#wouldn't it be very sad if you knew you couldn't alter your body in any way? that you can't change it to feel more comfortable? idk

[arttsuka]

i respect all trans headcanons but in wolverine's case since he has a healing factor his boobs will just grow back

I mean yeah sure, but again, it's just a headcanon at the end of the day. Doesn't have to make 100% sense (at least not always)

[railingsofsorrow]

summary: based in the prompt “why won't you hold my hand?” that I've had in my mind for no specific reason. or... in which james potter realizes he should have seen the signs that were right under his nose.

warning: break-up talk; descriptions of tasting blood. w.c: 1.2K pairing: james potter x gn!reader

A/N: this is really sad, prepare some tissues.

this song inspired me

navi

masterpost

✧༺༻∞

“why won't you hold my hand?”

james felt hope slip through his fingers like the tears of a storm in a cloudy day.

it was in the empty seat in a quidditch game.

the avoidance in the halls or at mealtimes.

the numbness of not hearing your voice for an entire week.

he knew something was wrong — he wasn't stupid. he was, however, an idiot. because if he had, perhaps, acted sooner. asked. communicated with you. then the two of you wouldn't be there in the first place.

james never thought he would reach the stage of falling out of love.

and he hasn't. he didn't think he was able to, truthfully. his love for you only grew throughout the years and across the innocent touches you divided with each other as you shared secrets no one else partook in.

but you had. fallen out of love. and you were currently falling out of it.

he could see it in the way your gaze shifted away from him, apprehension all over your body language.

you didn't reject his touch but you didn't reach out, either.

he didn't know which was worse.

so he repeated the question rather pathetically. his tone was weak because deep down he knew what was coming but at the same time he did not wanted it.

“why won't you hold my hand?” he inquired again in the quiet of his dormroom. usually, his bedroom would be a show of madness given his dorm mates. he wouldn't say he didn't like it. he quite enjoyed the mess, it made it feel like home. although he did enjoyed the silence when you were around; cuddling under the sheets, exchanging soft mumbling to not disturb the installed peace.

it had been a week. no—scratch that. it had been more than that. actually, james wasn't aware when it started. that was his first mistake. you've been constantly withdrawing from him for a while. “did I do something wrong?” he croaks out desperately when you mentioned to leave.

why were you constantly leaving? or never there at all?

did you feel like that too? or was it just him? was it all just in his head?

“we're not working anymore.” you said, hugging yourself. then, you finally looked at him.

he wished you hadn't.

“i think we should break up, james.”

james searched for any indication that this was a stupid prank. any time now, you'd giggle and jump in his arms and apologize because that was... that was just pure cruelty.

but it wasn't a prank. it wasn't a joke. very far from it.

he just wished it was.

he wished to be fooled.

reality be damned.

he'd rather you make him out to be a fool than accept what was about to happen.

“what did I do wrong?”

he watched as your shoulders sagged when you heard the question again, albeit slightly altered. he was admiting guilt, but it wasn't his fault.

“nothing. you did nothing wrong.”

“then why?”

“i just—” you inhale sharply. how does one say it? how? you didn't want it to be true. you didn't. but how could you keep hurting someone as amazing as him because you weren't able to be truthful to him? no. james potter deserved better. he deserved everything. most of all, he deserved love. and not half of it. he deserved the whole thing. you just. you couldn't give it to him anymore. because you didn't have it. “i'm sorry.”

james swallowed hard, stopping himself when he was about to touch you.

“can you. can you just tell me? is there any way I can fix it?” he begged, breath failing as his chest tightened. “i'll do anything. I'm sorry—”

you let out a shaky sigh, “james, please. you don't have to apologize for anything. I'm the one who should be sorry. you're— you're perfect.”

his brows furrowed in confusion, eyes glazing over slightly. “i'm clearly not perfect if you're breaking up with me—”

“you're not the problem.” you cut him off, exasperated. “i just— I'm not—” you stammered. james blinked at you, his red rimmed eyes caused something in your throat to just burst out. it's your fault. end his misery, it's the least you can do. “i love you. I do. I'm just not—”

“—not in love with me anymore?” he completed half-heartedly, rubbing his eyes. he nods slowly. “yes, I gathered that.” giving you a sad smile, he sits down on the edge of his bed as if he physically couldn't handle that conversation anymore. “it's okay.”

your features twitch in disbelief, “what?”

“it's okay,” he repeats patiently. “i'm not mad.”

“why not?” you frown. “james, you should me screaming, yelling at me. instead you say you're not mad? I just told you I wanted to break up.”

he huffed out a tearful chuckle, running a hand over his face. “you don't think I know that?” his voice wavers, a pitch higher as if he was about to be angry but it quickly dissolved in a sob. you pinched your arm to refrain from reaching out to him. “i can't just be mad at you because I— I was expecting it. I knew. I didn't want it to happen but, well, it's happening.”

I'm not mad. I'm hurt. and I can't blame you for it but I can't help but do it.

it's not fair.

your heart completely shatters. you've made one of the most special people in your life cry. this wasn't supposed to hurt this much. he wasn't supposed to hurt this much. james shouldn't cry. not for you, not for anyone.

“james,” you mouth his name, suppressing your own cries. “james, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, I, I love you so much—”

“stop.” he stands up abruptly, shaking his head. “dont say that. please, don't say that when you're breaking up with me, alright? just don't.”

you clip your mouth shut, nodding in understanding. your shoulders were almost completely naked from how much you were pulling the sleeves of your sweater nervously.

james bit the inside of his cheek so hard it drew blood. the copper taste now all over his tongue. good, he was tired of the salty taste of his tears. maybe that will motivate his pathetic crying to stop.

he glanced towards you for what he decides would be the last time that night. he knew that you live in the same school, that you'll definitely bump to each other in the halls, in class or literally anywhere else.

he just needed not to see you now. he could handle it later.

“i love you, too” he said shortly, swallowing with difficulty. “and I need you to go.” because it's not the same love you feel for me. it's more. it's so much more. and I need you gone. I need you gone while it hasn't changed.

you don't sound surprised by the request so you take a last longing look at him attempting to translate apologies through your eyes, turn away and leave.

james never thought he would reach the stage of falling out of love.

and he hadn't yet.

it might take some time. it would take some time. but he hoped he could get there, eventually.

in the meanwhile, he'd crumbled down on his bedroom floor with unkept promises of a broken future and the ghost of you haunting every inch of his body.

[apphiarothowrites]

(Not your average) Blushing Maiden

(Or, "An Introduction to Zoan Anatomy"-zoan anatomy 101 remix) I'd also like to dedicate this version of the idea to @xamaxenta

Marco eats his fruit three weeks before his 17th birthday. It takes him exactly 1 hour to notice that something has dramatically changed about his body-mostly because he spent most of that 60 minutes doubled over with incredible stomach cramps. But the second those subsided he realized he had to pee and moments after that-

Well. He hadn't reacted well, in the slightest. There was screaming, and his first ever full transformation, involved. It was traumatic, even. Pops, after consulting with Whitey and Jozu, immediately set course for the North Blue to an island famous for it's medical advancements. They assumed, correctly, that this "White City" would be able to find answers to Marco's insanely weird new problem.

The tests were many, invasive, and took multiple hours a day-every day, for an entire month. Nearly the entire hospital staff they consulted with, plus several animal sanctuaries, got involved. In the end, Marco was left with a hard-to-process reality.

