#this was based on guts heheh

[angelmaking]

got the soul coin sillies

[gyusrose]

➵ i still get jealous -> y. jw

⚠︎ smut ! (mdni)

✎ toxic!jungwon, unprotected sex, degrading, dirty talk, face-fucking, angry sex

summary: you’ve been friends with jake for as long as you can remember, jungwon shouldn’t feel insecure about him, right?

wc: 1.5k

{ jungwon x fem.reader}

( i got inspired by that one question they asked won in the fan meet hehehe)

“wonie? wonie? is everything alright?” jungwon gripped the steering wheel locking his jaw. of course he wasn’t alright.

you’ve spent the entire night (according to him) on your phone texting that fucker. it’s always ‘jake this’ ‘jake that’ he’s starting to feel a certain way about this dude.

jungwon shook his head at your question, not trying to start arguing while he’s driving.

“you’re just awfully silent, is something bothering you? do you feel sick?”

jungwon rolled his eyes at your naiveness, you pretty much ignored him (again according to him) the whole night.

“i don’t know, maybe ask jake how he feels.” there. he said it, well.. spatted.

you instantly rolled your eyes, he’s back at it again.

“don’t start, you know exactly what’s between me and jake.”

“are you sure ? you were giggling on the phone the whole night!”

“i answered one 3-minute call! that’s it! do you not trust me ?”

“i sometimes feel like i don’t, you barely talked to me, it always jake jake jake jake.”

your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. where was he getting all of this from?

jungwon was in fact wrong. you didn’t ignore him nor talked with jake the whole night. you answers ONE call from him and then turned off your phone to give jungwon all your undivided attention. but jungwon like always, overthinks everything.

“at this point just date him.” at this point jungwon was furious.

“oh stop being ridiculous jungwon!”

“oh i’m ridiculous ? alright we’ll see.”

the rest of the ride was quiet, you didn’t have the guts to respond to jungwon after what he said. your breath quickened, for some reason you felt..nervous?

jungwon threw his keys on the counter as y’all entered the apartment.

he pulled you into the bedroom in a blink of an eye, gripping your neck, so you’re looking at him straight in the eye.

“i’m gonna fucking teach you, not to be such a little slut, i’m the only man you should talk to, am i right?”

you nodded quickly.

“use your words”

“yes, yes jungwon only you.”

he let go of your neck, now stripping from his clothes, you went along with his steps and took your own clothes off.

“on your knees baby.”

he said stroking his dick in front of you.

“you know what to do.” you grabbed his base and licked the tip slowly. feeling the urge to tease him.

jungwon groaned at your actions. grabbing your chin.

“nuh uh, open wide, i see what you’re trying to do.” you opened up your mouth while he grabbed hair into a ponytail. his hips thrusted up inside your mouth as he pushed your head down onto his cock. pretty much fucking the hell out of your face.

jungwon’s eyes closed in pleasure as he continued to furiously thrust into your mouth, the feeling of tagging drove him over the edge, the way your throat closes made his dick twitch.

“fuck yeah, that’s right, keep that mouth open for me whore. “

at some point you couldn’t take it anymore and started moaning into his dick sending vibrations through it.

he finally pulled out of your mouth, not wanting to cum so easily. you were just adjusting your breathing when you felt being thrown into the bed.

“are you tired already ? i haven’t even fucked you yet, how pathetic.” she said shaking his head in disappointment.

without any warning, he inserted two of his long fingers into your cunt, making your back arch at the sudden sensation. he purposely went really slow, loving to see how stressed you’d get. lifting your hips up a little to go faster.

jungwon held your hips still, smacking the inside of your thigh, making you squirm.

“you think i’m going to let you do what you want?” his fingers still thrusting into you curling them inside.

you moaned loudly, wanting to be filled up already.

“please jungwon, fuck me, just fuck me!”

jungwon chuckled, this is how he wanted to see you, begging for him only him.

“so desperate for my dick, you fucking love it don’t you?” he said looking straight at you.

you could barely form a sentence but you managed to.

“yes please wonie just fill me up, i need you.” jungwon didn’t want to give in so easily but fuck was that so hard to do when you’re looking at him with those eyes begging to be fucked.

he retracted his fingers from you and instead lined himself up with your entrance. the wetness from his dick and your pussy was more than enough lube.

he dragged his dick up and down your pussy making you whine.

finally, he slowly entered you. nothing could be compared to the feeling of being inside of you. the way your pussy engrossed his cock almost made him cum on the spot.

jungwon wasted almost no time and started slamming into you with no mercy, your cries could probably be heard from blocks away.

the bed squeaked with every thrust he stirred.

“oh fuck jungwon, just like that fuck yes!” he knew how to drive you crazy, knowing exactly where to hit in your insides.

“mhm yeah? you like that? can jake fuck you like this? can he?” he grabbed your chin straight at him. normally you would roll your eyes at his remarks over your best friend but how hot it looked right now.

wanting to tease him more, you nodded your head.

“i don’t know maybe, he could probably go faster..” jungwon was appalled.

his thrusts weee enraged. you could feel how infuriated he was with every one of them. it was amazing.

“oh you think? can he make you feel like this? huh?” his hand lowered to your pussy, rubbing your clit in circular motion making you hips snap at the impact it had on your body.

you whines, moaned and groaned at all once.

“answer me!”

“no-shit - not he can’t.” with the speed he was going at, jungwon was dying for this view, you tits bouncing up at every thrust, he couldn’t help but lean down to suck and fondle them.

your hands reached down to his hair, gripping it not wanting him to pull away from them.

jungwon pulled away from your nipple and leaned back to his original position. now putting your legs over his shoulder in order to go even deeper (if possible) .

“only i can see you like this, you get that slut? no one, specifically jake can.”

“yes only you baby, fuck i’m gonna cum!” tears could be seen streaming down your face from the immense amount of pleasure you were receiving. jungwon wiped your tears then leaned down engulfing you in a deep kiss. his tongue swirled around yours, it felt like everything all at once. lust, love, anger, compassion.

“who’s pussy is this huh? tell me.”

“i’m cumming holy shit.”

“do not cum! tell me answer my question! who’s pussy is this?”

the ecstasy from the pleasure but now the urge to cum made your mind numb. barely forming a sentence.

“yours jungwon.” you said quietly, sure he heard it but he wasn’t content with it.

“i can’t hear you!” jungwon leaned closer to you. smirking. he wanted to cum so bad, but he wanted to hear you say that before it.

“yours jungwon! all yours to fuck.” you said much louder this time, the stress visible in your voice.

that’s all it took jungwon to come undone inside of you.

“fuck cum with me baby, cum all over my dick.” your orgasm mixed with his meant a furor of moans echoing around the bedroom.

jungwon pulled out of you before plopping right next to you, hugging your waist.

“tell that fucker to not call you so much.” you chuckled and kissed his lips knowing damn well that you’ll probably do it again in order to have this side of jungwon again.

[madelynraemunson]

Married au with Rockstar!Eddie where he's just a man STARVED when he goes home from tour. LIKEEEE, he's just a needy husband in need of reader's loving and he's been lacking just that for months now ☹️☹️☹️ (please the Eddie brainrot is consuming my every being.)

☆ The Crawl ☆

rockstar!eddie munson x housewife!afab!reader

CW: 18+ obvs, needy, pathetic sub eddie, dom-ish afab reader, dick riding, cum eating, dirty talkin’ nasty goodness, eddie literally crawling towards us 🫠🫠, facial, implied unprotected p in v sex, dribbler!eddie

author's note: this is my first time writing sub!dribbler!eddie hehehe eds is usually a dom!shooter in my universe. i hope you all enjoy!!! 💌

WC: 686 words

“Need you to have your way with me, sweetheart…need you to use me…Can’t take it anymore. Please."

You meet your husband's desperate gaze as he brushes his stiff cock against your thighs, prodding you for the sensual loving you had promised him when he was to come back from tour.

Craving every inch of your touch, the man is at your mercy. And that damn polaroid picture you sent him a few days ago? The damn polaroid of that pretty pussy of yours, your glistening folds spread apart by your perfectly manicured fingers, the white border holding space for the title, “all for you” signed by your rouge red lipstick? Eddie damn near kicked the tour bus driver out his seat to turn the vehicle back around himself.

But, of course, the show had to go on. And as stoked as Eddie was for Corroded Coffin's Rise of Kas Tour, nothing compares to being with you, wrapped up in your intimacy in the comfort of the home you two share.

And now 385 days later, you two are here.

“Need you to ride me dry…” he pleads. “Need both lips on my cock baby, he’s missed you so much…”

“Nuh uh,” you smirk, enjoying yourself just a little. “Not gonna do away with the flatteries just yet.”

“Fucking please, princess,” Eddie begs. “Been blue-balled all tour, you can’t do this to me.”

“Oh but I can.”

Hellbent and greedy, your smitten, pussy starved husband treads hopelessly towards you on all fours as you guide him to the bedroom.

Too many press photos and interviews. Too many groupies lining up outside the tour bus to claim their spots with Gareth, Grant, and Jeff. And far too many titties to sign, but Eddie knows he shouldn’t refuse, cuz since he built his brand off being a sex-crazed rockstar, rejecting the ladies would mark the end of his — very successful — career.

Too much of tour life on repeat. And never enough of you. And when he finally gets you, the whining only seems to intensify.

Your twinkling, cum-coated tits bounce in Eddie's face as you frantically taunt your clit with his wide, veiny cock. The sight of you tossing your head back, a mewling mess as he splits you open is enough to tug orgasms out of Eddie’s blissfully aching body. And as you clench around him, screams getting louder by the pump, his spewing tip begins to twitch with every jab into your guts.

“Oh baby…shit, mmfuck, ‘m so fucking sensitive baby, you have no idea.”

Your excitement pools at the base of his naval. Knowing he's not going to last all that long, Eddie whimpers at the sight, his photographic conscious saving the episodic eye-sore for a midday work flashback.

“I love you so much,” he moans. Your orgasm begins to splash around him with every bounce. "Missed your beautiful face. Missed your tight fucking pussy."

“I love you, sweet boy,” you hum. “Your dick makes me feel so good, Eddie, fuck. You’re not going anywhere.”

Eddie releases one strained groan before he loses control. Now completely shifting the roles, Eddie pins you into place as he probes for his finish, thrusting into you as the sweat rushes down his body, his full sack beating at your skin as you ride out your last together.

“Fuck baby, yes baby, yes baby,” he pants. “Gonna be the death of me baby, oh fuck…”

And before he completely empties himself in you, Eddie retreats and finishes on your face. He beams down at you in awe as he glazes the hollows of your cheeks, glosses your lips, and caters to the tip of your cum-quenched tongue. Eddie then swoops down to collect his own eager laps, before thanking you with a kiss.

And, to your surprise, when all is said and done, and you’re all wiped down with a nice warm washcloth from the dryer, your husband books it to his office as if there were something else waiting for him behind that door.

“Eds,” you wonder. “What are you doing?”

“I need to write a song.”

[lewkwoodnco]

Can I make you a request about Anthony Lockwood based on the song “So American” by Olivia Rodrigo🥺😭

so american! - Lockwood x Reader

when he laughs at all my jokes and he says I’m so american oh god it’s just not fair of him to make me feel this much I’d go anywhere he goes when he says I’m so american oh god I’m gonna marry him if he keeps this shit up i might just be in la la la la la la la la la love

a/n: this fic has been rattling around in my head for a couple of weeks now and I was soooo double minded abt writing it so THANK YOU for the ask!!!!!! might not have written it otherwise heheh also I’m sooo proud of how my gifs turned out it was so fun to colour them all guts themed 😍😍 I hope you enjoy!! <333 also im having issues w the keep reading button AGAIN so sorry :(((

warnings/tropes: lockwood and reader are already in an established relationship, fluffy fluff, veeerrry small sprinkling of angst but happy ending! domestic sweetness

word count: 3.3k!

TAGLIST | MASTERLIST

“Ready?”

Lockwood ducked into the car's passenger seat, grinning at the sight of her comically desperate expression. George and Lucy were fussing in the backseat, mainly because of Lucy’s seatbelt, or lack thereof, and they didn't seem to notice his arrival.

