#this was SO MUCH FUN to write

[witless-winion1]

guess who saw the latest @notsolonedesert art and immediately went feral, so.

Eurylochus was not quite sure if his heart had ever beat so hard as it was now in his entire life.

He adjusted the cover on the small basket he held, the intricate wickerwork filled with the pastries he knew she liked; he’d seen her stealing them from kitchens with her brother and filling half her plate with them at royal banquets enough times, so he’d taken great care in making them. And even more care in wandering an entire orchard to find the perfect apple, nestled in the center, hopefully not getting too sticky with honey from the pastries.

Odysseus’s massive grin filled his mind. “Are you nuts? My best friend marrying my sister? Go for it, brother, I don’t know why you didn’t ask me sooner!”

An encouraging response, but his stomach was tormenting itself with mild nausea, nonetheless.

He found Ctimene where he had asked Eurycliea to tell her to meet him; sitting on the old wall where they had met, underneath the branches of an oak tree. She was smiling off into the distance, her sandals hanging on for their lives on her swinging feet.

He wasn’t as massive fan of the gods as his mother was, but he found himself praying anyway, and to a goddess he rarely spared a thought to; please, Aphrodite, grant me your favor…

Ctimene’s head snapped toward him as he stepped on a fallen branch. Her dimpled grin increased at least twofold as her eyes landed.

Oh, no. He should back up. Turn around and run, she was scarier than that divine boar of Athena’s with the way her lips curved and eyes crinkled in the corners, the light falling unevenly over her hair and shoulders from behind. He was walking towards his doom, his death at the hands of this lovely beast.

He didn’t know how, but his face remained calm as ever, though he did notice his hands shaking, the faint quiver of a lute’s plucked strings as he placed the basket on the wall and took a seat next to her on the uneven stone. “Hello, Ctimene.”

“You’re here!” The king’s sister grinned. “I was beginning to think you would keep me waiting until sunset. But I will forgive your lateness, I see you’ve brought treats?” Her delighted eyes darted down to the basket beside her legs. Classic, he thought, his heart fluttering so hard it was a wonder it found time to beat.

Eurylochus nodded and gestured weakly for her to take as she wanted, biting his lip. He was so thankful the way he had come up to do this didn’t require much speaking or movement. His hands were numb. They probably shouldn’t be numb. Should they? Was this what love did? Curse you, Aphrodite.

Ctimene’s quick fingers were on the basket cover, pulling it off, and-

-taking a pastry with a giggly gasp and a “My favorites! How did you know?!”

She didn’t even see the apple?

Give it a moment.

“It…wasn’t hard to guess.” Just wait. She’ll recognize it in a moment. What if she says no? What if she says yes?

“Ah, I suppose not. I do eat them all the time.” She bit into it with eagerness, her joyful eyes flickering over his deceptively stoic face. “Did you make these?”

“Yes, I did. Do you like them?”

“Love them! You’re getting better. You and I should bake together sometime. Aren’t you going to have one?” She asked, noting his empty hands, which had made no effort to reach for the basket. Eurylochus would likely drop whatever he picked up now, his hands settled on his knee and wrist, firmly pressing down in an effort to conceal their shaking.

“No, I’m not hungry.” He’d probably throw up whatever he ate, if he tried to put anything in his mouth before Ctimene gave her answer to the question she hadn’t noticed was hanging in the air between them. Sitting in the basket.

“Hmm. More for me.” Ctimene giggled and went for another pastry. “You made a lot of these. What’s the special occasion?” She picked up another, her fingers barely brushing against the glossy red fruit. As she bit down, her brow furrowed the tiniest bit, and her eyes darted back to the basket in a double take. His stomach tightened, watching her enchanting eyes widen. His hands definitely felt numb, and his brain as well, should he be saying something clever? Asking her the question outright? Surely sitting here in silence was the cowardly way-

A funny noise came from Ctimene’s throat. It took Eurylochus a moment to recognize it.

“Oh, gods, are you choking?” He leaned over the basket, reaching for her shoulder, brain un-numbing and kicking into high gear, Ody would kill him if she died because of his stupid proposal method, no, he would do it himself first-

She waved him off, eyes wide, and forced down the bite of pastry with merely a small cough. He’d overreacted. His face was on fire.

“No, no, I’m fine, Eury, but- is that what I think it is-?” She murmured, looking up at him with an excited gleam.

Well, I certainly hope so, I’m not sure what else an apple would mean, he thought, managing a stupid “y-yes.”

Ctiemene sat there a moment, before she kicked off the wall and grabbed his elbow. He nearly fell off and on top of her, barely muffling a grunt of surprise, but it slipped out again when she threw her arms around him properly and squeezed. Then he had no breath left to grunt with, because dear gods, this girl was strong, what were they feeding her?

“Yes!” She nearly shrieked, almost wiggling his body in her grip as her sandals danced on the pebbled road. And Eurylochus’s heart nearly burst with relief.

He would have loved to pick her up and spin her in his arms as she loved him doing, except she was kind of trapping them already, and if he tried to pull them out they might pop off. So he settled for a relieved, breathless chuckle.

Thank you, Aphrodite.

[jossamology]

⸻ until dawn halloween headcanons!

in honor of halloween here's a halloween-themed headcanon set for each until dawn character.

samantha giddings.

sam chooses a diy nature-inspired costume like a woodland fairy, using biodegradable glitter and repurposed fabrics. think leaves, twigs, and soft, earthy greens.

she insists on going to a local pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin and spends hours carving designs.

while the others plan for parties, she hosts a low-key gathering with candles, cozy blankets, and homemade pumpkin spice lattes.

loves classic horror but gets super into psychological thrillers. hereditary is her top pick, and she’s the one pointing out foreshadowing before everyone else catches it. josh washington.

josh goes all-out building a haunted maze in his backyard, complete with hidden speakers, fake cobwebs, and scare actors he hires just to freak his friends out.

dresses as something horrifying, like a blood-streaked serial killer. full commitment to fake blood and smudged makeup.

has a camera ready to capture each friend’s reaction when they’re scared out of their minds. keeps a scare montage video just for fun.

he's surprisingly good at carving pumpkins, but his designs are intricate horror scenes, almost like horror movie posters in pumpkin form.

ends halloween by watching obscure, disturbing horror movies that leave everyone else uncomfortable. mike munroe.

shows up dressed as a suave vampire or some other classic monster, aiming to look cool and a little dangerous.

takes his friends to a haunted corn maze and enjoys it way more than he lets on, constantly teasing the jump-scare actors and testing his bravery.

organizes a frat party bonfire in the woods with s’mores and ghost stories. he’s the one lighting sparklers and throwing on extra wood to make the flames bigger, he drinks to much and forgets he's the host of the party.

pulls classic halloween pranks, from fake spider webs to jumping out of dark corners. the type to keep a scary mask in his bag just to mess with people.

after a few drinks, he’s belting out rocky horror picture show songs around the bonfire with zero shame.

jessica riley.

jessica’s costume is elaborate, trendy, and slightly dark, like a glamorous vampire or a witch in haute couture. she’s all about looking spooky-chic, she went shopping early for the best costume.

stays in to watch mean girls with a couple of her girl friends referencing every qoute.

spends half of halloween snapping aesthetic photos of her outfit, snacks, and décor, making everything look flawless.

gets her halloween nails done a week before and flaunts them on her social media platforms.

matt taylor.

he’s the guy bringing pumpkin spice lattes and fall-flavored treats for everyone, unapologetically embracing the season.

suggests doing a couples costume with emily, probably as a famous horror duo. secretly excited about how they’ll look in photos together.

convinces emily(and maybe the whole group) to go on a haunted hayride, keeping a brave face while sneaking glances to see if she’s scared.

volunteers to help with halloween décor, placing spider webs and fake spiders around. he’s got a collection of led bats and ghost lights.

emily davis.

dresses as a chic witch, complete with a designer hat, intricate lace gloves, and knee-high boots. halloween is just another reason to look flawless.

sets up a dark, enchanted photo booth with crystal balls, black roses, and velvet. her instagram feed is a whole halloween masterpiece.

makes sure to get billions of stunning couples photos with matt, each one more perfect than the last. their matching costumes and chemistry are on point, making everyone else a bit envious (and they know it).

emily hosts a halloween themed sleep over with velvet pillows, and black satin sheets for an ultra-cozy but gothic sleepover vibe. the girls chat and laugh till they fall asleep, each secretly keeping one eye open.

chris hartley.

dresses as a ghostbuster or some iconic horror nerd costume, complete with all the gadgets. he’s fully committed to the nostalgia factor.

brings his gear and talks about doing a "ghost hunt." sets up his phone to record “paranormal” activity around the bonfire.

insists on watching horror classics with everyone, pausing every now and then to geek out about the movie effects or the backstory.

after everyone else goes to bed, chris and ashley stay up playing with the ouija board, half-joking but also half-believing they might make contact. they end up spooking themselves and get so scared swearing to never use it again.

ashley brown.

dresses as a character from classic gothic literature, like mina harker from dracula, complete with vintage lace and dark, dramatic makeup.

she knits little ghost ornaments and diys her own creepy decor, like mason jars filled with “witch’s brew” and spiderweb doilies.

loves telling ghost stories, candle in hand, with just the right amount of dramatic pauses and eerie expressions.

ashley, catching her breath and laughing nervously, gives chris a playful whack on the arm for scaring her so bad. “not cool, chris!” she says, but she’s grinning as he pulls off the mask, clearly proud of his successful prank.

insists on having a stash of halloween candy just for herself. she’s all about chocolate, especially reese’s and kit kats, and jokingly guards her stash from the others, even hiding a few extras in her bag.

hannah and beth washington.

hannah and beth take turns posing in different eerie setups around the cabin, snapping dramatic photos of each other in candlelight, near fog machines, and with props like antique lanterns. they especially love capturing a few shots that look like something out of an old haunted portrait.

both love the idea of exploring the mountain at night, so they plan a late-night “ghost hunt” under the full moon. they bring flashlights and spooky stories to tell along the way, daring each other to walk just a little bit farther into the woods.

beth and hannah sneak into the room with a giant rubber spider and place it right on josh’s chest. when he stirs and opens his eyes to find it staring back at him, he lets out a yell that has the girls stifling laughter from behind the door.

they have a slight obsession with candy corn and will spend halloween night indulging in it, trading their favorite types of candy and making candy corn-themed treats, like popcorn balls or cupcakes.

[junimosity]

can you please write a fic where harvey is an airline pilot and you are starting out as a stewardess... if you could make it steamy ... extra points

why yes anon, yes I can! seatbelt sign is on!

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ Come Fly With Me ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

pairing: Pilot!Harvey x FlightAttendant!AFAB!Reader

w.c.: 2.6k

summary: anxiously suited up, you make it to your gate just on time for your first flight. your pilot comes to greet you and assures you that you're in very good hands.

warnings: 18+ (MDNI), shameless power dynamic smut, bathroom sex, praise, mirror sex, unprotected sex (wrap it up y'all!), harvey talks you through it , congrats on making it to the mile high club!

divider by @uzmacchiato

You didn’t dare run through the terminal. You’d spent hours steaming your uniform to a crisp, and a better part of your morning retying your scarf over and over again until it fell just right. You didn’t let a single bead of sweat threaten to breach your perfectly lined lipstick. Not today, at least. 

Walking smoothly over the enameled halls of the airport, you smiled as you passed other attendants, making sure to greet everyone you saw with an air of excitement. The day of your first flight had finally come after a gruelling month of training, and you were going to make sure everyone knew that you were damn well qualified. You seemed to be doing a good job of it too, except for one person; yourself. The clear-cut presentation you provided did nothing to hide your own racing heartbeat from resounding in your ears. 

“E-13,” you whispered to yourself, eyeing the gate just around the bend in the terminal. Fighting back the urge to bite your lip, you walked up to the gate just as the previous flight’s passengers debarked. It was only a matter of minutes before you’d meet the attendants ending their shifts for the day, and of course their pilot, who would be continuing onto the next destination with you. 

“You sure look sharp,” the gate attendant smiled at you as you checked in with her, flashing your ID badge over a scanner. “That’s a fresh badge there, are you new to the airline?”

“New to the practice,” you admitted with a beam. “First flight.”

“If my records are right, you’ve got one of our best pilots today. He’s known to be a treat to work with.”

“Thank you, Ember,” a voice called, breaching from the gate. “Always good to hear praise from the homebase.”

“Best of luck,” she called, almost lost on you as you made eye contact with the absolute first-class package that approached. You smiled a thank you to her quickly before returning your eyes to your very first pilot. 

“Harvey,” the spruced gentleman reached his hand out as he made it out of the jet-bridge. “You must be my rookie today.”

“Totally yours,” you croaked, entranced as his thick mustache curved a little. “Your rookie, yes, (Y/N).”

“What a beautiful name. It’s a beautiful day to fly too, don’t you think?” He brought your gaze to the window, a stunning clear sky, sunlight reflecting off the small plane you were about to board. 

“Couldn’t be better,” you resumed your act of confidence, straightening your shoulders.

“Let’s get you on board. The other staff are excited to meet you,” he gestured back to the jet bridge. 

You couldn’t help but nod quickly as you took off ahead of him, hyper aware of his presence behind you as you rolled your little suitcase down the ramp and through the door. 

“Newbie!” One of the flight attendants called out the moment you brought your bag in, stopping you at the doorway. 

“Everyone!” Harvey called, summoning the rest of the staff to the front of the plane. “This is (Y/N), and as you already know, this is her very first flight with Ferngill Airways.” You smiled as everyone convened, shrinking mildly as the scent of fresh fir needles melded with the air of the plane. You could see him in your periphery, towering behind you with his hands propped on top of the plane door. 

“You’re gonna do great, kid. We’ve gotta sort some stuff out from the last flight, so feel free to get familiar with the plane while we finish up.” One of the attendants said to you with a smile before the little crowd dispersed. 

“Need a hand with your bag?” you turned to see Harvey still leaning from the entrance, looking down to you with his chin perked up a little. You almost let out a giggle. 

“I can handle the bag, but maybe just to know which compartment I can put it in.” 

“Right this way, Miss (Y/N),” he walked in, brushing past your hips to make it to the first overhead bins. “I believe there was a little accident in the first class section of the plane on the last flight, so we’ll have this section closed off on our trip today. We only have a handful of passengers anyway. Feel free to store your things up here.”