Gone was the previous anatomical features he was used to-that he had tied his identity to-and in the place of his dick and balls was. Just another hole. At first it was mortifying, embarrassing, and shameful. Half the jokes he used to tell were suddenly cruel jabs at himself. Half the conversation of the crew suddenly felt like an indictment of his lacking.

It took him nearly to his 30th birthday to come to a place of real acceptance. The process required the assistance of his family's steadfast refusal to think less of him, and several meetings with a very strange group of people calling themselves "the okama kingdom." Slowly, but surely, he figured it out. He got there.

Where before he hid every stormy emotion of the day underneath a relaxed veneer, now at the age of 40 he openly expressed how he felt. Happiness was all smiles, anger a downturn set of eyebrows with a frown, sadness was shown with tears, stress was a pair of hunched shoulders and tight lips.

Where before he envied other men for the ease in which they proclaimed themselves such, now Marco knew-just as surely as he had before his fruit-he was just as much "male" as they were. He didn't need a dick and external testicles to prove it-just his fists and the occasional flash of talon. No one had joked about his lack of balls in decades, but he knew that if the punchline came up he could roll with it easily.

Where before he would get angry enough to lash out, or scared enough to flat out hide, on his bad days where the alteration of his body bothered and unnerved him, Marco now instead could lean on his brothers and sisters among the crew. Izou happily kept his quarters unlocked for Marco's bad days, as did Thatch and Rakuyo and Jozu and Pops. Even Vista, and the more reserved Namur, gladly let Marco hang around in awkward silence when he knew he couldn't be alone with his thoughts.

His lack of sexual experience never bothered him before now. He figured out his own needs-what worked, what didn't, and the things in between-and then held himself back. He knew there were people out there who wouldn't be bothered by his body-in fact, if Shanks were any indication, there were likely people out there who'd be really into his body-but the difficulty in explaining things made him hesitate. Eventually he decided that tending to his own lust by himself was preferable to fumbling through awkwardness with a partner. Even the few times he genuinely thought finally taking the plunge with someone, something would hold him back. (A niggling, scared voice that reminded him of himself at 18 whispered how can you prove they won't brag, that they won't turn you into a joke once you're gone?)

Then along came Ace, incredible and bullheaded. And Ace brought with him something Marco didn't think he'd ever find. Ace with his fire and fiery personality. Ace with his whip-smart brain, with his incredible body, with his brighter-than-the-sun smile, with his flirty grins and heated looks. Ace brought hope.

(The voice would tell him Ace brought trouble.)

[corysmiles]

Could you believe I actually am back with some Runnaway Experiment WRITING??? :D

This takes place very early on in the story, and gives some more insight into Tommy's life before they escaped (in the comics). Enjoy :D

-------

The experiment was growing years after years, to everyone’s delight. It seemed the first laboratorial human had a decent enough lifespan so that it could be studied in the long run. And so, 14 years, it has been since T0M saw the light of day, and it acted in a similar fashion a 14 year old human would. .

Of course, the many researchers failed to take in consideration an alteration of the most cumbersome. T0M looked human, could understand the english language, followed orders and didn’t complain, asked some questions but the specimen…. was big.

Too big to fit in a human bed.

Too big to fit comfortably in a room.

It went in spurts, which was terrifying the first time. It kept on growing and growing, as scientists hoped it wouldn't take long for it to stop, otherwise, it might lead to a lot of problems. But for the past 2 years, no noticeable change really occurred, which was a relief when the thing was already 25 ft tall. It never seemed to be challenging personality wise, which was a relief, but they still needed to keep him in line.

Hopefully, the Doctor Soot, as well as Doctor Puff took part in daily check ups and made sure he didn’t rebel.

So, every 2 day, they took turns to visit T0M in the room accustomed to its needs.

And both’s reports were excellent! T0M learned more while being as obedient and compliant as ever. Phil couldn’t be more happy with those results.

However, as time went on…. Wilbur failed to mention another kind of teaching he had going on with the subject for the past months.

“And this is called ‘Sadness’.” He held an A3 size paper with a moody smiley drawn on it, the word being written below. “It’s that feeling when our sessions are over and I have to go and you say ‘oh noooo’ in that voice.”

T0M was sitting on his knees in front of him, paying the utmost attention to what Wilbur was showing and saying.

“I hate that one.” He pouted.

“I know,” Wilbur chuckled. “No one likes to feel sad. But it’s a part of life.”

A single hum. Wilbur’s smile turned more sympathetic.

“Do you remember the other ones?” He stood up from his place and put the sheet in one of the dark grey metallic drawers.

T0M nodded, excitedly. He took his hand and poked his fingers as he counted. “ there’s “Happiness”, it’s the good one. And “Disgust”, it’s when I have to eat the weird green stuff.”

“Brocoli”

“That. And then there’s excitement, it’s when I smile real big because you come early.”

Wilbur clapped “Wonderful!” T0M’s eyes were shining stars at every approval from Doctor Soot. Even though T0M’s enjoyment was very appreciated and contagious, but it could be a bit… much, to handle at times.

“Since you understand the basics, I think it’s time for us to start a whole new lesson.” He clapped.

T0M gasped and cheered from the top of his lungs “YEAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!”, throwing his arms in the air and effectively making the room shake from the sheer volume of his voice. When he looked back at the scientist, his eyebrows were pinched and the brunette was covering his ears and curled up, almost in pain.

“...Doctor?” He brought his head close to the man who, after making eye contact, scrambled back until he hit the same drawer he put the papers in earlier. T0M looked at him confused, face still too big in Wilbur’s peripheral.

“I… Tom, I appreciate your enthusiasm when we do our lessons, but if you could prevent yourself from screaming, it would be nice.” He tried in the most gentle voice he could muster without it shaking.

“What’s screaming?” T0M asked, crouched so his face was almost on the ground at eye level with him. He brought a hand closer to the doctor who was still breathing heavily. When his head shot to look at the hand, his body on alert, he froze before saying.

“... Is it a moment when I can’t touch you?”

Wilbur’s eyes were locked on the now frozen hand for a good second before returning to T0M, nodding. “Uh, yeah.”

“... Okay.”

The hand retracted in the following seconds, and soon, he was back in his initial position.

The doctor thanked before regaining his composure. He looked back at T0M, and his expression held remorse. A guilt twisted Wilbur's guts at the view. Thing is, as T0M grew up, people quickly realised he was the equivalent of clingy. He would constantly grab people into hugs and had a hard time keeping his voice down which resulted in a large noise blocker investment. And so they had a rule. T0M couldn’t make any sort of physical contact with anyone without being given explicit permission first. Obviously, most workers considered T0M as a test subject and therefore, wouldn’t give him that pleasure.

Wilbur, though, was not in the same vein. Once he realised how empathic and emotional and human T0M was, he started teaching him things a human teen should need, and started giving him a sort of affection a human teen should have. Which included some sort of physical affection.

When T0M was sad, he would sit next to him or pat his back. It quickly evolved as Wilbur accepted being held by the boy and brought to eye level as long as he was careful when doing so, and ever later, they would hug and wilbur would try to brush his hair at times.

Still, that didn’t make him immune to any of T0M’s carelessness which’s consequences were amplified ten fold due to his scale.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked pitifully.

“I- no, it’s not your fault. It can just be a bit overwhelming is all.” Wilbur explained.

“... what does that mean?”

