#they are PARTNERS and that word means so much
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next in line.
pairings: lando norris + verstappen female reader.
summary: your brother announces his first baby, suddenly everyone’s eyes are on you. the teasing starts as harmless fun, but life has other plans.
faceclaim: lila moss.⠀warning: none.
request: for a smau idea, can you do verstappen!reader that just found out that her brother's gonna be a dad and is just excited maybe a reader x lando? and the grid teases her telling her she's next?
notes: so so happy for max, i’m sure he’s gonna be an amazing dad. and to make clear, i do not support kelly’s actions but i respect her as max’s partner and mother of their kid. also, i’m really sorry this took so long, i didn’t had my laptop :( but i do now!
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liked by maxverstappen1, landonorris and others
ynverstappen i’m going to be an aunt, AGAIN!!! congratulations to the best brother in the world and my sister-in-law for blessing us with a tiny human. can’t wait to meet my future favourite little one. 🤍
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username this got me thinking she was expecting as well, the GASP i let out 💀
maxverstappen1 best brother in the world? finally getting the recognition i deserve
username the fact he commented this first, so unserious 😭😭
username1 i was so moved by the caption and now i’m laughing
maxverstappen1 ik houd van je, kleine zus!!! (i love you, little sister)
ynverstappen ik hou altijd van je, you’re going to be an amazing dad!! (i love you too)
username2 FAVES
username3 my most parasocial relationship are them because i feel like they’re my cousins
kellypiquet thank you!! 🥹 baby can’t wait to meet their favourite aunt
ynverstappen stop it i’ll cry
username they’re so sweet with each other
username4 OMG congrats to your family!!! can’t wait to see the cutest baby pics
landonorris i’m next in line to become an uncle
ynverstappen i hope you’re ready for all the babysitting we’ll be doing!!
username5 wait... does this mean lando and yn are next?
username6 imagine the chaos if they had a baby too 😭😭
maxfewtrell chaos? more like pure excellence the world’s not ready
landonorris couldn’t agree more
ynverstappen you’re BANNED from my posts
username7 do you guys think i still have time to reincarnate in that baby?
username8 MOVE, it was my idea first
danielricciardo aunt for now, mum next?
ynverstappen delete this immediately
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YOUR CHATS: MAMMA’S FAVOURITE GROUP.
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ynverstappen added to their story.
replies to your story
landonorris just say the word babe
ynverstappen STOPPPP
landonorris i meannn, i was already planning our baby names list, but take your time
ynverstappen keep the list, i’m busy trying to decide between napping or rewatch criminal minds
maxverstappen1 we’re just preparing you for the future
ynverstappen future? i was planning on sleeping past 11 AM, thank you very much
ynverstappen but sure, let’s add kids to the list!
victoriaverstappen you’re next! the family is ready for some mini-you
ynverstappen okay that is kinda cute
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YOUR CHATS: TEAM BABY.
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landonorris four years with my person, my best friend, and the love of my life. here’s to many more!! i love youuuuu
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lnfour nice number that one
ynverstappen beyond grateful for you every single day, love you more than anything!! <3 ♥︎ liked by author
landonorris love youUuUu
maxfewtrell you two have made it 4 years and not killed each other? impressive
ynverstappen jerk, we’re literally the best couple
username SPEAK UR TRUTH 🗣️
username2 seeing you two together makes me believe in love and what
carlossainz55 yeah, how’s that baby talk going?
ynverstappen can we just enjoy the anniversary without being bombarded about children
landonorris hey!! it’s a valid question
sophiekumpen watching you grow together has been such a joy ♥︎ liked by author
landonorris we couldn’t have done it without all your support 🩶
username3 this is the cutest thing i’ve seen all day
username4 sooo, where’s the baby update?
georgerussell63 you better be sending out wedding invites soon... you know i’ll be waiting ♥︎ liked by author
username5 lando liked this omg
username6 OH IM SO EXCITED
maxverstappen1 maybe we can get the baby a matching anniversary onesie
landonorris don’t tempt me!!
username6 you’re worse than the actual mother 😭😭
alex_albon he is and we appreciate it
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landonorris added to their story.
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replies to your story
maxfewtrell she has that pregnancy glow
landonorris she says: fuck off
maxfewtrell so lovely as always 🥰
charles_leclerc is the shrimp carrying a baby shrimp?
landonorris i don’t think so but stay tuned!
charles_leclerc 🫡
ynverstappen shrimp 😭😭 you’re unbelievable
landonorris you’re MY shrimp, tho
ynverstappen i know i love u
landonorris special shrimp
ynverstappen yes
landonorris mama shrimp
ynverstappen too far babe
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ynverstappen added to their story.
replies to your story
danielricciardo i’m assuming shrimp is code for ‘future mum’ now?
ynverstappen lando’s been calling me shrimp since FOREVER
danielricciardo for obvious reasons, you kinda look like one
ynverstappen you’re relentless
oscarpiastri you can’t escape forever, you know
ynverstappen i can and i WILL
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ynverstappen we <3 new york
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alex_albon this feels like a soft launch for a baby announcement
ynverstappen in WHAT world
alex_albon i don’t know, everyone says new york is romantic
ynverstappen no one has EVER said that
carlossainz55 you two look like you’re scouting locations for a babymoon
ynverstappen STOP GIVING HIM IDEAS
landonorris i do like the sound of that ♥︎ liked by author
ynverstappen no you don’t
username she says that and yet likes all the baby related comments 😭😭
landonorris do you think we’ll get a discount if we book the babymoon now? asking for a friend
ynverstappen i’ll throw you in the ocean
username2 LMAOO he’s not even subtle about it
maxfewtrell baby’s first visit to the empire state? 👶🏻
landonorris give us nine months, mate
username3 savannah slow down
username4 y’all are a little too cute and i love it
username5 REAL like those are my parents
oscarpiastri if you name the baby after me i’ll babysit for free. think about it
landonorris oscar norris-verstappen it is!!!
ynverstappen first of all, my last name would go first
ynverstappen second, you were my favourite, oscar
ynverstappen and i remark WERE
oscarpiastri got it miss
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YOUR CHATS: TEAM BABY.
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lando.jpg muse
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username he has called her his muse a million times and it gets me every time 🥹
ynverstappen love love love ♥︎ liked by author
lando.jpg 🖤
danielricciardo your family portraits are coming along nicely. just missing one thing…
lando.jpg i’ll admit that would make a good christmas card ♥︎ liked by ynverstappen
username2 u don’t even TRY to be subtle, huh? lmaooo
username3 someone pls tell him he’s not slick 😭😭
username4 you two are the cutest
username5 okay dad in training, we see you!!
username6 they can’t escape baby talk even online i’m CRYING
username7 husband AND dad material, i don’t make the rules ♥︎ liked by author
username8 him liking this he’s NOT real
username9 this man is ready, someone call yn
charles_leclerc dog dad today, human dad tomorrow 👀
ynverstappen tomorrow’s a bit ambitious, but thanks for the timeline
username she’s not saying no—
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©⠀piastrisun original work. please don’t translate, claim or repost any of my writing, 25’.
#piastrisun: work#piastrisun: smau#piastrisun: requests#f1 x reader#lando norris x reader#f1 fic#f1 fanfic#f1 x you#f1 imagine#lando norris smau#lando norris x you#lando norris x y/n#lando norris fanfic#lando norris fluff#lando norris fic
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i loved the quinn x pregnant!reader 💕 i was wondering if you could write one of their baby shower, where quinn is just being so attentive since it can get overwhelming tyy
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Little All Star
Quinn Hughes x Pregnant!reader
Word count: 1564
Hockey Masterlist
A/N: Baby shower time!! (I also added a gender reveal at the end!)
The room buzzed with a chaotic symphony of laughter, chatter, and the clinking of champagne flutes (sparkling cider for her, of course). (Y/N), radiant with a seven-month glow, navigated the crowded living room of their Vancouver home with practiced ease, a hand resting protectively on her swollen belly. It was her baby shower, and the guest list read like a who's who of the NHL. Seriously, almost every player seemed to be there, along with their wives and girlfriends. It was a testament to Quinn's popularity, and to the genuine warmth (Y/N) herself radiated.
(Y/N) turned to Nathan MacKinnon and his partner. "Nate! You made it! I was worried you’d still be stuck in practice."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Nate grinned, handing her a gift bag. "Congrats, (Y/N) and Quinn. You two are going to be amazing parents."
She moved on, greeting Auston Matthews, Cale Makar, and a slew of other hockey stars and their families. It was a whirlwind of well-wishes, baby advice (solicited and unsolicited), and gifts that ranged from adorable knitted outfits to high-tech baby monitors. Quinn, ever the gracious host, was circulating too, though (Y/N) noticed he kept a watchful eye on her, always ready to steer her away from any potential bumps or overly enthusiastic hugs.
After working her way through the room, (Y/N) clinked a spoon against a champagne glass, the sound cutting through the din. "Okay, everyone, can I have your attention for a moment?" she announced, a playful smile on her face. The room quieted down, all eyes turning towards her.
"First off, thank you all so much for being here. It means the world to Quinn and me to have you all celebrate this special moment with us. We're so excited to welcome our little one into the world, and we can't wait for all the chaos and joy that's to come."
She paused, gesturing towards a table laden with plain white onesies and fabric markers in every color imaginable. "Now, for a little activity. We'd love for each of you to personalize a onesie for our baby. Get creative! Draw a picture, write a message, whatever you like. We'll cherish these forever."
A murmur of excitement rippled through the room. Hockey players, known more for their skills on the ice than their artistic abilities, suddenly became engrossed in the task at hand. Auston Matthews meticulously drew a maple leaf, while Cale Makar opted for a more abstract design. Even Quinn, usually so reserved, was sketching something with a focused expression. (Y/N) watched him, her heart swelling with love. She knew he was going to be the most amazing dad.
Her future in-laws, Quinn’s parents and brothers, were beaming with pride. They hovered nearby, offering (Y/N) snacks and drinks, making sure she was comfortable. "You're glowing, sweetheart," Quinn’s mom, Ellen, said, squeezing her hand. "You and Quinn are going to make such wonderful parents."
As the afternoon progressed, the onesie-decorating continued, the laughter and chatter never ceasing. (Y/N) felt overwhelmed with love and gratitude. Looking around at the room full of people who cared about her and Quinn, she knew that their baby was already surrounded by so much love.
The aroma of mini quiches, sliders, and an assortment of other delectable finger foods filled the air. The onesie decorating had transitioned seamlessly into a relaxed buffet-style meal. Guests mingled, plates in hand, the earlier artistic endeavors now a source of amusement and lighthearted ribbing. (Y/N), however, was content to perch on a plush armchair, a plate of fruit and a small pastry balanced on her bump. She watched the scene unfold with a warm smile, feeling a profound sense of happiness.
Suddenly, Quinn was beside her, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. "Hey," he said softly, his eyes filled with concern. "You okay? You've been sitting here for a while."
(Y/N) looked up at him, her smile widening. "I'm perfect," she assured him, taking his hand in hers. "Just soaking it all in. It's amazing to see everyone here celebrating with us."
Quinn's gaze softened as he looked at her. "You're amazing," he murmured, his thumb gently stroking her hand. He glanced down at her belly. "And so is this little one."
"They're both great," (Y/N) confirmed, patting her bump affectionately. "Really. I'm feeling good. A little tired, maybe, but good."
Quinn still looked a little worried. "You sure? You haven't been up and moving around much."
(Y/N) chuckled. "I'm seven months pregnant, Quinn. Moving around isn't exactly my favorite pastime these days." She squeezed his hand. "Go on, enjoy yourself. Talk to the guys. I know you haven't seen some of them in a while."
Quinn hesitated. "I'm good here with you," he said, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Quinn," (Y/N) said gently, "I want you to have fun too. This is a celebration for you as well. Go on. I promise I'll be fine. My mom and your mom are keeping a close eye on me," she added, nodding towards the two women who were indeed hovering nearby, chatting animatedly.
Quinn finally relented, though his expression still held a hint of worry. "Okay," he said, giving her hand a final squeeze. "But I'll be checking in every five minutes."
(Y/N) laughed. "Deal."
He leaned down and kissed her forehead, then brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too," (Y/N) replied, her heart overflowing with love for this man who was so devoted to her and their unborn child.
As Quinn went off to join his teammates, (Y/N) watched him go, a soft smile playing on her lips. She knew he would always worry about them. It was just the kind of person he was. And honestly, she wouldn't have it any other way. It was a testament to his love, a love that she knew would only grow stronger when their little one finally arrived. She looked down at her belly, feeling a tiny flutter. "Your dad's a good one," she whispered to her baby. "We're lucky to have him."
The buffet tables were now mostly cleared, the remnants of the delicious food a testament to the celebratory feast. (Y/N) and Quinn, hand in hand, made their way to the center of the living room, a shared, excited glint in their eyes. They had a little surprise planned, a grand finale to the already wonderful afternoon.
"Alright everyone," (Y/N) announced, her voice ringing with anticipation. "We have one more little thing to share with you all before you go."
Quinn stepped forward, placing a protective arm around her. "We're so excited to finally reveal the gender of our baby," he said, his gaze sweeping over the crowd of smiling faces.
A collective gasp rippled through the room, followed by a flurry of excited whispers. The guests had been eagerly awaiting this moment. (Y/N) had strategically avoided any hints throughout the shower, keeping everyone guessing.
"And to help us with this very important announcement," (Y/N) continued, gesturing towards the doorway, "we have two very special helpers."
As if on cue, Jack and Luke Hughes walked into the room, a dramatic flair in their steps. The crowd erupted in laughter. Jack was decked out head-to-toe in blue, while Luke was a vision in pink. The brothers grinned mischievously at each other, the playful rivalry evident in their eyes.
"So," Quinn explained, a smile playing on his lips, "the Hughes brothers are going to settle this once and for all. A little brotherly competition to reveal whether we're welcoming a little hockey player or a future hockey player!"
The room erupted in cheers and laughter. Jack and Luke squared off, their playful banter echoing through the room. They started “play” fighting, shoving each other lightly, much to the amusement of the crowd. It was clear they were enjoying the theatrics of it all. The playful wrestling match continued for a few minutes, with both brothers putting on a show. Finally, after a particularly dramatic tumble, Jack emerged victorious, pinning Luke to the ground.
"It's a boy!" Jack shouted, pumping his fist in the air, his blue attire now even more prominent.
The room exploded. Cheers, whistles, and applause filled the air. Quinn let out a whoop of joy, pumping his fists in the air mirroring his younger brother and then turning to (Y/N) and pulling her into a passionate kiss.
"We're having a little boy!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with pure happiness.
The hockey players in the crowd went wild. "Future NHL star!" someone yelled. "Another Hughes brother on the ice!" "Get him a mini stick!" others shouted, their voices filled with excitement.
(Y/N) laughed, her eyes sparkling with tears of joy. She looked around at the room, at all the people who were sharing in their happiness, and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Their little boy was already so loved.
As the celebration continued, (Y/N) leaned into Quinn, her hand resting on her belly. "Looks like we're going to have our hands full," she murmured.
Quinn smiled, kissing her forehead. "I wouldn't have it any other way," he replied, his eyes filled with love and anticipation. "I can't wait to meet our little guy."
#quinn hughes fluff#quinn hughes fanfiction#quinn hughes x reader#quinn hughes imagine#quinn hughes#quinn hughes fic#quinn hughes x you#quinn hughes x pregnant!reader#quinn hughes x y/n#hockey imagine#nhl imagine
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Money Talks
200+ words of you failing to prank Tim and being a little too alike
“I can’t pay the mortgage this month,” you say after Tim closes the driver's side door of the shop.
“And?” Tim questions. “Do I look like a financial advisor?”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Get a loan? Budget better? I’m your partner, not your friend.”
“So you’re not going to help me?”
“I thought I made that pretty clear.”
“Okay, okay. I can work out the mortgage. But then I can’t pay the water bill.”
“I will pay them both if it will shut you up,” Tim snaps.
You pout, and he rolls his eyes.
“I’ve seen the videos of this prank, too,” he explains. “You’re not the only one Lucy sends them to. As much as I wish you were.”
“If you knew what I was doing, why were you so mean!?” you exclaim.
“Why did you do it knowing we’re married? I know more about the mortgage than you do.”
“Wait, you two are married?” the thief in the backseat asks. “That actually makes a lot of sense.”
“You owe me dinner for this,” you tell Tim.
“Okay.” His fingers lift from the wheel as he reminds you, “We already have plans.”
“Why’d you marry him?” the woman behind you asks. “Besides his looks, I mean.”
“Shut up,” you demand, in sync with Tim.
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DO IT. DO THE HURT NO COMFORT. PLPSLSPLSPSLSPLS I LOVE ANGST!!!
-🎧
A/N : your wish is my command....
RAINY NIGHTS, sophia laforteza x fem!reader
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Warning ! Hurt no comfort, toxic relationship, mentions of sensitive topics, not proofread
Disclaimer ! Everything written here is pure fiction. Every person is not a real portrayal of themselves.
Now playing ! Cologne by beabadobee
WC — I dont knkw bruh i wrote this and its 3 fucking am im not mentally sane lawl phones also 7 percent.
Synopsis ! After Sophia Laforteza fucks up multiple times, Y/n decides she's had enough. Time and time the girl had waited, but much to her dismay, all Sophia had done, was disappoint her.
Y/n shamefully exits the restaurant, feeling dozens of eyes on her. The girl had been waiting for her girlfriend, Sophia Laforteza, to show up to a date they've been planning for weeks now.
The first hour wasn't so bad. Maybe she had gotten stuck in traffic, or maybe she would be just a little late. The second hour was worse. At that point, waiters and waitresses had started asking her where her partner was. And what Y/n hated the most, was the fact that she had no answer to their questions.
Now here she was, after the fourth hour of waiting. It was currently 12 am, and much to the girl's luck, it had just started raining.
The girl could only sigh.
"What a great marvellous day! Not only does Sophia leave me waiting for our date, it starts raining right after I get kicked out! Absolutely hilarious!" Y/n mumbes to herself, tears beginning to well up.
"Maybe she just forgot. I mean, she's busy afterall..." The girl tried her best to convince herself that this was going to be a one time thing.
She was wrong.
Y/n bites her inner lip. It has been 2 hours since their designated sleepover. It's been weeks since Sophia had gone over to her house. So they'd been planning for a movie night. And tonight was that night. So why exactly has Sophia been ignoring her calls?
Y/n presses the call button once more, but to no avail, she was met with Sophia's voice mail for the nth time.
The popcorn was starting to get cold, and the ice cream was starting to melt. Y/n sighs. It's been two hours. Maybe she got caught up in an emergency schedule?
"Couldn't she just have told me...?" Y/n shakenly whispers to herself. This was the fourth time Sophia had stood her up this month alone.
Y/n begrudgingly placed the ice cream back in the fridge and seals the popcorn in a random container. The sound of rain keeping her grounded.
"It's okay. This will be the last time this happens."
Finally. Sophia had finally shown up to a hang out. Y/n had been waiting for the past month. The girl had greatly missed her girlfriend, and she hoped Sophia felt the same.
"Sophie! Hi!" Y/n ran up to Sophia, and hugged her as tight as she could. Afraid to let go, scared she might lose the one person able to cheer her up with a simple smile.
"Y/n! Baby! Hi, i missed you so much." Sophia hugged the girl back, and for a moment, Y/n thought,
"Finally. We're back to normal. Oh god, how I've missed my girl."
Y/n couldn't help the small but sweet smile that had formed.
It had been an hour since their hang out started, and apparently, Sophia had to go. Y/n felt sad, but knew it was her job, her dream. And Y/n would never get in the way of that.
As Sophia entered her car, Y/n bid goodbye to her girlfriend.
"Bye Sophie, miss you, and i love you." Y/n leans down for a cheek kiss, almost missing the unreadable expression Sophia had on her face.
"Yeah, bye." And with that, Sophia drives off to god knows where.
