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sincerestlove · 7 months ago

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Girl Crush

hello hello hello! i am so sorry for the long break - but i'm so happy to be back! i hope you all are doing well. i have quite a few requests sitting in my drafts, so once i get through those, i am happy to reopen my inbox for requests, if you guys want. anyway, these 3 requests were quite similar to each other, so it just made sense to combine them into one fic. hope you enjoy!

Request: Hi! Can i request a reader x Regina George where the reader is super oblivious to Regina flirting and thinks she's just being really friendly and it's obvious to everyone but the reader how in love Regina is with her.

Request: can you do a regina george x reader fic where R is literally the only person in the school who isn’t afraid of regina in the slightest and just treats her like a normal person (bonus points if the reader is just an oblivious ball of sunshine)

Request: hiii :) i was wondering if you could maybe write a regina x reader fanfic where the reader is friends with karen since they share a class together. regina ends up developing a crush and u can finish the rest lol (maybe incorporate karen inviting the reader to sit with the plastics at lunch as she’s walking by without consulting with regina first?)

Pairing: Regina George x Reader

Warnings: None

Math class dragged on, the teacher talking animatedly about something you couldn't bother paying attention to. Your class bestie, Karen, was seated beside you, taking notes diligently for a reason you couldn't fathom. It was quite endearing how she actually cared about her grades and education, despite the fact that she was a Plastic. Not that you thought of her, or any of the Plastics differently. After all, they were just normal people.

Pretty, rich, popular, normal people.

The bell rang after what felt like forever, signaling the end of class. You began packing up your things, when you felt a gentle tap on your shoulder. You glanced over, to see Karen grinning at you brightly. "Hey, Y/N. You want to sit with me at lunch today?"

You blinked, momentarily stunned at her question. "You mean, like, at your table?"

Karen laughed loudly, her straight, pearly white teeth on display. "Yes, Y/N. Come on, it'll be fun! Please?" The brunette pouts, batting her long eyelashes at you pleadingly. She was so sweet, you would feel bad saying no. Plus, it wasn't like you really had anywhere else to be.

You groan, reluctantly agreeing, to which Karen squeals excitedly. "Yay, yay, yay!" She grabs your arm and loops it with hers as you toss your backpack over your shoulder, dragging you out into the hallway and into the massive rush of students. Karen expertly weaves you both through the crowd until the cafeteria is in sight.

As Karen tugs you toward the Plastics' table, your eyes land on Regina George, staring down at her phone - long, blonde hair fell across her strong, exposed shoulders, clad in a tight-fitting tank top and high-waisted jeans. Her nails were perfectly manicured, pretty golden rings adorning her fingers with a necklace to match.

God, how did she always look so pretty?

"Hi, Regina!" Karen plops herself down next to the blonde, as you slink into the bench across from her. Regina finally tears her eyes away from her phone and instantly land on you.

"Um. What are you doing?" She raises an eyebrow at you accusingly. You knew she didn't mean to be rude, just surprised that you were here, since usually you would skip lunch in the cafeteria and opt for the library instead, to complete homework assignments while you ate. It was quieter and less crowded, too. Not to mention the librarian loved you.

Sometimes Regina would even surprise you in the library, asking you to help her with her homework or claiming that she was bored and wanted someone to talk to.

You smile at her, placing your backpack down at your feet. "Hey, Regina. Karen invited me to sit here today."

Regina clenches her jaw, her eyes icy as she turns over to the brunette, who grins at Regina innocently. They exchanged glances, expressions filled with something that you couldn't quite decipher. You sat there in awkward silence as they glared at each other, Karen smiling teasingly at the blonde. "If you don't want me to sit here I can go-"

"No!" Regina speaks hurriedly, grabbing your hand as it reached for your backpack. You raised your brows at the unexpected contact, staring down at her hand wrapped around your wrist. She quickly released it, a light pink hue dusting her cheeks. "I mean, it's fine, you don't have to leave. Karen just didn't mention it to me, that's all."

You steal a glance at Karen, who simply smiled at you, as if she knew something you didn't. She began to talk to the pair of you excitedly about something - you couldn't really pay attention because you felt Regina's eyes burning holes in the side of your head. You could practically feel her eyes drag down your frame, taking in every little minute detail of your face. After a few minutes, Gretchen arrived at the table, pressing a kiss to Karen's cheek as she did so.

She greeted you kindly, already knowing you from the classes you shared together and how much Karen talked about you. The couple exchanged a knowing glance, before excusing themselves to the lunch line. Which left you alone at the table. With Regina.

"So, Regina," You turn to look at her, meeting her pretty hazel eyes that were already looking at you. She smiled at you teasingly, tilting her head as she awaited your question. "How's your day going?"

Regina rolled her eyes, leaning her chin on her hand as she leaned closer to you. "That's the best you got? Come on, I know a pretty girl like you can spark a more interesting conversation with me."

You laughed lightly at her joke, thinking nothing of the little compliment thrown in. "Well, we saw each other a few periods ago. And, I do actually want to know how your day is going."

The blonde huffed but caved, beginning to talk about her first half of the day, which consisted of complaining to her teachers, pretending to pay attention in class, and judging the fashion choices of her classmates. All normal Regina George behavior for a Tuesday.

You listened to her intently, watching the way she gestured with her hands and tossed her hair over her shoulder every so often. You were so attentive that you hadn't noticed Karen and Gretchen returning to the table, staring at the two of you with satisfied smirks.

"How about you, nerd? How has your morning been? Don't tell me Karen was bothering you again in class." Regina nudges your foot under the table, poking her tongue out at the brunette whose jaw was dropped incredulously.

"I do not bother her! She is my math class bestie, isn't that right, Y/N?"

You laugh along with the group, reassuring Karen that she was your class bestie, too. Regina excused herself from the table; you eyes follow her as she walks toward the lunch line, her hips swaying in those tight jeans. She glances over her shoulder, catching you staring, throwing you a wink and a smile. You felt your skin flush a little, clearing your throat and turning back to the other two girls.

They were already looking at you and smirking, again.

"What is up with you two today?"

"Who, us?" Gretchen places a hand over her heart dramatically. "What so ever do you mean, Y/N?"

You roll your eyes at the redhead, a playful smile dancing on your lips. "You know exactly what I mean. You two, with your little smirks and smiles. What are you two doing?"

Karen shrugs innocently. "Oh, nothing. Just observing, that's all."

You raise a brow at her. "Observing what?"

"Regina-"

Karen is interrupted by the blonde returning to the table, silently sliding a full tray of food across to you, as she sits down with her own. You look up at her in shock, your mouth slightly hanging open.

Regina looks around at the three of you as she takes a bite of her food. "What?"

The couple raise their hands in mock surrender, as you look at Regina with soft eyes. "Thanks, Regina. You didn't have to do this." The blonde shrugs, gesturing with her chin for you to eat.

"No biggie."

It was a biggie, a huge one, actually. Karen and Gretchen had never seen Regina be as nice to anyone like she was toward you. She would bring you your favorite coffee order in the mornings on her way to school, since you two shared first period, then walk you to your second. She kept a bag of your favorite snack in her locker in case you texted her, complaining about being hungry. Not to mention, she had a photo of your class schedule on her phone in case of emergencies. All unbeknownst to you, of course. To put it simply, the blonde had a massive crush on you. Meanwhile, you just thought she was being nice.

Karen and Gretchen both knew, though, of course, having heard Regina complain for months about how much she liked you, how you were her first ever girl crush, and she felt like she was going insane. You were way too oblivious to realize that she had literally been flirting with you, every time she saw you. She'd throw in compliments, brush against you, tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, sometimes even hold your hand as to "not lose you in the crowd". She really just wanted to find an excuse to touch you.

Regina felt like she was losing her mind waiting for you to notice. At this point, she would have to sit you down, look you square in the eyes and straight up tell you that she likes you. She was worried that even then, you'd think she was just being nice.

You, on the other hand, have had a crush on Regina since last year. The first time Karen introduced you to her, you were a goner. You decided to bury it though - you knew she could never reciprocate feelings for someone like you: reserved, quiet, shy. She was the total opposite, and you assumed she would want someone who was more like her.

Sure, she was extremely nice to you and sort of mean to everyone else, but that's just because you two were somewhat friends.

"Y/N? Hello?" You were snapped out of your thoughts by long fingers waggling in your face, Regina looking at you with furrowed brows. "You okay?"

You swallowed the lump in your throat, nodding and shooting her a weak smile. "Yeah, sorry, I'm fine. Was just thinking about something." You finished eating your lunch as the three girls chatted amongst themselves, Regina stealing glances at you occasionally. You smiled at her, more reassuringly this time, which eases her posture a little bit.

The bell rings much too soon this time, disappointed groans echoing throughout the room as students begin to file out and toward their next class. The four of you do the same, Regina taking your tray and returning it to the trash area before you could protest. Karen and Gretchen wiggle their eyebrows at you before hugging you goodbye, waving at Regina as she returned to the table with you.

"Let's go, I'll walk you to class." Regina took your hand in hers, lacing your fingers together and tugging you along. You just managed to grab your backpack as you stumbled behind her, shuffling to catch up with her long strides. As soon as she turned into the hallway, students parted like the red sea, making a clear path for the two of you to walk. You couldn't help but flush at the feeling of everyone's eyes on you, staring you down as you inched every so closer to Regina.

"Aren't you going to be late? It's fine, Gina, I can-"

The blonde stopped dead in her tracks. "What did you call me?"

You felt yourself pale, silently cursing yourself for the mistake. You hadn't meant to call her that out loud - you knew how angry she got when people called her outside of her name. You cringed, waiting for her to lash out at you, but it never came.

You stole a quick glance at the blonde, who was already looking at you with soft eyes. "I'm not mad, nerd. Just surprised. You've never called me that before."

You stammered, trying to find words. "Sorry, yeah, I just...I think it's a cute nickname for you."

The blonde smirked at your nervousness, once again tugging you along with her to your class. "It is a cute nickname. Just like you."

You feel yourself smile at the compliment - Regina was just so sweet to you. "Thanks, Gina."

The hallways were mostly clear now, aside from a few students scurrying to their classes at the last minute. Regina stopped walking again, turning to look at you with her brows scrunched together. "Does your brain work?"

You looked at her, dumbfounded. "I...what?"

She simply stared at you, crossing her arms over her chest. "Your brain. Does it work? Is it on?"

You were genuinely speechless, failing to find any words to respond. Regina rolled her eyes, tugging you into the empty locker room. She sat you down on the bench before sitting herself beside you, leaning toward you. "Seriously, Y/N, do you have a concussion or something?"

You laughed incredulously. "Regina, what are you talking about?"

The blonde groaned, exasperated. "I have been flirting with you for months, Y/N. Months! Yet, you walk around, la-di-da, as if I'm just being friendly. When have you ever seen me be nice to anyone?"

Your mouth drops open at her words, opening and closing like a fish out of water. "You...what?"

"Oh my god, Y/N, I like you, okay! I have a big, fat, lesbian crush on you. I have for months."

"No you don't."

Regina sputters out a laugh. "Y/N, you're joking, right? I literally just told you that I do."

You frown, looking down at your hands. "I...no. You can't like someone like me." Your voice grows small, nails beginning to pick at the hangnails.

"Hey," Regina scooted closer to you, cupping your face in her warm hand. She brushed her thumb over your cheek, bright eyes gazing into yours with conviction. "Don't talk down about yourself. Yeah, you might be a nerd, but that's part of the reason why I like you, Y/N. I like that we are opposites in a lot of ways. If I was with some bitch like me, I'd go nuts."

You laugh lightly at her words, leaning your weight into her touch. "Stop, you're not a bitch. And I like you too, Gina. I have for a long time, actually. I'm surprised Karen hasn't told you."

Regina laughs, using her other hand to grab your hip and tug you closer to her. "That girl can keep one hell of a secret. I think her little lunch invitation today was her way of telling me to go for it." Her hand tightens on your hip just barely, her eyes flicking across your face. "Would you slap me right now if I kissed you?"

You roll your eyes, resting your hands on her bare shoulders. "No, Gina. You can kiss me."

The blonde smiles and does just that. Her nose brushes against yours, warm breath fanning across your lips as she meets them with her own, softly, sweetly.

After a beat, you both pull away, resting your foreheads together and sharing a smile. "Can I take you out this weekend?"

You nod, brushing a strand of her soft blonde hair behind her ear. "Duh."

i hope you enjoyed this one! my goal is to continue posting regularly, so please keep an eye out for more fics coming soon :)

#regina george #regina george x reader #reneé rapp x reader

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the-daiz · 5 months ago

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When you’re sick | One punch man

Synopsis; How the one punch men would act when you’re bed ridden

genre: fluff, hc

Characters: Saitama, Genos, Speed-o’-sound sonic, flashy flash, Zombieman, Garou

side note; My… my hands… wont… stop typing… save me…. I’m gonna hibernate after this post

SAITAMA

Shockingly takes very good care of you

he’s a mundane guy that lives alone and needs to take care of himself, so I’d assume he’s gotten his fair share of sick days

He’ll be softer and more careful with his words

He lets you huddle up in his futon, even if he’s a little annoyed cuz now he needs to find somewhere else to sleep,

he still wants you to be close to him so he can look out for you

makes you lotssss of tea and warm meals

and bananas! (Saitama loves bananas)

he knows all the foods to avoid when you’re sick, ex: eggs

he’ll probably spend most of his day sitting next to you while he watches tv or talks to you about something

doesn’t leave the house to do any hero work so he can stay by your side

like I said before, he takes veryyy good care of you until you feel better

GENOS

oh gets really worried

a little bit frantic even, but he doesn’t let it show

does a shit ton of research about your illness/symptoms and how to take care of it

Consults dr kuseno

who of course gives him a lot of advice

he’s hella dotting

Like fr he doesn’t leave your side

despite being an S-class hero, unless its an absolute emergency, he DOES NOT LEAVE YOUR SIDE

Will make sure you take your medication exactly on time

Prepares gourmet type meals for you

Also expect a lot of broth, soup etc etc

Will offer you any form of physical affection you want. Since he’s a cyborg he doesn’t get sick, so will cuddle you all day without complaints if thats what you’d like

He’s constantly checking up on, his cool metal hand pressed gently on your forehead while his mechanic eyes inspect your frame, a small frown etched on his temple.

he’s so cute kms

SPEED OF SOUND SONIC

He knows how to take care of you

he’s gotten sick PLENTY of times, it never lasted long though because his immune system is simply goated

That being said, he’s very… awkward?

he’s concerned and worried, don’t get me wrong, but he’ll probably try to hide it

His words won’t reassure you much but his actions will!

He’ll drop off supplies like medication, food, herbs, or anything else you need, whether you mention it or he decides you need it anyway.

he’ll check up on you a lot, and he’ll try to stay nearby to make sure your safe

but honestly, you having to rely on him when you’re vulnerable makes him feel prideful

he doesn’t admit it, but he kind of likes having you sick, just a tinsy bit

FLASHY FLASH

Oh god

of course he’s terribly worried about you

very aloof about it though

I’ll start with the cons: He’s sort of emotionally distant, and offers very little emotional support, and he won’t try sticking by your side as often as the other characters

Now that that’s out of the way,

He does make sure you have everything you need, and if he’s not with you, probably because he’s doing some hero work, he’ll text you or call very occasionally to ask how you’re doing and if you need anything

If you do mention that you’re feeling worse, he’ll be right by your side in an instant

ZOMBIEMAN

He’s very down-to-earth and calm about it

He won’t fuss over it or worry too much in the slightest

He’ll take good care of you, bringing you meals in bed, drink lots of fluids and getting enough rest

he’ll focus on making you as comfortable as possible too

He’ll leave for hero work every once in awhile, thats unless you’re really sick, then he’ll stay rooted beside you without another word

He’ll spend a lot of time just sitting or laying next to you. If you’re uncomfortably hot and would probably not want him to sleep beside you, he’ll sit on a chair and quietly hold your hand.

If you want him to talk, he’ll talk, and if you don’t, he’ll sit wordlessly without complaints.

he’ll probably crack a joke here or there if the mood is too damp

also, he’ll offer lots of forehead kissess

GAROU

He’s a little rough around the edges, but he’s got the spirit! 😍😍

this lone wolf isn’t used to taking care of people, let alone himself

He’ll probably tell you to just walk it off, but his protective instincts will kick in anyway

he’ll try to stay by your side as much as possible

he’ll grumble and act like he’s annoyed, but he really isn’t

he’s a little harsh, probably giving you some weird motivation like “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” or smth

he’s genuinely concerned for you though, just be patient with him, he’s trying

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akirathedramaqueen · 3 months ago

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CBT and Exposure Therapy: Blitzø Showcase

An important (really, don't skip) disclaimer

If you are contemplating whether or not you would benefit from any kind of therapy, consider consulting with your medical provider first. While I did my best to validate all the points made using publicly available resources, I am not a medical professional. At the very least, I strongly advise that you do your own research and not take some amateur's opinion about a character from a silly demon show for granted.

"Everyone in this show needs fucking therapy STAT!"

We hear fans screaming into the void every now and then. Me too. I plead guilty and I willingly put myself in custody. But I am not taking these words back.

Especially often it is being said with Blitzø in mind, who, as hinted earlier and clearly shown in the latest episode, Ghostfuckers, is not doing okay. Not in the slightest.

Which is . . . yes. Indeed, trauma-ridden Blitzø is a major problem for both him and those around him. Yes, we see him reaching his lowest point now exactly because he left these gaping wounds untreated for so long.

But the tricky question is—how, though? What to do? Will a good talking to a confidante help? Or, maybe, some kind of shock would snap him out of the spiral?

I've been pondering on this topic for more than 4 months, and, as the Ghostfuckers came out, I finally got all the data I need to prove a point. The show did all the job for me and effectively made Blitzø go through improvised versions of two popular therapy techniques. And, before I even start, I want to say—I am so glad with what we ended up with. What they did, and, more importantly, didn't do, aligns well with how it would likely happen in real life.

So buckle up, and let's see where it gets us!

Therapy # 1. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT

This is, in essence and with some corrections, your good old talking. Here you can find more information about it, so, if you're not familiar with the topic, I recommend following the link first.

But, very shortly: CBT is an extremely common approach to be tried while you're dealing with anxiety, depression, and a number of other mental disorders. What it aims to do is to help you get past unhelpful thinking (distortions) and learn not to act on it.

Looks like it fits the bill, right? Blitzø has a lot of issues with self-fulfilling prophecies, infuriatingly stupid assumptions, poorly thought-out actions . . .

But he's not like, you know . . . w-we're not, like . . . we're not doing a . . . w-we . . . what's betw— It's a transactional fucking, you see.

If you don't feel like coming, that's OK! I'm sure I can do without it for one month. :)

Stolas only cares about having a rugged peasant raw-dog him into his matress! It's nothing, ya know . . . it's nothing else.

You . . . no longer have any obligation to see me, to touch me, to bed me . . . You are— you are free of me.

He sees things which aren't truly there.

It's not Stolas giving him space after the disaster in the 'Ozzie's.' It must be Stolas not needing him anymore, getting tired of him.

It's not Stolas caring about Blitzø. He is a royal, why would he care how an imp's day he happened to be fucking was?

