#with smaller cameos in this drawing from:

[midnightdemonhunter]

Read @whats-those's Scream timeloop fic recently and had a wonderful time! Very good character voices, and some entertaining alternate deaths! Definitely check it out if you like Scream, Stu and a no good very bad day for him! (x4)

[maulfucker]

my rodian girl.. I need to draw her properly. she's only a headshot

[last-words-ofashootingstar]

CODE L-O-V-E

Chapter Two: TIPI-TAP

❥Yandere ATEEZ x fem reader

➽-❥in this chapter: With your second week of official idol work comes more practicing, the announcement of your group, bonding within the company, and more strange and heartwarming moments with your senior group. (Yunho, Mingi, Seonghwa, and Hongjoong centered.)

➯a/n: i'm having way too much fun with this story ngl 😭im glad it's been well received so far, hopefully you all like the direction i take it ! there's a cheek kiss in this chapter, place your bets 🤭

♫ "The code is L-O-V-E!" ♫

Masterlist

✫彡wordcount: 8.6k

♡'･ᴗ･'♡genre: SLOW burn yandere

ಠ_ಠwarning/content: only briefly proof read: self-doubt, anxiety, glimpse of readers past, mingi has no concept of personal space, seonghwa's oppa kink makes a cameo lmao

➯L-O-V-E a/n: the life of a kpop idol is very public, and thus a lot of information has to be known about the reader(who is becoming an idol) but i also want all of my stories to be as inclusive as possible !! so here is the baseline information: reader is 22, no description of race or appearance in general other than shorter than hwa/yunho/mingi, from a war-torn (fictional) country, has distant relatives in korea (unspecified: related by marriage or adoption is probably the case), speaks fluent korean(as well as english and chinese), is a musical prodigy, and is generally ambi-verted and a natural leader

✩index: see comments

dialogue not spoken in korean will be italics, singing/rapping will be romanized and bold, texts or writing will be smaller.

♡ ̆̈L-O-V-E-R-S♡ ̆̈ @comicnerd557 @hon3ysun @devilzliaison @princelingperfect @ateezswonderland @queenofdumbfuckery

let the journey continue...

MDNI WITH MY BLOG

⋆.ೃ:･간절히 FIND, FIND OUT𐦍.ೃ࿔*:･

"What are you thinking about?" Hongjoong's voice breaks your trance of staring at a wall while the crew moves around some cameras.

You had all taken your first photos together as a group, and were now anxiously and excitedly awaiting to film your first video. The set was blank save for a black backdrop, Jisu wanted your dancing to speak for itself.

You had started off the day strong, eager. But things were staring to feel real, and real was making you scared. You weren't used to others touching you, and you had spent forty minutes being dolled up by your stylist and makeup artist. You were barely used to the one or two camera that have been around to film the documentary, and there was at least five on set. You were starting to deeply doubt that you could pull this career off.

"Uh?" You blink, as if you were coming back to yourself, "oh, Hongjoong-sunbae!" You bow with a small smile, going to stand up when he waves his hand; sitting down on the floor beside you. "I was just... thinking should I use a stage name?" Maybe it would help you put on a brave face, like your stage name and you were two different people.

"Hmm, what did you have in mind?" He hums as he takes in your appearance. He thinks it might be the first time he's ever seen you in makeup, or in anything other than dance clothes.

Your outfit is cute, to match your groups concept. Each of you is in a different color, and you landed in purple. You look good in purple, he thinks.

"Uhm," you fiddle with one of the little braids throughout your hair, "I'm drawing blanks, actually."

He gives a soft laugh, and you return it with a smile. You can see why he's the leader of his group, he has a reliable aura about him. Warm and compassionate, but you once saw him gathering his members and he demanded respect. You don't know if you have that switch. Everyone around seems to already recognize you as crUSh's leader, but you think it should be anyone else.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" You ask as you stretch out your legs, careful not to scratch the shoes your stylist had you put on.

" 'Course," he nods, mirroring you.

"How did you know you would be a good leader? Everyone seems to think I'd be perfect, but I think one of my Unnies is a much better choice."

He breathes a laugh, shaking his head, "woah, you really are like a mini-Captain." You tilt your head, and he continues, "I didn't know I'd be a good leader, either. I thought it was a terrible idea! Any group leader you ask will probably say something similar — we didn't know we'd be the leader, it just happens that way. A groups dynamics just click the way they do. And you click perfectly as crUSh's leader! I've seen the way you take charge, you do it without even thinking. You're brave like that. Busting into your seniors room to take care of a member, that's a leader move if I've ever seen one!"

You suddenly feel very shy, looking down at your feet. "Thanks, Sunabe... Hopefully you're right!"

"Eh, I'm always right," he jokes, making you tilt your head back laughing while he watches with a grin. He takes out his phone from his pocket, opening up a file while you look on curiously, still smiling. "I have something to show you. Mingi sent me a clip of you singing the other day, and it inspired me."

"Really?" Your eyes widen a bit, leaning forward to hear better as an upbeat instrumental begins playing from the speaker.

He has it pretty quiet so he doesn't disturb the others on the set, so he holds the speaker towards your ear, watching as you listen with that glint in your eyes — the one he envisioned while creating the music.

When your voice from the other day joins the background, you jump a little bit; before the biggest smile ever finds its way to your lips. It's only a short clip from the video he'd received from Mingi, but since it's the chorus, it reappears a few times.

"What do you think?" He asks when it ends, and you shake your head.

"I don't know whether to kiss Mingi or slap him," you giggle, covering your face briefly, "you made that in only a few days?"

"Yeah! Usually it takes wayyyy longer, but like I said," he shrugs, "you inspired me. Your song writing is brilliant, I can't wait to see more! You'll bring some to the recording booth tomorrow, right?"

"Of course, I have some p-"

"Mèimei!" Bongcha calls for you from across the set, making you look up. She'd taken up to calling you that when she learned you know a good bit of Chinese, and you were immediately bonding like crazy because you could keep up with her ranting. "We're about to film our intro! Come lead us!"

"Oh, sorry, Sunbae," you bow to him as you both stand, "I'll see you tomorrow!"

He grabs your hand when you turn to leave, "I have an idea for your stage name."

"Huh?" You pause, looking down at your hands, which he quickly drops as he feels a blush creeping onto his cheeks. "Ah, what is it?"

"Myeongi."

"Myeongi? What does that mean?"

"Uhm, well; Myeong means brilliant, and Gi means brave, or rely on. It fits... don't you think?"

You feel heat bubbling up in your own face, "I like it."

⋆.ೃ:･널 향한 낯선 VIBE𐦍.ೃ࿔*:･

"Okay!" Jisu claps from behind the camera, making you all come up from your deep bows.

From the center, you had bowed to the crew a few moments after you finished your performance; and your members had followed.

"You guys nailed it!" A round of applause comes from around you, and you can't stop the large smile on your face as you look around your members.

You're all breathing heavily after what had been the fourth take in a row, the director wanting to get different angles. Bongcha slumps to lay on the floor, groaning loudly and throwing up a thumbs up, "thank you!"

You kick her foot with a little laugh, crouching down before falling onto your behind. The rest of the members are quickly following suit, thankful for a moment to breathe. "Thank you, ladies! That will be all the takes we need!" The director calls out, making you all cheer.

When you see the makeup artist approaching, you barely have time to be confused before Jisu explains. "We have a little bit of a challenge for you all."

We haven't even debuted yet and they're giving us variety show type challenges?

"Challenge?" Eunhwa asks as she tilts her head up for her makeup artist. You can tell the introverted member wants to be done for the day.

"Yes, more of just a little task," your manager goes on to explain as you all get touch ups done, "so your video will be going up the day after tomorrow, and that's when we will announce you as 'KQ Ladiez'. Along with your video and the introduction we filmed earlier, we'd like to post a video of each of you with your sunbaenims to get some more engagement. It's a challenge because we won't pair you off, you'll have to find a sunbaenim and ask them yourself, and decide what kind of short video you'll do together. Done by today!"

You feel Eunhwa's pain, your jaw progressively dropping more and more until your makeup artist closes it while holding back her laughs.

"Done by... today? Like this today?" Aeyoung clears her throat, clearly nervous. She, of everyone, is the biggest admirer of your senior group. She says she wants to be 'a dance machine like Yunho-sunbaenim'.

"Yup," Jisu has a grin like an evil mastermind, she wants you all to break out of your shells now that you're set in stone to debut. "Since theres a one member difference, one of you will have to do a video with two of them. Good luck!"

She's out the door before Bongcha's glare can kill her.

"Seriously...?" Yoomi sighs, "I'm nervous around our sunbaes, they're so intimidating!"

"You're nervous? Look at poor Eunhwa-Unnie!" Sunji points to her, "she's about to combust!"

"Hey, come with me," you hold her hand gently and help her up, bowing to your makeup artist before pulling your member out of the set room quickly. "While the others are trying to figure out who to ask, we can ask Yeosang-sunbae to do a video with you. He's introverted too, that'll make you more comfortable, right?"

She holds your hand tightly, nodding along with your words, "yes, thank you, Unnie..." You smile over your shoulder at her, letting her collect her thoughts as you enter the elevator, as you leave it, and as you approach their open practice room.

"Don't be nervous, Eunhwa, he's nice," you give her hand one last comforting squeeze before you knock on the open door. "Ya-hoooo~"

"Ye-ssi!" Mingi beams your way, looking up from the practice video he's monitoring with Seonghwa. "Hey, how did your first recording go?"

You gesture her into the room with you as she stalls in the doorway, "it went well! I think we really nailed it."

"That's good! What do you think, Eunhwa-ssi?"

She looks up quickly and forces a small smile through her nerves, "yeah, I think so too." You nudge her hip with yours, nodding to Yeosang; who's back to talking with San after giving you both a nod. "Ah, Unnie, he's busy, maybe I could just-"

"Yeosang-sunbae!" You call as you yank her forward, carefully smoothing your skirt before you sit. You have safety shorts on, but you still don't want to seem risqué. "Hello, San-ssi," you greet him more politely, only having spoke to him briefly.

"Hey, Huebae," Yeosang smiles, as does San, pausing their conversation, "you need something?"

"Yes, actually! Our manager sent us each on a mission to record a video with one of you guys, and Eunhwa was a little nervous, so I thought you two could do it together? You're both introverts, so I thought you'd get along!"

"I call you, Ye-ssi!" Mingi shouts as he keeps his eyes on the computer screen, making you giggle before looking between Eunhwa and Yeosang.

"Would you do that, Sunbaenim?"

"Yeah, of course." He stands up with a small grunt, nodding for her to follow him, "so, did you have any ideas, huebaenim?"

   "Who do you think I should do a video with?" San asks, making you look away from the duo as they wander into the hall.

    "Hm? Oh," you tap your chin as you think through your members, "maybe Bongcha! She has a lot of energy, you two can probably match well. Plus, she was you in our Guerrilla cover. Do you know any Chinese?"

    "Uh, little bit," he says in the language, pinching his fingers together.

   "She's pretty fluent in Korean but if there's any confusion or anything, I can translate for you guys! I speak Chinese pretty well." San blinks as you speak quickly, his mouth agape as he translates in his head.

    "Woah," Mingi laughs softly as he sits on the bench next to you, "is there anything you can't do, Ye-ssi?"

    "I can't wink," you offer with a shrug.

    "Ah! Me neither!" He chuckles, tilting his head, "who were you going to ask?"

     "Oh, I hadn't thought of it... well, you called dibs anyway!"

   Bongcha slides into the room, rambling in Chinese, "mèimei! What if I filmed with San? That's a good idea, right? We match each other's vibes. We can do Guerrilla!"

     You laugh before taking a long breath in, "aaaah, I know you guys too well already. Jiějie, I already asked San-ssi if he'd film with you," you nod, smiling as she fist pumps the air.

   San smiles as he stands, giving you a little bow before joining her.

     "What do you want to do, Ye-ssi?" Mingi knocks his foot against your leg lightly, looking down at you. Hongjoong had told him that you looked pretty, but to be truthful; he always thought that. Also to be truthful; you took his breath away when he turned around and saw you.

    "Hey, there's seven of you, eight of us. Is one of us going to be left out?" Seonghwa hums as he rolls over in the chair. He'd have to face his embarrassment of calling you cute the first day you met sooner or later.

    "Manager-nim said one of us should do a video with two of you," you explain politely. It's almost giving you whiplash — you're arguable closest and most informal with Mingi, and you've only briefly spoken to Seonghwa so you're trying to be extra formal, especially because he's the oldest idol at the company.

    "We three could do something together! What do you think about that, huebae?"

   "Oh, that sounds good, Park-nim!"

⋆.ೃ:･THIS LOVE IS NOT FAKE𐦍.ೃ࿔*:･

With everyone having paired off with a member of the other group, all of you were spread out around the building.

You, Mingi, and Seonghwa hadn't left their practice room. Others came and went, watching with amusement as you tried to decide what to do.

    What you landed on made everyone who passed laugh, even some of your members whipping out their phones to capture the moment as Seonghwa yells at Mingi to 'be cuter!'

    It was his idea to begin with. Catallena by Orange Caramel. 'It's cute, easy, and everyone knows it!' Everyone does know it, which is why you're even singing it as you practice the dance a few times.

   You keep in the middle for the most part, because they're taller. But when they were singing, they were in the middle; so you made your moves more excited so you weren't dwarfed by them.

   You had decided to do the whole song, and just choose the best clip to post.

     When you finally had it down and in sync with each other, you grabbed the closest person to record it for you; who happened to be Yunho.

He could clearly be heard laughing over the music and your voices, but that made the video even better.

Even though it was meant to be a short clip that would be posted on social media, it was too good not to post the whole thing. You all were clearly having fun, and you were good at the song despite doing it live and only practicing it together for about forty five minutes.

Especially the ending, which would end up going viral after it was posted.

Everyone else had finished their duo videos, and a good mix of your members had gathered in the practice room because they could hear you all still singing. They could be heard along with Yunho, giggling and cheering from their places on the wall.

When it ends, you pose for a moment before simultaneously busting out into laughter. You lean your forehead on Seonghwa's arm, and you don't see the way he looks down at you with stars in his eyes.

⋆.ೃ:･I FEEL YOU CALLIN' ME𐦍.ೃ࿔*:･

     "Hey, Huebae," Hongjoong peeks his head into the booth the next day, pointing to the papers on the stand that are different from your lyric sheet, "is that your song?"

You were the last of your members to record through the song, and after you had, the producer left you in the room with only the two producing idols.

    "Oh, yeah," you pick it up, suddenly embarrassed by your strawberry stationary, "I wasn't sure if you were serious so I brought just the one incase."