He opened it up for you, ducking into the seats to let you put it up yourself. You were innately aware of how close his head was to your breasts as you lifted your bag above, pushing it back neatly without a sweat. 

“Right,” he let out a low laugh, making your toes curl a little in your nice new shoes. “Let me show you what’s up here in the front.”

You followed him around, not wasting a single moment to wonder why the pilot was showing you all this, figuring the other attendants had plenty of other stuff to deal with. He gestured to everything you’d need, stating the obvious and cracking a few jokes here and there that you definitely made sure to laugh at. 

He was unbelievably charming, giddy as a child at the Feast of the Winter Star as he pointed to each compartment. You almost lost the words he said until he looked back at you with an excited smile. 

“Got it,” you told him. “Thank you! This plane is pretty different from the ones I trained on.”

“Not to worry. I love flying these ones, they handle the turbulence really well. You’re not gonna want to fly a 787 after this.”

“I’ll take your word for it!” You laughed, “this is already so much more exciting than I expected.”

“Atta girl,” he beamed, sending you into a mental swoon. “If you’re anything like me, though, even a red eye is a delight.”

“It’s funny you say that, my first red eye is what made me want to work on planes to begin with.” You gave into the chat, clasping your hands together in front of you. In all honesty, you loved to geek out about air travel. “I could talk about that all day If you’re as interested as I am.”

“Huh, me too,” Harvey smiled at you, eyes flickering up and down. You almost missed it, having been too busy doing the same to him. “Great minds.”

“Great indeed,” you relaxed, breaking away from the eye contact to find one of the other attendings coming back to the front. 

“We’re ready to board!” 

--

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we have reached our cruising altitude, please feel free to move about the cabin.” 

You sighed as you finished the call, having been assigned the empty first class cabin and intercom duty. 

“Psst, good job!” Harvey poked his head out of the cockpit, startling you as you inspected the refreshment cart. You clutched your heart jokingly, laughing at him with a sigh.

“Don’t you have a plane to fly?” you whispered at him, for no reason really, as the nearest passenger was ten rows away and behind a curtain. 

“My First Officer wanted to take advantage of the weather. He doesn’t get many opportunities with other pilots.”

“Should I be worried?” you laughed again, pretending to make yourself busy. 

“Oh, not at all,” Harvey fully removed himself from the cockpit. “I would never do anything to endanger the passengers or staff.”

You turned to give him your full attention, finding him running a finger down the side of the compartment in front of you. Although his light hearted demeanor didn’t shift, he definitely meant what he said. 

“I believe you. Thank you for being so welcoming to me. I was, uh,” you found yourself trailing off as you watched his forearm curl, a healthy layer of hair coating it right up to his watch and onto the fingers he spread. 

“Nervous?” He looked down to you, that little half smile from earlier grabbing your attention. “Don’t be. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Were you?” you asked, genuinely curious about his past. He laughed a little and leaned down in secrecy, just close enough for you to get another dash of fir. 

“Don’t tell my co-pilot, but it took me years to not feel panicked in the air.”

“Really?” you relaxed into the compartment below his hand as you made a shocked expression. “I can’t imagine that.”

“Oh, it was real bad,” He drew out as looked down at you. “Truth be told, it was the heights that got me. That, and a barely passing eye exam.”

“Prescription that bad, huh?” you quirked a brow. 

“Don’t believe me? Try ‘em.”

You smiled at the invitation, reaching up with the fingertips of both hands to slide off his glasses, flipping them around to place them on the bridge of your nose. 

“Oh, yikes, they let you into the academy like this? You’re blind!”

“Don’t worry, I can see well enough to tell you look better in them than I.”

The frames slid down your nose as you parted your mouth, releasing a breath before finally letting yourself bite your lip. 

“Is that so?” you breathed, nerves from before easing like the smooth air you flew in. 

“Don’t tell me you still don’t believe me, Miss (Y/N).” Harvey grabbed the glasses from your face with precision, folding them into his shirt pocket. “I am your pilot, you know.”

“Yes sir,” you breathed, legs turning to jelly beneath you. Harvey contorted his brow a little, running his tongue over his lips for just a moment. 

Oh, you knew what you were doing. He did too, apparently, the muscles in his neck flexing as he rested his elbow onto the compartment above you, leaning further. 

“You’re an obedient one, aren’t you?” He whispered, eyes glued to your wettend lips. 

“I pride myself on it,” you responded quickly, head rolling back in submission. Or as Harvey saw it, an invitation. 

“There’s some other things I can show you, you know,” He continued, thumbing at your perfectly tied scarf. “If you really are as interested as I am.”

“Yes sir,” you repeated, cueing a groan from Harvey as your lips met. He was slow but thorough, pressing into you as if he were guiding you through a lesson. Your hands found the back of his neck as the hand above you came down behind yours, Harvey no longer giving you a chance to back away. His other hand shot out behind him, your eyes flickering open for a moment as you heard a door handle shake a little. They rolled back into your head as Harvey led you into the small bathroom, pulling you into him so he could lock the door. You let out a moan as you heard the signal ding, letting the lack of first class passengers know not to enter. 

The cramped room forced your proximity intensively, allowing you to feel the hardness within your pilot’s ironed trousers. You whimpered as it pressed against your hips, signalling Harvey to turn you around. His hands found their way to your blouse, you aiding him in unbuttoning the top before he grabbed your breast in one hand and collar bone with the other, forcing you to look in the mirror.

“Pay attention, sweetheart,” Harvey commanded gently, pressing a kiss to your ear as he felt you through your bra. “I’d hate for you to miss anything.”

“Fuck,” you whined, pressing yourself into him. Keeping a hand on your breast, he lifted up your skirt, pulling down your pantyhose with a gentleness so as not to rip them. He simultaneously sent a hand into your bra, rousing at your nipple before kissing the crook of your neck, his breath heavy and hot. His other hand found its way into your panties, fingers snaking around the front of you to cup at your folds. 

“So wet for me already,” he groaned into your neck, your hands finding his hair and your other breast. “So needy for me…”

“Please,” you puttered out as he found your clit, immediately rubbing slow, hard circles into you. 

“I’m gonna take care of you, don’t you worry,” he beckoned as his hand left your warmth, leaving you pleading further. You had to halt your grinding as he eased himself out of his pants, his cock immediately rubbing up against your folds from behind. You couldn’t bear it, the deep pool of need within you tightening over nothing until you felt his tip poke at your entrance. “You ready sweetheart?”

You whined as you nodded into the mirror, his face pressed up against yours, mustache tickling your ear. 

“I’m gonna need to hear you say it,” he commanded softly, the concern on his brow and bright red blush making you submit. 

“Yes sir, please, I need you, please, please,”

“Shh,” He cooed, brushing your hair back from your face as he slowly entered, the thickness of his cock unlike anything your walls experienced. You panted as he stretched you out slowly, every last bit of space filling, brushing perfectly up against the spots that ached the most. “I got you, sweetheart. So good for me…” 

Harvey placed a kiss to your cheek as he pulled out again, this time slamming into you, making the hand on his head pull at his hair.  

“Atta girl,” he continued, setting a steady pace of rough thrusts. The sound of you echoed in the tiny room, Harvey taking his hand from your hair down to your clit once again. HIs pace quickened as you continued to moan, Harvey beginning to let out some healthy grunts. 

Just the situation sent you clenching over him, your sloppy pussy making him call out even louder. 

“Go- God,” he panted, looking into the mirror, his expression frazzled as you found his eyes. “Look how fucking good you look, taking me so fucking well,”

You turned to look up at him, begging with your eyes to meet his lips. He let out a stuttered groan as he obliged you, tongues clashing with his pace quickening.

“Harvey, I’m going- I’m going to come,” you whimpered into his lips, your pussy tightening over and over again. 

“Atta girl, come on my cock,” he urged, breaking away from the kiss to look into your eyes. You couldn’t help but yell out as he nodded at you frantically, coaxing you to meet your own cruising altitude. You bit at your lips, pristine lipstick half rubbed off as you ground back into Harvey, legs shaking as you rode out your climax on his length.

“There you go, baby,” He circled at your clit slowly, taking you just past the point of overstimulation, his thrusts becoming sloppy and sharp as he chased his own high. “I’m gonna- oh, fuck…”

Harvey stilled partially, sending thick floes of cum into your shivering pussy. The feeling made your head reel back, landing on his shoulder as he finally came to a halt. 

“Fuck,” you drawled, catching your breath as you felt Harvey pull himself out, the feeling of his cum dripping onto your thigh. Coming to, you made to reach for the tissue right in front of you, but Harvey stopped your hand, instead leading it down to feel his seed. He readjusted your panties over your puffy, worn out pussy, still pulsating from your orgasm. 

“This flight is my final destination for today. You’re going to stay in my room tonight, alright sweetheart?” He commanded, watching as you brought his cum to your lips. You wrapped them around your finger, sucking him clean off of your freshly manicured hands before finding his gaze in the mirror. 

“Yes, sir.” 

[ironunderstands]

Double Indemnity, Spellbound and how a retroactive plot twist kicked the communities ass (which also has some VERY interesting implications for Aventio)

I had a very enlightening conversation on TikTok about the nature of these two romance/thrillers, and while unfortunately, I have no idea how to watch them, the plot synopses I’ve seen and analysis other people have made have caused me to come to this conclusion/interpretation of these references:

On the first viewing of the Double Indemnity questline, the reference to the DI movie is meant to be played straight, with Aventurine and Ratio being just as doomed to fail as they are in the movie, and their relationship as equally as toxic and fake.

On second viewing, it’s the complete opposite, and the track (and other movie reference) you receive at the end, Spellbound, proves it.

Let’s start with Double Indemnity.

Also disclaimer I’m gonna be over simplifying the plot/themes of these movies because a) both are singular references, DI is only referenced in the name of the quest itself and Spellbound is only referenced in a track you receive once you complete DI, and references this small probably aren’t meant to be anything more than a fun Easter egg for those who notice it b) this is hoyoverse they aren’t clever enough for that anyways c) the nature of references isn’t going to be having everything be the exact same anyways, so I’m just going to go with the overall interpretation of DI + Spellbound/their impact, picking the stuff which aligns with the actual plot of the DI quest, I don’t care what happens in one frame at 30:01.56 minutes in and neither do the writers

Anyways, how does the Double Indemnity reference on the first viewing seem?

On our first play through of the Double Indemnity quest, we are made to believe that Dr. Ratio and Aventurine do not trust each other, but they are begrudgingly working together for the sake of stealing Penacony for the IPC. Then, Aventurine makes it seem as if he wishes to use the singer Robin’s- also the sister of Sunday, the head of the Oak Family and the one they are negotiating with- death as a means to pressure Sunday into forking over some of the Family’s secrets, which Aventurine will then use against him in future negotiations.

With this setup, the Double Indemnity reference is a solemn warning- Aventurine and Ratio will fail.

You see, in the movie, Phyllis Dietrechson intends to kill her husband in order to earn the money from the Double Indemnity clause (which is a real legal thing btw!), roping in one Walter Neff when he falls for her. However, their relationship isn’t stable and in the end, Walter betrays Phyllis, ratting her out to the investigator Keyes, ultimately meaning they don’t earn the DI clause, also killing Phyllis in the process.

Hopefully you can already see where I’m going with this, but it’s time to draw some fun parallels.

Sunday is Keyes, Ratio is Walter, Aventurine is Phyliss and Robin is Phyliss’s husband.

Although Aventurine a) isn’t married to Robin and b) he didn’t actually kill her, he is the one who witnessed her “death” and in the first viewing of the Double Indemnity quest, we are made to believe he intends to profit off of it, although this time the payout isn’t money: it’s Penacony.

To do this, he enlists the help of Ratio- albeit not seducing him, but still convincing him to help nonetheless- and together they go to meet Sunday for negotiations.

However, Ratio “betrayed” Aventurine, ratting him out to Sunday behind his back and informing him of his plan, which mirrors how Walter confesses to Keyes. This results in Aventurine being sentenced to death, much like how Phyllis dies by Walter’s hand, Aventurine seems like he will die by Ratio’s, calling him a wretch before slinking off.

And there you go, their partnership is as doomed as the one in the movie, failing because their trust + love didn’t hold up till the end, a devious foreshadowing.

At least, that’s how it seems on the first playthrough.

Because Aventurine and Ratio’s plan SUCCEEDS.

And on the second viewing, knowing that the betrayal is fake, you realize they succeed because they do the one thing the people in DI (and I’ll get to Spellbound) DONT do- they actually TRUST each other.

Ratio and Aventurine’s plot is a success. And it’s because they deliberately made it seem like they were doing a Double Indemnity plot. Like they were going to make the same mistakes as the characters in the movie. Sunday falls for the false appearance hook, line and sinker, and that’s his downfall.

They win because they TRUST each other, you can even say because they actually LOVE each other, unlike the characters in the movie, where it’s more list than anything else. Walter and Phyllis don’t make it together to the end but Ratio and Aventurine DO, and they get to continue on with their lives because of it. The reference to Double Indemnity in this quest is genius because it works both before and after you learn the retroactive twist of Penacony. It makes you believe Aventurine + Ratio are doomed to fail, and it makes you realize they were always going to succeed, expertly dawning the false appearances Sunday expects from them, becoming literal actors playing out the roles of two people who will fall short due to their selfishness. Sunday believes he’s seen this film before which is why he BUYS IT, and god it’s just beautiful looking back on it. He thinks he’s Keyes about to uncover a dastardly plot to profit off his sisters death, and in turn he paints Ratio and Aventurine with the identities of those he believes would do such a thing, which they do their best to play into. Ugh it’s amazing.

And now, for Spellbound.

You receive this track after completing Double Indemnity, containing the description above.

Now, this is a reference to Spellbound, another one of Hitchcock’s films.

The main characters in this one are Dr. Anthony Edwards, a man suffering from amnesia, and Dr. Constance Peterson, a psychoanalyst who he was meant to replace, who discovers a dark secret about Edward’s while they fall for one another; he’s an imposter. He believes he killed the real Dr. Edward’s, but she thinks he’s just suffering from a guilt complex. Fake Edward’s goes missing, and the real Edward’s assistant arrived and informs them that he’s missing. She finds Fake Edward again, living under the pseudonym John Brown, and although he tries to leave, she convinces him to stay, telling him that with the help of her mentor, psychoanalysis can help recover his lost memories.

