#thinking of names for her. maybe Mira

[nothing-but-flowers88]

I really like this so auntie Hera and kalluzeb baby

[shouyuus]

sooo i was going back through my figure skating folder on tiktok and saw this video again and immediately my brain went meljayce ice dancing/skating 🫶🏽

yes!!! so that's pair's skating -- the difference between ice dance and pairs skating is that in ice dance, there's no jumping/throwing, and you can't lift the girl above shoulder height! but the edge control and the dynamics/synchronization is insane.

here are two of my fav programs in ice dance:

tessa and scott's 2018 pyeongchang free dance (i was THERE!!!!)

shib sibs 2018 pyeongchang paradise (i was also there and i subsequently got to meet them when they were doing a ralph lauren event in nyc so that was kinda cool)

and pairs skating is where you get the really crazy jumps and throws and side-by-side triple-double jumps -- two of my favs:

sui and han bridge over troubled water at beijing 2022

knierim and frazier fall on me 2020 nationals

so the "stereotype" and i say that loosely bc it's all kind of in good fun, is that freestyle skaters are like... all about that power, right they gotta YEET themselves into the air and do insane jumps, and ice dancers are all about precision and control -- they even have slightly different skates than normal "freestyle" skaters. the blades are shorter so they can get in real close to their partner and not step on them lol.

so i headcanoned that mel's always been an ice dancer, she's precise and careful and very, very refined. and jayce used to be a pairs skater (i mean, it'd put some of those fuCKING muscles to good use yall) but swapped to ice dance after meeting mel.

[evils-corner]

Trying to nail down some character designs and doodled something for the first time in ages yesterday. Girl on the left is unnamed, girl on the right is Hazel.

Idk why some characters are so hard to name but girlie is NOT cooperating with me 😭

[nouvellevqgue]

✦ FULL OF FAN BEHAVIOR, M. VERSTAPPEN

everybody knows that this account is full of max. from his first win to now, from his most random things to his glory time, she's always there to post his pictures. they only know her as his friend and nothing more, but who is she actually?

req: Saw your post for smau requests, maybe a Max Verstappen where people don't realise his girlfriends account is you know her official verified account. Because practically every single post is about Max. Full on fan behaviour, in the sense she was his first fan as his childhood friend, she has been there supporting him since they were kids, and now they're adults and together, but some habits doesn't change.

(bonus if the posts makes people question why she choose Max as her mans.)

2016 - 2018

verstappenight

liked by maxverstappen33, and 1,942 others

verstappenight WOOOO P1🏆🏁 congratulations to you maximus, i'm soo proud of you!

view all 125 comments

maxverstappen33 I won't say anything about the name Maximus, but thank you 😄

danielricciardo Well deserved! 👍🙌

username look how young he is

username I love a supportive fan ^^ Plz post more of this man.

   ⤷ yourusername glad to be on your service, ma'am

username how old is he?

username He's so happy, he turns red.

username I usually don't trust redbull after Sebastian, but he might be my new exception🤷‍♀️

verstappenight

liked by danielricciardo, and 1,230 others

verstappenight that eyes glint with mischief. #throwbackthursday

view all 65 comments

maxverstappen33 Oh my god, I thought I trusted you by taking this years ago

   ⤷ yourusername never trust anyone

username The half smile😂

username He's been pulling the red string with Red Bull from a long time ago, and look at the hat. I bet it's not a coincidence.

username how is she even managed to get this out? this looks so ancient

   ⤷ username It's not ancient, it's probably old, but not ancient.

danielricciardo He looks like he's planning to steal one of the cars steering wheel

   ⤷ username exactly! 😂😂

username if it's a throwback, how old is this pic then?

   ⤷ username i mean he looks way younger than him on her recent post, so just figure it.

   ⤷ username he always looks younger

verstappenight

liked by victoriaverstappen, and 963 others

verstappenight how is it feel to have a duplicates?

view all 72 comments

maxverstappen33 Why are you taking the second one?

   ⤷ verstappenight and why are YOU posing to that one?

username Why is he looks younger and younger each time?

   ⤷ verstappenight i don't know, but i definitely recommend him to have a slug treatment for anti aging.

   ⤷ username username it's him in torro rosso, so that's why he looks more like a teenager.

username it's not even thursday yet, but i had a bad feeling for this week's throwback thursday.

verstappenight

liked by carlossainz55, and 3,573 others

verstappenight boo! happy halloween #throwbackthursday

view all 269 comments

username what did i say, my feelings are never lying

carlossainz55 Got you! 😆🤣

   ⤷ maxverstappen1 If I got a heart attack next week, it'll be completely your fault

landonorris is halloween on 29 or 30?

   ⤷ username depends on what region you're in, i guess?

   ⤷ landonorris don't guess, answer.

maxverstappen1 And how are you even managed to take this?? Seriously. yourusername

username I can't believe it's actually Carlos who did this

   ⤷ username Yeah, but I think this is so Carlos-like behavior.

username i would do that face too if someone dressed as scream beside me

username Who is running this fanpage?

username why are you liking him so much?

   ⤷ yourusername because he is so nice, cool, and he looks like sid from ice age which is my favorite character.

   ⤷ danielricciardo we got a whole stack of characters here: first we got maximus the horse from tangled, sid from ice age, and then what? jimmy neutron?

username 😂😂😂ajajaja mira su cara!

verstappenight

liked by redbullracing, and 3,782 others

verstappenight found this on twitter and now i can't stop laughing! can't wait to send this to my family group.

view all 90 comments

maxverstappen1 I really can't trust you with my digital footprint 🤦🏻‍♂️

   ⤷ verstappenight i found this on twitter alright, it's not taken by me!

   ⤷ maxverstappen1 Still.

   ⤷ carlossainz55 Ooh, someone's upset...

username who is this person behind this account?

username Why is his reaction is always looking so hilarious

username Max: 😦

username i feel him

username you sure it's not throwback thursday?

MID 2023

verstappenight

liked by charles_leclerc, and 97,182 others

verstappenight i changed throwback thursday with this questionable sense of max's fashion. hope that's alright.

photo credit via verstauri on twitter.

view all 348 comments

username NOOOOOOOOOOOO

username #bringbackthrowbackthursday

charles_leclerc If you get rid of throwback Thursday, how am I going to tease him?

   ⤷ verstappenight by searching it on pinterest🤷🏻‍♀️

username Is that real or photoshopped?

username Okay, I know throwback thursday is made a long time ago since 2015 but man I really miss it sm... 💔💔

   ⤷ verstappenight same, but some people don't need that old max (except for charles). we need the new one because life goes on -max via my message

   ⤷ maxverstappen1 I don't remember saying it

   ⤷ verstappenight shut up

username oh cmon i know charles want it because he's in love with max

   ⤷ username should i be surprised?

   ⤷ username i mean if there's no throwback thursday, who's going to tease him with his past when she's not there

   ⤷ username Daniel and Lando or Y/n could...

   ⤷ username oh come on, i don't even know who's the person behind this account anyway, for EIGHT YEARS

   ⤷ username As if you've never heard of twitter, just search her username and you'll see her REAL face.

THE TWEET SHE MEANT:

verstappenight

liked by schecoperez, and 113,809 others

verstappenight guess which one is the real one

view all 462 comments

schecoperez The first one of course!😂🤣

username since when did checos ass becoming that juicy

   ⤷ username since he listened to daddy yankee's song on repeat

   ⤷ danielricciardo His actual morning routine:

username the first one because what else would he be doing if not eating omelette and seeing checo's ass in the morning

   ⤷ username even checo himself agrees

username I'm glad that she still post here, even though there's no throwback thursday anymore😞😔

   ⤷ username but i guess even though we did not have throwback thursday anymore, we still have this crack post of him😄

TWITTER, 3 DAYS AFTER THE COMMENTS ON VERSTAPPENIGHT'S DADDY POST:

maxverstappen1 added a photo to their story! 2h

ON THE OTHER HAND, HER ACTUAL IG:

yourusername

liked by maxverstappen1 and 82,147 others

yourusername good moooorniiiiinggggg from my room<3

view all 97 comments

username Thank God it's not private

username damn yall work faster than the fbi

username Anyone come here from twitter?

username Omg I've never realized max pulled this hottie ever since they were born

username THIS IS VERSTAPPENIGHT ADMIN?????

   ⤷ username eight years of waiting is finally getting payed off..

username why are you even choosing max to be your man when there's charles or daniel who's sexier

   ⤷ yourusername sometimes i don't need looks to see to be having someone like max. he's my best friend first, and i'm glad i choose him right the first place.

   ⤷ username Oh that's sweet...

   ⤷ maxverstappen1 I love you too, My biggest fan.

   ⤷ username I LOVE YOU TOO??????💔💔

   ⤷ username oh my god max is having a REAL relationship with a fan account admin

   ⤷ username AWOOP🚨🚔 THEIR MEDIUM LAUNCH????

yourusername

liked by maxverstappen1, and 278,903 others

yourusername nobody knows that this phone addict is once my best friend. happy birthday maximus! 🥳🤍

view all 486 comments

landonorris happy birthday facebook dad.

maxverstappen1 I once again not going to take the Maximus name. It makes me feel like a horse from Rapunzel.

   ⤷ yourusername wait, you've watch tangled before?

danielricciardo Happy birthday, Big boy.

redbullracing Happy birthday to our number one champion! 🥳🥳

username awww baby maxiee🥺🥺🥺

lewishamilton Happy birthday, mate!

carlossainz55 To be honest, your real account is sometimes still kinda feels like your other one.

   ⤷ yourusername force of habit probably?

   ⤷ carlossainz55 No, it's because you're acting like Max's biggest fan everywhere.

   ⤷ maxverstappen1 That's probably because she is.

   ⤷ yourusername wipe that smug smile off your face while you're typing

username He looks the same weirdly or not

username AHA I FOUND YOU VERSTAPPENIGHT ADMIN

username i love how she just hanging to his arm like they're been a couple since god knows how long

username SHE'S SOO LUCKYYY

username i'm gonna melt

username i feel like it's a hard launch, but she have been doing this for a long time ago

sophiekumpen 🥳🥳🥳

maxverstappen1

liked by zedd, and 627,834 others

maxverstappen1 How was I going to get her bad side if she's there and looking so beautifully?

👤: yourusername, verstappenight

view all 446 comments

landonorris poetic. remember your other girlfriend's waiting

   ⤷ maxverstappen1 I don't remember having another one?

   ⤷ charles_leclerc How are you even forget about us?

yourusername awww i can't believe you tag the fan account one too!! i love you so much!!!

   ⤷ maxverstappen1 I love you too❤️

username #justiceforcharles #lestappenforever

username SHE'S SOOOO CUTE no wonder max pulled her

victoriaverstappen I didn't know you pulled this cutie

   ⤷ danielricciardo Me too until I found out yesterday at the club

username poetic max is going to be the end of me

username I really had a bad feelings of he becoming poetic and gets all over like this

username Okay, this is max's hard launch. And now I'm waiting for Y/n's

   ⤷ username i thought she already doing it for so many times at verstappenight? 😏🤭

yourusername

liked by redbullracing, and 579,420 others

yourusername 💌

📸: landonorris

view all 461 comments

username PARENTS CONFIRMED???

username YESS (adopt me pls)

username is verstappenight still going to be there? let's see for the next two days...

username verstappenight nation how do we feel after this? (we can get a new max pic daily)

username i'm gonna thank lando forever for this

username With the bouquet, the dim light, and the black and white + sepia filters. What are they doin that night?

username AWWW ROMANTIC😍😍

danielricciardo They left Charles in the back that night

⤷ landonorris aww poor him. but anyway...

username how are you converting from lestappen to this one so fast?

TAGLIST @queenofmanydreams @muglermami @4limq @avengers-assemble123456 @cabbyhabs @meowtastick @4mula-1 @miarabanana @amel1ee @dinosushilun1 @auggieblogs @namgification

[yonch]

it's been 15 years and you can see better than ever

(design notes under the cut) (there are spoilers)

ok this got really long. here you go

sif:

ditched the cloak. it was collecting dust in their closet until recently, but they realized they don't need to cling to their grief so much anymore. someone else will need it more soon.

ditched the eyepatch. the prosthetic eye is a labor of love designed by isa, as is literally everything else they're wearing.

they cut their bangs finally and started braiding their hair back so it wouldn't obscure their vision as much anymore.

they like darker/tighter clothing and prefer function over form but unfortunately their gay ass boyfriend keeps treating them like a dress up doll so they're stuck wearing waistcoats and a fancy cloak. (they don't mind. it's designed to look like loop.) they keep flowers in their many pockets to give to people.

they're a woodworker in their free time. they don't usually talk about being any sort of savior so he just becomes sif the guy who's really good at carving birthday presents for people and also tags along with isa to charity parties and fundraisers

41 year old 5'1" they/he absolutely zero intention of Changing. bonded to isabeau. they adopted a kid who leo or i might post about some other time i think. her name is estelle.

isa: i'm not taking credit for the design that's by my friend @fembard /@leoweooo. i'll include his design notes

isa dresses mostly for comfort, he doesn't like wearing stuff that might get stained or ruined when he's dyeing clothes or chasing stelle around in the mud or something, all his fashion sense goes into his handiwork

he Changed a few more times over the 15yrs, eventually settled. picked up she/her pronouns again on the side but was never really able to ditch the name isabeau and he kinda ran out of names anyways...

kept the long hair, kept a few inches in height, very happy to fulfill the role of male (space) wife

can't ditch the kimono jacket it's the piece de resistance. odile influence and Wisening Of Age means its made with a little more knowledge of ka buan technique but still very clearly an Isa Design. the fabric is imported silk sif!!!!!!