    "Of course we were! We love encouraging our juniors," he steps back into the room, taking Mingi with him after he had come to help you readjust the microphone, "after hearing that, we definitely want to hear another original!" The door to the booth closes behind them.

     He closes out the debut song on the computer, opening up a blank track as you protest, "I don't want to take any more of your time."

    "Ah, nonsense. All of your members are done, and we'd be fiddling our thumbs otherwise. Hit us with it!" He says while holding the button for you to hear him.

     "Uhhh," you hide your face in your sleeves, "it's a lot different from the song you made, I might not be good. Plus it was a headache to write, so I'm not sure if-"

    "You know what Hongjoong says?" Mingi interrupts you as he sits. "The bigger the headache, the better the song," they say together, making you chuckle.

     "Okay," you finally fold, explaining a bit, "it's a bit of a rough concept like, uhmm, like bad girl independence."

     "Ah, really? We get to see so many sides of you," Mingi's little laugh makes you smile down at your paper as you make a few last second notes.

     "Don't judge me too badly, Sunbaenims," you bite your pen, "I've only been doing this a couple months. I've never- well, I've never actually shared any of my songs with anyone until the other day. Hongjoong-sunbae really nailed the instrumental, have you heard it?"

    Hongjoong pouts with a coo of 'aww', thankful that the button isn't pressed as he realizes what he did, happy you couldn't hear him. Mingi did though, smirking over at him after he nods to you.

     "Don't worry, everyone starts somewhere. And you already act like a professional in the booth."

    "I do?" You blink confusedly.

    "Totally! You get into a zone like we do, move your body for more flow," Hongjoong moves his arms as you did while you were recording, "ah! You went 'seonmyeonghi pop pop'," he giggles as he pops imaginary bubbles like you did.

   "I did? Sheesh, that's embarrassing..."

    "No, not at all! It means you have a natural passion for singing!" Mingi argues, watching you make another note on your song as if to prove his point.

    "Hyung!" Another tall figure crashes into the room, making your eyes widen. "I heard one of the girls is an ace, is that true? Is it Ye-ssi? I bet-"

    Hongjoong slowly turns to face you, making Yunho freeze and deadpan when he realizes you can hear everything with the button clicked down. "Uh... Hello!" He bows suddenly, making the men shake with silent laughter, "Sorry for barging in, I didn't know you were still recording, I ran into PD-nim so I figured you were done... I'm sorry."

    "It's okay, hello," you bow back, almost hitting the window.

  

    "Careful!" Mingi yells, thankful when you come back up unscathed, "we'll have to (Y/n) proof the recording booth, she's determined to bang her head." You had done the same thing while thanking the producer.

    You laugh at his joke and give a small apology, backing a few steps away from the window before carefully dragging the microphone closer.

    "We were just about to listen to our huebaenim do an original song."

    Yunho's eyes light up at Hongjoongs words, and he looks to you, "for real? Can I listen?"

     "Uh," you hesitate for a second, before nodding, "yeah, of course." He takes a seat on the couch behind the two others in their chairs, leaned forward excitedly.

    "Do you want a metronome?" Hongjoong hums, ready to pull one up.

    "No, that's okay," you lift the paper and Yunho smiles at the cute strawberry print on its edges.

    "Hwaiti-" Mingis voice is cut off from your headphones as Hongjoong unclicks the button, leaving you in total silence.

    No backtrack, no metronome, nothing but your voice as it echoes quietly and the feeling of awaiting eyes on you.

     They wait for a few long moments as you read over your various notes you've taken while monitoring the few videos you've taken of yourself. It was purely self indulgent, but now it was coming in handy.

    When Hongjoong reaches to press the button, you stop him by waving your hands, "I'm okay, just stage fright! You know what, I'll-" you grab the microphone and set it infront of you while you face away from the window, "sorry, I'll just face this way."

     Yunho claps in amusement as you boldly turn away, Mingi laughing with him.

    "Okay, this is better, sorry sunbaenims!" You throw a thumbs up above your head before you begin bouncing to hype yourself up. Feeling much better without seeing the eyes on you, you begin to loosen up.

     "Breathe in, breathe out, ayeee," you shake your head before restarting with a sudden boldness and confidence that makes Hongjoong scramble to begin recording on the computer as his gut tells him that this will be golden.

    The flip you made from cute and bubbly to confident and rough in just a few minutes is enough to give the duo of producers whiplash.

   "Breathe in, breathe out," you loosen up even more as you begin, "ya-hooo, you don't wanna do this, sigan ppaetji ma!" The tone of your voice makes Mingi begin bouncing in his seat with uncontainable energy. It almost reminds him of himself, the way you move to your own beat as you rap.

   "Ne meoritsogeun ontong hayae hayae hayae~ Boran deusi urineun flying high, high~," it's Hongjoongs turn to start freaking out, cursing himself for not thinking of the rhyme you used.

"I pull up with the girls, so let's go! Zoom gotta zooooom~" You're completely in your zone as you finish the part of the song that you'd picked to show them, which happened to be the ending. "Bulleodeullyeo hondon let's go, zoom!"

You peek over your shoulder to see all three of them staring at you with various amounts of wonder. "Oh, did the microphone turn off? I should have kept facing you." You look over the standing mic as you mistake their open jaws and big eyes for something else.

    That is, until you hear the buzz in your headphones that means they pressed the button — immediately followed by their cheers and claps. You jump at the sudden noise, grabbing your chest before you laugh a bit, "you scared me."

    "Waaah! You're so good!" Mingi almost squeals, "you nailed it! Yah, how did you do that?!" Hongjoong nudges his shoulder as he speaks so plainly to you, but you don't seem to mind, too shy to even register his informal way of speaking.

    "Ah, I did it how I ima- aaye!" You yell as the door is swung open and you're suddenly picked up by the tall man, laughing loudly as he bounces with you in his arms, your feet swinging above the floor as he chants.

    "We have an ace! We have an ace!"

   "Mingi-ya! You're going to rattle her brains!"

    Hongjoong giggles as he watches the sentimental moment of Mingi setting you down carefully and fixing the crooked headphones with a soft, "sorry."

    "Ah," you take the headphones off and carefully set them down, gathering your papers and following him out of the booth with a small question of, "was it that good?"

    "Was it-" Hongjoong stutters flabbergasted, "was it good?! Woah, you aren't a rookie, no way you're a rookie!" He jokes, Yunho joining in.

    "Are you sure you're not our senior? You rap like you've been in the industry for years! That was awesome!"

"Oh, you guys are just hyping me up," you roll up your papers carefully and place them in your hoodie pocket, "thank-"

"Hey, tomorrow, you should show us more," Hongjoong speaks from the computer where he's looking at the shared schedule, "we'll all be free. Do you have plans?"

"Uhm... no, I could show you guys what else I have!"

⋆.ೃ:･달려가 CRUSH ON YOU𐦍.ೃ࿔*:･

    "No," you shake your head, "something is wrong but I can't tell what." You pout as you watch the youngest three do their dance break later in the day.

     The metronome set to the songs beat has become dull background noise that you're starting to think you'll hear when you try to sleep.

    The door is open to get some air flow as your breaths have long made the room steamy, and people often pass and take a peek inside. It's beginning not to bother you, having eyes on you. Sometimes you don't even notice them at all.

     "Try it like this," you rearrange the girls by their shoulders, dragging them into place and putting Namseon in the middle, "your leg movements are the strongest, and you two are better with your arms, this might balance it out right."

    "Ah, that's smart," Yoomi nods, swiping away her sweat soaked bangs, "count us down, Unnie?"

    "Okay, three, two, one," you hum the song as you watch them closely, eyes flicking when you see Sunji's feet stumble. She seems to be the least coordinated with her feet, but otherwise she keeps up perfectly.

    They look to you expectantly as they finish the short dance break, and you nod quickly, "yeah! That's more like it! You guys will be all anyone can talk about."

    The three young girls beam, high fiving one another as you stand from your crouched observing position. You stumble a bit, catching yourself before the girls can notice.

     "You guys take a few minutes, I'm going to get some fresh air."

    "Are you okay, Unnie?" Yoomi asks quickly as she sees stumble again, going to catch you.

    The others turn to you as well, even the older group on the other side of the room. You shake off her worried hand from your shoulder and smile, "I'm okay, it's just stuffy in here. I think I'll head down to the connivence store and get us some food, yeah? We could all use a pick me up, we've been working hard."

    "Do you want me to go with you," Bongcha asks through her panting breathes. Of everyone, she has least stamina. But she doesn't let that stop her.

    "That's okay, Jiějie," you laugh a bit as you grab your small back pack, "get yourself some water, you look like a lobster." You smirk as her face hardens, running out of the room while she yells.

     "What?! I'm the sexiest lobster in the sea, then!" She shouts as she pokes her head out of the door, being drug back inside by the others.

     You cackle as you race down the hall to avoid her wrath, passing ATEEZ's practice room and barely noting that their door was open as well, only noticing at all because you hear Yeosang, one of them that knows more Chinese. "What the hell?"

    "You better come back with some kimbap or this lobster will pinch you in the ass, Ye (Y/n)!!"

     "What the hell?!" You hear him repeat louder as you choose not to wait for the elevator, instead skipping down the steps with a newfound pep in your step from the banter.

     You shake your head as you come out into the lobby on the first floor, beaming even brighter as you spot Yunho coming from the elevator.

    "Hey, where you headed?" You ask as you put on a face mask, not wanting to risk any sicknesses with such important things going on.

     "Hey," he smiles just as bright as you, holding the door open for you as you both exit, "just to the convenience store. We decided to have a longer break than usual."

    "Ah, really? Us too! I'm going to get some kimbap or Bongcha is going to pinch me in the butt," you say nonchalantly, making the man nearly spit out his water.

    "What?!"

⋆.ೃ:･CAN'T STOP MY CRUSH ON YOU𐦍.ೃ࿔*:･

   Yunho holds the door for you again as you enter the store, ever the gentleman. "Wha-aaaaah, that's nice." He goes to ask you why you've stopped when that question answers itself; freezing cold air blasting you both.

     "Sweet, sweet, relief," your dramatic pose with your arms out makes him laugh, pushing your arm away from his chest playfully.

    "Come on, let's get that kimbap so you don't get pinched," he quips, making you bee-line for it. He shakes his head with amusement, fixing his cap before beginning to collect things that he knows his members like.

    It's still mid-day, most people at work and school. Only you two and the worker, so he isn't worried about disturbing anyone as he calls out, "hey, huebae!"

    "Yes?" You call back, reveling in air from the fridge as you curse the KQ building for not having open-able windows or a better air system.

   "Why don't we all eat together? I think I've only met two or three of you guys officially. "

    "That sounds like fun," you chirp from beside him, making him jump. You chuckle as you hold out the basket to him. He sets the food accumulating in his hands into it with a thanks, taking it so you can get things for your members. "You should text Hongjoong," you hum as you thoughtfully pick out things for the girls, "see what he thinks."

    "Why Hongjoong?"

    "He's the Captain, right?"

    He grins as he takes his phone from his pocket and begins texting, letting you lead him through the small store.

     "What kind of chips?"

   "One regular spicy, one not spicy at all," he replies without hesitation, slipping his phone back in his pocket as you grab two of each; not knowing what your members will prefer. "Hongjoong said good idea, we'll all eat in your practice room."

    "Yay, family bonding! Too bad the Xikers boys are in America," you pout under your mask as you hold the basket while he gets drinks for all of his members, "we barely said hello to two of the members and they were up and at'em!"

    "Maybe we can do this again when they come back," he suggests as he grabs something you have a hard time reaching, "Hunter did say he thought we should do more company activities."

     "Hunter is smart, then," you say as you finally grab a bunch of kimbap, saving your ass (literally). "Co-worker bonding is important in any job. Especially one so demanding. What kind of ramen?"

    "Hmm," he mimics your stance, looking at the wall of what seems like dozens of options with a hand on your hip.

    "Should we just get random ones and let them fight over it?"

     He looks down at you for a second before randomly grabbing a bowl, "I like the way you think."

    By the time you're done ransacking the store, the basket is overflowing as you set it on the register and Yunho has a few things in his hands that just wouldn't fit. "Sorry, big gathering last minute," he bows to the cashier, who looks like they're just about ready to quit.

    You go to get your wallet from your bag when he stops you with a hand on yours, "I'll pay."

    "It's for my members too," you argue, giving him your best puppy dog eyes. "New comers treat for you guys."

     He's immune to begging eyes, having spent entirely too much time with Seonghwa; king of boba eyes, and his best friend, Mingi; king of puppy dog eyes. "Nope," he shakes his head, already having his card out when the cashier is done ringing up the small feast.

    In retaliation, you grab all of the bags you can as he pays, leaving only a two bags of drinks. "Let me help-"

    "Nope," you repeat him in his exact tone, headed towards the door with a bow to the cashier, "have a nice day!"

    He holds the door with his free hand, chuckling at the sight of the cloud of bags on each side of you, "hey, seriously, let me help."

    "You paid! So I shall carry," you declare theatrically, finding yourself more comfortable with the man by the minute. "C'mon, we got some hungry members to feed!"

     He lets you win, this time.

⋆.ೃ:･L-O-V-E 𐦍.ೃ࿔*:･

     "Ya-hoooo~" You sing-song as you enter the practice room, finding all of the members already gathered and talking among themselves, "Santa and her elf came early!"

     Everyone perks up with the promise of food, gathering around the bags that you set on the floor and start unpacking.

     "Yunho, did you make her carry all this?" Hongjoong looks towards his member, ready to scold him.

     "She insisted!"

     "I diiiid," you smile up at the leader from your kneeling place on the floor, "but you can still beat him up if it will make you feel better."

     "Yah, I'm the elf and I'm about to get beat up? What kind of friendship is this?"

     A couple of laughs come from the others at your back and forth, "the kind where you should have let me pay, and this would have all been avoided and I might let you be Santa!" You stick your tongue out playfully as you lower your mask. "Bleh~"

     "Bleh~" Yunho copies you, making them all laugh louder.

     "Okay, okay, that's enough kids," Hongjoong slaps the front of Yunho's cap down, breaking the staring contest between the two of you.

    The whole 15 of you gather around the laid out food in a circle, you and Yunho quickly grabbing the ramen you'd picked out for yourselves before chaos would inevitably ensue.

    After the KQ ramen wars, as it would come to be known, everyone settles down and eats in peace, small conversation made here and there.

     As you pour some of your soda into Sunji's eagerly awaiting cup, you peek towards Hongjoong with a question thats been bugging you for a few days. "Hey, Hongjoong-sunbae?" You call softly as you wait for the bubbles to die down before pouring her a bit more.

    He nods towards you, answering wordlessly because his mouth is full.

