#using River as their child was such a nice surprise

[afterglowlws]

Riverdale refusing to pick an endgame and putting Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead in a polycule was real as fuck

[thewritetofreespeech]

Could I request Dali and Henrique with a artist lover teaching their children to make art of their dads?

Dali sighed the moment he walked through the door of his estate. As if the weight of the world had just come of his shoulders.

Though Lord Johannes was respectful of his desire and plan to raise his children directly, there were certain matters of his VLAD work that required him to be away from home. Typically it would not take this long but since he had been putting the old man off it had been almost all day.

Ferdinand greeted him and Dali asked where the children were.

“[Y/N]-sama came by not long after you left, Master Dali.” Johannes informed him. “They and the children have been in the nursery for most of the afternoon.”

Dali was surprised. He didn’t expect [Y/N] to be here in his absence, but he was glad to hear that the children had not been left on their own with staff all day. He was glad he had such an understanding partner who was open to his goals in child rearing.

When he came into the nursery, he found [Y/N] and his sons on the floor with paper & pens. “What’s all this?”

“Papa…” Raphael’s soft voice called out before he got up to hug his father hello. Ul just babbled joyfully in [Y/N]’s arms. “We’re coloring.”

“Coloring, eh?”

“Yes.” [Y/N] confirmed from their seat on the floor. “I did the outline work and Raphael did the color fill.”

Dali walked over to where they had been seated with Raphael and looked over the pictures on the ground. The linework was beautiful. Places he recognized around the estate and inner city. “These are masterful.” He praised while holding one of them. “The colorwork is spectacular too. I like your boldness to use purple for the buildings, Raphael. Well done!” His son beamed at the praise and went back to coloring. “So, you’ve been here all day?”

“I thought they might be lonely.” [Y/N] explained as they played with Ul’s arms. “It’s been so much livelier here recently. With you all meeting with Lord Johannes, I thought I might act as a distraction. Though, I may be a poor substitute for everyone in that regard.”

“You aren’t a poor substitute for anything.”

Dali lifted another piece of paper from the floor, using it as a privacy shield as he gave [Y/N] a quick kiss. “Now, which one should I color? I would be a poor manner of a parent if I didn’t show Raphael some of my own artist techniques.” [Y/N] chuckled, but handed him one of the front of the estate to fill in.

Henrique sighed as he came home from a very long, very boring meeting with Lord Johannes. He loved the old man, but by God could he be long winded.

They got it already! They had to find the mass murderer plaguing the city. Vampire kind at stake. Mass suicide and the rivers run red or something. Alright! Did the old man think they were just sitting on their hands all day, or taking naps with the kids? Henrique wished he had time to take a nap in the afternoon these days.

Heading upstairs to see what the girls were doing, he was surprised to see [Y/N] there. The girls with matching easels he was pretty sure had not been there the last time he was in their room. “What are you guys doing?”

“We’re painting daddy!”

“Yes! [Y/N] is showing us how to use oil paints!”

“In hindsight we maybe should have started with charcoals.” Henrique chuckled at [Y/N]'s predicament. Seeing the girls in paint covered smocks but also with paint all over their hands and faces.

“Well, I’m sure they’ve been having fun. Can you show daddy?”

The girls eagerly hop off their chair and take their canvases, nearly as big as them, off their easels. “Wow!” He praised, even though he had no idea what the brightly colored smudges were. “These are so good girls! Lucia, I like all the pink you used. Elena, that’s a very nice tree in the middle there.”

“It’s a fountain daddy.” Elena corrected with a huff. To which Henrique smacked his palm to his forehead, told her of course it was, daddy was clearly an idiot, and told her it was a beautiful fountain.

“Why don’t you girls go get washed up and when your paintings are dry, we’ll find somewhere to hang them?” The girls then run off to get cleaned up and Henrique asked. “Those easels weren’t here before, where they?”

“No.” [Y/N] replied with a chuckle. “I got them for them today. I didn’t want them fighting over mine anymore.”

“Hmmm….that’s fair.” He then sat on the little stool set up for the children. Spinning around once in his chair. “Did they have a nice time?”

“They seemed to.” [Y/N] replied as they started picking up the paint brushes. “Although, Lucia & Elena like anything that they get attention for. Like someone else I know.” Henrique snickered with a grin. “Are you really going to put their artwork up for them?”

“Of course!” Henrique replied. “It’s better than all that old, stuffy artwork we got around here.” He wasn’t really sure where it came from. It had probably been put in when the house was built in ot-not-fourteen-whenever it was and had never been changed since. “Brings a little color to the house.”

[Y/N] smiled a little and Henrique hopped off his stool to his full height again. “Let’s put some of your work up too.”

They looked surprised. “Henrique…are you sure?”

“Of course!” He told them. “I’ve seen your stuff and its way better than anything up now. Let’s show it off.” What he meant was that he wanted to show them off.

[Y/N] looked a little nervous but nodded. Henrique smiled again. “Good! Lets see what the girls are up to and we’ll go pick out places for everybody!” He then took [Y/N]’s hand and led them out of the girls’ room. His day already a little brighter thinking about how bright these halls would be with new art.

[onskepa]

Stxeli: I promise

Hellooooooo~!! Here is a new chapter of my stxeli series! Hope you all like this one! enjoy~!!

Stxeli series

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

“As a tsahik, you are busy every day sa’nok, what time would you have for my baby sister?” Little Neytiri asks as she narrows her eyes, placing her hands on her hips. Mo’at doing the same stance, “and as a warrior in training, you have lessons to attend to ma’ite. Being with your teacher and helping with the clan, what spare time do you have with stxeli?”. 

Eytukan couldnt help but let out a slow chuckle. They are at it again, his mate and child fighting over who can have stxeli for the day. It has become a daily thing, see who wins over stxeli. The baby in question was playing with some toys he carved for her, oblivious that her mother and sister are arguing over her. 

But eytukan decides to take matters in his own hands. He has a rare free day today, why not have a nice father-daughter day? Liking the idea, he grabs stxlie in his arms, and quietly tells his family he will take the baby for the day. But he doesnt think mo’at or neytiri heard him as they continue to argue. 

Walking around with stxeli in his arms, he lets her see their village, something the baby will never get tired of. Many young children say hello to him and his daughter, and he happily greets back. There is a lot they can do, but what exactly? She is fed and cleaned, so for the meantime he won't have to worry about that. 

“Aaaaababababa!!” Stxeli squeals happily, her chubby legs kicking in the air. Lately she has been getting more physically active. She can crawl, but hopefully, she will walk too. “I think I know exactly where to go,” Eytukan says. Stxeli looks up at him with her gummy smile, already showing two little white peaks growing. Her teeth are also coming too. 

They had her for a few months now, and already stxeli is growing up right before their eyes. Putting her on a carrying sling on his back, he sets out to a littler river not too far from the village. A place where children are often taken to learn the basics of fishing. And to enjoy fresh water. 

“Abaaaa?” Stxeli calls out, curious where her father is taking her. Smiling softly, he answers her, “you will have fun where I am taking you, perfect to play around”. 

The waters were calm and it wasn't that deep, perfect for stxeli to dip her little toes. Carefully bending down into the river, where it reaches up to his ankles, eytukan gently puts down his child. Firmly get gently holding her hands up as she laughs and giggles at the texture on her feet. 

Laughter fills the area, the child's innocent giggles eytukan’s ears. Pleased and happy that his daughter was enjoying the water. Splashing water around as she kicks around. Even jumping at times. Her smile is ever so contagious. 

Chuckling, eytukan sways her a bit, “alright lets try it, ready ma’ite?” he asks. Stxeli coos as if to answer her father. So, slowly, eytukan guide her step by step. Making sure the water doesn't slip her stance. “There you go, soon you will learn to walk and run. I am sure you will most likely hide behind our backs and scare us half to death” eytukan says while chuckling at his imaginary future. 

The more steps stxlie took, the more confident she got, taking bigger eager steps. “Easy my child, why in such a hurry?” he wonders while easily keeping up pace. Stxeli only said some baby words to answer him, still gripping tightly on his fingers. 

And to his surprise, stxeli took one big step and letting go of his grip. Was this the moment? 

No, one step and she fell on her bum against a rock. 

Not liking the stinging pain, with trembling lips, stxeli cries. Eytukan was quick to pick her up and rubs her little bum to soothe away the pain. “Sssshhh my young stxeli, no need to cry. It happens my child. Accidents happen and we learn from them” he softly whispers to her little round ear. 

Gently bouncing her on his arm, her little cries died down as she sniffs away her tears. Eytukan wipes away his daughter’s remaining tears and smiles, “see? All better. Want to try again?”. Stxeli was quick to shake her head in protest.  Eytukan accepts her choice and placed her on his lap as he sits near the river. 

Stxeli explores his giant hands, tracing his hand wrinkles and band armor. Her soft coos of wonder bring warmth to his heart. He lets her wonder more and she stumbles upon his songchord. The na’vi remembers how stxeli has taken a liking to mo’ats and neytiri’s songchords. Of course stxeli has her own, but it is safely tucked away back at their home. 

So, he takes out his song chord and swings it gently across stxeli’s face as she giggles, her hands chasing it. “You love my songchord don't you? One day, you will have your own, perhaps longer than mine. Long and beautiful, to sing and tell your story too” he tells her. Stxlie’s giggles are truly something. Her innocence and cheerfulness tug at eytukans heart. Every day he loves his child more and more. 

“Here, this is my story” giving his songchord to stxlie, he begins to tell of his beginning to now.

After a nice lunch of fruit, which is what stxeli seems to only eat. Eytukan takes her further down the river, where it leads to a little pond. Water seems to be an element stxeli has come to enjoy. Eytukan wouldn't be surprised if his child learns to swim before walking. But as they made their way, there were sounds coming from the forage in the forest. Sounds of leaves being moved, twigs break. 

He was quick to notice how silent the forest had become around them. Which can only mean one thing. 

A predator is near. Very near. 

And just like nothing, a growl was heard from his left, eytukan dodged it effortlessly. He grabbed his hunting knife as he held his child tightly. Stxeli began to whimper in fear. 

Taking a good look at what tried to attack him, it was a viper wolf. Not good. They always hunt in packs. Meaning there is more he doesn't see. Not waiting for the viper wolf to make its move, eytukan ran quickly. And like a trigger, many more viper wolves appeared from their hiding 

spots. 

This only made stxeli scream and cries out of fear. He would try to calm her, but right now her safety is his priority. 

If he could just-

Eytukan couldn't go farther as another viper wolf stood in his way. He can't fight with his child in his arms. The animal releases a mocking laughter, ready to lunge at the father. But eytukan was faster. Jumping high, he reaches for a vine and begins to climb. 

Stxeli was crying her little soul out, eyes puffy and cant seem to stop. Once eytukan reached high enough, he found a small nook in a tree. Perfect. Quickly he grabs giant leaves and makes a cushion for stxeli. 

“Ssshhh ma’ite. I'm here, I won't let anything hurt you” eytukan promises. Gently rocking his daughter to soothe her fears. “See? We are safe, come now. I believe it is time for you to nap” he coos. 

Hopefully she sleeps very soon, eytukan knows those viper wolves will find them. He took a wrong turn and now they are farther away from the village. He needs to drive them far away before he could proceed heading back. And there is only so much daylight left. He needs to think fast. 

So he takes his songchord out and sways it in a hypnotizing way. Stxeli follows his songchord, her eyes moving side to side. 

Hearing her fathers soft voice and his melody, stxeli closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep. 

Good. 

Gently he places her in the nook of the tree, adding more leaves for her head, cover and hiding the entrance as a disguise. Looking at his songchord, eytukan places it in stxelis chubby little hand to which she grabs it tightly in her sleep. 

Making sure he closes it well, he whispers a prayer. 

“Great mother Eywa, please do not let the dangers reach my daughter. Protect as I will guide the viper wolves back to you” 

And as if on cue, he can hear the distant mocking laughter of the pack. A plan began to form, moving away from where he hid stxeli, he yanks off a thick branch, and makes a weapon out of it. 

Viper wolves are vicious creatures where numbers are important. Attacking as one, will they get what they want equally. A clear strategy is there and it always works be it attacking a group, or a large prey. 

But clearly they underestimate the mighty olo’eyktan. 

One by one the viper wolves were taken down. Each slayed, and numbers dwindled in the pack. 

Eytukan roared out as he brought the viper wolves back to their great mother. With his makeshift spear, tough woof and a sharp stone in front, he pierces the animals in the vital parts of their body. 

What remained of the pack backed away and left. No longer seeing the worth of losing blood over one man. So they leave, running back to where they came from. And eytukan cries out his victory, raising his spear out to Eywa. 

Falling to his knees, fresh blood paint on his hands and body, he prays to the animals he had to end. And to hope they make a safe travel when they meet with Eywa. 

Atokirina surrounded the little nook where eytukan placed stxeli, quickly climbing to reach her. Mentally slapping himself, who knows how much time has passed, it was dark and he wasnt sure how long he was knocked out. 

However, he was forever grateful to see his precious daughter being protected by the great mother. Removing the leaves that hid her well, he looks inside. 

Stxeli was wide awake, with his songchord in hand and a little atokirina floating playfully around her. Her contagious giggles melted away his worries. Noticing him, stxeli reaches out for him. 

“Aba!” she calls out. Complying to her demand, he grabs her and holds her in his arms. Letting out groans of worry and relief. How close was he to losing another daughter. Gently stroking her soft little head, taking in her scent, its her. Stxeli is with him, alive and well. 

“Thank you great mother, I am forever grateful to you” he says to the atokirina. 

Eytakan was tired but he had to take stxeli back to the village before more danger lurks. So steadily, he makes it back. And does he have a story to tell. It might give mo’at a fightful scare, and probably a lecture. But it will be worth it. Any fight is worth it. All to keep his children safe. 

And so, after arriving safely back to the village. Eytukan was right. Mo’at wouldn't stop lecturing him as she tended to his bloody wounds, shoving medicine in his scares and mouth. And neytiri wasn't too far off either. Giving her piece of mind to him too. 

Yet after all that, he still clinged on to stxeli, who in return didn't want to be apart from him and happily clinged on to him too. Her little head always listening to his heart beat, while chewing on his songchord beads. 

So, in the fit of the moment, he held stxeli up, where they eyes could meet. A little drool escaped the baby’s mouth, but she was happy either way. Cooing at her father, her little fingers tickling his nose. So, placing his forehead against her smaller head, eytukan speaks. 

“As long I am alive ma’stxeli te taksha mo’at ite, I promise you I will protect you. To make sure no harm ever comes to you. So please, smile, laugh, live at your best. Your happiness is my greatest gift. I love you forever. That is my vow. My promise”. 

Aaaaaaaand that is it for this one! Yes I pulled some inspiration from kataru's screen time. Hope you all enjoyed this one! until next time! see ya!

Taglist: @galactict3a , @alastorhazbin , @vivangothic , @spookymomfriendtm , @moonchildxoxx , @thehoneymushroomhealer , @kat-the-kit , @my-skeleton-hats . @hoodiepandaninja16 , @sugurupookie

[sanspuppet]

5. “You have no idea how much i want you right now”

19. “i’m yours”

W/T: teasing, kinda dirty talk, public sex (? i mean you’re not the only one at home), quick and unprotected sex

PAIRING: Boyfriend!Wooyoung x afab!reader

not proofread saurry 🤞🏻

Inviting your bestfriends at dinner was surely a great idea, a nice way to spend a fun evening with the company of great seven man. Right? Well at least for you, Wooyoung was having a good time but he planned something else for you two before you invited your friends.

You listened carefully to Jongho as he was telling y’all a fun story the one of his friends told to him the morning of the same day, which got you almost rolling on the floor from laughter. Every one of you was clearly enjoying, especially Mingi who was laughing like a 8 years old child. On the other hand there was Wooyoung who simply giggled a couple times, but mostly giving you deep stares, from what you could have caught by looking with the crook of your eyes.

After two good hours, unfortunately most of your guests had to leave, greeting and thanking you before going back home. Still some of your friends found a comforting spot on your couch, chatting together without minding what time it was. If Mingi and Yunho were completely infatuated by your PS5, Seonghwa helped you and your boyfriend cleaning the table.

“Thanks Hwa, you can reach them two now and have fun with… yeah whatever that makes them chucking like that” you conceded him, while taking the washing-up liquid. He nodded at you with a smile before leaving and heading towards the living room.

You sighed deeply at the boringness of washing the dishes, just looking at your hand drawing soapy circles on them, when suddenly your body shivered at the feeling of two hands groping your hips, a recognizable smirk got close to your ear.