It's not Stolas setting Blitzø free and putting an end to a problematic transaction they had with the hope for it to grow into something more. It's him getting rid of Blitzø.

As a result, he ends up hurting himself and the relationship he had with that one sad gay bird he happened to fall deeply for but literally trashed in his own house twice, acting on nothing more than frenetic fear of losing Stolas, but in reality, driving him away even more . . . for good.

I mean, you royal fucks think you can do this every time, like you can just play with our feelings because we're smaller and not as important!

Ha! I'm right, aren't I? You get off getting plowed by people you look down on!

And I can sorry more people, everyone but you! 'Cause I don't owe you dick! Everyone, but you . . .

So, the case's closed? Let someone—say, Millie—talk to him and tell him how wrong he was about himself and the others?

Well, here's the thing. Despite him being infinitely wrong about Stolas's intentions, we can't deny the fact that every one of his beliefs was not, in fact, a distortion. It'd led him to wrong conclusions, yes, but it was built on the information he received and legitimate experiences he had in his life. Here are only some of the facts connected to only this situation with Stolas, but there are other problematic behaviors and other reasons for him acting the way he does.

Fact # 1. The circus fire did happen, and Blitzø was the reason for it. Unintentional, and of course it wasn't his fault, but it still ruined the lives of many people—him included. Blitzø cannot act like it never occurred.

Fact # 2. Hell is divided by class and race. Their situationship with the grimoire was an embodiment of that inequality. A lot of Blitzø's outburst during the Full Moon and later in the Apology Tour was connected to it, to his beliefs that Stolas is the same as the rest of the privileged circle. Beliefs, I stress, justified by the real world. Stolas is more of an exception, and even then, his behavior is only different when it comes to Blitzø. He still acts the same toward other imps.

Fact # 3. We knew about Stolas's intentions all along, but before that fateful Full Moon, what Blitzø saw was Stolas avoiding him and not communicating the issue the Ozzie's date had raised. And before Ozzie's? Stolas did act entitled and inappropriate. He was baby-talking to Blitzø and used derogatory terms while addressing him. The dude literally called him an impish plaything in the Truth Seekers.

Fact # 4. Blitzø's heavily implied (though not officially confirmed by the show) existing conditions—ADHD*, BPD**, PTSD, and dyslexia/dyscalculia***—do affect his life, and while Hell seems to be somewhat receptive of neurodivergence, he still has to deal with it every single fucking day. He is going to be avoidant and afraid to be abandoned at the same time. He is going to hate himself. His learning disabilities are going to make his life harder. No way around it.

Note: *, **, and *** contain links to separate meta-analyses from @timkontheunsure and @tealvenetianmask about the respective conditions and how they show themselves in Blitzø's case.

And my beef with CBT here is exactly that. CBT's goal is to gaslight you into believing your distortions hold no water and suggests you just ignore them. And, as I've shown with Blitzø, these reactions and assumptions aren't baseless. They are legitimate, and, in fact, sometimes help to get by. Even though it's a crooked crutch, you can't learn to walk properly by just throwing that crutch away. You're still going to limp, and oh, will it be painful.

This is oversimplistic and dismissive. Anxiety and depression don't come out of the blue, and with mental disabilities, it's even deeper. The class/disability stigma is alive and strong, and just slapping a "you're fine" bandaid on your traumatized self isn't going to help.

Therapy # 2. Exposure therapy.

Exposure therapy is another approach commonly used while dealing with traumatic past and its aftermath—PTSD, anxiety, phobias, and such. Again, if you're not familiar, there's the link for you, but very shortly—the therapist puts the patient in a safe environment and 'exposes' them to the feared object in question for limited periods of time. The goal is to eventually get rid of the targeted fear and decrease avoidance.

And Blitzø has got some phobias for sure.

The fear of letting everyone down. Again.

And the fear of abandonment. Again.

All of it is a result of self-hatred, sitting so deeply it rules his life and his vision of how others perceive him. Said it himself. Almost.

So, where and how does the show expose Blitzø to his traumatic past?

First, the most recent, and the most obvious one—Rolando and his slideshow of all traumatic events Blitzø ever had in his life.

Second—Blitzø's drug trip in the Truth Seekers. While it does not contain the events of the past as they were, it does force him to face his fears.

Are you worried I might have enough of it one day as well? . . . You're going to die alone! . . . You're going to die alone, Blitzo!

With some stretch, the third one is Verosika's 'Blitzo sucks' party. Where Blitzø was forced to see the consequences of his avoidance and rejection.

Note: to be clear, I do think the party does not show the true extent of Blitzø's actions and how much he'd hurt people. It was exaggerated by Verosika, and here I explain why this is the case.

So, what gives? Or, rather, what gives it not?

It might sound funny now, considering I brought it up myself, but I, once again, say this is not therapeutic, just as CBT kind of 'talking.' If anything, all these three events did more harm than good.

The D.H.O.R.K.S.'s goal in the Truth Seekers was to torture the information out of Blitzø. He was not supposed to overcome it. He was supposed to crack.

The Verosika's goal was to ruin Blitzø's reputation. She was working her ass off to prove he's just a heartless freak.

The Rolando's goal was to fucking kill Blitzø.

And okay, their motivations had nothing to do with helping him, but maybe it did, in its own twisted way?

No. The writers added this to push Blitzø past the breaking point, not to heal him, and to show us more of his lore. Each time he was forced to face his past or fears or consequences, he was only spiraling more.

The only thing which did him some good was . . . well, Millie finally seeing his bravado mask falling off. But the cost of it was way too high. Not worth it.

To the therapy's defense, some points why it would never work in the way it was done in the show:

Blitzø had never given his consent and was not ready to face it. I might be very rude right now, but go and try producing some explosion-like sounds in front of war veterans without letting them know first and see what happens.

The amount of fearful experience exposed was way too overboard. He couldn't possibly digest it in a healthy way.

The environment was not safe. It was straight-up retraumatizing, an intentional one.

So there's that.

But what helped then?

We've briefly brushed over the fact Millie did talk to Blitzø. While I did imply this might be an example of CBT, here are some key deviations from the classic therapy which made all the difference.

Millie didn't sugarcoat all the shit Blitzø did. He was hurting their business. He didn't pay her. He was reduced to Bethanie. It showed her opinion can be trusted.

Millie apologized for not being there for him sooner. She admitted she relied too much on Blitzø being bulletproof, unbothered by everything. She admitted she didn't support him in a way he always did.

While proving she could never hate Blitzø, she used their common story, one he knows and can recall. She used evidence to prove him wrong, not a "it's all in your head" bandaid. And more than that, later she proved it with action—not for one second did she believe Rolando and his shittalk about what Blitzø supposedly was thinking about her. Her unwavering faith spoke more than any words ever could.

Getting back to exposure therapy . . . Metaphorically, she reminded Blitzø he can handle a beating or two. And physically beat the infestor demon out of him, which, as we can see later, didn't really affect Blitzø that much. He wasn't even battered. So, apparently, when the said exposure is done by someone who genuinely tries to make you feel better and knows your limits well, it might just work?

And finally, Millie acknowledged Blitzø's pain. She didn't brush it away. She validated him.

What all of this is about?

Like every treatment, too much of a medicine can become poisonous. So are CBT and exposure therapy.

They might help, and lots of research shows they do in certain cases. But there are limitations to what they can and cannot achieve, and they have to be adjusted to each individual story, to each trauma, and they should not be applied as a way to mend the outcome of the trauma without taking into account the story it comes with. Again, legitimate concerns and experiences cannot be brushed away or ignored.

Actualy . . . we've seen where it leads in the show too. In the beginning, Millie was quite dismissive of Blitzø's worries—all of this over a . . . breakup?

And here it comes full circle.

Only when Millie started taking Blitzø seriously, did it help them progress. And look how quickly we've switched from a complete despair to a glimmer of hope! Isn't that a beautiful closing scene?

As a closing note—we do not need to 'fix' Blitzø. After all this shit he went through, there won't be a day where he wakes up and be like, "Hey, I don't hate myself anymore! And look, I'm not afraid to be abandoned or misunderstood!"

I'm sorry to break it to you, but this is a lifelong battle. Being mentally whole, healthy, and constantly happy is no more than a myth, and everyone has their own demons and skeletons to deal with.

What Blitzø needs is some good support system to pull him back when he's down.

And boy, do I hope that one particular owl will fill in that role of unyielding pillar for Blitzø each time our lizard will fall into that pit again. Look, I love Millie, but there's only so much she can do. She can't be always present, she has her own life . . . and her own disaster of a husband to look after (affectionate <3). Here and here @lost-romantique talks about Stolas's capacity of loving, with me occasionally nodding, ha-ha. But to be short—it's fucking immense. And since he loves words, I do believe he has all the energy to tell again and again and again how awesome Blitzø is. Even if Blitzø wouldn't believe it himself.

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cha0ticspacebi · 2 years ago

Text

Like 91% of the population, you were now and would always be a beta. Except when your roommate moves out suddenly and fate connects you with Alpha Eddie Munson. After that, things start to change.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 (Coming Soon)

Pairing: Alpha Eddie Munson x Female Omega Reader

Word Count: 10.4 k

Tags: Omegaverse and everything that goes with it (knotting, nesting, scenting, heats, ruts, breeding kink, biting, you get the idea), college student reader, mechanic Eddie, panty sniffing but not from who you probably think, reader is a little freak but it's just her new instincts, a few instances were reader expresses body insecurities, talks of infertility, minor Steve Harrington x Chrissy Cunningham, and they were roommates! ⚠️ 21+ MDNI ⚠️

divider by firefly-graphics

All through public school sex education classes, you were told that if you didn’t experience signs of presenting during a certain time period, you never would. Most people don’t. That was certainly the case for you. Puberty came and went without the slightest hint of a secondary gender.

Even as society around you exists in the midst of a massive fertility crisis, more than 91% of the population is classified as beta. Experts in the field predicted that with the rapidly declining birth rates that we might see a rise in alpha and omega pairings but so far that has not been the case. No viable differences were seen until last year when the number of known alphas increased by a meager .2%.

Still, many beta couples continue to seek assistance with conceiving a child, which is part of the reason why you decided that would be your field of study. Currently a third year med student at a university, whose promising research in the field is making headlines all over the world, you hoped one day to become a fertility consultant. Helping all those who wish to start a family achieve their dream.

Ever since you could remember you’ve wanted to help people. In grade school you helped the new student find their way around. You helped the teacher with everyday classroom tasks. Everywhere you went, if you saw someone in need of a helping hand, you provided. Reaching a box of cereal from the top shelf at the grocery store and placing it with a smile in the elderly man’s basket. Helping a lost little girl in the park, you saw on your morning jog, find her mother. Offering to spend your first weekend off in a month helping your roommate move into her new place. Even though that meant you were now a one income dwelling, who wouldn’t be sustained for long on your meager university coffee house earnings.

After helping her, you arrived back to your suddenly empty two bedroom apartment. The immediate urgency for you to find a replacement roommate became very real, very fast.

The next day you posted fliers all over campus, including the coffee shop, the library, even at the athletic center! You asked your friend Robin to stick some up on the bulletin board at her job as well.

“I actually might know someone,” her eyes flashed quickly from the flier to you, “Someone who could, in theory, move in before next weekend if that's cool with you.”

You practically leaped at her offer, “Absolutely! What’s her name?”

“His name is Eddie and he’s a—“

“Oh,” you’d never had a male roommate before. You considered this new development until glancing at the clock on the wall. You were going to be late for class! While voicing your thoughts about her proposal, you were already headed towards the door, “I guess as long as he’s not a total slob and pays his part of the rent on time that’s all that matters. Give him my number and tell him to call me, I gotta go!”

“Wait! There’s one more thing,” Robin tries to scream after you but you're already running out the front door of the Family Video.

She watches your car pull away and shakes her head as she forwards your contact info, “Oh well, she’ll figure it out on her own pretty quickly.”

Tuesday was always your longest day. First the opening shift with the morning rush of tired college kids desperate for their caffeine fix. Working what felt like nonstop until noon, followed by classes until after 8:00 at night. By the time you trudged your tired ass back to your apartment, all you wanted to do was sleep. Days like today were why you started leaving a pillow and blanket on the couch because sometimes taking those few extra steps to the bedroom were simply out of the question.

Collapsing into the cushions, you felt your eyes get heavy and all your muscles finally relaxed. Sleep would come easy tonight.

Until the buzzing of your phone brought you back from the edge of sleepy bliss. You had a text from an unknown number.

Hey, this is Eddie. Robin’s friend. She said you needed a roommate! That’s such a coincidence because I’m a mate who needs a room.

You couldn’t help the little bud of a smile that grew as you looked at the laughing emoji he added to the end of the text. Is it allowed to make first impressions from a single text? Oh well, your initial impression, he’s a goofball. Playful sort of boy next door, childhood friends in another life maybe. Meeting him in person couldn’t hurt right? Robin wouldn’t have suggested it to you if she didn’t think the two of you would get along.

Hi Eddie, I’m free tomorrow after 5 if you want to stop by and take a look. Try it before you buy it right?

You found yourself holding your phone waiting for his response. Eyes suddenly a little less heavy than before. He didn’t keep you waiting long.

It has four walls, a door, and comes with a sweetheart like you? Consider it sold!

Sweetheart? Sure Robin probably told him you're a nice person and all but that’s a little, buzz. Your thoughts were interrupted as he messaged again.

Sorry, I hope that didn't come across as pushy. I don’t want you to think I’m some stereotype. I try not to act like an entitled jerk all the time. It’s just, Robin showed me a picture of the two of you at the lake last summer and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think you were pretty.

The thought that he knew what you looked like and was still sending you cheeky messages made you happier than you’d like to admit. You remembered that trip and knew exactly what picture she must have shown him. It was one of the few where you actually felt good about yourself. With another yawn, you typed a response.

You could make it up to me by leveling the playing field? I should know who I’m expecting to meet tomorrow and possibly share a place with.

Within just a few minutes an image appeared on the screen. He was straddling a vintage motorcycle with a helmet in his hands. Oh.

You weren’t sure what caught your eye more, his soft looking curly hair, his dark chocolate eyes, or those dimples in his cheeks from the smile he was flashing the camera. He followed the picture up with another message.

Rob told me you were in class all day so I’ll leave you alone since you’re probably tired. Get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow around 5 roomie!

You should be annoyed. First he calls you sweetheart. Then he has the nerve to tell you to go to sleep, like you’re a child who was up past their bedtime. Then to top it all off, this man has the audacity to assume that just because you exchanged a few texts that he can move right in? Who does he think he is? You should be annoyed– but you’re not. Quite the opposite actually, you just got a little more excited for tomorrow. You fell asleep on the couch with that spout of a smile still growing slowly on your lips.

Heading home after class the next day felt different. Instead of going home stressing about an exam or worrying about how you are going to pay next month's rent, you feel a touch of nervousness mingling with the excitement for a first meeting. You secretly hoped that Eddie was as cute in person as his picture.

Fate was smiling on you today because class had gotten out a little early giving you just enough time to straighten up the apartment before Eddie arrived.

You hung a clean hand towel up in the bathroom, put fresh sheets on the bed that your old roommate left behind and smiled when you lit the pine scented candle that sat on the coffee table. Happy that you could get one more light out of it before it would need to be replaced. You fluffed the decorative throw pillows on the couch and finally closed the door to your own room before waiting to hear the knock on the door.

When that noise finally echoed through the quiet air you felt your body shiver with anticipation. You let out a reassuring breath, hoping it would calm your nerves and opened the door.

“Hey!” he smiled as brightly as the picture he’d sent you while he greeted you by name, “So? Am I as cute as my picture? Because you certainly are.”

Add big flirt to your first impressions. He was definitely laying on the charm but you were also falling for it hook line and sinker, “Hi Eddie, it’s nice to meet you. Come on in!”

You offered your arm in a welcoming gesture. He stepped inside and brushed past you ever so slightly. He must be wearing a strong cologne. Just that quick pass had your senses overwhelmed with the earthy, woodsy smell.

“So this is the common area,” you pointed out all the usual necessities, “Here’s the bathroom, there’s the kitchen. Off to the side there is a little dining table but I’ll be honest I think I’ve used it once. I usually end up eating on the couch.” He commented on how it was a nice place and that it was so close to his work he could walk when the weather got nice again.

“Where do you work?”

He closed the kitchen cabinet he’d been snooping in and turned to you, “I’m a mechanic over at Murray’s Auto Repair. Rob said you work at the coffee shop on campus, what’s your field of study, young scholar?”

“Medical. I’m studying to be a fertility specialist,” you made small talk with him as you walked over to show him where his room is… would be! Where his room would be, if you think he’d be a good fit, “Here’s the other room. My old roommate said I could keep the bed and the dresser but if you already have those we can donate these since they’re in pretty good shape.”

He nodded, “Nah they look alright to me. I’m currently crashing on a friend's couch so this would be a huge upgrade.” He inspected the door handle, “Does this door not have a lock?”

“No, mine doesn’t lock either. I always figured it was because they are interior doors?” you shrugged and joined him as he inspected the boring metal doorknob, “They make portable locks you could always use.”

“Yeah, those things aren’t very strong though and when I’m in rut I can get pretty–” you cut him off.

“I’m sorry, when you're in what?”

The complete shock in your eyes and slack jaw had him pulling back a bit from you. A dejected huff through his nose, accompanied by a shake of the head told you he wasn’t too pleased with your question, “I thought Rob told you?”

“She didn’t tell me anything besides your name and the fact you were looking for a place,” you swallowed hard. You were in your third year of med school, you knew damn well what a rut was but the problem here was that only alphas experience them so if he… the wheels clicked in your head and you suddenly felt small standing beside him, “You’re an alpha?”

He crossed his arms, “Is that a problem? I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable so you just say the word and I’m gone.”

His messages last night suddenly made a little more sense. He didn’t want to come across as a stereotypical hotheaded, asshole alpha. Truthfully though, he had been nothing but respectful so far. He had a steady job and already offered to pay your half of the rent for the first month! He even promised to do half the household chores. Honestly, he seemed like a great candidate for a roommate. Why should his status change any of that?

You shook your head, “No it’s alright.” You rocked on your heels with your hands held behind your back, trying to restore the conversation to its former comfort level, “So, when can you move in?”

His smile reappeared, but he didn’t answer your question. He instead turned and belly flopped onto the bed, you heard a deep sigh escape his mouth, “Shit, can I stay here tonight? I really don’t want to sleep on that couch again.” He turned on his hip and looked at you from the bed, “You know Rob��s friend Steve?” You shook your head, you’d only known Robin since the spring semester and hadn’t met any of her friends yet, “Well Harrington’s a great guy but he’s a family man now and can’t have a lonely alpha crashing on his couch anymore.”

You stood awkwardly in the doorway, unsure if you should intrude on the space he just claimed, “Is Steve also an alpha?”

“Yeah. He and I had been living together for years before he met that sweet Chrissy of his,” he collapsed on his back and stared at the ceiling, “They had a kid, cute little boy, a few months ago and I lost my room.”

