#when i opened the glass case for them which is like. a showcase with these glass doors that only employees can open with specific keys in

[ronanlynchbf]

saying "this is unbearable" abt things yet still continuing to bear them. give it up for the human spirit everyone 🙏👆👍💪💪💪❗❗❗

[authorhjk1]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6pTqflplBO/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Sana/Jennie museum threesome

The Roman Goddess (part III)

(Minatozaki Sana X Jennie X Male Reader)

"Stop playing hard to get, Mars."

Venus' mischievous smile makes you lose your mind.

You knew it was a bad idea, when you saw the invitation to this event lying on the bed in your hotel room. And her note next to it explained why she wanted you here.

"I don't think we should do this."

You take a step back, surprised by your own self control.

"Y-Your husband is right there."

You whisper and point to the next room of the museum.

"Oh, forget about him, baby. I'm just here for that dick of yours."

You watch her looking down on you, before she reaches out to cup your crotch.

You can't do anything. Nothing to resist. Venus has always been something you can't walk away from. Something that draws you in. And that purple dress she is wearing makes your head spin, everytime you look at her. It fits her body perfectly, hugging her curves tightly.

A satisfied smile plays around Venus' lips, when she sees you glancing at her cleavage.

"You see? We're meant for each other. My body is yours. And yours is mine."

She steps closer. You close your eyes, still feeling her hand on your clothed cock. She places her tongue on your cheekbone and gives your cheek a long lick upwards, until she reaches your ear. Her purpose is clear. Destroy your silent resistance. Let yourself go. Give in.

"Your cock. It belongs in my pussy. As deep as it can go."

You flinch when Venus bites your earlobe. She is way more aggressive than she used to be. But then again, she is used to getting what she wants.

"And I'm not leaving this museum, until you tear this dress off me and fuck me like you mean it."

Your eyes shoot open when you hear high heels click on the stone floor. Someone is walking towards the two of you. Venus takes two steps back and pretends to read the information plate of the glass case on your left. You quickly hide your erection with the brochure you've held onto until now.

When the woman finally rounds the corner, you almost roll your eyes. What in the world? What the fuck is going on?

Her blue dress is barely a dress. More like a tunic. A very revealing one. You can see most of her slender legs and her tummy. The former is decorated with some body jewelry, which catches your eye. You notice you're staring, when she speaks up.

"I didn't expect you to see here."

Venus turns around.

"Oh, hey you."

She gives the new woman a big smile, but you can tell it's not genuine. Venus hesitates for a moment, but decides to properly greet the other woman. The two of them meet in the middle of the room. You can sense the awkwardness in the air as they give each other a hug. It looks forced and delicate, almost as if both of them are afraid the other might shatter into pieces, if they squeeze too hard.

You take a deep breath, glad you aren't the center of Venus' attention at the moment. Turning around, you try to ignore the two women and regain your composure. The glass case behind you showcases a trident and a net. You read the small plate that is placed next to the case.

The Retiarius, one of the most iconic gladiators of ancient Rome, fought using a trident (tridens) and a net (rete). Unlike his heavily armored counterparts, the Retiarius relied on speed and agility.

"How is your husband doing? You always talk about how he is working all the time."

"He is doing just fine. If I remember correctly, you ended things with your boyfriend? Tell me all about that."

Equipped with minimal armor—typically a shoulder guard (galerus) for protection—he would attempt to ensnare his opponent with the net before striking with the trident. This lightweight approach contrasted sharply with the heavily armed Secutor, creating a dramatic spectacle of skill versus strength.

"You know how guys are. Lazy idiots, who only think about sex. Especially when they see a woman like me. Believe it or not, I had one of his best friends on my doorstep an hour after I ended things with him."

"I can only imagine. My husband is a loyal, loving man. He gives me the world. I hope you'll find someone like that someday as well."

The weapons displayed here are replicas of those used in the grand arenas of Capua, a renowned training center for gladiators.

You move onto the next exhibit, while you hear the two women talk in the background. It's obvious they don't like each other. They're just bragging about how everyone loves them and how beautiful they are. You do have to admit that they're both gorgeous, but their characters seem flawed, to say the least.

Now standing in front of a mosaic, you get a glimpse of what a fully filled arena must've looked like in its full glory.

This intricate mosaic from the arena in Capua illustrates the staged reenactment of the Battle of Zama, the decisive confrontation of the Second Punic War fought in 202 BCE. In this spectacle, captured Punic warriors were forced to relive their defeat, facing off against Roman-trained gladiators representing the legions of Scipio Africanus.

"By the way, I love that dress of yours. I don't think I'd dare to show off this much skin, but it really fits your style."

"Thanks. Oh, but I love yours as well. Did your husband buy it for you? His taste is really something."

The Punic fighters are depicted with their characteristic long spears (hasta), curved swords (falcata), and round shields (caetra), emulating the Carthaginian infantry. Some are shown as Numidian allies, wielding javelins (pilum) and riding light horses, mirroring the diverse forces of Hannibal’s army.

"You know, I'd love to catch up with you some more, but my husband already mentioned earlier that he would love me to accompany him to the arena. But I'm sure we will have a chance to resume this pleasant conversation."

"Of course, dear. You're a loving and loyal wife. You always put his needs over yours."

Their opponents, dressed in Roman-style armor, carry gladii (short swords) and rectangular scuta (shields), symbolizing the disciplined Roman formations that triumphed at Zama. Such events were designed not only as entertainment but as a display of Roman supremacy, reminding the spectators of Rome's victory over one of its greatest adversaries.

You let out a deep breath as you hear Venus exit the room. You already felt bad, because you slept with a married woman. And while your carnal desires have kept you under their control so far, you finally have the courage to stop. You don't want to do it here. Not with her husband in the next room. That's not just morally wrong, but also stupid and dangerous.

You decide to ignore the other woman. She's probably doing the same with you. You reach another, smaller glass case. A figure of Venus inside. You can't help but glance at your own personal Venus through the door in the other room. For a moment, your eyes are glued to her backside, which is tightly wrapped by her dress. But you quickly avert your eyes again, hoping no one caught you. You decide on studying the description of the small figure, waiting for the other woman to finally leave the room.

The goddess Venus, revered as the deity of love, beauty, and fertility, held a special connection with the gladiators of Capua. In Roman culture, Venus was also associated with victory and fortune, making her a significant figure for gladiators who sought her favor before entering the arena. It was believed that invoking Venus’ blessings could turn the tide of combat, granting strength, agility, and the favor of the audience.

"Interesting."

You mumble as you take out your pen. This could make for a great part of your book. The first one featured the Roman legions. The second one was centered around Roman naval warfare. And this third one was supposed to be more about politics, while highlighting the character of a cunning, but charming woman.

Thank to Venus, you've already made great progress. "The Roman goddess", your third book, is almost finished by now. And it seems like you just found the best way to start your fourth book. Very ambitious, since you haven't completed the third one yet. But you know that this could lead you to even more fame. And money. For a moment, you wonder if you could ever reach the same level as Venus' husband. Through writing? Not likely. But it's going well so far.

The idea alone already makes your fingers itchy. You want to go home and continue to write. And you know now, your fourth book will be about gladiators. As you take notes on the museum's brochure, you are already planning out the first ideas for a plot.

You loose yourself in your thoughts, whispering along as you keep on reading the description of the small figure.

In Capua, one of the most renowned gladiatorial training centers of the Roman world, shrines and offerings to Venus were common, especially among gladiators who wished to honor the goddess in the hope of survival and success. The connection between Freya and the gladiators-

"What the fuck happened here?"

You say out loud, starring at the small text.

"Are you okay?"

You jump. The woman who talked to Venus is standing right behind you.

"Yeah, sorry."

You turn back around.

"Is something wrong?"

"Kinda..."

You hesitate. She sounds kinda bored and you don't want to make it worse by letting your history addiction shine through. But what's the worst that can happen?

"Here."

You point at the description.

"For some reason someone switched the names of Venus and Freya."

"And who is that?"

"Well, Venus is this one."

You point at the statue and have to force yourself to not look into the next room.

"And Freya is basically her Nordic equivalent."

"Isn't this the goddess of love or something?"

"Yes, you're correct. She's also responsible for marriage and the spring."

"You seem to know what you're talking about."

The woman next to you crosses her arms in front of her chest as she looks down at the figure of Venus.

"A little. My specialty is Roman and Greek history, but I know a thing or two about other civilizations as well."

"Are you a history teacher or something?"

"An author."

It still feels odd to say that. But you're realizing that you aren't as nervous as you should be. This woman is gorgeous, stunning. And yet, you don't really think about that and just see her as a normal person. Maybe because you spent a lot of time with Venus?

"Are you famous?"

"I wouldn't say so. Not really."

"Too bad. It would've explained why she sleeps with you."

You almost have a heart attack.

"W-What?"

You cross your fingers that she isn't talking about Venus. Not possible. You've never seen her before, so how would she have seen you? And you are sure that Venus didn't say anything either. Right?

You feel your heart beating faster, while your body seems like it's frozen. You wait for her to keep talking.

"Did you never see her taking pictures of you or something?"

You slowly shake your head.

"No... Did she?"

"There's an mobile app for women like us."

She pauses for a moment.

"Rich, famous women. Who are either married or single."

"Ah...."

"The app is used to share our sexual adventures with each other. And recommend people, based on where you are. For example, you told her that you'd be in Italy for a while. How do I know that? I checked the app. She put a picture of you in there. What you're good at, that you're fine with keeping secrets and that you're currently in Italy. And your number as well."

"She gave everyone my number and a picture?"

"Yeah."

You feel a little used. Venus seemed to value privacy so much. So why did she just violate yours?

"I also know that the two of you are playing a little game. You call her Venus. And you're Mars, right?"

You slowly nod your head. It finally dawns on you in which direction this is gonna go.

"I want in."

"What?"

"I want to take what's hers. Make Venus jealous and show her that you like my pussy more than hers."

When she says Venus' name, it almost sounds like an insult.

"Do I have a choice?"

The woman in blue shakes her head, while giving you a mocking smile.

"You don't."

You look at her, then look back towards the room Venus went to, and then look back at her.

"Okay....What do you want to do? A hotel? Or-"

"Shut it."

You're surprised by her rudeness.

"We are going somewhere where she can see us. Got it?"

"S-Sure."

"Oh and we need a name for me too. I want one just as good as hers."

You instinctively glance at the description of the figure.

"Freya?"

You see a smile playing around her lips.

"Sounds good."

"I don't think we should be here. This isn't just against museum rules, but also inappropriate."

"Zip it. I do what I want."

You sigh as she leads you into the sunlight. It seems like someone really paid the museum a lot of money to host this event. Which makes sense, since everyone here seems to be rich. The museum staff has placed a purple sun blind over the imperial box. From here, you have great view of the whole arena.

Of course it isn't in its original state, but it looks fabulous nonetheless. Which makes sense, since it's the second largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire. In the middle, where the gladiators have fought thousands of years ago, the museum has set up tables and chairs, a large buffet and even a small dance floor.

You feel odd, overlooking this beautiful scenery. Not just because you have a gorgeous woman lean over the balustrade right in front of you, but also because it feels wrong. This was once a place of blood and death. People died down there and yet these rich people treat it as some fancy place for a party.

"There she is."

Freya nods towards Venus, who is standing near the buffet. You can spot her easily. She is the most beautiful woman down there. You can't keep your eyes off that beautiful body.

You know her husband has to be there somewhere, but you can't tell who it is. And you're not even sure if you want to know. After all-

"What are you waiting for?"

You look over the bent over woman in front of you. Venus has so much control over you, you almost forgot about Freya. But now, you can see how beautiful she is as well. How sexy, how gorgeous. Just as much a goddess as Venus is. Same but different.

"Kneel for me and make yourself useful."

You hesitate. Venus wasn't really this commanding. But in the end, you don't care. As long as it means you are able to have sex with a woman like her.

You feel the naked stone on your knees. Reaching forward, you slowly lift up Freya's dress. Her blue underwear matches the dress. You lean in and give the back of her thighs kisses. You taste her skin, making sure you take your time as you carefully make your way upwards. When you eventually meet her clothed core, you plant a kiss on the fabric.

Freya's legs open a little wider, but you change directions. You lick and kiss her cheeks, giving them an occasional bite or two.

"That feels good..."

You continue, until you feel like she is starting to get impatient. Pulling at her panties, you watch them slowly glide down her smooth legs.

Licking your lips, you stare at her exposed pussy. It's a little darker than Venus', but not less beautiful. You lean in. One slow lick from the bottom to the top. It makes her hum in appreciation. You reach for her cheeks to pull them apart a little further. Taking in Freya's scent, you begin to feast on her pussy, while the rich people feast on the buffet in the arena.

You quickly notice that Freya isn't as wet as Venus is. It takes you a while to finally have her dripping. But for some reason, that just makes it taste even better. You lick along her folds, part them with your tongue, dive in deep. And then you retreat, circle around her outer lips, dip down to let your tongue flick against her clit. And then you start from the beginning once more.

Throughout your delicious meal, Freya has stayed mostly quiet. An appreciative moan here and there, a slight gasp, whenever you try something new. You can really see how the two women differ from each other.

As you keep going, you notice how Freya likes it when you use your hands on her ass from time to time. Pull her cheeks apart a little, slightly dig your fingers into them, squeezing them. You feel how she slowly becomes hotter, how her body's temperature starts to rise. She starts to move back a little as more pleasure rushes through her system.

Making your final move, you take her clit into your mouth. You suck on it, making her squirm for a moment. And then, a deep moan leaves her body. She shakes in front of you, your hands on her ass and hers on the balustrade keep her standing. More of her juices leave her pussy, which you taste as you dive back in during her high.

When you finally move away from her, you take a look at her now glistening folds once more. But when you're about to stand up, you feel one of her hands pushing your head back down.

"What makes you think you're done?"

You're surprised she wants more. You would've loved to feel her lips, or her pussy on your cock. But you decide to follow her lead. Maybe you'll get even more out of this.