“How’s my baby doing?” Wooyoung cooed sweetly at you, while his arms were wrapping around your waist, his chin resting on your right shoulder.

“Hmm… it could be better, i mean not that i’m having fun right now” You smiled hearing him mewling in comprehension, his grip was getting tighter as the seconds passed by.

“Then just stop, i’ll wash them tomorrow”

“But Wooy-“ his hands dragged down slowly your stomach, getting dangerously close to the gap between your thighs. Your body stiffened and your heartbeat accelerated as you heard a small whimper exiting his mouth, echoing inside your mind.

“You have no idea how much i want you right now.” he kept murmuring, his hands were now groping and touching every single part of your body. You unintentionally blushed at his words, your face seemed burning despite you felt the core down your body becoming a fucking river.

“You know? before you could invite all of them by us… i planned to have sex the entire evening and occasionally half a night, till you couldn’t take more of me”

You trembled, the warmth of his body against yours and the attractive tone of his voice was driving unconsciously you crazy.

“I’m yours…” is the first thing that your brain made you mutter, gaining from Wooyoung a pleased yet surprised chuckle.

“May you repeat? Sorry, i didn’t hear you because of all the noise those fools are making with our playstation”

“I said i’m yours, you fucker.” you voiced loudly, turning around trying to notice if the others could have heard you.

“I’m surely gonna fuck you after that, babe.” Meanwhile you have dried your hands with a cloth, Wooyoung started to drag his ones under your shorts, playing teasingly with the sides of your panties, pulling them up to make them press harshly against your aroused clit.

“W-wait… here? you mean now??” you breathed out quickly, your hand instinctively holding onto his shoulder from behind as he was keeping to play with your undies.

“What? Want me to hunt our beloved guests?”

“Well… yeah??” you replied back with a slight concerned tone, while he was simply joking around.

“And what should i say? Guys, get out of my house, we wanna fuck, huh?”

“Yeah, even just like that’d be okey” you turned around to face Wooyoung, the core in your stomach intensifying at the sight of his gorgeous face smirking at you. He sighed, his hands not leaving his grip on your hip for even a second.

“Come on, just a quicky. They won’t hear us” Wooyoung begged you, groping harshly at your butt cheeks trying to convince you.

“Tsk, what are you talking about? you’re louder than me sometimes.” you scolded him, chuckling as he bit his lip.

“Oh please… i mean with that pussy of yours…”

You hit his chest at the sudden reaction of your folds clenching around nothing, just with that the feel of being empty tortured you.

“Okey… but make sure we don’t get caught or you’ll have to deal with them” you raised your index finger at him, turning around to bend at the countertop. You teasingly shook your hips, gaining from him a spank on it. The rough sound of his palm slapping against your skin, made you jolt.

“Fuck! Be quiet” you whisper aggressively.

“Sorry, a habit” his fingers grabbed the elastic of your pants, dragging them down just under your ass. Wooyoung couldn’t help but groan lowly at the sight of your bare skin, breathing heavily to contain his emotions as he pulled aside your sticky panties. He layed on your back to reach your ear.

“Already so wet for me? Perfect, we’ll do it fast i promise… but i can’t promise we won’t have a proper round after they leave.”

“Shush just fuck me already” you held onto his waist once he pulled out his cock, ready to dive into your soaking entrance. As soon as he heard loud sounds coming from the living room, he let out a sharp moan, throwing his head back at the overwhelming pleasure of having your creamy walls clenching around his sensitive length.

“Oh god… so tight. If you keep it like that i’ll be close very soon” he whispered breathily, his fingers squeezed your waist harshly enough to print bruises on your bright skin.

“G-good… speed up” you mewled, tears of pleasure running down your blushed cheeks.

His hips rocked quickly into your, if there wasn’t the backround sound coming from your tv, there could have been surely heard the sticky and squelching sound your lubricated pussy being pumped by Woo’s dick. It didn’t take long for both of you to climax, letting out desperate and sharp sighs instead of what you usually called a moaning mess.

“Fuck fuck fuck…. cum inside” you whimpered quickly, holding your breath as soon as you felt hot and wet ropes shooting inside your leaking pussy.

“Holy fuck… perfect as always, it’s just made to take me” he whined softly, pulling out slowly. He stroked his dick a few last times on the middle of your panties to let out the last drops of his cum, before moving them back on your soaked pussy. Wooyoung patted your ass, chuckling:

“Good work baby, i love you”

You putted your shorts back in position, turning back at him. He placed immediately his lips on yours, while your hands caressed his cheeks. You pull out soon after, giggling at his flustered whine.

“Let’s send them home. Now.”

[ninjagirlstar5]

AVA Chosenweek - Day 1: Stargazing/Cloudgazing

Ignore the fact that this is literally minutes away from midnight on the 28th where I'm from, I was a lot more busy than I thought I'd be-

I'll just clean things up in the morning but enjoy this little piece of writing I did for day 1!

Edit: Did the clean up, and here's an AO3 link!

When Chosen had first stepped into Minecraft, it wasn’t anything he had expected.

Well, seeing the red rocky terrain with lava almost as common as the Sea of Data’s waters and dangerous mobs in nearly every corner wasn’t the best first impression for a game he had never touched before, let alone heard of. But once Mango had led him to another Nether Portal, the scenery had quickly become something remotely familiar: a lush forest of grass and trees as far as the eyes can see and a river flowing nearby. It was just a little bit different from what he’s seen in the OuterNet.

Different as in, Minecraft is literally a world made of blocks. Blocks that he can break down and pick up, suddenly having an inventory where he can pick and choose what he needs with just a glance in his mind’s eye. And with just a wave of the block in hand, he can place down those blocks and build whatever he wants, even a platform he can hop on to reach a ledge he can’t get to. Not that he needed to, having the ability to fly and all, but Chosen had seen Mango do it a few times as he and his child helped scope out the area.

An area where Chosen can make his new “house.”

Well, the “house” they’ve started making was less of that, and more of a hole dug into a cliffside and blocked off with (temporary) cobblestone for the front, and a wooden door. He's not sure why Purple was so insistent that they use this spot in all honesty.

Maybe it was because Chosen had been chilling on the cliff and he had taken it as a sign that he liked it.

Maybe it was because it was the exact same spot where Mango and Chosen had stopped to rest during his first day exploring Minecraft.

Or maybe it was because the view was as nice as the OuterNet’s Data Bay and decided that it'd be good for Chosen to see it every time he woke up.

Chosen wasn't sure and he didn't really ask. He simply thought about it for only a minute before deciding it was “good enough” as a base. But when he had said that he'd need a house made of stone to avoid accidentally burning anything down, Purple immediately jumped at the chance to suggest that they build Chosen's new house into the cliff. Despite his surprise, Mango had backed his child up on their idea so long as Chosen approved and, well, he couldn’t really bring himself to say “no.”

And that was that.

Chosen was lying in a bed in his new “house,” staring at the ceiling they had dug out into a decently sized square and torches to light up the room to prevent monsters from spawning in. They had made decent progress between the three of them, with Mango helping Chosen with crafting and building the balcony while Purple measured out how much space he would need living in this base. But they had just finished the balcony’s staircase around the cliffside when Mango and Purple had to leave due to how late it had gotten. They needed to attend to their lives back in the OuterNet, Mango juggling his jobs and Purple with her classes, in order to pretend they had some kind of normal routine that didn’t involve hiding a(n ex-)terrorist from the world. And now, here he was, all alone in this tiny Minecraft bed that was surprisingly soft…

And Chosen was unable to sleep.

Figures.

Chosen sighs, dragging his hand down his face. It’s not as if he didn’t like the idea of living in Minecraft. It was probably the best option considering his circumstances, even if it wasn’t a perfect solution.

It just didn’t fully sit right with him.

Not when it felt like they were, in a way, running away from a fight.

Running away from their problems.

Running away from their own crimes.

Chosen furrows their brow, feeling a familiar urge rise in their code. It was an itch of wanting to do something when they didn’t have to do anything. When they had to lay their head down and close their eyes to sleep.

But they haven’t been able to do that in a long time, forced to jump from place to place just to avoid getting arrested by RocketCorp. And just when they were finally letting their guard down at Mango’s house…

Chosen swallows.

They don’t want to think about this.

Not right now.

So Chosen pushes the covers off of them and gets out of bed. They didn’t plan to do anything that took up too much energy, not tonight. They weren’t in the mood to go fight a random mob in the forest. No, they just wanted something small and quiet to do. Chosen passes by the crafting station as they walk, their mind blank on what they could even make without wasting resources. They didn’t want to get scolded by Mango if they did that so Chosen left it alone for now. Instead, they step outside for some fresh air.

The balcony wasn’t completely finished and was made out of wooden planks as a placeholder until they create more “aesthetically pleasing stone blocks,” Purple’s words, not theirs. Honestly, Chosen doesn’t really care too much about decoration as long as they had a roof over their head. Although some railings would be nice since they didn’t want anyone to fall over the ledge. They wouldn’t be able to recover unlike them, who can fly. But Chosen didn’t bother to make some even though they had the wood to do it. They just sat down on the edge and stared at the view.

The stony shore biome where his base was placed overlooked an ocean where it meets the mouth of a nearby river which flows through a meadow and goes on as far as the eye can see. The sun has long since set, with the moon taking its place with a soft, white glow. In its own blocky way. The chill of the night made Chosen shudder but they didn’t move from their spot. They simply let it envelop him as they take slow, deep breaths. They can hear mobs in the distance hopping around on land or splashing in the water but they weren’t approaching and that was more than enough for them. As long as the mobs don’t bother them, then they won’t go out of their way to attack them. At least for tonight.

Tonight, they simply stared at the sky.

Honestly, there wasn’t anything that interesting in Minecraft’s sky. The clouds weren’t as malleable or easily formed shapes like the OuterNet, restricted by the game's design of blocks for nearly everything. It’s not as if an occasional shape can’t naturally form like any other cloud in the OuterNet. It simply wasn’t as recognizable for Chosen in the world of Minecraft. Perhaps it was even less interesting than the times he would gaze at the sky on the roof of the home he actually wished to return to.

But the sky was no less beautiful than before, the stars glimmering down at him alongside the moon. In fact, Chosen still found it amazing even after the initial wave of awe had passed by after his first day in Minecraft.

And just staring at the sky of Minecraft reminded Chosen of one important fact that even the OuterNet couldn’t free him from:

There were no PCs of all the Creators in this world.

No IP address written across the sky, too tiny for most sticks to see from down below but still hovering above them all.

No distracting lines that criss-cross each other to represent a PC as he tries to pay more attention to the clouds and stars.

No reminders of what he had escaped all those years ago.

Just a giant, vast atmosphere that greeted him the same way it did when he first stepped into Minecraft’s main world.

It was wonderful. Like an invisible stone in his gut dissipating without another word.

Here, Chosen didn’t have to see a single PC as he stared at the sky.

Here, Chosen can just stare at the sky simply because he can and bask in its beauty.

As the wind blows through his hair, Chosen lets out a soft sigh. It wasn’t much, but stargazing at least gave him the feeling of doing something, despite how little he has to do. Despite how much this new “house” did not feel like a “home.”

But it was nice.

Nicer than anything the sky of the OuterNet could provide him with.

And Chosen, upon feeling a wave of calmness approaching, embraces it.

Just for tonight.

[fountainpenguin]

Riddle watches New Wish - Post #13

A New Dev-elopment

Aw, this is cute:

He's got LITTLE boots... That's genuinely hilarious. Even the littlest Dimmadome is up to dress code.

Ooh, map! I'll be seeing you later. No labels, sadly, but there's a river in the west that curls around the south. Wait, that river's ugly. why is it square.

"Dev is so mean! I wish I knew why he acted like that." -> Uh-oh...

Oh, please tell me we're finally getting blatant child trauma. Also, that's super funny Hazel wasn't going to be teamed with Dev until she was paired because of her wish. I love that way more than her teacher actually pairing them randomly.

Founder's Day?? /war flashbacks to Alden Bitterroot

... Wait, is Dale Dimm an ancestor of the Dimmadomes? Huh.

Nerd.

Oh, NERD??

He's cute, I'm enjoying him more after the last few episodes. Look at the teeth in his chunky little boots.

Hm. A tall place, I wonder if that's the Dimmadome tower building? (Dev's house, I think).

-> It was not, but Dev knew the place and it did have a connection to his dad. I like the implication Dev used to play there. And he's getting more engaged! Good boy. I'm glad this is a slow transition towards Hazel learning things about him and it wasn't a literal flashback episode. This is fun.

skldfj, all the locations are themed around Dev's family because they run everything around here.

SLDKJFSDF, he looks SO MUCH like his dad without his shades. That's great.

I'm once again enjoying that we got a Dimmadome bully instead of a Buxaplenty bully. It's nice to explore another of the big families in the longstanding lore. Of our main families, this was probably the one we went into least.

... If the Buxaplentys run the trains in Dimmsdale (and have since jobs were assigned in the early days), they probably also have a connection here. I wonder if Remy and Dale ever became friends.

Aw, he's keeping the shades off for now. That's sweet. He's having fun!

... Why do I get the feeling we're gonna get hit with him doing a 180 because he trusts no one and decides he'd rather blow up every chance of friendship?

Oh, THAT'S not the microexpression you want a kid to make when he sees his dad. Finally, some good, sweet child trauma in this show... I missed this so much. We're finally getting The Vibes...

His full name's Devin! Or Devon; I'm not sure. I'm glad to know. Also, I'm glad he has a Prime Meridian poster in his room just like Hazel. Ooh, and Crimson Chin! And Dancing Tarantula. That one surprises me. Is it a series or movie in some way?

"Whether new or old, when you have this, you have gold." - The answer to this clue is gonna be friendship, isn't it? I'm not opposed.

Hazel is showing absolutely 0 qualms about breaking into the school and honestly... Chloe would be proud. They would totally be friends.

-> I'm cracking up at Dev quietly opening all the doors while Hazel's trying to tell a dramatic story. She's all about emotions and fun and his default setting is "straightforward response."

Actually, they really do give me Timmy and Chloe vibes. Timmy's schoolmates used to tease him for talking to inanimate objects and I wonder if they also saw him as a grump like Dev, both dealing with difficult home lives.

Aww, Dev is playing along! He's pretending there are lasers so Hazel enjoys sneaking into the school despite him just pushing open all the unlocked doors. That's really cute.

Aw, criminalizing evidence of you being goofballs! That's adorable.

... and the printed versions are in 2D, of course!

I like this one:

It speaks to me.

Y'know, I wasn't expecting to like them as a ship, but I can absolutely see it now. Even if Dev goes back to being grumpy in future episodes, Hazel's seen a side of him that's going to change her way of thinking about him forever. I like that.

Like, at any point from this episode out, if Hazel is portrayed as being fond towards him, I'll be okay with it because they were clearly having a lot of fun playing together, and Dev's brought down his walls enough that he explained why he was having a hard time and he apologized for hurting her feelings.

He very clearly regrets snapping at her and saying he doesn't want to be friends, or at least he regrets it when he sees her storm off:

And he apologizes!! Good boy! ... Yes, he showed up and snapped at her again, but... He got there! ...... He is strugglin'! Big yikes.

I like this a lot more than the ship vibes I'd been worried for, which I'd assumed would be Hazel insisting there's good in him and "she can change him," or "He just needs a friend and then he'll be nice." I like this slower development.

Hazel gives me many Chloe vibes (in a good way), but she has her own unique twist on them. Chloe's whole thing was that she denied things that upset her, including the abuse she faced at home from her "perfect and amazing parents" because thinking about herself or her parents as less than perfect kept sending her into a dissociative spiral that would last for an hour before Timmy got her out of it.

Chloe would try to befriend everyone because she thought there was good in them... although her feelings for Kevin were hilarious ("He's a touch off-putting... in a really off-putting way").

When Kevin turned on Chloe, she yelled at him about how she thought she'd seen good in him, but that "he was really just a miserable piece of Crocker," and she was totally down to fight him with a sword.

Like... Yeah, of course Kevin jumps out her window without responding. She's scary! :(

The face of a girl who will later steal Kevin's hall monitor uniform while he's unconscious and won't feel even slightly bad because "he doesn't deserve it." She's a mess. I love her so much.

Chloe's always funny to me because she denies and excuses a lot of things, but there are a few people who can boil her blood and she loses it every time. Later in the season, she accidentally gives three children fairy godparents after screaming at them and dropping them to miserable. Chloe... Breathe.

But Hazel is not so hot-button. Which is fun, and I really like this- I'm glad Hazel isn't following the same pattern of personality (Always a concern of mine for a franchise that already has few girls, many of whom are love interests).