“Is Chrissy an omega?” you were mentally taking notes. Before Eddie came waltzing through your door, you’d never gotten the chance to talk to someone with a secondary gender at length before. There were some alphas you knew of in your classes throughout the years, mostly because all of them were loud and obnoxious about it. But none that you ever felt compelled to converse with. If they were cool with it, maybe they could answer some questions for the paper your gender sciences professor just assigned. Having some first hand alpha/omega pairbond experience would be great for your research.

“Nah,” well nevermind, considering the low omega presentation rates you’d have been shocked if that was the case. You could always talk to Eddie about what it’s like to be an unmated alpha. He continued, “Never actually had the pleasure of meeting one. I hear they are crazy sweet though.”

You asked Eddie if he needed to go get anything from Steve’s place tonight, to which he just insisted he’d go tomorrow while you were in class. You had been so anxious for his arrival that you forgot to eat so you offered to cook dinner for him.

“You really don’t have to,” he tried to stop you but then his stomach growled loud enough that it was probably heard from the hallway by a passing neighbor.

You both looked at each other and you tried not to laugh at his embarrassed expression, but it wasn’t working, “So is ramen ok? If you’re going to live with a starving college student you’re going to have to eat like one. Not that you aren’t welcome to bring in your own food or whatever. I can clear a shelf off for you.” With that you got distracted reorganizing the sparse contents of the fridge, “There. We can put shared items in the middle, I’ll put the things I buy on the bottom and you can have the top shelf.”

You opened the door wider with a smile as he admired your work. You decided after dinner you’d do the same thing with the cabinets and clear a space just for him, “Ok now I’ve definitely worked up an appetite,” reaching up into the cupboard you presented him with two options, “Do you want spicy or regular?”

He gave in. Already, barely an hour in the apartment, and he knew he was no match for you, “Spicy. Thanks, sweetheart.”

You turned on whatever movie was already in the machine while you cooked and then just a few minutes later you were placing a simple bowl of noodles in front of him. He inhaled them, “That was delicious. I’m doing the dishes!” you were about to protest, “No, don’t even try to argue with me. You've already done enough and I’ve only lived here about 2 hours! I can’t have you doing everything for me. I need to pull my weight.”

“Fine, but sit down and finish the movie first.”

He sat on the opposite end of the couch from you. You chose to ignore the little tug that wished he sat closer to you.

“Is that candle what I’m smelling?” he asked abruptly.

“Probably,” you leaned towards the coffee table and read him the label, “Evergreen Forest?”

His brows furrow, “No, this is sweeter.” He laughed, “When I first stepped in here I thought you were baking cookies, it was so sweet. I still haven’t been able to figure out where it's coming from.”

“Maybe one of the neighbors is baking something?” You weren’t really sure how to respond because you also had no idea what he could be smelling. You weren’t one for perfume and none of your soaps, shampoos, or body wash smelled sweet. At least he didn’t say the apartment smelled bad.

“Sorry, I’m being weird,” he brought you out of your daydream, “Alpha nose,” he poked himself in the tip of his nose, “I’m really sensitive to scent.”

“It’s ok! I find secondary genders fascinating. It’s part of the reason I chose to study fertility.”

He laughed and twisted himself to face you more from his spot on the couch, “Ah, I see. That’s why you let me move in so fast. Using my body for science hm?”

You couldn’t tell if he was joking or not so you deflated a little, “No of course not. I just think the phenomenon is interesting. Growing up I always hoped one day I would present, especially after I was told I can’t have kids.”

His laughing faded. The familiar sad, almost pitying look appeared that everyone gives you when you tell them. You’re not shy about it and you don’t care who knows. Despite having been focused entirely on building your career since you turned 18 and got that news, you do get asked by outsiders quite often when you’re going to settle down and have kids.

Here comes the inevitable follow up question. He asks you if you want kids, “I’d love to start a family someday.” You shrug and anxiously rub your knees, “I’m painfully single though, so, one step at a time I guess.”

His laughter was quickly becoming your favorite sound in the world, “Me too! Do you mind if I ask how old you are?”

“I’m 26,” you smiled, “What about you?”

“27. I presented when I was 17 and after I finally managed to graduate high school I went to a trade school to become a mechanic.” He laughed again to himself, “Not that I needed any of it. Already learned all there was to learn from my uncle.”

The title screen of the movie playing in the background and the thought of your 6 AM shift were shoved aside as you spent hours talking with him on the couch. You learned where he grew up, that he played in a band for fun with his friends, and that he was a giant nerd. Everything from Dungeons and Dragons, to Lord of the Rings, to Star Wars. He loved all of it.

You told him about your hobbies outside of school as well. He asked you questions about what kind of music you like, what your favorite color is, and listened to you talk about the things that interested you. It was kind of alarming how comfortable you already felt with him. He was incredibly easy to talk to. Finally, your body knew you’d regret staying up any later than you already had. You yawned.

“Alright pretty girl I’ve bothered you long enough. Go get some sleep,” he raised an arm and rubbed the back of his neck, “Are you sure it’s ok if I stay here tonight? I know it’s short notice and I wouldn’t want you to feel like you had to let me stay. I can move in officially this weekend if that works better.”

You surrendered. Standing right up and following his order, “It’s fine Eddie. I offered you the room didn’t I? Besides,” you yawned again, “Since you’re covering rent next month you might as well get your money's worth. Although I don’t have any extra blankets,” another yawn became the final nail in your coffin, “All I had was that sheet. I might have some pillows in the linen closet,” you went to check but he stopped you with his words.

“You’re too kind, fair maiden. I don’t need much when I sleep anyways,” he gestured to himself, “Alpha’s usually run pretty hot.” You snorted and shook your head. As different as he is, you can definitely tell he’s still an alpha. He rose from the couch with a deep bow, “I look forward to our adventures together as roommates,” he flicked his hair back up and flashed you a great view of those dimples, “Good night sweetheart.”

Eddie moved in his stuff little by little, the whole process took nearly a week. When you returned home each day you would notice a few new additions here and there. He stuck his shampoo in the bathroom, there was a six pack of beer on his shelf in the refrigerator, and you could typically hear music playing from his room at night. Finally the last item, a second guitar amp, landed in his now fully lived in room.

It had officially been a week since he moved the last of his stuff in and the two of you fell into a routine. Eddie’s shifts at the shop were usually the same time you were in class. If he got home before you and made some food, he left you a container on your shelf in the fridge. The last few times he’d started leaving a note on the container labeled “Roomie!” a little heart with bat wings drawn with markers that he definitely swiped from your backpack. Tonight you were getting home first and decided to surprise him for being the world's best roommate.

Your mind thought back to yesterday as you got started. You had just gotten out of the shower when he mentioned that sweet smell again. You figured he might have a sweet tooth so you decided to make cookies for him.

You tied your hair back and put on the apron you’d found on clearance after Valentine’s Day. It was pink with little conversation hearts scattered everywhere. A picture of a ladybug and the caption Love Bug written across the chest. After completing the scene with some of your favorite music playing softly in the background, you started to work.

After grabbing the flour and sugar, your cheeks felt warm. You had to check the clock to confirm, you’d only been working for a few minutes and you already felt flushed. As though you had been working in the summer heat for hours. You opened the small window that was situated beside your dining table and the cold winter air wafted into the warm kitchen. It helped a bit.

Setting the heat in your cheeks aside, you forgot about it after a while. You didn’t even realize how focused on your task you’d become. You felt relaxed. Every care of the outside world was gone. After mixing the last ingredient, the chocolate chips, into the dough and scooping them onto the baking sheet, you put them in the oven.

“Hm,” you mused to yourself while looking through the cabinet. Wondering if you had the ingredients to make an icing to write #1 roomie on one of the cookies.

Your mission was successful and while the cookies baked you whipped up a small amount. Giving you just enough time to do the dishes before pulling the cookies out to cool. You checked the time again. It was just after 5:00 and you knew Eddie would be back soon. Scooping the icing into a small ziplock baggie, you tried your best to write on the uneven surface. He walked in just after you finished the last letter.

“Hi Eddie!” You smiled brightly, proud of your work. Then you held out a small plate to him with the cookie, “I made this for you!”

He froze. His body went rigid there in the door frame. For the first time since you met, there was an uncomfortable silence. He just stared at you for a moment. Then, without a word, walked over, grabbed the plate from your hand and went into his room. Leaving you standing there in the kitchen dazed, confused, and if you were honest with yourself, a little sad.

You didn’t see him again that night. He stayed in his room. Replaying that event in your mind you cleaned up, left the rest of the cookies in a tupperware container on the counter, and headed to bed.

You tried to sleep but the more you pondered, your sadness turned to annoyance. You needed to complain about him so you called Robin.

“Hey! What’s up?” she sounded cheerful, “Isn’t it way past your bedtime?”

You offered a curt pity laugh, “Haha, very funny. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, I’m assuming based on your tone there’s trouble in roommate heaven?” She nailed it and your frustrations poured out like a waterfall.

“I made him cookies and he acted like I committed a crime. He gave me this look, didn’t say anything, snatched the cookie I offered him, and has been hiding in his room ever since. Is he allergic to chocolate? He might as well be with how upset he looked,” you mocked his non existence words, “Oh, I can’t believe the nerve of this girl, making me cookies, letting me move in with her on such short notice! Alpha Jerk.”

Once your rant was over she hummed, “Eddie’s always had a sweet tooth, that doesn’t make any sense. I need more details. What were you wearing?”

“Just my normal clothes I wore to class today. I did have an apron on to keep my shirt clean, but why should any of that matter?”

She laughed, “Sounds to me like you might’ve broken him. Let me guess you went full domestic goddess?”

“Well I wouldn’t describe it like that but—“

She interrupted you, “Eddie’s a simple alpha babe. An alpha who, by the way, has never been with an omega. You cooking things just for him? Classic omega behavior, you should know that Ms. Smarty-Science-Pants. On top of that, looking like absolute wife material probably had his brain sizzling like a piece of bacon.”

You listened to her but it didn’t matter, “I’m not an omega though.” Your words were more sad than you’d like to think about.

You could hear her exasperated sigh, “His brain doesn’t know that. I’m telling you that’s all it was. He’s probably hiding because he’s got a huge hard on!”

“Robin!” You yelled and immediately listened for any signs that he might’ve heard your yell. You tiptoed to the door and listened. Nothing. You waited until back in the safety of your bed before talking again, “I’ll admit, you might be right about the first part. But,” you heart sank a little, “I doubt he’s in there with a hard on. There’s no way he feels that way about me.”

“Why not?” Robin combated, “You’re fucking adorable! And If he doesn’t, he’s clearly not using those heightened alpha senses of his because anyone would be lucky to have you.”

You bloomed again, “Thanks Robin. I feel a little better. I’m gonna get some sleep. I’ll see you later.”

The next morning you went about your normal routine. If you hadn’t decided to grab some rations from the kitchen to stuff in your backpack in perpetration for a day full of learning, you’d have missed it. There on the counter where you left the container, now a lot more empty than before, sat a little note. Thanks sweetheart. He left his signature bat heart. You smiled to yourself and flashed your eyes to his door. As if it could’ve been anyone else who wrote the note for you.

A few days after the cookie incident, you and Eddie had resumed your normal interactions. Although, you hadn’t really stopped thinking about what Robin said. You were on the couch watching some random show on TV when he came in from work.

“Hey,” he sounded tired.

“Hey,” you checked the time, “Thought you got off at 5? I was surprised when I beat you home.”

He went, as he always does, to the bathroom and washed his hands. But this time he made a pit stop to set a small sparkly red bag on the coffee table in front of you, “I was supposed to, had to stay and finish fixing this stupid truck. Damn thing is just going to need to be fixed again in three months anyways.” He stood in the bathroom doorway and looked between you and the bag, “That’s for you.”

You felt the color appear on your face, “Me? Why?”

He replaced the towel he’d been wiping his hands on and walked back to the living room, “Dunno, I felt bad I guess about the other day and when I stopped at the store on my way home I saw that little guy and thought of you.” He spoke in a rushed manner like he was trying to get the words out without making a big deal out of it.

You looked inside the bag and found a small brown teddy bear with a red bow tied around its neck. It was so sweet. You held him in your hands and felt the softness of his fur beneath your fingers.

“I just wanted to say sorry. Not trying to you know, I don’t know. You can just throw it away when I’m not looking or whatever,” Eddie was rambling and it was absolutely adorable.

“No it’s fine. I like him,” you loved him. He was the same color as Eddie’s eyes.

He went to his room after that and must have gone right to sleep because you saw the light from under the door turn off and didn’t hear any music tonight. You sat there on the couch with your new friend for a bit longer and realized something. He only came in with this. If he just happened to see this while already at the store, what did he go to the store for in the first place?

It was one of your rare days off and you were catching up on some laundry. You knew he might view what you were about to ask similarly to the cookies but hey doing laundry in an apartment building is a pain in the ass. If you're going down you might as well bring some of his clothes too.

You texted him. Hey, I'm doing some laundry. You need anything washed?

He was at work but usually responded pretty quickly if they weren’t busy. They must not be busy.

Yeah uh sure. That’s cool. Thanks. There’s a little pile in the corner by my guitar.

You were usually really good about respecting the roommate code. You knocked if you needed to get his attention but hadn’t actually been in the second bedroom since he moved in. Only catching quick glimpses when he would enter or exit.

As soon as you entered, you thought to yourself, My period must be coming. The wall of musky, woodsy scent hit you like a ton of bricks. It was spicy and warm and distinctively Eddie. You stood in the door frame almost trying to catch your breath, Damn it’s probably going to be a rough one, I'm not usually this sensitive.

Once you regained your balance, you learned that Eddie had not one but two guitars. There was a red and black electric one hanging on the wall and a black acoustic one sitting on a stand beside his dresser. He didn’t specify in his message which one you should look by and both of them had piles of wadded up clothing near them.

Trying not to inhale too deeply for fear of passing out, you pulled the collar of your shirt up over your nose and grabbed the first pile under the electric guitar. A few shirts and what looked to be pants that he might wear under his coveralls at work.

With still a little room in your basket, you made your way to the second pile. Opting to just pick all of it up at once and drop it in with the other clothes. You instantly knew this probably wasn’t the one he wanted you to wash. Sitting on top of your now shared laundry were several pairs of crusty looking socks and balled up boxers that had been hiding under a shirt.

You knew you should put them back. Recreate the scene and walk away like you never touched them in the first place. Maybe he wouldn’t notice you had disturbed them. That's what you should do. You knew that. But something stirred inside you. You acted almost on instinct and before you could think too hard about it, you were picking up a pair of his green plaid boxer shorts and bringing them up to your nose.

When you inhaled the scent quite literally knocked you down. You fell backwards onto your ass. A euphoric feeling consumed you, it was like nothing you’d ever felt before. Suddenly your cheeks were flushed, your heartbeat quickened, and you knew you needed more. You smelled them again.

The room smelled like Eddie of course, it was his room. All his belongings were in here. He spent a good portion of his time here. But this, this was more somehow. More Eddie. Like someone had taken his scent and bottled it into a cologne. Then accidentally spilled an entire bottle onto this single pair of underwear.

Coming down from your high you knew you had to leave them here, he’d notice if the pile was completely missing. Thus knowing you touched his underwear like a weird pervert. But he might not notice one pair mysteriously going missing.

With the green pair still clutched in your dirty fingers, you replaced each soiled item one by one and covered them back up with the shirt. Then stood back on your feet, picked up the laundry basket, and continued your task as though the last few minutes didn’t happen.

He came home from work that night to a small pile of neatly folded shirts and pants placed carefully on his bed. There was also a small container of take out with his name on it waiting for him in the fridge. You didn’t have the courage to face him that night after what you had done. So you hid away in your room. Leaving him completely unaware of the thievery that had taken place or the hidden treasure that now sat tucked away in your nightstand.

It was officially one month that you’d been living with Eddie. If he noticed something missing from his wardrobe, he never mentioned it.

Tonight you were having your first movie night with friends that you hoped to make a weekly occurrence. Robin was already here and tonight you got to meet their mutual friend Steve for the first time when he came over with his partner Chrissy.

“I poured the popcorn into a few different bowls since it didn’t fit in just one,” Robin said with a smile as she held up two mismatched things of popcorn.

You feigned despair, “Oh no! What’re we gonna do? We can’t let people know that we live like this!” You turned to Eddie and held your cheeks, “What will the neighbors think?”

He laughed, “Your reputation as a good neighbor was probably lost the moment I moved in sweetheart.” His nickname for you became common tongue. You knew it didn’t hold any meaning, just Eddie being, well Eddie.

Robin didn’t approve of your shenanigans, she set the bowls down on the coffee table, “I never should have introduced you two. You're both menaces.”

“Au contraire!” Eddie defended, “It’s actually a crime that you didn’t introduce us sooner!”

Your heart swelled hearing that, “Aww, you really do care Eddie. Here I was thinking you just used me for my extra room. Is the big bad alpha going soft?

He smirked, “Nothing soft about me sweetheart.”

“Oh my god can you not make dick jokes for like 5 minutes please?” Robin threw up her hands, “Are we really about to bring another thick headed alpha in here? Seriously, how did you and Steve not kill each other?”

Your eyes tracked between them as they bickered. Eddie sat in his usual spot on the couch and Robin was about two seconds away from walking back into the kitchen.

Eddie laughed, “Relax! Steve and I have more sense than that. Besides, he’s got a girlfriend which calmed him down a little.”

“Good, this apartment can only handle one hot alpha,” You blurted out without thinking and instantly regretted it.

Robin, who was no secret to your massive crush on your friend and roommate, covered her laugh and retreated back to the kitchen. Shooting you a look that says you are so on your own with this one.

Eddie just looked at you, for a brief second there was some unreadable emotion there but it quickly turned to a smug grin. His arm swinging over the back of the couch, opening his legs as he crossed one over the other. “Aww you really think I’m hot sweetheart?”

You didn’t answer him. You’d be forever grateful to whoever just knocked on the door.

On the other side stood a man with fluffy, perfectly placed brown hair and a big smile. Even without the knowledge this man was an alpha, you’d know right away. From the protective arm around this girlfriend’s shoulders and the oozing confidence, this must be none other than Steve Harrington.

Which meant the cute redhead beside him must be Chrissy. She greeted you with a surprise, though not unwelcome, hug, “It’s so great to finally meet you. Eddie’s told us so much about you.”

“Really?” You looked back to Eddie who was uncharacteristically quiet. You decided to just file that in the back of your mind for now, “Come on in! We made popcorn and pizza should be here soon.” Robin had returned and gave Steve a hug. You couldn’t resist the urge to tease her once more, “I hope you don’t mind the mismatched bowls.”

The movie provided an anchor as you got better acquainted with these new friends. You learned that they met through work. Steve is a personal trainer and Chrissy teaches yoga at the community center. Steve was telling you the story of how his jaw literally dropped when Chrissy walked into his gym to inquire about offering classes there.

Your body language had naturally leaned in while listening to his story. You sat up a little straighter. Your arms braced against your knees as you gave Steve your full attention. Or at least tried to. The frequent twitches you caught from the corner of your eye kept distracting you. Finally you looked over and saw Eddie clenching his fists against his thighs.

You waited until Steve had finished to say something, “Eddie? Are you ok?”

