#((me @ me a paragraph later: wait wait no ro you nEED TO BE DONE THIS IS TOO MANY PARAGRAPHS UR NOT MATCHING LENGTHS UR JUST WRITING A NOVE

[pctaldrunk]

me, trying not to write replies that are A MILLION YEARS LONG and failing miserably:

#ooc #((me @ me: oh nice i'm matching length!!!)) #((me @ me a paragraph later: wait wait no ro you nEED TO BE DONE THIS IS TOO MANY PARAGRAPHS UR NOT MATCHING LENGTHS UR JUST WRITING A NOVE

[iliveiloveiwrite]

Just The Way You Are// D.M.

Request: Hi can you do a draco x reader where they are in a relationship and her parents are like as**oles and they always bother her about her weight so one day she is with draco and makes a comment like “maybe i should stop eating so much” or something like that and Draco is like WHAT and tells her that she is beautiful and all that and he is like really worried Thanks!!

A/N: MY 100TH FIC!!! MY 100TH FIC FOR HP!!! Of course it has to be Draco!! I didn't think I would ever reach 100 fics as well as get over 1000 followers yet here I am. I am so thankful to all of you who have read everything but have also motivated me into continuing to write even when I doubt my own abilities (which is a lot). Thank you so much for requesting, lovely! I hope I have done your request justice! I enjoyed writing this, I ended up writing it all in one sitting. Please read the warnings before you read! And as always, I hope you enjoy!

Pairing: Draco Malfoy x Fem!Reader

Warnings: food, weight issues, shitty parents, swearing (I think) BUT DRACO IS CUTE DAMMIT.

Word count: 2k

Every morning in the Great Hall, breakfast is served at seven am sharp. This gives the students enough time to eat, socialise and let their food settle before classes begin promptly at half past eight. It also gives the students time to read over any mail that should fall with the Owls upon their arrival at eight am.

As your family owl drops a letter inscribed with the familiar handwriting of your mother, you don’t know whether to scream in frustration or burn the letter without reading. You knew that it would be filled with her usual criticism rounded off with a few sweet lines about the renovation to the house or how your cousin was doing so well on her internship abroad.

You flip the letter in your hands a few times; wondering whether the Howler from your mother would be worth it once she never got a reply from you. However, you eventually decide that the Howler would not be worth it and that your mother’s vitriol is better off read in silence.

Rolling your eyes, you try not to let the letter affect you so much. Her words are always poisonous and toxic, but this time, she cuts you where it hurts.

“My dear, how on earth is the Malfoy boy supposed to stay with you if you continue to gain weight? I’ve enclosed a new diet regiment for you to follow – stick to it, this is not an option.”

You scrunch up the letter and the included diet regiment in your hands. Crunching them up until they resemble litter rather than the foul words scrawled onto parchment.

You had never felt you had issues with your weight; there wasn’t any need to necessarily – the meals at Hogwarts were scheduled and there was enough exercise done through the day in order to get to classes on time, and this was before the weekend walks to Hogsmeade or the ambles around the Black Lake with Draco.

You don’t feel like there should be an issue with your weight, but your mother’s words are venomous barbs that stick into your brain. Her words on replay in the forefront of your mind.

There was no real excuse for the way your mother harked on about appearances and reputations. Your family hailed from an ancient line of witches and wizards; even going so far as to state that your ancestors were among the very first to attend Hogwarts when the founders were teachers.

So for your mother, everything since then had to be perfect.

Perfect hair. Perfect dress. Perfect manners.

Perfect weight, apparently.

Any appetite you had before has now dissipated. It’s funny how three lines of a letter is enough to put one off their morning meal.

You felt like a rule change should be implemented at Hogwarts; no mail until the evening - that way students don’t have the time to sit and worry about the thoughts of their parents.

Pushing your plate away from you, you bring out your reading book from your bag. Flipping through the familiar pages, you find the dog-eared corner from where you rounded off last night before falling asleep.

It’s easy to lose yourself in the pages having read the story over a thousand times before, but the niggling voice in the back of your head that sounds suspiciously similar to your mothers has you reading the same paragraph over and over again.

A kiss being pressed to the top of your hand is the first greeting from Draco. The next is a quiet good morning as he pours himself a glass of pumpkin juice.

You smile at the blonde-haired teenager, looking up from your book, but the smile doesn’t quite reach your eyes.

“Love, is everything okay?” Draco asks; immediately spotting that something is off.

You shake your head, “It’s nothing to worry about, love. I just didn’t sleep very well last night.”

Draco chuckles; not entirely convinced but happy to wait until you come to him. “It’s because you didn’t stay with me last night.”

You roll your eyes with a grin, “I’ve stayed in your dorm the last three nights; it’s only a matter of time before someone says something.”

Draco shrugs; leaning over to peck your cheek, “Let them, I don’t care.”

“You will when we get caught out by Snape on a random inspection,” You comment with a light laugh.

Draco smiles broadly at the idea of the Head of Slytherin ever completing a random inspection of the dungeon. He grabs a slice of toast from the rack and reaches for the marmalade.

His eyes wander over the lack of food in front of you, “Already eaten?”

You nod, smirking, “And all alone as well since you take so long in the mornings.”

He laughs, “It takes time to look this good, darling.”

“Sure it does,” You comment, leaning in to peck him on the lips. He hums against your mouth happily, but all too soon, you pull away, “I’m off to the library before class, I want to get ahead on the History of Magic essay. I’ll see you later.”

You drop another kiss to Draco’s mouth before hoisting your bag onto your shoulder and departing from the Great Hall.

Draco shakes his head at your retreating figure; something about you was off, but he couldn’t place his finger on what. He wasn’t going to pester you as it would only make things worse, but he knew he had to address it before you lost yourself from overthinking.

Draco bites into his toast; already thinking of the ways he can talk to you.

----

Your days are always filled with little highlights; seeing the first flower bloom after a long winter or reading your favourite part of your book without being interrupted or it’s finding Draco waiting outside your classroom after every lesson of the day.

You find him waiting opposite the door to your class; leaning against the wall with his robes open, showing the white buttoned shirt underneath. His rebelliousness highlighted in the undone top button and untucked shirt. You shake your head as you make your way over to the teenager that made your heart stutter.

He grins, holding his elbow out to you, “Lunch, my love?”

“Lead the way.”

The Great Hall is loud upon your arrival. Students shouting, laughing, grabbing for food from the centre of the tables. It’s a ruckus, but it makes you smile as you take a seat across from Draco at the Slytherin table.

“Is that all you’re eating?” Draco asks with a frown at the sight of your plate.

You nod your head; your mother’s words from this morning making another round in your head, “I’m not overly hungry.”

The frown doesn’t leave Draco’s face, and through lunch, he glances between your face and the plate, wondering what’s changed for your appetite to have disappeared.

Draco walks you to your next class after the bell rings signalling the end of lunch.

He pauses outside the classroom, keeping a tight grip on your hand. His other hand reaches up to caress your cheek; a rare form of PDA from the Slytherin Prince who was more than happy to kiss and hold hands but would rarely show his feelings so openly.

“You’d tell me if something was wrong wouldn’t you?” He asks; concern alight in his eyes.

You hold his hand to your cheek; pressing a kiss to the palm, “I would.”

He nods silently. Kissing your forehead, Draco turns away, striding to his next class.

Guilt stirs within you like a lead balloon; weighing you down for the rest of the day. Even the ringing of the final bell of the day wasn’t enough to lift your mood.

Draco continues to meet you after every class; his arm always ready for you to slip yours through. But he’s quieter; more sombre as he leads your through the bustling corridors and staircases.

At the end of the day, he escorts you to the Great Hall. The level of noise quieter from lunch but still loud as students discuss their plans for the evening over the food laid out on the long, wooden tables.

Dinner is a feast by any standard, and Draco tucks right in, piling food onto his plate – ravenous after a day filled with exam preparation. You take your time with your meal; selecting more and more vegetables as you think back to the letter and diet regiment now burning a hole through your bag.

Draco sighs as he watches you pick at your food. He reaches over, checking your temperature with the back of his hand on your forehead, “Well you feel fine,” he murmurs, “Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve picked at your food all day, and you’ve become more distant as the day’s gone on.”

“I’ll talk to you about it in the common room,” You state.

“You will?”

Nodding, you promise,  “I will.”

Draco makes his way through the rest of the meal; drawing you into a conversation after conversation about how the day has been. When his plate is empty and yours has been pushed to one side, Draco stands from the bench. He takes one last drink of his pumpkin juice before holding his hand out to you.

The walk to the common room is quiet; you think over the letter in your bag, wondering about the reply you’re going to send back to your mother. One cross word from you and you wouldn’t be surprised if she, herself, showed up in Dumbledore’s office demanding punishment for your insolent words.

It was tiring, you realise, to be her daughter.

The Slytherin common room is silent when Draco leads you through the door; all students either still eating in the Great Hall or ambling about the castle. You settle on the black leather couch in front of the already lit fire; you hum at the warmth it gives off – holding your hands out to warm them through.

Once your hands are warm enough, you lean back into the couch. Feeling Draco’s eyes on you, you shift your head, facing him with a small smile.

Draco tucks a strand of your hair behind your ear, “What’s going on in that pretty little head?”

You sigh, opening your bag and pulling out the letter. Handing it to Draco, you say wryly, “Dear old mama wrote, that’s what.”

Draco scans over the letter; getting to the three lines that have played on your mind all day and have affected your eating habits so quickly.

Draco folds the letter carefully into the three; he folds it ever so neatly before ripping it to pieces in front of your eyes, leaning forward and throwing the tiny pieces into the fire.

“I hope you don’t believe a word she’s written.”

You shrug, fiddling with your fingers, “Maybe I should stop eating so much.”

Draco leaps up from the couch; spreading his arms wide, “There is absolutely nothing wrong with your weight – you do not need to lose, you do not need to gain. You are perfect the way you are. I love you to pieces, but darling, your mother is an awful person. What sort of person sends that to their child?”

He kneels on the ground in front of you, “I will love you no matter what. The sky could be green, and the clouds could be purple hedgehogs, but even that would not distract me from my love for you.”

He gestures to the pieces of parchment now turning to ash in the flames, “Everything about you is beautiful; from the top of your head to the tip of your toes – there isn’t anything about you I don’t adore. Reply to your mother if you must; tell her that you’ve let me read the letter and that I absolutely disagree with her words.”

Draco surges forward, kissing you soundly. He shifts slightly, beginning to press you into the couch, “I love you – just the way you are.”

******

General (HP) taglist: @chaotic-fae-queen @obsessedwithrandomthings @harrypotter289 @dreamer821 @kalimagik @heloisedaphnebrightmore @nebulablakemurphy @the-hufflefluffwriter @figlia--della--luna @bforbroadway @idont-knowrn @summer-writes @big-galaxy-chaos @black-lake-confessions @annasofiaearlobe @imboredandneedalife @levylovegood @mytreec @haphazardhufflepuff @teheharrypotter @chaoticgirl04 @accio-rogers @msmimimerton​ @izzytheninja​ @slytherinprincess03​

Draco Malfoy taglist: @the--queen-of-hell @obx-beach @obxmxybxnk @sycathorn-slush @dracomalfoyswifey

#draco malfoy x reader #Draco Malfoy #draco malfoy fanfiction #draco malfoy fanfic #draco lucius malfoy #draco malfoy one shot #draco malfoy imagine #draco fanfiction #draco x reader #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter fanfic #draco malfoy fluff #draco fluff #fluff #hp fanfic #draco malfoy reader insert #comfort fic

[myhockeyworld87]

On The Edge - Roman Josi

Word Count: 1,952

Requested: yes

Warnings: NSFW, Smut, Language, Edging, Sex toys

Notes: This is just flith. I apologize in advance if this isn’t what you were looking for. I can’t even put the first paragraph out, so please hit the keep reading tab.

Ever since you and Roman had decided to spice up your love life, things had gotten very interesting. Which is how you found yourself naked, tied to your bed, spread eagle. “Do you trust me?” Roman whispered low in your ear. His voice a caress over your sensitive skin. 

 “Of course.”

 “Once I start, I won’t be able to control myself. You remember our safe word, right baby?” He ran the feathered tickler over your body and you shivered in anticipation and nodded yes to his question. “Words baby, I need you to use them.” 

 “Penguin,” you breathed out. He’d picked that word as it always stopped and made him remember their loss in the Stanley Cup playoffs and the fact that he felt helpless during it, being injured then. You’d been hesitant at first to agree to it as you’d thought it would make him continue instead of stop, but the word just had an effect on him. You’d only ever had to use it once, Roman had stopped immediately and wrapped you in a loving embrace. 

 “That’s right babygirl, and you’ll use it right?”

 “Yes.” He put the blindfold on you then and started his torture with the feathered wand, running it lightly around both of your nipples then down your stomach. It raised gooseflesh all over your body. 

 “Does that feel good baby?” You moaned softly, as the feathers trailed down the inside of your thigh. “You look so pretty all laid out like this for me.” He brushed the toy up your pussy lips then and you squirmed against the restraints. The light touch simply tickling your clit as he moved it back and forth. Every now and then he’d lift it away when you moaned a little too loudly for his liking, but he’d soon bring it back to caress your sensitive nub.

 Finally, he set the feathers aside and moved off the bed. “Be right back.” He dashed out of the room only to return seconds, with what, you had no idea. You felt the bed dip as he either sat or knelt down on it, which you couldn’t tell. He said nothing, and the anticipation had your body humming. His warm hand gently fondled your left breast, tweaking the nipple with finger and thumb. He administered the same care with the other. You thought your nipples couldn’t possibly ache anymore but then they were met with a cold wet sensation and it had you arching your back, though the restraints didn’t allow for much. You hissed out your pleasure, as Roman ran what you assumed was a piece of ice around each nipple. The cold liquid running down each breast.

 He glided the ice down your stomach and around your belly button. You could feel wetness pull at your core. You heard him fish around for a fresh piece before running it up and down between your pussy lips, avoiding your clit for the time being. Every so often he would run it along the inside of your thighs, only to bring back down to your aching cunt. This time he placed the frozen chunk right on your clit, pressing it ever so softly onto it. You squirmed as the combination of your need and the cold ice had you groaning with pleasure. “Fuck, babe,” you whispered as Roman took the ice away.

 “Now, remember princess you’re not allowed to cum until I tell you.” You whimpered then, to which Roman only chuckled. He loved playing these little games with you. Hell, he loved having this kind of control over your body. Knowing that he could bring you to the brink with just a few short touched, yet not letting you fall off the edge, really turned him on. 

 The next thing you knew, you felt his warm breath on your pussy. The contrast from the intense cold moments ago making you moan out his name. His tongue was on you next, licking between your folds, before flattening out on your clit. Your body instinctively tried to grind down on him, yet you couldn’t as your bonds held you in place. “Tsk, tsk, sweetheart. That little move won’t get you what you want.” He removed his mouth from your throbbing clit, and you felt him move off the bed. You had no idea what torturous move he would do next.

 It was only a moment before you felt the leather material against your body and you knew he had the small riding crop in his hand. You’d only used it a few times, and Roman had always been very gentle as to not leave any marks on your skin. He trailed the leather up and down your stomach, making you quiver. The blindfold made it so you had no clue where he would strike, sending a thrill across your spine. The tap came soft and easy across your right thigh, yet you still jumped what little you could. The next was on your belly button, where he tapped you several times. You expected him to go back to your thighs again, though he surprised you with a slap on your nipple, immediately followed by one to the other. He started tapping back and forth between the two making them harden and peak even more. After several blows to your breast, you never saw the one on your pussy coming until the crop hit it. “Oh god,” you moaned and felt a gush of wetness on your pussy lips. The strike wasn’t hard, but the slight sting made for a rush of pleasure and when he repeated the motion on your clit a few times, you were panting for release. “Please Ro, please,” you begged.

 He stopped then, but only because he knew you were close to cumming. “Not yet babygirl. We still have a way to go.” He ran the crop between your pussy lips. “Look how wet you are.” He chuckled softly. “Oh you can’t, can you?” He still had the blindfold on you which made everything touch or tap heightened. You released a frustrated sigh, and he struck you again on the clit with the crop. “Now be a good girl, or I’ll just make you wait longer.” Several taps later, you were back on the edge.

