#this was also the first thing i put together for them so.. Emotions

[rinneroraito]

aftergLow

NSFW-- 2.4k words of wholesome vanilla with your favorite sleep-deprived raccoon of a man, L Lawliet. Also, praise kink adjacent. It's the author and her barely disguised fetish and kinks so.. hehe

oh lord i forgot how i should put things together here but yeah, um enjoy!

L was sitting up on the other end of the bed turned away from me when I opened my eyes, his back a pale stretch of skin as he hunched over his laptop. I could hear the keyboard clicking as he typed, his rounded shoulders making slight movements as he moved his arms. He hadn’t bothered to put on his clothes from the night before as he had the blanket wrapping his knees that were pressed close to his chest. The curtains were drawn but the morning light scattered along its edges, soft rays peeking through the gaps. The blanket on his knees shifted as I rose into a sitting position and rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

“Good morning, Rinne.”

He turns around to look at me with wide, curious eyes, the mattress giving under his weight. His hair was more awry than usual, he wasn’t smiling, but there’s unmistakable positivity on his face. Almost glowing.

“Good morning, De… L,” I replied, heat growing on my cheeks at my attempt with being more relaxed. He’s calling me by my name. I smooth my hair over one shoulder, chewing on my lip, the memories of last night now just starting to become more vivid to me the more awake I get.

That’s right, last night. He told me that he had complex emotions about me, and had been experiencing more intense emotions than he usually does when situations concern and involve me. One thing led to another and we just bared our feelings (and bodies) to each other. I continue clawing at my hair, my gaze darting from him and my hands.

A corner of his lip turns up slightly and he closes his laptop then sets it on the bedside table. He brings his blanketed knees closer to his chest, rests his hands on top of them and leans towards my direction.

“I’ve been awake for a while and you were still sleeping soundly so I just made use of my time,” he starts to explain, his thumb now pressed to his lower lip. “I didn’t want to spend the entirety of the morning just staring at you, as much as it was….” He trails off, his eyes still holding my gaze as he searches for his words.

“It was what?” I prodded, pressing my palm to my cheek.

“Something I wanted to keep doing.”

A chuckle bubbles up my throat and I couldn’t help but grin at him. He smiles. Whatever tension I thought there was had already dissipated, like the soft rays coming through the curtains had evaporated them. It was refreshing to see the usually stoic detective like this, relaxed, bright, like the strain from his work gave away and he’s finally letting himself unwind. I tapped the space beside me, inviting him to come closer and he scooted over.

“Well, I would have done the same thing, actually.”

“Really?”

“There were a few times when you fell asleep on your couch at the Headquarters. I would stare at you for a bit before I’d resume working, you know,” I confessed as I hugged my knees closer to my chest, resting my chin on top of them.

“Was that a habit you did before or after your drunken confession?” He asks, twirling a lock of my hair on his forefinger as he settles into his position beside me.

“Uh… Both before and after,” I answered, now staring at his hand.

“Huh, and they call me the creepy one.”

“Yeah, I’m far creepier and can get away with it because I’m pretty,” I replied giggling as I reached out to run my fingers through his hair. He closes his eyes when they make contact with his scalp. I could hear him chuckling, too. It’s such a sweet sound, his laugh.

“You’re beautiful.”

He’s called me attractive before but this is the first time he has used that word. Beautiful. My cheeks turned a deeper color as I chewed on my lip before speaking again.

“Yeah? Glad you see me that way.”

Strands of my hair fall off my shoulders as he continues to play with it, twirling locks around his fingers, releasing it, then doing it all over again. He nods, bringing his dark eyes up to meet mine.

“Last night was pleasant. Breathtakingly pleasant. Decadent. Although I’m not sure if my words carry any weight considering I have no baseline for such an experience. Did you still find it enjoyable?”

L adjusts his position so that our shoulders are now pressed together. He waits for me to reply, holding my gaze all the while, like he needed reassurance.

“Very. I found it very enjoyable. You were proficient at using your body parts,” I tease. He stares at me as I speak, a faint smile on his lips, his eyes scanning my face, darting across every feature.

“I’m glad. Also I’m…” L pauses, inching closer to me as his pupils flitted from my eyes to my lips.

“…compelled to kiss you again. May I?”

“I like it when you ask,” I giggled.

The space between us narrows as I bring both hands to his face when he leans close. His breath was warm as it caressed my cheeks, the sensation making me shiver. He brushes his lips against mine, pulling away for a moment before pressing them firmly back. The hand he was using to play with my hair was now resting on my jaw, keeping me in place as we continued to kiss.

His mouth was gentle, his lips patient, his breath soft on my skin yet his hands were firm and confident in their path as his fingers trailed down my neck to my chest. I held his face close as he parted his lips to invite my tongue in where I proceeded to knead his. I gasp quietly at the contact, he lets out a hushed groan in response.

Feeling his hands around my waist I shifted my position to pull him down on top of me, hooking one leg around his hip as the blanket that tangled around us slipped off of our bare bodies. L trembles as he eases his body down on me, his mouth hungrily exploring mine as I snake my arms around his neck. I could feel his arousal swelling between my thighs, the heat building up between us making me stifle moans into his lips.

All of a sudden, he pulled himself away from the kiss, gasping as he rested his forehead on mine. In my excitement I just now realized how much he had been shaking in my arms.

“Hey, is something wrong?” He blinks as I ask, my hands raking away the now wet locks of hair that clung to his forehead.

I looked up to meet his still wide, still curious eyes that now held a slight uncertainty in them.

“This is all still new to me, I’m afraid. Last night seems so different compared to now that I am more aware of my feelings. I know I want this, and by your reactions and the way you reciprocate I know that you do, too. I am…”

He leans back down into the crook of my neck, likely hiding his expression from further scrutiny, his whole weight bearing down on me comfortably.

“…overwhelmed, I suppose. It’s a lot of new things to process and I’ve just recently accepted certain emotions I’ve been harboring over you.”

Oh. That’s right.

I could feel my cheeks starting to burn upon the realization that I am a lot of his firsts.

“I’m alright with continuing, I just need a minute,” he adds, his breath tickling my neck with his words.

“No, it’s okay. We can take our time, don’t worry,” I reassured him. He seems to relax into my shoulder some more upon hearing my words. “I’m not going anywhere. How about I just hold you like this, is that a little better for you?”

I turned to my side, reaching my other hand out towards him so I could pull my arm under the crook of his neck to cradle him more securely with his head on my shoulder. L adjusts his position accordingly, wrapping his arm around me. I run my fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp and he hums, relaxed. We stay like this for a while.

“This is nice. Being held this close by you was something I never thought I could experience,” he confessed, pressing his face against my neck, his warmth sending a pleasurable shiver down my spine.

“Well, I could say the same thing,” I returned, kissing his forehead. “You were out of reach, someone I was convinced I’d just keep hearing on the news, reading on articles and web forums. Until you weren’t. I didn’t really expect to like you this much, and I’m glad I took the chance to be close to you.”

He lets out a sound that’s half giggle, half scoffing, like what I said was so amusing. And it was. Who knew we’d end up like this? I’m pretty sure he didn’t, he rejected me that time I confessed to him. For all we know we’d just be working with each other.

The bed creaks softly as he untangles himself from me, sitting upright and I do the same. He’s staring again, sweeping through my features like he’s filing them away somewhere in his head for him to reexamine again and again. He probably is. He’s so adorable. I reach for his hair, ruffling it before resting my palm on his cheek. He places his hand on top of mine, kissing my fingers, and then he laughs quietly, looking up at me. Is that longing in his eyes? Who would have thought that the Greatest Detective in the World would be right here, with me, being as sweet as the pastries and desserts he likes the most? My heart was just about to burst out of my chest from him.

“What was that? What’s funny?” I ask, stroking his cheek with my thumb.

Whatever it was that he was contemplating on he must have reached a conclusion to because he leans back towards me, fitting himself snug between my thighs.

“You’re terrific, Rinne,” he tells me with his lips pressed to my chin. “Bewitching. Right now there’s nothing in my mind but you and how desirable you are, how indulgent it feels to touch and feel you, how you leave me wanting more. Let me have you for the first time today, please.”

God, I think I love this man.

“I like it when you ask.”

As soon as the reply leaves my mouth he takes my lips again with a firm but gentle fervor that leaves me whining into his mouth. Both my hands find their way to his face where I cradle him close and I curl my legs around his waist. He reaches down, his fingers finding their way into my already dripping cunt, teasing it for a moment with his fingers before guiding his cock into my entrance.

His mouth leaves mine as soon as he thrusts himself inside me, right down into the base. A moan escapes my lips, a sound that made him giggle to himself.

“Fuck,” L curses before gaining a steady momentum. “You feel so good…”

Between gasps and exhales I whine and moan as he moves. Every thrust he did was hitting a spot that sends a jolt right through my back spreading throughout my body that I can't help but close my eyes, reveling in the sensation as I continue to call out his name.