“It means… when something is ‘too much’. Like when you want to bring Techno very close, but he keeps reminding you about the rule.”

“Oh.” T0M let his head fall. “... I don’t like that.” Wilbur scratched his head. “I want to be so close and show that I’m very happy and it’s all inside and I can’t let it out.”

“Well, here, it’s a bit more of the opposite. When outside, there is a lot and you’re incapable of letting it in.”

“... I’m sorry Wilbur” he mumbled.

“It’s okay, I’m not angry.” reassured the brunette. “I just have sensitive ears.”

“...Everyone has sensitive ears.”

“Well, when you’re a small guy like me, you’re sensitive on pretty much all fronts.”

“... It’s not fair.”

“What’s that?” Wilbur perked.

“When I stop getting big and strong, I want to hug you with all of my will. Like you do with me. It feels nice. I want you to feel nice just like that. I want you to be overwhelmed with happiness. I want to hug you so, so bad but I can't and it's shit. I don't want to be strong, I hurt you if I’m strong. I want to hug you."

Tommy vented, more to himself, and when he looked at Wilbur, his eyes shined, not with joy.

"Oh Tommy…."

It ached. It ached Wilbur to his core that something as simple as a hug was something he craved and still couldn't get. Because he knew. He knew all of the things T0M was missing out on. All the life he could have lived if he was granted freedom. How much he could live and appreciate. It kept him awake at night.

But he was here. Trapped. In a room barely tall enough to contain him, treated like a circus monster. And the worst thing was, T0M wasn't aware of it. Of all the life he wasn't living. How his life was no life and how he thinks this absence of everything is what life should be.

Plato would probably laugh in his grave.

"I promise you. One day, you will be able to do that. I promise you that I'll find a way for you to hug me just like you are a small man too. I promise you that I'll make you discover all of those joys of life, Tom. I Promise you. I will help you. And I'm sorry for not being able to provide it sooner. And I'll apologize for all the years it took for me to get it."

They stared at each other, and Tommy nodded, throat tight and eyes wet.

"And a promise makes sure that it's gonna happen." T0M croaked.

"Exactly, tom." Wilbur smiled. "You are going to live many more things."

The bell rang, and both faces fell a bit.

"I'll see you in 4 days, Tom. We're gonna have a little recap over the emotions you learned and then I'll teach you about relationships."

"Oohh, that sounds nice! What is it?"

As Wilbur packed his little bag, he looked at T0M and simply replied "it's all around you. But I'm not gonna spoil the next session. On that note, I wish you a nice week, Tom."

"Have a nice week, Wilbur! " T0M waved with a smile. "It's nice talking to you."

"It is my absolute pleasure, Tom."

And thus, they parted. As Wilbur walked down the immense corridor (just tall enough Tom could run through them.) He wore a satisfied smile. His small steps resonated, the only sound in the room, yet peaceful enough for his ears to listen to them as carefully as silence. Halfway through, the sound was doubled.

"Helloooo."

"Oh, hey techno! How are you?"

"Doing fine. You seem very happy."

"I am. I made some good progress with T-he subject. I feel like he's learning well. The next tests should have fabulous results."

"Ahh, wonderful. Let's make sure it doesn't learn too much though." He joked.

And at that, Wilbur chuckled, his hand on the man's shoulder. "Oh don't you worry about that, my friend. I can assure you that'll never happen"

"Amazing" techno replied, deadpan. Both nodded their conversation away and walked the rest of their ways.

As he got further away, the doctor's smile turned to an amused grin. His steps resonated, so much smaller than what could be, in a corridor in which the boy just next door should walk through.

"Don't you worry about a single thing."

MEL YES I ADORE THIS AU SO MUCH ITS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!

Poor Tommy but at least Wilbur is helping him :”]

[theautumnisnoble]

we'll learn to swim in the oceans you made

After listening to Shirtsleeves by Ed Sheeran this scenario immediately came into mind, also heavily inspired by Jenn Im's pregnancy youtube video titled, "We're Pregnant!"

[Also a very big thank you to A (@solhwippedsubs on twt and holdoutandwin on ao3) for beta-reading this. I love you my solhwi fluff confidant!]

Word Count: 2k words

"Wake up!" Sol removes the comforter that was covering his husband's body and started shaking him. "Han Joon Hwi, ireona!"

"Mmm, Sol-ah. Why?" Joon Hwi covered his eyes with his arm to shield them from the rays of sunlight and wondered why the love of his life was forcing him out of their bed so early in the morning.

"Ireona! Jebal.." Joon Hwi immediately shot up as Sol's voice started to crack and he examined her face. Sol teared up and Joon Hwi noticed she was holding something tightly, stick close to snapping into half.

"Babe, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Joon Hwi held both of her arms and looked up at her.

Sol had been so emotional these days, well, more than she usually is. Sol always has been a passionate ball of fury, but Joon Hwi especially had it rough this week. He doesn't find Sol annoying or tiring for any of that matter, but he would wonder why Sol would suddenly cry or get mad at him for absolutely no reason, and if there was, then he avoided asking it as when he did that one time, Sol only got more mad at him. There was also yesterday when Joon Hwi sprayed on himself the perfume that Sol gifted to him on their wedding anniversary last April and Sol suddenly pinched her nose close and walked outside of their bedroom. And now, Sol was in tears, sobbing, at 7 am in the morning.

"Babe.. I'm starting to worry. What's wrong?"

"I told you to be careful!!!" Sol lightly punched his shoulder and bawled.

Joon Hwi raised his arm and wiped her tears using the sleeves of his sweater, pulling on the cloth with his fingers. "What did I do wrong? Calm down for a sec and tell me.."

"Don't tell me to calm down!"

"O-okay." Joon Hwi surrendered for a while and let Sol release all of her emotions. Moments later, her sobs started to simmer down and Joon Hwi opened his arms wide. "C'mere."

Sol bended down and let Joon Hwi's arms circle around her. Her lower body slowly went closer to him and then she sat on his lap, her shoulder against his chest. Joon Hwi wiped down the dampness on her face and caressed her arm. "Now, babe, talk to me, okay? I'm never gonna know what I did wrong if you won't tell me."

Sol faced him and tried to form intelligent words. "Well, you—"

"Hmm?"

"I'm—" Her mouth started to form into a pout and tears started fall again from her eyes. "Joon Hwi-ah." She released sobs again and buried her face into his neck. Joon Hwi sighed and patted her arm.

"Babe—"

"I'm pregnant."

Joon Hwi paused his movements and pulled his head back away, lightly pushing Sol by her shoulders, to let Sol face him. Sol's eyes wandered down to her left hand and Joon Hwi followed them, then he grabbed the stick from her hand.

It was a pregnancy test. Two red-dyed lines. Positive.

Joon Hwi faced Sol, his lips starting to form into a smile. "Babe—"

"I told you to be careful!!" Sol again whimpered, tears still falling.

"W-what? Is it because I—"

"Nevermind!" Sol wiped her tears in a rash way and breathed out to calm herself down. "I-it's actually not your fault." Sol now realized the irrationality of her internal reasoning.

Joon Hwi held back a chuckle and tucked a hair behind his wife's ear.

"Remember April?"

"When we shared a sloppy kiss under the rain?" Joon Hwi tried to lighten the mood by reminding her how they had to walk all the way to the bus stop under the heavy pouring rain, just right after they had their wedding anniversary date at a fine dining restaurant four months ago. It was a funny, but sweet memory.

