#with ace cat mhm

[slxsherr]

So Melodramatic But It Turns Me On

pairing: ethan landry x bimbo!fem!reader

summary: you make sure ethan won't die a virgin.

wc: 1294

warnings: fem!reader, cursing/swearing, unprotected sex (p in v), loss of virginity, briefly mentioned cum eating, oral sex (f!receiving)

“Does that mean I’ll die a virgin?” Ethan asks, stunning the group with his overshare. 

The group moves on quickly after that, Mindy continues her lecture but you can’t stop thinking about what Ethan said. You don’t understand how Ethan can still be a virgin, he’s cute, a bit awkward but in a funny way, and smart, girls should be throwing themselves at him. Ethan thinks the same, but that’s something he’d only ever admit to the thousands of other men with the same opinion on the forums he visits online. 

You know if you talk about it to your friends they’ll tell you it’s a bad idea. Even before the Ghostface attacks, Mindy didn’t think it’d be a good idea for you to go after Ethan, but now that he’s at the top of her suspect list, you doubt she’s changed her mind. After Anika and Quinn’s murder, you expect they’ll suspect you too since you weren’t with them, and for a moment they do, but quickly change their minds when they remember you genuinely believed all cats were girls and all dogs were boys. 

It’s not fair that they ruled you out for being dumb, despite not having an alibi, but still suspect Ethan even though he was at econ. It’s your sympathetic nature that invites him to your apartment for the night, even though Mindy told you not to be alone with him. But your roommate will come home from work before midnight, so you don’t worry about it too much. 

“Are you really a virgin, E?” You ask, watching him look over your worksheet, having insisted on helping you with your math assignments. 

“Yeah,” he answers nervously, ears turning red and face flushing from embarrassment. 

“But you’re so cute!” You say, moving closer to him on your bed, your papers falling off from the movement.

“You think I’m cute?” He asks, staring at you wide-eyed.

“Totally,” you answer, reaching out to play with a curl just behind his ear, arm resting on his shoulder. “You know, I can be your first, if you want.”

“Really?” Ethan asks, already getting hard from your offer. 

“Mhm,” you answer with a hum, throwing the assignments in his lap to the side.

You straddle his thighs, sitting in his lap and leaning forward to kiss him. His lips are chapped, but you don’t mind. He whines when you nip at his bottom lip, moaning when he feels your tongue slip into his mouth. Your arms rest on his shoulders, hands gently holding his face as the kiss deepens.

His hands squeeze your hips, attempting to slow your movements as you grind in his lap. You can feel him getting hard beneath you, his own hips moving up to meet yours in search of more friction. When you pull away, he whines, but is quickly silenced when you pull off your tight crop top. He stares at your bare chest in awe, letting you pull off his shirt as his mind catches up to what’s happening. 

“Can I touch you?” He asks before you can take off his jeans, his thumbs nervously rubbing over the fat of your hips.

“Sure,” you answer, your wide eyes showing you weren’t expecting the request. 

Ethan’s hands travel from your hips up your sides, his warm touch leaving goosebumps in his path. Gently, he cups your breasts, fondling the soft mounds and eliciting quiet sounds from you. His thumbs ghost over your nipples, and they pebble from his barely there touch. The whole time, your hips haven’t stopped moving, now moving faster in his lap. Spurred on by your sounds and growing neediness, one of his hands dipping past the waistband of your short shorts and underwear. 

“Is this okay?” Ethan asks, fingers moving through your slick folds.

“Yes,” you moan breathlessly, hips stuttering when he brushes over your clit.

It’s maddening, the way he touches you, amateur but just skilled enough to rile you up. His hand and your panties are soaked, your hole achingly empty, you decide he can skip the rest of the foreplay. It’s supposed to be about him, anyway, you tell yourself, pulling away from him to take your shorts off, and he quickly copies your actions. His dick is pretty, trimmed curls neatly trailing from his lower stomach to the base, thick, long, and you hope you get the chance to taste him, maybe in the morning. 

“Fuck,” he groans, feeling your tight walls envelop him as you lower yourself on his cock. 

“E, look at me, baby,” you say, a hand in his hair and the other holding his face, encouraging him to open his eyes. 

He whimpers when you start moving, shallowly bouncing in his lap, glossy eyes watching you take him. Your stomach twists in pleasure, his tip kissing that spongey spot deep inside you every time your ass meets his thighs, clenching around him when you hear him whine after your grip on his curls tightens. Ethan feels like he’s going to melt into the bed, watching a creamy ring form at the base of his dick as you ride him. You look so hot, tits bouncing as you move, and you feel so good, he’s embarrassed when he tells you he’s going to cum. 

“Shh, it’s okay, go ahead and cum,” you reassure him, not stopping your movements as he begins to babble incoherently to announce his release.

His arms wrap around your waist, holding you to his chest as he finishes inside you. The air is warm, only the sounds of your heavy breathing can be heard as he recovers from his orgasm. As his mind clears up, Ethan begins to panic, realizing you didn’t get to cum. 

“I’m so sorry, you didn’t–” he begins to say, but you interrupt him. 

“It’s okay, this was about you,” you tell him, but he won’t have it. 

“Just please, let me?” He asks, moving you to lay you on your back, moving down the bed in between your thighs.

“Okay,” you say, letting him spread your legs to slot himself between them. 

He licks a broad stripe through your folds, and if he wasn’t eating you so messily you’d maybe be a little grossed out by him essentially eating his cum out of you. Despite his lack of experience, he’s enthusiastic, and your hand quickly flies to grip his mop of brown curls as you begin to buck your hips against his face. You’d feel bad for how tightly you hold his hair, but the noises he lets out against your pussy tells you he actually enjoys it.

“Ethan!” You squeal his name, feeling his tongue explore your hole, and your thighs nearly closing around his head.

Your legs are shaking on either side of his head, and he thinks you’re getting close. He holds your hips down, keeping you from grinding against his face, allowing him to roughly circle your clit with his thumb. Your hips jerk against his hold, seeking pleasure as the knot in your stomach begins to unwind. So lost in your building orgasm, you don’t realize you’re practically suffocating Ethan between your thighs, not that he minds. He would gladly accept death if it meant he’d die with your thighs wrapped around his head, listening to your muffled cries of pleasure. 

“Oh my god! Are you okay?” You ask once you come down from your high, moving away from him to out from between your legs.

“I’m fine! Would it be okay if we did that again?” He asks, and with a quick look at his lap you realize he’d gotten hard again while eating you out. 

“Of course,” you answer, a smile stretching across your lips as you push him onto his back.

[the-aspec-country]

I exist now!

hi Tumblr! I am the Aspec Country! I don't know how else to introduce myself so I'll just tag some people

(sorry if I double tag you)

@aro-sp-ace-force @big-fucking-sagittarius-astar @bisexual-navy @canadian-hellbird @france-unofficial

@gimmickverse-weekly @god-of-death-official @gimmick-swag @genderfluid-marine-corp @i-say-bean

@i-am-the-milky-way-galaxy @its-target-official @libra-the-scales-offical @literally-leo @literally-luxembourg

@might-be-capricorn @moongate-keepers-official @non-tyrannical-usa @official-god-of-order @officially-new-zealand

@official-draco-constellation @officially-capricorn @the-missiles-guy @totally-neptune-official @totally-oregon

@totally-ikea @ursa-minor-probably @ursa-major-actually @walmart-the-official

@youraveragemagicalthief@yahooo-official @duothelingo @i-say-bean @corvus-the-constellation

@and-cassiopeia @officially-taurus @the-official-god-of-chaos @the-real-illinois @the-principality-of-sealand

@the-red-planet-mars @its-target-official @guatemala-official @the-gimmick-authority @thestateoflouisiana

@amul-unofficial @official-the-united-states @official-denmark @denmark-forreal @denmark-official

@denmarklandia-official @actually-danish-denmark @official-hongkong @official-ireland @definitelytherepublicofireland

@actually-literally-ireland @forever-scotland @totally-france @france-unofficial @russia-totallyofficial

@germany-official @totally-germany @genuinely-germany @definitely-britain

@definitely-canada @official-new-zealand @india-official @yugoslavia-official @wales-official

@the-offical-roman-empire @the-official-italy @guatemala-official @totally-italy @the-principality-of-sealand

@definitely-brasil @holy-roman-empire-revived @spain-unofficial @very-real-australia @antiquitian-empire

@literally-luxembourg @100-percent-real-official-malta @totally-japan @therealrepublicofkorea @pakistan-official

@i-am-poland @kingdom-of-asgardia-real @very-much-mexico @republic-of-molossia @the-kingdom-of-norway

@sweden-official @non-tyrannical-usa @the-entire-country-of-sweden @greenland-offical @the-state-of-michigan

@state-of-0hio-official @cape-breton-island-itself @state-of-florida-official @state-of-connecticut-official @the-us-navy-offical

@the-us-navy @the-real-illinois @the-state-of-georgia-official @mhm-wisconsin @rejasthanofficial

@stateofuttarpradeshindiaofficial @the-only-ontario @actually-alberta @newjersey-official @new-york-for-real

@definitely-indiana @the-province-of-nova-scotia-real @femboy-state-of-florida-official @the-republic-of-texas

@new-hampshire-real @unofficial-illinois @newhampshireofficial @saskatchewan-real @quebec-official

@texas-real @rhode-island-real @we-are-not-the-feds @totally-texas @telangana-official

@sovereign-state-of-alaska @tamil-nadu-official @west-bengal-official @this-is-goa @totally-oregon

@buffalony-official @maharashtra-official @kolkatabbg @gujarat-official @axom-miss

@karnatakaofficial @canadian-tire-real @tamilnadu-official @bihar-official @mumbai-official

@communist-usa-real @officially-gay-va @definitely-north-america @antarcitica-official @official-the-pacific-ocean

@the-real-atlantic-ocean @bangladesh-official @hyderabad-unofficial @delhi-the-capital @the-lovely-planet-earth

@totally-italy @france-unofficial @totally-france @the-official-italy @the-wonderful-jupiter

@speckled-callisto @deimos-moon-of-terror @moon-of-fear-phobos @decafcatfeen @the-real-eris

@the-real-illinois @the-official-goose-god @india-official @pakistan-official @asteroid-belt-resident-ceres

@genuinely-germany @antiquitian-empire @actually-mtn-dew @spain-unofficial @definitely-brasil

@definitely-britain @definitely-canada @very-real-australia @zoozve-official @the-province-of-nova-scotia-real

@the-problemo @unusuallyy @concrete-the-cat @official-denmark @official-hongkong

@official-planet-pluto @truly-pluto @truly-the-sun @its-target-official @i-am-poland

@ruhrpott-i-guess @non-tyrannical-usa @the-gimmick-authority @realsafari @official-new-zealand

@google-news-official @guatemala-official @forever-scotland @definitely-waste-management

[indiasthoughts]

"Can you roll my window up?"

---------

aka- , eren, and xiao, x black readers turn on this trend

---------

warnings;;

suggestive, but no smut, x black reader, ,, use of the n word , fluff, she/her/hers pronouns, lowkey toxic relationships, SASSY MEN SASSY MEN SASSY MEN SASSY MEN!!!!

---------

authors note: ik this is such a silly contrast aot and genshin but i been craving all both men sooo😮‍💨

and for reference--

︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶ ୨♡୧ ︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶

Ps: this is old work but i desperately need smth to post so mind the cornyness pls 🙈

୨⎯ Eren ⎯୧

Inside of the 6'3 mans black BMW M4 was a beautiful girl in his passengers seat, annoyed and frustrated.

see- this girl had a few things that annoyed her that he knew of yet still did when she rode in someones car.

one- rolling her window down and leaving her cold in her black skims dress. two- playing music she's not fond of at the moment, if she's in a brent faiyaz mood why play warren g? and three- not listening to what she had to say.

so when her boyfriend, Eren, of three months did all three at the same time frustration ng came crashing down

"Eren, baby, please roll my window up.", rubbing her arms to create any sort of warmth.