“Rinne,” he calls out to me, my name sounding like music with his voice. He holds my cheek up to him. “Open your eyes, love. Eyes on me, please.”

My eyelids flutter as I open them up at him all the while overwhelmed with the passion from his movements. A moan escapes my throat as my eyes meet his. He appeared almost ethereal in the early sunlight, his pale skin glistening with sweat, his dark hair swaying at his ministrations, darker eyes glossed over with lust and need. His hand on my chin tightens slightly, squeezing my cheeks together.

“That’s it, good girl,” he smirks in approval, pleased with himself and I just about short-circuited at that moment. He knew full well how to rile me up ever since he realized praises made me blush, and his satisfaction is evident by the way he picked up his speed, leaning away from me so he could get more leverage, more friction, more noises and reactions out of me. “Keep your eyes on me, love, mmh, I like it when you look at me.”

“Fff-uck…” It was my turn to curse this time. “L, fuck…”

What even were words at this point? I was grabbing at the pillows over my head for purchase as my cries just got louder.

“Use your words, love,” he commanded with the abyss that he held within his gaze, ready to swallow me whole.

“Good, you feel, ahn, so good,” was all I could muster.

“Good girl, you’re so perfect, hahn, you feel so perfect for me,” he continues to purr flattery at me and I can just take so much. He leans towards me again, kissing my forehead and then my cheek. “You’re such a good girl.”

“L,” I whimper, knowing I’d come undone any moment now. “L, close, mmh, I’m gonna come.” He presses his forehead against mine, his thrusts becoming more erratic.

“Take all of me, Rinne,” he groans before kissing me again. “I’m, mhn, coming.”

That was all I needed to hear before a haze washes over me, my entire being bursting apart in eyes-crossing ecstasy. My voice fills the entire room and I can hear him cursing under his breath, his words getting lost in my mouth. I lock my legs around L’s waist, feeling him pumping inside me, filling me with warmth as he sighs into my lips, shuddering.

“Rinne?” He murmurs into my neck in between ragged breaths.

“L?”

“I love you. So much. I think this is love, yeah.”

“Or the afterglow,” I chuckled into his hair. He laughs in response, peppering the column of my neck with kisses.

“I love you, too.”

[poopyheadandhoneybunch]

Calebs and MC's first kiss should've been a solo card

I'm gonna preface this that I absolutely LOVE the new banner. It's beautiful, the visuals, the outfits, the event and its game, the music, everything is just perfect. Rafayel's card was the first one I got and watching the story I was so satisfied. I didn't expect the depth and lore additions, I thought all the cards would just be some cute flufff which would've been super fine. But they really made an effort to show Rafayel's and MC's relationship progress, the increased emotional intimacy that we all know they both struggle with and how they both matured in their communication skill. It was a beautiful card with emotional payoff and consistent with all of Rafayel's previous cards and the stage of his and MC's relationship stage. I loved it.

Which - sadly - brings me to Caleb. Caleb's my main and so far I thought that he was beautifully written. His relationship with MC, their bond before the explosion and the following awkwardness, grief, anger and sorrow and also relief and joy of being together again was portrayed in a really mature and realistic and emotionally satisfying way.

We have seen them going from anger and despair and estrangement in homecoming wings to a tentative agreement of wanting to be in each other's lives again in endless summer, of getting to know each other again and coming to terms with these new kind of people they are now in deceptive solitude to addressing Caleb's insistence of keeping MC out of his problems and not wanting to show her weakness in hidden waves. In intertwined gold and exclusive aftertaste they dance around their feelings for each other but are too afraid of voicing things in fear of destroying the fragile bond they have manged to establish again and it's just such a beautiful, bittersweet portrayal of two people who are absolutely obsessed with one another but are held back by their history and current circumstances.

Both the main story and the cards have shown the intense tension that hangs between Caleb and MC. We have seen Caleb holding himself back, afraid of going too far and we have seen how much the guilt of his feelings crushes him down, how conflicted he is about wanting MC in a romantic way. The way he called it a literal sin in lucid dream haunts me.

This boy has wanted to kiss MC since forever and has been pining and yearning and longing in such an intense, heart aching way I have never seen before I think. Really, kudos to the animators and the voice actor because every single card had me on the floor.

And then we have MC, who also had always had feelings for Caleb, it's so obvious when you go through their "old days" cards but our girl is also the most oblivious woman in existence lol. I think that subconsciously and at some point definitely consciously she realized Caleb's intentions but deliberately chose to ignore them out of fear that it might change their entire dynamic. Which obviously it would and MC - let's be real here - LOVES being Caleb's little pipsqueak, she loves how he takes care of her and spoils her. He's the most important person in her life. Her biggest fear is to lose him. So yeah, obviously she is just going to ignore things because she think she would have to reject him and doesn't truly realize that she feels the same for him.

tldr: They are both absolutely terrified to take the next step, TERRIFIED.

Which brings me to their first kiss. A first kiss in the context of a relationship dynamic like that should've been a groundbreaking event for both of them. Not the casual, "no big deal" kiss that we got in Caleb's new card. It just doesn't fit. It doesn't fit their history, it doesn't fit their current stage of their relationship dynamic and it - frankly - also doesn't fit the card's story even.

Caleb's first kiss should've been a solo card. It should've had build up and tension, some catalyst that would've finally make them jump off the metaphorical cliff and finally put the feelings they have for each other front and center, either through a confession before the kiss or some kind of event that triggers the kiss and they talk about what it means afterwards.

They actually could've woven it beautifully into the card itself if they wanted to!! MC finds Caleb's letters, reads through them which makes her realize that she could lose Caleb again every single day and that she should stop wasting time. It makes her realize that her feelings for Caleb go way beyond their brother/sister/family dynamic, that she wants him too. Then, they go on the boat date and MC addresses this. She tells him he's the most important person in her life and that she's doesn't want to waste any more time and kisses him. It can still be gentle and soft like it is shown in the card but it would actually fit their history and context. The kiss, as it is now, happens out of nowhere. It doesn't even get addressed afterwards. The date itself is so awkwardly shuffled into the rest of the card's story, honestly I thought it was a dream at first because it's so abrupt and vague.

Don't get me wrong, I love, LOVE the rest of the card. It's beautiful, it made me actually cry. The angst, the bittersweetness of Caleb having to think about possibly dying every single day and MC being the only thing on his mind, it hurts in such a good way. It really shows how much he loves her, it really added depth to his character and up until the kiss I thought this card is his best so far.

As I was watching, I really hoped that it would go in the way I described earlier or that maybe the whole date is a dream either of MC or of Caleb. (It would've been really sweet actually if it was MC's, it could've been like the first time she was dreaming of kissing Caleb and it could've let to some realizations on our girl's part and also some adorable awkwardness where she now becomes flustered in Caleb's presence and he teases her about it.)

And THEN the next card could've been all about their first kiss, for example.

Ugh, Infold, WHY. it's so disappointing, they really dropped the ball on this in my opinion, all that buildup and tension for nothing, just to provide fanservice for players who complain about Caleb and Sylus not having the same kind of spice content the others have yet? I don't know, have you never heard of narrative consistency? Both Sylus and Caleb are being rushed in my opinion, just to satisfy some part of the player community, to the detriment of their chacters and story. Like, I would gladly wait another couple months for a REAL Caleb kiss if it would mean that it would do him and MC justice.

There still needs an emotional payoff, they have still so much to work through, like?? In Deceptive Solitude they were still figuring things out, barely scratching the surface of their many, many walls and issues between them and now they're already kissing as if they're in an established relationship. It just doesn't make sense. The kiss in the spring card is an established couple kiss, not a first kiss between two people who just a couple months ago saw each other as literal family and also one them though the other was dead. Who were experiencing catholic levels of guilt about their forbidden feelings for each other and who did their best to avoid talking about it for YEARS. This will sound dramatic but it's just WRONG. I want more. THEY deserve more.

I can just hope that this card isn't chronological and this truly wasn't their first kiss and that Infold is actually gonna release a first kiss card where they fully explore what it would mean for Caleb and MC to take that step, the emotional fallout, the impact and how they deal with it.

Oh also: What about Caleb's chip? Isn't the chip supposed to regulate and suppress Caleb's emotions any time they cross the programmed threshold? Are you seriously telling me that Caleb, CALEB!!! didn't almost have a heart attack when MC kissed him? Why wasn't the chip activated? Even the Café heartbeat interaction has that built in but not the actual kiss card? COME ON. I'm sorry but this is incredibly lazy writing and another sign that Infold just didn't think this through. I truly wonder what goes on behind the scenes during the production process because - as I said - it's not always like that.

