#we might as well stretch our writing hands hehehe

[tootditoot]

"I am not a prophet, I am a tiller of the ground. Cultivate it, and it will yield its wisdom to you" - Fallecer

Quick character sketch for @hiimerick's rp world. Still thinking of her lore before making a sideblog for the rp so I'm just posting it here for now.

Also since I read that the Fei lands are described as "quite wet and warm", I'm assuming it is similar to humid tropical climates, so hope you don't mind me making Fallecer have the background of a rice farmer around those parts hehehe

(btw can Fallecer keep the Duck Scolly :)), I promise the Duck Scolly is very important and not just for the funnies ;) )

[juanysusalchica]

Fang x Pregnant! Reader

Inspired by bobmacvosky's art (hehehe) I had this weird dream about Fang and I was like OMG I MUST WRITE THIS, I hurried to my computer and immediately typed what typed what I've dreamt

One night, you were unable to sleep for you twist and turn in discomfort in your shared bed with your boyfriend, Fang. Suddenly, you felt the baby stretch its small figure inside of you that made you closed your eyes tightly and groan in discomfort, your belly was almost the size of a watermelon, and it exhaust you.

Motherhood, yay…

Fluttering his eyes opened, Fang woke up to find you squirming next to him, he knew how uncomfortable it was for you, even with the smallest movements as you were getting ready to give birth within the coming weeks, so his mind was immediately thinking of a way to help reduce the discomfort that you were feeling.

Without muttering a word, he placed a hand on your tummy in which you froze at the sudden touch.

“Trouble sleeping again?” he asked, looking up at you groggily.

“Yeah…” you sighed, “I’m so sorry for waking you up, I- I’m doing my best to sleep but I… just… can’t.” You rubbed your temples in small circles, the lack of sleep was making you feel frustrated and bitter.

“Hmm, let me try something.”

Fang moved down to your stomach, he made himself comfortable placing his cheek on your bump while keeping his hand to the other side of your tummy.

“Hey there little baby, it’s your papa speaking from the outside,” Fang put a nervous smile; he seemed awkward just by talking to your baby-bump and get no response, yet he continued.

“I know that we… barely talk to each other but I’m sure you’ve heard of my Fang-tastic voice, hehe, but enough about me. I just wanna say that you have no idea how happy I am to feel your little kicks but for now, let’s give your mama some rest for a few nights, okay? I assure you that she will thank you from the bottom of her heart.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to your belly, whispering sweet words of love to their unborn child. “We can’t wait to meet you,”

As Fang whispered this, suddenly he felt your body shake, looking up he found you in the verge of tears.

“Woah, hey, what’s wrong?”

“It’s just… I’m just scared it might happen again.”

Fang tensed up, he grabbed your hand and squeeze it lightly. “Y/n…”

“I know we barely talked about this, but I miss them, I really do…” You sniffled, “Oh, I would do anything to have them in my arms…”

Fang was surprised that for the first time you’re being open with your feelings, he knew that the loss of your previous unborn child had left a scar on you.

“I- yeah… I miss them too but… what if it doesn’t happen this time?”

You looked at him with tears blurring your vision, “But what if they don’t? What if our baby dies during the birth as well? I don’t think I can handle this!”

Fang sensed your anxiety as he sat up, he put his hands on your shoulders and looked at you directly, “It won’t happen again. You’ll see, in a few days you will hold this baby this time.” He promised.

Your heart swelled at his words, hot tears finally rolled down as you wrapped your arms around Fang, hugging him tightly. You wanted to believe in his words, but your mind was disturbing you at the images of your loss, you wanted to end this sooner and have this baby in your arms.

The days passed, it was the moment of truth, the due date that you both had anxiously awaited had finally arrived.

y/n was laying down on the hospital bed as she was getting closer to giving birth to their child, Fang was sitting next to her, holding her hand tightly. After one final push, the room wasn’t filled with the baby’s cries, it was complete silence.

This made y/n’s heartbeat race, her motherly instincts were kicking in as she knew that something was wrong, the doctors tried their best to bring the baby back to life, but it was futile, nothing they tried to do was working which made y/n feel even more hopeless as she looked at their motionless baby from afar.

After a few tries, the doctor finally came to her side with the baby all bundled up in a soft fluffy blanket, tears welled up at the sight of their little baby, the doctor tells her that it was a girl and asked her if she wants to meet her to say goodbye.

y/n, with tears in her eyes, shook her head to a yes. The doctor quietly hands her the small child, making sure that y/n was holding her newborn properly.

y/n held her baby tightly, her body shook uncontrollably as tears fell on her daughter’s face. She took a moment to admire her little one’s features, for the second time they lost another child. Who would’ve thought, this morning she was moving inside her and now she was cold and still in her arms.

Fang remained silent by her side, he still couldn’t process what just happened, he stared down at his little girl, she looked so peaceful he swore that his baby looked like she was sleeping in y/n’s protective arms. His breath hitches as he watches how y/n reluctantly hands their lifeless newborn back to the doctor and walks away, ripping their last hope of becoming a family.

Suddenly, Fang weakly flutter his eyes opened and groaned; he turned his head to the side to find a nurse who was desperately waving a fan in front of his pale face. “Hello, can you hear me? You passed out throughout the labor.” The nurse said, her voice was soft and gentle not wanting to scare him.

Fang was confused, he looked around and realized that he was laying on a hospital bed, the mattress was flat and rigid from the many patients that had once rested.

The nurse indicated him to sit and wait until the labor had finished; Fang stared at the clock that hung on the wall, already growing impatient at each passing second.

Fang sighed heavily and thought, ‘did that really just happened? Did their baby really just died?’

Fang shook his head and rubbed his face roughly. No, it won’t happen again. Not this time. His heart won’t be able to take another loss. He then closed his eyes and dozed off, a few minutes later he felt someone gently shook his arm, it was the same nurse.

“Huh, yes?”

“Are you y/n’s boyfriend?”

Fang tensed up when the nurse mentioned your name, he quickly stood up from the bed and nods his head to answer the nurse’s question, the nurse gesture him to follow until reaching to your ward. The nurse pats his shoulder with a soft smile, encouraging him to enter, a lump formed on his throat, he reaches out his trembling hand to turn the knob slowly.

He peeked his head inside the room to find you resting on the bed covered in layers of warm quilts to protect her from the cold environment.

You turned to look at him, offering Fang a smile but ended up being weak grimace.

“Hey Fang, we were just talking about you,” Your voice was soft and raspy, Fang furrowed his brow when you said the word ‘we’. He rushed to your side only to be surprised to find a small baby snuggled against your chest.

Fang blinked, he rubbed his eyes and looked again, making sure his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him.

“Is this real? Is that really our baby?” he points at the newborn while looking at you with wide eyes making you chuckle at his shocked reaction. “Y/n, please, I need you to pinch me. This must be a dream.”

“Fang! Fang! Calm down, it is our baby.” You grabbed his trembling hand with your own, squeezing it with reassurance. “You must’ve hit your head hard. You passed out the moment the doctor put on the glove.” You giggled.

Fang blushed at the tease before turning his attention back to their newborn, he crouches down to their level so he could take a proper look at the vulnerable baby, you took notice of this, “Do you want to hold her?” Fang froze, he went quiet for a moment before nodding his head shyly.

As you prepare to hand him the baby, Fang anxiously looked down at his hands and remembered that he was still wearing his gloves, he teared them off quickly and took the tender baby from your arms. He was stiff when holding his daughter but made sure he didn’t drop her.

“She’s so small…” he cooed, a small smile cracking on his lips as he gently cradles the newborn.

“Hello baby girl, welcome to the new world.” He whispered to her lovingly, holding her close to his chest.

[nothinghcppens]

small talk- pietro maximoff

part 2

part 1 here

masterlist

pair: pietro maximoff x female!reader

summary: after being apart of the team of super soldiers that hydra experimented on, y/n was one of the successful experiments and had been released to the world. the winter soldier and the siren had become the most prolific assassin duo in the world. but what happens when they get taken in by the avengers? what happens when she meets a particularly fast superhero with an attitude?

warnings: swearing, mentions of trauma, alcohol, kissing but like only that, minor sexual jokes

a/n: hi !! i just wanted to say thank you so much for all the love and support of part 1 of small talk and bad liar omg <3 i also wanted to add a taglist to future fics so let me know if you want added it! make sure to specify if you want to be added to the marvel or the harry potter one bc i have a harry potter fic in the works rn! also i’m gonna write a part three that’s just cute bc i want to keep writing this character heheh

“wake up!” splash.

the feeling of cold water hitting your face shocked you awake and you sat up with a gasp. trails of blue flashed from beside your bed and out the door, the clang of a bucket hitting the floor. “pietro maximoff. i am going to kill your speedy ass!” you shouted, jumping out of bed. not even caring that you were only in a t-shirt and shorts, you chased after him, following the blue light.

the trails stopped eventually, and so did you. you glanced around, listening for any sign of him. you crept over to one of the couches and grabbed a pillow as a weapon. “where are you?” you called, i’m a sing-song voice.

you walked around the room, “come on, don’t hide from me now.” the faint sound of his breathing was heard along with the dripping water from your hair and t-shirt. you followed the sound of his shallow breaths to the island in the kitchen. you dropped the pillow, climbed up on the island and crawled across it before swung your head over the edge, in front of his. “hey there.

he gasped, “shit.” you flipped your hair back up and sat back on your knees. pietro stood up and turned to face you before bursting into fits of laughter.

“i don’t know what’s funny.” you mumbled, glaring up at him.

“yes you do, you look ridiculous.” he huffed between laughs.

“i won’t look ridiculous when i’m putting a bullet through your head.” you spat.

“calm down, love. it’s only a bit of fun.” he said.

“i was sleeping piet!” you protested. you moved your legs so that they were dangling off the edge.

“okay, i’m sorry. i’m sorry!”

“you better be. i’ll get you back though.”

he stepped forward and leaned his hands on the island, on either side of you. “will you, yeah?”

his head was an inch away from yours, you could feel his breath against your face. you saw his eyes drift from your eyes to your lips and back up again. he leaned in slightly and your breathing quickened. “what’re you doing?” you whispered.

“what do you think i’m doing?” he replied in the same hushed tone.

“something you should’ve done a long time ago.” you leaned in towards him, lips almost touching.

“good morning!” cap announced, walking into the kitchen, looking at his phone. you two broke apart quickly, pietro speeding and grabbing you a glass of orange juice and ten occupying himself by looking at something in the cupboard.

“hey cap.” you croaked, voice uneasy from the nerves coursing through your body. “morning steve.” pietro greeted, closing the cupboard and standing next to you on the counter. steve didn’t look up from his phone and didn’t notice your wet hair and clothes

“how’s our newest recruit?” he asked as he grabbed a mug from one of the shelves.

“steve, i’ve been here for like 6 months!” you complained.

he put the mug in the coffee machine and pressed a few buttons, “and? you’re still the newest.”

“might be the newest but i could still take you down old man.”

“don’t get too cocky kid, i think pietro’s rubbing off on you.”

“ew i’d rather go back to being tortured than be like him.” you joked.

“how dare you! you know you love being around me.”

you made fake gagging noise and steve let out a laugh. he finally turned around and looked at you two for the first time this morning.

“oh- uh y/n? what happened, why are you soaked?” he asked, averting his eyes from you. your eyes widened in realisation that you were wearing little-to-nothing in front of your captain and your t-shirt was clinging to your body.

“pietro is a dick is what happened.” you said, pushing yourself off the table. “if you’ll excuse me, i’ll go make myself decent.”

“you look decent all the time, love!” pietro called after you as you began to leave the kitchen. you swivelled round and flipped him off with both hands before leaving the room.

———

“do you remember when-“ you let out a giggle and pointed at bucky, “when we had to kill those french agents and you-“ another laugh, “you fell over a wall! god i mean because my brain was mush i couldn’t laugh but looking back on it that shit was hilarious!”

you and the team were recalling old missions gone wrong, with the assistance of alcohol obviously, and you were telling a story about you and bucky- much to his dismay.

“i didn’t fall.” he protested, taking a swig from the bottom of beer in his hand.

“so what happened then? did the sidewalk just crumble?” you questioned, laughing loudly. the rest of the team sat observing the interaction, large smiles across all their face. pietro sat to your left with his arm around your shoulder, a drink in his other hand.

“okay. maybe i did fall.” bucky mumbled causing a roar of laughter from everyone. “but, remember how we were running through a forest in, where was it again?-“

“bulgaria.” you said, already knowing where this was going.

“bulgaria! yes. and it was raining so it was super muddy and you got suck in the mud!” he laughed.

“you left me there! i had to drag myself out.” you complained.

“well we had a mission to complete! you would’ve done the same.”

you rolled your eyes, “you’re right. i would have.” you felt pietro laugh from beside you and you smiled at him. “time for a refill.” you announced, pushing yourself up off the sofa. you wandered to the kitchen and took the bottle of wine on the table and poured some into your glass. due to the alcohol already in your system you spilled a little on the counter, “shit.” you muttered.

“need some help there?” pietro asked.

“i can pour wine myself thank you very much.” you retorted.

“i think the table disagrees.” he chuckled.

“shut up.” you groaned. pietro sped from the door to grab a towel and stopped behind you. he reached over your shoulder and wiped the spilled wine up. his breath was hot against your neck. you turned around, wine glass in hand, and looked up into his eyes. his hands remained on either side of you.

“this is the second time we’ve ended up here.” he mumbled.

“good observation, captain obvious.” you teased. pietro rolled his eyes and huffed out a laugh.

pietro took his right hand and tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear, staring into your eyes. he kept his hand on the side of your head and leant in slightly for the second time in the past week. your breathing deepened and your heart was thumping against your chest. you tilted your head up towards his head and your lips were almost touching, just as they were a few days ago

“y/n! can you get me a whiskey before you come back?!” tony called from the other room.

pietro groaned in frustration and pulled away from you, tilting his head up. “i’m going to kill those avengers.”

“good luck with that speedy.” you said, tapping his chest lightly.

he stepped away from you, letting you leave his embrace to get tony a drink. after pouring him a glass of whiskey and grabbing your glass of wine, you and pietro entered the room filled with your team. his hand was placed in the small of your back, guiding you back to the sofa.

you handed tony his drink and he smiled at you, “thanks kid.”

pietro sat on the couch and you flopped down beside him, his arm resuming its place of around your shoulder. you swung your legs up and across pietro’s legs, earning a few looks from nat and clint. they looked at each other and raised their eyebrows with a smirk.

steve and bucky were telling a story of a party they went to in the 40s and how bucky had to drag him to dance with these girls they met. you took a sip of your drink and noticed pietro’s eyes glancing at your lips, “want a sip?” you asked, smirking because you knew that’s not what he was looking at.

he pushed his tongue against the inside of his cheek and sighed, “watch it, y/l/n.”

“oooooooh we’re on last name terms now?” you teased, smiling.

“yeah if you keep pissing me off we will be.”

“don’t be so easy to piss off.” you replied.

he leaned over and whispered in your ear, “cant help it. i’m frustrated.”

you pushed out your bottom lip in an overdramatic pout, “boohoo.”

tony then shot forward in his seat and clapped his hands together, “tomorrow you two,” he said, pointing at you and bucky, “are gonna have a little fashion show, i’ve been working on some suits for you guys and i need your input.”

“wait really?” you asked.

“yup. i’m not having you two going on missions in your hydra gear.” he explained.

“shit, thanks tony.” bucky replied.

“where’s my suit?” pietro questioned.

“you’ll get on eventually. your girlfriend is just a little more improtant.”

“i was here first.” he protested.

“girlfriend?” you asked at the same time.

“wait your turn, turbo.” tony said.

pietro scoffed and everyone laughed at the interaction.

nat stretched her arms behind her head and yawned, “alright losers, i’m going to bed.”

“yeah, me too.” clint added.

eventually everyone had made their way upstairs and all that was left was you, tony and pietro.

“okay. what’s going on here?” tony asked, wagging his finger between you guys. pietro’s hand was now resting on your leg which was still across his.

“nothing.” you said.

“uh huh? yeah that bullshit doesn’t work on me kiddo.”

“piet, sure nothing has happened.” you glanced at him and a look of annoyance crossed his face.

“yeah stark. nothings happened.” he replied through gritted teeth.

“well if anything does happen, stay safe.” he winked at you two, “and if you hurt her, speedy, she’ll probably hurt you back worse.”

you laughed, “hell yeah i will.”

“oh i know you will.”

“goodnight .” tony said as he stood up from his chair and left the room.

you swung your legs off pietro and stood up, “well goodnight piet.” a smirk grew across your face as you began to walk away.

“nope.” he stated, grabbing your wrist and turning you back around. he pulled you onto his lap so you were straddling him, legs on either side of him. he placed his hand on the back of your neck and pulled your head towards his before crashing your lips onto his.

the kiss was heated, after being denied it twice before. your hands moved from his shoulders to the back of his neck and his moved to your waist. his fingers dug into your hips causing you to moan slightly, he took this opportunity to intertwine his tongue with yours.

eventually you broke apart, both gasping for air. you placed your forehead against his and closed your eyes.

“you don’t understand how long i’ve wanted to do that.” he muttered.

“worth it?” you asked, teasing him.

“nope.” he joked.

you leaned back and glared at him, “you bitch.” you leaned in and kissed him again, running your fingers through his hair and pulling it slightly. he groaned against your lips and you smiled through the kiss, enjoying the effect you had on him.

pulling away for the second time, you both had content smiles on your faces. you leaned your head on his shoulder and closed your eyes, “you’re comfortable.”

he let out a hearty laugh, “thank you?”

“it’s a compliment, i could sit here forever.”

suddenly you were no long sitting on top of him, you were being picked up and whisked through the building. your hair blew around until you stopped and were in your room. “what just happened?”

“i’m tired and the couch didn’t seem good to sleep on.” he explained.

“woah, woah, woah. who said you’re sleeping in my room?”

“i did.” he stated. using his powers he stripped himself down to his underwear and jumped on your bed, under the covers.

“i regret kissing you. you’re a pain in the ass.” you complained.

“and you called me a bitch?!” he exclaimed.

you rolled your eyes and grabbed your pyjamas that were at the foot of your bed and walked to your bathroom.

“where are you going?” he asked.

“getting changed, i don’t want you watching.”

you closed the door to block out his protests and quickly got ready for bed.

“hurry up.” pietro called.

“stop complaining or i’m going to sleep on the couch.” you replied, opening the door and leaning against the doorframe. pietro was sat with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes raked over your body and a small smirk grew on his face. “eyes up here pretty boy.”

he laughed and pulled back the cover before patting the spot next to him, signalling for you to join him. you shuffled over and slid into the bed. pietro wrapped his arms around you and pulled you close.

“so much for the whole tough super soldier act, you’re a softie at heart, aren’t you love?” he muttered in your ear.

“anymore of that and i’ll suffocate you in your sleep with this pillow.” you replied, closing your eyes and relaxed into his embrace.

“no you won’t. you’re too soft.” he teased.

“pietro. i’m warning you.” you yawned, “i don’t care how good looking you are i will kill you.”

“good looking huh?”

“fuck off and go to sleep.” you spat.

“sweet dreams, y/n.” he said with a small laugh.

“yep they won’t be about you.” you murmured, before dozing off to sleep.

———

“i knew it!” nat squealed. you squeezed your eyes close and then opened them, blinking rapidly. pietro lay behind you with his arm draped over your waist. he groaned against your neck and looked over his shoulder at the team standing at the door.

“piet what’s going on?” you grumbled, too tired to sit up and look for yourself.

“so when did this happen?” cap asked.

you finally turned over and sat up, seeing everyone stood in your room. “what the fuck? get out my room you creeps!” you shouted, grabbing the pillow behind your head and throwing it towards them.

“oh come on kid, when did it happen?” he repeated.

“none of your business steve.”

“we’re not leaving until we find out.” clint added.

“you’re awfully quiet little brother, nothing to add?” wanda said.

“i cant believe this.” you muttered, lying back down.

“last night, happy? but all we did was kiss okay, nothing else.” you explained.

“yet.” pietro stated. you elbowed him in the stomach and he winced at the impact.

“so are you two together now?” nat asked.

“well we haven’t had the chance to speak about it because you guys ruined our morning!” you exclaimed.

“what’s going on?” bucky asked, rubbing his eyes. he peered in over everyone and laughed, “nevermind.”

it seemed that pietro had had enough too so he sped out of bed and pushed everyone outside the room, closed the door and locked it. “much better.” he said.

you heard the murmurs of everyone outside, “use a condom!�� clint shouted. footsteps retreated from your door as everyone left to go about their day.

“i’m moving out i can’t live here anymore.” you groaned.

“it’s not that bad, you’ve got me.” he said, crawling back onto the bed and lying on top of you. you wrapped your arms around his head and played with his hair.

“so are we like together now?” you asked, mocking natasha’s previously asked question.

“would you like that?” he asked.

“god no.” you joked, “obviously dumbass.”

he lifted his head up and leaned in to kiss you.

“nope. you’ve not brushed your teeth.”

[sweetchup]

Monarch Butterfly

Anonymous asks: Chrollo and his so that both think they’re playing each other... maybe she’s sweet and cute looking so she plays into it and he thinks she dumb and naive and she thinks he’s just a rich kid that took one philosophy class

Type: Chrollo Lucilfer x theif! Reader

Au?: None (same universe as Cute Little Princess (pt.2) and N.E.R.D.S (pt.1))

Word count: 4,000+

Warnings: Smut, Unprotected sex, Chrollo being a Sapiosexual, Dom/Submissive, Angst, angst and angst. Yay, I’m so sad.

Author Note: welp. In a simple sense I went overboard, hehehe, since I instantly got an amazing idea. I might actually make a part 2 to this one if it gets popular enough. I honestly fell in love with the concept once I started writing. I hope you like it anon.

“(Y/n), are you thinking of trying something stupid again? Don’t think I can’t see that look on your face.” Clementine says, blowing a puff out of her cigarette as she looks over to you. You only laugh at Clem, reaching over to pull one of her short blonde corkscrew curls. You watch it bounce back and forth for a moment before answering. “I don’t think it’s stupid. I’m just thinking of having a little fun, that’s all.”

“A little fun my ass. Do you know where we are right now?”

“A party?”

Clementine sighs and shakes her head, “You idiot. We are in a fancy hotel at a party, being hosted by Emperor Fushi who is crowning his eldest daughter, Himiko, and her future husband, Tai.”

“Well, I don’t think it’s that serious.”

Clementine squints her eyes at you as she exhales one last puff of her cigarette before putting it out. “How so. Enlighten me Miss (Y/n).”

“Well,...” you pause for a minute to gather your thoughts, “this is the second time Himiko has been engaged in less than a month. Her first husband was Phinks Magcub who randomly went missing around a week and half ago, along with Emperor Fushi’s youngest daughter.”

“Yeah, they apparently fell in love and ran off into the sunrise. Like so cheesy comedy”

“I don’t think that’s the case,” you murmur. Finally spotting your target again. Clementine lets out an ‘Hah?’. You ignore her noise and just signal her to move down the stairs with you, “I do believe they fell in love and disappeared but I don’t think Mr. Magcub was actually in love with Himiko. Mr Magcub and Himiko got engaged about three ½ weeks ago and Mr Magcub disappeared 1 ½ weeks ago. What do we know that happened in between that timeline?”

You hear her gasp and you smirk a little bit. “T-the theft of The Dragon Eyes Collection!”

“And who do we know that’s crazy enough to do that?”

“The phantom troupe! Wait, (Y/n) is one of them—“

“Yep, one of them is here,” You squint as you go to search for him again. Oh. There he is, “And it’s their leader.”

“(Y/n) wait don’t. We don—“

You act as if you're checking something in her hair and whisper into her ear. “Clem. He already has the two Crown Jewels. That’s our mission and I need to go retrieve them. We may also get the info on the Dragon Eye Collection. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, please hold down the fort while I’m gone.”

You pull away and Clementine sighs before smirking. “Don’t be a stupid ass though.”

“I won’t.” You whine as you sashay away. Your heals click down across the tile floor as you get closer and closer to the bar. You hear a whistle and look to your left to see some young prestigious men eyeing you. Practically undressing you with their eyes. Bingo.

As you finally come to the bar area, you locate him. You can’t see his face right now, due to his back facing you, but it’s obvious it’s him. His bulb-like earrings give him away from like a mile away. You smirk before giving your best sweetest smile. You poke the black haired leader on the shoulder causing him to turn around.

“I-um. Oh god. I’m sorry but can I sit next to you?”

Chrollo gives you a smile. “Yes, of course. Is something the matter, Miss?”

“Oh, no. I’m just not a fan of parties and I was trying to go back to my room but, I got a little scared when a couple of men were staring creepily at me.”

“But, wouldn’t I make you nervous as well? Afterall you don’t know me.”

