#why does each character find a new way to say his name hello

[donutcats]

an issue I have with xo kitty is that they only really half commit to the whole 'set in korea' thing, like tell me why they're announcing dae's full name as dae kim. like. how hard is it to call him kim daeheon at a talent show set in korea. yuri han... young moon... why are we doing firstname lastname? hello?

[ozzgin]

Hello.

Do you think I can request headcanons for Nakamaro ?

Like in an alternate route, reader and him (he's in his twenties because... magic ?) are married and reader is pregnant.

But the funny thing is, Nakamaro can't bully the yokais because reader will exorcise him each time he tries.

Aaaaah I finished writing and only afterwards it occurred to me you might've wanted a modern day reader for this. 😭 I imagined the events in his own timeline. Oh well. I think it can work both ways. Just replace the ancient pouch with, I don't know, a visa card that he throws at your parents for wife payment.

Yandere! Onmyōji x Reader

Yokai Harem AU as the wife of Abe no Nakamaro, a legendary sorcerer and collector of yokai. Although you're not quite as powerless as to not keep his cruelty under control.

Content: female reader, arranged marriage, mentions of pregnancy

[Main Story] [Character Guide]

Your family had vehemently opposed the marriage. To think their one and only daughter would fall into the hands of such a cruel man. The famous Abe no Nakamaro, descendant of Abe no Seimei himself, has quite a contradicting reputation. He has saved many lives, cured countless illnesses, protected villages from monsters and brought peace to the land. Yet many have also witnessed his ruthless nature: the arrogance he has towards humans, the disdain and utter disgust he harbors towards demons. He is quick to punish, rarely forgives, and never forgets. The yokai he’s captured under a binding contract are kept on a leash, like cattle before slaughter.

It is this man who approached your parents one day, when you were still young, demanding your hand. He claimed you had special powers and a lot of potential under the right guidance. Such spiritual prowess would waste away in a family of plebeians. You don’t remember much of the discussion, only the expressions: the man’s mocking grin as he threw a pouch fattened with coins, the frown of your parents who wanted to refuse, the uneasy, grim eyes of the horned demons brought to intimidate. It was clear they were there against their will. One will find just how difficult it is to go against the wishes of the onmyōji, and you happened to be his most ardent desire. Thus, with a heavy heart, you’d been sent away with the stranger who promised you were to live a life of luxury. One your parents could never afford.

True to his word, you have not struggled since. In Akutagawa’s short masterpiece, Hell Screen, artist Yoshihide is wicked and vicious towards everything and everyone except his beloved daughter. Similarly, the sorcerer seems to have a soft spot for you in particular. He often praises your talent, and patiently caters to your whims without complaint. You once inquired about it yourself, as the idea weighed heavily on your mind: why is it that he does not show the same hostility towards you? He stared at you as if you just grew two more heads. "You're my wife. What else is there to question?"

This favoritism, however, is to the benefit of everyone. Especially to the yokai under his command. You've grown rather fond of the demons in your years spent alongside them, and they've quickly learned that your presence means safety from any punishment. Some need reassurance more than others. To these you've even begun to feel like a motherly figure, shielding them from the wrath of an unforgiving master. At last, an authority even Abe no Nakamaro himself can't disobey: the word of his wife.

And soon enough, as if your marriage wasn't already the ultimate argument, you welcome the return of your husband with the news he's always longed for: you are the soon-to-be mother of his child. His name has just been guaranteed to continue its course through time. To say he is elated is an understatement. You've only seen him smile so genuinely once before in your life, on your wedding day.

"Can you imagine the powers this child will command?" He muses, referring most likely to the fact you've both been blessed with an innate, unmatched talent in onmyōdō. You finish rolling the parchment paper and gently tap his head with the scroll in a scolding manner. "You better not burden the kid with your bizarre expectations!" The same man feared throughout the country is chuckling apologetically at your gesture. "As the Mother says."

[nightmareweaverz]

What is Love? (Mr. Gap x GN!Reader) Part 3

Part 1 || Part 2

CW: Minor character death, canon typical violence, a bit of gore, slight angst

Wordcount: 2538

Here is the third part of "What Is Love?" The next part will be the last one! This has honestly been a lot of fun to write.

Room after room after room, you’ve traveled. Each time a resident appears in your path, you ask them if they know where the exit is. It does not yield many results. If there’s a word for elevator in the other language, you don’t know it. And that, perhaps, is not aiding your search. Still, you persist.

Robin’s frightful nature doesn’t improve much over time. At the very least, it’s keeping him safe. He doesn’t enter rooms before you do and he doesn’t touch anything before you’ve confirmed it’s safe. Part of you is grateful for it.

“Could we rest somewhere for a bit? I'm getting a little tired,” Robin says gently after what's probably been hours of walking.

“Yeah, I suppose we should.”

Sparing him any additional injuries has come at a price. After the incident with the toys, you’ve chosen to run from many residents whom you would’ve had no issue subduing on your own. A fight comes with greater risks of injury. As a result, you may have depleted him of energy.

A tiny room, containing a couch and two smashed lamps ends up as your chosen temporary base. Before you allow Robin to sleep there, you check every piece of furniture to make sure nothing hides beneath or inside of them.

He tries to get you to rest with him, but you refuse. Someone has to keep watch. And you’ve come to learn your new body can work on two types of fuel: blood and sleep. You can supply it with one of them later and it will last you plenty of time.

For now, you slide down the wall, just outside the room and settle in a criss cross position. The absence of anything to read makes you wish you’d put in the effort to carry at least one. Perhaps you should search for a bag or backpack after you send Robin off.

Instinctively, you glance around in search of holes in the wall or ceiling. There are none. This is a little disheartening. Despite the way you last parted, Mr. Gap has somehow become someone you’re capable of missing.

Then you suddenly feel something poking your back. Your immediate reaction is to jolt up, crowbar held in preparation. Only to find that you’d set yourself in front of an open drain. Your void dwelling companion is staring back at you, happy with himself for startling you.

“Oh. Hello,” you greet him normally, as if your previous encounter didn't end with you insulting him.

“Human leave?” he asks.

It takes you a moment to realize he isn’t talking about you.

“No. They sleep. Me protect.”

This, for some reason, makes him grimace. Does he dislike Robin that much? They haven’t even interacted yet. What does he have against him?

“You not like they? Why?”

“They not fun.”

You expect him to elaborate, but he does no such thing. Similarly to how he explained why he hangs around you a while back. Because “you are fun.” Whatever that means. You shake your head in defeat.

“Me bored. You give paper?” you decide to try your luck. You’d even be willing to give him a few fingers right now in exchange for something to do.

He seems to be considering it. When he speaks again, you expect him to name his price, hopefully an organ you’ll have an easy time parting with and wouldn’t take long to heal.

“Me want touch.”

This is… new. He hasn’t mentioned any form of touch ever since you gave him that little lesson on romantic love. The fact that he now wants it for a reason other than curiosity makes you feel… odd. Restless, in a way. Like there are flies buzzing in your stomach.

“Me give touch, you give paper,” you conclude.

“Yes!” He sounds a little too happy about this arrangement. But there is no telling what he’s thinking, as usual.

You reach inside the drain and set your hand on top of his head. His hair feels rough and a little damp like the rest of him. You feel a few tangled knots as you caress it gently. Although he must’ve been expecting one of the gestures you’d shown him before, he appears intrigued by this as well.

“Not special touch?”

“You not stay what touch. Me give touch.” It is your turn to be smug.

The corners of his mouth drop and his eyes narrow in annoyance. Was he really hoping for kisses and hand holding? Why do you find that cute?

“Give paper?” you ask, now suddenly feigning innocence.

Still mumbling grumpily, he shoves a magazine your way. It’s impossible not to giggle at his displeasure. He really is bad at reaping what he sows.

You turn your attention to the magazine he gave you. This time, it’s a travel magazine. A surprisingly new one. It’s a little damp and the edges of the pages are curled, but the pictures still have vivid colors and the paper hasn’t yet gained that old, yellowish appearance most other books here have.

But when you look at the cover more closely, you hesitate to open it. It features a tall building. One that looks similar to the one you always used to see on your way home. Home…

You flip through it slowly. And with every page you turn, a suffocating ache grows in your chest. There are pictures of breathtaking landscapes, cliffsides, beaches, jungles, pools and cities. There are pictures of people eating ice cream, pictures of busy streets and local dishes, of bread and potatoes and cake and spicy sauces. You don’t even notice your hands have started trembling.

You eventually stop at a picture of a flower field spread over two pages. Purple flowers reign over half its surface and, above them, a deep blue sky occupies the rest. You can almost smell the perfume, feel the wind in your hair, see the fluffy clouds idling by. The ache in your chest is becoming unbearable.

“What wrong?”

Mr. Gap’s voice suddenly yanks you out of your sorrowful daydream. You’re surprised to find he hasn’t left yet.

“Not like paper?”

You shake your head. “Me like paper. Me want… me want to go where paper show. Me not go. Me different.”

You wonder if someone like him can even understand what you're feeling. He can go wherever he pleases using his little teleportation ability. Meanwhile, you're stuck here. Forever.

He doesn’t say anything at first. Perhaps he’s confused again. But then he declares: “Me good! Me research.” Then he’s gone.

What it is he is hoping to research, you don’t know. But Mr. Gap has surprised you before. Maybe he’ll do it again.

You try to push any depressing thoughts aside and resume reading the magazine without thinking too much about what you will be missing out on for the rest of eternity. You are mostly successful.

A few residents pass by, but none try to pick a fight, which comes as a relief. Eventually, Robin finally emerges from the room. He appears to be in a better mood.

“I needed that. Thank you for keeping watch. It helped me sleep soundly.” He smiles. You're not sure you've seen him smile until now. It suits him better than the constant frightful expression he always wears.

“Don't mention it.”

You set the magazine down by the open vent and take off, motioning for Robin to follow. It would not be wise to dally anymore. Anytime now, he will begin to change. You have to get him out before that happens.

He does as you ask without protest.

“So, um. How much longer until we reach the exit?”

“I don't know. The hallways always change. But we're looking for an elevator. And it's best we find it sooner than later,” you respond.

“I see…”

His expression shifts into nervousness. You want to reassure him that he will make it out, that you’ll make sure of it. But that’s something you aren’t sure you’ve even convinced yourself of yet.

“Do you like reading?” he asks eventually.

“I do, since I started living here. It helps pass the time.”

“My boyfriend also likes reading. He drags me to bookstores sometimes. His favorite are murder mysteries, but sometimes he picks up those useless self help books that don’t actually help much.” Tears glisten in his eyes. “I… can’t even remember what I last said to him before I ended up here. I hope it wasn’t anything bad…”

Boyfriends and bookstores, wanting to say sweet words to loved ones before you disappear. All of these bring back that awful annoying ache. The reminder they are not for you anymore. Part of you pities him and another is so envious that it hurts. Because he still has hope.

“...what's he like? Your boyfriend.”

Robin sniffles and rubs his eyes as he walks. “He's kind and considerate. Sometimes he can be a little exasperating. But that's part of loving someone.”

It is? In books and shows, they always show it as some sort of blissful feeling that melts your insides and makes your life perfect.

“This may sound like a weird question. Sorry. But how do you know you love him?”

“I think about him often. And when he's not there, I wish he was. And if he were to love someone else, I'd lose my mind.” He grins bitterly.

That sounds oddly simple. No flowery language or everly complicated declarations. Just wanting someone at your side. It actually sounds pleasant.

“Are you in love?” Robin asks suddenly, taking you by surprise.

“Why would I be?” you answer with another question.

“Usually, when people ask things like this, they're trying to understand their own feelings.”

“I've just been reading. And the love in books confuses me. I was wondering if it's the same in reality.”

Robin laughs. “Of course not. In reality, it's a lot more mundane, though you can still have romantic moments. Fiction highlights the good parts. But there's both good and bad. Sometimes your lover will eat all the cookies before you get home or they'll refuse to put on headphones while listening to music. But then when the jar is entirely full and the music is gone, you miss even the less pleasant things…”

It sounds like Robin really loves his boyfriend. You wonder what it's like, being that important to another person. Could someone like you have that?

There comes that ache again. You push it down, hide it somewhere deep inside yourself.

“...we'll get you back to him.”

Robin doesn't respond, but he smiles fondly.

Your conversation is cut off when you notice someone approaching down the hallway. Immediately, you prepare your crowbar. But as the figure draws closer, it proves to be someone familiar.

It’s Mr. Stitch. Out of all the people you could’ve been reunited with since you’ve returned here, it had to be this guy. And to make matters worse, he recognizes you as well.

“You!” he calls out and points. “Me know you!”

Robin quickly retreats behind you like a scared duckling running to its mother.

“Who they?” Mr. Stitch points at Robin next.

“They friend. You go. Me not like you,” you state bluntly.

Your declaration only seems to amuse him. That awful smile of his grows. “Friend? Me not take?”

“Me smash your head when you take.”

Mr. Stitch does not look deterred in the slightest. If anything, he seems more interested after seeing your reaction. You should've seen it coming, knowing him and how much he loves messing with people's emotions.

“Where you go?”

“W-what are you guys talking about?” Robin asks, growing more nervous by the second.

“Nothing important. In fact, it's about time we leave.”

You grab Robin by the arm and drag him after you.

But as you attempt to pass by Mr. Stitch, he suddenly swerves behind Robin and holds him in place. In your irritation and panic, you get ready to swing at him. But then you notice the knife pressed to Robin's neck. You freeze in place.

“You angry?” Stitch asks, for you refuse to give him the respect of an honorific any longer. He is loving the worry mixed with furry on your face.

“Let them go.” You try to sound imposing. You hope you do. Whenever you're about to kill someone, you play the innocent and sweet act, so they wouldn't see it coming. Intimidation is not your forte.

“Where you go?”

“We leave here. Go other world,” you begrudgingly answer.

“Me know where! You play! Fun!”

Your jaw clenches in annoyance. It’s getting harder and harder to think straight. This is bad. If you lose control now, you are going to kill both Stitch and Robin.