Through an incredibly complicated psychoanalysis of dream, Constance begins to uncover the truth- learning the person who believes himself to be Dr. Edward’s (and is using the pseudonym John Brown) is actually a man named John Ballantyne. Ballantyne accidentally caused the death of his younger brother in the past, resulting in his deep guilt, as well as recalling the location where the real Edwards died- skiing off a cliff to his death. With his memories, they find the body, but it has a bullet wound, so Ballantyne is taken into custody.

However, her boss, Dr. Murchison lets it slip that he actually used to know (and didn’t like) Dr. Edwards, and through another complicated sequence gets him to confess his guilt and ultimately kill himself, which frees Ballantyne, ending the movie with the two going on a honeymoon.

So, what does this mean in the context of the quest line?

Well, let’s say Ballantyne and Constance are representative of Ratio and Aventurine respectively.

“Every psychoanalyst must first have someone else diagnose them.”

If we read Aventurine as the psychoanalyst (Constance) and Ratio as the diagnoser/doctor (Ballantyne), it reveals an interesting interpretation.

That being that they knew the truth from the start/ they had already succeeded.

Or in other words, unlike in Double Indemnity, in Spellbound, they actually succeed.

In the film, Constance is the one doing the diagnosing, the one trying to figure out the truth, and you can see that in Aventurine pretending he’s trying to find out the truth behind Robin’s death. However, in the DI quest, it’s the opposite. Ratio’s as Ballantyne is the one doing the diagnosing for the psychoanalysist, Constance, or rather, Aventurine.

To diagnose someone, you must be very familiar with them, or at the very least the ailment plaguing them, and Ratio he knows Aventurine through and through at the start, and what plagues him (his own sense of meaninglessness) unlike the protagonists in Spellbound who despite falling for one another quickly, don’t begin being intimately familiar with one another.

In this way, they have already succeeded. Aventurine and Ratio already know one another, and while they might not know the reason behind Robin’s death, that was never what they were searching for in the beginning, meaning they effectively can skip through all the drama (aka the ups and downs of Spellbound, finding out the truth behind Robin’s/Edwards’ death), and reach their happy ending- a honeymoon; or in DI’s case, Aventurine attaining his cornerstone, and fulfilling his end of the plan.

Interestingly, Aventurine slots into the role of Ballantyne and Ratio as Constance equally well, with the phone call Constance makes to save Ballantyne being reminiscent of the note Ratio makes to save Aventurine, as well as Aventurine being the replacement, or in the sense, the one to find the truth about Robin.

Personally, I think Aventurine and Ratio are reminiscent of both the main leads in Spellbound, which is why it’s complicated to discern the meaning of the reference. Oh how I wish I knew what the original Chinese description for this was (if you do please tell me 🙏).

Is it just meant to signify them being in love? Is it meant to signify that they will succeed, due to how well they know each other? Is it both, which is what the inclusion of Double Indemnity (the movie) suggests?

Either way, it adds onto the already present idea that the trust between Aventurine and Ratio is what allowed them to succeed in Penacony, and that’s not just something expressed by these movie references.

Think Aventurines Eidolons: Stag Hunt Game and Prisoner’s Dilemma, both of which are game theories about trust. Or how Aventurine says that Ratio knows him best, or how Ratio entrusts Aventurine with close secrets of his, like him being the “Genius” of the council of Mundanites.

“Do you trust me?” “That depends on you.”

These are 2 lines in their 2.0 conversation that really stick out to me. Ratio will always offer his trust so long as Aventurine can prove himself worthy of it, and as we have seen, Aventurine always delivers, proving himself long before Penacony in the Final Victor lightcone, albeit in his weird homoerotic way.

Therefore Ratio will always trust him.

And because of that, they win.

Now whether you take the deep trust between them to be romantic or platonic, or infer the literal honeymoon at the end of Spellbound to mean something for Aventio, either way the feeling absolutely there, and it’s crucial for an understanding of their relationship.

Also damn, the retroactive plot twist fucking slaps.

[marviless]

where forever lies

buck/eddie | 30k | teen | a holiday fic | read on ao3

“Let me come with you,” Buck says, practically begging. “Look, I know it’s your son and your truck and your crazy plan, but it’s Christmas, and maybe it’s insane, but I’d rather be with you getting a neck cramp from sleeping in your passenger seat than on my couch alone or begging Maddie to let me sit in on her and Chimney’s plans. And then I can play my road trip playlist and find all the cheapest gas stations and make sure you don’t cost yourself two-hundred bucks by speeding on the I-10, and…it’ll be fun. I promise. Just—” Buck bites his lip and softens his voice. “Just let me come.” Eddie just raises an eyebrow at him and motions to the passenger seat. “Well,” he says, “you better get in.”

or, christopher has a request: to be back in LA in time for christmas. eddie drives sixteen-hundred miles to make it happen (and of course, buck comes along too).

READ ON AO3

[iggyshippingcorner]

2: alpha stone/omega robotnik (canon-compliant, s2) (word count: 2550)

[ here is my second drabble for the poll prompts featuring: reunions, the mean bean cafe, dubiously consensual bond-bites, talking around your feelings, and "it's not miscommunication if there's no communication to begin with". ]

this is dedicated to the lovely (-) anon in my inbox who has been absolutely DELIVERING with abo asks for the last few weeks. thank you so much for this idea!

The loneliness is the worst part, even after eight months of the doctor’s absence. 

Stone brews coffee and serves customers and maintains the pop-up lab outside of business hours, while the loneliness aches like a bruise, nestled deep in his chest. There is a gaping abyss in his routine, in his life, a doctor-shaped hole in his every waking moment. Time doesn’t soothe it, just emphasises the raw edges of it. Sometimes, when the pain of it drives him to more traitorous thoughts, he supposes it would be easier if he knew the doctor was dead. If he knew there was no other recourse, at least he would know what to do. 

But eight months without any evidence of his demise-- or his survival, his alpha brain whines, gutted-- means Stone can only follow the Robotnik Manifesto and wait by the door of the Mean Bean cafe for his doctor to come back home. Making too many cups of coffee for someone who hates the taste (he much prefers tea) and polishing the badniks until they gleam. Pressing his fingers into the slowly fading welt of a mark on his neck where the doctor claimed him-- has claimed him, over and over, refreshing the indents of his teeth every time they begin to heal. 

Stone doesn’t know what he’ll do when the bite finally heals over. On the bad days, he considers going at the flesh of his neck with one of his trusty knives, to flay the marks of the doctor’s incisors open, begging them to scar more deeply. But he remembers how Robotnik feels about his tools, and knows the only thing he can do is wait patiently for the doctor’s return. Perhaps if he plays his cards right, the doctor will remedy the issue sooner rather than later. On the really bad days, he even fantasises about the doctor baring his throat, allowing Stone to claim him back-- though these thoughts feel even more traitorous than the others, to dream about the doctor being any kind of submissive. It doesn’t stop them from happening with higher frequency, the longer time goes on and the distance between him and his memories widens. 

In a frantic effort to remedy this, he’s been thinking about the first time Robotnik bit him, turning the memory over and over in his mind like he might find something new. Replaying a cherished moment until he can see it every time he closes his eyes, seeking comfort from ghosts.

[ He’s only been working under Dr. Robotnik for a week, and it’s been one hazing test after another. Stone had been warned about this, the domineering and the posturing and the physical threats. But not one person had warned him about the proximity. 

“Did I give you permission to think? In my lab?”

It’s a rhetorical question, so Stone keeps his mouth shut. Dr. Robotnik doesn’t seem to find this enough, as he clamps one gloved hand over Stone’s mouth and leans in even closer. “I asked you to do one simple thing, agent-- do not get your useless alpha stench on anything in my lab. None of this is yours. Hell, when you are working in my lab, you are mine. I decide where your scent goes.”

It violates at least three different HR mandates on physical engagement, five on hostile workplaces, and definitely qualifies for a designation harassment suit. Stone is honestly elated. The doctor has been searching for his scent. And the words themselves are halfway to an informal claim. Physical, non-sexual displays of domination are usually something a self-respecting alpha has to pay for, but all Stone has to do is breathe a little too loudly in the doctor’s direction and--

A sharp sting of teeth at his throat cuts through his introspection. It’s not an attempt to claim-- not anywhere close enough to be effective-- but it’s… it’s almost offensively brazen, to bite an unmarked alpha first. The doctor pulls back, self-satisfaction clear on his face. Stone isn’t sure what his own expression is, and isn’t that a treat? He tries not to breathe too heavily against the glove still covering his mouth. 

It’s just another attempt to get him to quit. Stone ignores the heat rushing to his face and the growl of his alpha brain to get his own incisors on display in favour of raising one eyebrow, the closest to a challenge he can get without opening his mouth. Dr. Robotnik’s smug expression morphs into shock, then determined fury. He shoves Stone back against the wall he’d pinned himself against, one hand still clamped over his mouth, his other arm braced against Stone’s chest, forcing him against the lab wall. He narrowly avoids slamming his head back against the wall, his palms braced flat against it in an effort to keep from reaching out, from touching the doctor. 

Another sharp bite, fangs sinking into the column of his throat, inches shy of the bonding gland. Canines savagely tear through flimsy skin, teeth just a tad sharper than any beta’s ought to be. Stone clenches his jaw, and makes no move to throw the other man off despite his capability to. The submission makes Dr. Robotnik growl, rumbling his displeasure right against Stone’s carotid. The position doesn’t let Stone move very much, but he still tilts his chin up and to the right as far as he can, bares his bonding site like a dare and the doctor--

Well, let it be said that Dr. Robotnik never backs down from a challenge. ]

The day the doctor comes back arrives without a whisper or inclination of difference. It’s a busy Tuesday morning that melts into a lazy Tuesday afternoon, pulling the last sheet of danishes from the oven in between an earl grey with lavender for Mrs. Mathers and a trio of frozen hot chocolates for some local teens. The text sends him into a flurry of activity, banishing his customers with a kind, disarming smile and a claim of “family emergency”. His scent must be doing something in his favour because several people pack up without him having to cajole them in the slightest, and wish him good luck. He has the entire cafe shuttered and cleaned in twenty minutes, and he retreats to make sure the pop-up lab is just as clean. 

By the time the doctor gives him an ETA 5 text (gracious, lovely, merciful), he’s gotten the badniks spotless and the lab perfect and his ingredients measured out. The latte comes together like second nature, easy as breathing, but without any complexity to distract his whirling thoughts.The doctor is back. The doctor is back! If he had a tail, it would be wagging furiously. He carefully etches his foam art, willing his hands to stop trembling in excitement. His heart thumps loudly in his ears.

He gazes down at the foam and wonders if it’s a little over the top. His face and ears feel warm. His alpha brain crows eagerly for his… well. For his doctor. It may be humiliating to any other alpha to crave the presence of someone who you aren’t mated to, the way he does, but Stone cares little for the opinions of fools. His neck itches, tender bond gland throbbing under the skin. He wipes the back of his wrist across his cheek, letting out a quiet laugh as he gets a whiff of his own elated pheromones. Pull it together, Stone.

The bell above the doors chimes and breaks his moment of distraction. Stone straightens up, folds his hands in front of himself, tail wagging, ears perked. The doctor sweeps into the humble cafe with a manic grin on his face and a slightly surprising lack of hair, but it’s him. Fondness and relief swells within Stone’s chest. Robotnik draws closer, moustache wild and eyes shadowed by the dim lights overhead. 

His hands reach out for the cup. Stone places it in his palms as delicately as he would a Badnik power core. Robotnik brings it up to his face, takes a long inhale of the dark roast, and then lifts the mug to his lips. Stone draws in a slow breath and--

The thick scent of honey and myrrh and something distinctly earthy fills his senses. And underneath it all, the immediately identifiable scent of an omega. The overload of information nearly causes him to miss the look of satisfaction that crosses the doctor’s face as he savours his first sip of the latte. The flashpoint surge of pride in his work is overshadowed quickly by a growing sense of envy. Eight months of absence and the doctor comes whirling back into his life smelling like some omega?

He forces himself back into the present as the strange red alien stalks closer, eyes wary and narrowed. He plays along as best he can, not having to fake his relief or his concern as the doctor gives a barebones explanation, but he seethes inside. He’s given a moment of reprieve when the doctor slips away to the bathroom and the alien exits the cafe to… Stone’s not actually sure what it’s doing. But the scent finally clears and allows him a moment of clarity, brain unclouded by the fog of jealousy. Stone assesses what he knows-- the doctor has been off-planet for eight months. The doctor smells strongly of an omega, an unbonded one at that. The doctor is extremely touch-averse, scent-sensitive, and difficult to get along with. The odds of him actually coming into contact with a foreign omega are, gratifyingly, next to nothing. 

But then…. Where is the scent coming from? Stone sweeps the main lab floor to give himself something to do with his hands. He can hear the shower running in the other room. Robotnik smells like an omega. A particularly fragrant one. Stone has never encountered his unfettered scent before, usually buried beneath the lab’s scent dampeners and the smell of coffee and motor oil that clung to both of their clothes. His neck itches. The pieces come together slowly, puzzle unfolding 

The door to the bathroom clanks open. Steam spills out, and Robotnik comes out, dressed in a loose, black tunic and some comfortable pants Stone had pulled from his own dresser upstairs. His moustache is still damp. That infuriatingly lovely scent fills the space between them rapidly, and something in it makes Stone’s mouth flood with saliva. The doctor sighs loudly, voice wonderfully familiar. “You would not believe how long I have been waiting for a hot shower, Stone. If I had the materials I would have-- why are you looking at me like that?” 

Stone blinks several times. In his mind, a single lightbulb blinks on after several false starts. His hands tighten imperceptibly around the handle of the broom. If he blurts it, confronts the doctor, he might flee into the night and never look back. If he doesn’t confirm it right now, he might die on the spot. The itch beneath his skin intensifies. 

It’s not his best idea, but it is… efficient. 

Stone digs his fingers into the knot of his tie, loosening it. He works open the top few buttons of his shirt. Robotnik’s eyes zero in on the movement, and he draws closer, moth to flame, predator to prey. Stone has to swallow a few times before the words come out properly, slightly raspy, “I think we’re a little overdue, doctor.” Hook.

