#they both looked SOOOOO good this day ugh

[mymitochondriaforpresident]

edvin vs skinskatteberg: the celebrity beef we never thought we’d see

a day of mourning in that city… my condolences to the people of skinskatteberg 🫶🏻

[mellowyellow236]

The TWST boys write letters to Yuu/The Prefect!

All of them except for Ortho+Checka are meant to be interpreted as romantic, but many can be interpreted as platonic as well. The reader is gender-neutral, but more feminine adjectives will be used when referring to them. Characters will probably be a bit OOC.

Minor spoilers for their respective books in each section, but I try to keep it as spoiler-free as I can, except for who overbloted. If anyone has any questions or comments, please leave an ask or comment :) All are under the cut.

NRC:

Heartslabyul:  

Riddle Rosehearts - 

My dearest rose, 

You are the loveliest person I have ever known. It is a miracle that you chose to get to know me, and even more so after I hurt you and your friends so deeply. I have made many mistakes, but you, my rose, look past them. I understand that you may choose to go home one day, but even so... 

Please just give me a moment of your time, a fraction of your thoughts, and I’ll be satisfied. Any inch of you that I can get, I want, even if you still believe me a tyrant. If it pleased you- No, if it only made you look my way, I would gladly break any rule of the queen’s or my mother’s. Understand that, my rose, and I am sure you’ll know what remains unsaid in this letter. 

Yours Truly, 

Riddle Rosehearts 

Trey Clover - 

Prefect, 

Hello. I wanted to thank you, first and foremost, for helping out Heartslabyul so much. You’ve been a very good influence on Ace and Duece, and it’s nice to see Cater open up to someone. Not to mention, Riddle’s been improving every day. I can’t even describe how much you’ve helped me... I just hope you know that I’ll always be grateful for what you’ve done. You’re welcome at Heartsabyul at any time. I have some donuts waiting for you if you want. 

From, 

Trey. 

Cater Diamond - 

Prefect, 

Heyyy! Whatcha doing right now? I’m sooooo happy that you came to NRC even if, like, all of the housewarden’s tried to ratio you. I do not subscribe to that, BTW. #NotCool, #Yikes-A-Tron. But,  like... On a more serious note, I am happy that I got to know you. It’s nice to have someone I can just be myself around. No drama, no expectations, just... Yeah. I know that you’re gonna leave at some point, and it’s almost a relief. You’re honest about it, which is something that many can’t say. 

Ugh, that was probs TMI! I’m not trying to trauma dump here, oops. There’s this cute cafe that opened up downtown, totally Magicam-worthy. You wanna meet up there sometime? 

- Cay-cay ♦️  

Ace Trapolla - 

Prefect!! 

I need your help! So, Trein’s got this super hard test coming up on Friday- Like, Riddle-got-a-99-last-year level of hard. Yeah, that’s without the extra credit, but STILL! That’s failure to the tyrant! So, you’ve got to come over to Heartslabyul right now and help me study. Pleaseeeee!!!! I’ll owe you one! 

Oh, and don’t bring Grim. Deuce’s also got plans, there’s no need to ask him. You know, in case that matters to you. 

See ya, 

Ace 

Deuce Spade - 

Dear Prefect, 

Hello, how are you doing? Can you believe that it’s already been so long since we became friends? When we broke that chandelier, I was ready to never talk to you again... But now look at us! I’m on my way to becoming an honor student, and you’re working on finding your way home! I’m happy that you’re going to be able to go soon, I know how bad it feels not to be able to see your family (and probably friends in your case) after so long away, but also sad that you’ll be leaving us. 

I’ve got it! Let’s get your ghost camera, and we’ll take lots of photos of us all over campus! Two of each, so that way no matter what, both of us will always remember what we went through together. That sounds like a good idea, right? 

From, 

Duece 

Savanaclaw: 

Leona Kingscholar - 

Herbivore, 

Hey. You’re an idiot, you know that? You’re stupid and impulsive and don’t know when to quit or give up. That’s why you keep looking for me in the botanical gardens, right? You just don’t know when to stop. I’m sure that you’ll realize I’m not worth your effort soon enough. But until then, you have to come to see me more often. You’re my pillow, I don’t get good enough sleep if you’re not there. 

I’m in the usual place. Get over here as soon as possible. 

- Leona 

Ruggie Bucchi - 

Hiya, Prefect... 

I’ve been thinking, and you should let me come over to Ramshackle and fix the place up for you. No upfront cost, of course, but... I want the right to use the kitchen as I please, whenever I please. 

Why, you’re asking? Shishishi... Not telling. You’ve just got to trust me on this, I’ll make it worth your while. Then again, maybe I’ll just blow the kitchen up and you’ll have to live at Savanclaw again! That’d be fun, huh? 

If you don’t want me to, ya better give up your kitchen for a little while! I’ll get that microwave up and running again in no time.

- Ruggie 

Jack Howl - 

Dear Prefect, 

Hello, have you been feeling alright? I’ve noticed that Crowley isn’t the best provider of food. While on my morning runs, I’ve noticed Grim loudly talking about how he doesn’t have enough tuna. He does it pretty often. So, I’ve thought of a solution; You could try eating breakfast with me. I always get big portions, so you could have some. If you want, I could even try lifting you and carrying you places. I need to get better strength training anyway, and then you’ll have a buddy to get stronger with. It’s always better to have a friend with you. 

From, 

Jack 

Octavinelle: 

Azul Ashengrotto - 

My Pearl, 

Allow me to start this letter by saying that you are truly the crown jewel of my riches and that none can replace your beauty. You are the loveliest, most perfect little pearl, and I adore you with my whole heart. And yet, I cannot seem to convince myself that you feel the same. You say you do, and even if it is a crime to believe your lips hold lies, I cannot believe that to be true. If it was, why? Not just why you would tell me- A scheming man who has hurt you and your friends- that I hold the keys to your heart, but why you would choose what I hold underneath. I’m no good for you in terms of personality or how I look, and yet... You still hold me dear. And for that alone, I want to take you to the Coral Sea where my home lies, but not for a deal this time. Just... Because I want you and my mother in the same place. The two most important people to me meeting... That’s the best thing I can think of, to be honest. 

With Love, 

Azul Ashengrotto 

Jade Leech - 

Dearest Prefect, 

It has come to my attention that you haven’t had a chance to enjoy a proper mushroom dish since arriving in Twisted Wonderland. Now, that will not do for much longer. This letter should contain a box with three containers worth of mushroom dishes. You are to eat them and write back to me with what you thought of each of them. In return, I shall continue to provide you with free food. 

Do be warned, however, that they should all be eaten as fast as possible once you get them in case my brother chooses to throw them out. Also, so that way Grim cannot eat them. I would not recommend it for a cat.

Kind Regards, 

Jade Leech 

Floyd Leech - 

Shrimpy!!!!!! 

You and me. In the courtyard. Now. 

I’m going to squeeze you. 

🐬°˖𓍢✨໋ 🐋✧°.🐟⋆ 

🦐🥢🥢🥢🥢🧨 

I’ll see you later if you want me to or not. 

- Floyd <3333333 

Scarabia: 

Kalim Al-Asim - 

Hello!!!!

I love you!!! I love you, I love you, I love you! You’re the most wonderful person in this school, and you’ve done so much for both me and Jamil! It would be silly for me not to love you. I love how your hair looked in the wind when we went on that carpet ride, I love how you looked in the school’s uniform and how you looked when you tried on my dorms, and I love how you look no matter how you dress because you’re a beautiful person inside and out! I love you, and nothing can change that! (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) .ᐟ.ᐟ 

Hugs and kisses, 

Kalim Al-Asim 

P.S. Let’s go on another magic carpet ride soon, okay? I want to show you how pretty the moon looks when it’s full and you’re flying!

Jamil Viper - 

Dear Prefect,

Thank you for saving me when I overblotted. I am aware that what I did was wrong, and I apologize. I hope you can understand where I’m coming from. Either way, I feel as though I must do something more for you to show you that. Please come to Scarabia tonight. I will make you a special dinner if you do. Please, don’t tell Kalim. I want... something special, for the two of us this time. 

See you later, 

Jamil Viper

Pomefiore: 

Vil Schoenheit - 

My Dearest Potato, 

I regret to inform you that you have bewitched me. So much so that I willingly took on a role as a villain in this next movie. The villain falls in love with the hero’s love interest, and then, in a “shocking” turn of events, she chooses the villain to stand by. Of course, they’re both defeated, the hero gets with his childhood friend in some lesson of how love will always be waiting for you, whatever. But I still chose it, even if Neige plays the hero. 

I finally have a love interest, and they remind me of you. You could have stood by his side, you know. You should have. I poisoned him; That action speaks for itself. And yet, you decided to stay with me. Just like how that villain in this story gets the girl the hero originally wanted. 

I’ve won your heart as well, haven’t I? 

Sincerely, 

Vil Schoenheit 

Rook Hunt - 

Trickster, 

Bonjour, mon amour! I could not resist sending you another letter. You see my darling, I long for you like I long for the sunset on a hot day, for an oasis in a desert, for a hint of rain during the dry season, for the sun during the days when it pours. I'd imagine you'd taste like the rain as well, Trickster, and if given the chance, I'd taste again and again, in an attempt to satiate more than just my curiosity. 

Oh, Trickster, have you any idea how you’ve bewitched me? Why, just the sight of you is enough to send me spiraling, wishing for the smallest fraction of a chance that my affections are shared. How cruel is fate, to deny me the right to live and die within your arms? La petite mort would be heaven if it was with you, but death would truly come for me if it wasn’t. 

Je t'aime de tout mon coeur, 

Le Chasseur D'Armour 

Epel Felmeir - 

Prefect, 

I need some help. I found out that milk can make ya grow stronger, and also help you get taller. However, Vil has banned me from drinking it because I drank a carton in two days. Something about it raising my cholesterol or making me break out, I don’t care. So, I need to keep it at Ramshackle. That’s okay with you, right? Well, I sure hope it is, cause it’s getting in there if ya want it to or not! I’ll see ya soon, just make sure it’s in the fridge. I’ll get ya some of my family’s apple juice in return, it’ll be good. I reckon ya liked it last time. 

Epel 

Ignihyde: 

Idia Shroud - 

Prefect, 

Get to my room, and fast. There’s an event taking place, and I need a player two. This one requires another person to be in the same room, so I can’t ask any of my mutuals, and you’re the only one I trust with this. I can’t ask Ortho either, don’t ask why. 

Also I recently got pink lights in my room like those normies. That’s why everything looks kind of pink, it’s not my hair. Just in case you were wondering if I was embarrassed or whatever, you’re wrong. Just get over here ASAP, no time to waste. 

- Gloomurai 

Ortho Shroud - 

Hello, how are you? ( ˵ •̀ ᴗ •́˵) I am very happy to get a chance to talk with you. I have recently learned how to type out these little faces called ‘kaomoji’ that my big brother loves. Here are some of my favorites: 

♡✧( •⌄• ) 

ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ 

•ω• 

ᓚ₍ ^. .^₎ - This one is a cat! 

I would like to share more with you. Please come to Ignihyde so I can teach you how to get them on your phone as well. I can provide free updates while you’re here if needed. (✿˶◕‿◕˶人◕ᴗ◕✿) 

Sent To: PerfectPrefect@email.com 

Date: XX/XX/XXXX 

Return Email: orthoshroud2@email.com 

Diasomnia: 

Malleus Dracona - 

My Dearest Child Of Man, 

If Longing was painful, how much farther would I have to fall to crash and burn at your feet? The only answer I can give is that I already would have. I would build monuments in your name and would offer you the world and more if only you would say you loved me back. 

Could this be considered love? Could these feelings I hold deep within my heart, only to divulge in the darkest hours of the night with none but the stars and you to bear witness to my passion, be a form of love? Or is this simply my yearning, a longing for your heart, and wanting to have someone to call my own? 

The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew that you were the one I wanted next. How I wish I could scream your name from the rooftop, and raise my voice in song only to sing your praises. You have the face of an angel, and I am sure that you must have the mind of one as well, for even if the voices in your head remind you of nothing more than pain and suffering, they have still been able to mold you into the perfection you are today. But maybe you have devils as well, trying to smite you as you sleep, but just as I do all of your angels, I will pick them up and kiss their heads if they are a part of someone I care for so much. You are perfection, Child of Man, and this dragon wishes only to live with the crumbs of affection as my treasures. 

Yours Until The End Of Eternity, 

Prince Malleus Dracona Of Briar Valley Hornton 

Lilia Vanrouge - (Okay so for Lilia I could have SWORN that he calls the prefect ‘Beastie,’ but I can find that nowhere. Literally at all, no one seems to have used it for him, but I know that I’ve seen at least one person do it. I now think that it’s a headcanon thing but I’m not sure, if anyone knows who did this or if it’s canon, please tell me. I’ve been searching for far too long and I am in too deep.)

Beastie, 

Hello, my darling~! I have an easy-peasy little request for you, m’kay? You just need to travel over to Diasomnia, and then... I’ll make you a meal! Malleus has been out trying to find this one gargoyle on campus all day since I brought up wanting to learn a new recipe, and Sebek and Silver both ran off earlier to go help him. I don’t know how to tell them that the gargoyle they’re looking for definitely isn’t at Night Raven College. Raising kids is quite hard, especially when things like this come up... 

But you’ll be there for me, won’t you, Beastie? Pretty please? I’ll see you tonight if you want to, a little date if you feel up to it. Mwah! 

xoxo, 

Lilia 

Silver “Vanrouge” - 

Dear Prefect, 

I had the most wonderful dream. I think I did, at least. I can’t remember it, but I remember how familiar these eyes were, and I knew it was you as soon as I awoke. And I know it's true, that dreams are seldom what they seem... But if I know how you are, then I know what you'll do; You'll look at me the same way you did once upon inside my dreams. And tell me all about the animals that you found with me when I awoke. What I wouldn’t give to hear you tell me about every birdie that comes to me; I’d be willing to fall asleep in the forest every day if only to hear you cooing to the birds when I come to. I wonder if each little bird has someone to sing sweet things to, a little love melody like what I long to play for you one day. Well, either way, I’m growing sleepy now. The effects of my curse will soon be on me once more. I’ll see you either later today or tomorrow, depending on how long I’m asleep. If you need me or simply wish to keep me company, I’m currently resting in the woods. 

