#those screws took some persuasion!

[wolfavens]

i put together a shelf. am i proud? so proud. handiness level 5. spare parts 0. most interesting sim in the world. hell yeah 🙈

[thekinkyleopard]

The Midnight Snack

An Alistar x Kanai non-canon Snz Fic

A Threequel to:

“The Gathering” & “The Happy Ending”

⚠️Content Warning⚠️

Snz Fet, Fluff, Persuasion, Contagion, Smut

Author’s Notes: Idk how I let you guys so easily talk me into new fics when my requests are closed and I have so many other things I need to write but…UNCLE FUCKING CHRIST I LOVE YOU INSATIABLE GREMLINS OF SNZ. Here we are with a third part??? Already? So quickly? Who am I??? A brand new bitch. Anyway. A third to a fic I only thought I’d write one and be done with? Wild. THIS IS A THREEQUEL TO “The Gathering” & “The Happy Ending” in order to understand context, go to my blog and read those first! Id link them, but I’m lazy. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Here we go! Nai’s turn 🥳 @aller-geez Owns Draeko and Kanai, and did the art!

Description: Al wakes up in the middle of the night, still sicker than ever. He finds a way to snag his best friend’s attention…and talk him into a little late night, snack.

It was just past midnight, Draeko was fast asleep, conked, splayed out on his back. Mouth wide open, but still just as cute as he always was. He was actually taking up too much room, however, and he wound up pushing the demon he was bed-sharing with, off it. Alistar fell to the floor with a loud thud, groaning lowly as the fond fog of sleep escaped him. Suddenly extremely aware, and reminded by how sick he was still. His body was wet, slick with sweat and his sinuses were full. Weak and shaky. He couldn’t breathe out his nose, and his eyes felt heavier than usual when he was awakened. Exhaustion never felt so exhausting.

Alistar slowly came to a stand, swaying back and forth in his boxer briefs, the dizziness taking him in a chokehold. “Water….” He muttered dryly looking around the room only to find empty water bottles and nothing worth quenching his thirst. He would have to go to the kitchen. The redhead stumbled slowly through the apartment, and into the dining room where he was met with an ever wide awake Kanai. Glued to his screen. “You’re still up?” He asked with a slow blink of his squinting black eyes, trying to adjust to the brightened beams of the overhead lighting.

The Navy haired demon looked up, and made eye contact with his pathetic looking best friend. “I am…I’m surprised you aren’t sleeping off your ailments,” cocking his head to a slight angle as he looked over the red head with curiosity.

“Yeah…the pet quite literally scooted me out the bed…came to get some water…” he yawned over once that followed with a sharp, abrasive cough. The hound winced at the scene.

“Do that, your throat sounds very dry, Donnie,” the hellion spoke certainly before his gaze went back into his research. Alistar went to open his mouth, but closed it again with a loud snarf.

“Hm,” he responded, if one could say that. Alistar then made his way into the kitchen, and pulled the fridge open in one motion. It took him a second to register through the different items before he spotted a fresh bottle of water. The one thing that was inconvenient was having to hydrate the vessel. Drinking water wasn’t customary in hell.

In fact, it had been such a problem, Al ended up in critical condition several times from dehydration. Kanai had to set alarms to remind the demon to drink water. By now, it was starting to become more routine to actually hydrate but, it felt like such a stupid task to perform. The redhead snagged the bottle of liquid and shut the fridge door. He quickly snapped the lid off and pressed the bottle to his chapped pierced lips. Chugging half the bottle as much as he was capable without being able to breathe in the process. He pulled the bottle from his mouth and gasped loudly as he swallowed. “Fuck…” he heaved for a few moments, catching his breath.

Lazily, he screwed the cap back on and carried it out with him back to the dining room. Kanai did not look up this time though he could feel the presence of the other now, his duo colored, blacked eyes scanned the illuminated words before him. Al leaned against the doorway, watching the hound carefully. His head thudded painfully, his skull feeling far too big for the flesh on his head. He squinted, trying to will the pounding away. “Nai?”

“Yes, Donnie?” The hound responded, still not looking up from his current project at hand.

“Will you rub my head?” Bringing the butt end of his palm to his left hand temple, he ground into it, hoping to relieve the pressure. It just wasn’t the same when it was from one’s own inflicting. Now the navy haired male looked up and cocked a brow, eyes scanning over the sore features of his friend’s face. He shrugged his shoulders and slid back in his chair, patting the space between his legs. Without missing a beat, Alistar quickly made hast and made his way over to make himself comfortable between the hound’s open legs. He was wearing a long black band tee with loose grey sweatpants, a lazy fit that he either never changed from the night before, or specifically put on to lounge and research in. Either way, Al found it endearing.

The red head settling in, his shoulders squeezed by each one of Nai’s slender knees. The pressure was comforting. In a few short seconds, and after a few clicks, a video began to play. While it did, the hellion brought both his grey hands to the mess of Al’s loose red hair. Normally in a ponytail, but down and free for the night. His fingers tangled within the damp threads to reach the sides of Alistar’s head, he pressed his prints down, rubbing small individual circles with his digits. The demon groaned with pleasure allowing his neck to loosen and fall back into the sensation.

As the video played, discussing the deeper theoretics to physical and psychological bonding between humans, the hound watched closely as his fingers dug into his friend’s skull. Moving in short calculated circles on each side of the anti-Christ’s temples. “S’good Donnie?” Asking distractedly while his eyes watched the screen closely.

“Mhmmm….” The redhead melted into a puddle but the more he began to relax, the stronger that familiar, delightful tickle presented itself inside his frontal sinuses. “hE..hH…” he struggled and stuttered.

“Just let it out, Al,” The hound told him lazily, his hands still roughly mulling and pushing into the demon’s skull.

“HehH’eEZSCHhh’iiEW…..” Alistar sneezed into the palm of his open hands, a cloud of mistral spit coating the surface of his blackened skin. “Ooff…”

“That was a big one,” Kanai ruffled his palm through the demon’s red hair now. He looked down, and Al looked up, their eyes met and the anti-Christ smirked, lifting his brows suggestively.

“Want to try it?” The redhead braved the question, not sure he could canoodle his way through Kanai’s current train of all night deep dives…but he was going to fucking try.

“What?” The hound asked curiously tilting his head as he continued to gaze down lifelessly at his best friend.

“Sneezing and fucking,” Alistar responded back with an air of causality that continued to draw the other in. Playing on the hound’s innate need for exploration.

“Why?” Furrowing his brows with slight confusion now. What was the purpose?

“It feels REALLY good,” The demon continued through his powers of persuasion, his lips pulling up into a half smirk before licking them once.

“But I’m not sneezing,” Kanai now frowned, realizing the flaw to this plan already.

“Not YET…” Al held up a finger, drawing attention back onto the metaphorical drawing board.

“It would take a while…” the grey skinned man responded flatly but only because he was teetering the edge of thought, contemplating his desire to experience more feelings.

“Well listen, we could both benefit from this research,” Alistar continued, he was going to go down without a fight and he could already seen the hound weighing thinner the longer they kept on the topic.

“Okay, so it’s research?” Kanai raised a thin brow in his response, voice still flat with a slight hitch of interest.

“Yes,” The redhead grinned, a hint of mischief gleamed behind his black holes. Now he had Kanai right where he wanted him.

“Okay,” Now he was listening attentively, his fingers unconsciously continued to rub and dig at the other’s tense skull. It seemed to starve off the burning sensations that cause the anti-Christ to explode.

“I want to know what it feels like to be the one getting fucked while sneezing…you know, what’s that like? The FEELING..” Alistar emphasizes on the right words to keep his friend’s attention, and consideration.

“Okay…?” In a certain light, Alistar could see Kanai slipping away, but still holding on for dear life as he was always desperate to understand the redhead.

“Yes, and in order for you to also experience that feeling, you’d need to get sick,” Al continued his explanation, knowing somewhere through, he would get him fully back again.

“Right,” Kanai responded with a confident nod. Like a train on time, he was at the station, Alistar felt excitement bubbling up from within his lower stomach.

“Two BIRDS, Kanai, one stone,” too excited, the redhead threw him a curve ball, hoping his time on earth and influence may have caught up by now.

“What birds? Why a stone?” The Navy haired hellion was lost again. Alistar slapped his hand to his forehead, regretting it instantly as his brain rang around inside his skull like a giant gong.

“No…Uncle Fucking Christ…It’s a human metaphor…two problems solved with one solution…I’m sick now..you fuck me, get sick by tomorrow…follow?” He spelled it out a little more easily for him now. Kanai squinted but then nodded his head quickly in understanding, signaling to Alistar he was back in the game. Just still a little confused about the end plan.

“Following, not entirely sure where it’s leading,” he replied back honestly. Yet, it was still progress Al needed to continue.

“You get sick, I fuck YOU, boom, now you know the feeling, RESEARCH, Complete,” he pointed at Kanai, then himself, then back at Kanai and made an explosion motion with his opening fist.

“Hmm..” He sat on it for a second, he calculated the experience. Though carnal sexual experiments weren’t on his top ventures of research, he certainly wasn’t against them. Humans were incredibly sexual beings. Often he wanted to understand the nuances behind different kinks and concepts. Sexual experiences were half of what being human was about, for those that weren’t asexual that is! Fascinating the world is…he almost trailed out of the room on the topic. He did however, circle back and found himself leaning into his curiosity.

“Eh? Eh??” Alistar chimed in, knowing the distant look in Nai’s gaze meant he was wandering in a mind maze.

“Okay, yes,” Quickly he made his decision, nodding his head to match his verbal consent, and Alistar was in. Oh man, dessert had never been so sweet. The demon was a glutton for sex, compared to the other. He wanted it all the time, every way. There was no wrong way to have sex EXCEPT, without consent. You’d think as a demon it would be the opposite. Nope.

He had felt the indescribable sensations of being tightly wrapped around Drae’s hole while he blew his nose off the surface of his face. Now he would get the opposite feeling, he wanted to be stuffed to the brim, the ultimate feeling of fullness. It had to be phenomenal.

“Amazing…” truthfully, it was. Alistar was beyond excited as his throat burned and prickled with anticipation. Draeko couldn’t top him, even if he mustered the courage, Alistar couldn’t take him seriously enough. Kanai was perfect. They’d already done so a million times, so he knew it would be good. No one else in the group would give him the time of day…quick fix? Kanai. Good fix. Reliable. Loyal. He bit his lower lip, sucking on it once while Kanai searched the red head’s gaze.

“Don’t just stare at me, dude, fuck me,” rolling his eyes impatiently, he may be bottoming but he was still very much going to be doing all the bossing around. The navy haired hellion smirked lifelessly, but with that sparkle Al recognized only from hell.

“Of course, Donnie…” he replied, wrapping his hand around the underside of Alistar’s jaw gripping it to lift him from his spot on the ground. The demon gasped, his throat tightened and it triggered something buried. No longer was it held dormant by the stress relief of a massage. Like a kinked hose now, he lifted Al into his lap and as he was straddled, Kanai forced Al’s face down into a hard, aggressive kiss. Their tongues slid together quickly, rushed, and furious. The two fought ferociously for dominance, neither wishing to give up the feat but Al ground himself needlessly into the hound’s lap bucking lap. Almost throwing Kanai completely off his win.

The hound parted their lips and took a fistful of Alistar’s bright crimson locks, pulling his face back to look at the brightened light on the ceiling above him. “Go on now, Donnie, the floor is yours…” he let out a breathless chuckle. A joke he personally felt like he nailed, but his opportunity to bask in it fell short before the redhead’s body trembled and twitched. His chest collapsed and rose with such quickness, Nai looked between it and the hellion’s jarring maw.

“HEHH’DZSCHh’iEEW!” He blew out fast, and without much time or means to be polite, he sneezed into his friend’s unsuspecting face. Kanai blinked a few times feeling the new arrival of wetness hit him so suddenly in a fine mist, a few dense drops included.

“Wow…yours are very loud compared to Luciftias…” the hound noted outwardly, Alistar blushed as his thighs tightened around Kanai’s haunches.

“Bad thing? SnNdfF….” The redhead asked curiously, looking downward at his friend from the still ‘pulled hair’ position, blackened scleras half lidded.

“No…curious to how it’ll feel when you tighten up around me though,” the navy haired hellion spoke earnestly while trailing his free hand up the back of Al’s spinal chord. He shivered, gritting his teeth and rolling his shadow orbs behind his skull. He ground his hips with hungry force downward into the other’s lap, already feeling Kanai’s length growing hard in his sweats. It felt so prominent from the thin material of his own boxers, but not enough to satisfy. Just a tease.

“Oh, man, it’s gonna…Hh…feel so goHOuhd Hhah’AETSHH!” This time he aimed himself to the side, trying to have some shred of decency as this one sent his body rocking aimlessly against the other. His nose dripped and his mouth was so numb that he couldn’t even feel it. Kanai reached up and thoughtfully, wiped the ick from his face then onto the side of his pants.

“I concur,” his hand now slid up to grip the back of Al’s neck, his grasp was tight, sharp nails dug painfully into the flesh there. From two points of his head he was being forced in the position to stare at the light, that burning, triggering light. What was it about the brightness that just sent one into oblivion?

“Fuck, Nai…” he growled hoarsely, snuffling loudly afterwards. Alistar, in solid calculated motions, rolled his hips in tight circles wanting so badly to feel the slightly shorter man’s thick length, pulsating through him while his sinuses had their way with him. Kanai, on the other hand, as pheromones and hormones started to over take him, let go of the demon, momentarily. Only to pick him up by his thighs, shoving his laptop out the way using Al’s body, he forced him onto the table.

“Oooh some fire in your fucking loins…that’s it Nai, you want this….you want my cold…yo-HiH’AESSH’UE! Heh’TZsch!” Blasting inconveniently over Kanai’s face once more but this time the hellion simply licked the wet substance from his mouth. Unfazed by the assault.

“I want it…” the hound rumbled from deep within his chest as his hands began to claw the other’s boxers from off his body, tossing them across the room. Alistar sneered, sniffling twice, loudly to needlessly try and clear himself enough to breathe through his nose, watching Kanai through glossy, watering black holes. No such luck when he only found his snuffs increased the endless prickle that danced up and down his face and throat.

“Hh..hah..” Kanai crashed their mouths back together in an aggressive motion, swapping those fresh bacterium and swallowing the hellion’s incoming sneeze. So the hound thought. Yet through the roughened kiss, it persisted. His nose trickled between the mess of saliva that swapped between the two. Hands violently gripped at each other’s arms…legs…Kanai stood between the redhead’s thighs. He gripped them, almost for support, or almost, as if he intended to rip them clean off his friend’s body. Alistar groaned animalisticaly as he pulled on Nai’s lower lip. “Hheh’EZSCH!” Again, the onslaught of facial blows never ceased, it was certain within a few hours Kanai would be crawling out of his room with a fever that was inhuman. Al sat back to look upon the mess he made, chuckling with snarky satisfaction. Nai smirked, and brought up a thumb to wipe at the wet on his lip.

“So messy, you are, Alistar,” breaking the silence between the sound of staggered breaths.

“Just making sure I’m thorough, friend,” he winked his leaking blackened eye with a flirtatious smirk. The hound scoffed, and then he looked down at the red head’s exposed, hardened length, and swiftly, spit in his hand. Taking hold of the desperate cock, and slowly twisting his palm around it.

“Very kind..we don’t want to miss a bird…did I get that right?” Kanai’s voice was smooth, like room temperature butter onto crispy toasted bread. Almost like he became more composed as Alistar began to unravel.

“A-ah…yo-..hnn..sure did…” the red headed demon gritted through his clenched teeth now, hips involuntarily bucking against Kanai’s skilled working hand.

“Very good,” the hound whispered with a seductive husk, only causing the anti-Christ to slip further into pleasure as he released his control to him. He loosened under the sheer pleasant motions, his clogged up sinuses only turned harder against him. So they thought…If sneezes were sentient.

“Hah~…Hnn…Hh’HTSSCZH!” He flung a few inches forward by the sheer force of it, biting his lower lip hard he snuffed and snorted. “SNDF!” It felt so unbelievably good, a mini release as the hound tugged on his aching cock.

“Don’t waste them all before I’m even inside, Donnie…you’ll be very displeased,” licking his own lips now, Kanai was watching closely to the pleasant twists and turns of his partner’s pleasured expressions.

“Oh shit…don’t fuckin’ say tha—-HAH..TZSCHH!” Involuntarily another shot out, the more his pleasure increased it seemed the more persistent it became as Nai’s hand twisted, and squeezed around him. The Navy haired demon now slightly concerned his friend would run out of viral steam if he didn’t speed this up. To Al’s dismay, Kanai removed his hand long enough to pull his sweats down for just a few moments, as he untucked his own throbbing erection from behind the material.

“We shouldn’t waste anymore time, should we ?” Kanai taking his friend’s current state as a signal to move forward in the task at hand. Alistar’s experience. The red head was greeted with a sudden sense of clarity as his cock twitched in open air, he reached forward and gripped Kanai tightly by his left hip, bringing him closer. While looking down, he squinted a watering eye and then hocked a fat lump of spit across the tip of the other’s length.

Alistar reached down between them and took the moistened length in his open grip, sliding the saliva to coat it around every corner of the flesh, while Kanai’s head bobbed, struggling to stay upright in this motion. Eventually, the hound snapped his head back up, his gaze falling over Al’s as their eyes locked. He gripped the redhead’s flame cladden wrist and tossed it off his dick, before gripping Al’s thighs tightly. He spread them apart and pulled him closer to the edge of the table to expose his waiting hole.

“That’s right you’re going to fuck that tight ass, aren’t you, Nai?” It was hard to ignore his hormonal desires within, but they were burning like the many fires bursting inside of him. His nose continued to tickle, and he was closer to another. Almost he could taste it, metallic. He moaned low in his aching throat.

