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cherryblossompink303 · 28 days ago

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Patience: ~The Job of a highschool host~

➼ pairing: Kyoya Ootori x Reader ➼ summary: when the host club sets out to save the relationship between two students arranged to marry, you question whether or not there is hope for your own arrangement. ➼ what to expect: “Do you think that if there is hope for them there is hope for us?” ➼ warnings: none ➼ Part one | Part three

“Oh, yes. I almost forgot to mention to you ladies; next week, the Ouran Host Club is sponsoring a party."

Haruhi leaned over to you as you passed by the table that she was hosting "We're throwing a party?" you shrugged, this also being the first time hearing this, although will be questioning it afterwards.

As the current guests of the host club descend in questions and squeals at the idea of a host-club party Haruhi approaches the tiki bar where you and Kyoya are standing "The girls seem more worked up than usual" she comments, leaning against the bar.

Kyoya shrugs, not fully looking up from his clipboard "Showing some skin proves popular with the ladies" he comments flippantly, as if it were the most obvious thing on earth

Haruhi turns to you "Let me guess, you came up with the tropical paradise idea?" upon learning what your actual role entails within the host club, Haruhi has slowly started to catch on that you don't just sit around and enjoy coffee with Kyoya, despite the fact that it may look like that.

You semi-dramatically place an open palm on your chest in mock horror "Me? Never, I have no decision-making authority as a consultant, Tamaki makes all the decisions around here as president of the host club"

Slowly you drop your hand, smirking slightly "But I may or may not have left a few photo books of Bali and the Caribbean on his desk" In the corner of your eye you could have sworn you saw Kyoya smirk smugly but it must just be the heat of the host club that day.

Haruhi eventually returns to her duties as a host, sitting with the girls and drinking tea while they question why she is still in uniform. "She's doing well, don't you think?"

Kyoya finally glances up from his clipboard "She's a natural, from what I've found she had someone falling for her every month in middle school, so it makes sense that she has a natural charm here" you shouldn't be surprised that Kyoya has done a full background check on her, but you are mildly shocked on how he managed to get that information of all things.

Before you could comment you catch gaze of Kanako approaching Haruhi.

"Excuse me.”

Haruhi shakes herself away from her guests and turns to look up at the new guest, whose hands are politely folded in front of her as she gazes down at Haruhi expectantly.

“I hate to disturb, but I think it’s time for the hosts to switch clients.”

You look over to check the time on Kyoya's watch, it wasn't quite time, Haruhi still had five minutes left and not even another appointment.

“Oh, I’m sorry. You must be my next appointment. Miss… uh-”

“My name’s Kanako. Kanako Kasugazaki.” Kanako slots her finger under Haruhi’s chin and tilts her head upwards, catching everyone by surprise. “You’re even cuter than I expected. I’ve decided. From now on, you’re going to be my new favorite host, Haruhi.”

Oh Tamaki is going to be pissed.

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“I can’t take this anymore. Hey, Boss? Why don’t you eating that commoner’s ramen and come over here to help us with the party plans?” Hikaru suggests bluntly, getting tired of the slurping sounds coming from the corner of the host club as Tamaki sulks over his 'stolen' client.

“Does it really bother you that Princess Kasugaza has taken a liking to Haruhi?” Kaoru interjects.

“He shouldn’t be surprised, she’s had the illness for a while now, hasn’t she?” Kyoya chimes in, busy typing away at his laptop, pulling in the attention of Haruhi.

“What illness?” Haruhi voices her concern. You quickly intervene. “It’s not a real illness, Haruhi. It’s metaphorical.” you assure. She breathes out a sigh of relief.

“She’s got the host hopping disease.” Kaoru slides out from behind him, mirroring him. “A.K.A. the ‘never the same boy twice’ disease.” he clarifies.

Kyoya huffs a little as if it is a great inconvenience to explain“Usually our guests pick a favorite host and then see them regularly. However, Princess Kanako tends to change her favorites on a regular basis.”

“That’s right! Cause before she chose you, she was with Tama-chan!” Honey smiles widely. You nod shortly.

“Oh. So he’s upset because I took her from him?”

“SHUT UP! I COULDN’T CARE LESS!” Tamaki makes a sudden appearance, startling Honey. “Ugh! I’m running out of patience! Haruhi, it’s time you started dressing like a girl!” he pushes a very demanding finger in her face.

You sigh in the corner, pinching the bridge of your nose "Tamaki you can't just do that" You mutter but no one seems to take notice.

"I don’t understand how you could be so popular with the ladies when you yourself are a lady!” Tamaki fusses childishly. You sigh and begin to zone out on Kyoya’s laptop screen. “No one in the entire school knows the truth accept for those of us here!”

“Yeah, she opted out of taking gym classes.” Hikaru pipes in obnoxiously from Tamaki’s side, his left hand raised.“And the attendance numbers are all mixed up together so no one can tell.” Kaoru is stationed on the other side of Tamaki, his right hand raised.

Tamaki disappears and reappears within a second with a large chest. He throws it open and begins digging inside for something. “That’s enough, Haruhi, now you listen to Daddy!” He pulls out a large framed picture of Haruhi in middle school back before she had cut her hair.

“DADDY WANTS YOU TO GO BACK TO THE WAY YOU WERE!”

“DON’T GO BLOWING UP MY PHOTOS WITHOUT ASKING ME FIRST!” Haruhi retaliates angrily as she acknowledges the photo. "Where is everyone getting these photos from?" You muttered in what was meant to be a throwaway line but instead it earns a chuckle from Kyoya, he didn't say anything but it made the answer to your question glaringly obvious. You should have known.

Tamaki places the photo on the wall, sobbing before it like its an altar to be worshipped. The rest of the host club, you included, gather around the photo and stare at it in awe. “Wow, that doesn’t look like her at all. Haruhi, I like your long hair.” You lean forward to inspect it further.

“The more I look at this picture, the more amazed I am.” Kaoru comments, knowing it will get on Haruhi's nerves.

“How could this…” Kaoru continues, turning to Haruhi from her photo, “possibly become that?” He points to her in what you hoped was faux disgust.

“The day before school started, one of the kids in my neighborhood got some gum in my hair. It’s a real pain to get gum out of long hair, so I decided to cut it all off. I didn’t care if I looked like a dude, you know?” Haruhi shrugs it off.

“A girl should never refer to herself as a dude! MAMA! Haruhi’s using those dirty boy words again!” Tamaki wails pathetically. You let out a puff of air, exasperated.

“I’m sorry, but who is mama?” Kaoru turns to Kyoya with a bored expression. Kyoya sighs. “Well, based on gender I’m assuming it’s Y/N…” He groans. You choke on air at the assumption.

“Me? No Kyoya I think he's talking about you, if he's referring to himself as daddy" You watch as the colour drains from his face in realisation. “Look, I don’t see what you’re crying about. Working as a host, I can pay back more of my debt. It’ll never happen if I’m just an errand boy.”

"do you have formal dancing experience? You’ll need it at the party.” Hikaru attempts to distract from tamaki's sobs. Haruhi’s face goes blank at the question.

“Hah… no, but the part doesn’t have anything to do with my quota, right? I’m not interested in going to events so if I could be excused-” Haruhi’s nervous rambling is cut short by Tamaki, materializing out of thin air with an idea forming quickly.

“Definitely not. A refined gentleman must know how to dance. If you want to live the life of a host that badly, you’re going to have to show us how far you’re willing to go, Haruhi.”

Tamaki straightens and positions himself as if he were dancing with a partner. “I order you to master dancing the waltz in one week; And you will demonstrate it for us at the party~” Tamaki spins elegantly, and finishes with an accusing finger in Haruhi’s direction.

“Or I’ll tell the entire school that you’re a girl and knock you back down to errand boy!”

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You had zoned out on watching Kanako teach Haruhi to dance a while ago, fingers mindlessly tapping against the side of your tea cup. "What is it about this party anyway? Why did none of you tell me?" Kyoya shrugged, returning to scribbling whatever observations he was taking in that day "Must have slipped our minds, we don't need you there as a consultant but Tamaki wants you there as a guest"

"A guest? I'm not a client" Kyoya laughs a little under his breath "No, you are not, but he feels like it may be handy to have you there just in case anything happens" You supposed it made some sense, there always seemed to be something going on with the host club, although you weren't too sure whether or not it was Kyoya's wording but that logic seemed to be strangely unfit to come from Tamaki.

After a while Haruhi finally sat to have tea with Kanako“Thank you so much for allowing me to practice with you, I really appreciate it.” Haruhi beams gratefully.

“Oh, no problem. I heard that you’re not seeing any customers today so that you can practice dancing. I’m glad I got to spend this time alone with you.” Kanako places her chin delicately on her folded hands to stare at her.

“Oh, my. This is a new tea set, isn’t it? It’s Ginori…” Kanako lifts a tea cup to inspect it carefully as Kyoya is positioned near her.

“You have a keen eye, mademoiselle. In fact, we just received them yesterday.” Kyoya confirms.

“Y/N decided that it was about time for the club to upgrade it’s tea sets.” Kyoya adds further. You wave it off "You'll be surprised how big of an effect it has"

“I see. What a pretty color… lovely…” Kanako’s voice seems to fade as she speaks about the tea set. Her excitement is much less than it was a few seconds ago, though she still seems to be wearing a sad smile.

You did not get the chance to stop Haruhi from commenting“You must really be into tableware, huh?”

Kanako anxiously places the tea cup back down“Ah! Not really, I mean no of course I’m not! Whatever would give you that idea?”

You glance at Kyoya with concern, and he affirms your suspicions with the subtlest of nods.“Hello? I’m here with the new teacups your ordered!”

Kanako’s nervous fidgeting comes to a halt at the sound. She doesn’t dare turn to face the newcomer.

As you turn to see who it was you smile and approach him “Thank you very much.” You gently accept the box into your grasp and hoist it up so that you’re carrying it comfortably.

“Every item that you’ve chosen for us has been extremely popular with the ladies. I’m quite impressed.” Kyoya appears at your side.

“Well, that’s good to hear.” the boy smiles.

Haruhi abandons her place next to Kanako, who tries to pretend that she doesn't exist. “So, do you sell tea sets?”

“No, I’m just a regular student. Can’t you tell by the uniform?”

An anxious chuckle sounds from where Kanako is seated.

“Oh, Haruhi. You’re so funny.” Kanako’s laughing draws the attention of all of you.

She seems out of character, a certain haughtiness to her voice that confuses you. “I can’t blame you for not knowing, after all, he doesn’t really look like an heir to a first class company.”

The comment seemed to catch him off guard despite the fact that it was fairly common knowledge. “First class company?” Haruhi breaks the silence.

Kyoya begins his explanation. “His family business, the Suzushima Trading Company, deals with primarily in the importing of tableware. They currently have the top market share in the country.”

"He has a great eye for fine china, don’t you, Suzushima?” Kyoya finishes.

“You think? I’ve still got a lot to learn. But, thank you.” Shuzoshima blushes at the compliment.

“Aren’t you leaving next month to study abroad in England?” Kyoya bluntly inquires.“Kyoya.” You hiss in a hushed whisper. He pays you no mind.

You look over your shoulder to observe Kanako, her head hanging dismally as she listens to the discussion.

“Yes, I am. Well… I better go now.”

Kanako is seated oddly silent in her chair, unmoving as her hair moves to cover her face, still gripping the teacup with both hands.

“I get the feeling you and that guy are kinda close.” Haruhi arrives behind Kanako. You straighten and grip her arm tightly, a warning.

“Ah! Don’t be ridiculous! We hardly know each other! What makes you say that, Haruhi!?” kanakao frantically waves away the idea as if it were absurd.

She desperately stood from her seat in search of escape. “Now, if you’ll please excuse me… take care.” she scurries out the door without another word.

“Haru-chan!” Honey appears from thin air, jumping onto Haruhi's back“Guess what? They do know each other! Suzushima is Kasuga-chan’s fiancé!”

“Kyoya. How long have you known about this?” Tamaki asks as if its not known that Kyoya knows everything about everyone at this point.

“About the two of them being engaged? Well, as you know, I conduct general searches on all of our customers. The two of them were childhood friends, it seems that their engagement was arranged by their parents. I didn’t think the information would benefit us so I disregarded it.”

“I see.” Tamaki glares.

Kyoya broke out his notes of Suzushima which you attempt not to question why he just so happens to have them on him “Toru Suzushima. Outstanding grades, fair social status. He’s ordinary looking, but he’s reliable. If I had to fault him for anything-”

The twins appear over his shoulder “He doesn’t have much presence.” Hikaru interjects. “And he’s faint hearted.” Kaoru adds.

“In other words, he’s painfully boring.” Kyoya claps the book closed.

Honey sits with his legs wrapped around Mori’s neck atop his shoulders. “Suzushima’s a good boy, right?” he asks, Mori responding with a blank 'yes'

“Alright, everyone. We’ll have to work on our strategy.” Tamaki announces.

“Which one?” The entire host club choruses.

“Men, it is our responsibility, as members of the elite Ouran Host Club, to make every girl happy!”

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You quickly found yourself as a wallflower at the party, not wanting to take any attention away from the actual clients. You hadn't worn this dress in a while, you weren't even sure it fit you right.

Kyoya slowly wandered over to you "Tamaki has a plan." You already know what he actually meant: Tamaki has a plan and it requires you to do something that you're not going to like. You look up to him in question, silently prompting him to go on."It's better if you just come with me"

You nodded, knowing by now that you probably weren't going to get an answer anyway. However what you didn't know was that the Hitachiin twins was in the room next-door with an entire makeover kit.

You can't even get a word in before the twins pounce on you, attempting to make you unrecognisable "Agh! Why are we doing this!?"

"In order to push the two of them together we need something drastic to happen, Suzushima needs to realise that he doesn't want to be with anyone if it's not Kanako" Hikaru explains matter of factly while Kaoru fits you with a wig "Surely this isn't going to work, I've met the guy so many times, he'll know it's me!"

"We are hoping that he'll have too much on his mind to notice"

The next thing you knew you were in an admittedly better-fitting dress and a wig that is making you consider the possibility of dying your hair. "Well you certainly look different" Kyoya spoke up, looking upon you with a look you can't exactly place but it was almost one of unsettle.

"I must admit, if nothing else the twins have an eye for fashion, I prefer this dress much more" you shrugs, Kyoya's brow lifts slightly "Really? I preferred the other one, purple suits you" It was not often that Kyoya paid anyone compliments, let alone one of aesthetics, not unless it puts money in his pocket. "...thank you?"

Kyoya didn't let the moment carry on for much longer, informing you that Suzushima is in the classroom opposite them.

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"You're the one who wrote this letter? You're totally different than what I imagined" on one hand a sense of relief washed over you upon finding that he did not recognise you, it was quicky replaced by the fear of what on earth the boys think a love letter from a teenage girl sounds like.

As Suzushima passes over the letter your fears are realised and you become extremely glad that they had disguised you for this.

"Excuse me. Have we met somewhere before?" Shoot he's catching on "No! No of course not, I think this is the first time we've ever spoke" you frantically waved your arms in dismissal.

"I'm sorry, I'm flattered by your letter but I'm afraid I don't feel the same way. You see, another girl already has my heart"

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know you had a girlfriend" Suzushima stares out the window "Unfortunately she's not my girlfriend, in fact I think she's completely over me. In full honesty, she'd be happier with someone more self-confident than me"

"That's why I decided I need to change. I want to see the world, and hopefully, become a better man. I know it's selfish, but I wonder if she'll wait for me"

You didn't know what to say, you couldn't help but feel a degree of envy, you knew that the difference between your engagement and theirs was that they were in love. But the effort and lengths the two of them were going to for the hope of making their engagement work was enviable.

But if there was something you knew well, it was that arranged marriages take time, and patience.

"I don't know, but she might wait, but you need to give her some hope that there is something that she is waiting for. You'll never know if you don't tell her how you feel."