“Ah I guess-s you do. I’m sorry you are just the first one I saw. I guess I’ll leave, I’m sorry to disturb—“ you say, attempting to get up.

The black haired man grabs your wrist. “Oh. I don’t want you to leave. I was just curious.”

You sit back down. That worked perfectly, he reacted just as you thought he would. You once remembered a person telling you that the leader of the Phantom Troupe has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and his curiosity. And you could tell just by watching him from the balcony, that stealing the Crown Jewels was just like child play for him, so he was bored sitting here at the bar. And even if he didn’t look like it, He was practically looking for anything to possibly entertain him.

So, you walk in, a rich looking damsel in distress waiting for someone to come save her. Chrollo will, of course, take that. You check off all the marks needed to satisfy himself and he had many possible ways to do it. He could steal your Nen, break down your mind, use you, steal from you, or simply just do all of them.

This was where he messed up though. He never would have imagined he would run into someone just as intelligent as him, you.

“I’m Chrollo, Chrollo Lucilfer, by the way.” Chrollo says, leaning against the bar counter.

“Oh! Nice to meet you Chrollo. I’m (y/n). (Y/n) Okage.” You murmur the last part under your breath as if you don’t want him to know. But, he definitely caught it. Perfect, he took your bait. Now he thinks you're an Okage.

“An Okage huh? Wow, call me impressed.”

“Ahh it’s not anything that impressive. It’s just a last name after all.”

Chrollo raises an eyebrow as if he’s saying really. So you’re an Okage, huh? Now he is really interested. The Okage family is a prestigious military family that is known for their very rare Nen. Chrollo is definitely not letting you out his clutches now, he’s going to quietly lure you into his web and pounce. But the question is how…

Ah, that’s how. Chrollo eyes the group of men on the left side of the room, whistling and eyeing every woman that passed by. This worked even better because they were also blocking the exit.

“Would the group of men that happen to be eyeing you, them?”

He points to the group before looking quickly back at you. He watches your doe like eyes blink a couple of times before looking off in that direction. You seem to shudder and clearly show your fear as you see them.

“Y-yes that’s them.” You say, clutching tighter onto your purse. You hear Chrollo let out a small ‘ahh’ as you finish talking.

“Well I was just wondering how you're going to get back to your room without them noticing. After all, they are blocking the door.”

“Oh no. Your right. Do you know if there’s any other doors that lead to the hotel part of this building?”

“Sadly there isn’t. But...,” Chrollo suddenly stands up and extends a hand out to you, “I’d be happy to escort you back to your room.”

“Really?!? Thank you so much!” You say, taking his hand as he leads you away. As you're about to leave you spot Clementine and, secretly, use your hand to signal her.

Clementine smirks into her drink as she notices it. So, the spider has been beaten at his own game eh? Man she might call you stupid but honestly you are the smartest partner she could ever as for. It also doesn’t help you make this job ten times more interesting when you're around.

She just hopes you didn’t get him too caught up in your fun. He’s definitely not like the others you’ve faced.

———🕸—🕷—🕸———

“C-chrollo, W- Wait. I haven’t even taken out the keycard.” You murmur, let out soft moans into his ear as he bites and sucks on your neck. Maybe you made yourself a little too appealing to this guy. Though, at the same time, you can obviously tell him lusting over you is all fake. He just wants you to let his guard down so he can steal from you. Also, you can feel he doesn’t even have a bulge right now.

“Give it. I’ll take care of it.” Chrollo groans, grabbing the card. Once the door to the hotel room is unlocked, Chrollo picks you up and throws you onto the bed. You squeal as he pulls your dress off you and then takes off his shirt and bandanna. Huh. Honestly he’s not half bad, he’s got some nice chiseled muscles going on and an interesting forehead tattoo. Though his patience could use a little work.

You moan out his name as he gives small open mouth kisses all the way from your stomach to your lips. Once he reaches your lips he stops and gives you a passionate kiss.

Honestly, even though this is nice and all, you have a job to finish. Sorry Chrollo. Hope you’ll forgive me on this one.

One moment, Chrollo is pushing you down onto the bed and in charge but in the next, his body feels a hundreds of pounds and it’s even hard to move an muscle.

“W-what?” Chrollo murmurs confused as to what’s going on. You huff as you roll him off of you and he lands next you on his back.

“Fuuuw, Damn Chrollo you weigh a lot. You should lay off the muscle training for a while,” You say, stretching your back. Now, let’s see where those Crown Jewels are. Scurrying through his clothes you find two tiny marbles stuffed into his pant pocket. You bring both up to your eye and examine them as you sit down on his lap. As you look into them you spot the two crowns in one and the Dragon Eye Collection in the other. Score!, “Ooooo! What an interesting ability. Conjures never cease to amaze me with what they come up with.”

You see Chrollo tense, attempting to move, as you throw them on top of your dress on the floor. “Don’t try Chrollo. My Nen won’t be making you move for quite some time.”

“How so?” Chrollo asks, his face blank, unreadable. But, it won’t work, you can see right passed that little trick of his.

“Now I wouldn’t want to tell you that silly goose. I’ll meet one of your conditions if I do so.”

You see Chrollo eyes gleam for a second. He was surprised. He’s had people figure out what his Nen is before but no one has been able to find out his conditions. Not his enemies, not the people of Meteor City, not the Zoldyck’s, not even the troupe. Only he knows what they are. Chrollo licks his dry lips, he’s knows he’s walking on shaky ground right now. “A condition? Are you talking about my Nen? (y/n)? If that is really your name. Though I highly doubt that’s your name. Afterall—

Aww how cute, little Chrollo is trying to change the subject last minute. You decide to cut him off in the middle of his rant, “Yes it’s really my name and yes, I’m talking about your Nen and conditions. Honestly, I already knew you could steal abilities around 3 people had already told me. So it just left me to how. How did the infamous Chrollo Lucilfer, Leader of the Phantom Troupe, steal people’s Nen without their knowledge? Well, it can’t be something that catches them off guard. Afterall, that will grab too much attention and you would have found out already. Yet it also can’t be something too far from the topic of “Nen” either since you need to steal it. So I just observed you as you walked around the party today, after all their is an—“

You pause for a second as you feel something. Is this really happening right now? You test the waters and spread your legs a little bit more wider. Chrollo has definitely gotten a boner while you were talking, it’s a fully hard one too. You decide to roll your hips a little and watch as Chrollo let’s out a moan. You laugh a little at his reaction, “Wow. I’m not sure if I should be happy or offended that me talking turned you on more than the flirting and grinding we did all the way in the elevator.”

Chrollo chuckles, his hair sprayed around on the pillow below him. He’s still trying to keep his tough act up, even now. “Well, there’s a word to describe that actually. It’s called Sapiosexual. By definition it means that someone is attracted to their mind over-r… shit.”

Chrollo clutches onto the sheet below him as you start to slowly grind on top of him. “You know, I’m starting to believe you just really like to hear yourself talk. Either that or you just like to avoid confronting things you don’t know how to figure out in that moment.”

Chrollo doesn’t respond. He just chooses to close his eyes while you smile down at him. “Not talking? Aww sorry I didn’t mean to hit a nerve, Chrollo. Here let me make it up to you.”

You lightly lift yourself off his lap and slowly begin to unbuckle his belt. Looking away quickly, you tried to see Chrollo for a reaction but there was none. Oh well, you can’t rush the good things after all. You’ll have him a mess eventually.

Finally, you pull down his pants and boxers off. Leaving his hard length out in the open; you reach out and hold it lightly in your hand. Wow, he really was a Sapiosexual. The tip of his cock was a pretty red shade with light drips of precum spilling out, showing he was practically craving for release. Hmm...You know what you’ll do. “Wow Chrollo, you're really straining for release. I should help you out. Hmmm... I’m not sure if you're a germaphobe or not so I’m just going to start with my hand….”

Chrollo still had his eyes closed so it gave you the perfect opportunity. As you continue talking, you pulled your panties to the side and lined him up with your entrance. Careful not to get too close so he figures out your plan. Honestly, you were soaked, his cock was honestly really thick and big so you knew it was going to feel absolutely amazing. Also, Chrollo is an entertaining man. You wouldn’t mind have sex with him multiple times if you have to.

“....so Just let me know if it’s not enough ok? I’ll switch to my mouth if so.”

You wait for a second for him to respond but he only lets out a chuckle. Still trying to play it cool. Oh well, you brought this on yourself Chrollo. You take a deep breath and sink down onto his length.

You hear chrollo let out a loud groan as you sink every inch Chrollo has to offer inside you. Even while you are just staying still it makes you feel as if you are about to burst. But, that’s not the important thing right now. You bring your hips up and start off with a slow rhythm, watching as Chrollo is attempting to bring back his composure.

“So,... where was it I left off again? Oh yeah. So I was observing you at the party. Be extra careful to catch changes in people’s aura and listen to what you were saying to them.” You say, rambling off your thoughts. You feel Chrollo twitch suddenly inside you as you speak. You decide to reward the poor man by moving your hips at a faster pace. Maybe you got a bit too excited coming across someone like Chrollo. Clementine will definitely scold you later but, oh well. “I noticed you had stolen the Nen ability of 6 out of the 21 Nen users you talked to at today’s party. Observing you is how I determined the conditions. The first condition I found out was when Mr. Noz and Mr. Casey wouldn’t show you their Nen, and theirs weren’t any of the ones that ended up being taken. The 6 you did take however did show you, meaning one of your conditions is the user has to show you.”

You flinch as you feel Chrollo’s hands grab onto your waist, a bruising clutch against your soft skin. Crap, your Nen was warding off faster than you thought. You have to quicken this up, as much as you didn’t want to. You lean forward onto chrollo’s chest, allowing him to be squeezed more and sucked deeper into you. It definitely made you more vulnerable since it meant his cock was bashing against your g-spot with every flick of your hips but it was also working well on him. You could tell since he was panting and groaning into your ear like crazy. You just needed to hold on for a bit longer.

“T-the second condition I confirmed also with two people. One being a woman whose husband explained to you her Nen ability. You didn’t end up stealing hers so that meant one of the conditions had to do with the person telling you about their Nen. T-Then—then when you went to…”

Oh god, you hide your head into Chrollo’s neck. It was too good, you were honestly begging for mercy. You would slow down the pace but Chrollo has gotten feeling back in the muscles of his hips so he was just thrusting up erratically into you. Chasing after his release.

“What’s wrong (y/n)?” Chrollo murmurs into your ear, causing you to whine and shiver at his mesmerizing voice, “W-what did I do next that 100% confirmed the second condition?”

You don’t respond as your brain was practically melted at this point. Though, Chrollo won’t take that as an excuse. Chrollo, with most of the feeling back in his body, flips you over so he was on top. He stops his thrusts and holds your legs down so you can’t move. You whined as you looked at the silvered eye man above you. “I asked you a question, my little butterfly. And I expect you to answer it.”

You pause and don’t say anything, not wanting him to boss you around. He smirks and pulls all the way out before bashing right back into you, hitting your cervix. You grunt, pain flickering through your body.

You glare at Chrollo above you and he only does it again. And again. Waiting for his lovely little butterfly to answer him. On the 6th thrust is when it gets interesting, this time when he bashed in, your cervix had eased up. Allowing him into the depths of your womb. Your eyes widen and Chrollo chuckles, both of you knowing what this means.

You try to fight against it but Chrollo successfully cross your legs. Making it so you squeezed around him even more. He lets out a sigh, losing his composure as he begins to make small little thrusts, trying to stay in your womb. “Answer me my little butterfly. You and I both know what’s highly likely to happen if I cum this deep in you. There’s no way around it if I do. So answer me.”

He was right, there was no way around it if he does. You’ll just have to follow his orders, waiting for him to drop his guard again.

“T-then I confirmed it when Mr hansu wouldn’t explain to you how to function his ability after you saw it, only about how flashy it is. Meaning your second condition is the person has to tell you the general function or uses of the ability. The third—“ you let out a small sigh as you feel the knot in your stomach about to explode. It also didn’t help you could feel Chrollo begin to twitch inside you, if you came while still explaining there was no question he would cum, hard. “The third, I confirmed through your expressions. Sometimes you would do the first two conditions but not follow up with the third condition since you hadn’t found the ability interesting to you. But when you did, you always had them touch the handprint on your conjured book. The ones that didn’t touch it, didn’t have their abilities stolen.”

You let out a sigh, you were done. You listed all of his conditions. Now he just needs to stop thrusting into your womb.

“And the fourth? The fourth condition?” you blink as he says this. T-there was a fourth condition? Oh god you had forgot strong Nen ability usually had 4-5 conditions not 2-3. Your heart races up as you flicker fastly through your memories.

Nothing else was similar between all the people he talked to. Which means that it’s either a time limit or a magic word that you hadn’t caught. It’s more likely the time limit so you’ll go with that.

“Y-your fourth is a time limit. I confirmed this because strong Nen types need 4-5 conditions and nothing else was similar between the people you talked to. T-This—this means the only likely answer is a tough time limit. From what I observed it took you about 45 minutes to steal from one of the businessmen-men so it’s something higher than that but it has to be shorter—oh~ than 3 hours since that gives too much time and isn’t as strict. Hah-ha-Happy now?”

Chrollo humms for a minute thinking, before he lets out a groan. Come on Chrollo, pull out. You can tell he’s about to burst.

“Chrollo pull out-t, you're about to cum.”

Chrollo groans as you say that, leaning his forehead against yours. Damn, you felt your walls twitching and tightening. You were going to cum.

“You can tell little butterfly? You're so smart my butterfly. All mine.” Chrollo murmurs, pressing kisses against your collar bone. “ I enjoy you, you are so entertaining, so smart, so special. Like a rare specimen. My special butterfly. Trapped in my web forever. Fuck—”

As he says that you finally feel him cum, also allowing the knot in your stomach to finally burst. You bite down, hard on his shoulder, as your whole body shakes underneath him in ecstasy. You thought your brain was mush before, but now it had completely melted into a liquid. It also didn’t help that you loved the feeling of him pumping hot cum into you. The feeling of something so dangerous that also felt so messy and primary sent a flame through your nerves.

You let a couple of pants out as you finally come to. Turning to your right you see chrollo his eyes close since he was out cold. You had hoped when you bit his shoulder and broke the skin that, with your nen, you could put him to sleep before he had cum in you but it seems that hadn’t worked out. As you're trapped underneath the handsome man, you decide it wouldn’t hurt to observe him for a little. Ever so carefully you lightly run your fingers through his hair and then to tracing his features before finally running them across the tattoo on his forehead.

“(Y/n)…” your heart clenches and your fingers tremble as you hear him whisper in his sleep. This is bad. You finally decide it was time to get him off you and it was time for you to make your leave. With a huff, you roll him over before covering with the sheets. You give him one last look before you begin to get dressed, deciding not to even bother cleaning up the cum he pumped into you. You would deal with it when you got back home and we’re able to take a shower, right now you just needed to get the hell out of here. Though before you leave, you decide to neatly fold Chrollo’s clothes and place them on the nightstand beside him, a parting gift if you will. As you place the clothes down and go to leave, a hand grabs your wrist.

You turned, shocked, as you looked at Chrollo. He was hardly able to keep his eyes open and was struggling to even hold onto you. “My Little butterfly… you aren’t going anywhere… you're mine”

You look at him blankly for a couple of seconds before letting out a sad laugh. Damn it. This was supposed to be a fun time but nothing can ever have a happy fairy tale like ending can it?

You lean down placing your forehead down on his. Looking deeply into his silver eyes. “Chrollo. I am your little butterfly. I bet I forever will be but…but…”

You turn your head to the side and savor the last kiss you'll ever share with this man. This extraordinary man that gave you a night you’ll never forget. You slowly pull away watching as his eyes begin to droop again.

“But, Chrollo, you have to be careful. Afterall, A monarch is deadly to a spider.”

And, with that, Chrollo was out. And so were you, not a single trace of you remained in that room. It was like the monarch had never been trapped in Chrollo’s web in the first place.

But, the scars left on those beautiful butterfly wings of yours, Is enough proof that you were there. And that you left, damaged.

[pahrak-the-sinnoh-slizer]

Right of Law, Section XXVIII

(The tension mounting in Civitas Magna finally comes to a head.)

“Testing, testing…”

Zaekura looked up to flip a switch on the radio.  “Hear you loud and clear.  Can you read me?”

“Copy.  Alright, we’ll get this one ready for transport.”

She paused to rub her eyes before turning back to the microscope.  Studying the way the sample moved, she flipped through one of the three open notebooks laid out around her, read over a snippet of text, and then reached for a rack of droppers filled with various solutions.

“Testing, testing…”

“Back at you.”

“Copy.  Packing now.”

Keeping her eye firmly on the lens, Zaekura mixed one tiny droplet into the sample. As it began to react, she quickly switched the dropper to her other hand and began writing down the results, slowing only when the reaction appeared to stabilize.  “No way…”

“Is everything alright?”

With a minor start, Zaekura turned to see Charla there.  “Oh!  Sorry, didn’t hear you come in.”

The radio buzzed.  “Testing.”

Zaekura flipped the switch.  “Yeah, you’re good.”

“Testing?”

“Yeah, copy, I can—”

“Testing?”

“...But, you can’t hear me.”

“Alright, so this one’s busted…”

Zaekura put away the dropper and scribbled something down before turning back to Charla.  “Sorry.”

“I just wanted to check on you,” Charla said.  “You shouldn’t work yourself too hard, Zaekura.”

“I’m not, really.”

Charla crossed her arms.

“Come on, testing the radios is mindless, I have to do something else in the meanwhile.”  She went back to the microscope.  “Plus, I think I…”

The sight that greeted her was unrecognizable.

“...Nevermind.  It’s degraded.”

Zaekura sighed loudly as she sank into her chair.  Charla drew closer, placing her hands on her shoulders and saying, “One of the blood samples from the mutated Vorox?  Are you any closer to curing it?”

“Closer...yes.  Done...no. I’ve tried a few different ways to revert the mutation, but they keep spiraling out of control and wrecking the entire sample.  It’s a really delicate balance I’ve got to find, and even with the notes from the Great Beings’ lab, I just can’t find it…”

The radio buzzed.  “Testing, testing.”

Zaekura started to reach, but Charla hit the switch for her.  “Ah, thanks.  I read.”

“Copy.  Back on track.  Could you hear me before?”

“Yeah, I could.”

“So it must be the receiver...”

Zaekura leaned her head back, now able to look up at Charla.  “Alright, maybe I should take a break.”

“I agree,” Charla said.  “Even genius minds need rest.”

“Pff, genius…”

“Well, you are.”

“Depends on how technical you want to get.”

“And if I don’t want to get technical at all?”

“Then I guess I’m a freaking genius.”

“Hehehe…”

They sat in silence for a moment, broken by another radio test.  After a few more moments of thought, Zaekura said, “Hey, Charla...was it wrong of me to send Hewkii to Civitas Magna?”

Charla tilted her head.  “He agreed to go.  In fact, I recall him being quite fond of the idea.”

“Yeah, but with how dangerous it is, part of me kinda feels like I shouldn’t have mentioned it to him in the first place.  Like maybe I planted an idea I shouldn’t have even considered.”  She averted her gaze.  “I was thinking...tactically.  Realizing that scares the heck out of me.  Putting someone’s life in danger—the lives of that whole team—shouldn’t just be a tactical decision.”

Charla waited a moment.  “You’re being too hard on yourself, Zaekura.  I—”

The radio cut her off.  “Testing, testing.”

She flipped the switch, Zaekura saying, “Uh, yeah, copy.”

“And copy.  Alright, that’s all of them.  I’ll get to work repairing the defects.”

“Okay.  Thanks, Nuparu.”

As Charla turned the radio off, the chamber door opened to allow Krika inside.

“Oh, Krika,” Zaekura said, craning her neck.  “What—”

“Vamprah’s in Civitas Magna,” he said.

Zaekura’s eyes shot wide.  Scrambling out of her chair, she said, “Bad, that’s bad, that’s really bad, is everyone ready?”

“Currently marching—I hope you don’t mind.”

“Nope.  Come on, fill me in on the way.  Charla, uh…”

The Rahkshi nodded.  “I will see to it.”

“You’re the best.”  She rushed out the door right on Krika’s heels.  “Oh, I really hope there’s a chance to stop this all from going horribly, horribly wrong…”

***

Dekar locked the door behind him, immediately checking through the blinds. Hewkii flopped onto one of the beds, saying, “Ah, excellent job today, team!  We made it to the finals!”

“So we should start preparing for whatever comes next,” Dekar said.

“First, we rest.  No point in exhausting ourselves further.”

“I’d argue there’s a point to it.”

“Just a little rest, Dekar,” Hahli said.  “It’ll make it a lot easier for us to think.”

Dekar shook his head.  Before he could voice his thoughts, something began to shimmer in the corner of the room. The three Toa leapt to their feet and grouped together, and soon the light faded, revealing two new beings standing there: one a Rahkshi with blue and green armor, the other…

“Onewa!”  Hewkii came forward to embrace the newly-arrived Toa.  “It’s so good to see you!  How have your carvings been coming along?”

“There’s no time for that, Hewkii,” Onewa said, gently pushing him back.  “We need to be quick.”

“Wait, you know him?” Hahli asked.

“I apologize if I startled you all, but this was the only way to speak with you safely.  I’m from Nynrah—I’m here as part of a strategy to further Zaekura’s cause. This is Nik, one of Bitil’s Rahkshi.”

Nik nodded in greeting.  Hewkii said, “Ah, I’m relieved to hear you’re on our side, elder.”

“Of course!  They destroyed my home, killed my neighbors, all for…”  Onewa sighed.  “No, now’s not the time.  Listen: there’s at least one more Makuta here than we were expecting to find, so we came to be sure you have a way out if things get dangerous.  All of you, hold out your hands.”

The three of them complied, Nik stepping forward to drop a pellet into each of their palms.  Dekar turned it around in his fingers, saying, “I guess they really want to be sure we don’t talk…”

Onewa smacked the side of his head.  “Oh, just listen!  Nik has the power to create these—if you’re in danger, crush it, and you’ll be teleported to his side.  We’ll move out of the city, get as far as we can, and hopefully we’ll all be able to make it to Ga-Koro before anyone can catch up to us.”

Hewkii grinned.  “Don’t worry, Onewa: Zaekura isn’t far away.  Worst comes to worst, we’ll be able to fight our way out.”

“Hmm...I certainly hope so.  Just be careful, Hewkii.  All of you. I hope to see you again.”

With that, Onewa and Nik vanished.  Tucking away his pellet, Hewkii said, “There we go: a plan!  I knew things would work out.”

“They haven’t worked out yet,” Dekar said.  “But, I guess this is better than anything we could have reasonably expected…”

Hahli stared at her pellet.  “I didn’t want to interrupt, but...isn’t he the one from the footage?  The one Vamprah attacked?”

Hewkii looked up.  “...What?”

“You haven’t seen?  Just a bit ago, while we were playing, footage began to circulate of Vamprah attacking a Toa of Stone—I’m fairly certain it was Onewa.”

Hewkii took a moment to process this.  “I see...but he looked fine, though.”

“I suppose,” Hahli mumbled.  “It’s just…”

Dekar stepped forward.  “Even if it worked out, it still happened, Hewkii.  Even if we succeed in broad terms, that old Toa got hurt to get us there—and plenty more might still get hurt in the process.  I won’t argue whether the end justifies the means or not.  But at the very least, you should acknowledge those means for what they are.”

Hewkii stared at him.  Turning to Hahli, he said, “Sorry, what were you going to say?”

She fidgeted.  “Well...I was wondering how the people are going to respond to that footage.  When I looked into it, it seemed like it was already getting a lot of attention; at a certain point, the Makuta and the Great Beings will have to respond to it somehow…”

“As if we weren’t already standing in a powder keg…” Dekar said.  He jumped as the roof creaked.

Hewkii said, “It...it’s going to be alright.  Preparations are in place—the plan will work.  Worrying will get us nowhere.”

Dekar shook his head.  “You just can’t stop being optimistic, can you?”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

“Not always.  But at a certain point, you’re just turning a blind eye to what’s in front of you.” Dekar headed for his bed.  “I’m tired of trying to convince you.  When it does finally hit you, all I ask is that you learn from it.”

The conversation ended, leaving the room quiet as the other Toa also sat down to rest.  Hewkii tried to relax, but there was something nagging at him, something that just wouldn’t let go.

Will our success...be built on sacrifice after all?

Up above, the roof creaked again as some invisible body leapt off from it.  It flew to the center of the city, phasing through the wall of Yarion’s tower and finding its way to a chamber that had been fashioned into a forge.  Once inside, Vamprah finally allowed himself to be seen, and waited patiently as Ekimu hammered away at his anvil.  When he finally stopped, Vamprah telepathically communicated all he had heard.

“I see,” Ekimu said.  He then turned back to his work.