“Just wear the fucking seatbelt.”

"I'll be fine, George."

"She got her license at 16. 16! They just let anyone drive all willy-nilly up and down the roads in America."

Lucy gave him a look. He finally gave up and tugged at his own seatbelt sceptically, muttering darkly under his breath.

Lockwood & Co. was much more than a psychical investigation agency. Outside of their working hours, each member liked to work on some kind of passion project. After not having driven for over a year since she got her driving license in the States, she had decided to apply for one in London. Luckily, her employer had gallantly offered to provide her with the lessons she badly needed, having been the first of the three to earn his license. Well, employer and boyfriend. 

Her mother could hardly believe the news and, frankly, so could she. In a lot of ways, having an English boyfriend was vastly different from having an American one. First, there was a slight communication barrier, given how terrible she was with accents. Then there were the differing preferences - Lockwood seemed forever ready for a cuppa at any time of day, whereas the only kind of tea she really enjoyed was iced tea. Still, these differences left gaps for lingering gazes and silences that stretched on a little too much, and somewhere in between she slipped her hand into his, and the rest was history. 

Lockwood turned away to buckle his seatbelt.

"Okay, your seatbelt on?"

"Yes."

"Ready to go?"

"Hang on," came George's peeved voice from behind them, "you're not going to brief her first?" The two of them stared at each other blankly. 

"Uh, Y/N, do you remember how to drive?"

"Sure." It was one of those things you never forget, like riding a bicycle. Sure, it had been a while, but how hard could it truly be?

"Brilliant. Now-"

George pulled himself forward between the two front seats, straining against his seatbelt. “We don’t drive on the right side here. We drive on the left side of the road. Left. Left.”

She glanced at her rearview mirror which outlined the line of cars behind them parked on the left side of the street.

“No. You don’t say.”

Lockwood coughed, poorly concealing his laugh as he craned his neck towards the backseat windows. "Right, all clear. I think we can move of-"

"Parking brake."

"Er, right, what George said. Disable the parking brake first."

“I’ve never driven with a parking brake before.”

“So you push in this metal bit, like so,” said Lockwood, gently manoeuvring her fingers into the right grip, “and then pull it up a little, and then bring it all the way down.”

She tugged at it in frustration. “I -it’s not working.”

“Lockwood, did you tell her to step on the “

“Step-on-the-brake-while-doing-that-yes I was just about to say, George. I think I know how to teach someone how to drive. Unless you’d like to take over?”

"Oh, please. You couldn't pay me to sit in the front seat with that maniac driving."

She got her parking brake down, checked her mirrors, and they were off. For a minute there it was quite enjoyable, trundling through the mostly empty backstreets of London. Lockwood even tried to prop his feet on the dashboard before getting badly told off by George. He was forever propping his feet up at the slightest chance - at the Archives, at home, and now here. Maybe it was all part of some innate desire to be a wheelbarrow.

And so, things were going perfectly rosy, until she faced her first real challenge - oncoming traffic. As soon as the car heading towards them came into plain enough view, the four of them went into hysterics. The road was just narrow enough to make overtaking a little too tricky for her abilities at the moment.

“What do I do? WHY isn’t he slowing down?”

“Don’t panic, it’s alright. Stop a little to the side.”

She cursed, fumbling for the brake pedal her foot had carelessly slipped off of. Lockwood was nervously watching the car get closer and closer to them.

“Now would be a good time to stop, Y/N. Brake! BRAKE!”

They shot ahead sharply, swerving right sharply, narrowly missing the car passing them. Lucy swore loudly and George gripped the car grab handle above him as he started scolding no one in particular. 

"NOT THE BRAKE!”

Lockwood gripped the steering wheel over her hands, frantically trying to steer them to safety. With some difficulty, she shifted her foot back to the right pedal and slammed the brakes. There was a bit of a scuffle in the backseat, including George going off on Lucy in a very ‘I-told-you-so’ tone.

At the front of the car, Lockwood and she were still frozen, reeling from the past very exciting 30 seconds. Her eyes settled to where his hands were still resting on hers, tightly pinning her fingers to the steering wheel.

“Your hands are so warm.”

He peeled them off almost instantly, and she was sorry she brought it up in the first place. “Yeah, well, they’re panicking, just like the rest of me. What the bloody hell was that? I thought you said you knew how to drive!”

“I do know how to drive.” She bit back a smile at the sight of her 180 cm tall boyfriend trying to catch his breath with his hand dramatically splayed across his chest, muttering something about Americans handing out licenses to just about anyone.

The drive back to the rental car agency was much less eventful. After returning the car, they trudged back up the road to Portland Row. As they hung their coats up, she met his thoughtful gaze.

“What?”

“Nothing.” He drew in a breath and hesitated. “You look nice.”

“Is this some convoluted way of patting yourself on the back for your fashion choices?”

“So you agree? You think you look nice?”

She groaned. She should have known no good was going to come from showing Lockwood Mean Girls. Still, it was hard to stay mad for long at a face like that. "You’re such a nuisance. A…delightful one, arguably, but still a nuisance.”

"You find me delightful?"

"That's your takeaway?”

"Next thing I know you’ll be saying you fancy me.”

“I’m literally wearing your shirt right now.”

“Luce!” He turned and started down the hallway. “Y/N says I’m delightful!”

As usual, the four of them reconvened in the kitchen a little after lunch for a tea break. Well, the four of them minus Lockwood, who had been bullied into fixing a plumbing issue in the basement. They sipped their tea and chewed their biscuits in silence. She wished she could bring down a little for Lockwood.

“Maybe I should go see if he needs some help.”

“No!” George nearly upset his tea, which made Lucy choke on her biscuit. “ Don’t go down there. You’ll distract him, he won’t get shit done, and that’ll be one more week without hot water for me.”

So she sat back down sulkily, brooding over her tea, until another topic of conversation struck her.

“Speaking of Lockwood -“

“- no one’s mentioned Lockwood-“

“-did you guys see the socks he was wearing today?”

Lucy and George didn’t even try to muffle their groans.

“They were very nice socks! They had the most precious pattern of baby ducks against a darling blue backgr-“

She stopped short as Lucy reached across the table to grip her hand.

“Y/N, I say this with love, but if I have to hear one more word about Lockwood, or his stupid bloody socks, I am going to ram a fork into my eye.”

She blinked, confused, and scoffed. “Gosh, you guys are so overdramatic. I don’t talk about him that much.”

George and Lucy exchanged a look.

“Okay, so maybe I like my boyfriend and I enjoy talking about him. Is that really so bad?”

Lockwood rescued all of them from the siege of George’s response by walking in right then, holding a wrench and looking a little worse for wear, but appeared very pleased with himself.

“Fixed!”

“Finally.”

Lucy frowned at the clock above the stove. “Isn’t that client meeting at Tooting today?”

Lockwood’s smile slipped right off as he glanced at his watch and rushed out of the kitchen, muttering furiously. His simple black leather watch which complemented his wrist so perfectly-

“Y/N! Time to leave!”

Maybe George and Lucy had a point.

Once their client meeting had finished, she and Lockwood stood on the pavement outside the house, looking for cabs to flag down. It was a balmy evening, and a cloudless sky meant they could enjoy the warmth of the setting sun beating down on them. She squinted down the road while Lockwood pulled something out from his coat pocket.

“For a job well done this morning and at the meeting…” he revealed two pieces of tightly wrapped square candies sitting on his palm. “A little treat.”

She stared at the candy for a moment, thinking hard.

“Caramel! I just remembered.”

“…what?”

“That’s what we call it in the States. A caramel.”

“It’s made of caramel, sure-“

“Plural is caramels.”

He made a strangled sound from the back of his throat. “Changing an uncountable noun into a countable one? That’s just lazy.”

“Fine. What do you call it?”

“Toffee.” The vowels rolled off his tongue like silk in that English accent that had made it difficult to fully concentrate from day one. Standing next to him, watching him gently and methodically unfolding the golden wrapper, shining and glinting like a beacon of light…maybe this was all she needed to be happy.

“Taw-fee?”

He pulled a face at her exaggerated American drawl, and she leaned her head on his shoulder as he pried apart the stuck halves of the toffee. She watched him visibly relax as the first tangy notes hit his tongue, her own half close to melting in her palm under the brunt of the setting sun. He met her gaze and gave a faint smile, almost reflexively covering her hand with his own.

“God, you’re so American. So, which is it? Toffee or caramel?”

She bites into what's left of the soft treat she's scraped off her palm. It's warm and comforting and she instantly feels a little more happy. Maybe it's the candy, or maybe it's the boy whose side is pressed into hers. Love, she decides. It's love.

“How many cups of tea have you had today?”

As idyllic as the weekend had been, they were back to their usual busy routine which meant that their evening tea break was the first time they’d see each other since breakfast. She had just walked into the kitchen where Lockwood was seated at the kitchen table, pouring over a mess of papers with a cup of tea to the side. One of the first things she had learnt about Lockwood was his near-debilitating addiction to tea. Now, he silently took a sip from his mug and she gave an exaggerated sigh, settling into the opposite end of the table.

“You really drink too much caffeine.”

He quirked his lips into a lopsided half-smile -/ he peered at the papers she had spilled onto the table. “What’s all…” he gestured to her papers with his mug, “…that?”

“The Rotwell agents give me hell for my American accent when they’re on duty at DEPRAC.” She held up her list of words dolefully. “‘Least I can do is pronounce things right.”

He slid into the chair next to her, taking a look at the list. “Which one are you at?”

“Pri-vacy. Pri...vacy. Nope, can't do it.”

“Of course it sounds weird when you say it like that. Try using it in a sentence.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Fine. If I have to say ‘pri-vacy’ one more time, I’m running you through with my rapier."

Lockwood choked on his tea.

"...or, you know...'pry-vacy' sounds perfectly fine."

She gave him a brief smile. “Anyway, I’ve got to do a Satchell’s run now. Lucy says we’re out of flares. Don’t wait up for me.”

It took her a decent amount of time to collect all the supplies they were out of stock on, yet when she returned Lockwood was still sitting in that same chair, staring at the same papers with worn-out eyes, distractedly tugging at his hair. He barely looked up when she walked in, mystified.

“You’re still up?”

He rubbed his face firmly. “I can’t…I can’t figure this out.” She took a closer look at the papers. There were reports dating back two centuries on the house of one of their upcoming cases.

“The investigation is tomorrow and I have no idea what or where the Source could be.”

“Well…maybe George’s figured it out.”

“If he did, he’d be home by now.” He hunched over the papers once again, his head swaying dangerously close to the table, and she was instantly reminded of how exhausted Lockwood had looked that morning. As if he hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep. She started stacking some papers together.

“It’s getting late. We should head to bed.”

“But I’m not done yet.”

“You can continue in the morning, but right now, you need to rest.”

His features hardened like he was ready to start a fight, but it lasted all of half a second before they caved to exhaustion. He looked like a drenched cat left out in the rain, with his hair messed up and in disarray.

“George is still at the Archives. What kind of a boss would I be to go to bed now? What kind of a…friend?”

Lockwood leaned back in his chair, briefly pressing a hand to his eyes and then his forehead, his forearm trembling ever so slightly. In the dim light of the kitchen, he seemed more skeleton than Man with his malnourished pallor and the scar on his lip being carefully outlined by a shadow. She ran a hand through his hair, down his neck, all the way to his shoulder.

“Hey. Don’t beat yourself up over it. You’re human, too.”

He gave a deep sigh. “Fine. I’ll come in a while.”

“Promise?”

He gave a jerky nod. The tea in his mug had gone stone cold by then, and so she brewed him a fresh cup. He looked up, confused, as she placed it next to his papers.

“What about the caffeine?”

She bit the inside of her cheek and combed down the hair sticking up all haywire, as if she hadn’t heard him. “What about it?”

He smiled faintly and gave the hand on his shoulder a light squeeze, and returned to his work with his eyes humming with a little more energy.

Later that night, she dreamt that he was falling, and she was losing her mind trying to save him.