 “Roman,” you whined out when he again backed off. He cupped your pussy then, rubbing his palm over your lips and clit, thinking he was relieving the ache from the crop but only making you want the orgasm more. “Please babe…I need to cum.”

 “Mmm, you’re so pretty begging.” He took his finger and with a feather touched ran it back and forth over your swollen clit. You thought he’d finally give you the release you’d been seeking but then he added. “But I don’t quite think you’ve begged enough.” He peppered a few kisses to the top of your mons before getting off the bed again.

 When he returned, you felt his hand slide up the inside of your thigh. You shivered and he laughed only frustrating you more, though you knew if you showed it, he would only continue the painstaking torment that he’d begun. You heard the hum of the vibrator before you felt it against your core. He coated the silicone with your juices, before pressing it against your clit. “You’re so wet babygirl; I don’t even need any lube.”

 “Oh,” you moaned out as he turned up the vibration speed.

 “Don’t you dare cum.” You were panting, your body writhing as you tried to stave off the orgasm that was approaching. Just when you thought you were going to break; he moved the vibrator away. Tears leaked out of your eyes, at being denied once again. “Such a good girl, (Y/N).” He praised while caressing your body with a light touch. He gave you a moment to catch your breath and started again. Within minutes of the vibrator being back on your pussy, you were moaning again. 

 “Roman…I can’t.” He stopped it again, knowing you were close. “Please…babe…”

 “Please what, babygirl?”

 “Please let me cum.” You begged, sounding desperate and needy even to your own voice.

 “Mmm soon baby. You’re doing so good, just a little longer for daddy.” He kissed your lips then. You could feel the length of his body next to your side, as his tongue entwined with yours. You moaned into his mouth when he flicked the toy back on. He sucked on your bottom lip while increasing the speed.

 “Fuck,” you hissed out, quivering as you felt the pulsating action on your clit. You thrust your hips up as much as the bonds would let you. “Please…stop…please.” It wasn’t your safe word so he knew you didn’t mean the words coming out of your mouth. Instead of stopping, he turned the vibrator up another notch. There was a fine sheen of sweat covering your body as you struggled to hold out against the pleasure building up inside of you. “Please Ro.”

 He pulled the toy away once again, and this time you were full out sobbing for release. Roman’s hand came up and he lifted the blindfold off your face. “Aww, daddy is so proud of you babygirl.” He kissed the tears from your eyes, as his hands roamed up and down your body. “You’re so beautiful, all flushed and panting. I think my baby’s ready to cum. You want daddy’s mouth on you or this?” He said holding up the vibrator.

 “You,” you choked out on a sob.

 “Mmm, that’s what daddy wants too. I wanna feel you cum while my mouth is on you.” His words turned you on even more if that was possible. He slithered down your body, kissing your mons before diving right into to greedily lick your pussy. His tongue lapped at your clit before spreading you open and tonguing you. The orgasm built quickly and as his tongue left your cunt, he pushed two fingers deep inside you easily. One hard suck on your clit and you fell off the edge, cumming harder than you ever had in your life. Your legs trembled against the restraints, your back arching as Roman milked you through the orgasm. You slumped down on the bed but continued to shake as small tremors still wracked your body. “So beautiful, when you cum.” Roman wiped your juices off his face then shed his boxers quickly before releasing the ties on your legs; rubbing your ankles to get the circulation back. He kissed your inner thighs before lining himself up at your entrance. In one swift motion, he bottomed out.

 You screamed out in pleasure, as another orgasm hit you. Your body so keyed up from all the edging Roman had done. “Fuck babygirl.” He kissed your mouth hard, as he thrust in and out of you. Your legs were weak but they still wrapped around him while he pumped his cock in your body. Your pussy still quivered from the aftershocks of your orgasm. Roman’s thrust became erratic and with one last grunt, he came inside you. 

 He untied your wrist, kissing them before gathering your body and curling it into him. He peppered kisses on your forehead, nose, and lips. “God, baby that was so fucking sexy.” He pulled back and looked you in the eyes. “You ok?”

 “Mmm,” you mumbled, too sated to do anything more than that.

 “I thought for sure you were going to say the safe word.” His hand was stroking your hair and you felt yourself relax into this touch.

 “Almost.”

 A soft chuckle escaped his lips. “I love you so much, babe.”

 It took all of your efforts, to say, “Love you too,” before falling fast asleep.

#Roman Josi #Roman Josi Imagine #Roman Josi Imagines #Roman Josi smut #nhl imagines #nhl imagine #nhl fanfic #nhl smut #hockey imagines #hockey imagine #hockey fanfiction #hockey smut

[hollowmoonvalley]

What is the best way for the MC to let the ROs know they are in the mood for lots of cuddles (and maybe more)?

Honestly, just straight up telling them lol😊 some are a bit better at reading the mood, while others need a little extra help (i.e Ase). Here’s some snippets for Noah and Satomi though~

(warning, they kinda long)

Noah: It had been awhile since I had seen Noah, and this had been the first date in a long time. Even though it was just an at home date, it was supposed to be our time. Not ‘Noah-and-paperwork-time’. He had said that it would only take 5 minutes to do, but here they were 30 minutes later. Still. In. The. Kitchen.

I pout at him, unseen even though I was right across from him. I watch his tired eyes scan over the document, the way he constantly tapped his pen in  irritation...and look in concern when he started to chew on his lip. I guess he could feel me staring though, because he looks up at me with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, it’s takin’ a bit longer than I expected... not the best boyfriend, am I?” I shake my head, I knew how important he took his job. He gives a thankful grin, and promises to be done soon.

More time passed, filled with the sound of rustling papers and the scratching of a pen. It was starting to get late, and I knew that Noah had this whole weekend off. So I knew he had time to work on these tomorrow as well. He (and I) were supposed to be relaxing this weekend, and ...well, I had missed him. With this in mind, I stood up (he didn’t even look up) and shuffle to his side. I merely wait, watching him work from behind.

I knew the moment he realized I was there, because he tilted his head to the side just the slightest. I wait in silence, and realize that he wasn’t going to acknowledge me like usual. Ah, so he wanted to play that game. So I start by wrapping my arms around his shoulders slowly, making sure to lightly trace over his shirt during my journey. Just enough to tickle, before I settle lightly over him. The pen drifts for a bit, and he curses before scratching out a word. I know I can get better than a word, so I rest myself against his back and lower my head down to rest on my arms. Which conveniently was right by his ear. I count my breaths, making sure to maintain my usual breathing rate. Steadily I move my mouth closer towards his ear, until I was sure all he could hear was me.

I note victoriously that he had managed to scratch out almost an entire paragraph. With an exaggerated sigh, he pushes the papers away “Darlin’, darlin’, what did I ever do to deserve you-” and he pulls me down for my well-deserved cuddles.

Satomi: It had been weeks since I had last seen her, and the last time I did she had merely said that she was going to be gone. Then it had been radio silence since, and I only knew she was back because someone else had asked me when did she get back.

I immediately headed over to the Tiger Lily, expecting her to be in her office if not at the bar. As I threw open the door without knocking, she looked up from her desk with an irritated smirk. “...Ah,  did you miss me dear? I haven’t even been back for an hour yet.” Looking at her, I’m startled by how tired she looked. While her outfit was as impeccable as always, not even her makeup could cover her drooping eyes or how she seemed to take just a bit longer to respond.

She hadn’t even been this tired when she was up for 72 hours straight with just coffee and wine. At the look I give her, she scowls but even more surprisingly she sighs and pushes her paperwork to the side.

“I realize that I won’t be very productive, if I can’t even come up with something new to say about your numerous shortcomings. I might as well go into a coma for the next  couple hours, and just recharge.” At that she gets up and grabs a light blanket as she heads towards the plush couch that she has in her office for times like this. I stand uncertainly at the door, torn between wanting to spend more time with her, but letting her sleep and recover.

She starts to arrange the pillows to her liking on the oversized couch, and as she begins to settle in she looks up at me. “If you’re not going to leave, then shut and lock the door. Also, if you squash me even with this sofa, I will kick you off with no warning.” With that, she buries her face into a pillow. Even with the invitation, I am hesitant as I had never really seen her sleep (and not just nap) before. She usually didn’t like anyone around even when she did her naps.

As if hearing my internal debate, she sighs loudly before getting up. Startled, I stand still as she stalks over towards me and slams the door, locking it with a flick of her wrist. That same hand grabs my own and drags me over towards the sofa, where she sticks out a dainty ankle to trip and push me into it. Sputtering with my face in the pillows, she throws another pillow at the back of my head “Shut up, and be quiet. It shouldn’t be difficult, even for you.” She climbs in after me, and throws the blanket over her before she reaches an arm out and drags me closer to her. “If you cling too much, I’ll kick you.”

#noah #satomi

[threelivesthreeworlds]

Donghua and Feng Jiu’s Relationship at the end of the book, how Fate Really Hates Them, and how it is Also A Little Bit Their Fault (with Citations, because My Main Schtick is Translating, ok)

Wow, it’s me, your friendly neighborhood fate enthusiast Admin Ro, here to comb through Donghua and Feng Jiu’s complicated choose your own fate adventure. This gets long, so it’s getting put under a read more! If you don’t want to read all of it, please at least read the last 4-ish paragraphs. 

First, a brief foray into fate as it ties into Buddhist beliefs. Pillow Book is a Xianxia, and therefore draws on Taoist and Buddhist influence by nature of its references. 缘分 (yuan fen) in chinese, translates closest to “fateful coincidence.” Yuan is this concept of fateful coincidence to meet other people, circumstances, et cetera - i.e.,  being in the right place at the right time to do something or to meet someone. Fen, on the other hand, is the real tangible destiny of being able to hold on to that person/do something right or wrong/etc. once you’ve met them / done that something you were in the right place to do. Thus one could also describe a couple who are fated to meet but not to stay together as a couple that has fate without destiny (有缘无份). 

Donghua and Feng Jiu, originally, were fated never to meet. So to speak, they had no yuan. Their fate was created when Feng Jiu decided to repay her debt to Donghua by taking half her shadow to create Aranya for Donghua’s shadow, Shen Ye. When Donghua asked for the Fate Stone, the Keeper of the Fate Stone told him about how Su Moye disrupted the fate of Shen Ye and Aranya, and how then the remaining fate between Aranya and Shen Ye was transferred from the shadows to the real people:

The old God said: "There are two perspectives to every matter, and one shouldn't discuss it only along from one perspective. Even if it was a sin here, it may be an achievement elsewhere. You shouldn't be so hung up on it. If we were only speaking of this, Dijun should thank you." He sighed. "The Fate Stone tied the remaining fate of the two shadows, who can have no next life, to Dijun and the Little Highness, and so there was the true meeting between the Little Highness and Dijun later. Without it, Dijun and the Little Highness have a fate to never meet in their lives."

However, Donghua asking to see the Fate Stone meant it would have to be rewritten. There was no telling if the fact that he asked after his fate with Feng Jiu was going to make their fate go a bad direction:

"Dijun and the Little Highness now count as having fate, but since Dijun has asked, tomorrow the Fate Stone must be rewritten, and whether or not Dijun or the Little Highness will have fate in the future, I can no longer tell. But I think it would be a pity if this weak fate which had not been easily come by was dissipated because Dijun asked after it."

Donghua said lightly. "So what if the heavens say we are fated? So what if we're not? I have never been afraid of destiny, and I don't need its generosity."

Donghua operates as if they have severely weak fate/his inquiry into it has messed up their fate, despite not really knowing what happens to their fate from that point on. He attempts to preserve this fate at every turn in the ways he knows how, for example, erasing her memory of him pretending to be Xize in Aranya’s Realm so she wouldn’t be mad at him:

Dijun lifted his hand to rub his forehead: "I called for the Fate Stone. The Fate Stone said our fate was weak and can't take much jeopardizing. Xiao Bai has always been....conflicted, when it comes to me. If I let her remember that I lied to her in Aranya's Dream right now, who knows what will come out of it? Only on this, I'll take no risks. I thought this was the best way."

Donghua doesn’t trust Feng Jiu to be able to forgive him, and instead of being honest and open with her, chooses to lie in order to “preserve their fate.” However - this comes back to bite him in the ass later. Donghua misses he and Feng Jiu’s wedding because he went to save Ji Heng, who was dying from poison. Though he wrote two letters, one for Chonglin and Feng Jiu’s mother, who were running the wedding, and one for Feng Jiu, explaining what happened and what he was doing, these letters never arrived. Yan Chiwu was supposed to run them to their intended recipients, but he encountered an old enemy and got knocked out for half a month on the way. After six or seven days of purifying the poison, he was on his way to Qingqiu when the seal on Miaoyi Chasm broke, and he had to go fix it.

Feng Jiu didn’t know what was going on - except at this time, she found out that her memories had been messed with and rewritten by Donghua: 

Zhe Yan’s new pill was sent over the next day, and when the real memories were reintegrated into her mind, she was not as violently moved as she expected to be. Probably too tired.

She finally remembered that Dijun never told her why he switched out her pimpon fruit. Then, Ji Heng said she wanted it, and he gave it to her. He said there was nothing between him and Ji Heng, but how he treated Ji Heng differently from everyone, she could see clearly. She finally had the time to think about everything.

The series of coincidences that kept Donghua from going to Qingqiu to look for her until seventy three days later may have been fate, but what made her leave in the end was all Donghua. In the memories rewritten by Donghua, he explained everything to do with Ji Heng. However, he didn’t really, and when Feng Jiu found out those memories were fake she doubted even more the sincerity of everything he had ever said to her, every assurance he had ever made her. This led her to leave, as she was tired of being messed with. Later, when Donghua tries to explain, you can see that she doesn’t remotely trust what he has to say:

She said softly: "You didn't make it to the wedding. I was so anxious that something happened to you. And then, Grandfather said you and..." She paused, like she didn't want to mention the name, and continued. "It's not that I believe what anyone says. I was waiting for you to come back, to explain to me. If you said anything, I would've believed you. If you came back then and said to me that no one was more important than me, I would've believed you, but now..."

He closed his eyes. "Xiao Bai..."

She shook her head and smiled, interrupting him. "When I was waiting for you at Qingqiu, sometimes I thought, you said so many things to me - what was real, and what was fake? But it was only after that I knew - there was no use considering it. After all, even the memories in my head had been rewritten."

Feng Jiu’s breaking point wasn’t that Donghua left her to go to Ji Heng. Granted, Feng Jiu always thought Ji Heng meant more to Donghua than she really did. Feng Jiu has been chasing Donghua for so long without him reciprocating her feelings that she habitually expects to be rejected. Her self-awareness and self-deprecation at certain parts leads her to believe that because she’s not the strongest/smartest/most ladylike/etc. that it’s very natural Donghua might like Other Women more than he likes her. 

However, as one can see from the text above, she was willing to believe there had to be a reason he couldn’t be there at the wedding and was prepared to wait for him to come back and explain. But then, she found out that he had replaced her memories. Feng Jiu’s breaking point was that he messed with even her memories, and therefore she couldn’t trust anything he said or did.

In conclusion, the question becomes: was their rocky relationship at the end of the book due to fate or through their own communication issues? And the answer is maybe - a little bit of both. Feng Jiu assumes without talking to Donghua that she knows what’s going on. She assumes he doesn’t love her as much as she hopes he does and that he messed with her memories simply because he can. Had she stayed to talk to him, she may have found out that Donghua had done it because he thought it would preserve their fate. Now, that wouldn’t make it any better of a thing to do, but at least it wouldn’t be for the reasons Feng Jiu thought of. 

On the other hand, Donghua’s habitual ruthlessness when it comes to dealing with matters he wanted done right and the fact that he didn’t trust Feng Jiu to be able to handle the truth led him to lie to her to preserve their relationship, but only made her even more doubtful of the sincerity of his feelings. Had he been open and honest from the get go and simply explained and apologized for his past behavior, perhaps Feng Jiu would have stuck out the 73 days he was away when he missed their wedding to listen to him instead of leaving for 200 years.

The circumstances were bad enough, but the already present issues in their relationship compounded on the circumstances to make everything worse, and so they missed each other for two hundred years and almost missed each other for life, when Donghua went to his death in the starlight ward.

