#we're gonna pretend i didn't spend way too long on this

[hoshinasblade]

second best |3| hoshina soshiro

PART 1 | PART 2 | BONUS: PART 3

pairing: hoshina soshiro x f!reader genre: slight angst, comfort, childhood friends to lovers, a bit of that miscommunication trope snippet: hoshina soshiro always ranks second at everything in his life. god forbid he falls behind in the bid for your heart too. word count: 2k trigger warnings: a bit suggestive at the end author's note: i promised a part three so here it is, hope you guys like it! likes, replies, and reblogs are welcome but im begging you not to copy or steal my works. feel free to sign up for my taglist (which i swear im gonna use on the next fic lol), and i appreciate when people send me asks so let me know your thoughts (or send me hoshina pics, that'd be great too). my masterlist is here! also i gotta let you know that i might put the next fic on hold because i am so tempted to start a short nsfw collection instead - just one-shots so it won't be a lot of commitments. who knows cause i might write angst and nsfw at the same time 😉

soshiro's hands were trembling. you noticed because it has not happened in a while - you cannot even recall the last time you've seen the man nervous, much less shaking. you were going to himeji that morning; hoshina had snatched your backpack from you - "when i said i would make it up to ya, i mean in every way i can," he said, sounding gentle and sincere that your only choice was to let him carry your belongings and blush as he also intertwined his fingers with yours while walking.

there is this story you have been hearing for a while - the red string theory, it is called. according to it, people who are destined to be together will always find each other despite everything and anything. when you were a kid, instead of thinking it romantic, you rather thought it is frightening - fate is a difficult enemy to go against: if it is meant to be, then it will be eventually. when you grew up, you held that belief as a prayer - it means that whoever is the one chosen for you may get lost on their way to you, but they will always - always - arrive.

you glanced at hoshina soshiro and you knew you were right to believe.

it was roughly a four-hour journey from tachikawa to himeji by train, and during the entire ride, even when he fell asleep for a short while, your boyfriend did not let go of your hand. you complained about your palms being sweaty as a joke, and he only loosened his hold. you understood - he is making it up to you, but he is also making up for all the wasted time.  

"we're almost there," you told him when he startled from his nap. his bangs were slightly messy, and he bumped his head to your shoulders. "comfy," he hummed. you giggled.

you are still trying to navigate through dating a high-ranking officer of an anti-kaiju defense force unit. relationships aren't strictly forbidden but still frowned upon, which was a little bit of an issue between you and soshiro when you had a proper and long-overdue conversation about what you guys were. confessing is one thing, but when being friends is all you've known your whole life, you know adjustments are supposed to be made here and there.

 which brings you and him back to your hometown.

he didn't exactly disagree with you, but you are aware he had his reservations about the idea of visiting himeji. "oh i'm pretty sure soichiro-kun would be surprised," you said when you were still planning the trip. "yes, we should kiss in front of him and give him a heart attack," soshiro suggested, and you weren't hundred-percent sure he was just joking. maybe you didn't want him to be.

when the streets started to look familiar, soshiro noted the sudden bounce in your pace. you and he have walked in the same alley years ago - he would wait for you after class and would even make up some ridiculous excuse so you could go home together. "i used to pretend to be tired way back just so i could convince you to slow down. i wanted to spend so much time with you," you reminisced.

"i should have known ya were head-over-heels for me," he teased.

"they miss ya, soshiro-kun. ya don't have anything to worry about." the change in topic wiped the smirk off his face. he was suddenly serious, sad even. there was a part of you that regretted saying the words, but he had to hear it - you only wanted to reassure him after all.

"just that i haven't been here for a long while", he said, squeezing your hand. "i don't know if they think this place is still my home."

"ya need to have faith in the people you care about, soshiro-kun. ya need to trust that they care about ya too," you solemnly advised. "i know that doesn't make any sense sometimes, but that's how i do it."

"have i told ya i love you so much?" he responded, to which you smiled.

"only a thousand times," you joked once more.

the hoshina estate is a spacious one - you have to pass through an automated black gate that directs you to the main house, the cobblestone path lined with cherry blossom trees, their delicate petals swirling when the wind blows gently; the grandeur of the home soshiro grew up in is undeniable with its traditional japanese architecture. a man with striking features and an aura of authority was waiting at the entrance, waiting for his son.

“father,” soshiro greeted the man, bowing deeply.

“an embarrassment that your friend will be the one to bring you home when you could have done it a long time ago,” soshiro’s father scolded him. his stare at soshiro was that of disappointment, which quickly disappeared when he looked at you. “ah, my dear, come on in, hurry, come on in,” he turned and said to you, inviting you in. the hoshina patriarch had always been fond of you - soshiro’s parents had wanted a daughter and they found one in you.

soshiro rolled his eyes. “my father’s favorite child is my girlfriend, great,” he muttered.

the maids made you a great dinner, cooking soshiro’s favorite food per his father’s request. conversation was light, and it was apparent that the old hoshina wanted to catch up so badly on how his son was doing, inquiring in consecutive questions about soshiro’s rank in the unit, his experiences so far, and his long-term plans in staying with the force. soshiro’s replies are detailed, but you know he intentionally did not mention all the instances where he almost died fighting.

soshiro’s father regaled you both with stories of soshiro’s childhood antics - “do ya remember, my dear, when soshiro tripped and fell on his face after training with soichiro? we were so worried, but he only fell asleep,” he recited the memory as if it was just yesterday., his kansai accent thick on his words. the tension that had lingered in the air had dissipated as you finished your meal.

“i had the guest room prepared for ya so ya can rest for tonight,” soshiro’s father had said when his son cut him off.

“no, we can sleep together,” soshiro declared, and thinking it might have sounded improper, he spoke again. “beside each other, i mean. in my room. because we’re tired. from travelling all day," he attempted to clarify but failed.

“ah, may i look forward to a grandchild soon from ya two?” color drained from your face as you slowly closed your eyes. you fought off a laugh but failed.

“ya may, but we aren’t doing that here of all places,” soshiro argued just as his father had turned his back on the both of you, amused with himself. at least now you know where soshiro got his sense of humor.

the hot shower felt great against your tensed muscles, and if you weren’t that exhausted, you would have opted for a bath instead. soshiro wanted to speak to his father alone, so when he ushered you inside his childhood bedroom, he’d let you know that he would be gone while you were cleaning yourself up. you were relieved; you haven’t seen your own father since you were a teenager, and it would be a shame to see it happening to the person you care about the most, not if you can do something about it. and this is not to say that you wanted to fix soshiro’s life - you pointed this out to him once - but he’s had a terrible habit of holding back and assuming the worst, so you had decided that if you could help him out, you would push him to the right direction.

“didn’t ya pack clothes?” his eyes were on you immediately after he came in, finding you on the bed with your phone, wearing his shirt.

“i did, but yours look better,” you replied, holding your arms out and showing him how oversized it is on you - the sleeves are passed your elbows, the hem reaching the middle of your thighs.

“they look better on ya, i agree.” he sat on the mattress for a few moments before lying down, his legs dangling off the edge of the bed. “ya all good?”

“i am,” you said to him. “especially because i scanned yer photos when ye're still little while ya were gone,” you informed him then showing him a folder you created in your device - baby hoshina soshiro folder, you named it - full of duplicates you made of the framed pictures of your boyfriend all over the house. there’s one where he didn’t have any hair at all; there’s one where he was close to crying but appeared to be keeping the tears in; there’s one where he was missing a tooth but smiling like there’s no tomorrow. soshiro moved to take your phone away, but you were quicker than him.

“this is payback, for all the times ya weren’t talking to me.” you were alluding to the three long months when you were still an applicant to the defense force and soshiro acted like you were a stranger. he had apologized for it already, but it is nice to make fun of him sometimes so you brought it up. “that hurt my feelings, ya know.” you laid down beside him, invading his personal space, your shoulders touching his.

“i was stupid”, he said. “and it’s not like i could have come up to ya and said, hey i’m sorry for leaving ya in himeji, by the way i’m crazy for ya.”

“and all those times i thought ya had something with commander ashiro, oh god!” you exclaimed for effect. “by the way, the other recruits thought the same.”

“it’s not like that between her and me.” his gaze on you was brief. “it’s not like that with anyone else.”

“it better not be, because i’m leaking all yer baby photos to the first division if ya mess up,” you threatened him despite not needing to.

“i promise, i won’t.” he grabbed your hand from your side and linked it with his, cradling it to his chest before bringing it to his lips. “i’m not that stupid.”

soshiro’s childhood room was what you would expect from a teenage boy: a king-sized bed, a bookshelf of manga, a cabinet showcasing knives and blades. you never had the opportunity to enter his room even when you were kids, you realized. you looked up to the ceiling and you saw green dots that formed shapes - makeshift constellations, you recognized the patterns - little plastic stickers that you glue to surfaces. “are those supposed to be stars?”

soshiro sighed, his arm on top of his face. “yeah, uh - remember when uh - i think that was in junior high, and ye're so into astronomy? i thought it’d be a good idea to know the names of the stars to impress ya, so i started trying to memorize them.”

you shifted to face him, speechless. maybe if you had known this, if you had known the other things you are certain now that soshiro had done and was willing to do for you, you wouldn’t have wasted years questioning your place in his life and deciphering his feelings. a wave of warmth washed over you as you reached out and lifted his arm off his face, meeting his eyes.

soshiro’s lips felt as soft as it looks like, you thought as you kissed him. you pushed yourself into him, and he pulled you tighter until it seemed there was not enough air for you to breathe - until your chests were pressed together it was as if your hearts were beating as one. something sparked inside you; the sensation of being so close to soshiro about to consume you from within. his hand crawled to your hips and remained there. you drew back a bit after that, and when you saw the panicked look on his face, you kissed him again.

“i love you,” you told him in between pants.

the night went on, and by the end of it, hoshina soshiro discovered that his favorite sound is you moaning his name.

[bbystark]

Heyyy <3 I have this idea about Simon and reader not being officially in a relationship and they have a fight where Simon makes it clear to her that he’s not your boyfriend so then reader has a date with someone else and he is jealous and idkkkkk

♡ jealousy ♡

simon "ghost" riley x reader

♡ masterlist ♡ request more! ♡

⚠︎ suggestive content, ghost being emotionally constipated

a/n: i am deeply sorry this took so long to get out, thank you for requesting anon!!

You and Simon had known each other for years. An unlikely friendship that started in competition, both of you trying to one up each other on the course, in the field, hell, even stupid shit like who can come up with the best joke. It slowly bloomed into a sort strange relationship that was mostly filled with comfortable silences in each other's presence.

Then you're sent on a mission with the 141, and it just has to go so fucking well, and Price just has to invite you along to their celebratory trip to the pub.

He won't admit that he was overindulging in cheap draft beer because the raggedy band tee with the cut off neckline you were wearing had your shoulders exposed and he didn't understand why he was suddenly looking at you like that.

It's not like it wasn't ever a passing thought, but Ghost tried not to think about that aspect of life, more happy to pretend like he didn't need the human contact. The touch.

There was just simply something about it being the first time seeing you in civilian clothes, relaxed and tipsy and smiling a whole lot. He doesn't like that it stirs something in him.

When he goes out to have a smoke, you're trailing behind him. The alcohol has his limbs feeling looser, his mouth, too.

"Cute shirt. " He takes a drag while his eyes drift over your figure. You blush, from the alcohol, he reasons.

"Thanks," You look down at your feet, nervous for some reason. "It's crowded in there." You give him a knowing look. You liked Ghost. You didn't know everything about him, but he was funny in a sarcastic way and you admired his commitment and focus. You'd like to think you're slowly getting closer the the mysterious man.

"Mm." Is all he replies, taking another slow drag. You try not to look at his exposed lips, the stubble dotting his strong jaw. He glances at you, and mistakes your stare as a silent question. "'Ere."

He takes it between his forefinger and thumb, extending his hand towards you. You're hands are full, grasping your phone in one hand and your drink in the other. In your tipsy state, you dip your head a little, grasping the cig between your lips. Then you make the fatal mistake of looking up at him, with the cigarette between your lips.

He reacts before he can really think about it. Grabs the cigarette out of your mouth, ignoring the surprised little sound you make when he pushes you against the side of the building, and kisses you.

After that night, he honestly tries to keep his distance from you, and ultimately fails. Instead he placates himself by convincing himself the little kisses shared in corners and weekend hookups after the pub doesn't mean anything serious. Just two friends, satiating the human need for sex and affection. Who cares if you spend quiet mornings staring into each other's eyes? It's normal. Not romantic at all.

Soap would call him a fucking idiot. He is one. Especially now, where both of you stand almost chest to chest, glaring at each other. He should back down, tell you you're right, that he's just so fucking scared, that he's a coward. But he doesn't.

"Doesn't mean a damn thing y/n." He spits out at you. You step impossibly closer.

"The fact that you can look into my eyes and fucking lie to me is astounding, Ghost. You know that we've crossed the boundary of friendship and that sooner or later we're gonna have to talk about it."

Ghost is panicking, but he doesn't let it show. This whole argument started because after a long night of fucking like rabbits, you had lazily laid you head on his chest, and told him you cared about him.

It's not like he didn't already know, he felt the same way. A deep pit in his stomach that churned when he thought about anything happening to you, when he thought about this thing ending between you. But hearing it out loud made it real, and it's not something he could cope with, apparently.

So now he's here, pissed off at himself and you for looking so damn kissable while you're angry.

"Jesus Ghost, fucking say something!

"'M not saying shit about this. It wasn't ever serious. 'M not you're fucking boyfriend, and I never will be. Get that through your skull." His voice is dangerously low, and he hates how his throat tightens up when he sees a flicker of hurt flash through your eyes.

It's gone almost as soon as he sees it. Replaced by a different burning. You take a step back, a sad smile on your face. You don't say anything, just turn and walk out of his room. When the door slams, Ghost lets his head fall into his hands.

° 𐐪��� ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °

It's been a week since Ghost has talked to you. Since he's heard about the dreams you had the night before, or heard you snort over his attempt at a joke. Since he's been able to hold you, kiss you, mark you.

He's going fucking crazy.

Then he catches wind of your upcoming date, and he has no one to blame but himself. He considers sabotage, even straight up murder. Doesn't want to see you with another man and yet can't bring himself to just go to you and talk it out.

Until he sees your dress.

He leans against a pillar, smoking while he watches you get out of the car from your trip in town with one of the friends you'd made on base. You don't see him, lost in your conversation with your friend. But he sees you, and when you pull the dress out of the bag and put it against your chest, playfully giving a twirl and giggling at your friend who pushes your shoulder playfully.

It brings a smile to his face, the small moment of girlhood he was getting to watch. Then his eyes land on the dress. A dark red that compliments your skin tone. It's long, and strapless, and Ghost is fucking enraged that he's not going to be the one to see you in it.