39 year old Tall with a capital T he/she "i swear i'm not a weeaboo i'm just really into ka buan fashion" vaugardian indie clothing designer in your area help support this man in his attempts to use his family members as living advertisements for his brand

mira: with design input from @jastertown thank you my friend

i took a lot of inspiration for the sparkly, sheer fabric on her dress from euphrasie. she's not head housemaiden yet because she doesn't feel like she's ready but everybody knows it'll be her

speaking of inspiration. she's been taking a lot of fashion cues from a certain lady in dormont that she thought was kind of scary, but it turns out she's very nice? they're besties now.

she got rid of the earrings for a little bit but then she realized she just liked how they look on her. so now they go ding ding! it's for her and nobody else, and that's how she likes it.

moved her ornaments to her skirt because they ding ding more often there. her necklace also jingles with merriment.

38 year old she/her advanced cisgender+ legend who's realizing that people are trying to get her to be the pope but all she really wants to do is write yaoibait fiction that looks like it came straight off of ao3

odile:

my glorious hag. she started shrinking about 3 years ago. all those years of bending over books has finally caught up to her. her hips are fuuuuuucked. but she has a sick cane that sif carved for her so everything's okay

she was already pretty comfortable and settled in her sense of style when she was nearing 50 so i don't think she would change much. darker clothing maybe. ditched the high-waisted pants for some looser slacks.

she's started writing a familytale of her own. the only person she's told about it is bonbon, who caught her up way past their bedtime, and scribbled all over one of the pages. she'll pass it on to sif when the time's right, after she's written down everything she can remember about their family.

64 year old she/her wasian researcher recovering from hernia surgery who's getting really into things like "political activism" and "body craft law reformation in ka bue" and "making sure people aren't sourcing their hrt from back alleys"

bonnie:

prefers to go by boniface these days. it's cooler. more mature. please stop calling me bonbon that's a nickname from when i was 10 guys c'mon guys ugh fine frin you can still call me bonbon but not around my girlfriends ok (nobody calls them boniface except for odile)

speaking of which they have 3 butch lesbian girlfriends. this got established as a joke but i think they have it in them. they're still young!!!!!!! they should be at the club!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

they traveled for a while with everybody but eventually settled down back in bambouche to start a little family owned restaurant with nille featuring dishes from all over the globe. people travel from all over to get a taste of boniface's good eats... bambouche is bustling. (they have a few recipes that are sourced from the country. they meet people every once in a while who find something achingly familiar about it, and they usually direct those people to jouvente to get in contact with frin.)

26 year old they/them "i dont know how tall i am but i'm taller than za" chef cooker whose restaurant keeps lighting on fire because this time i swear nille i can figure out how to do cooking craft i swear i wont explode the kitchen this time please i promise

loop:

ok. this is where lozy gets to just talk about what he thinks happens post game. i think they stick around for way longer than they really should and follow the crew around on their travels (mostly invisibly) because they're sooo fucking scared of change they're sooo scared and they're so scared of their wish fucking up beyond belief. they're kind of incapable of aging or dying in this body and theyre like permanently 26 which is what spurs them to finally move on.

i think they go back to their timeline eventually after making a Brand New Wish to "go back to their real family." alas the universe leads and we can only follow. and it turns out loop has actually made a real family in stardust's world also. this is my justification for why they can pop in between sasasap and isat worlds without much repercussion. i think they're always permanently loop shaped in isat but i imagine they can probably go back to their original body in their home timeline... might design that later. who knows. i'm fucked like that

i just think they deserve a chance for their own happy ending you know. isat's a game about how it's never too late to communicate and how you shouldn't punish yourself forever and ever. and i think theyve punished themself enough you know.

ok tank you for reading if you read this far. it's really big and long so i would understand if you didn't. but i hope you liked it. thoughts appreciated. here's a little something for the people who read all the way through.

[insertdisc5]

Hi again, I hope this ask finds you well as well. I have another question I'd like to ask, if you'll allow me. We know Siffrin's favorite food, and we know 3 of Bonnie's, but how about Isa's, Odile's, or Mira's? Sorry if this has already been answered, but I figured I'd ask to satisfy this other curiosity I had. Also, thank you for the kind words on the prior ask. I like to be polite as possible when asking questions online - anonymously or not - even to the detriment of a word/character limit.

anon I usually don't answer "whats everyones favorite [blank]" questions because i do believe it is the fans' turn in coming up with things. All the stuff i thought was important enough to come up with is already in the game and i dont care about the rest. but once again your good manners have bewitched me. Just this once I will make up something, on the spot, just for you.

I think odile likes, like, urchin sushi. I forget the name. Or maybe it's too reductive, to think shed like something i see as a little high brow. Maybe she likes a nice good homemade omurice. She has learned the good things are the easy things.

Isabeau i see as loving ratatouille. Like maybe ratatouille made by an adult when he was a child. Maybe the parents of a friend. Literal ratatouille movie man.

Mirabelle would like. Hm. I see her loving something that would surprise everyone. Maybe foie gras. And everyone would be like "DONT YOU KNOW HOW FOIE GRAS IS MADE" and shed be like yes... 😔... I only eat it during the winter holidays... I'm so sorry for liking foie gras. Or maybe vaugarde is even closer to fantasy france than I think and she eats it happily because it's fantasy france while odile and siffrin are like FOIE GRAS IS MADE HOW? yeah. you know I like a good culture shock

[oriorchids]

@anxiousapplepie 's roleswap au is really cool so!!

made some special attack cut-ins! one for each character/role (funnily enough three are from traveller!odile's universe)

some more thoughts under a read more

siffrin (researcher)

- first one i did

- he has stars in their eyes!! though one is much easier to see than the other

- remember that one idea about sif using their prosthetic to blind people? i think his special friendquest attack would be smth similar. light blast that stuns an opponent for a turn like that one sasasaap sadness

- if everyone else is stunned he doesn't have to worry about being the slowest in the party. or getting hit when they aren't in their shell/cloak.

- i spent a good while just trying to figure out their expression

- astronomy name? light pun name? flash of genius?? supernova?

mirabelle (fighter)

- mira is about to kill a man, or maybe a strong sadness. good for her

- i spent a while just trying to figure out how to pose her

- i think she'd either get a giant paper-type attack (to make up for a lack of paper a V) or a really big self-buff. maybe a giant paper attack that gives her an attack buff afterwards

- isabeau in canon has a lot of support moves but considering mira's party (housemaiden siffrin traveller bonnie) i think she should be more of a dps. researcher!isa can still be a support

- oh or!!! maybe she heals herself/the party some of the damage she deals.

isabeau (chef)

- may or may not have referenced the sasasaap true ending a bit

- i think the cut-in would appear whenever he runs in to take some damage for someone else

- after friendquests he might be able to counterattack? probably for more damage than bonnie could

- there would probably also be a change for when isabeau's hp is low

- somehow his cut-in ended up the smallest

- imagine if you will: cook!isabeau running in the way of the king trying to grab housemaiden!bonnie during the kingquest end

odile (traveller)

- JUST ATTACK BABYYYYY

- massive paper type move that gives no jackpot points. king will die instantly

- grabbed the way she holds her book in the jackpot

- took the longest to draw her hands i had to take a picture reference

- journal has a blank cover

bonnie (housemaiden)

- i thought it would be funny for bonnie to run across the screen every time instead of getting a formal cut-in but i did consider the formal cut-in briefly

- i think bonnie's special friendquest skill would be a really good revive all/heal all because of memory of promise in canon

- also there is no way bonnie isn't getting stressed from being a kid on a pretty much doomed mission (without the loops)

- wonder how many times bonnie's heard pity from people. including the party!! this child is the saviour of vaugarde

- at least if they work hard enough no one else will get hurt!!!

[theolivetree123]

NEW LUMINSTELLE MEMBERS ‼️

Hehe they're so silly

Mira is the vice-housewarden of Luminstelle and with help from Hope, they run the dorm while Rev is away. The two are friends with Rev, but they do get frustrated by him sometimes since to them, he prioritizes his family name rather than supporting the dorm he runs. But, Mira and Hope still care about Rev and are willing to help him with his studies and vice-versa.

More below hehe

Mira lives in the scalding sands and is Kalims childhood friend. The two don't really talk as much as they used to, but Kalim tries to get in contact with Mira whenever he can. Before Kalim went to NRC, there were rumors that he and Mira were dating, and they were soon to be married, but Kalim quickly turned down the rumors, stating that him and Mira were just friends.

Hope is from Briar Valley and coincidentally lived near Lilia for a while before moving away near the ocean. She met Silver a few times, but the two never really interacted enough to become friends. Hope never opens her eyes since she's blind and doesn't really see the use in opening them. Only her family and Mira have seen her eyes.

Mira and Hope are very good friends since they have to run Luminstelle together. They are always around each other and are basically connected at the hip. Are they gay for each other? I don't fucking know. If yall wanna ship em sure but these two are not canonically into each other (yet. Maybe I still need to think abt it)

Tagging moots: @jadelover69 @cheerleaderman @screamintoad @babyghoul138 @jovieinramshackle @sunnysidesevenup @scint1llat3 @oya-oya-okay @bunniehunn @blood-red-hummingbee @beneathsakurashade @prefectrose @boopshoops @anonymousplant @moonyasnow

[kyxmlii]

PAIRINGS: Kalim Al-Asim x gn!reader / Jamil Viper x gn!reader

SUMMARY: The party infiltration doesn’t quite go as expected.

WORDCOUNT: 2.8k

WARNINGS: none (please tell me if I missed any)

NOTES: happy new year everyone!!

series masterlist | previous part | next part

The Asim's palace was massive, the gold details on the roof and walls were reflecting beautifully under the moonlight, it was breathtaking. Standing before it, you felt smaller and more insignificant than ever. Taking a deep breath, you tried to steady yourself before beginning the walk toward the entrance, wiping your sweaty and clammy palms on the loose red pants you're wearing, while trying to make them stop shaking.

Around you, a couple of well-dressed guests were stepping out of carriages and making their way to the entrance too, their clothing wes beatififull and expensive. Most likely made out of real nice fabrics, all their gold accessories were probably real. Unlike yours. You've noticed rich people had this certain aura around them.

Like nothing could ever burden them, which is probably right. They could never survive a single day in the slums you come from.

You look away from them, keeping your head down and avoiding eye with anyone. You tighten the bag on your waist, it was simple red one Mira had quickly made from some stolen fabric Elias got for her— the lovesick fool. you had tied it around your waist, trying to make it seem like it was apart of your outfit.

You adjust the intricate top you were wearing, hoping to make yourself look slightly more presentable. and finally stopping in front of one of the gate guards.

He looked up at you, a calculating look on his face, before looking back down to the scroll in his hands. "Name?" He asked, his voice quite deep, and firm.

You shift in place slightly, fingers playing nervously with the fabric of your pants. Confidence, Mira had told you, stand taller, make yourself look rich and powerful. You straighten your back, trying not to show the immense hesitation you felt.

"(Y/n).." you hesitating for a second before your gaze dropped to the fake gold bracelet on your wrist. The red gem glinted faintly, while catching the palace's light. You forced a smile, lifting your chin slightly. “Jewela. Nice to meet you!”

You wince slightly at how rushed it sounded. You didn’t have a last name—no one in the slums did, except maybe a couple of the elders. You shouldve asked Mira on what to do, you clench your fists for a moment, as you take a sneaky breath in, trying not to panic as the guard scanned the scroll in his hands again.

You wait, hiding your shaking hands behind your back to appear more graceful—or at least to keep the guard from noticing them. What felt like hours was, was in reality, only a few seconds.

He looked back up at you, a slight furrow in his eyebrows. "Not on the list. Please remove yourself from the grounds."

Your heart dropped at the sentence. Of course this wasn’t going to work. What was Mira thinking? You tilt your head in a slight bow, making the guard raise an eyebrow in surprise. Slowly, you turned to leave, panic already growing in your chest. But a voice behind you made you freeze.

"What’s going on here?"

You perked up slightly, looking back at the guard. His face turned pale as he quickly straightened up and bowed, his eyes focused on someone behind you.

"Master Kalim, what are you doing out here?"

The world seemed to stop at the name. Your breath hitched in the back of your throat as your eyes widened. This was not good. This was very bad.

You were screwed.

He would know you weren’t on the list. He’d figure out you were just some dirty street rat trying to sneak in, and then—what? Have you executed?

You squeeze your eyes shut for a moment, taking in a deep breath, trying to calm yourself. When you open your eyes again, you force a small, polite smile onto your face, turning to face the person behind you.

A small gasp escapes your lips, and you quickly cover it up with a cough. It was the guy from before, at the market. The one you bumped into. Of course, the person you bumped into was one of the richest people in the Scalding Sands, the eldest Asim child.