Hazel's got a different angle, in that she's been annoyed at Dev and glaring at him this entire series up until now, including this episode, and she (seemingly) didn't even intend to make her "I wish I knew why he acted that way" wish, because... she was just griping. lol. She hated him so much this entire show, only bending briefly when she found out they love the same book series (and when she suggested they order lactose-free pizza for him since he can't have any), and I respect that.

-> She paid so little attention to him that she forgot Dale Dimmadome was his dad. That's hilarious- It's the one thing the audience had on him and she saw him on TV and went "... I don't know who that is. Why is he wearing ridiculous boots?" That's so funny. Big "Lex Luther waking up in Flash's body and checking his secret identity in the mirror" vibes, except it's Hazel squinting at the TV trying to figure out why some guy with weird boots is on the news.

She's willing to pal around with Dev when they're out, after he shows he's good at puzzles, even before she gets that hint about his daddy issues. I like that too. Hazel's struggling with missing her brother who was her best friend - her entire world, down to wearing his hand-me-downs - and probably has a much better understanding of separation and loneliness than she would have if Antony hadn't gone to college yet.

Also, Dale calls her a mean name in this scene, so... she gets it. She can tell that guy's bad news and making his son sad.

She enjoys Dev's company. They were goofing around and having a great time as friends even before Dev's daddy issues reveal was in the picture for her. I enjoy that. I take no issue with them growing up to be either platonic friends or romantic, under the assumption that they maintain patience with each other and don't put their walls back up.

I suspect Dev might regress because he's the big rival, so I Do Not Trust that he won't become snappy again, and Hazel is completely justified in being annoyed if that happens, but I could also see her being more patient with him going forward, and that wouldn't bother me. He's fun, chill, and energetic when he's not wrapped in his self-defense mechanism of pretending not to care, so I can see her enjoying his company a lot. I like this.

I guess what I think of it is... I was worried about where this was going, and it went way better than I'd guessed. My thought process was "I cannot blame a kids' show for wanting to show that everyone's going through hard times and you should try to be nice to bullies so they're maybe nice to you, but you also have to be careful not to tip so far in that direction that you're subtly telling kids to ignore if they're being abused."

And it didn't go that way! As far as I can tell, which makes me happy. Even when he ran after her to apologize a few minutes later, she was terse with him until he really did apologize (because he showed up and was still being mean at first). She also communicated, expressing that he hurt her feelings.

I'm glad she's good at communicating her feelings and makes an effort to do so. It makes a lot of sense since she has a therapist for a mother, and we saw her parents calm her down in Episode 1 when she was getting heated. It's nice to see someone having a good home life and some healthy skills.

I really like how:

- Hazel didn't try to change him or deny any of the rudeness he'd expressed towards her. She starts this episode still annoyed at him. - Hazel didn't make Dev feel bad when he started expressing himself more. When he struggled with the idea of a high-five and pulled back his hand, she didn't pressure him. She let him go at his own pace and he high-fives her later on. - After his dad told him it was dumb to care about a treasure hunt to win water park tickets when Dimmadomes can just buy the park, she followed him to his room and gently changed the conversation back to what they were doing, not forcing him to talk about it (and not snooping or wishing). - The instant he's snappy with her, she walks out. She GONE. When he shows up, she keeps on guard and explains that he hurt her feelings. He apologizes and only then does she forgive him- she wasn't trying to excuse him, even though she'd literally just witnessed the reason for his mood change. -> I kind of like that. Hazel's out here like "Dev, listen. Your life is hard and I get that. But that doesn't mean I have to be your friend if you're going to treat me badly." This girl knows what's up. - Even though she desperately wanted to crawl through the air vents and rappel into the principal's office, she listens to Dev's suggestions when he opens all the doors. lol.

They're sweet. I enjoy this status quo shift. I didn't really care for Dev because he was definitely putting off prickly vibes, but I like him a lot more now.

This child's dad was kidnapped and forced to make lemonade underground for 7 years- I totally get why he's hesitant to trust, and the fact that his dad makes him feel like his interests are stupid is rough. I get it, buddy.

Oh, them:

I have to assume that's his Mediocre waist pack from "Weird Science" wrapped around him and that's great. That's a nice detail since in most episodes, he's not wearing it because he's already arrived at school and put it away for class, but in this one, he just walked through the door so he's still wearing it like Hazel has her backpack.

-> He really said " :( "

Dev "Totally down to commit B&E" Dimmadome: why do authority figures not like me?

I really like how Dev is so comfortable with Hazel and/or the idea that he's capable of making friends that he's totally ready to take his shades off the first day back at school. You get this sense that he WANTS to have friends... he's just having a hard time finding someone he trusts, presumably because he keeps his walls up so it's hard for others to get close to him. Hazel's meeting that need, so he's willing to relax.

He doesn't care if anyone else in class will react in surprise to seeing him without shades. He doesn't care if this changes his reputation with the entire school. Like, that doesn't seem to bother him even slightly.

-> Dev, I have good news for you! You can make MORE friends if you continue being friendly!!

-> Man went "I've only had Hazel for 1 weekend and if anything happened to her, I would terrorize everyone in this room and then myself."

I feel like since she's his only known support right now, this can easily swing into a clingy extreme (and I feel like he might have a hard time taking critique from Hazel), but... Step in the right direction.

-> And she's good at communicating. I think he can learn social skills and healthy relationships from her. I want him to meet her parents so he can see their relationship too.

/whispers loudly - I want to see his mom and grandpa. Are they around? Does he have siblings or other relatives? I have to assume he's an only child, but... hm. I'd like to know more about his relationships with other family members, because if Hazel is legitimately his sole support right now... uh-oh.

Also, I enjoy how often Dev keeps casually walking around with his hands in his hoodie pockets. Why even give a character a hoodie if you're not going to pocket their hands? That's cute.

I think it's funny that when he's wearing his shades, he has this "cool/grumpy" aesthetic when his hands are in his pockets, but when they're off, he still keeps his hands in his pockets and he's just... chillin'.

Dev would call you at 2 AM from a Denny's 2 hang. idk why, but that's the energy he gives me. Man doesn't know social norms, but he's always ready to drop everything and hang out.

Dev is the rich guy who way overpays and is confused when told that's too much, except that's him with how he'll be treating Hazel in the future, I think. What do you mean regular people don't fly around the city on a helicopter. What are you talking about.

The waterpark was shut down? ... Why do I suspect Dale was behind this, and Dev's gonna be TICKED.

That was a great episode! I like where this is going; we're getting into the old FOP swing with the underlying abuse themes and that makes me happy. Someone please give that kid a fairy. I wish I knew if the misery rules were still in play in this show.

Cookie's Court

This opening scene is cute. Neat that the punch card came back, as weird as it is, and it's nice to see Hazel relaxing and making goofy wishes.

Cookie's back! She's interesting; I'd like to learn more about her. Does her ferret scarf thing have a name?

Okay, so... Hazel does know she'd lose her fairies if they revealed their magic. We never had the rules explained in this show, which feels weird, but okay.

-> I'm so confused about what is and isn't still a rule. I guess I should assume they're all still in play? But... /gestures with confusion at miserable godkids lore. Did they have to cut that part to keep Dale's backstory, because that seems like a weird choice. Why didn't he get a fairy? It's not like rich kids don't get fairies; Remy had one.

-> I'm not opposed to it taking a while (F in the chat for Timmy having to go through Vicky's torments solo for a year before Cosmo and Wanda came into his life), and Jorgen already snapped at Cosmo and Wanda for jumping on Hazel when another fairy was already working through the hoops to get her, but... my inability to figure out if the misery rule still exists is really throwing off my sense of lore.

I like Whispers Fred's little microphone on his shirt, next to his big microphone and his headset microphone. He has 3... Help him.

Fairy Court!! ... Whoa whoa whoa whoa, Jorgen? You shouldn't be on the stand. AAHHHHH Fairy World's flag is the Rainbow Bridge stripes! I love that. That's way better than the blue one with the star they had in "Oddlympics." I wish I would've thought of that.

AAHHHHH! The court symbol survived! It was in court in the OG series too. Only in "A Wish Too Far" though, I think, since the Fairy Council had a different symbol in "Secret Wish." I remember drawing at least one of these. Lemme see.

Yeah!! This is exciting. I used to draw it on stuff, like the wax seal I use on my Class Overview post for Fairies! I love this.

^ Season 2 vs Season 8. Also, WOW... you cannot get a good picture of it in "A Wish Too Far," so kudos to the art team for taking the time to include it anyway.

In the OG show, the Anti-Fairies have something similar hanging in Anti-Cosmo's castle (although I'm not 100% sure it's got a moon).

I think in one of the live actions, Jorgen takes over as the Green Robe on the Fairy Council (I think in "Fairly Odd Summer"). I wonder if that's why he's acting judge here. I guess it doesn't matter; I'm not that concerned about it since I don't consider that canon anyway.

WHAT! You rip 10-year-old Denzel Crocker's fairies away when Timmy accidentally reveals he has fairies, but you let this slide? Jorgen...

Oh, never mind........ He's not.

Furry!! He's testifying! What a cool ferret.... omg, Cookie's in jail for 10k years. SLKDFJSLDFJ, she has a jail skeleton just like when Cosmo and Wanda went to jail in the musical.

Also, I can't be that shocked at her punishment. Revealing magic on accident is one of the biggest offenses in Fairy World because it endangers their society, so trying to do it on purpose looks really bad.

-> I wonder if Crocker still has his memories since Jorgen stopped erasing them after Season 7. I feel like we'll probably get a Crocker cameo, but that feels like a piece of lore that wouldn't carry over. Hmm...

Fairy World Prison... I gotta look this up.

Okay, it's not "Gland Plan" like I thought, and it's definitely not Abracatraz. Is it "When Nerds Collide" (Jimmy-Timmy Power Hour 2?)

IT IS! What a glow-up! That's fantastic. I love that... They even have all the clouds the same colors. This is gorgeous. Those chains overlap the same way. Wow... That's seriously impressive how we keep seeing these subtle callbacks. I love it <3

Wrapping it up here for today! Thanks for joining me on another liveblog.

[breannasfluff]

Legend catalogs the reaction he’s noticed of each person with the newest hero.

Wild scares the ever-loving shit out of Four. The smithy steers far away whenever he can help it and his eyes swirl a riot of colors. Legend’s watched him circle the Champion at a prescribed distance—a good 10 feet away if he can make it. Situations that bring him closer result in a flighty energy that steadily worsens until Four bolts further away.

Hyrule spouts so much flowery language and courtly manners he gives Warriors a run for his money. The veteran didn’t know he even knew that many manners, much less how to use them properly. Yet every greeting to Wild is some drawn-out, overextended mess of words that leaves everyone confused. The champion doesn’t seem to get it, either, so who knows why Hyrule insists on keeping it up.

Warriors…well, Legend’s not sure what happened between him and Wild, but the captain is waging a one-man war against his chainmail. Some days he wears it and others he’s stripping as fast as he can. It’d be funny if he didn’t look so frightened. Or if the chainmail stripping didn’t coincide with Wild’s close attention.

Wind is too easy-going to stay away from the champion, but he doesn’t seek him out, either. When they stop at rivers or lakes to bathe, the sailor goes in the water before or after Wild, but never at the same time.

Sky looks perpetually ill, sometimes tripping over nothing when Wild runs up to him. The champion peppers him with questions about his loftwing, or his Zelda. The last brings a frown to his face and if Legend didn’t know the chosen hero was just that, he’d say Sky was jealous.

Legend? He thinks Wild is fucking awesome . Oh, he’s still scary as any monster—scarier, even. The champion brings with him the ache of cold teeth, like chewing on an icicle or eating cold food too fast. Prolonged conversation with him results in a headache.

There’s something wrong with Wild, but not enough to keep Legend away. After so many adventures, it’s rare to find something that surprises him so thoroughly. As long as he doesn’t start manifesting dream creations, he can stay.

“You want to spar?” Legend plants himself in front of Wild, ignoring Warriors choking behind him.

Wild looks up, eyes reflecting light in a way they shouldn’t. “Spar?” It probably hasn’t escaped his notice that no one will fight him, even in training.

“Sure, I need to loosen up.” Rolling his shoulders, Legend moves towards the open area Four and Hyrule were using earlier. The sharp spike of cold goes straight to his head and he futilely presses his tongue to the roof of his mouth, trying to warm it.

Warriors, stick in the ass that he is, is trying to get them to stop. “I don’t know if that’s a great idea right now.” He casts about for an excuse, then shifts pleading eyes to Time.

The old man looks like he’s not paying attention, but the veteran catches the tightening in his shoulders and sideways glance. “Play nice, stay safe. Run through some drills, first.”

He’s not a child to be told what to do. Legend tosses one of the practice staves at Wild, not willing to consign himself to metal against the other. “Here, this should do.”

Wild runs a hand over the wood and bends it over a knee, checking it won’t snap. Then he nods and waits for Legend, who stares back.

“Drill?”

“What drill?” Wild’s head tips too far to one side.

Legend doesn’t answer, just starts running through some basic moves. Wild watches but doesn’t join in. Finally, he stops. “Forget it. Fighting or not?”

“Boys,” comes Time’s voice.

“Whatever.” Legend ignores him and raises his stick. “Ready? Go!”

Wild’s not ready, but Legend makes a wide swing to give him time to settle. The kid made it through his journey with whatever weirdness he’s got going on; he can handle one spar without chopping someone’s head off.

His follow-up swing is met with the crack of wood; Wild’s focus is fully on the fight, now. He stays on defense, then switches to offense, and then back again.

Wild’s style is…unique, in that it seems to be a mash of moves with little flowing grace, but he’s a proficient fighter. He’s focused and in control. He doesn’t turn into evil incarnate because he’s crossing blades—or staves, with someone. Warriors worries over nothing.

Legend keeps up, periodically landing faster hits to see how he’ll react. Through it all, the sharp ache in his teeth grows. It’s distracting and the adrenaline of movement isn’t enough to block it out. The tightening band around his head is an indication enough of the growing headache.

Finally, Legend steps back and raises his stave to signal an end. Wild stays poised for one, sharp moment, then steps back as well with a grin.

“Thanks, this was fun.”

Nodding back, Legend tosses the stave to the side and meanders across the camp. Time’s gaze burns, but he ignores it to settle next to Four, far away from Wild and his tooth-aching chill.

The champion may be awesome, but curse the Goddesses, Legend could do without the headache.

Read the rest here!

[whxtedreams]

Chapter 12: Forever with You

Blood Runs Thicker than Water - Joel & F!Reader (Platonic DBF!)

Summary: The lessons in survival with Joel, Tommy, and your dad continue. Joel surprises you with a sudden trip and without elaborating on the details, he instructs you to pack a bag and prepares you for a mysterious journey.

Word Count: 5.3k

Tags: Lessons with Tommy, probably inaccurate descriptions of a bow but I tried, Tommy suffers (1) black eye, Reader’s anxiety, Joel’s anxiety, Joel’s rules, spiraling thoughts.

Series Masterlist - Main Masterlist - Read on AO3

Chapter 12 Forever with You

As the months pass, fall arrives, bringing with it a deluge of leaves cascading to the ground as the country braces for the impending winter weather to come.

Your father has been away for a few days now, scavenging the surrounding towns in search of new winter clothing and essential supplies to brace for the impending challenges of winter. Unfortunately, as you've grown, the green coat you cherished is now riddled with holes and, despite your efforts to deny it, has become noticeably too small for you.

You've spent the entire day by the river, guided by Tommy as he teaches you skills vital for protecting yourself while submerged in water and breathing control techniques. While it may not have been the most enjoyable way to spend one of the final days of sunny weather before winter, you understand the importance of honing these survival skills.

Gasping for air, you breach the surface, coughing and sputtering as water dribbles from your mouth. Catching your breath, you see Tommy nodding approvingly from the riverbank, holding up the stopwatch. He offers his assessment, "Not too shabby, but an improvement over your last attempt."

You let out a frustrated groan, shooting him a sharp glare as you complain, your voice tinged with exaggeration, "That felt like an eternity!"

He corrects you with a smirk, announcing, "Forty-six seconds, to be precise," as you begin to swim back towards the riverbank. He chuckles at your frustrated groan.

"Is that good enough?" you ask, panting heavily as you pull yourself out of the water and collapse onto the grass. You lie there, taking deep breaths, your gaze fixed on Tommy standing beside you.

He shakes his head, his voice laced with a mix of concern and amusement. "Hate to break it to ya, honey, but folks aren't gonna stop searching for you just because you've been underwater for forty seconds." Tommy sighs, settling down beside you on the grass.

