#they'll just be over here pondering the possibilities

[byanyan]

ㅤㅤ" wonder if i could kill a man usin' nothin' but glitter... "

[ozzgin]

Yandere! Yakuza x Reader (V)

In a rather unlucky turn of events, you find yourself kidnapped for being in the wrong place during a gang war. Worry not, your yakuza boyfriend is at your service. Yet another bloody reason not to mess with him.

Content: female reader, organized crime, violence, gore, obsessive behavior

[Part 4] | [Yakuza Masterlist]

"Damn it!"

The scarred man throws another tile into the pile, clicking his tongue.

"I gotta say, you're pretty good for a foreigner." A second man with an eyepatch remarks, carefully inspecting his set before retrieving a tile of his own. "Pung."

You take another greedy sip of the cheap sake and slam the little cup back on the table.

"Kind of inevitable to learn mahjong when your only friends in this country are yakuza." You look up towards your captor with a frown. "You guys ever heard of board games or something?"

"Try to explain new rules to this dumbass!" A third man angrily pours himself another glass, pointing towards the first. "Fuck, I could iron clothes on that smooth brain of yours!"

"Fuck off, you're not any better." The scarred man continues his turn with furrowed brows. 

"If I were you I'd keep quiet about being pals with the yakuza. They'll question you, too, after the office guy. Don't make it worse." The man wearing an eyepatch mentions in a lowered voice. The table suddenly goes quiet.

"When is he coming out?" You ask hesitantly, bile pooling in your mouth. You already suspect the answer.

"He's not. Bodies are discarded through the back entrance." He pats the ash off and takes another drag off his cigarette. 

You swallow. 

Being involved with the Triad was not part of your new year resolutions, yet here you are about to be interrogated by the local Chinese syndicate. At least the lackeys have taken pity on you, a poor civilian caught in the middle of their rivalry. Hence the fake sense of normalcy as you chitchat at the mahjong table with a cup of sake to ease your wrecked nerves. 

"I'm guessing they won't be as friendly back there." You nod towards the door, where they took your work superior several hours ago. 

"No." 

That's all you get and you can only smile bitterly. Huh. You wonder if this is how Daitou's victims feel, helplessly waiting for whatever is brought upon them. Having to watch him unwrap his tool belt, stuffed with rusty old tools littered in blotches of dried up blood. Pondering his questions while he eyes the row delectably, hovering his hand over the potential ways to loosen up the tongue.

Would they torture you, too? Hopefully not. It should be rather obvious you're just a mere civilian. Then again, if your work superior mentioned anything about you being Daitou's girlfriend...He's never told you anything downright incriminating, but it'll be hard to convince these fellows that you truly are clueless.

Maybe they'll let you go if you offer your finger as a token of peace. Your forehead wrinkles at the thought. Isn't it more of a Japanese custom anyways? And if they say yes, then what? Do they provide you with the required utensils or are you expected to improvise on the spot?

You remember one of Daitou's seniors describing the process in great detail during the Christmas party. You had asked him about it, purely out of curiosity, and he certainly delivered almost more than your stomach was able to handle (Daitou scolded him later for telling you too much). You take the tatami mat and preferably wrap it in cloth, to soak up the blood. Any sharp blade will do, but traditionally you'd be offered a proper tantō that can easily slice through the bone. Obviously you want to cut as little as possible, so you still have some functionality remaining. Right above the joint. You must put all of your body weight into the thrust, otherwise the cut won't be clean and it turns into a mess. 

Hell. You wipe the cold beads of sweat that have formed on your face. You can barely chop an onion. Maybe one of the gangsters has enough experience and goodwill to offer to do it for you. Then you only have to clench your teeth and prepare for the blow. It can't be that bad. Surely the shock will be too great, and your brain won't even register it. Before you know it, they'll dip your hand in ice and rush you to someone fit to perform the aftercare. Yeah. That should to the trick. 

"Hey, foreigner. It's your turn."

"Leave her be, can't you see she's pale?"

You glance up and notice the men looking at you expectantly. They've already showed you plenty of kindness from the moment they shoved you in that black van with the rest of the office workers. Perhaps you can rely on them one final time. You suddenly bow, head pressing against the table. They're somewhat startled by your gesture. 

"I'm deeply sorry to ask, but might any of you be knowledgeable in blades?"

"H-huh? What for?"

You ceremoniously slam your hand onto the table, rattling the mahjong tiles. You struggle to let the words out, but try to maintain a straight face, picturing Shozo Hirono's cool attitude when he performed the deed himself in Battles without Honor and Humanity. 

"Would your Boss be satisfied with a yubitsume? I cannot offer anything else of use."

You feel a harsh hand smack against the back of your neck and you cough, taken out of your focus.

"Dumbass! What the hell are you talking about? Why would our Boss need the finger of a civilian, and a woman on top of that? 笨人!" The man with an eyepatch is red and flustered as he scolds you. The other two are holding back their snickers, amused by the scene.

"Let her! I have a knife on me right now." The scarred man comments with a grin. "Whaddaya say, kid? Or have you changed your mind already?"

"A man never goes back on his word." You bark and straighten your back, crossing your arms imposingly. 

The eyepatch man smacks you again and the other two begin clapping, terribly entertained by your tomfoolery. 

The spectacle doesn't last long. Within seconds, you jump out of your seat at the sound of rapid gunshots and scattered, erratic shouts.

Daitou bows before his Seniors and mumbles a polite, monotonous greeting. It's highly unusual to have the Lieutenants gathered at the office like this. Kazuya is fidgeting in his seat, Boss is away on a trip. What else could require everyone's immediate attendance? He makes his way to the blonde man and drops himself on the sofa, awaiting the details. 

"Wakasugi has been taken."

A chaotic murmur ensues. 

"He's been making offers for a building in a neutral area. That's where the Chinese sell their drugs and they claim it to be their turf. I hear some of our newbies got caught dealing that shit as well. Boss has been on their throats for some time now and this is their way to say fuck you."

Ah. More gang rivalry drama. Daitou presses his lips together, trying his best to hold back a yawn threatening to escape his mouth. Hopefully they'll leave him out of it, he has a date planned with you and he'd rather not show up reeking of rotten flesh. 

If you get kidnapped, think of yourself as already dead. The Yakuza doesn't negotiate. They just get their revenge tenfold. Unless it's someone important, like the Boss himself, the honorable way is to die without betraying your Family. 

"Just put a few bullets in them. Should teach them a lesson." He says while stretching. 

"Yeah, we're sending Oota and his men to deal with it. Just be on the lookout." One of the Seniors responds. 

"Still, the fucking guts on them. To show up at the office, right before our eyes-" Another man cries out, frustration in his voice.

"What did you say?" 

Kazuya flinches. He knows where this is going and he glares at the outraged yakuza, trying to silence him. Sadly he doesn't take the hint.

"Right? They just waltzed in, shot some of our guys and took Wakasugi and whoever was nearby. Heh, what are they gonna do with a bunch of office assistants? Extra weight to carry to the dump."

"Enough!" Kazuya's exasperated yell causes everyone to quiet down.

There are several confused looks being exchanged before everyone's eyes eventually rest on Daitou, now staring ahead motionless. Didn't his girlfriend work at that office? The Senior giving out the initial order has realized the mistake. He quickly clears his throat and is about to speak, but Daitou abruptly stands up and heads for the door.

"Oi! I said we're leaving it to Oota. This isn't your job." 

He tries to repeat his words with confidence, but his voice falters towards the end when faced with Daitou's massive frame. Particularly the barrel that's now pressing into his forehead.

"Mind your fucking business or I'll kill you right here." Daitou threatens.

"D-don't think Boss will help you out of this one, brat. If you go, you're disobeying your Senior."

The tall yakuza smirks mockingly. 

"See if you can run for Boss with your skull split open, bitch."

Kazuya slaps the gun aside and steps between the men.

"Just let him go. I'll take responsibility." He pleads, his friend already slamming the door behind him. 

Once the aggressor has left, everyone exhales discreetly in relief.

"He'll get us in trouble with the cops." The Senior retorts to the blonde in a berating tone.

"What else do you suggest? You know there's no way around it if he's pissed."

No one replies to what seems to be an universally agreed upon truth.

He blows out the smoke and crushes the cigarette under his foot. Fuck. He needs to calm down. They most likely haven't killed you, but if they laid a single hand on you...He's blacking out again. Whatever blinding rage possessed him back in his youth, when his Boss got wounded, would now pale in comparison. His ears are ringing and his vision is foggy. He can't even recall how he made it to their building. Or how he got past the guards. Although that one's easy to figure out, judging from their twisted throats. 

He checks his rounds one final time and kicks the heavy metal door open. Only about a dozen of them, but no sign of you yet. Should take a minute. It is time for him to pay his respects. 

"What the fuck was that?" the scarred man swiftly takes out his weapon and knocks the stool over with his foot.

If it is who you think it is...Your face twists in fear.

"Listen, you've been nice to me so I don't want to see you dead. Could you...could you leave, please? It might be someone I know and I promise you there's no point in fighting back."

The noticeable quiver in your speech might lead one to believe you're awaiting your executioner, not your savior and boyfriend. But you've seen Daitou angry and the ordeal flooded the very marrow of your bones with terror. Naturally he could never be upset at his darling for any reason, ever. Whoever poses a threat to you, however, can't say the same thing. You remember trying to pull him back from a random drunk that had groped you during an outing, and he tightly gripped your jaw with a bloodied hand and nearly ordered you in a ragged growl: "Hey. I said I'll be done in a moment. Be a good girl and close your eyes." 

Thus, from experience, you know he'd never listen to your pleas. Maybe if he was lucid enough, but not in this manic state. The man wearing an eyepatch scans your expression attentively. Your worry is genuine and the other room is gradually becoming quieter, but not in a way that'd inspire him confidence. He certainly doesn't feel like dying today and there's nothing honorable about throwing yourself into a senseless battle. He nods at the other two men and he asks you one last time if you'll be fine by yourself, to which you shake your head vehemently. Please go away already. 

The final obstacle crumbles under Daitou's weight and you fiddle with your glass, alone, at the mahjong table. He seems to be taken aback, and once he confirms you're not in any pain or discomfort, his demeanor switches within an instant. 

"Where's everyone?"

"They ran away."

"Just like that? And left you here?" He stares at you, baffled.

"Maybe there's some still in the back. These ones left because I asked them to."

He approaches you, still bewildered and confused. He looks like a lost dog.

"What? They were nice to me and I didn't want you to kill them. You never listen when I tell you to stop." You huff, pouting and folding your arms.

"Sorry. I got a little bit anxious." He kneels before you and extends a hand apologetically. "Friends again?"

"Wash your hands at least, I don't want to know what organ remains you have stuck through your fingers."

He chuckles and wipes the palm against his shirt. You follow his movements and notice the bullet wounds near the ribcage. This madman. You speedily bend to his level and remove his jacket to inspect the injuries.

"Christ. Take off your shirt and let's at least stop the bleeding before we leave. How the hell can you still stand with all these holes in you?"

Daitou unbuttons his shirt obediently and you try to wrap it around his abdomen. You notice the thick, wide scar crossing his stomach, presently smeared with blood. Either his or someone else's. 

"Now that I think about it, how did you get this scar? From a gang fight as well?"

"Oh no, I got this in prison. I was supposed to serve many more years, but one of the Seniors rang and said Boss needs me for something. They were in talks with the police chief to maybe bribe my way out. 

But I felt terrible knowing that Boss would be wasting money on my mistakes. At the time the place was overcrowded, so I figured they'd let me out for medical emergencies. So I cut my stomach open and they counted it as a suicide attempt." He responds with a proud grin. 

You grimace a little at the mental image. 

The cloth has been tightly, albeit clumsily secured around his gashes and you both get up. It occurs to you that throughout this mess you haven't feared for your life once. It feels like Daitou is always there to get you out of trouble. Despite his unorthodox methods.

You gaze up at him and notice the prosthetic eye has rolled inwards, so you adjust it slightly with your finger. He follows your romantic gesture with a quick peck on the lips. 

"You'll get yourself killed one day." You whine, tired.

"And leave you alone? Never. You're stuck with me for life."

He flashes you a wide smile and pats your head.

"Can we still go on that date?" The yakuza suddenly remembers, guiding you as you zigzag your way among fresh corpses.

So he hasn't forgotten. A faint blush dusts your cheeks.

"Sure, but I'd like to have a bath first."

"Then let's have one together." He suggests cheerfully, completely unbothered by whatever just happened.  

Tags: @yandere-city2 @lokiofasgard12 @zeniiis @lucienbarkbark @channelinglament @your-next-daydream @bath1lda @murder-hobo @zanzie

[muddyorbsblr]

save my room for last

'one look and they'll know' collection masterlist See my full list of works here!

Placement: the morning after 'a sizing mishap', hours before 'a tale of ice baths and hot sauce'

Summary: One of the duties you're assigned for Soccer Aid Training Week is to run wakeup calls for a handful of players. Today you and your fellow staff members draw names for who you have to wake up.

Pairing: Tom Hiddleston x Reader

Word Count: 4.7k

Warnings: 18+ | smut-ish times [minors & pearl-clutchers, don't even try me i am not the one]; one (1) cuss word

Things to be aware of: cuddly clingy and overall menace bf Tom; cozy steamy times 🥴😮‍💨

The high-pitched scandalizing notes of your alarm pierced the quiet of your hotel room, effectively steamrolling your peaceful slumber in your boyfriend's arms.

"Too early," Tom grumbled, holding your naked body tighter against him. "Sun hasn't even begun to peek through." You fought the urge to snuggle further into his side and burrow your face into the crook of his neck as large hands freely roamed your back.

"I gotta go," you groaned, pushing yourself off the bed and trying to roll out of his hold, only making him let out a whiny groan and wrap his fingers around your thigh to pull you back to him. "Sweetie if I'm late I get whoever's left in the bowl for the wakeup calls." You had to bite your lip to hold back any reaction you had to his hand now lazily kneading at the back of your upper thigh, fingers traveling dangerously close to the part of you that was already most definitely awake and beginning to ache for him. Again.

