#they’re endearing when they want to be and terrifying when they need to be

[world-of-puppets]

I have conflicted feelings about the FNAF series in general, but seeing a movie where practical animatronic puppets are the primary focus of the film becoming not only financially successful but also well received by general audiences is pretty damn neat.

[iamgonnagetyouback]

I need some Barry crouch x reader hcs!!!

headcanons for barty crouch jr x reader

✧ Barty's tough exterior melts a bit when he's with you.

✧ Although he’s far from “cuddly,” he has his unique ways of showing affection, like brushing your hair back when you’re distracted or tracing your features as you sleep.

✧ Barty’s not one for sweet words, but his actions speak volumes.

✧ He’ll get you your favorite snacks or bring you small trinkets he found while out (which may or may not look slightly ominous) because he thought of you.

✧ Barty might act like he doesn’t care about anyone, but he’s fiercely protective of you.

✧ Even in mundane settings, he’ll shoot anyone who looks at you wrong a glare that practically screams, “try me.”

✧ Barty has a dark sense of humor that only you truly understand.

✧ He’ll make some snide comment about a “light curse” on that annoying person who cut you off, and you’re caught between laughing and wondering if he’s serious.

✧ Expect a list of names only he can call you that would sound terrifying coming from anyone else.

✧ "My little accomplice" or "favorite sinner" are all meant with an oddly fond glint in his eye.

✧ Barty has a twisted sense of what qualifies as a "prank."

✧ He’ll hide your wand and act innocent, or cast a temporary charm to give you a slight shiver whenever you say a particular word.

✧ The fact that he finds these things hilarious somehow makes them even more endearing.

✧ Barty has zero interest in keeping things “normal.”

✧ He’ll whisk you away to strange places or suddenly decide that he wants to dance with you in a forbidden part of Hogwarts, laughing wildly as you try to shush him.

✧ Arguments are intense with Barty but often end up with some kind of wicked banter. "I would gladly hex you right now," he’ll say, and you’ll counter, “As if you’d survive a day without me.” He grins in response, all too delighted by your bite.

✧ He’ll make a big deal about not being “soft,” but then you’ll catch him resting his hand on your back protectively in a crowd or casting discreet protective charms on you.

✧ Barty opens up during the witching hours, sharing bits of his past and fears.

✧ His walls come down, and he’ll even reveal the vulnerabilities he rarely lets surface, confessing his struggles while holding you close as if you’re his lifeline.

✧ As restless as Barty is, he finds peace lying next to you, though he’ll grumble about it if you ever bring it up.

✧ He likes to keep a hand on you while you sleep, subtly ensuring you're there without having to admit he needs the reassurance.

✧ Dating Barty means being the only person he truly lets into his life, creating a bond that’s almost unbreakable.

✧ He’d go to terrifying lengths for you, making you feel like the center of his world, albeit in his own darkly intense way.

some convos that might arise while dating barty

BARTY: *glares at someone looking at you wrong* “Do you want me to handle that, or should I just wait until they’re not looking?” YOU: “Barty, no.” REGULUS: *muttering* “Honestly, let him. It’ll be quick.” YOU: “You’re not helping, Reg.”

YOU: “So, are you a morning person?” BARTY: “Only if by morning person you mean a creature of darkness slowly acclimating to daylight.” PANDORA: *snickering* “At least he’s honest.” YOU: “That… is more fitting than I expected.”

YOU: *quietly* “Barty, sometimes it feels like you’re just… not here.” BARTY: *pauses* “I know. I’m trying. I promise.” BARTY: *sighs, taking your hand* “You’re the only thing keeping me from going too far.”

BARTY: “If anything happens to you, I’ll bring the whole world down.” REGULUS: *chuckling* “That’s rich, coming from the guy who can barely commit to a daily schedule.” YOU: *rolling your eyes* “Thanks for the reassurance, Barty. Not ominous at all.” BARTY: “I’m serious!” EVAN: *snorts* “Yes, and you’re also a menace, so there’s that.”

YOU: “You have to admit you like being with me.” BARTY: *grins* “Like? Oh, I’m far past ‘like.’” PANDORA: *smirking* “I think what he’s trying to say is that he’d hex anyone who dares come between you.” YOU: “Great. Love in true Barty fashion.” BARTY: “I’d curse them with a smile.”

YOU: “Why do you always smirk when things get serious?” BARTY: “It’s either that or throw something.” PANDORA: “He really does throw things. Mostly at me.” BARTY: “Only when you’re too calm. I need someone on my level.” EVAN: *dryly* “Misery loves company, I suppose.” YOU: “You’re all impossible.”

BARTY: “Don’t go. I can handle whatever it is.” YOU: *raising an eyebrow* “Barty, it’s literally an event for flower arranging.” BARTY: “It could still be dangerous!” PANDORA: *snorts* “From the roses, or the daisies?” BARTY: “You know I don’t trust people. Especially around you.” YOU: “Don't worry, Barty.I’ll keep my eye out for sinister roses.”

YOU: “I think I bring out your softer side.” BARTY: “Let’s not spread rumors, love. I have a reputation to uphold.” EVAN: “What, of being intolerably prickly?” BARTY: *smiling* “Prickly enough to keep them away from her.” YOU: “You’re so charming.”

[dystopyx-blog]

as a Floyd enjoyer

I do read a LOT of octotrio posts.

Like a lot

so, as a yandere writer

time for yandere octotrio headcanons!

a lot of this will probably tie in for my ideas for my self insert and yandere posts I’ve written in the past!

it’s hard to say who was interested in you first. Either Azul was interested and sent the tweels on you, or the tweels were interested in you and then got azul interested and then azul sent the tweels on you, all I can say for certain is that at some point, someone is interested, and you get the tweels sent on you.

So you got the tweels following you around now. The two have different ways of studying. Floyd, of course, is more hands on. Jade typically stays back, taking EXTENSIVE mental notes. He mostly only gets involved when he can tell Floyd is getting a bit too… much for any one person to handle.

of course, then you have to deal with TWO tweels, and idc who you are, dealing with BOTH of them is way more to handle than just one of them. Like, one tweel is like 100%, but when those fuckers are working together it’s like at least 110%.

but… you seem to handle them really well somehow??

so whether it was Azul who was interested first, or they were interested from the very start, safe to say they are VERY interested in you now.

The tweels, despite being chaotic neutral at best (chaotic evil at worst) are still pretty goddamn loyal to Azul. So they eagerly report back to him (either to convince him or further convince him, again, doesn’t matter)

then this is where it gets really fun (for me)

I love the octotrio, and what I especially love is the mix of platonic and romantic. Like, ofc Floyd and Jade are purely familial. But when it comes to their relationship with Azul, it’s the kind of platonic that so fucking seamlessly shifts into romantic that no one is sure when it turned, and also no one cares. The octotrio blend so fucking seamlessly with each other, that they could even be purely platonic with each other, it could be less romance and more family, but an outsider would never fucking know or understand that. THE OCTOTRIO RELATIONSHIP/S ARE SO FUCKIN NOM NOM NOM I’M DEVOURING IT —

Ahem

anyway

point is, whether octotrio is a romantic poly or just three really fucking close friends, they all look at you and go “that one, we want that one.” And they don’t even have to vocally announce they want to share you, it is understood. There is no “all in favor say aye,” after a few times of the tweels reporting back to Azul they’re just all agreed “yes, this one is ours now, we are taking them for the seafood polycule.”

calamari, unagi, and shrimp, yum yum

ANYWAY

Expect the tweels on yo ass even more than before. Not only that, but they are FULLY embracing their statuses as fucking terrifying menaces to keep all your icky clingy friends away

Suddenly they’re paying extra close attention to your flaws. All of which they find endlessly endearing, what they’re really looking for is a chance to snap.

an insecurity, a life ending mistake, anything to get a chance to whisper in your ear that you need special help. Or maybe they’ll even use the fact they’re living up to their name and stick to you like leeches to convince you you need to talk to Azul

maybe you’re strong, maybe you can’t be fully convinced. Maybe once they do bring you to Azul (trust me, they will) you decide “nope, I’m out.” Thing is though, once they get you there, it’s already decided. Azul will know exactly how to trap you, exactly what to do to get you to come back, or even better, stay.

if you’re in Yuu’s shoes, I imagine he’d be willing to let you AND Grim live in the lounge. To make it less suspicious, he’ll probably say you have to work, or that he gets to use Ramshackle. Something to make sure you’re not suspicious why he’s suddenly so hospitable. But really, ramshackle or service are not what he’s after. Obviously. No, he needs you there, with them.

I don’t even really have to get into what these guys do as yanderes, since most students are already pretty frightened by the tweels. And now that they have someone to ‘protect’? HO BOI, do they REALLY give the student body to fear.

and if they get past Jade and Floyd, then there’s Azul, who will bribe or blackmail until they leave their darling alone.

yeah, sorry to say, once they have you in their sights, it’s pm over for you.

Doesn’t matter who saw you first, cuz you were doomed from the start either way.

GENERAL OCTOTRIO + READER HEADCANONS ❤️

Pleeeasassse I cannot get the image of octotrio dog pile outta my headdd. Azul, Jade, and Floyd are CUDDLY MOTHERFUCKERS, you cannot convince me otherwise. And once they have you, you’re joining. Typically Jade and Floyd both spoon Azul (you can’t convince me otherwise (or maybe you can, let’s talk)), and you’ll likely be sandwiched between Azul and whichever tweel called dibs that night. Or, it’s the true dog pile, where limbs are kind just all over the place. There’s typically a tweel at the bottom (cuz big bois), and that tweel is typically Jade because Floyd insists on being on top, despite his height and weight. And adding you just makes the dog pile feel so much fuller ❤️ (and if you’re one of those people like me who falls asleep better with like weight on top of you… yeah, you are not gonna be awake long enough to protest)

it may take a while for Azul to get comfortable enough to go full octomer on you, especially if you’re a darling who runs away, but once he does trust you enough, he will. And like… come on, I think we as a fandom agree that octo Azul is beautiful/adorable, so of course you do not react negatively to it, even if you’re a stubborn darling.

maybe you’re speechless, and Azul gets flustered and wants to ZOOM back to the surface, but the tweels hold him back, and thank god they do, because even if you aren’t screaming “omg you’re so cute/pretty!!” like I would, you probably mutter it under your breath, just loud enough that he definitely hears (did you know sound moves faster in water?) and he is a blushing cephaloboy. (Bet you didn’t think I’d bring SCIENCE into this, HA)

Suddenly now they’re also snuggling you in the water in med form, because yes these boys cuddle in med form, and you’re one of them now. Can’t breathe in water? Silly, they got magic for that. You are not getting out of this seafood pancake 🫵🫵

you are going to have so many limbs all over you omg. The tweels are trying their damndest to wrap their eel tails around the both of you, and Azul is keeping all of y’all together with his arms

(here’s another science fact, octopus do not have tentacles, those are arms)

AND DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE BREE—

[baffledandbewildered]

“I have a hypothetical,” Evi4 says.