He bares the nearly-healed bruise of his bonding site, and he watches Robotnik’s pupils dilate in the familiar blue-tinged glow of the lab lights. He takes the next few steps into Stone’s personal space, that sweet, earthy fragrance washing over him like a thick fog. Each breath draws it deeper into his lungs, Robotnik’s true scent settling heavy on his tongue. A gloved hand comes up to grip his jaw tightly. 

“A bit presumptuous, agent,” he hisses, though there’s a faint dusting of pink to his cheeks that makes Stone’s heart skip a beat. Its existence makes him bolder than he would otherwise be: “No more presumptuous than half-bonding your subordinate.” Line.

Robotnik draws back a half-centimeter, surprised. Stone watches the realisation strike him, and eagerly bares his throat before the anger (or worse, the horror) can take root. He’s sure the doctor can see his pulse thrumming beneath the skin like this, can smell the honest desire and devotion as he leans back in to sniff blatantly at his throat. The fingers gripping his jaw flex ever-so-slightly, and he swallows. 

“You didn’t know?” Robotnik asks, the softest secret pressed delicately into Stone’s waiting palms. His voice doesn’t tremble, but it comes far too close for comfort. Stone settles a gentle hand on his hip, heart stuttering at the physical reminder of him. 

“I never suspected anything,” Stone says earnestly. He feels more than sees a measure of tension bleed out of the doctor at his reassurance, and oh if that isn't the headiest rush of satisfaction. Robotnik lets out a laugh that is just a touch too loud for how close they are. “Of course you didn’t. I didn’t synthesise my own blockers for nothing.”

The response wrings a laugh out of Stone despite the hammering of his heart. He missed this-- their easy banter, the suffocating proximity. To have it all back now, after so long is nearly unbelievable. He could fall to his knees and weep, if not for the vice-like hand gripping his jaw and keeping him upright. 

The wicked sting of fangs in his neck snaps him out of his maudlin thoughts. He groans, a thoughtless little sound, and Robotnik laughs again. The noise is muffled by Stone’s flesh, but the vibration of it sends shivers from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. His teeth bite deeper, and Stone sighs as the itching under his skin finally abates and his bond gland settles in the wake of the doctor’s sharp canines, carving the evidence of devotion into Stone’s skin where it belongs. 

When Robotnik finally pulls away, his teeth and lips are faintly stained with Stone’s blood. He looks… Stone blinks long and slow at him, feeling more than a little dizzy. After a moment of bated breath silence, Robotnik finally says, “I suppose it’s time we found a more permanent solution, mm?”

Stone’s mouth drops open. A dark red flush colours Robotnik’s cheeks. They stare at each other for a moment longer. The doctor shakes his head slightly with the hand still gripping his jaw. “Stone? Don’t tell me I killed what few brain cells remain bouncing around in your skull.”

A slow, uncontrollable smile threatens to split Stone’s face in half as the words sink in. A more permanent solution. The longer he stays silent, the darker the doctor blushes. As lovely as it is to watch, Stone would be remiss to leave him hanging.

“I would be honoured, maestro,” Stone murmurs, chest feeling fit to burst with the rush of fondness coursing through him. “To wear your mark for the rest of my life.”

It’s odd. Stone hasn’t gone anywhere the past eight months, but looking at the victorious, maniacal grin that spreads across Robotnik’s face, he feels an awful lot like he’s finally come home. 

[cupcakewebkinz]

A Mother's Day to remember

♡ Shelly and Vee want to do something special for their moms on Mother's Day, even though they're completely broke, they do their best (with Sam's help lol) ♡

ᰔ Caretaker Shanon au is mine! ᰔ

ʚɞ As always, much love to my bestie @soupiestzilla , keep slaying queen ʚɞ

────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────

To Shanon, it was just another day. She was grateful she had the day off of work, but she had no idea her 'kids' knew anything about Mother's Day, or even would celebrate it. She slammed the snooze button on her alarm clock like she always did, checked for Vee like always, then went and did her morning routine as always. She left her hair down today though, she didn't plan on leaving the house at all, but she did change into her favorite dinosaur themed sweater and favorite pair of jeans in case the two did plan something weird. She never knew with those two, they're always up to something. Shanon yawned as she walked out of her room, hoping they weren't destroying anything- and surprisingly they weren't. The two were politely sitting at the table, holding hands, talking in a different language in hushed tones. Vee beeping every once in a while, for some reason.

"Good morning girls, why is Vee making beeping sounds?" Shanon decided to ask, getting Vee's attention.

"Oh I'm just messing with my settings, it's nothing to worry about mom." The robot casually reassured, then a long beep was heard. Vee turned back to Shelly, whispering something in a different language, who just nodded. Vee's screen then changed to have a white theme- white eyes and mouth, light blue blush and little white star freckles. Shelly studied it, then shook her head. A beep was heard before her face went back to its usual green theme. Shanon giggled, finding it really cute that Vee could do that.

"You guys are so silly, what did you two want for breakfast?" Shanon asked softly, but she didn't get a reply. Shelly instead got up and ran off into the kitchen, Vee now looking excited as her tail wagged. Shanon just stood there, not sure what to expect - and was absolutely not expecting Shelly to bring out a tray full of really good looking breakfast foods, a few cups of coffee and a bag of muffins in her mouth. Shelly just set everything down on the table, then set out the plates of food at everyone's seats, then the coffee, then the bag was opened and everyone got a muffin. Shelly then sighed, sitting back down at her spot beside Vee. Shanon sat at her usual spot, speechless. They had made pancakes, eggs and bacon without her even realizing they were cooking anything, the muffins definitely were Sam's though-

"Thanks, girls, I didn't even realize you two were cooking." She said after she got her thoughts together, getting two sleepy smiles and two wagging tails, Vee soon shoving a pancake into her screen like the weirdo she was.

"Oh it's no problem mom, Sprout helped me learn how to make food so I can cook when you're at work. I hope it's good..." Shelly explained, getting a look from the robot with pancake stuck on her screen.

"GIRL YOUR PANCAKES ARE SO GOOD!! STOP DOUBTING YOURSELF!!" Vee hyperly yelled, getting laughs from the two somewhat sane women sitting near her.

"Okay, okay! They're good-"

"AMAZING." Vee corrected.

"Fiiiiine~ I'm an amazing cook and I'll stop doubting that." Shelly agreed with a sigh, getting a nod of approval from Vee as she stuffed even more pancake into her screen. Shanon just chuckled as she ate, loving her two children's absolute nonsense, finding them to be really adorable. The trio just happily ate breakfast together, Shelly often cleaning up the robot's screen and scolding her for being so messy, Vee just being her little chaos self, it was so cute. Shanon loved every minute of it, though once breakfast was done, Shelly did the dishes while Vee attempted to drag Shanon off to do something.

"Mom come, come with me, lemme do your hair and make you look pretty mom. Please." Vee begged, so Shanon sighed and gave in.

"Fine, but only if you promise me you won't put glitter in it." She said, making Vee pause.

"Do glittery accessories count?"

"No, those are fine."

"Then I'm doing your hair, come." Vee stated, grabbing Shanon's arm and gently leading her to her bedroom, where she got Shanon to sit on the floor beside a chair before she ran off. Vee soon was back with a box tight in her arms, a pink bow tied around an antennae and a look of pure joy and excitement in her eyes and unhinged smile. Shanon just sighed and closed her eyes, knowing Vee knew what she was doing - but now was wondering about the bow. She didn't ask, however, as Vee immediately went to work on her bangs.

"I have ideas mom, I have ideas. You're going to look so cool, like dinosaur cool, I swear." Vee said as she started combing Shanon's bangs and very gently styling them.

"I know I will Vee, I trust you, you did everyone's makeup for your shows after all."

"Yeah Glisten taught me how to do that, he was so cool like that. Sure he was a dumbass, but... He was... So cool." Vee commented quietly, sounding a bit devastated by the topic, but she didn't stop doing her hair anyways. She gently clipped on sparkly hair clips to pin her bangs in place for now, then climbed onto the bed and started brushing her hair out, soon carefully braiding two parts of it.

"He would've had such a great fashion show, ya know? He was super into fashion, and makeup. He'd help me with outfits for my shows, he helped me with my feelings too, because it was really hard for me to understand them. He was always there for me when I'd have bad days on stage, he was just... The coolest gay brother ever. Him and Brightney both helped me so much, they were so cool. Bright was so smart, she'd help me with trivia questions when it wasn't dinosaur related, she'd bring me books when Shelly couldn't get to my room without being noticed by Delilah. I debated joining her book club, but I ended up not doing so- Del would've been so mad if I took time out of my work just to read a stupid book." Vee went on, putting Shanon's hair into a ponytail before making that a really fancy bun, then wrapping the braids around it. She then styled it so the bun looked like a flower, smiling as tears ran down her screen. Shanon was silent, just listening, knowing that's what Vee needed right now. Someone to just listen. Someone who wasn't judging, just existing with her as she talked through her favorite memories. Vee got off the bed gently and started putting bobby pins in her hair to hold the braids in place, then gently put sparkly heart pins and flower shaped ones in for decoration. They were the same colors as her sweater, and it really was coming out better than Vee expected.

"I'm not pulling too much, am I?" Vee asked after a good minute of silence, making Shanon look at her without moving her head.

"No you're fine, just listening to you. Thanks for telling me about that, I'm happy you are so open to telling me about your old friends." Shanon replied, getting a chuckle from the robot as she walked around to the other side, making sure everything was as symmetrical as possible.

"Thanks for letting me ramble about them, I, I'm still not used to that, honestly. I'm so used to Delilah telling me to shut the fuck up by now. Did you want me to do your makeup too, mom?" She asked, getting a shrug from Shanon.

"If you want, I don't mind. Why are you putting so much effort into everything anyways?" Shanon asked, getting shushed by Vee immediately afterwards with a finger to her mouth and everything.

"Surprise, mom. Don't make me spoil it." Vee stated seriously, going right back over to her pink box of mysteries once she was done with her hair and grabbed a sparkly green makeup bag, then went right back over and sat down in front of Shanon.

"Stay still, don't sneeze and don't cringe." Vee demanded, and soon was gently working on Shanon's makeup, the human just silently cooperating with her. Vee soon was softly singing a lullaby in French as she worked, which Shanon nearly fell asleep to several times, but she managed to stay awake. Somehow. Once Vee was done, she patted her shoulder and gave her a mirror, which Shanon immediately looked at herself with. Her makeup was as flawless as she expected, matching her favorite sweater too, her bangs perfectly curled, her hair looking flawless. She was near tears, speechless.

"Thank you Vee, I look amazing, but I wasn't planning on going anywhere today-"

"That's why Sam planned for you to go somewhere today, and we're going as soon as you get ready!" Vee explained, getting right up and brushing herself off, then grabbing her makeup bag.

"Which you are now, so once I get everything put away, I'll meet you in the living room." Vee continued as she picked up her box and swiftly walked off. Shanon blinked a few times, not sure if she should be excited or scared, but soon got up anyways and walked into the living room, finding a very excited looking Shelly in a matching outfit, and soon Vee came back, also in a matching sweater and similar jeans, her pink bow now tied around her neck. They had their pop tab rings on too- even though they never take those off now lmao

"What are you two planning?"

"Nothing mom!" The two replied in unison, both grabbing Shanon's hands and soon were leading her off to the cafe. She just allowed it to happen, since Shelly closed the door behind them and the two were giggling excitedly as they lead her off. Shanon soon found out why, as she noticed Veronica's car in the parking lot. Of course they'd plan something with her... She hoped they didn't try to set them up again, she would crumble and admit to their relationship before they were ready to tell them. The two were oblivious, as Vee soon swung open the door cheerfully.

"MOOOOOOOM!"

"I see you honey, I'm here." Veronica softly spoke, waving from the counter. Shanon blushed a little as she let the two lead her over, soon sitting on the barstool beside the other, looking down at the plate of dinosaur shaped cookies between them. Shelly and Vee went right to their favorite spot, a couch by the window, and Sam just stood behind the counter as usual, cleaning a baking tray silently before they put it back. Veronica just took a cookie and nibbled on it, Shanon soon doing the same. It was oddly quiet, though they didn't have to say anything to know what the other was feeling.

"You two are oddly quiet, feeling okay?" Sam asked, and the two nodded, looking at each other. Cosmo soon came out of the kitchen, looked at the two, then slowly backed back into it. Sam giggled at that.

"Was that Cosmo-?" Veronica immediately asked, getting nods from the two.

"Sprout saved him with the power of gay kisses and lots of cleaning up ichor." Sam stated casually, making the two laugh.

"Sounds like something he'd do alright, good for him." Veronica said, Shanon immediately nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, Sprout would save anyone with lots of love and cleaning up ichor if he could." Shanon stated.

"Oh definitely!" The two immediately agreed, the trio soon laughing yet again at their sweet berry man's shenanigans. Cosmo slowly came back out, getting a gasp from Veronica.

"It was you!! Hi little buddy!!" She immediately happily said, getting a shy smile and wave in reply. He then gave Sam the tray of chocolate chip cookies he had before rushing off yet again, getting a sigh from Sam.

"He's still a little shy, I'm sure he's happy to see you too Veri." Sam gently reassured, then they leaned against the counter, looking at the two secret lesbians as they ate cookies together in peaceful silence.

"Now have the girls told you what evil they've plotted or do I have to tell you?" Sam asked, making Veronica sigh as Shanon looked scared.

"They didn't tell me anything..."

"They set us up on a museum date, be prepared, I'm not holding back on the hugs." Veronica teased, making Shanon gasp dramatically.

"Nooooo not the hugs!! Oh I am so doomed!!" She said dramatically, getting fits of laughter from everyone, even the boys in the kitchen. Shanon soon found herself also laughing, though she sighed after a good laugh and looked back at the plate of cookies, then at Sam. Sam, somehow knowing what she was about to ask, just nodded and started boxing up the cookies. Veronica watched quietly, then looked at the girls, who were silently watching them intently. They wanted them to hug, to kiss, and she knew it. She wasn't going to give them that though, unless Shanon did so.