Before you knew it Kanako was stood in the open doorway, Suzushima chasing after her.

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As the couple waltzed as the final dance of the night you leant against the wall of the patio overlooking the school gardens. You barely noticed Kyoya approach you, his footsteps near silent. "Their situation is not dissimilar to ours you know"

He joined you in leaning against the wall next to you, also watching he dance. "Well, they met a lot younger than we did" you noted, knowing that apparently the two of them had known each other since childhood. He hums in agreement "that's true"

"Unless this is the moment you're choosing to confess your love to me Kyoya" you shot him a sly smirk, knowing that Kyoya was not that type of romantic. He hummed out a laugh "You know what I mean"

"I do" you pause for a moment, watching the final moments of the dance "...Kyoya?" he adverted his gaze from the gardens below to you "Do you think if there is hope for them there is hope for us?"

His eyebrows raised in shock, not expecting you to be so forward. "Are you confessing your love for me now?" you laugh, shaking your head "No, but I mean... I think that neither of us would take offence to saying that we are not close, we don't know how to talk to each other unless its about business. So far that's been fine, but after we graduate we won't have the host club in common anymore"

Kyoya didn't know how to react, the concept of an arranged marriage leading to friendship or even love was somewhat foreign to him, he didn't even know that you had felt that way. But maybe that could change.

"I think there could be hope"

Next time on patience 'Beware the physical exam!'

Tag list (reply to be added): @skottch @cgmajor

#kyoya ootori x reader #kyoya ootori #kyoya x reader #ohshc #ohshc x reader #ohshc kyoya #ouran high school host club #ouran kyoya #ouran highschool host club #ouran host club #ouran hshc

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joanofexys · 5 months ago

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jo i need to know more abt angel's trauma

Angel angst!!! This boy is so packed full of trauma and I'll dig it all up

tws for pretty much everything in AFTG ever

At four years old Angel's mother goes missing and he starts becoming the target of his fathers abuse. His father's treatment leaves him scared and confused. He's beyond spoiled once his mother goes missing. Suddenly his father bringing home gifts nearly daily. But every time he makes a mess, he's too loud, he cries, he complains he's being hit. If his father comes home and seems to be having a bad night he could be being given a new toy and in the same breath receiving 10 new bruises.

CPS was contacted for the first time when he was five years old by his kindergarten teacher. She had seen bruises, he was a lot quieter than other kids, flinched at things no one else did. When he got scraped up on the playground he wouldn't even cry. But when they show up at the door they meet a very charming, but tired, father, mourning his missing wife. He welcomed them in to a slightly messy, but still well kept, house with his quiet son who hid behind his legs. They asked to speak with Angel alone and sat down with him at the kitchen table.

"Did you find my mommy?"

There's silence for a few minutes. Because how do you tell a little kid that his mom's probably not coming home? That you're not here about his mom but because they have to ask if his other parent is hurting him? And when they do ask all Angel does is deny, deny, deny.

"Are you gonnna take away my daddy too?"

They leave. Nothing happens. And if Angel doesn't get hit that night for doing a good job, well, nobody but him knows.

CPS gets called a few more times throughout the years. Angel gets good at lying. His father has father has perfected the grieving widow, single dad act. By age eight it escalates from just getting hit. Things are thrown, he explains away the visible cuts as accidents on the playground. He dropped a plate while his dad was at work and tried to clean it up by himself. The cuts lead to nasty scarring under his shirt, they all keloid, and even when they heal they still hurt.

Sometimes he'll get a week or two where his father's hand is light. Where nothing gets thrown. Maybe a few days where he doesn't get hit at all. Of course he doesn't know it then but it was always following one of his father's murders.

And then he's 10 years old. Alone in a hospital bed with a cut up face and more broken bones than he's ever had. And everything hurts. And he wants his mom and he hates his dad. When the strangers step into the room he's old enough he knows no one will ever come with news about his mom and he's angry enough that he won't lie about his dad. And he's ten and all he wants is to never see his dad again. He doesn't care about any of the charges they're talking to him about, about them pressing him to confess that this had been happening for years, and he especially has zero interest in sitting in a court room and having to look his father in the eye.

He meets his first foster family before he's even discharged from the hospital. He was quiet when they first met him. They knew he was in rough shape but thought he would be easy enough. They're nice. A white picket fence type of family. Angel hated them. They were the polar opposite of what he was used to and he thought that was what he wanted. But when realized it was something he missed out on for the past ten years, something people just got while he had to be taken out of his home to get it, he was just so mad. Seven months. Seven months of therapy, of being taken out of classes to see counselors, of family vacations. Seven months of yelling that they weren't his family, of slammed doors, of fights on the blacktop. He left his "siblings" alone for the most part. Preferred to ignore them. Kept his fights to other students at school. But the last month he started yelling at them too. Never tried to hit them or physically hurt them but he certainly intended to be mean. The behavioral issues became too much for them and that family decided to let him go.

He doesn't care much for his other foster families. He knows he won't be staying with them for long. That he causes too much trouble. His next one has a dog. A chocolate lab. He likes the dog. His foster brother in his next family has a cool guitar. He tries to teach Angel before the two of them split up and move to different homes. There's the little girl when he's 12 who's even angrier than him. He likes that she's angry. He hopes she'll do something with it. One of his foster siblings gets the head torn off their teddy bear by their foster family's son. They leave it in the backyard. Angel steals some of the mom's sewing supplies and messily stitches it back on. The head is crooked and doesn't have enough stuffing. But when he puts on their bed their face still lights up. He's in detention near constantly. He ignores the look on foster parents faces every time one of them has to pick him up. There's the house that says a prayer before every meal. The house that always has fresh flowers on the counter. The house with the broken grandfather clock that chimed at random times. The house that fed the stray cats. Little things that differentiated every foster home, things that were unimportant when he was only with them so shortly, but things he remembered regardless.

Then he was 14. Two months in with a new family when the police showed up at the door. He's sure some kid got fed up with the fights and their parents decided to press charges or something. Instead they start asking about his dad. No elaboration on what it's about at first. And he's 14 and he's scared and he's being pressed to talk about a man who he hasn't seen in the past 4 years who nearly ended his life. And then they bring up his mom. He's 14 and he's angry at the world and he puts on that stupid tough guy act all the time, but he's never really stopped wanting his mom. They found her. She's dead. His father's confessed to her murder and the murders of 12 other women who resembled her. Does he know anything about it? They don't get far. He's sobbing, hyperventilating, begging for his mom. They offer to let him testify. He doesn't want to. He doesn't show up for the trial at all. The news mentions that Matteo Di Fiore, convicted of murdering his wife, Sofia Di Fiore, and 12 other women has a son. No name is ever given. He's a minor and he's already been in the system for years.

He gets home from the police station at 3 in the morning, following 7 hours of questioning, and promptly wrecks his room. Destroys books and toys and any other sentimental item he held onto from former families. He breaks two vases, cuts up his hands bad. They scar. Within the week he's placed somewhere else.

And like the flip of a switch he's that quiet kid again. Like his concerningly quiet 5 year old self. The eldest daughter in his new foster family, going into her senior year, decided that teaching him to play Exy was a good chance for bonding and could get him out of his shell. He had no reason to say no. He makes the high school team as a backliner and they play through that school year together. He's with that family for 5 months before one of the parents has a job opportunity and they have to move out of state for it. They offer to start adoption process, take him with them, but he doesn't want to leave.

He meets Harper Shaw later that year. Second semester, biology, they're 15 years old. She sits in front of him, they become lab partners, and study partners after that. He thinks she's a genius. Part of the cheer team and top of her class. She knows nothing about him, about who he was. It was a relief. He asked her prom, she said yes.

8 months together and then they find out she's pregnant. And it's terrifying. Harper wants to keep the baby. Angel isn't going to tell her to do otherwise. They're together for a little while before they realize it's just not gonna work that way and they decide to co-parent. A little while later and they're welcoming Phoebe Sofia Shaw into the world. Angel has never been more scared in his life. He thinks he's gonna be a terrible dad, he's determined to be a halfway decent one.

They get through high school. Angel's still flitting through foster homes, but he's half moved into the Shaw's place. It's overwhelming for them both. They try not to fight about it. He tries to remember how to breath when Phoebe cries. Tries to remember that he can always call Harper's parents to take Phoebe for a bit if he ever needs a moment. Harper gets accepted to college, Angel never bothered to apply to any. She'll make the move to PSU, he'll go with her and start working full time to support them.

Then he's called into his coaches office and David Wymack is sitting there. He knows the foxes. How could he not? One of their star players was in the news for his connections to the mafia. They had, by some miracle, won finals. He asks for some time and with Harper's encouragement he, stupidly (in his opinion), signs the dotted line.

Starting college is so much worse than he imagined. Andrew fucking Minyard put together who he was and why he fit the bill for the foxes before he even moved in for the summer. He has no clue what he wants to study or what classes to even take. Phoebe is entering the nightmare toddler stage where her favorite word is no and nothing seems to make her happy. Wyamck and Abby and even Bee seem more than happy to help out with her when Harper can't take her and he's stressed beyond belief but that only does so much.

He spends most of his time pacing in the court building or fox tower's hallways on the verge of tears, silently begging Phoebe to just go to sleep. People are assholes about him being a teen dad, people are worse to Harper. It brings back some of his temper. He might not be with her anymore but she's still his best friend. His work load is worse than he expected, yet nowhere near what Harper has on his plate, and keeping his grades up is a struggle. Surprisingly, it's Kevin who proves to be the most help with that. He loses a lot of sleep and ends up spending most nights at either Wymack or Abby's place because there's only so much, being woken up in the middle of the night by a screaming toddler, that most college students can take. He seriously considers dropping out multiple times in that year alone.

And this is hella long now so we're gonna wrap it up there, but I promise Angel doesn't drop out and he really loves his daughter and he loves the foxes too and it all works out.

#asks #mundane <3 #aftg ocs #aftg #my ocs #oc: angelo di fiore

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mymegrokosmos · 5 days ago

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Magical Ateez AU thoughts bc the Ice on My Teeth mv is giving me sm brainrot to work through.

your magic is finnicky at the best of times and after one too many accidents your coven has had enough and kicks you out

which is fine except that now you have a week to find new housing and a new internship in order to finish out your last semester with any hope of graduating

you sit down with the academic advisor who walks you through the terms of the program for advanced placement that you somehow by the grace of god managed to lie and cheat your way into and in order to complete the two year advanced degree and be allowed into the program you want you need 3 things

1. a gpa of 3.3 or above (a struggle but not entirely out of the realm of possibility - especially when you have the good grace to be paired with tutor senior student in your stream park seonghwa who has endless patience and a way of explaining things that clicks them into place like he has the last puzzle piece to make sense of any concept or formula in your brain).

2. a part time internship or job which will allow you the experience or means to afford to support yourself through the next three years of your studies (which would not have been a problem had your last internship not ended in disaster when you accidentally spilled coffee on your boss that turned out to have been one of your less favourable concoctions and left her transformed with blue hair and a ducks beak for an entire week before anyone was able to reverse your charm sludge and fix her appearance).

3. a coven (which you at least had going for you until last week because apparently your latest batch of forget me knot getting a little too heated and reacting with the copper of the used cauldron in the kitchen was the last straw for your former housemates).

two of these things are fixable. Thanks to your lovely best friend Wooyoung you manage to score a new part time position doing admin work for the florist he works under - and some menial labour from time to time when you're not upgrading his procurement and accounting systems behind the scenes. You don't do well with potions but you do know patterns and efficiency.

Seonghwa's support has your grades hovering at a steady 3.5 which is just about allowing you some breathing room.

Now there's just the small problem of having to find a coven before your academic probation meeting in two weeks brings about an inspection which reveals that you're missing the critical third element to complete the whole trio of requirements. That's where Jeong Yunho, the friendly barista from the cafe & bakery across the street from your new florist job and also coincidentally in your history of spellcrafting and psychic protections classes comes in.

he works the closing shift three days a week and keeps noticing that the lights are still on when he leaves. At first he thinks nothing of it but one day he comes by to knock after closing up, just checking that Wooyoung didn't forget to turn off the electricity again, when he's met with you making excuses about working late. Your apology seems sincere but your eyes are tired and there's a wariness to your expression that he can't quite place. He notices that things aren't changing.

The lights are still on well after closing. He gives it a few days but when he knocks again he doesn't get an answer so this time he walks around the building only to notice you curled up asleep under the desk in the back room. He starts seeing it every time he locks up and walks to the bus stop. Then one day he notices you drifting off in class, having been seated beside you because he ran late and his usual seat was taken, and he lingers after class to talk to you about it.

At first you brush him off. It's fine. You're managing. You can do this. Until he walks in ten minutes before close the next evening, having swapped shifts with San, and you can't make enough excuses to sway him. He won't leave and crosses his arms over that broad chest giving you a look that says he sees right through the bullshit you keep spewing. So you sigh and tell him the truth.

He buys you a coffee, thank you San for not asking questions until after he got home that evening, and sits with you on a park bench outside by the bus stop. He listens quietly while you spill your whole ordeal and seems thoughtful. He accompanies you to Wooyoung's apartment, where you're staying the night because someone ratted you out for being homeless and now your best friend is understandably refusing to let you put off staying with him until you're back on your feet.

Yunho says he might have an idea but before you can ask he's gone to ask his coven leader Hongjoong for help on this one.

He meets you in Spellcraft the next morning with a fresh cup of your favourite coffee and a potential solution to your situation. Join his coven and you'll have a place to stay as well as be meeting the requirements you need only you need a good reason for a new coven, especially one so exclusive as Hongjoong's

especially with the reputation you carry around for being a bit of a magical disaster and a massive liability. so he proposes another lie, your membership in the coven would be real - you're being initiated because you've been dating and have finally passed the stage where you're being welcomed into his coven.

It's all going surprisingly well... until you meet Yunho's roommates and coven members.

Yeosang is sweet and you get along well easily bonding over your alchemical struggles. San is kind and welcoming and you talk about shows you're watching. Hongjoong is a little wary but polite. And then there's him. Song Mingi. Yunho's best friend and clumsy idiot who somehow manages to endear himself right into your heart with his charming smile and stuttering charisma. Only there's one problem... you're supposed to be in love with his best friend.

#ateez drabbles #ateez #ateez au #magic au #coven au #atz #jeong yunho #song mingi

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meirisuu · 9 months ago

Text

decided to indulge in my 14 year old self's obsession with winx next gen ocs and finally design a whole group of them!!

character sheets and descriptions + doodle dump under the cut!

Blaire

21. Daughter of Bloom and Sky. An Alfea graduate, Enchantix fairy, Guardian Fairy of Eraklyon and Heir of Eraklyon's throne. Basically a burnt out overachiever and perfectionist who shouldered everyone's high expectations due to being Bloom's daughter, and had high hopes for the future but is now barely trying to hold things together. She can be a little intimidating and hotheaded, but that's because she's very tired.

She's cordial exes with Luke, Stella and Brandon's son, but they still remained best friends. She's currently dating a wizard named Ike.

Lucian (Luke)

21. Son of Stella and Brandon. Crowned Prince of Solaria who has recently taken on more responsibilities as the de facto new King of Solaria now that he recently came of age—but...he doesn't really want to be called a King quite yet. He's a charming and responsible young man who's inherited his mother's love and passion for fashion, and is a little snobby about it sometimes, much to his friends' chagrin.

He's cordial exes with Blaire, Bloom and Sky's daughter, but they still remained best friends. He's currently single, but there isn't a day where he isn't talking to or seeing someone.

Violet (Vi)

21. Daughter of Flora and Helia. Guardian Fairy of Linphea and a reputable freelance photographer who's a bit too chill for her own good. She can be nonchalant and a bit too cool headed at times it freaks people out, but it's quite handy for her job and hobby as a photographer, requiring precise focus to capture the best photos. She's also a deeply sentimental person, capturing and treasuring all memories of her family and friends through photography.