- and to no avail, ignored.

"babe..."

- ignored.

she furrowed her eyebrows and turnt the music down to a volume of 2.

"Can you roll my window up?!"

"No, ur attitude ruining my vibe bro"

As "2SEATER" By tyler the creator started playing, he turned the volume up, but not as high as he had it before, out of the slightest bit of respect.

"Who the fuck is your bro?"

"Ma what I told you about swearing?"

She reached over to his side, unbuckling the seatbelt as her boyfriend stopped at a red light. she pressed the passengers window button and rolled her window up.

"Now the music aint hitting from all angles!!"

"Imma hit you from all angles."

He once again put the windows down.

"Whos car this is?"

"Who sitting here?"

"Ion know what you have an attitude for..."

"Oh my god."

she leaned into her seat, embracing the cold she'd have to deal with for the next 15 minutes.

about another minute passed, and Eren was already tired of the awkward atmosphere.

"Baby im sorry"

"mhm.."

he held a small frown as he pulled up into a empty parking spot .

Tyler spoke in the background- 'the fuck you turn my music down for?'

"mamas it's us" he said with the widest grin he could possibly hold.

'can you roll my window up?'

you lip synced to the girl's parts.

'Why? damn.'

as he would too.

"Cause it's windy." You audibly spoke this time.

"But I love it when your hair blows."

as the beat dropped, he reached in and gave you a kiss.

ewww this was so sickenlybsweet ugh me and who🤢🤢

༶•┈┈┈┈┈┈୨♡୧┈┈┈┈┈•༶

୨⎯ Xiao ⎯୧

you and your boyfriend, Xiao had been lying down in his bedroom, while you played with his cat on his lap, he did his homework. There was a specific way he liked to have his room, cold. whether it's the ac blasting on days where the cold was too much too have his windows open, or open windows, on the warmer days. Today happened to be one of the warmer days. And despite the baggy sweatpants, fuzzy socks, and one of his sweaters, his room was still too cold for you. As much as you cuddles up with Astro, the cat, and your boyfriend, it was still unbearable.

"Xiao, lets close the windows please.."

"I won't be able to concentrate."

he furrowed his eyebrows and said that with in the sturnest way he could.

"I'm gonna head into the living room then"

You grabbed the cat, and as quick as one leg came down, it came back up.

He played a faveorite playlist of his, when "2SEATER" came first.

"Sit back down pretty?" more of a question than a command.

"Damnn nigga it's cold!"

"m'sorry, stay wimme ok?"

He turned the volume up and held your waist, bringing his lips to your neck and nibbling your neck.

You knit your brows together, feeling a gush of cold air, and flinched softly. Taking his phone that was connected to his JBL speaker, and lowering it.

"Can you roll the windows up?"

"Whyd you turn the music down"

he puts it back on, lowly chuckling at the perfect timing on the song.

"Can you roll it up?"

"Why?, damn"

"Because it's!-"

You slowly realise the timing on the song and this mini arguement.

"But i love it when your hair blows.."

As he finally removed his lips from your neck, and tilting your neck to crane your head and meet his lips.

[acesdiary]

”Those who wish to sing..”

(do op men sing in the shower?)

—————————————————-

notes: TY I NEED AN IDEA 😭😭 thanks for requesting @silentgravesdontexist 🤞🤞 I hope you enjoy reading this yall. (also srry for slow uploads I have a tight ahh study schedule.😞)

warnings: absolutely nothing. (use of the word ‘sex’ on sanji’s part)

paring: Monster trio (+Ace n Sabo) x gn!reader

wc: 277 (all 2gether)

———————————————

Luffy (wc: 75)

YES.

my guy has the singing voice of a dying cat.

JK 😭😭

but apart from that it will be quite off-tune and loud

extreme annoying. (nami pls beat his ass for us 😞)

but he would prolly enjoy doing it

AND ITS OFTEN. 😨

trying to reach high pitched notes is a problem for this guy

light voice

LITERALLY SCREAMING ON FULL VOLUME 😭

in conclusion..

he would indeed sing in the shower with a shaky ahh voice

———————————————-

Zoro (wc: 53)

maybe.

quite rare bc he barely take showers

got forced by the crew to take a bath 😞 (poor zoro)

anyway

I think he would hum a lil

js a random ahh tune

slightly off-tune but it’s alr ig

VERY ROUGHLY THO

you might think a minecraft drowned spawned on the Sunny 😨

in conclusion..

pretty much lol

(someone save zoro)

———————————————

Sanji (wc: 51)

mhm

small lil hums

this man will sing anywhere

in this kitchen, in the shower, during sex

(okay maybe not that far 😓)

but quite often I’d say

slightly soft, mainly on tune but depends on what song he’s humming

normally an instrumental to a love song

in conclusion…

yes.

(gay man stuffs ngl)

———————————————

Ace (wc: 51)

brother is indeed like brother

LOUD

a bit on-tune but is still extremely off-tune at the same time.

BOTH HUMMING AND SINGING WHAT.

(I love him)

but it sounds too loud sometimes..

like he’s being run over. 😭😭

ANYWAY

in conclusion..

YES.

(please run me over i want to fart. 😞)

———————————————

Sabo (wc: 47)

maybe

I mean he doesn’t want to be annoying

but blud is pissing off the whole revolutionary army without knowing 💀

lil hums and loud ahh high pitched screams

on-tune I’d say (slightly off-tune js like his brothers)

(he’s so very sigma omg 🤭🤭)

..

anyway.

in conclusion..

perhaps.

——————————————

Please don’t repost this on any other platform without asking for permission on either dms or my discord!

reblogs would be appreciated!

m.list

[the-writer]

hi! I'm the writer! I'm a gimmick blog! but I also like to write. So um, I guess I'll tag some blogs now (got this list from a friend, don't know if it'll work or not)

@aro-sp-ace-force @big-fucking-sagittarius-astar @bisexual-navy @canadian-hellbird @france-unofficial

@gimmickverse-weekly @god-of-death-official @gimmick-swag @genderfluid-marine-corp @i-say-bean

@i-am-the-milky-way-galaxy @its-target-official @libra-the-scales-offical @literally-leo @literally-luxembourg

@might-be-capricorn @moongate-keepers-official @non-tyrannical-usa @official-god-of-order @officially-new-zealand

@official-draco-constellation @officially-capricorn @the-missiles-guy @totally-neptune-official @totally-oregon

@totally-ikea @ursa-minor-probably @ursa-major-actually @walmart-the-official @youraveragemagicalthief

@yahooo-official @duothelingo @i-say-bean @corvus-the-constellation @and-cassiopeia

@officially-taurus @the-official-god-of-chaos @the-real-illinois @the-principality-of-sealand @the-red-planet-mars

@its-target-official @guatemala-official @the-gimmick-authority @thestateoflouisiana @amul-unofficial

@official-the-united-states @official-denmark @denmark-forreal @denmark-official @denmarklandia-official

@actually-danish-denmark @official-hongkong @official-ireland @definitelytherepublicofireland @actually-literally-ireland

@forever-scotland @totally-france @france-unofficial @russia-totallyofficial

@germany-official

@totally-germany @genuinely-germany @definitely-britain @definitely-canada

@official-new-zealand 

@india-official @yugoslavia-official @wales-official

@the-offical-roman-empire @the-official-italy

@guatemala-official @totally-italy @the-principality-of-sealand

@definitely-brasil @holy-roman-empire-revived

@spain-unofficial @very-real-australia

@antiquitian-empire @literally-luxembourg @100-percent-real-official-malta

@totally-japan @therealrepublicofkorea @pakistan-official @i-am-poland @kingdom-of-asgardia-real

@very-much-mexico @republic-of-molossia @the-kingdom-of-norway @sweden-official @non-tyrannical-usa

@the-entire-country-of-sweden @greenland-offical @the-state-of-michigan

@state-of-0hio-official @cape-breton-island-itself

@state-of-florida-official @state-of-connecticut-official @the-us-navy-offical

@the-us-navy @the-real-illinois

 @the-state-of-georgia-official

@mhm-wisconsin @rejasthanofficial @stateofuttarpradeshindiaofficial @the-only-ontario

@actually-alberta @newjersey-official @new-york-for-real @definitely-indiana @the-province-of-nova-scotia-real

@femboy-state-of-florida-official @the-republic-of-texas @new-hampshire-real @unofficial-illinois

@newhampshireofficial 

@saskatchewan-real @quebec-official @texas-real @rhode-island-real

@we-are-not-the-feds 

@totally-texas @telangana-official @sovereign-state-of-alaska @tamil-nadu-official

@west-bengal-official 

@this-is-goa @totally-oregon @buffalony-official @maharashtra-official

@kolkatabbg @gujarat-official 

@axom-miss @karnatakaofficial @canadian-tire-real

@tamilnadu-official @bihar-official

 @mumbai-official @communist-usa-real @officially-gay-va

@definitely-north-america @antarcitica-official

 @official-the-pacific-ocean @the-real-atlantic-ocean

@bangladesh-official @hyderabad-unofficial @delhi-the-capital 

@the-lovely-planet-earth @totally-italy @france-unofficial @totally-france @the-official-italy

@the-wonderful-jupiter @speckled-callisto @deimos-moon-of-terror @moon-of-fear-phobos @decafcatfeen

@the-real-eris @the-real-illinois @the-official-goose-god @india-official @pakistan-official

@asteroid-belt-resident-ceres @genuinely-germany @antiquitian-empire @actually-mtn-dew @spain-unofficial

@definitely-brasil @definitely-britain @definitely-canada @very-real-australia @zoozve-official

@the-province-of-nova-scotia-real @the-problemo @unusuallyy @concrete-the-cat @official-denmark

@official-hongkong @official-planet-pluto @truly-pluto @truly-the-sun @its-target-official

@i-am-poland @ruhrpott-i-guess @non-tyrannical-usa @the-gimmick-authority @realsafari

@official-new-zealand @google-news-official @guatemala-official @forever-scotland @actual-aspec-military

[snowywolf1005]

@endism : SORRY THAT I REPLIED LATE BUTTT

How did y/n meet the cats, would they be clingy, cautious etc etc about it, maybe even what would they do when y/n invited someone in

Oh and, how will they react when y/n has to go to work? Thats all!! Ohmigosh i can't wait 😭😭😭🤭🤭🤭

@snowywolf1005 The straw hats pirates and the whitebeard pirates pls!

You got it!

The whitebeard pirate, um... there are a lot of crew, so I'll put Ace and marco if that okay.

"Aw, geez, it raining! Good thing I have my umbrella!" You said you just finished working at the vet. You walked holding some gift of basket, and you heard a meow, you turn to your left to see a small calico kitten, wearing a strawhat.

"Hey, kitty! Are you alone?" You said, picking the calico cat, then you saw the whole kitten running up to you. "Oh my goodness! Oh my gosh! We have a kitten problem!" You said.

You watch the kittens run around you, meowing, it look like they're cold and hungry. You can't just leave, so you decided to take all of them, there only 12 of them. So, you put them in them in the basket you have.

It was really hard to catch them, but you managed to catch them. "Okay! Let head home!" You said you finally made it back home. You let all cats out, and they started exploring around your house. You did bring some cat food and toys.

But you realize something you check what gender are they, you pick up one of the cat wearing a strawhat and the cat who is bicolor cat. And wearing an orango hat.

You check, "mhm, they're male. Well, let hope they don't all neutered," you put them down, and the bicolor cat wearing an orange hat just ran away. 'That wried...' You thought, but you ignore it and keep looking gender. It wasn't easy when all the cat just saw what you just did.

They started running and hiding, "What the!?" You said, so you captured them seeing their gender. "Okay, 2 female and 10 males." The cats were shaken what had just happened (by the way! You notice the cat have tag on their name)

"Oh! I forgot it dinner time!" You went to the kitchen to peared for dinner, some cat watch you cook.

One of them went to the cabinets, "No, luffy! You can't eat while I'm cooking, I'll do your food later." You grab luffy and put him on the ground with the rest of the cats. "Okay, done! Now it is time to feed the cat!" You grab out some cat tuna and place it in plates, two of them to share.

