#when i started coloring i regretted my choice of light sources

[qusok]

One day I'll learn, how to draw something simple that won't take forever. One day......

[chubbyreaderchan]

How it Should Have Been | Sesshomaru x Reader

tw: chlldbirth, female reader, anti-sessrin, pregnancy complications, OG Sesshomaru, human reader from modern times so everyone can be included

-- The Reveal --

She was acting strange. 

Something was off with his human mate.

They were tired a lot more often than usual. 

Then when they had dinner with Rin in Kaede’s hut she ran from the room and was ill. It did not add up for the demon lord. Not until Kaede asked. 

“Dog demon.” the crone’s voice came out. “How far along is she?” 

His golden eyes widened and he instantly regretted not noticing from the beginning. He stood up from the social meal, young Rin chattering excitedly over the prospect of a baby had been muffled as he went to find her. It wasn’t difficult combined with knowing her scent better than his own and the scent of sick. He found her knelt over, and he joined her on the ground despite the smell. Pulling back any clothing or hair that may get in the way. 

“How long have you known you were with child, (Y/n)?” 

She looked up at him, a bit of shyness in her face but then she knew that look. To the average person it would be the usual cold stare. The indifferent demeanor he always held. But their connection was different. 

She knew him. 

“I only realised a couple weeks ago... if I had to guess... maybe since the last full moon?” His golden eyes pierced her soul. 

They always did in the most liberating and exciting way. 

His slender fingers reached forward and he gently wiped her face. For one moment, Sesshomaru held an expression of care in his stony features. 

In that moment he was truly beautiful. 

-- Things Get Complicated -- 

Her body was beautiful in Sesshomaru’s mind.

Everytime they were alone his hands were on the growing bump, on her body in every way possible. It was a source of pride for the dog demon. However, one evening while she was taking care of the laundry she collapsed. He only found her because she took an unusual amount of time hanging her kimonos. 

Her body sprawled out in the dirt, face paled from the normal lively color. Instantly, she was in his arms and off to Kaede’s hut. 

"Old crone.” Sesshomaru’s voice was dark and demanding. “She collapsed.” If one didn’t know him he may seem unconcerned but there was a light waver to his voice. He was terrified. 

But if given the choice... he’d save her first.

Kagome was also in the hut, thankfully. 

“Lay her down!” Kagome insisted, not caring one bit about yelling at the demon lord. 

He didn’t either. She was more important than a tone of voice at this moment. 

Sesshomaru laid her down, letting her head rest against his lap. 

“Her heart beat is low” Kagome noted. The young priestess placed a cool rag on her forehead and she slowly came through.

“Kagome?” she was confused. Where was she? How did--? 

Oh! She remembered being light headed and then blank. 

Sesshomaru made a sigh of relief. 

“Your blood pressure is the issue,” Kagome explained. “She needs to rest. Stay off her feet. Probably until the baby is here, at least. Just to be safe. Only walking around a bit to help blood flow.” 

"Aye, she needs rest,"

His eyes turned instantly serious. "I'll be fine--"

"(Y/n)..." His tone was dark. Dangerous. A tone he'd never use on her. Ever.

This was serious.

He was scared of losing her.

In a moment he lifted her into his back to bring her home.

This fear caused Sesshomaru to become more protective.

He cooked. He cleaned. He did things he would never had done before.

Laundry. Hair brushing. Whatever was needed he did. He didn't even trust someone to do it for him. How could they do it correctly?

-- Birth --

It all happened so quickly.

Pain.

All she felt was pain.

Her water definitely broke.

It was time but something felt off.

It was her first child. How would she know? Instinct? Maybe. He was instantly at her side as she screamed in pain.

She survived worse than this, hadn't she?

The tears on her face made Sesshomaru angry. So very angry. Or was he scared? It was hard to tell the difference in that moment.

Towels. Blood.

Screaming.

All for the sake of a tiny silver haired baby to be placed in her waiting arms.

There was something wrong even still. She was paling again.

So much blood.

She could die.

Kagome rushed him out force that no one knew she had as she, Kaede and Sango worked to care for her and baby.

Luck.

That's all it was.

Luck that the bleeding stopped. That they were able to keep baby warm.

Then he was brought back in, seeing his baby on the breast of his woman was like seeing heaven.

The dog lord knelt down to her, touching her face then the baby's head. "It's a boy" she said in a horses voice.

"My son." He responded gently.

-- Toddling --

"Naoki!"

Tree of truth.

Named with the three that connected them all in mind.

She was pregnant again, despite Sesshomaru's hesitancy but she wanted one more.

Just one more.

He'd give her the world if she asked him.

The small silver haired boy was bothering his father whom didn't seem to interested in the boy who decided the single most scariest demon would be a great thing to climb on.

Sesshomaru looked up at his swollen wife. This pregnancy had no scares this time.

"Your papa isn't a tree,"

"Papa!" He still wasn't fully speaking but small babbling was expected. It was especially amusing since Sesshomaru would speak to him as if he knew exactly what was being said.

As if he respected the hanyou as an equal.

Perhaps he did.

The baby went to move towards his mother however he was on his father's shoulder and the movement started him towards the dirt. With grace, Sesshomaru grabbed the boy as if it were nothing before passing the son on to his mate.

"Ada!" Baby Naoki shouted in a high pitch squeak.

"I don't think that was fun. You would have ended up crying." He spoke, as always as if he knew exactly what the baby said.

Sesshomaru seemed to have a natural intuition with his children. It often left his mate jealous but the jealousy was squashed out by a pride of having someone care so much for them.

The demon lord had truly grown since she first met him all those years ago under that great tree.

It seemed he learned that caring wasn't weakness but strength.

That was why he didn't travel as often, though he still desired power, his family became his main priority.

That's how it should be.

[punderfulowl]

Top 10 Anime (That I've Seen) in 2020

Well now, it has certainly been awhile. I'm currently sitting at eight months too late for posting this, but, y'know, something something life happens. More accurately, I already made this list, but wanted to try out what response I'd get from Reddit. Turns out, they're not as cool as you guys!

Anyways, as the title states, this is not a list of my favorite anime that came out during 2020, but instead my favorite anime that I just so happen to see during that year. While it's fun to have an end of the year retrospective, I find that having a list in this format not only adds variety, but also helps bring attention to anime that might have been lost in the shuffle in previous years (I also don't have enough time to stay caught up in seasonal releases).

Honorable mentions:

Aggretsuko S3, My Hero Academia S4, Today's Menu For the Emiya Family, Interspecies Reviewers (yes, really), and I Couldn't Become a Hero So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job

10. Maid-Sama (2010)

In hindsight, I find it a bit funny that I wanted to watch something wholesome to kick off 2020. Anyway, Maid-Sama is about a high school girl that is also a no nonsense Class President and she kind of has to be at a school where, until recently, was an all boys school. While she kills it in academics and is good at shutting down any shenanigans from the male student body, her financial situation isn't the greatest and has to balance a job at a maid cafe along with her school-related responsibilities. She does her best to hide her employment there to keep up appearances, but is one day found out by one of the boys who happens to be a big flirt and, yeah, hijinks ensue. While this anime doesn't have too many surprises, our main leads bounce off each other well enough to keep me entertained. Nothing I haven't seen already in other anime Rom-Coms, but I think it has more than earned its place at the start of this list.

9. Haganai NEXT (2013)

It's a personal rule of mine when making these lists that I don't include sequels of shows that were in previous lists. While I DID see the first season of Haganai a couple of years ago, it didn't quite make it into the top ten at that time. Because of that, it meets the criteria for this year's list. While I found the characters were just as charming here as I did during the first season, the development of their relationships really took off. It's a shame that it will most likely not get a third season, but I'm happy with what ride this show gave me. But hey! At least I can read the light novels/manga to continue the story! Wait, nevermind, the Haganai fans on Reddit are saying that's a bad idea.

8. Engaged to the Unidentified (2014)

Based off of a Four Panel joke manga, Engaged to the Unidentified tells the story of a girl in high school suddenly getting some life changing news. As it turns out, her grandfather made an arranged engagement with her and the son of a family he knew. Next thing she knows, the boy in question, as well as his little sister, moves into her family's house! While the boy is unassuming at first, there may be more to him and his family than he lets on. Plain and simple, this anime has charmed me. There's a decent amount of drama and mystery despite the source material and I applaud it! Even though this also doesn't have much new to offer, even to the point where I would compare this to Maid-Sama, what made me pick this at the 8th spot were the color choices and animation quality. Give this a shot if you can!

7. Grimoire of Zero (2017)

It's a fantasy/adventure story starring a loli sorcerer and a huge, anthropomorphic white tiger man. I honestly can't say anything else. I won't be able to do it justice. That first sentence should intrigue you a lease a little bit. Read it, again. Please check it out. It's an underrated gem that no one is talking about.

6. ID: Invaded (2020)

Hey, here's something recent! Unfortunately, this is also not something I can say much about. There may not be too many deep characters and the secret bad guy isn't hard to figure out, but BOY is this anime cool! The best way to describe this series is that it's like the movie Inception, but instead of brain heists, it's brain murder mysteries.

5. Carole and Tuesday (2019)

A runaway rich girl has a fated meeting with an orphan and they decide to make music together...oh, this also takes place Mars. Joking aside, this show was something special with its music (a new song almost every episode no less), interesting setting (freaking Mars, dude), and endearing main cast. Shoot, the music itself would be top 3, maybe number 1, but what bogs it down is the show's second half. I can easily see myself watching this again someday, and maybe my opinion will lighten up, but for now, 5 is a dang good spot.

4. Fate/Grand Order: Absolute Demonic Front - Babylonia (2019)

Part of me hesitates placing this high up on list due to this show being animated, fan service spectacle for Fate fans. However, that hesitation is overshadowed by the fact that I am a Fate fan myself and I can do whatever I want with this list. Even if you're not a Fate fan or play FGO, if you enjoy some solid fight animation, this is worth a look.

3. K-On S1 (2009)

I'll admit it, I might regret not watching the second season then putting the series on the list as a whole, but this how I've been doing these lists and I'm such a creature of habit. There's not much I can say about K-On that hasn't already been said. By itself it's an anime classic and one of Kyo-ani's biggest properties. It's a sweet and wholesome watch, but be sure to have some insulin within reach.

2. Princess Principal (2017)

Imagine you're working with a team of programmers trying to make a mobile game then all of a sudden someone asks to make a show out of it. You know, a show with different character motivations, plot, twist and turns and all that? Most might say that's just a shameless, shallow cash grab, but it turns out okay for Princess Principal. Sure, most might summarize this anime as, "cute girls doing espionage things," but with its cast, visuals, and interesting alternative timeline, it works! Apparently there's a new season or movie in the works and I am all for it!

1. Beastars (2019)

I was not expecting this to be number one, but with much deliberation (with myself obviously) this feels right. It tells a pretty unique story while showing itself to be the exception to the rule when it comes to 3D anime.....it being that it's actually good. While I acknowledge that shows like K-On are classics and deserves to be number one on many different lists, it didn't line up with my personal criteria like Beastars did. My biggest deciding factor is: Now that I've watched this, do I want more? It's true that while I'm excited to start K-On S2, Beastars intrigues me more and ever since season two was announced, I'm looking forward to that more.

Sorry again for this list being so late, but at least the silver lining is that the next end of the year list is about four months away (in theory)!

[court-of-forever-undone]

My Sister’s Love | Taryn POV

Chapter One

Summary: Taryn pieces together her memories of Cardan and Jude's early interactions as she reflects on how their relationship came to be and the events of the last year. As happy as she is for them, she can't help but feel jealous of the moments they share.

Tags: Taryn’s POV of Jurdan, Jealousy, Mild Angst 

Read on AO3 

The first time I saw Jude look at Cardan with anything other than pure revolt was the night of what was supposed to be Prince Dain’s coronation. From the corner of the room, I watched as Locke and Jude danced. That night, I was just thankful I would only have to bear watching the two together for a few more hours. Locke would speak to Madoc that evening and we would be engaged. Jude would hopefully come to understand. Guilt rose in my throat every time she smiled at him and silent envy boiled beneath my skin at every kiss they shared, but that night was different.

Jude was not smiling, in fact, her face was flushed with anger and she glared at him through squinted eyes, searching to find answers in his clever mask I became all too familiar with. My stomach flipped while I wondered if Locke was finally telling her the truth, but later I learned that was not the case.

When I finally tore my eyes from my sister and future husband, I noticed Cardan leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the room. He was drinking deeply from a goblet while staring at the pair dancing. The intensity of his gaze made me uneasy like he was ready to pounce on them at any moment. I quickly looked away, turning my attention back to my sister’s face. I was too far away to hear, but from the shape of her mouth the conversation was unfriendly. I noticed Cardan walking over before either Jude or Locke did.

The youngest prince knew that I was the one actually dating Locke, so I couldn’t figure out why he still wanted to bother Jude. I thought maybe he would try to humiliate her for all of her useless acts of insubordination, but that didn’t seem to be his goal that night. The anger in his face was directed at Locke. The pair made unfriendly remarks to one another before Locke left. Once the Cardan looked down at Jude the hot anger dissipated, although he still didn’t look pleased.

I couldn’t help but notice how Jude physically relaxed after her initial shock of seeing Cardan, even in the arms of someone as evil as him. What could Locke have said to her that made Cardan’s company the preferable option? I never found out.

She still wore a scowl, but the angry flush from her face was replaced by a pink dusting across her cheeks. His gaze on her was softer than I had ever seen, not that Jude seemed to notice. I had wandered close enough to pick up on her annoyed tone.

Before I could decipher their conversation, Locke appeared at my side, breaking my attention on them. Cardan’s figure stood out in the swarm of bodies as he walked away shortly after. I slide between two guests looking for Jude only to find her standing still amongst dozens of dancers, looking dumbfounded as she watched the cruel prince leave. His head was dipped, but from where I stood, I saw a smile cracking up at the sides of his lips. Perhaps he had said something wicked to her after all.

With everything that happened that night, the mess of the coronation, Locke talking to Madoc, Jude and I almost dueling, I forgot about the insignificant interactions I witnessed. They hated each other and Jude was probably going to push her luck with him until we all regretted it. That didn’t matter then though; Locke was finally mine. While I had to share him with others, for the spice he talked about, I no longer had to worry about sharing with my sister and that was enough to keep me happy.

I should have realized how deep our secrets had grown as we had gotten older. After all, I had kept my relationship with Locke a secret. Yet, the night of Cardan’s coordination showed that I was not the only one keeping secrets.

Jude entered Hollow Hall with her arm interlocked with Cardans. He looked even more princely than normal in his cream colored attire. While Jude looked unsure at his side, her eyes kept darting around the room.

I couldn’t help but watch as they walked around the room drinking and talking with various court members. Whatever was making her nervous, I wasn’t sure Cardan was the source. The two even shared a few smiles, or at least what constitutes a smile for Jude.

Later, there was an explosion and I, unfortunately, found myself holding the blood crown. I was frozen with terror as I was caught between the desperate begs of my sisters and the violent threats from Prince Balekin. I could feel the heat of everyone’s stares and Balekin’s words echoed in my head which suddenly felt separate from my body. Jude appeared in front of me and took the crown from my hands.

I knew our relationship was strained after everything with Locke came to light, but nothing could have prepared me to watch as Vivi guided Oak forward and then declare Cardan the high king. It hurt to watch the scheme my family had all been in on come to be while I did not have the slightest clue what was happening. I was not surprised Jude didn't tell me, but Vivi kept me in the dark too. I only learned later that my little brother was the son of Prince Dain and Locke’s mother. Despite everything, I believed that there was still trust between us then, but Jude never trusted me again after that.

That night Cardan thanked Jude in front of the court. He announced, “And to Jude, who gave me a gift tonight. One that I plan to repay in kind.” He had a devilish grin on his face. One that reminded me of the power he wielded as the youngest prince, which was magnified tenfold now that he was the High King of Faerie.

I wondered if that was perhaps a threat, but after all, why would Cardan be angry at the person who made him king? The whole situation was incredibly confusing. They hated each other but somehow schemed together. Even though Jude later explained it was to protect Oak until he got older, I was still skeptical. Jude wouldn’t give one of her biggest enemies that kind of power unless there was more that I did not know.

Jude slipped to a corner of the room once Cardan started speaking to his new subjects. As the night went on she kept stealing glances his way, when she thought no one would notice. Of course, I did though. While she wore her best neutral face, after a particularly charming speech, it looked like the faintest smile crept onto her face. She looked proud, like her greatest scheme finally came to fruition.