#eternal love of dream #three lives three worlds the pillow book #三生三世枕上书 #bai feng jiu #donghua dijun #admin ro posts

[thebookkeeperslibrary]

Lost Time: Ch. 5

Fandom: Time Warp Trio

Author: The_Bookkeeper_96

Rating: T

Summary: Another summer at Horae Manor begins, but before Joe and Tessa get the chance to train, they are sent out on a mission to explore the magic capital of the universe, Mancika. Rumors of illegal magic conversion spread throughout the city, and Joe and Tessa need to locate those responsible. But after the events of last summer, Joe isn't eager to work with his Aether partner, and the two are struggling more with each other than with their enemies.

Read on AO3

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"Upon further analysis, the bodies of a magician and a mortal differ greatly on a physiological level. Magicians seem to be built with an internal armor to prevent any magic from harming them or worse. It is just a theory, but putting magic in the body of a mortal could result in not only extreme damage to the body but a complete deterioration of the mind as well. More experiments are needed. I also need to obtain a Great Wizard cadaver for further study." - from the recordings of Dr. Jacobi Hyde, Alchemist

"That is a lot of books." Sam blows out a low whistle, his eyes scanning up and down the long rows of bookshelves. He can only see the first row, beyond that, the room is dark and endless. The library at Horae Manor could rival the Library of Congress.

Juniper shrugs, letting her hair fall into her face. "I guess."

"You guess? They must have a copy of every book on Earth in here." He stares at her with wide eyes.

"Earth, Mancika, and every other known world out there." She mutters and walks over to a nearby table where she takes a seat, pulling out a few notebooks as she does.  "Books just never interested me much."

"I'm sorry, what?" Sam raises an eyebrow at her. "I thought you loved learning."

"I do. I just think there's a lot more to learn in the real world than in some books. If you want to nerd out about books with someone, talk to Arwen. She reads all the time. Tessa does too, though she'd never admit to it." Pretending like Sam's not even there, or perhaps hoping he'll leave, June clicks her pen and begins to write in her notebooks, occasionally referencing a book laid out before her.

Sam's not used to being called a nerd by someone he assumed was, well, also a nerd. He'd followed June to the library hoping to have some intelligent conversations with the only other person here who seemed to want to understand more about how all this magic stuff worked. At least he knows where the library is now so he can come in and study on his own if he needed to.

He grabs a random book off the shelf closest to him, A History of the Horae Greats by Petra Abell. He takes a seat across from Juniper, who's quickly flipping through the pages of her notebooks as if searching for something. He glances down at her work. "For someone who's not that into reading, you seem pretty invested in those books. Are those the ones you stole from Caelus last summer?"

She jumps as if she had already forgotten he was there. In the process, she manages to get a paper cut on her finger, dripping bright red blood onto the page. She curses and holds her finger close. Glaring at him, she says, "Maybe."

Sam peers closer, and June responds by shutting the books in his face. "What language is that?" he asks, oblivious to the fact that she is clearly trying to keep them to herself. He only caught a quick glimpse of the writing, but it isn't any language he recognized. In fact, most of it didn't even resemble words, just different shapes and symbols.

"Can't you find somewhere else to read?" she keeps glaring at him, hoping he'll get the hint. "These journals are private."

"Oh, um." He looks around at all the other empty tables. "I guess." He slides his chair away from the table and moves to a new spot farther down. He can still see Juniper from here, but he'd have to shout to talk to her.

Satisfied, June returns to her work. Reluctantly, Sam slips into his book. He's sucked in quicker than he expects. Each chapter seems to be about a different pair of Warp and Aether Wizards, except for one titled The Pair that Never Was that is only one page long. There's even a chapter on Rowena and Cassius. He's tempted to skip ahead and read about them, but the final chapter of the book catches his eye, The Unnamed Pair. If the chapters progress chronologically, that would mean the last chapter is about Joe and Tessa. But that didn't make any sense. How could someone write about them when they had barely begun their training? Who even knew about them yet?

He flips through the pages until he gets to chapter eighty-two, the final chapter. There is only one paragraph.

At this time, the Eighty-Second Pair is rising to power, the youngest wizards to begin training for Greatness. Not much is known about them at this time. Their mentors  (see Chapter Eighty-One: The Twins) are keeping tight-lipped about any and all details. This is understandable given the pair's destiny. No other Great Wizard has faced such a daunting quest as theirs: to preserve or destroy life as we know it.

Sam yelps and shoves the book away from him. No way that's true. How could some random author know so much about Joe and Tessa? But could that explain why they were both acting so weird at dinner? Did Cas and Ro tell them their destiny? He shakes his head to clear his thoughts. He'd have to ask Joe about this later.

"You okay?" June's question catches him off-guard.

"What?" Sam blinks at her, confused by her concern. Didn't she hate him five minutes ago? "I'm fine." He hoped his face looked calmer than he felt.

"You just screamed at a book and threw it away. That's like, the opposite of fine."

He eyes the book on the ground. He gently picks it up and walks back over to June. He places it on the table as gently as if it were a bomb. "That book is magic."

She rolls her eyes. "Yeah. We're at a magic school. Most of the stuff in here is magic."

"No, look." He flips to the chapter that scared him. "There's a chapter in here about Joe and Tessa. It says that they're destined to either "preserve or destroy life as we know it." How could a book possibly know that? How could this author even know about them? They've only been together for a year!"

Despite all of Sam's pointing and practically shoving the book in June's face, she ignores the words before her. "I think you already answered that question. Magic, duh."

He frowns. Sam is a man of science and all this magic stuff just made no sense to him, which was a new sensation. Even time travel was possible in theory and was something he could wrap his head around. He was used to being the smartest kid in the room, already knowing everything that was in the textbook before they even discussed it in class. He could do college-level calculus and even made inventions in his spare time. Magic simply did not fit into his world of ones and zeros.

"Doesn't Joe own a magic book? Why are you so weirded out by this book?" She doesn't look at him when she speaks. She simply toys with the pen in her hand and keeps her focus on her books.

He can't argue with her there.

He looks back at the page and notices a blinking line just below the paragraph about his friends. Like a computer cursor waiting to type out more letters. Is this book being written in real-time?

He slams it shut and places it back on the shelf where he found it. He'd met his weirdness quota for the day.

Forgetting Juniper's earlier protests, Sam takes the seat right across from her again. "How do you deal with all this magic stuff?"

She sighs and sets down her pen, realizing that she's not getting any research done tonight. "I told you last summer, magic is a form of science. Just because you don't understand it, doesn't make it any less real." She fans her arms out around her. "I'm sure there are plenty of books in here that will help you adjust to this new world. Why don't you grab a few to look over?"

Sam glances at the long rows of books, unsure where to start. None of the shelves have any labels to indicate how everything is organized, not that he would understand the subject material anyway. He doubted any of the books would be called "Magic for Dummies" or "So You're a Mortal in a Magic World". Which just means he has to search deep if he wants to find anything helpful.

He gets to his feet and begins to scan the shelves for any books or resources that might help him. He could spend a month in here and still not see everything. He'd have to check and see if there was some sort of cataloging system somewhere. Surely, a library this large would have some way to find specific resources. 

After a few minutes, he returns to the table with four books. Just from looking at the titles, he already has a handful of questions.

Without thinking about it, he starts to fire them off at Juniper, waving and slicing his hands through the air with each question. "So, if there's an entire magical world out there, why are there magic users on Earth? Or are Joe and Tessa the only ones? If they are the only ones, why were they chosen? Can anyone learn to do magic? And if magic is really a science like you say, then it has to abide by the laws of physics. But everything I've seen has broken all of those laws. Unless, of course, magic is operating on a quantum scale, but that just causes even more confusion."

His eyes zero in on hers and frowns, not understanding why she hasn't responded yet.

Juniper blinks, giving Sam a slightly fearful expression. She twists her hair around her fingers. "I didn't think anyone's brain worked that fast. You're kind of unsettling, you know that?"

He falls back in his chair, blushing. Though to be fair, he's hardly the weirder one here. Juniper's the one who talked about magic as if it were part of everyday life. Which, he supposed, it is for him now. And what's with those odd notebooks she keeps hiding from him? Whatever is written inside of them is not "normal".

June drops her hair in front of her eyes. "I can't answer your questions if you ask a hundred of them at the same time."

Sam stills and studies her out of the corner of his eye. Was she really going to help him out of all his confusion?

"It sounds like your main question is how is magic a science?" She peers at him through the thick strands of her dark hair.

He mutely nods, still not sure if she's going to give a sincere response or not. She had proven to only be annoyed by him so far. He'd been bullied enough times at school to know that not all kindness was genuine.

"Okay." She takes a deep breath, pushes her hair back, and leans forward. "Magic follows the most important law: energy can neither be created nor destroyed. All magic is energy conversion. From what I've studied so far, magicians and wizards, real ones, not the kind you hire for a kid's birthday party, are born with an innate connection to the universe that the rest of us don't have. They can take energy from different aspects or elements of the universe, like time or space, and through their bodies convert that into something new. Make sense?"

She spoke with calm conviction, like a professor giving a lecture on their area of expertise. What she said did make sense, but it still left him with a million questions.

"I guess, but to be honest this all sounds like fake science. Like something a person who believes in astrology or energy crystals would say." He scratches his chin and begins to skim through the pages of one of his books, slowly falling into the sense of comfort academic debate gave him. "Am I supposed to believe all of that is real too?"

"Not all of it, but some of it. There are definitely wizards out there who can heal through crystals. Though most of the people who claim to be able to do it on Earth are full of it and are just looking to scam customers. Genuine magic users are rare. Most of them prefer to live in Mancika or one of the other magic kingdoms since they don't have to hide what they are there."

"Have you been to any of those places?" Suddenly, the girls' advanced experience with magic feels intimidating.

June shakes her head. "No, but I've seen pictures and maps. Mancika in particular looks beautiful. It's the current magic capital of the universe, like what Cealus used to be. It's perfectly designed to represent each kind of magic equally.  There are schools for wizards to study and hone their crafts. There's even a stadium there for magical tournaments and fights." She sighs wistfully, staring off at nothing and absentmindedly taps a page in her notebook. The blood from her earlier cut is splattered on the page. "I would love to see it someday."

"Me too," Sam says without thinking. It catches him off-guard, but the more he thinks about it, the more he likes the idea of seeing a magic city in person. He would definitely get all the answers to his questions, and he'd be able to research all sorts of new things too.

"Really?" She looks at him, doubt written all over her face. The statement caught her off-guard too. "No offense, but I think we've already established you're more of a reader than a doer."

"I think everyone learns better when they have a live demonstration."

As if on cue, something crashes to the ground in the rows of bookshelves behind them. A round of groans soon follows.

Sam shrinks back. "What was that?"

"Your live demonstration." Juniper stares down at the spot in the book she was tapping and doesn't hesitate any longer. She hops to her feet and walks towards the sound, quickly disappearing in the tall lines of knowledge.

When she doesn't immediately come back or call out, Sam reluctantly gets to his feet and follows her deeper into the library. Fortunately, or maybe not so much, he's able to catch up to her.

"Are we really doing this?"

"We? I want to know what made that noise. You're cowering behind me like Chicken Little." June shrugs Sam's hands off her shoulders. "Don't think I've forgotten how scared you were last summer."

"You mean when you jumped into a cave because you heard imaginary voices?" he retorts. "I think that's a perfectly reasonable excuse to be afraid."

"I know what I heard," she mumbles under her breath and pushes ahead, away from him.

He stumbles to keep up. "And what do you plan to do when you find whatever made that noise?"

June shrugs. "I don't know? Make sure it's okay? That crash sounded painful."

The suggestion surprises Sam. His immediate reaction had been to run away, but maybe she was right. What if it was a person who made that sound? And what if they were hurt? He moves to walk beside June rather than behind her.

They reach the site of the crash and find a shattered globe and a couple of books on the ground. No blood in sight, but a few more scattered books lay on the ground further down the row.

June pushes on, going further and further down the shelves. "Hello?"

No response.

"Hello?" she tries again. Still no response.

"Maybe whoever did it ran away? We could search inside the library for hours and still not have seen half of it. We can't spend all night in here trying to find whoever made that mess." Sam picks up his pace to catch up to Juniper. "June? Are you listening to me?"

He can see the tension in her jaw, the way her eyes scan the floor, searching for any clues as to where the intruder or beast went. She had made a complete transformation. Where the shy girl who hid behind her hair he was talking to just a few minutes ago? "June?"

She comes to a sudden stop. "Shh. Did you hear that?"

At first, Sam can't hear anything. He waits a few more moments. Still, he doesn't hear any noise. He takes an unsteady step away from June. "I don't hear anything." The intense look in her eyes makes him uneasy.

"There it is again! This way!" She grabs him by the arm and pulls him down another endless row.

Sam's beginning to have flashbacks to the previous summer in Cealus. These rows of books remind him too much of the catacombs under that ancient city, and he wouldn't be surprised if they stumbled upon skeletons in here either. What noise is June hearing?

They fly through the library. Rounding corner after corner, until Sam isn't sure where they are or how to get back to their study table. He lets June drag him to the end of the row before pulling away.

"Stop!" he pants. "Where are we going? And what exactly did you hear?"

June's momentum carries her farther down the path before she comes to a stop. "It was the same voices from last summer. Someone else is in here. We can't let them get away from us. I need to know what they're saying."

"You don't even know what they're saying?"

"I- no. Whatever it is, it isn't English. I need to find them. Stay here if you want." She turns and runs off once more.

"June, wait!" Sam takes off after her.

He quickly loses sight of her, but he can hear footsteps slamming into the floor in the next row over. He takes a sharp left and catches a glimpse of her black hair flying around the corner just ahead of him. He tries his best to catch her, but running was much more Fred's thing than his. Gradually, he begins to slow down.

Just as he's starting to lose hope, he spots Juniper in front of him. She's far away, but she's no longer running. Sam jogs to her. More relieved to stop running than anything else.

"What were you thinking?" he manages to breathe out. "You just left me back there. Who knows how long it would have taken me to find my way out."

He swallows one more gulp of air before noticing that they stopped back at their study table, how still June is, and most importantly, that they are no longer alone.

A man who looks like a Gregorian monk stands over Juniper's notebooks, peering down, but not touching them. Well, 'stands' doesn't really describe it. More like floats over. There is a clear gap between his feet and the floor. And if that wasn't weird enough, Sam could see right through him.

The monk lifts his head, finally noticing the kids. His gaze focuses in on June.

The temperature of the room plummets as a pressure builds behind Sam's eyes, nearly knocking him down. His knees threaten to buckle beneath him, but as much as he wants to, he cannot move. Some invisible force holds him down, and he can't look away from the man.

The man says nothing, merely nods his head, and turns to leave, quickly disappearing among the stacks of books.

Several minutes pass before the pressure in Sam's head fades and he can move again. "Nope," he says, shaking his head rapidly. "No, thank you. No."

He grabs June by the arm and drags her out of the library. She doesn't protest, apparently still under the ghost's spell.

Ghost. That's what it was. No other word for it. Sam had just seen a ghost. Even after all the insane things he, Joe, and Fred had been through and seen together, the confirmation that ghosts exist is just too much for him. He wants nothing to do with it, and he can't let June get caught up in it either. Especially not after the way it looked at her like it knew her. Even if they aren't technically friends, getting her away from that library and the monster inside it is simply the right thing to do.

What is in those notebooks? It must be important because June wasn't letting them out of her sight. But what could be written down that would attract the attention of a ghost? Nothing good, surely.

They make it all the way to the entrance hall before Juniper says anything.

She tears her arm away from Sam. Her mouth is pressed into a thin line, and he can tell she wants to yell at him, but the words just aren't coming to her.

"Why did you do that?" She finally manages to get out. "Now I have to go all the way back to the library to get my notebooks."

"You can't go back." He stares at her with wide eyes. "That ghost-thing was going to hurt us."

"No, he wasn't. He walked- err, floated away." June promptly spins on her heels to head back to the library. "And you heard what he said. I can't just walk away from him."

"What he said? He didn't say anything. What are you talking about?"

She pauses, letting her hair fall into her face. "Well… I guess it isn't so much what he said. I just, know what he wants."

Sam can tell she's lying even without seeing her face, but he's not brave enough to question her about it. If she says she didn't hear the ghost, then she didn't hear the ghost.

"I have to get my books back. Next time you see me studying, please leave me alone."

Sam doesn't even have time to protest as June makes her way out of the entrance hall and back to the library. Well, if June wouldn't listen to him, hopefully, she'd listen to her friends or even Rowena and Cassius. Surely, they would help him. Did they even know they had ghosts living in their mansion?