     "I was wondering, you guys are allowed to hang stuff up in your practice room, right? I thought I saw some pictures tacked to the wall the other day."

    "Yes, we are, as long as it won't fall down with all the stomping we do." He tilts his head, watching as you give some of your precious ramen to Eunhwa, "why do you ask?"

     "I was wondering if we could as well, maybe a group photo or something," you shrug while looking down, "just a thought I had."

     "Sure, you can!" He beams, taking out his phone.

    "What are you doing? No phones while we eat, that's your rule!" Wooyoung gets a slap over the head for his troubles, letting it dangle defeatedly.

    "Let's take a picture. Just for us," he says as he stands, "we can print it out for you guys to hang."

    "Right now?" Aeyoung asks as she hurriedly slurps the remainder of her noodles.

    "It's a day to remember, right?" Hongjoong smiles brightly as you stand excitedly and jump before helping Sunji up. "The first time we've ever all been together. We can take another when Xikers get back, too. Call it a family portrait."

     A few minutes of strateger-ing later, you and the rest of your to-be group are sitting facing away from the mirror, and the men are standing facing it. So one way or another, everyone is in the frame.

      "Everyone ready?" Jongho, holding the phone from the middle of his group, asks.

    "Yes," the walls echo.

     "Say crUSh!"

     In the photo, you're too busy smiling at Jongho's words to pose properly, head leaned against Eunhwa's shoulder as she holds up a shy peace sign, holding your hand with her free one.

Sunji has one arm wrapped around your shoulder, the other around Yoomi. Nobody would be able to tell how sore they were from dancing, not by the fact that they both have the biggest smiles ever on their faces. Namseon is laid across their laps, looking up at you with admiration clear on her face.

Bongcha and Ayeoung are at either side of the line, each having one side of a heart held up, as if saying that their younger members fill their heart. When they had time to plan that, nobody knows. But it would become their go to pose.

The reflection in the mirror behind you all shows the way that the men have just as big of smiles as they watch over you.

A beautiful picture with beautiful meaning.

Nobody would even notice the way Hongjoong mimics your pose subconsciously with his head titled, or the way Mingi's eyes are glued to you, the way Yeosang was visibly pleased with the fact that he was aligned with you, the way Seonghwa found himself blushing at the sound of your laugh.

    A beautiful picture, indeed.

⋆.ೃ:･I FEEL YOU CALLIN' ME𐦍.ೃ࿔*:･

     You're the only one in the practice room at all the next day. It was your groups only rest day of the week, but you had plans with your senior group.

     You're laying on your stomach in the middle of the floor, going through your loose-leaf papers of lyrics and spreading out the ones that you deem acceptable. The instrumental of your groups song is on repeat coming from the computer, and you mumble the lyrics as you sort your own.

     "Damn, did a hurricane come through here?" Wooyoung jokes as he opens the door, making you look up for a second before you look around yourself; suddenly in the middle of a large circle of decorated stationary papers that you don't remember setting down.

    "Ah, sorry! You guys are early," you scramble to pick up the mess as they file into the room.

    "We're right on time," San points to the clock, making you snap your head around to glare at it.

    "Traitor," you whisper to it, making them chuckle. "Time got away from me, I was trying to separate them by genre to make it easier to show you guys!"

    "Aw, you're thoughtful," Mingi smiles as he picks up a paper, reading it closely.

    "Oh, that should be sexy vibe!" You point to him, then to one that Jongho picks up, "that's love songs! Over here with Yunho-ssi is sad vibe, over by Seonghwa-nim is feel good songs."

    "What's this pile?" Hongjoong asks as he picks up the only stack of papers that's in a distinct pile.

    "Personal favorites," you beam towards him, sitting up with a groan, "the ones that gave me the biggest headaches, too. Picked them out especially for you." A couple of laughs are heard around the room.

    Yeosang is looking over everything with wide eyes, "(Y/n)...?"

     "Yes?" You respond quickly, helping Yunho pick up and pile together the sad songs.

   

     "I thought you said you've only been doing this a few months?" His words make the others freeze with realization as well, the absolute mess of papers could only mean one thing, "there must be a hundred songs here."

    "Close," you shrug nonchalantly, "one hundred twelve." You straighten out your stack, humming the lyrics to the song still going on the stereo.

     You feel all of their eyes on you, and you look up between them, "what's wrong?"

    "(Y/n)," Hongjoong begins slowly, crouching to your level and gesturing around, "are all of these finished?"

     "Uhm," you look around, "for the most part!" You nod, still unaware of what's going on in their heads.

    "You wrote one hundred and twelve songs almost to completion in a few months?" He blinks in disbelief as you nod your head again.

    "Dude," San runs a hand through his hair before laughing baffled.

    "What? What is it!? You guys are freaking me out!" You pout as you look between them all quickly.

    Mingi reaches over the papers, careful not to crumple any, and sets a hand on your shoulder, "if half of these are even a bit as good as your rap from the other day, or the song we wrote, you're more than an ace... you're a lyrical genius."

    You look around at the papers, suddenly realizing just how many songs you've written. "Oh, shit."

     " 'Oh, shit' is right," Hongjoong giggles at your face of shock as you scan the papers, "your mind could be a goldmine! Even I can't do this. Nobody can do," he gestures to the mess that his members are surrounding, "this."

    "But," you begin, taking a breath, "I did?"

    "Fuck yeah, you did! I knew there was something about you!" Mingi punches Wooyoung in the leg with a, "told you so."

    "Ow!"

    "But, what if they aren't good? What if my rap was a fluke?" You speak over Mingi and Wooyoungs argument, quickly being proven wrong.

    "This is incredible," Jongho says as he looks up from the love song he's been reading, "these are good. Every single one I've picked up is good."

    "In this pile too," Seonghwa nods, offering a paper with purple lines to Yunho, trading it for the one he had with flowers on the border.

    "You must have been a writer in your past life," Yeosang sits cross legged at the border of the papers, beginning to help sort through them now that his shock has passed. "A good one, at that."

     With nothing else to say, you all begin putting the papers into neater piles. Often passing them around the circle to one another to either show a particularly good one or to get an opinion about what genre it goes into. They'll call out ones they aren't sure of by the title on the top, and usually you know right away.

     "Midnight Fic- Fiction?" Seonghwa reads, peeking at you for your answer.

    "Midnight Fiction?!" You whip around, falling on your stomach to reach for it, "no way! I thought I lost this one! This definitely goes in the headache pile, Joong-ssi! It's my favorite!"

      Seonghwa hands it over with a small smile as he notes how comfortable you're becoming with them. "I like it," he nods, "upbeat?"

   "Yes, that's how I imagine it," you bop your head to the imaginary beat, the music on the computer long being turned off. "Thanks a bunch, Oppa!" You sit quickly and peck his cheek before turning back and sliding to Hongjoong, eagerly explaining the background you imagine for the song; completely unaware that Seonghwa is malfunctioning behind you from the platonic cheek kiss and the nickname that had slipped.

⋆.ೃ:･널 향한 낯선 VIBE𐦍.ೃ࿔*:･

     With you and Hongjoong's minds combined, you had finalized your first ever song. You often went back to the track he made for inspiration, and he went to your messy notes and scribbled lyrics.

    You were singing it through with the music from his phone, and he nods along; "I think we just broke a record!" He smiles as it comes to an end, "fastest production of a kpop hit."

    "Hit," you shake your head with a laugh, "I doubt it."

    "No, that's so cute, it will definitely be popular!" Mingi says from his place lying on the floor.

     The piles were distinct and paper clipped, courtesy of Seonghwa. Yeosang was straightening out the last one. You decided to keep them all in Hongjoongs studio for the time being, until he could go through them all. He said you could come and get them whenever you wanted, and joked that it would be 'Myeongi and Hongjoong's studio.

    "You think so?"

    "Definitely," Jongho nods as he sets down the love song that had become his favorite, "you really have a talent, Ye-ssi."

    "Like seriously!" Wooyoung agrees, "it's kind of scary. Where has Jisu been hiding you?!"

    You wave him off with a smile, looking at the clock. "Ah! It's past midnight!" You crawl over Hongjoong's lap quickly and slide to your bag, getting your phone. "We've already been announced as a group, all of our videos should be up!"

    A few of them bring out their own phones, going to different social medias to see how things are being received.

NOTIFICATIONS

YOUTUBE

KQENT POSTED TWO VIDEOS.

TIKTOK

ATEEZ POSTED SEVEN VIDEOS.

TWITTER

KQENT POSTED AN UPDATE.

CRUSH GROUP CHAT

EIGHTEEN NEW MESSAGES.

      As you're scrolling through their videos on tiktok, you hear your own yell come from San's phone; followed by Seonghwa and Mingi's yells. "No way! They posted the whole cover," he grins like a madman as he watches, and you quickly make your way over.

    "Seriously?"

Mingi flings himself over, his chest on your back as he watches over your shoulder, "aiiiish, we're never going to live this down, Hyung."

Seonghwa crouches on San's other side, clicking on the comments while the video keeps playing. "Hey, they love her though! It's worth it to be a little embarrassed."

"What are they saying?" Your head blocks their view as you lean right in front of San's phone.

"Yah, move," Mingi chuckles as he pushes your head back gently so they can see. "Look at that one! It's only been like half a hour and people are telling others who you are. 'The girl in purple is Ye Myeongi'," Hongjoong has a shy smile as they learn that you're using the stage name he came up with," 'she's the leader of KQ's pre-debut girl group-' when did you become the leader, Ye-ssi?!"

"A couple days ago," you smile as you go back to your own phone, reading the comments on the maknae's video together.

   "Aww," Yunho turns his phone to you, showing you a comment under the official statement.

i'm so glad these girls are getting a chance to debut together! in their introduction video you can tell they already have a bond. the leader makes sure everyone gets a chance to speak, and they all look so excited. ladiez hwaiting!!

   "I think I'm gonna cry," you cover your face with your sleeve, laughing lightly.

"Heyyy, it's okay," San puts his hand on your back soothingly, and the light touch makes the tears spill over.

"S-sorry," you bow your head as you sniff, quickly wiping your tears with the tissue that Wooyoung hands over. "Sorry, this is embarrassing..."

    "No," Hongjoong whispers as he joins the rest of his members in sitting around you, "it's okay... It's a big moment. You've been working towards this for a long time."

    "Hongjoong is right," Seonghwa hesitates for a moment before placing his hand on your head, thankful when you lean into it instead of away. "It's okay to cry, Huebae. Take all the time you need."

⋆.ೃ:･L-O-V-E𐦍.ೃ࿔*:･

Yunho is the last one to leave the building that night, and he doesn't expect anyone to be on the street. It's nearly one in the morning.

But, there you are.

Sitting on the curb, holding your bag to your chest as you look up at the sky. He follows your gaze, there isn't much to look at. You can't see the stars very well in the city.

He steps forward to ask if you need a ride home, when he hears you whispering.

    "-proud, right? You loved music a lot, I remember... Maybe that's why I'm so good at it." You chuckle, but it's sad. He has to take a moment to translate the words you're saying, but he follows along well enough. He doesn't mean to eavesdrop, but his body doesn't seem to want to move. "Uncle Ujin keeps asking me when I'll visit you. I know that I should, I really should go with them one weekend... But you understand, right? I won't lie to you, and try to say that I'm too busy or something. Really, I'm just a coward, and- and I'm so mad at you, still. They won't even talk about home. I have to deal with the consequences of your actions. I have to be here every day! Why do you get to leave? Why?!"

    A loud rumble of thunder is followed by an immediate downpour of rain. You let your head down, laughing at mother nature's divine sense of humor. "Great. Just great."

     An umbrella opens up over your head, and you look up to see Yunho.

    He gives you a small smile, and you almost want to ask how much of that he heard. "I walk out right when it starts raining, great timing, huh?" He decides that he'll just keep the fact that he heard you to himself. You were clearly struggling with something, and he didn't want to add embarrassment onto that.

     "Do you need a ride, Huebae?"

     He outstretches his hand, and you gladly take it.

⋆.ೃ:･달려가 CRUSH ON YOU𐦍.ೃ࿔*:･

⋆.ೃ:･DELETED SCENES.ೃ࿔*:･

#TWO#

   As you all fold up and put your sticky notes in the hat, Jisu is writing all of your names on the mirror with your marker.

After counting the number of papers to make sure everyone voted, you bring the hat to her and hold it as she unfolds the first paper.

"(Y/n)-Unnie," she reads and puts a tally under your name.

The next, "Ye (Y/n)," another tally.

By the third one you begin to get nervous as — "(Y/n)."

"Bongcha!" She moves her hand to her name and makes a tally before going right back to yours, "(Y/n)!"

When all of the votes are counted (and recounted per your request), you and Bongcha are the only ones with votes. And Bongcha only has one.

"Yah, we all voted for (Y/n) besides herself!" Aeyoung giggles as you go through the papers for a third time, "it's meant to be!"

"Looks like crUSh has an official leader," Jisu smiles as she erases all of their names, leaving only yours, "congratulations."

She heads to the back of the room, where the crew is still situated and giving you a small round of applause with your members.

You stare at your name, six marks underneath it, six members that you're now responsible for.

"Unnie," Namseon stands up quickly and runs to you as she sees the tears welling up in your eyes, "are you okay?"

The others are standing as well, gathering around you to shield you from the camera. "You guys think I'll be a good leader?" You whisper, taking Sunji's hand when she offers it.

"Of course you'll be a good leader," Eunhwa reassures you just as quietly, "you already take such good care of us."

"I agree with the mouse," Bongchas playful nickname for the introvert makes you crack a smile, "and don't worry, you have me as a co-leader. You picked me out yourself!"

When the oldest member pulls you into a hug, the rest of them fall in line, creating a group hug under your name.

#THREE#

MINGI SENT AN ATTACHMENT.

     It's a video of the mirror, the lyrics on it. In the reflection, you have your head turned to face San, nodding as you listen to his suggestions intently. Sunji is singing the chorus again, "tipi-tap tipi-tip- hey, Unnie? Should it be more li-" The video cuts off.

MINGI SENT A MESSAGE. hyung, let's make this song! (y/n) is a musical genius

MINGI SENT AN ATTACHMENT.

    Another video, your face buried in your book as you write. "-ke Mingi-ssi went, 'the code is L-O-V-E~!' Try a little higher than 'dallyeoga crush on you~' to give it some variety. 'The code is L-O-V-E,' like th-"

SEONGHWA HYUNG SENT A MESSAGE. That's so adorable! It fits the vibe of their group, cyber and cute

JONGHO SENT A MESSAGE. catchy

CAPTAIN SENT A MESSAGE. Send me a full recording of what you have and I'll mess with some music

WOOYOUNG SENT A MESSAGE. the code is L-O-V-E !!