You glance at him, hoping he wouldn’t recognize you. He looks at you, tilting his head slightly to the side as he squints his eyes at you. You widen your smile, before bowing your head slightly in an attempt to seem respectful.

You notice his gaze soften, and a smile quickly spreads across his face before he opens his mouth to speak. This is it, the moment he’ll tell you he recognizes you, the moment he’ll make sure you get arrested and thrown into jail, making sure you rot there for the rest of your life.

But instead, in a lighthearted voice he says something else, “You have really pretty eyes!”

The genuineness in his tone catches you off guard. You can tell he’s being sincere you've always been good at noticing out when people lie.

You blink in confusion. “Huh?” The word leaves your mouth as you raise your eyebrows at him, trying to make sense of what just happened. It takes him a couple of seconds to react, before his eyes widening in realization. Then, he’s apologizing left and right.

“No, don’t apologize—” you start, trying to stop him from making a bigger deal out of it. But before you can finish, he grabs your hand, a sudden, carefree grin on his face. “Here, as an apology, I’ll escort you inside!”

You blink, completely stunned. He smiles at you, while letting out a laugh, and before you can even protest, he starts dragging you through the gate. Behind you, the guard is left calling out to him, confused, still pointing out that you’re not on the list.

The inside of the palace was even more breathtaking than the outside. Beautiful golden arches all around you, with detailed carvings on them. The air in the ballroom was filled with the sound of conversation and beautiful traditioal music from the scalding sands.

Kalim’s wide smile never faltered, as dragged to past the groups of people, with some of them staring at you with raised eyebrows. Your mind raced as you tried to think of a way out of this, without raising to much of a scene.

“(Y/n) Jewela, right?” Kalim said, looking over his shoulder, to which you let out a small hum. “Ive never heard of that last name before! Are you visiting?”

You force a polite laugh at the question, before shaking your head slightly as the white-haired male comes to a stop and looks at you with a grin. “N-no, I’m from here.. where just.. not as well know. My family likes to stay undeground!” You reply, hoping the awnser would satisfy his curiosity enough.

He didn’t seem to notice the hesitation in your awnser, which made you quite glad. As his attention quickly shifts to the band infont of you. “Well, you’re going to love this party!” He jumps on the balls of his feet in excitement. "There’s food, music, and the best dancers in all of the Scalding Sands!”

You nodded again, trying to keep your smile intact as you start to feel slightly sick to your stomach. The stares from the people around you doubled in size, and intensity. Like they knew you weren’t supposed to be here, and it scared you.

The both of you stare at the band for a minute, before kalim turns towards you with an even bigger smile that before, "We should dance!" He says pulling you slighty closer by your hand that he was still holding.

You blink in surprise at the notion, trying to process the suggestion. Dance, with him. You feel fear overtake the panic you were feeling, but you quickly plaster on another polite smile.

“Oh, I don’t think that’s such a good idea…” you tried, your voice quiet. As you glanced at the crowd, where more faces turned to watch the two of you. Their gazes felt sharp, judgmental. Like they were about to pounce on you and eat you for lunch.

“Come on!” Kalim laughed, looking at the crowd around you. “It’ll be fun! Don’t worry about them,” he added, his voice growing slightly quieter as he gestured toward them with his free hand. “They’re just jealous they didn’t ask you to dance first!”

You felt your cheeks warm up at the statement, though you couldn’t quite tell if it was from flattery or embarrassment. “I’m... not very good at dancing,” you muttered, attempting one last time to decline.

“That’s okay!” Kalim beamed at you. “Just follow my lead!”

Before you could try to protest anymore, he dragged you into the crowd of dancers. The lively music was quite nice, and his enthusiasm was infectious. Though your first couple of steps were awkward, Kalim’s energy made it hard not to smile.

He twirled you around, his laughter ringing out like a melody. “See? You’re a natural!” he grins, voice full of encouragement.

You let out a laugh of your own, your nerves from before disappearing, if only slightly. As the two of you danced, you couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly he moved, like he’d done this a thousand times before. And despite everything you'd seen and heard about people like him, this wasn’t so bad. He wasn’t so bad. Maybe Mira was wrong about them.

The both of you were having fun, not at all caring about all the stares and whispers around you, at least until someone cleared their throat loudly behind you.

You froze mid-step, turning your head to see a figure standing slightly away from the both of you. Their sharp gray eyes stared into your own, their expression unreadable but clearly unimpressed.

“Kalim,” the figure said, their tone calm but firm. “Your parents are asking for you.”

Kalim’s grin faltered for just a moment as he quickly took a glance at you before he nodded. “Okay! Please lead me to them, Jamil!” he grinned again, now finally letting go of your hand.

The figure’s gaze—apparently named Jamil—shifted to you. His gaze made your skin crawl slightly before he bowed toward you, his eyes never once leaving you.

You sent a small, polite smile before bowing slightly yourself. He raised an eyebrow briefly before turning to lead Kalim away, who waved at you with a grin, making you return it halfheartedly. Slightly hoping this would be the last time you meet the white-haired male.

The buffet table infront of you was big, elegant dishes with meats, fruits, and delicate pastries lay all over the table. The scent of spices filled the air, making your stomach rumble as you looked at it all. You hesitatly raise your hand towards the food, while looking around you. Before grabbing a small pastry and stuffing it into your mouth.

A satisfied hum leaves you as you taste it, it was really good. Better than anything you've ever stolen before. You quickly make you way to the end of the buffet, a more calm side of the room.  Before placing a few things in your bag, while trying to keep a neutral expression, making sure no one suspected anything.

As you reached for another plate of food— mainly bread and fruits, your attention was pulled toward a conversation to your right. A group of servants were whispering. Their voices were low but clear enough for you to overhear.

“The treasure room has more guards tonight,” one of them murmured. “I heard they’ve been reassigned there for portection of all the treasure's.”

“The windows would the only way in now,” another servant added. “I’ve seen the vault door locked tight tonight, so there’s no way in from the hallway.”

You smirk slightly, pretending to casually reach out for a drink as you edged closer, ears strained to catch every word. “It wouldn’t be long before someone catches on,” the first servant muttered. “Better keep an eye out to the windows when switching shifts to the kitchen.”

Before you could fully digest the conversation, you heard footsteps approaching as the group disperses, and you quickly take a sip of the drink as you grab another pastry, hoping to make yourself look busy. You quickly finish whatever was in your glass as you put it down and slowly make your way to the exist of the ball room.

The loud talking of the ballroom fades into a muffled hum as you slip through the quieter hallways of the palace, you admire the beautiful decorations as you try to quietly make your way though. The golden detail on the walls gleam faintly in the dim light, the soles of your shoes were silent against the polished floors, you remember one of the older boys in the slums teach you and Mira how to quietly walk like this.

You feel your heart pound with a mix of fear and exhilaration. If Mira's plan worked, you'd be out of here before anyone realized what had happened, with jewel you could sell and money that would last you all for a lifetime.

The servants' words replay in your head. The windows, the treasure room. It sacred you slightly, if you mess it up your life would be done for in the blink of an eye. Still, desperation fuels you, and you’re determined to find it.

Eventually, you spot an ornate archway leading to an open courtyard. The cool night air greets you as you step out, you scan for any sign of guards, and find none. Your gaze shifts upwards, spotting  balconies and terraces that line the palace. A route to the roof. You exhale sharply and move into the shadows.

Just as your fingers grip the edge of a window covered by latticework to climb, you hear the distinct sound of footsteps behind you. You immediately let go and make yourself look presentable.

You see a figure walk through the arch you just came from, as he look at you. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Are you lost?" The voice is calm but sharp, with a slight tinge of suspicion. It wasn’t hard to tell he found you suspicious.

You recognize the figure to be the same one as before in the ballroom, the one that had stopped your dance with the asim heir—Jamil was his name if you remembered correctly.

His dark eyes seemed to pierce through you, one of his brows raised in a question that felt more like a challenge. His arms are crossed, but his posture relaxed, it put you slightly on edge.

“Oh!” You exclaim, forcing a sheepish smile as you force yourself to walk towards him. “I—I didn’t mean to wander off. I was just… trying to find the exit.” You let out a nervous laugh, wringing your hands. “I need to leave. My sibling… they got injured, I just received a message.. and I need to check on them.”

Jamil’s expression doesn’t shift, but his eyes flicker briefly toward the arch you both had come from. “The main exit is on the other side of the palace,” he says coolly. “You’re heading the wrong way.”

Your heart races, but you try to keep your tone as steady as possible. “Oh, I—thank you for letting me know. I must’ve gotten turned around.”

His gaze sharpens, and for a moment, you swear he’s about to call your bluff. But then, he steps backwards and gestures toward the hall he had come from. “Allow me to escort you out,” he offers, tone polite but firm. “I wouldn’t want you to get lost again.”

You hesitate, you felt your mind racing. Refusing would only make him more suspicious, so you force down any hesitation you had and nod reluctantly, a forceful grateful smile fromjng on your face. “That’s very kind of you, thank you.”

As he leads you through the halls, his posture remains calm, but his sharp eyes occasionally flick toward you, like he was studying every move you make. You try to keep your expression neutral, but the weight of his gaze makes your skin crawl with fear.

When you finally reach the grand entrance, Jamil stops and turns to face you. His expression is unreadable as he bows slightly. “I trust you’ll make it home safely.”

You force a polite nod, murmuring a quiet thanks before stepping out into the cool night air. As you walk away from the palace, you feel the intensity of his gaze on your back, as though he’s memorizing every detail about you.

Once you’re out of sight, you exhale shakily, you could sneak back in. But you didn't want to risk it, so you walk back towards the dirty slums you came from a frown etched on your face.

TAGLIST ▹ (4/25)

@leifsclubroom @strayharmony943 @bontensbabygirl @vampyresovereign

To be added contact me through: comments on this post, messages, asks (non-anon)

© 2024 • KYXMLII - do not plagiarize, copy, repost, feed to ai, or translate my works to any other platforms.

[cigarettesaftersae]

02 i'll like you - My World

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Series: reo mikage x f!reader | contains : fluff, angst, jealousy, academic rivals, fake dating

new year, new classes, and reo mikage, a disgrace to your pride and ego

masterlist

The air was still, save for the faint wisp of a breeze that whispered through the schoolyard. A quiet hum of chatter filled the space as you stood there, unnoticed by the others.

“Nagi Seishiro? Oh, you mean that kid with the white hair?”

“The one who’s always sleeping?”

“Yeah. I heard he just games all the time. Kinda a bum, don’t you think?”

Their words floated around you, but your mind raced faster than you could process. You stood frozen, the sting of their judgment hitting harder than expected. Images swirled in your mind, fragments of thoughts and feelings painting a confusing picture.

“…Y/N? Don’t tell me you zoned out again?”

“H-huh? No, no! I didn’t!” you stammered, trying to collect yourself. “I just… didn’t expect him. So, what do you like about him?”

The question slipped out before you could stop it, but deep down, you already knew the answer wasn’t going to be easy to hear. Your heart clenched, the faint ache of something unspoken making it hard to breathe.

“Well…” Yuna began, her cheeks flushing with a rosy hue. “I was at the convenience store, and, um, I didn’t bring enough money. He just paid for my things. He was so nice and generous. I know everyone thinks he’s lazy, but… it’s like love at first sight.”

Your stomach sank, but you pushed it aside. Smiling brightly, you grabbed Yuna’s hand in encouragement. “That’s… That’s wonderful, Yuna!”

“R-really?” she asked, her own smile widening.

“Of course!” you assured her.

Yuna’s excitement only grew. “Well, in that case… do you like anyone? Come on, there has to be someone!”

You laughed nervously, shaking your head. “Pfft, as if. I don’t like anyone.”

“Oh, I know that look,” Yuna teased, her curiosity piqued. “Tell us!”

Mira joined in, grinning slyly. “Come on, spill it!”

Cornered, you blurted out, “Uh… um, it’s Reo Mikage! You know, purple hair, charming…?” He is not charming at all.

Mira raised an eyebrow. “The Mikage kid, huh? Not a bad pick, but, uh, you do realize every girl is after him, right? And Naomi? She’s all over him.”

“Haha… yeah,” you laughed awkwardly, hoping the topic would drop quickly. But the weight of the situation pressed heavily on your chest.

Back in class, you barely paid attention as the teacher droned on. You twirled a pen between your fingers, staring at nothing, stressed about everything—Nagi, Yuna. It was all too much.

“Psst.” A folded note slid onto your desk. Opening it, you read the bold, red-inked scrawl: Y/N, I NEED YOUR HELP!!! – YUNA :P

Suppressing a laugh, you glanced up to see Yuna giving you her best pleading expression. The amusement didn’t last.

“Is something funny, Y/N?” the teacher’s voice cut through the air. You jumped. “Maybe you’d like to share with the class?”

“Uh—no, sir. Nothing’s funny.”

“Then you must be paying excellent attention. What’s the formula for this problem right here?”

Panic rose. You didn’t recognize it—despite studying all night. Just as you were about to crumble, a voice chimed in.

“It’s the quadratic formula: ax² + bx + c = 0.”