He nods to himself, deciding to bring it up tomorrow at breakfast to everyone. Until then, he would hide out in his room for the evening. He'd had enough strangeness for one night.

#time warp trio #time warp trio fanfiction #fanfiction #joe #sam #fred #oc #kellie writes #kellie fanfic #kellie twt #writeblr #writing #my post

[onthevirgeofdestruction]

Storytime!

Sanders Sides Canon Divergence AU - fluff/angst - hurt/comfort - some intrigue - actually has a plot (side eyes my other fics) - largely Virgil centric - it’s about growth i guess idk

Words: 4,035 Warnings: Big-ass spiders, zombie mentions, death mentions, gore mentions. Characters: Virgil, Patton, Roman, Logan, Remus, Janus Universe: Storytime! Genre: Half-Fluff, Half-Idoicy

Chapter 27: In Which There are Even Bigger Spiders Than Beeps

Virgil is doing good but everyone else has some questions and nobody has answers

chapter 1 for new readers - ffn mirror

   Virgil didn’t realize the meeting was today, so he was thankful for Roman’s note. Time must have gotten away from him. He was so focused on Thomas's schedule he had kind of forgotten his own. It was one thing to skip breakfast and another thing entirely to skip a meeting he agreed to. The last few times he skipped were kind of eventful for him so the other sides would freak out for sure. Luckily, Virgil had already started his ‘Patton’ story the other day, and while he was still delirious from Deceit’s room, he could conceivably pull off not killing or maiming anyone by the end. It was much easier to convince himself it would all be okay right now, and he knew that feeling would fade the longer he sat in his room.

   Pat liked stories that were sentimental or sweet, which Virgil probably couldn’t come up with no matter how much of Deceit’s influence helped him. But he also likes animal stories, especially talking animals. Finding inspiration in his lack of ability had worked out before, so the story was about a little boy who couldn’t stop having nightmares. It was all he could think about in the day and he couldn’t sleep at night. The little boy tossed a coin in a fountain and wished for good sleep. So a magic psychic bat came that night and granted his wish for just one night of pleasant dreams so he could be upbeat for his little sister’s birthday party.

   That was another thing he could relate to, but he really doubted Pat could figure out this one. Virgil’s magic bat was a golden snake with venom that hid his fears from himself so his friends could like him more. That was a stretch unless Logan had somehow figured out what was going on and told Pat. But Deceit would have told him if that had happened, so there was no point in worrying about that. Realizing he didn’t have to worry was a bizarre sensation for Virgil. He was so damn grateful for his magic psychic bat.

   Virgil finished up the story with a little time to spare. He’d love to go waste time with one of the sides, but it still seemed like a bad idea. He could maybe make a new friend, though. He could feel the overcharged feeling in his veins that let him know he had enough anxious energy to burn. One who could protect his room and alert him when someone entered since Virgil was out so often. Something bigger that could defend his room and the other spiders. Virgil got up from the couch and stretched out. He reached up and stroked Beatrice, who was still sitting in his hair.

   “How about a little brother, Beatrice? A really big little brother?” Virgil asked affectionately. She stomped angrily on his head and said something unsavory. “Beeps, I’m not replacing you,” Virgil rolled his eyes. He reached up and gently stroked her again. “I’d be more willing to take you out of the room more if there was someone else here helping you and to protect you. Your smaller siblings can’t help like that,” Virgil offered. Beatrice conceded grumpily.

   Virgil cracked his knuckles and stepped into the middle of his room. A giant huntsman spider seemed appropriate. Nearly a foot of very leggy spider should keep anybody back, and the legs would be easier on Virgil to make than the big body of a goliath birdeater. Virgil focused as hard as he could and held his hand out, palm down. One this big might hurt, so he braced himself. There was a sharp pain in his palm as he focused on creating one. Virgil squeezed his eyes shut and just tried to focus on not messing up. When the sharp feeling finally subsided, Virgil peeked slightly at his hand. A big boy with much larger fangs than he intended was crawling from his palm to the top of his fingertips. He was roughly double the size of Beatrice and mostly black instead of mostly purple like her.

   “What would you like to be called?” He asked gently and reached his other hand over to feel its long delicate legs. “Voltaire? I love it. Voltaire, you’re the new room guard. You need to keep all your siblings safe while I’m out,” He said gently. Voltaire rubbed its forelegs together in acceptance and climbed up onto his shoulder. Virgil walked over to the staircase and laid down upside down, holding himself up with webbing. “So tell me what fears you’ve got,” He asked the new spider as it crawled down his arm.

   Chatting with Voltaire was nice. His fears were pretty weak, but he was big and scary, so he was perfect to deter other sides without actually hurting them. Much. Plus, he was very gallant, determined which made fun to talk to. Virgil has successfully passed the last of the time without feeling too lonely while chatting with Volt and Beeps on the stairs. Other than being pretty low on energy from making Voltaire and D’s room, he felt good about going to storytime tonight. He was looking forward to laying back and reading some stories that felt wrong. It was going to be unnerving in a fun way, which should be enjoyable instead of horrible. And that sounded nice.

—

   Virgil’s legs were over Patton’s lap and he was propped up on the couch arm reading the stories lazily. It had been pretty non-eventful when it was just Virgil and Logan in the living room, even though they were alone for a couple of minutes before Pat and Ro showed up just barely on time again. Logan seemed too distracted to talk, which he was thankful for. Remus’s story yelled at you if you didn’t read it first, so he had started with that one today, just like everyone else had given in to do.

   Remus’s story felt profoundly wrong for him, so he must have been listening in after he left last time. His protagonist didn’t die or kill anyone directly. In fact, the entire story was about avoiding action by doing other things. A funny side to pick. The protagonist partied all night and cleaned his bathroom during the peak of the zombie apocalypse. There was a literal zombie apocalypse, but he wanted cookies, so he went to the store and dodged everything. He worked at the lab making the cure and couldn’t be bothered to get up when the zombies raided it and just read comics in the security office. What an icon.

   Virgil laughed so hard he choked at the end. Patton reached out to make sure he was okay, but Virgil just chuckled and nodded while he caught his breath. Patton gave him a breezy smile and went back to reading himself, his arms holding the papers resting on his legs. Virgil dropped his hand to the floor out of Pat’s view and flipped Remus off affectionately. Remus smiled a big toothy smile of what seemed to be vindication and also gave Virgil the bird. It tweeted, which got confused looks from Roman, who checked around for a source. Remus and Virgil quickly went back to ‘innocently’ reading and Roman gave up and went back to reading when he saw nothing unusual.

   Pat’s was next, which was the ‘Virgil’ story. Patton didn’t have much dramatic irony Virgil usually had, but it was still a negative story with a bleak-ish ending. A group of teens who were camping got lost in the woods while partying. A ‘being punished for breaking the rules’ kind of theme. It would have been a great set-up for a slasher. Maybe Remus could add on to the end for Virgil and they could have a laugh about that later with Deceit. Those kinds of movies were Deceit’s guilty pleasure to watch. Patton unknowingly writing half of one might make his day.

   Roman’s ‘Logan’ story was amazing. It was fantastically gay and dry as heck. It was the most scathing thing he could have done without directly insulting Logan. College professors grading things in the coffee shop go out, but they’re both teaching med students so they didn’t ‘hold hands’, they ‘interlocked digits’. Roman must have abused a thesaurus and fell down a biology Wikipedia hole to write this. Nothing big even happened in the story other than the original gay confusion. Roman’s intent was clearly to blast Logan instead of producing an amazing story for the ages, and he mcfreakin’ succeeded.

   Logan’s ‘Roman’-style was funny for all the wrong reasons. It followed a dragon, but the dragon’s hoard was books instead of gold. The Dragon liked to make puzzles for adventurers to get lost in when trying to come to defeat him. The story was just the Dragon reading books and frying adventurer’s brains until the one who finally makes it through changes his mind because of the Dragon’s sound logic. Virgil choked on a laugh again when the adventurer conceded to the Dragon’s superior stance. Logan took that wish-fulfillment part of fantasy themes and ran with it.

   Remus had looked at him quizzically while he caught his breath again. Virgil figured he wanted to know why he laughed and showed him the navy blue font and pointed to the last paragraph. Remus switched packets and flipped pages to the last paragraph to see for himself. He broke out in a mad giggle fit, which earned some serious glares and shushing from Roman. Logan looked incredibly confused, but wouldn’t dare talk during his own rules about quiet reading time. Which was also amusing in a strange way.

   Virgil was in a great mood after laughing at the ridiculousness of these stories and placed his packets on the floor, sitting up to cuddle against the extra-warm Patton while he waited out the reading time for everyone else. Patton was surprised when Virgil wrapped his arm around him but sighed contentedly as Virgil dropped his head on Patton’s shoulder. Remus grunted at Virgil, but Virgil just rolled his eyes and mouthed ‘later’ at him. He wasn’t entirely sure what the duke wanted, but it wasn’t the time. Virgil closed his eyes and appreciated the warm heart, letting himself drift a little while he waited out the rest of the reading time.

—

   Virgil woke up sometime later to the TV playing The Office quietly, still entangled around Patton. Patton smiled and reached up to stroke his hair when he shifted. He looked around and saw all the other sides had left. He blinked the rest of the sleep from his eyes and yawned, stretching out his arms.

   “Hey, sleepyhead! You fell asleep while waiting for us to finish,” Patton said gently.

   “Oh, I’m sorry, Pat. Did I miss the discussion?” Virgil asked sleepily and rubbed his eyes.

   “Remus was pretty freaked out about the idea of waking you up, and that spooked Ro, so we decided to postpone it,” Patton responded lightly, clearly trying to sound soothing. Virgil appreciated it, honestly. It was much easier not to freak out over delaying them while everybody was so busy. Virgil released Patton and stood up to stretch his legs, followed by Patton who must have been stuck under him for a while based on the time.

   “I’m sorry I had you pinned for that long, pop,” Virgil said and rubbed the back of his head with embarrassment.

   “It was a nice cuddle, bud, don’t worry!” Patton said cheerily as he stretched out his arms. “I’ll text the others and see if they still want to do discussion today,” Virgil nodded and yawned, wrapping his arms back around Patton as Pat pulled out his phone. Patton shifted to let Virgil hug him from behind while he texted.

   “Ah, the cuddle monster has returned to the living!” Roman declared as he rose up a few moments later.

   “You guys didn’t have to reschedule for me,” Virgil mumbled quietly into Patton’s back.

   “Well, it’s not much of a discussion without you kiddo,” Patton said softly and held Virgil’s arms wrapped around his waist.

   “I’ve never seen Remus act like that in my life, I wasn’t taking the chance. It may be the only thing in the Thomas-sphere he takes seriously. He kept hissing at us to shut up and then left,” Roman explained. Virgil chuckled into Patton’s back. It was nice to have the tables turned for once. Virgil was the one scared of Remus most of the time. Logan rose as well.

   “It’s nice to hear you laugh so much these days, kiddo,” Patton commented as Virgil settled down and twisted around to give Virgil a hug.

   “Yes, what elements did you find amusing this evening, Virgil? I was curious about what diverted you and Remus. The stories didn’t include your shared sense of dark humor,” Logan asked as he sat back down on the couch.

   “Oh, man, if I knew I was going to get grilled I would have basted myself first,” Virgil rolled his eyes backed up into the couch, taking Patton down with him. Patton giggled as he stumbled down on top of Virgil.

   “That’s some… vivid imagery, Virgil,” Roman said, sounding a little confused. Patton laid on Virgil this time, seeing as Virgil wouldn’t let him go, though Virgil let him sit up on the couch. Roman and Logan sat in their regular spots.

   “Remus’s story was full of cynical humor, Lo. It was completely defeatist and relatable. I mean the world is ending, but where can I get some iced coffee? Peak mood,” Virgil supplied finally. Logan looked extremely confused for a moment. Maybe the slang did it? Logan shook it off quickly.

   “I was not aware that being a defeatist could be humorous. I will take note. Remus also chose to write differently from his regular ramblings this week. He left before we had planned to try each other’s reoccurring themes last week. It was an oddly coincidental timing on his part,” Logan said. Virgil was pretty certain Remus was listening in through Roman, but he wasn’t sure if the others knew the creativity twins were linked to each other, so changing the subject seemed safer than possibly dropping a bomb that Roman possibly didn’t want to share. Remus ‘over-share’ Sanders wasn’t here to drop it for him, anyway.

   “Ro’s story was hilarious, too,” Virgil said with a grin and a quick thumbs-up of appreciation, which he dropped lazily back around Patton after a moment and pulled himself a little closer to Patton’s warmth.

   “Thank you, Virgil, I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Roman replied with a flourish and smiled back.

   “What was funny about it? It was a cute romance with lots of big words,” Patton asked. Virgil ruffled Patton’s hair.

   “It wasn’t about the contents of the story, Pat, it was about what the writing said,” Virgil said lazily. Logan bristled.

   “Was there a theme that I potentially missed?” Logan asked and picked up his notes, scanning them quickly.

   “Perhaps this is one of those rare things that is over your head,” Roman said sarcastically with a chuckle and waved Logan off.

   “I refuse to believe that. Please explain to me what I’m missing,” Logan insisted, still scanning his notes,

   “Roman was roasting you without roasting you,” Virgil supplied flippantly.

   “Virgil, please do not include me in your strange grilling metaphor, it does not help elucidate me in the slightest,” Logan said shortly and put his notes down to glare at them.

   “Over his head,” Roman said with a bemused laugh, and Virgil joined him. Logan groaned in frustration.

   “It would not be if you simply explained it to me,” Logan grunted and crossed his arms. Roman just laughed again, which caused Logan to huff. Virgil shifted closer to Patton. He couldn’t get much closer at this angle, so just slid down behind Patton before he became a human feather boa. Patton yelped as Virgil slipped down, but he scooted forward to make space for Virgil who was now wrapped around his back. He was so warm. Virgil’s eyes fluttered for a moment.

   “Are you tired again, kiddo?” Patton asked and ruffled Virgil’s hair. Virgil grumbled slightly and lazily fixed his bangs.

   “You’re just so toasty,” Virgil mumbled into Patton’s side.

   “Sorry, it always slips out at least a little,” Patton apologized meekly.

   “No, it’s the best, never turn it off,” Virgil whined and squeezed Patton as close as he could.

   “Patton, trade with me before Virgil falls asleep again,” Roman requested, getting up and rolling his eyes in exasperation.

   “No, don’t take my space heater!” Virgil whined and grasped onto Patton, refusing to let go.

   “We’re not done talking, yet, bud, we haven’t even gotten to your story yet!” Patton said as he got up, trying to pry himself from Virgil. Virgil groaned and released him, seizing Roman as he sat down where Patton was. Roman chuckled as Virgil gripped on. Roman wasn’t warming like Pat, but Ro gave off a light charged feeling which woke him up. Pretty sneaky, sis.

   “What’s there to talk about? Mine wasn’t funny like you guys’,” Virgil groaned and nestled into Roman’s side. Even if there was a nap conspiracy, at least Virgil got nice contact. Roman giggled a little when Virgil accidentally tickled him. Then Virgil tickled him on purpose and Roman smacked him upside the head.

   “Roman, don’t hit Virgil,” Patton chided him.

   “He tickled me!” Roman objected.

   “We are extremely off subject,” Logan groaned.

   “I didn’t get the funny memo, I was just trying to figure out what I could do that Patton would like,” Virgil grumbled, rubbing his head, eying Roman suspiciously for another attack.

   “I did like it, kiddo! It was so sweet that he just wanted to make his sister happy,” Patton said with a shimmering look in his eye.

   “Oh, I didn’t think I could do sweet. Neat,” Virgil commented blithely and settled back down. “I think Pat did a ‘me’ story pretty well, though maybe more toned down,” Virgil added. Sort of like he wished he could be. Virgil hid his face in Roman’s side and frowned. Roman ruffled his hair lightly and Virgil grumbled.

   “I think it missed that fatal element, though. Pat implied the ranger would find those kids even though they wandered into the woods drunk in the daytime,” Roman supplied. “After most of Virgil’s stories, it was pretty heavily implied they didn’t make it,”

   “I tried to leave it a little vague,” Patton muttered.

   “You did, Patton. Just because one character mentioned it doesn’t mean we can assume it was to happen,” Logan reassured him and held out his hand, motioning to calm down. “Virgil, was there a reason you pointed out the final paragraph of my story to the duke?” Logan asked shortly and looked pointedly at Virgil.