At his side, Ahkmou said, “I knew those Nynrahns were up to no good.  We have to take care of them at once!”

“No,” Ekimu said.  “What if someone records it again?  It’d just put more fuel on the fire.  The finals are tomorrow—once those are done, you can do what you want with this city.”

“O-Of course, Lord Ekimu.”

The Great Being paused briefly.  “Hate to admit it...but it might already be too late.  I guess we’ll just have to see what happens.”

Ahkmou shifted as Ekimu continued working.  “Um, if I may, my lord...I find the news that Zaekura is closer than we expect to be rather troubling.  Should we prepare our forces?”

Using his tongs, Ekimu picked up what he was working on: a mask of some kind, similar in shape to a Hau but stretched back, and with additional ridges to its design.  “That’s what I’m working on.”

Ahkmou shuffled back, trying to get as far away as possible from the red-hot mask. “Oh!  I, um, I see...”

Ekimu turned.  “Eliminator.”

The Odinan’s face appeared from the shadows.  “Yes, my lord?”

“I’ll set up a teleportation jammer.  You just focus on your targets.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

“Ahkmou.”

The Toa jumped.  “Y-Yes?”

“There’s a stasis pen on sublevel 15.  Take its readings and report back.”

“Right away, my lord!”  He was gone in seconds.

“Vamprah.”  He examined the still-searing mask, confident the mute Makuta was listening.  “Go get Yarion.”

***

An army at their backs, Zaekura, Krika, and Bitil approached the gates of Civitas Magna flying the flag of Peace.  Clicking his claws together, Krika said, “Must we waste time like this?”

“You’re the one always going on about our public image,” Zaekura said.

“Hrm...I suppose…”

“Don’t lose your nerve now, Krika,” Bitil said.  “The escort we sent will surely keep your artistic followers safe.”

Krika grumbled.  Gesturing to the flag, Zaekura said, “Guys.  Come on.”

They stopped some distance before the wall.  A few guards could be seen poking around, so Zaekura cleared her throat to address them.  She had barely formed a syllable when she saw an Eccentric Boulder being flung over the rampart.  Bitil carried Zaekura back while Krika dealt with the incoming projectile, and with a sigh, the Glatorian nodded.

“Let him know.”

Bitil nodded, turning briefly to the west.  Then, setting Zaekura down, he raised his sword, gave a shout, and led the army in a charge.

Up ahead, Krika vaulted over the wall and fired a spread of light bolts, breaking as many of the defensive weapons setup there as possible before dashing further in.  He cut through the streets blindingly fast, making a beeline straight for Yarion’s tower, stopping only to dodge as something swooped down at him.  Vamprah shattered the concrete where he landed.

“Oh, good—just who I was hoping to see,” Krika said as he took up a battle stance. “I hear you’ve been harming my citizens, Vamprah.  Did you really think I would permit that?”

Vamprah bounded forward a short distance.  When he landed, his long tail whipped forward, forcing Krika to dodge low as Vamprah rushed him.  Krika extended spikes from his fingers, interlocking Vamprah’s own talons, and then grabbed his tail as it retracted, keeping him in place for a point-blank Power Scream.  Vamprah flitted back and shook his head, gliding circles above Krika as the other Makuta watched him closely.

“Nothing to say for yourself?  I suppose I can talk enough for two.  There’s no shortage of things I can say about a monster who preys on the weak and defenseless, twisting it into some game for his own sick pleasure!”

Vamprah scattered small plasma spheres as he circled.  Upon hitting the ground, each sphere expanded exponentially—Krika had to move carefully to weave through the blasts, leaving him little room to dodge as Vamprah sniped him with bursts of laser vision.  He rapidly extended two spikes in an attempt to puncture Vamprah’s wings, but his foe turned intangible at the last second.

“Even if I felt up to it at the moment, trying to reason with you would be a waste of time.  You’ve always loved the hunt, haven’t you—the thrill of violence?  You’d never turn down the chance to hunt new prey!”

Vamprah flapped his wings, amplifying the resulting gust with his Vacuum powers.  Krika flung himself clear, raised his hands to fire back, and then realized Vamprah was already on top of him.  The flying Makuta wrapped his claws around Krika’s head, slamming him into the nearest building, dragging him up its surface as he flew higher; it took Krika a moment to clear his mind enough to magnetize Vamprah’s wings closed. Vamprah angled his fall so that Krika would hit the ground first, and Krika focused his Elasticity powers into his fist.  The impact hurt, but his affected hand bounced up with just as much force, injecting it into Vamprah’s neck and successfully knocking him back.  Krika was too dazed to aim, so he released a volley of Light bolts where he guessed Vamprah would be.

“You know, Gorast may have the worse reputation, but I’ve always felt you were secretly the most cruel of us all.  How eager were you to tear citizens asunder?  I’ll bet you jumped at the order!”

Clarity returned to him.  Vamprah, however, was nowhere to be seen.

“Phenomenal.”

Krika quickly scanned the surrounding area.  It was then he noticed the familiar form of Makuta Yarion approaching the battle.  “Ah, Yarion. Lovely to see you again—it’s been too long.  I wish to have a word with you as well, but…”

He trailed off as Yarion came closer.  Scuffs and grime covered their usually-pristine armor, and in place of their Kakama they wore a mask that looked almost like a Hau yet subtly different. They carried two identical weapons, multibarrel firearms that resembled miniaturized Cordak Blasters, but Krika realized in horror that the guns had been grafted directly into their arms.

“...Goodness.  What happened?”

Yarion silently raised their arms.  The blasters spun to life, releasing a torrent of fireballs that shredded through the nearby buildings.  Krika contorted his body, narrowly avoiding their attack as Vamprah came back into view. He tried to get clear, but flaming rubble was now raining all around him, making it even more difficult to find a safe place to stand for more than half a second.  Vamprah’s attack was precise, nailing him in the chest with laser vision.  Krika stumbled back into the line of fire.  The blasts were just hot enough to overpower his heat resistance, but he managed to free himself quickly...only to be knocked flat by Vamprah’s tail.

As he lay there, Krika grunted.  “Perhaps going ahead was hasty after all…”

While this was going on, the rebel army managed to take the city wall, incapacitating the guards there and making their way inward.  A steady stream of resistance came to meet them.  The Rahkshi busied themselves clearing a path while Bitil stuck close to Zaekura, keeping his eyes peeled; he said, “We just need to reach the arena.  Once we have the team, we pull out.”

Zaekura watched the faces of the people lining the streets.  Many fled in fear, and those that remained looked similarly terrified, watching the Rahkshi march with wide eyes from as far away as they could.  She felt a knot in her stomach.  However, something about it alarmed her.

It’s not as intense as before.  I still feel sick, but not as much.  Why is that? Am I getting used to this?  Should I get used to this?  If I do…

A large screen mounted on a building up ahead displayed a news bulletin, a De-Matoran warning citizens of their arrival and urging them to clear the way. Zaekura’s next step came slower, but then she pushed it from her mind, facing forward again.

“So you’re the one causing trouble.”

Zaekura flinched.  Looking back up at the screen, she now saw an image of Ekimu looking down on her.  Her emotions began to run far deeper.

“You showed up awfully quickly.  From that direction…Artidax?  Is that where you were holed up?”

She said nothing, silently hoping and praying that Charla had finished the evacuation by now.

“The tournament’s almost over.  Can’t this wait?”

Zaekura took a deep breath as discreetly as possible.  “Hey, we offered to negotiate.  Your guys attacked us on-sight.”

“I’ll take that as a no.”  He turned. Zaekura could see the kolhii field behind him, the Hydruka doing their best to take control of the game.  “Guess that prize mask will go to waste.  Unless I can find someone else to give it to.”

“Please, listen to me.  We don’t want anyone to get hurt.  We’re just here to ensure that our people are safe—isn’t that what we all want?”

Ekimu turned back to her.  “What I wanted was to see the tournament.  Looks like neither of us are leaving here happy.”

Zaekura took a moment to glance at the observers: hearing Ekimu’s words, they began to mutter amongst themselves, a confusion subtly taking hold of them. She snapped back as the picture changed. The camera swiveled to show a large cube of blue light, its surface wavering like a stasis field; Ahkmou stood next to it, holding a small electronic tablet.  Zaekura couldn’t make out what was inside.

“Open it,” was all Ekimu said.

Wincing slightly, Ahkmou hit a button on his tablet.  Instantly, the cube disappeared, and a horde of creatures came spilling out.  She couldn’t quite get a good look at them—they skittered past the camera so quickly, obscuring the lens—but soon she heard Ahkmou scream.  Seconds later he came back into view.  Zaekura’s blood froze over.

One of the creatures had knocked his mask off, and now clung to him in its place using its four long, hook-like legs.  Its body was flat and wide, covering his entire face, sporting bony ridges that formed a hideous semblance of a face, complete with two large holes that ran all the way through its body to show Ahkmou’s empty eyes behind it. At his chin were the creature’s own, smaller eyes, as well as sharp fangs that clicked hungrily.

“You don’t want anyone to get hurt?” Ekimu said.  “Let’s test that.  My Skull Spiders can take total control of anyone able to wear Kanohi.  What’ll happen if a bunch of innocent civilians go to fight your army to the death?”

The knot in Zaekura’s stomach grew bigger, reaching out to the rest of her insides and twisting them all into one massive pit of disgust.  “You…!  That’s despicable!  It’s bad enough you don’t care about these people, but you’re even willing to use them like this?!”

“You’ve gotta take full advantage of the tools available to you.  Otherwise, you deserve to lose.”

“Shut up!  People aren’t tools, you sack of trash!  I—”

The screen shut off before she could finish.  Zaekura snarled, and then turned to the Rahkshi.

“New plan!  We’ve gotta contain these Skull Spiders!  Let’s go, let’s go!”

The army stampeded forward.  Zaekura was too focused on their goal to notice the faces of the civilians changing.

“That rotten, no good, heartless son of a—”

Bitil tackled her to the ground.  A bolt of energy lanced through the air, narrowly missing her and blasting apart a nearby wall.  Getting up slowly, Bitil stared into the shadowed alley the attack had emerged from, seeing a purple-skinned face watching him back.

“Ah, great, what now?!”

“Lady Zaekura,” Bitil said, “leave this one to me.  Since I’m able to use Kanohi, there’s a chance I’d be more of a liability where you’re headed anyway.  And there’s something...strange about them…”

Zaekura was back on her feet instantly.  “They’re all yours.”

She rushed off, the face turning after her but stopping as Bitil extended his sword.  “Weren’t you listening?  I’m your opponent.  Makuta Bitil; to who do I owe the pleasure?”

“...My name is Eliminator,” he said.  “I’m who the Keeper sends when other Odinans fail.”

Bitil tightened his grip on his sword.  “Another Odinan...what terrible timing…”

“I’ve never failed to complete a mission, Makuta.  Give up.  If you turn the Glatorian over now, I can put in a good word for you.”

Bitil thought for a moment.

“See?  You’re smart enough to know when you’re beat.”

“You misunderstand.”  Bitil got into a battle stance.  “I was just thinking...the fact that you’d make such an offer must mean you’re afraid to fight me.”  He grinned. “That bodes well.”

Bitil moved to teleport up to his foe.  However, the teleport failed, and he stumbled long enough for Eliminator to strike him with a bolt of energy.  The attack flung him back with tremendous force, half-embedding him in the nearest wall and dazing him for a moment.  When he could think clearly again, Eliminator was nowhere to be seen.

“No you don’t!”

Bitil shot into the alleyway in search of his opponent.  The street was unusually dark, but he was able to spot a crackle of energy up ahead that gave him a target.  Throwing one hand forward, Bitil willed a wall of solid light to appear in Eliminator’s path, but to his surprise, the Odinan continued to barrel forward, darkness seeming to wrap around him, and smashed through the barrier effortlessly.  Bitil grunted.  Activating his Kanohi, he called upon the speed of the Phase Dragon and managed to get in front of Eliminator, knocking him down with a punch wrapped in Light.

“You aren’t getting away that easily, Odinan.  Now--”

Eliminator bounced back with a shadow-cloaked uppercut.  The blow made Bitil writhe, but he stayed on his feet somehow.  Eliminator said, “You’re not worth my time, Makuta.  I’m here to capture the Glatorian first and foremost.”

The alleyway grew darker.  Eliminator took a step forward, energy dancing along his talons, and Bitil held his sword defensively.

“Then again...the shadows really want to watch you die…”

Bitil fired beams of Light from his eyes, landing a direct hit.  Eliminator brushed off the attack.  Dodging the retaliation, Bitil said, “This doesn’t make sense...Shadow and Light are opposites: my attacks should be far more effective!”

He slashed.  Eliminator held one hand out, a force field appearing at his command to block Bitil’s sword.  “Ah yes...that is how it works for your kind.”

Eliminator kicked the instant he lowered his shield.  Bitil avoided direct contact, but the shadows followed Eliminator’s movement, effectively extending his range and leaving a stinging wound on Bitil’s torso.  Backing away slightly, the Makuta raised his sword again, keeping his eyes locked firmly on his target.  He could see now that he had underestimated Eliminator.  If he wanted to survive this battle, he knew he could not do so again.

[mrs-steve-harrington]

Keep Me Warm

Was talking with @willowrose99 about some stonathan headcanons this morning and we were both tempted to write a ficlet for some of them. Got the idea of Steve using Jonathan as a blanket from @pterawaters. Gotta love our chats in the discord, hehehe. 

Enjoy this random little ficlet. I might post it to AO3 at some point in the future. Beware of typos and read mores are very iffy, so sorry for this semi long post!

Despite the warm day, Steve wished Jonathan would let him open up the apartment and let some of the air in. He wouldn't do it—probably even if Jonathan gave him permission if he was being honest—because Jonathan had reasons for preferring his space to be cool. Steve couldn't begrudge him that. Being together meant learning about each other's issues. Hating when it got too warm was one of Jonathan's. Steve couldn't sleep without a light on, needed to recognize exactly where he was—where he wasn't—when he woke up, whether from a nightmare or not.

Since warming the place up wasn't an option, Steve rummaged through their dresser until he found what he was looking for. Grinning, he threw one of Jonathan's button ups over his shirt. It was too baggy for Jonathan; a little too much for Steve, too. He loved it. The front came out far enough that Steve could curl his fingers in the edges and pull them closed, cuddled up in Jonathan's shirt. The sleeves were long, but not as thick as either of their jackets so he was warmer without getting too hot. There was the added bonus that it felt a little like being hugged by Jonathan. Steve loved wearing his things.

Warmer and nearly satisfied, Steve left their bedroom. Perfect, he thought when he saw Jonathan stretched out on the couch. Something was playing on the TV. Steve hadn't been paying attention when he came in earlier; his first thought after kissing Jonathan hello was to grab the shirt he was now wearing. Now that he was in it, there was one more thing to do.

"Scoot up," Steve said, bending over and shoving Jonathan's shoulder until he sat up with a groan. So dramatic. Everyone liked to accuse Steve of being over the top about things but that was only because most of them never got to see Jonathan like this. Steve didn't mind, not when it meant that he was one of a small number of people who knew Jonathan so well. The couch was warm when Steve sat down and he sighed. "Thanks, babe."

Lifting his legs onto the couch, Steve ignored Jonathan's, "Hey, watch it," and shoved them as snugly as he could between the cushions and Jonathan. He reached over, tugging Jonathan to lie over top of him. "Hi," he said, smiling up at the grumpy frown on Jonathan's face. "I'm cold."

Jonathan rolled his eyes, but he shifted himself around until he was more comfortable rather than getting back up. Steve rested his head on the arm of the couch, happy that Jonathan wasn't moving off. "It's not that cold in here."

"It's a little cold in here," he said, biting his lip and looking up at Jonathan with wide eyes.

"You're ridiculous," Jonathan sighed. Steve saw the moment he recognized what Steve was wearing. Jonathan stilled, holding himself up on one hand. He curled the fingers of his other hand around the edge of the shirt. "Is that my shirt?"

Grinning at the way Jonathan swallowed, his voice lower than it had been before, Steve nodded. Another bonus of wearing one of his shirts was this exact reaction. Every time he threw one of Jonathan's things on, he could count on getting that intense stare focused right on him. Steve shrugged. "I needed something to keep me warm."

"You have your own long sleeved shirts."

"I do," Steve said, looking down at where Jonathan was toying with the top button of his shirt. "I like yours better."

Swallowing again, Jonathan patted the material gently and nodded. "I like you in my stuff better, too."

"I know." Steve leaned up, sighing happily when Jonathan didn't hesitate to mirror the movement. Kissing Jonathan might be his favorite thing to do in the world. He cupped Jonathan's cheek and pulled him more firmly against his chest. The weight and warmth of Jonathan on top of him was just right. Exactly what he'd been hoping to feel when he got home. His cheeks ached with his smile when he pulled away to breathe. "Be my blanket?" he asked, wanting to pout but unable to make his lips move down.

"Sure," Jonathan said, sounding just the tiniest bit breathy and smiling down at Steve. He tugged at Steve's shirt before lying down the rest of the way on top of him. He wrapped himself around Steve, squeezing his arms between Steve's back and the cushions. Head on Steve's chest, Jonathan kissed his chest. "Don't want you getting cold again."

[spikeymarshmallows]

Hi! Just saw your WIPS post, if you’re willing would you mind telling a bit more about your Sexworker Klaus AU and Vanya’s book in the museum verse (not sure if someone has already asked about these two, sorry if I missed it!)... thank you so much!!! :3

Hehehe I’m sorry for my slow reply. I was HOPING to have the Vanya’s Book in Museum ‘verse finished by now for Kliego week, but unless I pull off a miracle, it’s probs not gonna happen in time....

Thank you for asking about theseeeeee. I’m sorry my reply is a novel!!!

But.

Here's a tiny snip for the Vanya's Book....

But Diego and Klaus were different. I was never quite sure what to make of them. They didn't seem to share the same energy as Luther and Allison. But I saw how Diego—Diego who was so quick to anger, to take offence, to throw out cruel words—softened around Klaus. It never really made sense to me.

Klaus was not the sweetest of our brothers. He was loud, and forever interrupted everyone, including Dad. Whenever anyone cut Diego off, they'd be met with anger, sometimes stuttered, sometimes not. When Klaus interrupted, Diego stopped, listened.

Klaus may have let Allison paint his fingernails, but he was also the one who stood up to Dad the most after Five left.

He wasn't particularly good at arguing, and his points didn't make sense, but his temper rivaled Diego's and his self-control was lacking. It was not unusual for Klaus to limp out of Dad's office with a puffy, tear-stained face, and a stubborn expression that could have matched Five's.

*

OKAY. SO. I HAVE SOME OPINIONS TM ABOUT KLAUS AS A SEX WORKER.

Or rather, I have Opinions TM about how sex work in general is portrayed in fics. Not just TUA. But... fics. In general.

So... Full disclosure. I know a lot of sex workers. Like. A lot. Like, a good proportion of my RL friends back in my home country are full-service-sex-workers. IDK, I'm in the kink scene, met a few there. Was in a poly relationship and one of my metamours was a sex worker. My best friend in Australia is a sex worker and when I go to her birthday parties, I meet loadddds of them. I know a lot of them. I used to hang with my best friend several times a week. I don't have the experiences of a SWer but.... I know one or two things that I don't think that fic really captures... And it's that Sex Workers are pretty normal people.

So. Basically. I come from a place where I view Sex Work relatively positively, and like many other jobs in that there are good days and bad days.

Yes, there are a lot of survival sex workers. That's a wholeeee other kettle of fish, and it's heartbreaking and emotional, and just so fucked up. A lot of sex workers that I have met started it from the necessity that... well. It was necessary. Some were homeless. Some were almost homeless. And then some... One girl talks about how she turned 18 and walked into a brothel that day because that's all she'd ever wanted to do.

There are also some who make absolute bank.But most of them? Normal people. They might have slightly nicer bags or shoes, but they're not rolling around in Burberry and Bordelle.

Sometimes she'd cancel dinner at the last minute for a last minute booking because she needed to make rent that week. Sometimes, she'd be like "So I'm free earlier! Wanna come over for wine and cheese?"

AnYwAy.... I got a bee in my bonnet and was all "...I wanna write Klaus as a normal sex worker!!"

It's not a stretch to imagine that Klaus has done survival sex work. He's heavily implied it in the show too. But I had this idea that maybe... there were moments in his life... where his life was a little more like the SWers I knew...

And then.... I had the prompt of "Eyes up now. Look at me." from wayyyyy back when.

And... The plan is/was/is/was/idk anymore/is to have Diego going to see a sex worker about a particular kink he has.... And being ashamed of that kink. And encountering an ad that he thinks might be a good fit. And showing up and... oh! It's Klaus!! Oh.....

And Klaus is like ".....well, you're here. I want my money, we may as well do this ;)"

SNIP SNOP SNAPPITY BOP Diego exhaled slowly and before his nerves could any further slow him down, he knocked sharply at the apartments door. It was a modest place in a normal part of the city. The paint was fresh on the walls, and it was clean for inner-city. Nothing crazy fancy, but definitely a few steps above his boiler room.

"It's open!" A voice came from inside the apartment and Diego hesitantly pushed inside.

It was nice, if a little cluttered. Definitely not the terrifying sex dungeon a part of him had expected. There were dream catchers hanging in a few spots, and wind chimes beside the door that lead out to a small balcony. There were some plants on the balcony and Diego squinted; those herbs were certainly not for the kitchen.

There was an enormous rug under a coffee table, and two well-used couches sat facing each other.

And fairy lights. There were a lot of fairy lights.

"Hello darling," a very familiar voice said as someone exited the kitchen to the left.

Klaus pulled up short, eyes wide.

Diego was frozen in place.

"Diego," Klaus said, the first to recover. "Lovely to see you, all that jazz, et cetera, et cetera, but you need to leave. I'm expecting someone any moment now," Klaus said, putting his hands on Diego's shoulders and manhandling him towards the door.

"Uh, yeah, about that," Diego said awkwardly, not letting himself be shoved any further.

Klaus stopped. "Ex-squeeze me?"

Diego said nothing.

"Oh come on," Klaus whined. He folded his arms across his chest, which Diego was only now registering was bare. He was wearing a short, silky kimono which barely grazed the tops of his thighs, his bare chest quite visible like this. "Dario?"

"Maybe?"

Klaus studied him through narrowed eyes. "Did you make all of this up, just to come and lecture me about how I shouldn't be doing this? Because if that's your objective, you can get the fuck out."

Diego's cheeks were flaming. His jaw was hurting from how tightly he was clenching it.

"Ugh!" Klaus said, throwing his arms in the air. "I'm going to make some tea. Just… Sit down."

Diego did so awkwardly. He looked around the room again, trying to note things just to distract himself. There was eclectic art on the walls, and now that Diego knew this was Klaus' place, he was not at all surprised at the decor.

Off of the small living space were three doors. One for the kitchen, one where he could see a low-lit room with a bed in it, and the third that he assumed was a bathroom. 

[haikyuuscreaming]

omg hi! you started off your blog greatly, im so proud of you! do you think you can write an angsty scenario for akaashi? where his crush likes this guy and wants help from him and he feels all sad :( but she ends up confessing to him! i love your writing so far, keep it up!

UMM so i accidentally got really invested in this so it’s WAYY longer than a drabble and i often write long stuff bc of ao3 so this might sound a little more like that kinda fanfic style instead of a tumblr scenario? mainly cos im really a sucker for this stuff hehehe love you anon

also ! the request made it sound sort of akaashi-centric so i hope you dont mind? there will still be a lot of reader-chan here though! please dont leave yet and i hope u enjoy

again ALSO i wrote this half on my laptop half on my phone so please dont mind if it seems a lil clunky in some areas 

3092 words jesus ok here you go

-

Crushes weren’t necessarily a new sensation for Akaashi. Just an uncommon one. In fact, the last time he remembers even being attracted to someone was in first grade when everyone had a crush on this popular girl. He’s not even sure if he really liked her, or just found the idea of it interesting.

Now, second year of high school, Akaashi finds himself in trouble. Because for once, he really, really, really likes this girl. You. 

He can’t even fake himself out of this, because every damn time he looks at you, he feels all warm and tingly and his stomach feels less calm and he can hear his heart bump against his ribcage and god, his face even flushes a little bit.

(A little bit inconvenient when he accidentally finds himself staring at you and daydreaming.)

Akaashi doesn’t like this feeling.

I mean, yeah, Akaashi has somewhat of a sense of confidence in his looks, manners, and ability to make friends. He’s not exactly the top in each subject he thinks, but it lets him pass through high school without too much of a depressingly lonely life. He could easily befriend you and steal your heart, his inner ego-brat says.

But.. but what if you reject him?

He should become closer to you.

(For the record, he doesn’t not like the feeling. He kind of likes the serotonin boost you give him. But he definitely, more than kind of likes you.

A lot more.)