"No! Before that, when I got diagnosed with PCOS."

"Aah."

It left Sol and Joon Hwi almost hopeless for a child when she was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. But Sol, even before that, was convinced she didn't need to have kids and that she was satisfied with her life with Joon Hwi, content that they'd be that couple with no children. They were already busy with their very time-demanding jobs and Sol— she convinced herself she wouldn't be competent with the whole mothering a child thing. But after knowing her condition, the question, "should I?" turned to "could I?". The condition that would possibly rob her of the choice eventually made her think about how it wouldn't be so bad, because Joon Hwi was there. So after the news of her condition, she decided on one thing.

"A-after that I got off birth control." Joon Hwi nodded and listened to Sol, who was still tearing up a bit, and he also wiped down those tears when he could.

"Then yesterday, when I realized I wasn't on my period yet, I got to read my period calculator and saw that I- I was 16 days late." Sol exhaled for courage.

"Then I bought the pregnancy test." Sol paused and looked at Joon Hwi, and her face looked like she was about to burst again. Her lips were shaking and her eyes were still crystal with tears ready to fall. She was scared.

"You can take it slow, I'll be here. I won't stop listening." Sol released a small smile, tidied her face and tucked in her stray hairs, preparing to tell Joon Hwi more while also now trying to relax herself.

"I didn't know if I should take it though. I mean, everything would change if I was pregnant. But I did wanna know, I wanted to be certain. And it said that I should use my morning pee for it so I waited until morning."

"But you hardly even slept.." Joon Hwi recalls her wife tossing and turning beside him, and then ultimately giving up trying to sleep then went downstairs. He bets on Sol reading up on her cases, which works as an alternative sleeping pill for her.

Ever since she was diagnosed with PCOS, Sol really took effort into having a more healthy lifestyle— like exchanging coffee for matcha, this among other things, and also trying to get some more sleep. So Joon Hwi knew that Sol would definitely try to catch up on sleep.

"I did, a bit." She smiled. "So, after that I took it just earlier. A-and I tested positive." Sol's emotions now returned to her and she closed her eyes, her eyebrows furrowed and tears started to fall again.

"I'm scared." She looked at him. "I don't know if I'm gonna be a good mother. I feel like I should be happy or something, but I'm just really scared." Sol now covered her face with both palms and cried, Joon Hwi pulled her in to embrace her.

"Babe.." He patted her back.

"What if I try my best, and our kid still doesn't love me?" That was it. Sol released another wave of sobs and her body shook against Joon Hwi's embrace.

Sol thought she wasn't ready. Even if it was her choice to get off birth control, she didn't think she would immediately become pregnant. After all, her doctor said it was now almost impossible to be. In her mind, pregnancy would change everything— from how much devotion she has to her work to maybe how her and Joon Hwi's relationship would change, and maybe for the worst. And she didn't like change, her idealistic plans for her future would need to be altered, and she also didn't like how it would most likely change their marriage. She couldn't have that, she couldn't live with a ruined marriage because she didn't want anything to change between Joon Hwi and her, and she also couldn't live with her child possibly having to live through all that. And what if he gets tired of taking care of me? And tons of other doubts and insecurities showered her.

Why does my mind do this? Sol asked herself. Why can't I just be excited? Joon Hwi is the father of this child. I'm sure he's disappointed in me right now.

Joon Hwi pulled away after she calmed down. He wiped her face, again with his already damp shirtsleeves. He placed short kisses on her wet cheeks and cupped her face. "Sol, I believe in you."

Sol melted and her lips turned into a pout, her face still showing fear and uncertainty.

"I'm with you, whatever your decision is. I will be always there for you as I always have. If you arrive to whichever decision, I will give you my opinion but at the end I will always support you. If you don't want to have the baby, I'll still be here. If you want to try and see it through the end, I will be happy and help you every step of the way. I'm your husband Sol-ah. I know you don't trust yourself that much yet, but trust in me. "

Sol put her arms around him and hugged him tight. "I love you Sol. We'll take it slow, step by step. I know you're panicking right now, but there's no rush. We'll do it together. You're never gonna be alone. I'll be there every single step of the way. And I'm sure our kid will love you. You were an amazing older sister to Byeol and you still are, she adores you so I'm sure our kid will, too."

"I love you Joon Hwi. I love you so much. I love you."

"You love me that much?"

Sol pulled away, annoyed. Joon Hwi released a chuckle.

"I love you too."

"You sure I can do it?" Sol asked. "Being a mom? What if I'm going to be too busy for it?"

"We can always ask Byeol to babysit. Or your mom, she has said she already wants a grandchild."

"You always know the solution to things don't you?" Sol rolled her eyes.

"That's why I'm the perfect husband to the ever worrier Eomma Sol."

"Eomma Sol?" Sol raised her voice, taken aback by the sudden nickname.

"And I'm Appa Joon Hwi. " Then Sol bursted out, laughing. Her tears were now drying on her cheeks and she was more relaxed now.

"See? It's cute." I just wanted to see you smile. Joon Hwi thought.

Sol pulled him into a hug again. "You better not regret being a father to our child, Han Joon Hwi-ssi."

Joon Hwi let himself fall into bed, taking down Sol with her. They both laughed and Joon Hwi pulled her into a kiss, tasting the bitterness and sadness of her tears. They made out, feeling at home and Sol, feeling assured and loved by the person in front of her. Joon Hwi kissed her, tasting the ocean, drowning in the one she made.

"I will never regret it. I will fulfill all the promises I made on our wedding day, to be by your side, To support you, to be a loving husband, to be always there to annoy you—" Sol laughed, remembering his one-liner during their exchange of wedding vows. "To always wake and sleep beside you whenever I can, and to never leave your side." They both smiled at each other and Joon Hwi placed a kiss on her forehead. They pull each other close, feeling each other's warmth. And Sol is now close to slumber, fatigued after her nonstop crying.

"I'll be the happiest father to our child. Of course I will, you're the mother, after all."

[fanficwritersworld]

Tentacles and Ice People

Ben x Reader

(Y/N) never liked their powers, they scared them. Having another person inside your head wasn't fun. They were too scared to even use their powers to their full extent. Reginald used to lock them in a meat freezer just to see if they would leave their other half out.

(Y/N)'s Perspective

You sat in the meat locker, your hands barely holding yourself together. Your lips were violet, your hair was no longer (H/C) instead it was turning white so was your (E/C) eyes. Your tears were turning to ice as you cried, "Daddy! Please let me out!!" You cried. 

'Please (Y/N) let me take over. I can't let you keep doing this to yourself' Khione pleaded with you.

You knew her all your life but you were too scared that she would hurt someone. "P-promise you won't hurt anyone" You pleaded with your alter ego. 'Promise' Khione stated.

It felt like you were in your body, yet you couldn't feel any physical thing. "Well done Zero! Now retreat to your room" Dad stated walking away leaving the meat locker open. Khione gave you control again, you started running out only to stop when you saw the only one who could understand you.

"Ben" you choked out before falling into his arms. He was warm compared to your tweleve hours in a freezer. "Hey, it's okay your out now. Your out" Ben whispered as you cried into his chest. You told him everything, how after sixteen years you had finally given Khione control.