The cat ate really fast, "Aw geez, I should head back to bed." You went to your bedroom, some cats notices and follows you. Cat sanji saw you change your clothes and tries not to bleed his nose.

"Goodnight, kitty~" you said, shut your eyes, luffy jump to your bed and sleep next to you. The others join in too, marco sleep on your pillow.

THE NEXT DAY

You woke up, yawning. "The fuck!?" You yelled, when you saw cats sleeping on your bed. The cats jump when they hear you yell, you see Luffy on your lap, meowing of food, "Okay, luffy, I'll get you some food" you said, come out of bed and go to the kitchen.

"Here you go." You put the plates down, the cats came, you watch them eat. You drink some coffee, then you hear someone is knocking.

You check who it is, and it your friend, "Hey, (Y/N)! I bought some cake!" Said (F/N), but she leaned over. She saw that you had cats, and she gasped. "(Y/N)! You have cats! There are so many!" (F/N) sequel, you sigh.

You explained to your friend what just happened and what there name are, while the strawhat cat watched you two talking and luffy wants your attention cause last you pet him. So luffy come closer to get your attention, but you aren't paying attention.

Luffy meow, even the others want your attention. So they started climbing on you, "Um, (Y/N), ace is climbing on you," she said, trying not to laugh and almost take a picture.

You grab ace put on the ground, and Ace came and started licking on you. You shoo him away, but he couldn't stop there. After your friend.

"Oh! I forgot something! I brought you guys some gifts!" You show them some toys, and you brought meat plushy and luffy love it so much. They love it, and they love you too.

It wasn't until when you had to go work and they couldn't let you go. They just blocked the door, climbed on to you, and steal your car keys. So you have an idea, you lead them to your room, put more cat food or toys and run to the door.

When you come back from work, they climb on to you and give you kisses 💓💓💓💗💗💗💖💖💖💖.

[sleepdeprivedsimp234]

Having a hell of a day as you know, can I get some New York, Mass and/or Loui fluff that's as angst free as possible pleasee?

MHM MHM MHM YES HERE YA GO :D

Louisiana:

Whenever he hasn’t slept in a while, Maine will quite literally snatch him (he has thought of just pillow-casing this mf) and take him to his and Alaska’s house and they’ll both cuddle him. And Louisiana just accepts it cuz he isn’t strong enough to escape either of them, and especially not both of them.

He has just- full on bodyslamed his friends and brothers and hugged them till they couldn’t breathe

The human(?) equivalent to a puppy

^Especially with the look in his face when someone he loves comes home or enters the same room 😭💙

^If he has his tail out, it is 10000000000% wagging at the speed of light

I feel like he is a really good listener and gives great advice if you need it

New York:

Idk why, but I feel like he cannot tell his left and rights. Am I projecting? MMMMMM QUITE POSSIBLY SHUSH YOU-

He’s also a really good listener but he’s not as good when it comes to advice. Again me projecting? MAYBE-

You don’t have to tell him if you’re sad. He just. He knows. How he knows? Idk he’s got some mind reading type power 😭

^He will just sneak up on you, and if you catch him, he’ll just simply do what he was gonna do in the first place: curl up on your lap and cuddle the sadness out you. He’ll even purr when he cuddles you 😭 Yorkie cuddles make everything better, 5 star rating from literally the entire statehouse.

Has bought and made band tee shirts for all his pets. It’s the most adorable thing ever. Even his pigeons and rats have Queen and AC/DC and Led Zeppelin merch.

Despite basically being a cat/vampire (every gacha oc in 2018 be like:), he actually loves swimming and is surprisingly good at it (I hc him to be either part of the Navy or Coast Guard so- he kinda has to know how to swim-). BUT IF YOU PICK HIM UP AND THROW HIM INTO A BODY OF WATER, EVEN A BATHTUB, HES GOING TO STAB AND SCRATCH YOU IN VARIOUS BODILY REGIONS. UNASHAMEDLY TOO.

Massachusetts:

Actually really good at digital art. He’s good at traditional art to, but prefers digital art (him, upon discovering digital art: "IT HAS A MOTHA-F(SPEAKS BOSTON)KIN’ UNDO BUTTON ��🥹")

He lovessss taking long walks outside, especially on the beach at sunset. Has gotten plenty of drawing inspiration from the sunsets and the beach <3

He also really loves plants and nature. Granted, not as much as NJ, but pretty close. He won’t admit it though cuz he’s a stubborn bastard. We love him though :3

Mass gives the vibes of someone that’s really good at bass guitar and drums

I like to imagine that whenever he takes his hat off, his hair falls in front of his face and temporarily blocks his vision. Penn and Ginny love making fun of him for it <3

Hope these are fluffy enough I tried to add no angst, but my finger mighta slipped somewhere idk <3

[blackgoatredlamb]

CHATTING WITH THE FORMER DEATH

Characters: Mae Borowski, Redd Morris (Narinder) Setting: Roof of Gregg and Angus' Apartment Building, Late Afternoon Topic: The Dredge of Living and Dying, also Cult encounters

Words: 891

"So, do you like-" She pauses in thought- "mope on the roof a lot?"

"In a sense," says Morris.

"What does that even mean?" Mae Borowski asks, puzzled.

"…"

Two cats sit by the edge of an apartment building, gazing at nothing in particular. The sun had just set on Possum Springs, with the orange glow barely peeking from the hillside. Faint ghosts of stars coalesce in a dark fabric.

If they wait long enough, they could see the star sign of Mundy appear soon, Mae notes. Judging by how slow this conversation's going, it would be in no time at all.

"What are you doing here anyway?" she questions, "in Possum Springs I mean."

"Do you want a metaphorical answer, or literal?"

"Ok, can you like, stop with the vague shit you've got going on here?!" Her volume raises to the first floor. "Literal, I guess."

"Mhm. I came here because…" The pitch-black cat takes a while to answer. "Just because."

"Like, saving money and stuff?"

"Just because," he repeats, "or at least, Mallory had wanted to."

"The sheep?" She remembers Gregg mentioning that Morris had a partner who moved with him. She hasn't seen them yet, since they worked in mornings. Some short-stack like her, yeah.

"Yes, that pest of a lamb." Though monotone, it was spoken with an endearment she thought impossible from him. "They… had some work to do here in town. I was only along for the ride."

"Huh, I can't imagine moving just to work somewhere at all. Much less for someone else. The only places I've ever been were here and college. Also maybe that road trip with my parents that one time."

"Mmm." He breathes out a mist of cold. "And how is college faring for you?"

"Dropped out." She blurts out without thinking. Straight for the throat, goddamn it.

"I see."

God, this sucks.

Right now, all she wants is to leave this asshole be for the night, but this might be her ace-in-the-hole for her ghost investigation. Germ said he saw him lingering out by the chain-link fence every now and then, looking towards the trees. Just gazing for a few minutes before returning home.

Eyewitness. That's the word. She needs an eyewitness to confirm her encounter. She could prove that it wasn't some dream she had.

If only this fucker doesn't keep on refusing to answer her questions.

"So…" She taps rhythmically on the pavement. "You see any… ghosts?"

"I see them all the time." He takes out a cigarette and lighter from his pockets, filling the air with that cigar smell that Bea carries around with her all the time. He offers her a stick, which she refuses. "In life and in death."

"Uh." She waves away the smoke that's trying to enter her nose.

"Ghosts that have no business pestering the living world, always haunting some forgotten crevice of society. Never alive, nor really dead. Those kinds of ghosts."

He takes in the first breath of smoke. It dances, glittering in the dying sunlight.

"Um," she tries to interrupt.

"Though one dies, there's an imprint left in the dredges on the separating line. A true purgatory where the soul leaves, yet a body remains alive, operating as you would a machine. The world's grey area is dissolving, tainting the extremes with traces of one another."

His voice trembles slightly.

"It disgusts me, how they could never pass on with peace. Sure, they could return alive or dead, but it is in that middle ground, where agony could be your only drug for existence. Could you imagine that, living with a husk of your former self?"

He doesn't even notice her in his periphery, only looking towards the horizon where the stars faintly glow. His cigarette bends from his grip.

"Can I..?"

"Oh, sorry." He seems to snap out of his spiel, returning to the present. "What were you saying?"

"I mean, uh… I mean a literal ghost," she fiddles with her thumb before confirming, "like, 'phase through walls' type of ghost. Specters, or some shit."

He raises an eyebrow at that statement.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I mean, ghost!" She blurts out, "A, um, guy who can pass through walls, and kidnapped a kid or something?"

"Kidnapped?" His eyes open in alarm.

"Yeah, last Harfest."

"…" He takes a drag out of his stick. "So I was right."

"What do you mean, right?"

He lets the cigarette burn for a bit, before speaking once more.

"Thank you for telling me this, Miss Borowski." He snuffs the flame from under his boot. "But for your own safety, I suggest you sit this one out."

He turns to leave through the rooftop door.

"Wh- Hey!" She calls out from the edge, "At least give me an answer, asshole! Fuck you!"

He gives her the finger as he disappears into the apartment building, which she gives back in earnest. An old reliable insult.

She lies on the floor of the roof, despondent. Can't anyone tell her what the hell's going on?

"Raaagh!" She pulls her hair in frustration. "How does he even know my name!?"

The night sky looks cloudy and pale, with scattered rays of moonlight illuminating the sparsely populated streets. A handful of rats jump out of the window where Mallard P. Bloomingro rests in peace. A wonderful, not so scary night.

She should get back home.

[sifyang-sniles]

🥶🔵🦋 for the ask game, for Yinyang?

- @boyfriendblogging

“🥶: What temperature do you prefer? Does (S/I) prefer the same one? Do you ever have to fight over how you want the AC/heater?”

It’s not really too much of an argument! We both like things a little bit on the warmer side, and so does he! Though Yang sometimes messes with the heater because he wants to prank xem…

IT’S FUN!! DON’T BE SUCH A KILLJOY!!

“🔵: If you were face painting and (S/I) asked you to just give them anything, what would you paint?”

PENIS.

Okay, um, maybe not?? That??

FINE. EXPLOSIONS AND CATS!!

…Why cats?

BECAUSE HE LIKES THEM, DUH!!

Aww, that’s kind of sweet.

YEAH, YEAH. WHATEVER.

“🦋: What talent does (S/I) have that awes you?”

HE HAS A KNACK FOR BEING THE MOST AWKWARD PERSON IN ANY ROOM. ITS IMPRESSIVE.

Hey, don’t be mean!! He might deny it, but he’s really good at writing! We’ve seen him talking to his friends online and he’s really good at what he does!! It’s too bad he’s so shy about it…

YEAH!! HE TOTALLY SHOULD SHOW IT OFF SOMETIME!!