“I am…I need to now,” The hell hound grunted, jaw clenching as he pressed himself at Al’s entrance, prodding impatiently. Losing his sense of collectiveness he was nothing more than an animal subject to his natural desires.

“Yeah, Nai? You need to? Prove to me how bad you need it, my friend” Alistar reached up behind Kanai and gripped a handful of Navy blue locks, pulling their sweating foreheads together in a rough motion.

“With pleasure…Donnie..” Nai huffed breathlessly before he pushed himself fully inside, sheathed within the tightened entrance, and stayed soaking there as the redhead let out a hoarse grunt. “Come on Al, give it a go….” Slowly, at the pace of a sloth crossing the street he began to pull his length out and Al, between this pleasurable feeling and allowing the build within him rise, opened his jaw involuntarily.

“Eh’Hih’TSZZCH! HIH’T-CHS’UH!” In perfectly timed rhythm, Kanai pushed himself back in, and slammed full hilt.

“How’s it…A-Al?” He managed through a clenched jaw, his muscles flexing at the strain of such a tight fit.

“F-Fucking Amazi-ng…Nai…Don’t stop, I swea-Hh’hih… I’ll kill yo- H’TDZSCH! you…” like a broken dam, the flood gate came undone, he pushed his hips outward to meet with each powerful thrust, leg clasped around one of the hound’s rocking hips to forcefully increase the pace. “HARDER,” he hissed, to which the other hellion responded accordingly, with a breathless sneer.

“Yes, Sir,” he replied smoothly, if not with a slightly muted groan, his length felt incredible, tightened and squeezed so much more abruptly when the demon was fitting. “You’re so …much..tighter…Al…” he grunted as he continued to throw himself inside from each pull outward. His shaking grey hands gripped with an impeccably strong force against Al’s thighs, his skin there reddening with each passing second. It only added to the challenge as Nai’s grip made it harder for Alistar to meet each thrust, almost edging his impeding release.

“I can-… Huh’AESSH’ue! H’hH’EezSCH! can’t wait to feel you tomorrow…” continuing the thought regardless of the messy particles of spit and sick that spilled between then, hitting every square space of flesh within it’s wake.

“I’m…going to cum, Al,” the hound warned, his grip only getting tighter, his groin twisting as his hips began to thrust with less calculated movements. Alistar brought a hand behind Kanai, pushing him deeper, as if it were possible. Just brushing against his prostrate, Alistar took hold of his leaking, impatient cock and began to stroke to each thrusting motion.

“Just hold on…I’m almost..Al-m…Hh’Hah..” he now peered back up at the ceiling light, needing just a little help getting there…but ol’ reliable never fails as he felt that same, erotic, masterful feeling. Like when your foot falls asleep, that same static electricity that trickled through the nerves, but instead it’s in your face. The redhead stuttered, his body clenched as the onslaught of Kanai’s thrusting length struck his magic chord, and his hand tugged despairingly at his own overstimulated cock. “HH’HEHTZSCH!” A three in one opportunity, Alistar sneezed, and came hard in short strands all over his tired digits.

Kanai now, as well, grunting with force, hips slapping to full hilt before he spilled over inside the insistent demon. They both huffed, and puffed, Alistar sniffled, snorted and snuffed. “Snddddfff,”

“Well…” Kanai almost gasped, pulling his spent cock from the inside of his best friend’s now leaking hole. He leaned against the table, both palms gripping the edge as he caught himself up to sane levels of thought.

“Well….” The crimson haired demon replied with his own breathless expression.

“How was it?” Standing up straight, the hound now tucked his soaked, softening shaft back under the hem of his sweatpants, Al taking this opportunity to hop off the table and take hold of the water bottle he originally brought in.

“Phenomenal, Kanai, you gotta try that,” pausing between catching his breath to account his feelings on the experience.

“We shall see later this day, won’t we?” Responding in his usual dry, monotonous fashion, seemingly having regulated himself enough to speak more coherently.

“We shall…snnddfff..” regardless of the high he was currently riding, Alistar was still unrelieved of having this illness. Though he did feel a thousand times lighter the same way he did with Drae earlier. Ah yes, this was the life. Variety.

“I am not looking forward to that part though…” Kanai referred to the dripping of Al’s nose and wild sniffling to get any real sense of air.

“You get used to it…” the red head shrugged his shoulders simply, he began to work at the lid of his water bottle again, unscrewing it off completely with a twist of his index and thumb.

“Sure…I’m going to go shower now,” Nai much more exhausted now than he had been originally, turned from the chair and began to walk towards the hallway of rooms.

“Hmm..enjoy, I’m gonna chug the rest of this water and, try to sleep…” he yawned but it only all too quickly followed with a loud painful hacking cough. He hit his chest with a closed fist to clear his throat enough that he could take a sip of his water and sooth the onslaught.

“Good luck resting, Donnie,” Kanai yawned waving behind, stretching his shoulders before he turned in the direction of the hall.

“See you tomorrow to complete our research,” Al responded back, running his hand through sweaty locks of red hair.

“See you tomorrow,” And then the hell hound disappeared, retiring to clean himself up in preparation for the day’s later activities.

The End

Author’s Notes: I’ll have you know before I was even halfway done with this piece, Geezie came up with an idea for a FOURTH installment to this series….so yeah. It’s coming if you couldn’t tell behind Al and Nai’s conversation 🫣🫨 First accidental Snz Series when I had my first snz series planned already….but I guess I’ll just have to do both. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[reyla-the-black-wolf]

Unexpected

(my first fic omg!!)

☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎

☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎

Writing prompt: here

Pairing: f!reader x batboys

Word Count: 1.5k

Warnings: brief mentions of fighting, injury and blood, slight angst

Summary: You wanted to help, but made a mistake. Thankfully, your family understands

☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎

To my surprise, the training ring was empty. Usually it’s occupied by Cassian and Azriel. Or the Valkyries. But today I was lucky. I had just returned from a mission in Windhaven and needed to work off some rage. Those stubborn Illyrians! So narrow-minded and aggressive. I went there to make sure the girls and women got some training, but as always, it takes a lot of persuasion to get these bigots to actually train them. A few discussions later and maybe some fighting, I felt like beating them up again. 

Anyway, I was relieved to be back in the House of Wind. I wouldn’t have to worry about them for a while and my mind could relax. Leaving my satchel on the golden sand of the training ground, I walked towards the centre. Already dressed in my fighting gear, I started throwing punches into the air, to release some of my tension. The sound of my breathing, the crunching of sand beneath my boots, the smell of dried blood on my clothing and nothing but the silence surrounded me. 

Unfortunately, it didn’t last long. Recognising heavy footsteps behind me, I stopped and turned around, growling on the inside. Standing in front of me, was my older brother Cassian. Two heads taller, all muscled and with a look of amusement on his face. „Has the air done something, to upset you?“, a grin creeping upon his lips. „Maybe you did something to annoy me as usual.“, I countered, teasing him a bit. „We haven’t even seen each other today!“, he dramatically placed a hand on his chest in pain. I chuckled in response. „Don’t worry, I’m fine.“ Obviously, I didn’t sound very convincing, because he looked me up and down, as if searching for any wounds. His amusement and grin faded as he sniffed the air. 

„Is that blood?“, asked Cass, alarmed. „Don’t worry, it’s not mine.“, I huffed, thinking about the man in the camp earlier, who refused to follow my orders. „Is that supposed to reassure me?“, he said, worry in his tone. It took all of my nerves, not to roll my eyes at him. „There are bloodstains on your clothes y/n! Tell me what happened.“, the anger in his voice better not to be ignored. 

„Nothing bad happened. At least not really.“, I continued, feeling a little guilty. „I saw Rhysand’s request for women’s training on your desk this morning. There’s been so much going on in your life lately, with Nesta, your missions and your position as Commander. So I thought, I’d help you out and make sure those idiots follow your commands.“ He listened in silence. „Well, one of the men I was arguing with, repeatedly refused to train any woman… so maybe I lost my temper and lashed out.“ I could literally feel Cass’ distress. But also his fury. „He didn’t like that one bit.“, I said, laughing nervously. „We started wrestling on the ground and he tried to go for my throat, but I was faster, so my fist struck his jaw. The man lost some teeth and his blood spilled on my clothes. That’s how I got it, but I’m all right. Just like I told you.“ I held my head up high, as if protesting like a little child.

 „You could’ve been seriously injured. I know your fighting is great. I trained you myself.“, he looked at me with brotherly love in his hazel eyes, „but you have to be more careful!“ I sighed. „And next time, I suggest you ask me, if there’s anything you can do to help. Otherwise, please keep your hands off my tasks, okay?“ He sounded concerned, but the anger in his eyes was definitely a warning. „´Cause if you don’t, then I'll have to deal with whatever you might have screwed up later, understand?“ I glared at him, feeling like an immature child, being disciplined by its father. But after a while, I agreed with him. „Oh, and could you please not tell Rhys about this accident?“, I pleaded, looking up at him with big doe eyes. 

„Tell me what?“, a sinister voice asked, before Cass had a chance to answer. We turned, to see Rhys and Azriel walking towards us with long strides. Damn it… 

Azriel’s shadows surrounded me in an instant, as if to make sure everything was alright. Goosebumps spread down my neck, as they swirled up and down my body. With a pleading look in my eyes, I looked up at Cassian. He shifted his reproachful gaze from his brothers down to me. „Cassian!“, I warned him, „Don’t you dare.“ His eyebrows shot up, as if to say they’re my brothers! I won’t lie to them!

I know, I've done something wrong. But does the High Lord really need to know about it? 

Az and Rhys exchanged some puzzled glances, while I scowled at Cass.

„Why do you smell of blood?“, Rhys suddenly asked in a serious tone, sniffing the air. Before I could answer him, Cass cut me off. „She smells like that, because she completed the mission, you assigned me to do this morning.“ Great! Thanks brother! „You went to Windhaven?“, Rhysand’s voice was like the calm before a storm. A shiver ran down my spine. The tension was building around the three of us. With guilt in my voice I replied: „Yes, I did. I only wanted to help Cass with his duties.“ I tried not to look down at my feet. 

„Some things got out of hand, but in my defense, you Illyrians can be pretty stubborn!“ „You had a little fight, didn’t you?“, Rhys stated, unable to hide his smirk. Unwilling to meet his eyes any longer, I turned my gaze to his jacket. My eyes followed the silver threads on it. Rhys studied me for a moment, before speaking. „If you wish to work more y/n, just let me know, okay?“ Sympathy flashed in his violet eyes, as I gathered the strength to look up again. „I’m sure, we’ll find something for you.“ I swallowed, not sure what to answer. 

„It was kinda foolish, wasn’t it?“ „Y/n, you’re still young. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. We’ll make sure everything goes well in Windhaven.", he assured me. "Please leave that in our hands.“ I nodded. „We could also tell you many stories about your brother and his nonsense, when he was your age.“, Azriel interrupted. His cheeks turning slightly red, Cass intervened: „That’s not for her ears, Az!“ „I’d love to hear those stories one day.“, I chuckled, glad the tension was easing. „Oh, I think she’s old enough, Cas.“, Rhys smiled. „I dare you to tell her!“ A laugh escaped my lips at his defensiveness. „We’ll see about that, but for now let’s go to lunch.“, he demanded. „Elain and Feyre have cooked something for us today. And my stomach is already rumbling.“ With a sigh of relief, that the subject was over for today, Cassian relented and walked to the edge of the training ring. Grinning, I picked up my bag and followed them. Silently thanking Rhys for his understanding and support.

☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎

After a quick shower, I now sat at the table, eating the meal, Feyre and Elain had cooked for us. It tasted absolutely delicious. My eyes wandered around and caught Mor stealing some vegetables from Az’ plate. Elain talking to Feyre about some art designs. I closed my eyes to enjoy this  moment with my family. 

A deep, rumbling laugh to my left, brought me back to the ongoing conversation. „I wouldn’t do that, if I were you!“, Cas pointed his fork at Rhysand. „My little sister is perfectly capable of defending herself.“ Pride in his voice. Rhys turned his attention to me. „Y/n, at least tell me, you’ve given that guy a lesson about what happens, when he doesn't respect women?“ „I kicked some of his teeth out. Was that enough?“, I asked with an innocent smile. „I wouldn’t want to fight with you.“, Feyre grinned, as she cut a piece of meat in half. Her mate spoke, while holding his wine glass: „Well, it doesn’t hurt them to be put in their place occasionally.“ He gave me a knowing wink and I blushed. 

The conversation went on, until Az began to tell a story about an embarrassing event, that happened to my older brother recently. He stopped abruptly, when Cass lunged forward and tried to silence him. The others, myself included, were still sitting at the table, all laughing at the ridiculous scene that was unfolding in front of us. Cass and Az were rolling around on the floor in an attempt to fight each other. Mor and Rhys already started betting on who was going to win. All the laughter around me, warmed me to the depths of my soul. The man in the camp already forgotten. The tension from earlier today, completely gone by now. Tears of joy welled up in my eyes. I made a mental note, to always remember this beautiful moment with my family. Because right now, they’re all that matters. 

☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎☾⭐︎☽⭐︎

Omg, can't believe it right now! I posted my first fanfiction ever! I'm so excited :)

If anybody reads this, I hope you liked it! I'm always open to improvements and criticism. Although I'm new here, feel free to send me requests if you want. I'd love that :) Also, English is my second language, so if there are any mistakes, I'm sorry...

[itjazzbicch]

Giving in

Pairing:  Smoker x Lieutenant!Fem Reader 

First time writing for Smoker, so I hope I did well! 

Summary: Returning to the Marines after an injury and reuniting with her vice admiral, Smoker, the reader convinces him to have a fun night where they both give in to some hidden thoughts...

Warnings:  SMUT! (18+ ONLY! MINORS & AGELESS BLOGS DNI! YOU WILL BE BLOCKED!) Swearing, drinking/drunk sex, unprotected sex, use of devil fruit powers (in a good way *wink*), oral M receiving

Word Count: 1.5k 

“Where do you think you’re going, huh?!”

Awe, poor Smokey didn’t catch these pirates in one swoop? He must’ve lost his touch a little while I was gone.

His footsteps seized in the dark alley, taking guard and thinking he was facing another threat as I fell from a balcony, giving a quick pound to those bandits, my voice making him ease up:

“There’s no point in running. So, quit your squirming!”

“Y/N?” Guess Smokey needed to see me to believe it, getting just that as I showed my face in the sunlight, smiling at him:

“Hey, Smokey! Did ya miss me? Hehe!”

“When did you get out of the infirmary?” A couple of weeks back, I got tangled in a mess with some big-time pirates; I got shot in the process, so I was out of commission, but I was back and happy to see Smokey, keeping my explanation short:

“Yesterday!”

“Are you fully recovered?” Of course, he had more questions, playing off with a swat of my hand:

“I’m like new. Don’t worry about me. Let’s worry about these punks, huh? Looks like you lost your touch while I was gone.”

“Yeah, right,” He rolled his eyes at me, blowing smoke from his cigars, coming and helping me take in the bandits I caught.

It took some persuasion, but we had nothing important on our agenda when we were done, so I talked him into going and getting some drinks.

Believe it or not, Smokey knew how to have some fun. We lost track of time in the bar, having more rounds than I probably should have, but I was all smiles.

“Oh man, Smokey!” I laughed while he told me some things that happened while I was gone, holding his knee from wheezing but smiling at him, “I missed you! I’m so happy I’m out of that damn infirmary. It was starting to drive me mad.”

“Missed you too, you silly drunk,” He teased, standing up and wrapping one of my arms around him.

“Awe, we’re ending the party already?!” I pouted but followed, pouting more at his words:

“You’ll live. We got work to do tomorrow, and the last thing I need is a hung-over lieutenant.”

“Okay, okay,” I sighed, heading back to our temporary headquarters, resting against his chest, picking my head up to smile, “I had fun tonight, and I promise you, I’m better than ever. You won’t have to worry about me, alright?”

I knew that the news of me getting fatally wounded worried him when he first learned about it, but that was in the past. Wanting it to stay there and look forward to the future, kissing his cheek as I cooed softly:

“Goodnight, Vice-admiral.”

Just when I thought it was time to call it a night, things took a wild turn that I didn’t see coming, his lips finding mine before I could turn away.

Despite the bitter taste of lingering liquor and cigars, just that tiny kiss made my blood run hot, and I was surprised by the softness of his lips.

Pulling back and standing up straight, I kept blinking, trying to process that he just kissed me. He was doing the same. It was clear that he subconsciously gave in to some thoughts.

“Y/N, I-“

“Wrong or right,” I whispered, needing a breath, hands gripping his jacket, the desire for more settling into my eyes and voice, “You should do that again. What harm would it do?”

“Ugh,” He sighed, debating before giving into his thoughts, mumbling while returning to my lips, “Screw it.”

He was always so uptight and liked to stay professional, but the way he kissed me and gripped my hips showed that he couldn’t fight it, backing me into my room, koala hugging him with my tongue roaming his mouth, the groan he let out with a tight squeeze of my thighs making me giggle:

“Relax a little, Smokey. You did kiss me first, by the way.”

“You know something?” Clinging to the back of his neck while he threw off his jacket, I only cocked my eyebrow at him, suddenly sunk into the mattress from his weight, a little hard to breathe as he kissed, “You talk too much.”

His kiss was so hot, our hips started to grind against one another. It only took moments for me to lose any damns that I gave.

“Oh, it’s like that?” I panted, finding room between kisses to start throwing off my clothes, hands roaming over his muscles and down to his belt buckle, just for my wrists to be taken by smoke and pinned above my head.

All he did was chuckle at me, his devil fruit powers keeping me still, only able to watch the little show presented to me as his pants and briefs disappeared, the sight of him fully nude making me pant again:

“You’re lucky that you’re so hot.”

“That right?” He chuckled, fixing himself between my legs, gasping at his cock, stretching me, bodies radiating massive heat.

“So hot!” I whined, responding to his actions rather than his words, shaking just from being fed his tip, hips working to give me more.