The statement is a bit… random, but Betty doesn’t mind that. Evi is a little random, sometimes - she loves it about him.

“Sure? What’s up?”

Evi frowns, looks up at where Nara and Aster are talking. “I don’t want to…” He grabs Betty’s hand and drags her a little behind the Jest house, far enough away that the conversation is almost indistinguishable.

Evi4 isn’t usually this… serious. Betty knows they can be serious if needed, if necessary, she knows that better than most, but… it’s still weird. Discomforting. 

Betty doesn’t say anything, just gives them time to gather their words, and eventually they start speaking.

“If you were in a situation where - you have to kill either me or Void,” Evi says haltingly. “Who would you choose? Killing Void would - obviously have a lot of consequences.”

Betty can’t help but laugh. “What? Evi - we’ve literally - we’ve killed Void? Why would I choose his life over yours?”

“Killing Void would be dangerous though.”

“I don’t care. I’m not killing you.”

“That’s the wrong decision,” Evi mutters.

They - she can’t help but feel they’re having completely different conversations here.

“It’s - it’s not, Evi I love you why would I - no. I wouldn’t do that.”

“You should.”

“No.”

“Ugh. You’re so weirddd Betty.”

“I don’t think I am for not wanting to kill my fiance…” she says, but doesn’t want to argue the point further.

The two of them go back to Nara and Aster and rejoin the conversation like nothing has happened, but the thought still weighs on Betty’s mind. She’s not sure what just happened, and it’s… odd.

But it’s easy to forget, with the chaos of this day - Twirps is a VIP, five of Pathogen are online - Twirps wants to fight all of them, because of course, and while everyone’s trying to prepare she and Evi notice most of the team in the Red Light District.

Evi’s been casting hungry glances in that direction for a little while, creeping closer and closer - they’re going to get spotted, so Betty runs over, trying her best to keep out of sight herself, and splashes invis on them.

“Good luck!” she whispers. “Please don’t get killed.”

“I won’t!” Evi says and Betty watches the faint trail of particles disappear into the cave.

I’m gonna try steal something Evi messages her, and Betty holds back a giggle - she’s not going to move far away from the cave just in case something goes wrong, so she really doesn’t want to be overheard - she’s not the best with potions, and as such is currently also invisible - not the most innocent look, even if she’s not actually doing anything.

Of course, the invis still hasn’t faded when she gets another message on her communicator. 

okay so I might have been spotted

Oh gods. Betty types back: okay I’ll go talk to them, try to distract them, please try to leave

DONT DO THAT OH MY GODDDD

Evi4 is so - protective. It’s endearing, but also - this situation - it’s uncomfortably familiar to their messages on the day they killed Void, when Evi was spawntrapped, Evi refusing to tell her what was going on because he knew that Betty would gladly get herself killed if it meant Evi was okay - 

So Betty’s not listening to him now, and instead she runs into the cave, waving at Cog and Void and Arch. She’s… still invisible, which is awkward, and she’s pretty sure they know exactly what she’s doing but no one tries to jump Evi even when he starts rifling through one of Pathogen’s shulkers, Cog even gives her a very brief tour, and before she knows it she and Evi are both running back to main spawn, giggling.

“Success!” Evi says, showing her what they managed to steal.

“Yay it was worth it then,” Betty says. “Oh my god that was terrifying but hey I can - I can de-escalate situations!”

“You’re awful at de-escalating situations - that was so stupid Betty oh my god -”

Betty laughs. “Maybe. I don’t care though.”

“You should.”

“The important thing to me is that you’re alive. I doubt they would have killed me anyway.”

“Ugh. You’re so stupid sometimes BettyIsBaffled oh my god we should get divorced -”

“Now wait a second!” Betty says, and within seconds they’re off-topic again.

The next day finds her giving Evi nearly an entire stack of anvils - she’d joked, yesterday, about it being an appropriate apology for Betty getting Evi spawnkilled all those weeks ago for the minecarts, and - well. The guilt of that weighs heavy on her still, and though she knows the comment wasn’t serious she still wants to - 

She renames them, too. For Evi <3. 

It’s not much of an apology, not much of a gift, but Evi squeals in delight the moment she realises what she’s been given, then presses a brief kiss to Betty’s cheek, hugging her tightly. 

On a whim, Betty asks Evi to kill her with the mace - she ends up dying twice, the second time more accidental than not, but it’s fun - and she can’t bring herself to mourn the lost levels when each time she returns Evi gives the heart back with a kiss.

They spend the rest of the day doing… very little. At one point, Evi brings up ‘the hypothetical’ from yesterday - they argue it again, only briefly, and Evi stops talking entirely for a long moment when Betty says fondly - “You’re so self sacrificing.”

She’s not wrong, but she’d never thought of it like that before - Evi is, so, painfully self-sacrificing - not for many people, maybe, but he is. She loves that about him. 

They’re sitting on top of the arena, looking out over spawn when Evi brings it up again.

“I’m curious about the - thing you said earlier,” they say slowly.

“Huh?”

“The - self-sacrificing comment. Can you explain that?”

“Oh! Yeah, yeah I - I can explain -”

But - of course - it’s that moment when Seri appears and once again the thread of conversation is lost. But they have fun! Seri and Evi are… an interesting duo, Aster joins them at one point, the top of the Arena maybe gets broken a little but they manage to fix it… then Evi decides they wanna try and kill Katamari.

If it was anyone else, Betty would be hesitant. But she knows how well Evi fights and well. Katamari. So she gives Evi her axe and a good luck kiss and waits for chaos to unfold.

evi4 whispers to you: they won’t stay still this is so annoying i don’t know whether to call this off

You whisper to evi4: you could try jump off the mangroves?

You whisper to evi4: but it’s up to you if you think it’s too dangerous its not worth it

You whisper to evi4: just stay alive

And Evi… does. He manages to hit Mari with the mace, but they escape, then Void shows up and the pair of them fight for a bit then Evi runs and gods Betty feels like she could cry from relief - she’s so happy for him. Both for the fights - they were awesome - but also for leaving when he realised he couldn’t win, not fighting till the end - she and Evi have spoken about this before, how pride isn’t worth it sometimes, not if it gets you killed -

She’s so happy.

For a while after, they just… hang out at spawn. Void shows them the strip club, Evi digs holes in his walls, Betty tries her best not to fall asleep - turns out dying twice to a mace in ten minutes leaves you incredibly tired, or maybe it’s just her poor sleep schedule - still, it’s a fun day, honestly. 

The next afternoon, Evi asks Betty to join her at Animal Crossing Village - she’s working on getting backup gear, she says, and Betty’s down an axe from yesterday’s shenanigans so for a little while the two of them trade with villagers, talking about anything and everything.

It’s - strangely domestic. Making gear alongside someone else… it’s nice. She’s done this with Nara, the day after she and Evi killed Void, a few other times after that, but before that… a long time ago. Maybe the day after the Gameshow, when she and Sunset were…

It’s nice to have company. It’s fun - especially when the two of them get distracted going through their shulkers - “Why do I have 14 stacks of iron blocks in here?” - or Evi traps her in a corner, only to get flustered when Betty flirts back and mine the blocks under him, falling into the basement with an embarrassed yelp - at one point Evi asks her to spawn an iron golem so he can mace practise, then digs through the rusted corpse to hand her the poppy at its heart and Betty holds it so tightly she’s afraid the fragile stem will break.

Neither of them are particularly good at staying on task but it’s just. Good. It’s nice not to be alone.

At some point, they end up talking about dying - “You’ve killed me more than anyone else has, I think,” Betty muses, pulling up her statistics. “Uhh. Sin, Cog, Blue/arrow-cannon, creeper, Pollocks, Void, you, you again with the carts, Void again, Nara, then you again twice yesterday - I’m missing a death, what am I missing -”

There are four of her deaths now at Evi’s hands (do the minecarts count -?) and that’s - it’s a nice thought. She likes that she gets to choose. She likes… it’s a promise, isn’t it? Dying for someone, choosing to let them kill you... I trust you with my life, with my heart. 

“Imagine being able to remember your deaths…” Evi says wonderingly.

“Not all of them,” Betty says absentmindedly, still trying to work out what she’s forgetting, then she pauses. “Oh -”

The last she heard, Evi had died 170 times… and it’s been a little while since then.

But Evi just giggles and bats lightly at her arm, quickly moving the conversation on to something else. Betty still feels guilty.

It’s evening when they decide to go back to spawn - Evi shows her the hidden respawn point he’s made on the way, and when she realises she hugs him tightly - she’s been asking for so long for Evi to be more careful of where he respawns. Maybe he’s feeling the same way she is - things are happening, now, dangerous things, the end of the season is in sight, they all need to be a bit more careful - or maybe he just wants to have a safe space to recover after a death. It doesn’t matter. She’s happy regardless.

They end up going to Sniffer Island. Betty lets herself fall dramatically onto the grass under one of the trees, and after a moment’s hesitation Evi sits down next to her. There are so many flowers here - Betty had thought she’d never want to see a sniffer again after the nightmare she’d had kidnapping Snorb, but this is nice. Peaceful.

“Oh!” she says, turning a little so she can see Evi. “I never - did I ever explain the - self-sacrifice comment? You asked, but -”

“No…”

“Do you want me to?”

“Yes!”

Betty pauses, then sits up, anxiously flexing her hands a little. She stares out at the ocean, trying to put her thoughts into words - this is important, she thinks.

“When - after we killed Void, that time. You got spawnkilled. And I was - I was messaging you saying if they - if they’d be willing to let you go, if I let them kill me, I’d be fine with that. You wouldn’t let me. You yelled at me. Even before - you wanted to take the blame for killing Void - you told me to lie, claim it was an accident, that you found us talking. Or when you were trapped in the obsidian box - or even the other day, when you were trying to steal from Pathogen in the Red Light District - you’re so worried about my life, without thinking of your own - and I appreciate it, I do, I - gods, I love you so much but - you don’t have to -” 

She stops herself from saying anything more - she’s probably said enough. She darts a look at Evi - they’re not looking at her, and she can’t read their expression. Eventually, they turn to face her, but still won’t meet her eyes.

“I just -” they start, then pause. “I just think it’s better for me to die rather than… you having to deal with any consequences. Like I hate dying, obviously, but it’s just - the better decision there.”

“What? Evi -”

He stares hard at the grass. “I think - me dying has less of an effect over you dying. I have people who can give me heart mats while it actually costs you. I’m already viewed as a weak player. If I die it’s not going to change people’s perspectives of me.”

“I don’t care about - well okay yeah I do but that’s not - that’s not worth it. That’s not - and Evi, I have allies now, you know that, you know there are - you know better than anyone -”

Now he meets her eyes. “When people kill you it means more than if people kill me,” he says quietly.

Betty feels her hearts skip a beat - this is so wrong but she doesn’t know what to say to fix it, doesn’t -

“I’m glad you didn’t die when I got spawnkilled ‘cause I think it would’ve made our connections even worse and maybe more people target us,” Evi continues hurriedly. “I don’t think people view you as weak - even if Cog thinks you’re a coward or something. You are -” She laughs a little. “- still known to trap people very well.”