"Not yet," he mumbled, pressing his lips to your forehead, tracing the features of your face lazily in sloppy kisses. "Just a few more minutes, goddess."

Dammit, when he got all whiny and needy like this, combined with the gravel of his morning voice, it was damn near impossible to deny him anything. You'd be downright hilarious to even try. And yet here you were, doing exactly that.

"I'm really sorry, sweetie, but I gotta go," you mumbled, letting out a few giggles that were muffled when he pressed his lips to yours, already pulling you tighter against him and sighing out in contentment as he did so. "I wanna at least have a chance of drawing your name from the bowls."

"Hmmm…you as a wakeup call," he pondered, the tips of his fingers running lightly up and down your side. "But I already have that luxury. That pleasure. Why give that up now for the possibility of having it again later?" He tightened his hand around your thigh and pulled you on top of him, making you brace your hands on his chest. "Why don't we just enjoy the early morning…" he trailed off, running his hands up the side of your body and down to your hips. "Just like this?"

You let out a groan, leaning down to press a brief kiss to his cheek before making a motion to get up and out of the bed. "Because if we do this it could very well be my first and last time on the committee, which means that if you get called back next year, chances are I won't be working the event with you."

Stepping away from the bed, you held back a giggle from the sight of his absurdly long arm reach out for you before flopping down the side of the bed, fingertips barely grazing the floor. You had to turn around to focus on getting your clothes back on, seeing as the sight of his naked form stretching in bed with the sheets so haphazardly draped over him and barely covering him from the hips down served as quite the distraction.

Add to that the way that the sheets traveled down when he stretched, putting on a sluttish display of the well-defined Adonis belt that framed the smattering of hair from his belly button leading down a path you were all too familiar with. If you didn't look away now you would find yourself back in bed and taking him up on his offer, position in the committee and wakeup call assignments be damned.

Unfortunately you knew that you needed to be there when they drew names. You prided yourself in being fairly decent in reading people, and you saw how the other members of the committee eyed Tom. They would be there before the names were even in the bowl trying some way to rig the system and get his name on the off chance that maybe they would catch even a fraction of the glimpse of the view you'd had just seconds ago. The worst part was that you couldn't even blame them.

The only thing you could really do was make sure you had an equal chance of drawing his name, too.

You opted not to bother with your bra and underwear, seeing as you would end up showering when you got to the room that you were designated to share with two other members, Lilly and Simone, anyway. "Go back to sleep," you whispered into the relative darkness. "Whoever ends up drawing your name, just make sure you're fully ready because I don't trust them not to have a camera on them just to snap a picture."

"Will you do something for me, sweetheart?" he mumbled, seeing the silhouette of his hand raising as if reaching for yours in the dark. You put your hand in his once you'd slipped your shirt on, letting out a little squeal when he brought your hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to your knuckles. "Save me for last if you draw my name. I'll barely see you between my practice and whatever gets assigned to you for the day. If I get even a few minutes having you all to myself I want to savor it until the last possible second."

"I promise," you said with a giggle, easing your hand out of his and pressing a quick kiss to his lips before you headed out the door.

You tried your best to make as little sound as possible when you stepped through the door of your assigned room, not wanting to wake your roommates so rudely considering the ungodly hour. Of course, there was only so much you could do with the hinges of the door closer all but sounding trumpets at your return.

"Hmph…" Lilly groaned into the darkness. "There's no way it's already time for the briefing."

"Calm down, it's just me. We have half an hour, go back to sleep."

"Y/N?" Simone queried softly. "Bloody hell where'd you sneak off to? When you didn't come in last night we thought you fell asleep in the lobby prepping the media passes. Had half a mind to go out there and retrieve you so you could actually sleep on a bed."

"I appreciate the concern, but I'll have you know that I didn't pass out in the lobby, or a conference hall, or anywhere of the sort. My boyfriend's working the event, too. I spent the night with him." That announcement seemed to perk them both up considerably, both women sitting up from the bed. "I'm gonna take a shower and then we can all head over to the briefing together and see whose names we end up drawing."

"Please let me get Beck," Lilly whined. "My sister will be totally stoked and maybe I can even get him to greet her in a video or something." She was practically bouncing on her bed from excitement now. "Who do you two wanna get?"

"I don't much care who I get," you  bluffed, blindly choosing an outfit from your suitcase. "What about you, Simone?"

"Asa," she answered without hesitation. "Absolutely adorable, that one." She then let out a stream of giggles. "I'll tell you who a handful of women would absolutely slaughter each other to draw, though. Heard them last night talking about how they were tempted to rig the bowls somehow just so things go their way and maybe they could get a glimpse of the famous bulge that Marvel needed to shell out some extra bucks for to buff out with CGI."

"Rig the bowls?" you huffed. "What're they gonna do, have Hiddleston's name printed in special textured paper so they can feel which one to pick out?"

"Upper level conspiracy material right there," Lilly joked. "I'd bet they'd try and trade with whoever ends up drawing him. Gotta admit, though. I wouldn't mind getting his name."

"Same," you and Simone murmured.

Twenty minutes later and the three of you stood among the other staff members in the briefing room, four bowls filled with paper strips lined up on a table in front of you, and the head of committee, Johanna, standing on the other side of the table with a clipboard in hand.

"Right then. Each of you step up, draw one name from each bowl, and hold on to them until everyone's drawn four names each, two from Team England, and two from Team World. Then and only then will you all take turns sharing the names you've drawn. No swapping." She looked at the members closest to the door, her gaze landing on you. "Y/L/N. You're up first."

Your heart was pounding in every part of your body the entire way through, hoping beyond hope that one of the scraps of paper that now laid in your hand held Tom's name. You watched as the other staff members approached the table one by one, some of them doing the sign of the cross before reaching their hand in, others outright expressing how they wished they'd drawn your boyfriend's name once the papers were in their hands. All the while you did your best to feign indifference, fighting against your body's knee jerk reactions of tensing your neck or glaring at them as if you were imagining what they'd look like if their hair suddenly caught fire.

Once everyone had four scraps of paper each, Johanna randomly called out your names, instructing you to share what was written on your respective papers. With each disappointed announcement came more blatantly optimistic expressions from the remaining members; Lilly proudly announced that she drew the TikTok influencer Beck, and Simone beamed as she read out the name "Butterfield".

You took a deep breath before opening the papers when your name was called, struggling to not show the relief that washed over you as you read out the names in your hand. "Bolt…Claflin…Scott…Hiddleston."

"Y/N name your price," one of the more outspoken members from earlier, Brynne, called out. "Come on, you'd still have--"

"Rules are rules, Brynne. You heard me earlier," Johanna's voice echoed through the room. "No swapping. You know your assignments. Meet back here at oh-eight-hundred to receive your designations for the rest of the day."

Passing through the wakeup call runs of the players from the World Team went off without a hitch, consisting purely of knocking on their doors, announcing your presence, and they were out within five minutes and off to the practice field. There was a tiny bit of an awkward interaction with Sam Claflin pointing at your neck and asking if you were alright because it looked "concerningly red", even wondering if it was a rash.

"Thanks for the concern, but I promise everything's fine," you answered him, not-so-casually moving your hair about so that it fell down in front of your shoulders and covered the area in question. "It's not a rash."

That got quite the reaction from him, causing fairly taller man to break out in chuckles and lightly shake a pointed finger in your direction. "You're quite the character. I hope whoever gave you that 'not a rash' appreciates that."

"I think he does," you quipped. "I mean we've been at this seven years and he doesn't seem bored yet so looks like I might be doing something right," you topped off with a shrug, heading to Jill Scott's room next. "Good luck out there."

"Lovely meeting you, Y/L/N," he said with a wave before heading off in the opposite direction.

A few minutes later you were knocking at the door to Jill's room, a ridiculous excitement slowly building inside of you and making you rock back and forth where you stood thinking about the next and final stop on your list before you had to return to the briefing room.

"Who is it?" you heard her call out from inside the room.

"It's Y/L/N. From staff," you said for the third time this morning. "Morning wakeup call."

"I'll be right out." A few moments later her door swung open, the woman greeting you with a warm smile. "Hey…Y/L/N, at the risk of sounding presumptuous or giving you cause of concern I have to ask you something."

Her premise took you aback, making you walk a little straighter and touch the ends of your hair, making sure that your neck was still considerably covered. "Pretty sure that just brought my blood pressure up a few points, but go ahead," you prompted her, trying to make light of the concern you were already feeling.

"It's just I noticed something whenever you passed by the field yesterday afternoon and--Ah screw it, best to just bite the bullet. You and Hiddleston…are you two an item?"

The question had your eyebrows shoot to your hairline. "Hmm? What uhh…what made you think that?"

"Well, if you two aren't a thing, I highly recommend letting the lad down easy because he looks at you like those videos of pets when they see their owners come home. Wide dopey eyes and like his heart wants to burst out of his stupidly wee jersey. That is the most irretrievably in love man I've ever seen with my own two eyes."

You didn't even bother to fight back the smile that stretched across your face. "We uhh…we are. I won't be letting anyone down easy today because honestly I'm so in love with the man it's borderline painful," you confirmed to her with a little shrug. "I may also be the one responsible for that tiny jersey currently fighting for its life. And the shorts. We're just trying to keep things a bit…less public, you know?"

She clapped her hands together loudly, suddenly looking victorious. "I knew it! For the record, you two make a lovely couple. His face lights up whenever he'd steal a glance your way yesterday. And when the other ladies from the committee try to chat him up, it's like he barely even registers that they're paying him any attention. You caught a rare one."

Her testimony on how he behaved when you weren't around had your heart swelling. If there was one thing that was eating away at you, it was the insecurity you felt knowing exactly who you were with and how much more objectively attractive those women that practically draped themselves over him were. And the fear always lingered in the back of your mind that one day he'd wake up and realize exactly that.

"I know," you choked out. "I really lucked out with him."

She pointed down the hall, starting to make her way to the elevator. "Am I last on your list or you have to make a few more stops?"

Your smile grew even wider, basically giving the answer away already. "No uhh…there's one more. Saving him for last."

A deviously amused toothy grin stretched across her face. "Ah, I see I see. Well I won't keep you. I'm sure you're excited to see him again."

You made your way back to Tom's room as fast as you could short of breaking out into a jog, practically power-walking down the halls until you rounded the final corner to the hallway where he'd carried you in his arms just the night before. Nearly even began to skip on your way there until you saw the small group of people that were waiting just a few doors away from his, the one closest to your destination being Brynne.

"Uhh…are you all waiting for your assigned players to get out or…?" you trailed off, already straightening your stance, deepening your voice, and taking on a posture that you only really dished out once in a blue moon. In private. With Tom.

Everyone but Brynne stepped away from their relaxed positions against the wall and walked back toward the elevator. You eyed the audacious, slightly taller auburn-haired woman expectantly. "Come on, Y/N. Be a team player here. Every time I've worked an event that involved him I don't even get the chance to be anywhere near him, I'm asking nicely please trade with me. I'll give you Payne--"

"Ew," you cut cut her off, not backing down from your 'boss lady-slash-domme' tone. "Shouldn't have led with that, Brynne. I mean I kinda feel for you that you got Mister more than big enough for you luv, when in fact I've been to children's parties that served vienna sausages bigger than what the guy's packing--"

"Exactly!" she empathized, letting out a chuckle and reaching for your hand as if to form a bond between you two. You knew better, though, and moved it just out of her arm's reach, knowing full well that the motion was meant to reach for the keycard you were suddenly holding tighter in your fist. "So please? Be a pal and let me shoot my shot?"

You did your best to keep your jaw unclenched, fighting every urge you had to make a show of this particular wakeup call and reveal the very blatant reason why you would not be helping her 'shoot her shot'. "You know, Brynne, I really wish I could help you but…it's my first year here and I really don't wanna get on Johanna's bad side by disobeying her 'no swapping' rule." The conspiratorial smirk on her face dropped, now eyeing you with incredulity as if you'd given her a resounding slap right to her ego.

With her more or less out of your way, you walked over to Tom's door and knocked three times, same as you did for the rest of your assignments.

"Who is it?" his muffled voice queried from the other side.

"It's Y/L/N. From staff," you called out. "Morning wakeup call."

You could practically hear the smile on his face as he spoke again. "Am I the last on your list?"

Oh sweetie there's no list. It's you. It's only ever gonna be you, you thought to yourself with a smirk. "Yup. Last one."

"Please, come in then." The eyes of your onlookers widened the side of saucers at what they heard. "I'm nearly ready, I wouldn't want you to wait out there on your feet. Come in, catch your breath. Really, I insist."

You made a show of looking a bit perplexed at the offer. "O-Oh. Uhm…alright then." You turned to give your fellow staff members a casual look, shrugging before using the keycard in your hand to open the door and slip into the room, your cheeks and neck already straining from the laughter you were reining in as you saw the image that greeted you. "That is not even remotely 'nearly ready'," you playfully accused, motioning to the towel that he held around his waist, water droplets still running down his torso from the shower you suspected he'd just finished at most a few minutes ago. "What if someone else drew your name?"

Before he could answer, you held a finger to your lips and pointed at the door, then signaled toward your ear to tell him that there were people outside listening, or as you snidely put it in your thoughts, 'rummaging for scraps'. "Simple, darling. I wouldn't have invited them in," he answered in a more hushed tone. "I really should finish getting ready, though. Wouldn't want to let this wakeup call go on for longer than is expected of me," he said in a teasing tone, making a motion as if to turn around.

The air left your lungs in a disbelieving chuckle as he released his hold on the towel, the weighed down fabric falling to the floor with a wet sounding thud, and baring every inch of his gloriously naked form to you.

You had to force yourself to look away, gripping the edge of the dresser so hard that you were sure the skin on your knuckles turned white the second you caught a glimpse of the perfectly rounded cheeks of his ass.

That was monumentally easier back when he was mere feet away from you, and now nearly impossible with the way he walked right up to you, lightly wrapping his fingers around one of your wrists and leaning in to bring his lips closer to your ear. "I noticed you didn't have anything to put your hair up. I know how you get when your hair starts to stick to your neck," he whispered, lips lightly brushing across the shell of your ear.