You turned to see none other than Reo Mikage, his smug expression making your blood boil.

“Thank you, Y/N,” the teacher said sarcastically, emphasizing your name in a way that only made you cringe further.

Later, you groaned in frustration as Yuna tried to apologize. “If you hadn’t passed that note, none of this would’ve happened!”

“Sorry, sorry!” she laughed. “How was I supposed to know the teacher was lurking?”

“It’s whatever,” you sighed. “What did you need help with, anyway?”

“The quadratic formula,” she teased, stifling a giggle.

You glared at her. “I swear…”

“Okay, okay! Joking! But, um, actually… I want to join the game club. You know, since Nagi’s in it.”

Your silence stretched for a moment. “Do you even play games?”

“Uh… I played Roblox with my little cousin once?”

You buried your face in your hands. “You’re joining because of Nagi.”

“Maybe. Okay, yes! I can’t help it!”

Sighing deeply, you relented. “Only because I love you. Fine. I’ll help.”

Yuna squealed, pulling you into a tight hug. “You’re the best! Can we start today?”

With the last class ending, unlike walking home with Yuna or staying after school for club activities, you’re staying after school for club activities WITH Yuna to help her out with your crush. And that was how you found yourself dragging Yuna to the club after school. You open the door to the club room, filled with tables of ongoing rows of computers, outlets here and there, some members playing League, and most importantly, there was no Nagi Seishiro. Which kind of made you sigh in relief.

“He’s not here…” Yuna mumbled, disappointed.

“He sometimes comes late,” you offered, trying to cheer her up. “Come on, let’s meet the co-leader so you can join.”

Sitting through her interview was an experience. The co-leader, a stereotypical nerd with thick glasses and a bowl cut, “Now last question, d-do you play genshin impa-”

“Do not finish that question.” You warn. “And Yuna don’t even answer it.”

“Isn’t it that one cool Chinese game?”

“Ah! so you know about it” He excites

“I just told you not to finish that question,” you grumbled as he lit up at Yuna’s response.

Before the conversation could spiral further, the door creaked open. Both you and Yuna turned instinctively. There he was—Nagi Seishiro, focused on his phone, his white hair catching the dim light.

Yuna’s eyes sparkled, but yours darkened as you spotted someone following behind him. Reo.

When had they even become friends? And why did it feel like your entire world was slowly unraveling?

note

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next chap

the genshin thingy was a joke guys ive been playing it since day one I'm a d1 pro at it

[basilpaste]

Act 4: Bathroom Tangent

If: No "On Command!" Ability

〔You close the door to the bathroom stall softly.〕

〔Haha! That's so unlike you, isn't it? You're supposed to be loud!〕

〔Big, strong, stupid Isabeau who slams doors and just had to use the restroom right before a super important fight! That's you alright!〕

〔You haven't actually had to use the restroom since the first time. You could just stop coming here, couldn't you? You could just do something else? But… it would feel weird to break the habit so far in.〕

〔You swallow and it feels like your tongue is caught in your throat.〕

〔Like you're choking.〕

〔Your head feels all fuzzy and your body is like lead and—〕

〔You cough down a sob.〕

〔It's not like you think it's bad to cry!!! It's just, uh, you have to be quiet right now!〕

〔Plus! You're a pretty emotional guy! You cry plenty!〕

〔Except… that's not really true, is it?〕

〔Do you even remember the last time you cried?〕

〔Okay. Maybe crying is the answer, then!!! Catharsis, y'know? It might help to finally get some tears going!〕

〔So. What's the hold up?〕

〔You almost cried a second ago, right? So what changed? Is it just that you're actively thinking about wanting to cry now? Because that hasn't stopped you before! You're actually pretty in-tune with your emotions! So this shouldn't be so hard!〕

〔Seriously! No one will even see you! So it's not a big deal!〕

〔…〕

〔Obviously just wanting to cry isn't enough!!! That's fine! That's okay. You can just… make yourself cry.〕

〔You open your eyes as wide as you can and stare at the stall door.〕

〔Seconds tick by.〕

〔Your eyes itch and burn with the effort and your vision has gone all hazy from dryness but this isn't really working! Like at all!!!〕

〔You blink. Tears coat your eyes but do not fall.〕

〔Okay! That's alright! Maybe you were wrong! You don't actually need to cry.〕

〔You're fine.〕

〔You've just gotta keep moving! That's all!!!〕

〔You need to figure out how the loops work. Understand them better than you do right now.〕

〔It's… kind of your last option? You know about the King (you don't think about it), you know about Time and Wish Craft, you know about things that don't even matter to the loops at all!〕

〔All that's left is to figure out why everything restarts when you talk to m'dame Head Housemaiden.〕

〔You don't want to assume that it's something she did! Because she's someone that your friend really cares about!!〕

〔…〕

〔Your friend.〕

〔Haha!!! Funny joke, Isabeau!!! Forgetting stuff is Sif's thing!!!!!〕

〔See? SEE?! You remember his name just fine! Sif! Siffrin! Sifarooni!!!〕

〔So why don't you—〕

〔No, no! It's okay! Sometimes when people are stressed, they forget stuff! It's not like you actually forgot her name! It'll come to you any second now!!!〕

〔She's… She's kind and clever and she's nervous a lot of the time but you've watched her grow so much over the course of her journey. You were the first one to go along with her! The two of you spent a lot of time by yourselves before meeting anyone else!〕

〔You know her name. You do! Of course you do.〕

"Um… Isabeau?"

〔MIRABELLE.〕

〔"Mirabelle!!"〕

"Oh! You haven't called me 'Mirabelle' in a while!"

〔You haven't.〕

〔"Sorry! You, uh! Spooked me, Mira!!!"〕

"I did? Oh, Change! I'm so sorry! I was just… checking in on you? You've been in there a while."

〔"Hah! I didn't even realize! Got caught up in saving-the-country thoughts, y'know? I'll be out in a minute!"〕

"…"

〔Was that… too much energy? Even you can tell that came out kinda forced.〕

"Okay!" She pauses. "I will see you! Outside of the bathroom! In a minute!!!"

〔"You've got it!"〕

〔You hear her walk away.〕

〔Wow. That was a pretty weak performance, Isabeau! That's why you should leave the acting to the pros.〕

〔Mira. Mira, Mira, Mirabelle. You know her name. You didn't forget. See?〕

〔You press the heels of your palms into your eyes.〕

〔Okay. Okay! You're good! You're alright! You've got stuff to do!!!〕

〔You're okay.〕

〔You exit the bathroom.〕

If: Yes "On Command" Ability

〔You close the door to the bathroom stall softly.〕

〔Haha! That's so unlike you, isn't it? You're supposed to be loud!〕

〔Big, strong, stupid Isabeau who slams doors and just had to use the restroom right before a super important fight! That's you alright!〕

〔You haven't actually had to use the restroom since the first time. You could just stop coming here, couldn't you? You could just do something else?〕

〔What'd be the point, even if you did?〕

〔Nothing's going to change.〕

〔You swallow and it feels like your tongue is caught in your throat.〕

〔Like you're choking.〕

〔Your head feels all fuzzy and your body is like lead and—〕

〔Oops!〕

〔If you do that, you'll end up looping back! And wouldn't it be embarrassing to do that when you don't even have to?〕

〔It'd be super embarrassing, yeah!!! So! You're fine.〕

〔You're fine, aren't you?〕

〔You're making progress. Even if it's… kind of slow. The more answers you have, the longer it takes to find new paths to go down! It makes sense! The logic follows.〕

〔For now, all you've got to do is understand the loops better than you do right now! Why stuff restarts when you talk to the Head Housemaiden!〕

(from here, the scene plays out as normal, starting at 〔You don't want to assume that it's something she did! Because she's someone that your friend really cares about!!〕)

[dreamy-crow]

Accidental touches

[Couple: Kano Mira × fem!reader]

[Size: 3404 words, 19,186 characters]

[English is not my native language, so there may be mistakes. I hope you enjoy this story. I accept any criticism, so don't be afraid to express your opinion. Enjoy reading.]

—Here, take the card.

You handed your playing card to the woman dressed in black. Every night, one of the leaders of the "Beach" gathered all the cards brought by the players. Tonight, that role belonged to Number 7 and Number 2. Mira took the card with a gentle smile, first examining it and then shifting her gaze to you.

—Thank you. Today, you've brought us one step closer to our goal.

You forced a tired smile in return, but your attention lingered on the card you had just handed over. A sharp sting burned your eyes as memories from only an hour ago resurfaced. The game had been a Six of Hearts—one that deeply affected your subconscious and perception of everything around you. There had been many participants at the start, but under the psychological pressure of the game, only a few had managed to make it through.

Your hand clenched into a fist involuntarily, a movement that didn't go unnoticed. A soft voice pulled you from your thoughts.

—Y/N, you do remember that I was a psychiatrist in the old world, don’t you? If you need a moment to talk, I’m always here.

Your gaze lifted from the Six of Hearts resting in her delicate fingers. You met Mira’s dark eyes, where you could see flickers of concern. For a brief second, your breath hitched. Would it be wise to ask for help? As soon as the thought crossed your mind, the heavy weight of memories came crashing down on you again. The answer slipped from your lips before you could even think it through.

—I… I’d like to talk to you. But you’re busy right now—.

Mira raised a hand slightly, stopping you mid-sentence.

—I think Kuzuryu can handle the cards on his own. No need to worry. Could you wait for me by the stairs?

—Ah? Yeah, no problem.

You stepped back to the place she had pointed to. From there, you watched as Mira spoke quietly with Kuzuryu, handing him the cards along with a paper listing who had submitted which one. The bespectacled man took the items, and with that, Mira turned toward you. She walked ahead, leading the way, and you obediently followed.

The lingering dampness in your eyes made your vision blur, and you fought the urge to cry right there. To distract yourself, you focused on every little detail around you—the walls, the steps, the passing figures. Then, your attention landed on Mira.

Even on ordinary days, you had noticed the effortless grace in Mira Kano’s movements—the way she walked, leaving no unnecessary sound behind. You often caught yourself admiring the way her hands moved or listening intently to her voice, even when you didn’t have to. Even now, her posture was perfectly straight, her steps measured and precise.

《Like a queen.》

That thought had crossed your mind before. If you really thought about it, her last name did mean "queen." Maybe that was part of what made her so captivating.

The scenery changed once again, and before you realized it, you had stopped in front of a door. Mira pushed it open, stepping aside in silent invitation. You hesitated for a brief moment—was it really okay to enter? But her warm smile reassured you. As you stepped inside, the door shut softly behind you.

She switched on the light, allowing you to take in your surroundings. The room was immaculate, neat and orderly, with gothic elements that reflected its owner’s personality.

—It’s really nice in here.

—Thank you. I tried to make it as comfortable as possible. You can sit in one of those chairs.

Following her gaze, your eyes landed on two plush white chairs. You nodded in gratitude, settling into one of them. Meanwhile, Mira poured a glass of water and placed it in front of you.

Your hand trembled slightly as you took the glass. You took a small sip of water, but it did little to soothe the turmoil inside you. There was so much you wanted to say, yet you had no idea where to begin.

Mira waited patiently, her piercing black eyes fixed on you as if she could see straight into your soul, as if she already knew everything. But that was impossible. She hadn’t been there—this wasn’t her game.

After half a minute of silence, she seemed to understand what was wrong. Her voice, calm and almost meditative, gently broke through your hesitation.

—You don’t want to tell me what happened in that game?

Nervously, you began rubbing your thumb against your other fingers.

—As you already know, it was a Six of Hearts game. We were all in a large room at first, but then the game instructed us to separate. Each of us had to enter a different room. At first, I was just doing a series of meaningless tasks. I even thought… maybe they’d made a mistake about the suit of the game. How naive I was…

You paused for a moment, searching for the right words to explain what happened next. Mira, though she showed no outward reaction, was absorbing every word, piecing everything together in her mind. Taking a deeper breath, you continued.

—Then I started noticing a scent. It was sweet, like honey. At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but now I realize how strange it was—there was no reason for it to be there.

Your fingers trembled as the memories resurfaced, and your heart clenched painfully. Mira’s hand gently covered yours, a small but deliberate attempt to offer a sense of security, a subtle invitation to trust her. Almost unconsciously, you pressed your hand closer to hers, seeking comfort.

—What else was strange about the scent?

—For a while, I kept following the tasks… but then… I started hearing sounds. And then… I started seeing people who—.

The first tears fell, slipping down your cheeks and soaking into your clothes. Mira’s grip on your hand tightened just slightly, a quiet reassurance that she was still here. You tried to continue, but as soon as you opened your mouth, a lump in your throat tightened, choking your words.

The former psychotherapist studied your expression carefully, watching every shift in your emotions. Finally, your voice, barely above a whisper, broke the silence.

—I… I don’t think I can tell you everything that happened…

Your throat felt tight, making your voice soft and strained, but Mira heard you clearly. A bitter smile curled at your lips, but you didn’t expect an answer. At first, Mira didn’t say anything either. Instead, her hand moved gently to your face, brushing away a stray tear with the lightest touch. She watched her own actions for a moment before her gaze returned to yours.

—I understand. If you want, you don’t have to say anything. Just cry if you need to. Holding it in will only make it worse later.