He bristles at the idea of anyone touching you the way he does. Not just the sex, but the pure intimacy you share. The way you can look at each other and know what each other needs. The smile you reserve only for him, full of longing and want. It felt unnatural, being anywhere other than by your side.

As the evening approaches, Ghost grows more and more wary of the predicament he's caused. Before he can really convince himself not to, he's throwing his door open and making his way down the hall to yours.

As fate would have it, you open your door a few seconds before Ghost makes it there. You do a double take, hand still grasping the handle. You evade his gaze, feeling overly dressed next to him, clad in sweatpants and a compression shirt. You focus on locking your door, trying to calm your racing thoughts.

"Y/n."

You hate how you go silent when you hear your name fall from his lips. You sigh. "Ghost."

While you find it hard to look at Ghost, Ghost finds it hard to look away. He knew it, the red makes you look divine in a way that if he didn't know any better, he'd think you were some sort of ethereal being. His heart squeezes.

"Y'look gorgeous."

"Thanks." You stay silent for a beat, "I have to go, nice seeing y-"

Ghost reaches out and grabs your shoulder, reveling in feeling your soft skin and being close enough to inhale your sweet perfume.

"Y/n-"

"Ghost I can't do this right now I-," you pause, shaking your head and trying to find the words. "I like you, and it fucking terrifies me. I can't do it." You let the unspoken words hang in the air, the words that say you're heading somewhere with him that there's no return from, that if he runs at the mere confession that you care about him, how could you let yourself fall deeper? It knocks the wind out of him.

He's scared too. But something pulls deep into his gut and tells him he can't bear the loss of what could grow from your unconventional little relationship. He grabs your wrist gently, his rough hands engulfing yours.

"We can talk. Talk our fuckin' hearts out, do a whole goddamn podcast if that's what you want. I'm sorry I was a arse before. Lemme make it up to you sweet girl." His other hand hold your cheek, thumb stroking in soothing motions. You're at a loss for words, eyebrows furrowed and mouth agape. He chuckles.

"Now you're the strong 'n silent type huh?"

You halfheartedly shove at his shoulder. "Taste of your own medicine." You give him a small smile, resolve breaking.

His hands make their way to either side of your face. "I deserve that." His eyes stare into yours, his voice dropping to almost a whisper. "But I don't deserve you, I know that."

Your smile drops a little. "We don't have to be boyfriend and girlfriend Ghost. I just wanna know I'm not the only one who feels the way I do about us, that's all. Don't wanna get ahead of myself and hurt us both." You shyly hold his gaze. He inhales sharply.

"Don't go on that date love. Stay 'ere, lemme make it up to you. Lemme show you exactly how I feel." His thumb traces your bottom lip.

You don't go. You stay right there with Ghost, who whispers sweet nothings in your ear as he unzips your dress and shows you reverently exactly how he feels.

[dreamofbecoming]

more stobin nonsense from your resident trash goblin. feat. shitty harrington parents, lavender marriage, full party found family shenanigans, steddie flirting, steve&will bonding, and a severe lack of dialogue tags

rating: t wc: 5k ao3

“I knew it!”

Steve sighs. Listen, he knew the minute he opened his mouth that this was coming. There was always a zero percent chance Dustin was ever gonna let him get out the whole thing before bursting in with this exact interruption, but that doesn’t make it less annoying. If the little shithead would just let him finish--

"I knew you were perfect together, I can't believe you didn't tell us you were dating! How long have you been a thing? I have money to collect! Can I be your best man? Never mind, obviously I'm gonna be your best man. You so owe me for not telling me sooner! I cannot believe-"

"Henderson!"

"What?"

"We're not together like that."

In fairness, Dustin is not the only one to give them an incredulous look for that one.

"Steve. You literally just announced you and Robin are getting married. What is even the point of pretending you're not in love anymore? What are you still trying to prove? Just admit I was right the whole time!"

Steve pinches the bridge of his nose and forces himself to take a deep breath, instead of wringing Dustin's weird little boneless neck. It's not his fault, he reminds himself. They haven't gotten to the second part of the announcement, so his assumptions are natural.

Now, it is Henderson's fault that they haven't managed to say the rest of what they came here to say, so maybe he can keep blaming him after all.

"Do you remember when we sat down and we asked you guys to let us say everything we were gonna say without interrupting?"

"Uh, yeah dude, it was like ten minutes ago. We're not stupid."

"Has it occurred to you that maybe we weren't done saying everything we were gonna say, considering I was halfway through a sentence when you jumped in?"

"I mean, I guess, but like, it's pretty obvious where you're going with this, Steve. You're not a complicated guy, no offense. Now, where did we land on the best man issue?"

Nancy must see the offense very much taken on his face, because before he can open his mouth and say something probably horrifically rude that would feel amazing in the moment and which he would immediately regret, she jumps to his rescue.

"Dustin, you're being very rude. Steve and Robin came here to talk to us, and we promised to listen. Let them finish."

It's nice of her to back Steve up, considering how weird this conversation must be for her. Hopefully it gets less awkward soon.

Henderson grumbles mutinously, but years of dealing with first Mike and then the rest of the little dickheads have left Nancy's control ironclad, and he waves sarcastically for Steve to continue.

This kid is spending too much time with Eddie, the attitude is getting out of hand.

"Right. Thanks, Nance. As I was saying, Robin and I are getting married, yes. But not because we're in love. I mean, I love her, obviously, but as a friend. Only a friend. Or, well, I guess a friend and soon a...friend...wife? Frife? Wend? You guys get it."

"We very much don't." Alright, well, fine, add Max to the shitlist.

He looks over at Robin, hoping for help, but she's stiff as a board and trembling all over.

He doesn't want to be the one to say the words for her. They agreed together to tell everyone the truth, it was her idea even, but the last thing he wants to do is steal that moment from her.

Maybe he can just…talk around it, until she feels up to it. And if not, he’ll just tell them his part of it and call it good.

“We’re getting lavender married.”

Okay, so that’s probably not like. A normal way to say that or whatever. Robin just used that term like fifty times last night, alright? She was really excited about the article she just read about it, something about how it was a thing in, like, olden times or whatever, and now it’s coming back because Reagan is a fucking tool, Steve’s not sure, he was only kind of listening. Regardless, now it’s stuck in his head. Sue him or whatever, geez.

Anyway, he isn’t sure how many people in this room will actually understand what that means, but Nancy’s mouth drops open in a perfect little O the way it only does when she’s genuinely surprised by something, and there’s a tiny gasp from over by the table that he thinks might have come from Will, and Max mutters to herself “Oh shit, that explains so much,” so it’s not none of them, which helps. No pitchforks yet, at least.

Jonathan is eyeing him speculatively, and Argyle is offering him an enthusiastic thumbs up, which is nice.

Unfortunately, the other boys and El are giving him blank, expectant stares, and Erica is eyeing him with both confusion and annoyance, so it looks like he still has some explaining to do.

“What the hell does your color scheme have to do with this? I’m not helping plan the wedding, dude, I don’t care that much.”

Steve mumbles a “Language,” on reflex, but his heart isn’t in it. This is somehow more nerve-wracking than evil Russians.

“Mike, that’s not what it means. Now shut up and listen, or I’ll tell Mom how that red sock ended up in her load of white delicates.”

“Oh come on, she’ll kill me!” When all he gets in return is a single raised eyebrow, he groans and slumps further into his seat, glaring at Steve.

“Right. Okay. So basically, last night, my parents--”

“I’m a lesbian!”

There’s a beat of dead silence, which in this group is more unsettling than just about anything else.

Steve keeps his eyes on Robin, who looks just about as shocked at her own outburst as everyone else in the room. He takes her hand, squeezing gently until she unfreezes a little and looks back over at him. She looks terrified, and it breaks his heart a little.

“You okay, babe?” He keeps his voice low, murmuring just loud enough for her to hear. He knows this moment is the opposite of private, but she needs him to pretend for a second, so that’s what he’s gonna do.

She nods, a little jerkily, but she grips his hand back and intentionally evens out her breathing. She’s so fucking brave. He would burn the world down for Robin Buckley, and he doesn’t care who knows it.

He can’t believe she’s willing to do this for him, but he’s so grateful he feels like he’s choking on it.

“Henderdork will literally never shut up and let you live it down if we do this and he doesn’t know the truth. Not even for a single second for the rest of forever, and I, for one, am not putting up with that shit until death or legal marriage reforms do us part, Dingus.”

It was a solid point last night when they came up with the plan, curled on her bed while she stroked his hair and generously pretended he hadn’t soaked the shoulder of her shirt with his sobs, all his worldly possessions packed into a duffel on her bedroom floor, but he knows her insistence was more about knowing how much he hates lying to the kids than it was about protecting herself from irritating teenagers.

He doesn’t think there’s enough room on the whole planet to hold all the love he feels for her, even if you count the Upside Down and any other weirdo dimensions floating around out there waiting to ruin his day.

“I’m okay, bubba. Don’t let go?” Her hand is shaking in his, but he just squeezes harder.

“Never.” He turns back to the room, eyes hard as he scans the faces of their family for any hostility. He wouldn’t have agreed to this part of the plan if he thought any of them would be a problem, but he’s not taking anything for granted with Robbie’s safety. Not now, not ever. "Everyone's gonna be cool about that, right?"

"Of course we are, right, guys?" From the pained grunt that follows her words, Steve assumes Max has dug her elbow into Mike's ribs.

"Yeah, sure, whatever."

"I suppose this makes you slightly less lame, Buckley. It's definitely better than when I thought you liked this loser." Wow, okay, thank you Erica.

"Yeah totally! Thanks for trusting us, Robin." Lucas is a sweetheart, he really is. He's also glancing surreptitiously at Will while he nods enthusiastically, who is still staring open-mouthed at Robin with wide, shiny eyes.

"Yes, thank you for trusting us, Robin." Nancy is smiling kindly, but she's got that glint in her eye that Steve knows means she just came up with more questions and is waiting for the right moment to strike. Fair enough, at least she's letting Robs have her moment first.

He finally drags his eyes back to Dustin, who he doesn't really want to admit, even to himself, he's a little worried about. Not that he'll be shitty about it, necessarily, but there's nothing that brings out Henderson's bitchy side like being wrong, and he's been so fucking wrong this entire time. It's bound to upset him.

And maybe Steve will never say this out loud where the other kids might hear, but the truth is that Dustin's opinion matters to him more than just about everyone else's. Dustin was the first person in the whole world who saw Steve, the real Steve, and decided he was worth keeping around. If Henderson can't accept this part of Robin, it means he can't accept this part of Steve, and if that happens...if that happens Steve isn't sure he'll be able to come back from it.

So he's...not worried, okay? Worried is not the right word. Anxious, maybe. Concerned.

Okay fine fuck off he's worried.

Dustin...looks like he's about to cry. Shit.

"Did you think you couldn't trust me?" His voice is so small. Steve doesn't think he's ever heard it so small. It feels wrong. Henderson's voice should fill every room he's in, always. "You didn't have to lie. You could have told me the truth."

Aw, fuck.

"Buddy,--"

"It's not that simple, little man."

Steve whips back around to look at Robin. Are you sure you’re up for this? She purses her lips and narrows her eyes. Yeah, Dingus, this is my mess. Let me clean it up. Put the lance down, White Knight. Well, alright then. He waves for her to continue, ignoring the looks the others always shoot them when they do their silent conversation thing. Not his fault they can’t read each other as well, it’s not like it’s hard.

"Before today, Steve was the only person in the world who knew about me. And honestly, I don't know if I would have told him if we weren't both coming off torture and truth serum. I've worked hard to hide it my whole life, baby Dingus, that's not an easy thing to stop doing. It's scary."

"But we're your friends. We're your family! We saved the world together! You should trust your family, right?"

Aw, jeez. Steve forgets, sometimes, how young they are. They've been through horrific supernatural trauma, but they're still the kind of kids who think life is a story with a happy ending, like their little dragon game.

"Yeah, bud, you should, but it's not always that easy. There can be really serious consequences for telling the wrong person. Like, last night my parents found out I'm bisexual by accident and now I...well. Now I don't have parents anymore." Oof, okay, little blunter than he meant to be, but Robbie's getting anxious again so he has to take the focus back.

There's an eruption of sound, as every voice in the Party starts shouting all at once, turning the Wheeler's basement into Steve's own personal migraine generator.

"Did they kick you out?"

"You're bisexual?!"

"What's bisexual?"

"They can't just do that!"

"Does this mean we have to find somewhere else for Hellfire nights?"

That last one earns Erica several Looks, but she doesn't flinch. "What? I'm just being practical."

He wishes Eddie was here. The gremlins actually listen to him, unlike Steve, on account of as their Hellfire DM, he has leverage they care about to threaten them with. Well, most of them, but it's definitely a help when he's around.

Sadly he and Wayne are at some kind of Munson family reunion down in West Virginia this week, so Steve is gonna have to do this whole spiel over again when he gets back. He and Robin thought about waiting until he got back and the whole Party could be together, but the kids would definitely notice him not living in Loch Nora anymore pretty much immediately. And Steve hates the idea of telling him over the phone, so double coming out/engagement announcement it is.

"Alright, Jesus Christ, enough! One at a goddamn time, you animals."

He looks back at Dustin, who's definitely crying now. "Yeah, buddy, they kicked me out, but I'm okay. I'm staying with the Buckleys for now, and Rob and I have been saving up to move in together soon anyway, so all this did is move up our timeline. I'm safe and I'm fine, okay? I promise."

Dustin plasters himself to Steve's front, squeezing like he's worried Steve is going to shatter into pieces and he can hold him together by sheer force of will. It's very sweet, even if it's crushing his lungs a little.

"I'm sorry you felt like you couldn't tell me." The words are muffled in Steve's chest, he's not sure anyone else heard him.

"Aw, kid, it's okay. I trust you, alright? Always. You die, I die, remember? I was just...figuring my shit out, that's all."

"Your parents are mouthbreathers." Steve chuckles a little at the mutinous glare on El's face, not pausing his hand where he's stroking Dustin's hair.

"You're not wrong, Supergirl. But it's fine, honestly. They've always been dicks, I've been planning to move out for a long time. They just...gave me the final push, is all." He's definitely leaving out the part where he broke down sobbing in Robbie's bed last night, asking her over and over why he was so broken that his own parents couldn't love him, but the kids don't need to hear that part of the story.

"Does this have something to do with your whirlwind engagement?" There she is, ace reporter Nancy Wheeler. Observant as always.

"Yeah, pretty much. They disinherited me, but they're still legally my next of kin."

"And Dingus has had far too much head trauma for me to trust he's not gonna end up back in the hospital for something at some point, and the last thing we need is Mr. and Mrs. von Child Neglect getting that call. And I was just reading about gay men and women who are marrying each other so they can have someone allowed in to see in them in the hospital, because of the virus, you know? And I thought, hey that's not a half bad idea! We're gonna be living together anyway, and it's not like I'm marrying anyone else, and it'll be good for both of us to have someone who knows about, y'know, monsters and all that jazz, to do our power of attorney stuff, so, voila! Mr. and Mrs. Bucklington!"