Which makes it even more disappointing because we KNOW that they can do better, they have so much potential and they can truly deliver beautiful, emotionally impactful stories and characters. I mean we are ALL unhealthily obsessed with every single love interest and that truly says something about their skills.

I don't know, if you've read that far I am truly thankful and salute you. I just needed to put this out in the open somewhere because I love the game and I feel like this time, it really failed, in a way. :(

edited for grammar

[sturniolo04]

Looks Like They Know M.S.

Bf!Matt x Gf!Fem!Reader

A/N: If you don't like the preadded name in my stories, you can either add your own name or not read it; it's up to you :)

Savannah and Matt haver been dating for a little over 5 months and have kept there relationship out of the public eye pretty much which included not only the fans but also Matt's triplet brothers. i mean sure we should have told them about it when it first happened and we first got together but we wanted to enjoy each others company without having to worry about if we were spending too much time with each other.

"hey chris"

savannah greets walking out from matt's room discreetly surprised at finding him in the kitchen.

"hey"

he greets not even looking up from his phone yet which you breathily sigh out with relief knowing he didn't see you come out from his brothers room to question you on it.

"i thought you were playing fortnite live"

you question already knowing that they were and that he only come down to grab a breather.

"umm yeah i thought you were in nick's room"

he questions finally shifting his gaze putting his phone back in his pocket.

shit

Savannah forgot Nick's PC hasn't been working which is why he wasn't playing live with them.

"um uh i was in matt's room actually"

you nervously say hoping he would question it further

"hm okay then well i am going back to the game"

he replies ignoring the nervousiness that was painted on your face

You took a huge breath out as you close the door to matt's room as he make subtle eye contact with you carefully not alert the viewers or nick or chris that there was another presence in his room.

You couldn't deny it was getting harder to explain to chris and nick why you were spending so much time with Matt out of the three of them. Matt sensing the tension in the air turned his video off but forgot the most important thing his microphone.

"whats wrong"

"nothing"

you sigh out as matt turns around in his seat opening his arms as you make your way over to him, sitting on his lap.

" come on i know you what's wrong princess"

matt asks again. Unbeknownst to you two everyone can hear this interaction

"matt who the fuck are you talking to"

nick ask through chris mic

"probably Savannah she was in his room"

chris shrugs off fixating his attention to the chat on his screen.

"guys what the fuck are you saying he called her what"

chris questions confused scanning the chat.

"matt i dont know if i can keep this secret from them any longer"

"well do you think we should tell them"

he questions you looking at you scanning your face for your unreadable emotions.

"yeah we have to so i dont accidently let them find out on their own you know"

savannah states as she runs her hand through his fluffy hair.

"guys come on they are not dating"

nick replys to the chat verbally reading it

"okay well i have to get back to the game"

matts states as you standing up from his lap placing a kiss on his lips before heading over to his bed.

"hey chat- oh my what are yall saying"

"matt you left your mic on the whole time"

nick interjected.

"what"

he replies covering his mouth shocked.

" yeah who were you talking to were you on the phone"

"no i wasnt talking with anyone"

matt says deflecting the question starting another game.

"matt you weren't calling savannah princess that would be so weird yall are best friends"

chris stated as you started to lock in on the game in progress

"yeah of course i didnt think i said that"

matt says blowing it off still.

A few minutes pass by and savannah completely forgot that there was a stream going on making her way over to him standing in between his legs hugging him catching him off guard.

"holy shit no way"

chris whispers noticing the pair since the camera was still on shifting his gaze interchangeably with the now blowing up chat.

" how long has that been a thing"

nick whispers to chris as he shrugs his shoulders in reply.

"hi baby"

matt greets as he lovingly pats your ass given the position you were in. Savannah shifts herself looping her legs around his torso sitting on his lap, still unaware this is all going to all over social media.

"uhh MATT"

nick screams into chris mic as the pair jumps turning to face his computer screen.

"shit"

"when and how"

chris asks simply.

"surprise"

savannah giggles out.

"well looks let everyone knows now"

matt chuckles resting his hands on the sides of your hips.

Tags🗂️

@mintsturniolo @spicymuffins03 @dirtylittleheart333

@stayingstromboli @wh0resstuff @ksturnz @chaoswithus @emely9274 @ivysturnss @sturniolo-szn2 @lezleeferguson-120 @courta13 @chrepsi @lyingonchris

@tezzzzzzzz @babytomatoes21 @sturniolosymphony @zenithsturniolo @bernardsbendystraws @sturnioloslut101

[axxxx13]

I don't know if you take requests if you do : can you please write head cannons/analysis's of who Liam can keep his control with the most to least and why (with reasonings like in the 'Theo is the only one who treats Liam like a human ' post )

Okay so to start I'll say that this is a cauldron of canon, headcanons, random ideas and other things so they are mostly very subjective. The ranking is as follows (not all the characters are there)

P.S: very few people read posts this long so it's basically just for you 🫶

1. THEO and MASON

I put Theo and Mason on the same level because they are "complementary anchors". Mason is emotionally intelligent and is good at helping Liam rationalize his emotions and not get them all tangled up in anger. Liam feels safe in Mason's lack of judgment and this helps him a lot in my opinion since it is evidently that he fears the judgment of the people around him. The only limit between them is linked to the fact that Mason is human and in some cases the fear of hurting him, especially when he feels very out of control, becomes a further trigger. For Theo I reconfirm my previous analysis. Liam is Theo's hero and he is simply unable to see him as a monster. Theo knows who monsters are and is just not capable of put togheter the cruelty of the DDs on a Liam tantrum. I add to this that Theo has no social references, Theo does not know what is normal and this helps Liam to feel more at ease with him. Mason is the passionate teacher who tries to make you learn a difficult subject and calm you down while Theo is the classmate who knows less than you but who is there, when needed, when everything is too much.

2. HAYDEN

Hayden was technically Liam's first anchor but she is a very different anchor from both Mason and Theo because she is based on emotional involvement. Hayden is the perfect anchor of Liam's adolescence in the sense that we never actually see her "calm him down" but it is more her presence that calms Liam's wolf, there is nothing rational or vaguely schematic. It's not to belittle, it was simply exactly what Liam needed at that moment: someone who made him feel like a normal boy with normal problems (so much so that we often see them sticking together, kissing and in general typical things of teenage couples) but we never see them have more "serious" conversations like some confidences/discussions he has with Mason (about being a wolf, the fear of losing control and hurting him, the anukite, the reservations about Corey's honesty) or some exchanges he has with Theo (the conversation in the car, the situation with Gabe, the plan against the ghost riders). This makes Hayden a perfect anchor for the moment in which they are together but not a solid enough anchor for when Liam begins to grow and feel more confident in his role and his identity.

3. BRETT

Okay this goes more into the headcanon but Brett is an anchor for Liam even if in a slightly toxic and twisted way. Even excluding a romantic interest (not entirely impossible) it is evident that there is a very strong attraction/repulsion between them and in fact we see Brett managing to calm Liam down with his somewhat rude ways several times (especially in the first seasons). In this sense I believe that Liam, especially after knowing that Brett is a wolf, clings very much to their dynamic to maintain a bit of control, as toxic as it is, it's still something stable and someone he can "count on". This is supported by the fact that Liam could unconsciously associate "the sun, the moon, the truth" with Brett and in general with someone who is somehow a constant in his life as well as someone who can really understand him (and towards the end maybe even wants to). This would also explain why Brett's death is so hard for Liam and above all the fact that after that the mantra seems totally useless.

4. SCOTT AND STILES

I put them together but only because I see it more or less the same way (I love Scott as a character, I swear and this has nothing to do with him not being a good friend/alpha). I think that Scott, even if he tries, has a hard time understanding/empathizing with Liam and this makes it difficult for him to help him as much as he would like. In general both Scott and Stiles have a hard time getting along with Liam's transformation/IED because technically he is the first beta for both of them and he is very young and already basically with a problem that is difficult to ignore. In addition, one thing that I think is important is that Liam, compared to Scott, doesn't have the opportunity to learn calmly, to understand what he has become and to learn to manage himself (it breaks my heart that Scott had Stiles but Liam didn't have Mason) but is almost immediately thrown into the fray (remember the nightmares/hallucinations about berserkers): I think this contributes a little to the "unbalanced" relationship they have in the sense that Scott and Stiles have chosen to do what they do, especially Scott while Liam already has a hard time accepting himself and in many cases he simply finds himself uncomfortable in having to be a hero.