Something inside you cracked at those words. With the unspoken permission granted, you pressed a trembling hand over your mouth to muffle the sobs, but it did little to hide them. Not that anyone would judge you for it.

Mira slowly withdrew her hand from yours, and for a brief second, you felt a cool trace of air in its absence—before something warm enveloped you.

She was holding you.

A delicate yet steady arm wrapped around your back, her palm moving in slow, soothing strokes from the base of your spine to the top.

Mira had always been good at earning people’s trust. She enjoyed unraveling them, observing their emotions like a puzzle, studying the way they reacted under pressure. She loved watching her games unfold, feeling every raw moment through the screen.

But now… she wasn’t sure why she had offered you comfort.

At first, she had been analyzing you, just as she always did. But when your emotions surfaced—when the sorrow in your voice turned into something tangible—something within her shifted.

And for the first time in a long while, she simply wanted to ease someone’s pain.

Without realizing it, you wrapped your arms around her in return, your head resting against her shoulder as your tears soaked into the black fabric of her clothing. Your shoulders trembled with quiet sobs, and Mira continued to hold you, one hand still gliding gently up and down your back while the other moved to cradle the back of your head.

That night, she felt the damp warmth of your tears seeping through the lace of her cloak, sinking into her skin. But she did not let go. She stayed, patiently holding you until your breathing steadied—until your sorrow had finally run its course.

Quite some time had passed since that night, yet you still remembered Mira’s help as if it had happened just yesterday. Since then, you had started noticing each other more often in different corners of the hotel. Before, your interactions had been limited to polite smiles or small waves. But after that night, you sometimes made an effort to start brief conversations. The desire to repay her kindness grew stronger in your heart with each passing day.

You stood idly in one of the Beach’s corridors, absentmindedly adjusting a painting you had accidentally nudged while walking past. A quiet, familiar voice reached your ears, causing you to pause and check if your hearing was playing tricks on you. But no—you weren’t mistaken. Mira Kano was walking side by side with a young man you didn’t recognize. It seemed to be the first time you had seen him here. Mira had her fingers interlaced as she spoke about something, her posture as flawless as always, her face carrying a trace of amusement. Step by step, the two of them drew closer until they were standing before you. You offered a charming smile.

—Hey.

—Oh, hey, Y/N.

Your gaze flickered from Mira to the unfamiliar young man, and she was quick to introduce him.

—This is Kenji, the newest member of the Beach.

—Nice to meet you.

he said with a bright smile.

—Likewise.

Though Kenji’s grin was warm, there was a slight nervousness behind it—he was clearly trying to make a good impression. Your attention drifted back to Mira.

—Are you giving him a tour?

—Yes.

An idea suddenly sparked in your mind. Could this be your chance to repay Mira for her kindness? Perhaps she could use a short break. Biting your lip, you hesitated briefly before gathering the courage to make your suggestion.

—Hey… would it be okay if I gave him the tour instead?

You tensed slightly as two pairs of surprised eyes turned to you.

—Are you sure? It won’t be too much trouble?

—Not at all. I’d be happy to do it.

—Thank you.

Mira sent you a grateful smile before instructing Kenji to follow you. He obediently fell into step beside you, listening intently to every word you said, eager to absorb as much information as possible. He didn’t interrupt, only speaking when you had finished to ask questions or clarify details.

Eventually, the two of you stepped outside to explore the recreational areas. It was daytime, so the music wasn’t as loud as it usually was. Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed how captivated Kenji seemed by the scene before him. He was probably seeing, for the first time since arriving in the Borderlands, people having fun—truly, freely enjoying themselves without the weight of survival pressing down on them. You asked.

—Do you want to join them?

—No. I think I’d rather take my time adjusting first.

—Fair enough. Have you been to your room yet?

—Not yet, but Mira mentioned it’s on the second floor. I was hoping to change into something more comfortable.

Only then did you really take in his current outfit.

—I can take you there. That way, you can pick out something that suits you better.

Kenji simply nodded in agreement. He had clearly memorized the rules of the Beach well—he wasn’t about to break the first one and risk his life over something so trivial.

Upon reaching the designated area, a staff member in charge of clothing greeted you both, quickly pulling out various swimwear options for Kenji. After a short moment of consideration, he made his choice.

He changed swiftly, and you took a moment to glance him over. Unlike the women, who had to wear swimsuits, the men had the freedom to walk around in swim shorts and loose, airy T-shirts. His choice seemed practical and comfortable.

From that moment on, whenever Kenji needed guidance, he turned to you. As a result, the two of you started spending more time together, making your ordinary days a little more interesting. When your visa expiration dates aligned, you often went to games together. At first, you weren’t entirely comfortable with the idea—many games required betrayal or sacrifices. But so far, you had been lucky.

You also found yourself thinking about Mira more often, wondering where she was at any given moment. There were times when the two of you would sit together, drinking warm beverages and sharing snacks. During those moments, you felt an unexpected sense of peace and comfort. Mira always knew exactly how to lift your spirits.

And then… there was something else.

More and more often, one of you would find excuses to touch the other. A fleeting brush of knees under the table. Fingers lightly grazing in passing. One time, Mira even joked about it.

—You know, we’re starting to act like an old married couple.

Her words had sent warmth rushing to your cheeks, but you had played along with a teasing smile.

—I wouldn’t mind spending years with you.

Mira's jokes always made you smile, but this time you felt something warm and inexplicable well up inside. 

Music played all around, and the lights from the spotlights reflected off the surface of the pool. Laughter echoed through the night as people drank, dove into the water, and indulged in each other’s company. Couples openly caressed and kissed, the atmosphere thick with carefree intimacy.

You and Kenji stood near the bar, sipping your cocktails. The man beside you leaned in closer, wanting to say something. The music was too loud, and only at this distance could you clearly make out his words.

— Is it just me, or do the fruits taste different tonight?

— I haven’t tried them yet.

Kenji picked up a plate of fruit from the bar and held it out for you to take a piece. You took your time savoring the flavor, trying to determine if anything was off.

— It’s just your imagination. They taste fine.

— Then I must have had a bit too much to drink.

You gave him a sympathetic look, to which he let out a small laugh before continuing to talk about random things.

From across the pool, Mira stood watching. Her posture remained flawless, her expression unreadable. Yet, her fingers slowly traced the rim of her glass as if something weighed on her mind. The scene before her stirred emotions she had long acknowledged but never acted upon. She had stopped viewing you as just a pleasant acquaintance long ago. And now, a single question occupied her thoughts—did Kenji see you the same way?

The atmosphere remained lighthearted and friendly, but Kenji suddenly felt the weight of someone’s gaze. He couldn’t pinpoint where it came from or who it belonged to, but the sensation was undeniably strange. He tried to brush it off, assuming it was just someone staring absentmindedly—or maybe just his imagination.

Mira didn’t approach too quickly; she moved through the crowd like a shadow, her steps light and assured. That was why neither of you noticed her presence until she placed her glass on the counter.

She stood beside you, a soft smile playing on her lips before leaning in slightly toward both of you.

— Good evening, Y/N and Kenji. Kenji, I see you’re settling in well.

— Yeah, I’ve had some help with that.

— That’s very good.

Mira’s gaze shifted from him to you as she gracefully draped an arm over your shoulder, pulling you just a little closer. Then, warm breath brushed against your ear.

— I’d love to take a little walk with you. Would you mind?

Her voice was soft, melodic, almost hypnotic. She didn’t glance at Kenji or anyone else—her focus was entirely on you.

You looked at her in surprise. It was the first time she had invited you for a walk this late. Turning your head, you met Kenji’s gaze; he seemed confused but didn’t interrupt, patiently waiting for your response.

— Kenji, I’m sorry, but I think I’ll go.

— That’s fine. See you tomorrow, then.

— See you tomorrow.

Mira concealed her victorious smile as she registered your approval. She didn’t remove her hand from your elbow, simply guiding you away from the bustling party with effortless grace.

You both walked along the narrow stone path, illuminated by the soft glow of small lanterns. Ahead, the familiar outlines of the mini-garden on the hotel grounds began to take shape. During the day, this place was cozy, but at night, it took on a special charm: the moonlight and the warm glow of the lanterns reflected off the leaves, creating an enchanting, almost surreal atmosphere.

Mira silently led you forward, and you didn’t dare ask where exactly. There was something soothing about this silence, something you liked. Soon, a large garden swing appeared among the trees.

— Shall we sit here?

— I'd love to.

Mira let go of your elbow, and for a moment, you felt an unexpected nostalgia for the warmth of her touch. You were the first to settle onto the swing, while she stopped by one of the bushes, plucking a perfect red rose. Then, she joined you.

You gently pushed off the ground with your feet, setting the swing into a slow, rhythmic motion. At first, you simply enjoyed the quiet, but soon, you felt the urge to break it.

— Mira, do you like this world?

— This world?

— I mean the Borderland.

— Oh, an interesting name, — she smiled faintly. — I find it fascinating to be here. There are so many different people, and watching them is intriguing.

— And the games? Aren’t you afraid for your life?

— No. When I play, I remind myself that games are meant to be enjoyed.

You pondered her words, trying to decide how to feel about them. You simply nodded, showing that you understood her perspective.

A light breeze suddenly stirred, making strands of your hair sway gently. Mira reached out, running her fingers through your hair, carefully tucking it back. You froze as you felt the cool stem of the flower brush against your ear. Her fingers moved slowly, deliberately. Finally, she withdrew her hand.

— This rose suits you beautifully.

You felt heat rush to your cheeks, nearly matching the color of the petals. Mira barely held back a laugh upon noticing your reaction.

With delicate fingertips, you brushed over the soft petals, wondering how you looked at that moment. There was no mirror nearby, but if Mira said it suited you, then it must be true.

An impulsive surge made you lean forward and press the lightest of kisses to her cheek.

— Thank you.

Mira blinked in surprise, but instead of her usual confident smile, a faint shyness appeared on her face. It was something unfamiliar for her, but in its own way, it suited her.

The quiet of the evening was lulling, and a hint of drowsiness crept in as a small yawn escaped you. Mira, noticing this, gently touched her shoulder.

— If you want, you can lean on me.

— Huh? T-thank you…

It was an opportunity too precious to miss. A little hesitantly, you rested your head against her shoulder. Mira remained still, not wanting to disrupt the moment.

Your hands brushed against each other, and you felt her fingers softly intertwining with yours. Together, you continued to swing, enjoying the peaceful night and each other's company. Your eyes grew heavier, and for a moment, you allowed them to close.

You didn’t fall into a deep sleep, so you were able to feel it—Mira leaning in slightly, leaving a soft, barely perceptible kiss on the crown of your head.

[lipstickmarks]

a fool’s errand

—Drake Cordella x Mira Sorrengail

Summary: Sneaking out of the house, especially when your parents are freaking war generals is likely a fool's errand. But who said Rye Sorrengail Cordella wasn’t a fool?

Word Count: 942

Warnings: cussing, mentions of underage drinking

Author's Note: I thought it would be funny if all the Sorrengail-Cordella kids were named after vegetables so that's why his name is Rye

This particular mission was high-risk, high-reward. Anything less than knifelike precision and stealth is unacceptable. A single misstep will result in a fate worse than death.

Rye took a steadying breath as he approached the exit, pausing every few steps to listen for noise– sheets rustling, snoring, bathroom doors opening– but the house remained quiet and still. 

Clutching his jacket in his fist, he finally made it to the entryway, only to lock eyes with the one being who could blow his whole plan to smithereens.

Parents dead asleep after a hearty turkey dinner Rye suggested? Done.

Little sister bribed to stay quiet with a chocolate bar? Done.

Then there’s the one variable he didn’t take into account. 

Broccoli. 

Fuzzy ears twitched as Rye looked upon his parents’ orange cat. The feline was older than dirt yet somehow retained his kitten-like appearance. Tiny body, small paws, eyes that were slightly too big for its head which only worked to enhance his adorableness. But right now, that cat was an adorable bomb that could detonate and ruin his entire night. 

Broccoli sat on the entryway table, right next to a matching set of ornamental daggers that his aunt and uncle gifted his parents for their wedding. 

“No.” He mouthed. “Broccoli, do not ruin this for me.” 

Broccoli pawed lazily at the runner on the entryway table, giving Rye no indication he had heard him. 

“Just be cool, okay?” Rye whispered as reached for the doorknob.

Broccoli yawned. Rye felt a washing feeling of relief until his fingers brushed the doorknob and the cat let loose an ear piercing shriek. 

“No! Broccoli, shut the fuck up!” Rye whisper-yelled. 

He desperately tried to quiet the feline but to no avail. Broccoli kept screaming and he felt the looming presence behind him within seconds. 

Slowly, Rye turned around to face the music. 

Rye’s parents looked at him with matching glares that had him rethinking his entire plan. His entire life, really. Why did he think he could sneak out of the house? Why would he even try? What the fuck was wrong with him? Maybe he needed a brain scan. 

“Want to explain what you were doing?” His father asked, arms crossed over his broad chest. 

“Um–”

“Before you answer, remember that your father is being far too kind by offering you the chance to explain. Just in case you think about digging a deeper grave for yourself by lying to us.” His mom added with a raised eyebrow. But the steel in her voice wasn’t his mom. That was 100% General Mira Sorrengail. 