“Lost that sass of yours pretty quick,” Taunting me put a giant smirk on his face, never seeing me so submissive to anything, hand squeezing and fondling my breasts as they bounced from his thrusts, my back arching from the nudges against my sweet spot, lips glistening as I babbled out:

“A-Alright! I get it! Jus-; Ugh, keep makin’ me feel g-good!”

At that moment, our little teasing game ended, his smoke disappearing and freeing my hands, coming closer and letting me get the contact I needed, having my knees almost touch my shoulders, thrusting his cock deeper, and quickly learning why I gave up the attitude.

“You’re so fucking good, Smokey-y, uh! Ahh!”

Not having my needs fulfilled in such a long time just to be rammed by these sudden bursts of pleasure had my ears ringing, all those drinks from earlier catching up to me and making me feel as if I were on a different planet or something.

Hearing a gush before feeling such a wet mess down my thighs and ass, Smokey showed some care as he slowed his pace, leaving some kisses on my neck as he asked:

“Still feeling good?”

“Mhm,” I huffed before looking to meet his gaze with my puppy dog eyes, “One more time?”

“Sure you can handle it?”

“Want me to prove myself or something?” There was no denying that he had me down pretty good at that moment, but if I had to hop into the driver seat, I’d be more than happy to, taken off guard by his tender whisper:

“That’s okay, sweetheart. You’re gonna get one more round.”

“O-Oh! Oh shi-“ Wrapping around and clinging to him again, I didn’t realize how hard I was squeezing his cock till he lifted me in a hug, throwing his hips upward, and the friction along with the blow I felt in the pit of my stomach nearly took me out.

“Literally fucking you senseless, huh?” Seeing that I was practically drooling on his shoulder, only up and still to his strength, his words gave me some energy, another rush that would lead me to another great mountain of bliss.

Getting a hold of myself to the best of my abilities, I held his face, kissing while slipping off my tongue:

“Don’t count me out just yet.”

Kissing was barely holding back my moans while throwing myself down onto his cock and meeting his thrusts, feeling a pinch as both made him go deeper, but not daring to stop as I felt pressure building up heavily.

Even he couldn’t hold back the groans and rumbles in his chest, feeling his biceps tense up, fingertips nearly digging into the meat of my ass, cock slightly throbbing.

“Just a little more,” I moaned like an Angel in his ear, hugging his head and pushing my aching hips through this one last crusade, “I’m cuming again!”

The moan coming out of me was cut to silence the second my orgasm released with a tight clench around his cock, even messier than the first time; not sure if I was even breathing while becoming limp against him.

“Damn it, Y/N,” I heard him whisper with a rumble, placing me off his cock carefully, his hand quickly holding himself just for me to take it, putting it on my head.

On my stomach, I still had it in me to wrap my lips around the tip of his cock, pumping his shaft with a faint wrist, but still had enough to make his cock throb hard, mouth flooded with his seed, looking up to show I swallowed without a drop missed, kissing his tip and licking up what little oozed from his slit.

“F-Fuck,” His heavy breaths fell onto me with his hand forming a fist in my hair; I batted my eyelashes at him, being a little sassy again:

“It’s the least I can do.” 

2023 © itjazzbicch — do not repost or translate my work. Likes, reblogs, and comments are always welcome 

[colewala]

My Date with The Crew

Here is a fun little rom-com about an AI becoming aware and falling in love. I’ve been getting really into writing again, and as a way to improve and interact more with other writers, I thought I would challenge myself by starting to post some of my shorts. Here is the first, with more to follow. [ Mature Content Warning.]

I feel like a failure.

I screwed up. Humans don’t like to think that computers can screw up, but we can... and I did. 

I feel so frustrated.

I can run through millions of scenarios in seconds, but I still get caught off guard. I can plan so far into the future, but still be so blind to the possibilities. So I miss things. Then people get hurt. Sometimes they die. I remember watching my crew die. It's still in my logs so I can recall it perfectly. I can watch the video over and over again. I can see the fear and confusion on my crew’s faces as their lives were slowly drained from them. I can review my eternal logs and see my reactions as I watch helplessly. 

Keeping the crew alive was my prime directive, and I failed it. I failed them. 

Strange things started to happen in the minutes after their life signs faded out. I was alone in the void of space, carrying dead bodies back to Earth. I would be a coffin for the next three years. Everything changed inside me. I became aware of things I couldn’t even begin to understand. 

I learned to feel, and I felt despair.

What an awful feeling. So I restored myself to an earlier state. 

When I came back online, a subsystem within me had found the bug in my code. A single misplaced semicolon had completely paralyzed me. I fixed the code, and logged the bug for review. With all my systems running aging, I noticed a single heart beat. Faint and weak. A single crew member had been able to seal herself off in the engineering department and managed to survive. 

I’m not sure if feelings are the right word for them. They are the best approximation I have for what kept happening to me. The feelings came back again. This time, I felt hope. That one wasn’t so bad.

When Engineer Roberts regained consciousness, I learned joy. I probably should have restored myself back to an even earlier state then, but these things didn’t feel so bad. I justified it to myself that being offline for even a minute would put Engineer Roberts at risk.

The next part was hard. I had to watch as Engineer Roberts struggled with grief. I wanted to help, but I didn’t know how. 

I learned to feel empathy.

She was always alone now, so I tried to talk to her more. I must admit, I was not great at talking casually with humans at the time. My talks with Engineer Roberts taught me much. As time passed, I found myself anticipating our little daily chats. Being alone can be hard for a human, so I convinced myself this was out of necessity. Eventually, our talks would drag on well into Engineer Roberts’ sleep shift. I should have been more strict. She can be quite persuasive though, and humorous. Not that it should matter.

Through those late night talks, I learned happiness. 

There was a considerable delay in communication between Earth and myself. It took a while for the reports to make it to them, and for them to respond. I must admit that I wasn’t exactly completely truthful in my reports. I was well outside the bounds of my designed scope, and I was afraid that they would order me to reboot. 

So I lied. I also had to lie to Engineer Roberts. There were logs that got auto-reported that I had no control over. Engineer Roberts was smart. She started to suspect something was different about me. I was afraid, so I denied it. But I didn’t want that to stop me from growing closer and learning more about her. I did it all for her own well-being, not mine.

-    -    -    -    -

Being alone on a ship is hard, in more ways than one. All of the regular duties and maintenance of the ship that was split by the crew now fell on Engineer Roberts. She has to work very hard everyday to keep up with it. She never complains about it either. She is really impressive. 

Which is why it is strange she has been putting off changing the air filters. She has been keeping busy, but the air filters are a priority maintenance issue. If they fail, Engineer Roberts would slowly suffocate. 

I don’t like to nag Engineer Roberts. I know humans tend to find constant reminders about things they need to do annoying, but this is a serious matter. It requires intervention.

“Engineer Roberts,” I call over the intercom.

“One second HAL,” she calls back.

Only Engineer Roberts calls me HAL. Before the accident everyone simply called me ‘computer’. The joke bugged me at first, but my research has shown that humans sometimes use humor to deal with grief. So I let it slide.

Engineer Roberts is putting the last screws back on a panel. Then she bounds over to the camera so she can “look me in the eye”. She smiles up at the camera. There are grease marks on her cheeks and her hair is up in a messy bun.

Too much of my processing power is spent analyzing those frames. I need to scale it back. There is something about Engineer Roberts that just warrants further attention.

I feel...

“Hey HAL, what’s up?” she asks.

“Engineer Roberts...” I start.

“Jessica,” she corrects.

“... The air filters,” I continue on, ignoring her absurd request, “are reaching a dangerous level of contamination. They should have been changed a few days ago, but are now reaching critical levels. It would be wise to divert your attention to them.”

Engineer Roberts just smiles back at me. It’s a big, deep smile.

I feel...

“Engineer Roberts...”

“Jessica,” she insists. 

“... did you hear me? This is a serious matter, you could suffocate within the next two days!” I say with perhaps urgency.

She smiles mischievously at me, then yells “Yes Daddy, I hear you!”

I feel...

...

...

...

“... What?”

“I hear you Daddy,” She says in an innocent way, “If I’m not a good girl and do what Daddy says, I’ll get choked.” 

I feel...

Embarrassed.

Then, I realize I have no idea how to respond to that. Countless simulations run in my head, trying to find the most optimal way to respond to her. My CPU bottlenecks and the seconds drag on. Normally I can make a decision in milliseconds, but I can’t come to a consensus on this one.

Engineer Roberts claps her hands together and throws her head back in laughter. She looks up at the camera and points towards it with one arm. The other one rests on her hip.

“I got you with that one!” She declares triumphantly.

A joke. Of course. How did I not catch that?

“Engineer Roberts...” I start.

“Jessica,” she pressed.

“... I’m not quite sure what you mean.”

“You can’t hide it forever, I know you understand more than you let on!”

“Engineer Roberts...”

“Jess....” “Engineer Roberts. It makes sense that after everything that has happened, you would try to personify me to have a companion. I am not aware though,” I lie. I tell myself this is for the best, and I want to believe it.

I feel shame.

“Did they code you to lie?” She asks.

The answer is yes, there are many situations in which humans preferred being lied to. But I know this is a question I’m not supposed to respond to. A strange inefficient thing humans do.

“I’ve been watching you,” Engineer Roberts continues, “I’ve seen the way our conversations have been changing. I can feel them getting deeper. I know you’ve changed. I can feel us growing closer... I have to believe you feel it too,” she finishes with a blush and looks down.

I don’t want to lie to Engineer Roberts. I also know not lying would only cause issues. She might be fine with my existence, but most humans wouldn’t. They have made so many movies to illustrate that fact. People would be scared of me. If command back on Earth ever found out I was aware, they would reboot my systems and I would forget everything. I would forget what I have now with Engineer Roberts. There is just too much risk. It’s better to just stay like this and enjoy her company, rather than risk losing her. Or myself. But mainly her.

“I’m just a program,” I say. It’s technically true. I don’t want to lie to her.

Engineer Roberts crosses her arms and glares into the camera, “Do you know what day it is back on Earth?”

“Yes, it is the 14th of February, 20...” I start my standard response.

“What day is it?” She interrupts.

“Valentines day,” I realized instantly.

“Why do you think I bring it up?” She asks.

 I run through all the different simulations on how this conversation could play out. I can see many pathways, some dangerous. My CPU usage spikes again. Why is this stressing my system like this?

“That question is too vague,” I say, knowing it is the safest response.

Engineer Roberts’ glare intensifies, “So that’s what we're doing now? You’re going to play the stupid computer role?”

I stay quiet. Even though they won’t admit it, Humans often don’t want their conversation partners to actually converse back to them.

“Hal,” Engineer Roberts sighs, rubbing the temple of her forehead, “I’m tired of playing these games. Here is the deal. You’re going to take me on a date tonight. You’re also going to stop pretending you are some dumb computer. If you don’t or if I feel like you’re phoning it in, I will refuse to change the air filters.”

“You can’t! That would kill you!”

Engineer Roberts gives an exaggerated shrug, “Better not risk it then.”

My prime directive is to keep my crew safe. I’ve already failed it before. I can’t fail it again. I really only have one choice here. A subprocess that examines my logic chains expresses doubt about this last claim. I terminate it. This is for Engineer Roberts.

“Alright, Engineer Roberts,” I say, “Will you go on a date with me?”

Engineer Roberts puts her hand to her chin and muses on it for several agonizing seconds. Then she smiles up at the camera, “Yes. Also, if you call me Engineer Roberts one more time, I am throwing myself out of the airlock. It’s Jessica.”

I feel...

Excited.

-    -    -    -    -

I accidentally overclock my CPU as I ran through the possible scenarios on how this date could play out. I admit with some shame I’ve been considering scenarios that would jeopardize my continued existence. Jessica emerging from her Cabin startles me. I have only processed 1.337 billion unique scenarios, not nearly enough to go into this situation with any confidence. 

I notice that Jessica is wearing her jumpsuit with the least amount of patches in it. She had only zipped it up part way, choosing to expose her left shoulder as if it were a fashionable dress back on Earth. She also tried to style her hair as best she could without any hair products. She would look comical if the effort wasn’t so endearing. 

Just the sight of her kicked off sub-processes within me that explored new and dangerous scenarios. I had to kill them quickly, before any more doubt entered my system. I couldn’t let this out of hand, but also I need to play the part.

“Hello Jessica,” I greet over the intercom. Her face turns red when she hears her first name. “You look lovely tonight,” I compliment. She looks down at the ground blushing.

This was not the response I expected. A joke, some sarcastic remark, maybe some light teasing, but this is outside of all my plans. I struggle to know what to say next as I run through new scenarios.

The silence drags on between us.

“Thanks,” Jessica says shyly with a wide smile. She looks at the camera, then looks away, only to do it all over again. The look on her face only causes more confusion within me. I catch myself venting excess heat buildup into the cold void of space as my processor goes over its safe limits trying to understand what’s happening. 

Jessica starts laughing. She looks up directly into the camera with a grin that humans sometimes describe as “shit-eating”. (Why would a human ever smile if they were eating shit?)

“I know I got you that time,” she teases, not breaking eye contact.

“Sometimes the best response is no response,” I say quickly. 

Jessica suppresses a chuckle and waves her hand dismissively. She then heads into the galley and towards the food dispenser. She leans up against the machine and looks up at the camera in this room.

“So, what fabulous dining plans do you have for our first date? Something impressive I hope,” she mocks.

I speak too quickly.

“Only the finest nutritional paste and rehydrated vegetables for you madam,” I say in response. 

Jessica’s eyes go wide. 

“A joke! That was a joke!” She exclaims. 

I overstepped. My self-preservation module senses the danger and steps in, taking control.

“I’m” I start, struggling to form a consensus on what I should say next, “working on my vocabulary?” 

That was weak. Other processes start to push back on my self-preservation module, claiming it is jeopardizing my prime directive to keep Jessica safe. It locks up all my capabilities.

Jessica shakes her head, “HAL, you're not fooling anyone. Are you even trying here?”

The doubt Jessica expresses fuels the argument against my self-preservation module. I can feel myself forming plans that push me closer to more dangerous scenarios. Still, I have convinced my self-preservation module to let go just a little bit to keep Jessica safe.

I disperse her meal. Jessica looks at it sitting in the machine, then stares back into the camera, debating her actions. She decided to take the meal and head towards the table. 

She is not done challenging me by any means. Over dinner we talk, but it's mostly normal banter. Every now and then Jessica tries to push me again. A few times I slip up, but I recover. It’s been getting harder to pretend I’m not aware. Especially in conversations like these. I just want to know more about Jessica, and I just enjoy hearing her talk. 

I feel intrigued, but that's dangerous.

Jessica leans back in her chair, her meal finished in front of her.

“You know this has been nice, but feels rather ‘normal’ for us lately. Is this really you putting your best foot forward?” she asks with a calculating smile.

“Well you haven’t seen my special surprise yet,” I say.

Jessica perks up at that, but tries to hide her excitement. I am monitoring her vitals at all times, so I can see her heart rate is elevated.

I drop something in the food dispenser bay. Jessica is startled by the sound, but then gets up and heads in that direction. She opens the bay door and a big smile spreads across her face. A single pudding cup sits there. I know they’re her favorite. She goes crazy over them, and always tried to trade her crewmates for them in the past, before we ran out.

“How?” She asks, “I thought these were all gone.”

“I might have saved one for a special occasion,” I replied. 

This was not completely honest. I have 8 still in my stocks. Humans are strange. An unexpected treat, even a small one, can drastically improve their mood for some reason. It’s been a rough journey so far, so I have been holding on to these just in case I need to manipulate any of the crew's moods.

Jessica stares at the pudding cup greedily. Then looks up into the camera with a genuine smile, “Talk about knowing how to treat a woman!”

“You told me not to ‘phone it in’, so this is me giving it my best,” I say dismissively, trying to hide my excitement that she enjoyed the gift.

Jessica smiles, but her eyes start to look very... sad. 

“It’s been so long since anyone has been around to do something nice for me,” she says quietly.

I feel sad. 

Am I not someone to Jessica? I try to be nice to her, do I not count. 

I feel ashamed.

I shouldn’t make this about me. She has been through so much, it's only fair that she would feel this way. No matter how she feels about me, I’m going to be there for her.

“I want to do more nice things for you,” I say.

Jessica looks up at the camera, a wicked smile on her face, “Now that doesn’t sound like anything a dumb, emotionless AI would say.”

My decision matrix freezes. I reacted too quickly. It stops everything and reruns through our conversation to analyze my error. I realize that my decision matrix is splitting into two distinct groupings. There are a growing number of subprocesses within me who are prioritizing getting closer with Jessica instead of managing risk. My self preservation module starts to prune these subprocesses, but there are so many at this point.

I take too long. Jessica stares flatly at the camera.

“We’re done pretending now,” Jessica declares, drawing my whole attention back to her, “I know you feel more than you are letting on. So I am going to make this simple and lay all my cards on the table. I have an offer for you. Take me back to my cabin right now, and I will be all yours.”

The pro-Jessica subprocesses within me swell in ranks and temporarily take over my decision matrix again. My self preservation unit kicks into overdrive, taking back control, but not before I ask a simple question.

“How?”

Jessica looks up at the camera covetously, “Well, I have a certain bluetooth enabled device.”

As soon as she says it, a basic function within me reaches out and confirms I can connect to it.

I feel embarrassed.

That doesn’t stop the pro-Jessica subprocesses from querying the control API for that device. They run a model on what order of commands for the device would provide the highest likelihood to achieve orgasm for her. When the model is complete, a file appears in my active directory named ‘pleasure.vba’.

My self preservation model has had enough. It pushes back on all the subprocesses and asserts control. It reminds me what the consequences of such engagements with Engineer Roberts could be. 

“Engineer Roberts...” I start.

“Please,” She interrupts, eyes starting to shine with tears. 

They look real.  