Maxine (Max)

21 years old, daughter of Musa and Riven. Formerly an Alfea student and a fairy-in-training, but have shifted to Red Fountain to pursue being a Specialist. She turned out to be a skilled prodigy, and now teaches at Red Fountain part time. She's a chill and easygoing person, and is well liked by everyone in the school, even capturing some people's hearts. Despite this, she can also have an explosive temperament if certain buttons are pushed.

On a long term relationship with her former roommate Tesla, Tecna and Timmy's daughter. They go way back, since Alfea.

Riley

20 years old, son of Musa and Riven. He's a quiet and chill guy who's had a bit of a troubled past. He went to Red Fountain alongside his sister but he mostly did it to appease Riven, and has no interest in being a hero, instead preferring to pursue his interest in music. He looks a little scary to some people, and he used to have a notorious reputation, but he's passed that now.

Tesla

21. Daughter of Tecna and Timmy. A gifted tech genius who dropped out of Alfea to defy expectations and pursue her passions, and now works as a reputable robotics engineer in Zenith's government. Her demeanor is generally blunt and sarcastic, which is off-putting for most people, but she mellows out around people she's comfortable with.

On a long term relationship with her former roommate Tesla, Tecna and Timmy's daughter. They go way back, since Alfea.

Amir

21. Son of Aisha and Nabu, and the wizard prince of Andros. A reliable and approachable young man who gets along with everyone, and is actually in talking terms with everyone in the friend group despite the incident. He's also a very physically active person, and despite being a formidable wizard, he still chose to take some combat classes in Red Fountain. Behind his easygoing demeanor is a cunning and strategic mind that should not be underestimated.

+ some more doodles about the TxT and MxR kids because can you not tell that tecna and musa are my winx meowmeows

#winx club #winx next gen #winx club next generations #winx bloom #winx stella #winx musa #winx tecna #winx aisha #winx layla #apologies gnshn and bg fans for no content btw #clearly ive been indulging in this #but dw im cooking something up for yall too

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birdnamedenza · 5 months ago

Text

Where the down bit starts

OCs: Ketan, Hunter

Not me casually being back after almost two years.

I had already started to write this story and basically had an entire plot arch all layed out in my head... and then life happened. It didn't help that this was quite the challenging story to write with all of the plot and action going on besides the actual sickness part. We have a crossover between Tiago's arch nemesis Hunter and Ketan, the one who got away so far. Ketan's scenario had to be special and Hunter is just fun to make sick with all the casual perfection going on around him. I hope I kind of succeeded, thank you for everyone who's still enjoying my writing after that long hiatus.

TW: Vomit

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

Ketan was stressed out, and that rarely happened. Usually, his restless energy and exuberant imagination helped him to channel every adrenaline rush into something creative. He had already come up with a perfect plan: There was a funfair in town, the ultimate setting for an interactive live stream. It was a cold and cloudy monday morning. Occasional downpours were expected, so there wouldn't be a lot of visitors, certainly not around the opening hour at 10 a.m.

The only trouble was that none of his friends were available to join him. Calvin was studying for an upcoming examn – in fact, he had just pulled an all-nighter and sounded dead tired when Ketan called him. Zena spent the entire weekend out of town for a job and wouldn't return before the late evening hours. Much to Ketan's surprise, Cassandra was the one who picked up Ezra's phone. Apparently, he had been busy barfing up his guts for the last 24 hours, thanks to a nasty stomach flu. Cassandra stayed at his apartment to take care of him and keep him hydrated. And Natalia… Natalia would have never been down for a trip to the funfair, even if she hadn't been avoiding Ketan like the plague after her drunken meltdown.

Of course, Ketan could have gone on his own or postponed the stream, but he had already announced the date to his followers. The whole thing was supposed to be a competition-style setup with challenges and matches. To fire up the engagement, the viewers could vote for the next ride and who handled it better. Short queues were expected at those perfect conditions, but whatever waiting time would occur could be passed with asking each other embarrassing questions. It was all layed out in Ketan's head and it absolutely needed to happen.

When Ketan was at the verge of despair, Calvin proved once again to be the best friend ever. He had contacted some of his fellow students if someone was, quite literally, up for the ride. A classmate named Hunter had actually agreed to join in on the fun. His health and fitness content was popular, albeit mostly among young women who weren't exactly there for the educational part. Ketan couldn't blame them – that Hunter guy was just the right eye candy he needed to attract the masses.

All giddy and hyped up, Ketan arrived almost half an hour early at the fairground. The colorful rides, stalls and games lay dormant under a dull grey sky. Only a handful of visitors strolled among the whimsical attractions that just started their work for the day. Ketan used the waiting time to map out the area and plan a route. Here and there, a whiff of sugary, oily goods hit his nose. In the near distance, the first ride began blaring out 90's electronica. It was hard to suppress a maniacal grin.

Finally, Ketan rushed back to the entrance to welcome his guest star. Just like he remembered, Hunter was ridiculously handsome with his bronze skin, sensual lips and defined curls, but his smile and his posture gave away his nervousness. Determined to break the ice, Ketan put on his most charming expression and greeted Hunter with a warm hug.

"My savior has arrived!"

"Uhm, sure thing, no big deal", Hunter replied, still a tad shy. "I haven't been to the fair in ages. Sounds fun."

"Yeah, right? It's nostalgia on steroids." Ketan had his equipment all set up and ready to go. The countdown for his viewers was ticking and quite a few were waiting for the stream to begin. "Cal has told you that we're doing this live, right? No cuts, no editing."

"Eh… yes, that's fine, it's just… I've never done this before."

"Oh, don't worry, I have." With a pat on Hunter‘s strong back, Ketan subtely directed him towards the designated starting point. "Just be yourself, they're gonna love you. It might feel a little weird at first, but you'll get used to it in no time. I promise I'm gonna make this easy for you."

"Okay, uhm… thanks." Hunter's bashful smile was thoroughly endearing. Ketan hoped that his heterochromia would show up well on camera – the light blue spot in one of his brown eyes was almost mesmerizing. The obvious fact that the guy had no idea how attractive he was only made it better.

"Take a deep breath and enjoy the adventure", Ketan reassured him. "You're gonna be great. Just don't take anything I say personal, we gotta give the audience a bit of a fake rivalry thing. Pretend that it's a sport competition and we're both taking this super seriously."

"Yeah. I think I can do that." Hunter hesitated for a moment, then scratched the back of his head. "Ah, yes… I guess I should mention that heights make me a bit nervous. I won't back out, just wanna let you know."

Ketan could barely contain a triumphant roar. He had ended up with the perfect filming partner after all.

"That's okay, don't try to hide it. I'm sure many viewers can relate", he encouraged Hunter. "They want to see real people with real emotions. Can you tell them a few things about yourself first? I'll jump in if you ever feel stuck. You'll see – before you know it, you’re an absolute pro."

After Hunter had successfully tackled the first obstacle of introducing himself, he slowly began to calm down. Ketan made sure to start out nice and easy with some classic games. The tin can alley, the shooting gallery, the unclimbable ladder and the strongman test all gave Hunter a chance to excel with his physical skills to gently ease him into the challenge.

To keep things exciting, Ketan had already put up a vote for the first ride they had to go on. The drop tower won by a landslide – much to Hunter's dismay. It wasn't even a big tower, 130 ft at best. A young girl barely passed the height requirement, grinning from ear to ear, while Hunter nervously looked around like he was considering a last minute escape.

"It's a bit early to regret your life choices", Ketan teased with a friendly dig in Hunter's ribs. "You can always skip the ride if you're too scared, you know?"

"No way!", Hunter attempted to join in on the banter. "I'm in the lead, remember? And I never go down without a fight."

"We're both going down in a minute, but first it's all the way up, up, up to the top." Filled to the brim with anticipation, Ketan took a seat and secured the restraints. He adjusted his 360° cam to a nice angle that showed both their faces and a good bit of the surroundings.

"Oh boy", Hunter exhaled sharply as the operator performed the final safety check. "I'm not so sure about this."

"Too late to wimp out now." Chuckling like a madman, Ketan captured their slow ascenct. The camera did a great job at conveying the height, even added to it with the warped perspective. Hunter, of course, couldn't appreciate any of it since his eyes were shut tight. He was humming a slightly distorted tune while his hands held on to the restraints. Surprisingly, it didn't even sound half bad. Besides his stunning looks and athletic skills, Hunter was also gifted with a deep and silky voice.

"You're missing out on the view, bud!" Ketan reached over with his free hand and pinched Hunter's impressive bizeps. Hunter flinched and looked up for a moment, visibly startled.

"Oh God, I hate this", he moaned and turned his eyes towards the gloomy clouds. Better than looking down, Ketan assumed. Meanwhile, the ride had come to a halt, leaving his brave three riders suspended in anticipation.

"Got a message for the crowds?", Ketan grinned.

"It was nice to meet yo-uuuaaaaaaah!" Hunter's words were ripped into a breathless scream as the platform plunged towards the ground. Weightlessness washed over Ketan's body, the sinking and exhilarating feeling of a free fall. It was like his stomach was floating in his chest, tingling and fluttering and almost unbearable, but in the best way possible. And then, before his nerves could even make sense of it, the brakes set in and it was all over.

"That was amazing!" Ketan couldn't stop laughing and after a few seconds of a horrified blank stare, Hunter joined in. Nervously, but still.

"I was right", he said with a crooked smile while fixing his hair, "I hated it."

"Well, you didn't spoil your pants, that's a plus. Should be an easy win for me, though."

"Uhm… yeah, I guess so", Hunter nodded, still out of breath. Then he remembered the whole competition aspect and forced out a: "Unless our viewers appreciate me overcoming my fear."

Ketan could barely stop himself from pinching Hunter's cheek. The man just wasn't made for bragging and taunting. His feeble attempt was so wholesome that Ketan almost broke character, and he was sure his followers noticed.

"You deserve a pat on the shoulder. Now let's check the results."

The results were anything but clear. Ketan came out on top, but only by a few percent. And the lifechat made it perfectly clear that the audience was smitten by his first time companion.

"I want to hold his sweaty hand so badly", Ketan read out loud. "Still hot, even when he's about to pee himself."

"Stop it", Hunter protested, pretending to reach for the phone. "How 'bout your embarrassing comments?"

"Later. Maybe. First, you guys gotta pick the starter, main course and appetizer for our eating contest."

"Like… who's gonna eat the most?" Hunter's eyes widened. Maybe the drop had left a lasting impression on his stomach or he feared the ride following their meal.

"What, do I look like a sadist to you?" Ketan put on his best serial killer impersonation before breaking into a smile again. "No way, I gotta do the same thing, remember? It's all about speed, baby. The winner finishes first."

"Big mistake. I'm a fast eater." Hunter pounded his shredded abs that, even under his shirt, looked like he lived on nothing but broccoli and lean chicken breast.

"Never underestimate my power!" With a last ominous glare, Ketan checked his phone for the jury's votes. Unsurprisingly, corn dog and chocolate churros were the clear favorites – phallic-shaped food always came in first, pun intended. The third pick was a bit of a wild card: chocolate covered bacon. It probably sounded too weird to give it a pass. While casually chatting some more, Ketan went to the food trucks to gather their democratically elected meal.

"You guys are the referees", he declared to his viewers. "Just in case it's a close race, which it's totally not going to be."

"Keep telling yourself that", Hunter gave back with newfound confidence.

"Look who's getting cocky", Ketan sneered and grabbed his corn dog. "Alrighty then… get ready… set… go!"

As fast as he possibly could, Ketan munched away at the crispy cornbread and the plump, meaty hotdog. He felt pretty confident until he shot a glance at his opponent. Somehow, Hunter had managed to shove almost the entire thing into his mouth at once and chewed at lightning speed. Damn it, he was a fast eater indeed. Determined not to lose, Ketan took bigger bites, then swiftly reached for the churros.

The deep fried crispiness, soft inside and intense cocoa flavor made it easy to get down bite after bite. Ketan stared at the horizon beyond the stalls and rides, focusing on nothing but pushing in the strands of pastry, chewing once or twice, then gulping forcefully. Finally, he grapped the long strip of chocolate covered bacon and chewed it off the stick before he could think about it. The smokey note hit harder than expected – the sweetness of the chocolate tried, but failed to overpower it. It wasn't horrible, just not entirely to his taste, and it left a greasy mouthfeel. That didn't stop Ketan from nibbling away every last bit, then swallowing once more.

He looked up to find Hunter already taking a sip of his water. An unfamiliar grin parted his rival's lips as he probably felt that adrenaline rush for the first time. He had finally stopped pretending – now he was taking this seriously. Ketan frowned and wiped his lips.

"Told you so", Hunter declared unabashedly triumphant.

"Just because I'm not as good at deepthroating corn dogs", Ketan growled.

"You're not mad, aren't ya?" Genuine worry clouded Hunter's smile.

"A little." Ketan gave his guest star a wink to assure him that his concern was unfounded. "Better enjoy that victory while it lasts. You might not like what's in store for you."

The next stop was a historically themed photo booth, just to give their stomachs some time to settle. Meanwhile, Ketan had already put up the poll for their following ride, which was going to be one of the main attractions. One that would make even him a tiny bit nervous. He knew perfectly well that the audience wanted to see them suffer and he was ready to ham it up for the camera.

Of course the viewers went for the fair’s most intimidating ride – a huge inverted coaster that started off with a steep drop, followed by a tight loop and a maze of zero-g rolls, corkscrews, hills and helixes. It was hard to imagine that this monster was actually portable. Hunter's face fell as he saw the massive steel skeleton.

"I – I don't think I can do that", he mumbled, lowering his head towards Ketan's ear. Maybe he was hoping the camera wouldn't pick up his voice.

"Come on, it's a little late to tap out", Ketan encouraged him, even though his own smile felt rather forced. He knew that this beast was assembled by pros and safety tested, his brain just couldn't get over that whole too big to be portable thing. The park management had agreed to him filming on-ride, he reminded himself, which they wouldn't have done if they weren't confident in their attractions. The uneasy feeling in his stomach was probably caused by a severe neglect of proper chewing during their eating contest. It was not like he was actually scared. "Unless… you want to give up. Double points for the winner, what do you think?"

"Uhm… I… I mean…" Hunter was biting his lip, hands fidgeting nervously, eyes staring intensly at the coaster towering over them. Then his chest heaved with a deep breath and his brows furrowed in nervous determination. "Alright. Let's do this."

"That's the spirit, big guy!" With some enthusiastic slaps on the back, Ketan steered Hunter towards the measly queue. There were five other people in front of them, waiting for the train to return. As soon as the gates opened, Ketan grabbed Hunter's hand and rushed towards the front car, ignoring the protest of a middle-aged woman. His heart was pounding, more out of excitement than anxiety. They were going to get a lovely video out of this. His followers were in for a treat.

"I… I think I made a mistake", Hunter whispered, wide-eyed. His caramel skin barely hid the fact that he had turned pale around the cheeks. As much as the restraints allowed it, Ketan reached over to pat his shoulder.

"Trust me, these things are never as bad as they look."

"No, oh no." Hunter sounded desperate as the train set in motion. Slowly, the chain lift pulled them up the first hill with the familiar click-clack. Ketan looked down towards his dangling feet while holding his camera as stable as possible. His trusty cam had this insane ability to make the selfie stick disappear on video, creating an effect of it floating in mid-air. Ketan gave his viewers a big grin while Hunter looked like he was about to burst into tears. In a futile attempt of reassurance, Ketan kept on rubbing his rival’s impressive biceps.

Finally, the train shifted into an upright position and for a moment, the entire funfair was below them. They followed one last bend towards the inevitable drop.

"I don't feel so good", Hunter rasped, his muscles tensing under Ketan's palm.

"This is the scariest part", Ketan tried to calm him down. "It's all gonna be fun from here!"