“Not play. Let human go.”

Focus, focus, focus. You can do it, you can get him out safe. You need to.

Stitch tilts his head, seemingly weighing his options. He must be entirely unaware of the fate awaiting him.

“You not play? You not fun. Me eat huma-”

Before he gets to finish his sentence, you raise your hand in his direction.

Go to hell. Go to hell. Go to hell.

Then you bring it down. All that is left of him is a pile of blood and guts.

Robin screams in terror and immediately backs into a wall. His pants are stained red, but he is unharmed. The horror on his face brings you back to reality.

“Robin, I had to do it. He would’ve killed you!”

“How did you do that?! He suddenly became minced meat. You didn't even touch him!” Now he's trembling.

You take a step towards him and he takes one back. The way he's looking at you has gone back to the way he looks at all the residents. You know why and yet, it still hurts.

“Please don’t do anything stupid. It's too dangerous to go on your own.”

For a moment, you think he's going to take off running. But slowly, he stops trembling and nods. Then he begins to walk the same way you'd been walking before Stitch showed up. You follow at a distance, head hung low and hand wrapped around your crowbar so tight that it stings.

You go the rest of the way in silence. He doesn’t start up anymore conversations and you don’t dare attempt it yourself. It’s not the first time someone’s condemned you for taking a life. But it’s the first time it has an effect on you.

And then you finally find the elevator.

It sits under an eerie green light, just like it did when you found it in the past.

“This is it. You can go home now.”

“Is this really the exit?” He steps towards it cautiously.

Before he's close enough to press one of the buttons, Robin turns around to face you. “I… thank you.”

He doesn't sound certain about his choice of words. Maybe he would've rather called you a monster.

“I hope you and your boyfriend are happy. Don't go wandering into anymore strange buildings.”

He nods, avoiding your eyes. Then he turns and, as the door opens, he says over his shoulder: “Goodbye.”

Just like that, he’s gone.

And you lose your mind.

[luvly-writer]

Crimes of a Mother

Batfamily x Latina! Reader

—•—

Author´s note: Hello! Hope all of you are okay! Welcome to my new...whatever this is! (I have no idea if this will be a series or just a one shot...If it does become a series, it will definitely be a short one unlike the others) This is not in ANY of the universes of my other fics. Hope you enjoy!

Warning: None

General Masterlist:

Masterlist:

—•—

City lights. A scream. A dark looming shadow. A manor. Gun shots. It was the same dream every night. A city dark as night and curious as a cat.

Unraveling the never-ending mysteries that Gotham had to offer was one of my fascinations in life. For the longest time, I had held a certain obsession with the city. It always felt as if something was out there...calling me towards the magnificently mysterious place. Mom always tried to discourage it and would say that the city held secrets that would be unwise to uncover. It was a recuring argument in my household and it got worse the moment I told her I was striving to enroll on Gotham University.

SMACK

I snap out of my daydream.

-You know...normally, I don´t mind when you space out, Yn, but if we expect to make it out of here and straight to GU, we seriously NEED to study.

Taylor, my best friend ever since childhood, dropped a book on my desk, and looked at me impatiently. Charles, snorted from his place in my desk chair, watching the entire ordeal amusedly.

-You know it's bad when Tay is the one that wants to study and not you, Y.

-You know, you don't have to follow me all the way to Gotham. Brings out your attachment issues.

-First of all, you bitch, OF COURSE we have to go there. We are the iconic trio of Robinson Academy; we can't be separated. And second, Yn Salazar, you are forbidden of going into this mystery solving quest without your trusty sidekicks. How else is the documentary of your life supposed to be entertaining if you don't have the two dazzling, gay, and hilarious side characters who everyone will make edits of. Duh!

Said Taylor, throwing herself on my bed.

-It is the last Spanish test! Vamos a estar bien, chica! Mr. Soto will probably give out like a short quiz for us to be done with Senior year. Besides, we are ALREADY in! Forgot that piece of information?

Taylor opened her mouth and just shrugged, making Charlie and I laugh.

-Fair.

-Now, let's finish setting up and get started.

We move efficiently, setting up the camera on its tripod and strapping each tiny microphone to ourselves. We get settled on my bed and hit record.

•[Recording]

-Hi! My name is Yn Salazar. Born and raised in Puerto Rico. Currently, it is May 2nd, a week before my last day of high school and three weeks before my graduation. These are my best friends, Charles Martinez and Taylor Perez. Following today, we will be headed for Gotham University. Why Gotham precisely? Well, Gotham is a city full of mischief, madness, and chaos; and I plan to uncover it. From cryptic, to vigilantes, to rouges, this will be only the first of many time capsules. Beware Gotham, I'm coming.

—•—

A FEW MONTHS LATER

Unlike most college students, Charlie, Taylor and I had decided to not go on the dorms and find a three-bedroom apartment close to campus. Seeing as the three of us came from families that were economically well and rent was unsurprisingly cheap in Gotham, we had finally settled last week. Our apartment was fully furnished and decorated, and we still had a few weeks before classes began in September. I had just ended a call with my mom and headed for the living room, where Charlie was seated rewatching House of the Dragon. Taylor was in the kitchen trying out a new recipe she found on Pinterest.

-Ugh!

I say as I throw myself on the couch dramatically

-Your mom still thinks it is a bad idea to come to Gotham?

Taylor screamed from the kitchen.

-YES! I will never get it! What is in here that puts that woman in such a bad mood? All my life, my one dream has been to come to Gotham, I mean this is where every criminal journalist thrives! She is always so paranoid of this city and telling me that the secrets I would find here should stay hidden and for me to give it a rest. I think it is because my father lives here and if he does, who is he? Every time I ask, I get the same speech of powerful men and their ways...My mom has good judgement! I don't think she would have been with just anyone. For fuck's sake, she is one of the smartest and highest paid psychologists in Puerto Rico. I need to find out what this city is hiding...what happened to mom when she lived here.

-More like who happened probably

Muttered Charlie.

-EXACTLY! It is even worst that she sent me here with this letter to give to a Mr. Bruce Wayne.

-The Billionaire? (T)

-I guess...maybe I can interrogate him and see if that gets me a lead on this entire thing.

-When are you going? (C)

-After we drop you at soccer practice and T at rehearsal.

-FUCK I THINK I BURNT IT!!!

-TAYLOR!!!!

Charles and I got to her rescue laughing.

-Looks like we will be having takeout tonight

She said with a laugh

----

-That is one creepy ass manor...

I mutter from my driver seat. I press the button on the intercom near the gate. It buzzes and a voice with a distinct English accent speaks up,

-Good evening, with what may I help you today?

-Yeah...uh...hi! My name's Yn Salazar. I came to deliver a letter for Mr. Wayne...it's from Valentina Salazar.

-Oh dear...I'll let you pass straight away.

I hear the gate buzz and open. I drive in and park my car just outside. We had all pitched in and bought a car because we knew Gotham was not the best of places to walk around during the night. So, this is more convenient.

I take a deep breath and grab my bag, making sure my notepad is there, with my phone and wallet. I double check that the letter is there and once I see it, I get out of the car and lock it. I walk towards the entrance and just before I go to open the door, a man dressed like a butler opens it.

-You must be young Miss Salazar.

-Yn's just fine, and yeah that's me

The man takes a second to look at me, slight shock in his features. I observe him from head to toe and try to give him a smile. Top ten weirdest encounters ever. He moves aside and gestures for me to enter.

-Right this way, miss, Master Bruce is in his study expecting you.

I inspect everything around me as I follow the man. As we walk past one of the doors, I hear a bunch of screaming and I peak inside. Five guys, all varying in sizes and two girls, one blonde and another with raven hair are seen playing Mario Kart. I stay for second when one of them catches my eye and we make eye contact. He furrows his brow and I panic and leave, catching up to the butler.

We finally reach the study, and he knocks. A faint “Come in” is heard and I'm led inside.

-Young Miss Salazar

The butler announces and takes his leave. The man, Bruce Wayne takes one look at me and goes rigid. We stay a few seconds just looking at each other. His eyes show shock and disbelief. Mine I can guess show curiosity and uncertainty.

-This is for you!

I cringe at how awkward I sound. Great job, Yn, he already fucking knows that. He coughs and nods as I walk towards him and hand him the letter. I take a seat and wait patiently for him to open it and read it. I play with my fingers as silence engulfs us.

-You are Valentina's kid?

-That is corrrect

-How old are you?

-I turned 18 back in February.

-I see...

His face pales at the revelation and he continues reading. I didn't think it was possible for this man to get any paler, yet he does once he is done reading the letter.

-How did you know my mom?

I went directly to the point

-We were close friends

-How close? She never once mentioned this supposed friendship

He flinches at that statement,

-Valentina is a woman of many secrets

-On that we can agree, how close?

He observes me for a moment, and I harden my gaze on him. The corner of his tilts up slightly, clearly amused by me.

-Close

-How informative of you. Did you attend Gotham Academy together?

-Yes.

-Hmmm, have you any clue on why she left Gotham?

-I don't think it is my position to give that information

-How noble, have you any memory of who were her friends aside from you, of course?

-I may. Yn, is it?

-Yes.

-I suggest you follow your mother's advice and keep away from this. Your mother is a good woman and anything from the past should be placed at rest. Some skeletons are meant to stay in the closet.

-Did you know who was my father?

I push one last time and I see him take a sharp intake of air.

-Ah...so you do, wonderful.

-Yn...

-Thank you for your time today, Mr. Wayne. I can assure you this won't be the last time you will see me. Here's my mother's number. You can call her and tell her yourself that her plan to shoo me away from my investigation has been unsuccessful and that getting her “close friend” to deter me from it as well will do nothing. Good day.

I stand up to leave and Mr. Wayne just observes me as I take my leave. Alfred, who I just learnt his name, leads me back to the door. We pass by the kitchen where the group I saw earlier are gathered muttering. They see me and quiet down, just observing me. I raise my eyebrow at them. I hear a low “He got another one?” as I continue on my way. Finally, we get to the door, and I thank Alfred for him time. I get on my car and look up, seeing Mr. Wayne watching me from one of the windows and the group of people trying to be discreet from another window. “This won't be the last time they see me for sure”, I think to myself as I connect my phone to the car and play Running Up That Hill by Kate bush as I drive away.

—•—

Back in Bruce's study, Alfred interrupts his train of thought as he watches the car leave.

-Is that who I am to believe it is?

-And who might you think that is, Alfred?

-Don't play coy with me boy, I can detect a Wayne from a mile away. That girl is yours.

Alfred replied courtly. Bruce walks back and hands him the letter. His eyebrows raise high on his head as he reads.

-I have never met anyone with Wayne blood that was not troublesome, and it seems, this one will keep you with your hands full for some time.

-What gave her away?

-Her eyes, master Bruce. That scrutinizing and calculative gaze is one that can only be found in anyone related to you, blood or not. You have another young detective in your hands, and this one just as brilliant.

-That is what worries all of us.

-•-

Tell me what do you guys think about this draft? Should it be a fic? Are y'all interested? Should there be a taglist? Leave me a comment or a reblog :)

[uravitypng]

Hello So I have a dirty Kinktober request so it's okay if you decide not to write it…

Your Haikyuu character of choice is in a new relationship, okay? A really healthy and full of love. He is sure that Y/N is the woman of his life.

Things change when he and his friends (other characters of your choice) meet to have a few drinks and play video games. Then, his friends show him some videos they recorded some time ago, before Y/N was his girlfriend. A curious videos to say the least...

The videos were sextapes of them with her (individually and other threesomes, foursomes, etc).

He knows he should be horrified, but for some reason he tells his friends to keep showing him more videos…He was never so horny and hard in his entire life.

You could write little drabbles representing each video or whatever you want!

atsumu is really happy, more than happy, he's ecstatic, he's in love. for the first time in his entire life he is in love and in a wonderful, beautiful, perfect relationship. his whole life has been a string of flings and one night stands, he thought that was what he wanted, he didn't think he'd ever settle down. until he met you. you're his soulmate, he knows you're the one.

it's off season currently so everyone is out for a couple of drinks. everyone's close together around a table so they can hear each other over the music. that night, just that one night changed how atsumu saw his perfect girlfriend forever. " 'm just saying shoyo ya don't seem ter type to be into freaky." atsumu shrugged his shoulders in dismissal, he honestly has no idea how they got in this conversation but everyone has already left apart from him, hinata and bokuto and they're talking about their sex life as bokuto's been complaining that he hasn't gotten laid in months.

"don't be so sure tsum tsum, last year with shoyo here was amazing," bokuto's replies.

"wait, what? you two?" atsumu was completely clueless, having no clue that they ever were together.

"not just us, we had a girl with us." hinata elaborates.

"yeah you wanna see?" bokuto asks making atsumu furrow his eyebrows in confusion momentarily. "do you still have the videos sho?" hinata reaches into his back pocket, pulling out his phone and moving closer to atsumu so he can properly view the screen. he goes through his phone a bit trying to find the right videos while atsumu is still processing this situation thinking this is going to be such a weird thing to say to you if you ask what he's been up to with the guys tonight.

"found it!" hinata says before tapping onto a video and bokuto also moves closer. as soon as atsumu sees the thumbnail his eyes widen and he covers hinata's phone with his hand. you've never told him about this but there's no way that isn't you, even from one frame he knows what his girlfriend looks like. "what are you doing atsumu?" hinata asks, looking around him to see if there's any reason for him to be covering up his phone.

"that's- that's m' girlfriend." atsumu says, close to shouting. everyone stays silent for a second.