His eyes were blown wide as he looked in your direction, “Hm? Yeah, I’m fine.” The white knuckles now braced against his chin and the point of his elbow digging into his leg said otherwise.

Steve spoke up before you could, “You sure man? You look like you’re ready to rip somebody’s head off.”

“I said I'm fine!” He snapped.

In an instant, the once friendly atmosphere turned sour and tense. No one really knew what to do. Everyone looked concerned. Searching for the cause of what had upset him. You however were feeling something very different. All you could think about was touching him. No, not touching, your brain supplied. Scenting.

You wanted nothing more right now than to nuzzle into his hair and neck. Somehow reassuring him that everything was ok.

Now your eyes were blown wide. Your brain all at once processed this intrusive thought. You knew it was nonsense. It must have come from your lessons during class today. Yeah that’s it. You were still just thinking about today's lecture during gender sciences because you shouldn’t be scenting. That’s something only done by alphas or—

“Who wants dessert?” You jumped up from the couch and headed into the kitchen. You heard footsteps behind you. Someone was following you. You didn’t need to turn and look thought. The sound of the footsteps, his smell, everything about him swirling around inside your very confused mind.

You opened the freezer and didn’t realize how much you needed the relief of a cool breeze. Standing there with the door open for a moment after grabbing the tub of ice cream felt incredible.

“Hey,” Eddie’s voice melted your insides. It sounded so soft and comforting, “Are you alright?”

You didn’t want to look at him for fear that just by making eye contact he would somehow know what you had wanted to do. Instead, you chuckled awkwardly and played it off, “Guess I’m just more tired than I thought.”

“No,” Eddie saw right through you, “I’ve seen you tired after a long day. That’s not what this is. Come here.”

Your mind and body were incapable of disobeying him. Even if you hadn’t wanted to, you turned on his command. Closing the freezer door and keeping your eyes locked with his feet.

He touched your forehead. Eddie had never touched you before. All the nights you spent wondering what the tips of his fingers felt like finally answered. They were calloused from playing guitar, the palm of his hand rough, most likely from his job. But nothing had ever felt more natural. It was fleeting thought because he pulled back already.

“Jesus Christ you’re burning up,” He went to the bathroom and returned the thermometer, “Holy shit 102?” He called for Robin.

She came running and you vaguely heard him telling her to go get medicine from the bathroom. He lifted your chin, “You are taking medicine and going right to bed. Do you understand me? No work or class tomorrow for you either.”

“But–”

“I think you should listen to him,” Robin said as she returned followed by Chrissy and Steve to check on you.

Standing became a labor. You braced yourself against the counter but Eddie caught you and lifted you into his arms. Robin opened the door for him as he carried you to your bed. Everything was starting to blur together. Somehow they made you take the medicine. You’re pretty sure Robin helped you change into some pajamas before you passed out on top of the comforter. That night you had your first dream of Eddie.

The next morning… afternoon? You weren’t sure until you blinked your eyes open. You felt awful. Your skin felt like it was on fire. If you were still running a fever that was not a sign. As soon as you summoned enough strength you ripped all your clothes off only to be horrified by what you felt on the bed beneath you. Your underwear, shorts and the top of the comforter were soaked. You brought your wet hand up to your face to inspect the source.

“Is that?” you spoke to the emptiness, “Slick?”

It should have been impossible. Everything you knew about biology was being thrown out the window and discarded to the wayside. Nothing made sense anymore. You had been and would always be a beta. And yet– your new and now ever present instincts told you otherwise. You were in heat.

Grasping at the shred of rationality that you regained, you tried to remember everything you’ve ever learned about heats. You knew a few things for certain. One, it was only a matter of time because you were lost to your desires and unable to think about anything except mating. Two, you needed food so that you didn’t have to leave your room again until it subsided. Last? Only omegas experience heats which means that only an alpha would truly make you feel better.

Tossing your wet clothing to the ground you wobbled naked like a newborn fawn towards your bedroom door. Dripping slick against your bare inner thighs as you tried to walk. You made it to the kitchen where, with fervent desperation, you dug through the cabinets for anything you could bring back with you. Then you went to Eddie’s room and without a second of hesitation opened the door. That was a horrible idea.

Where only the night before was just the scent of Eddie, now your brain was able to recognize it for what it was. Alpha.

Your knees buckled. It’s a miracle you didn’t fall over. Another rush of slick dripped from your aching hole. You didn’t have the luxury of considering whether he’d be upset that you were borrowing his clothes. You grabbed his leather jacket that he always wore outside of work from the bed and the few shirts that littered the floor. You could feel the fever returning. You needed to get back to your room.

—

Eddie didn’t want to leave you that morning. He peeked inside your bedroom before heading to work and you were sound asleep.

Robin had taken care of your obligations for you. She called your work and emailed your professors saying you’d be out for a few days with a fever.

Eddie knew he should just go back home because he wasn’t much use here today anyways. He’d already made a ton of mistakes thanks to his distracted brain.

“Munson!” Murray called to him from the office, “Come here boy!”

“Shit,” he tossed the rag in his hand and readied himself for an ass chewing.

Murray looked up from the desk, “What’s wrong with you today? You handed me an order form for the wrong part. You charged someone triple for a simple oil change and now I just watched you checking the engine on a car that was brought in for headlight repair.”

“Sorry sir, my roommate’s pretty sick right now and I guess I’m just a little worried about her,” a little worried was an understatement. Eddie was panicking that you, the absolute divine love and light of his life, were going to die in his absence.

He sighed, “Just go. Before I change my mind.”

Eddie tore at the buttons on his coveralls and nearly tripped trying to walk and take them off at the same time, “Thanks Murray!”

“You owe me!” was the last thing Eddie heard before he ran out.

He kicked the stand up on his motorcycle and got quite a few stares from people on the street and he hauled ass back to the apartment.

Normally he’d take the elevator up to your fourth floor apartment but in his mind his feet were faster and they’d carry him to you sooner. He was so focused on checking that you were still ok that he didn’t even feel winded after running up four flights of stairs.

He fumbled with his keys as he walked down the hallway. Then it hit him. He dropped the keys. They clattered loudly to his feet. He was still several doors down from yours and he could already smell it. He scrambled to pick them up and ran down the hallway.

His suspicions were confirmed as soon as he turned the key. That same sweetness that had greeted him everyday since the first time he opened that door to your smiling face, suffocated him. Though now it was a little different. It was sweeter. More you. Something he’d only ever dreamed of. An omega.

It got stronger with every step he took towards your room. He swallowed and failed to will away the hardness growing in his pants. All his hopes and dreams were answered when he pushed his way into your room. There on the bed in a very haphazardly constructed nest, naked, clinging to his jacket, surrounded by his clothes, and your brown stuffed bear, was you.

He inhaled deeply and could practically feel his pupils dilate with lust. You smelled so fucking good. He took another step and spoke quietly trying not to startle you, “Hey sweetheart.”

—

It hurt so bad. The ache between your thighs only worsened as you curled into the small nest you’d surrounded yourself with. The underwear you’d stolen from Eddie lost its scent long ago but you still pulled it out and threw it in the pile. The few items you were able to grab from his room were a mere wooden board in the dam against the rushing river that threatened to drown you at any moment.

You didn’t hear the front door open.

Your senses became more clouded with each passing minute. You clung for dear life to Eddie’s leather jacket but it betrayed you as it started to cling back now that it was damp with your sweat.

The click of your bedroom door knob alerted you and brought you back. Maybe it wasn’t the door. Maybe it was the smell or the sound of his voice as he spoke to you. You lifted your head and couldn’t stop the tears when you saw Eddie standing there at the foot of your bed.

“A-alpha? It hurts,”

Something awoke within Eddie. The deepest part of himself he’d never been able to fully satisfy. All those ruts spent uselessly humping into his hand or a pillow. “Again,” He growled, “Say it again little one!”

Your eyes pleaded with him as you whined, “A-alpha?” You pressed the jacked to your chest. How was he here? He was supposed to be working. Your fever must have taken over you and you were starting to hallucinate, “F-fuck, alpha, need you. Are you really here?”

The bed shifted, “I know, I know. I’m here now, sweet omega. I’m here.” He laid behind you and wrapped his long arms around you. “‘m so sorry I left sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere now.”

His presence eased the ache a bit. He rubbed your neck with his hand and whispered in your ear, “You smell so good, could smell you from the hallway.”

He felt you shudder with panic, “R-really?”

“Shh! No, don't worry. I locked the door and only other alphas or omegas would be able to smell it,” he leaned in closer, “Can I kiss you? It might help you feel better.”

You nodded but didn’t feel anything on your lips. He kissed your neck. Sparks of pure pleasure shot through your body. You whimpered helpless against the feeling, “Fuck more Eddie! More! Kiss me more, please!”

He couldn’t deny that his heart had wanted to hear those words since he first laid eyes on you but he knew it was just the heat talking. He also knew if he started he wouldn’t be able to stop, “I want to more than you know princess but, I don’t want you to hate me when you're more lucid.”

His kiss had breathed new life into you and gave you the energy to turn to face him, “I’d never hate you Eddie.” You reached into the piled up fabric that you had built up around you and pulled out the green plaid boxers, “D’you lose something?” you could feel your speech slurring.

“D-did you take my underwear?” his fingers curled and tickled against you lightly drawing out little giggles.

You grinned up at him with glassy eyes, “Sure did. Sniffed ‘em too.”

His palm came to rest on your hip and he ran his fingers up the curve of your waist. Then back down again. Savoring every dip, ridge, and shape your body created as it lay before him, “Did they help you feel better?”

“Nuh uh,” he was misunderstanding, “I took these a while ago. So see? Wouldn’t hate you. Want you.”

He kissed you again, on the lips this time, “I want you too. Shit, you taste so good. I wonder how you taste other places.”

He pressed his elbow up, giving him leverage to sit up and tear his shirt off. Next he was up hovering over you on his knees. You watched him, taking in every single one of his movements. He unzipped his pants and slid them down his hips. His thick length was barely contained by the fabric of his boxers. He was less than graceful as he shook them off.

He straddled your legs and lowered himself towards your neck again, so close to your skin that his chest grazed your exposed nipples as he turned you to rest on your back beneath him. His mouth was in your ear whispering, “I can see it in your eyes sweetheart, the heat is getting worse. Can you tell me what you need before that smart ass brain of yours is just mush, begging for my knot?”

“F-fuck me Eddie,” you looked up at him and knew even in your current state that your words had affected him. “P-please.”

“That’s all I needed to hear sweetheart,” he kissed you again. First on the lips. Devouring your moans, wet noises growing as you felt yourself drooling into him because of how good he tasted. Your slick lips gliding against his. He moved lower onto your neck and kissed the crook just above your shoulder, “This might be a little sensitive here but I promise it’ll feel good.” He sucked on your skin and in that instant you were writhing.

“Ah! A-alpha,” somewhere in the deep recesses of your mind you knew that he was sucking on the spot that both of your latent instincts told you was where he should bite down and bond himself to you. Where if he gave into his desires and bit down just a little harder you’d forever be his and only his. Bearing his mating mark for the world to see. As he continued sucking with just his lips and licking with his tongue that was suddenly all you ever wanted, “Mate me alpha! All yours, please!”

He puffed out his chest. His shoulders flexed. The muscles in his back tightened as he growled again into your neck. Straining to fight off every instinct that told him to give you what you wanted. His hand gripped the wooden frame of your bed so tightly you heard the wood begin to splinter and crack. “Maybe after your heat sweetheart. Such a good girl, my sweet little omega, all these big new feelings. Don’t you worry, I’ll take care of you.”

Throwing your head back you let the dam break, “N-need your knot alpha, Hurts. Make it stop.”

“You’re not quite ready for my knot yet baby. Gotta make sure I don’t hurt you.”

But you were an omega? That’s literally what your body was made for, why couldn’t you take him? First he wouldn’t mate you and now he won’t knot you? Were you a bad omega? He sensed your distress in the subtle change in your scent. He buried his face into your neck again, surrounding you with himself.

“You’re not bad! No no,” you didn’t even realize you’d said that out loud. He continued to soothe you, “It's just…I’ve never knotted anyone before and I don’t want to hurt you.”

You brought your hands up to his chest and touched him everywhere your fingers could reach, “Won’t hurt me. I know. Too gentle.”

You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him down on top of you. The weight of his body pressing into nearly every surface of your skin was intoxicating. Grounding you with his scent and his very presence. You’d pulled him into the perfect position to nuzzle into his neck and hair, kissing the same spot that he has just assaulted on you with his tongue. A warm feeling bubbled in your gut. This was different from the warmth of the heat. Then a sound hit both of your ears.

A sound that gave both of you delighted pause. The little noise that escaped your throat was somewhere between a whimper and a moan but something so uniquely omega. Eddie had never heard a more beautiful sound. You were purring.

He let you keep going but whispered into your ear, “You’re fucking perfect you know that?” you purred louder, “I’m going to make you come with my fingers and then I’ll give you my knot, ok?”

“Yes alpha! Thank you,” you whined as he pulled away but his hands never stopped touching you. He made his way down to the drenched area between your thighs.

“You look so beautiful for me sweetheart, you’re fucking soaked,” he moaned as his fingers began toying with your wetness and dipping in between the folds of your pussy. You encouraged him with all the moans and whines he could ever hope to hear. As soon as he deemed you thoroughly worked up, he finally slipped a finger in, quickly followed by another. They worked together pumping in and out fluidly, curling inside you, pressing all the right buttons. You wanted to thank him but all that would come out was broken bits and pieces of alpha and his name.

His hair brushed lightly against your inner thighs, sending shivers through your core as he lowered his head down. He spoke with a low hum right into your entrance, “You’re close. I can feel it. Let go for me sweet omega. I’ll take good care of you.”

One more curl of his fingers hitting that delicious soft spongy spot inside you had you screaming and convulsing as slick rushed out into his hand and surely getting some on his face. His fingers pulled out and were replaced with something wet and soft. You could feel his nose nudging at your aching clit as he licked up all your wetness with his tongue. It slid up from the hole and flicked your clit over and over again causing the muscles in your calf to twitch.

“K-knot alpha! Knot please, ‘m ready. So empty, hurts!”

He sucked on your clit before pulling away and lifted to release his throbbing cock from his boxers. You looked up at it, marveling at how impressive his length looked. The tip swollen and aching for you just as you ached for him. The shaft veins pulsed as he pumped himself with his wet hand, covering it in your scent and juices. The base just barely began to flare out as his knot already started to swell. He lined up the tip with your begging cunt and teased you as much as his self control would allow before slowly and carefully pressing all the way inside.

You cried out for him, “So good! More, more, more! Move alpha please!”

He couldn’t hold back anymore. Feeling his cock sheathed inside his omega’s pussy was too much. He began fucking into you with reckless abandon, each thrust hitting deep within your body, catching ever so slightly as his knot continued to swell. He grunted loudly, “Fuck! “M’gonna fill you up so good little omega. Gonna breed this beautiful pussy,” his instincts were now fully in control. His mind became almost as clouded as yours with nothing but want and desire to fulfill the purpose of your heat, “You’ll look so good knocked up sweetheart. Tits all big and heavy. My omega, mine!”

You echoed him, “Yours alpha! All yours! Breed me, wanna carry your baby! Please, please please,” you cries became so desperate and emotional as you begged and pleaded for him to give you something you’d wanted as long as you could remember. Tears fell from your tired eyes, “Make me a mommy alpha!”

“Yeah?” he looked down at you. Beads of sweat from his constant thrusting formed on his forehead. His bangs curled and swooshed out in every direction, “Beg for my knot again omega, tell me how much you want it!”

Your body was jostling up and down from his thick cock fucking into you harder and harder. Your senses became overwhelmed with the feeling of your alpha’s cock, his scent, his words, his love all around you. You could feel how much bigger his knot had gotten, your voice was wrecked, “Knot alpha, need it, knot me!”

Eddie came with a loud growl. You’d never felt so full. Your walls pulsated around him as you came again. He slammed his knot deep inside you, locking you together with him, forming a connection that as you floated down from your orgasm fully took shape in your mind.

“Eddie?” you looked into his warm brown eyes, “Th-thank–”

“Shh, we can talk later baby. Rest while you can,” he held a finger to your lips, “Once my knot goes down I’ll get you some water and something to eat. You’ll need it again soon so we both need to rest.”

Being locked together with him felt so right but it limited your movement. Twisting your torso you looked around the nest for the box of granola bars you’d grabbed earlier, “I,” words were still hard and your breath was labored, “box here somewhere.”

He looked around and spotted the corner of the box on the floor. He pictured what you must have done when you realized what was happening to you, knowing what you’d need, “You did such a good job. Now it’s my turn, we’ve got a long few days ahead of us. My first rut lasted three days.”

You chuckled, eyes closed, a blissful fucked out smile on your lips, “W-we might need more food.”

“I’m not leaving you again, I’ll have Rob drop some stuff off.”

You didn’t talk anymore after that. In fact you fell asleep with his knot still inside you. He kissed your forehead before pulling out when it finally went down, “Sleep my little omega.” He left the nest just long enough to text Robin and his boss, updating them and then curled up behind you, rubbing his face into your neck again. Picturing how good your throat would look with his mating mark on it before falling asleep beside you.

#eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie x fem!reader #Alpha Eddie Munson #omega reader #Alpha Eddie x Omega Reader #omegaverse

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doumadono · 1 year ago

Note

I don’t know if this counts as an emergency request, feel free if to ignore/delete this if it isn’t or if you don’t want to write it

but I’m just so angry right now that I feel like crying.

my mom passed away last march and her best friend is managing her trust. My or my siblings can’t since we’re all underage. She’s been selling and giving away things that belonged to my mom without even consulting us first. She first sold the house she’d been living in for the past 8 yrs (my parents are divorced so we’ve been living with my dad) that we were wanting to buy. She tried selling my mom’s antique Barbie collection that is INCREDIBLY sentimental to us. And she might be trying to sell her freaking wedding dress and ring. (I’m sorry if this is ranting, I’m trying not to)

could I request a Kirishima or Giyuu x reader who would be going through similar things? Just basically a bunch of angry tears

(Again, please ignore this if you do not want to do this.)

A/N: I'm so angry to hear about the difficult situation you're facing. Losing a loved one is challenging, and dealing with the management of their belongings adds another layer of complexity. It's completely understandable that you're upset and frustrated. In such cases, it might be helpful to seek legal advice. Given your age, you might want to consult with a guardian or someone you trust to explore options for managing your mom's trust more responsibly. Documenting your sentimental attachment to specific items could also be beneficial. If you need a listening ear, don't hesitate to message me. I trust that these small headcanons will manage to elicit the slightest hint of a smile on your face

EMERGENCY REQS MASTERLIST

Kirishima

Kirishima would be the epitome of emotional support. He might not fully understand the intricacies of your situation, but his empathy shines through.

Kirishima's anger isn't just about the items; it's about protecting your feelings and memories. He firmly believes in standing up for what's right, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. "Your mom's stuff means a lot to you, right? I can't stand the thought of someone messing with that."

He suggests a proactive approach, perhaps talking to the trust manager, explaining your emotions, and trying to find a compromise.

Kirishima would spend time with you, engaging in activities that could help ease your mind – maybe a training session or a casual outing.