"No i love you too...? No... maybe she just forgot. It's fine." And suddenly, rain had started pouring. Y/n quickly ran for cover, but couldn't avoid looking like a somewhat wet puppy.
It was infact, not fine. It had been three months since that little mini date, and Sophia hadn't said the words "I love you". Atleast not without Y/n basically telling her to.
What went wrong? What did Y/n ever do? Did she offend Sophia? Did she do anything to form this... this gap between them?
Y/n felt so lost. So... confused. She was so sure she hadn't done anything. At least not anything she could remember. Well, she was going to find out tonight.
The door opens widely, in a swift manner. And in comes Sophia, sick and worried.
"Y/N, BABY, ARE YOU OKAY?? I came as soon as i got the text, I—" The panicked Sophia came in, expecting to see an injured or sick Y/n. But all she had found was Y/n sitting on the chair of one of her counters, with a stoic look on her face.
Sophia's breathe was heavy, like she had ran to get to Y/n's apartment.
"Why are you completely fine? You texted me it was an emergency Y/n, I was busy—!"
"Well, you always are, aren't you?" Y/n looks up to Sophia's eyes, and frustration begins to fill the Filipina.
"Excuse me? You know I'm constantly busy. For fucks sake, I'm an idol! You can't—"
"I know. I know what I signed up for, Laforteza. I know I'd never get in the way of your dreams. You would never even let me." Y/n gets off the stool, and faces her girlfriend.
"So what's your point! What, you call me here because you missed me? I was in a fucking meeting Y/n. With one of HYBE's officials!! Do you know how fucking important that is?" Sophia scratches her head in disbelief, her anger bubbling up faster than it ever has. Y/n sighs defeatedly.
"More important than me?"
Silence filled the apartment. What felt like hours were only a few measly seconds.
"The silence was more than enough, Laforteza. I'm tired. I am so fucking tired of you leaving me hanging. At first, it was a date here, a date there, but nowadays, it's like everything we plan just ends up with me waiting."
"But I'm trying Y/n! I'm trying my best for you, for my members, for my fucking dream. Why can't you just understand that?"
"Then answer this, Laforteza. When was the last time you had told me the words "I love you"? When was the last time you had willingly told me those three words."
Sophia tried to recollect, the Filipina had really tried her best. But the realization had hit her hard.
"Fucking THINK Laforteza. Give me a goddamned answer. When was the last time you had given me a sincere, loving, "I love you"?... ANSWER ME!"
"I... I can't remember...." Sophia had started tearing up. Why couldn't she fucking remember the last time she had said I love you to her own fucking girlfriend?
Y/n let out a laugh. But it wasn't the usual light and hearty laugh Sophia had always heard. This laugh sounded painful. It was like all of Y/n's vocal chords had suddenly forgotten what a laugh had sounded like.
After a few seconds, Y/n's laughing had turned into sobs.
"Do you know how many times I've had to shamefully walk out of a restaurant, or get kicked out? Sophia, everyone looked at me. Their eyes were so full of pity. The waiters and waitresses constantly checked up on me like I was some poor child, left behind by her mother. Countless times, Sophia. I endured it all, thinking it would be the last time."
Y/n's voice had started cracking, and the girl had made a face Sophia had never seen before. One filled with so much sadness, so much sorrow.
"But time and time again, you proved me wrong. Every date you stood up, every "I love you" left unanswered, destroyed me, Sophia."
"Baby... baby I'm so sorry, please—" Sophia tries to move closer to Y/n, but the girl pulls away.
"Don't. Don't ever call me baby ever again. You don't get the fucking right, Sophia."
"I'm so disappointed in you Sophia. I never thought you'd ever treat me this way. Your career may have excused a missing date or two. But seven in a row? Sophia, we've gone on three total dates for the past four month's. And we had planned seventeen. Seven fucking teen Sophia. You stood me up fourteen times, and that's only for the past four months."
"I.. please I'm so—"
"So let's end this."
"...what?"
This felt so surreal. Y/n had just asked her if they could end it. Sophia had felt her whole world crumble. She caused this? Has she really broken down the one person who had supported her through everything?
"No.. no, no we aren't. Please, just give me a chance to—"
"No, Laforteza. Get out. We're over."
Sophia laughs, hoping this was some sort of wicked sick dream.
"We aren't over Y/n. Please, I just—"
"We've been over for the past seven months, Laforteza. What we've had for those last few months was just me trying to keep us both on the same page. But a relationship requires two people. We can't keep going if your heart isn't in it, Laforteza."
Sophia couldn't help it. Her tears had burst out like there was no tomorrow. The girl hadn't cried like this for a long, long time.
"But.. but I need you Y/n, please..." At this point, the Filipina had gotten on her knees.
"No, you don't. Hell, you don't even want me. You just think you do. So please, get up and leave, before I say things I don't think I can take back."
"I can't just leave!"
"Yes you can. Leave. For the both of us, Sophie." The mention of her nickname was driving Sophia crazy.
"But I fucking love you Y/n!" .
Y/n looks at Sophia with a tired face.
"Do you really?"
Sophia looks at Y/n. A look of desperation displayed on her pretty face. Y/n hates how she's never going to see that face ever again. Hates how she's never going to kiss that pretty face to sleep ever again. Hates how those soft and comforting arms will never comfort her ever again. Hates how she will never wake up next to the love of her life ever again. Hates how Sophia will never be hers ever again. But she was okay with that. She knew it had to end one way or another. It was better this way.
And so, after more back and forth conversations, Sophia reluctantly leaves. Sophia closes the door, and Y/n locks it right after.
Y/n will never open up her heart for Sophia ever again. And the latter knows that. They were over. They were really over. Neither could believe it. The two fall to their knees, on opposite sides of the door. The sound of heavy rain masking the others cries.
Guess rainy nights were never their thing.
#sophia laforteza#sophia laforteza x reader#sophia#katseye x fem reader#katseye x reader#katseye imagines#katseye x female reader#katseye#kkoga#no comfort
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Jason Todd Who...
Summary: Thoughts about your relationship with Jason Todd.
Word Count: 1.6K
Notes: So this was supposed to come out a few days ago to maintain a 'one post a week' baseline, but my hometown kinda flooded, everyone got evacuated, I came back to work and my office building managed to flood and catch fire in the span of 24 hours. I'm still fine though! Currently splitting time with writing, work, and drying things out. Stay safe out there!
Love RiRi <3
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Thinking about a Jason Todd Who…
Has no idea how exactly he got into a relationship with you. Well, technically he’d like to call it a situationship, since neither of you have decided to put a label on it yet. He’d helped you out post patrol one evening, Bruce doing his head in as usual. He didn’t plan on drinking that night, but he still pushed open the door to the bar, hoping he could at least chat to James, the bartender, if he was on that night. It turns out that James was, in fact, on shift and currently occupied in the back corner near the pool table. His ears switched into overdrive hearing the ruckus, the years of vigilante training making his senses kick in keenly to try and respond. That’s when he saw you, being restrained by James and pool cue in hand.
Thinking about a Jason Todd who…
Laughs to himself as his first response to seeing a bar fight, your opponent curled on the ground from where you had jabbed him with the cue. When his eyes met yours, your form wriggling in James grip, he was oddly delighted to see the challenging glare you sent to him. After about twenty minutes of exchanged words and threats of security, James lets you go and you sit at the bar, fingers tapping the wood in irritation.
“You shouldn’t drink if you get angry, you know.” He grins, following your shadow to the bar and leaning on the nearby stool.
“I’m not drunk.” You defend, eyeing him up and down. “I made that decision completely sober.”
Jason’s eyebrows raise. “Oh, really? Do tell me what he did to deserve being attacked then.”
“He was being an asshole.”
Yeah, Jason was going to like you.
Thinking about a Jason Todd who…
Calls it a relationship to himself silently after a while but is still too nervous to say it in front of you. What if you didn’t think about it the same way? What if you were platonically getting coffee together every Thursday? That you only held onto him that tight when you rode with him because you were worried about falling off? That you were just friends that crashed in the same bed after a night out? He couldn’t help the flutter in his chest and the grin he wore so easily when you were around. He didn’t realise how much baggage he wore on his shoulders until you showed up and he felt like he could lift his neck for once. He knew he was fucked up, dying and coming back would do that to you. Yet he didn’t notice how the heaviness of it kept his eyes trained on the pavement, neck craning under the weight.
Yeah, Jason really liked you.
Thinking about a Jason Todd who…
Dreads you coming over to meet the family, protesting the entire time. Not only because it was pouring outside meaning he had to take the car (meaning he couldn’t feel your arms around him), but because he still doesn’t know what you are. He’s been meaning to clear it up with you, wanting to ask so desperately, but every time that he’s tried the words catch in his throat. Like he’s back to being Robin, the young boy now trapped in a body way too big for him. So instead he just tightens his hands on the steering wheel, lost so deep in his own thoughts that he doesn’t notice the lovestruck glances you steal from the corner of your eye, or the nervous playing of your hands in your lap.
Thinking about a Jason Todd who…
Is completely taken aback when you announce yourself as his partner at the door when Alfred asks who you are. His brain blanks out, just staring down at you with a wider than usual glance. His hands are frozen to his side, unsure of what he could do. What to even say. The old man just smiles when Jason flicks his gaze to meet his grandfather figure, the old man’s eyes crinkling in mirth.
“Then welcome in. Master Dick and Tim will be delighted to hear it.”
You smile so easily, so effortlessly as you take his hand and lead him into his own home (or ex-home as he liked to call it).
God, he liked you.
Thinking about a Jason Todd who…
Scowls when he sees Tim pay Dick a $20 under the table as you introduce yourself again, his older sibling figure sending him a shit eating grin as he pockets the cash in his front jacket pocket. He doesn’t miss the way that Bruce’s eyebrow twitches up curiously as you say you’re his partner, before that critical gaze flicks to Jason, silently asking if the information is true. He gives a short tense nod, and the billionaire grips his chin in thought before running a hand over his face.
That makes a flare of anger peak in Jason, but he squashes it down for the sake of Alfred and the dinner he worked so hard to wrangle everyone in for. You’re too distracted introducing yourself to Steph and Duke to see the critical glances Bruce sends you, the duo more than eager to engage you in conversation. He hates the way that Jason can feel the gaze of Bruce bore into his cheek, like he was trying to carve a his own bat-shaped scar next to the white ‘J’. He hated that gaze. The gaze that he could feel before he was told to ‘take it from the top’ or to ‘do another set’. The gaze he used to try and thrive under when he was younger, pushing himself to the limits in the hope that it would soften up if he excelled. The gaze that felt like it was doing nothing but waiting for him to mess up, so it could devour him with sharp teeth and harsher words. He knew Bruce didn’t approve. Jason knew he didn’t care.
Jason liked you too much to let Bruce scare away his chance of happiness.
Thinking about a Jason Todd who…
Has his breath stolen the moment you kiss him in the car. He feels like he’s drowning, but it’s the most blissful torture he’s ever experienced as you lean across the car console to cover his lips with yours.
“You were distracted at dinner.” You murmur softly when you pull away. Jason has to blink the stars from his eyes, his scarred hands twitching to rest at the back of your neck and pull you to him again.
“I was just lost in thought, that’s all.” He says back, fighting the tremor in his voice. Once again he feels like a young boy piloting a hulking, clumsy body, his mind and muscle out of sync. You hum in response, not fully taking his answer.
“I’m sorry if I overstepped, calling myself your partner.” Your murmur after a slight tense silence. “I should have asked first.”
Jason swallows thickly. “I don’t mind.” He says quickly, a little too quickly if he was honest with himself. “I’m happy to try, I mean, if you want that.”
You smile, the sight that makes his chest flap. Like he had said the funniest thing imaginable, your sparkling gaze focused all on him.
You liked him.
Thinking about a Jason Todd who…
Holds nothing back as soon as you two become an actual couple. He’s doing what he can (albeit it clumsily) to keep you around. He’s mostly mimicking other relationships he’s seen, readings articles on how to be a good partner late at night. He knows to be himself, he’s not an idiot. He knows that you would scold him if you saw the things that he was doing, but he couldn’t stop. He had had relationships before you, of course. Yet the difference this time was that this was you, and he wasn’t going to risk it going sideways the same way the others had.
The biggest thing he had found was trying to keep you away from the other side of him. The side that donned a mask when the sun went down and staked out rooftops with a blue and black spandex clad chatterbox, and a caped brat. It had been easily enough when you were apart, but now that you were living together in his little apartment, it was getting harder and harder to sneak out of your arms at night and crawl back into them in the morning. He cursed the fact that you were a light sleeper, leading him to nearly being caught one too many times. He knew that you were getting suspicious, but keeping your reservations to yourself in the morning.
Bruce still didn’t like you, even more so now that you were closer to Jason’s true side than ever. But maybe Bruce did like you. That was a thought that plagued him, preventing him from falling into the sleep he so desperately needed after a long patrol. You were curled into his side, chest rising and falling softly.
Maybe Bruce did like you, and he was trying to protect you. Trying to keep you away from the potential heartbreak of losing him, which was a constant threat in this line of work. Maybe he was trying to keep you from being harmed, something that Jason feared constantly about having you close. Maybe Bruce was trying to save you because he did like you, and Jason was condemning you by being with you.
You move slightly when he shifts, eyes flicking opening groggily. Your normally bright eyes are cloudy with sleep, and you meet his gaze.
“Jay?” you mumble.
He grins softly, calloused fingers brushing a piece of hair from your forehead.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
Maybe Bruce did like you.
But Jason loved you.
#messenger of babel#fanfic#dc comics#dc fanfic#dc#dc x reader#jason todd x you#jason todd x reader#jason todd#batfamily#batfam#dc robin#alfred pennyworth#jason todd fluff#red hood x reader#jason todd fanfiction#jason todd imagines#red hood#red hood x you#sorry for the late post I was kinda being evacuated#red hood x reader fluff#im working on not writing things that are pure angst#dc red hood#jason peter todd
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I have something for Johnny if you want.
Johnny x shy!reader that has scarlet witch powers? Being Johnny girlfriend and Johnny family adores shy!reader
‘I’m starting to think my family likes you more then me at this point.’ Johnny says one day as he face planted your shared bed.
‘How so Johnny?’ You asked sweetly as you waved your hand as you brought a blanket over your boyfriend’s body with your magic, never failing to notice the soft smile that grew across his face as he lifts himself from the pillow to face you.
‘Are you kidding me? I mean look at you!’ He exclaims as he gestures to all of you shamelessly, making you feel a little exposed by his beautiful brown doe eyes that never seemed to fail in making you melt. ‘You’re sweet, compassionate, adorable to an unfair extent it makes me question how a being as beautiful as you could exist, and did I forget to mention that you’re an absolute badass with your powers?’ Johnny adds with a smirk as he saw how easily affected you were by his words as he counts off everything he found to adore you for on his fingers.
You groan playfully as you smacked Johnny on his bicep, a sheepish smile began to spread across your lips, all the while attempting to fight back the butterflies that were making their presence known within your stomach. It didn’t matter if you were dating Johnny for a few weeks or a few months, for he would always find ways to make you feel as though no time has passed between the two of you.
You at first didn’t want anything to do with the cocky, overly confident, playboy known as Johnny Storm and stayed away from him for a good while…until you couldn’t and it lead to what you considered the best decision you ever made in agreeing to let him take you on a date. However recently Johnny’s sister Sue, her husband Reed and Ben had been taking note of the subtle changes within johnny and knew someone was the reason behind it, which had lead to Johnny dragging you to the Baxter building more times then you can count to meet his family; whom of which had grown a fondness towards you and your positive influence on Johnny himself.
‘Johnny…’ you drew out his name as you buried your head into his shoulder, holding him close as you selfishly leeched off of his warmth, not that you’d ever tell him this but you were certain with how eager he was to keep you in his arms chuckling. He was very much aware and was more than willing to indulge you as he was just as much addicted to your soft, comforting hugs that he swore to high heavens he would die without.
‘I’m not lying! You should hear them half of the time! Where’s y/n? Johnny, go get your better looking partner. Johnny, where is my future sibling in law, you can’t hog them all the time.’ Johnny replied as he made dramatic voices for the likes of Sue, Ben and Reed based on the most recent interactions with them, most of which were asking for you or wondering how you were in general. Johnny didn’t mind, if anything he was downright ecstatic knowing that his family were just as obsessed with you as he was, he adored how you and his sister got along the most; knowing straight away from the moment he found you and his family sharing stories in the kitchen that this was something he wanted to see more often in the future.
Commitment wasn’t his thing, it never was until he met you, and as cliche as that sounded -and he knew just how cliche it came across- but it was true and Johnny wouldn’t want it any other way. He’d even claim you had put some type of spell on him, to which you only hide your smile from his groan inducing joke in regard to your magical abilities. He even remembered the day that he realised that you were the type of person he wanted to bring to his family, something he never gave a deeper insight into before you mind you as he never felt that deep of connection.
So everyday when he wakes up to see you cuddled into his side peacefully and safely, he considered himself the most luckiest man alive, and he didn’t bother to hide it either as he bragged to anyone with ears that someone as wonderful as you had chosen a hotheaded stud muffin -his words- like him.
You smiled as you cuddled further into him, knowing firsthand that he was right, and you were still getting use to the idea that his family adored you from the moment Johnny brought you to your first of many Sunday family diners. You remembered sweating bullets and tugging at your formal attire, but Sue and Reed were more than welcoming and reassuring, meanwhile Ben was full on teasing Johnny about how he was growing into a true man.
However before you could respond you were quick to remember that you were very much late for your day out with Sue. You gasp upon realisation as you push Johnny away from you, who fell back into the bed, staring up at the ceiling in disbelief that you had just pushed him away. ‘I’m late!’ You cried as you moved away from your baffled boyfriend, who had propped himself to his arms.
‘Late for what?’ Johnny asks as he watched you sort yourself out for an outing he wasn’t aware was taking place.
You smiled softly, not wanting to give too much away of what you and Sue had planned prior. ‘Sue wanted help to find something for Reed for Valentine’s Day, and I agreed to help her.’ You half lied, well you weren’t lying about helping his sister find something for Reed, but what you had left out was the fact that you were also using this time to find something for Johnny yourself. To you he deserved something for being such an amazing partner, and you were thankful that Sue was more than happy to help you in doing so during your most recent late night conversations with the blonde woman.
‘I just want to find something for him that he’ll love,’ you told Sue as you allowed your magic to flourish between your fingertips, a nervous habit you had developed the moment you realised that you were capable of feet’s no other magic user has ever accomplished before, it was a comfort to you and brought your mind back to what was most important to you and what was most important to you was Johnny smiling.
She smiles, glad to know that her brother was blessed with someone like you, reached out to grab your hand in hers as she squeezed it in reassurance. ‘Whatever you get him, I’m certain Johnny will treasure forever.’
‘Really? You really think so?’ You asked her, still a little nervous despite having been with Johnny for a while, but that man had a way to make you feel as though you were falling for him all over again and you wanted to hate him for it, and yet you found yourself becoming shy and flustered whenever the man even threw his arm over your shoulder. If this was what love was like then you hoped to stay in this never ending state of adoration and mutual understanding for as long as you could.
‘I know so.’ Sue replied, her eyes had a knowing look to them. ‘Johnny would take anything you give him becuase you were the one that give it to him, that thought that he would like it and all he’ll care about is that you had him on the mind and to show that you care about him.’ She finished, squeezing your hand again when she saw sparks of your magic come to life at your fingertips, rubbing her thumb across the back of your hand. You smiled at her. ‘Then I can’t wait for tomorrow.’ You tell her, beaming.
Johnny smiled from his place on the bed, again happy to see you and his sister bond and become close to one another, it was a simple thing that he didn’t know he needed but then again that was the magical thing about you. You made him want simple and small things that he would’ve taken for granted, or not even considered in the first place, and for that he couldn’t help but find himself wanting moments like this in your future together.
However before Johnny could open his mouth to push you for more details on your outing with his sister, the door opened to reveal Sue stood on the other side, obviously having been waiting for you but not showing an ounce of annoyance in the slightest.