"That's a good boy."

You hear her sigh when you place your lips on hers once more. Closing your eyes, you enjoy her taste. The moment is short lived, when you hear your phone's ringtone.

"Answer it."

Freya's voice is laced with mischievous intent.

You quickly realize why. She must've seen how Venus took out her phone and is now calling you.

"Hello?"

"Are you hiding from me?"

"I'm-"

You get interrupted by Freya, who pulls your face toward her core.

"I'm not."

You resume your meal, while Venus talks on the other end of the line.

"Good. I'm really horny right now. And I need you."

"I'm not sure if we should do it here. Your husband-"

"Oh, don't worry. He won't catch us, I promise."

"I don't-"

"It's gonna be quick."

Freya lets out a sigh as your tongue swipes upwards a little too high, coming dangerously close to her other hole. You bite your lip for a second, hoping Venus didn't hear that.

"I'll reward you."

Seems like Venus took your silence as indecisiveness.

"I'm going to head to your hotel room after this event. My body will be yours tonight."

You almost let out a groan into Freya's pussy.

"Is there anything you would prefer me in?"

You feel the other woman's hand on the back of your head again, urging you on to keep eating her out.

"A specific dress? Lingerie? Nothing?"

You close your eyes, trying to stay strong. At the same time, you keep you face buried between Freya's legs.

"Yes, that feels good."

Her moan is way louder than all the other ones.

"Mars, what's going on?"

You realize that she did it on purpose.

Freya now reaches for your phone.

"Keep going."

She takes and places it on her ear.

"Hello, darling?"

You don't hear what Venus is saying. You let out a sigh, but resume your work. You kinda feel like you betrayed her. But the again, you aren't in a relationship. She is even married to someone else.

"Oh, I bet he's loving dessert right now."

You hear Freya's breath hitch as you let your tongue circle around her clit once more.

"Oh damn, you really weren't lying. He is gonna make me cum again."

You double your efforts at her words. The damage is done already. Might as well finish the job.

"Don't get all possessive, honey. I'm sure he won't mind sleeping with you tonight."

"Really? And what are you gonna do about it?"

You feel how Freya is getting closer again. This bantering with Venus is probably getting her off even more.

"What makes you think you're a better fuck than me?"

"Oh, I'm so up for that. I'm gonna show you how much better I am."

You suck on Freya's clit once more. And the climax of her conversation and you work suddenly make her cum again.

"Oh, fuck!"

Once she calms down, Freya speaks again.

"That was amazing. Where we are? Just look up."

You notice how a second later the call ends. Freya turns around and gives you your phone back.

"While we wait for Venus, why don't you show me what you got there?"

She reaches for your belt and starts to undress you. When your pants and boxers fall onto the stone floor, Freya wraps her fingers around your cock.

"It's always hard to tell someone's size without properly measuring it, but I feel like Venus underestimated you."

She stands in front of you, while she begins to stroke your length. You can't help but reach out to feel more of her body. You place your hand on her naked waist.

"You like me, don't you?"

It's probably for the best, if you don't answer. So you stay silent, your eyes slowly wandering from her waist to her clothed tits. And your hands soon follow.

"You probably thought she was a goddess when you first saw her, huh? That's why you play this little game. But trust me, she is no better than I am."

Her confident smirk makes you realize that she genuinely thinks she is better than Venus. She isn't just saying that to make you choose her.

"Maybe we should start without her."

You watch how Freya's hand leaves your cock. She sticks out her tongue and licks her own palm. Then, she places her wet hand around your length again.

"Come on. Make everyone watch."

She turns around again. And like before, Freya bends over the stone balustrade.

You hold your breath for a moment. You really must be lucky if you get to have sex with her. But, if Venus is about to join the two of you, this might turn into the best day of your life.

Stepping behind her, you align yourself with her pussy. Your tip grazes her lips. When you push inside, you hear her let out a sigh.

"No wonder she doesn't want to share you."

Your hands are on her waist. You feel that waist chain between your fingers. But that's by far not the best thing you're feeling right now. Her tight cunt is nicely wrapped around your cock, keeping you inside as you attempt to back up.

When you start to properly fuck her, you already hear the sounds of someone walking behind you. It's still a little further away, but it's growing closer. You decide that this the best moment to make use of Freya's pussy as much as possible. You don't know what might happen next.

"Fuck, right there."

She moans when you fuck her harder. Soon, you place one of your hands on her clothed tits, while the other stays on her waist. You take her from behind, enjoying her body to the fullest. As every thrust leads you deeper and deeper inside, you start to forget all about the world around you. Her tight grip on your cock is all that matters right now. Your thrusts become faster. And the sound of your hips meeting her ass becomes louder.

"The two of you started without me?"

You quickly turn your head. Venus is standing behind you, a pout on her lips. Your eyes immediately roam her body. Her beauty and Freya's pussy around your cock make your head spin.

"Why don't you join me? Venus?"

Freya says her name once more with an underlying emotion. But to your surprise, Venus walks closer. She captures your lips with hers, her hands on your chest. By now, you've stopped fucking Freya. Which she doesn't seem to like. The bent over woman moves her hips and you groan into Venus' mouth.

Venus breaks the kiss and whispers into your ear.

"Make sure your cum belongs to me."

She gives you a mischievous smile, before she backs away. Just like Freya, she bends over the balustrade. The two women are barely an arm's length apart from each other. But your view has suddenly improved immensely. Your eyes are glued to Venus' ass as you start to fuck Freya once more.

Your self control only lasts a second. You reach over to squeeze the cheek that is closest to you. Venus looks back at you, a satisfied grin on her face.

"Can't take your hands off me?"

You nod as you try to keep up the pace of your fucking. Freya has begun to moan again, this time a little louder. Her tight pussy is holding onto you as if she knew you're on the brink of jumping ship.

"Come on, Mars. It's not polite to leave a woman waiting."

You close your eyes. Count to three. When you reach three, you don't know if you should pull out or not. You count to three again. And again. And finally you feel yourself pulling out all the way. Freya's walls drag along your length and a long sigh leaves her lips.

Only now do you notice that she is breathing heavily. You decide you're kind enough to give her a break.

A moment later, you stand behind Venus. Your wet cock rests on the fabric of her dress as you squeeze her cheeks. She purrs like a cat in the sun, already getting wet by just your hands on her body.

As much as you love seeing her ass like that, you eventually realize the urge to bury yourself inside of her grows larger. You hike up her dress. No panties. If only her husband knew what a slutty wife he has. The already familiar sight of Venus' pussy doesn't give you time to hesitate. You quickly push inside. That familiar warmth closes down around your length immediately. Reaching forward, you take a hold of both of her naked shoulders. The way she is leaning over the balustrade probably enables everyone in the arena to look deep into her cleavage.

But she doesn't seem to care. Venus' moans are just as loud as Freya's as you start to fuck her as well. You can tell how much wetter she is. Her juices practically coating your cock.

"That's right. I promised you. You own my body tonight."

You groan in response. The urge to lean down and give her exposed back a bite is unusually strong. But you focus on fucking her harder. Her pussy basically asking for it. Her tight walls squeezing you, her juices making sure your thrusts are smooth.

Eventually, you make the mistake of looking to your left. Freya is still standing there, elbows on the balustrade, as she bites a nail while she watches. You can tell that she wants more. It takes you a while to muster enough self control, but then you manage to pull out of Venus. She gasps in surprise.

But before she can even turn her head, you already bury yourself inside Freya's tight and waiting cunt.

That's how you fuck them both for quite a while. You actually last way longer than you thought you would. The constant switching from one woman to the other gives you always a couple of seconds to breathe. After a while, the two of them learn how to live with it and sharing you becomes visibly easier.

You're fucking Venus right now, while Freya has moved a little closer, so you can finger her at the same time. You can't even count anymore how often you switched between them. But when you deliver one unusual deep thrust into Venus, you're suddenly very aware that you probably won't be able to switch again.

Your strength is starting to leave you as well. Freya seems to have noticed.

"You're gonna give us your cum now, right? Dump your load into our pussies, after you used them like you wanted to."

Her words don't slow your approaching orgasm down at all.

"Oh, yes. Fill me up."

Venus sighs as she feels your cock throbbing inside of her. You reach out to Freya, moving her closer. The two of them are now side by side, their asses touching. You try to count your thrusts, but it's in vein.

When you cum, you bite your lip in pleasure. Venus' pussy almost traps you inside of her as you shoot two streaks of cum inside. But after a short struggle, you finally manage to pull out. One long streak hits both their asses, before you're able to push into Freya one last time.

"Fuck, yes."

She sighs loudly as she feels your cum rush into her body.

The three of you are all out of breath and you almost collapse on top of Freya.

"You still haven't answered my question."

You look over to Venus. Her ass is covered in cum and you see how a long trail of it is already running down her right leg.

"How would you like me tonight?"

You think hard about this. You might never be able to see her again after tonight. Who knows where she is gonna be tomorrow.

"I want you to wear nothing, but two things."

She raises an eyebrow in question, a cheeky smile on her lips.

"Heels and a choker."

Freya lets out a chuckle.

Venus gets off the balustrade. You notice how her arms are a little red. She kisses you again, while you're still inside the other woman.

"I'll be there at 10."

[mirrorbvllhoon]

COFFEE a P. SH. written series: chapter one Coffee every morning

Masterlist

WC: 1k

Cafe owner!reader x idol!Sunghoon

or... when Sunghoon, a famous kpop idol, enters inside your cafe to hide from his crazy fans and ends up falling for you.

It was seven am when you had arrived at your cafe, almost nine months had passed since you opened it, in hopes to accomplish one of your life long dreams, which seemed not so far away now, with the dim light of the morning caressing your skin as you skimmed through your bag searching for the keys to open the cafe, not to the public, but you had work to do, you put the closed sign, in case someone saw the opened door and decided to enter.

You had to clean and mop the floors first so you kept the door and windows open so the air could ventilate and dry the wet surfaces, after that you had to prepare the batches of pastries baking them or taking them out of the oven or fridge and setting them on the showcases and cabinets so people could see them, finally you had set the espresso machines and cleaned the rest of the instruments and measuring cups, this way once the rest of the crew arrived the day could start and the waitlist for the items wouldn’t be as long, after all it was the start of the weekend which meant a heavy workload of a day.

You decided to eat something since you haven’t had breakfast as well as preparing yourself the first coffee, which had become a small tradition you had developed since opening the café. You decided to turn on a small TV in the rest room reserved for the employees as well, deciding to listen to the news hoping to listen to the weather forecast and partially because the silence of the mornings stressed you out a little bit.

You were preparing an iced latte for yourself, however as soon as you were pouring the espresso shot over the milk inside the tall glass, when you heard the door shutting and quick nervous steps and a dog barking?

“We haven’t actually opened…” you started, not even looking to face the person, hoping it was someone drunk that needed a drink, or an absent-minded wanderer who didn’t bother to look at the “close” signs, things that had already happened to you, but your mind was far from the reality occuring right beside you. 

“I know, I’m sorry, I just need to hide, can I just stay under the counter, I- please” the guy beside you pronounced, you could see the look in his eyes and quickly nodded, he hid just as he told you too and hid the dog he carried as well, petting it while trying to regain his breath.

you started to see lots of girls walking, carrying cameras and backpacks, their faces were covered with facemasks and long hoodies or caps, one of them stared into your small cafe but even before the girl could arrive you quickly moved from the counter and signed to the “closed” sign outside, the girl nodded quickly and went with the rest of the girls, you decided to lock the door after the weird start of the day.

You went back and saw the milk on the counter, the espresso shot still untouched.

“How do you like your coffee?” you asked the guy, he hummed in response.

“You still look anxious, if you don’t like coffee I can make you something else… I’m guessing your day has been a little weird, so the least I can do is make you something to eat”

“Oh… you don’t have to, you have been kind enough to let me in”

“An iced vanilla latte sounds good?”

He looked at you and smiled sweetly, this time the moles adorning his nose and face were visible as well as the messy hair he had and the coat that barely covered his trembling body, either because of the stress or the cold.

“Do you need anything else? or do you need me to call someone?”

“No, this is weird to explain already… is someone looking from the outside?”

“No, but there are a lot of girls walking with big cameras…they almost look like… oh fuck… are they sasaengs?” you asked, consciousness hitting you back, there was a handsome looking guy that wanted to hide and a bunch of girls with cameras outside…the guy hiding behind the counter was an idol of some kind, you were sure of it.

“Are you an idol?” You asked obliviously, he let out a sigh before nodding. “I won’t give your personal information or whatever you’re thinking, If I even confess I’m not that familiar with all of that culture, I recently started living here”

He could feel the genuinity of your voice, after all in your head you knew he was just a human following his job, he didn’t deserve whatever was happening right now, you handed him the latte and also made a small paper cup filled with whipped cream for the dog that was with him.

“Her name’s gaeul” he said still petting the small dog, “She’s pretty” you answered, “Can I pet her?” he nodded and you petted gaeul for some minutes, before going back to work, your fingers grazed him for the smallest of seconds and a smile appeared on both of your faces.

“I think most of them have left, you can leave through the back door whenever you need” You said looking through the glass that divided your reality right now with the guy in front of you and the empty streets outside.

He nodded and while you went into the employee room, the broadcast had changed into a kpop presentation of some group. The song was catchy and beautiful, however what stood out more from you was one of the members, who looked just like the one who had arrived at your café.

You turned off the broadcast, hoping he didn’t hear it, maybe it could make him uncomfortable or stressed, you wanted to tell him his vocals and dance skills were mesmerizing and that you apologized for letting him alone for some seconds, however when you arrived to the counter, there was no one there and the backdoor was now half open staring at you. He had left the same way he had arrived, without advice and unnoticed but changing forever the course of your life.

[suzyq31]

Just some casual pining

@jilymicrofics, this just makes the cut at 976 words!

January prompts used: Primal, Apprehensive, Etch

This lightly connects to a few of my other James/Lily stories. Unsure if I'll turn them into a series on archive. Essentially just these two being idiots in love and denial while at school. Also note, this line is very much stolen from When Harry Met Sally.