Best Wishes, 

Silver 

Sebek Zigvolt - 

HUMAN! 

I have something to show you; A new notebook to be filled, gifted to me by Master Lilia. He said that it is a ‘scrapbook’, which humans fill up with pictures and drawings of themselves and their friends. To fulfill the purpose of this illustrious gift, you must come to Diasomnia at once! You shall be the first of the first years to be added, along with Silver. Prepare enough of those photographs you have to fill half of the book. The other shall be dedicated to Wakasama! 

Sincerely, 

Sebek Zigvolt  

RSA+NBC: 

Che’nya - 

Prefect... 

When are you going to visit RSA, huh? It would be purrr-fect to get a chance to see you again. You’re quite the pretty purr-son, dontcha think? Or maybe I’ll just drop by at the next unbirthday party... Riddle and Trey would like that, but I wonder what you’d think. Hum-hum-hummm... 

Kitty Kisses, 

Artemiy Artemiyevich Pinker <3 

Neige Leblanche - (The Reader is called NRC’s ‘princess’ in this one, but not called a woman or anything)

My Dearest, 

Hello! How are you fairing? Have you been doing okay since the VDC? I know that you looked pretty shaken up back then, so I wanted to make sure that you’ve been okay. After all, you’re NRC’s princess! As far as I can tell, anyway. I’m happy that there’s someone around Vil like you, he always looked like he needed a good cheering up. And you’re like a fairytale! Such pretty hair and eyes and skin; Oh, I’d ride away with you on a white horse if I could! 

Ah, that’s odd to say to someone I don’t know very well, isn’t it? I’m sorry, that’s my fault. You still want to be friends, right? If you do, please come visit me at some point. Or, just send me a letter back. I’ll make sure that you get priority over any fan letter. 

Love, 

Neige Leblanche 

Rollo Flamme -

Mon Amour, 

There are times I wish I could tear you down and take you apart only to sew you back together. Rip you to shreds only to tenderly put each piece back where it should be. Drink from you until there's nothing left and then fill you up with all of the love I could offer, make you mine and mine alone. Those greedy thoughts shouldn't even make their way onto this paper, shouldn’t even be in my head, and yet here I am, penning them in a letter never to be sent. 

I truly wish you never see these letters, for I'd hate to be the reason your face turns to disgust, even if for a moment. Of course, I don't regret writing them. You will never read them, after all, but I believe I should get my thoughts out like this rather than bottle them up, lest I do something stupid and let you see them. I pray that you will never have to see me in a state like how I write to you, over my bedside table in the dead of night, eyes barely open and breath still recovering from dreams of a sweeter pleasure than I should sully your name with. 

I mention those dreams I have of you a lot, it seems, although I mean it in the most innocent way possible. Ever since I met you, you've infested my dreams and wormed your way into my heart like a parasite I can't rid myself of. My dreams are all of the sweet moments I have longed for and never gotten. I only have eyes for you, after all, and a saint may never lie with a sinner, lest they become one as well. 

Bonus: 

Checka Kingscholar - 

To Perfect, 

Hello! I am Checka Kingscholar. I am fiv years old. I like my unca. I like my dad and I love my mom. I love you! Goodbye! •ᴗ•

[bandgie]

question, what would skz do to make you squeal? what where when how, go all out~

chan!

likes hearing how happy he makes you! doesn't always have to be sexual. maybe he buys you something you've always wanted and you do a little happy squeak omfg makes his heart explode! but sexually? he likes hearing it when he drives his cock real deep in you. feeling your walls twitch and squeeze onto him when his tip is pushing past your cervix. you have to push on his tummy because he's just sooooo deeeepp but he likes hearing you squeak! he can see your swollen lips trying to form words but ugh! all you can do is mewl and squeal :(

minho!

grabs your butt outta no where to hear you chirp. sometimes it's in the comfort of your own home but most of the time it's in public. all you do is give him the 'did u just really do that here?' look and he's just smirking at back you like 'fuck yeah I did' in the bedroom I think it's pretty similar! but he's a lot more rough. his soft hand feels not-so-soft on your ass when he smacks it from behind. the force makes you lurch forward, gripping the pillow under you to muffle your squeals. and sometimes!! if he's eating you out from behind, he'll spread your cheeks to lick up your ass and watch your feet kick all cute

changbin!

anything! bin would do anything to hear you make little happy sounds. like chan, it just makes his heart melt and he's got that cute little smile when you're just so happy that you squeal but by far, eating you out while you make those cute noises are the best. there's just something about being buried between your legs with your fingers in his curls while you mewl and squeal that's just beautiful. honestly, changbin would be the one squealing the most (in and out of the bedroom) so he makes those sounds with you in your cunt tbh

hyunjin!

my lover boy! his fav is when he makes something for you or maybe he's just showing you his latest work in progress and you clap your hands and squeal cuz he's just so talented. really gives him motivation. not only are you his motivation but his muse. he loves painting your body in different ways: clothed, nude, standing, sitting, with your legs open. I've written before how hyunjin loves painting your pussy and I stand by that!! it's only natural that you squeal from embarrassment from the poses he puts you in, but he has a vision! he likes to paint the flush on your cheeks and the pinkness of your pussy, ugh defo fucks it when he's done BUT the whole process of drawing you while you whine about how shy you are is the best

han!

him making you squeal? it should be the other way around but I do think he likes hearing you make those cute little noises when he makes them too! it happens when you're both super desperate to fuck, like maybe you've been teasing each other all day or he's been on tour for a while and when you two get together it's just bunnies fucking BUTBUTBUTBUT let me say just say...sex pills. no idea the actual word for it but it's those pills/foods that get you super horny and makes you all sensitive. those are hannie's fav when ya'll are fucking. everything is wetter, hotter, softer, just so much more. han always fucks you good but with those pills? it's like you're constantly creaming on his cock with every thrust of his hips. at some point, neither of you can form proper words and you just end up whining and squealing into each other's mouths.

felix!

there's just something about fingering you while being able to watch your face contort into pleasure that does it for felix. his fingers aren't super long, but it's all about the motion of the ocean. he's really good at getting you to cum on his digits really fast and keep going. his wrist is drenched with your cum and your pussy keeps leaking that white cream, but he shows no signs of stopping. steady pumping into you in a way that makes you raise your heels off the floor and bury yourself deeper into the couch. he's kissing you, obvi. lixie can't let just his fingers get all the attention, but it is difficult to properly suck on your tongue since you keep moaning and squealing.

seungmin!

I am on my dom!seungmin agenda because I just know he likes hearing you squeak and squeal when he's fucking you real hard. kinnddd of like chan in that he buries himself in you, but unlike chan in that seungmin will keep thrusting into you. it feels like you can hardly catch your breath with how hard and deep he's pounding into you, but you like how dizzy it makes you feel. flat on your stomach while he drives his cock in and out of your swollen pussy to a point that you can't moan and you just squeal like you're out of breath. mhm, he likes that. esp when he flips you around and surprises you with cleaning his cock from your cum.... yeah

jeongin!

give this man some head! throat fucking you is the absolute best (and his favorite) way to get you to squeal! on your back with your head hanging off the bed, on your knees, 69ing, he doesn't care! innie can't really hear you squealing when you're too busy choking on his dick, but he can hear you gag, the wet noises your mouth makes, the sound of your throat when his tip touches the back. those are all good yes but it's when you pull away from his cock to catch your breath that makes him groan. hearing you pant, whimper, and moan from his cock like he's fucking your pussy instead is heaven to this man. will guide your pretty mouth back to his cock by grabbing the back of your head. tapping his tip on your red lips to watch you loll your tongue out and lick it. and when he pushes past your mouth? hearing that squeal from him burying his cock as deep as your throat will let him makes your teary eyes worth it

[ellielatinagf]

Lacrosse!Ellie Part 2

Summary: after meeting that mysterious girl who had your heart and stomach in knots, you find a way to get closer to her

Warnings: mild profanity,

Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4

*follow*

You finally hit the follow button. After what felt like hours of just stalking the girls account. You thought about meeting her, but after your encounter with her the other day it felt pretty awkward and you didn’t want to seem to eager.

*Elli3mfwilliams started following you*

*new message*

Ellie: heyy

She was fast with it. You literally just started following her and she texted you??

You: hii

*seen just now* thank god she must be a fast replier

Ellie: how’d you find me?

You: Dina gave me your account. Is that okay?

Ellie: of course babes

Oh god that nickname. Does she know what she’s doing? Does she know the way your stomach churns at the name and even wanting to turn itself inside out? Wait is she even gay?? What kind of question is that, one look and you can already tell she practically worships women. You tried to think of a way to get closer to her

You: are you any good at math?

Ellie: math genius

You: do you think you can help me? Like study and stuff

Ellie: sure I got you. Wanna meet up this weekend at the coffe shop by school?

Ugh, this weekend? It’s only Tuesday, this weekend is forever away…

You: sure!

Ellie: alright then, see ya later babe

You turned off your phone and placed it on your night stand. You laid on your bed and stared at the ceiling. You basically made a date with Ellie. Sure you two barely knew each other but it was better than nothing. You knew you liked women. You hadn’t exactly dated a woman but anytime you saw a pretty woman you just knew you liked them.

You woke up the next morning to your alarm clock throwing a tantrum on the drawer. You decided to get a little dolled up today. Maybe you just felt in the mood. Your humming to the song playing on your speaker was interrupted by the notification in your phone

*Dinasaur calling*

“Oh shit” You Said Running out of your room grabbing your backpack and rushing outside. You climbed in Dina’s car with half your makeup applied.

“Girl we’re gonna be late!�� Dina complained “wait a minute why are YOU looking all pretty?” Dina asked smiling. You giggled and pulled down the passenger mirror to apply your lip gloss.

“I dunno just wanted to I guess” you smirked. Dina didn’t buy, but she didn’t push you. You both sang songs as she drove to school.

“Sooooo have you made any plans this weekend?” Dina asked as you both walked to your classes. Does she know? Did Ellie say something? I mean, it was Dina’s fault you got to talk to Ellie..but still.

“Uh yeah” you said trying to be general and not give hints.

“Ugh! Oh my god Y/n tell me what happened with you and Ellie!” Dina giggled grabbing your arm. You smiled rolling your eyes. Of course she knew. She’s your best friend. What DOESNT she know?

“We’ll nothing really…” You said. You wished something happened “we’re just meeting up for a coffee study this weekend”

“Lame!” Dina exclaimed “your telling me she didn’t fall to your knees and beg you for your hand in marriage?”. You couldn’t help but laugh.

“Nope. Shocking right?” You replied. The two of you laughed a storm. Dina squeezed your hand goodbye and you both parted ways to go to class. Pre-calc . You hate pre-calc. You basically dragged your feet to class. Your foot missed the next step and before you knew it you tripped and hit your nose on the floor.

If this were anyone else you probably would be laughed. It’s a guilty pleasure. But you groaned and just before you pull yourself up, you feel a pair of hands on your shoulders.

“You okay babe?” You knew that raspy voice. You looked up to meet a pair of green orbs staring at you. A pair of pink lips smiling at you. The embarrassment hit you like a punching bag your cheeks felt warm and turned pink.

“That was an interesting fall ” Ellie chuckled.

“Ha..sorry.. I mean thank you.” You smiled getting back on your feet “I’m fine, thank you”

“No problem babe. We still on for coffee this weekend?” She asked

“Yeah of course” you replied

“Great, I’m looking forward to it. Bye babe. Oh by the way, you look good today”

“Thanks…bye ellie…” you Said waving bye and watching the gorgeous god sent woman leave. Her backpack had space pins on it. Cute. Wait, she said she was looking forward to it. To you. She wants to see you. Oh god. You hated her. Why is so so damn perfect? She’s making you go crazy. That stupid gorgeous nerd.

So excited for the next one omg. Don’t worry there’s gonna be a LOOOOOOTTTTT of fluff trust me loves. Love you thanks for reading! Free Palestine 🇵🇸

@bready101

Dm or reply if you wanna be tagged!

[atlabeth]

she's like the wind

knight!luke masterlist

pairing: knight!luke castellan x princess!reader

summary: you and luke get a reality check.

a/n: ive been on the hurricane train lately but knight!luke still has me in a chokehold lol so here's a lil blurb for you all! based off of this request; title from the patrick swayze song bc are you kidding me "just a fool to believe i am anything she needs" UGH you're everything she needs it's just that neither of you know it yet

wc: 1.8k

warning(s): angst lol! discussions of arranged marriages, luke is sad, princess is sad and a little mean bc she goes into princess mode, they both place their duty above their feelings </3

okay sooooo

last time we left off you and Luke had a nice lil moonlight dance in your room after you both had to get through a ball 

and things have been pretty good since then! nothing is awkward between the two of you (sometimes being oblivious towards the depth of your feelings is a good thing) and you’re back to joking around w each other all the time

but you’re the princess and things can never be easy for you. Your whole day (and not to be dramatic but basically your whole life) is ruined by a private meeting with your parents. 

It’s marriage. obviously it’s marriage. 

Your kingdom needs allies at a moment like this and marriage is the easiest way to do it so. like. the sooner the better princess!!! 

and like you KNEW it was coming. You knew there was really no way to avoid it. that doesn’t mean you naively hoped you could. 

But it’s one thing for a prince to court you at a ball for the night and forget him as soon as you get home. 

It’s another thing entirely for that prince and his parents to visit your kingdom and stay for a week. which is exactly what’s going to happen. 

During that meeting, your parents tell you that the prince of the kingdom that held the last ball (the one that both sets of parents want you to marry, the one that gave you a tour, the one that is the most boring man alive) and his parents will be staying in the castle

And while your parents will be talking with his, trying to secure an alliance for any kind of protection, they’ve encouraged you to spend time with him, make him feel welcome, forge a bond, make him like you. 