In the months that Jude spent as seneschal to the High King, I was too focused on my upcoming wedding and adjusting to my new lifestyle to watch their interactions. Maybe if I had, I would not have been so shocked when Cardan kissed her in front of the entire throne room.

He had made a grandly foolish entrance, falling over the place appearing to have consumed entirely too much wine before coming. Jude tried to do damage control and get him to stop drinking anything else. It was painfully obvious how some court members were looking at the drunk boy king. I was not surprised by Cardan pulling my sister into his arms for a dance, but I was shocked when he pressed his lips to hers and she didn’t fight back.

Actually, for a moment she leaned into the kiss before pulling back suddenly. Cardan pouted for a fraction of a second before falling to the ground laughing. Jude’s face turned white as she must have realized Cardan was actually poisoned, not drunk as we all thought at the time. The pair made quite a scene when Jude tried to take him out of the hall. Cardan’s brother commanded Jude to stay, but Cardan wouldn’t let go of her. His knuckles had turned white from his tight grip around her waist. When they left, Balekin shook with anger. It wasn’t long before Madoc found me.

Even then, I did not believe that the pair were truly a couple. They had an arrangement. That much was obvious. I knew from listening to Locke that Cardan had some interest in Jude, which was something Locke enjoyed exploiting. But I knew Jude, at least I thought I did. All her choices were supposed to be a way to protect Oak until he could become king. On top of that, Jude always had high ambitions. Becoming the High King’s seneschal was as high as either of us could have ever imagined.

It was impossible to think that Jude was where she was based on her feelings for the High King, after all, he did try to drown us at one point and it was his fault Jude came home half-naked, recovering from the faerie fruits effects after the incident in class. To name only two examples of Cardan’s cruelty.

When Madoc came to me with the plan to seize control of the army, I had real doubts. The whole plan banked on Cardan not being able to refuse Jude, which seemed ridiculous. We grew up at school together. Cardan had been impossible as a prince, but now he was above everyone. It was impossible to think that Jude could demand half of the royal army for Madoc to independently control and he would just allow it. If she couldn’t tame his drinking or convince him to remove Locke as Master of Revels, then how would she demand this?

But still, the image of Cardan kissing Jude kept replaying in my mind. The way he acted around her was different from how I saw him act with anyone. His eyes lingered on her long after their interactions had ended. His actions around her gave Locke an unlimited supply of ammunition to antagonize him.

Whether or not she had actual control over him as Madoc claimed, Jude had to know that she had a powerful effect over him and was using it to her advantage. Why she wasn’t already using that power to help Madoc was beyond me.

I will always have conflicting feelings about Madoc, but I truly believed he always put our family first. Knowing what I did then, I didn’t regret my actions in the slightest. It was the right choice for our family.

As instructed by Madoc, I changed into Jude’s clothes and I slipped into her chambers where Cardan was barely conscious on the couch. When I entered the room, he didn’t even open his eyes. His arm was slumped over his face. His body was covered in sweat and there was a bucket nearby filled with an awful mixture of dirt and leaves.

“Jude? Is that you?” His voice was hoarse and barely audible from where I stood.

At first, I was afraid of getting too close, in case he noticed I was not Jude, but Jude and I had years of successful swaps and the people closest to us could barely tell if we switched places. A poisoned king was unlikely to know the difference.

“Yes. It is me.” I said and he waved me closer with his free hand. As I stood above the couch, he took my hand and tugged gently for me to sit next to him.

I obeyed and immediately regretted it. I doubt Jude would listen so willingly, but his hand remained in mine and I wondered if I misjudged their relationship. The act felt so soft and intimate.

Refocusing on the plan, I explained to him everything Madoc told me to say. For the first time, he looked at me and his over-dilated coal eyes opened wide. I was prepared to run out of the room, thinking he recognized me, but instead, he sighed and closed his eyes again, before nodding in agreement.

I may have overplayed my hand, but I leaned down to his ear and whispered, “Thank you, Cardan” before quickly running out from the room. The shiver that came over his body brought me more confusion as it confirmed my suspicion.

Cardan was clearly overcome with my sister, but how and when? Jude was defiant. She wanted to become a knight. How had she caught the attention of a prince, now king? Even now, as much as I wish her the best, I can’t help but feel frustrated. My plan was to marry well and be set for the rest of my life. Jude wanted knighthood and the short-life that brought. Yet somehow she managed to secure a marriage to the most powerful person in all of Faerieland, who also happened to be completely enamored with her. Of course, I did not learn about their marriage for almost a year.

Locke told me that faeries don’t love the same way mortals do. Mortals love one person, they show their love through acts and declarations, and prioritize trust and loyalty in the relationship. They think of each other often and need to feel close to one another. Fae relationships were much more relaxed and intertwined, he would say.

Locke kept our relationship open, inviting in strangers to add to the never ending story he was building. When we were not at a revel or in our bedroom, we saw very little of each other. As Master of Revels, he was constantly creating chaos and surprises. I was left to do whatever I pleased at the estate. The happiness in the arrangement quickly disintegrated, especially as I continued to question how faeries actually loved.

In the months of Jude’s exile, I watched Cardan’s mood sour to a new level. In some ways, he was worse than when we were in school. Locke occasionally brought me around to the extensive parties he was able to throw at the palace now that Jude was no longer around to curb the celebrations.

One day, Locke made a joke about Jude’s fragile mortality being tested in the mortal world to get a reaction from the High King and I thought Cardan might order Locke’s execution and carry it out with his own hands in the same breath.

Before Locke had a chance to realize the depth of his mistake, Cardan had sprung from his lounged position on the throne and his hands found their way around Locke’s throat. The copious amounts of wine I had drunk that night did nothing to curb the cold dread that filled my body. I watched helplessly as Cardan spat a reminder of how fragile his position within the court was.

When he did release his hands, Locke sat up coughing. His face red and purple from the lack of oxygen. The momentary relief I felt disappeared as Cardan’s words sent another chill down my back.

“The next time you speak a word about her, it will be your last spoken. Consider this time a mercy from your king.”

Cardan, likely more intoxicated than the rest of us, stumbled his way out of the room, grabbing a new pitcher of wine on his way out.

After that I tried to convince Locke to stop his scheming. I told him that one day his instigating would get him killed; little did I realize it would be me who killed him. Locke only frowned and told me that life without excitement was a useless existence.

I thought I loved him, but every conversation we had he seemed to put that love into question. Locke loved to remind me how different my mortal love was, but some days I wasn’t sure if what we had was love at all.

Vivi loved Heather. She was occasionally careless when it came to bringing Heather into faerie related situations, but their love seemed so natural and easy, like the romantic movies that I had watched at Heather’s apartment. Vivi never looked at another human or faerie after they started dating and in retrospect, I also don’t remember seeing Cardan take a single lover while Jude was in exile. Even after the most wild of revels when everyone seemed to be matched up with someone, or someones, by the break of dawn, Cardan could be found alone on his throne or retired to his chambers.

It was hard not to become bitter at my sisters’ relationships as time progressed, even if Jude’s was more complicated than I could have ever imagined. Cardan exiled her after all, so why he was moping around as if waiting for her to return was beyond my comprehension.

Regardless, here there were two faeries who were in love with mortal girls and they seemed to show it in very human ways. So why did Locke insist it was not the same for them?

I tried not to dwell on it. My future was secured. I had a home and protection. I didn’t think that there was more to seek besides that. If only Jude had made good on her promise to remove him from his position within the palace, then I think things would have been better. At least he wouldn’t have had more power to create his games.

Once I discovered I was pregnant I started secluding myself more and more within the estate. This caused Locke to become increasingly angry with me. He liked parading me around and then leaving me, and then returning again like his presence was a gift. If I wasn’t around he couldn’t play that game.

I still have nightmares of my bloodstained hands dragging his lifeless body to the water. The memory caused a deep ache in my chest. I am the one who killed him, yet I still somehow miss him.

No. It would be more truthful to say I miss the possibilities that died with him. The lies I told, the secrets I kept, the games I played, I endured it all and even risked my relationship with Jude for the promise of the future I wanted. I wanted to marry to secure my future, but I also wanted to marry for love. I wanted my husband to miss me and only have eyes for me in a crowded room. Someone who would protect me from pain, not instigate it.

But Locke was never going to be that person. I was foolish to believe in that fantasy for as long as I did. I had settled for a beautiful boy who loved games more than he would ever love me.

And my sister, my twin, found someone that looked at her like she was the sun after a century of darkness and she barely seemed to care.

[rpmemesbyarat]

RP meme from the Baali Clanbook V2 in "Vampire the Masquerade" Part 2 of 2

"Look at the world around you. No, truly look. Do you see it? The entropy slowly eating away at the fabric of existence? The world is dying."

"Existence has always teetered on the brink in some way or another."

"From the coming of prophets and gods to the turn of the millennium. Mankind has always found some way to turn the metamorphosis of life into an “end of days” scenario."

"It's not hyperbole."

"All things must come to an end. Even our universe."

"We can either fear this new existence or we can embrace it. I know which I choose. What will your decision be?"

"I find humanity both fascinating and boring."

"I find humanity both fascinating and boring. They are creatures who have risen above their state as pure beasts in the wild. They have domesticated the world, bringing it to heel under the boot of technology and enterprise. They have tamed the lightning and created weapons of such incredible potency that they could end the entire world with the push of a few buttons. But, at the same time, they cannot even control their own impulses."

"I do love seeing the hope in a victim’s eyes slowly die."

"We need to talk about vampires."

"They are all in their positions due to back-alley deals, dirty deeds, and betrayals that they fear will one day topple them."

"They are afraid. Afraid of losing power."

"Power is a cruel master."

"Do not put yourself out there in a manner that draws unwanted attention."

"Those who are worthy of your knowledge should seek you out, not the other way around."

"Use what you know to twist their desires to your own ends."

"Utilize every secret desire and urging until your “clients” are nothing more than puppets on your strings."

"Above all, however, don’t forget to clean when guests come to call. It’s embarrassing to have a bloody carpet."

"Arrogance will be the gap in their armor that you can exploit."

"They wounded ego and regret."

"That’s a level of fucked up I can’t wrap my head around."

"So easy to guide around by their rage."

"Get over it already."

"They’re not corruptors unless you want to be corrupted."

"It’s bargain basement degradation at best."

"All good rites have some semblance of pageantry to help build up psychic energy for ritual release, sure. But when you perform the rite more for the pageantry than sacrifice or offerings? You’ve missed the point."

"The beautiful ones have this fucked up perception that they are icons of style, grace, and tact."

"The punks think of themselves as whirlwinds of creative destruction."

"After all, I want to see the world break out of this nascent shell of physicality and witness the birth of a new universe."

"So, I can get behind wanting to push past pain and physical limitations."

"These. . .things will not think twice about skinning you alive and making you part of the furniture. And honestly. . .I can respect that."

"These fucking guys."

"There comes a time in everyone’s life when they look at the world around them and wonder; “Is this it? Is this everything that there is?”

"Life, if we are honest, is nothing but a series of disappointments."

"My youth was spent chasing some phantom of purpose. Some reason for us being here, for going on, day after day, living."

"My desperate pleas were met with unyielding silence."

"We all wander through the world, clinging to half-promises of something greater."

"We will find the bliss of enlightenment only after the trials of our world."

"Why was everything we did destined to age and rot?"

"There was no blissful release. There was no epiphany of understanding. No moment of realizing my place in the universe."

"We are, each of us, insignificant."

"We don’t get rich off hard work. Luck and heritage define who rises to the top."

"We don’t find enlightenment as we grow older, we only find bitterness and fear of encroaching death."

"We race to accomplish something. . .anything, that will live on after our deaths."

"I thought sensation would provoke deeper understanding. It does not. It only burns bright, then fades quickly, leaving a person yearning for the next instance of fleeting bliss."

"There is nothing. No great reward awaiting the dying. There is no great paradise for the enlightened. There are fading memories of life and the swirling maelstrom of oblivion."

"Why would anyone want to deny themselves anything knowing that, in the end, they are only fit for utter destruction and darkness?"

"Take every moment of disappointment in your life. Every hardship. Every heartbreak. And then realize that none of it matters in any form in the end."

"Fuck the universe."

"Fuck every lie and every false promise of salvation or of some “great reward” that never comes."

"Enlightenment is a trap."

"Fuck every self-styled guru that peddles street corner bliss and a side of eternal understanding."

"This universe is a fucked -up failure."

"This universe is a fucked -up failure. An experiment with no principal investigator at the helm. Let’s scrap it and start something new. Something where we can make our own purpose."

"It is the only choice we have —to grasp our destinies and forge something new out of the corpse of the old."

"The end is coming and there is no stopping it. But. . .we can accelerate it. We can end this torturous existence and craft something new and meaningful from its remains."

"We are not destroyers, nor are we heralds of destruction. We are idealists seeking to bring purpose to existence. We are scholars burdened with the horrible truth that this universe must burn so that something new and pure can take its place."

"Evil. I hate the word."

"To the point, however, the word “evil” is such a catch-all that is, at its core, quite meaningless."

"We are the midwives of eternity, here to see to the proper birth of what is to come."

"Evil may be a word that can fit us, but to the darkness, isn’t the invasive nature of light evil?"

"I do what I do out of simple necessity."

"“Good” and “evil” are terms for children."

"They are just as “evil” as we. They simply lie to themselves about it."

"I think the truth lies between these tales."

"While the stain of grievous sins can color the auras of most, yours, for some reason, remains pure and innocent."

"You may not realize it, but your very essence sings with dark power."

"You understand the state of the world. You understand how it hangs so precariously between collapse and a great rebirth in darkness."

"In these dark, twisting visions, the future is revealed in flashes of blood-soaked fate."

"They will still be a missing person and be mourned, but they will be, effectively, simply considered another statistic and efforts to seek out justice for them will fade."

"While friends and family still remember the individual and their name, any efforts to seek out justice for them or to search for them cease after the ritual is performed."

"By sharing the affections of your damned patron, you can grant infernal powers to others."

"The allure of evil can draw in the curious like a moth to a flame."

"What is your most shameful secret?"

"What do you desire the most?"

"Whom do you secretly despise?"

"The most valuable advice, then, would be to act subtle. Be calm. Act comfortable."

"Akkadian script is simple, but apparently too difficult for you to count in."

"The quest for the next horizon has always haunted your mind."

"No matter what you were doing, no matter where you were at. . .there was always the allure of the unknown calling out to you."

"The allure of history and understanding what came before was simply too great to ignore."

"You were ravenous for knowledge."

"By the end of the week, you were no longer alive."

"Cultures died out across the world. Why?"

"The great puzzle of the universe lays before you. "

"The ancients knew secrets that would sear the minds of today’s scholars."

"The old gods are my strength. They are my shield."

"Mankind has forgotten where its oldest, bloodiest rites came from."

"Your traditions were handed down to you by your parents, and to them by their parents."

"Old deities that were converted into demons and devils by Abrahamic religions were once sources of inspiration to the world."

"While you have dabbled in mainstream paganism, practitioners these days ring hollow to you."

"Their worship more out of desperation than any true passion."

"It wasn’t for you."

"You caught the attention of something in the dark."

"There is a strength in the old ways that it seems many have forgotten."

"What you are doing is not evil. It is necessary."

"Do stop squirming. It ruins the effect."

"Something was always broken inside of you. "

"Your questions cut through the niceties of social decorum."

"You weren’t ignorant of the suffering you caused. You just didn’t care."

"They love their work and the pain it inflicts."

"You? You honestly adore the look of terror ."

"After all, what is the point of your work if you do not enjoy it from time to time?"

"You know the best ways to draw out the psychic energy for a proper sacrifice."

"They will come. Have no doubt of that."

"You simply didn’t understand the need for religion."

"You were out of place."

"There is a calmness that comes from knowing the end is inevitable."

"You are existing on the precipice of a new universe and you know this."

"Your faith sustains you."

"Aren’t you a beautiful soul?"

"It was an easy lie."

"You have been an apt pupil."

"I am here to do the Devil’s work."

"Life hasn’t always sucked."

"Being homeless creates a new kind of resentment."

"People walk by, either with contempt or pity in their eyes for you. Both are an insult."

"In your anger, you lashed out, you reached for something new that could explain all the inconsistencies in the world."

"Beings from beyond time? The hell does that even mean?"

"You are the devil’s own."

"Satan was a model of freedom from tyranny."

"Your soul is foul and beyond redemption."

"Power belongs to those who are daring enough to wield it."

"You became the popular one, the one in demand, who’s very expression could elevate someone or dash their hopes."

"So, you arranged the death of your beneficiary and inherited their wealth."

"They admired the grace and style with which you brought your targets to heel and slowly destroyed them."

"It only took a week to catch your eye."