Mhm! We’ll have to talk to him about that later…

[geodetojoy]

lux lux lux hi hi hi o//

i have questions!!! for you!!! from the asks list-

abelia, sage, chamomile, palm tree

ilysm am eagerly awaiting your answers. also. here is a cat for you

≽^•⩊•^≼

gaaaasp a wild mads??? in my ask box??? what an honor :D and they brought a cat??? omg this is incredible

yippeeee asks!! lets seee

abelia- do you have a particular piece of jewelry you always wear or can't part with?

mhm! i quite literally only take my bracelets off when i shower or do dirty work with my hands lmao-

i know ive told you what they are buuut i wanna go thru em anyway :3

ok on my left hand is my pride flag wrist, from top to bottom we have: ace, aro, aroace, omni, nb, and agender

then my left hand is like. fandoms? or special interests i suppose and its: ranboo, donnie, [this one i made when over at an irl friends house and i just liked the colors lmao, its not related to anything], luxray, httyd, and techno :3

i also have a fidget ring and the same rules apply lmao

i will say it has. started to pigment my skin. so. uh. maybe things need to change,,,,

sage- what 'medium' of art is the most touching to you? why do you think that is?

wait this is such a fun question omg

despite my main form of art being physical, i think i prefer to "consume", for lack of a better word, anything language related, like stories, poetry, and music.

i think honestly its because music/language has been such a huge part of my life since birth, like my mom would constantly be playing music when she was watching me, and i (essentially) taught myself to read by the age of three so ive just always had a penchant for language and i find it so incredibly interesting

also just. music sound good in ears

chamomile- what kinds of things do you like receiving as gifts?

i feel like this is a trap /silly

genuinely anything personalized *cough cough* the stuff yall made for my bday *cough cough* will immediately reduce me to a puddle of tears /pos but aside from that, i like stuff that i wouldn't expect to get but it's given from someone that knows me so well that i didn't know i needed it until i had it

and legos. i fucking love legos.

palm tree- do you have a fictional villain you shouldn't like but love regardless?

hmmmmm my gut response to this is veigo grimborn from httyd: rtte but i think they kinda wrote it so that at the end of his story he became likable lmao- but i was always a huge fan of him he's an absolute asshole and like. he wants to kill dragons/ sell them to get rich but. he's also so fucking smart and like? nice? respectful? i think diplomatic would be a better word. he's a "man of his word" as he likes to say, and its never once proven wrong

and his whole arc before he dies is like. him turning his back on the dragon hunters to help hiccup and the skrill escape and like. idk it fit his character so well at the time he had such good development i love rtte sm watch it watch it watch it watc-

fuck his brother tho. ryker can go die in a fucking hole.

and the rest of the villains actually they fucking suck. johann, krogan, drago, grimmel. all the fucking scum of humanity i despise them.

dagur doesnt count get behind me dagur

honestly the rest of the villains i like are all like. commonly liked villains i don't think i have any stand out ones. like. bill obvi, cucurucho from qsmp, monika from ddlc, team rocket. duh., oh and the new one in pokemon horizons. idk the group name but amethio my love <333, and eggman and team dark (they are. definitely not villains but like. theyre seen as that in the story kinda so fuck it i wanna give the three of em some love shadow, rouge, omega they could never make me hate you)

RAHHH TY FOR THE ASK I SHALL BE OVER TO YOUR ASK BOX SOON LOVE YOUUUUU

[mischievouslittlecreature]

Part 14: Waiting for a Train

Fandom: Inception

Pairing: Robert Fischer x OC

Summary: She believed that death was the only escape. And now they are left to pick up the pieces she’s left behind.  

Word Count: 4,876 

Notes: Warnings for depictions of dissociation, character death, depression, grieving, and references to suicide.   

Previous Part • Series • Next Part

“Hey, have you talked to Mal recently?”

Alice frowned, peering into the microwave as she watched the popcorn she was making cook, phone held to her ear.

“Not recently, no. Why?” 

“I saw her and Cobb when they were visiting Miles in Paris,” Eames sighed. “She seemed…off.”

“Could it have something to do with the kids?”

“No, I don’t think so. It didn’t seem to be that sort of problem.”

“Hm,” she opened the microwave as it started to beep, scrunching her shoulder up so that she could hold the phone in place against her ear while using both hands to tear the popcorn bag open and empty it into a bowl. “I’ll give her a call. See if I can find out what’s up.”

“Great. Thanks.”

“Mhm. Look, I gotta go.”

“Movie night with the boyfriend, right?” Eames teased on the other end.

“Yeah, yeah, shut up,” she huffed good naturedly. Eames had all but insisted on taking credit for her relationship with Robert, considering that he was the one to convince her to return to Australia in the first place. “I’ll talk to you later. Oh! And tell Arthur that I said hi.”

“Will do. Chat later, Ace.”

She rolled her eyes fondly at the nickname. “Bye, Eames.”

Hanging up the phone, she grabbed the popcorn bowl, taking it to the living room where Robert was getting the movie they had selected loaded.

“How was Eames?” he asked, giving Cider a few scratches behind the ear when the cat jumped up on the couch to curl up next to him.

“Oh, fine. He wants me to check up on Mal.”

“Everything alright?”

“Oh, yeah. She’s probably just in one of her…moods. She’s always had dissociative problems,” she plopped down beside him. It was still a bit odd, to think that Robert had never even met any of her friends from her dream sharing days. They were just so damn busy all the time, and with everyone scattered to different parts of the globe, it was hard to find actual time to meet up. “I’ll call her tomorrow.”

She didn’t think any more of it, not after Robert wrapped an arm around her and the movie began to play. 

∗ ∗ ∗ 

“Hello?”

She was immediately struck with how exhausted Dom sounded on the other end of the line, instincts tensing at the feeling that something was wrong. “Hey, it’s Alice.”

“Alice…hi,” he said.

“Look, I was talking with Eames, and he said…”

“He said that Mal seemed off and that you should call to check in on her?” Dom guessed. Alice stopped, lips parting.

“Um, well, yeah. Something like that.”

“She can’t talk right now. But…”

“But what?”

“I don’t suppose that you would be in Los Angeles any time soon?”

“Actually, yeah. Robert and I fly out in two days. We have to shuttle back and forth from there and Sydney a lot for work,” she hesitated, a sudden anxiousness having gripped her by the throat. “I could come swing by to visit.”

“I think that would be good.”

“Okay. Okay, I’ll call you once we’re stateside to set up a day and time.”

“Alright.”

“Dom, are you okay?” she asked after a moment’s hesitation. The curt answers and heaviness in his voice was worrying her.

“It’s…I’ll explain once you’re here.”

She wanted to press, but decided it was better not to. “Okay.”

Hanging up the phone, she stared at it, resting in her palm for a long while.

Something was very, very wrong. 

∗ ∗ ∗ 

“Hi, Mal,” she said it quietly, cautiously. With almost none of the usual loud enthusiasm that she often used when greeting any of her friends. Dom had answered the door with a deep frown engraved on his face, dark bags under his eyes. The house was uncharacteristically quiet as she stepped inside. A coldness had washed over it, and the usual homeliness that was there whenever she visited had been replaced by a somber uneasiness. Like everyone in the household was holding their breath for something. He hadn’t responded to any of her quiet questions, simply leading her to the entrance of the kitchen with a silent gesture, leaving her at the threshold as he retreated towards his office.

It took Mal a long moment to respond, sitting at the kitchen table, one hand resting daintily on her face, the other fiddling with the spinning top between her fingers. “Alice. Hello. You’re here,” she said, voice spacey, like she wasn’t really paying attention. Like she wasn’t all there. Taking a few steps towards the table, Alice carefully slid into the seat adjacent to Mal, fingers intertwining in front of her.

“How are you?”

“Oh, fine,” Mal still had not fully looked at her, eyes remaining on the totem between her fingers, lips pursing.

“Are you sure?” Alice asked, brows furrowing. She had always felt that she could be blunt and straightforward with Mal. In the past, she had seen Mal in the throes of her dissociative phases. And while it hadn’t necessarily been a particularly pretty sight, she had never felt so…uneasy around her before.

Almost as if she were in danger. 

“So he’s brought you here to try to convince me,” Mal said, turning those large blue eyes onto Alice, blinking slowly. Alice stuttered.

“Convince you of what?”

Mal scoffed and turned away.

“Mal, I came here because Eames said he was worried about you.”

“He doesn’t believe me…” Mal lamented as she stared out the window. “He says…he says that I’m frightening the children…”

“Mal, what’s going on?” this was more than a dissociative episode. Even in the midst of those, Dom was always Mal’s anchor. Her safe place. Her person who she could cling to until reality righted itself in her mind again. They loved each other very, very much.

Suddenly, Mal was seizing her, hands startlingly tight as they squeezed her arms. “What are you? Hm? Are you a projection? Something he’s conjured up to try to convince me that I’m crazy? Or are you stuck in here with us too?”

Alice’s eyes widened. “Projection–? Mal, what are you talking about?”

“He says that I’m wrong. But I’m not wrong. I know I’m not. I’m not crazy, Alice.”

“Of course you’re not,” Alice tried to soothe. “But…Mal…Mal, do you think that we’re in a dream right now?”

“I know that we are!”

“Have you tested your totem?”

Mal’s face twitched, a furious expression Alice had never seen pass her face before suddenly etched into her features.

“Mal?” she questioned as she let Alice go, standing to pace around the kitchen counter.

“Whoever is controlling the dream knows how my totem works, so they’re able to mimic how it would behave in the real world,” Mal reasoned. 

“Okay,” Alice said slowly, reaching into her pocket. “Okay, let’s check mine, then,” pulling out the little silver pocket watch, she opened the covering to check the face. The second hand was running backwards. As it always did in the waking world. “Mal…my totem says that this isn’t a dream.”

“You sound just like him!” Mal said, bringing her hands down on the counter, bowing her head. “Alice…” she raised her head, expression desperate. “I have had this argument more times than I can count.”

“Mal…”

“We have…we have to get out. We have to escape. All of us. We have to…” Mal’s ramblings faded as her eyes wandered to land on the knife block sitting on the kitchen counter. Eyes growing wide as dinner plates, Alice rose from her seat, coming around the counter, to rest her hands on Mal’s shoulders.

“Mal, no. That’s not…we shouldn’t be talking about that unless we’re sure–”

“But I am sure!”

It was so startling, how far of a cry the woman in front of her was from the Mal that she knew. Mal had always been dreamy. Her mind often seemingly far away. But she was also controlled and level headed. Rational. 

Alice did not recognize the woman before her with the desperate, crazed eyes.

“Mal…”

Alice’s phone started to ring, a shrill sound that echoed throughout the kitchen. Jumping, she fumbled for it in her pocket, glancing at Robert’s name across the screen.

“I have to take this.”

Mal nodded, once, swallowing. Holding the phone to her ear, she kept one eye on Mal. Just in case.

“Robbie?”

“Hey, um,” he sounded on the verge of tears. “Uncle Peter just called me and there’s…there’s something going on with Dad.”

Oh, God. Now what?

“What happened?”

“I don’t…they’re not sure, yet. But he’s in the hospital in Sydney.”

Sighing, she rubbed a hand across her forehead. “Shit. Okay. I’m on my way back.”

“I’m going to tell them to get the plane ready.”

“Yeah. Good idea. I’ll be there soon, okay, sweetheart?”

“I’m sorry. You don’t have to leave your friends…”

“It’s alright,” it really wasn’t, but that was probably the last thing that he needed to hear at the moment. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay. Love you.”

“Love you too. Bye,” she hung up the phone.

“What’s wrong?” Mal asked. The cloudiness seemed to have lifted from her eyes, looking more like her old self.

“Robert’s father is an old man who has no business still being the head of a major corporation,” she said with a sigh. “He’s in the hospital, again,” stuffing her phone into her pocket, she went to Mal. “I have to go.”

Mal nodded, eyes wide and teetering on frightened. Alice squeezed her arm.

“I’ll call you, okay? And don’t…Mal, please, don’t���”

Mal looked at the ground.

“I’ll do some investigating, okay?” Alice said, hoping to appease her. That maybe, if she felt that Alice was taking her concerns seriously, she wouldn’t decide to do anything rash. “And then we can talk and compare our notes, okay?”

Mal nodded. “Alright.”

“And Dom just wants to help you,” she added. “He wants you to be okay.”

“I know,” Mal said, chewing on her bottom lip, ringing her hands together. “He won’t listen to me,” it clearly deeply upset her.

Alice knew that she needed to go; that Robert needed her. And yet still she hesitated, a feeling growing that she shouldn’t leave. That something terrible would happen if she did.

Perhaps she had been away from everything for too long. Her new job and life in Australia had made it difficult to stay in touch with her old friends. It had been ages since she’d seen any of them. And phone calls with everyone save for Eames had grown less and less regular. Though she doubted that her presence would have done much to help battle…whatever it was that Mal was dealing with in her head.

Mal sighed and patted her hand. “Don’t worry. Dom doesn’t believe me. And I can’t leave without him, so…”

That was something, at least. Alice wrapped her arms around her, squeezing her tightly. “It’s going to be okay, Mal.”