   “Yes. And I’m afraid it’s also over your head, Logan,” Virgil supplied a little bitterly.

   “That’s what you guys were laughing at? Logan’s little fantasy projecting? I thought it was some dark joke I didn’t get,” Roman said, sounding disbelieving.

   “I would like to be included on this ‘great in-joke’ you two seem to have,” Logan said sourly.

   “Lo, buddy, you wouldn’t believe us if we told you,” Virgil groaned.

   “I would like you to try regardless of your assumptions,” Logan stated plainly, tapping his foot.

   “It’s your praise kink!” Remus popped up, laughing wildly. Logan jumped up in surprise and stumbled back into the couch. Patton squeaked and Roman stiffened. “It’s been later, Vi-vi, come on!” Remus whined. Virgil groaned in exasperation.

   “We’re in the middle of the discussion! You know, the ones you usually skip while you’re off gallivanting in the mind palace stabbing stuff?” Virgil said slackened from behind Roman.

   “And it’s boring!” Remus groaned.

   “Fine. I know we didn’t get to everything, but I’m going to go deal with this giant brat if we’re good here? He might blow us up or something if I don’t,” Virgil stated with a little grumble. He was having an agreeable time making fun of Logan with Roman and wasn’t ready to stop yet, but he was going to see Remus, anyway. “Does anybody object to that?”

   “Blow you up? Virgey, I would never,” Remus said, sounding fake aghast, holding his hand to his chest and fanning himself with the other. “Teeny-Tiny exploding unicorns all over the room, maybe,” He added with a sinister smirk and showed how small with his fingers, followed by spirit finger mock-explosions. Virgil grunted and pulled himself out from behind Roman.

   “Anybody? Bueller?” Virgil asked again. They all looked kind of shocked, but there was no response. The duke did have that effect on them, sometimes. “Cool, I guess,” Virgil shrugged and pushed himself off the couch, reaching on the floor for his copies of his stories. “Hey, remember Pat’s story?” Virgil asked.

   “Nobody died! Who cares!” Remus groaned, flailing his arms like limp noodles.

   “Exactly,” Virgil nodded at him and grabbed his arm. Remus’s eyes widened and a manic grin split out as they sank to the edge of the mind palace. Virgil created a simple room for them to work in with a big soft rug and a couch. “Okay, we’ve got less than two hours and maybe 30 minutes in one of our rooms, so we got to make it count. It’s the perfect setup for a slasher, right?”

   “It is!” Remus cackled. “From grandpa? Who knew!” Remus wiggled his eyebrows and grinned in delight.

   “Let’s upgrade it, then,” Virgil said, sitting down on the couch and summoning a laptop. He pressed Patton’s story on to the laptop screen and it loaded into the computer and Virgil passed it over to Remus who plopped on the couch next to him.

   “I will do nothing without at least as much contact as you gave my brother,” Remus said firmly, taking the laptop but holding it off from his lap.

   “You fucking dork,” Virgil rolled his eyes and leaned against Remus, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. “Thanks for smelling only mildly terrible,” Virgil added after a quick whiff of the air. It was vinegary and sharp, but less poop or puke smell. Not as great as strawberries but, good smells were probably a rare choice for him. 

   “It’s only fun if you need a shower afterword!” Remus sang and placed the laptop in his lap and started writing.

   “The redhead chick has to die first, she kissed that dude remember? Slasher rule,” Virgil said while Remus began writing.

   “That fuckhole who bought the wine coolers is next,” Remus said. “I’m gonna shove the empties into his intestines!” He cackled.

   “God, sick,” Virgil wrinkled his nose in distaste but chuckled, anyway.

—

   “D!” Virgil called out as he rose into Deceit’s room later that night. “I’ve got the coolest thing for you,” Virgil said excitedly.

   “Virgil, what in the world were you thinking?” Deceit demanded, sounding annoyed.

   “That you’d like it, come on, read it!” Virgil said, shoving the final story that Virgil and Remus managed to type out before the voices in the mind palace started up again or they started trying to kill each other in one of their rooms. It was quick and slapshot, but it would be funny and gruesome, nonetheless.

   “Virgil, that’s not what I’m talking about,” Deceit groaned.

   “And I’m talking about this slasher that Patton wrote half of,” Virgil said, tapping the paper and twisting around the back of Deceit and giving him a hug, nuzzling his neck.

   “You can’t be serious,” Deceit said, looking down at the paper.

   “Dead serious. Like the teens in the woods,” Virgil chuckled. That definitely got Deceit’s attention. Virgil pulled Deceit to the bed. He had already started reading as he sat down. Virgil wrapped his arms around Deceit’s waist again and nestled his face in the crook of Deceit’s neck from behind, watching him read. Deceit absentmindedly ran a hand through Virgil’s hair while he read. Virgil sighed in with contentment and closed his eyes. He hoped D would like it. He had fun writing it with Remus, at least.

personal taglist: @gdaygdaymatey @elizabutgayer​ 

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canon divergence au:  @legendsgates @rainbowbowtie @10moonymhrivertam

virgil-centric:  @demoniccheese83 @thatgaydemigodnerd @arya-skywalker 

hurt/comfort:  @callboxkat @nonasficcollection @supernovainthenightsky

everything sanders sides:  @grouptalekindnesssoul @the-hoely-bleach @anvil527up @fanficloverinthesun  @katelynn-a-fan @dwbh888

#tsss #sanders sides #tsss fanfiction #sanders sides fanfiction #tsss fanfic #ayri writes #storytime #chapter fic #spiders #mentioned zombies #mentioned gore #death mentions #idiot narrator #manic virgil #canon au #ts virgil #ts roman #ts janus #ts remus #ts patton #ts logan #cussing #rated teen and up

[1-1snailxd-art]

Libraries are for Meetings

Master List ------  Chapter 3 

Chapter 4 - Leaving the Library

Warnings: Homophobia mentioned

Summary: Roman and Patton’s relationship may be new, but Patton is more important than he realises.

Note: reading on mobile can remove the paragraphing. Use desktop site or visit my Ao3 page if it bothers you as much as it bothers me.

Beginning Note: This chapter was meant to be longer, but I decided to split it because my mind just got stuck on an event. If you want to know what’s been happening, check the end notes (or don’t...I don’t mind) Enjoy 😊

————————————————–

Backing away from the library office, Roman did his best to keep up his strong and supportive facade. He needed to be Patton’s rock in this situation; and he wasn’t about to let his worry leach out and distress the man he loved any further. 

��********************

 Roman and Patton had only been officially together for six months, but they had known of each other years prior. Jason used to speak highly of the energetic man who his partner lived with. There was a time when Roman was sure Jason was making things up. It seemed impossible that someone existed who was so kind, accepting and comfortable with themself; aside from Jason. Not long after Jason had moved in with Roman and Katie, he shared photos of him, Logan and Patton with Roman. If 'love at first sight' were real, Roman got hit hard.

 "You're blushing, Roman." teased Jason, laying his hand over the photo. "Do you like what you see?"

"What? No!" Roman quickly averted his eyes and tried to stop the heat rising in his cheeks.

"Roman," tone suddenly serious; Jason rested a hand on Roman's shoulder. "You don't have to hide anything from me, remember?"

 A few silent breaths later and Roman nodded, and Jason let his hand drop as Roman turned to stare out the nearby window.

Of all the people in Roman's life, Jason truly was someone who he didn't have to hide from. Jason announced that he was gay during a family Christmas when Roman was 10 years old. Sure, the family reaction wasn't the most welcoming or kind, but over time they accepted Jason for who he was. He paved the way. He took the hits, the hurt, the shame. He cleared the path of homophobia in the family; but that didn't make it any easier on Roman. Despite knowing that his family would accept him, just like they accepted Jason, he wasn't ready to say it out loud.

Roman hung his head down low as he realised how selfish he was being.

“You’re ok, Ro.” Jason rested a firm hand back on Roman’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “There’s no shame in having feelings.”

 In that moment, Roman wished he had long bangs to cover his eyes as he chanced a look up at Jason. Though he had just turned 18, Jason’s maturity outshone that of many older adults Roman had met. Behind those rich brown eyes, was the soul of a man that had been beaten and was determined to make sure no one else suffered alone.

Tears began to well in Roman’s eyes and Jason wasted no time, pulling his cousin into a secure embrace and refusing to let go as Roman’s shoulders shook with the emotional release.

 It was just a photo. It was just a feeling. It was ok, but it still felt wrong. Regardless of Jason’s assurance, Roman couldn’t help but feel shame. He could remember how people spoke about Jason. He could recall the looks of disgust his uncle gave when backs were turned. The side comments and remarks that Roman picked up on regularly.

Strangely, even now, Roman could  hear his late father’s disapproving voice. Though he’d never heard his father directly speak ill of Jason, he had also never stopped it. In Roman’s mind, that fuelled his belief that his parents would disown him, had he admitted his feelings prior to their passing. There would never be a way of truly knowing, and so Roman’s mind supplied many possible reactions.

 “I. Ju-t. H-h-hate m-my ss-ss-ff.” Roman was barely audible as he tried to speak through hiccupping breaths. Desperate to get his bottled feelings out and feel some form of relief.

“I love you, Roman.” Jason assured, grip never faltering as Roman sobbed. “Even if you don’t feel like you can love yourself, I will love you. Just for being you. Don’t forget that.”

 Tears of anger slipped from Jason’s own eyes. He had hoped that his coming out and openness would have prevented this sort of thing from happening to anyone else in his family. Unfortunately though, he couldn’t change society. He had held many people like this over his short life. His clothes soaked in tears of fear and shame from those on similar journeys of self-discovery. But holding Roman right now, hurt the most. Feeling his fear and shame soak into his navy button up shirt was like being shot at close range. He couldn’t spare Roman from the pain; despite everything he had done.

“I'm sorry I couldn’t protect you.” Whisper barely audible, Jason squeezed his eyes shut and refused to let go until he felt Roman’s breathing return to normal.

   It was two weeks later before Roman said the words out loud; admittedly it was a whisper.

I’m gay.

Jason reached under the table to take Roman’s hand as they waited for Katie’s reaction. Fork full of pasta halfway to her mouth, Katie simply raised an eyebrow in confusion at her little brother.

“Care to say that again, Ro. My hearing ain’t what it used to be.”

Roman sighed, squeezing Jason’s hand for support before repeating himself.

“Katie, I am gay.”

“Ok.”

“I’m sor- What?” Now it was Roman’s turn to stare in confusion. “Ok? What do you mean ‘ok’?”

“Ok, an expression used to express agreement and or acceptance. Get a dictionary, Yo-Yo.” Katie shoved the food in her mouth and gave the two a mischievous smile.

At the mention of his childhood nickname, Roman scowled. “Is that all you have to say about this? Seriously!”

“Duh.” Katie put her fork down and licked the splattering of pasta sauce off her fingers. “What were you expecting? Me to yell? Scream? Kick you out? Throw a bible at you? What?” Roman stared blankly, lost for words. “You are still my brother, you idiot. One little word isn’t going to change that. You gotta try a bit harder if you want to get rid of me.”

“Well…” Finding his voice again, Roman felt a small weight slip from his shoulders. “What would I have to say to get rid of you?”

“That you despise Disney or musicals are the worst type of theatre.”

Tears welled in Roman’s eyes, despite the smile that spread across his face. “I would never say those things.”

“Guess you are just stuck with me then. Sucks to be you.” And with that, Katie stood and walked into the kitchen.

Jason ruffled Roman’s hair before reaching out to clear the table, ducking out of the way just as a box of tissues was thrown from the breakfast bar and hit Roman in the chest.

“That could have hit my face!” Jason yelled as he headed toward the culprit in the kitchen.

“Shame it didn’t. It could have made an improvement.”

 Roman wiped his eyes as he listened to Katie and Jason in the kitchen. It wasn’t the coming out that had plagued his dreams for months, but it was his. He would never know how it would have gone if his parents were still around, but he could deal with that. Katie and Jason were his family now, and their opinion was all that mattered.

 From that moment on, Roman promised himself that he wouldn’t hide anymore. There wasn’t a need to. As long as he had a home to return to, nothing else mattered. It made moving forward easier.

  ********************

  It broke Roman's heart to have a silent Patton in the passenger seat of his car, as they drove to his house. Every glance to the side made him want to pull over and scoop the other into his arms and squeeze away his pain. The couple had walked in silence to Roman's old red Nissan; Patton keeping Roman's hand in a vice grip. Patton's eyes remained glued to the ground as Roman unlocked the car and opened the door for the other to flop inside. Neither muttered a word. Patton too emotionally numb to speak, and Roman to afraid to disturb the silence.

 Slowing down for a red light, Roman took a chance and rested is hand on the centre console. Driving an automatic car had its advantages, despite what everyone else had told him. Roman wasn't lazy; he thought he was quite innovative. Automatic vehicles only require one hand to operate, meaning the other could be used for other activities. In this case, hand holding.

Time seemed to stretch on, and Roman's hand remained untouched. The light turned green and Roman was about to return his hand to the wheel when Patton finally took hold. Chancing a glance, Roman saw Patton's glistening eyes looking back; the smallest smile lighting his face. In that moment, Roman knew Patton would be ok.

  ********************

 “No arguments, you are to go have a shower and climb into that onesie I always bring to movie nights.”

Roman pushed Patton towards his bedroom and continued towards the living room, tossing their bags in a pile near the dining table.

“But it’s your-“

“I believe I began my last statement with ‘no arguments’.” Roman called over his shoulder as he switched on the tv and started pulling blankets out the storage ottoman in the centre of the room.

 Sighing loudly, Patton wandered into Roman’s room and stood in front of his mirrored wardrobe doors. It made sense why Roman was being so pushy , considering how red and puffy Patton’s eyes were from crying. He was still in his McDonald’s uniform; skin slick with the thin layer of grease from working around the fryers. It wasn’t the best job but tutoring primary school students wasn’t enough to pay his bills.

 “Chop, chop, Pat!” Roman’s voice echoed down the hall, “I want to hear that water running.”

“You sound like a parent.” He called back, opening the wardrobe to search for Roman’s Stitch onesie. “I’m older than you, remember.”

There was no reply, so he continued to carefully push Roman’s formal clothes aside to reach the onesie hanging in the centre. Careful not to let it touch his own clothes, Patton opened the door to the bathroom in Roman’s room and was greeted with the face of his partner on the other side of the room.

 Roman lent in the opposite doorway that connected to the spare room, one outstretched arm holding a folded towel with a single Hershey’s kiss chocolate on top.

“Age is just a number, my dear.” Roman grinned as he saw Patton’s face light up as he entered the room. “Everyone needs a little pampering every now and then. Let me look after you for a change.”

“Do I really have a choice?” Patton questioned as he put the onesie down and eagerly grabbed the chocolate.

Roman giggled at the speed that Patton unwrapped the chocolate; setting the towel down on the bench and turning to wrap his arms around Patton’s waist.

“Not today, Pat. Now,” The two locked eyes and Roman stifled a laugh looking at Patton’s puffy cheek filled with chocolate. “Shower and relax. I’ll order pizza and set up the lounge room for a movie. If you want to talk, we will talk. If you want to cry, I will hold you until you stop. Heck, if you want to act out Toy Story word for word, I am totally down to do that.” Patton giggled at the idea, feeling happy tears start to build in his eyes. “I’m here for you tonight. Okay?”

Patton nodded, closing his eyes and letting a single tear fall. Supportive arms squeezed him tight before Roman lent back and placed a soft kiss on Patton’s forehead.

“You taste like fries.”

Patton laughed and pulled Roman close again so their lips could touch for a brief kiss. “You taste like strawberries.”

“Ok, ok, no more stalling, sweetness.” Though Roman would have loved to continue, “shower time now.”

 Patton grinned as Roman shut the door to his room, before slowly backing out through the door he came in through. He was lucky to have someone like Roman in his life. Though he loved Logan with all his heart, he could never handle Patton’s emotions as well as Roman could. It wasn’t Logan’s fault, he still struggled with recognising and regulating his own feelings. Roman on the other hand, had experienced so many emotions in the past 6 years alone, and was now very familiar with recognising and dealing with his emotions. As the warm water touched his skin, Patton felt his muscles relax briefly before his mind started to race through the afternoons events.

 Talk, Patton decided.

He had his time in silence, but now it was time to talk.