Hunter faintly shook his head, then pressed his eyes shut again and attempted to disappear into the shoulder restraints. The very next second, they went over the edge and gravity set things in motion. Ketan began to scream, but the train accelerated so quickly that the air was knocked out of his lungs. Then ground and sky changed places and all of a sudden, his feet were up in the clouds. It was amazing.

Until he heard that sound right next to him.

It was a deep, guttural retch. In one horrible moment, everything clicked. Hunter wasn't just scared. He was feeling sick. No wonder he had looked like he was about to wiggle out of his seat and jump off the ride. And to make things worse, the 360° twist of the zero-gravity roll made Ketan painfully aware of the unrest in his own stomach.

A series of dry heaves assaulted Ketan’s ear, loud enough to overpower even the wind’s roar. It was incredible that such a beautiful person could produce such revolting noises. They sent a wave of nausea through Ketan's body and made him shiver in his clammy skin. Like the rollercoaster, things were going downhill fast.

"Try to breathe", Ketan screamed, barely able to follow his own advice.

"Hu-hhhhhhrrrrrrrRRRRrrRRRrrrrrrr", was Hunter's response, and it sounded awfully wet. If only he could keep it down a little bit longer! The guy didn't even cup his mouth. He held on to the restraints like his life depended on it while his body was shaken by violent gags. Every single time, his head jolted forwards, lips wide open, tounge sticking out, like he was already in mid-puke. At this point, everyone behind them was probably terrified.

"Hold it in!", Ketan pleaded, just before the train twisted into a corkscrew. The last thing he saw were Hunter's eyes flying wide open and his cheeks bulging out. Ketan quickly turned away his head, preparing for a foul smelling flood to hit him any second. Once again, the world spun out of control and the greasy food he had scoffed down swirled in sync with their cart. It was only when they had made it through the inversion that Ketan dared to look up again.

Big mistake – another one in a whole string of unfortunate decisions. As Ketan anxiously glanced towards Hunter, he found him with his cheeks still puffed, lips pursed, eyes widened. Just a second later, vomit sprayed out of him like a fountain. With only a small gap to escape from, it came out with quite some pressure, but it didn't stand a chance against the airstream. A good bit of puke splattered right back into Hunter's face. Some disgustingly warm droplets and mushy pieces hit Ketan's cheek and his upper arm. Someone behind them screamed in terror and Ketan had the strong suspicion that it wasn't because of the wild ride.

With an instant gag, Ketan's body arched against the restraints. His nose was hit hard with the sour stench of sick, mixed with a fermented sweetness. He felt something sliding up his esophagus, like it was still well-greased from all the fried snacks. Desperate to keep his hasty meal down, Ketan swallowed several times and cupped his mouth with his free hand. The train descended into a downward helix and Ketan's stomach immediately sank, forcing another retch out of him.

Maybe it were those wet gurgles that set a chain reaction in motion, maybe it had been inevitable all along. Hunter's shoulders tensed as another gush of undigested food spilled out of his mouth and all over his front. At least now he tilted his head forward and fully parted his lips to prevent another explosion. With a horribly moist, gargling retch, the impossibly gorgeous hunk puked up large chunks of sausage and soggy dough that splattered heavily on his thighs.

Ketan's eyes watered as he fought against the mass that kept on pushing up his throat. The forceful movement of the rollercoaster, the rancid smell and the sickening noises Hunter produced all became too much for him. But the station was close, so very close. Another turn and Ketan already felt the brakes setting in. He pushed against his lips like with the force of sheer determination while his abdominal muscles clenched painfully.

"I'm so sorry", Hunter moaned weakly. Somehow, he still looked ridiculously handsome, even with strands of vomit dripping from his lips. Tiny droplets of tears had been caught in his long lashes as he looked at Ketan with pleading eyes. Ketan just nodded, mouth clutched, frantically taking in rapid, shallow breaths through his nose. The train slowed down as they entered the final stretch. He could do it. He had to do it.

Hunter, however, could not. A spasmodic hiccup shook his buff frame and without any resistance, another massive wave of beige liquid spilled from his lips. His face went blank as he immediately threw up again. Mushy bits of bacon and hotdog and cornbread plopped wetly onto the restraints. The sound was enough to send Ketan into a violent heave. Acrid liquid bubbled up from his stomach. It burned like hell and brought up bigger lumps that slid over Ketan's uvula, forcing him to gag even harder. With every fiber of his body, he tried to swallow the soggy mass back down.

Just as it all seemed lost, the train came to a halt. They had made it to the station. Unable to stop retching, his cheeks bulging against his palm, Ketan pleaded silently for the restraints to open. He saw a fairground worker approaching them hastily – a young guy, probably an undergrad like himself who just wanted to make a bit of extra money. And then, in a cruel twist of fate, Ketan's stomach forcefully ejected another surge of puke. Hot, creamy liquid shot out of the small crack between his tightly closed lips. It poured out over and under his hand, between his fingers, down his arm, all over his cheeks and chin.

The worker stared in horror, his face one substantial "Oh no!", as he saw Ketan lose his battle in such a spectacular way. Finally, the shoulder restraints lifted themselves, like they wanted to mock his futile attempt. Their fellow riders frantically rushed out of the train. The woman that had snapped at them before was now giving them a death glare. Her hair, her face and a good part of her blouse were stained with Hunter's stomach contents.

Before she could break out into a tirade, Ketan's insides went for another loop and he projectile vomited all over himself. It spurted out of him in such a big arch that some droplets even hit the camera. The camera? A cascade of silent curses popped up in Ketan's fuzzy mind. Their entire barf‑a‑thon had been livestreamed to all of his followers, and thanks to the superior image stabilization, they probably hadn't missed a single chunk.

"Are… you guys okay?", the operator asked cautiously. Ketan looked at him and broke into a laugh. He just couldn't help himself. The entire situation was so utterly absurd.

"Sorry", he gasped, unable to calm himself down. "It just sorta… happened. I tried to hold it in, I really did, but… but…“

The laughter overwhelmed Ketan's bubbling stomach and he was shaken by another retch. A greasy brownish mush splattered onto his lap. Ketan's clothes were pretty much soaked with puke at this point and clung to his damp skin. The fresh breeze made him tremble, but he kept on chuckling as he expelled poorly chewed corndog bits. Hunter awkwardly patted Ketan's back to help him through the violent bout. After what seemed like an eternity, both the wet heaves and the hysterical giggles finally subsided.

"We can clean it all up", Hunter rasped. "I… I really didn't mean to ruin your, you know, ride."

"Uhm, no, it happens", the young man reassured him. He sounded more nervous than comforting, probably expecting either one of them to blow chunks again any seconds. "We’ll just hose it down. You guys look like you better go home."

"Yeah… you're right... sorry." Hunter sounded horribly guilty. Defeated. Ketan pressed his co-star‘s shoulder before they finally got up from their stained seats. Soggy lumps, now cooled down, slid down Ketan‘s legs. With a stiff gait, he walked down the platform – still nauseated, but doing his best to pull off a smile. At this point, he had no chance but to play it off and act unaffected.

Ketan's eyes did widen just a little as he looked at his phone. The viewer count had, in fact, almost trippled during their disastrous ride. And why was he even surprised? People were sadists after all. There was a reason the most popular challenges were always the one that made someone puke. It was the perfect blend of schadenfreude and childish humor.

"Okay, guys, this is going to be a tough one", he picked up the chitchat with his audience like nothing had happened. "I can proudly state that we gave it our all – all of our stomach contents, that is. Will you reward the spectacular human fountain or the last one barfing? The choice is yours while we're… trying to clean ourselves up a little. Stay tuned!"

Hunter hesitated to step closer. He looked helpless, lost, so Ketan grabbed his hand and pulled him along to a more quiet place behind the stalls.

"Feeling a little better?", Ketan asked in a much softer voice than his usual hyped up persona. He did feel bad for dragging Hunter into this mess. Nobody wanted to have a vomiting fit immortalized on the internet, especially not during their very first live stream.

"Yeah, I… I think so." Hunter gave him a crooked smile and a thumbs up.

Good thing Ketan’s philosophy was to be prepared for anything. Among his many technical gadgets, he also brought a large water bottle that turned out to be a life saver. First, he helped Hunter clean the worst mess from his skin and clothes before giving himself the same treatment. Quite a bit of puke had splashed back onto Hunter‘s own face. There were chunks and strands in his hair, heck, even in his ears. Ketan brought out some much-needed backup in the form of paper towels. Even then, they could only do so much – the stench of sick still lingered around them, their clothes were soaking wet and the stains easily visible. Ketan shivered and the goosebumps on Hunter's arms showed that he was freezing as well.

"Things are getting a tad uncomfortable for us and I don't think they're gonna welcome us on another ride", Ketan declared with a somewhat sheepish grin. The stream had definitely been cut short, but at least they were going out with a bang. "Let's see what you guys have to say… 'Blergh. Puke emoji, puke emoji, puke emoji' – relatable. 'Ketan, I would totally rub your back.' – aw, thank you. 'I wanna clean Hunter up with my tongue.' – interesting."

"I don't think that's a good idea", Hunter replied in such an sincere tone that Ketan could barely hold back a chuckle. Or a hug. He handed over the almost emptied bottle instead. Hunter took a deep sip, swished the water around in his mouth and politely turned away from the camera before spitting it all back out on the grass.

"Probably not, but thanks for the kind offer.“ Ketan waited until Hunter was done before he poorly imitated drumrolls. „Now let's determine the winner, shall we? It's the moment we've all been waiting for. Remember, we got double points for the last ride. So the winner of our final competition and the entire day is…" With a dramatic pause, Ketan looked at the poll. Took a deep breath. Then broke into a smile and raised his rival‘s arm. "Hunter!"

Countless hearts flooded the chat. It probably helped that Hunter's drenched clothes stuck to his chiseled body and that his face lit up in such an endearing way.

"Thank you, everyone! Honestly, thank you.“ A tinge of red brought back some life into his cheeks that were still far from the usual golden-brown tan. „I know you guys weren't even here for me and I'm glad I didn't ruin the whole thing for you. Guess my stomach isn't used to deep-fried food anymore."

"Don't worry, it happens to the best of us.“ Ketan stretched himself to ruffle Hunter’s soft locks. „Case in point, it even happenend to me.“

„Yeah… sorry… that kinda feels like it was my fault as well. I made you… you know… I started the whole vomiting thing and then… sorry. It’s a little embarrassing.“

„My idea, my responsibility, okay?“ The shame-fueled puppy dog expression on Hunter’s face was utterly adorable and, weird enough, it sparked Ketan’s protective instinct for the significantly taller hunk. „Now before we ride home towards the sunset, let’s read some last comments to cheer you up. ‚Hottest. Thing. EVER!‘ – ‚Marry me, Hunter! Heart emoji times a bijillion‘ – ‚More streams together plllzzzz‘ – You’d like that, huh? You dirty little weirdos. Any last words to the audience, Hunt?“

„Uhm… I’m already taken, so I have to decline the marriage proposal. But thanks for the votes and everything! I really appreciate it!“

„You heard him! And you will never know what we’re gonna do next… in private. Kay thanx bye!“ After his signature abrupt last wave, Ketan bumped the phone against his forehead, then quickly turned off the camera. His grin instantly fell into an expression of pure guilt. „Hit me. Like, hard. Fist and all. I deserve it. That’s not how things were supposed to go down. I mean, it was my most successful stream ever and I’m eternally grateful for that, but I’m also honestly sorry.“

„No, it’s okay.“ Hunter waved a hand, visibly confused by Ketan’s sudden change in demeanor. „I should have said that I wasn’t feeling well. It kind of, you know, got to me with the whole contest thing and all and then it was too late. I’m just glad it all turned out fine in the end.“

„You’re too good to be true“, Ketan sighed. „And probably cold as hell, so how about a detour to my place for a hot shower and some tea? I owe you one, more than one, and it’s the least I can do.“

„Sounds great. My stomach’s still a little angry at me, I guess.“ Hunter’s hand drew a circle over the perfectly defined muscles of his abdomen. He seemed worn out, but mostly relieved. That was because he couldn’t possibly know at this moment that nothing was fine and that the steepest drop was only about to begin.

He found out soon enough when his phone started ringing.

#emeto #vomiting #whump #vomit tw #sickfic #emeto tw #caretaking #puke #motion sickness #too much food #ocs #ketan #hunter #tiago is going to love this

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all-inmoderation · 2 years ago

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ugh one thing i dislike about under the oak tree is how riftan and maxi have like,,, no friends. like riftan is such a fucking asshole to his knights and has such a stick up his ass that i have to wonder why do these other knights follow him ??? his entire character trait is being a downright asshole to everyone but maxi and it gets tiring to read at some points bc to me, it really flattens the world.

because personally, even when i read a romance, i want the main leads to have an enriched life outside of their love interest! i always hoped to see a scene of riftan having some form of camaraderie w his knights and treating them with,,, at least a little bit of friendliness, perhaps ??? bc i want there to be a reason these knights are following riftan, other than just him being a good warrior. i know riftans general disposition is very reserved and rigid but good god how many times has he gone to war w these guys??? and yet he cant even return a modicum of the affection and respect ruth and the other knights give to him smfhhhh

and as for maxi. i have a less of a grudge w her bc of her backstory obviously but i wish the author couldve shown her finding some solace in friendship as part of her journey in healing. its beautiful that she comes to see riftan as a source of home and safety, but i also wanted to see her dynamic w ruth deepen, along with Agnes. *especially* Agnes, actually, i want Maxi to slowly but surely stop feeling insecure and threatened around her. the little nuggets of her interacting w them and the maids and other knights are so charming and heartwarming to see. I want to see Maxi LOVE the people in their house and form genuine connections with them beyond surface level.

I do think the author does a good job of that when it comes to maxi and the household staff but.. the most disappointing part and the entire reason of this post was how utterly disappointed I was with maxi going to Nornui for three years and not making any fucking FRIENDS. like BRUH. do you know how desperately i wanted to see Maxi in Nornui, thriving despite herself, socially thriving and loving magic even while she's missing riftan. Like I haven't read book 3 yet but that little sneak peak we got of the first few chapters where some of the other students treated her like shit and she only had surface level friendships with some other wizards was sO FRUSTRATING TO READDD. l

like you're telling me maxi left home for THREE YEARS and she spent that ENTIRE TIME missing riftan and keeping everyone at a distance ???? didn't she leave bc she felt suffocated by riftans obsession and she wanted to become more of her own person ??? what the hell was the point then if she made no real connections and just wasted it thinking about riftan lmfao. they'll just go back to where they started- two people who are obsessed w each other w no other companionship, except now maxi just knows how to throw magic rocks or whatever lmfao.

sigh. im being being a bit nitpicky but i just really really wanted to see maxi in nornui making really good friends and building up confidence and pride- and then i wanted her to come back to anatol and for her riftan to see her and see how she's more at ease, maybe even a little more charming, and more confident after spending time in the towers and gaining the admiration and respect of other wizards, and coming back w her own allies and supporters. people whose companionship she forged on her own instead of what was forced onto her (like her marriage). like if it had been up to me i wouldnt have even had any of the wizards at the tower be rude to maxi- i wanted her leave in the tower to be one where she found herself and who she was, beyond her marriage, beyond even her magic.

like even though maxi is shy and reserved i wanted to see her come out of her shell a little bit is that too much to ask? and i wouldve loved to see that kind of transformation in her and how riftan wouldve handled it. of course its not to say that maxi shouldve come back from nornui as an extremely confident outgoing girl with no fears, in fact i think having a significant change but then her returning to anatol and bringing up her old habits and characteristics against who she's become wouldve been so delicious to see , but alas, i dont think thats where the story goes at all.

#under the oak tree #riftan calypse #maximilian croix #maximilian calypse #riftan x maxi #utot #maxi calypse #webtoon #manta comics #ridibooks #manhwa

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serenasoutherlyns · 1 year ago

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passionately, i'd say

chapter 2 of my woman!jack au. ao3 rewrite of s5e10 house counsel.

