#this was really self indulgent

[vinestaff]

pressure

[nocturnal-bishop]

"I'll Go Anywhere With You"

Pairing: Papa Emeritus III (Terzo) x Bishop Dante (OC)

Warnings: None

Words: ~1350

Summary: Finding a ritual that would allow him to visit Terzo in the afterlife, Bishop is eager to pounce on the opportunity, and finally gets to say goodbye.

The bishop sits on his knees on the hard floor, his pale face illuminated only by the dim glow of the candles surrounding him. He finishes drawing the necessary symbol on the floor, then picks up the book he had found in the Ministry's expansive library. Tucking his black bangs behind his ear, his eyes skim over the page he had bookmarked, his lips moving silently to the words. He has been practicing this every night for the past two weeks now; it was finally time to put the practice into use.

The previous Papas have all been dead for a handful of months now, and Copia had taken over as the new Papa Emeritus, leaving Dante to look after him now. But even with the intensive work of looking after the new Pope and making sure his transition from cardinal went smoothly, Dante couldn't help but be preoccupied in his grief of losing the man he had fallen for: Terzo.

The bishop had already attempted to bring Terzo back to life, which proved unsuccessful as all he managed to do was summon a Ghoul rather than bring anyone back to life. Either it was impossible, or Dante simply lacked the knowledge to fulfill such a task, so he decided to look for some sort of alternate option. And that was how he stumbled across this. A ritual that would allow Dante to temporarily traverse the afterlife, just to allow him a few more minutes with his love.

He just wanted to properly say goodbye.

His heart beating nervously in his chest, Dante inhales slowly through his nose as he sets the book off to the side. No more delaying.

Shutting his eyes, Dante begins to recite the incantation that he had taught himself from the book, an old Latin phrase that should transport him to the other side. After the last of the words leave his lips, the man keeps his eyes shut for a lingering moment, afraid to open his eyes and see that the ritual had failed him. He couldn't handle another disappointment, another failure.

A shiver runs across his body, and Dante suddenly finds himself shivering and cold. He wraps his arms around himself, then finally blind his eyes open to find himself standing in an empty, dark void. Fog snakes its way up to his waist, his feet disappearing in the thick clouds as he looks around and begins to walk. His footsteps echo, filling the void with the loud sound and nothing else.

"T-Terzo? Are you here?" Dante calls out to the darkness, pausing his steps to listen. The silence that follows engulfs him, and an overwhelming feeling of disappointment fills the bishop. Once again, he had failed. All he had wanted was to just see Terzo one last time, just so he could have a sense of closure. But it seemed that even that was asking too much of the universe.

As Dante was about to fully give up and throw in the towel, the tall male feels freezing hands come from behind and rest against his chest, making him aware of a presence behind him.

"Tesoro….what are you doing here?"

Though Dante had initially gone rigid upon feeling the hands on him, that familiar voice instantly sets him at ease as his heart swells with happiness and relief. "Terzo…" He exhales in a whisper. "I've missed you….I had to see you." Dante's voice quivers slightly. "I…I never even got to properly say goodbye to you…."

"Oh, I've missed you too, my darling bishop…"

Dante turns to face the other, and chest Schindler as his eyes fall upon the short male and the familiar features he knew all too well. Though the deceased man appeared a bit more pale and translucent, it was unmistakable. It was him.

"It's really you." Dante murmurs, his gloved hand cupping Terzo's cheek and rubbing his thumb underneath his eye.

Terzo leans into the touch, his hand resting over Dante's. His eyes shut for a moment before shifting up towards the bishop's. "I was certain I would never see you again, amore….But this is no place for you. My time has passed, but you still have much life to live."

"You should still be alive!" Dante retorts. "If I had only done better to protect you, to keep you from harm-"

Terzo presses a finger against Dante's lips, silencing him. "Do not start talking like that. It is no one's fault. My death served the Ministry, so that my brother could take over…Even if you don't agree with it, it's what was right for the Ministry, for our mission." A low sigh escapes him. "I don't like it either…I had thought I was doing well as Papa, but….I've accepted that Nihil and Imperator had different plans. My only regret is…not being with you."