He leaned in even closer, his slightly damp chest pressing against your shoulder as he reached around behind you with his other arm to tie a ribbon around your wrist. Your breathing hitched in the bach of your throat when he stepped even closer, working his thigh between your legs as he dipped his head and traced along your neck with the tip of his nose. "I uhh…I have to get back to the briefing room by 8…" you trailed off with a whimper, letting out a soft moan the moment you felt him press a kiss to your neck.

"We have time," he murmured, pressing another kiss on the same spot and smiling against your skin when you tilted your head and exposed more of your neck to him. He hummed into your skin, pressing closer against you, taking a deep breath as if he was breathing you in. "Is this a new perfume?"

His question, coupled with how he continued to press kisses along your neck, hands leisurely roaming your body as if you two had all the time in the world, put your mind in a haze. "It uhh…it is. One of the girls I'm assigned to room with suggested I try it out."

You began to grow weak in his arms as he kissed a trail down to your chest, his hands traveling to the back of your thighs to lift you up onto the dresser. "It's divine on you," he breathed against your skin, his lips kissing up to the other side of your neck and making you rest your forehead against his shoulder, struggling to take deep breaths.

When he started nipping and sucking at your neck was when you had to hold a hand over your mouth before you moaned so loud that everyone outside and maybe even the room above you would know exactly what was going down in this room. "What--"

"The mark on your neck looked lonely. Let me fix that," he whispered into your skin before latching his lips onto your neck again and proceeding to bite and suck a bit harder, causing you to press your lips to his shoulder and muffle your moan that way.

When you felt the all too familiar flames of your desire start to lick at your skin, your hands found themselves gripping at his back, struggling to remain cautious to not dig your fingernails in and claw at him.

"No," he grumbled against your skin. "Don't hold back, goddess. Sink your teeth into my skin. Mark me. Let me have you with me all day long." He weaved his fingers into your hair and moved to press his shoulder harder against you, as if urging you even more to leave your mark on him the way he was currently doing for you. His grip at the base of your hair tightened when you bit down on his shoulder, groaning into your neck a near euphoric sound that nearly sounded like a guttural 'thank you'.

You pulled away first, nearly gasping for air. "I have to be out soon or they're going to start gossiping about what they think is happening in here."

"They wouldn't be gossiping, sweetheart, because they would be correct," he shot back with a chuckle, pressing a kiss to your cheek before stepping back from you and finally letting you down from the dresser, giving you a soft smile as he fixed your hair to cover both sides of your neck. "I'll be ready in two minutes. Grab a water before you leave, you look a bit flushed."

"Menace," you murmured, scrunching your nose at him and giggling when he tilted your head up and pressed a quick kiss to your lips before walking back into the bathroom to actually get ready. You made sure to take a few extra seconds before walking back outside. No sense in letting a perfectly good view go unappreciated.

As you'd suspected, Brynne and the other staff members were still outside when you stepped out of the room, water bottle in hand. "Wow…" she droned at you, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "If you were going to nick anything from the room, you shoulda gone for something with a bit more substance. Amateur."

"Okay first of all, I didn't swipe this," you bit back, your tone from earlier suddenly making a return and causing a few of the staff members to flinch at the sudden shift in the room. "He told me grab one, said something about me looking 'redder than usual'. Second? If you have a problem with me being assigned to this particular player, take it up with Johanna. Because frankly I don't have the fucks to spare to deal with your petty toddler pageant behavior."

She stood in front of you gobsmacked, a small sound of utter shock escaping her when you made sure to bump against her shoulder hard when you walked past her as the door to Tom's room opened.

"Oh…I suppose you're all here to perform wakeup calls for your assigned players? Like Y/N?"

His words seemed to snap everyone out of their reverie and they haphazardly approached the doors and knocked, hollering their names and telling the person on the other side that they were there for the morning wakeup call. Your boyfriend let out a soft chuckle, subtly shaking his head at their antics and lightly touching the inside of your wrist before signaling for you two to walk toward the elevators.

"Am I mistaken or did I hear you using that voice you have tucked away for some of our more creative nights out here?" he asked under his breath, deftly swiping the bottle from your hand and bringing it to his lips to take a few gulps before handing it back to you.

"Had to," you answered before you finished off the contents of the bottle. "She was trying to make a move on what's mine."

That had him quickly wrapping his hand around your elbow and leading you into a more narrow hallway that probably led into the hotel staff's service walkways, walking you back against the wall and lightly gripping your chin with his thumb and forefinger. "Much as I adore it when you get a touch territorial, you do know that no one will ever succeed? There's no one in this world that can lure me away from you. I'm yours. Always."

You rose to the tips of your toes, bringing a smile to his face as he met you halfway, his lips meeting yours in a tender kiss. "I love you," you murmured against his lips, letting out a whiny whimper when you heard the footsteps of the other players and staff members about to round the corner.

"I love you, too." He pressed a quick kiss to your forehead before you two parted ways and he went toward the elevator, casually greeting the other players as he met them. Meanwhile you made your way back to the briefing room, surprised to find yourself the first one there.

"Ah. Y/L/N. With fifteen minutes to spare, too," Johanna greeted you. "How'd you like to be assigned to set up for the Elementals video?"

You fought to keep back the sheer joy that you felt from the offer, the knowledge that you'd be seeing Tom again in a short while filling you with so much excitement you were itching to dance on the spot. "I'd like that very much. Thanks, Johanna."

A/N: I was supposed to have posted this yesterday during my birthday but I got sidetracked building a Baby Groot Lego set 😂🫡 There's about 4 more stories that take place during Soccer Aid week for these two and honestly I can't wait for y'all to see what else I have in store for them because they're precious menaces in love 🥹🥹

everything taglist: @simplyholl @loopsisloops @unlucky-number-13 @imalovernotahater @coldnique @loz-3 @huntress-artemiss @salempoe @vickie5446 @athalialaufeyson @lokiprompts @kats72 @kikster606 @evelyn-kingsley @lokixryss @thomase1 @mischief2sarawr @peaches1958 @lovingchoices14 @lunarnights95 @goblingirlsarah @iamlokisgloriouspurpose @creationsbyme @maple-seed @mjsthrillernp @ladyofthestayingpower @mygfloki @sititran @glitterylokislut @ozymdias @fictive-sl0th @lovelysizzlingbluebird @lokidbadguy @mochie85 @silverfire475 @joyful-enchantress @elizabethmidnight2017 @holdmytesseract @lokidokieokie @lunarnights95 @superficialdomina @gigglingtiggerv2

[abbysimsfun]

Sims In Bloom: Generation 2 Pt. 43 (I Think I'm Falling in Love With You)

Heather was practically dead on her feet when she walked into the kitchen after putting her son to bed. Most guests had gone home, but she found Conrad doing dishes at the sink. "You didn't have to clean up."

"You did a lot today," he said. "Putting on the party, putting up with the Landgraabs."

She rolled her eyes. "Nancy needs a moving target and I'm an easy shot, but if I didn't know any better, I'd swear Malcolm was turning over a new leaf."

Conrad shrugged. "Maybe he is. When we were kids, he used to say he wanted to do good things with the Landgraab name. Maybe embracing being a father has made him remember some of who he used to be."

Heather pondered the possibility as she grabbed a small piece of cake. "That Malcolm? Secretly good?" It seemed impossible to believe.

Conrad looked up from the sink with a clean plate in hand. "I spoke with the chief about a transfer to Brindleton Bay this week," he said.

"Wh- Already? It's only been a few months."

"These things never happen immediately, but if I wait too long to put in the paperwork, I might not get a transfer for over a year."

She stammered, swallowing a piece of cake that felt lodged in her tightening throat. "And that's bad?"

He finished with the dishes and took her to the couch. "If you want me to drive two hours both ways every time I want to see you, I'll do it, but the distance won't be any better for Gord than it'll be for us," he said. His piercing blue eyes gleamed with sincerity. "And I always want to see you, as it is."

"I love when you come to see me and Ash," she assured him. "I don't want you have to travel so much, but you haven't even met my parents yet. I really hoped they'd be here tonight, but..."

"How's your sister-in-law doing?"

"No news yet." She checked her phone in case there was a new message. "Doctors said Cass might be at the hospital until morning, but Mortimer and Uncle Karl are stopping in on their way back to San Myshuno. I know Mortimer hopes they'll time it perfectly so he can meet his first grandchild."

"I want to meet your parents, Heather. I want to meet all the people who raised you into the woman I want to spend all my free time with. You and your son."

"I want that. I don't want anyone else. It just feels so soon, and I have to consider Ash before anyone. Even me."

He smiled. "I won't put in the paperwork yet."

As soon as he said it, she wanted to take everything back and leapt from the sofa. "No! I mean, you said these things never happen right away, right? I'm not ready today, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do the paperwork now."

He stood, taking her face in his hands. "If something comes up and you're still not ready, I'll turn it down."

She felt safe with him, but she still couldn't let go of fears it was all too good to be true. "I'm falling in love with you, I think."

He smiled, spinning her by the waist and planting a kiss on her cheek. "I think I'm falling in love with you, too."

Would Heather and Conrad's relationship continue to strengthen, or would her nagging insecurities prove true? ->

<- Previous Chapter | Gen 2 Start | Gen 1 Summary | Gen 1 Start

WCIF Pose Used: I Love You, Dammit by Somneasims

[draco-dormiens]

THE STRANGEST OF PLACES - Chapter Twenty Three

draco x fem!ravenclaw reader / postwar au series

warnings: strong language, sexual themes, implied sex, bit steamy but hey, they deserve it, right? ;) (characters are 18+)

wc: 3466

masterlist

taglist is now closed - i’ve officially run out of tags! thank you all

The Element of Surprise

Draco lands with a thud just outside the Weasley's home. He pulls himself off the ground and dusts down his black suit trousers. As he looks up to gather his surroundings, he notices the most delicious smell protruding the air and the sound of laughter coming from inside the topsy turvy building that the Weasley family calls home. Light is spilling out from the wonky windows, casting long golden paths over the ground, as he cautiously moves to peak inside the nearest window.

"So, we waited for Goyle to come around the corner," George Weasley, one of the red heads that Draco recognises, is telling a story that seems to have the table in stitches, "and as soon as he did, he spots the cupcakes - which we'd put Puking Pastilles in, don't forget - and being the greedy so and so he is, eats them all up," laughter sparks up again, "but the best bit hasn't even happened yet, because just as he gollops down the last one, Millicent Bulstrode - you remember her, Harry? Plump, nasty little thing in Slytherin? - shows up just as Goyle's greedy guts come spilling out all over the place… and all over her!"

Another roar of laughter from everyone, but Draco can only see so far down the table. The other end is obscured by the kitchen cabinets. He can see Potter, Ginny Weasley, George, Granger and, of course, Weaselbee. He fears if he moves anymore, they'll see him, and he still hasn't decided on his course of action. Naturally, Weaselbee won't take kindly to his presence, and there's the possibility that you'll want him driven out as well. Not to mention the other Weasleys, or Potter for that matter. No one in that room particularly liked him. But then, as he's pondering his options and not paying attention to how visible he is, he hears a loud HEY! from just inside.

"What the bloody hell is he doing here?" Ron shouts, getting up off his chair and pointing at the window, as Hermione gets up to see what on earth he was talking about, "get off my property you bloody idiot!"

"Oh my God," Hermione exclaims, and starts telling everyone to sit down and not panic, "I'll go and see to him- oh, no, Mrs Weasley please sit down- Mr Weasley there's no need for wands- RON! GET BACK HERE!"

Startled, Draco can barely move from witnessing all the commotion he's caused by just standing there, as Ron comes barging through the door and into the front yard, a face like thunder.

"Explain yourself," Ron points an angry finger, "you have no business here, Malfoy."

"Malfoy?" Harry's voice comes from behind Ron, who moves aside to see Hermione storming over with Harry in toe, "what on earth are you doing here?"

"Get back inside, both of you," Hermione instructs them, but it seems to fall on deaf ears.

"Come to curse me, Potter?" Draco smirks, shoving his hands in his pockets, "'fraid I'm not here for a duel in the loo. I'd like to speak to Granger, if you gentlemen don't mind."

"Hermione?" Ron scoffs, "what do you want with her? I'll hex you into next week-"

"BOTH OF YOU. INSIDE. RIGHT NOW," Hermione bellows, coming between the three of them, "and you, Malfoy, keep it zipped or I'll hex you into next week. Ron," she spins abruptly to face him and jab a finger into his chest, "you have soup to finish. Inside. Now."

The rest of the family were all pressed against the window, trying to get a glimpse of the drama unfolding outside. Reluctantly, Ron and Harry make their way back into the house, looking back and chuntering between themselves. Out of everyone he was expecting to run into, the one person he was most eager to see hadn't shown themselves..

"Come with me," Hermione said, grabbing Draco by the arm and taking them away from the prying eyes at the window to the edge of the wood near Ron's home, "I can't believe you've shown, what happened? Did you leave Astoria?"

"I can explain later," he dismisses her questions, "she's here, right? Or is she hiding inside because she hates me that much?"

"That's not it," said Hermione, "well, I'm not sure about the 'hate you' part... she's not come out to see you because, well... she's not here."

"At all?" Draco raises his eyebrows, and Hermione shakes her head, "you have to be kidding me, I just caused all that ruckus for you to say she's not even here? Where is she, then? Wait.. don't fucking tell me. Chambers asked her out again, didn't he? Slimy git."

"She's not with Edward," Hermione says loudly, and Draco's angry mumbling stops, "in fact, she's not with anyone. She didn't come tonight because she didn't feel like it... can't say she's in the best frame of mind right now."

Draco's guilt hits him once again. Picturing you, alone and miserable, because of everything that he's done. Everything that he said to you that night; it stall haunts him, so he's not surprised if it haunts you, too. You don't even want to see your friends - he's well and truly done a number.

"Where is she right now?" He then asks, in all seriousness, and Hermione sighs.

"She's at home," she tells him, "as far as I know, she's spending the last few days before graduation there. She... doesn't want to be at Hogwarts right now."

"Then we'll go to her," Draco said, getting his wand from his pocket, "location?"