‘I’m here to steal your partner.’ Sue says to her brother as she grasps your arm, pulling you to her side.
‘Not the first time my beloved is being stolen from me by you, Reed or Ben.’ Johnny scoffs playfully as he watched you and Sue link arms, already acting like you were in laws for a long time with how relaxed and comfortable you were with one another.
‘Oh you can have them back as soon as we’re finished shopping.’ Sue retorted.
‘So like ten hours from now?’ Johnny sarcastically replies with and you couldn’t help but laugh at the sibling squabble, making him look at you with a warm smile. ‘Don’t I get a goodbye kiss at least from my most beloved?’ Before you could give him his kiss, Sue drags you out of the room with her and out the door, though not before shouting over her shoulder followed by your laughter. ‘You’ve had enough time today to trade kisses, now you have to wait.’
Johnny only groans dramatically as he flops back onto his bed, impatiently waiting for you to come back not even seconds after you left his room, he really was in love like the sappy bastard Ben teased him in being.
#johnny storm x y/n#johnny storm x you#johnny storm fanfiction#johnny storm fluff#johnny storm x reader#fantastic four imagines#fantastic four imagine#fantastic four x reader#mcu x reader#mcu imagines#mcu imagine#marvel x reader#marvel imagine#marvel imagines
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The Unbearable Weight of Perfection, ch 1
Javi Gutierrez x female reader Co-written with @absurdthirst
When an accident of fate throws Javi G into the path of his soulmate, his instinct is to dive in head first. Adjusting to life as the fated partner of someone you barely know is going to be harder than either of you suspect, but anything worth having is worth working for. Isn't it?
(This story is heavily inspired by the lovely house museums that I work in every day and the fantastic few months that HBO was using our houses to film a TV show in fall! I spent each day on that set in wonder and I can't wait to share the experience with all of you through this story.)
Rating: M for Mature but this blog is always 18+ Word Count: 7.6k Warnings: *Blanket warnings for this story include: Cursing, alcohol, food, references to abusive family members -- i.e. Lucas.* Fluff, sweetness, flirting, crushes, reader's meddling bestie. Summary: Waking up beside your soulmate the morning after your wedding, you reflect on the meetings that brought you here. Notes: Welcome to a new story, friends! We're using date stamps as we tell this story, as scenes may appear out of chronological order. Enjoy!
Saturday, April 6, 2024
Normally waking up is hard for Javi. Too used to having his own schedule, late nights and lazy mornings. Things have changed over the past few years, the loss of his family fortune and business. Not that he minded no longer being the face of an arms dealer family, even if he wasn’t the one selling the weapons. That was his now incarcerated cousin, Lucas’s doing.
No, now waking up meant an alarm instead of the fragrant smell coffee being brought by a servant, he had to get up and make it himself if he wants.
This morning, this morning his eyes are open before the sun even thinks about peeking over the horizon. The early morning lighting up gradually as he watches your face, so peaceful in sleep. His soulmate. His wife.
Sunrise isn't normally your wakeup call. The mornings are always an early start for you because you like to get as much out of your day as you possibly can. It's been so many years of it now that you even wake up early on the weekends – but not today.
A rare morning of sleeping in means that the bright sun streaming through the windows penetrates your sleep to warm your dreams and drift you closer to reality. Although really, the thing that wakes you is the shifting of the mattress. The last time you shared a bed with anyone before last night was...a year ago? More?
But when you open your eyes, knowing it's your soulmate next to you is so exhilarating.
“Good morning.” Javi’s smile is bright, radiant like the sun as he reaches out and caresses your cheek. “How did you sleep? I think I only slept for two hours but it was the best two hours of my life.”
"Good morning." Like a magnet, you slide towards him on the mattress to tuck yourself into his side. "It's a whole new day. What did you want to do with it?" Neither of you have to work, so it's just...going to be beautiful all on its own.
“I should treat you today, no?” He asks with a grin. “It is technically our honeymoon?” The ring on your finger is just barely ten hours old, the excitement of that fact still humming through his system and coming off as nervous energy.
"We've got a whole weekend to do whatever we want." Honeymoon. It's your honeymoon. The last twenty-four hours have been a complete whirlwind. This time yesterday you were already at work. "I feel silly asking but...what do you like to do for fun?"
“Watching movies.” Javi admits shamelessly, although he no longer has the movie theatre he once did. “What is your favorite movie?”
"Oh gosh, that's such a hard question." Shamelessly happy that you can do so, you lay a kiss on his shoulder and gaze up at him.
Your soulmate is so fucking handsome. How did you get so lucky?
"Maybe..." You laugh at how ridiculously hard it is to choose. "I think I have more like a top three. And they rotate depending on what kind of mood I'm in. But one of the top three is always The Princess Bride."
“That is a good one.” He grins, happy that you seem to light up and have a hard time choosing. “I always liked Wesley.” He admits shamelessly and winks at you. “As you wish.”
"Hush." Even though you nudge him a little, your warm cheeks have nothing to do with the morning sun. It's all mixed in with the dreamy expression on your face as you talk with him. Your husband. Your soulmate. "What's your favourite movie?"
“You must promise not to laugh.” He tells you seriously, although there is humor twinkling in the depths of his dark eyes as he gazes into your hauntingly beautiful ones. “Paddington 2.” He admits, his tone flat and honest.
“Why would I laugh? That’s such a sweet movie!” Daring to reach up to brush a curl out of his eyes, you end up smiling all over again. “I…actually really love watching kids’ movies. They’re great for comfort and cheering me up when I don’t feel too good.”
“They teach us lessons we could all use.” He agrees, capturing your hand and kissing the back of it. “We can watch them together. Snuggled up.”
“That sounds perfect.” Practically everything he suggests sounds perfect, and it’s not just the gorgeous purr of his accent. “It can be a sweet way of unwinding at night.”
“You would not mind?” He asks, brows raised and a hopefully look on his face. “I wish I had my old movie theatre, but we can turn the second bedroom into a viewing room?”
"You..." Confusion makes your eyebrows draw in. "Used to have your own movie theater?"
He tilts his head. “Of course.” He nods. “I will have to build one again. It will not be as big as the one in Spain, but the house will be much smaller too.” He sighs softly, feeling a little bit like a failure for not being able to give you the things he once had. Before he ever knew you carried his marks. “But maybe one day, no?”
"If it will make you happy, then we will absolutely do that." There are plenty of things that you don't know about each other yet, but you have every confidence that you'll be able to settle into things together well. You're soulmates, after all. You're meant to be together. "I just...I've never known anyone who had their own movie theater before. That sounds so fancy."
“It was a large house.” He admits, frowning slightly. He loved the house, hated the bad memories of some of the things that happened there. Although it was never all bad. “You know, Nic Cage came to my birthday party there?” He asks. “It’s how we met.”
"Is it really?" He had told you that they were friends -- hell, the Cages had come to your wedding last night -- but it was still something that you were wrapping your head around.
“Yes.” He chuckles. “I paid him one million dollars to come to my birthday, and somehow, we became friends.”
Your eyes widen, catching on a breath of disbelief. "So that's how you get a movie star to come to your birthday? Color me impressed."
He hums. “Back then, yes.” He admits, leaning in and kissing your shoulder gently. “Now, they are starting to want to come on their own. Not because I pay them.” He doesn’t have the money to do that anymore.
"You're an amazing writer. I'm sure you're just at the start of something really grand." The two movies he has had made so far have both been fantastic. You went home and watched them back-to-back after the first time he told you he was a screenwriter. "I consider myself very lucky that I'll get to be beside you during all of it."
“Really?” His eyes widen, as if he had never really considered that you would be happy to have him as your soulmate. “You want to be beside me?”
It almost makes you laugh, but the wonder on his face is so genuinely sweet that it sort of comes out as a sound of disbelief. "Of course," you promise him, and take his hand to hold both his and your left hands in his view. The hands bearing your brand new wedding rings. "That's what this means."
“Married.” The word is whispered, almost reverently, as if he is still in disbelief that it was ever possible. For him, it had started to look that way. He had loved Gabriella and had been determined to be a good partner no matter if they had not shared marks, but she had left him. He had floundered slightly, bemoaning love and at the encouragement of Nic to start working on his next screen play, he had stumbled upon the soulmate he had always yearned for.
******
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 Valentine's Day
The slowest pay of the week for the museum seems punctuated with particularly melancholy moments today. There was a private tour this morning with a proposal, and the squealing bride-and-groom-to-be had been allowed to take photos together on the grand staircase before regular visitors began arriving for the day. Their family and friends had been hiding in the house, waiting for the moment, all ready to burst out and shout with joy after the question was asked and answered. It had left you with a migraine.
Another lover had popped their question to her beloved out in the gardens while you were trying to get some fresh air on your short morning break. You'd fled back to the breakroom and hung your head in your hands for the rest of your fifteen minutes of quiet.
Now, in the middle of the afternoon, there are so many couples on dates strolling through the halls of Hazelwood House that it felt like an intentional taunt. Being fresh off a breakup at Valentine's Day is no one's idea of a good time. So you just pace your area, walking through the three rooms of the house museum that are under your care for this hour, and hope that the floor just opens up to swallow you whole.
Which is how you accidentally walked straight into a guest.
"Oh! Excuse me! I'm so sorry, that was entirely my fault."
Javi Gutierrez manages to keep himself from stumbling but immediately reaches out to steady you. “No, no, I was wandering around.” He shakes his head, ready to take the blame himself as his eyes meet yours and he swears that his heart skips a beat. He straightens slightly, still holding your arms. “Are you okay?” He asks softly, as if you had been injured by the minor collision.
"I'm totally fine." Shaken, sure, but only because of your own clumsiness and the fact that you just had to bump into the hottest guy you've ever seen in your entire life. "I—I'm sorry." Come on, get it together. "I was distracted." Lie, for fuck's sake. "I just noticed a little detail in the flooring that I had never seen before."
“The floor?” Javi frowns as he looks down at the intricate tiles beneath both of your feet. “What about the floor?” He asks curiously, wondering if it is something special.
"Well..." It's nerdy. It's so nerdy. But there actually is something special about the mosaic tile in this particular room of the house. "The billiard room is covered in mosaic, but I've never paid much attention to the grain of the marble before." An utter lie, you stare at it every day. "Do you see the swirls of blue and gray here? It's the same marble as the fireplace."
Instead of looking at you like you are crazy, Javi squats down and brushes his fingers over the glazed tiles, staring at the colorful patterns for a long moment, memorizing them. Then he lifts his head to stare at the fireplace. “So they tiled the mosaic with marble instead of regular tiles?” He asks, trying to follow.
"It looks like it." He gets excited easily, this incredibly handsome man, and it relaxes you a little. Guests who get excited about little details are one of the things you love most about working in a museum. "Now I'm thinking about taking a photo of the different colors and comparing them to the other fireplaces in the house."
“Can you backtrack through the house?” He looks around worried for a moment and then back at you. “The guides won’t get mad?”
"You're only a few rooms in, I can walk you back to the first fireplace if you'd like?" That would be the breakfast room, which is an easy stroll backward from where you are now and you point it out to him on the map that is printed on the packet of information in his hand. It seems he opted not to download the audio tour as so many do.
He tilts his head, contemplating it seriously. “Then we should do it, no?” He asks. “See if it matches? It should, or no? Maybe it depends on the style of the room?”
"Let's find out, if you're curious. We can check the three fireplaces in this section of the house and you can compare the pictures you take here to the others as you keep moving through the house." You would walk with him, guide him yourself, because it's just so nice to stumble upon someone nice and not on a date today...but abandoning your area of the house would get you in a hell of a lot of trouble.
“Okay.” He smiles at you and wonders if you are waiting for your partner to arrive. It’s Valentine’s Day after all and he had thought to distract himself with work. “The house is very, um, nice.” He says as you start to steer him back towards the other rooms. Small talk can be awkward and he’s not as good as it as he would like at times. Nervous about making a negative impression.
"The whole place is gorgeous." The grounds are a popular tourist attraction, with plenty of weddings and other parties happening on the grounds in addition to the mansion being a museum. "Have you ever visited Hazelwood Park before?"
“This is my first time.” Javi confesses. “I have heard of it, but woke up this morning and decided today was the day.” He had honestly figured there wouldn’t be a lot of couples here. He had been wrong.
"Well, welcome." Back in the breakfast room, you turn to face the soft green marble fireplace. "This does look like the same green of the turtle in the mosaic," you admit. The shades are remarkably similar.
“So they matched the edging of this floor to the fireplace.” The entire floor isn’t a mosaic, but the banding around the edges is. “This fireplace is larger.” He tilts his head. “Perhaps they did not have enough of the leftovers to use, hm?”
"If they only used the pieces that were considered scrap during the carving of the fireplaces, then it would make sense that they wouldn’t have any large pieces." The thin tile line around the otherwise parquet flooring has always charmed you unexpectedly. You had never seen anything like it before.
“It is a good way to use up all the materials.” He agrees. “Because I’m assuming the marble was imported?” It’s nothing he’s ever considered before but your enthusiasm for the details excites him.
"Oh yes, absolutely." In fact, you had had to memorize where all of it came from as part of your knowledge test to be a full-fledged docent. "This particular stone comes from Italy."
“You know a lot about this.” He smiles. “Is the house a favorite place to visit for you?”
"Oh!" You break out into a nervous laugh and realize that this entire time, the nametag and lapel pin that you wear on your cardigan marking you as an employee haven't been visible. "No, I--I work here. I've been here about a year now."
“Oh…oh I am sorry.” He bites his lip as he tries to hide the embarrassed grin. “I didn’t realize. I thought you were just an enthusiast.”
"Being an enthusiast is sort of how I got the job," you admit. Shrugging your shoulders, you straighten out your cardigan again and do up one button to make sure both pins stay visible. "It turns out that I really love it. Beyond just thinking the place is beautiful."
“That explains your comment about this section of the house.” He chuckles, wiping his hands on his pants and shoving them in his pockets. “I had assumed you were waiting on someone. Now I know that’s it’s other tour groups.
"Have to stay in my section." A light, awkward laugh travels between you but even that little sound from him sounds angelic. "But if you like these first few rooms, then you'll love the rest of the house."
“Which is your favorite room?” He asks, looking down at his map.
"Today?" You laugh a little, emboldened by the way he seems to smile with his whole face. Like he really doesn't mind talking to you. Like he might even enjoy it. "I love them all, but I think the library might be the best part of the whole house."
“Do you like to read?” He asks, charmed by your laugh and the way you seem to light up at the question. As if you aren’t normally asked a personal question. “The library was always where I was chided, but then it was also where I could escape into different worlds when I couldn’t do other things.”
"That's the beauty of books." Something you believe unabashedly. Stories are an escape -- whether that is books or movies or plays, or whatever else. "Being able to run away into a different world is powerful. It's freeing." Warmth creeps up your neck and into your cheeks and you nearly feel embarrassed for getting so excited about it except that he's still smiling. "The library in this house? I would curl up in front of that fireplace with a stack of books beside me on the chaise lounge and one of those little table all covered in the blue China from the butler's pantry and a whole plate of scones. I would just stay there all day and night."
“That sounds perfect.” He hums. “With the fire built up?”
“Oh, of course.” The scenario has played out in your head a thousand times, and one day you might just have to go antiquing for your own chaise so you can fulfill it. Of course…you’ll also need a home legitimate enough to have a fireplace. Not your shitty little studio apartment.
“Storm beating against the windows?” It would be a miracle in California, but he could imagine it in the setting of his latest screenplay. “Or snow?”
"Oh, it's been years since I saw a good snowstorm. I used to hate them, but I sort of miss it."
“I have not ever lived somewhere where there was snow.” He admits with a small shrug. “It is beautiful in pictures but I do not think it would be fun to have every day.”
"Oh, it's definitely not." Not even a little, and your immediate answer elicits laughs from both of you. "My favorite was when I was going to college in Boston and the college dug out our sidewalks for us. All the beauty of snow with none of the work."
“That is probably the best way to have the snow.” He admits with a laugh.
"Well..." Realizing you've probably monopolized enough of this extremely handsome, extremely charming man's time, you offer him a smile and try to smother the butterflies accumulating in the pit of your stomach. He has the most beautiful, soulful eyes you've ever seen. "Enjoy the rest of the museum. Take an extra look at the library when you pass through the south wing and you'll see what I mean about it being comfy."
He’s entirely disappointed to realize that he’s being dismissed. Enjoying the way you banter with him, he wishes he could ask you to give him the tour of the entire house so he could continue talking. Feeling more at ease with you than he has with anyone ever. “Thank you.” He hums softly. “I hope you have a wonderful day, full of beauty.”
"You too." You flounder for a few seconds, but you know you'll get in trouble if your supervisor sees you on the surveillance cameras talking to the same guest for too long, so you gently extract yourself to stroll as casually as possible back into the corner of the great hall that is included in your area of the house right now.
Javi watches you walk off and he sighs before he looks down at the map and pulls out his phone to take pictures of the rooms. Your attention to detail will have to be included in the film.
******
Saturday, December 23, 2023
It's the Christmas season the next time you see him, when the house is all done up in twinkling lights and wreaths with trimmed trees in almost every room. Bowls of chestnuts and pine cones and cherries replace the usual decorative hazelnuts and oranges. Pine boughs and poinsettias instead of big, beautiful flower arrangements. It's a nice change of pace, honestly, and on the weekends guests can buy tickets to the after-hours light display on the grounds. Out in the garden there are even refreshments and music plays from the trees that drip with even more lights.
Javier tucks into his light jacket. It’s not completely necessary, but it helps the spirit of the season. The lights are beautiful and he’s heard that the decorations are truly a sight to see.
The music outside just reminds you of the years that you worked in retail -- repetitive and sickly sweet Christmas songs pouring through speakers, but you dole out cups of cocoa and coffee at one of the refreshment tables outside with good enough spirits. There's bits of broken cookie to sneak every now and then, and the little gingerbread men are tasty morsels when you and the other docent working at the table can grab them.
“You were right about the library.” He hadn’t been looking for you. At least that’s what he tells himself, although he lights up for some reason when he recognizes you. “It’s perfect for a cozy day reading.”
"You..." It takes all you've got not to grab your friend's hand beside you, as the specter of the random guest you've had a crush on for almost a year materializes in front of you. "You remembered?" The full sentence is 'You remembered me?' but you don't say that.
He grins bashfully as he steps up to the table and looks down at the cookies and paper cups, trying to keep from staring at how pretty you are. Javi’s been around gorgeous women, but there’s something about the naked honest in your eyes that makes him feel almost feverish. “Of course I did.” He chuckles. “I went back through to find you that day, but you must have already gone home.”
“We move around the house every hour. To keep on our toes and so we don’t stare at the same set of walls the whole day.” Did he get even more attractive since last time? That would be so unfair. Criminally unfair, actually. “I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Enough to come back, even.”
“I had to see it during Christmas.” It also got him out of the tiny cottage he lives in. Around other people. Hopefully to distract from the loneliness of the holiday. “I don’t know if this might not be the best look for this place. Although I see it with candles lit all around.”
“It’s perfect in spring,” you tell him all too quickly, and end up flustering yourself so you have to tear your eyes away from his to look down at the grounds gather your damn wits back. “I mean…in early spring is when all the orange and hazelnut trees blossom. That’s how the property got its name. Hazelwood Park.”
“Is that so? I will have to check it out.” He looks suitably impressed and then motions to the table. “So, um, how much for a cookie and a cup of coffee?” He asks, not sure what else to say, but wanting to continue the conversation.
"Oh, they're free for guests. Help yourself." Your coworker offers helpfully, seeing you fluster and thoroughly enjoying the level of teasing that is going to happen after work tonight. "Why don't you take your break while we have a lull?" She suggests, practically batting her eyelashes with glee over the suggestion.
"Thanks, Moira," you hum with a tone that suggests you're going to kill her later. Then again? She has a point. These days that there are special events at work can be long. You've been on your feet for hours.