“What about if they’re attracted to each other?” she asked, apprehension in her tone, and when her eyes met his he nearly swallowed his own tongue.  “Er—” “Or as Sirius put it, that ‘the sex part gets in the way.’”

Thanks to @charmsandtealeaves for looking this over!

Story below the cut 😊

James squinted at the sunlight streaming through the bevelled glass, a light September breeze coming in. Lily had crossed the stone floor within minutes of entering the cramped office earlier, jimmying with the latch on the window, and pressing it open with her upper body, before smiling at him over her shoulder. 

He was already sweating, but his body had only grown warmer at the sight. A year into their friendship and he still wasn’t used to having her smile at him like that, like someone she was glad to see.

They’d quickly gotten to work, both of them still adjusting to their new roles. Lily with far more ease than him. She had a leg up, of course, having been a prefect since fifth year. James found himself playing catch up, learning the patrol schedules, the intricacies of the points systems, and the group dynamics that he was now in charge of. 

Dumbledore had made a good choice the past two years, if he’d had this kind of power earlier, he could only imagine how much more of a nightmare he would have been. He also doubted that Lily would have ever come around to not hating his guts if that were the case.

She was close enough that he could feel her warmth and breathe in the scent of her shampoo, something light and floral that he’d always found pleasing. All at once her green eyes were holding his, and it took him a full second to realise he’d been caught. He stared back down at his parchment, willing himself to think, “Maybe we should switch David and Juliet.”

“Why?”

He lifted his eyes to hers. “Rumour has it they’ve broken up.”

“Oh,” she said, delicate brows furrowing. “That’s too bad.” 

He scratched the back of his neck. “Should I switch them then?”

Lily looked past him, eyes fixed on a far-off point. He followed her gaze towards the fiery sky, the sun giving its best showcase before it would sink behind the green hills. 

“They were such good friends before.”

Her quiet declaration surprised him. 

“Yeah?”

She nodded absently, a hard to read expression etched on her features, voice hushed when she spoke.

“Do you remember what Sirius said?”

“Well, he says a lot of things.”

She rolled her eyes. “He said that men and women couldn’t really be proper friends. He said it about Marlene and Benjy, back in June.”

“Wouldn’t be the first dumb thing he’s said.”

Lily released a delicate little snort. “No…but do you think he’s right?”

“Er—no,” he said, palms suddenly sweating. “He was just taking the piss.”

Out of him. Not that he would add that part. He wiped his palms on his leg which had begun bouncing of its own accord. Lily simply looked at her notes. 

“What about if they’re attracted to each other?” she asked, apprehension in her tone, and when her eyes met his he nearly swallowed his own tongue. 

“Er—”

“Or as Sirius put it, that ‘the sex part gets in the way.’”

His lips parted but no sound came out. His stomach had flipped completely upside down, then rightside up, as if he’d attempted a Wronski Feint 

A smile pulled at her lips, green eyes dancing. Clearly joking, while he was acting like a demented goldfish. 

Finally he cleared his throat. “Depends.”

“On what?”

“I mean a lot of things. If it’s mutual, or one-sided…” He watched her closely and something in her expression shifted. “Are you talking about someone we know, Evans?”

Pink spread across her porcelain cheeks. He’d never outgrown his love of causing her to blush. A strange surge of confidence came to him as he leaned in. 

“So, purely hypothetical?” he added.

She sucked in her bottom lip, nodding. 

For a moment he felt suspended. Like he could tell her anything; like the fact that he was sure that he would always fancy her, even if she never felt the same way. Pathetic really, a truth he did his best to manage. Unwilling to jeopardise her hard-won friendship. 

He forced out a breath.  “I think you can be friends with someone you’re attracted to.”

She tilted her head, hair ablaze in the afternoon sunlight. “You think so?”

“I have it on good authority.”

Lily blinked at him. The pink hue on her face deepened and everything in him screamed to touch her cheek, to see if it was as soft as he imagined. 

His hand fisted where it rested on his leg. The desire burned through him. Being around her had always been like playing with fire; mesmerising, a primal instinct that only she brought out in him. She made the world brighter but with the potential for peril. His heart at risk. 

He stared down at her, the moment suspended. His fingers unclenching, their breathing syncing. He could imagine it so easily, closing the small gap between them, and brushing his lips against hers. 

A loud bang made them both startle, her body tensing before she relaxed back into her seat. The prefects began to trickle in. He was so flustered by the impulse he’d been close to giving into, that he’d nearly forgotten where they were or what they were even doing. 

Lily recovered quickly, standing and greeting the arriving students. He watched her take charge of the meeting. Graceful in her movement, the last bits of sun bathing her in gold. His heart beat erratically in his chest, body too hot in the crowded room. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to thank Sirius or hex him into next week. 

Then Lily turned back, a curious glint in her eyes that sparked him into motion. He took his place beside her, ignoring the gooseflesh that broke out when her arm brushed against his, pushing down how right it felt to be at her side.

[julebirdie]

cinema

ft. dk batman/bruce wayne

reader is gn

not requested

disc. reader wears beaded bracelets (not rlly a disc), bruce is a total flirt, fourth wall is broken like two times, use of (y/n), reader likes horror movies

in all honesty, bruce had no idea why he was there, in front if that glass door. the sign above it read ‘g central films.’ it was a hole-in-the-wall store in the heart of gotham, most people passed by it without a second thought. so why didn’t he? what drew him here?

looking around for paparazzi—even though he disguised himself well enough— bruce pushed the door open and heard a bell ding above him. the store was very cluttered, film posters decorated the walls as semi-organized shelves held a wide array of movies, magazines, books, and merchandise.

“hi, sorry, i’ll be with you in a second!” a voice called out from a storage closet, and bruce took off the hood he was wearing, and took to strolling the shelves. he ran his fingers along the spines of the many medias present, feeling new and old items against his fingertips.

the sound of beaded bracelets clinking against each other was the largest indicator of someone’s presence, and an employee—who bruce could assume was also the owner— stood at the opening of the shelf-made hallway.

“holy shit-“ you gasped. when you came into work today, you expected many things. maybe scarecrow would break out of arkham and fear gas the city, or you’d be robbed by some goon, but having billionaire bruce wayne standing in your store was not on that list.

“i’m sorry- excuse my language- what can i help you with mr. wayne?” you asked.

“please, call me bruce.” he said, walking up to where you stood and stuck his hand out, inviting you to shake it—which you did.

“right, bruce, looking for anything in particular?” you inquired, letting your hand fall to your side as you fiddled with the hem of your shirt.

“to be completely honest with you, i didn’t come here with anything in mind,” bruce said, winking, “unless a cute store owner wants to recommend me something.”

your heart started to beat ridiculously fast, it wouldn’t have surprised you if bruce could hear it.

“erm- uh- do you have any genres you like? maybe we could start there?”

“hm, never really paid attention to film genres,” bruce shrugged. he absolutely did pay attention to them, but he’d be lying if he didn’t want to spend time with you, the cute movie enthusiast.

“right, um, i really like horror, uh, i have a few favorites if you wanna pick from them,” you mentally punched yourself for the constant nervous stuttering, though bruce found it very charming.

“sounds good to me, lead the way…”

“(y/n).”

“your name suits you.”

this flirting was gonna knock you off your feet.

you walked out from the shelf area and went behind the counter, digging in a box underneath. bruce stood in front, looking at the items in the glass display case that showcased the more expensive merchandise. whether it be an authentic autograph from cillian murphy (bruce wondered how you managed to get that,) a rare vinyl for a very popular band, or— bruce’s face heated up when he saw the batman-themed jewelry.

he was very flattered, can you tell?

“okay, here we are.” bruce snapped up from the items to see a small stack of horror movie cds propped in front of him. movies such as american psycho, scream, candyman, and the blair witch project caught his eye.

“anything catch your eye bruce? i can always find more if this isn’t up to your speed,” you said, tapping your fingers against the glass. bruce stared at the collection before picking up the cd for american psycho.

“i’ll go with this one,” he said.

“american psycho? alright, a lot of people think it’s garbage but i really like it— has anyone ever told you you look like christian bale?” you asked, picking up the rest of the cds before placing them where they were before.

“christian bale, hm. I definitely see a resemblance, is he your celebrity crush?” bruce teased, and you nearly dropped the cd as you were renting it out to him.

“pssh, no—i mean, not that you’re ugly you’re really handsome—uh, i mean—fuck-“ bruce laughed at the way you got when he teased you, it was adorable.

“right-heres your cd bruce,” you said, handing him the box with shaky hands. he took the box and gently lifted your hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against the back of it.

“i think i’ll be coming here more often,” bruce said, pulling up his hood and walking out the store, sending a smile your way before he blended in with the bustling crowd of gotham.

you pressed your cold hands to your face, trying to cool down. today was eventful, more than you could’ve ever expected. and, you wouldn’t complain if bruce stopped by again.

[blorger]

The Ultimate Harry Potter Teeth Guide

I'm currently stuck at home with a bad case of the vapours (read: the flu). Good job past me, drinking that contaminated glass of water was sure worth not looking rude to that one lady who coughed in front of it (note for future self: next time maybe don't risk it with some possibly compromised water just to spare the feelings of someone who already likes you).

Anyways, as I was writhing in agony in bed, delirious with fever, a passage from GoF I'd recently re-read called out to me, urging me to notice its weirdness. Here is said passage:

And thus severely ill me spent an embarrassingly long amount of time trying to remember all the different teeth names because something was nagging at me: you see, molars are back teeth (they're our designated mashers), there's just no way of knowing if someone has large molars by looking at them.

Besides, pre-cosmetic surgery (of the magical variety) Hermione is described as having large front teeth, right? So i went looking for all the mentions of Hermione's teeth in the books, which are as follows:

(PS, Hermione is introduced to us on the train)

(GoF, Harry meets back with Hermione at the Burrow)

(GoF, Harry and Draco were throwing jinxes at each other and Draco's hit Hermione by accident, making her teeth grow to an alarming size)

(GoF, the conclusion of the teeth saga; Hermione gets the wizarding equivalent of cosmetic dentistry)

This proved to me that yes, it was her front teeth that were noticeably large, not any other random teeth. So either Draco -whose utterance, by the way, implies that wizards know about and perhaps practice modern dentistry on account of he knows teeth names- is very confused on which teeth are which or it's jkr herself who's confused.

That side quest completed, curiosity got the best of me and I went looking for all the mentions of teeth in the books just for shits and giggles and here are some random observations:

The only people who are described as having perfect white teeth are Fleur Delacour and Gilderoy Lockhart, which tells me jkr uses perfect teeth as a synecdoche for "attractive/good looking" (line shamelessly stolen from this btw).

Gilderoy's teeth are often described as "gleaming", implying that his beauty is ostentatious and alarming, something we ought to be unsettled by.

Harry and Ron are chronic teeth gritters and occasionally have chattering teeth; Harry in particular can often be found gritting his teeth as he stews in anger. As Hermione spends more time with them, she begins to grit her teeth too (in a gradual increase throughout the books).

Rita Skeeter has three noticeable gold teeth among her regular ones, signalling that her carefully maintained exterior is tacky and also somewhat ridiculous (jkr has a weird issue with women taking care of their appearance, but I digress).

Petunia has horselike teeth to compliment her horselike appearance.

Dolores Umbridge has small pointed teeth, which get remarked upon to highlight the unsettling feeling Harry gets when he finds her at Hogwarts (and to hint at her sinister character).

Yellow teeth are a Bad Guy Exclusive: villains get described as having yellow or yellowing teeth to showcase their grotesqueness. Snape, Greyback and Karkaroff are all described as having yellow teeth; as a matter of fact, Harry pointedly remarks on Snape's yellow teeth whenever he's shown behaving nastily.

Sirius also gets described as having yellow teeth during the Shrieking Shack scene in PoA when Harry still thinks he's a criminal (and jkr is trying to make the scene feel charged and dangerous). Notably, in none of the subsequent instances where Sirius's teeth are mentioned (he opens something with his teeth, he grinds them) does the color of his teeth get mentioned again.

Going back to Greyback, jkr makes goddamn sure we know he's a beastly psycho by repeatedly pointing out his pointed, fang-like teeth. His yellow teeth become brown when he's at his most dangerous (and animal-like, he is also described as having whiskers), during the manor scene in DH.

Snape is a chronic teeth barer, it's his signature move when he's indicating aggression. Vernon Dursley also grits and bares his teeth when he's behaving aggressively.

Gawp's teeth are described surprisingly vividly for such a minor character: he gets misshapen, brick-like teeth to highlight his non-human-ness. Other creatures' teeth (merpeople, doxies) get remarked upon similarly so we know it's supposed to be an indicator of some degree of beastliness. Gawp also gets the yellow teeth treatment (although I can't settle on what it implies); similarly, Kreacher has greying teeth, whatever that means.

the only human who gets described as having gnarled teeth is Morfin Gaunt.

A random unsettling witch in Knockturn Alley has mossy teeth to show that Harry's on the wrong side of town in CoS; Grindylows also have green teeth, again showing the association between danger (and monstrosity) and odd teeth.

Alastor Moody has missing teeth to really complete his shambled, falling apart look.

most of Grindlewald's teeth are gone to show that he's now a decrepit old man and a mere shadow of his former self.

And there you have it. These are all the characters whose teeth get discussed in detail. Do with that what you will.

[fornshinoyaz]

HOW TO: LOSE FEELINGS FOR AN IDIOT

02. HOW TO: NOT GET HIT BY A VOLLEYBALL

series masterlist | previous | next chapter

wc: 4.9 nearly 5k omg

how to lose feelings for a CERTIFIED, government approved idiot. it should be easy right? wrong. you are absolutely, positively, done for. you have no idea why you’re writing the guide book when you can’t even get past the first step! first step, the only important step really: don’t have your best friend be kei tsukishima. then maybe, just maybe, you’d have a chance.