Kirishima would certainly surprise you with a small gift – a custom-made keychain representing your mom's hobbies or a necklace with a pendant with her picture inside. "I thought this could be a little reminder of the good times. Whenever you look at it, you'll remember her smile."

The setting sun cast a warm glow over the city as you sat with Kirishima on a quiet rooftop. The distant sound of traffic filled the air, but for now, it was just the two of you. Kirishima, sensing your distress, suggested spending some time away from the chaos.

The gentle breeze rustled Kirishima's spiky hair as he spoke, "I get it, you know? Losing something important... it sucks. When my aunt got laid off, we had to sell a lot of stuff. I remember feeling so powerless. But your situation, it's awful. It's so fucking unfair."

He glanced at you, his red eyes softened with empathy. "But we're not powerless now. We can do whatever it takes. We ca meet her and tell her how much these things mean to you. We can contact the authorities to accuse her of adverse management of property. There must be something we can do. Whatever you decide, I'm with you."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Kirishima handed you a small, carefully wrapped package. "I thought this might help. A little something to keep your spirits up."

Opening it, you found a silver necklece with a pendant with a tiny picture of your mom inside. Kirishima smiled sadly, "Whenever you look at it, please remember the good times. We'll face this head-on, together."

Tomioka

Giyuu is more reserved, but his empathy is strong. He might not express his anger openly, but his actions speak volumes.

He listens patiently as you vent your frustration, understanding the depth of your emotions.

Giyuu doesn't express his anger openly but conveys deep empathy through his calm demeanor. "I can't fathom your pain, but I'm here for you. We'll find a way together."

Giyuu suggests a more subtle approach, like writing a heartfelt letter to the trust manager, explaining the importance of these items. "Words have power. Sometimes, they can be more impactful than actions."

He may take you to a serene location, like a quiet lake or a peaceful garden, providing a calm environment to discuss your feelings.

Giyuu, with his calm demeanor, took you to a serene lakeside retreat. The peaceful setting was a balm for your troubled soul, and together, you reflected on your mother's memories.

Underneath the canopy of cherry blossoms, you and Giyuu sat in silence, the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant hum of the lake providing a soothing backdrop. Giyuu listened attentively as you shared stories about your mother, each memory a delicate thread binding you to her.

"You have a beautiful way of expressing your love for her," Giyuu spoke softly, his gaze reflecting a mixture of understanding and empathy. "Let the water carries your sorrows away. Feel free to let it all out, darling."

As the sun dipped low, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Giyuu suggested writing your thoughts on paper, symbolically letting them float away on the lake. The letter, carefully crafted, held the essence of your emotions, a silent plea for understanding.

"You've been strong through this. Your words will find their way to her heart," Giyuu assured, stroking your nape slowly.

#emergency request #kirishima fluff #giyuu tomioka x reader #giyuu x reader #giyuu tomioka #demon slayer giyuu #kny fluff #mha fluff #anime fluff #kirishima x reader #kirishima x you #eijiro kirishima #giyuu x you #demon slayer fluff #kirishima #kirishima bnha #tomioka giyu x reader #kirishima eijirou

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darkstar225 · 1 year ago

Text

@woso-fan13 Updated Masterlist

Updated: 04 January 2024

I have no clue why I did this, I just love this writer sm and wish I could check everything in one place since I keep re-reading the fics lol

PS: If the writer wants me to delete the post and send it to you so you'll post it, feel free to message me! I just love the fics and felt like doing this :D

It didn't fit everything so check out @woso-fan13 for the other masterlist with the rest S2

Sicktember 2023

Number 1: Hopelessly Bad at Self-Care

Number 2: Quest For A Cure

Number 3: “What Happened To Your Phenomenal Immune System, Huh?”

Number 4: Hiding an Illness

Number 5: Preventative Measures (Not Taken)

Number 6: Sick & Injured

Number 7: “You’re A Jerk When You’re Sick”

Number 8: Persistent Fever

Number 9: White Coat Syndrome

Number 10: “The Only Place We’re Going Is To The Pharmacy”

Number 11: Beginner’s Guide To Faking Sick

Number 12: Home Remedy/Old Wives Tale

Number 13: Anxious Stomach

Number 14: “I shouldn’t be worried about you, but for some reason I am.”

Number 15: Sick in an Inconvenient Place

Number 16: Consulting the Internet/Web MD

Number 17: Magical Remedy/ Healing Potion

Number 18: “Wear Your Coat, You’ll Catch a Cold”

Number 19: Curled Up With a Pet

Number 20: Cramping Pain

Number 21: “But if you stay, you’ll get sick too.”

Number 22: Terms of Endearment/Nicknames

Number 23: Coughing Fit

Number 24: “Did you just sneeze?”

Number 25: Confused/Disoriented

Number 26: Forehead Kisses

Number 27: Uncooperative Patient

Number 28: “I should have stayed home”

Number 29: Side Effects/Adverse Reaction

Number 30: Patient 0

WHUMPTOBER 2023

Number 1: “But now this room is spinning while I’m trying just to fill in all the gaps.”

Number 2: “I’ll call out your name, but you won’t call back.”

Number 3: “Like crying out in empty rooms; with no-one there except the moon.”

Number 4: “I see the danger, It’s written there in your eyes.”

Number 5: “You better pray I don’t get up this time around.”

Number 6: “Do or die, you’ll never make me; Because the world will never take my heart.”

Number 7: “I paced around for hours on empty; I jumped at the slightest of sounds.”

Number 8: “I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier.”

Number 9: “Learning everything ain’t what it seems, that’s the thing about these days.”

Number 10: “Can’t you see that you’re lost without me?”

Number 11: “All the lights going dark and my hope’s destroyed.”

Number 12: “I haven’t slept in days but who’s counting?”

Number 13: “It comes and goes like the strength in your bones.”

Number 14: “Feed me poison, fill me ‘till I drown.”

Number 15: “I don’t need you to help me, I can handle things myself.”

Number 16: “Would you lie with me and just forget the world?”

Number 17: “You’re the lump in my throat and the knot in my chest.”

Number 18: “I tend to deflect when I’m feeling threatened.”

Number 19: “I’ll take one final step, all you have to do is make me.”

Number 20: “People don’t change people, time does.”

Number 21: “See the chains around my feet.”

Number 22: “They never saw us coming, ‘til they hit the floor.

Number 23: “It’s gonna get me by the end of the night.”

Number 24: “I’ve got a head full of chemicals; mouth full of ridicule.”

Number 25: “You’re not delivering a perfect body to the grave.”

Number 26: “Sometimes I get so tired; I don’t even know myself.”

Number 27: “You drew stars around my scars; But now I’m bleeding.”

Number 28: “We might not make it to the morning; so go on and tell me now.”

Number 29: “I only sink deeper the deeper I think.”

Number 30: “It’s okay, just to say, ‘I’m not okay’.”

Number 31: “I thought that I was getting better.”

Comfortember 2023

Safe

Sweater Weather

Leaves Changing

Warmth

Treehouse

Notes

Sick/Illness

Grief/Mourning

Aftermath

Sadness

Comfort Show/Movie

Dreams

Baking

Late Night Phone Calls

Plushies

Coffee/Tea Break

Heirloom

Cuddles

Loved Ones

Shopping

Relapse

Cry

Anxiety

Blankets

Rain

Friends

Soup

Flashbacks

Sleepover

The New Normal

#uswnt x reader #uswnt imagine #uswnt players #uswnt imagines #uswnt woso #uswnt reader #woso x reader #reader insert #x reader #woso imagine #woso soccer #womens soccer #woso #masterlist

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rose-morose · 6 months ago

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I finished Harley Quinn, and I've got to rant about Kite Man for a second

(Harley Quinn spoilers and very very long and bitter hatred under the cut)

it fucking boggles my mind that Poison Ivy would go out with this rich, incompetent, ignorant, heteronormative, entitled, arrogant, borderline, if not outright, misogynistic trust fund child who is a massive cunt, and seemingly the antithesis of everything that she stands for

most of the time she seems to find his clumsy and ignorant conduct to be endearing, which is actually understandable, but beyond that and a positive review of the sex (I think I can't remember) it kind of seemed like she wasn't fully invested in their relationship

this isn't even a "she's out of his league" thing either, he is just genuinely a terrible terrible person, and I think many people give him far more credit than he deserves

putting aside his goofy kite motif, his naive demeanour, and his clumsy antics he just has a dull shitty personality

when they first met, Kite Man spent an entire evening making unwelcome advances on Ivy despite her clear and succinct rejections of every effort he made, stole from her, and then he took Ivy asking him for an emergency ride back to her apartment to literally save the lives of children that HE poisoned for no reason as not only validation of his relentless advances, but the beginning of what he believed to be a "date" in his deluded rotting brain

upon arriving at her apartment, unprompted, he disrobed and waited for her in her bedroom to have sex, and when Ivy asked him why, his response was along the lines of 'that's usually what happens after a great date when you go back to the girl's place'

Ivy was understandably upset by this, so what happened? what changed? in what mad world is this given any amount of consideration to even be tolerable, let alone acceptable behaviour?

"I'll do all the heavy lifting so you don't have to break a nail." fuck this twat he sucks, and this is only episode 2, the first fucking episode that he is in

"I'll protect us babe!" dude fuck right off she is literally the most powerful person in the room

"If my girlfriend sees me hanging out with you hot young coeds she is going to be green with envy." people still call women attending uni "coeds" that's fucking insane, someone just put me out of my fucking misery

HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HER FUCKING NAME! "Poison Gertrude Ivy" 0/3 fucker not even remotely close, and he doesn't learn her name until after the third fucking time he asks her to marry him

so what if it's played as a joke, it's still true

what am I missing here? why is this guy getting a pass, not just from Ivy, but from the fandom at large? why is there such widespread admiration of this asshole?

I tried watching the Kite Man spinoff show to figure out what people see in him, but it honestly just made him look even worse if that's possible, and while the entire show has not yet been released, it is set after the conclusion of Kite Man and Ivy's relationship so it's not even that relevant

if anyone from the Harley Quinn show deserves a spinoff it isn't this cunt

this shitty excuse of a human being maps out their entire future without consulting Ivy, self admittedly stalked her, constantly does things that she explicitly asks him not to do (admittedly Harley is also guilty of this), mansplains simple bullshit to her constantly, and takes not even the slightest bit of interest in anything remotely associated with Poison Ivy, he doesn't even really seem to know that much about her

on paper I can't see why the hell she even seems to like him at all seeing as she repeatedly rebuffed his initial unwelcome attempts to hit on her, was embarrassed to be seen in public with him, did not tell anybody she was dating him, constantly comments on how fucking stupid he is, rejected him every time he tried to take the next step in their relationship, and before they got together the nicest thing she had ever said to him was along the lines of, 'you're almost tolerable when you are completely silent' and yet in practice Ivy seems to be very loving and affectionate towards him, she even attributes her recent bout of happiness to him

yet Kite Man himself admits that he had to repeat every step of their relationship over and over and over again because she constantly rejected him at every turn

and she was the only one putting any effort into their relationship, always doing things to make him more comfortable or happy and in return occasionally getting a ride and that's it, he just breaks down and starts crying when anything doesn't go his way

Poison Ivy deserves so much better than this cunt who weaselled his way into her life, not the other way around

I saw something from a showrunner about how this iteration of Poison Ivy has self esteem issues that may have lead her to date someone who isn't worthy of her just because he was nice to her, but I don't see how he was nice to her

he's usually polite, sure, but he is super misogynistic, he asks her to drop her name to get things that he wants, he is super arrogant and full of himself, and he seems to objectify her every time he tries to give her a compliment

and that hardly explains why so many fans are all for this terrible relationship, normally supporting unhealthy relationships in media because you want to see them improve and evolve is fun, but this guy does not change, he doesn't even think that he needs to change

and I think most of the show's fans are for Harlivy, which is a relationship that isn't super healthy but is compelling and improving and is fun to root for, but why do I see so many people saying that the writers should have kept going with Kite Man and Ivy?

I don't think it's outright homophobia, or at least the majority isn't homophobia, but I just don't get it

now did Kite Man deserve to be cheated on? I don't think so, that's just a pretty shitty thing to do to someone, but why the fuck was he even here in the first place?

I guess the heart wants what the heart wants or she didn't think she deserved better or whatever, but fuck why does anyone tolerate this asshole? is incompetence really that charming?

maybe I just don't get it because I'm aroace, but regardless of what you think of the relationship or the character, Kite Man is undoubtably a shit person and a complete asshole, that doesn't make him a bad character, just a bad person, and I wish more people that liked him as a character would recognise that, it's fine to like characters that are bad people, but don't outright deny it

just my final thoughts, I would love to take this opportunity to assure all 0 readers that have made it this far that I am not genuinely upset and do not take issue with people that like a fictional character that I don't like ok thanks bye

rant over

#harley quinn #kite man #poison ivy #harlivy #dc comics #pamela isley #harleen quinzel #relationships #rose rambles #rose rants

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evolutionsvoid · 1 month ago

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You ever hear those stories about people who "vanish without a trace?" All those spooky tales of someone getting so lost that they are never found again, or are taken by some otherworldly force? I am sure you have, because there are certainly a lot of them! Now I imagine this is the part where you expect me to say that this is a load of rot, that such tales are mere superstition and contortions of the truth! Well, in a way, yes folks don't exactly disappear into thin air, as something has to happen to them in one way or the other. Even if you were to actually dissolve into nothingness due to some crazy magic, there is still a tangible fate and a wizard to blame. But that is just me being pedantic, as what I was really aiming to say is that indeed people can and do vanish in the wilderness. Empty camps with no one around for miles, family saying they are going out for a hunt but then never returning. Usually one can find a carcass or enough evidence to conclude what happened that fateful day, but sometimes people do come up with absolutely nothing. And I will be honest and say that thought has entered my headcap a few times during my journeys, where I realize I am in a situation where if things went south no one would ever find me or my body. The famous Chlora Myron would very much disappear on some doomed expedition. Be it weather, beast or magic, stuff like that can happen. And the temperate rainforest is one of those places where people never come back and are never found. But as we have learned, there is something behind all this...

Like any ecosystem, you got your predators that roam about. Some of them have no interest in creatures our sized, while others are always up for the challenge. Ask any of the locals or consult any guide and they will tell you which ones to watch out for. This applies to herbivores too, those with short tempers and the strength to back it up. So the advice is to be alert around them and keep your distance. Do that and you should be fine. However, there are some beasts of the world that are not to be trifled with in the slightest. Ones that sit up so high on the food chain that nothing is a threat and everything is prey. In these cases, it isn't about staying a safe distance away or not acting like prey. It is more like, "pray you don't run into them at all." And the phantasmaw of the temperate rainforest is absolutely one of those creatures. They are a beast you never want to see, but unfortunately they are beast you probably won't see until it is too late.

The phantasmaw is a large gastropod that haunts these rainforests, standing as the apex predator of these lands. It is a massive beast to behold, a giant in the land of fog and fern. They possess eight elastic legs, two rows of wing-shaped cerata and that bulbous flexible head of theirs. They are a truly bizarre creature, but its funky looks are often overshadowed by the sheer size and threat they pose. But of course, something this big should be easy to see coming, giving prey plenty of time to run, right? Nope. Because phantasmaws rarely spend time on the ground, rather they climb through the trees with their long flexible legs. Now saying they are "tree climbers" gives you the impression of them scrambling up and down the trunks like a squirrel or monkey. No, with their size and stretchy limbs, they literally use the entire tree as a climbing point, as the rainforest is dense enough that they can grab hold of several trees at once and suspend themselves in the air. But they are huge! Surely such weight and size would make this impossible? Wrong again. Phantasmaws have no bones and a whole lot of air pockets in their bodies. They are surprisingly light for their size, and combined with their flexible bodies, they can move and contort in a way that makes their movements quiet and hidden. But of course, with something that big hanging overhead, any animal would still see it, right? Well, here comes the reason why folks warn about getting "eaten by the sky" round here.

The flesh of a phantasmaw is actually translucent, letting folk see right through their skin and into their organs. However, their internal anatomy is colored in a way that it sort of blends in with the moss and trees around it. That, and their skin actually possesses the ability to alter its color and transparency, allowing it to adapt to its surroundings to better match. With a mixture of these abilities combined with the mist that hangs in these forests, the phantasmaw has the terrifying power to practically become invisible. They hang up out of sight, cloaked in the mist and shifting their appearance so that prey that looks up would struggle to pick them out. When in hunting mode, they remain perfectly still, their large maw posed to strike any who walk beneath them. These jaws have no bones or teeth, expanding like two hoods to engulf prey whole. The structure of these allow them to contort or contract in any way they need, stretching and shrinking to match the morsel they about to swallow. When they strike, it comes from out of nowhere and there is little time to react. In one moment, everything is fine and normal, and in the next second the animal finds itself completely engulfed. Prey is taken into this expandable maw and pulled off the ground. Their lip tendrils weave together to lock their mouth shut while the whole structure contracts to tighten its grip. Since the phantasmaw lacks teeth, it typically has to deal with live food, thus its efforts to constrict and pin flailing limbs. Smaller prey can be crushed by its contracting muscles, but often it isn't enough to take out heftier beasts. But as long as food cannot do damage or escape, their state of being doesn't really matter.

With no jaws or teeth for chewing, prey is taken in whole. However, they won't be taken into a central stomach for digestion, as the phantasmaw instead has a different setup. Those large, broad cerata that lines its back are actually hooked up to its digestive system, acting like extra stomachs. Prey is instead shunted into one of these pouches, where they are stored and broken down into nutrients. Since the phantasmaw has many of these organs instead of one single gut, it means it can gorge on more food if it is available. If it is a time of plentiful prey, they can gobble down more than just one stomach would hold! And if they can stockpile on food like this, then that means it can survive during scarcer times.

However, if the phantasmaw is carrying around a dozen dinners in its dorsal guts, then that dramatically increases its weight. How is it to hang from the canopy now? Surely something that bloated and full would pull down the branches it clings to! That is a fair point, so much so that the phantasmaw actually has an answer for that! Another reason why it uses these cerata for digestion is because they allow the beast to "stash" away eaten prey! The cerata that can hold its food are actually capable of autotomy, where they can be severed from the main body. Structures at the base of each allows them to break free and seal the resulting wound tight on both ends! This lets the phantasmaw offload weight that would disturb its hunts, while also keeping consumed prey in a separate fleshy cocoon. Phantasmaws will construct nests high up in the trees where they may deposit these nutrient filled sacs, stashing them for later eating. That and when it is the breeding season, these food pods will be flushed with eggs before it is split off, thus giving the hatching young a nutritious stew to feed upon before and after they hatch! Kinda humiliating that victims can be eaten twice, as if the first experience wasn't bad enough.

One should clearly see why these creatures are the apex of the temperate rainforest, as few things can stand against them. Their maw can choke down practically any animal, and their size makes them intimidating to deal with. On top of that, their flesh is tough and easily heals, allowing them to shrug off a lot of damage. Plus, their meat is terrible to eat and thus nothing wants them on their menu if they even could take one down. Smaller ones tend to flush their bodies with digestive acid when threatened, causing nasty burns for those who try to consume them. So fighting is pretty much off the table, so best to run. Unfortunately, if you are a tempting enough target or the creature is hungry enough, the phantasmaw may decide to pursue. Honestly I can't even imagine the terror of sprinting through the forest while something massive and unseen claws after you from above. And while food runs, the phantasmaw will try to trip it up by unleashing blasts of air from its mouth. By inflating its body, it can force a brief gust of wind out of its maw that can stagger prey and cause them to stumble. And in this flight, tripping and falling is pretty much a death sentence.