"What did it feel like?" Ben asked as you two sat on your bed. "It felt like I was in control but I couldn't feel anything only the sensation. I probably sound like an idiot" You rambled playing with your fingers. Ben held his hand in yours, the warmth feeling like bliss. "You're not an idiot (Y/N). I thinks it's cool, being able to talk to the other mind inside of you" Ben smiled before looking away from you. You knew Ben was insecure about his powers, being honest who wouldn't. Having a monster like that inside you, you were lucky enough to be able to have some sort of control over Khione and your cryokinesis.

"Ben" you cried lifting your hand to his chin. "Please, look at me" you pleaded making him face you. When he did your heart melted, his chocolate brown eyes filled with guilt and sadness, they way his forehead scrunched when he was sad it killed you to see him like this. "You are not under any circumstance a monster. You hear me, you are a good person Benny" You told him, Ben's eyes lit up at your words. The two of you didn't realise how close you were until Ben started to lean in.

Soft.

Ben's lips were soft as you both kissed, it felt as if you were in heaven. You hands went to his hair, tangling in his dark locks. Ben's hands made their way to your cheeks, his thumbs grazing them softly you felt sparks erupt everywhere. After a few moments you both pulled away rest your foreheads on one another. You both panted softly smiling sheepishly. "You don't know how long I waited to do that" You sighed staring into Ben's eyes. He chuckled before pulling you in again, this time with more passion, one hand on your back the other on your jaw. The sparks flew once more, the feeling of bliss spreading throughout your body.

~~~~~~

"I never want this to end" You smiled as you laid on your boyfriend's chest. "Same. Only three more days and we will be free (Y/N)" Ben smiled wrapping his arms around your waist tighter.

'This is why we love him' Khione chuckled causing you to do the same. "What did she say?" Ben asked, after almost two years he could tell when Khione was talking to you. You smiled at him, just as you were going to tell him the mission alarm went off.

"Number 1, 3 and Zero please come to my office for your mission briefing'Reginald called out over the intercom.

"We'll tell you when we get back" You pecked Ben's lips before running to your room to get changed.

~~~~~~

Ben's Perspective

I waited for (Y/N) to come back, it had been two days since they, Allison and Luther left. I kept pacing the hall Mom cam over to me. "Ben darling they're back" she smiled at me, I gave her a quick hug before dashing to the main entrance. When I got there Allison and Luther had their heads down. "Guys what happened? Where's (Y/N)" I asked, a horrible feeling in my gut. "Go to the infirmary Ben" Allison said sadly. I ran to the medical wing, I never ran to fast in my life.

I opened the door to see my beloved (Y/N) crying, their beautiful (H/C) now ombré ver. I saw Dad looking very disappointed " You failed Zero. You lost your only strength" He scolded harshly before leaving . I walked over to them, my heart racing. "(Y/N), sweetie? What happened?" I asked softly. (Y/N) looked at me, their eyes red and puffy from crying tears still spilling. "I- I lost her.. Benny... I-I lost Khione" (Y/N) cried before she placed her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around them, whispering sweet nothings in her ear.

[bettyxinez]

Nothing Left To Give

chapter four • smile

Kat didn't mention her DID until two weeks after that, and Malcolm found himself thinking about her more then he probably should have.

And Kat knew it too. They had been getting closer and closer and she could tell how curious he was. Over the span of the 7 weeks they had become friends, and Kat was confident in saying he was one of the closest friends she ever had, so much so that even some of the Others wanted to meet him.

Driving each other to and from the precinct was becoming a regular occurrence, and he slowly revealed more and more about his past, opening up to her much quicker then she was to him.

"So thats what you're trying to figure out? If the girl in the box is real and who she is?"

"Yeah. Funnily enough, trying to solve a murder where the only evidence is unreliable memories is kind of...hard."

"I understand that. Not the murder part, but everything else."

His curiosity had been temporarily put on the back burner while he told her his story, but now it was at the forefront of his mind.

She noticed almost immediately. She kind of felt bad about it, and was planning on telling him when the time was right.

The time never seemed right.

And when it did, she couldn't bring herself to talk about it. So she eventually just waited for him to bring it up.

He was in her apartment again, looking at some of the pictures on her wall and laughing as she told stories of the people in them.

He noticed quickly that none of them were members of her family.

"What about your family?" He asked, before he even realized the can of worms he might have opened by doing so.

She tensed immediately, turning to look at him.

"We don't... talk."

Malcolm looks up at her, noticing for the first time that she was taller then him.

"Do you mind if I ask why?"

She sits down on her couch, tucking her feet underneath her. Malcolm sat next to her.

"They didn't believe me when I told them what was... happening... to me."

His breath hitched. His mind reeling from the possibilities of what that meant. He supposed that he could ask. They had gotten a lot closer, and if she didn't want to talk about it, he could wait longer. No problem.

"And... what was happening to you?"

She looked away from him, eyes widening for a split second, and then she slowly took a deep breath.

This was it. He had asked, and she didn't know if she was ready.

She could dive head first into telling him and risk freezing in the fridgid water, or stay safe and dry, but risk putting a wall between her and Malcolm.

She decided to just take the plunge.

"...bad things." She whispered. And even just thinking about it, her brain was assaulted with memories, and she already felt herself slipping.

"Bad, bad things...hurt... it hurt."

She screwed her eyes shut, fists clenching. Her nails dig into her palms and she sucks in a breath.

Malcolm watched, letting her set the pace, but his brows were furrowed in concern. He knelt down in front of her and offered his hands. She took them with a crushing grip.

"...hold on... someone..." her breath hitched.

"Someone's here. Sorry." Malcolm watched in both worry and fascination.

"Its... okay. Take your time." He responded.

He knew what was happening. She was doing what she had told him was "switching". One of her alters was coming. He was very curious, but he was also fearful as to what would happen next.

Would he ruin everything? He hoped not.

Kats eyes unfocused for a second, and then she stopped.

She looked up, eyes blinking.

She continued staring for a second and looks around.

When he heard her voice, he didn't know what to think.

"...I was told to not like... pretend to be Kat."

Malcolms eyes widen, and hes taken aback. Her voice sounds so different. A touch lower, and with a strong Essex accent, her words somehow a mix of dramatic and lazy sounding.

"Uh... yeah. Who is this?"

"Has she told ya any of our names?"

"...No. But I've never asked. Wanted to go at her own pace."

Kat-whoever- nods at that, looking down at their clothes.

"What the fuck is this? Kat I told ya not to dress us in a skirt!"

He looks at the person in front of him.

"You don't like skirts?"

"Nah. Its not my style. I'm Haven. Primary protector and ex-prosecutor. Basically means I didn't used to be a great person. I'll explain more later if I feel like it. Its my job to protect us, and my job to judge whether someone is safe. You seem to be okay for now."

He was at a loss for words. He was given almost zero warning, however he assumed that she wasn't either.

"So what 'ave you said to set 'er off then?" She said, glaring. It was so weird, he thought, how her entire demeanor has changed. Man or woman. Or whatever. He didn't even know.

The glare on her face looked so unnatural, like it didn't belong there.

"We sort of got onto the topic of her past. And then... you came out." He said.

"Sorry, who exactly are you? You specifically. Not just your role." He said, confused and cautious as to where to go from here.

"Are you askin' what I look like?" She responded, the way she holds herself that of a completely different person.

"Maybe. Or just who you are. What you like and dislike, your interests."

She stares at him, tilting her head.

"Well for one thing, my skin is a bit darker then this, Kat is atrociously pale. I've got short, curly black hair and freckles."