 —————————————————-

End Note:

Thanks for reading. Sorry this was a disappointing chapter. I just needed to get it out to feel some form of success.

I will get better...I promise. Read below at your own risk if you want to know what has been happening lately. I’m ok now...if that helps 🙂

.

.

.

So, I planned this fic after I fell/fainted during a running race and smashed my head on the ground. I probably had a mild concussion, but whatever.

This led on to my random hand shaking increasing to a daily occurrence and I was also experiencing dizzy spells.

Boy was my Dr confused.

So, I eventually got told I was iron deficient, but she wasn’t sure why because other levels were coming back normal. I had a heart monitor strapped to me for 24hrs to test that.

While all that was happening, I had to write my reports and that just adds to my normal stress levels.

Basically, I was a fatigued, stressed, anxious, shaking zombie for over a week. When the week finally ended, reports done, the end in sight; I got the call that my cousin passed away...her 3year fight with cancer had proved too much for her body to handle and she slipped away.

I was devastated, but still had work and Drs appointments so I stayed where I was and planned my travel to see my parents and then fly to see the rest of the family. It was during that week that I got told that my full diagnosis is “You are anxious, stressed, iron deficient and just generally burnt out. You need a holiday before this gets worse.”

Then the cherry fell on top...someone read my cousins private messages to me. I had come out to her...they gave the messages thumbs down. It was a simple thing, but it was enough to send me spiralling back into a dark place of hate and nightmares..... but I’m on the other side now though. Funeral over. Travelling home. I’m ready to find my normality again. Fingers crossed I find it quickly.   If you read this far; thank you, and I hope all is well with you. Writing to vent is very therapeutic and the more I write about what has been happening lately, the better I feel. If you need an ear to talk to ... I’ve got two of them. Happy Timezone 🙂

💜🐌

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Chapter 5 — Master List

What else have I done:

The Perfect Ring (oneshot - analogical proposal)

You Promised (oneshot - prinxiety angst/injury/near death) 

Sides of a Hero (Completed Fic - sides are fusions of impulses and aspects of Thomas. Virgil has a depressing past that he is forced to face thanks to Deceit and Rage. Was canon compliant at the time of completion)

The Shield to your Sword (WIP - A fantasy/magic au - Prinxiety (Royal Roman and orphan Virgil - they’ll admit to their love eventually), Virgil angst, non binary, healer Logan, *spoiler* Patton) 

Check out my other blog for random fandom reblogs and stuff @snail-giggles

#libraries are for meetings #leaving the library #sanders sides #thomas sanders fanfiction #sanders sides au #alternate universe #ts logan #ts virgil #ts patton #ts roman #ts deceit #logan mars #virgil sparks #roman reels #katie reels #jason reels #patton smiles #Ellie|Ethan #original characters #analogical #self discovery #coming out #pride #fanders #famders #Sanders sides fandom #my writing #snail writing #LAFM #royality

[iamknicole]

Guess What

Parental Paragraphs / Daddy Ro Fluff Series

With Simba's birthday coming up the three families were spending a lot more time with each other. Trying to plan took all three sets of parents and the older boys running errands or babysitting. They spent this day at the Reigns' house.

"Y'all plan on havin another?" Jimmy asked his twin.

Jey shook his head immediately. "Hell no. Simba and Lo is enough. You see all these gray hairs."

"Well I want a lil girl," Apryl pouted.

"You must gon borrow Haleigh cause you won't get one from me. I'm gettin fixed."

Apryl pushed Jey's shoulder turning her attention to the other treo ladies. "What about y'all?"

"Jimmy wants another boy but I don't think my nerves can handle another boy. The twins and Eli are exactly like him," Trinity laughed. "No thank you."

Kandice shrugged at the question. "We want another but Koda and Haleigh have made it very clear that we're not allowed to have anymore."

"Yeah, Koda said his luck it'll be another girl," Roman laughed, "Princess stresses him out enough."

"STOP TOUCHIN MY HAIR!" Haleigh squealed loudly.

"NO WAY!" "NEVEEEEER!" The twins yelled after her.

Simba let out a loud attempt at his uncle's war cry. "HOLD HER DOWN! I GOT GLUE!"

"Who gave his bad ass glue," Apryl asked getting ready to get up. Jey stopped her telling her to wait. "She'll go to the boys first," Jey assured her. The next thing the parents heard were loud footsteps running from one end of the upstairs to the other. Then more arguing.

"STOP YELLING!" Koda's voice boomed through the house quieting the younger children. "Why are y'all yelling anyway?"

"THEY KEEP TRYING TO PUT GLUE IN MY HAIR," the 13 year old pouted.

"GET HER BRODDER! HOLD HER DOWN!" Simba yelled once again.

"SIMBA, GIVE ME THE GLUE! WHO GAVE YOUR BAD BUTT GLUE ANYWAY?" Milo asked in a strained tone that told the parents he was holding his little brother back. More commotion ensued which meant they were now fighting.

"AYE!" Eli screamed. "WHICH ONE OF YOU GREMLIN TWINS HIT ME IN MY EYE?"

"LET ME GO, KODA! I'M GONNA TAKE THAT LIL MUNCHKIN OUT!"

"NO, HAE! AUNTIE APRYL WILL TAKE YOU OUT!"

"GET THOSE DOUBLEMINT TWINS OFF MY HAIR, KODA!"

Kandice reached out to pat Roman’s knee and he called out for the children to come down. A minute or so later the seven children came down the stairs still pushing and arguing quietly. They stood in the living room in front of their parents. Eli reached out to pluck his little brothers behind their ears for hitting him in the eye which started another fight between all of them.

"Hands in your pocket!" Jey yelled stopping their fighting. "Now what is the problem?"

All the kids stated to talk at once. There was something about glue in hair, playing a game, complaints about being hit and kicked and Simba just letting out another war cry.

"STOP! STOP! One at a time." Trinity sighed. "Hae, you first."

"I was watching YouTube, minding my business and those munchkins tried to attack me and put glue in my hair," she said glaring at her younger cousins. "Then they tried to attack me and my KoKo." Koda wrapped his arms around his little sister for the dramatic effect.

"Okay. Milo?"

"All I know is they ran in there jumping on us then bad butt," he said flicking Simba's arm, "Told me to hold her down and tried to attack again." Simba glared at his big brother then kicked him in the shin making Milo yelp.

"Feet to yourself," Trinity repeated. "Eli?"

"Look, all I know is one of these gremlins hit me in my eye and if it's bruised they're both bein put up for adoption."

"Jadyn and Jalyn, y'all have something to say?"

"No, Mommy," they answered.

"Simba?"

"AAAAAAAAAAH!" He yelled jumping on Haleigh’s feet.

"Oh that's it," she sneered picking the young boy up and turned him upside down. "Koda, open the back door. He's goin in the pool."

"Koda, don't you move. Princess, give him to his parents," Roman instructed quickly. Haleigh narrowed her eyes and tossed the young boy into his father's lap. "Who gave you glue, Simba?"

Simba laid against Jey's chest trying to look as innocent as possible. "It was in TK room. I borrow it."

"Were you supposed to be in there, Josiah?"

"No, Daddy. But Jadyn open the door."

"Hey! That was not me, that was Jalyn!" The eight year old said pointing an accusatory finger.

"Snitch," Jalyn mumbled.

"Stop arguing. No more arguing," Kandice demanded softly. "Y'all have done enough of that for one day. All of you sit down and calm down." None of the children moved just glared at one another.

"I think she told y'all to sit y'all asses down." Apryl repeated with a slight raise of her brow. She watched them all until they sat down peacefully.

Jimmy started to laugh catching them all off guard. "Y'all remember when we didn't have kids?"

Jey nodded. "Good times."

"Don't talk about us like we not here. That hurts," Eli asserted touching his chest.

"Yeah," the other kids agreed.

Apryl shrugged at him. "We love y'all but y'all are A LOT."

"But wait," Kandice laughed, "Remember when we told them we were pregnant with the boys?" Jey, Jimmy and Roman sucked their teeth at the thought.

--- 16.5 years earlier ---

The women invited their fiancés over to their shared apartment for dinner and a surprise. "Sooooo, are y'all gonna say anything?" Kandice asked. Apryl, Kandice and Trinity had just watched their other halves open their cards. And now they sat in silence.

(Jey's Card, Roman’s Card & Jimmy's Card)

Jey looked at his card, at his fiancé then back at the card. "I'm confused."

Roman scratched the back of his neck, still staring at the card. "What's a DILF?"

"I ain't make shit."

All three women sucked their teeth. "God I hope these babies have our brains," Apryl huffed.

"Babies? Who having a baby? I didn't agree to none of that," Jimmy said quickly.

Trinity sucked her teeth. "I think we both agreed to it when you let your little swimmers loose."

"Kandi," Roman called softly, "You still didn't tell me what a DILF is."

"Dad I'd Like to Fuck, slowness. But now I dunno about all that."

"So y'all tryna tell us that the three of y'all just happened to get pregnant at the same time?" Jey asked putting the card in his lap. "Y'all planned this."

"Clearly, I did. Did you read the card? I trapped your ass, now you're stuck and if you think you're leaving me with your big head baby you've got another thing coming, Fatu."

Jimmy got up from his seat to examine Trinity, stepping back in surprise when he lifted her shirt. "What's that?" He asked pointing at her stomach.

"It's a baby bump, fool. I'm almost four months," she said moving his hand to her stomach. "You can't feel him or her move yet but there's a baby in there. Our baby."

"How far are you?" Roman asked.

"Two months almost three," she approached him standing in between his knees. "I just look bloated right now."

"And you," Jey asked nervously.

Apryl smiled putting a hand to her pretty much flat stomach. "Just hit two months."

"Are we ready for this? I mean these are babies." Roman asked. His voice shook with anxiousness.

"Whether we're ready or not they're coming, Roman. One quicker than the others," Kandice joked looking back at Trinity and Jimmy.

"Mama is gonna beat us. You can tell her Jimmy."

Jimmy sucked his teeth. "I'm not worried about her. I'm worried about Pops, he gon whoop our asses. And then he gon fuss and i don't wanna hear that shit, dog."

"Y'all are 21. Are y'all really that scared? He's not gonna whoop y'all," Trinity laughed.

"Nah, nah," Roman shook his head, "You're sayin that cause you don't know. He is gonna beat them."

"Oh, please." Kandice laughed. "You're scared too I take it."

"For them, yeah. I'm just tryna figure out what to do with a baby. Never had one."

"I should hope not, Roman. None of us have either, we'll get through it together."

Apryl folded her arms across her chest. "All I know is, these babies are coming whether y'all are ready or not so y'all better do whatever you need to do or I'm getting my knife."

With that threat, all three women walked out of the living room to the back room slamming the door behind them. The men sat quietly, staring straight ahead until sniffed filled the room. Roman and Jimmy stated at Jey in confusion. Jimmy sucked his teeth. "I know you ain't cryin, Uce."

"Shut up," he fussed wiping his eyes. "I'm emotional, shit. I'm having a baby, mane. This is serious."

"But is it serious enough to cry?" Jimmy asked laughing.

"Fuck y'all, I'm happy."

"I'm happy too but my apartment is too small for a baby." Roman sighed.

"Bruh," Jey laughed through his tears. "A baby ain't that damn big. He'll be cool." Jimmy sat quietly, his mind moving a mile a minute. "You alright over there, big bro?"

"What are we gonna do with babies? Shit, they take care of us most of the time. And they want us to be responsible for lil tiny ass humans."

"It'll all work out, Uce. But right now we gotta fix what we just did," Roman said standing from his seat.

--- Present Day ---

"Did y'all really bring cribs home, Pop?" Koda asked laughing.

"That and a bunch of other shit," Apryl laughed. "Cribs, play pens, tubs, bottles, clothes. Our lil ass living room was filled with shit from y'all daddies."

"But had we known what we know now," Trinity chuckled. "None of y'all would be here."

"What? Mama you told me I was your pride and joy. The best thing that ever happened to you." Eli said scrunching his face.

"Did I?" Trinity asked still laughing. "Must've been drunk or sleepy."

#parental paragraphs #daddy ro fluff series #ro & kandice #jey & apryl #jimmy & trinity #jey uso #jimmy uso #roman reigns

[thewisekenisme]

Nap Time!

Summary: how Patton makes the sides nap even when they don’t want too (bad at summary's sorry also Virgil's is based off of a headcanons sorry for less info I've had to rewrite, delete and more because I used up all my paragraphs )

word count:3,418

Logan.- Patton smiled softly at the now clean kitchen , spending most of the after noon cleaning from Breakfast he was ready to go see what the others were up to.

Putting his hand towel down he walked into the living room to see the youngest side sitting on the couch on his phone and headphones on looking like he was focused on it .

Slowly walking over Patton sat in front of Virgil careful not to startle him . After a few seconds the youngest looked up at him slowly taking his headphones off .

"Hey Pat done cleaning the kitchen already ?" He asked giving him his attention .

Patton smiled nodding "yep now I'm just seeing what everyone is up too "He said patting Virgil's knee . "So what are you up to Kiddo?"

He nodded leaning back giving Patton a small smile . "Just looking at Tumblr and listening to some music " he replied

"Oh that sounds like fun! How about later on tonight we have a movie night how does that sound ?" He asked hoping not to be to pushy and make Virgil uncomfortable .

To his surprise Virgil was quick to reply "yeah sure that sounds fun actually " he nodded

"Great! I'll go tell others okay I'll be right back "he smiled standing up walking to the stairs .

Virgil chuckled "alright dad " he placed his headphones back over his head

Patton smiled softly walking up the stairs towards Romans room . He knocked on the door waiting patiently for him to answer . But he didn't get a reply .

"Roman? Are you okay kiddo?" He asked softly knocking on the door again .

When he didn't get a reply he opened the door carefully "Ro?you in here?" He asked peeking his head in .

Romans room was empty all that was in their besides his normal bedroom essentials was a note on the desk .

Patton walked towards the desk picking up the note reading it aloud . 'Gone out to rescue a few fair maidens, I shall be back in time for dinner , Roman "

He smiled softly placing the note back on the desk . He grabbed one of Romans glitter pens and wrote 'hope the adventure was good , movie night after dinner 'with a doodle of a kitten on the edge of the paper

Satisfied with his note he began walking out of the room leaving everything the way it so it looked like no one had been in .

Closing the door he walked towards Logan's room smiling happily . He knocked on the door with a giggle "Logan are you in there?" He asked .

From inside of the room he heard a soft thud and a few mumbled complaints but they stopped as quickly shortly after the door opened reviling a frustrated looking Logan .

Logan's hair was messy and sticking up everywhere , his normal tucked in shirt was only partly tucked in , his the had been listened  and glasses were slightly tilted.

"Greeting's Patton, do you need something ?" Logan asked as nicely as he could but the sound of frustration leaked into his voice .

Patton offered him a small smile "yeah , just wanted to see what you were up to. Lo Are you alright ?"he asked softly

He sighed softly nodding "I am okay just working on more flash cards , as well as a few experiments.  " he said trying to stiff a yawn .

He frowned softly worriedly  "mind if i join you kiddo? You don't look so good "

Logan nodded moving to the side letting Patton in "Sure, I am still working on a hypothesis for one of my experience, and I am fine Patton."he replied walking towards his desk sitting down .

Patton noticed once he sat down he started to look more tense then he did standing up , slowly he made his way over pretending to look over his shoulder to see what he was doing . He moved his hands to rest on Logan's shoulders gently kneading at the stiff and tense mussels.

The younger side let out a heavy sigh in content leaning back letting Patton message his shoulder. He closed his eyes slowly relaxing under his touch "Patton, what are you doing?" He asked quietly .

He just hummed softly shaking his head with a mischievous smile "I don't know what you mean , Hey tell me about what your working on !" He smiled continuing messaging his shoulders.

Logan nodded and began to tell Patton about a theory he had about if a telescope could be modified to be both a microscope and a telescope and how it would take a lot of effort to build it but I could possibly be done.

But as he was talking his head was slowly going forward and his speech was slowing down . A couple time Logan shifted sitting up straighter .

Patton chuckled running his hand through his hair "Come on Lo, let's get you to bed ."he said softly .  He helped Logan up walking towards the bed .

Logan didn't protest he just sluggishly followed him . He sat on the edge of the bed rubbing the side of his face looking up at Patton "I apologize Patron, it seems I am unable to finish our discussion.  I hope we are able to finish it this discussion another time " he yawned looking up at him.

