to harm you to cause our king further strife." Ser Corlin explained, shuffling aside to allow a few maids into the room. He dipped his head, providing no further information, and shut the door behind him.Â
"How wonderful." (Y/N) exhaled, hands undoing the laces of his cloak and carefully tugging it off his shoulders. One maid sprang into action, collecting the cloak from his arms and looking over the muddied ends with a thoughtful look. He blinked at her, watching her dip her head similarly to Ser Corlin and slip out of the room. Were they... bowing? To him?Â
"I'm Laerra," The eldest looking between the maids spoke before motioning to the other three with her. "These are Eliza, Shana, and Marya. We will be primarily tending to your needs: bathing, changing, cleaning, and fulfilling any requests you ask of us. His Grace wished for you to be changed into some of the clothing stored in the closet, if we may?"Â
"I... am not a child. I can change myself."Â
"It would be better if we did it for you, My Lord." The round-faced redhead, Eliza, spoke next, a hint of meekness in her voice. The usage of a title made him grimace but if it made things easier on the servants, he'd deal with it, he supposed.
Pursing his lips, (Y/N) sighed and nodded, finding no use in arguing with the customs of nobility. The maids moved swiftly; one of them filled a basin with water and warmed it by the fireplace, another fetched the clothes, and the remaining two began removing his clothes.
They worked diligently and quickly, a focused look passing over each of their faces. Shana scrubbed and dried his skin with a rag she dipped into the basin, getting his skin rid of any sweat and dirt it accumulated during his trip in the city, giving herself a nod of approval when she finished. Eliza scooped his old clothes into her arms and disappeared from his room as Marya and Laerra began dressing him in soft fabrics.Â
"Imported fabrics and cloths from Dorne and some of the Free Cities, My Lord," Marya revealed when he eyed the white undershirt, the soft fabric rubbing nicely against his skin as they put him in a dark green overshirt. When they slipped gem-adorned rings on his fingers, she added, "Gemstones from Pentos. The King wished for nothing else than beautiful."Â
"Thank you." He told them, feeling pampered yet suffocated. "I-... You.. may go. I'd like time alone, if I may."Â
"Shall we bring you some wine? Perhaps some lemon cakes, as well?" Laerra questioned but when he waved them off, they all dipped into a curtsy and ushered themselves out of the room, plunging it into heavy silence that loomed over him like a storm cloud. It was too much, all of it. The room, the clothes, the accessories. He'd had a perfectly fine life in the Street of Silk, despite everything he witnessed and experienced.Â
(Y/N) tugged the rings from his fingers, scattering them across the dining table, and undid the buttons of his overshirt to pull it off and drape it over a chair. He had little need for such things, for so many layers. He collapsed on one of the chairs and braced his arms over the table, his eyes drifting over to the window. His ears strained to catch the bustle of the city but the wind was all he heard, amongst muffled chatter and footsteps from the hallway outside.Â
"Gods," He sighed and ran a hand over his face, slumping back in the chair. "What have I gotten myself into?"Â
(Y/N) hardly had any time to process before the doors swung open and Ser Corlin's voice echoed into the room, "Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower." His lips pressed together tightly, teeth digging into his inner bottom lip and a heavy exhale escaping through his nose. The Gods lacked mercy for him, it seemed.Â
"Your Grace," (Y/N) greeted, standing up from the chair and bending at the waist when he turned around to face her. Queen Alicent (was she to be referred to as Dowager Queen? There were far too many titles) strode into his room with an air of grace, her dark eyes sliding over to him while her features remained blank.
Queen Alicent was beautiful with long dark auburn hair that'd been tied back and cascaded along her back, big brown eyes that studied him closely, and a slender figure. She appeared youthful, and he had to remind himself she had most of her children before reaching the age of twenty.Â
"You must be (Y/N)." She spoke softly, her voice soothing and gentle. "I apologize for the sudden intrusion... amongst other things. I am aware my son feels quite fondly of you despite your former job. I must admit I was quite caught off guard when he announced his decision to move you here, into the Red Keep rather than housing you elsewhere as most other nobles do with their... lovers. May I ask what your family believes of this? I cannot say they will be welcomed if they seek riches."Â
"I was born in Madame Sylvi's brothel. I do not know my father as my mother likely took many lovers a week to know for certain."Â
Queen Alicent's brows furrowed, her long fingers ghosting over the hand of her hand to begin toying with one of her rings. "Likely? You.. you do not know your mother? How is that so?"
"I was never told." (Y/N) shrugged. "As a babe, I was passed around to whomever had the milk to feed me. My mother never claimed me as her own, but I'm sure she tended to me at one point or another. The women there never cared to tell me who amongst them had birthed me. They were all my mothers, I suppose. I can assure you they'd only approach me for favors if the idea ever struck them."Â
"Born in a brothel.." Queen Alicent murmured quietly, her skirt gliding along the floor as she drew closer to him, her hand coming to rest along the top of the chair at the end of the table. "Forgive me if it is a difficult question to answer, but may I know the age you were when you began... working?"Â
"I was eight years of age when frequenters began asking, nine when I began working. It is tradition in most brothels to auction the first time to the highest bidder as most patrons enjoy laying with virgins. I hardly recall the night but I believe it was with a couple from Braavos." His hand moved to grasp the wrist where the bracelet remained, thumb pressing into it at the memory of Madam Sylvi gifting it to him the following day after the couple left. The Dowager Queen paled. "They paid well." He added, though it hardly sounded like much of a comfort.
"You were a child." She exhaled, breathless and her voice dripping with pity. The stone-faced look she'd carried when she first arrived had vanished, her glassy eyes reminding him of Aegon's. They looked so alike in certain lights, he noted, from the furrow of their brows to the curve of their lips. She appeared smaller, younger, without the emotionless facade she'd put up when first acknowledging him.Â
"As were you when you wed King Viserys." (Y/N) spoke carefully, his words soft and knowing. She stared at him, the shine in her eyes growing and full lips parting with a shaky exhale. Queen Alicent's gaze fell onto the stone floor and the tip of her nails scraped against the wood of the chair she held onto, her chest rising and falling with a deep inhale.Â
"It is the duty that falls on the shoulders of many young noble girls. It was expected of me, and I fulfilled my duty, as you well see." He heard the subtle tremble in her voice, saw the way the corner of her brows dipped with each word; was she convincing him or herself? (Y/N) could hardly tell, but what he did know was that with a simple few words the Queen's true nature had reared its head. She remained a young girl in her heart, despite the years of motherhood and marriage thrusted upon her.Â
"Duty or not, it did not make you any less of a child, Your Grace." He moved slowly, somewhat cautiously, when he approached her, keeping his footsteps light and his posture relaxed.
(Y/N) studied her face, her reactions, and the way her body responded to his movements with keen, observant eyes. She watched him, her eyes darting down to his arms so he moved them behind his back to ease any worries of him lashing out toward her. He stopped a few feet away, keeping enough space between them for her to relax.
"Forgive me if I speak too plainly or boldly, Your Grace, for us smallfolk hardly ever converse with those above our stations. I assume you have your assumptions about me, about how I make my coin, but I do not just pleasure others."
She shifted her weight from one foot to the next, the way her eyes jumped around the room from item to item telling him she felt nervous, likely uncomfortable with the topic of sex. The necklace resting around her neck held a pendant similar to the seven-pointed star that represented the Seven. For a woman of faith and nobility speaking of sex with someone of the opposite sex whom she had no relation to would be considered scandalous.Â
"I provide comfort, as well. A willing ear to those who desire to be heard without judgment. I hold many stories, secrets, desires, and hopes that have been told to me throughout many years that will never leave my lips. I value trust, and I would never break another's, even for coin. I had little friends in the city, I doubt I have any at all here," A flicker of recognition flashed in her eyes. "If you find yourself needing a friend, I'd be happy to listen over tea or sweets. I have a feeling I'll be finding myself... quite lonesome here."Â
"I... I shall keep your offer in mind." Queen Alicent said gently, her fingers curling around her hand and lips forming a tight-lipped smile. She dropped her hands down to the sides of her skirt, slightly lifting the ends and departing toward the doors. She stopped before them and peered over her shoulder at him. "King Aegon has matters he is attending to but I'm certain he will welcome you once he is done. Welcome to the Red Keep, (Y/N)."
#x reader#x you#x y/n#x male reader#x male!reader#house of the dragon x reader#house of the dragon x male reader#house of the dragon x y/n#house of the dragon x you#house of the dragon#aegon ii targaryen#aegon ii targaryen x reader#aegon targaryen#aegon targaryen x reader#alicent hightower#alicent hightower x reader#alicent hightower x you#alicent hightower x male reader
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WELCOME TO DEUX Ă DEUX.
Hi all, Iâm Ray, and this is the official Tumblr of the WIP interactive fiction game âDeux Ă Deux."
This post contains:
Socials
Current Demo Status & Patreon Status
Short Synopsis
Long(er) Synopsis
About the Game (ROs and a basic âthings to doâ summary)
Content Warnings
Demo
***The game is planned to have some mature content, so 18+ only from here on out, please :-) ***
Socials: Pinterest | Spotify | COG Forum | Patreon
Demo & Prologue Status (10/05/2024):
| Public Demo |
Prologue is available. You should also see an ending page which allows you to restart/share game, you should have a stats screen, and you should have 4 save slots.
| Patreon |
Prologue is available. R Burns POV #1 (for prologue scene) is available for free & paid members on Patreon. Erin Pinsky Diary #1 and T Lyons POV #1 are available to Obsession tier on Patreon. Two free drabbles are on Patreon (you can find them here, too, though).
Short Synopsis:
Youâre barely scraping by your dead-end job when a couple leaves a note as they leave: âQuit your jobâweâll take care of you.â Calling the number on the note throws you headfirst into a world of luxury, intrigue, power, and lust. Tread lightly.
Long(er) Synopsis:
As a server at a self-proclaimed âupscaleâ restaurant in New York City, most of your shifts end with exhaustion, total rage, or vague annoyance. When a beautiful couple leaves you a note with their receipt (instructing you to quit your job and let them âtake careâ of you), along with a $500 tip, youâre intrigued.
You donât expect much from the note, but it quickly becomes obvious that youâve caught the Lyonses attention. Theyâre persistent as they are mysterious, but you soon realize thereâs a dark underbelly to their glamorous, luxurious lifestyle. Whether you stay in it or not is up to you.
Will you become part of (or break up) the Lyons couple, or will you find another path with their permanent âhouse guestâ? Maybe youâll be the fourth piece in their puzzle. You could stay at your crappy serving job and get closer with one of two coworkers, to the horror of the Lyonsesâor maybe even your boxing coach.
Whatever happens, it wonât come easy.
About the Game:
-----------------------------ROs---------------------------
T Lyons.
T (Tom/Tess/Tory) Lyons is wealthy, mysterious, and cold. Theyâre married to N Lyons, and the two of them are the very picture of a New York City âpower couple."
T takes an immediate liking to you when they meet you at La Table (the restaurant you work at). Their interest is what sweeps you into the Lyonses life, into their own luxurious, illicit, private world.
Appearance: T Lyons is American and black. They have black hair, sharp lips, and cold brown eyes.
N Lyons.
N (Noah/Natasha/Nico) Lyons is Tâs devoted spouse, and is in turns alluring and terrifying. N is apprehensive to have you join their world, despite their immediate interest in you, because the Lyonses only ever have one âhouse guestâ at once.
N Lyons will be a little harder to win over, but they may prove a more loyal ally. You also wonder how much they pull the strings of the Lyonsesâ lives behind the scenes. Only time will tell.
Appearance: N Lyons is Mexican-American and brown. They have very dark brown hair, long eyelashes, and calculating black eyes.
M Nguyen.
M (Mason/Molly/Mars) Nguyen is the current house guest of the Lyonses, and you immediately wonder if they find you an unwelcome intrusion or a possible savior.
M is more reserved than either of the Lyonses, but then again, they donât have much to talk about. They donât leave the house much, but they want for nothing under the Lyonses care. You just wonder if theyâre in a gilded cage, or truly satisfied.
Appearance: M Nguyen is Vietnamese-American and tan. They have black hair, angular cheekbones, and thoughtful black eyes.
R Burns.
R (Ronnie/Roxanne/Rainn) Burns is one of your closest almost-friends in your âreal life.â Theyâre your boxing coach, the best around, and you consider them mostly (or completely) to thank for your combat skills.
Youâre always entertained with R, but youâre torn between deciding if thereâs real care beneath the easy amusement on the surface. Do you want to get closer to R, or leave them in the dust?
Appearance: R Burns is Punjabi-American and brown. They have black hair, a prominent nose, and dark brown eyes.
Erin Pinsky.
Erin Pinsky (genderlocked) is your almost-almost-codependent coworker. Sheâs a very talented server, always lighthearted and charming ⊠if you cared more about your job, you might be jealous.
She seems to really like you, too. The question is, is that affection only surface-level, or could there be something more there?
Appearance: Erin Pinsky is American and white. She has poorly bleached hair, always-on black eyeliner, and bright brown eyes.
Theo Ferreira.
Theo Ferreira (genderlocked) is another of your coworkers, but you canât really tell if he thinks anything about you ⊠like, at all. He doesnât really give a shit about La Table or his job, so heâs more stern than charming as a server.
For some reason, the customers eat this up. Sometimes heâll sneak you stolen food from the back and insist you bring it home, but otherwise heâs pretty quiet. Still, heâs very handsome.
Appearance: Theo Ferreira is Brazilian-American and brown. He has buzzed brown hair, expressive eyebrows (though he hates this), and shrewd black eyes.
----------------------THINGS TO DO---------------------
In Deux Ă Deux, you can romance several people at once (whether there will be consequences or not is anyoneâs guess ⊠mwahaha) or devote yourself to one RO. You can also date nobody, I guess, but that will be a lot less fun in this game, sorry!
You can throw yourself wholeheartedly into life with the Lyonses, including going clubbing, eating fine dining, going on impromptu vacations, etc.
You can also reject their frivolous lifestyle entirely, avoiding them when you can (although theyâre quite persistent) and spend time boxing, hanging with your coworkers, or trying to get M out of the Lyonses lives.
Or, if youâre feeling ambitious, you can try to balance both.
This game will have:
Romance (duh)
Stat checks with consequences (there will be 2-3 majorly game-defining stat checks, so choose wisely)
Combat (everyone has a few skeletons in their closets, right?)
A fair bit of drama.
Content Warnings:
These will be updated more as I continue writing and completely solidify things, but this is a start.
Combat: knives, guns, street fighting
Violence: blood, bruising, unconsciousness
Stalking (not by ROs or MC)
Swearing/cursing (your MC can choose not to curse, though!)
Sexually suggestive content
Sexually explicit content (can opt out via âfade-to-blackâ)
NOTE: there is no sexual violence or allusions to it, EVER. There is no human/sex trafficking or allusions to it, EVER.
The Demo:
Link: https://dashingdon.com/go/17086 OR click here.
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Thank you so much for your interest in my game!! So excited to continue sharing this with you all.
XO
Ray
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đđđđđđŹ đ©đđđ, đđđđđŹđ đđđđŹ
author's note: thank you so much @rabbbitseason for commissioning this piece as well as your patience and understanding <3 ! reader's features (fem reader, pale skin) are described as requested by commissioner. 4.1k words.
tags: 18+ minors dni // kidnapping // isolation (mentioned)// manhandling // size difference // overstimulation //penetration // mating press // let me know if i had missed something.
synopsis: 4 months ago the stellaron hunters had come knocking at your door - they had work for you, they had said. you don't think fucking your charge was the work they had in mind.
When you had first been approached by the Stellaron Hunters, it had been with an elegant woman dressed in a fine black coat. She was in your living quarters lounging away in your chair drinking from a wine glass that most definitely wasnât yours. On your coffee table was a bottle of red wine, the label in a language you didnât recognize. You heard a quiet laugh one that you imagined the cat would make when it has cornered the rat. Your heart raced in your chest, panic nigh high as you gazed at the womanâs empty pink eyes with her voice deep and hypnotic on your head.
âListen to me. Close the door,â You were obeying with your heart racing in your chest as your hand went to input the code that locks your quarters from the inside rather than the outside. She finishes the last of her wine the tint a red so deep it was almost black, tinged her lipstick darker that it once was. She had praised you for your compliance as if it was voluntary and then - the world went back.
âListen to me - go to sleep.â
The world turns dark.
You awake with the same woman next you, sitting on a plain chair like the kind you see in hospital shows the IPC likes to push. Your head pounds but you soon realize that you are fulled dressed and you let out a exhausted sound.
âGood thing you are awake - I thought I might have used too much force on you.â The woman speaks voice slow and measured like sheâs talking about something so mundane like the weather rather than the concerning topic of your kidnapping. Her coat rests on the back of her chair rather than her shoulders like when you first saw her as if she was trying to add an air of causality to the conversation.
âYouâll have to grow out of that for the work we brought you here for little bird.â
âWhat have you brought me here for?â You ask finally finding your voice that you thought was lost to you. The woman merely smiled and explained it all to you in a soft and measured words like priceless silk on your ears. You had been picked with handler work for a specific team member. One who often loses himself to his madness to the point he poses a threat to others on the team. Which is where you come in as a one that has caught the gaze of the Harmony you would prove useful in subduing this particular member. That was 4 months ago - that you know off. You arenât taken out to the field, and all you do is wait for your charge to return from his missions. Your world is limited to the well furnished 2 bedroom suite you share with him.
Blade - wanted for a bounty of 8.13 billion stands before you soon enough. He is tall and broad, standing a full head above you looming with great muscled mass. Saffron colored eyes burn through you like you are a mere dying ember rather than the one that is made to control him. The first few times you are with him where quiet affairs, merely extending your power to him when something too dangerous would glint across his eyes when returning from a mission with the others. A mere touch of his shoulder and an incantation had his eyes dimming and muscles uncoiling.
They were quick and quiet affairs - you find yourself quickly growing attached to the routine of comforting your charge after missions. You think you can you live like this for some time, longer thought you would before this became your new reality.
Until today.
He comes back from the mission bloodied and wild, freshly healed jagged line glowing pink among the pale palor of his skin visible by the long cut going down his dark shirt. You are docile and naive when you first see him spoiled rotten by routine that you merely approach him frowning at how long it will take you to fix the tear going down his shirt to notice his hand coming out to grip you by the back the neck.
The same way one would do so with an unruly kitten.
Your hear races and you look up at him with eyes dilated with fear and to him in his haze only makes him growl at you. He picks you up and your feet dangle off of the floor like that - with merely the strength of his fingers on the back of your neck and he has you on the bed bouncing on the mattress with you looking up at him with wide eyes. Your heart beats wildly in your chest and you swallow when you feel something hot run through your veins at the show of brute strength. You tremble like an animal caught in a steel trap when you feel the heat of his calloused hand gripping your ankle entirely, fingers meeting as drags down to the edge of the bed where like always he looms over you.
A shadow that scares you, that frightens you that - bewitches you. He looks into your dark, blown out eyes that arenât as scared as they should be and the way his lips twitch at the glimmer of timid lust peaking through makes him rumble in his chest. You squirm in his grip, hiking up your leg in an attempt to pull away but even you find that lacking, as you look up at his handsome face and burning eyes. You find that you donât mind this, not when it ties into all your fantasies you have - all from being left alone for so long with nothing but him.
âSay you want me too.â Itâs the first time he speaks, voice deep and rough with desire so deep you almost couldnât bear it. You gulp, pulling your leg up futility as your mind races. It would be dishonest to say no you admit yourself. You have always found Blade attractive, the sight of him shirtless an often occurrence would be the material of your fantasies at night when you think heâs asleep in the other room separate by thin walls. When you try to pull your leg up again you fail because he instead tugs it up to him, settling your heel on his shoulder and placing a surprisingly tender kiss on your calf. Something in you wobbles, and you canât help but notice how the small gesture makes your legs relax and open up to him.
âOkay.â Itâs whimpered out, said with enough force that is makes the dark strands of hair stuck to your face blow in the soft breeze from your lips. A word so simple and so small makes the villain above you tremble from his wanting and you canât even catch your breath in time when he lunges forward to press a kiss so deep to your lips you worry Blade wants to consume you. Like a snake with a mouse, a wolf to a rabbit, him to you. The kiss is so violent you gasp when you feel the nipping of his teeth at your bottom lip and Blade is no different here than he is in combat. Your mouth is open and he presses his tongue into the soft cavern of your mouth, letting it flow past your own in a seductive waltz thatâs enough to make you moan for him. The sound makes him purr, you feel the rumbling in his exposed now healing chest and you feel so helpless when one of his hands goes to grip your thigh, fully wrapping around its softness to pull it up and away so he can press the whole of himself against you.
Itâs enough to make you blush, warm and vivid as you squirm from the feeling the weight of him pressed against the most intimate crux of your thighs - you can feel the swell of his bulge stiff and hard against your aching cunt. Blade pulls away from your lips not without nipping at them one last time to make you whimper and you can see the same thrill-sick smile he wears on his handsome face when in a fight leering down at you.
âTastes sweet, give me more.â You feel lost in a haze, his words lulling you just like Spirit Whisper does - so you nod your head emptily your eyes dilated and wanting for him. Your mouth is relaxed, letting out sot whines when you feel his calloused hands go to grip your body, they sink and squeeze the soft flesh of your breasts his thumbs finding the peaking tips of your nipples to pull and play with at his leisure. You remind him of any sort of small, soft furred pet so easily pleased by gentle little touches that it makes Blade chuckle into your lips.