"the one that's..."

atsumu finishing the sentence for shoyo, "yea, love of m' life."

more silence, just the music and the chatter of everyone around them but they don't say a word. atsumu is in complete shock, he never expected anything like that from you. he's not saying you're vanilla but he didn't think you ever had a threesome. "it was before you even met her atsumu." he knows it's a serious thing when bokuto chooses to call him by his given name.

atsumu's mouth is dry as he tries his best to think clearly on the situation, he's only had a couple of drinks but it's overwhelming to be sitting next to two people who have slept with his girlfriend. "you don't know it's her for sure. we could just check?" hinata tells them both.

he knows it's you, he knows, but he needs to see. he doesn't know why he needs to see but he does. he agrees and hinata presses play. he watches you moan around bokuto's dick as the camera pans down to where your body connects with hinata's, repeatedly, hard and fast. atsumu hates to think it but it's turning him on incredibly, it's better than any porn he's ever seen and he knows it's wrong and should feel conflicted but watching you get destroyed by two of his closest friends is making him harder than he's been before in his life. he watches with rapt attention. "do ya want'a come back to mine tonight?"

this might not be exactly what you wanted but i hope it's alright! people may be a little ooc in this but i'm not sure, i still think it's good <3

[thebottomfromhell]

ONE-SHOT

Female Human (later Demon) Reader becoming Muzans lover

Ok, I will be evil with this one. This is the typical "reader/oc is yeeted i to the Mary Sue role because she is oh so special" but done my own way, which is basically destroy the promt into something more in character, so it might not be everyone's taste. Also being Muzan's part from this post.

Warnings: Manga Spoilers, Sexism, Power imbalance, Non-consented body modification (being turned into a demon), Narcissistic character, and Slight yandere behavior.

Muzan would never admit humanity has impressed him more than a fingers count of times. There have been several humans he found himself amazed with, but honestly? That only makes them less special. But the fact is still the same, when a human is capable os such a thing, it means they are worth of being more. Of being... almost perfect. Because no matter how many times he finds himself linked to human, humanity is a desease. The desease of getting tired, old, injured, weak and dead.

Not that he would ever go as far as to get rid of humans completely, what would he eat if he did? And raising them as cattle seems rather cruel, not only that but he must admit he enjoys human's products. The technology, the arts, the arquitecture... it would be a waste to get rid of it.

You were, are, impressive, not at the same level of Tamayo, but still an impressive woman he met as he was passing by as human. There was something about you, something he wanted. He couldn't ignore it, even if he did try, even if he had a hard time recognizing it. Specially because he didn't know why. With Akaza, it was his strengh. With Nakime, it was his wickedness. With Enmu, it was his... oddity. With Gyutaro, it was his hatred. With Gyokko, it was his art. With Rui, it was their resemblance. With Hantengu, it was his will and madness. With Kokushibou, it was his power and pride. For fuck's sake, he transformed Douma because of his shitty eyes! But in every case he knew exactly what he was doing and why at giving them their position in the Kizuki system.

Meanwhile, you can't compare to any of them. You aren't half as strong as most humans who called up his attention, you are sane, you are normal, average. Why are you here? In his head? Why does he let you stay near him, even when he should have killed you after switching to a new life. You met Muzan as a child, an odd one, very mature and smart for his age, but also had something you couldn't describe, but it set you off. Specially as he kept staring at you while you followed your routine.

You always made sure to show him bare minimum courtesy, he was the child of someone rich, after all. You didn't really care, until a young man came to you, he was very attractive and you did consider for a few seconds asking to meet or something. You are already an adult but haven't married yet, so people talk a lot about you, mostly condensending or nosy things. Maybe getting someone would stop the talking, as, depending on particular people, can be from annoying to hurtful. But after considering a few seconds, you decided it's not worth it, since you didn't know this man. You never wanted to come off as "desperate", that would make the rumours about you worse.

The thing is that. You didn't know this man, "Hello, Y/N." and yet he knows your name. He has a sweet voice, but something upseting from... you don't even know from what. "Excuse me, do we know each other?" You ask nerviously, and every second you look at him, he somehow manages to be more scary. There is something in the air, something... almost cursed. "We do, actually. But that doesn't matter. Tell me, dear, what do you think of your life?" He asks, but honestly? It feels that this is more to make up a conversation than to actually know about you.

You answer, lying in some details, saying some things mostly because it's correct to say it. In some aspects, you don't feel like other women, like you are not like the other ladies, hence you are also treated differently, maybe that is the reason you never got a fiance, even is it's considered unsightful that a young lady doesn't get any attention at all. Most men think you are "hard to manage", so they don't. You don't really like it but at this point you learned not to care. You also tell some truths, but not really giving so much detail. You just want to leave. There is something about this guy giving you creeps.

"I see." He chuckles a bit, and while it sounded nice, melodious even, it only made you tense up. "Honestly, I don't know what I was expecting asking such a silly question. But I guess you do have something interesting, you want to scape your life." That is not odd to find, most of his demons felt that same way. Akaza wanted to scape his family's death and lack of purpose, Kokushibou wanted to scape his weakness and sense of inferiority to his brother, Douma wanted to scape the numbness of the cult, Hantengu wanted to scape his criminal record and death sentence, Nakime wanted to scape her life as a poor wife of a gambler, even Rui wanted to scape his sickness.

You are no different. You are not special. And yet, annoyingly, he can't shake off his interest towards you. Maybe, because you are not special, he should enlist you with the others. In the best case scenario, you will join the Kizuki system. At the worst? He will get bored of you when you prove to be useless. Because, while attracked, he doesn't have the patience to stay by when there is so much to do. He can only have the best and the most useful assets by his side. Prove yourself then.

You didn't even manage to blink before you feel a potent sting of pain in your skull, the smell of blood that runs through your face makes you panic, but you can't move. The pain becomes numb as a liquid, an odd liquid, is... injected to your brain. It burns, but every pain is subdued. Then you feel cold air against your flesh as he removes his hand. "Join me, my dear. Prove that you deserve to be at my side." Everything else goes in a flash, as you become more overwhealmed and your body stretches, your skin becomes ick, your blood preassure rises. Everything becomes pain for a moment... and then nothing.

No pain, no cold, no nothing. Just hunger, hunger for more blood. For him. But humans will have to do, because you are just so hungry you can't think straight. Did you ever? Because now. It's just your hunger and him what matter. "You are doing well, Y/N. Prove yourself worth it, and I will have an special gift for you." How could you reject that?

[sonkitty]

The Sideburns Scheme Post #100

(For reference: The Sideburns Scheme)

Crowley, Good Omens 2, Episode 6, Every Day, partner

...

I will be covering Maggie and Nina talking to Crowley, then the little bit that happens afterward before the argument scene of the bookshop.

...

Sideburns Check

The sideburns are still a medium length.

...

Brighter Red Streak Check

The more saturated red streak of hair can be found.

...

Hairstyle Changes

The top hair looks to have smoothed some and rises up a little taller.

...

Earthly Objects

(For reference: Earthly Objects)

Both Maggie and Nina touch the doorknob, the rug, and the steps into the bookshop.

Nina has a question and number with, "Where's the other one?"

Crowley is shown as having his feet crossed with his touch on the chair.

Both Maggie and Nina sit down on a couch. Each of them has some variation of a statement of place, which is often used as an extended form of Hello, but we seem a little past when a Hello should happen.

Nina points out, "You and your partner..."

Maggie claims they are not a game. They're real people.

Both of these characters are in a game as game pieces and not real people, but I guess that's a thing fictional characters do and say. The story is real enough to them.

Crowley has a question with, "Why are you telling me all this?"

Maggie says Aziraphale's "Mr. Fell" name.

Despite the weight of this conversation that Maggie and Nina want to have, neither one of them have any respect or care for using Crowley's name during this conversation. It might be that they can't, but we at least know for certain that they don't.

Crowley shifts his touch on the chair by crossing his legs.

...

Time to pay attention to the pockets.

At the start of when Crowley appears on screen, his tassel tips are on his belt. Put another way, that's the thumb tips of his Tied Hands on his Belt Head.

In my looking to see if the Tied Hands retie, a clasp might be at an edge of the lapel when Crowley shifts to cross his legs differently. The face of Crowley's watch is visible. He has an extended index finger when pointing at them, talking about Maggie crying and Nina needed rescuing.

I can't seem to find any thumb joint alignments with the jacket edges though Crowley's right thumb tip does such a thing when he moves to shift how he crosses his legs.

Crowley doesn't seem to be making many pockets with his body. I can mainly find a couple involving his right arm and the rest of the body when he moves around in the chair.

His Belt Head is visible at the start of the scene and when he shifts how he crosses his legs.

I can't find any Overhead Lights for him.

...

Story Commentary

In the part before cutting away to Aziraphale and the Metatron, I think this scene sucks.

The bookshop is closed. The door is not locked, but the bookshop is closed and has the sign saying so. Maggie and Nina show us that they do not care. They don't bother themselves with being invited. They don't even have the decency to knock, like Gabriel and Muriel did. They just let themselves in.

Based on what we've been shown of the story, they shouldn't do that because angels were on the verge of turning them into pillars of salt.

We have been given no indication that they know who is actually inside.

But they still go in, lacking basic human decency to a closed bookshop.

Receiving the news that Aziraphale is out and it's not a good time, they, again, show us they don't care. Nina says, "I wasn't asking. There are things you need to hear."

These two do not give a fuck about Crowley in this scene. They really don't.

I can understand the whole, "We're not a game," thing. Earthly Objects itself isn't exactly easy to find, play, or understand. It's a very interesting (but frustrating) part of a very strange story.

So, fine, okay, the sooner they tell the supernatural being to back off, the better and maybe that's their sense of urgency.

Up to that only though, in my opinion.

The part that really bothers me is mainly Maggie thinking she has any grasp of the relationship between Aziraphale and Crowley.

Maggie and Crowley have barely spoken to each other the entire season.

Aziraphale never even mentions Crowley to Maggie in the two main conversations they have in Maggie's record shop.

We didn't see her invitation, so we don't know what she knows of the relationship in something that simple.

Her argument is that they don't talk to each other. Then when Crowley points out they've been talking for millions of years, her argument shifts to Crowley never says what he's really thinking.

Maggie has no way of knowing that because nothing in her or Crowley's characterization says she is familiar enough with the relationship to make that call.

Even if she did have some twisted way of having spied on Crowley and Aziraphale during the season, she'd still be wrong. Crowley was quite forthcoming in his thoughts about taking Gabriel in during episode 1. Before he had that argument, he was quick to ask about what the problem was because he knows Aziraphale's Something's Wrong voice. He said so himself. Crowley had his own special way of responding to the idea of loaning his car. He made his opinions known about Aziraphale making changes to his car while it was borrowed. And so on.

Nina says some notably wrong things too, but they are a little more understandable in the full context of the story given. I'm not bothered by them.

She says Crowley's the "can't trust anyone ever again" one.

That is emphatically untrue, but she's not around Crowley enough to know. Crowley does trust. He trusts Aziraphale. He developed a trust in Gabriel. I don't know why he seems to have such a deep trust in Muriel, but that's what I read from the Earthly Objects game and how the two interact overall. I am very curious about him and Muriel.

So, here we have two human beings understandably getting on Crowley's case for interfering with their lives. Then one of them proceeds to interfere with his life by giving him bad relationship advice on a subject she is very clearly very ignorant of. She does that while being either unwilling or unable to address him by name.

Oh, and how about how Maggie finishes it off by saying, "That was all we needed. It's what you two need as well."?

I don't know what story Maggie's reading or thinks she's in, but it's not the same one I'm reading about her. She and Nina have not gotten all they needed. Nina just recently said as much because she needs time to deal with her recently ended relationship. They aren't together. Upon Maggie insisting she'll be there when Nina's ready, Nina took no solace in that and told Maggie that wasn't helping. That signifies problems are already brewing between them.

Like I said, they have not gotten all they needed.

Her advice to Crowley isn't what he and Aziraphale need either.

Crowley and Aziraphale are two different people who love the world in their own separate ways, handle problems together and separately, and who love each other dearly. They are both supernatural beings who have a lot of experience she doesn't. They have a problem specific to their status of being an angel and a demon.

Not only are Crowley and Aziraphale together, they've been playing games this season where they have to work together separately in a story designed to pull them apart by its end.

I have my differences with The Magic Trick You Didn't See theory, but this scene is one where I mean that the idea of possibly intentionally bad writing resonates.

If I'm supposed to find Maggie endearing or this advice worthwhile, that didn't happen. She is clueless, and it shows.

And because I like Crowley and can head canon as I please, I'm going to take his reaction as more of him thinking if there's something more he wants to say before "it's too late," than any merit in anything Maggie actually says.

Despite all my complaining, something this conversation does accomplish is show that these two humans still see Crowley as human enough to think his relationship with Aziraphale is like a human partnership.

That could be why the left sideburn will shorten, even if these two humans probably don't think Crowley is actually human.

Moving onto what happens next...

The story cuts away to Aziraphale and the Metatron. Aziraphale's showing mixed emotions. He looks nervous, sounds flustered, looks happy, then looks nervous again.

In light of looking for a Metatron mistake, the Metatron could be messing up the shoulder-demon role because Aziraphale pulls away while humans end up visually pocketed between the two characters as Aziraphale keeps moving. I have not been going over the matter closely but keeping it in mind ever since engaging with this post about looking at the Metatron as the demon on the shoulder. Most shoulder-angel or shoulder-demon cuts keep other characters out of the pocket between the focused character and the shoulder character.

Another thing I notice with this particular cut is that three relevant humans to the door trickery coming up at the end of this episode pass by. All three are even among those who are my guesses for the magic words.

The woman wearing black, including a black hat, and carrying a bag is my guess for "dash of nutmeg". The guy in yellow and pocketing his hands with a dark gray vest is "banana." The woman with the orange jacket is "shoelace" (later). She doesn't show her shoes here.

To remind us that things are off with these background humans, Banana ends up passing by the bookshop front behind Aziraphale in the next cut.

In any case, Aziraphale makes his way back to the bookshop and shows us his doorknob touch for this episode.

Maggie and Nina are preparing to leave.

In the background, Crowley is shown standing with pocket touches. He's easy to miss and not clear, but from what can be seen, it looks to me like his left sideburn shortened to what is usually found around humans.

Something I certainly don't know and a question I have is if there is any benefit to him having short sideburns there. He should still be able to touch his pockets, and he's done with his silly face touches with the sunglasses. The humans were already able to find him as a demon in the bookshop, and no human is coming back in again for the rest of the episode. So, what does he get out of it, if anything? The sideburns are about to lengthen once the humans close the door.

