#when trying to help figure out why the other is ‘undateable’ turns into ‘you’re perfect why am i not dating you?’ real quick

[steddielations]

Eddie finally lets Jeff talk him into going on this blind date. It's not like he's against dating, he just doesn't expect fireworks from an hour of small talk over an overpriced dinner, y'know? Jeff swore by this guy, though, assuring Eddie that they would hit it off, but Eddie will never know because the guy doesn't show.

That's right, he gets stood up, Jeff texts him a string of apologies saying the guy chickened out. So Eddie’s just sitting there alone, trying not to sulk when the waitress asks if he's still waiting to order. Fuck it, he refuses to be the most miserable person in the restaurant, looking around to find someone equally as pathetic, and lo and behold:

Three tables away, there's a guy getting dumped.

Eddie eavesdrops because he has nothing better to do. It’s a pretty standard breakup. Sounds like they haven't been together long and things fizzled out. Neither of them seem to be invested enough to try and salvage it.

"Aren't you gonna say anything, Steve?"

No, Steve isn't. He just sits there while his former boyfriend leaves, doesn't try to stop him at all. Not in a hardened douchebag way, but in a dejected 'why do I even bother' way that Eddie knows all about.

And well, Eddie might be a cynic but his curiosity isn't dead. This Steve is far too pretty to be getting dumped in a seafood place and Eddie has to know what the deal is. It leads him right over to Steve's table. He looks up at Eddie, not quite dead behind the eyes yet, but maybe a little lonely. Just needs a spark.

"Alright well, something tells me that a stranger bugging you won't be the worst thing to happen to you tonight, so I'm just gonna take this empty seat and maybe we can help each other figure out why we're both alone on a Friday night. What do you say?"

Steve blinks, a little taken back at first, then he matches the nonchalance that Eddie's so good at faking with a smirk and a shrug, "Depends. Do you have all night?"

Turns out, Jeff was right about one thing, Eddie does hit it off with someone and it doesn't take all night. They leave the restaurant together, spend hours just walking the town and even breaking into a park after hours. It's the most fun Eddie's had in a while, and even though he doesn't get a goodnight kiss just yet, he gets a second date, which is even better.

He walks home with a skip in his step and a fire in his belly that he hasn't felt in years. He never thought he'd be so glad to get stood up before.

[dreamkidddream]

Those Doll!anon fics were really amazing! I really wanna do something like it if you don’t mind. Could I maybe get a Yorkie!MC? Like, a really short, really friendly MC until they feel like they or one of the brothers/undateables are being threatened or insulted, then they try to pick a fight they’d obviously lose? I’m just laughing at the mental imagine of this short, unthreatening human yelling at and trying to square up against a demon lol.

Awww tysm!! 💙I missed writing for Obey Me (and we also hit 666 followers at this point 😈💜) and since this was so interesting I decided that I’m gonna do the Undateables first and then do the brothers cause I feel like I don’t show them enough love 😔 reader is gender neutral!

The Undateables with Yorkie!MC

Diavolo

He is LOVING your energy

Your happiness is so contagious, it just adds onto his already cheery demeanor. He honestly feels his cheeks hurting from smiling even more when you’re around (and he doesn’t even care!)

He’s gonna buy Lucifer so much Demonus as a thank you for picking you for the exchange program. Seriously, you’re PERFECT (for him)

As the President of Student Council and future King, he loves seeing you interact with the other students, and he’s glad that they’re reacting positive to you. At least some of them do

Now, no one is to foolish (or powerful) enough to threaten Diavolo or do anything to you that can bring you harm. They can try, but they won’t be getting the results that they hope for

But he can’t help it but find it amusing when you try to “defend his honor” when someone bad mouths him. He makes sure to not let it show (gotta be professional after all) but he does tease you about it later. You’re so small and seeing you just yelling square up to this demon is hilarious. He has no idea what geometry has to do with this, but he’s learned some new slang thanks to you!

He’s finally found someone who’ll go along with his antics and more. Whereas other people may complain about him wanting to do fun activities that seem basic, you just flash a big smile, grab his hand and tell him to lead the way

(You even made matching friendship bracelets and he refuses to take it off, ever)

You really make him happy MC. He doesn’t remember the last time he’s ever felt this lighthearted, and he doesn’t feel the sense of loneliness that he felt himself getting used too

Also Lucifer gets twice the headache now, but the Demonus helps it go away (temporarily)

Barbatos

Ah, so another Luke, except older and that you take your threats of violence very serious, if what he sees (both in the present and the future) holds true (which it does)

You’re still harmless in his eyes though

Your friendly personality makes it easy for you to be forgiven for a lot of things…even if your actions make him give you the side eye at times

Despite how energetic you are (which is something that he’ll never grow tired of) your presence has a relaxing effect on him. Even if he has to warn you sometimes to be careful with the way that you bounce around so much, especially when he’s in the kitchen

He unfortunately can’t be by your side as he is Lord Diavolo’s butler, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t keep watch on you, even without the use of his powers

With how outgoing you are, you’re bound to attract trouble, in which you do at a constant rate. What was comical however, is that it seemed like the trouble you attracted was on his behalf

“MC, what seems to be the issue here?”

“BARB! You won’t believe this! This jerk has the nerve to call you stuck up- well I can show you stuck up! After I stick my foot up your- Huh? Hey, why am I the one being dragged away?! W- count yourself lucky that Barb is saving you right now demon! But this isn’t over- MPH!”

“I hate to spoil you before our tea party, but you were already late and I have been meaning to have you try my new recipe that I’ve been working on��”

You were too busy trying to savor the delicious flavor to focus on what just happen, which was his plan all along. You get to try more of his delicious treats and he gets to enjoy your touch and company. Crisis averted!

He’s crafty enough to have plans to evade you “fighting” and you haven’t caught on yet (or maybe you did and just feign ignorance? Either way works for him)

It doesn’t bother him what people say about him, he doesn’t care in the slightest (and they’re not bold enough to say it to his face). What he cares about is making sure that you keep your carefree energy, and that he keeps to see you with your radiating smile on your face

Simeon

You remind him so much of Luke. Are you sure you’re not from the Celestial Realm too?

Don’t worry he’s only teasing you (kinda) but you do have just as much energy if not MORE than Luke

And you don’t mind helping him either, no matter how “silly” his requests may be

“You’re doing great Si! See, you didn’t even need my help!”

“MC, I couldn’t have gotten to this point without you. My pictures are still coming out a little blurry, but that could be because you wouldn’t stand still- but it does add special kind of charm to them…”

He’s keeping them btw

He was shook when he saw you go off the first time, like he really wasn’t expecting it (Solomon did try to warn him, he was laughing but he did try to warn him)

“Don’t think just because he’s an angel means I’m bout to act like one! I will end you!”

MC please don’t make this demon “catch these hands” violence isn’t necessary

He doesn’t know what that means but he’s scared that he’s gonna find out if he doesn’t hold you back

He has reprimanded you each time when you try to fight others. He knows that demons see him as weak and talk behind his back, but he chooses to ignore them, to turn the other cheek. But just because he does, doesn’t mean that you do, and he sees that now

Simeon really doesn’t want you to fight, and it’s not even because it’s against his nature (it’s part of the reason, just not the whole reason). Fighting leads to injury, and injury leads to distress, and that’s the last thing that he wants to happen to you. And he’s not going to let anything happen to you!

He truly believes it’s a waste of time and energy, and you could find better things to do. For example, by spending time with him!

Simeon may not be your guardian angel officially, but he’s your guardian angel. Always

Has definitely written a character based on you

Luke

Is immediately upset that you don’t stay in Purgatory Hall with him, and even more upset that you don’t live in the Celestial Realm

You’re like the best older sibling he’s never had! And you don’t treat him like a baby either!