"The world may be destined to die a slow, agonizing death, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have your fun wherever you can find it."

"Who are you to judge?"

"You are only as good as your last rumor."

"It’s the thrill of the hunt that drives you and exhilarates you."

"You don’t understand. I know what breathes in the dark. I’m trying to keep it asleep."

"You were always looking for a place to fit in."

"The desire to fit in is always powerful. It can guide our actions and even our thoughts. It can shift our perspective, causing a realignment of our core values."

"Once you found some semblance of purpose you could identify with—and one that made you out to be a hero fighting back darkness, you embraced it wholeheartedly."

"You will keep doing what you know you must do."

"If they only knew that you were working to protect all of them. . .maybe they would be more grateful."

"You have a subtle contempt for modern society."

"You understand the desires that drive people to extremes. . .and you have no qualms about twisting those needs and urges to your ends."

"Everyone you meet is a tool to be used, a potential sacrifice, or a threat to be neutralized."

"You dress to impress—always in the most stylish manners according to what is in fashion."

"Use every environmental factor to your benefit when possible."

"Make good entrances and silent exits."

"You are a cutthroat negotiator when you need to be but know that sometimes the appearance of defeat can serve you better than a clear victory."

[scarlettroubles]

Drawing Process: A Crown for a Fool

Thumbnails:

Okay so I had the idea for this drawing for the longest time but only finally got the motivation to actually get to drawing it after clowning with @weirdcursedvaultkid​ for like, 3 weeks straight about Merula and I really wanted to get the drawing right so I ended up doing a few thumbnails. Thumbnails are a great way to plan out the composition of your drawing so I made sure to explore a few different ways the drawing could go. 

The whole idea behind this drawing was basically going to be around Merula’s want for power and recognition but how as the years go by and she actually starts making meaningful relationships with mc and co., she comes to the realization that she might not want that anymore and starts to question herself and the values she was raised with, but doesn’t really know how to stop. She doesn’t know how to be a better person when all her life she’s been taught that power meant everything and feels that because of her past actions, power is the only thing left for her. And so she continues down the line of bad choices and comes to regret it.

The crown symbolizes the power and recognition Merula has worked so hard towards achieving, but as she’s about to put it on, she hesitates. She knows she doesn’t want this anymore and knows it will bring her no satisfaction. And so I had her looking away from the camera in shame. I wanted this piece to have dramatic lighting to give this sort of magical feel to it but also a feeling of complete, utter loneliness to show that her ambitions only led her to be more alone then she ever has been in years. 

Out of all the thumbnails I decided to go with the second one and with that, I proceed to work on the lineart.

Lineart:

The trickiest part of this stage was getting the crown and the expression on Merula’s face right. Since I wanted those two things to be the central part of the finished piece. I think I had to redo Merula’s expression 5 times because I was just so unhappy with it. The hands were also tricky because what the fuck are hands even-

Colors:

And again, were at my favorite part of the drawing which is the coloring. I put down the base colors but once I was done I realized I was sorta stumped on what to do next. I usually just do a very simple shading where I choose a shade of red and proceed to color in the shadows on a multiply layer and then slap a few overlay layers on the piece but when I did do that this happened:

It didn’t look like how I wanted it to look like at all. I remember feeling so disappointed at where the drawing was going I wanted to give up on the piece and try again next time. But instead of doing that, I instead took a step back to think of a way to save this piece. 

And that’s when I decided I was gonna properly shade the whole thing. Something I don’t really do with most of my drawings anymore because it just takes so much time. But I wanted to give my best for this piece and let me tell you, taking my time and shading this thing properly was definitely what saved me from abandoning this drawing all together. So don’t be afraid to take your time with your artwork kids XD

Shading:

I had a lot of fun playing with colors and warm tones for this piece. I painted Merula’s skin with some shades of purple to go in with the reds and oranges and once that was done I made several overlay layers, picked a shade of yellows and oranges and just proceeded to play around with them while also keeping in mind where the light source is. Lighting is still something incredibly tricky to me so I most definitely fucked it up at some places. I picked a shade of purple and made a new multiply layer and proceeded to make a block of shadow around Merula’s eyes to really sell that look of regret and melancholy I wanted her to have for this piece. Most of the shading got covered up by the overlay and multiply layers I set up which admittedly made me pretty sad since I spent so much time on it ;-; 

But the piece was finally coming together so it worked out in the end.

Final Touches:

And with that, I put up the final touches by setting up a bunch of shine and overlay layers for the background to give it that hauntingly magical feel to it and giving the crown a little sparkle as well as a highlight for Merula’s eyes. And with that, the artwork is finished!

[partiallyobscure]

otp questions from this post <3 I just went ahead and did them with David and Michael lmao. it’s mostly my usual headcanons with my fic as the backstory but you don’t necessarily need to read it to understand. cw for light nsfw but it’s mostly tame.

Who is the most affectionate?

David is disgustingly affectionate. he lives to make people uncomfortable so he would be the absolute worst perpetrator of PDA. he and Michael have gotten kicked out of too many establishments all because David is constantly letting his hands wander. I don’t even think he’s aware of it at this point lmao

Big spoon/Little spoon?

they bicker about it a lot, but usually in bed, David ends up being the little spoon. he tries to start off being the big spoon but he always wakes up with Michael’s arms around his chest, specifically covering where the holes from the antlers were, even though the scars are long gone by now.

Most common argument?

usually comes down to who/what/where to eat.

Favorite non-sexual activity?

they love doing tons of stuff together, but they really like racing, watching bad sci-fi movies, and going on haunted tours around the country. they’ll really go the extra mile for the ghost tours and get huge cameras to hang around their neck and everything and act all tourist-y. it’s a great time.

Who is most likely to carry the other?

David fusses but Michael carries him around when he can or requests it. he doesn’t like to do it too often though because it always reminds him of that first time he did so, thinking he was carrying David’s dead body in his arms.

What is their favorite feature of their partner's?

Michael’s favorite feature is David’s mouth, especially when it quirks up into his signature smirk, but he can also tell a lot about what David’s feeling from what he’s doing with his mouth. David hates that Michael can read him so easily (even with their shared mental connection) and asks how the fuck he’s able to do that, and Michael always gives an enigmatic smile and swipes his thumb across David’s lips.

David’s favorite is Michael’s eyes. he could lose a whole night just staring into them. he can’t quite place the color, but they remind him of how the sky would look at noon and he gets a rush of nostalgia every time Michael looks at him. whenever they light up like when they’re with Michael’s family or when he’s talking about the coolest bike that he saw in town that day is David’s absolute favorite. and when only his eyes turn amber, before the rest of his face follows to match David’s, David falls a little bit more in love every time.

What's the first thing that changes when they realize they have feelings for the other?

not much changed on David’s end since he was attracted to Michael at first sight. he couldn’t let it show though so he just found excuses to touch Michael whenever he could, passing him the joint and their fingers brushing when Michael took the bottle and catching him when they fell off the bridge.

when Michael realized he started to share those feelings, he was confused at first considering everything that happened between them. he wasn’t sure if he wanted to hit David or hit on David when they first met, so those feelings simmered a bit until he could get to know David beyond their history. he doesn’t fully admit it until he realizes he’s the one David is pursuing and he has the ego boost from this combined with knowing there’s more to David than what he allows people to see.

Nicknames? & if so, how did they originate?

David likes how Michael’s name sounds too much to give him a nickname, but will sometimes hit him with a ‘babe’ just to see him flustered. Michael calls him Davey just to make him mad but especially in public.

Who worries the most?

Michael since he still can’t seem to shake the fact that he doesn’t need to worry anymore about human dangers. he still flinches and looks twice before pulling onto the highway and all. but mostly he still worries about his family and their perception of him and whether or not they see him as a bad person, despite their love and support. and of course, he worries about how he’ll be when the day comes that he gets older than them.

Who remembers what the other one always orders at a restaurant?

David knows Michael’s order all too well and specifically chooses restaurants that have at least fifteen kinds of burgers to choose from.

Michael swears David is making stuff up at this point whenever they go to a sushi place or a Thai place and he chooses something new to try every time. he knows David’s bubble tea order by heart, though.

Who tops?

Michael, but they’ll switch whenever David has had enough of Michael being too gentle with him.

Who initiates kisses?

David, but he’ll usually give Michael a look when he wants a kiss and Michael is happy to oblige. otherwise, since David likes gross PDA, he usually steals a kiss whenever he can.

Who reaches for the other's hand first?

David and it’s usually because he has to pull Michael along after he gets lost in his thoughts, more often than not after they feed.

Who kisses the hardest?

Michael. David nipped at his bottom lip once and that’s all it took for his fangs to come out and sometimes, it gets a little bloody.

Who wakes up first?

Michael. he has to practically drag David out of bed most nights because he’s too comfortable.

Who wants to stay in bed just a little longer?

David as stated above lmao. who knows how long dude was batting it up before he could sleep in a bed again.

Who says I love you first?

Michael and it was out of frustration.

Who tells their family/friends about their relationship first?

there’s no one to tell at first since they were keeping it secret, but Star finds out first and is initially upset, mostly about being lied to. grandpa eventually finds out next and then Sam stumbled across them by accident, so...both of them technically spill the beans together each time lmao

What do their family/friends think of their relationship?

Lucy is supportive and likes David a lot. she knows she should probably resent him for turning Michael, but he really seems like a boy who was in a bad scenario and is making due with what happened to him. she also knows Michael has been a good influence on him and trusts the two of them are doing what they need to to survive. her and David bond over shit talking Max and the best kind of wines.

Sam was understandably skeptical at first, but he and David came to an understanding and they’re cool now. they bond over music and David eventually comes around to really enjoying board games because of Sam, mostly because he wins every single game. Sam even refers to him as his brother-in-law.

Star took longer to come around but she mostly listens whenever Sam tells her what they’re up to. she’s also mostly relieved that she dodged both of those bullets and can live her own life how she wants to now, grateful that the boys gave her an escape and that Michael helped get her human life back.

Who is more likely to start dancing with the other?

both of them suck at dancing, but Michael will spin David every now and then when a cheesy slow song comes on, or Careless Whispers and they both crack up.

Who cooks more/who is better at cooking?

when they’re back spending time with Michael’s family, David is usually the one helping Lucy in the kitchen. he’s chided Michael before about joining in, especially with the big holiday dinners but Michael is always there to lick whatever spoons and bowls clean when they make dessert.

they vow to take a cooking class or two while they’re out on the road but never do.

Who comes up with cheesy pick up lines?

Michael. he usually gets them from Sam.

Who whispers inappropriate things in the other's ear during inappropriate times?

David, 100%. inappropriate times being at all times because of the whole telepathy thing.

Who needs more assurance?

David, that Michael still wants to be with him and doesn’t resent him for turning him. but also Michael that he isn’t a monster and that he’s only doing what he needs to to survive.

What would be their theme song?

SOOOO MANY but just from my drive to work today: Possum Kingdom by the Toadies fits TOO well. Michael by Franz Ferdinand too obviously. I’m curating a playlist for them here at the moment if anyone’s interested lmao

Who would sing to their child back to sleep?

please don’t give these two a child

What do they do when they're away from each other?

they’re not usually too far from each other but David gets a little mopey until he can see Michael again. he’s protective so he doesn’t let Michael too far out of his sight. Michael feels a little part of himself missing when David’s not with him, so he’ll do whatever he needs to do quickly or just take David along with him.

one headcanon about this OTP that breaks your heart:

despite all the time David has had to mourn and grieve, he still misses the other boys every day and sometimes it gets really painful. his only regret in life is not easing Michael into the vampire thing more before turning him, but he was under a time constraint from Max so he didn’t have much of a choice. they still get into shouting matches very rarely about whether or not Michael was the catalyst for the other three’s deaths and David’s very deep, hidden fear is that he’ll never learn how to accept it and one day, his emotions will take him too far and Michael will get sick of his guilt trips.

one headcanon about this OTP that mends it:

Michael does blame himself for David’s grief, because how could he not. he feels like the constant source of David’s sorrow when it comes to the boys but also his ecstatic love and it pulls him in two directions. he listens intently whenever David tells him about his past and his time with the boys and asks what they’d say or do if they were there with them right now, and it continues into the modern era. Michael asks what kind of blog Paul would have (music reviews and fashion), what Marko would name his Instagram account for bird photography (vampigeons), and how many followers Dwayne would get on tiktok for posting thirst traps. David knows Michael cares and is trying to keep the spirit of the lost boys alive.

[dark-imagine-robots]

Reveritale AU Dump!!!

((Hehehe, another thanks to my good pal @ask-ufpapyrus​, one of my good pals, who helped out a sort some stuff with this au in decision making AND Offical art pieces retaining to both this au and TOTC Epilogue/Undertale Story!! *clears throat, cracks knuckles.* now let's begin!))

  His memories...

                                      Now, where do we start?... Ah...

  The full names of the Queens of the Underground are names Undyne and Alphys Fantasti. The Sans of this Undertale au, the Queens' prince, is names Uphys Fantasti. He may not be a biological son to the two queens, however he was a gift to them from their lead royal scientist, Gaster. In which the Gaster of this au is named Illuseem.

  Despite the queens being the ones having full custody over Uphys, the queens allowed Illuseem still be present in Uphys' life and have some privileges over his own son. That is why Illuseem was also Uphys' caretaker when the queens are not attending to him.

  Having these privileges would also be the reason for Uphys to fall ill in the Reveritale story, along leading to his demise by the hands of Imago.

  Thanks to Imago's sacrifice to keep Uphys' soul alive, it was retrieved by the new Lead royal scientists that use to be Illuseem's assistants, Napstablook and Napsatton. The queens would be unaware of this retrieval, leading it to be believed that Uphys dusted as Imago died with him in his arms.

  The two ghostly scientists would continue the project if which Illuseem left behind, finding a way to bring back/save dusted/dusting monsters. Uphys' soul would be a part of this project as they were also trying to find a way to bring back the prince's body. Which this inevitably lead to chaos, as they looked tirelessly to find out how to do this ((Tirelessly due to the fact that Uphys' soul was slowly dying once again with Imago's magic fading from the soul's use of it to stay alive)), they found the notes on Skeleton Demons that Illuseem left behind as well. This leading to the two scientists to try and inject the essences from both Underworld and Overworld Skeleton Demons, and some of the essences of determination from the human souls, into monster souls. All tests failed, creating the amalgamates of this au. All tests failed except Uphys' test. Due to Imago's magic, the essences managed to become well absorbed into Uphys' soul. Yet... Uphys didn't come out as the same person he once was.. as the essences made Uphys' new body be an echo flower.

  Due to the essences of Overworld and Underworld Skeleton Demons implemented into Uphys' soul, the traits of both Skeleton Demons would also show during the pacifist run battle against him. These traits being the multiple symbols and bones from Underworld Skeleton Demons, and the show of colors and extreme magic levels from Overworld Skeleton Demons.

  But, just like the original Undertale story, Uphys is simply a young soul still, tainted by the outside essences that made him a different person, yet still preserved the person he still was before his body dusted so long ago.

                      .... Are we... forgetting someone?

  Indeed we are...

  As many of you know already, Skeleton Demons are already dead... and they would reject passing on if they knew it wasn't their time to be gone. Their soul will mend and refuse whenever it is shattered/destroyed by outside sources and people that are not of Skeleton Demon descendents.

  Imago never passed on... but he never came back the same.

  When Imago's soul was shattered, it's factors of keeping bad things away from his soul were extremely weakened, not because it shattered, but because of how and why it shattered. The extreme emotional toll and cruelness of being harmed during his walk and the life of hatred, weakened his soul.. anything could enter and became a part of him.

  Hate became a part of his soul... Hate, rage, and fury... but Hate is the main factor of what corrupted him... his soul.

   Imago's soul mends and refuses, but the Hate changed and kept certain things to Imago's body, since he didn't exactly pass on, he long passed his child youth. As change and unfamiliarity to a Skeleton Demon's body will always be apparent one way or another when they are corrupted, yet... the real change... the real corruption occurred more to Imago's own personality, emotions, magic, psyche...

   Stronger.... yet... pure malice...

   A Genocide run has always stayed avoided, no one wanted to do a Genocide run in this particular au. Neutral routes and Pacifist were always the go to... the reason is unknown as to why no one ever wanted to do the Genocide run of this au... it could be that the Neutral routes are rich in outcomes... maybe the pacifist route is just that satisfying to go through with, even when done over and over... or it could be that no one wanted to see their loveable skeleton be the true evil behind this au, as no one would want nor accept such a thing such a concept... such a frightening thought...

   That is... until one player decided to finally choose the Genocide run after a neutral run. 