“I know,” she said, hugging her back. “Goodbye, Alice.”

The finality in which Mal seemed to say it alarmed her, but there wasn’t much more that she could do. “Bye, Mal,” Alice looked her up and down, one last time, and moved to the door. “Dom?” she called, knocking on the office door. “I have to go.”

“Go?” he appeared at the door a moment later. “You just got here.”

She rubbed at her forehead. “Yeah, I know. But Robert just called saying that his dad has a health problem, so we have to get back down to Sydney right away…” 

“Oh,” Dom nodded. “Yes, of course.”

“Dom…” she lowered her voice to a whisper. “What the hell?”

“I know…I know I’ll explain later, I promise–”

“She’s talking about committing suicide, Dom!”

“I know!” he snapped back, then took a deep breath reigning in his temper. “I know, Alice. I’ve tried everything and some days it seems like she’s getting better, but then…”

“I just…she’s had dissociative episodes before but nothing like this…”

“I know,” the defeated look that crossed his face was enough to get her to reach out, squeezing his shoulder.

“It’s your anniversary tomorrow, right?” she asked.

“Yeah. We’re leaving the kids with their grandparents for the night. Going to a hotel suite. I’m hoping…I don’t know. Maybe it will be good for her.”

“Well, I hope you two have a good time.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll come back out as soon as I can,” she promised.

“Thank you. I would appreciate it.”

Nodding, she gave him a parting hug, rubbing his back. “Look after her.”

“Doing my best,” he said with a shrug. She gave him a sad smile and he walked her to the door, waving at her from the porch as she drove away.

∗ ∗ ∗ 

“How is he?”

Peter pinched at the bridge of his nose, clearly fighting back a headache. He didn’t look like he had slept.

“Stabilized, at least,” he said with a sigh. Beside her, Robert let out a relieved sound. She rubbed his back, taking note of the expression that passed across Peter’s face.

“But…?” she prompted.

“The doctors are telling him that he needs to step away from Fischer Morrow. Completely. The stress…it’s becoming too much for him,” Peter’s face was grave. “He’s refusing, of  course. Robert, I don’t suppose that you could try to convince him…”

“Since when has he ever listened to a word I’ve said?” Robert huffed, but at the look on Peter’s face, he sighed and nodded. “I’ll talk to him.”

“Thank you,” Peter gave a jerk of his head, beginning to lead them from the hospital waiting room. “His room is this way.”

Taking Robert’s hand and squeezing it, she gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile that he tried to return, though it came out wobbly.

“I’ll wait out here,” she said, leaning against the wall across from Maurice’s door.

“You’re sure?” Robert asked.

“Yeah. Don’t want to agitate him further,” watching them go into the hospital room, she crossed her arms over her chest, frowning down at the floor.

Her phone began to buzz in her pocket and she made an annoyed sound, fishing it from her pocket, preparing to press the button to reject the call until she saw the contact name flashing across the screen.

“Arthur?” she asked, pressing the phone to her ear. 

“Alice? Alice, where are you? Are you still in Los Angeles?”

“What? No, I’m back in Sydney,” there was a strain to Arthur’s voice that alarmed her. Arthur was always the steady one. “Why? What’s going on?”

“Alice…” Arthur trailed off, and he heard him draw in a trembling breath from the other end of the line. “Alice, Mal’s dead.”

She blinked, breath sucking into her lungs and staying there as her lips parted. One hand came out to brace herself against the wall. “What?”

“She’s dead, Als. She…she jumped off a ledge at a hotel she and Cobb were staying at.”

“Oh…” she whispered, clapping a hand over her mouth, for a moment thinking that she might be sick. “Um, okay…I…what…”

“I’m at the airport in Munich waiting for my flight right now. Eames is flying in from France.”

“What about Cobb?”

Another sigh. “Okay, Alice. I need you to listen to me. Cobb’s…they think Cobb killed her.”

“What!?”

“The hotel room was trashed, like there had been a struggle, and apparently she filed a letter with their lawyer telling them that Cobb had threatened to kill her. She told him about it, before she jumped.”

“Jesus,” she muttered.

“They haven’t arrested him yet, but it’s only a matter of time. He’s trying to find a way out of the country, but I don’t think he’s going to be able to do it in time.”

“I…” she tried to force her head to stop spinning. To push away the waves of shock and grief in order to allow her to think. “I think that I could get him out.”

“You do?”

“Some of the executives of the company who live in Los Angeles have private planes. I might be able to cobble something together. I’ll have to talk to Robert about it.”

“You think he’ll help?”

“Yeah,” she said confidently. “If I ask him to, yeah.”

“Okay. Hurry. Me or Eames will call you once we’re stateside about the…funeral and everything.”

Nodding, she squeezed her eyes shut. “Okay…” her voice broke a little at the end of the word.

Arthur made a sound of distress on the other line. “I just don’t understand why she would have…”

“I do,” Alice said, nausea twisting in her gut. “I know why she did it.”

“You do?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Alright. Talk soon.”

“Yeah.”

“And Alice?” he hesitated a moment, and then just said, “take care of yourself.”

Her face crumpled. “You too.”

Hanging up, she rested one hand over her eyes, feeling her chest begin to shutter as she started to cry softly to herself. Behind her, the door to the hospital room creaked open.

“Alice?”

Her attempt to bite back a sob was rather unsuccessful, Robert’s hand finding her shoulder, turning her towards him.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

She just flung her arms around his middle and hugged him tight to her. He hugged her back, clearly concerned and confused.

“I need you to do something for me,” she whispered into his chest.  

∗ ∗ ∗ 

“It’s done,” Robert told her, hanging up the phone. “All he has to do is get in the car with our guy and they’ll get him to the airport and on a plane.”

Alice nodded, staring out the window. Spooky had curled up in her lap, as if sensing her distress, while Cider pressed against her side. Fingers stroking through the cat’s hair, she sniffled.

“Thank you.”

Setting the phone down, Robert sat down on the couch next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his chest.

“You want to tell me why I just helped get a wanted criminal out of the United States?” the question wasn’t spoken unkindly, but she could hear the clear curiosity that was there.

“Dom didn’t kill Mal,” she said, wiping at her nose.

“That I figured.”

She had already told him about Mal’s strange behavior on the plane when they were flying back to Sydney. “I’ll have to find out more from Dom about what was going on, but…Mal always had problems with dissociation. That was why she came up with the totem concept. But this time she was convinced, despite what her totem was saying, that she was still in a dream. That death was the only escape.”

“But why would she frame him for her suicide?”

“She didn’t want to leave without him,” Alice said, softly. “She wanted him to feel like he didn’t have a choice but to go with her,” she sniffled. Robert squeezed her.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

Laying her head more firmly against him, she closed her eyes. “I should have stayed. Maybe, if I had…”

“This isn’t your fault,” he said, firmly tilting her head up to look into his stern blue eyes. “Okay?” he kissed her forehead. “Come here.”

She let him pull her as deep into his arms as was physically possible, listening to his soothing, gentle voice as he tried to calm her.

Trying her hardest to believe him.  

∗ ∗ ∗ 

“Eames,” she pushed past a few black-clad mourners to get to him, and he immediately wrapped her in one of his familiar bear hugs, squeezing her tightly.

“Hey, Ace.”

Arthur was standing next to him, and embraced her as soon as she separated from Eames.

“No boyfriend?” Eames asked curiously. She shook her head.

“He had to stay in Sydney to take care of his dad.”

Robert had wanted very badly to go with her, but in the end it just wasn’t feasible. Someone needed to stay to keep an eye on the company and Maurice.

They began to all file into the funeral venue. They were greeted briefly by Miles, his face solemn and haggard. Beside him, his wife was fussing over Phillipa and James, their tiny faces drawn downwards as they looked at their mother’s coffin. Gulping down the lump in her throat, Alice fiddled with her fingers as she followed Arthur and Eames to their seats. It was a closed casket funeral.

She started crying about halfway through the ceremony. Eames rubbed her shoulder while Arthur squeezed her knee. She couldn’t have been more grateful for them. Without Robert with her, she needed the comfort of her friends’ presence more than ever.

“It was a nice ceremony,” Arthur commented as they walked from the cemetery. 

“Yeah, it was,” Alice agreed, still dabbing at her eyes. Eames grunted in acknowledgement, hands shoved into his pockets.

“You guys want to go get some lunch?” Arthur suggested.

“Yeah.”

“Okay.”

They had just sat down and ordered when both Arthur and Eames turned to her expectantly. 

“She thought that she was still in a dream,” Alice explained, figuring that the most straightforward version of the story was probably the best. “I visited her and Dom a day or so before she died, and…she was rambling about being stuck in a dream and not believing her totem and how we needed to…escape.”

“Jesus,” Eames muttered, leaning back against the booth. “She say why she thought that?”

Alice shook her head. “No.”

“She’s had dissociative problems for as long as I’ve known her,” Arthur chimed in.

“No, I’ve been thinking about that, and…I don’t know, guys. It seemed like it was more than that,” she shrugged.

“He and Mal were still conducting experiments,” Arthur said. “Maybe that had something to do with it.”

 “I’ll ask Dom about it, when I see him again.”

Both Eames and Arthur mumbled in agreement, all three of them growing silent as the waiter came by with their food.

“I don’t suppose there would be a way for your billionaire boyfriend to wave a magic wand and get Cobb’s charges cleared?” Eames said after the waiter had left, taking a sip of his coffee. Alice shook her head.

“He doesn’t have that kind of pull. At least not in the American criminal justice system. His father might, but there’s no way Maurice would help us.”

They all looked down at their hands regretfully, in a combination of silent mourning and contemplation. 

∗ ∗ ∗ 

Sighing, exhaustion heavy and deep in his bones, Robert pushed open the front door, inputting the code for the alarm system. Shrugging off his suit jacket, he smiled as Cider came padding up to greet him with a meow.

“Hi, Ci,” he said, bending to give her a few pets along the back before heading towards the kitchen, frowning at how dark the house still was. Alice was supposed to have gotten home from the airport by now. She’d called him when her plane had landed. “Alice?”

He found her sitting on the floor, back leaning against the wall adjacent to the bar. Spooky was curled up next to her, looking after her watchfully. In one hand, she clutched a bottle of wine, only about one fourth the way full. Her cheeks were red and puffy, eyes bloodshot. 

“Alice…” sitting down beside her, he took the bottle from her gently, her fingers slipping away with ease. Her grip on it had been loose in the first place. Glancing down at the label, he raised an eyebrow. “Strong stuff, sweetheart.”

Alice’s bottom lip started to tremble, and then she was crying again, burying her face in her hands. “I’m so sorry.”

“Oh, no, Alice. It’s okay,” he put the bottle aside and pulled her to him, letting his chin rest against the top of her head. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”

He repeated the phrase over and over, rocking her gently from side to side as she continued to cry. His poor girl. She didn’t deserve any of this.

“It was my fault. I should have–I should have stayed with her. I shouldn’t have left her and Dom alone. And…and…and now I drank all your wine,” the way that she all but wailed the last part would have been hysterical had the rest not been so saddening. 

“No, no, honey, it wasn’t your fault. You did nothing wrong, okay? There’s no guarantee that you would have been able to stop Mal even if you had stayed,” he leaned back to wipe away her tears. “And I really don’t care about the wine. It's a shitty label anyway,” he gave her a half smile to reassure her, and she left out a tiny, hiccupping sound that might have been the beginnings of a laugh. “Come on. Let’s get you to bed,” he scooped her up bridal style into his arms, head tilting against her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder.

He got her into the bedroom and out of her clothes and into her pajamas, laying her down on the bed and pulling the blankets up around her.

“Get over here and comfort her, you furballs,” he said affectionately to the cats who had wandered in after him, patting the space next to Alice until they both jumped up to cuddle against her, purring. He changed out of his own clothes, pulling on a pair of sweatpants and crawling into bed next to her, tugging her closer until she was laying on his chest.

“I’m sorry,” she said, again.

“Stop apologizing,” Robert soothed, kissing her eyelids. “It’s okay.”