She should have known nothing was going to right in the job from the very beginning. None of them had been able to find much information on the house, and they were running late, so tempers were running very high. Even during the case itself, they were forced to split up and fumble through improvised plans. That was until she had stumbled onto Lockwood frozen at the basement door, looking down into the darkness in a strange way. 

Go back, he had said. I don’t know what any of us can expect in this place. So I’ll come with you, she had replied. Or let’s wait for George or Lucy. I can’t. Why not? It’s different. I don’t have the time to explain it. Different how?

You’re more important.

The look on his face was more foreign than the house itself.

Now they were home, back at Portland Row. Lucy and George had sensed something was off and retired to their rooms. Lockwood headed towards the kitchen, and she followed him. He hadn’t spoken a word since her face had blanched at the sight of him poised at the basement’s entrance. She tugged at the ends of her hair. She could feel an argument brewing and she didn’t like it one bit.

“Are you okay?”

Lockwood continued rummaging through the refrigerator for his routine drink of orange juice, taking his time to reply. “Don’t I look okay?”

“Yes. No.” He was terribly confusing. “Why did you say you weren’t important?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You said you were less important.”

He finally twisted the cap off the carton with his trembling fingers. The case had shaken all of them up, but for some reason, he was trying to hide it.

“Well…it’s not not true.”

“No it isn’t.”

“I’m a figurehead, Y/N. I represent the agency, that’s my name on the plaque out there, but that’s about it. You, Lucy, George…you’re the soul of the agency.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“If…heaven forbid, something were to happen to one of us…”

Oh, he was so aggravating. She massaged her temples. She was going to punch him soon if she wasn’t careful.

“…the lot of you’d be better off without me than anyone else, and-“

"Oh god, shut up already!"

Lockwood abandoned the carton and straightened, and they glared at each other from opposite ends of the kitchen. “Or what? You'll shoot me?"

His expression softened only marginally when he saw how close she was to tears. She shook her head.

"If you pull another stunt like this...I might just have to marry you.”

“I’d have to marry you so that you can look down at your bloody hand and remember that there are people out there who would be nothing without you.”

“Y/-“

“Shame on you, Anthony J. Lockwood. Do you think George wouldn’t care about losing his best friend? Or Lucy? Or me? Hm?”

The tears had started to trickle down her face, and he walked towards her with a sympathetic expression, any and all rage long forgotten, and offered her his handkerchief. She could barely manage a weak glare before caving and accepting it, wiping away at her face. As soon as she was done, she wrapped her arms around him, and he enveloped her in a warm hug that smelled faintly of vanilla.

“That was a…a terrible thing to say, Anthony.”

“I know. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“Well, you’re doing a pretty shitty job then. I’m worried about you every day.”

She felt rather than saw his smile, though he could perfectly picture it in her mind - uneven and tipped to the right, but perfectly sincere.

"Also, I'm pretty sure that shooting remark counts as xenophobia."

"Yes, I'm hugging you very xenophobically now."

She buried her face into his chest and scrunched her nose hard. It was moments like these that only cemented her faith that she was never going to find somebody who made her feel the way Lockwood did. Seeing him standing outside the basement, she didn’t even need to think about what to do next. It had become incredibly instinctual - her readiness to take his hand and hurtle into the latest oblivion, blind as a bat. It didn’t get more simple than this: she just wanted to be wherever he was. 

It was him and her, and her and him - Portland Row’s cripplingly disaster couple, Mr A.J. Lockwood and Miss Americana.

TAGLIST: @dangelnleif @elenianag080 @snoopyluver20 @ell0ra-br3kk3r @avdiobliss @mitskiswift99 @ahead-fullofdreams @neewtmas @mischivana @houseoftwistedspirits

[blood-grove]

Werewolf Bites

Masterlist

nausea -> next stage of infection

tws; sickness , injuries , vomiting , violence, no use of y/n

parings: gaz x male reader (established relationship)

-> c/n - call sign

-> n/n - nickname

a/n: hehehe im excited for this. also idk how military shit works im winging it your here for gaz no complete accuracy

Why did it have to be you.

You had missed a room while clearing out this corridor of the building this mission was supposed to be a easy co-op with you and Gaz.

But now your were trying to claw off this big fucking dog from ripping your throat out your gun somewhere dropped in surprised of getting lunged at.

It sunk its fangs deep into your shoulder dangerously close to your neck as blood spewed and your cried out in agony you finally got a hold of your combat knife sinking it into the dogs body repeatedly till it slumped over dead.

Shoving the corpse off you, You bit your tongue as burning pain flared up in your shoulder Gaz's crackly voice over your radio finally audible now with the lack of your cries of pain and dog growls.

"c/n? c/n how copy?"

You swallowed back the bile building in your throat as you heaved grabbing your radio flicking it on shakily as tried to focus with the searing pain in your shoulder.

"c/n here— fuck" You hissed as you pushed yourself up with your good arm.

"c/n? give me a sitrep you went silent on me."

"..Fuckin' dog got me- I opened up a room and the fucker pounced huge fuckin' thing." You looked over at your wound grimacing at the sight of bruising blooming as blood trickled down your arm near excessively.

"Shit..Can you make it back to the main entrance?..I got the files ill radio for exfil."

"I..I can"

"c/n."

"I can"

"Alright."

You flicked your radio off as you trudged your way back where you came.

"Bloody hell c/n you gotta be more careful."

Gaz gently chided as you huffed wincing.

"Your lucky the fucker didn't rip your throat out.."

You grumbled looking aside the future rabies shots were not going to be a pleasant thing to be welcomed with when you both reached back at base.

"You alright..? Looking a bit pale."

"M'fine..Just..A bit woozy."

"Mm..exfil is a another hour or two out still don't go all rabies on me before then how about that."

You chuckled dryly as you blearing blinked as you leaned over dry heaving before puking your guts out catching Gaz off guard as he steadied you so wouldn't fall over into your own bile gently rubbing your back.

"Fuck..It's okay..Christ."

Coughing and gagging the unpleasant taste of bile lingering in your mouth as Gaz helped you sit down away from your mess.

"Just..Just sit down and rest..When we get home they'll fix you right up no? You'll have a killer scar after this all."

You got hummed coughing as Gaz wiped your face clean despite how you mumbled how gross it was as he kissed your forehead shushing your incoherent ramble.

You hadn't gotten any better and the exfil wasn't that far away now Gaz updated you as he held you close you were sweating bullets managing to keep down the water from your canteen.

He assured and updated on the helis time frame to reach you both, You could tell he was nervous never the best at hiding his emotions from you even in this fever ridden mess you were.

"There gonna be here soon love, Mm? Gonna get you back in shape..Hows the shoulder?."

You mumbled swallowing thickly as you shifted in his arms.

"You gotta speak up for me Lovie tell me how you are?"

"M'all sticky.."

"Well I'd guess so your sweating buckets..They'll be here soon okay?"

He sighed as he rana hand threw your near damp hair eventually giving you a few more sips of water as you both waited.

Exfil was quick a another solider helping you up into the heli a medic waiting along inside that went to work on you as you were laid onto the floor.

But all you remembered was falling asleep and awaking on the warm earth.

Running your hands threw the soft soil as you sat up a chill still rattling your bones.

"Gaz?"

You called out as you looked around cautiously your hand drifted too your holster to find it gone along with all other gear gone.

You felt bare exposed like a nerve the flicker and twitch of muscle felt like tremors in the earth as you looked around you saw nothing but forest.

"Kyle?"

Still nothing.

You frowned as you looked around you felt so warm you guessed it was the sun beaming down on you.

You hadn't been walking long till you reached a river bed the sudden parched feeling in your thought becoming know as you greedily gulped down water.

What was even going on?

You felt like you hadn't drank in days.

When you looked up you flinched at the sight of the dog that attacked you.

Or at least you thought it was a dog at the time.

It just stared at you, Yellow eyes staring you down as foam dripped down from his maw the foam slowly bubbling up into a pinkish tinge as blood dripped from its mouth .

It probably had rabies.

You did too.

You hoped.

[aquaquadrant]

SO-- OBVIOUSLY, the ending to the main htp au fic was beautiful. Amazing perfect 100000/10 no notes i could gush about it for ages buuuut-- I have to scream about Instinct. I HAVE to. YEAAAAH THATS RIGHT BRAVO'S NEW SPONSORRRRR that investment in bravo paying BIG DIVIDENDS-- AND INSTINCT BIT AT THE END- AHAHAHA ohhhh yes look like the sleazy salesman you are atlas... gold tooth and shitty suit and all... and he has to suck up to ibstinct omg I looooove it HAHAH sorry not sorry atlas but ur the boot licker forever now. OH AND BRAVO'S YELLOW SHULKERS hahaha I know he had to work hard to earn those... 😈 and of course instinct made sure they were yellow. And OF COURSE Bravo COULD have re dyed them another color... but he didn't >:) aaaaahhh I love it so much thabk u aqua for my life

HEHEH I KNEW U WOULD LIKE THAT PART i wanted to do a solid for u and all the impulse girlies out there 🫶

also BONUS i went back thru my dms w mel and found that i plotted atlas’s ending almost exactly one year ago HAH goes to show just how big of a delay there was in planning vs writing this story ⚰️🏃‍♂️‍➡️

(BTW i can’t remember how much i’ve talked abt this but instinct’s defining traits are based off impulse’s work ethic and friendliness: hyper-efficiency and ‘fakeness’- y’know, the type that will smile to your face while hating ur guts? that almost cloying false sincerity? he also IS a very talented and accomplished redstoner in his own right, just as capable as atlas, but his focus lies on the logistics of scaling and profitability. again, hyper-efficiency is his priority.)

[theweightlessness-recedes]

— "just hold me"

Based on a touch-starved prompt.

Not mine by the way.

Deep Into Your Love - A Vessel x IV oneshot ( Angst with a Happy End category )

Some TW warnings, mentions of abuse, themes between depression and self-isolation, and some metaphors of s31f-h4rm.

IV knew that there was nothing much to do ever since,watching Vessel singing his own heart out in the studio,but deep down.. the torment and abuse that Sleep put him through makes it so much worse.

The pained cuts he always got from abuse and self-infliction, gutting him through a high spiral of desolated darkness is what makes Vessel, so saddening.

But for IV, sadness runs through him. He hates to watch him cry alone through self-isolation, which made him wish that he wanted to hold him. Yet he is unsure to ask. What must he do for such unsurity to comfort the singer?

Is it perhaps hard to ask? But still, even wanting to help someone was always a good thing, sometimes you felt.. unsure about yourself.

Not only that, you are scared to hurt someone who's already hurt. That's how the guitarist feels. But at least.. he tried to comfort himself from all the unsureness he has. For now..

Right now, IV is in the middle of practice in his room. Seemingly trying to get the guitar chords right for an upcoming song for the upcoming album, Take Me Back To Eden. And for the song, Are you Really Okay?

Yeah, their fans on media went wild when the new first teaser was released back then, from screaming in a feral way to being excited. Some others would be laughing right now,this ain't the first time that happened after all.

Just as IV is about to be finishing the last chord, he heard a slow door open sound,which.. kinda startled him a bit. As he looked, there was Vessel. The Guitarist honestly expected this to happen tho.

But wait... IV can see him shaking. What happened? He placed his guitar on the floor as IV arose from his seat. Did something happen? IV can probably guess who had done it.

"Vess, did.. did he done it to you again?" IV asked quietly, he can quite tell that Sleep must have come here to endlessly torment him once again.

But instead... Vessel shook his own head as in saying "No". IV felt extremely relieved when hearing this.

"Ah, that's a good thing then.

Would've come to punch a' hell out of em' if this actually happen to ya'.

Take a seat by the way, just had to finish the last chord for you." IV then gestured for him to sit on his bed, while returning to get his guitar right before he now starts the finishing last chord.

The singer watched quietly in fascination, his own right hand placed in his left. Just to let out a subtle smile filled with gentleness. And with that, IV finally finished the last chord.

The guitarist sighed in relief with a mix of being proud, god it's finally done right now. IV can just giggle in excitement, excited for the full results.