You sulk, using your soggy sleeve to wipe the water from your face. A shiver courses through you and Tommy notices, gently patting your arm as he rises to his feet. "Enough water for today," he declares. "How about we head inside, and we'll get you a nice warm bath before you catch a cold? I think both your daddy and Joel will kill me if you get sick."

You nod, a smile spreading across your face as you reach out for his offered hand, allowing him to pull you up from the ground.

Initially, your dad and Joel were a bit reluctant about Tommy's lessons with you. It started when you joined him on hunting trips, and you expressed interest in learning how to use the bow he found at the resort's archery range. He was hesitant at first, but quickly warmed up to the idea.

On the next hunting trip, he surprised you with a child's bow, and you were overjoyed. Despite missing all your shots on that first day, with a few lessons under your belt, you eventually hit the targets that Tommy had set up for your practice.

It began with archery, but your interest quickly expanded to encompass all of the skills that Tommy had to teach. While your dad imparted knowledge on reading and writing, and Joel passed on his crafting expertise, you found yourself most engaged in the lessons provided by Tommy.

Archery lessons gradually evolved to cover gun safety, hand-to-hand combat techniques, tracking skills, stealth tactics, and learning how to utilize your surroundings effectively.

You and Tommy hadn't actively concealed this from your dad or Joel, but neither of you had explicitly brought it up to them.  Everything was going well until Tommy started teaching you how to climb. All it took was a simple misstep, and suddenly you found yourself plummeting down a rocky hill, suffering an injury that couldn't be easily concealed like the minor scrapes you'd sustained before.

That night, Tommy was left nursing a black eye, and when asked about the cause, he simply shrugged, leaving you to wonder who had been responsible.

Eventually, they both gave in, but under specific conditions and guidelines regarding what Tommy could teach you. They decided they would also take on the task of teaching you various survival skills that you had been yearning to learn.

Your hair is still damp from today’s lesson as you’re sitting at Joel's woodworking table in his room in the garage, intently focused on your project - meticulously assembling your own weapon out of scraps. As Joel enters the room, you're excited to show him the progress you've made on your shared project, realizing it's beginning to take shape.

The room is dimly illuminated by a small, flickering solar lamp on the workbench beside you. The sound of the door softly closing behind Joel captures your attention as he begins to stow his weapons in the nearby lockers. He removes his coat, tosses it onto the patched up couch by the entrance, and makes his way over to where you're sitting.

"Hey there, princess," Joel says, his smile laden with fatigue as he encircles you in a side hug, planting a gentle kiss on the top of your head. He glances down at your handiwork, asking, "How's that bow of yours coming along?"

The bow in your hands is constructed from sturdy wood, with slender, curved limbs that converge at the center into a grip made from leather. The bow is a slim, sleek weapon made of sturdy materials that blends modern and primitive elements seamlessly. Its limbs are made of carbon fiber, providing both strength and lightness, while the riser, (or center part of the bow) is crafted from a mixture of wood and lightweight aluminum. The grip is made of a textured rubber material, allowing for a secure and comfortable hold. A flower charm hangs from a piece of leather attached to the grip, adding a touch of personalization to the weapon.

You carefully hand over the bow, and Joel examines the craftsmanship, his hands gliding over the materials with approval. He lets out a soft hum before returning it to you. "You're really getting the hang of it," he praises, a hint of pride in his voice.

"I'm thinking about carving some designs into the wood and adding paints to it. Maybe even attaching feathers to the arms," you say, casually placing the bow back on the table. Joel nods in understanding, a small smile on his lip.

Joel lets out a weary sigh as he settles onto the couch, shutting his eyes and leaning into its comfort. His gaze softens as he looks at you perched on the rusting metal stool by the workbench. "How about you and I go on a trip, take it out for a test drive once you've finished," he suggests with a smile.

Your eyes widen in surprise at his proposal, knowing that Joel has a firm rule against you venturing outside the resort, with the exception of hunting trips with Tommy. The thought of him willing to take you beyond the safety of the resort is unexpected.

“You mean, like, outside the resort?” You clarify.

Joel nods with a weary smile, confirming, "Yeah, princess. Outside the resort." There's a hint of resignation in his tone. "There's somewhere I've been wanting to show you. Figured it's ‘bout time you put those lessons with Tommy to the test."

You squeal in excitement, leaping off the stool and propelling yourself into Joel's lap, thanking him with an enthusiastic hug. Joel chuckles, amused by your actions, as you push yourself off him and settle beside him on the couch.

"Now listen, princess," he says with a more serious tone, turning his head to fix you with a firm gaze. "Remember, this ain't all fun and games. Heading outside the resort is serious business."

You roll your eyes and let out a dramatic groan, tilting your head back. "Come on, Joel," you protest. "I've been out there before, remember?" Irritated, you grab a blanket from the back of the couch and throw it over both of you, snuggling up to his side.

He responds with a thoughtful hum, his arm draping around your shoulders as he stretches to grab the book the two of you have been reading from the armrest of the couch.

It takes you another week before you finally complete your bow. Joel showed you how to delicately carve designs into the wood without compromising its strength and shape, and you meticulously carved simple flowers and leaves into the wood. For the color, you ultimately went with a matte black paint.

Your dad expresses genuine appreciation for your accomplishment, and when you show your newfound bow to Tommy, a look of pride washes over his face. However, it's Joel's promise to take you outside the resort now that you’ve finished your bow that you're most excited about.

Your dad had returned a few days earlier, brandishing bags filled with new clothing that actually fit you. Impressively, he had even bought a small pouch to carry the makeshift bombs that Tommy had taught you how to craft.

Joel stands outside by the tree near the washing line, watching as your dad hangs clothes to dry. You eagerly descend the stairs, the straps of your bag bouncing on your shoulder as you land on the ground below.

As you approach, you catch the tail end of the conversation between your dad and Joel. Your dad instructs Joel to keep you safe, and he responds with a firm nod, pushing himself off the tree trunk. His gaze shifts in your direction as you draw closer on the vine covered path.

Joel looks at you with a serious expression, asking, "Got everything you need?" He begins to list the essentials, and you nod in affirmation with each item he mentions, reassuring him that you have everything you need.

You can barely contain your excitement, and it's palpable in your every movement. You rock back and forth on your feet, your hands clenched tightly on the straps of your bag. The anticipation of venturing out with Joel has you practically fizzing with eagerness as Joel begins to talk to your dad again.

Your dad turns his focus to you, instructing you to fetch your newly crafted bow from Joel's room. Without hesitance, you pivot on your feet and dart through the overgrown plants, heading straight for Joel's room.

You quickly collect your bow and grab one of Joel's switchblades as well, confident he wouldn't mind you taking it.

You pause at the edge of the garage, discreetly ducking behind the overgrown plants, eavesdropping on the whispered exchange between your dad and Joel.

“If anything happens to her, or god forbid you leave her out there Joel, know that I will hunt you down and kill you.” Your dad's voice takes on a darker tone, one you rarely hear from him, typically reserved for those who have threatened to harm the two of you. You crouch behind the overgrown plants, frowning in confusion as you listen to the conversation. You wonder why he's speaking to Joel in that manner.

You tilt your head slightly, trying to intently focus on the whispered conversation, but their voices grow so quiet it becomes impossible to decipher any words. Frustrated, you let out a deep sigh and give up on eavesdropping any further.

Emerging from the plants, you address Joel, excitement lacing your voice, "Joel, can we go now?" You step over an overgrown hedge, your eagerness clear in every syllable.

Joel lets out a soft chuckle and shakes his head at your eagerness, replying, "Hold your horses there, princess. We'll go soon enough." You jog up to stand beside him and your dad, your anticipation practically buzzing in the air as you look between them.

Your dad affectionately ruffles your hair, and you playfully swat his hand away, straightening the two braids that Joel had done earlier in the morning.

Your dad hugs you tightly, his voice tinged with sadness as he speaks, "Gonna miss you, kiddo." You return the embrace with an equal measure of strength, sighing as he plants a kiss on your head. He gently reminds you, "You be safe out there, alright?"

You lean back and look up at him, a confident smile on your lips. "We'll be back before you know it," you reassure him.

"I think leaving you and that brother of mine alone is the real issue here," Joel muses, a hint of jest in his tone. Your dad chuckles and responds with a playful shake of his head, a knowing smirk on his lips.

“Oh yeah, we have big plans. Big house party, might even get some girls over.” your dad jokes, a sly smile on his lips. You tilt your head, confusion etched on your face

"What's a house party?" Your question hangs in the air as you innocently inquire and your dad chuckles and merely shakes his head, silently dismissing your query.

Joel lets out a weary sigh, adjusts the straps of his bag, and suggests it's time to hit the road. You quickly embrace your dad one final time before falling in step with Joel as the two of you walk through the resort.

As you reach the sign for the resort, Joel comes to a halt, and you pause for a moment, realizing he is no longer at your side. Curiously, you turn around and scan the surroundings, searching for any clues as to why he has suddenly stopped.

Joel's voice cuts through the air, a gruff tone laced in his question, "What are my rules." You let out an exaggerated groan, your shoulders sagging in protest.

"Seriously, Joel," you sigh, frustration evident in your voice. "We've gone over this a million times this week." You look down at the dirt path beneath your feet, mindlessly kicking small rocks with the toes of your shoes.

"Good," Joel replies succinctly, his gaze unwavering as he stands firmly in place, arms crossed. "You should know them off by heart then." He remains unyielding, his eyes fixed on you, silently demanding you recite his rules.

You lock eyes with Joel for a brief moment, resisting the urge to roll your eyes or sigh in annoyance. However, feeling the weight of his firm stance and unwavering gaze, you finally relent. With a resigned exhale, you begin to recite his rules, your voice laced with a hint of reluctance.

“I do exactly what you say, when you say. I don’t fight you on anything, what you say is final. I stick by your side. I do not wander off. I do not use my weapons unless instructed to. I stay quiet unless you say it’s okay to talk. I let you take care of infected or any people we come across.”

Joel silently listens as you finish reciting the rules, his expression stoic and unforgiving. After a brief pause, he points out that you missed one. You shake your head, unable to meet his unwavering gaze, your eyes focusing on the ground below.

“Don’t like that rule.” You mutter.

Joel's voice takes on a harsh tone as he asserts, "I don't care whether you like the damn rules or not. They're the rules, and if you don't follow them, I'll drag you back home and ensure you never leave again." His words hit you like a stinging slap, and you clench your teeth as you raise your eyes to meet his stern gaze.

“Fine. If anything get’s out of control, I run. I don’t try and help you. I get back to our last agreed upon location and wait for you there. If you don’t show up with in a day, I leave you behind and make my way home.”

Joel nods in acknowledgment and resumes walking, his stride determined and unwaveringly firm. He doesn't wait for you, forcing you to follow closely behind him. Frustration and annoyance bubble within you, but you suppress it and move alongside him, silently seething in your steps.

You won’t leave him behind.

You can’t.

Despite your persistent questions and incessant whining, Joel refuses to tell you where he’s taking you, only offering a nonchalant shrug and a cryptic statement that makes your frustration grow. "You'll just have to wait and see for yourself, princess," he responds with a mischievous grin, his expression bordering on infuriating.

The only thing Joel is willing to disclose is that the journey will take three days. The first day will be spent getting there, the second day will be spent at the location, and the third day will be allocated for the return trip. This revelation does little to appease your curiosity, leaving you yearning for more details.

On the second day, as the two of you pack up your belongings from camping over night in a secluded house not too far from town, Joel leans over to you and informs you that the destination you've been traveling towards is only an hour away.

Each time Joel responds with a firm "nope" or an exasperated "try again" to your relentless guesses about the destination, your frustration mounts like a tempest. The more he shoots down your guesses, the wilder they become, as you desperately try to uncover his secret. Despite your growing irritation, Joel can't help but find amusement in your frenzied attempts, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

Joel comes to a sudden halt in front of an old, dilapidated building. The once-proud sign that hung above the entrance has collapsed, the large wooden doors of the structure barricaded by the fallen sign. The weathered walls and crumbling facade seem to whisper tales of a once-vibrant establishment, now left forgotten and abandoned. Confusion dances in your eyes as you look up at Joel, silently questioning his choice of destination.

Joel gestures for you to follow him as he approaches the side of the crumbling building. He crouches down, reaching for the weathered tarp lying on the grass beside the building. He pulls back the tarp, revealing a rusted ladder, its steps slightly worn but still sturdy.

"I was here a few weeks ago and cleared the place out," Joel informs you, his voice gruff as he lifts the ladder and positions it against the wall below a large, broken window on the second floor. The rusted rungs of the ladder clank against the bricks of the building as he maneuvers it into place. "But that doesn't mean you get careless in there, got it?" he warns, his gaze fixed on you with a stern expression.

You raise your shoulders in a casual gesture, nodding in agreement. "Got it," you murmur, though your tone carries a hint of feigned indifference. Deep inside, you wonder what lurks within the depths of the building.

Joel instructs you to wait outside while he goes in first, informing you that he'll yell once he has confirmed the area is clear. Dutifully, you lean against the wall of the building, arms crossed and tapping your foot impatiently, as you wait for his signal.

You flinch as a loud crunch emanates from a nearby bush on your left. Your movements are swift and automatic as you slide off the wall, your hand reaching for your bow on your back and arrows on your hip and nocking an arrow in a matter of seconds. Fear threatens to bubble up in your chest, but you suppress it, steadying your breathing and aiming the arrow towards the rustling foliage.

Your footsteps are light and silent as you follow the sound of the rustling foliage down the path. The noises continue around the corner, and you quietly creep closer, only to find a squirrel emerge from the bushes. With a mix of relief and annoyance, you lower your bow as the innocent creature scurries away.

As you turn to make your way back toward the entrance, another rustling sound comes from the bushes nearby. This time, you dismiss it, hearing Joel's call in the background, signaling that the area is safe.

You begin ascending the ladder, and as you near the top, Joel bends out the window and sighs with relief upon seeing you. "’Bout time. I was calling for you." he grumbles, and you can't help but roll your eyes in response. You reach out to accept the hand he offers, allowing him to help you through the window.

As you're in the process of passing through the window, you abruptly halt, suspended halfway through. A rustling sound emanates from the bushes beneath you, and you catch a brief glimpse of something darting out from them. You shake your head in disbelief, attributing the movement to another animal.

Joel notices your sudden stillness and asks, "You see somethin’?" He quickly pulls you up and into the building before leaning back out the window to survey the surroundings outside. Concern laces his voice as he seeks clarification about what had caught your attention.

"Just squirrels, I think," you respond with a casual shrug. Joel turns back to you, his gaze intense as he scrutinizes your expression. After a moment, he nods, seemingly content with your explanation.

You pivot in place, and the sight that greets you leaves you momentarily breathless. Dark wood shelves, packed with countless books, stretch out in neat rows, filling the room. The books lie untouched, undisturbed by looters or intruders. You stand motionless, mouth agape, taking in the sheer magnificence of the room and its untouched treasures.

Sunlight streams in through the windows, casting a soft glow on the dark wood interior. A grand, arched window graces the back wall, stretching the length of all four floors. In the center of the building, a spacious central area opens up to each level, creating an airy and open atmosphere.

A library.

Joel brought you to a library.

Joel's hand rests gently on your shoulder, a flicker of warmth seeping into your skin. You look up at him, feeling an overwhelming mix of emotions. The urge to cry, laugh, and leap in excitement all at once bubbles up inside you, threatening to burst forth into the silence.

"So, you like it?" Joel asks, a warm smile gracing his features. You can't help but laugh incredulously at his question. The incredible sight before you exceeds your wildest expectations, and his question seems almost absurd.

"I love you so much." You murmur, your words tinged with raw emotion. Before you can think twice, you turn and fling your arms around him, enveloping him in a tight embrace. He hesitates for a moment, but his hand eventually finds its way to your head, gently pulling you closer against him.

Joel's voice is gentle and husky when he replies, his words carrying a touch of vulnerability. "I love you too, princess," he murmurs, his voice slightly strained with emotion. You smile into his jacket, feeling the warmth of his body against yours and the comfort of his arms around you.

Joel clears his throat and gently pushes you away, his expression shifting back into a stoic one. He extends a hand towards the library before you and instructs, "Go on then, take a look." His voice betrays a hint of reluctance as he encourages you to explore the expansive room filled with books.

You can barely contain your excitement as you turn towards the nearest stack of books, your eyes scanning the spines quickly. Joel calls out after you, cautioning you to remain nearby and to let him know if you want to go anywhere else. You nod in acknowledgment, your attention already focused on the titles before you.

You pivot towards the railing and peer over the edge, surveying the other floors in awe. Every level is covered in rows of shelves, each crammed with books. However, as your gaze moves downwards, your smile fades, replaced by a frown as you notice the water flooding the ground floor.