Or he’s just admiring you too much to notice

You never hesitate to help him with anything; baking, homework, pretty much anything and everything. He may try to make it seem like you need his assistance, but we all know it’s the other way around (with the exception of Luke himself)

We all know that Luke gets teased by the brothers and even his roommates sometimes (looking at you Solomon), but it’s just harmless teasing (for the most part). It’s when he hears what the other students say about him that gets to him- he tries to show that it doesn’t bother him and he tries to stand up for himself but- their words really hurt him

And no one hurts Luke and gets away with it

You already get onto the brothers for their teasing when it starts to bother him, and now the brothers have to jump in to stop you from trying to rip this demon horns’ off

You can’t really reach them and they’re pretty sure you won’t do any damage, but they rather not take the chance of you getting hurt

It’s not the first or last time that you do this either, and it just makes him feel horrible. He’s the angel here, the one that’s suppose to protect you, not the other way around!

You help him out so much, either without defending him you do so much for him already. How can he ever repay you? He feels like whatever he does won’t be enough…WAIT- he figured out what he can do!

He can get stronger and protect you! He can go to Beel so that you don’t have to fight for him anymore, or maybe have Solomon make some potions that’s like demon repellent but only for those jerks. If those mean demons see how serious and strong he is, then they’re bound to leave you guys alone! Maybe he can show you some tricks too once he’s done. He has to hurry up and tell you the plan then, you guys can’t wait any longer!

Their words do hurt, but so does seeing you putting yourself in harms way to protect him. You can’t do all the protecting MC, he needs to watch out for you too, no if ands or buts about it!

You and Luke are the duo we never knew we needed

Solomon

Ah, it’s about time he found a human as interesting and adorable as you. Where having you been hiding all his lifetime?!

He has wayyyy more fun teasing you than Luke. Your pout just makes things x100 better and cuter

Congrats on becoming his new victim MC

Another one to find you very amusing when you try to fight and won’t stop you either

He will dead serious be recording you trying to fight on his DDD. He’ll make sure that it doesn’t escalate but who is he to stop such entertainment?

He has become tempted to cast a superhuman strength spell on you, and he ends up doing it “on accident” (which has happened more than once)

Lucifer has done the “I’m watching you” thing to him every time he has lmao

But no seriously, he won’t let you get hurt; he won’t even let the chance arise. He’s already pulling you away before you can get yourself worked up fully, dragging you to the library or his room to test some new spells (one that he tempts you can use on these demons). It’s enough to get your attention back on him

You’re a daily source of his amusement and someone that he wants MC, but that doesn’t mean he can afford his favorite human getting hurt on his watch!

He’s no stranger to the gossip about him, nor is he clueless. It’s just all talk anyway, he doesn’t care and neither should you. But it is touching to know that you care this much about him and how he feels…

But he doesn’t want you to do this for him. He’s a powerful sorcerer, he can easily solve this without breaking a sweat if he wanted to, but he doesn’t deem it worthy to even waste a drop of potions on. But since you’re so concerned, maybe a quick kiss would make him feel better?

He thought you were a little gullible, but that’s not the case. You just have a very open and bright personality, one that he finds himself getting attached to more and more as each day passes

If he’s not careful, he might get more enamored with you than he already is-

[belphies-wife]

hello! how are you? :)

i saw that your requests are open so, how would the brothers + undateables (but if it’s more practical for you, the brothers only) be with a mc who's constantly dying their hair (different colors or a specific color)

like, if they help her, their reactions to her natural hair color

loved the hcs and fics you did already, keep up with your work! ❤️

Tysm for this request! To be inclusive to all hair colours, I’m going to say that the MC had their hair bleached to a pale blond colour so that it’s easier for them to dye their different hair colours and is currently dying their hair back to their natural colour.

Also, I’m so sorry I took so long on your request. It came in around the last month of school so things were pretty hectic. Then writer’s block hit me when summer started. I’m getting back into writing so hopefully I’ll get back to posting regularly <3 enjoy!

Now, without further ado:

»»————-　♔　-————««

The Brothers + MC Who Constantly Dyes Their Hair

Lucifer

➼ He honestly didn’t understand why you couldn’t just stick to one hair colour.

➼ It kind of reminded him of that time Asmo went through a phase where he would dye his hair every other week.

➼ Or that time Satan pulled a rebellious teenager stunt and dyed his hair green to piss Lucifer off.

➼ The constant colour changing got on his nerves a bit initially, but it doesn’t really bother him anymore. If it makes you happy, then do what you want.

➼ I feel like he’d like the Narcissa Malfoy style on you (the top layer of hair being black or brown and the inside layers being blond or white)

➼ One day you asked him to help you dye your hair.

➼ He didn’t really know what he was supposed to do but tried to be as helpful as possible.

➼ The first thing you did was put the colour remover to take out the old colour.

➼ “What colour are we doing today, my dear?”

➼ You grinned at him. “I want to go back to my natural hair colour this time.” You held up a bottle of hair dye that matched your hair colour.

➼ Lucifer had never seen your natural hair colour, and he tried imagining you with it but figured he’d better see it for himself before having an opinion.

➼ You showed him how to apply it, and he helped you get it in places that were harder for you to do on your own.

➼ He absolutely loves your natural hair and tells you as much all the time.

»»————-　♔　-————««

Mammon

➼ He couldn’t care less about what you did with your hair.

➼ Well, that’s what he did, but really, all your hair colours fascinated him.

➼ He had white hair, so it was very easy to dye it. He had tried experimenting with a few different hair colours before but didn’t think it suited him all that much.

➼ He loves your hair but would probably never say it out loud.

➼ Okay, maybe in private.

 ➼ I feel like you dying your hair so much would motivate him to try dying his own hair again.

➼ You told him he’d look good with brown hair, and that’s probably enough to convince him.

➼ You suggested turning it into a date, since you were planning on dying your hair back to its natural colour soon. That way you could help each other.

➼ He was super excited for the entire week leading up to the date, both for the actual date and to your natural hair colour.

➼ He actually researched a lot about dying hair at home because he was afraid of messing up. He didn’t tell you that, though.

➼ He was very helpful throughout the hair-dying process.

 ➼ Also, he rocked the brown hair.

➼ Demanded cuddles as a payment for his services afterwards.

»»————-　♔　-————««

Leviathan

➼ Levi is somewhat of an expert when it comes to hair dye and insists on helping you out in dying your hair once you become friends, and even more so when you started dating.

➼ You told him you wanted to go back to your natural colour.

➼ He was so excited to help you. It was honestly adorable. 

➼ He was really helpful, and honestly, it turned out amazing.

➼ He showers you with about a hundred compliments immediately afterwards.

➼ Honestly, helping you with your hair is one of his favourite things to do.

➼ Please tell him he did a good job. He’ll melt.

➼ Seriously, do it.

»»————-　♔　-————««

Satan

➼ Satan 100% had a rebellious teen phase where he would dye his hair every other week to piss off Lucifer.

➼ But don’t assume that he did a good job, because he didn’t.

➼ When Asmo learned of his hair-dying habits, he immediately put a stop to it and insisted on taking his older brother to a salon to get it done. The whole ordeal honestly became rather annoying for Satan, and his visits to the salon became less and less frequent until they stopped.

➼ The employees, however, did become familiar with him as Asmo’s older brother and offered him discounts. He did, however, frequent it occasionally for a cut.

➼ He offered to take you there so you could get a discount for your hair, and you, not one to decline a discount, accepted.

➼ “What colour are you getting?” Asked Satan, curious.

➼ You took out your phone and showed him a picture. “My natural hair colour.”

➼ “It looks good.” Satan smiled. 

➼ Overall he wasn’t as excited as everyone else was about your hair, but he did enjoy the whole thing. He’s happy to spend time with you no matter what you’re doing, and seeing you so happy over your hair is just a bonus.

»»————-　♔　-————««

Asmodeus

➼ Do you really think you’re allowed to dye your own hair while dating Asmo? Cause if you do, you’re wrong.

➼ Don’t you dare even suggest using box dye. You’ll give the poor guy a heart attack.

➼ Obviously, he insists on taking you to his favourite salon instead. He turns the whole day into a self-care/spa day. 

➼ He doesn’t really have a preference on what hair colour you have and whether it’s natural or not. As long as it makes you feel attractive, it’s perfect.

»»————-　♔　-————««

Beelzebub

➼ Like Satan and Asmo, Beel doesn’t have a preference on what hair colour you have as long as you’re happy. 

➼ He is, however, quite eager to assist you. 