"I can join you!" Dante chirps eagerly. He takes Terzo's hands into his own, giving them a squeeze. "I can join you here….My life, my purpose is here with you, not there…I would be willing to give my life just to spend eternity with you…."

Terzo gazes at Dante for a moment before lowering his eyes to their intertwined fingers, then exhales and pulls his hands away. "As much as I would like that, I could never ask you to end your life for me…"

"But I want to, Terzo….I want to be with you…"

At Dante's insistence, Terzo shakes his head. "No." He responds firmly. "You will not do anything of the sort….You are needed. Copia needs you….Our time will come, but not for a long while yet, Dante…."

With a trembling lip, his eyes burning with the threat of tears, Dante drops to his knees in front of Terzo, taking one of his hands and burying his face into the other male's pant leg. "I can't go back without you….I can't suffer anymore without you by my side…" His voice turns to gasping sobs. "I can't live without you, Terzo….I love you…"

Terzo watches the man crimple to the ground, sighing and pushing a hand through the bishop's hair. "I know you want to stay, Dante…But I could never ask you to do that."

Dante tilts his teary face up towards Terzo, and the pope cups his cheeks, his thumbs wiping away the tears from his slender face. "Don't cry." Terzo murmurs. "We will be together eventually…but you still have purpose…."

Dante shakes his head, tears spilling over Terzo's thumbs. "I can't…" He insists. "I need you, Terzo…"

Terzo leans down, bringing his face closer to the bishop's. "I understand that. But you need to listen to me….If you truly love me, you need to go back…" A remorseful sigh leaves his lips. "I love you, my bishop…but it's time for you to head back…."

Dante grasps onto Terzo's shirt with a strong grip. "No, I just got you back! It hasn't been long enough!"

"This world is not made for the living, Dante. I need you to leave…." Terzo presses his lips against Dante's forehead, planting a lingering, sweet kiss to his skin. "Now go."

Dante takes in a shuddering breath, nodding and rising to his feet once again. "I…I understand…" As much as he yearned to stay here with his love, Terzo was right. Dante still had duties and responsibilities in life. It was too soon for him.

"I will always be waiting here for you, Dante…I love you…." Terzo holds Dante's hand, offering a small smile and kissing the bishop's knuckles, and just as suddenly as he had appeared, he was gone, and Dante found himself back in his bedroom.

Heart burning with pain and mourning, Dante gazes at the symbol he had etched on the floor, the candles surrounding it now reduced to small, smoking piles of wax. With the lingering feeling of Terzo's touch on his body, Dante lowers his head with a heartbroken sob.

"Ti voglio bene, mio amato…."

[hetamyutism]

double posting...? insane. anyways, gyaru alfred (I know the makeup isnt noticeable, mb)

[eydilily]

(look at what i have to offer) — this is the spider's nest.

[mroddmod]

everyone be quiet i'm manifesting

[majinbangus]

Being short and taking tiny steps. It's something he never really realized because you always forced yourself to keep up with his longer strides thanks to his superior height, but now as you're going home after a lunch date, he's walking behind you, and nearly bumping into you every few steps.

"You walk so slow," he states after forcing himself to slow down for the tenth time.

"Cuz I'm short. And I don't want to walk fast if I don't have to." You look over your shoulder to look up at him. "You know, you can walk ahead of me? Home isn't going anywhere, I'll meet you there."

Absolutely not. He's not gonna let you walk home alone.

Instead, he says, "I don't want to."

You let out a confused laugh, "What do you mean 'you don't want to'? You were complaining about how slow I am."

"Wasn't complaining." He pauses. "Just observing."

"But you're still rushing to get home," you point out when he almost bumps into you again.

"The game is starting in fifteen."

You roll your eyes. Him and his soccer.

"Then either walk ahead or don't. Or carry me if you're not gonna walk at my pace. I'm don't plan on speeding up, I'm tired of practically jogging just to keep up with you."

Now there's an idea.

"Alright."

"Alright?" You look at him suspiciously. "Alright what?"

"Alright I'll carry you."

Your eyes widen. "Wait-"

He doesn't let you finish, arms coming behind your back and knees, picking you up without any complaints. You squeak out his name, arms coming around his neck. "I-"

"-won't struggle to keep up with me." He shoots you a cocky look, setting a much faster pace. "We'll be home in five."