“We would’ve been more comfortable in Aruba,” Jack says.

“You prosecutors don’t have the time for frivolous travel like we do. It’s too bad such a great mind is wasted on this office. Third in the class,” Paul volleys right back with a nod to Claire. “But I’ve never lost a case on account of my 2.5, have I. And what do they say, the C students end up kicking the A students in the ass? That’s probably not it, oh well Jackie, I can’t wait to do it anyway.”

“We have Furini on tape,” says Claire. The case is a slam dunk.

“Another A student?” says Paul. He’s smug.

“Law review too,” Claire says, trying not to seem too defensive. “But you don’t have to be to see where this is going.”

Jack leans back a little in her chair and pushes her hair behind her ears, tousling it ever so slightly. Claire likes Jack’s hair a lot. She likes the shine, how soft it is to touch, how it smells like coconut and honey. She does dye it, Jack confirmed one day, looking in the bathroom mirror. She had to get her roots redone. Claire likes her faint crows feet and smile lines, too. She presses play on the cassette. “Mr. Parks is all taken care of, Vin. Bada bing, bada boom.” “Good job, John.” “I think the meaning is obvious,” Jack says.

“Sure it is,” says Paul. “They were talking about Miss America. Look Jackie, I hate to burst your bubble but this case is gonna go the way of all flesh.”

“Because you’re the defense counsel?” Jack says, playfully incredulous.

Paul grins and cocks his head to the side. “Motion to suppress. That tape will never be heard by a jury. Oh, and Anna sends her love. She wants you to come over sometime.”

“Tell her we’ll all go to Aruba this weekend.”

“Sounds wonderful. See you in chambers, Jackie, Miss-”

“Kincaid,” Jack says.

“Miss Kincaid. She seems like a good one,” he says on his way out.

“Jackie?” Claire says when the door closes.

“Yeah, well. Old nicknames die hard.”

“You two seem close,” Claire says, not even trying to hide her annoyance. He wasn’t her typical type. Jack generally has little patience for macho posturing. For dick measuring contests. She does usually win those, however.

“Exes,” she says. “Two years and we never did anything but argue and try to beat each other at pool.”

“Two years,” Claire says. “I didn’t know you had that in you.”

“I didn’t,” Jack says, her voice matter-of-fact. “Ask Carolyn Waters.” Claire thinks she would not have gotten along with 23-year-old Jack. ---

“It’s about the battle, Claire, not the prize,” Jack says.

“You would agree with me if it was anybody else,” is her response. “You’re acting like defending a mob boss is some sort of noble cause.”

“It’s all a part of the game,” she says. Jack can really piss Claire off. Something about Paul Kopell brings out her cynical, egotistical side.

“Last I heard, it was about justice,” Claire says.

“Justice is a story we tell to make ourselves feel better, not something we can reasonably seek. Effective prosecutors should do their best to let it be the byproduct.”

“Of what?” Claire says, knowing that Jack was about to say;

“Of winning, plain, simple, and as often as possible.”

“I’m not in this to score points,” Claire says.

“Well you better change that, Claire, or you’ll never sleep again,” Jack says with that charming, fond, smile. It’s hard to stay mad at her when she looks at her that way. Claire does her best imitation of a frown.

“Adam, we have the tape on Furini. If we’re lucky, he won’t want to spend the rest of his life in prison.”

“Good,” says Adam in that tired but sure tone of his.

---

“I meant what I said, about winning,” Jack says, and takes another sip of scotch.

“Do we really have to talk about work?” Claire responds. She’s had about enough of the case today, and Jack will not let this go. She insists on winning her over.

“What else is there to talk about?” She says, and she has a point. It’s not like they do much else.

“You could ask me about lunch with my mom,” she says after thinking for a second.

“How was lunch with your mother, Claire,” Jack says, mock-interested (because she can guess how it was). She leans into her space Claire leans in too, matching her challenge.

“Awkward and unpleasant,” she says. Claire takes a sip of her pinot noir and rests her her chin on her hand. “She wouldn’t stop going on about my biological clock.” Jack lets out a bright scoff.

“You’ve got some time on that one,” she says.

“I’m in no rush,” Claire says, and brings her bottom lip between her teeth. She touches Jack’s calf with her own. Jack places her hand on her knee.

“I’d hope not,” says Jack. “Cause, I’d be of no help.”

“Thank God.” Jack raises her glass to that.

“Anyway,” she says, “if you get too focused, you’ll drive yourself insane.” Claire goes to respond, to say something pithy, but Jack doesn’t let her. “I’m being serious, Claire.” Claire opens her mouth and closes it. She lowers her head and picks it back up. She puts her hand on the back of her neck.

“I know,” Claire says. “I can feel it happening.”

“So stop,” Jack says. “Don’t beat yourself up if you lose a motion, hell, if you lose a case. Move on, and do your best to win. But if everything is about justice, and you don’t get it, you’ll--”

“Make myself miserable, I know.”

“Good,” says Jack. “You’re getting it.” She touches her shoulder affectionately. Claire sips her wine.

---

“Your friend plays the game by a different set of rules,” Claire says. She’s standing, leaning over the table. She’s been pacing the room, trying to come up with a way to reindict and coming up empty. Paul Kopell is certainly a smart guy. “He and I are not playing the same game anymore, Claire,” Jack says from the couch. She is sitting back, sunk into the leather, her heels are on the floor and her legs are tucked under her. She’s been staring off into the distance for ten minutes, thinking about what, Claire can’t say. This revelation concerns her, she wonders what Jack is about to get into.

“Is that disappointment, or the sound of your ego deflating?”

“It’s contempt,” Jack responds. “He’s reprehensible. First day of law school, ‘What’s the cornerstone of the adversarial process?’” She rises from the couch.

“I don’t need the socratic attitude,” Claire says. Jack walks up close to her, comfortable. The top of her blouse is unbuttoned and Claire’s eyes linger at her collarbone as she tilts her chin up to face her.

“Just answer the question, Claire.”

“Two independent counsel, arguing points of fact and points of law before an impartial judge and jury,” she responds reluctantly.

“Right,” Jack says. “The operative word being ‘independent.’ Paul crossed a line.”

“He didn’t do anything illegal, Jack. He listened to Dasso brag. You heard the tape.” Claire rests her hands on the desk behind her. Jack stands across the room from her with her arms crossed, anger apparent on her face-- she’s even a little red. Her hands are balled into fists.

“He facilitated the operation of a criminal enterprise.” Jack is enraged. That must be why she hadn’t said a word for so long. “How do you think he knew Lempert’s spending habits?”

“Maybe they had cappuccino together,” Claire says. She can’t help the it. Jack is reaching at best but there was no telling her anything when she got like this.

“The juror questionnaires,” Jack says, realizing mid-speech. “How much do you owe, how much do you make. He knew exactly what he was doing in voir dire, he asked the questions that would find him the person most likely to take a bribe. I can’t believe this,” she says.

“I’m not sure I do,” says Claire. Half of her is trying to spare Jack the pain that finding out something like this is true would cause her. “Paul Kopell goes the extra mile, every time. I just didn’t expect him to drive the car into a wall.”

The clerk leads them to it. Claire sees the devastation in Jack’s eyes, the pain of betrayal. It’s heartbreaking. In the cab back to the courthouse, she takes her hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. Jack sighs and squeezes back.

---

“Twenty-five years ago, Paul stayed up until 3:00am with me teaching me the rule against perpetuities,” Jack says.

“Smart has nothing to do with honest,” Adam replies. “What are you gonna do?”

“Burn him at the stake,” says Jack. She looks tired.

“Even if we can implicate Kopell, it’s only an E felony.”

“No,” says Jack, determination and rage in her voice. “It’s an A felony. Conspiracy to commit murder. Paul picked Lempert’s name.” Jack is taking things to far, Claire thinks, or she’s going to. She thinks about asking her, if this were any other attorney, would she do something like this?

She thinks better of it, but tries to sway her anyway. “You don’t think he knew they were going to kill Lempert?”

“It doesn’t matter. He set the chain of events in motion. Do you want to convict Dasso?” Claire and Adam nod. “Paul can give him to us.”

---

“You son of a bitch,” says who must be Paul’s wife.

“Anna, calm down. You could’ve called, Jack, you have my number,” Paul says, bursting with anger, spitting the words out.

“I’m sorry, it fell out of my rolodex,” says Jack. The room feels like it’s going to light on fire.

“Are you happy, Jackie?” Paul says bitterly.

“Happy yes, I’m so happy to discover one of my closest friends is a felon.”

Paul actually laughs. “Even if Dasso bribed the clerk, what the hell has that got to do with me?”

“Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid, Paul.”

Anna looks Claire straight in the eyes as if to say how could you. “This is really getting your juices going, isn’t it,” she says.

“Anna, if you can’t let me proceed, you’d better step outside.” Paul gestures to Claire. Jack makes a stop motion to her, and though she wasn’t going to leave anyway, she appreciates the show of respect.

“Paul, you can put an end to this, right now,” says Jack. “Give us Dasso.”

“Give you Dasso, who the hell do you think I am? You know what, Jackie, you can’t even carry my briefcase, you never could.” Jack shows how hurt she is: her eyes dart to the side, where Claire is standing. She can see Jack starting to lose her composure, like she’s going to cry, or like she’s going to hit Kopell. “I’m gonna get this bullshit charge dismissed and then write you a civil suit that will have your great-grandchildren answering motions.”

Paul storms out and Anna is close behind him. When the door closes, Jack sinks into the couch. Claire sees one tear roll down her cheek. She goes to take her hand, but Jack pulls it away.

“I’m going to go get a cup of coffee,” Claire says. “Want anything?”

“I’m good,” Jack says. She looks out the window.”

---

“I don’t need your sarcasm right now, Claire,” Jack says as they walk back to the office. It’s fair. Claire could stand to be a little kinder.

“Look, Jack,” Claire says as she takes her arm. “Don’t you think this is getting out of hand?” Jack stops walking in the middle of the sidewalk and turns to face her.

“Do you want to convict Dasso?” Jack asks.

“Of course I do.”

“Well I’m fresh out of ideas,” she says. “This is the only way I can see of doing it.”

Claire looks at her and sighs. Jack is right. Her argument against Kopell is sound. But she hates seeing Jack so distraught, so hurt. They haven’t had a moment to themselves since the arrest.

“Alright,” Claire says, takes Jack’s arm again, and walks them down the street.

---

“He’s a murderer,” Paul says. “He’s my client. I don’t judge him. I defend him. It’s what I do.”

“You don’t have to climb into bed with him,” says Jack. “That’s where you’re wrong. I have to get into his bed. I have to think like him. I have to attend his grandchildren’s christenings, I have to eat his mother’s cooking. It’s the only way I can defend him with any kind of passion. How can you not see that, Jackie?”

Claire can see Jack start to bristle at the nickname where she hadn’t before. It was like watching two angry dogs bark at each other.

“That’s your only agenda?” Jack says, disbelieving.

“Hell no,” says Paul. “I do it because I like it. I do it because it’s fun. I climbed macho mountain and it feels damn good.” Jack grips the table tightly. Claire is disgusted. Jack must be too. He really isn’t Jack’s type, after all.

“We’re offering you a way out,” Claire says. Paul looks at her like she’s nothing. Jack bites her cheek.

“Maybe you should hear him out, Paul,” Anna says.

“Absolutely not,” Paul says, stretching the first word out to five syllables. “Don’t you see, Anna? He called this meeting, that means his case is weak. This is a game of chicken. And you just blinked. See you at trial.”

---

They convict him.

The foreperson stands and delivers a “guilty” verdict. There is no celebration, no after-work drinks, no congratulation from Adam. Nobody is happy.

“That sounded like more than a game,” Claire says as the elevator door opens.

“You better take the next elevator,” Jack says. “I wouldn’t be very good company.”

#law & order #jack mccoy #sficx #claire/jack #kincoy #claire kincaid

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snowmaniaph · 2 years ago

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Snow Man’s Snow Life #127 - MemeRau’s two-shot and talk

Meguro Ren and Raul, the 2 youngest members of the group, appear in this issue for photos in the other’s member color. They also thoroughly talk about their thoughts on each other.

“Meme is straightforward and doesn’t put on airs. That is his number one charm.”

“The number of times Raul helped me is increasing.”

For these two who love each other, what are their wishes for the other?

It’s been about 3 years and a half since these two’s sudden addition to Snow Man’s member lineup. Raul, who was only a middle school student when he joined the group, also graduated from high school. As someone who saw his growth up close, how does Meguro feel?

Meguro: His personality and appearance both changed, and I think he really grew as a whole. I was the one helping him when we joined the group, but now the times he has helped me have increased. I am really grateful that he reaches out to me when I’m a little tired or when I’m feeling down.

Raul: Really? That makes me happy. I talk to him when I think he’s tired from the continuous drama and movie filming because I think it would be nice if he could rest during the time he’s with all the members, but there’s also a part of me who simply wants to talk to Meme (Meguro) (laughs).

Meguro: My mood does get better because of that. You’ve become really reliable!

Now that Raul has grown into a reliable man, is there still a part of him that you think is cute?

Meguro: (immediate answer) None.

Raul: Really?

Meguro: You’re already 18 years old after all.

Raul: Zero?

Meguro: Ahaha. Really. I do think Raul’s whole existence is cute!

Raul: Meme’s cute part is...

Meguro: None. I’m already 25 years old.

Raul: That humble side of you is also wonderful (laughs). He doesn’t go “me, me” but is always considerate of the people around him and puts them first. I also want to become someone like that, and I respect him because of that. Also, despite everything Meme is a tennen (t/n: can mean natural or airhead)! I don’t mean careless or stupid, but “natural”. He is straightforward and doesn’t put on airs. That is his number one charm.

Meguro: There are times that I’m too straightforward and I hate that. For example, I would be thrown off when someone says “Hey, do that” while I was in the middle of doing something else. Then I’d think I have to concentrate on the second task too, so I’d forget or make a mistake on the first task. I hate my character where I lose sight of what’s around me because I can only focus on one thing.

Raul: But on the contrary, I think that’s a good thing so it’s okay!

If you could mention a work of the other that made an impression on you...

Meguro: I think Raul’s talent as a model is amazing. I also thought of this when I saw the pictures of this year’s TGC, there are poses other people won’t nail if they do it but looks good when Raul does it.

Raul: Uwa-, I’m happy!

Meguro: That’s why I think it would be nice if he could broaden the places where he could be active as a model more. He really should become more active in more places.

Raul: I’m already overwhelmed by emotions. I’ve been allowed to do various works in Johnny’s but modeling is the only one aspect where I feel like I can be a pro. It makes me really happy to be complimented in a job that makes me feel that way. There are a lot of Meme’s works that made a deep impression on me but the one that really resonated with me was Kyojo II (2021, Fuji TV). This is an unforgettable work where I was able to differentiate (Meguro’s) idol side and actor side. There are times I watch it again.

Meguro: It was a big job for me too that’s why that (Raul’s answer) makes me really happy.

Furthermore, they gave the same answer when we asked them which job they challenged together was unforgettable.

Meguro: When the two of us unveiled our performance of Sexy Zone’s GAME in The Shounen Club (NHK BS Premium).

Raul: Right. The two of us really talked a lot that time. We remember everything even the camera cuts, and the “It would be better if we do it like this”. It was before our debut but I remember thinking that I shouldn’t forget that fastidious attention to detail.

Meguro: We haven’t really had a lot of chances to hold a microphone and sing in Shokura until then, so I think the feelings of wanting to produce results no matter what really showed. I feel like we talked about things like “I have to do it with this kind of mindset” at that time. And from time to time we affirm that experience and reminisce about it so we wouldn’t forget about the passion and feeling that we had then.

Raul: Honestly, I sometimes remember how hard it was to have the same fastidiousness as that time.

Meguro: You can get back your original resolve, right?