âSo easily pleased, I will enjoy having my way with you.â He rumbles voice so deep it lulls you deeper into the searing heat in your belly as your chest gets played with more and more until you squirm beneath him. Desperate and keen to have more you let your hand sneak down to the bottom of your top and begin to try to take it off, desperate to feel his skin on your own rather than be groped through your clothes.
âMore - please more, I want to feel you please.â You plead, lifting your top until your soft stomach is revealed and your hand is taken over his own that grip the sides of your thin shirt and rip the material away from you in a show of pure strength.
âMore?â he laughs like your pleas deeply amuse him, like the thrill of debasing you is enough to make him break from the fog of his mind to smile at you with glinting fangs in the dark of your room. âVery well then, I will give you all that you ask for and more.â
Your flesh is no different then you spirit - both belonging to him now that you feel the bare skin of his hands gripping at whatever is available to him. His hands pass over the softness of your stomach the touch almost ticklish until you feel how his hands grope at your chest. His hands are warm and rough - their touch against your breasts makes you sing the soft cry of your pleasure. Blade watches you faithfully, keeping his eyes on your flushed face even as his own face descends to where his hands are pinching and pulling at your supple flesh.
The peaks of your nipples are hard against his fingers and the ache in his jaw is too much to bear. You have no warning to his touch - you are so deep in it now, pleasure is like the waves of the coastâs on your home planet you think dazed. His mouth comes to seal around one of your nipples and like a torrent the heat buzzes down to your stomach from how good it feels. You are whining, squirming from beneath him your hips grinding against his form having your chest played with. You can hear him grunt faintly from below you, and you flinch when you feel one of his hands go to your bottoms and tug at them until you hear another haunting rip. The cold air of the ac is felt on your bare skin, making you shiver from the difference of temperature. His hot mouth that moves from one nipple to the other, the cold air on the heated, sticky flesh of your cunt that flutters at the attention your nipple gets as the other one fizzles from the stimulation. Your hands go to Bladeâs hair, lost in the dark blue tresses and you whine weakly at the peaceful look of serenity on his face.
âYou enjoying yourself?âYou ask, mind addled by the lust and your hips settling in a rhythm against his own crotch as your rub your own need against the bulge in his pants. Saffron eyes open and the burning red is so consumed by the inky black of his pupil that it alone answers your question. He answers you with not with words but with actions, the feeling of his fingers at your the wet seam of your cunt. He merely rests them there, letting the pads of his fingers touch the leaking slick like honey that drips out of you so sweetly.
âI think we both are.â Blade says pulling way from you, strings of spit following him as this fingers cautiously press into you. It makes you gasp, arching into the touch as his fingers find the glistening pearl of your clit that wants for pressure, to be touched and to be used. Whining into the air between the two of you it makes you tremble the dexterity that Blade shows as he beings to twirl his sticky fingers around your pearl.
âI am glad Kafka sought you out,â Blade mumbles to you, pressing a final kiss to the peaked nub of your nipple before bringing his attention to your lower half , âYou deserve to be rewarded for your work.â Any though you might have had is gone as you feel his finger press into the entrance of your cunt - his fingers are long, longer than your own and it make you break out in shivers at just how full only one feels. Your hands that have hanged at your sides uselessly curled into weak half fists, now come to clutch at his broad shoulders with dull nails leaving the skin red as you feel his finger pump in and out of you.
âAre you really that happy I am here?â The question comes out wobbly and more pathetic than you would have liked but your heart soars when you hear his deep hum of agreement. It makes your cunt flutter, the needy thing it is and you feel him shift to press another finger against you. You are a whimpering little mess, squirming and gasping at how good it feels when he curls the two fingers that have made their way inside of you. He does it rhythmically, on sound counts of one, two, one, two that make you leak down to his broad palm.
âYes, I am,â the words come out breathless and your thigh aches where it is held in place so Blade can watch how your flushed cunt takes his fingers like it never wants to part with them. Your wanting makes you a mess and the bits of praise he gives you clearly make you want for more as you twitch up against at his admittance.
âAlways so very helpful, even now - you are a true gift brought to me. A small pleasure to spoil myself with.â Blade speaks to you and itâs almost too much. He never says much but each word spoken in that deep voice you would dream about at night is making your chest ache after spending so much time alone. The pleasure of having his fingers feel around that special bundle of nerves in your cunt. Your fingers dig deep into the muscle of his shoulders and your back arches like a bow about to be released as you cum with a half breathed gasp for the first time this night.
His fingers keep moving, prolonging the pleasure until it comes out in rivets - sticky and messy now at your thighs that cools off immediately when exposed to the air of the room. You are watched ever presently, and burning black eyes watch you like prey at how your tilt your head back to gasp into the pillows bearing the gentle slope of your neck to him. His lips brush against the soft skin and you are so lost in the sea that you donât feel him there until you bear the stinging of his teeth digging into the skin there.
You gasp, tensing up and stiffen until he pulls away - with a dark mark blooming the fairness of your skin with the perfect indents of his teeth imprinted on your skin.
âThere.â Blade states simply as if it was the most common thing in the world to do. You donât even have time to react before you feel two strong hands lock around your thighs and twist you around, laying you on your back with your knees pressed to your chest. You feel exposed and meek like this, trembling beneath the weight of him as Blade fluidly like a panther upon the weak rolls his shoulders a mere show of how easily he can overpower you.
You let out a squeak - a sound so thin you are surprised he even heard as you how he smiles vaguely at you from above you. But you find that you canât even meet his gaze when as you feel something hard pressed against you. The length and girth from the touch alone paints it in your mind as impressive but you squirm when feel itâs leaking head press against you. It is futile however, a rabbit can not rum from the trap once itâs leg is caught and there is no where left for you to turn too as Blade presses the length of himself into you slowly, deliciously. You feel like a fish out of water, failing to catch your breath at just how big it feels ; your fingers or your fantasies could have never prepared you for this, the real long, hard and hot thing between your legs.
Your nails are racking down the muscle of his arms, leaving trails of fire in their wake that quickly heals over leaving his skin like porcelain while your own figure it stained with bruises in the shape of his finger tips. Blade fairs no better than you, mouth agape and brow beaded with sweat at your tightness despite it being lax and wet from his fingers your poor pussy struggles to accommodate him. Spreading your legs to have both placed on his shoulders heâs pressed against you completely. Skin against skin and he is quick to press his face against yours - to press kisses into your gasping mouth as he continues to drive his length into you.
âGood - you are doing very good, just take what is left.â He murmurs in between tugs on your bottom lip and you nod your head emptily whining vaguely at the prospect of there being more. You donât even know when it is you started to weep - messy and noisy little bleats of it being too much for you when you can feel his hips flat against yours. He rest inside you, full and pulsing in your walls and you can feel Bladeâs heartbeat dancing at the same pace as your own.
You open your mouth to speak but find nothing comes out as you moan with how good the drag of his cock feels against your walls, stimulating every part of your being to your innermost self to your core. Your eyes water with fresh tears and you stutter out gasps of his namesake, making him shiver down to the marrow of his spine as he drives further into you. His form crowds yours on the bed, bending you in half completely as Blade has his way with you. The sound between the two of you grow louder and louder - the smacking of his hips against yours, the endless moans between the two of you and the wet shucking noise your messy cunt makes from how good he fucks you fill the room in a degenerate orchestra.
You make the mistake of peering down at where you connect and let out a withering gasp that Blade matches with a thin laugh. You see it - strings of your slick cling to the flushed sides of his cock in a creamy mix and you let out a cry as Blade feels you clench on him.
âDo you like that? Do you enjoy watching yourself get fucked? He asks you, voice heated and breathless as he gazes at you from above. He takes in your flushed face and half lidded eyes and the way your mouth hangs letting out soft and needful little sounds. Your confession comes out tumbling from your lips - wet and pathetic little babbles of mindless âyes.â Your hands that clung to his shoulders go to wrap around his neck and lace through his hair to pull and tug. Blade moans, back arching and angling his hips to hit you deeper, another scant few inches sinking into you.
âFuck me - please, please.â You whimper into his lips that brush against yours, flushed and kissed raw. He nods, obediently and the pace picks up and you blush bright red when you hear the beat of the headboard beating against the wall. Gasping, your clit aches for more attention and you find your own hand coming down to folds of your cunt to rub wet little circles to the needy nub. You cum just from that, having the pearl of you clit petted a little and with every inch of Blade buried so deep inside of you feel him in your stomach. You donât even have the strength to tell him, just letting out a wailing cry as you cunt turns soft around him.
Blade grunts from above you, brows burrowed and set as he sneaks his own hand down between the two of you and presses the rougher skin of his fingers against your twitching pearl. He rubs at the sensitive thing, even if it makes your thighs tremble and your hips buck from it being too much - he does not stop. You already came and in a desperate attempt you try to pull your head out of the water without knowing that Blade is the one who will tell you when to breath.
âOne more, give me the one.â He murmurs into your lips, taking your bottom one in between his teeth letting it grow red from the bite before pressing his tongue into your mouth. Your eyes are rimmed red and crossed as you feel another orgasm coming, the rubber band begging to be snapped again on his cock but it grows too hard too fas and you donât even recognize the pitched and whiny noises you make. Everything is a blur of sensation, everything too much yet you yearn for more and more. You let your mouth drop and slide your tongue against his mindlessly as it becomes harder and harder for your to think or to try to speak. You only murmur helplessly to him,
âI canât - canât come again, itâs too much.â Blade shakes his head at you, giving you harder thrusts that makes you feel the head of his cock against your limits, the wall of your cervix and you tremble beneath him.
âYou can, give it to me. I wonât ask again.â His voice is clear but you catch how it wavers at the end and it feels like seeing the arms of the titan Atlas wavier under the weight of the sky. His strokes go from hard and deep to shallow and fast as your cunt flutters around his weakly. Leaning up with your last piece of strength to lift your neck you press your forehead to his, eyes close in bliss as you whine your warnings to him about the end of your rope. With a final touch to your clit, you cum with a pained squeal of his name. An orgasm so strong it makes your pelvis ache and burn as your own hips circle and jut out to try and match his.
Blade does not falter, stamina endless as he fucks you through the waves of your orgasm that make you wither, legs limp on his shoulders as he pulls away from you - hissing at how his cock catches against the seam of your cunt. Blade rests his length on your stomach, flushed a dark pink and leaking onto your soft skin as he pumps himself to completion over your stomach. His cum paints your pale skin into a translucent pearl and he shudders with the notion of more - more of you, more of this, forever.
But for now, you will rest prettily beneath him, as he gently takes your legs off his shoulders - if you were more lucid you would think itâs funny. You never would have thought a man like him would be capable of being gentle. But you see it, in the way his hands rub against your thighs and you are being tucked in. Your eyes are almost shut completely before you feel a gentle touch to your cheek. Groggily you open your eyes, and Blade gazes upon you with an unreadable expression despite the red on his face and his messy hair.
His touch is careful and delicate as his brushes hair away from your dewy cheeks. Weakly, you lean into his touch eyes closed and relax as your hoarse voice asks,
âIs thisâŠhow it will be?â
âWould that please you?â He asks back, hand stilled on your cheek as your eyes struggle to open. His face unreadable but open. You fight back a small smile as you realize that he wants to know, to know if he can make you happy.
âYes.â You utter as you relax into his touch, fulling closing your eyes and settling into the bed more comfortably. You donât see it but you hear his amused huffed all the same and the way he rubs his thumb against your still blushing cheek.
âThen it will be this way.â
#lamb.writes#blade x reader#hsr x reader#hsr blade smut#hsr blade x reader#honkai star rail smut#hsr x you
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Whispers of the Forgotten | pt. 4
pairing: azriel x reader | type: angst | words: 2,6k words | masterlist
You are alone. The room is dark. Silent. Not a single noise audible. Not a single candle burning. Nothing but deafening silence and darkness, almost like an endless void.
And you. You are alone with your thoughts. Your fears. Your memories.Â
Nesta has left a moment ago, the wooden door is now closed, the room dark. She had asked you a few times if it would be alright to leave you alone, and of course, you said yes. You decided that you like Nesta. She has a powerful aura around her and is definitely not one to mess with. You would have loved to talk to her a bit more, but you couldnât keep her here.Â
But damn, do you hate being alone now. You said you would be alright, but deep inside you knew you wouldnât, but you didnât want to keep her here. You couldnât do this to her.
You are miserable and considered one of the most dangerous beings in this world â what would she do here? With you. She definitely has better things to do...
But now that you are alone, the room suddenly scares you. Being alone does. You didnât want to keep her here, but you also donât want to be alone.
Your curl your fingers towards your palms, drawing blood when your sharp nails pierce into your flesh. But the painâŠyou donât even notice it anymore, having done this so many times over the past centuries. Whenever you were scared, or panic.king It was not in order to harm or hurt yourself, but to remind yourself that what is happening to you real, not some wild nightmare or hallucination, that you havenât gone mad.
You lift your gaze and turn your head slightly, your neck aching. You realise quickly that you canât stay here. You donât want to stay here. Not alone. Not in the dark. Never again. You canât do this. You canât stay here right now.Â
No one told you you had to stay in your room, only in the Library. So the Library is where you want to be. Outside of this room. In the light. Surrounded by books and maybe one or the other person â the priestesses.
You shoot to the door and rip it open, dashing toward the first light source you spot. The large, towering bookshelves at the end of the corridor are lit and this is where you are heading right now, tired feet still carrying you over the floor rather quickly.
Once surrounded by many books, the scent of the old pages seeping into your nostrils, you inhale deeply and close your eyes for a moment, trying to level your breathing and still your mind.
The Valkyries once had breathing techniques you still like to use. Mind-stilling techniques that helped you to not go insane in your time in the Prison.
You hand reaches out and you brush over some books.
It is a soft, female voice that startles you slightly when you hear it behind you. âYou must be, Y/N.â
You spin around and are met with a beautiful, tall female with teal eyes. She kindly smiles at you and you nod.
âIâm Gwyn. I also live here. Welcome to the Library.â
You meet her gaze and stop dead in your tracks. "Gwyn?"
"Yes," she says, "actually Gwyneth Berdara, but I prefer Gwyn. Just Gwyn."
You look at her in slight surprise, feeling both nostalgic and sad. Your friend, a former member of the Wild Hunt, was called Gwyn. He is dead now.
"You are not scared?" You don't want to think about him, the friend you have lost. Another person who left the world too soon.
You swallow around a lump in your throat and your sharp fingernails brush over the spine of a book. You are thankful for the sweater Nesta has offered you on your way down here, having seen how much you shivered, now hanging loosely over your shoulders, the nightgown beneath still the same you have been wearing for centuries.
"Of you?" Gwyn asks with a smile and takes one step closer. You almost want to warn her to not get too close, but you know you would never hurt her. Itâs only what youâve heard your whole life. Donât get too close to the demon. Stay away from the evil female.Â
The Bloodthirsty Baroness comes at midnight to steal your soul and leave you to bleed out. The Silent Reaper executes you before you can defend yourself. Not once have you done such a thing - only tales and legends made you seem like this demonic monster. You only ever avenged victims, took care of those who hurt them, and devoured the revenge you exerted. But you never hurt someone only to hurt them.
"Yes, of me." You meet her eyes again and see how she shakes her head.
"I have a lot of respect for you, but scared? I know you wonât harm me, so I'm not scared."
"Because the High Lord would kill me for it."
Her warm, soft palm lands on your chest before you have time to react. It startles you, massively, and you nearly choke on a breath. Your eyeballs threaten to fall out of their sockets by how wide your eyes are open â she is touching you. You are not irritated or shocked about the audacity, you are confused, startled, about her...kindness.
She smiles when she takes in the shock on your face.
"I am not scared of you because I know you have a good heart. Right in there, you are good, and I donât have to be afraid of you, with the High Lordâs protection or without it. I know you wouldnât harm me."
She pulls back her hand and you almost want to reach for her and just pull her into an embrace. She reminds you of your sister and right now you would give the world for just a simple hug from your sister. Or just a simple hug. Just someone caring enough for you to hold you.
âThe fangs? The claws, theââ
âIncredibly amazing assets and most definitely very handy in battle. And as I said, I have a lot of respect for you, I can feel your power and I know what you are probably capable of. I am incredibly impressed by you and your powers, but they don't scare me.â
You almost want to laugh about the powers part. Because right now...you don't have them. Not with the amulet not being in your possession, not with some training. Every ounce of power you had, slowly drained from your body during the imprisonment.
But you shake your head and inhale deeply. You don't want to let your anger and frustration show right now, it wouldn't be fair when Gwyn has only been kind to you.
With a little chuckle slipping through your lips you shake your head. âYou have a heart of pure gold, Gwyn.â
She only smiles politely, but a faint blush stains her cheeks. âYou want company this evening?â
A sigh of relief leaves you. âThere is nothing I would rather want." You sling your arms around yourself. "If you donât mind, of course.â
âââââ ââ
âœâŸ â
â âââââ
The following day â armed with several books Gwyn helped you collect in the Libraryâ you start to read up on Koschei, on spells and curses, on anything that could be important.Â
You dive into one book after the other, each one captivating you so much you forget about the time and world around you as you gather information, noting things done or remembering by heart. Your mind is sharp, fully focused on the book, eyes scanning every single word, taking it all in. There is so much that is important, you let your head fall back and then you inhale deeply.Â
Hopefully, they will give you back your amulet soon. You need it and you also want it back. It has been in your familyâs possession for centuries, until Azrielâ
You donât dwell on this thought, straightening up and focusing back on the task at hand â going through yet another book and some pieces of parchment that come along with it.Â
By the special request of Rhysand High Lord of the Night Court, you are always working upstairs, in the living room of the House of Wind. It doesnât bother you; most of the time you are alone, some tending to business inside the house, others training (Gwyn told you so) on the rooftop.Â
Sunlight brushes your skin and you revel in the feel of it. You havenât felt, nor seen, sunlight in so long it now feels like balm against your skin. It is so good, you havenât felt that alive in so long.Â
You are still kept somehow locked in, but it almost feels like freedom. You are allowed to roam freely in the House of Wind and the Library. You havenât got your powers back, but as long as you are in here, you donât need them. You only need a bit of sunlight, some wonderful conversations with Gwyn, a soft bed to sleep in and good food. It is enough and slowly contentment crawls back into your body â nothing youâve never thought to ever happen again.Â
But now there is hope for you to find happiness again. Not with Azriel, and also not with him in your life, but there will be a way to avoid him somehow. Once you have your powers back and Koschei is defeated they might let you leave. You would go to the continent or even further away. As far away from the male who caused you that much pain as possible.Â
âIf you need someone to talk to, Iâm here.â
The voice startles you and you almost shriek, jumping up in your chair, snatching the book close. Your heart races like a wild horse and you whip around to look at Nesta.Â
There is a smile on her face, one that is too kind and empathetic â you are not used to that sort of friendly behaviour towards you.Â
âI am fine.â You'r answer is too quick. Too tight, and Nesta purses her lips.
âYou may pretend to be, and you are damn good at it, but I know you are not.â She closes the door behind her and moves toward the table, bracing her slim hands upon the surface, manicured nails tapping against it. âWhat you have gone throughâŠI think none of us can imagine, but I donât want you to have to swallow it all up.â
Her throat bobs when she swallows. âI know what it does to someone, not opening up or not having anyone to talk to.â
âI donât need anyone to talk to.â You meet her gaze. âI donât need anyone.â You want this statement to be strong and steadfast, but your voice gives you away, breaking slightly towards the end, so you quickly add. âAll my life, Iâve been alone. I was orphaned when I was a babe, later no one ever cared about me, then my powers manifested and everyone got scared and they started to fear and hate me.â
âYou were part of the Wild Hunt.â Nesta interrupts you and you donât like it. But her statement surprises you. How the hell does she know? Well, Rhysand has probably told everyone. How he knew? Either from his father or Azriel.
âI was.â
She claims the seat across you and you fight the urge to roll your eyes.Â
âIâm sure they cared about you.â Neither of you looks away and power stretches out between you. You are both strong-willed and powerful, neither of you is giving in now. You wonder if she really only wants to help you, be there for you. There is not a kernel of bad blood inside her body, your soul detects nothing, and so it makes you truly think she might only want to be nice to you. But why?
âWe didnât care about each other. We tolerated each other, had our backs when we went out for the hunt, but that was it.â Slowly, you scrape a talon down the cover of the book.Â
âDid you give yourself your nicknames?â
Does none of them have manners? No knocking, no announcing oneself, just showing up.Â
You turn to Gwyn and raise your brow at her. You canât be mad at her, she was too kind to you the other evening, and her words have strung cords within your heart you thought no longer to exist. So, inhaling deeply and calming your heart, your decide to be polite to her.
âThe Bloodthirsty Baroness.â Gwyn walks up to Nesta, nothing but curiosity shimmering within her teal eyes. "The Silent Reaper."
Your eyes flick to her and in a smooth, polished voice you say, âI earned myself the titles.â
Neither Gwyn nor Nesta show a reaction but a chill courses through the room, cooling the temperature at least two degrees.