YUNHO SENT A MESSAGE. great now wooyoung will be singing that all day long haha

WOOYOUNG SENT A MESSAGE. L-O-V-E !!!!

 

⋆.ೃ:･L-O-V-E WILL BE RIGHT BACK.ೃ࿔*:･

[grandisknight]

to wish upon a star

summary: Xavier gifts you a token of his affection, paired with promises to fulfill whatever you wish upon him.

tags: nsfw (mdni), established relationship, afab!reader, fluff (at first), kissing, feelings, crying, banter, teasing, body worship, eventual smut, pwp, breast play, improper use of light evol, consent checks, ring play, v fingering, mirror sex, dirty talk, finger sucking, handjob, p in v, creampie, ‘i love you,’ implied/referenced sex

+ wc: 7.6k | ao3 version

notes: inspired by the affinity 100 rings! i started this when i got said rings with xavier like… last month… oops. let’s pretend their promise rings are actually On their ring fingers 🤫 (in-game they’re on the middle ones…) this is like honestly 90% smut and 10% feelings so take that as you will! also song cameo is ‘must be love’ by laufey c:

dividers from cafekitsune

“I can’t believe you pulled this off,” you spoke in awe to Xavier.

When he had mentioned needing your hand measurements before, you were sure it was for your worn-out combat gloves that had seen better days. It seemed natural, largely due in part to a passing conversation from just days ago. He heard out your concerns then, and agreed it’d be best to invest in a new pair.

But now, there was a silver metal wrapped perfectly around your finger in its place. Surreal, it shined with every angle of your admiring hand. Delicate jewels inlaid all around to meet at the central place, a dazzling shooting star. Everything about it was a perfect capsule of him. It was now a piece of you too, a promise to the twinkling cosmos that sealed your affection.

Xavier’s hand clasped over yours, his own band glinting just the same and lightly clinking at the contact. His star pressed to the engraving of the smaller equal, a completed puzzle that only the two of you held the pieces to. “Now whenever you wish upon a star, you can look here.”

His fingers quietly thread into your counterpart, bringing them to his lips and a gentle kiss graced your knuckles. Peering through his lashes, the kind pools of blue searched yours, reflecting a sea of stars that found their home in you.

“Are you saying I can’t ask this star of mine for a wish anymore?” A lighthearted remark was all that it was, but you still caught the surprise in his eyes at the sound of it.

They soon settled into crescents, a small smile pulling at his lips. “No. This star will always, always be the first to hear your wishes.”

Such an earnestness in his honest confession pulled at your heartstrings, eliciting yet another awe from you and a chuckle in his place. Xavier angled your hands, lips brushing over the band to prove his words. “Make a wish now, and I’m sure it’ll be granted.”

“Really?” You pull your hand away, only to cup his jaw in beckoning. “I wish upon my star for him to kiss me right now.”

He lets out a lofty sigh then, the tip of his nose meeting yours in proximity. “Your wish is my command.”

Xavier’s lips tenderly pressed into yours, the plush pillows melting almost immediately upon contact. A hint of warm vanilla and honey tinted his kiss, lingering traces of the milk tea from earlier fragrant all throughout. It was slow, practiced and careful—to admire the love he had waited eons for, sealing the reality he had once thought would be a far away dream.

No sooner did he quietly ask for permission for something more, tongue ardently pushing against yours. It was granted with a simple parting of your lips and a tilt of the head, more than happy to oblige. Xavier took greater care to memorize you then, tracing the contours of your canines and sucking in the warmth you returned to him. A low moan passed from his throat and into yours, his hands searching for your waist in an effort to draw you closer.

Parting for a moment of breath, you gently thumb at his cheek and realize how flushed his skin had become. Rosy from the shell of his ear, spreading across the skin just below his fluttering lashes and sinking into the lines of his neck—if you didn’t know any better, you would’ve thought he just came home from an intensive workout, the poor thing.

You could only snicker at the way he blindly chased for your missing lips, causing him to finally peel open what was a lidded gaze of disappointment and pause.

“Someone’s impatient,” you muse. Your forehead meets his and a whisper of his breath tickles your face as he huffs lightly.

“And someone is the reason behind it,” Xavier points out.

The moment was calm, only the soft puffs of breath and thudding hearts echoed through the space you shared. His fingers dimple into the plush of your sides in an off-beat pattern, a quiet hum of notes resonating from his throat. Arms wrapped around his neck, the two of you began to slowly sway to a gentle melody. Occasionally, Xavier would swap out the notes for a mumbling of the lyrics—

I’m all in, I’m fallin’… Can’t get back up… Can’t think right, too tongue-tied… It must be love…

Padded footsteps attempted to follow such a tune, your bodies soon naturally flowing with time and dancing amidst the comforts of his living room. Your muscle memory led to a simple one-two step of a waltz once put to use from a mission of the past. And while practice did not make perfect, it aged in the progress you’ve made since then, now well attuned to his footsteps and his to yours. You found yourself resting your cheek against the square of his chest, humbly feeling each vibrato of his song.

“By the way.” Xavier suddenly speaks up, the soft notes coming to a halt.

He watches as you look to meet his gaze, and oh, you were truly beautiful. The light of his life—undeniably he was enamored, a lost cause and irrevocably yours. Not like he would have it any other way, and a skip in his heart’s beat proves to him just as much. He nearly forgets the words he wanted to relay to you, stunning him into silence the longer he  looked at you. A hand brushes a strand of your hand to rest neatly behind your ear, moving to your chin and tilting to meet his lips in a quick kiss.

Reminding himself, reminding you.

“Mm?” You mumbled against him, though made no effort to protest and returned the peck in affection. A series of blinks met your gaze when you pulled back, fluttering glimpses of a curious blue drinking you whole. 

“Using your Xavier cipher again? What could it be…” Your lips pursed in thought, and he could only press yet another quick kiss at the endearing sight.

His voice lowers in a request that holds your breath in anticipation. “You’re also my shooting star. Won’t you grant me a wish?”

———

Time blurred itself into a dizzying sequence that landed yourselves in the dip of his comforters, hands unabashedly making quick work of your clothes and his. Somewhere, someplace were the mixed fabrics—in a pile saved for a later time to deal with. Here, the thin layers of your undergarments were the only barriers to complete entry of enveloping each other in bare warmth. 

A light sheen of sweat speckled your skin, fingers gripping his shoulders and a huff pushing past your lips. You squirmed beneath him, his larger frame bracketing yours as he added yet another flower of red to decorate your neck. A kiss of consolation fluttered over the newfound mark, and Xavier dragged his lips to the centerpiece of your collarbone.

“Xavier.”

“Mm?”

He looked up at you then, azure stared lost in the cloudiness of his desires. His calming beauty had shifted into something sharper, keenly observing the ways he could devour you whole. A stark contrast to the bright, cheerful twinkle from just moments ago. It hammered your heart into a thundering pace, and Xavier could tell. 

His lips curled then, slowly kissing his way down your sternum, stopping just above the place that exposed your flustered state. Hands smoothed themselves from your sides down to the high of your thighs, parting them deftly to slot himself between the newfound space. Soft massages of his fingers melted into your skin, patiently waiting for you to continue.

“Do you want to stop? We don’t have to do anything you don’t want,” Xavier reminds you. A tentative peck places itself between your breasts, before his chin lightly rests upon it. 

“No, we can keep going.” You reach to rake fingers through his silver locks, brushing the soft parting away in revealing his furrowed brow. A thumb traces the thin hairs to smooth the tension, working instantly as they settled and you hummed. “You never said what your wish was. How am I supposed to grant it if you don’t tell me?”

“It’s you,” he simply responds. Speaking as if it was a universal truth and the most obvious thing in the world, not a hint of doubt behind his conviction.

“Me?” Now you were confused by a mere two words. Pulling your hand back, your arms slid to prop themselves as you gave him an incredulous look. “Yeah, I’ll grant your wish if that’s what you’re saying. So spill the beans already.”

Xavier shakes his head, a faint laugh passing through his breath. “You’re my wish. Everything about you,” he starts, a gentle kiss pressing to your sternum once more.

“From the way you laugh at the videos you show me, and to the smile on your face after we complete a trial.” Another press of his lips moves down, a peppered trail soon making its way to your navel. “Even your sassy remarks during cards, passionate energy when we play the claw machine and sad moments alike when we leave empty-handed.”

One of his hands sneak up to squeeze your side, gingerly massaging the plush skin. His mouth lingers longer here, inhaling your warmth and nose nudging into your abdomen. “My wish is you, always has been. All you have to do is be yourself, and allow me the honor to stay by your side.”

You’re not sure what good deed you must have accomplished in your previous life, but you were more than grateful that it led you to this very moment. And the overwhelm of such an awareness had your eyes burning and sight blurred to sudden tears—great, you were crying. The atmosphere had quickly sobered into something more raw, subsiding the heat of the moment.

“Oh, my sweet girl,” Xavier coos, eyes of love searching yours in realization.

That alone had your bottom lip trembling, furthering the waterworks at his kindness. Swiftly but gently did he lean forward to capture your tears between his puckered lips, kissing them away. A hand cradled your jaw with every little weep that paired your breaths. 

You reached for his face then, taking hold of his surprised cheeks before pressing those very lips to your own. It was a measly attempt of a kiss, one to quell your emotional heart and to reign in all your focus on your lover—but he returned it all the same, tender and careful pecks falling into the smile that melted into you entirely.

“You’re an idiot.” You sniffled, pulling away with a slight pout to defend your disposition. He could only chuckle at the poor name-calling.

“I thought I was your sulking, jealous dummy,” Xavier teases, lightly rubbing his nose against yours. “And you said that was your favorite kind. Now you take me as an idiot?”

“You can be both,” you reason, stroking the apples of his cheek in turn. Your eyes flick towards the metal resting on your finger, and you tap it against his face in thought. “Lucky for me, those versions of you are mine.”

“All versions of me belong to you. Every part of me is yours.” He raises his own ringed hand, cupping it against yours. “You’re the only star I could ever need in this vast universe.”

“That really makes us a pair of shooting stars then.”

A flash of astonishment spreads across his features before it’s soon blinked away, replaced with sentimental adoration and a relaxed expression. “You’re right,” he hums. 

He takes your hand and presses the ring to his lips—a new habit that he’ll have a hard time breaking, it seems—before trailing down your forearm and making his way to your shoulder. It left you feeling ticklish, and you squirmed as much by the time he made his way to your ear.

“Is something funny?” Xavier’s warm breath blew past the shell of your ear then, earning him a delightful squeal from you in turn. 

“Ack! Don’t do that, it tickles!” You attempted to widen the distance between your now closely pressed bodies, feeling embarrassed at the proximity. It was to no avail when you had one of the greatest Deepspace Hunters leaning over you, encapsulating your body beneath his with such practiced and natural ease. 

“Hm? What did I do?” He asked innocently, before knowingly blowing another puff of air and chuckling at the sight. “You’re so sensitive, and I’ve barely done a thing.”

The words were lodged in your throat when you felt something hotter welcome itself over your ear. Xavier’s tongue traced the curves of your helix down to your lobe in a circular pattern, leaving a lasting impression of his warmth behind. His teeth catch the end of your ear, a gentle yet foreboding nibble sinking in and pulled away with a tug.

It took all of your fighting spirit to put some air back into your lungs, and the look you gave him matched it. “Xavier, you know what you’re doing.” Though you didn’t particularly have it in you to disagree, a warm tingle sparks throughout your spine in enjoyment.

“Maybe?” He feigns an innocuous air, though the edge of his lips quirk briefly. “So about my wish,” he starts, calmly staking his claim with a brush of his hand over the curve of your rising chest. 

Not only was the sound of it prevalent, but the ardent thumping of your anticipating heart sparked an unexpected feeling within him. Relief, for one. You were alive, warm to the touch and resounding so beautifully. But also, a sense of unbridled attraction arose from the touch, his blood pumping in more places than one. A deep inhale followed the movement of his fingers, which danced themselves to the sweet spot just beneath your navel. 

“You remember what it is, don’t you?”

It felt like a trick question. Especially so, when you could feel the pads of his fingers smooth over the waistband of your underwear. Those very fingers that were centimeters larger than your own, a ghosting touch just barely skimming over the clothed mound of heaven’s gates—temptation in the palm of his hand.

“Me.” 

You managed the singular word with a faint breath, a sense of mind quickly blurring with the heat that overwhelmed you from the presence of his fingers. A tentative press, though gentle as ever, presented itself between your heat and elicited a shaky sigh from you. If he had just moved them a little closer, you could relieve yourself of this building tension. Yet, he made no motion to do so, fingers soon coming to a halt. The delicious thought ran away from you, and you had half the mind to curse him out right there.

“Correct.” Xavier’s voice lowered, a rasp you weren’t quite used to and even so, scratched all the right parts of your brain. A purr that settled into the crevices of your memory for days to come. “And what I want in this very moment is you. To touch, see and hear all that you have to offer.”

Contrary to his list of wants, he removes his hands from you entirely, leaving you to feign disappointment at the sudden loss. Moving to the edge of the bed, his thighs spread apart as he patted the space between them in invitation. You rose from your spot, a frown on your face earning you a chuckle in turn. The comforter padded your crawl towards the newfound seat. Xavier tugged you into his embrace, caged between firm leg muscles and biceps that circled around your waist.

Doubt was written across your face at his unspoken motives. “What’s this all about?” You huffed, less than pleased to be left strung on from just seconds ago.

Yet, Xavier only rested his chin on your shoulder, snuggling in comfortably and choosing not to meet your eye. The sweet gesture contrasted the heated words that brushed your ears in beckoning. “Look up, and tell me what you see.”

“I see…” You lift your gaze then, realizing exactly where you were. 

It led you to the mirror of your reflection just paces away, tidily pressed against the wall and encompassing your image in its entirety. Xavier’s frame had neatly shadowed yours, where his ringlets of blue were awaiting you expectantly in the glass. The melting sunset made your combined bodies glow, and your eyes instinctively trailed over the grasp that kept you in place. 

“Us,” you deduced. “You and me.”

“That’s right,” he nods, tufts of silver bouncing. His hands sneak themselves upwards, one each cupping your breast and giving a light squeeze. “Keep talking. What do you see now?”

“Now?” You echoed, a tinge of embarrassment to your voice and skimming the tips of your ears. “I can’t—Ah, ah.”

Xavier rolled your nipples in between his fingers swiftly, teasing and pulling the skin as your breasts spilled out of their brassiere. He kisses your shoulder as his massaging and tugging cycle themselves, gaze coolly pinned on you through the reflection. “You can. Use your words and tell me.”