➼ Beel’s actually pretty good at dying hair. Who do you think helps Belphie when he bleaches his tips?

➼ He’s incredibly cautious while doing your hair, making sure the dye is applied evenly so that your hair won’t come out patchy. It turned out amazing in the end, and he showered you in compliments afterwards. 

➼ Let me have my soft giant Beel, okay?

»»————-　♔　-————««

Belphegor

➼ As the resident emo, Belphie has plenty of experience with dying hair.

➼ While he’s too lazy to do it for you, he’s happy to help.

➼ He ends up cutting his hair and rebleaching the tips, too.

➼ Beel does end up coming and helping out, though.

➼ Honestly, it’s less romantic and more of just you two hanging out together. Very wholesome and 100% ends up with you two taking a nap together and him nuzzling his head into your hair.

»»————-　♔　-————««

Tysm for reading <3 I’m really sorry for the wait. Like I said, I’m hoping to get back onto a more consistent writing schedule again. My requests are still open, though!

Request a Fic/Headcanon || Obey Me Masterlist

[blackcatanna]

First impressions of Hakuoki characters:

Hijikata: Sebastian from Black Butler realness. Is mean but in a reluctant way. Like a Mum who is in charge of discipline because her husband (Kondou) is incapable of laying down the law. I like him but I would like him more if the game wasn't sucking his dick so hard. He has good hair. Please don't kill me, Hijikata!

Okita: He is handsome (duh) but seems a bit too eager to kill his own men... Ugh, now he's making me thank him. His idea of humour is threatening to kill you. He's like an old cackling witch who was shunned by the world and is taking it out on anyone he has power over. I enjoy him but I find it hard to relate to someone who takes pleasure in tormenting the helpless. Big dom energy. Probably enjoyed tying you up a bit too much. I want to fight back but I have a feeling that there is no script for bratty Chizuru. :'(

Saito: The Chosen One. He is dangerous but also adorable. He saved mah life *swoons*. He is HELPFUL. He has beautiful impractical hair. He is CONCISE. He is POLITE. He just seems like a great person to have around... If he's on your side (R.I.P. Itou). Alas, we can never be wed, for he is already married to his sword... Or maybe it's Hijikata... Or Okita... Or tofu. He has a lot of commitments.

Harada: He has red hair. Me like red hair. I feel like all three of them are way too casual about my impending doom. Not getting friendly vibes here. However, it turns out that he's pretty great! A bit too chirpy for my liking, though. Because I'm a miserable bitch (goth), I guess. The baka trio are all more boisterous and outgoing than I would be comfortable being around but I like them on their own. Harada is my favourite, though. Definitely the Mum of the trio. I guess that makes him the cool aunty of the Shinsengumi? He has the best Kazama burns and I will always love him for that.

Heisuke: I wish that the others would stop treating him like a child. Maybe they would if he stopped taking their bait. He's the most openly friendly of the group and that means a lot when you're surrounded by new people (and are being held against your will). He looks like an angry wildcat. I like cats so that's fine, I guess.

Kazama: Ew. Can you tell that I don't like him? Fuck this wannabe nonce. Actually, no! Don't fuck him! That's what he wants! Just stab him real good. He cannot control his temper. I do not respect that. He is racist. He is too scared of rejection to court a girl and get consent. He is really handsome but he has the worst personality so I feel no attraction to him at all. Not even for a hate fuck. No. Go away.

Nagakura: Ah, the classic pervert! We love a slut! I kept forgetting who he was, though. Sorry. Clearly, he has hidden depths but I have yet to find out what those are. Is a little bit too violent. Needs to calm tf down. I don't really have much else to say about first impressions. At first, the baka trio were just loud, wacky background noise.

Sannan: Seems fine, I guess... Fairly reasonable. If he was such a sweet, fluffy bunny before his injury, why was everyone so scared of him? He has a pleasantly calm aura. However, he needs to work on his diplomacy. Demanding blood while brandishing a sword is extremely un-chill of him. I also enjoy wandering around eerily in the middle of the night so we have that in common. Definitely gives off sinister vibes.

Yamazaki: Ninja Nurse Mum! He is clever, selfless, dedicated and reliable! He deserves a better hairstyle XD Sorry Yamazaki! The rat tail is not a strong look but he probably has more important things to worry about like SAVING LIVES and coming up with new moves to shout out in combat. I am excited to do his route because he deserves all the happiness.

Iba: The most beautiful one. He's rich, good looking, friendly and has had a crush on you for years. He also rescues you from the Shinsengumi on numerous occasions to hang out and eat delicious desserts. He's very cute. Definitely too good to be true. Everyone has a dark side and it concerns me when someone locks theirs away so much. Or maybe he really is that 2D. Iba is so perfect that they had to give him the Demon Arm of Horniness because they didn't want to tarnish him with a human flaw. I would probably be obsessed with him if he was real but, as a character, I don't find him that interesting.

Sakamoto: I still have no idea who this man is. He creeps me out, though. I don't remember why, I just remember being creeped out when you first meet him. Maybe he should mind his own business.

Souma: Puppy? Who threw this poor guy to Harada and Nagakura? Wow, I finally have underlings. However, they are probably not here against their will. He looks scared so he must have some brains. I haven't played his route yet so I don't know much about him.

Nomura: Horny Puppy! This isn't really a first impression (except for in the sense that all of my impressions are initial because I haven't played much with him in yet) and is totally spoilery but there's a bit in Edo Blossoms where they're making fun of him for being terrible with women and how it'll take him ten years to figure them out. At the time, I thought, "Bit harsh, guys. He could very easily die tomorrow and then he'll never get any." AND THEN HE DID. Die, that is. Not get laid. R.I.P.

Kondou: Married to Hijikata. They have loads of terrible children. Fun Dad. Thinks that he's a cool Dad but there are no cool Dads. Everyone talks about how nice he is and how everyone loves him but it's hard to appreciate that when he's debating whether or not to feed you to Okita. Turns out, he is kind but very busy. Definitely a secret badass. Very secret. He gives off friendly bear vibes.

Inoue: Friendly Grandad who is way younger than he looks. Not datable so he is mostly in the background, just being kind, helpful and dependable. He is warm but calm and comforting to be around.

Shimada: Gruff undatable anime guy who is not a bishie and so his brave and heroic acts often go unnoticed.

Motoyama: Bless him for trying to be a wingman. Why is he so scared of the Shinsengumi? Scary poor people with swords? He is very good at his job. Needs to calm down with the winks and nudges.

Itou: This Bitch. He could be fabulous but he loses points for mocking the disabled. He's Regina George. Except he actually dies. Is very camp. Would be great to go shopping with him. Not necessarily gay but is the gay best friend you deserve, not the gay best friend you asked for. Is a bitch but also sometimes the only sane person in the room. He's not reading you, he's just being real with you because you're Shinsengumi Sisters.

Miki: Bitch by Association. "Darling." Doesn't seem totally evil, just trying to do his best by his brother. Relies on tough guy image. Doing his job but happens to be on team Bitch. Also, he is a handsome boi.

Takeda: Fabulous Cunt. Should be too beautiful to be such a disaster human and yet here we are. Starts off as a bit of a prick, ends up (spoilers) feasting on the flesh of innocents... Is that a glow up? He's a dirty cop. Nobody likes him X_X :'(

Shiranui: GUNS! SHOOTY SHOOTY! He has a lot of aggression and he channels it through his GUNS. He always looks somewhat maniacal. Needs to take a chill pill.

Amagiri: Infuriatingly calm enemy with infuriating facial hair. He seems pretty chill and not bloodthirsty so... Good? He punched Heisuke, though, so RAAAAAAAWR!!!!

Kodo: Worst Dad. Scalpels > kunai. Took a level in WTF while he was away (hopefully he wasn't always like that).

Kaoru: Why can't I dress like that? :'( Definitely evil.

Sen: Hey, don't tell me off for protecting you! Can we be best friends?! I'M SO STARVED OF FEMALE CONTACT!!! More of this queen, please. She is powerful, kind and she is honest! I wanted to run away with her while Saito and Heisuke were away :') But the game didn't let me :'(

Kimigiku: GOALS. Why can't I be disguised as a geisha (except for that one time) :'( GET THIS QUEEN A ROUTE. She is beauty she is grace. I wish that I looked more like a woman and less like a child. I want her to be my friend too. She can teach me her womanly arts!