"So, ready to see your favorite dinosaurs?" Veronica asked when Shanon got the cookies, getting a nod from her. The two then got up, the toons getting up with them, and after they waved Sam off and grabbed their cookies, the four were off to the museum - via Veronica's car. It was a quiet trip, but at the museum, it was not quiet at all. The Dinosaur Nerds struck, and Vee and Veronica soon were being dragged around by their partners, who were yelling about their favorite dinosaurs and showing off their knowledge super excitedly. And the two were loving it, both happily listening to their beloved nerd out, following them like lost puppies with curious eyes. Veronica wasn't lying, she was hugging Shanon at every opportunity and sneaking kisses - Vee doing the exact same thing with Shelly the entire time. They had completely missed lunch, nearly missing dinner, but they didn't care. The four had a great time, and Veronica decided to take them out for a great dinner too, the two humans sitting beside each other and the two toons sitting across from them. All laughing, blushing, holding onto each other.

Loving each other.

It was obvious they were dating now, Shanon having her head on Veronica's shoulder, the two snug beside each other, laughing at a dumb joke Vee had made. They didn't care, it just felt... Right.

"So, moms, when were you gonna tell us?" Shelly asked after eating her share of the pizza they had gotten, sleepily putting her head on Vee's shoulder, who immediately hugged her close and gave her a kiss on the head. Shanon looked at Veronica, who was blushing, hair a mess from being dragged around, messy makeup from laughing so hard she cried a few times, eyes tired but full of love and joy. She just looked back at Shanon, then wrapped an arm around her, grinning like she just won an award.

"Whenever we actually made it official, which is right now." Veronica stated, getting a snort laugh out of Shanon.

"What?! You just claim me?!"

"Mhm, yup, totally." Veronica stated with a nod. Shanon laughed a little more, then sighed and put her head back on her shoulder.

"And what happened to 'I'll think about it, Shanon'?" Shanon teased softly, getting a gentle kiss on the forehead.

"I thought, I accept. Happy mother's day, you yet a girlfriend too!"

"And two happy kids who are glad you finally got together!" Vee exclaimed, getting a look from Veronica.

"Girl-"

"Nuh, Nuh uh, don't "girl" me, I told you that Shanon liked you. You didn't believe me!" Vee retorted, making Shanon and Shelly laugh. Veronica faked being offended, but she soon was laughing right with them, while Vee just yawned and stole the last piece of pizza, using their distraction to her advantage. None of them cared, they just were happy to be together, as one weird gay family.

-

Back at Gardenview however, it wasn't as happy. Gi had came back and had found the original Gigi, and was now sitting beside her, rubbing her back as they ate chocolate together. Gi was at peace, Gigi was at ease, and the two were just enjoying the peace while it lasted.

"I know we never talk, because you can't, but - I hope I make you feel at ease like you do for me. I hope you find peace one day, and I hope I made today a little less painful for you." Gi softly told the twisted, getting a soft hum-like growl in reply. Gi just smiled, leaving a box of chocolates beside the original Gigi. She took it gently, careful not to hurt the clone. Gi then stood up, brushed the dust off her black pants, then gave Gigi a pat on the unbroken capsule part of her head.

"Stay safe for me, okay? You're so loved up there, never forgotten. They tell me so many good stories about you... You're cherished, Gigi. You always will be. Goodnight." Gi reassured, and after waving the twisted off, she left through the fire escape once again and went home. She snuck in through Sam's back door and went to her room, shutting the door behind her and sitting against it. She took a minute to catch her breath before she got up and changed into the clothes she usually wears to bed, then quietly left her room to go greet her new family whenever they came home. A note was left on her bedroom floor.

"Even though I don't have a mom, I love you as one. Stay safe out there, Gigi, much love! ♡ - Gi".

A note that will never be given, yet never be forgotten. Filled with love, yet filled with grief. A bittersweet end for her happy day.

[butchyeons]

hey, just wanted to say i love your works!!

would you be able to write about bratty sub!nayeon getting punished by dom!jihyo for misbehaving (you can pick what she gets punished for :3)

hopefully that’s not too much trouble!!

not too much trouble at all! phew the moment i got this ask i jumped for joy. i had such a clear idea of the fic immediately it’s a bit wild. this was really fun to write, and i really hope you enjoy the direction i went with it. that being said, let’s get into it.

love’s cruelty

a bit of domestic dom/sub nahyo!! ft some communication fuck ups

tags/warnings: there’s a plot i swear, light angst, light dom/sub, mommy kink, nayeon gets called bunny, verbal humiliation, light bondage, spanking, using a belt as a pain method, fingering, punishments, begging, safe words, aftercare, fluff, lots of communication, nayeon is a brat and jihyo is so fucking mean LMAO

i really do want to give a warning that it does get a bit scary for nayeon at one point! a safe word does get used, and they stop it immediately. if that is a bit much for you, feel free to sit this one out. let’s get into it

cishet men and minors dni.

———

Nayeon knew what she was doing was stupid.

It had been weeks since her and Jihyo had gotten to do anything at all. Jihyo had been busy at work, staying late in order to make sure the final yearly sales report was done on time, which led to her almost always crashing as soon as she got home. They had no time together aside from when they finally got into bed. Hell, they didn’t even get to get ready together- Jihyo was always out earlier, the only remnants of her presence in their apartment being the breakfast she always left for Nayeon. She was good at her job- ambitious, always tackled things head on, provided solutions to problems before they even happened. She deserved a lot more than that stupid company would ever give her, really. But as much as Nayeon would always support her, she was needy. She missed her wife so badly. In more ways than one.

So when she found herself alone on a Saturday morning, sipping on the miso soup that Jihyo had made for her before leaving, she knew she needed to do something. Both of them should’ve been off, should’ve spent the day watching stupid dramas made for straight people while cuddled up together on the couch. They should’ve been kissing, should’ve been letting their hands wander, should’ve been…

Ugh.

Nayeon stood at the sink, frowning. As she cleaned her bowl, along with Jihyo’s dishes from earlier, she couldn’t help but think about what she wished they were doing. She could see Jihyo’s face perfectly in her mind; could picture that expression, her eyes hooded as she bit her bottom lip, the one she made when she knew Nayeon was done for. She missed Jihyo’s hands, missed the way her forearms flexed as her fingers were drilling into her, missed the way her palm would press against her clit right as she hit her peak-

Fuck.

Nayeon suddenly registered just how hot the water was on her hands, dropping her bowl into the sink with a yelp. She quickly turned off the faucet, staring at the two, small blue soup bowls. Jihyo had picked them out when they moved in, insisted they had to match everything with the sky blue toaster that Nayeon’s mother had gifted them as a housewarming present. Her heart ached just slightly at the sight.

Jihyo. Jihyo, Jihyo, Jihyo.

She shook her head, pushing the feeling away. The project was almost over, and soon enough she’d be back home, and things would be normal. It was fine, she told herself. It had to be.

When she moved to grab a towel to dry the bowls, she was suddenly very aware of the wetness between her thighs. Great. Another thing to add to her list of shit to deal with that day.

She was pent up. And she wanted Jihyo to do something about it. Good thing she knew exactly how to get what she wanted. If Jihyo wasn’t going to give her attention, wasn’t going to make time for her, she’d force it out of her. Even if it meant she had to break some rules to get it done.

So that’s how she found herself half naked in their bed, wearing nothing but one of Jihyo’s oversized sleep shirts. In one hand was her phone, the other one down between her bare thighs, two fingers pressed deeply inside her. She wasn’t supposed to be touching without permission- that was Jihyo’s number one rule, one that Nayeon hadn’t broken in years. The last time she did, Jihyo fucked her until she nearly passed out. It was some of the best sex they’d ever had. Nayeon needed it now more than ever.

It was so, so stupid.

And so, she stared at their messages, the pictures she’d taken already loaded into the text box. The last text Jihyo had sent her was that morning, the usual “I’ll see you later, have a good day, love you” message that Nayeon was now unhappily accustomed to. She knew exactly how Jihyo would react, exactly what would happen the moment she hit send. It made her heart race, her core practically pulse with excitement.

No turning back now.

She took a deep breath, and hit send. A few moments passed, Nayeon watching with bated breath as the “delivered” icon didn’t change. Her heart skipped a beat the moment it did.

JH 🧡

Im Nayeon. What are you doing?

Gotcha.

NY 🩵

Having some fun. I’m bored all by myself.

Nayeon watched as the text bubble popped up and disappeared a few times. She frowned, finally removing her fingers from herself, bringing them up to her lips to clean them before unceremoniously wiping them off on the bed beside her. Jihyo texted back the moment she was done.

JH 🧡

You know better.

There we go.

NY 🩵

Do I?

JH 🧡

You do.

JH 🧡

You know I’m at work. You could’ve waited until I got home.

Nayeon rolled her eyes. Fuck that.

NY 🩵

Well maybe if you weren’t spending all your time at work, you’d have time to be doing this to me yourself.

NY 🩵

I’ve already finished twice, no thanks to you. It’s a shame you’re not here to help.

Jihyo started typing and then stopped again. Nayeon had to hammer it home.

NY 🩵

Or should I get someone else to do it for you? Since you can’t seem to do it.

NY 🩵

Should I ask Jeongyeon? I’m sure her and Mina wouldn’t mind having me for the day.

It was mean, really. She knew that would hurt- it was one of Jihyo’s biggest insecurities; she thought she wasn’t good enough, would push herself to do better even if it got her hurt. But Nayeon needed her mad. She needed her to come home and ruin her, to fuck some sense into her. She had to make it as bad as she possibly could.

NY 🩵

Or maybe even Sana? Or Momo? What about Tzuyu and Chaeyoung? Hey, even Dahyun. I’m sure they’d all love to help me out in your place.

NY 🩵

They’d probably do a better job, anyways.

Jihyo read every single message, but there wasn’t a reply. Not even the bubble indicating her typing. A minute passed, and then another. Nayeon’s heart sank. Was that too far? Jihyo liked that kind of stuff sometimes. But she’s been so busy, her job was a pain in the ass- she’s probably sensitive, tired. Shit. Nayeon definitely fucked up. Shit, shit, shit.

Before she had time to go to type out an apology, to take everything back and beg for her forgiveness, the selfie of her and Jihyo that she had saved as her contact photo popped up on the screen. Jihyo was calling her. Nayeon just stared at it for a second, almost too scared to answer. A text notification appeared.

JH 🧡

If you don’t answer the phone right now, so help me christ you won’t walk right for a week.

Okay, great. This is exactly what she wanted. Jihyo was fine, hopefully. Just mad, which was a good thing. She could work with this.

She took a deep breath, finally pressing the accept button, putting Jihyo on speaker. She heard a door slam, the sound of Jihyo’s car cranking up, an exasperated sound on the other side of the line. Play it cool.

“Hi baby!” She said, a bit too cheerfully.

“Nayeon- save it. What’s gotten into you?” Jihyo spat out. “What makes you think any of that was acceptable?”

Easy.

“Aw, not even a hello? What’s the matter, baby? Work that bad?”

Jihyo scoffed, the sound crackling over her speakers.

“So first you go touching yourself without permission. Then you say all that bullshit- now you want to act dumb? Really, Nayeon.”

Nayeon hummed.

“Is it bullshit if it’s true? I can’t even remember the last time you’ve touched me, y’know?”

“I’ve been busy.” Jihyo hissed.

“That’s a shame.” Nayeon replied, nonchalantly. She rolled herself over onto her stomach, setting the phone on the pillow beside her. “And I’m feeling quite neglected. You wouldn’t have even known I did that if I hadn’t told you. Would you have even noticed?”

There was a brief pause, the sound of Jihyo’s car humming lowly in the background. She clearly had no argument, no way to fight back. She sighed, frustrated.

“When I get home, you’re getting taught a lesson you won’t forget, and I mean it.”

Her voice was deep, demanding. Nayeon hadn’t heard her this angry in years. It made her ache.

“Is that a promise or a threat, mommy?”

“A promise, bunny.” Her voice dropped to a near whisper. “Little sluts like you need to be reminded how to act, isn’t that right?”

Nayeon smirked.

“Hm. Guess so.”

Perfect.

The call didn’t last much longer. Jihyo gave her instructions, laid out her expectations. Nayeon half agreed to most of them, continuing to tease, pushing the younger girl’s buttons despite knowing full well she’d do exactly what she was told. They played back and forth like that for a few minutes, right up until Jihyo had to go.

God, Nayeon didn’t want her to go.

“Jihyo. Jihyo.” She whined. “I miss you.”

The younger girl just sighed, clearly exhausted. A moment passed before she said anything.

“I know. I miss you, too.” Her voice was low yet soft, incredibly sweet. “You have no idea how bad I miss you, Nay. I promise, just another week, and then it’s back to normal.”

Jihyo always had a magical way of knowing exactly what Nayeon was thinking, feeling. They’d been together for so long, it was just natural. It made Nayeon feel slightly better.

“But I really have to get back to what I was doing. I’m sorry.”

Only slightly.

“It’s okay. I’ll be here when you get home. I love you.”

“I love you, too. I expect you to be waiting.”

Nayeon figured she’d give Jihyo this one thing.

So, like the perfect little angel she usually was, she waited. Well, after getting herself off one more time, cleaning, and then showering. Jihyo texted her to let her know she’d be home around 4 in the afternoon, which gave Nayeon plenty of time to get all of their usual Saturday chores done. Around 3, she looked through her lingerie, settling on the one she knew was Jihyo’s favorite- the black lace set that she had gotten for one of their anniversaries before they got married. She only brought them out for special occasions, and now felt like a good time. Nayeon was ready, waiting in their bed just like she had been told the moment she heard the front door being opened.

She listened as Jihyo walked in, set down her keys, took off her jacket and hung it on the coat rack by the front door. She could hear the younger girl walking through the apartment, first to the kitchen, then to the living room. Her movements were slow, dragged out- she was doing it on purpose, and Nayeon knew that. There was more shuffling, the clear sound of her fidgeting with her belt buckle, right as she got to the bedroom door. She waited for a moment before finally pushing it open.

God, the sight of her in her work clothes never got old. In one hand was her belt, the other hand working on pulling her tie off. The top three buttons of her shirt were already undone, her shirt halfway untucked from her pants, her hair mussed from where she’d clearly been running her hands through it. She looked incredibly fucked out for someone who hadn’t had any sex for weeks, her eyes hooded as she walked into the room, not bothering to close the door behind her.

Hot.

“Hi, baby.” Nayeon said, cocking her head to the side with a smirk, eyeing the clearly exhausted girl now standing before her. “How was work?”