“Why?” you ask. You know the answer, you know what they’re implying, but you want them to say it out loud. You want them to resign you to this fate themselves. 

“Because if all goes well, he will be courting you within the month,” your father says, and yeah, it does make you feel worse now that he’s blatantly said it. you didn’t really know what your plan was there. 

“It is the best decision for all of us, darling,” your mother says. 

You fight them over it. obviously. but it’s no good, and you leave the room absolutely fuming. 

Thankfully, Luke is busy training, because you don’t think that you could explain this to him right now. 

But you don’t tell him even when he later accompanies you to the library. Or when he asks you how your day went. Or when he asks in five different ways if you’re okay. 

Luke knows something is off almost immediately when he meets up with you again because 1. he knows you. 2. you won’t look him in the eye 3. HE KNOWS YOU BFFR

but he doesn’t push it, and you’re eternally thankful. 

Why, you may ask? Because you don’t want to talk to Luke about this kind of thing. 

Why, you may ask again? Because you’re in love with him and don’t know it yet. 

But because you don’t know it yet, you just feel weird talking about stuff like that with him. Even thinking about it around him. It was bad enough when Luke had to accompany you and the prince around the past week—you can’t imagine Luke being around when you’re trying to charm this guy. 

He’s going to find out eventually, namely when said prince arrives in the castle, but you just can not bring yourself to tell him. 

Thankfully, you don’t have to! Because he’s one of the kingsguard and one of the first things they do that next morning is discuss security for the incoming royal family. And even though Luke figures it all out pretty quickly, he figures it out even quicker with the immediate gossip through the servants and maids. 

And listen. 

He knows his place. He knows he’s a knight, he knows he’s your knight, and he knows that his duty is to keep you safe no matter what. He knows just as well as you do that you would be married off eventually, but just like you, he chose to naively ignore that fact for as long as he can. 

And it’s not just you that he has a promise to—when he asked your father to let him be your personal guard, he swore himself to your protection and to stay away from you in that regard. Luke lied and said he would never think of it, but he’s had a thing for you since you were kids. 

Luke guesses he thought he would get over it as he grew, but he’s only fallen harder for you with the years. He’s got himself stuck between a rock and a hard place and he’s got no one to blame but himself. 

But he feels like his teeth are going to crack with how hard he clenches his jaw during the entire meeting. It was difficult enough maintaining his front while the prince showed you around the castle—Luke doesn’t know how he’s going to survive your parents’ most open attempt at arranging marriage thus far. 

At least he has a reason to go see you right after. He is your guard, after all. 

The bigger problem is the correct timing. Luke can tell that you’re upset the instant he’s in your proximity, and he doesn’t want to upset you further in his quest for answers. 

But near the end of the day, when he’s escorted you back to your room after dinner and you’re beginning to take off your jewelry, he finally speaks up. 

“Princess,” Luke said, standing in the doorway, “may I have a word?” 

Your body tensed and your hands stopped on the clasp of a bracelet. You knew what was coming, but you nodded nonetheless. You didn’t know if you would be able to speak with the dryness of your throat. 

You heard the door close behind you, and you busied yourself taking off the rest of your jewelry as Luke began. 

“I’ve heard the royal family of Birchmund is visiting,” he said. 

You wet your lips and swallowed, trying to alleviate the cotton in your mouth. “You’re correct.” 

“And I’ve heard… other things,” he continued. “Of their prince. And you.” 

You closed your jewelry box with a bit too much force. “The decision of my parents.” 

“I figured.” Luke cleared his throat, and you still couldn’t stand to look at him. “What… what is going to happen?” 

“Luke,” you started, “I don’t want to talk about this with you.” 

“Please, princess,” he said. “I… merely want to know what to expect. If you are to be accompanying him most of the week, I’ll have to adjust my own schedule.” 

You bit down hard on the inside of your cheek, steeling yourself before you finally turned around to face him. “My parents want me to get him on our side, Luke. It will be easier to forge an alliance if we have a good relationship, and it will be easier to—” You paused, closing your eyes for a moment before you finished. “To negotiate a marriage if he already likes me.” 

And Luke just stared at you. You didn’t know what he wanted from you, why he wanted to hear you say it. Probably the same reason you wanted to hear your parents say it—to know it was truly real. 

“You don’t want this,” Luke said. His voice was quieter, but his posture hadn’t changed. Always a knight. 

“What I want doesn’t matter,” you said. 

“You’re a person too,” he insisted. “You deserve to go after what you want.” 

“I am a princess before I am a person.” You turned back around and started removing your jewelry again—you needed something to focus on. “I want what is necessary for my kingdom.” 

“Princess.” Luke sounded a little desperate, now. “This— it’s so formal. This isn’t how we talk to each other. We’re friends above everything.” 

Your skin burned where his fingers brushed over your neck, where he held you while you danced. Luke was your closest friend, but— but you couldn’t. You couldn’t have him so close and yearn for so much that you can never have, while the prince you might have to marry stood on your other side. 

“Maybe my priorities have been wrong.” You planted your hands on your vanity to prevent them from shaking. “What I want doesn’t matter. If I can prevent a war by offering my hand, it is my duty to do so.” 

“We…” you swallowed the lump in your throat and shook your head. “We cannot keep doing this. It would be an embarrassment to any prince for his betrothed to be so attached to her knight.” 

“We’re friends,” Luke insisted. “We always have been. No prince that desires your hand could understand even the slightest bit of what we’ve been through together.” 

“No,” you agreed. “But that means little in the scheme of everything else.” 

Luke’s jaw clenched ever so slightly. “This can’t possibly make you happy.” 

“What I want doesn’t matter,” you repeated, stronger this time. “This kingdom matters more than— than my childish desires. They depend on us for their protection, and I owe it to each and every one of my people to do all I can to ensure that protection.” 

“Princess—” Luke started, because you both knew what you were referring to, but you held up a hand and it stopped him in his tracks. 

“You are my knight,” you said. “And I am your princess. Eventually, I will be queen. My parents have told me I need to look to the future, to stop with silly trifles before they become more.” 

“It’s more than that,” he said quietly. “You’re my best friend. You’re the reason I’m standing here today.” 

“You act as if your duty is to die for me,” you continued. “But your duty is to keep me safe. And this is how I stay safe—by following the word of my parents and securing it myself.” 

“So this is your solution,” Luke attempted. “To try and ruin our friendship in the name of a marriage you don’t want.” 

“You may retire for the night, Sir Castellan,” you said, and your words rang hollow. “I’d like to be alone.” 

He stared at you, dark eyes indecipherable, but he nodded and moved to the door. Before he shut it, his gaze met yours again. 

“You may not care about what you want,” Luke said quietly. “But I do. And my loyalty is to you, princess. Not your parents. And certainly no prince.” 

Then he bowed, and he closed the door quietly behind him. 

but that night, when you settle into your silken sheets and luke takes his place in the barracks, you think of each other as you fall asleep and you dream of each other once you are.

the ties between you are not so easily broken. 

[johnnycakesswitch]

do you have any soda and johnny headcanons cause they’ve been plaguing my mind. Like how pony explains soda was the first one to johnnys side and holding him when johnny was jumped UGH im so normal about them. like that’s pony’s best friend, thats dallys little brother we know this, but that’s also sodas kid be so for real

Yessss I love their friendship

• Soda and Steve lowkey adopted Johnny when they saw him in school, they just saw this quiet little kid who looked so nervous all the time so ofc Soda The Extrovert was like you’re coming home w me. They always played w Johnny in school and they started bringing him around to the Curtis house after school and the rest is history

• one time as little kids Soda asked Johnny if it was ok with his parents if he came over and Johnny said his parents don’t like him and that just broke little Soda’s heart :( he told Johnny that they can share his parents and that he can be his fourth brother (Steve is the third of course) 💔💔💔

• Johnny skips school a lot bc he just doesn’t feel like going a lot of the time ✋😭 so sometimes he’ll just hang out with Soda at the DX all day. Soda is usually bored there while Steve is in school so he loves when Johnny will come keep him company

• these two gossip like nobody’s business, Johnny keeps Soda in the know about stuff that’s going on at school and Soda tells him everything he overhears at work

• Soda is such a mother hen he’s always making sure Johnny eats plenty when he’s over for dinner like insisting that he has seconds and then already pulling out blankets from the closet bc Johnny is sleeping outside not on his watch

• Johnny was so relieved when he woke up from being jumped and realized he was in Soda’s arms, he just knew he was safe and completely broke down. Soda carried him back to their house and didn’t keep his eye off Johnny the whole night, he hovered in the doorway while Darry cleaned him up and sat on the floor in front of the couch while Johnny rested there. Johnny is fr Soda’s little brother guys like he loves him sm

• sometimes instead of sleeping on the couch Soda tells Johnny he’s always welcome to sleep in his old room since he sleeps with Pony anyway, he wants Johnny to be able to sleep in a real bed :(

• literally half of Johnny’s clothes are hand me downs from Soda

• Soda is one of the people that Johnny will let himself be silly around he loves teasing Soda and joking around with him because it genuinely gets Soda in stitches like he thinks Johnny’s humor is sooooo funny

• Soda will just pick Johnny up all the time like throw him over his shoulder and just drag him around like a ragdoll like if they’re wrestling or playing football Soda just grabs him up ✋😭

• they’re both very good listeners so everyone kinda goes to them w their problems so they both know how it can be kinda heavy to carry the weight of knowing what everyone else is going through all the time so they’re always there for each other when they need to vent and check up on each other a lot

• Soda is always down to help anyone sneak Johnny out of his house at any given time. Bro will drop anything to make sure Johnny is safe 🙂‍↕️

They’re bffs fr

[thescarletnargacuga]

PENDULUM Epilogue

A TIME CAPSULE AU ONESHOT CONTINUATION

AU credit: @mangotangerinepastry @the-amazing-digital-time-capsule

A/N: sooooo Mango shared a little tidbit of information I didn't know about her AU. Pomni and Gangle are ROOMMATES... oh no.