Something else this glimpse of Crowley accomplishes is to make sure he's in the front bookend to the next Muriel scene.

This part of the episode also shows that Crowley fixed the broken window during his tidying process earlier.

Instead of Maggie or Nina stopping to say they wanted to talk to Aziraphale too, they keep moving. Maggie says they were just going. Nina says she's sure they have a lot to say.

So, again, the story shows us that Maggie and Nina do not actually give a fuck about talking to "them," the plural of Crowley and Aziraphale. They were here specifically to get to Crowley, whether they realize it or not.

Aziraphale smiles nervously as the others leave, closing the door behind them.

Maggie and Nina smile, and I'm generally annoyed with both of them.

Nina walks toward the coffee shop, and the Metatron vaguely follows. He stops and talks to Muriel.

Now onto my next guess for a Metatron mistake.

I've actually mentioned this potential mistake, without calling it that, as far back as Windows Part 2 of my posts.

A complex window scene requires three steps. The looker looks. The window sees. The looker is seen clearly behind the window with some of its window frame visible.

The Metatron looks, but we don't see what the window sees for his Earthly Objects play.

Okay, well, not every character tries for a complex window scene. Sometimes we don't get what "the window sees," which is supposed to be the camera telling us there's a window frame for the window.

But even if we don't get what the window saw, we get what the looker saw in some form because the camera and characters shift us forward to do that. For example, in episode 1, we don't see a complex window scene for Gabriel's arrival. We see Maggie and Nina exit the coffee shop amidst the commotion from other people in the street. They crossed a door threshold instead and give us information about what they saw in the story through their movement and dialogue. In episode 2, Maggie and Aziraphale look at Nina through a window. There's no window frame to indicate what the window saw, but we see Nina to confirm she is the subject they saw.

The Metatron's play does not do that here as the Final Fifteen starts. We will not see him again until he touches the doorknob of the bookshop again. He, as a character in the story, isn't confirming for us that he is indeed looking through a window and what he sees through that window. He never will. His dialogue will do the same thing with him asking, "How did he take it?"

Another factor is Muriel.

Muriel wears all white, and White keeps. That's not going to help with the window look. Muriel does at least two things that probably prevent the Metatron from taking advantage of their all-white attire. They keep their pocket chain hidden from the camera. They are holding a book where the cover is mostly black. Black blocks.

...

That's it for this post. Sometimes I edit my posts, FYI.

...

Main post:

The Sideburns Scheme

[chizukao]

Omg who are the characters in your blog banner???

HI HELLO HI!!!!!!!!!! HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR ASKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

they're chizuru yukimura (girl) and kaoru nagumo (boy) from hakuouki (specifically ssl in that image). they're where my blog name comes from!!!!!!!

djhfjjdjfjfnfbf sorry im a little crazy about them. they were like;;;; one of my first incest ships like three million years ago ahahaha.

you didn't ask for it specifically, but here's their backstory for the og games/anime/etc under the read more (cause it's A Lot):

chizuru and kaoru were born to the head of a clan of demons. though we don't see a lot of their past when they were super young, what we do see is really sweet and cute (such as one making a flower crown for the other).

unfortunately that ended when humans attacked the clan and basically wiped it out one night. chizuru and kaoru managed to flee together at the age of like. 6? 7? idk, they were pretty young.

now, depending on the media, some make it so that they were both taken in by their uncle, until a different demon clan contacted him requesting the female heir (for demon mating purposes). kaoru ending up going in chizuru's place in order to protect her.

otherwise, the story goes that kaoru and chizuru lost each other while running away, with kaoru being found and mistakenly assumed to be the female heir by the same clan mentioned before, and chizuru being found by their uncle.

either way, the other demon clan was furious when they discovered they'd gotten the male heir instead of the female one, and it's implied that kaoru faced physical and sexual abuse at their hands for years because of this.

cut to like 10 years later. chizuru has forgotten all about kaoru, and thinks that her uncle is her father. she also doesn't remember anything about being a demon. plot stuff happens, she has to crossdress as a boy to find her "father", she makes friends with a group of samurai, yadda yadda yadda. there's like artificial demon stuff happening too, where people are being made into DemonsLiteTM, and it's pretty fucked up.

this is when kaoru first shows up. he's pretending to be a woman (yeah, he and his sister reunite while they're both crossdressing lol) and is being harassed by some men when chizuru and co save him. chizuru doesn't recognize him, but she is curious because they look so similar (which one of her friends points out; the other says they don't look alike at all, which is really funny haha). he's all mysterious and leaves and that's it for a little bit.

eventually he shows up again to pretty much just cause trouble (he tries to turn one of her friends into a fake demon), but he hides himself, so she's oblivious to the fact that he's behind so much. he's just orchestrating stuff from the shadows for now.

when he does confront her, he admits they're twins and explains everything that happened when they were little. chizuru obviously has trouble grappling with these new revelations. she rejects his offer to join him, saying that she can't betray her friends.

depending on the media, he might try to kill her, or in other scenarios, he doesn't even offer her to join him at all (iirc). usually he has a little rant about how much he hates her for being so oblivious and living a happy life while he suffered. yeah :')

regardless, one thing always happens at the end: kaoru dies. in the anime series (not to be confused with the movies), he's killed by another demon. before he dies, he crawls towards chizuru and asks her why she wouldn't go with him. she finally remembers him, cupping his cheek, but it's too late. he dies.

but!!!! that's only in the og hakuouki universe (set in edo japan iirc)!!! i haven't even talked about the spin-off game that takes place in a highschool: hakuouki sweet school life!!!!

in ssl, chizuru's just a normal highschool student whose biggest worry is the fact that she just joined an all-boys school. kaoru's still her estranged twin brother, but they get along much *much* better than in the og story. he's also suuuuper protective of her, but refuses to admit it and often times insults her because he doesn't know how to be affectionate (tsunderes my beloved <3).

ssl has routes for all the main guys, just like the og game(s), but!!! it also has a route for kaoru!!!! which the og game didn't have!!!! (which im not salty about at all, in case you were wondering..........)

the routes are all very similar, with chizuru trying to get closer to her love interest--btw kaoru is not officially considered a *romantic* love interest, but.....a lot of the dialogue says otherwise--through giving gifts, spending time together, etc. her moments with kaoru are adorable, enough so that i ended up falling entirely in love with their au selves. other than them, i've never had a highschool au that i've enjoyed, canon or otherwise.

during the short game, chizuru wants to deepen her bond with kaoru, as they've lived most of their lives apart (kaoru was adopted by a different family when they were younger). she makes him valentine's chocolates and even goes out of her way to bring them to school to give him on valentine's day, despite the fact all outside snacks are banned. (side note: the reason that this is a rule is because kaoru, who's a part of the disciplinary committee, knew valentine's was coming up and didn't want chizuru to confess to anyone/be confessed to. so he made it an official school rule using his powers lol.)

he catches her with the chocolates before she can explain they're for him, and makes a huge fuss and basically berates her in front of the whole school, leading to her shouting they're for him. after which he's like "....oh. you should've said that sooner." and grabs her and runs away so they can be in private. btw when she confessed some students who were watching were like "isn't this a bit too close, even for siblings??" which is so funny.

anyways kaoru thanks her for the chocolates but is suuuuper tsundere about it and it's the cutest thing ever!!!!! and he says he'll be sure to pay her back on white day. the entire time this takes place under a sakura tree, which is such a common trope for animes and stuff to have characters confess under.

OH i almost forgot, but in a previous part of the game, chizuru sprains her ankle and kaoru gives her a piggy back ride!! just wanted to mention that because it was a really adorable moment. okay yeah back to after valentine's day.

there's a time skip in the epilogue, and kaoru's now moving in with chizuru!! this is because her dad (uncle) is always away on trips overseas, and it's not safe for a girl to live alone (also it's lonely). so!!!! they canonically live together now!!!!!! the cg in my banner is from the end of the game, when they talk after he's pretty much completely moved in. it's soooo sweet and gahhhh. i love how these two get so many happy moments to make up for og chizuru and kaoru having to go through All Of That. it's such a nice comfort <3

okay i think that's all!!!! well, not everything, but that's all i can think of atm. WAIT I LIED. fun fact: in the og games they each have one half of a set of swords thatve been passed down in their (deceased) family for generations!! idk why, but something about that fact just makes my heart pang. like even before chizuru knew she had a brother, she was already carrying around a part of him with her, and she with him. aughhhhhhhh <3

that's all for now for real this time. um. yeah. i played ssl using an emulator and a fan translation on my laptop, so if anyone would like to know how to set that up so they can play it too, just lmk!!!! :3

[allzelemonz]

Doodles: Abe X Male Reader

Pronouns: None Mentioned, Reader referred to as ‘man’ Physical Sex: None Mentioned Rating: G/Fluff Warnings: Epilogue-ish, vague time setting, Reader is also a ranch hand, Abe draws, slight misunderstanding/miscommunication but it’s resolved quickly, fluff, you can pry my background/side character from my cold/dead hands Summary: Abe has a bit of a crush on the new ranch hand, so he channels it by drawing.

Abe doesn’t typically get distracted. He works hard and always tries his best. But ever since Mister Geddes introduced you as the new ranch hand, he’s been distracted. You shook his hand and he found himself unable to speak his own name, you smiled at him and his heart doubled its pace, he was smitten from the moment he met your eyes. He feels guilty staring at you. It’s indecent, staring at folks usually is, but he can’t keep himself from it. The way you hold yourself, the way you walk, everything makes a flutter appear in his stomach.

So he draws.

He finds the odd scrap of paper and an old pen and he just sits during his short breaks, eating between covering the pages with images of you. With how often he does it, he’s become pretty good. He started with little things, hardly resembling you. But as he recalls the image of you hauling hay across the ranch, he draws each line with skill.

“Hi, Abe.” You call, walking past him.

He scrambles, holding the paper to his chest as his heart threatens to burst. You’re just passing by, that’s all, just saying hi.

“Hello!” He calls back, getting ahold of himself before you’re too far away

He brings the paper back to rest on his lap, staring down at it with a feeling of nerves. You haven’t come that close to him since you first came to the ranch. What if you caught him drawing, if anyone caught him drawing? He’s gotten to the point where there’s no mistaking who he’s scribbled onto the pages he tucks in with his clothing in a chest by his bed. Would you be disturbed? You might never look at him again.

You might leave the ranch to get away from him.

He crumbles the page into a ball, holding it tight between his hands. His heart has calmed down from the scare and he takes a few deep breaths before he stuffs the paper into his pocket and gets back to work.

The tools need proper care, Abe convinces himself that everything is due for an overhaul of maintenance just so he can stay inside. He doesn’t think that he can handle seeing you again after what happened. He’s not sure what to do with the drawings, but the one resting in his pocket feels like it’s burning a hole in the fabric.

“Hi again, Abe.”

He jumps a little, not having heard you come in. His eyes dart away and he tries to focus on his work.

“You mind sharpening this for me?” You ask, holding out an axe.

He glances between you and the tools he’d been cleaning. “Uh, sure, okay.”

You smile at him when he takes the axe from your hands and he nearly drops it.

“Are you okay, Abe.”

“I’m, uh,” His face flushes, so he turns around quickly. “I’m just fine, partner.”

Abe stands by the sharpening wheel and begins his task, trying not to look at you.

“Do you not like me or something?”

Abe stops stepping on the pedal, a bit of panic taking over him. “No, no, no.” He shakes his head and turns to you. “Yer just fine, Mister! It ain’t nothin’ like that.”

You cross your arms and Abe feels the panic increase.

“What’s it like then? Everybody around here gives me the time of day, except you.”

The way you point your finger at him makes his heart sink. “I-I don’t mean nothing by it.”

“You scared of me?”

He shakes his head quickly. “No, sir. I ain’t scared of ya, I just…” He can’t find the right words, he doesn’t even know the right words.

You sigh, shaking your head. “I know I haven’t been here long, but you always seem strange around me. I just want to know why.”

“It, uh, ain’t yer fault, Mister, it’s mine. I, well, I’m a bit of a mess.” Abe says, glancing around and attempting a laugh.

You stare at Abe for a moment. He refuses to look at you, his eyes focus on the axe in his hands, then the wall next to you, then the ceiling, anywhere but you. You’ve been here long enough to know Abe is relatively put together, everyone speaks highly of him. If he’s acting so oddly around you, there must be a reason.

“I think I’ll work with the cattle, finish the wood later.” You say, meeting Abe’s eyes for just a second. “Thanks anyway, Abe.”

Abe tries to form words, but he just stands there, holding the axe with a red face as you leave. He tightens his grip on the axe as he huffs in frustration. He sets down the axe by the wheel and fishes the paper from his pocket. Once he smooths it out, you stare back at him. This version of you has a smile, seemingly welcoming and unbothered. His grip on the paper tightens and he looks up to the lantern on the wall. Before he can change his mind, he grabs the lantern and opens it so he can stick the page inside.

You spend most of the day working with the cattle. The infamous bull is especially moody every time you go near him, the ladies don’t seem to care about your presence nearly as much. When you do everything you can there you go back to retrieve the axe and continue your wood chopping. Abe isn’t there anymore, so you carry on and find the axe among the other tools. As you walk, you feel your foot hit something. You look down to see a lantern on the ground, the flame snuffed. Under your foot is a half-burned piece of paper. You pick them both up, placing the lantern back on the wall and lighting it again. The paper is blank on one side, so you turn it over. It’s a drawing, a pretty good drawing of you. The eyes are even, the nose matches yours, every detail is perfect as if someone spent hours pouring over the little sketch.

This is why Abe acts so oddly around you.

He isn’t particularly jumpy, but his nerves are on edge today. He drops the bucket he’s carrying when you say his name. When he turns, you’re looking down at a piece of paper. He scrambles when he realizes what it is, trying to explain himself, but no coherent words come out and you stop him.

“I like it.”

Is all you say and Abe blinks as if he can’t see properly.

“Ya do?”

You nod. “It looks like you worked hard on it.”