Chizuru!: She's fine. Much less annoying than she could easily be. Too pure for this world. A fine example of woman (well, she looks like a child). Her disguise is useless. Pretends not to be thirsty but rushes past Itou to see shirtless men. HMMMMMMM.

[polarishpd]

A Month Of Truth: Narrated by Lance and Pidge (Chapter 2)

(art by @mclanchez-dictionary)

Chapter 1

VOICEOVER #3:

Yanno, I did try to find the cure. And then Allura just goes 'Pidge, go study diplomatic Galaxorian law and culture, you're not going to a ball without knowing anything about them'. I dunno, I think she asked Coran to research, but he couldn't find the cure, apparently?

She asked Coran. Yeah. But like, you barely told him anything about the poem.

I think I actually didn't tell him.

Yeah, yeah whatever, get on with the story. I was especially handsome around here.

You're always handsome.

Wow, I'm surprised you said that.

I know, I am too.

~~~

DAY 8:

"I hope you Paladins are prepared for the ball tomorrow," Allura tactfully reminds. Pidge's mind isn't on the ball, or the dress part of it, hand lazily swirling her spoon in her food goo, because her mind has been stuck on the poem for days.

Recipe for a truth spell. Could it be the spell they were currently being tormented by? Probably. But why would the Galran Lotor have access to an Altean potion?.

Why four leaf clover, why tears? Pidge may as well be able to make that on her own. Well, maybe except for the fact that she had no idea where to get four leaf clovers other than Earth, and no idea how to find the tears of a fraught lover.

If only the poem had included a cure.

"Pidge? Earth to Pidge!" Lance waves his hand unceremoniously in Pidge's face, immediately grabbing her attention.

"Huh?"

"Allura was asking if you wanted to wear a dress for tomorrow's ball," Lance reports. Pidge curiously tilts her head to look at Allura, cocking one eyebrow.

"That would be nice," she says, stupidly unable to help herself. If she weren't under the influence of the spell, she would definitely have not replied as such, more likely to roll her eyes and deny the very notion. But alas, the truth spell was actually in existence, and Pidge had actually replied positively. Goddamnit.

"Really? You're not running away this time?" Allura squawks, surprised.

"I don't think I am." Not a very confident reply, strange considering the spell, but there nonetheless. Lance raises an eyebrow.

"Not to be a party pooper, but don't the aliens think Pidge is male? Like I know all of us, even Keith somehow, would look stonkin' hot in a ballgown, but what will the Galaxorians think?"

So Lance thought Keith would look good in a ballgown? Shiro? Hunk?

Herself?

Thankfully, the spell doesn't compel her to ask questions, only to answer them, so Pidge stays quiet and tries not to show even a semblance of reaction.

Allura laughs, the sound tinkling like little birds fluttering down from trees. So goddamn ethereal. You would never guess that a laugh like that belonged to a fierce and powerful warrior princess.

"Lance, do you really think our very, very diverse colonies of people care about femininity and masculinity?"

Lance reddens.

"Earth culture," is all he answers. Allura raises an eyebrow questioningly, letting it fall back down and continue her talking, prompted by all the interested looks around the table.

"Basically, you people can wear whatever you want, as long appropriate to the culture. Pidge can wear a dress and still be a 'guy'" Allura states.

Then, her eyes glint wickedly to everyone around the table, immediately making everyone very, very nervous.

"Hey, does everyone want a ballgown?"

Pidge watches with amusement as four terrified men stampede away.

As he runs, Lance hollers:

"I DON'T MIND WEARING ONE, JUST NOT TONIGHT!!!"

Allura and Pidge glance at each other, pinching their mouths in, attempting to hide their laughter.

"BAHAHAHAHAHA!"

---

Allura puts Pidge on her dressing pedestal, surrounded by full length mirrors, Allura running back and forth between her closet and Pidge, who is ordered to stay still.

How exactly does one have fifty thousand different dresses of different colour, material, style and make?

Ask Allura.

"What do you think of Lance, Pidge?" Allura cleverly asks as she ducks behind Pidge, holding up a plethora of dresses on her back to see if it would fit, hands swapping them in and out. Even Allura, barely touching Pidge, can feel the sudden rush of tension that floods her petite body from the question.

Pidge already dreads the word vomit that's going to happen from a simple question. God, the answer to that question deserved a four page, PEEL paragraph analytical essay. Maybe even a goddamn thesis.

"Well, I don't know. I used to find him really annoying, especially in the Garrison. I mean, he would never do his schoolwork, and sometimes ditch us to chase pretty girls, and he always pissed off or annoyed me, but-but he was kind of okay." Pidge's hard, angry-looking exterior falls, replaced with something altogether more soft, fond...nostalgic, perhaps?

"He would always try to befriend me, make sure I wasn't too antisocial, that he treated me well." Pidge suddenly chuckles, looking as if she were remembering the past. "He even tried to set me up on dates. That was probably the funniest one," she admits, grinning. Allura laughs with her, nodding approvingly of something she was holding up.

Pidge doesn't want to mention that none of those prospective dates actually wanted to date her. Looks like she was undateable even in male disguise.

Pidge alsd oesn't want to say anything in hear of spoiling what seems like her imagination.

Allura clutches a silky dress that would gently clutch at one's figure as it cascades down, the colour an intricate and shifting blend of greens and blues, cut sweetheart at the bosom. It seems sleeveless, if not for a gentle mesh covering the chest and arms, draping down over the wrists. And even more fitting for her Green Paladin theme are the little four-leaved clovers, dotting the skirt and mesh portions of the gorgeous dress.

Somehow, it even looks like it would suit Pidge.

"What do you think?"

Pidge doesn't know whether to put it on. Hell yes she wants to, but putting on a dress again is like revisiting a memory she can't yet stomach.

She hadn't willingly worn a dress since after Matt disappeared.

Wearing one again, seeing herself back in the image of femininity would both confuse and maybe scare her..

She loves being girly with her hairbands and swishy skirts, but she also loves being tomboyish with the mud in her hair and boy cargo shorts.

"Allura, it's beautiful, it's perfect," Pidge starts, Allura immediately brightening and gesturing to the changing room, "but i can't wear it."

"Why not?"

For once, the princess is annoying Pidge. Yes, thank you for helping. Thank you for taking the time to dress her up.

But asking so many questions, especially private ones while she was under a truth spell, was something she preferred to never happen again. Never again did she want Keith, Hunk or Allura manipulating her into actually complimenting Lance. Yuck.

"A multitude of reasons. I love the dress, it's really so pretty, but I don't know. Wearing it won't make Lance realise that I'm not just a boy tech-genius that he met in the Garrison, I'm a girl." Pidge claps her hands over her mouth. Why had that particular gem of truth decided to drop out of her mouth instead of the one she was willing to share about her brother?!

Nope, she didn't care what Lance thought. Lance is someone who looks merely on the outside, at the skin and everything that lies above it. Hell, he doesn't look at what's inside, Pidge thinks bitterly. He sees it, but he doesn't look at it as if it were truly important.

"Pidge," Allura sighs, pursing her lips. "You don't need Lance's opinion. You don't need a dress to be beautiful or for Lance to see. You wear a dress to feel a bit like-like a princess, isn't that the phrase?"

Pidge looks at the dress.

"Hmm."

Allura grins.

---

"I swear, I'd rather be fighting the Blade again than be thrown into a monkey suit," Keith groans, reclining on the sofa.

"Maybe a ball would be fun?" Hunk, his always cheerful self, offers to Keith.

"The last time there was a ball, we were invaded and nearly killed, in case you can't remember," Keith bitterly reminds.

"Just because you're a fun hating guy doesn't mean all of us has to be," Lance rolls his eyes sarcastically. "A ball might brighten up your spirits a little."

The door clicks at the same time Lance laughs at Keith's sullen scowl.

Allura practically floats in, beaming.

Pidge follows closely behind her. At first, all Lance can see is a little, stubbly ponytail, Pidge's grown-out hair, poking out from behind Allura. Then, a shimmer of green, the little swish of a dress.

Is Pidge...is Pidge actually dressed up?

Lance tries to stop himself from gaping, but as normal, he has almost no self-constraint whatsoever.

"Geez, Lance, no need to stare," Keith and Pidge both groan at the same time, screaming 'Jinx!" soon after.

Lance feels the blood flood his face, turning him a pretty shade of pink.

Lance couldn't help but look, honestly If that was what Pidge wanted (unlikely though). How could he not?

Pidge had always been beautiful, behind the traditionally 'geeky' and boyish appearance she favoured. She couldn't stop that from shining through. But somehow, the way this dress hugs the legs, swirls as she moves, even the little details captivate him more than he anticipated.

"So? Thoughts? Am I wearing this tomorrow or not?" Pidge internally cringes at how rude, crass she sounds, but chooses to try and ignore it.

"You better be," Lance blurts out. "Like, you didn't need the dress to look beautiful because you always are, maybe except for when you drool on me-wait scratch that, that's beautiful too but like in a really cool way, and the dress really suits you I mean look at the bo-"

Keith lunges at Lance, quickly putting him in a silencing chokehold.

"Don't say anything you're going to regret later," he whispers. Lance groans rebelliously, rolling his eyes and snapping Keith's hands off his neck.

"Okay, daaaaaaad, and for the record, I was going to say bodice," he drags out, huffing and sassily sashaying away from Keith and towards Pidge. Keith steams, mouth down turned and face stunned.

"Toootally."

"It's not like I can lie!"

Lance pushes past Keith, eyes still fixating on a stunned, wordless Pidge who looks like she isn't comprehending what's going on.