He tries to imagine it, but its hard. He's looking at what he knew as Kat, but now, she's someone different.

Haven continued talking.

"I've got sort of big eyes. Small nose. Thick eyebrows. Big-ish lips. I look like I'm mixed race, but I don't like to think of myself as that because I will never relate to the struggles of being black and I will never be fully emersed in the culture. The body is Korean, and I don't think it's appropriate to be say that I'm mixed race because my actual real life body is not."

Malcolm nods. He could understand that.

So Haven, he noted, was a rambler.

"Im an integrated alter. I used to be three people. I have the memories of three different people and I remember them all separately. I have access to all the memories and trauma, so don't fuck with me." She says the last bit with a bit of sadness and anger.

Haven was really closed off, he thought. She looked at him with a fierceness he couldn't describe, and soon, he found himself noticing all the differences between them. The more she talked, the more she became her own person to him.

"I have just a few things to say to you before I go back inside-"

"Inside where?" Malcolm asked, cutting her off, suddenly very confused. More then he already was.

"Back to inner world. We have a whole world inside our head. We all live in an apartment building. Well not all. We have a cave, a pool, a forest, other stuff. When we're fronting, we're sitting in the lobby. I sound insane when I say that, but its true."

She shrugged.

Shes right, he thought.

It did sound insane.

And if he didn't already know a bit about the disorder, he would have called her out.

And some would say the same about his mental health problems.

So he believed her.

"So... you protect Kat?"

"Yes. And everyone else. Its my job. I was the first one made, the first one to take it instead of her."

His brows furrowed at that.

"What does that mean?"

She looks up at him.

"It means that when fucked up shit was happening to us I took her place so she didn't have to deal with it."

He thought about that. Fucked up shit? Like what? Did it have to do with his father? He shuddered at that thought.

It had taken him almost every ounce of willpower to not ask Kat about it, but he figured could ask Haven. So he did.

"Does the name Martin Whitly ring a bell?"

She stood up then, and dragged him up by the collar of his shirt, eyes intense and angry.

"How do you know that name?" She asked through gritted teeth, voice low.

Struck a nerve, then.

"He-He's my father." He said. Her eyes widened and she threw him onto the couch.

"Have you seen him recently? Don't lie to me I swear to God I will know."

He was taken aback. Things had taken a 180 faster then he could even process what was happening.

Struck a big nerve, then.

He could tell the truth, but what if it ruined their friendship?

Or he could lie, but she said she will know. That would probably ruin their friendship even more...

Before he can even stop himself:

"Yes."

She sits down then, eyes clenching.

"You have to take me to him."

He stands up, fists clenching.

"No. Absolutely not." He couldn't let his father ruin their friendship. He wouldn't let him.

"Either you take me to him or I go myself."

"You can't."

"I'll find a way." Her eyes glinting in determination. He suddenly got the feeling that she wasn't joking.

He took in a shuddery breath, hands shaking.

"Fine."

_______________________________________

Haha no proofreading here we die like Eve.

Like and comment yall. These chapters take a while to write and always have between 1,400-1,900 words and I would really appreciate it if this story spread a bit.

Thx yall.

[jamiebluewind]

Pok The Nightmare King?

***

@skysfallingbaby proposed an interesting concept. "Maybe Pok Gukgak is the Nightmare King". And while this theory make a lot of things a lot more messed up (like trying to use Riz in a sacrifice), it got my theorist senses a tingling.

So, without futher ado, let's get started.

***

First off, What is Pok exactly? We can assume that the Nightmare King doesn't just look like a goblin as he doesn't actually look like any one race when people have tried to describe him. We could guess some kind of magical effect that alters his appearance, but the Nightmare King was also banished (a spell with no time limit outside homebrew rules, unless the spell is not held for a minute or the creature is banished while already on their own plane) and seeing as Pok lived on the material plane for years, he couldn't be the Nightmare King... technically. The thing is, the Nightmare King doesn't have to be there to be there. Ragh's mom was piloting a clone of herself in real time while her real body was unconscious and housed miles underground (possibly in the molten core of the planet). A goblin suit could be piloted by the Nightmare King using the same principles. Even a direct connection to the Nightmare King is established in game via his corrupting influence constantly leaking from his plane of existence into the material plane (specifically in Silvar).

The next question that comes to mind is Why did Kalvaxus eat Pok if they were allied? and to that I say Do we know for sure that he did? What we do know is this...

Kalvaxus taunted that he ate Pok, but he did it in the middle of a battle to throw off Riz.

Kalvaxus would have eaten Pok while bound. Barring being able to enlarge/reduce Pok (and even then, he would only shrink to about the size of a cat), it would have taken a 6 to 7 foot tall dragonborn a WHILE to eat someone 1/2 his height and 1/5 his weight, bones and all (and dragons and dragonborns don't even have the established voracious appetite goblins do).

Riz and Sklonda were told Pok died at sea until Kalvaxus said otherwise.

Pok and Shadow Cat/Calina worked together

Shadow Cat/Calina was absent at Pok's funeral and never contacted Sklonda or Riz afterward.

Shadow Cat was spotted immediately after the battle with Kalvaxus (making it possible that she was given a heads up about Kalvaxus' plans).

So, using this information it's not that hard to theorize that Pok might not have been eaten or was eaten under the orders of the Nightmare King. Reasons to taunt might have been something The Nightmare King told him to say once free or just something he said to rattle Riz knowing it couldn't be proven. Reasons to ask to be eaten could have been to dispose of a clone he was piloting without risking leaving a magical trace behind (which could have been done regularly for one reason or another, but if Kalvaxus got caught red handed, they would have had an established story set up and a witness to it happening).

There's also a few things that happen during the Shadow Cat/Riz dialogue that take on a whole new meaning. I'll link the dialogue below, but one exchange really stands out. She said "Pok Gukgak. It's a good man" and when Riz asked what went wrong between them, she said "Nothing went... wrong between us" immediately followed by her offering "a little information swap" and to answer a question about his dad in exchange for answering her own. This was despite Riz previously saying "I wanna know where the crown is. I wanna know where Fabian is. I wanna know why people are coming for us in our sleep." and thus already knowing what information Riz would trade for.

Finally, let's look at Riz.

He is the son of Pok and Sklonda Gukgak.

He is an inquisitive rogue and on more than one occasion has been described as being "one with the shadows".

He has always has issues with sleeping, often avoiding it or just not getting enough of it.

He has always been able to see Shadow Cat and has met her at least once.

He was going to be sacrificed on an alter by a Nightmare King controlled Fig to complete some kind of ritual.

He was not attacked in his dreams when he failed his throws, the first time getting Baron while awake and the second time pounced on by Shadow Cat while asleep (while even Ragh was attacked in his sleep and got up while already under dominate person as Adaine watched).

Shadow Cat knew a lot of stuff about Riz, including current stuff ("I know that YOU only do things to kinda distract yourself from how DEEPLY sad you are that your dad is gone, I get that. The maidens and then you find the maidens and then it's on to the next thing and the conspiracy board and you don't sleep and you're digging digging digging- it's like when you were in that palimpsest. You will dig until your own hands are bleeding...").

Shadow Cat's first offer to get his intel was to answer a question about his dad if she got to ask him a question in return (followed by saving Fabian despite that being one of the things he asked for).