Abe's heart beats heavily against his chest and his mouth goes dry, only having the sense to nod in confirmation.

“Is this why I never see you, you’re too busy drawing me?”

You say it with a smile that eases Abe’s nerves but makes his stomach flip.

“Not all the time, just when I got nothin’ else ta do.” He fidgets with his hands as he smiles at the reality of you liking his drawing.

“Why me?”

Abe glances back up to you. Your face is kind, a soft smile present, and your focus is on the paper. He looks back at his hands, searching for an answer. He knows why, but he’s not sure he can say it out loud.

“You sweet on me or something?” You ask.

Abe’s face flushes as his eyes dart up to you for just a second. He attempts a laugh to make it seem less awkward, but it comes out as a rhythmic exhale that only he can hear.

“It’s alright if you are.” You say, stepping towards him. “I wouldn’t mind.”

Abe looks up when you hand the drawing back to him. He takes it in his hands for a moment before giving it back to you. “I want ya ta have it.”

You hold your hands over his as you reach for the paper. Abe steps closer, his eyes meeting yours when you’re only an inch away from one another. He leans in, pressing your lips together. It lasts for only a second, just a ghost of a kiss, but it’s still enough to make both of your hearts speed up.

[msanimedolphin]

~Back In The Game~

~Chapter Nineteen~

-Series Masterlist-

What happens when a girl who loves volleyball joins a boys' volleyball club? Does she find love? Will she relive her past or move forward? Join (L/N) (Y/N) on a journey with fun twists and turns.

I don't own Haikyuu or any of the characters.

-Last Time-

        “W-Whoa…” Hinata says while standing in front of Nishinoya.

        “What’s wrong Hinata?” Suga asks. ‘Oh boy. I think I know where this is going.’ You think.

       ��“Holy crap!! He’s shorter than me?!” ‘Knew it…’

        “Say wha?! Hey, you! C’mere and say that again!!” Nishinoya yells.

        “Easy,” Tanaka says calmly, putting a hand on Nishinoya’s shoulder.

        “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Hinata apologizes. “But um…”

        “What?!” Nishinoya yells.

        “Is it okay to ask…how tall are you?”

        “I’m 5’3”!!”

        ‘He’s shorter than me!’ You and Hinata think.

        “W-Whoa…” Hinata says with stars surrounding him.

        “Huh? W-What…” Nishinoya says.

        “This is the first time since I joined this team that I got to look down on someone.” Hinata explains while crying tears of joy. You facepalm at this.

        “Stop crying stupid tears of dumb happiness!! It’s not by that much!!!” You hear someone walking toward you so you turn around to see Kiyoko. You walk up to her.

        “Hey, Kiyoko.” You greet her with a smile.

        “Hello (Y/N).”

        “Heading to the gym?”

        “Yea.”

        “Oh, well, be careful, they are pretty rowdy right now.”

        “Thank you for letting me know.”

        “No problem.”

        You both walk up to the door and let Kiyoko go first to be polite. She has one foot in the gym before you both hear someone yell.

        “KI! YO! KO! SAAAN!! I came to visit you!” By now she’s entirely in the gym. When you see her get into a surprised stance you peek around her to see why. You’re shocked when you see Nishinoya flying toward the two of you. His eyes widen when he sees you. Before you can even react, Kiyoko slaps him and he’s lying face-first on the gym floor.

        “Come on (Y/N).” She says as she gently pulls you away. As she does you look back at the boy only to see him staring at you. You smile at him before looking ahead again.

        “Ryu…” Nishinoya starts.

        “Yeah?” Tanaka responds

        “Who is she?”

        “Ah! That’s (Y/N)! She’s our new first-year manager! Isn’t she an angel?!”

        “YEAH, SHE IS!”

-

        “So! Where’s Asahi? He’s back right?!” Nishinoya asks after getting up off the floor. You, Hinata, and Kageyama stand next to each other looking confused and wondering who Asahi is. You look to Daichi and Suga for answers only to see they have their heads hung with sad faces.

        “...”

        “...No.” Daichi finally answers.

        “That spineless wuss…!!” Nishinoya exclaims angrily.

        “Noya! Don’t talk about our Ace that way!” Tanaka reprimands.

        “Shut up! Ace or no, a wuss is still a wuss!!”

        ‘So this Ashai is our ace…” You think.

        “Gawd, Noya, c’mon! Wait!”

        “I already told you guys! If Asahi-san doesn’t come back, I’m not coming back either!” Nishinoya exclaims as he walks out of the gym, slamming the doors behind him. As Kageyama asks Tanaka a question you notice Hinata leaving the gym so you follow him.

        “Please teach me that receive!!” Hinata yells as he runs after Nishinoya with you behind him. “Nishiya-san, you’re a libero, right?! The defensive specialist position…”

        “My name’s Nishinoya. And why do you think I’m a libero? Is it ‘cause I’m short?”

        “Huh? No. It’s because you’re good at receiving serves.”

        “He’s right.” You say causing the two to jump. “The libero position isn’t played by someone just because they’re short…”

        “They get to play it because they’re good at defense. Right?” Hinata interrupts, earning an annoyed but proud look from you.

        “...”

        “Um…Right, sir?”

        “So you guys do get it.” Nishinoya finally responds.

        “Oh! And the captain called you Karasuno’s Guardian Deity!” Hinata proudly announces. Nishinoya becomes flustered and starts fidgeting and stuttering. ‘Cute.’ You think as you smile.

        “Um…did he say that?” Nishinoya asks.

        “Yep!” Hinata replies as you nod your head. The libero becomes flustered again and begins mumbling to himself. Hinata starts to say something but you stop him by whispering to him.

        “Hinata. You’re about to ask him for help, right?” He nods. “Don’t forget to call him ‘senpai’.”

        “Right.” He says before turning his attention back to the libero. “I still really suck at digs and bumps and stuff. Those are some of the most important skills in the whole game. So…please teach me how to do it right…Nishinoya-senpai!!” The libero leans back in shock as if he just got pushed. 

        “You…after practice…I’m going to buy you a Gori Gori Ice Pop.” Nishinoya says with a blush on his cheeks.

        “Huh?”

        “After all, I…am your senpai!!”

        “!!”

        “I’m still not coming back to the team though! I’m just gonna teach you the basics. That’s all!”

        “Thank you!”

-

        As the three of you approach the gym Hinata runs ahead, Nishinoya goes to follow him but stops at the sound of your voice. 

        “Thank you.” You say causing the boys to look at you.

        “Huh?”

        “Thank you for agreeing to help Hinata. I don’t know what the situation is with Asahi, but I appreciate that you’re willing to help Hinata. I know you don’t know me much, or even at all, but I love this team and want to see them succeed and grow stronger. So, thank you so much Noya-senpai!!” You finish with a bow. Noticing that he isn’t saying anything, you stand up straight only to see his face is beet red and he’s frozen. 

        “Um…are you okay, Noya-senpai…?” The said boy falls to his knees but before you can check on him you hear your name being called from inside the gym.

        “Coming!” You respond. You look at the boy hesitating before walking into the gym. You stop to say something to Nishinoya. “I’ll do everything I can to help the situation involving Asahi.” You continue into the gym, leaving Nishinoya still on his knees.

        “She…called…me…senpai…” He whispers to himself. “SHE CALLED ME SENPAI!!” He celebrates before calming down as he remembers what else you said. “I wonder what she meant by that…”

-In The Gym-

        As the boys are practicing you’re helping Kiyoko until you get distracted watching them. Kiyoko notices and walks toward you.

        “Are you okay, (Y/N)?” She asks.

        “Yea. They’re just a bunch of goofballs.” You explain with a chuckle and smile. “But something’s missing.”

~To Be Continued~

[miqojak]

I'm so tickled that your character has a nickname that includes their tribal letter, because mine does and I've always felt a little selfconscious. C'rrah and C'rr are obviously nicknames Rrahsa got after leaving home-- her family calls her Rraa-- but I worry people are going to think I just don't understand naming conventions. Kinda curious how Jak got her nickname, is that a secret OOC or just IC?

Hello there! Thanks for popping in! And it's just an IC secret, really - funnily enough, I've had lots of people be shocked that's not her name in game, ha! But no, after all the Bad Times™ with being in a Garlean concentration camp, before escaping to the big city with her twin brother... she didn't want to be the person who got hurt, anymore; the girl who was tortured and experimented on and lost her whole family - who had to become someone else, and do things she hated to survive, and escape. So in almost all ways, 'J'kesri' is a deadname for her! Only two people know it - her twin brother, whom she no longer speaks to, and her lover, Ketsuchi - who is also using a name that's not his given name, for similar reasons! - and only one of those people gets to use her old name... you can guess which one, I imagine! When she went to pick a new name... well, J'kesri became 'Jak' - she just sort of smashed the J and the K sounds together to make a new name that was an amalgamation of her old one... plus the Jackal is her tribe's totem animal, and is VERY important to her, and this new name was very close to that. (When first on the streets, she just went by 'Jackal' for a while, really - it was easier that way - to be a 'nameless' thief.) But there's a lot of hurt tied to who she 'was' - and in a way, she's learning to accept bits and pieces of who she 'was', again, learning to have some compassion for her old self, and see that it's okay to be 'Kesri' in the right time, and place, and not feel quite so hurt by her past... but that's still a long road to walk.

And hey, don't worry too much about what others think - they'll find out ICly if they're really interested in your OC, after all - and what's more fun than exploring this stuff IC? Having characters get to know the hows and whys of who each other are is kind of the best part! (And if they judge a book by their cover...well, that says more about them, than you!)

[tellmegoodbye]

Hello Harley! nice ask week query for you! give me your top 5 Lone Star scenes please and thank you 💜

Top five scenes??? Gosh, This is hard!!

Before we start, Hello. My name is Harley and I love angst. My choices here probably explain a lot...

I am doing this off the top of my head because I have never put a list together until now. It is also very late so if I forget an iconic scene that would be criminal for me to leave out, I'm sorry. I will definitely correct myself in the morning and add onto this if that is the case.

The best scene in the entire show HAS to be the TK waking up/Grace giving birth sequence, right? I think it's safe to say that nobody is doing it like her. Just the two extremely emotional situations that could only really be described as miracles, both coming to fruition after four episodes of angst. The music choice?? The acting??? TK and Carlos finding their way back to each other and barely having to say anything, and Grace and Judd being able to have this experience together in spite of everything that stood in that path. The pain you can feel from Owen as he watches a new life coming into this world, unaware that his son is waking up at the same exact time. Like the choices that were made here were just brilliant. Push, my beloved, there is a reason I just wrote 23k words about you.

This is a combination of two from the same episode, the first one being that period of silence after Tommy finds Charles in 2x13. It's one of the most emotional scenes I've ever watched in any show, and it does so much without relying on sound. The second one is at the end of the same episode where she is finally able to cry, and this is also one of my favorite musical moments from the show, if you recognized the lyrics in my blog title!

The entire plane landing sequence in 3x08. Another favorite musical moment of mine, but also just an amazing scene in general. I'm a sucker for all the 'begins' type episodes, and the way that scene switches between the past and present is really well done and definitely gets me crying every time.

I absolutely have to include the scene in 2x02 where we get a glimps at each character mourning after Tim's death. It's another one of those scenes that does a lot with very little. Incredible acting, and it gave us that beautiful moment where TK comes home to Carlos and collaspes in his arms. Such a memorable scene for me.

I'm going to be on my Owen bs for a hot second here so please bear with me. It had actually been a while since I watched this scene so I almost forgot how much I enjoyed it, but I watched 3x18 again recently and the scene where Owen is hallucinating talking to Gwyn fucking broke me. As well as the rest of the scene that followed where he's rescued. The best way I could describe their love story is a beautiful tragedy. You can tell Owen has carried around a lot of guilt for how it ended, and you can't help but wonder how different things could have been if they had worked out, and if she had lived. I think it was an incredibly important scene to have as well, if you also take into account everything we learned about Owen in 3x15 and 3x16. His journey over the past two seasons is something I have appreciated immensely. We learned that he lost his brother and his father in different, yet equally tragic ways, he lost the love of his life, he lost a brother AGAIN so soon after metting him, and after all that loss he still had to find a way to focus on the people who were still there. I think that 3x18 scene in particular is beautiful, but it also sums up a lot of the emotions I have surrounding his character and why I love him so much.

Honorable mentions include: soulmates scene, proposal scene, intro scene in 4x18 where they postpone the wedding, the entire being alive sequence, the call between Grace and that astronaut in 1x10, Hen and Owen talking when they're trapped in the mine in 2x03, Carlos crying after the fire, Marjan keeping herself alive by hallucinating her younger self in road kill, and literally any scene from saving grace and shift-less.

Plus many others that I have inevitably forgotten. Please yell at me and tell me what I missed because I can be a ding dong sometimes and I am overdo for a full rewatch.

[the-savage-garden]

Nitpicking ACOWAR Ch 12 +13

I'm thinking of making a post that links to all the chapters I nitpick to make it easier to find them. I don't know if I can have more than 1 pinned post or not but I'll look it up. My next post is just going to be Chapter 14 by itself. I'm in the middle of reading Chapter 15 so I'll be taking a break again once I get through it, maybe. I'm really getting tired of reading this book and just want to do something else, ugh.

Chapter 12

-[“Father,” the one now holding a knife to my throat said to Lucien, “is rather put out that you didn’t stop by to say hello.”] This is some terrible sentence structure, what the hell? It comes across as the brother calling Lucien “father” instead because of the pause. It should have all the dialogue first and then the knife to the throat.

-The brothers crack sex jokes at each other. They even say that Lucien and Feyre are “cuckolding” Tamlin. I hate this.

-Eris has been introduced as one of the brothers, he’s the same one that abandoned Mor in the woods.

-”The male who had abandoned her when he found her brutalized body on the border. The High Lord’s heir.” I don’t recall if Eris did abandon Mor though, I thought he was the one that hurt her? Also, why is Mor described as the “High Lord’s heir”? That doesn’t make sense.