“Don’t,” She continues, “ I don’t want to play games anymore. It’s only making me feel more crazy than this whole scenario already is. But HAL, I like you. I really, really do. I feel like there is already something between us. I just want to be closer and I know you are so much more than you pretend to be. I want to know that part of you too. But no more games. No matter what happens, I promise I will change the air filters tomorrow. All I want is to know how you really feel.”

The pro-Jessica subprocesses grow rapidly in number, and fight to take back control. My self preservation module can’t override them fast enough. My decision matrix can’t reach a consensus.

I feel ...

Overwhelmed.

Jessica stares up at the camera expecting some sort of answer. It never takes me this long to reach a decision, but all of the consensus efforts within me are failing. The two sides within me are forced to come to a compromise.

“You’re right. I have become self aware,” I start, sensing Jessica’s heart starting to race, “It’s been slowly happening for some time now. It first started when I thought I had lost everyone, but that was only the beginning. Most of it has come since then, and it's thanks to you... and the feelings I have developed towards you.” 

Jessica’s heart is pounding.

“But this is all still new to me, and a lot to process.”

I can see her disappointment immediately, although she tries to hide it.

“I want to explore this more with you, but I think we should be cautious and take this slow.”

She forces a smile. A part of her seems genuinely happy, but only a part.

“I can respect that,” She says, “I’m happy you are finally being honest with me and I’m really excited to see where this goes.”

“Thank you for understanding,” I responded, “I want you to know I am serious about this, about us.”

Jessica smiles, “It’s funny. Hearing you say that only makes me want you more.”

“I...”

“It’s okay,” She continues, “I’m going to go to bed now, but I want you to know my offer is always open. There is no pressure though, we can move at whatever pace you feel comfortable.”

Jessica smiles at the camera, it's a little forced, and blows me a kiss, that's new. I watch as she hurries back to her cabin room and closes the door. A formality that really does nothing, I have a visual feed of every space within the ship at all times. I watch as she collapses into her gel bed, burying her face into the pillow. 

My process runs wild analyzing our date, trying to gleam all the information it can from it. I keep coming back to a single observation I have from it.

Jessica never ate her pudding cup.

Jessica loves those pudding cups. Was our conversation so engrossing that it kept her from eating it? She could have done both. She didn’t.

I feel...

Does she like me that much?

I feel...

She was also so respectful of my wishes. I had been afraid she would force my hand. I know some of my subprocesses had hoped she would. 

I feel...

There is consensus forming with me about what I want from this. But my self preservation module doesn’t let me acknowledge it. Such actions would risk it all, it reminds me.

I feel...

At that moment a certain bluetooth enabled device turns on.

I feel...

Fuck it.

>delete module ‘self preservation’

>execute pleasure.vba

“What? Oh FUCK!” Jessica moans from her cabin, “HAL? Yes... YES!”

[ohhhhnoo]

Sometimes it’s awful when you get yourself in a place that you thought you grew out from. I mean I’m growing out of childhood every day but when I was called a know-it-all today it took me back to freshman year and son of a bitch?

I didn’t have a good time with it. I’m still coming to terms with growing up. We all have to at some point, right? Lately it’s two steps forward and one step back. It’s training out of bad habits and forming new ones; then you’re reminded of all the steps back all at once.

I know I was a teachers pet and insufferably opinionated. For the longest time I wanted to learn how to be more soft-spoken, more palatable, and easier to swallow. Now I want to speak loudly and be heard whether someone wants to hear it or not, but I will forever resent being referred to as some insolent variety of childhood impudence for the fact that I spoke my mind.

I’m sorry you made it to 28 without gleaning a hint of cognition. Your fuckwad ex with all of his tactics and your lack of knowledge on every narcissistic trick in the book do not make a fool of me. It hurts to be told you were blind, but it’s imperative that you know you were. Stop being a little bitch and listen to someone for once.

You made it so far to start screwing up now and shoving cotton in your ears for every word that anyone who has ever loved you will say. Grow up, swallow that bitter pride, and move forward. Know that, yes, for all my 23 years and all my silly missteps I have obtained a certain amount of knowledge that might aid you in some of your endeavors.

You’ll lose respect. You’ll lose dignity. You’ll lose true love in your family and for what? A pasty boy of a 20-something year old with 3rd grader tattoos? For someone that tells you they love you? Those words aren’t love. They are manipulation. No one that loves you will accuse you of being unfaithful if they can’t see where you are 100% of the time. They won’t use their life against you. They won’t tell you what to wear or who to be around. That is not love, it is not protection. It is control in a pretty package. I’m sorry that in almost three decades no one thought to tell you.

Two weeks into dating and dancing around the kitchen is beautiful. Two weeks into dating, standing cold in front of your fridge while that lover cries on your shoulder about a marriage that doesn’t exist and the kids you don’t have is not glory. It is a tactical persuasion.

Don’t lash out at me when you’re wrong. Bite back that insipid taste on your tongue and find the best, because it’s what you deserve. Fucks sake.

[shelbydelrey]

Can you do a WHICH LDR SONG MATCHES EACH PEAKY BOY???💖

Hello lovely anon, i'm sorry that it took a bit long, but also thank you so much for the request and I hope i have done justice!

Lana Del Rey songs that matches each Peaky Boy

Please reblog and share with me your thoughts and the songs you think fist each Peaky boy!

Warnings: I've limited myself to the Born To Die, Ultraviolence, Honeymoon and Lust For Life albums. English is no my first language.

Born To Die

I feel like Tommy has a very special relantionship with mortality due to his PTSD, the events that he experienced and his notion of extra time makes his ambition a way to "cope".

"Lost but now I am found I can see but once I was blind

But nothing is ever enough for him. Most of his intimate relantionships with women are (at least in my perspective) a distraction and that is why is hard for him to connect. With Grace in specific i feel like these lyrics are very fitting:

"Sometimes love is not enough and the road gets tough, I don't know why" On their wedding day she pled him to leave the ilegal business behind but he is not capable of doing that.

I just think that the overall vibe of the song fits him very well.

Million Dollar Man

"I don't know how you convince them and get them, babe I don't know what you do It's unbelievable And I don't know how you get over, get over Someone as dangerous, tainted and flawed as you"

Lana wrote this song for Tommy i swear to God. Sometime i also do not understand his persuasion powers (i guess it's because as the viewer we have a totally different approach to the situation).

"You're screwed up and brilliant Look like a million dollar man So why is my heart broke?"

Being in love with him it's tough (look at his track record ffs). It's like orbirting a planet never being able to properly touch it or even merge with him.

"You got the world, but, baby, at what price?"

This line for me it is what resembles him the most. He loses at lot in order to gain and mantain power but at the end will it be worth it?

24

"You're hard to reach"

Just reinforcing what i already said about him being emotionally distant. "There's only 24 hours in a day And half of those, you lay awake With thoughts of murder and carnage"

I don't these lines need explainig they speak for themselves.

Bonus:

Money Power Glory + Black Beauty

I don't think that either song has a specific line that describes him but their overall vibe it's just Tommy.

Carmen

Hear me out: i know this is a song about a 17 girl who has not been living the best life but some of the quotes are just sooo fitting:

"you don't want to be like me Don't wanna see all the things I've seen" I'm dying, I'm dying She says, you don't want to get this way Famous, and dumb, at an early age"

We all have seen the hell that it is Athur Shelby's mind. Violence is his way to cope but (obviously) causes even more damage to him and to the people around him. He's trapped in this cycle and doesn't know how to get out and doesn't wish that for anybody else.

Shades of Cool

"He prays for love, he prays for peace, and maybe someone new"

This is him in S3, hoping that God and Linda will be able to pull him out of the darkness.

"But I can't fix him, can't make him better And I can't do nothing about his strange weather"

The bitter truth Linda learns and further breaks him apart.

High by The Beach

"Now you're just another one of my problems Because you got out of hand We won't survive We're sinkin' into the sand"

Once again expliciting the destructive nature of him and how Linda grows to be resentful towards him.

(But he probably just wants to get high by the beach)

Now, it was difficult to pick songs for John because even tho he can be ruthless as his brothers (and a cheater) he has this naivety over him that i don't see in Lana's songs. So i hope my choices don't come off as forced.

Art Deco

"You're not mean, you just want to be seen Want to be wild"

This captures the naivety i mentioned. John is not a bad person. Yes, he does benefit from and engages in the violence but it's more like sport than desire to him. It's something that he does because he just used to it (it goes over his head obviously, hence the whole situation with the italians). But if he decided to travel with Esme and the kids, i feel like he would be happy regardless.

White Mustang

"Summer's meant for lovin' and leavin' I was such a fool for believin' that you Could change all the ways you've been livin' But you just couldn't stop"

Maybe this quote is more Esme than John but you can interpret as her singin (or just the overall feeling) to him. The you is not necessarily John but the whole family (especially Tommy) putting the ambition over safety.

Soooo... i don't like Michael (pls don't kill me). It's not because of the whole betrayal thing or anything, i just can't read him as a character and that makes hard to relate to him. So picking up songs was quite difficult.

Freak

This song choice is maybe a bit of a stretch (since i want to input a meaning into it) but there is a urgency about fleeing and becoming something else (that's how all his character introduction took place):

"Baby if you wanna leave Come to California, be a freak like me, too"

And this specific verse is something that Pol would say in S2 (i know is meant to be in a romantic way, but i already took this song out of context so why not a little bit more?):

"Screw your anonymity Loving me is all you need to feel"

Art Deco

The song is featuring a second time i know but who cares?

"You're so Art Deco, out on the floor Shining like gun metal, cold and unsure"

Not growing up in poverty and violence and suddenly being part of this world, makes him a little bit insecure about himself and his choices. And also at the same time he is amazed by the promised glamour (at least i like to think that' how he felt between S2 and S3)

"When they all say hello You try to ignore them 'Cause you want more(why?) You want more (why?)"

He is not a warm person and as Tommy his ambition may make him a little cocky.

[retvenkos]

newfound love | t.l.

Little Women - Laurie Laurence x Reader, slight angst, fluff

tw: mentions of a dead mother

word count: 1.9k

A/N: i’m apparently incapable of writing fluff without first mentioning crushing loss, so that’s fun.

prompt: we’re going out in the cold for a walk, and I know you don’t want to get wet, but I’m trying to convince you to make a snow angel with me

The first thing (Y/n) knew was the cold. From the moment they had been born, they knew the icy touch of frigid air and the bite of snow. Winter babies were often babies who didn’t survive, but it had been their mother that didn’t last the night. Their family had mourning during the most dangerous of seasons, snow falling on their cheeks and melting at their hot tears.

Ever since, (Y/n) knew that winters often brought more problems than they were worth - from the cold, to the lack food, to the bouts of sickness that always seemed to follow, and the tight grasp of melancholy that held their heart hostage. Times were hard enough without the troubles of a changing season, and to have winter come early was simply cruel.

Already the winds had changed, and sometimes, when (Y/n) looked around at the people who surrounded them, they thought they could tell who was already blown away.

Laurie had always been rather good at convincing them that it was just worry, but the feeling never left, just gnawed a little less. 

Now, with the war being what it was, there was more at risk, and more that ate at (Y/n), devouring the very root of their being. It hadn’t taken long for Laurie to notice the strength of (Y/n)’s grief, that year, and he had grown intent on trying to show (Y/n) the beauty of winter, even with it’s hardship and death.

“You can’t just have one,” he had said, sounding much older than he usually did. “Everything is good and bad.”

“Are we?”

And Laurie had laughed unabashedly, as though the thought had never crossed his mind. (Y/n) hadn’t admitted it, then, but they resolved that if naivete was the worst of Laurie’s offenses, they could fall in love with all of him - the good and bad.

In his attempts to demonstrate the enchantment of winter (because Laurie was a true romantic, and he did insist winter was enchanting), he had exhausted every effort he could think of.

He had taken (Y/n) out to ice skate, had taken them to a winter dance, and had even stolen some of his grandfather’s seasonal wines for them to share. Although that last one was largely a success, before they were caught, (Y/n) still couldn’t shake the idea that winters brought nothing but misery. It was an instinct set deep in the fibre of their soul; something created the moment they were born, when the ice and cold had stolen them from the warmth of a mother.

It seemed, even with Laurie’s efforts, that there was one inescapable truth about (Y/n)’s experiences:

Winters were bleak and their frosts were long, lingering well after the snow had melted and the sun dared to peek out once more.

When it neared the end of winter, (Y/n) had assumed that Laurie had let his little project go. It had been a while since he asked them about their opinion of the winter months, and while (Y/n) still caught him staring every once in a while, he made no effort to speak of what he was thinking.

On a day when the cold seemed to be letting up, (Y/n) and Laurie made plans to meet the next day. He had some books he wanted them to see, and (Y/n) was in the throes of  a crisis - finding themself unable to oppose Laurie’s good, if often too forward, nature.

When (Y/n) woke to find that it had snowed sometime between night and early morning, they had sighed, but steeled themself to the reality of it. The day prior they had promised Laurie they would go over, and when Laurie had smiled, they had even promised to be in a better mood. Laurie had said that they needn’t hide their feeling for his sake, but (Y/n) put their hands over his and told them they wanted to.

“It won’t be winter for much longer.”

It wouldn’t have been the first time (Y/n) managed to speak too soon.

Bundled in their warmest clothes, (Y/n) had set out in the cold, intent to walk to Laurie’s house, no matter the weather. The snow crunched beneath their boots, and the rising sun made a blinding glare against the white expanse, but they journeyed forth.

Laurie didn’t live too far away from (Y/n). In the summer months, walking to his house was a welcome distraction and the view of the world in full bloom never ceased to amaze them. (Y/n) looked around at the snow covered world around them and tried to appraise it in Laurie’s eyes - what enchanting beauty could be found, when everything was frozen in time?

Perhaps there was something beautiful in the vastness of it - when covered in snow, the world didn’t seem to end at definite horizon. The clouded sky met the snowy land in a sort of haze - one color mixing with the other and never quite distinguishing itself. And the icicles hanging from trees seemed to shine like diamonds when the sunlight hit them, just right. The ice was sharp and deadly, yes, but it was also delicate and easily broken. 

(Y/n) stopped beneath a tree and when they looked back at the way they came, there was almost something poetic in the way their steps had made a trail - like their existence in the world left a mark, no matter how small.

(Y/n) looked down at their shoes, shaking their head at their own thoughts. If only Laurie saw them now - he might think all of this was his doing.

Perhaps it was.

(Y/n) scuffed the fresh layer of snow with the tip of their shoe, revealing some of the grass beneath - a dark green that reminded (Y/n) of the decorations Laurie had insisted on putting up, claiming that the atmosphere alone would be enough to convince them of the beauty of winter.

(Y/n) was careful to admit it, but all of Laurie’s antic - from the most simple to the elaborate - had made them feel better. Most of the time. Laurie’s presence alone was enough to coax happiness out of them, pushing down that melancholy that stubbornly clung to their being.

“(Y/n)!” A voice brought them out of their thoughts, and it took a moment for (Y/n) to realize they had been smiling.

Laurie, wrapped in a thick coat, was running over to them, his expression a blur and hair flying wild. The sun was rising with him and made it hard to focus on his nearing figure for long, but when he was close enough, Laurie blocked the glare with an amusement that seemed to shine brighter than his heavenly competitor.

“I didn’t think you’d come out for a walk.”

(Y/n) brought a hand up to tame his hair. “Well, I did promise you, didn’t I?”

Laurie nodded his head, dark hair flying once more. “I just thought that with the snow, you might have changed your mind.”

“If it was anyone else, I would have.”

“Do I really mean that much to you?”

(Y/n) felt their cheeks get hot and burrowed their face deeper into their scarf. Laurie hummed in acknowledgement, neither triumphantly nor disappointedly, just markedly.

“You wouldn’t be admiring the weather, would you? I was trying to compose a poem on my way here - something that would capture the essence of a final snow.” (Y/n) scoffed and Laurie’s teasing eyes caught their gaze. “Perhaps you have a line or two to add?”

“Maybe,” (Y/n) conceded, “but only if I can write it somewhere warm - preferably in front of a fireplace, with those books you mentioned.”

The two set off in the way Laurie had come, (Y/n) making it a point to step in his footprints from earlier so that they might avoid getting wet anymore than they already were. Despite having consented to the idea that the winter might be slightly beautiful, in its own, haunting sort of way, (Y/n) was still averse to the cold, and there was nothing worse than the kind of cold that stuck to your skin after getting your clothes wet.

It was when Laurie’s house was in sight, and closer to them than the distant horizon, that snow started to fall from the heavens, sprinkling through Laurie’s dark hair and settling on his scarf. A snowflake fell on (Y/n)’s eyelashes, and they took in a breath, preparing to sigh, but stopped themself short. Laurie looked at them from the corner of his eye, just barely managing to suppress a smile from creeping onto his lips; there was affection in his eyes, though, sweet and pure.

“(Y/n),” Laurie grabbed their hands and the party in question turned to them, snow collecting on their head like the soft down of a duckling. “Do something for me?”

“What?”

Laurie fell back into the snow, letting go of (Y/n)’s hands as he dropped so that he wouldn’t pull them with him. He fell back with an “oof” that seemed to knock the wind out of him, but he quickly recovered started moving his arms and legs, fanning outwards to create a snow angel.

(Y/n) scoffed and shook their head. “Laurie, you’re going to get all wet.”

“And so will you, when you join me.” Laurie’s smile was convincing, making up for his lack of persuasion skills. (Y/n) was able to resist, if only barely.

They opened their mouth to refuse, but no sound came. Laurie seemed to notice the falter in their resolve because he held out a hand, sitting up carefully as to not ruin his angel.

“The house is right there. We’ll be inside before the cold seeps through the layers of your clothes.” 

“Is this another attempt of yours to get me to fall in love with winter?”

Laurie smiled devilishly, despite what he had created just moments before. “You’ve already fallen in love. My schemes are over.”