   It would play off as any other outcome the Genocide run would provide... but Imago... at the very end.. will be more of a threat and terror before the player/frisk's presence.

   Imago will start off as a friendly, welcoming skeleton, just like any other alternate Papyrus would be. Sure his appearance is a bit.. atrocious... but his lights eyes are wide and adorable! What's wrong with going with a Genocide route? This Papyrus is like any other!!

   .......

   It's a facade.... 

   Imago's behavior will degrade into something more passive aggressive, sociopathic... right after he mentions how proud he is that you managed to kill everyone for him... just to meet him... the player/frisk will be uneasy, unnerved, and regretful of their decisions the more they stayed under Imago's presence. 

   And then...

   He finally asks... "Would you like the best outcome for your last route? I'll be with you through and through! Now and always, here and... forever. What do you say? Let's reset this now hollow shell of a ending, human! You'll have a best friend to follow you, wherever you go! You'll never be... alone. Nyhehe!"

   Choosing yes would be easy on Frisk's soul, he would be so "caring" and "kind" to you. Saying how you made the right choice, he wouldn't fail to be your best friend to the very End.

   But... Frisk doesn't choose yes... they were finally broken into tears, regret, sorrow... but everything they done and the evil they have brought upon themselves. They chose no.

   He notices their tears, their suffering as they chose no.

   He laughs in glee, sadistic joy from their tears and suffering. It was pathetic to him, so entertaining... but the choice they made... it didn't matter.

   He was in control, he is already their Best Friend to the end... it was too late to reject something that will never let go. 

                                                            Reset...

   In hopes to forget that Genocide ever happened, frisk now goes with a pacifist route! Easy enough, and so calming.

   But little things can be noticed... things that weren't there in the past pacifist runs.

   Some additional dialogue can be read out after every boss battle... they don't start off as anything strange... but they get more text heavy the closer you are to the last fight of the run. 

And of course!

   Imago kept his word... he would be there with you... always... 

   Like the original Undertale story, he can be seen in mirrored areas! But... instead of him being you... he is simply behind you the entire time.

   "Despite everything, you're still you. But... you did make a friend along the way."

   This pacifist run will have the same ending like the rest, nothing bad or any MAJOR changes will take place for the end...right?

...

   I would be lying if I said everything would be well in the end, but it would be far more different, oh so far more horrible. 

   Once you have to face Uphys, something changes in this pacifist fight... Uphys is more tense, and he doesn't give you the option to save the others. He can be saved, but only him... once you do, it goes out as any normal Undertale Story goes. He turns back into his original body and speaks to you...

   But he knows something is wrong, but his gaurd is down, he can't right in this form. He offers you/frisk a hug. If anything, frisk would have accepted right away, but that didn't happen...

   Instead... the option to attack appears. Frisk refused to attack, but it wasn't their choice, someone else made that choice. They made frisk attack Uphys.

   The first strike doesn't kill Uphys, but made him fall to his knees, crying, in pain, bleeding, and scared. 

   Frisk is no longer in control, but they cry as well as they don't want to hurt Uphys, not again. Oh... but that wasn't a choice... Him... Imago was in control. Making you kill his own brother. He is enjoying this, enjoyingthe pain and suffering of it all. His own brother was nothing to him, his little show of power, meant nothing to him, their time together.... was nothing but a long faded memory with Hate attached to it.

   He makes frisk make that final blow.

   Uphys' body dusts before frisk, leaving only his soul, which Imago snatches it on the spot. 

   "Such a swell job you did human, nyheheh." He explored as he held the soul up near his own face. "It was quite the show too! This outcome was definitely the best one! Hmm... but it's a shame." He ponders. "I actually won't be needing you anymore!!!" He says enthusiastically before he actually consumes hos own brother's soul. "Ahh, finally complete. You know, all that time of other pacifist routes going over and over, gave me time to grow more and more powerful. Until the perfect time came when you came along to make the first, and last, Genocide route." He makes the Erase button appear before himself and frisk. "After so long of watching everyone make True Resets, I was curious... what if there was a Permanent Reset? Nyhehe, a button that would make sure nothing every comes back and could never be played with again! This.." He points at the Erase button. "This is what I always been wanting to conjure... now that I'm complete, I finally got to summon it!! Nyheheh! .......but of course... it's not yours to use or make go away. It's mine." Black ooze seeps from his jaws, nose, eye sockets, and scars. His eyes become a swirl of his magic colors, crazed and terrifying. "Goodbye, Frisk."

   Thus, Imago pressed the button. And his au has been Erased.

((This lovely piece was made by @ask-ufpapyrus​!!! Again, thank you so much, bud! And thank you guys for reading his dump!))

[katelyn--renee]

This Is Crazy, Isn’t It?

Title: This Is Crazy, Isn’t It?

Fandom: Supernatural

Characters: Sam Winchester, Reader, Dean Winchester (Mentioned) 

Pairing: Sam x Reader

Words:  ± 2000

Description: The trio enjoy a night out in Las Vegas. Things don’t go quite as expected.

Written For: @anyfandomgoesbingo​ - Square Filled: Accidental Marriage

Warnings: Fluff, Stranger Danger, Mentions of Alcohol Use, Hints of Smut and gets a bit smutty towards the end.

Author’s Note: I hope you enjoy this as much as I did writing it. :) I don’t own any of the characters or gifs used. :) As usual, there was no beta, so all mistakes are my own. 

Please leave feedback, like, share, or whatever. It gives me life and motivation! Thank you loves!

As always, thanks for the awesome dividers @talesmaniac89

​Interested in more of my work, check out the link below.

Masterlist

The afternoon sunlight was bright and intrusive as it cascaded in through the large window overlooking the city, interrupting (Y/N)’s sleep and stirring her awake. She groaned and scrunched her face up against the unwelcome light, her nose wrinkling with discomfort. 

Her mouth was dry and her head was pounding painfully - courtesy of all the alcohol she and the Winchester brother’s had consumed the night before. They’d been out celebrating Dean’s birthday and naturally, he’d insisted they go to Vegas for a night of fun. 

Now, as fun as it may have been at the time, her body was definitely regretting her choices. 

With another groan, she tried to roll away from the source of the sunlight and yanked the covers over her head, shifting on the mattress to face the other direction. The comforter was fluffy and heavenly, wrapping her into a cocoon of warmth. Her body connected with something solid beside her and she froze, having not expected the sudden skin on skin contact. 

Her (Y/E/C) eyes shot open wide and she gasped in surprise as she looked beside her, eyeing the naked man she currently shared a bed with. She withdrew herself, nearly falling out of bed in her haste to get away from the stranger.

She hugged the covers close when she realized her clothes were also missing, covering her bare chest as best as she could. She stared at the man with wide eyes, trying to put a name to the shaggy brown hair. Upon further inspection, she soon realized that the man in her bed wasn’t a stranger at all… It was Sam.

Sam fucking Winchester. 

She brought a shaky hand to her head and tried to recall the events from the night before, but the effort only resulted in a piercing headache and fragmented images. Her eyes wandered back to Sam - who remained unbothered, laying face down into the mattress. She studied his face in an attempt to help jog her memories, to no avail. She exhaled heavily, blowing the air from her lips in a frustrated sigh. 

The white sheet was draped over his bare ass, contrasting heavily with his sun bronzed skin. She couldn’t help but let her eyes scan over his naked form, traveling up the length of his muscular back and strong shoulders. She traced every dip and curve along the planes of his back, her breath hitching in her chest. He had his large arms folded beneath his head, tucked under his pillow while he slept.

(Y/N) felt her heart flutter with excitement and her cheeks grew warm and darkened in color, something inside of her stirring and building at the sight of him. She shifted a little and chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes taking in his peaceful expression. It wasn’t often she saw a Winchester so relaxed, especially Sam. It was a refreshing sight. She almost didn’t want to wake him.

A hint of a smile tugged at her lips, despite the situation she found herself in. What the hell happened last night? She tore her gaze away from the youngest Winchester and began to search the room for some answers, scanning over the discarded beer bottles and nearly empty bottle of Jack Daniels next to the sofa. The sight of it made her stomach flip and turn. She wouldn’t be drinking any of that for a while.

Another groan left her and she had to shut her eyes to help fight off a wave of nausea. This would be the last time she’d let a Winchester talk her into drinking again. She combed a set of fingers through her tangled (Y/H/C) hair, ruffling it up a bit at the roots in an attempt to tame it after her apparently eventful night. Something snagged in the strands and she pulled her hand away to examine it further, her eyes going wide once again. 

There, on her left hand, a delicate diamond ring sparkled in the afternoon sunlight. It wasn’t overly large or bulky and it felt out of place on her finger, but it was breathtakingly beautiful. Her eyes darted back to Sam and, regretfully moving too fast, she yanked his pillow from under his head to get a better view of his hands.

He woke with a sharp intake of air, his head jerking upward and making his vision spin. “What is it? What’s wrong?” He mumbled incoherently, still half asleep. (Y/N) ignored him and grabbed for his left hand, while also carefully keeping the blanket tucked close to her naked frame. 

Sam was confused and groggy, his face heavy with sleep. His hair was tousled and sticking up at odd angles, and if (Y/N) wasn’t already preoccupied, she would have thought he looked adorable. Though, in her eyes, Sam Winchester was always adorable. 

As suspected, there on Sam’s left hand, was a black wedding band circling his ring finger. Uh-oh. An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach and the blood seemed to drain from her face; what did they do?

Sam studied her face, his own filled with concern as he followed her gaze, dropping it to their hands. Realization quickly took over and a hint of a smile pulled on his lips. He shifted and took her hand in his, their fingers lacing together. 

(Y/N) was puzzled by this gesture and her eyes snapped to his, his hazel gaze overwhelming her. She felt her heart beat a little harder, a little faster, inside of her chest as she watched Sam. He moved on the mattress, his muscles flexing and shifting under his tanned skin. His weight caused the bed to shift and dip differently as he moved closer. 

She couldn’t breath, couldn’t speak. He lifted a hand and gently brushed it against her cheek, tucking away a few strands of hair. Her face burned with a blush and she found herself wanting to burrow into the covers and hide forever, but she was frozen in place, hypnotized by the beautiful man in front of her. 

“You don’t remember, do you?” He asked, his voice a bit gravely with sleep, but full of kindness and adoration. Was this really happening?

(Y/N) shook her head, still unable to find her voice. Sam smiled fondly, dimples creasing his handsome face. “I’m not surprised, we were both pretty wasted.” He laughed lightly, the sound filling her with so much joy. He rubbed circles into the back of her hand, the pad of his thumb much rougher than she’d imagined. It was nice, though, and the gesture made her chest swoon. 

“The shortened version; after Dean ditched us at the casino, we decided to check out The Strip. More alcohol was consumed, feelings were announced, lots and lots of kissing,” He flashed her his boyish grin and looked up at her through brown bangs, his own cheeks flushed with color.

The more Sam spoke, the more blanks he filled in and the distorted images in her mind were starting to become clearer. He chuckled before continuing, “We, uh, accidentally stumbled into one of those,” He used his hands to emphasize what he was saying, “over-the-top, overly exaggerated churches,” He laughed again.

“With the Elvis impersonator. Oh god.” (Y/N) recalled and dropped her face into her palm, hiding it. They both laughed, a little embarrassed by their actions… but somehow, not regretting them. 

“Right.” Sam confirmed, a smile still adorning his face. “Well, one thing led to another and…” He held up his hand, twisting the band around with his thumb. 

The pair of them sat in silence for a moment, despite a few longing gazes and giggles, letting everything that happened in the last twenty-four hours sink in. Her eyes fell to the diamond sparkling on her finger again and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. 

“What’s goin’ on in that pretty head of yours?” Sam asked with care, gingerly touching her exposed knee to steal her attention. He offered her a closed lip smile for assurance, urging her to share her thoughts.

“This is crazy, right?” (Y/N) stated, the rational part of her brain taking over. Her heart couldn’t be happier, but there was no way this would actually work, right? They were drunk. Fuck, were they still drunk? Panicking, she moved to stand up, taking the sheet with her and wrapping it around her tiny frame, covering her exposed skin. 

She paced a little, padding the length of the bed and back again. “I mean… we’re married, Sam. Fucking married… man and wife… sickness, heath, death due us part… married.” 

Sam watched her, his eyes lingering over the skin he could see from where the blanket hung low, hesitating on the dimples of her lower back. “Is it though?” Sam asked from his position on the bed, stopping her in her tracks. 

“What?” She snapped back and looked at him in bewilderment, but then quickly averted her gaze, having forgotten he was completely naked. 

“Is this really that crazy?” Sam corrected, moving to join her on the other side of the bed. 

(Y/N) didn’t notice his movement, her eyes closed with frustration. “Sam.” She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose between her finger and thumb.

“No, I’m serious. (Y/N/N), look at me.” He encouraged, his voice gentle. He stopped in front of her and gently caressed her cheek, before hooking his finger below her chin, tilting her head to look up at him. She couldn’t help but lean into his touch, her worries already beginning to ease. 

His large, puppy dog eyes bore into hers, making her legs feel weak. “I don’t regret our decision, however reckless it may have been.” He laughed a little, before continuing, “I haven’t been this happy in a very long time,” He said, swallowing thickly and forcing his Adam's apple to bob with the motion. 

“I am beyond crazy about you, (Y/N/N), have been for a while now and I know you feel it too… you admitted it last night.” He reminded her with a smirk, making her blush again. “I just… I fail to see how this is a bad thing. And I don’t want to.”

(Y/N) stared up at him, stunned into silence. How could this be happening? Everything she’d ever wanted to hear him say, he was saying it. Right now. Right in front of her. Sam and all his glory, was admitting that he loved her. “Well what are you waiting for, then? Kiss your wife.” She muttered, breathless.

A smile broke across Sam’s face. He didn’t need telling twice. He dipped his head and her eyes shut, her long lashes fluttering. Their lips crashed together, molding and morphing into one, as if they were meant for just that purpose. She parted her lips for him, inviting him in.

(Y/N) felt herself moving closer to Sam, her body moving on it’s own accord, her hands releasing the blanket in her grasp as she pressed her palms firmly into his bare chest. The sheet fell into a heap around her feet, forgotten. Her hands travelled up, bracing herself with his strong shoulders as she hoisted herself higher, wanting to be closer.

He groaned and placed his large hands at her thin waist, spraying out his thick fingers and dimpling her skin. His tongue eagerly tasting the inside of her mouth, hungry. He lifted her with ease, his hands moving down to cup her ass and she responded with a moan, her legs wrapping around him. 

Sam turned toward their bed, gently laying her against the mattress while he hovered above her, careful not to put too much weight onto her. His lips left her mouth and attacked her neck instead, leaving a wet trail along her jawline, traveling down to her pulse point where he suckled gently. He nibbled at her ear, his breath hot and heavy against her flesh. She shivered beneath him. “I’m going to do more than just kiss my wife.” He promised through a lustful growl.

Thank you for reading!! <3

Taglist!

Supernatural

@akshi8278 

[weuschoiceheart]

🔑 Keiys to Your Heart - Vampire

Taglist: (lmk if you want to be added!) @soft-black-teabag @artzyyangel @bluejayjay @mysticpenguincreation @raftel-is-waiting @lifeisamuffin

Keiys to Your Heart Masterlist   Main Masterlist 

Warning: small mentions of blood, one suggestive(?) comment

Genre: Vampire!au, tiny bit of angst

————————————————————

“Brave of you to venture here.”

You jumped at the voice and looked around the forest for the source, but there was nothing. All you can see is the towering trees blocking out any light from the sky, though there wasn’t much light to begin with, for the sun do not shine in Lamia. No wonder vampires thrive so much here, you thought. In the distance you can hear the crows cawing, and a slight breeze passed by, raising the hairs on the back of your neck.

A low chuckle resonated through the trees. “I must say, you do seem to have some courage within you compared to the other mortals I met.”

“Show yourself,” you demanded. “If you want to talk, we might as well do it face to face.”  “As you wish.” A figure materialized out of the hazy mist in front of you. A tall boy leaned casually against a gnarled tree, looking at you curiously with a small smile on his face. He was dressed like a regular human, wearing ripped jeans and a loose black t-shirt, but you knew he was definitely not a mortal. It was his eyes who gave him away—they were wine-red, with golden hues. You inhaled sharply as you realized what that meant.

“What, surprised to see a vampire?” the boy lazily tapped his fingers together. “You are in one of the vampire lands after all.”

“It’s...my first time seeing one,” you mumbled. You knew you were bound to encounter one eventually, and that they might even be the reason behind your brother’s disappearance, but it was a shock to see one for the first time. For some reason, you felt attracted to the one in front of you. Something about him felt familiar, strangely enticing. “What’s your name?” You asked, trying to sound more confident.