Joel rests his arms on the railing beside you, his gaze fixated on the submerged desks below. A sudden thought fills your mind, and you blurt out, "I can swim." A smirk plays on his lips as he scoffs, clearly not taking your statement seriously.

“You can also catch a cold.” He sighs.

“I won’t.”

“You will.”

“I won’t.”

Joel's head dips down as he leans on the railing, a stifled chuckle escaping his lips. He glances over at you, shaking his head gently, clearly amused by your bold claim.

Joel challenges you with a smirk, asking, "You really want to walk all the way back home, soaked?" The thought of the long trek home in cold, wet clothes leaves you sighing in defeat. As your gaze drifts back down to the water below, you suddenly gasp as you spot fish swimming in the murky depths.

Joel's gaze swiftly shifts, his hand instinctively reaching for his gun as he follows your pointing finger. You remain unperturbed, a smile dancing on your lips. He lets out an exasperated sigh as he realizes your gasp was one of genuine excitement, and not out of danger.

"Did you know there were fish down there?" You ask, laughter lacing your voice. Joel shakes his head, a hint of surprise in his expression.

“That, I did not.” He says as he looks down at the fish with you.

You find yourself pondering how the fish managed to find their way into the building, but with the world in its current state, a lot of it remains a mystery to you.

You spend the rest of the day moving from stack to stack, carefully selecting books that pique your interest and handing them over to Joel to carry. He sternly informs you that you can only take what you can fit in your bag. You frown, realizing much to your disappointment that you cannot fit the entire library in your bag.

By late afternoon, the table is completely covered with a towering stack of miscellaneous items. Joel has diligently laid out each book, assorted puzzles, and an array of craft supplies that you've handed over to him. You heave a sigh at the sheer quantity of items you've discovered throughout the day, the pile appearing even more extensive when spread out on the table.

"We should've brought the car," you murmur under your breath as you begin sorting the books into two piles - one for the ones you want to keep, and the other for the ones you'll leave behind.

Joel chuckles from the chair, his glance sweeping over the books you've selected. He looks up at you, his eyes meeting yours as he says, "You know the car is only for emergencies." His words carry a hint of amusement, as if he finds your eagerness endearing.

"This is an emergency," you declare with exaggerated theatrical flare, dramatically collapsing onto your back, your arm thrown over your forehead in faux distress.

"Hmm, sure it is," Joel responds, the sarcastic tone in his voice evident. He continues nonchalantly flipping through the pages of the book in his hand, seemingly unfazed by your dramatic display.

You let out a frustrated groan, annoyed that Joel doesn't volunteer to empty his bag and carry more items for you.

As darkness falls, you've finally managed to pack your bag to the brim with all the books, puzzles, and craft supplies that you can possibly carry. The weight is considerable, and as you hoist the straps onto your shoulders, you stumble backwards momentarily, nearly losing your balance under the heavy load.

Joel swiftly reaches out, his hand steadying you as you almost stumble backwards. He remarks, "Looks like Tommy hasn't made you go on a hiking trip yet with a heavy bag." You grimace at the weight resting on your shoulders, the ache starting to set in as the night begins to settle in.

Joel relieves the heavy weight from your shoulders, and you let out a sigh of relief as the aching pressure eases. "We'll camp here for the night and head out when day breaks." He suggests and you nod in agreement, thankful for the opportunity to rest after your exhausting day of scouring the library.

Joel swiftly sets up camp in a secluded corner of the top floor, using couches to section off a private area. He collects pillows and re-purposes curtains from the windows, constructing a cozy-looking fort.

You get settled in for the night, gathering the cushions from the couches and laying them down on the floor to create a cozy bedding area. The curtains serve as a makeshift roof overhead, blocking the view of the rest of the room and creating a cave-like atmosphere.

It's eerily quiet as you lie side by side, and you find yourself focusing on the sound of Joel's breathing next to you. The room is completely dark, and although he's just a few inches away, you can't see him as he faces away from you in the pitch-blackness.

You try to close your eyes and slip into sleep, but your mind is restless with thoughts. Images of returning home to find your dad and Tommy missing swirl through your mind, and you involuntarily suck in a breath as the thought of losing them weighs heavily on you.

As your mind continues to race, a barrage of new questions begin to surface. What would happen if you did find yourself alone with Joel? Would the two of you join another group? Or would you attempt to survive together, alone in solitude?

Would he leave you again?

You vigorously shake your head at the intrusive thought. No, he wouldn't leave you.

You try to dismiss the nagging doubts in your mind, reminding yourself that he didn't leave you that night. Despite everything, he was returning for you.

He did come back for you.

Your mind begins constructing a chain of possible scenarios. If Joel had found you before your father did, would they have still joined that Raiders group? Or would they have discovered a place like the resort? And more importantly, would you have ever been reunited with your father? Each question leads to an alternate outcome, each possibility as terrifying and uncertain as the other.

As your thoughts continue to spiral, you begin to consider another outcome. If you had left with Joel and Tommy that night, you would've been happy with them.

You slowly turn your head on the makeshift pillow, toward the direction of Joel. Softly, you call out his name, and he responds with a grunt, showing no signs of movement. You speak his name once more, a bit louder this time, and he lets out another grunt before shifting beside you.

Joel's groggy voice cuts through the darkness as he mutters, "What's wrong?" It's clear that you've woken him up, his voice still heavy with sleep.

"Never mind." You murmur, turning away from him slightly. However, just as you move, his hand reaches out and tugs you back towards him, gently keeping you close.

“What’s wrong.” He repeats himself.

“I just- I was just thinking, that if you had come back to me before dad found me, that I would have liked being with you and Tommy.” You confess in a soft voice. Joel hums softly in response, and he pulls you closer, his lips gently pressing a kiss on the top of your head.

“You would have missed your dad.” He sighs and you shrug in his arms.

You muster up the courage to continue, your confession hushed and sincere. "I would have, but I think you would've made a pretty good dad too,"

The room becomes eerily silent once more, and the sound of Joel's breathing seems to cease momentarily. Instead, his hold on you tightens, his grip firm and unwavering, as if he's processing your words.

Joel's voice breaks the silence, his tone somewhat strained as he utters, "You should go to sleep, princess." and you feel his body shift beside you as he rolls over once more, facing away from you.

You lie there silently, pretending not to notice the sniffle that escapes him, or the shudder that courses through his body when you reach out to hold onto his shirt as you drift to sleep.

You pretend you don’t know he cries that night.

Click here for Chapter 13

Notes

When I say that this chapter has been on my mind for weeks, I mean it. I’ve been dying to write reader learning how to live in the new world and the three of them helping her look after herself. I’ve also been dying to start to develop reader’s interests and skill set too since she’s growing up. She’s still a kid but able to learn in the safety of home. Also Joel’s and reader trip to the library has been on my mind a lot too. Having him take her somewhere that’s relatively safe and something he knows she’ll like. And the last few lines made me cry okay I’m sorry. Joel hearing that reader thinks he would have made a good dad for her if she didn't have her own dad would have killed him inside. That she doesn’t hate him for leaving her, that after losing Sarah and everything he’s done after that night, that someone still thinks that he’s a good person. Even if she doesn’t understand or know everything he’s done, she still loves and considers him family.

If you want to be tagged, please comment on the masterlist for this series and I will add you. If you want to be taken off, please DM so i don't miss your request.

Every comment, like and reblog means the world to me. please let me know your thoughts about this, i want to ramble about this story so much.

tags: @sunandmuun , @rain-soaked-sun, @frootloops1213 , @samarav , @geralallfandoms , @joelmillersblog , @severussimp , @kitdjarin1 , @yesjazzywazzylove-blog , @justanotherteen12 @lils-1979 @elisha-chloe , @faith-alons26

[ilovehobi101]

His and nobody else.

Pairing: ji-woon hak x reader

Warning: Creampies, fingering, Dirty talk Possessiveness, Marking, Hair pulling, Praise, Love confessions, Making out, Spanking, Choking, Dacryphilia, Blood kink, Breathplay, Multiple orgasms, a hint of breeding kink.

Summary: you lose your memories but despite that, you still feel love for a certain killer, so much you would gladly show him you still care.

A/n: This is fanfic inspired by"I love it when you don't love me" I got permission for this from @snowwhitethevampire, please check out the book it is amazing and if you're a ji-woon hak fan you'll love it, she does his character so well and I can sing her praise all day but anyways it's on Wattpad and A03. I'm using a translator so if anything's wrong please correct me nicely

I took a sharp breath as I began to bounce on ji-woon's cock, he was big but yet he felt familiar, had I gotten intimate with him before? "제길." Ji-woon groaned resting his head on the wooden floors, I felt my cheeks heat up from his voice, his groan was like a melody, and I wanted more. I leaned back to show him the view of us connected and bounced faster, the slick between my legs splashed a little bit on ji-woon's pelvis, torso, and my thighs, this seemed to turn him on even more and also amused him "Ah, so wet for me, my little fan." he cooed, thrusting up into me.

"o-oh fuck" I whined as each bounce was met with a harsh thrust. I let out a small moan as Ji-woon pulled me down to lock lips, his tongue fighting a battle against mine, a few more thrusts from Ji-woon and I was coming onto his dick, we continue to share a passionate kiss before I let out a noise of surprise as he pulled away and manhandled me on my fours, pushing me to lay my breasts against the surprisingly smooth wooden floors and my ass in the air, his fingers tangled my hair and pulled my head back as he slammed into me causing me to let out a loud whimper, my fingers dig into the floor as loud moans, whines and groans leave us "Such a good fan, so fucking tight, made for my cock." Ji-woon groaned and throw his head back, his hips speed up, his heavy balls smack against my poor clit, and his grip on my hips became painful, it began to draw blood, it felt so good. Tears fall from my eyes and I started to sob from the overwhelming pleasure given to me by a man I shouldn't love but I do, I sobbed harder at that.

"Yes, 나를 위해 울어줘요!" he grunted, one of his hands moved from my hip to my throat, squeezing enough to make it a little hard to breathe. My tears must have enticed him more as his thrusts became akin to inhuman and barely concealed squeals left me, his strokes were hard and fast but precise, I let out loud a squeal as I cum around his cock and the floor. He was close too if his sweet melody-like moans were anything to go by as he slammed into me, one, two, three times, his hold on my throat tight ends cutting off my airbag before I felt a warmth spread against my walls and womb, he left kisses on my shoulder blades and he moved on to my neck, biting down on it, marking me for all to see as he slowly loosened his grip "내 거 다 엿 먹어요.착한 꼬마선풍기." he muttered something in Korean.

He slowly pulled out, and an oozing river of his cum followed after "Would look so pretty내 아기를 임신한." he trailed off, pushing his cum back into my pussy, I fight to keep my eyes open exhaustion sweeping into my bones heavily, "Sleep." Ji-woon spoke almost softly "I'll be right here," he helped me lay on my side, my head on his lap and his hand petting my head, on the verge of unconsciousness I whisper "I love you.." the void greets me.

Translations

제길.

Fuck.

나를 위해 울어줘요!

Cry for me!

내 거 다 엿 먹어요.착한 꼬마선풍기

fuck all mine, good little fan

내 아기를 임신한

pregnant with my child

[black-is-beautiful18]

Woo

K’uk’ulkan x Black reader

Translations: I used translators for these so if they’re wrong please let me know.

Umakhulu- grandmother- Xhosa

In eek’e’- my star- Yucatec Maya

In reina- my queen- Yucatec Maya

**********************

After a nice walk along the river, where Y/N proceeded to tease him about her mother’s words, Namor wanted nothing more than to kiss her. Her skin glows under the light of lanterns and lamps that line the river. And the added moonlight? She’s absolutely ethereal.

Noticing his eyes on her, Y/N giggles and looks up at him.” What’s the matter? You’re looking at me as if…as if I’ve hung the moon in the sky.”

“I don’t think that would be hard to believe.” He muses with a smirk that sends her heart racing.” Oh please. I can do many things, but not that. I’m far too young for that anyway. My umakhulu may know who did though. Or at least someone who was around when it happened.” Y/N then purses her lips and shakes her head.” On second thought it might be in the archives.”

As she begins rambling K’uk’ulkan can’t help but chuckle. How cute. She’s begun reciting facts about the moon and her family.

‘’Mother is the youngest of 14 children. The youngest twin, but umakhulu miraculously had twins with each pregnancy. From the stories I’ve heard it’s safe to say that that there was never a dull moment in that house.’’ Y/N says with a laugh gaining one from the great god-king as well. Seeing her happy makes his heart swell and fill with adoration. Is it love? It just might be.

‘’And what do you think of children?’’ His voice is low and has grown husky as the image of his eek'e' round with child. Oh how beautiful she’d be.

The question surprises Y/N so much that she stops in her tracks and looks at him in shock.

‘’Like if I want children of my own or in general?’’

K’uk’ulkan smirks tilting his head to the side.’’ Both.’’

Feeling her face grow warm, Y/N looks down at her feet too embarrassed to meet his eye. While she enjoys his bluntness it still surprises her and leaves her speechless. ‘’Well…yes. I want children when I find the right person and they are joys to be around.’’ She chuckles and lifts her head giving a shy smile.’’ As for how many…I think I’ll decide that after the first one.’’

A gasp leaves Y/N’s lips as the god-king gently wraps his arms around her waist pulling her closer before taking her right hand, lifting it, and kissing it.’’ And how do I get you to say yes to me? To be mine? You would be worshiped and praised as is your right. The people of Talokan, our people, would see you as a queen, a goddess, and a mother.’’

His declaration reminds her of her mother’s own words spoken to her only a few hours ago. Music can be heard even this far from the party but it’s a nice steady rhythm that has Y/N swaying as she gets lost in her own thoughts. Looking up at the handsome man in front of her, Y/N searches his face.

‘’And what about you? What will I be to you?’’

He pauses and looks to be speechless for a moment before chuckling and pulls her so close that Y/N swears she can feel his heartbeat. Kissing the palm of her hand his lips slowly move towards her wrist. Just like when they first met.

‘’Now what kind of question is that? You will be my sun. My moon and the stars. You will be my goddess and I will worship you day and night. Every word that falls from my lips will be nothing but total praise and adoration. I swear this to you.’’ As he says this he moves his face closer to hers, their noses touching. Closing her eyes, Y/N whimpers, her heart hammering in her chest.

‘’What is it in eek’e’? Speak to me.’’ His lips now find their way to the corner of her lips causing goosebumps to erupt on her skin.

‘’Yes.’’ She breathes out before she can really think but then again does she need to? Her mother was clear. They will be together, but that’s not why she said yes. She said yes because she wants that future. She wants to love and to be loved. She wants him.

‘’Forgive me, but I didn’t hear you.’’ Y/N feels his lips lift into a smirk against her skin as she groans. K’uk’ulkan laughs and kisses her cheek,’’ Worry not in eek’e’. I’m only teasing.’’ He coos making her giggle.’’ Don’t be mean to me or else I’ll send you away.’’ Pulling away the god-king raises an eyebrow.’’ Send me away? You wouldn’t dare.’’

With a smirk of her own Y/N crosses her arms and turns from him beginning to walk back in the direction of the party.’’ You don’t know that K’uk’ulkan. I will banish you back to the ocean and you shall never return.’’ A growl sounds behind her and she fights back a laugh only to squeal as she’s pulled back into the god’s arms.’’ Banish me? Would you be so cruel to me in reina?’’ He kisses her neck, holding her tightly his beard tickling her in the process. Laughing, Y/N squirms out of his hold and makes a run for it.

‘’I would!’’ She calls out over her shoulder only to let out a gasp when she sees that the king of Talokan quickly gives chase, seeming to not care if he is caught having fun. If this was to be Y/N’s future then she wanted every single part of it and she would not accept anything less.

*******************

A/N: Hi! It’s been awhile. Only a month or so but still. A lot was happening with family emergencies, and it sort of sent me into writer’s block. I’m back tho! This is a little shorter than I would like for it to be but I hope you enjoy and hopefully the next chapter will be up soon. ❤️

Tags: @lunamoonbby, @artaxerxesthegreat, @alexa-33, @queenshikongo3 , @ant1r3al1ty, @lostpirateinwonderland, @nunya7394, @louderfortheback, @danika1994, @weepingwitchofthewest, @chaimantis, @jurneesjourney, @stars8melanin, @prettyvintageafternoon, @bratbxbyx, @blackreaderatrisk

[definesanity]

Off The Shore, And Knee-Deep In The River

Please Note: This can be read in either interpretation. I am not going to say which is the correct one, for there isn't one, it's simply your choice.

Yenisei did not mind Madam Bessmert, initially.

When she was introduced to the investigation team, she kept her thoughts to herself on them; but it was Bessmert who truly caught her eye.