Hope you liked it, I can talk about it for days and this is just a summary :)

[somerandomcockroach]

@keferon OKAY BUT LISTEN YEAH I would loved if it was just fun ehehehe and sassy flirting with the demon no one sees pfffht, literally summoned a demon just to flirt with, and I guess it could have been going for a long time, just little strips with their funny adventures and then plot can go to the fact that he wants to give him a body and Shockwave would agree or that they just stay the way they are and just hang out like this together (Alo I remember that you wanted to put Ratchet (I keep writing Ratched instead of Ratchet buuuh) and Drift in it as another demon and their summoner thing whghweghgwe but I like how you made two separate stories for them that happen at the same time, okay I am actually PRETTY MUCH invested in this story, I like a lot how it goes and gets tangled and how mixes up with idw ideas and other stuff a lot)

BUT NOW that you changed it that way, you made a few more things that reader might be interested a lot in, like that promise he made and you mentioning that he will regret it, how their relationship progressively develops, plus the fact that Blurr was a frivolous slob gifted with dark magic AND how the tables turn upside dow and he get consequences for what he did in the most unpredictable way for him and how he surely changes in his behaviour, getting more and more concerned about his promise and maybe truly loving someone for the first time in his life and wanting to change something. And then figuring out that that same demon actually was a person before, someone he knew, someone respectable, kind, shiny, absolut sun of a person, who died (I am still on my knees waiting to know how exactly he died...) miserably to the point that he absolutely can't stand his life as a demon and NOT EVEN being able to kill himself!!! And Blurr was a pupil in his school, he saw him, he gifted him an ability to make his magic work for him, gave the freedom to live among everyone to all who was poisoned with this dark magic. OH WAITA HGSDHAG the thing that beastformers can't walk among transformers and the fact that dark spellers also could not, and how these events happen at a close times, OKAY so dark spellers got their kind of freedom thanks to Senator Shockwave (OH MY GOD what if Orion can see Shockwave and will recognise him right away COUGH) BUT I am wondering if beastformers will get some kind of an official declaration or some kind of school to be educated in and I wonder if Deadlock/Drift (I think after leaving he will change his name from the last episode...) will volunteer to be a teacher t be something more, or he will just end up with Ratchet wandering around the world, or maybe there will be a whole damn revolution where all monoformers and beastformers leaded by Drift go against the system, and maybe these events happen at the same time as a Senator Shockwave fighting for the rights of gifted... Okay I'm getting carried a little bit ahsghag excuse me... OH I GOT carried away A LOT I wanted to get back to the point that Blurr, now figuring out the past of Shocwave, dealing with all the events, dealing with what he has done and find a way to free them, at the same time STILL having adventures and fun since I'm sure he can be a good mood lifter to moody Shockwave and even see him in a really good mood since he is... well, not just a demon made of hatred but the wonderful kind of person in his previous life... (okay being carried away but what if Orion might declare the freedom to beastformers (AJHGAJHSDJAH OH MY GOD I IMAGINED JAZZ AS A PANDA HAVING A ROMAN WITH PROWL AND PROWL NOT KNOWING ABOUT IT OKAY SORRY) after seeing what it lead to after Senator Shockwave. And maybe Ratchet will be able to get his sign back freely after revolution will be successful or he will be forever blind just to be free and safe with his husband OKAY LISTEN I think it is obvious that I really like the thing you do....

[rainbowsandwhumperflies]

that time when onyx got sick :(

Winged Servant drabble from when he was a servant! Sorry, Onyx's pov was not remotely compelling to me so for some reason this is third person from Cardan. Anyway here we go!

content warnings: fever, delirium, crying, begging, the pov is not thinking nice things about whumpee, carewhumper, a joking mention of murder, a seperate very serious mention of murder, it really is lighter than I'm making it sound

masterlist

Onyx let out a sudden sob, sitting straight up in bed. Cardan looked over at him, tilting his head at the angel. “You know, I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to be sleeping.”

He jolted, as if he hadn’t noticed the prince’s presence. “I- no, no, I- I need- fuck, Tom-”

“Yeah, no. You’re sick, which means you’re not even fun to mess with. So lay back down and get better already so that you stop acting so… pathetic.” And annoying. He was always pathetic and annoying, but not always this pathetic and annoying.

There was no reason that Onyx needed to be in the princes’ room, but Ryan had insisted. Said it would be easier to “keep an eye on him” or something. But Ryan had left to check on something, which meant that the angel was Cardan’s problem now. Cardan had tried to object earlier, when Ryan had brought it up the first time. But Ryan had done that thing he was so good at—anytime anyone contradicted him, he twisted it around to make everyone else sound like hypocrites and himself the voice of reason. He’d had the nerve to call Cardan the dramatic one for his objections to a servant napping in Ryan’s bed.

Dramatic.

Cardan.

And after Ryan had been the one to start pampering the angel like this. It was a fever, not a death sentence.

“Tommie?” Onyx asked, beginning to cry. “I- I need- Tom, Tom, I-” He started to stand up unsteadily, and Cardan groaned.

“Ryan is going to hang me if he thinks I woke you up. Go back to sleep.”

“No, no,” he mumbled, somehow managing to stumble all the way to the door. He practically fell onto the support of the doorknob as he tried to open it. “No, please, please-”

“Cardan, what the fuck did you do?” Ryan asked from the doorway. Evidently, he’d returned from checking on something.

“Literally nothing,” Cardan called back. “Your angel is the one bugging me, actually. My bad for not doting on him the way you’ve started doing.”

“I am not doting,” Ryan snapped. And he was probably about to come up with some quick and witty comeback, except that he was interrupted by a sob from Onyx. And there went the quick and witty comeback, ignored in favor of murmuring something gentle in response to the angel, and Cardan rolled his eyes.

Not doting. Yeah, right. Ryan wouldn’t have been so defensive if he actually believed himself. Not only was he doting, he knew he was doing it and just kept going.

Whatever. It didn’t matter to Cardan. It wasn’t like the angel was a threat or anything, unless-

Well. Unless.

No one liked to talk about the upcoming assassination, but ignoring it wouldn’t make it any less inevitable. The Rao brothers would not ever be able to rule side by side. But Onyx couldn’t be part of that.

Could he?

No. No, he couldn’t. He wouldn’t be a good enough diplomat to replace Cardan. Besides, Ryan wouldn’t stoop low enough for an angel spouse.

No. Onyx was harmless. Ryan’s doting was annoying, but also harmless. After all, Cardan had acted the same way about his first pet.

~

taglist: @kaleidoscope-of-thoughts @toyybox @rainydaywhump @risk606 @jay--o

@fuckcapitalismasshole @cepheusgalaxy

[pmpwbrrs]

dark does NOT want to get its bag wet. beige helps to prevent that

im not sure if these two are capable of compassion tho. do not be fooled

also floewrs 💦💦🌷🌿🌷🌿🍃🌸🌿🪻🪻🌿🌼💦🌼

[jackass-jones]

Shinjiham is cute when it’s romantic but tbh I think i vastly prefer the idea of them being best friends instead. Like, neither of them really saw it coming and weren’t really looking to get another best friend (Shinji has Akihiko, Kotone has Junpei and Yukari respectively) but it happens anyway. Kotone takes a liking to Shinji much faster than she does anyone else and I’d say a big reason is just the fact that he’s so reserved that it allows Kotone to do most of the talking while he just listens and they love this arrangement cuz Kotone doesn’t get to talk about her own interests very much. Though I think some of her needs to talk to Shinji stems from this insecurity that he isn’t happy in the group and she has this people pleasing problem and wants everyone to be happy so she makes a much bigger effort to talk to Shinji. And it’s very unfortunate because Shinji intentionally acts cold and distant because he doesn’t want to form any attachments because he wants to die soon, but aaaaaaaagh dammit this girl just keeps talking to him and being sweet and encouraging him to engage in his interests and share them with the others and he just can’t seem to say no when she’s got those damn puppy eyes. And Kotone is just able to get him out of his shell by being persistent but not in an overwhelming way, she’s very cheerful and supportive of him. And Shinji is able to offer her support by encouraging her to talk about herself and by making sure she’s taking care of herself. They just click really well and make such a positive dent in each other’s lives and it’s all about basic acts of kindness going a long way you know?

[crossbackpoke-check]

Substance, Shadow, and Spirit [remixed, abridged] by Tao Yuanming

[crescentfool]

with the year coming to a close, i hope that anyone who's reflecting about how the year went remembers to be kind and fair to themselves with how you evaluate the year as a whole.

i think there are definitely times when life throws things that are... Not So Great at you. whether if it's some external circumstance that surprised you, or maybe your mentality wasn't at it's best. i wish for anyone who's encountered those kinds of challenges to be able to triumph over them and be able to say that they got through it.

heck, it might still be a work in progress even though you've kept chipping away at it, and that's ok! the results will show themselves eventually as you work through it! and i hope that we can all remember to be patient with ourselves as we go through these processes (learning, healing, etc.), because damn, it can be frustrating when you feel like you're "not there yet."

knowing that life can be rough at times, i think it's unfair to yourself (and others) to discount and downplay any progress you've made this year- whether if it's something that you did for the first time, or maybe you came to a new understanding and insight that you didn't have in the previous year.

it's not to say that you should undermine the validity of your experience with hardship, but to take the time to remind yourself what makes life worth living. to recall what moments were the most satisfying to you- and use it to strengthen your resolve for the next year and beyond. no amount of hardship will ever take away from the fact that you deserve to have hope that things will get better.

i hope that looking back on the year, you don't leave out the things you cherish. that you can remember the good that came this year. whether if the small victories are things like meeting someone new, trying something out for the first time, or making some strides in a long-term project/obligation...!

i wish everyone a happy new year! may it be prosperous, and that your life can move in a direction that's close to what you want out of life. you're all going to do great! remember to congratulate yourself for what you did well! despite everything, you're still here, and that's wonderful. never forget that!