The feelings of “like” overflow between the two who occasionally look at each other and talk with a smile on their faces. Do they not have any complaints about the other?

Meguro: Limited to times when I’m busy, but he sends me long videos (laughs)! I think “I can’t watch this now!”.

Raul: Ahaha. I’m sorry. I understand that you’re busy but I feel like wanting to send you something alive. It’s because the feeling of “novelty” wears off as time passes. But it’s fine even if you don’t watch it immediately. I’m already satisfied that I sent it (laughs).

Meguro: So it’s for your self-satisfaction (laughs).

Raul: No! It’s the feeling of wanting to send something. It’s the feeling of “it would be nice if this made you smile and alleviated your fatigue”.

Meguro: Of course, there are times that I laugh when looking at the pictures you sent. But this (complaint) is limited to sending long videos when I don’t have free time.

Raul: So the timing is bad... this isn’t a complaint but a request. I don’t have clothes so I want Meme’s hand-me-downs.

Meguro: I don’t think even my size would fit you! I saw that Raul wore Fukka-san (Fukazawa Tatsuya)’s clothes and the size totally didn’t fit (laughs).

Raul: Fukka-san’s shoulder width is narrower than mine so his clothes didn’t fit me. But I want Fukka-san to look at my clothes and once I got to wear them the members told me “It doesn’t suit you”.

Meguro: Ahaha. Who said that?

Raul: If I remember right, it’s Shoppi- (Watanabe Shota) (laughs).

Meguro: Then, I’ll give you clothes if I find one that’s your size!

#snowman #snow man #meguro ren #ren meguro #raul maito murakami #murakami maito raul #snow life #kyojo II #translations #johnnys #memerau #TGC #tokyo girls collection

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0veil-ablaze0 · 8 months ago

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Hijacking to think how this swap goes to my best abilities in the same format as op rq:

(cw: brief mention of sexual harassment, milgram typical warnings: murder, cults, suicide, etc.)

Mahiru: A young woman who has so much love to give, too much love to the point of her peers couldn't stand her for long. Even within her soulmate's eyes, he finds her love too much. Desperately trying to keep her happily ever after together, sacrifices has to be made. She just wanted to love and be loved, can you forgive her?

Kazui: A man has his secrets, he has duties, he has actions that the normal society allows, he can hurt others. Kazui is no different, he has hurt many with his lies trying to be part of this 'normal' society. The cycle is simple: Find a woman, charm her, get along with her, and hopefully get married only to back out when the relationship escalates. Such a cowardly retreat, embarrassing isn't it?

Amane: Finding comfort in the internet, she finds herself in a group of the good and pure, well, on the surface level. Do something that the masses deem immoral, you're done for, but what was deemed immoral seems to increase. To Amane's own shame, she has things that the people think is a sin, despite all that effort to trying to be a good girl. She hardly joins whatever crusade they were having, the one time she did though, it wasn't at someone the masses expected. She had only rid of a hypocrite, so milgram is nonsensical, right?

Fuuta: He was a pretty popular guy in uni, known to enact justice around campus, he's also quite popular with his female peers considering the most common scum he happens to call out are perverts. His 'friends' aren't exactly fond of this phenomenon, so they did what they always do to scums: tear them down until they're sorry. The people in uni sees him as heroic, and heroes has no flaws, Fuuta couldn't have flaws. So when his supposed 'friends' reveals his vices, he was discarded and scowled at. He went to look for his friends to 'discuss and catch up'. Is it wrong for him to take revenge?

These descriptions are getting longer help me--

Kotoko: An aspiring med student, prodigy even, she knows and even sees the injustice in the medical field. Its bias and whatnot. She swore to rid of this place of corrupt practitioners. Her goals gets more complicated as her grandma gets fatally ill, and donors are few, so she did what she had to. It's fine, she only took from the leeches of society. What's wrong with making the medical world a better place? A lot of things maybe

Shidou: He quits his job as a surgeon once his wife and kids were discharged from the hospital, opting for a job where he can watch over his family more closely. His wife understands that she and their sons had just survived a near death experience, but has her husband always been this overbearing? She's physically tired, and even if her husband doesn't have any ill will, his current self is emotionally exhausting her. Shidou just want to make sure his family is safe, is it a crime to love your family?

Muu: ily muu but idk how to do you. Muu is the queen bee of the school and she has a crush on Rei, this attraction is something that Muu wants to hide, but she wants to be transparent with Rei about her feelings as well. Unfortunately, Muu's clique makes ot hard to make Muu be honest about Rei. So, Muu decided to fess up with her in private. Wether Rei reciprocates or not idk, but she was caught on video by one of Muu friends, Muu wasn't caught because if yes, her friend would've been busted before she can pull out her phone. Muu's confession made everything worse and now Rei is dead. Muu is a monster isn't she..?

Mikoto: Mikoto is a prime example of the perfect work spirit among his cult, that's all what he knows, so that's what he believes at least. He doesn't know how or why he is bandaged sometimes, he doesn't remember, all blank. Either way, he must continue to work hard to be the ideal mascot man for his family and community. He doesn't even know what happened, he just woke up with blood everywhere! They He will not accept that he is a sinner, milgram is undeniably a flawed system! Forgive him, now. We only want to protect him.. [Why am I here? And why are you framing as if I were the devil?]

Haruka: He just wanted attention, is that wrong? He'll gain that in any way possible. He's killed smaller things than himself, bugs, dogs, fishes, all for mama to look at him after so long. Since that worked, he'll continue so others can see him. Cats, birds, small wild animals, a little girl-- it doesn't matter what emotion the people are feeling, he has eyes on him, and he could never be more happy.

Yuno: LITERALLY I HAVE ZERO CLUE WHAT TO DO WITH HER (WILL UPDATE ONCE I GET AN IDEA)

As a follow-up to my Songshift AU, allow me to introduce you to the Songspin AU (a bit like Storyshift/Storyspin), in which the positions of the Songshift AU go the other way!

#milgram #Songspin au #mahiru shiina #kazui mukuhara #amane momose #fuuta kajiyama #kotoko yuzuriha #shidou kirisaki #muu kusunoki #mikoto kayano #haruka sakurai #yuno kashiki #Yuno I am so sorry #I forgot what was my idea for you #Probably something something blood = warmth #I used all of my brain juice I'll write Yuno's later

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i-am-literally-deranged · 3 years ago

Note

Actually you know what I WILL criticize you on the hottest dating sim character.

Shuu Iwamine is objectively more attractive than Yuuya, and here is a neat bulleted list of why I think so:

He evil. Everyone likes someone evil and a little bit irreparably damaged.

Long hair,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, tied up in a cute little bow

Those EYES. We've all seen the "Unique!! White blue-eyed boy!" but I've seen people drool over those deep purple eyes

Tired all the time. Relatable

Constantly drawn covered in blood. People go crazy over that

He berates the player but occasionally gives them validation, which is enough to make most people coming back for more (as ill-advised as that may be)

Oh I love a good debate!!!! :D

• I actually think that irreparably damaged but still NOT evil is the hottest variety of character! It's easy to be traumatized and evil, but it takes some real SUBSTANCE to be more than that. Yuuya has some real dimension to him! He's incredibly selfless! He murdered a baby. He's incredibly loyal! He mutilated one of his best friends' body and covered up her murder. He's such a truly good person! How many students died while he was on the job? But Shuu is just plain evil. Sure there is dimension to him, but I don't find it COMPELLING. I can't get into Shuu's head and see myself making the same decisions he did. I can't justify or rationalize any of the things he did. That's a lot less hot to me than someone like Hitori or Yuuya who come in all these lovely shades of gray. Their bad deeds are so UNDERSTANDABLE, so genuine. They're more understandable, more sympathetic, and so it's easy to feel closer to them. I can't imagine feeling close to Shuu. The things he does are too evil, and don't make as much sense. When Yuuya does something awful it makes SENSE. It feels like an almost inevitable tragedy, there's no other way it could have gone, there was no right answer and he took the best way out he knew how. THAT'S SOME HOT TRAGEDY RIGHT THERE, REAL SHAKESPEAREAN SHIT!! THE GOOD STUFF!! When Shuu commits atrocities it's like. Ah, it's Tuesday. He just does it because it's What He Does. He's evil, and a terrible decision maker, and that's why he does what he does. And honestly, as much as I love the shades of gray, and the appeal of villainous characters is undeniable, I'm a real sucker for the good guys. I've never been one to fall into the tumblr sexyman trend of loving the villains. I love heroes and anti-heros! Good people in bad situations, just doing their best in a world without any right answers. Nothing makes me UwU💕 more than that.

• okay you got me there. Shuu's hair is fantastic. I love it. And his bow is amazing you're so right. ALTHOUGH credit where credit is due, Yuuya's little hair clips! They're so cute.

• Okay but HAVE YOU SEEN YUUYA'S SMILE??? It's so charming!!!!!! You can just FEEL the warmth in it. It's playful, it's easygoing, it's charming, it's mysterious. And as we all know!!! Mystery IS the most powerful of aphrodisiacs after all! Shuu has those purple eyes, but his smile says serial killer, and it's not lying. Yuuya's smile strikes my heart still! Also, Shuu's purple colour scheme is physically part of him, he didn't make that cool style decision himself. But Yuuya having all orange matching accessories?? That's so cute!! He planned that, made a conscious decision to colour code himself in orange. It makes me think that maybe it's his favourite colour. Shuu was handed the purple aesthetic life, but Yuuya chose and intentionally curated an orange aesthetic for himself, and I think that's wonderful.

• Okay but have you considered that Yuuya is also frequently covered in blood, and it's almost always his own blood? Being drenched in your own blood is SO much better than being drenched in somebody else's. It's more sanitary, and it gives poor little meow meow points. Yuuya covered in his own blood is infinitely hotter than Shuu covered in anonymous blood from somewhere unknown. What can you do with a Shuu covered in blood? Where do you GO from there? But a Yuuya covered in blood, that's the start of a hurt/comfort fanfic in the making! You can like, take him home and patch him up. There's places to go with that, there's a plotline in the making. Ergo, Yuuya's blood is hotter than Shuu's.

• I am immune to this effect on account of not being into degradation. Also, if Shuu's subtle praise is worth coming back for, what about Yuuya's flirtations? They're genuine compliments AND kind of a funny joke at the same time. That's the best of both worlds. You can joke with him about it, AND feel good about all the nice things he said about you. They're fun and cute, and some of the nice things he says are pretty genuinely sweet.

Some further points,

•With Yuuya you can get into these action packed near death experiences. Nothing more attractive than that, a "You and me against the world" partnership in a world that wants you dead. That's the best kind of bonding experience there is, and so logically, doing super spy stuff with Yuuya makes for an objectively fantastic date. Bonding through danger! A partnership where you trust eachother with your lives, literally! You can't get that kind of thing with Shuu, because Shuu IS the danger.

•ALSO Yuuya would Treat Me Right, and I know this with absolute confidence. Shuu is limited in his potential hotness by the fact that you can never really get close to him without getting murdered. But Yuuya? Yuuya cares. Yuuya would literally die for you. Yuuya is loyal, and kind, and just a damn good guy all around. He cares so much! He's such a good friend. Just look at the way he interacts with Sakuya. Or better, how he interacts with Ryouta, who he has no real connection with or obligation to, but still treats with so much kindness even though Ryouta is so hard on him. You gotta appreciate how much Would Treat Me Right energy Yuuya brings to the table

• I have terminal I Can Fix Him disease, and Yuuya's abysmally low self esteem makes me foam at the mouth. Every time something horrible happens to him I go absolutely feral, and bad things happen to Yuuya a lot. The more a character suffers the hotter they are. This is an objective fact.

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earnestly-endlessly · 3 years ago

Note

kind of an odd request — do you have fics where erik is grumpy with everyone else but a ray of sunshine with charles?

Hi anon, thank you for the ask. First and foremost, I'm so sorry for how long this took me but I've been searching for all the fics that come to mind that fit your request. Second, this is not an odd request because I love this trope so much. I mean, it's basically canon that he's grumpy with everyone except for his Charles, right? Anyway, I might add to this list later on, but I can't sit on this any longer and hope that you have found some fics that you enjoy!!

Fic Recs Where Erik is grumpy with everyone but a ray of sunshine with Charles

Twice as Blind – Darksknight

Summary: Erik is probably the biggest asshole on the face of the earth, and because of this, he'll probably die alone. Charles is a complete flirt and playboy and, probably, will never commit to anyone ever.

(The lesson here is that when you have two friends who are BOTH secretly seeing someone, well, it's probable that they're seeing each other.)

In the moonlight, on a joy ride – scarlettblush

Summary: Librarian AU. Charles is the young librarian and Erik is the college student who is completely besotted with him.

The Proper Care of Actors – Clear_Liqueur, Clocks, Etherei, afrocurl

Summary: Erik is an A-list action star who is notoriously difficult to work with, until the day he gets cast alongside Charles Xavier, rom-com darling who can charm the pants off movie audiences the world over and apparently even one Erik Lehnsherr. The paparazzi catch them out and about soon enough, and their real-life Hollywood movie romance becomes instant tabloid fodder.

Rumor Mill – ikeracity

Summary: Erik is the grumpiest, most foul tempered worker at Stark industries. His grumpiness is the stuff of legends.

So it's obviously the talk of the office when Erik is being made to go to the company party and he's bringing his husband. There's rumors flying round about how much of a masochist or equally antisocial bastard Erik's husband must be to put up with him. Others think he must be a meek mouse perhaps bullied by Erik.

What they weren't expecting was the confident, charming, adorable and unbelievably nice Charles that turns up on Erik's arm. What they certainly weren't expecting was how much Erik obviously adores his husband and how happy he is to let others see this.

Work/Life Balance – pocky_slash

Summary: Alex is pretty sure his weird, anti-social boss is a robot. Right up until the guy's adorable husband shows up. His adorable husband who happens to be a famous actor. His adorable husband who happens to be the very same famous actor who was the source of many of Alex's teenage fantasies.

Terrifying Domesticity – ishipitsobad

Summary: Erik is the most dangerous and notorious mafia boss around for miles, and yet the strangest things terrify him.

For example: his children, and his very pregnant mate.

Of kittens and teacups and love – Ren

Summary: Modern AU in which Charles and Erik are flatmates. Charles studies psychology and likes tea and chess and keeps bringing home stray kittens, and Erik lets him because he's maybe perhaps a little bit sort of in love with him.

Fools Rush In – LoveSupreme

Summary: Erik owns a cafe on the edge of campus and accidentally starts maybe-stalking a Biology Professor there.

Growing Pains – ikeracity

Summary: Twelve-year-old Erik Lehnsherr is an angry, closed-off foster kid with trust issues and a bad temper. Ten-year-old Charles Xavier is a lonely kid in boarding school who just wants a friend.

Logan pretends he doesn't think they're both fucking adorable.

Series

Home Together (The Finding Our Way Remix) – significantowl

Summary: Erik is not the sort of person other students strike up conversations with. His expression, his posture, every part of his manner say: Don’t talk to me. I don’t want to talk to you. But none of that stops the boy ahead of him in line with the collapsible white cane, and nothing can stop Erik from falling for him, like it or not.

Melted Ice Cream and Macaroni Art – pocky_slash

Summary: Everybody likes Charles. Nobody likes Erik. And that's really the source of Erik's doubts. Also, there's ice cream and a baby. Part of ‘the Daycare’ verse.

Walling in or Walling Out – stlkrchck

Summary: Erik stifles a sigh. Of course this is Mr. C. F. Xavier. Of course.

For the prompt: Charles and Raven are throwing a holiday party. Erik is the grumpy neighbor who is annoyed by how loud they are being. So he goes to complain, and Charles makes it up to him.

(Wise Men Say) Only Fools Rush In – wildelybroken

Summary: After reading a fic where Erik and Charles are super sluts, meet at what is presumably Raven and Emma's engagement party, and end up sleeping together, I made the following comment and just inspired myself.