And one day, in the spring, he finds himself paired up with a special biology partner. With familiar, sparkling eyes and the cutest, most gorgeous voice he’s ever heard that always makes his heart fucking backflip.

Akaashi doesn’t think he can survive this.

His teacher blares, “Start brainstorming ideas for your science fair project! It’s due in a month, you know!”, but Akaashi blocks out the noise because all he can focus on is you, goddamn it. He can only focus on the way you push your hair out of your face, the way your lips upturn into the most stunning smile he’s ever had the fate of encountering, and he really hopes he doesn’t get h-

“Akaashi-kun?”

(Fuck you and your completely gorgeous voice that drives him up the wall and makes him want to kiss you.)

“Oh– sorry, yeah?” He kind of hates himself for how his voice lilted a pitch higher.

You laugh, sounding like a goddess. He hopes that it means you don’t hate him. “Ahaha, I was just wondering if you have any ideas for the science fair? It’s a pretty big chunk of our grade, and I am… not the smartest when it comes to AP Bio..”

Akaashi thinks quite the opposite, but he isn’t currently in the position to contradict you.

“Um…” He pauses and thinks furiously. He comes up with some borderline generic idea that has enough room for a unique twist. And your eyes brighten.

“Waaaoo, Akaashi-kun’s a genius, hm?”

(God, he thinks he might have a little more than a crush on that teasing grin and glittering pair of eyes.)

He musters the courage to smile without looking stupid. “Of course.”

Two weeks later, he wants to sink into a hole.

Yes, it might have been his request that you two meet up to work on the project, but that was because he knew you were a procrastinator! You would start the project the night before if he’d let you!

But it was not his idea to do it at his house.

Now he has to live with the fact that you’re lying on HIS bed, spread-eagled in your sweater and shorts, complaining about how lazy you are.

(He wonders how you’re so comfortable about wearing shorts to a male classmate’s house. You two aren’t even that close, although you claim otherwise.)

“Come on, get up,” he rolls his eyes. “We have work to do.”

“But I’m so tiiiiiredddd… and lazyyyy…. wouldn’t it be such a gentlemanly act of Akaashi-kun to do the project for me?” You flash him a sweet smile while stretching out even more on the bed.

Snorting, he watches you sink into his mattress and roll around idly. “Hey, don’t you need the grade? You can’t pass if you make me do your work.”

Sighing, you hum in defeated content. “Well, it was worth a try.” You reach out your hand and tousle his wavy hair, and he almost flinches at the touch. He hates to say it but he loves it so much that you’re so affection with him, and Akaashi knows he would give anything to keep you teasing him with all this attention.

“Yeah.. yeah, it was,” he murmurs to himself before letting himself sit down next to you. He notices how you scrunch your body from a spread-eagle to a cute, curled up position to make room for him.

“Mm, so how are we gonna do this?” you ask, with a subtle mixture of bored and curious seeping into your tone. Then, he watches your features melt into a warm, mischievous smile as you hum, “Unless you just wanna nap and cuddle or something.”

(Holy fuck.)

Akaashi forces himself to scowl playfully and he shakes his head, sighing loudly in mock disappointment. “I don’t know what to do with you.” And equally as teasing, he adds, “I should just kick you out and not treat you to lunch if you’re going to be like this.”

“Noooooo!!!” you whine in this adorably frustrated and threatening voice. “Don’t you dare starve me or I’m feeding you to the rats.”

He chuckles. “See, that’s what I thought.”

But of course, your face wraps into a devilish grin as you say in a singsong voice and throw your arms around him (which makes him flush and makes his heart go WABAM), “It doesn’t matter though, ‘cause I got this whole-ass meal right here~”

“Shut up.”

(But you both know he never means it.)

Thanks to Akaashi (and your obliging albeit lazy participation), you two blow the science fair out of the way and get an A. He’s never seen you so delighted about a grade.

“I’m so happy~” you never shut up about how grateful you are for him, not that he’s complaining. “This is probably the highest mark I’ve ever gotten in this class.”

“Don’t over exaggerate. You’re not too bad at Bio,” Akaashi remarks. “You just need a tutor, probably, if you’re struggling.”

(By the way, he is ecstatic that you two are ACTUALLY FRIENDS!!! He’s even met your dog!!)

“Hmmmm…” You eye him warily before shrugging. “Whatever you say, Akaashi-kun.” Your eyes flit around before returning on him, and you start rambling about the newest anime you’ve gotten into and how it’s practically on-par with the manga, and how hot one of their characters are-

(For some reason Akaashi really zeroes in on that part.)

He really feels like he has to contribute something to the conversation, so he puts in, “Wow, [Name]-san, you’re such a fangirl.”

You snort loudly and put two peace-signs to your face like some kawaii anime girl, doing this mock-sweet smile. “Waaaooo, you’re rightttt. I’m Akaashi-kun’s number one fan!! He’s so cute when he’s yelling at me to do my work and super hot when he helps me with homew-”

He swears to god his face is radiating an inhuman amount of heat and he rolls his eyes before shaking his head and jabbing your side lightly. “Didn’t I tell you not to say that?”

“Ummm, maybe.” Your ‘innocent’ grin tells him otherwise. “But you know, you’re right, Akaashi-kun,” you cross your arms and give your cute little smirk again. “I am a genius, and I’m suuuper good at Bio. I just need someone to channel it.” And you lean forward until both your noses are touching, and Akaashi thinks he’s about to explode. “So maybe you could help me out?”

The subtle pleading undercurrent in your voice compels Akaashi to straighten up a little bit without flushing even redder. Keep cool, keep cool.

(He prays that his skill of keeping a poker face will hide the blood rushing around in his dick.)

“Well, what time?”

This time around, he finds himself at your house instead. You both are sitting at your desk, ‘working’ on your math and Bio homework. In other words, just talking.

He’s confident now in that the two of you are close friends. He’s learned that from afar, you were a sweet and confident yet perfectly kind girl. That was the girl he based his feelings off of. During your Bio project, he found the cheeky, sly and vibrant yet chill girl who always teased him but was still nonetheless sweet.

And now, under that facade, you were an anxious mess with a shit-ton of insecurities.

(He thinks it’s funny how you boast that you’re just like Shrek. You have layers.)

Akaashi glances at you, groaning with your head down onto the table. “I hate math..” he hears you grumble.

“Hey, you’re not too bad. You just have to be careful when plugging in your equations,” he counters.

“But what if I can’t remember my equations??”

“We both know you’re fine at remembering them.”

“I’m gonna fail.”

“Have faith in yourself, because I do.” And Akaashi is being completely honest. His confidence in you being just fine and being able to pass all your classes is strong because he’s seen you work (after procrastinating). “You just have to work on not putting things off until the last minute.”

You make a frustrated noise before resting your chin on your propped hand. “Sometimes I feel like I’m just.. destined to be set back, y’know? Like, everything I do is gonna somehow backfire on me.”

He knows the feeling, especially late at night in bed, stressing over what tomorrow might bring him.

“And like… I have this whole thing set up for me. When people know me as a classmate, I’m an average student, right? Then when we’re like… ‘friends’, I’m all weird and tease-y.” You let out a loud sigh. “And to the unlucky people who get to this stage, I’m a mess.”

“Stop.” Akaashi’s surprised at how firm he is. “I’m grateful to have met you and to have become your friend, [Name]. You’re going to be fine, you need to trust yourself more. Because I trust you more than anything.”

(Yes, he is on first-name basis with you!! Yes, he trusts you even more than he might even trust Bokuto!!)

Your lips twitch into a small smile, one that he’s grown to love and adore. He’s confident that he’s so fucking deep in love and he doesn’t know how to move on. “You really think so?”

“Of course I do.” He flicks some crumpled-up post-it at you. “Since we’re not doing any homework anytime soon, what else do you want to talk about?”

Your gaze becomes a little more shy and nervous. “Umm… Weeell, I need help.”

“I mean, why else would I be here?”

“No, seriously, Keiji-kun. Seriously!!” You throw mock-fit, despite obviously looking anxious.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m listening. Sorry.”

“Uh. Um, so…” You blink and pretend to look focused on doodling on the corner of your math paper. “There’s this dude I like. Like, I reaaally like him, which is surprising even for me.” You laugh a little bit, and as Akaashi feels his heart start to tear in half, he forces out a chuckle to match. “He’s suuuper pretty– I think that’s the word for it? Pretty. And he’s kinda funny in his own way, and he’s really sweet and listens to me all the time even when I don’t deserve his time. And I dunno, I think he might like me back? Also, I really really really like him. But I don’t really know how to confess…

“Because you know, I’m kinda wack like that, haha. I’ll probably screw up the confession and make things worse, and, well, I need help.” You finish your ramble with a loud breath and you collapse your head onto the table, groaning.

“Uh–” Fuck, oh fuck him, fuck his life. “I mean… I think just a heartfelt confession would do? Something simple and sweet that says you really like him, in case somehow your words don’t work.” Akaashi feels like he’s sweating, a lot, and he feels even more frustrated than ever. His heart is crashing against his ribcage, and his mind is a fucking mess.

You frown a little bit, and suddenly a gush of words fly out of your mouth like a stream bursting from a dam. “Oh my god, what if I’m reading the signs all wrong and he doesn’t at all like me back? I mean, I wouldn’t blame him because I’m kinda ugly and have this weird personality thing going on and I’m shit at math and Bio-”

“Stop.” Akaashi forces himself to intervene, mainly because 1) you’re literally the light of his life and 2) he feels like he has to leave really soon after dealing with the news. “Shut up, [Name]. You aren’t ugly at all, and I, for one, enjoy your weird personality. And I already told you, you’re fine with academics.” He makes himself make eye contact with you, peering up from your arm covering your face, and says, “If he rejects you, he isn’t worth your time at all and you should move on.”

(Preferably with me.)

He watches you exhale, like he just unwound a tight spring from inside of you, and your shoulders relax and you melt from your anxious state, just a little bit. “You’re right. If.. if he doesn’t feel the same, I’ll just forget about him.”

“Because you’re a genius.” Akaashi tries to hype you up, but he still feels like crumbling. Falsely checking his phone, he stretches and stands up. “I have to go now, sorry. My mom asked me to pick up my little sister from tutoring.”

“Huh, already?” Confusion flits across your face, and it hurts him even more to just leave you after you confided in him, but he knows he has to leave before he says something he might regret. “Oh, okaayy.. see you tomorrow then. Thanks for helping me out.” You yawn before standing up to hug him goodbye.

“No problem.” He says it casually, but Akaashi feels his mood drop faster and lower than ever. He hugs you back, but he breaks away fast.

After leaving your house and collapsing onto his bed in his locked bedroom (with his 11-year-old sister knocking on the door and curiously asking what’s wrong), he can’t help but feel hurt that you couldn’t even tell him who your mystery crush’s name was.

A week passes by, and neither of you mention the conversation at your house. It doesn’t matter either way, since you two are still so casually best friends. At the same time, he desperately wants to push the matter just to find out who it is.

Otherwise, Akaashi has noticeably been more quiet and moody to the point that he doesn’t know how to control it. Sure, he keeps up the same as he would before your conversation, but he can’t help but feel his heart sink everytime he sees you. His mind is ecstatic every time he talks to you, while simultaneously wanting to tear itself apart.

He’s tried getting rid of feelings for you, in literally every way possible. From avoiding thinking about you (which backfired horribly because he ended up thinking more about you) to focusing on other girls (ew, none of them were even capable of creating the same effect on him as you do), he’s tried it all and it’s all failed.

Akaashi realizes his silent slump has gotten so bad to the point that Bokuto made him sit out a few practice matches in the gym just because Akaashi was nowhere near the spot that any of the team expected him to be at.

After school, he meets with you near the vending machine as always. You buy two cans of coffee, one for you and one for him.

As soon as he takes the can gratefully, you clear your throat.

“Yeah, [Name]?”

Glancing around before staring him in the eye, you start, “Keiji-kun, before you run away, I just…. I just wanted to let you know I really really really like you. Like, a lot.” You start speaking kind of fast, so Akaashi can’t process what you’re saying.

“And I mean it. Ever since the Bio project, you’ve been so nice to me and you’ve been such a great friend even though I made it hard sometimes, and along the way I just caught feelings. You honestly mean everything to me, and I appreciate you so much for everything we’ve been through. I- I think, I love you, Keiji. And I hope you accept my feelings.” You smile, almost nervously but nonetheless sincere, and Akaashi thinks he’s about to explode.

“I- I,” Fuck, oh my fucking god, he thinks to himself. He’s shaking a little bit– that’s how happy he is. “[Name], I..” God fucking damn it, he can’t even express how happy he is. He feels his cheeks blossom and he feels his lips quirk into this goofy smile.

But then he watches you shy away a little bit as you hurriedly say, “I- I mean, sorry. It’s okay if you just wanna be friends-”

“No.” Finally, Akaashi can use his mouth and then he gently takes your cheeks in his hands and closes the gap between you two, lips connecting in a display of pining and affection.

He practically melts into the kiss, he’s never been so happy. He thinks he’s actually about to implode; he’s been dreaming about kissing you like this, against your soft, plush lips. And finally he’s able to call you his, to call you the one. When the two of you finally break away for air, he’s breathing hard and his mind is a mess, which is rare considering his usual stoic state.

Akaashi has also never seen you so flustered and blushy. He murmurs into your ear as he takes your hand, “Feelings are 100% reciprocated.”

“I can tell,” you laugh breathily, and he’s so happy to hear that some of your anxiety has dissolved in that sweet kiss. He’s absolutely infatuated with you in every aspect. He leans in for a soft, quicker kiss on the lips and savors the feeling of warmth he gets. “Dork.”, he whispers.

“Only for you.”

[bnhavibes]

hhihihi!!! i saw your requests were open and i was wondering if you could do a Midoriya one where the two of them are like,,, perfect for each other. they both ramble a lot and are anxious often and have a lot of similar habits and mannerisms. only difference is Midoriya is pining super hard for them, and they’re pretty oblivious to it no matter how hard he tries to make them realize he has a thing for them. everyone else can tell BUT them. is this too specific? maybe. sorry lol! 💕💖

If there’s anything more envigorating than training with your classmates, it’s socializing with your classmates! You, Class 1-A, some kids from 1-B, and a handful of some support class students all planned a hangout in the common room for Game Night.

Of course, the Bakusquad teams up with Bakugou, Kirishima, Ashido, and Kaminari on one team and the 1-B kids on the otherside; Kendo, Shinsou, Monoma and uh oh—

“My, my, it seems one of our classmates would rather study than participate in this silly game night!” Monoma chorted obnoxiously. “I always knew our class was much more responsible and—”

“SHUT YOUR DAMN TRAP YOU BIT—” Bakugou exploded, but his shrapnel was covered by Kirishima’s hands over the angry hedgehog’s mouth; Arms wrapped around and over his shoulders to keep Bakugou in place, Kirishima laughs a bit awkwardly.

“What out buddy Bakubro over here means you bit-ter bring your A-games! Heh,” He says, squeezing a struggling Katsuki while he growled and kicked around. “We might wipe the floor with ya.”

“What about Midoriya? Where did he go?” Yao-momo asked, hope hanging on her tongue.

It was obvious (only to you) that the beautiful girl had a crush on your crush. And it made you even more discouraged, knowing that such a socialable and outgoing girl would win Deku’s heart before you could even try!

You knew where he was though, you saw him sneak away with a huge flush on his face after talking to Yao-momo. You had texted him wondering where he was going and he said he had to study for his internship. The thought of the two chatting made your nervous tick activate, your leg bouncing rapidly on your seat’s footrest. You couldn’t help but blush a look down at your hands, thinking that people would notice.

You thought, and second guessed, about the outfit you chose for tonight; a pair of black soffe shorts(the comfortable kind that dancers exercise in), a very baggy and black low v-neck top with over-the-shoulder short sleeves made of polyester. Of course you had a pair of black ruffles ankle socks, but you didn’t bother with slippers since the floors were always clean.

You bring out your journal, writing and doodling on the countertop. while you sat on a barstool, the game systems were set up and snacks were being heated/cooked in the oven and prepped onto the countertop. A good amount of time passed when they finally got it all done.

Your distracting thoughts ease your shaking a little, but it fires back up when you hear somebody respond to Momo;

“Oh! I forgot to say, Yao-momo, maybe ask (Y/Nn)-chan, you know how those two are, hehehe.” the ‘Alien Queen’ retorted as the festivities had already begun.

Pink coated the tips of your ears, dusting across your cheekbones when Momo’s eyes meet yours as you look over in their direction. A warm smile stretches across her face, earning a gulp from you. The lump in your throat disappears as she approaches you, and places a hand on your shoulder.

“Hey, (Y/N), you and Midoriya-kun are friends. I noticed he was acting funny earlier, but he wouldn’t tell me what was the matter and left. Would you min—”

You didn’t let her finish as a “I’ll go grab him!” sped out of your mouth, collecting your phone and journal as you raced to the elevators. Relieved to be out of the big crowd, you let out a deep exhale as the elevators ascends. Deku wouldn’t tell Momo what was wrong, so it was up to you as his best friend to figure it out.

You clentched your phone and journal in your hands, shaking a bit with every step towards his room. Soft japanese lofi hiphop playing from behind his door, making your anxiety skyrocket.

“Here we goooo—” You raise your hand to knock, “—OOH GOD. Oh goddddgod god!! I have to talk to Deku, and what if hes alone?! What if he doesn’t wanna see me? Did I make him upset?? Hmm, well he always feels better when bringing up All Might. Maybe I could go grab some movies and come back or..” You rambled on and on, talking to nobody but an empty hallway. In your daze, the door began to creep open.

You started taking notes, marking pros vs cons of talking to Deku right now. Mumbling something or other when a small squeak distracts you.

“U-Uh-uuHuh, he-hey there, (y/n)!!! Eh, wha—why aren’t you enjoying game night? Did somethi-

“DEKU! Oh— Hi, well you, aheh! uHmM What! No, I— I, I wanted to— oh geez, your room smells so good! Are you making cookies or something?” You blush profusely, biting your lip to stop your damn tongue from speaking.

His own blush flares up, backing up a bit and opening an arm to welcome you in as he looks harshly away from you, frozen in a flinch and sweat beginning to build on his forehead. He was in a pair of black joggers, a plain white v-neck on his torso and the bracelet you got him for his 18th birthday.

“I was just warming up some cookie dough, I, I know you’re not supposed to eat it uncooked but— It tastes g-good so.” He strays off, touching every other thing and making sure it was perfectly placed; a common occurance in his room.

A giggle escapes your lips, breaking a few layers of the awkwardness, and bringing a brighter hue of pink on his cheeks as you made yourself comfortable on his bed. It wasn’t noticed by you, but you were distracted by a gut feeling that you couldn’t ignore.

“D-Deku?” You squeak, nerves choking you up.

He looked over at you from his place on the floor, he was on his knees looking for a book in his bedside table’s drawers. “Ye-Yeah?”

“Do you actually have something to study, or is there something w-wrong? Yo-You can tell me— I wouldn’t tell a soul, I, I swear on it.” You say with a brave smile, clutching your journal to your body as you sat with your knees on the mattress

“Did Yaoyoroza put you up to this? I— I already told her it’s n-not worth worry-ING! UUHhhhHhh (Y/N)!! Y-Your, uhh— I!” He slaps a hand over his eyes and runs himself to his closet, blindly grabbing what seems to be a pair of sweats and holding them out at you with a shaking hand.

“W-What’s this?” You ask, eyes widening when you look down at your legs to see what made him react like that. A tear along the back side of your shorts had begun to spread from; The tight material usually form-fits itself around your “thicker” thighs and buttocks, but you must have caught them on your stool when sliding down and off it. (You’re short, so just stepping off high barstools will never happen).

“Th-Thank you!” You squeal, snatching the material out of his hands and slipping them on, and to your surprise— they fit! Even around your wider hips, tho your waist wasnt much smaller than his, the hem hanging a bit low, exposing about an inch of your lower torso(upper pelvis/low tummy and hipbone area).

“Is it okay now?” Midoriya asked. He looked so cute with his hand over his eyes, the prominent blush now being observed and imprinted in your mind.

You couldn’t help but reach out to touch his face, wanting to trace your fingers across every freckle that sprinkled across his person. Though, before you could reach his skin, he peeked through the cracks of his fingers; The heat becoming unbearable, and now your own body felt hot.

“(Y/N)...” He spoke softly, as if he was realizing something, removing his hand slowly. You were frozen in front of him; both visibly trembling, both staring into the eyes of your crush, both anxiously determining the next step.

You gulped harshly as he took in your appearance, subconsciously licking his lips as his eyes met the harsh grip your teeth had on your bottom lip, stepping forward and —without warning— he swept a strand of hair out of your face, both hands cupping underneath your jawline, and pulled your bodies together by gently tugging you forward and planting a slightly wet, deep kiss on your lips.

Your initial reaction was to freak out, but for some reason his warm hands kept you from falling apart. With your knees buckling, you grab the collar of his shirt, and almost fall into him— But his right hand steadied you, his calloused fingers pressing into your barely exposed lower back a bit, your bodies now insepedable as he continues to kiss you slowly but so deeply you thought he had some type of soul-sucking Quirk that happens when he kisses people.

After what felt like a life time, though it must have been 2 minutes, his lips leave yours. The absence of his mouth leaves you with a pout, but when your eyes flutter open you find he has a sweetest look in his eyes as he worriedly furrows his brows.

“S-Sorry, was that o-okay?” He asked, neither of you moving an inch.

“Does that mean yo-you like me?”

He chuckles, making your heart flutter. “I’ve been in love with you since the day I met you, (Y/N).”

HNNNNGGF I HOPE U LIKEd THIS I KNOW IT WASNT EVERYTHING U ASKED FOR BUT AKAOXOISOSD

[sonicfanj]

Sonic Ring Bond - THE EYES OF THE WORLD - Chapter 1

I’ve finally finished writing chapter 1 for the first story I’m writing for the Sonic Ring Bond AU and I have it here for everyone to read! Hooray \”(^o^)”/ Now this is my first real time though trying to write Sonic fan fiction so I would really appreciate all of the feedback everyone is willing to offer ^^ I'd really appreciate it to be honest! For now though, enjoy, and please share your thoughts here, on DeviantArt, or share them on my Sonic Ring Bond Discord Server - https://discord.gg/aVjNUyG . Thank you everyone \"(^o^)"/ Now before we get started though a big shout out to @cutegirlmayra​ for writing the first story in the Sonic Ring Bond AU (Read it here) and being a huge inspiration for this one with her wonderful Sonic stories. I know you don't read others' fan fiction, but I would still love your feedback regardless. Thank again though for all of the help getting the AU off the ground \"(^o^)"/

And now please join me everyone and enjoy...

Current Status: Done – Open Draft Draft No.: 2 Story Idea: SonicFanJ – Inspired by Cutegirlmayra Main Author: SonicFanJ Secondary Author(s): None Currently Story Expanding Author(s): None Currently Editor(s): None Currently – Open for feedback

Chapter Number: 1 Chapter Title: Anxiety of a Rose Primary Chapter Author: SonicFanJ Secondary Chapter Author(s): None Currently Chapter Idea: SonicFanJ 

Chapter Synopsis: Amy “Rosy the Rascal” Rose, wakes from a nightmare about Metal Sonic and finds a sudden global shift setting her off on the start of an adventure. But a continuous chill from her tarot cards leave her feeling uneasy and she finds herself investigating the growing dread and prophetic nature of her dream.

 -----

     At the heart of the world, binding an ever-changing surface together and allowing civilization to hold any form at all are none other than the Golden Rings. Appearing spontaneously like some landmasses appear and disappear, the loops of golden hue spin in perpetual motion wherever they do appear, just like the masses of land of the world also constantly shift and give rise to new adventures. In this untamed world what few cities exists are joined more often than not by ancient ill understood technology that turns Rings into a gateway between two set locations rather than the whim of the Rings. Such whimsey was fine to the adventurers of Checkpoint, the most successful and famous adventuring supporting company, as they had access to a beacon that would always turn their Ring Gates home. As such, the joining of the world brought about by the Rings made them things of unmatched value, and though not all could see them, all felt their effects. Many even made their living gathering them for the government and adventuring companies who used them. One such adventurer, a hedgehog girl of pink hue even dreamed of them much as she would rather dream of running with the speed she was gifted through a bond forged by the Rings, the Ring Bond.