Shiro, Keith, Hunk and Allura look ready to jump in front of Pidge and protect their (proclaimed) 'small one' from a Lance who looks ready to drop his pick-up lines on Pidge.

He stops, looking at her curiously.

"No need to look," she says, hoping it comes off more teasing and less flustered like she really is. Allura raises her eyebrows, the rest of the team leaving.

"You keep the dress with you, Pidge!" Allura hollers as she leaves, arm tugged by Shiro and Keith.

Pidge awkwardly stands by Lance.

"So...?"

"You really do look beautiful."

Pidge, usually an observant and judgmental person, doesn't pick up on the little things she normally would; this includes Lance's unusually shy glance, reddened face, fidgety hands.

The only thing that Pidge comprehends is that Lance isn't acting how he normally would with a pretty girl. Flash a smile, raise an eyebrow with half-lidded eyes, likely move closer and lean an elbow on a parallel wall. None of that.

Well, thank god?

No.

He just said that she's beautiful? Is it a lie? (Yes, Pidge knows there's a truth spell, but by this point she knows that it's only when a question is asked that the truth is given. Not in a willing statement, not always at least). Pidge looks down at her shoes, little green flats with layers of leaves creating a hypnotic pattern.

He probably doesn't think she's beautiful. Where's the flirtatious smiles, the smirks, the winks, the eyebrow raises, the leaning and moving in, the godawful pickup lines that make her cringe? The ones that come into painful existence when a pretty alien girl appears?

"Thank you."

Pidge has to storm out and leave Lance alone before she tells her too many of her truths too.

---

VOICEOVER #4:

I don't recall much of that day. Dunno why. Maybe it's because I was-

Shh, don't spoil it for them

-totally fine, then

Insert eye roll emoji here

Stop stealing my reaction emojis!

Insert raised eyebrow emoji here

I'm going to strangle you!!

Kinkyyyyy

We are NOT there yet, okay.

Pity.

Sorry, what?

Nothing.

Allura is going to kill us when she hears the voice-overs, i swear.

DAY 9:

"How does Allura do all this diplomatic stuff while looking so goddamn happy?" Pidge questions, gently tugging at her sleeve. Hunk shrugs in reply, unknowing.

"How do I know? I'm only excited because I hear the Galaxorians are bringing food," Hunk chirps in reply. "I'm going to go to get the food, it's over there."

Pidge huffs out a breath she didn't know she was holding, watching as Hunk disappears through the crowd of people.

"Thanks for ditching me, Hunk!" she tries to call out, but Hunk has already started making casual conversation with the chefs. Something about how exotic the flavours were, and how precise their technique appeared to be. Hunk really does blend in very well with the squad, who seem very interested in every word from Hunk.

The Galaxorians are all gorgeous, each one looking so different. Apparently it's the gene; not even those directly related bear any resemblance due to some weird gene thing that Pidge really wants to study more.

The best part about them probably was the ambiguity. Galaxorians seemed to not have genders because of that mutating gene, ridding them of gender stereotypes. Pidge remembers the people back home, oppressed, and wishes that maybe her home could be a little more like space.

Soundlessly, Pidge floats through the mob of people, searching and scanning for her answers. Where are her friends?

"Hello Ma'am," one of the Galaxorians say, holding up a tray beside them. They smile, offering one of the thin-stemmed and slim glasses to Pidge. "Would you like a drink? It's the best Galaxorian drink around."

If only to be polite, Pidge plucks one off, giving them her best smile.

"Thank you."

In this getup, Pidge feels both extremely confident and extremely self-conscious, somehow at the same time. Hell yeah she was a freaking princess, but hell no to the whole 'diplomacy' thing. People look at her differently now. More like Allura, less like Lance. Hunk would be so much be better for this job, she thinks.

Well, you know what?

Even Matt would be better than her at being diplomatic in a party dress. And she doesn't even have Matt.

God, if only Matt could see her (and Shiro) now...

Pidge takes a swig of the drink, tasting the sweetness, smacking her lips on her teeth. Kind of tarty, like berry drinks. What the hell. Pidge shrugs, just gulping down the whole flute in one go.

Delicious! So good that Pidge almost forgets about Matt for a moment!

"Hey, Pidge."

Pidge whirls around, nearly slamming into Shiro.

"Oh, hey."

Shiro frowns, seeing Pidge staring at her shoes.

"Someone looks down. Literally."

"Oh, ha ha ha, very funny..." Pidge curls her upper lip rebelliously. "You're already our Space Dad, no need to re-establish that."

Why is the music so loud? This Altean music sounds freakishly like Earth pop music that she despises but Lance worships...something about whipping and dabbing? Pidge would never know.

"But I am re-establishing the statement that someone looks down. What's up?"

Oh goody, Shiro finally phrases himself in question form. Looks like the truth is about to spill like a waterfall, friends! Buckle up and get ready for the word vomit!

"A lot of things, really. For one, Hunk decided to just ditch me for a bunch of Galaxorian chefs that I think don't even know who Hunk is. And then, I just keep on staring at how amazing the citizens are, to still be like this even after their planet's being used as a battleground, and how they still gave me this delicious drink, oh my god-"

"Pidge? Calm down," Shiro tries to interject. But the truth spell has already taken hold, stabbing its hooks into Pidge and forcefully pulling the truth out from her.

"And worse, Lance isn't even paying attention to me, even when I'm wearing this, but I don't really know if want him to, Allura's stupid but awesome dress is making me seem more mature than I really am, and I just keep thinking of how much better it would be if Matt were here-"

Pidge chokes, eyes bulging out a little. The truth spell releases its hooks, finally setting Pidge free.

Shit.

"Your brother would be very proud of you if he could see you now, Pidge. You've grown up a lot, you've learnt so much, done so much for the coalition," Shiro reminds, putting his hand on Pidge's shoulder reassuringly. "Very proud. And about Lance...I have a feeling he's not avoiding you because he doesn't want to hang around you."

Pidge flips around, nearly whacking Shiro in the face. Her face looks like some really funny mix of confused, terrified and judgemental all in one, directed to Shiro.

"What does that even mean?"

"Shiro!"

Keith waves, beckoning Shiro to him.

"I'm sorry, I've got to go Pidge, duty calls!"

Keith, in a friendly manner, sticks out the middle finger to Pidge. Pidge quickly flashes one back, sending him an insolent look as Shiro walks away with him.

Two out of five friends have ditched. Forty percent. That's a bit much, don't you think?

Pidge spots Lance, Hunk, Keith and Shiro chatting somewhere at the other side of the ballroom, her view rapidly changing with the heads bobbing in front of her.

So they all ditched her for Lance? Yep-totally not offended. At all.

Doesn't matter.

Pidge ignores them, trying to gracefully walk her way to the other side of the ballroom where the dinner was supposed to take place. How many more hours of this? How many hours before she can become antisocial Pidge Gunderson again?

Allura stands close by, seeming to be making amiable conversation with a Galaxorian. Didn't look like diplomatic business, because both were giggling their heads off. Allura chokes on air, grinning as she regains composure, as does the Galaxorian. Wait, is that the Galaxorian princess? And holy hell, she is gorgeous. The opposite of Allura, round and short (pretty much Pidge's height), and freaking gorgeous.

"Pidge!"

Crap.

Shyly, Pidge tiptoes to Allura and the princess. Wait, is she supposed to curtsey?

Before Pidge can decide, the princess envelops her in a tight hug, squeezing the air out of Pidge.

"Hi! Allura, did I say it right?" she squeaks. Allura smiles, nodding slightly. Adorable and hot? Pidge was only surprised that Lance hadn't tried to hit on her yet.

"Hi!" Pidge greets back, trying to imitate the pure enthusiasm.

"I'm Princess Eejin of Galaxor, but you can just call me Jin. My dad's over there, he's the scary purple one, but I love him a lot anyway. And he loves me a lot too. " Eejin points a stubby finger to the head of the table where her father, Andreas if Pidge is not wrong, currently sits. Pidge is quite sure that Allura is supposed to sit opposite.

It's kind of cute, how she describes her fucking intimidating father.

"Oh Pidge, sit with me at dinner?" she chirrups.

Shit, a question.

"Sorry, I was planning to sit with Lance. I kind of want to sit with him and all," Pidge blurts out. Eejin raises a curious eyebrow at the hesitant Pidge, suddenly 'oh'-ing in surprise and snapping her fingers.

"Truth spell! Haven't come across one of those in a while. If I'm not wrong, Alteans had the best ones around!" Eejin recalls. Allura nods.

"I have Coran searching out libraries. If my fath-" Allura coughs, looking down, "if my father, a renowned alchemist, were alive, I'm sure this job would be easier."

"Princess!"

A servant catches Allura as a tear nearly slips her eye, startling them.

"Are you okay, miss?"

"I'm fine," Allura clearly tries to lessen what would have been sharp. "Is dinner ready?"

"Yes, ma'am, I was about to tell you that."

Eejin grabs Pidge's arm, grinning cheekily.

"I want to meet this Lance fellow who has so obviously stolen your heart. Let me sit next to you with him by your other side," she cooes, giving her the Galaxorian equivalent of puppy eyes. Pidge nods slowly, gently tugging on her lacey sleeve, almost to the point of breaking.

"I haven't exactly asked to sit next to him."

"Nonsense! A pretty thing like you, he'll have to say yes!" Eejin smacks her playfully, and harder than Pidge expected. "So which one is he?"

With most of the crowd filtered to the food and the important guests to the front long table, Pidge clearly sees Lance, trying some Galaxorian food.

Suddenly, Lance chokes after biting off maybe half, spitting it out in Keith's face.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Eejin looks at Pidge, who nearly facepalms.

"Do not tell me that it's that one."

"Uh..."