Betty laughs weakly too - not that well, and Evi knows that, but she appreciates the - confidence in her abilities. 

“I just think people are more willing to give my gear and stuff back,” Evi says. “That’s not something… that you or anyone else - except maybe Seri - have.”

“That’s not - an issue, though - I can grind more gear, I don’t care - that’s not worth your life Evi,” Betty says - oh, she’s crying now, of course - she’s not even sure why. She’s not sure what to say - somewhere along the line she’s missed this, and it is important that they talk about it but she doesn’t know what to say.

Evi laughs - it’s a little bitter, and that’s so wrong because Evi4 isn’t…

“I’m sure if you asked anyone on the server who they’d rather lose a heart it’d be me,” they say. 

Well that’s wrong - Betty goes to interrupt but they shake their head and she stops. 

“Okay, okay yeah maybe there are some people who - want you dead but still,” Evi continues. “Pollocks would obviously care but - I think it’s just something he’s accepted as part of being teamed with me.”

“Evi…”

“I just. I really do think it’s better for me to die than you having to face consequences.”

“But - Evi - you dying is a consequence for me,” Betty says, then wipes the tears from her eyes with shaking hands. “That’s consequences. That’s consequences I - I don’t -”

She can’t bring herself to say anymore - she doesn’t know what to say. She doesn’t know how to fix this - she hates the fact Evi thinks so little of himself, that no one respects him the way Betty and Poll do, that Evi believes that -

They’re both silent for a little while.

Eventually, Evi looks at her again. He twists his hands together anxiously, pulling at a loose thread on his dress. “I can try to be less self-sacrificial with you but I want you to know I care a lot about you and think me dying instead of you is better.”

Betty takes a deep breath. “Okay. Okay. Yeah. I - I understand - and you - you understand what - what I mean, right? When I say -”

He nods rapidly.

“Yeah. Okay - and you’ll try. You’ll try - that’s all I can ask.” She smiles at them - she’s still crying, she probably looks a state but Evi smiles back shyly and she can’t bring herself to care. “Yeah. Okay.”

“Yay!” Evi4 says - he’s trying to act like nothing has happened but it’s so obvious that he’s just as - emotional as Betty is - it’s - gods, she loves him.

“Let’s make a heart!” Evi says, jumping to her feet then holding out a hand to pull Betty upright too. She doesn’t let go, either, even as the two of them dig a hole in the surface of the island and place froglights in a heart shape - it makes it a little difficult to build, but Betty appreciates it - it feels like a promise, like Evi’s saying: I’m not going to leave.

Likewise, Betty thinks to herself.

And then they’re standing next to the heart and Evi pauses, turns to face her. It’s dark now, but the moonlight makes their crown shine - they’ve never looked more like royalty, and Betty’s never been the type to care too much about titles but she’d gladly worship them.

Evi takes a deep breath. “I can try to be less self-sacrificial,” Evi repeats, hurried, tripping over the words a little. “I’ve spent most of my time on this server without anyone to rely on properly so I’m sorry if I show my love in odd ways like a piece of diorite or making sure you don’t die even if it costs me a lot.” They stop, take another measured breath. “I hope I’m able to communicate how much I love you even if it’s in something not very typical but I care about you a lot.”

And yep, Betty’s crying again, but she doesn’t move, lets Evi continue speaking.

“I’m very happy we’re allies - I don’t care about a lot of people on this server even if I trust them but I think you’re the only other person besides Pollocks I’d go to the ends of the earth for - you’ve done so much for me I love you a lot.”

“I - gods, Evi4, I love you too - I love you so much, I don’t think - I don’t think I’ll ever really be able to say it enough - gods -” She wipes her eyes on her sleeve, giggling weakly, then tugs at his shoulders until he bends down far enough she can kiss him. “I love you, okay?” she whispers against his lips. “I love you.”

She definitely could never say it enough - it’s - sometimes, when she’s alone, she remembers what she and Evi4 used to be - chasing them away from her herobrine summoner, explosions in her maze - they weren’t even friends at the start, and now -

They both yelp as the nose of a sniffer pushes its way between them, and then they’re giggling, Evi trying to shove the creature away but there’s such fondness in their eyes, and just for a little while Betty allows herself to believe that everything is going to be okay.

[quartz-kilsviken]

Written in the Runes

Chapter 6

➸ Synopsis: Ekko, your mischievous yet endearing local troublemaker, trails a wealthy academy student from the topside. When you end up with the student's satchel, you find a notebook filled with intriguing magical research. Unable to resist, you embark on a quest to uncover the secrets of this mysterious scholar.

➸Pairing: JayVik x reader

➸Chapter Word Count: 2,917

➸Tags: Slow Burn, yearning, eventual smut, not

canon compliant

➸Notes: Your Honor, Viktor is a brat. The first few weeks at the Academy, I loved writing this chapter. I just wanna give Jayce a smooch on the cheek, he’s so sweet. ♡ॢ₍⸍⸌̣ʷ̣̫⸍̣⸌₎"

➸ Previous Chapter: Pt. 5

“It’s a complete waste of the technology,” Viktor grumbles, tapping his fingers on the desk. “The only ones who’ll benefit are the Councilors padding their pockets with trade deals.”

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind—setting up the lab, scrambling to get everything organized, and, naturally, arguing. This same debate keeps coming up. While the three of you are developing Hextech, the Council’s already decided what it’s going to be used for. Viktor’s furious. They want to build a massive teleportation system, similar to the energy from the night in Heimerdinger’s lab, but on a much larger scale. They say they want it to transport people and cargo across Runeterra. Your problem isn’t with the idea, it’s the scale—hundreds of crystals, each needing its own rune combination. Just thinking about it makes your head throb.

“They’re not exactly giving us a choice,” Jayce says, his voice calm but his posture a dead giveaway that he’s frustrated. His feet are propped up on the desk, balancing on the back two legs of his chair. He’s trying to stay composed, but you can tell it’s wearing on him. Viktor, on the other hand, looks like he’s a hair’s breadth away from snapping.

Viktor’s bent over his desk, flipping through Jayce’s notes with a frown that could melt metal. You’d rather not dive into this right now, but seeing both of them so stressed gets to you. “You’re both right,” you say, pushing your chair back and crossing your arms. “We don’t have much of a choice, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make sure it’s used for something good. I mean, right now, the only way to get to Piltover is by ship, and it’s miserable.” You shudder at the memory—seasick, your mom holding you over the railing to throw up because you couldn’t even reach it. You didn’t have time to warn her the first time and Khal had to clean up after you. He still brings it up. “At least this way, travel won’t suck as much.”

Viktor looks like he’s chewing that over, his face softening a little. Jayce, however, seems to latch onto something else. “You’ve traveled?”

Damn. Not the direction you want this conversation to go. But it’s hard to lie to Jayce when he looks at you like that. “Uh, yeah. My family moved here when I was younger, but I don’t remember much of it,” you say quickly, glancing back at your sketches in an attempt to shift focus.

Jayce doesn’t push, but Viktor raises an eyebrow. “Where did you live before?”

Viktor, as you’ve learned, is relentless when something catches his interest. The more you try to avoid it, the harder he’s going to dig. So, you switch gears before this goes any further.

You pick up one of your rough HexGate designs and hold it out to them with an exaggeratedly serious expression. “What do you think of this? I think it’s the best one I’ve come up with so far.”

Viktor’s face immediately turns from curious to horrified, and you can’t help but stifle a laugh. Jayce steps closer, squinting at the design. “It’s... impressive? But I’m not sure the Council would approve. It’s, uh, a little... much?”

Viktor looks at him, then back at the sketch, deadpan. “It’s... terrifying.” Jayce looks at Viktor, clearly trying to silently say, ‘don’t be mean’. You’re practically bubbling with amusement, and Viktor’s giving you exactly the reaction you wanted.

“No, no, you just don’t get the vision.” You gesture dramatically to the design as if it’s the most brilliant idea ever.

Viktor stares at it, his eyebrows knit together in distaste. The sketch is a monstrosity, but you’re selling it hard. It’s a massive statue-like structure of both his and Jayce’s faces, towering over the city. The jaws of the faces are designed to unhinge, releasing a beam of energy that powers the teleportation. It’s completely absurd. “Oh, we see the vision. It’s just... I’m not sure I’m prepared for our faces to loom over Piltover. It’s a bit... ominous, don’t you think?”

Jayce looks between you and Viktor, his expression full of confusion and concern. “But why are we the ones on it? Shouldn’t you be, too?”

You grin, shrugging casually. “Nah. You two are way more photogenic than I am.” You glance at Viktor, who’s trying not to smile. “Besides, I don’t need a giant statue of me towering over the city. That sounds a little... egotistical.”

Viktor snickers. “I’ll approve the design... but only on one condition.”

You raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “What’s that?”

“We simplify it,” Viktor says, looking at you with a smirk. “Only Jayce on the statue.”

Jayce’s face falls in mock betrayal, and you immediately spring up from your chair, shaking Viktor’s hand with exaggerated enthusiasm. “Deal. You’ve got yourself a deal.”

“Wait, what?” Jayce protests, his eyes wide.

You cross your arms, a triumphant grin spreading across your face.“Two against one, Jayce. Looks like you’re the face of Hextech now.”

Seeing them less upset—even if just for a moment—makes your heart lighter. You’d draw a million silly diagrams just to keep seeing them smile. But the moment fades as soon as you remember your studies start today. It’s been easier to get lost in Hextech, especially with Jayce and Viktor around. But now… you won’t be able to hide away in the lab much longer.

You start packing up your things reluctantly, and the two of them catch on. Jayce looks up and offers, “Want us to walk you? It’s not far.”

You’d appreciate it, but you know they have more important things to do. You can’t ask them to waste their time.

“Nah, I’m used to navigating this maze by now. I’ll be fine. Thanks, though.”

Viktor gives you a knowing look, his gaze sharp as ever. He catches the tension in your voice without missing a beat. Before he can protest, you can make your way out of the lab.

You had a million different ideas of how your first lecture would go, but somehow it ended up worse than you imagined. First, you got completely lost. Jayce said it wasn’t far, but somehow it took you thirty minutes to find the place. Then, when you finally made it in, the only seat left was right in the middle. You spent the whole time feeling like you were on display, barely able to focus. You didn’t catch a word the professor said.

The rest of the day was a blur—moving from class to class, barely keeping track of the time, let alone the content. By the time your last lecture ended, you were drained, desperate to escape, but the crowd at the door made that impossible. You almost considered climbing out of a window just to get away from it all.

Then you see him. His eyes scan the room until they land on you, and his face lights up with that wide, gap-toothed grin. For a moment, everything else fades.

You make your way toward him, and when his hand rests on your back, you let out a breath you didn’t realize you were holding. It’s just a casual touch, but somehow it makes everything feel a little easier.

“Let me guess. Viktor sent you to make sure I actually made it here?” you say, raising an eyebrow with a teasing grin.