"It's in a muggle village, Malfoy, you can't just apparate there," she explains frantically, "Merlin knows who will see you, and besides, I'm not entirely sure how she'll react-"

"Can you stop waffling on?" said Draco irritably, holding his arm out for her to take, "the quicker you give me a location the faster we'll get there."

Hermione hesitates slightly, but grips his arm anyway, and within a few moments, the world around them is swirling and contorting into a jumbled mix of colours and sounds, until eventually, they both land on a hard tarmac road in the middle of a quiet muggle village. Draco sways slightly from the second apparition of the day as Hermione steadies herself. He looks around at the road they appeared on - houses, all similar in structure, line the streets. Each had a little garden at the front, with trees and flower pots lining the paths that winded through the quaint village. It was quiet, almost silent, with street lamps that lit the way up the road.

"I should've told Ron we were leaving," Hermione then complains, more to herself, "he'll be thinking you've kidnapped me or something."

"Don't worry," Draco jokes, "Old Weaselbee knows I'd be sending you back in a heartbeat."

Hermione shoots him a look of displeasure, before pointing at the street before them.

"Y/N's house is just up ahead," she explains, "come on."

They walk, in silence, up the winding road, passing muggle cars, street signs and phone boxes. Eventually, Hermione stops in front of a house right at the end of the street. Plant pots decorate the front of the house with flowers of all colours. A car sits in the driveway, and a black cat scurries from underneath it and crosses the freshly mowed grass, to disappear behind a trimmed hedge. Draco watches as its tail slithers out of sight, before looking up at the front of the house. A light is on in the very top window.

"That's her room," Hermione points out, and turns to face the blond Slytherin, "if you say anything to upset her, I'll personally see to your demise, Malfoy." She gives him a stern look that reminds him of his mother, and then prepares to apparate back to the Burrow, "just knock. I think her parents are out tonight. I really should get back before Ron sends out a search party."

"Thanks, Granger," Draco said sincerely, "I owe you one."

"Just don't hurt her ever again," said Hermione, readying her wand, “I'll consider that repayment."

Soon enough, with a flick of her wand, she was gone into the night, and Draco was standing alone in front of your house, in a muggle street, in a muggle village. He hesitates to knock, but raps his knuckles on the painted wood and waits for a reply. Nothing happens for a long moment, so he goes to knock again, when he hears the door unlock from the otherside. After a few excruciating seconds, the door creaks open to reveal a sight Draco could never get tired of.

You, shock all over your face and a baggy hoodie over your frame, looking back at him like you've just seen a ghost, and yet, he's never seen a more beautiful being. He aches to pull you in, but knows, just from your expression, you wouldn't welcome him so easily.

"Why are you here?" is the first thing you say, your voice quiet and cautious.

Draco notices the way you observe him cautiously, as if you were ready for him to say something that would only cause you more heartache. He can't stand it - the way you don't fully show yourself to him, how you look at him like he's hurt you. He wants to take it away, to make it better, and so, he slowly inches closer to the doorway.

"I came here," he says softly, eyes never leaving you, "because I had to see you. Speak to you." He stops just before the doorway, inches away from you now.

"But you chose her," you croak, and his heart breaks all over again, "you chose them."

"And I'm a fucking idiot," he laughs sadly, "please, please, Y/N. Can we at least talk? That's all I'm asking. Afterwards, I'll leave and never come back if that's what you want."

After some slight hesitation, you let him inside and softly shut the door behind you both. Draco notices the warm feeling your home seems to have. Family portraits and photos of you in your Hogwarts uniform over the years cover the walls and surfaces. You tell him to wait in the living room as you brew a pot of tea, leaving him to wander around whilst he waits. He looks at the photos individually; some of just you, some of you and your parents, even some of you and Granger in your younger years. There are trinkets, a mug that says 'Best Daddy Ever' and some drawings you must have made as a child. Everything in the room reminds him that a family lives there, and that they love each other. Something he's never really seen before.

"Here," you announce as you enter the room, placing the tray on the coffee table, "we only have breakfast tea. Hope that's okay." 

"That's perfect," he smiles across at you, and you return it slightly before pouring tea into two china cups. He takes a seat on the couch as you pass him a fresh cup, to which he thanks you. For a moment, you both sip tea and say nothing, until Draco breaks that silence.

"Your house is very nice," he compliments, looking across at you, noticing how you're reluctant to look him in the eye, "I wish my home was as welcoming as this."

"This house is nothing compared to yours," you scoff lightly, and he smiles.

"Yeah," he breathes, "exactly."

"How did you know where I was?" you ask him, still refusing to meet his gaze.

"I know some people," he says lightheartedly, but then turns serious, "very good people."

You don't answer that. Your best hunch is Hermione, but how he knew where to find her was beyond you. After all, she'd never disclosed what she was up to in the dungeons that night. A thick silence falls over you again, but the question you really wanted to ask him was hanging by a thread at your lips.

"So," you suddenly say, voice a lot bolder than before, "are you here because you're an engaged, sorry idiot who wants to clear his conscience?"

He places his cup down, and turns to face you. When you don't respond, he gently places a hand on your face and brings your eyes to his. There's a look of pure emotion and genuinity in them, as he rubs his thumb across your cheek, and then along your bottom lip.

"Engaged, no," he whispers to you, "but sorry idiot? That I am."

It takes you a second to process his words, but then the frown on your face evens out and a look of relief washes over you, eyes brightening to shine a little like they used to, and Draco's heart swells to double its size.

"You didn't do it," you mutter, and he shakes his head.

"No, angel, I didn't," his hand moves slightly to rest against your neck, the coldness of his rings causing goosebumps on your skin, "I had a little help... to realise what a fool I was being."

"But what about your parents? Astoria? Aren't you in heaps of trouble now?" you said, concern replacing your relaxed features, "aren't they going to make your life hell?"

"No more than usual," he smirks playfully, eyes flickering over your face like they used to, as if he's memorising every inch of it, "but I don't give a shit about that right now. Right now," he pauses, before taking both of your hands in his, "I just need you to hear something."

You allow him to take his time, as his thumbs run over your knuckles a few times, before he brings them to his lips and kisses each of them delicately.

"Y/N," he mutters against your hand, pressing one last kiss for good measure, "my precious, beautiful girl," he looks up and your eyes lock, "I was so unreasonably cruel to you that night in the woods. I guess I just didn't know how it would feel... to lose something so important to me."

He takes a break, and looks down at your intertwined hands. You remain silent.

"I let you down, and I understand if you never want to see me again after this," he takes a deep breath before looking up again, "but, if you can find it in your heart to forgive me for being so unbelievably late, then I promise to give you the world. Everything I have. All that I am," tears begin to well at the corners of his eyes, "because I'm so in love with you, Y/N. Mind, body and soul, I love you."

A tear trickles down your cheek, and he wipes it away with his thumb. You look at him for a long moment; the man you've come to love, the man who has completed the other half of your soul. A few months back, if someone had said to you that one day, Draco Malfoy would be confessing his feelings for you on your couch, in your muggle home, you'd think they were insane.

But right now, as he looks at you as if the world resides in your eyes, it feels like the most sane thing to happen in weeks. You take your hands from his and cup his jaw, feeling the way he leans into your touch with such contentment. He kisses your palm, gently holding your wrist.

"I love you," you whisper, and those steely grey eyes find yours once more, "I love and have loved you, Draco Malfoy. For longer than you might think."

He smiles a watery smile, and his eyes drop to your lips. Hunger swims in them, and you'd be lying if you said you hadn't waited for this moment with utter anticipation. "Kiss me," is all you can manage to mutter, and he wastes no time in obliging to that. His lips capture yours in a hot, hungry kiss, his hands taking your face as yours fist at his shirt. You feel his fingers lace in your hair, pulling a satisfied sound from your lips. He swallows it eagerly, tilting his head to deepen the kiss and run his tongue along your bottom lip. Of course, you allow him access, and he pulls you impossibly close to his body, thumbs rubbing small circles just under your ears. It's blissful and full of passion, his lips breaking from yours to kiss across your jaw and down under your ear, to rest at the pulse point in your neck.

"Fuck I love you,” he purrs against the sweet spot, leaving wet kisses as your hands snake up to tangle in his hair, “my angel, my darling girl.”

“Stay with me,” you find yourself pleading softly, as his gaze returns to your hazy expression, “sleep beside me, Draco. Please.”

Hastily, his lips find yours once more in a rushed, messy kiss. You can taste the wine on his lips, and feel his emotion simply through the way he handles you - as if you were a prized possession he simply cannot break.

“There’s nothing I want more,” he said breathlessly, so you take him by the hand, and lead him through the house to the comfort of your bedroom.

Hours seem to pass. His hands wander - and you let them. Just the two of you, enjoying one another in complete harmony, in solace and peace. You’re sure, at this point, there’s not an inch of you he hasn’t kissed, and there’s not an inch of his skin you haven’t touched. It was innocent and vulnerable; just two people, hopelessly in love, savouring one another.

"You’re so beautiful," he breathes against your bare shoulder, pressing tender kisses to the skin as you lay there, tucked safely under the duvet, back pressed to his chest, “thank you,” he mumbles, “for trusting me with you.”

You hum, turning over to face him. He looks so at peace; features soft and sleepy. Draco truly was the most handsome man you’d ever laid eyes on. Gently, you smooth back his hair and press a light kiss to the corner of his mouth.

"Thank you," you whisper to him, "for coming back.”

You feel his hand at the small of your back, pulling your body into his. His fingers brush hair behind your ear, and then trace down your jaw to your chin, where he gently brings you in for a soft, tender kiss. His lips linger against yours for a long moment.

"I would have lived every day in regret if I hadn't," he confesses quietly, your limbs intertwined and skin pressed against skin, "I should be thanking you, for giving me the courage."

"Me?" you furrow your eyebrows, "but you did this, Draco. You came here, despite all the odds."

"Do you remember that night we sat in the attic? That room with the big window," he recalls, and you nod, smiling to yourself at the memory, "well, I passed that staircase and, I don't know, it just... flooded back to me. All those memories, the way you make me feel... I just knew, in that moment, I couldn't do it. I couldn't be without you."

"Oh, Draco," you sigh lovingly, nuzzling your nose against his, "you are truly a treasure, my love."

My love. He wants to hear that every day for the rest of his life. Draco closes his eyes, relishing in the love and comfort you provide him, feeling the delicate little kisses you place on his cheek. He's unworthy of such affection, unworthy of feeling your skin on his, gliding his fingertips over the crevices of your body. He's obsessed. Entranced. His entire being and every sense is overtaken by your scent, your touch. And he is at peace, despite what the morning may bring, at this very moment, he is at peace. 

"What happens now?" you then ask cautiously, and he opens his eyes into yours, "about your parents... what will they do?"

"Despite what they may think, I'm a legal adult," he smirks, and some sort of relief flickers in your eyes at his lightheartedness, "but, they might have a few things to say. They'll get over it, they have to. You're mine now, after all."

A triumphant grin spreads across his handsome face, a light pink blush spreading over your cheeks at the sentiment. Once more, he presses his lips to yours; not once, twice, but three times, taking his sweet time in parting on the last one. 

"Whatever happens," you whisper against his mouth, "I'm here for you. Always."

"In that case, anything is possible, angel," he said sweetly as you cuddle into his chest, the sudden urge to sleep overbearing, "but, for now, let's just rest, hm? Think we deserve it."

A little hum of agreement passes your lips, eyes growing heavy as sleep greets your peacefully. Draco, who had forgotten how exhausted he truly was, feels his eyes droop willingly, as his breathing evens out, and a well needed sleep finally takes over. 

Whatever the dawn may bring, you will face it.

Together.

disclaimer: i do not own hp or any of the characters in this story

tags:

@lovesanimals0000 @cappgyuccino @lightning1ce @onlygetaway @honeyyypeach @namelesslosers @ghostyv @mikadorbs @redactedhimbo @morganadpl @scarecrowscaresthomas @camille-1019 @valkyrie418 @animeloverfreak310 @budugu @marplest @torresbarnes @bunny24sstuff @champagneesupernova @serafilms @siriusly-parker-main @lovely-maryj @i-bitch-you-bitch @astablacksword @sun-fiower-seed @tinafuentes @venusjustleft @omgitstatertot @aangsupremacy @ilovezy @leclerc16s @aslanvez @talesofadragon @3vasaur @the-skys-musical-echo @yeolsbubbles @idk-dolans @xx-kiraa-xx @sunbruized @vinkiesz @snickersmee @fandomrulesall-blog @astheraa @idkatee @marsanhwa @vintageoldfashion @63sucker @j-n-i-c-o-l-e @anarchistsons @smallsweetvanillabean @newbooksmell777 @tangomangroves @neoteezrenyoung @l0v3lies @delusionally-loveless-by-choice @higanbanagirl @ace152435 @arcanebabe @slythermuf @hea-vin @zucchinimalfoy @carolineesnell

[staytinyville]

Stay Alive (29)

BTS poly!ot7 x Reader

Magical Creatures AU

Series Masterlist

Warnings: smut (MDNI), piv, unprotected sex (we don't do that here),

A/N NOT BETA. YOU GUYS! If you would like to be huge supporters for me check out my KO-FI link in my bio. It will be in my masterlist as well. It would be a huge help not just to support my financial needs but to also help me continue writing.

The boys had called you all to Namjoon bedroom the moment you had arrived at work. You began to worry a bit but went along with their demands. When Jin opened up the door for you, all the boys were waiting for you looking a bit tense.

“What's going on?” You asked, looking around.

“We've come up with something to break free from here.” Hoseok explained to you.

“Tell me!” You gasped, eyes going wide at the prospect of finally being able to take the boys out. “Please, I'll try my best!” You told them.

All the boys let out a breath, almost worried that you wouldn’t be willing to help them. It wasn’t that they didn’t believe in you, it was more of the fact that they were worried about you thinking how this would affect your future. That didn’t seem to be the case though.

“It's a bit complicated and we have to make sure you have all the resources ready for this.” Namjoon grabbed onto your hand. “You will be risking your life as well as the people around you. We want to keep you safe.”