His smile turned into a smirk. “K. You’re always calling me by my nickname, Y/N, how can you forget that?”

A shiver ran down your spine, and you stepped back. “How do you know my name?”

“It’s been 10,000 years, and you still haven’t changed.” K stepped closer to you, looking at you with almost a sadness in his eyes. “I found you after all these years, and you forgot everything. Don’t you remember anything about me?”

You tore your eyes away from his red eyes that bore into your soul. Heart thumping frantically, you said, “Don’t come any closer. I don’t know you.”

“Y/N!”  Your eyes widened, hearing Geonu’s voice. K seemed to have heard it too, and you turned to see him disappear in a cloud of mist.  “Yah, Y/N, don’t go wandering off again,” Geonu grumbled as he came into view. “At least tell me you’re going to go into the forest.” He stopped in front of you, and waved a hand in front of your face. “Y/N? You there?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah...hey,” you said absentmindedly, still thinking of your encounter with K. 

Geonu frowned. “Are you ok? Did something happen?”

“No, nothing,” you forced a smile. “Let’s go back to the tent. We’ll continue searching tomorrow, it’s late.”

Geonu nodded, still not convinced with your answer. “Alright then.”

—————————————————————————————— The howling started that night.

You just couldn’t fall asleep. Every time you close your eyes, you see K’s eyes again, and the conversation replay in your head. A million questions swirled around your mind. How did he know you? What happened between you two 10,000 years ago? What is this weird feeling you always get around him?

After tossing and turning for an hour, you decided to get some fresh air. Carefully stepping over the sleeping bag where Geonu lay, snoring, you opened the tent flap and stepped into the night.  The moon shines its icy-white light upon you, and you felt comforted in its glow. The small clearing that you and Geonu had made your camp in was bathed entirely in moonlight. It was at the edge of the forest, close to the border between your homeland and Lamia, and if your strain your eyes, you can see small houses in the distance. A small pang of nostalgia filled you, but it was too late to go back. You have to find your brother, even if it takes searching every bit of Lamia.

You stretched your arms above your head and was about to head back into the tent when your eyes caught on something dark on the ground. Narrowing your eyes, you crept closer to the forest, eyes widening when you realize what it is.

A trail of blood littered the ground. Judging from the color, it was there pretty recently, though neither you or Geonu had notice anything out of ordinary this morning. Someone’s been murdered and dragged into the forest....while we were sleeping, you suddenly thought, noticing how the drops of blood was scattered haphazardly all around, and the ground around it was matted and bent in a certain direction. Impulsively, you started following the trail of blood.

You thought it was going to lead you to the same grove of trees that you met K at earlier, but it dipped towards an unfamiliar bend. Ahead, you saw a figure sitting down, leaning against a tree. It was too small to be K, but it looked vaguely familiar. Approaching it slowly, you gasped when you saw who it is.

It was your brother.

“Jungwon!” Kneeling down, you examined his face. His eyes were closed, his head tilted to one side. You drew in a deep breath when you saw a deep bite mark on his neck. “You—you got bitten...”

In the distance, the howling you had heard earlier started up again, making you stiffen. You have to get Jungwon out of here, and back to the tent before anything happens. From what you have read before, not only vampires live in Lamia, but also—

“Werewolves,” the voice behind you made you jump, and you whirled around to see K behind you. His eyes seem to glow in the dark, as he stared at you with the same intensity as before. “They’re coming, it’s the full moon tonight.”

“I’m not leaving my brother,” you said, going over to Jungwon and trying to pick him up. “I have to go back to camp and warn Geonu—”

“It’s too late for that,” K knelt down besides you and picked up Jungwon easily. Standing up, he turned to face you again. “I have a safe place we can go to. If you go back that way, the werewolves will attack you. Your brother already got bitten by a vampire, it won’t be safe for him, and even if you do make it back, you don’t know how he’ll be like after the transformation. He already lost so much blood.”

“But-” you started to protest, before you were cut off by another loud howl. It sounded much closer than before, and you clenched your hands into fists. What are you going to do?

“Trust me, Y/N,” K’s voice turned soft. “Please. I’m not going to hurt you. If I wanted to, I would’ve done it sooner.”

You looked at him, uncertain. Why should you trust a stranger you’ve never met before, even though it seems like you two knew each other years ago? And a vampire, nonetheless. But it was between him and getting beaten up by werewolves, and you knew that you had no choice.

Hoping that you won’t regret your decision, you sighed. “Lead the way.”

——————-—-—————-——————————————— You watched anxiously as K patched Jungwon up, applying healing ointments onto his face and cleaning the bite mark. Fidgeting slightly, you looked around the small cabin you were in. It was sparsely furnished, with some stools placed at the corners, a couch that Jungwon was now lying on, and a table near the wall. You have a strange feeling of déjà vu, as if you been here before.

“Is Jungwon alright?” You shifted your focus back to K, as he pulled a blanket over your brother, then putting the medicine jar away.

“He’ll live,” K said. “It’ll take some time for him to recover, though. How did he end up like this?”

“I don’t know...” you bit your lip, “He disappeared from home a year ago, and I’ve been searching for him ever since. I couldn’t find any trace of him until a few months ago, when someone tipped Geonu off—oh my god, Geonu!” You stood up and rushed to the door. “He’s out there, all alone, I should’ve checked on him—”

“And risk crossing paths with the werewolves?” You turned back to see that K had stood up as well, frowning at you. “It’s best to wait until morning, you’ll put yourself in danger if you go now.”

You let out a sigh in frustration. “I can’t just leave him there! The werewolves will kill him!”

“Why do you care about him so much?” K suddenly burst out, his voice making you look at him, surprised. “Are you two dating or something?”

“No, he’s my friend,” you rolled your eyes. “Even if I was, why do you care so much? Actually,” you looked him straight in the eye. “Why are you so interested in me? And how do you even know me?”

K tilted his head to the side, contemplating you for a second. “Did you really forget, or are you just pretending not to know?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He stepped closer to you, and something in his gaze changed. He almost looked predatory, a wild fire in his eyes as he searched yours for lies. “You don’t remember anything at all?”

“N-no,” your confidence wavered under his intense stare, and you finally broke eye contact. Somehow, your eyes landed on a pendant hanging on his neck. Again, that same feeling of déjà vu washed over you, and a memory suddenly played in your mind: intertwined hands, soft laughter, the sunset. You blinked in confusion. Where did that come from?

“Really?” K’s voice sounded almost amused. “I think you do know something, Y/N.”

“I gave you that pendant,” you said, still eyeing it. It had a special meaning, you decided, to both you and him. “Because....we were....”

He was too close, yet you couldn’t bring yourself to push him away. You don’t know how the distance between you two had suddenly shortened, but his scent was intoxicating. You inhaled sharply as he put his lips to your ear, his breath fanning your neck.

“I can’t wait to mark you as mine again.”

[wakaoujisenhime]

Our fireplace - Keigo x reader

A/N: This right here is a special present for @bluuenvy for the Secret Santa event fyeahbnha hosted! Hope you have a great holiday! I tried to implement as much of your interests/wishes, which you shared with me, as I could and hope that you’ll enjoy this fluffy story even a little bit! (*´◡`)

I also tried my hand at graphics and hope that it’s enough to count as a second present! Please enjoy! ❤️

Tags: Hawks/Keigo x reader ✅  SFW ✅  fluff ✅

━━━━☆ ━━━━☆ ━━━━☆

You were woken up rather sudden and unwillingly as the sunlight which shone on the empty space next to you reached your closed eyes. In an attempt to escape the bothersome light you turn your back to your windows and look at the dimly lit room with squinted eyes. The slight fragrance of your boyfriend’s cologne was still lingering and it made you remember the way his arms would always wrap around your body and keep you warm during all those nights immediately made a smile appear on your sleepy face. 

Despite still feeling tired you stretched your body and reached for your glasses on the nightstand next to your bed, while doing so you managed to catch a glimpse of the clock.

8:35 AM…

You sighed and leaned your back against the headboard. It usually didn’t surprise you to wake up alone, but today you at least hoped to be able to have your beloved next to yourself. Sadly him being a pro hero meant that things like this would occur daily and you had no choice but to accept it.

Another sigh escaped your mouth as you slowly got up and made your way to the kitchen, ready to prepare some breakfast and start your first free day since long ago, but much to your surprise a plate of your favorite breakfast meal was already standing at the center of the kitchen island and a small note was leaned against the edge of the plate. You take the small paper and look at the familiar handwriting.

Good morning sunshine, hope I didn’t wake you up this morning (though maybe I should have). I wish you a Merry Christmas and hope that you’ll make the most out of today’s first half, ‘cause I get to have you all to myself during the second half. Just make sure to be at home by 6 PM, trust me...you won’t regret it.

Love you, my dear

While you read that note, you failed to notice the wide grin that had spread across your face. The mere thought of your boyfriend having prepared something for the two of you additionally to his plan of coming home earlier than he had ever managed before made your heart race with anticipation. You started humming to yourself while you ate your warm breakfast.

Today is going to be a great day…

With that thought in mind, you finished up eating, put the dishes away, and made your way to the bathroom. Your plan for today was to mainly spoil yourself and do some shopping, since thanks to work you weren’t able to go on a good shopping spree for quite a while. 

Surrounded by the warm and bubbly water of your bathtub you let your thoughts wander, thinking about whether you should invite some of your friends to accompany you, but you decided against it, remembering that today was a special holiday they’d probably like to spend alongside their families and significant others. Thanks to your thought process, the idea of spending Christmas alongside your beloved entered your mind once again and before you could suppress any upcoming scenario that popped into your head, you saw a small smiley face on the mirror shelf unit above your sink. Your eyes widened as you remembered the day Hawks had drawn this small emoticon. The two of you took a bath together on that day and when you started drying your hair in front of the mirrored shelf he made fun of your pouty face. He said that you should try and look more cheerful so that you prevent any wrinkles from forming on your beautiful and young face. Since the mirror was still partially fogged back then, the little face had stayed there, and it unexpectedly brightened up your mood.

“Alright, let’s do this!” you happily cried out and raised both of your fists into the air, determined to make this the best day of your life.

After pressing the play button on your phone’s favorite playlist and turning the volume to max, you began to dance while you dressed yourself up. As for today’s outfit, you picked one that you considered your favorite: black skinny jeans, a dark purple top, and a grey pullover with dark-colored patterns. Now that you were dressed up, you once again returned to the bath to do your hair, since having long hair meant a lot of struggles, but you never considered it that way...if anything you absolutely loved it and you’d gladly spend almost an hour playing with it or fixing it, and indeed it took you 40 minutes to fix it the way you wanted it to be. With a triumphant grin, you placed your hands on your hips and admired the subtle hairdo that perfectly complemented your facial features.

Perfect...now I’m all set.

Instead of pausing your loud music, you simply plugged your headphones in and continued dancing to the vibrant beats that roared through the small speakers as you progressively left the apartment. 

——

After getting on your regional bus which would drive you right to the heart of the city where all of the shops would stand so close to each other that they resembled a tight-knitted pearl necklace, allowing not even the tiniest space for a side alley. You took a seat next to the window and looked out, relishing the familiar places of your vivid hometown. As soon as the vehicle passed a couple of your favorite stores you once again remembered some of your past dates with Keigo and thanks to the energetic J-Rock music that dominated your playlist, the scenes you recalled were mostly positive. Even though you were in a slight daze something caught you off guard. A pair of red wings flashed before your vision and you were so taken aback that it took you a short while to actually process what you had seemingly witnessed. You reluctantly turned your head back a bit, trying to make sure that your eyes weren’t deceiving you, but the bus had already passed the shop in question and the trademark of your boyfriend was nowhere to be seen.

Am I finally starting to see things?

Your stop finally arrived and the moment you got out of the bus, the festive mood of the city finally hit you in all its glory. Holiday lights, garlands, colorful posters announcing sales or wishing passersby and customers a merry Christmas. Everything was so full of life and bright that the immense urge to visit every single shop overcame you, a tingly feeling you know too well. The city center was brimming with life and not only tourists and locals were present, but also some folks from the outskirts had decided to drop by and enjoy what the usually stressful and oppressing collage of high buildings had organized for the festive days. Your excitement went through the roof as you walked a few steps, letting your eyes roam around, and that’s when you first took notice of the variety of street vendors that loudly advertised their products and food. Everything seemed so welcoming and warm and if it weren’t for your little “promise” with Keigo, you would’ve spent your entire day jumping from one store to the other, trying as much of the food out as your stomach could take. A silent giggle escaped your lips at the sheer imagination of yourself going through with that plan, but enough of that. You were here to spoil yourself and no one was going to stop you from it.

A few hours passed by and within those you had visited a handful of shops. You had paid a visit to your favorite clothing store, which you left with two full shopping bags, full of new different tops, jeans, jackets, and a few beanies you’d occasionally put on. Next, you visited one of the many music stores your city had constructed, looking for the newest release of your main Japanese rock band as well as for some merch to go along with it. Further down the street was a small and barely noticeable building, its size was minuscule in comparison to the ones which surrounded him and unlike them, it had no modern façade, it was a simple brick building with very few Christmas decorations. And this small store was something you considered your getaway on lonely days or just bad days in general...it was your favorite bookstore. You were always over the moon when they had the latest release of your favorite genre of books, namely mystery novels. The staff there was similar to the building’s exterior: old but proper, super friendly, and attentive to any type of customers. They adored you and you did so as well. That mutual fondness you had for each other lead to many conversations on different topics, you sometimes even sat down and drank something together, but the main thing they did for you was set the newest releases to the side and wait for you to pick them up.

When you opened the wooden door to the store the familiar chime of the small bell above the door frame rang out, notifying the two owners of your arrival.

“My dear, welcome! How have you been?”

Another wide smile adorned your lips as you took the old and skinny hands of the owner into your own, squeezing them lightly. The two of you exchanged greetings, chatted a bit, and then his facial features dropped a little. His voice sounded sad as he confessed to you that there were no new novels for you to pick up. His seriousness took you by surprise, but you just giggled and reassured him, that it was no problem whatsoever, you were here to give them something in the first place. Their surprised and touched expressions warmed your heart, and after exchanging dozens of hugs you exited the store and resumed your shopping spree…

“No way! Bakugou look who’s there!”

The sudden loud but cheerful voice caught you off guard and as you turned your head to its source you saw a familiar duo amid the countless other pedestrians.

“Kirishima! Bakugou! What a coincidence of meeting you guys here!”

“There’s nothing coincidental about this and you know it.”

Both you and the red-haired young man squinted your eyes and raised your eyebrows at the grumpy blond, who immediately got flustered and tried to hide it with countless insults that weren’t bad-mannered in the least. Ignoring his usual tactics Kirishima and you shifted your attention to each other and started chatting up a storm.

“Have you been out shopping for presents as well?” he asked with his typical lively voice. You smiled and answered that this was more or less the case. The three of you resumed the walk and talked about today’s plans.

You found out that the former 1A planned a get-together at a restaurant and Bakugou made sure to stress multiple times that he wasn’t here voluntarily and that Kirishima had forced him to go shopping for some small surprises for their former classmates. 

“And what about you, don’t you have anything planned with that birdman of yours?”  If you weren’t between these tall men right now, the blond would’ve gotten elbowed by his friend, who now had to resort to glares only. 

“Bakugou, you can’t ask her something so personal!”

“Why not? Didn’t we tell her about our plans too?”

“She’ll share it with us if she feels comfortable, ok? It’s way more private than our get-together!”

“You little-”

Much to their surprise, your giggles were what interrupted their small bickering and after a while, the two of them couldn’t hold back and joined in. After calming down you just shook your head and told them about the small note he had left behind but after suppressing all those lonely thoughts for the entire day, your facade finally dropped and so did your expression. You couldn’t take it anymore, this entire time you had spent in the city, trying to spoil yourself, one couple after the other entered your sight and as if to spite you, all of them recreating some of the cutest couple moments you had experienced alongside Hawks. It was as if all the couples had come up with a plan to constantly rub salt into your wound and you really hated being that overdramatic, but you really couldn’t help it. 

So what if I want to be with him on Christmas? 

Is it bad that I want him by my side on a holiday one is supposed to celebrate with their loved one?

You suddenly felt a big hand pat you on your back and it startled you. Turns out that you had been saying all of these things out loud. Now both men were looking at you with a worried and sympathetic expression, it was no secret that you were embarrassed about your sudden outburst and just as you were about to apologize to them, Bakugou sighed unexpectedly audible, catching the two of you off guard.