“I love you,” she sniffled. He rubbed her back, suddenly feeling very helpless, wishing that he could somehow make everything better for her.

“I love you too.”  

∗ ∗ ∗ 

“Dom, I need you to tell me what really happened to Mal,” Alice said, staring at his back where he was leaning against the railing of the balcony. She was sitting at the little table in his hotel suite, fingers drumming against the surface. He had greeted her with little more than a weak hug and a mumbled hello. Her condolences met with just a grunt.

“I know that you didn’t kill her,” she clarified quickly. “But I know that what was going on with her was more than just a dissociative episode.”

When he didn’t respond, she sighed, standing from the table and going out onto the balcony.

“Arthur said that you and her were still experimenting,” she tried to prompt. “Did something happen…?”

Still, nothing. Her temper spiked.

“Considering that I just saved your ass from being imprisoned, I think I deserve to know just what the hell happened.”

Dom’s head bowed, as if weighed down by something heavy and terrible, before he finally lifted it to look at her. “You’re right,” he said. “We were…experimenting. With depth. I wanted to see just how many layers deep we could go.”

Her brows pinched together. “You didn’t end up in limbo, did you?” 

His silence was answer enough.

“Jesus, Dom.”

“I know,” he looked down again, then gave her a humorless smile. “And that isn’t even the worst of it.”

“What do you mean?”

“We were…we were there for a long, long time, Alice.”

“How long?”

“Long enough to grow old together,” he said, voice deeply wistful. Reaching out, she rested a hand on his arm. “Mal…she lost herself, down there. Limbo became reality to her. And I couldn’t get her to let go.”

“So…” Alice frowned.

“Do you remember the concept that I taught you about, back when we were in France? About not stealing an idea from a person’s mind, but planting one instead?”

“Inception,” she said, nodding. “Yes, I remember,” staring at Dom, the realization began to hit her in one massive, terrible wave. “Oh, Dom…what did you do?”

“I thought…I thought that the idea would just be there until we got out of limbo. And then everything would be fine.”

“What idea was it?”

“That her world wasn’t real. That…”

“Death was the only escape,” she finished for him. Between them, a mournful silence stretched on forever. “The idea followed her even after she woke up,” it wasn't a question.

Dom was fiddling with something between his fingers. It was Mal’s little spinning top, turning over and over between his fingers.

“You’re waiting for a train. A train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you don’t know for sure. But it doesn’t matter…because you’ll be together.”

“Who said that?” Alice asked, searching her mind for the author of the quote. 

“I did,” Dom flashed her a sad smile. “To Mal. God, I killed her, Alice.”

Shaking her head back and forth, she hugged his shoulders. “You were trying to save her.”

“Yeah,” it was clear from his tone that he didn’t fully believe her. “I’m going to head out tomorrow for Europe. Arthur’s got a job lined up for us.”

“Okay,” Alice nodded. “Well,” she cleared her throat, awkwardly. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will.”

Giving his shoulder one last squeeze, she began to head for the door.

“Alice?”

She turned back.

“Thank you.”

Nodding, she offered him a small smile.

“Of course.”   

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[aenbyveryverygayperson]

RARE BLOODLINE AU TIME-

Alright this is meeting Zoro now

Zoro is a Green Tiger

Koby is a pink cat. (No not a hairless cat.)

-

Zoro was tied up on a some wood in the ground

Luffy was looking down at him while Koby was trying to tell Luffy to get down or Zoro would see them

“Whoaaa! So that’s Zoro? He doesn’t look scary at all! Shishishi!”

“How can he not?! Especially since you’re a human!”

“Shishishi! That doesn’t matter!”

- Time skip -

Luffy saw that Koby was about to get shot and broke the window and jumped out with Zoro’s swords.

when the bullets went against Luffy they bounced off

“How did a human…?!”

“Shishishi!

the marines were shocked and looked at Luffy in fear

“I couldn’t find out which was yours so I took all of them!”

“All of them a mine. I use Santoryu. Three sword style.”

Luffy set the swords down as Koby began untying the ropes as Luffy beat up some marines, when some marines ganged up on Luffy behind him Zoro quickly cut them.

“I’m not dying here, so I’ll join your crew, captain.”

Luffy gave a big smile hearing this

“Shishishi! I’m glad!”

Luffy then began dealing with Morgan

- Time Skip -

It was now just Luffy and Zoro on a boat that was heading towards Orange Town.

“So you’re human?”

“Yep!”

“How were you able to survive those bullets??”

“I ate the Gomu Gomu no mi. I’m a rubber man! Shishishi!”

“A rubber man huh? I thought Humans were weak.”

“Huh? OH THAT- Yeah Sabo’s told me that people think humans are weak because we don’t have any special animal part.”

“Sabo? You don’t mean the chief of staff of the revolutionaries right?”

“Hm?”

“The jaguar? Dragon Claw Sabo?”

“Mhm! That’s who I mean!”

“HOW DO YOU KNOW SUCH A DANGEROUS MAN?!”

“Huh? Why wouldn’t I? He’s my older brother! Shishishi!”

“HE’S WHAT?!”

“Shishishi!”

Luffy laughs at Zoro’s reaction.

“Then you wouldn’t want to know who my eldest brother is!”

“Who…?”

“You know the second commander of the whitebeard pirates?”

“Fire Fist Ace. Yes…?”

“Well he’s my brother too!”

“WHAT. HOW.”

“We all lived on the same island Shishishi!”

[thehangeddemon]

An Exchange of Favors || Xavier, January, & Ariel || July 26-27, 2023

Xavier: Even though the confirmation he'd needed to make this visit had come mere hours after his conversation with Rhys, Xavier chose to wait a bit before returning to January Embers. It was as Rhys had said; timing was everything. If he came too soon, he'd tip his hand. Too late, and there was every chance the visit would no longer be required. A misstep could not be afforded.

Regardless of if Rohan and his DJ ended up despising each other one day in the future--although Xavier didn't see that being the case--they'd formed a significant attachment in the here and now. As Rohan's friend and confidante, seeing to the witch's happiness was of the utmost importance to Xavier.

So, a little over a week but not quite two weeks later, the demon walked up the club door and greeted the bouncers with a nod.

"Good evening, gentlemen," he said pleasantly. "I am Mr. Rossmara. I would like to see Lady Dune if she's available. She should remember me, I came earlier this month with Mr. Mello."

January: Just as before, the pulse of the nightclub could be felt from a block away. The line at this hour curved around the building. The same two gentlemen in the same fine suits monitored the line, allowing those on a special list on their tablets through without question. The name Rossmara was enough to pull the velvet rope. A blue Jan Emb was stamped on the back of his hand, an ornate V beneath the square logo.

"Up the stairs to the left," said Lee.

Xavier: Xavier accepted the stamp and gave a second nod to the man who had spoken. “Thank you.”

The atmosphere inside the club was just as bone-rattlingly loud as he remembered but as he was here for business, he didn’t pay it any mind. Tried to, anyway. There was only so much he could tune out.

Following the bouncer’s directions, he went up the stairs to the familiar VIP area in search of his hostess. He was as impeccably dressed as the last time he’d been here, only this time he’d come armed with a gift.

January: Tonight Ariel Cassidy was not the point of interest on the stage. A woman with pink and white hair in a white dress was having the time of her life. Rosara written in elegant red font over her booth. A dubstep and K-pop blend that the crowd seemed to enjoy, matching the bubbly aura of their temporary disc jockey.

January would be found leaning against the polished metal and wood railing overlooking her little kingdom. Her pink dress with black applique matched the vibe of the evening.

She smiled at his approach and stretched backward like a cat.

"You left the priest at church tonight?"

Xavier: “Lady Dune.” Xavier inclined his head toward her and answered her smile with a charming one of his own. He braced himself because he knew that from this moment forward, he was going to be observed closely and that any conclusions arrived at as a result would likely be shared.

With Rhys especially.

“Good evening and yes, I did. How does the night find you? Well I hope.”

January: With or without Rhys, the demon was eyed up and down. There was no denying he had been undressed and redressed down to the last button.

"Mhm. I've wined, I've dined. Look what my new little treasure's given me." January kicked her foot back, showing off her glittering black stilettos. Her outfit matched from head to toe, down to her black and iridescent nails.

Showing off just to have those eyes on her. Something to tease Rhys with later.

She turned her back on her nightclub, leaning against the rail with both hands.

"What brings you back?"

Xavier: Her gaze was unmistakable and nostalgically familiar. He’d been the subject of such a gaze almost as often as he’d affected it himself.

Those eyes would most certainly be on her. To flatter and be flattered was its own delicate dance and in this case, he had to admire his own good judgement. The right ace had been placed up his sleeve.

“Lovely. And, if I may say, rather fortuitous.”

The demon reached into his suit jacket and produced a black velvet box which he proceeded to offer.

“Two things. Firstly, to give you this small token of my gratitude for your hospitality the other night. Secondly, to exchange a favor with you.”

January: She kicked off the rail and stepped closer. Breathed him in with a little hum lost over the chest-wrenching bass.

"Oh, honey," she gasped, offering the box back and turning, expecting him to know what to do next. "What blessing are you trying to earn? Rhys' hand in marriage? My god!"

Xavier: Ah, but of course. This was far from the first necklace he’d ever gifted, and it was lifted from its box and placed around her neck with delicate ease.

Xavier chuckled softly. “No, nothing to do with Mr. Mello. I actually came to talk about your Mr. Cassidy.”

The demon would wait until January turned to face him again before taking a deliberate step back to admire her. He’d chosen the perfect piece to give her.

“Beautiful.”

January: "Oh, now, don't go breaking Rhys' heart over a pretty ghoul." Gone were the days of her long hair, but her fingers ran through what she had anyway as she turned to face him, showing off his gift resting perfectly around her neck. Her outfit was now complete. Rosara will be jealous.

"Just tell me, is this business or pleasure?"

Xavier: Xavier shook his head. “I wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing.” To either Rohan or to Rhys, although he doubted the vampire’s heart was his to break anyway. Things between them were as yet…somewhat nebulous.

“Business primarily, although the pleasure of looking at you while it’s conducted is a rather exceptional bonus.”

January: "You're very tactful with your words, like a gentleman." And she wanted him to know that she knew that.

"If it is business, then you'll follow me to my office where I can hear myself think." And she would take his arm for the trip, followed not so closely behind by one of her bodyguards.

Her office was a stark contrast to the nightclub surrounding it. Whitewashed exposed brick covered here and there by rectangular gray and black acoustic panels. Slate flooring to catch the click of her heels. Burgundy Monroe sofas faced each other, separated by a frosted glass table. Enormous glass figures hung from the ceiling at various heights and shapes beside her desk, creating a kind of maze playground.

What appeared to be a window behind her desk was in fact a floor-to-ceiling screen, set on a rooftop web cam somewhere in Brooklyn.

Her bodyguard planted himself outside of her office, giving them all the privacy they needed.

"Would you like something to drink, or straight to business?"

Xavier: “But of course.” Because Xavier was a gentleman, he inclined his head once again and held his arm out for her to take, feeling a strange sort of comfort in the gesture. There was a ceremony and formality to interactions like these that he found pleasing and…freeing.

Both parties knew where they stood and it made everything infinitely easier.

The office couldn’t have been more in contrast with the club and for that very reason, Xavier found he rather liked it. The glass and sofas caught his eye especially. They were exactly his color.

“I’m fine, Lady Dune, thank you.” He would wait until she sat before following suit.

January: January took her favorite place, the sofa nearest to her floating glass, crossing her leg over her knee. This was her territory, her home, her power. Though she didn't take up every inch of space where she sat, her presence was large enough. Elbow on her knee, chin in hand, she smiled at her guest.

"So, what do you want with my ghoul?"

Xavier: A fact that was very present in the demon’s mind as he smiled at his hostess. A sparkly little trinket and a gift for flattery could only get a person so far; in this world, respect and awareness kept you alive.

Respect, awareness, and knowing when you were at a disadvantage.