~~~

On the table was King Andreas, Princess Eejin, the Paladins, the Galaxorian Prime Minister, Coran, and Allura.

"Now why exactly do you want to sit next to me?" Lance asks, uncomfortably sitting in his seat. Pidge tries to not look at how damn cute he is in the Altean-style suit that he and the others wear. It grips his lean frame almost perfectly, decorated with blue silks and meshes, very different from the classical Earth style. And a hell lot nicer too.

"Because I like your company," Pidge says casually. "And your suit, for the record, it's really nice." Suddenly, she realises what she said, bursting out into embarrased laughter with Eejin. For once, Pidge didn't mind being loud. Giggly. More like the young teenage girl she was supposed to be. Lance seems to suddenly take notice of the princess.

"Well hello there," he greets, tone switching and mouth arching upwards in preparation for disgusting flirting.

Jesus, here it comes, and Pidge braces for a slew of pick up lines to come. But it never comes.

"Hello, Lance! I must say, you are a very lucky person!" Eejin chirrups, eyes shut amicably and purple-lined mouth grinning. Lance balks.

"Huuuh?"

"I mean, you have the wonderful Pidge in lo-"

Shit-Pidge jumps, waving her hands in Eejin's face. She doesn't notice Allura facepalming in the back, mostly because Eejin's father was giving them very apprehensive looks. Eejin takes the hint, blushing and halting her speech.

"Pidge does-"

"JIN!"

"So that's your name?" Lance questions, lazily twirling a fork on his finger. Pidge represses the want to try that too.

"Actually, it's Princess Eejin, but Jin will do," Eejn corrects. Lance blanches, much to Pidge's amusement.

"You're the princess?!"

"Someone did their studying," Pidge sneers.

"Well I'm sorry, I was too busy watching you study to actually study," he defends. Eejin and Pidge side-glance, bursting out into girlish, voracious laughter.

"What?!-"

Lance is cut off (with furiously red face and tight lips) by Allura clinking her glass of drink, who shoots an abashed Lance and Pidge looks, King Andreas shooting a grinning Eejin similar looks.

"Good members of the Galaxorian Nation, my Paladins of Voltron, it is an honour to host this first diplomatic dinner between our two nations," she speaks out, the members of the table clapping politely. "Of course, perhaps this meeting need not be completely formal, but we do come together to discuss an alliance between Galaxor and the Voltron Coalition."

Dinner passes quickly. The food, having been closely scrunitized by Hunk, is actually pretty good; Most foods beat the repetitive texture of the food goo, and this is one of them.

Eejin sticks strangely close to Pidge, maybe just attached.

King Andreas is surprisingly friendly. Honestly, for a guy who looks like he is perennially frowning, Andreas even cracks friendly jokes about how Voltron is a need of a good paint job. Especially the red lion, much to both Lance and Keith's annoyance. And he too seems very fond of Eejin, often making jokes alluding to her brilliance and humor, and Pidge tries not to notice how Allura's reacting to it.

"Galaxor needs Voltron, and Voltron needs Galaxor. We have skilled fighters in number but near to no Air Force. I think we would make a good pair," he reasons, appealing to Allura. They need numbers. Badly. The Blade was only so much.

"I think we can strike a deal." Allura extends her hand out, which Andreas returns from across the table. A symbol of agreement, even without the handshake.

The table, and the rest of the people, stand up and cheer, clinking glasses and screaming in joy. Hope. Hope that Galaxor may not be defeated by the Galra, that Voltron could restore the universe. A scene that Pidge had seen multiple times before with a multitude of different nations. And yet Zarkon and Lotor still rode their reign of terror. What would make the change?

Suddenly, right after everyone sits down, Pidge polishing off possibly her third glass of the drink, her brain stings, make her crouch and clutch her head.

It stabs at her.

"Pidge? Pidge!" Eejin exclaims, gripping Pidge and pulling her up with a strength Pidge didn't know she possessed. Luckily, the rest of the table has either left or made their own conversations, so the trio go unnoticed.

Suddenly, again, all feels alright. Better, if possible. She spots Lance right beside her, holding her arm.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Eejin questions, making a face both confused and surprised. Pidge tries to wipe the goopy grin, directed to Lance, off her face, but it refuses to go.

Jesus, why is she getting spelled every three seconds?!

"Heya, Laaaaaance," Pidge drags out, in a voice that is definitely not meant for friends only, eyes going half lidded. Lance, taken aback, goes bright red.

"...hi?"

Eejin gasps, also frowning, looking between the glass and Pidge.

"Pidge, what did you drink?"

Pidge looks at Eejin, appearing either stoned or dazed. Maybe both.

"I dunno, but do you know what I really want to drink?" she slurs, turning back to Lance with a look that definitely meant something else altogether. Eejin quickly grabs her and flips her around.