You smiled softly at him, placing a hand on his cheek as you rubbed his skin with your thumb. “Anything.” You told him. “I promise I'll follow everything.”

“The east part is taking us out.” Yoongi spoke from the bed. “However, it's after that we'll have to move quick.” He turned to you. “You're going to lose your job after this, are you sure you want to do this?”

“Saving you and everybody else from eternal abuse over some petty job that–mind you–is doing the abuse?” You spoke up. “A million times over; I have my degree. We'll take down this company for all its horrors.”

The boys looked at each other, giving each other a nod. You were different. Something they waited years for. It was finally time for them to go home.

“Taehyung has the ability to transfigure things—us included.” Hoseok began. “He'll turn us into something that won't be noticeable in your pockets. You'll take us out of the facility once everyone is going home after work.”

“And then?” You asked.

“From there we have until morning before they notice we’re gone.” Jin answered.

You weren’t going to be able to turn up to work the next day if you wanted to get them to safety as quickly as possible. The only thing that left you unsettled was leaving behind everyone else while taking the boys out. You knew they would never leave them behind but that didn’t stop you from feeling guilty.

“What about everyone else?” You looked at all of them.

“We can't risk getting everyone out at one time.” Namjoon sighed. “I know it's terrible but they'll have to wait just a bit more.”

“Okay.” You nodded your head.

Namjoon pulled you into his side, placing his chin over your head.

“Once we leave here though, we have to make haste to Yuri lake.” Yoongi sat up, legs falling off the side of Namjoon’s bed.

“There is no time to delay. We have to get home to tell Bang Nim about what Hanseol is doing.” Hoseok finished.

“Yuri lake?” You pondered. “The moon pool in the mountains?”

“Hobi said it's on your grandparents property.” Jimin spoke up.

“It is.” You nodded. “My grandpa still lives there. He's said he was going to leave it to my mother and her siblings after he passes.” You spoke softly thinking about your grandfather.

While you had lived in Gwangju with your parents, your grandparents lived in the Wolchulsan countryside. They had an entire mountain range in their backyard, what kind of child wouldn’t enjoy going to see it. You spent all your summers with your grandparents because you had always loved going to explore their farm as a child. The mountains also had tons of cave systems within them. One of which you could recall had a moon pool inside.

Your grandmother passed away a few years ago, right after you finished your studies. She had been so proud of you when you told your grandparents you were accepted into the university in Seoul. While you told her you were going to the big city, you would still be coming back down to see them during the summer.

And you had been. You still went the past summer to spend time with your grandpa. You would go back and forth between your home with your parents and the farm with your grandfather. The only thing on your mind was making sure to call beforehand to tell him that you were going to be visiting.

“(Y/N), if we do this your grandfather will also be in danger.” Namjoon pulled you back to look at you.

“Then we find a way to keep him safe.” You told him. “He'll understand. He can be stubborn but he knows when there is danger he has to leave.”

“Is that it?” You asked, wanting to be sure they were ready for it.

All the boys looked to Namjoon waiting for his response. “I guess so.”

You spent an hour going over more plans for the escape with the boys. There was a good amount of trust going into Taehyung but everyone spoke that they believed in him. They were all proud of what he was able to do with you so they were more than trustful in him.

When they all left Namjoon’s room, you almost felt like crying at the idea of finally taking them out of this place. This past month and half has been something unforgettable. You wouldn’t imagine going into a new job would entitle working for magical creatures that exist. Or being hired by a demon that could erase your mind.

It was a bit mind blowing how much you managed to find out in just a couple of days. Everything you ever thought of–understood–had changed completely in the span of a couple of hours. You also didn’t realize how much love you had to give until you found seven different men to give it to.

When you turned around, you found Namjoon sitting at the edge of his bed, head in his hands as he rubbed at his face. You walked up to him, slotting yourself between his legs making him look up at you. As you took his wrist into your hands, he opened his eyes a pur coming from his chest at the sight of you.

“You're worried.” You told him.

“Is it that obvious?” He scoffed, taking his arms from you.

He wrapped them around your waist, sticking his face into your chest. You giggled as he rubbed his cheeks against them, the rumble from his chest causing you to smile.

“Namjoon, you've given up so much.” You told him softly, running your hand through his hair. “And I know you have tried so hard to save everyone.” You pulled his face up to look at you. “It's your turn to be saved. Let me do that for you.”

“I don't want you to get hurt.” He whispered.

“One scratch on me is nothing compared to the wounds you've suffered.” You softly placed your lips onto his.

There was something about Namjoon that made you let go of everything. LIke you knew he was going to take care of you. The way he kissed you was soft, but you knew deep down that you were meant to allow him access to all that you had. He was a dominating person who demanded attention wherever he walked. And just like that he was a dominating person in bed too.

His large hands were splayed along your back, making you arch your chest into his. As he pulled you closer, you placed a knee down between his legs but he didn’t want you there. He quickly took a hold of your thigh and moved to place your knee on the other side of his hips. He did the same with your other leg, gradually making you sit down in his lap.

Once you locked your legs behind him, Namjoon stood up with you and turned you around to lay you on the bed comfortably. Feeling Namjoon press his chest onto yours and engulf your body made you feel small. Not physically but like you weren’t as powerful as you thought yourself to be.

For once you had finally met someone who you were willing to let everything go for.

Namjoon placed a hand near your head, leaning up to stare down at you. Your breath got caught in your throat, hands going to touch his chest. He was taking in breaths through his mouth, trying to come up with what to say.

“Namjoon?” You quietly spoke.

He shut his eyes tightly, fisting the sheets near your head. He dropped his forehead down to yours which caused you to gasp. You felt his hot searing skin touch you but it was gone the next moment. You wanted to rub at the spot wondering where the pain went.

“What happened?” You asked him.

He still had his eyes shut, but the moment they opened up his pupils quickly reduced in size and turned slitted. You gasped quietly as purple swirled around his irises, completely overtaking his dark eyes.

“My body temperature was rising and I didn’t want to hurt you.” He whispered.

“Namjoon we can stop–” You tried to say but he shook his head.

“No,” He told you, leaning down to give you a kiss. “It’s just what Jungkook went through. I’ve just lived long enough to know how to have a handle over it.”

He leaned forward again, planting his lips with yours in a rush. Your head began to feel dizzy at the heat coming off of Namjoon. However for some reason it was only making you more aware of everything around you. The hairs on your arm were standing up–your core was starting to get slick without so much as a thought crossing your mind to arouse you.

Namjoon pulled back from your lips with a pop, making quick work to take off your pants and underwear causing you to gasp.

“Namjoon?” You called to him.

Looking up, your eyes went wide as they took in his hooded expression and clenched jaw. He looked bigger to you for some reason. Steam was coming off his body that left you worried about his safety as well as yours.

After taking off his clothing, like a predator, he slowly placed his hands on the bed, crawling over your body to make you lean back onto the bed. He kept his head down, keeping his purple eyes on yours.

“Namjoon?” You whispered again, eyes drifting down to his lips.

“I have a hold of it.” He answered. “My body won’t hurt you. Not in this kind of state.”

You nodded your head, at a loss for words as you became dizzy again. The only thing you could think about was how cold your legs seemed to be. Namjoon’s warmth that radiated from his chest seemed to have an effect on you and you were basking in it.

You felt a shiver wrack down your body as Namjoon’s lips went to your neck. As he moved lower, he pushed your shirt up to expose more of your skin, taking in a deep breath when he reached your navel. He stopped for a moment, nose twitching at your heat that was bare for him to feel on his chest.

You felt his fingers twitch at your side, digging into your skin as they warmed up your body more than it already was. You flinched a bit when Namjoon suddenly shot his head up, looking up at you.

“Are you sure about this?” He asked you.

You gave him a small smile, reaching a hand out to stroke his cheek. “I’m okay.” You told him.

“Then hold on.”

Your eyes went wide at the smirk he gave you, quickly hiding from your stare as his head was suddenly buried between your legs. You didn’t get the chance to comprehend what he was doing seeing as the moment his tongue touched your heat you let out a moan and tried to clench your legs.

The way he moved along your lower lips was much different to the way Jungkook had. The younger man was sloppy, using everything and making sure to cover everything. However Namjoon was precise in what he did. The tip of his tongue probed at your entrance, going up and down your slit.

You arched your back into his face, gasping out trying to take in some kind of breath but it seemed Namjoon kept taking it right out of you. He grew annoyed with your twitching it seemed, quickly leaning up as he shifted one of your legs down onto the bed and the other higher up to his shoulder.

The position had you crying and your muscles stretching. He had you wide open to accommodate him, dragging your body up to his mouth. When you heard him growl your vision went blank for a moment.

With the heat that seemed to act like an aphrodisiac and the sounds rumbling out of his chest, you began to feel your orgasm building up. You tried to reach out for Namjoon, crying out as you couldn’t find something to hold onto. He must have felt your conflict because he quickly removed a hand to reach out towards you.

As his fingers curled around yours, your vision went black and your legs twitched at your orgasm. As our core clenched and unclenched, Namjoon allowed himself to place his entire mouth on you to suck whatever it was you would give him.

When your orgasm finally stopped, Namjoon softly dropped your legs down onto the bed, messaging your skin to calm you down from your high. With your open mouth and blissed out expression, Namjoon smiled crawling back up to your face.

You slowly opened your eyes, taking him in above you. Leaning up to brush your lips against his, you wanted to feel him on you again to calm down your nerves. He moved to brush his fingertips against your cheeks, placing his forehead against yours. Your eyes slipped closed as strong emotions of love and care overtook you.

“You’re one of us now.” He whispered to you. “We won’t allow anything to happen to you.”

You gasped quietly at the feeling of his length between the both of you. Namjoon stood back up, one leg placed on the edge of the bed. Grabbing onto your hips he quickly dragged you closer to the end, allowing him to slot between your legs. He made you lock your legs behind his back, going back to give you a searing kiss after he got you where he wanted.

You felt your body relax rather than tense at his intrusion. There wasn’t a burn like the others, instead all you felt was immense pleasure. The pants you let out in Namjoon’s ear had him growling again. The blunt nails digging into the skin of your hips made you mewl at the feeling.

The moment Namjoon was sheathed all the way, all you could think about was clawing at his back and wanting him to move. Even if he didn’t have to wait, he still took a moment. Judging from how he seemed to clench his eyes shut, it probably had to be because he didn’t want to finish too quickly.

And the moment your hips tried to move to gain some kind of friction, that was all it took for Namjoon to slam your hips down with a warning growl and his purple eyes to stare down at you. You squeaked out, quickly stopping your movements.

He leaned back to your ear. “I’m not trying to scare you, Little One.” He said breathlessly. “But I’m the one taking care of you. Be patient.”

You nodded quickly, moving to touch any part of him in order to ground you back down to the plane of the living. And the moment he felt your body relax once more, he began to move his hips.

You once again felt the dominance he had about him that made you want to allow him to take care of you. It wasn’t that you were going into a separate head space, it was just that Namjoon had that air about him that was caring. Something that made him someone others looked up to when it came to their problems. For you, it was just an emotion you were no stranger to. You had always been someone who cared for people, and for once there was someone who wanted to care for you.

With Namjoon leaning over your body, your fingers dug into his back. And when your second orgasm was approaching you began to grip onto it tightly. Even in your orgasmic bliss, you didn’t want to scratch at his back for fear of hurting his already damaged skin.

When Namjoon’s orgasm came full force, your eyes snapped open at the roar he let out. His eyes seemed to glow and his teeth were much sharper than normal. It was a sight to see someone like Namjoon let go in such a primal way.

He had quickly pulled out before anything happened. He let go onto the floor rather than on you, dropping both hands down near you after his high began to go down. Your own need to take care of him began to swell in your chest as you watch him try to calm down.

You moved from your position, slowly dragging his arm up with you to led him to lay down. He was sluggish, tired from the entire deal. You smiled softly at his look. You almost wanted to cry with how much it seemed everything was weighing on him. For once he had let go of that stress.

Namjoon pulled you closer, swallowing as his eyes closed shut. “Why are you upset?” He asked you.

You pulled back from his chest, looking up at him. “Because–you’re always so stressed and for once you need someone to care for you.” You lean up just a bit. “I know that might be how you act but trust me in this.” You reached over to give him a soft kiss.

“It’s your turn to be cared for.”

Series Masterlist

[salchat]

So, here's another Dean. This one's in neocolor crayon, which are very soft crayons - you can use water with them, but I haven't here, because the paper's newsprint and it would fall to pieces very quickly if I used water.

While I was drawing, I was pondering various arty matters. Mainly, how some art/craft posts - mostly on Facebook rather than here - irritate the hell out of me. You know the ones. Where there's some amazing piece of art/craft, but the caption is something like, 'please be kind - it's my first time!' When it's blatantly not their first time, unless art and craft is just plain easy, which it isn't. Anyway, I'm not sure why people make those posts - for others to comment how amazing they are? I suppose. But it must be pretty hollow to receive such compliments. Unless it really is their first time. And even then...

So, anyway, it made me think, why do I post my art? What exactly do I get out of it? Do I do it to receive validation in the form of compliments? I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but I just wanted to be really honest with myself. And also, why do I make art in the first place and why this particular type of art, drawing the same characters over and over?

Well, I think I draw for the same, or similar reasons that I write - because it's my own world, that I can control. There's comfort there, isn't there? And comfort in the characters I draw and write about - they're not called comfort characters for nothing, after all. And they're beautiful, aren't they? They're just damn beautiful. Why wouldn't I want to draw them?

So, I guess I want to pour my love into creating something beautiful, or as near beauty as I can get. And I choose to do that with my crayons or my charcoal or my pastels because I love those things too - their colours, the way they spread, the way you can make big, soft marks or sharp, dark marks, the way you can smush them around with your fingers, the way you can just mess about and sometimes it doesn't work and sometimes you get an amazing effect that you didn't know was possible. I love drawing randomly, roughly, searching and searching until I find what I want.

But why post online? Hmm... Well, yes, it is nice when people think what I've created is technically skilful. I have an ego that likes to be stroked, same as anyone else. But if that was the only reason, I'd probably cheat. Some people do. And if that makes them happy, who am I to criticize?