Because, ironically, it was her eyes that caught her own.

"If you do not mind me asking, Madam," she had asked the tall lady, "Do you need me to... help you?"

Bessmert instantly caught on, and gave a smile. "That is, if you do not mind doing so, child... ah, Енисе́й, now, correct?"

"Correct, Madam; and, remember, do not hesitate. We are here to help."

And from there, their trek began.

And Yenisei learning many of Bessmert's talents and habits.

The first, of which is the most simple to explain, is her senses other than sight being heightened. It made for interesting conversations around a campfire, as Bessmert relayed what she heard to Yenisei, who was drawing the surrounding area.

Bessmert, one day, asked Yenisei about herself.

Yenisei... did not know how to reply. Then, naturally, she thought of one: "Perhaps... I can describe myself to you?"

"That would be wonderful, thank you." Bessmert smiled often around Yenisei; the former Russian noble allowed her to relax.

"My complexion is rather pale; my eye colour is that of blue, and my hair is the length down to my knees. Oh, and it is... plain red, I believe? A desaturated red."

Bessmert hummed, taking in the information. "What an interesting appearance... while I wished I could have seen it for myself, I am comfortable with merely imagining it."

"You... were not always blind?"

The words tumbled out of the girl's mouth faster than she could hope to stop them. Even then, Bessmert did not look offended.

"No; it happened roughly a decade ago. I have gotten used to it, now."

The answer was short. But Yenisei did not press.

It was not her place to question the Madam.

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

Bessmert carried many strange qualities; talking often was one of them.

Yenisei could not remember the amount of times she has watched and saved Bessmert from falling down a hill, into water, and many others.

Yenisei did not mind the talking, however. It felt nice, and Yenisei had always been a listener than a chatter.

"I smell..." Bessmert did not sniff; or rather, Yenisei did not see her do so. "...Hm, a mixture of fragrances; frosty water, oakmoss, Geranium and... ginger?"

Yenisei looked perplexed, trying to figure out where the Madam had smelled these... oh.

Yenisei then realised it was herself.

"A-Apologies, Madam, that... might be me." Yenisei was not bashful, but even then, she was glad Bessmert could not see the light red dusting her cheeks.

"Is that so?" Bessmert replied. Then, a smile appeared on her face. "Well, you certainly have a unique scent, Yeni."

Yenisei turned more red. "M-Madam?!"

It was there, Yenisei realised later, that this was when Bessmert started to refer to her as 'Yeni'.

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

Yenisei still was surprised at how quickly and easily Bessmert could create a story and lie.

But what surprised her more was Bessmert's strength.

During the events of Péi City, Yenisei took to fighting. Of course, when the Beasts of Yin and Yang appeared, it was her, Bessmert and Getian fighting.

And when a shield of pure Arcane energy protected her from a bolt of thunder, she looked at Bessmert in shock.

"I can't see it... but I can sense it." she stated calmly. Like a calm wave in a tsunami, an actor from a previous stage now in a new role.

Yenisei composed herself. She won't allow any harm to befall anyone; even to the one who caused this mess.

Yet, she will have ask later...

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

It felt strange, when she was a Lushu.

What made it weirder was how natural it felt, galloping on all fours. Granted, she was a Lushu, so...

She walked to the campsite, looking at the flame and the only one sitting by it.

"Madam?" Yenisei spoke gently. Bessmert's head turned to her, and she smiled.

"Ah, Yeni. Are you feeling more refreshed?"

Yenisei gave a nod, not that Bessmert could see it. "Yes. But... why are you still up?"

"I couldn't sleep." she replied simply. "That's all there is too it."

It wasn't, Yenisei could tell from a glance. Bessmert is good at hiding things. From everyone but Yenisei.

"Bessmert," Yenisei said, as the Madam looked at her quickly. "Please. You need to rest."

"..." Bessmert looked away. And then, sighed. "I... might. I might."

Yenisei looked at her. "Madam..."

"...I will, trust me."

She can only hope.

[that-basic-simp]

Down By The River

Karlach X Fem! Reader CW:Some mature language is used! WC:3.4k+ Slowly rising from my soft bed, I stretched and let out a yawn, letting the sun's warm rays shine down on me through the small window. My mother was outside by the well washing some clothes. As for my father, he was out on the hunt with some of his friends to get some food for dinner tonight. Throwing on what I normally wear, I step out of my room, pass through the kitchen, and to where my mother was outside. "Nice to see you're finally awake," my mother chuckled. "Sorry I was out partying with some friends," I stretched a little better now. "I have you know, you were the one who wanted me to get out in the first place." "I know, but I wasn't expecting you to be sleeping so long." "Kind of hung over, if you ask me. Do you need any help?" "If you're able to go down by the river, can you get some fresh water?"

"The well water isn't good?" "I've been using it to wash clothes, Y/N." "Alright," I said and grabbed the wooden bucket nearby.  Heading down into the woods, I slowly made my way down the hill as I was humming a song my mother sang to me when I was young. It was passed down to our family through the decades and it was always sung whenever a baby was being put to sleep. So whenever I had a child, I would be singing it to them as they fall asleep. I don't know where it came from, but it's a tradition now. Reaching the river, I knelt down and stuck the bucket into the water, catching the flowing water. Carefully pulling it up, I set it on the ground. Since I was here alone in the woods, might as well look around. Wandering around, I took in how the grass rose to my knees and the trees towered over me like the village gates that we lived outside of. There were so many vines hanging down to where I could grab onto them and swing to my heart's content. I would occasionally do that if I was out in the woods here by myself. But my father was usually with me, telling me I need to be more lady like. That I can't wander alone in the woods as much as I please and that I need to think about finding someone soon. He and my mother want a grandchild as soon as I am able, but I do not want to get into a relationship so quickly at the moment. Especially since I haven't come out to either of them.  While I was in my own thoughts, I heard some footsteps coming in my general direction. Peeking around the tree I was standing behind, I saw someone running down the hill, their head looking over their shoulder numerous times before they directed their attention to me. Taking in a deep breath, they rushed towards me. I was about to run back to the house, but something about the way they were running told me that they were fleeing. I heard shouts and yells as a crowd of people were running after this person. I had to help them. I motioned for them to follow me and they ran faster. I took off running in a direction to where I knew we could hide. Once the person caught up to me, I ducked behind a large set of bushes and they slid beside me. Grabbing their arm, I pulled them under the foilage and we tried to settle our breathing. "Where the hells did she go?" "She had to have gone this way, right?" "If she did, the entire woods would be burned down." "I am surprised she ran in here. Considering her infernal engine and such." "Come on," a familiar voice spoke. Poking my head out carefully, I saw my father was walking with some people I didn't recognize. Once they were out of the woods, I stood up carefully before turning to face the person who I just saved. Their red skin gave them away. Actually, it was the one broken horn and one intact that gave them away.  "K-Karlach Cliffgate," I said. She stood up and brushed the dirt off of the leather straps she was wearing. "Yep, that's my name," she said, sighing. "How do you know me?" "Someone named Wyll was talking to my father a week ago about running after a Tiefling who fled Avernus. That she fought in the Blood Wars and Zariel put an engine where her heart used to be."

"You seem to know a lot about me," she narrowed her eyes. "I-It's just that, my father agreed to hunt you down with Wyll." "Well, seems like you're not like you're father at all." "Why would I want to hunt down someone who wants to live?" It looked like she wanted to cry right then and there. She shifted a bit awkwardly, trying to find a comfortable way to show her gratitude towards me. "Y-Yes. I-I want that more than anything! I want to be free and to be alive! I don't know how long this infernal engine will keep running with me no longer being in Avernus. I-I thought I would never find someone who would understand." "Well, I kind of understand what it's like to fear for your life." "Why's that?" she asked. I took a cautious step away from Karlach, but she seemed to read myself better than I could. She nodded her head, backing away as well. "Sorry, didn't mean to get personal when we barely know one another." "I-It's alright. I-I'll just start with my name first, since I know yours. I'm Y/N," I said, sticking my hand out to shake hers. She shook her head, "I-I can't really touch people. When you pulled me into the bush, while you were able to touch me very briefly, it was exactly that. It was brief. But it is nice to meet you, Y/N." "If you ever need help, follow me," I walked over to the river, picking up the bucket that I left there.

"What if you don't come when I do?" "Keep coming until I am there. I will do the same with you." She smiled, "See you around then." "I will look out for Wyll and my father." "Thank you, Y/N." We went our separate ways for now. I returned to my mother with the water, which she directed me to our small kitchen so my father could use it to get lunch ready. He was moaning and groaning about how the Tiefling he was after had gotten away due to someone helping her. Thankfully he didn't recognize it was me who helped said Tiefling. I had to tread carefully down by the river now. A couple of days had passed and I was wandering down by the river, watching the water flow and some of the crawfish swim up and down the stream. There were even some toads hopping around as well as newts and other amphibians. Some birds were flying high in the sky and some landed on the tree branches for a rest. As I was admiring the environment above, I didn't pay attention to the ground below. "FUCK!" I looked down to find Karlach was resting against a tree and I had just stepped on her tail, as she was holding it tightly in her hands. "I-I am so sorry, Karlach," I said. 

"Gotta watch where you're going around in these parts," she released her tail, standing up. "Kind of hard to miss a long, red tail mixed in with this green shit." "It could have been a snake." "I doubt a snake will be entirely red." "You never know. They could be." "Sure," she said, nodding her head. "I'm surprised to find you here so soon." "I've been a bit busy with things, such as trying to hide from Wyll and your father." "They're still after you." "They won't rest until I am dead or I am back in Avernus. I am never going back there." "I don't blame you. Fighting for ten years and having an engine for a heart," I said. "Are you able to fix it?" "Fix it as in fine tune it to where I don't burn as much as I do." "Is there a way where we can do that?" "There is a possible way of doing it, but it requires infernal iron." "I think I know someone who can help with that." "Who?" "Dammon. I have known him due to my father and he's a blacksmith. He may have some infernal iron on hand." "Where is he?" "In the village just west of the river," I said, pointing in the direction of the village. "Y/N! Where are you, Y/N?!" my father called.

"Shit, I-I have to go," I said. "W-Will I see you again?" Karlach asked. "I-I can't promise it," I said. "But I will be waiting by the river." Running back towards my house, I found my father at the edge of the house before it lead into the woods. "There you are," he said, placing his hand in the middle of my back. "Where did you run off to in the woods?" "Just by the river," I said. "Find anything good?" "No. Nothing out of the ordinary, if that's what you're asking." "I just want to make sure you're safe. There is a rampaging Tiefling on the loose and I am determined to capture it." "It's not like a Tiefling can walk in the woods without burning it down." "Sometimes yes, sometimes no. The Tiefling we're after has an engine as a heart. That is what makes it dangerous." "What makes it so dangerous?" "This Tiefling fought in the Blood Wars with Zariel. They are a force to be reckoned with. Until we capture and kill this Tiefling, you are no longer allowed in the woods." "Dad, I am not a child anymore!" "I know, but you never know what could go on in there." "You let me in those woods when I was a child a long time ago without any supervision. Don't you think it's a bit ridiculous with what you want from me?" "No." I shook my head, "I am an adult, dad. I can do what I want." "Not while you live under my roof," he said. "Can we at least talk about it?" "No, we cannot." I let out a sigh and I begrudgingly walked into the house with my father following behind me. He kept a close eye on me every time I walked around the house. Whenever he wasn't around, my mother was watching me, even though she knew how much it pained me to not leave the area of the house. She wanted to let me leave, but my father held a lot of power over the two of us, which worried me with how Karlach would go down by the river and find me never there. She'd think I'd abandoned her. Weeks passed and my father would return with nothing. No sign of Karlach and no leads on where she went. She was smart, even though we met a couple times, her hot headed nature was not interferring with her instincts on surviving. Maybe it was a good thing she had ten years of fighting experience. She could definitely hold her own against my father and Wyll, but for how long before her engine gives out? How long does she have before it combusts? Those thoughts were swimming inside my head that my mother knew something was wrong. "Go," was all she said as we were sitting outside together. "B-But dad?" "I'll tell him I sent you to the market to get things. He'll be fine with that." "Are you sure?" "Yes. Something seems to be bothering you." I nodded my head and got up, heading into the woods and running towards the river. When I reached the water, I wandered around, looking at the ground in case I stepped on her tail again. I wanted to avoid that. As I was wandering, I was trying to silence those thoughts as they were coming back. While I had met her about a month ago, there was something about her that I never knew was there to begin with. Letting out a sigh, I sat down on the side of the river, watching the small fish swimming around. About to stick my finger into the water, a stick behind me snapped. I briskly turned and found the fiery Tiefling behind me. There was a wide smile on her face as we were face to face with one another. "Y-You're alright!" she smiled, taking a step towards me. I stood up and walked towards her, "Y-You're ok." "Your father is really after me, isn't he?" "He's not going to stop," I sighed. "What about you? You were gone for about three weeks and I came here to give you the good news, but you never came. But I didn't give up on you." "My father didn't allow me to leave the house because of you." "Because of me?" "Saying you were a force to be reckoned with." "While I do have ten years of experience of fighting in Avernus, I am not as a brute as they lead me to be." "I can see," I smiled. "You're sweet, caring to those who deserve it." She nodded her head, "You seem to read me like a book."

"I just figured it out since I helped you that day." "Wouldn't be the first time someone has helped me." "Did you get your engine tuned?" "I did," a wide smile appearing. "Haven't really rested it yet. But I know I got some work done on it." "Do you mind if I test it out?" I asked. "Of course." Taking a step towards her, I hugged her tightly. She let out a sigh as she placed her head on my shoulder. "It's been so long since I've been able to hold someone. To touch someone." "You're very warm," I said. "I like it." "I could get used to this." Pulling away, I looked into her fire like eyes. "I-I'm going to have to go soon. I can't be away for too long." "You know where to find me," she said, not wanting to let go just yet, but she did. We went our separate ways and for the next few days, my father started to become lenient on me going out into the woods as he came up with nothing on Karlach's location. However, that meant he was going to keep a close eye on me, but in a different way. Every time I tried to go into the woods, he would linger around me. He was going to use me to see if I could be of use to him. I had to do something about him before I give away our meeting place. Early in the morning I headed out of the house and made my way down to the river. As soon as I reached the water, Karlach was sitting there, patiently waiting for me. Walking towards her, I sat beside her. She turned and smiled, placing her hand on my leg, greeting me. "Morning, Y/N," she said. "Morning, Karlach." "Something wrong?" "Y-Yeah," I said. "I-It's my father. He is now keeping a close eye on me, but in a different sense." "You're a grown adult. He doesn't think you'll be able to handle yourself?" "No. I think he's suspicious about me." "About what?" "I've been coming into the woods a lot more than I used to. So I think he's trying to follow me to see if I know anything about you." She shook her head, "I don't want to fight your father, but if he doesn't get the message of me wanting my freedom, I'll have to show it to him." "I don't blame you for wanting to do that. I might let you." She chuckled, playfully shoving me, "I do owe you for saving my life." "You don't need to owe me anything. I was just helping someone live." "Even then, I do need to pay you back for what you've done. I can't live with myself knowing that I didn't pay off a great debt."

"It was nothing, Karlach." "It was everything to me, Y/N." I nodded my head, "Alright. I'll let this one slide." She smiled, "So, what do I owe you?" I stood there, tapping my chin as I was thinking of what she could do to repay this debt. I really didn't want anything other than to be beside her longer. I don't know how much time I would have before we were either caught or her engine ran out. I guess that was the only thing she could do. "I want to spend more time with you." "That's all?" "Yeah." "Usually people ask for me to kill someone for them as their debt. Or to burn someone alive. But never getting to know someone on a more personal level." "Ever since I saved you that day, you never really left my head." "I could say the same thing about you, Y/N." "Why don't we walk and talk?" I asked standing up to take her hand, leading her further up the river. For the entire morning and into the afternoon, it was just the two of us. Nothing in the world mattered in that moment. It felt genuine to be with her. She was a genuine person to be around. Karlach gave off this positive energy despite being used for war for ten years. I really commend her for having such a bright personality. She was just so bubbly that I don't know why my father and Wyll are after her. She really just wanted to enjoy her time right here and right now. The sun started to set and we soon found ourselves sitting against a tree that was far up stream, far past my house and heading towards the mountain range. We were laughing as we sat beside one another, as Karlach told a joke that was absolutely terrible that I only laughed due to her infectious laugh. "You really are a good person, Karlach." "There are better, believe me, Y/N." "To me though, you're a good person." She smiled, "Thank you, Y/N. That means a lot to me." Stretching her arms, she yawned, her sharp teeth being bared to the air. They looked like they could hurt and rip into flesh if she tried. "Your teeth," I said. "What about them?" she turned in my direction. "They look sharp." "They kind of are. Want a first hand experience?" she smirked, one of her eyebrows perking upwards. I leaned towards her, placing my hand on her cheek. She leaned towards me and our lips brushed against one anothers before they pressed up against each other. Her lips were warm, as to be expected. My lips curled upwards as I smiled against her lips. Her mouth slightly opened and her teeth pinched at my bottom lip as she bit down on it. They were sharp, but she wasn't biting with enough force to make my lip bleed. Pulling away, her eyes and aura had changed. Instead of the bright, red flames they were, her engine was now blue and her eyes matched. The flames illuminating her hands were the same color. "W-Whoa," I smiled, admiring her blue flames. "Blue flames are the hottest of all flames," she said. "I got you heated, didn't I?" I chuckled. "Only you can do that, Y/N." I smiled and pulled her into a hug. Once she pulled away, she found her way in between my legs, resting her head on my lap. I giggled as I ran my hand through her red and black hair. Some parts of it felt like they were singed. My hand ran up the horn on the left side of her head while I tapped the broken horn on the right side. She closed her eyes and melted into my touch as I'd occasionally run my hand through her hair and down her arm. Her tail came around and wrapped loosely around my ankle. "Can we stay like this forever?" she asked. "Always, Karlach. Always," I said and leaned down, placing a kiss to her forehead.