Javi is disappointed, sure that you will disappear on him since you have a chance to get off your feet and possibly get something to eat or drink yourself. “Oh, um, okay.” He takes a cup of be coffee and a cookie. “Thanks.”
"Make sure to show him your bench!" Moira suggests, far too loudly and excitedly to not be obvious, as she thrusts a cup of cocoa and a gingerbread man into your hands.
“Your bench?” He could kiss your friend for giving him something to grasp on to in order to keep the conversation going. “What is your bench?”
"It's...it's over on the west side of the property." You gesture to the left of were you're both standing and try to suppress the giddy and awkward shivers running up and down your spine. "Do you...would you want to walk?"
“Are you sure you want to?” He asks seriously, happy about spending time with you but it’s your break. “You don’t want to rest?”
"Benches are made for resting." Now that the chance has presented itself, you would actually be pretty bummed to miss out on the chance to chat with him again. And, in all honesty, you're pretty sure it's not your break at all. Moira just threw you out of the nest like a mama bird.
“Okay.” He agree to that easily and shifts to move the cookie into the same hand as his coffee to offer you his arm. “Lead the way.”
The chivalrous gesture damn near makes your knees buckle, and you follow suit. Shifting your snack into one hand lets you take his arm to lead him toward the ocean. "It's just...where I like to come sit." Of course it is. You groan at yourself internally. What else would you do at a bench but sit? "I take my lunch out here sometimes and things like that."
“So it’s your special place.” He likes the sound of that. Showing him something that you might not show every guest.
"I suppose you could say that." It's only a touch chilly tonight and the breeze coming off the ocean is welcoming. "It's a nice place to sit and think. To just watch the ocean and...dream."
“Hopefully the dreams are nice ones.” He offers, wondering what you might dream about. “Having a quiet place to think is always a good thing. I used to sit out at the cliffs and dream, plot, plan.”
"Cliffs?" Hazelwood Park is more or less on a cliffside, and you motion out toward the ocean again. "Like this one?"
“A little larger than this one.” He smiles as he thinks back to jumping off the cliff with Nic. “Mallorca has cliffs that go hundreds of meters in the air.” He tells you. “Some so steep you would be terrified to slip off the edge.”
“Mallorca?” Spanish. Damn. They really do make hotter men in Europe. “I’ve heard it’s beautiful there. You…traded one beautiful place to live for another?”
He shrugs slightly. “Hard to write movies anywhere else but Hollywood, no?”
“Hard, but not impossible.”
So there it is. Even the screenwriters in Hollywood are sexy. Maybe you should be grateful to live so close by, then? Southern California does have some fun things that back home didn’t. Rather than fawn over him — that’s never been your style — you just smile. “So you like libraries and you’re a writer. Stories run through your veins.”
“I would live in them if I could.” He admits wistfully. The little bench is drawing closer and he can see from the view from this point why you would like it. It’s a stunning place to look out over the water. The wind just a touch brisk as it ruffles his hair. The smell of the saltwater taking over.
“Me too.” And for reasons you can’t quite discern, you just keep talking. “That’s why I like history so much. It’s all just stories. Especially in big houses like this. Somebody’s whole life — their whole story — is wrapped up in that house.”
“And do you sometimes pretend you are the lady of the house?” He asks, imagining you in the skirts from that time.
"It would be sort of a shame to dream about the place and not dream the grand, elegant things. Wouldn't it?" When you reach the bench together, he seems to set you down first, letting you settle, and then sits beside you. "I think it's romantic. Curtis Hollingsworth built the place as a birthday gift for his wife. They were outgrowing their home because they were pregnant again, and he'd made millions helping to turn Santa Barbara into a spa town." The soft smile on your face is whimsical, but you can't help it. "Apparently, she loved oranges and hazelnuts. Which is why the trees are everywhere."
“He brought those to her.” He looks out over the water and takes a sip of the rich coffee. At least they had served a strong brew instead of something heartbreakingly weak. “To build a house for someone you love is a perfect way to show it.” He frowns slightly, remembering that he has a building site that was halted before the foundation was ever poured.
“It’s certainly a grand gesture.” Something in his tone and manner makes you hesitate, but you don’t know this man nearly well enough to ask a single personal question so you try to just press past it. “Of course, grand gestures aren’t the only way of showing love. Not by any means. But they do make wonderful stories.”
“Sometimes it’s just listening.” He agrees, thinking about how things between him and Gabriella had turned after moving to L.A. two years ago. She had been uninterested in the future he envisions and started working towards. Stopped talking to him about anything that wasn’t part of her own interests. He had tried to course correct, but it had ultimately not meant to be.
“I couldn’t agree more.” This time you do chance to look at him — sharp jaw and soft cheeks outlined against the night sky like a fully grown cherub, golden brown curls neatly and artfully tousled and waving in the breeze. He looks like a Romantic painting. “Lots of people talk about communication but not enough realize listening is included in that.”
His eyes find yours again, seeing the softness and understanding swimming in their depths and he feels like bearing his soul to you. “Is it probably the most important part.” He admits. “The world would be better if people understood that.”
“Again…” you swallow hard, feeling your mouth has run dry and chest fairly ripped open with the feeling of familiarity. “I couldn’t agree more.”
The silence falls between you. It’s not unpleasant, it’s almost hesitant. As if both of you are afraid of disturbing the uncluttered beauty of the moment as the waves crash against the coast at the wind batters playfully against your cheeks. Javi breaks off a piece of the cookie and dips it onto the coffee.
“You chose a beautiful night to come visit.” It’s clear and typically warm despite the ocean breeze, and even in the end of December, Southern California is a beautiful place to be. He could have gone to any of a thousand places but he chose to come here, and a small voice in the back of your head wonders — hopes — that maybe you had a part in making this place happy for him.
“I was compelled to come back.” He admits softly, looking over at you for a moment before breaking off the gaze to look out at the sea again.
“The house is like that.” When he looks away, you do too. “It draws people in.”
It’s not the house, but it would sound crazy to say that he wanted to see you again. Instead he hums. “I don’t think it’s just the house.”
“Well…” If you wanted to take that to heart, you feel like you could. It wouldn’t be difficult to give yourself that little bit of hope. But despite being easy, it would probably be very foolish. “I hope it helps you miss home a little less to sit on these cliffs, instead.”
“I think it does.” He takes the bite of the cookie and groans happily. “These are good.”
“Gingerbread is highly underrated,” you agree, and take a bite of your own after dipping it into your cup of cocoa. “I get why they’re seasonal but I wish I could find them so easily all year long.”
“Yes.” He agrees. “They would be good anytime.”
“What’s your favourite kind of cookie?” The question is innocuous enough, but you find yourself curious anyway. Curious to know about anything he feels like telling you.
He chuckles and lifts a shoulder innocently. “A good chocolate chip cookie is always a comfort.” He admits. “Sometimes the simple things are the best.” He twists his head and looks over to you. “What is yours?”
“Have you ever heard of a hermit cookie?” You ask, raising an eyebrow, and grinning in amusement when he looks confused. “It’s a soft, spice cookie. Like gingerbread. Sometimes with raisins and nuts in it. They’re a bit old fashioned, but wonderful with coffee.”
“They sound like I should try some.” He would try anything you recommend right now, a fact that should scare him but it doesn’t. “How old are the cookies?” He asks, thinking about his screenplay.
“They’re from the 1880s or 90s, I think?” It does not escape your amusement or notice that this is the same time that the house you work in was built. “I don’t know if they’ve ever been popular outside of New England, but we do love them there.”
He hums and takes note of that. Deciding he will research it. “Hermit cookies.” He repeats. “Are there recipes for this? Online?”
"Probably." His entire attention has now focused in on this just because you said it was your favorite cookie and that makes you smile in a way you can't quite explain.
“Then I will have to look it up.” He smiles as he takes another sip of his coffee. “I like researching things. It is very interesting. Like your marble mosaic tiles.”
"You researched the tiles?" It's the sort of thing that you would only think of you or your coworkers doing, but hearing that he has enjoyed his time in the house -- and possibly with you -- so much warms your heart.
“It was interesting to learn how they chose the marbles.” He nods. “I never imagined a trip to Europe to pick out building materials.”
"It's a heck of a reason for a vacation," you agree, laughing slightly at the opulence of it all.
“Yes. And trips would take months.” He chuckles.
"I can't even imagine." To take a vacation at all would be a miracle. But one that was months long? It sounds positively absurd to your ear.
“Do you think they ever got bored?” He asks curiously. “Or tired of being away from home?”
"I have to imagine that they did." It's a question you've thought on more than you want to admit, but the stories in your head are always about everyday things. Wondering what the mundane things were like. "If I had a home like this I can't imagine ever wanting to be away from it. But I suppose the right person can make anything worthwhile."
“Were they soulmates?” He asks softly, having avoided the personal backgrounds of the homeowners when taking the tour. He had tried to keep his own characters in mind.
“They were. And when they left the house to their daughter, she married her soulmate here. And then her daughter married her soulmate here, as well. The house has a history of lifelong loves.”
“That is nice.” His tone is wistful. “I don’t know if I will ever meet my soulmate.” Javi confides, normally keeping that information to himself but he blurts it out. “I worry about it sometimes.”
“I don’t know a single person who hasn’t worried about it at some point.” Even your sister, who said she didn’t mind not marrying her soulmate as long as the woman she found was a loving partner, had been thoroughly overjoyed when she had found her now wife on Mate Marks. Everyone thinks about it — worries about it — even if they don’t want to admit it. “I wouldn’t worry, if I were you.” You offer him a smile, knowing you’ve gone over your fifteen minutes for your break and not wanting to be caught flirting with a guest on company time. “Whoever you do find is going to be very lucky to have you.”
He smiles again. “Have you found yours?” He figures you probably have, you are beautiful and captivating.
"Not yet." Even though you'd rather not, you stand from the bench. "I don't know if I ever will. Only time will tell."
“I know you have to go back to work.” Javi leaps off the bench and shuffles, wishing he could ask you to stay. “Thank you for showing me this place.” He bites his lip. “Uh, can I walk you back?”
The warmth rushes back to your cheeks, and you practically squirm with delight. "Thank you. I'd like that."
He offers his arm again, taking your empty hot cocoa cup from you to hold with his own trash. “Imagine the parties they used to hold here.” He breathes out as the two of you turn back towards the house.
"We're setting up an exhibit with some of the gowns. It's meant to open in about six weeks." You light up with that fact, excited to see all the swishing gowns and glimmering jewels for yourself. "Descendents of the family donated a large collection of clothing, shoes, and jewelry to the museum this part year."
“Wow.” He chuckles, thinking about the parties he would throw when he was pretending to be an olive oil exporter. He’s much happier being a screen writer, even if he can’t afford those parties and bought friends anymore. “That was generous of them.”
"They say the most spectacular pieces are still privately owned by the family, but the things I've seen so far have been absolutely gorgeous." If you're a little dreamy-eyed at the prospect, he doesn't seem to mind.
“It sounds like you would have loved to live during that time.” He smiles, knowing that he will have to insist the movie be filmed here.
"I'm probably overly romanticizing it," you admit. But the tent is in view already and you hate the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach that wonders if he'll ever come back again. "I hope—" Biting back what you really hope, you go for a polite encouragement instead, "That the things you've found in your research have given you plenty to think about. And maybe romanticized it for you, too."
“It has.” Even if you have no interest in him, you’ve given him a focal point for his movie. “Thank you. This is a magical place.”
"Then I hope you'll come back again." At least in that you can be honest. There is nothing you would like more than to see him again.
“Really?” He’s surprised by your comment. Unless you are just being polite.
"Really." You promise him, but at the edge of the refreshments tent, you have to let his arm go.
He’s disappointed by the loss of your fingers on his jacket. “Well. I hope the rest of your night is magical.” He offers, bowing slightly and smiling at you.
"I can all but guarantee it now." One more smile. One more lingering, dopey smile, and you know you have to tear yourself away. "Have a good night..." Oh no. Have you really gone and sat and flirted with this man for your whole break and not even learned his name?
He nods and turns away, sure that it would be rude to try to extend the conversation. He will just have to go home and write about this, working it into the plot of his movie somehow.
******
Monday, June 10, 2024
The email went out before opening time, when only your bosses were up in the offices and the docent core hadn’t gotten to work yet. You’d nearly crashed your car in excitement while CarPlay read the email out to you on the highway.
A movie. An actual Hollywood movie is coming to film at the museum!
The second you clocked in and sprinted to the break room to put your things away, you almost clobbered Moira with squealed, giddy glee.
“Did you hear?? Did you see Leslie’s email?!”
“Oh my god, yesssss.” She lights up and nods quickly. “It’s a movie by that guy who did the Nic Cage movie a couple of years ago.” She informs you. “The one that won an Oscar and restarted that man’s career?” After a long slump of bad movies, the older actor had exploded back on the scene, apparently full of new life and motivation for his trade.
“I can’t wait until we find out more!” Being able to hug your friend and squeal together is such a rush. The two of you have become joined-at-the-hip work friends to the point where the friendship has bled into everyday life. “A name, a plot, any of the stars?”
“Actors.” She sighs dreamily. “Imagine if your soulmate or mine, is an actor who comes to film?” She loves the glitz and glam of Hollywood and always secretly imagined being an actress herself, although she’s realistic enough to understand that it would be impossible to have happen.
“Maybe yours will be.” You laugh, hugging her again before you have to break away to pull your radio headset out of your bag. There is still work to do today, desire the excitement. “You’ll have to make sure you always wear your hair up so your tattoo is visible.” The little raven behind her ear would be a hell of a lot easier to show off than the tarot card on her though, anyway. Moira’s tattoos are gorgeous and just unique enough that you would bet there was no duplicate in the works besides her soulmate.
“Oh I’m planning on it.” She licks her lips and waggles her brows suggestively. “What about you? Yours aren’t so visible.” She knows how much you secretly want to meet your soulmate and be with them. It was a drunken girl’s night confession but she had never teased you over it.
“There’s no reason to go around showing everyone my marks.” You shrug a little and busy yourself with plugging into a walkie-talkie and adjusting your headset in your ear. “A lot of people have ankle scars, don’t they? And I can’t exactly show off my butterfly.” Exposing that much skin is definitely against dress code.
“Is it your scar or his?” You had never mentioned that, just that you had a scar.
“It’s theirs.” However your soulmate is, you’ve tried very hard not to make assumptions about them. The person you hope for might not be the person you get, and that wouldn’t be fair to them. “I was nine when it appeared, so my best guess has always been they fell out of a tree or play sports.”
“And the tattoo is yours?” She knows, she’s just chatting because it’s better than actually getting ready to work right now.
“Twenty-first birthday.” You nod, knowing that she knows but that Moira likes a slower start to her day than you usually do. “I did the opposite of most people. I got the tattoo and then went out to get drunk.”
“Which is a very valid and smart thing to do.” She praises. “That way you don’t bleed too much and it’s a nice way to numb the pain after.” Her own walkie comes out to begrudgingly clip to her waist. “But this movie, it has to be a period piece, right? No way a modern millionaire would live in a house like this.”
“It has to be. There’s no point in renting out a historical house museum for four entire months unless you’re going to use it all.” Not that you know too much about the filming process, but it just makes logical sense. “And besides, they’re here in spring and summer, which is usually our busy season. So I’m sure Leslie charged them a fortune. But HBO can afford it, I guess.”
“What if they let us be extras?” Her eyes widen at the sudden thought. “Oh god, we could wear our work!” She giggles happily at the thought.
“I assume there will have to be extras somehow.” Truthfully, you’d let your Hollywood dreams die out a long time ago. Moira’s were much more present. It would be amazing to see her to be able to fulfill them with even just a morsel like being an extra. “I guess we’ll just have to find out, won’t we?”
“When it gets closer you will be just as excited as I am.” She predicts with a knowing grin.
“I’m plenty excited,” you promise, happily hugging her to your side as the two of you head out into the house together. “I just think you belong in front of a camera much more than I do.”
“You’ll change your mind.” She teases. “When you see what gorgeous actors and actresses they bring, you will be begging to flirt with them. On and off camera.”
“Maybe.” Her confidence is catching, and you laugh again at the thought of it. Hollywood has come knocking on your door and it’s already making work a hell of a lot more fun.
------ Master Tags: @pixiedurango @chattychell @winter-fox-queen @lady-himbo @artsymaddie @princess76179 @paintballkid711 @missminkylove @pedrosbrat @ew-erin @sarahjkl82-blog @sharkbait77 @justanotherblonde23 @lv7867 @recklesswit @mylittlesenaar @f0rever15elf @gallowsjoker @steeevienicks @athalien @sherala007 @skvatnavle @thatpinkshirt @jaime1110 @girlimjusttryingtoreadfanfics @goodgriefitsawildworld @greeneyedblondie44 @littlemousedroid @harriedandharassed @churchill356 @ajathegreats-blog @haylzcyon @beardsanddetectives @kirsteng42 @ladykatakuri @adancedivasmom @madiebear @tanzthompson @emilianamason @bigsdinger @xocalliexo @pedr0swh0r3 @avaleineandafryingpan @charlyrmv @avidreader73 @iceclaw101 @loveslide @elegantduckturtle @becsworld @julesonrecord @its-nebuleuse @itsrubberbisquit @mikeyswifie @guelyury @lizzie-cakes @for-a-longlongtime @vabeachazn @purplerain04 @weho2kcmo @madnessofadaydreamer
#Pedro Pascal#Pedro Pascal character fanfiction#Pedro Pascal fanfic#Javi Gutierrez#Javi Gutierrez x you#Javi Gutierrez x reader#Javi Gutierrez x female reader#Javi Gutierrez x f!reader#Javi G#TUWOMT#the unbearable weight of massive talent#soulmate au
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Hm upon posting that Beelzebub thing, realized it'd be very embarrassing to be in Hell while on your period.... Beelzebub is already bad enough, but I feel like the others who aren't as familiar with humans or human bodies and menstruation, the second they smell blood, they're freaking out 😭 anyway, here's some headcanons for just the kings:
◇ Satan probably has some general idea of what a period is, he's fairly knowledgeable, but there's a solid minute where he's ready to kill because he smells blood on you and is convinced you've been hurt. Takes a lot of restraining to get him calm enough to listen to you so you can tell him it's just your monthlies. After that he's pretty good. Doesn't like to see you in pain, and he gets very restless knowing there's not really anything he can do. It's the only time he'll let you cuddle with Ppyong, if it makes you feel better. He'll likely scare off everyone else, though, and prefers to keep you where he can see you until it's done.
◇ Mammon is wonderfully sweet when learning about your period, and is probably a rare one to ask questions about the info you give him, too. He has the wealth to get you everything you need for your period... and then some. Every new gadget out there, he's buying it for you to try. It's over the top but he means well. His master hurting causes him hurt, too. Even Bimet is a little kinder in his words (and its a good time to milk a little sympathy from him with your tears, because he panics wonderfully).
◇ Leviathan gets extra anxious and irritated around you, almost like he's having sympathetic period symptoms, but it's also just because he smells the blood and it brings up bad memories. He's a little gentler, at least, and maybe tries to keep you settled in a room of his choosing until your period is done. Brings you whatever you need because seeing you suffering does tug on his heartstrings, even if he won't admit it. He's a sweetheart, but he'd rather explode than let on that he cares. He's also going to ward off others from seeing you, wanting to be the only one taking care of you in this sensitive state, much to the disappointment of his three men.
◇ Belphegor will rub against you wrong during your period, but never intentionally. He cares, but he doesn't care like that, you know? Beleth will really be the saving grace here, talks to you in that kind Southern drawl he's got, fetches you a drink and a blanket if you need it. Probably will apologize on behalf of his king for being a piece of work when you're suffering lmao. But at least Belphegor makes for a great napping partner. If you get horny and need him, he doesn't mind the period part. But, he will leave the cleaning up to you or his right hand man. In fact, he may even sleep through the sex itself, tbh.