He smiled softly gently pushing Logan's shoulders so he was now laying on the bed.  He carefully took his glasses putting them on the night stand "Don't worry about it lo, you can tell me more about it when you wake up alright ? For now how about you just rest okay?" He asked pulling the blanket over him .

He nodded nuzzling into his pillow letting out a comforted sigh "thank you Patton. " he whispered slowly drifting off to sleep rather quickly.

Patton smiled softly "Good night Logan "he giggled turning off the light and walking out of the room happy Logan didn't fight him on a nap.

Virgil- Patton stood back sighing softly listening to Roman and Virgil arguing again  , they had just gotten done with discussing another video idea with Thomas and got back to the mind scape so Logan could get started scheduling the video, That's when Roman and Virgil started at it. he wasn't really sure how it even began but the more he listened the more he was growing tired of it.

 "Princey stop being so dramatic, suck it up your the least favorite character get over it "Virgil smirked looking at him  knowing that would set Roman off .

"Oh no you don't,  we are not starting with that again Mr dark and gloomy! We all have fans who like us all equally! Isn't that right Patton ?" Roman asked crossing his arms turning away from Virgil to look at Patton with a pout .

Patton sat up straight smiling softly them "Now kiddo Romans right there are fans who love all of us equally , so there's no need to pick favorite ."he said softly watching them .

Roman smiled he seemed pleased that Patton agreed with him "see Virgil even Patton agreed with me .so you should stop saying those rude things  "he said sticking his tongue out at him

Virgil rolled his eyes crossing his arms "easy for you to say You guys are likable I'm just scary and bring everyone down " he grumbled looking down at the ground .

Patton's eyes widen he needed to stop Virgil from doubting and talking bad about himself but how, suddenly a idea hit him since he couldn't physically fight Virgil he figured his idea would be better then nothing

he stood up grabbing Virgil's hand , he felt Virgil flinch then relax under his touch "Okay kiddo I think we all need to go calm down , so Roman how about you go upstairs and cool off okay ? Virgil you stay with me." He said using his dad voice .

Roman opened his mouth to argue but quickly closed it once Patton sent him a stern look, he sighed nodding "Alright padre, i guess your right." he made his walk towards the stairs he gave the two sides on last look before  making his way to his bedroom.

Patton waited until he heard Romans door before he turned to Virgil to talk to him. he sighed softly giving him a soft but stern look "Now kiddo we talked about this " he said 

Virgil looked at the ground letting Patton hold his hand , he huffed a bit "It's not like I'm lying , i do bring everyone down, i kill the mood Pat, there's no use in you trying to change my mind." he said trying to move his hand "and you cant physically fight me because of how i am either it's my job."

he sighed softly "No but i am a dad and that's not a good attitude to have now is it ? so come on nap time!" he suddenly called out with a smile , he put his arm around Virgil taking him to the couch.

said side yelped following him. once Virgil sat on the couch he sent Patton a un amused glare he sat there arms over his chest "I am not taking a nap because i said things that are true Pat!" he grumbled watching the fatherly side walk towards the hall closet grabbing a purple blanket they keep for Virgil as well as a pillow. 

"Sorry kiddo, but like you said i cant physically fight you so the next best thing is to make you calm down . which i believe a nap would do perfectly, besides Remy's told me you haven't been sleeping well lately." he replied walking over to Virgil he sat the pillow and blanket down next to his dark strange son.  "so I'm going to get us some hot chocolate so we can have quiet time " he said walking into the kitchen

Virgil grumbled grabbing his phone from his pocket going on Tumblr , if he was going to be forced into having 'quiet time' he was going to spend it the way he wanted , and that was by avoiding a nap by any means possible .

Sadly it was only short lived because when Patton had returned he had gently snatched the phone from Virgil and replacing it with a purple mug of hot chocolate. "Sorry kiddo , but i know if i let you play on your phone you wont lay down for a nap. " he said pocketing said device .

He snapped his fingers so now Virgil was now changed into  black plaid pj pants and a black t shirt, his jacket remind  where it was wrapped around him, his shoes were now replaced with just his socks.

"Like i said Pat I'm not taking a nap I’m not even tired " he grumbled taking a sip of his hot chocolate trying not to smile when he felt the chocolaty liquid warm him from the inside, he had to admit Patton did make the best hot chocolate out of all the sides.

He chuckled softly sitting next to him taking a sip from his light blue mug "Well how about you just lay down and rest ?I think that would be okay don't you ?" He asked looking at him . 

He looked into his mug shrugging if he was being honest a nap did sound good , but he really didn't want to deal with the nightmare that might haunt him like they have for the past few weeks.

"I guess it couldn't hurt to lay down i guess ." He said quickly taking another drink of his hot chocolate .

He stayed quiet for a few minutes before looking at Patton "Hey pat?" He asked quietly .

Patton looked over at him giving him a small smile "yeah kiddo what's up?" He asked

Virgil bit his lip feeling nervous about telling him how he felt. He sighed softly messing with the blanket that he had draped on his lap "if I do take a nap will you...will you stay with me? Until i wake up" He asked quietly blush rose to his cheeks feeling embarrassed he asked .He looked up feeling a hand on his shoulder.

Patton placed both of their mom's on the coffee table before he turned to face Virgil more "Of course I will verge , I know you get nightmares someone's so I figured I would stay with you and make sure no nightmares get to you " he said giving him a smile

He caught himself as Virgil trow himself into Patton’s arms hugging him as tightly as he could . "Thanks dad "he heard come from the younger side .

He smiled holding Virgil in his arms gently running his hand through his hair gently "your welcome son" he said softly just holding Virgil in his arms .

Not long after Virgil became heavier and heavier in and arms as his breathing started to even out when he looked he saw Virgil had fallen asleep against his chest .

Patton gently adjusted Vigil gently so he could stretch his legs out and still hold Virgil in his arms . He smiled pulling the blanket over him so he could stay warm .

"Your not even tired huh?" He chuckled softly watching his dark strange son sleep. He secretly snuck a photo of him and sent it to Remy .

REMY: 'Omg gurl! He is so cute! How did you get him to take a nap?'

PATTON: ' he was being mean to himself so I physically fought him. Nothing hot coco and a cuddle from papa Patton wouldn't help '

REMY ' no one can beat you Pat!'

Patton smiled leaning back on the couch using his phone to watch old episodes of P&R keeping the volume low careful not to wake up Virgil knowing he needed the nap .

While Virgil slept no nightmares bothered him and Patton stayed where he was keeping Virgil in his arms protecting him from the night mares.

Roman- Roman sighed tiredly making his way towards the kitchen , he had just gotten back from a great battle against the dragon witch . he had battled long and hard against her then finally when all hope had seemed lost he made one last move which turned to be his victory move.

but now he was left feeling exhausted he had almost fell asleep in the shower as well as when he was putting on his Pajama's but he didn't to fall asleep just yet , he still needed to get through dinner but he was just so tired but then again he didn't want to miss out on their family movie night.

as he passed the living room he noticed no one was there and that it was darker then normal "huh, that's weird oh well they are probably in the kitchen" he thought

"Good evening everyone , what are we eating on tonight?" he asked not in his usual loud and excited tone but more of a laid back tone . he gave them a award winning smile as he walked into the kitchen

there sitting in the kitchen was just Patton , he had a glass of chocolate milk in front of him as well as color pencils  and cat coloring book. he was also wearing his cat onesie . he looked up looking at roman with a smile "Hey there Ro , how was your adventure?"he asked happily

Roman frowned a bit looking around the empty kitchen "It was splendid padre i fought and won a glorious battle against the dragon witch , say Patton were is Logan and Virgil their going to miss dinner if they aren't here soon."

he sighed softly "oh they went to bed early both really tired "he said sitting up straighter coloring in a grey cat that was playing with a ball was string

Roman snorted "Are you sure they aren't  both sick, i mean they never go to bed this early unless they worked all night or they are sick."

Patton frowned looking up from his color page to give Roman a serious look " I'm afraid you missed dinner ro"he said softly

His eye's went wide "what! but i was only gone for two hours its only six o'clock"he gasped looking towards the oven to look at the time, he let out a tired groan "midnight, i cant believe the battle as well as my shower went till midnight"he grumbled sitting heavily onto the chair in front of Patton.

"Afraid so kiddo , but that's okay i can heat up some left overs for you and get you to bed you must be exhausted huh?" he asked standing up going towards the fridge

roman nodded sadly watching Patton he couldn't think of food he could only think about the movie night he had missed 'they probably had it with out me , they probably think just because i wasn't there they didn't have to hear me talk about my battle ' he thought huffing to himself. he crossed his arms pouting as he glared at the table not realizing Patton placing some french toast in front of him.'they even ate french toast without me! did they, did they even notice i was gone?'

Patton watched roman eat with a pout he mumbled a 'thank you' as he ate, frowning Patton sat in front of him watching worried "Ro , you okay there ? did the table say something offending ?" he asked picking up his color pencils.

 "Fine just fine Patton , I'm just thinking about the battle that's all"he said almost snapping at Patton, he huffed finishing his dinner in silence he didn't look up when he finished he just crossed his arms with head down not saying a word.

he watched Roman for a second knowing something was wrong, he slowly walked over to him kneeling down in front of him, he reached up gently putting his fingers under Roman's chin lifting it up slightly , his heart broke when he saw how sad roman was he had tears in his eyes threatening to fall . "Awe Roman what's the matter?" he asked softly

Roman sniffled finally looking at Patton "Nothing , I just remembered something sad that's all. nothing else?" he said trying to scold rubbing his eye's sniffling again 

"are you sure you can tell me roman i will try to help you ." he said softly putting his hand on his knee giving it a gentle squeeze

after a few seconds Roman looked at Patton sadly"did you guys realize i was gone? or were you guys happy i wasn't there so you could have movie night in peace?" he asked quietly as he asked Patton the question the flood gates finally gave way Roman didn't bother hiding them.

Patton raised a hand wiping away his tears "what do you mean Ro? we would never have movie night without you , and I love hearing about your adventures and battles when you come back . What's making you think about about that?" He asked softly

"Because Logan and Virgil are in bed already normally you are, you made French toast "he sniffles leaning into Pattons hand the more tired he got the more emotional he became.

" Lo and verge went to bed early, Logan was working on the video Schedules late last night and today , Virgil was falling asleep on the couch after dinner , so Remy came early to try and help Virgil actually go to bed at a decent time " he said softly using his thumb to wipe away the tears .

"What about you? Normally Remy make's you go yo bed first ?" He asked feeling his eyes getting heavier as well as finding it harder to keep open .

He gave him a small smile "I wanted to wait for you to make sure you were okay , now how about we get you upstairs and into bed how does thay sound?" He asked softly. Once Roman nodded Patton helped him stand and walk up the stairs , once they were up stairs it only took Patton a few minutes to get Roman tucked into bed .

He gave him a soft smile "goodnight Roman ,  tommrow you can tell me about your battle and we can have out movie night how does that sound ?" He asked softly kissing cheek softly .

Roman nodded he closed his eyes yawning "Okay padre, thank you for waiting for me " he said

Patton smiled "no problem kiddo night " he chuckled when he didn't get a response from Roman because he had already fallen asleep before Patton even left . With a smile he began walking out of the room closing the door quietly he smiled happily going to his room to go to bed .

#sanders sides #virgil sanders #thomas sanders #roman sanders #logan sanders #sander sides fanfiction #sander sides #sander sides fluff #sander sides nap time #dad patton #mama logan #sander sides LAMP

[robbie-lee-zombie]

Random thing, will be edited and added on when Robbie finds more of the random stuff Robbie has sent to @thetickleeraven

Adding a ‘Keep Reading’ because this will get VERY Long. Might copy/edit/paste this post with every add on so it won’t glitch out too much, and if you’d already seen the first few paragraphs of an idea, just scroll until you see one of the numbers (like #2) that you haven’t seen before! 

Hope that helps, anyways enjoy the rambling of HCs and Ideas

Edit/Add-On #1 

Taking place in Raven’s recent couple of fics with Prince Roman and the magical Logan (since we can’t spell mid-evil) that AU. HC: Pat is either 1. The king of the place, and Roman’s dad figure still. OR 2. (HC I use more) Patton is the news-reporter-writer-helper-etc guy. He orders the seeds for farms, sets up meetings for Roman and other lands, making sure things work and stay kinda organized. You’d never think of someone so dad-like to have that kind of job, you know? Good HC tbh-

Imagine Patton’s first couple of lessons were a tour and knowing the potions and ingredients around the place. He writes everything down, admitting to Logan that he’d have a bad memory if he didn’t write it down. He was trying, though, and Logan respects that to the fullest. When Logan flips through the beginners spells, the one Roman had used caught Patton, of all people’s, eye. He smiles. “Mirth brought to light? Aw, that sounds adorable! Making people happy is the best spell I’d say! But you don’t need magic for that!” He glances up at Logan. “What do you mean, Pat?” “I have you to make me happy, you dork!” Commence Logan to be slightly flustered as he continues to flip through and explain the spells. Including the Mirth of Light one. “So it just makes people more aware of how ticklish they are? Gosh, that sounds amazing!” “How so?” “Well, it doesn’t hurt anybody, and it could probably be used on thieves or villains instead of slaughtering them, you know? Have them cough up where the money is!” “That’s… rather childish, but pacifistic, I must say.” “Good thing I’m no criminal! I’m insanely ticklish.” Okay, wow, no one probably met someone so blunt and honest with statements like those. “Really? You say that to everyone you meet?” “Hush! It’s not that bad!” “Not that bad? You mean you enjoy the sensation?” “You mean tickling??” “Yes. That.” “Of course!” Logan paused, giving him a puzzled look. “Why wouldn’t I? What’s not to like?” Patton’s eyes lit up. Not like the time he first saw the room of potions, or when Logan drones on, but still lit up with joy. Huh. Never thought this would happen, Logan thought.

~Continuation type deal of the first paragraph of ideas~

Patton is the town/castle news/reporter type deal at first, running around making sure everyone has everything they need (surprising Virge didn’t have that job-) and that’s when Logan saw that sparkle of look in Patton’s eyes when things got done. Patton never showed his whole adoration and appreciation of work and order much, since he felt geeky. Logan took a step up to Pat as the dad took the pencil out from behind his ear to write a few things down in his note-pad, scribbling random messy ideas. “You. Come with me.” Logan orders him to follow. Once they make it to Logan’s specific tower, You can just… tell. Patton looked at every potion with detail, even drawing a few mini sketches of each one to take notes like ‘purple round potion bottle:’ and 'blue triangle bottle’ and etc. Patton’s eyes just… light up! You’d never expect someone so loving and innocent outside the castle to be into such geeky and dorky stuuuuff, clearly Logan thought it wasn’t geeky… much. “You. You’re going to be my assistant from here on out. I will teach you everything I know, and even after that we will continue to work together. What’s your name, sir?” “Sir?? I’m not that old, not even much older than you, but a lot of people think I’m Roman’s father, how funny is that??” Patton giggles, holding out his hand. “I’m Patton, the castle reporter and document-er!” “Big job, huh?” “Eh, I mostly just take care of the village complaints and problems, order stuff like seeds for the farms, plan the meetings, boring stuff-” “It’s not boring, it’s very intriguing. Tell me more.” Patton’s eyes lit up again. No one’s ever wanted to hear him talk this much before.

Edit/Add-On #2

“It Came From The Trees” Gives me so many little t-fic ideas like, Virgil would hang upside down from a branch right when Princey is heading back to the treehouse since “I caught a fish by myself omg Virgil will be so happy-” Virgil’s face is right in front of him popping down. “SUPER-CALA-FRAGI-FUCKER–” And Virgil’s just laughing.

Imagine the life style of him and Roman over the time in the woods!!!!!