WARNING: none, just teasing friends

~~~

Gangle stayed out late hanging out with Ragatha and Kinger. It was nice to have time to just relax with good conversation when they were finally off the clock. Now, she wanted to go to bed. The light to her and Pomni's room was out, so she figured Pomni had gone to bed already.

She quietly opened the door and tip-toed into the room. As she passed Pomni's bed, she did a double take. There were TWO figures in Pomni's bed. In the very faint light of a nightlight on her own nightstand she could make out the unmistakable silhouette of Caine laying next to Pomni. He was fully clothed and on top of her sheets, but they were still holding one another in a comforting embrace.

She held her hands over her mouth to muffle the gasp she involuntarily made. She danced silently in place, freaking out over what she was witnessing. She'd noticed how Pomni and Caine would look at one another, and even how they spoke. It was very obvious to her that they were attracted to one another but couldn't express it thanks to BUBLE's rules.

After her little freak out, she was suddenly stuck with a dilemma. What does she do now? Should she just go to bed and pretend she saw nothing? Should she find somewhere else to sleep? Pomni wouldn't just forget that she sleeps here too, right?

She felt a little awkward going to bed knowing that those two would get up and interact with her in the morning. So, she grabbed a blanket and a pillow and slept in the closet. It was surprisingly comfortable, her spindly body fit easily in the smaller space.

~

Caine woke first, then woke Pomni. They both needed to get ready for work. He stood, stretched and straightened his wrinkled vest.

Pomni got up and started pulling out her performing clothes. "Thank you, for staying with me last night. I really needed you- IT. It... So, thanks." She flustered at her slip, brushing bed head hair out of her eyes.

Caine was better at hiding his fluster from what she said, but it still makes his chest feel fuzzy. "It was my pleasure, Pomni. I'm glad you're feeling a bit better this morning. I've got to run, but I look forward to hearing your performances today. They make my days better."

Pomni gave him a smile, her heart melting.

As Caine was on his way out, in of the corner of his eye, he noticed a second bed in the room. Then a cold Spike of panic hit him. He completely forgot...Gangle sleeps here too. The bed was empty, where was she? Maybe he got lucky and she didn't come back to the room last night. Maybe she stayed with someone else. He walked a bit faster out the door.

Gangle burst from the closet. "I KNEW IT!!"

Pomni let out a short scream, throwing her hairbrush across the room. "AH!! Wha- Gangle!?!? What are you doing in the closet???"

"Uh, because this is my room too?? Did that little detail slip your mind??? Never mind, we're not talking about me! YOU AND CAINE!? HELLO!?"

Pomni went bright pink. "It's not what it looks like! Nothing happened! We just- he- I needed-....ugh." She sighed heavily, facepalming. "I'm sorry, Gangle. I was in such a state yesterday that I didn't consider how you'd feel about me inviting Caine to stay. Were you in the closet all night?"

"Yes, and it was rather cozy. I might do it again. BUT LIKE I SAID, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ME!! You ACTUALLY invited him to STAY in your BED!? How uncharacteristically reckless of you." Gangle teased. "I don't mind, but give a girl a little warning. I almost had a heart attack when I saw him there last night."

"You- you saw-"

"Mmhm" Gangle's smirk grew. "You two got rather cuddly. It was adorable."

Pomni's pink cheeks darkened. "Please, don't tell anyone. I don't want Caine to get in trouble on my behalf. Not again."

Gangle ran her ribbon hand over her lopsided mouth. "I'm a woman of my word. What happens off the clock, stays off the clock. You better hurry up and get dressed, your boyfriend's waiting for you to play for him." She bounced her eyebrows.

Pomni wanted to scream from embarrassment. "We're not in any kind of relationship. He just...I needed some comfort last night. That's all."

"Uh-huh, and I'm the Queen of England." Gangle sarcastically replied. "Next time you have him over, put a sock or something on the doorknob. I need to know if I should go bunk with Ragatha for the night."

Pomni grabbed a pillow and screeched into it.

[liveontelevision]

HELLOOOO! This is my first request to you, and I'm not really sure how this works or if this even is the right place to do this, so feel free to ignore this if you're not taking requests or you're swamped with other thing- Im not even sure this is an overly detailed request or an stupid little rant, but, I have an idea about Lucifer that's just been plaguing my mind recently.

So, I was thinking about Secret fallen angel!Reader who's been at the Hotel for about 6 months. Then Lucifer shows up. They meet by her absolutely crashing into him in the many hallways. And when he sees her, he notices this angelic aura radiating off of her, right? And reader recognized him noticing this and ends up scurrying away with a meek apology.

And they keep meeting like this, her bumping into him and running away with a flustered look on her face. So he decides to learn more about her by shape shifting into a cat.(think about KeeKee, but with red fur and a white underbelly, with gold irises) Anywho, he shifts into a cat, and sneaks into her room one day through like, a window or somthing, just as she's stretching her wings. And when she notices him she starts like cooing at him as she picks him up and sits him down on her lap.

As the weeks go by, she rants to luci in his cat form about her experiences as a fallen angel, what funny things she witnesses in the hotel or out in the streets of hell. Or maybe what got her in hell in the first place(I like to think she was a lot like luci, a dreamer full of curiosity that ended up questions heaven, its rules, and asking about lucifer, maybe even defending him)

And one day, after witnessing a particularly adorable(at least she thinks so) encounter with him and charlie.(Which was basically him showing her his rubber ducks, and ranting to charlie about his dreams and using these big gestures with the cutest and widest smile on his face) she come back to rant about it to cat luci, who's resting on her belly as she's splayed out on her bed just cooing about how cute he his, how much she wants to just squeeze him and keep him to herself- maybe its love, she doesn't know.

And in the mist of all that, Lucifer gets sooooo flustered, he looses and ends up back in his human form, straddling her hips with his hands on her belly. So basically the stay like that, just processing n stuff until she breaks the ice with an embarrassed 'oh' as she turns her head away. And he's just scrambling to get off of her as he stutters out apologies and jumbled nearly incoherent sentences which sounds like an explanation but we couldn't care less cause he looks so fricking cute! And we dont notice we said that out loud so now both of us are a flustered mess.

and the story basically ends with a love confession from the both of us, and Luci's just like, 'woah' cause he didn't even notice himself falling in love with reader. And then us cuddling under the covers!😋😋😋

Anywayyyssss! Thank you sooo much for taking the time out of your day to read this, if you did! I love your works and the way that you write our short king!

Kisses!

UGH THIS IS SO PURE

I'm sorry I didn't get to this one, having a bit of a writers block atm :,) but I couldn't let this just sit in my ask any longer because ITS SO CUTE ITS SUCH A GOOD PROMPT

Kisses, babe, thank you for sharin' 🫶

[wannab-urs]

The Spreadsheet Digest - Vol 16

Howdy folks,

I went into a state of psychosis this week and read a truly absurd amount of fics... again. I don't even know where I'm finding the time, truly, but here we are. I didn't spend as much time keeping up with the WIPs I'm reading, so honestly that's probably it. Also I had a lil monsterfucking moment one day this week. I'll highlight those green so if you want to avoid reading the summaries/thots on those they're easy to spot.

You can find my Spreadsheet here and all my previous recs here! Do feel free to tag me in your works and I will happily give them a look and most likely you'll see them here the next week!

Recs below the behind the scenes Joel!

SNAFU - a Frankie series by @theywhowriteandknowthings

The Triple Frontier boys as Shifters!!! This honestly makes so much sense? Like they work SO well with this dynamic. I adore Pope and Reader's bond like right out of the gate. What I really, really fucking loved though was Reader and Frankie, of course. I love how they characterized him and I really love the way that Frankie and reader bonded over time. Frankie being grumpy is so fun lol. A lot of the little details in this fic are what really make it good, ya know? The pack dynamics, the bonding moments, the badass reader, reader's uhhh issue (spoiler, I think, so I'll be quiet here) but yeah. Just. Wonderful. Can't wait for more.

only daddy that'll walk the line - a Joel one shot by @millerscoffee

So this request was sent to two different blogs and I read them both and loved them both. I read this one first. I really fucking loved Reader's dynamic with Joel in this. Joel is such a dick lmao. I thought the situation with reader's dad was done well and I also loved the hinting at Joel's trauma. And of course... the smut. God that was hot. Joel is so fucking dominant. The spitting? please. and Reader keeping up the brat thing just really fucking makes it. She needed Daddy Joel to make her behave lmao. SO GOOD

Little Bee - a Joel one shot by @atticrissfinch

And this is the other version of this request that I read. I related to the specifc brand of Daddy Issues in this one lmao. Dad who doesn't want you so you look for a protective older man (why am I like this). I loved the way reader antagonized Joel in this. The denture comment is hilarious. The bee motif is fuckin great, also. I like that Joel kind of initiates things in the mess hall. The smut is so god damn hot man. Like jesus fucking christ. And then the post nut clarity really made me giggle. "should not have done that" PLS

Closer - a Joel series by @beardedjoel

Hot neighbor!joel!! This is a smut marathon style fic with a good bit of feelings. The smut is sooooo good!! I really liked her friend Sofia too. I'm about halfway through this and I can't wait to see how reader and joel's relationship develops!

Rises the Moon - a Joel one shot by @psychedelic-ink

(monsterfucking, but you're the monster! also monster is being used very loosely here) mermaid reader x lighthouse operator joel!!! I really enjoyed this. The mermaid reader was super interesting. I wanted to know more about her background, honestly. And the way poor lonely Joel so desperately wanted to care for her UGH. It was seriously lovely. I also really liked how reader didn't commit to like... giving up being a mermaid for him (even just once a month), and he didn't ask her to. The ending is really lovely. (And the smut is hot idc if I couldn't quite imagine how it worked, it was perfect).

Playing with fire - a Joel one shot by @beskarandblasters

Super hot smutty lil dad's best friend one shot. I love when Joel gets all pissy. Makes me want to tease him even more lmao

Cupid's Chokehold - a Din one shot by @deathwife

I haven't read a body swap fic before and I must say the dynamic with it being Din, so reader can't see his face even though it's her face, and also the smut was just like... really good. I was fascinated the whole time + the smut was hot as hell. It's really fun to read it from the perspective of the dick owner lmao. I really adored their relationship and just overall thought this was lovely. Reader calls Din "Djarin" so if you're like me and marrying Din would give you an awful name (Din Gin....), you're not alone. <3

I think i know - a Joel one shot by @pascalisbaby

OMG Reader's sister is so mean in this she fucking deserves Joel cheating on her. Yes this is Sister's Husband!Joel. And yes it's really fucking hot. Reader is a menace to fucking society in this prancing around half naked and seducing a married man and I support every second of it. I know what Joel said at the end but I think he'll be back for more....

close your eyes, pay the price for your paradise - a Joel/Tommy series by @ozarkthedog

Raider (?) Tommy and Joel are so fucking hot. Read the warnings on this one kids, it's gonna be a rough one. Nothing happens in this part though, really. Basically you're stranded on the road (post outbreak / pre tess) and Joel and Tommy roll up in their truck and take you to their cabin.

a day in the filth - a Joel one shot by @toxicanonymity

This is pure filth, as the title implies. It would seem you're Joel's little sex toy, essentially. Brat tamer!Daddy!Joel. There's a lot going on here and it is all unreasonably hot.

Bodily Exchange - a Pero Tovar one shot by @absurdthirst

I finally caved a read a mafia fic and somehow it wasn't Joel. I really loved how much of a fucking dick Tovar was and how bratty reader was. The end was so much sweeter than expected, which was a nice surprise. Such a filthy fic with a sweet happy ending!

New York or Nowhere - a Joel series by @beskarandblasters

BODEGA JOEL!!! I love when you're trying to help your friend come up with a fic based on a very specific request and somehow you come up with a completely different fic altogether. New York transplant Joel owns Beldro's Deli. You think he's really hot but your friends think he's a creep. I personally think if he's a little bit of a creep that just makes it better, but then again I'm a little insane <3

Shiver and Shake - a Joel one shot by @multiversed-daydreamer

I have ADHD and literally do the thing where I have thought spirals during sex. I loved this take on that experience and mean ol dom Joel being there to bring your focus back where it belongs (on him). Super fucking hot ugh. And it was their first TLOU fic and I thought the QZ Joel characterization was spot on <3

Roads - a Joel series by @milla-frenchy

Baby's first fic!! So you grew up with Tommy, best friends and all that. You get to know Joel as an adult and there's a spark right away. The first installment here takes place 3 years before present day, after Joel breaks your heart and you literally move to get away from him. The promise of so much angst has me salivating almost as much as the really hot smut.

Promise - an Ezra one shot by @criticallyacclaimedstranger

MONSTERFUCKING! I had a little binge this week.. you'll see. Anyway Ezra is a literal actual dragon in this with a big ol dragon dick and everything. This fic includes so many wild ass kinks I simply do not (or did not know I?) have. And yet I still loved it. Thought it was super fucking hot. I really liked the imagery of the castle and the bedroom. Also the end was kind of sweet?

Common Courtesies - a Din one shot by @juletheghoul

More monsterfucking -- demon!din! I fucking love Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen in general. Mr. Darcy is one of the literary loves of my life. This little Pride and Prejudice-esque Demon!Din fic hit every mark. I loved it so much. Din is so charming and mysterious and sexy ugh. I would marry him in a heartbeat.

Solum - a Dave York one shot by @ezrasbirdie

You guessed it! Monsterfucking. Demon!Dave York!!! I really enjoyed the blending of the movie plot with the demon arc! It was so well done!! Dave was super sexy in this ugh. I too feel a strange pull toward extremely dangerous men covered in blood. Reader gets me. I am her. She is me. Demon!Dave can take me as his little human sex toy any day, idc. I also kind of loved that he was so sweet on Carol in this? Like usually in Dave fics he kinda hates her or cheats on her or she's his ex, but in this one the whole catalyst was keeping her and his girls safe. Very sweet.

Sell My Soul For You - a Marcus P one shot by @absurdthirst

--monsterfucking-- Marcus is so sweet. So sweet that Reader is getting a little aggravated he can't be a less sweet in bed. (Girl have you tried like... talking to him about it?) Anyway, sweet, impulsive, reckless Marcus finds out you feel this way via buttdial and does he like... work on it with you and slowly learn to be better? No. He goes out and sells his soul to a demon to be a better Dom. Idiot. He's cute tho, so I'll let it slide. The smut is super fucking unreasonably hot, of course.

Bad Moon Rising - a Jack series by @wardenparker

--werewolf!Jack-- This fic is actually so fucking sweet!! So part one, Reader doesn't know Jack is a werewolf and he just kinda shows up on her ranch and they hit it off immediately. There's lots of lovely animal references and stuff and it's all really hot. I love the plot too!! this is not just werewolf porn! Shit is incredible! I love the characterization. But anyway if you're not into monsterfucking just read part one. Part two tho... oh boy. Full on werewolf sex. And reader has a kink for it! She's just like me fr.

Kudzu - an Ezra one shot by @beskarberry