“Do you recall my associate Mr. Dalca? When we were here last, he made use of the card your Mr. Cassidy asked you to pass on to him. It seems they’ve taken a liking to each other and as Mr. Dalca is a good friend, I’d like him to have the opportunity to see where that leads.”

January: Rhys had not informed January of this visit, leaving this moment in the dark for Xavier to work his magic. He had faith in him, even if he was only a little amused by his reason. So long as the Toreador found a way to take full advantage would he not have an earful of her passive complaints about the upcoming games.

And those were steadily in her peripheral.

"I love my ghoul, but I'm not his mama. Mr. Dalca can play him with all he wants." She wasn't going to bite so readily.

Xavier: Independently of anything else, Xavier took January’s words to mean that she didn’t intend to interfere with whatever relationship Rohan had with the DJ. A small relief, and he’d take it on his friend’s behalf.

Xavier smiled and nodded. “Opportunity is a rare treasure, is it not?” he said, dropping his voice slightly. “Coveted by many but given to very few. And as a man who doesn’t enjoy leaving things to chance, I should like Mr. Dalca to be able to take full advantage of the opportunity he has to get to know Mr. Cassidy and I’m prepared to ensure that he does.”

January: Her smile was gentle, but losing something behind her lashes. Ostentatious displays sparked joy for her on many occasions; her love of foreplay, formalities, and blandishment bordered on problematic, but,

"We're in my office for business, darling, go ahead and spit it out. You haven't said anything that he can't do this very moment."

How wide had Rhys opened his mouth?

Xavier: “Very well.” Xavier gave a single nod and crossed his legs, leaning back in his seat.

“When we met, you told me it wasn’t every day that a demon came into your club. However, on that night, one did and there’s every chance that someday, another one might. A demon or something else with ill intent. In this world of ours, anything is liable to happen.

“But, as I’ve said, I am not a man who likes leaving things to chance. Mr. Dalca likes Mr. Cassidy and the only way he can explore that attraction to whatever lengths he likes is if Mr. Cassidy is around and whole.

“Therefore, my question to you is this: what would it cost to ensure Mr. Cassidy’s safety?”

January: She didn't want to budge on her belief that business should be a drop of the silly formalities. Clear and concise statements to move a project along. It was one of the reasons Rhys and Sapphira tolerated her at all. Security helped. Money certainly helped.

Was it any wonder the Lasombra enjoyed his company? A pirate priest didn't have many opportunities with a jewel such as this.

"Oh dear," she sighed, getting to her feet and around her desk. "Our beloved priest went and told you about that?"

Xavier: Xavier would neither confirm nor deny her suspicions. He didn’t need to. They both already knew the answer to her question.

“Threats are ever present, my lady. If my experiences are any indication, I daresay you might be familiar with the notion that if it isn’t one thing, it’s another. We don’t always know if something is going to come up or when, but occasionally we have a chance to preempt problems.

“As I said, I’m here to exchange favors. I realize my request isn’t a simple one but even if it were, everything has a price and I’m prepared to pay it.”

January: If only the demon knew. Had he been a part of her coterie a wine glass might have been thrown in his general direction. A tantrum, as Sapphira labeled them.

But she had said spit it out!

"So you've said something about a boon, something something opportunities, and speaking on behalf of your friend. Shouldn't he be the one in my office?"

Xavier: “He doesn’t know I’m in your office,” the demon sighed. And with damn good reason. “Or in the country for that matter. I’m here because I have chosen to be, not because I was asked to be.”

Xavier vaguely wished he’d taken her offer of a drink but his judgement maintained it was best he hadn’t.

“I want my friend to have what he wants and what he wants is your DJ. He can only have your DJ if something doesn’t happen to him. What would you like in exchange for ensuring that nothing happens to your DJ, Lady Dune?” He couldn’t put it any more plainly than that.

January: Despite the language tango they were having, January was already making plans. Her laptop powered on and opened to her calendar. Birthdays of every staff member. Every local DJ's schedule and birthday. Wedding anniversaries for her bodyguards, and every meeting she had ever had, in her own made-up shorthand.

"He will when we've concluded here. Unless you want Ariel to keep a secret." Those went well in relationships.

"I need to age him up a bit. He needs more practice. He has, mm, hasn't told me anything about September except a gig in a place called Inner City at the end of the month."

Her chin returned to her hand.

"I should be asking you that question, Ross. You're giving me a lot and asking for nothing."

Xavier: "Yes, he will," Xavier said with a nod. "I never intended to keep in the dark after the fact, only before." That way, Rohan wouldn't have a chance to talk him out of it and wouldn't have a reason to worry, or so Xavier hoped.

"Asking for nothing?" The demon smiled and shook his head. "My dear Lady Dune, I'm asking for quite a bit. Beyond asking you to make sure harm doesn't come to Mr. Cassidy, I'm asking you to help make someone happy. That hardly counts as nothing."

January: "That's a very sentimental way of looking at things. In what way are you even a demon?" The only similarity to those foul-smelling nightmares was the penchant for playing with words like a bag of Scrabble chips. Double meanings, hidden agendas, and a determined lack of concision.

"Do you realize you come off more threatening and vague than persuasive?"

Xavier: The demon heaved a long sigh, staring a hole into January’s coffee table for a few moments. What he wouldn’t give for July to end. This month simply hadn’t been his, although…had any month in the past two years been his?

“I’ve been told I come across that way, yes,” he said quietly. “I suppose that’s the hallmark of being a demon.”

January: Well now, that was genuine. Her eyes roamed up to his forehead, around his hair, looking at something he couldn't see.

She gave a sigh of her own.

"Explain what you said before. Are you trying to threaten my club with your ilk?"

Xavier: Xavier fought the urge to sigh again. If that’s how he was coming across then he was truly losing his touch.

“Forgive me, it was not my intent to threaten you or insinuate that I would. I was only speaking hypothetically. I do not associate with my demonic brethren, I find them insufferable.”

January: She would sigh for them both. His carefully crafted walls were gently crumbling, just the way she preferred. She needed that to gauge whether or not this man was trustworthy with her precious treasures.

Her phone was brought to her ear. Seeing no reason to explain herself, she smiled and said, "Ari, baby, hi. I need you to pay me a visit. I'll be in my office. No! Nothing wrong. I'll see you soon."

Xavier: The best laid plans, Xavier thought dismally, going back to staring a hole into the coffee table. He couldn’t say he hadn’t been warned. Rhys had warned him.

This was not his day, his month, or his year. A meteor was probably headed right for him as he sat here talking.

Why couldn’t she have just asked for something and sent him on his way? A favor. A bit of magic. A head on a pike. Anything.

January: No amount of money or jewels was going to keep her from hearing Ariel's opinion, whether she agreed or complied with it or not. Not so old as to treat her ghouls as slaves, but not so young as to pretend they were equals.

"You expect him to stay under your roof?"

Xavier: Xavier looked up at January again with a furrowed brow. “Under my roof? Why would—Lady Dune, do you mean to give him into my care?”

January: "What else are you asking for? For me to send him away and that's that?"

Xavier: “I do not presume to tell others how to conduct their affairs, but I did think that was what you would do, yes. Or something to that effect.”

January: "If I'm sending him away I'm sending him to improve. Not unsupervised and unchaperoned in a city belonging to the Ivory Tower. Not during the games."

Xavier: Unsupervised? Unchaperoned? The sudden flashbacks to Holden White made him yearn for a bottle of scotch.

But, this was for Rohan and Rohan’s happiness. If it was in Xavier’s power to do something to help make sure nothing happened to the man his dearest friend was willing to give his heart to, then Xavier couldn’t just do nothing.

“I can offer safe haven at my estate. It’s heavily warded and the surrounding area is free of Kindred presence and influence. He’ll want for nothing.”

January: "The nearest city?" she asked, fingers ready on her keyboard.

This was not blind trust. She had yet to explicitly agree. Another conversation would have to happen between her coterie before finalizing, but it was Rhys who kept Xavier in this room and not on the curb. The number of reasons not to trust this demon was vast, but only one reason to trust him.

If a priest had faith in a demon...

Xavier: “My estate is in California. The nearest town is named Paradise.” And yes, he did in fact see the irony of that. “The nearest major city is Chico, if one can call Chico a major city.”

Her agreement may not have been concrete yet, but her questions led Xavier to believe she was seriously considering it. That had to be worth something.

January: "We will need the address, obviously. Paradise... oh." The irony was certainly visible, but her concentration was elsewhere. Too busy looking on a map.

"Sacramento, good. Reno. San Fran - hmm."

Her laptop was pushed to the side.

"Mr. Dalca can have him until Halloween if he wants, but in exchange, he has to be trained. That is the deal I'm willing to make. I love my jewels, but they can't be brittle. If this happens again then what? Hope he's still infatuated with a do-gooder? That is my price."

Xavier: Xavier wondered how long the games lasted if January was thinking so many months in advance, but it hardly mattered. The point was to keep the DJ out of them and away from them.

“What sort of training do you have in mind?” Hamilton could teach the boy to be an excellent butler and Ramsay an excellent mechanic but somehow Xavier didn’t think that’s what his hostess wanted from this arrangement.

January: "Well, he's no bouncer, but he's no blade of grass. Those who have survived the games took a beating and were able to stand back up. It's the one ability everyone dreads empowering."

Xavier: Ah. That sort of training. He recalled MJ undertaking such training with Leon’s familiar some time back in order to make himself stronger.

“So, if I’m understanding correctly, you would like me to find someone to beat him to a pulp on a regular basis.”

January: "Well, when you put it like that, I sound like a wicked woman. I love him enough to hurt him, because the alternative is death."

Xavier: Xavier shook his head. “I pass no judgments. The things we have to do to survive aren’t always pleasant or even tolerable. Simply necessary. And if that is what you require, then so be it. I’ll find him someone to spar with.”

January: "I'll make a list of cities he may work, but I'll think ill of you if you leave him on his own. Other than that, my darling, I need to speak with our favorite priest, and I'll shake your hand tomorrow."

Xavier: “He won’t be on his own but in the interest of full disclosure I must tell you that I am currently not living at my estate. I do, however, make it a point to check in frequently if you would like status reports.”

January: "So you're telling me he can just leave whenever he pleases."

Xavier: “Certainly not. The wards I have on my estate are such that they can stop someone from leaving or coming in at my discretion.”

January: Ah, her smile returned. "Perfect."

Xavier: This was the first time Xavier could recall anyone referring to his chosen method of security as ‘perfect’. The general opinion seemed to be that his wards were too extreme and his paranoia too great so this was…novel.

The demon got to his feet. “Very well then. I shall call on you again tomorrow evening.”

January/Ariel: "Absolutely." She wasn't certain how she felt yet. Miffed at Rhys for opening his mouth, but without it she would still be wringing her hands in debate whether or not to force Ariel into an extended vacation, hiding him like a bad secret, or allowing him in the games against older more capable ghouls. It wasn't that Ariel couldn't travel, couldn't enjoy his freedoms. It was the timing. Right now it was absolutely shitty timing. The Camarilla, the Inquisition, damn near everyone seemed out for blood.

Only feet from January's office did the very subject of his visit crash into him. So focused on texting, he hadn't expected anyone near his domitor's door except her bodyguard.

Ariel's hands danced to catch his precious phone before losing yet another in the span of a month.

"Oh! Hey! Sorry I - oh."

Xavier: Xavier wanted to be annoyed but he was at just as much fault as the ghoul for not paying attention. The only difference was that he’d been lost in thought instead of looking at his phone.

“It’s quite all right, Mr. Cassidy,” the demon sighed, already walking away. He had things to do and no interest in lingering. “Don’t walk and text.”

As soon as he was outside and away from prying eyes, he’d be making his way to the other side of the country to talk to Rohan and then going back home until tomorrow’s meeting.

Ariel: Xavier had turned into a mirage. One moment he was there and then he wasn't. Why was he there, and did that mean Rohan was nearby? Only days into their relationship, but he knew him well enough to know he would have said something. Still, he looked back at his phone and the very reason for his clumsiness.