[newttxt]

lulaw bodyswap (or, the exquisite humiliation of trafalgar law) for @strawhattery's birthday!

bonus: the original toilet humor gag that ended up on the chopping block

[luftballons99]

the way people online talk about art they like is utterly intoxicating

[cj-the-random-artist]

Ok hear me out: Narilamb but they're both aroace and in a qpr.

I've been rolling around in my head for like a long long time this idea that Narinder and Lambert could both be aroace and (after like. A couple of centuries or so) end up in this like very comfortable very close relationship that neither of them define as anything specific other than calling it a "companionship". But on the other hand most of the cult thinks that they're dating in secret or something despite the fact that both of them have said they don't take lovers, because they are clearly very tight but maybe not super openly so, so maybe the cultists thing they're being secretive and hiding something or something like that. Idk but my aroace brain loves thinking about extremely close (mostly) platonic relationships and for some reason my brain decided hmm. I'm going to take this and throw it at Narilamb and see how I like it.

So then I decided to make a ridiculous joke comic about Narinder asking Lambert's hand in marriage specifically because he wants to get out of paying taxes. Because like, I know that spouse followers do actually still have to pay taxes in the actual game but. Hey Narinder and Lambert have presumably never married so they probably don't know that...? Honestly the only reason I made this was because the concept tickled me and I spent too much time on this for no one to see it, so. This comic and all it's absolute ridiculousness be upon ye.

While there's a tiny part of me that's been thinking about making this into an AU (which I'd probably call something like the "Strictly Platonic AU" or something), I know for a fact that I would blatantly not do anything legitimate with it so. It's an unofficial AU I guess?? But. Anyways. I thought this would be funny. Enjoy my ramblings and I hope you enjoy this thing that I spent. Actual time on. Lol

[mienar]

at the artist's loft

instagram | shop | commission info

[pricetagged]

Here's a young (maybe 19-early 20s) Simon struggling with his emotions, working as a butcher's apprentice, and fixating on the pretty student waitress at the café next door (':

Content: plus size f-presenting reader; allusions to domestic abuse (Simon's past); fat-shaming (not Simon); little bit of violence, unedited. (Link to Ao3)

He's not sure that it counts as desire. Interest. It crawls over him, makes him feel aggressive, makes him want to dig his teeth in and shake and snarl.

It's hunger.

And he knows hunger. Knows it like he knows the cigarette burns on the back of his hand. Knows it like he knows his old man's a waste of space and that he has to defend his mum and protect Tommy and- and-

He's the man of the house, only the house is rotten. Woodloused frames, crumbling bricks. Gutted. Empty shelves hidden behind broken doors. Chipped plaster, electricity cutting off. Squeaky steps that always clued them in when the old man was on a rager (not that it helped, creaking out a warning but giving no clue where to run. The percussion leading to a gallows' jig; the heavy step before the hit).

But the old man's gone now. And Simon is left trying to fill in the boots he doesn’t know how to wear. All growth spurt and gangly limbs and anger. So much anger at the old bastard. Tear-soaked anger at his mum sometimes (buried deep behind the shame that he feels when he thinks of her black and blue. Anger and shame, bitter roots that he chews at to soothe the clench of in his jaw and the grind of his teeth). And then he sees you through the window. Through the peeling CHRISTMAS SPECIAL sign highlighting ham joints and turkey and pigs in blankets.

You're so soft.

You look like you’ve lived a life well-fed and well-loved. Something round and sweet and helpless, like the puppies he and Tommy had seen dumped in the park while they snuck cigarettes and swigged from cheap supermarket cider.

And that brings him back to the hunger. He's an awkward creature, shuffling to the café where you work part-time. He's more feeling than man, all rage and appetite stuffed into a skin suit. You sense it too, nerves tugging at the tilt of your smile as you approach the scavenger that swept in to sit at the cheap plastic tables in this greasy spoon. He sits awkwardly, too, hunched over the table like his stomach is gnawing at him. Big hands snapping the disposable plastic coffee stirrers and shredding the napkins. That first day, he just stares at you. Sneers a little when you flutter over to take his order.