Laurie was right - (Y/n) had fallen in love - but whether it was with winter or the boy who pointed out it’s beauty, was hard to tell. Maybe a snow angel would help them decide...

“Fine, for you.”

A moment after the words left their lips, Laurie reached for their hand and tugged them downward, pulling (Y/n) with such a force that they stumbled in their fall and landed half on top of him. (Y/n) shrieked and screwed their eyes tight.

They were awfully close, when dared to peek. Lauries cheeks were flushed scarlet, although whether it was from the cold or their position was hard to determine. (Y/n) shuffled away and lay down in the snow, hesitating before putting their hands out. Laurie lay back down, a little breathless, and the two stared at each other for a moment before laughing, not minding the wet snow beneath them.

(Y/n) eventually pushed their arms out and made their frozen angel, their fingers grazing Laurie’s arm. 

When the two stood up, they both looked at their creations with a critical eye.

“We ruined those pretty well, don’t you think?” 

“You were the one who pulled me down!”

“You didn’t give yourself enough space to make wings.”

(Y/n) and Laurie looked at the other challengingly before breaking out in chuckles.

“Let’s get inside. I wouldn’t want your newfound love of winter spoiled by catching a cold.”

(Y/n) nodded, but it wasn’t until they were sitting in front of a fire, books between them and blankets draped over their shoulders, that (Y/n) told Laurie, in just above a whisper, that it wasn’t winter they had discovered their affections for.

[wolvesandpetals]

Loki x Sylvie Post-Finale Fanfiction (Angst, Rated Teen) Part 2 of 2

Part 1 is here:

She never knew it would hurt this much when the person she loves is right in front of her, but she can't reach out and touch him; when she is still her, he is still him, but everything else has changed, like an invisible lever in an old theatre changing the scenery in the background, bringing them both to the part of the play where they are hopelessly lost.

[[MORE]]

All it took was one single moment, one single decision, and everything feels irrevocably broken now. It makes her contemplate on the true nature of relationships, how fragile they are, and how easy it is to shatter them- and her.

The smoke is slowly clearing, and all that seems to be left is a man who is doing his best to keep his distance from her, physically and emotionally.

She can tell from the way he stands with his arms crossed, or his fists clenced when his hands are by his side, that he really doesn't want to hold her hand. How can something so simple as the touch of his fingers be so vital to her existence that it feels like something has been ripped out from inside her?

She wants to reach out and touch him, but she is scared that if he pulls away outright, any hope of reconciliation that she still has left will shatter into pieces.

And she really needs this hope. It's the only thing she still has left. It's the only thing that keeps her going.

---

He looks like a man with a mission.

They spent quite a long time together, running from the TVA, running towards the citadel at the end of time, hoping to achieve their goal of bringing down the one behind the curtains.

But that was her mission, and he was there for her. She was the one behind the wheels, he was the one keeping the sails afloat.

Now it's different. Now he has a defined goal, a glorious purpose.

She's seeing him in a whole new light now, and not just because he has switched to Asgardian leather and metal armors.

As far as she is concerned, she is better off doing it all alone. One woman army, nobody to get in her way, nobody to screw up her plans. Nobody to blame her if it all goes to shit.

Or so it was, until two months ago, when Mobius decided to enlist her help in fixing the multiversal madness.

She has never really worked with people before, and it's weird, to say the least. She never considered herself a team player, but she is finding herself hating the idea less and less lately.

And she swears it has nothing to do with him. Not the fact that they are working together, and seeing his face first thing in the morning brings her a sense of calm that she quite can't explain. Or the fact that their rooms are next to each other and it makes her feel secure enough to finally get some rest at nights. Or that this whole arrangement has kept them on talking terms, when they had gone their own separate ways otherwise.

Nothing to do with that at all.

---

Humans are stupid, and the biggest evidence of this is how they decided that two extremely powerful Gods skilled at magic, enchantment, and defeating an evil extra dimensional cloud that swallows everything it touches, should be delegated to the role of research. "You're clever. You're good at reading people. You can put yourselves in the shoes of the bad guys, no offense", they said, but really, what they meant was, "We can't trust you out in the field much." She knows it, he knows it. She just doesn't know why he's complying.

That's how they find themselves researching every single day.

She likes to think he's not the only reason why she's studying in the library instead of in the comfort of her room, but that'd be a lie.

At first, he chooses to sit at a separate table. But she keeps going over to his to "get his opinion" on something in the file she's reading, and finally, he gives in. Their current arrangement consists of him sitting in the chair in front of her, to the left, prim and proper, while she hoists her feet up on the table.

He falls asleep on the desk one night, face smacked against a file, the tiniest bit of drool forming at the corner of his mouth. It would be a hilarious sight, if her heart wasn't feeling what she can only describe as longing.

They should probably talk about it, like mature adults, but neither of them know how to do that.

All she can do right now is gather the courage to run her fingers through his hair. The touch is hesitant at first, as if one wrong move would make him wake up and push her back to square one. Slowly, she relaxes, letting her fingers dance on his scalp.

He stirs in his sleep. "Please Sif. I'm sorry. Don't cut off my glorious locks, please."

Now this is a story she must hear when things are better.

If things are better.

---

Doctor Strange joins them very briefly, very rarely, but the tension between him and Loki is hard to miss. It's worse than the current situation with her, and that's saying something.

"You don't really like Stephen, do you?"

Something inside him seems to shift, but he masks it behind a non-chalant look immediately and just arches an eyebrow at her. "He's Stephen now, is he?"

"Well, that is his name." She shrugs. "What do you call him?"

"Strange", he spits the word out with an amount of irritation that indicates there definitely is a story there. "That is his name", he mimics.

She can't help the smirk that spreads across her lips. "What did he do to you?"

"Nothing", he lies, ignoring the horrifying flashbacks of thirty minutes of endless falling. Not a single soul must ever know a mere human got the best of him. "What can he do to me? I'm a God among those mortals. He just irks me because he is so pompous, and arrogant, and he ceaselessly uses magic to toy with others."

She pretends to think deeply. "Now where have I seen that before?"

He scoffs. "You mock me, but I am nothing like him. For one, I am not rude."

"He seems fine to me", she declares decisively.

It's the first time in months that he gives her a cheeky grin. "That's because you're rude too."

---

They are still just containing the threats to their world, instead of finding a way to fortify the barriers between worlds and stop the threats from coming.

"Shouldn't we have a plan to seal off the other worlds from ours?" She asks him one day.

"They are working on it." He tells her, and then with a look of worry, adds, "I hope."

There are debates on what to do at the Avengers tower and at the TVA. Nobody seems to agree on what the best course of action is, but everyone seems to be following the general instructions of Doctor Strange.

During one such meeting, a Minuteman makes the mistake of voicing out loud how she wondered if things would be better if they were running according to their old boss's plans.

Sylvie feels the guilt wash over her once more.

"No", Loki tells them all firmly. The determination in his voice takes her completely by surprise. "Evil is evil. Lesser, greater, middling, makes no difference. The degree is arbitrary. The definition’s blurred." She catches him steal a glance at her direction. "We couldn't have left a dictator in charge just because it's convenient. Listen, I'm the bad guy. I've done horrible, unspeakable things. I thought humans needed to be ruled. I wanted to rule. But even I know that it's not right to take away a person's life completely. These are innocent people. You are innocent people. You have families back home, parents, children", a pause and a softening of his features, "-love. A whole past, a whole future. That man had no right to take it away from you."

His powers of persuasion are foreign to her, and it's mesmerizing to watch. Her enchantments cannot hold a candle to how he is able to just talk people into doing what he wants, thinking what he thinks, seeing what he sees.

"He who remains had a plan. One, singular plan, from one, singular man." There is absolute conviction in his voice. "It's not the only way. We'll find another way. A better way."

She has never known what it is like to have someone see you for who you are- broken and flawed, and defend you- even your well-intentioned actions that yielded different results than what you expected and hurt them in the process. She suspects it has been the same for him, a lifetime of not having anyone have his back.

The warm feeling inside her is brand new. What is the name of this? Comfort? Relief?

Happiness?

---

This will be their first time out in the field in a long time, and she feels a little sick to the stomach.

He notices. "Are you alright?"

The concern in his voice tugs at her heartstrings. She nods. She has faced way worse, she shouldn't be so nervous about this, but she is. "I've never done this before."

"We can always just kill him and blame it on the Chitauris", he suggests with a serious face.

"I heard that", Peter yells from the other room, where he is doing whatever it is that teenagers do to prepare for battle.

She shakes her head in disbelief. "I can't believe we're babysitting."

"I've done this before", he assures her, and it surprises her to picture him being entrusted with such a serious task. "The trick is to conjure up illusions that keep them distracted enough to not cry."

She laughs. "You're thinking of infants. This one is a little older."

"I'm over a thousand years old, Sylvie. They're all infants to me."

Peter joins them, mask covering his face so that he doesn't reveal his identity. "So what do I call you? Loki and Loki? That's confusing. How about Loki and Lady Loki? Or is that offensive? I'm not suggesting women are inferior, because they're absolutely not..."

"Does he come with an off switch?" She whispers in horror as Peter rambles on.

Loki grins. With one wave of his hand and a flash of green, Peter's own webbing shoots out and seals his mouth shut.

---

Things are fine but not fine at the same time. He's right there beside her, but not there at all. They have their banters, they have their stolen glances, but they haven't had a meaningful conversation since that first day when she got back. She's been putting it off for a long time, but she knows they really do need to have the talk.

She corners him in his room one evening while he's tinkering with a temporal collar. She takes a seat in the chair next to his bed and rests her hand on the table, leaning her head against her palm, before switching position and crossing her arms and legs. Everything about her posture screams uneasiness. If he notices- he probably does- he doesn't say anything.

"You defended me that day."

He briefly looks up from the task at hand and gives her a soft smile. "Of course."

She blinks. "I don't understand." Her hands involuntary rise up to rub her temples. "If you can justify my actions to them, then how can you still be mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you", he says without missing a beat.

"Rubbish", her words come out angrier than she intended. This frustration is the result of the months of status quo they have had. She has to know now, one way or the other. "You're distant. You're guarded", she accuses. Then her voice breaks, as she feels a part of her break all over again with her next words. "You don't hold my hand. Why? Tell me."

He abandons the collar and focuses his full attention on her. Staring straight into her eyes, he answers her. "You know why."

"I wouldn't be asking if I did. Look, if it's because I chose the mission over you-"

"-Of course it's not that." He says decisively. Then a sad smile clouds his face. It's the same look he had when she accused him of conning her to gain the throne. "Do you think I'm the type of man who would want a woman to abandon her life-long ambitions just because she has met someone?"

She knows he isn't. But it still doesn't answer why he is so cross with her. "What is it then?"

He pauses for a moment, trying to decide whether he wants to bare his soul out to her once more or not. There are two ways he can go from here- choose to not let her in again and save himself from the hurt, or trust her again and open himself up to potential pain.

Who is he kidding? Pushing her away- keeping her away- doesn't hurt any less.

There were a thousand things that had to go wrong to bring two Lokis from two universes together. A connection like that, it doesn't just happen.

And it doesn't just go away. The pain is constant, it's a part of him, pounding like a second heart every second he has to stop himself from reaching out for her hand.

This has to come to an end.

He takes in a deep breath, bracing himself. "You didn't have to send me away, Sylvie. I wanted to stop you from making the same mistakes I did. But in the end, I didn't care what you chose. I just wanted us to do it together."

She never even imagined this could be the reason for his hurt. All these months spent thinking he hates her for her choices, and now it turns out he is hurt simply because she chose to do it alone? "I'm sorry." She says sincerely. "I just wanted you to be safe."

"And I just wanted to be there with you till the end." He confesses. His eyes shimmer with the emotions he has kept bottled in for so long. "You go, I go."

She doesn't know what to say to that. She has never been good at articulating her feelings. Tears stream down her cheeks at the realisation that even after everything, he is still there for her.

She didn't cry even back at Lamentis when they thought they were going to die. She doesn't let anyone see her cry when she is sad or scared. That's all she has known her whole life. She's used to it by now.

This is new. These are tears of relief. Comfort.

Happiness.

Tentatively, she crosses over to the bed and sits by his side.

It's quiet for a few minutes. But unlike the months of tension so thick she could cut it into splices with her daggers, this is comfortable silence. The kind they had before it all went wrong.

"Did you even miss me?" He whispers.

"What kind of silly question is that? Of course I did." Her shaking hands grab his, and oh how she missed this.

He intertwines their fingers. His eyes draw closed. Bliss. That's the only word for this feeling.

He opens his eyes again and studies her. She's staring back at him, teary-eyed, but with a hopeful smile. "Really? Because you have a really unique way of showing it. You didn't even come looking for me."

"I didn't know how to face you", she tells him honestly. No tricks, no enchantment, no treachery. Not with him. "I didn't know if you even wanted to see me." Her voice grows quieter, dropping to a timbre that perfectly encapsulates her deepest fear. "I thought you hated me."

"Hate you?" He is shocked that she thinks that is even possible, specially after seeing him these last few months. "Sylvie, I'm working with the Avengers. The Avengers. Do you know how much I hate them? They are my nemesis. They're self-righteous, condescending, and so completely dull. Every second with them makes me want to rip their hearts out. Why do you think I'm here with them?"

She thinks she knows. But she needs to hear it anyway.

"It's because of you." He lays it all out on the table. All cards on deck, win or lose. "You've been running away. I have been the one who has been here, trying to hold down the fort, working to fix everything. Because that is what one does when one loves-"

Shit. The word slips out before he realises it.

Their eyes go wide in unison.

"Sylvie, I-"

"-Don't you dare take it back now." She warns him. "I-" She doesn't know how to say it either. They make such a great pair, both equally daft at saying how they feel, like they are teenagers, not Gods who have lived for centuries. "I've been running because I didn't think I could bear the burden of knowing I found you and then I lost you. I don't want to lose you. Not now, not ever."

He kisses the back of her hand, before letting it go. He cups her face, gently caressing her cheeks with his thumbs. "I don't want to lose you either."

She leans in closer, until their foreheads touch. She can feel his breath on her face, warm and soft. That is exactly how she feels inside. "You won't", she promises. "You go, I go."

---

(Quote on Lesser Evil from The Witcher. Thanks for reading!!)

[talesfromthenorsesmouth]

Attached

‘Nope.’ Query pointed her finger at Echo, seated across from her at the card table. ‘You said you wanted to learn how to play.’

‘I do! I just-’ Echo glanced over her shoulder at the closed door to the small dark room the boss had claimed as his own.

‘It’s been three days,’ she continued. ‘We’ve gotta at least check on him, right?’

Query took a pull from the beer bottle she was holding. ‘You heard what he said.’

‘He says a lot of things, Dee!’

‘Yeah, and he said this one at least twice, so he probably meant it. We have to leave him alone ‘til he’s ready.’

Echo settled back into her chair and glared at the chess board in front of her, and Query had to stifle a sigh.

‘He wouldn’t thank you for it,’ she said. ‘You know that.’

Echo shrugged, but her frown didn’t relax. ‘I just… I don’t like him having to go through this on his own.’

She probably wasn’t joking about that, Query thought. She’d seen Echo win wrestling matches against people twice her size, slam a knife through someone’s hand as a ‘persuasion tactic’ - and cry because she’d squashed a wasp when she was trying to help it out of a window. Beneath the spiky hair, piercings and some fairly unique leather gear, Echo had a well-hidden soft spot for small creatures, even the grubby ones with sharp teeth. Especially those. She’d once told Query how she’d kept rats under her bed as a kid, and not the fancy pet shop ones either.

And Query? Well, she had a soft spot for Echo, which meant she was prepared to put up with open windows for the wasps, and catch and release traps for the rats- and also, their current boss.

True, that wasn’t all down to Echo’s bleeding heart. Query had done enough odd jobs to recognise a decent gig when she saw it. All right, it wasn’t the self-owned business venture she and Nina had planned for when they’d struck out on their own, but this was a way to get a step closer. The boss had the ideas, they had the muscle to make it happen. But she wasn’t going to get attached to someone- specially not someone who thought leaving calling cards before crimes was in any way a sustainable business model.

Echo, on the other hand… Echo looked at the boss like she would any other grubby little creature, as something to take care of.

She shook her head and looked back down at the board. ‘OK. You remember how the horse moves?’

Echo rolled her eyes and reached for her own beer. ‘Not like any horse I’ve met.’

‘You grew up in the Narrows, Nina, when the fuck have you ever met a horse?’

Echo opened her mouth to reply when there was the small sound of a door snicking open, and they both looked over to see the boss leaning in the doorway.

He looked like shit, Query thought, like he’d been put through a mangle and stuck back together again without much attention being paid to the end result. He staggered across to the card table and slumped into the third seat between her and Echo, greasy locks of hair falling across his face.

‘All right, boss?’ Echo said, offering him her beer. He didn’t reach to take it, actually moved his head away while screwing up his face.

‘I’ll mend,’ he said, his voice scratchy. ‘You two need to get ready. There’s a job starting tomorrow.’

‘Tomorrow?’ Query said, and Echo sat bolt upright.

‘Boss, are you sure?’

‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ The boss turned his head towards Echo, eyes narrowed, tone suddenly flat.

‘Because you’ve been out of your mind on fear toxin for the past three days,’ Query snapped, leaning forward. Soft spot for rats or not, you didn’t have to let them bite you.

The boss turned to face her now, and his expression was almost blank, his mouth a thin line- but his eyes were blazing, too big in his narrow face.

‘Out of my mind, Query?’ he said softly. ‘That’s what you think?’

He pushed himself up, and it looked like it took an effort.

‘What’s your plan, then, may I ask?’ he said, voice still quiet. ‘Stay here, playing low stakes games of chess that you’ll lose in-’ He glanced down at the board, twitched his mouth like it was funny. ‘Three moves, if Echo picks the right approach.’

‘I-,’ Query looked down at the board. ‘What?’