"We are not changing our name to Bucklington."

"Well Harringley is worse, so suck it up, buttercup."

"I'm not interested in keeping the Harrington name, Bobs, I'd rather just be a Buckley."

"Aw, bubba, you're gonna make me cry!"

"You should both become Hendersons! Then we'd really be brothers!"

Steve erupts into laughter, the tension effectively broken by Dustin's wide, toothy grin. "What d'ya say, Bobbie? Steve and Robin Henderson?"

"Would we get access to Claudia's lasagna recipe? Because if so, I'm behind this plan one hundred percent.”

"By 'we' you do mean me, right? Because I love you more than life, Bobs, but I'm not letting you anywhere near a casserole dish. I've learned that lesson."

"It was one time!"

"It took me three days to get all the cheese off the ceiling! There's still a stain!"

"Well good! Ceiling grease stains can be the Harrington's problem now, anyway. They deserve it!"

Argyle is nodding sagely from on top of the incredibly deflated bean bag he's sharing with Jonathan. "I do like Bucklington, it makes you sound like a fancy butler. But family is important, brochachos, and so is lasagna. I vote Henderson."

This spurs impassioned arguments from all corners, which Steve is more than happy to relax into the couch cushions and let wash over him.

There's a light, bubbly feeling in his chest. For the first time since his dad walked in unannounced yesterday, interrupting his phone call with Robin at the worst possible moment, the knot of fear and grief in his stomach starts to loosen.

Robin smiles at him, and he grins helplessly back. Who needs parents when he's got a soulmate? They're together, they're safe, they're surrounded by their family. Steve holds Dustin tighter to his side and lets himself feel loved.

He takes advantage of a lull in the Last Name Wars to get out the last of the speech he'd planned. "Anyway, we decided to tell all of you the truth when we came up with this plan last night, because we do trust you and we didn't want to lie to you, and also because we knew you shitheads would never shut up about us being in love if we didn't and that sounded awful."

He laughs delightedly at the chorus of indignant outbursts this gets him before continuing.

"It's really important that you don't tell anyone outside the Party the truth, alright? We're gonna tell Eddie when he gets back, and we might tell Joyce and Hop eventually, but that needs to be our choice to do. You can't do it for us, and you absolutely can't tell anyone else. The whole point of this is to keep us safe by keeping people from finding out the truth, okay?"

El looks vaguely uncomfortable, but not upset. "Will you tell my Dad soon?"

Steve glances at Robbie, who's looking anxious again, and then over at Will. His shoulders are tense, hunched up around his ears, and he's staring intently at the table in front of him.

Steve isn't sure if anyone else knows what he thinks he knows about Will, but he's pretty sure he recognizes the specific flavor of isolation he can see Will struggling with sometimes, and he's definitely sure he recognizes the looks Will shoots at Mike whenever Wheeler isn't looking. Tommy used to look at him like that.

Either way, he knows the kind of fear the kid must be suffering, just like he knows how terrifying today was for Robin. For Steve, the worst case scenario has already happened, so he has a lot less left to lose. He can afford to smooth the way a little, to test the waters and make sure they're safe for everyone else.

It's not that different from his normal role in this group anyway, just a different kind of monster. He's always been good at taking hits so the others don't have to-- this is just another threat to step in front of.

"Tell you what, Ellie, I'll talk to Hop and Joyce this weekend, that way you won't have to keep secrets from him for too long. I'll just tell him about me, though, at first, okay? That way we'll know if it's safe for Robbie." Or anyone else, he doesn't say.

Jonathan hears it, at the very least, and shoots him a look that's equal parts surprised and grateful. Maybe Will has someone else in his corner after all, then.

El nods happily, satisfied with that.

Before anyone else can jump in, there's a clattering on the basement stairs. None of them have time to tense up too badly before the door bursts open and Eddie comes tumbling through it in a flurry of dark curls and frayed denim.

"Fear not, my wayward wastrels, for I have returned from far off lands, bearing tidings and the promise of libations!"

Steve only recognizes, like, four of those words, but seeing Eddie gives him the same happy, fizzy feeling in his gut that it always does these days, so he grins.

"You're back early, Eds, everything ok?"

Eddie blinks at him, then around the room, looking surprised to see it so packed.

"Yeah, my cousin Clarence accidentally broke my MeeMaw's pasture fencing and set all the goats loose in the hills, and if we stuck around we were gonna have to help round them back up, so Wayne and I snuck out early. I was coming to invite the gremlins out for pizza to tell you all about it, but this is more people than I was expecting. Y'all having a family meeting? Without little old moi?"

Steve valiantly suppresses the shiver that the twang in Eddie's voice triggers. Steve's not sure if Eddie notices the way his accent gets stronger when he's been talking to family, but he's had to work very hard to make sure he doesn't notice the way it affects Steve.

Steve has barely tested the flirting waters with Eddie since admitting his crush to Robin, he's definitely not jumping right in with 'It makes me tingly all over when you start talking with a drawl, wanna call me darlin' and see what happens?'

Luckily Bobbie notices his inner struggle and comes to his rescue.

"It was kind of a time sensitive issue- not a life or death one! Or like. Not a monster one, anyway. But shit went down last night and we needed to brief everyone before the geek squad figured out something was funky and came beating down the door. Steve wanted to tell you in person so we were gonna wait til you got back, but here you are!"

Eddie's looking at Robin with an amused smile on his face, one eyebrow raised and his lips quirked in a lopsided grin that is, frankly, unreasonably attractive. "Here I am indeed, my fair Lady of Feathers. So what's the scoop?"

He plops down next to Jonathan and Argyle on the beanbags, nearly sending them all toppling before Argyle hooks both of them around the waists and drags them practically into his lap.

Steve is not seething with jealousy. He's not.

A half a dozen voices chime out all at once.

"Robin's gay!"

"Steve's homeless."

"Robin and Steve are getting married!"

“Purple married.”

“It’s lavender, dummy.”

“Lavender’s a kind of purple!”

"They're gonna be Hendersons!"

"No they aren't, weirdo, they're gonna be Buckleys."

"Bucklington is clearly the superior choice, even if Argyle was right about the butler thing."

“Bucklington my ass, y’all dumb as hell if you think Mom and Dad aren’t gonna try and make him a Sinclair after this.”

"Mama and Papa Harrington didn't like that Stevie boy has double the love to give. Totally bogus. Bi bros for life, man."

"I still call Steve's best man!"

Eddie blinks a little when everyone quiets down, looking vaguely shellshocked. "That was. A lot of information to get in thirty seconds."

And, listen, Steve is like, 97% sure Eddie's cool. More than cool, even. He moves that bandana to the same pocket every time he changes his jeans, no matter what outfit he's wearing. There's no way that's an accident. But if Steve is being totally honest, which he's trying to do more these days, at least inside his own brain, this is maybe not the way he'd have chosen to come out to his crush. It's somehow way more nerve-wracking when he didn't even get to say it himself.

Oh well, it's out there now. It's fine, probably.

Still, there’s a definite feeling of relief when Eddie turns that megawatt grin on him again.

"Man, I wish I'd known there were other queers in Hawkins, I might have listened sooner when Henderson told me how cool you guys were!"

Steve laughs, only a little hysterically. "Dude, if you thought you were the only one, what the hell have you been wearing that hanky for? Who are you hoping will see it?"

It's a little gratifying to see Eddie go flaming tomato red in seconds. "I am not talking about that in mixed company, Steven. There are children here!"

"Ugh, we're literally teenagers."

"Tiny baby infants! If you're so curious, you can ask me again later."

"Promise?" Steve can't stop himself from grinning wolfishly.

Eddie tugs his hair in front of his face to hide, and the frantic little giggle and the quiet "Oh my god," he lets out both sound more than a little strangled. Steve's having the time of his life right now.

"Gross." Ugh, rude. He glares at Robin for ruining his fun. She sticks her tongue out at him.

Before they can devolve into the inevitable slapfight, Nancy cuts in again.

"Alright, unless anyone else has anything to share in private, I think we should take Eddie's suggestion and get something to eat." Good thinking, Nance. "To celebrate the happy couple, of course," she adds with a smirk. Yeah, that makes more sense.

"Onward then, my noble companions, to pizza and to paradise!" Eddie vaults off the beanbag, sending Jonathan and Argyle tumbling. Argyle laughs and accepts Eddie's hand up, while Jonathan just rolls his eyes good-naturedly.

Eddie slings an arm around Robin's shoulders as they head for the basement door. "So, Birdie, what's this I hear about a wedding? I need context."

As the kids go thundering up the stairs, arguing about who gets to drive in which car, Steve lingers. He noticed Will hanging back from the others, and now they're the last ones left, Will still slowly packing up the pens and notebooks he seems to carry around with him everywhere. Jonathan is hovering anxiously in the doorway, so Steve sends him a nod and waves him off. He's got this.

"You ready to go, kid?"

Will fidgets with the zipper on his bag for another few seconds before looking up at Steve through his, frankly tragic, fringe. "I'm sorry your parents suck."

"Yeah, man, me too." Steve shoots him a wry little smile. "It's alright though, sometimes we're better off without them. I've got plenty of family here that love me, I'll survive without Richard and Diane."

Will studies him for a minute. Steve's not sure what he's looking for, but he hopes he finds it.

"That's what Jonathan says about Lonnie." Steve nods, trying not to wince at the memory of the things he spat at Jonathan that day in '83 when everything changed. "I used to think it was my fault he left, but Jonathan says he was just a bastard, and it's better he's gone anyway."

"I didn't know Lonnie," he's careful not to say your dad, "but from what I've heard, Jonathan's probably right. And he's definitely right that it's not your fault."

"Like it's not your fault your parents kicked you out?"

"Yeah, exactly like that. If it was my fault, that would mean I did something wrong. The only thing I did was exist, and be different than they thought I would be. If they can't love the kid they had, then they shouldn't have had a kid at all. That's their problem, not mine. There's nothing wrong with me."

It doesn't matter if he heard all of these things from Robin first, if he's still trying to learn to believe them. Will needs to hear them like they're true, the same way Steve does.

"Are you sure?" Will's voice is trembling now. He's looking at the floor, but Steve can tell there are tears coming. "How can you be sure this is how you're supposed to be? Wouldn't you rather be normal?"

Oh, kid. "I mean, yeah, maybe it would be easier if I only liked girls, but I don't. I tried for a long time to pretend that I did, but it didn't make it true. And yeah, part of me wants to hate myself, because that's what they taught me to think, and I still kinda wish doing that would make them love me, but it won't. But honestly, you wanna know the biggest thing?" Will nods.

"I can't hate that part of myself without hating Robin, and there's no universe where I could hate Robin. Robin's perfect. She's the best person in the world, and she's gay, so being gay can't be bad. It's impossible. So whenever that voice in my head starts saying shitty things to me, I just think about how much I love Robin and tell it to shut up."

There's a beat where Will seems to be absorbing this.

"How did you know it would be safe? To tell us the truth?"

"I didn't."

Will stares at him in shock.

"Not a hundred percent, anyway. I was pretty sure, but it's never a guarantee with stuff like this, you know? But the other option was never telling anyone, and that...it gets tiring, you know? Always having to hide. Always having to check yourself. Lying when people ask the wrong questions. It wears you down. And I've fought monsters with you guys. I've been tortured by spies with you guys. If I can't trust this group to have my back, I can't trust anyone, can I? And I didn't want to live a life of not trusting anyone. I didn't want Bobbie to live a life like that. So, we took a chance. And it paid off, because all of you are the people we thought you were, and we were right to trust you. But it was a leap of faith, dude. It always is."

"What if I'm not ready?" Fucking shit, this kid. He's been through more than any of them, except maybe El, and he's still so goddamn brave. Steve would have crumpled like a tin can in his place.

"Then you're not ready. It's not a test, Will. There's no right or wrong answers. But I will say that every single person out there loves you, and they'll keep loving you no matter what you do. They're not like my parents, or Lonnie. Our friends aren't broken inside the way they are. Their love isn't conditional. You won't chase them away. You couldn't if you tried."

Will lets out a shaky breath, clearly fighting back tears. Steve leans against the table and keeps his head down, offering the kid the illusion of privacy while he pulls himself together. After a few minutes he speaks up again.

"You ready to go, you think?"

Will nods. He goes to walk past Steve to the stairs before hesitating and, to Steve's surprise, wrapping his gangly arms around him in an awkward hug.

"Thanks, Steve," he mumbles into Steve's shoulder.

Steve runs a hand down his back uncertainly. "Anytime, kid."

He keeps his arm around Will's shoulders tentative, but when the kid doesn't shrug him off or move away, he lets it settle more firmly, tugging him closer.

“Come on Baby Byers, let's go get some pizza. You think I can milk the disownment thing to get Eddie to pay for extra toppings?"

Will snorts. "I think Eddie would pay for as many toppings as you want as long as you do that little eyelash thing at him again."

Steve throws his head back and laughs, long and loud from his belly. Yeah, it's gonna be a good night.

my head hurts too much to keep writing this but please know that the pizza parlor engagement party involves plenty of arguing about roles in the wedding party, resulting in MOH erica/best man dustin (scoops troop babeyy), flower girl team lumax (max demanded the role bc her wheelchair means she can carry extra baskets of petals, and lucas will be pushing the chair so her hands are free. he's just excited to be there.) nancy/el bridesmaids and byler groomsmen (mike grumbles and groans but he's secretly thrilled). jonathan does the pictures and it turns out argyle got ordained back in cali as a joke so he officiates. eddie plays crimson and clover for robin’s wedding march. there’s a bit of a kerfuffle when claudia and the sinclairs both try to claim steve as their son, but after someone makes the argument that charles and sue have two kids to carry their name while claudia only has one, they end up hyphenating and becoming the buckley-hendersons. yes, claudia cries. yes, they get the lasagna recipe.

(at the pizza place, eddie asks what his role will be and steve says he doesn't know yet, but he'll save him a dance regardless. eddie has to hide in the bathroom to stop blushing.)

[half-oz-eddie]

Attached, like that ❤️‍🩹 internalized homophobia tw

"...I think I'm getting too attached to you." Billy said randomly, eating the soft pretzel Steve brought him on their lunch breaks.

"What? Whaddya mean?" Steve wondered, passing the shared drink between them.

"We spend a lot of time together lately. Now, whenever I don't see you, I'm..." He fought to hold back, or tried to, but if he couldn't talk to Steve, he felt like he couldn't talk to anyone. "I get pissed when I don't get to see you. Not pissed at you, just—pisses me off. I dunno."

"I think that's normal." Steve reassured.

"I don't think it is."