Anyway, I think what I'm after is connection, which is in no way an original thought. That's what makes fandom so wonderful, isn't it? The way you can find connections with other people all over the world. I think when I post, I'm looking for people who love the same kinds of things that I do - the same characters, obviously, but also the same kind of approach to art. The colours and the roughness, the playfulness and the 'continuing mission' to find beauty. I think I post in the hopes that someone will see my art and think, 'hey, I like that.' And that they'll feel a little spark of joy.

I think that's what all our fan creations are about. You get the firework of joy and excitement that goes off when you create your story or your picture and then, around the fandom world, other people get a spark struck from your joy. Which is pretty flowery stuff, but, hey - I'm a writer, aren't I?

That's enough rambling. Nearly. Because I also want to do the thing I often do, which is totally anti the 'it's my first time!' kind of posts. This is very far from my first time and I want you to see the crappiness of my progress shots, because it's important to know that there's almost always a lot of crappy stages before you reach something you consider beautiful. Not perfect. I'm not after perfection, which is impossible anyway, and I would never say any of my stuff is perfect because it's far from perfect and I don't want that - I want life and humanity and striving toward something.

I'm gonna shut up now, because there are burgers to be cooked and chocolate cake to be eaten, and hey! Doctor Who's on soon! Bye!

[into-crazy]

Derry’s Secret Pt. 5

Pennywise x Female Reader series

Warnings- mature language, slight drug abuse, stalking, dark themes, physiological torture, ages 18+

Other parts can be found RIGHT HERE and through the "Derry's Secret" tag🎈

Eight days go by without another incident with the clown.

You were beginning to feel terrible waking up every morning. You'd wake up feeling groggy and weak. It had to be the effects of the sleeping pills. After all, they are maximum strength and aren't meant to be taken regularly. If you keep it up, then they'll definitely take a negative toll on your health.

It's the same this morning. You're feeling shitty as usual.

Not caring much at this point, you rub the incoming headache. Laying there and staring up at the ceiling for a few minutes. Letting out a long groan before softening into the comfort of the warm sheets. It's Saturday, thankfully you don't have work today. You just want to lay here all day. Don't want to get up, don't want to do anything. Though you're aware you have to get up and do something. If you lay here like this the entire day, you'll end up feeling ten times as worse later on. It's bound to happen.

Forcing yourself upwards and out of the bed, you lazily stumble to the closet. Picking out an outfit without giving it much of a thought. Not knowing what you were going to do, but you'll think of something. You can't sit here alone all day.

~~

You drive over to the City Center, favoring coming over here to walk around. When there wasn't an event going on, it was nice and peaceful at times. The fresh air usually helps to clear your negative energy. Only this time your thoughts continue to trouble you. Still, it was better to be in a public space to figure it out. Certainly if Pennywise wasn't out looking for a meal, he might be off lurking in the near distance somewhere- waiting and watching. But he wouldn't make a move out in the open.. would he?

Well, who could tell really?

Lately, things have felt rather off to you. Everywhere you went, you got the feeling like you were being watched. Especially around the storm drains. You could always feel as though Pennywise was lurking in those, following you and watching your every move. When you use the sink faucets, whether at home or in a public place, you swear that you could hear whispered voices coming from down the drains. They only last for a few seconds. Because as soon as you get closer to try and hear better, the voices disappear completely. Leaving you to stand around and wonder if you're going insane.

Tossing the idea aside, you find a wooden bench next to another where an older woman sat. She was feeding the pigeons from her small handbag. Hair scarce and white all over, with a cane leaning on the bench beside her. You watch as she threw bird seed on the ground before her, welcoming in the feathered flock. Quietly minding her own business without a single care or worry in the world. You respected her level of carelessness. Perhaps it could be something you'd hope to achieve at some point in your life.

You lean back against the bench and take in the rest of the scene around you. There are people walking their dogs. Scattered throughout the grass areas, are a few people working out or doing some form of yoga. You couldn't help but wonder if any of those people experienced what you have with the clown.

Does he stalk and terrorize their lives? Does he lurk in any of their drains?

All of your thoughts paused for a moment. Except for the word drain. Something about it kept ringing in your mind. Your leg bounces as you ponder on what's so significant about it.

Drains? Well the pipes lead to the drains, and then the sewers. That's it then, that's the connection. No doubt that's how Pennywise gained fast access throughout the town. It makes perfect sense.

You contemplated on what you read back at the library. They had a mapped out page of the drainage system of Derry. Of course, you would know because you've skimmed through every possible detail during your short time there. However, you're not going back. Especially after what happened that last visit. Nope, no way you'll be returning to that place anytime soon. At least for now.

Instead you image searched it on your smartphone, which proved to be much more convenient. It looked as though all the drains met up at this well house, which just so happens to be currently occupied by the Neibolt house.

The Neibolt house. You remember walking by it once with Gabby when she gave you her own version of a town tour. As she showed you the best and the worst attractions which the town had to offer. She made a comment on how the house was considered the worst for her, but it was probably labeled as best for you seeing how "you're into that spooky shit." Those were her words directly, not yours. Though you didn't make a point on disagreeing with her at the time.

Guess you'll have to stop by that house again.

~~

The street is empty when you pull up to the house. Parking on the opposite side of the road, you step out of your vehicle and briefly scan the surroundings. It doesn't seem like there's much that goes on around here. The neighboring home has quite a space of distance in between. There are no cars or people that you can see nearby. It's deathly quiet, and you have an uneasy feeling about it.

Cautiously, you inch closer to the gate surrounding the property of the strange house.

Neibolt is precisely how you remember when you came to check it out. Having never actually seen inside of the house, you can only imagine it was just as rough as the outside. Large, old and run-down. The dark exterior is rotting away, almost all of the boarded windows are broken. Over grown grass and weeds are flooding the yard. Even the surrounding gate was worn and bent up, a few metal spikes which had once made up the gate are discarded onto the ground.

Pennywise must spend some time here. It would be suitable given the place's current status. You doubt that anyone else comes here, maybe the homeless and occasional thrill seekers. But it's probably always lonely most times. And for good reason, you'd presume.

Though, despite the dreadful eeriness, something beautiful stood out about the abandoned property. Sunflowers. The flowers grew throughout the entire yard. The vibrant yellow emerged from the desolate land, spreading the only form of liveliness on the block. Leaning on the gate door, you run your fingers through the soft petals of a flower. It's astonishing how a place this torn contains the most radiant sunflowers you have ever seen.

A creak suddenly comes from the porch, and your head whips up to notice that the front door is open a crack. That door was completely shut 5 seconds ago, you saw it when you walked up to the gate! Warily creeping into the yard, you try to keep quiet as you make your way to the porch. You try to be sneaky for the stairs. But the old boards scratch with the weight of your steps, making that impossible. You suck in and hold your breath, enhancing the sound of your heart hammering in your chest.

See, now this is the type of the stuff you'd call out in horror films- Don't walk up those steps! What the hell are you doing? Turn around!

Yet, here you are. Doing the same exact thing those foolish protagonists would do in said movie flicks.

Maybe it's because you have some sort of an idea of what you're going up against. Or perhaps it's the curiosity which slowly draws you in. Ever so quietly. As the wonder of finding out what's lurking in there pulls you further in. Even if your intrigue happens to be laced with fear. And sometimes.. you fear that what you find might get you to stay.

Keeping your distance, you call into the house. "Hello?"

Nothing.

You are only assuming that Pennywise might be close nearby. Since he's been following you around everywhere. Still, the anticipation is killing you. If he is here, you want some form of acknowledgement. Right now.

Your voice drops into a lower tone, "I know you're in there, and I know you can hear me so listen closely. Leave me alone. I don't want anything to do with you." The anger in your demand burns through the silence. You're tired of this, sick of all his games. "Damn it, just stay the hell away from me!"

Again, no response.

You scoff at yourself because this is so stupid. What if he isn't even here?

More silence.

He's not here. You were screaming into an empty house.

Accepting defeat, you turn around and get ready to walk down the steps. Until..

"What would you offer in return?" Pennywise's eerie whisper suddenly came from behind the door.

Glancing over your shoulder, there's no sight of him but his presence is definitely here. "Offer?" You retort. "There is no offer. I am done with all of this. Done with you. Now leave me alone."

His chuckles echo within the house. It's almost as though the whole house is alive itself. "But I don't want to leave you alone. And something tells me that you don't want me to either. So I don't believe I'll ever leave you alone."

"Why not?" You nearly yell back, trying to keep things discreet. "Why can't you just let me go?"

There is a long beat of deafening silence, mute to the point where there's an annoying ringing buzzing around in your ears. This type of suspense is frustrating. You're almost certain that he isn't going to reply until another creak comes from behind the door.

"You already know the answer to that.. I want you to give in." He deeply responds in that voice that winds you up. Practically toying with you, he already knows what you desire. He's using it against you, only adding to the delicious torture. Wanting to place further shame and humiliation upon you, possibly getting off on it. Your guard's breaking down and you try your damn hardest to not let it crumble completely. Trying desperately to hold it all together with any means of sanity you have left.

"Give i-in to what?" Your voice is jittery.

Pennywise laughs at you mockingly. "Ohh, you should really stop asking questions that you already have the answers to. I know your deepest desires, you stupid little human. What, you think that I can’t smell your heat from here?"

"Fuck you!" You spit back before stomping down the stairs.

The nerve to use your weakness against you like that. It's disgusting. Yet.. so damn alluring, there's no denying that.

Nope, nope, nope. Don't you dare think about that.

It can't keep going on this way. You don't know what will happen if you stay and entertain this entity any longer. You've only come to look at the place, and there's no way you're going inside. It's what he wants. Well screw that!

Walking back to the car, a dreadful harmony of whispers follow you back. Unrecognizable voices closing in fast. You swing around when it feels as though they might be directly behind you.

Visually, there's nothing there. Not a clown nor anything unusual in sight. Even the voices have stopped completely. But the air around you feels thick. There were voices there, you felt them on your neck. Rubbing the shivering sensation away, you glance around. Making sure none of this is just some hallucination. And that you're not crazy.

What if that's the case- what if you're really going crazy?

Maybe you are.

Does it really matter at this point?

Dismissing the thought, you rush back to your car, get in, and drive the short distance home. Providing plenty of time for you to breathe before you get home. There, hopefully you can focus on getting your thoughts in order. Because nothing is making sense to you anymore.

End of part 5.

[satureja13]

Next morning. Jack sneaked out. Ji Ho and Vlad are still sound asleep. The main work of doing their Bond Magic is still on them and it drains them. Despite the devices. Vlad will hate it. He wanted to spare Ji Ho from all this...

Jack went over to the garage to work on their rooms. They need more place to sleep. He is still amazed how easy and fast these machines build furniture and stuff! Out of trash and junk!

Meanwhile Jeb, Saiwa and Kiyoshi went to the kitchen. Jeb insists that Saiwa is cooking today with Kiyoshi - to help him come back... Sai can't get over how Jeb put Kiyoshi over him. Saiwa had always been jealous of Kiyoshi and Jeb. Jeb didn't even hesitate agreeing to their fake relationship! How far will this go?

Jeb dwells on his own thoughs. He knows that Saiwa always had a crush on Kiyoshi. Everyone has. That's just how Kiyoshi is. But he is his best friend and he trusts him unconditionally. And he would do anything to bring him back. Even though Kiyoshi could never tell him much about his duties for the Council, the Resistance and the Temple.

But watching them together makes Jeb think if it was the right decision. What will he do when this fated-mates-thing is true? Did Kiyoshi love Saiwa all the time and just never told them because Kiyoshi knew how much he loved Saiwa? Did he give up on Saiwa so they could be together? Gods - the way Kiyoshi looks at him... Will Jeb be able to give up on Saiwa so Kiyoshi and Saiwa can be together? ö.Ö'

Ji Ho and Vlad eventually got up and they gathered for breakfast. They are so happy to be all together again <3 Ji Ho couldn't avoid to bring up the fact that they'll have to pay back Francine, Rubyn, Dtui and Leander (Vlad growled when he heard Ji Ho mentioning him ^^') for their help. But all of them agreed that they'd happily earn money the best they can to pay back. This place - their home - is more than they could ever hope for! Of course they would work to keep and earn it!

They discussed their possibilities. Jack could sell his amazing nectar, Vlad his paintings... And they'd have to find a way to send their produce to the Muggle World. The Otherworld is populated too sparsely. Jeb: "Vanië, you could start programming again and even develop computer games!" Saiwa: "Uh - I'm good with computers - but there's a lot more to a game than just programming the code. I would have to compose the music and sounds, make up and write the story and dialogues and then all the design stuff and concept art. I can't do any of these things."

If only Saiwa would know some creatures who are capable of all these things... ;) (Vlad is writer, Ji Ho composer and Jack draws ^^')

After breakfast Jack took Ji Ho upstairs. He decorated a room for him.

Ji Ho: "Gods, Jack - this is too much. It even looks better than your room!" Jack: "What? Nothing looks better than my Space House Boat!"

There is even a bathtub at the balcony with view on the river! And Jack even made a corner with all of Ji Ho's music stuff!

Ji Ho: "Thank you, Jack. It's so beautiful!"

Jack: "You have the best view of all of our rooms. Right on the river." Ji Ho: "It's stunning. Wow."

Then they talked a bit about their 'learn how to love lessons' and pondered about how Ji Ho could be able to learn how to love Vlad... Jack: "Let's go to the temple and visit Arturo later. I have to see him anyway, my pain gets worse again. He'll have advice for us." Ji Ho: "I hope so. I hate to see Vlad suffer because of me."

When will you ever learn when there's nowhere left to turn Don't let your spirit burn I'll wait 'till you return

All the dreams that we were building We never lived them We could lose it, we should use it Lessons in love - Level 42

From the Beginning  ~  Underwater Love ~  Latest 🛺 'Home happy Home' from the beginning ▶️ here 📚 Previous Chapters: 🛺 'Home crappy Home' from the beginning ▶️ here 🌴 'The Expedition' from the beginning ▶️ here 🎤 'Putting the Boys Back together' from the beginning ▶️ here 🥀 'Disbandment of the Group' from the beginning ▶️ here

[lec743]

Darksiders Concept thing-y with Samael

The human writhed in his grasp as she tried to get out of his unyielding but gentle grip. Samael could feel how her body pulsed and trembled with fear but she glared at him as if she could do anything about the situation she was in.