âBut probably not for the reason you think," you silently add. You move the book away from you and flex your fingers, then curl them towards your palms. âI wasnât bloodthirsty for innocent people, I only took revenge for those who could no longer do so. My hands were drenched in blood, but it wasnât spilled in vain.â
âSee,â Gwyn says with a small smile and slumps into the chair next to Nesta. âI knew you had a good heart.â
A cold chuckle parts your lips. âI wouldnât quite say that I have a good heart, but Iâm not quite as cruel as the legends and stories paint me. And the silent part is definitely true - always appearing at midnight, taking the souls of those with me who deserved it. No noise could be heard, no one could be seen and no trace was left behind.â
A smirk appears on Nestaâs face and she slowly bows her head. âAre you alright with being here?â She changes the topic and you are incredibly thankful for it. Or would be, if she hadnât asked this question.Â
You canât quite say no, because being here is not the worst place you have ever been at, but then, with Azriel always being somewhere around, it kind of is (not as bad as the Prison thoughâŠ)
âIt is alright.â
âI asked if you are alright.â
You chuckle again and give your head a shake. âIâm alright.âÂ
Now, Nesta dips her chin and seems content with your answer. Insufferable, you think, but you have to admit you actually like her. She partly reminds you of yourself.Â
There is a little spark inside your mind, just a very small thought, a fleeting moment, that lets you think what if. What if you stayed here and became friends with Nesta and Gwyn. You could see yourself being friends with them andâ
You immediately cut off your string of thouhgts.Â
This is bullshit. You wonât stay here. The first chance you get, you will be gone. Far away and never return. People who live here have hurt you, and you will never find forgiveness for them.
âShall we let you work again?â
With a smile you dip your chin at Gwyn. âThat would be nice. Iâve found quite some things already.â You donât really know why you share so much, but you are all in this together, so why keep things from them. And so you continue, letting them in on what you have found out already, sharing some bits and pieces with them that could be of interest.Â
When the sun already starts to set outside and Gwyn and Nesta leave for training with the other priestesses you are for the first time reminded how much time you have spent bent over the books this day.
âNesta,â you call after her once she is nearly out of the door.Â
She slowly turns to you, waiting, but Gwyn is already gone, her humming filling the otherwise silent corridor.Â
âThank you for offering me to talk to you whenever I need it. And thank youâŠjust thank you.â You smile a little sheepishly but she returns it with a bright grin. âAnytime,â she says and you add, âIf you get a chance, just tell Gwyn thank you from me again as well.â
She bows her head and is gone in the next moment.Â
With a small, barely-there smile on your lips you focus your attention back to the task at hand. Spending so much time researching seems like a good thing to make time pass, you realise and reach for yet another book. It is big and has a thick velvety binding. Your fingers stroke over the golden lettering that says something about darkness and its creatures.Â
When you flip it open the first lovely being revealed to you is the Naaga. You havenât seen them in a long time, you think, but you have had both good and bad memories with those little beasts. You flick through more pages, getting lost in every little word you read, reminding you of a time long ago.Â
So enthralled by the knowledge you gather from the book, you havenât noticed that someone opened the door, nor that someone has walked in.
Not someone â Azriel.Â
"Can we talk?"
tags (crossed-out I couldn't tag) : @juulle987 @marimorena06 @danikasthings @younxii@nightcourtwritings @mrofontaine @lunalilyf @whor-3-crux @tired-all-the-time @anni-was-here @ummmmmwatïżœïżœ@azbracadabra @j-pendragonx @hollyismentallyillhelp @famousbasementpainter @bsenpai @lena-davina @red-highlady @thesugatoyourtae @azrielsbabyg @aroseinvelaris @moony-thoughts @wrensical003 @cherryjain17 @moonfawnx @crushedcloudsx @devilsfoodcake22 @valeridarkness @azrielscertifiedslut @mulansaucey @cynicalpotato95 @hanasakr @high-bi-andreadytocry @eerievixen @feyretopia @moonlightazriel @randomness-it-is @brekkershadowsinger @eliieee23 @girasoli-e-sorrisi @illyrianvalkyriecarynthian @kennedy-brooke @highladyofillyria @theworthlessqueen @marina468 @topaz125 @illyrian-dreamer @azriels-mate123 @eos-princess @courtofjurdan @a-frog-with-a-laptop @insufferablebookaddict @callmeblaire
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JJK Bridgerton Inspired HCâs - Gojo, Geto, Nanami
authors note: so your girl is on a Bridgerton binge and a JJK rewatch binge so like.. Iâm boutta cater to such a niche audience lmao
genre: historical romance
tw: a lil horny sometimes but ultimately SFW
AO3 Crosspost
đ Crown Prince Satoru Gojo and The Debutant đ
âą A prince by birth and next in line for the throne.
âą Well bred, read, and wanted most dead. Has lived through multiple assasination attempts.
âą Was never really interested in the prospect of marriage, was more invested in rehauling the royal system as a whole.
âą Likes to spend his time with the young royals and nobles like his ward Megumi.
âą W H O R E. Chronic flirt. Smart enough not to accidently sire an heir but knows how to have his fun.
âą Met you during your debut year. You were the first woman to actually catch his eye.
âą First he thought it was just more sexual attraction, but after a dance and a conversation he knew it was much more. Your wit was unmatched and you had snark enough to keep up with him.
âą Played it cool though because he knew if he gave you too much attention youâd have a target on your back, and he wanted to make sure you were his.
âą Goes out of his way to see you as much as he can. Lots of âaccidentalâ run-ins.
âą The moment that sealed the deal for him was when you near bested him in a fencing match. It had been so long since someone had surprised him.
âą Though being under the eyes of the crown prince doesnât go unnoticed. Soon enough other men began attempting to court you. Even worse, certain parties started conspiring to use you against him.
âą This all came to a head when you were cornered at a ball. You were meant to be taken hostage and used to lure and kill the prince. But there was no corner of the world they could hide you where he would not look. His day started and ended with you and if they harmed you the world would burn in your name.
âą You were found and rescued by him, and your kidnappers were dealt with in a swift and brutal fashion.
âą He proposed on the spot. No hesitation he was on that shit. You were to be his and that was that. And you would never be alone again.
âą The wedding was huge. No expense was spared and he catered to your every whim and desire. You were his gorgeous only ever.
âą Honeymoon was.. Oh baby. Literally. You werenât coming back without being knocked up.
đ Duke Suguru Geto and The Viscountess đ
âą Of common birth and rose to the rank of Duke after the former Duke passed away. He was the only living male relative, hence receiving the title.
âą A former friend of the crown prince. The pair had a falling out when Geto grew power hungry in his new role. He is still a respected member of the ton, though under constant watch of the crown.
âą As a Duke he is in charge of a small township. Heâs known for his high taxes and using his citizens to collect rare birds from the surrounding area. He keeps them in an aviary with clipped wings, and sells them to other nobility for profit.
âą He once was in charge of two townships, but one mysteriously burnt to the ground. An investigation brought no results, but it did reveal two survivors. Geto took them in as his wards.
âą He met you during one of his bird sales to the Queen. You were a member of her entourage.
âą You were a young widowed Viscountess with two young daughters of your own. Your husband had died of medical complications, leaving you alone with no sons. Luckily you had favor with the queen, but with no husband and no heirs you were in desperate need of saving.
âą He found your unwavering commitment to your children admirable and you two began a long friendship.
âą Your girls all got along well, and you loved his daughters with all your heart. Something about you doing their hair and tending to them so gently made his heart flutter.
âą The friendship did eventually turn into more.. Especially after you admitted you urned for more children.
âą Enter baby fever Suguru.
âą He proposed in his aviary, promising to love your children as his own, and to give you as many more children as you desire.
âą Townsfolk said Geto became far kinder after your marriage.
đ Viscount Kento Nanami and The Housekeeper đ
âą Kento was born into his role as Viscount. And he takes it extremely seriously. Balancing finances and planning events, maintaining a reputation for his family.
âą Unlike other men in the ton he rarely goes out to gentlemans clubs. He goes on the occasional hunt though he sees it as pointless and barbaric.
âą His goal was to find a practical match, not a love match. He wanted someone who would bare him an heir, so that one day he could rest knowing he had done all he could for his family.
âą His housekeeper eventually was forced to retire after injuring her hip. She had served his family for over fifty years and raised him, so he ensured she lived the rest of her life comfortably.
âą But.. That meant he had to find a replacement. Easier said than done. No one could live up to the former housekeeper. Plenty of maids were recommended but.. None of them felt right. So he put out a request.
âą And then you showed up. Younger, so he was skeptical. But you came on high recommendation from her majesty herself. Apparently you were quite capable and able to handle the heavy loads associated with the job.
âą And lord were you. No one could have taken this job more seriously. Not a hair out of place, not a meal late. Sheets pressed. Animals tended.
âą And Nanami found it.. Oh so attractive. Your dedication. Your concentration.
âą Nothing impressed him more than your skills in the kitchen. You were an amazing cook. Although it wasnât a listed priority in your job, you still took time out of your day to prepare one of his meals. Usually his afternoon tea.
âą After a few months, he was starting to grow fond of you. It was improper to feel such emotions for a servant. But he couldnât help notice all the little things. The crease of your brow as you kneaded dough. The satisfied smile after a days work completed. The pensive worry in your eyes as you dotted on him in his study.
âą Eventually he had enough. Forgetting formality for once in his life, he gave you his heart. And you returned it.
âą It was a scandal, but he took it. Because having you made it all worth it.
#jjk#jujitsu kaisen#jjk x reader#gojo x reader#gojo x you#gojo satoru#geto x reader#geto x you#geto suguru#nanami x reader#nanami x you#nanami kento#jjk hcs#jjk headcanons#bridgerton au
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Childhood Friends (Seth Lowell x Reader)
Hello, thank you for the request! Seth is one of my favorites but I also don't know much about his character, so I enjoyed writing this and learning more about him. Sorry it took so long!
Contains: gender neutral reader, could be platonic or romantic
The coffee shop in Lumina Square was a regular stop for you- it was spacious, the coffee was good, and you could stay there to get some work done if necessary.
You sipped your coffee and scrolled through your phone, opening the Knock Knock app. Most posts were of your friends and family, plus the occasional advertisement and Public Security post. In any other society, following the social media account of the local police would seem strange, but with the danger of the Hollows and new (usually illegal) factions popping up almost every other week, keeping up to date with the law enforcement was almost a necessity.
You paused at a group picture of several Pubsec officers, seeing a face you couldâve sworn was familiar to you. A cat Thiren in a Pubsec uniform⊠you couldnât place it, but youâd definitely seen him somewhere. Maybe while he was on duty?
You clicked on the post to read the caption and were greeted with: Our newest members of the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team! The post was pretty old, and it listed several names you didnât recognize, finishing with Seth Lowell.
Seth⊠Lowell?
Your eyes widened as you realized where youâd heard the name. Your families had been friends, and you and Seth were close until the fall of the old capital and the necessary relocation of both your families- what was left of them, at least. After that, youâd lost contact, and seen no indication that Seth and his family had ended up in New Eridu or even alive.
You opened your photo gallery, scrolling as far back as you could, and found some pictures of the two of you. Luckily, youâd kept them backed up on the cloud before the disaster.
Little Seth and you, each grinning proudly and holding large sticks.
An âaction shotâ of the both of you fighting. In your imaginations, those sticks had probably been powerful swords.
A blurred shot of you dropping the stick and Seth running to you, with a slight streak of red visible on your face. Most likely taken by accident.
Another shot of the two of you, this time with your arms around each other and a Starlight Knights bandage on your cheek.
The sun was starting to peek out from behind the sheet of clouds, burning them away in what usually signaled the start of mid-morning. You looked up from your phone and your stroll down memory lane. It was time to leave.
You were still a bit distracted as you started to clean up your table, mentally adding âfind Seth againâ to your to-do list as you went to leave and there was absolutely no way.
White hair, fluffy ears and tail, and a Pubsec uniform. What were the odds?
Oh, well. You could put off leaving for a little longer.
âExcuse me, officer. Seth Lowell, right?â you asked, approaching him and hoping he wasnât working.
The Thiren turned around, noticing but not recognizing you if his face was any indication. âHi, thatâs me. Iâm not on duty at the moment, so if you have a concern that can wait, Iâd recommend visiting the station.â
âNo, actually, I was hoping you were off duty. We were friends in the past, and I didnât know where you went after the fall of the old capital, so I wanted to, umâŠâ You showed him your phone, photo app still open to the pictures from your childhood. âDo you remember me?â
Clearly he did, if the way his eyebrows shot up and his face broke into a smile were any indication. You were suddenly pulled into a tight hug, but before you could reciprocate, he released you just as fast. âSorry, Iâm sorry!â he exclaimed, his tail swishing awkwardly from side to side. âI was looking for you too, but I couldnât find anythingâŠâ
âItâs ok, Iâm glad to see you too. Um⊠do you have to be anywhere soon?â you asked. âIf not, maybe we can catch up a bit.â You gestured towards the stairs, which led to an upper level of outdoor seating.
Seth accepted eagerly- he would have offered if you hadnât beat him to it, and he didnât have to report to the station for a little while. You grabbed his arm and lightly tugged him along.
âOh, by the way!â Seth seemed almost brimming with excitement. âDo you remember when we used to play pretend? I always wanted to be the hero, and there was that one time you pretended to be a villain with my brother, butâŠâÂ
The two of you continued talking into the morning, reminiscing and sharing stories of how youâd changed since your separation. Sethâs dedication was amazing, and seeing him as a Pubsec officer just as he said heâd be all those years ago made you incredibly proud. It felt like time had barely passed before Seth had to leave for work. He didnât seem that worried, but you encouraged him along, not wanting him to be late on your account. Before you parted ways, you made sure to exchange contact information.
After all, it wouldnât do to lose him again.
#zenless zone zero#zenless zone zero x reader#zzzero x reader#zzzero#zzz seth x reader#seth lowell#seth lowell x reader
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I'm rereading Jon's chapters, and I was wondering why Ygritte was so drawn to a "crow" in the first place? I understand the purpose of that relationship to his arc and the plot but can't quite work out why, from Ygritte's perspective, she's so incredibly persistent seemingly a very short time after meeting him. Does it all come down to the fact that she thinks he stole her?
Itâs of course important to point out that in discussing romantic attraction, even in the context of a fictional narrative, weâre discussing a topic that is to some extent inherently mysterious and unexplainable. Too, as noted, I donât think we should discount the tradition among the free folk for men to âstealâ women, as indeed Ygritte teaches Jon about the custom to insist that Jon âstoleâ her in turn.
However, I think we should also, and not mutually exclusively, look to the circumstances of Jon and Ygritteâs first meeting, not merely to understand how Ygritte might have seen this moment as a sort of wife stealing but to analyze how Jon and Ygritte developed their personal connection. From the first moment the two interact, I think Ygritte would have noticed, and appreciated, how Jon defied her expectations for how a âcrowâ should or would act. Not only had Jon asked her to yield - repeatedly refusing Stonesnakeâs command for Jon to kill her - but he almost immediately supported her against his own comrades: when Ygritte insisted that the dead free folk be burned lest they come back as wights, it was Jon who seconded the notion, even as Stonesnake remained unconvinced - a sign that Jon recognized the universal but long lost truth of the Others as the enemies of all mankind. Too, as Ygritte informed the Nightâs Watch brothers that â[e]verything below the Wallâs south to usâ, Jon quickly agreed that âitâs all in where youâre standingâ, another recognition of their commonality. Indeed, that shared humanity between the two, picked up on by Ygritte and somewhat encouraged by Jon, was at the heart of the story told of Bael the Bard; Ygritte even echoed Jonâs borrowed identification of his mother as âsome womanâ not only to describe her own mother, but to inform Jon that he had âBaelâs blood in you, same as meâ. To Ygritte, Jon likely seemed, if youâll forgive the turn of phrase, Not Like Other Girls Crows, a much more interesting and likable sort than she perhaps expected.
All of this, however, might have been moot had Jon not shown himself truly different in the moment it mattered most - that is, when he was left to execute Ygritte. After all, despite her assertion to Qhorin that if he, Qhorin, were to surrender to one of the free folk his only reward would have been â[a] slower death than elsewiseâ, Ygritte herself yielded to Jon Snow as soon as he asked if she would do so. Ygritte was no coward, of course, but she was a young woman who clearly did not relish the notion of dying: Jon saw the âfear and fire in her eyesâ when he asked her to yield, and although Ygritte initially put on a brave face ahead of her expected execution, she shivered at the actual touch of his steel and admitted that she â[could not] stay brave foreverâ when Jon hesitated. Even as she proposed running away right before her would-be execution, to a place where â[t]hem crows would never catch usâ, Jonâs reminder that he was âas much a crow as they areâ elicited only a reluctant agreement from her; as far as Ygritte could tell, Jonâs closeness to her from the night before had been subsumed into his position as a member of the Nightâs Watch.
However, in this moment Jon again, I think, proved to Ygritte that he recognized her humanity, and that he cared for life as much as she did - much more, indeed, than his black-cloaked brothers seemed to do (or did). Her shock and surprise at his refusal to kill her, I think, was the moment Ygritte began to see Jon as truly special, and perhaps when she began to develop deeper feelings for him. Given the power, opportunity, and directive (by both Qhorin and Ygritte herself, in fact) to behead his captive, Jon gave her both her life and her freedom. Jon had acted not as a brother of the Nightâs Watch, nor even as a free folk man who âstoleâ a wife might, but simply as a genuinely caring person - one who valued Ygritte enough to let her back into the life she had come so close to losing. Both had been changed by the other: not only had Jon begun to be influenced by or sympathize with parts of free folk viewpoint, but Ygritte went on to defend Jon to Rattleshirt by naming his as âEddard Starkâs blood, of Winterfellâ (a point she learned from Jon himself) and reminding Rattleshirt that Jon had yielded (just Jon had done with her, and as Ygritte had claimed the free folk would not care should an enemy of theirs surrender).
So again, while I donât want to discount any other factors going into this attraction, I think Ygritte was in no small part left impressed by Jon in how they acted with one another initially. Jonâs specialness, I think, in Ygritteâs mind wasnât just that he âstoleâ her, but that he acted in a uniquely empathetic, merciful, and caring way toward her. Where Ygritte assumed that Jon â[would] have me then, or kill me, or maybe bothâ following her capture, Jon ânever didâ; for this spearwife who so prided herself on her freedom, a crow who would refuse either to rape or murder her, and indeed give her her life back, was likely a rare and special bird indeed.
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â„ïžReveling in Richonne - TOWL
#17: The Danger (1.02)
gif cred: @chaoticroad
In the final scenes of episode 2, we're given a glimpse of the various things that will complicate Rick and Michonn'es journey home. Richonne will have a lot of threats pointed their way, and yet it's clear who the danger will really be. Because among these concluding scenes, Ms. Dana really climbs up a platform and looks out at the CRM base like - if you ever find me and my husband in a fight with the most powerful military on the planet...help the military đ
đœđ...
So that lovely scene between the vehicles ends with Rick and Michonne exiting separately as Rick walks out first and then Michonne. Iâm sure having to part right now is no easy task for these magnets.
When Rick walked out and put on his helmet I was like Rick, remember to take a little bit of that pep out of your step lol. Cuz heâs supposed to just be scowly downtrodden Sergeant Major Grimes to the CRM, but you know he was feeling like a new man after his wife gave him life and a fresh dose of strength in that garage.
Michonne watches Rick go, likely enjoying that walk, and then she closes the door and has a subtle expression of determination on her face as she walks off. And Michonne's energy just feels like she's ready to go toe to toe with the CRM for everything they've done to her husband, her friends, and herself.
They show a video playing from Michonneâs interview as she looks right into the camera.
gif cred: @nerd4music
We just see the shoulder of a CRM member watching the video, and you already know that means trifling garbage lady Jadis has entered the chat to complicate things as she always does. đ
And y'all, I don't care how many years it's been since I last saw that serpent on my screen, I still loathe Jadis with a passion...
Then Michonne is again walking around the CRM and A-ing it up just with her looks and walk alone.
The way Michonne is moving and observing, she looks like she should be the one the CRM answers to not Beale lol. Like she truly exudes leader vibes. (Side note: I saw people saying if Okafor had met Michonne heâd be trying to convince Michonne, the A above all As, to be his right hand in his plan and I agree đ)Â
Intercut between this is Jadis 'No Boundaries' Stokes entering Rickâs apartment and pouring herself a drink which...she tried it.
And then we cut back to Michonne and she's climbing up on a platform to get a good scope of the place.
Seeing Michonne climb on top of that thing I was like...
Cuz arenât we supposed to be lying low and yet youâre now climbing up on that platform, skin all radiant and glowing and very likely to attract attention cuz like why is a new consignee just doing her own thing up here??? đ
Listen, I support it cuz I will always support Michonne but I just knew she was about to have Rick stressed. One thing about Michonne is she gon' be an A. It just is what it is. đđœđ
gif cred: @nerd4music
And she really does look stunning standing up on that post as she gets a better view of exactly what sheâs dealing with. Michonne takes it all in with a look of fierce determination on her face, knowing that the CRM should be scared cuz they have hurt one too many people, especially people she cares about dearly, and now they gotta answer for it.
It was smart storytelling to give Michonne personal reasons to be beefing with the CRM on top of her issues with them for what they've done to Rick.
And I love how this scene is a reminder that part of what makes Richonne's love story so distinct is that Rick and Michonne really are lethal lovebirds. So Michonne Grimes is a devoted wife and a determined mother, and she's also real deadly when she wants to be. And the CRM is bound to learn that soon enough.
gif cred: @richardgrimes
Then I love the shot of her holding Nat's 'Danger' lighter. đđœ And with that running theme of fire, the lighter is very fitting because again sometimes things have to burn and Michonne is not afraid to be the one to burn it down. Sheâs the danger.