"Dammit, Pidge, what did you drink?" Eejin asks again, more commanding this time to the point that Pidge listens. Lance jumps back at the tone that turned the cute Eejin into...Allura?

"I dunno, someone kept serving me some purple-red drink because I said I liked it? Now, can I get back to-mmph! "

Eejin smacks her hand over Pidge's mouth, grabbing a glass of water and forcing it down Pidge's throat.

"What are you doing?!" Lance smacks Eejin's hand away, spilling a little water on both girls. Eejin disregards his disrespect, waving a hand.

"She's drunk-well, she's drunken our Galaxorian equivalent of your human alcohol. And she's drunken way too much of it, as it seems," Eejin glares disapprovingly. "And Allura and I even planned something..."

"Alcohol? Not that I care, but Pidge is underage."

Eejin tilts her head.

"What's underage?"

"You know what-nevermind," Lance dismisses his thoughts. "How do we cure her, and why is she so...flirty?"

Golden eyes dancing with amusement, Eejin giggles.

"It's the truth spell combined with alcohol. Doesn't sound like a very good combination, doesn't it?" she explains, shooting Lance a myriad of looks that make him uneasy.

"Eejin, what did you plan?"

She sighs resignedly, looking out to the dance floor in the middle, and around the room.

"Allura volunteered you two to perform our Galaxorian traditional couples dance as a show of friendship between our nations. So now, I'm shoving water into our dear friend to make her sober again. Yeah?"

Too much information.

Pidge dizzily grabs for the water, Eejin passing a large bottle to Lance.

"I'm going to go for a moment, you try to get her to drink. I'll tell Allura to postpone it for a bit."

And just like that, Eejin is gone.

And Lance is stuck with a drunk Pidge crawling closer to him. Not that he really minds it, how she seems to finally be paying attention to him.

One knee between his legs, her hand on his shoulder, she seductively leans in close to Lance, who freezes in shock.

"Pidge, come on, you need to drink this water-"

"Don't you like this?" Suddenly, Pidge appears almost cute, making her eyes grow wide and pouting, puppy eyes sending an arrow deep into Lance's heart.

"Sure, sure-"

Pidge giggles in a very un-Pidge manner, the mesh of her dress tickling Lance.

"Then stop talking, silly, and come here!"

Pidge doesn't pull at him aggressively, but Lance nearly finds himself leaning in to Pidge, a version of Pidge never before seen.

Can he have his Pidge back, please?

"Pidge-"

Noses centimetres apart, she smiles, her breath hot on his face. Hot and sweet-smelling. Must be the damn alcohol.

"What?"

She's shifted completely off her chair now, migrating to his. Lance mentally thanks whatever gods that existed that everyone was preoccupied and not noticing the small scandal going on.

His eyes flicker back to Pidge, her own eyes burning, traces of purple decorating hazel.

He hasn't always liked Pidge. In that way, he means. After all, there was Allura, someone who stole the spotlight every time. But Lance had realised that Pidge, down-to-earth and so different to his usual 'type', was the person that he kept gravitating towards, even if he hadn't really realised it.

And then, from there, Lance thinks it became an actual crush. Crush on the Green Paladin.

Whoops.

Lance comes back to reality, the reality where a drunk Pidge is leaned on him and ready to pounce.

"So?"

Lance slides his hand to the left.

"Sorry."

Lance thrusts the glass into Pidge's partly opened mouth, tipping the water in, Pidge forced to swallow it. She gulps, and gulps, until the water in finished and Lance moves the glass away.

He bounds up, placing Pidge with feet on ground.

"I've really got to go now."

Lance, before he regrets it, pecks Pidge on the cheek, speeding off to the bathrooms away from her.

Thank god no one saw that massive boner, he thinks.

~~~

Eejin stands above a keeled over Pidge, just finished vomiting rather unceremoniously.

Seriously, it wasn't enough to word vomit everywhere, now she also had to actually vomit, a sour Pidge thinks.

"Come on, Pidge, you actually have to do the dance now," Eejin complains, helping Pidge up. God, what happened to the bubbly and girlish persona Eejin seemed to possess? It's like she's done a complete 360!

"Must I...?"

Pidge feels like shit. Half of it is her physical pain and headaches, stomach still clenching, the other being the shame that she had gotten drunk and pain from not knowing what she had done during that drunken spiel.

"Yes, kind of. Allura already managed to postpone for you. You see..." Eejin rubs the back of her head, giggling, "...Lance volunteered to give a rather interesting acrobatics performance."

Pidge's mind flashes to Lance practicing some routine where he does weird things while holding onto cloth.

"No..."

"Yes! Now, Pidge, are you feeling better?" Eejin darts around her, dabbing at her dress. Luckily, it seemed in near-pristine condition, or Pidge would have stabbed herself in the gut if she ruined a borrowed item. "Allura's calling."

"But I don't know the dance." Ah, at last, some logic and intelligence returns back to Pidge, who pushes herself towards the door to run off. Eejin tuts, holding her arm and guiding her out to the dance floor.

The surrounding is loud, cheering, as hundreds of people twirl and jump and dance, celebrating. Celebrating.

It's too loud.

It's too loud.

"Let's just say...Galaxorians have some technology even your civilisation hasn't figured out yet."

And with that, Pidge is trapped, thrust into the arms of Lance McClain (yet again). She can't say that she doesn't enjoy that, but shoots Eejin (at the back behind Lance, flashing slightly crooked thumbs up) an annoyed glare.

"So...?" she mutters, looking up confusedly. Lance blushes, looking down as if remembering something embarrasing. "Wait, what is it?"

"Nothing," he answers. "So, King Andreas said that we'll just know-"

"-hold up, you got King Andreas."

Lance puffs out his chest proudly.

"I'm a charmer, what did you think?"

"I don't really question that," she responds. Shit, the truth makes a reappearance.

"Did anything happen while I was gone?" she asks. Suddenly, Pidge feels awkward, her and Lance the only stationary beings in a sea of hyper, charged-up dancers.

"Nah, I just did some stuff...on a pole and with a dangling cloth," he drags, unable to hide the truth. Again.

"Kinky."

"I know, right?"

"Ladies and gentleman, the moment you've been waiting for, the Galaxorian High Dance begins!"

Music sounds, going slow from the quick beat it possessed earlier. The floor clears of everyone except for Lance and Pidge.

Cheers fill her ears, too much. Too painful for the ears of a newly-sobered girl.

"Well?"

Lance bows, one hand behind his back and his right extended to her. Pidge curses King Andreas for being so goddamned smooth.

"Hmm?" Pidge pretends to ignore him.

"Would you like to dance?"

Ignoring the palpations in her heart, the sniggers from Allura and Eejin at the side, Pidge offers a gentle nod.

"Sure, I guess."

Her hand goes in his, he straightens up, and she is swept away.

Freaking hell, Lance can move, and somehow Pidge knows what to do too. Maybe this is what Eejin means by technology?

"You can dance," Pidge breathes in a questioning tone, her hands clutching him more tightly than she would like to admit.

"It's probably more of the music's magic then me, but I'll go with that. I've always been footloose." Lance twirls her, hands aloft, skirt spiralling around her in a fabulous green sheen.

God, the music is really good, though. Slow paced but not boring, the instrumentation literally out of this world.

Something resembling a box-step, cross-foot, waltz step, and her prince in Altean suit of armour picks her up by the waist and spins her around, both laughing in excitement. They could do what they never could before tonight. An excuse to flirt, have fun, just celebrate the alliance for once.

And Pidge looks into his eyes, really does for a moment, and she never wants to look away again.

Pidge steps to the side, playing with Lance.

"Lance..." she begins. He looks down, smiling, smiling in his friendly manner. The selfish her was annoyed by that. She wants more.

"Yeah, princess?"

Princess? Shit, Pidge really has to make an effort not to go red. Then, she whispers in his ear.

"What do you think of me?"

Pidge feels him tense up, freeze like he wants to stop, but he can't. The music, the magic won't let him. He frowns, eyes darting around like he's thinking (for once).

For once, he doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeve, and Pidge can't figure out what's going on I'm his brain.

"I think you're amazing, I mean, I never understood how you were able to be strong and crazy smart and sarcastic and witty and kind all at the same time. And more recently, I've-" Lance coughs out, blurts out. Perplexed (and more than a little flattered), Pidge blinks rapidly, mouth slowly arching into a smile.

"That's nice, but you were saying?" There's an unfinished sentence there.

"I-I don't know. But I'd rather be dancing with you than thinking about it."

For the first time, Pidge doesn't question him, letting him take her away into a fantasy, just for a night. For one night, she can pretend.

And the music echoes,

And echoes,

And echoes...