Jihyo didn’t say anything. She finally managed to pull her tie off, the action sending a jolt of need straight down to Nayeon’s core, before walking over to the side of the bed. She dropped the belt on the floor, her expression darkening the moment she locked eyes with the older girl.

“On your knees.”

Nayeon’s smirk grew.

“Bad day?”

Jihyo just blinked, unspeaking. A moment passed, the air in the room thickening. Nayeon didn’t even realize what was happening until Jihyo threw her tie down on the bed beside her, immediately reaching to grab her by the hair. Her grip was firm, the movement rough. It sent pain running down her spine. Nayeon couldn’t help but let out a small cry as she was pulled up onto her knees. Beside her, Jihyo shifted, one knee on the bed as she leaned over so her lips were right next to her ear.

“Is this okay, Nay?” She whispered. “If I go too far, you know the safe word.”

Jihyo was too sweet, really. But that’s not what Nayeon wanted.

“Mhm. Yep. Perfectly fine. I’ve got it.”

“Okay, okay.” She hurriedly whispered before pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I love you.”

Cheesy. Nayeon couldn’t help but sigh incredulously.

“I love you, too, Ji. Now please, keep going.”

Jihyo nodded, taking a breath. In a split second, she was back in it.

“Arms behind your back.”

Her voice was demanding, a bit too loud right next to her ear. But Nayeon didn’t fight back, then. It really was hard to resist Jihyo when she was like that, so she did as she was told, sitting up straight and pressing her forearms together behind her back. Jihyo made quick work of using her tie to bound her wrists together, making sure to press the safety end into Nayeon’s hand, a silent reminder that she could free herself if she needed to.

“How many times did you get off?” Jihyo asked as she pulled away. “Be honest with me, bunny. Or else I won’t make this any easier for you.”

Nayeon tilted her head to the side, looking up at Jihyo and smirking.

“Only three. But I easily could’ve made it four, or five.”

Jihyo sighed, walking away from the bed. She crossed over to their closet, rummaging around, paying Nayeon no mind as she shifted several boxes on the top shelf around.

“Sucks you weren’t here, mommy.” Nayeon added, watching as she finally pulled out the box they kept all their toys in. “I hope you enjoyed the pictures I sent you. It felt so good, even though you weren’t here to watch.”

Jihyo finally looked over her shoulder, her eyebrow raised.

“Is that so?”

Nayeon nodded.

“Mhm. And all I needed were my fingers.”

Jihyo looked back down, grabbing something that Nayeon couldn’t see. She walked back over to the bed, holding whatever it was behind her back.

“It’s a shame, really.” Nayeon said as she finally rejoined her. “Didn’t even have you, but I still felt good.”

She looked up, grinning. Jihyo kept a straight face, standing firmly. That wouldn’t do. Nayeon needed to keep going.

“I think I do it better on my own, anyways.”

Jihyo didn’t react. It wasn’t enough. But Nayeon knew exactly what to say next.

“I don’t even need you.”

At that, Jihyo’s breath hitched, and for half a second, her expression faltered, the hurt on her face clear. She struck a nerve with that one. The pit in Nayeon’s stomach came back.

Too far.

“Ji, I-”

“Shut up.”

Nayeon froze up. She’d heard Jihyo angry before, sure. But Nayeon had only ever heard that tone a handful of times in all the years she’d known her. Jihyo wasn’t just angry, she was pissed.

It was so, so hot.

Jihyo sighed, finally moving to show Nayeon what she was holding. In her hand was their wand vibrator. The moment Nayeon nodded, giving her the silent confirmation that this was okay, Jihyo turned it on to its lowest setting. She reached behind her, grabbing a pillow, moving it so that it was in front of Nayeon, the corners of it just barely meeting the insides of her thighs. She put the toy down so it was positioned facing her core, before grabbing Nayeon by the hair again.

“H-Hey, what are you-”

Jihyo cut her off by tugging her forward, dragging her just enough so that her core was pressed against the head of the toy. Immediately, Nayeon moaned out at the sensation, her body crumbling over on itself, earning a scoff from Jihyo.

“So easy.”

Nayeon let out another small whimper, pressing herself down further against the vibrator. The sensation was light, made even lighter by the fact that she was still in her panties. It was enough to give her some sensation while driving her downright insane. It was mean, really. And Jihyo fully knew that.

“Really, such a pathetic display, bunny.”

Nayeon looked up, watching as her wife crossed the room. The movement caused her to press down just slightly more, her breath hitching, a weak whimper catching somewhere in her throat. Jihyo just huffed, clearly amused.

“Since you want to get off so fucking badly-” She said, pulling over the chair from Nayeon’s makeup table, placing it directly in front of the bed. “You can get off.”

Jihyo stood in front of it, staring at Nayeon as she slowly began to unbutton the rest of her shirt.

“But I’m not touching you at all. All you’ll be getting is the wand, since you seem to think you can do it better without me. And don’t even think about asking me to turn it up.”

“W-Wait, Ji-”

“That’s not how you address me.”

Nayeon whimpered, her knees already sore from the position she was in, causing her to press down harder onto the toy.

“Mommy. This isn’t- this isn’t fair.”

“Fair?” Jihyo said, finally pulling her shirt off and tossing it aside. “You think you deserve to be treated fairly? After all you said and did?”

Nayeon mashed her lips together, squeezing her eyes shut as her head fell. Both of them knew the answer, but Jihyo kept going.

“I don’t think so. You’re such a brat, so ungrateful. Such a little slut. Can’t just take what’s given to you, too stupid to follow the very few rules I’ve given you.”

This wasn’t normal for them, really. Nayeon got punishments, sure. She liked it, liked the name calling, liked the pain. But this was different. Jihyo sounded genuinely mad. Her words stung, but not in the good way, not in the way that left her breathless and itching for more. It felt like she got shoved into the deep end of a cold pool when she barely knew how to swim. They hurt, they scared her. This wasn’t what she wanted. Not at all.

But fuck, it felt so good to finally have Jihyo to herself. To know that she was the center of her attention, to know that she wanted her like this. To know Jihyo wanted her at all. It was easy to ignore the chill that ran up her spine when she knew Jihyo would be there to keep her warm.

“Since you’ve already cum three times, let’s double it. I expect six more.”

At least, usually Jihyo would be there.

Nayeon whined, her head whipping up. The sudden movement caused the vibrator to move away, the loss of sensation even worse than having it pressed directly against her. Her whole body twitched, her hips bucking as she desperately tried to get it back.

“M-Mommy, I can’t- it’s not- it’s not enough. I’ll- I’ll be here for hours trying!”

“Then so be it.” Jihyo deadpanned. She finally slipped her pants off, leaving herself in just her bra and underwear. “I’ve got all night. I wasn’t even planning on going in tomorrow, y’know? If you had just waited patiently like the good girl I know you are, you wouldn’t be in this situation.”

Fuck. Nayeon was fucked. There was no way out of this. Jihyo was stubborn, always had to be right, to be in control. Nayeon was the same way, really. If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t be here right now.

Jihyo was right- if she had just been fucking patient, been good, she’d probably have Jihyo’s hands on her, her mouth against hers while Jihyo was taking such good care of her. Not this. The absence of her partner, of the woman she loved the most above everything else, was going to drive her mad. It already had, clearly. She felt so, so stupid.

So it made it even worse to know that Jihyo was right fucking there. She just wasn’t giving Nayeon that grace. Nayeon lost her chance at that the moment she said she didn’t need her.

How wrong she was.

“I had other ideas before your little stunt earlier, bunny.” Jihyo said, finally sitting down in the chair. She propped one of her feet up on the seat, her knee pressing against her chest. “Wanted to come home and give you exactly what you’d been missing. I could tell you were pent up, and I felt so bad about it. And I missed you, too.”

Nayeon looked up, her teeth sinking down into her bottom lip as she tried to contain a pitiful whimper. She pressed her hips down, seeking out something, anything against her core. Despite everything, she could feel how soaked she was against the fabric of her panties, could feel how her clit pulsed with need, the knot in her abdomen pulled tight but not enough to break. It was torture. It felt so good. She had no idea how she felt about it.

“So you’re going to put on a show for me.” Jihyo said, locking eyes with her. “Beg all you want, but I’m not moving until you’ve finished.”

Nayeon whined, lurching forward, pressing down as hard as she could.

“P-Please, mommy I-” She could feel tears already pricking at the corners of her eyes. “I can’t do this- I- I need you.”

Jihyo tutted, her head cocked to the side. She made a show of moving her hand down between her thighs, brushing it against the front of her underwear before using her other hand to pull them to the side. Nayeon practically salivated at the sight of her- her clit was stiff and she was clearly wet, her folds practically glistening in the afternoon light that drifted in from the bedroom windows. She slowly drug her middle finger from her entrance up to her clit, circling it a few times, taunting her poor bunny.

“But that’s not what you said earlier, is it, baby?” She said with a smirk, her voice breathy from where she was teasing herself. “I thought you didn’t need me to get off? You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

Nayeon let out another frustrated whine, shaking her head. Part of her wanted to fight, wanted to maintain the ego she gave herself earlier when she was texting her. But she just couldn’t. She really fucking couldn’t.

“I’m so sorry. I- I was wrong.” She said, her jaw clenching as she sat back up. The shift pushed the vibrator away just slightly, the lack of sensation causing her to nearly collapse again. “I was s-so wrong, Jihyo, please.”

Jihyo rolled her eyes. She pulled her hand away from her core, and, much to Nayeon’s surprise, stood up. She walked over beside the bed, holding the finger she was using to touch herself up to Nayeon’s mouth.

“Clean it.”

Nayeon barely let her finish the command before complying, taking the digit into her mouth and swirling her tongue around it. It brought her some level of comfort to just taste her, to have her in some way. The earthiness and musk of her essence were so familiar, so warm, addicting. But before she could actually savor it, Jihyo was taking her hand back, the ease she felt going along with it.

She moved away again, bending down beside the bed to grab something. Nayeon didn’t look, too busy trying to press herself back down against the wand. Beside her, Jihyo moved again, her free hand finding the back of Nayeon’s head, gripping her hair tightly. She pulled her back up, finally showing her what she was holding.

Her belt.

“If you need my help so bad, I’ll help.” Jihyo said, her voice cold, annoyed. “But it’ll be with this.”

Nayeon would’ve normally been embarrassed by the sound she made, something between a whimper and a groan, entirely pathetic. Jihyo let her hair go, moving to turn the vibrator up by a few settings. She quickly pressed her hand against Nayeon’s shoulder, easing her onto her stomach, making sure the wand was pressed right against where she needed it the most, the pillow helping to keep her ass up in the air. Nayeon wiggled around a bit, tugging at the tie that was still holding her wrists together, but eventually gave up, surrendering herself fully to that fuzzy feeling that was growing in both her brain and her stomach. It was easier to ignore the alarms in her head when she did that.

“My, my, bunny.” Jihyo cooed, her hand roaming down Nayeon’s exposed side. “You look pretty like this. It’s a shame I can’t be nicer to you.”

I need the niceness, Nayeon thought. More than anything else, I need you to be nice to me.

She didn’t say anything back. She just let it happen. She needed to cum, anyways. Six wouldn’t be hard, right? She liked pain. She liked overstimulation. She liked Jihyo’s cruelty, liked her games. All of it was done with so much love, usually. Right now, though, it didn’t feel the same. But she deserved this. She was bad, she deserved to be punished.

Right?

When Jihyo’s hand finally gripped her ass, her mind went completely blank. She pressed Nayeon down harder against the toy, which was now doing a much better job at getting her off. It was great, it was just what she needed. Her body trembled, her hips instinctively bucking, the sensation almost all too much when-

“One.” Nayeon whimpered out, the knot in her stomach finally snapping as her first orgasm washed over her.

Jihyo didn’t let her up. She kept her hand firm against her, kept her pressed down against it. It was fine while it happened, but the moment she crossed the peak, it became all too much. She felt like an electrical current was running through her veins, burning through her body up to her skin. It was somewhat nice, but still.

“Ji- mommy, it’s- it’s too-”

Jihyo moved her hand away. Nayeon tried to chase the feeling of her against her, tried to move her hips back, to sit up on her knees without using her hands. She regretted it.

The harsh leather of the belt met the soft flesh of her ass in an instant, the pain sending her reeling back down onto the vibrator. She let out a cry, her fists clenching together, her knuckles white as she held onto herself for dear life.

“You take what’s given to you, bunny.”

Jihyo sounded entirely unlike herself. Suddenly the fear was outweighing the pleasure.

“Five more, Nay. You can handle that, surely. Can’t you?”

Could she?

Nayeon looked over her shoulder, finally locking eyes with Jihyo. The tears were making it hard to make her out, her vision blurry from the wetness, her mind cloudy from the pain. The vibrator was still whirring against her, which both eased and wound her right back up. It felt good.

But Jihyo wasn’t with her.

Jihyo wasn’t on her.

Jihyo wasn’t fixing her.

Jihyo. Jihyo, Jihyo, Jihyo. All she ever wanted was Jihyo. And right now, this certainly didn’t feel like the Jihyo she knew.

“Answer me.”

All it took was another slap of the belt against her for Nayeon to break. She cried out, her second orgasm crashing into her as she desperately gasped for air. Her whole body lurched forward, tears finally pouring down her face as she babbled out something that Jihyo didn’t quite catch.

“What was that? Too stupid to speak?” She taunted, running her hand along the red marks that now adorned Nayeon’s backside. “Is it too much already, bunny?”

Yes.

“Four more.”

No.

“God, you’re so pathetic.”

Stop.

Nayeon couldn’t do it anymore. Everything was too much, everything hurt in the worst way possible. This wasn’t what she wanted- she never wanted this. She wanted Jihyo. Her sweet, gentle, loving girl. The girl she married, the girl who guided her through the worst parts of her life and stayed by her side through it all. The girl who taught her it was okay to love who she loved, who taught her the true meaning of softness. The girl who worked her ass off to make sure she was cared for, to make sure their lives would never go without stability. She missed her terribly. She needed her now.

With a shaky breath, Nayeon looked over her shoulder again. Her face scrunched up in pain the moment she looked at Jihyo, but she managed to gather every single nerve in her body when she finally spoke.

“Doughnut.”