[hyperfixation-or-death]

random thing i just noticed:

Episode 1: "Romane would never do that. Not without her sister, anyway. Never." - Vanessa, about the possibility of Romane having run away.

Episode 6: "And, listen. If you send him away, I'm going too." - Sam, about his parents' plans to send Victor to boarding school.

something. about. the two duos of siblings in Parallels. do not separate them.

[werewolfbneimitzvah]

vent post. There are two stories i was told in my teenage years that even before i had a real concept of trans issues made me uninterested in discussing the supposed sacredness and safety of separated sex-based spaces.

First, when i was like 13 or 14 my PE teacher told us about a time she went to a women's public restroom, some guy was hanging out outside the bathrooms, she didn't think anything of it, went to the bathroom, and he walked in after her and like, creeped on her over the top of the stall. She was ok, she wasn't telling us this to scare us, just telling us what to do in situations like that (and iirc she was telling the whole co-ed class this, not just girls, bc it's useful for everyone), but this taught me immediately and forever that there's nothing actually keeping these spaces separate really, that anyone can be a creep in any space, and that establishing a space like that as for women only isn't actually particularly useful for safety.

Second, when i was 16 i was at an anime convention, a friendly acquaintance of mine and i ended up in conversation outside, and he showed me his bare wrist and told me he'd been kicked out. A female friend of his had stepped in dog poop outside, and between that and the stress of the convention she'd had a bit of an emotional breakdown, so being her friend, he started comforting her and ushered her into the women's restroom so they could wash the poop off her shoe together. And because he was a man who went into the women's bathroom, he got kicked out, no matter that he was doing something that was actually beneficial to a woman. Punishing a woman's friend for supporting her was supposed to... protect her somehow? This made it clear to me that a no-exceptions rule separating the sexes like that wasn't actually inherently good for everyone.

And this isn't even getting into me as a child needing to accompany my younger sister to the restroom when we were out with just my dad because she had certain support needs past the age he felt comfortable bringing her into the men's room with him. And what if I'd been born a boy, or she'd been the first born? Who's helping her then?

And of course even putting all this aside, we should always prioritize compassion and support anyway. But i never even needed to meet a trans person to know that "keeping men out of women's bathrooms" is silly nonsense. But trans people also need to pee anyway and as humans they have that right, so leave them the fuck alone. your precious women's restroom is just a fucking room with a door, holy shit give it a fucking rest, if someone is attacking you in the bathroom that's bad and if someone is in there to pee that's good and it doesn't fucking matter what their junk is or was when they were born.

a woman could have done the exact same thing to my PE teacher and it would have also been bad no matter how "supposed" to be in the restroom she was, and no one should ever be punished for helping a crying friend wash their shoe.

Anyway i know I'm speaking to like-minded folks here, i just think about those two stories literally every time bathroom gender shit comes up and it pisses me off.

[gor3sigil]

Before starting T, when I socially transitionned, I was surrounded by radical feminists who saw masculinity as gross and inherently evil, something to avoid, something to make fun of, something to destroy. The other transmascs in my friend group, sometimes, told me that they didn’t knew if they really were non-binary or if they just were scared shitless of saying “I am a man”. Because they saw this as a betrayal to their younger self who had been SAd and abused.

I saw many of my masc friends and trans men around me hate themselves, not outing themselves as men because it would imply so so much, it was like opening the Pandora Box. Even when we were just together, talking about our masculinity was always coated with bits like “I know we’re the privileged ones but…”, “I don’t want to sound like I have it bad but…”, “Women obviously have it worse, but last time…” and we were talking about terrible traumas we experienced while taking all the precautions in the world in the case the walls were a crowd of people in disguise waiting to get us if we didn’t downplay the violence we faced, or like crying and being upset and being traumatized and afraid and scared and to say it out loud would make us throw up the needles we were forced to swallow every second of every day living in our skin.

Most of us weren’t on T yet, some of us were catcalled every day and harassed in the streets or in abusive relationships nobody seemed to care to help them get out of because they were “strong enough” to do it by themselves.

I was using the gender swap face app and cried for ours when I saw my father looking back at me through the screen. The idea of transforming, of shedding into a body that would deprive me of love, tenderness, and safety, was absolutely terrifying. I knew I couldn’t stay in this body any longer because it wasn’t mine, but I also knew that if I was going to look like my dad, my brother, my abusers, it would be so much worse.

5 years later and I’m almost 2 years on T, and almost 2 months post top surgery.

I ditched my previous group of friends. I was bullied out of my local trans community. But let me tell you how free I am.

I was scared that T would break my singing voice: it made it sound more alive than ever.

I was scared that T would make me less attractive: it made me find myself hot for the first time in my life.

I was scared that T would make me gain weight: it did. But the weight I put on is not the weight I used to put on by binging and eating my body until I forgot that it even existed. It’s the weight of my body belonging to me, little by little. The wolf hunger for life.

I won’t tell you the same story I see everywhere, the one that goes “I started going to the gym 8 times a week, I put on some muscles, I started a diet and now I look like an action film actor”, in fact if you took pictures of me from 5 years ago vs now I’d just have more acne, I’d have longer hair and still look like I don’t know what to do with myself when I take selfies.

But the sparkle in my eyes, my smile, tell the whole story way better than this long ass stream of words could ever.

I want to say some things that I wish someone told me before starting medically transitionning.

It’s okay to take your time. It’s your body, it’s your journey, if you don’t feel comfortable taking full doses and want to go slow, the only voice you need to listen to is your own. Do what feels right.

If you feel overwhelmed, it’s okay to take a break, it’s okay to ask for support.

Trans people are holy. Everyone is. You didn’t lose your angel wings when you came out because you want to be masculine. You are not excluded from the joy of existence, from being proud of yourself, from being sad, from being scared, from being angry. The emotions and feelings you allowed yourself to feel while processing what you experienced when you grew up as a girl and was seen as a woman are still as valid as before. Nobody can take that from you. If someone tries to, don’t let them.

It’s perfectly normal to grieve some things you were and had before you started to transition, like your high soprano voice or even your chest. Hatching is painful. You can find comfort in things that don’t feel right, so making the decision to change can be incredibly scary and weird and you deserve to be heard and supported through this. Wanting top surgery doesn’t make the surgery less intense, less terrifying, less painful to recover from. When it becomes too much you have the right to take a break and take some deep breaths before going on.

You don’t have to have a radical, 180° change for your transition to be acceptable or valid or worthy of praise. Look at how far you’ve come already. It doesn’t have to show, you’re not made to be a spectacle, you’re human and it is your journey.

Oh, and last thing, you know when some people say “Oh this trans person has to grow out of the cringy phase where you think that you can write essays about being trans or transitionning or just their experience because it’s weird” ? If you ever hear this or see this online, remember all the people whose writing you read and, even if they were not professional writers, helped you more than any theorists did ? If you want to write, do it. It won’t be a waste. It can help people. Or it won’t, and even then, if it helped you, that’s enough.

Love every of my trans siblings, take care of yourselves. You deserve the world.

[valiant-portabella-pirkko]

listening to my Tideturners playlist was a mistake because I am having SO many feelings about the Sidewinder again.

she's not just any AU of Mai Trin; she's a version who's endured the absolute worst case scenario and lives every day in fear of losing everything all over again. but her story flips the entire narrative of Guild Wars 2 on its head; it's all a matter of perspective, and hers comes from an entirely different angle than we're used to.

what is a monster? as they say, to a bird, a cat is a monster.

the Sidewinder's monster is the Commander.

the first Commander she ever met was a tyrant who set the world on fire just to watch it burn. nothing could stop his rampage until there was nothing left to destroy. he made Scarlet Briar's war look like a playground scuffle; in fact, he did it by killing her and seizing her army to do it with. the Sidewinder doesn't have to wonder what a rogue Commander is capable of at their worst. she KNOWS.

and she also knows that if even a single one knew about her outpost, about her, about her people, and decided they were a threat to get rid of, there's absolutely nothing she could do to stop them. the most she could hope to do is be enough of a speed bump that the rest of the Turnabout can escape and make her sacrifice worthwhile.

she's spent decades building up a new world, a new society, and a new identity-- and in a split second a single person could bring it all crashing down. that absolutely terrifies her. it's all so fragile.

a major part of the Sidewinder's personal arc has to do with overcoming that dread to find common ground. because, truth-be-told, much as she'd insist otherwise? she's not so different from the Commander herself. she's fought long and hard to become someone worthy of the trust and respect that so many refugees from so many, many different worlds have placed on her. it's not enough to have it, she wants to DESERVE it. and even if she'd claim she's not there yet, most would agree she's succeeded. she's the beating heart of the Turnabout; none of it would exist without her. she's given all of them the hope that the heroes of their own worlds couldn't.