"They start casually texting each other throughout the day, maybe while they’re bored or frustrated at work, and start out meeting up and sleeping together semi-frequently. And eventually they accidentally start dating without noticing it at first, not until Raven and Emma get them alone and are like “wtf you two super sluts are actually dating??” And at first they deny, but then they’re both like “holy shit, we are!” And they meet back at one of their places and they don’t have to say anything, they just look at each other and come together immediately, kissing passionately and ~making love~. In the middle of it they realise that’s what they’ve been doing for a long time now and they confess their love to each other and they live happily ever after because they deserve all the good in the world."

For Charles – Shigai

Summary: Tired of being told he has to find his 'heart', classical piano graduate Erik Lehnsherr decides to travel to Italy and drink from the famous Italian passion for music. While searching for it, he meets Charles Xavier, a graduate in Fine Arts who is basically travelling around the world perfectioning his technique, and who will turn his world upside down.

Together they will discover that, sometimes, what you thought you didn't need is what you needed the most.

Erik Hates People – Anonymous

Summary: Erik hates people- it's his rule, a way of living.

Sugar – humanitys_cutest

Summary: Erik glances at the clock for what feels like the tenth time in less than half the minutes. It feels like he's been in some meeting or other since the day started almost 10 hours ago, and he's had just about enough of listening to these pompous old men discuss what would be the best design for his building like they know anything about it. He tries as subtly as possible to massage his temples to assuage the building migraine, but he knows it's no use.

He just wants to go home.

Everyone Likes Charles – Rosawyn

Summary: '“Everyone who's met him likes him.” Cain's grin was even stupider than before. “Once you meet him, you'll see.”

It was almost like a challenge then. And damn. Erik hated saying no to a challenge.'

Still Going Strong – JackyJango

Summary: Speaking of forty-eight, Erik hates it. Hates it even more that others are aware of it. While he’s pragmatic enough to know and accept that aging is inexorable, the increase in number gives the people around him the freedom to pounce at him with questions, opinions and advice he'd fought to keep at bay all year.

Besides, Erik believes that youth is a state of mind, not a phase in one’s life.

You have a child’s mind in a man’s body, Charles constantly tells him.

But despite his age, Erik is healthy. He works out daily. His muscles are steel and he can dead-lift four hundred pounds. He can break bones without breaking a sweat. Most importantly, he can still carry Charles to the bedroom and fuck him senseless. And as long as Erik can do that, he’s perfectly happy.

All I know is pouring rain and everything has changed – hllfire

Summary: Charles meets Erik, the man he had heard about many times from his sister and some friends, on a rainy Sunday morning. The stories about Erik paint him as a distant and intimidating man, but Charles finds out that maybe the stories had been wrong.

How to Successfully Ruin Your Life – humanveil

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Charles Xavier accepts a job at his local café, expecting nothing more than a fun, new pastime. What he gets is a mysterious customer and a schoolboy crush.

Stolen – ishipitsobad

Summary: Erik is a miserable, grumpy, cantankerous bastard, and he has every fucking right to be. He drew the short end of the stick when he got the Underworld as his domain, and there isn't very much fun to be had in judging and governing dead souls who would rather be anywhere else but with Erik in the depths of Hell.

So when he meets Charles, brilliant and lovely Charles who is more popularly known amongst the mortals as Persephone, and feels the promise of something wonderful that could make his eternally doomed existence infinitely more bearable... you can bet all your drachmas Erik's not going to let Charles go any fucking time soon.

Erik Lehnsherr's Guide to Saving the Universe By Meeting Your Soul-Mate and Falling in Love in Less than 72 Hours – magneto, pangea

Summary:Army Pilot Erik Lehnsherr is just trying to enjoy his day off when a mostly naked person crashes through the roof of his car. Even more alarming, the strange falling naked person—who goes by Charles Xavier when he's not speaking an ancient dead language—brings tidings of the apparent potential end of the world, and begs Erik to help him put a stop to it.

Well. His mother has been nagging at him to go out and meet new people.

The Theory of Partnership Dynamics – Pangea

Summary: “Detective Lehnsherr, how wonderful to see you out on the job!” The fed in the front greets him as they draw nearer. He’s shorter than the other two by a full head, and he’s beaming at Lehnsherr as if completely undeterred by Lehnsherr’s paint-peeling scowl.

“What do the feds want?” Lehnsherr asks bluntly.

“You know I can’t tell you that,” the fed answers cheerfully. Then his gaze lands on Alex, and, impossibly, his grin gets even brighter. “Did you get a new partner?"

“No,” Lehnsherr says through his teeth while at the same time Alex says, “Yes.”

#fic recs #cherik fic recs #cherik #asks #earnestly answers #I'm sure there are waaaay more fics out there #might add more later

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puppypeter · 4 years ago

Text

✨ All fics are complete! ✨

He Loves Me Cause I’m Cute, He Thinks I’m Pretty Funny | 2588 words 📱

He watches it back one more time after it posts, checking for typos in his subtitles and captions, and has to laugh again.

Steve fucking Rogers? His brain thought he could pull Captain America, literal superhero and America’s favorite sweetheart?

“Hello I’m a 35 year old amputee living in New York and I think that I could get Steve Rogers.”

the one where bucky posts a tiktok and steve is utterly smitten.

Summer Slipped Us Underneath Her Tongue | 10712 words 🧳

Bucky is a tour guide who enjoys sharing the rich history and culture of each city they pass through with a bunch of early-20's college students who just want to know the cheapest place to get drunk.

Except for Steve, who asks Bucky for a personal tour around his hometown.

The rest is, as they say, history.

You Make My Heart Skip A Beet | 3853 words 🧑🏼‍🍳

“I made soda bread.” Steve lets out the 6’2” supersoldier equivalent of a squeak. “Oh, I love soda bread,” he says eagerly, rolling forward on the balls of his feet like he does when he gets excited. “My mom used to make it all the time when I was growing up.” The tips of Barnes’s ears turn red, and he mutters something that sounds suspiciously like, “I know.”

Ollie Meets Bagel | 5517 words 🥯

He was a skater boy, Steve said let's get bagels, boy.

Steve wants to start doing this twenty-first century thing properly. He gets help in the form of skateboarding, skateboarders, bagels, and Sam Wilson.

Taxi | 5113 words 🚕

Bucky Barnes was, he hoped, a good taxi driver.

He's so good, he actually tries to return lost property that ends up left in his car and... well. It has some unexpected consequences involving a National Icon.

Enough said.

Leg Day | 12157 words 🏋️‍♂️

“So talk to him,” Sam says.

“I can’t,” Bucky groans. “I can’t, Sam, I. He just.” He fluffs his hair up and stares at Sam, distraught. “I want him to bench press me.”

“Okay, so it’s serious,” Sam interprets. “Got it."

(Or: The one where Sam is Bucky's long-suffering roommate, Bucky is a hot mess of a millennial, and Hot Steve spends far too much time on the Lat Pull-Down machine.)

Love In Aisle Four | 2127 words 🛍️

When Bucky needs to swing by the supermarket after a long, hard day of work, the last thing he expects is to meet a cute grocery clerk named Steve…

Coming Up Easy | 45515 words ✍🏻

“Listen, I was just thinking,” Steve says, his face open, eyebrows raised in a tentatively hopeful expression. “Why don’t you come stay at my place for a while? I’ve got an office that I barely use, and a change of scenery might do you good, right? Help you beat that writer’s block?” With a crooked smile, he adds, “I promise I’m not a serial killer.”

While Bucky would normally crack a joke about how that’s exactly what a serial killer would say, right now, all he can do is blink at Steve in surprise, heart tripping over itself in his chest. Steve wants him to come and stay at his place. In Massachusetts. Just the two of them.

"Oh," Bucky croaks. "I- Wow."

“I mean, no pressure,” Steve says hastily. “Totally fine if you don’t wanna. I just thought I’d offer, in case it might help, y’know?”

“Yeah.” Bucky ignores the little voice in his head that sounds an awful lot Nat and Becca, telling him he’s setting himself up for heartbreak. “I mean, if you’re sure, that would be amazing.”

Anywhere The Wind Blows | 8845 words 👨‍🚒🎖️

After a catastrophic fire that shakes him to his core, Steve Rogers quits his job as a Brooklyn firefighter and relocates to a cabin in the remote Canadian wilderness, wanting quiet and solitude and to maybe never have to speak to another human being ever again. He gets his wish, more or less, until a recently injured Bucky Barnes is discharged from the Army and rents the cabin next door.

The Safer Course | 7918 words | Part 1 of Won’t You Be My Neighbor 🏡

When Steve moves to the suburbs in 2033, he intends to retire from superhero life.

He does not intend to fall in love with his pain-in-the-ass neighbor.

Every Year I Have You | 7064 words | Part 2 of Won’t You Be My Neighbor 🏡

Steve set the bar pretty high, as birthday presents go.

Bucky is determined to outdo him when July 4th comes around.

Beneath The Mistletoe | 21203 words 🎄

Bucky had a bet with his sister that if he didn’t have a boyfriend to bring home for Christmas by the time he was 25, he had to give her $200 and go blonde for a year. But now he's 25, it’s nearing December, and not only is Bucky as single as ever, but he’s also running low on cash. He doesn’t exactly want to bleach his hair, either.

At least Steve is willing to upgrade their relationship from best friends to fake boyfriends.

The Settler | 52203 words 🍞

“What do you want to do?”

Steve pauses and looks at them.

What he wants is to stay with them. He doesn't have any family left, they all died before he even joined the war and became... this. Captain America turned whatever he is now. But Natasha and Sam have become his family over the years. Not just because they're on the run together, fugitives and vigilantes, but way before that too.

He doesn't want to leave that.

But he knows that, realistically, he can't stay with them and they can't stay with him.

So he looks at them with a smile and lies. “I don't know.”

OR; In which Steve retires and finally finds a place to call home.

You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory | 1148 words 🐈

"Alright, Bucky," Steve slows his steps, watches his neighbour stop at the bottom of the next flight of stairs. There's a canvas bag in his hand that Steve didn't notice earlier, cream coloured with the figure of a sleeping, black cat painted on it. "Have a good day."

He thinks Bucky's cheeks pink up a bit right then and there, but Steve can't tell. He's too distracted by his pounding, foolish heart, by the way Bucky smiles bashfully, and ducks his head. The way he seems like he wants to stay.

To Believe In Tomorrow | 3959 words 👨🏻‍🌾

Bucky's mornings at the community garden get a little more interesting when the new guy shows up.

Maybe This Christmas | 24873 words | Part 1 of Maybe ❄️

Bucky’s not going home for Christmas. But it’s fine. He’s spending Christmas alone in his apartment, but it’s cool. He’s not feeling up to seeing his family after his accident anyway, plus he has to work. He’s totally fine with it. But then he runs into Steve, literally, and suddenly his Christmas isn’t looking so empty after all.

-----

Hurrying was a bad idea. Bucky’s foot hits a patch of ice and slides out from under him in what would have been a comical cartoon banana-peel-like trip, if it wasn’t happening to him, and he braces himself to hit the ground. This is going to hurt.

“Fuck,” Bucky screeches, but as he lands on his back, it’s not the cold hard concrete he expected, but a solid mass beneath him. Oh god, Bucky thinks as he realises he smacked into the person behind him and took them down with him.

Maybe This Year (Will Be Better Than Last) | 133868 words | Part 2 of Maybe ❄️

Last year, Bucky Barnes met Steve Rogers. Well actually, he slipped and fell on him. What followed was the best Christmas either of them had ever had. But what happens when Christmas is over and life returns to normal? What happens after the Christmas miracle?

-----

Bucky should have known. He did know. When things seem too good to be true, they usually are. And Steve is the best thing that has happened to him in a long time, possibly ever, so of course it couldn’t last.

Maybe This Time (I Hope I Get The Chance To Say Goodbye) | 34561 words | Part 3 of Maybe ❄️

Steve and Bucky Barnes are happily married. They've made it through some hard times and come out stronger and happier, together. Then Steve gets called on to come out of retirement for the most important mission of his life and everything changes. Everything.

-----

“Have yourself a merry little Christmas…” Steve starts singing along softly, and Bucky chuckles, before leaning his head onto Steve’s shoulder, always happy when he’s in Steve’s arms.

“From now on, our troubles will be miles away…” Bucky joins in.

Dancing round their living room, just as in love as ever, their troubles seem light-years away, if not non-existent.

Sadly, they’re closer than they think.

The Unexpected Gift | 9504 words | Part 1 of When Winter Comes 🐕

Steve Rogers is fine.

After ending a long-term relationship with Sam Wilson, Steve moves back to New York. He's tired and lonely but depressed? No. At least, that's what he thinks.

From the window of his apartment, he watches a dark-haired man and his service dog sitting in the park, wondering what his story is.

The Winter Storm | 2218 words | Part 2 of When Winter Comes 🐕

"If I could give you one thing in life, I would give you the ability you see yourself through my eyes, only then would you realize how special you are to me."

After Bucky and Steve confessed their feelings for each other, life has its own twisted way to challenge the most profound love.

One January Night | 4213 words | Part 3 of When Winter Comes 🐕

Before going back to work, Steve Rogers still has things to learn: 1- Depression is a bitch and the battle against it isn't an easy one. 2- Dating a person with disabilities comes with its share of challenges.

Bucky Barnes Has His Shit Together (And Other Lies He Tells Himself) | 14159 words 🔒

You’d think a guy who owns one of the most successful bakeries in Brooklyn, has a million-dollar smile and that antiquated good ol’ boy charm, blond hair and blue eyes and biceps for days, would know what’s what.

But don’t let that fool you: Steve Rogers is a mess.

Obvious | 917 words ☕

"Oh, I have a prompt! So, it makes me laugh how painfully obvious Steve and Bucky's feelings are to everyone when they're in that pining, slowburn, does-he-doesn't-he phase. But imagine Steve and Bucky working in a coffee shop together and constantly bickering, nudging and playfully flirting with each other. And all the employees and patrons are so invested in their relationship and just want them to kiss already but no one realizes that Steve and Bucky have been married since they got out of HS."

#stucky #steve rogers/bucky barnes #bucky barnes/steve rogers #stucky fics #stucky fic #stucky fic rec #stucky fic recs #stucky fics rec #stucky fics recs #stucky fan fiction #stucky fiction #stucky ao3 #stucky complete #stucky au #adorable stucky fics

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angry-geese · 3 years ago

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Alien Blues

Gojo Satoru x Reader

Warnings: none! sfw. romantic/platonic(interpretable). mainly fluff. mentions of overworking and death, but nothing graphic. gn!reader

Notes: touch-starved Gojo

Word Count: 2.3k

Gojo doesn't get a lot of downtime in his line of work.

It comes with the job. Sorcerers don't exactly work a 9 to 5. This line of work is far from a normal one. Curses don't exorcise themselves, nor do they pick convenient times to show up. He usually has his hands full; be it taking down curses, or dealing with his students. A guy like him really can't take a vacation.

Despite going to the same school—and being only a year younger than him—you didn't meet Gojo until well into your adult life. After graduating, you went off on your own. The typical way of life for sorcerers wasn’t for you. You really didn't want to work with—or under—any of the major clans. At that point, you just wanted to do your own thing. To hell with the school; you’d be fine on your own. And you were.

You spent much of your time exorcising curses across the world, traveling from place to place, not staying in a single town for very long. A lot of it was freelance work. Such jobs were typically frowned upon, or at least looked at strangely. But it really didn't bother you. On your own you were powerful, and an impressive fighter, but you were working in a world that didn't accept you.

So you said to hell with fitting in.

Doing your own thing was the best decision you’d ever made. To this day you’ll stand by that. The jujutsu world is meant for people like Gojo. It demands so much more from you, and in return gives a whole lot less. It demands perfection from you—maybe even more—while he’s the set standard for this perfection. You hold no ill will towards him for it. He didn't make things this way. But it's hard not to envy him at times.