Jayce laughs, guiding you through the crowd with a casual ease.

Once you’re in a quieter hall, he looks over at you, still smiling.

“So, how was it?”

His optimism is blinding, and you can’t bring yourself to admit how overwhelmed you are. Instead, you just shrug and smile back. “It was fine.”

You realize, even though you’re away from the crowd, his hand is still resting on your back. You hope he sees your nervousness as a result of the overwhelming day, not because of him. Jayce has this effortless warmth, the kind that draws people in without even trying. He’s like that with Viktor, too—his gaze lingers on him sometimes, full of quiet affection. It’s just how he is, you think. The three of you might share a connection, but in truth, you don’t know much about each other. Maybe that’s for the best. Instead of getting in your head about it, you focus on the comfort of the palm on your back, guiding you home.

As you open your door and turn to say goodnight, you catch him hesitating, like he wants to say something. His eyes flick past you, scanning your room.

“What, does my interior decorating offend you?”

“No—” he chews over his words. “There’s no interior decorating to be offended by.”

Right. The space is big—bigger than anything you’ve had—and honestly, kind of unsettling. The academy provided a bed and a desk, but the rest is empty. “I guess I just haven’t had time,” you lie, forcing an easy shrug.

Oh, he needs to stop looking at you like that—like he sees right through you. His voice is gentler when he says, “I don’t know if Heimerdinger told you, but this isn’t regular student housing. It’s permanent.”

Permanent. He definitely failed to mention that.

“This place is yours,” Jayce continues. “It might help you feel more comfortable if you got a few things. Viktor and I can help, you know.”

You know. And that’s exactly why you hesitate.

“If I present my HexGate design to the council, they might just kick me out, you know.” You flash a grin, but the joke is thinly veiled. The ridiculous, fake design you’d sketched earlier had been for fun—but what if your real ideas get the same reaction? What if you pour everything into this, only to watch it fall apart?

Jayce doesn’t call you on it, just watches you for a moment before saying simply, “Think about it.”

“Good night, Jayce.”

The rest of your week went smoothly, the routine settling your nerves. Even the HexGate project had taken a turn for the better—frustration giving way to excitement as plans started coming together. You’d gotten so caught up in your work that you even started pulling out your designs during lectures, ignoring the side glances from other students. Things had been going so well, in fact, that you’d completely forgotten about your conversation with Jayce.

Jayce, however, had not.

You had been looking forward to a full day of working on Hextech—only to walk into the lab and realize Jayce had other plans. He insisted you all go out to get things for your room, and to your dismay, Viktor had immediately agreed.

Now, you curse Jayce’s insistent kindness as your arms strain under the weight of a couch.

"Left, Jayce—my left, not yours. You’re a very intelligent man, but apparently, using your muscles and your brain at the same time is a challenge." Viktor watches from a safe distance, fingers tapping absently on his cane, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.

“I’d like to see you try it,” Jayce grunts back, his voice strained.

From over the couch, you catch Viktor’s amused look as his eyes glint with mock disapproval. “Oh, you would, would you? That is cruel—wishing to see a man with a hurt leg carry a couch.”

“You’re mean,” you huff, adjusting your grip. “Mean and distracting, and I need him focused so I don’t get crushed under this thing.”

As you reach your door, Viktor steps in to help, and you decide it’s time to wipe that smug expression off his face. You smile, letting the teasing tone slip in.

“Here, grab my keys so I don’t have to set this down.”

Viktor’s eyes flick over you, and for just a moment, his expression tightens when his gaze lands on your back pocket. You see the brief hesitation, that almost imperceptible pause before he catches himself and steps forward.

“What, Viktor? Scared to touch my ass?”

He furrows his brows at you, but there’s a spark of something in his eyes—playful, but just a little caught off guard. He reaches into your pocket, fingers slow, deliberate, not quite brushing against you, but you feel it anyway. The space between you both seems to close just a little too easily.

When he pulls the keys out, you glance at Jayce, your grin widening.

“See how easy that was? You could tell Viktor he can’t fly, and he’d probably jump off a building just to prove you wrong.”

You barely hear Viktor muttering under his breath, his voice quieter than usual. “Don’t do what I’m asked, and I’m insulted. Do what I’m asked, and—still—I am insulted.”

He holds open the door, his usual confidence returning. “Left—no—my left.” He huffs a laugh as the couch bangs into the door frame.

“Don’t listen to him, Jayce. You’re doing really well.” You grunt, adjusting your grip.

You don’t notice how Jayce seems to soften at the praise, a slight glow warming his face, but Viktor does. The teasing edges of his smile fade as he watches, and instead of continuing his playful jab, he tucks the observation away in his mind.

As soon as the couch is set down, Jayce flops across it with a deep, exasperated grunt. He’s tall, sprawling across the entire length of it. You smack his shoe, a smile tugging at your lips.

“Budge.”

He doesn’t lift his head, but you can hear the exhaustion in his voice as he sighs. “I don’t think I can move.”

You’re tired too, and without thinking, you shift his legs off just enough to make room for yourself. As you settle back into the couch, his legs fall naturally across your lap. The weight of them is surprisingly comforting. You let your head fall back against the cushions, savoring the softness.

You feel his muscles tense beneath you, a subtle shift in the air. When you open your eyes just a bit, you catch him staring. The intensity in his gaze catches you off guard, and your stomach flutters before you can look away. He clears his throat, quickly turning his attention to Viktor, who’s unpacking the rest of the items.

“We should get one of these for the lab.”

You laugh, trying to shake off the unexpected warmth spreading through you. “Oh yeah? Well, you can carry it yourself. I’m never lifting another couch.”

Viktor pulls his gaze from the two of you, placing a new lamp on your desk, but his attention shifts, lingering over the paintings scattered across the space. Some old, some new, but one in particular catches his attention. The blue glow from the scene reflects over both his and Jayce’s faces as they float in Heimerdinger’s lab. He stops, staring at it, the soft light catching his features.

‘Is this really how she see’s us?’ he thinks, something shifting in his chest. ‘It’s beautiful.’

The only thing missing from the piece, he realizes, is you. But before his thoughts can wander further, he shifts his focus back to the lamp. As he reaches down to plug it in, another painting catches his eye. He pulls a canvas from the bag in the corner, completely captivated.

It’s a scene of a mother and daughter, gathered by a fire. Their closeness is palpable, the warmth of the moment so real you almost feel you’re there. The mother is showing the daughter some kind of magic. Viktor’s eyes drift to the bottom corner, and before he can stop himself, he asks softly,

“Did you paint this?”

You don’t respond right away. Instead, moving out from under Jayce and striding across the room, your expression suddenly distant. Viktor’s heart gives a small, unexpected lurch as he watches you, realizing too late that his question has caught you off guard.

“No.”

You move swiftly to take the painting back, but before you can grab it, Viktor holds it just out of your reach, his hand lingering there a little longer than necessary. He can’t help himself, his voice softer this time.

“That’s your name in the corner, is it not?”

You freeze, your hand still outstretched. When you meet his gaze, your eyes lock for a moment that feels too long. There’s an unexpected shift, a warmth that pulls you both closer, though neither of you dares to acknowledge it. You shift just a little, your body instinctively drawing nearer. Viktor’s gaze flickers, and for a brief second, he looks almost... uncertain.

Before the moment can stretch any longer, you use his distraction to quickly snatch the canvas from his hand.“It’s my grandmother’s name. I don’t sign my art.”

You shove the painting back into the bag, zipping it shut a little too quickly.

Jayce’s soft voice draws your attention, “Art like that is meant to be shared, not locked away. We’re already here, we can help you hang them.”

You realize they’re both well-meaning, but you still feel a soft pang in your chest, something you can’t quite place.

Hesitant, you open the bag again, pulling out two paintings—both by your mother, one of a flower, the other of the sea. You hand them to Viktor, the gesture light, almost fleeting, but something lingers in the air.

Without a word, you turn toward the kitchen, the quiet task of making dinner a welcome distraction. It’s easier to focus on that than whatever their kindness is stirring in you. After everything they’ve done for you today, helping you settle in and furnish the place, it’s the least you can do.

[lisenberry]

Thinking about soap accidentally impregnating reader and how they’re both terrified but he’s secretly excited and just finding out he has a breeding kink

I haven't written for Soap yet, but I can already tell this ask has changed life. Thank you!

As you can guess, there's smut, pregnancy, and breeding kink. Oh my!

NSFW/MDNI

“Oh, shit, Johnny.”  Your moan turned into a whine as he hammered the gate of your cervix like a battering ram.  The pleasure-pain pressure of being rearranged had your thoughts reeling and your strength drained.

Slack-limbed and useless but for the sloppy wetness of your pussy, and the incoherent drabble of sounds seeping from your mouth. 

If the first orgasm he wrung from you with his fingers to your clit hadn’t knocked you senseless, the third one that he’d bullied from your g-spot with his cock alone had sent you to the afterlife. 

The lights were on, but no one was home.

“Just a wee bit more, mo chridhe.”  He always shifted into Gaelic when he was ready to come.  Mumbled sweet endearments as he reverted to some primal version of himself.  My love, my heart, my darling.  “Ya feel so perfect against me all bare like this.  I don’t want it to end.”

You had been seeing each other for a few months.  Nothing exclusive yet, but you’d gotten to know him enough to chance a fuck without the safety of a condom.  The thought of feeling every vein, every bump, and the slow drag of his bare skin had made you crazy.  It was worth a round of antibiotics to feel him come all hot and messy, and fill you up with his completion. 

He was leaving on a mission the next day, and you didn’t want to say goodbye not knowing what he felt like without the cool, unnatural glide of latex between you.

He’d gone wild when you told him, stripping you down before you even finished saying, “It’s okay, I’m on birth control.” 

You had no idea that he’d edge himself to the brink and draw it out for what seemed like hours.  You’d long since been able to clench around him, to give any resistance at all to his mindless barrage.

“You still with me, hen?”  There was a wicked smile on his lips as he slowed to a stop, tugging himself out fully, teetering just as he was about to finish.

For a split second you were afraid he was pulling out.  That he wasn’t going to give you what you needed. 

“No!  Please,” you screeched like a baby bird in protest, and found the strength to hook your legs around his waist.  Your fingers dug into his shoulders to bring him back down to you.

“Ah, I’m only teasing you, pet.  Look at you, so beautiful.  So needy.  So patient.  So good.”  Words and phrases broken by his panting breaths as he hitched himself back in.  “I’ll give you what you want.”

His big, blue, earnest eyes found yours, as you brought him into focus. Insatiable with lust. 

You thought he’d renew his attack on that deepest, tenderest part of you, but he found your g-spot again instead.  Your mind was gone, but your body had enough for one more, and he stole a final fiery blast from your haggard, overwrought nerves.

And he kept his promise, of course, filling you generously with his own burning release.

It was almost three months later, when he’d returned from the job in South America, that you built up the nerve to take a test.  To prove once and for all what you’d suspected all along. 