Mai Trin never wanted to be a leader or a hero or a politician. but as the Sidewinder, she's become all three out of necessity. she had no other choice. no one else was left alive to do it in her place.

so she puts on her mask, and she steps onto the stage, and she talks big, but deep down she knows that if the worst case scenario came back, there was nothing she could do to protect them, not on her own. the only thing that might stand a chance is another Commander, and is she really prepared to take a risk like that? is she willing to put it all on the line to fight for a future without fear?

and even if they are the right choice, even if they do agree to help in spite of it all... can she put one of the last good people at risk, knowing just what horrors they'd be up against? facing someone who's killed others like them a hundred times over, allowing them no rest even in death as their shambling corpses are conscripted into his undead army? how can she, in good conscience, expect anyone to face something so horrific with stakes as high as THAT? which is worse; that they turn against her, or that they trust her and die, adding another force of nature to their enemies' ranks? the Sidewinder doesn't know the answer to that question, if there is one.

there's so much weight on every choice she must make, and the consequences of every wrong move are unfathomable. she might not be the Commander, but that, at least, is one thing they have in common. the decisions they make will decide who lives and who dies.

all the Sidewinder can hope is that when she finally does make that leap of faith, she'll be ready to handle whatever results lay in store.

[bucketbueckers]

SUPERSTAR

pairing: paige bueckers x fem!reader

content: party!p being drunk and clingy and a maybe a little annoying, fluff without plot, the fuck ass net, language, the authors love language is physical touch and you can really tell

wc: 3.0k

synopsis: Paige Bueckers is a lightweight. Knowing that, you really shouldn’t have been all too surprised by the post-win afterparty.

notes: obligatory post natty fic?? i say yes! cooking one up for azzi too, idk when it will get posted but expect it soon. i dont care how much homework i have to procrastinate. side note, watching them play live was such a surreal experience, i'm still thinking about it and there are so many emotions that i can't put into words. they deserved this win so bad and i love my team so much 😩 i also wrote the second half of this while watching the men’s natty and all i have to say is im a misandrist and go huskies! as always i hope y'all enjoy 🫶

You liked to think that you were an expert in a few niche categories.

The first is basketball. You grew up listening to the reverb of the bounce echoing in the gym. You learned how to dribble before you learned how to multiply. More often than not, you could usually tell when a shot was going into the net as soon as it left your hands. This is all to say you were pretty decent at basketball, although you’re sure that dropping a modest fourteen points in the national championship match and taking home the trophy makes you a little more than decent at ball.

Basketball aside, you weren’t lacking in the skills department. KK jokes that you and Carol share the title as the moms of the group since you’re so good at conflict resolution – although you prefer the term “trying to keep everyone alive.” More often than not, you’ll find Morgan standing at your door with a bag of groceries in hand, a wide smile on her lips in hopes that you’ll cook her dinner because, according to her, you just make the best carbonara she’s ever had. You’ve never been good at saying no to Morgan – she was yours and Aubrey’s shared freshman and after her surgery, you’ve made a point of spending as much time with her as possible because you can tell she’s not having an easy time with watching everyone play while she’s on the sidelines.

The one thing that you’re certain you’re an expert in is Paige Bueckers. You know her inside and out and on and off the court. The two of you started as rivals in high school, although your friendship truly blossomed during AAU competitions and Team USA where you had to play together. The distance and the competition kept the both of you from being anything more than friends, but when the both of you committed to UConn without the other knowing, Paige asked you out after the first summer practice and you were sure that you were a goner when she ran into a pole trying to spin a ball on her finger in an attempt to impress you. You grew up together, saw the best and the worst parts that came with dating an athlete, and stuck it through until the end – you even used your COVID eligibility to stay one extra year with her. Whether the universe wanted it or not, the two of you were going to win a natty together, damn it; and win it you did.

Which leads you to where you are now. You’re an expert in Paige Bueckers. There’s not a single thing you don’t know about her, just like there’s not a single thing she doesn’t know about you. That’s why you knew you were doomed when, during the group picture, she exclaimed “We get a parade! And we get to get drunk!” The thing about Paige is that she’s a D1 clinger when she’s plastered. She’s loud and annoyingly charming and honestly, you’re so in love with her that you’re not bothered by it. You’d hold her hair back while she vomited for the rest of your life as long as it meant the two of you were together for it. You just knew she’d be inconsolable and grumpy in the morning when she’s hungover, but after five years of blood, sweat, tears, surgery, rehab, and hardwork, your girlfriend has just won a national championship, so if she wants to get a little plastered and sing at the top of her lungs, then you have no real reason to do anything but ensure she gets back to your room safely.

A few minutes after the conclusion of the net cutting ceremony, you’re taking a few more photos with the trophy in your hands, your hat tucked neatly over your head when Paige comes over. The photographer leaves you two be as Paige reaches for the brim of your hat, turning it backwards to match hers. She’s got that soft, mischievous, slightly wide-eyed look on her face as she looks at you and you can’t help but melt at it. You can tell from her expression that it hasn’t fully set in that she’s won a natty, but you know it’ll hit her later.

“You want something or are you just here to annoy me?” you ask teasingly, handing the trophy off to Ice, who’s taking selfies. You reach out to adjust the net around Paige’s neck as she responds.

“What, I can’t come say hi to my girl?” she goads, the look on her face far too pleased. One of the other things you knew about Paige Bueckers after so many years together was that she loves attention. Specifically, from you, and you can tell that she loves how easily you handed off the trophy to focus fully on her.

“Hello,” you deadpan, which just makes her smirk.

“I ever tell you how proud I am of you?” she asks, shocking you slightly, and heat rises to your cheeks as you try to process the sudden praise.

You blink, rolling your eyes slightly, but the fond smile on your face gives you away. Your girlfriend curls her arm over your shoulders as she leads you through the crowd towards the tunnel. “C’mon, P. I should be saying that to you.”

“Nah,” she disagrees. “You brought us back in the second quarter with those threes.”

You shrug a shoulder, feigning nonchalance. “I did see Coach Staley crashing out when I was getting back on defense.” That makes Paige laugh a little, pulling you flush into her. “I’m serious, though. I’m proud of you, you know?” The two of you slow to a stop once you’re safely away from the cameras and the onlookers, so you turn towards her, resting your hands on her chest and threading your fingers through the net around her neck. “You just…you don’t know how special you are. As a person, a player, a teammate. You’ve been the heart and soul of this team, Paige. You’re here now. And you did it.” You give a teasing tug to the net, watching the affectionate smile spread across her lips, the tears pooling at her waterline again. “You deserve every bit of this.”

“We can be proud of each other,” she suggests. “But I’m definitely prouder than you.”

“You’re full of shit,” you say fondly, patting her cheek. “You’re lucky I love you.”

“I really am,” she agrees, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to your lips, one that makes you smile, and one that lasts not nearly long enough because KK walks by and gags dramatically. You raise a middle finger to her as she cackles. Paige laughs against you, too, wrapping her arms around your waist and sinking into your embrace instead. You rub her back, feeling her relax against you, and you kiss her head over the hat.

“I don’t suppose this means you’re gonna behave tonight?” you ask jokingly, already knowing that Party P will be in full effect.

She scoffs like you’ve just said something egregious. “I’m always on my best behavior,” she declares, and all you can truly do is smile and roll your eyes. You know.

The moment Paige finds the ping-pong table, you know it’s wraps.

She’s only a few shots in, but Paige Bueckers is a lightweight. You learned that much when you were both freshmen and you convinced one of the upperclassmen on the team to buy you drinks at Ted’s. Paige was laid out in the bathroom by 10pm and the two of you went home early. You spent the better part of the morning after tending to her hangover, but you’d told her to slow down, so everytime she whined that her head hurt you simply said, “I told you so” (although you felt bad enough for her that you rubbed her back for a few hours until the ache subsided).

Paige is playing one on one with Sarah – mind you, she’s still wearing that fuck ass net, but it’s a little endearing by this point. It reminds you of a little kid who can’t go anywhere without their emotional support blanket. Somehow, you’ve been roped in to being the referee, and as much as you tried to argue that ping-pong didn’t really need a referee, Paige was already inching into that clingy state of being drunk, so she’d just pulled you along and planted a wet, obnoxious kiss to your cheek as she steadied her paddle, unmistakable confidence in her expression.