Some of these wouldn't hold water alone, but combined they paint a very interesting picture. Shadow Cat being so familiar with Riz makes more sense if she has been keeping an eye on the son of her boss off and on for a long time. It also explains why Shadow Cat immediately offered to give him intell on his dad in exchange for answering a question and clicking her tongue when he turned it down like he did. Riz being the son of the Nightmare King (maybe only a tiny part or an infused thing due to how it happened) would mean he's probably immune to some Nightmare magic and skilled with others (like how half-elves are immune to Sleep, but can't trace), which explains why he has yet to get attacked while dreaming and his natural stealth skills, perceptiveness, and sleep issues. The Nightmare King trying to use Riz in a ritual sacrifice instead of just some guy on the street might mean his son is required for it.

This all leaves me with so many questions.

Considering how strategic the Nightmare King is, why exactly would he pick Sklonda?

Could Pok have fathered Riz specifically to sacrifice later, as a backup for something, or as a cover for being around certain people?

Why did Pok leave and was it planned?

What was Pok really up to during his life as a spy?

Is Riz required somehow to bring back the Nightmare King?

Does the ritual actually require Riz to die and if so, could they revive him without causing the ritual to fail (like if it required a lethal amount of blood from Riz or a mortal wound)?

What will Gorthalax reveal once he's freed (which will most likely happen once Ayda learns Plane Shift and has a slot free to use it)?

Could someone in the party potentially question Kalvaxus (maybe with the help of Gorthalax or a specific spell)?

***

Special thanks to @skysfallingbaby for the bardic inspiration for this tinfoil time. I honestly hadn't considered the possibility until you mentioned it, but the moment I did I just HAD to follow the logic to see where it led. It really surprised me how many pieces fell into place the further I went. It really was an absolute delight to research. Thank you ^_^

***

Original Post

[roxxythebirbrps]

After Meal Clubbing 2

Jessica: finds a nice little corner on the dance floor putting him on the outer side and herself on the inside so he doesn't have to worry about him touching other people*

Sol: *He tries not to let his nervousness show - he was raised better, after all - as he watches the others dance. He looks back to her, feeling more awkward than he'd ever felt*

Jessica: *chuckles and takes his hands doing that little shake and sway dance that you do with little kids who don't know what to do*

Sol: *He huffs at this, but goes along with it, attempting to relax into the beat of the music and go with it*

Jessica: *laughs and lets go of one of his hands lifting the one she still had over her head and twirls herself*

Sol: *Smiles a little as he watches her do so, hand drifting to her hip to keep her steady as she twirled; it was the type of thing that happened in the dances he knew, after all*

Jessica: *laughs clearing having fun wanting him to have as much fun as she was but doesn't really know how*

Sol: *He smiles as he watches her; hers was contagious. He rocks a little to the music now. Still awkward and unsure, but a small part of him wanted to try it out properly, to see if it was as fun as it seemed to be*

Jessica: thats it! do what you feel like! *so happy he was getting it giggling to herself she twirls again then starts doing some solo dancing to see what he was going to do*

Sol: Oh please don't patronise. *He manages an awkward laugh, watching her as he attempts to do the same. He was drunk enough, at least, that he could attempt to copy the other men near him without feeling -too- foolish*

Jessica: *a song she knows comes on and she starts singing along with and decides to go back to dancing with Sol rather than leave him to dance on his own*

Sol: *He lets his hands drift to her hips as she dances closer, mimicking her movements as he had been taught to do in more conventional dances when the partner varied on purpose*

Jessica: *smiles* see this isn't so bad, right?

Sol: It .. isn't too bad, I suppose. *He smiles softly, continuing to dance, slightly more easier now*

Jessica: *loosely wraps her arms around his neck smiling* gooooood~ It's always good to try new things.

Sol: *Rolls his eyes at her, smiling as he watches her* You are much more beautiful when you are so happy. *He was taught always to compliment a woman when the need arose, and the alcohol made it less forced*

Jessica: *blushes lightly and smiles* well I do prefer to be happy than sad *chuckles but enjoys the compliment nonetheless*

Sol: *He chuckles as they dance, very briefly admiring the blush on her cheeks. He decided the alcohol had definitely affected him now; she was still a commoner, after all.* As do we all.

Jessica: it's good to see you smiling for the first time this whole night. guess that means your finally having fun or I've gotten you just the right amount of drunk *laughs*

Sol: *He smiles almost cheekily as he shrugs* I think it's a bit of both~

Jessica: you? Having fun? in a commoner way?! *fains being shocked* Never~ *laughs*

Sol: *He chuckles and rolls his eyes* One day, I will have to show you fun that I regularly partake in. It is quieter than this though, I'm afraid.

Jessica: well Now I know I'm not going to have any fun *smirks trying to emulate him and his skepticism*

Sol: *He nudges her playfully with his hip, an easy feat given their proximity* Have you ever been horse riding? I know my mother, and most females in our extended family, are partial to it. I'm efficient at it myself, so I could take you one time, if you wished. *He wasn't so against marrying this woman now, though he still had various points he disagreed with. At the moment, they were pushed to the back of his mind*

Jessica: *laughs at the nudge but smiles at the offer to take her out again* I'd love to go out horse back riding with you, though i will warn you, it's been a really long time since i've been on a horse *chuckles, learned when she was 7 but after that nothing*

Sol: We can ride one one together and I can teach you before I entrust you with one of my horses. I'm quite fond of them, you see. *Teasing slightly*

Jessica: oh yes because we both know that I'm skilled enough to run a horse into a tree *rolls her eyes but smiles none the less enjoying the teasing*

Sol: *He smiles softly, though his tone remains light* I wouldn't put it past you

Jessica: *laughs* well aren't you Mr. Mean *obviously doesn't mean it...too much*

Sol: I just have .. high expectation. *Smiles, shrugging, though the music picks up briefly and he pushes her into a spin, though he guides her to make sure she won't fall or even stumble*

Jessica: *squeeks slightly at the sudden unexpected spin but laughs as she comes full circle, now thiiiis was a date*

Sol: *He smiles as he watches her. He was getting used to the music now, and when it changes tempo, he alters his dance, this time lowering her into a dip. He was being -slightly- over-extravagant. But he had no reason not to be. These commoners had no class, so he was just showing that he did*

Jessica: *clutches her his arms as he puts her in a dip not wanting to fall* showing off are we? *laughs throwing her head back in the dip and kicking her leg up having never been dipped before*

Sol: *He chuckles and pulls her back to both feet and into a spin that would land her close against him* It's better than following their horrible lead. *He briefly indicates the other dancers*

Jessica: *laughs* oh yeah like there is much leading involved with that. You could be dancing by yourself then all of a sudden you have a guy dancing behind you like that.