--weird alien hybrid ezra-- I have lots of emotions about this fic. First of all, read the warnings. They're extensive and they're there for good reason. I love a good horror fic, which is kind of what this felt like? Like the weird tension and unknowing and the freaky way Ez is talking and that arm. I was thoroughly freaked out (and I love that!!). There were so many clever and interesting things going on in this fic AHHHH, Oh and the ending is just like super sweet and wonderful and so good? The end balances out the kind of horrific nature of the rest of the fic. Also if any of that sounds insulting I really don't mean it that way, I promise. I went in to it expecting to be freaked out and it delivered so well.

Yes Father - a Joel series by @chloeangelic

Your boring catholic husband doesn't fuck you right and you really want to leave him, so Father Joel helps you satisfy your needs so you don't destroy your marriage and go to hell. I love blasphemy. It's hot idc. I think my favorite thing about it is Father Joel randomly admonishing you for foul language and taking the lord's name in vain while he's literally got some part of his body buried in yours. I giggled. I really adore this. It was super fun and super hot.

Pillow Talk - a Joel one shot by @theboredinsomniac

Joel is soooo the jealous type. This fic is basically y'all having an adult conversation about him being an insecure jealous little bitch and it's got the most adorable ending.

Born to Run - a Marcus Pike series by @whataperfectwasteoftime

Penny's Marcus is just perfect. Every damn time. Unless I'm mistaken, this was her first Marcus fic? I was in the mood for a sweet multichapter thing with some hot smut and I was sooooo not disappointed by this. I'm on chapter 8 now, so about halfway through. Marcus is so sweet and precious and still impulsive as ever, but unlike Theresa, reader is right there with him. I really adore that this fic takes place in KY (and it really captures the vibe of Kentucky too) since I'm from there! I very much do not relate to the fact that reader is a marathon runner, but that's okay. I think it's really cool and I love the way they meet and that Marcus isn't fully a white knight? She can take care of herself. Super fucking cute fic ugh. Oh yeah and the smut is to die for jesus christ Marcus is hot.

----------------------

Happy Reading!

[yuniniverse]

OH MY GODDDDD YOUR ACCOUNT IS THE BEST TBH ugh i am so lucky i wanna gate keep like girl you are too good to be trueeee i have been reading for a while and now i wanna make a lil request it goes smth like this we all know minjae hates being called short what if he finds a friend that hypes him up and tells him they are the same and stuff like that and they are friends from the same training program and she was under sm like him back then and stuff like that idk sorry if i bothered but really girl i love like I LOVE YOUR WRITING SOOOOO MUCHHHH 🩷🩷🩷

PAIRING !  ━ idol!minjae x idol!reader

GENRE !  ━ Friends to strangers(?) To lovers, fluff, seems rushed I'm so sorry TvT, slight angst

WORD COUNT !  ━ 2445 words

AUTHOR NOTE ! ━ I kid you not when I saw this I nearly cried because of how sweet you are :( I'm so sorry for the delay love uni is shit esp with all my sem end exams but thank God I have a few days off so I can work back on requests~ I hope you like it <3

SONG RECCS ! ━ Stardust Lovesong by Jihyo, Whispers of Love by Lim Hayoung

dm to be in my taglist!!

The speakers blared through the studio while minjae sat in one corner, his head turned to face the computer that lit the dim room and played their debut song, spacing out completely, draining out the noise to muffled sound of the song as his mind thinks of a hundred things, things that made him feel not so great, mad even.

Recalling memories of how excited he was a week back, jumping around like a kangaroo as his members gave him a playful questioning look as they all looked at their first ever concert costumes. Everyone was busy talking about it, the maknaes calling junghoon to brag about how excited they were and showed off a few steps as spoilers for the concert as they huddled together and screamed at junghoon who just wanted to sleep if it weren't for seeun spamming his phone and disrupting his peaceful slumber.

The entire way from KQ to their venue Minjae was the happiest and didn't even try to hide it, he dragged his members around to make tiktoks that he could post later and even dragged yujun around forcing the poor boy, who just wanted to eat in peace,the venue which seemed so pretty to him. But it all dimmed when he saw all the members get compliments while he just got taunted for his height, he loved roadys and sure they were just joking around, but he can't help but feel hurt.

"MINJAE!" He snaps out of trance, jumping on his feet as he hears you scream his name, "you spaced out for a while, you ok?" You asked. Minjae smiled, he knew if anyone only you would understand his struggles, both of you were the leaders of your group and have been training together, transferring from sm to kq and helping each other with debuting. He shook his head and stood up, making his way to you as he put on a forced smile. You on the other hand knew something was going on, your worries only grew when you saw a tear slip from his eye, which he immidiately wiped off, looking away in order to avoid your upcoming lecture. You only hugged him to which he responded back by hugging you, his embrace grew tighter as he did his best to hold back tears but let go as soon as he felt your hand rub circles on his back, his mother would always rub circles on his back whenever he was down or was afraid he wouldn't debut and you stood there watching with a smile, this gesture made him realise he was homesick too but couldn't go back home yet. He couldn't help but cry onto your shoulder to which you could only console him by back rubs. "Sorry" he mumbled as he snuggled and wiped away his tears, backing away from the hug. Confused, you ask why and he says "You're leaving next week for your groups tour and promotions, the last thing you'd want to see is me crying" he says as he looks at you with glistened eyes, you insisted it was fine, he was your friend, someone who you loved even but was too shy to tell him, to see him breakdown shattered you. You held his hand, taking him to the nearest convenience store and bought him ramen, helping him sneak the packets into his dorm before junmin catches him and lectures the two of you how it's bad for your health. It was only after you heard minjae giggle for the first time in that day did you leave him alone, dropping him to his dorm and running back to yours.

You felt happy that you helped him, even happier when you heard his giggles. You wished you could hug him for hours and tell him how much you loved him and how proud you were of him for being so strong when situations weren't siding with him. However all the happiness you had was drained when you saw your members running around the form, packing their stuff, You asked your manager what was going on and your manager said how your group had to leave the first thing tomorrow morning as your schedules got leaked and your company couldn't risk in any of your groupmates or you to be hurt as a similar incident took place earlier when your group first debuted and it resulted to your you get members getting hurt the most and having to skip one or two schedules because of the injuries they had gotten. You nod, following your members to your room as you rush to pack your things. It was when you were done is when you realised you didn't tell minjae. Especially since it would be a month or so till you came back to Korea from tour and individual schedules.

You text him but ofcourse it was way past midnight at the time and with how junmin behaved more motherly to minjae than minjaes own mother, you thought probably he was asleep. Your assumption turning out to be true as you checked your phone in the morning again, before you left you checked one last time only to your dismay as the message left as unread.

It was only after your plane took off and you were allowed to turn on your phone after the plane was in cruising altitude did you see your phone blowing up with messages, you smile at minjaes dramatic messages but also felt slight sadness as you two couldn't say your goodbyes properly.

Minjae, although his texts being way over dramatic, was sad as well. He wanted to be there for you as well. His heart warmed up when you hugged him, the tip of his ears reddening as he remembers the sweet words you said as you rubbed his back. It wasn't the fact that he was homesick or that he was down at roadys remarks about him, he cried the most when he realised he was in your arms. You were his weakness, his everything. He always adored how you would care to everyone's needs, in his eyes you were the perfect leader. His heart melting at how you'd always comfort your members, be it hugging them or calling up their family and making their favourite dishes even if it was your first time just to see your members cherry selves. How you'd always be so soft and considerate with your fans. He saw everything from afar, he saw you grown in his eyes. The first time you came to sm, it was after he had been a trainee for a year. Your eyes shining as you saw your seniors practice, the way you jumped when you got your routines correct, to how you cried and laughed in his arms after your debut. He held every moment he spent with you close to his heart.

So it's safe to say how it would always be like he was missing a part of him whenever you went for tours or just away from him in general. His feelings for you growing more and more day after day, he felt like he was falling in love with you all over again whenever he saw you smile or heard your laughs.

You on the other hand was questioning life, mostly the youngest and the oldest. You caught them eating ice creams peacefully as they watched the other two other maknaes run around, the rest of the members joined in, throwing pillows around the hotel room and causing chaos, at midnight. You slapped your head on your forehead, picking up the fallen pillows, your face defeated at the room being such a mess. You glared at the oldest who was deemed to be the "mother of the group" just standing there trying to stifle her laugh. You threw a pillow at one of your members when they laughed at you, causing another round of pillow fight. All of your hair and clothes being disheveled as laughter echoed throughout the room. It was only when your manager walked in did you guys stop. There was a moment of silence, all knowing they were gonna get their ice cream privileges away again, after all your company was famous for weird bans. You stood up and bowed, your hand swinging around motioning your members to scatter off to their rooms, to which all of them did with giggles. Your manager stood there defeated. Handling ten girls was way worse than babysitting any child. He only sighed, knowing your stylists are gonna be mortified at the condition of your hair being all over the place and trying to fix all ten of you girls.

After what seemed like eternity, you were at the airport back again, waiting for your flight back to Korea. You couldn't help but excitedly text minjae everything that happened, the past month was amazing for both you and your members. Everything seemed too perfect, from how you had fun in stages to late night screaming coming from rooms because you guys wanted to play some games but resulted to cheating and some biting.

It was all too perfect to be too true. You should've seen this come to a stop as you landed back to Korea. Your laughs were interrupted by your manager running to you, telling you guys to hold to each other close as the schedules were leaked again and the entire airport was packed with reporters and fans. You could see your members getting worried. You did as you were told, you trailed behind, holding onto one of the members hand as you tried your best to shield all of them from the mobbing. All your efforts going to vain as stepping outside the airport led to more crowd, your eyes teared up at the sight of your members being pushed down, some having their yanked, you were too scared, trying your best to get out of the situation and keeping your head low, holding onto your members hands tightly. Although you girls managed to get inside the bus, seeing how some cried because of how they were hurt both physically and mentally, some "fans" even cursing at them in the airport. You felt helpless. It was as if the perfect life came to an abrupt stop. You put on a smile for them, trying to cheer them up. Ofcourse your mind was clouded with several things as well. With how people always called you a "cheap copy" of your seniors, your members labelled with even worse names.

You sighed, plopping down on the sofa with your bag, your eyes followed your silent members walk to their rooms and settle down quietly. The silence was too much, especially for a group that always had their staffs running with a baseball bat thinking someone broke in because of how much they screamed. You missed it. They would get better, you knew that, but the fact that you couldn't protect your group made you feel like the worse leader possible. You wanted to let it out, but you couldn't. You felt you were being too dramatic.

But the entire form remained silent, only slight glances were made to your manager who visited to keep track of the girls who were injured. You were scratched too, but you were too caught up to notice. You stand up, telling your manager that you'd be going for a walk, giving a small smile to the girls as a way of saying your ok just that you needed some fresh air to clear your head.

You didn't even notice you weren't speaking to minjae as you two did. You felt guilty for it all. The fear of loosing everyone you loved just because you were 'confused' was too overwhelming. Before you knew it, tears rolled down your cheeks to your chin. You sobbed silently as each step you took seemed heavier than the other. The fact that you thought you were drifting away from minjae made you feel as if your entire world was crumbling down.

Fortunate to you, it started pouring, your tears were disguised as raindrops on your face. "Y/n?" You stopped walking, you could hear your heart beating as you recognised the voice. You couldn't turn around, not when you look like a mess.

Minjae walked up to you, his smile grew wider as he recognised the back of your head, his smile immediately dropped as he saw your glistening eyes, you kept insisting it was the rain but minjae could see right through you. You eventually gave in, you rant out to him, feeling so hopeless, you were supposed to be his comfort and yet here you were having a breakdown yourself. He steps forward to hug you, letting go of the umbrella as he held you so softly, him pushing you lightly towards the streetlight as your back rested against the pole, patting your head as he rests his chin above your head, muttering a bunch of 'its ok' as you first his shirt in your hands and sob into his chest. Only when you calmed down did he break the hug, his hands on your shoulders as he stared at you. His eyes flickering to your lips, his heart racing at how you were pouting, your face best red from all the crying and staying so close to him. He inches his face towards you, his eyes still staring into yours. His hands cup your cheek as he whispers 'may i?' to which you close the gap instead, you feel him smiling against your lips as he kisses you soft and slow, his one hand going to your waist and pulling you closer. Minjae breaks the kiss, smiling as he lays another kiss at the tip of your nose. "You are the best leader I've ever known, don't ever doubt yourself ever again because you are truly one of the best people I've ever met" he says as he kisses the top of your head.

"I wish we were together in all our lives and in all the universes" you say as you held his hand while walking, smiling at how red minjae had gotten hearing your words, he looks at you, kissing the back of your hand that is still intertwined with his, still maintaining eye contact with you

"I know we are lovers in every universe and in every life time" he says, you clear your throat in an attempt to calm your rapidly beating heart. He laughs at you and pulls you with your hand to steal another kiss from you, mumbling 'cute' in between the kisses.

[thepinkseductress]

Do you want to smell like the yummiest and sweetest slice of Strawberry Angel Cake and fluffy whipped cream?

The best feeling in the world is when you walk past a group of people and you hear someone say, "She smells really, really good!" or just simply talking to someone and they say to you, "OMG GIRL! What are you wearing? It smells sooooo good."

Well, at least, I love it when people say that about me. My biggest goal is to not only be the prettiest person in the room but also the best-smelling person.

Personally, I love sweet scents with candy or cake-like notes. I'm a gourmand girly DOWN!! Its fu-serious!

Teeny-weeny little piece of info: I have parosmia, which means the smell factory in my brain is a little out of whack. UGH! I know. I can smell just fine, but I can be a bit sensitive to certain smells, in which they may smell a little off compared to anyone without parosmia. But I swear I am reliable.

Now before I tell you what scents I like to layer and what perfumes I like to drown myself in, it's vital to understand that smelling good starts in the shower.

To me, the foundation to smelling like a literal piece of heaven depends on your body scrubs, shower gels, body wash, etc.