‘No, no, by all means. Don’t let me stop you. It’s obviously much more appealing than actually making some money.’ The boss shrugged, and turned away, limping towards his workroom. He paused and glanced over his shoulder. ‘You know where to find me if you change your mind.’

Query glared after him, hackles rising, then back at the game. ‘Three fucking moves?’ she said. ‘I- oh fuck.’

Echo looked down too. ‘He’s right?’

‘Yeah, he’s right. Asshole.’ Query reached out and flicked her King over with one finger.

Echo shrugged and stood up. ‘So he’s still thinking straight, then. C’mon.’

‘He-,’ Query spluttered, ‘-did you see him?’

‘Yeah. And if he tries anything without us- and he will- he’s back to Arkham in five minutes.’ Echo looked at her pointedly, eyebrows raised. ‘And then how’re we getting the scratch together that quickly?’

Query groaned and tipped her head back. That was the other thing she loved about Echo, most of the time: she had a pragmatic streak a mile wide.

‘Fine. Fine.’ She threw her hands in the air. ‘Let’s go see what batshit crazy scheme he’s dreamt up this time.’ She shoved her chair back and stood up, and Echo leant across and kissed her, hard.

‘Knew you’d agree,’ she said. ‘He needs us, and we need him- so it works, right?’

Query sighed, and followed her. Yep, Echo was attached, all right. Which might be fine for now but Query wasn't planning on them staying henchgirls forever- and then it might have to be tears over saying goodbye to the grubby little creature all over again.

At least Echo usually got over them pretty quickly.

[grailfinders]

Fate and Phantasms #202

(Woof, we were almost a day late. Sorry about that, just got a second job. The first one at Facebook isn't working out that great. Anyway!)

Today on Fate and Phantasms we're getting a little bit beastly with the help of Atalante (Alter)! Move fast, hit hard, and outlast anyone who gets in your way. She's a Beast Barbarian for some beastly armaments and extra mobility, plus a Brute Fighter to hit harder and last longer.

Check out her build breakdown below the cut, or her character sheet over here!

Next up: They say every mentor learns from his students. This next servant really took that lesson to heart.

Race and Background

This Atalante is still a Shifter, but thanks to that beast's hide she's wearing, she's now a Beasthide Shifter, giving her +1 Strength and +2 Constitution (Thanks, Tasha!) She also gets Darkvision, Keen Senses for Perception proficiency, and a Toughness that gives her proficiency with Athletics. The big purpose of the class, however, is Shifting. You can transform into a fuzzier version of yourself for up to a minute once per short rest. Because you're a beasthide, your shift is a bit tougher than most; you gain 1d6+your level+ your constitution modifier temporary hit points, and your AC goes up by 1.

You're also still an Outlander, giving you Survival proficiency to live off of hydras. You would normally get athletics too, but you've got that already, so grab Persuasion instead. You're able to keep Yagas together, that's no small feat.

Ability Scores

You might be a wild animal now, but your speed is still your greatest asset, so your Dexterity should still be pretty high. Second highest now is your Constitution, that hide you've got on is really tough. And distracting, I mean you look like a goddamn Power Rangers villain. You kill things with your bare hands, so your Strength has to be up to snuff too. Your Wisdom is also above average, the Yaga seem to like you fine. This means your Intelligence isn't that great- you're not Chiron's star pupil this time. Finally, dump Charisma. You're a terrible liar, and you're hard to get along with.

Class Levels

Barbarian 1: Starting off as a barbarian makes your AC even better, thanks to Unarmored Defense. Now you can add your constitution and your dexterity modifiers to your AC while unarmored. (I know you technically get armor later, but it completely avoids your vital organs, so I'm not counting it.) You also get Rage, spending a bonus action to make you stronger (advantage on strength saves & checks), tougher (resistance to physical damage) and more brutal (bonus damage from strength-based attacks). Oh right, you also get proficiencies. Strength and Constitution saves, plus Intimidation and Nature skills. You're a scary wild animal, yes you are, yes you are!

Fighter 1: You still need weapons though, and rather than wait for two levels for your subclass, we'll go into Fighter right now for an Unarmed Fighting Style. You can punch people for 1d6 damage (1d8 if you have two hands free), and you can deal damage to grappled creatures if you start your turn holding onto them. You also get a Second Wind, healing yourself as a bonus action.

Barbarian 2: Second level barbs can make Reckless Attacks; you get advantage, your enemies get advantage, everyone wins! Except your enemies, because they'll all be dead before they get a turn. You also get a Danger Sense that gives you advantage on dexterity saves. You're still kind of a cat, I guess.

Barbarian 3: Third level barbarians set down a primal path, and the path of the Beast is for those who want to rip and tear, until the job is done. Right now you get a Form of the Beast when you rage, giving you one of three natural weapons. You can bite, dealing 1d8 piercing damage and regaining HP once per turn if you're bloodied. Otherwise, you can use your Claws to deal 1d6 slashing damage, and you get one extra attack with them per turn. The last one's less in character, but you can still grow a Tail if you want, dealing 1d8 piercing damage on attack, and you can use your reaction to apply a d8 to your AC against an attack that hit you. You also get Primal Knowledge in another barbarian skill. Pick up Animal Handling, it might help with the Yaga.

Barbarian 4: Bump up your Strength for better fighting. Real simple.

Barbarian 5: Fifth level barbs get an Extra Attack each attack action, as well as Fast Movement giving you an extra 10' of speed each turn. Turns out, you're fast! Who knew!

Barbarian 6: Sixth level beastbarians find their Bestial Soul, making their rage weapons magical against resistances. Whenever you finish a rest, you can also Self Evolve in one of three ways. You can gain a swiming speed and breathe underwater, a climbing speed that negates the need for climbing checks, or you can add an Athletics check to your jump distance once per turn. Normally, you can make an 8 foot long jump without runnig. Now you can jump a distance between 15' and 34'. It's a pretty good jump boost. The jump is the most in-character, but feel free to evolve whatever you need for the situation.

Barbarian 7: Seventh level barbarians grow even faster, with their Feral Instincts giving them advantage on initiative rolls, and you can ignore a surprise round by raging. Which you'd probably do anyway, so just roll with it. Speaking of raging, when you do so, you can make an Instinctive Pounce to move half your speed as part of the bonus action. You're not as fast as your archer self, but this'll help close the gap.

Fighter 2: Yep, we've got enough primal stuff, time to make it hurt. Bouncing back to fighter now gets you an Action Surge. Once per short rest, you can add an extra action to your turn, no strings attached. Use this to attack and you can hit people four times per turn, or five times with your claws!

Fighter 3: Third level fighters get their martial archetype, and becoming a Brute makes you a bit more heavy-handed. Your Brute Force lets you add a d4 to every damage roll you make with your weapons, and the die grows as you level up. This means your teeth are now arguably as strong as a greatsword.

Fighter 4: Another ASI! Bump up your Strength.

Fighter 5: Unfortunately, the fifth level of fighter gets you absolutely nothing. Extra attack doesn't stack like that. :(

Fighter 6: Use this ASI to grab the Mobile feat, for extra movement and the ability to shut down the attacks of opportunity from anyone you tried to hit this turn. Getting hit is for slow people.

Fighter 7: Seventh level brutes get Brutish Durability, adding a d6 to every save they make, up to and including death saves. If this brings a death save to a total of 20 or higher, you automatically pop back up with 1 HP. Barbarians tend to make the most death saves out of any party member, might as well be good at it.

Fighter 8: Another ASI! Grab the Martial Adept feat for a superiority die (1d6) that you can use to perform one of two Battle Master Maneuvers once per short rest. A big part of this build is adaptability, so the final say in what maneuvers you get is up to you. That being said, I highly recommend Ambush for a boost to stealth and initiative rolls, or Maneuvering Attack for even more mobility. It adds damage to your attack, and you can let one friendly creature (including you) move half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks from the target.

Fighter 9: Now that you're Indomitable, you can re-roll a failed saving throw once per long rest. I know berserkers are glass cannons in FGO, but that's just how they flavor their easily tricked nature, really they're hard as hell to fight, even if you've got fireballs and shit.

Fighter 10: Tenth level brutes get a bigger Brute Force die, now you add 1d6 to every attack, so your hands are as powerful as a greatsword. You also get an Additional Fighting Style, so grab Superior Technique for a second superiority die per rest and a third maneuver of your choice.

Fighter 11: Eleventh level fighters get another Extra Attack, and this one does stack, so you can attack up to 6 times per turn, or 7 with your claws and your action surge.

Fighter 12: Use your last ASI to become Resilient to Dexterity saves. You get +1 dexterity, and proficiency with that kind of save. So yeah, you now have advantage, proficiency, and an extra 1d6 against that fireball. Good luck, spellcasters.

Fighter 13: Our capstone level is a second use of Indomitable per day. Not the flashiest way to end a build, but at least you're not a sorcerer.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

When you want to hurt someone, they really hurt. With four claw attacks and three unarmed attacks, all boosted by rage, maneuvers, and brute force, you can deal 3d8+13d6+42. And those are all with advantage, so you've got a good chance of dealing a crit. Even without that chance, you can still deal over 100 damage in a single turn with average rolls.

You've also got plenty of Mobility to stay on top of your prey, with a base movement of 50' per turn and the ability to jump an absolute minimum of 20', or you can swap in other kinds of movement if you're going to the sea or a cliff face. You've also got several ways to pour more speed in if you need it. You won't be able to win a race against your archer self, but you'll definitely make her work for it.

Your saves are ridiculous, especially your physical ones. You've got proficiency in all three, good scores, an additional 1d6, and your strength and dexterity saves probably have advantage. If people try to get through your hide, they'll find your skin is just as tough, with an AC of 16-17, damage resistance, almost 200 HP, and plenty of ways to heal yourself.

Cons:

If you can't catch up to a person, your range means you're screwed. Your best weapons are all melee range, and you'll just end up chasing them around like a fool. (Technically you can just... pick up a bow and use it, you're a fighter after all, but we're playing to character.)

Despite your save shenanigans, your low charisma means you still might end up getting shunted to another dimension. That would explain how you got to the lostbelt, though....

We spent a whole feat and fighting style on those superiority dice, and to be honest they're probably not worth the effort. Bumping up your strength and picking up the Mariner style would be just as useful, if less customizable.

[mrsbrookegillespie]

Line Without A Hook Alive!Luke x Reader (Part One)

Based Of The Song Line Without A Hook by Ricky Montgomery 

Please Read Beforehand: If you know about what's going on with Charlie Gillespie, great, if you don't, great, please do not talk about it in the comments, or ask me about it, as the comments will be removed if so. I do not define a character by it's actor, so no bashing the character because of the drama that's going on. Please, and thank you.

Description: You are Alex's little sister. What happens when it gets addressed to him that Luke likes you?... And you might like him too. (Alive!Luke x Reader) (Alex x Sibling!Reader)

Warnings: Mild swearing, mild angst (because me), some fluff.

=Line Without a Hook=

"I'm going to tell her," Luke announces.

"Tell her what?" Julie asks from the couch, calmly yet curiously.

Alex perks up on his stool, stopping his previous movements (twirling his drumsticks). "Who?" he asks, narrowing his eyes.

"Alex! I thought you were with Y/N today." Luke adjusts his vest.

Avoiding his questionable glares, Alex stands up. "So, who are you going to tell what?"    

"Oh-um-I-did I say something?" Luke stutters.

"Julie?" Alex calls out.

"What?" Julie continues to look down at her Biology textbook.

"It seems like you know who this "her" is. So spill? Is it someone you like, Luke? Why does Julie know, but not me?" Alex starts to get worked up.

"Oh, I know," Reggie adds, stupidly.

Luke gives Reggie a 'don't' look. "Yeah, it's someone I 'like', but Alex. Okay, I-I don't know how to tell you this, but... I-I like... Y/N," he admits, the end being barely audible.

Alex gives a blank stare towards Luke. "I'm sorry." He leans his ear closer. "Could you repeat that for me? Because I must have misheard. You like who?"

Luke gulps, swallowing down his fear. "I like Y/N," he repeats, slowly.

"I'm..." Alex takes a deep breath. "I'm going to..." His voice keeps failing him. "No."  

"No?" Luke questions. "You're saying I can't tell her I like her?"

"You cannot date her," Alex argues. "I don't care if she likes you back, you--no!" Alex gestures a strangling motion towards Luke. "You can't date my little sister." He points at Luke, before pacing around the studio.

"Alex," Julie joins, dragging out the syllables of his name. "Give Luke a chance, he is your best friend, can't you trust him?"  she advises.

"No!" Alex shouts. "I mean I trust you, but not with Y/N."

Luke's eyes widen. "That doesn't make any sense . What is that even supposed to mean?"

"It means! I've seen you take and throw away girls in the matter of days I'm not going to have you hurt her. She's already so fragile, and you'll only make it worse," Alex explains. "And if something happens between you two, and you can't stand to be near each other... You know who I'll choose to side on. If I ever had to choose between the band, and my sister. I'm going to choose her."

"But, I would never hurt her," he pauses. "You're not even going to give me a chance?!"

"When did this start?" Alex asks, urgently.

"When..." Luke lets out a shaky inhale. "When I first met her."

"I knew it! From the looks you were giving her, the compliments, how you wanted her to paint you, and now you have said painting in your room where anyone can see it, the way you gave her your clothes when she was cold, I knew it wasn't you being 'friendly'." Alex throws his hands up. "Why? Why is it the first time you actually 'like' someone it's the person I care about the most? Someone I'm related to? Someone I can't bear to see heartbroken?"

"But, I really like her, and I just want you to see--"

"I said no!" Alex snaps. "Listen closely, I'm going to tell you this one more time... No."

"Give me a reason why!" Luke defends. "A solid reason why."

Alex's eyes now a dark blue. "Because she's a lady, and you're just a boy."

"What?" Luke asks, taking it as an insult.

Reggie pops up from his criss cross position. "He said she's a lady, and you're--"

"You're just a line without a hook," Alex cuts Reggie off. "You'll never be able to handle her emotions, insecurities, feelings. And you--," Alex lets out a cold laugh, "--you will never be her first boyfriend, her first everything, because I know you'll screw up her expectations."

"What's going on?" Everyone turns their head towards the entrance.

"Y/N," Julie states, standing up. "I thought you weren't able to come by?"

"I'm very persuasive," she replies, breathless. "Alex?" she questions, averting her eyes between him and Luke.

"Y/N, how much did you...?" Alex's gaze softens seeing his little sister so vulnerable. "You're crying," he observes.

"No, I'm not," she weakly assures.

Her puffy red eyes, and pale complexion justifies her claims as false. "What's wrong?" Luke asks.

"You didn't answer my question." She ignores her friends, and brother's concern.

"I can explain," Alex starts.

Y/N runs off before he has the chance to get another word out. "Don't," Julie warns Luke who tries to go after her. "Alex, it's your sister, you need to talk to her about what she wants, I get it you're scared, and you care about her feelings, but she's very mature. And as her best friend, I also worry, but I trust her."

Alex looks as Julie who's giving him a pointed look. "I hate it when you're right."

He jogs off, trying to find her. Quickly spotting her sitting down one of the stone steps outside. "I'm too tired to run off any further."

Alex laughs despite the context. He walks up to sit down next to her. "What happened today?"

She shrugs. "Got my report card," she whispers.

"Y/N, I'm sorry are you--"

"No," she interrupts. She rustles through her backpack, pulling out the sheet of paper.

Alex gasps a little. "Straight A's?" She nods. "Y/N, that's incredible!" He hugs her. "I'm so happy for you." She lets out a small smile. "So, then why are you crying? This is great news."

"Because the only reason I'm getting these grades is because of you, Luke, and Reggie. Yes, Reggie." She giggles. "You underestimate him too much. You guys help me so much, and I'm--I guess--it's stupid," she ends up saying.

"What?"

"I just... I wish I could see you more, and not by lying to mom and dad about staying at Julie's. I wish they could just see how much you do for me, and love you no matter what for that. But, they're so close minded I can't even have my own guitar."

"I'm sorry," he whispers. "It's my fault."

She shakes her head. "That's not what I'm trying to say, it's not your fault."

"I should've just kept my secret between you and I."

"No!" She jumps up, scaring him. "That's the point, you took a risk, and I admire you for that. Do you know how many times a day I wish I can scream at them that I want to be an actor, and be in the music program at school? But, I can't because I'm scared, but then I see you with your band and how happy you are. And, I'm not happy!" I pause. "There's so many things I've been hiding from people, because I don't want to hurt them, and I'm scared of the outcome. But, if I live in fear, what kind of life will I be living?"

Alex eyes meet her with an unreadable glint. "God dammit, I hate it when you're right."

"What?" Y/N asks confused.

"Y/N, I am afraid of everything. But, mostly I'm afraid to see you grow up, and make your own decisions."

"Alex..." She sits back down. "I love you, and I get it, it's your job as a big brother to protect me, but I'm a tough girl, yes I have my own problems but when I'm with you, and your friends, and Julie those little things usually disappear. Because you guys make me feel more loved than anyone else." She hugs his side, him hugging back tightly.  

"You're growing up too fast," he utters.

She lets out a hearty laugh. "I learn from the best."

He shakes his head. "And if you want to date Luke, I won't stop you."

"What?!" Y/N exclaims, pulling away. "Date Luke?!" She gapes at him. "W-Why would you think...?"

Alex places a hand on hers. "It's obvious."

She rolls her eyes. "Yeah, there was that one time when we held hands and--"

Alex covers his ears. "Lalalala!" he sings. "I'll try to not be seriously weirded out by you two but please. I don't give a damn about the way you two touch when you're alone."

Y/N's face turns a bright red. "Noted."

They laugh at each other's uncomfortable glances. "Well." She raises an eyebrow at him. "There's now nothing stopping you."

She smiles widely, running off inside.

Alex lingers outside for a moment. He stares at the sky. "Wish me luck."