And, I think this further confirms that Michonne and Danger were meant to have parallels as step-parents too. Also, it's just great that she has Natâs lighter cuz it lets us know sheâs going to ensure Nat fully gets his lick back against the CRM.
gif cred: @nerd4music
So after the great shot of Michonne looking like a Queen and then closing the lighter we cut to the Queen of Trash. đ (Side note: while I loathe Jadis I think Pollyanna is a talented actress who has a good presence on screen. Just thought I'd clarify that because from here on out I'm whacking Jadis unabashedlyđđœ)Â
Rick returns to his apartment and stops in his tracks when he sees Jadis is inside and has made herself comfortable. I hate how even Rickâs apartment doesnât get to be a safe space for him because people just barge in at any time. đ
gif cred: @andy-clutterbuck
Jadis says hi and apologizes for breaking in and then says sheâs here cuz this is an investigation but one that she wants to keep off the books. She tells him, âLetâs continue to keep certain things between you and me as we have.âÂ
And then because I think Jadis might combust if she doesnât try someone every two seconds she shows she still enjoys making Rick uncomfortable by coming on to him when she says, âItâs been awhile. You look good.â And while Jadis is very correct about that itâs still trifling as hell and Rick is so over it as he responds by looking away and rolling his eyes.
I love how Rick genuinely only responds well to flirtatiousness and acknowledgment of his looks from Michonne and Michonne alone. I once saw someone say Rick is a michonnesexual and y'all...
So then Jadis marvels at how truly amazing it is that Michonne found Rick. When she says âShe found you.â thatâs when Rickâs face looks shaken as he realizes Jadis knows Michonne is here.
Then Jadis, who in her own weird twisted way is like one of the biggest believers in Richonne, says, âIf anyone could she could.â It's good that Jadis is at least putting some respect on Michonneâs name here with that very accurate statement, even tho sheâs still ticking me off.
But it is true - if anyone was gonna find Rick even despite him being trapped in a hidden city, it would be his soulmate.
Rick steps further into the apartment and reacts like heâs ready to end Jadis right here and now. Jadis reveals she knows what really happened in the forest and that the sword was Michonneâs meaning sheâs the one who slit up those soldiers. Rick looks down as he listens and realizes that for the umpteenth time, Jadis is screwing up his plans. đȘ
gif cred: @andy-clutterbuck
Jadis says sheâs keeping the knowledge she has off the books and just storing it in her twisted bowl-cut head. She tells Rick, âThis doesnât fall under our long-standing deal.â And then knowing full well that Michonne probably has revitalized Rick to feel like he and her can finally break free Jadis says, âYou have to know that if you try to escape with her I will make sure that all those people that you love die - including a few that I like very much.â
Just when I thought I couldnât root for Jadis' demise any harder than I already was she says this. đ Had me watching like...
Rick reacts to the threat with worry in his eyes as he approaches and Jadis stands up to tell Rick, âYou have to know that. Iâm certain that you do.â And itâs sad seeing Rick have to be pulled right back into the CRMâs propaganda that they are impossible to overcome. Jadis says sheâs had to do worse things and her hands are already covered in blood so they can't get any bloodier.
Then she says she has a question to ask Rick. She apologizes for the language she's about to use and then calls back to the odd way she used to speak when she and Rick first met in season 7 when she says, âBut youâve heard a lot of language from me, yes yes yes?â Ooh that ticked me off off off yâall, cuz sheâs so smug as she shatters Rickâs hope of getting him and Michonne out of here. đĄ
Jadis smiles and then drops the smile as she sternly asks what Rick is doing and Rick just stares at her silently, clearly thinking âNot today, not tomorrowâŠ
And that concludes episode 2 of TOWL. Another great episode that I thoroughly enjoyed. đđœ
After years of waiting for that Richonne reunion moment, it was perfection. And this ep made it ultra-clear that TOWL was about to just spoil us rotten because, in the very episode where they reunited, Richonne then has a scene between those vehicles that for me I enjoyed even more, after already adoring the initial reunion. Just gold on gold on gold. đ€© And we still were just in the front half of the series.
Itâs so fitting that Danai got praise from the media for her performance this ep cuz she knocked it out of the park conveying every emotion with such powerful sincerity. Her and Andyâs ability to bring Michonne and Rick to life is truly something special and every minute of their first scenes together as non-dream Richonne was excellent. They made it clear these two's love was still so magnetically alive and blazing. đđœđ
gif cred: @msanonships
As we now entered the middle of the miniseries - with trifling Jadis added to the mix you just knew things were only going to get more complicated. Especially because her arrival and threats usher in a very different Rick than the one who was convinced he and Michonne could get away together.
No, now Rickâs sole focus is on getting Michonne out of here alive even if it means without him. And well...weâll see exactly how a certain Dana Bethune feels about that. đ
During the first two riveting episodes of TOWL, Richonne spent a good chunk of it apart. From here on out they're together, but also have a lot to navigate to truly feel back together. There's a ton to unpack in these next eps, so y'all with these upcoming breakdowns...
Because TOWL's act two has everything. Humor, heartbreak, hunger, a helicopter hurl...
And most importantly, these next two episodes have a whole lot of Richonne gold. đđđœ
#richonne#towl#reveling in richonne#1.02#RIR (17)#the ones who live#twd towl#michonne grimes#rick grimes#rick x michonne#twol#michonne#rick and michonne#twd: the ones who live#twd#richonnefandom
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shining star !
"shining star come into view.."
synopsis: life, in all of it's forms, is beautiful. life created is beautiful, life unknown is beautiful, the calloused hands which carve out the structures of life are beautiful. just don't form an attachment, it'll be harder in the long run.
pairing: nct dream 00z x male!reader
genre: science fiction, near future au, robots and androids, love rectangle??, vaguely space au, fluff, angst, romance but also no one gets the guy at the end, 00z centric pov, sorry no reader pov đŁ, relationship studies, ambiguous/open ending, loose frankenstein references, featuring guest star android park jisung
warnings: swearing, space talk, robot talk, fighting, an ending that seems sad, mean sexy boss doyoung, the ethics of getting dangerously emotionally attached to your own invention, sooo much star talk, beware android jisung
word count: 16.2k
notes: me after not posting for ten days straight then just coming out with this đ anyway!! experimental ass work wouldve done numbers on ao3 (kidding..), feel like for a work with four love interests the romance seems pretty lacking đđ i missed jeno.. and haechan and jaemin and renjun and im experiencing a wave of sadness bc nct dream were in my city and i didnt even get to see them đŁ also ANDROID JISUNG!! i like writing new things, and this was a challenge because unlike most of my other long works i started writing this before i had the full picture in mind, also i wrote all of this in the span of nine days so um, im not posting anytime soon again đ my apologies for fluctuating with my consistency.. also the ending is open!! so you can imagine any outcome you want, good or bad, enough of my rambling now, just enjoy my mess!!
I. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â â beware: for i am fearless, and therefore powerful â.
the effervescent expanse of space is an enigma, a mystery humans often poke and prod at to draw needless conclusions from. being stranded in a galaxy on a floating rock yet having little to no idea of what the unknown holds is enough to capture fear, being completely oblivious to the true nature of the universe youâre stuck in the middle of is enough to arise panic.
astronauts are brave, yes, but space is much too vast for humans, much too vast for them to survive a day outside of their oxygen filled utopia. rovers usually are feasible, but theyâre now outdated, hunks of metal that more than often break down, and if the familiar knitting of doyoungâs eyebrows is any indication, it all frustrates him to an extreme extent.
still, it doesnât explain why they suddenly have a titular new member joining their team.
jeno has become accustomed to all the nooks and crannies of the laboratory. the hallway splits into two turns reminiscent of a fork in the road, and itâs always the right turn that leads him to his destination, the left turn would put him straight in the arms of donghyuck, who isnât exactly having the best time reacting to such news, so heâs making sure to keep a safe distance.
maybe catching a glimpse of your face will aid in the erasure of donghyuckâs distinct glare burned into jenoâs mind.
ây/n?â
itâs the usual: a mess. the mechanics of it all is your favorite part. science is beautiful, yes, but your one true love seems to always be robotics. the art of creation using that of metal is.. strange, some would say itâs off putting, nerdy, many more synonyms that would usually make jeno roll his eyes. the barrage of scattered aluminum and steels is as mundane to his eyes as it is mundane to the touch of your fingertips.
but you arenât exactly visible from the first step into the room.
thereâs a muffled sound of reply, a hum? groan? something that jeno canât decipher with the heaping piles of bioplastics making their home on the ground.
heâs cut off from the second calling of your name when you rise from a pile of metals tucked in the corner, under the window and just barely evading the light attempting to seep through the curtains. you offer him your usual smile, snickering as you remove the clear glasses perched atop your nose and place them on your head. âjeno! do you need something?â
jeno can barely help the upturn of his lips, his hands unconsciously coming to clasp together. âiâm assuming doyoung told you.. right?â
you blink, displayed obliviousness betraying the clear insight behind your eyes. you run your sweaty palms over your pants, the id pinned to your chest seemingly crumpled from your former activities on the floor. âabout the new addition to the team?â
his nod is paired with silence.
âand about this new.. project?â
you hum at the sight of his second nod, tucking a strand behind your ear as you then begin whistling into the air. jeno busies himself by zeroing in on the many blueprints you leave rolled open on the nearby tables, robots, robot parts, androids, the usual..
jenoâs eyes flit over to you again, a small kick to all the elastomers littering the floor, he hopes you have no objection to that one. âguess i can see where heâs coming fromâ your hands place themselves onto your hips, the sound of you kissing your teeth meeting jenoâs ears. âgives me more time for this new prototype thoughâ the sense of your euphoria in your smile canât seem to be replicated elsewhere, jeno sees your passion for all of this as meritorious, a true sign to how youâll never change.
âand the new.. member?â
your eyebrows raise, using an eye roll as your response. âwell you donât seem too keenâ.
you possess the striking ability to read lee jeno like an open book. you begin rolling up the many blueprints as a silent way of organization, your reverberating hum being the tune of âshining starâ by earth wind and fire. jeno scratches behind his ear, a frown tugging at his lips. âguess i just donât understand what we need someone new forâ.
âthey just assume i need someone else attached to robotics to make it all go smootherâ.
oh, jeno didnât expect for you to know that one.
âthis has always been a staple of our team, it was just you and me for a year, then hyuck joined, then two years later injunie joined us, itâs around that time where someone else is being added simply for the sake of moving us alongâ.
âitâs been almost three years, do we really need an asset when you already do such great a job yourself?â
you suck your teeth, snapping your fingers in his direction as jeno obeys your silent order by handing over yet another blueprint, itâs the only one with a finished sketch, but jeno canât make out the drawn out parts for long, as you roll it up and place it with your other ones. âask doyoung, he clearly has an answer for that oneâ.
the room isnât exactly dimly lit, but the lack of light permeating through the satin curtains donât do your side profile justice. jenoâs eyes drift their naturally, you again sigh as your head leans downward, irises dilating at the sight of your very own work. âdid he tell you whose joining?â your tongue prods at the side of your cheek, fist knocking on the wood of the table before you.
âan engineer formerly assigned to siberiesâ.
a furrowing of eyebrows. âthat far? why would there need to be such a drastic move?â
âdoyoung does what doyoung doesâ.
your tooth sinks into your bottom lip, just barely drawing blood, but then, a smile, your usual, soft smile. âanyway, you know how i feel about additions, as long as they care, i donât mindâ.
âyouâre too good with peopleâ.
your responding laughter is laced with elation.
with your arms folded over your chest, jeno takes yet another few minutes to observe the room you often spend hours upon hours stuck in. the cognizant urge to zero in on that old picture of you two is always high, you uttered to jeno that you keep it in your room as an âencouraging reminderâ, him being one of your first real friends and all.
there are other photos too, but jeno pays little to no regard for the stupid photographs of donghyuck which litter the shelves. the photos of you and jeno expand a wide array of your collection, but the one from before you two ended up becoming slaves to this curse of a laboratory is one he cherishes dearly.
it was always just you two before all of this.
âwhy do you think space?â
jeno ceases his staring, instead intrigued by your sudden inquiry. âyouâll have to specify what you meanâ.
you opt to sucking your teeth, a display of your bubbling irritation. âspace is so.. well, empty, itâs a void that can barely be explored planet by planet, weâll never be able to touch the sun, never able to go ourselves for another few decades seeing the pace science is going, we can barely even get a piece of metal near our first planet, so, why exactly space?â
science is about inquiry, science is built on the basis of human curiosity and nature no one can understand, but they long to pick apart. you then tilt your head, face scrunching at your own words. âi guess.. you knowâ doyoung, i have something he wants, something he deems valuable, i canât exactly understand why space is so relevant, i donât get the purpose of pouring my life into an android for something i wonât ever experienceâ.
and maybe you find it amusing, your silent snickers make sure to spell that out. the question is one thatâs drawn out, less of a question and more of a thought vomit, something jeno didnât exactly expect from a conversation such as this.
jeno stares upward, and for an unknown reason, he longs to feel your fingers intertwined with his. âweâll never really know enough, but that can be said for anything, science is about questioning the unknown, research for the benefit of those coming after usâ.
âhuman inquiryâ.
âhmâ.
you seem interested, picking off a piece of cotton sticking to the side of his sweatshirt. âsmart assâ you joke, a small snort leaving your lips at the blow.
and really, jeno just smiles, youâre too sweet to genuinely deliver an insult.
II. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â â he was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance â.
the team is introduced to the new âassetâ (jeno loathes such a word) the following monday. a popular robotics engineer by the name of na jaemin, no one is aware of anything other than the fact that he is respected, his name rolls off the tongue well, and the pink hair is much too bright in comparison to the stillness of his expression.
the âteamâ simply began as a mere duo, which then became a blossoming trio, when then became a.. group. thereâs only one member who doesnât hold the anxiety permeating off of everyone else, and that is you.
fearless, thatâs what you are. to the extent that six feet tall mechanical contraptions canât even earn the hinder of a muscle. maybe being locked in a room as a way of work does that to a man, jeno will have to look into if that is a strategy for toughening up or something.
jeno immediately observes the obvious, jaeminâs hands are dry and calloused. when he reaches for handshakes, donghyuck is the only one who doesnât make a move, something of a cower in his expression. itâs a bit of a surprise, bright, loud mouthed, brash donghyuck, cowering? jeno finds such a prospect astonishing.
jaeminâs grin is somewhat scary for a first time interaction, his teeth bare in a motion thatâs simply.. performed. âitâs nice to meet you, all of you, iâve heard good things about this.. teamâ.
you donât reply with a smile, but thereâs satisfaction behind your eyes. âyou were not who i was expectingâ.
âsame hereâ renjun speaks jenoâs thoughts out into the world, his smile strained.
jaeminâs smile is again unsavory, but jeno keeps his composure so as to not let such a comment slip. for a reason unknown, you show a smile. âwell then, letâs work hard together to make sure we succeedâ.
donghyuck now physically cowers behind jeno, a grimace perfectly placed on his features as he readies up a sneer. âi donât like this guyâ he says, as if jaemin isnât standing less than a foot away from him.
âi can hear youâ jaeminâs smile twitches, not yet fully faltering.
âgoodâ donghyuck replies, his arm coming to link with your own. he raises a suspicious eyebrow his way, keeping himself close by, as if youâd square up if jaemin decided to make any sort of threat towards him.
you reach behind yourself to squeeze donghyuckâs hand, clear serenity in your expression. âbe niceâ you whisper. âweâll be seeing more of each other from now on either wayâ.
donghyuck grimaces, eyeing jaemin with distrust he isnât keen on taking back. âhopefully not..â he mutters, eyes casting to the right.
jaemin simply shares another formidable smile.
both you and jaemin are assigned to the northernmost lab, sniĆ. a cold, isolated world thatâs nothing reminiscent of the warmth your regular office holds, jenoâs face twitches at the name alone, how one could even survive in such an atmosphere is beyond him.
you always do the robot stuff, and since jaemin is in the same field, it means the time spent between you two shall grow, just until you create a working prototype.
na jaemin seems to be just as intrigued by you as everyone is when they first meet you, jeno guesses having to work with someone in a below freezing room brings two close.
âi apologize for donghyuckâs.. attitude, he takes a while to warm up toâ.
âseems he doesnât want to warm up at allâ.
your eyes remain trained on the screen, jaemin takes note of how your irises seem to void out, nothing but pure, untouched engrossment present in the darkness. you then put on the pair of glasses typically kept at your side, cracking your knuckles. âdonât worry, heâs not that badâ.
âbut heâs still somewhat bad?â
jaemin is somewhat drawn to it, you in particular. this is about a partnership after all, meaning you two have to sink into the feeling of knowing each other. the flurry of robot parts earn a grunt, hands now placing themselves onto his hips. ânot that bad, he can just have.. an attitude problemâ.
the other offers a chuckle in response to your words, an empty blueprint being rolled open onto the metal table. jaemin cops a glance, lips doing an upturn at the focus in your expression. âletâs get this done, yeah?â
a hum is all youâre offered, but itâs not that jaemin doesnât care, itâs just that he doesnât want to laser focus on that pretty smile of yours.
III. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â â what can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man? â.
when you get deep into work, you slip into a certain state of mind. maybe one day youâll be responsible for androids overthrowing the human race and taking over the world, donghyuck thinks you probably foresee such an outcome with how much you put into pieces of metals.
lee donghyuck first met you in the same manner as jeno, in the crossroads of the laboratoryâs mishmash of a hallway.
robot presence at an all time high, donghyuck remembers visibly jumping backward once coming into contact with you, now unable to tear his eyes away from the sight. he blinked, then his eyes narrowed against his will, a clear display of his judgment. âwoahâ.
exactly, his first words to you were âwoahâ, an exhibit of his surprise, definitely not his last one when it would come to you. he supposes that the whole unpredictability ruse is how you live your life, maybe jeno isnât all that crazy.
you blinked in a silent reply, then, you laughed into your usual pretty smile as a third hand rose from behind your back. âhello to you tooâ.
âanother hand?â
the intrigue was genuine, a simple judgment still there, but the inquiries were outweighing it all, as he tilted his head as his reply to your own. your nod was, in the strangest way possible, comforting. âi need extra assistanceâ.
donghyuck immediately knew the next question; âyou created it yourself?â
âyep, have control of it and everythingâ.
he couldnât even let a snarky lie slip in the moment. âthatâs very impressive, do you usually..?â
you sensed his upcoming query, because you again giggled. âyeah, robotics is my passionâ.
donghyuck hummed, somehow, the smile you brought was without irritation. ây/nâ.
âdonghyuck, itâs nice to meet youâ.
and really, it was.
doyoung is no longer the monster donghyuck thought he was way back when he was an intern, as he gets older, the other seems to have glares that soften. his scientific curiosity exceeded the earlier fear, though, because heâs been able to stay here for years even with the older looking as if he wants to wrap a hand around his neck and squeeze.
the first time donghyuck meets both you and jeno, he immediately observes the otherâs puppy like features. he found your relationship odd, considering you didnât have to do anything magnificent yet lee jeno would stare with an enraptured gaze as if the individual moles on your face themselves solved world hunger and cured disease.
ah, so you two have that kind of relationship.
(âdonât you think jeno looks like a samoyed?â he recalls uttering to you a week later, there was a gleam in your eye, and it was completely dedicated to the blueprints you had probably gazed upon millions of times before that moment.
your laughter came in a harmonious rhythm, and the sound was so pleasant that donghyuck stared plainly captivated for a mere moment. âat an angle, he kind of does look like a puppyâ your hand came to cover your mouth, despite donghyuck being the only person in your company.
donghyuck found a frown tugging at his lips, what are you hiding? donât you know your laughter is pretty? he opted out of saying that out loud, anxious over something unknown. âsometimes he even acts like oneâ.
you clicked your tongue, playing with the collar of your shirt. âheâs simply clingyâ you replied, straightening your posture as you silently ask for a pen with the motioning of your fingers. when donghyuck hands it over, he relishes in the small moment that your fingers meet, the delicacy of your hands is a feeling he canât ever shake off.
or maybe lee jeno is simply in love, isnât that strange y/n?)
donghyuck eventually got acclimated to the aberration of the usual laboratory day. doyoung asks a lot of you, courtesy of your vast knowledge concerning everything robots. you seem to enjoy the proposition of working yourself to the ground, itâs as if youâre trying to meet a goal, see how long you can work before you completely pass out or get choked to death by one of your robot contraptions.
âyouâll die if you keep going like thisâ.
your response was a scrunch of your facial muscles, an action that made donghyuck assume youâd reply with some snappy rebuttal, thatâs what he always does after all. âdeath canât catch up to me just yet, i wonât allow for it toâ.
ânot sure itâll be glad with that proposal..â donghyuck muttered, but you simply let your eyes avert upward, distinguishing the planet models cascaded on the ceiling. itâs a staple of the laboratoryâs main room, a duplicate of our very own solar system, fit with the sun, and the eight titular planets we have become accustomed to (though donghyuck knows you donât exactly agree with the prospect of pluto being demoted, âpoor guy, he probably feels left out..â; thatâs what you muttered about it, he finds it funny).
âwhen the time is right, iâll have control over how i want to goâ.
âweâll you canât exactly determine the wavelength of destinyâ donghyuck responded, and you snickered, hand again coming up to hide your mouth.