But right now, it's 10:48 PM at night. It'll be tiring for IV to stay up, but both II and Vessel got used to this, staying up thing. Done it for years before.

Man he's jealous, oh to have the rights to always stay up.. even if III wanted to try joining with them.

"You've done well, IV." Vessel complimented.

The guitarist felt a cheek shown in red. But let out a chuckle regardless. "Heh, appreciate that, Vess. Can't wait for the fantastic full results this song will be about."

"Hm.. just imagine the intertrepations that our fans will have when the album's released. Heheh, did you see some fan-theories recently? Some are.. interesting." Vessel asked, he can still remember the times that the boys laughed about some theories.

"Heh, I remember me and II saw that theory about the Moon being Sleep. And II's like 'Bloody hell! An ancient deity being a moon? Oh this I got to see!', we had to laugh on that tho." Even tho Sleep is good at shapeshifting, all can't imagine them trying to shapeshift as a Moon. But they're confused to why some think that they're a Moon.

Vessel quietly chuckled at that theory, it was so funny when he saw this on each media he creeped at. Just as time went by, IV tiredly yawned through the yaps of fan-theories.

"...Augh, bedtime I guess." IV then gets up to change his own outfit.

And Vessel can tell through IV's annoyance, he can feel that he's about to be told to leave. But... there's something he wanted to ask, for something he yearned for.

"...H-hey, IVy?" The guitarist heard his nickname being called while changing his turtle neck to a black shirt, he turned to gaze upon him.

Vessel noticed his stare, and he knew that he wanted to let it all out.

Til he did.

"I...want to stay here right now." This made IV feel an interest.

"S-stay, as in.. you want to stay in my room?" He asked, til he saw a nod which made his own heart skip a beat. IV already finished wearing his black shirt, yet he had never seen someone who's...always so kind.

"..Yes, and i'm being serious to it you know.

I know it's hard to ask tho. But...I can leave if you wan—"

"Nonono Vess, it's okay. You..you can stay in my room, I don't mind." The singer felt a relief, feeling as in feeling joy to antipicate comfort.

The two will be sleeping in only one bed, but that's really okay for IV since he always loved cuddling with someone.

Done this to III and II before too.

So IV went to his own bed first, just by the middle spot. But just as he gets ready to ask Vessel if he wants a cuddle,a quick zoom of arms around him are already filled.

The Guitarist... was caught off guard on that, he never knew that Vessel is quick to be the second to enter someone's bed.

A quiet soft shudder is heard in IV's left ear, he felt the Singer being...cold.

Not in an offensive way, but he has never been touched lovingly for so long. The touch that Vessel received is always pain and suffering, his expression softened. IV realized that the singer always sought comfort, yearned to be loved by the true touch.

Then, for doing this, IV gently held him back while slowly lying down in bed. Quite a soft, gentle touch-starving singer, but IV really doesn't mind at all. He was so glad to be the one who'll receive comfort for Vessel, even tho he already received some before.

"...Will you, please, always hold me, til you'll never let go?" IV heard Vessel's soft mutter, which is so cute.

"Never as always." Is what IV said it back to him, his own left arm gently caressing the head, then his own right gently holding the back neck.

Then... a shaky mess through Vessel happened, for there's realization that suddenly appeared now.

"Thank you...t-thank you so m-much.. *h-hi-c..*"

Oh.. there it is. A sob, IV can hear him sobbing. Yet he always never let go just as the Singer has promised him to.

Vessel's been extremely glad that there is someone who can truly give him the touch he always reached on, a touch of love and kindness. No more distractions, no more self-inflictions, no more desperate pleas of no pain.

While the Guitarist is going to sleep soon, he planted a kiss on a forehead. Always filled with soft gentleness.

Then.. IV quietly whispered:

"It's okay Vess, you can rest now. Just to know that you'll always be loved, no matter your fragile heart makes you think you don't deserve it.

But I'll never let you go, just for you. I'll always hold you with all the care you always deserved."

...There, that's the words Vessel wants to hear.

He'll never forget this.

Always and will be.

[malarkgirlypop]

MEDIC! Part 23 (Donald Malarkey x Fem!OC)

HEHEHE love you all!

Based on the HBO show and the actors who portray the characters, no hate to anyone involved.

Tag list: @next-autopsy, @panzershrike-pretz, @xxluckystrike, @bucky32557038ww2 (let me know if you want to be tagged.)

Since we were moving off the line I started helping George with the stock. No one would be needing any medical care so I was a free hand. I unpacked the shelves with the new items we had gotten from the previous drop, rations, clothes, ammo, everything we needed to survive. I was helping George with the ration packs, they gave us a whole bunch of food but we needed to sort it into separate bags to give to the men to take with them. I pulled a heavy box off of the top shelf, sliding it to the front.  

“George.” I heard a call from behind me as one of the soldiers waltzed into the room. “We need you to come blow this thing up.” The man said. 

“Alright, I’ll be there. Em, I’m going to blow shit up, you gonna be alright here?” He asked, picking up the bazooka and slinging it over his shoulder.

“I’ll be fine!” I called over my shoulder, I heard his footsteps retreat out of the room. Now I was alone, milling around and sorting the items. It was so boring. A tedious task. Normally it wasn’t so bad. George helped and we chatted, then the other soldiers came in to visit as well, keeping me distracted as I worked. But now it was silent. If only I had some music to listen to that always made cleaning and chores so much more fun. Music! I had my phone and earbuds. No one was here and hopefully they still had some battery left. It wouldn’t hurt and I would get the job done faster I’m sure. I grabbed my bag from the corner of the room, rummaging through it. I pulled out my phone and earbuds that I had stashed deep down the bottom so no one could find them, along with everything else I had in my pockets the day I arrived. I powered on my phone, it worked. God I hadn’t been on it in months, which was weird to think about, it’s a normal accessory in my own time. 60% that’s pretty good, and my earbuds were still alive too. I was ecstatic. I placed one in my ear, I should only have one in incase someone comes in or there is a bomb strike. Wouldn’t want to miss that. I heard it chime on and connect. I opened spotify, since all the songs I wanted to listen to were downloaded I didn’t need to worry about having service or data. I scrolled through my curated playlists. I stopped on the GUTS album. This is perfect! I played it from the start. 

It was fine at the start, since I was alone I quietly hummed along to the song. If anyone walked in they would just assume I had a song stuck in my head. I sorted the rations while listening. Bopping my head the beat. I sang along with the words as I worked. Dancing to the faster songs as I went. I had memorised all of the songs when the album first came out, so I still remembered them all. 

“I’m a perfect all-american bitch, with perfect all-american lips and perfect all-american hips.” I swayed around the room, singing only a bit louder. No one could hear me. 

I packed the rations, working fast. Having dance breaks when a good song came on. I forgot where I was. I sang into my hand like a microphone, bouncing around the room. I didn’t realise it but I got significantly louder in my singing. Having the headphone on full volume so I could hear it over my own voice. I pretended I was performing on stage as I jumped around singing. I took a quick glance over my shoulder around the room, no one was there good. 

Then ‘Vampire’ came on. I stood in place singing into my hand. My voice echoed around the room as I belted it out. 

“Blood-sucker, fame fucker, bleeding me dry like a goddamn vampire.” I sang loudly.

By this time I completely disregarded my task at hand, making it counterproductive. I didn’t care, liking the normalcy I had forgotten. I had missed this. Jumping around my apartment with my speakers on full singing as loud as I could. I puffed as the song finished, I pretended to receive applause from the fake audience in front of me, bowing deeply. 

The song ‘Logical’ came on. I gasped, “I love this song!” I squealed, waiting for the lyrics to start. 

I belted the song at the top of my lungs forgetting where I was and what I was doing. In that moment I was putting my heart and soul into the song. The lyrics somehow all related to the anger I had pent up about Don and I’s fight. Come for me like a saviour, Don had done that, he had made me think that he cared. When he clearly didn’t. I put myself through hell for him, just for him to tell me I was an obligation. God I was so mad, at him, at myself. I had fallen for him so hard, with such high hopes he felt the same. It crushed me to know he didn’t. So maybe I do go home after all of this, if anything was going to stop me going, it was him. But if he doesn’t want me, I’d be better off leaving. I poured my emotions into the song as I sang. It was relieving, I forgot how much music helped me when I was stressed, being able to get in my car and sing my heart out with the windows down without a care in the world. For some reason the song just hit the spot and my pain was now being shouted into the air as I sang. 

“AND ALL THE THINGS YOU DID TO ME. YOU LIED, YOU LIED, YOU LIED, OHHHH.” I was pretty proud I was hitting all of the notes. I could sing, I was in the choir at school but I was never very talented. It’s not amazing just being able to hold a tune. My voice wasn’t unique or different, but it still could belt out my favourite songs in a way that wouldn’t hurt the ear. 

Another fast paced song came on after the other one had finished. I bopped my head, dancing around the room like a crazy person. Almost bumping into multiple things around the room as I had my eyes closed as I danced. I changed my playlist to the one I most often played in the car, hitting shuffle. The song ‘Push up’, by the freestylers. It was one of the songs my mum always used to play in the car when we were driving. I was little but still sang along with her. When I got older I actually listened to the lyrics, I was horrified I was singing it in front of my mum who also belted it out in the car. Now I play it when I want a good time. Mum had good music taste. I don't know what dance moves I was doing, my body just moved to the beat. I did that one move where I moved my chest up and down pretending it was being pulled by my hand. Shaking my ass like the song said. I breathlessly sang and danced, a bright smile on my face.

“PUSH UP, YOUR BODY, YOUR BODY NEXT TO MINE, I GOTTA MAKE THAT SEXY BOOTY MINE, AND SHAKE IT, BABY, SHAKE THAT ASS, I LOVE IT WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE GETTING NASTY!” I panted as I moved, forgetting how tiring dancing was. I spun in a circle, a group of men watched me, I finished my turn, facing the way I was originally. A group of men watching me? I looked over my shoulder, surely I had just imagined it. Nope they were there, a group of Easy men looking thoroughly entertained. I turned away from them cringing, how much did they see. I quickly slipped the headphone out of my ear and pocketed it. I slowly turned around to face the men. As I did so they started clapping, they all grinned from ear to ear. There in front of me stood Lieb, Babe, Grant, Web, and George. 

“How long have you been standing there?” I asked, hoping they had just arrived. 

“We had come when you were singing that song about lying.” George grinned. “It went like you lied, you lied.” He sang. That was like three songs ago. 

“But we heard someone singing so we all came to see who it was. Turned out to be you.” Babe chuckled. I didn’t think they could hear me, but I guess I was singing loudly. 

“My favourite song was that last one.” Lieb smirked, of course he liked that one the prick. The image of me shaking my ass came into my head, they had all seen it. 

“What was that move that you were doing?” Grant asked, putting his hands on his knees and shaking his butt left to right. 

“Should I teach it to you?” I joked, trying to not sink into the floor from embarrassment. They all nodded laughing, “Wait, really?” I asked. 

“Yeah I want to dance like that, it looked different. I don’t think I have seen any of the moves you just did.” George grinned at me. “What’s it called? The move?” He asked. 

“Twerking.” I laughed as the men looked at me puzzled, they tried out the name themselves, a mutter of the word “twerking” filled the room. I laughed at them. 

I gathered the men in front of me, they shook their arms and legs loose like they were going to run a race. I laughed at them, they were so eager to learn, who was I to say no. 

“Ok, stand with your feet shoulder width apart, and then lean forward putting your hands on your knees.” I was trying to keep my composure, why did they all look so serious. Their concentrating faces on, they followed my instruction. They looked like they were trying to catch their breath after running. “Ok now you just move your pelvis up and down.” They all tried, looking like cats about to throw up. I cracked up watching the five men try their hardest. 

“I can’t do it. What is it supposed to look like again?” Grant asked, standing up straight scratching his head. I got into the same pose as them, moving my pelvis up and down in a smooth motion. They all looked very impressed. 

“I can’t do that.” Babe groaned. I laughed at his pouting face. 

“Arch your back and then relax it.” I did the motion again for them. This is one of the weirdest things I think I have ever done. Not in my wildest dreams would I imagine teaching five WW2 soldiers how to twerk. 