“You know I’m probably never going to hear the end of this, but I can’t keep this up anymore...not when you’re like this,” he paused and looked at you “before I met up with Kirishima, I saw that bird further down the street, mumbling to himself that he had to quickly go back home and start preparing for something or else he wouldn’t make it. So chances that you meet him at home right now rather than later...are rather high.”

That’s all he had to say and the perhaps biggest grin you had ever mustered appeared on your face a couple of seconds after he had finished his little confession of sorts. You really wanted to stay with them for a little bit longer but the thought of meeting Keigo earlier than expected prevailed, so you hugged them goodbye, wished them and their classmates a pleasant night, and finally gave Bakugou a quick and rather unexpected kiss on his puffed-out cheek. Kirishima stopped him from releasing his quirk under the broad daylight while they were in between all these innocent people and earned himself a reward kiss on his cold red cheek as well.

The drive back passed by quicker in comparison to earlier and you were really thankful for that since you couldn’t wait to meet your beloved any longer.

“Keigo!”

Your loud voice mixed with the quick and sudden way you opened the front door startled the winged man so bad that he even let out a silent yelp. He was so surprised by your premature visit that he just stood there in the middle of the living room with two beautifully wrapped presents in his hands. You were quite surprised yourself at the way your home had changed in those few hours you were away, but that was secondary right now because something on your boyfriend caught your attention. He wore a fluffy white pullover which you secretly knitted for him over the course of a few months, it was supposed to be his present for today which you had put underneath the small Christmas tree the two of you decorated a few weeks back.

“Ok wait, I can explain!”

While he put away the two boxes in panic, you simply jogged up to him and jumped into his arms, almost knocking him down. Before he could say anything, you began kissing his lips passionately and after a few of your kisses, he decided to just drop his explanation for the time being and enjoy your affectionate behavior, which he of course returned with as much love as you had given him.

When the two of you finally separated, he took the initiative and began talking: “So before you start showering me with questions all I want to say is that I was planning on surprising you with a joint dinner, some presents, and your favorite dessert. Unfortunately, someone caught me in the middle of my plans so now…you’ll have to wait quite a bit for me to finish everything up, sorry about that sunshine I reall-”

“It’s ok Keigo I don’t mind! If anything...I’d love to help you out with it and even though that might ruin your planned surprise, I honestly don’t care for it too much. I just want to be with you today.”

Your bluntness had always been something he admired you for and it was no secret that he still had some problems with expressing his feelings without any restraint and that’s why he really appreciated it when you made the first steps. Back when the two of you had first met it was the exact opposite: he was the open and pretty forward person while you were a tad shyer, but after the two of you gradually grew closer to each other your roles reversed. Nonetheless, you both complement each other perfectly and every day was but another great adventure.

The two of you moved your conversation to the kitchen where you guys finished up the rest of the dinner and talked about your day. That’s also when you finally answered the question he was constantly bringing up, namely why you knew that he’d be back at home earlier than he promised. 

After you guys put some of the meals in the oven and let the others cool down, your boyfriend took you by the hand and dragged you to the fireplace he had lit some moments ago, urging you that it was now your turn to open your presents.

Keigo sat down cross-legged in front of you and watched you open the boxes with big eyes. You picked the bigger one first and when you finally reached the present you couldn’t help but laugh. It was a beige cardigan which also seemed like it was self-knit, similar to the pullover you gave him. Both of you couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the similar thoughts you guys had for a present. Next up was the smaller rectangle box which was way harder in comparison and even though you tried your best to not damage the wonderfully chosen present paper, your curiosity got the best out of you and soon you were ripping one small piece after the other...and forth came a book.

“N-No way! Keigo is that what I think this is?”

“Well...if you’re thinking about the newest volume of your favorite suspense novel, then yes, this is indeed it!”

You happily cried out his name and once again threw your arms around his neck, but this time it was him who attacked you with millions of kisses. Keigo then took you into his arms and leaned his back against the couch. Both of you remained in that position for a short while, his calm breathing, and a little quickened heartbeat were having a quite calming effect on you. The warmth the fire next to you provided made you sleepy on top of that and just as you were about to close your eyes and doze off, your beloved’s voice brought you back to reality...

“You know sunshine...if there is something like a past life then I’d like to believe that we were destined to be together but didn’t manage to do it.”

It was surprising to hear him speak of past lives since this was normally a topic you were interested in and often thought about, Keigo on the other hand usually listened to your theories and imaginations and added his opinion occasionally, so hearing him initiate it this time was a little worrisome. But you knew better than to interrupt him, so all you did was squeeze his body tighter and remain silent yet attentive.

“I rarely imagine stuff like that, but on days like this I just can't help but wonder if I really deserve this much happiness...d-don’t misunderstand me though, I’m really really thankful for you, our relationship, everything! But everything is going so smooth that I just can't help but overthink it and maybe we weren’t in a relationship in our past lives, but ended up leading a good life despite that, so now...”

Silence followed and you heard how his pulse had remarkably quickened the longer he talked about it, knowing Keigo his thoughts had already begun drifting into the darkest of abysses, and you weren’t going to let that happen.

“...Now you’re thinking that something bad might be waiting for us in the future...as payback for our good life but bad relationship type of past life?” you asked as you looked up to the worried facial expression of your lover, whose only reaction was to nod. You sat up and looked him directly into his eyes while your hands squeezed both of his cheeks.

“That’s not how past lives work Keigo and you know it. I don’t want you to plunge yourself in darkness over a theory with no basis. Since when were you even that type of guy who believed that...what did you call it again...mambo jambo?” 

He smiled and gave your palms a gentle kiss, but he remained silent, waiting for you to finish. 

You continued trying to reassure him, telling him that no matter what you guys were going to face in the future you’d always have each other and even if that one random theory he came up with should happen one day, you promised him to never leave his side. 

And this seemingly meaningless promise is what drove Hawks to come out of his comfort zone in the following months, he also started coming home earlier from work and patrols. All in all, he began spending more time with you and you had nothing against it, if anything you appreciated him thinking more about your joint life as well as himself.

One day when you once again got woken up by the sunlight you felt how someone caressed your cheek and then the mattress tilted as the weight which was next to you disappeared. It took you a few minutes to wake yourself up and look around for your lover, but then you noticed something on your hand. Your eyes widened and you immediately jumped out of your bed, looking for Keigo, who was smiling to himself as he took a seat in front of your fireplace and patiently waited for you...

[writing-gifts]

datura (moth!bruno x butterfly!reader)

——

A/N: This chapters on the shorter side

First Chapter || Previous Chapter || Next Chapter

Reader is gender neutral!

Also I made art! (warning for a shirtless moth!bruno)

——

[Late Spring]

The shade casted by the towering grass around you and the leaves hanging off various plants protects you from the sun while you take a break from your usual activities.

It was sad but with the weather getting warmer, you might have to say goodbye to certain flowers soon. So you did a lot of last minute nectar gathering the past week just in case.

I should ask Bruno if he wants anything in particular.

Trading with Bruno quickly became routine as the season passed. Then suddenly, the rainy nights where he couldn’t visit left you feeling like something was missing.

You really enjoy his company and feel like you could consider him a friend, but unfortunately, the more time you spent with him, the more anxiety started to prick at your wings.

Did he like spending time with you, or was he just tolerating you like some young troublemaker? You didn't know, and it was usually hard to figure out what he was thinking. But at least he tended to be blunt so that was a source of relief for you. Even if it was mainly for non-consequential things.

You just hope this feeling doesn’t get out of hand, but it had been a long time since you had gotten close to someone other than Abilene.

Sighing, you lean against the flower’s stem while resting your eyes. Once you feel well rested enough you’ll get back to work.

-----

“I'm going to miss the Spring, it’s my favorite season…”

Bruno sits between your legs while you sit on the daybed attempting to braid his hair, weaving in tiny flowers in the process. One of the neighboring bugs had given you a basket of the tiny replicas as a thank you gift for helping with an errand. They were made from the petals of the same flowers they mimicked so you liked to believe that's how it’d feel to actually hold them in your hand.

Today had been another lovely day, and the last light of the evening shining through your home's windows proved that.

You wanted to be quick as the sun wouldn't be up much longer. But you still do your best to be gentle when handling the moth's hair so you don't cause him any pain. You were shocked when he agreed to this so you didn't want to make him regret it.

"That sounds fitting."

"Yea yea, I know it's pretty expected. Do you like any season in particular?"

"Autumn. It's cooler but not enough that I can’t do anything."

You nod in agreement before you remember Bruno can’t see you. “Honestly I took you for a Summer type, but I agree. Maybe you hate Winter as much as me then? I think some bugs enjoy hibernation though.”

“I wouldn’t say hate but getting through it can be tough.”

“Okay hate is too strong of a word, but I don’t like how sluggish it makes me feel! But tough though?”

You wouldn’t necessarily say it was tough, as long as you properly prepared for it beforehand, and Bruno seemed responsible enough. However, it could be melancholic at times.

Without further elaborating, he nods which makes a few dark strands slip from between your fingers.

“Ah! Don't move,” you lightly scold and try your best to recollect the hair.

“Scusa...”

Once you recollect the hair you continue speaking. “On the bright side though, I can't wait for baking when Summer comes."

That was the most optimal season to do it, you just need to time it well.

“You like to bake?”

“Well, I haven't actually done it yet but this year I'm gonna do as much as I can before fall hits. Oh, do you have any hobbies?"

“Well, sometimes I like to visit lakes. You have so many questions.”

You hear a playful lithe in his tone, but still wonder if you were being too intrusive.

"Because…”

“I was teasing. It's nice talking to you.”

You shake your head at your overthinking and change the subject.

"T-Thanks. By the way, are there any specific Spring flowers you want me to visit for you?"

Bruno takes a moment to think. "Gebera Daisies, Lily of the Valleys, Tulips, and Crocuses."

“Aww, I love that flower--the Gerbera Daisy. The meanings are pretty simple but really nice.”

"What are they?"

“It really depends on the color. Yellow shows friendship and happiness. Orange ones can be a way to say ‘you are my sunshine’. Purple represents beauty and grace. Red ones are kinda like roses--they just show love. Light Pink shows admiration and sympathy. Dark Pink shows gratitude. And White shows innocence and purity of heart…."

You trail off from your somewhat spiel, focusing on the braid on top of Bruno's head.

“It’s impressive that you have that all memorized.”

You shrug. “Been interested in flowers for a long time.”

“Still though. I think I could listen to you speak about it for hours.”

Your brows raise and you stop braiding. “R-Really?”

“Yes. Actually the White and Yellow meanings bring someone to mind,” the moth muses.

You’re about to ask who when one of the flowers in his hair comes loose. You huff in frustration. “It shouldn't be this hard!”

“Do you want me to finish it?”

“No, I'm almost there!” Your fingers replace the fallen flower and you stick out a hand, “Pass me your hair beetles please.”

"Beetles…?" Bruno questions but places them in your hand.

You do your best to quickly pin his hair down before all your work comes undone.

“Whew, okay the braid kinda looks like shit but it's done!”

You grab the mirror you left sitting on the table nearby and hand it to the moth.

Bruno observes himself bringing the reflective glass a distance away and looking at himself at different angles.

“I like it. Good job”

You let out a breath. “Thanks. It's messy but I'll do better next time--I mean if you want me to.”

“It doesn't look too messy. I actually wouldn't mind you decorating my hair again--by the way your color choice is great.”

"You're definitely just flattering me but I’ll take the compliment...”

Your fingers gently comb through his hair, straightening out any messy strands. You aren't sure if you imagine it but Bruno's head seems to lean into your hand.

“____?”

“Huh? Sorry, zoned out.” You reluctantly pull your fingers away but you continue to stare at the flowers on the top of his head unaware that he's using the mirror to watch you.

You couldn't help dwelling on Bruno’s earlier statement. Well not the statement itself but the anxieties it brought forth.

“Hey…”

Bruno turns his head slightly towards you.

You open your mouth to speak but you hesitate. You didn't exactly want to ruin this moment because of intrusive thoughts.

“Are you okay?”

“Yea, just forgot what I was going to say,” you laugh.

Bruno doesn't seem convinced. "Is it because of what I said?"

"It’s nothing, don’t worry about it."

“____…”

You shake your head not wanting to continue this path of conversation. "Do you want something to drink?"

[vicegrips-fr]

Pink Martinis

The night is only just beginning and the boys are trying to enjoy themselves before the evening rush when they are rudely interrupted by a man neither of them knows.

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

This is the first in what I hope to be many lore posts featuring characters from both The Velvet Fang and Neo Necropolis. Apologies if this is too long for some of you and I hope you enjoy! Warnings: Language, drug mentions, alcohol, brief violence, etc. 

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

- Part one -

It’s all about the thrill.

Neon lights, the smell of sweat and spilled alcohol, bodies grinding together to the sound of loud music, drugs passing between hands, and men being led to back rooms. All of these things are thrilling in their own way, but none of it comes close to the rush you get from spilling a little blood. Your blood, their blood, it’s all part of the game and the game is violence; pure and simple violence.  Azizi used to live a life of violence. That is, until he came here to the middle of bumfuck nowhere in the Wasteland. He- no, they had no choice. It was run or be killed and there’s no doubt in his mind that Chaka would have delighted in choking the life out of him. 

The thought of it, those strong hands around his throat, both disgusts and entices him.

It’s almost like you have a deathwish.

“Hey Zi!”

Azizi turns his head to the source of the sweet and familiar voice, a smile playing about his lips as he moves over from where he’s leaned back against the bar. As per usual Gogo is dressed all in neon and animal print, the colors and patterns clashing in such a way that it both draws your eyes in and repels you for fear of going blind. “Hey babe,” he replies languidly, “You look good.” At that Gogo gives a twirl, his thick wavy hair bouncing around his shoulders. “Not as good as you,” he shoots back with a girlish giggle, “But like, thanks!” Smiling, Azizi turns his attention onto the bartender, his face illuminated in the pinks, purples, and blues of the neon lights dancing all around them. “Two pink martinis, Cyr” he drawls, elbows propped up on the bar as he leans over it seductively. Cyril is a frightening man to behold. Equal parts handsome and haunting with bright pink eyes all over his body. Or, well, one can assume so anyway. Of the many eyes that cover him only the ones on his face, neck, and tail are visible; the rest are hidden beneath his smart clothing. “Sure thing,” he replies, voice lightly accented from the Starfall Isles, “Just don’t snort anything off the bar while my back is turned. I just cleaned the damn thing.” Azizi throws his head back and laughs, the gold bangles on his arms clinking together lightly as he stands up straight. “No promises, eyes,” he purrs softly, “Me and self control aren’t friends. And besides, you clean ‘the damn thing’ every two seconds.” Cyril rolls his eyes, all of them. “Addict,” he replies not unkindly. “Neat freak,” Azizi says without malice. 