"It is." Steve confirmed again. "I get pretty bummed when we can't hang out too. Only difference is...everything pisses you off. So you show anger for all your emotions."

Billy tusked, narrowing his eyes at Steve. "Fuck you."

"Lighten up." Steve playfully nudged. "I'm not givin' you shit about it. Just saying."

"Okay so, what, it's normal to be upset when we don't see each other?"

"I think so." Steve nodded. "We're friends."

"Do you get upset when you can't see Robin? Or those dweebs?"

"Hm...Now that I think about it..." He shook his head, a chuckle escaping him. "No. It doesn't bother me at all."

"So then we're too attached to each other." Billy deduced. "You know this is pussy shit, right? To be attached to another guy?"

"So what if it is?" Steve shrugged. "You mean a lot to me, Billy. We've been getting along so much better than I could've imagined."

"I can't be...that way." Billy stared off, a tense, pained look on his face. "I can't...feel these things for you. It's not natural."

"If it wasn't natural, why do we feel like this?"

"I don't have all the fuckin answers, Harrington." Billy snapped. "It...feels like I did something wrong. I did something to make me like this."

Steve turned to Billy, hoping for clarity. "Billy...do you like me?"

Billy growled as he sprang up from the spot he sat with Steve, turning his back to him. "Yeah. I fuckin like you, alright? I couldn't help it. Couldn't control my feelings. Gonna fuck off and never talk to me again, now?"

"No. I think...I like you too. I didn't think I was...that way either. But I feel the same way I felt about Nancy about you. I didn't choose this. It just happened."

Billy turned his attention back to Steve. "We gotta make it stop, Harrington. We gotta make this shit go away so we can still hang out without...becoming..." He let out a defeated sigh. "Neil would kill me."

Steve stood, slowly grabbing Billy's hand.

Billy's heart skipped a beat when their fingers touched. He pulled away and turned his back to Steve once more. "We can't do this."

"Do you wanna do this?"

Billy shrugged.

Steve stared at Billy's tense back and scrunched up shoulders, overhearing a soft sniffle.

He peeked over at Billy's face, spotting the tears when Billy pointedly turned away.

Steve placed comforting hands on Billy's shoulders prompting him to loosen up. "Look at me. C'mon." He coaxed. "We stayed up all night on prom night, talking shit and drinking. We've seriously bonded, man. You know you can tell me anything."

"I wish I didn't tell you this." Billy admitted. "Now I feel like I lost my friend."

Steve slowly spun Billy around. "No matter what happens, you're always gonna be my friend, alright? We can pretend this conversation didn't happen if you want to."

"Don't you want to?" Billy questioned. "You don't wanna be...this either, right?"

"I don't really mind. I've already come to terms with this awhile ago. But if it's too hard for you, I don't mind that either. As long as we can still hang out."

Billy intertwined his pinky with Steve's. "I can't just be your friend. The feelings aren't gonna disappear. They're too strong."

Steve gently grasped Billy's chin. Billy's heart began to race with excitement and fear. He worriedly glanced around, and Steve turned his head back towards him. "We're alone. No one's ever disturbed us in the 2 months we've been hanging out in this shed."

Billy sighed. "I fuckin' know that, but it doesn't mean I'm not scared."

"Let's take this one step at a time, then. How about a kiss—"

"No." Billy immediately refused. "If I kiss you, I'm never gonna be able to stop thinking about you. Then I'll really be in deep."

Steve laughed. "I never took you for a worrier, Billy."

"Yeah, well, I never took me for a lot of things...but here we are."

"Listen, Billy. It's our life. We can do whatever we want, and we don't have to tell anyone anything about how we feel or...what we are. We can just...be two pals in public, and we can be who we really are in the privacy of my house."

Billy liked the idea of being able to be his true self with Steve. He needed to shed away some of the expectations from his father and sort his shit out a bit, but he knew one thing for certain: He wanted Steve.

"So you like me, huh? You really like me?"

Steve nodded with certainty. "Yeah. I really do."

"So you like...wanna fuck me and stuff?" Billy asked teasingly, sticking his tongue out at Steve.

Steve turned red at the thought. "I—" He laughed. "Maybe—how about...a kiss first?"

Billy finally agreed, his lips slowly meeting Steve's. They were soft and welcoming, and tasted like pepsi and bananas. Weird combination, sure, but it was Steve's lips he kissed, and that was the best part of all.

"I uh...I have to get back to work." Steve spoke softly, their lips still ghosting one another's.

"Me too. But I'll see you later, right?"

Steve nodded. "I can't wait."

Billy stole one more kiss and watched as Steve hurried out of the shed.

They hadn't discussed the nature of their relationship just yet, but Billy wanted to take one step at a time. Each step with Steve was another step toward Billy becoming his own person.

He realized...it was okay to be...like that with Steve. It was better than being like Neil.

Billy went back to his lifeguard chair, smiling to himself, thinking about the next time he'd kiss Steve's lips.

[inchidentally]

just find it super interesting that carlos didn't go out to celebrate with lando, considering how monumental of a moment this is in lando's career...

honestly as someone who has been turned off the ship itself by ppl being out of their minds and way over-crossing certain lines etc, I will gladly say that Carlos not going out w Lando wasn't intended with ill will at all and is way more to do w how the two of them have naturally grown apart over the years. it's been happening since around 2020 anyway but it was always going to happen more since their only shared interests are F1 and golf and their mutual friends only consist of Carlos' team and other F1 drivers. their relationship is the same as Lando's w Daniel and George - they'll play padel/golf and go out to dinner and travel on the same jets occasionally during the season but Lando is very much still a carefree young man early in his career while the others are well into their long term relationships and more 'serious' phases of life and career. Oscar may seem like an old settled relationship guy but he's not really - the more a lot of us catch up on his F2 and F3 stuff it's clear he likes to have fun and isn't actually allergic to going out and he literally was already friends w guys in Lando's life. and Max V is rly the only driver where Lando has a lot of mutual interests and they specifically and consistently spend time together outside the season - bc while his relationship situation seems mature, Max off duty mostly sticks to gaming and going out w friends just like Lando.

so it makes sense that the guys who went out w Lando after his win were all closer to his age/lifestyle etc and that Max arranged the whole thing. (we'll hand-wave Pierre bc Kika has helped him de-age a little lol)

like, the lasting bond Carlos and Lando will always have was formed as that big brother/little brother dynamic when Lando desperately needed someone to help him out of his shell. Carlos had just gone through the same experience w Max so he was already prepared for a nervous barely-adult anxious creature clinging to him. and as we've seen, that bond between Carlos and Max is strong as well.

but it's why ppl honestly set themselves up for bitter disappointment pretending that Carlos and Lando are remotely like what Lando is with Max F or Carlos with his closest friends. Carlos will always burst w pride over Max's achievements and Lando's achievements but they're still younger guys and their friend groups and private lives only superficially overlap with his. and like... the Sainz family do love Lando yes, but they also love and make a lot out of the publicity that carland0 brings. literally in Miami Carlos and Caco clocking the Netflix guys and making a sudden beeline right next to them for McLaren hospitality to do a "heartfelt moment" w Andrea and John aslfgaljfg) the whole Sainz wedding thing was very sweet but again, if we're acknowledging the publicity aspect of it then a massive society wedding is the perfect place for that ! again, not saying it's all fake! there is a bond there! but the bond is uh definitely made to be bigger than it is when cameras are involved.

but yea tl;dr if ppl weren't insane and carland0 wasn't the corporate sponsored publicity department approved ship then no one would've felt it was a big deal that Carlos just stuck w a hug and posted a story and nothing else. no one would be inventing crazy theories that Carlos wanted to 'be on the podium with Lando' instead of how Carlos actually said he wanted to win the race himself ! and that Lando said he only wanted Carlos on the podium so he could finally look down on him and show him how it feels !! bc they've built their careers their entire lives and these guys aren't gonna throw any of it away just for grid buddies !!

so how Carlos has reacted to Lando's win fully suits the stage of their real non PR friendship as it is now. it's what he did for Max's first WDC too. and like the last time Carlos was at a club was w Rebecca last year and it wasn't somewhere single guys like Lando go to hook up saklfgsajfgl)

and tbh it's what always makes me a bit sad bc with the ship being so over the top and everyone wanting it to be this huge immense thing it means that reality never measures up and just seems like a big disappointment. where if ppl were like oh it's so sweet that these guys have this brotherly bond and still make time to catch up! then everything would actually be more enjoyable !!!

.

.

.

(and it does crack me up that if Max looked like Carlos then it would knock carland0 completely out of existence w how much more 'content' there is between him and Lando slfgslajfgafas)

[have-kake]

Big Brother [3/3]

Three instances of big brother instincts within the chain. [Ao3 Link]

[Part 1: Wind] [Part 2: Twilight] [Part 3: Warriors]

The chain had been traveling aimlessly until a portal dumped them back in the middle of Hyrule field. Legend groans loudly at their surroundings. It feels like every time they decide to go to a town, a portal gets in their way.

"I think this is mine," Time says, a faint smile on his face.

Hyrule instantly perks up. "Does that mean we get to see Miss Malon again?"

Time grins at him. "If you don't mind the farm work."

Wind woops in response much to everyone's amusement.

"Welp, I guess it's settled," Wars says patting Time on the back "We're off to see the Missus again!"

Malon greets them all warmly. She spends time hugging each of them as she welcomes them home. She even introduces them to her father who's home this time. He's a portly old man with deep crows feet and laugh lines around his mouth. Much like Malon, he's able to instantly identify Twilight as a farmer.

Time tries to put them to work but quickly gets overruled by Malon and Talon. Wars won't admit it, but he's grateful for their intervention. Farm work is hard. Last time, he felt muscles he didn't even know he had ache!

Some of the group still insist on working, though. Twilight bullies his way into helping Malon clean the cow stables. Sky is more than happy to herd cuccos. And Four finds his way to the farrier.

Wars grins as Time shuffles around the house for a few minutes. He's completely changed out of his armor into stiffer clothes. "Heading out to help too?" Wars asks.

Time pauses in his search to look up at him. "Hm? Yeah. I'm gonna help Talon weed the crops."

Wars' grin widens. He glances around making sure the others aren't around. "You know," he starts off innocently. He tries not to laugh at the look Time gives him. "I'm glad I finally get to meet my little brother's old man. He must have a well of Patience greater than the expanses of time itself to deal with you."

"Just because I've told him about you doesn't mean he believes it."

"Malon believed you. Besides, it won't be too hard to convince him."

"You're going to be insufferable aren't you?" Time asks drily.

"Oh, absolutely," Wars replies without hesitation. "It's only fair."

The weary sigh of defeat he gets is music to his ears.

--

Wars sits on the porch as Wind, Hyrule, and Wild all run around in circles. He won't pretend to know what game they're playing, but it's nice to see them relax.

"Aren't there nine of you boys?"

He smiles at Talon as the old man takes a seat in the other chair. "Legend's inside taking a nap," he says. "He gets cranky when we're on the road for too long."

Talon laughs. "I'd've thought a Hero would be used to the road."

Wars startles. He knows Time tells Malon everything and she believes him, but he made it seem like Talon never did. It's jarring to hear him speak with the same candidness Malon does, but Wars is glad Time has people he can talk to. "Legend's been through more adventures than any of us," he explains. "All in just a handful of years... He deserves the rest."

"You boys are all so young," Talon says quietly.

Wind shrieks in delight when Hyrule picks him up and tosses him to Wild. Hyrule's accompanying laughter is carefree, and even Wild's smile is easier than usual.

Mask was bitter when he first stepped through the portal. It had nothing to do with the horrors of war. He was already haunted by pain and loss long before he ever set foot in Wars' era. He was so young; about the same age as Wind at the time. Yet the two are as different as night and day.

Sensing his mood, Talon starts to get up. "What d'you say to helping me get started on dinner, boy?"

Wars follows him with a quiet chuckle. "I know an order when I hear one, sir," he grins, "but fair warning: I'm a terrible cook."

He's surprised by how well Talon directs him around the kitchen. It's not the ease with which Time and Malon function with each other, or the ease Wild finds in any kitchen. But it's nice.

Time enters some time later and pauses at the sight of them. He raises a single eyebrow when Wars spots him.

Wars shrugs in response.

"What happened to letting the boys rest?" Time asks.

"I know a man in need of a distraction when I see one," Talon responds plainly. "See if you can't go help Malon and your boy. Dinner'll be done in an hour."

Time narrows his eyes at the two. Wars gives him a cheeky grin and Time scowls. They're not planning anything, but Time doesn't have to know that.

Talon chuckles at their exchange. "He keeps doing stuff like that, and I'll have to believe him."

"Oh?"

Talon claps him on the back. "I know what brothers tormenting each other looks like."

Wars laughs. "I need to get payback somehow."

"So you really knew him when he was a kid?"

"Only for about three years, but yes."

Talon hesitates for a moment. Wars is instantly on guard. "Has he always been vague about his answers?"

"What do you mean?" He asks carefully.

"Like if you ask him the things he's fought."

Wars instantly relaxes. "Lemme guess," he says drily. "The moon."

Talon nods with a tired look. "He won't explain it either."

"I know what you mean," he sighs. "When he first showed up in my world and demanded to fight, we asked him what the biggest thing he fought was and he said the moon. So we asked him what he meant. And guess what he does?"

Talon points up.

"Yes!" He raises his arm straight up and points. He does his best impression of Mask's scowling face, and with a patronizing voice he says, "I mean the moon! What's so hard to understand about that? If you don't get something as easy as that, why are you even in charge?"

Talon howls with laughter.

"So a few weeks ago I ask him the same thing. Y'know, to see if his answer's changed." Wars grins. "Hey Old Man, what's the biggest thing you ever fought?"

"The– oh ho," Talon wheezes between laughs. "The moon!"

"The moon!" Wars crows. "And he still refuses to elaborate!"

--

Dinner prep continues on for almost another hour. Wars knew that making food for so many people was a process, but he never realized how intensive it was. He's more than a little frayed by the time they finish. Talon pats him on the back approvingly, and the looks on the others faces is more than worth it.

He spends a little time watching the others as they settle down to eat. Time and Twilight sit on either side of Malon. Wind takes a seat next to Talon and makes easy conversation with the old man.

Wind really is a kid of many talents. He handles a grumpy Legend with the grace of a practiced brother while falling for his bait in equal measures. Yet he's able to hold long and easy conversations with adults and the elderly.

Wars is glad his adventures don't weigh him down. At least, he hopes they don't and Wind isn't just hiding the pain.

"You okay, Cap?" Twilight asks.

"Yeah. Just thinking of the little brother I had for a second."

Twilight and those closest to them grow quiet. "Sorry."

Wars raises an eyebrow before laughing loudly. "It's nothing like that!" He assures to all the sad faces. "It's just what he became to me. He was sent home when all was said and done. I do still miss him to this day, though," he sighs with a hand on his chest. He grins at the way Time snorts.