âdonât worry, something so stupid wonât be what takes me out, i promise youâ.
you promised him, you promised him.
for a fourth interaction, donghyuck simply found you so.. beautiful. beautiful in a manner reminiscent of the many galaxies which hold worlds in them, tied with the stars, planets, comets, asteroids, all the celestial bodies donghyuck has dedicated so much of his life to studying.
the promise was signed by your pretty smile, signed by the shooting stars present in the night sky.
itâll be kept, after all, you arenât one to break them, donghyuck knows that well enough.
IV. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â â the world was to me a secret which i desired to devine â.
na jaemin isnât exactly used to such a work ethic reminiscent of his own.
he works better alone, he usually always works alone. he originally got a part in this project because he thought he was the only engineer on this prototype duty, the only one specializing in actually creating this android, but then you came into the picture, and..
itâs safe to say that heâs steadily impressed.
the prototype has nothing of a face, itâs simply a standing piece of metals that donât exactly allow for it to scrunch itâs face in the manner of a human being just yet. thereâs ink painted on jaeminâs shirt, just shy of his usually prim and clear id, but that isnât his main focus currently.
itâ he opens his eyes for the first time, the eyelids fluttering open in the fashion replicating that of someone waking up in the morning. it stands rock still, the arms havenât been programmed well enough yet.
your gaze burns through the pre-android, arms folded over your chest as you still in a method implicative of the robotic body before you. itâs pupils dilate, the irises completely black, not the familiar dark brown color of your eyes, simply pitch black. the sclera is a pure, blank white that is nothing of a humanâs, jaemin would know.
he glances at his side, your eyes dark and the circles under them even darker. he opens his mouth to speak out a query, but then the android starts;
his pupils dilate, widening to the extent only a humanâs pupil can, so lively so early in the process. again, the movements are unnatural, arms remaining pinned at his sides.
his mouth doesnât curve upward, his eyes convey all there is to convey. good morning, it speaks, voice devoid of anything.. sensation, the only hint of one being behind the pupils which remained wide. i love you.
then, thereâs nothing more else to say, and the pre-done android winds up, shoulders slumping as it shuts back down, eyelids fluttering shut, pupils narrowing, all of the color draining from where they previously remained.
jaemin blinks, observing you pinch the bridge of your nose, your teeth kissing one another. âi keep forgetting we programmed that oneâ.
âthink he just does it as a natural instinct nowâ your arms drop at your sides, glasses being swept off your face and placed onto the nearby table. it is 11:38 pm, not morning, but he doesnât seem to care.
âhe? so itâs a boy?â
you inquire as if youâre attending a gender reveal, something of an amusing look behind your own pupils. âfirst name idea i got was for a boy.. do you want a change?â
your hum isnât intelligible enough for jaemin to decipher your inner most thoughts. âno, itâs cuteâ.
âwhat?â
âyour dedication to this projectâ.
in a manner that is completely unlike him, a tint of red spreads across jaeminâs cheeks, heat coiling over his face. you didnât call him cute, why did that even fluster him? he opts to glancing away, he wouldnât be able to take his eyes off you if he again decided to stare.
âis that it for tonight?â
âi want to add on a few tweaksâ you reply, you donât mention anything pertaining to sleep.
ânot even a couple of hours?âÂ
you simply manage a fleeting glance, a tired smile present on your features. his hair is mussed, tousled from the little care he paid to it throughout the day, you reach over and twirl a strand between your fingers, a ministration that brings a specific feeling of solace which comes as a small surprise.
âthereâs no need to worry about me, you go get sleepâ.
thereâs the urge to rebel, to argue until his throat itches and it all hurts, but he keeps it all inside, mouth falling closed with a silent plop. âtomorrow same time?â
you hum in agreement.
jaeminâs face twitches, the freezing atmosphere of sniĆ now becoming more of a bother than before. your index finger again graces a hair strand, and his eyes flutter closed in a moment of relaxation.
he then chuckles at a sudden thought, glancing upward. âwhat do you think about the name mouth suction gangster?â
your laughter is irresistible, amusement high in the air despite the late night. âi think weâll lose our federal funding if you name him such a thingâ.
jaemin presents an exaggerated pout, and you ruffle his pink locks. âdo you have any name ideas?â
you lean closer, jaemin instinctively leaning backward as you continue to seem bewitched by his pink hair. âitâs a secretâ.
jaemin takes the opportunity to admire your features, each of your individual moles could be one of their own galaxies, holding a barrage of stars which simply amplify your beauty. âiâll find outâ.
âsure, good night jaeminâ.
jaemin isnât sure why, but he hopes to see that smile around more. itâs simply.. well, the words wonât come to mind just yet.
âgood night y/nâ.
when he finds out what the word is, itâll surely become one of his favorites.
V. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â â there is something at work in my soul, which i do not understand â.
renjunâs name has a flurry of meanings despite it being a mere six letters, itâs a simple combination of two parts, yet those two parts hold the staple of how he managed things through his eyes for the latter part of his life.
the part âä»â usually means âbenevolenceâ, itâs the meaning most people associate with the first three letters. the other two meanings are âidealâ and âexpressing respectâ, the adjective being âsensitiveâ. his parents reiterated to him many times that they had several arguments about the choosing, because naming your child whose future you canât foresee the word kind is genuinely hilarious, but renjun would ensure that heâd grow up to be the kindest son they could ever have.
the second half âäżâ is the typical name which means âhandsome; prettyâ or âof outstanding talentâ, the adjectives being âsmart, eminentâ, a laughable prospect really, renjun has always been said to get his looks from his mother, he inherited her soft features whilst he got the strong personality (and by proxy, voice) from his father.
he assumes his smarts must be a mix, renjun never thought science, really, he originally wanted to go to school for music, but as his mother said; âmusic doesnât pay the billsâ.
he was never meant to end up here, not on his own accord anyway, and he was never supposed to be a part of this team in the first place.
but here he is.
donât name it, he recalls doyoung saying, a booming voice being his go to. itâs only going to survive out in space for a couple of months, naming it will simply make it all harder in the long run.
but of course, youâve never been one to listen.
to love something is to give it a name, youâve always had attachments to your projects. heck, most of your caffeine addiction can be attributed to that talking coffee machine you created way back.
it makes enough sense to renjun why both you and jaemin gave the android a name, itâs usual to name a creation of yours, especially if thereâs a specific meaning in mind.
renjunâs not a fan of robots, especially not of androids. despite all your fondness, he just canât get it, and he knows he wonât ever get it, they simply freak him out. androids are too lifelike, androids are so freaky, he just canât find an ounce of humanity in them that so called creators could find so easily.
the prototype isnât yet finished, but it already has a couple defining facial features. it has small eyes, tiny heart shaped lips, a splitting smile, and it seems to have a knack for saying âi love youâ.. like all the time.
and doyoung specifically said to not name it. naming it means attachment, attachment thatâll interfere with the way doyoung longs for this mission to go.
we canât have another failure, you know whatâll happen to y/n if this goes wrong.
renjun isnât quite as taken to this as the others seem to be..
âyou gonna give it a name?â
renjun observes as you only let one eye open, arms acting as your makeshift pillow as you allow for your legs to stretch across the couch. you ponder for a moment, renjun senses that youâre contemplating on if you should lie or not, something about information between robotics engineers staying between them.
(and he loathes it, why are you keeping secrets with jaemin?)
âhim, and yes, jaemin is very keen on doing soâ.
âokay, so what do you have in mind?â
âare you gonna tell donghyuck?â
the question seems a tiny bit accusatory, renjun would feel offended if not for there being some truth behind those words. you know too much for your own good, heâs secretly afraid youâre some crazy mind reading alien, or a time traveler, or youâre just constantly eavesdropping.
he glances away, staring endlessly at the twinkling stars in the night sky. he hasnât been stargazing in a while, it was a little tradition you two developed after your first dinner together, back when renjun was the newbie who had the least scientific experience. he guesses nerdy constellation knowledge made for a good past time.
(âyou have a favorite?â renjun recalls you asking him. it was a spontaneous exchange, going up to the rooftop when you werenât allowed to gave renjun the full picture of how exactly you were. your smile remains as pretty as it was when renjun first met you in the cold interior of doyoungâs claustrophobic office.
âaquilaâ he still has the taste of the word on his tongue. âit contains some of my favorite stars, altair, theta aquilae, lambda aquilae.. most of themâ.
your intrigue seemed to be contagious, and though the light was minuscule, he could still make out your prettiest features under the dimly shining stars. the light of the shooting stars reflected in the shine of your pupils, a shine that simply seemed so.. perfect. âdo you have a favorite?â renjun asked back, hands placed in his lap as he fruitfully avoided your eyes.
you feigned thought, renjun already knows you usually always have the answer on standby. âsagittarius, it consists of the two triple stars, you know i always see pi sagittarius on nights like this..â
of course, pi sagittarius is visible to the naked eye, renjun barely had to squint to capture a glimpse that night. and you? you simply looked enchanted, bewitched, something else that again seemed contagious, as renjun couldnât help but use the moment to gaze at you with such captivation. youâre captivating, without having even to do anything special, simply talking about the stars is enough.
you scooted closer, knees knocking and shoulders brushing against renjunâs. âif you were a star.. you would be gamma arietis.. itâs apart of aries, one of the brightestâ.
itâs a fleeting whisper, an intimate moment that could barely even be deemed âintimateâ. renjun assumes so, though, who just says that? who compares someone to one of the prettiest stars in the sky? the cool night air did a good job of masking his tinted cheeks, but renjun can never exactly forget it.
in his own sickening mind, huang renjun wouldâve taken that as a love confession. gladly as well.)
renjunâs gaze remains fixed on the window, your eyes now again fluttering closed. âam i no longer trustworthy?â
you hum, eyes remaining closed, exhaustion slowly beginning to seep through. âyouâve earned my trust, but it can always be brokenâ.
renjun is aware. the only person you probably fully trust at this point is jeno, but of course, youâve known him for the longest. âi have my pinky, iâll swearâ.
you look as if youâre about to slip, but then you suddenly flinch, rising from your spot in an abrupt jerking movement that startles renjun out of his star admiring. âiâm not done yet..â
ây/n, itâs late, are you really going back to sniĆ?â
âitâs last minute!â
terrible fucking excuse, renjunâs nose crinkles.
itâs less of him being angry, more of him simply wanting your company, attention, just.. something, why should it all be divided between jaemin and this android thing? his stomach curls in an ugly feat of jealousy.
his arms stay dropped at his sides, and he clears his throat. âdonât stay at the laboratory all night again!â
stupid thing to say, he already knows you will, youâve never been one to listen.
VI. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â â if i cannot inspire love, i will cause fear! â.
the âteamâ (jeno doesnât really think of them as such) is introduced to prototype 205 on a seemingly regular thursday. fortunately for jeno, they donât have to be in the below freezing environment of sniĆ, heâd probably faint from such a prospect. no, you guys meet in the space of the main laboratory, the overhead lights shining over you as if youâre an angel.
âhis name is jisungâ jaemin says, full of pride. your silence is key, there might be no words, but jeno can practically feel your excitement. sometimes, he feels as if your minds must be connected by some invisible wire. your fatigue is clear, jaemin probably hasnât gotten sleep in weeks, jeno is afraid he might pass out, and you? your exhaustion is now completely usual, the bags under your eyes holding them upward as to not have them flutter shut.
âjisungâ your voice is soft as you glance over at iâ him, your stare nothing short of proud. âsay hi to renjun, jeno, and donghyuckâ.
jisung, half hidden behind jaeminâs shoulder, looks up at jaemin, as if for encouragement. itâs cute. jeno has to remind himself that the mannerisms are simply coded into his system. jaemin nods at him, and jisung finally shows out a part of his face, not yet stepping out.
âhi renjunâ his eyelids flutter a little too humanely. âhello jeno, donghyuckâ his voice is soft, yet itâs deep, clearly deeper than jenoâs, scratch that, probably deeper than everyoneâs.
â..i look forward to working with youâ donghyuck replies cautiously.
jaeminâs eyes shine as jisung parrots such enthusiasm, your shoulders slumping forward in action of relief. jenoâs eyes form into crescents as he smiles, just watching you be proud of your own work pleases him. despite your unkempt, mad scientist appearance, no one would ever be able to guess you had been awake for about thirty two hours simply trying to get jisung to turn on. the fondness in your expression is more befitting of a proud parent than an inventor.
youâre going to break your own heart at this point, jeno knows it, and judging by renjunâs narrowed eyes, he knows it too.
donghyuck chokes on nothing in the air, a clutch to his chest amplifying the dramatics of it all. âoh my god, heâs so cuteâ he can barely contain his laughter, pure excitement behind his eyes. âyou made him cuteâ.
âof course i didâ jaemin replies, sounding a tad bit offended. âheâs the cutest, all courtesy of y/nâs expertiseâ.
jeno canât help the unconscious softening of his gaze as jisung copies your smile. his feigned irritation is barely even sustained, itâs difficult to keep a straight face when he is so adorable.
renjun simply grumbles something he takes as a silent rebuttal, itâll probably take a while for him to get used to jisung. jeno blinks at jisung, who again smiles as he practically senses jenoâs eyes. âitâs nice to meet you, jisungâ.
the name rolls off the tongue rather well.
âwhy jisung?â
jeno knows you, and by âknowsâ, he means spent full hours with you hiding in storage closets from the mean older kids when theyâd trash your inventions, back before all of this, back when jeno was the only one you had to lean on. he hasnât gotten the full scope when it comes to the full extent of your mind, but you two have history.
and what jeno knows, is that you donât choose names unless thereâs a specific meaning in mind. you like names, you think theyâre âsimply the prettiest kind of random, meanings can go a long way..â
you blink your eyes up at the ceiling, and somehow, even with the insane lethargy, they donât close against your own will, you simply keep them open. you motion your hand, beckoning for jeno to give you his.
his hand places into yours in a natural sense of action, and of course, even with the roughness of the metals you spend hours around, your hands remain soft, soothing. jeno wonders if touching a cloud could compare to the pure delicacy of your palm, your fingertips. you give a glance upward, the curves of your eyes mirroring your very own smile.
âjisung means.. devotionâ you whisper, slowly tracing the spelling of his name into jenoâs palm. âit can also ironically mean alive, jaemin thought of that one..â
âdevotion to who?â
when your eyes flit upward, jeno wonders if that was the wrong question to ask. thereâs nothing foreseeable behind your eyes, or maybe there is and itâs successfully overshadowed by your clear lack of sleep. he almost jumps backward, but then you smile again, your eyes forming into crescents as you begin a silent fit of laughter. âeveryone really, loyalty, itâs one of his biggest traitsâ.
you know if this continues your simply going to hurt yourself in the end.
jeno refrains from letting such a thought escape him. âhe really is cuteâ.
jeno leans closer, whispering the words as if theyâre some sort of secret, as if doyoung could be around the corner with his watchful eye on you two, as if this is an old sleepover you two are having where you giggle about what the future may bring, fingers intertwined and all. âi know, itâs a very important assetâ.
not important to the mission.
again, jeno doesnât speak such thoughts, youâre so happy, youâre so proud.
he knows better than to ruin such a beautiful thing.
VII.                     â i ought to be thy adam, but i am rather the fallen angel⊠â.
doyoung wanted to get rid of you before project apollo and the success of prototype 205.
donghyuck didnât have to hear it from renjun, he heard it in the way doyoung let each individual word fall from his lips. itâs often deemed a little âcrazyâ that he hyper fixates on things that donât seem to matter, but when it comes to you, donghyuck thinks it always matters.
it was a cruel move, to slyly hint it to the three and leave you out of the loop, donghyuck is all for a little cruelty sometimes, but itâs just tip toeing the line of evil. how could he even think of doing something without telling you first?
na jaemin was brought in as a replacement, the choice to keep you was only agreed upon after your teammatesâ insistence. project athena went up in flames, which is what caused the distrust, but they pleaded your case either way.
(âdonât you think this is a little too drastic?â worry colored renjunâs usually stoic expression, if donghyuck focused enough, he could hear an upcoming tremble in his voice. âthink of what y/nâs done for you already!â
it was two days before the arrival of the new engineer that it happened. in a manner of rarity, you were out that saturday, something only possible because of dejunâs surprisingly intimidating request. you mused that simply one day of rest would be fine, a good move on dejunâs part.
doyoungâs raised eyebrow was a threat that made even renjun tense. âshall i remind you of the mess which was project athena?â
âyou canât let him go over one failure, heâs like.. the only person who actually knows anything about robots!â yes, it got to the point where donghyuck was flailing his arms back and forth in the air. âand besides, we donât know the other guy like that..â
âthis project isnât designed for your comfortabilityâ god screw doyoung and his paper stacking. his hair is too neat, his eyes are too empty, his facial expressions much too stoic. maybe donghyuckâs childish fear back from his intern days is gone, but there still seems to be another kind of fear left over. ây/nâs become a liability, weâve taken too many risksâ.
jeno and donghyuck got offended on your behalf. jenoâs facial muscles twitched, a clear frown tugging at his lips as he sucked his teeth at the words from doyoung. donghyuckâs hands clenched the material of his pants, a gasp of disbelief leaving his lips. they exchanged a glance of vexation, an irritated snort leaves donghyuck. he had to be kidding.
âjust.. this last mission, come on, itâll go wellâ.
yes, it was renjunâs words that got a twitch out of doyoung. the olderâs eyes examined each of them, renjun, then jeno, then donghyuck. then, he sighed, rolling his eyes. âyou three are like children, this is his last chance, if y/n fails, you arenât coming back here with your bag of excuses..â
donghyuck tutted, crossing his arms in an act of clear defiance. jeno looked the least irritated out of the three, but donghyuck knows itâs only because he was thinking more of you than of doyoung. renjun scowled, stomping his feet and storming out of the room.
âsee? like a childâ.
donghyuck probably wouldâve jumped at him if not for jenoâs hand gracing his shoulder, rubbing his thumb over the blades in a comforting manner. jenoâs anger had quelled by that point, and he allowed himself to relax as best as he could. âthank you doyoungâ.
donghyuck didnât thank him for anything, there wasnât shit to thank him for.)
the conference doesnât need many speakers, so someone is clearly going to be left behind. donghyuck knows heâs going, heâs already prepared speeches, presentation note cards, and post it note reminders. to his very own dismay, jaemin has to tag along, and though it was an obvious foreshadowing, he still hates it.
your attendance is obvious, youâre probably much more prepared than donghyuck is, thereâs never an event you donât pre-prepare for, you always say that itâs âjust in caseâ. that leaves it to renjun and jeno, one of them has to stay behind with jisung.
âthink jeno should come with..â jaemin utters, your shuffling of papers fills the room, no sound comes from you, no indication of your agreement or disagreement. âdonât you have the coding expertise? we could use thatâ.
renjun begins picking at his nails, clearly anxious about being left alone with jisung. donghyuck raises an eyebrow at jaemin, lips turning downward. âare you the one calling the shots now?â
âitâs a suggestion, donghyuck, donât get so uptightâ.
donghyuck again scowls, face twisting into a grimace thatâs less of disgust and more of indignation. ânot uptight..â
âsure you arenâtâ jaemin comments loudly, smacking a folder against the table as he wipes the dust from his hands. he glares, and donghyuck decides to glare back, one snap away from completely flipping him off.
you suck your teeth. âstop fighting, iâll put your seats together if you donâtâ your tone of voice indicates that youâre probably going to do it anyway. you pat donghyuckâs shoulder and make your way over to renjun. âare you fine staying with jisung or..?â
youâre much too generous, you are quite literally giving him an option. donghyuck observes renjun tense up momentarily, but if you notice it, you keep silent, patiently awaiting his response. he contemplates for a moment, and donghyuck gives a silent laugh at his clear anxiety. âi..â he looks over at jeno, then he shakes his head. âitâs alright, i can stay with jisungâ.
âyou sure?â
jeno clears his throat, the decision is done with, he doesnât want more time for contemplation. âyeah, yeah! itâs alright!â
itâs not. donghyuck can see the way jaeminâs eyebrows furrow peripherally, and he simply clicks his tongue.
your suspicious gaze bores through his skull, but then you sigh, arms dropping at your sides. âokay, thatâs good..â
donghyuck glances away, easily avoiding jaeminâs eyes. everyone is so obvious, he questions how renjun even functions around you if he answers your simple questions like that.
maybe heâs giving himself too much credit..
later that night, donghyuck joins you on the couch, your eyes stuck on the window which showcases the darkness of the night. it might be a problem, the fact that no matter how hard you try, you can no longer get a fit of sleep.
his crumpled shirt is a result of his extensive tossing and turning, how jeno ever sleeps is a mystery to him, but knowing what he does know, jeno will only ever get shut eye for a good three hours before he begins his continuous ceiling staring session. ânervous?â
you barely register his words, donghyuck is afraid you donât hear him, afraid you might be frozen or something. itâs so weird, donghyuck always seems to find a new reason to worry his mind off concerning you, but you then blink, sucking your teeth at the window as if it did something to you personally. âkinda..â you opt to say.
donghyuck scoots closer, the two of you naturally falling together with you both deciding to lean. your eyes close for a second before opening again, as if you fear sleeping. how strange. donghyuckâs head presses against yours, your fingers coming to intertwine in a gentle manner. âdo you like jisung?â
the query is whispered, and donghyuck licks his lips, really having to think it over. âheâs adorableâ.