I watched the rest of the men trying, all doing very odd interpretations of the dance move. George just bent and unbent his leg, bobbing up and down. Grant leant forward but moved his butt from left to right like a dog wagging its tail. Babe hunched his shoulders up and down like he was excessively shrugging. Lieb was impressively very good at it, “Ok Lieb!” I pretended to make it rain dollar bills over him. I looked over to Webster who just looked entirely lost, like a weird caterpillar his whole body moved. “Oh Web.” I laughed at the man, he just stared at me with his blue eyes. 

“Here, when I do it only my butt moves, everything else stays in place.” I said turning around to show him, he stepped closer and really focussed in on the move. Trying it again, he still didn’t get it. 

“Look here.” I placed his hand on my lower back, as did the move, “See my back stays still.” 

“What is going on?” I heard from the doorway, looking over to see Don watching us. His eyes set on Web and I. He looked pissed. “Web mind taking your hand off her ass.” My eyes widened, of course he was pissed. The position Web and I were in didn’t look very good. Me bent over in front of him with my butt out and him with his hand on my lower back. I stood up, stepping away from the man. The other Easy men in the room looked uncomfortable as well. Don glared at Web and I. 

“I was just teaching them a dance move.” I tried to explain. He huffed, turning on his heel and marching out of the room. The men watched me gauging my reaction. I was so mad. 

“Shut up!” I snarled, the men looked offended, they hadn’t said anything but I could feel it. The looks they were giving me said it all, they didn’t need to say anything. They looked uncomfortable, like walking in on a lovers quarrel. I followed after Don, letting my anger get the better of me. I caught up to him on the street. 

“Stop acting like you care!” I yelled at him. He turned to face me. “What? You want to push me away and then get mad at me for talking to someone else. You don’t get to do that! Stop fucking with my head!” I shouted at him. I panted from my rage that raced through my body, how dare he say he doesn’t care and then act like this, it was making my head spin. 

He stomped towards me, grabbing me by the arm. He dragged me into one of the houses. “Let go! Let go of me!” I tried to pull out of his grip but he was stronger than me. He shut the door behind him, I wrenched free of his grasp. I tried to move past him and leave, but he blocked the door. “What do you want from me? I don’t have the cash for the hours you babysat me, sorry!” I spat angrily. 

“Stop it!” He growled. “Stop acting like this!” 

I scoffed astonished, “Are you kidding! All I wanted was to check on you. You were avoiding me, I wanted to check if you were ok? I know you’re hurting too! Those boys meant so much to you! I just wanted to care for you how you did for me. It goes both ways! You’re allowed to hurt!” I told him, his face dark, I could see the pain etched into his features. 

“It’s fine, you don’t care for me the way I do you. But I still care about you, even though you hurt me so much. I can’t turn them off. If you can’t talk to me about it, that's fine, but at least talk to someone!” His features softened.

“I do care for you! Of course I do! It’s just been so much! I can’t process it, I’m so busy, I feel like I have the weight of these men on my shoulders, they have expectations of me, I feel responsible for them. If they get hurt it’s my fault!” He rambles on, it all floods out of his mouth, like opening a dam. 

“I don’t have time to think about Skip and Alex or Buck or Bill! I knew I would if I talked to you, I knew if I just spoke to you for a second that it would all come out.” He takes a breath as he spills the truth. 

“So I avoided you. I’m sorry Em.” He scrubs his hand over his face, sighing. 

“I didn’t mean what I said the other day either. I’m so sorry I hurt you. It killed me to see you so upset, and that I was the one who did that.” I listened to him, it hurt me to see the agony on his face. He walks forward standing closer to me. 

“You are not an obligation! You never have been, ever! ” He says, taking my face in his hands, lifting my head to look into his eyes. “I choose you! I will always choose you.” He pauses looking deeply into my eyes. My hands reach up holding onto his arms that still cup my face. 

“I love you.” I uttered softly, it was barely audible to my own ears, but he heard me. 

It happened so quickly, I couldn’t even process what had happened. Don kissed me. His lips found mine. He kissed me so deeply with so much desire. It was like gasping for air after coming up from the water. I didn’t know how much I needed him, wanted him. His mouth moved against mine, hungrily tasting me. I kissed him back with the same intensity. Enjoying the way his lips felt on mine, like we were made for each other. My stomach clenched, the butterflies swirling around inside. I wrapped my arms around his neck pulling him flush with me. His hands moved to my back and held me tightly. I opened my mouth as he deepened the kiss, his tongue finding mine. I tangled my fingers through the hair that peaked out from under his beanie at the base of his neck. It was like I was addicted, I couldn’t stop myself from kissing him. The taste of his lips on mine, his familiar scent that filled my senses, his hands that roamed around my body, the sound of him moaning into my mouth as we kissed. He pulled back, I whimpered, needing his mouth back on mine. 

“I love you.” Don smiled down at me, my heart swelled, I grinned at him. He placed another gentle kiss on my lips, letting it linger before pulling away.   

“Do you forgive me?” He asked. 

“Hmmm? I don’t know, I think maybe if you kissed me again, I could potentially forgive you.” He laughed, placing a kiss on my lips. 

“How about now?” He smirked. 

“Maybe another one?” I said playfully. He leant forward placing kisses all over my face in quick succession. I giggled as he assaulted me with his lips. He placed the last one on my lips, so gentle and sweet I could melt.

“What the hell were you teaching the guys when I walked in?” He asked, his eyebrow quirked. I flushed, burying my face in his jacket. 

“Nothing.” I mumbled into his clothes. His hand found my chin, tilting it up to look him in the eyes. “I was teaching them a dance they caught me doing.” I said giggling, thinking back to all of their weird moves they had done while I was teaching them. 

“What was the dance?” I smiled and laughed. He looked confused at why it was so funny. 

“I’ll show you another time.” I gave him a wink, he looked at me curiously. “Don, it’s not your fault if those men get hurt. You know that?” I asked, the conversation turning more serious. I took his face into my hands, my thumbs brushing along his skin gently. “I understand carrying all that responsibility, trust me. And I know it’s easier said than done as well. But we can’t let their deaths haunt us forever, all we did was try our best.” He nodded, still wrapped in each other's arms. I pulled him in, hugging him tightly. “We can have a break hopefully, since we are being moved off the line.” I smiled, thinking about how the men didn’t have patrol tonight and that we were leaving tomorrow. It was so exciting. 

The door to the house swung open, Don and I jumped apart in fright. George, who was peeking his head in the door, wryly grinned. “Sorry to interrupt you two, but grubs up.” We smiled at the cheeky man. Following him. Don and I kept sharing glances, our faces flushing pink. Thinking back to the moment we had shared. I kept giggling happily, feeling ecstatic. 

We made our way into the basement, the rest of 2nd platoon already there. I spotted Lieb who watched us enter. I came in first smiling, with a shy looking Malarkey in tow. His eyebrows raised as he smirked at me. I walked over to him. “Ah, I wondered where you disappeared too.” He teased me. 

“Shut up.” I laughed, bumping into him.

“Are you going to sing us a song?” Babe asked, his mouth full of food. 

“No, I am not!” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. 

“Or what about some more dance moves?” Grant teased. I picked up a cloth that laid on the table in front of me hurling it at the man, smacking him in the face as we all laughed. I walked over to where the cloth landed, bending down to pick it up. 

“Ow!” I cried holding my back, pain evident on my face. I looked up to see all of the men looking at me worried and concerned. I slid my hand from my back, my hands on my knees. 

“EHHH!” I said as I shook my ass laughing. The men’s faces changed from worried, to confused, to amused. “Got you suckers!” I said standing up, Grant shook his head. 

“I still have no idea how you do that?” I patted him on the shoulder, still laughing. 

The rest of the night passed quickly, it was like Christmas had come early. I was so excited for tomorrow I could hardly sleep, and when I did I had definitely fallen asleep smiling. 

We packed up our gear and made our way to the trucks, ready to move off the line. Lt. Jones had been promoted and was leaving us, he shook our hands as we wished him good luck on his future endeavours. We climbed into the back of the truck, Don helping to pull me up. He sat beside each other, our hands secretly held by our sides. I watched Web approach the truck, going to climb up by himself, Lieb stuck his hand out to offer assistance. I smiled knowing that Lieb finally came around to liking the man. I watched as the small town faded into the distance and wondered what might be ahead for us next. I knew whatever happened that Don and I would face it together. 

-----------------------------------

Chapter 24

[nyewclear]

hello!! sorry if you answered this before but i recall in a previous ask you said there was no bad ending for cc; will that also be the case for kurou connect since there's supposed to be 5 routes?

(also odinas nails in the demo LOL i see what you did there)

i've briefly discussed the workings of kurou connect's routes in this curiouscat, but i haven't talked about it anywhere else aside from my undergraduate thesis paper hahahaha. i will explain a bit how kurou connect is going to work!! i have a tendency to be very overzealous when i plan my games, so what i'm about to say may be radically different from what i end up executing in the future, but here's the idea.

kurou connect is not a game about getting into a relationship with kurou. it's a game about character exploration and about the barriers we all have to overcome when getting to know people. in kurou connect, you really, really don't like him. you're forced to learn things about him throughout the length of the game, but the main goal of the game isn't to date him. recall how at the end of the demo, kurou gets his car stolen. the plot then develops so that you get so hopelessly lost in the city while trying to report his car as stolen, and you're forced to be in very close proximity with this guy you don't like for a 24 hour time period. the actual goal of the game is to get home safely... and any relationship progress you make with kurou on the way there is just an added bonus. so those five routes you mentioned actually have nothing to do with your relationship with kurou by the time the game ends. rather, they're five different endings you can achieve, one of those being the "true ending" where you end up at home safely.

now... you're probably wondering where da hell the relationship portion comes into play. i'm planning to write the game so that within those five routes, there are four different "relationship levels" you can get to with kurou:

you somehow make up with him, set aside your differences, and become genuine friends with him,

you get into a huge fight and hate him even more than you already do,

one of you acknowledges your enemies-to-lovers romantic tension and does something about it based on actions either of you take during the first half of the game,

or nothing changes and everything's the same frenemies thing as it was before.

each of the five routes will have different "relationship level" shades to them based on whatever you do during the game. however, kurou connect also isn't a game where kurou just baselessly makes advances on you (this is a popular trend in many many dating sims— have you guys noticed this? the player is always subjected to the whims of the romantic interest whether they like it or not). you as the player are in control and kurou's forced to respond to whatever you say or decide. it's more fun that way! after a certain point though, he does take things into his own hands... if you know what i mean hehe ;P

so about that bad ending. are there bad endings? if we considered each route that ended in you and kurou not making it back home, then i suppose the answer would be yes, but that's getting really technical with it. if we wrapped all of the "relationship levels" into it, then it becomes a little more convoluted. the thing is, even if you and kurou get into a huge fight and hate each other's guts, it's still going to be really funny and interesting to play. if we really get technical with it, there are actually 20 different ways the game can end, but they'll all be silly and weird and full of kurou's annoying self. but if you asked me if there were bad endings, i would say no :-) yeah, you can fail, but it's not failure in the traditional sense. hopefully all of this is understandable!!!

(and yes HEHEHE odina loves her long nails but she loves her girlfriend too... a compromise needed to be made... :3)

[yuseirra]

Heheh.. I really; really wish this'd be the last time I keep bringing this same point up but I guess I can't help it because it's so unresolved in the original work;

No, I mean, seriously… I think I got it all right. I figured it out a while ago, but I went through so much emotional turmoil, anxiety, and unease over it. I kept going, like, “Could it be this?” and second-guessing myself constantly.

And I don't like being the one to misjudge things irresponsibly... So I was so afraid of being wrong that I kept checking and rechecking, like I was walking on thin ice.

But now, I’m pretty sure I was right.

And honestly, if I’m wrong, I’ll just deal with it then—because there's really no other way to explain things. I'd just drop this whole thing lol because, it'd make even less sense, I wouldn't understand any of it in that case.

At least the interpretation I make does make coherent sense. I might actually be making the story make more sense than the author is—seriously, is that possible?