You had a problem. That was unusual. You were usually the one fixing everyone elses shit. That wasn't the case now. Tsukki, this time, decided he was going to fix it.

“Is Y/N here?”

He appears before Kimura Hikari like a ghost. Her grip tightens around the large stack of books she's carrying. She nearly drops every single one of them in her spook.

Hikari stumbles backward, her voice trembling. “Oh! Hi! Uhm, K-Kei, right? Y/N’s friend?”

Tsukishima’s cold eyes sweep down to your struggling friend, “Mhm. Kimura? Y/N’s here, isn’t she?”

From the way you described him, Hikari would’ve expected him to be like a bundle of flowers, but he’s more like a bundle of rocks. Dead, serious, and with not a single care for anyone. His deep frown made shivers run down her spine. His gaze shifts from Hikari to the series of study rooms behind her. He’s sure you have to be in one of those, and if you aren’t, he’s going to have a few words with you. Not only would you have wasted his time (more than you already have), but you would’ve lied to him about putting in the work to pass your exams. He’s not sure which one would piss him off more.

Hikari fidgets nervously, struggling to balance the books as she points to one of the rooms. “Right in that one! #15!”

Tsukishima’s face flashes with annoyance. Really? You had to pick the farthest room? His body is still a little sore from conditioning yesterday. He gives Hikari a small nod of thanks. He isn’t rude, at least not to people he’s just met.

Yamaguchi once told him he’d changed a lot since high school, in more ways than one. Tsukishima figures your influence would’ve gotten to him one day.

Hikari fidgets herself away, mumbling about how he wasn’t what she was expecting. Tsukishima hums, so you talked about him.

You’re neck-deep in your notes when the door to your study room slams open. You know it can’t be Hikari being that rude. She’s sweet and gentle, always whispering for your attention before even blurting out a curse. But Tsukishima? He’s known you too long to bother with the polite stuff.

He kneels against the doorway, his hand open, and before you even realize, he hurls your light blue lunchbox straight at your head. You let out a pained shriek, clutching your aching head, and he responds with an annoying laugh.

Glaring up at him, you rub your temples. “Thanks, dickface.” 

Tsukishima rolls his eyes at you and lets out a theatrical sigh, pretending to be affected by you, but the glint in eyes betrays his facade—he’s loving this. What an ass.

“I told you to stop leaving your things in my apartment. Especially ugly things.” He replies, taking a step forward into the quiet room. You spent a lot of your time here, relentlessly preparing for your future. It wasn’t something you were the most fond of—the constant studying, the nonstop day to day grind. You preferred being with your friends or taking pictures in the city, to being bogged down in your books. His interruption only made this more unbearable. You were not gonna be able to focus.

Sunlight filtered through the large glass panes, showcasing your friendly chaos of textbooks, study materials, and stationary tools. The usually neat desks are thrown across the room, in favor of your own sleep-deprived design. Hikari’s bright purple book bag leaned against one of the desks. Her side of the room was much neater, with organized tools and textbooks sitting in a circle. Though you both have different approaches, it didn’t matter much, as both of you equally compete for the spot of top student at Karasuno University.

“And I told you to stop showing up where I am unannounced. You almost gave me a heart attack!” You chide. If there was one thing Tsukishima knew how to do, it was interrupt your day. He knew you would stop everything when he came, and it drove you mad.

“Good.” Tsukishima snorts, making you frown. He takes several steps towards you. He's way too tall, it makes you want to cut his legs off with a pair of scissors. He squints down at the sheet of paper in front of you. You instinctively cover your work, already knowing how he gets. But it’s already too late. He’s seen everything he needs to see. Your nose scrunches up as the next words fall out his lips.

“You’re gonna fail the exam. Your notes are wrong.” Tsukishima says, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose.

You’re not taken aback by his bluntness; you’ve known him for too long for that. But you are taken aback by the fact that he thinks it’s wrong?! You’ve been working tirelessly for five whole hours! This man, stupid blonde man, can just walk in here, take a split look, and decide the whole thing is wrong?! 

Your eyebrows furrow and your grip tightens on the sheet of paper. “What do you mean it’s wrong?” You rumble, shooting up from the desk.

Tsukishima takes this as his sign to be even more of a dickhead. He turns around and slams the door of your study room behind him, without a single word. You hated him sometimes. Most of the time actually.

Inside the room, you let out an annoyed huff, and while outside, Tsukishima shakes his head. You’re always so forgetful and stupid. While he’s going to graduate on time, you’ll be a whole semester late if you keep this up! All because you never pay attention to him when he dumbs-down very simple problems. 

On the other hand, you hate how Tsukishima always has to have the last word, and worse, that he’s always right! It was like his own super-power. It’s infuriating. You hate it. 

You wind the door open so fast and strong, your fingers nearly fly off, and the door makes a loud bang as it hits the other side of the wall. Tsukki narrows his eyes on the new dent you surely left, then on your hot-and-bothered face. 

“Y/N, are you mad?” he asks. Whatever smart remark he was going to make is overturned by a smirk.

Tsukki has a way of triggering the worst out of you, especially in moments like this. It was the condescension that dripped in his voice. Sometimes, it feels like he reserves the worst treatment for you. But, you know what? It’s mutual, because he’s infuriatingly always right. I mean screaming in a library, how low could you get?

“YES! I’M MAD! FIRST YOU CALL MY LUNCHBOX UGLY, WHICH I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON BY THE WAY! AND THEN YOU CALL ME STUPID AND YOU DONT EVEN OFFER TO HELP!”

Tsukishima winces at the sheer volume of your voice. The entire library seems to look up at you both, and the librarian’s frown deepens. She looks like she’s ten seconds from coming over and whacking you both with every single edition of War and Peace. 

“You’re screaming. in a library. Y/N. Do you want to get kicked out?” He asks with a hushed tone.

You glance around, offering sheepish apologies to the annoyed students trying to not fail their exams. But it doesn’t matter, because it’s not your fault!

“Come here!” You spit out. Tsukki groans fills the room as you launch him back inside the room and shut the door (softly) right after you. 

Now he’s leaned against the table you’re working at, staring at you in disinterest as you explain how you're correct and he’s just wrong. Hikari waltzes back into the room and opens her mouth to say something, but stops in her tracks when she sees you both. He doesn’t spare her a second glance, and really neither do you. You’re both preoccupied. 

And this is how you two were. It was why you were forced out of the manager position of the Boys Volleyball Club when you were in high school. Tsukki could never focus up with you there. Neither of you could stand not having the last word.

“When I tell you why you’re wrong, I want you to get on your knees and apologize for being difficult and wasting my time,” Tsukishima says with a huff.

You scoff, disbelief coloring your tone. “Excuse me?” you ask as he walks over to your side of the table.

“You heard me,” he replies. You almost bite out a response, but fuck—your breath catches in your throat. You swear, he does this on purpose. 

Tsukishima hunches over you, his fingers meticulously correcting your mistakes. He’s not doing anything wrong, nothing out of the ordinary for you two. But this time it feels different.

Your heart pounds in your ears. It’s too loud. His proximity is unnerving. You can feel the warmth of his body, scalding and burning, as if colliding with your own. It’s hard to concentrate with him so close. His leans into your neck. Your breath hitches. His hands trap you.

Your eyes linger on his forearms, and you can’t help but notice how much he’s grown since high school. He’s stronger, taller, all muscle. Before, a twig could’ve beat him at an arm wrestling match. 

You try to focus on anything else. But he makes it so damn difficult. His scent is everywhere you turn - woody and fresh like he just came out of a shower. He’s intoxicating. 

For a moment, neither of you knows how to break the silence. You yell at yourself to stop, to not give in.

But you’ve never been one to hold back.

You steal a quick glance at him, taken away by how pretty he looks in the soft light. There’s something about this moment that makes you want to freeze time and stay in it forever. To just forget about the world around you.

The gentle hum of the room and Tsukishima’s soft clearing of his throat finally pulls you back.

“Focus,” he reprimands, his voice breaking the spell.

You give him an annoyed side-eye, trying desperately to hide the way he affects you. He slaps down your pencil, just to be even more annoying, and leans backward, that familiar smirk on his lips. 

“Now look,” he continues, “I was right, you were wrong. Save us both the time and admit it now.”

“I’m not admitting anything,” you grumble. He really was right. You had completely forgotten a step, messing up the whole problem. You groan in frustration, but that only seems to amuse him further. Your pain is melody to his ears.

“Admit it,” he says again, stronger this time. 

You glare up at him, the weight of defeat settling in. This sucks. His smirk is infuriating, yet somehow you love it at the same time. 

“Eat shit,” you say, lacking any real conviction.

Tsukki knows he’s won, even if you don’t say anything, and that’s enough to satisfy him. He gives you a small wave, and you roll your eyes, but can’t help but wave goodbye as the door to the study room clicks shut behind him. 

Hikari’s high pitched voice reminds you that she was there all along.

“Woah?! What was that?!” She asks.

“What was what? Spit it out, Hikari.”

“That tension was crazy! Are you serious?” Hikari laughs, as if she can hardly believe it. 

You sigh, waving off her comments. “Stop. Let’s just focus on this, okay?”

“Okay, okay, focusing,” Hikari nods, going back into her books. You think for a moment, she had truly dropped the subject. 

For five minutes, you're left with peace and quiet. But it’s not in Hikari’s nature to resist asking about a million questions.

“Okay, but did he come all the way here just to drop off your lunchbox?”

“Hikari..?”

“Sorry! Last question!” she squeaks, “but seriously, did he?”

You looked down at the item that been thrown at your FACE and shake your head. You tell Hikari, “It’s nothing, he just doesn’t like clutter,” and you know she’ll believe it. 

Step two, of how to: 'lose feelings for a certified, government approved idiot', is DENY DENY DENY. And it'll work. For the first few times.

After all, Hikari didn’t know him like you did. It’s true; he hates clutter and loves organization. He can’t stand a dirty house. But it didn’t make sense for him to spend his own precious time just to return your lunchbox. If it were anyone else, Tsukki would’ve probably thrown it out or eaten whatever was inside and called it a day. 

But for you, he went out of his way. Why?

Because he hated seeing you go without meals. He’ll waste his own precious time, something he didn’t have much of, just to make sure you could eat. It was love packaged in his own Tsukki way. 

At some point, you were gonna have to stop denying your feelings for him.

But that wouldn’t be any time soon. 

As the only girl in a group full of guys, it got hard sometimes, especially when it came to introducing your friends to Hikari. 

Kageyama, of course, was surprised, and asked in the most serious voice, “You have other friends?" It made you want to kill him. Nishinoya and Tanaka couldn’t help but flirt with her, acting like they had never spoken to a girl in their lives. But the most annoying part was how nice Tsukishima was to Hikari. It pissed you off more than you’d like to admit.

With your exams done, the yearly volleyball tournament was slowly approaching. The pressure was on, and class rankings were released. You couldn’t help but feel frustrated when you saw your name at the #2 spot. Guess who claimed the top spot? Yeah, no need for an explanation. Of course, it was him—unbelievable as always.

The whole university was decorated with banners flying as you arrived on campus with Hikari. Tons of faces you’d never seen before filled the gym, taking up space in the visitor’s section.

Hikari’s eyes sparkles like stars. 

She excitedly looks from stand to stand, “Wow! I’ve never been to a volleyball game before! Where’s Karasuno?”

You chuckle, finding her reaction adorable. “You’re gonna love it. They’ll be out soon. They take forever to get dressed.” Forever was an understatement. There were several instances where Hinata went missing (taking a shit) and no one could figure out where he was. 

Just as you say that, the doors to the boys’ locker room opened. The gym filled with cheers as they came out. Some girls drop dead at the sight of them. They were good-looking volleyball players, you give them that. But if only they knew how many of them were huge dorks. Hinata is full of power and energy. He is the first to set his hands on the ball. Kageyama set it to him, per usual, and they freak out the whole gym. Hikari’s jaw drops in amazement.

You chuckle and close her mouth for her, “They call it the Freak Quick Attack.”

“It’s definitely freaky! How is Kageyama so good?” Hikari asks.

You shake your head, “He’s a monster. All of them are crazy talented. Even blondie,” your eyes set on him. His usual stoic look lays on his face as they went through their drills. You could hear whispers from the visitor section about him, ‘does he even wanna be here?’ and others that ask, ‘why is he so tense?’ It’s laughable. 

“Are you sure he likes volleyball?” Even Hikari questions as she watches him run (barely) around the court. 

You snort, “That kid? Yeah. No doubt in my head. There was a time he didn’t, but now, he’s hooked for life.”

Your eyes glance to the shot-clock. The boys were finishing their drills. There was no better time than now. You tell Hikari you would be right back and then leave the stands, walking down their side of the court. The older boys - Daichi, Suga, and Asahi give you friendly smiles, your presence as always strengthening them on the court. Kageyama and Hinata are wrapped up in their own world, preparing for the game. 

Tsukishima is off on the side with Yamaguchi. He glances your way as you approach, raising an eyebrow at your interruption. You ignore his annoyed expression and greet Yamaguchi with a soft smile.

“Hey Yams, good serves today?” You say.

Yamaguchi sets down his water bottle and smiles brightly, “Only the best!”

“They always are,” Tsukishima says with a small nod of acknowledgment to his other best friend, and then his eyes settle on you, “you brought Hikari?” he asks.

You ignore the slight pang in your chest. It’s nothing. Hikari is your friend, and so is Tsukishima. Why should you care that he’s asking about her? You should be happy that he likes your friend. You try to push it out of your mind, but Yamaguchi’s knowing expression serves as a painful reminder that you do care—and it sucks.

Yamaguchi knew everything. He knew from the moment you went to him freaking out about your feelings, and how they weren’t going away. It had been years since that conversation, and nothing had changed.

“Yeah, uh,” you clear your throat uncomfortably, “she’s never seen you guys play. Thought I’d invite her.”

Tsukishima hums, but that seems to be where his interest in her ends. 

“I hope Hikari enjoys it! I’ll make sure to do hit double the serves for her!” Yamaguchi says, drilling innocence and light back into the conversation and lifting your mood.