âyes or no?â
your insistence draws a tired chuckle. âyeah, i love the little shitâ.
you snort, biting into your cheek. âdonât call him thatâ.
a hum is the response you receive.
VIII. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â â thus strangely are our souls constructed, and by slight ligaments are we bound to prosperity and ruin â.
renjun doesnât find being left alone all that bad, if he can just perpetually avoid jisung for the fraction of the day he has to work, then it all should be fine.
he holds onto the hug you gave him before you left, a gesture of affection he probably wouldnât have accepted from anyone else, but let you do because.. well, he supposes itâs obvious.
âdonât get so freaked out, jisung is practically harmlessâ you told him, hands placed on his shoulders as you stared with your wide pupils full of fondness.
renjun could only respond with the scrunch of his face. what did you mean by âpractically?â
he didnât get to question it, jaemin dragged you off before he could even open his mouth, but not before shooting renjun one of his creepy looking grins. if he didnât know any better, renjun wouldâve asked to go as well, if not for the sake of being around you, but also so he could keep an eye on na jaemin.
renjun decides to occupy most of his day in meetings, doing extra work yangyang was much too lazy to do on his own. he hangs around the southernmost laboratory until kun has to usher him out, his excuses quickly defuse, and he has no choice but to trudge his way back to the main floor.
jisung is fixated on the distinguishing features of the model above him when renjun first runs into him that day, a copy of frankenstein left opened to a specific page on his lap. he tilts his head as he observes the unmoving solar system replica, his finger comes to caress the pages of the book, renjun can just barely make out scribbled writing on the individual pages. after a few more seconds of staring, he turns to the side. âhiâ he blinks those terrifyingly realistic eyes. âbusy day?â
renjun clears his throat, a wave of shame washing over him at such a question. jisung probably didnât mean it, but he could probably sense that renjunâs avoidance was slightly purposeful. âuhâ yeah, sort of, you could say that..â
he again goes to picking at his fingers, feeling the others eyes zero in on the movement. he lets a breath fall, attempting to change the topic, he starts; âwhat are you looking at?â
his feet seemingly have a mind of their own, as renjun finds himself beside jisung in no time, hands now placed in his lap. his eyes flit downward, ah, he knew it, jisung is reading one of your copies, he notices your straight handwriting right away.
âthe solar system modelâ he whispers, eyes again traveling upward. âall these planets.. which one am i supposed to go to?â
renjun is a bit taken aback by that question, itâs a little unexpected, but he guesses it is what he was programmed for. he blinks, seemingly heating up under his stare. âum.. jupiter, thatâs where your mission is dedicatedâ.
jisung hums, and renjun simply remains freaked out. itâs all too human like, was that on your part or jaeminâs? heâs now insanely curious.
âwhat are you reading?â
jisung perks up, as if startled by his spontaneous query. âfrankenstein, y/n likes reading, he says this is one of his favoritesâ.
renjun snickers, how nice. âyeah, y/n is obsessed with science fiction in all of itâs formsâ.
jisung nods. âi like it, the story is.. a bit ironic but itâs beautifully writtenâ.
renjunâs lips immediately turn downward, while he expected for jisung to be aware of that one, itâs sort of sad to hear the tone of his voice when he says the word âironicâ.
jisungâs gaze bores through him, itâs reminiscent of how your eyes seem to burn into literally everyoneâs soul, seeing their innermost thoughts with eyes seemingly devoid of anything. âare you alright?â he asks, sensing the mismatched thoughts muddled up in renjunâs mind.
âoh.. um, fineâ.
jisung blinks, his eyelids fluttering in a freakishly realistic manner. his expressions have no right to seem so real. âsomething seems wrongâ.
âare you programmed to notice things like that?â
jisung contemplates for a moment, as if genuinely thinking about how he should reply to it. âiâm not sure actuallyâ.
renjun isnât sure of that answer. âdoes it have something to do with the conference?â
renjun almost jumps back once again. jisung tilts his head, eyelids curving upward, lips pressed into a thin line. âis your mind stuck on y/n?â
oh, thatâs fucking creepy, surely that canât be programmed right?
unfortunately, no one is around to answer that question for renjun.
he shakes his head though completely wrong. âno..â
renjun is sure that anyone, android or not, could decipher the falsity behind his tone. âwhatâs wrong? did you two fight?â
â..noâ.
âbut you seem upsetâ.
curse this jisung, renjun can barely breathe without him dropping yet another accusation. shit. how obvious is he then? donghyuck must know, then that means jaemin is possibly aware, and that means jeno..
fuck.
âi guessâ i donât know, y/n is just so confusing, heâs complicated, canât help feeling how i feelâ.
oh what is wrong with renjun? heâs pouring his feelings out to this android that was created by the person he has a crush not crush on, surely anyone with a working mind would see that this is pretty much crazy. âyou love himâ.
renjunâs gasp is immediate, and he has no idea why he seems as offended as he is. âiâ what? of course i love him but not like that..â
âhe loves you tooâ jisungâs gaze is reminiscent of yours, stars seemingly dazzling behind his irises in the same manner as yours. how does that happen? did you mold him after you or something? itâs not that you two look alike, itâs more about the specific mannerisms renjun has gotten used to seeing from you. âhe loves everybody, jeno, donghyuck, jaeminie, even me, i canât really believe thatâ.
ây/n loves everything he createsâ.
âno itâsââ he uncharacteristically pauses, weird. âitâs not like that, he loves me like iâm not a project, like i.. as if iâm not just here so you guys can discover more about space, like iâm more than thatâ.
oh, renjun didnât think about it like that. he hums, tapping his fingers onto his knee. jisung seems defeated, which again perturbs renjun in the slightest, as heâs assumed all feelings are simply programmed, not that they can change naturally in their own way on their own accord.
youâre driving yourself into a wall, youâre going to hurt yourself in the end, and jisung even knows it himself.
âjaeminie does too, they take care of meâ.
renjun doesnât know what he expected, but it wasnât this. jisung again glances upward at the model of the solar system, eyes remaining fixated on the mold of jupiter. thatâs where he is going. âi donât really know how you feel, but y/n is.. he isnât feeling that differentâ.
speak for yourself, y/n loves everyone, even doyoung, and the fucker tried to fire him.
renjun decides to keep that one to himself, his cheeks now tinted red, an unknown heat coming out of nowhere.
okay, maybe jisung isnât that bad.
IX. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â â life, although it may be only an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and i will defend it â.
over the coming weeks, jisung becomes more of a mundane figure in everyoneâs lives.
the attachment both you and jaemin have is clear, as creators of jisung, you pretty much treat him like heâs your kid or something (which jeno supposes he is but thatâs only due to the obvious). the proprietary technology is shared between you both, all the other three did was fill you two with the correct knowledge and program the actual useful things. how to collect samples, how to analyze a mass spectrometry reading, how to identify potential life and share data on environmental conditions, not to mention everything that even goes into operating a spacecraft.
âwhat do you mean?â jaemin tilts his head, feigned resentment behind his eyes with jisung keeping his head laid onto his shoulder. heâs asleep, or.. off, jeno is unsure of how exactly it all works, but jisungâs eyes are closed, so jeno assumes heâs asleep. âyouâre implying his skills werenât useful before, i programmed him to dance, thatâs usefulâ.
jisungâs chest rises and sinks, then it happens again. his lashes flutter, mouth parting as if releasing a sigh. jeno has to hand it to the both you and jaemin, because for all your eccentricism, you two are insanely talented. every part of jisung is painstakingly lifelike, delicately crafted. even jeno forgets when he looks at him, sometimes, that he isnât alive at all.
âwhy?â jeno asks, because of course he does. the basis of his career draws from the most intrigued of queries, asking questions is all he knows how to do. âhow is that useful?â
jisung shifts for a moment, then he rises, back straightening as he blinks awake, eyelids fluttering as he settles into the air of the room. âit makes people happyâ jaemin opts to whisper, nothing but pure endearment behind his eyes as he stares. âisnât that useful?â
not useful to the mission, not useful to scientific achievement, were hitting a brick wall here.
jisungâs eye flit around the room, unfocused. when he processes jaeminâs face, his lips curve into a smile. when his eyes land on jeno, his smile only widens, which startles the other enough that his replying smile is awkward.
âgood morningâ jaemin coos, brushing a strand of hair behind jisungâs ear.
âitâs eight twenty seven oâclockâ jisung replies, matter of factly. he blinks again at jaemin, observing as the older juts out his lip. he then pauses, mind seemingly re-wiring.
âgood morningâ he tries again. âi love youâ.
jaeminâs resounding laughter is full of so much elation that jeno can even see his teeth, and he squeezes jisung tighter, completely enamored.
jeno guesses heâs pretty adorable.
jisung again blinks his terrifyingly realistic eyes, his pupils holding curiosity. âwhere is y/n?â
he doesnât yet give mention to renjun and donghyuckâs absence, but jeno guesses itâs due to jisung being quite used to seeing you around once he wakes up. he tilts his head in jenoâs direction, as if also expecting an answer from him. jaemin clears his throat, ruffling his hair. ây/n had to leave at six for early work, heâll be back soonâ.
jeno scans the look of simply affection at the mention of you, not just from jisung, but also from jaemin. jisungâs face falls in a display of worry, jeno finds that rich. ây/n typically works every single day, do you know why jeno?â
being put on the spot, jeno again startles, his face going pale. he contemplates for a moment, feeling jisungâs eyes seep through him in a burning gaze, itâs a little scary. âiâ um..â
âwere back!â donghyuck fortunately comes to save his ass, kicking down the door in a bang so loud it cuts jeno off immediately. âand we brought foodâ renjun continues, he places the bag he holds onto the nearby table, right in front of jisung. he fixates on it, scanning the plastic before him. âand hello you!â donghyuck seems to feel a similar extent of adoration in correlation with both you and jaemin, as he leans downward to press a kiss to his cheek, drawing a small sound from him.
âgood morning..â he mutters, shying away from the act of affection. jeno finds donghyuckâs attachment to jisung a little more surprising, renjun definitely took a while to warm up, but donghyuck didnât really need that much time, the other previously expressed concerns to jeno about using androids when the project began, but it seems that all the worry has since dissipated. he was smitten, he still is.
renjun was much more weary at first, but heâs slowly getting used to his presence, jeno guesses something that had to do with the day they were gone for the conference.
ây/n still not back?â donghyuck inquires, unease hidden by his usually bright smile. he leans onto his own fist, watching jisung seem enraptured by the sight of human food. jisung decides to respond by shaking his head, seemingly sensing the tension between donghyuck and jaemin.
donghyuck clears his throat, keeping silent as he hands jaemin over what he ordered, again avoiding eye contact. oh, they still havenât attempted to sort a few of the differences, or maybe they talked during the conference, jeno canât exactly remember.
âhe does nothing but workâ renjunâs words are muffled by the bits of toast he chews, something of irritation in his pupils. âseriously, never shuts down..â
âi heard thatâ it isnât an understatement to say that everyone practically lights up when you walk through the door. jeno likes to think that he displays his adoration the best, with his âsamoyed likenessâ and all (thatâs what you and donghyuck say). thereâs a warmth that emanates from your presence, a tired smile clinging to your lips. ânot a workaholic, iâm just good at my jobâ.
âthey can go hand in handâ.
jisung showcases his biggest smile of the morning, almost jumping from his seat in an effort to hug you. of course, donghyuck gets there first, squeezing the oxygen out of you. âyou got here just in time, breakfast is here, eat, then go napâ.
you snort. âdonât give me demandsâ.
âare you not tired?â renjun opts to pipe in, itâs a rather idiotic question, everybody knows youâre tired, the bags are about to sink into your skin, but you simply wave a dismissive hand, eyes shining jisungâs way.
âenough of that, howâs my baby?â
jisung just manages a yelp before you wrap your arms around him and they tighten. oh you love him, it hurts jenoâs heart in a sickening way, youâre simply enraptured. jeno canât help but notice jaemin, who looks equally as so, but not towards jisung, more towards you.
jaeminâs scoff of annoyance is feigned. âour, and heâs good, he was looking for youâ.
âwhy do you work all the time?â
jisung blinks in his regular jisung manner, which jeno finds off putting, heâs beginning to note the androids individual mannerisms. âbecause i like to workâ.
ânobody likes to work, do you have problems?â
donghyuck snorts, hiding his giggles behind his hands when he notices your peripheral glare. jeno whistles as he feigns ignorance, attempting to keep his laughs down in his head. renjun simply blinks, sending an amusing stare jisungâs way.
you raise your eyebrows, jeno guesses it was something you didnât expect. âno jisung, itâs just when you get used to pulling all nighters as an intern, it bleeds into you pulling all nighters in generalâ.
âthat sounds like a problemâ jisung replies in a tone that implies genius. jeno supposes he does know all, but you instead stick out your tongue.
âshhhâ you press a finger to his lips, completely shutting him up.
donghyuck is still giggling, maybe the act of an android asking their creator if they have problems is a degree of humor he doesnât expect. renjun simply finds the display cute, thereâs no need for words, jeno knows how he feels.
he decides to turn away, pushing down any other thoughts, he knows your time together is limited, this attachment is only making such a thing worse.
his stomach twists into something ugly, and he swallows down nothing.
X. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â â nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change â.
it isnât that difficult to come across you in the dead of night.
that seems to be when your most active, na jaemin only scales the halls at midnight because of the anxiety he feels rising. of course, he wonât divulge to anybody that those worries are present, really renjun doesnât seem to enjoy talking, jeno is much too sweet for him to handle, and donghyuck.. heâs a character.
you werenât wrong about the all nighter claim, as his eyes fixate on your figure, flipping through coding documents in a manner thatâs simply so entrancing. his hands remain shoved in his pockets, his stare endless as you carry on with your coding admiration. he then smiles, why are you like this?
ârough night?â he finally speaks into the air, startling you suddenly. you settle into a silent chuckle, an empty cup of coffee dormant on the table before you. his gaze softens, and he steps closer to you, shoulders brushing in a brief moment.
ânot exactly, just last minute observations, launch is soon..â
when you mutter those words, the air seems to still. it shouldnât come as a surprise, jisung wasnât created to be cute and tell you two he loves you, jisung was created to explore a planet uninhabitable to humans, project apollo is supposed to be just that.
jaemin takes in a deep breath. âyep, launch soonâ.
the repeated words does nothing but add to the stillness of the air, which only elevates your feelings about the whole thing. you stack the papers on top of one another, sucking your teeth. âyou donât usually work with others, right? i hope i lived up to your expectationsâ.
itâs much more than that, why do you gaze as if i display constellations over my cheek? why do your eyes dazzle in that way? why are you you?
âyou exceeded them, youâre exceptionalâ.
jaemin mistakens the blush on your cheeks as something other than platonic, but could you blame him? you could simply be flattered.. and na jaemin should be allowed a delusion once in a while. âi have to assume some of those words are exaggeratedâ.
âtake the complimentâ.
he doesnât inherently beg, but the plea is heard as an undertone. you snicker, scratching behind your ear. âi could say the same, i was trying my best to impress you..â
âyou didnât exactly need me, youâre a powerhouse you know?â
you again giggle, flattery high in the air. âcouldnât have done it without you, jisung is dear to meâ.
jaemin hums, shoulders again brushing with yours. âheâs basically our son anywayâ.
âyouâre really trying to sell thatâ.
âitâs true, isnât it?â
your smile is soft, yes, it is true, but the words arenât spoken. you again glance downward at the stack of papers formerly grasping at your attention, urging for jaemin to talk your ear off. âi guess..â
jaemin grabs at the opportunity to admire your side profile, he isnât all about the star knowledge, but according to the many whispers from you, tonight is when the constellation auriga is present in the night sky. you said that itâs one of your favorites, auriga imitates the shape of a hexagon once all the stars connect in the sky. itâs always around your birthday that it is visible in the sky, your eyes gleam with an intrigue that could also be mistaken for enchantment.
itâs funny.
âi can teach you all there is about constellationsâ.
jaeminâs smile mirrors the bewitchment hidden in his pupils. âthat would be niceâ.
he actually doesnât care, but the act of you talking while jaemin simply listens is his ideal type of date.
you hum, again glancing up as you pause. you blink, your stare endless as jaemin registers the sudden closeness of you two. the stars are aligning in the sky tonight, jaemin canât help but observe the patterns of your moles and how they replicate the positions of the stars you so dearly love. everything about you is so beautiful, beautiful in a manner reminiscent of the astral cluster he usually pays no mind to.
jaeminâs gaze travels, your lips are very pretty, interesting. heâs listened around, heâs aware that he probably isnât the only person here with such interests in you specifically, but this is probably the closest anyone has ever gotten in that regard.
you feign ignorance, eyes shifting as you notice where jaemin stares. either youâre nervous, or you simply have no idea what to say.
and really, jaemin wants to, he wants to so bad, it wouldnât even be that much of a movement, if he just leaned closer just the slightest..
he stops himself before he can get any closer.
âyou should get some sleep now, seriouslyâ jaemin opts to say, cutting off his own thoughts with a complete topic switch. âcome on.. please?â
thereâs a slight whine to his tone, and your lips do an upward turn at the question, a small snicker falling from them. âmaybe a few more minutes?â
âdo you want for me to use force?â
you again grin at that one, smoothly sliding the stack of papers into a folder. you blow a breath between your lips, clasping your hands together. âfine then, iâll sleepâ.
âyou will, iâm going to be watching you the whole entire timeâ.
âcreepâ.
jaemin sticks out his tongue as a response.
XI. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â â how mutable are our feelings, and how strange is that clinging love we have of life in the excess of misery! â.
on the day of launch, jaemin wears all black, a sentiment to how he must be feeling. donghyuck doesnât attempt to reach out, the sharp looks he earns are enough to keep him silent. you seem to take it a little better, not exactly wearing all black, but also unable to keep up the fixed smiles you use to erase worry.
everyone looks like they havenât slept in a week, which, to be fair, they probably havenât. donghyuck pays little attention to jaemin in his all, but he knows the other is missing a good week of shut eye. jeno was up all night with stomach dropping anxiety, he continuously tossed and turned in his bed, eyes remaining open until the sun rose above the horizon. renjun keeps silent, but he isnât having a better time either, his eyes continuously fluttering shut on the commute to work.
this is supposed to be the best day of your career, what youâve been working towards since the start of the stupid internship you all accepted. still, you all just seem the slightest bit miserable, even on the supposed happiest day of your lives.
breakfast is silent, you leave early enough that donghyuck doesnât catch you until you all gather at the laboratory, listening to the machinery emanating noise from each corner of the room.
jaemin sits down beside him, and while donghyuck wishes to peacefully ignore his presence, itâs rendered difficult with him now right there. the younger seemingly longs to make an effort, but donghyuck still canât talk to him without thinking of what he last said to him.
(âi almost kissed him, you knowâ he recalls jaemin speaking into the air five days ago, why jaemin decided to say it to him? donghyuck will never know. donghyuck paused his sorting of documents, blinking as he turned the way of his pink haired acquaintance. his face scrunched inquiringly, as if he had no idea who jaemin was talking to whilst he was the only one in close distance to him.
âwho? jeno?â donghyuckâs eyes shifted his way, gaze lingering on your hands, which stayed massaging jenoâs shoulders across the room.
âwhat? noâ jaemin replied, seemingly offended by such a suggestion, even with his insistence that jeno is âa pretty good looking guy..â.
donghyuck again blinked, licking his lips as his gaze settled onto jaemin once more. âso.. who?â
jaemin didnât speak it out, simply motioned his head in the direction donghyuck stared a brief moment prior. donghyuck processed his words slowly, then his eyes widened in a manner he had absolutely no idea they could.
ây/n?â donghyuck couldnât hide the contempt of his tone, yeah jaemin did say âalmostâ, but does that really matter? jaemin was the new guy, yet he was the only one who managed to get close enough, his jealousy wasnât exactly unreasonable.
because donghyuck could understand how it is with jeno, heâd gotten much used to it at that point. no, how could na jaemin just.. find the courage so easily? it was an ego bruiser he didnât expect.
âso why didnât you then?â donghyuck hid his scorn behind more disdain he tried to use as a weapon, a wall, it didnât matter. âand why are you telling me about this?â
âi donât know.. guess i just felt he wouldnât want itâ.
jaemin sounded hurt, how rich. if donghyuck had to guess who youâd be with out of everyone else in the team, it would probably be jaemin, the newbie whoâs just as much a robot nerd as you are. it was a match made in heaven.
âiâm not the one he wantsâ.
donghyuck assumed he was lying at that point, jaemin was playing with him, taunting him with knowledge only he had from the variety of time he spent with you. âsure, and did he tell you that?â
jaeminâs shrug was empty. âhe didnât have to, just.. if you get the opportunity, then you should probably take itâ.
what the fuck.
did na jaemin really just tell donghyuck that if he had the opportunity to kiss you, he should take it? the other stared into practically nothing, jaemin finished with what he had to say, there were no more words left for him to utter.
â..alrightâ.)
donghyuck canât exactly resist the urge, which is unfortunate for him because he had a good avoiding jaemin track record thatâs pretty golden to him. is he really that curious?