“My birth control is supposed to be 99.9999 percent effective.  How did this happen?”  You wanted to cry, as a pit of anxiety settled into your stomach at the news.

“My wee swimmers are one in a million, I guess.”  He crooked a lopsided grin as he nervously scratched the back of his head.

“I don’t think that’s how it works.” 

He was a genius at chemistry and physics, but he must’ve been busy daydreaming about blowing something up during reproductive biology.  You were pretty sure it was more about your hormones not cooperating than his super virile sperm. 

You didn’t have the heart to burst his bubble as the smirk spread wider with pride across his face.  When Johnny put his mind to something, it was bound to be an adventure. 

Was his fearlessness and good humor a trait he’d pass on to his bairns? You'd find out soon enough.

“Well, the damage’s been done, eh?  Can’t knock you up twice.  Not yet, anyway.”  His eyes darkened as he reached for the waist of your pants and pulled you across his lap.  “Seems we’ve been given a gift.  Might as well earn it.”

[httpvomitello]

mmmm can I request a rise tmnt with an S/o that is the same as Toga himiko?

Hello! Sooo ~ I've never watched My Hero Academia, So I had to do a little research on who this Toga is. If the personality isn't so similar, I apologize! But I hope you like it ♡♡♡♡

Leo loves a good challenge, and you definitely keep him on his toes

Your unpredictable nature fascinates him, but it’s the way you’re so intensely into him that he finds both flattering and a little nerve-wracking

When he catches you watching him with that intense, almost starry-eyed look, he can’t help but blush, stammering and glancing away

But secretly, he loves the attention

Even if you sometimes make it a bit too obvious

But, let’s be real, he secretly enjoys it when you surprise him, especially with your creative approaches to “pranks.”

Anytime you ask for a little drop of his blood to “keep with you,” he tries to act cool, telling you it’s a “ninja bonding ritual” just to play along

(Even if he’s sweating bullets inside)

Leo definitely has a protective side and tries to keep you out of trouble

Whenever you go off on one of your mischief-filled escapades, he’s not far behind, making sure you’re safe

While also admiring how fierce and unapologetically yourself you are.

Raph is caught off guard by your intensity and the way you look at him, like he’s some prize you’re obsessed with

At first, he doesn’t know what to make of it, but eventually, he finds himself kind of… into it?

Your chaotic energy speaks to the wilder side of him, and he can’t help but get pulled into your whirlwind

You make him feel like he’s the most fascinating person turtle in the world, which is something he never realized he wanted

Raph can’t quite understand your fixation with his scars and the way you sometimes ask about them, but he’ll let you run your fingers over them as long as you don’t push it too far

Though, he secretly finds your admiration of them flattering, as they’re a part of who he is

He’d be protective over you, always making sure you don’t get yourself into too much trouble

You two would make an unexpectedly powerful pair, with you being clever and cunning, and him having the strength to back you up

The first time you try to “mark” Raph in some way, whether it’s a scratch or a playful bite, he gives you a confused look but ultimately goes along with it, finding it strangely endearing

Though he’ll never admit it.

Donnie’s a mix of intrigued and cautious around you

He finds your obsessive interest in him flattering yet a little concerning, but he can’t help but enjoy the attention, especially when he’s often overlooked

You’re fascinated by his intellect, and you genuinely want to understand his work, even if you tend to be… a bit much with your eagerness

He loves talking tech with you, even though he gets sidetracked when he catches you staring at him like he’s the most interesting experiment in the world

When you occasionally bring up things about blood or “keeping a piece of him with you,” he’s completely floored

You find yourself having to reassure him that it’s just a “cute thing” you do because you really like him, even if he still looks at you with raised eyebrows

Donnie’s careful around you, making sure not to give you any reason to go full crazy mode, but he secretly likes that you’re so different from everyone else

You bring a fresh (and slightly terrifying) dynamic into his life that he didn’t know he needed

He’d create little gadgets for you to play with, hoping it distracts you from any “unconventional” ideas you might get

If you seem fascinated by his lab equipment, he’ll even show you how to use it (safely, of course), hoping it’ll keep you happy and engaged.

Mikey is initially a bit taken aback by your intensity, but he finds it exhilarating

You’re like a whirlwind of energy and excitement, and he’s all about that

He adores your attention, and your fascination with him makes him feel super special

You two are like partners in crime, with him being the sunshine to your darker, slightly obsessive tendencies

When you start talking about blood or hinting at your more intense interests, Mikey’s open-mindedness comes in handy

He doesn’t judge you; in fact, he thinks it’s kind of cute, though he might give you a little side-eye if you take it too far

You two have a chaotic kind of harmony

If you get a little intense, he just smiles and diffuses the situation with his playful energy, guiding you to the lighter side of things without you even noticing

Mikey would be the type to make light of your more “interesting” quirks, playfully indulging you in small, harmless ways while keeping things fun and safe

He’d also draw doodles of you two as chaotic superheroes (or villains) because he finds your relationship exciting and loves that you bring such a unique energy into his life.

[spacebaby1]

Heyyy can I request a Shinichiro x reader where they’re secretly dating because Shinichiro is best friends with reader’s brother and how would Shinichiro treat his younger girlfriend who’s just as shy as him when it comes to affection.

I live for Shinichiro fics🙂‍↕️🩷enjoy!

Shinichiro and you had woven a delicate tapestry of secrets, threads of your affection hidden deep beneath the surface of everyday life. He's your brother's best friend, a bond that made your secret all the more thrilling yet terrifying.

Shinichiro had always been different from the other boys at school. His cool demeanor was wrapped in a charming awkwardness that made him endearing. With his soft brown eyes and tousled hair, he could easily slip into the background of any scene. But when he smiled, oh, that smile; it illuminated the world around him like the first rays of dawn. In private moments, away from prying eyes, he was tender and sweet, his shy nature echoing your own.

The back of the local bookstore became your refuge. Hidden amongst the shelves of forgotten stories and unbidden dreams, you two shared stolen whispers and fleeting glances. It was a sanctuary where you felt safe. On one rainy afternoon, the scent of damp pages mingling with your nervousness. As you stood beside him, shoulders almost touching, while the both of you pretended to browse.

“Hey,” he said, glancing down at a book, “what do you think about this one?” His voice was barely above a whisper, but it sent shivers down your spine. You was captured in the softness of his gaze.

“It sounds interesting,” you replied, though your thoughts were far away, swirling with the emotions that bloomed whenever he was near.

He looked at you with a mix of warmth and uncertainty. “Do you…do you want to read it together?” The question hung in the air, frail but hopeful. “Yeah, I’d like that,” you managed to say, heart beating loudly against your chest.

Your fingers brushed as the both of you reached for the book, and in that instant, the world faded into silence. It felt electric, sending sparks through the air, igniting the hidden flames of our hearts. But each time you two ventured out of that sanctuary, reality crashed in like a thunderstorm. He was nothing but a friend and you wished to have the courage to face the world and your brother to admit that you want to be with Shinichiro; so did he. It was him that suggested that you both tell your brother about the both of you being in love and all Shinichiro wanted was to keep you safe and be only yours. At first when you told your best friend she was scared that Shinichiro might be playing around with you but he honestly haven't even asked to meet you alone, being around you with everyone was enough as long as he got to see you and would exchange smiles whenever he saw you and would often leave sweet gifts on your desk at school. He was perfect.

One evening, while Both your and your brothers friends gathered at your home, the atmosphere was heavy with laughter and chatter, a stark contrast to the secret yearning simmering between Shinichiro and you.

You'd catch him sneaking glances at you throughout the evening. Each look made your heart race, but it also clenched with anxiety. What if your brother noticed? What if he found out? The weight of secrecy was becoming hard to bear for you.

Later that night, as some of your friends left, a tension hung in the air. Your brother had gone to bed from all the drinking, leaving you two alone in the dimly lit room, as you and Shinichiro cleaned the empty boxes of pizza and cans of soda. You sighed and sat on the couch, Shinichiro was worried that he took the seat next you watching you waiting for you to speak whats on your mind, "Sweetie? What's wrong?" He shifted nervously on the couch, his hands fidgeting in, for a solid minute you didn't speak.

“I think…” he began, pausing as he searched for words. “I think we need to talk about this.” His honesty was refreshing and terrifying all at once.

You swallowed hard, feeling your cheeks heat because he immediately knew what was bothering you. “I know,” you whispered voice trembling slightly.

“What if… what if we stopped hiding?” There was vulnerability in his gaze, a softness that made your heart ache. “What if we told your brother?”

The idea sent ice through your veins. “What if he doesn’t understand?” you murmured. “What if he gets mad? What if he hurts you?”

Shinichiro’s brow furrowed, his sincerity shining through. “But what if he does? What if he’s happy for us?” He reached over, his hand gently covering yours.The warmth of his touch melted away your fears, if only for a moment.

“We could try,” you agreed, feeling emboldened by the courage you both shared. “But can we take it slow? I’m scared.”

“Me too,” he admitted with a small smile, light breaking through the shadows. “We’ll figure it out together.”

You couldn't sleep the whole night and so did Shinichiro that you both just sat outside watching the sun rise and before you know it your brother was up, you went to make breakfast to relief the anxiety while your brother and Shinichiro sat in the living-room; you could hear your brother laughter while Shinichiro sat in silence; absolutely nervous. After serving the breakfast and Shinichiro following you to the kitchen. He sighed shaking his hands nervously before smiled at you and you nodded, the both of you walked in the living-room, "Oni-chan?" Your brother looked up from breakfast, brows drawn together in confusion as he saw you gripping on Shinichiro’s arm for the dear life.

“There’s something we need to tell you,” you began, holding your breath as you glanced at Shinichiro for support. “Shinichiro and I… we’re together.”

The room fell silent for a minute and you thought your brother was about to get up and beat Shinichiro to the ground before you heard laughter suspended in mid-air, your brother blinked whipping his eyes, absorbing the revelation, before breaking into a chuckle. “Well, it’s about time! I was wondering how long you two would keep this a secret.”

A wave of relief washed over me, followed closely by Shinichiro's nervous laughter.

“Oh, come here!” your said, pulling you both into a bear hug. “Just don’t make it awkward, alright?”

As you all stepped back, both Shinichiro and you felt lighter, the tension that had once twisted your insides replaced by a vibrant excitement for what lay ahead. Your heart swelled as Shinichiro laced his fingers through yours an act that felt monumental now that it wasn’t hidden.

[bangsinc]

⚪️ More Spot x Reader (prompts) 🖤

Because it’s not my duty with 15 whole followers to write more🙏🙏 ily all. This is pretty long since I did prompts I found and stuff so :3.. ALSOOALSO, I’m new at writing x reader and the love means sm!!! AGG!!

:readmore:

Who confessed first? what was the confession like?

Spot is an enigma, a man beyond his mortal realm. A man who has the power to travel anywhere he pleases…. But he could never tell you how he feels. He’d feel like, in the event of a heartfelt confession, you’d be terrified and run away. After all, it’s not everyday an inter dimensional being wants you to be theirs.