At first, it’s tame. You watch the ball bounce back and forth between the two of them, still nursing a drink of your own. You alternate between saying Point, Sarah, or Point, Paige. Sarah, in typical Sarah fashion, hardly reacts, although Paige is either crashing out or celebrating every point like it’s another natty win. You weren’t too sure where she got the whole “nonchalant final boss” thing from, but it definitely was not true.

A few rounds later, a small crowd has formed, and she takes a breather to sidle up next to you. She wraps an arm around your waist and leans into you, taking a sip from your drink (much to your amusement), her expression is unbearably blissed out. Paige has a soft look on her face, her eyes a little hooded, but beyond the clear drunkenness, you can see a whole lot of love reflected in her eyes, an appreciation for tonight’s win. “You having fun, baby?” you ask her, a grin on your face.

She hums, tightening her grip, uncaring of the way Ice and KK are laughing at her. Paige pulls back suddenly, concern and slight guilt on her face. “Are you?” she echoes, like it would physically pain her if you weren’t enjoying your night. Knowing her, it probably would.

You laugh a little, rubbing your hand down her back, adjusting the cap on her head because it’s about to fall off from all of the bouncing around she’s done. “I am, don’t worry,” you say honestly.

“Good,” she murmurs, kissing you soundly. Without another word, she extracts herself from your grip and gears up for the next few rounds of ping pong with Sarah. She catches your eye and winks. “This one’s for you, baby,” she promises.

The serve immediately sails out of bounds. You try not to laugh too hard when you say, “Point, Sarah.”

“Shit,” Paige states.

“I think you’re supposed to keep the ball in bounds,” Sarah says helpfully.

“I got distracted,” Paige argues. “Didn’t count. 0-0.”

“It’s 1-0 for Sarah,” you call out, taking your job very seriously. You ignore the pout Paige sends your way, as if a pretty face would make you give up your refereeing integrity. It won’t.

Paige and Sarah take turns hitting the ping pong ball. You stay focused, although Paige’s expression endlessly amuses you. Her brows are furrowed, concentrated as she follows the ball, her movements strangely coordinated and precise for someone who’s a few shots in. Then, Ice announces she’s on live, which distracts Sarah, and Paige scores an easy point on her. Immediately, she launches into a celebration, chanting something that sounds like “Little Rah.” You and Sarah exchange a glance. A smile spreads across your face as you announce, “Foul on Paige. Unsportsmanlike conduct. Point, Sarah.”

Paige spins on her heel immediately. “Bruh, what?” she exclaims. “How was that unsportsmanlike? Since when does ping pong even have foul calls?”

“Careful, Lil Paigey,” Sarah says somberly, although her lips twitch like she’s trying to hold back a smile. “Arguing with the ref can get you a tech. Just ask DT.”

“Bruh,” Paige says again, looking at you pleadingly, like you can take away the egregious foul call you just made on your girlfriend. “Babe, come on. You know this is bull–” you raise a brow at her and she falters, “–crap. Bullcrap.”

You grin when you say, “2-0, Sarah.”

Paige stares at you like you’ve just betrayed her. You can tell she’s not actually upset, but she’s competitive more than anything. She takes a deep breath and reaches for her paddle again.

For the rest of your round, you do your best to throw Paige off her game, ranging from rolling up your sleeve as you pretend to inspect your conveniently flexed bicep or making increasingly more bullshit calls. You award Sarah a point for having a double double in the natty and subtract one point from Paige’s total because she had one turnover (you ignore her when she points out that Sarah had two turnovers, like that’s any of your business).

Finally, you call it at 15-9 in Sarah’s favor because you can tell the drinks are catching up to Paige. It’s already well past midnight and your flight back to Storrs tomorrow morning is early and you know Paige is going to have a rough morning. She pouts when you tell her that you’re taking her back to the room, but she knows it’s for the best so she makes her rounds, hugging everyone in the room and refuses to part with the net when KK reaches for it. Paige tangles your fingers together, not letting a single inch of space separate the two of you as she rambles on about how you and Sarah were most definitely cheating (you were).

When you make it back to the hotel room, you guide Paige into the bathroom, squeezing toothpaste onto her brush and pulling her hair tie out while she cleans her teeth. “I’mma be so sick tomorrow,” she complains, spitting, and scrubbing again as you reach for your toothbrush.

“That’s why you’re gonna take some medicine before you sleep,” you tell her. “And in the morning. And I’ll get you some coffee.”

“You’re the best,” she whispers, rinsing her mouth out. She stands behind you and wraps her arms around your waist, burying her head in your neck. Her breath tickles your skin as she tries to melt into you. She behaves like she’d die if she wasn’t under your skin, but you love your clingy girl just the same. “I’on know what I’d do without you. Like, for real. I wouldn’t be here without you, y’know that?”

“You’d still be here. Just a little less house trained, I think,” you promise her. Paige laughs against your skin, amused, as if she knew that’s what you would say. “But I’m glad you didn’t have to do it alone.” That makes her soften, her hands trailing under your shirt to brush against your skin. “You never have to do it alone as long as I’m here.”

“I know,” she says, kissing your neck tenderly. She squeezes you around your waist, then releases you, her gaze a little sleepy and hazy.

You offer her a grin, reaching for her hand. “Let’s get you to bed, superstar.” She nods and trails behind you. You flick on the lamp as she gets settled into bed. Paige tugs meaningfully at the net around her neck and you laugh, shaking her head. “You’ll choke and die in your sleep,” you deadpan. “I’d really like it if my girlfriend made it through the night.”

Paige juts out her bottom lip, grumbling under her breath as you pull the net off, draping it over the desk chair. You take the hat from her and set it on the nightstand, brushing your fingers through her hair as her eyes slip shut in relaxation. Before she can get too comfortable, you pass her a water bottle and the tylenol, which she takes without complaint.

Once she’s finally settled, you crawl into bed next to her. She wastes no time before wrapping you up, drawing you into her body and tucking her face into the crook of your neck and breathing soundly. You’d thought it would take some time before Paige would realize that she just won a natty, but now, it’s sinking in for you. You’re a national champion. So is your girlfriend. You’ve accomplished the very goal that you came back to UConn to seek out. You’re overcome with this heavy feeling of peace, gratitude, an overwhelming amount of love and admiration for the woman who put the team on her back when she needed to, who took a step back to let her team do their thing when needed to. Most of all, you’re overcome with a feeling of belonging, the feeling that you’re right where you’re supposed to be, wrapped in Paige’s arms like you’re more important to her than the trophy.

You think she’s fallen asleep until she murmurs, still slightly in awe, “We did it.” Her hand tightens around the fabric of your shirt, her voice exhausted and dripping with something that sounds like accomplishment.

Your fingers brush her knuckles, a smile of your own spreading across your face as you agree, “We did.”

You can feel the smile she presses against your skin, the subsequent kiss that follows. “I love you,” she murmurs. “Thank you for doing this with me.”

You don’t think you could be anywhere else. You lift her hand to your lips, kissing her knuckles, and she squeezes you one more time as you whisper, “I love you, too.”

When the two of you wake up that morning, you have her coffee ready and you make sure she takes her medicine to keep the headache away. And when she looks at you hopefully, holding up the net and the hat, you really don’t have it in you to protest.

You place the net around her neck again and you tuck the wisps of her hair under her hat, pressing your lips to hers, and she hugs you tightly with an emotion that feels a hell of a lot like relief. You know she’s relieved for a lot of reasons, but the top reason stems from a deep thankfulness that the both of you were able to win the national championship together, just as you’d spent years dreaming about.

Paige grins at you again, her expression adoring, and you know that what the two of you have is worth a whole lot more than the trophy you’ll be transporting to Storrs.

[luveline]

Pls reader who’s always wanted a baby but is too scared to ask hotch to have one with her — he’s his usual understanding self and also whipped and nearly cries cos he gets all emotional?

—you and Aaron misunderstand one another. fem, 2k

You debate yourself for weeks, on and off, alone or with company, and aided by the internet. 

Is it okay to want a baby when you have a step kid? Does really wanting a baby mean I don’t like the first one? Your search engine spits out forums and web articles alike that say the same things —of course it’s okay. Wanting another kid doesn’t mean you don’t love your first; craving to be a mom to a baby doesn’t mean you don’t love Jack, even though he had his own mom when he was a youngster. 

You read a little about it. Books recommended by the articles, and stories from women who became step-moms to children with mothers who had heartbreakingly passed away. It’s a guilty thing to be the mom or stepmom to a child who’s natural mom has died. You might always feel cruel for stealing her moments, for loving her ex husband, and raising her baby. But Jack isn't just someone’s baby, he’s Jack, and you don’t think you could’ve helped yourself. You would’ve loved him no matter what. 