It’s like the author just threw this out there, thinking, “Well, someone will get it eventually and explain it for me.” Is that what this is?? What is this?;

I wouldn’t say I understood this story from the mythology angle from the beginning— my starting point was based on emotional responses…

Like, “This person wouldn’t have done that kind of thing,” or “This is the kind of emotion they’re feeling, and this is the kind of action they’re taking right now!!!”

But I feel like they/it's always being misinterpreted, and that’s been bothering me a lot. It may be because I see things that I can't overlook... It feels like a thorn sticking out.

Today, let's examine Hikaru’s reaction when Ai and him broke up(153-154).

Up till the imageries leading up to that pont, he looked so happy just being next to Ai. When she said she wanted to break up, he thought his whole world collapsed.

That kind of reaction happens when the relationship was truly happy. He felt that way because he really, really didn't see it coming.

He couldn’t even begin to imagine it ending like that—it completely blindsided him.

They just really got along well, and that’s why Ai said she wanted to be with him forever on her end, too. I believe they both genuinely had a great time together(he did get a bit attached to her, but she says she wanted to carry things together with him so I doubt he was imposing and overbearing to her)

Ai must’ve thought, “Unless I say something really harsh, I won’t be able to leave him… he won’t be able to comprehend it otherwise.”

So she cut him off cruelly—because their relationship was that close. It was that hard to walk away from.

And even during all that, his response was so gentle.

And the first thing he said when Ai told him she had their kids was, “Then let’s get married,” right? That was his gut reaction.

He’s not even the type to be rash or impulsive, so that just means… he really wanted to live with her. He genuinely loved her, don’t you think?

Even now, at this point in the story, he still blames himself on that breakup.

But honestly, from anyone’s perspective, it’s hard to say it was his fault back then. Ai really did say some harsh things.

And yeah, that was understandable from her point of view, but still…

If I were to interpret Hikaru’s reaction, I’d say he was genuinely shocked. He couldn’t process what just happened.

He was so stunned, his strength left him, and he just stood there in a daze, letting Ai walk away without saying a word.

But then, if you look at his flashbacks in Chapter 153 or the one in 162, I think Hikaru still liked Ai so, so much that when she contacted him again, he probably got all excited like a puppy.

That’s how much he loved her.

I don’t think he could even bring himself to hate her.

To him, she was just… all the good things in the world and his life source. And his light in a really, very literal sense.

To people like Nino or Ryosuke—or anyone else—he probably only ever spoke positively about Ai. He probably couldn't shut up about her but I really doubt he said anything bad because,

If you think about it, even when he talks about people who actually hurt him, he still uses honorifics and describes them so gently.

That’s just who he is—he can’t speak ill of others. This behavior of his is very consistent.

And about his testimony in Chapter 160—it was the right development. That's what REALLY did happen.

He blushed because he was happy to get her message, and he probably got flowers ready for her, right?

I SAID THIS before it even came out!! I called it!!

He only meant to send flowers, and then the accident happened—that’s what I’ve been saying for months.

I genuinely thought that detail would come up eventually.

That he really didn’t do anything wrong.

Then why did things turn out this way?

You see this guy say some pretty trivial, sensible things but it turning out in some intensely horrible and drastic outcomes, doesn't it? That's why we have been shown that whole incident with Airi, the scene with Yura, maybe that case with Ryosuke if we believe him, (he talks to him about Ai two times and it leads to tragic outcomes) and last but not least, what happened with Aqua.

It's as if EVERYTHING he does ends up in ruin.

It’s because he’s a twisted god of light. The god of light, who is the husband of Ame-no-Uzume, is supposed to have the power to guide people toward goodness—but that started to break down. And the reason it broke down is actually in the song and hinted at in the story too. It’s because he lacked love and was hollow inside… He was supposed to be with Ai.

If they had somehow stayed together, I think he could’ve recovered. But by that point, because of everything he’d gone through in the entertainment world, he was already deeply wounded and unstable. That’s why his eyes had turned black.

In that state, he turned into a disaster god, and without even realizing it, he began to twist the fate of everyone around him.

Ai’s pregnancy, the deaths of people around him—those might have been the aftermath of that, too. His powers have to do with the future, so who knows?

Even the fact that people like Ryosuke and Nino got involved with him and caused incidents—it may also be a part of that influence.

That’s why he ended up thinking Ai’s death was his fault.

And to some sense, it really was something he contributed to. Not something he ever wanted—but he did end up involved that way. That's probably why he felt he had to do something in order to reverse it. Besides, he really missed her and he "cannot bear to live without her".

He wanted to collect Ai’s light, to feel her again, and go meet her.

Aqua thinks he’s complete trash, but I don’t think that’s true at all…

To me, it looks like… his ability was what had been twisted.

You might wonder why I’m thinking about it this deeply. It's a fixation at this point and I'm surprised too;

It’s just that… to me, it all seems so clear—and I can’t understand why many people aren’t seeing it…

Not that it’s bad to not know…

But still…

Mm...

For a song like FATAL to come out, the psychology behind it has to be someone who’s lost someone they loved desperately, and is now totally broken and out of their mind because they miss them that severe.

They’re saying, “I’ll give everything, I’ll sacrifice it all”—and that’s so far from being selfish. Moreover, they really do feel as strongly enough to say they can't live without the other.

Stuff like "Fateful I" comes up in this lyric and what I'm getting at here is that, this song is directed towards a lover. And whom shared a very deep and loving bond with the speaker because, feelings like this only can sprout when there's a sense of huge belonging. They HAVE to be convinced that this person is the one for them and there cannot be anything else that could fill in that spot.

There are probably still a lot of people who think it’s Aqua’s song, but I knew it the moment I heard it—

It really isn’t!!

And on this part, I’m absolutely right—this is Kamiki singing it. If you actually look at the lyrics and compare them to his behavior, they match up perfectly, and even the setup aligns exactly!

Honestly, that song explains the story better than the manga itself! I’m sure the anime production team and the singer were all fully briefed on the setting and wrote the song and anime with that in mind!

There’s no reason for the Aratate Shrine to appear! No reason for Amenouzume to have been brought up! No reason for that character’s name to be “god of light”! No reason for Hikaru to go around asking about wishes!

No reason for him to fall into the water, no reason to be called a monster, no reason for him to that strange expression while there's mention that he was noble.

No reason for the lyrics to say “light gathers” or have narrations go “as if there was some sort of guidance” or “I took the wrong path”, Ai's mention that this guy's "lost his way" and needs to be helped, the star eyes to begin with(that god's eyes are said to shine) —none of those things would make sense!

And no reason for all the destructive, inexplicable outcomes around that character to happen while it is said he contributed next to nothing regarding them.

I should’ve figured it all out back in July… I;; I sort of did, actually?? Didn't I suggest that Ai and Hikaru could really be gods who don't know they are gods back then?

But why is this story so unfriendly to the reader? I kept thinking, “No, something’s off here. That reaction—it must mean this…” But then the protagonist’s actions and the other characters’ behaviors were just…

The author just dragged things out in the most frustrating way, caused unnecessary confusion, and then walked away without tying anything up!! What kind of storytelling is this?! Why do I have to dissect things this deeply just to get it?

At this point, I don’t even know if this was something easy or difficult to grasp… Maybe the author genuinely thought this was a very simple mystery, and in the end, they kindly helped us understand it through literally ending the story with the way that god died. Perhaps they are also very confused themselves wondering: 'but I gave out all the clues. It's not that hard to realize it, if I provided any more of it, I'd have just given out everything entirely!'

But what I think is that the work should have been talking about that myth it's referencing!! People came to read a manga, not some fanfic about mythology. I love mythology, sure—but at least say that’s what it is before leaving!! How are we supposed to know this!! Ugh…

I'm not saying it's bad, in fact, I've come to really like that myth about the entertainment god couple but that's not the point!! The work failed to give us something necessary that should have been there in order to piece things together.

I really don’t know why this keeps bothering me so much… if you think about it, it is just a single piece of manga.

It’s not like I especially liked Kamiki from the start or anything, and would risk everything to defend him through all his wrongs, either.

Really, I didn’t…! Not at all! Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to think of him, so I held back from saying much at first.

Of course, at this point, since I’ve talked about him so much, I’ve grown attached to him, so I could say I like him now, but… more than that, I think it’s just that he keeps weighing on my mind, so I end up talking about him.

It’s more like, as I kept watching, I started to notice certain things that needed to be pointed out, because if it's left that way, it's very unfair and cruel. I don't like seeing things like that.

I just wish the author… handled the subject matter a bit more properly. Or at least made it clear what they were trying to say.

If they had done even just one of those two things better, it wouldn’t be this frustrating.

Because while I’m noticing things here and there, there’s also a ton of stuff that feels off at the same time. I got into this piece thinking: “Oh? I think I get what this is!” so I did—and then I end up feeling like I’ve bitten the hook on a fishing line.

Sidetracking a bit, but I’m usually not that into celebrities, so I don’t really read much about them or follow news in that area.

But recently, some idol-related videos and entertainment news started popping up in my YouTube feed, so I ended up watching a few.

There were some really sweet and supportive comments, but also some of those gossip-type videos…

And wow;; I was honestly shocked seeing how people can talk about someone like that.

Just because someone’s famous doesn’t mean it’s okay to speak about them however you want… it was seriously too much.

So, seeing how this story ends on a cynical note… I kind of get where that might be coming from now.

People really can be cruel to celebrities.

I wonder if the author saw something like that and got really angry?

But even if that was the case, I don’t think they should’ve left things so vague. If that's what they wanted to say, can't they just say it out loud instead of being so passive-aggressive about it? This entire work feels like it sometimes. It makes you feel bad about things but it doesn't express the point it's trying to make in a clear sense. It's not a bad message, so what pulls them back? I didn't come here just to see some characters suffer from the darkness of the industry, say something about it! Bring forth a vision or some kind of advice or an idea on what things can be done about the problems that are addressed!! Yes, this work NEVER does that while portraying all the sufferings! Everyone suffers! But there is nothing that helps it get better! In that case, it shouldn't pretend that everything just magically gets resolved and better in the end either, it's not convincing at all. It's deception. You have to properly face these things with care.

It makes me wonder—what exactly were they trying to say with this work? The storytelling kind of forces you into that line of questioning.

If the message were clearer, you’d be able to take something away from it.

But with this manga, just when I think I get it, it still feels murky… and then it hits you with this overwhelming sense of misery on top of it.

I can handle reading something miserable, but if you’re going to deal with this kind of subject matter, then at least make your point clear.

Or if you want to make it about mythology, then say it’s about mythology!

Would it get too complicated if they made that explicit…? I don’t know.

They already brought up Amaterasu by name, and Tsukuyomi is there too—so just lay it all out, why not?

It’s not like we’re talking about super mainstream mythology anyway; I didn't know about Amenouzume and her husband. People wouldn’t know what’s going on unless they went out of their way to look it up.

Am I just overthinking all this…? Maybe I’m the weird one for worrying about stuff like this?

But somehow, I’ve always been the kind of person who, when they watch or read something, ends up wondering: What is this trying to say?

And I guess that’s what’s going on here.

I feel like I can’t stop thinking about it until I get a better sense of what that is.

[crown-of-roses-thsc]

How did you created CoR? Did you ever have any idea about this au that you discarded? If yes can you tell us? I really would like to hear!

Also, do you have new other au from another fandom? I really wish to check since you do such a good job creating this here that I also wanna to see more of your own works!

HEHEHE~ oh, prepare to learn some very silly things!

I don’t know if I’ve shared this before, but the story behind Crown of Roses delights me to this day. I was a young soul, obsessed with Henry Stickmin, and had taken it upon myself to come up with the funniest possible character to ship Ellie with. Mind you, I wasn’t a Henry Stickmin nerd yet, so I didn’t know many of the background characters.

It suddenly dawned on me that it would be absolutely hilarious to ship Ellie with Reginald…two characters who would hate each others guts if they’d ever met in any significant way in canon.