In the event of a confession, he would expect you to do most of the talking. It’s not something he’s proud of, but his emotions, to him, don’t matter anymore because of what he is. The confession, if he would imagine it, would be something incredibly cheesy but something so.. him. He didn’t have flowers because the kind you liked were out, didn’t have any romantic place to go to because he was afraid of being shunned, and the cupcakes he made burnt :(!

If he could, he’d cry upon a confession on your end.

Who gets sick/injured more often? who is the caretaker?

This goes without saying, but spot is.. not human, or at least he isn’t anymore. He can’t catch a cold, or get sick, it’s beyond him now. So, you would have to undoubtedly be the one he winds up taking care of.

He seems like a worrywart. In the event you are sick, or Ill, or whatever it may be, he’s going to act like you’re dying. He won’t leave your side for one minute, constantly trying to cook for you or *cough* steal *cough* medicine (it’s a little difficult with his holes.. please be patient).

How do they feel about PDA?

Oh my god.. please. He craves it. So much. It’s unhealthy. Even if he isn’t.. the most easy to hold or cuddle, he wants nothing more than to feel your warmpth against him. You’re the last, if not only thing he has to affection.

He can’t kiss you, or really.. do anything.. but he has hands! And a body! So he’d love it if you would spoil him with endearment.

In public, things are slightly different. He hardly goes out unless it’s to continue his ‘life of crime’, but if you were to tag along and show him affection, in public.. he wouldn’t know how to react. Like, you’re proud to be with him??? Him?? HIM??

How do they comfort you/cheer you up?

Oh how he just hates to see his love sad :(. You give him so much love and affection.. the least he could do is return it tenfold when you feel upset.

He’ll hold you, tell you sweet things, try and lull you. Your emotions, to him, are as important as breathing (if he.. even needs to do that).

Maybe will even cook for you! He has a thing for spicy food. Can he like, even eat?

Traits they like in a partner?

He wants someone who is like him in the sence that also feel somewhat outcasted from society. Someone who isn’t conveniently attractive, has features that aren’t considerably desirable. He loves those things. Hooked noses, droopy eyes, eyebags, stretch marks, pimples, he loves it all. He’s not a picky man.

Might perfer chubby partners (would appriciate the comfort of holding them, not to mention he thinks curvy women are attractive.. he’s such a dork).

Spot would like a significant other thats artistic or creative. They might seem more open to his ideas, or at least to him that’s how it would seem. One with a sence of humor aswell.

(Maybe a significant other who can defend him if he’s being attacked for robbing some place)

Traits they don’t like in a partner?

I.. really don’t think there’s much he wouldn’t like in a partner. He likes anyone and everyone as long as they love him and they’re nice to him. That said.. he probably couldn’t stand someone who’s rude, or cocky to an extent. Someone who’s on their phone while he’s trying to talk to them. Someone who actively turns down his love. He’s a very clingy man, he wants the affection and if you can’t give it it’ll upset him.

Do they buy you gifts often? What would they buy you?

He loves to (steal) buy things for his darling. Little trinkets, or other things he thinks they would enjoy based on his knowledge of them. He loves how their face brightens, how he knows he just made their day. He can’t do much for you, but he makes it up with anything he can do. He wants you to feel like a goddess.

[jungkoode]

SLOW BURNS | ADDRESSING CONCERNS

Okay my sweet chaos gremlins (affectionate), let’s sit down for a second and talk because my inbox has literally exploded since chapter 11 dropped. Like, seriously, you guys need to chill—kidding, don’t chill, keep yelling at me, it's my favorite thing ever (ಥ‿ಥ)♡

I’ve noticed a pattern: a lot of you are READY TO FIGHT Jungkook for sleeping around, and some are also ready to gently shake Phoenix for not being furious about it. First of all, can I just say how much I absolutely adore that you're feeling frustrated about them? The fact you’re emotionally invested enough to threaten bodily harm (jokingly, I hope) means I’m doing something right. Go me~

But here’s the thing (puts on psychologist glasses dramatically): Fuck Me Up is, and always has been, a slow burn story. Like, really slow. PAINFULLY slow. I know this fanfic has over 60k words already and some of you are shaking me by the collar begging them to get their act together and kiss already, but babes—we're literally just warming up. Phoenix has only been in town for TWO WEEKS. They barely know each other. Right now, the extent of their emotional connection is basically "You're dumb but hot, let's bang." They’re not even friends yet. (I know, shocker.)

As a writer, my ultimate obsession is realism. Relationships, feelings—they don’t bloom overnight. Especially not when we’re dealing with emotionally traumatized gremlins like Jungkook and Phoenix. They're carrying around some pretty heavy baggage, so they need time. Realistically, people do a ton of shit without even understanding why. Phoenix doesn't understand yet why she insists on keeping things secret; Jungkook doesn't fully grasp why commitment is terrifying for him. They both think they know, but trust me—they don't really. People are rarely fully self-aware about their deepest motivations, at least not right away.

I promise I'm not torturing you for fun (okay, maybe a tiny bit). The slow pace is intentional—I want their relationship to feel earned. Every glance, every conversation, every annoying yet somehow endearing moment matters. I am planting seeds everywhere. There are breadcrumbs scattered throughout every chapter—small details, tiny moments that might seem insignificant now, but they'll mean a lot later. If you pay attention, you'll see pieces slowly click into place. This is my favorite thing to do, and I’m not changing it because you crave instant gratification (though mood, same).

Also! It’s normal and healthy for people—especially messy twenty-somethings—to fuck around and make dumb choices. That’s part of growing up, figuring out life, love, and themselves. People date and sleep around before finding their forever, and sometimes the person who ends up being your ride-or-die was right beside you all along—you just didn’t realize it yet. They’re just quietly there, blending into the background of your chaotic twenties until one day you’re like, “Oh shit, it’s you. It’s always been you.” That’s exactly what I’m portraying—real humans making questionable decisions because we’re all idiots when we’re young. It’s okay for Jungkook and Phoenix to be messy. It’s okay for them to frustrate you. Actually, it’s fantastic. That’s the realism I live for.

They'll get there eventually, but their journey isn't about just ticking off a trope because this is a Jungkook x reader fanfic. It’s about authentic, organic growth. When they finally get together, it'll feel real and right—not because they’re obligated to fall for each other, but because they've actually earned it through every struggle, misunderstanding, and quiet moment.

If you’ve checked my “About Me” section (and if you haven’t, literally zero hard feelings—I barely check those myself), you already know I’m absolutely fed up with rushed relationships in stories. Like seriously, I’m allergic to insta-love. I write slow burn, I breathe slow burn, I procrastinate slow burn (it’s a problem). Everything I write is painfully slow-paced, intentional, and deeply psychological because that’s just who I am as an author. Relationships take time and work. They require deep emotional processing, especially when your characters have as many issues as mine do. (Yeah, I’m looking at you, Jungkook. Therapy exists, bro, use it.)

And this isn't just an FMU thing—it's gonna happen in Kkangpae too. Characters doing things for each other unconsciously because feelings develop in sneaky ways is my whole-ass brand, okay? So buckle up. We're nowhere near finished, friends, and there’s a whole emotional rollercoaster ahead. (I did say I was psychologically fucked up, didn’t I?)

In short: Please trust the slow burn. Let it cook. Let it simmer. Let it emotionally devastate you gently, because that's what love and life and my stories are all about.

ILYSM for engaging with this mess. Keep the asks coming—I'm thriving on your frustration. (≖ᴗ≖✿)♡

[ff7-has-taken-me-over]

I suddenly had a thought of GhostSoap being normal human beings and doing normal human being things and wanted to write some stuff for it.

1) Simon always forgets to replace the fuckin toilet paper and Johnny loses his mind over it every single time

2) Johnny has these quiet little snores that whistle out every time he breathes out and while it’s mildly annoying some nights Simon still finds it so endearing

3) Simon hogs the blankets, even in summer cause he’s just always cold, no matter what. Johnny tends to just snuggle in real close to Simon when he gets cold

4) Johnny is the cook of the house. He’s really good at it (his mother refused to let him leave home without knowing how to survive on his own) but he can’t bake. Simon’s the opposite where he can bake (his mum loved baking, taught him everything she knew) but can’t cook to save his life

5) Johnny’s always stealing Simon’s leftovers or hidden treats and Simon has threatened to stab him once or twice over it (it never stops Johnny from doing it again)

6) Simon totally found a stray cat and got the ‘you wanna keep him, you look after him’ talk and he has never been more devoted to looking after another living being after the whole thing with his family

7) Johnny’s got a million and one things in their bathroom all for the sake of looking after his hair and skin and what not and he definitely sits Simon down on the toilet seat every so often so he can do the same for him

8) Johnny seeks validation near constantly. Simon doesn’t know why but he always, always makes sure Johnny knows he’s appreciated and doing good and whatever else the man needs validation on

9) When Simon has night terrors the way to calm him down is to just let him cling to you. Don’t speak or anything just let him hold you and let him reassure himself that your alive and well. Sometimes he’ll be ready to talk about it in the morning, other times he’s content to let the memories go and just keep going

10) Johnny is the worst at taking out the trash. Since they live in a semi-old apartment complex they had to take their rubbish all the way downstairs when the bin in their place got full and Johnny fucking hates it

11) When one of them get put on leave and have to go back to the apartment by themselves they’ll play the other persons music and cook their favourite foods (or try at least) to try and fool themselves into thinking they’re not alone in their home

12) Simon totally has a stuffed toy that belonged to Joseph and while it sits on his shelf he was still terrified Johnny was going to say something bad about it or try and get rid of it (that’s happened once with an ex) but Johnny saw it, called it cute and then proceeded to look after it when Simon couldn’t

13) Johnny may not look it but he’s a bit of gardener. He’s got a windowsill full of herbs in the kitchen and their balcony has some random plants that he doesn’t actually know the name or origin of but he looks after them and has very specific instructions for Ghost to follow when he’s not around

14) Simon’s friends with the old guy that runs the convenience store down the street from their apartment and not because he tried to befriend the guy or anything, but because the guy thought Simon looked funny with his mask and decided he was going to favour him out of all of his customers

15) The neighbours tried hitting on Simon once and Johnny happened to open the door and heard them flirting with his boyfriend. He got so possessive that he made out with the bigger man against their door jamb for like 5 minutes until Simon pulled him inside. The news spread very quickly after that

16) The apartment complex have a betting pool going about what they do for a living because they hold such weird hours and will disappear for months at a time. None of them wanna ask the two though cause they’re all a little scared of the both of them

17) Simon’s a bookworm and if it weren’t for their tiny apartment he’d have his own, personal library filled to the brim with books

[possideotranslations]

spoon.2Di vol.117 (Dec. 27, 2024) - Interview with Cain & Owen

 Interview with Cain & Owen

This issue’s cover features Cain and Owen, who answered four questions for us!

Q1. What are your impressions of each other? Cain: He's a dangerous and terrifying wizard. My left eye is proof of that. He’s a creepy and unpleasant guy who can steal someone’s eye and laugh it off like it’s nothing... But to face the calamity, I’ll need his power too. I have to figure out how to approach him and find a way to work together.