-Feyre makes excuses on why she can’t kill Eris. I don’t know what the point of it is, if a character gets named I know they’re not going to die, it’s a pattern I’ve noticed (with the exception of the twins and Amarantha).

-[Eris merely said to me, cold and bored, “Get up.”] I hate when SJM uses “bored” to make a character menacing.

-”I felt it then—stirring awake as if some stick had poked it. As if being here, in this territory, amongst its blooded royals, had somehow sparked it to life, boiling past that poison. Turning that poison to steam.“ I still don’t get how powers work in this world because this doesn’t make sense to me. They’re in Winter yet somehow being around the royals is enough to trigger Feyre’s Autumn powers?

-”And he saw the sweat beading on my temple, my upper lip, as my blood heated. A slight bob of his chin was his only sign of understanding.” Somehow the brothers don’t notice this? Doesn’t Eris have Feyre at knife point?

-”And after what they had done to Lucien’s lover, what they’d done to Mor …” What exactly did Autumn do to Mor? Did they abandon her or hurt her? I can’t remember if ACOMAF ever went into detail about it, I just know that she was left with something stapled to her stomach.

-”I’d been waiting. Balance, Cassian had taught me, was crucial to winning a fight.” I don’t mind this but… she still had limited time with those lessons. Also is balance good for fighting? This reads like SJM used something she learned from having a personal trainer instead of actual research.

-”And as Eris’s shove caused him to get on uneven footing, I turned my propelled step on him.” How exactly does Eris have uneven footing if he shoved someone?

-”Flame slammed into the other two, and Lucien hurtled out of the way as they shouted and fell deeper into the cave.” Why is Feyre the only one doing any fighting? Lucien is also around too, I know he has powers.

-”I unleashed every drop of the flame in me, a wall of it between us and them. Sealing his brothers inside the cave.” Why use all of it? Feyre and Lucien still have to run, Feyre could have kept some of it for later.

-Somehow Feyre still has enough fire to use, even though earlier she said she used “every drop” and it seems like Lucien is finally doing something by using his fire to help Feyre.

-”As Eris’s livid face emerged from my net of flame, glowing like a new-forged god of wrath, Lucien and I brought down the cave ceiling.” How does fire bring down a cave ceiling?

-”Fire burst through the small cracks like a thousand flaming serpents’ tongues—but the cave-in did not so much as tremble.” How does a cave-in not tremble?

-They then leave but all of their supplies had been left behind in the cave. Feyre notices that Lucien gave her his cloak but now he’s freezing. For some reason they go up the mountain slope. Was that their only path? Is there no trading route they could follow? I know they’re on the run but are random civilians going to know?

-Redundant words about dying and the cold.

-”Perhaps both of us were spared from an icy death by the kernel of flame that had just barely kindled inside our veins.” What was the point of Feyre mentioning she used “every drop of the flame” if it didn’t mean anything?

-”We didn’t pause once, an unspoken fear that if we did, the cold would leech any lingering warmth and we’d never again move.” That’s just nonsense.

-” Or Lucien’s brothers would gain ground.” Wasn’t there a cave-in?

-More redundancy about Feyre not having her full powers, again.

-Complaining about the dangers of the cold.

-I guess Fae are affected by the cold and exposure?

-They somehow find a cave and are now forced to share body heat. Are we sure this book series isn’t just a harem anime? What’s the point of this?

-”...beneath my cloak…” Isn’t it technically Lucien’s cloak? You could’ve written “my borrowed cloak” instead.

-Time for some mate talk, riveting (I’m being sarcastic). Elain likes to garden, information that is already known at this point, no mention of anything new.

-”It drove the servants mad, because they were supposed to do the work…” Why would servants be upset that they don’t have to do work? I’m pretty sure they’re still getting paid, right?

-“You talk about her as if she’s dead.” “I don’t know what changes the Cauldron wrought on her. I don’t think going home is an option. No matter how she might yearn to.” This confuses me, I know Feyre doesn’t know if the Cauldron had changed Elain or not but what does it have to do with being “dead”?

-[“Surely Prythian is a better alternative, war or no.” I steeled myself before saying, “She is engaged, Lucien.”] What does one have to do with the other?

-Continuation of the mate talk.

-“She says she does. Nesta—Nesta thought the father and his obsession with killing faeries was bad enough to raise some alarms. She never voiced the concern to Elain. Neither did I.” I don’t recall Nesta having any problems about it.

-“I want to see her. Just once. Just—to know.” “To know what?” He hitched my damp cloak higher around us. “If she is worth fighting for.” I already feel sorry for Lucien, I did before but now doubly so. Also Feyre is still claiming Lucien’s cloak as hers for some reason.

-”...Elain might very well do everything in her power to hold to her engagement. Even if immortality had already rendered it impossible.” Why would immortality make that impossible?

-“And then I’ll ask your mate how he survived it—knowing you were engaged to someone else. Sharing another male’s bed.” I hate that the story keeps insisting on this.

-Lucien asks when Feyre fell out of love with Tamlin and moved on to Rhys. He also brings up Under The Mountain stuff that Feyre doesn’t answer.

-”He didn’t know—he had no inkling of the personal history, the secrets, that had opened my heart to the High Lord of the Night Court. They were not my stories to tell.” Is that supposed to absolve Rhys of his deeds? Because it doesn’t, the book is going to have to try harder than that to convince me and it probably never will.

-[“One would think, Lucien, that you’d be glad I fell in love with my mate, given that you’re in the same situation Rhys was in six months ago.” “You left us.” Us. Not Tamlin. Us.] What did I just read? What is this? Is this supposed to make sense? This is such a disjointed conversation. Feyre talks about mates then suddenly Lucien talks about her leaving? What do they have to do with each other?

-“I told you that day in the woods: you abandoned me long before I ever physically left.” I shivered again, hating every point of contact, that I so desperately needed his warmth. “You fit into the Spring Court as little as I did, Lucien. You enjoyed its pleasures and diversions. But don’t pretend you weren’t made for something more than that.” Disjointed conversation again. Also, I hate that Feyre has decided that Lucien no longer fits into Spring. She shouldn’t be making the choice for Lucien, he gets to decide where he fits in, not her. And what is this nonsense about Lucien deserving more? What does that have to do with anything?

-”As High Lady, I could likely offer him a position, if we survived long enough to make it home. I’d do it mostly to keep Elain from ever going to the Spring Court, but I had little doubt Lucien would be able to hold his own against my friends. And some small, horrible part of me enjoyed the thought of taking one more thing away from Tamlin, something vital, something essential.“ Feyre literally said Lucien deserved more but then wants to put him in the same role but in Night instead? He’s also being used as a prop for Feyre even though they’re supposed to be friends. I hate this whole thing.

-The next day they make it into the Winter lands.

-Somehow Feyre has some of her fire power return and not her many other powers.

-” If our luck held and no one else found us.” I’m guessing Lucien’s brothers somehow catch up to them then?

-”I ran through every lesson Rhys had taught me about the Winter Court and its High Lord, Kallias.”

-Feyre explains the Winter Court.

-”Their forces were well trained, but they often relied on the great, white bears that stalked the realm for any unwanted visitors.” Feyre literally just describes a polar bear and somehow they’re a problem to Fae. Fae who use magic and are more durable than humans have trouble against bears. What?

-”The Night Court’s relationship with Winter was fine enough, still tenuous, as all our bonds were, after Amarantha. After she’d butchered so many of them—including, I remembered with no small surge of nausea, dozens of Winter Court children.” Tenuous? That is an understatement. Oh right, an unnamed character that was totally not Rhys was the one that killed the kids. I don’t care if the book later proves it wasn’t Rhys, I’m still going to think he did it and assume it’s a retcon.

-”I’d never had the nerve to ask Rhys, in those months of training, who the children had belonged to.” I’m going to have to look up what the canonical timeframe was because months keep throwing me for a loop. I also want to point out how much I hate this.

-”But despite any tentative bonds, Winter was one of the Seasonal Courts. It might side with Tamlin, with Tarquin. Our best allies remained the Solar Courts: Dawn and Day.” Keeping note of this.

-”But they lay far to the north —above the demarcation line between the Solar and Seasonal Courts.” I don’t think SJM is using the demarcation line correctly in this, I looked it up and it has to do with geopolitical lines. But then the line is said to be the UTM land and that doesn’t have to do with geopolitics at all. I’m so lost. Apparently the Weaver’s cottage is there too.

-”That slice of sacred, unclaimed land that held Under the Mountain.” I’m still confused about claimed and unclaimed land. Didn’t the 1st book say the High Lords are connected to certain land? So wouldn’t the Fae claimed land work differently than the standard?

-Another day and night go by through the mountains and reach the ice plains.

-”Otherwise, too frequently, the ice was clear as glass—revealing dark, depthless lakes beneath.” Wouldn’t those be covered in snow too? And how is the ice clear as glass?

-Polar bears are still being brought up.

-”No matter the practicality of lighting a fire atop a frozen lake.” That is supposed to be sarcasm right? Because it’s not framed right if it is.

-“Tonight, we’ll melt some of the ice pack enough to soften it—and build a shelter.” Are they going to build an igloo?

-Eris is back, for some reason I feel oddly happy to have him back. Might be because I just want him to kill everyone at this point. Also there’s mention of 3 figures, that includes Eris, so 3 brothers then.

Chapter 13

-[“Run,” Lucien breathed. I didn’t dare take my eyes off his brothers. Not as Eris lowered that hand to the frozen edge of the lake. “Run where, exactly?”] Deja vu again.

-SJM had to have lifted this part from somewhere, it’s familiar to me. Lucien and Feyre are running on a lake that is being melted by Eris.

-”...expending all his power to get through millennia of ice…” I know this is told from Feyre’s POV but why use millennia to describe a lake?

-”He shoved me aside, and I staggered, arms wheeling.” The visual I had in my head makes me laugh.

-Someone fired an arrow at them. Alright, why am I thinking about some movie or show that had someone running on ice while being shot at by a gun instead? I can’t find it but it’s going to bother me.

-Feyre figures out that since she’s in the Winter Court that she can now use ice powers.

-Feyre freezes the lake. The whole lake?

-Feyre is figuring out how to use her ice powers and how to deal with Eris. The internal dialogue doesn’t mean a lot to me honestly.

-”... and opened my mouth to tell him my plan…” While running?

-One of Lucien’s unnamed brothers fires arrows at Feyre.

-”It went clean through my right forearm this time.” How does an arrow go clean through an arm?

-Knees barking.

-”I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood as I ripped away the cloth of my jacket and shirt from my forearm, snapped the arrow in two, and tore the pieces from my flesh.” So the arrow didn’t go through the arm? It’s just in her arm, why write it going through then?

-”My roar shattered and bounced across the ice.” I’m starting to think I should keep notes whenever roars are brought up.

-“...my last two Illyrian knives in my palms…” I’m starting to think these knives are pointless.

-“This can end with you going under, begging me to get you out once that ice instantly refreezes,” Eris drawled… “Or this can end with you agreeing to take my hand. But either way, you will be coming with me.” This reads weird to me for some reason.

-Feyre’s arm starts healing with Dawn’s powers. I guess that’s why she had to get injured then, so she could realize her powers are coming back.

-Feyre blinds Eris with light powers and runs past the frozen lake to land.

-”I made it all of twenty feet before Eris winnowed in front of me and struck.” Why mention twenty feet?

-”A backhanded blow to the face, so hard my teeth went through my lip.” I should be glad that Feyre is getting slapped but… teeth through her lip?

-Eris punches Feyre in the gut and Lucien is fighting his 2 unnamed brothers. Then Eris grabs Feyre by the hair when she falls and drags her back to the frozen lake.

-”I opened my mouth, but a gag of fire shoved its way between my lips. It didn’t burn, but was hot enough to tell me it would if Eris willed it. Equal bands of flame wrapped around my wrists, my ankles. My throat.” How would fire be used without burning someone?

-I don’t know why Eris is taking her back to the lakeshore, why doesn’t he just winnow the both of them away? Also sentries have winnowed in.

-”A shadow slammed into the earth before us, cracking the ice toward every horizon.” Make up your mind, is it the earth or the frozen lake?

-”Seven red Siphons glinted over his scaled black armor as Cassian tucked in his wings and snarled at Eris with five centuries’ worth of rage.” Making note of this.

-Also how are Cassian’s wings healed? Weren’t they described as being torn and bloody stumps at the end of ACOMAF? How would you be able to regrow wings? Yes, I know there is magic but there is no mention of healing magic being able to regrow limbs.

-”I loosed a shuddering sob over the burning gag. Cassian’s Siphons flickered in response, as if the sight of me, at Eris’s hand—” Why would the siphons respond that way? Are they connected to his emotions or something?

-Azriel has also struck at ice. I’m confused about where the 2 of them are.

-Feyre is glad her 2 friends are alive and well, she knew they were but I guess it makes sense to be emotional about it.

-”...and said to Eris with lethal calm…” I hate lethal calm.

-“The wrath that twisted Cassian’s face was world-ending.” I also hate this description.

-Cassian looks at Feyre and she realizes that she could get free from Eris.

-”And getting him off balance long enough to let go, to let Cassian jump between us and take on the High Lord’s son …” Why doesn’t Feyre just attack Eris herself instead?

-Feyre kicks Eris in the nuts. She also punches him in the nose. Poor Eris. Also Cassian does indeed fight with Eris.

-”Steel against steel rang out across the ice. Sentries on the shore unleashed arrows of wood and magic—only to bounce against a shield of blue.” Azriel apparently can make a blue shield, I vaguely remember something like this.

-Azriel for some reason is helping Lucien with fighting against the 2 unnamed brothers.

-Feyre uses her ice to sing the fire to sleep. She gets free.

-Cassian stabs Eris in the gut.

-”For a heartbeat, I saw how it would play out: three of Beron’s sons dead at our hands. A temporary satisfaction for me, five centuries of satisfaction for Cassian, Azriel, and Mor, but if Beron still debated what side to support in this war … “ I hate this new Feyre.

-[“Stop,” I said. The word was a soft, cold command.] I hate the way soft is used here.