Sol: It was sarcasm. *He smiles, releasing her so she could right herself as he continues to dance comfortably now*

Jessica: I know~ *she straightens herself out and goes back to dancing enjoying this greatly*

Sol: *After many other songs, and him artfully showing off at some point in each one, he lets out a breath* I don't suppose we could sit for some more drinks? I fear I'll collapse otherwise. *He wasn't used to doing so much and in a room filled with other hot bodies, he was slightly tired and hot, but he found himself unable to keep a light smile from his lips*

Jessica: of course, wouldn't want you passing out and getting your expensive clothes dirty~ *teasing him lightly taking his hand and walks him back to her booth*

Sol: They're very high quality, so of course I want to keep them clean.*Only half serious, he clutches at her hand as he carefully weaves between people. He hastily moves closer to her when he -swore- someone grabbed his ass.*

Jessica: *moves back to the booth and scoots in laughing breathing slightly hard from her dress being a little too tight for all the dancing she did* I'm thinking two ice waters before we go back to the booze *chuckles*

Sol: *He sits next to her* That sounds like a good idea. *Looks out into the crowd a little, feeling utterly violated* Some one groped me- What on earth makes someone do that to a stranger? *He huffs, blowing hair from his face as he removes his blazer, wearing a thin silk shirt beneath it; one that clung to him slightly by now to reveal his thin, and slightly lean, but mostly muscled torso - he ate healthily and on good food, but did little in the way of physical exercise*

Jessica: try being a woman in a crowd like that, it's crazy hard not to get groped if there is a creep in the bunch. *she fans herself with the drinks menu before she fans him chuckles waving over someone to take their drinks* two ice waters *the guy goes off and she goes back to fanning herself*

Sol: I'll stand close behind you. *He couldn't have his wife-to-be getting felt up by random strangers. He closes his eyes briefly as she fans him, slouching comfortably in his seat. Briefly, he wondered what time it was, and until what time they would be out*

Jessica: are you having fun? *smiling going back to fanning him since he was in long sleeves, really hoping he was having fun*

Sol: *He smiles lightly and closes his eyes for the fanning* I .. think I am, yes.

Jessica: then tonight has been a success *still fanning him, then moves in nice and close leaning up against him fanning them both so she can cool down too*

Sol: *Chuckles, cracking an eye open to watch her* Indeed it has.

Jessica: careful your mom my throw you a party to celebrate *laughs a bit since it was all his mom's idea to get him out here with her*

Sol: *He chuckles* In which case, she won't know. *He was surprised by how quickly he'd eased into her company, though he supposed, in part, that was due to the alcohol*

Jessica: *sits up and away from him when the water arrives taking the glasses from the waiter and sets Sol's glass down in front of him* salvation~ *starts drinking her water*

Sol: *He chuckles once more and takes his, drinking it gratefully, leaning comfortably into his seat*

Jessica: *after a few gulps she leans back and smiles* aaaah~ much better *she dips her fingers into the water and dabs her chest and the back of her neck*

Sol: *He smiles as she speaks and looks to her, only to find himself unable to tear his gaze away as he watches her dabbing the water on her bare skin, and watching the tiny drops trickle downwards. He swallows hard, it was ungentlemanly to have such thoughts, surely*

Jessica: so much better *she starts fanning herself again the water now supercooling her skin *she holds her hair to her head showing off the back of her neck and keeps fanning*

Sol: *He continues to watch her, almost fascinated. His eyes drift down her neck, and he finds himself beginning to lean in to put his lips there. He stops himself hastily, and tears his gaze away, cheeks flushed* I-I think it's time for our next alcoholic drink. *Curse this commoner.*

Jessica: *totally catches him leaning in the corner of her eyes blushing lightly* okay uh here *hands him the menu which she was using as the fan* wanna try something other than a -tini?

Sol: *He takes it, and spends an unnecessarily long amount of time picking out a drink, reading through each ingredient to keep himself from thinking too much about the woman beside him* I.. think I'll try a White Russian..?

Jessica: okay um I think i'll get a pink lady this time around *she finishes her water and waves the waiter over and orders the drink playing with her empty glasses*

Sol: *He grabs the menu and leans his head back on the seat, fanning himself now. He lets his eyes drift shut as the cool air hits them, but it was better than staring at Jessica*

Jessica: *decides to apply her lipstick while his eyes were closed and then goes back to playing with her glass crossing her legs wondering if he will actually go through with marrying her or just blame every bit of fun they had today on the booze*

Sol: *He fans himself idly while they wait for the next drinks, deciding that this marriage probably wouldn't be so bad. she was beautiful, and her personality wasn't too loathsome. Her background wouldn't change, but he could better civilise her in his world surely. He stops fanning himself to look to her for a moment, and then glance back over the throngs of people. He was attracted to her, definitely, and he didn't even need the alcohol to get him to admit that to himself*

Jessica: *leans back tucking her hair behind her ear lightly holding the glass with both hands watching the people in the crowd a lightly smile plays on her lips looking up when the waiter comes back with their drinks*

Sol: *He takes his drink and sips it experimentally. After a moment, he blinks* I'm impressed. *He looks into the drink briefly, before he smiles and continues drinking. It had a straw, but he frowns a little in confusion when he somehow manages to get some of the cream from the drink on his nose*

Jessica: *she sees the bit of cream on his nose and laughs wiping his nose smiling she goes to her drink lightly sucking on the cherry garnish*

Sol: *Smiles at her, glancing to her briefly. He averts his gaze once more* Why must you be so tempting when it is rude to have such thoughts about another. *He speaks quietly, not expecting her to hear over the loud music, though he would've liked to hear what answer she could come up with*

Jessica: what did you say? tempting? *looks a little confused at him*

Sol: *He blinks, flushing lightly* Ah- Pay me no mind. I'm just talking to myself. >>;

Jessica: hmmm sounds pretty important to me *smiles leaning closer wanting to know what he said*

Sol: *He pushes a few strands of hair off his face as he glances to, and away, from her a few times* I- .. You, with your cooling yourself, and then sucking.. like that. Among other things. I apologise profusely; it's rude of me. I'm only speaking such thoughts because of the alcohol, I'm sure. But- you are, truly, very beautiful..

Jessica: *blushes, she wasn't expecting that, she was expecting something like 'it's tempting to stay longer' or 'its so tempting to leave but not that* oh uh... *a bit speechless* thank you...

Sol: *He flushes at that, averting his gaze as he drinks his cocktail.* You don't need to thank me, I'm only speaking truth..

Jessica: s-still *looks down at her drink still blushing feeling so flustered like she was back in highschool it was quite silly*

Sol: *Watches her through the corner of his eye, unable to help but feel slightly smug. He finishes his drink unintentionally quickly, and looks into it, before he glances to her* Do you know the time?

Jessica: ah no but i can find out *she pulls out her cell phone and looks at the time* its..midnight..

Sol: *He blinks* Really? Ah- Perhaps I should return you home. *He wasn't used to nightclubs, after all, and had no idea they were usually busy until the early hours of the morning*

Jessica: are you not having fun? *blinks a few times before she realizes* oh um nightclubs stay open to the early morning hours.

Sol: Really? .. *That was an odd concept.* .. Oh, well- Is there a time your parents are expecting you home?

Jessica: no I can come and go as I please but they are expecting me to check in by the time they wake up tomorrow. well I guess i should say today *chuckles*

Sol: Oh, good. *He, of course, wasn't used to being up so late, and this meant his most recent drink was affecting him quicker than the previous few, and his words were slightly slurred* You'll be home by then, I'm sure. *He smiles at her*

Jessica: good, I wouldn't want them to think i got kidnapped *laughs sipping her drink lightly*

Sol: If the need arose that you couldn't go home, though, I'd make sure they knew beforehand. *He smiles, this time waving the guy over to order his next drink himself* I was raised as a gentleman, remember~

Jessica: of course of course *giggles and sips her drink having so much fun but that could just be the booze getting to her*

Sol: *He chuckles and orders her another drink too, too comfortable where he sat for now to think about dancing some more. He was enjoying himself profusely, much more than he'd anticipated, and he blamed that, in part, on his company*