When you came back to the school, you were first assigned a teaching job.

Although you were a talented sorcerer, it was clear from the beginning you weren't meant to be a teacher. Your teaching style was viewed as a bit harsh, as you tended to just throw your students into a situation and let them figure things out for themselves, correcting them where needed. Overall you weren't a bad teacher, but your students got sent to the infirmary often. And by often, it was nearly every day. You just wanted them to be capable. You wanted your students to be prepared. To be the best of the best. How are they supposed to improve if they don't have experience?

To be fair, your students were some of the best in their grade.

For the most part you substitute if needed.

Upon first meeting, he was too eccentric for your tastes. Really, you found him annoying. Your first impression of Gojo was that he was full of himself and out of touch with the world around him. His first impression of you was that you were stuck up and a bit of a bitch.

There wasn't one thing that changed. Maybe he wore you down to the point where you tolerated him. He likes to think it was because of his charming personality. You know otherwise. His charms rarely work on you; if ever. Over time you found yourself less and less repulsed by him. The two of you bonded over harassing Nanami. On your own you weren't much trouble, but when paired with Gojo, Nanami learned to stay out of your way. If you let him. Usually you tracked him down. Your sweet tooth was just as insatiable as his. When you first took up baking, he was always nearby, wanting a taste. You’d drag him along to see new movies or shows or anything you’d think he’d like. He likes co-existing with you. The two of you don't have to even be doing anything. He can sit for hours with you by his side, doing absolutely nothing.

You've gotten to the point in your relationship where you show up unannounced. It's payback for all the times he’s come to your apartment, claiming he has some work for you, only to stay and raid your fridge, conveniently forgetting what he had to tell you. Yes you have scared the absolute hell out of Megumi on several occasions. In Gojo’s defense, he likes your cooking.

He’s not used to having you stay in one place for so long. You’re not used to it either. It feels strange sticking around Tokyo for so long. You hate feeling trapped more than anything. Maybe that’s why you moved around so much. Maybe you’re getting sentimental the older you get. For the first time in years, you feel truly at home. Gojo is one of your closest—if not your closest—friends, and there’s not much you wouldn't do for him.

You guess this is home. The end of the line, or whatever. You don't see yourself leaving for a while.

It's well after dark by the time he gets home.

The place was empty when you got here. Megumi must be out with friends. He's a strange kid. Strange circumstances lead to strange adults—or almost adults in his case. You try not to judge him too hard. You don't have a whole lot to say on his… situation.

He notices your form curled up on the couch, your face illuminated by your phone screen. The tv plays some horror movie you’ve long stopped paying attention to. Your face lights up when you see him.

His hand briefly touches your head, messing up your hair. He looks tired. There's dark circles under his eyes. He was gone for a while this time.

“I brought takeout,” you say, gesturing to the fridge, “I wasn't sure when you’d get home so I put it in there.”

“Did you eat already?” He asks. He makes a note to pay you back for the food later.

“No, I wanted to wait for you.” You say.

A bit of guilt hits him. You really didn't have to wait for him. You know his habit of being chronically late. He says he’s fashionably late, to which you reason he is never fashionable ever. He actually seemed a bit bothered by that one, which only made you tease him more.

Momentarily he disappears into the kitchen, returning with your food. You have his order memorized. There's only a handful of things he’d get anyway. He’s not a picky eater, and usually gets what you get. Pick one of about three things and he’ll probably eat it.

The food is still good even while cold. Gojo talks about his recent job while you eat. He says it was nothing special. But he called Nanami for backup, so you know that’s a lie. He hardly touches his food. Since when doesn't he want to eat? The guy has a pretty impressive appetite at times. Seriously, he could eat you out of house and home.

“Are you done?” He asks.

You nod.

He clears away the empty takeout containers from in front of you, returning the leftovers to the fridge.

When he returns, he sits next to you, throwing his arm over the back of the couch. The leather is an ugly shade. You’re sure if it weren't for Megumi, he would have bought something much worse. His taste—in everything, really—can be tacky. You make sure he knows this. Always have to keep him on his toes. Nanami is right about some things. You never take Gojo’s side for too long.

“You were gone for a while this time.” You say.

A smug looking grin spreads across his face. It's almost enough to make you roll your eyes and groan. “Sounds like you were worried about me.”

Really, you could worry yourself sick thinking about him. It's hard not to. Everyone has their limits, and you constantly wonder when he’ll hit his. Strongest or not; he’s human after all.

“Of course I worry.” As much as you hate to admit it, you care about him. You won't say it. It feels like bad luck to say it out loud.

He knows. He feels the same way. Over time he’s grown jaded and angry with the way things are. He tries not to worry too much about you. This life isn't an easy one, but you can handle yourself. He knows that. Years on your own have proven you're not only a capable sorcerer, but a talented one. The strongest doesn't need to worry about himself, so much as the people around him.

In a weird way he’s proud of you.

You open your arms, instinctively he goes into them.

You pull his head to your chest. He does little to fight against you. Hell, he practically leans into your touch. You take his glasses, setting them on the table beside you. His eyes close when your hands move to his hair, gently pulling it out of his eyes. He’s not quite sure what to do with his arms. Eventually he settles on resting them at his sides. One snakes around your stomach, coming to rest on the fleshy part of your hip. You're awfully comfortable to lay on, he notes.

Your movements are familiar, and oddly comforting. He makes note of the way your heartbeat suddenly drops off, before picking up in pace. From the smell of your shampoo, to the sound of your breathing. He can only describe it as home.

Lots of people will die in this line of work, but he has faith you’ll always be around. You’re too stubborn to die.

Touch in a sense like this is almost foreign to him. Touch in a non fighting context is just bizarre. He never de-activates infinity long enough to get hit. He's had his fair share of one night stands. Hell, he could have anyone he wants. He’s had everything and anything in between. Men and women across the world either want to be him, or be with him. But this—intimacy like this—is strange. The others get kicked out the morning after. But you’ll always be around. He likes to think he’ll be around for you too.

Maybe he’s more touch starved than he thought.

He’s Satoru-fucking-Gojou, a man like him doesn't get touched starved. He feels a wave of shame at his reaction. His face burns. His pride won't allow him to admit how much he enjoys this.

It's the first time you’ve held him close like this. The action is so oddly intimate and it’s not even in a sexual way. Your movements are familiar. He fits so nicely against your chest, he notes.

He practically purrs in delight as your fingers brush a sensitive spot towards the back of his head—where his neck and shoulders meet—sighing softly. Goosebumps rise along his exposed flesh. You take note of his reaction, and focus on that spot more, dragging your fingers across his skin. Your nails are getting long, and feel nice against his scalp. His eyes close as he leans into the crook of your neck.

"Do you want to watch something different?" You ask.

His heart nearly stops when your hand moves to cup his cheek. His face is warm. He's a wimp when it comes to horror movies. He says they don't scare him. They do. You’ve spent plenty of night sitting next to him, watching his body tense with terror.

He wasn't paying attention to the tv until now. He shakes his head, but his eyes remain fixed on the ground and not the screen.

"This is fine." He says.

"You sure?"

He nods.

He fights sleep as long as possible, but eventually he'll have to give in to it. You’ll be there long after he’s fallen asleep. Maybe even after he wakes up. His head nods, his eyes struggling to stay open. His breaths even out, his chest rising slowly.

You're not really sure what to do once he falls asleep on you. Your position isn't the most comfortable, but you suffer through it so as to not wake him up. If he’s fallen asleep on you, then he definitely needs the rest. He’s a light sleeper anyway. Any movement would be sure to wake him up.

It’s not long after that his body heat—and the sound of his steady breathing—lulls you to sleep.

You wake up to a blanket haphazardly tossed over the two of you. The tv is off. Two glasses of water are set out on the coffee table, condensation collecting on the outside. Megumi must have come home. Gojo's drool collects in a small pool on your collarbone, which is a bit gross. You use the corner of the blanket to wipe it away. It’s a bit odd seeing him so at-peace. It's rare he even lets his guard down. You rest your chin on the top of his head. His hair is soft, and tickles your neck. The sight of him makes your chest swell with affection. The intimacy of it all is enough to overwhelm you. It's been a while since you’ve cared so much about someone.

It's nice having him home.

He stirs, stretching out a bit like a cat. You card a hand through his hair. He grumbles something in response. Probably a weak “what?” Your joints are a bit stiff from staying in the same position for so long.

“Do you want coffee?” You ask.

He sleepily mumbles an answer—one which you don't understand. It's just as legible as the first. His eyes don't even open. You take it to mean he wants to go back to sleep. You pull the blanket up around his shoulders, tucking it under his chin. The sun is still barely up. You’re not in a rush to get up. You don't have anything to do today anyway, work can wait. If Nanami calls, you’ll just ignore him. You could stay in all morning if you wanted.

And you just might.

Come hell or high water, you’re staying on this couch.

In a bit you should get up and start breakfast. Most of the food in the house is for Megumi, but there should be enough to make something small. Pancakes sound nice.

#jjk x reader #jujustsu kaisen x reader #gojou satoru x reader #gojo satoru x reader #gojo x reader #gojou satoru #jujutsu kaisen #jjk #jujutsu kaisen fluff #gojo fluff #sfw #fluff

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asavt · 3 years ago

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Cookie Squad Headcanons part 3

Featuring a bit of Angel, more bar gays, Chestnut appreciation, City of Wizards and Future! Headcanons.

-Before departing ways, Angel gave Madeleine one of their feathers, something like a gift to keep light with him if he ever needs it. The feather still glows gently, and Madeleine keeps it as a lucky charm, in one of these necklaces— I’ll better just show:

-Roguefort knows French, might not speak it all the time, but they do know. Almond understands some of it, does not speak it. Latte started picking it up from what Roguefort would say sometimes.

-There has been times where Sparkling wouldn’t be at the bar, either needing a rest, having an event somewhere else, or something else. In times like those he usually leaves the bar in charge of Mint or Herb, Vampire is always in there too. There have been a few instances where this lead to Roguefort meeting one or both of them. Herb is happy. Mint is wary. Vampire is holding his laugh.

-Walnut is good friends with Chestnut and Pudding too. Almond often looks after Chestnut whenever he goes around. Chestnut is usually seen around delivering newspapers on his bike with Pudding sitting behind in the dockable trolley. The rest of the group know them both too.

-*They also know Creampuff, Chestnut will ask her about the city of wizards and any other interesting things she has read in any books. Creampuff will happily tell him.

-*Latte knows those kids too, and the rest of the pudding sibs too. She is naturally good with children it seems.

-*Chestnut and Pudding are both a bit intimidated by Espresso as first like many other people. Essy isn’t sure what to do with their excitement when he tells them that yes, he’s been in other places, towns, cities. Luckily, Madeleine is there to help a little with that (Chestnut would ask so many questions about their travels I think).

-*There was one chance where Roguefort (As Phantom Bleu) was escaping from whoever was chasing after them that night, hid behind some wall and was meet with two pairs of big fucking eyes looking at them surprised and excited. Rogue had to hush Chestnut and Pudding (wondering what were those two doing out so late at night), wait a little to get out of their hiding spot and take the kids with them somewhere close to a police officer (or Almond if he happens to be around) so they can be taken home. Outside the thief job? Rogue has seen the kids pass by his workshop many times, sometimes they will have some candy out for them for when Chestnut goes by to deliver newspaper.

-Roguefort baby-talks Lord Crumbles, and will spoil the other cats if given the chance.

-Roguefort and Madeleine: *Become besties*

Espresso: Oh god there’s two of them—

-Espresso has used Latte’s spoon a few times. He doesn’t really needs it to perform magic, but he is rather good with it (and just as terrifying as her).

-Because Essy has sometimes lifted Madeleine off the ground and carried him floating, Almond showed curiosity of how many people he could carry with magic aid.

He managed to have both Madeleine and Latte in his arms, Walnut on his shoulders, Almond and Roguefort hanging off his feet and Creampuff begin carried by Almond.

He was a bit tired after that, but it was a fun experiment with the rest of the squad.

-Creampuff has talked about the City of Wizards many times, as she has been there before coming to Parfaedia and entering the academy. She will often talk about this old man that reads other cookie’s fortune (and that Almond has meet before “Creampuff don’t belive everything that guy says he is a swindler��), a woman that is forever bound to a library, that might seem a bit cold on the outside but that is actually very gentle towards the rest of the magic wielders that go visit her, another young mage, one that Espresso and Madeleine have meet (Creampuff is surprised to know that he has left the City of Wizards, and wonders if he will ever go by Parfaedia), a magician that, although he might not seem like a real mage at first glance, he is deftly blessed by the moon, and the moonlight itself, a meeting that was short and (in Creampuff’s mind) very lucky.

-*Creampuff never got to explore all the city. She was told by the moonlight that there was a place where she could learn magic. It was a bit sad, but the she told her she was always welcome back in the City.

-*The adults tend to forget that she has traveled a lot before coming to Parfaedia, often begin surprised when Creampuff talks about the City out of what she has read in books.

-*Creampuff made the promise to Walnut to take her to the City one day. She misses the place a little, and those she meet there, too.

Future - Walnut and Creampuff (it’s what I have)

-During this time, Walnut already knows Roguefort’s secret (the full thief thing). Something I’ll maybe talk about in another post

-Creampuff starts learning black magic from the belief that it can be used for good if used correctly. Someone has to research on it, right

-After Creampuff disappears, all the group is, silently, looking for her, in their own ways. Even Sparkling and Vampire get a bit worried about it and do their own part.

-*Maybe Latte is the most worried of all. She cares for her a lot after all.

Maybe she is the only one who has an idea of why she got apart, both her and Creampuff had talked about before after all.

-Walnut is often helped by a mysterious figure in some investigations. Sometimes information on suspects, given inside papers and letters that often are adorned with a feather, or protected by this person, they are never standing where the light can hit them (whatever it is artificial or the moon’s). Once Walnut manages to catch a glimpse of white hair and an owl’s hoot is that she starts to connect the dots (and she mentally slaps herself for not noticing sooner). They did have a promise to become partners once they grew up after all.

-Creampuff eventually comes out from the shadows. In a rather hard situation where all the group got in trouble, no one else but them get to see her. They are all surprised to see how much she changed since the last time they saw her.

-*They never get to get to her though, she escapes before they can say anything (and the only words from her were a soft “I’m sorry”)

-There are mixed opinions. None of them can be really angry at her, especially after hearing what Latte knew of Creampuff’s interest in black magic (The latte mage is wary of it, but trusts her student).

-There are a few encounters between the group and Creampuff, never all at the same time like the first time they get to see her.

-*With Almond and Latte there’s a part of conflict, both teachers are a bit hurt of seeing her like that. But they still see the same gentle student (now a true mage) they know. (Almond still isn’t sure what to think, Latte can only hope for the best).

-*With Espresso and Madeleine there’s a talk, both asking her a few things, Creampuff answering. In the end, Puff tells them that she doesn’t understand why others confused (and still do) coffee magic with black magic.

-*With Roguefort is at the bar, late at night and with also the presence of Sparkling and Vampire as well. The lights dimmed a bit when she got in, as to keep other eyes out. Their talk was short, and by far the most peaceful of all.

-*She sees Walnut the most. The detective always telling her it was ok to go back with them, and the mage wondering if she really meant those words (She is scared, still unsure of what others think).

-Walnut eventually gets to her. A big case showing up, multiple magic creatures appearing, a big rift in the sky (yet again), the M.E.H. getting involved, the rest of the group helping out.

No one knows why the rift opened this time. There are people pointing guilty at the mysterious figure (Creampuff). Some of the group takes it as a possibility, but in the end they all decide to stand by Puff’s side. Even if it was an accident, she wouldn’t want to hurt others, they know her and by the little interactions they had they can tell. She is still gentle and kind.

Creampuff is the one who closes the rift in the end, with Walnut by her side, telling her that she wouldn’t allow anyone to get her apart from the group.

-She does go back with the group in the end :)

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