Wind lets out a loud sound of disappointment from across the table. "Does that mean I'll never get to meet him?"

Sometimes Wars forgets Wind spent a few weeks in his war. It was so late into the fighting, the war was practically over. That and he was far from the main fighting, usually just holding the far lines from any advances. It's just as important for holding the army together as the main lines, but fairly uneventful by the time Wind got there. He's still kicking himself for not making the time to go meet him properly back then.

"Count yourself lucky," Wars teases. "I love him, but he was an absolute menace."

Legend snorts. "Can't be that bad."

"Two words," he says making eye contact with Time. "Mask Duty."

Wind chokes on his juice. After he gets his coughing in control he all but shouts, "Mask was your little brother?!”

He's taken aback by the response. "Yeah?"

Wind scrambles to pull his sleeve back and hold up his forearm. "He bit me!"

Wars' jaw drops.

Talon and Hyrule lean over to get a better look.

Wars turns to Time who's studiously picking at his plate. He rubs a hand over his face with a groan. "Great Three, please have mercy on me. Is that why I was stuck on stable duty for almost two months?"

The others snicker at him.Time uses the noise to mutter a quiet, "No," but Wars knows that tone. It absolutely was his fault.

With a long dramatic sigh, Wars uses his melodramatic voice, as Mask liked to call it. He likes to call it his tired older brother voice. "Wind, on behalf of my little brother, I apologize for his horrible behavior. I ask you find it in your heart to forgive him."

Time glares at him but he has practice ignoring that particular look.

Twilight whistles lowly. "That sounds practiced. How often did he get in trouble?"

Wars resists the urge to smirk. "More times than I can count," he sighs sadly. "But I'm sure you'd all rather hear something else."

Just as expected, the table explodes into commotion. He sends a smirk Time's way and nearly cracks. Time's scowl has turned into a full on pout. Suddenly Wars finds himself look at Mask like he's been caught sneaking into the stables for the third time that week and not an adult ten years his senior with a wife.

"Okay, okay," Wars laughs. "I'll tell you a few stories."

He tells them of the first time Mask appeared on the field and the absolute mayhem it caused. A good portion of the soldiers had their attention split between halting the enemy Lieutenant and keeping the literal child safe. Not that Mask made it easier. He refused to be pulled off the field and even broke the hand of one of the soldiers trying to hold him back.

Wars tells them of the way his heart leapt into his throat when Mask rushed forward. A tiny child with a sword too big to properly carry rushing at a monster three times his size! Only for the little boy to swing the the massive claymore and slice the monster in two.

They still tried to bench Mask after that, of course. No one felt comfortable putting a child in the front lines despite his clear skill. That didn't matter to Mask, though.

It was a particularly hard battle and they were loosing. Impa was out for the count and Wars wasn't advancing fast enough. They would've lost—died—if Mask hadn't jumped in with all the unpredictability of a storm.

"You should have seen the way he yelled at us!" He wheezes. "I've never seen Impa or Artemis make faces like that before. He got his wish, though, and he was put in the main lines."

Malon giggles. "My, he seems like quite the spirited young man." Her eyes shine with mirth as Time's shoulders hike up in embarrassment.

"And very protective of the people around him," he nods. "For as much trouble as he caused, as much as he yelled and terrorized everyone, he loved the people around him."

Sky coos at the story. "He was probably so sweet in private."

Wars laughs. "Hardly! You just had to learn how he showed affection."

Hyrule winces. "Oh gosh, how bad?"

"So a lot of the soldiers didn't like we let a kid in the field right," he says, "so they started acting up. They'd question orders, disregard plans, speak I'll of her Majesty. Mask would absolutely terrorize the poor souls. I'd almost feel bad if they didn't deserve it."

"Wait, so how did Mask Duty start?" Wind asks.

"Mostly from that. Soldiers who questioned Artemis about Mask's presence ended up with the kid in their squads. That eventually evolved to a punishment for any serious offenses."

Wind cackles, surely remembering the fearful whispers of Mask Duty among the troops.

"Surely he wasn't a menace the whole time?" Sky winces.

"Well yeah, he was still a kid," Wars shrugs. "Show him something cool and he'll play with it for days. And he loved slight of hand tricks! He'd even pull on my scarf to get my attention. I'm not paying attention to him, he'll yank until I do. I'm spending too much time trying the perfect a strategy, and he'll yank on my scarf until I stop. I skip a meal, and he yanks until I get something to eat. He has a nightmare and instead of just waking me up, he drops all his weight on to my stomach."

He's completely lost in thought by this point. At the time, Mask had seemed to be constantly harassing him, but the years have given him perspective. Mask was just making sure they didn't crumble under the weight of responsibility.

"There was one particular battle that went horribly. Our forces were decimated. We barely escaped with our lives. Zelda completely closed herself off from everyone," he says quietly. "Not even Impa could get to her. Those were some dark days... But then one day laughter breaks through the silence. Mask had gotten Zelda to leave her tent. She was pale and her eyes red from crying, but she was playing in the mud with him."

He chuckles feeling the sudden tightness in his throat. "I think we'd all forgotten what joy was at that point. For as much trouble as he caused, Mask reminded us all there was still hope."

There's a tug on his scarf and Wars automatically looks down before remembering he has to look up now. Time's face is concerned as he looks him over. "You okay?"

Wars smiles. He pushes back the memories and ruffles Time's hair. "I'm fine, Sprite. Don't worry about it."

The table explodes into a mess of shouts and questions. Wars startles so bad he bangs his knee on the underside of the table.

"You bit me!" Wind accuses.

Time sputters, face pink with embarrassment. He looks to Wars for help.

Wars shrugs. "I told you you'd face the consequences of your actions one day." Time looks so panicked at the prospect that Wars caves immediately.

He helps Time field as many questions and accusations as he can. Eventually the others calm down. Though they spend the rest of the evening muttering amongst themselves and taking turns looking at Wind's bite mark.

Wars shakes his head as Twilight looks at the mark for the third time. "I can believe you bit him."

Time crosses his arms defensively. "He tried to take my Keaton mask."

"That's not an excuse to bite someone!"

Time looks away with a huff.

Wars laughs. He throws an arm around Time's neck and drags the man down at an uncomfortable angle. "Spirits, you've chilled out, but you're still the same little shit I knew," he says fondly. "I can't believe it took me so long to recognize you."

Time growls and yanks on his scarf in annoyance. Wars smirks at the feeling. It's the same way he used try to choke Wars when he was younger.

With practiced ease, and no longer having to hold back against a little kid, Wars wrestles Time to the floor. He grins triumphantly from where he sits on Time's back. "You're gonna have to try harder than that, Sprite," he teases. "Maybe I can give you some pointers."

Time deflates, seemingly accepting his fate.

"I can't believe he's a younger brother," Legend mutters with a frown.

Twilight stands next to him with a truly horrified expression.

Wind nods, seemingly unbothered by Twilight's unresponsiveness. "It almost makes too much sense."

"You're a terrible person," Time mutters.

Wars pats him on the head. "I know."

[eluxcastar]

*Nudges you* May we have Papa Pierro doing Papa Pierro things part three? 🥺

Even more Papa Pierro doing even more Papa Pierro things

── ୨୧：pierro & reader

୨୧﹑synopsis :: baby is a little older now (and still sufficiently causing trouble) but tbh Pierro loves that gremlin

୨୧﹑content :: gn reader, child reader, possible mild child endangerment (it's natural)

୨୧﹑words :: 912

listen there's only so much I can do for child reader before I age them up and we're on part FOUR of Pierro papaing I have got to age baby up and I'm sorry but it must be done. not too much they're still not an adult but they're not quite so baby anymore think like thirteen or fourteen now

when I said I would post Tuesday this isn't the Tuesday I meant, but, well, there's a reason I chose family fluff. I'm also probably gonna make a masterpost for these cause I can't be bothered to link these all in every post, I'll update the link as soon as I make it

all papa pierro posts

A little older and a lot more independent, you tend to spend a little less time around your beloved Papa, now having several responsibilities of your own and an ever-busy Father doing his best to provide for you but having dedicated so much time to keeping you safe in your early childhood you have to cut him a little slack. That's not to say he doesn't keep you safe now; he regularly finds himself making mental checklists for you before you go out, all of which are some of the most outlandish things you've heard possibly going wrong.

Some things make sense, like remembering to wear your coat when you go out, but other things not so much.

He's still using his old scare tactics too, but thankfully you definitely don't doubt that Dottore would be more than glad to amputate your fingers and toes for you to do precisely as you're told the second that leaves his mouth. Don't go into his lab under any circumstances is also still quite common to hear.

Now that you've got a little more sense to you, Pierro allows you to wander as you please and see who you see fit, though he doesn't necessarily enjoy the things you get your hands on as a result of doing so. Each time you stick your nose somewhere you know you shouldn't be, obviously endangering yourself, you receive a harsh scolding for your antics the second he finds out, and he always finds out.

He won't be entertaining a single one of your thoughts about 'when' you join the Fatui, insisting that you will, in fact, not be doing so, for as loyal as he may be to the Tsaritsa, he was not bound by any deal to her to give up his firstborn child to her like a horror of mythic folklore and, as a result, will not be doing so. As his only child, you can forget about joining the Fatui as it's far too dangerous, and there are plenty of ways for you to be helpful without being directly involved if you truly wish.

That's such a horrifying thought that he didn't even half-heartedly encourage it when you were younger.

Pierro will pretend not to notice that you sneak out to persuade Tartaglia - who easily turns to mush at your request - to teach you something of the many weapons he has learned, just as long as you don't get hurt in the process. Thankfully, you picked a kinder teacher, as he wouldn't want you to think you should try to learn from Capitano or Arlecchino, whose ideas of teaching are far too hands-on for you to handle.

The most he intervenes is asking Columbina, of all people, to keep an eye on you in these times, as he knows that, inevitably, you'll find your way to her in pursuit of what you really want - something which even Childe cannot teach you - the skills required of a mage. Admittedly, it's not her most substantial hand either, but in the obvious absence of your own Father as an immediate candidate, she will at least provide you with the basics. He will only teach you what he wants you to know when you come to him.

Khaenri'ah had its own unique ways of magic, all of which you should know, being descended from the place. It's important to him that even if he won't allow you to do the one thing he's tried to get you to shut up about for years now and which Pierro absolutely has the power to stop you from doing, he at least imparts the very thing you would be using in that situation just in case you manage to get around him. Knowing how much of your life you've spent doing that, he has no doubt that at some point in your adulthood, you'll double-cross him and join the Fatui anyway. Pierro is simply lying to himself that you won't.

However, teaching you magic is a way of bonding with you. No one else in your life can, so he takes up upon himself to make sure that you learn from him, as he wants you to know as much about your homeland as possible. If not for the fact it had been destroyed, you would have grown up there, but in its absence, Pierro is raising you as something of a fish out of water. Many things left to the Gods were not commonplace in Khaenri'ah, so even though you seem to need to understand their importance, he teaches you much about creating life through alchemy. However, you can't do it yourself, nor does he particularly want you to.

It's too slow for your liking, but as far as you know, your only other option is to ask Dottore, who created his segments that way, or Scaramouche, who was created that way. One of those choices doesn't know or discuss the details of his creation with nosey little kids, and the other will get you in trouble with just about everyone involved.

You just have to accept that you must be patient - probably a part of your lesson - and wait for your Father to get to the exciting things you want.

You're still very set on joining the Fatui even with the bit of leniency he allows you and his most incredible efforts will not shut you up, even if you pretend they will.

[an-au-blog]

Long-time pine Seddie

I was going to write this as an actual fanfic but now I feel like I'm never gonna finish it, so here you go the concept:

Eddie knows about King Steve and as much as he hates it, he also understands why all the girls like him.

Steve doesn't know who Eddie is... at least at first.

Here's all I had written till now:

Notes:

I'm literally at the water park right now and i felt OBLIGATED to write this istf if i had to ride the ride that my frs wanted i would have DIED

Eddie Munson wasn't the type of guy who would go to the water park at a quarter to ten. But there was a 5 dollar discount if you go before ten o'clock on a Monday, so here he was. Freshman year; in the longest swim trunks he could find, a tee-shirt and putting his sweat glands to work. If it sounded dreadful, it was probably because it was.

"Dude, why are we even here?" Eddie whined.

"Why are you complaining so much. You agreed to come after all!" Gareth said annoyed.

Jeff nodded "Just take off your shirt and maybe you'll stop complaining about the heat. Swim a little, try some of the rides. It'll be fun!"

"There's like... people around and stuff."

"And?" Gareth asked pointedly.

"No one is wearing a shirt Eddie, relax. What's the big deal anyway?"

Gareth shoved Jeff's shoulder "Maybe the girl he's been crushing on is here and he's embarrassed!"

Eddie blushed. "Dude, gross!" There was no girl. Him and a Jeff traded glances. This was the worst, change the subject! "Plus it's totally normal to wear a shirt!" Eddie tried to look for a way out. He started looking in the growing number of people someone with a shirt that wasn't in the act of taking it off. His eyes land on the lifeguard - some brunet guy who had his back turned to them. "See?" He pointed. "It's common."

Gareth only rolled his eyes as Jeff let out an exasperated sigh. "He's the fucking lifeguard." Gareth said "You know- you know what dude, whatever. Do what you want, we're gonna go hit the water slides."

Eddie would have felt a little bad for missing out on the time with his friends, but he was too busy feeling relieved that he didn't have to do anything. It was embarrassing enough that he had started school one year later than everyone and he'd been older since first grade. Now had to show said old and weird-looking body to all these people? No way in hell would that happen. He wasn't normal in too many aspects, he wasn't ready to be abnormal to his friends as well. How did this place fill up so fast anyway? There were way too many people.

He looked back at the lifeguard to give his mental thanks but when he did, he felt himself freeze. He recognized him. In fact, he had been spending the past few years avoiding him. (Granted - it wasn't that hard, considering they weren't in the same class, same year perhaps, but not same class.)

Captain of the swim team, the school's "star athlete" and girls' all time favorite boy: King Steve "the hair" Harrington. Tommy H. and Carol's lapdog. Disgusting.

Steve was the type of guy that would bully him for living with his uncle at the trailer park. The type to shove him in the lockers because of what he liked, whether it be music, or people, or other things. He was definitely one of the people who started calling him "the freak"... Well... Eddie had never met Steve personally, or seen Steve doing any of the things listed, but he was sure Steve matched that description perfectly. After all, that was his type of clique.

Eddie must have glared in his detection for a moment too much because Steve turned his head to meet his gaze. Before Eddie could turn his head and pretend not to be looking Steve save him a polite tight-lipped smile and an upward nod. The one u would give to the old grumpy man down the street that you've never met before. Or a kid that you've only seen twice in the school halls, which was the case for them. But none of that mattered. What did matter was that Eddie didn't want to be in "the King"s rance of sight.

He moved.