At the time, I was also blasting “Satisfied” from Hamilton- and in my head, I formulated this little story following the Toppat King ending, where Ellie and Reginald had been in love long ago, but Ellie was with Henry now- and she had to abandon her love for Reginald because she didn’t want to hurt poor Henry. I was an angsty teenager with a love for mellowdrama, so I thought this idea was delightful.

As time went on, I played more and more with the idea of Ellie and Reginald being exes- and came up with the possibility that perhaps Ellie was briefly leader before Reginald viciously betrayed her and took the role for himself. At first, I wanted to consider this a fan-theory, and scoured the game for any hint that it could be true (I actually think I still have a crappy google doc full of “evidence” for it, haha!), but I eventually had to concede that it was highly improbable.

I actually didn’t discover the scrapped side-game for Ellie until later on, so imagine my THRILL when I discovered that. I took quite a few aspects from it, since the differences between the ideas were almost entirely better on the scrapped side-game’s part.

The story was originally just that, until I discovered the song RÄT by Penelope Scott…and began to imagine a continuation of the betrayal story based around the song. (The ideas that came from this can be seen in THIS animatic, which is actually what “blew up” this AU!) From there I returned to the Toppat King idea, and that grew into…well, I guess you’ll have to see ;)

And oh, so many ideas from this AU had to be discarded (or were altered into things I preferred!)

Originally, Reginald was written to be more cold-and-calculating, with a bit of care for Ellie that was entirely drowned out by his thirst for power. Now he’s become my pathetic wet-cat, who makes mistakes more out of fear than any malicious intent. It makes a bit of sense, as my characterization of him is based strongly off of Aaron Burr (as portrayed in the musical Hamilton.)

That’s the least interesting one, though.

For example:

In this AU, Earrings is Sven’s sister! But originally, in the Toppat King ending, she was going to be the villain- wanting to kill Sven in revenge for…well, you’ll find out in two chapters! But here’s the kicker: I had her being haunted by Randy! His characterization was similar to how I portray him now, just a little more evil- the inspiration from Beetlejuice: The Musical was much, much stronger!

I’ve mentioned “scrapped endings” many times, so I won’t bore you all with that again- but a stranger aspect is that I originally had all of them being canon, and a reveal that Crown of Roses was an actual alternate universe to the main game; Henry had briefly decided to lend Ellie his multiverse powers, and so the world shifted to focus more on her- and she got to experience many endings before ultimately being able to get to a world where Reginald didn’t betray her, and the audience was left to imagine what different endings would look like from there once things were focused back on Henry! Like, Infiltrating the Airship with Ellie in charge…a neat thought, in my opinion!

On a darker note, Suave and Jessica’s relationship initially had much…darker implications. The emotional abuse remains canon, as well as implications of potential physical abuse, but…let’s just say that I briefly toyed with the idea that Suave had grown to abuse her in another way, too. I never planned on explicitly mentioning or showing it, so one could argue that it wasn’t scrapped- but I decided not to really go that far. I have no intentions of confirming or denying it as a possibility, but I wanted to back off of the subject.

On a lighter note, Ellie’s rogue-gang originally included Stu Pendles, a man whose voice claim was TheOdd1sOut and was in gambling debt to Carol. I actually think I originally had intentions of shipping them, too!

Wilting Darkrose was also originally meant to be a parody of emo edgelord characters, hence his goth appearance and edgy name- but I lost confidence in my ability to satirize that well, and grew attached to the idea of a character who saw himself as an important noble leader but was actually a college student with too much hair-dye. (Bonus fun fact!: Ed Zhaust is named that because it’s meant to sound like “exhaust(ed)”- which is what he is.)

Ho ho ho, what a ramble that was! As for the second part of your question:

I’ve worked on a few! I like to imagine Warrior Cats AUs, but I never do much with those. I usually focus on my own stories (I’m making progress in a book I’ve wanted to write for quite some time!) buuut I do have some published stuff!

For example, I’m the director of Wordgirl: Rewired! It was originally meant to be a fan-comic, but now we have two fully illustrated and voice acted episodes of an aged-up Wordgirl series! It’s mostly meant to be a continuation, but due to some slight changes to certain characters one could argue it’s an AU!

I also wrote a fan fiction called “The Night The Moons Collapsed” for Wings of Fire. I never finished it, but I do plan to rewrite it eventually! I’d been reading too many My Little Pony Infection AUs at the time, haha!

Any other things would likely be in my Ao3, and from there it’s mostly Wordgirl stuffs!

[gutsby]

guts… this is so irrelevant to why we are all here but saw some of the recent anons asking you about life shit (aka people being like did you study lit, what do you do, and how the fuck is it not professional writer because you’re insanely unbelievably talented lol) and i am a devout follower of yours who graduated undergrad several years ago at this point with a poli sci degree, i’m struggling out here in the non-profit sector and i’m considering going to law school and i was wondering… do you have any thoughts on this career path? any insight on what the most challenging part of your professional journey thus far has been? i know there are a million things to could do with a law degree so i apologize if this question is dumb as fuck but i wanted to shoot my shot. ps, thank you for sharing your creativity with us. like every other anon, i am in awe of your storytelling abilities, you are gifted and i hope you know that! i selfishly appreciate that this is your creative outlet because it brings me lots of joy hehehe… like three new joel one shots, a marcus one shot, and new WG coming soon????? all in the course of this month?!?!?! WE DO NOT DESERVE, we do not! love you 🥰 sincerely, #1 gutsby stan

HELLO! DUDE!!!! I LOVE YOU?!!! 😭😭❤️

Seriously, you're too kind!!! Thank you so much for reading and for saying such sweet things, and alsoooooo...

That is SO EXCITING you're considering law school!! I know students and practicing attorneys alike love to commiserate about how awful the process is (and it definitely has its moments, don't get me wrong), but I enjoyed my three years and like being a lawyer even more, and I encourage anyone with the inclination to give it a try, if a career in a legal or legal-adjacent field is what you want!

I think the hardest part for me was finding the right place and sticking with it, even when 1L made me feel like the dumbest person alive. Grading on a curve is a hellscape, class rankings are the worst, and OCI is a clusterfuck. If you can, find a practice area that motivates you to stay where you are, even when school's beating your ass and it feels like it'll never end. It will. Also, as aggravating as it is, most schools weigh the LSAT heavily in their admissions decisions, so if you can, I'd advise taking that multiple times and investing what time and money you can to getting your score as high as possible. I took it three times—first two times shit the bed, third time spent a month and a half studying my ass off beforehand and finally got the score I needed to get into the school I really wanted to attend. Your LSAT score can also help you get merit-based scholarships, depending on where you apply!! Research what law schools have the lowest debt-to-earnings ratio and find out about what $$$ they may offer; you'd be amazed what scholarships are up for the grabs if you check!

This may be way more advice than you want right now (I'm sorry to yell and yap lmfao) but seriously, if you need any other resources or guidance on any of this stuff, please let me know! I'd love to help in whatever way I can, and I wish you the best of luck going forward!!! 💗💗

[aeoki]

Candy House - Programme to Fall in Love: Chapter 6

Characters: Hajime, Tomoya, Subaru, Sora & Natsume Season: Winter

Tomoya: Akehoshi-senpai, there’s something I’ve been wanting to say to you.

Subaru: Hm~? What’s going on? You seem pretty cheeky for someone younger than me.

Hajime: Akehoshi-senpai wouldn’t say something like that! He’s always kind to his juniors… Wait, but maybe not? Maybe he would say something like that?

Tomoya: Get your hands off him. Hajime is my lover.

Hajime: Whaaaat!?

Subaru: Oh, that’s news to me! Is that true, Shinonon? You’ve got such a cute lover, but you’re doing something like this with me…? ♪

You’re such a naughty boy, Shinonon ♪

Hajime: ♢Χ■△〒★!?

Tomoya: Stop! Don’t bully Hajime! It’s okay, Hajime! I’ll protect you!

Subaru: Oh~? I’m not bullying him – I love Shinonon ♪

No. Shinonon’s a naughty boy so he likes being treated like this…♪

Hajime: ~~! ~~!

I understand now! So this is the gift you were talking about, right!? Did you think I’d be happy seeing such an abnormal situation!?

P–Please end this, Sakasaki-senpai! I–I’m going to go crazy if I have to put up with any more of this~!

Natsume: Oh, what a let doWN.

Things were finally getting interesting, but you’re giving in alreaDY? You don’t really have the guts, huh, Hajime-kUN.

Hajime: S–Shakashaki-senpaaaaai–

H–H–H–How could you do something like that? Thank you! No, I mean, what was that!?

Natsume: HmM~ I suppose you could say that was a type of illusionary magic that can only occur in this cyberworLD?

Sora: HaHa~ Master~ is always vague with his words, so Sora will explain.

In the “Chocolat Fest” that takes place inside “Candy House”, players can experience a forbidden love with ES idols!

Hajime: F–Forbidden love? I–I suppose that situation earlier was rather unhealthy…

Natsume: No, not thAT. Idols are prohibited from forming romantic relationships with their fans under normal circumstances, rigHT?

But at this virtual “Chocolat Fest”, players can experience a romantic relationship with idols, which wouldn’t be allowed in real liFE.

Well, it’s like playing “house” in comparison to real life, thouGH.

Sora: Yes! Players can spend real money to buy chocolate which they can send to their favourite idol!

Their intimacy level with that idol will increase and they can become a couple with their idol at the end!

Natsume: They’re not forming an actual relationship with the real idol, of courSE. It’ll be an imitation of the idol with small print attached that says, “※This is a fake recreated in the virtual space.”

Buy chocolates, raise the intimacy level with your idol, and the two of you can be a coupLE.

Sora: Yes! It’s just like a dating sim~♪

Hajime: I–I see… So you have a dating sim event for “Chocolat Fest”?

Sora: Yes! It’s an event that can only happen in the virtual world.

Natsume: It’ll be a huge issue if it was done with real idols, thouGH. It’ll be like some sort of host clUB.

Hajime: Uuu… I’ve never had anything to do with those sorts of places, but I definitely understood how having something like that in real life could be an issue.

Having the people you love whisper sweet nothings into your ear can make you swoon – it can be addicting…

Natsume: HehEH. We’re measuring each players’ brainwaves through the “SSVRS” device in order to keep players wanting to spend monEY.

We’re getting information like their thoughts and preferences, and we’re using those things to create their ideal situation with their idOL.

We’ll recreate a fake that’s the personification of their ideal romantic partnER.

Sora: In other words, Jime-chan wants Sparkling Onii-san to be mean to him…?

Hajime: N–N–N–No! I love the kind-hearted Akehoshi-senpai! That’s wrong information!

Natsume: WeLL, it’s still under development, so it’s not functionally stable yET.

It definitely sounds like something “Gor-Corp” would dO. Everything is based on unknown technology that shouldn’t be possible in this worLD.

No one expected that sort of technology to really exist, so there isn’t appropriate legislation for iT.

Because of that, “Gor-Corp” is essentially doing whatever they waNT.

Hajime: If they wanted to use the technology that measures our brainwaves and analyses our preferences for evil, they could really do it, right?

Sora: Yes. Things like getting AI to automatically generate dungeons is fine, but if people are peering inside Sora’s brain, then that feels kinda gross~

Natsume: YeAH. Our minds are a sanctuary that only we’re allowed iN. It doesn’t feel nice to have someone trespassing into that spaCE.

It might be hard to brainwash people like in sci-fi movies, but it may be possible for them to control the masses by tempting people with their preferencES.

Maybe that’s “Gor-Corp’s” end goAL. Maybe they intend on using “SSVRS” to control peopLE.

Just kiddiNG. Now, that’s some sort of old conspiracy you’d hear on the internET.

Sora: The ones like “The government is trying to control us with radio waves!”~?

Hajime: *Sigh…* I don’t know about those conspiracies or whatnot.

But I think that can be pretty misleading. They’d use such an amazing piece of technology for a video game?

It sounds amazing. That’s all I can say.

Natsume: In the public’s eyes, we’re “just idols” too, rigHT? Or whAT? Are we not allowed to be serious when it comes to major topics like the governmeNT?

Everyone chooses to put their heart and soul into different thinGS.