     The dreaming pink hedgehog girl was known far and wide as Rosy the Rascal, for both her perpetual good cheer and optimism as well these days her tendency to find trouble. As it was, Rosy was finding trouble even in her dreams. It was not lush meadows she ran through with Rings dangling in the air in various rows and patterns spinning freely on their axes waiting for her to collect them but rather a field of endless darkness devoid of any Rings. All save one. A ring of pitch-black hue which spun on its axis ominously, seeming to slow the longer she rested her eyes upon its malevolent form. But her blue eyes which matched the hedgehog of her dreams in hue were not the only eyes within her dream, as soon two very familiar “eyes” of red light glared out at her from within the Black Ring. The intensity of the glare upon her made her desire to retreat overwhelming, to flee as far her legs would take her, reaching for speeds nearing that of sound itself. But her body was like gelatin and the pull of the Black Ring left her both without life and strength. She could only stare into it and the eyes that hid within its twirling form as she lay helplessly in the dark. But she refused to give in, to give up. If she could just take her eyes off of the Black Ring, she could wake from this nightmare. Alas, even the darkness above offered her no refuge for seven emerald eyes opened from within the dark and looked down upon her, almost pleading her to save them as they threatened to consume her and her world before even the Black Ring did. But neither the owner of those seven eyes or the Black Ring would consume the world for her blue hedgehog hero would save the day. Now if only it was Sonic the Hedgehog himself and not his robotic doppelganger, Metal Sonic, who crushed the Black Ring in his claw like hand and scattered the eyes with a swipe of the other. All save one which he took firmly in hand before glaring back over his shoulder at where Rosy lay helpless. There was strangely an emotion in the machine’s eyes, but she could not make it out as the one remaining emerald eye looked at her with a desperation for release that made her shudder with its terror.

­–|–

     Rosy’s shuddering shook loose the black soil from her quills and it dusted down her eyes, her eyelashes trying to playfully resist the waterfall before her eyes snapped open and tossed the soil away. Rosy was wide awake now but blinked a few times before trying to move as she felt horribly pinned as she lay on her belly and chin. It was not an uncomfortable pinning however and if she were not so shaken from her dream she would have fought to curl up and return to her slumber. As it was, her cheeks puffed up as she pouted before complaining with a high-pitched voice that was pleasantly soft and cheerful.

     “Hmm! Why did I dream about Metal Sonic! If I was going to dream about Sonic, why couldn’t it have been something romantic with the real Sonic! We could have been running together along the beach and holding hands and ­– Eee!” Squealing with delight Rosy held her balled hands to her reddening face as she rolled over and kicked her legs playfully.

     Just as her dreams of Metal Sonic ruined her sleep, Rosy’s daydreaming about Sonic ruined any last chance she had of returning comfortably to sleep. Her sudden twisting had dislodged the sides of the bed of soil she had been lying in and she found herself with more weight on her body than she preferred as only her head and feet stuck out of the soil pile she lay at the bottom of. A cute frown turned her expression into an inverted smile, and she remembered where it was she had settled in for the night. Again, her thoughts drifted from a Sonic to a complaint.

     “Ooo! Soil beds are so comfy with the right soil, but they’re such a mess!” Straining her head back Rosy took in the burrow she had fallen asleep in for the night and couldn’t help but laugh at the dissonance of the soil she lay in contrasting the brick and mortar wall which hid a shower and wardrobe beyond ornate yet cute wooden doors of circular shape. ‘But how lucky am I to find a hotel that caters to so many different peoples at once! Hehehe! Normally I’d have to stay longer to clean up the mess I make in a regular room to save the wait staff some trouble, but I can’t help it if I find a loose nest more comfortable than a bed. Though I guess pillows and bedding are less trouble than a soil nest. But it feels so nice!’

     With a happy sigh that was almost a contented snort through her nose Rosy finally extracted herself from the nest she had made in the loose soil of the unusual hotel room. Standing up she stretched her arms well above her head and stiffened and relaxed her quills a few times to try and shake as much of the soil out of her quills as she could. It was a valiant effort, but she soon enough emerged from the hidden shower with a hotel bathrobe wrapped around her and joined her happy humming with the bird song filtering in with the morning light from well-hidden sun lights. A big smile on her face she let the filtered in light guide her eyes to the wardrobe and playfully tossed the circular double door aside to reveal a leotard of pretty white color hanging within. Her smile grew ever greater accompanied by her wanderlust as she looked at the garment that she always wore as she went adventuring like her hero.

     “Hehehe,” she laughed to herself nearly as much as swooned at the prospect of putting it on and setting out in search of the day’s adventure. She managed to control herself though and simply reached for one of the shoulder puffs that served as the garment’s sleeves. Reaching inside she carefully extracted a small waterproof container that seemed like it might be uncomfortable to store withing while wearing. “Can’t give in to my desires though until I see what you have to say about the day first.”

     Talking to a deck of tarot cards might have seemed unusually to most, but to Rosy they were her oldest friends and deserved as much care as all of her sapient friends. They had even led her to her first encounter with Sonic the Hedgehog and had proven their loyalty and being deserving of hers. Not that she had not been on many an adventure before then with them helping her make Fang the Sniper’s treasure hunts most lucrative.

     “I wonder where he went after our last meeting. We didn’t even get to talk after not seeing each other for so long.” The pleasant memories her tarot card case was bringing her were pushed aside as she pondered aloud about the wellbeing of the jerboa-wolf hybrid who had taken her from her tiny little adventures into her first real ones. He was so kind to her, and she could not understand why people distrusted him so much. As far as she could remember he was as under attack by Metal Sonic as she and Sonic had been in their last meeting, so he obviously was not bad. “I wonder what he was doing on Angel Island though. I hope he didn’t hear that there was treasure there. Poor Fang, Knuckles would have punched him in the nose without a second thought. I guess it was almost a good thing Metal Sonic – Kyaa⁈”

     A sudden jolt brought Rosy’s musings to an end with a cry as her hand grew freezing cold and numb all at once, her tarot card case falling to the ground. “Ah!”

     Pulling her suddenly very cold and very numb hand to her chest Rosy reached for her cards with her other hand as the case hit the ground and bounced, the cards within sprung free from the impact and scattering about the room as the case spun. “Noooo~… I’m so sorry I didn’t mean–”

     Involuntarily stopping mid-apology, a chill ran down Rosy’s spine and her quills quivered as she looked at the spilt cards upon the ground. She swallowed very slowly as she looked at the natural pattern they fell in. It was not a spread she was familiar with and she consciously felt she should not consider it a spread, but something told her that it was. But where would she even begin with such a painful looking expression looking back at her. It was so ominous that not one card had landed face up so as to give her even one clue on where to start, but the message of pain was obvious even without turning over a single card. Her cards allowed her to so accurately find treasure and know what the day ahead would hold, or maybe even give her a directive to follow, and it was unquestionable that the powers that influenced them were in untold pain. It reminded her almost of the eye from her dream, the pleading emerald eye.

     “Gah!”

     No sooner did she remember the eye Metal Sonic held mercilessly in her dream did the entire earth shift violently collapsing the entire hotel room burrow into the darkness below. The collapse of the room was as inward as it was downward and Rosy was soon buried along with her scattered cards. Fortunately, she was a hedgehog, though a sapient hedgehog, a hedgehog all the same and digging herself out was not outside of her ability. She was not as swift as would have been expected however as she took the time gather up her tarot cards and even change into her leotard and slipper like red shoes. There was suddenly an adventure to be had and it was necessary to dress the part.

     “Ooh~! What a way to start the day!” The complaint was her announcement to the world that she had survived and was none the worse for wear, but the city she had been staying in could not say the same. Where she had been in a burrow off of a hotel, she now was in a widening gorge adorned with broken mine cart tracks and water and steam pipes that would have benefited the town above. Or at least partially still above as several brick and mortar buildings along with the wrought iron fence lined streets they rested on were also shifting down into the growing fissure. The entire land mass was transforming, which was not unusual at all for the world, but Rosy still puffed her cheeks up unamused while resting the backs of her hands on her hips. “I wasn’t ready to start an adventure yet! I was supposed to check today’s fortune first!”

     As she chastised the fissure Rosy subconsciously reached up and rubbed her shoulder under the shoulder puff her cards had been returned to. In their presence her shoulder was growing cold and numb just like her fingertips after handling the cards. Though she was rubbing more to return warmth to her shoulder, it made it appear to any passing by that she might have been nursing an injury. “Miss, are you alright! We have enough room to lower a rescue team if you need help!”

     “Hm?”  Her voice lost to the sound of rushing wind, Rosy looked up to satiate her curiosity and saw the best airship that could be made with early industrial age technology hovering in the air, several propellers and wings helping keep it afloat as steam gushed out of several release vents. ‘How long was I gathering up my cards if there are already rescue ships flying around?’

     The speaker who called out to Rosy from the deck of the airship was not capable of reading minds and Rosy cheerfully waved at the ship as she provided an audible response. “I’m fine! I don’t even need rescued!”

     Running forward to the lip of the ledge she found herself on below the hotel, Rosy looked out at the fissure with greater focus. She smiled brightly and with anticipation as she saw Rings blink into being and saw the effect they had on the architecture within the fissure. Most notably she watched chunks of land simply start floating freely, revealing that there were Rings likely buried within sharing with the landmasses their penchant for floating. The sight brought a pleasant smile to her lips and she giggled aloud. “It’s just like a Ring Bond. Sharing a power with someone else and making them better. Just like Sonic did with me!

     “Ooo~ I wonder how he does it. Maybe if I collect more Rings I’ll get a feel for it too!” With a nod Rosy clenched her fists up determinably beside her face before turning towards the much closer airship. “Really! I’m fine! I’m a Ring Hunter with Checkpoint so I’m going to go collect as many as I can right now! Everyone is going to need them to run the Ring Gate to bring in more supplies, right?”

     “That’s true miss, but how? Do you see this gorge!”

     “Just leave that to me! You go rescue people who aren’t as fortunate as I am!”

     Turning away from the edge and the airship, Rosy made sure to spy one last look into the growing gorge from which giant mushrooms were starting to sprout. There was no guarantee that the landmass she settled on would still be there, but she just smiled as she walked away and pulled on the cuff of her glove so she could get a quick look at her palm within. Happy with what she saw she started running at a light pace with the non-essential crew of the airship piling up against the ship’s deck railing to see what was going on. The sight of a pink hedgehog girl though made the voice of one crew member rise up in surprise. “Wait! Is that Rosy the Rascal?”

     “Who?”

     “With Checkpoint! That hedgehog girl known for getting in trouble.”

     “What type of trouble?”

     “Forget that! She’s doing something weird!” Interrupting their crewmates one member of the airship’s crew squeezed forward beyond the deck railing to point at Rosy. Her running speed had increased tremendously, and she had gained quite a bit of ground on the airship before she leaned down hard and planted a hand against the ground bringing herself to a hard stop. Her arm strained to absorb her momentum and she leaned into a onehanded handstand in which she almost toppled over as her feet started moving fast enough to be indistinguishable from twirling ribbons of red straining to hold a figure eight shape. Twisting her wrist, Rosy forced herself to turn around and lowered her body back towards the ground and partially scrambled as she launched herself forward with restored traction. Her recovery was not seen by the crew at all though as she was gone in nearly a blink, but still not quite fast enough to generate a sonic boom. She had little concern though as she careened through the air with her arms out behind her.

     “Wheee~~~~~!”

     The joyous shout seemed completely inappropriate under the circumstances, but Rosy was known as a rascal and always sought out the best in any situation. The opening of the gorge was unexpected and completely destroyed the infrastructure of the mines that had been below the city but served Rosy well. Her leap needed a spot to land and she had chosen a stretch of mine cart railing that twisted through a loop-de-loop shape before a ramp that launched her even higher. She was so glad that Rings would burst into motes of light and be absorbed into her body at the slightest touch as otherwise there was no way she would be able to gather the Rings she passed at the speed she was traveling. A massive mushroom cap suddenly growing out in front of her ascent threatened to bring her to halt and she curled into a tight ball and spun at tremendous speeds allowing her to cut straight through the mushroom. It was not a flawless cut though and she flopped out and onto the top of the blue cap of the mushroom just as it absorbed the last of her momentum. “Achoo!”

     “Yuck!” The disgust at her sneeze was laughed off as Rosy sat up and kept rolling forward onto her knees and hands. Before bracing to set off again though she rubbed at her itching nose and promptly sneezed even fiercer. “Eugh!”

     Looking down at her hand Rosy recoiled from the sight of it covered in spores and ended up jumping to her feet in the process. As she moved back she got a clear look at herself, or would have if she hadn’t gained a full coat of fuzzy mushroom spores all over.” Ack! No~! I don’t want to be a mushroom girl!”

     Trying her best to shake them off Rosy had no luck and turned to-and-fro looking around desperately! “Aha!”

     The sight of gushing water from a likely broken water main rushing out of an exposed mine tunnel provided Rosy with her next destination and she wasted no time heading for it. As she skipped across springy mushroom caps and floating chunks of rock her lack of control over her speed started to become apparent, exacerbated by the mushroom spores that had no intention of releasing her even at the speeds she was traveling. The force of the waterfall as she finally reached it well below where she planed proved enough to finally wash them free and she took a moment under the water to make sure not one spore stuck to her. It was also a prime opportunity to wash the soil stains out of her leotard and restore its white color back to its normal vibrancy. When she finally stepped out of the waterfall though, she could not stop yet another sneeze from stopping her in her tracks.

     “Aah~~~! If I keep sneezing my nose is going to get all sore and my face will get all puffy! I need to dry off! Except…,” trailing off Rosy looked about as she rubbed her arms and saw that the top of the gorge had grown quite a way above her. It would take her considerable effort to climb up and she was too clumsy with her speed to risk just running straight up the sheer cliff. Her best bet to get back into the morning sunlight appeared to be a cobblestone street in the distance that seemed to have tilted into the gulch turning the houses upon it quite lopsided. “I hope everyone is okay.”

     Looking up Rosy could see plenty of rescue airships maneuvering through the growing mushroom forest and smiled believing they would get the job done. Holding her balled hands to her shoulders she nodded fiercely to herself and smiled brightly. “Right, I need to do my part too so everyone can fix everything when this shift finishes!”

     Hyped up, Rosy used her speed to scramble as fast as she could while still being somewhat competent to make her way to the tilted street. Much as her footing was unsure though she forced herself to tap into more and more of the speed she possessed as the road started to fracture compromising her chance to get back into the sunlight. When one smaller mushroom cap slipped out from under her when she dried to dig in with a step she tumbled over and bounced off another mushroom cap and landed in a heap as she finally reached the road and tumbled a little ways further. Pouting heavily at her crash landing Rosy took no pleasure on reaching her destination though. ‘I can’t keep being clumsy like this. Sonic said I have to make his speed look cool if I’m going to use it. I’ll get all dirty again too. I’ve already taken two showers this morning and I don’t want to have to take another one already.’

     “Um, are you okay?”

     “Huh?”

     Realizing she had tumbled right up against a house and had planted her butt on its wall as though she was seated on the ground, Rosy found herself looking up at a mother holding her child staring at her from an open window. A huge grin spread across Rosy’s face and she waved at the child before rolling over backwards and springing up to her feet. The mother and child stared amazed at Rosy’s acrobatic display and she laughed modestly.

     “I just had a little spill is all, tee-hee! I’m fine though. But what about you two? And are your neighbors stuck here too? I don’t think it’s safe to stay here much longer.” Rosy’s good cheer quickly turned to concern as she walked back towards the window and looked around at all of the other houses on the street. The mother drew her attention back to the house before her though as she spoke up.

     “I’ve heard rescue ships are coming but the mushrooms are growing so fast…”

     “Don’t worry!” Surprising the mother and child both Rosy stepped forward and grabbed both of their hands as she shouted encouragingly. “I’ve seen the rescue ships making their way down and I have a flare on me too!”

     Rosy pulled her hands back, running her fingers along the palms of the mother and child as she did, and reached up into her quills where sapient hedgehogs had a tendency to store things. After a moment of rummaging she pulled out the small fireworklike flare in her possession and smiled confidently as she showed it off. “See? I’ll go launch this so they know there are people here, but then I’ve got to go and collect more Rings. But just so you feel a little better…

     “Here, have some Rings for yourself! They’ll keep you safe until the rescue ships get here!” With a drifting of motes of golden light, a few Rings appeared in Rosy’s hand and she offered them to the mother and child. As they tentatively took a hold of them Rosy smiled brightly. “Okay, I have to go now but don’t worry, I know you’ll be fine! I gave your palms a quick read and they say you’ll be just fine! Bye-bye now!”

     Turning away with as much energy and good cheer as she arrived, Rosy hurried out to the road and launched the flare, a trail of pink smoke trailing the launched beckon. Not wanting to mess with the smoke trail and risk the lives of the people who were peeking out there windows at the flare, Rosy made sure to give herself some distance before following the road up the cliffside and into the sunlight. Even having to make some impressive leaps the road proved quite reliable and Rosy soon found herself on a separated bit of the cliff wall that had become an independent spire. It was the perfect place to dry off and warm up. Unfortunately, she could not enjoy the sunlight as something was very wrong.

     “OW~!” Clutching at her shoulder where her tarot cards were stored within her sleeve, Rosy fell to her knees with a wide-eyed grimace. “It’s so COLD!”

     ‘What is going on?’

     Even through her sleeve and glove the box of tarot cards were so cold that it felt like it was burning her flesh. She did not want to imagine what it was doing to her arm which she had already lost all feeling in the shoulder of.

     “Ow, ow, ow! You weren’t cold like this just a moment ago. Why are you so cold now when you weren’t after I fell into the gorge? Oh!” Forcing herself to stand against the pain, Rosy made her way to the edge of the road and looked down into the mushroom filled gorge. It was quite the sight filled with countless giant mushrooms and chunks of city, some of the mushrooms even glowing along with the spores that filled the air. Rosy would have marveled at the sight more than she did but an updraft of wind from within tickled her nose and she sneezed and took an involuntary step away from the edge. More importantly though…

     ‘Hey, my cards aren’t as cold now. Then it really is isn’t it?’

     Stepping back to the edge again Rosy looked down and tightened her grip on her shoulder. ‘Is there someone down there asking me for help through my cards?’ The thought pulled Rosy’s memories back to the pained spread her cards had landed in earlier and the dream of the seven eyes. A determined frown creased her features and Rosy balled her free hand up. “In that case, I’m so sorry for leaving you waiting. But you’re going to have to show me how to get to you!”

     To the surprise of the crew of an approaching rescue ship, Rosy suddenly jumped over the edge. Her jump was not without plan however and she planted her feet on the cliff side to control where she went with her descent. As her cards grew less painfully cold, she kicked off the cliff and leapt out to a mushroom cap. She allowed herself to fall over and rolled around in ball for a moment before uncurling and leaping off in the direction from which her cards grew less cold. Imprecise a method as it was, Rosy eventually found herself standing on a ledge under a giant mushroom cap with a large cave opening in a cliff. A chill wind blew from it, but as it blew over Rosy it took the rest of the cold from her cards away. It also carried ominous sounds that were all too familiar and Rosy let out a nervous laugh.

     “Don’t tell me…,” before Rosy could even finish her thought an obnoxious laugh echoed out from the cavern.

     “OH~HOHOHOHO!”

     “Eggman!” Rosy’s feet were already moving before she was even thinking and before she knew it she had to actively stop herself and hide as she easily caught up with the rotund, egg-shaped scientist and archenemy of Sonic the Hedgehog. Peeking out from behind the stalagmite that served as her impromptu hiding space, Rosy counted numerous bee robots buzzing around in the air around Eggman in his Egg Mobile as well as several rhinoceros shaped unicycle ones scooting about below him. The air of good cheer surrounding him was unmistakable and it was obvious that he was in the midst of a new sinister scheme. ‘Maybe… I can stop him?’

     The thought of stopping Eggman mid-scheme seemed like the perfect way to prove herself to Sonic and convince him to let her travel with him. But she had no luck with Eggman, especially when Metal Sonic was around. Worse, she was on her own this time with none of her friends around and had already used her flare and could not call for help. Unless…

     “No!”

     “Hmm?” Eggman stopped and turned his Egg Mobile around to check his flank in response to Rosy’s sudden shout of disappointment. She had already ducked back down behind the stalagmite and had clamped her hands tightly over her mouth. But it was too late, and she knew it. Worse, the wrist device she wore to keep in contact with Checkpoint was broken and considering how rare such advanced technology was, and that it was actually functional meant she would be in trouble for it breaking too. That would be the least of her troubles though if Eggman found her, and he was already on his way with his contingent of robots.

     “Ho~! Already gone are you?” Eggman mused aloud as he reached Rosy’s former hiding spot which she had swiftly abandoned. Naturally though he smiled a huge toothy grin and with a boisterous laugh mocked Rosy. “Hohoho! Disappearing so quickly yet not confronting me could only mean it’s one of Sonic’s troublesome little friends! But which one I wonder… Not that it matters when you have pitted yourself against the super genius scientist Dr. Eggman! You’ll lose in no time and then I’ll use you to bait Sonic to his doom. OH~HOHOHOHOHO! Erk–! What are you imbeciles doing! I needed the data from there!”

     The cave was a lot larger than what Rosy had realized when she had charged in blindly, and from a natural catwalk above she spied down at Eggman. He was more than animated as he yelled at the rhinoceros bots that scooted about where Rosy had been annihilating any source of her trail and making a fool of Eggman. ‘I guess I can run away safely now and find what Eggman’s here for and ruin his plans.’

     Trying to stay low, Rosy pressed her hands into the ground and started to enter a handstand as she kicked her feet about to get to speed before leaning back down and launching forward. Pebbles and dust flew up in her wake and Eggman snapped his gaze in the direction of the noise, adjusting his glasses with a finger.

     “If you’re already running and making so much noise, than it must be that pesky pink sow of a girlfriend of that blasted Sonic trying to interfere. Too bad girl, I, super genius scientist Dr. Eggman will not be stopped this time!”

     Eggman’s declaration and subsequent order to his bots meant little to Rosy. She was too busy swooning as she ran deeper into the cavern. “Ahh~! ♥ He thinks I’m Sonic’s girlfriend! I can’t believe it! I wonder what Sonic would think! Does he think of me that way too? I really want him too! Eee~!” Cupping her face with her hands as she gushed Rosy stopped focusing on her running as much as she needed to and slipped into pigeon-toed scrambling. By the time she realized it was too late and she mis-stepped, tripping herself up and rolling wildly before bouncing off a wall.

     By hedgehog instinct alone Rosy had curled into a tight ball to protect herself and took a moment to uncurl. “Huh?” Un-squeezing her eyes she looked up at the sight of a giant mushroom, the first of many she looked at as she got back to her feet shakily. “Did I go back outside by accident?”

     A quick look around revealed no sign of the sky, but rather a forest of giant mushrooms growing in the cave. A cursory look around also revealed that neither the rhinoceros bots nor bee bots had given up chasing her. “Ooo~! Why do you have to be so persistent!” Dashing off into the new forest Rosy tried to leave the robots behind with her complaint, and while taking to the mushroom caps took her out of reach of the rhinoceros bots, the bee bots were far better equipped to pursue her.

     “Kyaa~!” Rosy shouted out as the mushrooms suddenly exploded around her under fire from the artillery mounted in the bee bots’ stingers. “What are you doing! AHCOO~!”

     Spores filled the air around Rosy and she could not stop herself from sneezing. She was clumsy as it was trying to use Sonic’s levels of speed but running while sneezing was impossible. But she tried her best to anyway as she could not risk being shot by the bee bots. Unfortunately, she was unaware up to her next step that Eggman had also brought along a third type of robot. Leaping out of the mushroom cap right where Rosy was about to step, the mole like robot with a drill for a nose and drills for hands met her foot with its nose. If not for the Rings she had been gathering all morning the results would have been disastrous, but instead the energy of the Rings absorbed the impact and scattered from Rosy’s person as she was thrown back. Before she could recover and attempt to snag any of her lost Rings though another mushroom cap crashed into her from behind and sent her flying over the burrow bot. Disoriented, Rosy simply curled up as tightly as she could and let gravity and her momentum carry her to where it may, and winced with each collision and bounce from within her protective ball. She did not look out again until Eggman’s telltale laugh assured her that she was not safe in the least.

     “OH~HOHOHOHOHO! I had heard you were quite the treasure magnet Ms. Rose, but–”

     “It’s Rosy!” Aggravated by the use of her last name instead of her nickname, Rosy popped out of her curled up state and landed on her feet leveling Eggman with an angry pout. Her unleashed temper was quickly quieted though when she realized she was surrounded in an alcove with steep walls that curved up to a stalactite covered ceiling. The only way out was past Eggman and his contingent of robots and he offered her a toothy grin as he saw the realization in her eyes.

     “Now now, Ms. Rose, no reason to be so riled up. I’m in a good mood today. You see, rather unexpectedly, Metal Sonic came home recently and with a marvelous treasure. One with the same energy signal as what our little game has led us too. Oh~hohohohoho!”

     “What?” Risking a look behind her where numerous burrow bots were rising out of the ground, Rosy saw ‘it’ floating in the air before the back wall of the alcove. It was as wide as a saucer and perfectly spherical, and though it was a sea blue color and seemed to be an orb of polished crystal Rosy knew what it was. It was impossible not too when a vertical pupil filled with flames looked out from the face of it. “…the eye from my dream…”

     “Oh~, so you’re already familiar with the Gaia Eyes, Ms. Rose.”