You smile. He always knew how to make you feel better. “I’ll tell her the game plan. Fight well guys I-“

You don’t get to privilege of finishing you sentence because a volleyball comes throttling straight at your face. Huh. For a problem-solver, you often ended up on the wrong side of many problems. Yamaguchi shrieks as the ball takes you out like a bowling pin. You go flailing to the floor. Ow.

Yamaguchi rushes over, eyes full of concern. “Y/N!! Woah!! Are you hurt?”

You manage to give him a thumbs-up, even though your nose feels like it's about to fall off. “Yup! All good! Totally did not get hit by a ball going at 500mph...”

Tsukishima, who witnessed the whole thing, seems more amused than concerned. “You alright down there?” he asks, failing to stifle his laughter. 

You groan, wincing as you touch your sore nose, “Tsukishima..please..?”

“Okay, okay,” he says and reaches for you. You gasp as he lifts you up and back onto your feet. You land closer to him than you would like and your face flushes (from your recent accident, of course haha nothing else).

He looks over you for any injuries. “Are you good?”

“Y-Yeah,” you want to cringe at your own stutter, “completely fine.”

Tsukki didn't miss the tremble in your voice. “You sure?”

“Mhm,” you hold each other’s gaze for a second longer than necessary. Yeah, no. You quickly avert your eyes from his and back to the crowd where Hikari is waiting. It’s like he already knows what you’re thinking and nods. It was a freaky thing you guys did from time to time. It was just like you guys shared each others braincells. As you head back up to your seat, worry etches on Hikari’s face.

“That looked nasty, Y/N! Are you okay?” she asks.

You assure her that it was just a minor accident, and you both focus on cheering for your team. The excitement of the game quickly takes over, and you forget about your experience as a professional bowling pin. The match is intense—as usual, Karasuno gives it their all. You expect no less from your friends. Tsukki finds himself in his own little rivalry with another blocker. You can’t help but laugh when Tsukki gets the upper hand and completely dominates. This was the man who they said ‘hated’ volleyball? 

In the end, Karasuno wins, taking the whole game by the second set. The gym erupts in applause. The visitors side sighs, sad over their reign being cut so short. Among the boisterous crowd, you swear you’re the loudest, and the way Kageyama and Nishinoya laugh at you only confirms it.

As the team comes over to the stands to greet and thank their supporters, you notice Tsukishima’s eyes searching across the crowd. You wonder for a moment, who is he looking for? 

But then, it hits you. 

Oh. 

Your eyes meet. 

He was looking for you. 

With a rush of excitement, you cheer even louder. “Yeah, Tsukki!”

A small smile tugs at the corner of his lips, and he gives you a subtle nod, a gesture meant only for you.

After the game, you all come to together to discuss the following moves after. Of course, your friends are beyond starving (nothing new). Hikari is still buzzing with energy and excitement as you guys move from the gym to a nearby BBQ restaurant. Her first volleyball experience was a good one. Not only had she seen a good game, but now, she was the main attention of several of the players. Nishinoya and Tanaka are annoying as usual, but Tsukishima also seems to be entertaining this? Your eyebrows furrow when he says more than ten words to her.

As the night continues, a pit keeps growing more and more in your stomach.

Hikari’s laughter fills the air the restaurant, you absentmindedly chew on a piece of lettuce before switching to some meat. The rest of the boys are chatty too, but it feels like Tsukki and Hikari’s conversation is ten times louder. They talked the entire way to the restaurant, and she even chose to sit next to him. What were they discussing you ask? Dinosaurs and geology. You almost forgot that was Hikari’s major—she adores subjects like that. 

You, on the other hand, did not. You’ve always been drawn to the arts—singing, dancing, writing, and especially photography. You could never have these conversations with Tsukki. Not in the meaningful way that Hikari could.

Throughout the night, you catch Tsukishima glancing at you more than once. It’s as if he’s silently observing and noting your behavior. That’s just his way—he wouldn’t say anything in front of others, but he seems to sense that something is off. When you only manage to muster half a smile at one of Hikari’s joke, he's convinced.

By the time the night winds down, you all part ways, some opting for taxis while others head out to tame the night. As for Hikari? She had a bit too much to drink. 

“I love you so much, Y/N,” Hikari drunkenly slurs, hung over your shoulder as you try to usher her into a taxi.

“I love you too, please get home safe,” you say. On the other side of you, Asahi, follows after her in the taxi. You thank him for being willing to make sure she got home. 

As you reach for your phone to call a taxi for yourself, Tsukki unexpectedly takes it from your hand. Your eyebrows furrow in confusion.

“Tsukki..?” 

“Do you want ice cream?” he asks, surprisingly casual.

His offer catches you off guard. Your eyebrows furrow even further, “We just spent like $400 in there…”

“I’ll pay,” Tsukki replies, nonchalantly. 

“Okay…” you agree, still unsure about the whole situation. As you walk, there’s an unnamed tension between you two. It's unnatural. You find yourself wondering about the ice cream parlor—what kind of place is open at 10 p.m.? Nevertheless, Tsukki’s confidence makes you trust him. And sure enough, the ice cream parlor is open (at 10pm?) with it’s door wide open for customers.

The parlor is cozy, definitely a hidden gem in the large city, dressed with old photos and vintage art pieces, creating a charm that made you wish you had your camera on you.

The elderly woman at the front greets you both with a warm smile, her eyes twinkling with kindness. “What can I get you both?” she asks sweetly, her face full of surprise. It wasn’t often someone stopped into a shop for ice cream at 10 p.m., nonetheless her shop. 

“Two vanilla cups, please,” Tsukki pulls out a large bill from his wallet, “keep the change.”

Your mouth waters at the sight of it. Ice cream never got old to you. The woman expertly scoops the creamy vanilla into cups and drizzles a rich caramel sauce on top. You find a cozy corner to sit at.

With each spoonful, you fill with happiness. You can’t help but let out a contented sigh. This was what you needed. Tsukki seems to know that.

“Is this how you bribe me? Through ice cream?” you ask him, as you lick a tiny bit vanilla off your lips.

A chuckle falls off his lips, the corner of his mouth quirking up into a small smile, “It’s working, isn’t it? I might end up stealing your job, Y/N.”

“My job?” You ask through a confused laugh.

“Problem solver extraordinaire? I fixed whatever this…” he points to the distance between the both of you, “was.”

You silently take another spoonful. The power of vanilla.

As the evening further sets in, the ease of being around him washes over you, and for a moment, it feels like nothing has changed between you. But deep down, you know that’s not entirely true.

When you both finish your ice cream, you say goodnight to the elderly store owner, her smile widening with knowingness. “You two are a beautiful couple. I hope you enjoyed.”

Tsukishima rubs the back of his neck, almost shyly, “Thank you, but we’re not dating.”

The elderly woman, seemingly unmoved, gives you a playful wink. “Hmm~, okay dears, if you say so. Here, this is on the house.” She hands you a bag of cookies. Delicious. Tsukishima made a good choice coming here. You two bow deeply before heading back out into the night, the pleasant taste of ice cream still lingering on your tongues.

The roaring air pulls you closer to him. You shiver and without thinking much of it, he yanks his own jacket off and places it over your shoulders. You hated him.

“I’m walking you home." Tsukishima says.

“Do I get a choice in this?” you ask through a mouthful of the cookie the old woman had given you, free of charge.

He whisks crumbs off the corner of your lips. “No. Why do you eat so messy?” you stick your tongue out at him.

The warm glow of the evening street lights lead you back to your apartment. You felt like you deserved a long rest after tonight, and several other nights spent studying. A long yawn left your mouth, and Tsukki yawns shortly after you.

"Copier." you say childishly.

"Shut up." he murmurs.

It feels as if you two are the only souls in the sleeping city. The silence between you both is comfortable, but it didn’t last long.

He glances down at you as you near your apartment. His words and eyes are both careful. This wasn't a question he was making up on the spot.

"You were off tonight. Why?” he asks.

You knew the question was coming. It was just a matter of when.

“I don’t know," you lie.

“You’re lying,” he says, stopping in the middle of the street to make it even more dramatic. A groan escapes your lips, knowing he wouldn’t let it go. You hope a random car wouldn’t fly past and kill you both.

“I am. But can’t you just leave it?” you almost plea.

“I can’t. The same way you never can,” he replies.

You sigh. You were far too alike for your own good. Looks like you had no choice. You knew Tsukki wasn't moving a single foot until you told him what was up. It's embarrassing to say it out loud.

“I guess I just… I felt a bit left out, you know? You and Hikari-” you start, but are quickly cut off.

Tsukishima’s face hardens, “Seriously? That’s what you were worried about? Me and Hikari?”

His words ignited a blaze of emotions within you. He didn't have to say it like that. Your cheeks burn.

“Tsukishima, I know, it was silly, okay-”

Tsukishima comes closer. His hands rest on your shoulders. Something is different.

“It wasn’t silly, it was stupid. Hikari means nothing to me. At all. I tolerated her. I love you. You understand that, right?”

Your eyes widen. Neither of you said it often. It wasn’t in your vocabulary—it wasn’t the way either of you were. You showed your love in different ways, but hearing him say it like this, you wished you both said it more.

“Tsukki…” Your heart skips a beat, but you quickly reminded yourself that the ‘as a friend’ was attached. It always would be.

Tsukki’s eyes..soften (?) on you.

“I love you. Okay? So...” it’s like a switch turns back on in his head and he realizes what he’s saying. He averts his gaze, and for a moment you see a twinge of pink dust his cheeks. It's just the cold (the wind, guys?) making him that way. That's the lie you tell yourself.

He begins walking away, nearly leaving you behind, “Stop being an idiot and come on.”

You were doomed.

Maybe that volleyball should've taken you out when it had the chance?

a/n: ohhhh i had alot of fun with this chapteeerrrr, lmk how you guys felt about it!!!! paramore's still into you, was a huuuge inspiration for this chapter - as well as a bunch of other songs. hopefully will finish the whole fic this month, but i start college rlly soon :(( hope u guys enjoyed!

taglist !!! @kei-tsuki21 @marga-j @xxizuchanxx @horr0rvacu1 @lavenderhotcoco @sami-stable @awkwardaardvarkforever @rorygilmoreclown @rachlubsuu @sixxze @lonelyladyghost @kurenix @nemisimp @doofusthebozo @scarred-keys

© fornshinoyaz 2023. please do not steal my work.

[exsanguidus]

{ HEADCANON }

Things about Astarion that showcase he's basically a cat in a humanoid body:

I. He loves to sunbathe and moonbathe. Literally will just lie outside and soak up the rays for hours.

II. Absolutely hates being even a little bit dirty or unkempt for prolonged periods of time, so he'll often be in the background wiping himself off, picking off leaves/lint/etc., and/or re-floofing his hair.

III. If Tav doesn't give him attention that he wants, exactly when he wants it, he will saunter over to start messing with things around them. Books will be opened. Things will get moved. Empty glasses and jars will get tipped over. He will loudly sigh and humph over and over again. Immediately after he gets the attention he wants, he just walks away like he wasn't just being super extra.

IV. If a romanced Tav is sitting or laying down, he'll occasionally come over to just lay down on their lap. Even if it's super inconvenient. Especially if it's super inconvenient.

V. Will whine that he's hungry but then turn his nose up at the offered blood because he has standards (unless it's Tav's blood, he'll never say no). But then a few minutes later, he'll drink it anyway.

VI. Purposely ignore people who want his attention and act like he can't hear them calling his name. The exception is a romanced Tav, in which case he will happily stroll his way over. He'll take his time, but he'll come when his beloved Tav calls him.

VII. Randomly give romanced Tav things he finds out on their adventures. Things he thinks people would enjoy eating or that maybe they'd find useful. And he'd do it so casually, just: "Here you go, darling. I found these mushrooms in a barrel in case you get hungry. No idea what kind they are so maybe make sure they're not poisonous first." And then saunter off nonchalantly.

[simonlynch]

janAUary #1 - record store

ship: dewmav

word count: 1144

summary: maverick pops into dewey's shop to look around. he hopes that he catches their eye instead.

(dew works canonically at a record shop, so why not change up the meetcute -- what if they met at his workplace instead of theirs?)

He notices them when they walk in, but it's not until they're flicking through the 'New Releases' cart just adjacent to him that he truly notices them.

He can't help it, not when their clothes drape so perfectly over their shoulder, which quickly is exposed by the sweater they're wearing and showcases the mass of freckles that pattern their skin there. Or the way the light hits the top of their head just enough that the bluish hue they've tinted their hair shines deeply in contrast with the brighter tones of their outfit. It didn't help he caught the way their stockings were awfully tight as they scooted down the line of albums.

He's seen them before, many times actually. A frequent visitor, but normally only in the very early parts of the day -- the times where he's only barely half-awake, wandering in fifteen minutes late to his shift anyways, and they're too busy with their head buried in the tracklist of whatever album they'd just bought to pay any semblance of attention as they slink past him holding the door open for them.

He decides that maybe he's looking at them now because he expects a ‘thank you.’ Even if they'd never noticed him before. 

And it's not until their gaze slowly rises, head still bowed towards the bin of vinyls that he realizes he's staring.

“Uh. Hi.”

It's when they stand back up, sightline flicking around the shop only to realize how clientele-barren and open it was, that they respond.

“...Hi?”

His head is propped on his hand, leaning over the counter lazily, the other brushing through his hair before rejoining its partner on the glass casing that holds the more valuable records in the store.

“Looking for something specific?”

They shake their head, turning away slightly “Ah, no, not really.”

Dewey raises his voice slightly, craning his neck as he leans just a bit more forward, “Well, if you change your mind, I’ll…Be here.”

They don't respond to him, and in an awkward motion, he turns around, bending down and pretending to inspect the bulk of crates and boxes stored behind the counter. He tries to be anywhere, look anywhere that isn't at them. He wanders from behind the register, slipping down any aisle they're not.

When they say something from the other side of the shelving, he suddenly reappears rather quickly from his makeshift hiding place, popping his head around the corner.