My shower routine:

Always Always ALWAYS start with a bar soap. It leaves the skin feeling fresh and clean. We want a clean canvas (clean skin) to work with. More specifically, this soap has a sweet and soft scent to it. Almost Angelic. It has more of a vanilla smell than shea butter but is still an exceptional cleanser. BRAVO!

At least once a week, I'll use a body sugar scrub. Usually on Sundays, before a busy and treacherous week, I'll scrub off last week's problems with a course body scrub. I like my body scrubs to be course yet moisturizing, and lucky for me, I found one at TJ MAXX (my second home).

Currently, my favorite is the Body Prescriptions Sugar Almond Body Scrub (I can't find a pic anywhere. Sorry!). It has the smoothest consistency that will have your skin feeling the cleanest it has ever felt, while leaving behind a yummy shine that will have you glowing.

Lastly, I adorn my skin with this lovely lady. She Smells BOMB.COM!!! When I say it smells yummy, delectable, edible, sweet, and everything delicious, believe me, girl. I would never lie to you. EVER.

Take my word, Bestie.

MOVING ON!

After-shower care:

Usually after a shower, my lotion depends on my mood.

She's my best friend when I'm having a mild kind-of day. When I'm stuck in the house all day or if I want to enjoy the simpler things in life. She's smells light but sweet. yum.

For a more, INTENSE day, we use her. The holy grail. You get it.

Super sweet and a little childish in my opinion. But idk its heavenly.

BODY GLAZE My Love!!! I live by these two body glazes.

You can layer them on top of the lotion if you want. It's your life… Live it. Me, I rather prefer to only layer the Birthday Frosting BODY GLAZE.

In terms of Miss Strawberry Shortcake, I'll use her all by herself; no lotion is needed. She performs better alone. IMO.

Both project very well, suuuuperrr duuuperr moisturizing, lasts all day, and will have people stopping you on the street to ask you, "OMG GIRL! What are you wearing? It smells sooooo good." …see what I did there?!…no? oh…okay. 

Let's move on, I guess.

I don't care how good your skin smells. If you're not wearing deoderant and those pits are funky, Bitch, YOU'RE FUNKY. PUT SOME DAMN DEODORANT ON!

This does not apply to my besties who do not wear deodorant due to any beliefs or discrepancies.

Anyways, this deodorant smells like a yummy slice of coconut cream pie with a pina colada on the side.

Have you ever watched your mom, grandmother, or any older woman that you look up to powder themselves?

It's not just for sweat, honey. Some powders come perfumed to add a little "umph" to your hygiene routine.

This powder holds a very special place in my heart. It smells sweet and a little floral. A very true vanilla flavor. It almost reminds me of French vanilla ice cream or syrup.

I keep my powder in a powder dish with a cute little pink powder puff sitting on top of the powder.

After spraying on my deodorant, I'll puff this on my underarms, back, and in between my legs, and at night I'll apply some to my chest and belly. Usually this is added the areas that I sweat the most.

Now on the part that you've been waiting for! Or at least what I've been waiting for…

Perfumes:

BOW DOWN TO THE QUEEN!!

…No, really…bow down.

This is a very sweet, cake scent that can be a little finicky. I find it hard sometimes to layer her with other perfumes or products that are more fresh or floral rather than sweet and gourmand. But let's take into account that I have parosmia.

Nonetheless, Mama is very sweet—almost too sweet, but that's what I want. I want you to get a sugar rush just from smelling me. And this perfume does just that. Projects beautifully and last almost a day. Around six hours later, I have to raise my arm to my nose to smell it, but during those six hours I can smell myself through someone else's nose.

Okay, I'm exaggerating, but seriously, she smells strong, sweet, and yummy.

I spray my clothes with perfume. And by spray, I mean DROWN. My soaps, lotions, oils, etc. are really in charge of my skin.

I see shimmer mist as more of an oil than a spray. I know that may not make sense, but hear me out.

I like to spray this on the parts of my body that will be exposed, like my chest, arms, back, and legs. I may even spray a generous amount onto my hands, until there is a puddle of it in my hand, and I will rub it into my skin like an oil. See, like I told you, I treat this more like an oil than a perfume.

˚₊‧꒰ა 𓂋 ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

This concludes my usual hygienic routing, buuuuut I'll tell you a secret. Only because we're like besties or whatever.

I like to lightly spray my underwear and socks with perfume. Usually something a bit stronger than a BB&W perfume mist. A cologne, basically.

This keeps my undergarments smelling yummy.

WARNING: Your partner will want to eat your panties right off of you. Proceed with caution.

Remember, bestie, this is MY hygiene routine. I am simply sharing just in case you needed a little help adding products to your arsenal or simply organizing your daily routine. If you do not like anything that I've listed or if you wish to add something, do as you wish, babes!

This is for inspirational purposes, LOL.

I understand this post may be similar to other girly bloggers, much like me. I can assure you I am not the first person to make a post as such, and I won't be the last. I just wanted to share.

My intention is to NEVER be a kopy kat (yuck)!

Okay, I'm done yapping. CIAO!

-ThePinkSeductress

⠀:¨ ·.· ¨:⠀ ⠀ `· . ୨୧⠀

[kahvilahuhut]

i feel happy when you're close

summary: Felt like writing something really nice and "fluffy", and I've also been thinking a lot about them during their university time again. So have this: a nice 'morning', Toby waking up a bit late and enjoying the beginning of the day cuddling on the couch while Klara is planning a brunch. They're having a good time, something they really need <3

no warnings or anything.

---

Sunshine shone from the window, creating warm, light spots in the hallway. Klara's cat meowed quietly as she passed Tobias by, and sat down in one of the sunny spots, watching him yawn and fix the position of the shirt he wore open.

The cat meowed again.

Toby looked down and smiled. "Hey there," he murmured, and knelt down to scratch the cat's head. "Aren't you the cutest? Yes you are...Hang on," he opened the closed part of the bookshelf and took out the box full of cat treats, took one out, and reached his hand out for the cat to est the snack. "We'll keep this as our own little secret, right?"

The cat blinked slowly and padded away to the other sunny spot, and curled up there for another quick nap.

Tobias stood for a monent, looking at the bookshelf, wondering. At which point do you realize that someone's apartment has become too familiar? When you simply know where to find everything you need, or when you successfully remember about a somewhat sharp corner on a bookshelf and dodge it despite the drowsy feeling you always have after waking up?

He shook his head a bit and continued on his way to the living room.

Klara was laying on the couch, intensively staring at the screen of her phone, looking very excited about something. She closed the phone and gestured Tobias to join her.

Toby sat down on the couch next to her, "Hey, good morning."

"Heh, good morning to you too. Did you sleep well?"

"Mm-hmm," Tobias nodded and leaned closer for a kiss, slightly missing Klara's lips and kissing her cheek instead.

Klara cupped his face gently and kissed his forehead. "You're definitely not a morning person."

"Keen eyes you got there..." he murmured, leaning on her shoulder for a moment "Ugh. Sorry. Always feels like my brain is working slowly right after I wake up. You know, like the old computers."

"Well, a brain can be seen as a computer, in a way."

"You are sooooo right," he said, "wish mine was more like the one we used at that one research lab, though. That thing was so fast..."

"I think your head works exactly how it should, honey" Klara ran her fingers through his hair and asked, "What do you want to order for breakfast? Or, well, a brunch."

"Do you have that one yoghurt I found in your fridge in the beginning of the week. It was sooooo delicious, and is probably one of the only ones that hasn't caused any sensory issues for me. The, um, strawberry oat one, if I remember right?"

"It may take a while for that one to arrive. It's from my brother's farm. It's on the other side of the country."

"Ooooooh. That is so cool! As in, his own farm? Wow. But if that's the case, then..." Tobias paused for a moment and looked up at her before continueing, "...where are you ordering from?"

"From our favorite little cafe. They have a sale on all their warm drinks, by the way."

"Yeah!!! Then I'm definitely getting the caramel & cinnamon latte. Hmm...do you think it's too early for a piece of their carrot cake? Or no, wait, wait wait...that special breakfast bagel they make. Love that thing. Is it possible to ask them to leave the bacon out? I mean, I can take it out myself later if not, but it's usually possible when buying it at the cafe itself."

"I added it to the details. And I can order both of you want?"

"You are being too nice honestly. I'll pay-"

"Tobias, honey, you just bought a new laptop. Let me pay for this."

"But-"

"No 'buts" or anything. Anyway, anything else? Have you ever tried their apple juice?"

"Klara, c'mon..."

"I'll take two bottles for us both, then." She filled the order information, while petting Toby's head as he complained quietly how it's a bit too expensive and that she didn't have to pay for it fully and that he can get the table ready then. "Okay, they said that they'll get here in 30 minutes."

"Quite fast, to be honest. I thought there would be tons of people there coming for breakfast."

"I picked the faster delivery option. And also, it's 1 pm."

"Afternoon....oh my."

"What?"

"It feels...weird. To have someone do all these nice things for me. Buying me tasty food, letting me sleep for so long, caressing me lovingly and all. Taking care of me without waiting for anything in return."

"Right. It's usually you who's doing it for everyone else." Tobias tried to answer something, which instead turned into a sound Klara couldn't recognize into any word, either because he was simply humming or because his face was buried in her neck. "You're adorable." She felt his lips form a smile against her neck.

He moved a bit and said softly, the drowsiness in his voice almost gone yet still sound, "You know how you asked if I slept well?"

"Yeah?"

"I never answered properly. The answer is yes. At least the short one. You want a longer one?"

Klara chuckled. "Sure thing."

"I have noticed that sleeping with you makes me fall asleep much faster than I usually do. And I have less bad dreams, I think. And don't wake up in the middle of the night as often as I did. And how can I forget, definitely fixed my sleeping schedule," he sighed quietly, "I love you so much, you know. I feel so happy when you're close, when I can just sit near you and hold your hand."

"I love you too, Sunshine."

Tobias smiled and laid still for a moment. "By the way... what did you order?"

"Well, you'll see in-," she checked her phone screen, "-fifteen minutes."

"No spoilers? Heh, okay then... Mind if I take some fries of yours?"

"How did you-"

"You order them very often."

[behoright]

long distance friendship with andrei svechnikov

uhhhh here's a little blurb! yall can thank @ryanpulock for this. it was just too much and needed to be shared soooorry it's so long.

warnings: haven't really proofread this I freaked out the whole time. fluffy fluffy fluffy a tiny bit of angst.

◌ ◯ ✽◌ ◯ ✽

you met when you’re both teenagers when he began playing for the lumberjacks

he obv had a crush on you but he couldn’t really speak english

you were always around the rink and at practice and stuff bc of a family member of yours so he saw you a lot

saw you do homework and stuff at the rink and he would try and talk to you or see if you could help him with english 

you helped him A LOT bc you’d be one of the last ones there and so was he so you’d hang out a lot

but you were only teenagers and you had your own lil life at your high school and stuff

eventually he went to the OHL and it was heartbreaking for the both of you tbh

he had never been more excited to move up but the second thought he had was that he wasn’t going to see you everyday anymore

same with you but you both played it off

the last night before he leaves you hang out until late and he promises you he won’t forget or stop talking to you

“even when you make it to the nhl and become a big shot?”

“never, y/n”

sdjkfhkdjvh

and so it begins

the constant constant texting

silly snapchats and you send each other memes on instagram 

he’s too shy to ask you to facetime so he doesn’t

until draft day 

dude one of the best days of his life

and on top of that - he gets a facetime call from YOU

he makes sure his hair looks good before he answers djfksljf

you were afraid that now he would forget about you but as soon as he gets to raleigh you become even closer

he never fails to send you good morning texts and snapchats

he never sends good nights tho and thats because he never wants to stop talking to you

he’d rather tell you “i fell asleep lol” instead of saying goodbye

facetime becomes the norm on his second season w the canes

it ebbs and flows when you get a boyfriend

and tbh he says hes happy for you but hes not

and he doesn't understand why because he hasn’t seen you since you were 17 and you both had a silly teenage crush

also he has every single girl available and sometimes he’d tell you about it to see if you get jealous but you don’t seem to (even though you do)

he knows he has to find another way to distract himself now that you have a boyfriend you can’t facetime him as much

gets a girlfriend 

but things turn sour faster than he expected

if you’re having any relationship problems you always tell him and so he does too

it doesn’t get very far tho because the only advice you both have for each other is 

“break up with him”

“break up with her”

and you’re both too stupid to see what’s really going on but the distance doesn’t help

you finally decide to see each other during the summer and you meet each other’s significant others and 

oh boy

she HATES your guts and she’s so condescending

“oH mY gOd iS thIs yOuR bEsTiE bAbE? OH yOu’Re sOOOOO cUTe!”

ugh

same with him 

andrei is surrounded by toxic relationships and unfortunately toxic masculinity so he sees right through your boyfriend

he tells you after

“I don’t trust him, y/n”

you don’t know but its the beginning of the end for both of your relationships

after that, you both spend a week of his summer together before he goes to train in russian and its 

so fun

except for the fact that your horrible partners are both always there so you both feel like you can’t relax bc they’d get insecure

at the end of the summer he breaks up with her bc he seriously cannot shake off how she treated you and also bc she was just not it

and surprise surprise your boyfriend cheats on you during the fall

you call him in hysterics crying sobbing

youve been friends for a long time and know each other very well but he’s actually never seen you cry

he just sits and listens to you talk and vent makes sure you feel really validated

you stay on facetime for a long long time that night even if he has a game tomorrow

and the day after he calls you while he’s driving to the arena

you’re in bed with your blinds shut even though its 3 pm 

“I going to score for you tonight, you’ll see. Trust me.”

and score he does

he tries to find the camera as soon as he scores and everyone including his teammates are like ???

but he winks at it and points at it 

you know its for you

calls you AS SOON AS THE GAME IS OVER

“you see? I told you! I told you I’d do it for you!”

and thats when you realize you really like this man

you call and text even more somehow

facetime all the time 

the season has its highs and lows and 

on most roadies he can’t wait to just get to his hotel room to talk to you

he tells you whenever he’s taking off or landing

you’ll send him snaps of you watching the game whether alone or with your friends 

you literally never miss one

you share locations at some point and he will never say it but he checks on you all the time

breaks his heart a little when he sees you’re over at someone’s house 

same with you wherever he’s at a club or something but oh well

you’re just friends and have to live your lives

but still no one takes up as much time as you do

even if its for 5-10 minutes he’d facetime you

your roommate thinks its fucking annoying that you stay up so late just talking

and what a cute texter he is

“good luck on your test!”

“i saw this and i thought of you”

sdkjfhksjfhskdjchksd

he ships one of his jerseys to your dorm 

anytime there’s a limited edition piece of merch he’ll always send you one

on your birthday he sends you matching beaded bRACELETS

and you see he always always wears it

theres a point where the season gets freaking hard and andrei is so frustrated

you answer the phone but it looks like it’s just been placed on the nightstand

“Drei?”

“hi, y/n”

and his voice is all choked up and sniffly