For the locals and wildlife around here, phantasmaws are a creature you run and hide from. Don't bother to fight, just find something big and sturdy to hide under and hope it leaves you alone. Look for downed tree trunks, burrows or spaces under big rocks. Phantasmaws rarely touch ground, so their assault comes from above. If you can find something to shield you from this descending maw, then you should be safe. But remember to be patient and keep an eye on where the creature is at all times. Though it may relent in its attack, it may simply hide itself close by and wait for food to poke their head out from their safe haven. Movement is what they look for (meaning us meat-free dryads aren't safe), so stay still, low and quiet. Wait for as long as you can before emerging, and try to make sure the phantasmaw isn't luring you into a false sense of safety.

While the phantasmaw provides no meat or usable resources from its corpse, folk do seek to slay large specimens in fear of them eating people or depleting local wildlife. It is also advised that travelers through these rainforests keep blades stashed on all parts of their body, so that they may be reached if swallowed into a cerata. You don't know where your hands will be pinned, so best to have a couple options. This tactic takes a whole lot of luck and effort in order for you to theoretically cut yourself free of one, but it is better than nothing! Thankfully, I never found myself in this scenario, and have been lucky to avoid being hunted by a phantasmaw. I did hide under the roots of a stump in order to spot one as it moved through the trees, but then had the misery of realizing that when it set up its ambush site around me, it meant I couldn't leave. Yep. Guess who slept under a stump for two days?

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

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

"Phantasmaw"

Should be no surprise that I came up with this fellow when actually visiting a temperate rainforest. Enjoying the scenery and going "I wonder what horrors could live here?" What about a giant sea slug?

#monster #creature #sea slug #nudibranch #art #drawing

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stevethehairington · 2 years ago

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY @stevecarrington!!!!! I HOPE TODAY IS UNBELIEVEABLE!! i'm so glad this fandom has brought us together, you're such a wonderful friend and im very lucky to know you!! i know how much you love steddie AND ted lasso so i whipped up a little steddie lasso for you, i hope you enjoy 💕💕

⚽️✨️⚽️✨️⚽️✨️⚽️✨️⚽️✨️⚽️✨️⚽️

Eddie is not quite sure how he got here.

One day he was sprawling across his ornately carved DM throne, gleefully ruining the lives of those brave enough to sit at his table and dip their toes into his particular brand of tabletop roleplay chaos, and the next he was packing up his life and getting on a bus heading west, back to god damn Hawkins, Indiana — the hometown he swore he'd never come back to all to coach soccer.

Yeah. That's right. Soccer.

The thing is — he's never been a sportsball kind of guy. Not baseball, not basketball, not football. Certainly not soccer. Outside of ogling the players for their tight little shorts and their calf-hugging socks, of course. The only reason he knows even the slightest brush of the basics — and even then, it's a strech to say he knows it — is because Wayne is a sportsball guy.

But apparently that incredibly bare quasi-knowledge of it was good enough for Chrissy — Eddie's best friend extraordinaire and prominent figure in the sports world (truth be told, Eddie really couldn't tell you what her actual position was — all he knew was that she did everything and was everywhere. Seriously, it was insane how many connections she had in the world of professional organized sports.) — because when she heard the words "looking for strong leadership" and "to build comraderie" and especially "with a creative, outside of the box approach" when the league announced that they were looking for a new head coach, she had immediately submitted Eddie's name. Without even consulting him on it. Without even telling him in the first place.

It was a true testament to just how desperate the club was that they had actually chosen him.

Getting that call had boggled his damn mind.

Still does, if he's being honest.

And now here he is, fresh off the bus and standing in front of Nancy goddamn Wheeler — the tiny, but incredibly intimidating owner of the whole goddamn team.

"Eddie, welcome," Nancy says, flashing him a perfectly pleasant smile that still somehow makes him feel like prey. "It's great to meet you."

She holds out her hand, and Eddie quickly wipes his palm against his jeans before accepting it. Her handshake is firm — she's not fucking around.

"It's lovely to meet you too, ma'am," Eddie replies, with his politest midwestern manners.

Nancy's lips press together, turning down at the corners, and for a brief moment Eddie thinks he's somehow managed to fuck this up already. Could you get fired for sweaty hands? Was that legal?

But then a small laugh slips from those lips and Nancy says, "Just Nancy. Ma'am makes me feel like I'm seventy-five and belong in the bingo hall."

Eddie can't help the bleat of laughter that bubbles out, probably a little too enthusiastic. "Hey, the bingo hall's a riot," he says.

That gets Nancy to chuckle again before she clears her throat and smooths down the lapels of her blazer. "Well, thank you so much for taking on this position, we're really grateful to have you here, and we look forward to seeing what you can do for us," she says, and she sounds genuine about it, which puts Eddie a little more at ease. Nancy barrels on, "I'm sure Chrissy had briefed you about speaking with the press?" She asks, but she doesn't give him a chance to answer. "You'll just be sitting down with some journalists and answering any questions they may have — and I'm sure they'll have plenty."

Eddie lets out another nervous titter. Yeah, he's sure too. "Sure," he says. "Um, and that's... tomorrow? Later this week?"

Nancy makes a face, a sort of half grimace, half sympathetic thing.

Eddie's stomach turns.

"Actually," Nancy starts, eyes flickering towards the door behind Eddie, "it's right now."

Shit.

"Did— did Chrissy not let you know that?" She asks, chewing on her lip.

"No, no!" Eddie is quick to reply. "She did, I'm sure she did, I just— probably wasn't listening. It's kind of been a... crazy fucking day—" his eyes go wide, "— I mean—"

Nancy laughs. "You can say that a-fucking-gain," she agrees, and Eddie's shoulders relax from where they'd tensed up to his ears.

"Well, I'm sorry to just throw you to the wolves like this, but we can't really call it off now," Nancy continues, giving him an apologetic look.

Eddie glances towards the door too and nods. Rolls back his shoulders and straightens his spine. Let's himself slip into his DM persona — the guy that can handle every punch that's thrown his way, no problem.

"No, it's fine. I got this," he says, nodding again.

Nancy smiles and leads him towards the door. "Whenever you're ready," she tells him.

Eddie takes a deep breath, steels himself, and turns the handle.

Immediately he is bombarded by flashing cameras and an increase in volume as dozens of eyes all pinprick right onto him.

He's got this. They're just people. He's good with people.

Eddie climbs the two steps leading up to the staging area and swaggers to his place behind the desk, dropping himself into the seat. He reaches out to tap the microphone, which emits a sharp whine that shuts the crowd up.

He stifles his grin and leans into the mic, "Let's start this thing, shall we?" He pauses, scans the audience, quirks a brow. "Questions?"

Almost every single hand shoots straight up.

Yep. Should've seen that coming.

"Okay, okay, you know what? Let's just—" he motions for everyone to put their hands down, "— yeah, there we go. Great. Thanks. Right. I'm sure a lot of you have some of the same questions, so why don't I start by clearing a few things up first."

He wriggles in his seat, getting comfortable. "Yes, the rumors are true. No, I have not coached soccer before. Haven't coached anything before, actually. Hell, I'm probably the least qualified guy they could have hired for the spot," he laughs, and a murmur goes through the crowd. "I don't really know the first thing about soccer, but what I do know is that this team, the Hawkins Demodogs FC, these ferocious warriors of sport— they're going to get out on that field and they're— they're gonna put all of their intelligence and wisdom and strength into it," he says firmly, falling back on his trusty DnD knowledge. Game of sports can't be that different from a campaign, right? "They're gonna put their constitution to good use and fall back on their dexterity and they're going to defeat their enemies — I'll make sure of it."

Glasses guy in the second rows eyebrows lift, almost like he recognizes the terminology.

"Now," Eddie says, clapping his hands together. "I'll take one question from the masses. Make it a good one."

The hands shoot back up again, but the only one Eddie notices is the one belonging to glasses guy. It raises it a beat after the rest, lifts his hand into the air relaxed, easy, like he doesn't actually care.

It intrigues Eddie. He intrigues Eddie.

"You, in the second row," Eddie says, pointing right at the man.

A slow smile spreads across his face as he rises to his feet, clicks his pen, pushes up his glasses again.

"I like your glasses," Eddie comments, unable to help himself.

The guy's smile twists at the corners. "Thank you," he says, and his voice is smooth, rich, like honey. Eddie kind of wants to bathe in it.

His stomach swoops. "And you are?"

"Steve Harrington, the Indypendent," he says.

Eddie leans forward on his elbows, lets his smile turn a little flirty. "What's your question, Steve Harrington from the Indypendent?" He asks, stretching out Steve's name, loving the way it tastes in his mouth.

"Yeah, I've just got one question for you," he says. He fixes a narrowed, nettled look on Eddie, cocks a hip, and says, in a perfectly, deliciously, bitchy tone, "is this a fucking joke?"

Oh, he's going to be a fun one.

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #nancy wheeler #chrissy cunningham #ted lasso au #i borrowed 'the indypendent' from you ori bc that was BRILLIANT of you and i love it and its perfect #and i could NOT think of anything better you seriously hit the jackpot with that one #ANYWAYS HAPPY BIRTHDAY ILY!!!! 💕💕💕#mack writes #macks ficlets

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simslegacy5083 · 8 months ago

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NSB (Straud Legacy) Gen 9 Ep 99: A Little Love Day Assist

Luigi was still anxiously awaiting Peachy’s call the day before the Love Day that he had promised Noemi would be especially memorable.

He was starting to consider what kind of amateur romantic proposal he could whip up himself at the last minute when his father finally let him know that everything was ready for them in Oasis Springs. He’d really expected someplace more like Tartosa, well known for its romantic atmosphere, but he trusted whatever love guru his dad had consulted and gratefully agreed to bring Noemi there after classes the following day.

Usually this close to a big game Luigi wouldn’t miss practice with his team, but his fiery co-captain had pushed him to take the night off.

“Your highness has an heir on the way! You need to stock up on fun times and goodwill with your lady now, while you have the time and energy!”

Luigi smiled. “Is that the wisdom of a new father, or a cry for help? I’m happy to cover so you can have a night off with Bruce and Brianne sometime.”

Beau laughed in response. “Yes, yes, and yes! But right now, let’s talk early morning Love Day gift strategy.” His advice helped Luigi be ready with a novel to give Noemi after she surprised him with a beautiful card the next morning, starting their grand holiday adventure off right.

When the couple got to Oasis Springs that evening, they found Peachy and his “twin” waiting for them.

Luigi gave his dad a big hug as a thank you for helping him out while Noemi reintroduced herself to August. With a sly smile Peachy told him “I’m not the only one you’re going to need to thank son” before directing him to talk to his uncle to receive the couples first gift of the evening.

August’s contribution turned out to be a batch of Plentiful Needs potions, to help the pair enjoy the truly epic night to come without fatigue. There were four in total, and August suggested they set the extras aside for some later date when they needed the pick me up to deal with the baby.

Their first romantic stop of the evening was a couple's massage courtesy of the secret mastermind of this Love Day extravaganza, Grandpa Steven, and his twin, Luigi’s Great Uncle Spencer. Death had not dulled the brothers' skills in the slightest and their charges were feeling fantastic in no time.

Noemi opted for a foot massage to soothe feet swollen and sore from carrying their “big boy” with her everywhere while Luigi went with a hand massage to work out the kinks caused by long evenings on the SimScuffle “playing field”.

The couple thanked their caring elders before they moved on towards a horse and carriage just peeking through the trees at the edge of the park.

As they approached, they found Noemi’s parents waiting for them. Luigi was a bit worried after their last encounter with her mother, but Shannon seemed to be in a much better mood this time around. “I’ll be your chauffeur for the evening” she told him as Noemi hugged her dad hello.

Before Luigi and Gilbert helped the mom-to-be into the carriage she went over to greet their faithful steed. “Look at you! Not such a little guy anymore huh?” she murmured to Cheyenne, who had apparently been just a foal when she’d left home for university. Luigi had never seen her around horses prior to this, but it was obvious she had a big soft spot for the massive beasts, or at least this one.

Filing this new knowledge away for later the men got their lady safely settled in her chariot, where she snuggled into Luigi’s open arms with a contented sigh as her mother flicked the reins and started them on their way up into the hills.

By the time they arrived at their destination the sun was setting. They found another glowing ghost waiting for them at the entrance of a small cave.

Great-Grandma Daisy was a loner and didn’t come around to visit the homestead much, but like most of the family ghosts she had always liked Steven.

When she’d signed on to assist with his little plan, she had actually been the one to suggest the location for the outing. It was a good fit for both Luigi’s love of warm climates and Noemi’s anxiety when faced with crowds of unfamiliar sims (a struggle to which she could relate).

She introduced herself to the pair and explained that their final destination was a very special grotto she’d discovered as a young sim hundreds of years ago. After warning them to “be careful making any wishes at the well” she said their journey’s end awaited just inside.

Luigi was the first to step carefully into the dimly lit crystal cavern, reflecting on how lucky he was to have so many kind and supportive sims in his life. This date had far surpassed his expectations already and apparently it was only just beginning!

He had no idea what awaited them on the other side of the cave mouth, but something told him it would be truly magical.

View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

#sims 4 #sims 4 challenge #sims 4 legacy #sims4 #sims 4 nsb #sims 4 not so berry #sims4nsbstraud #sims 4 let's play #sims 4 gameplay #sims 4 lets play

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starry--eye-s · 2 months ago

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Unend early access spoilers ahead!

Spoilers for S1E10, be careful!

I just finished listening to Zoron, and man I have THOUGHTS.

First of all, Merlin is going to be the doom of this expedition. He's acting like the captain, making dangerous decisions potentially endangering everyone without any of the responsibilities, and even after almost dying from it in the Un, continues to do it here. Like he could talk to Zoron through the ship, he didn't have to let him in. Not that it was a bad idea in the end, he just didn't know and didn't consult with anyone before unilaterally deciding it was fine (well, actually Felix consulted with him and said no, but he didn't even care). This ship doesn't have at its head a captain worried about its safety, but a guy who will risk everyone's safety for the slightest chance at discovery, and I can't wait to watch it burn XD

Which brings me to point 2, Merlin is not going to find what he needs here. Pom back in the Un asked Merlin how he would react to world-view changing knowledge, and he said he would handle it with grace. Well we've seen in Hollow that's not really the case, and he doesn't seem to be taking too well to the Un-leviathan revelation either. The thing is, he thought after spending so much time, effort and money on this expedition, they would come back with answers.

But they won't, so far they will only come back with even more questions then they left with. And he's clearly not prepared to stomach that. I think that's why he can't really answer Zoron, he dedicated his whole life to research because he likes it and is obviously good at it, but he never went down the rabbit hole as to WHY he wants to do this. He claims it's to bring new knowledge to the cosmos, but he did not reveal the fold stuff that happened with the Un creature, so that's a lie too. Merlin is going to have some serious life-crisis XD

I'll stop my rambling on our tortured scientist here.

Also, I changed my mind on Felix. Felix is great. I love Felix. I don't think I need to explain that.

#unend spoilers #unend S1E10 spoilers #merlin #midst podcast #unend #unend podcast

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the12thnightproject · 7 months ago

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Chapter 16: The Elevation Improvisation - Mitsunari and Okatsu rush to protect Hikosane, but will they be in time?

Mitsunari x OC; Nobunaga x Mai

Previous Chapter

Logline - In order to protect a political alliance, Katusko and Mitsunari must pretend an engagement. But this “all business” arrangement is threatened by a coup against Nobunaga… and by feelings.

From the Military Notes of Ishida Mitsunari…

We did not kiss. Does this mean that we were not, by definition, on a date? We did hold hands. That ought to count for something. Perhaps we were on thirty-three percent of a date. Must consult Lady Mai for further clarification, however, an urgent situation takes precedence.

I ought to be more worried about Hikosane. And yet, all I can think of now is how to devise a strategy to get Okatsu to kiss me.

I surmise that I was correct in wishing to avoid interpersonal relationships of the male-female variety. This lack of focus on everything but Okatsu is disconcerting. How will I be able to help and protect her, when all I can think of is that look in her eyes when she is passionate about a subject, the soft curl of her hair, and how much I wish to take her in my arms and hold on to her forever?

I do not like this feeling.

I do not want to this feeling to stop.

Hikosane is in danger. Protect him at all costs.

Mitsunari leaned over my shoulder to read the note. “Protect him from what?”

“I haven’t the slightest idea. You’d think whoever sent it would be less cryptic.” However, given that they had gone to the trouble of getting the note to us, it would be in Hikosane’s best interest if we acted on it.

Without conferring any further, Mitsunari and I hurried back to the stables and returned to Genba Castle as fast as we could manage and dumped our horses on a surprised Mitsuhide.

“My word, the two of you look terribly flushed – I cannot believe tunneling down into a silver mine would be anywhere near this… stimulating.” Trust Mitsuhide to cram as many double entendre into a single sentence as humanly possible.

For a moment, I hesitated with an explanation, then decided Mitsuhide might be of use as a third set of eyes on this. “We received word that Hikosane may be in some sort of danger.”

My hope – which had been faint to begin with- that Mitsuhide wouldn’t further question that, was dashed instantly. “Word from whom? Yamaoka?”

“It came via a kunoichi, but we don’t know who sent it.” I saw no other option but to hand Mitsuhide the note.

He read it without expression. “I am somewhat dubious as to its source, however it would do no harm to be to new threats, especially if it turns out to additionally imperil Nobunaga as well.”

Er, thanks? I would have liked to have gotten further clarification on that – did he mean that we should try to protect Hikosane, or simply make sure that whatever was menacing the child didn’t spill into our primary duties, but just then a clatter of activity from beyond the gate alerted us to the return of the mine expedition.

“If anyone asks,” Mitsunari said to Mitsuhide. “We’ve been back since mid-afternoon, and Okatsu has a sprained ankle.” Once again, he scooped me up in his arms, and without another word to the madly grinning Mitsuhide, carried me out of the stables.

With the sounds of the mine excursion party’s return spurring our haste, Mitsunari rushed me into the castle. He didn’t need to explain it to me - it wouldn't do to be caught when I was supposed to be resting. Especially not by-

"Halt. Do not move." Hideyoshi.

Again?

Does he have radar?

Mitsunari froze with one step on the first step of the staircase, while his lord strode toward us. "Did you not leave the mine early to elevate your injury?

A look of sheer panic crossed Mitsunari's face. Obviously, he would not want to lie to Hideyoshi. I didn’t even know if he could come up with a lie on the spot. I hurried to explain before Mitsunari’s processors overloaded.

"We did, and we did. We spent the afternoon in the garden, and Mitsunari let me rest my foot in his lap." As soon as the words left my throat, I realized I'd described a situation that might not be construed as entirely innocent.