Eddie had almost fallen asleep on one of those beach lounge chairs, when this agitating voice woke him up.

"Hey man." Eddie opened his eyes to see Steve fucking Harington throwing shade his way. Was he going to bully him? Or kick him out? "Don't wanna wake you up but you're gonna burn."

What?

"What?"

Steve ignored the question. "The park store's open, go get some sun screens if you don't have any." He popped the unopened can in his hand and took a sip.

Eddie was too puzzled by what had happened to notice Steve had already walked over to his chair - looking bored as ever, scanning the area as if he didn't just talk to the one everyone treated like the plague.

Eddie couldn't fall asleep after that. Maybe it was because his mind was rushing with questions. Maybe it was because there was something in the way Steve slumped over his chair and occasionally blew his whistle to tell some kids not to throw the inflatable donuts or whatever they were called. Maybe it was the fact that he looked so... normal? down to earth? human. But the thought of the school's King made Eddie something uneasy settle in the pit of his stomach.

Three days later he went to the pool again.

What was he thinking? He wasn't even with his friends, he had no intentions of getting in the water and to top it off there was no discount so he wasted money he didn't have. That's right, he wasn't thinking. Unlike Steve who was a lifeguard just for fun, Eddie didn't come from money so he had to save up from birthdays or unspent lunch cash.

Still, he had to come again. Because, if not knowing why he couldn't get an annoying rich brat off his mind kept him up at night, his eye bags would keep on growing.

Eddie couldn't help but shift and look around for a certain employee there. With his Munson misfortune, he couldn't see Steve anywhere. He really wasn't thinking coming here like some weirdo to look for someone who didn't even recognize him. It was a bad thing that Steve didn't recognize him, in fact it was property for the better. He got up to leave.

It was hot, he was sweating and he didn't want to be here.

He absentmindedly bumped into someone turning his head quickly to see who it was. Brown styled hair- could it be?

"Sorry dude." the stranger said.

It wasn't Steve. What the hell was wrong with Eddie why was he so hell-bent on this asshole? That was it. He wasn't going to think about him anymore. No more idiocy.

This was the last time he was going to think about Steve.

That was not the last time he thought about Steve.

(I'll post summarized how I would have continued it later)

[srtapinklips]

LA BARAJA AFORTUNADA COMO CANCIONES DE TOVE LO

Porque no hay nadie como esta mujer para ponerle a los issues de nuestros personajes un ritmo mamalón

VESSTAN GILKAS - NO ONE DIES FROM LOVE

We were so magical, why end this way? I know you're furious, yeah, just like me You got good reasons, but I do too What really happened here? I wish I knew It escalated so fast We yelled things we can't take back It escalated too soon I know what they say, I know that they say that No one dies from love Guess I'll be the first Will you remember us? Or are the memories too stained with blood now?

MIKHAELA CAHMIR - TRUE DISASTER

Pretty boys, they didn't teach me Things I didn't know They don't have the thing that I need But they don't know they don't You got that whole thing about ya And I can't hide my feels Pretty girls, they always die out Need another sex appeal I said: Come on, give zero fucks about it Come on, I know I'm gonna get hurt Come on, give zero fucks about it Come on Keep playin' my heartstrings faster and faster You can be just what I want, my true disaster

FAUSTO FORTUNA - BORDERLINE

Good people do bad things too Pretend they don't know, but they do It takes one to know your mind You and me we are one of a kind, it's true I like to feel my bones when they crash into my heart I like the taste of blood when you're tearing me apart I like to push you to the edge as long as you say you're mine Borderline (hey) Tonight, for the rest of my life I'm gonna be stuck on you Hold on 'til I'm making it right No other love felt like you I can't give it up in this fight I cross my heart and hope to die Borderline

NEFERTARI - HABITS

I eat my dinner in my bathtub Then I go to sex clubs Watching freaky people getting it on It doesn't make me nervous If anything, I'm restless Yeah, I've been around, and I've seen it all And I drank up all my money Dazed and kinda lonely You're gone, and I gotta stay high all the time To keep you off my mind Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh High all the time to keep you off my mind Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh Spend my days locked in a haze Trying to forget you, babe, I fall back down Gotta stay high all my life to forget I'm missing you Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh

ANTONIO SELVAGGIO - TALKING BODY

Bed, stay in bed The feeling of your skin locked in my head Smoke, smoke me broke I don't care, I'm down for what you want Day drunk into the night Wanna keep you here 'Cause you dry my tears Summer lovin' and fights How it is for us And it's all because Now if we're talking body (Hey) You got a perfect one So put it on me (Hey) Swear it won't take you long If you love me right We fuck for life On and on and on

[sincerelyang3l]

Noah Kahan Lyrics that Reverberate with Me on a Different Level 🙏💕

I’m not depressed I just rly like noah Kahan guys and I might do this for all my favorite singers? (Maybe. Who knows)

Northern Attitude

“If I get too close, And I'm not how you hoped, Forgive my northern attitude. Oh, I was raised out in the cold.”

Stick Season

“No, I am no longer funny, 'cause I miss the way you laugh. You once called me forever, now you still can't call me back.”

“And I love Vermont, but it's the season of the sticks. And I saw your mom, she forgot that I existed.”

All My Love

“I still recall how the leather in your car feels. And at the end of it all, I just hope that your scars healed”

New Perspective

“Ooh, this town is for the record now. The intersection got a Target, and they're calling it downtown. You and all of your new perspective now, Wish I could shut it in a closet, And drag you back down.”

Everywhere, Everything

“Everywhere, everything. I wanna love you 'til we're food for the worms to eat. ‘Til our fingers decompose, Keep my hand in yours.”

Orange Juice

“There's orange juice in the kitchen, bought for the children. It's yours if you want it, We're just glad you could visit. Feels like I've been ready for you, To come home for so long, That I didn't think to ask you. Where you'd gone, why'd you go?”

“Are we all just crows to you now? Are we all just pulling you down? You didn't put those bones in the ground.”

Growing Sideways

“But I ignore things, and I move sideways, Until I forget what I felt in the first place. At the end of the day I know there are worse ways, To stay alive. 'Cause everyone's growing and everyone's healthy, I'm terrified that I might never have met me”

Halloween

“There's a murder of crows in the low light off Boston, And I see your face in each one. I'm losin' myself in the tiniest objects.”

Homesick

“Well, I'm tired of dirt roads, Named after high school friends' grandfathers. And motherfuckers here still don't know they caught, The Boston bombers. Time moves so damn slow, I swear I feel my organs failing. I stopped caring 'bout a month ago, Since then, it's been smooth sailing.”

“I would leave if only I could find a reason. I'm mean because I grew up in New England. I got dreams but I can't make myself believe them. Spend the rest of my life with what could have been, And I will die in the house that I grew up in. I'm homesick”

Mess

“I'll move back home forever. I'll feed the dogs, And I'll put all my pieces back together where they belong. And I'll say, "I'm a mess, I'm a mess, oh God, I'm a mess".”

The View Between Villages

“Feel the rush of my blood, I'm seventeen again, I am not scared of death. I’ve got dreams again.”

“Passed Alger Brook Road, I'm over the bridge. A minute from home but I feel so far from it.”

Your Needs, My Needs

“To spiral out, to try and float, To see a friend, to see a ghost. Bitter-brained, always drunk. Rail-thin, Zoloft. Subtle change, shorter days. Dead-eyed, dead weight. Your life, your dreams. Your mind, your needs. My needs.”

Paul Revere

“One day I'm gonna cut it clear. Ride like Paul Revere, And when they ask me who I am. I'll just pretend I didn't hear.”

You’re Gonna Go Far

“So, pack up your car, put a hand on your heart, Say whatever you feel, be wherever you are. We ain't angry at you, love. You're the greatest thing we've lost. The birds will still sing, your folks will still fight, The boards will still creak, the leaves will still die. We ain't angry at you, love. We'll be waitin' for you, love.”

Forever

“And I'll tell her so she knows. That I'm broke, but I'm real rich in my head, That I broke a bone that never healed in my hand. So, when I hold her close, I might loosen my grip, But I won't ever let her go.”

Part of Me

“Even through the pain, I can't recall your face. Just the ache of knowing everything was gonna change. I got so close to love with you, my dear, But I don't miss you. I miss the way you made me feel.”

Hurt Somebody

“One day before you know it, you will see, All of the pain and all the irony, yeah. You'll feel the stinging and you'll think of me. ‘Cause it hurts when you hurt.”

[currentlyfckingurmom]

Her Song part 6

LED lights flash on beat with the electric guitar. Everyone is practically screaming, singing along with the band's cover of "Heaven's On Fire" by KISS. VIP night was technically supposed to be over an hour ago, but everybody is having way too much fun for me to end it now. Plus, I'm getting mad tips.

And I'm fairly certain that a few people snuck in alcohol, but I'm going to pretend I don't notice. Ash took Syd home an hour ago and agreed to watch her, so what do I care if people get a little rowdy. Except Zach. I'd be alright if he dialed it back a notch and kept his hands off Florence's body for five seconds.

God, I wish I could be drunk right now.

"Y/N, hey! These nights don't usually go this way!" I hear someone yell from behind me. I turn around to face them, and see a beautiful woman giving me a hazy smile.

"Oh, hey, Willow! I didn't know you were here!" I yell back over the music. Willow goes to school with Ash, and we may or may not have worked together at a certain club in the past. I've always loved hanging out with her, but I guess I've never thought of pursuing anything more.

"Yeah, I got here a couple of hours ago. It's been way too long since we've hung out. You wanna go grab a drink after this?" she asks as she steps closer to talk over the music.

"Uh, I don't know if I should. I mean, Ash is watching Syd and..."

"Come on, they'll be fine. Knowing them, they're probably already asleep. Just one drink."

I mull it over as my eyes travel across the room, spotting Florence dancing with Zach. With a sigh, I reluctantly agree. "Yeah, okay. Why not?"

"Yes! I promise you won't regret it," she celebrates.

"You better hope not," I joke with a small smirk. "I'll have the band wrap up and then close down, okay?"

"Deal," she says with a wink, sauntering back off into the crowd.

Laughing, I cross the room and beckon over one of the band members. I tell them to play one more song and they agree, so I walk back to the cafe bar to shut everything down. When the music stops, David turns the lights back on and I send Ash a text.

Me: Hey, I'm going out for a drink with Willow. I don't know when I'll be back so just put Syd to bed, please.

Ash: Willow as in the hot chick you used to work with at the club?!? Get it, girl!

Me: I'm gonna kill you. It's just a drink.

Ash: Oh, right. I forgot you have your heart set on the Brit. Don't worry about Syd, she's already out for the count. Don't forget to use protection! ;)

Me: That's not how that works. But thank you.

Florence comes up to the counter and says, "Hey, we're gonna head out. Tonight was a lot of fun."

"Good, I'm glad. Will I see you tomorrow?"

"You can count on it," she promises with a sweet smile.

Just then, Willow waltzes over to the counter and drawls, "You ready to go? I believe I promised you a night of fun."

Florence smiles bitterly at Willow, sending her a glare before turning around and walking away. She stops at the door and says, "Don't miss me too much," with a flirty wink. What the hell was that about?

"Damn, my bad. Didn't mean to piss off the illicit affair," Willow quips.

"Wait what?"

"She was totally jealous. Look, I don't wanna step on anyone's toes here-"

"You aren't, I promise. She has a boyfriend."

"Well in that case, can I buy you a drink?"

"Maybe once we actually get to a real bar. You might wanna save some of your moves for later, cowboy."

"Oh, don't worry. I've got plenty of moves I'd like to show you," she practically whispers, her eyes darting between my eyes and lips.

I clear my throat and say, "Yep, that's- that's good. Great, so we should get going."

Fumbling with my keys, I lead her out of the store and lock the doors behind us. We spend the next few hours at a bar downtown, laughing and singing and drinking way more than we probably should.

I walk her to her apartment since it's only a few blocks down from mine. Pausing in front of the doors, she looks down at her feet and says, "I had a lot of fun tonight, Y/N. It's nice hanging out with you outside of...that environment."

"Yeah, it's nice to be fully clothed and not have creepy men slipping dollar bills in our thongs," I deadpan. "Honestly, though, tonight is the first time I've gone out in a long time, and it was really fun, so thank you."

"Anytime," she whispers with a smile. I take a step back to walk away, but she asks, "Wait, can I- can I kiss you?"

Instead of answering verbally, I cup her cheek and pull her into a gentle kiss. It's slow and sweet, and everything a first kiss should be, but there just isn't that feeling of fireworks and warmth. It doesn't feel the way Florence makes me feel every time she looks at me.

I pull away and say, "Goodnight, Willow," before walking away.

"Goodnight, Brandy," she teasingly calls after me, using my former stripper name.

I spin on my heels and yell, "No way. Do not call me that, asshole! If my legs aren't wrapped around a metal pole, then Brandy is not my name."

She laughs and I flip her off, walking backwards down the street toward my apartment.

~

The next morning, I awake with a loud groan, followed by, "Ash, turn off the fucking lights!"

"That's the sun, sweetheart. Can't exactly turn it off. But I can give you advil," she says, plopping down next to me on the bed and handing me a bottle of ibuprofen.

"Ugh, you're a godsend. I could kiss you right now," I mumble as I take the pills with a swig of water.

"I know. Speaking of which, how did last night go?" she asks, wiggling her eyebrows.

"It was fine. We had fun. Hence the hangover."

"Don't hold out on me now, Brandy. Did you kiss? Fuck? Buy a house and get married?"

"Oh my god, what is it with everyone calling me Brandy lately? And we kissed goodnight. But that was it."

"Really? You don't sound very excited."

"Yeah, I mean...it was nice. But-"

"But you'd rather be locking lips with the hot blonde Brit?" she finishes for me.

"God, you're so weird. C'mon, I need to get ready for work."

"I had David open it up, since you were slightly incapacitated. So take your time."

I took a quick shower and got ready for work before waking Syd up and forcing her to get ready. I ended up having to carry her to the car because she fell back asleep.

Eventually, we made it to the store. And only an hour late. I really need a better alarm clock...

"Morning, David. Sorry I'm late," I greet him.

"Mom refused to wake up. It's all her fault," Syd accuses me.

"Yeah, right. Don't lie; we're late because you wouldn't get your ass out of bed," I correct her.

"You said ass! That's a dollar in the swear jar."

"We don't have a swear jar. And you said it, too."

"It's fine, guys. And don't worry, your favorite customer hasn't stopped by yet," David interjects from behind the counter.

"Thank you, David," I sigh, ushering Syd to go do something while I put my bags in the back room and get ready for the day.

The bell above the door rings as I walk back out into the main area, and I look up to see Florence with a tired smile adorning her face.

"Good morning, Florence," I greet cheerily, before noticing that she looks kind of upset. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's nothing. Just tired, that's all. How was your night?"