◇ Asmodeus.......... He's no stranger to periods whatsoever. It goes without saying, but number one thing with him will be period sex. He's heard enough about how sex could help relieve your pain, and he's more than happy to volunteer to help in that regard. But that being said, he's not entirely shameless. If you manage to resist him, he'll make do with holding you and maybe telling you some tales from his visits to Earth, raunchy or not, as a means of distraction for you. You'll just have to excuse his thing poking into you the whole time, and perhaps some wandering hands.
◇ We've already discussed Beelzebub previously, but just to keep it all together... He's a freak. Its not his favorite time, per se, but he still kind of loves when you're on your period??? He's always obsessed with your scent and it's even worse during your monthly. Another one who is happy to fuck you or eat you out during your period if you want him to. But if not, then he'll satisfy himself just hanging around. Similar to Belphegor, he may get on your nerves, so high likelihood that Bael will be the one helping you the most, not that he'll complain about it. He does have the same philia as his king so he does enjoy being around you, too, he's just much more courteous about it.
◇ Lucifer will be the most normal one, somehow, long familiar with periods and how to help them. He doesn't exactly have Midol or Aleve, or typical period products, but he'll work it out. Probably makes some kind of medicinal compound out of herbs that relieves pain, and he at least supplies you with cloths as your pads. He knows, too, what foods you should eat that will best replenish your iron, your energy, and decrease fatigue. Really, his whole squad is in on it, working to make you feel better until your period is done, and it's a little embarrassing. But they all mean well, and if anyone's ideal for care, it'll be the healers.
#tw periods#tw menstruation#whb hcs#what in hell is bad#whb satan#whb mammon#whb leviathan#whb belphegor#whb asmodeus#whb beelzebub#whb lucifer#the minx can write ✍️
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Hai could I get fo4 complete reaction to the sole survivor being very big on giving praise? Like they're constantly complementing the companions but not in an overbearing way :) thank uuu
FO4 Companions reacting to the Sole Survivor's praise:
Cait
At first, she’s incredibly suspicious. Compliments? From someone who doesn’t want anything? She’s waiting for the catch.
Once she realises it’s genuine, she gets flustered and awkward, brushing off praise with a “Yeah, yeah, don’t go getting soft on me.” But she starts subtly craving it.
Eventually, she starts preening a bit when she hears it, standing a little taller. “Damn right I’m good at this,” she’ll say, with a small but proud smile.
Codsworth
Absolutely adores it. He lives to serve, and knowing Sole appreciates him fills him with robotic joy.
“Oh, you are too kind! I do try my best, of course!” He starts adding a little flourish when serving them tea, trying to impress them.
Might even get a little smug when others don’t get as much praise. “Ah, not everyone can be as meticulous as yours truly!”
Curie
Delighted and fascinated by Sole’s positivity, especially when directed at her scientific skills.
“Oh! You really think my work is amazing? That is… oh, you make me blush!” She absorbs every word like a sponge, eager to impress them further.
Over time, she starts paying the praise forward, complimenting others in the group in an adorable, awkward way: “Yes, Cait, you… hit that man so well! Such force!”
Paladin Danse
Completely unsure of how to process it at first. Praise was always tied to performance in the Brotherhood, not simple appreciation.
Starts standing up straighter, subtly shifting into parade rest every time he is praised. “That’s… good to hear, soldier.”
He may not say it, but it means something to him. Eventually, he starts seeking approval in small ways, hoping to get an extra “Outstanding work” when he pulls off something impressive.
Deacon
Smug as hell about it at first. “Oh, stop it, you charmer, you’ll make a spy blush.”
But deep down? It gets to him. Compliments aren’t something he gets often—especially not genuine ones.
He starts responding more sincerely over time, quietly muttering, “Y’know, you’re not too bad yourself.” That’s Deacon for I’m touched beyond words.
Dogmeat
Is a dog. Therefore, absolutely loves the praise and thrives on it.
Tail-wagging intensifies with every “Good boy!” until he’s practically vibrating.
Starts bringing the Sole Survivor even more random junk from the wasteland, tail wagging proudly as he receives his due recognition.
Gage
At first? Suspicious as hell. Compliments in Nuka-World usually meant someone wanted something.
Eventually, he starts accepting them at face value, though he plays it cool: “Yeah, well, I am pretty damn good at what I do.”
But if he ever hears a genuine “I trust you,” that’s it. That’s the moment he realises he’s actually loyal to them, no strings attached.
John Hancock
Drinks it up like the finest chems. “Oh, you really do know how to sweet-talk a ghoul.”
Starts playfully fishing for them. “I dunno, was that a badass move or the most badass move?”
But after a while, he stops playing—he just enjoys hearing them say nice things. It reminds him that he’s worth appreciating.
Robert MacCready
At first? Incredibly awkward. “Uh… thanks? I guess?” He’s not used to compliments that aren’t sarcastic.
Eventually, he starts mumbling a quiet “Thanks” and actually appreciating it. He never realised how much he craved validation.
If they ever tell him he’s a great dad? That’s it. He’s done. Might actually tear up.
Nick Valentine
Smirks at first, taking it in stride. “Careful, kid. A fella might start thinkin’ you like having him around.”
But deep down? It means a hell of a lot. People don’t usually appreciate him as more than an old synth detective.
Eventually, he starts throwing it right back. “Well, you’re not half bad yourself, partner.” And from him, that’s high praise.
Piper Wright
Blushes furiously at first, brushing it off. “Pfft, come on, you’re making me sound cooler than I am.”
Eventually, though? She starts believing it. Starts walking with a bit more confidence, feeling like she is as capable as they say she is.
She starts writing about them in a new way—not just as a legend, but as a genuinely good person.
Preston Garvey
Blinks the first time they compliment him, looking genuinely surprised. “You really mean that?”
He’s so used to being the one lifting everyone else up—it takes him a while to accept that someone wants to do the same for him.
Eventually, he starts smiling more. “Thanks, General. That means a lot.” And it really, really does.
Strong
Confused at first. Why is human saying nice things? What is this strange behavior?
Eventually, decides it is a human battle custom and accepts it. “YES. STRONG IS GOOD SMASHER.”
Might even start attempting his own version of praise: “HUMAN… IS GOOD TOO. NOT AS STRONG AS STRONG. BUT GOOD.”
X6-88
Is initially just... silent. He doesn’t know how to react. Compliments aren’t part of his programming.
Eventually, he just nods at them. “Noted.” But his tone softens over time.
He never outright asks for it, but if they ever stop praising him? He might just subtly start working harder for it.
Ada
Initially confused but appreciative. “That is… unexpected. Most humans do not take the time to compliment machines.”
Over time, she begins to recognise it as genuine appreciation and responds in kind. “Your leadership is commendable. I am… grateful to be part of this.”
Though she may not have emotions like a human, her tone becomes just a touch warmer when speaking to Sole, like she’s learning what it means to feel valued.
Automatron
Default programmed response: “Thank you for your feedback.”
But if they keep it up, the bot might start adapting its speech patterns. “Analysis: Positive reinforcement detected. Conclusion: You are… kind.”
If modified with a personality matrix, the bot might get cocky. “Yes, yes, I am the pinnacle of engineering excellence. Carry on, human.”
Old Longfellow
Grumbles about it at first. “Damn fool, ain't no need to butter me up. Just doin’ what I always done.”
But over time, he starts getting used to it. Starts looking forward to Sole’s words, even if he won’t admit it.
The real moment of breakthrough? When he finally mutters, “Heh. Y’ain’t so bad yourself, kid.” That’s Longfellow for I respect the hell outta you.
Porter Gage
At first? Suspicious as hell. Compliments? That ain't how the real world works. “Yeah, yeah, what angle you workin’, boss?”
But once he realises Sole is just… like that, he starts soaking it in. “Damn. Not used to hearin’ that kinda thing. Feels… nice, I guess.”
Eventually, he starts giving them a nod of approval in return. “Gotta say, boss—you got a way of makin’ folks wanna follow ya. Guess I picked the right side after all.”
♡If you liked this fic, please consider buying me a coffee! Ko-fi ♡
#fo4#fallout 4#fallout#fo4 fanfiction#fanfiction#cait#codsworth#curie#paladin danse#deacon#dogmeat#john hancock#robert maccready#nick valentine#piper wright#preston garvey#strong#x6 88#ada#automatron#old longfellow#porter gage#headcanon
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![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/0742485c4dee1f7325003d7e9a748d2a/0f8c2d21d0d287e7-a6/s540x810/11f5ebad603f37658e78b6cb42e3804fa63082fc.jpg)
"make it last forever ,never let it go,, 1.6k words ⸺ event masterlist synopsis: xavier could spend eternity in these little nights spent with you contains: fluff! lnds xavier x mc!reader (no prns used) ,night time date ,snack run ,xavier knows a place ,silly conversation ,lots of bantering ,kissing ,cuddling ,u steal from xav ,he lays on you ,mention to his lore if u squint ,i think thats it tldr cute late night date w xavi note: (mostly edited!) finally some calm fluff after the smut fest
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late night snack runs weren't unusual for you anymore.
after the countless times of being invited out by xavier, the man always knowing when you were awake somehow (or maybe it was just that much of a bad habit at this point?) and you could never pass up the opportunity, no matter how many sites claimed eating late was bad for you.
tonight was a little different, however. in the early evening, xavier invited you to the arcade, wanting to try out a two-player game with you, and you quickly agreed, having nothing else planned for the evening.
after spending more time than you thought you would at the arcade, you were the one who suggested going for a snack run (mostly to extend the time you had with the hunter) and while momentarily taken aback, he quickly nodded, commenting about how he did "happen to be running low on a few of his favorites thanks to a certain someone."
(at the not-so-subtle jab, you only laughed, nudging him with your arm as you claimed it couldn't have been you, and that its thanks to you both having similar tastes).
after raiding the convenience store, you both shared the sentiment of not wishing to simply return home. thats when xavier suggested taking you to a "secret hangout spot" of his that happened to be nearby with a lovely view of watching the stars.
you playfully narrowed your eyes, questioning him about his secret spot of his. he'd only said "wait till we get there," do your curious inquiries, intertwining his free hand with yours as he led you there.
the night was calm, soft breeze flowing past you both moving in sync, the walk shrouded in comfortable silence as your star and the light from the moon guided you both to a clear field, flowers blooming sporadically around the area. he led you to the center before letting you sit first, taking a seat after.
as you sifted through your bags for your snacks, conversation began to flow again.
"i still can't believe you beat me earlier," you pout, pulling out a bag of chips from your bag.
"after you were so confident, i kind of felt bad."
"you're just way too good at video games!"
"but you're good at card games. i almost never win kitty cards against you."
a little grin and giggle.
"what can i say? the kitties just love me~"
"or maybe its because a certain hunter likes to.. mess around with my kitties when im caught off guard," he shoots a pointed, teasing look your way.
you gasp dramatically, hand coming up to cover your heart.
"its called a strategy, my dear xavier. and besides, what else am i supposed to do when you doze off playing cards?"
you quickly boop his nose, retracting your hand to open the chip bag.
"though if you're bored, i could always ask someone else to—"
"no!"
your head snaps up from the bag in your hands to your lover. a sheepish expression quickly takes over his features as he looks down, popping the tab of his soda to open it.
"i mean... ill play with you whenever, even when im tired. so, don't ask anyone else."
even though his gaze is still averted, you smile fondly at him.
"sure, i only have one partner, right?"
he peeks up at you, a small satisfied grin crawling up his lips as he nods at your words.
"right. i'm your one and only partner. you can count on me for anything."
a small silence envelops the space as you pop a few chips into your mouth, feeling the comfortable breeze surrounding you both. there's a rustling from xavier's bag as he pulls out his own snack before speaking up again.
"but what you said before.. its not difficult; to love you, i mean."
his fond gaze is on you as he pops his own piece of his snack into his mouth. you tilt your head at him, smiling.
"i feel the same about you, but it seems the kitties feel differently."
you empty your hands, quickly cleaning your hands with a napkin before suddenly cupping his face in your hands, rubbing his cheeks in circles. caught off guard, his eyes are wide as they stare back into yours.
"but why? isnt this face to die for? and you were a kitty for awhile, too!"
a blush colors his cheeks as he huffs out a breath through his nose. he averts his gaze from yours, his hands wrapping around your wrists to stop your movements, but he lets your touch linger.
your eyes drift to the top of his head.
"i really do miss your kitty ears sometimes," you sigh, hands rubbing through his soft tresses.
a small giggle escapes him as his eyes slowly drift back to your pleased expression as you play with his locks.
"will you take responsibility for messing up my hair?"
"no matter how much i mess with it, it still looks fine. xavier, spill your secrets!"
you squish one cheek between your thumb and index finger while your other hand continues sifting through the soft silver.
"ow.. theres no secret. i just use regular shampoo and conditioner from the local convenience store..."
"then its natural?" you lean closer, both hands holding his face again as you inspect him closely. he nods, gaze locked with yours.
"perfect skin and perfect hair... theres no way someone's this lucky. were you blessed when you were born or something?"
a hearty laugh reverberates through his chest this time, hands coming up to cover yours and nuzzling into your touch.
"even if thats true, if we're talking about 'luck...'"
his eyes peer into yours, swirling with complete and utter fondness.
"the luckiest thing thats happened to me is meeting you," he whispers.
'again,' he wants to add, but stops himself.
even without this one little word, your eyes glimmer with joy, reflecting the stars from the sky back to him, and thats enough for him.
to be with you like this, spending his time with you, being held and being able to hold you in return—
that was enough for him.
"xavier shen, you are the best thing that's happened to me: a shining star that i can call my very own."
his ears tinge a dark red, smile bright as the lights twinkling in the sky and heart full, beat quickening in his chest.
"this star has and always will be yours."
one of his hands cups your cheek as he leans forward, eyes fluttering as he tilts his head to capture your lips in a loving kiss.
you pull back for a moment to look at him once again before peppering his face with the same affections.
he giggles again but lets you do as you please, always satisfied to grant you whatever you desire.
while he's distracted, your eyes drop down to his open snack bag sitting beside him. a mischievous idea crosses your mind and before you can think twice, you decide to go for it.
you lean forward, capturing his lips in a soft kiss again. he quickly melts into it, hands holding your sides. while he's distracted, you sneak a hand into his bag and grab the first thing your hand touches— a lollipop— and pull it back, hiding it in your sleeve before breaking the kiss and pulling back.
you sit back, satisfied at getting away with stealing when xavier pulls you back towards him, causing you to fall over his lap.
"..!?"
he raises an eyebrow, shooting you a knowing look.
"it seems like someone was feeling a little naughty there," he muses, grabbing your wrists again.
you gasp, watching as he slips two fingers into your sleeve, pulling the lollipop from it.
"and whats this?"
"a lollipop?"
he shakes his head, an amused smile on his lips before being replaced by a faux serious one.
"shouldn't a hunter know better than anyone that stealing is wrong?"
"didn't you give an inspection before gathering evidence that i stole? now whos in the wrong?"
"you only need to gather evidence if you need to prove something, but i already knew it was you."
"but how??!"
he points at you using the lollipop.
"i heard the bag rustle beside me."
"you..!"
he giggles, amused at your expression.
"you thought you could get away, but you need to be stealthier."
"teach me, then!"
he hums in thought.
"alright," he nods.
"but not before a punishment is set in place. you did steal, after all."
"what kind of punishment?"
he hums again, feigning an expression of being deep in thought before he adjusts your positions to be half-laying down, slumping his weight against you.
"you get to act as my pillow."
"is this really a punishment?" you muse, hands automatically brushing through his silver tresses once again.
"maybe not, but..."
he nuzzles close to your heart, listening to the steady thump of it against his ear.
"i plan to sleep here tonight."
"what?? no way, i can't carry you back to your apartment like this!"
"hmm, you should have thought about that," he teases.
"so this is what happens when you steal..."
xavier's laugh rings through your ears, up into the open area surrounding just the two of you and up to the stars, watching the resting lovers continue in idle conversation as they gaze towards the sky.
despite everything the star on land had gone through to get here, he would do it all again in a heartbeat, unwilling to have it any other way, for here, with you, was where he belonged.
-
a/n: a late night date staring up at the stars sigh what a dream
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#love and deepspace#lads#lnds#l&ds#love and deepspace x reader#love and deepspace x you#lads x reader#lads x you#lnds x reader#lnds x you#l&ds x reader#l&ds x you#love and deepspace xavier#lads xavier x reader#lads xavier x you#lnds xavier x reader#lnds xavier x you#l&ds xavier x reader#l&ds xavier x you
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February 7 - Cauldron February 8 - Breath/Breathe @into-the-jeggyverse | wc: 1,193
“I had plans tonight,” Regulus grumbles, scrubbing at the table, “But then you had to go on and do your thing, talking to my stupid brother instead of paying attention to what you were doing and you fucking blew up the potion.”
James, as much as they’ve been trying to tune out Regulus’ anger, doesn’t have much of a choice. It’s the only other thing that they can hear other than the horrid sound of the harsh scrubber rubbing against the rough side of the cauldron they’re leaning into, practically folded in half at the waist to scrub the grime off the bottom of it. But they’re already feeling guilty enough about it, and this is just making it worse.
“I’m sorry,” they mutter, low. They’re not even sure Regulus can hear it, but with the way that their faint voice echoes in the cauldron, there’s a possibility.
They know that he’s heard it when he suddenly stops his angered ranting, and there’s silence other than the abhorrent sounds of cleaning and scrubbing. They take in a deep breath and push their torse out of the cauldron. They don’t turn to look at him, instead just walking to the bucket and cleaning off their scraper sponge, “I wasn’t trying to blow it up. I was-” they shake their head, “I know that you put me on reading and stirring because it’s the ‘only thing that I can do right’ but I can’t even do reading right. That’s why I liked to be paired up with Remus because he can read and instruct me in a way that’s clear to me, but their new relationship has Sirius hogging him as a potions partner.” They swallow thickly, walking back to the cauldron but not climbing inside of it quite yet. Instead they take to scrubbing at the lip of it.
They’re quiet for a moment, “It’s just that… sometimes when I’m reading the words get all wiggly and run together and suddenly they stop making any sense and it hurts my eyes and my head. So I’ll usually ask Remus to read for me. That’s-” they finally chance a glance up at Regulus, he’s looking back at them, “that’s what happened. And you were busy chopping the leaves just right and I knew that you would just get after me for asking for clarification so I turned to Remus. But Remus was distracted keeping Sirius from blowing up their own potions and-” they take a deep breath, realising that they had been forgetting to take in full breaths, “I don’t- I don’t know what happened but I’m sorry and I really didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“Potter,” Regulus says, his own voice now quiet and much softer than it was before. Yet it’s intentional, “Breathe.” He puts his own rag down on the table and takes a couple steps towards them, “I get it, you don’t have to try and over-explain yourself. I-” he swallows, James can’t take their eyes off of him now that he’s speaking directly to him and not just grumbling to himself. He takes another step closer, “I’m so- I should’ve asked for what you wanted to do instead of just putting you into a role. I don’t- I clearly didn’t understand how you best operate and so all of this was partially my fault.”
James shakes their head, taking that for the apology that it is, “It’s fine. I should’ve said something about it earlier. Or pushes that I be partnered with Remus because I know that it’s better. I can handle SIius’ pouting for a couple hours.”
“Don’t pretend like I’m not at fault for this.” Regulus shakes his head, “I didn’t give you a voice or listen to you and I made myself unapproachable. Then I’ev just been shitting on you…” he looks around at the classroom, “We’re close to being done, you can leave early and I’ll finish up and cover for you if Slughorn comes back.”
James looks at him alarmed, “No, I’m not leaving. You don’t have to do that for me. Like you said, we’re almost done and you said that you had plans. Maybe if we finish up faster than you can still get to them.” And with that, they’re turning back around and once again leaning over the cauldron. It’s one of the last ones that they need to do and they know that their back is going to kill them for this.
Regulus is quiet for a while, not moving, before he finally goes back to the table he was cleaning and resumes his work. He huffs, “You’re far too nice for your own good, do you know?”