They’re both right about the other. Azizi is an addict and Cyril is an obsessive cleaner. In the end habits are habits, it’s just that some come with worse consequences than others. “Mm, pink martini,” Gogo coos, mind occupied by other things, “I wonder how they like, make it pink in the first place.” Azizi quirks a brow, a look of amusement crossing over his face. “World’s greatest mystery,” he replies fondly, “So, how many tricks are banging on your door tonight?” Pausing, Gogo counts on his fingers with his tongue between his teeth. “Three too many,” he answers finally, “But like, it’s cool. At least with the regulars who book in advance you know what to expect.” Another pause. One, two, three, four seconds pass. “Although there was that one time that a regular asked me to-” “Two pink martinis,” Cyril interrupts, sliding the pretty pink concoctions in front of the boys. “Thanks Cyr,” Azizi grins, “And hey, for the record I was a good boy and kept my snow off of your bar. Do I win a prize?” Cyril snorts at that, waving a dismissive hand in his direction as if to shoo him away like a pesky cat. “How about my gratitude?” he replies breezily. “Ew, gross,” Azizi murmurs, “That’s a shitty prize.” With an impish smile he tilts his drink just enough to splash the bar with the liquid inside. “Oops,” he says, tone sharp and teasing, “My bad.” Cyril, who is busying his hands cleaning a glass that’s already spotless, frowns. He’s used to this sort of thing by now; used to how Azizi likes to push people's buttons; used to how the man enjoys getting into fights and starting shit. But Cyril never takes the bait and Azizi doesn’t expect him to anyway- he’s just being a little shit. “Asshole,” Cyril chuckles, mopping the alcohol off the bar until it shines like a diamond again. Azizi shrugs, popping the cherry from his drink into his mouth. “And yet you still love me,” he sighs wistfully, “Some might even say you’re a glutton for punishment.” Before any of them can continue their conversation, a man approaches the bar with a look on his face that promises trouble. He’s of average height with a slim build and dressed in a suit that screams this is the nicest thing in my closet. The only truly unusual thing about him is his eyes, cyan blue. It’s unusual because most of the clientele in The Velvet Fang are from around the area, their eyes various shades of threatening reds. “You two,” the strange man says, so close now that Azizi can smell the sweat beneath the cologne he’s used to try and cover it up. “I’m sorry but do I know you?” Azizi asks, nose wrinkling in disgust as he takes a step back just to get a breath of air that doesn’t make him gag. Gogo’s mismatched eyes grow wide and he follows suit, taking a step backwards and bumping into one of the barstools, sending it clattering to the floor. Neither one of them recognize this man, but it would seem he recognizes them. “Yes- Uh, I mean no,” he stutters out, the wild look in his eyes on full display in the light of the neon sign that hangs above the bar, “You’re Chaka’s boys, aren’t you? I’d recognize the two of you anywhere and-” He pauses, the expression on his face shifting from slightly wild to confused in the blink of an eye. “Say,” he continues, brow furrowing, “What the hell are you two doing all the way out here, huh?” Anger seeps into every one of Azizi’s pores. Perhaps he should be frightened, shaken up from being recognized by someone from the home he was forced to flee, but all he can manage is anger. “Who the fuck do you think you are?” he snaps, gold canine catching the light as his lips peel back into a snarl. “You think you can just waltz up to us and start asking questions?” The man’s lips part again but before he can say a word Azizi holds up a hand to stop him, eyes hard. “Fuck. Off,” he snarls, the threat of violence clear in his voice, “It’s none of your fucking business why we’re here. Get lost, asshole.” Gogo lets out a whimper, hands flying up to cover his mouth. Violence is not something he likes or handles well. The sight of blood is enough to make his stomach feel queasy, the sound of bones breaking so horrific it makes him want to pass out, so all he can hope is that it doesn’t come to that. Annoyed, Azizi turns away to go back to his drink but is stopped by a hand lashing out to grab him by the wrist, forcing him to spin around again. Whoever this man is, he’s clearly on something and he’s got a lot of nerve. “Don’t speak to me like that,” the stranger growls, his grip tightening until he knows that there will be bruises left behind in the shape of fingers, “You think someone like you can say that shit to someone like-” Crack. Without hesitation Azizi drives his right fist so hard into the man’s face that the bones breaking in his nose can be heard over the music. To the shock and horror of the people around them the man falls to the floor in a heap. Gogo’s eyes immediately go to where his best friend is holding his injured hand, tail lashing anxiously behind him as he lurches forward to his side. It’s a miracle he doesn’t faint, but it’s different when it’s Azizi who’s the one that’s hurt.

  “Oh my god! Azizi!” he cries, gently taking Azizi’s hand in his own and turning around to examine the damage, “Are you like, okay? Holy shit!”

Looking down at his right hand Azizi can see where the knuckles are already beginning to swell and bruise. The bad news is that it hurts, the good news is his hand doesn’t appear to be broken. Good for him and for the tricks; such is the nature of his work.

“I’m fine, babe,” he replies to Gogo, eyeing the man on the ground like he might have to go in for round two, “Just some bruises, that’s all.”

Thinking quickly, Cyril grabs ice from behind the bar and rushes over to help the pair. If that asshole wants to try something else- and, frankly, he’s high enough that he might- then he’ll be there to put all six feet of himself between them. Finally the injured man does stand, wobbling back and forth uneasily on his feet before locking rage filled eyes with Azizi.

  “You’re gonna fucking regret that,” he grunts, “Just wait until Chaka hears what you whores have been up to. Just you fucking wait-”

“Out!” Cyril barks, “Out before I call in the big guns and have you hauled out of here by your hair!”

Grateful, Gogo mouths a thank you to Cyril before going back to fretting over his Azizi. He’s no medic but the bruising looks severe to him, so he holds the ice against the wounds in a desperate attempt to stop it from getting worse. Really he should be used to this, used to the threat of violence and the fear. How many fights has he seen Azizi gets into, heart pounding in his ears as he watches in abject horror, powerless to help or to stop it? The answer is far too many times.

  “As if Chaka would give you the time of day,” Azizi sneers, “Do your worst.”

But the truth is he is worried, if only just a little bit. If word gets back to Chaka that he’s here then-

You belong to me, Zi. Do you know what that means? It means you’re never going anywhere I don’t want you to go. You try that shit and watch what happens. It’s not just your ass on the line, is it?

Still the threat of violence, a little blood spilled... it’s thrilling, right? He feels alive, like waking up after a long nap.

“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath, “Fuck.”

To be continued...

[yacoka]

THE STOLEN LAUGHTERS OF A BUDDING FLOWER

──⊱ repost from my old account

character(s) — hanamaki takahiro

pairing — hanamaki takahiro x reader

genre — angst

warning(s) — terminal illness, mentions of blood, death

word count — 1700

beta(s) — @/doughnuts-5ever @/sugasugawarau

You had always been sad smiles and sorrowful eyes, a regretful gaze that shouldn’t belong to someone as young as you were. Your shoulders were always held back proudly, though when you thought no one was looking (he was, he always was.), they slumped ever so slightly, as though they were bearing the weight of the world.

(In hindsight, you were, in a sense, bearing the weight of the world. Your world.)

Takahiro made it his mission to change that. He was going to find out the source of the sadness you carried, and weed it out. You were a beautiful flower that he wanted to save, to cultivate, and watch it grow, watch it flourish into the best version of itself.

(Instead you had only decayed, the very ecosystem that had given you life, that was meant to help you thrive, was now sucking it back out of you, draining the colors that used to be so vibrant, leaving you a pale, shriveled mess.)

He made the first attempt of getting to know you when you appeared at the cafe he worked at.

“You’re in my english class, aren’t you? I remember seeing you at the back of the class.” He had expected you to continue the conversation there, too used to people falling into the easy charisma he exuded. But all you did was give him a tired smile, and nodded before ordering your coffee and tucking yourself into the corner of the cafe without a second glance.

This only fueled his desire to break past those walls you had set up, and he pushed even as you retreated back. The fifth time you had silently rejected his attempts at being friends, he had slipped past the counter, seating himself opposite you as he set down your drink.

You had only blinked at him, exhaustion dripping from every lazy shut of your eyes. Takahiro had grinned, and began talking, nevermind that you didn’t respond to any of his chatter. He would wear you down, just you wait.

There must have been something he was doing right, despite the fact that you never reached back out to his advances of friendships, you also didn't stop coming to the cafe, nor did you tell him to leave you alone. This prompted him to begin approaching you in class, then moving to the seat next to yours, and eventually walking you home.

The first time you spoke a word to him outside the mindless coffee orders and mundane hums was when you were both working on an english essay, and you had asked if he understood the question. His head shot up so fast that he got whiplash, and that was the first time he heard you laugh.

Your laugh was beautiful- no, beautiful didn’t even begin to cover how wonderful it was. Your laugh reminded him of sunflowers leaning towards the sun, the gentle crashing of waves on the shore, the way he felt winning a volleyball match. He would do anything to hear that again, even as he shot you a fake scowl for laughing at his pain.

And he did, he got to hear it over and over and over again, as he inched past the wall of thorns you had so carefully cultivated, snuck past all your defenses and jumped headfirst into the hole that led to your heart.

Now here he was, months after the first time he talked to you, heart racing as he led you through the park, fingers loosely intertwined with yours. He hoped you didn’t notice how sweaty his palms were, nor the tense replies he had been giving to you. The worried glances you shot him weren’t missed, but all the awkwardness and tension had been worth it when he revealed the surprise he had planned, your face falling into a state of shock at the fairy lights strung up along the trees, rose petals scattered across the ground.  A large banner told you to turn around, and so you did, coming face to face with Takahiro, a shaky smile present on his face as he asked you to be his girlfriend.

(You should’ve said no then, should’ve gone home. But the selfish part of you blurted out a yes, and the way his face lit up almost made it worth it. Almost.)

Things should’ve only gotten better from there, and they did, but only for a brief period, before everything started going downhill, one event at a time. It started with you sneaking away to some place, without a word to him. The first few times he had dismissed it as you wanting some alone time, and he was more than willing to accommodate to your needs.

But it kept on happening more frequently, and the weariness in you only increased as your eyebags worsened. He tried to confront you, but was met with the same wall of silence he had come across in the beginning, and there didn’t seem to be a way around it.

You started closing back up again, retreating from him and leaving him cold as you grew quieter, your shoulders turning in upon themselves, your eyes perpetually downcast.

(He should’ve known then, should’ve seen the signs, but he was a fool in love, and love blinds us all.)

You retreated back into your old self, and Takahiro suddenly found himself locked outside those thorn walls once more, without a key or even a door to knock on. All he wanted to do was love you, so why wouldn’t you let him?

He hated the miserable look on your face, and the paleness that only seemed to worsen as the weather slipped into the colder seasons. Every cough that passed your lips sent a dagger into his heart, and he hoped that you’ve been taking the medicine he’s been slipping into your bag.

(You can’t, as much as you want to, you can’t.)

Takahiro doesn’t understand what he did wrong, what he had done to make you leave him like this, without a word, without a fight. Hell, he would have preferred screaming matches over the suffocating silence that sits between you two now.

It isn’t until you pass out in class that he finally understands. As he cradles your head upon his lap, trembling hands trying to staunch the blood that doesn’t seem to stop flowing from your nose, he finally realizes just why you had pushed him away. His suspicions are only confirmed when he arrives at the hospital with you, and the sinking in his stomach drags him to his knees, his head hurting and his heart aching.

At long last, he had found the reason for your sad smiles and sorrowful eyes, and it isn’t something that he can fix or make go away, Not when it was a terminal disease that ate away at your life, stealing time from a gentle soul who had experienced only a fraction of what life had to offer.

How could life be so cruel? You had done nothing but love and be kind, offering soft smiles and reassuring words to the undeserving world, even when all it had done was to throw you obstacle after obstacle, cruelty after cruelty. Takahiro couldn’t even begin to imagine a world without you, a world without your bright laughter, a life without your love.

When you awoke, drugged up on medicines flowing through the IV drip, he had begun crying once more, and through the tears, he could vaguely see your hand reaching out to his weakly. He grabbed it, and the coldness of it had him breaking even more.

“Why?” He choked out, clenching his burning eyes shut. “Why didn’t you just tell me?’

“How do I tell the person I’m in love with, the person that I want to marry, that I can’t marry him because I’m dying?” You whispered, your voice cracking.

“I-I don’t-” For once, Takahiro has nothing to say, and it is you who pushes through the dreaded conversation.

“I’m sorry for being selfish, I shouldn’t have said yes then. You should leave, go be with someone better. Someone who you can love with no regrets, someone who can grow old with you.” You squeeze his hand tightly, before loosening your grip, making to let go of him.

But he refuses to let go, clinging onto you desperately. It is with pure, earnest love that he says it, “I would take my year with you, over a lifetime with anybody else. If a few months is all we have left, then let me have them. Let me have every single second you have left, let me love you until then.”

(There is no way you could’ve said no, not when you knew he wasn’t going to give up. Not when your heart ached for him too. This was the last time, you promised yourself. The last selfish choice you will ever make.)

Takahiro did love you, he loved you so fiercely it was easy to pretend that the clock wasn’t ticking, that your time wasn’t running out. And he loved you all through the days you couldn’t even walk, when you were nothing more than a pale, sickly mess in a hospital bed, multiple machines hooked up to your frail body.

(“I’m sorry,” you whispered to his sleeping body on the makeshift cot the nurses had brought in. “I’m sorry we didn’t have more time.”)

You passed away that night, and Takahiro awoke to a pitying look from a nurse. He didn’t hear the words she spoke, his eyes trained upon your still body. You had been fine the previous night, still laughing at his stupid jokes, still smiling at him with that shine in your eyes. And now you were gone, never to smile at him ever again, or to hold his hand, or to throw your stationery at him whenever he said something ridiculous.

It is with shaking hands that he brings his phone up to his ear, a recording playing. Your laughter fills his ears once more, and he breaks, he shatters, he cries as he mourns you.

You were gone, and he would never get to experience your love again.

[jasonspetertodds]

the skeleton with a scythe

warnings: swearing, mentions of character death

Jason glanced around the basement that they were in, trying not to suffocate at the sheer amount of velvet that was covering the walls. There were fuchsia colored scones on the walls that illuminated the large neon purple light on the back wall. He squinted, not being able to make out the name, but he didn't supposed that mattered. He rolled his eyes at Steph who was merely grinning up at him, her hair had been pulled back into two small ponytails at the crown of her head with the rest being down. It gave her the illusion of having even more volume then she normally did with her curly blonde hair.

She was dressed in her trademark color, but this time it was a soft lavender instead of the royal purple of her uniform. She had talked to him endlessly on the way there about how she had found her shoes, which were vintage white leather platforms, at the thrift store Jason had recommended. Trying to distract him from the fact that she was leading him to seedy basement in the heart of the Alley. A basement that housed a self proclaimed 'psychic'. Jason knew realistically that soothsayers, at least in some part, existed. He did exist in a world full of aliens and magic.

But Jason knew this was a scam and so did Steph. He hadn't been able to taste the tell tale nectar sweetness of magic when he stepped foot into the parlor. She had sourced the fact that it was just a fun thing to do at least once in his life and Jason had begrudgingly found himself staring into the depths of the weird vintage poster on the back wall. The pink neon light flickered in the corner behind him. He was, for the most part, down to try something at least once. And he didn't really see the harm in indulging Steph, especially when she was trying so hard to make him feel comfortable.

And Jason was only going to admit this in the privacy of his own mind, but it was actually kind of sweet.

And Jason wanted to maintain the best relationship he had in the family to the best of his ability, especially because it offered the unlimited possibility of tag teaming his siblings but also Bruce.

"So?" Steph asked, gently prodding his side with her elbow, pulling him away from being entranced by what looked to be a rat skull with a peacock feather coming out from the eye socket. It also had a top hat on and a little bow tie. Jason looked at her flatly and then shrugged. He was interested to see where the night went, with what story this psychic was going to spit back out to him. It was at the very least going to be entertaining.

"I don't know," He finally, eyes shifting around the room, "It should be fun, I guess."

He saw her roll her eyes and cross her arms over her chest. He shrugged again, unbothered. His eyes settled on a stack of crystals sitting on a bookshelf next to a book. Jason squinted, not wanting to step any closer to the center table with a deck of cards spread out over it, trying to read it. It looked like a copy of Daemonologie by King James of all fucking people. Jason almost huffed out a laugh. Almost.

"Can you at least pretend to be excited about the prospect of spending time with your favorite honorary sibling?" She grumbled, exasperated. Jason gave her an amused smile, but before he could respond he heard footsteps outside of the parlor.

There was the small ringing of the bell behind him and Jason immediately regretted his former words. He could taste the stinging sweetness in the lower part of his jaw, pooling just under his molars as he heard the soft approach of footsteps. Steph must've seen him stiffen, but he was so thankful that she didn't say anything about it, just threw him a questioning look.

Why was it that he always attracted magic users?

He sighed internally, steeling himself before he turned and saw a rather young looking witch smiling back at his companion. Steph had mentioned offhandedly that she had also dragged Cass and Tim to the same psychic a while ago with interesting results. She had bright lavender dyed hair that was piled up into two buns just behind the crown of her head and a blinding smile. She was also wearing a full length velvet dress, which seemed like an oddly formal attire choice, but maybe Jason was just being judgemental.

She gave Jason a strange look when she slide past him, heeled boots muffled on the strange astral Persian rugs beneath their feet and the skirt of her dress swishing gently as she wandered back behind her table. Had Jason forgotten to greet her?

"Hi," He said, hesitantly, trying to keep the uncertainty out of his voice as he watched her. He didn't know why he was on edge. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand straight up and like he wanted to claw his skin off. Maybe he should talk to Zantana or Constantine about how magic was affecting him in his second life, because the woman sitting in front of him didn't seem like a threat. If she was, Jason already would've taken her down. Besides, maybe she wasn't a psychic in the way that she was able to tell that he was a dangerous, murderous vigilante. Maybe she was just a witch who misread his discomfort for skepticism. Was that too much to hope for? For Jason, it probably was.

He was wary, to say the least when he finally followed suit and sat down at the table to the right of Steph. She still was looking at him weird, but he figured he could explain himself later. He forced himself to relax, trying not to flex his jaw as it tingled like it did when he ate sour candies, covered with acetic acid. Piercing through the muscle and down to the bone. At least he didn't feel like throwing up... yet. He straightened his posture, trying to keep as close to a neutral expression on his face as he possibly good, trying to ignore the way his eyes glowed in the mirror of to the side of him.