“I want to talk to you but I’m just. I’m so tired and I can’t take it today. I’m sorry” and there’s a little sob in there

you reassure him and eventually he opens up 

even though he can’t show his face because he’s embarrassed and he doesn’t want you to see him like this

“to be honest, it’s so lonely. I feel alone in the room at the end of the day and I feel guilty because this is my dream.”

you talk him through what he’s feeling and how to feel better

he grabs the phone and you see his face all red and puffy. you can tell he was crying really hard before he called you

“I’m sorry I look so bad” he says as he rubs his eyes and his face HELLA HARD bc he’s a boy

“You look great, svech” 

And his heart melts oh it melts so hard

You don’t tell him but you saved up enough to fly out and one day you just show up at practice 

Thankfully he was too busy to check your location lol

He’s ELATED

literally drops his stick and gloves and just skates towards you so fast

“Oh so this is who you’re texting all the time”

You spend the weekend together 

He cancels your hotel stay so you can stay with him 

He loves to have you around and debates kissing you when you go out with the team

But he’s too nervy so he doesn’t 

When he drops you off at the airport he tears up a bit and hugs you for a long long time 

“I going to miss you, that’s all”

“I love you”

Calls you after you’re past security lol

He tells you he wants you to come out every weekend

And you both laugh but he’s low key serious 

Ever since you went to visit him last you both say I love you ALL the time

Whenever they play in your city he comes and visit you 

He accidentally stays in your dorm once you guys cuddle and fall asleep talking 

No matter the distance you become closer and closer 

See each other for the holidays :)

Still no one is making any moves even though you are VERY touchy 

And tbh neither of you seeing anyone else bc you’re both so busy w your jobs/college

It’s so easy to talk to each other bc it’s all online 

No one uses snap anymore so he’d just send you selfies 😭😭

Sometimes when he’s reviewing video he’d FaceTime you to just have you there

Same whenever you’re just doing homework 

There’s been times that he’s at the rink late and you’re doing school work late and he just props his phone up while you both do your thing even though he’s ON THE ICE

Keeps his AirPods in so he can hear you talk to him 

You have movie nights together and do screen sharing

You decide to surprise him bc you have some 

Big news 

And he’s been in a HUGE scoring drought 

You know it’s taking a toll on him bc he literally tells you everything 

Every SINGLE thing

You surprise him when he’s doing morning workout w the team

They let you in because everyone knows you now he doesn’t shut up about you shows them pics of you always on the phone 

And he’s SWEATY but he runs to you and picks you up in a big bear hug spins you around 

He’s so so happy he really needed this especially after you guys talked SO much during the dads trip (since his dad couldn’t make it and all) 

He keeps looking for you in the stands and during warm up just keeps skating past you and tapping the glass and puts his face up to it and shfhfjxbdchfjbfdn

he gets out of his scoring drought SO quickly in the 1st

Scores twice, is on hatty watch, has the best game ever

Whenever he’s on the bench he thinks about how he got his mojo back literally the day you got to Raleigh

Like this has to do with you

*superstition unlocked*

Gets first star and skates up to you to bang on the glass before throwing the puck to some kids next to you

Mouths “go to the locker room” before skating to Hannah

When you go see him he’s all sweaty and gross and shirtless, his hockey pants still on and all 

“You did so good! You did amazing, Andrei!” 

He runs and hugs you so tightly into his chest 

whispers into your hair

“because of you. It happened because of you.” 

before giving you the game puck 

What he doesn’t know yet is that you came to visit to tell him that you got into an internship in Raleigh and will be moving there in a couple of months 👀👀

[mermaidsirennikita]

ARC REVIEW: Triple Sec by TJ Alexander

4.5/5. Releases 6/4/24.

Vibes: healthy polyamory, front and center genderqueer rep (from a trans nonbinary author), slice of life in the best possible way, BOMB ASS COCKTAILS

Heath Index: 7.5/10.

Ambitious high-end bartender Mel Sorrento has been in a rut since her divorce. Enter the vivacious, brilliant Bebe... who happens to have spouse. Quiet, reserved Kade doesn't have a problem with Mel dating their wife, however--because Kade and Bebe are polyamorous. Mel's never considered the lifestyle, but her instant connection with Bebe makes her willing to give it a shot. But when her dynamic with Kade begins to shift into something entirely new, she must confront what she's actually looking for in a relationship, and how much this new opportunity for love really means to her.

UGH. YES. This is how you do a contemporary romance that, at the end of the day, is a slice of life character piece. Triple Sec is not about shocking you with plot twists and over the top dramatics (and that's not a critique--often, I'd say that I prefer plot twists and over the top dramatics). It's just fucking good writing with great character development and romance. It's also one of the more realistic contemporary romances I've read, which is honestly so refreshing. I truly believed that there were grown-ass adults figuring out their shit.

Quick Takes:

--One thing I love about a triad romance (and while this is the most realistic one I've read (I say having never been in a polycule or a triad more specifically), I do generally enjoy reading about the complexities of both figuring out a three-way relationship and developing the different "segments". While I've read some that begin with love triangle elements, that isn't the case here. Though they aren't without expected hiccups, Kade and Bebe have a very healthy approach to Bebe's beginning relationship with Mel (and later Kade starting things with Mel as well).

I feel like in less capable hands, the degree to which Bebe and Kade communicate and deal with jealousy would seem overly sanitized or boring. Like, they begin the relationship with Kade sitting in on Bebe asking Mel out and everything, just to reassure Mel that there isn't any cheating going on. But like... it's NEVER dull. It never feels expected, or like these people are perfect. (I mean, they aren't--Mel has some struggles and stumbles when beginning her journey into polyamory.)

--Part of what makes that work, I think, is the contrast in the relationships. Kade and Bebe have been together for almost a decade--they know what they're doing, and their lived-in love reverberates off the page, even though the book is entirely from Mel's third-person perspective. (Kade calling Bebe "love" constantly, despite seeming kind of frosty? Swoon.) Bebe and Mel have this immediate chemistry, full of fun and fire. And Kade and Mel sort of like... I felt an automatic sexual tension, but I also think that Mel was a bit too "new" to their dynamic to super sense it. This is probably not going to make sense to anyone but me, but I got this kind of like... Darcy and Lizzie vibe? Kade was never as prickly as Darcy, but I definitely felt like Mel was in that "WHAT. BUT THEY DON'T EVEN LIKE ME???" space.

All of it worked to me. I mean--I won't lie. I was a little partial to Mel and Kade's dynamic, because a) I like it to be a little difficult and b) Kade was my favorite but everything is great.

--Let us expand on Kade being my favorite. I really appreciate a "still waters run deep" character. Kade is that. They seem remote, but they have so much feeling and passion rumbling under the surface, and Alexander throws them into this situation with Mel that is sooooo tropey and fabulous and reading as the feelings spilled out of them was just pitch-perfect.

This does happen somewhat later, so you technically spend a lot more time with Bebe and Mel together on the page. However, Kade has a such presence, and they're constantly sort of like... looming in the background. And because of that, the slowly bubbling tension that Mel doesn't even fully register for a while is so HOT. I mean. Kade is also so hot. I was ABOUT them. Again--love Bebe and Mel, together and apart, but WHEW.

--This is completely an aside, but I do think the cocktail competition and the highlighting of the art of making a great cocktail was really cool. It made me both want to learn how to mix drinks (to the extent that I can) and try something new. These types of details make a contemporary romance way richer, and they're appreciated.

--I think it's really important to show books that are both incredibly romantic and sexy and approachable. Again, I've never been in a polyamorous or more generally non-monogamous relationship. I can't attest to have truly realistic this book is. But in general, I loved seeing a romance in which the relationship part started fairly early, showing negotiations, showing boundaries, showing rules. I mean, really, monogamous relationships should also be subject to rules and negotiations and boundaries. We should normalize this in romance. Things change. That HEA does kinda take work in some stories, and that is more reflective of real life.

Speaking of the HEA... I so appreciated that both Kade and Mel had been in very serious, very intense relationships in the past. Kade's openness and honesty about how their past partner did offer them things Bebe couldn't (and Mel can't either) was so refreshing. It's not that they necessarily need someone else to come in and take that space (though the rules do allow room for new partners--we don't see anything happen beyond the triad in this book). It's just a reality. No one person can give you everything, and that doesn't mean that every person needs to be with enough people to comprise "everything". If that's even possible. It's just something to accept, no matter what your relationship preferences.

I also loved that Kade was kind of like--yeah, this could end. How many things are really forever? But we love each other when we love each other and make each other happy and that's good. I mean, I think some people will categorize this book as one with an HFN versus an HEA--personally, I'd kinda disagree with that. But either way, I really loved seeing a romance that validated the idea that like... A relationship ending doesn't mean it wasn't VALUABLE.

The Sex:

HOT HOT HOT. Technically speaking, there are three full sex scenes in this novel. Every single one of those scenes went HARD. We have sex in a public space, we have LICK! IT! UP! (as in cum) the strap is indeed taken out and used to great effect. It's great. I loved it. I also liked and overall agree with Bebe's philosophy regarding sex and how people often tend to switch up their "out of bed" personalities compared to their "in bed" personalities.

(Also. Kade is a dirty talker. What can't they do?)

A super queer, super sexy, super bubbly contemporary romance with a heavy emphasis on character development and love story that really sold me on the "love" part. And on a personal note--I have a trans nonbinary person in my life who is much loved, and I so appreciate them having someone like TJ Alexander to see out there, creating art and leaving a mark.

Would highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[drumlincountry]

in the og script patrick's character description says he's jewish 🤷🏻‍♀️ and zweig is a culturally jewish last name anyway

all this to say i think it's meant to contrast art's WASPiness. art has a superrr american name, classic easy to market good old money american (which helps his pro career). Patrick being catholic would contrast this pretty interestingly as well tho given the catholic - protestant dynamic.

but with either interpretation, Patrick's first and last name's etymology cement him and his outsider status in the world of tennis, despite his family's wealth since tennis is considered a WASPy game. but he's still a rich white man at the end of the day and is able to float around the pro circuit aimlessly without having to try. unlike Tashi who is seen as the true successor to women's tennis and was able to get there all on her own, no pretenses. she's a low/middle class Black woman and not some rich tennis boarding school kid (like art and patrick). culture, class, and race are just barely explored in this film but it's all very interesting

anon I am kissing you on the mouth, if you're into that kind of thing!!!

I am fascinated by the class aspects of the film but as u say they are lightly touched on & for myself I don't know USA class markers except thru media so I probably miss a lot.

The way class/race/gender plays into Tashi's story is soOooo!!!! Tennis was something she succeeded at in spite of the ways ppl look down on her. It's in her first lines in the film - her competitor was a racist bitch and a sore loser! She's aware how her race influences how ppl treat her on the court and she is not afraid to speak on it.

Typing it now, I wonder if that was a bit of a test for the boys. Like "you seem interested in me. Can you be normal about me experiencing racism? Can you be normal about me being angry about it?" All that as a teenager!

Tennis was a way to force people to see her not just as an equal, but in the sport, as a better. She's better than all of them! She's the best. And then she loses that. Ugh this adds so much more to the "you're not a member of my fan club?" Scene.

Patrick can be both Jewish and irish American! I vote we explore that one. There's so much to say about the conditional nature of the white privilege Jewish ppl can have in the global north - I usually leave that to my Jewish friends to explore but I Have Heard About It! The actor has Jewish & irish heritage fwiw.

Also fascinated with Patrick's relationship with his generational wealth. Like, clearly he has it. Ppl reference it. But he has eschewed it to pursue tennis. His family have decided he can be a rich man or he can be a tennis player (third option=getting a different job. Unexplored). He has made the choice that results in sleeping in his car and not EATING between competitions.

Like that seems like dramatics of a man who has never known true precarity. and yeah partially! But also, have you heard of financial abuse? I had friends in college studying degrees they didn't want for careers they hated the idea of. Because generational wealth meant they didn't qualify for financial support from the state. Leaving them dependent on parents who can withdraw their support at any time if they do something which looks Bad for the Family. The capacity for abuse in these situations is staggering. And yeah, he could get a "real" job. He'd have an easier time doing that than ppl without his class background. But the man would literally rather starve. And he is.

I would love to know what u think of Art's class background! I feel its least explicitly explored of the 3. I saw someone saying he didn't come from money at all and I thought That's Not Right I Saw His Grandmother's Ring. But I really can't say beyond that

[razzle-zazzle]

Whumptober Day 11: Seeing Double

Convenience Store + Loneliness

3525 Words; Pooter Pile

TW for death mention

AO3 ver

Six stared up at the sky, old asphalt rough and warm beneath his back.

He’d seen it, in Zero’s memories, but never with his own eyes. The facility had no windows; at least, none in the areas Six could get into. He’d seen the sky in movies and pictures and memories, and now he was seeing the real thing.

(Five never got to see the sky.)

Six’ eyes slipped closed and he groaned. There was a small town down at the bottom of the mountain that Three and Gisu and Dion had stopped at on their way to the facility—it was where the six of them had stopped to find some food and a payphone, once they’d all picked themselves back up after the explosion and made the rest of the way down the mountain. Three had stayed unconscious the whole way down, apparently exhausted after that disaster of a night. Four had carried him down.

The sun had fully risen, now, and Three was still down and out, curled up in the shadow of the gas station they had all stopped at. Zero and Four were pestering Dion, Six was lying down in one of the parking spots, and Gisu was on the payphone with change from Dion’s wallet. If Six listened, he could almost hear what she was saying.

Ugh, how did Zero talk him into this? By saying he’d get to see the ocean? Well, there were no oceans around—just mountain, mountain, another mountain, and a dinky little mountain town that was nonetheless bigger than any town Six had been to.

(Bigger than any town Five could ever see.)

Six sighed. The asphalt was starting to become unbearably hot. He sat up, rubbing grit off of his sleeves, and stood, rubbing more grit off his legs. It looked like Gisu was—yep, she had just hung up. Six wandered over to the payphones, where Gisu was holding her levboard in her hands, loose hair clinging to her face from sweat.

Gisu perked up at Six’ approach, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Hey, Six, right?”

“That’s me.” Six confirmed.

Gisu smiled, then frowned. “You okay?”

+=+=+=+=+

“Heyyyy, Hollis?” Gisu greeted, exhaustion somewhere in the back of her mind beneath the elation she was currently feeling.