James laughs weakly, “A lot of people say that, but I’m not really. I’m nice to people that I care about or want to like me, but I’m- I can be a dick to people who I don’t want around me, which is actually a lot of people.”
“If you say so,” Regulus says, James isn’t shocked, not a lot of people believe them unless they actually see it, “But you’re too nice after everything I’ve said and done to you.”
They shrug with one shoulder, even if Regulus can’t see it, “You grew up in a bad home and you only know how to be mean to protect yourself. Believe it or not, Sirius treated us really shitty for the first several months of us living together before we finally got it in his head that we weren’t going to take his bullshit and that we didn’t deserve being treated like that. I figure you’re the same way and I’ve gone through it once, I can do it again. I also know that I’ve been quick with you before so we’re even.” Then they mutter, low enough that they hope Regulus can’t hear it, “Besides, I like it when you’re mean to me.”
“What was that last part?”
“Nothing.” James shakes their head.
Neither of them talk for the rest of the detention period. But when James is telling Regulus that if he hurries he might still be able to get to his plans, that it’s not too late, Regulus shakes his head and says that he’s going to walk James up to the Gryffindor Tower as sort of a ‘make up’. James insists that they don’t need one, but Regulus insists.
So they head up to the Gryffindor Tower and Regulus manages to grind out an apology to James when they get to the Fat Lady’s portrait. Then he turns on his heels and storms away before they can really process what’s just happened. James stands in the corridor for a moment before finally turning and getting let in, not without a pointed look from the Fat Lady.
The others are waiting in the common room for James, and Sirius immediately stands up, “How was it? I hope Reggie wasn’t too hard on you.”
Remus nods, “I’m sorry that I couldn’t be your partner this time.”
“Mhm, I’ll never hog him again.”
James laughs softly, thinking back on the past hour, “It’s- it was n’t that bad guys, I promise.”
#marauders#james potter#dead gay wizards#regulus black#james x regulus#starchaser#jegulus#sunseeker#sirius black#remus lupin#nonbinary james potter#microfics#jeggyverse microfic
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ᯓ BENEATH THE ICE | 리키
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PAIRINGS. grumpy!riki x sunshine!reader
GENRE. fluff, maybe angst (?) grumpy x sunshine trope >u<
WARNINGS. none
SHO'S NOTE. this is one of my favorite tropes so here, this is probably gonna be long so, enjoy (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)
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HIS COLD STARE was enough to scare everyone away, the sparkless gaze, soulless personality and spine-shivering voice was something all of the student's in decelis academy feared in the boy, none other than, riki nishimura.
lots of old students said that ever since he transferred (which was way back in middle school), he had already kept himself away from people, always eating alone, never having friends, maybe kept one or two but was never seen in big groups or parties. some said it's just him being the biggest introvert and never liking people's presence, or he's some heartless jerk who scared everyone away. no one dared to find out which.
you always found those comments rude, some even too far on the line, sure, he's quiet maybe a lil scary but you were never the type to judge someone. something about him intrigued you, you were always a curious person. and well, you were pretty much the joy of decelis. average, but works hard typa student, friendly to everyone, and willing to help to anyone who asks for one. so you pretty much wanted to get his heart like everybody else. (not in that way, but maybe)
to your luck, in the new semester, nishimura riki was assigned to sit next to you. as usual, no talks. he sat there silently as if he was the only one in the room. you had no problem making the first move in a conversation, but why did this seem so hard?
you gulped, then softly said, “do you think you'll do well this semester?” your head turns to him, waiting for a response. you see him move a bit, then his voice speaks,
“maybe.”
his voice was low, and deep. it didn't send shivers down your spine as they said, but it was surely deeper than expected. but what irked you most was that all he said was a simple maybe. how were you suppose to respond to that?
awkwardness lingered in the air as you stayed silent after him. not knowing what or how to answer to his "maybe".
you just wished time would pass by faster. and that he'd forget how embarrassing that was.
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a few weeks had passed, and you've made zero progress on becoming his friend.
you've tried multiple tactics that usually and mostly work 90% of the time with other people! asking for a pencil, asking for the time, peeking through his notebook or even just small talk. but most of them ended up in him just simply giving you what you've asked for with no words leaving his mouth, and some just a singular word. you were starting to think he had bad breath and was afraid of people smelling it!
later on in mathematics, mrs. choi announced a partner project due in a few weeks, unfortunately, even though you were liked by everyone and friends with everyone, no one really was your bestfriend, you're everyone's friend but not the first. which hurts at times, but it's okay, right?
you scanned the room, seeing everyone had picked their partners already. leaving you, alone, and partnerless.
you cleaned out your locker for the day, still frustrated by the fact you have no partner. when an idea pops in your head, surely, riki has no partner!
even when you wanted to be his friend, you kind of hoped he wasn't going to be your partner, right now, he probably considers you a complete stranger! and you thought he wouldn't help at all.
you scurried your way to the classroom to find him doodling in his notebook, you saw his drawings before and you were quite impressed. this wasn't anything unlike it.
you breathed, just finally getting the courage to ask, “riki? hello, uhm. do you have a partner for the math project? I don't really have some close friends and some of the others already have one.. so I'm thinking of maybe pairing up with you?”
he looked up at you, his face wasn't mean, nor was it nice. it just looked.. neutral.
“you don't have anyone else to ask?” he questioned, his eyebrows furrowing.
that's the most words you've gotten from him, you started to doubt if he could even form sentences. “well, if you don't want to it's okay, I'll just find somebody els—”
“I'm okay with it,”
you blinked. a lot of times. did you hear him correctly? he agreed to be paired with you?
“you're.. serious?”
he turned his head, confused. “why?”
“really? like you're actually serious? you're gonna help me and not bail on me?” your lips were starting to curve into a smile, you never thought he was going to be this easy to convince.
“yeah,”
you smiled, “that's great! thank you, I thought you wouldn't want to be paired with me, but here you are. can I have your number? so I can update you on where and when we're going to start.”
he hesitated, he really didn't like giving his number to anyone. he never did. but it was for school purposes. he had no choice.
he wrote his number on a paper and gave it to you, he saw your smile, grinning ear-to-ear. he wondered why it was such a big deal to you. and why you're that happy. it made him confused. and probably a little happy weirded out.
“alright, I'll text you later, riki!” you said as you left along with your bag, the yellow keychain dangling.
“mhm,” he hummed. his pupils watching your figure leave.
you made it back home with anticipation and excitement, maybe you'll actually succeed in your little mission: making him your friend.
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© work of saoirsezz | sho
SHO'S NOTE. Idk when I'll be able to post part 2 because I'm busy this week, but I'll try :')
#sho writes ☆#nishimura riki#enhypen#niki fluff#riki fluff#niki x reader#riki x reader#enhypen fluff
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i tasted ash and knew [ it was you ] [ r.v. ] [ p.3 ]
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Authors Note: Well, shit. Glad to see this garnered some attention and that you guys liked it 🫡 as per usual please keep an eye on the content warnings and take care of yourselves.
Some more useless history facts nobody wanted:
• Remedies for illnesses in the fifties were a mixture of at-home and rising industry cure-alls. Many people used sponge baths for fevers and hot water bottles for aches while taking their Asprin. It was an awkward middle ground of well-known techniques and modern medicine.
• Nail care was also becoming more popular in the fifties, as with everything in society now that a war was not a concern. In 1954 a dentist was the creator of the first fake / artificial nail since he was tired of his own nails breaking lmao. Most women took care of their own nails and painted them with practice, for the most part. Women also started reshaping their nails in the process of the upkeep!
• The fairs we know today and see as a sort of larger aspect of a season were a lot more deeply involved in the local communities back in the day. Fairs were used to bring many — or just one — communities together and often made a show of selling local goods by those who lived within the county it was held in. It had a large focus on the region’s agricultural culture as well and it wasn’t uncommon to see livestock at these events. This is how some fairs ended up being hosts to many beloved country events that go on today, like rodeos. The classic carnival rides we love were still used even then — but mostly had limited options that included Ferris wheels, bumper cars, the whip, and some games that may or may not still be found in today’s fairs!
• Cotton Candy was invented in 1897 by a dentist and a candy maker. There’s a joke in there somewhere.
• Funnel cake was brought over to the States by the Dutch as drechderkuche around 1879 and they themselves had gotten it after the dish spread in popularity across Europe after initially being dated back all the way to the medival worlds of the Persians known as zalabiyeh. Only in 1947 did it make a grand entrance to the carnival and fair life as a snack of wonder!
Masterlist
PART ONE | PART TWO | PART FOUR
Pairing: Rio Vidal x Fem!Reader
Summary: Rio’s really done it now. She’s created a monster of herself and broken her most important rule and revealed her lies to you in doing so: her inability to create life. Allegedly. Death becomes your dueling partner as all you can do is grapple for some semblance of control between her moments of appearance as she works double time to keep you — and now whatever she thinks grows inside of you — alive.
Content Warnings: Dark, so expect the usual — internalized homophobia and gender norm expectations in flashbacks, panic attacks, self-harm [ not graphic but it’s there ], angst, forced impregnation, misuse of magic [ Rio, always Rio ], manipulation, obsessive behavior, threats of violence [ R —> Rio ], Stockholm Syndrome taking effect, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES
Word Count: ~5.2k
2024
You awoke with the curtains pulled open and the sun glaring across your face which really only added to the pounding in the front of your skull that welcomed you back to the world of the living.
Gods — it wasn’t just your head that pounded. Your entire body felt like a dump truck came through the house and just meandered over your unconscious body and left behind whatever was left of you.
The pain alone was almost enough to convince you to go back to sleep, to try and escape it longer and what you knew it would mean by getting up.
Because you remembered last night — down to what Rio had whispered to you with deadly promise and such conviction that it still was too much for you to think about right now.
You should have known better trying to kill Rio. You were smarter than that, most days. You knew to some extent how powerful she was and that you had no true capability to so much as give her a paper cut if she didn’t allow it.
You drew your arm from under you and rested your forehead against it, still facedown against the pillows and refusing to move from your position. That would be . . . It would be admitting a lot of things to yourself, never mind Rio.
The wetness on your skin is how you found out you were crying. Quiet tears, falling directly onto your arm before your brain could catch up with the severity of your emotions.
You dug your teeth into the skin of your arm to silence any noise that would dare try to leave your chest. These tears would have to come and go without trace, and this would be your only acknowledgment that they were ever there at all.
Your body shook only slightly as you willed your crying to end and just let the anguish and loneliness be your friends for this single moment before you had to return to this endless game of brutality with Rio.
When you could cry no more and you were sure you could breath without shuddering, you pulled your teeth from your arm and assessed the damage.
You had dug in deep enough to bruise — it was already turning red and had left deep tracks, unforgiving in the proof of your inability to hold your emotions in.
You wipes the wetness from your arm and did not wince when a throb from touching the mark was returned. It was a small price to pay, and it would be a good grounding-point to slip out of bed.
At least your emotions were back to normal. . . They were regulating now.
That’s what you told yourself as you sat at the edge of the bed and stared at the plants on the shelves across from you on the wall.
The ache between your legs that matches the one deep in your chest beyond flesh and bone were ones that you knew well — from your previous marriage and then with Rio. Both with positive and negative connotations attached — at first.
Now you weren’t sure there was anything left to recover from those feelings. Not when you could reach up to your neck and practically touch the hum of magic that kept you tethered to her.
You flexed your fingers and dug them into the mattress as you tried to even your breaths again. The tears were long gone, but the breathing —
She took, took, and took and never once thought that she was taking. She only cared what it did for her and how it made her happy, to appease her immortality? The despair it brought with her to be alone so long?
You hated that it was you.
You used to love that it was you.
But the thing with Rio is that her affections are animalistic and not grounded in how it will hurt everyone else. You realized that when she collared you the first time and you had to escape under the cover of night and get the magic removed quietly and quickly.
She is selfless in her selfishness and that is her most dangerous attribute. A patient hunter who knows the game after a long time playing it.
“Mow.”
Billy was sitting in front of you, just inches away with intense eyes and his fluffy tail curled at his paws. He seemed almost curious.
You unclenched your fingers from the sheets and reached out, offering a hand passively.
He blinked at you, owlish, then stood and rubbed his head against the stretched hand and down your arm. Loud purrs soon filled the quiet surroundings and his tail vibrated as he chirped at you.
“Are you hungry?” you asked him, watching his flank ripple as your fingers ran through it. Your mind was quickly able to release despairing thoughts and the pit that sought to drag you deep.
A loud mrow was your response and you took that as an initiative to stand and find something comfortable to wear and pointedly ignore the pain left behind by Rio and ignore the fact that it was as though she was never there at all.
1954
You hid upstairs long after Rio had returned from her job. You folded laundry and ironed some, then refolded others again. When that was done and you couldn’t really make an excuse to just constantly fold laundry repeatedly, you locked yourself in the bathroom you had been using and decided to “organize”.
You had heard her inquiring calls from downstairs and had chosen to ignore them in hopes she would . . . Well, you weren’t entirely sure. Your mother’s news had been unsettling and left a sour taste in your mouth.
Why did you have so many lipsticks, now? You had five in your palm and three on the ground where you sat on your knees. They were in varying shades of reds and pinks and relatively new — all from Rio. She sometimes liked to bring you gifts from the store.
Did you really care how many you had? Did it matter?
Your mother said Rio was never married — no records of it were recorded in the archives, no official obituary to be found under the name Vidal. You supposed she could have returned to using her maiden name . . . But —
“Angel?” A rap to the door shook you out of your thoughts and the lipsticks clattered to the floor.
“Shoot,” you murmured and began to scoop all of them up hastily, “h-hang on, Rio. I’ll be just a moment.”
“It’s no problem, sweetheart, really. I was just concerned when you didn’t come to see me when I got home.”
You stacked everything back into place and lifted the container before setting it back into the medicine cabinet-mirror duo and shutting it. Your reflection startled you.
You had regained some flush to your cheeks and a light to your eyes after the death of your husband — even you could see it without it being pointed out. Nobody did, though. It would’ve meant implying something — something that was never meant to be discussed in the open.
But even as you stared at yourself you could hardly believe the difference that you found in your reflection.
“. . . Sweetheart?” Rio prodded from behind the door, tone gentle but more firm.
“I’m sorry, Rio.” You pushed off the sink and unlocked the door, swinging it open and smiling at her. “I haven’t been myself today. I think I’m just a little under the weather.”
She softens and steps closer to you, eyes roaming over you. The inspection felt intimate and you shelved the way it made you feel and reminded yourself that those feelings aren’t natural . . . And you were just a mess in general.
She seemed to be satisfied with whatever she found and leaned against the doorway. “You should’ve called me. Maybe I could’ve brought something home — heated lemonade is all the rage for colds right now.” She rubbed her hands together.
You smiled meekly. “That’s sweet, thank you, but it really only started when — oh, perhaps after I left lunch with Mother.”
She tilted her head, a black strand of hair floating from her updo. “Oh I remember you telling me you were meeting up with her. I’m glad you did — it was a beautiful day.”
You looked away from her and fiddled with your fingernails. Once nervously bitten and torn, now kept well-managed under Rio’s careful eye and money as she ordered you to a woman in town who knew how to do them from her home. You brought your own polish, but she did well with keeping them intact for you.
“It was a good lunch,” you answered carefully. “She — my mother has my best interests at heart.”
“Of course she does,” Rio agreed easily, pushing off the doorway and considering you with that gentle look of hers. “Did something . . . Did you two talk about something difficult?”
You didn’t immediately answer because you weren’t sure you wanted to go down this road with the other woman, in truth. She had been so helpful and the shame that filled you for feeling so useless and meek coiled tight inside of you.
But somehow you found yourself telling her anyway, without considering how you wanted to word it, “We talked about . . . My husband. Settling his affairs, mostly. Making sure I won’t see trouble down the road.”
Rio relaxed slightly as she eyed you. “That’s good, isn’t it? I wouldn’t have been so distressed during that period if I’d had my mother to help me.” She smiled a little, her silent support.
But if your mother was right in that Rio never had a husband — much less a husband that died in the war — then why would she be going through all of this trouble? How did she manage to make you feel so less alone in the agony you’ve been clawing your way out of?
“She’s been wonderful,” you say to her, reaching up to fidget with an earring. Her eyes followed the movement with hawk-like observance.
“Anything else that seems to be on your mind, angel?” Her head tilted slightly, curious and full of wonder. Like she was having a hard time getting a read on you — and maybe she was. Your moods weren’t subject to change so often and this one in particular was rare after moving with her.
“No, no just that.” You released the earring and smiled at her fully, returning to the present to be with Rio fully. “I’m sorry I wasn’t downstairs to greet you. I just got so caught up in finishing some things up here. I have so much lipstick, Rio . . .”
Her gaze drifted to the cabinet thoughtfully then slipped back to you. “Put some on — and dress somewhat warm,” she finally told you, unstrapping the straps that hooked over her shoulders to her pants. “Something pretty for me.”
Your cheeks heated even as you frowned at her. “What ever for? It’s such a waste to use when we’re not going anywhere.”
Rio chuckled. “Angel, we are going somewhere. The fair’s in town, remember? You’ve been eyeing the newspaper article on it all week.”
You brightened considerably in front of her, darting forward to grasp her arm. “Really? We’re going to the fair? You’re sure?”
The black-haired woman grinned down at you, tilting your chin up with a finger, “Very sure — if you can get ready before the field fills up on parking.”
You nodded rapidly and pulled back, filled with a sudden renewed vigor. “Oh I have the perfect scarf I’ve been waiting to match with that pair of pants you got me. The ones with red stripes.”
“You’ll look beautiful, I’m sure.” Rio winked at you and you made a point to ignore the weird fluttery feeling that crossed your chest at the action.
You’d felt that once — an old boyfriend who kissed you under the stars on top of his brand new Chevrolet before he returned you home and made sure to leave some of those stars in your eyes.
You’d married that boy once upon a time, and it ended up nearly destroying you later.
Rio left you to get changed and you busied yourself with finding the perfect outfit for such an outing. It was chilly outside during the day and so you expected it to be even more so overnight. It wouldn’t be wise to go out without layers, even if you planned on some festive rides to warm you up.
Oh and you so hoped they had spiced apple cider that they kept warmed at the stalls like they’ve been doing in the recent years. The drink was dangerously addictive and you indulged in the past when your husband inclined to go with you to the fairs. It always left a warm, fuzzy feeling in your chest after having a cup.
You were just pinching the scarf carefully into position when Rio reappeared. She hadn’t changed completely from her work attire, but she did cozy up. She made no move to disguise roaming eyes.
“Hmm I worry for the wandering gazes I may have to hide you from tonight,” she muses lazily.
You despised the way she managed to made you feel things a woman should never feel from another of her gender — despised that you were drawn to the way she somehow carried herself like she owned the world and could protect you from its’ angry realties. Despised the way she wasn’t a man and therefor kissing her is not allowed, not desired.
You despised how you were forced to feel the disgust in your stomach at how heavy with want it left you when you saw her and found what you could never give your husband.
“Perhaps I will be able to catch the eye of a wealthy man,” you got out, refusing to meet her eyes and instead finding your own in the mirror. “And you will surely catch the finest of attentions. You could have anyone you wanted and not blink before it was in your hands.”
Rio hummed at you. The footsteps on the flooring creaked until she was still behind you, chin just brushing over your shoulder as her eyes forced yours to meet together in the mirror. You were trapped between her and the sink, unable to escaped unless she willed it.
Or maybe you just made no effort to try.
“You speak as though I yearn for another man to warm my bed,” the black-haired woman crooned lowly, ruby red lips twisting upwards mockingly, “to handle my finances and give me the world.”
“Surely every woman wants that — wouldn’t you get tired of working?” you asked her boldly despite the tremble that threatened to shake you down. She was so close and you feared she would hear your heart’s cries if she got any further.
“Angel,” she started, the same tone, eyes becoming mischievous and glittering under the light above, “why would I seek out that which I want from a man when I can just get it myself?”
Your throat constricted and for a moment there was a terrible feeling you were a prey to a dangerous, deadly predator.