[busy-baker]

Augustarion Day 1 Prompt - Strawberry 🍓

I know I’m a day late. Work with me here

Strawberry Wine…Read of Ao3

This was inspired by the song Strawberry Wine by Deana Carter and features teenage Astarion.

Word Count: 2.9k

Astarion x OMC

No warnings, just fluff

The grass along the slope of the small hill Astarion relaxed on undulated in the summer breeze. He had rolled the sleeves of his shirt up as he trekked up to his little hideaway under a large oak tree, a journal in one hand and seasonal flavor of wine. He only partook in this luxury once per year, when the mood struck during the heat wave of Flamerule and reminded him of a time only over a decade before.

~

The high elf tucked his books under his arm as he strolled on the outskirts of the city. He knew his parents weren’t fond of him wandering too far off, but what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. It’s not as if he was causing trouble. He only wanted to find solace in the stories he held and preferred the quiet comforts of the warm, summer day instead of the stuffiness of his bedroom.

His travels brought him to a farm alongside the beaten dirt road. The plants flourished from the previous day’s rainfall and the grapevines that acted as a makeshift fence were thriving with ripe grapes ready for picking.

Astarion glanced around before reaching forward and plucking one to pop into his mouth. He sighed in satisfaction at the sweetness.

“If you want a small basket, you only need to ask,” a voice called from further up the road.

The elf turned to see a young man, not much older than himself, smiling at him. He was tanned from spending hours in the blistering sun and had chin length blonde hair. As he came closer, Astarion could see his eyes were deep blue, a blue resembling the furthest depths of the river.

“I-I-I only saw them…and I th-thought they looked delicious. I’m terribly…”

Astarion’s words drifted away as the man tucked his hand into the hem of his shirt and brought it up to wipe away the sweat beading on his forehead. The elf’s eyes fell to the toned stomach that was hidden beneath the clothing. His cheeks bursted with color and grew hot.

“I, um, I should go,” Astarion said, averting his eyes. “I’m attempting to find a nice reading spot where no one can search for me. Hopefully for more than an hour.”

“A reading spot? Out here?” The human was still swiping at his face and Astarion shrugged at the question. He really wished the young man would quit what he was doing and toss down his shirt. It was very distracting.

“Well, there’s a nice patch in the sunflowers over there. Feel free to use it if you don’t mind a little dried dirt. You can come by as often as you’d like if you share one of your books.”

The elf was surprised by the kindness offered to him. He brought the books forward and glanced at the titles. He grabbed the one from the bottom of the stack and thrusted it forward.

“Here, take this one,” he said. “I’ve read it before. It’s a favorite.”

The story was turned over and pages were flicked through. The human raised a brow. “Aren’t you a bit young for this?”

“I’m seventeen! I’m hardly a child at this point and very studied!”

“Apologies! You just appear younger than you are.” The stranger extended his hand and Astarion took it reluctantly. “I’m Toren. It’s nice to meet you…”

“Astarion.”

Toren’s teeth shone brightly as he grinned. “Astarion,” he repeated. He released the high elf’s hand and waved for him. “Come on. I’ll show you that spot.”

The empty patch was in the middle of a small field of sunflowers. The towering plants surrounded the area forming a canopy of sorts as they bent over the barren circle. The wind barely crept through the stems but the shade provided some relief.

It wasn’t the ideal location for Astarion but it was hidden away and it was free. Beggars couldn’t be choosers, so he gratefully accepted the deal, removing his vest, fanning it onto the ground and plopping himself down onto his makeshift seat. He immediately opened a book and began to read.

Toren laughed at the elf, unbothered by his presence. “I’ll be around if you need me,” he told Astarion. He waited for acknowledgement, which was received in the form of a quick hum and a shooing motion, before wandering off through the flowers.

Astarion was completely lost in his new book. He was disgusted by the villain and their pathetic schemes. He didn’t understand how someone could be so utterly stupid and still strive for ruling over everyone. They could at least be a little less camp and it would be believable.

The sun coasted over and was settling on the other side as the day passed into evening. There were several chapters left but Astarion didn’t want to leave himself on a cliffhanger. His mother may wonder where he is, but she never worried too much about her darling boy. He would always return home to them.

A basket was slung over his book, dangling from a weathered finger. His brows furrowed and he looked up to see Toren. He was changed into a fresh set of clothing and his hair was not as unkempt as when they had met.

“Hungry?” He asked.

“A little,” Astarion answered. He should be on his way home for dinner, but the basket contained the grapes from the vine, bread so fresh he could feel its warmth, and a bottle of something unknown to him. There was also the book he had lent to Toren with a jagged piece of parchment as a bookmark.

Toren placed the woven basket beside Astarion and splayed out a blanket that had been tucked under his arm. He took a seat and starting grabbing two goblets from under the food. He noticed the high elf staring and patted the blanket.

“I don’t bite,” he said. He uncorked the bottle while Astarion shifted from his vest to the blanket and poured the pink liquid into the goblets. He handed one to Astarion and proceeded to swirl the goblet and sniff its contents. Astarion did the same and then tilted it towards his lips. It was sweet while also the slightest bit tart. It went down smooth and was perfect for a picnic.

“What is this?” Astarion gulped down half of the beverage, not realizing how thirsty he had been.

“Hey, hey, slow down,” Toren warned, pushing the goblet down as Astarion raised it once again. “It’s strawberry wine. My grandfather wanted to try something new. Sweet and will knock you down after a few bottles. What do you think?”

Astarion felt foolish. Of course it was wine. He could tell now by the hint of burn it left in his throat. He hadn’t had many glasses of alcohol in his life, not because he was regarded as a child being only a teenager, but he had never found one he particularly liked. They were all too dry or tasted of medicine or made his teeth ache from the amount of sugar. This one though, this one was different.

“It’s acceptable, I suppose,” he replied, refraining from finishing the drink and taking a small sip.

“You aren’t much of a talker, are you?”

“Not when the questions are endless.”

“Well, what about when they’re about this book you seem to enjoy so much?”

Astarion perked up at this question. He would take any opportunity to have a discussion over the well worn book. It was full of drama, mystery, and heartache with a fantastic ending that put others to shame.

The two delved into a conversation. Toren would ask questions while Astarion answered, giving him his input and different theories for why the author explained things the way they did. He tried to prevent himself from spoiling the plot and Toren could see it was causing him frustration, but the elf promised to not give anything away.

An hour had passed and somehow they had shifted from the book into speaking about themselves.

Astarion explained he was from the Upper City. A noble who should be focusing more on his schooling than living in a fantasy world. His father was always pestering him about doing better, but he didn’t understand the fun of being bored all day.

When it was his turn, Toren said of how he came to work with his grandfather while on a break from his own studies. Astarion was surprised to find out he was only nineteen, but was already highly regarded in his work with agriculture, finding the most efficient way to produce crops and increase output to sellers. He had returned to the farm to help his aging grandfather and test out his new findings while also developing the new wine for them to sell at markets.

“So a plant whisperer?” Astarion asked, chewing on the last bite of bread.

Toren chuckled. “You could say that, but much more tedious.”

Astarion glanced up at the sky and noticed it was beginning to turn orange. He cursed to himself and started gathering his belongings in one arm. He bent down and picked up his goblet, finishing the wine and placed it back down.

“I have to go,” he said, already starting to leave. “But I can come back, right?”

“Yes, of course. Whenever you’d like. Don’t bother even asking, just walk in and the blanket will be in the barn.”

“Thank you!” The elf called and ran out of the field with a beaming smile. He already looked forward to when he could return.

__________________________________

It had been a few days, but once he had finished listening to a lecture from his father, Astarion gathered a new set of books and took off towards the farm. He had picked a new story from his collection that he was sure Toren would enjoy since he had liked the other. He was eager to hear the human’s thoughts on the remainder of the book.

The elf pushed through the gate and his breath caught as he caught site of a shirtless Toren crouched over a plant and examining its leaves. Toren must have felt the green eyes boring into him because he looked up. He gave a friendly wave and Astarion blinked, waving back woodenly. He pointed towards the sunflowers and Toren nodded, holding up a finger to signal he would be there soon.

Astarion remembered to grab the blanket, shaking stray hay from it, and meandered through the wall of sunflowers to his patch of happiness.

It wasn’t long before Toren had joined him. They read silently for some time before diving into conversation just as they had last time, enjoying more of the wine and snacks Toren had packed.

Astarion was correct in his assumption that Toren would enjoy the book that he had chosen. He was overcome with joy to have someone he could share his thoughts with, someone who took into consideration what he had to say while also not afraid to banter back and forth with him. It had been a long time since he had this much fun.

This ritual carried on until the season began to change. The days became shorter, leaves turned from green into beautiful hues of red and orange, and the wind grew colder.

When Astarion had arrived later than usual, he found Toren already in their spot. He had brought an extra blanket and a lantern for when the darkness would eventually surround them. The strawberry wine had already been poured and he was lying back against a folded sweater, nearly finished with his book.

“I see you’ve beat me here,” Astarion said, settling onto the blanket.

“I…I had some free time today.” Toren placed his book down and sat up with an arm draped over his bent knee.

Astarion reached for his goblet and sipped at it. He squinted at Toren. He was being unusually quiet and avoiding the elf’s gaze.

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong or do I need to stare at you until you do?”

“Astarion, I have to leave. Tomorrow,” Toren told him.

“I will see you when you return then.”

“I’m not returning. I’ve done what I needed and it’s time for me to continue on elsewhere, expanding my knowledge to help others.”

Astarion’s heart sank to his stomach. He would no longer have this little solitude. He couldn’t look forward to any more discussions with Toren while feeling like the only two people in the world. Of course he was leaving and just when Astarion thought he had felt something, but who was he kidding? A teenage crush would mean nothing to Toren.

The high elf decided to shove down his feelings and slather on the well wishes with a fake smile. He shouldn’t expect his emotions to be reciprocated and Toren had been nothing but wonderful to him.

“Well, let’s celebrate one last night properly then,” Astarion said in his most cheerful voice. He held up his goblet to Toren and Toren tapped the rim of his glass against Astarion’s. “To new adventures and new stories of our own.”

They swigged the wine and then fell into a silence as they tried to read. Their eyes skimmed across the words on the pages, but they couldn’t fully concentrate, peeking over at one another every so often.

Astarion shivered and ran one hand up his arm to produce warmth. A blanket came around him and he felt fingertips brush away from his shoulders. Toren gave him a gentle grin before returning to his spot.

Minutes ticked by and Astarion couldn’t take it any more. He didn’t like the awkwardness that had formed between them or Toren’s impending departure. He refused to have a bad night.

“Do you feel anything for me?” The elf was not one for subtlety.

Toren was startled and taken aback by the question. “I’m sorry?”

“I know you think I appear young, but I’m not much younger than you and I may not be experienced in all things relationships, but I thought there were signs from you. I haven’t been hiding my feelings with all the stares and whatnot. You’re clearly attractive, but I-”

“You think I’m attractive?”

Astarion rolled his eyes. “Of course that’s what you latch onto. Isn’t it obvious I do or has the manure gone to your head?”

That was the first time Astarion had seen Toren blush. It felt like butterflies were fluttering in Astarion’s stomach at the sight.

“I feared pushing you,” Toren admitted. “I’ve enjoyed our time together, but I knew nothing could come of it and never wanted to hurt you…or myself.”

“It would hurt me more if you had never said a word and let me suffer with my own thoughts.” Several seconds passed before Astarion spoke again. “Could you do me one favor?”

“Hm?” Toren’s deep blues met his emerald gaze. He didn’t shy away.

“One kiss,” Astarion asked. “That is if you want to. I would never-”

Before the high elf could finished his sentence, Toren’s lips were on his. His tanned hand came up and twisted into the silver curls and Astarion’s found purchase on the taut muscles of Toren’s back.

Astarion laid back on the blanket while Toren hovered over him. Their lips melding together and moving with care against each other’s.

Astarion had never been kissed before and this was not how he ever expected his first kiss to happen. He had always thought it would be a simple peck followed by a rush of embarrassment but this was something else entirely. He had never experienced such bliss and didn’t want it to end.

The taste of the fruit wine mingled between their tongues. There was no wandering hands and no crude words, only tenderness shared between the two as they kissed for what seemed like an hour. When they broke apart, their foreheads pressed together for a moment before Toren moved to rest beside Astarion and pulled him in close to his side. They stayed there, falling asleep in each other’s arms under the clear night sky.

The next day was filled with hurt as Toren said his goodbye. Tears threatened to fall as their arms wrapped around the other, but Astarion knew he needed to accept this fate. They were never meant to be, but the one night they shared would be with him forever.

Toren held the book he had borrowed out to Astarion, but the elf pushed it back at him.

“Something to remember me on those lonely nights,” Astarion said.

“Thank you.” Toren placed a peck on the soft strands. “I’ll keep it always.”

Astarion watched as Toren loaded his bag into a carriage and stepped in, disappearing into the distance.

~

The journal was shut and the bottle of strawberry wine was three-quarters finished. Astarion stood and looked off to the farm not very far away. It was now owned by some other family that had been close to Toren’s grandfather as Toren was the only option to take over but he had found success elsewhere, according to the wife when Astarion had strolled his way down and struck up a conversation.

The recipe for the wine was also passed along and the family had continued to disperse it to local markets when the season had arrived for picking the berries. He had always made sure to buy an extra to share with friends later.

As the sun settled to the horizon, Astarion sighed. It was time for him to head home and he would not return until this time again the next year, when the sunflowers bloomed and everything tasted of strawberry wine.

[star-going-supernova]

prompt: Vanessa casually asks Gregory about his parents only to freeze in horror when she hears their names. They used to be Pizzaplex employees who she, as Vanny, killed for getting too close to the truth.

This ficlet isn’t so mini, lol. Warning for mentioned past deaths via stabbing.

Bodies in the River

For the past month, she’d been meeting up with Gregory every Wednesday and Saturday at the little cafe downtown. It was a nice, neutral location, and she hoped it helped him feel safe. With time, they’d slowly gotten past the awkward silences and stilted conversation. Vanessa was pretty proud of how far they’d come. 

She knew he’d agreed in the beginning more for her sake than his own. After all, what would he get out of befriending his almost-murderer? But her nightmares had been getting worse, and the bags under her eyes had probably said more about her mental state than she had when she first asked him. Imprinted on the insides of her eyelids were all the ways That Night could have ended badly; as she’d hoped, seeing Gregory alive and well on a regular basis was like a balm to her fractured brain. 

That he’d agreed at all was a kindness she still didn’t feel like she deserved. But that was what therapy was for.

In the past month, Vanessa had learned a lot about Gregory. He was twelve years old, his favorite color was blue, he was kind of scary smart, he also regularly visited Freddy and the others, and he was living in a foster home. 

That last one had actually taken her by surprise; the week before, he’d been talking about the camping trip his parents had taken him on for his tenth birthday.

She must have looked confused because he paused in his story of his foster family’s dog getting stuck in a tree. And she felt so guilty for it because he must have gotten that look a lot, enough for him to know to explain, “They died when I was eleven.” 

“What happened?” she asked, followed almost immediately by a facepalm. “Sorry, sorry, that was—forget I said that.” 

But Gregory shrugged, the brightness of his eyes gone dim. “Dunno, really. The police think it was a mugging gone wrong. They were—” his voice cracked, and he looked down at the table between them— “they were dumped in the river.”