“I found these little red berries they look like cherries they can’t be that bad-” ate two Virge is carving a stick with his blade he’s had for years, not looking up. “They’re poisonous, Ro” Roman freaks out and almost faints, tossing them all away and sitting on the ground like “that’s a relief-” “…Dude I was kidding they’re just little red berries, I’ve ate them for years-” “I will destroy you-”

Raven’s fics of Roman being that one Prince and Virgil being his guard, what if WHAT IF HOLY CRAP- What if It Came From The Trees is set like, waaay before Virgil was his guard??? And when Roman came back to the Palace, maybe even 2 years later (He’s wearing whole other clothes Virgil’s taught him how to sew) and Pat (king or intern or whatever he wants to be) Is just like “HOLY CRAP MAN WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN WE THOUGHT YOU DIED-” Logan, ironically, is also freaking out. He’s doing that classic thing in cartoons where they’re at his arms, legs, checking him for bites or scratches and etc, like a mother (ha-) and he’s like “Guys, really- it’s cool-” But Virgil’s still at the Tree House, since Virge thought they’d think 'hOLY CRAP ROMAN WHO’S THAT WE GOTTA KILL HIM-’ so Roman said “I’m just going to go tell them I’m alive, K? I’ll be back. Promise.” A day-ish later, he comes back to Virgil who got jump-scared when he did, not expecting the PRINCE to be so good at sneaking around in the dark, so it was startling. He’s rambling about how he’s told his closest friends about Virgil and that he’s allowed to apply for a position in the village, whichever position he wants! Virge thinks about it for maybe a week and is like 'dude, what if you were my guard? You kind of saved my ass seven times when we first met!’ “It’s not my fault you’re so fancy-” “Excuse me-” “You had NO IDEA what you were doing-” “I’ll have you know–” “You thought the leaves growled in the wind~” “…Okay, yeah, whatever-” Anyways, Virgil works up the courage to jump through the trees, Roman still not the best at it, but able to keep up with Virgil to do so, and they jump to the walls of Roman’s land. “You sure I’m… allowed in? They won’t attack me?” “Of course!” Getting through the gate, of course, Logan and Pat are both there waiting for Roman, and Logan (like with Roman) examines and pokes and prods at Virgil with questions and his eraser/pencil, Virgil’s slightly pink like “YOU SAID THEY WOULDN’T ATTACK ME!” “He’s not! ..Specs, please get out of his mouth, he has one row of teeth-” Since that nickname, before Virge knew their real names, he called them nicknames for months never asking them 'what’s your name?’ since Roman told them to go with it and it was hilariously cute. When Virge first found out Logan’s name he glared at Roman like “Wait so his name isn’t Specs?” “Nope.” “It’s not Nerd either? Not Four-Eyes, Harry Potter, Geek-a-zoid, none of those??” “Nope.” “WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME-” “Because it was cute watching you get used to it~” “…Is it too late to be an outcast again-”

~Continued of the last mess of a paragraph thingy, yes, very aware of some grammar mistakes and mess ups. If it says ‘you/your’ when it shouldn’t, it’s probably because these were just copy pasted when I rambled to @thetickleeraven and said ‘you/your’ to them so don’t freak out about that~

Pass a week or two, put Virgil in that one dorm area you talked about where he almost died in that fic I can’t remember the name of- maybe it wasn’t your fic I don’t remember– Anyways- Put him in the dorms area, he got used to it, even let Roman help him decorate with so so so many things he’s like “Dude I don’t need posters they’re just paper, you could’ve used that for something else-” “It’s not a crime to treat yourself, Virge. Plus you love the Nightmare Before Christmas!” “..True-” And even when he first signed up to be a guardsman he had to go through the training. Since he lived in the woods for so long, he passed the agility and strength tests no problem. The hardest part was the test that most guards are good at. This was the hard test Virgil knew he’d fail at as soon as he heard it. Endurance Test. Not only did they have to stand in a line, A-Z, standing up straight and all (ouch for his back-) but Roman was the judge of the test. He walked to people randomly, doing anything he saw fit to make the others 'snap out of character’ like laugh, smile, the smallest thing would make Roman grin with victory. It’s not that it was a bad thing, of course, but first hearing the TEST part, Virgil did EVERYTHING HE COULD not to fricken mess this up. So as SOON AS ROMAN GOT TO VIRGIL, he just gave him that snarky little face of a grin and raised eyebrows. They had… so many inside jokes, it was easy for him. “Remember that time I tried to eat your shirt in my sleep because I hadn’t learned how to catch a fish yet?” Okay, Virgil snickered. Quietly though. Roman noticed, however, and he was going to focus on Virgil now. Once someone broke completely, they stepped off to the benches or bathrooms for a break, but Virgil, with Joan and Talyn, were the last three still 'Mature’ or in this case in the Test. Virgil was in the middle of the other two, and you can sense the other two thinking “Wow, what’s their story?” Roman continued. “Remember I tried to eat a worm? You told me if I couldn’t climb that tree in 30 seconds that would be my dinner. I had it in my mouth, you pleb!” He put a hand on his chest, dramatically, going on and on about how Virgil almost 'made him’ do these things. Luckily, Roman didn’t eat the worm, he got real dinner, but Virgil got a kick out of watching him try and almost release it into the wild with a “Virge, this thing has a family, come on-”. Virgil let out a snort, okay, it was super hard. ROMAN STOP BEING FUNNY! WIPE THAT SMIRK OFF YOUR FACE! Since Roman didn’t know Virgil was ticklish (until the potions fics) he relied on his cunning charm and humor to spite Virgil, which of course was the same Virgil did to Roman. It was so close, he could pass the test! He’d make the guard if only- “Remember the porcupine incident?” Virgil fell to his knees laughing, it was so stupid and unfair! The others had no idea what Roman said, since they couldn’t hear, but Talyn and Joan shared a look like “?????” along with a look of “..awww they’re friends-” Virgil, the next day, thought he failed. Roman came back with the results. “Virgil, Talyn, and Joan. You three are the head of squads A, B, and C.” Virgil was shocked. After Roman finished, everyone but them two left, and Virgil was like “But- But I thought if we weren’t serious enough we’d fail-” “Oh please! You think I’d fail you just because you laughed at something I said?? Virgil, I don’t want my guards to be losers! I don’t want them so stuck up about the rules and court, the way we do things, that stuff is so boring! I want guards who are more than just that, they can /have a sense of humor!/” Virgil was about to tear up before he turned bright red and glared at him. “YOU LITTLE SHI- YOU MADE ME LAUGH IN FRONT OF EVERYONE WHY–” “It was adorable, stormcloud!” “Storm..cloud?” “..Do you not-” “Nah, it’s actually cool. I’ll keep that nickname over pleb, thanks.”

Edit/Add-On #3 Not Yet Here

~This little area will change when edited, so refresh if you need to to check if it’s newer~

#Drabbles #Random Ideas #Robbie Rants?? Sorta- #Not to be deleted tho- just reposted a lot so glitches and yeah-- #Happy reading- #anyone has other tips on organizing this mess of stuff #let me know how to make it easier/less intimidating to read/etc-

[kirukirice]

Among the Crows: Chapter 47 -  From One Crow to Another

Everyone wants answers. But it’s not always obvious! 

--> Full text here on Ao3!

The next day, the silver Kara asked the older Kara a question.

“Can I read them?”

The doctor continued to apply a salve onto his patient’s stitches. Suga clarified, although he didn’t need to.

“Takeda-sensei’s books.”

Ukai slowly looked up and corked the glass bottle tightly.

“What for?” he asked.

Suga looked back with a determined stare.

“I want to know something.”

Ukai raised his eyebrow.

“Something?”

The young man nodded quietly, his lips pressed into a thin line.

Ukai combed through his unruly blonde hair and sighed, thinking about whether it was a good idea. Truthfully, he had no reason to refuse the crow, and he had no right to keep all that knowledge to himself. If anything, Takeda would have wanted to spread the word to anyone who would hear it. Thus, he retrieved six of Sensei’s precious books from a tightly locked chest and stacked them onto a chair beside Suga.

Loverboy here didn’t tell the rest about the other four, of course.

“Here you go. I’ll warn you first, though, that you probably won’t understand half of the words in there.” Ukai advised.

“Thank you.” Suga said gratefully.

His arms swayed downwards as he slid the heavy book off of the chair. Before opening it, he took the time to admire the care that went into the well-handled tome. Bound to each end of the book were brown leather covers, carefully oiled and hemmed discreetly at the edges with fine string. Embossed neatly by hand on the front cover was the title, its letters raised just enough to make out the words. Inside, the pages had yellowed with age and become fragile, but the ink was as black as the day they were scrawled into history.

It was there and then that Suga immersed himself within the writings of a man he never knew, but who knew his kind far more than he did himself.

A while later, Kageyama walked in to accompany his Mama. He noticed the books and asked him what they were about. Suga nearly didn’t hear the boy.

“Ah, sorry. These are Sensei’s books. Ukai lent them to me.”

The small crow picked one up. “Be careful, they’re fragile.” Suga cautioned, and Kageyama grunted affirmatively. He sat on the bed next to Suga and flipped it open to a random page. The moment he saw the first word, his face scrunched up in puzzlement.

“How do you read this? Uh-ro—You-rop—“

Suga leaned over and put his arm round his child’s waist. “Uropygial.”

“What’s it mean?” asked Kageyama.

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s written further down.” Suga suggested. The boy then scrutinized the text that followed and reported back, “It says that it’s the name of a gland that produces oil for birds to preen themselves with. Karas don’t have one even though they have wings, so they use plant oils instead. Why are you reading all this, Mama?”

“Why not?” he smiled, “I’ve got nothing else to do.”

The boy shrugged, agreeing, and laid down on the man’s shoulder. They read quietly for a spell, where the only sounds about them were of birds twittering in the morning sun and the occasional flip of a page. It took a long while for either of them to digest a single paragraph. Thankfully, Takeda’s penchant for adding drawings here and there gave them a place to pause in case they burned out. Kageyama appreciated those much more than passages about ‘the significance of preen oil on symbiotic bacteria and ectoparasites’, and so decided to search for them instead.

Suga noticed his newfound quest and chuckled. “Too much?”

“Too boring. Eww, look at this.” Kageyama grinned in amusement and showed him a finely-detailed cross-sectional diagram of a tick.

“You think he had to cut apart one of those to draw it?” Suga peered at the page and rubbed his chin.

“Gross. Wait, does that mean…” the boy said, and quickly flipped to a page with a skeletal diagram of a Kara. “This one, too?”

Suga grinned mischievously, “Who knows? Maybe we should open you up and find out.”

Kageyama later asked Ukai if Sensei was a serial killer, and got a sound noogie for that.

A few hours later, Ukai took a break from his chores and returned to see Suga’s head still buried in a book.

“Still at it?” he asked. The young man glanced up from his book and nodded. He seemed to be rather engrossed in the text, judging from his intense expression. “What are you looking for, anyway? Maybe I can help.” Ukai offered. Suga shook his head and said politely, “I can manage.”  

Just then, Hinata followed in behind Ukai and tugged at his sleeve urgently. “Uncle Ukai! Do you have any food?”

“What? Didn’t you just eat some bread?” he exclaimed, desperation creeping into his voice. He could have sworn the boy had inhaled two rolls just five minutes ago.

“Yeah, but, I want meat. I’m super hungry right now.” The boy grinned brightly and rubbed his tummy. “Go ask Daichi to make you something. I’m busy.” Ukai groaned and shooed him away by pushing him out of the room.

“But your cooking’s better!” Hinata insisted.

The small crow easily got what he wanted because of that. Ukai’s prideful fire was quite easy to stoke. The moment the meat was done, he merely took a few bites and then carried the plate outside while yelling, “I’m going out for a bit!”

“Oi, stay near the house, you hear?” Ukai called after him, “It’s not safe near the woods.”

And then it struck him. He was becoming a nagging parent, just like his parents were.

Finding his godson, who was hard at work chopping firewood outside the shed, Ukai sighed a long sigh and deflated against the creeper-covered wall. Daichi wiped the sweat glistening off his neck and forehead with a towel and remarked, “You keep sighing lately.”

Ukai rolled his eyes and rummaged around his pockets for a smoke. “Yeah, well, all this youth around me is making me feel horrible.”

Daichi laughed, seeing the man look so uncharacteristically down. “Hey, you know, I always meant to ask.”

“About?” Drat. All out of smokes.

“About—well, why you didn’t get married or had a partner or something,” Daichi said and swung the axe, lodging it into the tree stump on the ground with a loud thunk. “The question’s still valid.”

“Do I look like an eligible bachelor to you? I probably smell like one to the hens, anyway.” Ukai took a whiff of his freshly-laundered shirt. It still didn’t smell very encouraging, despite the amount of soap he used.

“Come on, I’ve seen plenty of women take second glances at you. Don’t know about men, though.” The hunter grinned cheekily.

Ukai scoffed loudly and folded his arms. “Please.”

“I’m serious, man.”  

“They must have really low standards, then,” he laughed self-deprecatingly and shook his head. At least, he still had Daichi to talk to to cheer him up. “Anyway, enough about this old codger. How did it go?”

Daichi blushed instantly.

Ukai grinned widely and playfully punched the man’s shoulder. “I presume it went well?”

“Well… yeah. He was comfortable with it.” Daichi replied, scratching his ear shyly. The Kara found his sudden shift in mannerisms wholly interesting and perfect teasing material.    

“Even the wings?” he probed.

“Uh-huh.”

Ukai broke into a proud, lopsided grin and gave Daichi a hearty slap on the back, making the man puff out an ‘oof’ from the sheer force of his arm. “You’re a special one, aren’t ya! God, what does he see in you?”

“I heard that. Anyway, what’s so special about the wings? Aren’t wings just like... more limbs?” Daichi asked honestly, for he had never gotten an explanation from any of the Karas. Ukai tsked several times and waggled his finger.

“They’re far more than just limbs. The wings are a Kara’s whole life and identity. They can’t afford to have anything happen to them for tons of reasons, including survival, so they take care of them very carefully.”

Daichi nodded and gulped. “So they usually don’t let anyone else touch them?”

“Not at all. It’s like touching someone else’s privates, just less sexy. Hey, did you also--”

“--No!”

The Kara smirked gleefully at his reaction. “So, yeah, it’s a big deal. Even more so because he should be really sensitive about them. Remember what I told you about abnormality?”

“Yes. I still don’t know what went down.” Daichi said.

“It’ll take a while. Don’t rush him.”

“I know. But has there ever been another Kara like him? Maybe they’ve gone through the same thing.”

Ukai rubbed his chin, harkening back to the village. “We’ve never had an albino Kara, much less a grey one. From what I’ve heard from my old gramps, there are rarely any records on white-winged crows being born; and not one has lived to see the next day.”

Seeing how Suga had managed to reach adulthood, the man found it strange. White or grey, neither should have been spared, going by Kara logic. He continued with a caveat, “Well, not all news travels to our village. If there was ever another grey crow, the Capital would definitely know.”

“The Capital?” Daichi asked, his brows creasing as his interest grew.

“The central command of all Karas. The rulers there determine the laws Karas must abide by, and no one can escape their notice. Well, that is, unless you are no longer one.”

“So they are the ones who enforce this… cruel practice?”

Ukai genuinely shrugged. “Who knows? It’s likely something that all Karas are inclined to do from birth, and they’re just making sure it stays that way. White doesn’t go well with dark forests - you should know.”

“But the white ones can still survive, can’t they? They don’t have to kill them.” Daichi said.

“Not many are willing to take the risk. Just one outlier can lead the rest of the predators into the village.”

Suddenly, an epiphany hit Daichi like a wayward spark.

He recalled the strange phrase that Suga kept repeating over and over that day.

I killed them. I killed them all.

And then, a terrible feeling of realization and doubt passed over him.

“Has that… ever happened before?” he asked slowly, and Ukai quickly picked up on what Daichi was thinking.

“You think that’s the case?” Ukai replied.

Daichi nodded solemnly. “It’s likely.”

The Kara folded his arms and exhaled deeply into a frown. “If that’s so, you’ve just got a lot more piled onto your plate, kid. I’d say you’d better find an answer before running wild with that idea.”

But Daichi wasn’t the only one with more questions than answers.

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

Suga shook his head. He looked rather disappointed.

“Sensei wrote down a lot of things, but he couldn’t have captured everything.”

He nodded silently in response.

“So… you got any questions for me?”

He took a few moments, visibly hesitant in his reply. But because Ukai was the only other Kara he knew, he decided to ask.

“Have you heard of… the red twilight?”

Ukai tilted his head.

“No, can’t say I have. What’s that? A legend?”

Suga shook his head and smiled.

“It’s nothing. Thank you.”

#among the crows #haikyuu #haikyuu!! #haikyuu au #fantasy au #haikyuu fanfiction #daisuga #sugawara koushi #sawamura daichi #ukai keishin