Rio. This was Rio — your only friend, the woman who shielded you when you nearly crumbled under the weight of the world when you realized what being a woman without a husband meant.
“I just — Rio?”
“Yes?”
“Why don’t you have any pictures of him?” you asked as you fought off the urge to sink into her from where you held onto the surface like a lifeline. “Your . . . Your husband. You’ve not told me his name, and you don’t even have photos of him.”
Her fingers reached up to capture a stray wisp of your hair that had fallen from the position you’d had it in. She held it delicately and observed it, wrapping it around her pale finger.
“Rio?”
She tugged suddenly and it left a minor sting when she did. Then she released it, tucking it behind your ear with a gentleness opposite of the previous action.
“His name and face live in the past and I seek to march into the future,” she finally told you, however no warmth remained in her voice. Only clear, concrete assurance. “Having either in my present keeps me from which I aim to go, so I decided a while ago to put him to rest for good.”
She moved away from you in order to give you some space and tucked a hand into one of her pockets. “Don’t take too long, Angel. I want to ride the Ferris Wheel with you while the stars are bright.”
She was gone and now alone, you tried to process what she laid before you but found that nothing was answered when you asked her those questions.
2024
You peeled open a can of wet food and scraped it into the fancy cat bowl Rio had conjured up. The little shit had dry food still full, but seemed to think he needed the good stuff two times a day.
Leaving him to scarf down his breakfast, you opened the French doors in the dining room. The dining room which, by looks of it, had been meticulously put back together as though you and Rio hadn’t tried to rip one another to shreds.
You weren’t entirely positive you could claim much of the damage anymore, though, looking back. You had the human ability to shove, break, and throw but Rio was above that in ways that made your predator senses switch into the brain of prey. It made you think of a time you saw a program — a lynx playing with its prey right before it decided to kill it.
Rio had been playing with you — perhaps leaking some frustration without realizing it. But you were stupid to believe that you could have the upper hand in any regard.
Your hand drifted up to your neck and rested there as the hum from the magic collar vibrates against your fingers, a warning that you were touching the invisible but powerful mechanism that kept you caged to this place. To her.
The bird feeders outside caught your attention from the open doors. Ten birds of varying colors, chirping happily and fluttering about as they picked their way around the feeders you filled the day before.
Was this to be your life now?
What did Rio intend to tell you about the status of your job? It wasn’t . . . It wasn’t like you adored it but it kept you busy, you sort of enjoyed it on some days.
A huff greeted you to your right.
Your eyes drifted to the source of the sound and knew it wasn’t Billy — who felt he was too sophisticated for such a noise and was still tinkering about in the kitchen with his bow and bell collar.
No — no, this was not him.
Instead a new object has been tucked into the corner of the dining room. A large, fluffy dog bed of a soft brown coloring and cream innards.
The source of the sound was the sleek looking canine laying there, head on paws and eyes watching you closely.
“A dog,” you said aloud as the two of you stared at each other. He was a light brown with black markings on his long legs and face. Pointed ears and a thin, long tail.
You’ve seen these dogs before — you knew they were used mostly in the military and police force. Similar to the German Shepard but smaller and leaner.
She got you a fucking protection dog — and she did it to taunt you. Because she knows not even the most trained, intelligent dog will be able to keep her from.
“Okay.” You got to your knees and the sun soaked into your body from doorway. The dog watched you. You watched him. He already had a thick leather collar with tags on it and it made you wonder if, like you and possibly Billy, she took him too. “Who are you?”
He didn’t respond, of course.
You got back to your feet and hesitantly made your way over. He lifted his head to watch you until you bent down next to him and carefully scratched behind his ears. He seemed to like it, and so you flipped his tag to read his name. TOMMY was stamped into the gold metal.
“She did you an injustice with that name,” you told Tommy, but kept petting him anyways. He sighed.
You eventually left Tommy alone to nap and went out to sit in the garden, your heart heavier now. The way she used things as a way to mock you was like an extra knife digging deeper and deeper each time she added a new aspect.
You sit for a while then make some coffee and down some plain toast to fight the nausea. You hated how lonely the house you were caged to felt but refused to break and call out for Rio to end the feeling.
You would bear it rather than face her and yourself and the night before. It was all too much and it would explode eventually, with angry sobs and violence like it always did.
But until she forced you out of your self-induced exile of silence and singularity, you would pretend like you’ve handled it and it’s over.
Even if it would never be over.
Rio heard naught when she returned from her duties that night. The lights were on but there was a lack of cooking to be found. None of the smells that brought her a great deal of comfort when you were behind the stove, no warm smile to greet her, and certainly no kiss to the cheek or anywhere else.
“Angel?” she called out, but was only greeted by the dark and watchful eyes in the kitchen’s entryway by the animal she had bestowed upon you before leaving that morning.
He stood stock still and regarded her with a type of cunning that almost made her wonder if she should’ve gone with a dumber breed to avoid issue. His hackles were raised down his spine and a low, vibrating growl was echoing through his chest.
Rio simply stared back at him. “I brought you into this house, creature,” she told him, continuing closer. “Angel please call off the dog.”
“No.”
Ah, so you were just feet away as suspected. A small grin pulled at the corners of Rio’s lips as she came to a stop just inches from the stiff dog. His tail was as rigged as the rest of him — and though Rio didn’t know dog language relatively well, she knew the universal language for “I do not fucking like you.”
“I don’t want to have to take him away after giving him to you so soon, my sweet,” Rio started sweetly, fingers reaching out to the curled lips of Tommy. Her tone hardened, “But I will if you can’t keep him in line.”
There wasn’t a reaction given to her in the first few seconds after she spoke, and the dog had become more hostile in those seconds. Rio was ready to snap him into another room and use that fear when she heard a soft, call.
“Tommy, come.”
Like a flipped switch and without any effort the dog seemed to rear away from Rio as quickly as he had been ready to try and maul the witch. He trotted back into the kitchen and so the pale figure followed.
He curled at your feet where you were rewarding him with slices of raw meat mixed in a metal bowl, prepped ones seemingly laid out for burgers ready to be grilled at any point.
Tommy took the offered pieces carefully from your fingers as you locked gazes with Rio.
“I see you two have bonded once you’ve made your introductions,” Rio concurred as she opened the refrigerator and looked through the contents. All of the bear she had to magic back in was once again gone.
Rebellious, angry little thing you were. It didn’t matter. She waved her hand and a cold beer appeared between her fingers instantly.
“Is there never consequences for what you do with that? you asked her quietly from across the room.
“Mm.” She slowly makes her way over to you, a twinkle of something dark and insidious covering her features. “There’s a consequence in everything of this universe, Angel. If you tie your shoes the wrong way, it can have a massive impact on someone else in another world.”
“Then why the fuck do you be so careless? I never asked — not before when I thought I could love you. But now that I know there’s always a price to the things we do . . . Why?”
The anger, the rage she fell so deeply for — she felt the fire in her chest when she saw a flicker of it again. “Because I can,” she told you simply, lifting the bottle to her lips. “I can, so I did. I have the opportunity and why would I leave it untouched?”
Your hands slammed on the table. “Because it means for every day I get to live someone else dies early!”
Rio rolled her eyes. “Is that what this is about? How long do you plan on mourning over the ones you never know about that take your place? They’re nameless to you and can’t bring the guilt that bears your name.”
“Because it’s my life, Rio,” you bit out. She looked closer and realized you had been crying, “and my ticket was punched a very long time ago but for some reason you won’t take it. You refuse my entry every damn time, and then you play with magic and ignore that it has its own prices and can—“ you suddenly pressed fingers to the bridge of your nose and breathed out shallowly.
Rio removed the rim of the glass from her lips, taking care to observe your actions. You stood without saying a word, eyes closed, as you experienced whatever it is went through your body while Rio simply watched.
And smiled.
1954
The music and the lights were overwhelming in the best of ways. There was so much joy to be found and the giggles of children darting through the crowds covered in cotton candy and fisting sacks of what you assumed to be allowances to go and play games.
You kept a polite distance from Rio despite the pestering urge to hold her hand and lean into her for warmth during the cold night.
You wished you could be a couple — but it simply wasn’t possible. So you maintained your space and pointed out stalls to stop at as she kept an unmoving look of amusement on her face.
You were elbow-deep in overly powdered dish that you’ve never tried — colorfully labelled the Funnel Cake — and you found that it was almost on par with your apple cider drinks you adored so. Rio seemed fascinated with it as well and the two of you shared the one you bought.
You did find the cider you so sought and made Rio get one too, even after she complained of having a full stomach.
“It’s rather good, Rio,” you begged as the two of you stood in line. “If you don’t like it, I’ll just drink your share.”
She arched one perfectly sculpted brow at you as a smile rose to greet you. “Oh, you will will you?” she asked.
The shine in your eyes must have been answer enough, because she ordered two of the drinks but ended up finishing half of it.
She seemed to enjoy it, but relinquished it to you on the claims that she couldn’t possibly fill her stomach any longer.
“More for me,” you commented like you’d gotten away with stealing something valuable. Rio barked out a laugh as her arm brushed against yours.
It was entirely too true that right now, you had no cares about how close she was. You were having fun with her and she with you as you talked and drank cider.
She won a little bottle game that was 50¢ a turn and she didn’t have to spend another quarter in order to fetch you a duck you had pointed out.
“How did you do that so well?” you asked her, beaming as you held the stuffed toy like gold. “I’ve seen children run screaming from their parents once they emptied their pockets.”
Rio tapped her temple. “All in the head, Angel. I wanted to win, so I won.”
“If only it were that easy!”
She simply smiled those red lips at you and pulled you toward the Ferris Wheel. The stars had become as bright as they could be while the fair was open and she wasted no time in deciding on what she wanted to finish it off with.
“Do you fear heights?” she asked you as she waited with two quarters in hand, back of the line.
“No,” you said, and you liked to think you were right in your belief. “No, I don’t think so. Not if I feel like there’s not a reason to be afraid of them.”
If you hadn’t been so focused on the way the wheel was spinning with its flashing lights, you might have been able to catch how Rio seemed to think over your words. But as quickly as the line went, so did your conversations and laughter.
The teenager in a red and white striped shirt waited expectantly at the till as Rio uncapped her hand over his to drop the two coins into his palm.
He led you both through the gate blocking access to the ride and waited for the Wheel to stop until a car came down and emptied the contents of its seats. Then he hastily ushered you in and pulled down the security bar.
“Hands and feet inside, no wiggling around,” he said with a sigh. “Enjoy the ride.”
Rio was startlingly quiet on the way up as she and you both took in the view. It was truly breathtaking -- and you could both see Westview in all it's small twinkly lights the higher up you rose.
Rio nudged you with her wrist. "I can see the house."
"You cannot," you scoffed at her, leaning into her to try and get the same view as she was.
Before you realized what was happening, an arm was being wrapped around your shoulders and you were being tugged close.
"Rio." You tried to tug away from her, a small swell of panic rising as you glanced around. You were close to reaching the top of the ride and the closest to the stars you would ever be for the first time. "Rio, the people above us can see."
"They can't," the older woman murmured as she bent her neck down to look at you, squeezing your hip reassuringly. "I wouldn't let them. It is just us."
"The people below . . ." you glanced down, wondering if the other cars would be able to see and hear you.
"Stop." She lifted your face to yours and gave you the softest of expressions. "Hey. It's okay."
And then she leaned down to kiss you.
Rio and Reader will return in Part 4
PART FOUR
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What would Ghost, Gaz, Soap, price, könig and Phillip graves do while you’re sick?
Ghost gets really worried when his S/O gets sick. He’s especially worried when you don’t get sick often. He doesn’t really show it through facial expression. He’s obviously always wearing a stone cold face. It’s his body language you need to look at. You can tell he’s worried by the way his clench and unclench his hands. The way he holds your hand gently. His hands clammy with sweat. His body betrays him when he’s around you. Hes by your side as much as he can be. You need a glass of water to soothe your itchy throat? He’s up and getting it for you. He’s also making you herbal tea and forcing you to take medicine. He doesn’t care how gross it tastes. You will feel better when you take it.
Johnny would lay in bed with you and share your sickness. If you’re sick he’s sick. He catches it no matter what because he can’t help but be around you. He doesn’t leave your side for one second. Only leaving to grab essentials to take care of you and himself. Will likely lay there and hold you, whispering praises into your ear. Calling you his sick boy/girl/partner. When your all cured it would be your turn taking care of him because wouldn’t you know it? He’s sick too. Sick and giddy that his sweet partner is taking care of him.
As soon as price hears that ugly cough come from your throat. It’s over for you. You will not be leaving the house anytime soon. Nope! You need to go to work? You get forced to call in sick. He will not have his partner “sucking it up” and going to work sick. He’s made that a bad habit and he doesn’t want you doing that. You need to go shopping? He’s doing it for you. He will cook you a nice warm homemade soup that his mother showed him. His mother would give it to him when he was sick so it’s about time he does the same for you. Watches and cuddles with you watching movies. He wants to make sure you’re ok. Will text you all day if he has to work.
Now Kyle. I’m sorry but he doesn’t just take care of you. He smothers you. As soon as he sees you absolutely dead (his words not mine) he’s up and getting everything sorted for today. He makes you breakfast. Cuts up some fruit to make a bowel because having extra vitamins and essential nutrients will help your immune system fight off the sickness. If you don’t really want fruit he’ll have you drink organic orange juice. Freshly squeezed because you know he has a juice processor. The pulp is good for you he would say. Happily watching you drink and eat. You’re not leaving that bed anytime soon.
König would get up for work and look at you. The same he does everyday before work. He will notice right away the sweat that’s formed on your forehead. The way your breathing is ragged. The way your brows pinch as you sleep. He would call into his work and tell them he’s sick. He’s not coming in today because he has to take care of you. He needs to take care of you. That’s his job as a partner and he knows you’d do the same for him. He will prepare a nice breakfast for you. He had to look up what kind of breakfast would be best for when you’re sick. He’s there when you wake up, his hand on your cheek. Sympathy for his partner in his eyes.
Phillip graves would probably tease you a bit. Not in a mean way (even though sometimes he is mean when he teases). He just wants to cheer you up a bit, see you smile. On the inside he is a mother and deathly worried for your health. He doesn’t say anything. He continues teasing you but his touches are softer than usual. He acts as if you’re going to break the second he touches you or you do anything. You’re essentially chained to the bed. Not allowed to leave unless it’s to the bathroom. He trusts his shadow company to run without him first a few days. He’s not going anywhere until he knows you feel better. He just wants to see you smile again. Not the sick one you give him.
(Yes I’m down bad for graves. Also I don’t see a lot of graves appreciation lol)
#cod modern warfare#actually obsessed with cod#phillip graves#könig#simon ghost riley#john soap mactavish#john price#modern warefare ii#kyle gaz garrick
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Penmanship
Satoru Gojo x Gender-neutral Reader
series: incomplete
words: 4.9k
warnings: cursing; funny; meet-ugly; no mentioned female or male anatomy; no spoilers; no curses; slow build; slow to update; college au
summary: your new boyfriend has a fiancé? But now you’re the fiancé. Of course you don’t know what the fuck to do.
part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 part 5 part 6 …+
Before departing the questionable safety of your apartment, you were nervous to venture out of it. It was the realization that you and Satoru spending so much time together that had given the wrong impression that caused the sudden anxiety. You weren’t being treated terribly, per say, but it was the whispers and snickers, maybe even a light shove at your shoulder that had you convinced the torment would only get worse once the break was over. It was like you were waiting for the bomb to drop.
You went through your entire school career since you were eight avoiding any sort of drama. Seeing the things your older sister went through was evidence enough. From being bullied to being cheated on, you saw the misery drama brought upon her and others, and you made it your life’s mission to avoid it.
Your head was on a three-sixty swivel the entire walk to the bakery you were meant to meet your project partner at. Though, it wasn’t as bad as you thought it’d be. With the encounters you’ve had with Kaiya and her entourage you thought it’d be much worse. You thank the stars it wasn’t.
When you concluded last night that the amount of time you and Satoru have been spending together is a problem, you decided you want to broach the idea of keeping your interactions to a minimum. You really want that, honestly ridiculous, rumor to die off so the paranoia of getting pelted with tomatoes or something can also go away.
If he shows up.
It’s been twenty minutes since you’ve arrived and still no sign of him. You tried to order something to pass the time, but the prices here are out of this world. Makes sense as it was Satoru’s recommendation. Getting increasingly impatient, you’re about to shoot your project partner a text letting him know you won’t wait much longer. Then you notice the man is already walking towards you.
“Hey babe, I’ve got a surprise for you” he says with a saccharine tone that makes you cringe.
“I told you not to call me that,” You go to put your phone in your pocket while your other hand swipes a finger across the mousepad to wake your sleeping laptop.
“You said not to call you baby,” He plops himself and all of his crap onto the booth across from you, “Nothing about babe,”
“Well don’t call me that either,” You go to reach for your bag.
“M’kay sweetie~” he teases. You pause to glare at him.
“Gojo.” You warn, tone stern.
“Last name?” he places a hand against his chest in faux hurt, “It’s Satoru to you pumpkin,”
“ugh, stop.” You reach into your bag again to grab your notes and resume typing, “The nicknames are getting worse.” Satoru laughs.
“About that surprise, cupcake,”
“Please—“ you begin to plead, not looking away from your screen.
“I think you’ll really love it,” he interrupts.
“I don’t really care for any surprise,” from you, you wanted to tack on, but felt that might be too mean.
“But I know you’ll love it~” he sang.
“I don’t care~” you sang back, mocking him.
“C’mon love muffin,” he pouts.
“If I indulge this will you stop calling me stupid nicknames?”
“Yes,” You know he’s lying.
“What's the surprise?” You stop typing to cross your arms and level with him.
“Before I tell you that, I need you to come somewhere with me tonight,”
“Hell no,”
“You didn’t even let me finish,” he whines.
“I don't need to. No surprise you have up your sleeve is worth it,” it’s silent between the two of you and, for a moment, you think you might’ve hurt his feelings, then you see his fat ugly (not really) smirk begin to form on his face.
“You don’t like me,” he states; it wasn’t a question. Your brows furrow as you look away. You feel a little embarrassed that you don’t like him for seemingly no good reason to anyone but yourself, but you don’t deny this claim either, “which is perfect,” he adds after a beat. The furrow in your brows deepens when you look back at him.
“Huh?”
“I just need some harmless company for a thing I have to go to tonight.”
“And what does not liking you have to do with that?”
“That’s how I know you won’t try to sleep with me,” your expression goes blank as you blink at him. “If I ask anyone else they’ll assume that I am, and cling to me for the rest of the year. I already have enough desperate people trying to win my favor, I don’t need another one.” What? He’s so fucking popular that he knows any other rando he asks will immediately bend over backwards for him? As if anyone can fall for this egotistical prick. Your expression must have conveyed your disgust because suddenly the prick in question was laughing. “See? You’re perfect,” he says in between giggles.
“I’m glad you find this funny,” You continue to type on your laptop. “My answer is still no.”
“Pleeeeeease? I promise I'll make it worthwhile,” he attempts to give you puppy dog eyes over his sunglasses. You roll your eyes.
“What makes you think I want to go anywhere with you out of my own free will,”
He shrugs, “I’ll pay you,” And again, he has pissed you off. Because this spoiled brat seems to think he can do whatever he wants and buy whomever he wants just because he has the money to do so. You know he has money, but you don’t give a single fuck.
“I don’t care,” you almost groan, your patience running thin at his insistence and, frankly, ignorant behavior.
“I can make those girls leave you alone,” he tries. You keep your eyes on your laptop screen, your brows furrowing once again out of annoyance. As much as the thought of hanging out with this pampered highlighter outside of obligation gives you a headache, the thought of being able to walk through the halls peacefully again does make you want to consider it. And even though you were initially pissed off at his offer of money you know damn well you aren’t walking out of this heavily compensated. With those factors in mind, and the added bonus of a “ surprise “, you're growing more annoyed with yourself for actually contemplating this.