“Huh?”

“Oh, sorry. Just talking to myself.”

“Right. Yeah, okay,” he nods, but continues to peek past the thin barrier between them.

They sigh, “I guess a second opinion isn't the worst thing ever though, if you have one.”

“Dewey Finn, music connoisseur at your service, dear loyal customer.”

“Maverick will do, thanks,” they smile as he approaches. 

He bows, making a show of the whole scene before he takes a look at the two albums they've pulled.

“What's on your mind?”

“Been trying to get into some older stuff lately. But I’m not quite sure where to start.”

Dewey nods towards the gray-stained cover of Who's Next. 

“No question on that one. Their best album, for sure. You into rock at all?”

“Newer stuff, heavy stuff mostly. I, uh -- I’m in a band, they want me to,” they pause, throwing up air quotes, “Broaden my horizons, or something. Like I don't know most of the classics already.”

“No shit, you play?”

“I mean, for fun. We don't really…Perform a lot.”

“That's fuckin’ awesome, though. I play too,” they share a moment of solidarity, and a smile before Maverick cuts it short, tucking the vinyl under their arm and putting the other back.

“We could…Maybe hang out sometime. For a jam sesh, or something.”

“Maybe,” Mav turns away shyly. They scurry towards the counter, Dewey rushing back just behind them, a little discouraged from the hesitant quasi-rejection.

Their gaze passes him as he rings them out, taking his time as he still tries to make pleasant conversation. They quickly cut him off, reaching out and grabbing at his wrist, in effect stopping him. He looks over at them, baffled, but somehow not upset that their hand was still on him. They gasp. 

“Is that the special edition of White Pony?”

He glances back, to the small pile of things lining the hanging shelf behind him, “Uh, yeah.”

Their expression immediately lights up, “You're lying! I -- I've been looking for it for ages!”

“Well,” he scratches at the back of his neck, pulling at the hair there. He doesn't have the heart to tell them it's behind the counter because it's on hold for someone else, “It's um…That's it.”

“How much?”

He shrugs, knowing damn well they won't accept no for an answer, “Dunno if it's up for sale yet --”

Their voice drops low, “I’ll do anything.”

His head snaps back. He swallows the nervous chuckle creeping up his throat and sees the way their expression falls serious.

He looks behind him again. It's definitely his ass if his manager finds out. But…

“Like, maybe even a date?”

Maverick seems confused, at first. Not quite what they'd expected. However, as they look him over again, the lopsided smile he wears, the disheveled outfit, the wild hair, it’s almost endearing. Kind of cute, even.

“Maybe even a date.”

“You're serious?” he tilts his head. He didn't actually expect them to agree -- nor was he going to admit that he probably would have sold the thing to them either way. 

But hey, he shot his shot, and he didn't miss, for once.

They stop, think, then fail to cover the giggle that overtakes them, “Sure. Why not?”

When he turns around to grab the vinyl, he pauses, pretends to be rearranging the rest of the shelf for balance, tries to hide the way he's smiling and can't stop. To be fair, he's also trying desperately to think of what to say now; He didn't expect to get this far. The beep of the register draws him back as he finishes cashing them out. When they take the bag from him, their fingers brush his. They lean just a bit closer to him.

“For the record, I would have said yes even if the vinyl wasn't at stake.”

He laughs nervously, a little louder than he should have if he wanted to seem calm, probably. “For the record. Like, because --” he gestures vaguely to the album, and when he realizes it wasn't an intentional pun, he bites his tongue and forces a smile, “Yeah. Okay, well, I'll pick you up at seven, then. If that's cool.”

They turn just before they reach the door, “I'll see you then, Dewey. Don't be late.”

“I'm never late,” he shrugs. 

“Sure you are. Every day I see you, you're late.”

And with that, they leave. He watches them walk down the block, disappearing shortly into the lunch-hour crowd.

“...So you did notice me.”

[bunnyscar]

A Reason to Live

*Trigger warning: blood, descriptions of pain

“Next week, we will have a field trip,” Impa announced. The students glanced at each other. This was college not middle school. Why were they taking a field trip? 

“It won’t be like the ones you’ve had in school before. We’ll be visiting the Purah science lab, which I hope most of you know is the largest and most innovative lab Hyrule has.” There were murmurs of excitement. Impa continued, “You’ll get a tour of some of the facilities and get to talk to actual scientists, learn about their research, and make connections. Think of this more as an opportunity to showcase your resume than anything else. Many of our science majors end up finding work there after graduation. I’ll give you more information as the time approaches. All right, class dismissed.”

As the students packed their bags, most eagerly discussing the trip or chattering nervously about it, Impa glanced at Link. She was not surprised to see the stormy look on his face. Nor was she surprised when he waited until everyone else had left and approached her. Before he could open his mouth, she was answering his complaint. “You are coming on this trip, Link. No excuses.”

Link glared at her. “Surely even you know that’s foolish. Wasn’t my deal with your school that you would protect me? If I go out, not only will they try to kill me, I’ll be putting the other students in danger.”

“The Purah lab is equipped with the best defense mechanisms in all of Hyrule; even if Ganon’s men attempt an assault, they won’t get through easily.”

Link narrowed his eyes and said coldly, “They got in here, despite all you claims that this school was one of the safest places in all Hyrule.”

“That was an oversight and won’t happen again,” Impa replied stiffly. “Plus, the Purah lab has even better security than we do here.” 

“You shouldn’t underestimate Ganon,” Link muttered.

Impa sighed. “To be honest, I don’t really want you to come, either. But the principal insisted on it—insisted you should stay next to Zelda.”

Link started. “Stay next to…Zelda?”

“Yes. You already know she has the triforce. It’s only a matter of time before Ganon and his men find out she has it, and then she’ll be in danger wherever she is. But the principal seems to think that you can protect her. That you’re somehow destined to fill that role,” Impa said, leaning back against the whiteboard and watching Link carefully.

“What makes him think that?” Link asked, his voice taking on an edge. Impa could see fear and confusion mingling in his eyes. She contemplated telling him the real reason, that the principal believed Link had a triforce too; but she decided against it. Despite the principal’s confidence in Link, she still had doubts. There was still a possibility that he might betray them.

She shrugged. “Who knows. I suppose he sees something special in you. Whatever the case, you will have to come. Don’t forget that part of our deal was that you would be a student here, and as a student you ought to make the most of the opportunities you have.”

Link opened his mouth to retort, but thought better of it. At last, he turned to leave, saying only, “Let’s hope we don’t regret this.”

Link couldn’t see anything. His head throbbed and there was a loud ringing in his ears. He sat up, disoriented, his sight slowly returning and showing him the remains of the lab. Shattered glass lay all over the tiled floor, singe marks on the wall and counters. He could smell blood and something was burning. Somewhere else in the building, loud booms and screaming could be heard. Then he remembered.  They were in the Purah lab, in one of the experiment rooms. The scientist had been explaining his research to the students, when there had been an explosion…. 

Link stood and scanned the room quickly. The scientist and several of the students lay dead in one corner. Zelda, where was she? He finally spotted her, lying awkwardly against a desk. He hurried over and checked her pulse. She lay still, and for an agonizing minute Link thought she might be dead; but she was still breathing. He needed to get her out of here, needed to escape before—

“You!”

Link turned swiftly, but it was not fast enough to avoid the knife that was suddenly stabbed into his side. The side that had been wounded before. His body screamed, pain radiating throughout his chest and into his limbs, making him stagger and fall. Coughing and gasping, he groped for the knife, to pull it out. But its hilt burned his hand, and he could not grasp it. It must be a cursed knife, one infused with dark magic. He groaned. The pain grew more and more, threatening to make him black out. Through the blinding pain, however, he made out a figure standing above him. Gira. One of Ganon’s men.

Gira knelt and sneered at Link, “Ain’t no use trying to pull that out, kid. You always were weak to Ganon’s curses.” Gira glanced at Zelda, then walked over to her. “So, this is the girl with the triforce, ey? Doesn’t seem like much. Ah, well, all we need is for her to give her power to Ganon.” He bent down and reached for her.

Mustering all his strength, Link lunged at Gira, dragging him to the floor and clasping his hands around the man’s neck. Gira choked and coughed, scrabbling madly at Link’s hands. Then suddenly, he reached out, grabbed a shard of glass on the floor, and slashed at Link’s left eye. With a cry, Link jerked back and lost his hold. Gira slammed a foot into Link’s stomach, sending him flying into the wall. He lay limp after that, blood trickling from his left side and pooling onto the floor.

Gira spat, “That’s what you deserve, traitor!” He turned back to Zelda, grabbing her by the hair, and began to drag her towards the exit.

Link’s body began to feel numb. He wanted to fall unconscious, to die, to get away from all this pain. He wouldn’t have to worry anymore about being captured, wouldn’t have to hide or run anymore, wouldn’t have to suffer all this, wouldn’t have to be lonely. But…there was some reason he couldn’t die. Some reason he had to stay in this world. For a moment, his eye focused on Zelda. Ah, that was right, he couldn’t leave yet, not when she had told him she loved him. Not when there was someone who wanted him to stay.

“Graaaah!” Gira turned in surprise at the enraged cry, to see Link standing, hair on end, his right eye and left hand glowing with golden light. Before Gira could move, Link sprang forward, slamming a fist hard into Gira’s chest. He thudded back into the wall and crumpled to the floor, unconscious. Link strode over to Zelda, gently lifting her onto his shoulder.

He never remembered what happened after that. By the time the golden power that had surged through him was gone, he was outside and almost back at the university. The pain, which had retreated when the power took hold, suddenly returned and his whole body ached. His vision swam, sweat and blood trickling down into his good eye and making it sting. Each step he took now was a colossal effort, and the next was always harder than the last.

But finally they were on the same street as the school, then only a few yards away from its entrance. Link couldn’t feel his hands and feet anymore. But he trudged on, one foot in front of the other, eye fixed on the one place he thought they could be safe.

The guards at the school entrance jerked to attention at the sight of a bloody figure, carrying a young woman unconscious over his shoulder.

“Halt! Who are you? What business have you?” one of the guards commanded. Link paused and swayed slightly. Another of the guards exclaimed, and rushed forward to catch Zelda as Link’s knees buckled. “Hey, aren’t these two of those students that were at the lab that was attacked?” the guard cried, getting a better look at the two.

“We’d better get them inside and let Impa and the headmaster know,” the other guard said, grabbing ahold of Link’s arm and draping it over his shoulder.

Previous || Next

[hawkherps]

Sigma's new enclosure is finished!

well, mostly. I want to get another branch or tube or plant or something in that top right corner to fill in the empty space, assuming the monster dracaena doesn't realize it now has an extra foot of vertical space and decide to conquer it. i'll give it a month or two and see how the dracaena adapts before putting something above it. I also want to see how the new pothos grows in, and how the old philodendron adapts. i actually removed two vines from the philo and cut the remaining two down to size a bit since they took over whatever space the dracaena didn't in the old enclosure, so i'm confident the philodendron will help fill in some of the currently empty space even if the dracaena and pothos decide not to.

for the enclosure itself, it's a Leap Habitats 22"x17"x36" enclosure and hoo boy it has its pros and cons... mostly cons. i haven't seen many reviews for these enclosures that aren't from popular youtubers or reddit threads from over a year ago, so here's my opinions below:

i've moved several times so i greatly appreciate how light the enclosure is even fully planted, and being able to screw branches and tubes and other things into the walls instead of having to use spray foam (and then either silicone or the grout method) to mount them is really nice. both are pluses over the glass exoterra 18"x18"x24" Sig has called home since he was given to me. i loved that enclosure but after moving three times with it (once before i made it bioactive) i was not a fan of the weight.

this doesn't apply to me right now, but i do see it as a plus that they included the little spots in the corners of the top that you can pop out to easily install mister nozzles through. i don't know if these holes fit non-Leap misting systems without modification, but it's certainly simpler than some of the setups i've seen for getting misters installed in traditional enclosures like exoterras.

Sigma is... not a great hunter. his method of hunting black soldier flies, for example, is to slam his face as hard as possible into them. this is another big reason i wanted him out of the glass enclosure-- i'm genuinely worried about him injuring himself with the force at which i've watched him bounce his face off the walls and door of the exoterra enclosure. so the softer, less rigid walls and acrylic door are a plus for that alone.

now for the downsides...

i'm really not a huge fan of how flimsy the acrylic door is. if it was a liiiittle thicker i'd probably like it more. the very simple method for the door hinge also means that when open, the door is misaligned, so i have to remember to slightly lift it when i go to close it so it will fit back in its space and close properly. this could be related to the low quality control that i've heard other people report regarding Leap (and experienced myself further below)

the base also leaks. they do sell external water catch trays in case of leakage, but i feel like they should come with the trays instead of the tray being optional, since the design of these things is basically guaranteed to leak without modification.

i didn't encounter this myself because i'd already seen warnings about this and didn't bother trying, but silicone and expanding foam won't adhere to the sides without help. Leap recommends using wall anchors for the foam to hold onto, but there's no real solution for silicone. this is annoying, because being able to seal the damned thing with silicone would GREATLY help the above leaking problem because you could just silicone around the rivets and internal plastic liner so that the leaking wouldn't be an issue. sealants that do bond to polypropylene don't strike me as being safe for use inside a reptile enclosure, especially a bioactive one.

it was also a BITCH to put together. i sort of expected this because a couple reviews i read before buying stated that the quality control is not the best. Leap has several videos on their youtube showcasing how to assemble the enclosures straight out of the box, and the provided instructions in the box are simple enough to follow, but i had to make some minor modifications in order to get the enclosure together due to ill-fitting pieces (for example, the screen top, which also keeps the walls in shape, did not actually fit on top of the walls like it was supposed to and i had to pry some sections open wide enough to actually get the damned thing in place). the alignment pin that goes in the front right of the base also did not want to be flush with the base like it's supposed to be.

all that being said, right now i would still be willing to get another, smaller Leap enclosure in the future for my mourning geckos or another gecko species. whether i actually do get another of their enclosures will really depend on how this one for Sig holds up. the lightness and ease of customization were the entire reasons i ordered this enclosure instead of a similarly sized (24x"18"x36") glass one, so we'll eventually see if that's truly worth the troubleshooting and outright downsides to these enclosures or not.