You slosh the tea a little when you serve it.

He sees the burn bloom, watches as you suck at the sting with plump cheeks and a rosy little mouth, and he just wants to dig in and scratch hard to see you do that again.

It becomes a habit, watching you. He finds out bits and pieces listening as he rends and chops and saws through muscle and bone, stinking of sweat and iron. You're here as a student. You're living in student digs (good, best that you avoid the up-and-downs and rough streets that would fit a student budget), and you're a real sweetheart. Old Sal who has been running the café for the past 30 years leans a heavy elbow on the display counter as he chats with the boss.

"She's lovely, taken to it like a fish to water," his raspy, smoke-charred voice is cheery as he waits for the bacon and sausages to be weighed and wrapped. "Only asked for Thursdays and Fridays off since she has afternoon classes then. Otherwise, I almost have to round her out of the shop, doing more afternoons and weekends than my own kid."

You're hardworking too, then. He wonders if it's because you're hungry too, needing something to do with your time, living on pot noodles and supermarket ready-meals like he'd heard some students do. It's strange how that thought sits uncomfortably, makes him want to hunch over you and bring you his scraps.

That week, he decides to talk to you. Only the words get caught, don't come out quite right as he stares at the way your jumper clings to the soft curves under your faded apron. When you turn around, bustling to other customers, he can't help but stare at the line of your skirt. It's real pretty, decent, sitting just above your knees but Christ, he wishes that it would roll up a little higher. That it would catch on the corner of a table or hitch up as you raise your arms and swish past with a tray full of fry-ups. He almost gets lucky as you bend over to mop up a spill just across the room. Your thighs widen as they press against the table, tights stretching thin and sheer and he just can't tear his eyes away-

(The hunger in his stomach turns hot and biting, makes his cheeks flush and his mouth dry-)

But it's ruined. Fly in the soup, hair in the dish, as you catch him and your eyebrows pinch together as you look away. There's something guarded, bitter, in your lovely eyes, and the dryness in his mouth turns wet and sour. You seem to take pains to avoid him, swapping out with Sal's son so that you can work the counter instead of the floor.

"'m Simon," he grunts as he goes to settle the bill. "Work at the butcher's across the street."

You clearly didn’t expect an introduction, shoulders relaxing and hesitant smile blooming as you give your name in return.

"Yeah, I know. Sal mentioned you a few times. He's tried to give me the rundown of practically everyone on the street, feels like."

"Y'should come in t'the shop," the invitation rushes out in a way that makes him feel clumsy. Perhaps that’s why he did it; to have you in his space, with his head and his footing right. Here, he feels every inch the artificial man. Pieced together, too big and too looming, with no help or guidance on how to talk to soft things and pretty girls.

You grimace a little, eyes focused on the till as you count out his change. "Not really on a butcher-shop budget right now."

"'S'alright. I can keep something aside for ya," he doesn't mention how it would come out of his wages. How it would come out of what he brought home to his mum and Tommy. It didn't matter, though, when he was used to going without.

"That's - that's really nice, actually," Your sweet face is glowing now, and he feels like he could bathe in the warmth of it. "Next time you come by lunch is on me."

He sees the way you tuck your chin and smile as he walks away, and that bottomless pit in his guts feels just a little more full.

(He doesn't quite catch the snickers of the boys at table three, whispering and nudging each other as you come to take their orders. This time.)

He stares more and more through the window of the shop, watching as you come and go. Watching the way you greet the regulars and skirt around the group of lads who like to linger in the evenings. There's something sharp, nasty, to the way they circle around the entrance. The way they cackle and hoot when the one with the eyebrow piercing smirks and whispers to his mates as they force you to brush past. They're a pack of hyenas, shrieking and smug as they toy with the poor little thing that's walked past their watering hole. He's seen this type before, practically grew up with them. His old man was probably one of them, perfecting his cruelty while young, cementing it as part of his nature.

It has Simon sharpening his knives while he grits his teeth. Has the boss tutting at him when he cuts too close to the bone.

He knows there's something violent in him. The old man tried to bring it out then snuff it out, getting scared when the knife that he sharpened was able to cut him in return. He's no stranger to bloodshed. No stranger to the calloused, deprivation-dimmed apathy that breeds like algae in the environment where he was forged. Dripping, slimy, suffocating.