"It was alright. Not worth how tired I was this morning, though," I joke as I make her tea.

"So...Willow, huh? She seems nice. She's very pretty."

"Uh, yeah, she is. We aren't- I mean her and I aren't, like, together or anything," I stutter uncomfortably.

"Right," she mumbles under her breath.

I turn around and grab a sharpie, writing "I Wanna Be Yours by Arctic Monkeys" on the paper to-go cup. She barely even looks at me as she pays. She leaves without so much as saying goodbye, and I sigh heavily. Why is she so upset?

"Hot damn. Trouble in paradise?" David says with a low whistle.

I scoff and mutter, "What paradise?"

~

"Secrets I have held in my heart are harder to hide than I thought. Maybe I just wanna be yours, I wanna be yours."

[plural-affirmations]

(you can totally leave this til whenever you have time honestly I need to get it out of my head as much as get feedback tbh)

Am I a bad person for breaking up with the old hosts boyfriend?

So. When we discovered the system, before I split, old host (we'll call them M) had a polycule of three people, a boyfriend (A) and a agender partner (K). When M felt ready they explained everything to A and K and let a few headmates introduce themselves. K was really nice and understanding, it didn't quite get the entire concept of plurality or fictives (which we have plenty of) but it was friendly and it's been great about asking questions to understand us better and even now still reads resources we send it for stuff it doesn't quite get.

A, uh.. Immediately started cracking jokes about our fictives. He was calling Shoto "knock off Zuko" and telling him to 'roast marshmallows for him', and threatening to send.. Italian mobsters.. After Hitoshi? Because 'Hitoshi is what Mario does to make Yoshi stick his tongue out'? M and Keith, our gatekeeper, both told him to knock it off, and he wasn't as outwardly bad for a while, but still didn't really interact with anyone else much.

Fast forward a bit and M went dormant, I became the new host. K was confused but understanding, it never made me feel bad for being here when M wasn't, and it still to this day talks to us plenty. (M is back but isn't allowed to front at home for reasons, we schedule dates sometimes where it can spend some time with them outside now) But A kind of just. Started acting really weird.

I don't remember a lot of the details here so sorry if it gets fuzzy.

I am an alterhuman in headspace, I was me one day and the next I woke up with cat ears and a tail. Still not sure how that happened but I've embraced it. A started making.. Not entirely safe for work jokes about it. That made me uncomfortable but he never really apologized? He also called me "the cat" like, in a very distant dehumanizing way?

He also uh. Blatantly misgendered someone, repeatedly, and then never apologized because 'his profile picture makes him look like a girl'.

I know there was more but it's all hazy. Eventually Keith sent him a long message that he had to start taking this stuff seriously and that he was treating us like a goofy game and not someone dealing with a lot of trauma that was struggling to hold everything together, told him he had to do some research and learn the ugly side of our disorder and stop acting like we're playing pretend. K directly offered to answer questions and help him figure it out better during the same conversation. But he basically ghosted us for a month after that, never said anything, never reacted when we tried to talk to him, just totally shut us out, so finally I messaged him like, "look I'm sorry but this is too much, I can't handle you in our life right now, I know I'm not M and maybe only they can dump you but as far as I'm concerned I don't want you around" and kicked him from our server/blocked him a few places. That was a few months ago and apparently he ghosted K at the same time, even though they were also dating and we never asked K to pick sides or stop seeing him?

Literally everyone I've talked to about this says I did the right thing and that it's his own fault for not being a safe person for us and not wanting to learn, and even typing it all out, I know I'm better off with him gone, but I can't shake feeling guilty. I didn't really choose to be host, the brain just kind of shoved me forward when M left and I had to roll with it, but I can't stop this feeling like everything I'm doing is destroying M's life and making everyone else miserable. I also had to cut off a friend that flat out fakeclaimed us, even though they'd been friends for years.

Idk I just feel like I'm a placeholder and eventually M is gonna want their body back and I'm gonna have completely torpedoed everything about their life.

(This is going to get long, apologies in advance.)

Hey, it's Solo typing right now. I was host for the first half of the year, and I had some really similar feelings about messing up Nix's life too. But I'll get to that in a minute.

Short answer: no, you're not a bad person for breaking up with him, he sounds like a complete asshole.

Long answer: you deserve to have someone in your life that'll treat you better than that, especially for (I'm assuming from context clues, sorry if I'm wrong) having traumagenic and/or disordered plurality that you quite literally cannot control. The jokes he made were extremely far out of line, and also super disrespectful, in my opinion.

That's not even touching on the fact that he was told at least once to quit, and decided to?? Fucking ghost you??? Nah, I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. I'm really sorry if that comes across as rude. It's just, I hate seeing people like you being mistreated just for being a system. It's rife with ableism, it's hurtful to you, it's just... unacceptable. And he probably knew damn well what he was doing, because people who are actually decent wouldn't have left you in the dust as soon as they were called out for being awful.

Now, as far as the being afraid part... I relate really, really strongly to that. That's why I chose to come out and answer this ask, actually. Because, I wanted to tell you... you're not doing anything wrong.

I'll spare you the time and unnecessary details, but TL;DR is that Nix desperately needed a break for about a solid 6 months. So, I split, and I was immediately thrown into the driver's seat.

The entire time, I felt exactly the way you do. "What if he comes back and hates all the things I've done?". That sorta thing. But, it turns out, when he came back... all the changes I had made were for the better. I cut toxic people out, I went to therapy, etcetera. So, despite my fears, he was actually really, really appreciative and happy about it.

I can't guarantee things will be exactly the same way for you guys, but I do want to say that -- at least from where I'm sitting -- you're making changes for the better, too. Even if M comes back and doesn't necessarily agree with everything you've done, I don't think anyone can fault you for genuinely trying your best with what you were given, considering the circumstances.

Basically... give yourself some credit. It's going to be ok, and everything is going to work out eventually. That much I can promise.

Sorry this got so unbelievably lengthy, I tried to cut down on it, but I had a lot of thoughts. Please feel free to come back if you have absolutely anything else you want to add! You're always welcome here. ❤️

🖤💜💙💚💛

[teddybeartoji]

breaks into your inbox………. hello mickey :3 i saw the selfship ask game and !!!! i’m here to ask . abt . mitoru and misho <333 🍾🥞🍮 <- with these questions!!! they were all so cute so it was hard 2 pick…….

anyway I LOVE YOUU sending satoshoko your way as we speak ……. they will wipe your post-leak tears gently!!!!! 🫂🫂🫂

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEARII HIHIHIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!

FOR MITORU

🍾 - who confessed first, and how did it happen?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MITORU THE PAIR OF STUPIDS!!!!!! IT WAS A DRUNKEN CONFESSIONN😭😭😭😭 we're both lightweights buuuuut he's sooo much worse plss and i guess he just couldn't hold it in anymore:(((((((((( like we talked before mitoru is still very very much a friends to lovers story!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we were just hanging out at suguru's place, watching a movie and having a few drinks and thenn we ended up kind of cuddling??? very normal for us though nobody blinked an eye. he gets soo sleepy and eextra clingy after he's had One Single drink so i was just playing with his hair while he rested his face in the crook of my neck. and then he just kinda whispered it to me.............. and it caught me so off guard. bc like hhhhhhh you didn't wanna tell me that somewhere elsee?????? sugu and shoko are sitting like right fucking there and you're telling me that you like me rn?????????????????? looking back at it it's cute but at the time i did freak out a little. like i just didn't know how to. deal with it. it was a lot. i was just sitting there with a red face lmao

ooh i had to ask him to repeat it like three times bc yk i thought he was just messing around. "i like you" "i like you too, dummy." "no, like i really like you." "i really, really like you too." "like i wanna kiss you -like you." "oh... oh??? OH??????????????????????????????????????????" yeahh look i'm just glad that sugu and shoko decided to NOT ask abt my flustered face and i'm glad that satoru was so out of it i might've actually died

we all stayed at sugu's for the night btw. it wasn't necessarily awkward the morning after. just a little.. mmm quiet. bc when i woke up - suguru and shoko had both left?????????🤨🤨🤨those little shits. fuckass cupids SMHHHHHHHHHH. but i am very thankful bc then we got to have this silly little conversation over coffee. it was very sweet actually. we were both very nervous. and he ofc pretended to not remember it AT ALL🤨🤨i get that it might've been hazy in his mind but are you actually trying to tell me that you were blackout drunk after three drinks satoru?🤨🤨 wahh he's my stupid<333333 this got so long butttttt that's how it wentt hehehehe and then we also ofc got our first kiss interrupted by sugushoko coming back home:33333333333

🥞 - who spoils the other more?

no matter how much i try to spoil him................................. he always outdoes it...................... SMHHH I CAN NEVER WIN AT THIS GAMEE>:(((( while he loves spending money on it (i'm not even gonna lie i love that a lot lmao), iiii spoil him with affection. i am glued to him. at all times. i'm spoiling him with kisses and praise and sweets and more praise and compliments and smooches and wahhh the smile on his face is so worth it i luv him sm:(((((

🍮 - what's something you do that always makes your f/o smile, and/or vice versa?

do a bit. that sounds so ridiculous, and it is ridiculous but i am nothing if not a storyteller alright, when i tell a tale from my past you fucking BETTT that i am acting out the different characters and the tones, i set the scene i yell i laugh it's a whole show. and he loves it:3333333 he also loves hearing me lose my shit in estonian lmao. like when i'm on the phone with a friend and we're talking abt drama or smth yk?? and i'm just pacing around the room, borderline screaming strange words into the phone hagsaghsahshga it's a Sight.

his stupid jokes. i am not immune. in any way. the stupider the better. aaaand when he acts clingy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and when he brings me flowers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and honestly. just seeing him makes me so happy. it's soooo sappy but i can't help it okay he's my favourite boy in the whole wide world:((( I LOVEEE HIMMMM ARIII I LOVE HIM SO FUCKING MUUCHHH

FOR MISHO

🍾 - who confessed first, and how did it happen?

she did actually. bc while i act All-Knowing... i don't actually really understand how ppl feel by just gauging their expressions😭😭 blame the autism here ok. after our first (PROPER🤨) kiss i just stared at her bc ?????????? did you mean that or are you playing with me rn????????? she kinda laughed at me so i died a little but then she held my face in her hands while telling me that she does, in fact, really like me:3333333333

🥞 - who spoils the other more?

i spoil her a little more:3333333 just bc i love doing it sm!!!!!!! i love her smile so fucking much i would literally kill for her ok. i always buy her snacks and things that she has mentioned that she likes yk? and i like doing stuff like drawing her a bath and washing her hair and just pampering her:33333333333 if you think i sound like a servant here just wait until the next question... wheew the things i would do for herr!!!!

🍮 - what's something you do that always makes your f/o smile, and/or vice versa?

do everything she asks me to. like there genuinely is just ZERO back talk. she wants water but i'm in bed and half asleep? you got it babe. she wants smth to eat but her phone is too far (mine is even further)? fret not queen i'm on it. she needs to take a piss but she's tired? I WILL FUCKING CARRRYYY HER THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i got that servant in meee i love her so baddd OHHH AND ALSO!!! when i ramble:3

aaand it always makes me smile when she shows interest in the video games that i'm playing!!!!!!!!!! they're not reaaally her thing, so it means a lot when she takes the time to watch me play and ask questions abt them!!!!!!!!!!! i think it's veryvery sweet!!!

selfship asks<3

[legolasghosty]

Alex drags his feet as Willie tugs him down the sidewalk. His long, blond hair started falling out of its bun around lunchtime and strands are stuck to the back of his neck. The first day of school is always the worst. No one ever knows where they're going and there's new locker combinations and a stupidly loud assembly and way too much chaos.

And Alex would be lying if it wasn't a little bit worse this year sitting through class attendance eight times in a row. Somehow, now that he's out to his friends and they call him Alex, hearing his deadname feels even worse.

Summer break had been amazing! He'd had to spend a week at church camp, which had been exhausting, but for the rest of it he had been free to spend all his time in Julie's garage practicing with the band, or hanging out in the living room playing board games, or going on random outings and walks with Willie.

Going on dates with Willie. Cause they're together now. The giddy butterflies that appear in his stomach whenever he remembers that fact is probably the only reason he's still following his partner down the sidewalk.

Cause after a mostly blissful summer, coming back to school and everything that comes with is exhausting. Alex just wants to go home and crash in bed and pretend today didn't happen. He wishes he could tell his brain to stop replaying every single awkward moment of the day on repeat.

But as soon as they got out of the building, Willie had grabbed Alex by the hand and asked if he wanted to try something. And Alex is very bad at saying no to Willie.

So here they are, probably about a twenty-minute walk away from LFHS, stopping in front of a small coffee shop.

"Umm, what are we doing?" Alex asks finally, turning to stare at his boyfriend in confusion. Not that he couldn't use a nice iced drink at the moment, but he doesn't recognize the name of the store or anything.

Willie bites his lower lip and grins. "So I know first days of school suck," they starts, moving closer to grab ahold of Alex's other hand as well, "and getting deadnamed all day sucks."

Alex winces at the reminder, but the acknowledgment is nice honestly. Willie actually gets it. They came out as transmasc back in 6th grade and had their dad's full support, but the feeling of being called the wrong name doesn't go away with time like some things do. And it had been another year or two before Willie started actively correcting teachers and adults on his name.

"So," Willie continues, his smile growing with every passing second, "I was wondering if you wanted to get a drink. As Alex."

It takes Alex a second to understand what Willie is implying: giving a stranger his chosen name. As if it's his name. His real name. Which... it is.

"We're far enough away from the school that we probably won't see anyone we know," Willie rushes on. "And I've been here a couple times and they're super queer friendly. So if you don't want to, that's totally fine, but it should be totally safe if you want to go for it."

"You're amazing," Alex breathes after a long moment. Then he nods. "Yeah. Yeah, let's do it."

Willie grins and pushes open the door. "After you, m'lord," they chuckle, ushering Alex inside.

Alex laughs as they head for the counter of the small, cozy coffee shop. It's very homey, he thinks. Lots of plants and wooden tables and comfy-looking chairs. And there's a large, rainbow pride flag hanging on one wall alongside a bunch of photos.

Willie stops just before they reach the counter and pulls out his wallet. "Also, this is my treat and you're not gonna win that fight," they state, nudging Alex's shoulder. "I think dad has started sneaking 'spoil your boyfriend' money in with my normal allowance."

Alex blushes but nods in agreement. Usually they have a good-natured argument about who pays for stuff when they go out, but he knows that tone. He's not gonna beat Willie this time.

Instead, he leads Willie up to the counter, where a middle-aged Asian woman is wiping it down.

"Hello, what can I get for you two?" she asks, smiling up at them.

Alex glances over at Willie, who takes the hint and goes first. "Can I get a medium iced decaf caramel latte?" they tell her.

She nods, then raises her brows in question at Alex. "Ummm, can I get a medium iced decaf mocha?" he responds.