     “Gaia Eyes?”

     The disappointment on Eggman;s face as his mustache drooped told Rosy admitting her ignorance was probably a bad idea as she turned back around to face the mad doctor and would be world conqueror. That he was after it was enough reason for her to keep him from getting it, but it was a question of how at that point. Her imitation of Sonic’s spin attack would let her best a few Eggman robots in a one-on-one confrontation, but here she was surrounded and had no real room to work with. Yet she could feel the desperation of the Gaia Eye behind her boring into her back. Tightening her hands into balls she looked as defiantly at Eggman as she could.

     “I can learn about them later, but I’m pretty positive it doesn’t want to go with you!” With a shout Rosy turned to dash for the Gaia Eye and left Eggman too dumbstruck with her words to give an immediate order.

     “Doesn’t want to? Absolutely preposterous! These Gaia Eyes are no different than the Chaos Emeralds; crystalized power waiting for a genius such as myself to unlock their secrets. And when I do, I will finally rule the world! OH~HOHOHOHOHO!” the laugh of Eggman’s that ended his little speech was not just in celebration of his future victory, but also at Rosy’s failing efforts. He may not have given the order, but his robots were designed to fight Sonic and her display of speed set them into motion and kept Rosy from the Gaia Eye.

     “Why can’t you just leave the world alone! It’s so much fun as it is now and doesn’t need you ruling over it!”

     “How naïve you are Miss Rose,–erk!”

     “It’s Rosy!” Her irritation reaching a head, Rosy ran straight for Eggman as she was forced to retreat from the Gaia Eye due to the antics of the robots. She was no Sonic and couldn’t take on so many head on, but the gunfire from the bee bots was making it far worse on her and she knew she had to stop them somehow. As Eggman’s Egg Mobile did not seem equipped for immediate combat charging the doctor seemed like her best chance of getting it to stop, especially since Eggman would be caught in the crossfire.

     “Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Cease your firing!” the order Rosy was hoping for spilt out of Eggman in a panic as she tucked into a ball and rolled under him. She did not linger though not trusting Eggman to not be prepared to attack and leapt up at a bee bot behind him. Spinning into a ball as fast and as tightly as she could Rosy tore into the robot and popped out the other side destroying the machine and freeing a small blue bird known as a flicky in the process. Eggman bore witness to the sight as he spun around angrily to lash out at Rosy. “Why you little! I should have expected no less from one of Sonic’s friends! Ehm?”

     Dissipating like morning fog, Eggman’s ire disappeared as he noticed Rosy acting funny as she failed to land properly. She struggled to turn around and look at the Flicky she freed, and the question in her eyes prompted Eggman to ask his own as he held up a hand to stop his robots from assaulting the suddenly vulnerable seeming hedgehog girl. “Is something wrong Ms. Rose? Or are you just surprised that I’m still using wildlife in my machines? You must understand, having a power source and a hostage is extremely helpful when dealing with Sonic. It slows him down you see, knowing he can’t recklessly attack my beautiful creations.”

     “Sonic… shouldn’t… slow down… for… anyone… whoa…!” Rosy was not sure what was wrong with her. Her speech was coming out slurred and she could barely stay standing. She was feeling lightheaded and flushed and turned her knees sharply together to keep herself standing. Her hips did not feel like they were going to support her for much longer either and the flicky she freed looked at its rescuer with great worry. She wanted to offer it a reassuring smile but her body was feeling so warm like she was sunbathing and she couldn’t bring herself to move. ‘Do I have a fever? Why am I so…?’

     “Oh, what a day of delights!” Eggman was so excited he could not keep himself in his Egg Mobile and leapt from it dancing over to the wreckage of his destroyed bee bot. Rosy struggled to watch him, but just shifting her eyes left her feeling so dizzy she fell to her knees and fought with every drop of strength she could to keep her elbows locked so her arms would support her. She could not fathom what Eggman was looking for as he rummaged through the wreckage of the robot she destroyed, but the massive toothy grin he offered he as he spun around holding up a small broken glass tube sent chills down her spine. “You really have made this day more delightful than it already was Ms. Rose”

     “It’s… Rosy…” Rosy could barely manage to correct Eggman as she less so labored to breathe as her hot breath simply seemed to escape any conscious control on her part. That was a problem in general she having was maintaining any conscious control of her body. It was as if it had simply stopped receiving orders from her and she fell onto her side weakly looking up at Eggman as he danced over. ‘I don’t understand, it’s so weird. My vision is fine, but I can’t move… I can… barely think…’

     “I can’t believe it’s actually working on a sapient hedgehog! It never worked on Sonic and I tried it on so many test subjects, but it just wouldn’t work! And yet, it’s working on you! Oh, why didn’t I try using wildlife as a power source when I first tried to study you and that blasted Ring Bond of Sonic’s. I would have found out then that it works on you. And better yet, better yet, you’re not experiencing the typical adrenaline shock when exposed to an uncontrolled atmosphere that snaps all of the pests I use back to their senses.”

     “Wh… t…” Rosy could not manage to properly utter a word and just looked at Eggman questioningly. Whatever was happening to her it had overrode her internal panic, and though she was terrified she could not act on it all and instead sought answers from the only one who could answer them. Fortunately, Eggman seemed glad to continue prattling on and squatted down next to Rosy and waved the broken glass tube he held in front of her. As it passed her nose her body grew completely limp and Rosy had no control left at all. She could still see Eggman smiling at her, but she could not even look at him anymore as she lost conscious control of her eyes.

     “Oh~hohohoho! Look at you Ms. Rose. You can’t even move. You’re completely, absolute, and utterly helpless and it’s so beautiful! But of course, I’m certain you want to know what’s happening to you. Well I’m so overjoyed right now I’ll be glad to tell you. What you are experiencing right now is a form of conscious paralysis. You might compare it to waking up before your body, a phenomenon commonly called sleep paralysis. The flushing and warmth you’re feeling is from your blood vessels widening in response to the compound that was in this vial and that you must have breathed in when you destroyed my beautiful creation. But it was a worthwhile sacrifice for this discovery. In fact, I should get another vial just to make sure you don’t recover after all.”

     Bounding to his feet Eggman ran over to his Egg Mobile and tilted it over as he began rummaging about within. As he searched and tossed things over his shoulder he gladly continued explaining. “But you see, the blood vessels need to widen as my lovely little concoction typically carries all of the bodies nutritional needs and even carries components that keep the muscles healthy and strong. An absolute necessity to keep my living batteries functional you see. The paralysis is also necessary to keep my batteries from trying to run off, but the mind must be kept active, that’s why you’re still awake. Even the most primitive of pests have minds that must be occupied.  It’s why my robots interact you see, it gives my batteries’ minds something to focus on so that way the mind doesn’t degrade followed by the body. Though you’ll probably doze off before you recover, depending on your recovery speed. Sleep is a necessity for the brain after all. I wonder though, have you dozed off already?”

     Turning away from the Egg Mobile, Eggman meant to check on Rosy and found her being checked on by a red armadillo. He looked very displeased and Eggman pulled himself into his Egg Mobile in a desperate hurry before popping up to look back at the sapient armadillo who seemed to be struggling to figure out how carry Amy’s ragdoll-like limp body. Noticing Eggman’s eyes back on him though he gave the doctor a glare. “What exactly did you do her Eggman?”

     “Hmph!” Eggman retorted snorting out of his nose as he typed away on the controls of the Egg Mobile to order his robots into action. “Don’t think I’m afraid of you Mighty. I know how much you abhor violence–”

     “When my friends are being hurt, I may find myself willing to stop who’s hurting them though,” Mighty the Armadillo countered Eggman before he could finish. There was a conviction in his own words that frightened the normally peaceful armadillo and he hoped Eggman did not pick up on that fear. He still needed to figure out how to carry Rosy safely with her in her current state and his shell was depriving him of options. That and Rosy seemed to move about quite a bit, though it was little more than her body moving on its own as it sought to grow more comfortable for the sleep forced upon it. Eggman watched her carefully trying to glean as much information out of the display as he could, and the sight of Rosy’s eyes told him she was still wide awake inside her sleeping body. His toothy grin grew and Mighty feared it might have been Eggman sensing his fear and spoke up to distract him. “What did you do to her Eggman? And she better recover, or else…”

     “Or else what you silly little fool. You may have Sonic’s speed and a strong shell–”

     “And my strength as well!” Mighty strained to say as he again interrupted while pulling free a massive boulder from under him and Rosy before hoisting it it above his head with one hand threateningly.

     “You wouldn’t,” Eggman gulped and floated back so that his burrow bots were between him and Mighty. They would surely break the boulder if he threw it now. Presuming he did not throw it higher than they could jump with their treads.

     “Just tell me if she’ll recover.”

     “I can’t say without taking her back to my base to study, but there should only be a limited amount of my genius concoction in her blood stream. She may not be experiencing the adrenaline shock that breathing in an uncontrolled atmosphere normally instills, but even without the surge of adrenaline her body will break it down naturally to absorb the nutrients in it.”

     “Is that right?” Mighty sighed heavily and the tension in his body seemed to melt away. That that made his grip on the boulder only seem stronger left Eggman feeling nervous. Mighty however seemed much calmer and relaxed now and even allowed himself to smile. “That is a relief then. I think I’ve heard enough now to know that Rosy will be okay so I think I’ll go ahead and get her somewhere she can sleep this off. But don’t think I won’t tell Sonic about this. Knowing your trapping our friends in you machines again is going to get him riled up.”

     “I don’t believe I gave you permission to take her Mighty,” Eggman sneered sinisterly with restored confidence of his own. “She’s become a very valuable test subject of mine now and I can’t afford to have you taking my things. Hehehehehe…”

     “Rosy isn’t a thing or yours, Eggman!” Mighty shouted and meant to throw the boulder to buy himself time but a number of burrow bots burst out of the ground and shattered the boulder before he could. His eyes widened in surprise in time with Eggman’s widening grin, but he wasn’t out of options yet. Curling over Rosy protectively he let his shell deflect the shots of the bee bots and absorb the impact of the rhinoceros bots. As he could not fully curl up into a protective ball himself though the first one that hit him threw him back. He held onto Rosy however and pulled a ring out of his shell and threw it behind him in his path.

     “No! not a Ring Gate! Blast you Checkpoint and your constant interfering!” For all of Eggman’s bluster there was nothing he could do to stop Mighty and Rosy from falling into the portal the Ring opened up into before disappearing with a flash. Watching the last twinkles of golden light where there had been a Ring Gate and two interlopers in his plan Eggman’s glorious mustache drooped. It did not stay drooped for long however as he was soon laughing delighted as he drummed his fingers together before him. “Ehehehehehe… Oh~hohohohoho! OH~HOHOHOHOHO! –Erk! *cough* *cough* *hack* *wheeze*”

     *Ahem*

     Having recovered from his coughing fit Eggman leaned back in his seat and sighed as a smile parted his lips and raised his mustache again. “Well, as wonderful as a discovery as Ms. Rose turned out to be, she is just an unexpected contingency plan for now. Besides, there are plenty of other fools I can use to get my hands on her for proper study later. Right now, though, right now… I have to collect you after all my pretty.”

     The light of the Gaia Eye lit up Eggman’s glasses as he spun about to face it, no longer challenged to claim the artifact he declared as akin to the Chaos Emeralds. And though he believed it possessed no mind of its own, it surely stared him down with chilling hostility as he took it in hand with his signature toothy grin.

GROWTH GULCH CLEARED Chapter 1 - Anxiety of a Rose, End

-----

I so hope everyone enjoyed and am looking forward to your feedback! Hopefully I won't be too long getting Chapter 2 rolling ^^)'

[littlemisslol-fic]

All's fair in love and war. 

Heheh I had fun with this one! Today was inspired by my good friend Jigg who did a lot of absolutely hilarious drawings of Protective-Big-Brother-Eugene a month or so ago! I've always wanted to write something with that concept after she posted it, and bless I finally got my chance!! If you're not following her insta GO DO THAT YOU FOOL <3

@alistairwrites​ I had HELLA fun with this prompt today lmao

“You’re the love of my life.”

 “I know, you’re not very subtle.”

 There’s a pause, before Varian looks up from his book with an arched brow, waiting for Hugo to respond. Hugo, sitting on the other end of the couch, smiles with a sense of forced innocence. His feet twitch from their place on Varian’s lap; the smile grows more strained.

 “What’s your angle?” Varian asks, poking his nose back into his book. “Or, better question, what did you break?”

 “I’m heartbroken that you assume that of me! Goggles, please, how could you say that about me?”

 “Hugo.”

 “I want to mess with Rider.”

 Varian looks back up, noting the mischievous grin starting to split Hugo’s face. “Eugene?” He asks, “Why?”

 “Haven’t you seen him lately?” Hugo snickers, “Every time I get within three feet of you, he looks ready to burst a blood vessel.”

 Varian pauses to think, chewing on his lip. “Really?” He finally says, closing his book and tossing it onto a nearby table. “I didn’t notice…”

 And he hadn’t, not really. It had only been a few months since they’d come back from the library, hand in hand and ready to face the world together. Rapunzel had taken it well, but Eugene… well admittedly Eugene hadn’t taken the news of Varian dating an ex-associate of his with grace. The older man had very loudly demanded to know why Varian had to choose that one, as opposed to some nice, wholesome noble, but Varian hadn’t taken the bait. Because this one’s mine, he’d said to the man, and that had supposedly been the end of it.

 Supposedly.

 “Has he been saying things to you?” Varian asks, his tone dropping. “If he’s said something that wasn’t okay I can-”

 “No, no, nothing like that, Sweetcheeks.” Hugo’s hands fly up in a placating manner. “I just like to watch him get twitchy.”

 “Is that why you were hanging off of me after dinner last night?” Varian asks with a huff, thinking back to the sudden PDA of the night before. While Hugo was always one for contact, it had been excessive.

 “Testing the hypothesis.” Hugo nods, looking sage. Varian’s fully laughing now, his shoulders shaking with the force of it. He can see Hugo bite his lip to keep from laughing too, but the tears in his eyes make the room swirl.

 “And-” The giggles grow uncontrollable. “And what were the results? Did you write them down? Make me a chart and present your findings.”

 “The results were very promising.” Hugo finally breaks, his own laughs joining Varian. The blond stretches, moving his feet so he can lean closer to his boyfriend. Varian lets Hugo enter his space, leaning up for a chaste kiss. “And he really did pull some amazingly offended faces when I touched your ass-”

 “Okay, that’s enough of that!” Varian near screams, shoving Hugo’s pouting face away from him. “No, no more, you ruined it.”

 “But if I asked-”

 “What’s in it for me?”

 Hugo pauses, thinking. “I’ll proclaim my eternal love for you?” He offers, to which Varian rolls his eyes.

 “You already do that daily.”

 “What about taking the trash panda for a walk?”

 “Ruddiger hates you.”

 Hugo grits his teeth, jaw tensing. Varian perks, giggling again as Hugo spits out the next words. The blond knows exactly what will get Varian to agree, much as it’s going to cost him.

 “What if I cleaned the beakers for the next week?”

 “Make it two.” Varian’s crying with laughter again, refusing to look at his devastated boyfriend lest he break entirely.

 “One and a half.”

 Varian wipes at his eyes, nodding. “Deal,” He gasps between laugh, forcing the words out. “Deal, deal.”

 Hugo leans forwards with a groan, using Varian’s lap as a pillow. “You drive a hard bargain, sweetcheeks,” the blond moans dramatically. “But I guess that’s why I love you.”

 “Damn straight.” Varian snickers, leaning down to press a kiss to Hugo’s head. The blond’s face lights up at the contact, a small blush scattering across pale cheeks. Varian does it again, just to see that smile grow.

 “Now, how are we going to play this?”

 They start small.

 Testing the waters, as Hugo had called it. Small things here and there, nothing really unusual for the two of them, to be honest. A glance here, a touch there, a kiss that lasted just a smidge too long. Varian kept half an eye on Eugene, noting with delight that Hugo was, in fact, right. The older man’s face was constantly contorted into either disgust or rage every time Varian and Hugo got a little too close to each other, the man glaring at Hugo consistently when he thought Varian wasn’t looking.

 Hypothesis confirmed, they’d taken it up a notch.

 “You’re my everything,” Varian coos from his spot half-on-half-off of Hugo’s lap. “I love you more than life itself.”

 His boyfriend bites his lip to keep from laughing, reaching up to cup Varian’s face with both his hands. “You’re my sun and moon,” Hugo plays up the last few words with a kiss to Varian’s nose, nearly bursting out laughing when it scrunches.

 From the corner of his eye, Varian can see Eugene’s hands twitch.

 They’re in the library, Varian, Hugo, Eugene, and Rapunzel. The evil of the week had crawled out from under whatever rock it had been living beneath, and Rapunzel had asked for Varian’s help to try and stop it- but that didn’t stop the alchemist from seizing the chance to mess with his big brother. Multitasking was something he prides himself on, of course.

 Varian and Hugo snuggle close on an ornate chaise together, nearly plastered together in a way that makes Rapunzel squeal and Eugene rage.

 “Wanna tone down the PDA, goggles?” He grumps, flipping though a book roughly. “Go be gross somewhere else, if you’re not going to help-”

 “Oh, Eugene.” Rapunzel chastises from her perch on a nearby chair. “Just let them have their fun, they’re not hurting anyone.”

 “They’re hurting my soul.” Varian hears Eugene grumble to himself, and has to push a giggle into Hugo’s shoulder. The blond isn’t much better- and Hugo’s always been one to push the limits. Varian feels hands slip down from his face and onto his hips; the grip is still chaste, but solid as Hugo pulls him close and hooks his chin over Varian’s head.

 “You’re the light of my life,” Hugo proclaims, “My heart, my soul-”

 “I’ve loved you since the moment we met!” Varian pumps his words with drama, flinging his arms around Hugo’s shoulders and holding tight. “Since I laid eyes on you-”

 “You’re my everything.” Hugo… sounds a little more serious this time. Varian pauses, looking into somber, green eyes. “I owe you so much more than I can ever give.”

“I love you.” Varian says into Hugo’s shoulder, ignoring how Eugene makes a noise like an angry cat. “So much.”

 “I love you too,” Hugo murmurs. Varian feels a kiss pressed into the top of his head, sighing at the contact. Something in him warms; even if they’re just playing up the schmoopy garbage to annoy Eugene, it’s still nice to hear affirmations of love from his boyfriend.

 “Okay, that’s it!” Eugene shouts, slamming his book down. It startles everyone else in the room, all of them looking at the grumpy man. “Goggles, glasses, with me, c’mon.” He points an accusatory finger at the two on the couch before roughly pushing back from the table. He stalks deeper into the library, not looking back to see if they follow. Varian chances a glance towards Rapunzel, who only shrugs with a what can you do expression on her face.

 Varian sighs and gets up as well, holding out a hand to help Hugo up. “I think we might have pushed too far.” He mutters, gripping tightly to Hugo’s hand.

 “Nah,” Hugo grins, an easy, simple thing. “He’s just being a sourpuss.”

 Varian can’t help but snicker again, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, but it’s not going to matter when he stabs you.”

 “I will take my stabbing with grace if it means I get to stay with you.” Hugo simpers, his face twisted in an over-the-top pout. The shorter boy shoves him away with a laugh, turning down the row of shelves he’d seen Eugene disappear into.

 The man stands there, arms crossed, tapping his foot with a put-upon expression. Varian’s hand goes a little tight as it grips Hugo’s, just enough to give away his stress at the sight of how aggravated Eugene is. There’s an awkward silence for at least half a minute, the older man glaring at the two alchemists, who remain quiet.

 “Why are we here, exactly?” Hugo finally cracks the silence in half. Varian steps on his foot with a glare, shaking his head as Eugene’s face grows darker.

 “I need another book.” The man grumbles, “And I don’t trust you not to be weird while alone with Rapunzel.”

 “Eugene it’s not like that,” Varian sighs, “We’re just mess-”

 “Book. Please.” Eugene grunts, gesturing to a tall ladder on rolling wheels. It’s closest to Varian, so the youngest of the three rolls his eyes and drops Hugo’s hand, climbing up the ladder with a grumble that’s sounds suspiciously like stupid old man before he’s too far up to be heard anymore.

 And that’s when Eugene strikes.

 “Hands off of goggles, capiche?” The man jabs a finger into Hugo’s chest. “I know he likes you for now, but hands. Off.”

 “Or what?” Hugo challenges, delighting in how Eugene turns a wonderful shade of purple. “We both know you can’t do shit while Varian’s-”

 A sudden shriek cuts them off. Both their heads snap upwards just in time to watch Varian’s foot slip off the rung of the ladder, the boy dropping like a stone. Hugo’s got his arms out before he can think, lunging forwards-

 A body slams into his own-

 Eugene and Hugo, having slammed into each other when both had tried for a catch, tumble to the floor in a mess of limbs and shouted curses. Hugo feels a sudden pain flair up his side-

 Varian’s cry cuts off with a strangled noise as he falls directly on top of the two men tangled together on the floor. Hugo and Eugene shout as Varian’s weight hits them, both of them losing any sort of air they might have had in their lungs. The three lie together on the floor, groaning at the various aches and pains, breathing heavily. Varian’s the first to move, rolling off the pile with a small wince. Hugo’s up like a shot, borderline scrambling towards his boyfriend with barely contained worry.

“Shit- you good, goggles?” He stumbles over the words just like he stumbles over Eugene’s legs, pale hands flying up to cup Varian’s face. Varian nods quickly, his own hands reaching for Hugo’s shoulders.

“Fine, fine, I’m okay,” Varian says quickly, “Are you-”

 “I’m good,” Hugo sighs, “By the Maker, that was a hell of a drop, are you sure…?”

 A sudden groan from the floor has both boys looking towards Eugene, the man still lying prone on the hardwood.

 “I’m okay too,” The man says, not looking up from where his face is pressed into the floorboards. “Thanks for asking.”

 Varian has the heart to look sheepish, though Hugo just glares. Eugene doesn’t seem to want to move, even when Varian slinks closer to offer an olive branch in the form of a hand to help him up.

 “C’mon, Eugene.” Varian says, “We’ll stop, if it’s really a big enough deal-”

 Hugo makes an offended noise. Varian shoots him a look. Eugene grumbles, shaking his head.

 “Why, of all the eligible bachelors, did you pick that one?” He says, less asking Varian and more bemoaning the universe as a whole. Varian bites his lip to keep from laughing, offering a pat of consolation to Eugene’s shoulder.

 “Because I like that one.” Varian wheedles, “Just like Rapunzel likes you.”

 Eugene pauses. He finally turns his head, making a noise that sounds like a drawn out, whiney, ehhhhhhhhhhhh noise. Varian’s shoulders hitch in a laugh, the alchemist biting his knuckle. “That’s a low blow, kid.” The man grumbles, glaring at the boy without much fire.

 “But?” Oh, Varian’s enjoying this.

 “But I guess I can leave you and glasses alone- if you promise to tone down the gross lovey stuff.”

 “That can be arranged-” Varian agrees, just as Hugo butts in with a “I promise nothing.”

 Varian sighs, but smiles as Eugene takes his hand. A look at Hugo has the blond grabbing Eugene’s other arm, the two alchemists helping the older man to his feet.

 “You’re both heathens.” Eugene grumbles, fixing his hair with the pout. “And I hate you.”

 “The feeling’s mutual.” Hugo mutters. “And your hair’s thinning.”

 “Hi guys!” Rapunzel’s head pokes around the corner, a bright smile taking over. All of their spines go ramrod straight, the three of them snapping to attention. “Stop your lollygagging, we can’t keep waiting around!”

 When she disappears around the corner, they all slump with a sigh. “Can we put a pin in this?” Varian asks, following the princess. “You two can hate each other after the kingdom’s safe.”

 When he disappears around the corner, the two men glare at each other once more.

 “Truce?” Eugene asks through grit teeth.

 “For now.” Hugo replies, tense as a bowstring.

 For now would have to do.

[voyages-extraordinaires]

CR: ~VE~ Chapter 22

I’m not done yet.

I throw open the door to my room and begin my pursuit. I look around for any sign of Nemo, but he’s already disappeared from view.

I curse under my breath and begin to run in one direction, dashing down the spiral staircase two at a time.

“Woah, Polly-chan--?” Barbicane sidesteps so that I don’t crash into him. “What’s going on?”

“Where is he?” I grab the engineer by the collar and pull him down to my height. “Where did Nemo go?!”

Barbicane shakes his head. “I don’t know, I haven’t seen him! Polly-chan, what happened? How are you feeling?”

“Forget me! Nemo’s not making any sense!”

Barbicane looks at me with a confused expression. “Like... usual, or...?”