Doesn't mean he likes it, though.

(He'd gone back for those puppies, you know. Felt wrong leaving them. Felt like a rebellion against his old man's sick life lessons as he dumped the box outside the doors of a local veterinary clinic).

So he keeps his eyes peeled, stakes out the café like he owns it. Stares down anyone who looks at you wrong until they look away, muttering under their breath. 'Fucking freaky dead-eyed git.' It seems to work.

And you seem to like it, sparing more smiles for him. Bringing him bigger portions than normal and topping up his cup before he even needs to ask.

"I know you've been working since seven, Simon. Gotta keep your strength up," You seem bashful as you slide the plate across, and he just eats it up.

You've been looking at him, thinking about him. It's not something he's familiar with, having someone care for him. His mum loves him, of course. Tommy too. But it’s not the same, not when it's been his job to take care of them. His job to step up to the mantle and into the shoes that his father should've filled. Watching the sway of your wide hips as he tucks into the steak and kidney pie with gusto, he feels satisfied. The hunger is there, always is, but it's not gouging at him under the skin. It's satiated, pleased. The kind of comfort that leaves his eyes heavy and his belly warm.

It's a routine you fall into, and everything is rosy-

Until it's not.

He's closing up shop, wiping down the counters and getting ready to haul down the shutters when he sees them. Those stupid pricks, travelling in their pack and signaling that their quarry is in sight. Look, there it is alone and limping and- You're in a rush, leaving later than usual and shrugging your coat on carelessly as you shout your goodbyes to Sal. You're in that skirt again, the one that makes his lower belly tighten and mouth feel dry.

"Oi, look! Dirty scrubber has her fat arse hanging out!"

It sets them off, chittering and howling as you freeze wide-eyed and lip-quivering.

"Gonna be sick, mate. Don't want to see your knickers, love. Didn't even know they came in that size."

He doesn't even see red. Doesn't see anything but your pretty, round face crumpling as you try to tug your skirt out from where it got caught under your coat.

The ringing of the bell by the door muffles the sound of the first punch. His fist crunches into that prick's nose, and he wants nothing more than to keep going until his face is little more than meat and pulp and blood. He can taste it, smells the blood in the air like a shark.

But you're watching.

"Bit bored with y'taking the piss out of her," he snarls it as he hauls the man by his jacket, shoving him hard against the wall until his head thwacks against the bricks. Easy as hauling a side of beef. "Why don't ya try me next?"

The man seems dazed, head spinning and nose dripping. His mates, too, look floored. Ready to scatter and abandon their leader to the bigger beast. Only the promise of more blood keeps them watching, feeds their nasty appetites and he's just itching to let them see. Watch what happens; it's coming for you next.

"Speechless now, eh? Had so much to say earlier," he's spitting the words out, teeth snapping as he leans down so close to the man's face that he can see how his pupils constrict. "Apologise."

And he's smarter than he would give him credit for. Smart enough to whimper out his 'sorry, sorry, sorry' as he drops to the filthy, damp pavement when Simon swivels towards the others. Something about the set of his shoulders, the way his hands and apron are splattered with the gore of man and animal, has them scattering.

"That goes for the rest of ya! Don't ever want t'see your ugly fucking mugs around here again," he spits on the ground, itches at his jaw with his wrist as he watches them run.

He can't hear them anymore. Can't hear anything over the sound of his heavy panting and pounding heartbeat.

It's cold out. He's only realising it now, standing in the December chill with just an apron over his jeans and t-shirt. It has him shaking, flexing his hand as his knuckles start to sting and swell. He welcomes it, welcomes the familiar bite as he pushes down the savage, ragged anger rippling through his chest.

"Simon-"

"Y'alright?" he cuts you off, faces you head-on.

And all the rage saps out. You're not cowering away. There's no disgust on your face. No tears or embarrassment either, no. You've got a crumpled packet of wet wipes in your hand, reaching out for him. Concerned.

"Figure you'd want to get that prick's blood off you soon as possible," you give him a sad little half-smile. "Didn't have to do all that for me, Simon."