Once you’ve worked past two different types of guilt, you’re crushed by your reality. Jack is nearly nine years old. Your husband isn’t exactly spry. Like, there’s nothing wrong with him (besides a stomach full of scar tissue and partial deafness in one ear), but he’s not a spring chicken, either, and he seems content with your life. In what world would he want to change diapers again? 

The same world where he gets to kiss a little cheek, you think hopefully. Where you get to make it together. Maybe… he loves you enough to try, even if it’s not something he’s pictured. 

You settle, and you decide to be brave. You’ll ask Aaron to have a baby with you, and you won’t feel guilty. 

You realise you can’t face the answer, is all. If he says no it’s gonna break your heart. If you never ask you’ll never get one, unless it’s an accident, and that’s not a good idea, either, you’d never purposefully want a baby to find out later on that the dad doesn’t want them, even if you’d be enough. You know you’d be a good mom, and that you could deal with things alone. There’s an avenue you could take where you have your baby no matter what, it’s your life. 

If only you didn’t love Aaron as much as you do. The idea of being without him is a horror you don’t want to contend with. 

Aaron can sense your constant mental back-and-forth, though he hasn’t guessed what it’s about yet. If you give him time he might get there on his own. He watches you thinking and he wraps a hand around your leg. Weird thing to do, but he’s not normal. He’s a gentleman mostly. Rare moments like this betray his character, how he loves you, pulling your leg toward him and hugging it to his chest despite a strange angle.

“Honey,” he begins softly. 

“Not tonight, I have a headache.” 

“That’s not funny,” he says, smiling, “you know you don’t have to say anything else besides no.” 

“Can’t imagine being with someone who needs a reason,” you say, softly as he had as you lay back against a minky cushion, “‘m lucky my love’s such a gentleman.” 

“You can’t deflect all night.” 

“I was only kidding. Take my pants off and we’ll–” You gasp a laugh as he squeezes your thigh. “Shit, don’t do that!” 

“You don’t have to be so crass about everything,” he says, joking. And people would tell you he has no sense of humour. “I’m trying to ask if you’re okay. I know you’re dodging the question, but I was gonna persuade you.” 

“Oh, yeah?” you ask, letting your knees tip apart, punished by another awful squeeze. 

“Honey.” He kisses your knee. Your heart is pressed on from all sides. “I just want to know what’s upsetting you lately. I can tell it’s important, but I can’t work out what it is.” 

“It’s not. Not important, I mean.” 

“I’ve been putting my mind to it. There aren’t many things that could take up this much of your attention. I worried you might’ve been chafing with Jack, but you’re as sweet on him as usual. I worried you might be having second thoughts about us, but you’re not. You’re too careful with your wedding ring to have me think you don’t love me, and–” He rubs at your leg. “You’re as tactile as ever. You aren’t drawing away from us. I don’t want to think about it, but I’m worried you’re sick or something similar and you aren’t telling me.” 

“Fuck, I’m sorry,” you say, startling you both, “please don’t worry, I’m not sick.“ 

“You’re alright?” he asks. 

“I’m about as healthy as I usually am.” 

“But?” 

You can’t not tell him. You’re married. He loves you. While you’ve driven yourself crazy wondering how much, he’s been worrying you’re poorly. It’s unfair, and you can’t do it much longer. 

“I have been thinking about something for a while,” you confess. 

“And a lot.” 

“Yeah. I think about it every day.” 

Aaron turns your face to his. You’d have to change positions to kiss, your leg firmly locked in his grasp. He doesn’t lean in, holding your eye with a seriousness rarely given at home. He looks as though he’s had a long day. “I can’t think of anything you could say to me that I wouldn’t still love you by the end,” he says quietly. 

“It’s not about love.” 

“Why wouldn’t it be?” 

“Because there are things we won’t agree on.” 

“I can’t agree if you don’t tell me what you’re thinking,” he says. 

“I know. I’m not not telling you because you aren’t allowed to disagree with me, I’m just scared.” 

“Scared?” he asks, frowning now, that square wrinkle at his brow deeply carved. 

You have to build yourself up for a long time before you can say what you want to say out loud. He waits in the quiet, his expression impossible to read. 

“You know how much I love Jack.” 

Aaron’s hands are still on your leg. “Of course.”

“And how much I love you.” 

His lips part, but he doesn’t speak. There’s a dawning understanding on his face as he stops touching you, his hands falling to his lap resoundingly. “What’s going on?” he asks. 

You aren’t encouraged by his response. 

He doesn’t want a baby. Saying it is admitting to a difference between you both, one that might make him angry. You’ve never had him angry with you.

Usually, if he noticed your flicker of fear, he’d have rushed to correct it, but Aaron does nothing now. He simply waits. 

“I wanted to ask you to have a baby with me,” you say quietly, watching him for an emotion and finding him with a blankness he’s practised over years. You’ve no hope of discerning him. “But I don’t think you’ll say yes. I’m sorry. I just want it.” 

He swallows roughly. “Oh.” 

“I know it’s not something we’ve talked about much.” 

His hands return. His fingers slip up your calf until it’s trapped in the hinge of your knee, pulling your thigh to his chest. Hip to hip as you are, you’d think it would be uncomfortable, but he’s gentle. He leans down to rest his cheek against your knee. For a moment, you’re his to look at, squirming with nerves and depressed to have disappointed him. You fight the urge to run. 

“For a second I thought you were about to tell me you’d cheated on me,” he says under his breath. 

You startle. “What?” 

“You looked so sorry, my mind went straight to the worst. You looked like you knew you were about to hurt me.” 

His sincerity is aching. 

“I could never do that.”

“I know, I’m sorry for entertaining it…” He picks up his head. “I never thought you’d be scared to talk to me about anything. It was the only thing I could think of that you might’ve done wrong.” 

“I thought you were angry about the baby.” 

“Is there… a baby?” he asks tentatively. 

“No.” You rub the painful throb between your eyes. “No, there isn’t a baby. I just meant you’d be angry at me for asking. Disrupting our life.” 

“You think you’re disrupting us by expressing what you want?” 

“It’s a big thing.” 

“Can I put you out of your misery?” He turns to take your face into his hand. “I would never be angry with you for wanting something, especially a baby. And I can tell how much this has worried you, so while I can’t promise the answer is uncomplicated, I’m happy to say yes to you. If you want a baby and you want that with me, of course I’ll say yes.” 

“Jack–”

“Honey, you’re thinking too much about Jack. Children have siblings. It doesn’t mean you don’t love them. Is that why you brought him up first?” 

You look away, ashamed to be read. “Sometimes I wish you didn’t know everything.” 

“Honey, I don’t.” 

Your smile is unbidden and somehow deeply felt at the same time, chancing a happy look at him. He’s smiling too. “You’re serious? You’d have a baby with me?” 

He turns into you even more, raising his remaining hand to your opposite cheek, holding you sweetly, putting you nose to nose. “I wish you’d asked me before you worried yourself sick. I would love to have a baby with you, sweetheart. I didn’t realise it was something you wanted already.” 

“I want it with you,” you say, matching his low tone. 

“And I want it with you. How couldn’t I?” 

You fight the sudden heat of tears, your heart pounding in your ears. ”I figured Jack is growing up, you’re so busy, and things have only now calmed down–” 

“Who cares?” he asks, laughing. 

“I thought you might.” 

“I’m sure I will, but not right now. You want a baby?” He gives your head the gentlest squeeze between his hands. “Sweetheart. You want to have a baby?” 

“Yeah, I do.” 

“Then let’s have a baby.” Aaron’s shaking his head, pulling you in, his lips glancing off of your cheek as he hugs you tighter than he ever has. You lose all the breath in your lungs. 

“Don’t hurt me,” you tease, relaxing for the first time in weeks in his arms, “or I won’t be able to have one.” 

“I could never hurt you like that,” he says easily. “Oh, sweetheart.” He says your name. He says it again. 

All that fuss for nothing. You confess on a high, “I want one so bad I don’t know what to do with myself half the time, I– I went to the mall a few days ago to look at the baby stuff, just to look, and I wanted to ask you when I got home but I lost my nerve.” 

“You did?” 

“Yeah, I even picked up this little babygrow with flowers on the feet but–” You fluster at the memory. “Sorry, that’s so weird.” 

“It’s not weird.” He encourages you away with another rough swallow and scares you half to death —if he cries, you’re gonna sob. His eyes are definitely glassy. “We should go, you can show me.” 

“Really?” 

“We have to start preparing at some point, right?” 

You climb onto your knees and vault on top of him, arms around his neck, no chance he can get away. He takes it like a champ, returning your ecstatic laughter with a more content chuckle, a big hand spreading out protectively over your shoulder.

A baby, you think, unaware that Aaron’s thinking the exact same thing, with the same reverent warmth growing in his chest. A baby.