{Text} Baby you in Brooklyn?

{Text} Made it to her office ttyl

Xavier/Rohan: Rohan frowned at his phone. That was odd. Why would Ariel think he was in Brooklyn?

{Text} No? I’m at home

{Text} Okay

He would have only a moment to ponder the sudden question before there was a knock at his door and, upon opening it, was greeted with yet another surprise.

Or, as it turned out, several surprises.

As succinctly as he could, Xavier explained to Rohan why he was at the estate and what he’d been doing just before coming there. He told Rohan about the conversation he’d had with Rhys, about the games, about his conversation with January Dune.

And perhaps it was because the meeting with January hadn’t gone as smoothly as he’d been hoping or because nothing in his life for the past month or year had gone smoothly but for a moment, he’d been worried about Rohan’s reaction and braced for the worst. At least until he remembered that he was talking to one of the few people on this earth who didn’t automatically expect the worst from him and he allowed himself to relax.

Rohan was appalled, of course, though not entirely surprised. Why wouldn’t vampires amuse themselves by pitting ghouls against each other when the same had been done throughout history?

But, like Xavier, Rohan too was reminded of the situation with Holden White. Even though the circumstances were different, one couldn’t help but notice the parallels.

Rohan just hoped that Ariel wouldn’t hate him by the end of it.

January/Ariel: Usually, conversations in his domitor's office were discussed as equals. Sitting across from one another on either couch. Drinks, music, and the occasional dance. He had come into this knowing full well what she was and what she was capable of. Aware of what her blood would do to him. Aware of his strengths and the target on his head. One day a difficult decision would be made on whether or not to age or to join her. He knew his place, and for three years he had been perfectly content in that place. Life fast. Die young. Whatever.

Tonight he remained by the table, and she on the other side of her desk.

"Why can't I just stay with my grandparents in Seattle?"

"Seattle isn't safe right now. It's not going to be for the foreseeable future."

"I'm not out telling people what I am."

"Doesn't mean someone won't notice. You forget what I can do?"

"What if I just -"

"It's already been decided. You can still work. There are plenty of cities nearby. I'm going to give you a black and white list. Just call it a tour or something. You'll be back in time for the Blood Rave."

The look on his face left room for argument. The look on her face dared him to try.

"Darling, this is a blessing! It's either this or the games. Is that where you want to be? And you get to visit... what's his name? Rohan, is it?"

"Can I go now?"

"I'll see you tomorrow with the details. Oh and, just one more thing." Her smile faded as he refused to meet her eyes.

"Look at me." She waited. "You're cut off from blood."

"What?"

"How old were you when we first danced? And how old are you about to be? Just this once, I promise."

"But I don't - I don't know what I'll look like."

"I promise, you'll still be beautiful. You'll have plenty to take with you before you leave."

A glaze had washed over his golden eyes. Looking as drained as a fed kine.

"Go home, darling."

Xavier: Had Xavier been human, he would’ve been utterly done in by the havoc that traveling between opposite sides of the planet had wrought on his internal clock. Not to mention everything else that had happened this month.

He’d left Rohan and January in the night only to return to daylight in Bangkok and his normal life. The next day would bring more of the same as he departed the daylight and traveled once more into night and to January Embers.

At roughly the same hour as the previous day, Xavier gave his name at the door and inquired after January.

January/Ariel: January rather preferred Ariel in his current state. There was no doubt in her mind he would be beautiful with his current age, but the following night her ghoul had returned with a fresh argument. A vial of her blood danced between her fingers as she stared once more at her forest of glass.

As Xavier had warned, Ariel's phone remained in his pocket this time. No crashing into the demon as he passed him. Only to stop several feet away.

"You know, you could have just invited me."

Xavier: Xavier was far too mentally exhausted to argue with this ghoul but still managed what could pass as a polite tone when he responded.

“Good evening, Mr. Cassidy. I did not approach Lady Dune with the intent to house you at my estate, that is simply how the chips fell. And even if it had been my intent, I can assure you I still would have afforded her the respect of approaching her first.”

Ariel: Fucking Dracula. He'd face him head-on.

"I'm my own person," he insisted, both hands on his chest.

Xavier: “That has never been in question,” the demon said with surprising patience. “But we all have someone above our heads.”

Ariel: "You still coulda asked me first. It's Rohan. I woulda said yes!"

Xavier: “Once again, I must emphasize that I did not plan for you to stay at my estate. That is merely the agreement I arrived at with Lady Dune, which I’m sure she explained to you already or plans to explain right now.”

The demon sighed and gestured toward January’s office. “Shall we?”

Ariel: Ariel swallowed and shook his head. "We just talked. Going home to pack. Just... " The ghoul wanted to throw his anger outwards like a sun prominence, but Xavier would see he just didn't have it in him. Raw unbridled anger was a stranger to him.

"If it involves me, just come to me first, okay? Please?"

Xavier: It was just as well. Xavier had no desire to waste any more time arguing with the ghoul or taking the brunt of his displeasure. He was exhausted enough as it was.

“Very well,” he sighed. “If you’re concerned about cohabitating with me or enduring my presence, you needn’t be. I’m currently living elsewhere. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Xavier took the last few steps toward January’s office and knocked on her door.

January/Ariel: Ariel was bringing his phone to his ear by the time January's door opened. Her bodyguard stepped aside, taking his leave to stand in the hallway.

"You are a man of your word!" January greeted with a smile. His necklace was still around her throat. Tonight she wore gold and black. Her favorite for celebrations.

In such a good mood tonight, she crossed the room to kiss his cheek. Too classy with her choice of lipstick to leave a mark.

Xavier: However exhausted he might’ve been, seeing a beautiful woman would always lift his spirits. The same went for a beautiful man.

In this, he and her clan were of a mind.

“My dear Lady Dune,” Xavier said warmly, giving her a genuine smile and taking her hand to kiss it. “It would be unforgivably rude for me to stand you up. You look absolutely exquisite in my gift.”

January: "You like?" The collar of her shawl dress was pulled aside, followed by a twirl. However frustrated last night had become, no one would be the wiser. A clean slate and fresh eyes.

"I think I was a bit harsh with you last night," she purred, both hands coming to rest like feathers on his chest. "I tend to expect certain things in this room, and I let my expectations get the better of me."

Xavier: Xavier nodded. “Very much so, yes.”

He wouldn’t stop her from touching him but beyond kissing her hand, he would make no further move to touch her. His own way of putting distance between them while seemingly not putting distance between them at all.

“Please, don’t spare it another thought. It’s water under the bridge and despite any tension, we managed to come to an agreement that satisfies us both. But I will apologize once again for my lack of tact.”

January: "I'll keep this short and simple so we can enjoy the finer things. Will you spare him a room in a month's time? Say, the beginning of September? I still think our exchange is too strong in my favor, so I'm going to offer you something else. Myself. A boon. Before you argue with me, you need to understand how much he means to me. I feel I was callous last night. You're giving me a gift."

Xavier: “Yes, of course. September works perfectly well.” Plus, it would give his staff time to open up the parts of the house that had been shuttered with him absent.

Not that he really expected the DJ to want to stay in the main house but one never knew.

A boon? Now that was certainly unexpected. He’d been fully prepared to offer her the same and instead, he was the one on the receiving end. Was it good fortune or good timing? Perhaps both.

“Hardly, Lady Dune. This agreement is mutually beneficial and although I don’t want you to feel it is necessary to make me such an offer, I am grateful for the gesture.”

January: He seemed to understand the gravity of her offer, and that was enough to satisfy her.

"Well then, now we can shake hands," she smiled.

Xavier: “We can indeed,” he said, offering his hand and feeling relieved in at least one aspect of his life.

Rohan’s DJ would be safe and alive and Rohan would be happy. That was all he wanted.

“A pleasure doing business with you, Lady Dune.”

January: "Mm, don't tell me you're leaving so soon. When I said we can enjoy the finer things, that included you. I don't have a priest on hand, but I have champagne, wine, music, and your choice of a beautiful face." With one exclusion, it seemed.

Xavier: “I can spare some time. Far be it from me to turn down an offer of wine,” he added with a smile. His duties were waiting for him back in Bangkok but a glass or two wouldn’t hamper his work, far from it. He’d barely feel them.

[ask-thsc-blog]

Dawn "Burt is secretly a cat and we know it"

Harvey "mhm... Let's give them some time"

Dawn "ye"

Harvey "hey Dawn question... Are you just Ace or... Aromantic as well?"

DAWN: "...I might be aro too..but I'm not quite sure yet"

[magiclcss]

magatsunohana·:

@magiclcss

“Oya, oya. Ryugazaki-kun, can you hear my voice?”

Softly. Gently.

A single clawed digit taps upon the young girl’s forehead. Seeing the girl asleep like this, one could hardly believe her capable of having overblotted so severely. Had she not been put to a stop, who knew what could have happened? Students could have been put in danger, centuries of knowledge could have been lost; but more importantly, the entirety of Night Raven College could have been reduced to shambles. Crowley simply could not have that. He wasn’t always going to be here when someone lost control of themselves. That was to say, being around anyone’s unfortunate turnover to the other side was something beyond his capabilities. He was, after all, a very busy man with so many many things on his plate.

Perhaps if Ms. Ryugazaki had just been a little more patient, she could have been rewarded with something that would have been deemed a valuable prize.

When Crowley saw the movement in her eyes, there was a sense of relief that washed over his entire being. This was one of those instances where a person who overblotted took their sweet time in regaining their consciousness after all. The Great Seven forbid someone die on his run as the school’s Headmaster. And if Ambrose the 63rd hears about it? He would never let him live it down. It was infuriating just thinking about it!

“Ms. Ryugazaki, you’re finally awake! You’ve had all of us worried!” While the all of us part hadn’t been a stretch, it was just him and her here right now. “You’re currently here at the infirmary.“

"Don’t you remember anything?” He asked, gesturing for her to remain on her back rather than suddenly sitting up again. The Headmaster would pull the sheets over Kaede to ensure that she remained warm, and at the very least, comfortable.

“How are you feeling?” He inquired.

All this unnecessary desire, this unnecessary pain…

The audacity to decline the generosity that he extends…

The need to be somewhere else.

Just how much of this could he possibly take away?

As a magnanimous educator, it saddens him greatly to see any one of his students suffering. So for someone as generous as he, not doing anything about that strife was out of the question.

    “....G-Gah! I just woke up.. for the love of everything good in the world, lower the octaves of your voice...?” The words that she managed to get out sounded more like a question rather than a demand. “Hmph, you say all of us, but it’s just....” Kaede stops herself from speaking to let the words of the headmage register in her head. The infirmary-- what was she doing in the infirmary? Just from memory alone, there was only two times the Ramshackle prefect could recall actually being a patient in the infirmary itself.

    So why was Kaede in there now? What happened that resulted in her body being in pain? Where was Ace and Deuce? Most importantly... where was Grim?! Her headache in cat form, her roommate besides the ghost that have sought shelter in the run down dorm she’s been residing in ever since she got here. Her friend.

    She hasn’t heard his voice since she woke up, so the question remains: Where was he? Is he okay? ...Did something happen to him?

    She tries to sit up once again, attempting to ignore the pain that came with sitting up. Her first mistake, of course, was sitting up as fast as she did. A pounding sensation made itself know. One hand instantly shooting up to rub her head and a sharp gasp followed suit. “Mhm.. remember...” words trail off like the ending of a song as the girl slowly lays back down on the bed. Fingers gripping onto the sheets pulled over her being. Body shifting gingerly to get comfortable. “...I feel like I’ve been through hell and back... and hit by a bus...and a bullet train..”

    After what seemed like eternity, the blonde opens her mouth to speak once more. “...Don’t remember much, if I’m being honest. Just lots of screaming and yelling. Everything is still a bit of a blurry mess. ..Tons of smoke too. I can still smell it even know.” she mutters. “What the hell happened?”

[mxdotpng]

dude stop recommending me ff7 ships i literally hate all of them