Steph tapped him gently on the forearm, feather light, a question. Jason's face softened and he nodded, trying his best to convey that he was alright. He was fine. This was okay. He could deal with the unease worming around in his soul for the forty five minutes it took for this to happen. He watched out of the corner of his eyes as the blond relaxed, nodding once and offering a slight smile to the woman with the cards.

The woman before him offered him an unsure smile, before motioning to the deck in front of her before she began cheerily, "Welcome!"

Jason offed a nod of acknowledgement and Steph's smile morphed into a brilliant one, mischief alight in her eyes at the night's events. He was focused more on keeping his face as politely blank as he possibly could without it being mistaken for rudeness. He watched as she reached forward, ring clad fingers curling around the majority of the deck of tarot cards. At first he thought she was going to start shuffling them, but instead she knocked three times on the top of the stack. Maybe to cleanse it? Jason glanced back up at her face, uncertainty writhing around in the pit of his stomach.

"My name is Iris and I'm hoping to do a reading for you tonight...?" She trailed off, waiting for Jason to answer. Her voice was cheery but Jason was still hung up on the name. Iris... like the Greek goddess of rainbows and a messenger of the Gods? Because something was tugging at the back of his mind, like the Pit often did and Jason didn't believe in coincidences.

"Jason." He responded, watching as Steph relaxed further into her chair, shoulders slumping as she leaned further back, completely at ease. The witch nodded, handing the cards over to Jason. He looked at her confused for a second before he started to shuffle. Iris smiled, "It's better for you to shuffle, so the cards can have a better sense of your character."

Jason raised his eyebrows, but didn't say anything. She continued, "I'm going to have you pull three cards first, since this is a general reading and then we can go from there, okay?"

He nodded, feeling how worn the corners of the cards were in his hands and how soft the glossy backing was, almost like the backing of a well loved paperback. He furrowed his brow, methodically sliding them around in his hands, trying to keep them from getting caught on each other before he finally decided that was enough. Three cards. He placed the deck on the edge of the table with great care and with a splayed palm he spread them out to the best of his ability. He sat back, suddenly noticing how sweaty his palms were before he took a deep breath, readying himself. The fact that a stupid throw away magic trick was having this much of an effect on him was ridiculous.

He eyeballed it, before tugging free a card in what he thought was the middle of the pile. He pulled it in front of Iris before he took two from each of the ends of the pile. He waited, licking his lips in anticipation when his mouth was suddenly dry, watching as she turned over his cards.

She painstakingly overturned the first card that he had pulled and he nearly choked back a laugh which turned into a choke when Steph elbowed him harshly in the ribs, glaring. There, looking tauntingly back up at him, was a skeleton draped in a black cloak upon a horse, holding a scythe with the neat little letters spelling out Death underneath the scene.

And oh god, was that fucking funny.

Iris seemed a little confused, as she tapped one purple talon against the card, before speaking, "Don't freak out about that card. Everyone always freaks out over him."

She flipped over the next two cards; One of a man looking over a cliff, a stick in hand with two others driven in the ground next to him. It read Three of Wands and one showing three swords piercing a bleeding heart. From Jason’s position the last one was upside down. Three seemed to be a big number for him tonight.

Jason remembered very suddenly three motifs in literature, when he was in high school slaving endlessly over research papers and book analyses, more often then not it was a Holy number. But it is the repetition of the cycle: birth, life, death. Of the passage of time, past; present; future. Jason again had to keep himself from snorting.

Omne trium perfectum.

Iris leaned over the cards, humming to herself as she flattened them, eyes glowing faintly under the scrutiny of the lights around her parlor. Steph looked curiously at her, “So? What does it mean?”

“Well,” She started, talon back to rapping gently against the glossy front of Death, drawing Jason’s attention, “Death is the first card you pulled. It means that you’re going to undergo change— growth if you will, but it’s specifically change followed by a period of renewal to yourself and your strength. That change leads to closure, an end to a chapter of your life.”

Jason was smirking now and he could see some of the humor return to Steph’s face at the acknowledgement. It was more than a little on the nose. He watched as Iris moved to the next two cards, flipping the wand cards around in her hand as she was thinking, "Three of wands points to foresight and a journey..." She trailed off, glancing at his other two cards, biting her lip in concentration and Jason felt his eyebrows raise further up to his hairline, "But in the context of your other two cards I think it's going to be more of a spiritual journey instead of a physical one. It also is going to lead to monumental growth. Whatever you decide, you'll have an immense amount of confidence in your plan."

"And the three of swords reversed also points to growth and recovery. You recently went through a rough time? Maybe some animosity between those in your family?"

Jason nodded. He wasn't going to offer up any more information that absolutely vital and he may have had one particularly bad fight with Dick in his little kitchenette the week before. It was interesting that the cards did seem to represent past, present, and future as he had originally suspected. He frowned, though. Death wasn't in his past. Based on the way the cards were set up, Death was his future. It was the first card he had pulled, with the three of wands being in the middle, as his present, while the three of swords being his past.

"It points to reconciliation, even though it was on the past, I think you're journey currently is learning to forgive your family--" God, Jason was trying so hard not to laugh. He heard Steph snicker beside him. "All signs point to reconciliation on both sides. Once that happens you can finally put to rest this chapter in your life and start your renewal as Death wants."

She tapped the three of wands again, "And you're on that journey, though I can't say when you'll achieve the final outcome."

Jason nodded, not wanting to draw attention to the fact that he absolutely was not going to process his feelings about this reading until he was home, safe and sound, alone in his apartment. His head was already swimming. Sure, he had reconciled with Steph, but he hadn't really done anything to wrong her in the first place. He had tried to kill her ex a couple of times while they were together, but she seemed to have forgiven him. And they just clicked. Shared background and feelings of being the failed Robins. And Alfred. Alfred hadn't been the one to excommunicate him. He knew the butler could never do that. He saw Jason as a man who had simply lost his way in the whirlwind of his life, but he had never once doubted Jason's character...

And nope, Jason was going to back out of that emotionally charged alleyway before it overtook him in public.

"It's interesting," Iris said, breaking him out of his thoughts as she started collecting the cards and shuffling them back into the deck, "You also seem to have a very strong connection with the color green. You have a lot of rebirth symbols surrounding yourself, Jason."

"His birth cards are the chariot and the tower." Steph admitted, a cheeky grin on her face. Birth cards? Jason shot her a bewildered look before she rolled her eyes, "You add up the date of your birthday and you get pair of twelve sets of tarot cards. I did it before we came."

"Why?"

She shrugged, unbothered by his harsh tone, "I was curious."

"The chariot and the tower are a powerful combination. You'll be able to overcome anything thrown at you in your life. Though, you'll be in a constant state of change because of the Tower. Ripping yourself down to the foundation again and again to rebuild a stronger and better foundation for you to stand on while the Chariot brings stabilizing energy and the will for you to be able to complete your tasks, overcoming every obstacle every inconvenience on its way to deliver you to fate. It's often the card of warriors. They're painful cards, but eventually pain will stop being the driving force behind your transformation. You'll be the driving force behind the change you inflict both on yourself and the world."

Jason titled his head with a look of disbelief painted on his features, a small uncertain frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. Even if he did believe in this particular brand of magic, which he hadn't fully decided on at that exact moment, this wasn't exactly a positive reading. It wasn't like he was a stranger to any pain, his entire life had been seeped in the worst kinds of emotional and physical trauma most people could conjure up themselves. But what she had just said rang very similarly to what Ducra had said to him. Something about how glorious it will be when his heart shined brighter than his fury.*

And, something something, he needed to recover. Which he did it's just kind of hard working through his complex emotions featuring his adoptive father, all of his siblings, the clown that killed him, his own self worth and his ethics when there was an almost world ending event biweekly. And he did think he was being significantly more successful in terms of his recovery. He had at least started paying attention to shit that triggered him and was trying to take care of himself more than he ever had in his entire life. And that was something, right?

He still had a shattered mirror in his bathroom that held all the memories of him hunched over his basin, blood sometimes dried but always sticky on his hands as he tried to make sense of who he was. He was a mosaic of every person he had ever come in contact with, of a dead kid, a murdered robin, a current outlaw, of his father, all of his mentors and all of his siblings. He was full of jagged edges and unholy rage, but it was hard not to get lost in all the different patterns and colors he possessed. His breathing would be ragged and his eyes unfocused, he was the combination sum of everything that happened to him. Both good and bad and sometimes the bad one out the night, but more frequently it was the good. He was Jason. In ever manner that he acted. He was a vigilante. A fighter. A protector. He protected the people of Crime Alley to the best of his ability, he was a protector of children, of sex workers, of anyone who needed it. And he was trying to be better. For himself and the people he was so admit on protecting.

"Jay?"

He hummed a response, pulled from his thoughts at Steph's voice. She gave him a questioning look and he was very suddenly hit with the crisp cool air of the night. They were outside, walking through the Alley in the direction of her apartment. His hands were jammed in his pockets, feeling the sharp edge of something as he rubbed his thumb along the edge. He furrowed his eyebrows, "You good? You seem pretty spaced out."

"Yeah, sorry. I didn't really expect for that to go the way it did," He offered, still tracing the thing in his pocket, "I don't really know why it effected me this much."

She tugged her jacket closer around herself, nodding, "Yeah. The first time I went all of my cards seemed to be linked back to my, uh, death. Do you want to talk about it? I know I didn't actually die, but it might help?"

Jason flinched at her mention of her death and the casual admission that she didn't actually die. As if that made it any less traumatic. Immediately he shook head, "No. No, I'll be okay I think. It was largely positive. It's just..."

He felt his entire face screw up as he tried to think of what he was trying to express, he finally settled on, "Weird."

Steph nodded, both falling into a comfortable silence. He palmed the card, slipping it out of his pocket to look at it and was torn between an exasperated sigh and a smirk of amusement. Death seemed to be rather attached to him.

[higuchimon]

[fanfic] Wedding Grotto

Juudai slipped his hand into Yubel’s, squeezing a little as he did, and together the two of them entered the dark, quiet grotto. He hadn’t ever been here before, but with every step he took, he felt as if he were returning home.

He knew why, but tonight it didn’t feel as if it mattered. Tonight, all he really cared about was Yubel and what they were about to do.

Yubel stayed in step with him as they walked down the pathway. The corridor here had been crafted long ago to be large enough to accommodate those of any size. In a realm where people from as small as his ankle to twice as tall as he was could come for their vows, it only made sense that everyone could be accommodated.

Soft carpet lay underneath their feet. Juudai loved how it felt, wriggling his toes a little. He’d removed his shoes before they entered this place – that was tradition. No one ever acme shod into this place. He probably could have gotten away with it, but he didn’t want to try.

Underneath the carpet rested wood and stone intermixed. The walls arched up over them to the ceiling, mirroring the wood and stone. Gemstones rested every ten paces or so, each glowing a soft, gentle color to light the way – red, yellow, orange, green, blue, indigo, and violet, then the cycle repeated itself with the next set of stones.

Neither spoke as they approached the end. That too was tradition – that no one said a word once they passed the entrance and before they reached the main grotto. Here was a time and a space of utter silence, meant for those who walked it to contemplate themselves and those they came here with, to ensure that they’d made the right decision.

Juudai knew very well that he’d made the right choice when it came to Yubel. Yubel chose to be his guardian forevermore, no matter what happened. He knew that they loved him; that they’d loved him since before the transformation. He’d never questioned their choice of never being exactly male or female, even before the change into a dragon. It hadn’t ever made a difference to him.

Again he squeezed Yubel’s hand, enjoying how it felt in his, so much larger and stronger. Yubel smiled down at him. If they could have reached, Juudai suspected they would have ruffled his hair. Yubel liked to touch him. He certainly had no qualms about being touched.

But their free arm remained on the other side and neither really wanted to let go. That wasn’t tradition but he wasn’t going to release Yubel until they emerged from here.

At the end of the corridor there hung a curtain of deep green vines and leaves woven together. As they approached, the curtain pulled back. No one could see who did it. Juudai could feel that no one was there to do it. The curtain moved because they were there and it was time for it to move.

Without a breath of hesitation they passed where the curtain hung and into the true grotto beyond. The ceiling rose high overhead; even Yubel wouldn’t be able to touch it unless they flew to the top. The walls encircled them, wide as well, with the implication that this was both the entire world and a grotto just big enough for the two of them.

A small stream flowed to one side. Light softly pulsed from a source no one could see, giving just enough so they could see one another. Underneath their feet the ground was now dotted with soft moss and flowers that sent up a glorious aroma that filled the air.

There was a sense that something watched them here. There was no judgment – the awareness only watched. Juudai knew if he tried he could feel it both ways. He would be the watched and the watcher. But he didn’t try doing that, not right now.

Together they moved forward, then turned to face one another and taking their free hands, holding them at shoulder-height. A slender flame burst into existence between them, one that held itself there without any visible means of support. It cast no shadows – not that it needed to. The grotto held all the shadows that were necessary.

Juudai took three long, deep breaths. Then he began.

“I will love only you, Yubel. I swore that one already but I do it again, here and now, forever. You are mine and I am yours, and there is nothing that will ever change that. There is no one that I will ever want the way that I want you and no one else that I will love as I love you. We are one, and if ever I can make that more than mere words, I will do so. It doesn’t matter how long I live or how many lives we live. I love you.” He’d worked hard on crafting his wedding vows since he’d asked if Yubel wanted to do this.

Yubel’s eyes shone, reflected in the dancing flames and the surrounding shadows, and he wondered if there were tears there. But Yubel spoke and their voice was as strong as ever.

“I love you, Juudai. I loved you before this happened and I will love you forever after. I protect you because I love you. No one will ever harm you while I exist and should anyone try, I will ensure they regret the attempt. You are the savior of all that is and I will protect you from the Light of Ruin, the Darkness of Nihility, and whatever else might attempt to harm the life you have brought into being. For all time, for all lives, for now, and forever, until the very end of the universe and beyond, I love you.”

Juudai released one of Yubel’s hands and put his down. There he found a crystal goblet of some of the finest wine, which he raised first to Yubel’s lip. Yubel sipped the traditional three sips, then with their free hand, took the goblet and held it to his own lips. Juudai sipped, and Yubel set the wine goblet down. If they’d looked, it wouldn’t have been there anymore. In accordance with its nature, it existed only for those moments it was needed.

Now Juudai wrapped his fingers once more around Yubel’s and leaned in to rest his wine-touched lips to theirs. Yubel returned the kiss, pulling him closer, releasing his hands and wrapping arms and wings around him. Juudai leaned in, breathing deeply, hardly believing this happened, and yet so pleased that they were there, that they were together, that this had happened.

Together they headed back down the corridor. Save for the sound of their own voices when they spoke their vows and the faint trickle of the stream, there hadn’t been any other sounds in the grotto. One could fail to realize at all that it rested in the heart of the royal city. It wasn’t the only one of its kind; there were plenty of marriage grottoes all throughout the realm, and probably beyond. But this was the one for the members of the royal family, and so there Juudai chose to pledge his vows.

Only a few waited for them outside – King Aodh and Queen Kaien, a few of his royal bodyguard. Aodh smiled at the sight of them.

“My dear son,” he declared, as proud as he must have been when he and Juudai’s mother did the same thing in their youth, “you’ve completed your vows?”

Juudai’s grin lit his face, bright as the stars in the sky. “Yeah!” The two of them held their arms up and around their wrists were the slim silver and black bands that indicated a successful bonding. Neither had noticed the bands coming into existence – because they didn’t until those who’d pledged their vows stepped out of the grotto.

Cheers broke out from the viewers – Elemental Hero Bubbleman and Featherman most of all. Burst Lady and Lady Heat merely both nodded, while the others murmured in approval.

“We have the feast waiting for you,” Queen Kaien told them, her smile of greeting as pleased as her husband’s. “Are you ready for it?”

Juudai’s stomach roared in agreement at the mere mention of food. Yubel snorted softly.

“Your Majesty, when have you ever known Juudai to not be ready to eat?”

Everyone there knew that Juudai’s constant appetite came from the fact every aspect of his life force drew on the Gentle Darkness. He channeled a lot of power just by existing and he needed to replace it somehow. That in no way meant Yubel wouldn’t tease him about it.

Together they started up towards the castle, Yubel and Juudai still hand in hand, ready to start on a life together – an infinite amount of lives, in point of fact.

Lives involving promises both broken and kept, in ways that neither of them could imagine.

The End

Notes: They’ve been married a long, long time. No “til death do us part” here. Their love is not severed by death.