Within seconds, Jihyo was pulling her up. Nayeon released the safety end of the tie that was binding her wrists together, freeing herself from her restraints as Jihyo pulled the pillow and vibrator away. She sat back on her knees, everything finally hitting her as she just sobbed. Jihyo quickly cut the toy off, practically throwing it down to the end of the bed before joining her, climbing in beside her.

“Nay- Nayeon, hey.” Her voice was calm, even. Soothing, more than anything. “Look at me. What do you need? Can you speak?”

Nayeon looked up, finally locking eyes with Jihyo. She looked so guilty, scared. Nayeon was too gone to really say anything, tears still streaming down her cheeks. The only thing she could do was hold out her arms. And yet, Jihyo understood. She always understood.

She helped Nayeon lay back on the bed, crawling up beside her and pulling her in close, Nayeon’s face resting against her chest. She pressed a few kisses to the top of her head, holding her tightly as she whispered out apology after apology, reassurance after reassurance. After a few minutes, Nayeon had calmed herself down. She pushed herself up, pulling away so she could look at her wife.

“I’m sorry, Ji.” Nayeon said, sniffling. “I got- I got so scared. You sounded so mad. I couldn’t…”

Jihyo shook her head.

“Nay, baby, it’s okay. You have nothing to apologize for. I’m so sorry I got so angry, I just…” She sighed. “God, that’s not like me at all.”

Nayeon leaned forward and kissed her forehead before moving back to rest against her. Jihyo’s arms wrapped around her shoulders, keeping her pressed as close as she could be.

“I know it’s not you, Ji.” Nayeon sighed out. “I’m sorry for upsetting you. That wasn’t fair of me. You’ve been so busy, and I was a brat for doing what I did.”

Jihyo made a sound of protest, shaking her head. She didn’t say anything, though. She was letting Nayeon have her time.

“I didn’t mean any of what I said. It’s just-” Nayeon spoke the best she could, her voice cracking as the tears from before came back. “I missed you, I wanted your attention. I’m sorry I went about it like that- I didn’t know what else to do.”

Nayeon finally looked up at Jihyo. She was giving her that look. The one she gave her when she was worried, the one that Nayeon knew was pure adoration.

“Hey, hey. Baby, it’s okay.” Jihyo whispered, her hand immediately finding Nayeon’s cheek, thumbing away her tears. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to give it to you. I missed you, too. More than you’d ever know. I love you so, so much.”

She paused, frowning.

“I poured all my energy into work and that wasn’t fair to you. You deserve it, too. More than that stupid company does, that’s for sure.” She took a second, inhaling and exhaling through her teeth. “What you don’t deserve is my anger. I’m so mad about work, so mad about how they’re treating me. Home is the one place where I have you. And I brought that anger home. And then you said that stuff… And then I just… Took it out on you…”

Her voice trailed off, her brows furrowed as she looked away.

“I went too far, Nay. I hurt you in a way that was scary for you, and I’m so sorry.”

Nayeon sat up fully then, wiping her own tears off with her arm before she took Jihyo’s face in her hands.

“Jihyo, you’ve been nothing but good to me the entire time I’ve known you.” She said, making Jihyo look at her. “What happened wasn’t normal for either of us, we clearly both went too far. We’re both mad about the situation we’re in, and took it out on each other. But it’s okay now. I forgive you completely, I still trust you, nothing will ever change that.”

Jihyo looked at her for a moment, really looked at her, before her eyes started to well with tears. She pouted as a few began to fall, her bottom lip poking out as she whined.

“I’m supposed to be the one comforting you, Nay.”

Nayeon rolled her eyes, laughing as she wiped the younger girl’s tears away before leaning down and kissing her softly, deeply. For the first time in weeks, she felt like Jihyo was with her fully.

That’s what she’d wanted all along.

“You know you don’t have to be the one to do everything all the time, baby.” Nayeon whispered between kisses. “I can handle it when you can’t. And right now, you deserve a break.”

Jihyo hummed out a reply, pressing herself up to kiss Nayeon better. She parted her lips just enough for Nayeon to press her tongue into her mouth, practically whimpering at the feeling. The kiss went from gentle to deep to a little too intense a bit fast, both of them finally pulling away for air the moment their teeth clattered together. Nayeon sat back on her knees, laughing at how red Jihyo’s face was, how she was blushing as if they hadn’t ever kissed before. Jihyo waved her arms around in protest, shouting a string of embarrassed “unnie, cut it out”s as she playfully swatted at Nayeon.

This was what Nayeon had been missing, more than anything else. Having Jihyo by her side, taking care of one another in the most mundane ways possible. She took Jihyo’s hands in her own, holding them down as she pressed her wife into the mattress, kissing her again. And again, and again.

That was enough for now. They didn’t really need to talk about it any further, it was clear how both of them felt. The incident was over, they would move on. That’s how it always went with them- they’d butt heads, talk about it, move on, keep the lessons they learned in mind. Jihyo never made the same mistake twice, and Nayeon never let herself get caught up on the past. That’s why they worked so well, why they could get as rough as they did with one another. If Jihyo was the one inflicting the pain, she was the one to help Nayeon heal. If Nayeon was going to take it, she’d always make how she really felt known. Communication, fully. And they hadn’t been doing as good of a job at that lately.

“Nayeon, baby.” Jihyo pleaded between kisses. She didn’t put up a real fight. “Let me run you a bath and make dinner.”

It was alright now, though.

Nayeon hummed, kissing her again.

“I showered earlier, but I guess it’s only fair.” She said, her lips still halfway pressed against Jihyo’s. “But I said you deserve a break, y’know?”

Jihyo whined as Nayeon pulled away.

“Why can’t my break be getting to take care of you?”

Nayeon swore that Park Jihyo was the only person on planet earth who spend her time off from her job where she’s constantly fixing things for others by doing things for others. Or really, doing things for her. Or for Jeongyeon. But that’s the privilege she got as their best friend of over a decade, for putting up with them for as long as she has. Still, though- this was about Jihyo.

“Fine.” Nayeon huffed out. “But I want you to take a bath with me. I need to wash your hair. It’s greasy.”

Jihyo rolled her eyes, smiling.

“Whatever you say, princess.”

So finally, after a bit more kissing, and a bit of letting their hands wander, both of them got up. Nayeon stretched her arms out over her head, cracking her back (while ignoring Jihyo’s passing comment about how she was getting “too old to handle her”), before letting Jihyo pull her off to their bathroom. She leaned against the counter as Jihyo started the water, which caused her to finally register just how badly her ass hurt when it made contact with the cold granite.

“Oh my god, Jihyo. You ruined my ass.” Nayeon hissed, standing back up straight, running her hand over the bruised skin. “Why did you use the damn belt? We have a paddle and a crop.”

Jihyo looked up from the tub, her lips mashed together in embarrassment.

“It felt right in the moment.”

Nayeon just laughed, exasperated. She finally walked over next to Jihyo, taking off her bra and underwear, tossing them aside, a bit too casually considering how much she’d paid for them.

“I mean, it was pretty hot.”

Jihyo smiled up at her, brightly. Soon enough they were in the tub together, Nayeon between Jihyo’s legs, her back against the younger girl’s front as they just enjoyed each other’s presence. The water was nice, warm, soothing Nayeon’s damaged skin and relaxing her tight muscles. Jihyo had her chin resting on Nayeon’s shoulder, her arms around her waist, occasionally leaning in to press kisses against her neck. It wasn’t meant to be anything more than sweet, but still, after not getting exactly what she wanted, Nayeon found herself getting wound right back up. And Jihyo figured it out fast, noticing how she started shifting, squeezing her thighs together. Nayeon didn’t stop her when her hands drifted, one going up to cup her breast while the other one went down, her fingers delicately running along her slit before dipping inside.

“Jihyo, please.” Nayeon groaned out, her head falling back against Jihyo’s shoulder.

She didn’t have to say exactly what she needed. Jihyo knew. Just like she always did.

“Shh, baby.” She whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple as her fingers pumped in and out of her. “I’ve got you. You’re the only thing I care about right now. I’m not going anywhere.”

And really, that’s what Nayeon needed to hear, more than anything else.

[spearsillustration]

Would you be willing to do some head cannons or a one shot about Ult Richtofen as a boyfriend to someone a bit younger than him?

OMG yay okay *cracks knuckles* I've been waiting for this kind of request and I am so ready to fulfill it. This is the practice I needed for my next Oneshot.

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Note: Alright I've been wanting to work on something for Ultimis Richtofen so here we go. 

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I feel like it depends on the age difference between the two of you. The younger you are the more he'd tease you about your little crush you had on the older man. 

He would definitely joke about you having daddy issues, and it would probably be all in good fun, but still a little bit awkward. Given the age difference, he might playfully tease you about seeking out an older man, using that classic ‘daddy issues’ line as a way to poke fun at the situation. 

He's extremely bipolar with how he shows you affection, and it's honestly exhausting. One minute, he's incredibly touchy, showering you with affection, compliments, and constant attention, almost to the point of being overbearingly loving. He'll make you feel like you're the most important person in his life, holding you close, and expressing his love in every possible way. But then, just as suddenly, he shifts, and the next minute he becomes emotionally distant and cold, as if you don't exist at all. He'll completely ignore you, barely acknowledging your presence, consumed by his work or whatever else is on his mind. It’s a confusing emotional rollercoaster, one that leaves you questioning where you stand and whether his feelings are genuine or just fleeting moments of intensity.

Regardless of his lack of moral compass and the questionable choices he might make, he still has this fierce, almost contradictory side to him when it comes to protecting you. It doesn’t matter how flawed his judgment is or how much he messes up in other areas of his life—when it comes to you, he’s like a shield. He might not always make the best decisions or follow the rules, but when it comes to keeping you safe, standing up for you, or making sure no one harms you, he'll do whatever it takes. His protectiveness doesn't come from a place of pure morality, but from a deep, unspoken loyalty to you, one that seems to override any of his other questionable behaviors. It’s a strange mix of love and possessiveness, where, even with all his faults, he’ll be there when you need him, ready to guard you from any danger that may come your way.

And despite his overwhelming god complex, where he often carries himself like he's untouchable, irreplaceable, and superior to everyone around him, there's this surprising vulnerability hidden beneath it all. As much as he projects an image of complete self-sufficiency and power, he's incredibly easily made jealous if you're spending too much time with others, especially when you're giving them attention or affection that he feels should be directed towards him. It’s like this flicker of insecurity that he tries so hard to mask, but it still manages to surface whenever he sees you connecting with someone else. His pride may be sky-high, but the jealousy is almost palpable—he’ll subtly (or sometimes not-so-subtly) make sure you know he’s not happy about it. It’s as though he believes that, despite everything, you should be entirely focused on him, because in his eyes, he’s the one who deserves your attention, loyalty, and love above anyone else. His god complex only makes that jealousy more intense, as if anyone else getting close to you is some sort of threat to his sense of self-importance.

When he's working, he absolutely hates being interrupted. It’s like a switch flips inside of him, and suddenly, everything else fades into the background. His focus becomes laser-sharp, and when anything or anyone disrupts that, it completely throws him off. The frustration is obvious, you can see it in his body language—his jaw tightens, his eyes narrow, and the air around him becomes thick with irritation. It's almost as though any interruption is a direct challenge to his concentration and efficiency, and it riles him up in a way that’s hard to miss. And while you're not exactly exempt from this, you're still treated with a bit more patience than others. He may not snap or lash out at you in the same way he would at someone else, but it’s clear that the annoyance still lingers. He'll let out a deep sigh, his tone becoming a bit sharper, though he tries to mask it with a forced calmness. It doesn't matter that you're the one person he feels closest to—when he’s in the zone, being bothered just annoys him to the core. His work becomes his entire world in those moments, and even the smallest distractions can leave him on edge. It’s a fine line between wanting to be kind and still feeling the weight of his frustration, and while he may handle it better with you than with others, you can still feel the tension in the air whenever you have to interrupt his focus.

If he isn’t working on something super important or incredibly urgent, he’s actually pretty laid-back about having company around. In those moments, he doesn’t mind your presence at all; in fact, it almost feels like he appreciates it. He might even seem a little more relaxed, more open to conversation or the occasional distraction. His usual sharp focus softens a bit, and he allows himself to enjoy the simple act of being around you, even if he’s still partially immersed in whatever task he’s doing. From time to time, he’ll even let you help out, but there’s a catch—he’s only willing to accept your assistance as long as you don’t get in his way. If you’re offering to help with something, he expects you to be efficient, stay out of his personal space, and not interfere too much with how he’s working. He’s not the type to be overly dependent or ask for help often, but when the time is right, he’ll welcome the extra hands. 

If you ask him questions, he’ll happily dive into his vast knowledge, especially when it comes to his areas of expertise, like science or medicine. It’s one of those things that he truly enjoys—he lights up when talking about subjects he's passionate about. The more in-depth or complex the question, the more excited he gets. He’ll go on long rants, elaborating with an almost contagious enthusiasm, explaining theories, sharing details, and indulging in every piece of information that he finds fascinating. It’s clear that he takes immense pride in his intellect, and when you show interest in learning from him, he’s more than willing to share, reveling in the chance to display his mastery.

However, there is definitely a limit to this, and it’s something you’ll quickly learn to recognize. If you start asking questions that he perceives as too simple, too basic, or beneath his level of intelligence, his patience begins to thin. What might have been an engaging conversation can quickly turn into a frustrating experience for him, as he becomes visibly annoyed or irritated. His tone might shift, and you can sense that he’s no longer eager to share his knowledge; instead, he’s counting the seconds until the conversation ends. He doesn’t have much tolerance for questions he considers trivial or beneath the level of discourse he’s used to. If you push too far, he’ll begin to pull back, offering terse or one-word answers, signaling that he’s no longer interested in indulging you. He’ll likely move on to something else, leaving you with the clear impression that there’s a threshold he’s not willing to cross when it comes to certain kinds of inquiries. For him, knowledge is something to be respected, and if he feels like you’re not respecting the complexity of the topics he’s so passionate about, he’ll quickly disengage.

[penumbra-mayhem]

i feel joy and oh how it burns (pt. 2/2)

Tank opens up to Milo about their relationship with Sam.

part 1 // hurt/comfort // 1.1k words

(I hc Tank with a stutter, more on that here.)