[relia-robot-writes]

Original prompt from Impressions of Detail on Cohost: A dim shelf of strange bottles, each containing tiny things frozen in time: storms, sounds, moments, people.

"Of course," she says, her back to you as she picks up a random bottle on the shelf, blue with a light wooden cork, "they always say you should start small, but how does that get you anywhere? My motto has always been to start big."

She tosses you the vial - not much bigger than two of your fingers put together, really - and gestures for you to unstopper it. You struggle for a moment, and then pure distilled sunlight pours out, liquid gold on your palm and fingers. You try not to let it drip, and catch the scent of cut grass and a warm summer breeze. The reflection of the room in your palm looks almost like a butterfly... she takes the vial and stoppers it again, leaving you with sticky fingers. Your clothes glow where you wipe them off.

"A summer's day, taken whole. Kid's stuff, really, the work of an amateur, but it emboldened me." She replaces the vial and picks up a storm-grey flask, its contents swirling quicksilver. She attaches it to a machine on her bench, which rumbles, extracting a single drop of sparkling grey. She lets it fall, and the workbench is awhirl with wind, save for a single spot in the dead center.

A lightning bolt makes you jump, to her delight. "You took a tornado?" you cry, incredulously.

She shakes her head, smiling. "I took a hurricane." she replaces the flask, and pulls open a cabinet to show several more. "And a few more, just in case. Wondrously useful, hurricanes, when," she glances at you, smirking, "properly controlled."

You gulp. "So," you say, trying to cover your emotions, "you steal the weather?"

She raises an eyebrow. "I take what I choose. I started with weather. It taught me many things." She pats a machine in the corner, a large cylindrical tank with various pipes leaning in and out of it. "Bottled things can be distilled, you see. You take a hurricane, and it can be separated, sluiced out. The thunder's crack torn from the lightning's power. The wind and water divided and partitioned. But that is only an apprentice's magic." She rolls a ladder across the room and skitters up it, throwing wide a door to showcase an entire rainbow of potions. "The journeyman's magic is in these, elements of the world formed and purified. Here," she tosses you a bottle, glowing cyan and electric to the touch, "try some liquid Motion. Or perhaps," she tosses you another, and you fumble for a moment to catch the bottle of red ooze that tries to drag your hand to the floor, "some Solidity? Or," she tosses a third bottle, orange and flickering, and you frantically attempt to juggle all three before they all fall to the ground, shattering open with a thunderclap. You try to shield yourself from the shards and liquid, but after you flinch you realize that it's all formed into a single muddy ball of glass and magic at the tip of her finger. "Breaking my vials, dear? That might cost you," she says, stroking your chin with her other hand.

Sweat beads on your forehead as your chin is lifted upwards, tilted towards her. "What- I didn't-" She's trying to bait you. You can see it in her eyes, in her devilish grin. You crush your eyes shut for a moment, trying to reorient yourself, but her touch on your face is driving all rational thought from your head. You stumble towards anything to say. "What," you breathe, almost unheard, "what about the Master's magic?"

She withdraws her touch, and you follow her forward half a step. Your eyes open to see her half-smiling still, her eyes aglow with the question. "I worked long and hard for mastery of my craft," she murmurs, her eyes locked with yours, "and it will forever amuse me that I started so large only to end so small."

She pushes you, gently, and you stumble backwards into a chair you hadn't realized was there. Had it been there, before? She spins it, raises it up, and you realize it has several instruments, needles, sharp things arranged around it - and restraints, which she closes efficiently. You try moving your arm, and feel the soft leather gently bite into your wrist.

She twirls in front of you, skirt flaring out, to yet another cabinet of bottles and strange machinery. "The master's magic," she declares, "is in the invisible, the undefinable - personhood, humanity, intelligence, kindness, cruelty." She picks an ampoule off the shelf, a tiny thing filled with viscous cloudy liquid, and dangles it in front of your face. "Each person is comprised of a thousand thousand parts; emotions, desires, memories. I can take a human and break it down into its most basic elements, or make a brand new one from distilled parts. Fill someone up, or empty them out like a dried husk." She restores the ampoule to its rightful spot, among the hundred identical ones that sit on she shelf. Her fingers trace up your arm, and she whispers in your ear.

"But that's why you came to me, isn't it?"

You feel a sting at your neck, and the room begins to go dark as the instruments and her smile descend on you.

Original tag commentary: #Doll conversion? Bad ending? Serial killer? Truly extra endocrinologist? The world may never know.

[lillywillow]

Heart Heist

Summary: With a string of recent thefts by a figure the media has dubbed The Spectre, your father puts you in charge of finding security for the party he’s hosting to show off a priceless piece of jewellery. Little does he realise how close he is to the thief…

 Written for: @the-slumberparty‘s Week One: I Spy Challenge

 Words: 1801

 Prompt: A diamond necklace

 Pairing: Billy Russo x Female Reader  

 Warnings: Some action, minor injuries, flirting

Additional Tags: @budugu​ @dreamlandcreations​

 It was the dead of the night when a lone guard was conducting his patrol. A collection of rare Wakandan artefacts was on display at a local art gallery, on loan from a private collector. The guard was walking past the room when he noticed one of the most expensive pieces was missing. He did a double take and ran in but no one was there. The guard called for backup, catching a glimpse of a swish of fabric vanishing around the corner. He gave chase after them, shouting at them to halt. The figure ran towards dead-end with an open window, waiting for the guard to get closer.

 “Nowhere to run now, dirtbag,” he jeered.

 The masked figure saluted and jumped out the window. The guard ran over but the thief had vanished into the night.

…

 The theft of the Wakandan artefact was just another in a string by a thief the media had dubbed The Spectre because they left no trace of evidence behind. It had been months since this case captured the public’s imagination, stirring theories and taunting police. The Spectre had been targeting unique heirlooms of the wealthy. Knowing all this, your father still decided it would be a wise idea to host a party with one of his recently acquired purchases on display. He asked you to hire security for the occasion. That was how you ended up at Anvil Security.

 With a sigh, you entered the building and was soon directed to where you could make your inquiry. That’s where you first met him.

 “Nice to officially meet you, Miss L/N,” the man with dark, brooding eyes smiled, getting up from his desk to shake your hand and close the door.

 “Have we met before?” you asked.

 “I like to make it my business to investigate potential clients,” he explained, offering you a seat. “My name is Billy Russo. Now, what can I do for you?”

 “My father would like to hire your services for a party he’s throwing,” you sighed.

 “I take it you’re not on board with the idea…”

 “It’s nothing against you. It’s just… my father did not make his money from being stupid. He made his money from other people being stupid…”

 Billy quirked an eyebrow at your comment but said nothing. You cleared your throat and continued speaking.

 “Anyway, my father recently bought a historical diamond necklace from a museum and wants to show it off…”

 “Really? Even with this Spectre guy running around?” he asked.

 “I’ve voiced my concerns to him but he seems to think he’s above such petty theft…”

 “And what do you think?”

 “I think he’s being arrogant and the Spectre will come regardless of the security he has…”

 “You seem pretty confident,” Billy stated.

 “I’ve been following the case,” you shrugged.

 “I see…”

 “What? It’s a pretty interesting case. Drama, mystery, intrigue… all that’s missing is betrayal, and revenge…”

 “You don’t say,” Billy chuckled.

 “We’re getting off track here,” you stated, steering the conversation back to the task you came here for.

 After you had negotiated a price and date, you headed off. You were unable to stop thinking about Billy.

…

 Soon, the night of the party arrived. People were in awe of the diamond necklace that sparkled so perfectly under its showcase lighting. Each gemstone refracted a small rainbow which reflected against the glass it was trapped behind.

 You were standing in front of the case when you heard a voice speak behind you.

 “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

 You turned to see Billy standing there.

 “It is… Did you know that Napoleon Bonaparte had this piece made to celebrate his marriage to his second wife?”

 “Is that so?” Billy hummed.

 “This, and a diadem. They’re sisters. They should be together…”

 You noticed the way Billy was staring you and forced yourself to relax your tense stance.

 “May I have this dance?” he asked, extending his hand to you as a waltz began to play.

 The request caught you off guard but you accepted the offer. Billy guided you to the floor, gracefully moving with you to the music. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t enjoy being in such close proximity to him but it caused a major hitch in your plans.

 “You seem nervous,” he purred in your ear.

 “I’m not nervous,” you tried to assure him.

 “You keep looking around as if searching for someone… your heart rate has gone up…”

 Billy pulled you closer, keeping his thumb on the pulse point on your wrist.

 “Maybe you’re the reason for my fast pulse… you are rather handsome Mr. Russo and my father can be quite protective of me…”

 “It’s a possibility…”

 Billy spun you around so his arms were around you, caging you close to his body and his lips by your ear.

 “I think another possibility is that you’re in league with The Spectre,” he whispered.

 You tried to keep your voice even as you replied.

 “Whatever gives you that idea?”

 “Your line of questioning these last few weeks… Asking about how many staff we’re using, their positions…”

 “Maybe I want to know if you’re qualified for the job,” you shrugged, spinning yourself out of his arms.

 Billy caught your hand.

 “Again, plausible. There’s also your interest in The Spectre case… everything I’ve read about it indicates an inside job…”

 “Do you have anything that connects me to those thefts?”

 “Not yet…”

 “Then where’s the issue?”

 Before Billy could respond, the lights went out. People started panicking but it was short lived as the lights soon came back on. You and Billy stared at each other, as if locked in some silent dare.

 “I do hope you enjoy the rest of the party, Mr. Russo… and thank you for the dance,” you smiled, taking your leave.

 You could feel Billy’s eyes on you as you walked away. He was going to be problematic.

…

 Long after the party was over, you put your plans into action. Having memorised the guard rotation and tricked the cameras, you slipped into the room and silently taking the diamond necklace out of its case. You were about to make your grand escape when a guard walked in, sooner than you were expecting. Thinking back on your earlier conversation, you realised that Russo must have changed the timing to draw you out. Cursing to yourself, you ran out the back way as you were left with no other options. These people were highly trained and heavily armed professionals. They weren’t going to fall for the same cheap parlour tricks any of the other rubes fell for. Running as fast as you could, you made your way out of there.

 “Hold it!” a voice shouted.

 You ran faster as the guard started firing his gun, wincing as a bullet grazed your arm. Around the corner you ran to where you knew there would be a window you could climb through… only to run into Billy Russo himself. There was nowhere left to go.

 “Don’t even think about it,” he warned.

 You slowly raised your hands as the security force caught up.

 “Just surrender now, and nobody has to get hurt…”

 Your mind was racing. This couldn’t be how it ended. You couldn’t be caught like this. There was no way you could fight them. They were far more experienced in combat than you would ever be.

 Suddenly, you threw the necklace up into the air. Billy made a grab for it and that was when you set off a smoke bomb. The two men coughed and tried to clear the air, giving you a chance to get away. If you could make it to your room, you would be home free. You ran, dodging the guards until you finally made it to your room, hoping you didn’t leave a trail of blood from your wound. As you leant against your door, you felt a sense of relief and… exhilaration. You were right about Billy. He did complicate things… but he also made them that much more fun.

…

 The next day, you went to Anvil to pay for their services, being sure to keep your injury covered. Surprisingly, there was no news of your exploits of the previous night. Your father had slept through the whole thing, everything had been cleaned up and the Marie-Louise necklace had been put back in its case. You made pleasant conversation with Billy until your phone rang. Excusing yourself, you stepped out of the room to take it.

 “We have the shipment ready to go,” the person on the other end of the line informed you.

 “Excellent. How soon can you get it out of the country?”

 “It’ll be gone by tonight.”

 “Good. Keep me posted.”

 You turned to see Billy standing right behind you. He grabbed your arm around the spot you had been shot, causing you to cry out in pain.

 “Thought so…”

 “What are you going to do about it?”

 You were a little scared. This was as close as you had ever come to being exposed.

 “Nothing… yet. I’m only going to warn you once. From now on, you are to stay out of Anvil business.”

 You raised an eyebrow. Billy could easily go to the police with the information he had. Why was he letting you go?

 “I will ask this… why go through all the dramatics? You could easily buy all those things…”

 “I could… but where’s the fun in that?”

 Billy once again encouraged you to sit down and shut his office door for privacy.

 “I guess I got a little bored with the rich heiress lifestyle. The same people, the same dull conversations… besides, I’m working to get all the tings I stole back to their country of origin…”

 Billy smiled a little.

 “You’re an interesting woman, Y/N…”

 “You’re an interesting man, Mr. Russo,” you retorted.

 “Please, call me Billy,” he smiled.

 “Could I take you to lunch sometime, Billy? I really owe you for covering me with everything that happened…”

 “How about dinner tonight?” he asked.

 “I’ll see you at seven,” you smiled.

 “I’ll pick you up,” he smiled back.

 As you walked out, you felt a swarm of butterflies in your stomach. Dating the man who was onto your little game could be a lot of fun. How long could you keep on playing?

[the-consortium]

Dear dr. Bile.

I have heard rumours that you might own the most priceless collections of ancient music data device in the galaxy, some mythical objects called "records". Can you tell us how you came across them, and which is your favorite?

In the semi-darkness of the room without windows, crowds of pedestals emerge as light from the opening door falls into the cavernous gloom. Rows and rows of pedestals. Each about chest high for an Astartes and made of dark stone. On top, a superstructure of glass and with golden struts around the edges. Luxurious on the one hand, yet simple on the other.

In each of these presentation showcases, a stasis field holds something in suspension.

Lumen globes illuminate each cabinet with matte light in which not even dust dances, so pure is the space kept.

And no two things on display are alike - apart from the fact that they are all flat and rectangular. There seem to be two or three standard sizes, but the design is different for each object.