The words aren’t coming, it’s like I’m trying to work around a wall of fog that’s stopping any rationality from reaching my voice.

“Damnit...!” I clench my fists in frustration.

“Hold on,” says Barbicane. He takes a step back and holds my shoulders so we’re eye-to-eye. “Slow down, talk to the handsome genius engineer, okay?”

“I can’t slow down,” I shake my head, fighting his warmth. “Not when I’m so worried about him...”

Nemo... what is he thinking? Did I go too deep? Did my love hurt him? I know he told me that he was being honest with me, but... there are too many different sides, too many different faces, and I’m confused. Would he be better if I really did leave? Have I been selfishly pushing my wants on him this whole time...?

I cover my face with my hands. Barbicane doesn’t need to see me like this, nobody does.

“You know what I think you need?” asks Barbicane. “I think you need a nice hot drink and a biscuit. Nemo’s not going anywhere, I can promise you that.”

I slowly look up at him from my hands. He won’t stop smiling at me. He’s so... calming, like a big family dog.

I take a deep breath, trying not to be sucked in by his infectious smile and bright eyes. “How can you be so sure after what he did yesterday?”

"Well... we talked a lot,” says Barbicane. “... and I trust him. He’s actually a pretty honest guy, in his own weird way.”

Then a frown stretches over his face. “He messed up badly when he drugged you, though, and there’s no way in hell I’m excusing him for it.”

He crosses his arms as he lets out a resigned sigh, “But... I really think he was scared. He doesn’t have a good track record with other people, you know? He was muttering something about how he’s too great to be understood... and I think you might be one of the few people who’s actually tried to understand him. Finding someone who will listen to your problems and be there for you... I mean, I think it’s great! But, for someone like Nemo... yeah, that’s scary stuff.”

I look at Barbicane’s confident features. He’s not lying, I can tell from his expression. Barbicane is always honest and up front, pretty much the opposite of Nemo. Why couldn’t I have fallen in love with him, instead?

Finally, I relent: “I guess it’s my turn to have tea time, isn’t it?”

He ruffles my hair, grinning. “Nah, this is just a drink between friends. Come on in.”

-----

Barbicane’s room is just as comfortable as he is. It’s warm, with wrenches and bolts and all kinds of fun little gadgets strewn about on the tables and chairs. This is a place of creativity.

When I came in, Barbicane immediately cleared off a chair and made me sit before wrapping me up in a blanket. It really wasn’t needed, but he insisted: “The cutest girls are the coziest girls!”

It isn’t long before Barbicane pushes open the door to his room and carries in a tray with two cups and a plate of cookies.

“Just finished icing these babies up when we ran into each other,” he says with a grin. “Nemo was having a major freakout earlier about lavender. Didn’t get much out of him, but he did say it was for you. So, I thought I’d make you some lavender shortbread for when you wake up.”

He sets the tray down on the one empty space of his writing desk.

“Wanted to make lavender icing, too, but Nemo ran off with the stuff before I could stop him... so I made rose water icing instead. That sound good?”

I just stare at him, my brain having a hard time wrapping around all the words that he said. Finally, I smile and happily take a cookie off of the tray.

“Thank you, Barbicane... this was hardly necessary, but it was very kind of you. I do love lavender...” I say, my face flushing.

“I would always wear the oil because it helps calm me down,” I continue. “I mentioned it to Nemo once, and I’m afraid he ran off with the concept!”

Remembering it makes me so happy. I felt so warm when I’d hug him and surround myself with that scent.

Oh, Nemo, what I wouldn’t give to go back to our more innocent times. Just to forget about everything that’s happened on this island. To just... be with you, without worry and without question.

Barbicane pulls out a chair from among a pile of metal and sits backwards on it, leaning his head and arms on the back.

“So he CAN be romantic, huh?” he says with a grin.

I try the cookie, its aromatic flavor tickling my palette. There’s a bite of mint to it, which makes sense as the plants are related. Science and baking really do go hand in hand.

“Do you know what he did with the lavender he took?” I smile. “He put it by my bed because he wanted me to have sweet dreams.”

“Woah, now, that’s a pretty impressive move! Maybe he should have declared me a rival in romance instead of science....” he thinks about it, then wrinkles his nose. “Actually, scratch that. Yeah, I never said that. Don’t you dare tell him I said that, Polly-chan!”

I hold a hand over my mouth to hide my crumb-filled laughter, and I quickly down a cup of tea.

“What, Barbicane, doesn’t Cardia have a favorite flower?” I ask.

Barbicane scratches his cheek nervously. “Y-You know, she actually... she actually likes all kinds of flowers. She’s so happy she can finally touch them. It’s really, really cute! I’m much better at expressing my feelings through food, though.”

I have a feeling that everything ‘his angel’ does is really, really cute in his eyes... but it’s sweet.

“You know, talking about Cardia-chan like this...” Barbicane trails off. “Nemo’s actually the one who gave me some pretty good advice about telling her how I feel. Of course, I haven’t done it yet, it just doesn’t feel like the right time... b-but yeah, I mean, it sounds like he knows what he’s talking about!”

I begin to take another cookie, then stop and take a sip of my tea instead, trying to think of how to voice my worries.

“Barbicane... did you know about him?”

“Hrm?” Barbicane looks at me with a mouthful of cookie.

“About Nemo, I mean,” I say.

“You’ve gotta be more specific when it comes to Nemo,” says Barbicane. “Did I know about... what? His weird fashion sense? That he sometimes naps with cucumbers over his eyes?”

I stare at Barbicane for a second. “Wait.... really? N-No, that’s not what I meant! I meant the ‘real’ Nemo!”

“The ‘real’ Nemo, huh...?” Barbicane looks down at his teacup. “You know, I feel like that might be where some of these problems are coming from.”

I look up at him with wide eyes.

“It’s not that there’s more than one Nemo or... or one is more ‘real’ than the other,” says Barbicane. “I mean, that might’ve been the case once, I don’t know, I’m not an expert on the guy or anything... man, this is confusing. But the Nemo that he shows us every day is the same as that quiet guy at tea time.”

I look down into my teacup and stir it. “So, you aren’t worried about the fact that he’s hiding things from us?” I ask.

Barbicane shakes his head. “Not really, we all hide things. It doesn’t mean that we’re being dishonest, or that we don’t care about the people we’re talking to. We might be hiding something because we don’t want to hurt, or maybe it’s something that scares us, or maybe it just has nothing to do with who we are now. But we’re still the same person inside, Polly-chan.”

He tilts his head and smiles. “You fell in love with him before you learned about his past, right? I could tell, as soon as you saw him you got really cute. Girls are the cutest when they’re in love!”

I want to protest, but I can’t. I was fascinated by him as soon as I heard him. Admiration stumbled into adoration before I was even fully aware of it.

“Yes... you’re right,” I admit.

“Hehehe, couldn’t hide your true feelings from Mr. Impey!” Impey points at himself with a triumphant grin.

“But he knows that,” I continue. “I told him that, plainly. I said I love the Nemo that I met, and I love the Nemo that I’m discovering...”

“Bingo!” Barbicane points at me like his finger is a gun and ‘fires’. “You’ve gotten so wrapped up in ‘discovery’ that you’ve forgotten that this is one man, not two hiding in a blotchy pink coat! He probably got nervous that you’ll try to dissect him or something. You just need to focus your love power on Nemo-- the one and only weirdo scientist. He might look or sound different, or hide something that hurts or act crazy but... he’s all one person.”

“Is that it?” I lean forward. “That’s the solution?”

“Well, I mean...” Impey takes another bite out of a cookie. “There’s going to be more than one solution for more than one problem. I mean, when it comes to romantic partners, you chose one heck of a doozy. I really think you just need to sit down and talk with him. Or, you know.... do other things.”

He pauses to wink.

I narrow my eyes. “What other things, Impey Barbicane?! Have you forgotten that you’re addressing a lady?”

Barbicane slides back in his chair. “Sorry, sorry! Please don’t say my full name like that, it’s terrifying!”

I sigh and lean back in my chair, idly tracing my fingers over my neck.

“I would love nothing more than to sit and talk with him,” I say. “But when we last spoke, he...”

I close my eyes.

“He told me to go back to Paris. He told me that I would regret staying with him, that I would never be able to go home again because I would be branded a criminal.”

“He said something similar to me when I confronted him in the Harper,” says Barbicane.

I sit up straight and look at Barbicane. “It was strange. He said that he would ‘be mine’ until it was time for the submarine to depart, and that after that I could abandon him and go back to my family. Why would I... why would anyone do something like that? Why would he think that I would be capable of something like that?”

Barbicane sighs.

“Geez, he really is going too far with this... I don’t think I can help you with that one, Polly-chan. He might laugh a lot, but he’s the most bitter man I’ve ever met. I think the only way that he’ll begin to believe that you’ll stick around is for you to do just that, no matter how stubborn he gets! Stick to him! Fight the odds, tell him you love him no matter how many times he denies it! Chain yourself to the Harper--”

“I... I’m not going to chain myself to any submersible vessel,” I say.

“Right, well, you get the idea, right? If you love Nemo, you’re going to have to fight for him. Not just Victoria-chan or the Royal Society or anything, but Nemo himself.”

Barbicane stands up and puts a hand on his hip, thumping his chest with his other fist. “And I’ll be right there with you, Polly-chan! So, believe in me! Believe in you! And believe in Nemo!”

“Barbicane...” I stand up and offer him my hand. “Thank you. For everything.” 

When he shakes it, I feel like my arm will be ripped from my socket. Damn these geniuses and their inability to give a normal handshake!

-----

The most likely place where I could find Nemo... Barbicane said that it was here.

But there are no lights on inside of the Harper, giving her the appearance of a mournful coffin. Is it in this darkness that Nemo has sunk into? Or will I merely be fumbling around an electric wonder with all the grace of a buffoon?

I shake my head and hoist my basket, containing the remaining shortbread that Barbicane had made, around my shoulder before climbing on top of the submarine.

At my prodding, the hatch opens with a hiss and I peer into the blackness. But that blackness is not a silent one: the echo of pipes filter into the sky.

Yes, a familiar melody from Johann Sebastian Bach reaches my ears, and I realize that I truly am about to invade Nemo’s personal sanctuary.

I just have to reassure myself that I’m entering as a friend and fellow scientist.

Right.

....

I take a deep breath before beginning to climb down the ladder.

[impracticaldemon]

Fanfiction Duel: Canuck vs Canuck, The Gloves Come Off

With fanfic writers impracticaldemon (cheering! applause! glow sticks in a suitably attractive blue!); and @nalufever (okay, save the applause for her turn, alright? hehehe...)

Fandom:  Fairy Tail, starts with Nalu as primary ship Note:  Much of this will be tongue-in-cheek as we try to stick to our genres and tropes; so if you’re seeing some silly stuff, please remember that a lot of it is intended to parody the genre.

Rules:  Each writer must stick to their assigned genre and the setting. Chosen genres and setting can change by agreement only. Fans can send suggestions. Which writers may choose to ignore. Or not.  :)  Writer is to showcase their genre and writing skills (... skilz? ... agh, no). Story MUST continue in a linear fashion but logic is allowed to stretch like your favourite so-called workout pants.

Coffee Shop is the first setting, with Fluff (Imp) vs. Sensual Moments Unveiled Today (Nalufever)

Episode One ~ The inaugural episode! The Premiere!

By the way... The Inaugural Episode got away from me... I’m sorry Eav!!! (Each segment was supposed to be 300-500ish words.  Er.  I will do MUCH better next time ~ think of this as a double-length TV promo pilot episode!)

Lucy sighed as she made an effort to drink her rapidly cooling coffee.  She’d tried to doctor it with lots of milk and sugar, but it hadn’t helped as much as she’d hoped.  She wasn’t a fan of basic coffee, preferring the frothy, aromatic beverages sold by CelestialJewels, as did so many others.  Unfortunately, CJ’s wasn’t going to hire a newbie barrista like her, but this place might.  At least she’d still get to work in Magnolia, hometown of the entire CelestialJewels franchise.

“... Ms. Heartfilia?”  The voice was thin and sharp, and so was the woman behind it. 

“Y-yes?”  Lucy jumped to her feet, knocked the rickety table with her elbow, spilled her coffee, and dropped her purse.  Spilling the coffee was arguably a win, but the overall result was less than desirable.  Especially when a napkin from CJ’s fell out of the overloaded purse.  Unfortunately, the napkin didn’t soak up the milky coffee fast enough to blot out the hearts Lucy had drawn around the central CJ’s logo.

The interviewing manager -- or owner -- stepped back quickly to avoid the puddle, but she’d noticed the napkin and her lips were pursed in distaste.  Lucy felt her heart sink faster than under-frothed cream in a cappuccino.

"I need real help in here, not some dimwit blonde with two left feet!”

Lucy cowered back.  It didn’t matter that her mother had once -- briefly -- been a CJ’s barrista of some renown; in the here and now, this woman’s opinion was the only one that mattered and --

“Heya!”

The door opened with a bang, bell jangling furiously.  A striking young man with spiky, cotton-candy-coloured hair, dancing sage-green eyes, and the best smile that Lucy had ever seen stood framed in the doorway, haloed by the bright, mid-afternoon sun.  

Lucy’s heart stopped plummeting and started to beat wildly.  This was the man who had caused her to draw hearts on her CJ’s souvenir napkin.  He was one of the lead barristas for the CJ flagship store in Magnolia -- Lucy had seen him when she’d stopped by for a quick peek at her dream job.  He’d drawn her eye not only with of his classically handsome profile, but also with his crisp, competent movements. 

Suddenly realizing that she’d probably been staring, Lucy blushed and took a quick step backwards.  Inevitably, she managed to bump into somebody.

“Sorry!”  Lucy squeaked, careening off the emaciated guy behind her and then slipping on the coffee-soaked CJ’s napkin.  She felt both feet go out from under her and couldn’t repress a small scream.  The floor was cold and hard, and Lucy felt it rushing up to meet her.

Her plunge floor-ward ended abruptly as two strong, warm arms closed around her.  The young man from CJ’s had evidently moved faster than Lucy had imagined possible.  She stared up at him, trying to calm her breathing.  On the one hand, she’d never felt so safe in her life; on the other, she’d never been this close to a man before, since her father had been strict and she’d attended a select girls-only school before running away from home determined to make her own way in life.

“... Thank you...” she murmured shyly to her rescuer.

“Oh, uh, no problem!” The man set her on her feet a little awkwardly, a touch of red appearing in his cheeks.  He suddenly looked much more diffident than he had when he came in.  “Um, yeah, my name’s Natsu--Natsu Dragneel.  It’s a pleasure Miss?”

“Heart--um, I mean Smith.  Lucy.  Just call me Lucy, please.”  Lucy felt as though she were drowning in those beautiful, honest eyes of his, but she was trying very hard to leave her father and his fortune behind her.  The Heartfilia name was just too recognizable.

“Oh--sure thing then, Lucy.”

“If the two of you are quite done,” snapped the thin woman, “then maybe--Natsu, is it?--can tell me what brings a full-time, hot-shot barrista from CelestialJewels here to our humble establishment?”

Natsu seemed to shake himself, and his sunshine smile reappeared.  Lucy noticed that despite his cheerful manner, he had somehow managed to put himself between her and her prospective employer--and the rail-thin man Lucy had bumped into.

“Yeah, of course, Mrs. Kaze.  Hey Erigor--how’re things?”

Peeping from behind Natsu’s broad back, Lucy realized that Erigor was younger than she’d taken him for at first.  His dark eyes seemed to glare malevolently at Natsu, but he gave the shorter man a slight nod, although he didn’t respond aloud.

“Well, Natsu?”

“Oh yeah, it’s just about the rolls of change we loaned you guys last month.  We’re really running low today, so Gramps said I should see if you had some on hand.”

“We’re low today too,” Erigor answered brusquely, and Lucy realized that he must be an employee.

“I have a few spare rolls in my office,” Mrs. Kaze cut in.  “I’ll have Erigor bring them over to you as soon as I’m finished with Miss Smith’s interview and practical evaluation.”

Natsu glanced down at Lucy and seemed to reach a decision.  Lucy, for her part, had already decided that she didn’t want to work for, or with, Mrs. Kaze and Erigor.

“Actually, Mrs. K, Lucy applied with us this morning--about ten o’clock, wasn’t it?”

Lucy looked up at him, trying to quell a sudden rush of hope.  Did this mean he had noticed her when she stopped by CP earlier?  Had she actually made an impression? 

“Did she, now?”

“We need new staff,” snarled Erigor, his tone no longer polite.  “Lucy seems like just the right person for us!”  His eyes flicked over Lucy’s nicely rounded curves and pretty golden hair in a way that made her distinctly uncomfortable.

For some reason, Lucy found her fingers tangling themselves in the back of Natsu’s official CP-barrista vest.  She was surprised and a little self-conscious to realize how comforting it was.

“Oh, sorry to hear that, but that’s life, eh?”  Natsu smiled all around.  “Gramps okayed her app, so she may as well come with me now.  Don’t worry about the change, Mrs. K!  Gramps’ll send somebody over later.  Bye!”

Lucy found herself being hurried outside, mind whirling.  It was all a little overwhelming, and she found herself on the verge of tearing up.  She was torn between anxiety and incipient happiness.

“You mean... me work at, um, CelestialJewels?  Really?  Um, Mr. Dragneel--Natsu?”

“Huh?  Oh, sure.  At least, I expect it’ll be fine.  Just--Mrs. K isn’t a great boss, you know.  Erigor’s her son and just look at the poor guy!  He’d be blown away by a strong wind!”

Natsu had to stop, since Lucy seemed rooted to the ground.

“So... I get to work with you for CP?  That’s so incredible, you have no idea!”

“Sure, um, yeah!  It’s a great place to work, I mean--”  Natsu broke off, unable to tear his gaze from Lucy’s.  Her soft, pansy-brown eyes had the sweetest, most amazing glow in them.  He brushed her cheek with his fingers without noticing what he was doing.  Then they both blushed.

“We should get going.” “Let’s get going.”  The words rang out in concert.

Natsu took Lucy’s hand.  “It’s just to make sure you don’t get lost or something,” he told her, looking at the ground.

“Oh, sure--yeah, that’s, that’s fine...”

Hand-in-hand, they set off down the street towards CP.

Wow, thought Lucy.  He is just the nicest guy.  I hope I get to see him a bit more around the store.  That would be perfect!

[END - Part I]

@shell-senji  @eliz1369  @hakuyamazakisensei @hidetheremote @cherryb0mb79 @canadiangaap @sabinasanfanfic

[yukiwrites]

Blood and Lust

OKAY YA NASTIES, you guys asked so much for it and here it is! In @shauni-will-never-write‘s words, she’s you guys’ Jesus cause she didn’t die for your sins but she sure is paying for them (the bet is still on and she’s gonna turn another Valter to 5* kekeke)

This is as sinful as the previous one so beware where you read it... And I mmmay or may not have another sequel planned for it, but for now enjoy the sin, heheh...heh.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

To Kiran, even back in her own world, sex was just an inconsequential means of receiving pleasure. No strings attached; simply an exciting experience before moving on with her life. That remained the same even after she was brought into Askr.

Of course, she has always been discreet; so apart from probably Commander Anna (who undoubtedly kept a secret spy network), no one was aware of what she did with her private time.

She carefully picked her partners so as not to attract much attention. Michalis, for example; the moment they met she knew they could get along well under the sheets. She usually goes to him whenever she feels like enjoying silent and powerful sex -- with her usually on top since he likes to watch her work.

Kiran goes to Clive whenever she wants sweet and loving sex -- when she feels like hearing how pretty she is or how much he enjoys her presence. It’s nice to break away from her usual type once in a while, so she always makes sure to act meek during their nights together.

Lloyd is a mix of the previous two -- his hands are heavy but his words tend to the sweet side. Kiran goes to him whenever she doesn’t want to think much and only needs the good job done, preferably as quick as possible.

There is no shame to feel in what she does, but Kiran understands her behavior might be frowned upon if discovered, so she lies low to avoid attention… Which might be difficult now, after engaging with her latest bedding partner.

Valter, the Dark Moonstone.

He was rude, he was rough and one slip would be enough to make Kiran be completely swallowed up by him -- but the wonderful technique he displayed during their nights together made the Summoner crave for more, despite whatever her sharp tongue might say.

And that was precisely why she needed to keep him in check; though for the moment she was failing in doing so.

Due to his past experience as a General, Valter’s been invited to some meetings at the War Room, one of which was going on at that very moment.

“I’m surprised you’re thinking of our troops, Lord Valter. I didn’t think you had it in you.” Commander Anna snarked after the Dark Moonstone had proposed a retreat plan in one of the Askr-Embla fronts.

He simply chuckled under his breath, his body ever so close to Kiran’s as one of his hands lay on top of the war table. “I enjoy a good slaughter, Commander Anna. But only when I am the one delivering judgement. A war without soldiers to order is nothing but one side yelling at the other.”

“I can’t say I don’t agree with Lord Valter’s suggestion,” Alfonse intervened, focused on the map, one hand under his chin. “Perhaps if we focused more on this side, we could open a portal leading to the World of Awakening through here…”

Valter groaned. “That’s where you all keep making mistakes. Embla is the only one who can close the gateways, but you keep opening more into your lands… I don’t see why you don’t just order me to march towards that small princess and dig a spear deep into her heart.”

Kiran switched the weight of her body to another leg, crossing her arms and looking up at the man beside her. “She’s a powerful mage; you would be dead before she were within your spear’s range.”

“Why, Summoner,” Valter smirked, reaching out to her lowered hood, taking a lock of hair from within it, “you, more than anyone, should know of my technique.” He said in a low voice and relished on Kiran’s exasperated expression. Anna squinted from across the table to the duo, but before two seconds had passed, Valter licked his own lips and added: “I can throw a javelin from above her before she even sees me coming.”

Sharena nodded in understanding, busy looking at the map to watch how the interchange had happened, “I can vouch for Lord Valter’s spear techniques; he is a master of his own,” she said, the innuendo flying past hers and her brother’s heads as he also nodded in understanding. “But, for some reason, I don’t think we should kill Veronica…”

“I would also prefer to spare her…” Alfonse replied, a worried frown between his brow. “Perhaps we should move our troops to this side instead and guard the door to the World of Conquest.” He pointed to the map, then looked up to his Commander. “What do you think, Commander Anna?”

It took the redhead a moment to stop squinting at the Dark Moonstone, but she shifted her attention to the prince fast enough for him not to notice what was going on in her mind. “Ah, yes, I also think it’s a wise idea, Alfonse.” She replied and resumed the meeting, which went on without any other inadequate remarks.

After they were done, Sharena stretched herself and led the way to the door as she talked with her brother. Anna tagged along, her head lowered due to her reading a report, but Kiran tapped her on the shoulder before they left. “I’ll have a talk with him.” She said before closing the door and watching as the Commander nodded.

Anna hasn’t spoken back, but Kiran could almost hear the ‘Make sure this doesn’t happen again’ in her head as she placed both hands on the door, blocking the way for Valter to exit. He cocked his head back in amusement. “Oh?” His voice sounded throaty.

“I told you time and again to stop that!” Kiran turned around and crossed her arms, leaning on the door. “We can’t have the Prince and Princess aware of this situation.”

Valter took a step forward, leaning down to the Summoner, “I have nothing to hide, however.” He put one leg between Kiran’s and used one hand to take her hair away from her covered neck. “You are the one to satiate my bloodlust and that much should be clear.”

“Yes, yes, you never tire of saying this.” Kiran turned her head away to avoid his lips, her heart already beating fast under her chest. “But if you do anything that endangers my position here, I will--”

“You will what?” He put his index on her chin and turned her to face him, their noses brushing against each other. “Snuff me out with your magical weapon?” He glanced down to her hips where Breidablik usually lay, though it was left forgotten in her room that particular day.

She hardened her chin and straightened her back. “Without hesitation.”

“Empty threats.” Valter said, licking her lips before inserting his tongue into her mouth without asking, stealing a deep kiss.

Kiran rolled her eyes in pleasure for half a second, feeling his strong hands holding her hips as she placed both of hers over his chest and dug her nails on his vest. Then, she bit his tongue with everything she had.

Valter gurgled a laugh without stopping the kiss, the taste of blood and the numb pain on his tongue only feeding his lust, making him wrap his arms around Kiran and practically take her off the ground as he bended down to her to deepen the kiss and make her unable to escape.

The taste of iron in her mouth alongside Valter’s arms holding her in place as well as his leg in between hers pressuring her to feel his growing erection made her knees weak and her breathing uneven. She wrapped her arms around his neck and grabbed his hair, pulling his mouth away from hers. “Not… not here.” She huffed, but he ignored it, kissing her again, his heavy hands travelling her body and pulling down her coat. She pulled his hair again -- and it was strange how good it felt between her fingers now that she noticed it. “This is a busy room… and I’m not done lecturing you yet.”