“Where are you?!” Hollis was to the point and direct as always, it seemed. Gisu winced—she and Dion hadn’t really… told anyone what they were doing. They had kind of just left. But hey, let it never be said that Gisu thought everything through! Sometimes thinking things through took too much time, and a girl just had to go ahead and act!

Regardless, Hollis had asked a question. Gisu rattled off the mountain’s name, though she didn’t actually know the name of the town they were in. “But hey! Good news!” She plowed on, ignoring Hollis’ shocked “Mount Lincoln?” to gleefully announce “We found Pooter!” Which was really good news, actually, and would totally make up for Gisu grabbing Dion and just running off. Probably. After a moment’s thought, Gisu added, “And Pooter, and Pooter, and Pooter!”

“Agent Narima—” Hollis stopped, as Gisu’s words registered. “...what.”

“There’s four of them!” Gisu explained. “Or, well—this isn’t really easy to explain over the phone…” She gripped her levboard in her free hand, focusing on the texture before continuing. “There was a lab, but it kind of… exploded.” She mimed an explosion noise, “And Ms. Naumann got away.” So maybe not a total mission success—but hey! She and Dion had found Raz, and gotten him, Three, Four, and Six out of the lab! Which was definitely a win.

The other end was silent for a moment, and then, “Agent Nariman, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, I still have a lot of questions, too.” Gisu agreed. “But payphones have a time limit and me and Dion only have so many quarters, sooooo do you think you could send the Pelican to come pick us up?” Gisu swayed a bit on the balls of her feet, “We could probably make the journey ourselves, except Raz and Three are both kind of wiped and if you sent some agents they’d get to pick at the exploded lab for clues.” And for any intact tools or machinery, which Gisu kind of wanted to go poking around to look for but really shouldn’t—let it not be said that Gisu never thought anything through. She could think ahead some of the time!

Hollis sighed on the other end. “You said you were in a small town near Mount Lincoln?” She confirmed. Gisu nodded, realized Hollis couldn’t see that, and said “yep!”

“Which means you’re in Colorado.” Hollis pointed out, as though Gisu was somehow unaware of the fact that she and Dion had traveled across multiple states chasing after—well, it hadn’t actually been Raz, had it?—chasing after Three. “A mountain town near Mount Lincoln…” Hollis hmmed, presumably looking something up on her end. “You might be in Alma.” She mused.

“That sounds right.” Gisu confirmed. She and Dion had only stopped here briefly, in their chase, and she didn’t fully remember the town’s name from the map they’d looked at—Dion had insisted on navigating, though Gisu had helped map out the bus routes. And provided the cool and awesome levboard that they couldn’t have possibly caught up to Three without. Because she and her levboard were awesome like that.

“Right. It should only take the Pelican a few hours to reach you.” Hollis’ voice was firm, calm and collected as though her earlier surprise hadn’t existed at all. “Keep in mind, Agent Nariman, that there will be disciplinary action once you’re back at the Motherlobe. You can’t just run off without warning; as a Junior Agent staying in the dorms, your safety is our responsibility—” She continued, and Gisu was half-listening, nodding along to the lecture like it wasn’t almost exactly like every lecture she had heard before.

After a while, the phone beeped, letting Gisu know her paid-for time was almost out. “Sorry, Hollis,” She interrupted the lecture, “I’m about to run out of call time. Talk to you later bye!” She hung up, grabbing her levboard in both hands and sighing. She’d say that went pretty well!

She perked up as one of the Razzes walked over. They weren’t all the same, now that Gisu had gotten a better look—though Three was pretty obvious thanks to the Sasha Nein cosplay. But this was one of the lab ones…

“Hey,” Gisu greeted. “Six, right?” Raz’ hair was a little longer, she felt.

“That’s me.” Six said. Yes! Gisu was going to be so good at telling the Pooters apart!

She grinned, only to frown when she noticed just how tired Six looked. All the Razzes were pretty tired, and Three was still leaning against the wall fast asleep a foot away from her, but Six looked… not great.

“You okay?” Gisu asked.

+=+=+=+=+

“What do you think.” Six snapped. How could he be okay? How could he be okay when he’d just thrown away everything he had ever known? Three and Zero were the only ones who had ever been outside the facility. Four had Three to rely on, and Six had Zero’s memories—

But there was still so much that Six didn’t understand. So much he wouldn’t understand.

So much that he’d get to learn about that Five would never get to see—

Six wanted some water to throw around. He needed to lose himself to it, to become seafoam in his mind and become one with the waves. If he really concentrated, he could kind of feel what must have been gas tanks underground—not quite water, but just close enough that if he reached—

Gisu’s hands on Six’ shoulders brought him back to reality. “Hey, buddy…” She stared at him like he was a puzzle to decipher—

(Six had thought life was a simple puzzle he’d already solved. And then Five was gone and Six realized he’d been ignoring all the hard puzzles right in front of him—)

“You ever ridden a levboard?” Gis asked. “When not fleeing an explosion, that is… though that is one of the cooler ways to ride a levboard…” She shook her head. “Do you want me to show you how to do a kickflip? Levboarding always clears my head.” She explained. The olive branch was so painfully clear that Six almost wanted to—take it? Refuse it? He couldn’t tell—

“I’m fine.” Six mumbled. He’d probably break her board, anyway. “I don’t wanna break my face.”

“Okay then!” Gisu slung her arm across Six’ shoulders and brought him up onto the little sidewalk in front of the store, keeping her good cheer. She let go, and sat down on the concrete in the shade, not too far from Three. After a moment, Six sat down next to her.

“Raz said you wanted to see the ocean?” Gisu prompted. She acted like Six couldn’t feel the undercurrent of discomfort and tiredness leaching off of her, like she could plaster a smile on her face and do her best to entertain a kid with the same face as one she’d only known for a bit and it would all somehow work out—

(But it wouldn’t work out, because nothing worked out. Not like that.)

“It’s neat.” Six conceded. After a moment of trying to remain aloof— “did you know that the ocean has 321,003,271 cubic miles of water?”

Gisu whistled. “I did not! What’s your favorite sea creature?” She asked. “Mine are octopuses.”

Six thought long and hard about Gisu’s question. “There’s so many… I think horseshoe crabs.” He decided. “They’ve been around forever.” Coelacanths and sharks were also really really old, but Six liked horseshoe crabs more, he was pretty sure.

(Unlike Five, who was gone gone gone forever and ever—)

“Neat.” Gisu commented. “You got any other sick ocean facts to share?”

“The Marianas Trench is deeper than Mount Everest is tall.” Six shared, and Gisu nodded as if she was wholly enraptured, so Six opened his mouth to share another fact—

The door to the store opened, Four, Zero, and Dion walking out with the promised snacks and drinks. Four went to sit next to Three immediately—of course—while Zero was nose-deep in a comic Six had only seen in his memories. There was a bag of crackers and two juice boxes floating above his head—Six reached out his telekinesis and grabbed one of the juice boxes, turning it over in his hand. Apple flavor.

Dion and Gisu were talking to each other—Six was too busy reading the ingredients list to really pay attention. He’d heard of most of these, but the juice that Ms. Naumann provided never came with nutrition labels or ingredients lists—she always served it to them in plastic cups; Six was pretty sure she bought it in bulk.

Zero’s voice took Six’ attention off of the juice box. “YOU’RE DATING?”

+=+=+=+=+

Dion glanced at the snacks on the shelf before him, mentally tallying prices. Gisu was outside using the payphones to call Hollis, but it had still been a long night and half a day, so Dion went inside the station with Raz and… Four??? that was gonna take some getting used to—to look for something cheap and filling.

With what he had in his wallet… Dion could maybe manage a small drink for everyone, so there was that. It’d be nice if everyone also got their own snack, too, but Dion doubted his pocket money would stretch that far—he only had a ten, a five, and a couple ones to his name, not counting the quarters Gisu had borrowed for the payphone. Partly because his parents could only give so much allowance, and partly because he and Gisu had had to pick up snacks for themselves while chasing… well, it hadn’t actually been Raz, had it? At least, not the Raz Dion had always known, which was kind of unsettling when he thought about it. So he didn’t think about it.

(“Sooo…” Dion had leaned back, attempting to affect a more casual stance, “Why are there… four of you?”

“Ms. Naumann specializes in clones.” Four had explained, carrying a sleeping Three on his back. At Dion’s lost look, he had elaborated. “We’re uh. Copies. Like twins.”

“Oh.” Dion had said, only a little less lost than before. He had five little brothers instead of just two, now—yeah, this was so weird.

Gisu hadn’t looked lost—maybe she could explain it in a way Dion understood later, once they were all off the mountain.)

“Three and I can share.” Four suggested, having heard Dion’s muttering. He was already holding two juice boxes, balancing two more on his head. Helpful.

“Okay.” Dion nodded. If Four and Three shared, and if Dion shared with Gisu��assuming she was okay with that, which she might not be, so maybe Dion should get her her own thing to be nice—Dion turned to Raz, who was at the end of the aisle, towards the front of the store, picking through the magazines for—yep, there were those psychic comics he liked. “Hey, Pooter.”

Raz turned to him, comic in hand—shit, could Dion afford to add that to the list? “Yeah?”

“Do you think you can share with Six?” Dion grabbed the cheapest bag of teriyaki jerky—a bit expensive, but one of Gisu’s favorite snacks, so it would probably be worth it—while Four grabbed a bag of sour gummy worms—

“Grab something with less sugar.” Dion nagged, and Four put the bag of sour gummy worms back. If Four’s stomach was anything like Raz’ then the gummy worms would make him—and Three—sick anyway. Better if the kid grabbed something filling.

Dion turned back to Raz, who was still holding the comic book. “If I have to.” He said, which was as much an answer as anything.

Dion looked at his little brother—at the way his curls were slightly unkempt, when normally Raz liked to straighten them; at the bags smeared under his eyes; at the way he was holding himself, so small and unlike both the annoying little shit he’d been before running away and the cocky little shit Three had been—and something in his chest tightened. “I’ll buy you that comic if you do.” He promised, and Raz lightened up a bit at that.

Four had grabbed a bag of trail mix. That… was better than Dion was expecting, actually. He’d had figured the kid would stay glued to the candy aisle.

Dion snagged two small gatorades for himself and Gisu—she’d prefer a monster, but there was no way Dion was gonna be able to afford that and the jerky. And the gatorade would be better, anyway—plus it was her favorite flavor. He went to the counter, Four at his heels, and Raz joined them with his comic and a bag of off-brand goldfish.

(At least some things hadn’t changed about him. At least Dion still knew his brother in some small ways.)

The cashier rang up their order—four juice boxes, two gatorades, jerky, trail mix, fish crackers, a comic, and a single cheap granola bar for Dion in case Gisu didn’t want to share—and Dion watched as the total raised with every item scanned. He was pretty sure he’d added it all up right, and he’d left some wiggle room because he was pretty sure Colorado was one of the states with a sales tax. But he worried he’d gotten it wrong anyway, or that the ten in his wallet was somehow actually a one—

“That’ll be $17.97.” Oh, thank god, Dion could afford it. It was taking a bigger chunk out of his money than he’d like—but Gisu was outside talking to Hollis, and if the Psychonauts couldn’t come pick them up Dion might be able to stretch his remaining ones enough for bus fares, maybe.

The cashier took the money and printed out the receipt. “Do you want me to bag this for you?” They asked. Dion shook his head, passing the juices, the trail mix, the not-goldfish, and the comic to Four and Raz. “I’ve got it.” He scooped up the gatorades, jerky, and granola bar. “Thanks.”

The three of them walked out the door, drinks and snacks in hand. Three was still asleep against the wall, and it looked like Gisu had finished her call; she and Six were sitting in the shade next to Three. They both looked up as the door opened.

Four immediately sat down by Three, two juice boxes and the trail mix unopened in his lap. Raz had already opened up the comic, devouring it with his eyes, off-brand goldfish and juice box floating above his head. Six snagged the final juice box with his mind, and held it, turning it over in his hands as he read everything written on it.

“I got you jerky.” Dion said, passing the bag and gatorade over to Gisu as casually and coolly as he could manage. Gisu squealed, the gatorade floating beside her as she all but tore the jerky open.

“You’re the best.” She declared, already chewing on a piece. “Oh, fuck yeah.”

Dion chuckled. Score! That had totally been worth the price! He opened his gatorade and took a swig, sitting down next to Raz and in front of Gisu.

Raz was looking at the two of them over with suspicion, then—

“YOU’RE DATING?”

+=+=+=+=+

Six watched as Dion sputtered and Gisu managed an impressive combination of laughter and sputtering that he’d never heard before.

“We haven’t really put a name to—” Dion started—

Gisu leaned over and grabbed Dion by his vest, pulling him into the most awkward kiss Six had ever seen. And also the only kiss Six had ever seen that wasn’t in a movie. So maybe it wasn’t awkward.

“Ewwwww.” Zero whined, pointedly holding his comic in front of his face. He scooted over, closer to Six.

Six’ eyes rolled as Gisu let Dion go and he fell back with a dumbstruck look on his face, before smiling like an idiot and leaning in again—

“Oh, yeah.” The bag of crackers fell into Zero’s lap, and he opened it up. “Dee said we gotta share.”

Six glanced at Dion—ew, nope, he and Gisu were now giggling and taking sips of each other’s gatorade, gross—and then around them at Three and Four. There was only one bag of what Six was pretty sure was trail mix between them, though it and the juices were both unopened. Gisu was offering a piece of jerky to Dion, who didn’t seem to have any snack unique to him—okay, yeah, looked like everyone was sharing.

Six looked at the crackers Zero was holding out to him. They were fish-shaped and burnt orange. He’d never had crackers like these before.

(The clones never exactly shared meals—they each got their portions and ate together. And it was all the same for each of them, because they all came from the same source even if they didn’t share the same tastes—)

Six blinked, his eyes suddenly stinging. Four and Three were sharing, because of course they were, because they were made together and worked together and existed to tether each other. And Dion and Gisu were sharing, because they were a couple or something like that—ewww—

But Zero didn’t come in a pair. He would have been the odd one out—

(Water crashing through the shared headspace, crashing against the torn walls of the testing range, crashing Five’s body to the floor—)

Six shoved the bag back at Zero. “‘M not hungry.” He grumbled. Zero was the odd one out, anyway, with his stupid comic and stupid being the original—

“Six?” Zero sounded so concerned—

(Like Five, who was always concerned about everyone and everything because he could so easily see from their shoes, who always needed to reach out and help to feel like he was worth anything because helping was what he did—)

“LEAVE ME ALONE!” Six stood, eyes wetter than he wanted them to be. He hadn’t meant to be that loud—everyone was looking at him, now, Four leaning to look around Dion and Gisu and Three coming to with a mumbled “wha—?”—

It was too much. All of the—everything was too much, because nothing was simple anymore—

(It never had been—)

—and everything sucked and hurt and Six wasn’t even sure why he was still trying—

Six turned—to run? To hide?—only to stop short when what must have been Dion grabbed his arm. Six yanked his arm free, and sat down hard, still facing away from everyone. He curled up, burying his face in his knees. It wasn’t fair. It just wasn’t fucking fair.

The others made attempts, after a while of letting Six cry, to cheer him up. Zero had tried to give Six’ juice box to him, Three had given his helmet to Zero at one point and Four had then offered to share their trail mix—

But Six didn’t budge a single inch until the Pelican arrived, hours later, the sun past its apex in the sky.

(The sky Five never got to see.)