Indeed, Hideyoshi had that same look on his face that he had had when he’d discovered Mitsunari during the spider spelunking incident.

"Yes. It was elevated." Mitsunari’s accidental double entendre made the situation worse.

"My foot. It was elevated, as Mai instructed. It was very restful." Ugh... I probably should have left that alone, but too late now.

Without another word, Hideyoshi simply plucked me out of Mitsunari's arms. "I’ll get her up the stairs." I figured he was skeptical of Mitsunari's ability to carry me up the narrow stairs without disaster, (ok the thought had also crossed my mind). But it would have been nice if he had (a) asked, and (b) not insinuated that lifting me was akin to hauling a sack of iron up a mountain. While I am not a waif like Shohime, it’s not like he should have had any problem with my weight.

Once I was uncomfortably settled in Hideyoshi’s arms, it was Mitsunari's turn to frown. He followed us up the stairs, brow furrowed. I don’t know what his problem was, but we had another situation to take care of. I mimed "Hikosane'' at Mitsunari.

In return, I got a confused look. Again, I mouthed, "Hikosane."

Another blank expression.

Carefully I indicated the note, which thankfully was still in my hand. That finally got his attention. He stopped.

So did Hideyoshi. "What is wrong?"

"I’m going to go get a book." Without giving Hideyoshi the opportunity to argue, he turned around and dashed down the steps. A thud around the bend indicated he'd missed one, but then his footsteps galloped away.

"That Mitsunari. Loves his books. Never met such a dedicated reader in my life." I was babbling, hoping a stream of inanity would distract, or at least bore Hideyoshi into not questioning the situation any further.

Hideyoshi continued to lug me up the stairs, and eventually deposited me on my futon (easy to tell mine from Mitsunari's, as his was covered with books and random papers). He then moved the pillow block to the bottom of my futon and reached for my foot.

Belatedly realizing his intent, I yelled, "No!"

He froze. "Does it hurt that much? I could send for a healer."

"Um. No, I'm... just sensitive about my feet in general. They're ugly and I hate people seeing them." Oh for the love of… could I have come up with anything lamer than that?

"Feet." He repeated it flatly. Yeah. Knew he wasn’t going to buy that.

I tried to curl my toes under themselves. "It's kind of a..." I trailed off as Hideyoshi grabbed the edge of my kimono, flipped it up a few centimeters, revealing my completely uninjured foot.

That earned me my umpteenth 'I'm disappointed in you-Hideyoshi-frown. "I would very much like an explanation for this... one that doesn't involve the words, 'it's not what it looks like.'"

"Um, what does it look like?" I wasn't simply buying for time. I really wanted to know what was going on in Hideyoshi's brain.

"It looks like you somehow conned Mitsunari into abandoning his duties to," he glanced at the package containing my fan and Mitsunari’s notebooks. "Go shopping."

Sometimes... sometimes the correct choice is to tell the truth. I hated those times. But without Mitsunari or Mai around to hear whatever other explanation I came up with, I risked them inadvertently contradicting me, and we’d be right back here, only with three people in trouble instead of just me. "I... I 'm.... terrified of small, enclosed spaces. If I had to go into a mine, I might have fainted or become obviously sick... or worse. It... would have reflected poorly on our entourage."

"I see. " With his arms folded in front at him and his lips thinning in a flat line, I wasn’t sure if he did see.

Not wanting to get Mitsunari or Mai into any further trouble, I hurried to add, "The theatrics were a miscalculation on my part- I didn’t intend for the feigned injury to get so out of hand. Please don't yell at Mitsunari for that.”

"Is there a reason why you couldn't simply have told me of your fear this morning? We would not have forced you to go." His voice had softened a bit. Maybe he was finally seeing things from my point of view. Or maybe he was simply tired.

I hadn't considered that possibility. "Aki... my employer, believes that this is a weakness that I need to get over." And I had tried. Truly I had tried. But there hadn’t been time today to put myself in the right frame of mind for that. "I did not want you to think me unable to do my job." What I didn’t mention was my fear that people would think I was crazy. Nor did I want Iekane to discover this … ok, yes, it was a weakness.

"We can make allowances and adjustments only for situations we are aware of." He got to his feet. "From now on, save the deceptions for the truly urgent situations."

"Ok. I will, Lord Hideyoshi." His idea of urgent and mine probably wouldn’t align, but I'd worry about that later.

He gruffly patted me on the head and left.

Once he was gone, I took out the note and again and puzzled over it. “Hikosane is in danger. Protect him at all costs.”

Why send the message to me and not Mozumi? Unless Hikosane was in danger from his own father? That seemed unlikely. Mozumi was not a demonstrative man, but I hadn’t observed any antipathy toward his son either. Whoever had sent this note must have decided that for whatever reason, Mitsunari and I were better equipped to take care of the boy.

Which… adequate estimation of Mozumi’s abilities, kunoichi.

But just how had the kunoichi known where to find us? Our trip to Takayama had been a spur of the moment decision. Had she been following us? I would think that I had better powers of observation and would have noticed that. Maybe she had been on her way to Genba anyway, noticed us, then taken the opportunity to give us the message. But that thought just sent me back to the top of the circle – how would she have known who we were and that we would be able to help Hikosane?

Giving up on the question of whether or not that message had been intended specifically for us, I turned toward the contents of the note itself. Maybe it was a word puzzle of some kind? I do have a weakness for puzzles…

HIID PHAAC.

.stsoc lla ta mih tcetorP .regnad ni si enasokiH

Srplhzmv rh rm wzmtvi. Kilgvxg srn zg zoo xlhgh.

gzssi lvmol qiilr ysjxg vvfej cbgmh ywwpl crb

Unfortunately after playing with all the ciphers I knew, it seemed most likely that the message was a straightforward warning.

When Mitsunari finally returned, he brought Hikosane with him. “Mitsunari believes I’m in some danger.” Hikosane’s blunt words were half a question, half an acknowledgement.

I sent Mitsunari a ‘what the hell were you thinking?’ look. Just because Hikosane sounded like a mini-adult didn’t mean it was appropriate to scare him. Hikosane caught my expression and added. “He didn’t tell me in so many words. I guessed from the manner of questions he asked.”

Apparently Mitsunari had used up his storehouse of subterfuge on the ankle story. “We don’t know.” I tried to reassure the boy. “We were given a message, but it was vague.”

Hikosane plopped down on the futon next to me. The note was still in my lap, so he grabbed it and read over it. “I see. The truth is, I am in danger, I have always been in danger – this is something that has been told to me as long as I can recall. The question is, am I suddenly in more danger? Immediate danger.” His hand went to the child sized sword at his waist, and I understood that the weapon, though small, was not merely for decoration.

His blunt words had Mitsunari thudding heavily to the futon as well. Hikosane’s unnaturally adult manner was explained in that one horrifying sentence. Imagine being aware throughout your entire life that you were in danger. “Yes. That would be the dilemma. Have you experienced any unusual accidents in recent days?” When Hikosane shook his head, Mitsunari continued, “what about illness?”

“Last month, I became sick after something I ate. It tasted odd, so I only had one bite.” Hikosane shrugged. “However, that may have been an accident.”

Hm. It was true that without modern preservatives, food spoilage was a risk here, but generally most cooks were extremely careful. Besides, meat was so difficult to come by that the concept of ‘leftovers’ (and therefore the concept of ‘that mystery container in the refrigerator that is moving under its own power’) didn’t exist. “Was anyone else sick?”

“No… but.” Tears came to his eyes. “Two of the dogs died the next day.”

Mitsunari and I looked at each other, our silent conversation concluding that someone had tried to poison him, accidentally killing the dogs in the process. I had an urge to hug Hikosane, but he beat me to it and grabbed onto me first. His childish grip had an odd familiarity, though I had never hugged this child – probably had not hugged any child, at least not since I had been one myself.

Once he let me go, I asked him. “Are there people here who you trust – people you know will not try to harm you?”

He counted the names on his fingers “You. Mitsunari. My father – though I do not see him often. My sisters.”

It was a short list.

Unaware that he was blundering into a danger area, Mitsunari suddenly smiled. “When Shohime marries Iekane, would you be able to stay with them for long periods of time?”

Hikosane hesitated. Eventually, the little boy in him broke through. “I hate him! He smiles too much.”

#100%agree

“I thought smiling was a good thing?” Mitsunari sounded as confused as ever when it came to nonverbal cues. “I like it when Okatsu smiles.”

“I do too.” Hikosane took advantage of his age to snuggle against me. “Iekane smiles when he means to frown. I don’t trust him. You do believe me, don’t you?”

“I do.” I messed up his hair a little, just so I could then fix it again. “I … don’t like being around him either, so how about this? When he is around, come over to me and we can protect each other.” I wished I could do more for him than that, but at least I could try to protect him from the possible danger that Iekane represented. Hopefully he’d grown used to anticipating the older dangers.

“Yes. This is a good plan.” Hikosane reluctantly let go of me, then stood up and bowed. “I should return to my room before someone looks for me.”

Out of caution, Mitsunari and I decided to go with him and the three of us made our way through the corridors. Hikosane temporarily abandoned his precocious manner, choosing to hold my and Mitsunari’s hands. To an outsider, we might have looked like a family, although Mitsunari and I would have had to have started very young to have a child as old as Hikosane.

Upon reaching his room, Hikosane bowed and thanked us. Then yawning widely, he thunked down on his futon.

The futon hissed.

Futons … do not make that sound on their own.

The blanket moved.

Nor do their blankets move on their own volition.

“Hiko!” Mitsunari spoke slowly and calmly, but there was firm authority in his tone. “Do not move.”

@lorei-writes @bestbryn @katriniac @lyds323 @briars7

#TBTMND #a mitsunari night's dream #throwback thursday #ikemen sengoku #fanfic #ikesen fanfic #ikesen mitsunari #mitsunari ishida #ikesen mitsuhide #ikesen hideyoshi #oc katsuko #katsuverse

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iwannabe-l-l-l-l-legendary · 7 months ago

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hello hi yes this is pt 3 of my kidnapping Sophie & Dex au so yeah anyway. No one has told me if they do or don't want to be tagged so I'll just keep tagging the few people I know and if you want to be tagged then tell me :)

(also I promise this gets sadder but we aren't to the truly good part yet. Soon.)

Mr. Forkle’s POV

Errol L. Forkle, the elf who created Project Moonlark, was at a loss for words. The Collective stood around him, along with Tinker, Calla, Lur, Mitya, and Physic. Squall, who was a Froster and used her ability to crust herself in ice to conceal her identity, was the first to speak.

“I just got back from Havenfield. Grady and Edaline are a mess, and so far there has been no sign of Sophie or Dex,” her voice caught on the last few words, and she leaned against the wall of the treehouse. The Black Swan had decided to meet in Alluveterre, a hideout consisting of two massive treehouses with a gazebo in the center.

Everyone was gathered around in the boy’s common room, but no one was relaxed in the slightest. Mr. Forkle tore his hands through his hair, asking Tinker, their Technopath, if she was getting anything from the registry feeds of the kids.

“Nothing,” Tinker spoke very little, and today was no exception.

He knew that if Tinker, who was without a doubt the best Technopath he’d ever met, couldn’t track down Sophie or Dex, it was a very bad thing. The only other time that had happened was when Jolie…. No. He wouldn’t give up so soon.

“We’ll keep searching. Lur, Mitya, can you travel to Havenfield? Perhaps the earth will give us clues.”

The two gnomes nodded and slipped away.

“Granite and I will consult the Council. The rest of you are free to go. Physic, go to Slurps and Burps and stock up on healing elixirs and balms. I suspect we’ll need them.” Physic nodded, her emerald-studded mask swaying. After she leaped away, he turned to the remainder of the group.

“You are all welcome to stay here, but I think Squall has family matters she must attend to.” Mr. Forkle looked pointedly at Squall's frozen form. With that, he took Granite’s rocky hand, raised his pathfinder, and stepped into the beam of shimmering light.

Twelve glimmering castles came into view as the warm rush of light faded. Granite and Mr. Forkle found Emery’s bold sapphire blue castle after a few minutes of searching. Mr. Forkle used the ornate door-knocker, waiting precisely eighty-three seconds until a dark-skinned face with a sapphire-studded circlet answered the door.

“What are you doing here? And who are you two?” Emery asked, glancing at Mr. Forkle’s bloated skin and Granite’s statue-like appearance.

“We must save the introductions for later. We’re here about two young elves that have seemingly gone missing. Do you have any inkling as to where they might be?” Mr. Forkle asked, shoving the door open to reveal a luxurious room full of blue and white furniture. A massive chandelier hung from the ceiling, which stretched high above their heads.

“If you’re talking about Mr. Dizznee and Miss Foster, no. We are trying our best to track them down, but wherever they are, they clearly didn’t take their registry pendants. There hasn’t been a signal from either of them since yesterday evening. And I must ask again, who are you? What do the children have to do with you?” said Emery, a note of confusion creeping into his voice.

“You can stop trying to surpass our mental defenses, Councilor Emery. We both sensed you the second you furrowed your brow in concentration,” Granite said, reaching into his pocket to pull out a pathfinder.

Emery’s face morphed into shock, and as Mr. Forkle was pulled away by the light, he heard Emery say, “Are you with the Black Swan?”

@myfairkatiecat @ilov3b00kss0much @stunning-mess @ham-cheese-toastie @alaydabug2 (again, you can tell me if you'd like to be tagged when I post more!)

#kotlc #kotlc fandom #kotlc sophie #sophie foster #dex kotlc #dex dizznee #kotlc angst #kotlc fanfic

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inopinatus-ea · 7 months ago

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The Princes get their first glimpse of Adelia

“Emery, Raiden, the King of Uchelgais and his entourage will be here soon. Ensure you are appropriately prepared for their arrival and your introduction to the Princess Royal.” King Branoc looked at his two sons. He knew Emery was not happy about this, to say the least, but he cared not. If the man wouldn’t get engaged on his own, then he’d take matters into his own hands. There was already trouble in the kingdom and he had to ensure that his heirs were secure should the worst happen. His son had dallied enough with the plebbian woman he'd been infatuated with, now Branoc had taken matters into his own hands.

“Father, we’ve been prepared for hours. I’m sure that when King Mavros shows up with darling and precious daughter, he will be impressed with his awaiting son-in-law.” Emery replied sarcastically. Why couldn’t Raiden be the one to marry the insipid daughter of the neighboring King? He neither desired to be married, nor wanted a Princess that he was sure would be as interesting as the others that had come forward before her. That his father had arranged the marriage without even consulting him still burned in his breast like a hot coal from the fire.

Raiden prudently remained silent. The volley of fire had not stopped between the King and Crowne Prince since the negotiated betrothal had been announced. Now that the Princess was arriving imminently, they weren’t slowing down either. He could hardly wait to see what fate had befallen his older brother. If she was anything like the previous options their father had presented to Emery, Raiden was quite sure that he would be glad that he was the younger of the two of them. Although, once Emery was wed, he was sure that their father’s eyes would turn to him.

“He had better. This marriage is going to help us in the ongoing war and form an allieship that we desperately need. Do not fuck this up, Emery. I’m tired of your failures!” The king turned on his heel and left the room, clearly done talking to his eldest, again. Not that this conversation had been long. Few had been lately.

Since the moment he was born, Emery had been a constant source of disappointment to him. Dark hair, eyes that matched, he had the brooding scowl of his mother, not the fairer and more refined features of royalty like his brother Raiden. His face was more round, his eyebrows lower, and he was shorter with more narrow shoulders. There was no one that would say that Emery was not handsome, but he did not resemble his father in the slightest, and to Branoc, there was no greater insult that could be given. For that, he almost loathed the Prince. Had the kingdom not been aware of his dalliance with Emery’s mother, the child would not have survived infancy.

“Hoping to give him a stroke before the short engagement period is over so that you can get out of the wedding?” Raiden couldn’t help but tease his brother. He couldn’t wait to see what kind of woman his father had decided upon. There had been a couple of options he could have chosen from. Secretly he hoped she was hideous, mewling, and so utterly worthless as a partner that it would drive Emery insane. Someone just like his mother - a living mannequin to dress up and put a tiara on, produce heirs, and parade around at events. Nothing would be a worse curse for his brother.

“You’re next in line for this fun, you know? If you think he’s being an asshole to me, do you think he’ll be any different to you?” In truth Emery couldn’t wait until it was Raiden’s turn at this shit. Then he would get to see how insufferable the Princesses were that came to court to be considered. Adding to his frustration was that his father picked one that he had never met. Six short weeks to get to know her then they’d be married. Lovely.

“I’m not the heir to the throne. Something tells me father won’t be nearly as hard on me as he has been on you. I also don’t purposefully get under his skin for fun. I’ve learned how to manipulate him to get what I want.” Raiden’s smug smile irritated his brother, he could tell from the twitch in his brother’s eye. They both knew he was right. It wasn’t because he was younger, they had two younger brothers and a sister. It was because he had learned long ago just how to talk to his father in order to hit the notes that his father wanted to hear.

“I’d offer to let you have the Princess if father wouldn’t literally have a stroke. Heir has to marry first and all of that. I’m sure whatever contract and treaty he has struck with her father wouldn’t work for second in line to the throne.” Emery’s eyes rolled and he groaned. He had been in a relationship with Siara for years, but she was not high enough nobility for the next King. When it grew time for marriage, she and her family had disappeared one day and ended up on the other side of the kingdom. His father had ways of making a statement.

“Oh no, I’m sure the one he’s chosen for you is your perfect match. I wouldn’t want to steal her from you, dear brother.” Sarcasm dripped so heavily from Raiden’s voice it was pooling on the ground around his feet as he smirked at his brother and chuckled. There was no way for Emery to get out of this one, no matter how much the elder brother wished he could. No amount of charisma or negotiations could change what was going to happen; and he was going to get to sit back and watch it all happen with glee.

The sound of bells tolling told the brothers that the guests from the neighboring kingdom had entered the palace grounds. Soon their entourage would be pulling up to the doors below them. The men walked over to the windows, standing slightly off to the sides and pulling back the shears to look down unobtrusively for when the vehicles carrying all the guests pulled into view. It only took a minute for the black vehicles to do so. When the pulled to a stop, the footmen moved from the palace doors to open those of the vehicles.

From the lead vehicle exited a man who was obviously the King. A stately and statuesque woman followed behind him, the obvious Queen. If the Princess possessed her mother’s beauty, Emery had to admit this might not be too untenable. Then the rear door of the second vehicle was opened. First to exit was a male with sharp eyes, a jawline and nose to match. Emery’s first thought was of a bird, but at the way the man held himself shortly afterward it was reinforced and specified: an eagle. He extended his hand toward the still open door, leading both Princes to lean forward in anticipation of who would exit next.

A delicate and elegant hand took that of the male’s. Alabaster skin contrasted with that of the more tan man, his fingers gently taking hold and assisting the female exiting the vehicle, and as she did both brothers swore under their breath and glanced at one another. Long, dark hair curled down her back, framing a sweetheart face that was beauty personified. Her moves were graceful and fluid, as if she were dancing. It was clear that the Princess had arrived, and as dark emerald her gown flowed around her like a gossamer mist, she resembled a fairy tale come to life. Both Princes were falling in love, but only one would admit it.