Something prickled uncomfortably in the blurry recesses of Vanessa’s mind. Her heart started to beat faster, and she didn’t know why.

“You might’ve met them before, actually,” Gregory continued. “They worked at the pizzaplex together. Hazel and Arthur Monroe.” He hunched in on himself. “I miss them a lot.” 

And oh. Oh. She knew them. She remembered them. Her stomach churned, and the acid taste of bile burned the back of her throat. A cold feeling of dread swept through her. 

The Monroes. The man and woman who had started poking around, getting suspicious for reasons she hadn’t been able to figure out. It’d nearly driven her to distraction, not knowing if she’d messed up and given herself away somehow. 

So the nosey, too-smart-for-their-own-good couple had had to go. 

Vanny had stabbed them, first Hazel in the locker room, then Arthur in the hallway where he’d been waiting for his wife. She’d been quick and efficient about it; she hadn’t wanted to go overboard and draw attention to them. She’d wanted it to look like a mugging gone wrong; she’d stolen their wallets and phones and watches and Hazel’s nice necklace and—and their wedding rings. 

And then she’d borrowed a company van to take their bodies to the river. 

Vanessa stared across the table at the child she’d orphaned, at the child whose parents’ wedding rings she’d pawned off two towns over, four months after she’d killed them. Her tongue was heavy in her mouth; she couldn’t speak, not even when Gregory frowned and—his mouth moved, he was talking, probably asking if she was all right, and she was burning up, chest heavy with guilt, and the spacious cafe suddenly felt too small, and Vanessa couldn’t breathe—

“I have to go,” she choked out in a rushed breath, and she nearly tipped her chair over in her haste to escape. 

Her last glimpse of Gregory was through the cafe’s storefront window as she turned to speed-walk down the sidewalk. He looked frozen, eyes wide with a terrible realization. 

Just like his parents, her traitorous thoughts whispered, too smart for his own good.

[doodle-pops]

Eönwë With An Architect Reader

Request: Greatings Mina The Magnificent! If I may... can I please request either a fic or headcannons with Manwe, Eonwe or Irmo (you can pick!) x reader were they are an architect. Have you ever seen the River of Light in London (the Thames) what if their s/o did that in their town or palace area? Do you think they’d like it? Oh! Oh! What if they surprise their Godly lover with it as a gift??? Thanks for taking the time to read and consider! 🙏🏻💙 have a nice day/night! - Anon

A/N: *takes a bow* Hi Hi! I decided to write about him having an architect s/o and you building something for him, a little gift. Enjoy!

·⊰ You were a famous architect under the tutelage of Aüle and known throughout Aman for designing some of the most lavish and outstanding projects. You were also known for participating in the early designs of the city of Tirion and Alqualonde in the earliest years.

·⊰ To say that Eӧnwё was not ecstatic to have you as a partner was a lie. He was always found hovering and touching all your gadgets in your study anytime he came by while you were working.

·⊰ Most of his favourite times are when you were constructing miniature models of your latest project, commissioned by one of the great Lords or High Kings, and he would come along to act as your little helper.

·⊰ Handing you your chisel and hammer, moulding clay, and even participating in painting the buildings and structures. The only thing he wouldn’t do would be carve or place the pieces together properly.

·⊰ Eӧnwё assumed it would be child’s play when he watched as you stuck the pieces of wood together and attempted to copy. Let’s just say that it was more difficult than he expected (he glued the wrong pieces together and left out important foundations).

·⊰ After realising that he wasn’t great with building, he stuck to painting the structures and handing you all your tools while sitting back and observing you work. Expect lots of questions, like ‘what got you into this?’ or ‘how did you know you wanted to be an architect?’.

·⊰ Eӧnwё does enjoy visiting you on the construction sites while you're working. He uses his ability to fly to take you on aerial tours so you can view your creation from above. In fact, he does this a lot for all of your creations, wanting to show you the view he has of your masterpieces.

·⊰ Know that he’s you’re number one hype man/maia. Even if there was another architect who was proving to be better than you, in his eyes, you were the best and no one could outshine your brilliance. He even boasts to his fellow Maiar about your skills. If you have an opening for a new project, he’ll invite his friends and others to support you.

·⊰ During his many years of courtship, he has picked up many new skills even if he wasn’t great in the beginning with them. Soon, he’ll be building models with you and not mismatching the pieces, even giving you innovative ideas for new projects.

·⊰ As his lover, Eӧnwё wasn’t aware of the benefits of dating an architect when he came to visit you one day for a date, and you instructed him to take you elsewhere. During your courtship, you had designed a fancy getaway cabin and garden for you both (mostly him).

·⊰ He’ll ask you to take him on a tour around the area and show him all the specialities you added to the design because you always have something extra up your sleeves. When you show him the lights and decorations you’ve added, Eӧnwё is beaming, and you can see it in his puffed-up feathers.

·⊰ He couldn’t believe that you would do something so wonderful and extraordinary for him. Know that he will make use of your gift and bring you along when he wasn’t alone time. You even built him a pool so he could wash his wings whenever he needed to preen, and you must help him.

·⊰ There would be lights running along a stream that leads into the pool where he'd clean off. He would choose to preen at night or take a wash off so he could witness the colourful lights and then get lost in them, forgetting his bath.

·⊰ Sometimes during the colour-changing show, you would see his feather ruffled and puffed up in a more relaxing manner while he's busy gazing at the lights. He looks like those cats staring at pretty lights.

Masterlist

Taglist: @eunoiaastralwings @noldorinpainter @ranhanabi777 @lilmelily @someoneinthestars @mysticmoomin @aconstructofamind @the-phantom-of-arda @rain-on-my-umbrella @singleteapot @wandererindreams @asianbutnotjapanese @justellie17 @justjane @silverose365 @bunson-burner @wisheduponastar @stormchaser819 @cilil @edensrose @ilu-stripes

[sdvbee]

we fell in love in october ;; haley x reader

summary: haley has been avoiding you, and you don’t know why. relationship: haley x female reader word count: 2.4k read on ao3!

✧༺♥༻✧

You would be lying to yourself if you said that you didn’t think Haley was the prettiest girl you had ever seen. With her curly golden locks and sparkling blue eyes, she was easily the star of the valley, and of your heart. When you first moved into the small oceanside town, she’d been nothing short of rude to you. Nothing outwardly mean , necessarily, but every interaction was made up of short remarks and passive-aggressive compliments. “Nice makeup. Wait... Are you even wearing any?” “Don't you get tired of running around on that farm all day, or whatever it is you do? I couldn't stand getting all dirty like that.”

Luckily, you were not one to back down so easily. You were used to mean girls, and you had learned long ago that being sickeningly nice to them usually did the trick. Besides, something about Haley struck you. Was she rude? A little bit. But you could tell there was something else there, something more. Some days you’d see her out taking photos around town, sometimes making her sister model for her.

So you gave her gifts. Coconuts you’d found in the desert, a slice of pink cake, a pretty sunflower from the farm. Each time she seemed surprised, but she softened a little bit more. You felt that you were making progress, albeit slowly. As mean as she was, you wanted to be her friend. 

You’d heard around town about the things she and her sister Emily had gone through. They had been on their own for the past two years as their parents “traveled the world.” Apparently, they had never been around much before that anyways. You couldn’t help but feel bad for them. While they were both adults–Haley 21 and Emily 24–it couldn’t be easy to be without your parents for so long. And it wasn’t an excuse for Haley being so mean, but maybe it was an explanation.

You were taking your usual afternoon walk around Pelican Town. It was a brisk fall day, perfect to see all the foliage the seaside town had to offer. You had only been there for a few months, but you only needed a day to fall in love with the area. You were starting to understand why your grandfather loved it so much there.

As you strolled, the leaves crunching under your feet, memories began to flood back to you. Memories of visiting the farm as a child, of jumping in leaf piles and making scarecrows. Thanksgivings hosted in the old farmhouse– they were never large. You had no cousins, so holidays were always just you, your parents, and your grandfather. The attendance may have been small, but the company was good, and he always made enough food for ten times the amount of people that were there.

You wondered if you ever came across any of your now-friends as children. You always stayed on the farm, but perhaps one time you’d seen sisters playing in the town square, a girl reading under a tree, two boys and a girl playing in the river, a girl doing some kind of science project…

As you walked around the area of Marnie’s ranch, you were stopped by the sound of crying. Frowning, you started to approach the noise. As you rounded a tree, you saw the source of the noise: Haley, sitting on the dock by the small pond. Her face was in her hands, and her shoulders were shaking. She seemed to be trying to quiet her sobs, but to no avail.

“Haley?” You called. Immediately, she tensed up and the cries stopped. You walked down the length of the dock quickly, wood creaking. Just as you got close, she wiped her eyes and looked up at you. Mascara streaked down her pink cheeks, her eyes were red and puffy, and her hair was a mess.

“H-Hi,” she said, her voice shaking.

“What’s wrong?” You sat down beside her. She sniffled and wiped her cheeks. Black makeup stained her fingers, and she let out a laugh when she looked down at her hands. “You don’t need to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

For a while, you were both quiet. You weren’t going to make her speak, and at the moment it seemed like she didn’t want to. Haley stared at her feet, her breath still shaking as she tried to calm herself down. You knew that feeling too well; when you’re finished crying but you still can’t seem to breathe properly.

You don’t know how long the two of you sat there for, but soon there was a chill in the air. The warm afternoon was fading away. The only sounds were the wind whistling through the trees and squirrels running through the leaves, no doubt stockpiling for the bitter winter ahead. You had to do the same thing this time of year. It was one of the most important things your grandfather always told you he did: fall is the time to prepare for winter. Grow extra wheat for the animals, extra food for yourself so you don’t starve. Save up for some nice heaters for the barn and coop. 

Haley shivered beside you. You looked at her, noting the way goosebumps raised on her smooth skin. Without a second thought, you shed your jacket and placed it on her shoulders. She murmured a soft thanks.

“It’s getting dark out,” you noted. This time of year was sad, for it got dark far too early for your liking. If you had to guess, which you were quite good at from time spent outside, it was barely even five o’clock. “Do you want me to walk you home?”

“Yes, sure,” she whispered. One of only three things she had said to you since you arrived. You stood up and offered her your hand. She took it and stood up. You couldn’t help but notice how cute she looked in your jacket. It was a warm one, meant for farming on cold days like this. It was dirty and stained. You’d think Haley would take it off with a, “ugh, gross” , but to your surprise, she pulled it tighter around her.

The short walk to 2 Willow Lane was filled with more silence. Haley didn’t say a word, but she didn’t need to. You knew that she appreciated your presence. She showed it by taking your hand and giving it a light squeeze. When you got to her door, she shed your jacket and handed it back to you.

“I’ll see you soon, okay?” You breathed.

“Okay.”

You didn’t talk to Haley again for a while after that. Every time you saw her, she seemed to avoid you. At the Spirit’s Eve festival, she stayed close to Alex the whole time, and when you said hi, she only gave you a brief “hey” back. Why she was avoiding you, though, you didn’t know. You sensed it had something to do with that afternoon by the lake and why she was crying. 

Fall turned into winter, and the sun began to set even earlier. Darkness fell over Pelican Town by four o’clock, a far cry from the seven o’clock sunset of the summer months. Your livestock stayed inside their respective barns and coops, so you could no longer even wake up to their sound in the mornings. Due to the cold weather, you fell into a routine much more dull than your usual one. Walks around town became few and far between.

Often, you found Haley at the forefront of your mind. You rarely saw her anymore, but that didn’t stop her blue eyes and her laugh like a chime from plaguing your thoughts. You missed her, you’d admit, but there was nothing you could do. She didn’t want to see you, it seemed, so what could you do about it?

You weren’t a fan of the snow, so you had largely been trying to avoid leaving the farm. But you really needed a silo built, so you found yourself trekking up to Robin’s carpentry shop. After placing the order, you figured you might as well just walk through the town. Pelican Town was always pretty, but the lights wrapped around the lampposts made it even prettier this time of year. You moseyed along the walkways, humming softly to yourself as you admired the lights. 

Then you saw her. Haley was standing outside of Alex’s house, giggling with him as he tossed his gridball up in the air. He was saying something–knowing him, probably something dumb–and Haley was laughing. Her cheeks were glowing from the cold, and her eyes sparkling with laughter. Your mother always told you that jealousy was a parasite, one that would find its way into your heart and burrow itself there. Now, you knew you had been infected.

You turned on your heel and went back to the farm.

Winter dragged along, but before you knew it it had been a year since you first moved to Pelican Town. On the morning of the first day of spring, you found a note stuck to your door:

Farmer (Y/N),

Come to the community center at 3PM!

Excitement bubbled up in your stomach. You had recently finished renovations on the community center, and you were beyond thrilled that it was going to good use. In the past year, you had seen so many improvements made on the town, entirely thanks to you. Your hard work had not gone to waste, it seemed.

You spent your morning cleaning out the farm, then headed to the community center at three. To your surprise, the lights looked like they were off. You frowned and opened the door, peeking your head in.

“Hello?” You called. As the words left your lips, all the lights turned on. The interior was decorated with various balloons and streamers, and there was a table full of food in the center. On the wall, there was a big banner that said: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

“Surprise!” Everyone yelled. You laughed in disbelief as you looked around at your friends and neighbors, those you had come to know and love over the past four seasons of your life. Around you, you saw everyone in town. Even Haley, who was currently avoiding all eye contact with you. Your heart sank a little, but it quickly rose up again when Alex ran over to you, hugging you tightly and lifting you in the air.

“Happy anniversary!” He yelled. “Can you believe it’s been a whole year since you moved here?!”

“We wanted to throw you a party to thank you for everything you’ve done for us,” Emily said, having appeared beside you. “You really saved this town.”

Over the next hour or so, you spent time talking to each and every one of your neighbors. Never in your life had you felt more appreciated and loved than in that moment. Everyone thanked you over and over again, but the one person you wanted to see was nowhere to be found.

“Hey, have you seen Haley?” You asked Emily. She was sitting in the little library section, talking and laughing with Caroline, Jodi, and Robin.

“I think I saw her go outside to get some fresh air,” Caroline said. Emily agreed with her, so outside you went. There, sitting on a park bench, was Haley. She was holding a daffodil in her hands, twirling it. Clearly, she was deep in thought. 

Quietly, you walked over to the bench and sat beside her. “Hey, Haley.”

“Oh, hey,” she said. She didn’t look up at you. You let out a sigh.

“Why are you avoiding me?” You asked, point-blank. She perked up and, finally, for the first time in months, looked you in the eye.

“I-I’m not avoiding you!” She said quickly.

“Really? Because this is the first time you’ve looked me in the eye since–since that time by the lake in Cindersap Forest,” you said. She didn’t look upset before, but she did now. Haley was never the type to cry in front of people, but tears were filling her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I-I just, I…”

“You can tell me what’s wrong,” you urged. “If I did anything, I want to know.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “I promise.”

“Then what is it?”

For one nostalgic moment, you were both silent. After what felt like an eternity, she spoke. Her voice was shaking, and she had since looked back at the daffodil in her hands.

“I-I’ve always been so confident in myself, and who I am,” she explained. “My whole life, I’ve known who I am. In high school, I was a popular girl. Was I a little mean? Sure, but I think all teenage girls are. I had friends, even boyfriends. I have never once questioned myself until I met you. You’re just so…ugh!”

“You don’t like me?” You asked, heartbroken.

“No! God, no. I don’t not like you. That’s not it at all. I just…” she sighed. “For my entire life, I’ve dated men. But I don’t think I have ever been attracted to them. I’ve never felt about my boyfriends the way I feel about you. And you’re not even…you’re not my girlfriend. I’ve been avoiding you because I’m afraid, (Y/N). I’m afraid of how you make me feel.”

For a moment, it felt like the world stopped spinning. Time slowed to a complete stop. The only people that existed, at that moment, were you and Haley. You didn’t know what to say. All you could do was sit there, mouth open in shock. 

“I love you,” she said softly. Tears threatened to spill out onto her cheeks. You cupped her cheek with your hand and, instead of responding, you kissed her. She seemed shocked for a moment, too frozen to reciprocate, but after a minute she melted into it. Her lips tasted like strawberries, and her skin smelled of coconut and jasmine. She was soft, softer than you could have ever imagined, and you realized you loved her back . 

You had loved her all along. You loved her soft golden hair and her sparkling blue eyes, you loved her laugh like a chime and all those snide remarks she made to you when you first met. Even though she hadn’t spoken a word to you in two months, you loved her.

You pulled out of the kiss, pressing your forehead against hers. 

“I love you too, Haley.”