“You’re teasing me,” you breathed, shrinking in on yourself with every press of his fingers. A fingertip pressed into your areola and you inhaled sharply, “Touching me… y’know, over there.”

“Where?” He questions, fingers splaying out to cup your breasts wholly and giving a firmer squeeze. 

“Is it here?” His chin rubs into your shoulder blade with the affection of a kitten seeking warmth. 

“Or maybe here?” Following were his knees kneading against the sides of your thighs, his chest pressing into your back to capture you entirely. A hunter who had his prey in the fine confines of his muscles. 

Xavier murmured. “This all counts as touching too. So, where exactly am I touching you then?”

“My… my…” You squirmed against him, back arching away when his thumb and forefinger returned to pinching a firm bud. 

Even as you moved, Xavier would follow, hands over your skin and attached without remorse. His eyes glimmered in merriment, shining clearly amidst the reflection of your tangled bodies. “Hm? Did you say something?”

“Chest, my chest, damn you.” You managed as much through gritted teeth, biting down a mewl to his indecent touches. Xavier smiles against your shoulder, rewarding you with a smooch of commiseration—ironic, when it was all part of his plan. 

You felt like you were finally catching a break as soon as his hands slid away from your sorely swollen breasts, a sigh of relief passing under your nose. Though, it was shortly lived with the dive of those very hands finding their way to the plush of your abdomen.

“And what about now?” He asks, dimpling his fingers into the flesh in the adjacency of a kitten pawing a blanket. It was a comforting touch, hands flattening across your stomach in a gentle massage.

“My stomach,” you answered, having quickly picked up on his tactful play. “Though, you seem to be nicer this time around.”

“I’m always nice.” Xavier shrugs his shoulders, leaning down to press a soft kiss to your skin. “And you’re beautiful. I can’t help but appreciate the gentle soul between my arms.”

He attempts to make various shapes with his fingers just above your navel before settling on a slightly crooked heart. Well, it was the thought that counted.

The hook of his cramped forefingers and equally contorted middles had you giggling at the sight, as sweet as the sentiment was. “We do this all the time at the photo studio, but look at your poor posture,” you teased, attempting to relax the tensed appendages.

He eases at your touch, allowing you to reshape his fingers in a more comfortable position. “Yeah. There’s only so much the photography poses book for beginners could do,” Xavier spoke earnestly, his chin finding rest atop the crown of your head. “But since you’re my partner, it’s been easier to handle the studio light at the very least.”

“Good, because we’re heading there later this week anyway. We’ll need new photos to commemorate today.” Your gaze trails over your hands atop of his, a downward peek over your skin and finding it reflected in the mirror’s orientation. It was a natural illustration of what it meant to feel at home, especially when he held you in an embrace that promised a shared tomorrow. Your heart felt warm in the blanket of his care.

You shift your head away to peer up at him, and he looks downwards to curiously see why his resting place had moved. You pressed a light kiss to the edge of his jaw then, a token of gratitude in reminder of what led you here in the first place.

Xavier lets out a pleased hum, though takes the opportunity to cup your chin. His thumb brushes against the brim of your lower lip, looking intently. Bringing your faces closer, mouth dipping to meet yours, he mumbles a remark. “You missed the most important spot.”

Another smack of his lips against you lingers longer than the one before it, your eyes fluttering to a close. Like clockwork, the prodding of his tongue against yours seeking allowance melted into a warm welcoming as you tilted into his embrace. It distracted you momentarily, perception dulled in the efforts of capturing your breaths—Xavier smoothed his hands over your thighs, and only then did their parting cause you to blink into realization.

Drawing back, you saw his gaze was no longer set on yours but straight ahead once more. “Xav…ier?” His name left your lips in a sense of familiar foreboding, a bubbling cauldron of heat settling into your senses. “That’s…!”

“I haven’t fully touched you here in a while and yet,” said the man in question, dipping a finger to push against your clothed folds. The fabric darkened over where you were practically weeping with need, and even as he drew back the appendage, a light string followed in suit. “You’re soaked, angel.”

“You can’t just say that,” you bemoaned, embarrassed at the honest nature. In an attempt to save yourself some face, your thighs instinctively pressed together to hide such an exposed state.

Though it was rendered useless when Xavier stopped you halfway, purposefully keeping your legs spread with a click of his tongue. One hand squeezed the plush of your inner thigh in tune, the other returning to skim over your underwear. The slightest drag of his fingernails and digging of cloth created a friction that had you squirming, a line between the need to flee for your pride and need to be satiated for the sake of achieving pleasure promptly blurring.

“Just observing,” he softly brings up in countenance. “Admiring, even. Is that a problem?”

“Well, I just—Ugh, please.” Your heart spoke before your mind could, practically mewling when the tips of his fingers curled just above your entrance—where you needed him the most. “You know why it’s like this…” You’re to blame, you thought, with the unspoken words hanging off your tongue.

Xavier sighs into the curve of your neck. “Maybe I do, or don’t. What do you want me to do about it?”

Your thighs twitch when he prods further, lightly pushing back and forth in reminder of what you could have. The orbiting sensation of his fingers had you fluttering around nothing, and your patience was wearing thin. Fine, fine. It was time to throw in all your dice and hope your numbers scored high. Throwing away your shield of pride for now, you ultimately settle to be honest with your desires.

Boldly, you press your hand over his and firmly slotted his fingers between your neatly soiled cunt. He lets out a soft gasp, stunned by your affirmation. Though Xavier doesn’t pull away, decidedly enveloping your heat wholly against the expanse of his palm.

“Make me feel good here.” Your eyes never left the reflection, enjoying the sight of his brow twitching at your demand. Concentrated entirely on your words, they deepened as you continued to lay out your thoughts. “Use these nice, skilled hands of yours and make me think of nothing but you.” 

The lowered gleam of his eyes twinkled when they found yours in the reflection. “Are you asking for a second wish?”

You nodded, coyly exaggerating your request. “You’re the only star I’m wishing on. Can’t you do this one thing for me?” Testing his resolve, it was as if you were questioning his steadfast promise.

With a sharp inhale, the thread of his patience snipped soon thereafter.

“I can do that, surely. But these are in the way,” he mumbles calmly. A familiar glow emits from his fingers, gentle specks floating around them. There was an even fainter woosh accompanied by the slightest gust of air. It fell past your ears before both disappeared with a blink of an eye.

You gasped in disbelief. “My underwear, Xavier!”

It was no more, a ruined scrap of fabric that had been neatly sliced into two. The sides of the waistband fell forward, leaving you exposed to the cooled bedroom air. “I liked that pair,” you sighed.

You didn’t really care for it truthfully, but an exaggerated pout to cover your surprise of his evol was your best front in the moment. No wonder why he never lets you touch his light blade, when the luminance emitted from his fingertips alone could already do so much—effortlessly, at that.

“I’ll get you a replacement later.” With a quick tug, the measly piece of cloth is pulled from beneath you and discarded to the floor. “As many as you want,” said Xavier, though distracted in thought. His fingers moving with a mind of their own to quell those thoughts. 

“It’s not like you’ll need them right now.”

His forefinger and middle parted your labia with ease, offering him a devious view of the very image he had longed to see. The glistening state of a cunt that had withstood his relentless and teasing touches, puffed and awaiting for something, anything to relieve your tension. The longer fingertip dips into your entrance first, light in effect though it echoes a slick noise in return. A second follows in suit, before Xavier slowly sunk the joints of both fingers into your heat. 

Your head falls back onto his shoulder, a soft moan of relief tickling his ears. He carefully retracts before pumping back in, setting a slow yet meaningful pace. 

“Look at how beautiful you are,” he croons, and a curl of his fingers emphasizes his words. His lips quirk into a small smile when he finds your hips rutting forward to chase his strokes. “So warm, so perfect and sucking me in so nicely.”

A mewl of his name parted your lips in response, ringing in a sweet melody that has him twitching against your backside. This would do for now, he tells himself as much—and remains firm when he stares at your blissed expression in the reflection. All because of him, riding his hand and giving you pleasure with every knowing press against your ridges. He could come alone at the sight and thought, but another passing of your whimpers has him leaning forward, bright idea in mind.

Xavier kisses the shell of your ear, voice dripping with a raw sense of need, desperation even. “Do you think you can take a third? For me?”

Pure bliss is all that runs through your mind, and you have half of it to manage a gaze towards the reflection. And what a mess you found yourself taking in—both your skin and his had begun to drink in the settling sunset, sparkling from a sheen of sweat beading his forearms and your thighs alike. The greatest shine of all could be found pooling between his fingers and your cunt, which mindfully played you along. 

You swallowed. “A…another one?”

Xavier hums, moving to pepper a kiss just beneath your earlobe. “If you can’t, just say so. Your comfort comes first.” 

You shake your head in immediate effect, stubbornly so. Who were you to back down from a challenge? 

“No, I… I can try. Give it to me.” You lift your hips by a centimeter or two, further parting your legs in offering. “I can take it. Please, Xavier.”

With the final words of permission, he gently pulls his two fingers back, before welcoming your entrance with the sensation of three tips. “Alright. Tell me when it’s too much.” 

His ring finger, just like the ones before it, slowly sank into your heat and gave into a newfound stretch that had the two of you gasping. It proved to be a tighter fit despite earlier coaxing. The stretch had you reeling, and he patiently held his excitement in place for your sake. 

Xavier paused once he was knuckle deep, and that’s when you felt it.

“Xavier—“

“Safe word?”

“N-no, but,” you gulp, feeling a different kind of flush sink into your skin. “Your… ring.” 

The cooled band found itself melting against your inner heat, just barely pressed against your walls but was nevertheless a welcoming presence. You could feel his breath freeze above you, the dominoes quickly falling in succession. “It’ll get dirty if you—!”

“Ah, that’s what you’re worried about?” Xavier snickers, before angling his wrist to slide out and push back in, reaching his fingers as far as they could go. “It should be the least of your concerns right now.” 

“Give me some time,” you draw out, experimentally pushing your hips forward and hissing at the shift. “Your hands are big, y’know…”

At your own pace, you gently grind into his palm to grow accustomed to the sensation. Hands on his knees to balance, Xavier’s eyes raked over the arch of your back, mesmerized. His free hand rested into the dip of your love handles, following your movements in quiet encouragement.

You called for his name when you felt a familiar brink creep towards the edge of your consciousness, slowing your hips then. Xavier followed, chin shifting to rest on your shoulder. “No more?”

“I’m ready now.” You spoke in a sense of confidence, supporting your words with a slight raise of your hips. Leaning back into him, you fall back down and respire a sound of pleasure, more comfortable compared to before.

The peaks of his knuckles fully brush against your clit when you touch base, a cherry on top of the indecent sundae. A switch had flickered inside his mind, thoughts pouring out through the parting of his fingers from within. He groans, burning the feeling of your warm walls that welcomed his ministrations to memory.

“I want you to remember that this very ring,” he emphasizes with a particularly firm smack of his palm. “Makes you mine. As much as I am yours.”

A small cry rips from your throat, pushing yourself against him from the sudden change in pace and newfound sensitivity. His fingers begin to pump with improved ease, aided by the dripping arousal coating his busied hand. His palm became wet with every crude contact to your overwhelmed heat, a faint string of arousal attaching itself to his skin.

“Look at yourself, how much you want this. Do you feel it? The way this band presses into your pretty cunt, drenched in your honey.” Obscenely loud squelches echoed his words, proving his point in rapid effect. A knowing chuckle rings amongst the noises. “Hear that sound? You’re so wet. Amazing how concerned you were, but I bet you’re actually enjoying this. Dirtying my ring, our ring like this.”

“Please don’t—ah—say it like that, it’s embarrassing,” you whined, though not outwardly denying his claims. “Not true, I promise—mmh!”

“You’re a terrible liar.” Xavier circles inwards, applying a particular pleasure that had you bucking in weakness—he cooed at the sight. “You say that as if I’m wrong. Denying the truth before us.”

A string of incoherence swirled into the sounds you created, overwhelmed by the vivid heat coursing through your body. Your eyes were fluttering to a close, but soon snapped open at the feeling of his sneaking hand grasping your jaw.

A sharp whisper of his tone nicks at your ear, redirecting your face to focus on the glass ahead. “Don’t look away. I want you to watch just how you come undone for me. On my fingers, with the very ring that binds me to you.”

It was a fight to keep your gaze steady, to witness how he held the entirety of the world in his hand with every knowing, calculated stroke. There were  faint glints of the silver band winking back at you during the few off-seconds his fingers weren’t buried deep into your weeping cunt.

“That’s my girl, you can do it.” He offers encouragement, skimming his teeth in a downwards trail, hotly breathing against your neck. The hold on your jaw loosens, sliding over the valley of your breast and dipping towards your clit. Pressed together, he begins to circle patterns of infinity, matching the pace of his remaining digits dutifully plugging you whole. 

He exhales in admiration, feeling his heart swell with a sense of pride when you tighten around him. “You want to come, don’t you?” 

Xavier searches for your pulse point, lips drawn in an effort to leave behind a stubborn mark. A quiet command echoes the ardent stimulation, tilting you to the edge. “Go on, let it all out. Make my wish come true, come, come, come.”

No sooner did a searing flash of heat strike you, seamlessly and pleasurably tearing you into two. Waves of long-awaited release ebbed through your walls and out into the maestro of his fingers that orchestrated them. Your hands found the closest thing to cling onto for purchase, fingernails digging into the tensed muscles of his thighs. 

Everything was hot, intensely warm from your body  and a testament to his efforts. His name became nothing but a broken chant, spilling from your lips relentlessly just as your arousal leaked into the sheets below. 

An act of kindness came with the eventual slowing of his fingers, soon leaving your trembling cunt. The parting broke with a slicked pop, and the successive emptiness drew a disappointed whine from you. 

Xavier finds it amusing, softly nudging your temple with his nose to pair his sympathy. “Are you doing okay? That was a lot, but you did well.”

You nodded for reassurance, lulling your head to meet his shoulder and limbs relaxing in recovery. 

He held out his hands for the two of you to see just how well you did, a fine layer of your fluids coating him from tip to knuckle, spread across the palm alike. Thoroughly drenched and sticky by design, they web between his fingers as he stretches them out.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” you spoke up in sheepish admission, then glanced at the outcome. You reach for the soiled hand, curling a hold around his wrist as you bring it closer to your lips. “But it was hot. I enjoyed it.”

Confusion colors his expression. “What are you doing?”

Slyly, your tongue peaked out and traced a path along the crevices of his palm. Stray droplets of your arousal were caught on your tastebuds, and it was exhilarating. Making your way to the tips of his fingers, your mouth welcomed their slicked length in whole. Lips pursed and carefully taking them as far as you could, you began to greedily tongue him clean. You bobbed forward to capture the base of his knuckles, then upwards to the edge of his nails in a repeated motion.