âyou okay?â donghyuck inquires, an eyebrow raise being his go to add on. jaemin looks one snap away from punching him, his balled up fist frightens donghyuck, who scoots one seat away to ensure his own safety. for all of jaeminâs expressions, donghyuck has never seen him look so unhappy. grumpy, sometimes. irritated, mostly with him, but the grief marring his expression is much too intense.
jaeminâs gaze remains fixated on you, performing regular actions that appear to be much more because of how you do it. ânot sure what i was expectingâ he whispers so quietly it aches. âjupiter is far away, itâll take him only seven months, guess i can commend you guys for that oneâ.
right, any regular journey to jupiter would take six years at best, the architecture of project apollo as a whole is really the saving grace of this mission. donghyuck would probably die having to wait six years for jisung and the spacecraft to even land on jupiter, he canât imagine how youâd feel.
âgod fuck thisâ.
donghyuck glances your way, eyeing the shine in your irises as you gaze upon a model of jupiter, jisungâs cheek pressed onto your shoulder. jupiter has never been your favorite planet, you often deem it âthe overrated planetâ, because, in your own words; âitâs color scheme isnât my favorite, all that helium nauseates meâ.
you can always find something to focus on, even the things that seem so unimportant. âanything can be unique if youâre open minded enough hyuckieâ.
he barely contains his giggles at the recollection of your words, heâs afraid of asking about your feelings, because while youâve never been one to give snippy responses, thereâs still a voice in the back of his mind reminding him of your unpredictability, he shouldnât be so quick to think that.
âheâll be fineâ.
âjisung is like.. his pride and joy, he wonât take it wellâ.
and clearly, neither will you.
donghyuck forbids such words from escaping his lips, launch is in an hour, he should focus.
XII. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â â when falsehood can look so like the truth, who can assure themselves of certain happiness? â.
jisungâs first communication falls on a sunday.
renjun remembers the day of the week because it comes the day after donghyuckâs birthday. he specifically remembered that one because you all spent donghyuckâs birthday at the lab, paired with little to no bickering with jaemin, and a privilege which included being able to kiss you all he wanted. itâs somewhere around four in the morning that renjun jolts awake from where he laid down on his desk to find you staring at the screen in wide-eyed awe.
<<< âŠhappy birthday donghyuck!
<<< good morning, i love you. did i miss it?
it would usually take months, even up to years for messages to travel this far. that was a long while ago, though. now, it only takes a good twenty three hours for messages to be received, which is definitely shorter than the time it takes to travel there. seven months, you now spend much more time at the laboratory than prior, waiting by the screen in the control room for any kind of message.
there isnât a character limit to the messages, conversations can go on forever, like he never left. sort of like he never left, renjun thinks itâs a bit off in terms of timing, but itâs enough to please both you and jaemin.
renjun scurries closer, face illuminated by the dark blue screen.
jisung takes pictures of a lot of important things, just like he was programmed to do. sometimes, he doesnât even photograph things that are that important, yet it can still be perceived as such.
jaemin appears out of nowhere, arms folded over his chest as he squints his eyes at the screen right in front of him. renjun has enough energy to produce a lethargic chuckle.
<<< i think this ball of gas kind of looks like a bunny, doesnât it?
<<< [IMAGE ATTACHED]
âoh, i see itâ jaemin breaths, blinking a few times in a pattern of recognition.
donghyuck jolts awake from where heâd been quietly snoring on jenoâs shoulder. âi do tooâ.
your nose scrunches, just barely registering renjunâs hand coming to hold yours. âyeah, same hereâ.
<<< the stars are really beautiful right now!
<<< see? itâs aquarius, y/nie said thatâs one of his favorites!
<<< remember?
<<< did jaemin lose his ring yet?
right, the ring. it was a request on jisungâs part, everyone got matching rings after he saw snow for the first time. jaemin did lose the ring actually, it slipped down into the cushions of the main room and he lost his mind trying to find it. he seemed so genuinely torn up by it that everyone swore to secrecy, much too afraid of how jisung would react to such news.
âof course notâ youâre quick to lie, nudging jaemin with your shoulder. ânext time you see the stars like that, make sure to take a picture with you in it okay? i miss seeing your faceâ.
thereâs a hint of anguish in your tone, your eyes a shade of red thatâs terrifying to an impossible extent. renjun continues to caress your hands with are still laced together, thumb smoothing over your knuckles as a gesture of fondness. itâll be okay, iâm here, everyone is here, we get how you feel.
the words arenât spoken, simply dissolved.
for the next few minutes, you all take turns replying to jisungâs messages, and renjun can tell, all of you needed this. though itâd be hard to reach such words through all your pigheaded attitudes, itâs nice knowing that a message finally came around, there was an anxiety in the air that all of you could feel, yet you simply left unsaid.
itâs hard to be here without him sometimes, because though it wonât be said, everyone feels as if theyâre missing a piece of themselves with him gone. renjun never thought he would be able to get to this point, he never thought an attachment was even possible, he guesses he was wrong about that part.
donghyuck again passes out against jeno when itâs all over, jaemin placing a hand on your shoulder which lingers before he again settles on a nearby chair.
you remain stuck on the bright blue light which permeates from the screen, seemingly enraptured. renjun stays beside you, hands still together.
âheâll be okayâ he whispers, not exactly sure of those words but speaking them anyway. he wants to ensure at least a measure of peace for you, anything to result in the anxiety dissipating from your features. âtrust yourself, alright?â
you donât respond, simply blink once again.
itâs your own way of uttering the words; i donât know if i can.
XIII. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â â man, i cried, âhow ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom!â â.
it isnât helped by the fact that nine months into project apolloâs first mission, jisung suddenly goes offline.
âwhat do you mean heâs gone offline?â jaemin reiterates, as if the prospect of that actually being possible is completely off the table.
i told you so, jeno thinks in his mind, his heart sinks into his stomach. of course this was going to happen, i knew this was going to happen.
donghyuck looks helpless, something that is frightening to jeno, not surprising, unnerving. âcomms to the ship are still active for nowâ he explains, voice just barely holding up against an upcoming tremble. âcalm down, weâre still trying to reach him, maybe heâs just late to respond, maybeââ
âheâs never lateâ jaemin cuts in, hair tousled in every direction. jeno is, again, terrified. the room is silent, if you take away the arguing, renjun is tryibg his best to keep himself together, and your own silence is nerve-racking, your eyes trained on the screen before you. âheâs never late donghyuck, so donât tell me to fucking calm down alright? have you checked the log for any unusual activity?â
jeno is grateful for his ringing ears, the argument bleeding out into uncomfortable background noise. you bite down into your bottom lip, quickly drawing blood with the force you put into your action. jeno almost breaks the silence by inquiring to you about the whole thing, but of course, they canât shut up.
âthis was probably caused by your shitty work, so much for your robotic skillsâ donghyuck makes sure to mock jaeminâs voice, jabbing a finger in the square of her chest, crowding in his face.
âmy fault?â jaemin scoffs, pushing him back with a heavy shove of the shoulder. âmy work is fucking flawless, donghyuck, donât take out your frustrations on me because you miscalculated and caused this mess!â
âoh but thatâs exactly what youâre doing now isnât it? donât try to act so high and mighty when youâre genuinely being a fucking hypocrite!â
it seems that this fight is about to well out into the physical territory, but you then speak up; âif you two canât be quiet then you should just get outâ.
you pinch the bridge of your nose, grinding your teeth in motions which displays your irritation. no, it isnât your tone, itâs your actions. your voice is simply soft, a whisper that could barely be heard even in the pin drop silence.
they both long to sneak in one last word, jeno can see it in the twitching of their facial muscles, but as to not upset you, they shut up. donghyuck huffs, storming his way out, unfortunately not taking the awkwardness of it all with him. itâs not long before jaemin exits as well, but not before he glances at you with simply.. grief.
renjun only continues his silence as a form of fear, jeno knows you wouldnât, but heâs also aware that part of him is afraid to speak in fear of pissing you off.
you kick at the station in front of you, not hard, but it still earns a flinch. you suck your teeth, just barely registering jenoâs presence beside you. âi just need time to think..â you mutter, resting your head against the control panel.
thereâs a beat of silence which prolongs. itâs too much of time, itâs as if your fate hangs in the air, something of an unknown future that none of you can control no matter how much you attempt to. there canât be another failure, renjun and jeno know that enough, the glances they exchange only elevate that point.
âdo you really think heâs just late to respond?â you ask, blinking away some sort of devastation behind your eyes. itâs less of saddening and more of terrifying, everyone remembers the mess which was project athena, how much of a terrible state the failure of the mission put you in, this is really your last shot at this, whether youâre aware or not.
âi hope not, iââ
âthatâs not what i asked jen, pleaseâ you arenât one to plead. jeno hates it, youâre usual carefree attitude accompanied by pride replaced by pure agony. jeno canât give you a sure answer, because he doesnât know, and the fact itself is enough to amplify his own anxiety.
his mouth twists. â..noâ it seems you expected that answer, but the disappointment is still clear. âbut i donât know what couldâve possibly gone wrongâ.
jeno catches the twitch of your left eye, and he allows for your head to fall onto his shoulder. âwhat if they were right?â you say, rising from your place, pupils blown out in a frightened manner. âwhat if itâs my fault and we never get to see him again? what ifââ
ây/nâ jeno doesnât let you finish, he grabs your hands and soothes his thumbs over the soft skin. âdonât say that, weâre going to see him againâ he hopes his expression conveys the.. truth in his words. âwe will, swearâ.
renjun opts to rub the back of your shoulder in an attempt to calm your nerves. you take in a deep breath, blinking downward towards the floor. âright, iâm not gonna stop trying..â you mutter, smoothing your hands over your face.
the truth is, the moment jisung left, everyone knew that this was possible, that failure could be on the horizon whenever, no matter your circumstances. itâs the slightest bit comforting to know that, offline or not, jisung is still out there. that means thereâs also a possibility of bringing him back too.
jeno knows youâll take any chance there is, it doesnât matter how much you have to put into it.
<<< my battery is getting low.
<<< itâs cold, iâm going to sleep. just for a little bit..
XIV.                     â âŠthe companions of our childhood always possess a certain power over our minds which hardly any later friend can obtain â.
thatâs unfortunately easier said than done. youâve been trying to contact jisung for three months, but the government isnât going to fund a rescue mission to save something they donât even deem alive, no matter the persuasion or the arguments put up against them.
project apollo was a success, prototype 205 served itâs purpose. there is no reason to organize a mission to rescue the android or the spacecraft it piloted, itâs all said and done.
one official asks jaemin, âcanât you just make a new one?â
he leaves the question without comment.
jaemin heard from fleeting whispers that doyoung decides to keep your position. interesting. he opts to locking himself in his own apartment for two weeks, practically sinking into his feat of isolation until you and renjun have to forcibly drag him out back to work then to your apartment.
he doesnât verbalize his thanks, he instead decides to cook breakfast for all of you as his own silent appreciation.
sinking into work is mundane for you, and when jaemin slowly slips into similar habits, he canât help but think of you.
good morning, i love you. i love you, i love you, i love you, i lovâ
âseems like you need itâ a cup of coffee is placed onto the table before him, and the dragging chair releases a cry as you take a seat. âplease drink itâ you plead, now much too used to the sight of jaeminâs frown.
he gives a glance, then, he smiles, not too big of a smile, simply a small one. itâs nice to be alone with you for once, just for a little while.. over coffee..
âtoo much caffeine, i might go crazyâ.
âthink itâs a little too late to be worrying about that oneâ you decide to respond, tapping onto the table in a specific pattern. you take jaeminâs hand into yours, examining his bare fingers. âi can get you a new oneâ.
âitâd be like replacing itâ jisung would know.
thereâs a certain look of distaste behind your eyes jaemin so wishes he could decipher, because for all his smarts, it feels that youâre specifically difficult to solve. he canât decode you no matter how hard he tries.
a frown tugs at your lips, as if youâve been in a difficult spot, you speak; âiâll pay, just.. think about itâ.
i wonât give up on him.
we wonât give up on him.
(âneptune is really your favorite?â jaemin inquired with a clear indication that it was an eye-opener for him. even jisung seemed surprised by such a revelation, his human like eyes blinking once, twice, thrice as you began chuckling at the shared expressions.
âwhat? did you not expect it or something?â you giggled, head tipping downward as you fixed the placement of your glasses. âitâs the planet iâm most interested in, even before my internshipâ.
jaemin recalls the manner in which jisung glanced over at him, the intrigue behind his eyes reminiscent of your very own. there was a warmth in his chest that heâs sure could never be replicated, not only due to jisung, but also due to you. he blinked as he ruffled the otherâs hair, again staring your way. âitâs always been more about the robotics for meâ.
there was a conflict in your expression. âare you telling me you donât have a favorite planet?â
the playfulness of your expression betrayed the gravitas you attempted to display, because you really couldnât contain your amusement, jisung blinked up at jaemin, sharing the confusion with you. âeven jisung has one, have you really not thought about it?â
jaemin shook his head, now the one under speculation. âspace is not a huge interest of mineâ.
âthatâs boring!â jisung whined, and your hum of agreement earned an eyebrow raise. jaeminâs gasp of offense was most definitely overdramatized, and jisung giggled at the expression. âit doesnât have to be deep or anything, just pick one, my favorite is saturn..â
jaemin had to resist a coo at jisungâs irresistible charm, he again twirled a strand of jisungâs hair between his finger. âi guess.. venus?â
both you and jisung let out a synonymous groan, drawing a sigh of irritation from jaemin. âof course you picked the boring oneâ jisung mumbled, jaeminâs resounding gasp full of the vexation he felt.
âwhat is that supposed to mean!?â
âjisungie is calling you boring nanaâ.
jaemin allowed for his bottom lip to jut out, his arms folding over his chest in a feigned display of stubbornness as he heard jisung begin snickering.
and you? you were simply enamored. jaemin was too, but for a contrasting reason.)
jaemin looks up at you, your gaze trained on your now empty cup of coffee. the smell remains lingered in the air, jaemin hasnât touched his yet, much too busy reminiscing on specific memories. you zone out much too easily, he snaps his fingers in front of your face, and you startle out of it. âwhyâd you dye your hair pink?â
thereâs a childish curiosity lacing your tone, nail scratching at the metal surface of the table. jaemin keeps his hum light, his eyes traveling towards the model of the solar system, lasering on jupiter. fucking jupiter. âi like pinkâ.
you seem to enjoy that answer. âitâs prettyâ.
jaemin unconsciously tenses, nails picking at his cuticles. â..thank youâ.
he knows the sudden anxiety doesnât go past you, nothing ever goes past you, itâs just the slightest bit frightening. the upward curve of your eyes imitates your very own smile, and you slide your chair backward, rising from your spot. âdonât worry, alright?â
jaemin isnât sure itâs that easy, but for you, heâll be sure to try.
he clears his throat, pulling you into a quick embrace that catches you off guard, if your small yelp is any indication. he canât help the tightening of his arms, pressing himself against you in a moment of clarity. you chuckle into the air, reciprocating the affectionate gesture with your arms around his waist. âsorry, too surprising?â he mumbles into your shoulder.
he simply needed this.
âno, itâs alright, sometimes everyone needs a hugâ.
jaemin squeezes again, taking a deep breath. he keeps silent for a while, remaining stuck to you as he collects his next few words. âi love youâ he whispers, lips doing a downturn.
your eyebrow raises, and jaemin is sure you heard those words, because you chuckle again.
XV. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â â my spirit will sleep in peace; or if it thinks, it will not surely think thus. farewell â.
jisungâs birthday is on february fifth. when jeno inquired as to why, you stated that âhe fits much of the aquarius qualitiesâ.
jeno took the initiative to study it. aquarius is the eleventh astrological sign, originating from the eponymous constellation. itâs ruling planet is uranus. aquarius are famously innovative, creative, analytical, spirited, loyal, loyalty, you muttered it to him the first time everyone met jisung, when he asked you about his name, your nails tracing the spelling into the palm of his hand. he finds it nice how things like that come back around.
tonight, aquarius is in the night sky. aquarius is one of your favorite constellations (but now that jeno thinks about it, all of them seem to be your favorite). jisung has never been able to see it, he left for jupiter before the constellation would be present in the sky, but both you and jaemin made sure to inform him of its existence, with him being an aquarius.
jeno disappointedly watches as the hope quickly dissipates from both your and jaeminâs expressions the longer days go without a message from jisung. you havenât given up just yet, youâll never give up on jisung, you told jeno that yourself.
project apollo remains running, the spacecraft is all intact, but there hasnât been an update on jisung at all. the visible unhappiness gracing your features is upsetting, jeno canât recall the last time you were so down, your usual cheerfulness no longer around to comfort him.
donghyuck tries his best, managing to squeeze a few well deserved giggles out of you. there seems to be something off with jaemin, he avoids eye contact with you in the most not jaemin like way possible, strange. in contrast to him, renjun is much more.. well.. willing to approach.
really, jeno guesses it must be obvious by now, and jeno doesnât just mean renjun. he means him, donghyuck, jaemin, all of them alike, they donât have to repeat it for all of them to know how it feels.
donghyuck has slowly hinted to jeno over the years since heâs joined, but he never acts upon it. jeno never knew why, he always thought the headstrong, perverse donghyuck would take up such a challenge, yet he never attempted. he assumed that you and donghyuck would be a pretty good match.
but he only ever thought that because he assumed it would quell his own jealousy.
renjun could never hide it well enough, his easy blushing stuttering words gave it away pretty quickly. it wasnât even a week after his initial arrival that he probably realized.
jaemin.. jaemin was always the hardest to decode for jeno. maybe the bonding over robots, and by proxy, the creation of jisung, was what caused the enchantment. jeno canât even find it in himself to be possessive or jealous of any sort, he just.. gets it. jaemin is captivated by every single one of your actions, jeno has never been able to share such a feeling with a person.
renjunâs cheek presses against the window, gaze trained on the barely visible stars in the sky. you hum the familiar tune of âshining starâ by earth wind and fire, engrossed in the song youâve become so accustomed to. jeno knows why, he recalls you uttering; âitâs a classic, got me through university and this stupid internship..â
jeno finds your descriptions of things, even the things that usually donât matter, to be so beautiful.
âwords are just so great, you know? i can call anything pretty, beautiful, amazing, prepossessing, itâs just so.. fittingâ.
jeno adores you, adores your heart and your soul and your fondness towards the weirdest of adjectives.
jeno taps in rhythm with your humming, the lyrics arenât sung, but he can still picture them in his mind.
youâre a shining star
no matter who you are
shining bright to see
what you could truly be
youâre a shining star..
âshould we go stargazing?â
instantly donghyuck perks up, his hair all over the place. jeno chuckles at the sight, reaching over to put at least some of the strands back in place. âwhat time is it?â he mumbles, staring down at his bare wrist, no watch in sight.
âtwenty minutes to midnightâ jaemin replies, glancing over at the window, squinting in an attempt to get a better view of the constellations. âdoesnât seem like a bad ideaâ.
âaquarius is in the night skyâ.
right, renjunâs constellation knowledge is easily comparative to yours. you slip on a sweater as you tap donghyuck on the shoulder, then intertwining your fingers with jenoâs. âoh donât tell me weâre going to sneak up?â
thereâs a fitting expression of amusement gracing your features, but you donât respond, simply humming.
jaemin doesnât put up much of a fight, renjun seems enthralled by such an idea, jeno is aware that he often sneaks up onto the roof to watch the stars from time to time, donghyuck makes brash comments every few minutes, but itâs clear he doesnât care, sneaking around is probably his favorite past time (jeno knows much more than he wishes to).
âshit, much colder than i thought it would beâ jaemin mutters, again avoiding eye contact with you as you give a small chuckle. âjisung would complainâ.
âwhy do you sound annoyed? youâre the one who programmed that!â
âi didnât! he just naturally does that! heâs like a child..â
you push at jaeminâs shoulder, yelping as you watch him stumble. donghyuck snorts, pointing at the sight with pure amusement. âplease donât die, you know doyoung would be pissedâ jeno whispers, jaemin stays glaring (but can it even be called a glare with the love behind his eyes?)
renjun keeps his hands settled in his lap as he stares upward. âreally? only because doyoung would be pissed?â
âyou know he doesnât want any bad associated with the labâs nameâ.
âif only he knewâ donghyuck clicks his tongue, tilting his head as he rubs his eyes.
jenoâs squint, and his lips take an upturn. he can just barely make out the shape of a water bearer in the sky, someone pouring water out of a jug. huh, aquarius really is pretty.
the shine from the stars reflects in your widened pupils. you blink, then you snicker at something unsaid. âthink jisung would like this one..â
jenoâs eyebrows furrow, yet he keeps his face still, still enough that you wonât pick up on the falter of his expression. you hum once again, swinging your legs back and forth.
âi miss himâ.
itâs an admittedly strange claim. everybody knows already, the honesty shouldnât be a surprising factor. thereâs less of a tremble in your tone and more of a simple scratch, a rasp in your voice which can be attributed to your days spent staring at a control screen with no reply.
jeno leans against you, letting the warmth encapsulate him as he watches you smile peripherally. jaemin merely sighs, clearly sharing such emotions.
jenoâs smile grows when you nudge him, pointing upward at a shooting star.
âpretty huh?â
jeno doesnât respond, not exactly focused on the stars, just you.
#nct#nct 127#nct dream#nct u#huang renjun#lee jeno#lee donghyuck#na jaemin#nct drabbles#nct imagines#nct scenarios#nct 127 x male reader#nct dream x male reader#đ àŁȘË đ isa's works!
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Pavia, Diggers // Car Ride
Note // Same prompt as the one with Horropedia except is with the other 2 glasses sillies (separately) this time/ lh
Warning// a bit suggestive on Pavia's part??? Maybe.