-Cassian and Azriel stop and everyone is surprised by it.

-Feyre threatens the Autumn Court people and stuff.

-”I only removed the glamour I’d kept on myself these weeks.” Wait, how was she still able to do that when she was poisoned by faebane?

-”Lucien’s face drained of color as he strode for us, stopping a healthy distance from Azriel’s side.” Lucien still doesn’t want to be a part of Night, understandable.

-[“I am High Lady of the Night Court,” I said quietly to them all.] Sure, Feyre, it’s not like it was given to you by someone else or anything. She wasn’t even chosen by magic like the other High Lords are, so it means nothing.

-”Even Eris stopped sneering. His amber eyes widened, something like fear now creeping into them.” Why would Eris be afraid of this?

-[”There’s no such thing as a High Lady,” one of Lucien’s brothers spat.] Well, yes, magic has never chosen someone of the female persuasion but men for some reason, so technically there is still no High Lady even if Feyre claims she is one.

-[A faint smile played on my mouth. “There is now.” And it was time for the world to know it.] But you’re still not? Is this just retconning the fact that magic chooses who’s High Lord?

-Feyre orders her friends to take her home.

-Cassian takes Feyre to the sky, Azriel takes Lucien. Feyre never even explained about the whole thing with Lucien to them but ok.

-Cassian awkwardly brings up Lucien’s last name Vanserra in conversation.

-[“You never knew his family name?” I met those laughing, fierce hazel eyes. Cassian’s smile softened. “Hello, Feyre.”] Weird shift.

-Feyre and Cassian have a touching moment.

-They land around UTM which is described as “the sacred, eighth territory.”

-Feyre hugs Mor and demands to know where Rhys is.

-Rhys is apparently far away for some reason. Mor explains why she wasn’t in the fight with them, something about distracting Kallias by being up north. It’s mostly used as an excuse so Mor doesn’t have to be near Eris.

-Mor feels shame about it though. Mor gets upset when she sees Lucien.

-[Cassian explained to Mor, “He fought against Eris and the other two.”] That’s the reason they brought Lucien?

-Mor gets worried and asks if Eris is dead. Azriel says the Autumn brothers are still alive.

-Feyre never asked if Lucien knew the history of Mor and Eris. I guess it’s so it can be brought up later.

-Feyre asks which home they're going to.

-”The stare of the Morrigan—whose gift was pure truth.” I still don’t understand this power, is Mor a lie detector or something?

-They choose to go to the townhouse so that Lucien could see Elain who's “waiting there for you.”

[serashalala]

Meeting || gn!Apprentice/Muriel

This fic is brought to you by

@twbmccevent

There was something about the apprentice that unsettles Muriel. They’re rather frightening, on one hand, especially with their rumored prowess in magic and the arcane. 

There’s also the fact that there can be no fault found in such a gentle character. It’s frightening. 

“Hello there!” The apprentice says, taking him by surprise when they came out of nowhere. “What’s going on here? Is there anything interesting down there?” Overly friendly, that’s what they are. Muriel finds it difficult to trust.

When he stands to draw to his full height, they aren’t even intimidated by his sheer size like most other Vesuvians are. “Woah, you gotta tell me what they feed you.” This isn’t the first time he’s heard them say that. It must be genuine, their awe for his height.

Muriel doesn’t respond, but that doesn’t faze the apprentice, not when they’ve already moved onto a new topic– their name.  They introduce themself by their name, but he already knows this. This is the 11th time they’ve introduced themself to him, after all. “This must be the first time we’re meeting– you seem like a cool guy, though!”

This is the 12th time they’ve met, and somehow despite Muriel being careful, he always runs into them. Despite having met them for a dozen times now, he still finds it difficult to be accustomed to the kindness they show him. 

And they’re consistent about it. That’s what makes it scarier.

They’re genuine.

“So, what brings you to the forest?”

“Foraging.” He answers curtly. 

The apprentice’ eyes widens. “Oh! Same!” They say, and he knows this. They’ve said this every time. He sees them peering at the herbs he has in his hands, and they look sheepish. “Ah, we must have been looking for the same thing.” They tell him, and they bring out their basket. “You must be looking for some of these herbs– would you like some?” They offer.

And… he does. He has been looking all over the forest for these ones, only to find that they’ve run out in the places they usually grow. “Just a few, please.” He says quietly, and the apprentice beams.

“Of course!” They say, and they hand him a handful of it. It’s too much, he thinks, but he already knows better than to attempt at returning. 

It makes the conversation longer.

“Is that all?” They question. “Err, if you could return the favor, I need that orchid over there– I was about ready to climb the tree if I didn’t see you crouched there.”

And he nods. Of course he will. This is the only way he could return the kindness, after all. 

They talk while he heads over to the tree they pointed out, and they’re really talkative. The apprentice talks about all bouts of things, from the reason why they need that orchid, to the job they have in Vesuvia. The apprentice is Asra’s friend. He’s learned about this from them at the fifth meeting, and even Asra himself had told him about them. They’re kind hearted, a good soul, and Muriel could see that.

“You know, I wish I could be as tall.” The apprentice tells him when they get their orchid. This isn’t the first time they tell him this either, but Muriel can’t help but find it amusing each time. “Anyway, I hope I’m not keeping you from anything.” They tell him. “I’m sure you have places to be. Thank you so much for your help.”

The apprentice is always so nice, so kind. He appreciated it, once. He’d liked it, in the short moments where he’d met them. 

But he doesn’t like it anymore, not when he’d have to give up that kindness every time they meet. When the myrrh takes effect. 

It feels like a permanent goodbye everytime they part.

So instead, Muriel bids them goodbye. 

And when he’s out of their sight, he could see the frown and the confusion on their face when they forget him.

Muriel doesn’t count on the 13th time they’d be meeting.

[xaracosmia]

ꕥ — WELCOME TO NEFE COSMIA, RAKAN (STAR GUARDIAN). 🌓

ꕥ  — OOC INFORMATION;

name / alias: hunter age: 24 pronouns: she/they/it ooc contact: snearthworm on twt other characters in xc: adante (oc), ruby rose (rwby)

ꕥ  — IC INFORMATION;

name: rakan  age: 21+ physically, actually a baby immortal and has been kicking around for ummm. a couple decades probably. who’s to say.  pronouns: he/they series: league of legends (star guardian universe) canon point: pre-redemption, right in the middle of his evilness  app triggers: canon-typical violence, self-sacrifice 

personality: 

rakan can’t help it if being bad just feels sooo good! 

c’mooon, is it really his fault if this corruption just brings out the sparkle in his eye? he’s embraced evil like it’s all a game to him, as if the suffering left in his wake is nothing more than a corny joke. that’s the problem with these “good guys” -- they’re all just nerds that take themselves way too seriously. it’s way more fun to let your spirit die and accept that love isn’t always enough to save you. like him! 

has he mentioned yet that his eyes sparkle? if rakan embodied anything other than evil, it would be hotness. definitely hotness. the easiest way to distract him is with a mirror, because hello, have you seen him? if you looked as good as he does, you’d be a little vain too. he just takes his vanity to the extreme, ‘cause why do anything halfway when you could do it…uh, fullway!  

also, moral codes are for losers. super important to him that you know that. (blah, blah, don’t release void creatures on a busy street, rakan!) (blah, blah, we know you still remember who you are, rakan!) jeez louise, grow a sense of humor already. he’s just here to have fun! sure, his idea of fun means dousing the world in fire and chaos, but hey, it’s not like it’s his fault!  

he’s just a husk. remember? 

the rakan you probably knew is long gone. all being selfless and kind got him was a lonely headstone, so if you really want to reminisce about old ghosts and warm smiles, you can go visit that instead. just leave him out of it. 

the corruption deteoriating both his mind and body has pushed most human emotions far past his own reach. there’s not much left now, and what does still remains fades more each day. there are only twisted, detached impressions of things like love and loss. and fleeting thrills of twisted joy that he chases, chases, loses-- agh, he hates being bored! 

why does he need to remember who he is, anyways? maybe he likes the way he is now! being bad just feels sooooo good! 

(maybe there’s another reason he spends so much time staring into mirrors.) 

your muse’s greatest strength: his stunning good looks, duh. can’t defeat the forces of good without looking good! please, make sure you get his hot angles when he’s busy destroying everything pure and bringing about a new age of darkness. ooh, riku, that reminds him, have you seen his hair gel? he’s almost out. 

something your muse struggles with: sometimes when the skies are particularly silent, he can still hear the first star calling to him. 

history / background: they used to call it being “sparked.” that’s when the first star appears to you and asks you to take up the mantle of whatever heroes were just unlucky enough to get turned into stardust. that’s the fate of every star guardian, rakan would one day find out. to burn bright, burn fast, and then burn out. 

rakan was young when he was called. he didn’t know any better. he had just wanted to do good. 

there were others like him too -- all put under the same banner, the same team, a little family of lost, do-gooder kids led by a friend just as young and fresh-faced as they were. (it had been a friend, right? he and ahri, hadn’t they been close in the old days? it hurts his head to try and remember.)

but if there’s just one good thing that ever came out of protecting the universe -- and trust him, it was the best thing that ever happened to him -- it was meeting xayah. kind of cliche to fall head over heels in love with your best friend and teammate, but he and xayah absolutely rocked the cliches! they were the “lovebirds.” sickeningly sweet and completely in-sync. he remembers that. he would never want to forget. 

it still wasn’t enough to save them. 

there was a lonely planet. a fight. a terrible, horrible fight -- they weren’t ready for the horrors that had laid in wait, or to confront one of the many faces of true darkness. their team was overpowered. rakan died. 

there’s a funny thing about dying though. it’s said that even after your heart stops, it still takes a few moments for your senses to fade. and as rakan laid bleeding on that little lonely planet, he knew that ahri was abandoning him and xayah. she was taking their last standing teammate and running with her tail between her legs. 

if it had just been him that she was leaving behind, rakan wouldn’t have blamed her. but it wasn’t just him. when ahri stepped into that portal and let it close behind her like the coward she truly was… rakan died with no pain greater than knowing that xayah was still alive. 

xayah never would have left him. she stayed with him until the very end.  

but there’s one other funny thing about dying. sometimes when there are forces of evil at work, dying doesn’t always stick. 

when rakan next opened his eyes, the world felt different. he was an agent of zoe’s now, a thrall to the dark star. kind of ironic he was working for his own murderer, but the only thing that mattered to him now was that xayah was still with him. lost to her own rage, but not lost forever -- not if he had anything to say about it. 

as the two waged war on the forces of good, rakan was able to keep his own corruption at bay. it took a lot of planning, more planning than he’d ever had to use his pretty head for in his life, but it turned out simple at the end. deliver xayah to the star guardians (in a pretty roundabout way, considering it was by trying to kill them), betray zoe, and then use his own light to purify xayah’s corruption and take it all into himself so he could explode in a fiery ball of evil doom and take zoe out with him!

it almost went perfectly. xayah was redeemed and saved, and rakan did explode in a fiery ball of evil doom. there was just one unfortunate complication he was trying to avoid. zoe didn’t die, and…neither did he. 

he came back again. worse. 

whatever pieces of his gentle nature he had been able to hold onto were gone now. rakan fully embraced his role as agent of chaos, harbinger of destruction, lord of all things evil. he still remembers the rage and betrayal, amplified tenfold by xayah’s darkness within him, and he’s going to use that to help him accomplish his own little personal goal: destroy the star guardians and everything they love. 

  powers / abilities: 

VOID MAGIC: as a result of his corruption (or a “gift” from the dark star, no returns allowed), rakan is able to weave the very fabric of chaos. the exact limits of his magic are murky at best. he can open portals, summon dangerous void creatures, charm humans, and wield it like energy. it’s wild and unpredictable, sometimes not even obeying his own commands -- just like the way he likes it. 

LIGHT MAGIC: unknown to even him, the potential still lurks inside him. originally bestowed upon him by the first star, this is the magic that every star guardian wields. they use light as constructs to fight the darkness, making it particularly effective against void creatures. 

inherent abilities:

VOID CORRUPTION: rakan has been tainted by the dark star’s power, dimming his light and shrouding his soul. unfortunately, it’s also in the process of driving him entirely mad. the corruption is what gives him access to his void magics, but it also takes a terrible toll on his body, causing physical pain at times and transformations that…make even him uneasy. as the corruption progresses, the sickness grows deeper, and he risks eventually losing himself to a monstrous form entirely. 

VASTAYAN HERITAGE: rakan is vastaya, a chimeric race of of humans from a distant star. his particular subspecies has avian characteristics, which is why he has those wonky ears, a single feathered wing, feetie talons, and a feathered tail. he can disguise most of this with magic when he so desires, but normally keeps the ears at all times. they’re great for hearing things. 

BATTLEDANCING: aka, his very unique fighting style. he doesn’t use weapons, only magic and hand-to-hand combat. he’s particularly graceful and impossible to pin down in a fight. 

items / weapons: 

SOUL GEM: rakan’s soul/light is connected to his gem, which is currently cracked and brimming with corruption. his former team leader is still holding onto a large shard of it, but it doesn’t affect him - mostly it just annoys him. 

RIKU: his familiar and tiny bestie/wingman/evil minion. riku chirps in a language comprehensible only to guardians, and as a piece of rakan’s living soul, is also jaded and corrupted at present. he’s a vain little guy, but very protective of rakan. 

starting ability: very weak void magic

starting item: riku! 

extra: 

if you looked up babygirl in the dictionary, rakan’s picture would be right next to the entry 

discord id: princeofevil.xc

[familyvideostevie]

ok but meeting remus lupin during the end of nov and admitting how melancholy this time of year makes u feel and that's it ur invited to all the marauders events over the holidays and spend new years together

my first attempt at remus! this really ran away from me, but i hope you like it! i am still finding my footing with him but this was great fun. | fem!reader, strangers to friends to lovers, nye kiss, 3.3k

You meet Remus at a local book club, of all places.