Once again Valter gurgled a laughter, his green eyes practically undressing her to the point where she felt an urge to cover her chest with one hand. That only made his smirk widen. “Then it’s a good thing that you are weak to me,” he licked her lips and pressed his thigh between her legs further, rubbing against her underwear since she wore only a miniskirt, a strap top and her coat, now on the floor.

And I know how to make you crazy to want me, was what Kiran heard and meant to retort, but once again he shut her mouth with a hurried kiss, her chest going up and down due to the increasing excitement. She was supposed to lecture him on this exact behavior! Curse him and his ‘technique’!

Finally Valter felt as the resistance she put up melted as her response to the kisses became more positive and he bit her lower lip while he gropped her behind, lifted her off the ground and turned to the table.

Kiran gasped. “Wait, on here?” She panted, her mouth the only part of her complaining as her arms were still tightly wrapped around his neck, one hand still securely holding his hair in it. The war table was old and made of solid wood; with the maps of both Embla and Askr carved into it as well as great detail of portals to other worlds neatly engraved onto it. Not to mention the countless wooden units placed all over the map to mark their soldier’s positions.

Well, after Valter placed Kiran over the table, some of them were knocked down to oblivion, however.

Without ever losing his smirk, Valter could finally take a look at the Summoner; mainly to the reason why she still chose to wear her coat so buttoned up even indoors -- it was all because of him. She had countless hickeys of varying intensity spread across her neck area, trailing down to inside her cleavage. Valter moved her away from him so he could lift her shirt and mark her more; he would imprint everything he had on Kiran so as to enrapture her and make her only his.

Kiran leaned on one elbow as Valter bended down to her bare chest, immediately biting her nipple and sucking around he aureola so he could make another hickey. All the while, he held one of her legs over his shoulder, making her shudder as her vulva pulsated in anticipation.

She threw her head back in pleasure as he moved from one breast to the other, sucking over old hickeys so as to reinforce them. With her free hand, she once again gripped at his scalp, intending on pulling his hair. “I’m still, ah… not done.” She tried to go back to her lecture. “I’m serious, General, we need to, ahhn…” She stopped midway as he pulled her closer to him, rubbing his erection by her inner thigh.

“Very well,” he said, trailing the hand which held her leg through her body towards her back and straightening her towards him, making her sit back on the table, though with one leg still around his body. “I shall play along.” He licked her lips and freed his erection with his other hand, prodding at her underwear; relishing at how she quivered of pleasure.

Before she could reply or even comment on it, as she was still opening her mouth to speak, Valter quickly slipped her underwear to the side and penetrated her all at once. Her voice left her throat with a choking noise and she had to gasp -- he went in with difficulty due to her uneven position, though she was already lubricated enough to welcome him. Surprised, Kiran latched onto Valter to catch her breath, resting her forehead on his shoulder.

But he was far from done.

He did not wait for her to breathe and took it out before thrusting again with vigor, stealing another choked moan and another nail-digging at his back. A great deal of wooden units over the table trembled with the action, and some were knocked over. Even more fell as he thrusted once again, and by the time he had accelerated his movements, only a precious few units remained standing, and even then, only those on the opposite corner of the duo.

“Ghk...ahh…” Kiran tried to muffle her voice, overly aware of their surroundings, but Valter’s low and deep grunts kept escalating to moans by her ear, driving her crazy. The excitement of being embraced in a room where, only a few minutes previous, a meeting was occurring; whose door remained unlocked and which was located inside a busy part of the tower… all the while succumbing to the man she intended on lecturing.

It drove Kiran mad, but she loved everything about it.

She tightened her embrace around his neck and waist, moaning right by his ear, making him tilt his head as though something had snapped inside of him. Holding her hip with one hand, Valter made Kiran look up at him with the other and once again kissed her, the faint taste of blood making him roll his eyes in pleasure and accelerate his movements.

He was ramming on her sensitive spot due to how he first penetrated her and Kiran couldn’t even find snarky words to comment; it was taking all she had not to pull him towards her so he could top her over the table and dominate her; consume her whole.

Kiran let, however inadvertently, his name escape from her pleasure-driven throat. “V-Valter…” She moaned sweetly, feeling the orgasm looming in closer.

It was the first time she had ever called his name during their intimate times, and that hit the Dark Moonstone harder than he thought it would. If the taste of blood in their kiss spurred him at the time, her calling his name made him mindlessly thrust, feeling the climax coming faster than before.

Such sweet sound! “Summoner, Summoner…” he whispered over her mouth, thrusting so deep her felt her flinching every time he rubbed on her sensitive spot. “I will not let anyone else hear this voice…” he whispered, thrusting one last time before reaching the climax at the same time as Kiran, her own stretched out moan making her unable to hear what he had said.

She felt his fluids dripping down from inside her towards the table, but her insides twitched so much around him she couldn’t think straight as the strength left her limbs and she rested her body against his. Her head was spinning and her heart beat with urgency (they still needed to fix the wooden units! Clean the table! Lock the door! So much to do!), but she only grasped onto his shirt.

“Remember... what you said…” She panted, trying and failing to catch her breath. He hasn’t pulled out yet -- mostly because she still sucked him in so much he was unable to -- and that only made her crave for more.

Valter wrapped one arm around her back and held a lock of her hair with the other, smiling at it. “I do not go back on my word, Summoner. I shall play nice.”

He would make her comfortable. He would enrapture her. He would make her willingly call his name in that sweet and addicting voice until she would be unable to be embraced by any man other than him. Only then he would relish on how that stubborn woman would bend down to him. But, for now…

“O-oh… hey, wait…!” Kiran bemoaned, still not recovered from the orgasm, but feeling him grow again inside of her.

“You will need more conviction than that to make me stop, Summoner.” He licked his way from her temple to her lips, biting them before once again forcefully inserting his tongue into her mouth. All of Kiran’s alarms rang, but his technique… She rolled her eyes in pleasure and pulled his hair once more.

“Don’t get used to this,” she hardened her chin and initiated the next kiss, wrapping her legs around his waist and pulling him towards her.

They would need to be fast for the sun was setting and soon someone would come to tidy up the room.

[subconfessions]

Day 13

So it’s been 27 days, and 1560 edges since my last orgasm. July 13th is thankfully coming closer and closer, so long as I don’t do anything to get my orgasm pushed till August.

Anywhoo, to pick up again from where I left off, it was Friday and Daddy let me make my coffee without waiting for him to make his. Today was going to be a little busier for me, I had a lot of training hours I needed to complete for work (haha 15 to be exact), and then the BLM protest at 6 and I still had my edges and a blog post to finish that day.

I hadn’t gotten started on my work yet, so Daddy asked if I’d rather attach my wand, or put my dildo in my ass. I decided to go with the wand, I wasn’t sure if he was even really asking me heh. But to my surprise he told me to go tie it on. And alright, it wasn’t where it was supposed to beeee. My friend had come over and I forgot to unplug it and put it in the box before, so I had to quickly throw it in my dresser to hide it. And I swore I left it there, but I guess my memory did me dirty and I couldn’t find it. I told Daddy and he told me to focus on my training. Eventually I found my wand under my bed and put it right into the box.

After my training was done Daddy had me put my dildo in my ass, letting me know that I should probably put on some shorts so it stays in. I was to keep it in till the protest, and it had honestly been awhile since I’d put my dildo in my ass, and I always forget how good it feels, but how torturous it is to just leave it there, stretching me out and I can only wiggle around on it. Daddy told me I could take the dildo out 45 minutes before I left for the march, which left me with it in for a bit over an hour.

With shorts on, I continued about my day, not able to sit quite right, and unable to think about much else than the toy in my ass.

At five I was able to take it out, I went up to my room, and made a little video for Daddy like he asked, and making sure to show him my little gape.

I finished getting ready for the protest, I was going to wear my crotch rope and my medium plug, but I don’t really have any good clothes that will hide the rope completely, and if I wasn’t with people who don’t know about all that, I wouldn’t mind too much if it peeked out a bit, but not everyone I went with knows the kinds of things I get up too hehe but the plug, that was no problem at all to wear, helped me feel nice and subby for Daddy while I was out.

After the protest I went over to my friends house, so no more tasks for the rest of the night, and I left pretty early the next morning.

The weekends are always the worst for me getting coffee heh. I wake up so early all the time, mainly because I just prefer to, but I know Daddy doesn’t wanna get out of bed so early in the morning on the weekends, so I usually end up with some lunchtime coffee hmmph Daddy makes me work so hard to get him up. He’s lucky I can’t actually jump on the bed and poke at him hehe

But Daddy made me wait, and then surprised me by asking if I had written my blog post with all that waiting I did. Heheh nope, did not do that. So I sent Daddy a little message, but it seemed to be missing something so I added sassy emojis heh. But finally the time was here, and Daddy said we could go make coffee. Thank goodnessss

Daddy was going to be out for most of the day though, so he had a list of things for me to do. I had 100 edges to complete (since I didn’t finish the 50 yesterday), an hour of omegle shows, an hour workout with my large plug in, an hour of my nice clamps, 30 minutes of clover clamps and then pull them off, a blog post, and an hour of corner time. Quite the list, but I do like it when Daddy makes plans for my not so busy days.

I started with corner time, and Daddy suggested I combine my corner time with my clamp time, so I grabbed my clover clamps, set my timer, and got in the corner. Corner time with clamps is soooo much harder than corner time without clamps. Because there’s nothing to do but think, it’s so hard to focus on anything but the pain from the clamps. Thankfully having to stay still helped though so they weren’t getting pulled and bumped around the whole 30 minutes.

But once my timer went off I knew it was time to yoink them off. I grabbed my phone and set it up, and I tried to do it the way Daddy told me to last time, holding my tit with one hand and pulling with the other. I grabbed the chain and I pulled as hard as I could, and the thing wouldn’t budgeee. My nipples were already so sore from the 30 minutes, and I figured I would be able to do it since I did last time, so I just kept trying on both sides. It was so frustrating but they were just not letting go. After a couple minutes of trying I was feeling a whole lot of ouchies, and I hadn’t heard from Daddy so I sent Daddy the videos of me trying and then took them off nicely. I felt pretty disappointed in myself after that, but I feel it might have been the fact that they were just sitting there instead of getting pulled down by my tits in position 8. Regardless, my pussy was still soaked after all that.

After that I did my workout and then got moving on my hour of omegle shows putting my clamps on so I could get that done too. I was supposed to find people who would be willing to download an app and control my vibrator. It was hard to find people, most just wanted me to show off and would disconnect when I brought up my task. Which was understandable.

But then finally I found another dom who was willing to play with me. He took control of my vibe, and left it pretty much in the middle the whole time, aside from the occasional tapping to get me to react. He was fun to play with though, definitely brought out my submissive side right away when he told me to stop slouching. I showed him my toys, played with my tits and my clamps for him, and eventually had me spank myself for him before we parted ways. I wish I could get spanked more, but it’s really hard to spank yourself. But my ass just really wants that attention ☹

Edges time. At fifty Daddy asked for an update, so I sent him an image, and Daddy started teasing me while I was edging, making me feel really little and submissive. The edges these days are coming much easier, and especially when Daddy’s watching or talking with me while I’m edging. I finished my 100 edges and sent Daddy another picture, I was absolutely soaked and I was soooo desperate and horny. Its so conflicting at the end of my edges because I don’t want to stop, but continuing is so dangerous because it just makes me want to cum so much more.

After my edges, I went to write my blog post, but it was getting pretty late, and I actually ended up falling asleep in the middle of it. Thankfully I woke up a little bit later and Daddy seemed to find it funny that I fell asleep, and told me to go to bed and have it for him before he wakes up. I was so grateful, sometimes I just get so sleepy when I have full days, but that really just means I need to keep prioritizing better. So I sent Daddy a goodnight video and went to sleep.

The next morning I woke up and got right to work on my blog post, I knew I was gonna have to get it posted before Daddy woke up, and I had a general idea of when he’d wake up, but I really wasn’t sure. Which made writing my blog post that morning that much more exciting, not even knowing how much time I had to finish it. I was almost done, I was planning on writing a bit more, but then I got Daddy’s good morning text and I flewwww to finish my blog and post it hehe. I promised Daddy that I would write another blog post though to make up for the shortness of the last one. Daddy added an hour of workout and 60 minutes of drawing for Daddy to my list. I was allowed to draw whatever I wanted but it was for Daddy and should be about us.

I worked on my picture first, I was pretty excited about my drawing pretty much right as Daddy told me about it I had an idea. I drew a picture of Daddy telling me and all my stuffies a bedtime story like he did the other night, I was really excited and had so much fun drawing it hehe I’ll probably attach an image of it once I can edit this post on my phone.

I sent it to Daddy and he seemed to really like it hehe I really like showing him my little drawings, and they’re so much fun to do and come up with and they really put me into my little space which I really like being able to retreat into like that.

Then Daddy told me about how he didn’t do his push up’s last night and how he didn’t tell the other sub/dom from our group chat, uh oh, and how she was just starting to wake up. He also confided in me that he had gone over his calories uh ohhhhh annddd that he wasn’t planning on telling herrrr oh noooooooo. And you know. Daddy is always trying to get me to tattle on him heh. So… why not? At first I bluffed and told Daddy a message I could send her, and by the time he told me I’d be in so much trouble if I sent the message I had actually sent it to her. Oops. I was really enjoying this heheh it’s a lot of fun being able to tattle on daddy to her. But Daddy was planning on being naughtyyy and if Daddy wants the other sub to tattle on me when I’m naughty, I should be able to tattle on Daddy too hehe

I think it was so much fun because it was the first time he hadn’t pushed me to tattle on him hehe

I went to start my workout because I needed to get moving on my tasks, and Daddy told me to add the large plug because if I’m gonna be a pain in the ass, ya know might as well have my own.

Daddy seemed a little grumpy about me tattling hehe he even thanked me for doing it. But sadly he wouldn’t tell me what happened, but in all honesty the process of tattling on Daddy and seeing his reaction was all I needed.

Daddy told me that he was going to think of an even meaner punishment for me. And after a little bit he came up with it. I told him I didn’t want to know heh cause I couldn’t even imagine what it could be. But then Daddy just completely reversed me into asking for it.

I was supposed to write out Daddy’s name in rubber band bruises on my tits.

When I saw that message my jaw dropped and I dropped into submission. And I loved the last bruises, but these ones were going to be just waaaaayyyy more fun. But I knew the process of making them was going to be rough. But I was very excited. Having Daddy’s name on me was going to be a whole other level of submission for me.

I wrote my blog post, it was a bit short, and I was catching up, but as we know im behind again oops.

Then I got started on my bruises, I really wanted them to look nice. I was going to have them for awhile, and it was Daddy’s name so I wanted to do a good job on it. So I kind of planned it out and worked to make my rubber band a bit smaller so I could fit everything the right size, and still be able to hide it hehe. 

It stung a lot, my right side definitely brusies easier than my left, but after doing the first two letters I got very focused and the pain wasn’t at the forefront of my mind, it was just making Daddy’s name look as nice and visable as possible. 

Daddy turned skype on and caught me at the end of it, and he really really liked them, and that made me really happy cause I was also super into the fact that I had just branded myself with Daddy’s name for the next week or two till it fades. 

After the snaps I started on my edges I told Daddy about how much easier it’s becoming for me to edge and he offered to bump up my daily number and heheh I declined, maybe soon I’ll ask to bump it up a little. 

I finished my edges and did sent some messages between Daddy and the other sub, and then it was time for bed, I tied my rope, put my plug in and send Daddy his goodnight 

Till next time

[vickyvicarious]

max and the breakfast club (bmw 3)

bullymagnet week, day three: detention.

follows on the heels of day one and day two so read those first.

.

Somehow, he thought school jail in Mayview would be… more than this.

Max has been in detention for ten minutes by this point, and he can feel himself actually getting bored. Life lately has been so full of terror and nonsense that he had a little trouble recognizing the feeling at first but, yup, that’s what it is. Boredom.

Oh, for sure, the room does appear to have a population startlingly similar to the characters in The Breakfast Club, at least if you’re willing to consider Max the brain. Which, well, he has one, and that’s more than can be said for most of the rest of this town, so the comparison sort of holds. Johnny is obviously the rebel, so there’s another match. Granted, the jock is a ghost, but he has been pretty quiet, just like the recluse and the beauty (actual students Max does not recognize), so at least that’s something.

Actually, even Johnny has been quiet, busy scribbling away at a piece of paper in front of him. Garcia snoozes behind the desk, the other kids are quiet, Max taps on the desk and half-heartedly considers doing homework to live up to his role here. Nope, he quickly decides, he’s never gonna be that invested in any kid of bit, let alone an unintentional one that Mayview apparently generates on its own. Besides, none of the cool stuff he’s heard was in the movie is actually happening. This detention is basically like all detentions. It definitely does not live up to the hype Starchman gave it.

Sighing, Max drops his chin into his hand. He’s got nearly an hour left to go, the only book in his bag is flipping The Hobbit which got him into this mess in the first place, and after everything he doesn’t even have his hat back. This whole day (except lunch) has been a bust.

Well. Crawling through the improbably-large vents with Johnny was kinda fun, but that’s probably just his adrenaline addiction talking. None of that to be found here, anyway. Might as well take a page from Garcia’s book and nap his way through what he can of this –

Just as Max’s eyes slide shut, a paper airplane hits his head. It actually lodges itself in his ear, sending him bolt upright with an undignified yelp that has everyone turning around to look at him.

“Heheh, um,” Max grins at them, airplane crumpled in his fist under the desk. “I sneezed?”

“Do that on your own time,” Garcia yawns, subsiding back into a pile on his desk. The pretty girl two desks ahead of Max takes a minute to inspect her long hair, presumably for boogers, before wrinkling her nose at him and returning to texting under the table. The jock ghost goes back to flexing each individual chest muscle. The recluse in the back lets her bangs fall back down to cover her face completely, and Max catches a glimpse of an earbud.

Two desks to Max’s right, Johnny is back to dutiful scribbling, complete with furrowed eyebrows and the tip of his tongue sticking out the corner of his mouth. He’s fooling no one.

Glaring at Johnny, Max slowly unfolds the airplane, setting it on the desk in front of him. It reads:

Do you wanna ice cream

Underneath, there’s boxes to check either ‘yes’, ‘nah I’m a weirdo or maybe lactose intolerant’, or ‘only if it’s floating’.

Max blinks. He looks up, but Johnny is completely absorbed in his fake studying even though he is pretty obviously just drawing squiggles, so he ends up just reading the note again a few more times in confusion.

Why would the ice cream be floating, he finally writes back, then as an afterthought makes a new box for ‘is this for another time or are you saying you have ice cream on your person???’ and checks it.

Folding the paper up into a square, he balances it on his thumb and flicks it back, aiming for Johnny’s eyeball. Sadly, the shot falls short, ending up lost in the row of desks between them. Johnny sits upright, staring at it with unnecessary focus. Slowly stretching out a foot, the bully gradually slides down in his seat until his hair is level with his desktop, in an effort to get the note without actually getting up. It’s… not exactly what Max was going for, but the sight’s pretty amusing nonetheless, and he can’t help smirking as Johnny strains only two inches away from the edge of the paper.

Eventually, Johnny catches the note with the tip of his toe and drags it back swiftly, picking it up before hunching intently over it. Max continues to watch with interest, because even though Johnny’s hunched too low to really see his expression, he kinda looks like he’s getting red again.

The returning note would have hit Max in the face if not for his excellent reflexes. As it is, he hurts himself trying to instinctively catch it with both hands, and has to take a minute to breathe through his teeth. He really misses PK. The little guy must’ve gotten full or something, since it wandered off and hasn’t yet returned. Honestly, that’s not much of a problem anymore since the cast does its job, except for when Max forgets he’s injured… which he tends to do way more often than anyone with his amount of parkour experience can justify.

Johnny looks almost concerned. It’s weird, but also a little disappointing because if he were blushing he definitely isn’t anymore. Not that Max has any special reason to care if he’s blushing or not, but. Uh.

Do I look like the kinda dingus who carries ice cream around everywhere, I meant taking it from you scream in the back, Johnny has written under Max’s checkmark with what looks to Max’s eyes like classic defenserence. Also, he’s circled the part about floating ice cream and written WE KNOW underneath all ominously, with wiggly letters and everything.

Since Max has no idea what Johnny knows about floating ice cream (or what anyone could know about something like that, to be honest), he just flat out ignores that bit – but he can’t help turning in his seat to look at Recluse in the back. Yeah, that girl actually does have a cooler under her desk. Okay, weird.

Just because I let you draw on my cast and crawled through the ceiling with you, doesn’t mean I want to bully anyone, Johnny. You know, maybe it’s something to do with them beating me up and breaking my stuff, but I don’t actually like bullies.

So maybe Max’s note back is a little harsh, but, uh, at least it’s the truth. Getting invited to join in on bullying really bothers Max. Sure, Johnny is kind of endearing with his love for his friends and his cheerful enjoyment of violence. He doesn’t seem to really have anything against any of the people he bullies, so much as he just enjoys wreaking havoc, and Max kinda gets that to an extent. Plus fighting with him is… almost fun, sometimes.

But still. Max has been bullied before. He’s not a fan of the institution.

Two seats over, Johnny’s eyes get very very wide and he starts blinking rapidly. His cheeks are flushing red again, but along with what looks weirdly like hurt on his face his fist is clenching around the note and, oh boy now he’s baring his teeth. He looks like he can’t decide whether to murder Max or cry, which. Wow. He knew Johnny liked him more after hitball, but –

He reaches into his bag, but all his notebooks are in his locker; all that’s in there now is metal junk and that dumb book. Fishing through his pockets luckily reveals a gum wrapper that has seen better days and at least two wash cycles, but at least there’s no gum in it.

Maybe some other time though, Max quickly scribbles onto it, before rolling it up and pelting it at Johnny’s face. He definitely doesn’t want to admit that he feels guilty for calling a bully a bully, that’s not what this is, it’s just. Gotta encourage interpersonal growth or whatever. That’s all.

Upon reading the latest note, Johnny’s anger dissolves off his face in favor of a very wide, very wobbly grin. He looks up to meet Max’s gaze for a second, flushes, and then props his elbow up on the back of his chair as he glances around the classroom, like he’s trying to look all cool and unconcerned.

It’s… kind of adorable?

Who knew Johnny was such a dork when it came to trying to make friends.

Max is still marveling at this revelation, when he spots a flash of a familiar blue inside Johnny’s open jacket. Widening his eyes, he has to resort to gesticulating wildly to get the other boy’s attention since he’s out of paper and throwing a magnet would probably wake Garcia up.

As soon as Johnny notices Max’s charades, any hint of him ever being something like innocent or adorable slips away in favor of a grin made of pure evil and possibly shark teeth implants.

‘Oh, this?’ He pantomimes in very fake surprise, before reaching into his jacket and taking out MAX’S HAT. Far from returning it, even though that was the whole reason they both ended up here, he pretends like he’s never even seen it before. Johnny silently oohs and ahhs over every inch of it, before turning it around backwards and planting it on his own head.

Max’s hands hit the desk, hard.

“GIVE THAT BACK JOHNNY,” he whisper-yells. “JOHNNY. TAKE IT OFF.”

Johnny puts his hands behind his head, silently pretending to whistle.

“YOU-”

“SHHHHHH,” the ghost jock says, “Some of us are trying to serve our time peacefully, man.”

Both Max and Johnny shush him right back with extreme violence, then the girl shushes them, then the weirdo in the back starts hissing, and finally Garcia wakes up with a loud “SNNMRF.”

“No talking in detention,” he intones menacingly… then meets Max’s eyes. “Ugh, you.”

“Mr. Garcia, I need my hat back,” Max says daringly, arm straight up in the air. “Or I don’t know what kind of weird stuff I might start saying.”

Blackmail is a filthy, filthy business, but by golly does it feel good. He almost gets why Suzy is so dedicated to the craft. Garcia blanches, and instantly orders Johnny to return Max’s hat. The bully does so with an impressed look on his face, darting intrigued glances between the teacher and Max, but he doesn’t care.

He’s too busy pulling his hat on, adjusting it to maximum comfort level. His head, which Ollie kind of had a point about feeling naked without it, is finally back to normal and it feels good. He almost wishes he’d thought about using his blackmail on Garcia sooner, though he’s not sure Starchman would have cared.

Max shoots Johnny a triumphant grin, tapping the brim of his cap with two fingers.

The bully stares at him for several seconds, eyes wide and not appearing to breathe, before dropping his face flat to the desk with a thunk. He puts his arms over his ears and doesn’t move once for the rest of detention.

It takes almost half an hour to let out, but even stuck back in the same silent torture as he was before the first note flew his way, Max somehow feels anything but bored.

Instead, he puts his hands behind his head and silently pretends to whistle.