~~~

It's so quiet, you know?

The Castle.

Pidge sits in the center of the ballroom, now empty of people, still not changed out of her gown, just sitting in the middle.

She's not used to everything being so loud, so boisterous. War is different. War is straightforward, win and win and win until you can't anymore, until the day you die.

Honestly, as terrifying as the prospect of death and the victory of the Galra empire is, it still doesn't terrify Pidge as much as emotion. Emotion.

1) Pidge still doesn't want to admit that yes, she cares a lot for Lance. Maybe that's what happens after spending the school semesters together, fighting an intergalactic war together, figuring out goddamn truth-roofies together. All in a teenager's day's work.

2) But in the back of her mind, she's thinking about how her father never got to see her first real dance. He would tease her about it, say that Lance better be a good boy. Matt would probably join in.

Her first ball. How her dad and her brother didn't see her at a party, dancing with princesses and princes, like the stories she used to love before robotics and science took first place. Her mother didn't see her dolled up, dressed up, growing up and falling for the boy in blue beside her.

She's missing her family so much.

It's more painful than she expected. She chose this, right? She chose to leave her mother, to stay with Voltron and fight for the universe. She chose to stop looking for her family.

If Pidge is being honest, which she is kind of forced to be right now, she just wants to leave.

Run away to find her family again. 

@voltronrarepairbang

[lenfaz]

MissMatched.com, Ch. 7 (7/9)

In a world where every dating site swears by their algorithms and databases to find the most accurate match with a high percentage of compatibility, a new site is giving them all a run for their money.

Missmatched.com promises no data or algorithm, just a few people that *know* how to find your best match based on their instincts and their vibes.

Emma Swan is hired to investigate if there’s a fraud involved with the site’s claim of not using any type of statistics. That path leads her right into the hands of Missmatched.com founder, Killian Jones, who promises her that he’ll prove he’s worth his salt by finding Emma her perfect match without any data or algorithms involved.

A new story by me, dedicated from the bottom of my heart to the wonderful @businesscasualprincess All the thanks in the world to my beta @sambethe​

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Ariel & Eric

She was running out of questions to ask. Emma knew it, and she could guess that Killian knew it at some level too. But she couldn’t avoid being drawn to those offices time and again. Surrounding herself with all the stories of love found was becoming a balm over her battered soul. Emma refused to acknowledge it as such, yet every time she crossed the doors into the office, she could feel her heart skipping a beat.

This time was no different, as she maneuvered the door handle while balancing two cups of coffee and a doughnut box under her chin. When she lifted her eyes, the sight in front of her almost took her breath away.

Ariel was perched on her desk, snuggling closely with a brown-haired man. He had handsome features and was currently nuzzling Ariel’s nose, looking at her as if she were the only thing in the room.

“Swan! What a lovely surprise…”

Killian’s voice made Emma turn her head and find his eyes. He was quickly at her side, relieving the pastry box from her and motioning to one of the cups.

“Is that one for me, love?” he asked and his fingers softly caressed hers as he took the cup. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach at the contact and Emma quickly tore her gaze from his and back into the couple who were completely oblivious to anything else around them. Watching them allowed her to avoid the feeling she didn’t want to deal with.

“Oh, I see you’ve met another of our golden couples.” There was a trace of something that sounded like regret in Killian’s voice, but he seemed to quickly mask it as he took a few steps in Ariel’s direction. “You probably don’t have them on your radar because there was never a file opened on them per se, but maybe they’d be willing to do an impromptu interview with you.”

Ariel finally tore her eyes away from the man in front of her to focus on Emma and Killian. “Sure! We’d love to tell Emma our story. This is Eric, my prince.” Her smile was blindingly innocent and pure as she held Eric’s hand in hers.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Eric retrieved his hand from Ariel’s hold for a brief moment to shake Emma’s and then he resumed his hand-holding with Ariel. “I’m not so sure our story is anything out of the ordinary, but we’d be happy to share it.”

“Wait a minute.” Emma turned to meet Killian’s amused stare as he attacked one of the doughnuts. “You’re responsible for this one?”

Killian took his time as he chewed, making a big deal of thinking this through. “It’s tricky,” he said once he swallowed, “as there was a sheer luck component in this one.”

“It was destiny,” Ariel pronounced. “And Killian was here to read the signs.”

Eric noticed Emma’s dumbfounded look and took pity on her. “They’re always like this, you get used to it. I think we should start by telling Emma how I walked into this very same room by mistake almost a year ago.”

Realization dawned on Emma. “What were you looking for?”

“A fishing company.” Eric’s cheeks tinted with a slight blush. “I had just moved to town and I still didn’t know all my surroundings and I found myself in the presence of the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

“He was so lost and I was so enthralled by him that it took me a few minutes to figure out what he was looking for and help him get to where he needed to be.” Ariel smiled at him, clearly lost in the memory.

Eric lifted her fingers to his lips. “It just happened.”

“Just like that?” Emma Swan wasn’t someone who believed things like meet-cutes existed outside of romantic comedies.

Killian’s voice seemed a lot closer than before. “Well, Swan, I figured something was there the moment Eric couldn’t stop talking in front of her, all sorts of terrible nonsense.” His lips almost caressed her ear as he leaned in closer to her. “Not to mention Ariel couldn’t manage to utter a single word. You’ve met Ariel, right?”

Emma chuckled against her will and she could feel Killian’s laugh as if it were caressing her skin. When she risked to look at him, she found him staring at her. “She was looking at him as if he was everything. All I had to do was follow after the fellow and convince him to use my services. Free of charge, of course.”

Killian’s smug smirk didn’t seem to bother Emma any longer, not after all these weeks of knowing it was the way he hid how he truly cared for the wellbeing of others.

“It seems you do a lot of pro-bono work.”

“A little here and there…” He shrugged off the compliment as if it weren’t a big deal. “The company is doing really well, so if we can help a few people out for free along the way, why not?”

She took a sip of her coffee and contemplated the couple in front of her. Emma didn’t need to ask any more questions. She didn’t need more proof. She knew now - from the bottom of her battered, forgotten, and once frozen heart - that whatever was going on between these four walls, whether it was magic, sheer luck, or simply people who took time to learn about others, was real.

Her silence wasn’t lost on Killian. “Swan?” he asked hesitantly.

She gave him a small smile as she nodded her head towards his office. He caught onto her meaning and led her there, closing the door behind them.

“What is it?” he asked the moment he was facing her.

“I’ll be turning in my report later this week or at the beginning of the next,” she said, trying to keep her eyes focused on his.

He swallowed. “And?”

“You’re off the hook.” She took a deep breath, her eyes scanning his office, wanting to commit every single detail of it to her memory. She didn’t dare to do the same with Killian’s face, though she was sure she’d never be able to forget his features anyway.

His hand on her arm brought back her attention to him. “Thank you,” he said, his voice almost breaking with emotion.

“You don’t have to thank me. I just did my job.” The moment lingered between them and it became too much for her. “I’m just sorry that there wasn’t enough time for you to find me a match.”

His lips curved into a soft smile. “I’ll still find it for you, Emma. I’ve promised.” His reverence wasn’t lost on Emma and she shuffled her feet.

“How long does this take… because it does seem to be taking a while. Am I that undatable?” she joked, finding self-deprecation to be the best tactic for ignoring the air thickening between them.

His voice was as soft as a caress. “Quite the opposite, Swan. But I’m not just finding you a date, I’m searching for your perfect match, and you…” he trailed off but didn’t look away from her.

She swayed closer to him. “I- what?”

His fingers grazed her cheek as his eyes scanned her face. She could feel him committing her to memory. “You deserve everything.”