Xavier tensed above you, eyes sharp and narrowed to the deliberate suckling of your warm mouth. He made no sudden effort to pull away, entranced by your devious performance. A hum of approval would echo your throaty sounds on occasion, before he decidedly removed his saliva-ridden fingers and parted with a fine string.

“Generously cleaning the mess you made,” he observes. Sincerity softens his tone and the smile he graces you with shortly after. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” You return the gratitude in mild jest. You watch as he dries his hand off to the side, eyes soon trailing to the evidently darkened ripples of fabric just underneath your bottom. With a scrunched nose in apology, you could only hide part of your grimace. “Speaking of messes, sorry for your sheets. I’ll run the washer later to make up for it.”

He barely spares it a glance, finding the soiled padding to be of lesser interest. A kiss reaches your shoulder instead. “We can do laundry together later, there’s no rush.” 

His mindset furthers when his hands massage careful circles into your thighs, taking his time in soothing your skin. Falling into place, serenity begins to filter through the air. The bands of stars sparkled under the newly unsheathed moonlight, welcoming the cosmos your hands held together.

“Say, Xavier?”

“Hm.”

Delicately, you push his hands away and slowly come to a rise, power replenishing itself after a moment’s rest. Xavier could only hold his breath, eyes raking over a tantalizing backside view as you stood. You were bathed in a faint sea of starlight, a glowing visage he adored greatly. 

He released an exhale when you turned to face him, lips upturned in a knowing display. A blink later he found himself against the bed, back in full contact with the comforters.

“What’s the matter—Mmh.” He stifles his surprise with the back of his hand, blush creeping over the tips of his ears in succession. 

You take the opportunity to swing your body over his, and he swallows. Your knees sink into the bedding, paired at his sides and hips hovering over his. A stray hand quietly runs a line from the heart of his chest down to his navel, pausing just above his waistband. 

“I have another wish, if you’ll indulge me.”

He lowers his cover, on the cusp of intrigue and anticipation. “And that is?”

Xavier’s head dips back into the bedding further with an airy moan at your answer. Gingerly, your hand felt for his aching and abandoned cock, hot to the touch even through the cottons of his boxers. You leaned back to enjoy the view of pulling out his hardened state, his hips raised to discard the very fabric. Exposed to the cooler air, you could clearly make out the beads of arousal pulsing past his slit.

Finally freed from their confines and heavy between your fingers, Xavier twitched in unadulterated relief. A small laugh, one of recognition and affinity, escaped you. “I knew it. You were hard this entire time.”

He breathes out in defense. “Could you—mmh—blame me?” 

“I can’t,” you replied in truth. 

You honestly couldn’t, when you saw for yourself just how much of a mess he made of you only an instant ago. The flashing image of your reflection and his masterful play sprint past your mind, relayed through a squeeze of his length. You dragged your hold to the tip of his burning affection, then back down to the base. His brows knitted at your leisurely strokes, fingers curling into the sheets. 

“But what does that mean then?” You teased, pressing questions you knew the answers to with another flick of your wrist. “Did watching me get off having you that riled up, hm?”

“Course it did.” Xavier answers immediately, tossing aside his front and presenting himself in honesty. “I meant it when I said you were beautif—uck, fuck.” His train of thought falls short into a curse, huffing out pleasantries at your touch. “Yeah, just like that. You’re so good, so good to me.”

His hips buck with your other hand palming his sensitive head, especially so when the curves of your ring skim the skin with every downward press. He squeezed his eyes shut, labored pants combatting the meek groans of your name. It was a sight for sore eyes and a euphony for your ears—to see his hair messily fall apart with every toss, rising chest that pushed out such sweet mumbles and abdomen constricting the closer he was brought to the edge.

“I’m—“

“Close,” you finish his sentence, and he only nods in affirmation. 

Perfect.

A part of you felt guilty for releasing your hold on him then, and the way his eyes snapped open at the denial. But it wouldn’t be for naught—far from it. 

He opens his mouth to protest before it quickly falls to a close, biting down on his lip as your hips rise. The curve of his stickied head kissed the warm entrance of your cunt, soon buried deep within the instance you sank down. Even as you coaxed yourself into taking him in stride, it didn’t beget the stretch of his girth filling you whole.

“What a sly vixen you are,” he lowly murmurs, though not in protest but rather of astute respect. 

Xavier relocates his grip from the sheets to the curve of your sides, steadying your place over him with every purposeful grind you pushed forward. “Riding me like this, I’m really close this time. I can’t hold back when you feel so good around me.”

“Then don’t hold back for me.” You knew that well enough from the beginning, hands sliding past his abdomen and giving his shoulders an affirming squeeze. Leaning down to press your chest against him, your lips hover above his pillowy ones and smile. 

“Give me everything you have, that’s my second wish.”

Pools of a lustful blue widened at your greenlit request. The speed of light was slow in comparison to the realization that quickly dawned onto Xavier—the glide of his hands dipping to firmly hold your ass were more than enough of a signal. Virtues of patience thrown out the window, his hips snap upwards in fervent need, setting an unruly pace and reaching depths you hadn’t thought possible. Desperate, wet smacks of his skin into yours loudly filled the room and accompanied your equally crude moans.

He captured those very sounds into his mouth, sharing his own before his hips stuttered and bliss overwhelmed his senses. Streams of hot release clung to your walls, readily accepting every thick drop of his undoing. He takes your face into his hands then, taking the care to properly kiss you through the cock that continues to spill his spend.  

By the time he pulled away, your lips were swollen with the affection of his love, breathless all the same. Even if he had just come like his life depended on it, the gaze of pure adoration that bored into you showed no sign of such a thing.

With what little strength you mustered, you lean back and allow his softening length to escape you. A fine trail of viscous white followed in suit, pearling along your folds and dripping onto him. 

“Another wish comes true,” you remark. Pleased nonetheless, your body reacts in agreement as another string of combined release slowly pushes past your entrance. “Combined with your luck, you could make a killer living off of this.”

It earns you a light chuckle in return, amusement wrinkling his eyes. “As long as you’re my only and willing client, then I’m open for business. Just you, though.”

You wiggle your brows in an unserious manner at the prospect. “Do I get a discount?”

“Yeah. The exclusive lover one,” he retorts, though it's a committed promise despite the friendly sarcasm. “Anyway, our desires are well aligned. It makes fulfilling them light work.” 

He takes you back into his hold, chest to chest and heart beating to one another. Xavier tucks a strand of hair behind your ear before placing a tender kiss to your forehead. “I love you. My north star, I’ll always do my best to have your wishes granted.”

Whatever playful comment you had prepared melts quickly at his admission, honeying into fondness for your lover. “And I love you,” you sweetly sing back to him. “My shining trace of light.”

You stretch a hand to cup his face, to which he was quick to nudge against in reciprocation. The glimmer in his eyes faintly resembled the focal jewel inlaid within your ring, bright and wholeheartedly yours. Whispers of the stars blinked at you, relaying their oath as you admired Xavier in his entirety, and he to you.

“Let me guess. This time, your cipher is…” You paused, pondering at the possibilities and flipping through your mental notes. The conclusion came to a stalemate the longer you dwelled on it, and a sigh resulted in its place. “Actually, maybe I don’t know. Mind telling me what it means?”

“Sure.” A brisk warmth touches your lower lip, leaving behind a kiss too short for time to hold. “The message was… ‘Would you like to see the stars with me?’ The night is still young.”

You raised a brow at the proposal. “I’m already looking at one, though. And he’s really pretty, looks a whole lot better than the ones in the night sky.”

Xavier shakes his head, though a bashful flush at the compliment digs into his skin. “A simple yes or no would do.”

“Then, yes. The patio would be a nice view.” You make an effort to get up, but his arms around you give no room for freedom. You glance at him, wondering what was the literal hold up. “What is it? I thought you wanted to see the stars, so we should clean up and—Ah. You!“

Gravity was lost to you and the next moment, a familiar view of his shadowing frame shields you once more. The pads of his hands slide down your sides in greeting, torso making its slow descent down your body. He tilts his head, mirth coloring an expression that homed itself in front of your parted thighs.

“I do,” Xavier confirms. “But right now, I’ll have you seeing stars. Starting from right here.”

[lialucis]

Soap surviving the tunnel and the 141 trying to help fill in some of the blanks in his spotty memory.

Roach~

"What, Are you doing?" Gaz asked, crossing his arms and tilting his head like a confused puppy. His gaze wandering over Soap as he stood in front of a vent, holding up an oatmeal cookie.

"'m not... Sure..." Soap would mumble, his arm beginning to ache.

"Let me guess, another idea of Ghost's?" Gaz asked again, sighing as he tilted his head the other way. Despite what anyone could say, Ghost's ideas tended to work. Working more with the instinctive muscle memory reactions.

"He opened these and-- oh! Right..." Soap mumbled, moving to reach into his baggy hoodie and held up another cookie.

"And do we know what Ghost's idea was?"

A shake of Soap's head, mouth opening to reply only for the cookies to be yanked out of his hands as two vents were snapped open. One masked man swinging down and yoinking a cookie, making sure to lean down and kiss Soap's head. And another opening up in front of him, a quicker movement by a smaller mini me of the antenna'ed man. Earning a scream from Gaz, and Soap freezing up. Slowly turning to look at his hand, seeing his drawing book in place of the cookie. An owlish look and a hum, "huh, that's where it went..."

A little cameo of the smaller Roach called Dust Mite, @xxundeadfanboixx baby, and me hcing that Roach would happily adopt a younger sibling and train them in the way of being a vent gremlin

[iquirms]

Jason Todd Week 2025 !!!

totally forgot to do this yesterday so I'll slap both in here!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/61287277

DAY ONE: time travel / Batmobile Tires

Relationships: Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne, Jason Todd & Jason Todd

Characters; Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne

Additional Tags: Young Jason Todd, Jason Todd is Red Hood, Jason Todd is Robin, it'll make sense I promise, Time Travel, Shenanigans, A little bit of, angst, Jason Todd is a Menace, Bruce Wayne is Good With Kids, Jason Todd Steals the Batmobile Tires, but he needs motivation!, Jason Todd Week 2025, Fluff, Crack, idk pal

Description:

A small slip of a thing drifts into the alley, tiny and minuscule from his perch on the roof. The red hoodie dwarfs the kid, making him seem that much smaller and weaker than he is. From the side of his pants, the kid draws out a tire iron and crouches by the edge of the Batmobile, looking around furtively to make sure he’s alone. He even chances a look up but Jason’s been in the game for too long to let some scrawny kid see him. He can feel the anxiety pouring off him in waves, mostly because a phantom of it has spurted in his gut and is clawing through his windpipe upwards. There’s no way. Not tonight, not this day, the fates would be too cruel.

After a moment, the kid starts to steal the tires of the Batmobile.

DAY TWO: chronic pain

Relationships: Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne, Jason Todd & Damian Wayne

Characters: Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Damian Wayne, Tim Drake, Alfred Pennyworth, Background and Cameo Characters

Additional Tags: Angst, Chronic Pain, Disabilities, Life Altering Events Occur, Lazarus Pit Side Effects (DCU), but - Freeform, Like, The Opposite, Jason Todd has a Service Dog, His Name is Buttons, Self-Hatred, Complicated Relationships, Hopeful Ending

Description:

“Jay, I–”

“Please don’t. Just leave me alone.”

Bruce sighs. He’s got his eyes closed, like it physically pains him to even look at Jason. Like he’s this broken, mangled version of himself and not what he’s already been, just as broken and just as warped. His disguise has only been wiped away now, washed with the rain and leaving the scraps of his paint streaking across the ground like an ugly oil spill. Jason’s always been this disfigured, this broken, and it’s about time his body started looking like it.

[hypogryffin]

ok but like so you know how portable had that one yukiko cameo. so like OBVI the remake is going to have p5 characters appear also <-straight copium. anyway here are my pitches

Image ID:

Three pages of rough sketches with colour blocks. Image 1 has Maruki (coloured blue) standing awkwardly with a seemingly nervous smile on his face, looking younger and wearing Gekkoukan High School's uniform. A smaller drawing next to him shows himself and Rumi (red) smiling and laughing together. The text next to them reads "If Maruki was school-age at the time of P3's story he'd be about 22-25 years old [during P5 canon]". The number 22 has an arrow pointing to it that reads "1st year HS", and 25 has another that says "3rd year HS". The text continues, "Since he's supposed to be older (I think), it wouldn't make sense for him to show up". A wailing emoji with its hands up in the air is added next to the block of text. From there, an arrow with the caption "But!" points to another sketch of Ichinose (green) in Gekkoukan's summer uniform. The message continues next to another drawing of Ichinose, this time in the regular/winter uniform, "I do think Ichinose is probably the right age for it! Definitely not because I've been wanting to draw her recently nope no siree". Further notes continue down, reading "One or two [ear] piercings, none on the face" with a drawing of an earlobe, "Shorter hair" with a dotted line and a sketch of scissors depicting that her hair is about shoulder-length, and finally, "She'd still be in her stoic era so no smiles here, LOL." Additionally, back near the drawings of Maruki, there is another sketch of Rumi in Gekkoukan's uniform, with a note that says, "Were Maruki and Rumi canonically high school sweethearts? Or did I just hallucinate that information"

Image 2: A drawing of Zenkichi (dark blue) in an unbuttoned suit. He has his hair in a ponytail, and his arms folded behind his back. The text next to him reads, "Zenkichi, approximately mid-to-late 30s. / He can't be aware of the Dark Hour for [the sake of] continuity in Strikers, obviously, but he could still be reasonably(?) involved? I.E. assisting Kurosawa with something? Maybe related to a request from Elizabeth, a social link story(???), or main story things like [A block that reads "Spoilers" in all capital letters]'s death or Fuuka's "disappearance". I don't know, man." There are a few asides written next to it, reading "Maybe [he and Kurosawa are] friends" and "Investigating Apathy Syndrome?" respectively. Then the text continues, "Could be [Public Security], or maybe a career police officer (as in pre-promotion or something, I don't know I'm not a pig, myself". An additional doodle has the information "Akane would be about 7 years old" alongside a drawing of Zenkichi blabbering senselessly about his daughter, showing off a set of pictures, to the Persona 3 Protagonist (light blue), who looks awkward and has "Go away" written behind him as his internal thoughts several times.