“I was going to sneak out and meet my friends at the beach! We were gonna drink spiked lemonade that Aofie got from his cousin and set off firecrackers from Deverelli that Balfor got on vacation!” It all came word-vomiting out. 

When he calmed down a little, Rye felt his entire face flushing. 

“I’m sorry. It was stupid.” 

“And illegal. Reckless. Could have resulted in death or dismemberment.” His mom added.

Drake raised an eyebrow at his wife.

“Mira.” He coaxed.

She snapped her head toward him. 

“Firecrackers, Drake. The boy had firecrackers.”

Drake winced and nodded, then turned his glare back on his son.

“I won’t do it again.” Rye said, looking between his parents. And he sure did mean it. Never again would he attempt something so ill-advised and stupid. “I’ll go back to bed now.” 

Mira lowered her crossed arms. 

“Good. You’ll need to rest up for the entire day of chores you’ve got ahead of you tomorrow. Dishes, laundry, yardwork.” 

Rye sighed, then nodded. 

He made to go up the stairs but his father stopped him.

“Hold on. You have another apology to make.” 

Rye furrowed his eyebrows. 

“To who?” 

Drake lifted Broccoli off the entryway table and held him close to his chest. 

“Apologize for swearing at your brother.” 

Rye fought the urge to roll his eyes. His mom had threatened to throw him in the brig at Basgaith for such disrespect and he had no desire to know what the inside of that place looked like yet. 

“He’s not my– Mom!” Rye looked to his mother with pleading eyes but Mira was stroking Broccoli’s chin with a warm smile on her lips. 

“Gee, I wonder who the favorite is.” He quipped.

“Broccoli never tried to sneak out.” Drake said with a pointed look in Rye's direction. He held the cat out toward his son. “Apologize.” Only Drake Cordella of the Nightwing Drift could look menacing while holding an orange tabby kitten. 

“Point taken.” Rye scratched the back of his neck then cleared his throat. He stepped closer to Broccoli. The cat tilted his head to the side and Rye couldn’t help but smile. The cat had been around since before he was born. His first memory is Broccoli purring on him in his playpen. He’d been there for every knee scrape, every booster shot, every afternoon nap, every broken heart… maybe his dad was right. Broccoli is family. 

Rye reached out and pet the top of his head, right in between his ears.

“I’m sorry, Broccoli.” 

Broccoli purred and nuzzled into Rye’s touch. 

“He forgives you.” Mira said. “We don’t, though. Get your ass upstairs and if you even think of pulling this shit again, you’ll be spending every summer cleaning in between Teine’s scales with a toothbrush.” 

Rye didn’t wait around to see if his mom was bluffing.

—

That morning, Rye woke up at dawn to start his day of chores. 

When he sat up to stretch, he smiled at the sight of Broccoli– curled up in a ball on the foot of his bed. 

[silentglassbreak]

delulu fan fantasy, not even my delulu.. just looking over bad omens photos and home country thoughts lol

Any name, any description lol but the boys never guy koala shots when they were in Australia last time.. soo so a scenario where they return an it involves some sort of trip to an animal rescue of some kind? OR some thing... and Noah having to lean down so the handler can help him DE-CLING the koala from his arms and shoulder, their claws can get you, the guys all joking about his new girlfriend maybe... but he'd rather the handler... -- up to you if you go on to make it smutty after the cute meet, maybe invite for drinks.. OR just an intense flirt... but...

Yep... koala flirting delulu lol, sorry, for, the ramble.

Fully understand if this is a no can do, I know specific place requests can be difficult, but I thought there was no harm in asking, thank you for reading just the same.

The amount of research I just did on Koalas is wild 🤣 I’m hoping this does your ask some justice!

After Writing Notes: This was cute, and fun to write. It's shorter than some of my others, and truly just fluffy, early stages, flirtations. I enjoyed this! I hope you do too!

Rating: Mature (language)

Warnings: Nuffin but good ol' fashioned fluff.

Please Please Please

“Now, let’s see if the little man likes you or not, shall we?”

Mira, our veteran Koala, who was used to our regular visitation schedule was lazily clung to my shirt, as she was most days. Her jaws crunched on a Eucalyptus leaf, not minding all of the sweet attention she was getting. The bright-eyed boy standing in front of me beamed at her, but I could tell he was nervous.

“Alright, now we’re going to just gently place her on your chest, and if she likes you, she’ll cling!” I carefully handed Mira over to the boy, no older than twelve, who shakily held her up. Mira’s claws grabbed onto his shirt, and she tucked her head into his neck lovingly.

She truly was a great performer.

“Oh my God, she’s holding me!” He exclaimed, excited, but still hushed as not to startle her.

“Look at that, mate! She’s very loving, isn’t she?” I held up another leaf in front of her, one of her small hands latching on and holding it up to her mouth.

The mother of the young boy looked absolutely horrified. “How long does he hold her for?”

“Ah, just a minute or two. I’ve got a few other folks waiting to get to say hello.” I stuffed my hands in my pants pockets, smiling while watching Mira tickle the young man’s neck with her ear hairs.

“Are all Koalas this friendly?” He asked as his hand gently stroked the plush hair on her back.

“Actually, no. Koalas can be quite territorial, especially around their young. They bite and scratch just like any other beast you’d come across.” I could see his mom beginning to sweat. “Mira here is very accustomed to human beings. She’s one of our rehabilitated patients who was not eligible for release.”

“Why not?” The worrisome woman eyed me.

“Poor thing got caught in the wildfires a few years ago, and she’s almost completely blind now due to the smoke. She’d never survive in the wild.” I placed a hand on her head, smiling sweetly at her. “So, instead, she’s our designated education Koala!”

The boy smiled, and moved toward me to begin removing her from his chest. “I think she’s amazing.”

“That, she is.” I graciously took my girl, and turned to place her back on her tree. I could tell she was in need of a bit of a break.

Noticing more patrons had not arrived quite yet for their experiences, I closed the door behind my guests of the enclosure, and set up a ‘Be Back in 30’ sign.

Once in the break room, I sat at the table, running fingers through my hair that was tangled where it ended on the back of my neck. Kylie, who had been working the python exhibit all morning, came bounding in, sitting next to me heavily.

“Eh, Charlie. You alright?”

I was chewing the end of a peanut butter sandwich and zoning out, trying not to let my mind wander too far.

“Good here. You?”

She smiled empathetically. “That’s not convincing, babe. Still thinking about him?”

Shrugging hard, I set my sandwich back down and put my face in my palms. “Why would he ghost me?” I sighed, feeling defeated. “I really thought we were getting on, ya know?”

Placing a hand on my back, she smiled sweetly at me. “I’m sure you were! Some guys are just fucking useless! He probably did you a favor, really.”

I laid my chin down on my hands on the table. “Maybe. It still blows. I feel like dating is just pointless these days.”

Kylie laughed at that. “Nah, not true.” Sitting back in her chair, she reached to interlock her hands behind her head. “Remember that Roy guy I went out with a few weeks back?” I just nodded. “Best lay I’ve had, hands down.”

My eyes blew out wide before my stomach began rolling with laughter. She joined me, clapping a hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t give up on dating, babe. There’s a guy out there for you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, not likely.”

-

The day was passing so slow, it almost made my eyes roll back. By the time my watch told me it was close to the end, only half hour till, I was exhausted. So was Mira. My eyes scanned the passers by, wondering how many I’d be able to fit in before the end of the day, as I saw a group of guys reading the information plaque on the glass just outside.

One of the guys, a lanky boy with tattoos shadowing the length of his arms, was the only one of them looking into the exhibit, instead of at the description. If I hadn’t known better, I’d say he was looking at me.

That couldn’t be right, though. I was holding Mira, so he was probably looking at her.

“Excuse me?” One of them had broken off from the pack and stepped inside the door. “It says on there to come in to see the Koalas?”

He was a shorter gentleman with long, black hair tied back in a bun on the back of his head. I noticed his accent, and internally groaned. Americans.

“Yeah!” I smiled at him brightly. “Come on in!”

He motioned for his friends, the other three trailing behind. The last one to come in was the tall guy with hair only slightly shorter than mine. His eyes wandered around the trees and the pond behind me.

“Oh my gosh!” The shortest one was grinning ear to ear, staring directly at Mira. “They’re so cute!”

I looked down at the gray baby on my chest, and pet her lovingly. “They are. They’re my favorite creatures here at the preserve.”

“Do they bite?” A taller man, who had a slightly different accent that I couldn’t place, asked.

“They sure can.” I nodded, and waved a hand. “But Mira here never has. She’s an absolute gem.”

Looking between them all, I noticed they were all wearing various band t-shirts, with the exception of our large friend, who only wore a black beater. He stood the most reserved, hands in his pockets.

“Anyone want to hold her?”

“Serious?!” The shortest bloke perked up first, stepping toward me cautiously. “Can I, please?”

I chuckled. “Of course! I’ll hand her to you,” I began peeling Mira from me. “and if she latches, she likes you!”

Almost vibrating with excitement, the man took her gently, and Mira wrapped her short arms around his neck, seeming to take to him exceptionally.

“Excellent!” I clapped. “You’re a natural!”

He smiled brightly at his friends. “Check it out, guys!” They all took turns looking at Mira up close, a couple reaching out to touch her head.

“You want a photo?” I asked and the tallest one nodded, slipping a cell out of his pocket and handing it to me.

The four boys posed, all smiling and wrapping arms around each other.

“Alright, one…two…three.” I snapped a picture, but noticed a couple of them blinking. I pursed my lips. “Let me get a few, alright?”

They nodded and held their spots. As I was preparing to snap another, I saw a look of panic flash over the boy holding Mira.

“She’s letting go! I don’t want to drop her!”

“Oh!” Instinctively, I slipped the mobile into my vest pocket and reached out to grab Mira.

For whatever reason, she had become startled, and wanted out of the grip. It had been a long day, and she was likely over all of the attention. When I pulled her from the guy’s arms, her nails scratched across the side of his neck.

“Ouch!” He exclaimed, holding a hand up. All of his friends were looking at him.

“I’m so sorry about that, mate! It’s been quite the day for our girl here.” He moved his hand and was bleeding ever so slightly.

Seemingly rebounded, he shook his head and grinned at me. “No, I totally get it. I appreciate her letting me hold her at all.”

I set Mira on her tree, plucking her a leaf and handing it to her before turning back to the bunch. “There’s a med room on your way out the exit. They can give you a swab to clean that with.” I smiled apologetically at them.

“Thanks again…Charlie?” The boy checked my name tag. I nodded. He stuck his hand out for me to shake. “I’m Nick.”

I nodded. “Pleasure to meet you guys.”

They filed out one by one, giving small waves. The tall boy’s eyes carried mine just a little longer than the rest, and it gave me a warm feeling in my stomach.

What a cutie.

-

“So how’d the rest of the day go, Char?”

Unpinning my tag and putting it in my locker, I nodded before sitting down to slip my runners off.

“Not terrible. Mira scratched someone, though.”

She frowned. “Oh no. Are they alright?”

Sighing, I began unbuttoning my vest. “Yeah, he was just happy to get to see her. Group of American guys.”

When I shrugged off my best, I noticed it felt heavy, which was odd. Slipping my fingers in the pockets, I felt the flat, cool screen, and let my head fall back.

“Fuck.”

“What’s that?” Kylie had turned her head to look at me.

“I snatched one of their phones on accident. Shit.”

She giggled. “Well, damn. Did you catch his name?”

I shook my head. “No. Just his friend who got hurt, and not even a last name.”

“Mm, better put it in lost and found then.”

I stood, reaching to set down the phone. Before I could, it began vibrating in my hand, and I turned it over. The face of the boy I had interacted with earlier popped on the screen with the name ‘Folio’ on it.

I bit my lip, and Kylie noticed. “Going to answer it?”

“Should I?”

She just gestured toward me in a ‘duh’ fashion.

I swiped open the call, and put it up to my ear.

“Hello?”

“So, you have my phone.” A smooth, baritone voice came through the speaker.

I smiled, sitting on the bench behind me. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think about it.”

There was a soft chuckle on the other end. “No problem. Can I come get it?”

I looked up at Kylie, who was watching me expectedly. “Well, the preserve is closed for the night. I can leave it at the lost and found and you can grab it in the morning?”

“Hmm,” I heard him thinking. “I kind of can’t wait that long to get it back. Plus, I fly out in the morning.”

“Ah,” I sighed. “well, are you staying nearby? I can probably drop it off on my way home.”

“Well, the guys and I are going to Faldry’s for dinner. Could you meet me there?”

“Sure, that’s on my way.”

I heard a sigh of relief. “I really appreciate it, uh,” There was a beat of silence. “what was your name, again?”

I smiled. “Charlie.”

“That’s right.” I swore I could hear a smile in his voice. “I’m Noah.”

“Alright Noah, I can be there in half?”

“Sure, I’ll be there.”

-

The drive to the restaurant was quick, and for some reason, I felt nervous? I guess that made sense, given it was embarrassing that I managed to take this random stranger’s phone without even trying. I had a great gift for being an absolute moron. The parking lot was relatively full, so I pulled into a space toward the back. Unsure of how to let him know how I was here, I walked into the building, taking a breath and glancing around the room for the person I was trying to find.