"You would be wise to calm yourself before you hurt yourself." The giant demon rumbled softly. She narrowed her gaze at him, but she stilled in his hand as he continued to walk through his castle. Samael hummed approvingly as he made his way to her cell. "You have made quite the name for yourself, from what I heard, so I am sure your Horsemen will be searching high and low for you. Unfortunately for you, they don't know that I took you, but they'll find out eventually. Until then you shall be my guest."

She scoffed but said nothing else. The giant demon made it to her cell. The inside was lush and luxurious. There was a bed with silken sheets and satin pillows. A place for her to dine at, decorated like a party was going to take place; with candelabras, real silver silverware, elegant designs on the plates, and with room for a guest besides herself. A curtain separated a room meant for keeping up her hygiene, with a bath so big in comparison to her that it's more of a small pool. The only window in the room was a stain glass window, much too tall for her to possibly reach. Samael sat her down on her one foot as the door closed behind them.

"These will be your quarters for the time being. As my guest, you are safe here, but I can not guarantee your safty outside of your room. So I suggest you get comfortable here until your Horsemen come for you."

When he looked down at her, she was looking at him with her brows furrowed and her mouth open. She seemed indignant.

"Your meal will be brought up to you within a few hours." With that being said, Samael turned and walked out of the cell, the lock magically locking into place. As he walked away, he heard the tell-tell sign of the door rattling and faint scratches.

A few days pass and reports of his spies say the Horsemen are after the enemy he aimed them at. A demon that was rumored to want his down fall and was in the middle of the process of doing just that.

Pleased with himself, Samael decided to indulge his curiosity with the human woman. Was his informants wrong about The Maker's failure to keep what humans, they have, alive? Or has the eldest of Lilith's children managed to figure out true resurrection for creatures that are not connected to the cycle of rebirth. Or was it something else?

He pondered these thoughts as he made his way to her room. As he made his way to her cell, he came across an unpleasant surprise. The human was out of her cell, with a leg made out of a chair leg, rope, and a pillow. She was hobbling low to the ground, looking like she was trying to escape.

Samael growled at the sight and flew over to her, landing right behind her. Making the floor shake on purpose as he landed. She squeaked and stumbled to the ground, but she got her legs quickly under her feet and started to run. She didn't get far before the Prince of Hell snatched her up in his claws.

She thrashed a bit in his grip before stilling. He could feel every ragged breath and flutter of her heartbeat in the palm of his hand. He turned her to face him, and Samael bore holes into her with his fiery gaze.

"How did you escape?"

She gave him a terrified smile. "A true magician never reveals their secrets..."

"Humans are incapable of magic."

"I'm incapable of the magic you know, but not of the magic that I know."

He felt her quiet gasp when he growled at her answer. "Do not play this game, Human. You will lose." He started walking towards her cell.

"Losing won't stop me."

A small feeling of admiration poked through Samael's frustrations at her words. He growled at her, and she flinched away from him but she kept eye contact with him. He turned her away from him as he continued his walk back to her cell.

[g1rlintun3]

~ 𝒻𝒶𝓉𝑒 ~ ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ꩜Sam Giddings x Fem!Oc

「 ✦ 𝐹𝒶𝓉𝑒 ✦ 」

I. Hannah & Beth

| - ͙۪۪̥˚┊❛ Fate does not discriminate or falter; it is both distant and intimate, shaping the destiny of the stars and the pulse of a heartbeat. It reminds us that we are but a small part of a much larger picture, a single note in an endless symphony; A lone piece in a ceaseless jigsaw puzzle❜┊˚͙۪۪̥◌ |

Chapter 1 chapter 2

A sharp pain throbbed through my skull as I groaned into the plush confines of my pillow.

The disorienting aftermath of the ill-advised "Who can drink the most without throwing up" challenge with Chris and Josh had left me regretting every sip.

Mustering what little strength I had, I slowly pushed myself up from the bed, clutching the comforting warmth of a blanket around me against the frigid chill in the air. As I shuffled out to the kitchen in search of water, I was met by an unsettled Beth, her eyes darting suspiciously towards the darkened windows. "I swore I just saw somebody outside," she said, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Really? Where?" I asked, my voice laced with a wary curiosity.

"I don't know, but they're gone now. Josh said we'd be alone up here though," she replied, her lips twisting into a sardonic grin. "You good? Too much alcohol?" she teased, handing me a cold bottle of water.

I eagerly ripped it open, gulping down the refreshing liquid. That's when I noticed the folded paper on the table - a note from Mike to Hannah, dripping with smarmy innuendo. "Damnnn," I whistled, passing it to Beth. "What has she gotten herself into this time?"

______________________

Hannah,

You look so damn hot in that shirt... but I bet you're even hotter out of it.

Come to the guest room at 2:00am ;)

Mike

xxx!

______________________

Before we could ponder the possible implications, Hannah came bursting out the front door, fleeing into the snowy, foreboding woods.

"What the hell?" I gasped, gripping the blanket tighter as me and Beth ran towards the commotion.

"Oh god," I breathed, running my hands anxiously through my hair.

"What's going on? Where's my sister going?" Beth demanded, her voice tinged with panic.

"It's fine, she just can't take a joke," Jess scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"It was just a prank, Han!" Emily yelled, her tone dismissive.

"What did you do?" Beth cried, her face contorted with a mixture of fear and fury.

"We were just messing around, Beth. It wasn't serious..." Mike stammered, his words laced with guilt.

"You jerks!" Beth shouted, before disappearing into the inky blackness of the forest.

"What the fuck is wrong with y'all?" I screamed, my voice dripping with disgust as I shoulder-checked Mike and stormed back into the cabin. "Y'all are fucking foul."

I huffed in frustration as I threw myself into one of the kitchen chairs, the hard wood pressing uncomfortably against my back. Sam soon approached from behind me.

"They're such damn jerks," she sighed, leaning over the back of my chair. I could feel the warmth of her breath on my neck, and my heart began to race.

"Should I go out there? To look for them?" I offered, trying to keep my voice steady. I lifted my arm, lightly tracing my fingers along Sam's forearm. She didn't flinch, but I noticed her pupils dilate slightly.

"Mmm, give them a bit. They'll come around," Sam whispered, her hand coming to rest on my shoulder. Her thumb grazed the sensitive skin at the nape of my neck, and I shuddered at her touch.

"Fuck, I feel so bad and I wasn't even involved," I sighed, leaning my head into my hand. Sam's hand slid down my arm, her fingers intertwining with mine.

"Jeez, seriously," I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper. The tension between us was palpable. "I should go out there. I have a really bad fucking feeling," I said, reluctantly pulling away from Sam's grasp and standing up. She gave me a sad, longing look.

"They're going to die out there. It's way too cold," I I murmured, Sam's hand reaching out to lightly graze my hip as I turned to leave.

"Give them a few minutes. If they don't come back, we both can go," she said, her voice low. "Okay?"

"Okay," I sighed, forcing myself to walk away from Sam's alluring presence and head upstairs to my bedroom.

Jesus, the thought of Hannah and Beth out there alone gnawed at my soul.. The idea of them perishing under such cruel circumstances felt like a wound, a deep cut that I knew I wouldn't be able to bandage. In the stillness of the night, I found myself whispering silent prayers to the indifferent stars, hoping beyond hope that fate would be kind and bring them back safely..

And so, fate had other plans, unraveling the threads of destiny in her own inscrutable way. The path that seemed so clear was suddenly obscured, veering into the unexpected. It was as if the universe itself had whispered a quiet defiance, shifting the course of our lives without warning.

___________________________________

1 year later

I was rudely awoken by my alarm clock blaring right into my ear.

"Noo," I groaned into my cozy blankets, snuggling up into my pillows and stuffed animals. But of course, that didn't stop the relentless screeching of my alarm.

"Jesus fucking Christ, okay!" I yelled, slamming my hand down on the silence button.

"Ugh," I groaned again, massaging my eyes, trying to wipe away the remnants of sleep.

I pulled off my blankets, the cold morning air hitting my bare legs and arms, making me hiss. I dragged myself into the bathroom to do my business and take a shower.

Today was the day—the anniversary of my two best friends' deaths, Hannah and Beth. I don't have the right words to describe what I felt when I found out they hadn't come back that night. I had selfishly fallen asleep when I could've been out there looking for them. I even prayed for them, and I'm not even religious in any way.

I wonder how Sam is dealing with all of this. She was really close to Hannah. It's been a while since we talked, and that's not like us at all. We used to be inseparable, always hanging out, crashing at each other's places for sleepovers. But now, things have changed. The tension between us is almost palpable, and yet, neither of us has addressed it.

Sometimes, I think I'm just being paranoid, imagining the distance that's grown between us. But then again, maybe there's something real there. I don't want to admit it, but part of me feels confused about my feelings for Sam. Is it just deep friendship, or is it something more? I can't even figure it out myself.

I really want to talk to her about it, lay everything out in the open, but the fear of ruining our friendship holds me back. What if she doesn't feel the same? What if it makes things even more awkward between us?

And to make matters worse, I think she has a thing for Josh. It's hard to miss the way she looks at him. I try to be supportive, to encourage her, but jealousy gnaws at me. Why can't I just be happy for her without these stupid ass complicated feelings getting in the way?

I keep replaying our last conversation in my head, searching for clues, for literally anything that might explain why things feel so...off. But all I find are more questions, more doubts. The distance between us feels like a chasm, and I don't know how to bridge it. But what I do know is that I miss the way things used to be, and I don't know how to get back to that place. Maybe I never can.

And don't even get me started on the rest of the group, they all piss me off as of currently. I don't even want to see Jess' or Emily's face. They all fucking disgust me. I've seen Ashley's posts, all talking about how sad their disappearance is. Like, weren't you the one there laughing at Hannah being publicly humiliated? Fucking fake-ass bitch.

And the cherry on top? We're going back to the cabin. I can't shake the feeling that it's wrong, especially on their anniversary. It feels like we're walking into a ghost's embrace. But maybe, just maybe, this is what Hannah and Beth would have wanted. God, I don't even know anymore. The lines between right and wrong have blurred, and I'm left grappling with the weight of it all.

I stepped into the shower, the hot water cascading over me, washing away the cold but not the heaviness in my chest. The steam filled the bathroom, but it couldn't clear the fog in my mind. Memories of that night played on a loop, each one a dagger to my heart. The guilt, the regret, it all came rushing back, overwhelming me.

I leaned against the shower wall, letting the water run over my face. I could still hear their laughter, see their smiles. They were so full of life, and now they're gone. And I was left here, grappling with the what-ifs and the should-haves.

After my shower, I wrapped myself in a towel and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were red, my face pale. I looked like a ghost of my former self. The person staring back at me was a stranger, someone I didn't quite recognize nor like.

I got dressed slowly, each movement feeling like a monumental effort. Today was going to be hard, but I had to face it. For Hannah and Beth. For myself.

I made my way to the kitchen, the house eerily quiet. I grabbed a cup of coffee, hoping it would give me the strength to get through the day. As I sipped it, I thought about Sam again. We used to be inseparable, but now there was this distance between us. The incident had shattered our bond, and I didn't know how to fix it.

I picked up my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I found her name. My finger hovered over the call button, but I couldn't bring myself to press it. What would I even say? How could I bridge the gap that had grown between us?

With a sigh, I put my phone down and finished my coffee. I had to get out of the house, clear my head. I grabbed my coat and headed outside, the cold air biting at my skin. As I walked, I thought about Hannah and Beth, about the memories we shared. They deserved better than this. They deserved to be remembered, not just mourned.

I made my way to the park, the place where we used to hang out. It was empty, the playground deserted. I sat on one of the swings, the chains creaking as I moved back and forth. The silence was deafening, the weight of my grief pressing down on me.

I closed my eyes, letting the memories wash over me. The laughter, the inside jokes, the late-night talks. They were gone, but they weren't forgotten. And as long as I remembered them, they would always be with me.

I opened my eyes and looked up at the sky. The clouds were heavy, threatening rain. But I didn't care. I would sit here for as long as it took, remembering my friends, honoring their memory.

And maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to move forward. Not forget, but move forward. For Hannah and Beth. For myself.

~~~~~~~

Before I knew it, it was time to head over to the bus stop. Time to go back to that shit hole. I hate to say this, but I miss it. Actually, scratch that , I think I miss the idea of it, not it as a whole. The memories, the laughter, the moments that made it feel like home. But I know it won't be the same without my best friends.

I can't be a party pooper and drag down everybody's mood. So, I have to fake it till I make it, right? I can't be sexy and sad... I mean, I could because I'd pull it off effortlessly. But no, I have to be sexy and happy.

I stood there, waiting for the bus, my mind racing. The cold air nipped at my skin, but I barely felt it. I was too lost in my thoughts. The bus pulled up, and I climbed on, finding a seat near the back. I stared out the window, watching the world blur by, my reflection staring back at me.

As the bus rumbled down the road, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. I could do this. I had to. I wasn't going to let the past drag me down. I was going to face it head-on, with a smile on my face and a sassy comment ready on my lips.

And who knows, maybe by the end of this trip, I won't have to fake it anymore. Maybe I'll find a way to be genuinely happy again. But for now, I'll play the part. I'll be the confident, sassy, sexy version of myself that everyone expects. And maybe, just maybe, I'll start to believe it too.

[shyhaya]

well, I know I'm incredibly late ;-; college is keeping me busy. Still, here's my little gift for you Auburn! <3 @azulashengrottospiano

The true meaning of Soulmates

─────❀◦❀◦❀─────

Something was keeping Azul awake.

It wasn't new for the young man to be awake late at night, staring at the ceiling of his bedroom. Sometimes his thoughts were too many and he couldn't drift off to sleep peacefully. It seemed this was one of those nights.

The matter of the subject wasn't something he really thought about in the past, but now it kept swirling in his head. To a certain degree, it was stupid. Why did this bother him so much? He had never really believed in soulmates. The concept was vague and simply not possible in his mind. Some humans believe in it, including his.

Maybe that was why he pondered over the idea. She had mentioned a legend about soulmates in one of their dates and although he was a little confused when she had first explained it to him, now he was curious. Two souls destined to be together no matter the circumstances.. very romantic. While he shifted on the mattress, his thoughts went from that to her.

In the remote case soulmates were indeed real, as his darling believed.. was he hers? Was he the other half to her soul, the one destined to love her and protect her no matter what? He wanted to believe he was. Even if he didn't believe in it, the idea of being the perfect match up for her, the ideal partner, the only one for her.. it brought a sense of comfort and peace to him.

She was just so, so beautiful, intelligent, dedicated and the most lovable person he has ever met. It was a wonder for him how she became so interested in him and how she could love him so openly, so deeply. She taught him how to love himself and accept things as they are, including her love. Needless to say, he loved her too. More than anything. She is his angel, his treasure.

Shifting on the bed and sighing, Azul realized that he perhaps he wanted to believe in soulmates. Not only because of the reason described before, but because she believed in it. Because she believes they were made to be together, and he wants to believe in her, in what she says. He wants to trust they'll be together this life and the next, and even if they don't he's sure he'll look for her, he'll find her wherever she is.

It was difficult for him at first, to accept that she had become a very important part of his life. Now it's natural for him to say she is his significant other, the one who has been with him at his lowest and highest point. The one he loves more than anyone else.

A shy smile made it's way to his lips, and he thanked the gods above that he was alone in the comfort of his room, because he wouldn't be able to live in peace if someone were to see him in this state (specially the twins). He would only show this side to her.

It didn't even matter if he really didn't turned out to be her soulmate, the young man realized, because maybe it wasn't just fate who decided that. His angelfish was the one who choose him, so it didn't matter if they weren't destined. She wanted to be with him, and that was enough. It was all he needed.

With his mind made up about the subject, Azul finally let himself get comfortable and this time, he easily drifted off to sleep, wanting the night to go by faster so he could see her.

I know this isn't much, but I really wanted to give you something! I love Azul too and I really enjoy your writing, so I hope this is enough <3

[lockpickingliar]

FAQ

So what are your muses exactly?

You can think of them as whatever, I don't really care what people think or believe about it. However, if you're looking for a genuine answer, they are technically soulbonds.

Okay, then what's a soulbond?

A soulbond is when you make a spiritual connection with someone from another universe, and pull them into your headspace. My partner and I have a knack for it, to the point it can sometimes happen by accident when we get too into role plays or engaging in source material. Fuyuhiko and Clover, for example, came when I got too animated talking to the character onscreen during an FTE and got too into the headspace of the character while playing from their perspective, respectively. However, some were pulled on purpose, either to provide them some solace from their situation, to give them an opportunity at a comfortable afterlife, or just because we want to get to know them.

Can they go back?

Yes, as long as they aren't a DOA, they have the freedom to come and go as they please. Time is relative to wherever they are to perceive it, so it's kinda like no time has passed whenever they do go back. Most daytrippers like to go back and forth when they go to bed each night to keep things straight.

What's a DOA?

DOA, or Dead On Arrival, is a descriptor for soulbonds that we pulled from death. Functionally that makes this their afterlife. DOAs typically come with residual mental and emotional trauma to their souls, which manifest as chronic pain and complications reminiscent of how they died. The more they heal from that trauma, the more those symptoms fade.

Does this mean you're an endogenic system?

Technically speaking, I'm a mixed system. It's just that all the Dangan kids here are soulbonds. None of my traumagenic alters are Danganronpa-related, and so they didn't want to encroach on the space.

Why so many Kokichis?

I play Kokichi in role plays a lot and am particularly enthralled by his character. The narrative did him so dirty, and I just want to give him nice things. As many of them as I possibly can.

Your muse is acting strangely! Why are they talking like a child?

They're probably age regressing, just let them be. If you want an answer from them specifically when they're big, say so in your ask and they'll hold off until they've come back out of it.

What's age regression?

Age regression is a nonsexual coping mechanism where someone regresses to the mindset of a child. Most of the people here are vent regressors, which means they regress in response to or to cope with trauma, but they may also regress sometimes for fun or to relax. If you want an answer from someone specifically when they're regressed, say so in your ask and they'll pick it up at a time when they're small. However, if you'd prefer not to engage in the regression content, then you can block the tag #lil ultimates.

What's up with your Talent?

When Clover first got here, one of the first things he did was observe my partner and I extensively. He was kind of dismayed at the idea of a universe where Ultimate Talents didn't exist and insisted that Ultimates were definitely out there, we just didn't go looking for them or giving them titles. After a while I guess he determined we both were and gave us each a title. Initially, he dubbed me the "Ultimate Learner," but then Mae came along and said that didn't feel quite right. Being a Talent Scout himself, he then spent the next half and hour pondering over it until he settled on Ultimate Archivist.

What does Ultimate Archivist mean?

I just really like to gather and hoard information and skills. I want to learn all I can about as much as I can, and apparently Clover and Mae think I'm fairly good at it. It goes beyond just being a traditional archivist in a professional sense, although I do have a passion for it and want to work in that field one day.At it's core I just have a knack for understanding things and have a drive to do that with anything and everything.

[sparethcsympathy]

“What would you do if I didn’t come back?” /for Maggie

clearing out memes || @wiredcapability

THE ANTICIPATION HUNG HEAVY in the air as Maggie pondered the possibility of Negan not returning. HER HEART ACHED at the thought. "Wouldn't blame ya'..." The brunette murmured, her fingers nervously fiddling together before she forced them flat onto her lap, unable to meet Negan's gaze. She was AFRAID to lock eyes with him for the FIRST TIME, uncertain of what might transpire if they did. With a deep sigh, she chewed THOUGHTFULLY on her bottom lip, lost in her own contemplation.

The question is, WHAT WOULD SHE DO ? Many, and even herself, should be happy to finally get rid of him once and for all. RIGHT ? Because that's what they all had wanted, ...right ? And though Rosita, Aaron, and many others would be glad to see Negan leave, Maggie couldn't suppress a sense of sadness swelling up inside her. GENTLY TUCKING a stray wisp of brown hair behind her ear, she summoned all her inner resolve to meet his gaze for the first time since he had spoken, the sorrow evident in her eyes.

" You'll never be more than a killer here if ya' stay. They'll always be talkin' about you, eyes watching you like a hawk... everyone hates you... well, not everyone... " A PAUSE BEFORE Maggie sits up from where she sat. " ... I don't... I don't hate ya', Negan. Not anymore. " And she speaks TRUTH, and nothing but the truth, the tiniest of grins lifting at the corner of her lips; it should shock her to even find herself smiling at Negan, but it feels right. " ... I already lost so many, I- I don't know If I can lose anymore... "

Her heart drops to her stomach, swallowing down the emotions in an attempt to hide just how BROKEN the thought makes her feel. Yet her eyes give away everything, glossing over and torn apart. Maggie turns away from Negan completely. CHEST CLENCHING SO TIGHT; IT'S SUFFICATING. " You belong here... just as much as I do.. but if you wanna leave, I can't stop ya. But I would miss ya. "

[queerworldtravelers]

Palermo, Sicily - Part 2

38°07'55" N, 13°20'8" E

“We live on second times. First times are for hasty and urgent people. For those who are surprised when the clock chimes and don’t realize that, on the contrary, wonder lies in repetition, time and again, in choosing for the second time the first time.” - Antonella Salamone

Set your pulse on fire:

As the days passed we were able to see deeper into the layers of the city. Space opened up for us to reflect and ponder what questions to ask. We ventured into corners and alleys taking the time to say hello and to connect in meaningful ways to the people of Palermo, or Palermitani. We also ate a billion more oranges and we may never be able to go anywhere else simply for the quality of the citrus present here. We also ate almost all of the street food. 

Several sources name the Palermo Botanical Garden, or Orto Botanico di Palermo, as the most beautiful in the world. We are avid botanical garden visitors and we have to agree. The space is a welcome break from the constant buzz of Palermo traffic. There is an antiquity surrounding all of the plant specimens in a patina that is like nowhere else. The ground below the cactuses is blanketed in what other gardens may call weeds. Spent oranges are everywhere. Just over the garden wall the rusty skeletons of the neighboring gas plant peek through the trees. The garden, much like Palermo itself, isn’t pretentious. In that modesty it is a stunning respite from perfection. A reaffirming lesson that we are all incredibly beautiful just as we are: weeds and all.

According to a Wikipedia article with no sources there are 106 churches in Palermo. We venture to guess that number is about right. On a rainy day we visited two of them. Chiesa di San Cataldo is a part of the Arab-Norman Palermo, a string of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The structure dates to the era of the Norman kingdom of Sicily, built in 1154, and serves as an outstanding example of a socio-cultural syncretism between Western, Islamic, and Byzantine cultures. Today you'll have to pay a separate fee at each church to get in, but they'll give you a discount if you visit them all. Admittedly it is outstanding to see the confluence of cultures. The craftsmanship and preservation, in spite of extensive damage of WWII bombings, has us in deep gratitude for every historian and archeologist committed to preserving relics of the past for future lessons. From what we have observed, Palermo is a city of tolerance and has quite a bit to share with the rest of the world. 

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and has been a strategic location for trade routes making the history here pretty epic. We wandered into the Salinas Regional Archeological Museum after strolling past the sito archeologico domus Romana, Roman ruins encapsulated in a worn iron fence with a faded sign indicating that the ancient mosaics from the floor could be found across town. We arenʻt really sure if we ever found the mosaics, but we did find piles of history. The museum has so many columns they are stacked up in the courtyard! Key takeaways: the Romans wandered around with curses scrolled on sheets of lead in their pocket (that’ll teach you for being mean to other people); Khaled Mohamad al-Asaad was a renowned archeologist in Syria and was publicly beheaded by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in 2015 at the age of 83; and that it would take a lifetime to truly grasp the history of this place.  

Top secret: the best cannolis in Palermo are made by the nuns in a little shop called I Segreti del Chiostro in the Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria. If you wander in close to sunset you just might get the courtyard to yourself and then you can pay €5 each (they won’t give you a discount from the other churches) to go to the roof. The trek up is a spine-chilling wander through the back halls of a very old church. Venturing to the top at sunset was possibly the most centering experience during our time in Palermo. From a few stories up the city is radiant and glimmers in the setting sun. Surrounded by the tolling of at least ten different church bells we embraced the opportunity to support the teenage security guard’s make out session with her boyfriend after they told us we had to leave in Italian. We all agreed that none of us understood so we could all stay just a little bit longer. 

The UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity includes many interesting things, and specific to our adventure Sicilian puppetry. We attempted to catch a show, but seemed to keep just missing them so we adventured to the museum to surround ourselves with hundreds of puppets. While standing amidst the suspended animation of many creatures Mary asked “do you think puppets have spirits?” Yikes! 

We know our time in Palermo is not over by any means. We will certainly return. The city is filled with incredible art, epic food, and a historic undercurrent that is impossible to ignore. Our next stop is Santa Flavia and the Bagheria area. Home to all of Krystal’s Sicilian ancestors.

“But you don't come to Palermo to stay in minimalist hotels and eat avocado toast; you come to Palermo to be in Palermo, to drink espressos as dark and thick as crude oil, to eat tangles of toothsome spaghetti bathed in buttery sea urchins, to wander the streets at night, feeling perfectly charmed on one block, slightly concerned on the next. To get lost. After a few days, you learn to turn down one street because it smells like jasmine and honeysuckle in the morning; you learn to avoid another street because in the heat of the afternoon the air is thick with the suggestion of swordfish three days past its prime.” ― Matt Goulding

FEBRUARY 7, 2023

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Choosing Your Perfect Automation Ally - 5 Key Points To Consider

In our fast-paced world, where time is scarce and competition aplenty, handing over your grunt work to machines through automation isn't just a luxury - it's a necessity for your business to survive. But how do you entrust an agency with something that important? What are the metrics you should judge by? Well, we might be able to aid you in your quest for your perfect Airtable or Zapier automation agency. Down below is a list of factors that will get you the perfect fit for your business.

Figure Out What You Need - Before starting the process of automation consulting, assess the needs of your business. Ponder the challenges that automation can solve and the outcome you hope to achieve before you decide on the processes you want to automate. This will give you a clear idea of what services you need when scouring for an automation agency.

Do Your Homework - With your needs clear in mind, it is time to get digging. Seek out agencies that can turn your vision into reality and have a track record to prove their proficiency. Enquire about the range of services they provide, their industry experience, and expertise in the type of automation you want to incorporate. Read reviews and look up stats about the companies to gain insights into their reputation and the quality of the work they provide.

Communication and Collaboration - Nobody enjoys being kept out of the loop, especially about the things that can make or break their business, so opt for an agency that communicates clearly and keeps you posted. The top agencies will take time to understand the unique demands of your business and work with you to find out the perfect solutions for all your problems. They will also be transparent about their pricing and will not have hidden charges. Additionally, they'll keep giving you updates so that you're on the same page as your Airtable or Excel consultant.

Cost and Return On Investment - A lot depends on the kind of money you're willing to spare to set up your business automation system. While some businesses may charge less than others, they might not provide the best returns possible. Make sure to weigh the return on investment you'll be receiving against the money you'll be paying upfront to get the best balance of quality and affordability.

Customization - Every business has its unique set of problems so providing generic solutions for all would never yield the results it has the potential to. The best agencies will try to understand the needs of your business and come up with solutions that have been tailored for you. They usually also provide a range of packages and on-demand virtual support so that you can opt for a service that suits your business the most, ensuring the best possible results.

Endnotes -

The right automation agency can propel your business to success you didn't think was possible, so choosing judiciously is paramount. Navigating the road from figuring out what you need, to getting an Excel or Airtable consultant that caters to your needs requires a lot of discernment and careful consideration. But we can help you out here by providing you with a name you can't go wrong with - ProsperSpark. Drop a line today and transform your business.