(But in reality, I do think “Gor-Corp” is taking things a bit too fAR… I don’t want to be a conspiracy theorist, but I should be more wary of thEM.)

(I don’t want to have any more regreTS.)

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ← Previous Chapter ᠂ ⚘ ˚⊹˚ ⚘ ᠂  Next Chapter →

[nicegaai]

i'm playlist anon (is this a good name for me. i haven't decided on what a good name would be for me yet)... okay i LOVED your response it brought me such giddy like you can't even imagine. i've been listening to your playlist too and it fits with them so much??? like my playlist is mostly "easy listening while reading" tbh but yours is way more character appropriate (which i guess makes sense because you're the writer). i added a new song to my playlist though. more swedish english-language indie.

anyways i think the thing i'm most curious about right now in terms of your past decisions: why did you switch timo from an only child to someone with siblings? in general, how would you characterize the sibling dynamics (other than sig and emil's, but you could talk about that as well ;]) in ThR? [i'm on my computer now. no more thorns.] another thing is: where do you actually characterize the story being? i'm personally imagining they're all diaspora in some sort of midwestern (north dakotan/minnesotan) suburb and cookie salad (which i've been told is the premier minnesotan salad) is at the periphery of being mentioned in the fic. but i want to hear your thoughts.

i saw u made an acct (second acct? burner acct?) and i can call u by that url if u want :3 playlist anon is also good! whatever u r comfortable with. pick an emoji if u like, for shorthand...

anyone making any kind of art based off of sm i made is like a dreammmmm im honored i inspired u!!!!!! thank u for TELLING ME that i did, that took some guts im sure and im really so so happy!!!!!!! i luv the easy vibe of it, ill absolutely be listening again to hear the updated version!

QUESTIONS I LOVE QUESTIONS. I HOPE U LIKE LONG ANSWERS! OK :

anyways i think the thing i'm most curious about right now in terms of your past decisions: why did you switch timo from an only child to someone with siblings?

i have a very long answer to this one bc i am a chronic overthinker

i wanted berwald to be an only child to a single mom for character reasons. i finally got into his head and i was like ohhh . it has to be this.

imagining timo as a little flamboyant gay boy with a supportive older sister makes me happy

i went down a wiki rabbit hole at some point about the sapmi people and i concluded that if she was related to anyone, it would be fin

i drafted a post canon one shot where ber's only-childness was a plot point and i think i worked backward from that revelation

in general, how would you characterize the sibling dynamics (other than sig and emil's, but you could talk about that as well ;]) in ThR [i'm on my computer now. no more thorns.]

HEHEHE. well... i think everyone else is normal.

mads has his two kid siblings and he is more than 10 yrs older than both of them ... the kind of age gap where hes closer to a third parent or uncle

timo grew up as a gay boy w an older sister. their sibling dynamic is normal if not uncommonly positive.

ber doesnt have siblings but he grew up surrounded by cousins so in a way they are his siblings. i think thats part of why the whole Thing is harder on him. plus the internalized homophobia and some other reasonable objections.

emil and sig are idk... very distant emotionally. they grew apart pretty dramatically once they stopped hanging out as kids and nothing was able to bridge that gap. until now! ... i havent thought much ab their precanon relationship much if im honest. im fixated on their unhealthy future codependency :)

another thing is: where do you actually characterize the story being? i'm personally imagining they're all diaspora in some sort of midwestern (north dakotan/minnesotan) suburb and cookie salad (which i've been told is the premier minnesotan salad) is at the periphery of being mentioned in the fic. but i want to hear your thoughts.

i feel called out omg... yeah, if this is set in the usa, it would be in north dakota. ive never been to the midwest in my life though and i dont know anything about how people live there so im not going to throw in anything culturally specific to the region. except for my largely midwest emo inspo playlists. lmao

the thing is i also in my heart want it to plausibly be set IN one of the nordic countries but choosing one is favoritism so its all vague on purpose. for instance whenever i said "football" = can be whatever sport comes to mind, both are valid interpretations. but i am american and americabrained so trying to make something culturally neutral really just defaults to Somewhereville, USA

tldr they live in some small town wherever u think would be funniest

sorry im kind of tired these answers mght be incomplete or rambly but i want to answer this ask so bad

[stardew-shitposterino]

WAIT NO CUTE CAN I GO FIRST

Personality:

-bit of an introvert (agoraphobia is strong with me 😅)

-pretty happy most of the time!! I try to be as optimistic as I can be

-that being said of course sometimes I crash really hard and just need a few days to get myself back into that happy mindset

-people pleaser, but not in the sense that I have no boundaries. I just really enjoy seeing people happy with life and if I can help bring some of that happiness to them, I will!!

-actually extremely insecure which makes me recluse

-more of a couch potato, sure I like to be outside and stuff but I’m not much of a hiker. I’d rather lay on a blanket outside n watch the clouds or something

Likes/interests:

-pink. Anything stereotypical “girly girl” (I hate overly gendered stuff but it’s the best way to explain it. Glitter!!! Pink!! Butterflies!!! Flowers!!! All of that stuff

-this doesn’t usually reflect in my style though because I v much am a drabby tshirt and sweatpants person 😭

-that being said I also DO love dresses!! Like a lot, just not super short ones. I feel like I’m too exposed 😭

-I v much do art, I like to read but I’m not HUGE into it. Prefer to read manga over novels for sure

-unfortunately a weeb

-cats!!!

-my fav foods are queso, Alfredo, and any kind of soggy rice 😅

-I prefer psychological thriller kind of movies that make your head hurt!!!!

-dnd/Sanrio/care bears/ I FUCKING LOVE COWS

-I’m also just about in my late 20s but idk if that’s an interest at all? 😅

-and obviously video games, but stardew is actually the only ‘cozy/life simulator’ game I’ve ever played. More into Zelda and assassins creed :)

I think that’s it :) I’m bisexual so I will be happy with a Bachelor and bachelorette!!

Ily thank u for taking ur time to do this 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

Oooh my first one ! This one is a bit tricky as I can see multiple matches for different reasons 👀 I’ll go with my gut feeling:

-Shane:

- I’m torn on him because there is a possibility of you two not being good for each other as you share some traits, but it could also be a possibility for you two to come to terms with your struggles (like insecurities) and find an open ear in one another.

-You both are homebodies and like similar kinds of food :D I could see you both ordering takeout and watching some new thriller that just released.

-Your more happy-mindset would also be a nice contrast to his more pessimistic outlook on life, but your “off-days” would show him that it’s ok to not always be 100% positive.

-He thinks you look so cute when you doll up and get all euphoric at your new clothes. Your interest in Sanrio would also be a good base for you and Jas to get along, two women in his life that mean a lot to him.

-he would be SO DOWN to play Tears of the Kingdom with you. Of course it’s a single player game, but just sitting next to each other and helping one-another out doing the quests on their respective switch, or just watching the other play and laugh at whatever stupid shit they can come up with instead of playing the main story hehehe.

-he likes chickens, you like cows, you two share a fondness of a cute farm animal, and it helps a ton with building up that relationship as you two like talking to them, or about them with each other.

-Abigail:

-It’s pretty clear why I chose her. She is a gamer, she loves adventures, she’s an introvert.

-you’re more a homebody, she’s kind of something in-between. You both can spend lazy Sundays together playing video games or you can go outside and wander around in nature or do something fun (if your agoraphobia allows it of course)

-the girl eats rocks…it’s save to say she’s more than happy to eat anything with you, so if you wanna eat rice or pasta every day, so be it.

-she’s not a girly girl, but I think she’d love to dye your hair at least once! You like pink, so why not get some colour in there that matches some of the dresses you wish you wore more often?

-I’m not sure whether she’d be a weeb, but she’d never say no to watching a Shonen anime with you, or even read the manga 👀

-Sebastian:

-why? He’s a nerd, he likes to be inside and play video games and code as his job.

-He’s an introvert like you, so he’d understand when you want to log off and be alone for a bit.

-You could watch movies together ! I HC that he isn’t that much into movies, but once he gets into it, he is very invested, so it could still work out !

-if you draw (because you said you do art), he’d be more than happy if you made some character models for the game he’s working on, or for his discord server etc. he isn’t the artsy type, so he’s more than impressed you are able to cook something up that looks incredible !

-he wouldn’t want to hike with you lmfao 😭 but he’d want to ride on his motorcycle with you, if you want to. Some adventure, but not too much physical activity, yet a lot of fun.

-He’s a weeb, your honour, I feel it in my bones. Do I have to say more ?

——————————————————————————

-all of them seem to be cat people (Shane might be a dog person, but for our sake I say he’s a chicken person and likes both cats and dogs alike, but chickens win) , so that’s also a plus for all :3

I hope you can sort of agree with my picks. Im sorry if I didn’t pick anyone you have hoped for, but I think these 3 are the best matches out of all the marriage candidates. I thought of maybe Leah, but your interest in art would be about one of the few things you’d have in common I fear. I think there are some others that COULD work, but when I read your summary, these came to my mind instantly lol.

Thanks for your submission !

[crazycatfaery]

нєℓℓσ, тнιѕ ιѕ ησт нιℓℓιє! It is me, your HEX anon! 🧚 Let the questions begin!

To start, pretty please tell me anything you like about Ben and Rose. Since we never meet her, what do you think she was like? 🌹 What did they see in each other? 💐 Do you have any fave headcanons you might like in your gift? (Does this mean it’ll be about them? 🥀 Wait and see! 🤐)

Until next time! ✨💚

нєℓℓσ Anon, тнιѕ IS нιℓℓιє, heheh. Yay the first questions already!

Anything about Ben and Rose, you say? Do you have a minute😅😂? Well, my main headcanon about them is that they had a happy marriage, and that Rose has died when the two Harvey kids were younger. Old enough to still remember her though. I don't have a clear headcanon about her cause of death, though I think it would be due to something fast(or even instant) and heartbreaking. First World-like almost, something they thought could be easily prevented or fixed in their world.

What was Rose like: In my mind I see her as kind of the now-missing piece of the puzzle within the Ben-Saul-Farah friendgroup, starting during their teens (so in school). A redhead or a dirty blonde, on the shorter size (between 1.60 and 1.65m I'd say?), and a bit plump. Earth fairy.

Terra is a lot like her, bubbly, friendly, but I think Rose would not have been shy like her (but not necessarily a social butterfly). She would try to stay optimistic a lot of the time, which easily got mistaken for being oblivious, but she actually had a very sharp mind. Someone who loved fiercely, was protective, loved a bit of friendly gossip, and liked to playfully tease Ben, but especially Farah and Saul (and at the same time try play matchmaker for them. Her succes rate was debatable). I think her lesser qualities would be that she would put other's wellbeing before her own, and she could be short-tempered if provoked (looking at you, teen Andreas).

She would've either been Farah's suitemate, or perhaps a friend of Ben's first. A bit of a nerd, though not as much as Ben. Mostly interested in magical properties of crystals and fossilized plants, so geology and archaeobotany? I don't think Rose would join the Battalion troups, she would either work somewhere else completely or work at a base or something.

What did they see in each other: I think they would have been similar in a lot of ways (their interests, magic type, kindness, protectiveness, etc), but different enough to make things interesting. They complement each other in that way. I'd like to think it would grow slowly, and Rose would actually be oblivious to her own feelings for a long while (big case of irony as she would always tease Farah about Saul). Ben would like her but be too shy to do anything about it, but eventually take the first step.

Rose would like Ben for his kindness, their similarities in humor, being smart, and find his long tangents about certain plants and their medicinal properties adorable (I can hear Farah, Saul and Andreas groan while typing this). Later on she got to discover his romantic and caring side.

Ben would like Rose for her wit, humor and patience, and would follow her around the earth and back if she'd asked. He would admire her parenting skills, though they would be very much a team in that.

Fave headcanons I'd like in my gift: I'd love some Rose and Ben teasing Farah and Saul shenanigans (or even those first two teaming up to play match makers for the latter two), or something angsty/sad surrounding Rose's death. And if it's not a Ben/Rose centered gift, then a bit of them in the background would be lovely ☺. But as long as they're not divorced and hate(d) each other's guts I'll be happy! 💚