The host approached the stand, flashing his teeth at me. "Evening. Do you have a reservation?"

Gripping the strap of my bag, I let my face fall. "Uh, no," My head whipped around more, still no luck in finding the party. "I'm here to see someone?"

He nodded tapping his computer screen. "Name?"

I closed my eyes, realizing I didn't know his surname. "Noah..." My stare pleaded with him. "He's uh, tall? Dark hair? Tattooed?"

He stared at me, clearly not following.

"He's American? With a group?"

This seemed to spark his memory, a flash of recognition crossing his features.

"Ah, I know who you mean. They're toward the back, table sixteen."

Smiling apologetically, I moved around the booth toward the other side of the dining room. Once I rounded the corner around the bar, I could see the table, more people than I recognized sitting around it.

Noah was sat, ball cap on his head, laughing at something with everyone else at the table. My chest stuttered for a moment. Now, instead of a casual tank top, he wore a plain white t-shirt. His hair peaked out from under his hat. Most noticeable was his smile, so bright and stunning. I hadn't had the chance to catch that earlier...

I gripped the phone in my hand, and swallowed before making my way over to the table. The boy I had spoken with earlier in the day - Nick - noticed me first.

"Hey!" All eyes lifted to me, and I felt more nervous than I had previously.

I gave a small wave, tucking some of my hair behind my ear. "Hello, everyone."

Noah stood, walking around the table. I handed him the phone, and he smirked at me. "Thank you so much for bringing this. I can't tell you how screwed I would've been if you hadn't."

I nodded, feeling so small stood next to him. "Of course. It was my fault, anyway."

His hand dismissed me. "It happens."

A strange, awkward silence fell over us, so I turned to the rest of the group, giving a timid grin. "Well, I'll be off, then."

"Wait," I felt fingers grab my forearm, gently pulling my attention. I looked up at Noah again, his face soft. "can I maybe," He glanced back at his friends for...something? Approval, maybe? "buy you a drink or something?"

I was caught off guard, and my face must've shown it, because his hand fell from my arm.

"Oh, uh," My eyes bounced off of the other faces at the table, who were still mostly looking right at me. "I shouldn't. I don't want to intrude."

He shook his head. "You're not! I want to do something to thank you for this." He held his phone up for reference.

I smiled, finding it exceptionally difficult to turn him down. "I mean, I suppose I could go for a cold one."

Something pulled the corners of his lips up at me.

"Great!" He turned back to his mates. "I'll be back?"

They all nodded, Nick giving him a brotherly slap on the arm. He lead me over to the bar, and pulled a stool out for me before taking the one to my right.

The bartender took our order, both of us settling on some ale before he turned his face to look at me.

"So," The drinks were placed in front of us, and I took a pull from my pint. "you like animals, huh?"

This made me laugh. What a generic conversation starter. He didn't have a lot to go on, and it was funny.

"I do. Always have."

He took a drink, and set his glass down hard on the bar. "That's really cool."

He was trying, but that topic could only get us so far.

"Do you?" I decided to venture.

"As much as the next person, I guess? I have a dog at home."

I smiled, wiping my upper lip on the napkin under my glass. "Back in the States?"

He nodded. "In California."

"Ah, what's that like?"

"You've never been over there?"

I shook my head, swallowing my beer. "Never been across the pond. Only time I left Straya was when my family would go to New Zealand on vacation. It's been a long time, though."

"New Zealand? Wow, that sounds amazing."

"It really is. It's beautiful there. And safe."

He took a big gulp of his beer, and began folding his own napkin over itself. "Well, California isn't." He said with a laugh.

I quirked an eyebrow. "I've heard." I turned my body to look at him better, studying the tattoos on his skin. "So what brings you here?"

He smiled to himself then, chewing on his thumbnail. "We had a concert."

"A concert? You flew all this way to see a band?"

He finished his drink, and signaled to the barkeep for another. "We are the band."

This made me pause. That made sense, now didn't it?

"Oh. Very nice!" The bartender brought us two fresh drinks. "What kind of music?"

"Rock music. Metal-ish?"

"What do you call yourselves?"

He smirked, staring at me from his peripherals. "Bad Omens."

"Hmm," I took a drink of my fresh beer. "that's interesting."

He snickered. "Interesting? How do you mean?"

"Sounds kind of dark."

"That's the point, honestly."

I traced the rim of the glass with my index finger, looking at him as he spoke. His lips were so pretty. And his eyes were so dark that they were almost enticing.

"I see." I finally looked away from him, down at the bubbles in my drink. "So, how do you like it here?"

He leaned forward, pressing his elbows onto the bar. "It's not my first time. It's been a while, though. I like it."

"But...?" I could tell he wasn't sold.

His cheeks tinted. "It's really hot. And the spiders are fucking crazy."

This caused a deep belly laugh to pull out of me. "That's too funny."

"Why is that funny?" He cackled with me, and I wiped a tear from my eyes.

"Ah, I don't know. A big tough guy like you being afraid of spiders? It's just funny."

He looked at me curiously. "Hey, I'm not afraid of them. I just prefer not to find giant ones in my hotel bathroom."

This only made me laugh harder, and his elbow bumped my arm playfully.

"You've got a good laugh."

This brought me back to Earth for a second, now feeling self-conscious. I contained my giggles and looked back at him.

"What?"

His smirk was silly when he brought his glass to his lips. "I like your laugh."

I shook my head. "Thank you?"

He giggled into his cup. "You're welcome."

We sat this way for a while. He continued to drink beer, but I ordered a soda after my second drink. Continuing to laugh about various different subjects, and telling stories, we then noticed the restaurant beginning to thin.

"Well then, we've been here a while, haven't we?" I mentioned as I glanced around.

"Yeah, I guess so." His eyes were sparkling when they looked at me, which made something in my stomach flip. "I've had a good time talking to you."

Returning the sentiment, I leaned against his arm. "Me too."

His mouth pouted for a second. "I'm pretty bummed I'm leaving tomorrow, or I'd offer to take you on an actual date."

This made me nearly choke on the Cola I was sucking through my straw.

"Oh yeah?" Was all I could manage.

"Well, sure. Why not?"

I raised a brow at him. "Rockstar like yourself? You've got to have a lady at home waiting, don't you?"

He huffed out a sigh, staring down at his hands. "Nah, not lately."

Chewing on my lip, I shrugged. "Then I guess," I leaned in so he could hear me clearly. "it is a shame you have to leave tomorrow."

I could feel his breath on my face, and his brow furrowed, studying me.

"I'll just have to come back soon, huh?"

Smiling, I let my stare fall on his lips. "I guess you will."

His face came closer to mine, the proximity making the air thick. I could smell the alcohol on his breath, and his nose brushed against mine. Letting my eyes fall closed, I waited for him to close the gap.

"Can I walk you to your car?"

My eyes snapped open, noticing he hadn't moved, but also hadn't moved.

A shred of disappointment filled me, but I pulled back, gathering my thoughts.

"Uh," I shouldered my purse, a bewildered look on my face. "sure."

I slipped off of the barstool, and walked past him, noticing his palm finding the small of my back to guide me toward the door.

Once outside, the crisp summer evening bit at my skin. I pulled the sleeves of my sweatshirt over my hands as we walked to my car, far in the back of the, now mostly empty, parking lot.

I turned around once I had reached the driver's door, intending to bid him a good night and a safe flight home, but - for the second time - was caught off guard.

His chest pressed against mine, pinning me against the side of my car, and his lips crashed into mine. He was gentle, but still forceful enough to make my knees goes weak.

His hands held the roof of my car on either side of my head, and my eyes rolled back as I molded into him, my hands reaching up to grasp the sides of his neck. He breathed into me, sparking something hot in my chest, and made me press my body closer against his.

One of his arms circled around my waist, lifting me up on my tip-toes to reach his face easier. Our lips fought for leverage, tongues swiping over each other. My brain was buzzing with the intensity of it.

When he finally pulled away from me, bringing me back down on the ground, I was breathing heavily, and staring up at him hungrily. He smiled, a sheen of moisture on his swollen bottom lip.

"Thank you, Charlie, for a great evening."

My pupils were dilated wide, and my hands were gripping his shirt, still.

"Thank you for the drinks, Noah."

Letting him go, my hands falling loose at my sides, he took a step back, looking down at the ground where he kicked at the asphalt.

"Could I, maybe..." He was hesitating, which was funny, given he was so confident not a moment before. "Can we exchange numbers?"

My eyebrows shot up at the absurdity of it. He lived thousands of miles away.

"You're serious?"

He just looked at me, pleading. "I am."

I scoffed, holding a hand out. "Let me see your cell."

This brought a grin to his face, his hand slipping his phone out of his pocket. "You're going to give it back this time?"

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Maybe."

He unlocked the screen, and I opened a new contact. Quickly adding myself, I handed it back to him. He looked over the screen, and nodded, satisfied.

He huffed out a sigh, and then held his arms open. I pulled into them, the abnormally long limbs wrapping around me easily.

"Be safe getting home?"

He nodded when he pulled away. "Of course."

I could see his regard, trying to decide if he should. Deciding for him, I careened up as tall as I could, and placed one last soft kiss on his lips.

"Goodnight, Noah."

I opened my door, and sat down in the driver's seat.

"Goodnight, Charlie."

The entire drive home, all I could see in my mind's eye was deep brown eyes and tattoos. Long fingers and even longer arms. Short, straight black hair. An annoyingly adorable smile.

What were the odds? I finally meet a guy, and I will likely will never see him again...

I pulled into my drive, leaning my head against the steering wheel. I'm just so lucky.

My phone lit up in my console, and I grabbed it hastily. The unknown number flashed on my screen.

Noah: Hey beautiful. ;)

[strwbmei]

Matchup Event

Matchup for: @dukemira

Matchups: Fu Hua, Firefly, March 7th

Contains: fluff, nsfw, creampie, mentions of bondage, mentions of choking, mentions of temperature play, soft sex, public sex, mentions of nipple play

A/N: Sorry for taking so long! Honestly, with Firefly's section, I have no idea how to bake so I apologize if anything is incorrect!

Ask: Long time no see I guess? Haha, anyway it's been a while and you look good, also congratulations for your 1000 followers! Okay I'll start. I will use Mira as the name, my mbti is INFJ, and my zodiac is Virgo. I'm a listener type person, I'm not speaking that much, unless the topic is interesting (or I like the topic) for me, I'll ramble so much. Many people see me as a stoic person, like I don't really care what happened later, or right now Even if it gets me in trouble. You could say I'm a hardworking person, I'll try everything to achieve what I want. If you don't mind, I would like to choose both. My first date scenario? Maybe we watch stars and aurora while drinking hot coffee and some snack (I like quiet place, irl I always go out at night like pm and go home at 3 in the morning lmao) it's just, so refreshing y'know? I'm indeed a dominant, and more into vanilla sex, soft, gentle. (Sometimes I wanna tie them up, and close their vision) (pls don't match me with male characters) The fandom Im in, honkai impact and honkai star rail.

Fu Hua

╰┈➤ SFW ;

: ̗̀➛ Like you, Fu Hua often takes late-night walks to clear her mind. The day she decided to take a different route for a change of scenery, she had no idea that this choice would end up affecting the rest of her life.

: ̗̀➛ It all starts off as the both of you passing each other on a quiet, isolated street; things like you glancing at the woman the first time you saw her because of how rare it is to see someone else around these hours. The most you'd get were stray animals and the occasional taxis, and you liked it that way.

: ̗̀➛ Your overly carefree attitude towards life and Fu Hua's overly cautious and apprehensive nature perfectly balance each other out like yin and yang. Not one is greater or worse than the other; both are inseparable as are the sorrows and joys of living that you'd gladly experience with each other.

: ̗̀➛ Change is a fearsome thing. All of the insignificant differences come together until eventually, you realize that your surroundings have already changed beyond recognition. Fu Hua firmly believes in this, and yet, it was the same change that brought her to meet you. As such, you're also the one to introduce her to new things. It takes her a bit of coaxing, but she's willing to try anything as long you're with her.

: ̗̀➛ Generally speaking, the two of you have so many similarities and just as many differences. Somehow, though, you make it work. Not because you just happen to be the right person for each other, but because you want to make it right.

"Fu Hua?" Your voice breaks Fu Hua's train of thought. She'd been gazing up at the sky for a while now, reminiscing about the past as she does so. It's not something she particularly chooses to do the first dusk of every new year, but she always ends up doing it nonetheless.

"Ah, you're awake. Did I wake you when I got up from bed?" She turns to you with a somber yet warm smile on her face. Her gaze goes down to the two cups of hot chocolate in your hands and mutters a small "thank you" as she takes one of them. You shake your head in response to her question. "Mm. I just got a bit worried when I woke up and you weren't beside me."

"What are you thinking about?" You ask before taking a quick sip of your drink. The dark and rich taste is perfect for calm, quiet mornings like this. Last night was filled with celebrations and festivities, and now that they're done, the city has fallen asleep. The sun peeks out through the horizon to greet the start of the new year.