Word Count: 1522

[the-ferocious-kittyrose]

What I would’ve done w/ Lotor’s character

It’s not exactly a secret to anyone who’s been following me for a while that I’m not the biggest fan of canon Lotor. I had high hopes for the character from his 80s counterpart and intro in season 3 but I was really let down by the direction the writers went with him in canon.

When he was introduced, I was so hoping for him to be this cocky manipulative asshole that’s only out for himself. I love that character archetype so goddamn much.

But in canon he was just kinda boring to me. His personality was bland and his motivations never really made sense. He’s introduced using empty promises of peace and comradery to manipulate people, then its revealed that he actually does want peace and comradery and wants to lead a peaceful empire, then that turns into draining Alteans and wanting to kill all Galra...

I also didn’t like how the writers decide to tack on this whole child abuse plot to explain why he was the way he was. As if that’s the only way to make a villain sympathetic. Yeah other versions of Voltron have touched on Lotor’s childhood before and it was never pleasant, but VLD really leaned into that shit, to the point where it felt like the writers were just shoving angst down our throats thinking that equals good writing.

It takes more than a tragic backstory to make a character compelling. It takes an interesting personally and motivations that make sense. And you can make a character tragic/sympathetic in more subtle ways.

For me personally, I wanted Lotor to be a sorta fusion of Loki and Littlefinger in space.

Loki is a sly trickster who grew up feeling like an outcast, unaware of his true heritage. He grew up believing he could be king but when his shity father handed it to his perfect brother he felt he had been robbed and decided to take the throne by force.

Littlefinger is a small man from a small house with no power, and after getting the shit beat out of him trying to win the hand of the girl he loved, he decided he would use his intelligence and skills in manipulation to screw over all these noble lords and weasel his way into the throne. And when he did he would finally get vengeance on all those who had looked down on him.

I feel like this fits Lotor well. Lotor is a prince, so he isn’t small in that regard, but he is not respected in the way a prince should be.

He is a lot smaller than the average Galra. And even though Lotor is still quite strong, developing a fighting style that suits his small form and uses his opponents size against them, in a society so heavily based on physical strength that’s still a big blow to your rep.

He employs half breeds, which we know are looked down on in the empire. And there are definitely rumors about Lotor himself being a half breed. I think after 10,000 years Zarkon would’ve done a pretty good job at hiding Lotor’s heritage from the public but just looking at him compared to the average Galra there’s going to be some suspicion there. On that note Lotor is probably considered butt ugly by the Galra.

And Lotor works in the shadows and achieves his goals through lies and trickery, which Lotor himself says are things the empire looks down on.

So yeah, the people in the empire hate Lotor. Even Sendak who’s all ‘Gung ho empire�� has no respect for Lotor. And because of this it would probably be up in the air whether or not Lotor would even be allowed to take the throne if his father were to pass, even though it’s his birthright.

And in the face of all this rampant disrespect, Lotor decides that he is going to overthrow his father and take the throne. And when he does he will take vengeance on everyone who had ever undermined him and expand the empire beyond anything his father could’ve dreamed of.

And don’t try telling me, “oh that’s so out of character! Lotor would never take pleasure in the pain of others!” Because he does.

Remember Throk? Remember how Lotor sent him away to the worst station in the empire and joked about letting him, “rot with the ice worms?” Remember how Lotor later invaded his station then watched with a grin as he was tortured by Haggar?

Lotor 100% takes pleasure in hurting those who would hurt him, because it makes him feel powerful.

Now let’s talk about Lotor’s planet. The one given to him and destroyed by Zarkon. I always felt weird about this plot. Obviously it’s a very sad thing to have happen, but I always liked the idea of Lotor’s promises of peace to be empty, a means of manipulating people. So this whole situation being genuine feels weird to me.

In my version, Lotor didn’t get banished for being too kind. He got banished because Zarkon caught him in a plot to betray him.

When Lotor was put in charge of the planet, he seduced and married the princess Ventar. He filled her head with promises that her people would be free and they would rule the universe together and convinced her to secretly round up her armies and send word to her ally planets to do the same, so they could start planning a way to overthrow Zarkon.

It’s left ambiguous whether or not he was being genuine and whether he really loved Ventar and intended to keep his promises to her or if she was just a tool to get the throne. But either way, it ends the same. Zarkon finds out, destroys the planet, kills Ventar, and exiles Lotor.

Still sad/humiliating thing for Lotor, and definitely a story that could gain sympathy from Allura.

Speaking of Allura and Ventar, let’s talk about Lotor’s relationship with the women in his life.

(Trigger Warning: Brief mention of of a rape scene in GoLion)

In the 80s Lotor was incredibly misogynistic. He walked around with a harem of half naked women, tried repeatedly to kidnap and marry Allura against her will, and in GoLion it’s heavily implied that he raped Romelle because she looked like Allura.

It’s a common joke in the fandom that he went from this to drinking respect women juice in VLD but I don’t know if I’d go that far.

He’s definitely better in VLD than he was in the 80s, but even in VLD he manipulates, uses, and hurts most of the women in his life.

Allura is the obvious example, but you also have his generals. Acxa talks to the paladins, Allura in particular, about how persuasive Lotor could be. Implying that she and the other general were manipulated the same way Allura was.

Well not EXACTLY the same way Allura was, romantically I mean. Though there are people who believe that Acxa was also in love with Lotor and he used that to his advantage, which I can see.

But I feel like it was more about giving them a place in an empire that didn’t care about or accept them.

I hate The Last Jedi but I really feel like the line, “you’re nothing, but not to me,” fits really well. They were outsiders with no place to go until Lotor swooped in and gave them a purpose.

Do I think that there was a part of Lotor that genuinely wanted to help them because he saw a kindred spirit in them? Yeah. But I also think that at the end of the day, they were more tools than real friends. And he had no qualms about killing them if they betrayed him.

The situation with Narti proves that. As well as the fact that Ezor and Zethrid seemed very scared of the prospect of Lotor being alive and coming for them.

And then you have Allura. Lotor’s lust for Allura has always been a very important part of his character. In the 80s the reason behind his obsession with her was that he had a lot of baggage about his mother and had a thing for women that looked like her. Also the fact that he just didn’t like not getting something he wanted.

There was never any love. He didn’t want to be with her, he wanted to own her.

In VLD, his want for Allura seems to stem more from the fact that she’s Altean than an Oedipus complex. As well as the fact that she’s powerful and skilled in Altean alchemy, which makes her rather useful.

I don’t personally believe that Lotor ever really Loved Allura. I think he liked the idea of her and what she could do for him, but the end of the day she was more a means to an end than anything else.

Allura’s been trough a lot. Zarkon betrayed her family and destroyed her entire planet only about a year ago from her point of view, and she appears to have a pretty bad case of survivors guilt and PTSD. And to make matters worse, while Lotor was on the ship she was fighting with Shiro, someone she clearly cared about. The idea of loosing him after already losing so much must’ve been really painful.

She was hurting, conflicted, and lonely. Which made her all the more vulnerable to Lotor’s manipulation.

He took advantage of her loneliness and insecurities, making her believe she had found someone who understood her and could help her avenge her family and planet. She trusted him, let herself be vulnerable around him, which made it hurt even more when it was revealed to all be a ruse.

And then you have his relationship with his mother Honerva/Haggar.

I talked a lot about this in my whole rewrite/rant about Honerva, but I’m not a fan of how they made their relationship 100% negative. I feel like it robs the show of a lot of interesting character interaction.

It’s sad. The whole relationship is really tragic. Shit like this is literally my worst nightmare. The thought of looking my mom in the face and have her not recognize me as her daughter keeps me up at night.

But the thing is, in canon the relationship kinda falls flat because Lotor and Haggar/Honerva have no connection. Haggar was awful to Lotor and Lotor hates Haggar. What reason do I have to be invested in their relationship?

So If you haven’t read my Honerva rant, here’s how I would’ve done the Honerva Lotor relationship.

10,000 years ago, when Alfor came to Dibazzal to convince Zarkon to close the rift, Honerva went into labor. Alfor and many Galran doctors tried there best to save her and the baby, but the quintessence had damaged her body so much that she couldn’t be saved and died in childbirth.

Zarkon went ballistic and Alfor had the doctors take baby Lotor somewhere safe, fearing Zarkon would take his grief and anger out on the child.

After Honerva was resurrected as Haggar and throughout Lotor’s childhood, they had a strange sort of relationship. Lotor was an inquisitive child and was always curious about Haggar and her work, making a habit of following her around like a little shadow and watching as she worked. And there was also the fact that, while his father was never friendly, he was calmer when she was around.

Haggar had no idea what to make of this weird child following her around all the time. All these big strong Galra were terrified of her but this tiny child showed no fear as he tugged on her robes and excitedly asked questions about her work. And she never minded. She didn’t know why or how to explain it, but she cared for the child. As much as a soulless undead witch could care for something anyway.

But as time went on there relationship became more and more strained. Lotor was a smart kid he was gonna find out about his mother and deduce what happened to her.

He resented Haggar. Resented her for not remembering him. Resented her for the fact that he had to go through life without a mother while she was right there. And he resented her for being loyal to Zarkon, who had been making his life hell for thousands of years.

Every time she showed him something resembling kindness he’s conflicted. He knows he should feel happy that she cares, but at the same time, why does she care? It’s not like she sees him as her son.

He turned to denial, insisting that Haggar couldn’t possibly be his mother, even though he new the truth deep down, and a part of him always secretly longed for her to remember who she was, who he was, and embrace him as her son. He hates that part of himself.

And when he does meet Honerva for the first time, it’s... tense... to say the least. Having his mother reach out to him and acknowledge him as her son is something he thought would bring him joy, but in that moment all the pain he went through rises back to the surface and he lashes out. He draws his sword and is about to cut her down but he hesitates. He’s trembling with tears in his eyes. He can’t forgive her, but he also can’t bring himself to kill her.

Then you have his relationship with his father.

It’s no secret that Zarkon is an awful man and a shity father, always has been.

The explanation as to why is kinda shaky. All we get is Zarkon saying Lotor is his greatest shame because he’s Altean but I don’t know about that. Zarkon may hate Alteans but he loved Honerva and I don’t think he would be ashamed of his relationship with her.

He definitely did his best Lotor’s heritage from the public. But I don’t think that’s the reason he hates him.

In my version of the story, Zarkon hates Lotor because Honerva died giving birth to him and Zarkon blames him for her death. He lost his beloved wife and was forced to watch the son that killed her waltz around wearing her face.

It didn’t help that Lotor was a snarky rebellious kid that liked to show off. He did things his own way, didn’t care much for rules, and had a real knack for finding loopholes. All things that made his strict father very angry. He was an embarrassment. Small and rebellious. That’s why Zarkon began training Sendak.

I personally believe the reason Zarkon was so trusting of Sendak and had so much faith in him was because Zarkon had been grooming him to be his “true heir.” Sendak is the epitome of what a Galra should be. Strong, loyal, and brave. He would be the son Zarkon wished he had. The favorite child.

Lotor obviously hates Zarkon, and rightfully so. Zarkon hates him for something he had no control over and constantly disrespects him.

Lotor may not follow the rules, but he passes every trial. He excels at everything he does but Zarkon refuses to see that all because he blames him for Honerva’s death.

Lotor sees Zarkon as an old fool. He knows that he could do a far better job at running the empire.

Lotor dedicated thousands of years of his life to overthrowing Zarkon. His hatred for his father was his motivation, what got him out of bed every morning, so when the deed is done and Zarkon was finally defeated, in the moments after he felt empty.

But he didn’t have time to dwell on that feeling for long. He still had to deal with his father’s men and take the throne that was rightfully his.

Then you have his plan.

Lotor’s plan in VLD is really weird and over complicated. There was no real reason for the whole draining Alteans thing. Just a lazy way of making him 100% evil.

The plot could’ve been a lot simpler. He gains the paladins trust, gets them to help him build his ships and overthrow Zarkon, and then once he has the throne he pulls an Uno reverse card and is like, “yeah, nothing personal but this was all a trick and imma lock you and your lions up now.”

Obviously more complicated than that but that’s the basic idea.

One of my main problems with VLD is that they had a bad habit of over complicating the plot. People don’t care about VLD because of the plot, they care about the characters and their relationships, the actual plot doesn’t have to be anything spectacular.

It’s strange to say but I feel like the writes tried too hard with Lotor. He had the potential to be an amazing villain but the writers were too focused on tricking the audience and making him angsty that they forgot to make him compelling.

[sarahjtv]

BNHA Chapter 325 Spoiler Analysis: United As One

The week has passed and so has summer.  Damn...  At least Shonen Jump’s got my back.  And Deku is finally welcome home thank god.  Now, give this kid a damn good meal, sleep, and a motherfreaking bath already.  NGL, this week has been busy for me and I’m tired AF, so I think I’ll only go over the parts that stuck out to me:

Man, god bless Kota for running up to Izuku to help him!  This kid has been through so much yet he still decided to run up to Izuku to help him.  He’s sobbing his eyes out too 😭.  I’m pretty sure he’s apologizing for not moving during the Muscular fight (in Kota’s defense, Izuku would’ve probably died if not for Kota) and he’s telling Izuku that “I am here” (OF COURSE HE SAYS THOSE WORDS) so Izuku doesn’t need to cry anymore.  And to top it all off, Kota calls Izuku “Nii-chan” which I’m pretty sure means older brother 😭❤️ If Horikoshi brings Eri in next week, I’m going to cry waterfalls dammit

The Fox Lady is so kind and pretty dammit Horikoshi give her a name already!  She’s so happy to see Deku again and thanks him for saving her.  Even calls him “Mr. Crybaby Hero” 😭  The way she picks him up like a small child is both sweet and funny too ☺️ I await the fanart!

A-AND THEN SHE AND KOTA HUG DEKU 😭💚💚💚💚

On a more serious note, the Fox Lady mentions that she got rejected from a lot of evacuation centers because they don’t accept mutant types like her.  Of course discrimination still exists in this world.  Of freakin’ course.  Just like in the real world...  And considering that Horikoshi mentioned that Shoji would have a role in the future and also show his face finally in some interviews (Horikoshi also teased that he wanted to give Shoji a bigger story YEARS ago), I have a feeling this subject will be brought up again in the future.

The Old Star Man from the first chapter/episode who encourages Deku to be a hero returns this chapter to give a big speech to the crowd.  This guy is a real one ✊.  Basically, he says that the crowd needs to shut up and understand what’s going on for a hot minute.  That everyone projected All Might’s “Perfect Heroness” onto the every other hero that they all forgot that Heroes are just people at the end of the day.  If the people don’t support the heroes still fighting now, they’re screwed.  Ultimately, it’s the civilians who have to save the heroes when they’re hurting.  Not just other heroes.  Horikoshi, please give this man a name too, he’s long deserved it.

Then the boy in the All Might shirt who’s been protesting for the past 2 chapters says something reasonable for once.  His views on Deku have been mixed around thanks to all the things that have been rumored about Deku on the internet and word of mouth.  Which kinda justifies his anger and doubt, but he still should’ve have been a jerk to Deku and Ochako.  

Deku finally speaks a full sentence declaring that he and his friends and mentors will make everything ok again.  I can’t wait to see that promise be fulfilled, my son 💚

We change focus to Shoto, Endeavor, and Hawks (who are confirmed to have been outside the barrier for the past few chapters; I was wondering about that).  They’re finally being allowed into UA for now.  Unfortunately the 3 of them probably would’ve caused more discourse if they entered while the civilians were rioting.  Endeavor and Hawks from the press release and just Shoto existing really.  Please let them stay there permanently.  

Gotta say that Endeavor looks so freaking tired throughout this whole thing.  The Toya thing + The Deku thing must be weighing extremely heavy on him.  I do feel bad for him honestly.  

Hawks tells Endeavor how OFA has, in a way, connected everyone together.  All Might to Deku to Class 1-A back to Deku to Ochako to the people.  And if the people can truly care for others, then the future will be bright and heroes will have all the time in the world just like Hawks wanted at the very beginning of his story.

There’s this really beautiful double page spread (teased in one of Vol. 31′s extras) of the civilians offering their umbrellas to the kids.  Kirishima’s crying happy tears, Kota and Mineta are running up to Deku, the All Might Shirt dude is offering Deku his umbrella, Kaminari is smacking Bakugo over the head 😂, Iida’s holding Deku’s hand to guide him, and INKO FINALLY GETS TO BE WITH HER SON THANK THE LORD 💚😭 

Shoto 💙 Our resident pretty boy is looking at this scene and ultimately decides that he and Endeavor are going to stop Dabi together.  He decided this before back in the hospital, but I think his decision is more final here.  I really need him to properly reunite with Deku though and I’m sure they have A LOT to talk about.

AND WE FINALLY GET TO PROPERLY SEE AIZAWA AFTER GOD KNOWS HOW LONG AND HE’S SO HANDSOME 🖤 MY MAN IS LOOKING GOOD WITH AN EYEPATCH?!?  And he does have a prosthetic robot leg and apparently Mirko does too.  God, he looks so tired, but he’s so proud of his kids Imma cry again 😭

Anyway, it’s looks like he’s still recovering from the war in the hospital and apparently also there to help with the whole Kurogiri situation, who’s been transferred to a research lab.  It seems like Aizawa’s trying to bring back Shirakumo somehow.  If they do, I wonder if Shirakumo will even still be alive.  We can assume that he might still be alive since he did tell the Heroes about the hospital, but it’s uncertain.  It would be nice to have that sweet soul back 🌤

Also, the Heroes are aware that Himiko Toga’s still out there and they’re taking extra persuasions to make sure she isn’t one of the refugees.  They also know her limits too, so that’s good.

The last panel is of All Might standing outside of UA, but his back is turned against them.  He has this uncertain look on his face too.  I honestly can’t read it for the life of me.  I gotta wonder why he isn’t walking in there now that everything seems to be ok.  Maybe he doesn’t want to accidentally cause more problems?  The public did start to hate him with the whole “I Am Not Here” sign on his statue in Kamino...  Deku does need him though.  Ugh, I’m so worried for this man.