“You sure you don’t want to actually offer to let me take her off your hands, Emery?”

reblog - @cafekitsune

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halikyon · 7 months ago

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From Dust to Dawn: Chapter 2

Summary: All actions have consequence, and now the time has come to pay the price. The real question is how long it will take.

Word Count: 3978

Note: Trying to be less overly-critical. It's only kinda working.

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Story below the cut:

Slowly, the figure on the medical bed began to stir. The stark white walls, floor, and blankets contrasting heavily with the dark blue of her hair. Sitting across the room, the small, red-clad Alisaie raised her head, and for the first time in a long time, felt hope in her breast once more. Slowly, carefully, as if afraid to wake from a dream, she made her way to Ryune's bedside. Opposite her was a large window that shown light in from Labyrinthos beyond, it's warmth, however artificial, highlighting the scars Ryune now bore. Wires and tubes snaked to her arms and under the blankets, the consequences of Ryune's actions made manifest even further.

“Ryune?” Alisaie asked softly, “Are…are you awake?” She held Ryune's left hand which lay motionless next to her.

A few moments that felt like eons passed in silence before Ryune stirred again, her head moving ever so slightly. “A… li…?” It was barely a whisper. Her eyes opened ever so slightly as she gave Alisaie's hand the lightest squeeze. “Ali…?”

There wasn't even the slightest chance to hold back the tears. “Yes, yes it me, I-” her voice broke as she put her forehead to Ryune's hand, pulling it up slightly to meet her. “I…”

Ryune could barely see a thing and everything seemed to be a dull ache, but somehow, someway, she was here now. “Are you…alright…?” She forced the whispered words out, her mouth feeling dry and throat rebelling against the effort.

“You don't get to ask that!” Alisaie spoke between sobs. “We thought we had lost you! I thought I would never see you again! I didn't…I was afraid…”

Ryune couldn't remember exactly what had happened to get her here yet, but clearly it must have been traumatic. “I'm…okay. It'll be…alright…Ali…” She tried to reassure her, but it was exhausting to even try to talk, not to mention the fog in her head that made it hard to think at all.

Before Alisaie could respond, the door to the room opened and three chirurgeons and their assistants hurried in with their white coats and shiny Sharlean devices, followed by a old, stately, Elezen doctor. Wordlessly they went to the enigmatic machines Ryune was hooked up to and studied their readouts while the doctor took his place just to the right of Alisaie.

In a gentle voice borne of many decades of care, he leaned in, placing a hand on Alisaie's shoulder in reassurance as he did so. “Ryune, I am Doctor Ivellorre.” His voice was soft and steady, slow and deliberate. “You're likely experiencing quite a bit of soreness and weakness, but that's normal. Can you tell me what ails you most? Any pains or needs?”

Ryune nodded her head weakly. “Water. Please.” Forcing the word out without any was a fight all its own.

The doctor nodded, “I figured you might say that. We did what we could to help with that, but it's no replacement for conscious effort. Here, Miss Levellur, if you could give this to her while I consult my associates for a moment, I would be most thankful.” He held out a cup of water with a clean rag that he had prepared in advance, which Alisaie took from him. “It's too dangerous to drink directly after so long, so I'll need you to use the cloth to more carefully and slowly hydrate her.” He explained, his tone somehow conveying an infinite amount of patience and care.

Alisaie nodded and took his place closer to Ryune's head as the doctor moved to the devices along the wall and consulted with the chirurgeons. Tears still filled her eyes, but now that she had a job she seemed quite focused. This wasn't the first time he'd had to deal with someone like her. Carefully she dipped the rag and gently put it to Ryune's lips. “Careful, now.”

Gratefully, Ryune accepted the rag, opening her mouth to let in the cool moisture. The feeling of her lips and mouth absorbing it was as if a desert was being transformed into lush grassy plains. Ironically the water going down her throat anyway wasn't dangerous at all thanks to her Kojin blessing, but the doctor wouldn't have known that. After a few repetitions of the process, and a great deal of relief, the doctor had concluded his conversations with the chirurgions, turning back to regard the two of them.

Removing the rag, Alisaie looked up to him. “Well, how is she?”

He took a deep breath and organized his thoughts before he spoke, a fair bit of relief evident in his voice. “From what we can tell, her body seems to have been able to recover from most of her sustained injuries, as we had discussed previously. Surgical sites look to be healing properly, vitals seem stable. What we don’t know yet are the things we can’t see so easily. We’ll need to wait for-”

The door opened again, this time revealing a very determined-looking Y’shtola, who made her way very quickly to Ryune’s side, eyes already alight with the slight silver glow. Ryune didn’t know if anyone else could see when that happened or if Y’shtola even knew it did, but it was interesting to know when her aethersight was being used. Behind her came Krile, who seemed more interested in the machines and chirurgeons for the moment, working to ascertain the situation for Y’shtola’s benefit.

“Right on queue.” Doctor Ivellorre gave a slight chuckle. “So, Archon, what do you see? Is your work holding up?”

A few moments of scowling study later, she replied, “As far as I can tell her Aetherial density is holding steady, and I don’t see any anomalies.” Ryune was at a loss for what she was referring to. Her memory was still a bit hazy, but she knew she had gone through great efforts to do…something important.

Alisaie spoke next, “What a relief.” She placed the cup and rag down on the small table next to the medical bed. “I can’t believe you managed what you did.”

“Yes, well, it's not everyday you get to pioneer a new field of Aetheromedical Science.” Krile had finished speaking with the others as they began to file out of the room, their work complete. “Her condition remains unchanged apart from the obvious. You really should be more careful, you know.” She hopped up on the small platform that ran the length of the bed meant to accommodate folks of her stature so she could see.

“I doubt it was an option, considering who she faced.” Y’shtola interjected. “All alone, as well. There’s a lot I would say to you, Ryune, but for now…I’m just happy you’re with us again.” A small smile crept across her face at the words. “Alisaie, Krile, could you two inform the others while I explain? It may be a moment and I know you’ve already heard this before. I’m sure everyone is eager for news.”

The pair nodded and made their way out, linkpearls already making connections. Y’shtola regarded her for a moment, listening to the excited voices of the pair making calls as the door closed behind them, before she began. “There’s no easy way to explain this, so you’ll have to bear with me.” The glow faded from her eyes as she closed them. “During your fight, the power you needed was far beyond what you had ever brought forth before, even against the Ascians. While impressive, it wasn’t something your body or soul were ever meant to endure, and as a result, both have suffered dramatically. In fact, it seemed, for a time, that we would lose you as a result.”

“How?” Ryune croaked, her voice not quite back but her mind feeling a bit more clear than before. “I remember…emptiness.”

“Yes, I can well imagine.” Y’shtola nodded, “The vessel that is your soul had nearly been spent, and lacked the capacity to hold aether as it should. It was if, by channeling so much aether, you had broken your ability to retain it. Like a dam whose gates had been eroded by the flow of water they were meant to hold back.” She found Ryune’s hand with her own. “It took a lot of effort, and a lot of volunteers to contribute their aether in the interim, but we were able to find a way to fortify you. Much to our relief, it worked, and should continue to get stronger as you do.” She shook her head. “No more heroics, at least for a while, understood?”

Ryune nodded, trying to absorb it all. The doctor remained silent by her, watching and analyzing her condition. “It's a lot…to take in.” It was still hard to speak, but at least it wasn't painful anymore.

“Yes, but after some conversation we agreed it best to be upfront. The more you know the better, as we need you staying in that bed rather than pushing yourself.” The doctor answered. “I was quite well informed about your tenacity by your companions.”

Ryune couldn't help but feel a bit of embarrassment. Had they really accosted this man with stories about her? It seemed a bit much, though with Alisaie and presumably G'raha around she didn't doubt it could happen. She hoped they hadn't been too much of a bother. There was something she needed to know, though. “How long…has it been?”

Y'shtola cooked her head slightly, putting a finger to her chin. “I don't want to alarm you, so first I'll say your animal companions have been well cared for in your absence.” It was reassuring to know, but still worrying that it was necessary. “By my reckoning, it's been forty-nine days.”

“Fifty-two, actually. Those first few were quite the blur.” Doctor Ivellorre corrected, “Long enough that even without injury, your muscles have begun to atrophy.”

Ryune tried to look at her arms, but found herself unable to even lift her head enough to do so.

“Don't strain yourself, Ryune.” Y'shtola was quick to say. “It wouldn't do to pop the tendons we only recently were able to fix. As much fun as it was to work with the chirurgeons to put you back together, I'd rather not have to do it again so soon. Besides, the more you rest, the sooner you'll be back in action.”

Ryune relaxed as best she could. In an attempt to facilitate this she took what was meant to be a deep breath, but only found pain in her side as the air came back out as a moan.

“Where does it hurt?” The doctor was quick to ask.

“Side. My side.” Ryune wished she could at least point to it as the doctor came around to the other side of the bed near the window to look.

Gently, he lifted the blanket up to examine her. “Hm, I'm not seeing any undue surface level irritation.” He carefully placed his finger to her, though she couldn't see exactly where. “I don't feel anything abnormal either. Am I causing you any discomfort?”

Ryune shook her head no ever so slightly. It felt like she had been cut…again? A machine to her left began to beep in a rapid high tone. Her slow, shallow breaths became rapid, her heart began to race, and she remembered.

“Zenos.” Her eyes grew wide as her panic grew. “Where is Zenos?”

“Dead, Ryune. He's dead.” Even without sight, Y'shtola could feel the emotions coming off Ryune. “He's gone. He can't hurt anyone anymore, he can't hurt you.” She tried to reassure her.

“I need you to try to calm down.” Doctor Ivellorre said, coming around to the machines. “It's not good to put stress on your heart like this.” His tone stayed even though his action didn't convey the same.

Y'shtola got closer to Ryune, recognizing what was happening as well. “Ryune, look at me, focus on me.” She did, staring right into Y'shtola's sightless eyes, one hand still in her grip. “I want to share something with you.” It was a distraction tactic to get her mind off of its present course, and it might end up embarrassing her somewhat, but it was a small price to pay in her mind. “Tell no one of this. Back on the First when we were leaving the Children of Darkness, Runar gave me a flower. Do you know what that meant?”

Ryune shook her head, her mind in a weird space between flashbacks of completely different contexts.

“You see, for them, the act of gifting a flower in such a manner is akin to a marriage proposal,” Y'shtola admitted, “and, were the fate of the star not in the balance, I very well would have taken it.”

At this admission Ryune's mind was sent reeling, her thoughts of Zenos, for now, sent to the wayside in disbelief. “No way…”

“Yes, for the first time in my life, I made room for another in my heart, only to choose otherwise in the end.” There was more than a hint of remorse in her voice. “I know it to be a fools errand, but spending so much time there with them, and with him, it felt right.”

“Oh…Shtola…” Ryune started.

“None of that, Ryune.” Y'shtola cut her off. “I made peace with that decision long ago.” She backed away slightly to stand upright again. “I have a purpose in telling you this, though.” Other than snapping you out of a panic, she added silently in her head.

Ryune gave a soft hum in response.

“There's someone here for you. Someone I know very well that you care for.” Her voice was uncharacteristically soft as she spoke, “Love her, Ryune. Every day, every bell. Each moment is precious, and any you can share with someone you love is worth a thousand of those without.” Y'shtola sighed. “It's a lesson I've learned the hard way, and one I hope you take to heart.”

Ryune had never heard her speak this way before. Clearly it mattered a great deal to her, and made her quest to return to the First all the more meaningful. “Yes.” She said, “I will.”

“Good.” Y'shtola turned to the doctor. “I believe she might benefit from one more visitor, perhaps alone?” She noticed him put down a syringe that he had been preparing just in case.

Satisfied by the readings he was seeing from the machines, he nodded. “I will be nearby to monitor, of course, but they shall have their privacy.” Before leaving, he added, “And don't worry, I'll treat your story the same as information from any patient, completely confidential.” He strode to the door, making sure to close it gently behind him.

“He better.” Y'shtola said before realizing it. Ryune let out a series of hums that sounded much like a laugh. A slight smile made its way across Y'shtola's face, “That's better.” She reached into a hidden pocket on her dark dress and handed Ryune a linkpearl. “If you need anything, anything at all, you've got a small army ready to help. Don't hesitate to use it, alright?”

Ryune gave a slight nod. “Thank you.”

“Before that, though, I believe it's time I left you and your next visitor alone.” Y'shtola finally released her hand, the warmth having felt quite nice. “I'll see you soon, my friend.” Without another word she made to leave, opening the door only to be met by another figure already in the doorway. With a nod, she made her way past and out of sight. Ryune wasn't sure how she knew any of that or who the next visitor would be, but that wasn't important right now.

In came the person she had suspected based on the context clues. Ryune was both overjoyed and terrified all at once, but somehow not in a bad way. Ryune could sense her visitor's apprehension as well as she stood, looking in the room with one hand on the doorframe, the other reaching to her breast.

Slowly, M'naago made her way in as the door shut behind her. She wore a simple dark green shirt and brown pants with plenty of pockets. She walked carefully to Ryune's bedside, looking her up and down as she did before settling on her face. For long moments they stayed like that, statues locked in a moment of tacit reunion, neither sure what to say.

Simultaneously they opened their mouths to speak, then shut them.

“No, you first.” M'naago spoke quickly but softly, as if concerned about shattering the stillness of the moment. Ryune didn't have the chance to say the same as the effort to speak was still more than was comfortable.

Ryune decided against arguing about it, the time and effort spent better in other ways. “I'm sorry.”

“What for?” M'naago moved a bit closer in, concerned. “You didn't do anything wrong.”

“I thought…I was dead.” Ryune explained, “My promise…to you. I broke it.”

“Your promise? Ryune, you're here, alive. You didn't break any promise to me.” M'naago reassured her, not understanding what she meant.

“I had no way out. I was dying.” Ryune admitted, “I don't know how…I'm even here. How I'm alive.” Ryune took a few breaths while M'naago processed that information. “I let you down. I kept going…past my limit. I knew I would die.”

“But you didn't.” M'naago pressed closer, leaning over the bed slightly. “I heard much over the past weeks. About what you had to do and who you had to fight.” Her voice grew in strength. “Yet you came home to us, to me!”

Ryune had a realization, all the last bits of her memory returning, the whole picture presented in full in her mind. “Because of you…”

“What?”

“My last thoughts. They were of you.” Ryune admitted, “Gave me…something.”

“Ryune?” M'naago found her eyes more watery than usual.

Ryune looked her right in the eyes for a long moment. “In the end. Light was fading. All I saw was you.” Her mind worked overtime remembering it all now. “The fire within. It refused to go out. It was you.”

“Me? You thought of me in what you believed to be your last moments, and it kept you fighting on…yes?” M'naago echoed the sentiment almost perfectly, but one part was still missing.

“I…” Ryune's voice seemed to lose power, becoming the barest whisper. She nodded M'naago closer and she obliged, then again until she was leaning down right by her. “Look at me.” Her voice was smaller than it had ever been, but M'naago turned to look, almost nose to nose.

Here, so close, Ryune gathered every spare erg of strength she had and lifted herself the barest few ilms upward, her lips meeting M'naago's for a moment before she collapsed back down. In an instant of hesitation she wondered if she had gone too far too fast before M'naago came down to her in turn and returned the gesture.

It was gentle and sweet and soft. When their lips parted, they stayed close. Ryune felt it was now or never. “I love you, Naago.”

M'naago's breath caught for a moment before she replied. “Ryune, I love you, too.” She leaned in. Pressing her forehead to Ryune's.

“You know, I thought this moment would be a lot more…triumphant.” Ryune whispered, finding it much easier to communicate like this.

“What, a welcoming party where all cheered your return?” M'naago only half-joked, “You missed out on that part a bit. You were very unconscious at the time. A bit of a mood killer if I'm honest.”

“Oh…”

“I had meant to confess to you there. I was so nervous and excited. And then the ship landed and you looked…”

“Dead, I would imagine.”

“Yes. You were so pale, and it didn't look like you were breathing. I feared the worst. M'naago continued before the inevitable apology, “You were being swept away so quickly, but when I called out to you I could swear I heard you say my name.”

“That may explain why Y'shtola knew.” Ryune positted. “It's too bad, I could have kissed you in front of all those people.”

M'naago chucked, “Nothing like incredible amounts of embarrassment to start off a romance properly, I see.”

“I'm sure I can find a way to make it up to you.” Ryune joked. “It wouldn't have been our first kiss after all. You did give me one before we took off.” She though a moment. “Say, does that mean we've had two or three with what we just did?”

“You're going to count them?” M'naago asked incredulously.

“I want to remember them all.”

An overwhelming feeling of both adoration and mischief washed over M'naago. “Maybe I should give you more than you can keep track of, hm?” She kissed her again and again and again until they were both giggling from the silliness of it all.

“I can count pretty high, you know. It'll take more than that.” Ryune, even in her present state, still seemed to match her energy. “Too bad I'm stuck here, I'd show you all sorts of things you might want to keep track of yourself.”

“Oh, I don't doubt it, my love.” The added moniker surprised M'naago as she spoke it, but it seemed so natural to say. It took a moment before she realized the wetness of Ryune's cheeks. “Oh, did I do something wrong?”

“No, not at all. I'm happy, I'm so happy.” Ryune assured her, sniffling a little. “I love you so much.”

M'naago's heart felt full to bursting. When they had first decided to wait and ‘figure things out’ after the End of Fays had been averted she had imagined a process far longer and much more nuanced, but for her, seeing Ryune off, the agonizing wait, and the terror of seeing Ryune near death had tossed away such notions. Love didn't wait, and neither did death.

Ryune for her part had much the same thoughts until witnessing her life flash before her eyes. The thoughts of moderation had flown out the windows long ago, and she really wished she could move her body right about now.

“I'm only sorry I didn't realize it sooner, love.” M'naago pulled back slightly. “It shouldn't take a world-ending calamity to make a girl realize her feelings.”

“Now there will be plenty of time to explore them.” Ryune blinked away some of the tears, and asked, “You will stay, won't you?”

“Of course!” M'naago's reply was a bit louder than she intended. “I mean, yes, I want to be here to support your recovery.”

“I don't know how long it will take.”

“As long as it needs to, Ryune.” M'naago knew the Resistance could hand things in her absence indefinitely at this point, and had no intention of leaving. “I plan to be here every step of the way.”

As much as Ryune wanted otherwise, it seemed her body had seen more than enough activity for the moment, as a new wave of fatigue seemed to wash over her, overtaking the excitement from before. “I think I'm at my limit…my eyelids are getting heavier by the second.”

“But you've been asleep so long!” M'naago joked with a chuckle. “Don't you worry, I'm staying nearby. We will have plenty of time to talk once you're properly rested rather than just awakened from an aether-deprivation based coma.”

“I wish you could stay, but…” Ryune looked down at herself. “I don't think it would be a good idea. A few too many wires and tubes to knock around.”

“Yes, I doubt that would feel very good.” M'naago leaned back in for one more kiss. “You be good.”

Ryune hummed, satisfied for now. “I'll do my best. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” M'naago replied.

M'naago hadn't even made it out of the room before Ryune let sleep overtake her. This time there were only pleasant dreams.

#ffxiv #ryune avereth #from dust to dawn

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