Owen: He’s a ridiculous guy who swings his sword around without using magic, devoting himself to humans. I exposed him completely, even taking his eyeball. In the Central Kingdom, wizards can’t become knights, can they? Oh, how pitiful. That’s why, even though he lost his title, I still call him “knight” as a little courtesy. Aren’t I kind?

Q2. What’s your impression of the new Sage (Akira)? Cain: They got caught up in something dangerous before they even knew left from right. Even though I had no right to stop them from following whoever they chose, they looked me straight in the eye, listened to what I had to say, and chose to side with us. I’m truly grateful. For Akira, I’ll do anything I can.

Owen: We’ve just met, so I don’t really know yet, but I want to have lots of conversations. About what they like, what they hate, about the Sage themself... I want them to bare everything, from the messy, chaotic, soft, and deep parts of their heart. If they do that, I’m sure we’ll become great friends.

Q3. What do you think about the wizards from the Central Country and the Northern Country? Cain: I never expected Prince Arthur to be summoned. It’s an honor to stand alongside him as a fellow wizard of the Central Country. Riquet is reckless but endearing, and Oz is a bit difficult, but he’s not impossible to talk to. I’ll do my best to make us into a good team!

Owen: I hate the twins—they’re too naggy. Mithra is fine to meet every now and then, but I don’t like how he suddenly changes his mind and starts attacking. Bradley annoys me because he occasionally says cheeky things. Still, I’m forced to see them every year whether I like it or not. It’s such a bothersome and troublesome role.

Q4. How do you spend the New Year? Cain: Singing, dancing, drinking, and partying all night long! But I still stay on alert in case of emergencies. Back when I was in the knight order, we’d all crash on the floor together so we wouldn’t be late for training the next day. In the end, we’d always scramble to get ready at the last minute, but even that is a good memory now.

Owen: Nothing changes. I look out over the dazzling snowy fields reflecting the moonlight, feel the icy wind on my skin, and hear wolves howling in the distance... Then, before I know it, the night has passed. And just like that, another unchanging day begins.

[corysmiles]

t!Tav with the Origin Companions

BG3 g/t

T!tav fluffy head cannons

Notes: this is unedited but I needed to get it out of my brain, so my apologies for any grammar weirdness

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Karlach:

This woman is absolutely devastated that she can’t hold Tav because of her engine

She sneaks extra food to Tav because she’s fascinated by the tiny

As soon as her engine is fixed enough for her to touch people she is holding Tav all the time. Her first action after being fixed is just grabbing the tiny

Tav uses Karlach as a personal heater whenever it’s too cold at night and Karlach is 100% there for it. Although, she is extremely nervous about accidentally crushing Tav while she’s asleep

Karlach lets Tav hide in her armor while they’re out so she can keep the tiny close

Gale (+Tara):

Gale is extremely careful and gentle with Tav, letting them sit with him while he reads in his tent. He’s spent a long time writing and using his hands for magic, so he’s very well-practiced in careful movements

He is nervous that Tara will go after the tiny so he sits her down to talk about Tav NOT being food. Tara is upset about it at first, but starts to like the tiny once she realizes she can get the best ear scratches from the tiny.

Gale loves learning so he takes any chance he gets to study Tav. It gets a little weird for the tiny sometimes because he asks a ton of questions but overall they find it endearing

As the resident cook of the group Gale is all in on making sure Tav eats well. At first he’s not super sure about how much they should eat so they end up with a portion way too big for them. He gets better over time at making sure the portions are right but Tav will never complain about there being too much.

If Tav is in trouble or noticed during a fight he conjures a mage hand to whisk them away. The first time it happens Tav is terrified until they’re dropped into Gale’s pocket away from danger, and any time they try to look out to see what’s happening the hand pushes them back into the pocket

Astarion:

Astarion is extremely unsure about Tav at first. He doesn’t understand the point of keeping someone around who can’t really help much in fights, and he doesn’t like the idea of wasting resources on them (even small amounts).

He starts to get along with them when he realizes they’re upset about not feeling like they have much control over their life. One night when drinking they tell him about how they’re used to being used and controlled by larger people, and after that he can’t help but relate to them. And if he is a little nicer to them after that none of the other companions have to know

He definitely teases them about biting them, even though they know he wouldn’t actually do anything to them.

Astarion is also surprisingly gentle with them. His experience with picking locks means he is often the best at holding them without jostling them around too much. Whenever they’re on long walks to their next campsite Tav often lets him hold them since it’s usually the most comfortable. He always complains, but he never actually turns them down

Lae’zel:

Similarly to Astarion, Lae’zel also doesn’t like Tav much at first. In her opinion the tiny is nothing more than a liability in a fight, and she doesn’t understand the appeal of having them around.

Lae’zel typically avoided interacting with Tav, and if she had to pick them up she wasn’t very nice about it

However, after visiting the crèche Tav comes to talk to her and make sure she’s okay, and the tiny starts to grow on Lae’zel. After realizing that some of the githyanki ideals she’d been taught weren’t right, she starts to find the tiny’s company nice- even if the tiny still can’t help much in a fight

Lae’zel absolutely tries to teach Tav how to fight. She gives them a needle as a makeshift weapon and while it can’t do much damage she teaches Tav all the best places to stab.

Wyll:

Wyll is one of the first to support the idea of allowing Tav to stay with them. He’s always wanted to help other people, and when they find the tiny he can’t help but want to protect them.

Whenever Mizora shows up at camp he hides Tav away because he’s always worried she’ll do something to them to keep Wyll under her control

Wyll reached Tav how to dance once he finds out that they don’t know how. It’s awkward since they’re smaller than his hand but he’s still able to at least teach them the proper movements

Tav loves to hear Wyll’s stories about the people he’s protected before and will sit in his tent to keep him company to listen to him

Wyll is very nervous about holding Tav. He’s always worried that he’ll hurt them somehow or that they’ll fall or he’ll squeeze too tight, but Tav always reassures him it’s okay. He gets better about it throughout their travels, but he still doesn’t hold them often out of fear

Shadowheart:

Shadowheart loves Tav almost from the start. She’ll talk to them constantly, and sit them on her shoulder for company throughout their travels.

Shadowheart is very keen on training the owl bear cub and Scratch to not hurt Tav. When they finally get to a point where Tav can be around them with out constant monitoring Shadowheart is extremely pleased with herself

After fights Shadowheart also checks on Tav first to heal them if they need it, always worried something bad will have happened to the tiny while she wasn’t looking.

When Tav finds out Shadowheart likes night orchids they start dropping off ones that they find in front of her tent. She doesn’t say anything about it, too worried the tiny will stop if she says anything, but she does appreciate it greatly

[mulders-too-large-shirt]

my favorite scully moments from s3

walking to her mother’s house barefoot in episode 1, after having been placed on leave for her involvement in the quest to smuggle secret alien files- how she falls into her mother’s arms, says she made a terrible mistake, and that dad would be so ashamed of her (my heart melted out of my body… she did the right thing and still doubted herself 🙁)

and then even AFTER she was removed from her job, she visits skinner’s office with information on the case- when he suggests she’s just trying to get her job back, she is indignant and explains that it is about finding answers and saving her friend (she had AN INTENSE fury in her eyes that skinner would suggest that, i love when she is filled with righteous rage and driven by the quest to Do The Morally Right Thing no matter what)

attending mr. mulder’s funeral, and telling mrs. mulder she knows her son with be found, even if she isn't sure why she holds that belief

and this is STILL in episode one, but when she is convinced skinner is trying to kill her and she is NOT playing around, holding him at gunpoint- “don’t think i won’t do it, you son of a bitch”, she says, to which he replies “no, i believe you” (he knew he was in danger!!)

they need to know a certain number- napier’s constant- in episode 2 to get into the secret disease center in west virgina, and she knows it off the top of her head (it’s 27,828 for those who are curious) (when she knows random facts my heart skips some beats)

and in the same episode, when they’re about to embark on learning some dark secrets on mulder’s father in the disease center archives, scully wants to know if he will be okay, because “i just know how it would affect me” (she is so thoughtful...)

scully not believing any of the things clyde bruckman is predicting in episode 4 until he starts talking about how mulder will be attacked, and then all of a sudden she is tuned in

(and her whole relationship with bruckman- how she asks him how she’ll die even though she is terrified, and how he refuses to answer and burden her with that knowledge; how they play poker and talk about macbeth; how she feels that he has no joy in his life due to his abilities, real or imagined; how she listened to his prediction about mulder’s death and was there to save him; and how she cries when he ended his life)

“a woman gets lonely. sometimes she can’t wait around for a man to get reincarnated” <- tea (said in episode 5)

in episode 7, she is listening to a man describe his symptoms, and she writes a note and passes it to mulder. not even sure why this was so endearing to me- the combination of her Doctor Mode and seeing the tiny details of her passing notes, perhaps? but i loved it

in the same episode, the people from the military were trying to stop their investigation, and she put her foot down, point blank telling the general to “make himself available”, and calling out the obstruction and hidden details on the case. i love when she is full of righteous rage

when she saves mulder by finding the code to disarm the bomb in episode 10 by going to his house and playing his $29.95 autopsy video frame by frame... a hero on many levels

ALL OF EPISODE 11… her catholic lore dropping (how she knows the number of stigmatics in the world at one time, the saints whose bodies didn’t decompose, and how st. ignatius could be in two places at once), her connection with the little boy, him asking if she was sent to protect her and her believing it, promising she won’t let him be hurt, convincing mulder to let the kid come to the hotel with them, running him a bath (and mulder’s fake pout- “you never draw my bath”), when she becomes convinced the kid is at the recycling plant, and he is, so she saves him with a miracle... and when he says they’ll see each other again <3

the “i… believe in the idea that god’s hand can be witnessed. i believe he can create miracles, yes” “even if science can’t explain them?” “maybe that’s just what faith is” exchange with mulder

THIS NEXT ONE…

“how is it that you’re able to go out on a limb whenever you see a light in the sky, but you’re unwilling to accept the possibility of a miracle, even when it’s right in front of you?” “i wait for a miracle every day, but what i've seen here has only tested my patience, not my faith” “well, what about what i’ve seen?” (screaming. i am screaming. he is so quick to believe in anything except what she has put her faith in, and she rightfully stood up for herself against his disbelief, even if he didn't mean to be offensive, and he should take her seriously even in matters of god, and i need to stop typing or i will keep going for hours)

the way she goes to confession at the very end, telling the priest she doubts what she has seen because mulder did. and he responds that perhaps the miracles were meant just for her. how she says that she is scared that god is speaking, but no one is listening. she’s so haunted by what she has seen and the need to get justice for it, but still, god sent her a miracle, so there is hope.