As the Chief Apothecary enters the room, rows of lumen strips on the ceiling automatically switch on. The clack of their activation travels down into the depths, bringing more and more of the pedestals out of the darkness. When finally everything is illuminated, it becomes clear that there must be thousands of display cases.

Fabius walks between the rows to the centre of the room, where a huge cogitor console is connected to several external appliances. Voxcasters are set up and hung at obviously precisely calculated points. An armchair with a side table stands in a place that is presumably just as precisely calculated. On the table a bottle of Amasek, a glass and a silver cigarette case.

"No one enters this room except me and the service servitors. Not even the noise marines are allowed in here. I provide them with digital copies, of course. But the originals stay here.

There are hardly any surviving records from pre-unification times. And the hunt for them keeps some rogue traders busy, whom I pay well enough that they can retire after a few successful heists. Fortunately, I have little competition for that. Quite a few of my brothers may find old music interesting, but they almost always settle for copies. They're not really prestige items."

He wanders between the showcases. Touches some in passing. "I don't have a favourite object. Each of them has significance in its own way. But some of them are very suitable for concentrated work. Sometimes I wish I could find out in which context this music was played. Weddings? Ceremonial occasions? Military parades? For example, this song … it's in an archaic version of the language I grew up with. But it seems like meanings have changed completely. I desperately need to find a linguist to sort it out."

[lavendarlily]

ectoberhaunt day 9: dragon @ectoberhaunt

take flight

words: 1999

read it on ao3

sam yearns to fly. too bad she's human.

i really struggled with this prompt and i don't love this one but that's showbiz baby!!!

Sam loved flying.

It was something else to defy the natural laws of gravity, but Danny was very un-natural, and with it came the territory of not having to abide by known physics. 

Any time she joined him in the sky, her heart soared with them. She didn’t mind the chill of the air biting back at her face, or the way her stomach dropped when they took off or dove too fast. The rush was always worth it. 

Flying was so important for Danny. It brought him closer to the stars, it offered a quick escape (from boring life or overbearing sisters), it resonated with his very being. It was obvious to Sam that whenever she accompanied him on a flight, he was holding back for her sake. She’d seen what he was capable of, the way he couldn’t hide his joy of being truly free.

She wanted that. So bad. 

Having to rely on Danny wasn’t enough. Sam wanted to be in control. She wanted to be the one testing the limits, foot on the gas, pushing the confines of possibility.

Unfortunately, the Fenton’s had no interest in developing something that would cater to her needs. Even if she had a hoverboard like Valerie, it wouldn’t be the same. That was a machine. Sam wanted to create her own flight - have it come from her own energy, the way Danny did. 

These were all thoughts passing through her head as the trio made their way towards Mattingly in the speeder. Dora had requested Danny’s their presence for a kingdom celebration in honor of a newly proposed holiday. They were all dressed in traditional garb, though Dora was never one to force a dress code, but as the soon-to-be-king of the Infinite Realms, Danny felt it was the respectful thing to do. 

Sam pulled at her dress in discomfort. 

When they landed, kingdom officials announced the presence of Phantom and his companions (to all their embarrassment) and instructed them through the castle towards the main hall. The trio stepped through the front doors into the entryway. 

Much had changed since Dora’s rise to the throne over Aragon. Plenty of windows had been added in, allowing decorative glass to refract the newly welcomed light across the passageway, casting rainbows in every which way. Banners of promises to the kingdom donned the walls - messages about hope, forgiveness, unity. Dora’s words were poetry that spoke to the new era. Where overwhelming, heavy doors had sectioned off the castle were now open arches, allowing the people of the castle to mill about freely. Each passing member smiled warmly at their guests, whereas before they’d drifted by without so much as a glance. The whole atmosphere felt…brighter.

They followed the directions they’d been given towards a smaller hall. This one was decorated with pedestals alongside both walls, showcasing various kingdom artifacts. Very few did Sam recognize, but one stopped her. 

In the case was a familiar looking piece of jewelry - a blue glass sphere that was nestled in a gold pendant, threaded on a gold chain. It was as though it was…calling to her. 

Sam felt the presence of her two friends behind her, and a hand rested on her shoulder.

“I haven’t seen that thing in a while,” Danny said.

Sam moved her hand up to his, laying it on top. “It’s like it’s pulling me in,” she muttered. 

“Ghostly energy doesn’t really go away, even if you only wore that single time. I’m sure you feel some sort of connection to it.”

Sam nodded, and mindlessly touched her bare neck. She remembered when the amulet sat heavy there. How could she forget all that power, all that rage that flowed through her? 

How could she forget the sensation of spreading her wings, taking off into the heavens?

She reached towards the glass, then shook her head. Her friends had moved on towards the ballroom - she should follow.

As they neared the main hall, she couldn’t help but look back. 

They ended up seated at a table with a few of the kingdom’s commonfolk who were enamored to be in the presence of the Great Danny Phantom, Heir to the Throne. She and Tucker were promptly ignored. Tucker tried starting a conversation with Sam, but she only half paid attention, offering nods and “mmm-hmm’s” when appropriate. 

Dora finally called the room’s attention and delivered a well-written toast to the welfare of her kingdom. The room responded with cheers and the feast commenced. 

Throughout the evening, the amulet didn’t leave her mind.

While servants came around to collect the remains of the meal, a small group of more prolific ghosts arrived at the table, requesting to speak with Danny. He excused himself and allowed them to lead him over where a few others were waiting. Tucker conspicuously eyed the dessert table, though he didn’t want to leave Sam to herself. She rolled her eyes and sent him off with a wave of her hand. 

Now was her chance to quietly slip out of the rotunda and answer the amulet’s call. 

She found herself once again in front of the display, watching the gold twinkle under the light. Her hand moved towards the necklace, and she quickly pulled back when instead of resting on the glass, it moved through it. Duh - Ghost Zone. You’d think she’d know better by now. 

It was as though her body and her brain stopped communicating. She wasn’t sure why she reached towards the amulet again, why she grasped it and retracted it from its display, or why she was fastening the clasp and letting it rest on her neck. 

This didn’t have to take long. No one would even know the amulet had been temporarily removed. 

Sweeping the room to make sure no one was around to catch her, Sam rushed to a nearby balcony and stood on the ledge. The energy from the necklace was already affecting her - her skin felt colder, a green glow surrounded her body, and though she couldn’t see them, she knew her eyes were glowing a radiant green. 

Sam focused on her emotions and honed in on her frustration. She wanted to fly! The fact that she wasn’t one of those privileged few with that ability devastated her. She hated having to rely on Danny, never able to experience it herself, of her own power, of her own desire.   

Power surged through her, and in an instant, her skin became scales, her nails became talons, and a beautiful pair of wings sprouted from her back.

Oh yes . 

She stretched her wings to their fullest width, and leaned forward, letting herself fall from the balcony’s ledge. Her wings caught her dive, and she arched upwards. 

It was like breathing for the first time - the rush of air in her lungs filled her in a way she’d never known. Instead of blood in her veins, she swore it was magic (and it very well could’ve been) from the way it tingled through her system, the absolute euphoria that enraptured Sam in that moment. 

She felt limitless. The sky was no longer out of reach; now Sam made it hers . Her heart pumped as she ascended to the highest point before tiring out, then let herself plummet back towards the ground. At the very last second, she spread her wings and soared out of the dive, adrenaline coursing through her. She flipped, she rolled, she did every damn thing she’d never been able to when flying with Danny, and she rejoiced every moment of it. As her body began to tire, Sam took to a slow glide over Mattingly. 

Peering below at the kingdom, Sam noticed people trickling out from the castle. Crap . The event must have ended, which meant Danny and Tucker were probably searching for her. Had it really been that long? 

She landed behind the castle, so as not to draw a crowd towards the balcony if anyone saw her. Now to just take off the amulet. Sam reached towards the clasp, but found her arms didn’t quite reach that far. She realized that she hadn’t completely thought this through.

“Need a hand?” a voice came behind her. 

Sam glanced over her shoulder to see Dora floating in the castle’s rear entrance, a playful and knowing smile on her face. Embarrassed, Sam nodded her head and lowered herself so the queen could remove the artifact. Once the weight of it fell from her neck, a rush of energy withdrew from her body. Luckily, Dora caught her before she could hit the ground. 

“Appears as though I should inquire about human-proof security.”

Heat filled Sam’s cheeks in shame. The queen had invited them into her home, and Sam had taken advantage of her hospitality. Not only that, but she was also Danny’s companion - whatever she did reflected on him as well. 

“I’m so sorry Dora. Please don’t hold this against Danny, it was my own irresponsibility,” Sam nearly begged. 

Taking her hand, Dora guided Sam towards the castle’s garden, and sat her down on a bench. 

“I have to say, I am always enamored by the curiosity of you humans,” Dora said fondly. “But why this?”

Sam smiled sheepishly. “I wore it once before. As soon as I saw it, I felt this magnetic pull.”

Dora nodded along, knowingly. 

“But I also have this insane desire to fly,” Sam continued. “Like, it’s so incredibly frustrating. I just wanted to experience it for myself.”

“And how was it?” Dora’s eyes twinkled with mischief. This was certainly not the response Sam expected.

“...I felt like my soul was being electrified. In a good way,” she admitted. That got a laugh from her companion.

“I must say, I understand your resentment.” Dora gently took Sam’s hand in hers. “Being told no is a hard thing for those like us, and desire is a tenacious beast to fight. I do not blame you for this.”

Relief flowed through Sam, and she grinned. 

“But I would advise against any further inclination to play with these types of artifacts on your own,” the queen warned. Sam nodded quickly in agreement. 

“Sam! There you are!” Danny and Tucker came into sight, causing Sam to jump. 

“Where’ve you been?” Tucker asked as they approached. 

Before Sam could reply, Dora jumped in. “We have been simply chatting. I find it refreshing to be able to speak with such a wonderful, like-minded friend. You two are very lucky to have her.” The queen winked as Sam’s mouth hung open, but she adjusted to smile gratefully for the cover.

“Well, we should probably get going. Thank you, your highness, for the hospitality this evening.” Sam nearly giggled watching Danny bow to the queen. She found it so endearing how serious he took his role. 

Dora rose. “Of course, my child. You are always welcome to Mattingly.” Then, looking at Sam, she added, “And your friends as well.”

Sam stood, flashing Dora one last smile of gratitude, and followed her friends to the speeder.

Sam was reading in her bedroom, lying in bed. A week had passed since their visit to Mattingly, but she hadn’t told Tucker or Danny about her side adventure, nor did she plan to. A knock on her window snapped her from her book.

Expecting Danny, she was surprised when she found a small parcel on her desk that certainly hadn't been there earlier. A note was attached to the outer packaging. Sam gently opened the envelope and read,

          Samantha -

          I hope this finds you well. It may not hold power, but let it be a reminder to never be shameful of your desires. 

          Your friend,

          Dora

Sam opened the package, and found what seemed to be a replica of the enchanted amulet. Not one for flashy jewelry, she placed it on her nightstand, planning to buy a shadow box to display it in. 

She picked her book back up, and continued reading, a warm smile across her face.

[magickingdompng]

On nostalgia and a Good Ol Days fallacy in the Disney Parks:

Gonna put most of this under a cut since it’s a bit negative, but tldr: I really don’t want to only post nostalgia, and I appreciate modern Disney World just as much as its history, if not more sometimes!

I’m not trying to make anyone feel bad if they prefer the older parks or the nostalgia content - I’ll definitely still post about them, and they absolutely have their own unique vibe that’s different from the parks today.

I just take issue with any version of “Disney World used to be good, and then X happened!”, and here’s why:

I think a lot of people look back on the older days of Disney with rose colored glasses, either because they were a kid back then and couldn’t see the issues, or it’s coming from someone older who’s looking back with nostalgia goggles, or because they didn’t have any experiences with the older parks and only know about them through what gets filtered through online.

In all of these cases, the issues tend to get filtered out of your perspective. And when you look at the modern parks, and you actually can see what’s wrong with them, you compare your nostalgia version to that version and think hey! They used to be good, why aren’t they like that now?

But the Disney parks were never free from plenty of problems, often induced by the fact they’re run by a huge corporation (which has been powerful since the inception of the parks - even the fact that Disneyland was able to be built at all and got attended at the level it was when it opened showcases this. Disney has always been big).

One of the best examples, I feel, is that a lot of people complain about Disney making so many IP based attractions and lands - when they forget the myriad of sponsorship deals Disney had from the very beginning. They were plastered all over the parks. Disney World had at least two attractions that were both completely free and also literally just advertisements for corporations, one of which was the Monsanto corporation, which made Agent Orange in the Vietnam war. And if you can believe it, that information did not immediately end the incredibly Monsanto-friendly attraction at Disney World.

There was a huge McDonald’s partnership that put McDonald’s food in every corner of the park and plastered Dinosaur (then Countdown to Extinction) with ads outside of its queue. A Delta airlines advertisement ride existed into the 90s. Ellen’s Energy Adventure was originally sponsored by ExxonMobil, the oil corporation, from 1982 all the way to 2004.

The parks have absolutely never been free from corporate touches, and frankly, I am glad we have Star Wars Land and Cosmic Rewind instead of Monsanto and ExxonMobil advertising to us. (I will point out there’s still at least one sponsored attraction in the park - Test Track is basically a Chevrolet advertisement, but that’s just one compared to multiple back in the day.)

I could go on, but the point is this: people remember the good things. People remember what they loved, what made them a fan in the first place, and they don’t remember the mistakes, or they don’t even know about them in the first place.

I’m not here to argue that the parks don’t have new and different issues, because they absolutely do, and I could spend forever listing them. I am arguing that the parks never had some kind of mythical golden age that we just need to go back to in order for the parks to be good again.

I would rather this blog not support that idea. I want to show people the amazing parts of the modern parks - the phenomenal ride tech, the insane theming, the fun modern attractions and merch. I love Walt Disney World in all its forms, and while I will criticize it where necessary, I won’t pretend there was ever a time when they weren’t plagued with problems top to bottom.