"Yeah, didn't have to." He concedes as he steps closer to you. Crowds into your space until you're toe-to-toe and he can feel your warmth. He brushes his fingers against yours, lets them linger on your soft skin as he reaches for the wipes. "I wanted to."

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

Let's all pretend that this was okay and ignore the fact that I still haven't posted the wips that I keep going on about 🫠💖

Just a little self-indulgent drabble idea that I had today, thinking back to watching 'My Mad Fat Diary' as a teenager, feeling nostalgic ~ (The Finn-defending-Rae scene had 18yo me in a chokehold lol).

[idontwikeit]

Favorite shots of Interview with the Vampire Part II

[welcometogrouchland]

[ID in ALT] I've made posts before about Talia/Dick co-parenting Damian moments (will never happen but let me dream) and this came to me in a vision. Took me ages to finish for some reason 😭 and then even longer to post

[linipik]

Keith with traditional style tats🔥

[hirospussy]

its 6:57 in the morning and you can vaguely feel kuroo’s cock pressing against you.

with his hand pressed against your soft stomach, he silently presses against your back. you’re not really awake, but you’re not exactly asleep either.

kuroo loves morning sex, he likes to feel you and hear your whiny sounds as your eyes struggle to adjust to the early light— as they adjust to him intruding your peaceful sleep.

he’s a pervert, he thinks for a moment; wanting to press his fingers into you while you’re barely awake. he thinks he should feel guilty, but you always react so dubiously that he can’t help himself.

with his cock still rubbing against you methodically, he reaches for your little shorts and slips his hand down to your soft sweet cunt.

he runs his hand over your thighs, and every part where you connect with him. it’s not enough.

he’s slipping a hand between your folds, gently feeling you. there was no intent to get you off; just a pure moment of wanting to feel you and touch you. he slips a single finger into you and its him groaning into your shoulder.

“baby?” he murmurs against you and a small noise comes from the back of your throat, “you’re so soft,” you can hear the smile in his voice.

“i have to, baby,” he’s sitting up and gently prying your legs apart, “i have to put my cock in you baby, okay?”

he’s not really asking, more so just letting you know. he’s not wearing a condom.

your body twitches up into him as he enters you, just letting himself feel around you. your hands move up to his arms as you murmur that he “shouldn’t”.

“i don’t see you making much of an effort to stop me,” and you just let yourself whine, eyes pressed closed as kuroo is everywhere on you.

“but we shouldn’t, kuroo, we can’t,” he thinks it’s funny when you act like this because as soon as he takes his cock out, you’ll whine and groan, just like you are now. you’re so predictable.

so he does that. he moves down to your neck, kissing you lightly over, and over again. “just the tip, please. please?” you’re begging, just like he knew you would. he loves you.

“oh? just the tip?” you nod quickly, “okay baby, just the tip.”

it is not just the tip.

with one hand, he’s holding your legs up; giving himself the world-class view of watching his cock disappear into your pretty pussy.

you’re breathtaking like this. smooth, and sweet and pretty. he can’t help himself, and how could you even blame him? not when he’s so close to you, and so sweet to you as he’s smiling down at your batting eyes.

“what is it? talk to me, baby,” no words come out, just a soft hiccup coming from your lips. “you don’t have to do anything, you’ve done enough,” his eyes soften with the softness in his smile; which do not correspond to the way hes moving in and out of you.

kuroo and you have never fucked without a condom before, and it shows. it feels so intensely different, with the knowledge that this is something you shouldn’t be doing, it’s explosive.

“gonna cum in you, yeah? just let me take care of you.”

“kuroo, we- we can’t, we shouldn’t,” you’re pathetically murmuring, hips moving up towards him. everything you’re saying is contradicting your actions, it’s silly.

“okay baby, yeah, i won’t, dont worry, ” kuroo lies. with your face buried into his neck, you mouth at the skin there, unable to say much.

he tells you how good you feel, how your cunt is so soft and he just can’t help it.

“you’re so warm,” you whine into him, the feeling of him cumming in you foreign, it doesn’t feel right.

kuroo reaches down to kiss you wherever he can manage to reach you, his arms keeping you where you are.

“good morning.”