——————————————

“Stop hogging the popcorn,” Milo whined, reaching blindly for the bowl with one hand while his eyes remained glued to the screen. 

“St-top t-t-taking all mmmmy kills,” Darlin’ retorted, shielding the bowl from Milo’s grasp with their body.

“Well, if you knew how to aim—”

“Fuck off!” Darlin’ cackled.

Milo beamed at the sound. As he killed two more zombies, he asked, “I’m gonna get something to drink, you want anything?”

Darlin’ shook their head. “N-No, I-I’m g—fucker, that wwwwas mmmmy kill!! ”

He paused the game with a bark of laughter. “Not anymore! Alright, I’m going. There better still be popcorn in that bowl when I get back,” he teased.

As Milo got up, Darlin’ made a playful show of stuffing a handful of popcorn in their mouth. Milo gasped and snatched the bowl from their lap, exclaiming, “Y’know what? I’m taking it with me!”

He scurried into the kitchen with a titter as Darlin’ made popcorn-muffled sounds of protest from the couch. Milo grabbed two bottles of Jarritos: guava for himself and lime for Darlin’ because he knew that if he didn’t as soon as he sat back down Darlin’ would be all puppy eyes and regret and he’d have to get up again.

When he re-entered the living room, though, he found them glued to their phone looking…concerned?

“What’s up?” Milo asked as he set the bottles on coasters and placed the popcorn bowl equally between them.

“N-Nothing,” Darlin’ muttered. They stuffed their phone under their leg, eyes glassy and unable to meet Milo’s scrutinous stare. 

“T, you look…” like you’re about to cry “…upset.”

They waved a hand. “It-It’s n-n-n-nothing, just Sam…”

“Sam?” Milo’s voice hardened, fear flashing in his eyes, “What’d he do?”

Darlin’ looked up at the sudden change in Milo’s tone. They backpedaled as they realized their mistake, “WWWait—”

“Did he hurt you?”

“N-N-N—”

“Don’t lie to me, Tank—”

“I-I’m n-n-n-n-not!” Darlin’ blurted, “N-N-No. Sam wwwwould n-n-n-never.”

Milo sat back, hackles lowering. “Then what is it?”

Darlin’s gaze lowered and they balled their hands, as if the words were inked onto their palms. They couldn’t explain. Milo wouldn’t understand. They barely even understood.

Suddenly, a piece of popcorn hit them square in the face. 

“Hey,” they retorted, glaring at a gleeful Milo. 

He threw another piece. 

“St-top,” Darlin’ whined, throwing a piece in retaliation. 

“Tell me what’s going on and I will,” Milo countered as he pelt Darlin’ with piece after piece of popcorn, “C’mon. C’mon. C’mon. C’mo—”

“Ok-kay!!” Darlin’ exclaimed, hands held up against the savory barrage. They dug their phone back out and pulled up their conversation with Sam. 

“It-It’s just the l-l-l-last mmmessage…” Darlin’ mumbled as they passed the phone to Milo. 

He took it gingerly and read Sam’s most recent text:

Thinking of you, I hope you’re having a good time at Milo’s. I thought maybe later we could get dinner at Finch & Presley’s and then get gelato at that place you like on the corner. Thoughts? No rush, take your time baby. Have fun!

Milo reread it, certain he had missed something. When his third scan still gleaned no clues, he handed their phone back and admitted, “I don’t understand. What’s the problem?”

Darlin’ shoved their phone away again. “He…he’s…so…good.”

“…go on.”

Darlin’ chewed at their inner cheek. “He mmmmakes mmme hap-p-py,” they admitted, “MMMore than I-I thought I-I c-could b-b-b-be.”

“And that’s bad?”

They nodded. 

“How come?”

Darlin’ looked away, shutting themself down again.  

Milo raised his hand slowly in response, popcorn at the ready. 

Catching the movement out of the corner of their eye, Darlin’ sighed in surrender, “WWWhat if I-I don’t mmmake him hap-p-py?”

Milo’s popcorn-loaded hand lowered in confusion. “What?”

Darlin’ shrugged; it was stupid, they were being stupid.

“Hold on,” Milo said, tossing his unthrown popcorn into his mouth before fishing his phone from his pocket. As he searched his screen, he explained sheepishly, “I uh…I like to take candids of the people in my life…and then I keep them, just for me to look at—where is, ah! here we go.”

He thrust his phone into Darlin’s hands.

They were met with a photo of them and Sam on the first night of the Solstice, laughing together in a corner. Darlin’ glanced back up at Milo.

“Go on,” he insisted, “I’ve only met him a couple of times, so I just have a few, but I think you’ll get the idea.”

Darlin’ furrowed their brow but acquiesced.

Sam and Darlin’ at the Solstice the following evening, snuggled together by a fireplace. Sam and Darlin’ on a double date with Milo and Sweetheart, discussing appetizers. Sam and Darlin’ at the most recent pack meeting, chatting with Asher.

They looked back up at Milo, their face and ears a pale pink. Milo secretly took some delight in Darlin's flustered appearance. It was a pleasant change from their usual scowl or worried frown.

“You know what all of those have in common?”

Darlin' shook their head. 

“Sam is smiling. In every single one.”

Scrolling back through, they found that Milo was right. In each photo, Sam had his eyes on Darlin’ and a smile on his face. Sometimes it was small and soft. Sometimes he was beaming, his whole face crinkled in joy. The pale pink deepened to red.

“Sam doesn’t look like that when you’re not in the room. You make him so happy,” Milo murmured, “And for what it’s worth, you make me happy, too.”

Darlin’ handed Milo back his phone and quickly rubbed at their eyes, hoping Milo wouldn’t notice. But, of course, he did. 

“Hey,” he whispered, scooching closer. 

“S-Sorry…” Darlin’ sniffled, wiping the tears from their flushed cheeks in growing frustration.

“You don’t need to apologize, T. You’re allowed to…” be weak “...show how you’re feeling.” 

Milo moved the popcorn bowl and cooed, “C’mere.”

Darlin’ lifted their head to see Milo’s arms stretched out towards them. They hesitated. Milo was sure they’d reject the offer, but then Darlin’ surprised them both as they crawled into his embrace.

Burying their face in his shirt, they whimpered, “WWWhy d-does it-it hurt?”

Milo sagged. In a sense, he’d been right. Sam was hurting them, but it was the one kind of pain Milo would allow. And the only kind he didn’t know how to ease. He tightened his hold on Darlin’, taking a moment to breathe before answering:

“Warmth can sometimes feel like burning when you’ve been cold for long enough. I think maybe it’s the same with joy. But it’ll get easier. It’ll hurt less, eventually. Just give it time.”

[raindrop-rouge]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63001885

Cold Confessions

Written for RadioApple Valentine's Week 2025.

Day 3: Confession

"If Alastor really cared about him, he’d know, because Alastor, like any human soul, would go out of his way to do things for him, and Alastor does not do that for anyone."

A fic about Alastor going out of his way to do things for Lucifer on a slightly unusual day.

And while trapped in the walk-in freezer.

Featuring forced proximity, cuddling for warmth, and something precious blossoming in the freezing cold.

(Note: This one can be read as a standalone, but watching them stumble their way through Parts 1 & 2 of the series does make it that much sweeter.)

Thank you @winterveritas for hosting this event!

[bobfloydpilled]

BEHOLD!!!! a new fic, slow horses edition! featuring river whump, river comfort, and lamb-typical snark! enjoy :D

[adventure-waffles]

A Crane in a Crowd of Chickens

🐔 Rated T

🐔 4.5k

🐔 Gongyi Xiao / Shen Qingqiu

🐔 Shen Qingqiu’s unwanted harem

The original version of this post had a broken link, please reblog this one only T^T

https://archiveofourown.org/works/59062780

[orionauriga]

quantum immortality

the umbrella academy | five-centric s4 fix-it | 5k words | gen

“Be realistic,” Booth Five says. “It’s time you face inevitability. The rest of us have.” “No,” Five snarls, appalled at the words and doubly so to hear them in his own voice. “You know who you sound like? The Handler.”

In Max’s Deli, Five comes to a different conclusion.

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tldr: five hargreeves fucking loves and would do anything for his family and he would not lay down and die when told there's nothing he can do to save them.

[djarinova]

all eyes on him — eren jaeger

˗ˏ✎ synopsis: - you spend time watching eren, getting to know him and his friends, until one night you don't spot him at a party, and you come to realise that he's noticed you noticing him

˗ˏcontent - gn reader, college au, alcohol mention, slight peer pressure to drink but not really, reader is at a party, eren loves attention ˗ˏwords - 1k

˗ˏnotes - i truly don't know where this came from..it started as a small thought and i got a tad carried away with the idea + practically wrote this all in one sitting, it's not proofread, enjoy<3

you meet eren through mikasa, and from the moment she introduces you to him you can't help but think "how can someone like mikasa be friends with a guy like eren?" he comes off as outrageously self centred and cocky, and you've heard whispers about him from almost every corner of campus. he's loud, obnoxiously so, and it seems like it's practically impossible for him to attend all his lectures unless prompted by some outside force (namely mikasa or armin, or the occasional threat of expulsion). 

he reminds you—odd though it may seem—of tinkerbell. it's almost like clockwork, the way that at every party he attends he always finds some excuse to have everyone's eyes on him. you don't notice it at first, too caught up in the whirlwind of socialising with new people—shots keep getting past to you, tall guys (one with a buzzcut and another with what appears to be a pinkish mullet, although it's hard to tell in the dim lighting) who claim to be friends with mikasa crowding around you, laughing and joking with you like you've known them for years, a dark haired girl fussing around you, and loudly asking if you'd want to get food after this. but as you assimilate to your surroundings, getting more and more comfortable with this group of people you've found yourself in—you soon learn that the tall guys' names are connie and jean, respectively—you begin to watch eren, in those brief moments before he's called everyone's attention, and it's hard to put your finger on what look he has written on his face, but it makes you feel as though you're watching something that wasn't meant to be seen. like seeing an actor talking with a co-star just off stage, hidden almost fully behind the curtain, and watching their face transform when they set foot on stage. it's as if eren's mask slips down, just long enough for you to get a look at the face underneath, before he's pulling it back on and yelling at the crowd—daring himself to down what's left in his vodka bottle and perform as many front flips in the garden as he can before he throws up.

it's not long before eren notices you watching him. one night at a party—hosted by some guy named reiner—you realise, as jean presses a glass of water into your hand, that eren was nowhere to be found. your eyes scan the tightly packed kitchen, looking for that mop of dark hair, but find nothing. you excuse yourself and manage to squeeze into the living room, although it is considerably less cramped, there is still no sign of eren. your eyebrows furrow, and you're about to turn back to where you came from, when a cool hand grabs your wrist and pulls you towards a door you hadn't even noticed. it leads into a surprisingly spacious bathroom, and as your eyes scan the room you realise with a start that the bathroom door has just been closed—leaving you with an odd ringing in your ears. the silence is almost deafening, and you notice dimly that the door has been locked as well, a small ‘click’ echoing in your ears. you turn towards your wrist, and your eyes land on the hand that rests there. it's still gripping you, and you find that you aren't surprised by the voice that brings you out of your daze.

“I've noticed you watching me, you know.” eren says.

your cheeks heat, and you feel that all too familiar eruption of butterflies in your stomach. worry clouds your mind, the possibility that you've ruined your newly made friendships has you gnawing at your cheeks. you're about to speak, to defend yourself in some way, explain your actions, when erens voice interrupts your thoughts again.

“i like it.” 

your eyes snap up to his. temporarily forgetting your anxieties, your hands fly upwards, coming to rest at the back of eren’s head. your fingers thread through his hair and without warning his lips are on yours. your eyes widen, erens hands are now gripping your waist, his tongue runs across your lower lip, and you feel him bite it gently. but before you have a chance for your brain to catch up with his actions, eren pushes himself away from you, as if your touch burns him.  

you tilt your head questioningly, your hands dropping limply to your sides. he's now stood as far from you as he can, his knees hitting the edge of the bath as he staggers backwards. there's something about his stance that makes you want to reach out, and although you can't see his eyes, you're almost sure that the glimmer of want you glimpsed a few seconds ago is still there.

“ere—” you start. the sound of your voice seems to stir eren from his thoughts, and just as fast as he vanished from your arms, he suddenly reappears in front of you.

his mouth opens and closes multiple times, the words seem to disappear from his tongue each time he goes to speak. you wonder what storm is brewing inside his head, and you want nothing more than to let him spill it onto you, as though you are the land that was made to handle such a heavy downpour.

when he says nothing, you move to thread your hands behind his head once again. he lets you, and slowly he brings his forehead down to yours. you stand still, unsure of what to do—unsure more so of the confusing sequence of actions that led you to this moment. 

the two of you stand this way—foreheads together, your arms around eren's neck and his hands gripping your waist tightly—for what seems like hours. a sharp knock on the door breaks you apart, eren tears himself from your grasp, and you can do nothing but watch silently as he unlocks the door and disappears from your view without so much as a word. your cheeks flush as someone drunkenly stumbles into the bathroom—the source of the knock, you assume—a knowing look in their eyes as you flee from the bathroom, your mind swirling with questions and your heart fluttering wildly.

[one-real-wrimonkey]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: RWBY Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Qrow Branwen/Clover Ebi, Qrow Branwen & Clover Ebi Characters: Qrow Branwen, Clover Ebi Additional Tags: Febuwhump 2025, Pre-Relationship, Blood and Injury, Blood Loss, Shapeshifting, Past Violence, Curses, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Qrow Branwen Needs a Hug, Qrow Branwen-centric, Owl House AU, Owl Beasts (The Owl House), Atlas (RWBY), Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Qrow Branwen Has Issues, POV Clover Ebi, Clover Ebi-centric, Anti-Faunus Racism (RWBY), Faunus (RWBY), Mentioned Salem (RWBY), Mentioned Ozpin (RWBY), Mentioned Raven Branwen Series: Part 3 of Greys Febuwhump 2025, Part 8 of My RWBY Fic Collection Summary:

Clover and Qrow are exploring a cavern when the floor gives out, leaving them both pinned deep underground. To make matters worse, Qrow has been keeping a dangerous secret, and time could be running out faster than they realise. . Aka Qrow has Eda's curse from the Owl House and a few things he needs to work out. . Febuwhump Day 3- Pinned Down