"Of course, is that going to be all for you two?"

Willie nods and pulls out his card.

"And can I get a name for the order?"

Alex bites his lip, suddenly nervous. Willie squeezes his hand and moves a bit closer so their shoulders are pressed together. Alex uses their warmth to ground himself.

"Um, Alex," he says hesitantly.

He half expects the woman to challenge him on it, to laugh and ask him for his real name, but she just nods and tells them that the drinks will be out shortly. Willie pulls him away to a small table to wait. Then they pull another chair around so they can sit right beside him.

"You okay?" Willie asks softly once they're both seated.

Alex takes a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm okay," he answers, laughing a bit under his breath. "Dang, that's a bit of a rush," he comments, trying to stop his whole body from shaking in the wave of adrenaline running through his system.

"Right?" Willie agrees, shifting to take place their right hand in Alex's lap so he can play with their rings. "Dad took me out to do this back when I first came out," he adds. Then he laughs. "Well, not exactly, we got smoothies, not coffee. But he took me out somewhere no one we knew would be and let me put my name on the order."

Alex squeezes Willie's hand. "That's awesome," he murmurs. "Thank you, Willie, for sharing this with me."

Willie nods, his smile soft, and for a moment, their gaze seems to drift down toward Alex's lips. Alex licks them instinctively, glancing down at Willie's mouth. Almost without thinking, he leans forward just a bit...

"Alex?"

They both move back suddenly as the barista's voice echoes through the little shop. Alex glances over Willie's shoulder to see her setting a pair of to-go cups on the counter. Then he looks back at Willie and they both burst out laughing.

Alex gets up and grabs their drinks, calling a "Thank you," over his shoulder to the woman behind the counter. He hands Willie their drink and they head out the door.

Once they're outside, Alex takes a long sip of his drink. A little spark of joy forms in his chest when he catches sight of his name written in black sharpie on the side of the cup. When he looks back at Willie, they're giving him a wide, knowing smile.

"Feels good, right?" they say, taking his free hand.

Alex lets his gaze wander from the cup to his partner's smiling face to their hands tangled together between them. "Yeah, it does," he responds, squeezing his hand.

[frisiunia]

Humans' situation

So there are few things I need to explain in Undermourning. So here we go (it's gonna be very, very long ;)):

How does twins (and other humans) move between the Ruins and the rest of the Underground?

That's the first thing. So twins' tactic isn't anything complicated actually.

At first they did it when Toriel wasn't in the house. They would only leave a note for Toriel with some excuse about their absence. They also had Flowey by their side and he could easily check if it's safe for them to come back without Toriel noticing where are they coming back from.

However they couldn't always wait for Toriel to leave. So tactic they're using most often is: Natalie, who is more likely to leave the Ruins quickly and quietly talks with Toriel (somewhere where stairs aren't in sight) about her and Sofia going somewhere. In the meantime, Sofia is leaving first. Then, after Natalie explained everything to Toriel, she leaves herself. Quickly and quietly. Just in case, Sofia has came up with a few excuses they can use, when they get caught.

After Frisk has fallen into the Underground, twins were thinking for a little while if they can trust eighteen year old with their little secret and show him the rest of the Underground. However, they eventually decided to do it and they didn't regret it. However, they weren't as trusty with next humans who fall in future years. Especially Sunday and Cameron, who aren't the best persons to trust... and live with. However, twins trusted Jayden quite quickly. About Cora, they never showed her the rest of the Underground before the fight, cause they knew that as soon as queen finds out that there's seven humans in the Underground, they're doomed. So twins only explained to her the whole thing.

And how did anyone from the rest of the Underground never find out about them living in the Ruins? ...Who has said nobody knows? Okay, first things first. It's usual thing that a lot of monsters would ask twins about where are they living. However, they would often dismiss those who would ask. Sometimes, when they would know that someone will respect their secrets, like Papyrus, they would say right away to do not ask them about it. They don't like to hide things from their friends, but they also didn't want Toriel to find out and others to find out about Toriel's place.

Did someone try to follow them to find out where they live? There are always some people that would try to solve a mystery, so that's obvious. However, twins, and later other humans who would go by their tips, has their ways to avoid them knowing. Before coming back, they would leave themselves enough time to wander sometime and try to lose themselves from potiential followers' eyes. They would also sometimes come into some places where night could be spend. Usually before coming back to the Ruins, they come into Inn in Snowdin and spends there a while, talking to innkeeper. Then, they usually goes where the trees are densely spaced. What is worth mentioning, when Sofia was trying to help Papyrus get into the Royal Guard, actual bars were set before the Ruins exit. You can say that twins have borrowed one of spare keys to them.

Later thanks to Frisk, twins found out that Undyne and probably people close to the ruler, like the Royal Guard knows where they live and where Toriel lives. So they didn't really care that some of guards would find out, since they've already known. If we're talking about guards, humans rather pretend that they hide it from them. However, they are still careful with other monsters.

War Plans

A good plan is very important part of a war. You can clearly see that studying history. Sofia and Natalie also know that, especially Sofia. When they finally decided that fight is a necessity, they had a problem in establishing their tactic. They both wanted to wait for seven humans to come. However, despite Frisk falling recently, Sofia thought it might take too long. Natalie also become more doubtful about it. So they started thinking about three-persons plans. They and Frisk also have begun training more often.

No human has fallen down for nearly two years. But finally in 2020 Sunday fell into the Underground. That gave twins more hope. But then, another problem had appeared. Other humans' attitude. You see, they noticed that Sunday is not the best person to work with. Even if other humans will fall in the future, what if they'll have same attitude as Sunday? Twins understood they can't just make soldiers that would just listen to them without questioning their orders. So they created general plan, and as another humans were falling, they were updating and adapting it to fit said humans. They also tried to slowly guide these humans into this situation, knowing they may feel uneasy getting thrown into it like that. Twins tried not to let them get to attached to monsters they meant to fight with. Excluding Papyrus to some extent. After all, it's difficult to even imagine Papyrus actually wanting Undyne's plan to happen.

But what plan actually was? Let me show you: In general, taking down Royal Guards and other, loyal to gueen people. Removing queen herself. If someone gives up, they're getting spared. Including queen, though obviously she's probably not going to do that. No civilians are getting hurt, unless they're joining to the battle on queen's side. Toriel's going to become a new queen. But if she refuse or monster don't want her as a queen, they can just choose their ruler.

About roles that were given to humans as plan developed: Frisk is the one that meant to kill Undyne. Natalie mostly takes care of guards in Hotland and then supports Frisk if it's needed. Sofia is the one to take care of guards in Snowdin. Since Cora had no fighting skills or time to train, she supports Sofia, mostly holding food and arrows for her. Cameron and Sunday mostly takes care of Waterfall, while Jayden makes sure they won't hurt anyone else than guards. If someone's work is finished, they can support others. + Flowey makes sure no one tries to enter the Ruins. Ya know, just in case.

Execution

What about execution of this plan?... Well, did you read "Chara" story? In "War Route" part, Chara is talking about how bad others are feeling with it. He mentions that Monster Kid Teen's family is gone, and that Lamef is traumatized. Well, now I think I want to change this dialogue a little, but you get the point, right? Especially with death of MK's family. Civilians also got hurt or even died. Though Jaydan was doing his best, it is mostly Sunday and Cameron's fault. Chara made these two hateful and cruel. He even scripted some events, so even though these two may have some good qualities, they're just forced to act in certain way. Like killing MK's family is scripted. It happens always in this route. However, he doesn't have to script so many things so this route would be unhappy enough for Frisk to reset.

That's all for today. It was long, I know. And yet, I think I could tell ya about few more things. Welp. Maybe some other time. For now, bye!

[kpop-stories-21]

Song Fic Ask Challenge

Hi guys! You might remember a little while back I put out a post called the "Song Fic Ask Challenge Part 1". Well, it didn't get near the traction I expected, so I'm reposting it now with the full(shortened) list of prompts in the hopes that more variety will attract more people. And if this isn't your thing, don't worry. A reblog to share it around for others to see is equally appreciated!

If you didn't see my first post, here's how it's gonna go: I have made a list of songs to base one shots off of. With each song title I will give a basic plot and two endings. What I want from you is to send me an ask with a song title from the list, give me a pairing from the groups I write for, (it can be member x member, member x reader, or member x one of my rp characters) and either chose one of the endings I listed or make up your own. Then I will write the one shot, post it and tag you in it. And yes, I know these are all 1D songs. I don't actively follow the members much these days, but I still really enjoy their music. If you don't know the songs, don't worry! Each title will have a link to a lyric video.

And to the few who did send in requests, don't worry. Your requests will still be written, that hasn't changed. But do feel free to send in a second request if you see another prompt that you like.

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1. Half A Heart - A and B have a fight or some encounter equally threatening to their relationship. They separate for a while and the two of them really miss each other, but aren't sure if they should try to fix things or not. Ending #1: they realise they just can't live without each other and decide to try and work things out. Ending #2: they decide that, even though they love each other, it would be better if they break up and go their separate ways. | Requested by: @umbralhelwolf | Read it here

2. Live While We're Young - A and B meet at a summer camp and fall in love. They spend every possible moment together, even sneaking away for some spicy fun time 😉 The catch is that they live really far away from each other, so when the camp ends they have to decide how they want to handle things between them. Ending #1: they decide not to break up and try a long distance relationship. Ending #2: they decide to just call it a summer love and go their separate ways, never to meet again. | Requested by: @trashlord-007 | Read it here

3. Over Again - A and B have begun to feel they've fallen out of love with each other. Not quite ready to tell anyone yet, they have to pretend things are fine when around friends and family. As the pretending begins to wear them both down, they fight more often. Ending #1: They remember how good things used to be and try to reignite their love for each other. Ending #2: They finally come clean to everyone and break up officially. | Requested by: @trashlord-007 | Read it here

4. Truly, Madly, Deeply - a high school romance, where A sees B from afar and falls hard but is too shy to say anything at first. A few days later A works up the courage to confess and B says they feel the same. A feels ecstatic, but in the back of their mind fears this might not be for real and that B might leave them. Ending #1: B genuinely has feelings for A and they have a happy relationship. Ending #2: A finds out B is just using them to look good and ends up getting their heart broken. | Requested by: @umbralhelwolf | Read it here

5. Gotta Be You - a college AU where A and B are an established couple, but one day B says something incredibly rude and/or derogatory about A and it spreads through the college like wildfire. A is hurt, breaks up with B and starts to distance themself. B is extremely ashamed of what they've done and after letting A have some space, tries to talk to them about getting back together. Ending #1: A agrees to give B another chance and things return to normal. Ending #2: A rejects B and B just completely falls apart. | Requested by: @anyamaris | Read it here

6. I Wish - A and B have been friends since childhood, and B has been in love with A for a good bit of that time. But then A meets C at their job and begins to fall for C. B is heartbroken and watches all their interactions while wishing it was them with A instead of C. Ending #1: A realises B's feelings and chooses to be with B. Ending #2: A remains oblivious, becoming more and more involved with C. B moves out of town to put space between them and A, and their friendship slowly dies. | Requested by: @sanjoongie | Read it here || Requested by: @wooyoungmybelovedhusband | Read it here

7. Tell Me A Lie - A and B are in a relationship, but recently A has started seeing C and is thinking of dating them instead of B. B, who's really in love with A, is aware of this and becomes increasingly unhappy the more time A spends with C. One night, A comes to tell B they're breaking up and going to date C, B asks them to give any other reason for their breakup than because of C. When A asks why, B explains that they still love A and couldn't live with themselves if they were constantly reminded of C being the reason for their split. Ending #1: When A hears this, they are reminded of all the reasons why they fell for B in the first place and decide not to break up after all. Ending #2: A does as asked and gives B a fake reason for breaking up, then leaves and begins dating C. | Requested by: @anyamaris | Read it here

8. Same Mistakes - A and B are in a dying relationship, neither really willing to change the things necessary to keep their love alive. Instead they keep repeating past experiences, going through the motions of being in love without any good feelings. Ending #1: Something traumatic happens that pulls Both A and B out of their funk and makes them want to try and re-kindle their love. Ending #2: A and B eventually get tired of going through the motions and break things off. | Requested by: @anyamaris | Read it here

9. More Than This - A is in love with their roommate B, who is dating C. Deciding to confess their feelings without directly revealing their identity, A anonymously posts little thoughts and phrases on the school's forum page about how jealous they feel when seeing B and C together, and how they could love B more than C does. One day while having lunch with B, A accidentally outs themself as the anonymous poster. Ending #1: B admits they've begun to have feelings for A as well and breaks up with C so they can be with B. Ending #2: B rejects A, becoming angry and accusing A of trying to break up their relationship with C. A moves in with C shortly thereafter and the two never speak to each other again. | Requested by: @yoonguurt | Read it here

10. Fool's Gold - A is well known among their friend group for sleeping around a lot and generally being quite the player. Enter B, the younger sibling of one of A's friends, who quickly develops a crush on A but is warned by their sibling to stay away or risk getting their heart broken. B continues to pursue A in spite of the warnings, having full knowledge of A's habits and not caring about the consequences. Ending #1: B confesses their feelings to A and the two sleep together, only for A to bring C around a few days later and announce they've decided to date each other. B is heartbroken and distances themself, promising never to have anything to do with A ever again. Ending #2: B confesses their feelings for A and they sleep together. Afterwards A confesses that they have feelings for B and the two decide to begin a relationship. | Requested by: @flowerboykun | Read it here

11. Change My Mind - A and B have been best friends since childhood. They've done pretty much everything together, and are rarely without each other. But after being assigned as roommates at their chosen college, A begins to develop deeper feelings for B. When attending a "welcome to college" party ends with A and B sleeping together, both begin to struggle with how they feel and how this could affect their friendship. Ending #1: A and B admit they have feelings for each other, and decide to pursue a relationship. Ending #2: B keeps their feelings to themself and the two brush it off as a drunken mistake. A and B's friendship becomes awkward, and they start to drift apart. | Requested by: @jeonrose | Read it here

12. Love You Goodbye - In the aftermath of an explosive fight, A comes to B's apartment in a very nice outfit. B has a sinking feeling that A hasn't come to apologize and instead wants to break up. So B asks if A can spend the night even if this is the end of their relationship, a way of saying goodbye if you will. Much spiciness ensues😏. Ending #1: The next morning A realises that maybe the two of them can work things out after all, and doesn't actually break up with B. Ending #2: The next morning A dresses, gathers their things, and leaves before B awakens. An awkwardness hangs between them now, keeping them from remaining friends, and eventually they lose contact with one another. | Requested by: @anyamaris | Read it here

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And there you go! I look forward to seeing your choices and I'm super excited to write all these. If you liked this little event and want me to do more things like this in the future, please let me know! Feedback is always greatly appreciated.

That being said, have a great day/night and I'll see ya'll next time!!!