Also, there is a sketch of Mitsuru (red) in plainclothes, smiling as she holds up two tickets, saying "I have received tickets to a gallery by Madarame Ichiryuusai, I was wondering if you wanted to accompany me there." The next drawing is of Yukari (pink) smiling and looking up from the book she's reading, though visibly apprehensive. She says, "Uh, yeah, sure, that sounds fun!" While her inner monologue yells "That sounds so fucking boring holy shit". It then cuts to her gripping the protagonist's shoulders, saying, "I need you to come with me to this stupid ass art museum I can't say no to Mitsuru-senpai." The protagonist says, "I, like, could not want to do anything less-" but is interrupted by Yukari adding, "I'll buy you dinner after and you can bring Aegis." The protagonist says, "Deal."

Image 3: A drawing of the lobby of the dorms. The protagonist (blue) sits on one of the couches with Koromaru (grey) sleeping with his head in his lap. The TV is on, showing a picture of someone standing at a podium with microphones pointed at them, and blares "Diet member Shido Masayoshi makes bold new proposal on foreign policy..." The protagonist watches, seeming disinterested. The next drawing is of the Big Bang Burger logo, with someone saying, "'Big Bang Burger'?", getting the reply, "Yeah, they just opened a shop last week. Wild Duck's got competition now, I guess." The next panel is of Ryoji Mochizuki (teal) and the protagonist standing together, revealing Ryoji to have been the first one to speak, now continuing, "Eeh, wow, that name is so lame!" as he smiles genially. He then turns to the protagonist, pointing to himself as he says, "Hey, you wanna try it? I'll pay!" The protagonist shrugs and says, "Sure."

End ID.

[kerubimcrepin]

Liveread: Dofus tome 3 - Les larmes turquoise

I finally got around to reading the bits of this book that have a crepinjurgen cameo. Like the last time, I learned about this cameo from a post by @julith-jurgen, and have sourced the translation of said book from a discord server, where @uelman runs games using these books and translates them.

Unlike last time, there are sadly no crepinjurgen illustrations in this book, the only thing we get is text — and Joris's appearance is far smaller than Kerubim's in the other book. Still, it's very nice to see even more Dofus MMO-era content of the two of them... (<- Guy who is normal about Dofus MMO-era crepinjurgens)

In these books, you make up a character, and try to get the six dofus, one book at a time. That is all of the context that you need.

You attempt to delay the inevitable by moving to a spot that'll make things harder for your enemies. You defend yourself doggedly, drawing power from the two Dofus. One sea creature is taken down by the crimson fire. The other two intensify their assaults. You lose 1 Hit Point. Thanks to the Emerald Dofus's energy you don't feel tired yet, but you know that soon your movements will be slower, more uncertain. Defeat seems inevitable... Suddenly, a huge piece of wood knocks down on a cultist's skull. A few seconds later, another assailant is biting the dust, knocked out. The two last robbed monsters try to understand what's happening. You take advantage of their surprise to attack... Very quickly, the fight's finished. Your opponents lay on the floor, unconscious. Now that's a turnabout!

Yeaa that's a classic Joris entrance, especially in the MMO times, since this series of books canonically more-or-less takes place in the same timeframe. He has a knack for drama.

[I am referencing the moments at 5:44 and 18:07, he has overdramatic ways of meeting the player two times in a row...]

In disbelief, you discover the source of this unexpected rescue: a small-sized being, wearing white and blue, whose face is hidden by a hood. To whom do those eyes filled with intelligence and that long pointy nose belong? Your benefactor is probably not an Imp: judging from the size of the imposing bludgeon he handles like a feather, this strange person wields extraordinary strength. Also, his hoarse voice isn't that of a child. "Best go back up without delay. The mermaids will take care of the Sea Witch's servants."

This is all very accurate except I really doubt Joris's eyes are filled with "intelligence". I'm sorry.

With bewildering agility, the gnome rushes upstairs. You follow on his heels, but you have a hard time doing so. A few instant later, you're at the beach, before the turquoise sanctuary. Girle Pylot is swinging over the palm trees. The creature you owe your life to turns towards you. "You can join your friends in an instant. But first, I have a question to ask you. Who do you serve?" (Answer chosen by the discord players): 2. "You proclaim that you're at the service of the witch Meriana, who saw in you the future wielder of the six Dofus."

Like in the last post I made about these gamebooks, I want to point out that Meriana is an important character to the lore of Krosmoz, especially the Dofus MMO era.

Also, she's friends with Kerubim: and both in the last book, and the game proper, she often has you contact him for various information and tips.

The hooded figure gives you an inscrutable stare. "You're loyal to the one who guided you to the Dofus, and that's commendable. But take care not to take a wrong turn." Are those words threats, or well-intended warnings? It's hard to say.

I'm pretty sure this is just his idea of small talk because he's crazy.

You ask the enigmatic person who they are. The gnome lets out a small laugh. "You do not need to know my name. Know only that I am interested in dragons. Bolgrot is attempting to force its way into the World of Twelve and, if it succeeds, nothing good will come from such an event." You ask your mysterious benefactor if his help was merely coincidental. "It's Furye's minions that lead me here. You earned the attention of the Sea Witch: she ordered her creatures to get ride of you. When I saw you in a bad spot, I decided to intervene. I do not think you'll have any complaints regarding my decision..." The conversation with your saviour having ended, you go back to your friends.

Loving his decision to stay anonymous ngl. Girl why? Anyway, of Course he'd be interested in dragons. Fork in kitchen spotted.

"We were starting to get worried! At one point, I thought I noticed some suspicious movements near the building's entrance, but that must've been my imagination playing tricks on me... You seemed to be talking to someone earlier, since when do you speak to yourself?" You turn back: the hooded gnome has disappeared as quickly as he appeared. But something tells you that you'll meet him again in the future... You check that you still have Aguabrial's tear on your bag, then announce to Girle Pylote that you're ready for your next destination: Badmorva's mark.

I really do hope you meet him again, lmao! Here's to hoping we may see him or his family in this book series once again in the future.

[soulofamy]

so we arent going to get any new mortal kombat lore any time soon it seems. maybe this is dumb of me and im not reading the room, but im taking this opportunity to share the in-universe mk fics ive written, as i am hoping they find people that want more in the way of lore and stories. i almost exclusively write things that center around syzoth and/or ashrah, but i will occasionally write about other characters too

nonlinear absolution completed multichapter fic (13 chapters) that centers around ashrah trying to navigate her anxiety toward quan chi having escaped prison and also the grief she has for her fallen sisters in the only way she knows how, by trying to hunt quan chi down and wanting him to pay. this fic most prominently features ashrah and syzoth but there are other cameos and smaller yet still important roles fulfilled by liu kang and rain in her image a oneshot that centers around liu kang visiting sindel and jerrod on the day their babies were born sins of the father completed multichapter fic (8 chapters) that depicts what life was like for syzoth while a slave to shang tsung. the story specifically follows syzoth after he discovers a brand new prisoner in shang tsungs laboratory, a young oshtekk boy, and the lengths he is willing to go to keep this child safe. this fic prominently features syzoth, with shang tsung and rain making smaller but meaningful appearances throughout season of the demon completed multichapter fic (6 chapters) that draws inspiration from the invasions season. in this story, ashrah is faced with an invader from another universe who wears the same face as her, who is wreaking havoc in liu kangs timeline all in the name of her absolution. this fic prominently features ashrah, sareena, and syzoth, and there are appearances made by takeda and kenshi as well evil in zaterras shadows ongoing multichapter fic (8 chapters so far) that is based on syzoths arcade ladder ending. in this story, syzoth embarks on a mission, with the help of ashrah and khameleon, to learn the true history of zaterra, what happened to the shapeshifters who were faced with genocide so long ago, and who was responsible for it. this fic most prominently features syzoth, ashrah, and khameleon

i have other fics as well, aus and oneshots that really dont serve much purpose outside of being cute and fluffy. if more story is what you want, i hope that one of these pique your interest. i highly encourage other fanfic authors to do the same and share/promo your fics too

[fortemelody]

i will never ever forgive the fact that they removed sticks from the idw 2023 christmas drawing. LIKE. OH MY GODDDDDD LET MY GIRL JUST GET A FUCKING CAMEO JUST BECUS SHES HERE DOESNT MEAN SHE HAS TO BE CANON OR IN THE COMICS ITS JUST PROMOTIONAL ART 😭😭😭

BUT THEN THEY CAN NAME DROP HER IN A MAINLINE GAME WITH NO PROBLEM?!?! WTF SEGA YOUR RULES MAKE ABSOLUTELY NO FUCKING SENSE LIKE WHAT IF I COME OVER THERE AND STRANGLE YOU

it’s very clear they wanna erase all traces of boom. and this would make sense then…if it weren’t for the fucking name drop. like why are you denying she exists in a smaller media and not the larger one hello?!?!

maybe it’s becus they don’t want her to be apart of the comics at all? and they think that for some reason after this literal harmless one off art piece that for some reason that it would imply that she’s just apart of the stories now even tho she hasn’t been for 70 issues?? or maybe they think name drops are less risky than actually seeing her? idfk i’m tryin to decipher this but i actually despise the devils advocate answers i’m giving myself becus it still makes absolutely no sense to me.

sticks is one of my favs if you couldn’t tell i miss her sm 💔💔💔

[asptart]

Hi! How are you? I was wondering what your insights on the Cats musical and movie are? I’ve been wanting to watch them; but it would be nice having another opinion. If you haven’t watched it, I’m so sorry, I really like your drawings! ☺️

Hi! I'm doing good thanks ^^

So I'm so totally biassed but I hate the movie with a burning passion. It's filled with cheap gags and celebrity cameos and that's before you even talk about the music, cgi, dancing, story, EXTRA SONG 😭😭😭. (I'm so sorry I refuse to say nice things about that movie)

I wouldn't say don't watch but I would say watch it last if your interested in other parts of the musical! While I will never sing its praises there is still parts of the movie I enjoyed and it's still a worthwhile watch.

Personally I like the cats revival/reboot from 2016, me and my partner watched it and they have a behind the scenes youtube channel (which I'll find and comment in a min) that we both loved, it makes the characters all the more lovable.

On top of that the 1998 movie version is really good! I'm not sure if there's a recorded version sound wise (at least there isn't on spotify) but most of the individual songs are also on YouTube if you're willing to watch it through a playlist. Unfortunately I can't remember where we watched the full version tho sorry 😭, I do remember we had to SEARCH it was worth it ngl.

Plus there is sooooo many full length youtube videos of small productions, I remember specifically watching a cruise ship production? it banged so good but I love just about any production thats been put on (except the cgi movie they butchered it). Again I believe there is a youtube playlist with a bunch of smaller productions that have been independently uploaded but my partner told me about that so idk where to even begin looking for that.

Overall I'd say watch all of them! even if they aren't all the best it's always so cool to see the different takes in the musical and honestly I think thats the best bit! if you take anything from this it should be leave the movie till last lol

I hope this will help you out!!! and sorry it was so long 🫶

[eiseryn]

✨🧪HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEI 🧪✨

It's September 17!!! Which means it's the birthday of everyone's (my) favourite pharmaceutical doctor🥺🥺🥺I love her so much 🥺🥺🥺

It's no surprise that she's my current obsession and a lot of my brainrot is based on her orz so ofc I had to do her justice for her birthday! Which is today -- September 17~

Since Sept 17 this year is also Mid Autumn Fest I was hoping to draw her eating some mooncake maybe with Ceres or Vail or Elise 🤔🤔🤔 Let's see if I can squeeze in a sketch tomorrow.

As for how she usually celebrates her birthday? I imagine usually with her friends and Vail XD Maybe this year, they had hotpot and mooncakes 🤣* I imagine her favourite filling might be low sugar red bean or lotus seed. I tried to draw some lotuses in the BG of her birthday art but uhhhh I free handed them so they might not be the best. The flower in her hair is supposed to be a lotus too but I didn't look at a ref before I drew it so it's not accurate LOL SOME FUN FACTS FOR THE UPCOMING CYBERPUNK VIS NOVEL THAT'S DEF GOING TO COME OUT BEFORE 2030 (pls believe and cope with me)

Fun fact 1: The events of the campaign take place right after had a girl's night out with Elise + Ceres 😭

Fun fact 2: In the campaign, her birthday present from Vail is Meng, her ragdoll cat :3

Fun fact 3: The diamond-shaped green gemstone necklace she's often depicted wearing was Ceres' gift to her!

Comparing this year to last year's piece, I'm super proud of my improvement. I tried to keep everything almost the same except her hair is a little longer since it's been a year~ I think the main improvement is me being able to draw hands sometimes now XD (I REALLY TRIED FOR THIS PIECE T_T) Maybe you might notice other improvement I've made? 🥺

Let's also compare last year's Lei bday art (2023) compared to this year's (2024). For some reason last year's art looks really wonky in terms of the face even though I actually drew the sketch on pencil traditionally??? Also ofc there's no hands drawing LOL And the hair is shorter but for some reason there's no green dye? Although in this year's piece note that the green dye migrated cuz she didn't dye her hair so it simply,,, moved down LOL as her hair grew

NOW THAT'S WHAT WE CALL ✨IMPROVEMENT✨

But to blab more about Lei's birthday while we have space 🤔🤔🤔 CONSIDERING THE MODERN AU where Lei + her friends are in university (and med school LOL)... I imagine the first year they threw her a surprise birthday party cuz Gigi is very good at planning parties 💅 But they can't do that every year or she'll expect it!

Lei is half Chinese so that's why it's really cool her bday this year falls on mid autumn fest! It's extra cool cuz she already has some moon motifs with her flower symbolism being moon flower + an unreleased parallel for the witch au/ fantasy au + celestial themed wallpaper i was going to draw... I HAVE TOO MANY OC BRAINWORMS NOT ENUFF SKILL OR TIME

Some brainworms at 2am

smaller party this year and it's a hotpot party!

If it's with her closer family it would be with Gigi + Elise + Ceres + Vail (so a party of 5) + cats

The only reason I might imagine with the Mertalline group (larger group) is so Flash can show up XD BUT ALSO IN THIS AU FLASH IS VAIL'S NEIGHBOUR XD so maybe if they're at Vail's appt he will show up anyways 🤔

I was imagining the party to take place at Ceres + Lei's shared appt BUTTTTTT just for the Flash cameo 🤣🤣🤣 That's going to be the canon

They probably have a dual pot/ divider thing so there's a white broth + spicy broth! I wonder who can handle spice in the group? Def Gigi... maybe Elise? I imagine not Ceres and maybe not even Vail! It's Lei and Flash I wonder of the two if they can handle spice 🤔🤔 I think Lei can, but not super spicy -- just enough to eat spicy food and not die LOL

dessert is mooncakes instead of cakes... DEF MULTIPLE FLAVOURS SO EVERYONE CAN TRY DIFF FLAVOURS -- classics like lotus seed + red bean (low sugar for lei + normal sugar for sweet tooths like vail and gigi) + maybe some unique ones like pineapple or ube or sweet potato?

maybe they do some moonviewing together too 🥺 take a stroll to the local university grass field and enjoy being in each other's presence

I wonder what Lei's friends would give her?