screaming... i just LOVE that episode so much…

seeing her at home during episode 12- reading breakfast at tiffany’s, cleaning her gun and chatting on the phone, bathing the dog, eating ice cream out of the carton, and answering all of mulder’s obscure medical questions

and how annoyed she is with mulder’s infatuation with “dr. bambi” lmao she clocked it SO fast

in episode 15, she tears up when skinner says those above him are interested in closing her sister’s case; she becomes furious that they can seemingly solve every crime but this one (and bonus points for skinner fighting for her, even though it nearly killed him <3)

in the same episode, she immediately identifies the type of plane she is looking at as a north american p-51 mustang, because she used to watch her father and brothers build model planes

in episode 16, she visits skinner in the hospital and takes charge- making sure he is guarded at all times, that the investigation on who attacked him moves forward. and how she grabs his hand before he is wheeled into surgery and then visits him to ask how he is feeling when he wakes up

(and when she puts together that whoever shot skinner was also the person who shot her sister… truly in her detective era)

saving skinner’s life later in the episode, confronting the gunman, and how she screamed and screamed, asking if he was the one who killed her sister. god, that broke me. i need to analyze it for a few weeks

“i think the dead are speaking to us, mulder. demanding justice” <- it’s so tied to her fundamental need to do the correct thing and augh. she wants to find answers for her sister so terribly. she deserves them

in episode 17: (incredibly deadpan) “please explain to me the scientific nature of the whammy” (some people write her as too serious to be funny and it's like... are we watching the same show because she has me dying)

when she agrees with mulder’s theory that somehow the pusher is bending people to his will, even if she has no way to explain it- yet! a big moment!!!

she also immediately identifies the movie playing at the pusher’s house as svengali, further proving her horror movie fan status

(plucking a rat out of a car in episode 18) “label that” “as what?’ “partial rat body part” <- this killed me

(also, when she wipes blood off of mulder’s face in the woods... terribly intimate)

she makes a stupid joke about the organ trafficking victim leaving his heart in san francisco in episode 19 and it makes mulder laugh

her being such a big fan of jose chung in episode 20 and agreeing to meet him even though mulder refused. when he later mentions another of his books she gets so excited she says it is “one of the greatest thrillers ever written” … nerd <3

scully being mortified that she was featured in a late night television clip of an alien autopsy (she was autopsying a normal human being in an alien costume, but one thing led to another and now her face was briefly on the stupendous yappi show!! so embarrassing for a woman of science!!)

how she tells jose chung that their case might not have a lot of closure, but it's more closure than they usually get (while fidgeting with her flower-shaped earrings)

(and then when she reads his final book, she is described as “noble of spirit and pure of heart” but “nevertheless a federal employee” which had to both please her immensely and make her laugh)

there’s this moment in episode 21 where she is on the phone with mulder while driving in what looks to be a torrential downpour, and i cannot explain why it was so funny to me. it just was. she is flooring it through a damn hurricane to get there and it makes me laugh.

watching her slowly lose her grip on reality in episode 23 until she becomes convinced it was mulder who was behind her abduction… how she calls him and only flatly asks “where are you?”, how she holds mulder at gunpoint, certain he abducted her and killed her sister. how her mother finally convinces her that she is safe, which causes her to fall into her mother’s arms, sobbing. gooooooooosh...

when she hears someone was shot in episode 24 but somehoe miraculously recovered, so she just lifts up his shirt to examine his stomach without asking. it had me giggling!! she is entering Doctor Mode, decorum be damned, that dude's tummy WILL be inspected.

and then using all of her Doctor Mode knowledge to assure mulder that his mother has a chance at a good recovery, and trying to book a motel room for him to be by her side in the hospital; when he refuses and insists on going back to work, she tries to remind him he hasn’t slept in forever to no avail (these two will watch out for each other and it kills me every single time)

[bee-saucee]

Date at the Museum | Vashwood Ficlet

pairing: vashwood

cw: mentions of religion/Catholicism

word count: 460

summary: Vash and Wolfwood go out on a date to a museum. Wolfwood pines.

a/n/update: I haven’t posted in ages...my apologies. Long story short, I got very burnt out on shinkami, fell terribly in love with vashwood, and started writing again because of them! I’m not ready to fully say goodbye to shinkami quite yet but I will be focusing on Trigun moving forward! I forgot how difficult it is to write when you are new to a fandom, though, as I’ve been writing and reading shinkami for years!

I’m trying to write shorter, low stakes vashwood pieces and do character studies in preparation for a multichapter fic I have planned, but please take my humble offering as I try to dip my toes into a new fandom and understand these guys from a writing perspective! I wrote this a few weeks ago and there are already things I would characterize differently but I'm moving forward!

“Why do they all look like that? These are the ugliest babies I’ve seen in my life,” Nick mumbles under his breath.

When they decided to take a quick look at the medieval art, Nick can’t say he was expecting to be surrounded by 60 year old men’s heads seemingly grafted onto a baby’s chubby and delicately small limbs. It was terrifying, actually but somehow endearing.

“It’s supposed to be Jesus or something, Nick. You just called Jesus ugly,” Vash hisses from the corner of his mouth.

“I’d do it again. He’s looking rough in these.”

Vash elbows him in the side and forces something between a cough and a laugh from Nick’s chest. Even Vash’s bony elbow is enough to soothe the anxious rumble that had grown in Nick’s chest since they walked into the museum with its marble and arches and art he doesn’t understand.

“Why am I being a better Catholic than you and I’m not even Catholic?”

“‘Cus I talk to the big man enough to be honest and tell him people need to paint him better.”

“Honesty is the best policy.”

“Exactly.”

“Being honest, Nicholas…I’d look at man-babies with you any day if it means I get to spend more time with you,” Vash coos with an endearingly corny batting of his lashes.

And, yeah, Nick would too. It’s why he sought out two-day passes to see every exhibit when he overheard a customer talking about the array of fossils, art, and architectural remains at the museum downtown.

Nick takes in a deep breath. He wants to tell Vash he was most excited to look at the landscape paintings with him–that he’s looked forward to shuffling through the museum with their shoulders brushing for weeks. He wants to spoil that the cafe has Boston cream donuts and a chocolate chip muffin he plans to split. But it feels like too much. It feels like he’d be crossing a line to show Vash just how badly he wants him.

“C’mon I thought I saw paintings of trees in the next room over.”

“Oh, I love trees. Let’s go,” Vash says tugging Nick in the wrong direction.

Nick grabs Vash’s shoulders and steers him toward the right gallery. The warmth radiating from his ruby red coat both settles and spikes the anxiety coursing through his veins.

“I know, Blondie.”

Maybe he could show Vash he cares by spending extra time gazing at the massive painting of redwoods he saw they’re displaying on the website.

“We should try to guess the plant varieties right,” Vash suggests.

“You can guess the varieties and I can let you know if you’re right,” Nick counters.

“Okay, yeah that’s a bit more fair.”

If only falling for Vash was just as fair.

Thanks for reading! check out my masterlist for more.

[literary-illuminati]

Book Review 65 – System Collapse by Martha Wells

I’ve had this on preorder long enough to have entirely forgotten about it by the time I got the email that it’s available for pickup – but thanks to the magic of an extremely obliging local book store, I was still able to pick up and read the entire thing before it’s technically released. So score one for buying indie, I guess.

The book is set directly after Network Effect – directly directly, to the point where I needed to look up a plot summary to remind myself what the situation was – following our beloved rogue and rampant SecUnit, ART, and their assorted humans as they try to convince an abandoned and alien-contaminated colony’s inhabitants to trust them and accept evacuation with them (and also go along with the colonial charter they’re forging) rather than the indenture offers the corporate mission also on site are offering. Along the way there’s hacking, shuttle chases, gunfights, and plot-critical media curation.

Mostly though it’s about Murderbot having PTSD (on account of all the horrible trauma in Network Effect specifically, and also just its life generally) and absolutely zero idea how to cope. After a false memory/panic attack makes it crash out of nowhere it spends the majority of the book terrified that it’s going to crash or freeze up at some vital moment and get everyone killed, dealing with constant alien-related paranoia, and generally second-guessing itself and feeling useless and depressed. Absolutely no one around it has any idea how to deal with this, and their awkward attempts to be supporting are both endearing and entirely unhelpful.

Anyway, this is a Murderbot novel. Do you like Murderbot? Then you will like this. Do you not know the series? Then by god start with All Systems Red none of this will make any sense at all without context. Do you dislike murderbot? I mean hateread as you like but it is largely more of the same, don’t expect any series-saving twists for you.

It’s kind of absurd to call the series ‘cozy fantasy’ – by the end of the book SecUnit is down several extremities and bleeding out on the floor (as is traditional by this point) – but I feel like the series fills about the same emotional niche for me as like say Becky Chambers does for people with normal tolerances for low-tension sentimentality. The setting is a horrible dystopia and the plots are full of violence and trauma, but all that is more or less set dressing to stories that are actually about SecUnit making connections and deciding at a tortuously slow pace what sort of life it wants to have (usually several hours after commuting itself without thinking) while consistently running into the best possible friends and forming mutually affectionate relationships it absolutely did not want. It’s a story about fun, low-tension character dynamics, corporate kill teams aside.

I am being entirely sincere when I say the fact that SecUnit has no idea what it wants or what its doing is a selling point. In the same way, the fact that there’s never any real ~breakthrough~ or moment of sudden recovery is absolutely key to the book working. The story closes with it being hopeful and doing better but from any remotely reasonable baseline still being pretty far from ‘okay’ (in much the same way, it is utterly vital to the whole series that it has absolutely zero angst over ‘not being human’ or pinochle syndrome and only cares about ‘not being normal’ insofar as its had to work really hard on some automated scripts for walking and idle motions to pass as human while doing infiltration work).

Anyway, speaking of character dynamics – look, I’ve always been the first to roll my eyes when people complain about not being able to keep tracks or large casts. But every time I open one of these books, I realize I have only the vaguest idea who the vast majority of the (human) supporting cast is. Not really an issue with actually following the story, but I’m absolutely certain I’m missing out on some things.

The non-human supporting cast are great though. ART best spaceship, and I cared significantly more about the colony’s central control computer than any of the actual colonists. I’m like 70% sure this is intentional.

Stepping back, it’s interesting how the series’ setting has evolved over time. In All Systems Red the universe around SecUnit was incredibly broadly sketched, generic sci f playing with space opera and cyberpunk tropes it pretty much relied upon readers already being familiar with. This never exactly stops – especially for the aesthetics and technology, the book has a profound lack of interest in the specifics of what ‘projectile weapons’ look like or how spaceships work beyond the convenience of plot – but as the books go on the world definitely gets more specific and also broader. You can mostly blame ART for this, I think – there’s a definite shift in the tone of the setting when you introduce an institution like the University with power like it can throw around, and more generally make active resistance to and subversion to the corporate status quo a plausible and fruitful endeavour.

All this to say that there’s an offhand mention at one point about ‘intracorporate violence’ increasing and the system being increasingly unstable, and I’m curious what Wells is going to do with that going forward. Especially with the book’s final resolution and the status quo it sets up going forward.

Anyway like I said, it’s murderbot. This is the 7th book in the series. If you’re considering reading it you’ll probably love it.