"It's nothing important. It always amazes me how quickly time can pass and bring change." Her gaze falls down onto the jewelry shop at the corner of the road. It used to be a small diner run by a nice elderly couple. They had a dog; a small Australian terrier named Winter. Ironically enough, Winter did not like the cold. She wonders where they are now and how they're doing.

The two of you sit in comfortable silence, the sunlight illuminating the unlit city. Fu Hua smiles at the sound of the dogs barking; it's the one thing that has stayed constant throughout all these years. She hopes spending mornings with you like this will become one of those things as well. "Happy New Year, my love."

╰┈➤ NSFW ;

: ̗̀➛ Very vanilla and traditional so Fu Hua thinks she should always be submissive, at least at first. She's open to trying out new things in bed. We all know that she'd be submissive regardless of her old fashioned mindset, though.

: ̗̀➛ Fu Hua is open-minded when it comes to kinks, so she's willing to try anything at least once as long as it isn't anything too extreme or unhygienic.

: ̗̀➛ She's really big on safe sex. Fu Hua is actually very educated on sex despite having little to no personal experience with it/things related to it, mostly because she's had to give her disciples "the talk" before.

: ̗̀➛ During sex is when Fu Hua is the most emotionally vulnerable. She accidentally slips out words that she'd be way too prideful to say in any other situation, says "I love you" a lot more than usual, and reaches out to hold your hands subconsciously.

: ̗̀➛ She can go for a lot of rounds, but afterwards, she's immediately falling asleep. She'll try to give you the best aftercare she can (even if you were the one on top,) with the energy she has left, but the most she can probably do is get you a glass of water and a towel.

"My love..." She sighs, desperate and needy. Her legs rest at either of your sides as your hips rut slowly and softly against hers. Slender, calloused hands rest on your back, clawing ever so slightly whenever you hit a certain spot inside of her.

The room is dimly lit with scented candles, your clothes scattered on the floor while sensual music plays in the background. A scene telling of the romance and passion between two lovers.

You adjust yourself to hit deeper inside of her, and Fu Hua sings. She sings your name like an angel gently comforting you with her embrace; soft, and loving.

Feeling yourself nearing climax, you groan her name and bury your face into the side of her pale neck. As if in unspoken understanding, her fingers reach out to intertwine with yours, and her legs wrap around your waist.

Your hips stutter, and you fill her deep with your cum. Her chest rises up and down as she catches her breath, and she looks ethereal. You're set on spending the rest of your life with her.

March 7th

╰┈➤ SFW ;

: ̗̀➛ You and March 7th are the epitome of the saying "opposites attract." Or so, people say. While that might seem true on the surface, you actually have a lot of similarities like two stars in different galaxies, shining with unique brilliance yet connected by the vastness of the universe.

: ̗̀➛ For example, the two of you like quiet places; only for different reasons. You like quiet places because you like being able to be at peace and be alone with your thoughts. March likes quiet places because she can often find you in them. She loves bustling atmospheres and the blinding city lights, but she loves you more.

: ̗̀➛ Her troubles affect her more than they seem to, and when she can't silence the negative thoughts in her head, it's you that she comes to for respite.

: ̗̀➛ There's something about you that makes March feel so... safe and secure. She feels comfortable telling you about things that she'd normally repress herself. You keep her grounded. You help her get through the bad times and replace them with good ones.

: ̗̀➛ You care for her and try to comfort her the best you can, but you don't really care about things like "who she used to be" and "what she even is." Human, alien, or even as an emanator, you'd love her all the same. What matters to you isn't her past, but the future that you can have together.

"Hehe..." March looks up at the new ring you bought for her. The cold, silver metal shines when the moonlight hits it just the right way. To her, its glint symbolizes your love and the future to come. "Do you really like the ring that much?" You ask since she's been staring at it intently ever since you first got it for her. Of course, you're flattered since you also chose it, but you know March can be a bit overdramatic sometimes.

March turns to you as soon as the question leaves your lips. "Of course! You bought it for me, after all." She smiles with pride. You chuckle at her reaction and pat her head. "I'm glad you like it, but don't dote on it too much. I can always buy you a new one, y'know?" You weren't exactly rich, but that ring wasn't exactly expensive either. It was just something you bought because it seemed to be her style.

"Sure, but every gift from you is special to me. Even if you get me an extravagant wedding ring one day, I'll still treasure all of the handwritten notes you leave me sometimes." You blush at the implications of marriage. Of course it's been on your mind too, but to hear March mention it so casually has you feeling a bit bashful.

"When that time comes, let's get a big house and a whole army of pets! Ah, but that might make it difficult for the express... What about 5? Or if Pompom allows us, 10?" You chuckle at her ambition. You can already imagine Pompom going crazy with cleaning all of the fur. Still, a future like that with her sounds quite nice.

"We'll get as many as you want, March."

╰┈➤ NSFW ;

: ̗̀➛ She's not a stranger to the concept of sex, but there are a lot of things that she doesn't know about it. Despite that, or maybe because of that, she's always wanted to try.

: ̗̀➛ March 7th mostly bottoms--she counts on you to take the lead since you're more knowledgeable. She can definitely be the dominant one if asked, though. Top or bottom, her main goal is for both of you to feel good.

: ̗̀➛ Getting tied up and wearing nice lingerie are her favorite things! The intricate designs make March feel prettier, so she sometimes wears them underneath her clothes just for that confidence boost.

: ̗̀➛ She's up for it anytime anywhere mostly, but she's a bit hesitant to have sex in busier places. She likes it when there's a chance of someone spotting the two of you in the act, but she doesn't want to actually get caught. That would scar her for life.

: ̗̀➛ Loves it when you get more assertive. She loves how gentle and caring you are with her, so seeing a side of you that's so different gives her whiplash in the best ways possible.

: ̗̀➛ Her nipples are the most sensitive part of her body. She could have an orgasm just from you playing with them. A close second is her neck, though. Whether you leave kisses all over it or choke it ever so slightly, you're sure to get her gushing in her panties.

"I swear to Akivili, I'm going to kill you once all this is over!" March whisper shouts, turning to face you with an angry red all over her cheeks. Whether it's from embarrassment or arousal you're not sure.

The Astral Express had been invited to a fancy dinner, and as a result, you're spending the night mingling with the other guests; mostly the bigwigs of the planet you had just arrived on.

Or so, that's how March expected the evening would go. Now she's sat on your lap, legs spread as she gets fingered by you under the table. To others, you'd merely look like a young, naive couple in love, unaware of how her cunt drips slick and clamps down on your fingers.

Everyone turns their heads towards both of you when March whimpers in the middle of her sentence. She's quick to dismiss their concerns, and you chuckle at their cluelessness, saying March is just feeling a bit nervous.

You hold her gently by her chin and press a seemingly chaste kiss on her lips, swallowing her moans as she cums all over your hand. The rest of them are left none the wiser to the filthy acts the two of you are committing behind the scenes.

March hates how good you can make her feel.

Firefly

╰┈➤ SFW ;

: ̗̀➛ Your relationship is one full of secrets, but neither of you really mind. You understand that everyone has things that they wouldn't want anyone else to know, and that being their partner doesn't make you an exception.

: ̗̀➛ She doesn't question you when you come home at ungodly hours of the day. You don't question her when she comes home smelling like smoke and motor oil. You rush into each other's embrace regardless of the day you had beforehand. It gives you comfort and warmth and makes you feel like nothing else matters other than being in your lover's arms and the steady beating of their heart.

: ̗̀➛ Her favorite activity to do with you is baking! Neither of you is particularly skilled at it, but she finds the experience therapeutic and wants to share it with you. Firefly also has fun experimenting with the recipe to see what works the best.

: ̗̀➛ Firefly is a very kind and gentle partner, but only when she's awake. When the two of you are in bed together, (which is very rare considering how different your schedules are,) she becomes a heartless monster who hogs literally all of the blankets and pillows. Yes, blankets with an s. You've tried to solve this problem by getting your own, but to no avail.

: ̗̀➛ Honestly, it'd be pretty easy to take the blankets away from Firefly since she isn't very physically strong, but you can't. She just looks so peaceful asleep like this (despite leaving you vulnerable to the cold) and you know that she's tired. Hell, it's probably been a week or two since she's slept this well. You just don't have the heart.

"See, all you have to do is place the icing into the bag and..." Firefly rambles on about the techniques she uses when decorating pastries, even going as far as to give you a live example on the cake rolls the two of you were currently baking.

You cherish every second of these comfortable, domestic moments with her given how rare it is for the two of you to have the whole day to spend with each other like this.

However, there is one problem.

Earlier, you noticed that she accidentally put salt instead of sugar when making the batter. Should you tell her, or let her taste the consequences of her actions?

As you're faced with this life-threatening dilemma, Firefly looks up at you with a concerned expression and asks, "Are you okay, Mira...? We can always do this another time if you want."

For a moment, you almost take pity on her. Thinking of all the nights she took all the blankets and pillows (albeit unconsciously) and left you without protection against the cold, you make your decision. This blanket hogger must be brought to justice.

╰┈➤ NSFW ;

: ̗̀➛ It's good that you're more into soft sex because that's quite literally all that Firefly can handle. Seriously. Don't go rough on her unless you want her to get sent to the hospital.

: ̗̀➛ She can get a bit insecure about this and think that you deserve someone that you won't have to restrain yourself for during sex, but you reassure her that isn't the case and that intimacy isn't the most important part of your relationship with her.

: ̗̀➛ Due to how frail she is, it takes a lot of trust for her to engage in intimacy with someone. Chances are, you're probably her first time. She trusts you to not only make her feel good, but she also trusts that you'll be gentle and respect her boundaries.

: ̗̀➛ She's more on the vanilla side, but being physically weak doesn't stop her from having a few kinks of her own. For the most part, she'd be into getting blindfolded and temperature play.

: ̗̀➛ Whether Firefly is on top or not, she's way too gentle to ever hurt you, even accidentally. She's definitely the type to ask for consent/ask if you're feeling good every 5 minutes, regardless of how horny and desperate she might be.

When Firefly walked through the door with a sense of restlessness in her footsteps, rushing to take off her coat and straddle your hips as you sat on the couch, you already knew what she wanted.

Every time she's away at work (if you can even call it that) for a long time, she comes back all tense and desperate to please you. It's her favorite way to destress, she says. Still, you can never get used to your sweet and gentle Firefly being so... lustful.

Of course, you don't mind and you'd gladly help her take her mind off work, but the contrast in her behavior never fails to catch you off guard.

She buries her face into your neck, breathing heavily as her hands fumble for the waistband of your pants. "Pants, please?" You snap out of your inner monologue and help her.

Once she looks up at you, you can't help but notice the glint in her eyes. It's... different, and hungry. You can't help but be glad that you don't have to wake up early the next morning.

[callsign-rogueone]

what do you think dain’s dad was like when dain was growing up? what do we think dain’s childhood was like?

the short answer: cold. distant. detached.

the long answer:

I’m still not done with onyx storm, but I made it to one tiny line (literally not even a spoiler, but you’ve been warned anyway) where the gang is wondering how Dain turned out halfway normal with the colonel for a father. and Brennan says… “he had ours, too.”

o u c h

and in iron flame (or maybe it was fourth wing? can you tell I have never re-read these books…), at some point col aetos says “you’re such a disappointment, Violet.” how many times do we think Dain has heard that exact sentence, just with his name instead of hers?

I’ve talked about my theories of Dain’s mother in a separate post that I’ll link here when I find it again. but I’m convinced that it was always (or almost always, since Dain was very young) just the two of them, and that Col Aetos always kinda resented his son, or considered him a bother instead of a blessing.

so it’s no wonder why Dain clung to the Sorrengails so hard. I bet he was always over for dinner, playing with Mira and Violet, idolizing Brennan as an older brother figure, learning from Mr. Sorrengail about languages and scribe stuff... and I bet Col. Aetos never noticed that his son wasn’t home.

I’m not from a very warm and fuzzy family myself. at times our relationship feels transactional. I was frequently told how expensive I was as a child, how much effort it took for them to take me to and from ballet / swim / etc., which didn’t last very long anyway. physical needs were met, but that’s about it.

I feel like Dain’s experience was a little similar, with him realizing as a child that his father saw him as a burden. and that understandably messes you up, decreases your self worth… he tried so hard to make his father proud for once, to “earn” some attention or affection by being a perfect student, a good soldier… and then eventually he realized that nothing would ever be enough.

realizing it and accepting it are two very different things, though. I think he realized it his first year at Basgiath, that following in dad’s footsteps wasn’t enough, and then his second and now third years, he slowly accepted it — and that finally led him to do the right thing and join the revolution / break Violet out and go to Aretia.

but then the Thing that happened early in onyx storm… I won’t say exactly what. but iykyk… I think that made him realize that he wasn’t truly “over it”.

anyway in conclusion… I’ve always been a Dain defender, partially because I saw the signs of him having been neglected from day one. the only thing he’s ever strived for was his father’s praise, but now that is completely off the table, and he has to figure out what he wants from life, and who he wants to be (not who he thought his dad wanted him to be).

and love and saoirse are gonna heal some of those childhood wounds. he’s gonna have a real family for the first time ever, and feel so loved 🥺❤️‍🩹