I'm thinking that Ceres would handmake some thing(s) -- maybe an album she worked on for the past year about their fave memories! Maybe a painting of Meng + Cillin, or a keychain?

Elise would likely go with perfume, scented candles, or jewelry like earrings -- something she knows Lei would like or use!

Gigi's gift is her presence in Lei's life (IM JOKING BUT ALSO THIS IS TRUE). She'd probably give Lei a pretty outfit that she'd like Lei to wear + it would fit Lei perfectly -- SHE MIGHT EVEN SEW OR DESIGN IT HERSELF???

Vail's birthday gift for the first year is Meng AS IT IS CANON but for this one I imagine they already have Cillin + Meng so 🤔🤔🤔 maybe this year it's his d- I'm kidding... sorry LOL probably something like earrings actually XD since he's gone shopping with her. He likely recruited the help of Ceres and Elise and Gigi for this tho. Maybe even a fluffy robe or bathcoat... IDK I feel like he's rather practical with gifts and he probably treats her well outside of her birthday / gifts her things anyways so XD

It's really hard to top a cat let's be real here

I kinda want to write a short fanfic... NGHHHHHH if I have time tmr (me doing all these things for tmr 🤡🤡🤡)

[unsoundedcomic]

Am I wrong that Flann, much like Elan, originally had a much smaller role in the story? But they've expanded past that original intention and became some of the most compelling characters in the story so far! Regardless if that is the case with Flann, I would've said that the story remained largely unaffected by these interlopers HOWEVER it would seem that Elan's badge caught The Lady's eye and is now integral to the story. How do you incorporate these characters that expand past their outline?

Elan did get beefed up but Flann is sticking pretty close to the script. I think the only change is he never had a name in there (all his lines are labeled BLUE). I gave him a really distinct design so he wouldn't need one, but when someone on Discord threw a name out there I went with it! Felt appropriate.

Elan was pretty easy to beef up and he benefited the story a fair bit by giving Toma and Elka someone to play off of when the other one wasn't around. Originally Bastion killed the poor kid, but I couldn't let that happen when people started liking Elan 'cause then damn, they would have (rightly) hated Bastion! Which is okay to doooo but Bastion plays better if you have the slightest bit of sympathy for him - or at least give him the benefit of the doubt.

So really it was my fault for not making Elan more of a sniveling toady sort. He's just kinda desperate and sad and pathetic.

There's always been a core plot that I can't tinker with, but there's also been enough flexibility to insert cameo characters or expand characters like Elan. That's part of what keeps me entertained as we go! Sometimes the things surprise even me, and it's a joy :)

And writing is a different muscle from drawing, I should add. There is so much character and so many gags that are not in the script; that don't come into being until I'm laying out the page. This entire scene ends with... not a gag, but an unconventional action... that is very final, not in the script, but came to me while drawing the page. And it's perfect.

[gamergirljournalist]

Review: Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) - I actually enjoyed it

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

Warning: this review contains spoilers for the 2023 Five Nights at Freddy's film

For those who have been living under a rock, Five Nights at Freddy's is a 2014 indie horror video game that went through development hell after a film adaptation was announced. After years of waiting, plus it being passed down from Warner Bros to Blumhouse, the movie is now showing in theatres and Peacock.

As of writing, the 2023 film adaptation of Five Nights At Freddy's has an average critic score of 26 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Regardless of what those film snobs say, I actually enjoyed this horror flick. Sure it has its flaws, but for a film adaptation, I think it did a pretty good job.

Warning, I will be spoiling the film and the games, so if you want to watch it blind, steer clear for now.

The film has a proper plot

This movie has a plot, like a real working plot. And no, it's not convoluted compared to the mess that's the franchise's lore. It's about a night security guard who's at risk of losing his sister. To prove that he could still have custody of her, he took on the job as the night guard for an abandoned Pizzaria from the 80's. Little did he know that this was no ordinary night shift gig.

What Blumhouse and Scott Cawthon have done to present this game in movie form was great. It took parts of the first two games, as well as sprinkling in aspects from later titles and the books, to create a cohesive story. The best way to watch this movie is to view it as its own thing. Because if you're going to watch this and find ways to connect the movie to the game's story, many things really don't make sense.

The cast

Five Nights at Freddy's has a tremendous cast. While most of the people featured were smaller actors who appeared in one minor role in TV shows or unknown films, Matthew Lillard and Josh Hutcherson did a tremendous job performing the franchise's iconic characters, William Afton and Mike Schmidt.

Mike has a personality, rather than just a boring character we play as in the first game. Meanwhile, we see William as this cunning character, who managed to fool so many people, to the point he had a different alias.

The children also did an amazing job, even if we rarely see them. They act all scary and not so innocent. Even Mike's sister, Abby (played by Piper Rubio) was shrouded in mystery. She's no ordinary kid, even if she does look like it. Why is she not like the other kids? What's with the drawings? So many questions that my first theory was that she was psychic.

Speaking of theories... MATPAT WAS IN IT!!!! That guy lied to everyone on the internet, only for it to be revealed that he had a minor cameo and said the line. And it's not just him. A few YouTubers were featured and Markiplier could have been in it if it wasn't for scheduling issues.

If there was one character I didn't like, it was Vanessa. Played by Elizabeth Lail, her job was to warn Mike about the dangers of the Pizzaria but wouldn't explain why due to "reasons" explained in the film's climax. The moment that happened, I was like "Okay, that checks out." Blumhouse's decision to implement a character that was introduced in Security Breach was an odd choice. I can somewhat see why it was made, however, its execution made it feel corny at most. 

My thoughts on the film

In all honesty, Five Nights At Freddy's isn't like other great video game adaptations, like HBO's The Last of Us or Illuminations' The Super Mario Bros. However, it's pretty clear that so much love and attention was given to this project. And to be fair, that's to be expected since it's a Blumhouse production.

While it is branded as a horror movie, it felt like I was watching M3GAN all over again. Lots of comedy and the push of the importance of family. Some paranormal stuff here and there, easter eggs from the original games, while also coming up with something original. And I think that's the problem with this film.

Unlike Super Mario Bros, which barely had any lore, Five Nights At Freddy's has a story that spans many of its titles, including children's activity books. If viewed as a standalone story, it's fine. But let's be real, those who will be watching this movie on opening weekend are Five Nights At Freddy's fans. The film did reference stuff from the original story, but many changes were made which had many, including me, reacting with "that wasn't in the games at all." I watched this picture with my boyfriend and he was like "Can you explain x" and I had to tell him "Sorry dude, that's an original thing. Didn't see it in the games."

Regardless, I did enjoy the final product and how it gave some tribute to the content creators that boosted the franchise's popularity. It's still a good film, just expect some head scratches and camp. I bet Matpat is working on something to connect the movie to the overall lore.

[theregularwriter]

It's just the beasts under your bed (in your closet, in your head)

Fandom: The Owl House

Rating: T

Relationships: Gus & Hunter, Gus & Belos

Characters: Gus Porter, Hunter, Emperor Belos | Philip Wittebane; CAMEO - Caleb Wittebane

Summary: Gus runs away from the gentle, haunting light, to the dark and even smaller bathroom. His eyes are blue again, so they’re the only thing lighting up the place. He uses Willow’s breathing technique over and over again, and again, and again.

And it won’t work.

It won’t work because…

Gus’ blue eyes aren’t the only ones in the room.

Word count: 989

AO3

A/N: I finally wrote down a little something for the ideas I've been having of Belos possessing Gus, after posting a couple drawings online (you can check them out on my art account, @lotusthekat!). This is mainly just a concept fic for now, I do have more plot points, but I'm still unsure this will become a full story soon. For now, I want to keep it one chapter until I have time and inspiration to continue it.

I hope you like it!

TRIGGER WARNINGS - hallucinations (illusions), dissociation, flashbacks, past death, implied death and blood, and possession.

P/ROSHIP DNI.

--

The human rain shouldn’t be scary.

The fact it can cause the power to go out, though, is scary. The thunder and the lightning are entirely unfamiliar to him.

Gus, not wanting to disturb Hunter – who sleeps through the storm without a problem, ironically enough –, decides to go upstairs and stay in the living room. Maybe the basement is actually safer since there are no windows down there; but the smaller space was going to drive Gus crazy.

The wind trying to enter the house is even more terrifying. Gus feels like that same little boy that went to his dad, crying and begging him to make his head stop. Just stop. Dad obviously couldn’t do anything like that, but at least his hugs were safe.

His father was his home.

And Gus isn’t even sure what happened to him.

In the dark, the boy weeps for his home, for everyone he knew.

Until… he hears someone coming from the basement, the steps already knowing where he went to.

“Gus?”

The illusionist doesn’t look up.

“You couldn’t sleep?” Hunter asks softly.

Without saying a word, Gus shakes his head.

When the thunder blares outside, he can’t contain his furious flinch.

That’s when Hunter approaches more.

And then…

Gus feels something warm around his shoulders.

A blanket.

His blanket, actually.

That has Gus look up and find two magenta eyes that know too much, that know entirely about crying alone in the night. Them, and the light spell illuminating them both.

“Do you want some tea?” Hunter suggests.

“Aren’t the flavors different here?”

“Well, yeah, but it’s probably not hard, right?”

Gus snickers. “We’ll probably burn down the kitchen.”

“No, I’ll make the tea for you.”

“Then you’ll set the whole house on fire.”

Hunter looks at him, betrayed, which makes Gus laugh a little less shyly.

“We’ll make it together, whether it sucks or not,” the latter concludes. “How about that?”

“Together…” Hunter gives in and smiles. “Yeah. That sounds nice.”

--

The two sit on the couch together, sharing the blanket and drinking their own cups of tea. It doesn’t taste as good as how Luz’s mother makes it… but it doesn’t taste horrible, at least.

Gus and Hunter remain silent on the most part, if not for their palismen, who have joined the cocoon. Everyone else is asleep, as they have been exhausted since their arrival. Gus hasn’t slept well in the last nights, admittedly. Tonight, though, has to be the worst yet. He’s simply… overwhelmed and sad, and mournful.

Hunter can tell, even if Gus hasn’t told him anything.

The former leans on the latter affectionately, to show him that he’s here. Gus smiles, then takes one last sip of his tea. Sighing deeply, he lowers his head and stares at his empty cup.

Much to his surprise, Hunter’s hand is cupping Gus’ chin.

“Hold on, you have… some tea there,” the older boy observes.

Gus blushes at how gentle the touch is, so much that he won’t move.

“O-Oh. Thanks?” He lets out, sounding like his pre-puberty self.

Hunter snorts.

“You’re welcome, Pip.”

Gus goes cold .

“... What?”

When he looks back, he doesn’t find magenta.

He sees… brown.

Brown eyes that simultaneously look dead.

The same smile but there’s something wrong about it.

I know you’re still in there.

And he sees red.

No, not just Flapjack.

Please…

Red, red, red.

Don’t do this, Philip.

The storm is getting through, wetting him, making him feel lost and crushing him with the tears from the skies.

…

… snap.

Snapping fingers.

“... Gus! Gus ! Can you hear me?”

As soon as he blinks again, everything… is back to normal.

Hunter is there, with his magenta eyes, with the same scars, wearing cozy clothes. He’s frowning in concern, apparently sweating as well, maybe not knowing what just happened to Gus.

The illusionist feels his head heavier.

“Your eyes were blue,” Hunter points out. “Were you seeing an illusion?”

Gus can barely react.

He’s still seeing the brown and the red in Hunter, and he can’t get them out.

“Gus,” Hunter insists, “what did you see? Can you tell me? You look scared.”

It’s…

Too much.

Gus still hasn’t left the illusion.

(Has he ever?)

“... nothing.”

“What?”

“It was nothing,” Gus replies simply, trying to sound as numb as possible to disguise the shakiness in his voice.

“That wasn’t nothing,” Hunter reacts incredulously, yet not to the point of lashing out. He’s on the verge of panicking himself, and Gus feels terrible about it. “Gus, you can tell me anything, remember? I promise I won’t mess with you.”

These words are useless right now.

The black teen shakes his head repeatedly.

“No,” he mumbles.

“Gus–”

“I need to–” Gus tries to stand up from the couch, only to almost fall. “I’m okay.”

“No, you’re not-!” Before Hunter snaps and tries to help him, Gus raises his voice.

“ Just give me some space, okay!? ”

Something about his voice changes.

Gus covers his mouth in utter shame.

Especially at how terrified Hunter looks.

Please… don’t do this, Philip.

“I-I’m…” Gus tears up, adding quietly, “I’m sorry.”

Finally, he runs to the bathroom before things get worse.

Although he hears his name being called, Hunter doesn’t go after him, and maybe it’s for the best.

Gus runs away from the gentle, haunting light, to the dark and even smaller bathroom. His eyes are blue again, so they’re the only thing lighting up the place. He uses Willow’s breathing technique over and over again, and again, and again.

And it won’t work.

It won’t work because…

Gus’ blue eyes aren’t the only ones in the room.

When he gasps and steps back, doing a light spell, he touches and feels the mirror behind him. Which means…

This isn’t an illusion.

Despite the fact that the eyes disappear.

Panting, Gus can only sit on the floor and cry like a child.

I can’t even trust myself anymore.

[womanexile]

ITA that H would greatly benefit from an acting coach/training/doing more in an ensemble.

I did not think he was terrible in DWD; I expected to watch between my fingers from the cringe, but he was solid and legit charming at times. Also handsome and well-lit, which helped. But his Eternals cameo, other than the bickering part? Not great.

He is such an engaging, charming, charismatic performer on stage; it’s why Chloe Zhao basically said “he’s my only choice for Starfox”. People expect it to translate to screen and it…does not yet. He really draws his performance from the audience and endless, silent takes on a movie set? Would make it hard for him to maintain his usual performance momentum.

So he definitely needs help finding ways to make that translate. But I have hope that he can. When he was caught up in the “holy sh*t, this is terrible and terrifying” scenes in Dunkirk he was really good. He just doesn’t have that methodology for acting in smaller moments/with green screens yet. I think he’s disciplined enough to develop it, though, if he wants to. Or get better at it.

I think HS approach to acting was jumping into the deep end of the pool without knowing how to swim. He just needs to take lessons so he can get better. He totally capable of doing it. I think he should take a break from the dramatic stuff and do like a comedy or romcom. Just to get more experience and practice. I actually think he did really good in dwd for having very little experience. In my policeman, Tom was more of a complex character to play.