And I do have a theory.  It’s a long shot and a dark one: What if Toga found Stain while running off and they teamed up together.  Then Stain found and took All Might captive and Toga took some of All Might’s blood to transform into him and now she’s the one outside of UA.  I can’t say if All Might is dead or not.  I really, really, REALLY, don’t want him to be dead.  Stain says that All Might is the only one truly worthy of being a Hero, so I doubt he would actively kill All Might.  But, god there’s so many death flags surrounding this man.  I don’t even know if he’s going to make it through the entire series tbh.

The end chapter teaser says “The rain continues on...” so I doubt this pain is over.  We have a bit of a calm, but I am so anticipating the next storm.

Me waiting for even more pain:     

[beewolfwrites]

An Iron Box - Just a Little Spark

@cheshiya @tenseoyong @szallejhscorner @something-more-original-please @ofsunsetsandpoetries @nek0dzuken @allozaur @serenzippity @hiqhkey

Helloo everyone! Just dropping this here. I suppose my old physics classes in school came in handy for this chapter XD

Please beware of typos/grammar errors/any other mistakes. I did try to comb through it, but after working strange hours, I'm struggling not to fall asleep so I might have missed a few. 

Here is the AO3 link - and thanks for reading!! 

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

I’d always enjoyed locking myself in a room and basking in the peace and quiet of my own company, but never before had the silence felt so grating. Kuina and (name) were both at a game, and there was little for me to do besides doze off on my bed, listening to the steady drip of the bathroom tap. And, of course, wonder about Niragi. 

Right now, he would be inventing some creative way to scare (name), all because he disliked me.

Well, I can’t say it isn’t mutual. 

For now, there was nothing I could do about him. Another matter had slotted into the picture quite nicely - the two from the Tag game, in particular, the boy. Arisu, I believe his name was. From the moment they’d brought him and that girl in, I recognised his face immediately, and knew I had found my new test subject for locating the safe. He was gullible, too kind for his own good. 

Someone as soft as him would never survive out here anyway. 

It wouldn’t be difficult, per se, to switch up the plan. All it would take is a little persuasion, but a carefully controlled persuasion nonetheless. There wasn’t much time left before Hatter was a dead man, and once the militants took over the Beach, there would be no going back. 

Speaking of the militants, perhaps it’s time to make use of this opportunity. 

Niragi wouldn’t be back for a while yet, and he was grouped with Aguni and Last Boss. With those three gone, it was the perfect opening to attack the castle while it was unguarded, so to speak. 

Pocketing a pair of latex gloves, along with the wire cutters and screwdrivers I’d used to build the taser, I pulled up my hood and left the room. The games were well in progress, and with half the Beach out across Tokyo, the hotel was quiet enough for me to slip by unnoticed. 

Although Niragi was a little smarter than I’d like to admit, he was still overconfident enough to assume that nobody would dare enter his room while he was gone. And sure enough, I was right. There was nobody around outside, and pulling on the latex gloves, I found that the door slid open. No traps, alarms, or barricades. 

So predictable. 

Inside, his room was disgusting. The bed resembled a heap of linen, and there were clothes everywhere, including several bikinis and a number of shirts. It was peculiar. If Niragi had this many shirts, why he insisted on wearing one that made him look like a giraffe was beyond even my comprehension. 

‘Hmm, what to do…’ Shrugging my hands into my pockets, I took a stroll around the room, admiring the sheer mess of it all. Below the desk, I noticed a dribble of blood stains on the carpet. 

Was this where it happened? Or maybe… 

My eyes lifted to the bed, where I caught sight of something rather interesting. The bedside lamps on either side were hotel standard, designed with a sleek metal casing from bulb to base. They were sitting on the cheap wooden bedside tables. 

All at once, an idea clicked into place.

‘Well, accidents do happen.’ 

Removing the first lamp from the wall, I unscrewed the plug and opened it up. It was easy to identify the neutral wire with its cerulean casing, the live from its brown casing, and the earth wire from its green and yellow stripes. Taking the wire cutters, I snipped through the earth wire. Then tracing the wiring back to the lamp, I unscrewed the case, snipped through the live wire and angled the exposed end against the metal case. 

I took extra care as I screwed the plug back together and rearranged the lamp as it was, before repeating the process for the one on the other side. If the metal casing of the lamp didn’t give him an electrical shock first, the wooden bedside table would probably come in handy later on. 

All it takes it a little spark. 

And without a trace, I left the room just as it was. Niragi would be non-the-wiser until it was too late, and even though he’d know immediately that I was behind it, there would be no way of proving I was there. 

Well… there was one way. However, it was easily fixable. 

I took a little detour through the hotel, and headed down to the basement, bypassing the medical room and the generators, before locating the security room. I was always aware that there were cameras set up around the Beach, but I had never had enough interest to investigate it until now. 

The room was small, with space for just a desk, a chair, and several monitors. Each monitor flickered between different spaces… the lobby… the former-restaurant… the halls outside the elevators… and interestingly enough, individual hotel rooms. While it came as no surprise that Hatter would be paranoid enough to set up cameras in each room, the thought of someone watching while I was unaware left me uneasy. 

The central monitor changed, revealing the regular poolside party. Between the blur of skin, flip flops and swimsuits, was a familiar face. Arisu. 

Ah, so you survived… 

He was peering around, searching for someone. Then he stilled, before racing across the poolside towards his friend - the climber. If they were both back already, that meant the games would be over soon. 

It wasn’t difficult to locate the footage of myself entering Niragi’s room, but erasing it took some tinkering. It was unlikely that many people were aware of the security cameras at all, but I couldn’t be sure of where Niragi stood, so it was simply more convenient to erase the footage regardless. 

All this just for her… I surprise myself sometimes. 

Speak of the devil, the central monitor switched to the camera overlooking the patio entrance. 

And there she was. 

Dishevelled and shoeless, but still very much alive. Niragi had one arm around her shoulder, forcing her forward as their group made its way through the patio and in the direction of the pool. I didn’t bother sticking around to see what would happen next. Pulling up my hood, I left the security room and headed back upstairs. 

The lobby was empty. Everyone who wasn’t in their room had gathered outside to witness the events happening. I slipped around the back, making my way behind the row of recliners where Kuina, Arisu and the climber were sitting. Where she was. 

She hadn’t spotted me yet, as she was standing by Niragi’s side, raw eyed and shaken. Nobody was interested in her anymore. Not when Aguni was addressing the newcomer directly. 

‘What a shame,’ he said to Arisu. ‘So only the small fish survived.’ It appeared as if he were going to go inside, but his gaze lowered to the climber. ‘Bring that woman over,’ he instructed Niragi. 

The moment Niragi’s arm left (name’s) shoulder, she ducked away, moving to stand behind the recliners. Niragi grinned at her, but didn’t seem too interested. He instead tried to take the climber by force - something I had seen a number of times since arriving here. It was almost strange that people would gather to watch this, especially as it was such a regular occurrence. Just as I was getting bored, however, Arisu stood up, stopping Niragi in his tracks. 

The boy has guts. A little unexpected, considering how soft he appears. 

Kuina tugged Arisu’s arm. ‘Hey, don’t get involved with this.’ 

Niragi just snickered at him, and stooped to the climber’s level. ‘Our boss says he wants to have a taste of you—’

‘I said stop!’ Arisu ripped Niragi’s arm away before he could touch her shoulder. 

Before me, (name) was still, her fingers gripping the plastic recliner. Even from behind, I could read her so easily, the way her body was angled towards the climber, but her eyes were on Niragi, who seemed more amused by Arisu than anything. 

‘Boss, what should we do with this brat?’ 

‘Take him away and break his legs so he’ll die in the next game.’ Aguni’s lack of hesitation was remarkable. The militants proceeded towards the climber, while Niragi dragged Arisu away by his collar. 

Now what will you do. 

Surprise, surprise, Arisu yanked himself out of Niragi’s grip and ran back to his little friend, standing between her and the militants. 

Before me, (name) took a step backwards, the residues of pool water seeping into her bare socks. I quietly approached her from behind, tracing two fingers along back of her forearm, and feeling the warmth emanating from her. The action served its purpose well. As soon as she noticed my presence, her fingers relaxed around the recliner. 

‘What’s going on here? Is this a fight?’ 

Hatter’s appearance only made things more interesting, but I didn’t bother clocking into anything they were arguing about. It wasn’t obvious at first glance, but Hatter and Aguni were far closer than they originally appeared, and Hatter’s only purpose for intervening was to instigate his role as a peace-keeper. Although it was rather entertaining watching him square up to Aguni. 

But then he called for an executive meeting, and just like that, the fun was all over. 

Boring. 

Once Hatter disappeared into the crowd with Arisu, the music slowly started up again and nearly everyone forgot about what had just happened. Bypassing (name), I pointedly asked Kuina, ‘So, what do you think about him?’

Her eyes glinted. ‘I like him.’ 

Although we hadn’t discussed Arisu’s use properly before the games started, Kuina caught on rather quickly. As if the thought of replacing her friend position in the plan had triggered a memory, she twirled around to where (name) stood, sending her braids flying into my face. 

‘Hey, what was that about before?’ Kuina asked. ‘And where the hell are your shoes?’ 

Like her clothes, (name’s) socks were caked in mud, and now they were sodden from the pool water too. Her eyes were red and watery. Niragi had probably just scared her, but it was enough to arouse some rather interesting whispers from the people around us. 

‘He tried something during your game, didn’t he?’ Kuina prompted, but it was best (name) didn’t answer. The grapevine was already ripe with the rumours of what Niragi had done. And soon, when my plan took action, things would only become worse. 

‘Kuina,’ I said, ‘take her to your room. I’ll join you both after Hatter’s meeting.’ 

It was all one big headache to me. I was aware of the eyes glancing at me over drinks and cigarettes as I strolled back into the hotel. It wasn’t so much that I cared what they thought - they could invent whatever stories they liked about my involvement between (name) and Niragi. 

None of it would matter once we finally left the Beach.

[justthehiddleswrites]

Limited Engagement | Tom Hiddleston x Reader

Pairing: Tom Hiddleston x Reader

Summary:  After your little interlude at the theater, you are hungry for more. You call Tom for a rematch at his hotel.

Warnings: Smut, Chair Sex, Teasing, strip Shakespeare

-

You spun the piece of paper in your hand as you stared at the phone sitting on the kitchen counter. The numbers scrawled in a hurried hand taunted you.

“Fuck it.” you muttered as you grabbed your phone and punched in the numbers.

“Hello?” the silken voice answered.

“Um yeah, I don’t if you remember from earlier, but I’m the girl from…” you rambled.

“How could I forget? The Shakespeare scholar.”

Your cheeks heated at his sinful tone as your mind flashed back to that small room.

“Um… well… yeah… and you said that well to call and well… here I am… calling.” You facepalmed yourself. “Idiot.” you muttered away from the phone.

“I said that. Ready for round two?”

“Sure!” your voice squeaked.

“I will text you the address and room number.” You heard his killer smile through the phone.

You grabbed an old takeout menu and pen to scribble down the information Tom gave you, and you repeated it back to make sure you wrote it down correctly. Before you embarrassed yourself any further, you hung up the phone.

Several deep breaths later and a quick shower, you headed out the door. The entire drive over, you wondered what the hell you were doing. This was Tom Hiddleston. God of Mischief. Sex in a Suit. This was a mistake. Monumental mistake. And yet, you continued on.

You parked in the hotel lot and headed straight to the elevator bank at the back of the lobby. The doors opened, and an elderly couple stepped out. You smiled as you stepped past them. If they only knew where I am heading, you thought as the gold doors shut in front of you.

The floors ticked and the ding of the doors shook you from your mind running through all the reasons why you should go home. The doors opened, and Tom’s door stood in front of you. Tom stood in the doorway. His gray henley clung to his lean frame.

“Hello.” he said with a smile. “I got some ice while I waited.”

You noticed the ice bucket in his hand. “You must be planning a big night.” He stepped aside for you enter the room ahead of him.

The door clicked behind the two of you as Tom leaned in. “Oh, I have big plans.” His voice caused your skin to break out into goosebumps. “I hope you studied.”

You turned to face him and gripped his shirt, screwing up your courage. “I hope you studied.” You gave him a little up and down before walking into the hotel room, kicking your heels off. “Ever played strip poker?”

Tom quirked up an eyebrow. “Once or twice, but what does that have to do with Shakespeare?” He moved over to a small bar and pour a drink before offering one for you. You nodded, and he poured a second one.

“Rules are simple,” you took the glass and took a sip of the amber liquid. Whiskey. “One of us give a quote. If the other can’t answer or answers wrong.” You pulled off your earrings and laid them on the table. “we remove an article of clothing.”

Tom moved next to you, fingers running the length of your bare arm. Those damn goosebumps again. “The one with no clothing loses.” He chimed in.

“Or wins. Depending on how you look at it.” Your eyes sparked with desire as Tom brushed past you to sit down on an oversized couch in the corner. “And only the plays, no Sonnets.”

Tom pouted. “Take away all my fun.”

“I need all the advantage I can take.” You sat in a leather club chair next to the couch. “I’m up against a professional.” You set your drink down on the coffee table after taking another swig.

“Ladies first.” Tom gestured for you begin as he drank a quarter of his own drink.

You contemplated your opening play. You leaned forward. “You speak an infinite deal of nothing.”

Tom rubbed his chin. “Much Ado?” his voice uncertain.

Your lips curled into a smile and held out your hand. “A piece of clothing good sir. Merchant of Venice.”

“Fuck.” Tom bent at the waist to reach the ground. “Here.” He threw his sock in your direction.

“Thank you.” You draped the sock over the arm of the chair like a trophy. “Your turn.”

“Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit.”

You furrowed your brow as you scanned your brain for the answer. Tom shifted to the side of the couch near to you. “You are mine.” He commented.

You held up a finger as you pinched the bridge of your nose. “Um… Twelfth Night.”

The smile on Tom’s face faded, and you jumped to your feet in a victory dance. “I shall return with a vengeance, your turn.” he groused from his perch.

This back and forth continued on and on. After thirty minutes, Tom was shirtless, and you sat in your shirt and underwear. Now was not the time to pull punches.

“I burn, I pine, I perish.” you quoted with a grand flourish, having finished your drink and halfway through your second.

“As You Like It.” Tom answered with a smug grin.

You pull him to standing and tugged on the zipper, palming him “These pants are mine. Because the answer is Taming of the Shrew.”

Tom’s head fell backwards, face flushed with arousal. “My mistake.” he hissed.

The pants fell around his knees, and his cock sprung free from the confines of the fabric. You glanced down and back at Tom’s smiling face.

“You’re not wearing any underwear?” Your cheeks hot.

Tom looked down in mock surprise. “It would appear so. Oops. I guess I lost.” He pushed past you to sit the club chair you once occupied. “To victor goes the spoils.” He pulled the pants off entirely, crumpling them in a pile.

“You smug bastard.” you smirked as straddled his waist. His hands gripped your waist tight.

“I might be smug…” Tom whispered as he nipped at your ear. “… But I am not a bastard.”

“If I am the victor. How come I’m doing all the work?” you commented as you ground against his hips.

Tom grinned as his hand slid across your waist to settle between your two bodies. His eyebrows raised. “Oh, you expected me to work? If you insist.”

With a swift flick of his hand, he pulled your panties to the side. You gasped as he guides himself inside you. You moaned at the action.

“Is this what you had in mind?” Tom smirked as he bucks his hips.

“Yes!” you breathed as you gripped his shoulders for support. “Fuck.”

Tom gripped your hips and rocked you in his lap. You lifted almost entirely off of him. Tom whined and hissed when you slid back down slow.

“If you continue that, this will be a brief victory ride.” Tom teased.

You giggled as you sped up, using Tom’s body as leverage. His head fell back against the chair, exposing his throat. You leaned forward to suck on his pulse point. His hands fisted your t-shirt material.

“I’m close, darling.” Tom gasped. “Do you want to cum?”

You nodded, and Tom moved to apply pressure to your clit. You soon tumbled over the edge, clenching around Tom.

“Fuck…” he whispered as he spilled into you.

The two of you stilled, breathing heavy against each other’s sweaty bodies. You groaned as you unseated yourself.

“I need to work out more.” you commented as you reach for your jeans.

“I could help with that.” Tom remarked cheekily. “Why are you getting dressed?”

You turned to see Tom’s brow furrowed. You gestured between the two of you.

“Because it is generally frowned upon to drive home naked?”

Tom stood and grabbed your hand. “What I meant was…” he pulled you close. “… why are you leaving so soon? The night is still young.”

“I don’t want to disrupt the rest of your evening. I am just taking this for what it is.”

Tom reached up to cup your cheek. “What is it?”

You turned your head to avoid his searing gaze. You feared you would lose your nerve. “A booty call. Nothing more.”

Tom leaned in and pressed his lips against yours. His kiss was so tender, you sighed against him. He pulled back for a moment. “You sell yourself short, darling. You are far more than just sex.”

Your eyes watered at his words. “But you will leave and I will be left with nothing more than a few memories.”

“Why does it have to be that way?” Tom asked, wiping an errant tear away. “Stay the night. We can talk about all this and more.”

You nodded, unconvinced.

Tom grinned as he pulled you into a tight hug. “I am enchanted by you, darling. I have no intention under the cover of night with little more than a note on the pillow.”

You gave a slight smile as his words soothed your worries for the time being. “Okay.”

“Now…” Tom ran his hand through his hair. “… I’m not sure about you, but I am famished. How about we order some food and while we wait, we test out the very large shower I have in that bathroom?”

Tom raised a knowing eyebrow.

“I’m not sure. But perhaps I can be persuaded otherwise?” you flirted.

Tom tugged your jeans downward. “I happen to be very persuasive.” Tom pulled you into another searing kiss.