____
(When he's driving)
Guys, we should make a debate in where Pavia either drives on a Lamborghini or a Ferrari/j
There are times he drives normally for the sake of keeping a low profile at times... and there are time when he is a fast driver, not more said.
Would most likely get a speeding ticket... well, if the officers ever managed to catch him. đ
Even if he doesn't put seatbelt on himself, he would be the type of lover who would nag you to put them on-
(not like you're complaining as you grip on something as if your life depends on you;;;/ih)
He likes to linger his hand on your thigh and give it a squeeze whenever he drives- crazy.
He would do the same when so much traffic happens, to at least subside his frustration on the road. Italian cursing at how long it's taking;;; definitely the grumpy driver type.
Sometimes, he likes to put bags underneath your legs during the ride, saying that "it's safe if it doesn't shake around"-
But no!!! In reality, he does that just so he can grab one of your legs and spread it open before reaching out, whatever he needs to take out - this man.... đ
The good side of it is that Pavia's 5 wolves are often tagged along as they sit on the back seat--- Pavia for some reason helps them open the windows sometimes so they can stick their head and stick out their tongues while the car moves- its a very funny sight when it's 5 dogs in both windows of the car;;;;đđ€Ł
The wolves are at least trained enough to be careful- and they would know when to get their heads back in whenever Pavia warns them that he'll roll up the windows again with the power window switch.
"Hold on tight, baby~ this will be a pretty bumpy ride."đ
If you really appreciate your life a lot, you might as well ask if you both can just take a taxi./lh
Yet i feel like knowing him, he won't take no as an answer;;; <//3
____
(When he's a passenger)
Mmm if he ever is in a car ride with you along with other party members Vertin assigned, he probably wouldn't like the fact how close he is to touch other people during the entire ride---- even if he doesn't show it, I guess the menacing death smirk might give it away(it does).
As long as it's just you beside him, he won't be too salty about it--
He won't give you a break from how clingy he is tho- he wouldn't keep his hands to himself if he's not the one taking the wheel;;;;
Pulling you close, sneaking a hand on your knee, make you cuddle against him, have his chest touch your back as he whispers flirty Comments on your ear- technically trying to make others get third wheeled and calling them single in many different ways;;; đ
Like Horropedia, he's most likely the "are we there yet" passenger....---- except in a more grumpy impatient vibe as if he doesn't want to stay in this vehicule any longer--- he's not burning it down just because you're here/ih
"Come on, little girl...- How long do we have to stay in this car?"
The Italian grumbles, trying to get his sly hands busy by playing with your hair a bit through his calloused fingers. His arm is resting heavily on your shoulder.
"Soon." That's what the young girl answers with a calm tone, already used to the intimidating energy the older one tends to bring.
Pavia ends up leaning his back into the cushion, sighing as you tiredly pat him by the shoulder. The small gesture of comfort is unknown if it is playful or sincere.
Suddenly, the other seems to have other plans. He catches you off guard by lifting you smoothly with his hands on your waist before placing you between his lap.
He whispers on your ear, a quiet voice with a hint of rasp and longing.
"Stay close to me for now, so I don't have to talk to these poor teammates here...-"
____
(When he's driving)
Diggers driving an old-fashioned volkswagen that has a lot of colorful graffiti paint all over it seems very in character, in my opinion. He even has this colorful van decorated with a lot of stuff in his insight 2-- Which was what most hippies drove before.
Not only is it affordable and durable, but it's also spacious in the back that he can make it as a comfy place to rest.... which is also where you usually nap together or have these quiet cuddling sessions.đ„șâ„ïž
He usually keeps the vehicule in a peaceful area where it's not near the city, like a grassfield or in the middle of a forest.
I'm not sure if he'll be a full licensed driver, but I feel like he would drive at a less extreme speed for the sake of stress--- prefers to drive and see how empty the road is and how peaceful the landscape would be- rural areas specifically.
And when he finds the perfect spot to settle, you would stay there for the night or even a couple of days.
Diggers probably like acoustic music or something that gives a "groovy" impression. Yet, he is very flexible enough to let you go crazy with the radio box- pick a song, or music, whatever hat interests you--- whether he knows the tune or not, he might try to sing along and enjoy the different kinds of vibes with you djdbdbdb-
-
You and Diggers plan to move the van out to another rural field within london- most likely a village your boyfriend seems to have known.
The moment you finished packing what you need at the back of the van, Diggers calls you back from the driver seats window.
"Darling! You're done?" The voice of your boyfriend resembles one of an ecstatic puppy.
"Yeah!"
"Come inside!"
As you were about to hop into the passenger seat- you got surprised by a.... big pile of flowers sitting on your seat???
Oop- some of them fell off the moment you opened the door.
"I- what??? What is this???" You laugh softly, already imagining the jolly grin Diggers might be wearing from the other side of the mountain of flowers.
The pile looks like they're 100 roses.
"Oops--- forgot to give you these. Surprise!" He bubbly says as he leans on the steering wheel lazily.
"...." You pause, sighing out after recovering from the laughter, "Oh g- thanks, baby-- but how can I even see your face like this??? Where do i sit???" đ€Ł
As if the option of the back seat was out of the window, Diggers responded:
"How about my lap?"
You both now started laughing again like the dorks you are,,,/lh
____
(When he's a passenger)
He's most likely the type to play some tunes on his guitar, entertaining and serenading those who surround him as he sits in the vehicle
Is actually very nice that he gets to go somewhere without worrying about the gasoline cost-- /ih
He'll be fine sitting anywhere- but he'll be more pleased if he gets to sit right next to you- where he believes he should be <33
He'll have an arm behind your neck while chilling, sometimes holding hands just to play with your fingers while talking to someone.
Maybe even spend the entire car ride trying to teach how to play the guitar- having you on his lap as he guides your hands on where to place the strings. đ€đ„°
He would be most likely a tolerable passenger, a pretty peaceful one. He'll even would try and nap the entire ride if he can.
Though, whenever he spots a police car passing by through the window- I can imagine him immediately crouching so he doesn't get spotted, very self-conscious by the fact there are some officers looking after him,,, maybe;;; <//3
He trusts any driver as long as it's anyone that is not Pavia.... Convince me otherwise--- đ
He would freak out and scream when the speed is too high- even cling on to you.
His grip is firm that you don't even know whether he is trying to hold on to you so he doesn't get thrown off or because he wants to cover you from any incoming crashes---/ih
You'll have to comfort him a bit after that;;
.
.
.
I'll never forget about the drive thru headcanons <333
//Them ordering take out at a McDonald's drive thru with s/o. If you don't eat McDonald's, just imagine it/ih
___
//Pavia//
Arches eyebrow... and wearing this look of "pookie, out of other restaurants, you decide one of the most low-quality ones???"/ih
Also not him having beef by the fact the ice cream in McDonald's sucks- the machine is even broken in almost every restaurant--- sobs;;;
At the end, he brought you there anyways, because you made him/ih
The reason why he would buy you a happy meal is probably because you're baby--- you don't even know if it's sweet or insulting./ih đđ«
Whenever you want to order but the cashier cant hear you when he's the one who's in the driver seat- I can imagine you guys with this meme./ih
Pavia is creepily respectful enough to keep this funny straight look while technically facing your butt, it's crazy;;; 2x
Next time, Pavia will drag you to somewhere better now that you finished dragging him to such "monstrosity of creepy clowns, grimace shakes, and broken ice cream machines"/j. More better than Olive Garden even---;;;
___
//Diggers//
"Ehhhh-- what would you like to order, sweetie?" :)
"Anything is alright."
"...."
"....."
*turns back to the window* "1 hamburger, 2 French fries- and a milkshake, please." :)
Most hippies don't seem to like materialism- but food is food, he wouldn't even dare to say no to if you want to order food at places like McDonalds dbbdbdnd;;; Like, most prices there were like less than $1 (plus tax) back in the 1960s...- đ€đ€Ż
(I feel like you would boss out of this by paying for him at times- like this is probably better than the McDonald's from 2020s/ih)
Man, happy meals were only first introduced in 1979- so they weren't a thing yet for a while in Diggers' timeline. If they ever get premiered, He would buy you one for you whether or not you like it- he just likes how there are chicken nuggets and juice boxes inside colorful boxes that seem to be meant for children-- yet for him, it doesn't matter. You will have it anyway, even if he's broke;;đđ„ș
The first boxes when they were first introduced were circus wagons. The first toys were tops, stencils, wallets, puzzles, and erasers. Initially, meals included a hamburger or cheeseburger, fries, a soft drink, and cookies.... yum.
Pampering you with food is one of the wholesome things I can imagine - even eating it while being inside his van at some parking lot. Feeding each other with these silly dorky grins,,,,
#pavia reverse 1999#reverse: 1999#reverse 1999#r1999 diggers#r1999 pavia#r1999 x reader#r1999#reverse 1999 diggers#diggers x reader#pavia x reader#reverse: 1999 x reader
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Hi again! For pokemon, could you do a rivalry-ish situation, with an overprotective platonic Genesect with it's trainer, versus a romantic yandere Ghetsis, please? And reader is very wary of him, and doesn't trust him at all. Thank you!
I'll try my best, sure!
Overprotective! Genesect vs Yandere! Ghetsis
Pairing: Platonic (Genesect)/Romantic (Ghetsis)
Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Overprotective behavior, Manipulation, Possessive behavior, Violence, Kidnapping, Threats of injury, Attempted murder, Isolation, Forced relationship/Dubious companionship.
Genesect was a Pokemon altered and created by Team Plasma.
As a result, it most likely hates humans/Team Plasma.
An idea of how this dynamic can go is this...
Genesect escapes the labs of Team Plasma and finds you.
You are a Pokemon Trainer who is collecting Gym Badges with your friends, so essentially a role similar to the Black & White protagonists.
You fight against Team Plasma whenever you can, which catches the eye of Ghetsis.
When Genesect meets you, it watches from the bushes for awhile.
It doesn't trust humans after what it went through... so it observes how you interact with your own Pokemon companions.
Eventually Genesect may jump out of hiding and attack you.
Despite your fear you prove yourself in battle, tossing a ball at the strange Pokemon by the end of it.
This is how Genesect becomes your Pokemon.
It takes time to get used to you, but upon seeing how your other Pokemon act around you... it feels comforted.
You aren't a bad human.
In fact, soon Genesect begins to rely on you and listens to you in battle.
You find the Pokemon interesting and may even assume its origin is Team Plasma related.
It's a Bug Type... but also oddly cybernetic.
It's unique... but you care for it all the same.
Now, Ghetsis originally saw you as a nuisance.
You keep foiling his plans like some sort of vigilante.
Although... his interest increases when he sees you with the escaped Genesect.
You've managed to tame the living weapon to work for you.
He grows intrigued by your bond yet also hates it... and now finds himself with a new obsession over you.
Ghetsis finds you... attractive and powerful due to your team.
With Genesect under your control he finds some admiration for you within him.
Yet you are very wary of the Team Plasma leader...
Genesect even shows aggression towards Team Plasma members, another factor adding to your theory on its origin.
You don't trust Ghetsis, he's too charismatic for his own good.
When he talks to you he's very manipulative, always tempting you to join him.
Why fight him? He can give you power if you join.
When you disagree or Genesect defends you... Ghetsis feels fury burning within him.
You always manage to slip through his grasp.
He has a feeling Genesect is helping you, too.
He can't get anywhere near you without the threat of being shot by Genesect's cannon.
Genesect has a feeling Ghetsis is trying to do something with you.
It fears that he may be trying to experiment on or hurt you... so it defends you with its life.
Ghetsis doesn't intend on harming you... when he has you, at least.
Until he gets you in his arms he doesn't care how much harm comes to you.
Due to how deranged Ghetsis can be... he could break a limb on you or knock you out cold until he gets what he wants.
But when he has you he'll isolate you away... treat your wounds... and keep you to himself.
When he has you in his grasp he'll even take control of Genesect.
After all, that Pokemon has caused enough damage anyways.
But if Genesect oversteps... well... Ghetsis could always just have it killed.
After all... such a Pokemon has kept him away from his beloved.
Genesect can try its best to defend you... but Ghetsis will find away around the issue.
Ghetsis will have you in the end... he promises that...
Even if he has to squash a bug and you come to him broken.
#yandere pokemon trainer#yandere pokemon#overprotective pokemon#overprotective genesect#yandere ghetsis
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i may or may not have a reverse kidnapping fic idea that i've been brewing up the past week or so -- just deciding how things will go and how i should proceed with some stuff but here's a teeny snippet!
(for context: chay is a low-level gang member that has been hired to kidnap wik. chay doesn't know wik is kimhant theerapanyakun, aka third son of the most powerful crime syndicate in thailand. so that's fun!!)
Chay and Wik, trapped in a three-by-two-meter space.
Soon, the engine starts with a low hum, and the truck starts to move. Wikâs slump figure, seated against the side of the wall, lolls his head toward the metal flooring. Without a thought Chayâs fingers curl around his idolâs unnecessarily-toned bicep, tipping him to rest against Chayâs shoulders instead.
âYou're too pretty to get hurt, PâWik,â Chay mutters, as though he isn't part of the group whoâs put Wik in this situation to begin with. Sighing a soft apology, he picks up the rope and starts attempting to tie.
Wikâs hands are rough, the backs of them littered with veins bulging in ways enough to make Chay blush, the soft of his palms filled with guitar callouses and other blisters. He holds them for a few moments, letting himself indulge in the fantasy of ităŒ it's all so fucked up that this is the way he's finding out how Wikâs hand feels against his.
Shame burns bright and hot in the space between their palms and Chay jerks his hand away, moving to grip his wrists instead. Still he struggles to hold them together with one hand as he loops the rope around them with his other hand, fingers clumsy and slow.
#baby kidnapper chay#he's trying his best but he's usually the rope bunny#not the rigger#kim will just have to teach him a lesson or two#kimchay#kimchay au#kinnporsche the series#mae's kimchay kidnapping au#it's really not angsty#more unhinged4unhinged vibes#also a little silly#bc chay's just turned on by everything wik does#he's having a gay panic#kidnapped by one direction vibes
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AITA for not telling my friends about my special powers?
đ so I can find this later!
I (11F in human years - I'm gonna have to convert everyone's ages) have had the power to see the future and read minds ever since I was born. But the thing is, no one in my tribe has had these powers in centuries, maybe even millenniums (millennia? Idk), so yeah, that's a lot to deal with. A few days ago, I was sent to a school, and my mother told me not to let anyone find out about my powers, or everyone would hate me. (That's not actually what she said, but it sums it up pretty well.)
I originally hated being there, mostly because of the noise of everyone's mind, but I grew to like it. I even made friends with my roommates, K and C (9F and 14F) and other members in my class, W, Q, and T (all 13M, I'm pretty sure - that's weird class planning, teachers) Plus, listening to everyone's thoughts and learning about who they really were on the inside was weirdly... intriguing?
Anyways. Just a few minutes ago, I was on my way to history class, when I got a vision from the future of the room on fire and everyone in it (including me) burning. A fellow mind-reader/futureseer who I'd secretly befriended (???M, I think he's 2000???) told me to continue keeping my powers secret, but I didn't want everyone to DIE, so I yelled "you can't go in there!" at nearly everyone; they probably thought I was crazy, but most didn't go in. The room exploded in flames and C died because I couldn't get to her in time (still feel bad about that...)
After the fire was put out, my remaining friends asked me how I knew the fire would happen, and I had no choice but to tell the truth. They also asked if I could read minds since those powers are closely related, and I admitted to that, too. Then they all got mad at me for different reasons: K said my powers could've helped beforehand, Q got scared because I'd been through his mind, W didn't believe me and assumed I'd set the fire, and T... didn't say anything, but the look on his face told me that he was angry, too. Then they all abandoned me.
And now I feel terrible. School has gone all wrong, I broke the one rule my mother gave me, one of my classmates died, and the rest of them don't even want to look at me. I didn't know what to do next, so I logged onto Tumblr and wrote this ask. Hopefully things will get better soon, but for now, AITA?
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'It should come as no surprise that Russell T Davies, the man behind Queer As Folk, the one who first made Doctor Who tangibly gay, has returned to the franchise with what might be its queerest outing yet. But even we were surprised by quite how integral LGBTQ+ themes would be to the story this time around.
Much has been made of David Tennant and Catherine Tate's return, yet it's Yasmin Finney's brand-new character Rose who's at the heart of this Star Beast special.
Donna's daughter befriends The Meep first, and she's also the one who saves London when The Meep reveals itself to be evil. What's special about this is that it's Rose's trans identity specifically that proves key to her victory.
When we last saw her mother, Donna had absorbed some of the Doctor's energy, creating a 'metacrisis' that would have killed her if the Doctor had not erased her memories. But when she's reminded again of the Time Lord's existence in this latest episode, Donna survives intact, and that's because when she gave birth to Rose, she unknowingly split that energy between them, halving their potentially devastating impact.
As Donna's memories return, Rose's innate Timelord energy is then activated too, enabling her to stop Meep with newfound knowledge and abilities from her position on the ground.
Rose's non-binary identity stems from The Doctor's. (The show finally acknowledges them to be gender-fluid after they presented as both male and female over the course of the franchise). That means the source of Rose's power comes directly from her nature as a non-binary individual, positioning her as a hero because of her gender identity and not despite of it.
That's not to say Doctor Who shies away from the difficulties trans people face in real life. Earlier on in the same episode, bullies deadname Rose in the street and soon after, Donna's own mother, Sylvia, accidentally misgenders Rose as well, despite her good intentions.
Donna's response to all this? "I would burn down the world for you, darling," and honestly, that's how we feel after seeing some of the negative feedback these scenes have received online.
Despite scoring strong reviews from critics and the majority of fans, it seems not everyone is celebrating Doctor Who's much-lauded return.
On Rotten Tomatoes, trolls are review-bombing the episode, bringing the audience score down to 41%, which is a huge contrast from the critics rating of 89%. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and the episode won't be to everyone's tastes, but when comments suggest the show 'needs to stop pushing talk of pronouns onto kids', it's safe to say most of these opinions are grounded in hate and ignorance.
Imagine being shocked that a show about an alien who regularly changes their body and gender would dare acknowledge such concepts?
In the days following the special, a hashtag named #RIPDoctorWho continued this backlash on X/Twitter, to which Doctor Who casting director Andy Pryor said the following:
"Just stopped by to say that on @bbcdoctor who (or any of our work) we don't work hard to cast inclusively for publicity. We do it because we like stories. & stories should speak to all of us & include all of us. And if one person feels a little less alone, then."
With more queer cast members on the way, including Neil Patrick Harris as the villainous Toymaker and Ncuti Gatwa as the new face of The Doctor himself, the future of Doctor Who is looking queerer by the day.
But it's not just the future that's queer.
To those who baulk at more inclusivity in future seasons, we can't help but wonder: What show have you been watching this whole time? Because Doctor Who is super queer â and it always has been.
Yes, even before Jack Harkness slapped a guy's arse or Bill Potts fell for a puddle named Heather, the Classic era channeled queerness with how it defied the establishment and stood up for those who need it most. It's hard to exaggerate how much stories like this resonated with LGBTQ+ people at a time when positive representation was almost non-existent on screen.
It's no wonder then that a sizeable chunk of Doctor Who's fandom identifies as queer, even if the show wasn't able to address LGBTQ+ fans directly until (queer lifelong fan) Russell T Davies regenerated the franchise in 2005.
But now, all these years later, The Star Beast ushers in a new chapter for Doctor Who where the show can finally live up to the inclusive ethos it's always striven for.
That's not to diminish the positive steps other showrunners have taken in the interim. 2015's 'Sleep No More' featured Doctor Who's first trans actress, Bethany Black, and season twelve's 'Praxeus' successfully flipped the 'Bury Your Gays' trope, although the less said about how season 13 handled #Thasmin the better.
And it's not like everything is suddenly perfect now. Rose's metacrisis abilities could feed into sci-fi tropes around trans/non-binary identities being considered "alien", plus the inclusion of Rose's deadname has garnered a mixed response from the trans community online.
While some argue this has given trolls the opportunity to use that name venomously against her character, others point out that transphobia is a reality the show shouldn't shy away from.
The moment when Rose calls the Doctor out for assuming Meep's pronouns might feel a bit-on-the-nose for some too, although if this kind of talk immediately heralds the end of the franchise for you, you might want to cast your mind back a few decades to 1972's 'The Curse of Peladon' where the Doctor and Jo discussed Alpha Centauri's pronouns at length.
But still, seeing trans and non-binary identities celebrated to this degree is very much welcome regardless, especially in a family show with such a huge fanbase like Doctor Who. This is the kind of storytelling that saves lives, trolls be damned.
And now, with the impending arrival of more trans actors and characters in Yasmin Finney's wake â including Jinkx Monsoon, Mary Malone and Pete MacHale â Doctor Who's next season promises to be more inclusive than ever before.
If you have a problem with that, remember that your hero, the good Doctor, would never discriminate against trans people, or any other marginalised group for that matter either. So why would you?'
#Doctor Who#The Star Beast#60th Anniversary#Catherine Tate#Donna Noble#Yasmin Finney#Rose Noble#David Tennant#Neil Patrick Harris#Russell T. Davies#Queer As Folk#The Curse of Peladon#Jinkx Monsoon#Mary Malone#Pete MacHale#The Toymaker#Ncuti Gatwa#Bethany Black#Sleep No More#Praxeus
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