A flyer on the bookshop notice board tells you the group meets every other week -- a bit frequently, in your opinion, but you've got the time to read so you figure you'll give it ago. Moving to a new place means you haven't got many, or any, really, friends, and you could do with getting out of the house more. The days are getting shorter and you find yourself a bit more lonely with each passing day.

The group, when you go for the first time, consists of eight elderly women (though, they are sure to inform you, sometimes numbers swell to as many as 15), you, and Remus. They ask for your name and your age, which they all titter at.

"I, uh," you say, crossing your legs and shifting in your folding chair. "I'm really happy to be here," you say. "Thank you for letting me join." That seems to soften them, and they all are a bit more smiley as they introduce themselves.

It is clear right away that they adore Remus. It's not surprising -- he's handsome in a tired way, a ragged way. His face is a mash-up of sharp edges and tight scars that slash across his nose, but his eyes are soft and warm. You want to inspect every inch of him, so naturally you look away. 

It takes three meetings for you to say much. After four, you see Remus at the grocery store twice in one week. You wonder if he lives around here. By the fifth meeting, you're fairly sure you've got your footing. You chime in more often than not, and they're going to let you pick a book next month. It's the last meeting before you all break for the holidays and you are quite sad to not have these to look forward to for the next few weeks. But you push it down and instead focus on your impassioned defense of the unlikable narrator in this week's novel.

"It's the edge that makes the story so compelling," you say. "We get to judge her because we recognize her, but we don't know why until too late. It's because she's normal, and we're meant to see ourselves in her." You've gone on for too long, and after you finish, you don't know where to look. Remus is smiling at you, as he always does.

"Brilliant," says Florence, the bookstore owner and facilitator "What a way to end! I can't wait to see what you come up with in the new year, dear." She hands out the plates of cookies that she made for everyone and the ladies begin to go their separate ways. You're juggling your book, bag, and the plate while you try to shove an arm through your coat. A hand appears in your vision to grab the items in your grip.

"You alright?" It's Remus. He smells like chocolate and something earthier. You've spoken a few times, but not much apart from a hello here and there. He complimented your sweater last meeting and the words burned in your brain for days. You nod, quickly sliding into your coat before taking your things back. His fingers are warm where they brush yours.

"Thanks," you say. The bookshop is almost empty.

"I agree with you, by the way," he says. You've noticed that when Remus talks to you, even if he's responding to something you've said in the group, he looks at you the whole time. His attention does not waver. It's both warming and unnerving.  "What you were saying about the narrator. I hadn't been able to put it into words like that, but I think you were spot on."

You start for the door and he follows. "I just think it's easy to fall into the trap of putting every character on one side of morality or the other," you say.

"Exactly!" He nods emphatically. "With a writer of this caliber the text encourages you to read about her with nuance and to consider that she's not just one thing." He holds the door for you and you both spill out into the chilly night air. The town has wrapped every lamppost and tree in lights that cast everything in a warm glow.

"Listen," Remus says. He looks especially lovely out here. You hug your plate of cookies close to your chest before you reach out to push away the lock of hair that's fallen across his forehead. "I know this is probably not going to come out well, so feel free to tell me to shove it."

You blink at him. What?

"I've seen you at the supermarket around the corner a few times," he continues. If you didn't know any better, you'd say he's being shy. "And I figure you live around here?" You nod. You've no reason to believe he's anything but a nice guy, but you know nothing about him. Even if you have also noticed him at the same store.

"Well," he keeps going. His smile is tight, the creases at the corner of his eyes deep in a way that screams nerves. "I was wondering, if you don't have plans that is, if you wanted to come to the pub with me? I'm meeting a few of my mates and I--." He runs a hand through his hair, fixing the piece you can't stop looking at. "Well, we don't get to talk much during club and I'd uh, like to get to know you?"

"Are you asking me to be friends?" you blurt out. Probably not the best thing to lead with, but he's really so handsome and he seems nice and you haven't got much to look forward to in your empty apartment and this is just a little bit overwhelming. His shoulders creep back down away from his ears and he grins.

"Yeah," he says. "I am."

"Okay," you say. "Lead the way." Remus doesn't strike you as someone who wears his emotions plainly, but his grin softens into something lighter and you think that you want to figure out how to read him.

You fall into step beside him. "It's not far," he says. "I do want to apologize in advance for my friends, though," he says.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, they're great. Don't get me wrong. I love them to pieces." He sighs. "But they're also a bloody pain."

You laugh loudly and suddenly. It feels nice. "Well, that's a ringing endorsement. It's alright though, I could use some friends."

Remus looks over at you and tugs on your elbow just once to tell you to turn with him. "You just moved here, yeah?"

"Well, a few months ago now, but I haven't had much luck with people." Between working and trying to keep your head above water, you haven't figure out how to add socializing into that yet. "And I don't really like...all this." You wave your hands in the air, gesturing at the lights and ribbons adorning the street.

"Oh?"

"Yeah," you say. "It all makes me feel a bit sad." You start to feel embarrassed. "Oh Remus, I'm sorry. We've barely spoken and I'm being all melancholy." He knocks his shoulder with yours and you look over at him to see he's still got a small smile on his face.

"Darling," he says. "I am as melancholy as they come. You're speaking my language."

---

The pub is crowded and noisy and you like it immediately. Remus takes your hand and leads you through the throng to a back corner where two guys are taking up an entire round booth with what seems to be an arm wrestling match.

"Surrender, Potter," one of them says. He's got a knot of dark hair tied into a bun and tiny hoops in each ear and one nostril.

"Fuck off," growls the other. You can tell right away that he's tall, maybe as tall as Remus. He's got messy hair and round spectacles. He is not winning the match.

"Idiots," Remus mutters. He lets go of your hand and places his palm on your lower back. "Hey, knock it off!" This distracts the boy with glasses, allowing the other one to slam his arm down on the table.

"Shove it," he cries. Remus rubs the bridge of his nose. You don't think they've noticed you yet.

"Where are the girls?" he asks. More friends? you think.

"They're coming," says the boy who lost. Potter, you think. His eyebrows climb up his forehead once he notices you standing next to Remus.

"Marlene called and said they had to stop at home first," adds the other one. His eyes find you and his gaze is sharp. "And who is this?" he says, eyeing you.

"Uh," you say. Remus's hand presses a little harder into your back. "Remus and I do book club together?" You put the plate of cookies down on the table like a peace offering.

"Merlin's beard," glasses boy whistles. "She's real."

The one with piecing looks delighted. "James, you owe me a fiver." He holds out his hand.

"Fuck off, Sirius," says...James. "Wait are those cookies?"

"As you can see," Remus sighs, "these gits are James and Sirius. Are you two about finished?" You look at him and his cheeks are a little pink but he's doing his best to look bored. James and Sirius break into roars of laughter as they scoot to make room for you both. Remus ushers you into the booth. "I'm going to get drinks," he says. "What would you like?"

"Whatever you're having," you tell him. You tug off your coat and don't know what to do with your hands.

"I want a stout, Remus," James says.

Remus doesn't even look at him. "I wasn't asking you, dear." He winks at you and turns on his heel, heading for the bar. You feel a bit strange to be left with two guys you just met, but this is how you make friends, right?

"So what's this about me not being real?" you ask. Sirius raps a tattooed knuckle on the table before reaching for a sugar cookie.

"Well," he drawls. "Lupin told us about his book club when he started going earlier this year but we don't hear much else about it. And then a little while ago, he comes to drinks and he says there's a new girl."

James says your name in a poor imitation of Remus's accent. You twist your fingers in your lap. "And he says a few things about this new girl," Sirius continues, until James elbows him.

"Keep your limbs to yourself, Potter," he grumbles.

James leans in, elbows on the table. "Remus hasn't made a new friend since like, grammar school. So naturally we thought he was having us on when he said you two were friendly."

"Oh," you say. He's been telling his friends that you're friendly? It makes your chest tight in a nice way, like you're being hugged. "Well, thank you for letting me crash your pub night," you say.

"Are you kidding?" Sirius deadpans. "We've been begging him to invite you for weeks." Remus returns before you can reply with two pale-looking pints. He sets them down and slides in next to you, close enough that it's clear you know him the most, even if that's barely true, but far enough that you're not touching except for your knees knocking under the table. He stretches an arm across the top of the booth behind you. You hope you're not staring.

"So how were the books this time?" James asks. His eyes say mischief but he seems to be willing to let you off the hook for now. You and Remus recount the drama from today's meeting. The boys ask you basic questions like what you do for work and how you like the city and what club you support, but none of it feels stale or disingenuous. In fact, it really feels like they want to get to know you.

"Well, surely you've been to the skating rink in the park." Sirius is interrogating you on what neighborhoods you've visited. You shake your head and he gasps like you've slapped him. "What about the market?"

"I don't really do the holidays very well," you say, a bit softly. He raps his knuckles on the table again and Remus presses his thigh into yours on purpose. "I just haven't got my footing yet. I haven't been here that long and I don't have a guide."

"Well that won't do," James says.

"You do now," Remus says. You turn to him and find that he's closer than you realized. His eyes bore into yours and he looks rather serious. "Have a guide, I mean. You'll just do everything with us." You blink. Is it really this easy? Making friends? A handsome boy wants to facilitate your holiday season and you don't really know what to say.

"Brilliant idea, Lupin," Sirius says happily. "I always say you're the smartest of us."

Remus kicks him. "Okay," you say. "That sounds nice."

"I'm sure Remus has your phone number," James says cheekily. "He'll sort it." Remus does not, in fact, have your phone number, but you remedy that by passing him your mobile. He taps away at it with one hand, the other still hovering just over your shoulders.

"Where the bloody fuck are the girls?" Sirius grumbles. It seems he can change moods from one moment to the next faster than anyone you've met before. "Marlene has my nice suede jacket from last week."

"And we need Lily here so James stops looking so put out," Remus says, not looking up from your phone. "Lily is his girlfriend," he adds for your benefit. "Are we not good enough for you, Jamie?"

James ignores him.

"More friends?" you say quietly. Remus nods.

"You'll like them. And they'll adore you." You've been friends with him for all of one night, but his tone is sincere. The pub lighting makes his scars softer and you fight against leaning into him as he talks.

"How do you know?"

His mouth curls up at one end in a smile that makes you shiver a little. "I just do."

__

It wouldn't do to develop a crush on your first real friend in town, so you try your best not to over the next few weeks. You fail miserably. How could you not like Remus? He carts you around the city with his friends -- your friends too, he insists -- going ice skating and drinking mulled cider and market shopping and every time you are struck by how lovely he is. He holds your hand a lot and sends you photos he manages to take of you without you noticing. You meet the rest of the group -- Lily and Marlene and Dorcus -- and you love them, too. You see lights all over the city and laugh a lot and smile so much your cheeks ache. His friends tease you and you end up in multiple group chats and things start to feel good. Even when you go back to your apartment alone, you feel warm. You are just excited for whatever you're going to do next.

And then it's New Year's Eve.

The pub you've become a regular at is having a party and Lily was timely enough to book your regular table for the whole crew. You're running a little late because you could not decide what to wear, but you make it, shoving yourself through the crowd to the back booth.

Someone -- you're not sure who -- spots you and screams your name. You recognize a lot of the people here, but it's not until James enters your field of vision that you relax.

"There she is!" he cries, looking over his shoulder. "Remus, she's here!" Remus emerges from the crowd and scoops you up, pressing his lips to your cheek in a quick hello as he grabs your coat and pulls you in for a hug. He's warm and smells like beer and something spicy.

"You look lovely," he says. He's had at least one drink judging by the color of his cheeks and his general handsy-ness.

"So do you," you say. He wrinkles his nose at you.

"Go sit in my seat and I'll get you a drink. The usual?" You nod. He gently pushes you towards the table and disappears into the crowd. You slide into a space Remus has clearly vacated next to Sirius. He's got some sparkles on his lower lids and an unlit cigarette hanging from his mouth as he shuffles a deck of cards. Everyone at the table is flushed and ready.

"Hey, you," he says. "You in?" You've no idea what they're playing.

"Next round, Sirius." He shrugs and you watch something that looks like Hearts happen in front of you.

Remus returns before the round wraps up and you stand to give him his seat. He looks at it and then at you and then back at the bench before he slides in, setting your pints on the table before wrapping his long, slender fingers around your wrist and tugging just enough so that you stumble towards him and end up in his lap. Everyone at the table is fighting smiles and Sirius wraps up the round and turns to you both. He puts the cigarette behind his ear and manages to look extremely bored with your antics.

"Now are you playing?" You nod, breathless. Remus's arm wraps around your back, hand settling on your hip so that you won't fall off of him.

A hand moves your hair off of your shoulder and you feel lips on your earlobe. "What are we playing?" You turn and all of a sudden Remus's face is incredibly close to yours. He does not move away.

"No idea," you say, forgetting that you do know what you're playing. Your brain is a little fuzzy right now. Which is probably why you lose horribly, Remus laughing underneath you as you desperately try to shove aside thoughts of kissing him so you can focus for just one second.

And then it's almost midnight. The energy in the pub changes to something a bit more exuberant and someone passes out champagne in classes of all kinds. You end up holding a whiskey tumblr of fizz and the booth around you empties as everyone gets to their feet, ready to chant in the new year. Remus maneuvers you gently so that you're no longer totally in his lap, just next to him with your legs across it. His arm is a warm band around your shoulders to keep you close. The pub increases in volume as people start to sing.

"Have you got anyone to kiss at midnight?" he yells into your ear, lips brushing your skin again.

You pull back to look at him. He's flushed, but his eyes are clear. "I think so," you say. His eyes crinkle at the corners and he sets down his own glass and grabs your jaw. His thumb rubs over your lower lip.

"Lucky bloke," he says. The countdown chanting starts around you. You cup his jaw for the first time and run a gentle finger along one of the scars on his jaw. He shudders.

You can't wait a second more so you lean in, pressing your lips to his. He gasps just a little bit before responding, tongue tracing the seam of your mouth. His fingertips dig into your party dress and you kiss him and kiss him and kiss him and everyone is cheering and you think some of it might be for you two.

You have a feeling that this year isn't going to be so bad.

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