Though, how bad could it really be? As much as his confidence and ignorant comments piss you off, that’s really all it is. As painful as it is to admit, Satoru actually has this…charm about him. A vibe that could make anyone feel like they’re his friend. Even though you don’t think of yourself as such, you don’t think he’s terrible. Everyone is frothing at the mouth to sleep with him or at least to be within his inner circle so that must count for something. So, you reason, whatever he’s asking couldn’t be worse than what you’ve gone through with him already.
“What would I have to do,” he flashes you an excited smile before he schools his expression into that damn smirk.
“Just dress up fancy and be ready by 8,” You scoff and shake your head.
“I swear to god if this is another frat party trap-“
“It’s not I promise,” he extends a hand towards you, as to solidify this odd deal. You look at it, then at him, and you completely ignore it, going back to typing on your laptop.
“Thirty minutes. Three hundred dollars.” you state, without looking away from your screen.
“I thought you didn’t care,”
“Clearly you don’t need my company that bad—,”
“Okay, hour and a half, one hundred dollars,” he bargains. You glare at him, pissed that he genuinely thinks so much of your time is worth so little.
“I can still say no,”
He laughs, “An hour it is. Will two hundred be alright?” you roll your eyes, starting to type. He takes that as a form of agreement and starts taking out his laptop and notes. Finally beginning to get some work done.
It didn’t take you long to get ready. You only owned one fancy-ish thing and it was your prom outfit. You only wore it that one time and you brought it with you to college just in case. You had asked Gojo later on what thing he was asking your company for and he told you it was a small gathering at a hotel. Something his grandparents threw together. At first you were worried he was having you meet them or his parents, which you were terrible at, your nerves making you act awkward leading to parents thinking you were rude. He reassured you that you weren’t, but didn’t mention much else as to who was also attending or if you were going to meet other individuals.
You threw on the thickest cardigan you could find over your outfit in an attempt to appear fancy. You had other coats and plenty of sweatshirts but nothing that would fit the occasion. Then put on a scarf that sort of matched. It was crocheted so it kind of looked a little juvenile in comparison to what you were wearing, but it was all you had. You’re still kind of annoyed at yourself for agreeing to this. Especially with how vague Satoru was being when you were trying to ask him more questions about the impending night. You’d kill him and then yourself if this is anything nearly as uncomfortable as the frat party disaster.
Your phone dings, alerting you of a message. You take it out of the pocket of the cardigan to confirm it was Satoru letting you know he’s here. You brace yourself to feel the cold night air as you open your front door. You don’t immediately see any cars as you descend the stairs from your shabby little apartment. A gust of a strong wind cuts through you, your coat not thick enough to block it. A violent shiver and a wave of irritation washes over you at the same time. You’re about to freeze your ass off and this idiot texted while he’s around the corner, making you wait in the shivering cold.
You finally see his Lexus pull up after what felt like five minutes, though it was probably only forty-five seconds. When seeing Satoru emerge from the driver’s side of the car, your eyebrows raise for two reasons.
One, he was dressed in a really nice suit and a thick long windbreaker that you were envious of. He, unfortunately, looked really good. On a regular basis it’s easy to ignore how attractive he is, considering the moment he opens his mouth it kills any sort of attraction you might have had. But in this moment you had to actively tell your brain not to think about it. Which lowkey surprised you.
Two, that he stepped out of the driver’s side. You had assumed he was going to pick you up in the same impersonal way he had done when you first went to his (real) house. You didn’t know he knew how to drive. The thought that he has a chauffeur just because he doesn't feel like driving bothers you, but you know you’d do the same. It just seems so typical of him that it’s annoying .
“Well,” he sings, “Don’t you dress up nice,” He looks at you over his sunglasses.
“I’d say the same, but your ego is big enough for the both of us,” you cross your arms in an attempt to fight off the cold.
“So you’re saying you think I look good too,” he smirks. Your lips press into a thin line, deciding to hold your tongue. Then you step forward to try to get in the car. Tired of him and the cold. He stops you before you take a second step. “Nuh uh, I’m a gentleman tonight,”
“You pick and choose when to be a gentleman?”
“Yes,” he feigns remorse, placing a pale hand on his chest, “but that’s only because very few people deserve my kindness,” he opens the passenger door for you, “You’re one of the few people that do,” he smiles, definitely teasing you.
“I feel honored,” you reply dryly.
“You should,” you scoff before plopping down in the passenger seat and yanking the door from his grasp, slamming it closed. You see him laugh more than you hear it, as you watch him walk to the drivers side. You look out your window and angle your knees to the door before he gets in, trying to convey through body language that this arrangement is purely out of obligation. You aren’t receptive to his charms and refuse to let any of your actions be confused for friendship. You’re acquaintances at best.
The ride is surprisingly smooth. You had half a mind to peek over and see what he looked like driving but decided against it, in fear you would look interested. You were, but you didn’t want him to know that.
After, what you know was five minutes, you start to grow a little antsy. The silence stretches unbearably with no site to an end soon. You cough into your fist to hide your unease, still stubbornly refusing to look at Satoru. Then, from the corner of your eye you see his long fingers toggle with the buttons on his radio. He switches through a few stations before finally landing on something. You’ve never heard the song; it sounded like it was some sort of japanese pop song for kids.
At first you think, surely, the man who judged you for your choice of pen two weeks ago can not be into this upbeat funko pop tune. But when you chance a peek at him, not only is his finger tapping to the beat against the steering wheel, he’s also mouthing the words.
You’re more surprised at yourself for not being upset at his hypocritical nature. Instead, you find amusement in the thought of him working out at the gym while this is blasting through his headphones.
Once the song ends you see that the car was beginning to come close to a grandiose white building with incredible gold detailing. The building was skyscraper height and had a glow that lit up at least a five foot radius of its surroundings. The architecture had you believing it was something straight from heaven.
He pulled closer to the plaza of the hotel, decorated with an abundance of white roses, marble columns with string lights circling around them. A giant water fountain in the middle spraying water in intricate patterns. It was intimidatingly gorgeous. As was the black marble valet you seemed to be pulling into. You see Satoru park in front of a black podium and a man in a black and gold uniform fancier than your own attire. Your jaw is properly on the floor.
Satoru gets out of the driver seat and makes quick work of getting to your side to open the door for you. You blink away all forms of shock as he does. Once the door opens he extends an open hand for you to take. You do so reluctantly and remove your scarf to leave it in the car. Now having seen the place you feel too embarrassed to take the scruffy thing with you. You’d take your cardigan off too if it wasn’t so cold. He adjusts his sunglasses before he tosses the keys to the Valet man without a glance in his direction, who bows and thanks Satoru for coming, as he begins to guide you inside.
You, on the other hand, are completely lost. And beginning to regret agreeing to go with Satoru anywhere. You were right the first time: No surprise is worth this.
You didn’t think much of the invite when you first agreed to it, just assumed that maybe he needed company for a small gathering at some semi-fancy restaurant. You were wrong. A large part of you suspects the reason Satoru was being so vague was because he knew that if you knew where he was taking you, you would have said no in a heartbeat. You grab Satoru’s (hard) bicep roughly. The only sign he acknowledged the action was the slight head tilt in your direction.
“I thought you said you needed harmless company for something your grandparents threw together? This doesn’t look thrown together at all,” you whisper aggressively, “I asked you if it was something fancy and you dodged the question. Why didn’t you tell me?” He just smiles at you softly as he guides your hand to his forearm and places his atop yours to keep it there.
“You’d’ve said no,” he hums sweetly at you. You feel a vein in your forehead pulse.
The inside of the building was even more grand than the outside. The ceilings are high enough to dangle a diamond chandelier three times the size of your apartment. Illuminating the foyer in a soft golden light. You see people wearing thick fabricked coats, garish leather boots, smooth manicures, trimmed mustaches and fancy up-dos. You feel entirely puny in this luxurious place, walking among lavish people, on the arm of an opulent idiot. You frown at the situation you’ve found yourself in and hope that whatever the fuck Satoru just dragged you to is quick and you can hide in a corner somewhere.
Satoru drags you to a set of glass doors further down the large foyer, off to the side across the bathrooms. The doors are wide open and a doorman, in a cream and gold uniform, holds a list but doesn’t even check it as he happily moves to the side and thanks Satoru for coming. The action makes you wonder who in the world this guy carrying you around like a purse is. But before you could think further on that question, you’re being swarmed by people of all ages.
Well, you’re not being swarmed. The idiot is. And, actually, they all completely ignore you. You somehow get detached from Satoru’s arm. When that happens, a sea of people come between you, then suddenly you can’t see him anymore.
Instead of trying to push your way through you decide to wait by a nearby wall. You don’t want to stray too far from the only person you know here. On your way to the wall you’ve marked as good enough, someone, a young woman that seems close to your age, meets you halfway. She grabs hold of your arm like the two of you are familiar. You bristle against the contact.
“Hello,” she begins, curtly, “I see you came here with Satoru, why is that?” She cuts straight to the chase. You are unsettled by this. Her aura gives off mean girl vibes already. You want to ignore her but the grip she has on your arm is vice-like. You wouldn't be able to shake her off without drawing attention. You try to crane your neck over the large headdress the woman is wearing to try to find the man you came here with, but she expertly spins the two of you around so your back is towards Satoru’s direction. She starts to guide you to the bar and leans in close. To anyone looking on, the two of you look like good friends. “He can’t help you,” she giggles. You frown, “He’s busy fending off his suitors and their parents,” Your confusion is evident on your face. So he wasn’t just being cocky about having desperate suitors.
“Who are you?” she now asks. Before, she didn’t seem the least bit concerned about who you were, just more upset at the fact she saw you walking arm in arm with Satoru. You tell her your name, but this answer is apparently unsatisfactory. She just hums, and doesn't offer her name back. The two of you finally make it to the bar but she still has an almost painful grip on your arm. “Who are you to Satoru?”
Your first instinct is to tell her to mind her business, but then you remember that you’ve been invited here by Satoru. He knows way more people here than you so this girl might be someone important. Though, you’re most likely never going to see this girl again so who cares. But also, if she is important she can probably get you thrown out of here with the snap of your fingers. You don’t want to have to shiver in the cold waiting for Satoru to pry himself from his entourage to try to find you. However, if you keep taking too long to answer her she might have you escorted out anyway. You wouldn’t even know how to answer the question though.
Luckily, the stars decided to smile upon you and cease your anxious thoughts, cause you hear his voice come up behind you.
“What are doing Yumi?” He questions the woman as he physically pries her away from you. She lets go easily and you breathe a sigh of relief.
“I was just getting to know your friend,” she says innocently. Your face scrunches in mild disbelief at her sudden change in demeanor. Satoru catches it, slowly becoming accustomed to reading your facial expressions well.
“I doubt that,” he says before grabbing hold of your hand and walking away. The woman, Yumi, quickly catches up with the two of you though.
“Are you going to introduce us? I want to get to know your friend,” She spits out. Clearly not interested in actually getting to know you.
“No.” he grits through clenched teeth.
“C’mon Satoru~” she whines. It makes the both of you cringe. “You have to be nice to me now ‘Toru,” Satoru stills, turning on Yumi, your hand still clutched in his.
“Firstly, don’t ever call me that.” He bites. “Secondly, nothing is ever going to happen between us so leave me alone.” he spins back around to continue walking. He starts to pick up his pace in order to shake Yumi off, and if he wasn’t holding your hand he’d shake you off too. It was hard to match the stride of his long legs with your shorter ones. It’s when you almost fall a second time, barely catching yourself before face planting on this nice marble, that you say something.
“S-Satoru, my ankles are about to snap,” you huff. Suddenly he stops. He looks at you through his thick sunglasses —seriously, does he ever take them off?— and watches as you try to catch your breath.
“Sorry,” he sighs. Still holding your hand, he guides the two of you to an empty table, secluded next to the stage that’s in the front of the room. Curtains frame the stage, so once you get to the table, you’re perfectly hidden from everyone else.
“What the fuck?” You immediately ask as soon as you’re out of view.
“I’m sorry,” he sighs again, “I didn’t know she was going to be here,”
“What did you bring me here for? What even is here?”
“Satoru?” Both of your heads snap to the person speaking. You don’t know this woman, but you would bet your first born child that it’s someone related to the white haired idiot as she also has blindingly white hair that cascaded well past her waist.
“Mom-“
“Who is this?” The woman, his mom, asks. Not even sparring you a glance. Satoru opens his mouth to say something but his mom cuts him off before he gets the chance to, stepping closer to where the two of you are standing to jab a finger at his shoulder, “How dare you bring a date to the meeting your grandfather arranged for you,”
“I didn’t ask him to do that,” Satoru grits his teeth, getting pretty worked up from what you can tell.
“Still, this is extremely disrespectful.”
“No, what was disrespectful was putting this meeting together behind my back and springing it on me the day before. And on top of that you didn’t tell me she would be here.” he juts his chin out to gesture to the rest of the large room. You think he’s talking about the unsettling woman he saved you from.
“You need to take your guest out of here and apologize to your grandfather,”
He scoffs. “You’re not even fucking listening to me,”
“What do you want me to say Satoru? You made a mess of the whole night and he won’t even speak to anyone until you apologize,” Satoru places his sunglasses on his head to scowl at her.
“That’s not my problem,” he gets closer now, standing right over his, pretty tall, mother. She looks up at him with a twin scowl on her face.
“This is too much Satoru. What are you even doing all of this for? Hm? You’re not dating anyone so-“
“Yeah I am,” His mother raises her thin brow.
“Oh really? Who?” she scoffs out.
“Who else?” Then her brows furrowed together, confused. Satoru then intertwines his fingers into the hand he was still holding. You have half a mind to rip your hand out of his grip, just now realizing he was still holding it, and ask what the fuck he thinks he’s doing. This is not what you signed up for! You look from your hand to Satoru’s mother and you see the confusion melt from her face as she looks at your hands and she crosses her arms. Her thin brow raised again.
“I don’t believe it,” Satoru rolls his eyes at her.
“Either way, tell that woman, her parents, and grandfather that I'm not doing this shit. And if they still don’t get it, tell them to kiss my ass,” You and Satoru’s mother’s jaws drop simultaneously, maybe hers a second later because it took her brain a second to really register what her son had just said to her. Either way, you’re both equally dumbfounded. And it seems the reaction pleases Satoru. His infamous smirk returns as he brings your hand to his lips and places a chaste kiss to the back of it. He begins to stride away, your hands still interlocked.
Then you hear a banshee scream.
“Satoru! Wait!” The man in question doesn’t even look back and picks up his pace, your legs moving before your brain can catch up as Satoru pulls you along. You look back to see a fuming Yumi trying her best to catch you two in her tall heels. Satoru rushes through the door, the door man barely even bending at his waist to bid him goodbye. Your palm is sweating against his, and you’re hyper-aware of every set of eyes burning into your back.
“What the fuck.” you hiss under your breath, but Satoru doesn’t stop until you’re both back in the lobby, away from the thick air of scrutiny and rich propriety. Only then does he slow his pace, turning to you with that infuriated grin. Your confusion grows into anger at the sight of it.
“That went well, don’t you think?” You snatch your hand from his grasp and resist the urge to smack him upside the head.
“What the hell was that? You wanna explain why I got roped into pretending we’re dating?” Satoru rubs the back of his neck, but there’s no shame in his expression. If anything, he looks amused.
“Well, I needed an excuse to get out of a forced engagement setup,”
You gape at him “Engagement?” He shrugs like it’s nothing, adjusting his sunglasses.
“Yeah. My grandad’s been trying to marry me off to some rich family’s daughter for ages. Thought I’d make my thoughts on the matter more clear,”
“So dragging me into your family drama was the best idea you could come up with?” Satoru grins wider, leaning in slightly.
“If i'd told you the truth would you have gone along with it?”
“No!” you snap. “Absolutely not! And now I’ve probably got a bounty on my head because these weird rich people think I’m your fiance or something!” He pats your shoulder, like he’s congratulating you for completing a marathon.
“Relax. You’ll probably never see them again. And if you do, just tell them I broke your heart or something. Should be easy to believe.” You close your eyes, inhaling deeply in an effort to stop yourself from committing murder.
“I swear to god, one of these days—“
“Yeah, yeah,” he waves you off playfully. “You’ll smother me with a pillow, push me down a flight of stairs, shank me in an alleyway. I’ve heard it all before.” He strides ahead of you, out to the valet. You glare at his back, but your anger slowly turns into exhaustion. You begin to follow him.
“So what now?” He checks his watch.
“Well, since we’re already dressed up and out, wanna grab a bite to eat?” You blink at him, incredulous.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I know.” he sing-songs, placing his sunglasses back on.
You hate that that makes you laugh.
With a resigned sigh, you wrap your cardigan tighter around yourself, trying to firm the cold. “Fine. But you’re paying. And I’m getting the most expensive thing on the menu.” Satoru beams, placing a hand over his heart.
“My dear, I wouldn’t have it any other way.” You roll your eyes, already regretting your life choices, but as you watch his car pull up to the valet stand, there’s a tiny—very tiny—part of you that doesn’t mind the chaos as much as you should.
And you hate it.
(・ω<)☆
i’m always thinking, “why don’t i ever write series?” This. This is why. I run out of creativity to write anything for like three months then randomly get an idea. but then when i go to write the idea i suddenly dont know how to write anymore and have no idea where to start 😭
also i’m thinking of starting a taglist? should i?
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#jjk x reader#jjk x male reader#gojo satoru x reader#gojo saturo x female reader#gojo saturo x gender neutral reader#jujutsu kaisen x reader#jjk x black reader#jjk x chubby reader#jjk x poc!reader#jjk x y/n#jjk x you#jjk fanfic#jjk x plus size reader#jujutsu kaisen x you#jujutsu kaisen x gender neutral reader#jujutsu kaisen x plus size reader#jujutsu kaisen x black reader#jujutsu kaisen x fanfic
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Dear VorthosJay, If you had to make a very brief canon hierarchy outline from your point of view to be cited on the mtg.wiki, what would that look like? Focusing only on the mediums for main continuity and including any preference of new overwriting old.
I look at it like this, keeping in mind this is only my opinion and I haven't thought about it in a long time because it's mostly obvious if you understand the why:
Fiction (Novels, web fiction)
Worldbuilding material (Planeswalker's Guides, Art Books)
Visual media (Card Art, Comic Books)
Marketing materials (Pre-Release Kits, Deck Inserts)
Partner Materials (Video Games, D&D Sourcebook)
Word of God (Author Interviews, Tweets, Tumblr Posts)
Other continuities (Boom!)
Unpublished work of any kind
So, as to the why: it's about what the creative team can manage and to what degree, but also who's job it is to create new lore. Fiction that is directly worked on by the team will generally reflect the vision of the set and story leads. Worldbuilding materials are similar but a lower priority (story comes first) and occasional contradictions may happen (especially as it's often drawn from World Guides, which are written before sets are fully developed, meaning things changed after they lock).
Visual Media has it's own language. For the cards, it has to be evocative as much as a literal translation of the story. It has to be accessible for the majority of people who will never read Magic Story. And it has to make people actually want to look at it. For comic books, the way stories are told is through the visuals as much as the writing, and it requires a different approach sometimes. That means the way it goes down in text and the way it looks in pictures might be different for a lot of reasons.
Marketing stuff isn't always worked on directly by the creative team, and is often locked way before stuff like web fiction due to print needs.
Partner materials: entire OTHER games aren't something the team can have a direct hand in (they have full time jobs already) and will oversee it but not necessarily direct it. Games also have their own ludonarratives different from the TCG's.
World of God may be intent, but intent isn't execution. It's fine to use it if it isn't contradicted, but in a shared universe, the author's vision isn't always going to line up with others'.
Unpublished stuff is at the bottom for obvious reasons.
Now, these are all very broad categorizations and there's wiggle room within them and around them. But in general when you're thinking of canon, think about who's doing the talking and why.
Obviously, new will generally take precedence over old as well, for obvious reasons. And this list isn't a strict hierarchy either, more of a general guideline.
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